Data switching device and method of notifying charge information in data switching network
First Claim
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1. A data switching device comprising:
- a switch which performs a switch operation on data transferred via the data switching device, said switch forming a permanent link connecting first and second terminals permanently via a network;
a charge information management unit separate from the terminals, which unit manages charge information concerning a quantity of information transferred between said first and second terminals via the permanent link; and
a control unit which receives said charge information and sends one of the first and second terminals a notification message including said charge information according to a predetermined sequence.
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Abstract
A data switching device includes a switch which performs a switch operation on data transferred via the data switching device. The switch forms a permanent link connecting terminals permanently. A charge information management unit manages charge information concerning a quantity of information transferred via the permanent link. A control unit sends one of the terminals a notification message including the charge information according to a predetermined sequence.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A data switching device comprising:
a switch which performs a switch operation on data transferred via the data switching device, said switch forming a permanent link connecting first and second terminals permanently via a network; a charge information management unit separate from the terminals, which unit manages charge information concerning a quantity of information transferred between said first and second terminals via the permanent link; and a control unit which receives said charge information and sends one of the first and second terminals a notification message including said charge information according to a predetermined sequence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A charge information notifying method for a network including a data switching device including a switch which performs a switch operation on data transferred via the data switching device, said switch forming a permanent link connecting first and second terminals permanently via a network, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) managing separate from the terminals charge information concerning a quantity of information transferred between said first and second terminals via the permanent link; and (b) providing a control unit which receives said charge information and sending from said control unit to one of the first and second terminals a notification message including said charge information according to a predetermined sequence. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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14. The charge information notifying method as claimed in 13, wherein the step (b) comprises a step of sending the notification message when a sequence number contained in a message sent from said one of the terminals to the data switching device reaches a predetermined value.
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17. The charge information notifying method as claimed in 16, wherein the step (b) comprises a step of sending said notification message in response to receipt of an enquiry message periodically sent from said one of the terminals.
Specification