Network system and packet data transmission method
First Claim
1. A network system wherein IP packets according to a service requested by a terminal are sent to one of a plurality of service providers, said network system comprising:
- a plurality of IP networks that each utilize a different network layer protocol, the plurality of IP networks including at least a first IP network, a second IP network, and a third IP network; and
a packet exchange, provided between the plurality of IP networks, said packet exchange receiving an IP packet in a first network layer protocol format to be sent from the first IP network, determining a destination network among the second IP network and the third IP network based upon a destination address specified by the IP packet in the first network layer protocol format, and converting the IP packet in the first network layer protocol format, wherein the IP packet in the first network layer protocol format is converted to a second network layer protocol format if said second IP network is the destination address that is determined and the IP packet of the first network layer protocol format is converted to a third network layer protocol format if said third IP network is the destination address that is determined.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user terminal is connected to an IP network through an access gateway, and service provider networks are connected to the IP network through an exchange router and border gateways. A group of servers store, for example, information about users, information about services, information about connection, and account information, and, in addition, perform user accounting and alternative account billing to the users. The exchange router converts a packet from the user terminal to the protocol/format on the service provider side and converts a packet from the service provider side to the protocol/format of the user terminal. By virtue of this construction, a network system and a packet data transmission method can be realized which unify connection between users and a plurality of service providers and unified management of business routine and accounting.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A network system wherein IP packets according to a service requested by a terminal are sent to one of a plurality of service providers, said network system comprising:
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a plurality of IP networks that each utilize a different network layer protocol, the plurality of IP networks including at least a first IP network, a second IP network, and a third IP network; and a packet exchange, provided between the plurality of IP networks, said packet exchange receiving an IP packet in a first network layer protocol format to be sent from the first IP network, determining a destination network among the second IP network and the third IP network based upon a destination address specified by the IP packet in the first network layer protocol format, and converting the IP packet in the first network layer protocol format, wherein the IP packet in the first network layer protocol format is converted to a second network layer protocol format if said second IP network is the destination address that is determined and the IP packet of the first network layer protocol format is converted to a third network layer protocol format if said third IP network is the destination address that is determined. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 21, 22)
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8. A network system comprising:
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a user terminal connected to a first network to be utilized by a user; a plurality of networks of service providers or online entrepreneurs which provide various services to the user including at least a second network and a third network, wherein said first network, said second network, and said third network each utilize a different network layer protocol; an IP network which transmits packet data between the user terminal and the networks through a router according to an IP address; one or more servers connected to the IP network, said servers functioning to record information about the user, information about the plurality of service providers or online entrepreneurs, and information about services provided by the networks to the user, and based on the recorded information, to unitarily manage account information of the services provided to the user, and to perform alternative account billing from the service providers or online entrepreneurs to the user; and a packet exchange, connected to the IP network, said packet exchange receiving an IP packet in a first network layer protocol format from the user terminal via the first network, determining a destination network among the second network and the third network based upon a destination address specified by the IP packet in the first network layer protocol format, and converting the IP packet in the first network layer protocol format, wherein the IP packet in the first network layer protocol format is converted to a second network layer protocol format if said second network is the destination address that is determined and the IP packet in the first network layer protocol format is converted to a third network layer protocol format if said third network is the destination address that is determined. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A network system comprising:
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an IP network through which an IP packet is transmitted; an access gateway connected to the IP network; a user terminal which is installed on a user side and is connected to the access gateway by a first network; a plurality of networks of service providers or online entrepreneurs, including at least a second network and a third network, wherein said first network, said second network and said third network each utilize a different network layer protocol; one or more servers connected to the IP network that record information about the user and the plurality of service providers or online entrepreneurs, and record information about services provided by the service providers or online entrepreneurs to the user, and based on the recorded information, said one or more servers unitarily manage account information of the services provided to the user; a packet exchange, connected to the IP network, said packet exchange receiving an IP packet in a first network layer protocol format from the user terminal via the first network, determining a destination network among the second network and the third network based upon a destination address specified by the IP packet in the first network layer protocol format, and converting the IP packet in the first network layer protocol format, wherein the IP packet in the first network layer protocol format is converted to a second network layer protocol format if said second network is the destination address that is determined and the IP packet in the first network layer protocol format is converted to a third network layer protocol format if said third network is the destination address that is determined; and a plurality of border gateways which connect the packet exchange to the plurality of networks of the service providers or online entrepreneurs. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23)
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19. A packet data transmission method wherein packet data transmission for receiving/sending services between a user terminal connected to a first network which utilizes a first network protocol and a plurality of service providers or online entrepreneurs is carried out using a plurality of virtual private network (VPN) platforms corresponding to the service providers, which are respectively connected to at least a second network utilizing a second network protocol and a third network utilizing a third network protocol, said packet data transmission method comprising:
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recording, in one or more servers, information about one or more users that utilize the user terminal, and information about the service providers or online entrepreneurs; upon receiving a request from the user for a service, and only when information about the packet data from the user terminal matches access conditions recorded in the servers, determining a destination network among the second network and the third network based upon a destination address specified by an IP packet in a first network layer protocol format, and converting the IP packet in the first network layer protocol format, wherein the IP packet in the first network layer protocol format is converted to a second network layer protocol format if said second network is the destination address that is determined and the IP packet in the first network layer protocol format is converted to a third network layer protocol format if said third network is the destination address that is determined; and storing and managing account information about the services provided to the user and providing alternative account billing to the user by the servers, wherein the first network layer protocol utilized by the first network, the second network layer protocol utilized second network, and the third network layer protocol utilized by the third network are different network layer protocols. - View Dependent Claims (20, 24)
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Specification