Position identifier management apparatus and method, mobile computer, and position identifier processing method

• US 7,437,479 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishiyama, Masahiro, Inoue, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Jacobs; Lashonda T
• Application Number:
  US11/244,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20060031534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 709/245, 709/202, 709/217, 709/218, 709/226, 709/228, 709/230, 709/232, 370/389, 370/393, 370/400, 455/433
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• 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: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/14 between corresponding nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

When a first mobile node is moved, it reports binding information including a compatible node identifier (virtual mobile guaranteed general network identifier and a node identifier) and a compatible position identifier (mobile guaranteed real network identifier identified on a network to which the first mobile node is moved, and a node identifier) to a first server which is assigned to the first mobile node. A second mobile node also reports the binding information to a second server. For communicating with the second mobile node to which a second server is assigned, if the destination address of a packet addressed to the second mobile node is designated with a compatible node identifier, the first mobile node acquires the binding information of the second mobile node from the second server. Then, the first mobile node converts the destination address of the packet into the acquired compatible position identifier and sets the compatible position identifier of the first mobile node as the source address of the packet. The first mobile node then transmits the packet.

Claims

1. A position identifier management method for supporting movement of a mobile computer between networks, comprising:

storing binding information concerning said mobile computer managed by a position identifier management apparatus in a storage means of the position identifier management apparatus, said binding information including a compatible node identifier for uniquely specifying said mobile computer and a compatible position identifier for uniquely specifying a position of said mobile computer on a network;

registering the binding information in said storage means in response to a registration request to register the binding information; and

transmitting the binding information in response to a query about the binding information concerning said mobile computer when said binding information is stored in said storage means,

wherein the compatible node identifier of said mobile computer comprises a first virtual network identifier assigned to said mobile computer which moves between networks and a node identifier for uniquely specifying said mobile computer, and the compatible position identifier of said mobile computer comprises a second network identifier which is usable only by mobile computers assigned to a network to which said mobile computer is connected and the node identifier.

2. A position identifier management method according to claim 1, further comprising:

registering binding information contained in the received registration request after detecting that a sender of the received registration request is another mobile computer and authenticating said another mobile computer as a valid mobile computer;

sending said registration request to another position identifier management apparatus which also manages said another mobile computer when said another mobile computer is authenticated as a valid mobile computer; and

registering the binding information contained in the received registration request in said storage means after detecting that the sender of the received registration request is another position identifier management apparatus and authenticating said another position identifier management apparatus as a valid apparatus.

3. A position identifier management method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitted binding information contains the compatible node identifier which is identical to the compatible node identifier contained in the query.

4. A position identifier management method according to claim 1, further comprising:

erasing the binding information which has expired,

wherein the binding information includes a registered time and an effective period.