Address translator, message processing method and euipment

• US 20030110292A1
• Filed: 02/25/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Takeda, Yukiko, Inouchi, Hidenori
• Granted Patent: US 7,761,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/741 Routing in networks with a plurality of addressing schemes, e.g. with both IPv4 and IPv6
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/251 between different IP versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2564 for a higher-layer protocol, e.g. for session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2575 using address mapping retrieval, e.g. simple traversal of user datagram protocol through session traversal utilities for NAT [STUN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2585 through application level gateway [ALG]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/167 Adaptation for transition between two IP versions, e.g. between IPv4 and IPv6 translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses H04L61/2503
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

An address translator includes an SIP message detecting function. Upon detection of an SIP message, the address translator sends the SIP message to an SIP address translator. The SIP address translator extracts addresses for translation, and makes a query to the address translator. The SIP address translator translates an IP address included in the SIP message, using translation information of the address translator. Thus, an SIP communication is accomplished between terminals belonging to different regions in association of the address translator and the SIP address translator.

Claims

1. An address translator for connecting a network A conforming to a protocol P to a network B conforming to a protocol Q, said address translator comprising:

an address translating function for translating an address conforming to the protocol P to an address conforming to the protocol Q, or vice versa; and

a detecting function for detecting a communication conforming to a particular protocol,

wherein said address translator translates an address described in a first region of communication data by said address translation function, and

when said address translator detects a communication conforming to said particular protocol, said address translator creates translation information including a correspondence relationship between addresses in the protocol P and addresses in protocol Q for translating an address described in a second region of the communication data.

2. An address translator according to claim 1, further comprising communicating means for communicating with a server device,

wherein said address translator sends said translation information to said server device, and receives information including said second region which has been translated by said server device.

3. An address translator according to claim 1, further comprising a processing part for translating an address described in the second region of the communication data.

4. A method of processing a message including a first portion and a second portion, comprising:

first translation processing for translating information in the first part from information conforming to a first protocol to information conforming to a second protocol;

determination processing for determining whether or not the second portion requires a translation; and

second translation processing for translating information in the second portion, determined to require a translation, from information conforming to the first protocol to information conforming to the second protocol.

5. A message processing method according to claim 4, further comprising:

using a first server and a second server;

performing said first translation processing in said first server;

transferring the information in said second portion from said first server to said second server;

said second server extracting a parameter which requires a translation from said second portion;

performing said second translation processing on said extracted parameter in said second server; and

transferring the information in said second portion which has undergone said second translation processing from said second server to said first server.

6. A message processing method according to claim 5, wherein:

said second server has a table indicative of parameters which require a translation, and extracts a parameter which requires a translation from said second portion based on said table.

7. A message processing method according to claim 5, wherein:

said first server transfers the parameter which requires a translation together, with a tag added thereto, in said second portion to said second server, and

said second server extracts a parameter which requires a translation from said second portion based on said tag.

8. A message processing method according to claim 4, wherein said first portion is an IP header, said second portion is a payload including an SIP message, one of said first protocol and second protocol is IPv4, the other is IPv6, and information for translation is an address.

9. An address translator connected to both a first network conforming to a first addressing system and a second network conforming to a second addressing system, said address translator comprising:

a memory part for holding a translation rule for translating said first addressing system to said second addressing system, or vice versa;

a translating part for translating a first address in input information conforming to said first addressing system to a second address conforming to said second addressing system, or vice versa based on said translation rule; and

a function of outputting said input information and said translation rule.

10. An address translator according to claim 9, further comprising a function of receiving said input information having a translated address using said outputted input information and translation rule.

11. An address translator according to claim 10, further comprising a communication function for communicating with a server device,

wherein said address translator sends said input information to said server device, and receives said input information having an address translated by said server device.

12. An address translator according to claim 11, further comprising:

a function of detecting an SIP communication; and

a function of creating translation information including a correspondence relationship between an address in the first network conforming to the first addressing system and an address in the second network conforming to the second addressing system, in association with said server device, when an SIP communication is detected.

13. An address translator according to claim 12, further comprising a function of detecting information for translation included in the SIP communication, and adding identification information to said information for translation.

14. An address translator according to claim 9, wherein the SIP communication is detected based on information on a destination, information on the destination and a port thereof, or information on the port.

15. An address translator according to claim 10, further comprising:

a processing part connected through an internal bus,

wherein said input information is sent to said processing part through said internal bus, and said input information having a protocol translated by said processing part is received through said internal bus.

16. In a communication network in which a network conforming to a protocol P and a network conforming to a protocol Q are interconnected through an address translator, a server device operative in cooperation with said address translator,

wherein said server device translates an address of a predetermined portion, the address of which has not been translated by said address translator.

17. A server device according to claim 16, wherein said server device translates an address using translation information stored in said address translator.

18. A server device according to claim 17, wherein said translation information is an address translation rule between the protocol P and the protocol Q.

19. A server device according to claim 18, wherein said translation information further includes information for specifying said predetermined portion.