Multi-interface terminal, and neighbor topology discovery and cooperative communication method therefore

• US 9,445,355 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2011
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZTE Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZTE Corporation
• Inventors: Sun, Aifang
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Dung B
• Application Number:
  US14/117,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20140078935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,839 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/03 by updating link state protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

The present document provides a neighbor topology discovery method for a multi-interface terminal, to improve the usage rate of multiple interfaces. The method includes the following steps: after joining a network, the multi-interface terminal broadcasts a neighbor discovery request message to respective networks via each interface, and the neighbor discovery request message carries a neighbor hop value; and the multi-interface terminal in the network monitors broadcast messages of other terminals in the network where each interface is located; when detecting the neighbor discovery request message, if the neighbor hop value carried in the detected neighbor discovery request message indicates that the present terminal is the last hop, related information in the neighbor discovery request message is extracted, and neighbor information and network topology information of the present terminal is updated; and if not, the neighbor hop value is modified and the neighbor discovery request message is forwarded via all interfaces.

Claims

1. A method for neighbor topology discovery and cooperative communication of a multi-interface terminal, comprising:

broadcasting, by the multi-interface terminal, a neighbor discovery request message to respective network via each interface after the multi-interface terminal joins a network, the neighbor discovery request message carrying a neighbor hop value; and

monitoring, by the multi-interface terminal in the network, broadcast messages of other terminals in the network where each interface of the multi-interface terminal is located;

when detecting the neighbor discovery request message, if the neighbor hop value carried in the detected neighbor discovery request message indicates that the multi-interface terminal is the last hop, then extracting related information in the neighbor discovery request message, and updating neighbor information and network topology information of the multi-interface terminal; and

if not, then modifying the neighbor hop value and then forwarding the neighbor discovery request message via all the interfaces, extracting the related information in the neighbor discovery request message, and updating the neighbor information and the network topology information of the multi-interface terminal;

when the multi-interface terminal in the network needs to request for a service, obtaining an available communication link to a target end according to the network topology information;

when the number of the available communication links is more than one, determining a service distributary mode between various available communication links; and

requesting, by the multi-interface terminal, for the service and transmitting the service in parallel through each interface corresponding to each available communication link according to the service distributary mode.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein,

the step of broadcasting, by the multi-interface terminal, a neighbor discovery request message to respective network via each interface comprises:

broadcasting, by the multi-interface terminal, the neighbor discovery request message to respective network via each interface periodically;

the step of monitoring, by the multi-interface terminal in the network, broadcast messages of other terminals in the network where each interface of the multi-interface terminal is located comprises;

monitoring, by the multi-interface terminal in the network, the broadcast messages of other terminals in the network where each interface is located periodically; and

wherein, a time period for periodically monitoring the broadcast message is less than a time period for periodically broadcasting the neighbor discovery request message.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

performing, by the multi-interface terminal in the network, statistics on the broadcast message received by each interface;

if no broadcast message of other terminal is received in the network where an interface is located within a set time period, then closing, by the multi-interface terminal, the interface or making the interface in a dormant state, and periodically waking up the interface.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the step of determining a service distributary mode between various available communication links comprises:

performing assessment according to one of link information of each available communication link, service information of requested service, and interface information of each interface corresponding to each communication link or a combination thereof, and determining the service distributary mode according to an assessment result.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining the available communication link in the following way when the multi-interface terminal in the network needs to request for the service and the available communication link to the target end is not obtained according to the network topology information;

broadcasting, by the multi-interface terminal, a link relay request message carrying the target end to respective network via each interface respectively;

when a neighboring terminal receives the link relay request message, judging whether the target end in the link relay request message is the neighboring terminal;

if not, forwarding the link relay request message through all of the neighboring terminal'"'"'s interfaces; and

if yes, returning a link relay response message via an original route to the multi-interface terminal which sends the link relay request message; and

after the multi-interface terminal which sends the link relay request message receives the link relay response message, establishing the communication link with the target end.

6. A multi-interface terminal, comprising:

a network layer and at least two different interfaces, and further comprising a multi-interface adaptation layer, wherein, the multi-interface adaptation layer comprises a network topology module and an interface management module, wherein,

the network topology module is configured to;

after the multi-interface terminal joins a network, send a neighbor discovery request message to each interface, wherein, the neighbor discovery request message carries a neighbor hop value; and

after receiving the neighbor discovery request message forwarded by the interface, extract related information in the neighbor discovery request message forwarded by the interface and update neighbor information and network topology information;

the interface management module is configured to;

control and manage the interfaces; and

the interface is configured to;

broadcast the neighbor discovery request message to a network where the interface is located after receiving the neighbor discovery request message, and monitor broadcast messages of other terminals in the network where the interface is located;

when detecting the neighbor discovery request message, if the neighbor hop value carried in the neighbor discovery request message indicates that the multi-interface terminal is the last hop, then send the neighbor discovery request message to the network topology module; and

if not, send the neighbor discovery request message to the network topology module, modify the neighbor hop value in the neighbor discovery request message and then forward the neighbor discovery request message via all the interfaces;

wherein the multi-interface adaptation layer further comprises a cooperative control module;

the cooperative control module is configured to;

upon receiving a service request command of the network layer, obtain an available communication link to a target end according to the network topology information maintained by the network topology module;

when the number of the available communication links is more than one, determine a service distributary mode between various available communication links, and send to the interface management module; and

the interface management module is further configured to;

control each interface corresponding to each available communication link to request for the service and transmit the service in parallel according to the service distributary mode.

7. The multi-interface terminal according to claim 6, wherein,

the network topology module is configured to:

send a neighbor discovery request command to each interface of the multi-interface terminal periodically;

the interface is configured to;

periodically monitor broadcast messages of other terminals in the network where each interface of the multi-interface terminal is located; and

wherein, a time period for periodically monitoring the broadcast message is less than a time period for periodically sending the neighbor discovery request message.

8. The multi-interface terminal according to claim 6, wherein, the interface management module is further configured to:

perform statistics on the broadcast message received by each interface;

if no broadcast message of other terminal is received in the network where an interface is located within a set time period, then close the interface or make the interface in a dormant state, and periodically wake up the interface.

9. The multi-interface terminal according to claim 6, wherein, the cooperative control module is configured to:

perform assessment according to one of link information of each available communication link, service information of requested service, and interface information of each interface corresponding to each communication link or a combination thereof, and determine the service distributary mode according to an assessment result.

10. The multi-interface terminal according to claim 6, wherein, the network topology module is further configured to:

send a link relay request command carrying the target end to each interface when the service request command of the network layer is received and the available communication link to the target end is not obtained according to the network topology information;

the interface is further configured to;

broadcast the link relay request message carrying the target end to respective network respectively after receiving the link relay request command; and

forward a link relay response message to the cooperative control module after receiving the link relay response message returned by the target end; and

the cooperative control module is further configured to;

establish the communication link with the target end after receiving the link relay response message forwarded by the interface.

11. The multi-interface terminal according to claim 6, wherein,

the interface is further configured to:

upon receiving a link relay request message sent by other terminals, judge whether a target terminal in the link relay request message is the multi-interface terminal;

if not, forward the link relay request message to the interface management module; and

if yes, send the link relay request message to the network topology module;

the interface management module is further configured to;

instruct all interfaces of the multi-interface terminal to forward the link relay request message upon receiving the link relay request message forwarded by the interface; and

the network topology module is further configured to;

update the network topology information upon receiving the link relay request message, and instruct each interface to return a link relay response message via an original route to a source multi-interface terminal initiating the link relay request.