JPWO2009001444A1 - Communication network connection device - Google Patents

Abstract

The radio base station apparatus 100 includes a control unit 103. The control unit 103 makes a connection request corresponding to the selected connection method among a plurality of connection methods for connecting to the Internet 600 to the server corresponding to the connection method, and in response to the connection request, the server If no response is returned, the connection request corresponding to another connection method is performed. With such a configuration, it is possible to quickly and accurately determine the connection method, and thereby to quickly connect to the communication network.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication network connection apparatus for connecting to a communication network.

  In recent years, in order to connect a radio base station device used in a mobile communication system such as a mobile phone to a higher-level device (higher-level node), an increasing number of devices are used via an IP (Internet Protocol) network instead of a dedicated line. I came. This is mainly due to cost factors such as reducing the installation / maintenance cost of dedicated lines. A connection service to the IP network is provided by an ISP (Internet Service Provider). As connection methods provided by ISP, PPPoE (Point-to-point protocol over Ethernet (registered trademark)) method for directly connecting network devices to an IP network and DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) method for connecting via a broadband router There is.

  As a prior art to properly use these connection methods, when connecting to a network, a technology for sequentially selecting and connecting connection methods one by one from a plurality of different connection methods and determining a suitable connection method (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP2003-283589 (paragraph 0007) NTT East Japan Easy Network Equipment Guide http://flets.com/opt/network/network_01.html

  However, in the above prior art, since the criteria for determining whether or not the connection method is suitable is not necessarily clear, the connection method cannot be determined promptly and accurately, and thus the connection to the communication network can be made quickly. It was difficult.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a communication network connection apparatus that can quickly connect to a communication network by quickly and accurately determining a connection method.

The present invention is a communication network connection device for connecting to a communication network,
Select one of a plurality of connection methods for connecting to the communication network, make a connection request to a server corresponding to the selected connection method, and the server responds to the connection request A communication network connection device comprising a control unit that issues a connection request corresponding to another connection method when the message is not returned.

The present invention is also a communication network connection device for connecting to a communication network,
Control that performs connection requests to servers corresponding to a plurality of connection methods for connecting to the communication network in parallel, and stops connection processing for connection methods in which the server does not return a response to the connection requests. A communication network connection device characterized by comprising a unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to quickly and accurately determine a connection method, and thereby to quickly connect to a communication network.

It is a figure which shows the network structure which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing flow of a wireless base station apparatus. It is a figure which shows the network configuration example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the network configuration example 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the radio base station apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing flow of the control part at the time of line | wire restoration. It is a figure which shows the structure of the radio base station apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network configuration according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The wireless base station device 100 selects either a route that passes through the BBR (broadband router) 200 and the ISP 400 in this order or a route that passes through the PPPoE server 300 of the ISP 400 and is connected to the Internet 600 and arranged oppositely. The network is configured to communicate with the host device 500 via the router 700.

  The wireless base station device 100 is a device that performs wireless communication with a mobile communication terminal, and is a transmission / reception unit 101 that performs transmission / reception processing of wireless signals, and a network-side interface that performs processing related to transmission / reception of wired signals. A network interface unit 102 and a control unit 103 that controls wireless transmission / reception and wired transmission / reception are provided. The control unit 103 includes a data storage unit 104 that accumulates parameters necessary for wired connection. Necessary parameters include PPPoE connection authentication method, ID (identifier), password, keep-alive transmission interval time and number of times, time to timeout, retry interval time when DHCP server is not connected, number of times, time to timeout, etc. There is.

  The host device 500 is a host node of the radio base station device 100 that can control the radio base station device 100 and exchange packets, for example.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the radio base station apparatus. First, in step a1, the radio base station apparatus 100 is activated by power ON or reset. When activated, in the next step a2, PPPoE connection processing to the PPPoE server is performed in order to perform connection by the first connection method (for example, PPPoE connection method). Specifically, a connection request including an IP address issue request is issued to the PPPoE server, and a response from the PPPoE server is awaited. Next, in step a3, it is determined whether or not there is a response from the PPPoE server. If there is a response, the process proceeds to the next step a4, where the IP address is acquired by PPPoE connection, and the IP network is connected to enable communication with the host device 500.

  If there is no response from the PPPoE server, or if a time-out occurs after retrying, in step a5, a DHCP connection process is performed on the DHCP server in order to perform the second connection method (for example, DHCP connection). Specifically, a connection request including an IP address issue request is issued to the DHCP server, and a response from the DHCP server is awaited. Next, in step a6, it is determined whether or not there is a response from the DHCP server. If there is a response, the process proceeds to the next step a7, where the IP address is obtained by DHCP connection as it is, and the IP network connection is established and communication with the host device 500 is enabled.

  If there is no response from the DHCP server, or if a time-out occurs after retrying, it is determined that connection is disabled in both the PPPoE connection method and the DHCP connection method, and the process returns to step a2. Steps a2, a3, a5, and a6 are repeatedly executed until connection can be established by either the PPPoE connection method or the DHCP connection method.

  By connecting to the IP network according to such a procedure, even when it is unknown whether the connection method to the IP network is PPPoE or DHCP when the radio base station apparatus is activated, the IP address is automatically set. It is possible to execute connection to the IP network set in the radio base station apparatus.

  If there is no response from the DHCP server, connection to the IP network may be performed using a connection method that is sequentially different from the third connection method, the fourth connection method, and so on.

  The reason why the PPPoE connection is first performed is as follows. In many cases, the DHCP server is a broadband router in the user's home. In this case, a subordinate of the broadband router forms a closed local network in the user's home. Here, when PPPoE connection is performed in the DHCP connection state, a PPPoE connection message flows only to the broadband router in the user's home that is the DHCP server. The broadband router discards this PPPoE connection message as an unknown message. For this reason, it is not sent to the host network. Thus, it is closed in the user's home and has no effect on the ISP (Internet Service Provider). For this reason, the PPPoE connection is preferably performed first.

The above is an example in which the PPPoE connection is performed first, but in the following case, it is better to perform the DHCP connection first. For example, when a large number of wireless base station devices 100 are installed, such as in a condominium, in a configuration in which a plurality of wireless base station devices 100 are directly connected under the PPPoE server 300 as shown in FIG. The connection fee is increased and the cost is increased. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, by interposing the broadband router 200 between the PPPoE server 300 and a plurality of radio base station apparatuses 100 under its control, the subordinate of the broadband router 200 becomes a local area, and ISP (Internet service) There is no connection fee to the provider. A connection fee is charged only between the broadband router 200 and the PPPoE server 300, which is advantageous in terms of cost. In the case of such a connection form, the time for the wired line connection process can be shortened by performing the DHCP connection first.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a radio base station apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the second embodiment, a line state detection unit 105 and a history storage unit 106 are additionally mounted on the radio base station apparatus according to the first embodiment.

  Similar to Embodiment 1, data storage section 104 is a storage device included in control section 103 and stores system parameters necessary for starting radio base station apparatus 100. The history storage unit 106 is also a storage device that is also included in the control unit 103 and is configured by a non-volatile memory, and in which of a plurality of connection methods (for example, PPPoE or DHCP) connection to the IP network is successful, or A history of failure is stored. When the radio base station apparatus 100 is activated, a system parameter stored in the data storage unit 104 is called, and an IP network connection is attempted using an activation method (for example, PPPoE or DHCP) specified by the system parameter. Thereafter, connection methods (for example, PPPoE or DHCP) that have been successfully connected are sequentially recorded in the history storage unit 106. If there is a track record of connection to the IP network even once, it is recorded in this history storage unit 106 and the connection history is left.

  The line state detection unit 105 is included in the network interface unit 102 and constantly monitors the state of the line established via the IP network. The state of the line refers to a state where the line is disconnected or the disconnected line is recovered. When the line state detecting unit 105 detects the line state (disconnected or recovered), the line state detecting unit 105 immediately notifies the control unit 103 that the line is disconnected or recovered. When a line disconnection is detected, the operator is warned by lighting an LED (Light Emitting Diode; not shown) provided in the radio base station apparatus 100 in a manner corresponding to the line disconnection state. When the line recovery state is detected, the LED is turned on in a manner indicating that the line has recovered and is in an operating state.

  At this time, for the Internet connection, reconnection is performed using the connection method (for example, PPPoE or DHCP) immediately before the line disconnection based on the connection method history stored in the history storage unit 106.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the control unit at the time of line restoration. In a state where the wired line is disconnected, first, in step b1, the line state detecting unit 105 of the network interface unit 102 detects line restoration. Next, in step b2, upon receiving a notification of line restoration, the history storage unit 106 is referred to, which of the plurality of connection methods is the connection method immediately before the line disconnection (for example, PPPoE or DHCP). Confirm. Next, in step b3, it is determined which connection method is the connection method immediately before the line disconnection.

  If the connection method immediately before disconnection in step b3 is PPPoE, the process proceeds to the next step b4. In step b4, it is determined whether or not the PPPoE server has already performed disconnection processing due to the expiration of the keep alive timer when the line is restored. If the keep-alive timer expires, that is, after the timer has expired, it is determined in the next step b5 that the connection with the IP network has been disconnected by the PPPoE server, and reconnection by PPPoE is performed.

  If the PPPoE keep alive timer is not expired in step b4, the process proceeds to step b6. In step b6, the EchoRequest is sent to the PPPoE server regardless of the EchoRequest transmission interval for keep alive. This is to confirm that the PPPoE session is valid at the time of line restoration regardless of the keep alive interval. In the next step, it is determined whether there is EchoReply from the PPPoE server. If there is EchoReply from the PPPoE server, the process proceeds to the next step b8. In step b8, the PPPoE session is still being established and the PPPoE connection is continued.

  If there is no echo reply from the PPPoE server in step b7, it is determined that there is no PPPoE server and the connection method has been changed to DHCP, and in step b9, the DHCP connection process is started from the beginning.

  As a result, it is possible to perform processing for changing the connection method immediately after the line is restored without waiting for the PPPoE keep-alive cycle.

  The same applies when the connection method immediately before the line disconnection is DHCP.

  In step b3, if the connection method immediately before the line disconnection is DHCP connection, the process proceeds to step b10. In step b10, it is determined whether or not the DHCP lease timer has expired. Whether or not the DHCP connection is released by the DHCP server can be determined based on whether or not the DHCP lease timer has expired. Here, if the DHCP lease timer expires, that is, after the timer expires, it is determined that the DHCP connection has been released by the DHCP server, and reconnection by DHCP is performed.

  If the DHCP lease timer is not expired in step b10, the DHCP request is sent to the DHCP server in the next step b11 regardless of the transmission interval of the DHCP request. This is to confirm whether the IP address by DHCP is still valid at the time of line restoration, regardless of the transmission interval of DHCP Request. Next, in step b12, it is determined whether a DHCP ACK is returned from the DHCP server. If DHCP ACK is returned from the DHCP server, the IP address is still valid, and the DHCP connection is continued in the next step b13.

  If no DHCP ACK is returned from the DHCP server in step b12, it is determined that the connection method has been changed to PPPoE, the process proceeds to step b5, and the PPPoE connection process is started from the beginning.

  As a result, it is possible to perform processing for changing the connection method immediately after the line is restored without waiting for the DHCP lease extension cycle.

  Similarly, at the time of recovery from power interruption or restart by resetting, the history storage unit 106 is checked and reconnection is first performed using the same connection method.

As described above, it is possible to reduce the connection processing time at the time of reconnection due to recovery from a wired line disconnection, power recovery, and reset.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
When there is no response from the server after issuing the connection request, the control unit 103 of the radio base station apparatus 100 stops the connection process after a certain period of time, that is, times out. In the first or second embodiment, the time until timeout is specified by the system parameter stored in the data storage unit 104 of the control unit 103. In the third embodiment, the turnaround time related to the connection method connected in the past is stored in the time storage unit (not shown) of the control unit 103, and the time until timeout is set based on this turnaround time. . The time storage unit is configured by a non-volatile memory like the history storage unit 106 and may be shared with the history storage unit 106. The turnaround time is the time from when a connection request is issued until the server receives a response to the connection request.

  Next, the operation of the third embodiment will be described. After the radio base station apparatus 100 is activated by, for example, PPPoE or DHCP, the number of connections is stored in the history storage unit 106, and the turnaround time at activation is stored in the time storage unit. An average value of the turnaround time can be calculated from the number of connections (connection history) and the turnaround time at the time of connection, and the value is also stored in the time storage unit.

  At the time of recovery from the disconnected state of the wired line, the connection method immediately before the line is disconnected is confirmed by the history storage unit 106 and reconnection processing is performed, but the time set based on the turnaround time stored in the time storage unit times out It is set as the time until. For example, twice the turnaround time is set as the time until timeout. Alternatively, when a plurality of turnaround times are stored for one connection method, a time that is twice the average value thereof is set as the time until timeout. If there is no response from the server even after the time has elapsed, connection processing is performed using another connection method.

  The same applies to recovery from power interruption or reconnection after reset.

As described above, it is possible to change the connection processing time at the time of recovery from a wired line disconnection, recovery from a power supply interruption, and reconnection by reset according to the connection method, so that a connection can be quickly established.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a radio base station apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In the first, second, or third embodiment, when the radio base station apparatus 100 is activated or reconnected, a plurality of connection methods are tried sequentially (for example, from either PPPoE connection or DHCP connection). However, in the fourth embodiment, connection is attempted in parallel for a plurality of connection methods at the same time (for example, both PPPoE connection and DHCP connection). For this purpose, the control unit 103 includes a first connection processing unit 107 that performs connection processing by the PPPoE connection method, and a second connection processing unit 108 that performs connection processing by the DHCP connection method.

  Next, the operation of the fourth embodiment will be described. At the time of start-up (including recovery from disconnection of a wired line, recovery from power-off, and restart by reset), the radio base station apparatus 100 tries to connect to an IP network in both PPPoE and DHCP forms. At this time, the connection process is performed according to an instruction of a system parameter stored in the data storage unit 104. For example, when there is a response from either the PPPoE or DHCP server, the operation is started with a connection method corresponding to the server. Further, when there is a response from one server, the connection process is stopped for the connection method corresponding to the other server. For example, when there is a response from the PPPoE server, the first connection processing unit 107 notifies the second connection processing unit 108 that there is a response from the server, and stops the connection processing of the second connection processing unit 108. .

  The same applies to the case where there are three or more connection methods. When there is a response from the server of the first connection method, connection processing for the remaining connection methods is stopped.

  As described above, since the processes with different connection methods are performed in parallel, if a connection is established for one connection method, it is not necessary to wait for a timeout for another connection method. Therefore, it is possible to greatly shorten the time until the connection is established.

Claims (7)

A communication network connection device for connecting to a communication network,
Select one of a plurality of connection methods for connecting to the communication network, make a connection request to a server corresponding to the selected connection method, and the server responds to the connection request A communication network connection device, comprising: a control unit that issues a connection request corresponding to another connection method in the case of not returning. 2. The communication network connection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication network connection apparatus is a radio base station apparatus that performs radio communication with a mobile communication terminal. A history storage unit that stores a history of successful or failed connection for the plurality of connection methods,
The communication network connection device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit selects a connection method according to a connection history stored in the history storage unit. A line state detection unit that detects disconnection and recovery of a communication line,
When the line state detection unit detects that the communication line has been recovered, the control unit performs control to connect to the communication network using the connection method used immediately before the communication line is disconnected. The communication network connection device according to claim 2. A time storage unit that stores a turnaround time that is a time from when the connection request is issued until a response is received from the server to the connection request;
The control unit determines that there is no response to the connection request when no response is returned even if a time set based on the turnaround time stored in the time storage unit is exceeded. The communication network connection device according to claim 1. The control unit uses a time set based on an average value of a plurality of turnaround times when the time storage unit stores a plurality of turnaround times for the same connection method. 5. The communication network connection device according to 5. A communication network connection device for connecting to a communication network,
Control that performs connection requests to servers corresponding to a plurality of connection methods for connecting to the communication network in parallel, and stops connection processing for connection methods in which the server does not return a response to the connection requests. A communication network connection device comprising a section.

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