JP2003143161A - Mobile terminal, access point and access node in radio communication access control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve throughput in a place such as a station converged with people by using a means independent of a radio LAN system. SOLUTION: In a network having access point groups each of which is constituted of a plurality of access points (APs) installed in the same place and an access node connected to the access point groups through a wired LAN (local area network), a mobile terminal capable of communicating with each access point by a radio communication means acquires ID (AP-ID) inherent in the access point from the access point, informs the access node of the acquired AP-ID through the access point and sets up a point-to-point link with the access node through the access point.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, an access point, and an access node in a wireless communication access control system, and more particularly to increasing the number of people who can access at a particular point at the same time. The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, an access point, and an access node in a wireless communication access control system in which a plurality of access points are collectively installed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the wireless system of the IEEE 802.11 series, an ad hoc system and an infrastructure system are defined as its operating systems. Figure 9
It is a figure which shows the typical network by the infrastructure system which is one of these two defined systems.

Access point (AP) 1-110, 1
-210 has a bridge function between the wireless LAN and the wired LAN 1-300. The mobile terminals (STA) 1-120 and 1-220 in the communicable area (1-100, 1-200) of the access point are the wireless L.
The wired LAN is accessed from the AN through the access point, and the file server 1-700 and the like are accessed from the wired LAN to perform communication.

The mobile terminal in the infrastructure system acquires the necessary information as described above. When a wireless LAN using such an infrastructure system is constructed in an office, the mobile terminals can be regarded as being uniformly distributed in the office. Therefore, in this case, the load levels of the access points can be equalized by evenly arranging the access points in the office.

[0005]

However, in a place other than the office, for example, a place where people are concentrated, such as a station, mobile terminals may be concentrated near a ticket gate or a platform stair. Therefore, in this case, in order to accommodate a large number of mobile terminals, it is necessary to collectively arrange a plurality of access points at the same location. In this case, in order to balance the load among a plurality of access points and improve the throughput, it is necessary to equalize the number of mobile terminals connected to each access point (Problem 1).

Further, when used in a place other than the office, in order to secure a constant throughput, it is necessary to limit the number of mobile terminals that can be simultaneously connected to one access point. Then, it is necessary to prompt the mobile terminal that could not be connected due to such a restriction to reconnect when it becomes possible to connect to the access point (Problem 2).

Further, since the mobile terminal moves, it is necessary to prevent the communication from being disconnected when the mobile terminal moves from the communication range of a certain access point to the communication range of another access point. 3).

On the other hand, the above-mentioned problems are caused by 802.11a, 80
Considering that there are many methods related to wireless LAN such as 2.11b and Bluetooth, wireless LA
It is desirable to be solved by means that does not depend on the N method.

In view of such circumstances, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems 1 to 3 that occur when a wireless LAN is used in a situation where people are concentrated at a station or the like by means that does not depend on the wireless LAN system. The purpose is to

[0010]

The above-mentioned problems can be solved by the means described in the claims. That is, the invention according to claim 1 is a network having an access point group configured by a plurality of access points installed in the same place, and an access node connected to the access point group via a wired LAN. A mobile terminal that communicates with the access point by wireless communication means,

An ID (AP-ID) unique to the access point is acquired from the access point, and the acquired A
The mobile terminal is characterized in that the P-ID is notified to the access node via the access point, and a point-to-point link with the access node is set up.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an access point group composed of a plurality of access points installed at the same place, the access point group and a wired LAN are provided.
The access point in a network having an access node connected via an access point, a mobile terminal communicating by wireless communication means with an access point forming the access point group,

A point-to-poi between the mobile terminal and the access node via an access point.
The access point is characterized in that an ID (AP-ID) unique to the access point is inserted in a message exchanged between the mobile terminal and the access node to set up an nt link. .

The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the number of mobile terminals currently connected to an access point is managed on the basis of the AP-ID. It is a node.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, when a request for setting the point-to-point link is received from the mobile terminal, the current number of connected mobile terminals is selected from the access points in the same access point group. Based on this, the access point that can obtain the maximum throughput is determined, and the information (A
P-INFO) is transmitted to the said mobile terminal, The access node of Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the access point to be connected is changed based on the AP-INFO transmitted from the access node according to claim 4. Is.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the upper limit of the number of the point-to-point links set in each access point is managed for each access point,
When the number of the point-to-point links in all the access points in the access point group has reached the upper limit value to be managed, a new point-to via the access point in the access point group is added. The access node according to claim 3, wherein the setting of the -point link is rejected.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, an upper limit value of the number of the point-to-point links set in each access point is managed for each access point,
When the number of the point-to-point links in all the access points in the access point group has reached the upper limit value to be managed, a new point-to via the access point in the access point group is added. Queue request for point link setup,

The po currently stored in the queue, such as the order of the mobile terminal in the stored queue.
Information about a request for setting an int-to-point link is notified to the mobile terminal that has made the request for setting the point-to-point link so that the mobile terminal can set the point-to-point link. When it becomes, the point-to from the queue
-Retrieve the request for setting the point link,

[0020] A point-to-
setting a point link, changing information about the request for setting a point-to-point link currently stored in the queue, and for the other mobile terminal that has stored the changed information in the queue, The access node according to claim 6, wherein the access node is notified.

The invention according to claim 8 can communicate with the access point by wireless communication means between the mobile terminal and the mobile terminal which has transmitted the request for setting the point-to-point link according to claim 7. If the mobile terminal that exchanges the information is unable to communicate, the setting of the point-to-point link stored in the queue transmitted from the mobile terminal is confirmed. Remove the request from the queue,

The points currently stored in the queue
8. The access according to claim 7, wherein information regarding a request for setting up a t-to-point link is changed, and the changed information is notified to another mobile terminal still stored in the queue. It is a node.

The invention according to claim 9 is such that a mobile terminal that has moved to a communication area of an access point group (another access point group) other than the access point group to which the communicating access point belongs is A flag indicating that the mobile phone has entered the communication area of the other access point group is validated, and information about the AP-ID before the movement and the AP-ID of the movement destination is added to the point-to.
-When a request for setting a point link is made,

Based on the AP-ID before moving, the mobile terminal searches for the access point to which the mobile terminal was connected before moving, and the point-to-point corresponding to the access point before moving obtained by the search. The output port of the link management table is set to the point-to-p
By changing to a port accommodating a movement destination access point stored at the time of requesting setting of an oint link, it becomes possible to move a mobile terminal without disconnecting upper layer communication when moving within the same access node. The access node according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

According to the invention of claim 10, the wireless communication means usable with the access point is point-t.
The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the access node is notified when a request for setting an o-point link is made.

In the invention according to claim 11, when the access points forming the access point group have different wireless communication means, the wireless communication means available at each access point is managed, and the point available to the mobile terminal is managed. −
In consideration of the wireless communication means stored when the setting of the to-point link is requested, the access point A of the new connection destination is considered.
The access node according to claim 4, characterized in that the P-INFO is transmitted to the mobile terminal.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network configuration according to the present invention. 2-120, 2-121, 2-220,
2-221 are mobile terminals, and access points (A
P) 2-110, 2-111, 2-210, 2-211
Are connected by wireless communication means. In FIG.
For the sake of explanation, the number of mobile terminals is four, but the number of mobile terminals is not limited to this and is arbitrary.

APs 2-110 and 2-111 constitute an access point group (APG) 1. Similarly, AP2-2
Reference numerals 10 and 2-211 constitute an access point group (APG) 2. In FIG. 1, the APG is composed of two APs for the sake of explanation, but the number of APs composing the APG is not limited to this and is arbitrary. Also,
In FIG. 1, the number of APs is four for the sake of explanation, but the number of APs is not limited to this and is arbitrary.

The APG is a wired LAN 2-130, 2-2.
It is connected to the access node (AN) 2-300 via 30. The AN is an authentication server 2-400 and a network (internet or intranet) 2-5.
00 is connected. Although the authentication server 2-400 is directly connected to the access node 2-300 in FIG. 1, it may be connected to the access node 2-300 via the network 2-500.

In the above network configuration,
The mobile terminal, as shown in FIG.
Initiating a connection to the network by setting up an point-to-point link. Here, FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a sequence of the network shown in FIG. 1.

In the following, for simplification of explanation, Point
The procedure for setting a t-to-point link shall be configured as follows. That is, the mobile terminal transmits to the AN a point-to-point setting request message (3-100) which is a message for requesting point-to-point link setting.

Then, the AN sends this point to the mobile terminal.
In response to a t-to-point link setting request,
Poi that accepts t-to-point link settings
nt-to-point link setting success message (3
-101), or a point-to-point that rejects a request for setting a point-to-point link.
It is assumed that the link setting refusal message (3-102) is transmitted.

Point-to-poi received by AN
The nt link setting request message contains an ID unique to the AP.
(AP-ID) is described. This AP-ID is
When the mobile terminal inserts the corresponding field in the point-to-point link setup request message,
May be inserted in the corresponding field of the point-to-point link setting request message.

The mobile terminal is point-to-point.
When inserting the AP-ID in the link setting request message, the mobile terminal acquires the AP-ID by the negotiation at the time of setting the wireless link between the mobile terminal and the AP, and inserts this in the corresponding field. On the other hand, AP is point-
The AP-I is added to the to-point link setting request message.
When D is inserted, the AP monitors a message passing through the AP, and when the point-to-point link setup request message is passed, inserts the AP-ID in the corresponding field.

As the AP-ID, a systematically assigned AP name or AP hardware address can be used. The AN uses the information (AP-INF) necessary to set up a wireless link between the mobile terminal and the AP.
O), the number of mobile terminals currently connected to the AP, the maximum number of connected mobile terminals connectable to the AP, and other information regarding the AP-ID are managed.

The AN sets the AP-ID to 2-211, p
When the point-to-point link setting request is received (3-100), refer to Table 1 (FIG. 2) and refer to AP-2.
The number of mobile terminals connected to 11 is compared with the number of connected mobile terminals of another AP (AP2-210) in the same APG. Here, Table 1 in FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of information managed by the AN.

In the case of Table 1 (FIG. 2), since the number of mobile terminals connected to AP2-211 is smaller than the number of mobile terminals connected to AP2-210, AN is poi.
nt-to-point link setting success message (3
-101) is transmitted to the mobile terminal, and AP2 in Table 1 (FIG. 2) is transmitted.
-211 increases the number of connected mobile terminals by 1, and point-t
Set up an o-point link.

Next, the AN newly sets the AP-ID to 2-
A point-to-point link setting request to be 210 is received (3-105). In this case, referring to Table 1 (FIG. 2), since the number of mobile terminals connected to AP 2-211 is smaller than the number of mobile terminals connected to AP 2 210, the AN sets AP-INFO. The inserted point-to-point link setting refusal message (3-102) is transmitted to the mobile terminal to notify the mobile terminal to connect via the AP 2-211.

The mobile terminal that received the notification is AP-INFO.
Based on the above, the connection destination of the wireless link is changed from AP2-210 to AP2-211 (3-106), and the Point is re-established.
By sending a t-to-point link setting request message (3-107), the Point-to-p is sent.
Set up the oint link.

By using the above means, the same APG
The number of mobile terminals connected to each AP can be equalized (problem 1). Especially, the maximum number of connected mobile terminals is 1
By restricting to, the same band as the wireless communication means can be always allocated to the connected mobile terminal.

Here, based on the size of the number of mobile terminals,
The AP to be assigned was determined. However, the method of determining the AP is not limited to this, and, for example, SNM is used.
It is also possible to use a method such as P to acquire the throughput information of the AP and determine the AP to be allocated based on the acquired information.

When the number of connected mobile terminals corresponding to the AP-ID in the Point-to-point link setting request message has reached the maximum number of connected mobile terminals, another AP in the same APG is searched. As a result of the search, when it is found that the number of connected mobile terminals reaches the maximum number of connected mobile terminals in each AP in the APG, the setting request is stored in a queue.

In this case, the Point stored in the queue
With respect to the -to-point link setting request, the point-to-point waiting for processing before the request is issued.
Information on how many link setup requests exist in the queue (Q
-INFO) is notified by the AN to the mobile terminal,
It is possible to notify the user of how long to wait before connecting.

Q-INFO is a point-to-po.
It can be notified by inserting it in the int link setting request rejection message (3-103) or by separately defining a Point-to-point link setting hold message.

When the mobile terminal disconnects the already established Point-to-point link connection in the APG, the Point-to-point link setup request is taken out from the queue and the disconnected Point-to-point link connection request is taken out.
The AP-INFO of the AP used by the int link is notified to the mobile terminal corresponding to the extracted Point-to-point link setting request (3-109). Then, by performing the connection sequence (3-110) again based on the notified AP-INFO, it is possible to prompt the reconnection to the mobile terminal which cannot be accessed.

Point-to-p remaining in the queue
In response to the oint link setting request, the Q-INFO is notified periodically or when there is a change in the queue, so that it is possible to notify how long after the waiting user can connect.

When the mobile terminal that has transmitted the request message moves out of the communication range of the APG while the Point-to-point link setting request is stored in the queue, the Point-to of the mobile terminal is removed from the queue.
-It is necessary to delete the point link setting request. Therefore, in order to detect the movement of the mobile terminal outside the communicable range, the Point-to-po stored in the queue is detected.
A keep alive message (3-104) is exchanged between the mobile terminal that has transmitted the int link setting request and the AN. Q-I is added to this keep alive message.
It is also possible to realize the above-mentioned periodic notification of Q-INFO by inserting NFO.

When the mobile terminal moves to the communication area of another APG, the mobile terminal moves to another APG during the communication.
The flag indicating that the mobile phone has entered the communication area of the PG is enabled, the AP-ID before movement is attached, and the Point-to
Make a point link setup request. Based on the AP-ID before moving, the AN searches for the connection of the mobile terminal, and the Point-to-point between the mobile terminal and the AN is searched.
Set the output port of the table that manages
By changing to a port accommodating the movement destination AP stored at the time of requesting the setting of the t-to-point link, it becomes possible to move the mobile terminal without disconnecting the communication of the upper layer when moving within the same AN. be able to.

[0049]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the mobile terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the access node according to the embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the wireless link is IEEE802.11b, Point-to.
-PPoE (RFC251) as a point link
6), Inte as a network layer protocol
The rnet protocol (RFC791) is used.

The mobile terminal establishes a wireless link according to IEEE80.
Established by 2.11b. In IEEE802.11b, the MAC address of the access point (AP) is acquired by the procedure (4-100) of establishing a wireless link. After acquiring the MAC address, the mobile terminal
A new AP-ID tag is defined as a protocol tag, and PPPoE Active Discovery is defined.
The packet is added to the Request (PADR) packet and transmitted to the access node (AN) (4-200). Here, the TAG VALUE of the AP-ID tag is the wireless communication means and the AP-ID used by the means.

For example, when 802.11b is used as the wireless communication means, the wireless communication means is 802.11.
b, AP-ID is the MAC address of the AP. This A
The PADR packet added with the P-ID tag is the P
point-to-point setting request message (3-
100).

When the PADR packet is received (5-200), the AN uses the AP-ID as a key when the PADR packet includes only the AP-ID tag (5-208).
Search P management table (Table 2 (FIG. 6)) (5-101)
Then, the number of connected mobile terminals and the maximum number of connected mobile terminals of each AP in the same APG are checked (5-300).

In case of Casel (5-201), AN
Is an A that matches the AP-ID included in the AP-ID tag.
Increase the number of connected mobile terminals (6-103) of P by 1
oEAActive Discovery Sessio
An n-confirmation (PADS) packet is transmitted to the mobile terminal (5-102). This PADS packet becomes the aforementioned point-to-point link setup success message (3-101).

The mobile terminal that has received the PADS packet (4-206) continues to receive the LCP (Link C) of PPP.
control protocol), authentication, IPCP
(Internet Protocol Control
Procol) processing (4-104), and poi
Set up an nt-to-point link.

When the setting of the point-to-point link is completed, the AN adds the entry of the mobile terminal to the mobile terminal management table shown in Table 3 (FIG. 7). The mobile terminal management table shown in FIG. 7 has a MAC address (8-101) of the mobile terminal, an IP address (8-102) assigned to the terminal by IPCP, and a port number (8-10).
0) and the current port number (8-103).

In the AN, the port number (8-100) of the AN to which the IP packet for the mobile terminal is sent is determined by searching the ordinary IP routing table. The current port number is the port number (8-10
It is determined (8-103) by searching the entry in 0) with the MAC address (8-101) or the IP address (8-102). The IP packet for the mobile terminal is transmitted from the port thus determined,
Reach the mobile terminal.

In Case 2 (5-202), AN
Is the AP-INFO of the AP that meets the Case 2 conditions
(6-102) is read and a new CHA is added to PPPoE.
The NGE-AP tag is defined, and this is added to the PADS packet and transmitted to the mobile terminal (5-103).

This PADS (CHANGE-AP) packet becomes the aforementioned point-to-point setting rejection (AP-INFO) message (3-102).
Here, the TAG VALUE of the CHANGE-AP tag
Is a wireless communication means and AP-INFO used in the means. For example, in 802-11b, the wireless communication means is 8
02.11b, AP-INFO is Extend
d Service Set ID (ESSID).

The mobile terminal which has received the PADS packet including the CHANGE-AP tag (4-204) is CHAN.
The ESSID in the GE-AP tag is used to change the connection destination to another AP (4-100), the AP-ID of the change destination AP is entered in the AP-ID tag, and the PADR packet is again A
It is transmitted to N (4-200).

In Case 3 (5-203), AN
Saves the PADR packet in the PADR queue (7-100) shown in FIG. 8 and newly adds Q-IN to PPPoE.
The FO tag is defined, this is added to the PADS packet and transmitted to the mobile terminal (5-104). This PADS (Q
-INFO) packet is the aforementioned point-to-po
int link setting rejection (Q-INFO) message (3
-103).

TAG VALUE of the Q-INFO tag
Is a Q-INFO, which is an ID (Q that identifies the number of PADR packets stored in the PADR queue and the PADR packet stored in the PADR queue.
-ID).

Receive PADS (Q-INFO) (4-2
The mobile terminal that has performed 01) displays Q-INFO on the display and sets Wait_Timer (4-10).
2).

When Wait_Timer fires (4
-202), PADS (Q-INF
O) The Q-INFO tag received in the packet is added and transmitted to PADR (Q-INFO), Query_Ti
Set mer (4-103). This PADR (Q
-INFO) is transmitted from the above-mentioned mobile terminal to the AN K
It becomes an eepAlive message (3-104).

Query_Timer fires (4-20
In the case of 5), it is assumed that the communication failure between the mobile terminal and the AN has occurred, and the mobile terminal is point-to-point.
Cancel the link setting.

Receive PADR (Q-INFO) (5-2
05) The AN searches the PADR queue with the Q-ID, changes the Q-time (7-102) of the corresponding entry to the current time, and sends the PADS (Q-INFO) to the mobile terminal (5-). 106). PADS (Q-INF
The mobile terminal which received (O) (4-203) is a Query.
_Timer is stopped and Wait_Timer is set (4-102).

In the AN, when the Refresh Timer fires (5-204), the PADR queue (7-
Q-time (7-102) of each entry in 100)
Is checked, the mobile terminal whose entry has passed a certain time from the current time is considered to have moved out of the 802.11b wireless communication area, and the entry is deleted.
Set fresh Timer (5-105).

PPPoE link disconnection occurs in AN (5-
207), the AN reduces the number of connected mobile terminals (6-103) of the AP used by the disconnected PPPoE link by 1, and deletes the corresponding entry from the mobile terminal management table (Table 3 (FIG. 7)). To do. Moreover, AN is PADR
The AP-ID of the AP that was used by the disconnected PPPoE link by removing the entry from the queue (7-100)
If the AP-ID (7-103) of the extracted entry is the same, a PADS packet is transmitted, and if different, P
An ADS (CHANGE-AP) packet is transmitted.

The mobile terminal that has received the PADS packet (4-206) continues to use the LCP (Link C) of PPP.
control protocol, authentication, IPCP (I
internet Protocol Control
Protcol) processing (4-104)
After the nt-to-Point link setting is completed, the entry of the mobile terminal is added to the mobile terminal management table (Table 3 (FIG. 7)).

The mobile terminal which has received the PADS (CHANGE-AP) packet (4-204) is AP-INFO.
The ESSID in the tag is used to change the connection destination to another AP (4-100), and the PADR packet is transmitted again to the AN (4-200).

When 802-11b is used, the ESSID is set to A when the AP in the APG is first accessed.
Either set to NY or the mobile terminal needs to know the ESSID in advance.

The operation of the AP that allows the connection by the ESSID of ANY causes a security problem and is not desirable. Therefore, it is necessary to notify the mobile terminal in advance of the ESSID by some means.

Therefore, one of the APs in each APG is set as an AP for initial access, the ESSID is made common to each APG, and the ESSID is made known to the user in advance,
The mobile terminal accesses the AP with this ESSID, and appropriately allocates it to another AP by the above means, thereby
Can be solved when accessing the AP in the first time.

Next, consider movement of the mobile terminal between APGs. When the mobile terminal moves the APG (4-208),
Communication by wireless communication means with the source AP is cut off,
The wireless communication means establishes a connection with an AP belonging to another destination APG (4-107).

At this time, the mobile terminal newly enters PPPoE.
The ld-AP-ID tag is defined, and this is added to the PADR packet together with the AP-ID tag containing the AP-ID of the destination AP and transmitted to the mobile terminal (4-209).

TAG VAL of Old-AP-ID tag
UE is the source AP-ID. Old-AP-ID
AN that received (5-209) PADR packet containing
Moves the AP management table (Table 2 (FIG. 6)) to the source AP
-Search using ID as a key, and port number (6-105)
And whether the acquired port number is the same as the current port number (8-103) in the mobile terminal management table (Table 3 (FIG. 7)), is the MAC address of the mobile terminal registered? Is searched (5-110). If registration exists (5-210), AP- in AP-ID tag
Search the AP management table by ID, check 5-300, and if there is no registration (5-209), P
Discard the ADR packet.

By checking at 5-300, Case 1
In the case of (5-201), the PADS packet is transmitted to the mobile terminal, and the current port number in the mobile terminal management table (Table 3 (FIG. 7)) is changed to the port number that received the PADR packet.

The mobile terminal having received the PADS packet (4-211) determines that the Point-t used at the movement source.
It is possible to continue communication using the o-Point link, and even when TCP-IP communication is in progress, TC
It is possible to move while maintaining the connection of P.

In Case 2 (5-203), A
N transmits PADS (CHANGE-AP) (5
-103). The mobile terminal (4-210) that has received the PADS (CHANGE-AP) changes the connection destination AP based on AP-INFO (4-107), and again Old-AP.
-A PADR packet with an ID tag and an AP-ID tag is sent to the AN (4-209).

In Case 3, the AN deletes the entry of the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal management table and sends the PADS (Q-INFO) message because of the movement failure. Then, the mobile terminal which has received the PADS (Q-INFO) (4-212) newly sets the Point-
Move to a sequence for setting a to-Point link.

When the access points forming the access point group have different wireless communication new means, the access node manages the wireless communication means that the mobile terminal can use at each access point. At this time, the access node sends Poi to the mobile terminal that switches the access point to the access point of the moving destination.
The AP-INFO of the access point of the movement destination is transmitted to the mobile terminal in consideration of the wireless communication means stored at the time of requesting the setting of the nt-to-Point link and available to the access point of the movement destination. To do.

[0081]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In order to increase the number of people who can access at a specific point at the same time, in wireless communication in which multiple access points are installed together at the point, the throughput at each access point is maintained above the set value, and each The load on the access points can be balanced.

According to the present invention, it becomes possible to automatically prompt a user who cannot access due to access restriction to reconnect. According to the invention,
A mobile terminal can move between access point groups while maintaining access communication.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network configuration according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of information managed by an AN.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a sequence of the network shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the mobile terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing flow of an access node according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an AP management table managed by the access node according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a mobile terminal management table managed by the access node according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a PADR queue according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a typical network based on an infrastructure method.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-110, 1-210 Access Point (AP) 1-300 Wired LAN 1-100, 1-200 Communication Area of Access Point 1-120, 1-220 Mobile Terminal (STA) 1-700 File Server 2-120 , 2-121, 2-220, 2-221
Mobile terminals 2-110, 2-111, 2-210, 2-211
Access point (AP) 2-130, 2-230 Wired LAN 2-300 Access node (AN) 2-400 Authentication server 2-500 Network (internet or in
3-100 point-to-point link setting request message 3-101 point-to-point link setting success message 3-102 point-to-point link setting refusal message 3-103 point-to-point link setting request rejection message 3-104 keep alive message 3-105 receive point-to-point link setting request 3-106 change connection destination of wireless link 3-107 send point-to-point link setting request message again 3-109 AP-INFO To the mobile terminal 3-110 Reconnect sequence based on AP-INFO 4-100 Change connection destination 4-102 Set Wait_Timer 4-103 Set Query_Timer 4 104 Processing of LCP, authentication, and IPCP 4-107 Connection with an AP belonging to another APG that is a destination by wireless communication means 4-200 PADR packet transmission 4-201 PADS (Q-INFO) reception 4-202 Wait_Timer fired 4-203 PADS (Q-INFO) received 4-204 PADS packet received 4-205 Query_Timer fired 4-206 PADS packet received 4-208 When mobile terminal moves APG 4-209 PADR packet sent to AN To send 4-210 Receive PADS (CHANGE-AP) 4-211 Receive PADS packet 4-212 Receive PADS (Q-INFO) 5-101 Search table 5-102 Send PADS packet to mobile terminal 5-103 Send PADS packet to mobile terminal Signal 5-104 Send PADS packet 5-105 Set Refresh Timer 5-106 Send PADS (Q-INFO) 5-110 Search for MAC address registration 5-200 Receive PADR packet 5-201 Case 5-202 Case2 5-203 Case3 5-204 Refresh Timer fired 5-205 PADR (Q-INFO) received 5-207 PPPoE link disconnection occurred 5-208 PADR packet contains only AP-ID tag 5-209 MAC When there is no address registration 5-210 When there is MAC address registration 5-300 Check the number of connected mobile terminals of each AP and the maximum number of connected mobile terminals 6-102 AP-INFO 6-103 Connected mobile terminal of AP Number 6-105 ports Issue 7-100 PADR queue 7-102 Q-time 7-103 AP-ID 8-100 port number 8-101 MAC address of the mobile terminal 8-102 IP address 8-103 of the current port number

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An access point group composed of a plurality of access points (APs) installed at the same location, and an access node connected to the access point group via a wired LAN (local area network). A mobile terminal that communicates with the access point by wireless communication means in a network that the user has,
(AP-ID) is acquired, the acquired AP-ID is notified to the access node via the access point, and the point-to-point via the access point is communicated with the access node. A mobile terminal characterized by setting a point) link. 2. An access point group composed of a plurality of access points (AP) installed at the same location, and an access node connected to the access point group via a wired LAN (local area network). A point-to-point access via an access point between the mobile terminal and the access node in a network having an access point that constitutes the access point group and a mobile terminal that communicates by wireless communication means. The access point unique ID (AP-ID) in the message exchanged between the mobile terminal and the access node to establish a point-to-point link.
An access point characterized by inserting. 3. The access node according to claim 1, wherein the number of mobile terminals currently connected to an access point is managed based on the AP-ID. 4. The point-to from the mobile terminal
-When a request for setting a point link is received, an access point that can obtain the maximum throughput is determined from the access points in the same access point group based on the current number of connected mobile terminals, and the determination is made. The access node according to claim 3, wherein information (AP-INFO) regarding an access point is transmitted to the mobile terminal. 5. The mobile terminal according to claim 4, wherein the access point to be connected is changed based on the AP-INFO transmitted from the access node according to claim 4. 6. An upper limit value of the number of the point-to-point links set in each access point is managed for each access point, and the point in all the access points in the access point group is managed.
-If the number of to-point links has reached the upper limit value managed, a new point-to-point via an access point in the access point group
The access node according to claim 3, wherein the setting of the point link is rejected. 7. The p set in each access point
An upper limit value of the number of point-to-point links is managed for each access point, and the point-points at all access points in the access point group are managed.
When the number of to-point links reaches the upper limit value managed, a new point-to-p via an access point in the access point group concerned
A request for setting an oint link is stored in a queue, and the point-to-point currently stored in the queue, such as the order of the mobile terminal in the stored queue.
-Notify the mobile terminal that has made the request for setting the point-to-point link of the information related to the request for setting the point link, and the mobile terminal points to the point.
When the t-to-point link can be set up, the point-to-point is removed from the queue.
A request for setting a link is taken out, a point-to-point link is set up with the mobile terminal, and a point-to-point currently stored in the queue is set.
7. The access node according to claim 6, wherein the information related to the t-link setting request is changed, and the changed information is notified to other mobile terminals that are still stored in the queue. 8. The point-to-p according to claim 7.
Information for confirming that the mobile terminal can communicate with the access point by the wireless communication means is exchanged with the mobile terminal that has transmitted the request for setting the oint link, and the mobile terminal that exchanged the information is not in communication. If possible,
P stored in the queue sent from the mobile terminal
A request to set up an point-to-point link is deleted from the queue, and the poi currently stored in the queue is deleted.
The access according to claim 7, characterized in that information regarding a request for setting up an nt-to-point link is changed, and the changed information is notified to another mobile terminal that is still stored in the queue. node. 9. A mobile terminal, which has moved to a communication area of an access point group (another access point group) other than the access point group to which the communicating access point belongs, is moved by another mobile terminal during the communication. Enable the flag indicating that you have entered the communication area of
When a request for setting a point-to-point link is made by adding information about the AP-ID before the movement and the AP-ID of the movement destination, the AP-ID before the movement
The access point to which the mobile terminal was connected before the movement based on the above, and the point-to-po corresponding to the access point before the movement obtained by the search.
The output destination port of the int link management table is set to the po
By changing to a port accommodating the destination access point stored at the time of requesting the setting of the int-to-point link, the movement of the mobile terminal can be performed without disconnecting the communication of the upper layer with respect to the movement within the same access node. The access node according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which is enabled. 10. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication means usable with the access point is notified to the access node when a request for setting a point-to-point link is made. 11. When the access points constituting the access point group have different wireless communication means, the wireless communication means available at each access point is managed, and a point-to-point link available to the mobile terminal is provided. Considering the wireless communication means stored at the time of setting request,
The access node according to claim 4, wherein AP-INFO of a newly connected access point is transmitted to the mobile terminal.