JP2012165282A - Radio relay device and radio relay method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radio relay device that can perform handover without interrupting data communication.SOLUTION: A radio communication system is configured with an opposite device connected to a relay network and a radio relay device comprising a plurality of communication interfaces corresponding to respective multiple carrier networks having different IP address-schemes connected to the relay network. The radio relay device comprises: setting means for setting a plurality of virtual communication lines with the opposite device by means of each of the plurality of communication interfaces; selection means for selecting a virtual communication line from virtual communication lines; notification means for notifying the opposite device of the selected virtual communication line; and communication means for communicating with the opposite device with the use of the selected virtual communication line.

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless relay apparatus and a wireless relay method for performing a relay process between a wireless terminal connected to a wireless local area network (LAN) and a plurality of operator networks on the WAN side. Here, the plurality of operator networks on the WAN side include wireless LAN, HSPA (High speed packet access), WCDMA (Wide band code division multiple access), EDGE (Enhanced data rates for GSM evolution), WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access).

  When comparing a mobile communication network such as HSPA or WiMAX with a wireless LAN, the mobile communication network generally has a wide coverage area but a low communication speed, and the wireless LAN has a feature that the communication area is narrow but the communication speed is high. Therefore, in order to take advantage of the characteristics of the mobile communication network and the wireless LAN, two or more IFs that can be connected to both the mobile communication network and the wireless LAN are provided. There is a wireless relay device that switches to a wireless LAN when a connection to the LAN is possible (Patent Document 1).

  In this case, as a handover method between the mobile communication network and the wireless LAN, the reception level (RSSI) of the wireless LAN is monitored, and if the reception level is less than the threshold, the mobile communication network is connected, and the reception level exceeds the threshold. For example, there is a method of connecting to a wireless LAN. For example, when a wireless LAN area is locally present in the mobile communication network area, if the wireless relay device is in the mobile communication network area and outside the wireless LAN area, the reception level of the wireless LAN is below a threshold value. So connect to the mobile communication network. Further, if the wireless relay device enters the wireless LAN area and the reception level of the wireless LAN exceeds a threshold value, the wireless relay device is connected to the wireless LAN.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of a conventional wireless relay device.
In FIG. 6, the wireless terminal 1 is connected to a wireless base station (AP) of any of a plurality of carrier networks A <b> 101 to C <b> 103 having different wireless interfaces via a wireless relay device 10, and further connected to the relay network 100. Connected. The relay network 100 may be a network such as the Internet.

  The wireless relay device 10 includes network side connection units 11 to 13 that are individually wirelessly connected to the carrier network A101 to the carrier network C103, a local side connection unit 14 that is wirelessly connected to the wireless terminal 1, and a network side connection unit 11. ˜13 and the local side connection unit 14 are provided with a connection control unit 15. The carrier network A101 to the carrier network C103 are, for example, a wireless LAN, HSPA, WCDMA, EDGE, WiMAX, and the like, and the network side connection units 11 to 13 are wireless interfaces that communicate with the corresponding carrier network.

  The connection control unit 15 includes communication termination units 151 to 153 connected to the network side connection units 11 to 13, communication termination unit 154 connected to the local side connection unit 14, communication termination units 151 to 153, and communication termination units. The communication relay unit 155 that switches the connection with the terminal 154 is provided. The communication relay unit 155 selects the network side connection units 11 to 13 used for relay based on the RSSI or the like of the wireless LAN and connects to the corresponding communication termination units 151 to 153, and the network side connection units 11 to 13. And relay of data traffic and the like between the local connection unit 14 and the local side connection unit 14.

  The network-side communication terminators 151 to 153 have IP addresses for communication via the corresponding carrier networks, and when looking at communication from the terminal 1 to the network, the communication relay unit 155 , The source address of the IP packet received from the terminal side is converted into the IP address of each communication termination unit, passed to the corresponding communication termination unit and passed through the network side connection units 11 to 13 through the operator network A101 to the operator Send to network C103. For IP packets received from the operator network A101 to the operator network C103, the destination address is converted to the IP address of the wireless terminal 1, and the communication relay unit 155, the local communication termination unit 154, and the local side connection unit 14 are changed. To the wireless terminal 1.

JP 2010-021878 A

  The provision of public wireless LAN services and mobile communication services are generally performed by different operators. Therefore, since the IP address areas of the respective carriers are generally different, the IP address system is different in the carrier network. In this case, when a conventional wireless relay device is handed over from a wireless LAN to a mobile communication network or the like, the IP address is reacquired and becomes an IP address different from that before the handover. As a result, communication performed between the relay network server and the wireless terminal connected via the wireless relay device is temporarily disconnected by the handover and restarted by another IP address. . Therefore, there is a problem that the communication session in the higher-level application is not maintained due to the interruption of traffic.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a radio relay apparatus and a radio relay method that can perform handover without interrupting data communication and realize stable radio communication.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radio relay apparatus including a counter apparatus connected to a relay network and a plurality of communication interfaces corresponding to different operator networks having different IP address systems connected to the relay network. In the wireless communication system configured, the wireless relay device includes a setting unit configured to set a plurality of virtual communication lines with the opposite device using each of the plurality of communication interfaces, and a virtual communication line Selecting means for selecting one virtual communication line from the inside, and communication means for communicating with the opposite apparatus using the selected one virtual communication line. The opposite device determines setting means for setting a plurality of virtual communication lines with the wireless relay device, and one virtual communication line selected by the wireless relay device, and determines the virtual communication line. And communication means for communicating with the wireless relay device.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless relay device having a plurality of communication interfaces corresponding to each of a counter device connected to a relay network and a plurality of carrier networks having different IP address systems connected to the relay network. In the wireless communication system configured, the wireless relay device includes a setting unit configured to set a plurality of virtual communication lines with the opposite device using each of the plurality of communication interfaces, and a virtual communication line Using a selecting means for selecting one virtual communication line from among them, a notifying means for notifying the opposite device of the selected one virtual communication line, and a single selected virtual communication line, Communication means for communicating with the opposite device. The opposing device includes setting means for setting a plurality of virtual communication lines with the wireless relay device, and communication means for communicating with the wireless relay device using the virtual communication line notified from the wireless relay device. Is provided.

  The notification means of the wireless relay device according to the second invention is configured to notify the opposite device via a provider network corresponding to a predetermined communication interface among the plurality of communication interfaces.

  In the first or second invention, the selection unit of the wireless relay device is configured to receive power, error rate, preset priority, and expected throughput while wireless communication lines are established with a plurality of communication interfaces. In this configuration, the optimum interface is selected based on at least one of the established states of the virtual communication line.

  In addition, the opposing device in the first invention or the second invention has a function of transmitting a control message according to the communication state and quality of the wireless relay device to an external device, or an external device that holds the quality information. It has a function to respond to inquiries from.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radio relay apparatus including a counter apparatus connected to a relay network and a plurality of communication interfaces corresponding to different operator networks having different IP address systems connected to the relay network. A wireless communication method of a configured wireless communication system, wherein a wireless relay device sets a plurality of virtual communication lines with a counter device using each of a plurality of communication interfaces, Selecting one virtual communication line from among the communication lines, and communicating with the opposite apparatus using the selected one virtual communication line. The opposite device sets a plurality of virtual communication lines with the wireless relay device, determines one virtual communication line selected by the wireless relay device, and uses the virtual communication line. And communicating with the wireless relay device.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radio relay apparatus including a counter apparatus connected to a relay network and a plurality of communication interfaces corresponding to different operator networks having different IP address systems connected to the relay network. A wireless communication method of a configured wireless communication system, wherein a wireless relay device sets a plurality of virtual communication lines with a counter device using each of a plurality of communication interfaces, The step of selecting one virtual communication line from among the communication lines, and the one virtual communication line selected through the operator network corresponding to a predetermined communication interface among the plurality of communication interfaces. Notifying the opposite device, and communicating with the opposite device using the selected one virtual communication line. The opposing device sets a plurality of virtual communication lines with the wireless relay device, and communicates with the wireless relay device using the virtual communication line notified from the wireless relay device; Have

  The step of selecting the wireless relay device in the third invention or the fourth invention is expected when the wireless communication line is established with a plurality of communication interfaces, the received power, the error rate, the preset priority, and the like. The optimum interface is selected based on at least one of the throughput and the establishment state of the virtual communication line.

  In addition, the opposing device in the third or fourth invention transmits a control message corresponding to the communication state and quality of the wireless relay device to the external device, or holds the quality information from the external device. Responds to the inquiry.

  The present invention uses a communication interface connected to a plurality of operator networks, and a virtual communication line (for example, VPN) between a wireless relay device and a counter device connected to a relay network (for example, the Internet). The wireless relay device can be configured to be directly connected to the opposite device through a virtual communication line. As a result, the server or the like on the LAN or the Internet is accessed via the opposite device, so that the problem that the IP address is switched can be logically solved. In addition, by connecting a plurality of communication interfaces at the same time, even if one wireless line is disconnected, communication can be continued immediately using another wireless line, thus ensuring communication stability. it can.

  Depending on the carrier network, it may take a long time to obtain an IP address, and there is a problem that the user cannot receive the network connection service during that period. The communication disconnection time can be reduced by performing the switching process after confirming the preparation of the virtual communication line.

  Switching of these virtual communication lines can be performed while synchronizing with the opposite device by judging the optimum interface while monitoring each communication interface in the wireless relay device and notifying the opposite device of the result. it can.

  In addition, by applying a layer 2 transmission method as a virtual communication path, it is possible to use a video distribution protocol such as DTCP-IP that requires a server-client to exist in the same subnet, It can be expected that file sharing can be performed with simple settings, WakeUp on LAN using MAGIC packets can be used, and data reception by IP multicast can be easily performed.

It is a figure which shows Example 1 of the radio | wireless communications system of this invention. It is a sequence diagram showing an example of control processing of the virtual connection control units 17, 25. It is a figure which shows Example 2 of the radio | wireless communications system of this invention. It is a figure which shows Example 3 of the radio | wireless communications system of this invention. It is a figure which shows Example 4 of the radio | wireless communications system of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the conventional wireless relay apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structural example in the house of an opposing apparatus.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of Embodiment 1 of a wireless communication system of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, the wireless communication system includes a wireless terminal 1, a wireless relay device 10, a carrier network A 101 to a carrier network C 103, a relay network 100, a carrier network D 104, a counter device 20, and a server device 30. In the present embodiment, the wireless relay device 10 exists outdoors and is connected to the relay network 100 via any one of the provider network A101 to the provider network C103. Alternatively, the wireless relay device 10 may be used indoors and connected to the relay network 100 via a wired operator network. The relay network 100 is a network such as the Internet or a regional IP network, for example. The opposite device 20 exists in a LAN such as a home network, and has one interface on the provider network D104 side to be connected. This provider network D104 is an IP network owned by a so-called ISP (Internet Service Provider) provider, and the opposite device 20 is connected to the relay network 100 via the provider network D104. The server device 30 is connected to a LAN where the opposite device 20 exists.

  In addition, although the wireless terminal 1 is described as an individual device, the configuration of the present invention may be applied even if the wireless terminal 1 is implemented as a wireless terminal function in the casing of the wireless relay device.

  The carrier network A 101 to the carrier network C 103 communicate with the network side connection units 11 to 13 of the wireless relay device 10 using wireless protocols respectively corresponding thereto, and transfer traffic between the relay network 100 and the wireless relay device 10. . For example, a public wireless LAN network, an HSPA network, a WCDMA network, an EDGE network, a WiMAX network, and the like.

  The wireless relay device 10 includes a network side connection units 11 to 13 connected to the operator network A101 to the operator network C103, a local side connection unit 14 connected to the wireless terminal 1, and a connection control unit 15, and further includes a connection control unit. Reference numeral 15 denotes a configuration including a virtual connection unit 16 and a virtual connection control unit 17 in addition to the network side communication termination units 151 to 153, the local side communication termination unit 154, and the communication relay unit 155. The virtual connection unit 16 includes virtual termination units 161 to 163 and a virtual relay unit 164.

  The opposing device 20 is configured by a network connection unit 21 connected to the operator network D104, a network connection unit 22 connected to the LAN, and a connection control unit 23. The connection control unit 23 further includes a communication termination unit 231 on the operator network side, In addition to the communication termination unit 232 and the communication relay unit 233 on the LAN side, the virtual connection unit 24 and the virtual connection control unit 25 are provided. The virtual connection unit 24 includes virtual termination units 241 to 243 and a virtual relay unit 244. In addition, the installation form of the opposing apparatus 20 is not limited to the form of Example 1. FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the opposite device 20 is installed in a LAN, the PPPoE termination function of the network connection unit 21 is implemented in a home broadband router. That is, a broadband router is connected to the operator network D104, and the opposite device 20 and the server device 30 are further connected, or the opposite device 20 and the server device 30 are connected to the broadband router via a hub. Here, the use of PPPoE depends on the ISP to be connected, and it is not essential to use this connection means. The virtual connection control unit 25 is connected to an external device control unit 26 that notifies / instructs the server device 30 and a wireless relay device state holding unit 27 that receives an inquiry from the server device 30.

  The wireless terminal 1 is, for example, a notebook PC having a wireless LAN interface, and transmits and receives data to and from the server device 30. For example, an IP packet whose destination is the server device 30 and whose transmission source is the wireless terminal 1 is generated and sent to the local side connection unit 14 of the wireless relay device 10. Note that, in order to transmit an IP packet by a wireless medium, for example, an IP packet transmission process is performed according to a transmission procedure of the IEEE 802.11 standard. Here, since the wireless terminal 1 is connected to the network on the local side of the wireless relay device 10, the IP address of the local side subnet of the wireless relay device 10 is used as the IP address of the wireless terminal 1.

  The local side connection unit 14 receives the data transmitted from the wireless terminal 1, performs reception processing according to the reception procedure of the IEEE 802.11 standard, and outputs the received data to the communication termination unit 154 of the connection control unit 15. The communication termination unit 154 extracts the IP packet and outputs it to the communication relay unit 155. The communication relay unit 155 has a so-called NAPT (Network Address Port Translation) function, and converts the source address of the input IP packet into a unique IP address [vv.vv.vv.vv] viewed from the server device 30. To the virtual relay unit 164 of the virtual connection unit 16. The IP address is always visible from the server device 30 to the wireless relay device 10. The communication relay unit 155 can communicate as a router instead of the NAPT. In this case, as viewed from the communication relay unit 233, the IP address of the next hop router for transmitting the IP packet to the wireless terminal 1 can be seen uniquely.

  The virtual relay unit 164 of the virtual connection unit 16 transfers the IP packet to any one of the virtual termination units 161 to 163 according to the notification from the virtual connection control unit 17. The operation of the virtual connection control unit 17 will be described later. The virtual termination units 161 to 163 are respectively associated with the virtual termination units 241 to 243 in the virtual connection unit 24 of the opposite device 20, and communicate with each other by forming a virtual tunnel. Specifically, when a virtual tunnel is configured using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) function, a VPN header is added and output to the communication termination units 151 to 153.

  The communication termination units 151 to 153 further use the IP address assigned by the carrier network A101 to the carrier network C103 as a transmission source address for the input IP packet to which the VPN header is added. Then, an IP header whose destination is the IP address of the communication termination unit 231 of the opposite apparatus 20 is added and output to the network side connection units 11 to 13.

  On the other hand, when receiving the IP packet transmitted from the wireless relay device 10, the network connection unit 21 of the opposite device 20 transfers the IP packet to the communication termination unit 231 of the connection control unit 23. The communication termination unit 231 extracts the IP packet and transfers it to one of the virtual termination units 241 to 243 of the virtual connection unit 24. Here, the communication termination unit 231 identifies which virtual termination unit to transfer by the port number included in the IP packet. That is, VPN connection is performed between each of the virtual termination units 161 to 163 of the wireless relay device 10 using a unique port number. Here, the plurality of virtual termination units 241 to 243 may not be provided, and one virtual termination unit may be responsible for communication with the plurality of virtual termination units 161 to 163 on the wireless relay device 10 side. In that case, there is no need to sort by port number, and a unique path is managed as an implemented VPN function. The virtual termination units 241 to 243 remove the VPN header and output an IP packet to the communication relay unit 233 via the virtual relay unit 244.

  The communication relay unit 233 has a router function, and transfers the IP packets output from the virtual termination units 241 to 243 to the LAN side.

  Hereinafter, control processing of the virtual connection control units 17 and 25 will be described. FIG. 2 shows a procedure for switching the carrier network from HSPA or WCDMA (3G) to public wireless LAN (WiFi).

  There is a possibility that a plurality of VPNs are set by the plurality of operator networks A101 to C103 between the wireless relay device 10 and the opposite device 20, and among them, the optimum VPN is selected as the wireless relay device 10 and the opposite device 20. For example, optimal communication can be performed in terms of throughput. Which VPN is optimal depends on the wireless characteristics of the operator network A101 to the operator network C103 corresponding to the VPN, and the opposite device 20 is directly connected to the operator network D104. By monitoring the use status of the VPN to determine which VPN is optimal from the opposite device 20 and which VPN is selected by the wireless relay device 10, or using the VPN existence confirmation means, the opposite device 20 side There is also a way to judge. However, in this case, it may take time for the switching determination. Therefore, an optimal VPN is selected by exchanging messages between the virtual connection control unit 17 of the wireless relay device 10 and the virtual connection control unit 25 of the opposite device 20.

  Specifically, the virtual connection control unit 17 of the wireless relay device 10 uses, for each of the network side connection units 11 to 13, statistics of wireless communication lines such as received signal power and channel utilization rate, link establishment status, and wired If there is, acquire the presence or absence of connection. Based on the statistical value of the wireless communication line, for example, the received signal power of the communication line that can be expected to communicate at the highest speed among the network side connection units 11 to 13 where the wireless communication line is established is a threshold value. Is exceeded, VPN by the network side connection unit is selected. In addition, as a method for selecting a VPN, a selection policy based on wireless quality, a predetermined priority order, a selection policy of a communication carrier, and a characteristic of an application to be used (from among established wireless connections) In the case of VoIP, the mobile communication network can be selected with an emphasis on continuity of connection, and in the case of file download, the wireless LAN can be selected with an emphasis on high speed. The virtual connection control unit 17 of the wireless relay device 10 notifies the selected VPN to the virtual connection control unit 25 of the opposite device 20. The virtual connection control unit 25 of the opposing device 20 uses the notified VPN.

  Here, the communication line used for sending and receiving the notification message depends on the implementation. If priority is given to always-on connectivity, a 3G line is used, and 3G is suspended for power saving during communication via WiFi. In such a case, a notification message may be sent and received via WiFi. In addition, the notification message can be confirmed not only at the time of switching, but also by regularly transmitting and receiving between the wireless relay device 10 and the opposite device 20 to confirm the existence and the state.

  When an IP packet is received from the server at the network connection unit 22 of the opposite apparatus 20, the IP packet is transmitted to the virtual relay unit 244 via the network connection unit 22, the communication termination unit 232, and the communication relay unit 233. Forwarded to The virtual relay unit 244 selects a virtual termination unit corresponding to the VPN notified by the virtual connection control unit 25 and transfers the IP packet. The IP packet is transferred to the virtual relay unit 164 of the wireless relay device 10 through the selected VPN, and transferred to the wireless terminal 1 via the communication relay unit 155, the communication termination unit 154, and the local side connection unit 14.

  In the example of FIG. 2, the virtual connection control unit 17 of the wireless relay device 10 instructs switching from 3G-VPN to WiFi-VPN, and the virtual connection control unit 25 of the opposite device 20 receives, for example, from the virtual connection control unit 17. A switch to WiFi-VPN is instructed by notification via the 3G line.

  The external device control unit 26 connected to the virtual connection control unit 25 notifies or instructs the server device 30 of the quality information of the carrier network selected by the wireless relay device 10 and its communication medium. The wireless relay device state holding unit 27 holds the state on the wireless relay device side and receives an inquiry from the server device 30. Thereby, according to the state of the provider network, for example, the server device 30 (for example, a video server) can be instructed to change the rate of the distribution video, and the distribution quality can be dynamically controlled.

  Here, the accuracy of the quality information of the communication medium held in the opposite device is improved by transmitting the notification message for confirming the existence and the state confirmation from the wireless relay device 10 to the opposite device 20 on a regular basis. be able to.

  Note that the sequences and messages shown here are merely examples, and the order may be changed depending on the implementation. In addition, although an example in which a plurality of VPNs are simultaneously established is shown in the figure, the present invention may be applied to an implementation in which a single communication interface is used simultaneously in order to reduce power consumption.

  Further, when a notification message is transmitted from the wireless relay device 10 to the opposite device 20, a mechanism such as adding a priority flag to the DSCP value in the IP header is added when a response message is transmitted from the opposite device 20. Thus, the priority at the time of transferring the control message in the IP network may be increased.

  As described above, a virtual tunnel is constructed from the wireless relay device 10 to the opposing device 20 on the Internet, and communication with the server device 30 is performed using a unique IP address as seen from the server. As a result, the IP address of the communication partner is not suddenly switched when viewed from the server device 30, and the data communication is not interrupted and stable communication can be performed in a logical aspect. Further, each network side connection unit 11 to 13 forms a virtual tunnel, and the virtual connection control unit 17 selects an optimum one from these virtual tunnels and prepares for communication at the migration destination. By switching after judging that it is in place, the disconnection time of the communication line itself can be shortened, stable communication can be performed physically, and an optimal communication service according to the situation is provided can do.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of Embodiment 2 of the wireless communication system of the present invention.
The feature of this embodiment is that the connection position of the server device 30 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is changed from the LAN of the opposite device 20 to the relay network 100 such as the Internet. The server device 30 provides services such as a web service, a mail service, and an FTP service.

  The basic operation is the same as in the first embodiment, but the communication relay unit 233 of the opposite device 20 of this embodiment converts the source address of the IP packet into the global IP address of the opposite device 20 by the NAPT function, The data is transmitted to the server device 30 via the Internet via the communication termination unit 231 on the provider network D104 side.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of Embodiment 3 of the wireless communication system of the present invention.
The feature of this embodiment is that a virtual tunnel realized by VPN in the embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 1 is realized by VPN that transparently carries layer 2. Here, description will be made using L2TPv3 (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol version 3). Accordingly, the communication relay unit 156 of the wireless relay device 10 and the communication relay unit 234 of the opposite device 20 are configured by a bridge (layer 2) instead of a router (layer 3). That is, the local side subnet, the global side subnet of the wireless terminal 1 and the wireless relay device 10 and the subnet of the opposite device 20 are all the same subnet. In addition, as a signal between the processing units, a layer 2 signal is exchanged.

  The virtual termination units 161 to 163 of the wireless relay device 10 set L2TP with the virtual termination units 241 to 243 of the opposing device 20. That is, the virtual relay unit 164 adds an L2TP header to the input layer 2 frame and outputs it to the communication termination units 151 to 153. The communication termination units 151 to 153 send IP packets having the IP address of the communication termination unit as the transmission source and the IP address of the opposite device 20 as the destination to the L2TP packet via the network side connection units 11 to 13. It transmits to the operator network A101 to the operator network C103.

  The IP packet input to the communication termination unit 231 via the network connection unit 21 of the opposite device 20 is transferred to one of the virtual termination units 241 to 243, and the L2TP header is removed at the virtual termination unit, and the virtual relay unit 244 is removed. Is transferred to the communication relay unit 234. The communication relay unit 234 transmits the layer 2 frame to the server device 30 via the communication termination unit 232, the network connection unit 22, and the LAN based on a procedure such as ARP.

  According to such a configuration, all processes can be performed by being closed to the layer 2, so that there is an advantage that the IP stack is not required and the configuration is simplified. Also, according to this configuration, when a plurality of virtual tunnels are configured in layer 2, for example, a broadcast that occurs when the bridge of the wireless relay device 10 and each virtual termination unit 161 to 163 are directly connected to each other. By providing the virtual relay unit 164 between them due to packet folding, the input to the bridge is unified, and there is an advantage that it can be solved.

  In this example, an L2TPv3 tunnel is directly connected between the wireless relay device 10 and the opposite device 20, but an encryption such as IPSec is used between the wireless relay device 10 and the opposite device 20 to increase security. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a communication channel is established and a tunnel such as L2TPv3 is established in the communication channel.

  Here, the assignment of the IP address to the terminal device 1 will be described based on the installation form of the DHCP server. Since the home where the opposite device 20 is located and the wireless terminal 1 side of the wireless relay device 10 are in the same subnet, if the wireless relay device 10 is always connected to the opposite device 20 via the VPN, it is functionally in the home Only one DHCP server needs to exist. However, it is assumed here that the wireless relay apparatus 10 is also provided with a DHCP server that pays out the IP address of the same subnet as the home. The address pool area of the DHCP server on the wireless relay device 10 side is an IP address that avoids the IP address used in the house (home DHCP payout area, fixed address). As a result, it is possible to cope with the connection of the wireless terminal 1 before the wireless relay device 10 is connected to the network and the DHCP lease extension request from the wireless terminal 1 when the wireless relay device 10 is not connected to the network. Note that the DHCP server address pool setting on the side of the wireless relay device 10 may be manually input after being designed separately for home use and for the wireless relay device. In addition, when the wireless relay device 10 is connected to the network, the DHCP server on the wireless relay device 10 side functions as a plurality of pseudo DHCP clients to acquire an IP address from the home DHCP server and hold the value. In this case, it is necessary to set the lease period in the home DHCP server sufficiently long.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of Embodiment 4 of the wireless communication system of the present invention.
The feature of this embodiment is that the connection position of the server device 30 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is changed from the LAN of the opposite device 20 to the relay network 100 such as the Internet. The server device 30 provides services such as a web service, a mail service, and an FTP service.

  Although the basic operation is the same as that of the third embodiment, the communication relay unit 234 of the opposite device 20 of the present embodiment includes an Ethernet (registered trademark) that includes an IP packet transmitted by the terminal device 1 based on a procedure such as ARP. The frame is output to the NAPT function unit 235. The NAPT function unit 235 creates an IP packet having the transmission source as the IP address of the opposite device and the destination as the server device 30 connected to the Internet. The data is transmitted to the server device 30 via the Internet via the communication termination unit 231.

  Here, the gateway address required to transmit the IP packet to the wireless terminal 1 and the server 30 is the NAPT function 235 when the DHCP server on the wireless relay device 10 side issues the IP address to the wireless terminal 1. The address value assigned to the LAN side is notified. When the IP address of the wireless relay device 10 is notified as the gateway address, communication from the wireless terminal 1 to the server device 30 does not go through the VN and the opposite device 20, but directly from the wireless relay device 10 to the access network. The IP packet is transferred to a server on the Internet via the relay network.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wireless terminal 10 Wireless relay apparatus 11-13 Network side connection part 14 Local side connection part 15 Connection control part 151-153 Network side communication termination part 154 Local side communication termination part 155 Communication relay part (router function)
156 Communication relay part (bridge)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 16 Virtual connection part 161-163 Virtual termination | terminus part 164 Virtual relay part 17 Virtual connection control part 20 Opposite apparatus 21,22 Network connection part 23 Connection control part 231,232 Communication termination part 233 Communication relay part (router function)
234 Communication relay unit (bridge)
235 NAPT function unit 24 Virtual connection unit 241 to 243 Virtual termination unit 244 Virtual relay unit 25 Virtual connection control unit 30 Server device 100 Relay network 101 Carrier network A
102 Business Network B
103 operator network C
104 Operator network D

Claims (9)

A radio communication system comprising a counter device connected to a relay network and a radio relay device provided with a plurality of communication interfaces corresponding to respective operator networks having different IP address systems connected to the relay network Because
The wireless relay device is
Setting means for setting a plurality of virtual communication lines with the opposite device using each of the plurality of communication interfaces;
Selecting means for selecting one virtual communication line from among the virtual communication lines;
Communication means for communicating with the opposite device using the selected one virtual communication line,
The opposing device is
Setting means for setting a plurality of virtual communication lines with the wireless relay device;
A wireless communication system comprising: a communication unit that determines one virtual communication line selected by the wireless relay device and communicates with the wireless relay device using the virtual communication line. A radio communication system comprising a counter device connected to a relay network and a radio relay device provided with a plurality of communication interfaces corresponding to respective operator networks having different IP address systems connected to the relay network Because
The wireless relay device is
Setting means for setting a plurality of virtual communication lines with the opposite device using each of the plurality of communication interfaces;
Selecting means for selecting one virtual communication line from among the virtual communication lines;
Notification means for notifying the opposite device of the selected one virtual communication line;
Communication means for communicating with the opposite device using the selected one virtual communication line,
The opposing device is
Setting means for setting a plurality of virtual communication lines with the wireless relay device;
A wireless communication system, comprising: a communication unit that communicates with the wireless relay device using a virtual communication line notified from the wireless relay device. The wireless communication system according to claim 2,
The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the notification means of the wireless relay device is configured to notify the opposite device via a carrier network corresponding to a predetermined communication interface among the plurality of communication interfaces. The wireless communication system according to claim 1 or 2,
The selection unit of the wireless relay device is configured to establish a reception power, an error rate, a preset priority, an expected throughput, and a virtual communication line while a wireless communication line is established with the plurality of communication interfaces. A wireless communication system, characterized in that an optimum interface is selected based on at least one of states. The wireless communication system according to claim 1 or 2,
The opposite device has a function of transmitting a control message corresponding to the communication state and quality of the wireless relay device to an external device, or a function of holding the quality information and responding to an inquiry from an external device. A wireless communication system comprising: A radio communication system comprising a counter device connected to a relay network and a radio relay device provided with a plurality of communication interfaces corresponding to respective operator networks having different IP address systems connected to the relay network Wireless communication method,
The wireless relay device is
Setting a plurality of virtual communication lines with the opposite device using each of the plurality of communication interfaces;
Selecting one virtual communication line from the virtual communication lines;
Communicating with the opposite device using the selected one virtual communication line,
The opposing device is
Setting a plurality of virtual communication lines with the wireless relay device;
Determining a single virtual communication line selected by the wireless relay device, and communicating with the wireless relay device using the virtual communication line. A radio communication system comprising a counter device connected to a relay network and a radio relay device provided with a plurality of communication interfaces corresponding to respective operator networks having different IP address systems connected to the relay network Wireless communication method,
The wireless relay device is
Setting a plurality of virtual communication lines with the opposite device using each of the plurality of communication interfaces;
Selecting one virtual communication line from the virtual communication lines;
Notifying the opposite device of the selected one virtual communication line via an operator network corresponding to a predetermined communication interface among the plurality of communication interfaces;
Communicating with the opposite device using the selected one virtual communication line,
The opposing device is
Setting a plurality of virtual communication lines with the wireless relay device;
And a step of communicating with the wireless relay device using a virtual communication line notified from the wireless relay device. In the wireless communication method according to claim 6 or 7,
The step of selecting the wireless relay device includes the steps of receiving power, error rate, preset priority, expected throughput, virtual communication line, while the wireless communication line is established by the plurality of communication interfaces. A wireless communication method, wherein an optimum interface is selected based on at least one of established states. In the wireless communication method according to claim 6 or 7,
The opposite device transmits a control message corresponding to the communication state and quality of the wireless relay device to an external device, or holds the quality information and responds to an inquiry from an external device. A wireless communication method.

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