COMMUNICATION DEVICE, COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATION METHOD

• US 20170237603A1
• Filed: 08/17/2015
• Published: 08/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: IMAI, Kiyotaka
• Granted Patent: US 10,536,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/026 using flow identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0823 Errors, e.g. transmission errors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/555 Error detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A communication device has a configuration including a data analysis unit 1, a communication monitoring unit 2, and a management information transmission unit 3. The data analysis unit 1 extracts predetermined information from each of a plurality of packets input to the own device, analyzes the predetermined information of the plurality of packets, and generates information relating to a characteristic of each flow of the packets, as flow management information. The communication monitoring unit 2 detects that an abnormality occurs in communication of packets in a communication network to which the own device is connected. When the abnormality detection unit 2 detects the abnormality, the management information transmission unit 3 transmits predetermined information already extracted from a predetermined packet input before the detection of the abnormality, as information for generating the flow management information expected to be generated by the own device, to a standby-system device.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

a data analysis unit configured to extract predetermined information from each of a plurality of packets input to an own device, analyzes the predetermined information of the plurality of packets, and generating information relating to a characteristic of each flow of the packets, as flow management information;

a communication monitoring unit configured to detect that an abnormality occurs in communication of the packets in a communication network to which the own device is connected; and

a management information transmission unit configured to transmit, when the communication monitoring unit detects the abnormality, the predetermined information already extracted from the predetermined packet input before the detection of the abnormality, as information for generating the flow management information expected to be generated by the own device, to a standby-system device.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein, when transmitting the predetermined information already extracted from the predetermined packet, the management information transmission unit also transmits the flow management information on an already analyzed flow.

6. A communication system comprising:

a first relay device that is the communication device according to claim 1; and

a second relay device comprising;

a management information reception unit configured to receive, from another device, predetermined information extracted from a packet by the another device;

a packet information extraction unit configured to extract the predetermined information from a plurality of packets input to an own device; and

a flow information generation unit configured to extract generate, from the predetermined information received from the another device and the predetermined information extracted by the packet information extraction unit, information relating to a characteristic of each flow of packets, as flow management information, wherein,

when the communication monitoring unit in the first relay device detects an abnormality when the first relay device is used as an active system, the predetermined information extracted by the first relay device is transmitted from the first relay device to the second relay device.

3. A communication device comprising:

a management information reception unit configured to receive, from another device, predetermined information extracted from a packet by the another device;

a packet information extraction unit configured to extract the predetermined information from a plurality of packets input to an own device; and

a flow information generation unit configured to extract generate, from the predetermined information received from the another device and the predetermined information extracted by the packet information extraction unit, information relating to a characteristic of each flow of packets, as flow management information.

4. The communication device according to claim 3, further comprising transmission request unit that transmits, when detecting the packet being input to the own device before the management information reception unit receives the predetermined information from the another device, a signal requesting for transmission of a predetermined packet to a transmission source of the packet.

5. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein the management information reception unit further includes,

a communication control unit configured to use the flow management information generated by the own device and the already analyzed flow management information received from the another device in controlling communication of the packet, when receiving flow management information already analyzed by the another device as well as the predetermined information.

7. A communication method comprising:

extracting predetermined information from each of a plurality of packets input to a first communication device, analyzing the predetermined information of the plurality of packets, and generating information relating to a characteristic of each flow of the packets, as flow management information;

detecting that an abnormality occurs in communication of the packets in a communication network to which the first communication device is connected; and

transmitting, when the abnormality is detected, the predetermined information already extracted from the predetermined packet input before the detection of the abnormality, as information for generating the flow management information expected to be generated by the first communication device, to a second communication device as a standby-system.

8. The communication method according to claim 7, wherein, when the predetermined information already extracted from the predetermined packet is transmitted, the flow management information on an already analyzed flow is also transmitted.

9. The communication method according to claim 7, wherein

the transmitted predetermined information is received by the second communication device;

the predetermined information is extracted from a plurality of packets input to the second communication device; and

information relating to a characteristic of each flow of the packets is generated as second flow management information, from the predetermined information received by the second communication device and the predetermined information extracted from the packets input to the first communication device.

10. The communication method according to claim 9, wherein the second communication device transmits, when detecting the packet input to the first communication device before receiving the predetermined information, a signal requesting for transmission of a predetermined packet to a transmission source of the packet.

11. The communication method according to claim 9, wherein, when receiving the already analyzed flow management information as well as the predetermined information,

the second communication device uses the second flow management information generated by the first communication device and the received flow management information in controlling communication of the packets.

12. The communication method according to claim 7, wherein,

receiving, from the first communication device, predetermined information extracted from a packet by the first communication device;

extracting the predetermined information from a plurality of packets input to the second communication device; and

generating, from the predetermined information received from the first communication device and the predetermined information extracted from the packets input to the second communication device, information relating to a characteristic of each flow of the packets, as flow management information.

13. The communication method according to claim 12, wherein, when detecting the packet input to the second communication device before receiving the predetermined information from the first communication device, a signal requesting for transmission of a predetermined packet is transmitted to a transmission source of the packet.

14. The communication method according to claim 12, wherein, when receiving flow management information already analyzed by the first communication device as well as the predetermined information,

the flow management information generated by the second communication device and the flow management information received from the another device are used in controlling communication of the packets.