JP2009077338A - Method of determining location of ip communication terminal, ip network management apparatus and hub - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable an IP network management apparatus to surely detect a location of an IP communication terminal specified by a MAC address from which hub the IP communication terminal is connected to. <P>SOLUTION: An IP network management apparatus sends an acquisition request of MAC address table information to a plurality of hubs constituting an IP network. Each of the plurality of hubs sends to the IP network management apparatus the MAC address table information generated for a downlink port in response to the acquisition request. The IP network management apparatus acquires and holds the MAC address table information from each of the plurality of hubs. A MAC address of an IP communication terminal to determine a location thereof and a MAC address of the hub, contained in the held MAC address table information of the held hub, are retrieved and the hub to which the IP communication terminal to determine the location thereof is connected, is detected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention includes a plurality of IP communication terminals connected to an IP (Internet Protocol) network, a hub, and an IP network management apparatus that stores and manages IP communication terminals and the MAC (Media Access Control) addresses of the hub, The present invention relates to a method for determining the location of an IP communication terminal in an IP network communication system. The present invention also relates to an IP network management device and a hub used for the location determination method of the IP communication terminal.

  When constructing an IP network communication system having a plurality of IP communication terminals, an IP communication terminal or a hub is connected to a lower level of the hub for the purpose of facilitating the management of the plurality of IP communication terminals. In many cases, an upper hub is connected to an IP network management device (see, for example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-125681)).

  For example, when a plurality of IP communication terminals are distributed over a plurality of rooms or floors and communication management of the plurality of IP communication terminals is performed by the IP network management device, A hub is provided for each room and each floor, and a plurality of IP communication terminals and other hubs for each room and each floor are connected to the lower level of each hub, and each room and each floor is connected to the IP network management device. The top hub is connected to the other hub as the lower hub.

The above-mentioned patent documents are as follows.
JP-A-8-125681

  By the way, in the IP network communication system as described above, the IP network management device manages a MAC (Media Access Control) address, which is a physical address unique to the IP communication terminal or hub, The original MAC address is included. In this case, the transmission source includes a hub through which the communication packet passes.

  Therefore, when a malfunctioning IP communication terminal performs a strange transmission operation, it is possible to know the MAC address of the malfunctioning IP communication terminal by monitoring the transmission source MAC address of the transmission packet.

  However, generally, in the IP network management apparatus, even if the MAC address of the IP communication terminal is registered, the installation position of the IP communication terminal is not registered corresponding to the MAC address, and the IP network management apparatus It is impossible to recognize where the malfunctioning IP communication terminal is installed.

  Of course, for example, when an IP network communication system is constructed, an identifier such as a number is assigned to the IP communication terminal, and the identifier and the MAC address are registered in association with the IP network management apparatus, and the IP communication terminal is installed. If the installer or the like registers the position, the installation position of the failed IP communication terminal can be recognized.

  However, the operation is very troublesome, and there is a problem that the correct installation position cannot be known if there is an error in the registration input.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to enable an IP network management device to easily and definitely determine the location of an IP communication terminal specified by a MAC address. .

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
An IP network management device for storing and managing an IP communication terminal or hub MAC (Media Access Control) address connected to an IP (Internet Protocol) network;
A plurality of IP communication terminals;
A plurality of IP communication terminals or lower hubs connected to a downlink port and a higher hub or a plurality of hubs to which the IP network management device is connected to an uplink port;
A method for determining the location of an IP communication terminal in an IP network communication system comprising:
The IP network management device
An address table acquisition request step for sending an acquisition request for MAC address table information to a plurality of hubs;
A reception holding step for receiving and holding the MAC address table information of each hub sent from each of the plurality of hubs;
With respect to all the MAC address table information of the hub held in the reception holding step, the MAC address of the IP communication terminal whose location should be determined and the MAC address of the hub should be searched to determine the location. A search process for detecting the hub to which the terminal is connected;
With
Each of the plurality of hubs is
An address table information generation and holding step for generating and holding MAC address table information for a downlink port consisting of a MAC address detected from communication information from at least a lower-level hub connected to the downlink port or the IP communication terminal;
When receiving the MAC address table information acquisition request from the IP network management device, the MAC address table information about the downlink port generated and held in the address table information generation and holding step is stored in the IP network. A sending process to send to the management device;
The present invention provides a method for determining the location of an IP communication terminal.

  According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, each hub detects a MAC address on the transmission side from information included in an IP packet in communication through a downlink port, that is, communication from a lower level of the hub, and performs the detection. The MAC address table information is generated by holding the MAC address as table information. Therefore, the MAC address table information includes the MAC address of the hub existing on the lower side of the hub and the MAC address of the IP communication terminal.

  The IP network management device sends an address table acquisition request to a plurality of hubs connected to the IP network to be managed, and receives MAC address table information sent from each hub in response to the acquisition request. Hold.

  Then, the IP network management apparatus searches the MAC address table information received and held for the MAC address of the IP communication terminal that should determine the location and the MAC address of the hub, and the IP communication terminal that should determine the location Detect the hub to which is connected.

  For example, the IP network management device first detects a hub that includes the MAC address of the IP communication terminal whose location should be determined in the MAC address table information. When there are a plurality of detected hubs, by detecting a hub that does not include the MAC address of another hub in the MAC address table information of the hub including the MAC address of the IP communication terminal whose location should be determined. The hub to which the IP communication terminal whose location is to be determined is connected is detected.

  Therefore, if the installation position (location position) of the hub is known, the position where the IP communication terminal to be determined for the location can be easily determined from the installation position of the hub.

  According to the present invention, the IP network management device can detect which hub an IP communication terminal whose location is to be determined is connected to, and can easily determine the physical location of the IP communication terminal. Can be identified.

  Since the location is determined using the MAC address of the IP communication terminal whose location is to be determined, it is possible to determine the exact location of the IP communication terminal without error.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking as an example the case where the IP network communication system is an IP telephone communication system.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration example of an IP network communication system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The IP network communication system of the example of FIG. 1 includes an IP network management apparatus 1, a plurality of hubs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E in this example, and a plurality of IP communication terminals, 11 in this example. IP telephones 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, 3G, 3H, 3I, 3J, and 3K.

[Configuration of hubs 2A to 2E]
The hubs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E in this embodiment have the same configuration. As shown in FIG. 2, there are one uplink port 21, a plurality, and four in the illustrated example. Downlink ports 22, 23, 24, and 25 are provided. The uplink port 21 is for connection with a hub or IP network management device 1 connected to a higher level. Further, the downlink ports 22, 23, 24, and 25 are for connection with a hub or an IP telephone connected at a lower level.

  The IP network management device 1 is composed of, for example, a personal computer. In this embodiment, the IP network management device 1 is connected to the telephone network 4 and to the uplink port 21 of the uppermost hub 2A.

  Then, IP telephones 3A and 3B are connected to downlink ports 22 and 23 in the uppermost hub 2A. Further, the downlink ports 24 and 25 of the uppermost hub 2A are connected to the uplink ports 21 of the next hub 2B and the hub 2C.

  Further, IP telephones 3C, 3D, and 3E are connected to the downlink ports 22, 23, and 24 of the next hub 2B. The uplink port 21 of the lowest hub 2D is connected to the downlink port 25 of the hub 2B.

  In addition, IP telephones 3F and 3G are connected to the downlink ports 24 and 25 of the next hub 2C. The uplink port 21 of the lowest hub 2E is connected to the downlink port 23 of the hub 2C.

  The IP telephones 3H and 3I are connected to the downlink ports 24 and 25 of the lowest hub 2D, and the IP ports 3H and 3I are connected to the downlink ports 24 and 25 of the lowest hub 2E. Telephones 3J and 3K are connected.

  As described above, in the hubs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E of this embodiment, the uplink port 21 is always used for the connection to the uplink side, and the connection to the downlink side is the downlink. Use any of ports 22-25.

  An example of the internal configuration of the hubs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E according to this embodiment is shown in FIG. Although FIG. 3 shows the hub 2A as a representative, the other hubs 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E have the same configuration.

  That is, each of the hubs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E includes a control unit 201 that includes a microcomputer, an IP packet transmission / reception unit 202, a MAC address table information generation unit 203, and a MAC address table memory. 204, an uplink port interface 205, and downlink port interfaces 206 to 209 are connected through the system bus 200.

  The uplink port interface 205 is connected to the uplink port 21, and the downlink port interfaces 206 to 209 are connected to the downlink ports 22 to 25, respectively.

  The packet transmitting / receiving unit 202 includes an IP packet buffer unit. While receiving control of the control unit 201, the packet transmission / reception unit 202 temporarily holds an IP packet received from the host through the uplink port 21 and the uplink port interface 205 in the buffer unit. After the MAC address of the own hub is added to the source address in the IP packet, it has a function of transmitting to the lower hub or IP telephone through the downlink port interfaces 206 to 209 and the downlinks 22 to 25, respectively.

  Further, the packet transmission / reception unit 202 also temporarily holds the IP packet received from any one of the downlink port interfaces 206 to 209 and the downlinks 22 to 25 in the buffer unit under the control of the control unit 201. A function of adding the MAC address of the own hub to the source address in the IP packet and then transmitting it to the upper hub or the IP network management device 1 through the uplink port interface 205 and the uplink port 21 is provided.

  The MAC address table information generation unit 203 extracts the source MAC address information included in the IP packet transmitted from the lower level through the downlink ports 22 to 25, and configures one MAC address table information for the downlink port. As MAC address information, it has a function of writing in the MAC address table memory 204 and holding it.

  The IP packet sent from the lower level through the downlink ports 22 to 25 includes not only the MAC address of the IP telephone as the IP communication terminal but also the MAC address of the lower level hub.

  In this case, the same MAC address is not stored repeatedly, and each MAC address is stored as information in the MAC address table information.

  Note that the MAC address table information generation unit 203 extracts the source MAC address information included in the IP packet sent from the upper level through the uplink port 21, and constitutes MAC address table information for the uplink port. It also has a function of writing and holding in the MAC address table memory 204 as one piece of MAC address information. However, in this embodiment, the MAC address table information for the uplink port is not used for the location determination process of the IP telephone.

  The MAC address table information for the downlink port includes the MAC addresses of all the hubs and IP communication terminals located in the lower level of the hub up to the IP communication terminal (terminal device) connected to the lowest level hub. It will be retained.

  For example, when the MAC addresses of the hubs 2A to 2E and the IP telephones 3A to 3K are represented by 6 sets of 2-digit hexadecimal numbers as shown in FIG. 1, the respective MAC addresses of the hubs 2A to 2E The MAC address table information for the downlink port held in the address table memory 204 is as shown in FIG.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, the MAC address table information for the downlink port of the hub 2A includes all IP telephones and hubs below the hub 2A, that is, IP telephones 3A, 3B,. The MAC address of the telephone 3K [00: 0F: 02: 20: A1: 01], [00: 0F: 02: 20: A1: 02], ... [00: 0F: 02: 20: A1: 0B] , Hub 2B, hub 2C,..., MAC address [00: 0F: 02: 20: A2: 02] of hub 2E, [00: 0F: 02: 20: A2: 03], [, 00: 0F: 02: 20: A2: 05].

  Also, for example, the MAC address table information for the downlink port of the hub 2D indicates that no hub is connected under the hub 2D, and the MAC addresses [00: 0F: 02] of the two IP telephones 3H and 3I. : 20: A1: 08] and [00: 0F: 02: 20: A1: 09] only.

  Note that the function of the MAC address table information generation unit 203 and the function of the packet transmission / reception unit 202 can of course be provided as software functions by the control unit 201.

  In this embodiment, as will be described later, when the control unit 201 receives an address table information acquisition request from the IP network management device 1, the MAC address for the downlink port stored in the MAC address table memory 204. A function of transmitting table information to the requested IP network management apparatus 1 is provided.

  In this case, the MAC address table information for the uplink port is not sent to the IP network management device 1. The reason is that the MAC address table for the uplink port generated from the MAC address included in the communication packet from the uplink side is, for example, lower when considering an extension call through an upper hub. This is because the MAC address of the IP communication terminal or hub that is not connected is included, so that it cannot be used when specifying the location of the IP communication terminal from the lower level.

[Configuration of IP Network Management Device 1]
Next, an example of the internal configuration of the IP network management device 1 is shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, in the IP network management apparatus 1 of this embodiment, a control unit 11 comprising a computer, a hub IP address storage unit 12, a display controller 13, an operation unit interface 14, a telephone network The interface 15, the MAC address management memory unit 16, and the port interface 17 are connected to each other through the system bus 10.

  A display 18 is connected to the display controller 13, an operation unit 19 such as a keyboard is connected to the operation unit interface 14, and a telephone network 4 is connected to the telephone network interface 15. The port interface 17 is connected to the uplink port 21 of the uppermost hub 2A.

  The hub IP address storage unit 12 stores the IP addresses of the hubs 2A to 2E. This is for the IP network management device 1 to send an address table acquisition request to each of the hubs 2A to 2E. In the case where a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) server (not shown) exists separately in this IP network system and the IP address can be acquired from the SIP server, the hub IP address storage unit 12 is not particularly provided. May be.

  In the MAC address management memory unit 16, the MAC addresses of the hubs 2A to 2E and the installation positions of the hubs 2A to 2E are registered in advance. As the installation position, for example, the name of the room where the hub is installed, the floor, the name of the floor, and the like are registered.

  The IP network management apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes a location determination function for a specific IP telephone such as a malfunctioning IP telephone. In this example, the IP network management device, for example, does not respond to an IP phone with a specific MAC address, transmits an abnormal IP packet including the MAC address of a specific IP phone, or sets the MAC address of a specific IP phone. By monitoring the IP packet such that the included IP packet is sent in an abnormal state, the MAC address of the malfunctioning IP telephone is detected.

  When the IP network management device 1 detects a malfunctioning IP communication terminal, the IP network management device 1 notifies the user, for example, by displaying that fact on the display 18. Upon receiving this notification, the user can instruct the IP network management device 1 to start determining the location of the specific IP telephone that has failed. Then, when receiving the location determination start instruction of the specific IP telephone having the failure, the control unit 11 of the IP network management device 1 activates the location determination function.

  Not only when a notification of a specific IP phone having a failure is received based on the failure determination as described above, but also, for example, an IP to be determined by inputting the MAC address of the specific IP phone through the operation unit 19 After designating the telephone, it is possible to instruct location determination start.

[Location determination processing operation of IP communication terminal (IP telephone)]
FIG. 6 and a continuation of FIG. 7 are flowcharts of the location determination processing operation of the IP telephone in the IP network management apparatus 1. FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of processing operations in the hub related to the location determination processing operation.

  Here, the IP network management device 1 can identify whether the MAC address of the hub or the MAC address of the IP telephone is based on the MAC address. In the example shown in FIG. 4, if the fifth set of MAC addresses is “A1”, it is the IP address of the IP telephone, and if “A2”, it is the hub MAC address. It is.

  First, the control unit 11 of the IP network management device 1 determines whether or not there has been a location determination start instruction (step S1), and when determining that there has not been a location determination start instruction, performs other processing ( Step S2). When it is determined in step S1 that there is an instruction to start location determination, the control unit 1 recognizes the MAC address of the IP telephone to be determined location (step S3).

  And the control part 11 sends the acquisition request of MAC address table information to each of hub 2A-2E which has memorize | stored the IP address in the hub IP address memory | storage part 12 one by one (step S4).

  The hub that receives the MAC address table information acquisition request executes a processing operation as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  That is, the hub control unit 201 monitors whether or not the MAC address table information acquisition request from the IP network management device 1 has been received (step S21), and if the MAC address table information acquisition request has not been received. When it is determined, other processing is executed (step S22).

  When it is determined in step S21 that the MAC address table information acquisition request has been received from the IP network management device 1, the control unit 201 returns a response to the IP network management device 1 (step S23). Then, the MAC address table information generated and held for the downlink ports 22 to 25 is read from the MAC address table memory 204 and sent to the IP network management device 1 (step S24).

  On the other hand, the control unit 11 waits for reception of a response from the partner hub that has sent the MAC address table information acquisition request (step S5), and when the response is received, subsequently receives the MAC address from the partner hub. The table information is received, and the received hub MAC address table information is stored and held in the storage unit of the control unit 11 (not shown) corresponding to the identifier of the partner hub, for example, the MAC address (step S6).

  Next, whether the control unit 11 has sent a MAC address table information acquisition request to all of the hubs storing IP addresses in the IP address storage unit 12 and has acquired the MAC address table information from all of those hubs. (Step S7), if it is determined that the MAC address table information from all hubs has not been acquired, the IP address of the next hub is read from the hub IP address storage unit 12 (step S8), Returning to step S4, the MAC address table information acquisition request is sent to the hub using the read IP address. And the process after step S4 is repeated.

  When it is determined in step S7 that the MAC address table information from all hubs has been acquired, the control unit 11 should determine the location recognized in step S2 for the acquired MAC address table information of all hubs. The MAC address of the IP phone is searched, and the MAC address table information of a plurality of hubs including the MAC address of the IP phone to be determined is detected (step S11 in FIG. 7).

  Next, the control unit 11 includes a plurality of MAC address table information of the plurality of hubs including the MAC addresses of the IP telephones whose location is to be detected, detected in step S11. The MAC addresses of the hubs are searched to detect the hierarchical structure relationship between the hubs. Then, the terminal hub to which the IP telephone to be located is connected is identified from the detected hierarchical structure relationship (step S12).

  Then, the control unit 11 reads the installation position (location) of the hub specified in step S12, which is registered in the MAC address management memory unit 16, and displays it on the screen of the display 18 to inform the user of the location. The location of the IP telephone to be determined is notified (step S13).

  If only one hub MAC address table information including the MAC address of the IP telephone to be located is detected in step S11, the terminal of the terminal to which the IP telephone to be located is connected is detected. Since the hub is a hub that holds the MAC address table information of the hub, the processing in step S12 is not necessary.

  A specific example will be given to further describe the processing of steps S11 to S13 in the location determination processing routine.

  When the IP telephone to be determined is, for example, the IP telephone 3J, it is assumed that the MAC address [00: 0F: 02: 20: A1: 0A] of the IP telephone 3J is included by the search processing in step S11. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the MAC address table information of the hubs 2E, 2C, and 2A is detected.

  Next, in step S12, the MAC addresses [00: 0F: 02: 20: A2: 05] of the three hubs 2E, 2C, and 2A for the MAC address table information of the three hubs 2E, 2C, and 2A. , [00: 0F: 02: 20: A2: 03] and [00: 0F: 02: 20: A2: 01], and the hierarchical structure of these hubs 2E, 2C and 2A is detected to determine the location The terminal hub to which the IP telephone to be connected is connected is specified.

  In other words, a hub whose hub MAC address does not exist in the MAC address table information of the hub is recognized as a hub at the end of the hierarchy (lowest level), and the hub is connected to the terminal to which the IP telephone to be located is connected. Identify as a hub.

  If there is no hub at the end of the hierarchy in the MAC address table information of the hub detected in step S11, the hub detected in step S11 even if the hub MAC address table information includes the hub MAC address. A hub that does not include the MAC address is identified as the terminal hub to which the IP telephone to be located is connected.

  In this example, since the hub 2E is a hub at the end of the hierarchy, in step S12, the hub 2E is detected as the hub at the end of the hierarchy.

  As described above, in this example, in step S12, if the lowest hub among the plurality of hierarchically detected hubs detected in step S11 can be specified, the lowest hub is determined as the IP whose location should be determined. Since it can be specified as a hub to which a telephone is connected, it is not necessary to specify a higher-level hub among a plurality of hierarchically structured hubs.

[Other Procedures for Locating Location of IP Communication Terminal (IP Phone) to be Determined]
The procedure of the location specifying method using the MAC address table information acquired from the hub, which is executed by the IP network management apparatus 11, is not limited to the procedure shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining another procedure of the location determination method using the MAC address table information acquired from the hub. Note that steps S31 to S34 in FIG. 9 are processing steps following step S7 in FIG. 6 described above.

  In the example of FIG. 9, when the control unit 11 determines in step S7 of FIG. 6 that the MAC address table information from all hubs has been acquired, The MAC addresses of the hubs are searched to detect the hierarchical structure between the plurality of hubs (step S31).

  Next, the control unit 11 searches the MAC address table information of all the hubs acquired for the IP address of the IP phone to be determined in step S2, and searches for the MAC address of the IP phone to be determined. Is detected (step S32).

  Next, the control unit 11 includes a hierarchical structure relationship that is the search result of step S31, and MAC address table information of a plurality of hubs that include the MAC addresses of the IP telephones to be located detected in step S32. Then, the terminal hub to which the IP telephone to be identified is connected is specified (step S33).

  Then, the control unit 11 reads the installation position (location) of the specified hub registered in the MAC address management memory unit 16 and displays it on the screen of the display 18 so that the user can determine the IP location to be determined. The location of the telephone is notified (step S34).

  Taking a specific example, the process of steps S31 to 34 in the location determination process routine of this example will be further described.

  That is, in step S31, for all the MAC address table information acquired from the five hubs 2A to 2E constituting the IP network of this example, the MAC addresses of the five hubs [00: 0F: 02: 20: A2 : 01], [00: 0F: 02: 20: A2: 02], [00: 0F: 02: 20: A2: 03], [00: 0F: 02: 20: A2: 04] and [00: 0F] : 02: 20: A2: 05], and the hierarchical structure of these hubs 2A to 2E is detected.

  First, a hub in which the MAC address of the hub does not exist in the MAC address table information is recognized as a hub at the end (lowest level) of the hierarchy. In this example, the hub 2D and the hub 2E are recognized as terminal hubs.

  Next, when there is no MAC address of a hub other than the MAC address of the terminal hub in the MAC address table information including the MAC address of the terminal hub, the hub is recognized as a secondary terminal hub. In the case of this example, the hub 2B and the hub 2C are recognized as the secondary terminal hubs.

  Next, when the MAC address table information including the MAC address of the terminating hub and the MAC address of the secondary terminating hub does not have a MAC address of a hub other than the MAC address of the terminating hub and the secondary terminating hub, The hub is recognized as a tertiary terminal hub. In this example, the hub 2A is recognized as a tertiary terminal hub.

  When the network hierarchical structure by the hub is a tertiary or higher hierarchical structure, the hierarchical structure up to the highest hub is identified and recognized by repeating the above processing. In this example, since the network hierarchical structure is tertiary (three levels), the hub 2A is also recognized as the highest level hub.

  Next, in step S32, the MAC address [00: 0F: 02: 20: A1: 0A] of the IP telephone 3J whose location should be determined by the search processing in step S32, as in step S11 of the previous example. As shown in FIG. 4, the MAC address table information of the hubs 2E, 2C, and 2A is detected.

  In step S33, the end (lowest) hub is detected from the plurality of hubs detected in step S32 with reference to the hierarchical structure of the search result in step S31. The hub is identified as the hub to which the IP telephone to be located is connected. In this example, the hub 2E is specified.

  The example of FIG. 9 can be applied not only to specify the location of one IP telephone but also to know the entire hierarchical structure of the IP network.

  That is, after identifying the hierarchical structure of all the hubs constituting the IP network in step S31, in step S32, by determining the presence of all the IP phones as described above, It is possible to specify which hub is connected. The entire arrangement of the hierarchical structure of the IP network can be recognized from the identified hierarchical structure of the hub and the connection relationship of each IP telephone to the hub.

  Accordingly, when the IP network management apparatus 11 has a function of drawing a hierarchical structure layout diagram as shown in FIG. 1, the hierarchical structure layout diagram as shown in FIG. The management device 11 can automatically create and display it on the display 18.

  If the IP network management device 1 does not have the layout drawing function as shown in FIG. 1, the relationship between each hub, its installation position, and the IP communication terminal connected to the hub is represented. Can also be displayed.

[Other Embodiments and Modifications]
In the description of the above-described embodiment, when receiving the location determination start instruction, the IP network management device sends a MAC address table information acquisition request to the hub to acquire the MAC address table information of each hub. However, it is also possible to send a MAC address table information acquisition request to the hub at an appropriate idle timing in advance to acquire and hold the MAC address table information of the hub. In that case, it is not necessary to acquire the MAC address table information from all the hubs at once, and the MAC address table information of the hub can be acquired sequentially while checking an appropriate empty timing.

  However, when considering that the IP communication terminal connected to the hub moves, when receiving a location determination start instruction, a request for acquiring MAC address table information is sent to the hub, and each hub It is preferable to acquire the MAC address table information because the latest information can be obtained.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the IP network communication system is an IP telephone communication system has been described as an example. However, the IP network communication system to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the IP telephone communication system. It goes without saying that various IP communication terminals may be included.

It is a block diagram which shows the example of a structure of an example of the IP network system to which the location determination method of the IP communication terminal by this invention is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the connection port of embodiment of the hub by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of embodiment of the hub by this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the MAC address table information which embodiment of the hub by this invention hold | maintains. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of embodiment of the IP network management apparatus by this invention. It is a figure which shows a part of flowchart for demonstrating the processing operation | movement of the principal part of embodiment of the IP network management apparatus by this invention. It is a figure which shows a part of flowchart for demonstrating the processing operation | movement of the principal part of embodiment of the IP network management apparatus by this invention. It is a figure which shows the flowchart for demonstrating the processing operation | movement of the principal part of embodiment of the hub by this invention. It is a figure which shows a part of flowchart for demonstrating the processing operation | movement of the principal part of embodiment of the IP network management apparatus by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... IP network management apparatus, 2A-2E ... Hub, 3A-3K ... IP telephone, 21 ... Uplink port, 22-25 ... Downlink port, 203 ... MAC address table information generation part, 204 ... MAC address table memory

Claims (5)

An IP network management device for storing and managing an IP communication terminal or hub MAC (Media Access Control) address connected to an IP (Internet Protocol) network;
A plurality of IP communication terminals;
A plurality of IP communication terminals or lower hubs connected to a downlink port and a higher hub or a plurality of hubs to which the IP network management device is connected to an uplink port;
A method for determining the location of an IP communication terminal in an IP network communication system comprising:
The IP network management device
An address table acquisition request step for sending an acquisition request for MAC address table information to a plurality of hubs;
A reception holding step for receiving and holding the MAC address table information of each hub sent from each of the plurality of hubs;
With respect to all the MAC address table information of the hub held in the reception holding step, the MAC address of the IP communication terminal whose location should be determined and the MAC address of the hub should be searched to determine the location. A search process for detecting the hub to which the terminal is connected;
With
Each of the plurality of hubs is
An address table information generation and holding step for generating and holding MAC address table information for a downlink port consisting of a MAC address detected from communication information from at least a lower-level hub connected to the downlink port or the IP communication terminal;
When receiving the MAC address table information acquisition request from the IP network management device, the MAC address table information about the downlink port generated and held in the address table information generation and holding step is used as the IP network. A sending process to send to the management device;
A method for determining the location of an IP communication terminal, comprising: In the location determination method of the IP communication terminal according to claim 1,
The search step of the IP network management device includes:
The MAC address of the hub including the MAC address of the IP communication terminal to determine the location by searching for the MAC address of the IP communication terminal to determine the location for the MAC address table information of all the hubs A first search step for detecting table information;
When there are a plurality of hub MAC address table information detected in the first search step, the hub MAC addresses are searched for the plurality of hub MAC address table information, and A second search step of detecting a hierarchical structure and detecting a hub at a terminal to which the IP communication terminal whose location is to be determined is connected;
A method for determining the location of an IP communication terminal, comprising: In the location determination method of the IP communication terminal according to claim 1,
The search step of the IP network management device includes:
A first search step of searching the MAC addresses of the plurality of hubs for the MAC address table information of all the hubs to detect a hierarchical structure between the hubs;
The MAC address table information of all the hubs is searched for the MAC address of the IP communication terminal whose location is to be determined, and the MAC address of the IP communication terminal whose location is to be determined is included in the MAC address table information A second search step for detecting a hub included in
A third search step of detecting a hub to which an IP communication terminal to determine the location is connected from the search result of the first search step and the search result of the second search step;
A method for determining the location of an IP communication terminal, comprising: A plurality of IP communication terminals, one or a plurality of the IP communication terminals or lower hubs are connected to the downlink port, and a plurality of hubs are connected to the upper hub or the IP network management device to the uplink port. And the IP network management apparatus constituting the IP network communication system,
Address table acquisition request means for sending an acquisition request for MAC address table information to a plurality of hubs;
Receive and hold MAC address table information for downlink ports consisting of MAC addresses detected from communication information from lower-level hubs connected to each hub or from the IP communication terminal sent from each of the plurality of hubs Receiving and holding means,
With respect to all the MAC address table information of the hub held by the reception holding means, the MAC address of the IP communication terminal to determine the location and the MAC address of the hub are searched, and the IP to be detected of the location Detecting means for detecting a hub to which a communication terminal is connected;
An IP network management device comprising: A hub that constitutes an IP network communication system together with a plurality of IP communication terminals, an IP communication network management device, and another hub,
A downlink port to which one or a plurality of the IP communication terminals or lower hubs are connected;
An uplink port to which a host hub or IP network management device is connected;
Address table information generation and holding means for generating and holding MAC address table information for a downlink port consisting of a MAC address detected from communication information from at least a lower-level hub connected to the downlink port or the IP communication terminal;
When receiving the MAC address table information acquisition request from the IP network management device, the MAC address table information about the downlink port generated and held by the address table information generation and holding means is stored in the IP network. Sending means for sending to the management device;
A hub characterized by comprising:

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