Mobile computer supporting system, its administrative server, its terminal, and address conversion method

• US 6,088,725 A
• Filed: 08/01/1997
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kondo, Takeshi, Hitaka, Daiji, Nakata, Yukio
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Le Hien
• Application Number:
  US08/905,085
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/220, 709/221, 709/222, 709/238, 709/245, 709/230, 455/433, 455/435, 370/329, 370/402, 370/349
• US Class Current: 709/220
• 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 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/162 involving adaptations of sockets based mechanisms secure socket layer H04L63/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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]

Abstract

A mobile computer supporting system realizes communication even when a communication protocol address is to be dynamically changed due to movement of the computer, or the like. When a PC has moved, it notifies an AMS of a changed present address together with its home address. The AMS stores the home address and present address of each terminal, so as to correspond to each other, into an address correspondence table. When a PC sends and receives information to and from the PC, a socket hook processing of the PC acquires the information when the home address of the PC is added to the information. The socket hook processing inquires of the AMS of the present address of the PC using the home address of the PC, converts the home address of the PC added with the information to the present address obtained by the inquiry, and sends the information after conversion to a socket processing.

Claims

1. A mobile computer supporting system comprising:

a first terminal which belongs to a first network as its home network;

a second terminal which belongs to a second network as its home network; and

an administration server provided with a storing means for storing a home address and a present address so as to correspond to each other, for each terminal, said home address being assigned when the terminal is connected to said home network and said present address being assigned when the terminal is connected to another network different from said home network;

said first terminal comprising;

notification means for notifying said administration server of said present address together with the home address of said first terminal, when said present address is assigned to said first terminal;

said second terminal comprising;

a protocol processing means for performing processing in accordance with a predetermined protocol when sending and receiving information to and from said second network;

an application program for sending and receiving information to and from said first terminal through said protocol processing means;

an acquiring means for acquiring information if the home address of said first terminal is added to said information, when said application program sends said information to said protocol processing means so that said information is sent to said first terminal through said protocol processing means;

an inquiry means for inquiring said administration server about the present address of said first terminal by using the home address of said first terminal, added to the acquired information acquired by said acquiring means, and for receiving a response on the present address of said first terminal from said administration server; and

a conversion means for converting the home address of said first terminal, added to the acquired information acquired by said acquiring means, to the present address of said first terminal, received by said inquiry means;

said acquiring means sending said acquired information, having the present address converted from the home address by said conversion means, to said protocol processing means; and

said administration server comprising;

a registration means for registering said present address in a present address storing area of said storing means corresponding to the home address of said first terminal, when notified of said present address by said notification means; and

a response means for sending the present address of said first terminal, which is stored in said storing means and corresponds to the home address of said first terminal, for responding to said inquiry means, when inquired by said inquiry means about the present address of said first terminal.

2. The mobile computer supporting system according to claim 1, wherein:

said second terminal further comprises a holding means for holding the present address of said first terminal, received by said inquiry means, in correspondence relation to the home address of said first terminal; and

said conversion means refers to said holding means to convert the home address of said first terminal, added to the acquired information acquired by said acquiring means, to the present address of said first terminal.

3. The mobile computer supporting system according to claim 1, wherein:

when the home address of said first terminal is not added to said acquired information, said acquiring means sends said acquired information as it is to said protocol processing means.

4. The mobile computer supporting system according to claim 1, wherein:

said notification means encrypts a predetermined authenticator by means of a predetermined encryption key, and adds said encrypted authenticator to perform said notification to said administration server; and

said registration means performs predetermined decryption of said encrypted authenticator by means of said predetermined encryption key, when there arises said notification added with said encrypted authenticator by said notification means, and performs said registration, judging said notification as a valid notification, when the decrypted authenticator accords with said predetermined authenticator.

5. The mobile computer supporting system according to claim 1, wherein:

said information means further notifies said response means of said administration server, of terminals which are allowed to receive a response to a inquiry about the present address of said first terminal when said inquiry is made by said inquiry means; and

said response means responds to an inquiry about the present address of said first terminal when said inquiry is made by said inquiry means of said terminals which are allowed to receive a response.

6. The mobile computer supporting system according to claim 1, wherein:

said administration server is provided for each of said first network and said second network.

7. The mobile computer supporting system according to claim 1, wherein:

said administration server is provided for each domain which is provided with a plurality of networks and which administrates said plurality of networks.

8. A terminal connected to an administration server which administrates a home address and a present address for each of a plurality of terminals, said home address being assigned when first connected to a network, said present address being assigned when connected to another network different from said network to which said each is first connected, and said connection to the administration server being made through said network;

comprising;

notification means for notifying said administration server of said present address together with the home address of said terminal, when said present address is assigned to said terminal;

a protocol processing means for performing processing in accordance with a predetermined protocol when sending and receiving information to and from said network;

an application program for sending and receiving information to and from another terminal through said protocol processing means;

an acquiring means for acquiring information if the home address of said another terminal is added to said information, when said application program sends said information to said protocol processing means so that said information is sent to said another terminal through said protocol processing means;

an inquiry means for inquiring said administration server about the present address of said another terminal by using the home address of said another terminal, added to the acquired information acquired by said acquiring means, and for receiving a response on the present address of said another terminal from said administration server; and

a conversion means for converting the home address of said another terminal, added to the acquired information acquired by said acquiring means, to the present address of said another terminal, received by said inquiry means; and

said acquiring means sending said acquired information, having the present address converted from the home address by said conversion means, to said protocol processing means.