A data warehouse is constructed using the relational mapping of a transactional database without reconstructing the data relationships of the transactional database. First, an application programmer analyzes an object model in order to describe facts and dimensions using the objects, attributes, and paths of the object model. Each of the dimensions has an identifier that correlates an item in the transactional database to a dimension record in the data warehouse. The fact and dimension descriptions are saved to a description file. Second, a Data Warehouse Engine (DWE) then access the description file and uses the object model, fact and dimension descriptions, and object-relational mapping to map transactional data to the data warehouse.

A method for preparing fuel components from crude tall oil. Feedstock containing tall oil including unsaturated fatty acids is introduced to a catalytic hydrodeoxygenation to convert unsaturated fatty acids, rosin acids and sterols to fuel components. Crude tall oil is purified in a purification by washing the crude tall oil with washing liquid and separating the purified crude tall oil from the washing liquid. The purified crude tall oil is introduced directly to the catalytic hydrodeoxygenation as a purified crude tall oil feedstock. An additional feedstock may be supplied to the catalytic hydrodeoxygenation.

Embodiments of methods and apparatuses for isomerization of paraffins are provided. In one example, a method comprises the steps of separating an isomerization effluent into a product stream that comprises branched paraffins and a stabilizer vapor stream that comprises HCl, H2, and C6-hydrocarbons. C6-hydrocarbons are removed from the stabilizer overhead vapor stream to form a HCl and H2-rich stream. An isomerization catalyst is activated using at least a portion of the HCl and H2-rich stream to form a chloride-promoted isomerization catalyst. A paraffin feed stream is contacted with the chloride-promoted isomerization catalyst in the presence of hydrogen for isomerization of the paraffins.

Disclosed is a composite material wherein adhesion between a silicon surface and a plating material is enhanced. A method and an apparatus for producing the composite material are also disclosed. The method for producing a composite material comprises a dispersion/allocation step wherein the surface of a silicon substrate (102), which is a matrix provided with a silicon layer at least as the outermost layer, is immersed into a first solution containing gold (Au) ions, so that particulate or island-shaped gold (Au) serving as a first metal and substituted with a part of the silicon layer are dispersed/allocated on the matrix surface, and a plating step wherein the silicon substrate (102) is immersed into a second solution (24), which contains a reducing agent to which gold (Au) exhibits catalyst activity and metal ions which can be reduced by the reducing agent, so that the surface of the silicon substrate (102) is covered with the metal or an alloy of the metal (108) which is formed by autocatalytic electroless plating using gold (Au) as a starting point.

Disclosed are an epoxy resin composition and a light emitting apparatus. The epoxy resin composition includes a triazine derivative epoxy resin and an alicyclic epoxy resin.

Methods and apparatus for output of high-bandwidth debug data/traces in electronic devices using embedded high-speed debug port(s). Debug data is received from multiple blocks and buffered in a buffer. The buffer's output is operatively coupled to one or more high-speed serial I/O interfaces via muxing logic during debug test operations. The buffered data is encoded as serialized data and sent over the one or more high-speed serial I/O interfaces to a logic device that receives serialized data and de-serializes it to generate parallel debug data that is provided to a debugger. The buffer may be configured as a bandwidth-adapting buffer that facilitates transfer of debug data that is received at a variable combined data rate outbound via the one or more high-speed serial I/O interfaces at a data rate corresponding to the bandwidth of the serial I/O interfaces.

An apparatus includes a first memory, a second memory, a processor configured to perform an initialization process including adding data that generates a first error to initialization data and storing the initialization data together with the added data in the first memory to initialize the first memory, and a controller configured to perform an exchanging process including, when a second error occurs in the second memory during reading or writing data from or to the second memory, copying the data stored in the second memory into the first memory and switching, using a selector, a memory for use in writing and reading data from the second memory to the first memory. The processor is configured to read data from the first memory and the second memory and detect a failure of the selector or a failure of the exchanging process depending on whether the first error occurs or not.

An apparatus is equipped with a storage device including an error correction circuit. The apparatus performs a test of the storage device according to a predetermined testing procedure, and records a time-point at which error correction of the storage device has been performed by the error correction circuit during performance of the test. The apparatus determines, with predetermined accuracy, a first position within the storage device on which the error correction has been performed, based on a test speed at which the test is performed, a time-period from the time-point to current time, and a second position within the storage device on which the test is being performed at the current time. Then, the apparatus performs the test predetermined times on a range included in the storage device and including the first position, according to a testing procedure that has been used at the time-point.

Embodiments of apparatus and methods for error detection and correction are described. A codeword may have a data portion and associated check bits. In embodiments, one or more error detection modules may be configured to detect a plurality of error types in the codeword. One or more error correction modules coupled with the one or more error detection modules may be further configured to correct errors of the plurality of error types once they are detected by the one or more error detection modules. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

A packet transmission/reception apparatus and method is provided. The packet transmission method of the present invention includes acquiring a source payload including partial source symbols from a source block, generating a source packet including the source payload and an identifier (ID) of the source payload, generating a repair packet including a repair payload corresponding to the source payload and an ID of the repair payload, generating a Forward Error Correction (FEC) packet block including the source and repair packets, and transmitting the FEC packet block. The source payload ID includes a source payload sequence number incrementing by 1 per source packet. The packet transmission/reception method of the present invention is advantageous in improving error correction capability and network resource utilization efficiency.

The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for processing and error correction of a GFP-T superblock, where the 64 bytes of payload data of a first superblock are buffered in the first page of a two-page buffer. The flag byte is buffered in a separate buffer, and a CRC operation is performed in a separate logic element. The result of the CRC operation is checked against a single syndrome table which may indicate single- or multi-bit errors. As the payload data of the first superblock is processed and read out of the first page of the two-page buffer, the payload data of a second superblock is written into the second page of the two-page buffer to be processed and corrected.

A method for decoding and checking a tail-biting convolutional code is provided. The method fully utilizes structural features of the tail-biting convolutional code to re-sort Log-Likelihood Ratio (LLR) values input into a decoder, and by reconstructing a derivative generator polynomial of a convolutional code, allows the decoder to output in serial according to a normal ordering of information bits during backtracking, that is, a first bit of an information sequence is first decoded successfully. Thus, CRC checking may be activated as soon as possible, so that part of the backtracking process and the CRC checking may be performed in parallel, thereby achieving the objective of reducing a processing time delay in decoding and checking the tail-biting convolutional code.

A method is provided for receiving a signal. The method includes receiving a signal transmitted in a radio frequency (RF) band including at least one RF channel, demodulating the received signal, parsing a preamble of a signal frame including layer-1 information from the demodulated signal, deinterleaving bits of the layer-1 information, decoding the deinterleaved bits using an error correction decoding scheme including a shortening scheme and a puncturing scheme and obtaining physical layer pipes (PLPs) from the signal frame using the error-correction-decoded layer-1 information.

The present disclosure relates to a method for detecting a parity error in a sequence of DQPSK symbols of a digital transmission system, comprising determining a first demodulated symbol r1; determining a second demodulated symbol r2; determining a first parity symbol p1; determining a second parity symbol p2; determining a super-parity symbol q1; and detecting a parity error in the sequence of DQPSK symbols by comparing a combination of the first parity symbol p1 and the second parity symbol p2 against the super-parity symbol q1, wherein a parity between two DQPSK symbols describes a phase difference between the two DQPSK symbols.

A wireless communication system including a sender apparatus having a plurality of transmitting antennas that performs MIMO transmission of a plurality of data blocks; and a receiver apparatus that receives the plurality of data blocks. The sender apparatus transmits a process number via a control channel different from a data channel to the receiver apparatus, and wherein when the MIMO diversity transmission is performed, the receiver apparatus performs HARQ processing in the received data blocks based on not a process number which prevents the data blocks from competing but the received process number from the sender apparatus.

The present disclosure includes apparatus (e.g., computing systems, memory systems, controllers, etc.) and methods for providing data integrity. One or more methods can include, for example: receiving a number of sectors of data to be written to a number of memory devices; appending first metadata corresponding to the number of sectors and including first integrity data to the number of sectors, the first metadata has a particular format; generating second integrity data to be provided in second metadata, the second integrity data corresponding to at least one of the number of sectors (wherein the second metadata has a second format); and generating third integrity data to be provided in the second metadata, the third integrity data including error data corresponding to the second integrity data and the at least one of the number of sectors.

An apparatus and method for the granulation of radioactive waste in which a preprocessing method for the vitrification of radioactive waste is simplified to conform to onsite conditions of a nuclear power plant, additives are improved, and pellets suitable for vitrification are manufactured. The apparatus for the granulation of radioactive waste includes: a body frame having an inlet and an outlet; a hopper supplying the radioactive waste to be transferred and fed through the inlet; a feeder transferring/supplying the radioactive waste supplied to a specific position and in a certain quantity; a stirrer pulverizing/mixing lumps of the radioactive waste supplied; an additive supply part supplying a lubricant to the radioactive waste fed into the stirrer; and a pellet press pressing the radioactive waste fed through the feeder into a pellet shape and discharging the pellet through the outlet.

A continuous process for the thermal treatment of a refinery sludge, comprising the following operations: a. drying of the refinery sludge, possibly mixed with pet-coke, at a temperature ranging from 110 to 120° C.; b. gasification of the dried sludge, at a temperature ranging from 750 to 950° C., for a time of 30 to 60 minutes, in the presence of a gas containing oxygen and water vapour, with the associated production of synthesis gas (CO+H2) and a solid residue; c. combustion of the synthesis gas at a temperature ranging from 850 to 1,200° C. and recycling of the combustion products for the drying and gasification phases; and d. inertization of the solid residue, at a temperature ranging from 1,300 to 1,500° C., by vitrification with plasma torches.

An apparatus for recovering valuable elements is provided herein. In some embodiments, the apparatus having a conveyor; a container configured to be moved on the conveyor, wherein the container has an open surface; a paper package which contains a mixture containing valuable elements, the paper package being configured to be disposed in the container and to be combusted; a cover that covers the open surface of the container, the cover having an opening for discharging valuable elements vaporized from the mixture; a microwave oven through which the container having the cover and the paper package passes, wherein the microwave oven having a microwave generator and a discharging opening for discharging the valuable elements vaporized from the mixture; and a condenser coupled to the discharge opening, wherein the condenser recovers the valuable elements vaporized from the mixture.

A decontamination method of solid-state material contaminated by radiocesium comprising bringing the solid-state material containing radiocesium in contact with a first processing solution and preferably eluting cesium ion from the solid-state material to the liquid phase under the presence of potassium ion or ammonium ion.

Embodiments of this disclosure relate to tissue digestion and, more particularly, to methods and apparatuses for varying the number, size, and/or location of one or more tissue compartments within a digestive fluid vessel. Some examples include partitions that may be selectively positioned within a vessel (and may be selectively removable from the vessel) to create one or more tissue compartments. The partitions may be positioned, repositioned and rearranged within the vessel to form one or more tissue compartments. The partitions may be solid or include apertures, and may be oriented in horizontally and/or vertically. Alternate embodiments include one or more selectively closeable apertures that permit digestive fluid to circulate along alternate pathways, which can permit tissue digestion with reduced digestive fluid levels. Still further embodiments include baskets that are selectively positionable within the tissue digester. The baskets may also include one or more selectively positionable and/or repositionable partitions.

The invention provides a method and apparatus for creating plasma particles and applying the plasma particles to a liquid. Liquid feedstock (e.g., water and/or hydrocarbons mixed with biomass) is pumped through a pipeline; the single-phase stream is then transformed into a biphasic liquid-and-gas stream inside a chamber. The transformation is achieved by transitioning the stream from a high pressure zone to a lower-pressure zone. The pressure drop may occur when the stream further passes through a device for atomizing liquid. Inside the chamber, an electric field is generated with an intensity level that exceeds the threshold of breakdown voltage of the biphasic medium leading to a generation of a plasma state. Furthermore, the invention provides an energy-efficient highly adaptable and versatile method and apparatus for sanitizing water using plasma particles to inactivate biological agents contaminating water.

Method and apparatus for disposal of used home medication which comprises an outer container being sealable and disposable containing an inner water-soluble packet/bag of gelling agent and coloring agent for stabilizing the used medication wherein the outer container comprises a foil-type container having a double sealing mechanism including a first zip lock sealing portion and a second self-sticking sealing portion to insure that the contents are safely sealed prior to disposal in a conventional home solid waste disposal unit.

A method and apparatus for distributing objects. In one embodiment, the method comprises computing a modulus operand based on a number of objects to be distributed and a number of objects pertaining to a first category; computing a modulus operation based on a number of distributed objects and the modulus operand; and distributing a first object or a second object based on a result of computing the modulus operation.

The generation of individual-specific information having a good reliability and uniqueness is made possible with a little circuit scale. For this purpose, in an individual-specific information generation apparatus, a plurality of digital circuits are in the same circuit configuration. Each of the digital circuits outputs a fixed or a random number output value individually without their output with respect to a certain input being determined unambiguously among the digital circuits. In each of the digital circuit, an order is defined in advance. A random number judgment unit judges whether the output value is a random value or fixed, for each of the plurality of digital circuits. An individual-specific information generation unit generates the individual-specific information based on information of the order defined in the digital circuit judged by the random number judgment unit as having a fixed output value among the plurality of digital circuits and the output value.

An independently functioning or centrally controlled wall light switch is configured to operate in normal mode and a Jewish holiday mode wherein the state of the light is fixed, regardless of the user's physical manipulation of the light switch. The control system automatically activates holiday mode by combining a geographically determined Jewish religious clock executed by software and hardware that utilizes the current time, date and geographical location of the apparatus in accordance with the Jewish definition of time and laws for calculating numerous religiously significant shifting daily points in time. The control system further incorporates several energy saving and preference modes by utilizing a particular day's calculated religious points in time in conjunction with holiday behavior patterns common to most Jewish families to provide the user with a greatly simplified means of programming an automatically adjusting on/off light timer and dimming overlay functionality during holiday mode.

Method, apparatus, and program means for performing a conversion. In one embodiment, a disclosed apparatus includes a destination storage location corresponding to a first architectural register. A functional unit operates responsive to a control signal, to convert a first packed first format value selected from a set of packed first format values into a plurality of second format values. Each of the first format values has a plurality of sub elements having a first number of bits The second format values have a greater number of bits. The functional unit stores the plurality of second format values into an architectural register.

Method, apparatus, and program means for performing a conversion. In one embodiment, a disclosed apparatus includes a destination storage location corresponding to a first architectural register. A functional unit operates responsive to a control signal, to convert a first packed first format value selected from a set of packed first format values into a plurality of second format values. Each of the first format values has a plurality of sub elements having a first number of bits The second format values have a greater number of bits. The functional unit stores the plurality of second format values into an architectural register.

Method, apparatus, and program means for performing a conversion. In one embodiment, a disclosed apparatus includes a destination storage location corresponding to a first architectural register. A functional unit operates responsive to a control signal, to convert a first packed first format value selected from a set of packed first format values into a plurality of second format values. Each of the first format values has a plurality of sub elements having a first number of bits The second format values have a greater number of bits. The functional unit stores the plurality of second format values into an architectural register.

Method, apparatus, and program means for performing a conversion. In one embodiment, a disclosed apparatus includes a destination storage location corresponding to a first architectural register. A functional unit operates responsive to a control signal, to convert a first packed first format value selected from a set of packed first format values into a plurality of second format values. Each of the first format values has a plurality of sub elements having a first number of bits The second format values have a greater number of bits. The functional unit stores the plurality of second format values into an architectural register.

A random number generation method and apparatus using a low-power microprocessor is provided. In the random number generation method, a low-power microprocessor determines whether external power is supplied to a random number generator. The low-power microprocessor updates an internal state of the random number generator based on a first scheme if it is determined that the external power is supplied to the random number generator. The low-power microprocessor updates the internal state of the random number generator based on a second scheme different from the first scheme if it is determined that the external power is not supplied to the random number generator.

A function f(x) is calculated with a calculating apparatus that makes a correct calculation with a low probability. Provided that G and H are cyclic groups, f is a function that maps an element x of the group H into the group G, X1 and X2 are random variables whose values are elements of the group G, x1 is a realized value of the random variable X1, and x2 is a realized value of the random variable X2, an integer calculation part calculates integers a' and b' that satisfy a relation a'a+b'b=1 using two natural numbers a and b that are relatively prime. A first randomizable sampler is capable of calculating f(x)bx1 and designates the calculation result as u. A first exponentiation part calculates u'=ua. A second randomizable sampler is capable of calculating f(x)ax2 and designates the calculation result as v. A second exponentiation part calculates v'=vb. A determining part determines whether u'=v' or not. A final calculation part calculates ub'va' in a case where it is determined that u'=v'.

A method and apparatus for including in a processor instructions for performing logical-comparison and branch support operations on packed or unpacked data. In one embodiment, instruction decode logic decodes instructions for an execution unit to operate on packed data elements including logical comparisons. A register file including 128-bit packed data registers stores packed single-precision floating point (SPFP) and packed integer data elements. The logical comparisons may include comparison of SPFP data elements and comparison of integer data elements and setting at least one bit to indicate the results. Based on these comparisons, branch support actions are taken. Such branch support actions may include setting the at least one bit, which in turn may be utilized by a branching unit in response to a branch instruction. Alternatively, the branch support actions may include branching to an indicated target code location.

A method and apparatus for including in a processor instructions for performing logical-comparison and branch support operations on packed or unpacked data. In one embodiment, instruction decode logic decodes instructions for an execution unit to operate on packed data elements including logical comparisons. A register file including 128-bit packed data registers stores packed single-precision floating point (SPFP) and packed integer data elements. The logical comparisons may include comparison of SPFP data elements and comparison of integer data elements and setting at least one bit to indicate the results. Based on these comparisons, branch support actions are taken. Such branch support actions may include setting the at least one bit, which in turn may be utilized by a branching unit in response to a branch instruction. Alternatively, the branch support actions may include branching to an indicated target code location.

A method of generating a code sequence in a wireless communication system is disclosed. More specifically, the method includes recognizing a desired length of the code sequence, generating a code sequence having a length different from the desired length, and modifying the length of the generated code sequence to equal the desired length. Here, the step of modifying includes discarding at least one element of the generated code sequence or inserting at least one null element to the generated code sequence.

A method and apparatus for including in a processor instructions for performing logical-comparison and branch support operations on packed or unpacked data. In one embodiment, instruction decode logic decodes instructions for an execution unit to operate on packed data elements including logical comparisons. A register file including 128-bit packed data registers stores packed single-precision floating point (SPFP) and packed integer data elements. The logical comparisons may include comparison of SPFP data elements and comparison of integer data elements and setting at least one bit to indicate the results. Based on these comparisons, branch support actions are taken. Such branch support actions may include setting the at least one bit, which in turn may be utilized by a branching unit in response to a branch instruction. Alternatively, the branch support actions may include branching to an indicated target code location.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and an apparatus for obtaining equipment identification information, where the method includes: detecting, by using a first GPIO port, a first discharging duration for a capacitor to discharge through a resistor to be tested; detecting, by using a second GPIO port, a second discharging duration for the capacitor to discharge through a fixed value resistor; and obtaining a resistance of the resistor to be tested according to the first discharging duration, the second discharging duration, and a resistance of the fixed value resistor. The embodiments of the present invention are capable of increasing identification efficiency of the GPIO port.

Apparatuses and methods of calibrating a memory interface are described. Calibrating a memory interface can include loading and outputting units of a first data pattern into and from at least a portion of a register to generate a first read capture window. Units of a second data pattern can be loaded into and output from at least the portion of the register to generate a second read capture window. One of the first read capture window and the second read capture window can be selected and a data capture point for the memory interface can be calibrated according to the selected read capture window.

An information processing apparatus includes a plurality of modules connected in a ring shape via a bus, and each module processes a packet flowing in a single direction on the ring in a predetermined order. The module includes a communication unit for transmitting a packet received from a first direction in the ring via the bus to a second direction, a discrimination unit for discriminating a packet from among the packets received from the first direction as a processing packet to be processed by the module, and a processing unit which is connected with the communication unit one by one and configured to process the processing packet. The communication unit transmits the packet processed by the processing unit at an interval equivalent to processing time or more for a processing packet processed by a module in a latter stage in the predetermined order among packets transmitted by the communication unit to the second direction.

A data transfer control apparatus includes a transferring unit that transfers data from a transfer source memory to a transfer destination memory, according to an instruction from a first processor; and a first processor configured to detect a process execute by the first processor, determine whether transfer of the data is urgent, based on the type of the detected process, and control the transferring unit or the first processor to transfer the data, based on a determination result.

Various embodiments include apparatuses, stacked devices and methods of forming dice stacks on an interface die. In one such apparatus, a dice stack includes at least a first die and a second die, and conductive paths coupling the first die and the second die to the common control die. In some embodiments, the conductive paths may be arranged to connect with circuitry on alternating dice of the stack. In other embodiments, a plurality of dice stacks may be arranged on a single interface die, and some or all of the dice may have interleaving conductive paths.

Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to determination of physical connectivity status of devices based on electrical measurement. An embodiment of a method includes discovering a connection of a first device with a second device, and performing an electrical measurement of the second device by the first device via the connection between the first device and the second device, where performing the electrical measurement includes sensing by the first device of an element of the second device. The method further includes, if the sensing by the first device fails to detect the element of the second device and a predetermined condition for the electrical measurement is enabled, then determining by the first device that the connection with the second device has been lost.

A method and an apparatus for generating metadata for digital content are described, which allow to review the generated metadata already in course of ongoing generation of metadata. The metadata generation is split into a plurality of processing tasks, which are allocated to two or more processing nodes. The metadata generated by the two or more processing nodes is gathered and visualized on an output unit.

Some embodiments provide a method for managing a logical switching element that includes several logical ports. The logical switching element receives and sends data packets through the logical ports. The logical switching element is implemented in a set of managed switching elements that forward data packets in a network. The method provides a set of tables for specifying forwarding behaviors of the logical switching element. The method performs a set of database join operations on the tables to specify in the tables that the logical forwarding element drops a data packet received through a first logical port when the data packet is headed to a second logical port different than the first logical port.

Techniques for adaptive thread scheduling on a plurality of cores for reducing system energy are described. In one embodiment, a thread scheduler receives leakage current information associated with the plurality of cores. The leakage current information is employed to schedule a thread on one of the plurality of cores to reduce system energy usage. On chip calibration of the sensors is also described.

A data transfer control apparatus includes a transferring unit that transfers data from a transfer source memory to a transfer destination memory, according to an instruction from a first processor; and a first processor configured to detect a process execute by the first processor, determine whether transfer of the data is urgent, based on the type of the detected process, and control the transferring unit or the first processor to transfer the data, based on a determination result.

Methods and apparatus are provided for evaluating potential resource capacity in a system where there is elasticity and competition between a plurality of containers. A dynamic potential capacity is determined for at least one container in a plurality of containers competing for a total capacity of a larger container. A current utilization by each of the plurality of competing containers is obtained, and an equilibrium capacity is determined for each of the competing containers. The equilibrium capacity indicates a capacity that the corresponding container is entitled to. The dynamic potential capacity is determined based on the total capacity, a comparison of one or more of the current utilizations to one or more of the corresponding equilibrium capacities and a relative resource weight of each of the plurality of competing containers. The dynamic potential capacity is optionally recalculated when the set of plurality of containers is changed or after the assignment of each work element.

A method and apparatus for method of continuously producing 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane with high yield is provided. The method includes (a) bringing a CoF3-containing cobalt fluoride in a reactor into contact with 3,3,3-trifluoropropene to produce a CoF2-containing cobalt fluoride and 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane, (b) transferring the CoF2-containing cobalt fluoride in the reactor to a regenerator and bringing the transferred CoF2-containing cobalt fluoride into contact with fluorine gas to regenerate a CoF3-containing cobalt fluoride, and (c) transferring the CoF3-containing cobalt fluoride in the regenerator to the reactor and employing the transferred CoF3-containing cobalt fluoride in Operation (a). Accordingly, the 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane can be continuously produced with high yield from the 3,3,3-trifluoropropene using a cobalt fluoride (CoF2/CoF3) as a fluid catalyst, thereby improving the reaction stability and readily adjusting the optimum conversion rate and selectivity.

A microfluidic method and device for focusing and/or forming discontinuous sections of similar or dissimilar size in a fluid is provided. The device can be fabricated simply from readily-available, inexpensive material using simple techniques.

A data processing apparatus includes multiple processing means that are connected in a ring shape via corresponding communication means respectively. Each communication means includes a reception means for receiving data from a previous communication means, and a transmission means for transmitting data to a next communication means. Connection information is assigned to each of the reception means and the transmission means. The communication means, when receiving a packet that has same connection information as one assigned to its reception means, causes the corresponding processing means to perform data processing on the packet, sets the connection information assigned to its transmission means to the packet, and transmits the packet to the next communication means, and when receiving a packet that has connection information that is not same as one assigned to its reception means, transmits the packet to the next communication means without changing the connection information of the packet.