JP2003298627A - Closed area network control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent account of useless communication charge to a user in the case where a connection to a closed area network is necessarily failed. <P>SOLUTION: A closed area network control system has a closed area network in a closed area network accommodation device; a management table (25) showing a relation to a closed area network identifier indicating the backbone closed area network; means (27) for judging whether the closed area network in the closed region network accommodation device, for which the closed area network identifier to which the connection request from the terminal belongs is established, is present or not based on the management table; and means (26, 27) for performing connection reject without an incoming response to an incoming of connection request from the user when it is judged that the closed area network in the closed area network accommodation device, for which the closed area network identifier to which the connection request belongs is established, is not present. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a user terminal,
The present invention relates to a closed network control system that connects to one closed network of a plurality of closed networks included in a backbone via a closed network accommodation device including at least one closed network (Virtual Private Network).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, virtual closed network technology has attracted attention in packet communication systems such as IP (Internet Protocol). When interconnecting each closed network between a plurality of communication companies, fixed networks are fixedly interconnected in advance.

An access server (closed network accommodating device) which accommodates a packet communication host using an access means such as dial-up or xDSL, and which can accommodate a plurality of closed networks is installed in the backbone. There is a case where the closed network existing in the above and the closed network existing in the access server are interconnected to provide the remote access service by the access server which can be shared by a plurality of closed networks.

[0004]

However, in the prior art, since the closed network of the closed network accommodation device and the closed network of the backbone are fixedly interconnected, they are installed in the closed network accommodation device. When the number of closed networks that can be formed is smaller than the number of closed networks in the backbone, there is a problem that a closed network accommodation device must be installed more than necessary.

In order to solve such a problem, a technique for effectively utilizing the closed network in the closed network accommodation device by dynamically connecting the closed network in the closed network accommodation device and the backbone closed network. Is considered (Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-38)
0838).

According to such a technique, when a user is connected to the closed network by dial-up or the like, the closed network identifier to which the user belongs is transferred from the closed network accommodation device to the closed network control device, and the closed network control device The closed network identifier is dynamically set for the closed network of the closed network accommodation device.

Next, the closed network control device physically connects the closed network in the backbone having the same closed network identifier as the closed network identifier to which the user belongs to the closed network in the closed network accommodation device. And set the route.

When disconnecting the user from the closed network, the closed network control device deletes the identifier set in the closed network in the closed network accommodation device, and the closed network in the backbone and the closed region in the closed network accommodation device. Delete the route to disconnect the interconnection with the network and release the physical line.

A plurality of users having the same closed network identifier are connected to the same closed network in the closed network accommodation device. When the number of closed networks that can be accommodated in the closed network accommodation device is smaller than the number of closed networks in the backbone, the closed network in the backbone and the closed network of the closed network accommodation device are compared to fixed interconnection and It is possible to realize effective use of a closed network and communication between users having the same closed network identifier.

In the above-mentioned technique, the closed network accommodating device immediately responds to the incoming call from the user in the connection process of the user, and the closed network identifier to which the user belongs while the communication path with the user is established. Is acquired and transferred to the closed network control device. FIG. 6 shows a processing flow of the closed network accommodation device and FIG. 7 shows a processing flow of the closed network control device in this case.

As shown in the figure, in the conventional closed network control method, first, in the closed network accommodation device, after confirming that the connection request from the user has arrived (S301), the incoming call from the user is received. A response is given (S302).

Thereafter, the connection request from the user is transferred to the closed network control device (S303). Then, according to the instruction from the closed network control device, the user is connected to the closed network or the communication is disconnected (S304).

On the other hand, the closed network control device receives the user connection request from the closed network accommodation device and authenticates the user (S401). Then, it is determined whether or not the closed network in which the closed network identifier to which the user belongs is set exists in the closed network accommodation device (S402).

When it is determined in S402 that the closed network does not exist, it is determined whether or not there is a closed network for which the closed network identifier is not set (S404), and S40.
When it is determined that the user does not exist in step 4, the closed network accommodating device is instructed to return a connection refusal to the user (S405).

When it is determined in S404 that the closed network identifier does not exist, the closed network is instructed to set the closed network identifier to which the user belongs (S405).

On the other hand, if it is determined in S402 that the closed network user exists, the closed network user is connected and the closed network in the backbone having the same closed network identifier as the user is connected to the closed network. Thus, the ATM VC is allocated and the route is set (S403).

In the above technique, the closed network accommodation device always responds to an incoming call from a user. When a user is connected to all closed networks accommodated by the closed network accommodation device and a closed network identifier is set, when a new user connection request occurs, the closed network that matches the closed network identifier to which the user belongs If the network does not exist in the closed network accommodation device, the connection request of the user is rejected by the closed network control device.

Therefore, in this case, although the user inevitably fails to connect to the closed network, the user is charged with a communication fee corresponding to the communication time from the incoming call response of the closed network accommodation device to the connection refusal. Will end up.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when the connection to the closed network inevitably fails, it is possible to prevent the user from being charged a useless communication charge. The purpose is to provide a network control system.

[0020]

Therefore, in order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a user's terminal is connected via a closed network accommodation device including at least one closed network.
In a closed network control system connected to one closed network among a plurality of closed networks included in the backbone, a management table showing a relationship between the closed network of the closed network accommodation device and a closed network identifier indicating the closed network of the backbone. And a means for determining whether or not there is a closed network of the closed network accommodation device to which the closed network identifier to which the connection request from the terminal belongs is set, and the connection request belongs When it is determined that the closed network of the closed network accommodation device to which the closed network identifier is set does not exist, a means for rejecting the connection without making an incoming response to the incoming connection request from the user is provided. A closed network control system, characterized by:

[0021]

1 is a diagram showing a closed network control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a closed network control system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a closed network control device 1, a closed network accommodation device 2 having closed networks 3 and 4 therein, and a closed network 6. ，
The backbone 5 having 7 and 8 internally, the closed network in the closed network accommodation device and the closed network in the backbone are interconnected A
A closed network connection system 11 composed of TM VCs (Virtual Connections) 9 and 10 is provided, and a user 12 operates a user terminal 13 and dials up to a closed network accommodation device 2 via a telephone network 14. , Try to connect to closed network 3 or 4.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a closed network accommodation device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in the figure, the closed network accommodation device includes an interface 20, a backbone communication unit 21, a closed network control device communication unit 22, an ATM VC control unit 23, a management table setting changing unit 24, and a management table 25. It has a terminal communication unit 26 and a management table investigation unit 27.

The interface 20 is used by the user terminal 1
2. Communicate with the closed network control device 1 and the backbone 5.

The backbone communication unit 21 communicates with the backbone 5.

The closed network controller communication unit 22 communicates with the closed network controller 1.

The ATM VC controller 23 is a closed network controller 1
The ATM VC is controlled on the basis of the control signal from to connect the closed networks 3 and 4 of the closed network accommodation device 2 to the closed network of the backbone 5.

The management table setting changing unit 24 receives the management table 25 based on the control signal from the closed network control device 1.
Change the setting of.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the management table 25 associates the closed networks 3 and 4 of the closed network accommodation device 2 with a closed network identifier indicating the closed network of the backbone, and at the same time, The identifier is associated with the identification information of the sender (for example, the calling number).

The terminal communication unit 26 communicates with the user terminal via the public network.

Based on the connection request from the terminal, the management table investigation unit 27 determines whether there is a closed network for which the closed network identifier is not set among the closed networks 3 and 4 of the closed network accommodation device 2 or the user belongs. Whether a closed network with the same closed network identifier as the closed network identifier exists in the closed network accommodation device,
The determination such as the above is made by referring to the management table 25.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the closed network accommodation device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

When the closed network accommodation device 2 confirms the incoming call from the user terminal 13 (step 101), it checks whether or not the closed network identifiers are set for the closed networks 3 and 4 in the closed network accommodation device 2 (step 102). ).

If the closed network identifier is not set for at least one of the closed networks 3 and 4 in step 102,
The closed network accommodation device 2 responds to the incoming call (step 103).
Then, the closed network accommodation device 2 starts communication with the user terminal 7 and transfers the connection request from the user terminal 7 to the closed network control device 1 (step 104).

After the processing by the closed network control device 1, the closed network accommodation device 2 connects the user to the closed network 3 or 4 according to an instruction from the closed network control device 1 (step 105).
At this time, when the closed network identifier is newly set to the closed network, the management information of the correspondence between the closed network and the closed network identifier stored in the management table 25 is updated (step 10).
6, 107).

On the other hand, in step 102, when the closed networks 3 and 4 in the closed network accommodation device 2 both have closed network identifiers set, the corresponding closed network identifier is retrieved from the caller number of the user terminal 13. (Step 108), it is investigated whether the same closed network identifier as the closed network identifier of the user terminal 13 is set in any of the closed networks 3 and 4 (Step 109).

If it is set, the incoming call is answered to the user terminal 13 (step 103), and step 104
Continues the subsequent processing. If the closed network identifier to which the user terminal 13 belongs in step 109 does not match any closed network identifier of the closed networks 3 and 4, the user terminal 1
For example, the busy tone is returned without responding to 3 (step 110).

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the closed network control apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In response to the processing of step 104 in the processing flow of the closed network accommodation device shown in FIG. 2, the closed network control device 1 receives the connection request of the user terminal 13 from the closed network accommodation device 2 (step 201). After authenticating the user, it is investigated whether the same closed network identifier as the closed network identifier to which the user 11 belongs is set in the closed network 3 or 4 (step 202).

In step 202, when the closed network identifier is set, the closed network accommodation device 2 connects the user terminal 13 to the closed network for which the closed network identifier has been set.
(Step 203).

In step 202, the user terminal 13
If the closed network identifier that is the same as the closed network identifier to which the user terminal 13 belongs is not set in any of the closed networks 3 and 4, the closed network control device 1 belongs to the closed network accommodation device 2 and the closed network to which the user terminal 13 belongs. Instructing to set the network identifier to a closed network for which a closed network identifier has not been set, and among the closed networks 6, 7 and 8 in the backbone 5, the same closed network identifier as the closed network identifier to which the user belongs. The ATM VC 9 or 10 is allocated so as to interconnect with the closed network having the identifier, and the route is set (step 204).

Thereafter, the closed network accommodating device 2 is instructed to connect the user to the closed network for which the closed network identifier is set in step 204 (step 203).

In the above embodiment, the case where the remote access user is authenticated in the closed network control device 1 has been described, but it may be performed in the closed network accommodation device.

In the above embodiment, the closed network accommodation device is provided with a management table, and this closed network accommodation device uses the management table to judge whether or not to make an incoming call response. As described above, the closed network control device may include a management table, and the closed network control device may use the management table to determine whether to make an incoming call response. In this case, for example, the processes of S102, S108, and S109 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 are performed by the closed network control device.

Therefore, according to the closed network control system of the embodiment of the present invention, in connection to the closed network by remote access such as dial-up, a connection request from the user to the closed network is received by the closed network accommodation device. When a closed network identifier is set for all the closed networks in the closed network accommodation device, and there is no closed network with a closed network identifier that matches the closed network identifier of the user, the closed network identifier of the user does not exist. When the connection to the closed network inevitably fails, the connection is rejected, so that it is possible to prevent the user from being charged with a useless communication charge.

[0047]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a closed network control system capable of preventing a user from being charged a useless communication charge when connection to the closed network inevitably fails.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a closed network control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a closed network accommodation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a management table.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the closed network accommodation device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the closed network control device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the conventional closed network accommodation device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a conventional closed network control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Closed network control device, 2 ... Closed network accommodation device, 3, 4 ... Closed network, 5 ... Backbone, 6-8 ... Closed network, 9, 10 ... ATM VC, 20 ... interface, 21 ... Backbone communication unit, 22 ... Communication unit for closed network control device, 23 ... ATM VC controller, 24 ... Management table setting change section, 25 ... Management table, 26 ... terminal communication unit, 27 ... Management table research department.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Koichi Suto             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F term (reference) 5K030 GA08 GA13 HA08 HB29 HC01                       HD07 KA04 KA05 LB02

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A closed network control system for connecting a user's terminal to one closed network of a plurality of closed networks of a backbone via a closed network accommodation device including at least one closed network, wherein: The closed network of the network accommodation device, the management table showing the relationship between the closed network identifier indicating the closed network of the backbone, the closed network of the closed network accommodation device is set the closed network identifier to which the connection request from the terminal belongs Means for determining whether or not a network exists based on the management table, and when it is determined that there is no closed network of the closed network accommodation device in which the closed network identifier to which the connection request belongs is set And a means for rejecting a connection without making an incoming response to an incoming connection request from the user. 2. The determination means determines whether or not there is a closed network of the closed network accommodation device for which the closed network identifier is not set, based on the management table, and is determined not to exist. The closed network control system according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not there is a closed network of the closed network accommodation device to which the closed network identifier to which the connection request belongs is set. 3. When the closed network of the closed network accommodating device in which the closed network identifier to which the connection request belongs is set is present, a response to the incoming call of the connection request is made. The closed network control system according to item 1. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein when it is determined that there is a closed network of the closed network accommodation device for which the closed network identifier is not set, a response to the incoming of the connection request is made. Closed network control system. 5. A closed network controller for outputting a control signal for controlling the closed network accommodation device based on the connection request when a response to the incoming of the connection request is made, further comprising: The device connects the terminal to the closed network of the backbone indicated by the closed network identifier to which the connection request belongs, via the closed network of the closed network accommodation device, based on the control signal. Item 3. A closed network control system according to item 3. 6. A closed network accommodation device including at least one closed network, wherein a user terminal is connected to one closed network of a plurality of closed networks included in a backbone, the closed network of said closed network accommodation device comprising: A management table showing a relationship with a closed network identifier indicating the closed network of the backbone, and whether or not there is a closed network of the closed network accommodating device to which the closed network identifier to which the connection request from the terminal belongs is set A means for determining the connection request from the user when it is determined that there is no closed network of the closed network accommodation device in which the closed network identifier to which the connection request belongs is set. And a means for rejecting a connection without responding to an incoming call from the closed network accommodating apparatus. 7. The determining means determines whether or not there is a closed network of the open / close network accommodating device for which the closed network identifier is not set, based on the management table, and is determined not to exist. The closed network accommodating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein it is determined whether or not there is a closed network of the closed network accommodating apparatus to which the closed network identifier to which the connection request belongs is set. 8. A response to an incoming call of the connection request is made when it is determined that the closed network of the closed network accommodation device in which the closed network identifier to which the connection request belongs is set. Item 6. The closed network accommodation device according to item 6. 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein when it is determined that there is a closed network of the closed network accommodation device for which the closed network identifier is not set, a response to the incoming of the connection request is made. Closed network accommodation device. 10. A closed table having at least one closed network, the closed network, and a management table showing a relationship between a closed network identifier showing the closed network of the backbone, and a plurality of closed networks having backbones of user terminals. In the closed network control method in the closed network accommodation device connected to one closed network of the networks, is there a closed network of the closed network accommodation device to which a closed network identifier to which the connection request from the terminal belongs is set? Whether or not it is determined based on the management table, when it is determined that the closed network of the closed network accommodation device in which the closed network identifier to which the connection request belongs is set does not exist, the connection request from the user A method for controlling a closed network, which is characterized by rejecting a connection without responding to an incoming call. 11. The determination step determines whether or not there is a closed network of the open / close network accommodation device for which the closed network identifier is not set, based on the management table,
11. The closed area according to claim 10, wherein when it is determined that there is no closed area network, it is determined whether or not there is a closed area network of the closed area network accommodation device to which the closed area network identifier to which the connection request belongs is set. Network control method. 12. A response to an incoming call of the connection request is made when it is determined that a closed network of the closed network accommodating device to which the closed network identifier to which the connection request belongs is set. Item 11. A closed network control method according to Item 10. 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein when the closed network of the closed network accommodating device for which the closed network identifier is not set is determined to exist, a response to the incoming of the connection request is made. Closed network control method. 14. A closed table having at least one closed network, a management table indicating a relationship between the closed network, and a closed network identifier indicating the closed network of the backbone, and a plurality of closed networks having a user terminal as a backbone. In the closed network control method in the closed network control system for connecting to one closed network of the networks, is there a closed network of the closed network accommodation device in which a closed network identifier to which a connection request from the terminal belongs is set? Whether or not it is determined based on the management table, when it is determined that the closed network of the closed network accommodation device in which the closed network identifier to which the connection request belongs is set does not exist, the connection request from the user A method for controlling a closed network, which is characterized by rejecting a connection without responding to an incoming call.