JP2001251334A - Remote route - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote router that informs a user about it when the remote route cannot be connected to the Internet. SOLUTION: When a terminal 1 is going to access the Internet, data from the terminal 1 are given to a network connection processing section 12 via a LAN 2 and a LAN I/F 11, processing section 12 does not transmit information to an ISDN I/F 17 with an instruction from a connection control section 13 and is connected directly to a setting section 15 on behalf of a DNS server 7. The setting section 15 reads data having already been stored in a setting storage section 16 and the network connection processing section 12 transmits the data to the terminal 1. The data include a fact and a reason why external connection is disabled and link information or the like by which the terminal 1 can easily access a setting page of the remote router 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote router having an interface function between an external line such as ISDN and a LAN and relaying data between the external line and the LAN. In particular, the LAN cannot access the external line. The present invention relates to a remote router that can easily deal with the situation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, ISDN (Integrated
A remote terminal having a bridge function and a router function to access a public line network such as a service digital network, an analog line, or an external line such as a dedicated line from a terminal device belonging to a LAN (Local Area Network) constructed in an office or the like. A router is provided between the external line and the LAN to perform access such as data relay.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a part of the internal configuration of a conventional remote router and a network system configuration.

[0004] As shown in FIG.
0 indicates a LAN interface 42, a connection processing unit 43, a setting unit 44, a setting storage unit 45, and an ISDN interface 4
6. In the remote router 50, for example, the connection processing unit 43 transmits data such as a frame from the terminal device 40 connected to the LAN 41 to the LAN 41.
Input via the interface 42. The connection processing unit 43 receives the parameters and the like stored in the setting storage unit 45 via the setting unit 44, and relays the data input from the terminal device 40 to the ISDN 47 via the ISDN interface 46 based on the parameters and the like. I do. Conversely, data from the ISDN 47 is input via the ISDN interface 46 and relayed to the terminal device 40 via the LAN interfaces 42 and 41 based on the parameters and the like.

[0005] Such a remote router is a very convenient device because it has an automatic origination / automatic disconnection function for automatically connecting / disconnecting the ISDN and LAN lines. In some cases, the line may continue to be connected unexpectedly for an application or the like that communicates with the Internet.

[0006] In such a case, as a result, the user keeps making a telephone call, and there is a risk that the telephone / call charges become enormous.

Therefore, such a remote router includes:
In connection with the connection between the ISDN and the LAN, there is a case where a function for controlling the connection time is installed in consideration of charging according to the connection time and distance. For example, if the call charge exceeds a certain level, you will not be able to make a call and you will be prevented from using too much communication charge, or you will be forced to cut off the communication after a predetermined time has elapsed since the connection was started. "Forced disconnection timer" to prevent the line from being left connected to, and "Re-originating" to set a suppression time from the disconnection of the line to the next call to prevent repeated calls Various functions such as a "suppression timer" are known.

[0008] Also, in the case where authentication by a router immediately after connection to an ISDN line fails due to a password setting error from a LAN-side terminal device or the like, it is possible to prevent a call from being re-established and suppress a rise in communication charges. Can be

[0009]

However, if a call cannot be made due to the restriction due to the various functions as described above,
It is difficult for the user who operates the terminal device to understand what restrictions have been applied and the call cannot be made. In this case,
Specifically, it is necessary to access the remote router to check the cause, and then to take measures such as setting work, and there is a problem that recovery is troublesome and time-consuming, and the operability is not very good.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and when it is not possible to connect to the Internet due to restrictions due to various functions of a remote router, the user is notified of the problem and easily copes with it. It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote router that simplifies operability such as setting so that the setting can be performed.

[0011]

A remote router according to the present invention comprises an external line interface and a LAN interface, and relays data between the external line and the LAN. When a terminal device connected to a LAN accesses an external access target via the LAN and an external line, and the remote router cannot access the external line, the remote router accesses the access target. Forcibly acquiring a packet for performing the access and replying to the terminal device on behalf of the access target.

Further, a remote router according to the present invention includes an interface for an external line and an interface for a LAN, and relays data between the external line and the LAN. Network connection means for connecting to a LAN, network connection monitoring means for monitoring the connection of each network based on information from the network connection means, and connection to the network based on information from the network connection monitoring means. Control, and when a terminal device connected to a LAN accesses an external access target via the LAN and an external line, when the remote router cannot access the external line, the remote router Forcibly obtain a packet to access the access target Te, characterized in that a network connection unit to respond on behalf of the access target to the terminal device.

The access target is, for example, a Web server on the Internet. The terminal device accesses the Web server using a Web browser, and the forcibly acquired packet is an HTTP for accessing the Web server. The packet conforms to the protocol.

The access target may be a mail server on the Internet. In this case, the forcibly acquired packet is an electronic mail.

The remote router preferably has a connection restriction function.

The reply on behalf of the access target is
It is desirable to include the fact that the connection could not be made to the external line and the reason for not being able to connect.

The reply on behalf of the access target may include a method for coping with the failure to connect to the external line.

Further, the reply on behalf of the access target may include link information to a setting page for coping with the inability to connect to the external line.
Further, the operability is improved.

The access target is a DN on the Internet.
It may be an S server. In this case, the packet to be forcibly obtained includes query information of an IP address by a domain name from the terminal device to the DNS server, and a reply in place of the access target is sent from the terminal device to the DNS server. Contains a false IP address on condition that the terminal device does not cache.

According to the present invention, when a terminal device on the LAN side accesses an external access target via the LAN and an external line, when the external line cannot be accessed due to the connection restriction function of the remote router or the like, Since the remote router forcibly obtains a packet for accessing the access target and replies to the terminal device on behalf of the access target, the user of the terminal device must easily understand what kind of problem exists. Can be. Also, if the response from the router should include the fact that it could not connect to the external line, the reason why it could not be connected, how to deal with it, and link information to the setting page to deal with it, the user could not connect , The countermeasure such as resetting the connection restriction function of the router can be simplified.
Further, when the access target is a DNS server, the router is configured to receive a false IP in such a manner that it is not cached in the terminal device in response to an inquiry from the terminal device to the DNS server.
Since the address is returned, the IP address is not used again after the connection can be established, so that trouble due to malfunction can be prevented. This allows
It is possible to simplify the setting operation such as the connection restriction function for the router from the terminal device on the LAN side.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an Internet connection system using a remote router according to one embodiment of the present invention.

LAN 2 to which a plurality of terminal devices 1 are connected
And the ISDN 3, which is a public line network as an external line, is connected via the remote router 4 according to the present embodiment. Each terminal device 1 is connected to a provider 5 that provides an Internet connection service via the LAN 2 and the ISDN 3.
RAS (Remote Access Service) server 6, DNS (Domain Name System) server 7, Web server 8, and SMTP / POP (Simple Mail Transfer P)
(Rotocol / Post Office Protocol) server 9 and various servers on the Internet 10 can be accessed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of the internal configuration of the remote router 4.

As shown in FIG.
Are a LAN interface 11, a network connection processing unit 12, a connection control unit 13, a connection monitoring unit 14, and a setting unit 1.
5, a configuration storage unit 16 and an ISDN interface 17 are provided.

Data such as packets from the terminal device 1
The data is input to the LAN interface 11 of the remote router 4 via the LAN 2. The data input through the LAN interface 11 is input to the network connection processing unit 12, and the connection control unit 13 reads out the ISDN 3 and L based on each parameter of the connection processing read from the setting storage unit 16.
A connection process with AN2 is performed. The connection control unit 13 controls the operation of the network connection processing unit 12 and controls the network connection processing unit 12 based on monitoring information from the connection monitoring unit 14. The connection monitoring unit 14 monitors the connection status of each network executed by the network connection processing unit 12, and monitors charging information, measurement of connection time, and the like.
The setting unit 15 writes / reads each parameter for connection processing to / from the setting storage unit 16. Setting storage unit 16
Stores parameters necessary for the connection process, a setting page thereof, a proxy response Web page described later, and the like.

Next, in the system configured as described above, the terminal device 1 connects to the Internet 10 to connect to the Web.
A procedure for displaying a desired Web page on the b browser will be described.

First, when the Web browser of the terminal device 1 is started and a connection request is output to the remote router 4,
The remote router 4 transmits a TCP / IP (Transmission Control) such as a telephone number of the provider 5 to be connected and an IP address of the DNS server 7 which are set in the setting storage unit 16 in advance.
Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) dial-up connection to the provider 5 via the ISDN 3 based on information necessary for connection. When the connection is made in this manner, an IP address is allocated to the terminal device 1 from the DNS server 7 of the provider 5 and transmission and reception of packets via the ISDN 3 and the Internet 10 become possible. At the same time, charging for public line use and provider use is started.

When the terminal device 1 uses a Web browser to access an arbitrary Web page in accordance with HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), normally "http: //" is followed by "www. ○". In many cases, a domain name such as "XX.co.jp" is specified. In this case, if the IP address uniquely determined from the domain name is already cached in the terminal device 1,
Using the P address, a connection is made to the Web server specified by the IP address via the provider. If the IP address is unknown, the terminal device 1 makes an inquiry to the DNS server 7. If the DNS server 7 cannot resolve the IP address, the terminal device 1 sequentially traces the higher-order DNS server to find the target domain name. Acquires information on the IP address of the host that owns it. The acquired IP address information is returned to the terminal device 1 via the ISDN 3, the remote router 4, and the LAN 2. IP obtained in this way
Using the IP address via the Internet 10
A connection to the Web server specified by the address is made. From the connected Web server, HTML (Hyper
Text Markup Language) Web page content is IS
Terminal device 1 via DN3, remote router 4 and LAN
And displayed using the Web browser of the terminal device 1.

Here, in the remote router 4, for example, when the above-described charging restriction function set in advance by the setting unit 15 is operating, first, when the connection monitoring unit 14 detects that the charging restriction has been exceeded, it is notified to that effect. The information is output to the connection control unit 13, and the connection control unit 13 outputs a connection prohibition control command to the network connection processing unit 12 based on the excess information. The network connection processing unit 12 is operated based on a command from the connection control unit 13 so as to interrupt the connection when the connection is being made at that time, and not to make a new connection when the connection is not being made at that time.

In such a state, for example, when the user operates the terminal device 1 to connect to the ISDN 3, the remote router 4 of this embodiment operates as follows.

That is, when the user sets the We
b When the user attempts to access the Internet by starting a browser or the like, data from the terminal device 1 is input to the network connection processing unit 12 via the LAN 2 and the LAN interface 11, but the network connection processing unit 12
Is ISD by a connection prohibition command from the connection control unit 13.
Instead of transmitting information to the N interface 17 side, instead forcibly obtain, for example, an HTTP packet from the terminal device 1 and analyze the contents as necessary, instead of the DNS server 7 in a normal case. The setting unit 15 manages subsequent connection control. In this case, the setting unit 15 includes the setting storage unit 16
For example, data for displaying a Web page in HTML format, which is stored in advance, is read, and the network connection processing unit 12 transmits the read data for displaying the page to the terminal device 1. The fact that the connection from the remote router 4 to the outside could not be made and the reason therefor, and a method for avoiding this connection impossible state, such as the user of the terminal device 1, For example, if a mouse click is performed, link information is included so that the terminal device 1 can access the setting change page of the remote router 4. Thus, the user can easily perform a setting change or the like. Therefore,
The simplification of the setting operation between the remote router 4 and the terminal device 1 is realized, and the setting operability can be improved.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the packet processing by the remote router 4.

First, the remote router 4 determines in step S1
Receives a packet from the terminal device 1. In the following step S2, it is determined whether or not the destination of the received packet is directed to ISDN3. If it is directed to ISDN3, the process proceeds to step S3. If it is not directed to ISDN3, normal routing is performed in step S7.

In step S3, it is determined based on the flow from step S2 whether or not the line is connected or connectable. If the connection is possible or possible, the normal routing is performed in step S7. If the connection is not possible, the packet is sent to the HT in step S4.
It is determined whether the protocol is the TP protocol.

If it is determined in step S4 that the HTTP protocol is not used, normal routing is performed in step S7. If it is determined that the HTTP protocol is used, the packet is forcibly acquired in step S5. Is performed. The IP address of the packet forcibly acquired in step S5 is used, and in step S6, an external Web server is impersonated to the terminal device 1 and a reply is returned. The reply includes data such as HTML for displaying a message for displaying a message indicating that connection is not possible.

When the DNS server 7 is accessed to obtain the IP address from the domain name, the remote router 4 sends the IP address of the forcibly obtained packet.
In response to the address request, a fake (dummy) IP address is returned to the user of the terminal device 1 instead of the DNS server 7. Then, although the user merely tries to view a homepage or the like using a Web browser, the user jumps to, for example, a setting page of the remote router 4 based on the false IP address, thereby avoiding the above-described connection failure. Settings can be changed. At this time, the remote router 4 tentatively replies (transmits) an appropriate IP address to the inquiry about the DNS from the terminal device 1.
TTL (Ti) indicating the time to be cached in the terminal device 1 so as not to cause a malfunction after the call can be made.
me To Live) is instructed to be set to 0 so that the fake IP address is cached on the terminal device 1 side and is not used again.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display screen on the terminal device 1 based on page display data from the remote router 4.

As shown in FIG. 3A, when the charging restriction function by the remote router 4 is activated, a message 21a indicating that the charging restriction function is activated is displayed on the Web browser 20 on the screen of the terminal device 1. At the same time, there are displayed click points 22 and 23 which allow the user to jump to a page where the countermeasure can be taken (preset in the remote router 4). Web browser 20
In the address column 24, the address of the forcibly acquired packet is displayed. If the user clicks the mouse on the click point 22, the user jumps to the setting page of the remote router 4, and if the user clicks the mouse on the click point 23, the user jumps to the charge restriction page, and if the user operates according to the instructions on the page, the user can easily operate Problems can be solved, such as releasing the charging restriction function or changing the settings.

As shown in FIG. 3B, when the user authentication at the time of the line connection fails, a message 21 indicating that the user authentication has failed is similarly sent to the Web browser 20.
b is displayed, and a click point 25 for setting page jump of the remote router 4 and a click point 26 for setting page jump of the provider are displayed. The click point 25 has the same function as the click point 22 in FIG.
Reference numeral 6 allows the user to jump directly to a preset provider setting page. However,
The remote router 4 forcibly displays a page of the charge limiting function by priority even when the click point 26 is clicked, for example, when a high problem priority such as a charge limiting function is not solved. And so on, the user does not need to consider and solve the problem himself, and the operability such as setting work is improved.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how the remote router 4 transmits and receives packets from the terminal device 1 to the Web server 8, STMP / POP server 9, DNS server 7, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the packet P1 transmitted from the terminal device 1 is transmitted to the remote router 4, the ISD
After a certain period of time has passed via N3, it is received by various servers. A packet P2 transmitted from various servers or the like after a lapse of a predetermined time after reception is received by the terminal device 1 via the ISDN 3 and the remote router 4. Normally, transmission and reception of packets are performed according to such a flow.

However, for example, when it becomes impossible to make a call to the ISDN 3 due to the function of the charging restriction function, the remote router 4 of the present invention forcibly obtains the packet PS transmitted from the terminal device 1 by itself and substitutes for the external server. To the terminal device 1 (reply). Therefore,
When a user accesses an external server or the like, the user can confirm on a browser what restrictions are imposed and cannot make a call, thereby enabling quick problem solving.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, the packet forcibly acquired by the remote router may be an e-mail to the SMTP / POP server. In this case, the response from the remote router is also in an e-mail format. The external line is not limited to ISDN, but may be a dedicated line or an analog line such as DDX-P or DDX-TP.

Further, a remote router 4 having a charge limiting function and the like.
In addition to the case where access to the outside is restricted due to its own restriction, access may not be established due to factors such as deterioration of the line status on the outside of ISDN3. Since there are a lot of kindness, the remote router 4 may reply to the terminal device 1 after adding a more detailed error description in this case as well.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the user cannot access the external line such as the Internet, the remote router forcibly obtains the packet and replies to the terminal device, so that the user can immediately know the fact that the call could not be made and the reason thereof, and can perform setting. The above problems can be quickly resolved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an Internet connection system using a remote router according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of the internal configuration of the remote router.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing packet processing by the remote router.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display screen on a terminal device based on page display data from the remote router.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a Web device transmitted from a terminal device by the remote router.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state of transmission and reception of a packet to a server, an SMTP / POP server, a DNS server, and the like.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a part of an internal configuration of a conventional remote router and a network system configuration.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 40: terminal device, 2, 41: LAN, 3, 47: I
SDN, 4,50 ... remote router, 5 ... provider,
6 RAS server, 7 DNS server, 8 Web server, 9 SMTP / POP server, 11, 42 LAN
Interface, 12 Network connection processing unit, 13
.. Connection control unit, 14 connection monitoring unit, 15, 44 setting unit, 16, 45 setting storage unit, 17, 46 ISDN interface, 43 connection processing unit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04L 12/56

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A remote router that includes an interface for an external line and an interface for a LAN, and relays data between the external line and the LAN. When accessing an external access target via a line, when the remote router cannot access the external line, the remote router forcibly obtains a packet for accessing the access target, A remote router that responds to a terminal device on behalf of the access target. 2. A remote router having an interface for an external line and an interface for a LAN and relaying data between the external line and the LAN, wherein the network connection means connects the external line and the LAN. Network connection monitoring means for monitoring the connection of each network based on information from the network connection means; controlling the network connection based on information from the network connection monitoring means; When the terminal device that has accessed the external access target via the LAN and the external line and cannot access the external line from a remote router, the remote router sends a packet for accessing the access target. Forced acquisition and access to the terminal device A remote router comprising: a network connection means for responding on behalf of a network target. 3. The access target is W on the Internet.
The terminal device, wherein the terminal device accesses the Web server using a Web browser, and the forcibly acquired packet is a packet according to an HTTP protocol for accessing the Web server. 3. The remote router according to 1 or 2. 4. The remote router according to claim 1, wherein the access target is a mail server on the Internet, and the forcibly acquired packet is an electronic mail. 5. The remote router according to claim 1, wherein the remote router has a connection restriction function. 6. The response according to claim 1, wherein the reply on behalf of the access target includes a fact that the external line could not be connected and a reason why the external line could not be connected. Remote router. 7. The remote router according to claim 1, wherein the reply on behalf of the access target includes a method for coping with a failure to connect to the external line. 8. The remote router according to claim 7, wherein the reply on behalf of the access target includes link information to a setting page for coping with the inability to connect to the external line. . 9. The access target is a D on the Internet.
An NS server, wherein the packet to be forcibly acquired includes query information of an IP address by a domain name from the terminal device to the DNS server, and a reply on behalf of the access target is the DNS from the terminal device. False IPs on the condition that they are not cached in the terminal device in response to an inquiry to the server
3. The remote router according to claim 1, wherein the remote router includes an address.