Packet distribution system, PAN registration device, PAN control device, packet transfer device, and packet distribution method

• US 20060126649A1
• Filed: 12/07/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Akiyoshi, Ippei
• Granted Patent: US 7,760,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks

Abstract

The packet distribution system according to the present invention includes communication terminals that are connected by way of at least one link to a mobile network, a PAN registration device for holding communication link identification addresses that correspond to communication terminals on a PAN, and a PAN control device for conferring PAN identification addresses to a PAN registration device and realizing control. By referring to media information of packet data that are addressed to a PAN that are received by way of the mobile network, the packet data are transferred to communication link identification address destinations that correspond to the media information based on packet transfer rules that are received from the PAN control device.

Claims

1. A packet distribution system comprising:

a network;

first communication terminals that are connected by way of one or more links to said network; and

a packet transfer device that is connected to said network for determining links that correspond to payload information of packet data that are received by way of a network, and for transferring said packet data to said first communication terminals by way of said links.

2. A packet distribution system according to claim 1, comprising:

a personal area network that is connected to said first communication terminals;

a PAN registration device that is connected to said personal area network for acquiring communication link identification addresses from said first communication terminals by way of said personal area network; and

a PAN control device that is connected to said network;

wherein;

said PAN registration device is connected to said PAN control device by way of said network, and transmits said communication link identification addresses,

said PAN control device prepares packet transfer rules that place said communication link identification addresses in correspondence with said payload information, and transmits to said packet transfer device; and

said packet transfer device refers to said packet transfer rules, designates as the destination addresses the communication link identification addresses that correspond to the payload information of the packet data that are received by way of said network, encapsulates said packet data, and transfers said packet data to said first communication terminals by way of the links that correspond to said communication link identification addresses.

3. A packet distribution system according to claim 2, wherein:

said PAN registration device confers terminal identification addresses to said first communication terminals by way of said personal area network, acquires PAN identification addresses that are specific to said personal area network from said PAN control device by way of said network, and transmits said terminal identification addresses to said PAN control device;

said PAN control device prepares packet transfer rules that place said PAN identification addresses, said terminal identification addresses, and said payload information in correspondence; and

transmits these packet transfer rules by way of said network to said packet transfer device; and

said packet transfer device refers to said packet transfer rules, and when the destination addresses of packet data that are received by way of said network match with said PAN identification addresses, converts said destination addresses to said terminal identification addresses that correspond to said PAN identification addresses, designates as the destination addresses the communication link identification addresses that correspond to said PAN identification addresses and said payload information, encapsulates the packet data for which said destination addresses have been altered, and transfers said packet data to said first communication terminals by way of said links that accord with said communication link identification addresses.

4. A packet distribution system according to claim 2, further comprising:

said packet distribution system is communication partner terminals that are connected to said network for transmitting to said packet transfer device packet data in which said PAN identification addresses are designated as the destination addresses, and the communication partner terminal addresses, which are their own addresses, are designated as the source addresses;

wherein;

said communication partner terminals transmit said communication partner terminal addresses as session information to said PAN registration device by way of said network;

said PAN registration device places said PAN identification addresses, said terminal identification addresses, and said communication partner terminal addresses in correspondence and transmits to said PAN control device;

said PAN control device prepares packet transfer rules in which said PAN identification addresses, said terminal identification addresses, and the addresses of said communication partner terminals are placed in correspondence, and transmits said packet transfer rules by way of said network to said packet transfer device; and

said packet transfer device;

refers to said packet transfer rules;

converts said destination addresses to said terminal identification addresses that correspond to said PAN identification addresses that match with the destination addresses of packet data that are received by way of said network and said communication partner terminal addresses that match with the source addresses of said packet data;

designates as the destination addresses the communication link identification addresses that correspond to said PAN identification addresses and said payload information;

encapsulates the packet data for which said destination addresses have been altered; and

transfers said packet data to said first communication terminals by way of links that accord with the communication link identification addresses.

5. A packet distribution system according to claim 3, further comprising:

second communication terminals that are connected to said personal area network;

wherein;

said first communication terminals decapsulate said encapsulated packet data that are received by way of said links and refer to destination addresses; and

, based on said terminal identification addresses, transfer said decapsulated packet data to said second communication terminals by way of said personal area network.

6. A packet distribution system according to claim 4, further comprising:

second communication terminals that are connected to said personal area network;

wherein;

said first communication terminals decapsulate said encapsulated packet data that are received by way of said links and refer to destination addresses; and

, based on said terminal identification addresses, transfer said decapsulated packet data to said second communication terminals by way of said personal area network.

17. A packet distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising:

personal area network that is connected to said first communication terminals; and

a PAN control device that is connected to said network;

wherein;

said first communication terminals are connected to said PAN control device by way of said network and transmit communication link identification addresses that have been placed in correspondence with said links to said PAN control device;

said PAN control device prepares packet transfer rules in which said communication link identification addresses and said payload information are placed in correspondence and transmits said packet transfer rules to said packet transfer device; and

said packet transfer device refers to said packet transfer rules, designates as destination addresses said communication link identification addresses that correspond to the payload information of packet data that are received by way of said network, encapsulates said packet data, and transfers said packet data to said first communication terminals by way of said links that correspond to said communication link identification addresses.

18. A packet distribution system according to claim 17, wherein:

said first communication terminals place in correspondence;

as addresses that are specific to said personal area networks, first terminal identification addresses that identify themselves, and transmit these addresses to said PAN control device;

said PAN control device prepares packet transfer rules in which said first terminal addresses and said payload information are placed in correspondence and transmits said packet transfer rules to said packet transfer device by way of said network; and

said packet transfer device;

refers to said packet transfer rules; and

when the destination addresses of packet data that are received by way of said network match with said first terminal identification addresses, designates as destination addresses said first terminal identification addresses and communication link identification addresses that correspond to said payload information;

encapsulates said packet data; and

transfers said packet data to said first communication terminals by way of links that accord with said communication link identification addresses.

19. A packet distribution system according to claim 17, further comprising:

second communication terminals and third communication terminals that are connected to said first communication terminals by way of said personal area network;

wherein;

said second communication terminals are connected to said network by way of second links and are assigned second link identification addresses that correspond to said links,

said first communication terminals place in correspondence and register in said PAN control device third terminal identification addresses that identify said third communication terminals and said second communication terminals;

said PAN control device prepares packet transfer rules in which said third terminal identification addresses, said second link identification addresses, and said payload information are placed in correspondence, and transmits said packet transfer rules to said packet transfer device by way of said network;

said packet transfer device refers to said packet transfer rules, and when the destination addresses of packet data that are received by way of said network match with said first terminal identification addresses, converts said first terminal identification addresses to said third terminal identification addresses that correspond to said payload information, designates as destination addresses second communication link identification addresses that correspond to said payload information, encapsulates packet data for which said destination addresses have been converted, and transfers said packet data to said second communication terminals by way of second links that accord with said second communication link identification addresses; and

said second communication terminals decapsulate said encapsulated packets and, based on said third terminal identification addresses, transmits said packets to said third communication terminals.

20. A packet distribution system according to claim 18, further comprising:

second communication terminals that are connected to said personal area network;

wherein

said first communication terminals decapsulate said encapsulated packet data that are received by way of said links, refer to the destination addresses, and based on said terminal identification addresses, transfer said decapsulated packet data to said second communication terminals by way of said personal area network.

21. A packet distribution system according to claim 19, further comprising:

second communication terminals that are connected to said personal area network;

wherein

said first communication terminals decapsulate said encapsulated packet data that are received by way of said links, refer to the destination addresses, and based on said terminal identification addresses, transfer said decapsulated packet data to said second communication terminals by way of said personal area network.

22. A packet distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a personal area network that is connected to said first communication terminals;

a PAN registration device that is connected to said personal area network for acquiring communication link identification addresses that have been placed in correspondence with said links from said first communication terminals by way of said personal area network; and

a PAN control device that is connected to said network;

wherein

said PAN registration device is connected to said PAN control device by way of said network and transmits said communication link identification addresses;

said PAN control device prepares packet transfer rules in which said communication link identification addresses and said payload information are placed in correspondence and transmits said packet transfer rules to said packet transfer device; and

said packet transfer device refers to said packet transfer rules, converts the destination addresses to communication link identification addresses that correspond to the payload information of packet data that are received by way of said network, and transfers said packet data to said first communication terminals by way of links that correspond to said communication link identification addresses.

23. A packet distribution system according to claim 22, wherein:

said PAN registration device transmits to said PAN control device PAN identification addresses as addresses that are specific to said personal area network;

said PAN control device prepares packet transfer rules in which said PAN identification addresses and said payload information are placed in correspondence and transmits said packet transfer rules to said packet transfer device by way of said network; and

said packet transfer device refers to said packet transfer rules, and when the destination addresses of packet data that are received by way of said network match with said PAN identification addresses, converts the destination addresses to said communication link identification addresses that correspond to said PAN identification addresses and said payload information, and transfers said packet data to said first communication terminals by way of links that accord with said communication link identification addresses.

24. A packet distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said payload information is media information of packet data.

25. A packet distribution system according to claim 2, wherein said payload information is media information of packet data.

26. A packet distribution system according to claim 17, wherein said payload information is media information of packet data.

27. A packet distribution system according to claim 22, wherein said payload information is media information of packet data.

28. A packet distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said network is a mobile network.

29. A packet distribution system according to claim 2, wherein said network is a mobile network.

30. A packet distribution system according to claim 17, wherein said network is a mobile network.

31. A packet distribution system according to claim 22, wherein said network is a mobile network.

7. A PAN registration device, comprising:

a PAN interface for connecting to a personal area network;

a network interface for connecting to a network;

a PAN registration unit for using PAN identification addresses that identify said personal area networks that are acquired from a PAN control device on said network to register to said PAN control device;

a terminal registration unit for conferring terminal identification addresses that are specific to each communication terminal to communication terminals on said personal area network and placing said communication terminals and said terminal identification addresses in correspondence; and

a PAN information database for placing in correspondence and holding as PAN information;

said PAN identification addresses, said terminal identification addresses, and link types that are used by said communication terminals and that are acquired from said communication terminals.

8. A PAN registration device according to claim 7, further comprising:

a session processor for designating said PAN identification addresses as destinations of data of communication partner terminals on said network and for establishing sessions with said communication partner terminals; and

a transfer processor for transmitting packet transfer requests to said PAN control device.

9. A packet control device, comprising:

a network interface for connecting to a network;

a PAN registration unit for conferring a PAN identification address to a PAN registration device on a personal area network by way of a network and registering said PAN registration device in correspondence with said personal area network; and

a transfer rule preparation unit for preparing packet transfer rules that place in correspondence;

the terminal identification addresses of communication terminals on a personal area network that are received from said PAN registration device, the link types that are used by said communication terminals, said PAN identification address, and the distribution source addresses of packet data; and

for transmitting said packet transfer rules to a packet transfer device on a network.

10. A packet transfer device, comprising:

a network interface for connecting to a network;

a PAN interface for connecting to a personal area network by way of a link;

a transfer settings database for storing packet transfer rules that place in correspondence;

PAN identification addresses that are received by way of said network, terminal device identification addresses, link identification addresses, and payload information of packet data; and

a transfer processor for, when the destination addresses of packet data that are received by way of said network match with said PAN identification address, converting said destination addresses to said terminal identification addresses that correspond to said PAN identification address, designating as the destination addresses the communication link identification addresses that correspond to said PAN identification address and payload data that are contained in said packet data, encapsulating packet data for with said destination addresses have been altered, and transferring said packet data to communication terminals on said personal area network by way of links that accord with said communication link identification addresses.

11. A packet distribution method comprising the steps of:

receiving packet data;

determining links that correspond to payload information that is contained in said packet data; and

transferring said packets to first communication terminals on a personal area network by way of said links.

12. A packet distribution method according to claim 11, comprising the steps wherein:

a PAN registration device acquires communication link identification addresses from said first communication terminals by way of a personal area network;

said PAN registration device transmits to a PAN control device on a network packet transfer requests in which said communication link identification addresses are placed in correspondence with payload information;

said PAN control device prepares packet transfer rules in which said communication link identification addresses and said payload information are placed in correspondence and transmits said packet transfer rules to a packet transfer device on a network;

said packet transfer device refers to said packet transfer rules, designates as the destination addresses communication link identification addresses that correspond to payload information of packet data that are received by way of said network, and encapsulates said packet data; and

said packet transfer device transfers said packet data that have been encapsulated to said first communication terminals by way of links that correspond to said communication link identification addresses.

13. A packet distribution method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps wherein:

a PAN registration device confers terminal identification addresses to said first communication terminals by way of said personal area network;

said PAN registration device acquires a PAN identification address that is specific to said personal area network from said PAN control device by way of said network; and

said PAN registration device transmits said terminal identification addresses to the PAN control device;

wherein;

said step wherein said PAN control device prepares and transmits packet transfer rules is provided with a step wherein said PAN control device further places said PAN identification addresses in correspondence in said packet transfer rules;

said step wherein said packet transfer device encapsulates said packet data is provided with a step wherein said packet transfer device refers to said packet transfer rules, and when the destination addresses of packet data that are received by way of said network match with said PAN identification addresses, converts said destination addresses to said terminal identification addresses that correspond to said PAN identification addresses; and

said packet transfer device designates as the destination addresses said PAN identification addresses and the communication link identification addresses that correspond to said payload information and encapsulates packet data for which said destination addresses have been altered.

14. A packet distribution method according to claim 11, comprising the steps wherein:

communication partner terminals designate said PAN identification addresses as destination addresses, designate communication partner terminal addresses that are their own addresses as source addresses, and transmit said packet data to said packet transfer device;

said communication partner terminals transmit said communication partner terminal addresses as session information to said PAN registration device by way of said network;

said PAN registration device places said PAN identification addresses, said terminal identification addresses, and said communication partner terminal addresses in correspondence and transmits to said PAN control device;

said PAN control device prepares packet transfer rules in which said PAN identification addresses, said terminal identification addresses, and addresses of said communication partner terminals are placed in correspondence and transmits to said packet transfer device by way of said network; and

said packet transfer device;

refers to said packet transfer rules, converts said destination addresses to said terminal identification addresses that correspond to said PAN identification addresses that match with the destination addresses of packet data that are received by way of said network and said communication partner terminal addresses that match with the source addresses of said packet data, designates as the destination addresses communication link identification addresses that correspond to said PAN identification addresses and said payload information, encapsulates packet data for which said destination addresses have been altered, and transfers said packet data to said first communication terminals by way of links that accord with said communication link identification addresses.

15. A packet distribution method according to claim 13, further comprising the step wherein:

said first communication terminals decapsulate said encapsulated packet data that have been received by way of said links, refers to the destination addresses, and based on said terminal identification addresses, transfers said decapsulated packet data to second communication terminals by way of said personal area network.

16. A packet distribution method according to claim 14, further comprising the step wherein:

said first communication terminals decapsulate said encapsulated packet data that have been received by way of said links, refers to the destination addresses, and based on said terminal identification addresses, transfers said decapsulated packet data to second communication terminals by way of said personal area network.

32. A communication terminal comprising:

a PAN interface for connecting to a personal area network;

a network interface for connecting to a network;

a PAN registration device for placing in correspondence;

a terminal identification address that identifies that communication terminal and said personal area network;

a terminal registration unit for conferring terminal identification addresses that are specific to communication terminals to communication terminals on said personal area network and placing in correspondence said communication terminals and said terminal identification addresses; and

a PAN information database for placing in correspondence and holding as PAN information;

said PAN identification addresses, said terminal identification addresses, and link types that said communication terminals use and that are acquired from said communication terminals.