Mobile node, mobile agent and network system

• US 6,172,986 B1
• Filed: 05/07/1998
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Watanuki, Tatsuya, Oura, Tetsuo, Sawada, Sunao
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): VANDERPUYE, KENNETH N
• Application Number:
  US09/073,857
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 370/465, 370/466, 370/401, 370/392, 370/402, 370/467, 707/7, 707/104, 709/249
• US Class Current: 370/466
• 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 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/167 Adaptation for transition between two IP versions, e.g. between IPv4 and IPv6 translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses H04L61/2503
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/045 involving different protocol versions, e.g. MIPv4 and MIPv6

Abstract

A mobile node moves from a first IP (Internet Protocol) network to a second IP network in a network system in which the first IP network capable of executing communication in accordance with both first and second kinds of IPs and the second IP network capable of executing communication in accordance with only the first kind of IP are connected with each other. When the mobile node communicates a message with other nodes on the first network after its movement accordance with the second kind of IP, a header for the movement containing both home and foreign addresses of the first kind in IP is added to a header containing home and foreign addresses in the second kind of IP, and put to the message, is added. The message to which the movement header is thus added is used for the communication between a first mobile agent on the first network and a second mobile agent on the second network, or between the mobile node and the first mobile agent.

Claims

1. A mobile node moving between IP (Internet Protocol) networks, comprising:

IPv4 (Internet Protocol version

     4) processing means for executing services in accordance with said IPv4;

IPv6 (Internet Protocol version

     6) processing means for executing services in accordance with said IPv6;

communication processing means for executing transmission/reception control of packets to and from said networks; and

movement registration processing means for adding an IPv4 header (an IP header used for said IPv4), in which an IPv4 address of a mobile agent is set as a foreign address and an IPv4 address of said mobile node usable in a foreign IPv4 network is set as a home address, to a message used for said IPv6 so as to register the movement of said mobile node to said mobile agent connected to an IPv4/v6 network (a network capable of executing communication by utilizing both of said IPv4 and said IPv6) for assisting the movement of said mobile node when said mobile node moves from said IPv4/v6 network to an IPv4 network (a network capable of executing communication by utilizing only said IPv4), and transmitting said message.

7. A mobile node according to claim 1, wherein said mobile node moves from said IPv4/v6 network to said IPv4 network in a network system in which said IPv4/v6 network and said IPv4 network are connected with each other by a connecting device or by said connecting device and a third network.

2. A mobile node moving between networks, comprising:

IPv4 (Internet Protocol version

     4) processing means for executing services in accordance with said IPv4;

IPv6 (Internet Protocol version

     6) processing means for executing services in accordance with said IPv6;

communication processing means for executing transmission/reception control of packets to and from said networks; and

packet transmission processing means for generating an IPv4 encapsulated IPv6 packet by adding an IPv4 header, in which an IPv4 address of a mobile agent on an IPv4/v6 network is set as a foreign address and an IPv4 address of said mobile node usable for a foreign IPv4 network is set as a home address, to an IPv6 packet (a packet used for said IPv6) transmitted from said mobile node to other nodes when said mobile node moves from said IPv4/v6 network to said IPv4 network, and transmitting said IPv4 encapsulated IPv6 packet.

3. A mobile node moving between networks, comprising:

IPv4 (Internet Protocol version

     4) processing means for executing services in accordance with said IPv4;

IPv6 (Internet Protocol version

     6) processing means for executing services in accordance with said IPv6;

communication processing means for executing transmission/reception control of packets to and from said networks;

movement detection means for detecting whether or not said mobile node moves from the network in which a mobile agent used by said mobile node to another IPv4 network or to an IPv6 network (a network capable of executing communication by utilizing only said IPv6) or to an IPv4/v6 network; and

movement status management means for managing the movement status so detected.

4. A mobile agent for assisting the movement of a mobile node executing communication by utilizing an IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6), comprising:

IPv4 (Internet Protocol version

     4) processing means for executing services in accordance with said IPv4;

IPv6 processing means for executing services in accordance with said IPv6;

communication processing means for executing transmission/reception control of packets to and from networks;

mobile node management means for managing IPv4 addresses of said mobile node usable in a foreign IPv4 network, when receiving a message used for said IPv6 for registering the movement, which said message is transmitted by said mobile node that has moved to said IPv4 network to said mobile agent, and to which an IPv4 header is added; and

movement assistance processing means for adding said IPv4 header, in which an IPv4 address of said mobile node usable in said foreign IPv4 network is set as a foreign address and the IPv4 address of said mobile agent is set as a home address, to a message used for said IPv6 for permitting registration of the movement to said mobile node, and transmitting said message.

5. A mobile agent for assisting the movement of a node executing communication by utilizing an IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6), comprising:

IPv4 (Internet Protocol version

     4) processing means for executing services in accordance with said IPv4;

IPv6 processing means for executing services in accordance with said IPv6;

communication processing means for executing transmission/reception control of packets to and from networks; and

transfer-to-other node processing means for removing an IPv4 header when receiving an IPv4 encapsulated IPv6 packet transmitted by a mobile node, and transmitting again said IPv6 packet so taken out to said network.

6. A mobile agent for assisting the movement of a node executing communication by utilizing an IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6), comprising:

IPv4 (Internet Protocol version

     4) processing means for executing services in accordance with said IPv4;

IPv6 processing means for executing services in accordance with said IPv6;

communication processing means for executing transmission/reception control of packets to and from networks; and

transfer-to-mobile node processing means for generating an IPv4 encapsulated IPv6 packet by adding an IPv4 header, in which an IPv4 address of a mobile node usable in a foreign IPv4 network is set as a foreign IPv4 address and an IPv4 address of said mobile agent is set as a home IPv4 address, to a received IPv6 packet when said transfer-to-mobile node processing means receives said IPv6 packet transmitted by another node to said mobile node that has moved to said IPv4 network, and transmitting said IPv4 encapsulated IPv6 packet.

8. A method of controlling a mobile node by a mobile agent in a network system in which a first IP (Internet Protocol) network capable of executing communication in accordance with first and second kinds of IPs and a second IP network capable of executing communication in accordance with only said first kind of IP are connected with each other, so that said mobile node capable of executing communication in accordance with said second kind of IP can communicate with other nodes belonging to said first IP network in accordance with said second kind of IP when said mobile node moves from said first IP network to said second IP network, comprising the steps of:

adding a first kind of IP header in which an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of a second mobile agent belonging to said second IP network is set as a foreign address by a first mobile agent belonging to said first IP network and an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of said first mobile agent is set as a home address, to an IP packet in accordance with said second kind of IP, transmitted from said other nodes to said mobile node, and transmitting said IP packet to said second mobile agent; and

deleting said first kind of IP header by said second mobile agent and transmitting said IP packet to said mobile node.

9. A method of controlling a mobile node by a mobile agent in a network system in which a first IP (Internet Protocol) network capable of executing communication in accordance with first and second kinds of IPs and a second IP network capable of executing communication in accordance with only said first kind of IP, so that said mobile node capable of executing communication in accordance with said second kind of IP can communicate with other nodes belonging to said first IP network in accordance with said second kind of IP when said mobile node moves from said first IP network to said second IP network, comprising the steps of:

adding a second kind of an IP header, in which an IP address, in accordance with said second kind of IP, of said mobile node relating to said second IP network is set as a foreign address by a first mobile agent belonging to said first IP network and an IP address, in accordance with said second kind of IP, of said first mobile agent is set as a home address, to an IP packet, in accordance with said second kind of IP, transmitted from said other nodes to said mobile node, adding further a first kind of IP header, in which an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of said second mobile agent belonging to said second IP network is set as a foreign address and an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of said first mobile agent is set as a home address, and transmitting said packet to said second mobile agent; and

deleting said first kind of said IP header by said second mobile agent and transmitting said IP packet to said mobile node.

10. A method of controlling a mobile node by a mobile agent in a network system in which a first IP (Internet Protocol) network capable of executing communication in accordance with first and second kinds of IPs and a second IP network capable of executing communication in accordance with only said first kind of IP are connected with each other, so that said mobile node capable of executing communication in accordance with said second kind of IP can communicate with other nodes belonging to said first IP network in accordance with said second kind of IP when said mobile node moves from said first IP network to said second IP network, comprising the steps of:

adding a first kind of an IP header, in which an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of a first mobile agent belonging to said first IP network is set as a foreign address by a second mobile agent belonging to said second IP network and an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of said second mobile agent is set as a home address, to an IP packet in accordance with said second kind of IP transmitted from said mobile node to said other node, and transmitting said IP packet to said first mobile agent; and

deleting said first kind of IP header by said first mobile agent and transmitting said IP packet to said other node.

11. A method of controlling a mobile node by a mobile agent in a network system in which a first IP (Internet Protocol) network capable of executing communication in accordance with first and second kinds of IPs and a second IP network capable of executing communication in accordance with only said first kind of IP, so that said mobile node capable of executing communication in accordance with said second kind of IP can communicate with other nodes belonging to said first IP network in accordance with said second kind of IP when said mobile node moves from said first IP network to said second IP network, comprising the steps of:

adding a first kind of an IP header, in which an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of a first mobile agent belonging to said first IP network is set as a foreign address by a second mobile agent belonging to said second IP network and an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of said second mobile agent is set as a home address, to a movement registration request message in accordance with said second kind of IP received from said mobile node, and transmitting said message to said first mobile agent;

adding a first kind of an IP header, in which an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of said second mobile agent is set as a foreign address by said first mobile agent and an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of said first mobile agent is set as a home address, to a message in accordance with said second kind of IP for permitting the movement, and transmitting said message to said second mobile agent; and

deleting said first kind of said IP header by said second mobile agent and transmitting said message to said mobile node.

12. A network system for controlling a mobile node and assisting the movement of said mobile node by a mobile agent, in which a first IP (Internet Protocol) network capable of executing communication in accordance with first and second kinds of IPs and a second IP network capable of executing communication in accordance with only said first kind of IP are connected with each other, so that said mobile node capable of executing communication in accordance with said second kind of IP can communicate with other nodes belonging to said first IP network in accordance with said second kind of IP when said mobile node moves from said first IP network to said second IP network, comprising:

a first mobile agent for adding a first kind of an IP header, in which an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of a second mobile agent belonging to said second IP network is set as a foreign address and an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of said first mobile agent belonging to said first IP network is set as a home address, to an IP packet in accordance with said second kind of IP transmitted from said other node to said mobile node and transmitting said IP packet to said second mobile agent; and

said second mobile agent for deleting said first kind of said IP header and transmitting said IP packet to said mobile node.

13. A network system for controlling a mobile node and assisting the movement of said mobile node by a mobile agent, in which a first IP (Internet Protocol) network capable of executing communication in accordance with first and second kinds of IPs and a second IP network capable of executing communication in accordance with only said first kind of IP are connected with each other, so that said mobile node capable of executing communication in accordance with said second kind of IP can communicate with other nodes belonging to said first IP network in accordance with said second kind of IP when said mobile node moves from said first IP network to said second IP network, comprising:

a first mobile agent for adding a second kind of an IP header, in which an IP address, in accordance with said second kind of IP, of a first mobile node relating to said first IP network is set as a foreign address and an IP address, in accordance with said second kind of IP, of said first mobile agent belonging to said first IP network is set as a home address, to an IP packet in accordance with said second kind of IP transmitted from said other node to said mobile node, adding further a first kind of IP header, in which an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of a second mobile agent belonging to said second IP network is set as a foreign address and an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of said first mobile agent is set as a home address, and transmitting said IP packet to said second mobile agent; and

said second mobile agent for deleting said first kind of said IP header and transmitting said IP packet to said mobile node.

14. A network system for controlling a mobile node and assisting the movement of said mobile node by a mobile agent, in which a first IP (Internet Protocol) network capable of executing communication in accordance with first and second kinds of IPs and a second IP network capable of executing communication in accordance with only said first kind of IP are connected with each other, so that said mobile node capable of executing communication in accordance with said second kind of IP can communicate with another node belonging to said first IP network in accordance with said second kind of IP when said mobile node moves from said first IP network to said second IP network, comprising:

a second mobile agent for adding a first kind of an IP header, in which an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of a first mobile agent belonging to said first IP network is set as a foreign address and an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of a second mobile agent belonging to said second IP network is set as a home address, to an IP packet in accordance with said second kind of IP transmitted from said mobile node to said other node, and transmitting said IP packet to said first mobile agent; and

said first mobile agent for deleting said first kind of IP header and transmitting said IP header to said other node.

15. A network system for controlling a mobile node and assisting the movement of said mobile node by a mobile agent, in which a first IP (Internet Protocol) network capable of executing communication in accordance with first and second kinds of IPs and a second IP network capable of executing communication in accordance with only said first kind of IP are connected with each other, so that said mobile node capable of executing communication in accordance with said second kind of IP can communicate with other nodes belonging to said first IP network when said mobile node moves from said first IP network to said second IP network, comprising:

a second mobile agent for adding a first kind of IP header, in which an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of a first mobile agent belonging to said first IP network is set as a foreign address and an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of said first mobile agent belonging to said second IP network is set as a home address, to a movement registration request message in accordance with said second kind of IP received from said mobile node; and

said first mobile agent for adding a first kind of IP header, in which an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of said second mobile agent is set as a foreign address and an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of said second mobile agent is set as a home address, to a message in accordance with said second kind of IP for permitting the movement, and transmitting said message to said second mobile agent.

16. A mobile agent for controlling a mobile node in a network system in which a first IP (Internet Protocol) network capable of executing communication in accordance with first and second IPs and a second IP network capable of executing communication in accordance with only said first kind of IP are connected with each other, so that a mobile node capable of executing communication in accordance with said second kind of IP can execute communication with another node belonging to said first IP network in accordance with said second kind of IP when said mobile node moves from said first IP network to said second IP network, comprising:

means for adding a first kind of header, in which an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of a second mobile agent belonging to said second IP network is set as a foreign address and an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of said mobile agent itself belonging to said first IP network is set as a home address, to an IP packet in accordance with said second kind of IP transmitted from said other node to said mobile node, and transmitting said IP packet to said second mobile agent.

17. A mobile agent for controlling a mobile node in a network system in which a first IP (Internet Protocol) network capable of executing communication in accordance with first and second kinds of IPs and a second IP network capable of executing communication in accordance with only said first kind of IP are connected with each other, so that a mobile node capable of executing communication in accordance with said second kind of IP can communicate with other nodes belonging to said first IP network in accordance with said second kind of IP when said mobile node moves from said first IP network to said second IP network, comprising:

means for adding an IP header, in which an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of a first mobile agent belonging to said first IP network is set as a foreign address and an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of said mobile agent itself belonging to said second IP network is set as a home address, to an IP packet in accordance with said second kind of IP transmitted from said mobile node to said other nodes, and transmitting said IP packet to said first mobile agent.

18. A mobile agent for controlling a mobile node in a network system in which a first IP (Internet Protocol) network capable of executing communication in accordance with first and second kinds of IPs and a second IP network capable of executing communication in accordance with only said first kind of IP are connected with each other, so that a mobile agent capable of executing communication in accordance with said second kind of IP can execute communication with other nodes belonging to said first IP network in accordance with said second kind of IP when said mobile node moves from said first IP network to said second IP network, comprising:

means for adding a first kind of an IP header, in which an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of a first mobile agent belonging to said first IP network is set as a foreign address and an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of said mobile agent itself belonging to said second IP network is set as a home address, to a movement registration request message in accordance with said second kind of IP received from said mobile node, and transmitting said message to said first mobile agent.

19. A mobile agent for controlling a mobile node in a network system in which a first IP (Internet Protocol) network capable of executing communication in accordance with first and second kinds of IPs and a second IP network capable of executing communication in accordance with only said first kind of IP are connected with each other, so that a mobile node capable of executing communication in accordance with said second kind of IP can execute communication with other nodes belonging to said first IP network in accordance with said second kind of IP when said mobile node moves from said first IP network to said second IP network, wherein:

said mobile agent belonging to said first IP network adds a first kind of an IP header, in which an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of a second mobile agent belonging to said second IP network is set as a foreign address and an IP address, in accordance with said first kind of IP, of said mobile agent itself is set as a home address, to a message in accordance with said second kind of IP for permitting the movement, and transmitting said message to said second mobile agent.