JP2006025375A - Access point control apparatus and access point control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an access point control apparatus capable of freely defining types of many parameters without the need for re-definitions of data types of a communication protocol many times, utilizing data management of the SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) as it is, and reducing the development cost. <P>SOLUTION: The access point control apparatus 100 transmits a message to access point apparatuses 102, 103 to control the access point apparatuses 102, 103, and is provided with: a unique carrying purpose area setting means for setting a unique carrying purpose area to a data type of the communication protocol in the message; and a means for using an Object ID (OID) of the MIB (Management Information Base) as parameters inserted to the unique carrying purpose area and using a Value with respect to the Object ID of the MIB as a value of the parameters. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an access point control apparatus and an access point control method for controlling an access point apparatus by transmitting a message to the access point apparatus.

  In recent years, network systems have been proposed in which access point devices such as wireless LANs are not managed individually but are managed by a single access point control device. In this network system, the administrator does not set the individual access points individually, but only sets the access point control device. Thereafter, the access point control device automatically sets the access point control device. To control.

  Since this network system can simplify the access point device, the network system is inexpensive and the management load on the network administrator can be reduced. As a control protocol between the access point control device and the access point device, there is an LWAPP (Light Weight Access Point Protocol).

  LWAPP identifies the parameters sent in the message between the access point control device and the access point device by dividing the data type. In LWAPP, parameters necessary for a wireless LAN device are defined, but it is difficult to transmit unique parameters. This is because in LWAPP, in order to carry a unique parameter, a data type of LWAPP must be newly defined and restandardized as a protocol.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a conventional network system described in Non-Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. FIG. 17 shows an example of LWAPP (the packet format represents a concept and is not strict).

  As shown in FIG. 17, the conventional network system 10 includes an access point control device 11, a plurality of access point devices 12 and 13, and a plurality of communication terminal devices 14 and 15. The access point control device 11 controls the access point devices 12 and 13 by transmitting messages to the access point devices 12 and 13. Each of the access point devices 12 and 13 communicates with each of the communication terminal devices 14 and 15.

  The access point control device 11 performs Ethernet (registered trademark) communication with the access point devices 12 and 13. The communication path (Ethernet (registered trademark)) between the access point control device 11 and the access point devices 12 and 13 is connected to the user data packet sent from the communication terminal devices 14 and 15, the access point control device 11 and the access point control device 11. A message packet between the point devices 12 and 13 passes.

  When the access point control device 11 sends “setting-1” data (123) and “setting-2” data (456) to the access point device 12, two types of access point setting messages are required. It is. Each message is different in data type in the message from “1 (Conf-1)” and “2 (Conf-2)”. These types of definitions are determined within the LWAPP framework. The access point is set when the access point receives the parameter value mapped to each type.

The data types “1 (Conf-1)” and “2 (Conf-2)” are currently proposed. In the following description, it is assumed that “1 (Conf-1)” and “2 (Conf-2)” are adopted as data types.
internet-draft "Light Weight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP)" http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-ohara-capwap-LWAPP-00.txt

  However, in a conventional network system equipped with an access point control device, if it is desired to add a setting parameter independently, the data type for that parameter must be redefined within the LWAPP framework. There is a problem that re-standardization is necessary. For this reason, in the conventional network system, even if you want to add manufacturer-specific setting items, you must follow the standardization procedure, and even if you standardize it, other manufacturers do not use it. As a waste of resources.

  In addition, in a conventional network system, in order to put a setting parameter managed by SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) or the like on an LWAPP message, it is necessary to implement a conversion function between the parameter and the data type of the transmission message. Therefore, there is a problem that the development price becomes high.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and can freely define many parameter types without redefining the data type of the communication protocol many times, and uses SNMP data management as it is. It is another object of the present invention to provide an access point control apparatus and an access point control method that can reduce the development price.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an access point control apparatus that controls a message by transmitting a message to the access point apparatus, and that is configured to set an original transport area in a data type of a communication protocol in the message. An area setting unit, and a unit that uses an ObjectID (OID) of MIB (Management Information Base) as a parameter to be inserted into the unique transport area, and a unit that uses a Value for the ObjectID of the MIB as a value of the parameter Take.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the access point control method for controlling the access point device by transmitting a message to the access point device, the unique transport area is set in the data type of the communication protocol in the message. The configuration includes an area setting step and a step of using a MIB ObjectID (OID) as a parameter to be inserted into the unique transport area and using a value for the MIB ObjectID as a value of the parameter.

  According to the present invention, even if additional unique parameters are defined, the number of message data types in the communication protocol does not increase, so many types of parameters can be freely set without redefining the communication protocol data types. And SNMP data management can be used as it is.

  For this reason, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to implement a conversion function between the parameter and the data type of the transmission message, so that the development price can be reduced.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an example of LWAPP (the packet format represents a concept and is not strict).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the network system 100 includes an access point control device 101, a plurality of access point devices 102 and 103, and a plurality of communication terminal devices 104 and 105. The access point control apparatus 101 controls the access point apparatuses 102 and 103 by transmitting a message to the access point apparatuses 102 and 103. Each of the access point devices 102 and 103 communicates with each of the communication terminal devices 104 and 105.

  The access point control apparatus 101 performs Ethernet (registered trademark) communication with the access point apparatuses 102 and 103. A communication path (Ethernet (registered trademark)) between the access point control apparatus 101 and the access point apparatuses 102 and 103 is connected to the user data packet transmitted from the communication terminal apparatuses 104 and 105, and to the access point control apparatus 101. A message packet between the point devices 102 and 103 passes.

  When the access point control apparatus 101 sends “setting-1” data (123) and “setting-2” data (456) to the access point apparatus 102, two types of access point setting messages are required. It is. Each message has a different data type, “1 (Conf-1)” and “2 (Conf-2)”. These types of definitions are determined without the LWAPP framework. The access point is set when the access point receives the parameter value mapped to each type.

  The data types “1 (Conf-1)” and “2 (Conf-2)” are currently proposed. In the following description, it is assumed that “1 (Conf-1)” and “2 (Conf-2)” are adopted as data types.

  Furthermore, in the network system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the access point control apparatus 101 sets “3 (Conf-3)” (unique transport area) as the message data type, and this “3 MIB (Management Information Base) ObjectID (OID) is used as a parameter to be inserted into (Conf-3), and the value for the MIB ObjectID is used as the value of the parameter.

  Next, a specific example of the network system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is another diagram showing the configuration of network system 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the access point control apparatus 101 is managed by the network management apparatus 200 using SNMP. The access point control apparatus 101 manages setting data and the like using an SNMP MIB.

  The access point devices 102 and 103 hold MIBs necessary for themselves among the MIBs held by the access point control device 101. The MIB tree structure of this part is common to the access point control apparatus 101 and the access point apparatuses 102 and 103.

  A processing procedure for transferring setting data from the access point control apparatus 101 to the access point apparatus 102 is shown below.

  (1) The access point control apparatus 101 makes a determination to pass data to the access point apparatus 102. (2) The access point control apparatus 101 extracts data to be passed to the access point apparatus 102 from the MIB as a set of OID and Value. (3) The access point control apparatus 101 stores the extracted OID and Value values in an access point setting message and transmits them to the access point apparatus 102.

  Next, the access point apparatus 102 extracts setting data (OID and Value values) from the received setting message, and sets the extracted data in the MIB held by the access point apparatus 102.

  The processing procedure for passing the setting data from the access point device 102 to the access point control device 101 is the same as the procedure for setting the access point device 102 from the access point control device 101.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the frame format of the setting message used in the network system 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In one example of this frame format, Data Type = 3 (MIB-obj) is defined, and MIB-OID = 1.2.3.3.410 is set.

  Next, access point control apparatus 101 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described in more detail. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing in detail the configuration of access point control apparatus 101 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the access point control apparatus 101 includes an access point control determination unit 1011, an access point control packet creation unit 1012, a packet transmission unit 1013, a packet reception unit 1014, an access point control packet extraction unit 1015, and an access point control. A packet processing unit 1016 is provided.

  The access point control determination unit 1011 and the access point control packet processing unit 1016 transmit / receive device management data to / from the network management device 200. The device management data stores management data for the access point control device 101 and the access point device 102. The device management data is in the SNMP MIB format.

  The access point control determination unit 1011 determines whether to transmit the setting data to the access point device 102 based on the device management data, and derives the data when transmitting the setting data. The access point control packet creation unit 1012 embeds the setting data information from the access point control determination unit 1011 in a part of the access point setting message to create a transmission packet. The packet transmission unit 1013 transmits the transmission packet from the access point control packet creation unit 1012 to the communication interface.

  On the other hand, the packet receiving unit 1014 receives a packet from the communication interface and generates a received packet. The access point control packet extraction unit 1015 performs header analysis of the received packet from the packet reception unit 1014 and determines whether it is an access point setting message. The access point control packet extraction unit 1015 gives this access point setting message to the access point control packet processing unit 1016 when the received packet from the packet receiving unit 1014 is an access point setting message. The access point control packet processing unit 1016 analyzes the payload of the access point setting message from the access point control packet extracting unit 1015, extracts setting data, and sets it in the MIB.

  An example of the device management data used in the access point control device 101 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the device management data includes information of Object Group, Object Name, Object ID (OID), and Value.

  Next, access point apparatus 102 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described in more detail. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing in detail the configuration of access point apparatus 102 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the access point device 102 includes an access point control determination unit 1021, an access point control packet creation unit 1022, a packet transmission unit 1023, a packet reception unit 1024, an access point control packet extraction unit 1025, and an access point control packet. A processing unit 1026 is provided. The access point device 103 has the same configuration as the access point device 102.

  The device management data stores management data for the access point device 102. The device management data is in the SNMP MIB format.

  The access point control determination unit 1021 determines whether to transmit the setting data to the access point control apparatus 101 based on the apparatus management data (MIB), and derives the data when transmitting the setting data. The access point control packet creation unit 1022 embeds the information of the setting data from the access point control determination unit 1021 in a part of the access point setting message to create a transmission packet. The packet transmission unit 1023 transmits the packet transmitted from the access point control packet creation unit 1022 to the communication interface.

  On the other hand, the packet receiving unit 1024 receives a packet from the communication interface and generates a received packet. The access point control packet extraction unit 1025 performs header analysis of the received packet from the packet reception unit 1024 and determines whether it is an access point setting message. The access point control packet extraction unit 1025 gives this access point setting message to the access point control packet processing unit 1026 when the received packet from the packet receiving unit 1024 is an access point setting message. The access point control packet processing unit 1026 analyzes the payload of the access point setting message from the access point control packet extracting unit 1025, extracts setting data, and sets it in the MIB.

  An example of the device management data used in the access point device 102 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the device management data includes information on Object Group, Object Name, Object ID (OID), and Value.

  Next, a specific example of the operation of the network system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing when setting the ESSID of the access point device (AP) 102 in the access point control device 101 of the network system 100.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in step ST801, the access point control determination section 1011 determines whether to transmit a setting message to the access point apparatus 102 based on the apparatus management data. When transmitting a setting message in step ST801, access point control determination section 1011 derives parameters of the setting message (step ST802).

  Next, access point control determination section 1011 retrieves device management data and derives the OID and MIB value of the setting parameter (step ST803). Next, access point control packet creation section 1012 creates an access point setting message including the OID and MIB value from access point control determination section 1011 (step ST804). Next, packet transmission section 1013 transmits an access point setting message from access point control packet creation section 1012 to the communication interface (step ST805).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process when setting counter information of the access point apparatus (AP) 102 in the access point control apparatus 101 of the network system 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in step ST901, the packet reception unit 1014 determines whether a packet from the access point apparatus 102 has been received. When the packet from the access point apparatus 102 is received in step ST901, the access point control packet extracting unit 1015 analyzes the EtherType of the packet from the packet receiving unit 1014, and if the EtherType is “AP Control”, the access point control is performed. The packet is transferred to the packet processing unit 1016 (step ST902).

  Next, the access point control packet processing unit 1016 analyzes whether the access point control packet is a setting message using MIB-obj (step ST903). Next, access point control packet processing section 1016 analyzes the element of the setting message, and extracts the OID and MIB value from the element (step ST904).

  Next, the access point control packet processing unit 1016 searches the device management data using the OID and MIB value extracted from the element as keys, and writes the value of the Object Value extracted from the element to the value of the corresponding OID (step ST905). ).

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing when setting counter information of the access point device 102 of the network system 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in step ST1001, the access point control determination section 1021 determines whether to transmit a setting message to the access point control apparatus 101 based on the apparatus management data. When transmitting a setting message in step ST1001, access point control determination section 1021 derives a parameter of the setting message (step ST1002).

  Next, access point control determination section 1021 retrieves device management data and derives the OID and MIB value of the setting parameter (step ST1003). Next, access point control packet creation section 1022 creates an access point setting message including the OID and MIB value from access point control determination section 1021 (step ST1004). Next, packet transmission section 1023 transmits a packet of the access point setting message from access point control packet creation section 1022 to the communication interface (step ST1005).

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing when setting the ESSID of the access point apparatus 102 of the network system 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in step ST1101, the packet reception unit 1024 determines whether a packet from the access point control apparatus 101 has been received. When receiving the packet from the access point control apparatus 101 in step ST1101, the access point control packet extracting unit 1025 analyzes the EtherType of the packet from the packet receiving unit 1024, and if the EtherType is “AP Control”, the access point The packet is transferred to the control packet processing unit 1026 (step ST1102).

  Next, the access point control packet processing unit 1026 analyzes whether the access point control packet is a setting message using MIB-obj (step ST1103). Next, access point control packet processing section 1026 analyzes the element of the setting message, and extracts the OID and MIB value from the element (step ST1104).

  Next, the access point control packet processing unit 1026 searches the device management data using the OID and MIB value extracted from the element as keys, and writes the value of the Object Value extracted from the element to the value of the corresponding OID (step ST1105). ).

  As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the number of message data types in the communication protocol does not increase even if additional unique parameters are defined. Therefore, the data type of the communication protocol is redefined many times. In addition, many types of parameters can be freely defined, SNMP data management can be used as it is, and the development price can be reduced.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the second embodiment of the present invention, the same components as those in the first embodiment of the present invention are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As illustrated in FIG. 12, the network system 1100 includes an access point control device 1101, a plurality of access point devices 1102, and a plurality of communication terminal devices (not shown). The access point control device 1101 controls the access point device 1102 by transmitting a message to the access point device 1102. Access point device 1102 communicates with each of communication terminal devices 104 and 105. The access point control device 1101 is managed by the network management device 200 using SNMP.

  The network system 1100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is different from the network system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention in that each of the access point control device 1101 and the plurality of access point devices 1102 has a common MIB-OID. That is, partial data is held in advance. Here, the MIB-OID common part data is a part (OID) of a part common to any message among the MIB-OIDs included in the message between the access point control device 1101 and the access point device 1102. That is.

  Therefore, in the area of the setting message in the network system 1100 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, only the part of the OID that differs depending on the type of setting data is stored.

  For this reason, the transmission units of the access point control device 1101 and the plurality of access point devices 1102 delete the common part in the OID before embedding the OID in the setting message. In addition, each receiving unit of the access point control device 1101 and the plurality of access point devices 1102 combines the common portions of the OID after extracting the OID from the setting message.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing in detail the configuration of access point control apparatus 1101 of network system 1100 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the access point control device 1101 includes an access point control determination unit 1011, an access point control packet creation unit 1301, a packet transmission unit 1013, a packet reception unit 1014, an access point control packet extraction unit 1015, and an access point control. A packet processing unit 1302 is provided.

  FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing in detail the configuration of access point apparatus 1102 of network system 1100 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the access point device 1102 includes an access point control determination unit 1021, an access point control packet creation unit 1401, a packet transmission unit 1023, a packet reception unit 1024, an access point control packet extraction unit 1025, and an access point control packet. A processing unit 1402 is provided.

  The operations of access point control packet creation sections 1301 and 1401 and access point control packet processing sections 1302 and 1402 are different from those of the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Next, a specific example of the operation of the network system 1100 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing processing when setting the ESSID of the access point device (AP) 1102 in the access point control device 1101 of the network system 1100 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 15, in step ST1501, the access point control determination section 1011 determines whether to transmit a setting message to the access point apparatus 102 based on the apparatus management data. When transmitting a setting message in step ST1501, access point control determination section 1011 derives a parameter of the setting message (step ST1502).

  Next, access point control determination section 1011 retrieves device management data and derives the OID and MIB value of the setting parameter (step ST1503). Next, the access point control packet creation section 1301 acquires a MIB-OID prefix from the MIB-OID common data (step ST1504). Next, access point control packet creation section 1301 deletes the MIB-OID prefix from the OID of the setting parameter (step ST1505).

  Access point control packet creation section 1301 creates an access point setting message including the OID and MIB value from access point control determination section 1011 (step ST1506). Next, packet transmission section 1013 transmits an access point setting message from access point control packet creation section 1301 to the communication interface (step ST1507).

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing processing when setting the ESSID of the access point apparatus 1102 of the network system 1100 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 16, in step ST1601, the packet receiving unit 1024 determines whether a packet from the access point control apparatus 101 has been received. When receiving a packet from the access point control apparatus 1101 in step ST1601, the access point control packet extracting unit 1025 analyzes the EtherType of the packet from the packet receiving unit 1024, and if the EtherType is “AP Control”, the access point The packet is passed to the control packet processing unit 1402 (step ST1602).

  Next, access point control packet processing section 1402 analyzes whether or not the access point control packet is a setting message using MIB-obj (step ST1603). Next, access point control packet processing section 1402 analyzes the element of the setting message and extracts the OID and MIB value from the element (step ST1604).

  Next, the access point control packet processing unit 1402 acquires a MIB-OID prefix from the MIB-OID common data (step ST1605). Next, access point control packet processing section 1402 combines the MIB-OID prefix from the OID of the setting parameter (step ST1606).

  Next, the access point control packet processing unit 1402 searches the device management data using the OID and MIB value extracted from the element as keys, and writes the value of the Object Value extracted from the element to the value of the corresponding OID (step ST1607). ).

  Note that the process of passing data from the access point apparatus 1102 to the access point control apparatus 1101 is the same as the process of passing data from the access point control apparatus 1101 to the access point apparatus 1102 described above.

  Thus, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the data amount of the access point setting message can be reduced as compared with the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The present invention can freely define the types of many parameters without redefining the data type of the communication protocol many times, can use the SNMP data management as it is, and reduces the development price. It is useful for an access point control apparatus and an access point control method.

The figure which shows the structure of the network system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. Another figure which shows the structure of the network system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the frame format of the setting message used in the network system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the access point control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention in detail The figure which shows an example of the apparatus management data used with the access point control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the access point apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention in detail The figure which shows an example of the apparatus management data used with the access point apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention The flowchart which shows a process in the case of setting ESSID of the access point apparatus in the access point control apparatus of the network system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention The flowchart which shows a process in the case of setting the counter information of the access point apparatus in the access point control apparatus of the network system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention The flowchart which shows a process in the case of setting the counter information of the access point apparatus of the network system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The flowchart which shows a process in the case of setting ESSID of the access point apparatus of the network system concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the structure of the network system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the access point control apparatus of the network system concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention in detail The block diagram which shows in detail the structure of the access point apparatus of the network system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. The flowchart which shows the process in the case of setting ESSID of the access point apparatus in the access point control apparatus of the network system concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention The flowchart which shows a process in the case of setting ESSID of the access point apparatus of the network system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of an example of the conventional network system

Explanation of symbols

100, 1100 Network system 101, 1101 Access point control device 102, 103, 1102 Access point device 104, 105 Communication terminal device 200 Network management device 1011, 1021 Access point control determination unit 1012, 1022, 1301, 1401 Access point control packet creation Unit 1013, 1023 packet transmission unit 1014, 1024 packet reception unit 1015, 1025 access point control packet extraction unit 1016, 1026, 1302, 1402 access point control packet processing unit

Claims (2)

In an access point control device for controlling the access point device by transmitting a message to the access point device,
A unique transport area setting means for setting a unique transport area in the data type of the communication protocol in the message;
Means using ObjectID (OID) of MIB (Management Information Base) as a parameter to be inserted into the unique transport area, and using Value for MIB ObjectID as the value of the parameter;
An access point control apparatus comprising: In an access point control method for controlling the access point device by transmitting a message to the access point device,
A unique transport area setting step for setting a unique transport area in the data type of the communication protocol in the message;
Using a MIB ObjectID (OID) as a parameter to be inserted into the unique transport area, and using a Value for the MIB ObjectID as a value of the parameter;
An access point control method comprising:

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