METHOD OF NETWORK-BASED COMMUNICATION IN VIRTUAL NETWORK ENVIRONMENT

• US 20120106559A1
• Filed: 09/16/2011
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Moon, Seong, Hong, Seungwoo, Yoon, Ho Sun, Ryu, Ho Yong, KIM, Sun Cheul
• Granted Patent: US 8,780,887 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/586 of virtual routers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes

Abstract

In a plurality of virtual tunnel routers including a first virtual tunnel router and a second virtual tunnel router, the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router request virtual network prefix information from a tunnel mapping controller. When the tunnel mapping controller generates virtual network prefix information of the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router, respectively, and transmits the same along with information of a list of adjacent virtual tunnel routers, the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router create a tunnel. With the tunnel established, the virtual network prefix information received by the first virtual tunnel router and second virtual tunnel router, respectively, is linked so that direct communication can be performed between the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router.

Claims

1. A communication method that provides end-to-end communication in a virtual network environment, the method comprising:

a plurality of virtual tunnel routers comprising a first virtual tunnel router and a second virtual tunnel router receiving a message containing virtual network prefix information from a tunnel mapping controller;

determining whether the first virtual tunnel router has received a hole punching message from the second virtual tunnel router;

if the first virtual tunnel router has received a hole punching message, the first virtual tunnel router establishing a tunnel with the second virtual tunnel router based on the virtual network prefix information; and

the first virtual tunnel router performing direct communication with the second virtual tunnel router through the established tunnel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of a message comprises:

the first virtual tunnel router transmitting a registration request message to the tunnel mapping controller; and

if the first virtual tunnel router is a virtual router not registered in the tunnel mapping controller, the first virtual tunnel router receiving a response message containing virtual network prefix information created from the first virtual tunnel router from the tunnel mapping controller.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising:

if the first virtual tunnel router is a pre-stored virtual tunnel router and the first virtual tunnel router has moved,

receiving an IP from a new virtual network to which the first virtual tunnel router has moved and registered;

the first virtual tunnel router connecting to the new virtual network using the received IP;

the first virtual tunnel router connected to the new virtual network, transmitting a registration and information update request message to the tunnel mapping controller; and

performing a tunnel creation procedure with virtual tunnel routers adjacent to the first virtual tunnel router.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the performing of the tunnel creation procedure comprises the first virtual tunnel router connected to the new virtual network receiving adjacent virtual tunnel router information from the tunnel mapping controller.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

if the first virtual tunnel router has not received a hole punching message from the second virtual tunnel router,

the first virtual tunnel router performing a tunneling process with the tunnel mapping controller; and

when a tunnel is established between the first virtual tunnel router and the tunnel mapping controller, the first virtual tunnel router connecting the received virtual network prefix information to the tunnel.

6. A communication method that provides end-to-end communication in a virtual network environment, the method comprising:

a tunnel mapping controller receiving a registration request message from a plurality of virtual tunnel routers;

checking whether information of the virtual tunnel router having transmitted the registration request message is pre-stored;

if the information of the virtual tunnel router is not registered, registering the information of the virtual tunnel router contained in the registration request message;

receiving a request from the virtual tunnel router to provide virtual network prefix information; and

creating a virtual network prefix for the virtual tunnel router having requested the virtual network prefix information and transmitting the same to enable direct communication between the virtual tunnel routers.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising:

if the information of the virtual tunnel router is registered, updating with the information of the virtual tunnel router contained in the registration request message; and

transmitting the updated information to a virtual tunnel router adjacent to the virtual tunnel router having transmitted the registration request message.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising,

after updating with the information of the virtual tunnel router,

transmitting information of the adjacent virtual tunnel router to the virtual tunnel router.

9. The method of claim 6, comprising:

after enabling direct communication,

upon receipt of a request for a tunneling procedure from any one of the plurality of virtual tunnel routers, performing a tunnel establishment procedure with the virtual tunnel router having requested the tunneling procedure; and

when a tunnel with the virtual tunnel router is established, controlling the virtual tunnel router and the adjacent virtual tunnel router to establish direct communication through the established tunnel.

10. A communication method that enables direct communication between a plurality of virtual tunnel routers including a first virtual tunnel router and a second virtual tunnel router by working in conjunction with a tunnel mapping controller, the method comprising:

the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router requesting virtual network prefix information from the tunnel mapping controller;

the tunnel mapping controller generating virtual network prefix information of the first virtual tunnel router and second virtual tunnel router, respectively, and transmitting the same along with information of a list of adjacent virtual tunnel routers;

the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router creating a tunnel; and

performing direct communication between the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router by linking the virtual network prefix information received by the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router, respectively.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising:

before requesting for the virtual prefix information,

the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router transmitting a registration request message to the tunnel mapping controller;

the tunnel mapping controller determining whether the first and second virtual tunnel routers are pre-stored virtual tunnel routers based on the transmitted registration request message; and

if the first and second virtual tunnel routers are not pre-stored virtual tunnel routers, the tunnel mapping controller storing information contained in the registration request message and registering the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the creating of a tunnel comprises:

the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router transmitting and receiving a hole punching message based on the information of a list of virtual tunnel routers;

determining whether the transmission and reception of the hole punching message between the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router are successful;

if any one of the virtual tunnel routers fails in the transmission and reception of the hole punching message, the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router each establishing a tunnel with the tunnel mapping controller; and

the first virtual tunnel router and the second virtual tunnel router each linking the received virtual network prefix information to the established tunnel.

13. The method of claim 10, comprising:

when the second virtual tunnel router moves after the performing of direct communication,

registering the second virtual tunnel router to a virtual network to which the second virtual tunnel router has moved, and receiving an IP from the virtual network;

the second virtual tunnel router transmitting a registration/information update request message containing the received IP to the tunnel mapping controller;

the tunnel mapping controller updating the information of the second virtual tunnel router with the virtual tunnel router information contained in the registration/information update request message;

the tunnel mapping controller searching for an adjacent virtual tunnel router having a tunnel established with the second virtual tunnel router; and

the tunnel mapping controller transmitting the updated virtual tunnel router information to the searched adjacent virtual tunnel router.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising,

after the transmitting of the updated virtual tunnel router information,

creating a tunnel between the second virtual tunnel router and the adjacent virtual tunnel router.