JP2011125056A - Home agent - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure reachability of a packet addressed to a mobile terminal MN#1 without wasting radio resource even when switching network interface card (NIC) to be used. <P>SOLUTION: A home agent HA1 includes: a packet receiving section 52 for receiving, from a mobile node MN#1 having a plurality of network interface cards, representative home address determined from among home addresses related to the network interface cards; and a packet transfer section 53 for transferring the packet addressed to the mobile terminal to the representative home address. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a control device that are used in a packet communication system in which a control device realizes route control for a packet addressed to a received mobile terminal.

  In addition, the present invention obtains the location information of the mobile terminal by transmitting a paging notification packet to the paging area of the mobile terminal when the control device receives the packet addressed to the mobile terminal. The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a control device used in a packet communication system that realizes paging control for determining a packet transfer destination.

  Furthermore, the present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a home agent that are used in a packet communication system in which a plurality of home agents realize route control for received packets addressed to a mobile terminal based on a home address and a care-of address, respectively.

  In a conventional packet communication system, an address resolution protocol (ARP) that associates a link layer address (or card address) of a network interface card with a network layer address (IP address) prior to transfer of an IP packet using a unicast address. : Address Resolution Protocol (NDP) and Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP), the reachability of the IP packet is ensured.

  Note that the IP address is determined by a static setting assigned in advance to the network interface card, is determined by a dynamic setting such as DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), or is linked using an address automatic generation technique found in IPv6. It is determined by calculation based on the network interface card address or random number of the layer.

  In a conventional packet communication system, when a mobile terminal (mobile node or host) has a plurality of network interface cards as packet arrival means, a network corresponding to a communication link system with a low communication cost from the plurality of network interface cards A user-oriented interface utilization technique such as selecting an interface card has been realized as an interactive application technique such as an access link manager.

  In such a case, a multiple interface manager (MIM) that manages a plurality of network interface cards is known as an autonomous network interface card selection method. The MIM is configured to perform a predetermined condition determination using attributes, measurement values, and the like collected from each network interface card and select a network interface card to be used.

  Conventionally, as a packet communication system that realizes packet transfer addressed to a mobile terminal, Mobile IP and a packet communication system that performs mobility management control, which is an extension technology thereof, are known. In such mobility management control, the home address is used as a packet transfer control unit. Here, the home address is assigned to the mobile terminal in the home link where the home agent exists, and is an IP address belonging to the subnet of the home link.

  When the mobile terminal (mobile node) has a plurality of home addresses as packet arrival means, for example, a plurality of home agents corresponding to the usage or type of communication system used. In the same home agent or in a multi-homing state having a plurality of home addresses in the same home agent, each home address is used as a unit to control the route independently.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-74927 JP 2000-183905 A JP-A-11-355322

  However, in the conventional technique for selecting a network interface card in a packet communication system, the IP address (network layer address) is not particularly taken into consideration, and thus the correspondence between the network interface card and the IP address is not maintained. Therefore, in the conventional network interface card selection technology, even when the network interface card is assigned the same IP address, every time the network interface card to be used is switched, There has been a problem that address resolution means such as ARP and NDP are required.

  Also, the conventional network interface card selection technique has a problem in that a packet route changing procedure is required because the IP address to be used changes when the network interface card to be used is switched.

  For example, in the IPv6 address automatic generation technology using the link layer address, even when belonging to the same network domain, the IP address to be used is changed every time the network interface card to be used is switched, so a packet route changing procedure is required. Become.

  Even in the case of automatic IP address assignment (dynamic setting) by the network side such as DHCP, if the type and owner of the communication link (access link) system is different, the network domain is generally different, so it is used. Each time the network interface card is switched, the IP address to be used changes, and a packet route changing procedure is required.

  That is, in the conventional packet communication system, each time the network interface card to be used is switched, the mobile terminal reaches the mobile terminal with respect to a control device (route control agent, relay agent, etc.) or transmission terminal in the IP network. It is necessary to register an IP address that can be used. Therefore, the conventional packet communication system has a problem in that radio resources are wasted because IP packets related to these registrations pass through the radio link.

  In addition, such a problem is that, by performing the location registration of the mobile terminal in units of paging areas wider than the location registration area, the amount of control signal related to the location registration control of the mobile terminal is reduced, and the mobile terminal In the paging control technology that realizes power saving in conjunction with the intermittent reception technology, there is a high possibility that the paging agent will not be able to accurately acquire the location information (subnet) of the mobile terminal.

  On the other hand, in the conventional mobility management technology, since a correspondence relationship between a plurality of IP addresses allocated to the same mobile terminal is not maintained, when an IP packet is transmitted to the mobile terminal, a transfer route associated with a specific home address is If it is unreachable due to a link disconnection or the like, there is a problem that the transfer of the IP packet fails even if the transfer route associated with another home address is valid and reachable.

  Also in the conventional packet communication system, the mobile terminal dynamically changes a plurality of IP addresses between valid and invalid based on usage, communication cost, and power saving control of the network interface card. However, since correspondence between IP addresses is not maintained, there is a problem in that packet transfer from the transmission terminal to the mobile terminal fails. In such a case, every time the mobile terminal changes the validity / invalidity of the IP address, it notifies the transmission terminal and / or name resolution (DNS: Domain Name System) server to that effect by a control packet. There was a problem of wasting resources.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and even when switching a network interface card to be used, a packet capable of ensuring packet reachability without wasting radio resources. An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal, a control device, and a home agent used in a communication system.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, when the control device receives a packet addressed to a mobile terminal, the control device obtains location information of the mobile terminal by transmitting a paging notification packet to the paging area of the mobile terminal. A mobile terminal used in a packet communication system for realizing paging control for determining a transfer destination of the packet, and collecting a plurality of network interface cards and link layer addresses set in each of the network interface cards A collecting unit that performs determination, a determining unit that determines a representative link layer address from the collected link layer addresses, and the representative link when transmitting a paging registration packet for forming the paging area to the control device. A notification unit for notifying a layer address, and the representative link layer address And summarized in that comprises an address resolution unit for performing address resolution using fine predetermined network layer address.

  According to this invention, even when the mobile terminal is provided with a plurality of network interfaces, address resolution is performed using the representative link layer address and the predetermined network layer address. Generation of IP packets (for example, paging registration packets) can be suppressed.

  In addition, according to the invention, by determining the representative link layer address based on the usage, communication quality, communication cost, power saving control, etc., all packets are received through the optimal transfer path satisfying various conditions. can do.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that a representative link layer address setting unit configured to set the representative link layer address in all the network interface cards is provided.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that a filtering control unit is provided that instructs all the network interface cards to stop the address filtering function in the link layer.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the control device receives a packet addressed to a mobile terminal, the control device obtains location information of the mobile terminal by transmitting a paging notification packet to the paging area of the mobile terminal. A control device used in a packet communication system for realizing paging control for determining a transfer destination of the packet, in order to form a paging area of the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal having a plurality of network interface cards Together with the paging registration packet, a receiving unit for receiving the representative link layer address determined from the link layer addresses set in each of the network interface cards, and the network layer address assigned to the mobile terminal and reception Based on the representative link layer address That it comprises a management unit which manages the paging area of the mobile terminal is summarized as.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile terminal used in a packet communication system in which a control device realizes path control for a received packet destined for a mobile terminal, comprising: a plurality of network interface cards; and the network interface card A link layer address collecting unit that collects the link layer address set in each of the network, and a notification unit that notifies the control device of a predetermined network layer address and the collected plurality of link layer addresses. And

  In the third aspect of the present invention, when the packet communication system receives a packet addressed to a mobile terminal, the control device transmits a paging notification packet to the paging area of the mobile terminal, The paging control for acquiring the location information of the mobile terminal and determining the transfer destination of the packet is realized, wherein the notifying unit and the paging registration packet for forming the paging area together with the plurality of link layers It is preferable to notify the address.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control device used in a packet communication system in which a control device realizes path control for a received packet destined for a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal comprising a plurality of network interface cards. From the receiving unit that receives a plurality of link layer addresses set in each of the network interface cards, based on the network layer address assigned to the mobile terminal and the received plurality of representative link layer addresses, And a management unit that manages route control information for realizing the route control.

  In the fourth feature of the present invention, when the packet communication system receives a packet addressed to a mobile terminal, the control device transmits a paging notification packet to the paging area of the mobile terminal, thereby Paging control for acquiring location information of a mobile terminal and determining a transfer destination of the packet is realized, and the receiving unit performs paging of the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal having a plurality of network interface cards. A plurality of link layer addresses set in each of the network interface cards are received together with a paging registration packet for forming an area, and the management unit receives the network layer address and the received plurality of representative link layer addresses. To manage the paging area of the mobile terminal based on It is preferred.

  A fifth feature of the present invention is a mobile terminal used in a packet communication system in which a plurality of home agents realize path control for received packets destined for a mobile terminal based on a home address and a care-of address, respectively. A plurality of network interface cards connectable to each of the plurality of home agents, a management unit that manages each of the network interface cards in association with the home address, and the movement from among the plurality of network interface cards A determination unit that determines a representative network interface card that receives a packet addressed to a terminal, and the movement to a representative home address associated with the representative network interface card with respect to the plurality of home agents And summarized in that includes an instruction unit that instructs to forward packets youngest addressed.

  In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the instruction unit preferably instructs the plurality of home agents by binding update for the representative home address.

  In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the packet communication system is configured to forward a packet addressed to the mobile terminal to the home agent via a DNS server, and the instructing unit transmits a packet to the DNS server. It is preferable to instruct the representative home address to transfer the packet addressed to the mobile terminal.

  A sixth feature of the present invention is a home agent used in a packet communication system in which a plurality of home agents realize path control for received packets destined for a mobile terminal based on a home address and a care-of address, respectively. Receiving a representative home address determined from the home addresses associated with each of the network interface cards from the mobile terminal having a plurality of network interface cards; And a packet transfer unit that transfers a packet addressed to the mobile terminal.

  In the sixth aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus includes a route information management unit that manages route information addressed to the representative home address, and the packet forwarding unit is addressed to the mobile terminal based on the route information addressed to the representative home address. It is preferable that the route information management unit updates the route information addressed to the representative home address by the binding update from the mobile terminal.

  In the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the packet communication system receives a packet addressed to a mobile terminal, the packet communication system transmits a paging notification packet to the paging area of the mobile terminal. And the routing information addressed to the representative home address is set to transfer the packet addressed to the mobile terminal to the control device. Is preferred.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even when a network interface card NIC to be used is switched, it is used in a packet communication system capable of ensuring packet reachability without wasting radio resources. Mobile terminals, control devices and home agents can be provided.

It is a whole block diagram of the packet communication system which concerns on the 1st thru | or 3rd embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the mobile node which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the path control agent which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the packet communication system in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the packet communication system in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the mobile node which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the packet communication system in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the packet communication system in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the mobile node which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the management content in the paging area management part of the routing agent which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the packet communication system in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the packet communication system in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a whole block diagram of the packet communication system which concerns on 4th and 5th embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the mobile node which concerns on 4th and 5th embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the home agent which concerns on 4th and 5th embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the packet communication system in the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the packet communication system in the 5th Embodiment of this invention.

(Configuration of packet communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention)
The configuration of the packet communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the packet communication system according to this embodiment includes routing agents MA and PA, access routers AR1 and AR2, communication link systems AP1, BS1, and BS2, and a mobile node MN # 1. is doing.

  In the packet communication system according to the present embodiment, when the routing agent (control device) PA receives a packet addressed to the mobile node (mobile terminal) MN # 1, the paging area of the mobile node MN # 1 is By transmitting a paging notification packet, paging control for acquiring the location information (subnet) of the mobile node MN # 1 and determining the transfer destination of the packet is realized.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile node MN # 1 includes a plurality of network interface cards NIC # 1 to NIC # n, a communication manager MIM, a control unit 15, and an upper layer manager 100.

  The plurality of network interface cards NIC # 1 to NIC # n are configured such that MAC addresses (link layer addresses) are respectively set.

The network interface card NIC # 1 is configured to be connectable to the communication link system AP1, and the network interface card NIC # 2 is configured to be connectable to the communication link systems BS1 and BS2.

  The mobile node MN # 1 can be connected to the IP network via the communication link system and the access router AR by the network interface cards NIC # 1 to NIC # n.

  The communication manager MIM includes a link layer address collection unit 11, a network interface card information storage unit 12, a network interface card determination unit 13, and a representative link layer address setting unit 14.

  The link layer address collection unit 11 constitutes a collection unit that collects MAC addresses set in each of the network interface cards NIC # 1 to NIC # n. The link layer address collection unit 11 is configured to collect the characteristics of the network interface cards NIC # 1 to NIC # n together with the MAC address described above from each of the network interface cards NIC # 1 to NIC # n. May be.

  The network interface card information storage unit 12 stores information related to the network interface card such as MAC addresses and features collected from each of the network interface cards NIC # 1 to NIC # n. Here, the above-described features include the types of connectable communication link systems, communication costs, power measurement values, priority orders reflecting user preferences (usage status for business use, etc.), and the like.

  The network interface card determination unit 13 constitutes a determination unit that determines a representative MAC address from the collected MAC addresses. The network interface card determination unit 13 selects a network interface card that matches a predetermined condition based on the collected features described above, and selects a representative MAC address from the selected network interface cards according to an instruction from the user. It may be configured to be possible.

  The network interface card determination unit 13 may be configured to determine a randomly selected MAC address as the representative MAC address from the collected MAC addresses.

  The network interface card determination unit 13 determines a network interface card to be used from the network interface cards NIC # 1 to NIC # n.

  The representative link layer address setting unit 14 sets a representative MAC address for all the network interface cards NIC # 1 to NIC # n.

  The control unit 15 controls all functions of the mobile node MN # 1 including the communication manager MIM and the upper layer manager 100.

  The control unit 15 is configured to operate the mobile node MN # 1 according to the operation mode (normal mode or paging control mode).

  When the mobile node MN # 1 is operating in the normal mode, the control unit 15 controls the mobile node MN # 1 to perform a mobility management operation based on MobileIP or its extension technology.

  On the other hand, when the mobile node MN # 1 is operating in the paging control mode, the control unit 15 pauses the mobility management operation and sends a paging registration packet for forming a paging area to the routing agent PA. Controlled to transmit.

  The upper layer manager 100 performs control in a layer higher than the link layer (for example, a network layer). For example, the upper layer manager 100 implements transmission / reception of IP packets by performing control in the IP layer in cooperation with the route control agent MA as necessary.

  Further, the upper layer manager 100 notifies the representative MAC address when transmitting a paging registration packet for forming the paging area of the mobile node MN # 1 to the routing agent (control device) PA. Configure. Here, the paging registration packet may be configured to include an IP address and a representative MAC address.

  Further, the upper layer manager 100 configures an address resolution unit that performs address resolution using a representative MAC address and a predetermined IP address (network layer address).

  As a result, even if the network interface card NIC to be used is switched, the MAC address to be used does not change, so that the mobile node MN # 1 communicates without generating an address resolution process such as ARP or NDP. Can continue.

  In addition, even when the mobile node MN # 1 exists in a router segment to which an IP address is assigned by automatic generation using the MAC address set in the network interface card NIC as a key, similarly, the MAC address to be used Does not change, so the IP address does not change. Therefore, the path is not changed when the network interface card NIC is switched in the communication link accommodated in the same router segment.

  The mobile node MN # 1 does not need to transmit the paging registration packet because the MAC address and the IP packet to be used are not changed even when the network interface card NIC is switched. The number of transmissions can be suppressed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the routing agent PA includes a paging registration packet receiving unit 31, a paging area forming unit 32, a paging area management unit 33, a packet detecting unit 34, a paging notification packet transmitting unit 35, a paging The control device includes a notification confirmation packet receiving unit 36 and a packet transfer unit 37.

  The paging registration packet receiving unit 31 receives the paging registration packet transmitted from the mobile node MN # 1 and forms the paging area of the mobile node MN # 1, and transmits it to the paging area forming unit 22. .

  Also, the paging registration packet receiver 31 receives the network interface cards NIC # 1 to NIC # n together with the above paging registration packets from the mobile node MN # 1 having a plurality of network interface cards NIC # 1 to NIC # n. The representative MAC address determined from the MAC addresses set in each of the first and second MAC addresses is received.

  Further, the paging registration packet receiving unit 31 transmits a paging registration response packet for notifying that a paging area has been formed via the access router AR1, the communication link system AP1, the network interface card NIC # 1, and the communication manager MIM. Transmit to node MN # 1.

  The paging area forming unit 32 forms a paging area for the mobile node MN # 1 based on the received paging registration packet. For example, the paging area forming unit 22 sets the paging areas of the mobile node # 1 as subnets # 1 and # 2 from the information indicating the subnet included in the received paging registration packet.

  The paging area management unit 33 manages the paging area of the mobile node # 1.

  For example, the paging area management unit 33 stores “IP address”, “MAC address”, and “paging area” in association with each other. In the example of FIG. 3, the paging area management unit 33 manages “IP_MN # 1” as the IP address, “representative MAC address # 1” as the MAC address, and “subnets # 1 and # 2” as the paging area. Yes.

  That is, the paging area management unit 33 performs the paging of the mobile node MN # 1 based on the IP address “IP_MN # 1” assigned to the mobile node MN # 1 and the received representative MAC address “representative MAC address # 1”. A management unit for managing the area is configured.

  The packet detector 34 detects and buffers an IP packet addressed to the mobile node MN # 1, and notifies the paging notification packet transmitter 35 to that effect. Further, the packet detection unit 34 transmits an IP packet addressed to the mobile node MN # 1 that is buffered in response to an instruction from the packet transfer unit 37.

  The paging notification packet transmitter 35 transmits a paging notification packet to the subnets # 1 and # 2 constituting the paging area of the mobile node MN # 1 in response to the notification from the packet detector 34.

  The paging notification confirmation packet receiving unit 36 receives the paging notification confirmation packet transmitted from the mobile node MN # 1, and notifies the packet transfer unit 37 to that effect.

  The packet transfer unit 37 extracts an IP packet corresponding to the received paging notification confirmation packet from the packet detection unit 34, and transfers the extracted IP packet based on the subnet of the mobile node MN # 1 included in the paging notification confirmation packet. To do.

  The access routers AR1 and AR2 are arranged in the IP network and perform routing processing based on the IP address. For example, the access router AR1 is connected to the communication link systems AP1 and BS1, and manages the subnet # 1. The access router AR2 is connected to the communication link system BS2 and manages the subnet # 2.

  The communication link system is connected to the access router AR and performs transfer control in the link layer based on the MAC address.

(Operation of the packet communication system according to the present embodiment)
With reference to FIG.4 and FIG.5, operation | movement of the packet communication system which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in step 401, the power of the mobile node MN # 1 is turned on, or the network interface address NIC is added to the mobile node MN # 1.

  In step 402, the link layer address collection unit 11 collects the MAC addresses set in each of the network interface cards NIC # 1 to NIC # n.

  In step 403, the network interface card determination unit 13 determines a representative MAC address and a network interface card NIC # 1 to be used from the collected MAC addresses.

  In step 404, the representative link layer address setting unit 14 sets a representative MAC address for all the network interface cards NIC # 1 to NIC # n.

  In step 405, the upper layer manager 100 uses the above-described representative MAC address and predetermined IP address to communicate with the access router AR1 via the communication manager MIM, the network interface card NIC # 1, and the communication link system AP1. Then, address resolution processing is performed.

  In step 406, the control unit 15 starts an operation in the paging control mode.

  In steps 407 to 411, the upper layer manager 100 performs paging including the above-described representative MAC address and a predetermined IP address via the communication manager MIM, the network interface card NIC # 1, the communication link system AP1, and the access router AR1. The registration packet is transmitted to the routing agent PA using the above-described representative MAC address and IP address without performing address resolution processing.

  In step 412, the paging area forming unit 32 forms a paging area (for example, subnets # 1 and # 2) associated with the above-described representative MAC address and predetermined IP address based on the received paging registration packet.

  In Steps 413 to 417, the paging registration packet receiving unit 31 notifies the paging area has been formed via the access router AR1, the communication link system AP1, the network interface card NIC # 1, and the communication manager MIM. The response packet is transmitted to the upper layer manager 100 of the mobile node MN # 1 using the above-described representative MAC address and IP address without performing address resolution processing.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in step 501, the network interface card determination unit 13 determines to change the network interface card to be used from the network interface card NIC # 1 to the network interface card NIC # 2.

  In step 502, the control unit 15 instructs the network interface card NIC # 2 to start operation.

  In step 503, the network interface card NIC # 2 establishes a communication link with the communication link system BS1 using the set representative MAC address.

  In step 504, the network interface card NIC # 2 notifies the control unit 15 that the operation has started.

  In step 505, the control unit 15 instructs the network interface card NIC # 1 to suspend operation.

  In step 506, the network interface card NIC # 1 releases the communication link with the communication link system BS1 using the set representative MAC address.

  In step 507, the network interface card NIC # 1 notifies the control unit 15 that the operation has been suspended.

  In step 508, the packet detector 34 of the routing agent PA receives a packet addressed to the mobile node MN # 1, and in step 509, the paging notification packet transmitter 35 receives a packet addressed to the mobile node MN # 1. A paging notification packet for notifying the fact is transmitted to the access router AR1.

  In step 510, the access router AR1 transmits the above paging notification packet to the paging area of the mobile node MN # 1, that is, the communication link systems AP1 and BS1 that manage the subnets # 1 and # 2.

  In steps 511 and 512, the communication link systems AP1 and BS1 use the above-described representative MAC address and IP address to perform the above-described paging notification packet without performing the address resolution processing, respectively, with the network interface card NIC # 1 and the network interface card NIC # 1. Send to # 2. Here, the above-described paging notification packet is not received by the network interface card NIC # 1.

  In step 513 and step 514, the paging notification packet received by the network interface card NIC # 2 is transmitted to the upper layer manager 100.

  In steps 515 to 519, the upper layer manager 100 transmits the paging notification confirmation packet corresponding to the above paging notification packet via the communication manager MIM, the network interface card NIC # 2, the communication link system BS1, and the access router AR1. Using the above-described representative MAC address and IP address, the packet is transmitted to the routing agent PA without performing address resolution processing.

  In step 520, the packet transfer unit 37 extracts a packet addressed to the mobile node MN # 1 buffered in the packet detection unit 34 according to the received paging notification confirmation packet.

  In steps 521 to 525, the packet forwarding unit 37 sends the packet addressed to the mobile node MN # 1 through the access router AR1, the communication link system BS1, the network interface card NIC # 2, and the communication manager MIM. The address and the IP address are used for transmission to the upper layer manager 100 without performing an address resolution process.

(Operations and effects of the packet communication system according to the present embodiment)
According to the packet communication system according to the present embodiment, even when the mobile node MN # 1 includes a plurality of network interfaces NIC # 1 to NIC # n, the representative MAC address and the predetermined IP address are used. Since address resolution is performed, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of IP packets (for example, paging registration packets) associated with switching of the network interface NIC to be used.

  Further, according to the packet communication system according to the present embodiment, by determining the representative MAC address based on the usage, communication quality, communication cost, power saving control, etc., the optimum transfer path that satisfies various conditions, All packets can be received.

(Packet communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention)
A packet communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Hereinafter, the packet communication system according to the present embodiment will be described mainly with respect to differences from the packet communication system according to the first embodiment described above.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the configuration of the mobile node MN # 1 according to the present embodiment includes a filtering control unit 16, and does not include the link layer address collection unit 11 and the representative link address setting unit 14. Is the same as the configuration of the mobile node MN # 1 according to the first embodiment described above.

  The filtering control unit 16 instructs all the network interface cards NIC # 1 to NIC # n to start and stop the address filtering function in the link layer.

  With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the operation of the packet communication system according to the present embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in step 701, the mobile node MN # 1 is powered on, or the network interface address NIC is added to the mobile node MN # 1.

  In step 702, the filtering control unit 16 instructs all the network interface cards NIC # 1 to NIC # n to stop the address filtering function in the link layer.

  In step 703, the network interface card determination unit 13 determines a representative MAC address and a network interface card NIC # 1 to be used from the collected MAC addresses.

  In step 704, the control unit 15 instructs the network interface card NIC # 1 to start operation.

  In step 705, the network interface card NIC # 1 establishes a communication link with the communication link system AP1 using the MAC address # 1 set in the network interface card NIC # 1.

  In step 706, the control unit 15 instructs the network interface cards NIC # 2 to NIC # n to suspend operation.

  In step 707, the upper layer manager 100 uses the above-described representative MAC address and predetermined IP address to communicate with the access router AR1 via the communication manager MIM, the network interface card NIC # 1, and the communication link system AP1. Then, address resolution processing is performed.

  In step 708, the control unit 15 starts operation in the paging control mode.

  In steps 709 to 713, the upper layer manager 100 performs paging including the above-described representative MAC address and a predetermined IP address via the communication manager MIM, the network interface card NIC # 1, the communication link system AP1, and the access router AR1. The registration packet is transmitted to the routing agent PA using the above-described representative MAC address and IP address without performing address resolution processing.

  In step 714, the paging area forming unit 32 forms a paging area (for example, subnets # 1 and # 2) associated with the representative MAC address and the predetermined IP address based on the received paging registration packet.

  In Steps 715 to 719, the paging registration packet receiver 31 notifies the paging area that the paging area has been formed via the access router AR1, the communication link system AP1, the network interface card NIC # 1, and the communication manager MIM. The response packet is transmitted to the upper layer manager 100 of the mobile node MN # 1 using the above-described representative MAC address and IP address without performing address resolution processing.

  The operation of the packet communication system according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is the same as the operation of the packet communication system according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  In the packet communication system according to the present embodiment, even if the MAC address (representative MAC address) assigned to the received packet by the network interface card NIC is not the MAC address set in the network interface card NIC, Since all packets are transferred to the upper layer manager 100, a new address resolution process does not occur by switching the network interface card NIC in the same subnet.

(Packet communication system according to the third embodiment of the present invention)
A packet communication system according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Hereinafter, the packet communication system according to the present embodiment will be described mainly with respect to differences from the packet communication system according to the first embodiment described above.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the configuration of the mobile node MN # 1 according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the mobile node MN # 1 according to the first embodiment except that the representative link address setting unit 14 is not provided. The configuration is the same.

  In addition, the mobile node MN # 1 according to the present embodiment has a predetermined IP address and a plurality of network interface cards NIC # 1 to NIC # n set by the link layer address collection unit 11. The MAC addresses # 1 to #n are configured to be notified to the routing agent PA.

  Specifically, the upper layer manager 100 is configured to notify the plurality of MAC addresses # 1 to #n described above together with the paging registration packet.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the paging management unit 33 of the routing agent PA according to the present embodiment has an IP address “IP_MN # 1” assigned to the mobile node MN # 1 and a plurality of representative MAC addresses # 1. Based on thru #n, the paging areas “subnets # 1 and # 2” (that is, path control information for realizing path control) are managed.

  With reference to FIG.11 and FIG.12, operation | movement of the packet communication system which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in Step 1101, the power of the mobile node MN # 1 is turned on, or the network interface address NIC is added to the mobile node MN # 1.

  In step 1102, the link layer address collection unit 11 collects the MAC addresses set in each of the network interface cards NIC # 1 to NIC # n.

  In step 1103, the network interface card determination unit 13 determines a representative MAC address and a network interface card NIC # 1 to be used from the collected MAC addresses.

  In step 1104, the control unit 15 instructs the network interface card NIC # 1 to start operation.

  In step 1105, the network interface card NIC # 1 establishes a communication link with the communication link system AP1 using the MAC address # 1 set in the network interface card NIC # 1.

  In step 1106, the upper layer manager 100 uses the above-described MAC address # 1 and a predetermined IP address to communicate with the access router AR1 via the communication manager MIM, the network interface card NIC # 1, and the communication link system AP1. In between, address resolution processing is performed.

  In step 1107, the control unit 15 starts operation in the paging control mode.

  In steps 1108 to 1112, the upper layer manager 100 passes the communication manager MIM, the network interface card NIC # 1, the communication link system AP 1, and the access router AR 1, and the plurality of MAC addresses # 1 to #n and the predetermined number. The paging registration packet including the IP address is transmitted to the routing agent PA using the MAC address # 1 and the IP address described above without performing the address resolution process.

  In step 1113, the paging area forming unit 32, based on the received paging registration packet, paging areas (for example, subnets # 1 and # 2) associated with the MAC addresses # 1 to #n and the predetermined IP address described above. Form.

  In steps 1114 to 1118, the paging registration packet receiving unit 31 notifies the paging area has been formed via the access router AR1, the communication link system AP1, the network interface card NIC # 1, and the communication manager MIM. The response packet is transmitted to the upper layer manager 100 of the mobile node MN # 1 using the MAC address # 1 and the IP address described above without performing an address resolution process.

  As shown in FIG. 12, in step 1200, the packet detection unit 34 of the routing agent PA receives a packet addressed to the mobile node MN # 1, and in steps 1201 and 1204, the paging notification packet transmission unit 35 A paging notification packet including address # 1 and a paging notification packet including MAC address # 2 are transmitted to access router AR1, respectively.

  In steps 1202 and 1205, the access router AR1 transmits the above-described paging notification packet to the paging area of the mobile node MN # 1, that is, the communication link systems AP1 and BS1 that manage the subnets # 1 and # 2. .

  In step 1203, the communication link system AP1 attempts to establish a communication link with the network interface card NIC # 1 using the MAC address # 1, but fails.

  On the other hand, in step 1206, the communication link system BS1 uses the MAC address # 2 to establish a communication link with the network interface card NIC # 2.

  In step 1207, the communication link system BS1 transmits the above-described paging notification packet to the network interface card NIC # 2 without performing address resolution processing using the MAC address # 2 and the IP address.

  In step 1208 and step 1209, the paging notification packet received by the network interface card NIC # 2 is transmitted to the upper layer manager 100.

  In step 1210, the above MAC address # 2 and the predetermined IP address are used between the upper layer manager 100 and the access router AR1 via the communication manager MIM, the network interface card NIC # 2, and the communication link system BS1. Thus, address resolution processing is performed.

  In steps 1211 to 1215, the upper layer manager 100 sends a paging notification confirmation packet corresponding to the above paging notification packet via the communication manager MIM, the network interface card NIC # 2, the communication link system BS1, and the access router AR1. The MAC address # 2 and the IP address are used to transmit to the routing agent PA without performing the address resolution process.

  In step 1216, the packet transfer unit 37 extracts a packet addressed to the mobile node MN # 1 buffered in the packet detection unit 34 in accordance with the received paging notification confirmation packet.

  In steps 1217 to 1221, the packet transfer unit 37 sends the packet addressed to the mobile node MN # 1 to the MAC address described above via the access router AR 1, the communication link system BS 1, the network interface card NIC # 2, and the communication manager MIM. Using # 2 and the IP address, the information is transmitted to the upper layer manager 100 without performing address resolution processing.

(Packet communication system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention)
A packet communication system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 16. Hereinafter, differences of the packet communication system according to the present embodiment from the packet communication system according to the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the packet communication system according to the present embodiment includes a routing agent PA, home agents HA1, HA2, access routers AR1 to AR3, communication link systems AP1, BS1, APn, and a mobile node MN. # 1.

  In the packet communication system according to the present embodiment, a plurality of home agents HA1 and HA2 implement path control for received packets addressed to the mobile node MN # 1, based on the home address and care-of address, respectively. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the mobile node MN # 1 is in a multihome state.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the configuration of the mobile node MN # 1 according to the present embodiment does not include the link layer address collection unit 11 and the representative link layer address setting unit 14, and in the upper layer manager 100 Except that the home address management unit 101 and the control unit 102 are provided in the mobile node MN # 1 according to the first embodiment.

  The home address management unit 101 manages “home address”, “home agent”, “care-of address”, and “network interface card NIC” in association with each other.

  In addition, the control unit 102 cooperates with the control unit 15 to represent the representative network interface card determined to receive packets addressed to the mobile node MN # 1 to the home agents HA1 and HA2. Instructs the home address to forward the packet addressed to the mobile node MN # 1.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the home agent HA2 includes a route information management unit 51, a packet reception unit 52, a packet transfer unit 53, and an update information reception unit 54.

  The route information management unit 51 is configured to manage the route information addressed to the representative home address described above by associating the “home address” with the “forwarding address”.

  The packet receiving unit 52 receives various packets via the company A network.

  The packet transfer unit 53 is configured to transfer the packet addressed to the mobile node MN # 1 to the representative home address with reference to the route information management unit 51.

  The update information receiving unit 54 is configured to receive binding update information from the mobile node MN # 1 and update the route information addressed to the representative home address in the route information management unit 51.

  The operation of the packet communication system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In this embodiment, the mobile node MN # 1 is a network interface card NIC # 1 corresponding to a communication link system with the lowest communication cost, a network interface card NIC # 1 used for business purposes by a user, It is assumed that only the network interface card NIC # 1 that contributes to power generation is enabled and other network interface cards NIC are disabled, and the link is down or the operation is stopped.

  In such a case, in an Internet service provider (ISP) that provides an Internet connection service using the communication link system BS1 corresponding to the invalid network interface card NIC # 2, or an IP network to which the communication system BS1 is connected, When the home agent HA2 that manages the home address HoA2 of the mobile node MN # 1 exists, the home node HA2 is connected to the home node HA2 even though the mobile node MN # 1 has the network interface card NIC # 1 that is an effective transfer path. In the transfer path as the base point, the packet cannot reach the mobile node MN # 1.

  In order to solve this problem, the packet communication system according to the present embodiment operates as follows.

  In step 1501, the network interface card determination unit 13 determines the network interface card NIC # 1 as a representative network interface card.

  In steps 1502 and 1503, the control unit 15 transmits a notification of switching from the network interface card NIC # 2 to the network interface card NIC # 1 to the network interface cards NIC # 1 and NIC # 2.

  In step 1504, the network interface card NIC # 1 obtains the care-of address LCoA1 belonging to the subnet # 1 in the communication link system AP1 from the access router AR1, and in steps 1505 and 1506, the home interface HA1 receives the home address HA1. By performing binding update (HoA1 → LCoA1) using the address HoA1 and the care-of address LCoA1, a transfer path between the network interface card NIC # 1 and the home agent HA1 is secured.

  In steps 1507 to 1509, the network interface card NIC # 1 updates the binding by the home address HoA2 and the home address (representative home address) HoA1 (HoA2) with respect to the home agent HA2 corresponding to the transfer path that is blocked by the switching described above. → Perform HoA1).

  In step 1510, the home agent HA2 receives a packet addressed to the mobile node MN # 1 in which the home address HoA2 is designated as the destination address.

  In step 1511, the home agent HA2 refers to the path information management unit 51 and transfers a packet addressed to the mobile node MN # 1 to the home agent HA1.

  In steps 1512 to 1515, the packet addressed to the mobile node MN # 1 received by the home agent HA1 is sent to the upper level of the mobile node MN # 1 via the transfer path between the network interface card NIC # 1 and the home agent HA1. The layer manager 100 is reached.

  In this embodiment, when there is no packet to be transmitted / received, the mobile node MN # 1 stops the binding update accompanying the change of the access router AR in the area, and controls the packet addressed to the mobile node MN # 1. It may be configured to be forwarded to the agent PA.

  In such a case, in all the home agents HA, a packet addressed to the mobile node MN # 1 in which the home address HoA of the mobile node MN # 1 managed by itself is designated as the destination address is transferred to the routing agent PA. Is set.

  As a result, since any packet addressed to the mobile node MN # 1 is transferred to the routing agent PA via any home agent HA, reliable paging is possible.

(Packet communication system according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention)
A packet communication system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, the difference between the packet communication system according to the present embodiment and the packet communication system according to the above-described fourth embodiment will be mainly described. The configurations of the mobile node MN # 1 and the home agent HA according to the present embodiment are the same as the configurations of the mobile node MN # 1 and the home agent HA according to the above-described fourth embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the packet communication system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step 1601, the network interface card determination unit 13 determines the network interface card NIC # 1 as a representative network interface card according to the communication status of the mobile node MN # 1.

  In steps 1602 and 1603, the control unit 15 transmits a notification of switching from the network interface card NIC # n to the network interface card NIC # 1 to the network interface cards NIC # n and NIC # 2.

  In step 1604, the network interface card NIC # 1 acquires the care-of address LCoA1 belonging to the subnet # 1 in the communication link system AP1 from the access router AR1, and in steps 1605 and 1606, the home interface HA1 By performing binding update (HoA1 → LCoA1) using the address HoA1 and the care-of address LCoA1, a transfer path between the network interface card NIC # 1 and the home agent HA1 is secured.

  In step 1507, the upper layer manager 100 performs DNS registration for instructing the DNS server to transfer a packet addressed to the mobile node MN # 1 to the home address (representative home address) HoA1.

  The upper layer manager 100 of the mobile node MN # 1 performs the above-described DNS registration every time a change in the home agent is detected by switching the network interface card.

  According to the packet communication system according to the present embodiment, the communication partner CN can search the DNS for an effective transfer route from among a plurality of transfer routes addressed to the mobile node MN # 1.

AP1, APn, BS1, BS2 ... Communication link systems AR1, AR2, AR3 ... Access router CN ... Communication partner DNS ... Name resolution server HA1, HA2 ... Home agent MA, PA ... Routing agent MIM ... Communication manager MN # 1 ... Mobile Node NIC # 1, NIC # 2, NIC # n ... Network interface card 11 ... Link layer address collection unit 12 ... Network interface card information storage unit 13 ... Network interface card determination unit 14 ... Representative link layer address setting unit 15, 102 ... Control unit 16 ... Filtering control unit 31 ... Paging registration packet receiving unit 32 ... Paging area forming unit 33 ... Paging area management unit 34 ... Packet detection unit 35 ... Paging notification packet transmitting unit 36 ... Paging notification Sure packet receiving unit 37 ... packet transfer unit 51 ... path information management unit 52 ... packet receiving unit 53 ... packet transfer unit 54 ... update information receiving unit 100 ... upper layer manager 101 ... home address managing unit

Claims (3)

A plurality of home agents are home agents in a packet communication system that realizes path control for received packets addressed to a mobile terminal based on a home address and a care-of address, respectively.
A receiving unit configured to receive a representative home address determined from home addresses associated with each of the network interface cards from the mobile terminal including a plurality of network interface cards;
A home agent, comprising: a packet transfer unit configured to transfer a packet addressed to the mobile terminal to the representative home address. A route information management unit for managing route information addressed to the representative home address;
The packet transfer unit transfers a packet addressed to the mobile terminal based on route information addressed to the representative home address;
The home agent according to claim 1, wherein the route information management unit updates route information addressed to the representative home address by binding update from the mobile terminal. When the packet communication system receives a packet addressed to the mobile terminal, the packet communication system transmits a paging notification packet to the paging area of the mobile terminal, thereby acquiring the location information of the mobile terminal and transferring the packet A control device for determining
3. The home agent according to claim 2, wherein the route information addressed to the representative home address is set so as to transfer a packet addressed to the mobile terminal to the control device.

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