ATM-UNI-LAN communication method and apparatus

摘要

In a method of communicating between an ATM-UNI and a LAN in a communication apparatus, which has an ATM-UNI interface and a LAN interface for performing communication between these interfaces via an ATM switch, transmission data in an ATM-cell format is received from a terminal connected to the ATM-UNI interface to a terminal connected to the LAN interface. The ATM cells are accumulated in a buffer memory provided in the ATM-UNI interface and assembled into a frame. Completion of reception of all ATM cells of one frame is recognized and it is determined whether there is margin for a transmission by referring to a status of vacancy of a LAN interface corresponding to the other party to communication. One frame of the ATM cells accumulated in the buffer memory is transferred to the LAN interface corresponding to the other party via the ATM switch in a case where there is margin for transmission. The ATM cells are converted into a frame at this LAN interface and the frame is sent to a LAN terminal.