Test method and apparatus capable of testing reception of a desired cell through a virtual path

摘要

In a test method and apparatus for testing a virtual path in an asynchronous transfer mode system, a sequence number is included in an operation administrating monitoring (OAM) cell to specify the OAM cell for testing a virtual path between transmission and reception sides. The sequence number is inserted into the OAM cell by the use of an idle cell and is received by a sequence number test circuit included in the reception side. The sequence number in the OAM is collated with a result of counting the OAM cell in the reception side to detect coincidence or non-coincidence between the sequence number and the result of counting. On detecting the non-coincidence, a loss of the OAM cell or wrong reception of the OAM cell is detected on the reception side. Otherwise normal operation is confirmed between the transmission and the reception sides.