APPARATUS AND METHOD TO TRANSFER PATH INFORMATION DEPENDING ON A DEGREE OF PRIORITY OF A PATH

An apparatus includes line interface cards coupled to a plurality of paths, a first processor configured to control the line interface cards, and a controller including a second processor. The second processor is configured to detect notification information from the line interface cards and determine whether the detected notification information is priority path notification information indicating information on a priority path having a high priority level among the plurality of paths, and transfer the priority path notification information to the first processor, with a higher priority than non-priority path notification information indicating information on a non-priority path other than the priority path.