Gateway device and control method for communication with IP and IPV6 protocols

• US 7,339,895 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2002
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Ito, Hiromichi, Nakagawa, Isao, Kuwabara, Tadashi, Ozaki, Tomochika
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan; Wing
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cho; Hong Sol
• Application Number:
  US10/199,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20040071148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,055 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/401, 370/466, 370/252, 370/389, 370/392
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• 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 69/169 Special adaptations of TCP, UDP or IP for interworking of IP based networks with other networks protocols for interworking, protocol conversion H04L69/08

Abstract

A non-IP device holds an interface ID defined by Ipv6. A gateway generates and holds an Ipv6 address for the non-IP device. The gateway serves to convert the protocol of a packet destined to the non-IP device from a portable telephone or a personal computer coupled to an internet into the protocol for a network connected to the non-IP device and transmit the packet to the non-IP device.

Claims

1. A gateway device comprising:

a first communication unit for connecting a first network to perform data transmission and reception to and from said first network;

a second communication unit for connecting a second network to perform data transmission and reception to and from said second network with use of an IP protocol;

a unit for acquiring an interface ID of a device connected to said first network and a local address of the device in said first network;

a unit for acquiring a network ID of said second network;

an address translation unit for generating an IPv6 address from said interface ID and network ID and managing a correspondence relation between the generated IPv6 address and said local address; and

an NDP response unit for examining whether or not an IP address specified in a target address within an NS (neighbor solicitation) packet prescribed in an NDP (neighbor discovery protocol) when received from said second network is present in an IPv6 address controlled by said address translation unit, and when the IPv6 address is present, for returning an NA (neighbor advertisement) packet thereto,

whereby the device connected to the first network can communicate with the device connected to said second network.

2. A gateway device comprising:

a first communication unit for connecting a first network to perform data transmission and reception to and from said first network;

a second communication unit for connecting a second network to perform data transmission and reception to and from said second network with use of an IP protocol;

a unit for acquiring first identifier information for identifying a device connected to said first network and second identifier information of said device in said first network;

a unit for acquiring a network ID of said second network;

a management table for managing a correspondence relation between an IP address and said first and second identifier information;

a unit for generating a plurality of IPv6 addresses from said network ID and registering them in said management table;

said management table being arranged so that identical first identifier information is associated with the IPv6 addresses at all time in said management table, and

an NDP response unit for examining whether or not the IPv6 address specified by a target address within an NS (neighbor solicitation) packet prescribed by an NDP (neighbor discovery protocol) when received from said second network is present in the IP addresses managed by an address translation unit and, when the packet is present, for returning an NA (neighbor advertisement) packet,

wherein communication can be realized between the device connected to said first network and the device connected to said second network.

3. A gateway device for enabling communication between a first information processor based on a first network communication protocol using a destination address and transmission source address of n bits and a second information processor based on a second network communication protocol using a destination address and transmission source address of m bits (m<

n), comprising;

a virtual address allocation unit for allocating a virtual address of n bits to said second information processor;

a unit for receiving a connection oriented type communication connection request conforming to said first network communication protocol transmitted from said first information processor with use of said virtual address as a destination address and for establishing a communication connection;

a translation table unit to store a connection identifier for identifying said communication connection, said virtual address, and the m-bit address of said second information processor, to provide an association among said connection identifier, said virtual address, and said m-bit address; and

a unit, after said communication establishment, for receiving data transmitted based on said first network communication protocol from said first information processor with use of said virtual address as its destination, converting said data to data conforming to said second network communication protocol, and for transmitting said converted data to said second information processor according to said second network communication protocol with use of the m-bit address associated with said virtual address by said translation table unit as an destination address of said second network communication protocol.

4. A gateway device for enabling communication between a first information processor based on a first network communication protocol using a destination address and transmission source address of n bits and a second information processor based on a second network communication protocol using a destination address and transmission source address of m bits (m<

n), comprising;

a virtual address allocation unit for allocating a virtual address of n bits to said second information processor;

a unit for receiving a connection oriented type communication connection request conforming to said first network communication protocol transmitted from said first information processor with use of said virtual address as a destination address and for establishing a communication connection;

a translation table unit to store a connection identifier for identifying said communication connection, said virtual address and the m-bit address of said second information processor, to provide an association among said connection identifier, said virtual address, and said m-bit address; and

a unit, after said communication establishment, for receiving data transmitted based on said second network communication protocol from said second information processor with use of the m-bit address of said gateway device as its destination address and with use of the m-bit address of said second information processor as a transmission source address, converting said data to data conforming to said first network communication protocol, and transmitting said converted data to said first information processor according to said first network communication protocol with respect to the connection wherein said communication connection identified by said connection identifier associated with the m-bit address of said second information processor by said translation table unit is established.

5. A method for controlling a gateway device for enabling communication between a first information processor based on a first network communication protocol using a destination address and transmission source address of n bits and a second information processor based on a second network communication protocol using a destination address and transmission source address of m bits (m<

n), comprising the steps of;

allocating an n-bit virtual address to said second information processor;

receiving a connection oriented type communication connection request transmitted with said virtual address as a destination and based on said first network communication protocol from said first information processor and establishing a communication connection;

storing a connection identifier for identifying said communication connection, said virtual address, and the m-bit address of said second information processor in a translation table, to provide an association among said connection identifier, said virtual address, and said m-bit address; and

after said communication is established, receiving data transmitted based on said first network communication protocol from said first information processor with use of said virtual address as a destination, converting said data to data conforming to said second network communication protocol, and transmitting said converted data to said second information processor based on said second network communication protocol with use of the m-bit address associated with said virtual address using said translation table as the destination address of said second network communication protocol.

6. A method for controlling a gateway device for enabling communication between a first information processor based on a first network communication protocol using a destination address and transmission source address of n bits and a second information processor based on a second network communication protocol using a destination address and transmission source address of m bits (m<

n), comprising the steps of;

allocating an n-bit virtual address to said second information processor;

receiving a connection oriented type communication connection request transmitted with said virtual address as a destination and based on said first network communication protocol from said first information processor and establishing a communication connection;

storing a connection identifier for identifying said communication connection, said virtual address, and the m-bit address of said second information processor in a translation table, to provide an association among said connection identifier, said virtual address, and said m-bit address; and

after said communication is established, receiving data transmitted based on said second network communication protocol from said second information processor with use of m-bit address of said gateway device as a destination and the m-bit address of said second information processor as a transmission source address, converting said data to data conforming to said first network communication protocol, and transmitting said converted data to said first information processor based on said first network communication protocol with respect to a connection wherein said communication connection identified by said connection identifier associated with the m-bit address of said second information processor in said translation table step is established.