Patent attributes
A network system includes a switch device and a plurality of communication terminals. The switch device has a plurality of ports. The switch device receives a packet at its one port and transmits the packet from another port corresponding to the packet's destination. The communication terminals are connected to the ports of the switch device respectively to transmit and receive packets. The terminal transmits a connection request including connection destination information to the switch device and performs communication using unused signal lines when a “connection possible” notification is received from the switch device. Upon receiving the connection request, the switch device determines if connection to a port corresponding to the connection destination information is possible. If connection is possible, the switch device transmits a “connection possible” notification to the connection-request-making terminal and connects an unused signal line of the port connected to the terminal to a signal line of the port corresponding to the connection destination.
