JP2003134151A - Device for selecting communication network for ip network connection, system for selecting communication network, method thereof and processing program thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication network selecting device capable of performing connection by using an access network selected on the basis of communication device information, communication quality information or communication charge information predesignated in accordance with each different communication information type and each different communication information size. SOLUTION: An access network selecting device 610-1 for IP network connection for selecting one among a plurality of access networks 710, 712 and 714 for connecting communication equipment 700 for performing a connection mediation service to an IP network and a PC 600 for connecting to the communication equipment 700 and connecting to the IP network through the selected access network, has a communication device information storing part 710 for defining an available communication device corresponding to each different communication information type and each different communication information size, and an access network selecting part 712 for selecting one access network that receives a connection request among the access networks on the basis of the each different communication information type and the each different communication information size of the communication device information storing part 710 in transmitting a connection request to the communication equipment 700.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication network selection technique for connecting to an IP network, and more particularly to communication device information or communication quality information designated in advance for each communication information type and communication information size. Further, the present invention relates to a communication network selection device for IP network connection, a communication selection system, a method therefor, and a processing program therefor capable of connecting using a communication network selected based on communication charge information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to use the Internet (IP) network, when a network is used from a personal terminal which is a general end user, a right to connect a backbone relay network from a secondary provider to a primary provider is given. It is necessary to secure and to secure an access network for accessing the backbone relay network via the secondary provider.

[0003] The primary provider issues an IP address and also provides an Internet connection service via a backbone relay network used as an IP network. The secondary provider is provided between the primary provider and the end user, receives the IP network use request from the end user through the access network, and performs the authentication, the IP address selection, and the function as the base station. Have. With the spread of the Internet network in recent years, in addition to the wired fixed line access method such as the public telephone network, this access network responds to the need to use it in a method suitable for the situation on the spot. , Bluetooth communication, IEEE 802.11
Various wireless communication services such as wireless LAN communication based on the standard, infrared communication, digital mobile phone communication, PHS data communication are used. In such a system, the end user pays the access fee to the secondary provider, and the secondary provider pays the backbone relay network usage fee to the primary provider.

Amid the diversified types of access networks, providers are also trying to differentiate themselves from other companies by offering a wide variety of fee settings and additional services. Also, with this,
New primary and secondary providers are increasing.

[0005]

However, in such an environment, in advance, the contracted provider,
The end user could use the IP network only by using the specific access network. At the same time, the usage fee of the backbone relay network is directly reflected as the IP network usage fee to the end user, but the usage fee cannot be appropriately selected by the secondary provider. In addition, even if a plurality of types of contracts such as wired and wireless are pre-registered, if the communication information such as the communication charge and the communication quality accompanying it is taken into consideration, the end user himself / herself each time the access network based on the communication information is used. The work of making a selection was also a complicated work, considering the variety of charge settings and changes in additional services on the provider side in recent years.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide communication device information specified in advance corresponding to each communication information type and communication information size.
An object of the present invention is to provide a communication network selection apparatus for IP network connection, a method therefor, and a processing program therefor capable of making a connection using a communication network corresponding to the communication device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication network selection system for IP network connection, which enables connection using a communication network selected based on communication quality information or communication charge information, and a method thereof. It is to provide the processing program.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a communication network selection device for IP network connection according to the present invention is an IP network.
At least one first communication device that provides a connection mediation service to the network, and a second communication device for connecting to the first communication device.
A communication network selecting device for IP network connection, which selects one of a plurality of communication networks for connecting to another communication device and connects to the IP network via the selected communication network. A communication device information storage unit that defines available communication devices corresponding to each communication information size, and the communication information type and communication of the communication device information storage unit when transmitting a connection request to the first communication device. Accept the connection request from the communication network based on information size 1
And a communication network selection unit for selecting one communication network.

In order to achieve the above object, the communication network selection system for IP network connection according to the present invention includes at least one first communication device which provides a connection mediation service to the IP network, and the first communication device. Selecting one of a plurality of communication networks for connecting to a second communication device for connecting to the communication device,
An IP network-connected communication network selecting system for connecting to the IP network via the selected communication network, wherein the first communication device is communication quality information of connection mediation service or connection mediation service information of communication charge information. A connection mediation information calculation unit, the second communication device receives a connection mediation service information from the first communication device, a connection mediation service information acquisition unit, the connection mediation service information, and communication. A communication device information storage unit that defines usable communication devices corresponding to information types and communication information sizes;
Connection request transmitting unit for transmitting a connection request to the communication device, and one communication network that receives the connection request from the communication networks based on the acquired connection mediation service information, communication information type, and communication information size And a communication network selection unit for selecting.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the communication network selection system for IP network connection according to the present invention includes a first communication device which is included in at least one primary provider which provides connection mediation service to the IP network. , Selecting one of a plurality of access networks connecting to a second communication device of a secondary provider for connecting to the first communication device, and the terminal device via the selected access network. The above IP
An access network selection system for IP network connection to connect to a network, wherein the second communication device provides the terminal device with the care-of address based on a plurality of care-of addresses paid by the first communication device. It is characterized in that it has an address assigning unit for delivering one of the above, and is connected to the IP network via the access network corresponding to it based on the care-of address.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a usage pattern of an access network selecting device in which the communication network selecting device according to the present invention is applied to an access network (first embodiment). Figure 2
3 is a block unit for explaining the configuration of the access network selection device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the access network selection device of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram defining communication device information to be applied, which is used when the access network selecting apparatus of FIG. 3 operates. Figure 5
In a 2nd embodiment, it is a block part for explaining the composition of the access network selection system which applied the communication network selection system concerning the present invention to an access network. Figure 6
6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the access network selection system of FIG. FIG. 7 shows a case where a relay network selection system in which the communication network selection system according to the present invention is applied to a backbone relay network is used (third embodiment).
It is a figure for demonstrating the utilization form. 8 is shown in FIG.
3 is a block section for explaining the configuration of the relay network selection system of FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the relay network selection system of FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an overall outline of a system to which the present invention is applied. 11 to 14 are diagrams for describing in detail a network configuration example of the present system and an IP packet processing example for changing the access network of the IP network connection in the fourth embodiment. is there.

First, the overall outline of the system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Primary provider 1520
Provides an IP address and also provides an Internet connection service via a backbone relay network used as an IP network. The secondary provider 1510 is provided between the primary provider 1520 and the end user 1500, receives an IP network use request from the end user 1500 via the access network, and executes its authentication, IP address selection, and base station. Has the function of.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows an example of a usage pattern of an access network selecting apparatus in which the communication network selecting apparatus according to the present invention is applied to an access network. Notebook PC (hereinafter, this PC is abbreviated as PC) 600 P
PC card 6 to be inserted into the C card slot 602
10 includes various processing units for executing the access network selection processing according to this embodiment.

In this PC card 610, the characteristic processing units of the access network selection device 610-1 having the above-mentioned processing units will be described with reference to FIG. PC600
Is connected to a communication device 700 of a secondary provider that mediates connection to the IP network via a plurality of access networks (here, three access networks 710, 712, 714, for example). The access network selection device 610-1 includes a communication device information storage unit 710 and an access network selection unit 712.
Is configured.

The communication device information storage unit 710 has a table 900 as shown in FIG. 4, for example. This table 900 shows categories and values that serve as a reference for selection processing by the communication network selection unit 212 described later.
The table 900 includes, for example, the number No. Each record of 1 to 4 is stored. Each of these records is reference information that defines the conditions used in the access network selection process, and the priority of selection in descending order of number is higher.
In the table 900, items of “application type”, “content type”, “maximum data size (kBytes)”, and “available communication device” are set.

The "application type" indicates the type of application that performs each communication such as electronic mail communication, PC-to-PC voice communication, or PC-to-PC video communication. The “content type” indicates a data format processed by the application. The “maximum data size” indicates the capacity size of transfer information. “Available communication device” indicates a communication device that can be used in the end user's PC.

The access network selection unit 712 refers to the table 900 of the communication device information storage unit 710, and based on this, selects one access network from at least one access network.

Next, this access network selection device 610-1
An operation of selecting an access network using the PC 600 equipped with will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 and with reference to FIG. 4 as appropriate.

In order to realize the connection to the IP network, as shown in FIG. 2, first, an access network to the communication device 700 of the secondary provider must be secured. So first,
The end user activates the application to be used in the PC 600 (step S).
301). With the activation of this application, the access network selection unit 712 searches the table 900 of the communication device information storage unit 710 for the corresponding “content type” and “maximum data size” in ascending order of the number No ( Step S302). Access network selection unit 71
2 selects the number No. based on this retrieved information.
For example, if the numbers No. 1 and 2 are both ineligible and the number No. 3 is selected, the file to be communicated is 500
If it is 0 kBytes or less, there is no option for PHS, and the wireless LAN "WLAN" is selected. Here, if the wireless LAN cannot be used or 5000kByte
If the number exceeds 4, then the No. 4 is searched.
In this case, if the PC 600 is connected to the fixed line, the available communication device corresponds to "-",
It will be connected via a fixed line.

The access network selection unit 712 is an access network via the communication device selected in step S302 (for example, the access network 710 indicated by the solid line in FIG. 2) and is connected to the communication device 700 of the secondary provider. (Step S303).

As described above, by using the communication network selecting apparatus according to the present invention, based on the communication device information previously designated corresponding to the communication information type and the communication information size,
It is possible to appropriately make desired communication connection using the access network corresponding to the communication device.

(Second Embodiment) In the second embodiment, an example of a usage pattern of an access network selection system in which the communication network selection system according to the present invention is applied to an access network will be described with reference to FIG. Show. The PC card inserted into the PC card slot of the PC 600 is equipped with each processing unit for executing the access network selection processing in the second embodiment. This PC card is referred to as an access network selection device 610-2. Also, the communication device 1000 of the secondary provider is equipped with a processing unit for performing the access network selection system of the second embodiment.

Each characteristic processing unit in this access network selection system will be described with reference to FIG. PC600
Is a communication device 1000 of a secondary provider that mediates connection to an IP network via a plurality of access networks (here, three access networks 1020, 1022, 1024).
It is connected to the. The access network selection device 610-2 is
A connection request transmission unit 1010, a connection mediation service information acquisition unit 1012, an access network selection unit 1014, and a communication device information storage unit 1016 are included. Further, the communication device 1000 of the secondary provider is configured to include a connection mediation information calculation unit 1002.

The connection request transmission unit 1010 transmits a connection request to the IP network to the communication device 1000 of the secondary provider. The connection mediation information calculation unit 1002 calculates and accumulates the latest communication quality information and communication charge information at regular time intervals or whenever there is a change. The connection mediation service information acquisition unit 1012 acquires the calculated communication quality information and communication charge information. The acquired communication quality information and communication charge information are appropriately acquired when the end user connects to the IP network, or transmitted from the secondary provider side at regular intervals or whenever there is a latest change.

The communication device information storage unit 1016 further adds the acquired communication quality information and communication charge information in addition to the item information of the table for selecting a communication device such as the table 900 of FIG. 4 described above. These items are stored as condition items related to existing items (not particularly shown). As this condition item, for example, FIG.
When the record with the number No. 2 in is selected, "W" of "Available communication device" is based on the acquired communication charge.
In the case where it is desirable to prioritize the communication quality such as "mp3-audio" which is voice, the logic is such that the one with the lower communication charge is selected from "LAN" and "PHS". Is a logic that selects the one with higher communication quality.This logic matches the usage conditions of the end user as an appropriate condition combining the communication fee and communication quality information with the existing items in FIG. It may be created / changed as appropriate.

The access network selection unit 1014 refers to the table of the communication device information storage unit 1016 and selects one access network from at least one access network based on the table.

Next, the operation of this access network selection system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the connection request transmission unit 1010 is executed from the end user's PC 600 (step S60).
1). The access network selection unit 1014 refers to the communication device information storage unit 1016 (step S602). The access network selection unit 1014 selects one communication device based on the table information of the communication device information storage unit 1016 having the above logic (step S60).
3). The access network selection unit 1014 selects an access network corresponding to the selected communication device and connects (step S604).

As described above, by using the communication network selection system according to the present invention, the communication network selection system according to the communication information type, the communication information size, and the communication device information, the communication quality information, and the access charge information, which are designated in advance, can be used. It becomes possible to connect using the access network selected with the charge or the desired communication quality.

(Third Embodiment) In the first and second embodiments described above, in the IP network system as shown in FIG.
One is selected from the access network 1230 connecting the PCs 1200, 1202, 1204 and the communication device 1210 of the secondary provider. In the third embodiment, a technique for selecting one from the backbone relay networks 1240 connecting the communication device 1210 of the secondary provider and the communication devices 1220 and 1222 of the primary provider in FIG. 7 will be described. .

First, with reference to FIG. 8, an example of the concept of the use form of the relay network selection system in which the communication network selection system according to the present invention is applied to a backbone relay network is shown. The communication device 1300 of the secondary provider is equipped with each processing unit for executing the relay network selection processing according to the third embodiment. Further, the communication device 1330 of the primary provider is equipped with a processing unit for carrying out the relay network selection system of the third embodiment.

The characteristic processing units in this relay network selection system will be described with reference to FIG. The communication device 1300 of the secondary provider includes a plurality of backbone relay networks (here, for example, three backbone relay networks 1320, 1322, 132).
4) via the communication device 1330 of the primary provider which provides a connection service to the IP network. The relay network selection device 1302 includes a connection request transmission unit 1310, a connection mediation service information acquisition unit 1312, a relay network selection unit 1314,
And a communication device information storage unit 1316. Also, the communication device 1330 of the primary provider
Is configured to have a connection mediation information calculation unit 1332.

The connection request transmission unit 1310 transmits a connection request to the IP network to the communication device 1330 of the primary provider. The connection mediation information calculation unit 1332 calculates and accumulates the latest communication quality information of the backbone relay network and the communication charge information thereof at regular time intervals or whenever there is a change. The acquired communication quality information and communication charge information are appropriately acquired when the secondary provider connects to the IP network, or transmitted from the primary provider side at regular intervals or whenever there is the latest change. . The connection mediation service information acquisition unit 1312 acquires the calculated communication quality information and communication charge information of the backbone relay network. The communication device information storage unit 1316 has, for example, each item and logic as described in the table example of FIG. 4 described above, based on the acquired communication quality information and communication charge information of the backbone relay network.
The relay network selection unit 1314 includes a communication device information storage unit 13
16 tables are referred to, and based on this, one backbone relay network is selected from at least one backbone relay network.

Next, the operation of this relay network selection system will be described.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the communication device 130 of the secondary provider
The connection request transmission unit 1310 is executed from 0 (step S
901). The relay network selection unit 1314 includes a communication device information storage unit 1316 (table having the above-described logic).
Is referred to (step S902). Relay network selection unit 131
4 selects one backbone relay network based on the table information in the communication device information storage unit 1316 (step S
903). The relay network selection unit 1314 connects to the selected backbone relay network (step S904). This allows
It becomes possible to issue an IP address to the end user's PC, and the IP network can be used.

As described above, by using the communication selection system according to the present invention for the backbone relay network, it becomes possible to establish a connection with low charges and desired communication quality.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, referring to FIG.
An example of the network configuration of this system and an example of processing an IP packet for changing the access network of the IP network connection will be described in detail. The target network in the first to third embodiments is, for example, an IPv6 network, and a network operator that provides a communication service in this IPv6 network is a primary provider T.
It can be divided into LA (Top Level Aggregation) and NLA (Next Level Aggregation) which is a secondary provider.

Here, the TLA is more specifically, I
The network operator is the highest-level network operator in the Pv6 Internet, and is a network operator capable of independently determining a connection partner and transiting traffic unrelated to its own network. On the other hand, NLA
More specifically, in the IPv6 Internet, it means a network operator located under the TLA, and it is impossible to operate the own network according to the network operation policy of the TLA and transit traffic unrelated to the own network. You are a network operator. The relay network selection device 1302 of FIG.
In, an address selection server (12), a TLA selection router (11), and an AS router (31 to 33).

The correspondence between each processing unit in FIG. 8 and the system in FIG. 11 will be described. The address selection server (12) is shown in FIG.
The connection mediation service information acquisition unit 1212, the relay network selection unit 1314, and the communication device information storage unit 1316 are included. Further, the function of the connection request transmission unit 1310 in FIG.
The S router (31 to 33) and the TLA selection router (11) are separately provided. The AS router (31 to 33) accepts the connection request from the end user terminal and transmits it to the TLA selection router (11), and the TLA selection router (11) connects from the end user terminal transmitted from the AS router (31 to 33). Send the request to the TLA selected by the address selection server (12). In this configuration example, assuming that security is taken into consideration, a user authentication server (13) having a user authentication function is added.

On the basis of such a correspondence relationship, the main body in the network system in FIG.
A selection router (11), address selection server (12),
Mobile-IP home agent (14), T
LA (100, 200), NLA (300), TLA and the Internet (400), which is a set of NLA, TL
Border router (21, 22) of A, access router of NLA (hereinafter, AS router) (31 to 33), PDA (41 to 43) held by NLA user, and PC terminal (51) as a communication partner of PDA. , And are configured.

In FIG. 11, the Internet side is upstream, and TLA (100, 200) to NLA (300).
Toward the downstream. The TLA (100) issues the care-of address space (110 to 139) to the NLA (300), and the TLA (200) allocates the care-of address space (210).
.About.239) to NLA (300). Here, the NLA (300) has a plurality of TLAs (100, 20).
0) receives an IP address (NLA uses this IP address as a care-of address) and a connection service to the Internet, and receives the TLA (100, 20).
0) presents the conditions (communication charge, available bandwidth, communication quality, etc.) based on the flowchart of FIG. 9 described above, the optimum TLA (100, 200) can be selected and used as appropriate. The NLA (300) is assumed to frequently change the TLA (100, 200) to be used.

In order for the NLA (300) to select the TLA (100, 200) to receive the connection service, the NLA (300) is selected.
(300) installs a TLA selection router (11) capable of selecting a next transfer destination from the source IP address of the packet on the boundary with the TLA (100, 200). That is, T
The LA selection router (11) determines which TLA (100, 200) the packet going from the downstream to the upstream goes through. On the other hand, which TL is the packet going from upstream to downstream
Whether it goes through A (100, 200) depends on the care-of address given to the communication terminal on the NLA. for that reason,
The address selection server (12) uses each TLA (100, 2
00) determines the TLA to be used from the conditions presented, and the care-of address issued from the selected TLA is AS
It is distributed to the PDA (41 to 43) through the routers (31 to 33).

As described above, it is assumed that the NLA (300) frequently changes the TLA (100, 200) to be used, so that the address selection server (12) is set to P.
It is also necessary to frequently change the care-of address distributed to the DA (41 to 43). Therefore, even if the care-of address used by the PDA (41 to 43) is changed, the PDA (41
~ 43) and the PC terminal (51) are not interrupted, Mobile-IP is used.

Next, the TLA (100, 100) for realizing communication between the PDA (41 to 43) and the PC terminal (51).
200) and route control in the NLA (300) will be described.

In TLA (100, 200) and NLA
For route control in (300), RIP (Routing
Information Protocol) and OSPF (Open Shortest Pa
IGP (Interior Gateway Protocol) such as thFirst) is used. For example, in TLA (100), NLA (3
The route to the care-of address space (110 to 139) assigned to the NLA (300) by the border router (21) with the 00) is advertised in the TLA (100) using IGP. On the other hand, in the NLA (300), the TLA selection router (1
1) uses the NLA (3
00) to advertise using IGP.

Regarding the route control between the TLA and the NLA,
Border router (21, 2) of TLA (100, 200)
2) and TLA selection router (1) of NLA (300)
In 1), the route is statically set. For example, TLA
In the border router (21) of (100), the TLA (10 assigned to the NLA (300) by the destination address is sent.
The routing table is set so that the packet addressed to the care-of address (110-139) of 0) is transferred to the TLA selection router (11) of the NLA (300). Similarly, TLA (20
In the border router (22) of (0), the packet addressed to the care-of address (210 to 239) of TLA (200) delivered to NLA (300) by the destination address is the NLA (300).
The routing table is set so as to be transferred to the TLA selection router (11) of (300). Also, each TLA (100, 200)
In the downstream interface of the border router (21, 22) of the above, when a packet which is not the care-of address issued by the own TLA to the source address is received from the TLA selection router (11) of the NLA (300), it is set to be filtered. . In the TLA selection router (11),
The packet having the care-of address (110-139) issued from the TLA (100) as the source address of the packet is sent to the border router (21) of the TLA (100),
The packet having the care-of address (210-239) issued from the TLA (200) as the source address of the packet is set to be transferred to the border router (22) of the TLA (200).

Next, the address selection server (12)
Through the S router (31 to 33), the TLA (100, 2
The care-of address received from PDA (41)
Up to 43) will be described.

The address selection server (12) has a measuring unit (not shown), which allows each TLA to be set at a predetermined time interval.
Information on communication (communication charge,
Then, the optimum TLA is selected based on the flowchart of FIG. 9 described above. Below, for example, the address selection server (12)
Will be described in detail assuming that TLA (100) is selected.

The address selection server (12) sends the care-of address (110-119) to the AS router (31),
Care-of address (120-1) for the AS router (32)
29), the care-of address (1
30-139). The AS router (31) selects and gives one address (110) from the care-of address space notified from the address selection server (12) to the downstream network interface. Here, since the AS routers (31 to 33) are based on IPv6 routers, the downstream network interface of the AS routers (31 to 33) to which the care-of address is assigned sends the IPv6 router notification message to the nearest network. Send. The PDA (41) that has received the router notification message from the AS router (31) assigns the care-of address (111) of the TLA (100) to the network interface that has received the router notification message, and makes the AS router (31) the default router. Specify in. As a result, a backbone relay network that serves as an access network for accessing the Internet network that transmits and receives IP packets is determined.

Next, the user authentication server (13) sends the AS
PDA (41-43) through routers (31-33)
A procedure for authenticating a user will be described.

Here, the user authentication server (13)
It is a server that manages information (hereinafter referred to as a user authenticator) for authenticating a user such as a set of (user ID, password). In addition, each AS router (31 to 33) sets packet filtering in the downstream interface in advance.

When the PDA (41) requests the connection to the Internet, the PDA (41) is the AS router (31).
Send the user authenticator to. The AS router (31) that has received the user authenticator, the user authentication server (13)
Asks if the user authenticator is valid. If this user authenticator is valid, the AS router (3
1) The PDA (41) removes filtering to enable communication with the Internet. If the user authenticator is invalid, the AS router (31) prohibits communication of the PDA (41) with the Internet by packet filtering.

Next, Mobile-IP will be described.

Mobile-IP is composed of three elements: a mobile terminal, a home agent, and a communication partner terminal, and each element needs to be compatible with Mobile-IP. The mobile terminal always registers the home address in the home agent in order to communicate with the communication partner using the same IP address (hereinafter, home address).
The mobile terminal is the PDA (41 to 43), the home agent is the home agent (14), and the communication partner terminal is the PC terminal (51). Here, the home agent (14) is installed on the Internet, but it is also possible to install it in the network of the NLA (300).

Here, the PDA (41) sends Home Addr as a home address to the home agent (14).
Suppose you want to register ess1. PDA (41) is AS
When the care-of address (111) is paid from the router (31), the care-of address (11
Notify 1). The home agent (14) that has received this notification from the PDA (41) holds the pair of HomeAddress1 and care-of address (111) in the correspondence table (15). P
The DA (41) notifies the home agent (14) of the care-of address each time the care-of address paid from the AS router (31) is changed.

Next, a PC on the Internet (400)
Communication between the terminal (51) and the PDA (41) on the NLA (300) will be described. First, FIG. 1 shows the case of transmitting a packet from the PC terminal (51) to the PDA (41).
2 is used for the explanation.

The PC terminal (51) uses the home address (HomeAddress) of the PDA (41) as the destination address of the packet.
1) Using the IP address (Address-X) of the PC terminal (51) as the source address, the home agent (1
A packet is transmitted toward 4) (501). When the home agent (14) receives the packet, the home agent (14) sets the care-of address (11) of the PDA (41) as the destination address.
1), a packet having the IP address (Address-Y) of the home agent (14) as the source address
It encapsulates the packet sent by the terminal and transfers it.

Here, the above-mentioned encapsulated packet will be referred to as an encapsulated packet. Since the destination address has the care-of address (111), the encapsulated packet is transmitted to the TLA (100) according to the normal route control on the Internet (400). T
In the LA (100), the encapsulated packet reaches the border router (21) according to the route control in the TLA (100) (502). The border router (21) that has received the encapsulated packet selects the TLA selection router (11) as the next transfer destination from the route table it holds.
To transfer the encapsulated packet (50
3). Upon receiving this encapsulated packet, the TLA selection router (11) transfers this encapsulated packet to the PDA (41) according to the route control in the NLA (300). PDA that received encapsulated packet
(41) removes the capsule and receives the packet transmitted by the PC terminal (51).

The PC terminal (51) is connected to the PDA (4
When information about the care-of address (111) being used is obtained from 1), the correspondence table (52) between HomeAddress1 and the care-of address (111) is set. Then the PC
The terminal (51) uses the care-of address (11
1), PDA (41) using Address-X as the source address and HomeAddress1 as the option part of the IP packet
The packet is directly transmitted to (505).

Next, from the PDA (41) to the PC terminal (5
The case of transmitting a packet to 1) will be described with reference to FIG.

The PDA (41) uses the IP address of the PC terminal (51) (Address-
X), the care-of address (111) of the PDA (41) is used as the source address, and the home address (HomeAddress1) of the PDA (41) is used as the home address option part of the packet, and the packet is transmitted (511). NLA (30
In 0), the TLA selection router (11) has an NLA (30).
This packet is forwarded to the TLA selection router (11) since it plays the role of the egress router of 0). T
When the LA selection router (11) receives the packet, the border router (21) which is the next transfer destination is selected from the source address (care-of address (111)) of the packet and transferred.

Upon receiving the packet, the border router (21) transmits this packet to the PC terminal (51) according to the route control in the TLA (300) and the Internet. The PC terminal (51) receives the packet, determines from the home address option part of the packet that the packet is from the PDA (41), and communication between the PDA (41) and the PC terminal (51) is established.

Next, the NLA (300) sends the TLA (10
The operation when changing from 0) to TLA (200) will be described with reference to FIG.

For NLA (300), TLA (10
When changing from 0) to TLA (200), change the care-of address distributed to each PDA from the care-of address (110-139) of TLA (100) to the care-of address (210-239) of TLA (200). There is a need to.
Therefore, the address selection server (12) sends the I of the downstream interface to each AS router (31 to 33).
Notify that the P address should be changed to the care-of address (210 to 239) received from the TLA (200). For example, the care-of address (210) is given to the downstream interface of the AS router (31).

When the IP address of the network interface is changed, each AS router (31 to 33)
A router notification message is automatically transmitted to the latest network to notify each PDA (41 to 43) to change the care-of address. Upon receiving this router notification message, the PDA (41) changes the IP address of the network interface to the care-of address (211), and the changed contents are the home agent (14) and P.
Notify the C terminal (51). The home agent (13) and the PC terminal (51) that have received this change notification are assigned a home address (HomeAddress1) and a care-of address (211).
The correspondence table (15, 52) is updated so that After the above settings, PDA (41) and PC terminal (5
1) is a communication path (52) passing through the TLA (200).
1, 522, 523).

Next, packet measurement in the TLA selection router (11) will be described.

Each TLA (100, 200) has an NLA (3
00) for packet charging, NLA
(300) needs to measure the number of transited packets of each TLA (100, 200). So TL
In the A selection router (11), the TLA selection router (1
1) the number of packets transmitted to each border router (21, 22) and the TLA selection router (11) to each border router (2
1, 22) to measure the number of packets received.

As described above, by using the access network selection system using Mobile-IP, the mobile / fixed communication terminal can appropriately switch the access networks.

The present invention is not limited to the examples described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 14 described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the first and second embodiments, the description has been given assuming that each processing unit having the access network selection function is mounted on the PC card, but it may be stored in the hard disk of the PC as a matter of course. This is the same in the third embodiment as well, and the relay network selection function may be mounted on the PC card. Further, not only a PC card and a hard disk, but also an IC card, which is an external device, may be mounted in a device capable of reading each processing unit when performing a connection process to an IP network.

Further, in the first to third embodiments, the explanation is made by using the notebook PC for the end user for convenience, but the PDA (personal digital assistant) is used.
s), a mobile phone having an IP telephone function, etc. are also applicable to the present invention. Similarly, in the fourth embodiment, M
Although the present invention has been advanced to explain the application in a system using the mobile-IP technology, the present invention is a technology aimed at appropriately selecting an access network for connecting to an IP network such as the Internet. It is not limited to communication between PDAs. For example, even if a fixed communication terminal such as a desktop personal computer is used, the access network can be changed appropriately.

Further, in the second and third embodiments, the communication quality information or the communication charge information is acquired at regular intervals, but the communication quality information or the communication charge information is stored in advance in a hard disk. Alternatively, the communication network may be selected based on this.

In the first to third embodiments, the communication device information storage unit and its logic are created in advance to automatically select the communication network. However, the end user himself / herself performs the process related to this logic. Even if it does, almost the same effect can be obtained.

In the second embodiment, only one communication device of the secondary provider has been described for the sake of convenience. However, communication quality information of at least one of the plurality of secondary providers that can be received at the connection request point. Alternatively, the access network may be selected by acquiring communication fee information and introducing a logic for comparing the information.

Further, in FIG. 4, the device is limitedly set in the "available communication device" item, but if "ALL" is set, all communication devices can be targeted.

Further, in the above-mentioned first to third embodiments, the explanation has been made on the assumption that the end user's PC is connected to the fixed line, but it is of course not necessary to be connected.
In this case, it is desirable that the fixed line option is automatically deleted in the table of FIG.

Further, in the fourth embodiment, it is the address selection server (12) which is one of the communication devices of the secondary provider that measures the communication quality of the TLA at predetermined time intervals. Similar effects can be obtained even if the communication quality is measured at predetermined time intervals in the AS routers (31) to (33) that accommodate the terminal devices connected to the LAN. Based on this measurement, the AS router
Based on the plurality of care-of addresses paid by the LA (100, 200), one of the care-of addresses is paid out to the terminal device such as the PDA. Then, the terminal device notifies the home agent that stores the received care-of address as a pair of correspondence consisting of the home address and the care-of address. This makes it possible to select an access network corresponding to the care-of address and connect to the IP network via this access network. Further, since the communication quality is measured not for each mobile terminal such as a PDA but for each AS router according to the dynamic change of the IP address, it is possible to prevent the processing delay due to the increase of the mobile terminal. .

In addition, prior to carrying out the communication network selection processing according to the present invention, a service contract is concluded with a provider having a communication network to be selected, and the end user performed by the provider is billed. A management device may be provided to perform the communication charge management work. This enables access networks provided by multiple primary and secondary providers.
In order to enable the use of the backbone relay network, individuals can individually conclude usage contracts with their primary and secondary providers, and collectively manage communication charges from multiple primary and secondary providers. Will be able to reduce the complicated work.

In the above-described embodiment, the program for performing the processing may be stored in a recording medium such as a hard disk as application software. This makes it possible to store the program or the like in a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM and sell or carry it.

[0079]

By using the communication network selecting apparatus and the communication network selecting system according to the present invention, communication device information designated in advance corresponding to each communication information type and communication information size,
Also, based on communication quality information and access charge information,
It becomes possible to connect using the access network selected with low charge and desired communication quality.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a usage pattern of an access network selecting device in which a communication network selecting device according to the present invention is applied to an access network (first embodiment).

FIG. 2 is a block unit for explaining the configuration of the access network selection device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the access network selection device of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram defining communication device information to be applied, which is used when the access network selecting apparatus of FIG. 3 operates.

FIG. 5 is a block unit for explaining the configuration of an access network selection system in which the communication network selection system according to the present invention is applied to an access network in the second embodiment.

6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the access network selection system of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a usage form in the case of using a relay network selection system in which the communication network selection system according to the present invention is applied to a backbone relay network (third embodiment).

FIG. 8 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the relay network selection system in FIG.

9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the relay network selection system of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an overall outline of a system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the system in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is another diagram for explaining the system of FIG. 11 (No. 1).

FIG. 13 is another diagram for explaining the system of FIG. 11 (No. 2).

FIG. 14 is another diagram (part 3) for explaining the system of FIG. 11;

[Explanation of symbols]

600, 1200, 1202, 1204: PC 602: PC card slot 610: Access network selection device 700, 1000, 1210, 1300: Communication device 710, 1016, 1316 of secondary provider: Communication device information storage unit 712: Access network selection Parts 710, 712, 714, 1020, 1022, 102
4: access network 900: tables 1002, 1332: connection mediation information calculation units 1010, 1310: connection request transmission units 1012, 1312: connection mediation service information acquisition unit 1014: access network selection units 1030, 1220, 1222, 1330: primary Provider's communication device 1314: Relay network selection units 1320, 1322, 1324: Core relay network 1500: End user 1510: Secondary provider 1520: Primary provider

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Makoto Eguchi             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor, Koji Tsuchiya             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Kenji Takahashi             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Hirohide Mikami             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Haruhisa Ichikawa             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Goji Tate             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F-term (reference) 5K030 HA08 HD03 JT09 LB05

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of access networks that connect at least one first communication device that provides a connection mediation service to an IP network and a second communication device for connecting to the first communication device. Which is an access network selecting device for IP network connection, which is connected to the IP network via the selected access network, and which corresponds to each communication information type and communication information size When a connection request to the defined communication device information storage unit and the first communication device is transmitted, from the access network based on the communication information type and the communication information size of the communication device information storage unit, An access network selecting device for IP network connection, comprising: an access network selecting unit that selects one access network that receives a connection request. 2. A plurality of access networks connecting at least one first communication device that provides a connection mediation service to an IP network and a second communication device for connecting to the first communication device. In the access network selection system for IP network connection, wherein the first communication device selects the communication quality information of the connection mediation service or communication. A connection mediation information calculation unit for calculating connection mediation service information of charge information; and the second communication device, a connection mediation service information acquisition unit for receiving connection mediation service information from the first communication device, A communication device information storage unit that defines available communication devices corresponding to connection mediation service information and communication information type / communication information size, and transmits a connection request to the first communication device. A connection request transmission unit, and an access network selection unit that selects one access network that receives the connection request from the access networks based on the acquired connection mediation service information, communication information type, and communication information size. An access network selection system for IP network connection, comprising: 3. The access network selection system according to claim 2, wherein the first communication device makes a request to use the backbone relay network to a primary provider who provides an Internet service via the backbone relay network. A communication device of a secondary provider that performs, the second communication device is an end user terminal for accessing the first communication device, and the access network is from the second communication device to the first communication device. An access network selection system for IP network connection, which is an access network for accessing a communication device. 4. The access network selection system according to claim 2, wherein the first communication device is a communication device included in a primary provider that performs an Internet service via a backbone relay network, and the second communication device is A communication device of a secondary provider for accessing the first communication device, the access network is a backbone relay network for accessing the first communication device from the second communication device, An access network selection system for IP network connection. 5. A first communication device included in at least one primary provider that performs a connection mediation service to an IP network, and a second communication device included in a secondary provider for connecting to the first communication device. An access network selection system for IP network connection, wherein one of a plurality of access networks connecting to and is selected, and a terminal device connects to the IP network via the selected access network. The communication device of, on the basis of a plurality of care-of addresses received by the first communication device, the terminal device has an address allocation unit for issuing one of the care-of addresses, based on the care-of address, An access network selection system for IP network connection, characterized by connecting to an IP network via a corresponding access network. 6. A first communication device included in at least one primary provider that provides a connection mediation service to an IP network, and a second communication device included in a secondary provider for connecting to the first communication device. An access to an IP network connected to the IP network via the selected access network by selecting one of a plurality of access networks connecting In the network selection system, the relay device has an address assigning unit that issues one of the care-of addresses to the terminal device based on a plurality of care-of addresses paid by the first communication device. An access network selection system for IP network connection, characterized in that, based on the care-of address, the IP network is connected via an access network corresponding thereto. 7. A plurality of access networks connecting at least one first communication device that provides a connection mediation service to an IP network and a second communication device for connecting to the first communication device. A method for selecting an access network for IP network connection, comprising selecting one of the above-mentioned access networks and connecting to the IP network via the selected access network, wherein communication information is transmitted when a connection request to the first communication device is transmitted. Based on the communication information type and the communication information size of the communication device information storage unit that defines the available communication devices corresponding to the type and the communication information size, one access network that accepts the connection request is selected from the access networks. A method for selecting an access network for IP network connection, characterized by selecting. 8. A plurality of access networks connecting at least one first communication device for providing a connection mediation service to an IP network and a second communication device for connecting to the first communication device. A method for selecting an access network for IP network connection, comprising selecting one of the above, and connecting to the IP network via the selected access network, wherein communication quality information or communication of a connection mediation service is provided by the first communication device. When the connection mediation service information of the charge information is calculated and the connection request is transmitted to the first communication device by the second communication device, the connection mediation service information and the communication information type received from the first communication device. -Based on the connection mediation service information, the communication information type, and the communication information size of the communication device information storage unit that defines available communication devices corresponding to the communication information size , Access network selection method of the IP network connections and selects the one access network to accept the connection request from among the access network. 9. A first communication device included in at least one primary provider that provides a connection mediation service to an IP network, and a second communication device included in a secondary provider for connecting to the first communication device. An access network selecting method for IP network connection, wherein one of a plurality of access networks connecting to and is selected, and a terminal device connects to the IP network via the selected access network. Of the care-of address based on the plurality of care-of addresses received by the first communication device, issues one of the care-of addresses to the terminal device, and based on the care-of address, through the corresponding access network. A method for selecting an access network for IP network connection, characterized in that the access network is connected to an IP network. 10. A first communication device included in at least one primary provider that provides a connection mediation service to an IP network, and a second communication device included in a secondary provider for connecting to the first communication device. An access to an IP network connected to the IP network via the selected access network by selecting one of a plurality of access networks connecting A network selection method, wherein the relay device issues one of the care-of addresses to the terminal device based on a plurality of care-of addresses paid by the first communication device, and based on the care-of address, An access network selecting method for IP network connection, comprising connecting to an IP network via an access network corresponding thereto. 11. An access network selection processing program for causing a computer to execute each processing in the access network selection method for IP network connection according to any one of claims 7 to 10. 12. A computer-readable recording medium in which the access network selection processing program according to claim 11 is recorded.