Path control method and home agent

TECHNICAL FIELD

p-0002The present invention relates to a path control method and to a home agent in a mobile network system composed of a mobile network with a mobile router and a terminal interconnected and of a home agent that manages the address of the mobile network.

BACKGROUND ART

p-0003Conventionally, a technique for providing mobile communication of the entire network composed of a movable terminal group and a router has been examined in IETF NEMO-WG.

p-0004NEMO (Network Mobility) described in the document <i>Network Mobility </i>(<i>NEMO</i>) <i>Basic Support Protocol </i>(written by Vijay Devarapalli et al., RFC3963) is a technique that implements data communication in a network (referred to as “mobile network” hereinafter) composed of a movable terminal group, and of a mobile router connecting to an external network such as the Internet, by means of the mobile network and a home agent that manages the position of the mobile network.

p-0005<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> illustrates a conventional mobile network system disclosed in the document.

p-0006In <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref>, terminal <b>6</b> connects to mobile network <b>3</b> managed by mobile router (MR) <b>5</b> and mobile router (MR) <b>4</b>. Mobile router <b>5</b> connects to home network <b>2</b> managed by home agent (HA) <b>10</b> and to global network <b>1</b> such as the Internet through home gateway (HGW) <b>8</b>. Mobile router (MR) <b>4</b> connects to global network <b>1</b> through access router (AR) <b>9</b>.

p-0007A description is made for path control in such a mobile network system using <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref>.

p-0008<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref> is a sequence diagram illustrating path control in a conventional mobile network system.

p-0009In <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref>, when the power to mobile router <b>4</b>, <b>5</b> turns on, mobile router <b>4</b> connects to access router (AR) <b>9</b>, and mobile router <b>5</b> connects to home network (HNW) <b>2</b> (step S<b>1</b>).

p-0010It is assumed that mobile router <b>4</b> is a mobile phone, and mobile router <b>5</b> is a PDA having a wireless LAN interface, for example. In this case, mobile phone (MR<b>4</b>) connects to a base station (AR<b>9</b>) placed out of home even if the user is at home, not directly connecting to home network <b>2</b> at home. The PDA (MR<b>5</b>) connects to home network <b>2</b> through a wireless LAN interface.

p-0011In this way, some mobile routers results in connecting to home network <b>2</b>, and the others not connecting even in the same home.

p-0012That is, mobile router <b>4</b> creates a care-of address (referred to as “CoA” hereinafter) to perform position entry in home agent <b>10</b> (step S<b>2</b>) in order to connect to an external network other than home network <b>2</b>. Mobile router <b>4</b> informs home agent <b>10</b> of the network prefix (referred to as “MNP<b>3</b>” hereinafter) of network <b>3</b> simultaneously with the position entry.

p-0013Having acquired a path addressed to MNP<b>3</b> via mobile router <b>4</b>, home agent <b>10</b> starts path advertisement for informing the acquisition (step S<b>3</b>). Mobile router <b>5</b> as well has a path addressed to MNP<b>3</b>, and thus advertises the path addressed to MNP<b>3</b> to home network <b>2</b> (step S<b>4</b>). The information on the path addressed to MNP<b>3</b> advertised by this mobile router <b>5</b> is assumed to be metric=1. The metric generally indicates the number of hops to a destination, where a path with a smaller metric is selected more preferentially.

p-0014The above information enables home gateway <b>8</b> to learn a relay destination to which a packet addressed to MNP<b>3</b> is to be transferred.

p-0015Here, home gateway <b>8</b> determines a next hop as a path addressed to MNP<b>3</b> to be mobile router <b>5</b> (step S<b>5</b>). Accordingly, home gateway <b>8</b> transmits data addressed to terminal <b>6</b> to mobile router <b>5</b> (step S<b>10</b>).

p-0016Next, when the user moves to a location with an access point for a wireless LAN after going out of home carrying a PDA (MR<b>5</b>), the PDA (MR<b>5</b>) connects to access router <b>9</b> for the wireless LAN (step S<b>6</b>). Then, the PDA (MR<b>5</b>) creates a CoA to perform position entry in home agent <b>10</b> (step S<b>7</b>).

p-0017Receiving a notice from mobile router <b>5</b>, home agent <b>10</b> periodically advertises path information same as that advertised in step S<b>3</b>, to the home network (step S<b>8</b>). However, a packet for advertising a path is generally sent out at time intervals of several tens of seconds to prevent the communication traffic load from increasing. Accordingly, home gateway <b>8</b> tries transmitting a packet with mobile router <b>5</b> as a relay destination even if home gateway <b>8</b> ceases receiving a path advertising packet from mobile router <b>5</b> (step s<b>11</b>).

p-0018After that, home gateway <b>8</b> updates the path table on the basis of path information from home agent <b>10</b> and selects home agent <b>10</b> as a new relay destination to MNP<b>3</b> (step S<b>9</b>). Consequently, data destined for terminal <b>6</b> is delivered through mobile router <b>4</b> via home agent <b>10</b> (step S<b>12</b>).

p-0019In this way, the user can communicates with a terminal and the like on the Internet from terminal <b>6</b> by connecting to the home network through mobile router <b>5</b> while at home, and via a mobile phone (MR<b>4</b>) outdoors.

p-0020However, in step S<b>5</b>, if home gateway <b>8</b> receives a path advertisement packet from home agent <b>10</b> (step S<b>3</b>) earlier than that from mobile router <b>5</b> (step S<b>4</b>), home gateway <b>8</b> results in selecting home agent <b>10</b> as a relay destination for a packet addressed to MNP<b>3</b> because both metrics are ‘1’.

p-0021In this case, a packet from terminal <b>7</b> addressed to terminal <b>6</b> is more efficiently sent from home gateway <b>8</b> to terminal <b>6</b> via mobile router <b>5</b> because a packet merely flows through the home network. However, home gateway <b>8</b> results in selecting a redundant path that passes through home agent <b>10</b> and mobile router <b>4</b>.

p-0022In step S<b>6</b>, when the user leaves home and his/her carrying PDA (mobile router <b>5</b>) connects to access router <b>9</b>, home gateway <b>8</b> does not updates a path table for several tens of seconds even if home agent <b>10</b> is newly advertising a path. Accordingly, a packet addressed to terminal <b>6</b> during this period does not reach terminal <b>6</b> but disappears.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

p-0023An object of the present invention is to provide a path control method where, when at least one mobile router in a mobile network is connected to a home link, communication between a terminal in the mobile network and an external network is performed through the mobile router; and when no mobile routers are connected to the home link, the communication is performed through a mobile router connected to the external network, and to provide a home agent for implementing the method.

p-0024The path control method of the present invention is that in a mobile network system composed of a mobile network with a mobile router and a terminal interconnected and of a home agent that manages the address of the mobile network. That is, when the mobile router connects to an external network other than the home network including the mobile router, the mobile router informs path information on its own mobile network of the home agent. When the home agent acquires path information addressed to the mobile network, the home agent inquires of the home network whether or not another mobile router connecting to the mobile network exists. After that, the home agent advertises the path information addressed to the mobile network only when the home agent judges that the mobile router connecting to the mobile network does not exist in the home network.

p-0025Accordingly, a packet addressed to the mobile network is transmitted by being relayed by the mobile router if the mobile router connecting to the mobile network exists, which means the packet is delivered to a destination through the shortest path.

p-0026The path control method of the present invention further performs the following process. That is, when a mobile router connects to a home network, the mobile router requests the home agent to update the position entry and then advertises path information to the mobile network including the mobile router, to the home network. Then the home agent advertises to within the home network that a packet cannot be transferred to the mobile network if the request for updating the position entry is one that will delete the position entry of the mobile router.

p-0027Accordingly, each node in the home network learns that the connection between the mobile router and external network has become impossible when the mobile router returns to the home network. Accordingly, the home agent can perform a process for switching to a path passing through another mobile router.

p-0028A home agent of the present invention is equipped with a receiving unit, a mobile router presence acknowledging unit, and an alternate path information advertising unit. The receiving unit receives a request for position entry from a mobile router connected to a mobile network. The mobile router presence acknowledging unit transmits a path inquiry message that inquires whether or not another mobile router connected to the mobile network exists in the home network. When acknowledging that no other mobile routers connected to the mobile network exist in the home network, through the path inquiry message, the alternate path information advertising unit advertises to the home network, alternate path information indicating that the home agent itself has an alternate path addressed to the mobile network, with the lowest cost.

p-0029This process allows the home gateway to promptly switch to a path passing through the home agent when all the mobile routers connecting to the mobile network leave the home network.

p-0030The home agent of the present invention further has an alternate path deleting unit, which advertises to the home network, alternate path information indicating that the alternate path involves the maximum cost, when the receiving unit receives a request for deleting the position entry from the mobile router.

p-0031This process allows the home gateway to promptly switch from a path passing through a home agent to that passing through the mobile router when the mobile router returned to the home network.

p-0032The alternate path information advertising unit of the home agent of the present invention does not advertise information on the path to the mobile network if the mobile router connected to the mobile network exists in the home network.

p-0033Accordingly, the mobile router connected to the mobile network existing in the home network is used as a relay path to the mobile network if the mobile router connected to the mobile network exists in the home network.

p-0034As described above, the present invention enables a home gateway to select a mobile router with the shortest path in a case where plural mobile routers exist in one mobile network, and where some mobile routers are connected to a home network; the others, to an external network. Even if the mobile router moves between the home network and the external network, the home gateway can switch in a short time to an optimum path from a path via the home agent or that via the mobile router connected to the home network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

p-0035<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a block diagram of a mobile router according to the embodiment of the present invention.

p-0036<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a flowchart illustrating the process for position entry/position entry deletion by a home agent according to the embodiment of the present invention.

p-0037<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a flowchart illustrating the process for advertising a path, by a home agent according to the embodiment of the present invention.

p-0038<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> shows position information managed by a home agent according to the embodiment of the present invention.

p-0039<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5A</figref> shows path information managed by a home agent according to the embodiment of the present invention.

p-0040<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5B</figref> shows path information managed by a home agent according to the embodiment of the present invention.

p-0041<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> illustrates a path control sequence according to the embodiment of the present invention.

p-0042<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7A</figref> shows path information managed by a home gateway according to the embodiment of the present invention.

p-0043<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7B</figref> shows path information managed by a home gateway according to the embodiment of the present invention.

p-0044<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7C</figref> shows path information managed by a home gateway according to the embodiment of the present invention.

p-0045<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a format diagram of a packet for position entry/position entry deletion in a mobile network according to the embodiment of the present invention.

p-0046<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> is a format diagram of a packet for path inquiry/path reply/path advertisement in a mobile network according to the embodiment of the present invention.

p-0047<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> is a block diagram of a conventional mobile network system.

p-0048<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref> illustrates a conventional path control sequence.

REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS

p-0049<ul><li id="ul0001-0001" num="0048"><b>1</b> Global network</li><li id="ul0001-0002" num="0049"><b>2</b> Home network</li><li id="ul0001-0003" num="0050"><b>3</b> Mobile network</li><li id="ul0001-0004" num="0051"><b>4</b>, <b>5</b> Mobile router</li><li id="ul0001-0005" num="0052"><b>6</b>, <b>7</b> Terminal</li><li id="ul0001-0006" num="0053"><b>8</b> Home gateway</li><li id="ul0001-0007" num="0054"><b>9</b> Access router</li><li id="ul0001-0008" num="0055"><b>10</b> Home agent</li><li id="ul0001-0009" num="0056"><b>1001</b> Home network interface</li><li id="ul0001-0010" num="0057"><b>1002</b> Packet sending and receiving/relay processing unit</li><li id="ul0001-0011" num="0058"><b>1003</b> Position information management unit</li><li id="ul0001-0012" num="0059"><b>1004</b> Path information management unit</li><li id="ul0001-0013" num="0060"><b>1005</b> Position information storing unit</li><li id="ul0001-0014" num="0061"><b>1006</b> Path information storing unit</li><li id="ul0001-0015" num="0062"><b>1007</b> Mobile router presence acknowledging unit</li><li id="ul0001-0016" num="0063"><b>1008</b> Alternate path information advertising unit</li><li id="ul0001-0017" num="0064"><b>1009</b> Alternate path deleting unit</li></ul>

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

p-0050Hereinafter, a description is made for an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the related drawings.

p-0051The configuration of a mobile network system according to the embodiment is the same as that of the conventional one shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref>, and thus the same reference marks are used for the description. However, home agent <b>10</b> is different from the conventional one in configuration and operation.

p-0052<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a block diagram illustrating the makeup of home agent <b>10</b> according to the embodiment.

p-0053In <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, home network interface (referred to as “if_home” hereinafter) <b>1001</b> connects to home network <b>2</b> to perform a physical layer process and a data link layer process, and packet sending and receiving/relay processing unit <b>1002</b> sends and receives a packet and relays a packet to mobile network <b>3</b>. Home network interface <b>1001</b> and unit <b>1002</b> correspond to a receiving unit according to the present invention.

p-0054Position information management unit <b>1003</b> records information on the position of a mobile router, described in a position entry packet and a position entry deleting packet, in position information storing unit <b>1005</b> to manage the information.

p-0055<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> shows a data table of position information to be stored in position information storing unit <b>1005</b>. In <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, HoA <b>2201</b> is the home address of a mobile router; CoA <b>2202</b>, the current care-of address of a mobile router, and interface <b>2203</b> indicates the communication interface of home agent <b>10</b>. The communication interface has a tunnel interface, a logical interface, to be registered therein. A tunnel interface is used when a packet received by home agent <b>10</b> is encapsulated, a tunnel is formed with a given router, and the packet is tunneled. An interface through which a packet is actually sent and received is a home network interface, a physical interface.

p-0056Path information management unit <b>1004</b> records path information of mobile network <b>3</b> in path information storing unit <b>1006</b> to manage the information. <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5A</figref> shows a data table of path information stored in path information storing unit <b>1006</b>.

p-0057In <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5A</figref>, destination <b>2301</b> indicates the network prefix of a network where a destination node is positioned; next hop <b>2302</b>, the router as a next hop in the path to the destination node. Metric <b>2303</b> indicates the priority of a path, where a smaller one indicates a higher priority. Interface <b>2304</b> indicates an identifier for specifying an interface held by home agent <b>10</b>.

p-0058Mobile router presence acknowledging unit <b>1007</b> transmits a path inquiry message for inquiring whether or not a router connected to specified mobile network <b>3</b> exists in home network <b>2</b>.

p-0059Alternate path information advertising unit <b>1008</b> generates a path advertising packet for informing a node in home network <b>2</b> that home agent <b>10</b> itself performs substitute reception for relaying a packet to specified mobile network <b>3</b> and transmits the path advertising packet.

p-0060Alternate path deleting unit <b>1009</b> generates a path advertising packet for informing a node in home network <b>2</b> that relaying to relevant mobile network <b>3</b> is not available because specified mobile network <b>3</b> is disconnected, and transmits the path advertising packet.

p-0061Next, a description is made for the operation and effects of home agent <b>10</b> with the above-described makeup, of the present invention, using the related drawings.

p-0062<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a flowchart illustrating the process of position entry and position entry deletion.

p-0063First, when packet sending and receiving/relay processing unit <b>1002</b> receives a position entry packet from a mobile router (step S<b>21</b>), unit <b>1002</b> informs position information management unit <b>1003</b>, which then records the position information in position information storing unit <b>1005</b> (step S<b>22</b>). The position entry packet is a Binding Update packet in NEMO, and its format is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>.

p-0064In <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>, the CoA of a mobile router as a transmission source, the address of an home agent, and the HoA of the mobile router are set to transmission source address <b>281</b>, destination address <b>282</b>, and home address <b>283</b> of the IPv<b>6</b> header, respectively. The prefix of a mobile network is set to mobile network prefix <b>285</b>.

p-0065Position information management unit <b>1003</b> saves (or updates) home address <b>283</b> and transmission source address <b>281</b> of a mobile router, described in a position entry packet informed, to HoA <b>2201</b> and CoA <b>2202</b> in position information storing unit <b>1005</b>, respectively (step S<b>22</b>).

p-0066Next, position information management unit <b>1003</b> creates or maintains a tunnel interface with the mobile router to register the tunnel number in interface <b>2203</b> of position information storing unit <b>1005</b> (step S<b>23</b>).

p-0067Next, position information management unit <b>1003</b> informs path information management unit <b>1004</b> of the tunnel number registered. Responding to this information, path information management unit <b>1004</b> saves (or updates) the transmission source of the position entry packet in path information storing unit <b>1006</b> (step S<b>24</b>).

p-0068Next, path information management unit <b>1004</b> directs mobile router presence acknowledging unit <b>1007</b> to transmit a path inquiry packet to home network <b>2</b>. Responding to the direction, unit <b>1007</b> multicasts to all the RIPng routers in home network <b>2</b> (step S<b>25</b>). The path inquiry packet is a RIPng (Routing Information Protocol next generation) packet defined in RFC <b>2080</b>, and its format is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref>.

p-0069In <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref>, the RIPng packet stores plural pieces of path information as Routing Table Entry (RTE) <b>290</b>, respectively. Command <b>291</b> includes 1: inquiry for path information (request), 2: reply to a request for path information, and path deletion advertisement (response). IPv<b>6</b> prefix <b>292</b> includes a destination prefix, and metric <b>293</b> has a value indicating the priority in path control to be set. In this embodiment, the priority in path control is determined by the cost of the path, where the lowest cost sets the highest priority ‘1’; the highest cost, the lowest priority ‘16’. Further, routing table entry <b>290</b> includes path information, and reply to a path inquiry is made, or path information is advertised as a path advertising packet in the home network.

p-0070Next, mobile router presence acknowledging unit <b>1007</b> judges whether or not a reply to the path inquiry has been made in a certain period of time (step S<b>26</b>), and if made, saves (or updates) the transmission source of the path reply packet in next hop <b>2302</b> of the path information stored in path information storing unit <b>1006</b> (step S<b>27</b>). However, if an entry for a mobile router in home network <b>2</b>, with a path to the same prefix already exists, unit <b>1007</b> deletes the entry and saves all the information on a mobile router as the transmission source that has made a reply. This process prevents an entry for a mobile router that has replied to a path inquiry by the previous time from remaining in spite of being invalid.

p-0071In step S<b>26</b>, if a reply to a path inquiry has not been made, alternate path information advertising unit <b>1008</b> generates a path advertising packet (metric =<b>1</b>) shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref>, in order to inform that the home agent itself performs substitute reception and relays a packet addressed to terminal <b>6</b>, and transmits the path advertising packet (step S<b>28</b>). In this case, however, if a path with a mobile router in home network <b>2</b> as a relay destination remains in path information storing unit <b>1006</b>, unit <b>1008</b> deletes the path. The reason for this process is the same as that in the case where a reply to a path inquiry has been made.

p-0072Meanwhile, packet sending and receiving/relay processing unit <b>1002</b> receives a position entry deleting packet from the mobile router (step S<b>29</b>). Next, position information management unit <b>1003</b> extracts information on the tunnel interface with a mobile router as a transmission source, from position information saved in position information storing unit <b>1005</b>. Then, position information management unit <b>1003</b> deletes the tunnel interface specified on the basis of this information (step S<b>30</b>). Meanwhile, position information management unit <b>1003</b> deletes position information (<b>2201</b> through <b>2203</b>) on relevant mobile routers in position information storing unit <b>1005</b> (step S<b>31</b>). Here, this position entry deleting packet is a Binding Update packet shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>, indicating that the Binding Update packet requests for deleting a position entry by setting zero to lifetime <b>284</b>. If zero is set to lifetime <b>284</b>, an HoA is set to transmission source address <b>281</b>.

p-0073Next, position information management unit <b>1003</b> informs path information management unit <b>1004</b> of information on the tunnel interface deleted, and also directs unit <b>1004</b> to transmit path deletion advertisement. Responding to the process, path information management unit <b>1004</b> deletes an entry having a corresponding tunnel interface from path information storing unit <b>1006</b> (step S<b>32</b>), and directs alternate path deleting unit <b>1009</b> to transmit a path deletion advertising packet (step S<b>33</b>).

p-0074This path deletion advertising packet, also a RIPng packet shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref>, sets ‘2’ indicating path deletion advertisement to command <b>291</b>, and sets the network prefix of a transmission source of the position entry deleting packet to IPv<b>6</b> prefix <b>292</b>. The maximum value ‘16’ is set to metric <b>293</b>.

p-0075In this embodiment, a path inquiry packet is transmitted (step S<b>25</b>) only when a position entry request packet arrives from a mobile router. However, transmission may be made periodically, which allows switching to a path via a home agent if a mobile router connected to home network <b>2</b> becomes unavailable due to such as battery exhaustion.

p-0076Next, a description is made for a path advertisement process periodically performed by home agent <b>10</b> of the present invention, using the related drawings.

p-0077<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a flowchart illustrating the path advertisement process according to the embodiment.

p-0078First, path information management unit <b>1004</b> judges at certain time intervals (step S<b>90</b>) whether or not the interface of each entry in path information storing unit <b>1006</b> is a tunnel interface (step S<b>91</b>). If a tunnel interface, path information management unit <b>1004</b> sets ‘1’, the highest priority, to metric <b>2303</b> of a corresponding entry (step S<b>92</b>). Then, unit <b>1004</b> checks for an entry with its interface being a home network interface (if_home), with the same destination field, for all the entries in unit <b>1006</b> (steps S<b>93</b>, S<b>94</b>). If such an entry exists, no process is performed.

p-0079Meanwhile, if such an entry does not exist, path information management unit <b>1004</b> sets destination <b>2301</b> of an entry with a tunnel interface to IPv<b>6</b> prefix <b>292</b>, and adds routing table entry <b>290</b> created by setting the value of metric <b>2303</b> to metric <b>293</b>, to the path advertising packet (step S<b>95</b>).

p-0080In step S<b>91</b>, meanwhile, if a path to the same destination is a home network interface, path information management unit <b>1004</b> does not add the entry to the path advertising packet.

p-0081After performing the above-described process for all the entries in path information storing unit <b>1006</b>, path information management unit <b>1004</b> directs packet sending and receiving/relay processing unit <b>1002</b> to perform multicast transmission of the path advertisement packet generated. Responding to this direction, packet sending and receiving/relay processing unit <b>1002</b> multicasts the path advertising packet to all the RIPng routers in home network <b>2</b> through home network interface <b>1001</b> (step S<b>96</b>).

p-0082In this way, home agent <b>10</b> of the present invention does not perform path advertisement for a mobile network including a mobile router connected to home network <b>2</b>, but periodically performs path advertisement only for information on a path to mobile network <b>3</b> without a mobile router connected to home network <b>2</b>, which means home agent <b>10</b> performs path advertisement only when relaying.

p-0083Next, as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref>, a description is made for the operation of communication between terminal <b>6</b> and terminal <b>7</b> in a case where mobile router (MR) <b>5</b> moves back and forth between home network <b>2</b> and external network <b>1</b>, using the related drawings.

p-0084<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> illustrate communication sequences in the embodiment.

p-0085In <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, after the power to mobile routers (MR) <b>4</b>, <b>5</b> is turned on, mobile router <b>4</b> connects to access router (AR) <b>9</b> in an external network to perform an external network connection process (step S<b>61</b>). Meanwhile, mobile router <b>5</b> connects to home network (HNW) <b>2</b> to perform a home network connection process (step S<b>62</b>).

p-0086Next, mobile router <b>4</b> transmits a position entry request to home agent <b>10</b> (step S<b>63</b>), where mobile router <b>4</b> does not perform path advertisement at this moment.

p-0087When receiving the position entry request packet from mobile router <b>4</b>, home agent <b>10</b> performs a position entry process and then performs multicast transmission of a path inquiry packet in home network <b>2</b> (step S<b>64</b>).

p-0088Next, when receiving the path inquiry packet, mobile router <b>5</b> transmits a path advertisement packet for replying to it, to home agent <b>10</b> (step S<b>65</b>). Since having received a reply from mobile router <b>5</b> in home network <b>2</b>, home agent <b>10</b> does not transmit a path advertising packet so as not to perform substitute reception.

p-0089After connecting to home network <b>2</b>, mobile router <b>5</b> performs path advertisement at certain time intervals (step S<b>66</b>). Responding to the path advertisement from this mobile router <b>5</b>, home gateway <b>8</b> registers mobile router <b>5</b> as a next hop to mobile network <b>3</b> (MNP<b>3</b>), in its own path table (step S<b>67</b>).

p-0090<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7A</figref> shows a path table of home gateway <b>8</b> when receiving this path advertising packet from mobile router <b>5</b>. In <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7A</figref>, mobile router <b>5</b> is registered as a relay destination in a case where destination <b>2501</b> is mobile network <b>3</b> (MNP<b>3</b>), and metric <b>2503</b> is ‘2’, larger than the highest priority ‘1’. Interface <b>2504</b> is a home network interface, indicating that mobile router <b>5</b> is positioned in home network <b>2</b>.

p-0091The reason for not using ‘1’ for metric <b>2503</b> is, when home agent <b>10</b> replaces a mobile router as a relay destination in the future, to rapidly switch from the mobile router to home agent <b>10</b>.

p-0092As a result that a path table has been thus set, home gateway <b>8</b> transmits a packet addressed to terminal <b>6</b> not to home agent <b>10</b> but to mobile router <b>5</b> (step S<b>68</b>).

p-0093As described above, if a mobile router connected to mobile network <b>3</b> connects to home network <b>2</b>, home agent <b>10</b> does not perform path advertisement for corresponding mobile network <b>3</b>, thereby allowing home gateway <b>8</b> to select an optimum path registered.

p-0094Next, when moving to connect to access router <b>9</b>, mobile router <b>5</b> performs an external network connection process (step S<b>69</b>). Then, mobile router <b>5</b> transmits a position entry request packet to home agent <b>10</b> (step S<b>70</b>).

p-0095Next, home agent <b>10</b> performs path inquiry responding to the packet (step S<b>71</b>). However, mobile router <b>5</b> does not connect to home network <b>2</b> and other mobile routers are not in home network <b>2</b>, thus no path reply is made after standing by for a certain period of time. Accordingly, home agent <b>10</b> starts path advertisement for informing that home agent <b>10</b> will perform substitute reception for mobile network <b>3</b> (step S<b>72</b>). The metric of the path advertising packet at this moment is ‘1’.

p-0096When receiving this path advertising packet, home gateway <b>8</b> updates its own path table to that shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7B</figref> (step S<b>73</b>). That is, in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7B</figref>, a path is newly added that is addressed to mobile network <b>3</b> (MNP<b>3</b>) with next hop <b>2502</b> being home agent (HA) <b>10</b>. When receiving a packet addressed to terminal <b>6</b>, home gateway <b>8</b> transfers a packet addressed to MNP<b>3</b>, to home agent <b>10</b>, since the metric (=1) of a path to home agent <b>10</b> is higher than metric (=2) of a path to mobile router <b>5</b> in priority (step S<b>74</b>).

p-0097Home gateway <b>8</b> thus selects an optimum path registered, by metric.

p-0098Next, when mobile router <b>5</b> connects to home network <b>2</b> again (step S<b>75</b>), mobile router <b>5</b> informs home agent <b>10</b> that access router <b>9</b> has been disconnected. For this purpose, mobile router <b>5</b> transmits a position entry deletion request to home agent <b>10</b> (step S<b>76</b>). Further, mobile router <b>5</b> starts transmitting a path advertising packet for advertising its own position at certain time intervals (step S<b>78</b>).

p-0099Meanwhile, when receiving a position entry deletion request from mobile router <b>5</b>, home agent <b>10</b> multicasts a path advertising packet with a metric of ‘16’ in order to inform of a disconnected condition of mobile router <b>5</b> (step S<b>77</b>).

p-0100Home gateway <b>8</b> updates its own path table to that shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7C</figref> with this path advertising packet received (step S<b>79</b>). That is, in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7C</figref>, the path addressed to mobile network <b>3</b> (MNP<b>3</b>) with next hop <b>2502</b> being home agent (HA) <b>10</b> has metric <b>2503</b> of ‘16’ (communication impossible). Accordingly, home gateway <b>8</b> selects mobile router <b>5</b> as a relay destination of a packet addressed to terminal <b>6</b> to transfer the packet (step S<b>80</b>).

p-0101Home gateway <b>8</b> can thus select an optimum path registered as a path to a destination node, by metric.

p-0102In this embodiment, the description is made for a case where IPv<b>6</b> is used, but not limited. Using IPv<b>4</b> as well implements the present invention.

p-0103According to the present invention, an optimum path thus can be selected even if both a mobile router connected to a home network and that connected to an external network exist in one mobile network with plural mobile routers connected thereto. Further, even if a connection destination of a mobile router changes, the home gateway can promptly switch to an optimum path to the destination node.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

p-0104The present invention is useful for such as a path control method in a mobile network system and suitable for a case where plural mobile routers connected to the same mobile network move between a home network and an external network.