Integrated information communication system using internet protocol

• US 7,693,187 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2006
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Distribution Systems Research Institute (GS1 AISBL)
• Original Assignee: The Distribution Systems Research Institute (GS1 AISBL), Miyaguchi Research Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Furukawa, Hisao, Miyaguchi, Shoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAMUEL, DEWANDA A
• Application Number:
  US11/448,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20060230182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 370/471, 370/389, 370/392, 370/393, 370/395.53, 370/472
• US Class Current: 370/475
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2514 between local and global IP addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2535 Multiple local networks, e.g. resolving potential IP address conflicts
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

The integrated information communication system is comprised of an access control apparatus for connecting a plurality of computer communication networks or information communication equipment to each, and a relay device for networking the aforementioned access control apparatus. The system has functions for performing routing by transferring information by a unified address system and by changing address at the access control apparatus, and is configured such that the aforementioned plurality of computer communication networks or information communication equipment can perform communications in an interactive manner. The integrated information communication system ensures communication speed, communication quality, communication trouble countermeasures in a unified manner, without using dedicated lines or the Internet, wherein security and reliability in communication is ensured without change of a private address system.

Claims

1. An IP transfer network comprising:

an access control apparatus;

a plurality of terminals each having a user address;

a plurality of logic terminals each having a network address;

a plurality of communication lines connecting the plurality of terminals to the plurality of logic terminals; and

a conversion table having a plurality of records, each of the plurality of records being set in advance and containing a network address, a source user address, a destination user address, and a receiver network address,

wherein a user frame having a source user address and a destination user address is communicated from one of the plurality of terminals to a connected logic terminal and the user frame is inputted from the connected logic terminal into the access control apparatus, and the access control apparatus searches the plurality of records of the conversion table for a record having the network address of the connected logic terminal, the source user address, and the destination user address, and

wherein, if the access control apparatus locates the record in the conversion table, the access control apparatus obtains the receiver network address from the record, and forms a network frame having the user frame and the obtained receiver network address, the network frame is communicated to a logic terminal having the receiver network address where the user frame is retrieved from the network frame and communicated from the logic terminal having the receiver network address to a connected terminal.

2. An IP transfer network according to claim 1, further comprising a domain name server,

wherein the one of the plurality of terminals transmits to the domain name server a user frame having a domain name and the domain name server indicates the destination user address of a terminal connected to the logic terminal having the obtained receiver network address.

3. An IP transfer network according to claim 1, further comprising a certification unit,

wherein the one of the plurality of terminals communicates the user frame and a password to the certification unit, the certification unit determines whether or not the password is correct with respect to the user frame, and the certification unit indicates whether or not the password is correct.

4. An IP transfer network according to claim 1, further comprising an encryption/decryption unit,

wherein the encryption/decryption unit encrypts the user frame before the network frame is formed and decrypts the user frame after it is retrieved from the network frame.

5. An IP transfer network according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic signature unit,

wherein the electronic signature unit electronically signs the network frame when the network frame is formed.

6. An IP transfer network according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic signature unit,

wherein the electronic signature unit electronically signs the user frame when the user frame is restored from the network frame.

7. An IP transfer network comprising:

a plurality of terminals;

a plurality of access control apparatuses, each access control apparatus including a plurality of logic terminals each having a network address, and

a conversion table having a plurality of records, each of the plurality of records being set in advance and containing a sender network address, a source user address, a destination user address, and a receiver network address;

a plurality of communication lines connecting the plurality of terminals to the plurality of logic terminals,

wherein a user frame having a source user address and a destination user address is communicated from one of the plurality of terminals to a connected logic terminal of a first access control apparatus, and the first access control apparatus searches the plurality of records of the conversion table for a record having the network address of the connected logic terminal, the source user address, and the destination user address, and

wherein, if the first access control apparatus locates the record in the conversion table, the first access control apparatus obtains the receiver network address from the record, and forms a network frame having the user frame and the obtained receiver network address, the network frame is communicated to a logic terminal of a second access control apparatus having the receiver network address where second access control apparatus retrieves the user frame from the network frame and communicates the retrieved user frame from the logic terminal of the second access control apparatus to a connected terminal.

8. An IP transfer network comprising:

a plurality of terminals;

a plurality of access control apparatuses, each access control apparatus including

a plurality of logic terminals each having a network address, and

a conversion table having a plurality of records, each of the plurality of records being set in advance and containing a network address, a source user address, a destination user address, and a receiver network address;

a plurality of communication lines connecting the plurality of terminals to the plurality of logic terminals,

wherein a user frame having a source user address and a destination user address is communicated from one of the plurality of terminals to a connected logic terminal of a first access control apparatus, and the first access control apparatus searches the plurality of records of the conversion table for a record having the network address of the connected logic terminal, the source user address, and the destination user address, and

wherein, if the first access control apparatus locates the record in the conversion table, the first access control apparatus obtains the receiver network address from the record, and forms a network frame having the user frame and the obtained receiver network address, the network frame is communicated to a logic terminal of a second access control apparatus having the receiver network address where second access control apparatus retrieves the user frame from the network frame and communicates the retrieved user frame from the logic terminal of the second access control apparatus to a connected terminal.

9. An IP transfer network according to claim 8, further comprising:

a domain name server; and

a conversion table server,

wherein the user frame sent from one of the plurality of terminals to the connected logic terminal of the first access control apparatus includes a domain name and is communicated to the domain name server,

wherein the domain name server forms a user frame having a pair of user addresses and a network address corresponding to the domain name and the domain name server created user frame is transmitted to the conversion table server,

wherein the conversion table server rewrites the conversion table using the pair of user addresses and the network address obtained from the domain name server created user frame.

10. An access control apparatus comprising:

a plurality of external logic terminals each having a network address;

one or more internal logic terminals each having a network address;

a conversion table having a plurality of records, each of the plurality of records being set in advance and containing a sender network address, a source user address, a destination user address, and a receiver network address; and

an access control unit,

wherein a first user frame having a source user address and a destination user address is communicated from a first external logic terminal to the access control unit, and the access control unit searches the plurality of records of the conversion table for a record having the sender network address of the first external logic terminals that communicated the user frame, the source user address, and the destination user address,

wherein, if the access control unit locates the record in the conversion table, the access control unit obtains the receiver network address from the record, and forms a network frame having the first user frame and the obtained receiver network address, the network frame is communicated to one of the one or more internal logic terminals having the receiver network address, and

wherein, if a second user frame communicated from a second external logic terminal to the access control unit has a source user address and a destination user address identical to the source user address and the destination user address of the first user frame communicated from the first external logic terminal, the access control unit forms separate first and second network frames for the respective first and second user frames.