JP2007006233A - Service providing method and communication apparatus for realizing the method - Google Patents

Abstract

Transfer control information necessary for exposing a service function provided by a node to an external network can be set in a gateway in a common format regardless of the type of gateway.
When a service disclosure request 5a is generated at a node N11, a service disclosure setting request 5h generated in a common format is converted by the request conversion unit C1 in advance according to the type of the gateway G1. According to the rules, the message is converted into a unique message format corresponding to the gateway G1. The converted service disclosure setting request 5i is transmitted to the gateway G1, and transfer control information is set in the gateway D1 in accordance with the setting contents of the service disclosure setting request 5i. Further, according to the change of the node address, the service disclosure setting change request 7c generated in the common format is converted into a unique message format corresponding to the type of the gateway G1 by the request conversion unit C1, and sent to the gateway G1 for transfer control. Change information settings.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention provides, for example, a service providing method used in a system for connecting a local network to which a communication device is connected to an external network via a gateway, and making a service function provided by the communication device available from the external network. The present invention relates to a communication apparatus that implements this method.

  In recent years, home network devices such as communication devices such as personal computers and home appliances are connected to a local area network (LAN) in a home, and WAN (Wide Area Network) such as a public telephone network and a packet network is further connected from this LAN. A system that can be connected to has been proposed. In this type of system, a LAN and WAN are connected by an inter-network connection device represented by a gateway, and access to home network devices connected to the LAN from an external WAN is possible via this inter-network connection device. (See, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

“A New Remote Configurable Firewall System for Home-use Gateways” Proc.of the 2005 IEEE Consumer Communications and Networking Conference

  However, Non-Patent Document 1 describes the mechanism of the gateway itself for easily realizing access to the home network device from an external network, but when different types of gateways are used for each LAN, There is no description of a mechanism for controlling these gateways in a unified manner. For this reason, for example, when a service function such as an information browsing service provided by an arbitrary home network device is disclosed to an external network, if a different type of gateway is used for each LAN, the service function is disclosed. Necessary transfer control information cannot be set by a common means for each gateway. Further, in a communication environment in which the address of a home network device is dynamically changed, it is necessary to change the setting of transfer control information in the gateway each time even if the type of gateway is unified.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above circumstances, and a first object of the present invention is to provide transfer control information necessary for disclosing a service function provided by a communication device to an external network, and the type of the inter-network connection device. It is to provide a service providing method that can be generated and set in a common format regardless of the communication device and a communication device that realizes this method.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a service function provided by a communication device in a system in which a first network to which a plurality of communication devices are connected is connected to a second network via an inter-network connection device. The transfer control information necessary for providing the service function first when the communication device that discloses the service or the communication device requested to set the transfer control information from the communication device when publishing to the second network. A first setting request is generated for setting the above-mentioned network connection device. Next, according to the generation of the first setting request, the type information of the network connection device is acquired from the network connection device, and based on a conversion rule determined in advance corresponding to the acquired type information The first setting request is converted into a second setting request corresponding to the type of the inter-network connection device. Then, this second setting request is sent to the inter-network connection device, and transfer control information is set in the inter-network connection device in accordance with the second setting request.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, when the transfer control information is set in the network connection device, the first setting request generated in the communication device is converted into the second setting request corresponding to the type of the network connection device. The Therefore, even when there are multiple types of network connection devices, the communication device can generate a setting request in a common format regardless of the type of network connection device. Transfer control information can be set without being conscious of it.

Specifically, in a system in which a common first address is assigned to the first and second networks to a communication device that discloses a service, a service provision request with the first address as the destination address is the second. Transfer control information is set in the inter-network connection device so that the service provision request is transferred to the communication device that discloses the service while the destination address is held at the first address. To do.
In this case, when a common first address is assigned to the first and second networks to the communication device that discloses the service, all destinations of service provision requests coming from the second external network are addressed. Can be transferred to other communication devices.

  Further, when the first address used in the second network is given to the inter-network connection device, and the second address unique to the first network is given to the communication device that discloses the service, When a service provision request having the first address as the destination address is sent from the second network, the service provision request obtained by converting the first address into the second address is transferred to the communication device. Next, transfer control information is set in the inter-network connection device.

  In this way, even when the communication device that provides the service is given the second address unique to the first network, the service provision request sent from the external second network is transmitted by the inter-network connection device. By converting the address, it can be reliably transferred to the destination service providing apparatus.

  Furthermore, the present invention relates to the above-mentioned network connection device when the conversion management server device is connected to the second network and the conversion management server device manages the conversion rule corresponding to the type of the network connection device. A conversion rule corresponding to the type information is acquired from the conversion management server device based on the acquired type information.

  In this way, even if the communication device itself does not hold the conversion rule corresponding to the type of the network connection device, the conversion rule corresponding to the type information can be acquired from the conversion management server device. This eliminates the need for the communication device to manage conversion rules by itself. Further, even when the type of the network connection device is changed or when the network connection device is newly installed, it is not necessary for the communication device to manage the conversion rule corresponding to each of the network connection devices.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, when the address of a communication device that discloses a service is dynamically changed, a third setting request for requesting a change in setting of transfer control information is generated every time the address is changed. . Then, the generated third setting request is converted into a fourth setting request in accordance with a predetermined conversion rule corresponding to the type information of the network connection device, and the fourth setting request is converted into the network connection device. The transfer control information set in the inter-network connection device is changed according to the fourth setting request.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, every time the address of the communication device that discloses the service is dynamically changed, the transfer control information set in the inter-network connection device is automatically changed. For this reason, it is not necessary for the user to change the setting of the inter-network connection device each time. Further, since the latest connection control information is always set in the inter-network connection device following the address change of the communication device, the service function provided by the communication device can always be reliably used from the outside.

  In short, according to the present invention, transfer control information necessary for exposing a service function provided by a communication device to an external network can be generated and set in a common format regardless of the type of inter-network connection device. Methods and apparatus for providing service functions can be provided.

Embodiments of a service providing method according to the present invention and a communication apparatus that implements the method will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this system, a plurality of LANs (Local Area Networks) L1, L2, and L3 as local networks are respectively connected to WAN (Wide Area Network) W1 that is an external network through gateways G1, G2, and G3 as inter-network connection devices. Is connected to.

  The gateways G1, G2, and G3 are different types of devices, and each holds device type information as a sysOID value in a standard MIB (Management Information Base). Therefore, the type information can be acquired by a common means using SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol). On the other hand, the gateways G1, G2, and G3 correspond to different service disclosure setting methods. For example, the gateway G1 corresponds to telnet, and the gateways G2 and G3 correspond to HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). Note that the contents of the setting request message are different for each.

  The gateways G1, G2, and G3 are allowed to pass all packets from the LANs L1, L2, and L3 to the WAN W1, and pass only a part of the packets that are sent from the WAN W1 to the LANs L1, L2, and L3. In addition, transfer control information is initially set.

  A plurality of nodes N11 to N13, N21 to N23, and N31 to N33 as communication devices are connected to the LANs L1, L2, and L3, respectively. The gateways G1, G2, and G3 and the nodes N11 to N13, N21 to N23, and N31 to N33 all correspond to IP (Internet Protocol). In addition, by interposing an appropriate transfer device between the nodes N11 to N13, N21 to N23, N31 to N33 and the LANs L1, L2, and L3, the nodes N11 to N13, N21 to N23, and N31 to N33 are non-IP It is also possible to use compatible devices.

  A conversion unit management server S1 is connected to the WAN W1. The conversion unit management server S1 manages conversion rules corresponding to the types of the gateways G1, G2, and G3. In this conversion rule, in the nodes N11 to N13, N21 to N23, and N31 to N33, a service publication setting request generated in a common format is converted into a service publication setting request in a unique format corresponding to the types of gateways G1, G2, and G3. Used to convert to

By the way, the nodes N11 to N13, N21 to N23, and N31 to N33 have a node having a service disclosure function and a service disclosure control function for setting transfer control information for service disclosure to the gateway instead of the node. There are nodes that have both functions. Among these, the node provided with the service disclosure control function is configured as follows. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration.
That is, each of the nodes N11 to N13, N21 to N23, and N31 to N33 includes the main control unit P1. A plurality of applications A1 to An, a network configuration management unit (NW configuration management unit) M1, a request conversion unit C1, and a network interface (NWI / F) N1 are connected to the main control unit P1 via a bus. The All of these functions are realized by causing a microcomputer to execute a program.

  The applications A1 to An execute processing for providing a service to be disclosed under the control of the main control unit P1. These applications A1 to An can be added, deleted, and updated as needed for each LAN. The main control unit P1 provides a common interface for service function disclosure in response to a service function disclosure setting request generated by the applications A1 to An.

  The request conversion unit C1 converts the service disclosure setting request generated in the common format into a unique format corresponding to the corresponding gateway type, and transmits the converted service disclosure setting request to the gateway to be set. Then, transfer control information is set in the gateway. The NW configuration management unit M1 manages the corresponding LAN configuration, and stores the addresses of nodes and gateways accommodated in the LAN. The network interface N1 transmits / receives data to / from the corresponding LAN under the control of the main control unit P1.

Next, the operation according to this embodiment will be described based on the above configuration.
(1) When transfer control information is set in the gateway in response to a node service disclosure request
Here, the node N11 connected to the LAN L1 receives a request from another node N12 having a service disclosure function, and in order to disclose the service function SV1 provided by the node N112 to the WAN W1, the gateway N1 A case where transfer control information is set will be described as an example. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the control procedure and control contents of the node, and FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the service disclosure setting control procedure in the system.

  The application A1 generates a service disclosure request 5a having as arguments the IP address of the node N12 and the port number of the service function SV1. When the service disclosure request 5a is generated, the main control unit P1 proceeds from step 3a to step 3b, and first acquires the IP address of the gateway G1 from the NW configuration management unit M1. As shown in FIG. 5, the acquisition of the IP address is performed by giving a gateway address request 5b to the NW configuration management unit M1, and the NW configuration management unit M1 returns the IP address 5c of the corresponding gateway G1 in response to this request. Made.

  Next, the main control unit P1 determines whether or not it holds the type information of the gateway G1 in Step 3c, and if not, acquires the type information from the gateway G1 in Step 3d. This type information is acquired by sending a device type request 5d to the gateway G1 using SNMP, and the gateway G1 returns the device type information 5e in response to this request. If the type information of the gateway G1 is already stored, the type information acquisition procedure in step 3d is omitted.

  Subsequently, in Step 3e, the main control unit P1 determines whether or not the node N11 holds a conversion rule corresponding to the acquired device type information of the gateway G1. As a result of this determination, if not held, the process proceeds to step 3f, and a conversion rule acquisition request 5f is transmitted to the conversion management server S1 with the acquired device type information as an argument.

  The conversion management server S1 includes a request conversion unit management table. The request conversion unit management table stores IDs of request conversion units in association with the device types of the gateways G1 to G3 as shown in FIG. 8, for example. The conversion management server S1 reads the request conversion unit ID corresponding to the device type information included in the acquisition request 5f from the request conversion unit management table, and sends the conversion rule corresponding to the request conversion unit ID to the requesting node N11. To deliver.

  For example, if an acquisition request 5f is sent with the device type information (vendor_aaa.model_001) of the gateway G1 as an argument, the conversion management server S1 has C1 as the conversion unit ID corresponding to the device type information (vendor_aaa.model_001). Are read from the request conversion unit management table. Then, the conversion rule 5g corresponding to the read C1 is read from the memory and distributed to the requesting node N11.

  The node N11 receives the conversion rule 5g distributed from the conversion management server S1 in step 3g, and stores the received conversion rule 5g in the request conversion unit C1. Note that if the conversion rule corresponding to the device type information of the gateway G1 is already stored in the request conversion unit C1, the steps 3f and 3g are omitted.

  When the conversion rule is acquired, the main control unit P1 generates a common format setting request corresponding to the service disclosure request previously generated from the application A1 in step 3h, and the generated service disclosure setting request 5h. Is given to the request conversion unit C1. In step 3i, the request conversion unit C1 converts the given service disclosure setting request 5h into a unique message format corresponding to the type of the gateway G1 according to the acquired conversion rule. Then, the converted service disclosure setting request 5i is transmitted to the corresponding gateway G1 in step 3j. For example, if the protocol supported by the gateway G1 is telnet, the service disclosure setting request 5h is converted into a message format corresponding to telnet in the request conversion unit C1, and then transmitted to the gateway G1.

  The setting contents of the service disclosure setting request are converted as follows. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the address type of LAN L1 is first determined in step 4a. If the result of this determination is that the address type is the same address as the public address (global address) used in WAN W1, the process proceeds to step 4b to set the content corresponding to the global address. On the other hand, if the address type is a local address (private address), the setting contents for responding to the private address are set in step 4c.

  In the gateway G1, processing for setting transfer control information is performed in accordance with the setting contents of the service disclosure setting request 5i sent from the request conversion unit C1 of the node N11. For example, as described above, when the same address as the public address (global address) used in WAN W1 is assigned to LAN L1, a packet flowing in from WAN W1 is passed through while retaining its destination address. Then, the filter is set so as to be transferred to the node N12 that requests the disclosure of the service.

  On the other hand, when a local address (private address) is assigned to the LAN L1, a packet flowing from the WAN W1 is changed to the local address assigned the destination address (public address of the gateway G1) and the port number to the node N12. After conversion to the address and port number, NAT (Network Address Translation) is set so as to transfer to the node N12.

  The main control unit P1 of the node N11 monitors the setting end notifications 5j and 5k returned from the gateway G1 in step 3k. When the setting end notification 5k is received, the process proceeds to step 3l, and information 5l indicating a new setting state is registered in the NW configuration management unit M1. When the setting registration end 5m is notified from the NW configuration management unit M1, the setting end 5n is notified to the requesting application A1 in step 3m, and the series of service disclosure setting control ends.

(2) When the transfer control information set in the gateway is changed in accordance with the node address change
Here, a case will be described as an example where the address of the node N12 that publishes the service is set to be dynamically acquired, and the address is changed after the publishing setting of the service provided by the node N12 is completed. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a node control procedure and control contents, and FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing a service disclosure setting change control procedure in the system.

  When the address is changed, the node N12 transmits a reconnection notification 7a to the NW configuration management unit M1 of the node N11. The reconnection notification 7a includes the physical address and IP address of the node N12. Further, as means for transmitting the reconnection notification 7a, for example, when the NW configuration management unit M1 has a DHCP (Dynamic host Configuration Protocol) server function, or the gateway G1 provides a DHCP (Dynamic host Configuration Protocol) server function. The NW configuration management unit M1 can use what captures the broadcast packet by the DHCP server function.

  The node N11 monitors the arrival of the reconnection notification by the NW configuration management unit M1 in step 6a. When the reconnection notification 7a arrives in this state, the process proceeds to step 6b, where first the connection of the transmission source node N12 is made. Determine the history. That is, it is determined whether or not the node N12 has been previously connected based on the physical address of the source node included in the reconnection notification 7a. If the node N12 has been previously connected, the process proceeds to step 6c, where it is determined whether the service function has been set to be disclosed in the past. If it is determined that the service function is disclosed as a result of this determination, an address change notification 7b is given to the main control unit P1 in step 6d. This address change notification 7b includes the changed IP address.

  Upon receiving the address change notification 7b, the main control unit P1 generates a service disclosure setting change request 7c in step 6e, and notifies the request conversion unit C1 of the generated service disclosure setting change request 7c. In step 6f, the request conversion unit C1 converts the given service disclosure setting change request 7c into a unique message format corresponding to the type of the gateway G1 in accordance with a conversion rule already stored. Then, the converted service disclosure setting change request 7d is transmitted to the gateway G1 in step 6g. In the gateway G1, the transfer control information setting is changed according to the setting contents of the service disclosure setting change request 7d.

  The main control unit P1 of the node N11 monitors the setting end notifications 7e and 7f returned from the gateway G1 in step 6h. When the setting end notification 7f is received, the process proceeds to step 6i, and information 7g indicating the changed setting state is registered in the NW configuration management unit M1. When the end of setting registration 7h is notified from the NW configuration management unit M1, the main control unit P1 detects the setting registration end notification 7h in step 6j and ends the series of service disclosure setting change control.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the service disclosure request 5a is generated in the node N11, the service disclosure setting request 5h generated in a common format is notified from the main control unit P1 to the request conversion unit C1. The service disclosure setting request 5h is converted into a unique message format corresponding to the gateway G1 according to a conversion rule determined in advance corresponding to the type of the gateway G1. The converted service disclosure setting request 5i is transmitted to the gateway G1, and transfer control information is set in the gateway D1 in accordance with the setting contents of the service disclosure setting request 5i.

  Therefore, even when the types of gateways G1, G2, and G3 are different and the setting means are different, the node N11 can generate a service disclosure setting request in a common format regardless of the types of the gateways G1, G2, and G3. Thus, transfer control information can be set without being conscious of the types of gateways G1, G2, and G3.

  In this embodiment, when the node N11 does not hold the conversion rule corresponding to the device type information of the gateway G1, the conversion management server S1 is requested to acquire the conversion rule using the device type information as an argument. In response to the request, the conversion rule distributed from the conversion management server S1 is received and stored in the request conversion unit C1.

  Therefore, even if the node N11 itself does not hold the conversion rule corresponding to the type of the gateway G1, the conversion rule corresponding to the type can be acquired from the conversion management server S1. For this reason, even when the type of the gateway G1 is changed or a gateway is newly established, the node N11 does not need to manage the conversion rule corresponding to the gateway by itself.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the address of the node N12 is changed after the service disclosure is completed and a reconnection notification is sent from the node N12 accordingly, the service disclosure setting change request 7c is generated in the node N11. Then, the generated setting change request 7c is converted into a unique message format corresponding to the type of the gateway G1 in the request conversion unit C1 according to the conversion rule corresponding to the type of the gateway G1, and the converted setting change request 7d. Is sent to the gateway G1 to change the setting of the transfer control information.

  Therefore, every time the node address is dynamically changed, the transfer control information set in the gateway G1 is automatically changed. For this reason, it becomes unnecessary for the user to change the setting of the gateway G1 each time. In addition, since the latest connection control information is always set in the gateway G1 following the address change of the node, the service function provided by the node can be reliably used from the external WAN W1. Become.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the embodiment, the node N11 having the service disclosure function receives a request from the node N12 having the service disclosure function, and executes control for setting transfer control information in the gateway instead of the node N12. The case of doing this was described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a node having both a service disclosure function and a service disclosure control function may set and control transfer control information for publishing its own service.

In the above embodiment, the case where a gateway is used as an inter-network connection device has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a case where a router, a switch, or the like is used.
Furthermore, although the case where the conversion unit management server apparatus is provided in the WAN W1 has been described as an example in the embodiment, it may be provided in the LAN. In addition, the types and configurations of nodes, the procedures and contents of service disclosure setting control by nodes, the procedures and contents of service disclosure setting change control, the types of service functions, the protocols corresponding to the network connection devices, etc. Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  In short, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine suitably the component covering different embodiment.

The system block diagram for implement | achieving one Embodiment of the service provision method concerning this invention. The block diagram which shows the function structure of the principal part of the node in the system shown in FIG. The flowchart which shows the procedure and content of the service public setting control by the node shown in FIG. The flowchart which shows the procedure and content of the setting request | requirement conversion process in the service public setting control shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing a service disclosure setting control procedure in the system shown in FIG. 1. The flowchart which shows the procedure and content of the service public setting change control by the node shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing a procedure of service disclosure setting change control shown in FIG. 6. The figure which shows an example of the request | requirement conversion part management table provided in a conversion part management server.

Explanation of symbols

  W1: WAN as an external network, L1, L2, L3 ... Local area network, G1, G2, G3 ... Gateway, N11-N33 ... Node, S1 ... Conversion unit management server, A1-An ... Application, P1 ... Main control unit M1... Network configuration management unit, C1... Request conversion unit, N1.

Claims (10)

In a system in which a first network to which a plurality of communication devices are connected is connected to a second network via an inter-network connection device, when a service function provided by the communication device is disclosed to the second network,
A communication device that publishes the service or a communication device that has been requested to set transfer control information from the communication device.
Generating a first setting request for setting transfer control information necessary for publishing the service function in the inter-network connection device;
Obtaining the type information of the network connection device from the network connection device in response to the first setting request;
A step of converting the first setting request into a second setting request corresponding to the type of the inter-network connection device based on a predetermined conversion rule corresponding to the acquired type information;
A service providing method comprising: sending the second setting request to the inter-network connection device, and setting transfer control information in the inter-network connection device according to the second setting request. When a conversion management server device is connected to the second network and the conversion management server device manages a conversion rule corresponding to the type of the inter-network connection device,
A communication device that publishes the service or a communication device that is requested to set transfer control information from the communication device responds to the type information from the conversion management server device based on the type information acquired from the network connection device. The service providing method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of acquiring a conversion rule to be performed. When a common first address is assigned to the first and second networks to the communication device that publishes the service,
In the process of setting the transfer control information, when a service provision request having the first address as a destination address is sent from the second network, a service provision request holding the destination address at the first address. 2. The service providing method according to claim 1, wherein transfer control information is set in the inter-network connection device so as to be transferred to a communication device that discloses the service. When the first address used in the second network is given to the inter-network connection device, and the second address unique to the first network is given to the communication device that discloses the service ,
In the process of setting the transfer control information, when a service provision request having the first address as a destination address is sent from the second network, the first address is converted into the second address. 2. The service providing method according to claim 1, wherein transfer control information is set in the inter-network connection device so that a service providing request is transferred to a communication device that discloses the service. When the address of the communication device that publishes the service is dynamically changed,
A communication device that publishes the service or a communication device that has been requested to set transfer control information from the communication device.
Generating a third setting request for requesting a setting change of the transfer control information each time the address is changed;
Converting the generated third setting request into a fourth setting request in accordance with a predetermined conversion rule corresponding to the type information of the inter-network connection device;
A step of sending the fourth setting request to the inter-network connection device, and changing transfer control information set in the inter-network connection device in accordance with the fourth setting request. The service providing method according to claim 1. Used in a system in which a first network to which a plurality of communication devices are connected is connected to a second network via an inter-network connection device, and a service function provided by the communication device is disclosed to the second network. A communication device comprising:
Means for generating a first setting request for setting transfer control information necessary for publishing the service function in the inter-network connection device;
Means for acquiring type information of the network connection device from the network connection device in response to the first setting request;
Means for converting the first setting request into a second setting request corresponding to the type of the inter-network connection device based on a predetermined conversion rule corresponding to the acquired type information;
Means for sending the second setting request to the inter-network connection device and setting transfer control information in the inter-network connection device according to the second setting request. When a conversion management server device is connected to the second network and the conversion management server device manages a conversion rule corresponding to the type of the inter-network connection device,
7. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means for acquiring a conversion rule corresponding to the type information from the conversion management server apparatus based on the type information acquired from the inter-network connection apparatus. When a common first address is assigned to the first and second networks to the communication device that publishes the service,
The means for setting the transfer control information includes a service provision request for holding a destination address at the first address when a service provision request having the first address as a destination address is sent from the second network. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein transfer control information is set in the inter-network connection device so that the network device is transferred to a communication device that publishes the service. When the first address used in the second network is given to the inter-network connection device, and the second address unique to the first network is given to the communication device that discloses the service ,
The means for setting the transfer control information converts the first address into the second address when a service provision request having the first address as the destination address is sent from the second network. 7. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein transfer control information is set in the inter-network connection apparatus so that a service provision request is transferred to a communication apparatus that discloses the service. Means for generating a third setting request for requesting a change in the setting of the transfer control information each time an address of a communication device that discloses the service is changed;
Means for converting the generated third setting request into a fourth setting request in accordance with a predetermined conversion rule corresponding to the type information of the inter-network connection device;
Means for sending the fourth setting request to the inter-network connection device and changing transfer control information set in the inter-network connection device in accordance with the fourth setting request. The communication apparatus according to claim 6.

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