JP2010232990A - Communication control apparatus and communication control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication control apparatus and communication control method which reduce complexity of communication processing, when an external terminal corresponding to a plurality of access networks is to be communication-connected with a core network, and reduce network equipment costs. <P>SOLUTION: The communication control apparatus 1 is used within the core network which is communication-connected with the external terminal 5 via a first access network 3 and a second access network 4 and includes: a user information receiving means 11 for receiving from the external terminal 5 first user information transmitted via the first access network 3 and second user information transmitted via the second access network 4; and a user information registering means 12 for registering the first user information and the second user information received by the user information receiving means 11 in association with a single user identifier A specific for the external terminal 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication control device and a communication control method.

  In recent years, communication networks using IP (Internet Protocol) technology have been considered, and a standard called IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) has been considered in 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project). The contents of this standard are described in Non-Patent Document 1, for example. For IMS communication, services such as VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) technology that implements voice communication using an external terminal such as a mobile phone, IM (Instant Message), and presence (attended management) are known. . In order to implement IMS communication, an IP terminal accesses an IMS core network (hereinafter simply referred to as a core network) from an external terminal via an IP connection access network (IP-CAN). On the other hand, registration (Registration) processing by SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) is performed in advance.

3GPP TS 23.228 V8.7.0 (2008-12) 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects; IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS); Stage 2 (Release 8), [Search March 10, 2009], Internet <URL: http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/23228.htm>

  In IMS communication, when an external terminal supports multiple access networks, the registration processing performed from the external terminal to the core network is performed for each access network in order to retain the connection IP address of the external terminal. It was managed. At this time, a plurality of different user identifiers (Public User IDs) for each access network are used for one external terminal. In the 3GPP standard, as a method of performing registration processing for a plurality of user identifiers, for example, there is a method of performing registration processing of a plurality of user identifiers simultaneously by executing one registration processing (Implicit Registration).

  However, the caller side needs to identify a plurality of user identifiers associated with a plurality of access networks supported by the callee side, and communication processing is complicated. In addition, since a plurality of user identifiers are used for one external terminal, the user profile is redundant, and it is difficult to suppress network equipment costs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and reduces the complexity of communication processing when an external terminal compatible with a plurality of access networks is connected to the core network, and reduces network equipment costs. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication control device and a communication control method that can be used.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a communication control device of the present invention is a communication control device in a core network that is connected to an external terminal through a first access network and a second access network, and the first access network The user information receiving means for receiving the first user information transmitted via the external terminal and the second user information transmitted via the second access network from the external terminal, and the single user identifier unique to the external terminal And user information registration means for registering the first user information and the second user information received by the user information receiving means.

  According to the communication control device of the present invention, both the first user information via the first access network and the second user information via the second access network are associated with a single user identifier unique to the external terminal. Registered. For this reason, even if an external terminal supporting a plurality of access networks is connected to the core network for communication, communication connection can be performed using a single user identifier, so that the complexity of communication processing is reduced. At the same time, network equipment costs are reduced. Further, in the conventional communication system, when receiving an incoming call to an external terminal that supports a plurality of access networks, an INVITE (connection request) process is performed for a plurality of user identifiers. Therefore, when a call is made to a user identifier that has not been registered among a plurality of user identifiers of the external terminal on the called side, a call loss has occurred. However, according to the present invention, since a plurality of pieces of user information via a plurality of access networks are registered in association with a single user identifier, the occurrence of call loss can be suppressed.

  Further, the communication control device includes priority information receiving means for receiving priority information indicating which of the first access network and the second access network is preferentially used, and priority received by the priority information receiving means It is preferable to further comprise connection request means for notifying an external terminal of a connection request for connection via either one of the first access network and the second access network based on the information. Thereby, the communication connection which preferentially passes through either the 1st access network or the 2nd access network can be performed.

  A communication control method of the present invention is a communication control method using a communication control device in a core network that is connected to an external terminal via a first access network and a second access network. A first receiving step for receiving first user information transmitted via an access network from an external terminal; and a first single user information unique to the external terminal by the communication control device receiving the first user information received in the first receiving step. A first registration step of registering in association with a user identifier; a second receiving step in which the communication control device receives second user information transmitted via the second access network from an external terminal; A second registration step of registering the second user information received in the second reception step in association with the user identifier of the external terminal. And wherein the Rukoto.

  According to the communication control method of the present invention, in the communication control apparatus in the core network, both the first user information via the first access network and the second user information via the second access network are transferred to the external terminal. Registered in association with a unique single user identifier. For this reason, even when an external terminal supporting a plurality of access networks communicates and connects with the core network, communication can be performed using a single user identifier, so that the complexity of communication processing is reduced. At the same time, network equipment costs are reduced.

  According to the present invention, a communication control device capable of reducing the complexity of communication processing when an external terminal supporting a plurality of access networks is connected to a core network and reducing network equipment costs, and A communication control method can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the IMS system containing the communication control apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the communication control apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the communication control apparatus which concerns on embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an IMS system including a communication control device 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the communication control apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the communication control apparatus according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication control device 1 is a device that is provided in the core network 2 and controls IMS communication between the operator device 6 and the external terminal 5. The core network 2 connects the originating side access network and the terminating side access network in order to perform IMS communication. The core network 2 includes an AS 7 (Application Server) and the like. The AS 7 is connected to the communication control device 1. The communication control device 1 is connected to the external terminal 5 via the first access network 3 and the second access network 4. The communication control device 1 receives user information transmitted from the external terminal 5 via the first access network 3 and the second access network 4, and registers the user information. The first access network 3 and the second access network 4 are IP-CAN, such as WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network), UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network), and the like. Note that the number of IP-CANs is not limited to two but may be any number. The external terminal 5 is a personal computer, a portable terminal, or the like, and transmits user information to the communication control device 1. The external terminal 5 is used (owned) by a person (user) who uses the IMS system. In FIG. 1, only one external terminal 5 is shown, but a plurality of users may be connected to the communication control apparatus 1 via a plurality of IP-CANs.

  Next, the configuration of the communication control apparatus 1 according to the embodiment will be described. The communication control device 1 includes a CSCF (Call Session Control Function), an HSS (Home Subscriber Server), and the like. The HSS stores user identifier A, user information (first user information and second user information), priority information, and the like. The first user information and the second user information are associated with a single user identifier A and stored in the HSS. The user identifier A is an identifier assigned to connect the IMS service provider that performs IMS communication and the external terminal 5 that is a subscriber to use the IMS service. The user identifier A is, for example, “telephone number @ domain name” which is a public user ID. The user information is a communication address such as a telephone number. As shown in FIG. 2, the communication control device 1 functionally includes a user information reception unit 11, a user information registration unit 12, a registration notification unit 13, a priority order information reception unit 14, and a priority order information registration unit 15. A connection request unit 16 and a response reception unit 17. The user information receiving unit 11 to the response receiving unit 17 are functions realized by causing the CPU of the CSCF to execute computer software stored in a memory such as a ROM or a recording device of the CSCF. This CPU executes the processing shown in the sequence diagram of FIG. 3 by executing computer software.

  Next, the operation of the communication control apparatus 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, the user information receiving unit 11 receives first user information transmitted from the external terminal 5 used by the user via the first access network 3 (step S1). At this time, for example, the IP-CAN type is set by the external terminal 5 in the header (P-Access-Network-Info) of the standard specification (RFC3455 P-Header extensions to SIP for 3GPP) of the SIP Register message.

  Next, the user information registration unit 12 registers the first user information received by the user information reception unit 11 in the HSS in association with the single user identifier A unique to the external terminal 5 (step S2). The user identifier A may be preset in the external terminal 5 or may be assigned from the core network 2 to the external terminal 5 at the time of registration (registration). And the registration notification part 13 transmits the registration completion notification of the 1st user information transmitted from HSS to the external terminal 5 (step S3).

  Subsequently, the user information receiving unit 11 receives the second user information transmitted from the external terminal 5 via the second access network 4 (step S4). Next, the user information registration unit 12 registers the received second user information in association with the user identifier A of the external terminal 5 (step S5). And the registration notification part 13 transmits the registration completion notification of the 2nd user information transmitted from HSS to the external terminal 5 (step S6).

  Thereafter, the priority information receiving unit 14 receives priority information indicating which of the first access network 3 and the second access network 4 is used preferentially from the external terminal 5 (step S7). Instead of step 7, the priority information receiving unit 14 may receive this priority information from the operator device 6 (step S8). The priority information registration unit 15 registers the priority information received from the external terminal 5 or the operator device 6 (step S9).

  Next, the connection request unit 16 notifies the external terminal 5 of a connection request (SIP INVITE message) to connect via either the first access network 3 or the second access network 4 based on the priority information. (Step S10). Thereafter, the response receiving unit 17 receives a response to the connection request from the external terminal 5 (step S11).

  Next, operations and effects of the communication control apparatus 1 according to the embodiment will be described. The communication control device 1 is a device in the core network 2 that is in communication connection with the external terminal 5 via the first access network 3 and the second access network 4. The communication control device 1 includes a user information reception unit 11 and a user information registration unit 12. The user information receiving unit 11 receives from the external terminal 5 the first user information transmitted via the first access network 3 and the second user information transmitted via the second access network 4. The user information registration unit 12 registers the first user information and the second user information received by the user information reception unit 11 in association with a single user identifier A unique to the external terminal 5 (first mode). .

  According to the communication control device 1 of the first aspect, both the first user information via the first access network 3 and the second user information via the second access network 4 are unique to the external terminal 5. It is registered in association with one user identifier A. For this reason, even when the external terminal 5 on the receiving side has already registered a plurality of pieces of user information in the core network via the first access network 3 and the second access network 4, It is only necessary to be aware of a single user identifier A unique to. Accordingly, even when the external terminal 5 that supports a plurality of access networks is connected to the core network 2, communication connection can be performed using the single user identifier A, thereby reducing the complexity of communication processing. Is done. In addition, redundancy of the user profile is suppressed, and network equipment costs are also reduced.

  Further, in the conventional communication system, when receiving an incoming call to an external terminal that supports a plurality of access networks, a connection request is made to a plurality of user identifiers. Therefore, when a call is made to a user identifier that has not been registered among a plurality of user identifiers of the external terminal on the called side, a call loss has occurred. However, according to the present invention, a plurality of user information (first user information and second user information) via a plurality of access networks are registered in association with a single user identifier A unique to the external terminal 5. Therefore, the occurrence of call loss can be suppressed.

  The communication control device 1 according to the first aspect may further include a priority order information receiving unit 14 and a connection requesting unit 16. The priority information receiving unit 14 receives priority information indicating which of the first access network 3 and the second access network 4 is used preferentially. Based on the priority information received by the priority information receiving unit 14, the connection request unit 16 sends a connection request for connection via either the first access network 3 or the second access network 4 to the external terminal. 5 is notified (second mode). According to the communication control device 1 of the second aspect, it is possible to perform communication connection preferentially through either the first access network 3 or the second access network 4.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication control apparatus, 2 ... Core network, 3 ... 1st access network, 4 ... 2nd access network, 5 ... External terminal, 6 ... Operator apparatus, 11 ... User information receiving part, 12 ... User information registration part, 13 ... Registration notifying unit, 14... Priority order information receiving unit, 15... Priority level information registering unit, 16.

Claims (3)

A communication control device in the core network for communication connection with an external terminal via the first access network and the second access network,
User information receiving means for receiving first user information transmitted via the first access network and second user information transmitted via the second access network from the external terminal;
A communication control apparatus comprising: user information registration means for registering the first user information and the second user information received by the user information reception means in association with a single user identifier unique to the external terminal. Priority information receiving means for receiving priority information indicating which of the first access network or the second access network is used preferentially;
Connection for notifying the external terminal of a connection request for connection via either the first access network or the second access network based on the priority information received by the priority information receiving means The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising request means. A communication control method using a communication control device in a core network for communication connection with an external terminal via a first access network and a second access network,
A first receiving step in which the communication control device receives the first user information transmitted via the first access network from the external terminal;
A first registration step in which the communication control device registers the first user information received in the first reception step in association with a single user identifier unique to the external terminal;
A second receiving step in which the communication control device receives second user information transmitted via the second access network from the external terminal;
A communication control method comprising: a second registration step in which the communication control device registers the second user information received in the second reception step in association with the user identifier of the external terminal.

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