JP2004201201A - Wap terminal, communication method and communication program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a WAP terminal capable of preventing the concentration of access to a specific WAP gateway and continuing service even when the WAP gateway is halted or stopped due to its maintenance or the like, and to provide a communication method and a communication program. <P>SOLUTION: The WAP terminal having a storage means for storing connection gateway information containing a plurality of WAP gateway addresses refers to the connection gateway information to select a WAP gateway to be connected and reads the WAP gateway address of the selected WAP gateway from the storage means to communicate with the WAP gateway. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【００２４】
ＷＡＰ端末１０−１〜１０−４の通信処理部１７は、この接続ＧＷ設定情報を受信すると、WAP処理部１１経由でＨＴＴＰサーバ機能処理部１５に対して出力する。ＨＴＴＰサーバ機能処理部１５は、これを受けて接続GW情報管理部１４の設定を行う。すなわち、ＨＴＴＰサーバ機能処理部１５は、接続GW設定情報のＸＭＬ形式のデータを接続ＧＷ情報管理部１４に渡し、接続ＧＷ情報管理部１４はこれを記憶管理する。すなわち、接続GW情報管理部１４はこのXMLデータを解析し、接続ＧＷ設定情報をＷＡＰ端末１０−１〜１０−４が処理しやすいフオーマット、例えば、ルール検索の高速なバイナリデータに変換して保存する。
これにより、接続GW設定情報に基づく設定が完了し、ＧＷ・２０―１が通常利用されるＷＡＰゲートウェイ、ＧＷ・２０―２、ＧＷ・２０―３が負荷分散用ＷＡＰゲートウェイとして指定される。また、ＧＷ・２０―１〜ＧＷ２０−３が、２００２年１０月１０日午後２０時００分０秒から２００に年１０月１１日午後１９時５９分５９秒までの期間、ＷＡＰ端末１０−１〜１０−４がＵＲＬ（ｈｔｔｐ：／／ｗｗｗ．ｔｅｓｔ−ｓｅｒｖｅｒ．ｃｏ．ｊｐ）のサーバと通信する際の負荷分散WAPゲートウェイとして指定される。
【００２５】
今、接続GW設定情報に基づく設定の完了後、２００２年１０月１０日午後２０時００分０秒以後から２００２年１０月１１日午後１９時５９分５９秒までの時点で、ＷＡＰ端末１０−１〜１０−４のアプリケーション１６−１が実行され、インターネット１１０上のサーバ１１１−１（ＵＲＬ ｈｔｔｐ：／／ｗｗｗ．ｔｅｓｔ−ｓｅｒｖｅｒ．ｃｏ．ｊｐ）との通信を開始するものとする。
図４は、アプリケーション１６−１によるサーバ１１１−１との通信セッション生成要求からセッション生成完了までの流れを示すフローチャートである。
【００２６】
まず、アプリケーション１６−１は、セッション生成処理部１２に対して、サーバ１１１−１の宛先ＵＲＬ（ｈｔｔｐ：／／ｗｗｗ．ｔｅｓｔ−ｓｅｒｖｅｒ．ｃｏ．ｊｐ）／アドレス指定を渡し、セッション生成を要求する（図４のステップＳ１）。
セッション生成処理部１２は、接続ＧＷ判断処理部１３を呼び出し、上記サーバ１１１−１の宛先ＵＲＬ／アドレス指定を渡す（ステップＳ２）。
接続ＧＷ判断処理部１３は、接続ＧＷ情報管理部１４に対して、接続するＷＡＰゲートウェイとして記憶されたＧＷ・２０―１〜ＧＷ２０−３の情報を要求する（ステップＳ３）。接続ＧＷ情報管理部１４は、要求のあった接続ＧＷ情報を読み出して、接続ＧＷ判断処理部１３に返す（ステップＳ４）。
【００２７】
接続ＧＷ判断処理部１３は、セッション生成処理部１２より受けた宛先ＵＲＬ／アドレス指定と現在時刻の情報に基づいて、ＧＷ・２０―１〜ＧＷ２０−３のいずれと接続するかを判断する。
すなわち、接続ＧＷ判断処理部１３は、まず、ＧＷ・２０―１〜ＧＷ２０−３に設定された宛先ＵＲＬと、サーバ１１１−１の宛先ＵＲＬとを比較する（ステップＳ５）。ＧＷ・２０―１〜ＧＷ２０−３に設定された宛先ＵＲＬと、サーバ１１１−１の宛先ＵＲＬとが一致すれば、接続ＧＷ判断処理部１３は、さらに、ステップＳ５で一致したＧＷ・２０―１〜ＧＷ２０−３に設定された利用可能期間と現在時刻を比較する（ステップＳ６）。現在時刻が、利用可能期間：２００２年１０月１０日２０時００分００秒〜２００２年１０月１１日１９時５９分５９秒に該当すれば、接続ＧＷ判断処理部１３は、宛先ＵＲＬが一致し、かつ、現在時間が利用可能期間に該当したＷＡＰゲートウェイのゲートウェイアドレスをセッション生成処理部１２に対して返す。このとき、セッション生成処理部１２に対して返すゲートウェイアドレスは、実装により１又は複数のいずれとしてもよい。また、接続GW判断処理部１３が上記優先度に基づいて、優先度の高低をさらに判別し、セッション生成処理部に優先度の高いＷＡＰゲートウェイのゲートウェイアドレスGW1、GW2、GW3のいずれかのみを返すようにしてもよい。
【００２８】
本実施形態では、接続ＧＷ判断処理部１３は、図３に示す接続ＧＷ設定情報の接続ＧＷ情報ＩＤが１の設定情報に基づき、ＧＷ・２０―１〜ＧＷ２０−３のすべてが利用するＷＡＰゲートウェイであると判断し、ＧＷ・２０―１、ＧＷ２０−２、ＧＷ２０−３のゲートウェイアドレスＧＷ１，ＧＷ２、ＧＷ３の３つすべてをセッション生成処理部１２に返す（ステップＳ７）。
【００２９】
セッション生成処理部１２は、ゲートウェイアドレスＧＷ１，ＧＷ２、ＧＷ３を受けて、対応するＧＷ・２０―１、ＧＷ２０−２、ＧＷ２０−３の接続GW情報の優先度を比較する（ステップＳ８）。ここで、ＧＷ・２０―１、ＧＷ２０−２、ＧＷ２０−３の優先度は、図３に示すようにいずれも２であって、同一である。したがって、セッション生成処理部１２は、ＧＷ・２０―１、ＧＷ２０−２、ＧＷ２０−３の中から任意にWAPゲートウェイを選択可能である。したがって、例えば、擬似乱数を用いて、ＷＡＰ端末１０−１〜１０−４がそれぞれ同一の確率でＧＷ・２０―１、ＧＷ２０−２、ＧＷ２０−３のいずれかを選択するといった実装により、特定の時間に、特定のＵＲＬのサーバが提供するサービスにアクセスが集中する場合に、この集中負荷を分散することができる。
【００３０】
セッション生成処理部１２は、接続するＷＡＰゲートウェイとして、例えば、ＧＷ・２０―１を選択して、ゲートウェイアドレスＧＷ１を元にセッションを生成し、ＷＡＰ処理部１１に通知する（ステップＳ９）。ＷＡＰ処理部１１は、これに基づき、通信処理部１７を介してＧＷ・２０―１とセッションを確立し、セッション生成処理部１２に対して生成完了を通知する（ステップＳ１０）。セッション生成処理部１２は、セッション完了をアプリケーション部１６−１に対して通知する（ステップＳ１１）。
以上の処理によって、アプリケーション部１６−１は、ＧＷ・２０―１とセッションを確立し、ＧＷ・２０―１は、宛先ＵＲＬ（ｈｔｔｐ：／／ｗｗｗ．ｔｅｓｔ−ｓｅｒｖｅｒ．ｃｏ．ｊｐ）のサーバ１１１−１と通信セッションを確立する。そして、アプリケーション部１６−１とサーバ１１１−１とがデータ送受信を行う。
なお、ＧＷ・２０―１とのセッション確立に失敗した場合は、他の候補であるＧＷ・２０―２、ＧＷ２０−３等を再度選択しなおして、通信セッションを確立してもよい。
【００３１】
２００２年1０月１１日午後１９時５９分５９秒以後の時点で、アプリケーション１６−１が起動した場合、セッション生成処理部１２と、接続ＧＷ判断処理部１３と、接続ＧＷ情報管理部１４とが上記ステップＳ２〜Ｓ１１と同様の処理を実行する。
すなわち、セッション生成処理部１２のゲートウェイアドレス要求に対して、接続ＧＷ判断処理部１３は、ＧＷ・２０―１のデートウェイアドレスをセッション生成処理部１２に返し、セッション生成処理部１２は、これを接続するＷＡＰゲートウェイとして選択する。
アプリケーション部１６−１はＧＷ・２０―１と通信セッションを確立し、WAPゲートウェイが宛先URLのサーバ１１１との通信セッションを確立する。
【００３２】
以上説明したように、本実施形態のＷＡＰ端末によれば、特定のサイト、特定のサーバへのアクセスが特定時間帯に集中する場合、または集中が予想される場合、このアクセス負荷を適切に複数のＷＡＰゲートウェイに分散することができる効果が得られる。また、あるＷＡＰゲートウェイに障害が発生した場合でも、上述の接続ＧＷ情報をＷＡＰ端末に通知しておけば、継続してサービスを提供できる効果が得られる。
また、ＧＷ管理端末は、必要に応じて、利用可能なWAPゲートウェイをWAP端末に通知できるとともに、例えば、サブネット単位ごとに接続GW情報を配信することにより、複数のＷＡＰ端末に効率的に接続GW情報を配信できる。
また、接続GW情報において、同一WAPゲートウェイ経由で設定するWAP端末数に制限を指定することでWAPゲートウェイに対する負荷を軽減することができる。
【００３３】
また、WAP端末で動作する通信アプリケーション（＝本実施形態のアプリケーション部１６−１、１６−２が実行するアプリケーション）の変更は必要ないため、アプリケーション開発者は代替ＷＡＰゲートウェイの選択などを意識することなく、アプリケーションを開発でき、開発コストの増大を抑えることができる効果が得られる。
また、接続ＧＷ情報管理部と接続ＧＷ判断処理部の機能をそれぞれ独立した構成とすることで、GW管理端末から受信したデ一夕をそのまま保持する必要はなく、端末内部の処理に適したフォーマットに変換した上で接続GW情報を記憶管理できる。
したがって、受信データを記憶管理するデータフォーマットを検索に適するデータ構造に予め変換しておくことができるため、セッション確立時に発生する遅延時間を短縮することができる効果が得られる。
【００３４】
また、セッション生成処理部と接続GW判断処理部の機能をそれぞれ独立した構成とすることで、セッション生成処理部は接続するWAPゲートウェイの選択判断に関する処理を行う必要がない。
したがって、接続GW情報管理部の保存データ構造が変更された場合においても、セッション生成部の処理へ影響が及ぶことを防止することができる効果が得られる。
また、接続GW情報として、利用可能期間、優先度、宛先URLを元にWAP端末に負荷分数のためのWAPゲートウェイを指定することができる。
【００３５】
次に、本実施形態のＷＡＰシステムにおいて、１のＷＡＰゲートウェイがサービスを休止・停止した際に、このＷＡＰゲートウェイが行っていたサービスを他のＷＡＰゲートウェイが肩代わりすることを目的とする場合のＷＡＰ端末１０−１〜１０−４の動作について説明する。図５は、本実施形態のＷＡＰ端末を適用したＷＡＰシステムの全体構成を示す構成図である。本ＷＡＰシステムは、図１に示すＷＡＰシステムと同一構成であるが、ＧＷ・２０−１がメンテナンスのため、ある期間停止するため、この期間中に稼動しているＷＡＰゲートウェイがＧＷ・２０−２、ＧＷ・２０−３である点が異なっている。
以下、上述の特定のＷＡＰゲートウェイの負荷分散を図ることを目的とする場合のＷＡＰ端末１０−１〜１０−４の動作と共通する動作については、説明を省略し、異なる動作について説明する。
【００３６】
２００２年１０月１０日２０時００分００秒〜２００２年１０月１１日１９時５９分５９秒までの期間、ＧＷ２０−１が行っていたサービスをＧＷ２０−２、ＧＷ２０−３が肩代わりすることを目的とする場合、ＧＷ管理端末３０は、２００２年１０月１０日２０時００分００秒以前に、ＸＭＬ形式の接続ＧＷ設定情報をＧＷ・２０―１〜２０−３経由でＷＡＰ端末１０−１〜１０−４のＨＴＴＰサーバ機能処理部１５に対して、ＨＴＴＰプロトコルのＰＵＳＨコマンドを利用して送信する。
接続GW設定情報の送信は原則、２００２年１０月１０ヵ年後２０時００分０秒以前に完了するものとするが、必要に応じて、当該期間中に送信処理を再度行うことも考えられる。
ここで、送信される接続ＧＷ設定情報は、例えば図５のように示される。
【００３７】
接続ＧＷ情報ＩＤ：１
ＷＡＰゲートウェイタイプ：Ｎｏｒｍａｌ
ＷＡＰゲートウェイアドレス：ＧＷ１（＝ＧＷ・２０―１）
宛先アドレス：Ａｎｙ
接続ＧＷ情報ＩＤ：２
ＷＡＰゲートウェイタイプ：Ｓｕｂｓｔｉｔｕｔｅ
ＷＡＰゲートウェイアドレス：ＧＷ２（＝ＧＷ・２０―２）
宛先アドレス：Ａｎｙ
優先度：１
利用可能期間：２００２年１０月１０日２０時００分００秒〜２００２年１０月１１日１９時５９分５９秒
接続ＧＷ情報ＩＤ：３
ＷＡＰゲートウェイタイプ：Ｓｕｂｓｔｉｔｕｔｅ
ＷＡＰゲートウェイアドレス：ＧＷ３（＝ＧＷ・２０―３）
宛先アドレス：Ａｎｙ
優先度：１
利用可能期間：２００２年１０月１０日２０時００分００秒〜２００２年１０月１１日１９時５９分５９秒
【００３８】
ＷＡＰ端末１０−１〜１０−４は、この接続ＧＷ設定情報を受信すると、接続GW設定情報に基づく設定を行う。この場合、ＧＷ・２０―１がメンテナンス対象のＷＡＰゲートウェイ、ＧＷ・２０―２、ＧＷ・２０―３が２００２年１０月１０日午後２０時００分０秒から２００に年１０月１１日午後１９時５９分５９秒までの期間、ＧＷ・２０―１の代替ＷＡＰゲートウェイとして指定される。
【００３９】
今、接続GW設定情報に基づく設定の完了後、２００２年１０月１０日午後２０時００分０秒以後から２００２年１０月１１日午後１９時５９分５９秒までの時点で、ＷＡＰ端末１０−１〜１０−４のアプリケーション１６−１が実行され、インターネット１１０上のサーバ１１１−１との通信を開始するものとする。
【００４０】
まず、アプリケーション１６−１は、セッション生成処理部１２に対して、サーバ１１１−１のアドレス指定を渡し、セッション生成を要求する（図４のステップＳ１）。
セッション生成処理部１２は、接続ＧＷ判断処理部１３を呼び出し、上記サーバ１１１−１の宛先ＵＲＬ／アドレス指定を渡す（ステップＳ２）。
接続ＧＷ判断処理部１３は、接続ＧＷ情報管理部１４に対して、接続するＷＡＰゲートウェイとして記憶されたＧＷ・２０―１〜ＧＷ２０−３の情報を要求する（ステップＳ３）。接続ＧＷ情報管理部１４は、要求のあった接続ＧＷ情報を読み出して、接続ＧＷ判断処理部１３に返す（ステップＳ４）。
【００４１】
接続ＧＷ判断処理部１３は、セッション生成処理部１２より受けた宛先ＵＲＬ／アドレス指定と現在時刻の情報に基づいて、ＧＷ・２０―１〜ＧＷ２０−３のいずれと接続するかを判断する。
すなわち、接続ＧＷ判断処理部１３は、宛先を比較後（ステップＳ５）、ＧＷ・２０―１〜ＧＷ２０−３に設定された利用可能期間と現在時刻を比較する（ステップＳ６）。現在時刻が、利用可能期間：２００２年１０月１０日２０時００分００秒〜２００２年１０月１１日１９時５９分５９秒に該当すれば、接続ＧＷ判断処理部１３は、現在時間が利用可能期間に該当したＷＡＰゲートウェイのゲートウェイアドレスをセッション生成処理部１２に対して返す。
【００４２】
この場合、接続ＧＷ判断処理部１３は、図６に示す接続ＧＷ設定情報の接続ＧＷ情報ＩＤが２，３の設定情報に基づき、ＧＷ・２０―２、ＧＷ２０−３が利用するＷＡＰゲートウェイであると判断し、ＧＷ２０−２、ＧＷ２０−３のゲートウェイアドレスＧＷ２、ＧＷ３の２つをセッション生成処理部１２に返す（ステップＳ７）。
【００４３】
セッション生成処理部１２は、ゲートウェイアドレスＧＷ２、ＧＷ３を受けて、対応するＧＷ２０−２、ＧＷ２０−３の接続GW情報の優先度を比較する（ステップＳ８）。ここで、ＧＷ２０−２、ＧＷ２０−３の優先度は、図５に示すように
順に１、２であって、ＧＷ２０−２の優先度の方が高い。したがって、セッション生成処理部１２は、ＧＷ２０−２を選択する。そして、セッション生成処理部１２は、ゲートウェイアドレスＧＷ２を元にセッションを生成し、ＷＡＰ処理部１１に通知する（ステップＳ９）。ＷＡＰ処理部１１は、これに基づき、通信処理部１７を介してＧＷ・２０―２とセッションを確立し、セッション生成処理部１２に対して生成完了を通知する（ステップＳ１０）。セッション生成処理部１２は、セッション完了をアプリケーション部１６−１に対して通知する（ステップＳ１１）。
以上の処理によって、アプリケーション部１６−１は、ＧＷ・２０―２とセッションを確立し、ＧＷ・２０―１は、サーバ１１１−１と通信セッションを確立する。そして、アプリケーション部１６−１とサーバ１１１−１とがデータ送受信を行う。
なお、ＧＷ・２０―２とのセッション確立に失敗した場合は、他の候補であるＧＷ２０−３を再度選択しなおして、通信セッションを確立してもよい。
【００４４】
２００２年1０月１１日午後１９時５９分５９秒以後の時点で、アプリケーション１６−１が起動した場合、セッション生成処理部１２と、接続ＧＷ判断処理部１３と、接続ＧＷ情報管理部１４とが上記ステップＳ２〜Ｓ１１と同様の処理を実行する。
すなわち、セッション生成処理部１２のゲートウェイアドレス要求に対して、接続ＧＷ判断処理部１３は、ＧＷ・２０―１のデートウェイアドレスをセッション生成処理部１２に返し、セッション生成処理部１２は、これを接続するＷＡＰゲートウェイとして選択する。
アプリケーション部１６−１はＧＷ・２０―１と通信セッションを確立し、WAPゲートウェイが宛先URLのサーバ１１１との通信セッションを確立する。
【００４５】
以上説明したように、本実施形態のＷＡＰ端末によれば、WAPゲートウェイのメンテナンスのために特定の時間帯に特定のＷＡＰゲートウェイが停止する場合、
予め代替WAPゲートウェイをWAP端末に指定しておくことで、ユーザにメンテナンス中であることを意識させることなく、サービスを継続できる効果が得られる。また、接続GW情報として、利用可能期間、優先度、宛先URLを元にWAP端末に代替WAPゲートウェイを指定することができる。
【００４６】
なお、本実施形態においては、接続GW設定情報としてXML形式のテキストデータを利用したが、例えば、負荷分散の対象となるWAPゲートウェイに対して優先度を設定したい場合は、別の〈gateway〉タグを記述し、優先度を付ければよい。
【００４７】
上述のＷＡＰ端末、ＷＡＰゲートウェイ、ＧＷ管理端末は内部に、コンピュータシステムを有している。そして、上述したＷＡＰ仕様に基づく通信に関する一連の処理の過程は、プログラムの形式でコンピュータ読み取り可能な記録媒体に記憶されており、このプログラムをコンピュータが読み出して実行することによって、上記処理が行われる。ここでコンピュータ読み取り可能な記録媒体とは、磁気ディスク、光磁気ディスク、ＣＤ−ＲＯＭ、ＤＶＤ−ＲＯＭ、半導体メモリ等をいう。また、このコンピュータプログラムを通信回線によってコンピュータに配信し、この配信を受けたコンピュータが当該プログラムを実行するようにしても良い。
【００４８】
なお、上記図１〜図７及び本明細書中における番号が同一の装置等は、すべて同一構成である。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】負荷分散を目的とした場合における、本実施形態のＷＡＰ端末を適用したＷＡＰシステムの全体構成を示す構成図である。
【図２】ＷＡＰ端末の構成を示す構成図である。
【図３】接続ＧＷ設定情報の例を示す図である。
【図４】アプリケーション１６−１によるサーバ１１１−１との通信セッション生成要求からセッション生成完了までの流れを示すフローチャートである。
【図５】本実施形態のＷＡＰ端末を適用したＷＡＰシステムの全体構成を示す構成図である。
【図６】接続ＧＷ設定情報の例を示す図である。
【図７】ＷＡＰシステムの全体構成を示す全体構成図である。
【符号の説明】
１０−１〜１０−４…ＷＡＰ端末、２０−１〜２０−３…ＷＡＰゲートウェイ、３０…ＧＷ管理端末、１００…携帯電話網、１１０…インターネット、１１１−１〜１１１−４…サーバ、１２０…キャリアデータセンタ、[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication method and a communication program for distributing traffic according to the number of WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) terminals when a communication carrier accesses a specific gateway (hereinafter, referred to as GW) server, and a WAP terminal. .
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the WAP system, as shown in FIG. 7, a relay device called a WAP gateway 200 is installed between a wireless network, which is a mobile phone network 100, and a wired network, which is a carrier data center 120 installed by a business operator. The communication system configuration is adopted, and the WAP gateway 200 provides services such as protocol conversion, content conversion, and binary coding suitable for a wireless link between the WAP terminal 300 and a plurality of servers 111-1 to 111-4 on the Internet 110. Has been realized.
[0003]
In the conventional WAP specification, there is a problem that the level of service to the user is reduced without considering whether to distribute received data to a plurality of WAP applications. As a technique for solving this problem, Patent Literature 1 describes a method of multiplexing communication sessions so that a plurality of applications can simultaneously operate for data reception in a WAP-compatible terminal.
More specifically, a lower protocol unit manages an application identifier using an application identifier management table with respect to an upper protocol unit that directly interfaces with a plurality of WAP applications. This is realized by recognizing the application to pass.
As a technique for realizing failure notification in a WAP system, Patent Document 2 describes a method in which a WAP gateway 200 notifies failure information in advance before receiving an access request from a WAP terminal 300.
Specifically, the WAP gateway 200 periodically detects the operation status of the servers 111-1 to 111-4, and provides a service menu which is a list of services provided by the servers 111-1 to 111-4 in the operation status. Is generated and transmitted to the WAP terminal 300, thereby realizing this.
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-309439 A
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-331387 A
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the WAP system configuration has a problem that a large load is applied to the WAP gateway 200. Further, there is a problem that the servers 111-1 to 111-4 cannot provide services to the user of the WAP terminal 300 when the WAP gateway 200 fails. This is because the WAP specification does not define a function for causing the WAP terminal 300 to select an alternative GW when a failure occurs or a function for notifying a failure.
On the other hand, the invention "a reception data notification system for a WAP application-equipped mobile phone" described in Patent Document 1 provides a function of providing a failure notification and an alternative route provided by the present invention with respect to reception data contents and applications. It does not do. Also, the invention described in Patent Document 2 “Relay device, mobile radio communication system, storage medium storing the failure notification information and the failure notification program” realizes the failure notification by the WAP gateway 200 in the WAP system. . However, according to the present invention, there is a problem that the service provision cannot be continued by switching the WAP gateway 200 to the alternative GW during maintenance.
Further, when the access load is concentrated on a specific WAP gateway 200 including the alternative GW, there is a problem that this load distribution cannot be realized.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its object is to prevent concentration of access to a specific WAP gateway, and to provide a case where the WAP gateway is suspended or stopped due to maintenance or the like. Even if there is, it is to provide a WAP terminal, a communication method, and a communication program that can continue the service.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a WAP terminal of the present invention comprises a storage means for storing connection gateway information including a plurality of WAP gateway addresses; WAP gateway selecting means for selecting a gateway, and communication means for reading the WAP gateway address of the selected WAP gateway from the storage means and communicating with the WAP gateway.
[0007]
Also, in the WAP terminal of the present invention, the connection gateway information further includes an available period of each WAP gateway, and the WAP gateway selecting unit compares the available time of the communication session with the available period, and A WAP gateway is selected.
[0008]
Further, in the WAP terminal of the present invention, the connection gateway information further includes a connection priority of each WAP gateway that is different for each WAP terminal or each of a plurality of WAP terminal groups, It is characterized in that the connection priorities of the gateways are compared and a WAP gateway having a higher connection priority is selected.
[0009]
Also, in the WAP terminal of the present invention, the connection gateway information further includes a connection priority of each WAP gateway that differs for each communication destination address, and the WAP gateway selection unit determines connection priorities of the plurality of WAP gateways. In comparison, a WAP gateway having a higher connection priority is selected.
[0010]
Further, in the WAP terminal of the present invention, when the connection with the selected WAP gateway has failed to be established, the WAP gateway selecting means refers to the connection gateway information and selects another WAP gateway. .
[0011]
Further, in the communication method of the present invention, the WAP terminal having storage means for storing connection gateway information including a plurality of WAP gateway addresses refers to the connection gateway information, selects a WAP gateway to connect to, and selects the selected WAP gateway. A WAP gateway address of the WAP gateway is read from the storage means, and communication with the WAP gateway is performed.
[0012]
Further, the communication program of the present invention includes a process in which a WAP terminal having storage means for storing connection gateway information including a plurality of WAP gateway addresses refers to the connection gateway information and selects a WAP gateway to be connected. This is a program for reading out the WAP gateway address of the selected WAP gateway from the storage means and causing the computer to execute processing for communicating with the WAP gateway.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the WAP terminal of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a WAP system to which the WAP terminal according to the present embodiment is applied.
The WAP system includes a plurality of WAP terminals 10-1 to 10-4 (four in the present embodiment) and a plurality of WAP gateways GW-20-1 to GW20-3 (in the present embodiment, three to three). And a GW management terminal 30 connected by the mobile phone network 100 or a wired network.
Each of the WAP terminals 10-1 to 10-4 is an information terminal (mobile phone, PDA, or the like) having a WAP function. As shown in FIG. 2, a WAP processing unit 11, a session generation processing unit 12, It comprises a GW determination processing unit 13, a connection information management unit 14, an HTTP server function processing unit 15, one or a plurality of application units 16-1, 16-2, and a communication processing unit 17.
[0014]
The WAP processing unit 11 performs processing relating to the transfer of input information from an input unit (not shown) such as an input button or an input key in the WAP terminals 10-1 to 10-4, and the processing of the application units 16-1 and 16-2. Processing related to display of output results is performed.
The session generation unit 12 has a function of a session layer of the 0SI7 layer, and generates a TCP session or a UDP session between the GWs 20-1 to 20-3 and the application units 16-1 and 16-2 on the WAP terminal.・ Perform processing related to establishment, etc.
The connection GW information management unit 14 stores the connection GW determination processing unit 13 when the application units 16-1 and 16-2 perform communication and establish a TCP / IP connection with the GWs 20-1 to 20-3. The GW 20-1 to 20-3 to be connected are selected with reference to the connection GW information to be managed.
[0015]
The connection GW information management unit 14 stores and manages the connection GW setting information received from the GW management terminal 30 in a format suitable for each WAP terminal, and performs an HTTP server function in response to the connection GW setting information reception. A process for confirming and responding to the GW management terminal 30 is performed via the processing unit 15.
Here, the connection GW information is one unit of an information group including a connection GW information ID, a WAP gateway type, a WAP gateway address, a destination address (URL, URI), a priority, and an available period. It is composed of multiple sets.
The connection GW information ID is an ID for identifying each piece of information when transmitting a plurality of connection GW confirmation reports.
The WAP gateway type defines two types, Normal and Substitute. The connection GW information whose WAP gateway type is Normal specifies a normally used WAP gateway. The connection GW information of the type Substitute specifies an alternative WAP gateway.
Here, when this type is designated, the available period of the alternative WAP gateway is included in the connection GW information.
[0016]
The WAP gateway address is an IP address of the GW 20-1 to GW 20-3, and the WAP terminals 10-1 to 10-4 establish a communication session with the GW 20-1 to GW 20-3. Used when
The destination address is an address such as a URL or a URI specified when the WAP terminals 10-1 to 10-4 want to use a specific WAP gateway when communicating with a specific destination server or PC.
Here, when a specific destination is not specified, Any is specified and all destinations are expressed.
The priority is information that determines which of the GWs 20-1 to GW 20-3 is preferentially selected when connection GW information of the same gateway type is specified. Is to be preferentially selected for a WAP gateway having a higher priority.
[0017]
The available period is information set in the case of Substitute type connection GW information, and specifies the period during which the alternative WAP gateway is available.
When specifying the connection GW information of the Substitute type to any one of the GWs 20-1 to GW 20-3, the connection GW information of any of the other GWs 20-1 to GW 20-3 is set to at least one. First, specify the Normal type. Also, during a period other than the usable period specified by the Substitute type, the WAP gateway specified by the Normal type is used.
[0018]
The HTTP server function processing unit 15 performs processing relating to the HTTP server function specified as an option in the WAP 2.0 specification. Specifically, it receives the connection GW setting information received by the communication processing unit 17 from the GW management terminal 30 via the GWs 20-1 to 20-3, and writes the connection GW setting information to the connection GW information management unit 13.
The application units 16-1 and 16-2 execute an application (for example, a WAP application) that involves data communication via the GWs 20-1 to 20-3. Here, the application units 16-1 and 16-2 are different applications.
The communication processing unit 17 has the functions of the data link layer and the physical layer of the 0SI7 layer, and performs communication processing between the WAP terminals 10-1 to 10-4 and the GWs 20-1 to 20-3 in these lower layers. I do.
[0019]
GW 20-1 to GW 20-3 are WAP gateways defined by WAP 2.0, and include WAP terminals 10-1 to 10-4, GW management terminal 30, Internet 110, carrier data center 120, It is installed at a relay point with the servers 111-1 to 111-4. The GWs 20-1 to 20-3 are suitable for protocol conversion, content conversion, and wireless link between the WAP terminals 10-1 to 10-4 and the servers 111-1 to 111-4, for example. Provides services such as binary encoding.
The Internet 110 is a network in which servers 111-1 to 111-4 that publish contents are installed.
The carrier data center 120 is a data server or the like installed by a mobile phone carrier that operates a WAP terminal system, and has a dedicated line with GWs 20-1 to GW 20-3 from the viewpoint of security management of customer information. It is connected.
[0020]
The GW management terminal 30 is installed on the network of the mobile phone carrier and sets connection GW information to the WAP terminals 10-1 to 10-4 via the GWs 20-1 to 20-3. .
Here, the target range in which the connection GW information is set is specified in units of an IP address or a subscriber number assigned to each WAP terminal by the mobile phone communication carrier. For example, in the IP address specification, 192.168.0.0/16 or 192.168.10. In some cases, the IP address is specified on a subnet basis as in (1-100), or each IP address is directly specified.
When notifying and setting connection GW information to a plurality of WAP terminals 10-1 to 10-4 at the same time, setting the number of WAP terminals to be set via the same WAP gateway and the number of retries when notification of connection GW information fails Is possible.
[0021]
Next, the operation of the WAP terminals 10-1 to 10-4 in the WAP system of the present embodiment will be described. The operation of the WAP terminals 10-1 to 10-4 according to the present embodiment differs depending on the set connection GW information, but is roughly classified into two types depending on the purpose. One is for the purpose of balancing the load of a specific WAP gateway, and the other is to perform the service performed by this WAP gateway when one WAP gateway suspends or stops the service. This is a case where another WAP gateway aims to take over. Hereinafter, the former will be described first.
[0022]
When the purpose is to distribute the load of a specific WAP gateway, the GW 20-1 to the destination address whose URL is specified by (http://www.test-server.co.jp) The communication session held by 20-3 is equalized.
In other words, the GW management terminal 30 transmits the connection GW setting information in the XML format to the HTTP server function processing units 15 of the WAP terminals 10-1 to 10-4 via the GWs 20-1 to 20-3. It transmits using a PUSH command. Here, the transmitted connection GW setting information is shown, for example, in FIG.
[0023]

[0024]
When receiving the connection GW setting information, the communication processing units 17 of the WAP terminals 10-1 to 10-4 output the information to the HTTP server function processing unit 15 via the WAP processing unit 11. The HTTP server function processing unit 15 receives this and sets the connection GW information management unit 14. That is, the HTTP server function processing unit 15 passes the data in the XML format of the connection GW setting information to the connection GW information management unit 14, and the connection GW information management unit 14 stores and manages the data. That is, the connection GW information management unit 14 analyzes this XML data, converts the connection GW setting information into a format that can be easily processed by the WAP terminals 10-1 to 10-4, for example, converts it into high-speed binary data for rule search and stores it. I do.
As a result, the setting based on the connection GW setting information is completed, and the GW 20-1 is designated as the WAP gateway normally used, and the GW 20-2 and GW 20-3 are designated as the WAP gateways for load distribution. In addition, the GWs 20-1 to GW 20-3 change the WAP terminal 10-1 from 20:00:00 pm on October 10, 2002 to 19:59:59 pm on October 11, 2002. 10 to 10-4 are designated as load balancing WAP gateways when communicating with a server at a URL (http://www.test-server.co.jp).
[0025]
Now, after the completion of the setting based on the connection GW setting information, the WAP terminal 10- is set from 20:00:00 pm on October 10, 2002 to 19:59:59 pm on October 11, 2002. It is assumed that the applications 16-1 to 10-4 are executed and start communication with the server 111-1 (URL http://www.test-server.co.jp) on the Internet 110.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow from the request for generating a communication session with the server 111-1 by the application 16-1 to the completion of the session generation.
[0026]
First, the application 16-1 passes the destination URL (http://www.test-server.co.jp) / address designation of the server 111-1 to the session generation processing unit 12, and requests session generation. (Step S1 in FIG. 4).
The session generation processing unit 12 calls the connection GW determination processing unit 13 and passes the destination URL / address designation of the server 111-1 (step S2).
The connection GW determination processing unit 13 requests the connection GW information management unit 14 for information on the GWs 20-1 to GW20-3 stored as the WAP gateways to be connected (step S3). The connection GW information management unit 14 reads the requested connection GW information and returns it to the connection GW determination processing unit 13 (step S4).
[0027]
The connection GW determination processing unit 13 determines which of the GWs 20-1 to GW20-3 to connect to based on the information of the destination URL / address designation and the current time received from the session generation processing unit 12.
That is, the connection GW determination processing unit 13 first compares the destination URL set in the GWs 20-1 to GW20-3 with the destination URL of the server 111-1 (step S5). If the destination URLs set in the GWs 20-1 to GW20-3 match the destination URLs of the server 111-1, the connection GW determination processing unit 13 further sets the GWs 20-1 matched in step S5. The available time set in the GW 20-3 is compared with the current time (step S6). If the current time falls within the usable period: 20:00:00 on October 10, 2002 to 19:59:59 on October 11, 2002, the connection GW determination processing unit 13 determines that the destination URL is one. And returns the gateway address of the WAP gateway whose current time corresponds to the usable period to the session generation processing unit 12. At this time, the gateway address returned to the session generation processing unit 12 may be one or more depending on the implementation. Further, the connection GW determination processing unit 13 further determines the level of the priority based on the priority, and returns only one of the gateway addresses GW1, GW2, and GW3 of the high-priority WAP gateway to the session generation processing unit. You may do so.
[0028]
In the present embodiment, the connection GW determination processing unit 13 determines the WAP gateway used by all of the GWs 20-1 to GW 20-3 based on the connection GW information ID of the connection GW setting information shown in FIG. And returns all three of the gateway addresses GW1, GW2, and GW3 of the GWs 20-1, GW20-2, and GW20-3 to the session generation processing unit 12 (step S7).
[0029]
The session generation processing unit 12 receives the gateway addresses GW1, GW2, and GW3, and compares the priorities of the connection GW information of the corresponding GWs 20-1, GW20-2, and GW20-3 (step S8). Here, the priority of the GWs 20-1, GW20-2, and GW20-3 is 2 as shown in FIG. 3, which is the same. Therefore, the session generation processing unit 12 can arbitrarily select a WAP gateway from the GW 20-1, GW 20-2, and GW 20-3. Therefore, for example, by using a pseudo-random number, the WAP terminals 10-1 to 10-4 respectively select one of the GWs 20-1, GW 20-2, and GW 20-3 with the same probability. In a case where access is concentrated on a service provided by a server of a specific URL at a time, the concentration load can be distributed.
[0030]
The session generation processing unit 12 selects, for example, the GW 20-1 as a WAP gateway to be connected, generates a session based on the gateway address GW1, and notifies the WAP processing unit 11 (step S9). Based on this, the WAP processing unit 11 establishes a session with the GW 20-1 via the communication processing unit 17, and notifies the session generation processing unit 12 of the completion of the generation (step S10). The session generation processing unit 12 notifies the application unit 16-1 of the completion of the session (Step S11).
Through the above processing, the application unit 16-1 establishes a session with the GW 20-1, and the GW 20-1 communicates with the server 111 of the destination URL (http://www.test-server.co.jp). -1 and establish a communication session. Then, the application unit 16-1 and the server 111-1 perform data transmission and reception.
If the session establishment with the GW 20-1 has failed, the communication session may be established by re-selecting another candidate, such as the GW 20-2 or GW 20-3.
[0031]
When the application 16-1 is started at 19:59:59 pm on October 11, 2002, the session generation processing unit 12, the connection GW determination processing unit 13, and the connection GW information management unit 14 The same processing as steps S2 to S11 is executed.
That is, in response to the gateway address request from the session generation processing unit 12, the connection GW determination processing unit 13 returns the dateway address of the GW 20-1 to the session generation processing unit 12, and the session generation processing unit 12 Select as WAP gateway to connect.
The application unit 16-1 establishes a communication session with the GW 20-1, and the WAP gateway establishes a communication session with the destination URL server 111.
[0032]
As described above, according to the WAP terminal of the present embodiment, when access to a specific site or a specific server is concentrated in a specific time zone, or when concentration is expected, the access load is appropriately increased. Can be distributed to other WAP gateways. Further, even if a failure occurs in a certain WAP gateway, if the connection GW information is notified to the WAP terminal, an effect that a service can be provided continuously can be obtained.
In addition, the GW management terminal can notify the available WAP gateway to the WAP terminal as needed, and, for example, distribute the connection GW information for each subnet, thereby efficiently connecting the plurality of WAP terminals to a plurality of WAP terminals. Information can be distributed.
Also, by specifying a limit on the number of WAP terminals set via the same WAP gateway in the connection GW information, the load on the WAP gateway can be reduced.
[0033]
Further, since there is no need to change the communication application (= application executed by the application units 16-1 and 16-2 of the present embodiment) operating on the WAP terminal, the application developer should be aware of selection of an alternative WAP gateway and the like. Application can be developed and the effect of suppressing an increase in development cost can be obtained.
Also, by making the functions of the connection GW information management unit and the connection GW judgment processing unit independent, it is not necessary to keep the data received from the GW management terminal as it is, and a format suitable for processing inside the terminal After converting to, connection GW information can be stored and managed.
Therefore, since the data format for storing and managing the received data can be converted in advance into a data structure suitable for retrieval, the effect of reducing the delay time that occurs when the session is established can be obtained.
[0034]
In addition, by making the functions of the session generation processing unit and the connection GW determination processing unit independent from each other, the session generation processing unit does not need to perform the processing related to the selection determination of the WAP gateway to be connected.
Therefore, even when the storage data structure of the connection GW information management unit is changed, the effect of preventing the processing of the session generation unit from being affected can be obtained.
Also, as the connection GW information, a WAP gateway for a load fraction can be designated in the WAP terminal based on the available period, priority, and destination URL.
[0035]
Next, in the WAP system according to the present embodiment, when one WAP gateway suspends or stops the service, the WAP terminal is intended to take over the service performed by this WAP gateway by another WAP gateway. Operations of 10-1 to 10-4 will be described. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a WAP system to which the WAP terminal according to the present embodiment is applied. This WAP system has the same configuration as the WAP system shown in FIG. 1, but the GW 20-1 is stopped for a certain period for maintenance, so the WAP gateway operating during this period is the GW 20-2. , GW.20-3.
Hereinafter, description of operations common to the operations of the WAP terminals 10-1 to 10-4 for the purpose of achieving the load distribution of the specific WAP gateway will be omitted, and different operations will be described.
[0036]
During the period from 20:00:00 on October 10, 2002 to 19:59:59 on October 11, 2002, it is assumed that the GW 20-2 and the GW 20-3 take over the services provided by the GW 20-1. For the purpose, the GW management terminal 30 transmits the connection GW setting information in XML format to the WAP terminal 10-1 via the GWs 20-1 to 20-3 before 20:00:00 on October 10, 2002. It transmits to the HTTP server function processing units 15 to 10-4 using a PUSH command of the HTTP protocol.
The transmission of the connection GW setting information is completed in principle before 20: 00: 00: 00 after 10 years in October 2002, but the transmission processing may be performed again during the period if necessary.
Here, the transmitted connection GW setting information is shown, for example, in FIG.
[0037]
Connection GW information ID: 1
WAP gateway type: Normal
WAP gateway address: GW1 (= GW.20-1)
Destination address: Any
Connection GW information ID: 2
WAP gateway type: Substitute
WAP gateway address: GW2 (= GW.20-2)
Destination address: Any
Priority: 1
Available period: 20:00:00 on October 10, 2002 to 19:59:59 on October 11, 2002
Connection GW information ID: 3
WAP gateway type: Substitute
WAP gateway address: GW3 (= GW.20-3)
Destination address: Any
Priority: 1
Available period: 20:00:00 on October 10, 2002 to 19:59:59 on October 11, 2002
[0038]
When receiving the connection GW setting information, the WAP terminals 10-1 to 10-4 perform setting based on the connection GW setting information. In this case, the GW 20-1 is the maintenance target WAP gateway, and the GW 20-2 and the GW 20-3 are from 200,00: 00: 00 on October 10, 2002 to 200 on October 11, 2002 at 19:00 PM. The period up to 59:59 is designated as an alternative WAP gateway for the GW 20-1.
[0039]
Now, after the completion of the setting based on the connection GW setting information, the WAP terminal 10- is set from 20:00:00 pm on October 10, 2002 to 19:59:59 pm on October 11, 2002. It is assumed that the applications 16-1 of 1 to 10-4 are executed and start communication with the server 111-1 on the Internet 110.
[0040]
First, the application 16-1 passes the address specification of the server 111-1 to the session generation processing unit 12, and requests session generation (step S1 in FIG. 4).
The session generation processing unit 12 calls the connection GW determination processing unit 13 and passes the destination URL / address designation of the server 111-1 (step S2).
The connection GW determination processing unit 13 requests the connection GW information management unit 14 for information on the GWs 20-1 to GW20-3 stored as the WAP gateways to be connected (step S3). The connection GW information management unit 14 reads the requested connection GW information and returns it to the connection GW determination processing unit 13 (step S4).
[0041]
The connection GW determination processing unit 13 determines which of the GWs 20-1 to GW20-3 to connect to based on the information of the destination URL / address designation and the current time received from the session generation processing unit 12.
That is, the connection GW determination processing unit 13 compares the destination and the available time set in the GWs 20-1 to GW 20-3 with the current time after comparing the destinations (step S5) (step S6). If the current time falls within the usable period: 20:00:00 on October 10, 2002 to 19:59:59 on October 11, 2002, the connection GW determination processing unit 13 uses the current time. The gateway address of the WAP gateway corresponding to the possible period is returned to the session generation processing unit 12.
[0042]
In this case, the connection GW determination processing unit 13 is a WAP gateway used by the GW 20-2 and the GW 20-3 based on the setting information of the connection GW information ID of the connection GW setting information shown in FIG. And returns the two gateway addresses GW2 and GW3 of the GW 20-2 and GW 20-3 to the session generation processing unit 12 (step S7).
[0043]
The session generation processing unit 12 receives the gateway addresses GW2 and GW3 and compares the priorities of the connection GW information of the corresponding GWs 20-2 and GW20-3 (Step S8). Here, the priorities of the GW 20-2 and GW 20-3 are as shown in FIG.
They are 1 and 2 in order, and the priority of the GW 20-2 is higher. Therefore, the session generation processing unit 12 selects the GW 20-2. Then, the session generation processing unit 12 generates a session based on the gateway address GW2, and notifies the WAP processing unit 11 (step S9). Based on this, the WAP processing unit 11 establishes a session with the GW 20-2 via the communication processing unit 17, and notifies the session generation processing unit 12 of the completion of the generation (step S10). The session generation processing unit 12 notifies the application unit 16-1 of the completion of the session (Step S11).
Through the above processing, the application unit 16-1 establishes a session with the GW 20-2, and the GW 20-1 establishes a communication session with the server 111-1. Then, the application unit 16-1 and the server 111-1 perform data transmission and reception.
If the session establishment with the GW 20-2 fails, the communication session may be established again by selecting another candidate GW 20-3 again.
[0044]
When the application 16-1 is started at 19:59:59 pm on October 11, 2002, the session generation processing unit 12, the connection GW determination processing unit 13, and the connection GW information management unit 14 The same processing as steps S2 to S11 is executed.
That is, in response to the gateway address request from the session generation processing unit 12, the connection GW determination processing unit 13 returns the dateway address of the GW 20-1 to the session generation processing unit 12, and the session generation processing unit 12 Select as WAP gateway to connect.
The application unit 16-1 establishes a communication session with the GW 20-1, and the WAP gateway establishes a communication session with the destination URL server 111.
[0045]
As described above, according to the WAP terminal of the present embodiment, when a specific WAP gateway is stopped during a specific time zone for maintenance of the WAP gateway,
By designating an alternative WAP gateway as a WAP terminal in advance, an effect that the service can be continued without making the user aware that maintenance is being performed can be obtained. Also, as the connection GW information, an alternative WAP gateway can be specified for the WAP terminal based on the available period, priority, and destination URL.
[0046]
In the present embodiment, text data in XML format is used as the connection GW setting information. For example, if it is desired to set a priority for a WAP gateway to be load-balanced, another <gateway> tag And give a priority.
[0047]
The above-described WAP terminal, WAP gateway, and GW management terminal have a computer system therein. A series of processes related to the communication based on the WAP specifications described above are stored in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of a program, and the program is read and executed by the computer to perform the process. . Here, the computer-readable recording medium refers to a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a semiconductor memory, or the like. Alternatively, the computer program may be distributed to a computer via a communication line, and the computer that has received the distribution may execute the program.
[0048]
It should be noted that the devices having the same numbers in FIGS. 1 to 7 and this specification all have the same configuration.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a WAP system to which a WAP terminal according to an embodiment is applied when load distribution is intended.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a WAP terminal.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of connection GW setting information.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow from a request for generating a communication session with a server 111-1 by an application 16-1 to completion of session generation.
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a WAP system to which the WAP terminal according to the present embodiment is applied.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of connection GW setting information.
FIG. 7 is an overall configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of a WAP system.
[Explanation of symbols]
10-1 to 10-4 WAP terminal, 20-1 to 20-3 WAP gateway, 30 GW management terminal, 100 mobile phone network, 110 Internet, 111-1 to 111-4 server, 120 Carrier data center,

Claims (7)

Storage means for storing connection gateway information including a plurality of WAP gateway addresses;
WAP gateway selecting means for referring to the connection gateway information and selecting a WAP gateway to be connected;
A WAP terminal comprising: a communication unit that reads a WAP gateway address of the selected WAP gateway from the storage unit and communicates with the WAP gateway. The connection gateway information further includes an available period of each WAP gateway,
The WAP terminal according to claim 1, wherein the WAP gateway selection unit selects a usable WAP gateway by comparing a communication session creation time with the usable period. The connection gateway information further includes a connection priority of each WAP gateway that is different for each WAP terminal or a plurality of WAP terminal groups,
The WAP terminal according to claim 1, wherein the WAP gateway selection unit compares connection priorities of the plurality of WAP gateways and selects a WAP gateway having a higher connection priority. The connection gateway information further includes a connection priority of each WAP gateway different for each communication destination address,
The WAP terminal according to claim 1, wherein the WAP gateway selection unit compares connection priorities of the plurality of WAP gateways and selects a WAP gateway having a higher connection priority. If the connection with the selected WAP gateway fails to be established,
The WAP terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the WAP gateway selecting means selects another WAP gateway by referring to connection gateway information. A WAP terminal having storage means for storing connection gateway information including a plurality of WAP gateway addresses,
Referring to the connection gateway information, select a WAP gateway to be connected,
A communication method, comprising: reading a WAP gateway address of the selected WAP gateway from the storage unit; and performing communication with the WAP gateway. A WAP terminal having storage means for storing connection gateway information including a plurality of WAP gateway addresses,
A process of referring to the connection gateway information and selecting a WAP gateway to be connected;
A communication program for causing a computer to execute a process of reading a WAP gateway address of the selected WAP gateway from the storage unit and performing communication with the WAP gateway.

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