Mobile migration communication control device

• US 5,845,079 A
• Filed: 04/19/1996
• Issued: 12/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Wada, Hiromi, Yozawa, Takashi, Ohnishi, Tatsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAH, ALPESH
• Application Number:
  US08/635,027
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 395/800.01, 395/200.53, 395/200.75, 395/200.76, 395/829, 395/838, 395/839, 370/254, 370/312, 370/338, 370/349, 370/351, 370/401, 370/432, 379/177, 379/185, 379/219, 379/271
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/25 of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2503 Translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/255 Maintenance or indexing of mapping tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5084 Providing for device mobility network addressing or numbering for mobility support in wireless networks H04W8/26; mobile IP H04W80/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0019 adapted for mobile IP [MIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

Disclosed is a migration communication control device constructed to control a continuous communication between a mobile node and a node unaffected the mobile node'"'"'s migration. The migration communication control device comprises a first migration control unit, a second migration control unit on the mobile node, and a third migration control unit on the partner node. The first migration control unit comprises a packet transfer unit and an address post unit. The packet transfer unit receives a packet which was destined for an outdated address of the mobile node, generates a conversion packet which holds an updated address instead of the outdated address, and then transmits the conversion packet, while an address post unit transmits an address post message which indicates the updated address to the third migration control unit. The second migration control unit comprises a migration post unit and a packet resumption unit. The migration post unit transmits to the first migration control unit a migration post message which indicates the updated address when the mobile node migrates to another network while a packet resumption unit receives the conversion packet from both the first migration control unit and the third migration control unit and resumes an original packet from the conversion packet. The third migration control unit comprises a packet conversion unit which converts a destination address of a packet into the updated address, then transmits it to the mobile node.

Claims

1. A mobile communication control device for controlling a communication between a mobile node and a partner node, the mobile node migrating across networks and obtaining an address assigned on each network, the partner node being a communication partner of the mobile node, the mobile communication control device comprising a first migration control unit and a second migration control unit, the first migration control unit being placed on either of a gateway and a node, the gateway connecting the networks, the second migration control unit being placed on the mobile node, wherein the first migration control unit comprises:

address hold means for holding a pre-migration address and a migration-destination address, the pre-migration address being an address assigned to the mobile node while the mobile node is connected to a network to which the first migration control unit is also connected, and the migration-destination address being an address assigned to the mobile node on a migration-destination network to which the mobile node migrates; and

packet transfer means for receiving a packet destined for the pre-migration address, generating from the packet destined for the pre-migration address a conversion packet destined for the migration-destination address, and transmitting the conversion packet, wherein the second migration control unit comprises;

migration post means for, when the mobile node migrates, transmitting to the first migration control unit a migration post message which indicates the migration-destination address of the mobile node; and

packet restore means for receiving the conversion packet from the first migration control unit and restoring the conversion packet to an original packet destined for the pre-migration address, and

wherein the address hold means, after receiving the migration post message from the migration post means, holds the migration-destination address indicated by the migration post message by relating the migration-destination address to the pre-migration address.

2. The mobile communication control device of claim 1, wherein the migration post means in the second migration control unit transmits an identification key included in the migration post message, the identification key being used to identify the mobile node and being one of a pre-migration address for a last migration of the mobile node and a pre-migration address for a first migration of the mobile node.

3. The mobile communication control device of claim 1, wherein the second migration control unit further comprises:

self address hold means for holding the pre-migration address and the migration-destination address; and

address comparison means for comparing a destination address of the packet transmitted from the first migration control unit with the migration-destination address, wherein the packet restore means receives the conversion packet which is transmitted from the first migration control unit, and restores the conversion packet to the original packet only if the address comparison means judges that the destination address matches the migration-destination address.

4. A mobile communication control device for controlling a communication between a mobile node and a partner node, the mobile node migrating across networks and obtaining an address assigned on each network, the partner node being a communication partner of the mobile node, the mobile communication control device comprising a plurality of first migration control units and a second migration control unit, the second migration control unit being placed on the mobile node, wherein each of the plurality of first migration control units comprises:

address hold means for holding a pre-migration address and a migration-destination address, the migration-destination address being an address assigned to the mobile node on a migration-destination network to which the mobile node migrates; and

packet transfer means for receiving a packet destined for the pre-migration address, generating from the packet destined for the pre-migration address a conversion packet destined for the migration-destination address, and transmitting the conversion packet, wherein the second migration control unit comprises;

migration post means for, when the mobile node migrates, transmitting to at least one of the plurality of first migration control units a migration post message which indicates the migration-destination address of the mobile node; and

packet restore means for receiving the conversion packet from the one of the plurality of first migration control units and restoring the conversion packet to an original packet destined for the pre-migration address, and

wherein the address hold means, after receiving the migration post message from the migration post means, holds the migration-destination address indicated by the migration post message by relating the migration-destination address to the pre-migration address.

5. The mobile communication control device of claim 4, wherein the pre-migration address is a home address of the mobile node, the home address being an address assigned to the mobile node on a home network which is unique to the mobile node.

6. The mobile communication control device of claim 4, wherein the pre-migration address is a preceding address of the mobile node, the preceding address being an address assigned to the mobile address on a network to which the mobile node was connected immediately before the mobile node migrated last.

7. The mobile communication control device of claim 4, wherein the migration post means transmits to one of the plurality of first migration control units to which the mobile node was once connected, wherein at least one of the plurality of first migration control units comprises:

spread means for, on receiving the migration post message from the second migration control unit, transmitting another migration post message, which indicates the same migration-destination address as an original migration post message indicates, to another one of the plurality of first migration control units.

8. The mobile communication control device of claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of first migration control units further comprises:

re-spread means for, on receiving the migration post message from the one of the plurality of first migration control units having the spread means, transmitting another migration post message, which indicates the same migration-destination address as an original migration post message indicates, to another one of the plurality of first migration control units.

9. The mobile communication control device of claim 8, wherein each of the first migration control unit having the spread means, the first migration control unit having the re-spread means, and the second migration control unit further comprises:

pointer hold means for holding a pointer pointing one of the plurality of first migration control units which is a destination of the migration post message,

wherein each of the spread means, the re-spread means, and the migration post means transmits the migration post message to the destination which is one of the plurality of first migration control units pointed by the pointer.

10. The mobile communication control device of claim 9, wherein the pointer hold means of the second migration control unit holds a pointer pointing one of the plurality of first migration control units which is connected to a current network of the mobile node, the current network being a network to which the mobile node is connected after the mobile node migrated last.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 9, wherein each pointer is a broadcast address of a network to which one of the plurality of first migration control units is connected.

12. The mobile communication control device of claim 9, wherein each pointer is an address unique to one of the plurality of first migration control units.

13. The mobile communication control device of claim 9, wherein each pointer is an address of the mobile node assigned on a network to which the mobile node was once connected, wherein each of the spread means, the re-spread means, and the migration post means obtains a broadcast address of a network based on the address of the mobile node and transmits the migration post message destined for the obtained broadcast address.

14. The mobile communication control device of claim 9, wherein the pointer hold means of the second migration control unit holds a pointer pointing a preceding control unit, which is one of the plurality of first migration control units and is connected to a network to which the mobile node was connected immediately before the mobile node migrated last, wherein the pointer hold means of each of the first migration control units respectively having the spread means and the re-spread means holds a pointer pointing a pre-migration control unit which is one of the plurality of first migration control units which is connected to a network to which the mobile node was connected immediately before the mobile node is connected to a network to which each of the first migration control units respectively having the spread means and the re-spread means is connected.

15. The mobile communication control device of claim 9, wherein the migration post means of the second migration control unit transmits a pointer to be held by one of the plurality of first migration control units to the first migration control unit itself by using the migration post message.

16. The mobile communication control device of claim 15, wherein the first migration control unit, on receiving the migration post message with the pointer from the second migration control unit, further allows the pointer hold means to hold the pointer by relating the pointer to the migration-destination address.

17. The mobile communication control device of claim 8, wherein each of the first migration control units having at least one of the spread means and the re-spread means further comprises

an address hold means for holding the pre-migration address and the migration-destination address by relating them to one another, wherein the spread means, on receiving the migration post message from the second migration control unit, stores the pre-migration address and the migration-destination address by relating them to one another, wherein the re-spread means, on receiving the migration post message from one of the plurality of first migration control units, judges whether the pre-migration address in the received migration post message matches the migration-destination address held in the address hold means, then replaces the migration-destination address in the address hold means by the migration-destination address in the received migration post message if the re-spread means judges that they match.

18. The mobile communication control device of claim 4, wherein at least one of the plurality of first migration control units further comprises:

packet transfer prevent means for preventing the packet transfer means from transferring the packet.

19. The mobile communication control device of claim 18, wherein the second migration control unit further comprises:

judge means for judging whether the packet transfer prevent means in a network, to which the mobile node is currently connected, is currently in a state of preventing the packet transfer means from transferring the packet, wherein the migration post means of the second migration control unit transmits to the home migration control unit the migration post message that includes the migration-destination address and a flag indicating whether the packet transfer prevent means is currently in a state of preventing the packet transfer means from transferring the packet, wherein the home migration post means of the home migration control unit transmits to the preceding control unit the migration post message that includes the migration-destination address and a flag indicating whether the packet transfer means is currently in a state of preventing the packet transfer means from transferring the packet.

20. The mobile communication control device of claim 19, wherein the packet transfer prevent means of the preceding control unit prevents the packet transfer means of the preceding control unit from transferring the packet if the packet transfer prevent means in the network, to which the mobile node is currently connected, is currently in the state of preventing the packet transfer means from transferring the packet.

21. A mobile communication control device for controlling a communication between a mobile node and a partner node, the mobile node migrating across networks and obtaining an address assigned on each network while the partner node being a communication partner of the mobile node, the mobile communication control device comprising a plurality of first migration control units and a second migration control unit, the second migration control unit being placed on the mobile node, wherein each of the plurality of first migration control units comprises:

address hold means for holding a pre-migration address and a migration-destination address, the migration-destination address being an address assigned to the mobile node on a migration-destination network to which the mobile node migrates; and

packet transfer means for receiving a packet destined for the pre-migration address, generating from the packet destined for the pre-migration address a conversion packet destined for the migration-destination address, and transmitting the conversion packet, wherein the second migration control unit comprises;

migration post means for, when the mobile node migrates, transmitting to a home migration control unit a migration post message which indicates the migration-destination address of the mobile node, the home migration control unit being one of the plurality of first migration control units connected to a network to which the mobile node was connected before the mobile node migrated first; and

packet restore means for receiving the conversion packet from one of the plurality of first migration control units and restoring the conversion packet to an original packet destined for the pre-migration address, wherein the packet transfer means, after receiving the migration post message from the migration post means, starts generating the conversion packet, wherein the home migration control unit further comprises;

home migration post means for, on receiving the migration post message from the second migration control unit, transmitting another migration post message, which indicates the same migration-destination address as an original migration post message indicates, to a preceding control unit which is one of the plurality of first migration control units which is connected to a network to which the mobile node was connected immediately before the mobile node migrated last.

22. The mobile communication control device of claim 21, wherein the pre-migration address is a home address of the mobile node, the home address being an address assigned to the mobile node on a home network which is unique to the mobile node.

23. The mobile communication control device of claim 21, wherein the pre-migration address is a preceding address of the mobile node, the preceding address being an address assigned to the mobile address on a network to which the mobile node was connected immediately before the mobile node migrated last.

24. The mobile communication control device of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of first migration control units comprises:

inter-network migration post means for, when the packet transfer means receives a packet destined for the pre-migration address transmitted from another one of the plurality of first migration control units, transmitting, to the first migration control unit that has sent the packet, the migration post message indicating the migration-destination address.

25. The mobile communication control device of claim 21, wherein the second migration control unit further comprises:

home pointer hold means for holding a pointer pointing the home migration control unit which is a destination of the migration post message, wherein the migration post means transmits the migration post message to the destination which is the home migration control unit, wherein the home migration control unit further comprises;

preceding pointer hold means for holding a pointer pointing the preceding control unit which is a destination of the migration post message, wherein the home migration post means transmits the migration post message to the destination which is the preceding control unit.

26. The mobile communication control device of claim 25, wherein the pointer held by the home pointer hold means is either of a broadcast address of a network to which the home migration control unit is connected, and an address unique to the home migration control unit, wherein the pointer held by the preceding pointer hold means is either of a broadcast address of a network to which the preceding control unit is connected, and an address unique to the preceding control unit.

27. The mobile communication control device of claim 25, wherein the second migration control unit further comprises:

pointer acquire means for acquiring the pointer pointing the preceding control unit, wherein the migration post means of the second migration control unit transmits to the home migration control unit the migration post message that includes the pointer pointing the preceding control unit as well as the migration-destination address.

28. The mobile communication control device of claim 27, wherein the migration post means of the second migration control unit transmits to the home migration control unit the pointer pointing the preceding control unit at a migration of the mobile node before last and transmits the migration-destination address when the mobile node migrates last.

29. The mobile communication control device of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of first migration control units further comprises:

packet transfer prevent means for preventing the packet transfer means from transferring the packet.

30. The mobile communication control device of claim 29, wherein the second migration control unit further comprises:

judge means for judging whether the packet transfer prevent means in a network, to which the mobile node is currently connected, is currently in a state of preventing the packet transfer means from transferring the packet, wherein the migration post means of the second migration control unit transmits to the home migration control unit the migration post message that includes the migration-destination address and a flag indicating whether the packet transfer prevent means is currently in a state of preventing the packet transfer means from transferring the packet, wherein the home migration post means of the home migration control unit transmits to the preceding control unit the migration post message that includes the migration-destination address and a flag indicating whether the packet transfer prevent means is currently in a state of preventing the packet transfer means from transferring the packet.

31. The mobile communication control device of claim 30, wherein the packet transfer prevent means of the preceding control unit prevents the packet transfer means of the preceding control unit from transferring the packet if the packet transfer prevent means in the network, to which the mobile node is currently connected, is currently in the state of preventing the packet transfer means from transferring the packet.

32. A mobile communication control device for controlling a communication between a mobile node and a partner node, the mobile node migrating across networks and obtaining an address assigned on each network, the partner node being a communication partner of the mobile node, the mobile communication control device comprising a plurality of first migration control units and a second migration control unit, the second migration control unit being placed on the mobile node, wherein each of the plurality of first migration control units comprises:

address hold means for holding a pre-migration address and a migration-destination address, the migration-destination address being an address assigned to the mobile node on a migration-destination network to which the mobile node migrates, and packet transfer means for the receiving a packet destined for the pre-migration address, generating from the packet destined for the pre-migration address a conversion packet destined for the migration-destination address, and transmitting the conversion packet, wherein the second migration control unit comprises;

migration post means for, when the mobile node migrates, transmitting to a home migration control unit a migration post message which indicates the migration-destination address of the mobile node, the home migration control unit being one of the plurality of first migration control units connected to a network to which the mobile node was connected before the mobile node migrated first;

packet restore means for receiving the conversion packet from one of the plurality of first migration control units and restoring the conversion packet to an original packet destined for the pre-migration address; and

preceding address post means for transmitting to a preceding control unit a preceding address post message that includes the home address related to a preceding address of the mobile node, the preceding address being an address assigned to the mobile address on a network to which the mobile node was connected immediately before the mobile node migrated last, wherein the preceding control unit is one of the plurality of first migration control units which is connected to a network to which the mobile node was connected immediately before the mobile node migrated last, wherein the packet transfer means, after receiving the migration post message from the migration post means, starts generating the conversion packet, wherein the home migration control unit further comprises;

home migration post means for, on receiving the migration post message from the second migration control unit, transmitting another migration post message, which indicates the same migration-destination address as an original migration post message indicates, to the preceding control unit, wherein the home migration post means of the home migration control unit transmits to the preceding control unit the migration post message that includes the home address related to the migration-destination address, wherein the packet transfer means of the p transmits the conversion packet based on the pre-migration address and the migration-destination address which are related to one another via the home address.

33. The mobile communication control device of claim 32, wherein the preceding address post means of the second migration control unit transmits the preceding address post message at a migration of the mobile node before last, wherein the home migration post means and the address post means of the home migration control unit transmits respectively the migration post message when the mobile node migrates last.

34. A mobile communication control device for controlling a communication between a mobile node and a partner node, the mobile node migrating across networks and obtaining an address assigned on each network, the partner node being a communication partner of the mobile node, the mobile communication control device comprising a first migration control unit, a second migration control unit, and a third migration control unit, the first migration control unit being placed on either of a gateway and a node, the gateway connecting the networks, the second migration control unit being placed on the mobile node, and the third migration control unit being placed on the partner node, wherein the first migration control unit comprises:

address hold means for holding a pre-migration address and a migration-destination address, the pre-migration address being an address assigned to the mobile node while the mobile node is connected to a network to which the first migration control unit is also connected, and the migration-destination address being an address assigned to the mobile node on a migration-destination network to which the mobile node migrates; and

packet transfer means for receiving a packet destined for the pre-migration address, generating from the packet destined for the pre-migration address a conversion packet destined for the migration-destination address, and transmitting the conversion packet, wherein the second migration control unit comprises;

migration post means for, when the mobile node migrates, transmitting to the first migration control unit a migration post message which indicates the migration-destination address of the mobile node; and

packet restore means for receiving the conversion packet from one of the first migration control unit and the third migration control unit and restoring the conversion packet to an original packet destined for the pre-migration address, wherein the third migration control unit comprises;

address acquire means for acquiring the migration-destination address of the mobile node; and

packet convert means for generating from the packet destined for the pre-migration address a conversion packet destined for the migration-destination address which is acquired by the address acquire means, wherein the address hold means holds the migration-destination address related to the pre-migration address included in the migration post message from the mobile node.

35. The mobile communication control device of claim 34, wherein the address acquire means acquires the migration-destination address from the migration post message received from the mobile node.

36. The mobile communication control device of claim 34, wherein the migration post means in the second migration control unit transmits an identification key included in the migration post message, the identification key being used to identify the mobile node and being one of a pre-migration address for a last migration of the mobile node and a pre-migration address for a first migration of the mobile node.

37. The mobile communication control device of claim 34, wherein the second migration control unit further comprises:

self address hold means for holding the pre-migration address and the migration-destination address; and

address comparison means for comparing a destination address of the packet transmitted from the first migration control unit with the migration-destination address, wherein the packet restore means receives the conversion packet which is transmitted from the first migration control unit, and restores the conversion packet to the original packet only if the address comparison means judges that the destination address matches the migration-destination address.

38. A mobile communication control device for controlling a communication between a mobile node and a partner node, the mobile node migrating across networks and obtaining an address assigned on each network, the partner node being a communication partner of the mobile node, the mobile communication control device comprising a plurality of first migration control units, a second migration control unit, and a third migration control unit, the second migration control unit being placed on the mobile node, and the third migration control unit being placed on the partner node, wherein each of the plurality of first migration control units comprises:

address hold means for holding a pre-migration address and a migration-destination address, the migration-destination address being an address assigned to the mobile node on a migration-destination network to which the mobile node migrates; and

packet transfer means for receiving a packet destined for the pre-migration address, generating from the packet destined for the pre-migration address a conversion packet destined for the migration-destination address, and transmitting the conversion packet, wherein the second migration control unit comprises;

migration post means for, when the mobile node migrates, transmitting to at least one of the plurality of first migration control units a migration post message which indicates the migration-destination address of the mobile node; and

packet restore means for receiving the conversion packet from either of one of the plurality of first migration control units and the third migration control unit and restoring the conversion packet to an original packet destined for the pre-migration address, wherein the third migration control unit comprises;

address acquire means for acquiring the migration-destination address of the mobile node; and

packet convert means for generating from the packet destined for the pre-migration address a conversion packet destined for the migration-destination address acquired by the address acquire means, wherein the address hold means holds the migration-destination address related to the pre-migration address included in the migration post message from the mobile node.

39. The mobile communication control device of claim 38, wherein the pre-migration address is a home address of the mobile node, the home address being an address assigned to the mobile node on a home network which is unique to the mobile node.

40. The mobile communication control device of claim 38, wherein the pre-migration address is a preceding address of the mobile node, the preceding address being an address assigned to the mobile address on a network to which the mobile node was connected immediately before the mobile node migrated last.

41. The mobile communication control device of claim 38, wherein the address acquire means acquires the migration-destination address from the migration post message received from the mobile node.

42. The mobile communication control device of claim 38, wherein each of the plurality of first migration control units comprises:

inter-network migration post means for, when the packet transfer means receives a packet destined for the pre-migration address transmitted from another one of the plurality of first migration control units, transmitting, to the first migration control unit that has sent the packet, the migration post message indicating the migration-destination address.

43. The mobile communication control device on claim 38, wherein the migration post means of the second migration control unit transmits to the home migration control unit the migration post message that includes a home address related to the migration-destination address, the home address being an address assigned to the mobile node when the mobile node is connected to a network to which the home migration control unit is connected, wherein the packet transfer means of the home migration control unit transmits the conversion packet based on the home address and the migration-destination address.

44. The mobile communication control device of claim 38, wherein at least one of the plurality of first migration control units further comprises:

packet transfer prevent means for preventing the packet transfer means from transferring the packet.

45. The mobile communication control device of claim 44, wherein the second migration control unit further comprises:

judge means for judging whether the packet transfer prevent means in a network, to which the mobile node is currently connected, is currently in a state of preventing the packet transfer means from transferring the packet, wherein the migration post means of the second migration control unit transmits to the home migration control unit the migration post message that includes the migration-destination address and a flag indicating whether the packet transfer prevent means is currently in a state of preventing the packet transfer means from transferring the packet, wherein the home migration post means of the home migration control unit transmits to the preceding control unit the migration post message that includes the migration-destination and a flag indicating whether the packet transfer prevent means is currently in a state of preventing the packet transfer means from transferring the packet.

46. The mobile communication control device of claim 45, wherein the packet transfer prevent means of the preceding control unit prevents the packet transfer means of the preceding control unit from transferring the packet if the packet transfer prevent means in the network, to which the mobile node is currently connected, is currently in the state of preventing the packet transfer means from transferring the packet.