CN115883284A

CN115883284A - Network relay device and connection path selection method

Info

Publication number: CN115883284A
Application number: CN202210962299.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 岛田纯平
Original assignee: Elecom Co Ltd
Current assignee: Elecom Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-09-27
Filing date: 2022-08-11
Publication date: 2023-03-31
Also published as: TWI828280B; JP2023053421A; JP7253016B1; JP2023068136A; TW202315365A

Abstract

The present invention provides a network relay device which can be normally and quickly connected to an IPv4 Internet through an IPv4overIPv6 and to which an IPv4 Internet can be connected through a PPPoE connection for communication of a communication terminal device having a failure in the IPv4overIPv 6. Comprising: a PPPoE connection part connected to the IPv4 Internet by means of a PPPoE server; the IPv4overIPv6 connecting part is connected to the first router through an IPv4overIPv6 tunnel and is connected to the IPv4 internet through the first router; a connection path selection unit which determines a connection path to the IPv4 Internet; the connection path selection unit selects a connection path by PBR (policybanderrouting).

Description

Network relay device and connection path selection method

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a network relay apparatus that relays an IPv4 communication terminal apparatus and an IPv4 internet, and a method of selecting a connection path of the network relay apparatus.

Background

The following patent is applied for a network relay apparatus connected to an IPv4 communication terminal apparatus in an IPv4/IPv6 hybrid network environment.

Patent document 1 (japanese patent laid-open No. 2015-164287) discloses an apparatus and method for easily setting an appropriate operation mode for relaying an IPv4 packet.

The network relay device described in patent document 1 includes: a packet relay processing section that sets and operates in any one of a first operation mode operating as a router function section and a second operation mode operating as a bridge function section, thereby relaying an IP packet; an operation mode setting section that selectively sets any one of a first operation mode and a second operation mode as an operation mode of the packet relay processing section; a tunnel processing unit which terminates the IPv4overIPv6 tunnel; a communication test unit that performs a communication test via the relevant tunnel between other network relay devices different from the network relay device that terminates the relevant tunnel; the operation mode setting section sets the operation mode of the packet relay processing section to the first operation mode when the communication test result is that communication is possible.

Patent document 2 (patent No. 6532975) discloses an IPv4overIPv 6-based connection service that can be expanded in the form of a small load.

The connection service described in patent document 2 includes: a shared IP network connection control device installed in a shared IP network managed by a telecommunications carrier and composed of IPv 6; an operator connection control device installed in an ISP network managed by a connection operator; a gateway relay router installed at an end of the ISP network 3 on the shared IP network 2 side; and a client device installed at an end of the user network on the shared IP network side; the client device relays to the shared IP network connection control device, the IPv4 address is allocated by the operator connection control device, a Tunneling technique (Tunneling) using IPv6 encapsulation is performed between the client device and the gateway relay router, and allocation of the connection operator is to be performed by the non-terminal shared IP network connection control device.

Patent document 3 (japanese patent application laid-open No. 2004-007412) discloses a method in which a connected terminal selects a protocol used between PPPoE and IPoE and simultaneously selects a plurality of PPPoE sessions, regarding a gateway device compatible with PPPoE and a control method thereof.

The gateway device described in patent document 3 describes the following: the method comprises the steps of setting an IPoE/PPPoE forwarding table registered with a network address, a protocol type, a destination IP address used in the IPoE and a retrieval index of a PPPoE session used in the PPPoE, selecting a protocol type matched with a destination IP address contained in header information of an IP data packet of an input frame according to the network address on the IPoE/PPPoE forwarding table, and if the selected protocol type is the PPPoE, selecting the PPPoE session from the retrieval index corresponding to the network address.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2015-164287

Patent document 2: japanese patent No. 6532975

Patent document 3: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2004-007412

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problems to be solved by the invention

Currently, in a general home, by contracting with an ISP (internet service provider), it is possible to connect to the IPv4 internet through IPv4 or IPv4overIPv 6. IPv4over IPv6 is a method of constructing an IPv6 tunnel between a home Network Relay device and a BR (Border Relay) installed in a VNE (Virtual Network Enabler) Network, and connecting to the IPv4 internet through the VNE.

When IPv4 internet is connected by PPPoE method, which is a conventional connection method, if traffic increases through the network termination devices of the ISP, the network termination devices become congested and become bottlenecks (bottlesk), which may reduce communication speed.

On the other hand, when IPv4over IPv6 is used to connect to the IPv4 internet, the communication speed is expected to be faster than when the PPPoE method is used to connect to the IPv4 internet. However, there are problems that the number of usable port is limited and a fixed IP address cannot be used in connection with a home communication terminal apparatus. Specifically, it has been confirmed that there are obstacles as follows: some network games have a barrier, and a server cannot be installed, some network cameras cannot be externally accessed to a camera installed in a home, and a VPN such as PPTP or L2TP/IPsec cannot be used.

In particular, in an IPv4over IPv6 communication, in a network environment where a communication terminal device in failure and a communication terminal device in non-failure coexist, complicated network configuration is required, such as installing two routers, one for IPv4over IPv6 connection and one for PPPoE connection, setting a PPPoE bridge for a router for IPv4over IPv6 connection, and allocating terminals connected to each router.

The network relay device described in patent document 1 includes: the system comprises a data packet relay processing part for relaying the IPv4 data packet, a tunnel processing part for terminating the IPv4over IPv6 tunnel, and a communication testing part for carrying out communication testing by means of the IPv4over IPv6 tunnel, wherein an operation mode is selected according to a communication testing result. Therefore, the system can be connected to the IPv4 Internet through a PPPoE mode or connected to the IPv4 Internet through an IPv4over IPv6 mode.

However, the communication test described in patent document 1 is a test for determining which of the 1 st to 4 th connection modes is a network connection mode in which a network relay device is installed, and once the connection mode is determined, it is not considered that the connection mode can be changed during use.

Therefore, the user of the network relay apparatus described in patent document 1 is ready for the communication speed to be lowered, and needs to select one of the following: or the network equipment is connected to the IPv4 Internet in a PPPoE mode, or gives way to obstacles such as a part of network games having obstacles, being incapable of installing servers, and a part of network cameras being incapable of accessing cameras installed at home from the outside, and is connected to the IPv4 Internet through IPv4over IPv6.

The invention described in patent document 2 relates to a communication method when an IPv4 network operator is connected to an IPv6 access network, and when IPv4over IPv6 is provided via an IPv6 shared IP network, the load is small, the network restrictions are reduced, and an environment in which user experience is easily improved is provided, but there is no description about connection to an IPv4 internet using a conventional PPPoE method.

The invention described in patent document 3 is an invention of a gateway device compatible with IPoE and PPPoE for realizing communication between a network built inside an enterprise and an external network, but it is not described in particular how to determine whether to use PPPoE or IPoE for connection to the internet. Patent document 3 does not describe IPv4over IPv6.

It is a main object of the present invention to provide a network relay apparatus that can easily connect to the internet even in a network environment in which a communication terminal apparatus that has a failure in IPv4over IPv6 communication and a communication terminal apparatus that has not failed coexist.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a network relay apparatus which relays a communication terminal apparatus having an IPv4 communication interface and an IPv4 internet, can be connected to the IPv4 internet by an IPv4over IPv6 in general at a high speed, and can be connected to the IPv4 internet by a PPPoE connection at a communication terminal apparatus in which an IPv4over IPv6 failure has occurred.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a network relay apparatus capable of specifying a type of communication from a communication terminal apparatus and connecting to an IPv4 internet through a PPPoE connection for a type of communication in which a failure occurs in IPv4over IPv6.

Means for solving the problems

(1)

A network relay device according to one aspect is a network relay device that relays between a communication terminal device having an IPv4 communication interface and an IPv4 internet, and includes: a PPPoE connection part connected to the IPv4 Internet by means of a PPPoE server, an IPv4over IPv6 connection part connected to the first router via an IPv4over IPv6 tunnel and connected to the IPv4 Internet by means of the first router, and a connection path selection part determining a connection path connected to the IPv4 Internet; the connection path selection unit selects a connection path by PBR (Policy Based Routing).

Typically, the communication route is determined using the destination IP address and a routing table. However, if the routing path connected to the IPv4 internet has two types, i.e., a route by the PPPoE server and a route via the IPv4over IPv6 tunnel, it is impossible to determine which route to select according to the target IP address.

However, the network relay apparatus grasps the IP address and MAC address of the transmission source, and can determine whether or not the communication is from a communication terminal apparatus that has failed in IPv4over IPv6, based on the IP address and/or MAC address of the transmission source. Then, in the case where the route via the IPv4over IPv6 tunnel is generally used, in the case of communication from a communication terminal device that has failed in IPv4over IPv6, by connecting to the IPv4 internet via the PPPoE server, a fast and trouble-free network relay device can be realized.

Further, even when a communication terminal device in which communication failure occurs in IPv4over IPv6 and a communication terminal device in which communication failure does not occur coexist, the router setting of each communication terminal device can be changed, and a special network can be constructed without using a plurality of routers to easily connect to the internet.

In addition, PBR (Policy Based Routing) in the present invention does not determine a transmission destination such as a general IP route only from a target IP address, but has a function of controlling packet (unicast) Routing using other various information.

(2)

With the network relay apparatus according to the second aspect, in the network relay apparatus according to the one aspect, the PBR can select a connection path by the MAC address or SSID of the communication terminal apparatus of the transmission source.

As information that can be used in PBR, for example, an IP address of a transmission source and a MAC address of the transmission source become candidates. However, even with the same communication terminal apparatus, the IP address may change due to reconnection or the like of the communication terminal apparatus. Therefore, when selecting a connection path using the IP address of the communication terminal apparatus of the transmission source, it is necessary to assign a fixed IP by a MAC address by DHCP or manually assign a fixed IP at the client.

In contrast, when the connection path is selected using the MAC address of the communication terminal device of the transmission source, the communication terminal device of the transmission source only needs to be designated with a unique MAC address, and therefore, the designation of the communication terminal device that selects the connection path is simple and reliable.

In addition, if the wireless access point is connected to the LAN-side interface of the network relay apparatus, it is decided whether each SSID (Service Set Identifier) of the wireless access point uses an IPv4over IPv6 connection or a PPPoE connection. In this case, the connection path may be selected by the SSID of the wireless access point instead of the MAC address of the transmission source.

(3)

The network relay device according to the third aspect of the present invention further includes a correspondence table between the MAC address and the model name of the communication terminal device, and the network relay device according to the second aspect of the present invention may select the connection path based on the model name or SSID of the communication terminal device determined from the MAC address using the correspondence table.

When the MAC address of the communication terminal device having a failure in IPv4over IPv6 is set as the network relay device, the user can specify the communication terminal device having a failure and input the MAC address, but it is difficult for the user of a general network relay device to find the MAC address of the communication terminal device having a failure and input the MAC address to the network relay device.

On the other hand, regarding the correspondence of the MAC address with the model name of the communication terminal apparatus, for example, provided by network security software or the like, the model name may be specified from the MAC address.

In addition, a correspondence table of the MAC address and the model name of the communication terminal device may exist on a server connectable to the internet, and the network relay device may access and search the server having the correspondence table.

(4)

The network relay device according to the fourth aspect of the invention further includes a model-specific path selection list for setting a relationship between a model name or SSID of the communication terminal device and a connection path, and the connection path may be selected by the model name or SSID and the model-specific path selection list.

Since the network relay apparatus has the model-specific path selection list therein, when transmitting a packet from the communication terminal apparatus to the network relay apparatus, the network relay apparatus first specifies a model name from the transmission source MAC address in the correspondence table, and then, according to the specified model name or SSID, can specify a connection path to be selected from the model-specific path selection list.

(5)

In the network relay device according to the fifth aspect of the invention, the correspondence between the model name or SSID in the model-specific path selection list and the selected connection path may be set by a user of the communication terminal device.

A user of a communication terminal device will often understand whether the corresponding communication terminal should be connected via IPv4over IPv6 or via PPPoE. Further, when the wireless access point is connected to the LAN-side interface of the network relay apparatus, the user generally understands which connection path each SSID of the wireless access point should select.

In this case, the user can easily and reliably set the correspondence between the model name or SSID and the selected connection path. In the case of user settings, the settings may also be changed if a failure occurs during use.

However, as for the initial value of the model-specific path selection list, it is desirable that the network relay apparatus set the initial value as appropriate.

For example, in some communication terminal devices such as servers and network cameras that require a fixed IP address and communication terminal devices that use PPTP or L2TP/IPsec for VPN connection, some functions may not be available according to the IPoE mechanism, and therefore PPPoE may be selected as an initial setting.

In this case, model-specific path selection may be performed using the initial values that are set, and the user may change the settings when a failure occurs.

(6)

The network relay apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the network relay apparatus according to the fourth or fifth aspect, further comprising a communication type specifying unit configured to specify a type of communication transmitted from the communication terminal apparatus, wherein the connection path is selectable based on the model name and the type of communication.

For example, when the communication terminal device is a game machine, even in the same game machine in a network game or the like, there are a game in which a failure has occurred and a game in which no failure has occurred when communication is performed by IPv4overIPv 6. This is because the types of communications used in network games are different. Therefore, by having the communication type specifying section that identifies the type of communication and the communication specific path selection list for the network relay apparatus, the connection function can be selected according to the game type instead of the game machine unit.

In addition, in terms of accuracy and speed of connection function selection, when selecting a connection function, it is first determined whether or not it is a model likely to malfunction in the model-specific path selection list according to the type of communication, and it is preferable to activate a function of identifying the type of communication only for the model likely to malfunction.

(7)

A Network relay device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the Network relay device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, further comprising an IPv6 connection unit that is connected to a communication terminal device having an IPv6 communication interface and is connectable to the IPv6 internet via a second router of an ISP (internet service provider) or via a Network having an IPv6 closed Network and a VNE (virtual Network enable).

In the future, communication terminal apparatuses having an IPv6 communication interface are expected to increase, and in communication terminal apparatuses having both IPv4 and IPv6, users using IPv6 are also expected to increase.

Therefore, the network relay apparatus is expected to be connected to both a communication terminal apparatus having an IPv6 communication interface and an IPv6 internet.

Further, there are a system of connecting to the IPv6 internet via a network having an IPv6 closed network and a VNE, and a system of connecting directly via a second router of an ISP, but the network relay device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is expected to be able to cope with either system.

(8)

In the network relay device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the communication terminal device includes at least one of a personal computer, a smartphone, a game machine, a network camera, an internet of things home appliance, and a network server, and the PPPoE connection path can be selected for a communication terminal device that requires a fixed IP address and a communication terminal device that performs VPN connection using PPTP or L2 TP/IPsec.

The network relay device of the present invention can cope with communication terminal devices which may have a failure when a game machine, a network camera, or the like communicates through IPv4over IPv6, and can realize high-speed IPv4over IPv6 communication and can be used in a wide range of communication terminal devices.

(9)

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connection path selection method for a network relay device that relays between a communication terminal device having an IPv4 communication interface and an IPv4 internet, the method comprising: the PPPoE connection part is connected to the IPv4 internet by a PPPoE server, and the IPv4over IPv6 connection part is connected to the first router by an IPv4over IPv6 tunnel and is connected to the IPv4 server by the first router; the connection path selection method includes: an MAC address extraction step of extracting an MAC address of a communication terminal device of a transmission source; a communication terminal device specifying step of specifying a model name of the communication terminal device by using the MAC address; judging whether the connection can be made to the appointed model name through IPv4overIPv6 in the judging procedure of the model specific connection path; and a connection path selection process, wherein if the connection can be performed through IPv4over IPv6, the connection is performed through IPv4over IPv6, and if the IPv4over IPv6 connection possibly fails, the connection is performed through PPPoE.

With the connection path selection method according to the other aspect, the MAC address of the communication terminal device of the transmission source is extracted, the type of the communication terminal device is specified using the correspondence table between the MAC address and the type of the communication terminal device, if the communication terminal can be connected by IPv4over IPv6, the connection is by IPv4over IPv6, if a failure is likely to occur by IPv4over IPv6 connection, the IPv4 internet is connected by means of the PPPoE server, the burden is not imposed on the user, and the connection to the IPv4 internet can be made in a state without failure.

In addition, a correspondence table of the MAC address and the type of the communication terminal device exists in a server that can be connected to the internet, and the network relay device can access and search the server having the correspondence table.

(10)

In the connection path selection method according to the tenth aspect of the invention, in the connection path selection method according to the other aspect, the connection path selection method further includes a communication type specifying step of specifying a type of communication transmitted from the communication terminal apparatus, and in the model-specific connection path judging step, whether or not connection is possible through IPv4over IPv6 may be judged by a model name of the communication terminal apparatus and the type of communication transmitted from the communication terminal apparatus.

For example, when the communication terminal device is a game machine, even in the same game machine in a network game or the like, there are a game in which a failure has occurred and a game in which no failure has occurred when communication is performed by IPv4overIPv 6. This is because the types of communications used in network games are different. Therefore, by identifying the type of communication for the network relay apparatus and determining whether a failure occurs when the communication is connected through IPv4over IPv6, it is possible to more accurately determine whether a failure exists.

In addition, in terms of accuracy and speed of selection of the connection function, when the connection function is selected, it is first determined whether or not the model is a model likely to fail in the model-specific connection path determination process based on the type of communication, and it is preferable to activate the function of identifying the type of communication only for the model likely to fail.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a network relay apparatus according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a 1 st network connection method using the network relay apparatus according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a 2 nd network connection method using the network relay apparatus according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a flow of connection path selection in the network relay apparatus according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a table showing an example of the MAC address/device correspondence table 55 in the network relay device according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a table showing an example of a model-specific routing list in the network relay apparatus according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a network relay apparatus according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a flow of connection path selection in the network relay apparatus according to the second embodiment.

Description of the reference numerals

15 PPPoE connecting part

20 IPv4overIPv6 connection

25 IPv6 connecting part

50. Connection path selecting section

65. Communication type specifying section

100. Network relay device

110. Communication terminal device

120 IPv4 internet

130 PPPoE server

140 IPv4overIPv6 tunnel

150. First router

160 IPv6 internet

170. Second router

180 IPv6 closed network

190 VNE (VertualNetworkEnabler: virtual network provider)

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, like parts are denoted by like reference numerals. In addition, in the case of the same reference numerals, their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

First embodiment

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a network relay apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment, fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a first network connection method using the network relay apparatus 100, and fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a second network connection method using the network relay apparatus 100. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a flow of connection path selection in the network relay apparatus 100, fig. 5 is a table showing an example of the MAC address/apparatus correspondence table 55 of the network relay apparatus 100, and fig. 6 is a table showing an example of the model-specific path selection list 57 in the network relay apparatus 100.

(configuration of network Relay device 100)

As shown in fig. 1, the network relay apparatus 100 includes a data relay processing unit 10, an interface unit 30, and a connection path selecting unit 50.

The data relay processing unit 10 includes: the PPPoE connection 15, through which IPv4 packets are transmitted via an ISP (Internet Service Provider ) to the IPv4 Internet 120; an IPv4over IPv6 connection unit 20 for connecting the IPv4 packet to the IPv4 internet 120 via an IPv4over IPv6 tunnel 140 by means of an ISP's first router 150; and an IPv6 connection unit 25 for connecting the IPv6 packet to the IPv6 internet 160 via the ISP's second router 170. In addition, the IPv4over IPv6 connection 20 and the IPv6 connection 25 can be connected to the IPv4 internet 120 and the IPv6 internet 160 via an IPv6 closed Network 180 and a VNE (vertical Network Enabler) 190, respectively.

In the present embodiment, the data relay Processing Unit 10, the interface Unit 30, and the connection path selection Unit 50 of the network relay apparatus 100 are each configured as independent hardware, but at least a part of the functions of the network relay apparatus 100 may be realized by operating a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) based on a predetermined program.

The interface section 30 has a WAN side I/F35 connected to the PPPoE server 130, the first router 150, the second router 170, and the like; and a LAN side I/F (interface) 40 connected to a communication terminal device 110 such as a personal computer, a smart phone, a game machine, a network camera, and a network server.

The communication terminal device 110 includes at least one of a personal computer, a smart phone, a game machine, a network camera, an internet-of-things appliance, and a network server. A PPPoE connection path needs to be selected for a communication terminal device 110 that needs a fixed IP address and a communication terminal device 110 that performs VPN connection by PPTP or L2 TP/IPsec.

In general, selection of a connection path in the network relay apparatus 100 is performed based on a destination IP address. However, selection of a connection path between the PPPoE connection path and the IPv4over IPv6 connection path cannot be performed through the target IP address. Therefore, the connection path selection section 50 selects a connection path based on the transmission source information by PBR (Policy based routing).

Specifically, the method comprises: a control unit 60 that extracts information such as an IP address and a MAC address of IPv4 data transmitted from the communication terminal device 110, and selects whether to transmit the IPv4 data via a PPPoE connection path or to transmit the IPv4 data via an IPv4over IPv6 connection path; a MAC address/device correspondence table 55 for specifying a model name of the communication terminal device 110 based on the MAC address; and a model-specific path selection list 57 for setting a relationship between the model name or SSID of the communication terminal apparatus 110 and the connection path.

(first network connection mode)

Fig. 2 shows a first network connection method using the network relay apparatus 100.

The communication terminal device 110 having an IPv4 communication interface and/or the communication terminal device 110 having an IPv6 communication interface is connected to the LAN side of the network relay device 100. In addition, the communication terminal device 110 has both an IPv4 communication interface and an IPv6 communication interface, and can perform IPv4 communication or IPv6 communication as necessary.

On the WAN side of the network relay apparatus 100, an IPv4 connection path connected to the PPPoE server 130 of the ISP, an IPv4over IPv6 connection path connected to the first router 150 of the ISP, and an IPv6 connection path connected to the second router 170 of the ISP are connected. The IPv4over IPv6 tunnel 140 is provided between the network relay apparatus 100 and the first router 150, and is terminated by the network relay apparatus 100 and the first router 150. Terminating the tunnel means encapsulating the IPv4 packet into an IPv6 packet and extracting the IPv4 packet from the IPv6 packet.

In addition, the PPPoE server 130 and the first router 150 are connected to the IPv4 internet 120, and the second router 170 is connected to the IPv6 internet 160.

The network relay apparatus 100 selects one connection unit in the data relay processing unit 10 according to the determination of the connection path selection unit 50, and the selected connection unit transmits data to the IPv4 internet 120 or the IPv6 internet 160 via the corresponding connection path.

(second network connection mode)

Fig. 3 shows a second network connection scheme using the network relay apparatus 100.

In the second connection mode, the IPv4 connection path connected to the PPPoE server 130 is the same as the first connection mode except that the IPv4over IPv6 connection path and the IPv6 connection path are connected to the internet via the IPv6 closed Network 180 and VNE190 (vertical Network Enabler) such as the FLET' S Network of NTT.

The IPv4over IPv6 tunnel 140 is provided between the network relay apparatus 100 and the fourth router 210, and is terminated by the network relay apparatus 100 and the fourth router 210. The third router 200 is a router device at the ingress to the IPv6 closed network 180.

The fourth Router 210 is a device for terminating the IPv4over IPv6 tunnel 140, for example, an AFTR (Address Family translation Router), and the fifth Router 220 has a function of mutually translating between an IPv4 private Address such as CGN (Carrier Grade NAT) and an IPv4 global Address.

The LAN side of the network relay apparatus 100 is connected in the same manner as the first network connection.

(flow chart of connection Path selection)

Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of connection path selection in the network relay apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, each step will be explained.

(S1) stands by until transmission data is received from communication terminal apparatus 110.

(S2) extracting the MAC address of the transmission source when the transmission data is received.

(S3) specifies the model name of the communication terminal device 110 of the transmission source using the extracted MAC address and the MAC address/device correspondence table 55 (see fig. 5).

(S4) referring to the model-specific path selection list 57 (refer to fig. 6) that sets the relationship of the model name or SSID of the communication terminal apparatus 110 and the connection path, it is confirmed whether or not the transmission source communication terminal apparatus 110 has failed.

(S5) if there is a possibility of a failure in the model of the communication terminal device 110 as the transmission source, a PPPoE connection path is selected. In addition, it is desirable to select a PPPoE connection path even though a failure may occur according to the type of communication in the model-specific path selection list 57.

(S6) if the model of the communication terminal device 110 of the transmission source has not failed, selecting an IPv4over IPv6 connection path having a faster communication speed.

(S7) transmitting the data to the IPv4 internet 120 through the selected connection path.

(MAC address/device correspondence table 55)

Fig. 5 shows an example of the MAC address/device correspondence table 55. In the MAC address/device correspondence table 55, the vendor and model names of the communication terminal devices 110 can be retrieved for each MAC address.

The MAC address/device correspondence table 55 exists in a server that can be connected to the internet, and the network relay apparatus 100 can access and search the server having the correspondence table.

(model-specific routing List 57)

Fig. 6 shows an example of a model-specific routing list 57. In fig. 6, it is described whether each device model name or SSID should be connected through IPv4over IPv6 or PPPoE. Furthermore, it is also described whether a connection over PPPoE is required depending on the type of communication.

The model-specific routing list 57 exists in a server that can be connected to the internet, and the network relay apparatus 100 may access the server having the correspondence table and search for it.

The user of the communication terminal device 110 will generally understand whether the corresponding communication terminal device 110 should be connected via IPv4over IPv6 or should be connected via PPPoE. Further, when the wireless access point is connected to the LAN-side interface 40 of the network relay apparatus 100, the user generally understands that a certain connection path should be selected for each SSID of the wireless access point.

In this case, the user can easily judge whether to connect through IPv4overIPv6 or PPPoE, and since the judgment is reliable, the user can fill in the connection path column of the model-specific path selection list 57. In the case of user settings, the settings may be altered if a failure occurs during use.

However, as for the initial values of the model-specific path selection list 57, it is desirable that the network relay apparatus 100 automatically sets the initial values deemed appropriate for each model.

For example, in some communication terminal devices such as servers and cameras that require a fixed IP address and communication terminal devices that use PPTP or L2TP/IPsec for VPN connection, some functions may not be available according to the IPoE mechanism, and therefore PPPoE may be selected as an initial setting.

Second embodiment

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the network relay apparatus 100a according to the second embodiment, and fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a connection path selection flow in the network relay apparatus 100a according to the second embodiment. The network connection method, MAC address/device correspondence table 55, and model-specific routing list 57 are the same as those of the network relay device 100 according to the first embodiment.

(configuration of network Relay device 100 a)

A network relay device 100a according to a second embodiment shown in fig. 7 is the network relay device 100 according to the first embodiment, in which a communication type specifying unit 65 and a communication specific path selection list 59 are added to the connection path selecting unit 50.

For example, when the communication terminal device 110 is a game machine, even in a network game or the like, there are a game in which a failure occurs and a game in which no failure occurs when communication is performed by IPv4over IPv6 in the same game machine. This is because the types of communications used in network games are different. Therefore, by having the network relay apparatus 100 have a function of identifying the type of communication, the connection function can be selected according to the game type rather than according to the game machine unit.

The network relay apparatus 100a according to the second embodiment includes the communication type specifying unit 65 in the connection path selecting unit 50, and identifies the type of communication transmitted from the communication terminal apparatus 110 as a transmission source.

Further, in the case of a game machine or the like, it is determined whether or not the identified type of communication is a failed communication by a communication specific path selection list 59 describing the type of communication that has failed when the communication is performed by IPv4overIPv6, and if it is the failed communication, a PPPoE connection path is selected. When identifying the Type of communication, the router may be referred to parameters for determining the priority of the packet in the QoS (quality of Service) control, such as the TCP/UDP port number or the TOS (Type of Service) field of the IPv4 header.

In addition, in terms of accuracy and speed of connection path selection, when selecting a connection path, it is first determined whether a model needs to be connected by PPPoE in the model-specific path selection list 57 according to the type of communication, and it is preferable that a function of identifying the type of communication is activated only for the communication terminal device 110 that needs to be connected by PPPoE according to the type of communication.

Further, when the user selects a path in the model-specific path selection list 57, the path selected by the user may be connected in preference to the path selected by the communication type specifying section 65.

(flow chart of connection Path selection)

Fig. 8 shows a flowchart of connection path selection in the network relay apparatus 100a according to the second embodiment. The flowchart of fig. 8 is the same as the flowchart of fig. 4 except that steps S13 to S15 are added to the flowchart of fig. 4.

In the first embodiment, in the case of a device in which an IPv4over IPv6 connection fails in step S4, a PPPoE connection path is selected, but in the second embodiment, even in the case where it is determined in step S4 that a device has failed, it is further determined whether or not the device has failed in all communications (step S13). For example, a network camera having a fixed IP address is required to correspond to a device that has failed in all communications. On the other hand, in the network game machine, since a failure may not occur depending on the type of communication, it is determined that not all the communications have failed. Then, in the case of a device in which all communications have failed, a PPPoE connection path is selected (step S5).

If it is judged that not all the communications have failed, the communication type specifying section 65 specifies the type of the communications (step S14).

If the type of the specified communication is a communication in which a failure occurs in IPv4over IPv6, a PPPoE connection path is selected, and if not, an IPv4over IPv6 connection path is selected (step S15).

In the present invention, the communication terminal device 110 corresponds to a "communication terminal device", the

network relay devices

100, 100a correspond to a "network relay device", the PPPoE server 130 corresponds to a "PPPoE server", the IPv4 internet 120 corresponds to an "IPv4 internet", the PPPoE connection 15 corresponds to a "PPPoE connection", the IPv4over IPv6 tunnel 140 corresponds to an "IPv4over IPv6 tunnel", the first router 150 corresponds to a "first router", the IPv4over IPv6 connection 20 corresponds to an "IPv4over IPv6 connection", the connection path selection unit 50 corresponds to a "connection path selection unit", the communication type designation unit 65 corresponds to a "communication type designation unit", the IPv6 connection 25 corresponds to an "IPv6 connection", the second router 170 corresponds to a "second router", the IPv6 closed network 180 corresponds to an "IPv6 closed network", the VNE190 corresponds to a "network with a VNE", and the IPv6 internet 160 corresponds to an "IPv6 internet 160".

The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described above, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be appreciated that various embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In the present embodiment, the operation and effect of the structure of the present invention are described, but these operation and effect are only an example and are not intended to limit the present invention.

Claims

1. A network relay device for relaying between a communication terminal device equipped with an IPv4 communication interface and an IPv4 Internet, comprising:

a PPPoE connection part connected to the IPv4 Internet by means of a PPPoE server,

an IPv4over IPv6 connection part connected to a first router via an IPv4over IPv6 tunnel and connected to the IPv4 Internet by means of the first router,

a connection path selection unit which determines a connection path to the IPv4 internet;

wherein the connection path selection part selects the connection path by a PBR.

2. The network relay according to claim 1,

in the PBR, the connection path is selected by a MAC address or SSID of the communication terminal device of a transmission source.

3. The network relay according to claim 2,

further having a correspondence table between the MAC address and the model name of the communication terminal apparatus,

the connection path is selected based on the model name or the SSID of the communication terminal device determined using the correspondence table from the MAC address.

4. The network relay according to claim 3,

further having a model-specific path selection list for setting a relationship between the model name or the SSID of the communication terminal apparatus and the connection path,

the selection of the connection path is made according to the model name or the SSID and the model-specific path selection list.

5. The network relay according to claim 4,

the correspondence relationship between the model name or the SSID in the model-specific path selection list and the selected connection path is set by a user of the communication terminal apparatus.

6. The network relay according to claim 4,

further comprising a communication type specifying section that specifies a type of communication transmitted from the communication terminal apparatus,

the selection of the connection path is selected based on the model name and the type of the communication.

7. The network relay according to claim 1,

and further has an IPv6 connection part, and is connected to the communication terminal apparatus having an IPv6 communication interface to connect to the IPv6 Internet by means of a second router of an ISP or via a network having an IPv6 closed network and a VNE.

8. The network relay according to claim 1,

the communication terminal device comprises at least one of a personal computer, a smart phone, a game machine, a network camera, an Internet of things household appliance and a network server,

and selecting the connection path of the PPPoE by the communication terminal device which needs to fix the IP address and the communication terminal device which carries out VPN connection through PPTP or L2 TP/IPsec.

9. A connection path selection method for a network relay apparatus that relays between a communication terminal apparatus having an IPv4 communication interface and an IPv4 Internet,

the network relay apparatus includes: a PPPoE connection part connected to the IPv4 Internet by means of a PPPoE server, an IPv4over IPv6 connection part connected to a first router via an IPv4over IPv6 tunnel, and connected to the IPv4 Internet by means of the first router;

the connection path selection method includes:

an MAC address extraction step of extracting an MAC address of the communication terminal apparatus of a transmission source;

a communication terminal device specifying step of specifying a model name of the communication terminal device by using the MAC address;

a model-specific connection path judgment step of judging whether the connection to the specified model name is possible through IPv4overIPv 6;

in the connection path selection step, if the connection can be made through IPv4over IPv6, the connection is made through IPv4over IPv6, and if there is a possibility of a failure in the IPv4over IPv6 connection, the connection is made through PPPoE.

10. The connection path selection method according to claim 9,

the connection path selecting method further includes a communication type specifying step of specifying a type of communication transmitted from the communication terminal apparatus,

the model-specific connection path determination step determines whether or not connection by IPv4over IPv6 is possible, based on the model name of the communication terminal apparatus and the type of communication transmitted from the communication terminal apparatus.