JP2013187646A - Communication device, communication system, control method and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable load distribution from an end device side, not only from a reception side, without complicating settings at the shipment of a device.SOLUTION: A communication device is connected to a first communication network and is communicable to a second communication network through one of a plurality of gateway servers. List storage means stores a gateway server list for the selection of each network address of the plurality of gateway servers on the basis of information preassigned to the communication device. By this, based on the preassigned information, gateway server identification means refers to the list storage means to identify a gateway server to be connected to the communication device.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a communication device, a communication system, a control method, and a control program.

Currently, there is a movement to replace an existing public network with an IP network by a next-generation IP network technology called NGN (Next Generation Network).
Telecommunications carriers are promoting the use of IP and optical communications, and the number of IP telephone subscribers is also increasing year by year. In addition, as represented by cloud technology, there has been an increasing demand for devices to be freely distributed on an IP network.

On the other hand, when the number of devices increases in a system in which devices are distributed on an IP network, it is assumed that many network devices simultaneously access the same device, such as a gateway server.
In such a case, there is a possibility that a load exceeding the tolerance of the apparatus is caused, and a problem that the processing performance deteriorates or the apparatus goes down may occur.

Therefore, in a system that is distributed on an IP network, load distribution when the number of network devices increases can be a major issue.
For example, as a situation in which the load on the gateway server increases, a simultaneous startup process that occurs after updating a file on a network device is assumed. In a cloud type system, it is necessary to update a file to many network devices at the same time in order to prevent a service language between different versions. After the restart process associated with the file update, the network device connects to the gateway set by default, so that the larger the number of files to be updated, the greater the load on the gateway and the unstable operation.

  In order to prevent such a problem, as a conventional load distribution method, a DNS round robin for assigning a plurality of IPs to the same domain name, or a method using a load distribution device (load balancer) in front of the device has been proposed.

However, the DNS round robin has a problem that load distribution does not work well when implemented by a plurality of DNS servers, and a new problem arises that the configuration using the load distribution device is costly.
The technique described in Patent Document 1 employs a method that does not use a load distribution device, and realizes load distribution by distributing the access from the active system to the standby system in a redundant system configuration.

Japanese Patent No. 4678650

However, the conventional load balancing method on the receiving side has a problem that concentration of initial access cannot be prevented.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication device, a communication system, a control method, and a control program capable of distributing the load not only from the reception side but also from the terminal device side without complicating the setting at the time of device shipment. is there.

The communication apparatus according to the embodiment is a communication apparatus that is connected to the first communication network and can be connected to the second communication network via any one of the plurality of gateway servers.
The list storage means stores a gateway server list for selecting network addresses of a plurality of gateway servers based on information pre-assigned to the communication device.
As a result, the gateway server specifying means specifies the gateway server to which the communication device should be connected by referring to the list storage means based on the information assigned in advance.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the network device. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the connection destination gateway list. FIG. 4 is an operation timing chart of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a communication path when load distribution of a gateway server is performed using an IP address. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of another example of the connection destination gateway list. FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of the network device. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the connection destination gateway list. FIG. 10 is a functional configuration diagram of the communication system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is an operation timing chart of the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an example when geographical load distribution is performed using base station information or base station control information.

Next, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
[1] First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication system according to a first embodiment.
In the communication system of the first embodiment, the load of the gateway server is distributed based on the IP address of the network device as the communication device.

  The communication system 10 includes a plurality of network devices 11-1 to 11-3, an IP network / public communication network 12 that functions as a first communication network to which the plurality of network devices 11-1 to 11-3 are connected, A backbone network 13 that functions as a second communication network, a plurality of gateway servers 14-1 to 14-3 that connect the IP network / public communication network 12 and the backbone network 13, respectively, and the backbone network 13 And a management server 15 that performs initial setting and information management of the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 via the gateway servers 14-1 to 14-3 and the IP network / public communication network 12. .

Here, the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 access the backbone network 13 via the IP network / public communication network 12 and any one of the gateway servers 14-1 to 14-3.
In this case, the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 select any one of the gateway servers 14-1 to 14-3 and establish communication with the backbone network.

  Therefore, at the initial startup of the network devices 11-1 to 11-3, the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 establish communication with the management server 15 connected to the backbone network 13, respectively. It is necessary to perform initial registration processing. In the present embodiment, load distribution in the gateway servers 14-1 to 14-3 when the initial registration is executed almost simultaneously in the plurality of network devices 11-1 to 11-3 is assumed.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the network device.
Since the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 have the same configuration, the network device 11-1 will be described as an example in FIG.

  The network device 11-1 functions as a work area and an MPU 21 that controls the entire network device 11-1, a ROM 22 that stores a control program for controlling the MPU 21 in a nonvolatile manner, and temporarily stores various data. RAM 23, a flash ROM 24 that can store various data in a nonvolatile manner, and a communication interface unit 27 that performs a communication interface operation between the IP network / public communication network 12.

  The flash ROM 24 stores a connection destination gateway list 28 for specifying a connection destination gateway server in the initial registration process.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the connection destination gateway list.
The connection destination gateway list 28 shown in FIG. 3 is roughly divided into search order data 31 representing the search order of connection destination gateway addresses, and IP addresses assigned in advance to the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 as search keys. Network address data 32 storing at least a part of the address information, and connection destination gateway address data 33 storing the IP address of the connection destination gateway associated with the network address data 32.

  Here, as the network address data 32, a part of the IP address previously assigned to the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 (for example, when the subnet mask is 255.255.255.0 in IPv4, the network address 24 Of the bits, the lower 16 bits are used, and at least one of the upper 8 bits and the lower 8 bits is used as necessary.

  In the example of FIG. 3, for example, the lower n bits of the network addresses assigned to the network devices 11-1 to 11-3, specifically, n = 16, that is, the lower 16 bits are used as the search key. For example, when the search order data 32 = 1, the network device to which the lower 16 bits of the network address = “16.100” is assigned (in the example of FIG. 1, “172.16. Network device to which the IP address of “100.XX” is assigned) Address of gateway server to which 11-1 is connected = “XX.XX.XX.101”. That is, in the case of the example in FIG. 1, the gateway server 14-1 is a connection destination gateway server.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 4 is an operation timing chart of the first embodiment.
In FIG. 4, the communication interface unit 27 of each of the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 functions as an IP address setting unit, the MPU 21 functions as a connection destination determining unit, and the communication interface unit 27 and the MPU 21 are shared. It works and functions as a path (communication path) forming unit.
In the following description, the network device 11-1 will be mainly described as an example.

The communication interface unit 27 of the network device 11-1 functions as an IP address setting unit under the control of the MPU 21 and is configured to assign an IP address to a DHCP server (not shown) of the IP network / public communication network 12. A request is made (step S11).
As a result, the DHCP server makes a DHCP response (step S12), and notifies the communication interface unit 27 of the IP address.
As a result, the communication interface unit 27, which functions as the connection destination determination unit, refers to the connection destination gateway list 28 in the flash ROM 24 and identifies the connection destination gateway server (step S14).

  Specifically, the MPU 21 of the network device 11-1 assigns “172.16.100” which is the network address portion from the IP address assigned to the network device 11-1 = “172.16.100.AA / 24”. , The lower n-bit portion which is a preset load distribution unit is extracted. Here, when n = 16 and the connection destination gateway list 28 is as shown in FIG. 3, the MPU 21 of the network device 11-1 sets lower 16 bits = “16.100” of the extracted network address. As a search key, the connection destination gateway list 28 shown in FIG. 3 is referred to in the order of reference numbers of the search order data 31.

In this case, since the lower 16 bits of the network address portion match when the data corresponding to the search order data 31 = “1” is referenced, the connection destination gateway address = “XX.XX.XX.101” is set. get.
As a result, the MPU 21 functioning as the connection destination determination unit notifies the communication interface unit 27 of the acquired connection destination gateway address = “XX.XX.XX.101” (step S15). Acts as a path forming unit, and makes a path establishment request to the gateway server 14-1 corresponding to the acquired connection destination gateway address = “XX.XX.XX.101” (step S16).

As a result, the gateway server 14-1 makes a path establishment response to establish a path (step S17) and establishes a communication path (step S18).
With the establishment of the communication path between the network device 11-1 and the gateway server 14-1, the MPU 21 and the communication interface unit 27 of the network device 11-1 functioning as a path forming unit are connected to the IP network / public communication network 12 Then, an initial registration request is made to the management server 15 via the gateway server 14-1 and the backbone network 13 (step S19).

As a result, the management server 15 performs initial registration and thereafter manages information on the network device 11-1.
When the initial registration is completed, the management server 15 sends an initial registration completion notification to the network device 11-1 via the backbone network 13, the gateway server 14, and the IP network / public communication network 12 (step S20). The process ends.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a communication path when load distribution of a gateway server is performed using an IP address.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the network device 11-1 establishes a communication path to the management server 15 via the IP network / public communication network 12, the gateway server 14-1, and the backbone network 13 by the above-described procedure.

  Similarly, the MPU 21 of the network device 11-2 changes the IP address assigned to the network device 11-2 = “172.16.200.BB/24” to “172.16.200” which is the network address part. Refer to and extract the lower 16 bits. Then, the MPU 21 of the network device 11-2 refers to the connection destination gateway list 28 shown in FIG. 3 in the order of reference numbers of the search order data 31 using the lower 16 bits of the extracted network address = “16.200” as a search key. To do.

In this case, since the lower 16 bits of the network address portion match when the data corresponding to the search order data 31 = “2” is referenced, the destination gateway address = “XX.XX.XX.102” is set. get.
Accordingly, the MPU 21 and the communication interface unit 27 of the network device 11-2 make an initial registration request to the management server 15 via the IP network / public communication network 12, the gateway server 14-2, and the backbone network 13 (step S19). The management server 15 notifies the initial registration completion to the network device 11-2 via the backbone network 13, the gateway server 14-2, and the IP network / public communication network 12 (step S20), and ends the processing. .

  Also, the MPU 21 of the network device 11-3 refers to “172.17.100” which is the network address portion from the IP address assigned to the network device 11-2 = “172.17.100.CC/24”. , The lower 16 bits are extracted. Then, the MPU 21 of the network device 11-3 refers to the connection destination gateway list 28 shown in FIG. 3 in the order of reference numbers of the search order data 31 using the lower 16 bits of the extracted network address = “17.100” as a search key. To do.

  In this case, since the lower 16 bits of the network address portion match when the data corresponding to the search order data 31 = “3” is referred to, the connection destination gateway address = “XX.XX.XX.101” is set. get.

  Accordingly, the MPU 21 and the communication interface unit 27 of the network device 11-3 make an initial registration request to the management server 15 via the IP network / public communication network 12, the gateway server 14-2, and the backbone network 13 (step S19). ), The management server 15 notifies the initial registration completion to the network device 11-2 via the backbone network 13, the gateway server 14-1, and the IP network / public communication network 12 (step S20), and ends the process. .

  As described above, load distribution by the network system of the IP network / public communication network 12 to which the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 are connected can be realized, and the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 are individually provided at the time of shipment. Even when a different gateway address is not set for each of the network devices 11-1 to 11-3, the gateway servers to be connected by the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 are the gateway servers 14-1 to 14-3 when connected to the IP network / public communication network 12. It becomes possible to realize load distribution of the gateway servers 14-1 to 14-3 by autonomously determining which one of them.

[1.1] Modified Example of First Embodiment [1.1.1] First Modified Example In the above description, the lower 16 bits of the IP addresses assigned to the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 are used. Although the description has been made in the case of n = 16, a case will be described in which the load is distributed to different gateway servers by changing the value of n using the same connection destination gateway list 28.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of another example of the connection destination gateway list.
First, the case where n = 16 will be described.
When n = 16 and the lower 16 bits of the assigned IP address are used as a search keyword, the MPU 21 of the network device 11-1 assigns the IP address = “172.16.100. The network address part “172.16.100” is referred to from “AA / 24”, the lower 16 bits are extracted, and the lower 16 bits of the extracted network address = “16.100” is used as a search key. The connection destination gateway list 28 shown in FIG.

  In this case, since the lower 16 bits of the network address portion match when the data corresponding to the search order data 31 = “1” is referenced, the connection destination gateway address = “XX.XX.XX.101” is set. Therefore, the connection destination gateway server corresponding to the network device 11-1 is the gateway server 14-1.

  Similarly, the MPU 21 of the network device 11-2 refers to “172.16.200” which is the network address portion from the IP address assigned to the network device 11-2 = “172.16.200.BB/24”. The lower 16 bits are extracted, and the connection destination gateway list 28 shown in FIG. 6 is referred to in the order of the reference numbers of the search order data 31 using the lower 16 bits of the extracted network address = “16.200” as a search key.

  In this case, since the lower 16 bits of the network address portion match when the data corresponding to the search order data 31 = “2” is referenced, the destination gateway address = “XX.XX.XX.102” is set. Therefore, the connection destination gateway server corresponding to the network device 11-2 is the gateway server 14-2.

  Further, the MPU 21 of the network device 11-3 refers to “172.17.100” which is the network address part from the IP address assigned to the network device 11-3 = “172.17.100.CC/24”. The lower 16 bits are extracted, and the connection destination gateway list 28 shown in FIG. 6 is referred to in the order of the reference numbers of the search order data 31 using the lower 16 bits of the extracted network address = “17.100” as a search key.

In this case, since the lower 16 bits of the network address portion match when the data corresponding to the search order data 31 = “3” is referred to, the connection destination gateway address = “XX.XX.XX.103” is set. Therefore, the connection destination gateway server corresponding to the network device 11-3 is the gateway server 14-3.
In contrast, a case where n = 8 will be described using the connection destination gateway list 28 shown in FIG.

  When n = 8 and the lower 8 bits of the assigned IP address are used as a search keyword, the MPU 21 of the network device 11-1 assigns the IP address = “172.16.100. FIG. 6 shows the network address part “172.16.100” extracted from “AA / 24”, the lower 8 bits are extracted, and the lower 8 bits of the extracted network address = “100” is used as a search key. The connection destination gateway list 28 is referred to in the order of reference numbers of the search order data 31.

  In this case, when the data corresponding to the search order data 31 = “1” is referred to, the lower 8 bits of the network address portion match, so that the connection destination gateway address = “XX.XX.XX.101”. Therefore, the connection destination gateway server corresponding to the network device 11-1 is the gateway server 14-1.

  Similarly, the MPU 21 of the network device 11-2 refers to “172.16.200” which is the network address portion from the IP address assigned to the network device 11-2 = “172.16.200.BB/24”. The lower 8 bits are extracted, and the connection destination gateway list 28 shown in FIG. 6 is referred to in the order of reference numbers of the search order data 31 using the lower 8 bits of the extracted network address = “200” as a search key.

  In this case, when the data corresponding to the search order data 31 = “2” is referenced, the lower 8 bits of the network address portion match, so that the connection destination gateway address = “XX.XX.XX.102”. Therefore, the connection destination gateway server corresponding to the network device 11-2 is the gateway server 14-2.

  Further, the MPU 21 of the network device 11-3 refers to “172.17.100” which is the network address part from the IP address assigned to the network device 11-3 = “172.17.100.CC/24”. The lower 8 bits are extracted, and the connection destination gateway list 28 shown in FIG. 6 is referred to in the order of reference numbers of the search order data 31 using the lower 8 bits of the extracted network address = “100” as a search key.

  In this case, when the data corresponding to the search order data 31 = “1” is referred to, the lower 8 bits of the network address portion match, so that the connection destination gateway address = “XX.XX.XX.101”. Therefore, the connection destination gateway server corresponding to the network device 11-3 is the gateway server 14-1.

As described above, the network device 11-1 and the network device 11-2 have the same results when n = 16 and n = 8, but for the network device 11-3, n = In the case of 16, the gateway server 14-3 is the connection destination, and in the case of n = 8, the gateway server 14-1 is the connection destination.
In this way, the load distribution method of the gateway server can be changed simply by controlling the data range to be referenced differently.

[1.1.2] Second Modification Furthermore, the above description is for the case where the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 are connected to the same IP network / public communication network 12, Even when connected to a different IP network / public communication network 12, a gateway server suitable for the network network (IP network / public communication network 12) to which the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 are connected By setting the address in the connection destination gateway list 28, it is possible to suppress the number of routers straddling the communication path to the gateway server.

[1.1.3] Third Modification In addition, the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 can perform load distribution using device-specific information such as a manufacturing number and a MAC address instead of an IP address.
In this case, the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 have the connection destination gateway list 28 in which the device-specific information such as the manufacturing number or the MAC address and the connection destination gateway address are associated with each other, thereby It is possible to select a connection destination gateway from device-specific information such as a serial number or a MAC address.

  According to the above configuration, even when there are a large number of network devices belonging to the same network, the load can be evenly distributed without concentration of access load on the same gateway.

[1.2] Effects of the First Embodiment By selecting and applying the load balancing method as described above according to the network form of the system to which it is applied, the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 as end devices are applied. Effective load distribution from the side can be realized.

[2] Second Embodiment FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication system according to a second embodiment.
In FIG. 7, the same parts as those in FIG.
In the communication system according to the second embodiment, a network device as a communication device is a wireless base station or base station control used when communicating with a wireless communication network configured as a wireless LAN, a PHS telephone network, a cellular phone network, or the like. It is an embodiment in the case of distributing the load of the gateway server based on the system of the apparatus.

  The communication system 10A includes a plurality of network devices 11-11 to 11-13, an IP network / public communication network 12 that functions as a first communication network to which the plurality of network devices 11-11 to 11-13 are connected, A backbone network 13 that functions as a second communication network, a plurality of gateway servers 14-1 to 14-3 that connect the IP network / public communication network 12 and the backbone network 13, respectively, and the backbone network 13 And a management server 15 that performs initial setting and information management of the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 via the gateway servers 14-1 to 14-3 and the IP network / public communication network 12. .

Further, the communication system 10A includes a base station 41 (41-1) capable of wireless communication with the network devices 11-11 to 11-13, and a base station controller 42 (42) that controls a plurality of base stations including the base station 41. -1), a personal computer (PC) 44 connected to the base station control device 42 via the communication adapter 43, and a telephone 46 connected to the base station control device 42 via the communication adapter 45. Yes.
In FIG. 7, for simplification of illustration, only the network device 11-11 communicates with the base station 41.
In practice, there are a plurality of personal computers (PCs) 44 connected via the communication adapter 43 and telephones 46 connected via the communication adapter 45.

Here, the network devices 11-11 to 11-13 access the backbone network 13 via the IP network / public communication network 12 and any one of the gateway servers 14-1 to 14-3, as in the first embodiment. Will be.
For this reason, at the initial startup of the network devices 11-11 to 11-13, the network devices 11-11 to 11-13 each establish communication with the management server 15 connected to the backbone network 13, It is necessary to perform initial registration processing.

  In FIG. 7, network devices 11-11 to 11-13 are connected to the IP network / public communication network 12, and the network devices 11-11 to 11-13 select one of the gateway servers 14-1 to 14-3. Communication with the backbone network 13 is established. In addition, the base station control device 42 that manages the base station 41 is connected to the backbone network 13, and the base station 41 and the network devices 11-11 to 11-13 can establish wireless communication. At the initial startup of the network devices 11-11 to 11-13, communication is established with the management server 15 connected to the backbone network 13, and initial registration processing is performed.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of the network device.
Since the network devices 11-11 to 11-13 have the same configuration, the network device 11-11 will be described as an example in FIG. Further, in FIG. 8, the same parts as those in FIG.

The network device 11-11 is different from the network device 11-1 of the first embodiment in that a wireless communication interface unit 51 that performs communication via the wireless communication network 40 is provided. Since the other configuration is the same as the configuration of the network device 11-1 of the first embodiment, the detailed description is cited.
In the second embodiment, the network devices 11-11 to 11-13 perform load distribution based on the information of the base station 41 or the base station control device 42 with which wireless communication has been established, thereby performing geographical load distribution. Realized.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the connection destination gateway list.
The connection destination gateway list 28A shown in FIG. 9 is broadly divided into search order data 71 representing the search order of connection destination gateway addresses, a wireless system as a search key, specifically, a base station or a base station control device. Wireless system data 72 storing information for specifying the connection destination, and connection destination gateway address data 73 storing the IP address of the connection destination gateway associated with the wireless system data 72.

  In the example of FIG. 9, for example, when the wireless base station with which the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 perform wireless communication is the wireless base station 41-1 shown in FIG. The address of the gateway server connected to 11-1 to 11-3 = “XX.XX.XX.101”. That is, in the case of the example of FIG. 7, the gateway server 14-1 is the gateway server to be connected.

FIG. 10 is a functional configuration diagram of the communication system according to the second embodiment.
The network device 11-11 constituting the communication system 10A stores the connection destination gateway list 28A stored in the flash ROM 24, and the MPU 21 of the network device 11-11 functions as the connection destination determination unit 61. .

In addition, the MPU 21 and the wireless communication interface unit 51 of the network device 11-11 work together to function as a path forming unit 62.
Further, the wireless communication interface unit 51 of the network device 11-11 functions as a wireless connection unit 63.
Furthermore, the MPU 21 and the wireless communication interface unit 51 of the network device 11-11 work together to function as the base station information acquisition unit 64.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described.
FIG. 11 is an operation timing chart of the second embodiment.
In FIG. 11, the wireless communication interface unit 51 of each of the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 functions as the wireless connection unit 63, the MPU 21 functions as the connection destination determination unit 61, and the wireless communication interface unit 51 and the MPU 21. Are functioning as a path (communication path) formation unit 62 and a base station information acquisition unit 64 in cooperation.

In the following description, the network device 11-11 will be mainly described as an example.
The wireless communication interface unit 51 of the network device 11-11 functions as the wireless connection unit 63 under the control of the MPU 21, and makes a wireless establishment request to the wireless base station 41-1 (step S31).
As a result, the radio base station 41-1 notifies the radio communication interface unit 51 of a radio establishment response indicating that radio establishment is accepted.

When the wireless communication path is established (step S33), the wireless communication interface unit 51 notifies the MPU 21 that works together as the base station information acquisition unit 64 of the establishment of the wireless path (step S34).
As a result, the MPU 21 and the non-communication interface unit 51 function as the base station information acquisition unit 64, and make a base station information request to the radio base station 41-1 (step S35), or the base station control device 42- 1 is requested for base station information (step S36).

  Thereby, when a base station information request is made to the radio base station 41-1, the radio base station 41-1 makes a base station information response (step S37). Further, when a base station information request is made to the base station control device 42-1, the base station control device 42-1 makes a base station information response (step S38).

The wireless communication interface unit 51 that functions as the base station information acquisition unit 64 that has received the base station information notifies the base station information to the MPU 21 that functions as the connection destination determination unit 61 (step S39). .
Thereby, the MPU 21 functions as a connection destination determination unit, refers to the connection destination gateway list 28A in the flash ROM 24, and specifies a connection destination gateway server (step S40).

  Specifically, in the MPU 21 of the network device 11-11, the base station with which the network device 11-11 is communicating is the base station 41-1, and the base station control that controls the base station 41-1. The connection destination gateway list 28A shown in FIG. 9 is referred to in the order of reference numbers of the search order data 71 using the base station information indicating that the apparatus is the base station control apparatus 42-1 as a search key.

In this case, since the base station 41-1 in the base station information matches when the data corresponding to the search order data 71 = “1” is referenced, the connection destination gateway address = “XX.XX.XX”. .101 ".
Thereby, the MPU 21 functioning as the connection destination determination unit notifies the communication interface unit 27 functioning as the path forming unit 62 of the acquired connection destination gateway address = “XX.XX.XX.101” (step S41), functioning as a path forming unit in cooperation with the communication interface unit 27, establishing a path for the gateway server 14-1 corresponding to the acquired connection destination gateway address = “XX.XX.XX.101” A request is made (step S42).

Thereby, the gateway server 14-1 makes a path establishment response indicating that the path is established (step S43) and establishes a communication path (step S44).
With the establishment of the communication path between the network device 11-11 and the gateway server 14-1, the MPU 21 and the communication interface unit 27 of the network device 11-11 functioning as a path forming unit are connected to the IP network / public communication network 12 Then, an initial registration request is made to the management server 15 via the gateway server 14-1 and the backbone network 13 (step S45).
As a result, the management server 15 performs initial registration and thereafter manages information of the network device 11-11.
When the initial registration is completed, the management server 15 sends an initial registration completion notification to the network device 11-11 via the backbone network 13, the gateway server 14, and the IP network / public communication network 12 (step S46). The process ends.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an example when geographical load distribution is performed using base station information or base station control information.
As shown in FIG. 12, network devices 11-11, 11-21, and 11-31 are located in the communication area C1 of the base station 41-1, and the base station 41-2 communication area C2 includes The network devices 11-12 and 11-22 are located, and the network devices 11-13 and 11-23 are located in the communication area C3 of the base station 41-3.
Accordingly, when the wireless connection destination wireless base station is used as a parameter, in the case of the connection destination gateway list 28A shown in FIG. 9, the connection destination gateway servers are three gateway servers 14-1 to 14-3. Distributed to one of the two.

  When the base station controller of the wireless connection destination is used as a parameter, in the case of the connection destination gateway list 28A shown in FIG. 9, the gateway server of the connection destination is the gateway server by the same procedure as described above. 14-1 (IP address = XX.XX.XX.101) or gateway server 14-3 (IP address = XX.XX.XX.103).

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, load distribution according to the geographical arrangement conditions of the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 can be realized, and it is not necessary to individually set different gateway addresses at the time of shipment. It becomes possible to realize load balancing of the gateway by making an autonomous decision at the time of start-up.

  In addition, the network device can also acquire information on the base station controller, and when load distribution is performed for each network device belonging to the same area over a wider range, a connection destination from which a gateway address can be extracted for each unique identifier of the base station controller By having a gateway list, the load distribution area can be expanded.

[2.1] Effects of Second Embodiment By selecting and applying the load balancing method as described above according to the network form of the system to which it is applied, the network devices 11-11 to 11-13, which are terminal devices, are applied. Effective load distribution from the side can be realized.
In addition, the geographical load distribution can be realized by managing the location of the base station and the base station control device as the geographical information of the network device without providing the geographical information acquisition function such as a GPS receiver in the network device. it can.

[2.2] Modification Further, the above description is for the case where the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 are connected to the same IP network / public communication network 12, but different IP networks / Even when connected to the public communication network 12, the address of the gateway server suitable for the network network (IP network / public communication network 12) to which each of the network devices 11-1 to 11-3 is connected is connected. By setting in the gateway list 28, it is possible to suppress the number of routers straddling the communication path to the gateway server.

[3] Modification of Embodiment The control program executed by the communication apparatus of the present embodiment is a file in an installable format or executable format, and is a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, DVD ( The program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as Digital Versatile Disk).

Further, the control program executed by the communication apparatus of the present embodiment may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. Further, the control program executed by the communication apparatus of the present embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.
Moreover, you may comprise so that the control program of the communication apparatus of this embodiment may be previously incorporated in ROM etc. and provided.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

10, 10A communication system 11 network device 12 IP network / public communication network (first communication network)
13 Core network (second communication network)
14 Gateway Server 15 Management Server 21 MPU (Gateway Server Identification Means)
22 ROM
23 RAM
24 Flash ROM (list storage means)
27 Communication interface section 28, 28A Connection destination gateway list (list storage means)
31 Search order data 32 Network address data 33 Destination gateway address data 40 Wireless communication network 41, 41-1 to 41-3 Base station 41, 42-1, 42-2 Wireless base station 42 Base station controller 51 Wireless communication interface Unit 61 Connection destination determination unit 62 Path formation unit 63 Wireless connection unit 64 Base station information acquisition unit 71 Search order data 72 Wireless system data 73 Connection destination gateway address data

Claims (8)

A communication device connected to the first communication network and connectable to the second communication network via any one of the plurality of gateway servers,
List storage means for storing a gateway server list for selecting network addresses of the plurality of gateway servers based on information pre-assigned to the communication device;
Referring to the list storage means based on the pre-assigned information, and a gateway server specifying means for specifying a gateway server to which the communication device is to be connected;
A communication device comprising: Gateway server setting means for setting the gateway server specified by the gateway server specifying means as a gateway server to be connected by default;
The communication device according to claim 1. The gateway server setting means uses a part of the network address of the communication device to identify a gateway server to which the communication device is to be connected;
The communication apparatus according to claim 3. The pre-assigned information is a network address of the communication device.
The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The first communication network is a wireless communication network;
The pre-assigned information is information that identifies a radio base station that constitutes the radio communication network or a higher-level base station control device of the radio base station.
The communication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. A first communication network;
A second communication network;
A plurality of communication devices connected to the first communication network;
A plurality of gateway servers connecting between the first communication network and the second communication network;
A communication server connected to the second communication network and configured to perform initial setting of the communication device,
The communication device is connected to the first communication network, and is connectable to the second communication network via any one of a plurality of gateway servers.
List storage means for storing a gateway server list for selecting network addresses of the plurality of gateway servers based on information pre-assigned to the communication device;
Referring to the list storage means based on the pre-assigned information, and a gateway server specifying means for specifying a gateway server to which the communication device is to be connected;
Gateway server setting means for setting the gateway server specified by the gateway server specifying means as a gateway server to be connected by default;
A communication system. A control method executed by a communication device connected to a first communication network and connectable to a second communication network via any one of a plurality of gateway servers,
A list storage process for storing a gateway server list for selecting network addresses of the plurality of gateway servers based on information pre-assigned to the communication device;
Referring to the list storage means based on the pre-assigned information, and a gateway server specifying step of specifying a gateway server to which the communication device is to be connected;
A control method comprising: A control program for controlling a communication device connected to the first communication network and connectable to the second communication network via any one of the plurality of gateway servers by a computer,
The computer,
List storage means for storing a gateway server list for selecting network addresses of the plurality of gateway servers based on information pre-assigned to the communication device;
Referring to the list storage means based on the pre-assigned information, and a gateway server specifying means for specifying a gateway server to which the communication device is to be connected;
Control program to make it function.

Images