Apparatus and a method for selecting an access router's protocol of a plurality of the protocols for transferring a packet in a communication system

• US 6,205,148 B1
• Filed: 09/08/1997
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Takahashi, Eiichiro, Inami, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): VINCENT, DAVID ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US08/925,288
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 370/401, 370/402, 370/403, 370/404, 370/405, 370/395, 370/465, 370/466, 370/392
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4608 LAN interconnection over ATM networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/562 Routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5667 IP over ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for selecting an access router'"'"'s protocol from a plurality of protocols in a communication system including first and second access routers for transferring a packet between the access routers according to the selected protocol. The packet is originated/terminated by users having a user address assigned and accommodated in the respective access routers. Storage is provided in the apparatus for storing a protocol type of the access router corresponding to the user address. The first access router issues a protocol request signal including the user address. The apparatus receives the protocol request signal and referring to the storage, responds to the signal with the protocol type of the second access router accommodating the user having the user address included in the request signal. The first access router, selects a protocol common to the first and second access routers to transfer the packet based on the response.

Claims

1. An apparatus for selecting an access router'"'"'s protocol in a communication system including a plurality of access routers for transferring a packet therebetween according to the selected protocol and a server for serving the access routers, the packet originated/terminated by users each having a user address assigned and accommodated in the respective access routers, said apparatus comprising:

storage means provided in the server for storing therein a protocol type of the access router corresponding to the user address;

protocol request means provided in a sending access router, for issuing a protocol request signal to the server including the user address of a terminating user;

protocol response means provided in the server and responsive to the protocol request signal, for referring to said storage means and responding to the protocol request signal with the protocol type of a receiving access router accommodating the user having the same user address as included in the protocol request signal and

protocol selection means provided in the sending access router and based on the response by said protocol response means, for selecting a protocol common to the sending and receiving access routers to transfer the packet.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

profile collection means for requesting the access router to report a profile including at least the protocol type of the access router and the user address of the user accommodated there in and when the profile is reported, for storing the protocol type in said storage means, corresponding to the user address; and

first profile report means provided in the access router, for reporting the profile in response to the request of said profile collection means.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

second profile report means provided in the access router, for voluntarily reporting a profile including at least the protocol type of the access router and the user address of the user accommodated therein; and

register means, for storing the protocol type in said storage means, corresponding to the user address when the profile is reported by said second profile report means.

4. An apparatus for selecting an access router'"'"'s protocol in a communication system having an IP network which includes an ATM network as a core network, a plurality of access routers and an address resolution server, the access routers transferring an IP packet therebetween according to the selected protocol via the ATM network and the IP packet originated/terminated by IP users each having a user address assigned and accommodated in the respective access routers, the address resolution server receiving an address resolution request signal which includes an IP user address and responding to the address resolution request signal with an ATM address of the access router accommodating the IP user having the IP user address included in the signal, said apparatus comprising:

storage means provided in the address resolution server, for storing therein a protocol type of the access router corresponding to the IP user address;

protocol request means provided in a sending access router, for issuing the protocol request signal including the IP user address of a terminating user;

protocol management means provided in the address resolution server and responsive to the protocol request signal, for referring to said storage means and responding to the protocol request signal with the protocol type of the receiving access router accommodating the IP user having the same IP user address as included in the protocol request signal; and

protocol selection means provided in the sending access router, for selecting a protocol common to the sending and receiving access routers to transfer the IP packet based on the response by said protocol management means.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the protocol request signal is the address resolution request signal and said protocol management means responds to the signal with the ATM address and the protocol.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

first register means provided in the address resolution server, for issuing a profile request signal to the access router, requesting to report a profile including at least the protocol type of the access router and the IP user address of the IP user accommodated therein and when the profile is reported, for storing the protocol type in said storage means, corresponding to the IP user address; and

first profile report means provided in the access router, for reporting the profile in response to the profile request signal.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the profile request signal is an inverse address resolution request signal,

said first profile report means reports the ATM address and protocol type of the access router and the IP user address of an IP user accommodated therein, and

said first register means stores the ATM address and protocol type in said storage means, corresponding to the IP user address.

8. An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

second profile report means provided in the access router, for voluntarily reporting a profile including at least the ATM address and protocol type of the access router and the IP user address of the IP user accommodated therein; and

second register means provided in the address resolution server, for storing the the ATM address and protocol type in said storage means, corresponding to the IP user address when the profile is reported by said second profile report means.

9. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

said storage means has storage areas storing the ATM address and protocol type of the access routers smaller in number than those installed in the communication system, and

said first or second register means clears at least a part of the storage areas and stores the ATM address and protocol type in the cleared storage areas based on the profile reported by said first or second profile report means, respectively.

10. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

said first register means issues the profile request signal if the requested protocol type is not stored in said storage means when the protocol request signal is received.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

said second profile report means reports the profile when the access router is powered on.

12. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

said selection means notifies the originating IP user of a failure to transfer the IP packet when a common protocol type is not found.

13. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

said selection means notifies the originating IP user of the ATM address and protocol type of the second access router.

14. A method for selecting an access router'"'"'s protocol in a communication system including a plurality of access routers for transferring a packet there between according to the selected protocol and a server for serving the access routers, the packet originated/terminated by users each having a user address assigned and accommodated in the respective access routers, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing storage means in the server for storing therein a protocol type of the access router corresponding to the user address;

(b) in a sending access router, issuing a protocol request signal to the server including the user address of a terminating user;

(c) receiving the protocol request signal and referring to said storage means, responding to the protocol request signal with the protocol type of a receiving access router accommodating the user having the same user address as included in the protocol request signal; and

(d) selecting a protocol common to the sending and receiving access routers to transfer the packet based on the response of step (c).

15. A method for selecting an access router'"'"'s protocol in a communication system having an IP network which includes an ATM network as a core network, a plurality of access routers and an address resolution server, the access routers transferring an IP packet therebetween according to the selected protocol via the ATM network and the IP packet originated/terminated by IP users each having a user address assigned and accommodated in the respective access routers, the address resolution server receiving an address resolution request signal which includes an IP user address and responding to the address resolution request signal with an ATM address of the access router accommodating the IP user having the IP user address included in the signal, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) in the address resolution server, providing storage means for storing therein a protocol type of the access router corresponding to t he IP user address;

(b) in a sending access router, issuing the protocol request signal including the IP user address of a terminating user;

(c) in the address resolution server, receiving the protocol request signal and referring to the storage means, responding to the protocol request signal with the protocol type of the receiving access router accommodating the IP user having the same IP user address as included in the protocol request signal; and

(d) in the sending access router, selecting a protocol common to the sending and receiving access routers to transfer the IP packet based on the response in said step (c).

16. An apparatus for selecting an access router'"'"'s protocol in a communication system having a first network which includes a second network, a plurality of access routers for transferring a packet therebetween according to the selected protocol via the second network and a server for serving the access routers, the packet originated/terminated by users each having a user address assigned and accommodated in the respective access routers, said apparatus comprising:

storage means provided in the server, for storing therein a protocol type of the access router corresponding to the user address;

protocol request means provided in a sending access router, for issuing a protocol request signal to the server including the user address of a terminating user;

protocol response means provided in the server and responsive to the protocol request signal, for referring to said storage means and responding to the protocol request signal with the protocol type of a receiving access router accommodating the user having the same user address as included in the protocol request signal; and

protocol selection means provided in the sending access router and based on the response by said protocol response means, for selecting a protocol common to the sending and receiving access routers to transfer the packet.

17. A method for selecting an access router'"'"'s protocol in a communication system having a first network which includes a second network, a plurality of access routers for transferring a packet therebetween according to the selected protocol via the second network and a server for serving the access routers, the packet originated/terminated by users each having a user address assigned and accommodated in the respective access routers, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing storage means in the server for storing therein a protocol type of the access router corresponding to the user address;

(b) in a sending access router, issuing a protocol request signal to the server including the user address of a terminating user;

(c) receiving the protocol request signal and referring to said storage means, responding to the protocol request signal with the protocol type of a receiving access router accommodating the user having the same user address as included in the protocol request signal; and

(d) selecting a protocol common to the sending and receiving access routers to transfer the packet based on the response of step (c).

18. A sending access router in a communication system, for forwarding a packet to a receiving access router according to a protocol, the packet being directed to a user accommodated in the receiving access router, the user having a user address assigned, said sending access router comprising:

protocol request means for issuing a protocol request signal including the user address of a terminating user; and

protocol selection means for selecting, when a response to the protocol request signal is received, a protocol common to both the sending and receiving access routers to send the packet based on the selected protocol.

19. A server in a communication system including a plurality of access routers for transferring a packet therebetween according to a protocol, the packet originated/terminated by users each having a user address assigned and accommodated in the respective access routers, said server comprising:

storage means provided in said server, for storing therein a protocol type of the access router corresponding to the user address;

protocol response means, when receiving a protocol request signal including the user address from the access router, for responding to the protocol request signal with the protocol type of the access router by referring to said storage means based on the user address included in the protocol request signal.