Method and system for persistent translation between protocols

• US 7,305,480 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2001
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Inouchi, Hidenori, Oishi, Takumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar; Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baturay; Alicia
• Application Number:
  US09/928,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20020154624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,303 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/245, 709/230, 710/105, 710/145, 370/395.5, 370/466
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/251 between different IP versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2535 Multiple local networks, e.g. resolving potential IP address conflicts
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2571 for identification, e.g. for authentication or billing charging arrangements H04L12/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/58 Caching of addresses or names
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• 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 69/167 Adaptation for transition between two IP versions, e.g. between IPv4 and IPv6 translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses H04L61/2503
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/045 involving different protocol versions, e.g. MIPv4 and MIPv6

Abstract

A translator is connected to a first network for transferring data in a first protocol, to a second network for transferring data in a second protocol, and to a translation server to which other translators are connected, for retaining translation information for a protocol translation between the first protocol and the second protocol. The translator generates a second address in the first protocol corresponding to a first address in the second protocol provided to a terminal accommodated in the second network. It retains a correspondence between the first address and the second address as the translation information and registers the correspondence at the translation server.

Claims

1. A method of translating protocols at a translator connected to a first network transferring data in a first protocol, a second network transferring data in a second protocol, and a translation server, wherein an additional translator is connected to the first network, second network, and the translation server, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting an address query for an address of a second terminal accommodated in said second network, from a first mobile terminal accommodated in said first network, before sending a packet from said first mobile terminal to said second terminal;

in response to the address query, generating a first address in said first protocol corresponding to a second address in said second protocol which is provided to said second terminal in the second network;

retaining a correspondence between said first address and said second address as translation information for a protocol translation between said first protocol and said second protocol; and

registering the correspondence between said first address and said second address in said translation server by said translator,

wherein, upon receiving at said additional translator the packet having said first address as a destination address from said first mobile terminal after a movement of said first mobile terminal within said first network while said second terminal remaining in said second network, said additional translator being provided corresponding to a location of the first mobile terminal after the first mobile terminal has moved, the method further comprising the steps of;

inquiring, at said additional translator, said translation server of said translation information of said second terminal;

receiving, at said additional translator, the correspondence between said first address and said second address registered by said translator from said translation server;

rewriting, at said additional translator, said destination address of the packet to said second address according to the correspondence; and

transmitting, at said additional translator, said rewritten packet to said second terminal.

2. The method of translating protocols according to claim 1,

wherein a source address of the packet is rewritten to the address of said additional translator in said second protocol.

3. An address translation server connected to first and second networks transferring data in a first protocol, a third network transferring data in a second protocol, and a first mobile terminal which has moved from the first network to the second network, comprising:

a memory device for storing a correspondence information among a name of a second terminal, a first address of the second terminal in the first protocol, and a second address of the second terminal in the second protocol; and

an interface for receiving the correspondence information from the first network and sending the correspondence information to the second network,

wherein the correspondence information is generated in the first network when the first mobile terminal sends an address query for the address of the second terminal, before sending a packet from said first mobile terminal to said second terminal, and

the interface sends the correspondence information to another translator connected to the second network and the third network upon receiving a query from the translator, after a movement of said first mobile terminal within said first network while said second terminal remaining in said second network.

4. A method of translating protocols at a translator connected to a first network transferring data in a first protocol, a second network transferring data in a second protocol, and a translation server, wherein an additional translator is connected to the first network the second network, and the translation server, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting an address query for an address of a second terminal accommodated in said second network from a first mobile terminal accommodated in said first network, before sending a packet from said first mobile terminal to said second terminal;

in response to the address query, generating a first address in said first protocol corresponding to a second address in said second protocol which is provided to said second terminal in the second network;

retaining a correspondence between said first address and said second address as translation information for a protocol translation between said first protocol and said second protocol;

registering the correspondence between said first address and said second address in said translation server by said translator; and

receiving, at said additional translator, the correspondence between said first address and said second address registered by said translator from said translation server;

wherein upon receiving, at said additional translator, the packet having said first address as a destination address from said first mobile terminal after a movement of said first mobile terminal within said first network while said second terminal remaining in said second network, said additional translator being provided corresponding to a location of the first mobile terminal after the first mobile terminal has moved, the method further comprising the steps of;

rewriting, at said additional translator, said destination address of the packet to said second address according to the correspondence; and

transmitting, at said additional translator, said rewritten packet to said second address.

5. An address translation server connected to a first and a second network for transferring data in a first protocol, a third network for transferring data in a second protocol, and a first mobile terminal which has moved from the first network to the second network, comprising:

a memory device for storing a correspondence information among a name of a second terminal, a first address of the second terminal in the first protocol, and a second address of the second terminal in the second protocol; and

an interface for receiving the correspondence information from the first network and sending the correspondence information to the second network,

wherein the correspondence information is generated in the first network when the first mobile terminal sends an address query for the address of the second terminal, before sending a packet from said first mobile terminal to said second terminal, and

the interface sends the correspondence information to another translator connected to the second network and the third network, after a movement of said first mobile terminal within said first network while said second terminal remaining in said second network.