JPH07202931A - Gateway device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] The present invention provides a gateway device that connects a computer net and a small net and can uniquely identify a mobile node that moves between a plurality of small nets. To aim. A computer net packet addressed to a specific port is received by a specific packet receiving means 6 and a port managing means 5 via a computer net connecting means 2, and a protocol converting means 4 converts the packet into a simple net protocol. It is converted and output to the wireless network via the wireless network connection control means 3. Wireless net packets are
A packet which is not addressed to the local address of the slave station managed by the wireless network connection control means 3 is converted into a computer network protocol by the protocol conversion means 4 with reference to the address table holding means, and the packet is transmitted via the computer network connection control means 2. Sent to the computer network.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gateway device which connects both a computer network and a simple network and controls a node moving between a plurality of simple networks to communicate via the computer network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a digital cordless telephone system or the like capable of communicating in a small scale is approaching practical use. By connecting such a simple wireless network to an existing computer network, a simple mobile data communication system can be realized. The digital cordless telephone system has a relatively small communication range, but attempts to secure convenience by providing master stations at many points. Since digital data can be transmitted between the master station and slave stations,
It is suitable for data communication by connecting a personal computer etc. to the slave station in addition to voice communication. By using this, it is possible to build a plurality of simple wireless networks that can perform data communication. In addition to the digital cordless telephone system, there is an extension network or the like individually provided in a plurality of premises such as companies as a simple and homogeneous network.

On the other hand, various computer networks have already been constructed, for example, TCP / IP (Tra
There are also worldwide networks such as the Internet that comply with the nsmisson Control Protocol / Internet Protocol. Generally, a node connected to a network communicates using an address uniquely identified in the network. Therefore, it is difficult to connect different networks to each other.

Conventionally, in order to perform communication between networks having different address systems, a gateway having a protocol conversion function between networks has been used. The gateway converts the packet specifying the address in the destination network into the protocol of the destination,
Send to destination network. This enables communication between networks having different address systems.

[0005]

However, according to the above-mentioned prior art, the gateway can only connect between one computer network and one wireless network, and the same quality as in a digital cordless telephone system. And there are several simple networks, and
If there is a node that moves between the networks, there is a problem that once the node has moved to another network, it cannot communicate anymore.

[0006] In other words, the conventional gateway has the same quality for a node (hereinafter referred to as a mobile node) moving between wireless networks in the entire network including a plurality of wireless networks and a computer network.
There is a problem that it cannot be uniquely identified by an address in the wireless network. For example, it is not possible to continue communication when a mobile node that is a child station of a wireless network moves, or to communicate with a mobile node that does not know which wireless network is currently connected.

If both the computer network and the wireless network use the OSI compliant address system of ISO or the IP address of TCP / IP which is the most standard protocol in practice, it is considered that they can communicate with each other. . However, in reality, each network is constructed using its own address system, and it can be said that it is impossible to newly assign an IP address or the like to all the child devices because the number of addresses is limited. Furthermore, it cannot be said that all the slaves support the OSI-compliant protocol or TCP / IP. Because the mobile device of the wireless network requires portability and downsizing,
This is because the burden is too large for the child device to support.

Further, when simple personal computer nets are scattered in groups on a computer network, the same problem as described above is caused between the simple network and the sharpener network. In view of the above problems, the present invention is a gateway capable of uniquely identifying a mobile node by connecting a computer network and a simple network to a mobile node that is homogeneous and moves between a plurality of simple networks. The purpose is to provide a device.

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention according to claim 1 is a gateway device having an interface for connecting both a computer network and a wireless network, and the computer according to the protocol of the computer network. Computer network connection control means for transmitting and receiving packets to and from the network, and wireless network connection control means for transmitting and receiving packets to and from the wireless network according to the protocol of the wireless network, and managing the communicable slave stations existing in the wireless area as a master station, A port management unit that secures one of the logical ports used for communication control relating to the communication path of the computer network and the identification of the communication partner, and holds a logical port number representing the logical port for communication with the wireless network; Of the packets received by the network connection control means, including the local address in the destination wireless network and receiving the packet addressed to the specific port, and the packet received by the specific packet reception means First protocol conversion means for converting to a format suitable for a protocol in the network and outputting to the wireless network connection control means, a local address of another wireless network, and an address of a node to which a master station managing the wireless network belongs When the packet received by the address table holding means and the wireless network connection control means stored in association with each other is not the packet addressed to the local address of the slave station managed by the wireless network connection control means, the address table holding means is set. Irradiation to takes out the address of the corresponding node, a second protocol conversion means for converting the packets destined address fetched and a combined format protocol in a computer network to the computer network connection control means,
Is equipped with.

A second aspect of the present invention is a gateway device having an interface for connecting both a master station of a computer network and a master station of a wireless network, and computer network connection control means for transmitting / receiving packets to / from the computer network according to a protocol of the computer network. And a master station connecting means for transmitting and receiving data to and from the master station of the wireless network, and one of a logical port used for communication control relating to the communication path of the computer network and the identification of the communication partner are secured, and Among the packets received by the computer network connection control means for holding the logical port number representing the logical port for communication, the packet including the local address in the destination wireless network and addressed to the specific port. Specific packet receiving means for receiving the packet, a first protocol converting means for converting the packet received by the specific packet receiving means into a format suitable for a protocol in the wireless network and outputting the converted packet to the master station connecting means, and another wireless network. Local address of
An address table holding unit that stores the address of the node to which the master station that manages the wireless network corresponds and a packet received by the master station connection unit is addressed to the local address of the slave station managed by the master station. When the packet is not a packet, the address of the corresponding node is extracted by referring to the address table holding means, and the packet is converted into a packet addressed to the extracted address in a format suitable for the protocol of the computer network, and then the computer network connection control means Second protocol conversion means for outputting.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gateway device having an interface for connecting both a computer network and a wireless network, the computer network connection control means for transmitting and receiving packets to and from the computer network according to the protocol of the computer network, and the wireless connection. For wireless network connection control means for transmitting / receiving packets to / from a wireless network according to the network protocol and managing a communicable slave station existing in a wireless area as a master station, and communication control for identifying a communication route of a computer network and a communication partner. Of the logical ports used, the maximum number of slave stations that can be managed by the wireless network connection control means are secured, and the logical port numbers that represent those logical ports for communication with the wireless network are assigned to the local stations of each slave station. Port management means for holding all correspondences with addresses, and specific packet reception means for receiving a packet addressed to any port held in the port management means among packets received by the computer network connection control means A first protocol converting means for converting the packet received by the specific packet receiving means into a format suitable for a protocol in the wireless network and outputting the converted packet to the wireless network connection control means, a local address of another wireless network, and the wireless network The address table holding means for storing the address and the port number of the node to which the parent station that manages the packet is associated and the packet received by the wireless network connection control means is the slave station managed by the wireless network connection control means. Other local address Address table holding means to retrieve the address and port number of the corresponding node, and to convert the packet into a packet addressed to the retrieved address and port in a format suitable for the protocol in the computer network Second protocol conversion means for outputting to the network connection control means.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a gateway device having an interface for connecting both a master station of a computer network and a master station of a wireless network, and computer network connection control means for transmitting and receiving packets to and from the computer network according to the protocol of the computer network. And a master station connection means for transmitting and receiving data to and from the master station of the wireless network, and a logical port used for communication control related to identification of a communication path and a communication partner of the computer network, which is a child manageable by the master station connection means. Port management means that secures the maximum number of stations and holds all the correspondence between the logical port numbers that represent those logical ports for communication with the wireless network and the local address of each slave station, and computer network connection Of the packets received by the control means Specific packet receiving means for receiving a packet addressed to the specific port, and first protocol conversion for converting the packet received by the specific packet receiving means into a format suitable for a protocol in a wireless network and outputting the converted packet to the master station connecting means. Means, a local address of another wireless network, an address table holding means that stores the address and port number of the node to which the parent station that manages the wireless network corresponds, and the packet received by the parent station connection means. , When the packet is not addressed to the local address of the slave station managed by the master station connection means, the address and the port number of the corresponding node are extracted by referring to the address table holding means, and the packet is adapted to the protocol in the computer network. Address in the form and retrieved Gateway device, characterized in that it comprises a second protocol converter means for outputting the converted into packet computer network connection control means destined over bets, the.

The invention of claim 5 relates to any one of claims 1 to 4 above.
Further, to any of the gateway devices, a local address of a slave station in a communicable state on all wireless networks that can communicate via the computer network,
When a packet that is not addressed to the local address of the station managed by the wireless network connection control means and the address management means that manages the address of the node to which the parent station that manages the slave station corresponds is received, the address management is performed. Means for inquiring the address of the node corresponding to the local address, and outputting the address of the corresponding node to the computer network connection control means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gateway device having an interface for connecting both a computer network and a simple network, and computer network connection control means for transmitting / receiving a packet to / from the computer network according to a protocol of the computer network. Simple network connection control means for transmitting and receiving packets to and from the simple network according to the protocol of the simple network, and managing a node existing in the simple network as a node, and a logical port used for communication control relating to the communication path of the computer network and the identification of the communication partner. One of them is secured and is received by a computer network connection control means and a port management means for holding a logical port number representing the logical port for communication with the simple network. Among the packets, a specific packet receiving means for receiving a packet addressed to the specific port and including a local address in the simple network of the destination, and a packet received by the specific packet receiving means in a format adapted to the protocol in the simple network. The first to convert and output to the simple network connection control means
The protocol conversion means, the address table holding means for storing the local address of another simple network and the address of the node to which the parent node managing the simple network corresponds, and the packet received by the simple network connection control means. Is a packet that is not addressed to the local address of the node managed by the simple network connection control means, the address of the corresponding node is retrieved by referring to the address table holding means, and in a format suitable for the protocol in the computer network. And second protocol conversion means for converting the extracted packet to the address and outputting it to the computer network connection control means.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gateway device having an interface for connecting both a computer network and a simple network, and computer network connection control means for transmitting / receiving a packet to / from the computer network according to a protocol of the computer network. Simple network connection control means for transmitting and receiving packets to and from the simple network according to the protocol of the simple network and managing a node existing in the simple network as a parent node, and a logic used for communication control relating to the communication path of the computer network and the identification of the communication partner. Of the ports, the maximum number of slave stations that can be managed by the simple network connection control means are secured, and the logical port numbers that represent those logical ports for communication with the simple network and the And a specific packet receiving means for receiving a packet addressed to any one of the ports held by the port management means, among the packets received by the computer network connection control means. A first protocol converting means for converting a packet received by the specific packet receiving means into a format suitable for a protocol in the simple network and outputting the converted packet to the simple network connection control means, a local address of another simple network, and a simple network The address table holding unit that stores the address and port number of the node to which the parent node that manages is associated with each other, and the packet received by the simple network connection control unit is stored in the node managed by the simple network connection control unit. Local address When the packet is not addressed, the address table holding means is referred to retrieve the address and port number of the corresponding node, and the packet is converted into a packet addressed to the retrieved address and port in a format suitable for the protocol in the computer network. A gateway device, comprising: a second protocol conversion means for outputting to a computer network connection control means.

The invention according to claim 8 is the gateway device according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising: a local address of a node in a communicable state on all simple networks that can communicate via a computer network. , When the address management means that manages the address of the parent node that manages that node and the simple network connection control means receive a packet that is not addressed to the local address of the station that is managed as the parent station, the address management means And a destination address inquiry means for inquiring the address of the node corresponding to the local address and outputting the address of the corresponding node to the computer network connection control means.

[0017]

With the above-mentioned means, in the invention of claim 1,
As for the packets addressed to the wireless network from the computer network, only the packets addressed to the specific port secured in advance are received by the specific packet receiving means via the computer network connecting means. The received packet is the first
Is converted into a packet of a protocol in the wireless network in which a local address in the wireless network attached to the packet is designated as a destination address. The converted packet is output to the wireless network by the wireless network connection control means. As a result, it is received by the intended destination node.

A packet addressed to the computer network from the wireless network is received by the wireless network connection control means. Among the received packets, the packets which are not addressed to the local address of the slave station managed by the wireless network connection control means are addressed to the destination address obtained by the second protocol conversion means by referring to the address table holding means. Then, it is converted into the protocol used in the computer network. The converted packet is transmitted to the intended destination by the computer network connection control means.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the packets destined for the wireless network from the computer network are received only by the specific packet receiving means through the computer network connecting means and destined for the specific port secured in advance. . The received packet is converted by the first protocol conversion means into a packet of a protocol in the wireless network in which a local address in the wireless network attached to the packet is designated as a destination address. The converted packet is output to the master station by the master station connection means, and is received by the target destination node via the master station.

A packet addressed to the computer network from the wireless network is received by the master station connecting means. Among the received packets, the packet which is not addressed to the local address of the child station managed by the parent station is addressed to the destination address obtained by referring to the address table holding means by the second protocol conversion means, and is addressed to the computer. Converted to the protocol used in the network. The converted packet is transmitted to the intended destination by the computer network connection control means.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the packets destined for the wireless network from the computer network are received only by the specific packet receiving means via the computer network connecting means and destined for the specific port secured in advance. The received packet is converted by the first protocol converting means into a packet of a protocol in the wireless network, with a local address in the wireless network corresponding to the port number that received the packet being designated as a destination address. The converted packet is output to the master station by the master station connection means, and is received by the target destination node via the master station.

A packet addressed to the computer network from the wireless network is received by the master station connection means. Among the received packets, the packet which is not addressed to the local address of the child station managed by the parent station is addressed to the destination address obtained by referring to the address table holding means by the second protocol conversion means, and is addressed to the computer. Converted to the protocol used in the network. The converted packet is transmitted to the intended destination by the computer network connection control means.

In the invention of claim 4, the packets destined for the wireless network from the computer network are received only by the specific packet receiving means through the computer network connecting means and destined for the specific port secured in advance. The received packet is converted by the first protocol converting means into a packet of a protocol in the wireless network, with a local address in the wireless network corresponding to the port number that received the packet being designated as a destination address. The converted packet is output to the master station by the master station connection means, and is received by the target destination node via the master station.

A packet addressed to the computer network from the wireless network is received by the master station connecting means. Among the received packets, the packet which is not addressed to the local address of the child station managed by the parent station is addressed to the destination address obtained by referring to the address table holding means by the second protocol conversion means, and is addressed to the computer. Converted to the protocol used in the network. The converted packet is transmitted to the intended destination by the computer network connection control means.

In the invention of claim 5, the above-mentioned claim 1
In addition to any one of the inventions 1 to 4, when the destination address inquiry means receives a packet not addressed to the local address of the station managed by the wireless network connection control means as the master station, the destination address inquiry means sets the local address to the local address. It inquires the address of the corresponding node and outputs the address of the corresponding node to the computer network connection control means.

In the sixth aspect of the present invention, the packets destined for the simple network from the computer network are received only by the specific packet receiving means via the computer network connecting means and destined for the specific port secured in advance. . The received packet is converted by the first protocol converting means into a packet of a protocol in the simple network in which a local address in the simple network attached to the packet is designated as a destination address. The converted packet is output to the simple network by the simple network connection control means. As a result, it is received by the intended destination node.

A packet addressed to the computer network from the simple network is received by the simple network connection control means. Among the received packets, the packets not addressed to the local address of the slave station managed by the simple network connection control means are addressed to the destination address obtained by the second protocol conversion means by referring to the address table holding means. Then, it is converted into the protocol used in the computer network. The converted packet is transmitted to the intended destination by the computer network connection control means.

In the seventh aspect of the invention, the packets destined for the simple network from the computer network are received only by the specific packet receiving means through the computer network connecting means and destined for the specific port secured in advance. The received packet is converted by the first protocol conversion means into a packet of the protocol in the simple network, with the local address in the simple network corresponding to the port number that received the packet being designated as the destination address. The converted packet is output to the master station by the master station connection means, and is received by the target destination node via the master station.

A packet addressed to the computer network from the simple network is received by the master station connecting means. Among the received packets, the packet which is not addressed to the local address of the child station managed by the parent station is addressed to the destination address obtained by referring to the address table holding means by the second protocol conversion means, and is addressed to the computer. Converted to the protocol used in the network. The converted packet is transmitted to the intended destination by the computer network connection control means.

In the invention of claim 8, the above-mentioned claim 6
Or in addition to the invention of 7, the destination address inquiry means is
When a packet not addressed to the local address of the station managed by the simple network connection control means is received, the address management means is inquired about the address of the node corresponding to the local address, and the address of the corresponding node is set to the computer network. Output to the connection control means.

[0031]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A gateway device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a gateway device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This gateway device 1 includes a computer network connection unit 2, a wireless network connection unit 3, a protocol conversion unit 4, a port management unit 5, a specific port reception unit 6, an address inquiry unit 7, and an address table 8, and a computer network and a wireless network. In addition to the function as a gateway for connecting to a network, it has the function of identifying and connecting the address of a mobile node connected to another gateway device.

In the figure, computer net connection means 2
Controls packet transmission / reception with respect to the computer network. The wireless network connection unit 3 manages mobile nodes within the area of the wireless network, and controls packet transmission / reception and call setup with respect to the mobile nodes. In particular,
The wireless net connection unit 3 determines which node currently exists in the wireless area of the wireless network W2 in a communicable state (hereinafter, the mobile node exists in a communicable state in the area of the wireless network, It is managed by accessing a control channel to which a specific frequency is assigned. Upon receiving the call setup request from the mobile node in the wireless area, the wireless network connection unit 3 performs call setup in the area to control communication when the destination mobile node exists in the wireless area. If the destination mobile node does not exist in the wireless area, it notifies the protocol conversion means 4 of a connection setting request together with the ID of the mobile node.

The protocol conversion means 4 mutually converts the communication protocol in the computer network and the communication protocol in the wireless network. Specifically, the protocol conversion unit 4 converts the packet received by the specific port reception unit 6 from the protocol of the computer network into the protocol of the wireless network and outputs the packet to the wireless network connection unit 3, and also the wireless network connection unit. The packet received by 3 converts a packet addressed to another gateway device or a node on the computer network from the protocol of the wireless network to the protocol of the computer network and outputs the packet to the computer network connection means 2.

For example, when the above-mentioned connection setting request is received from the wireless network connection means 3, the protocol conversion means 4 determines which gateway device the wireless area of the notified mobile node ID exists in the address inquiry means. 7 is used to perform protocol conversion into a connection establishment request packet for the confirmed gateway device, and the connection establishment request packet is transmitted via the computer network connection unit 2.

The port management means 5 manages the number of one or more ports serving as a window for receiving packets addressed to the wireless network. The port here is generally used as a window for communicating data between applications to each other in a connection, which is a logical communication path between applications communicating via a computer network. .
The above port will be specifically described by taking the case of TCP as an example. When the connection is established, the application specifies the application of the communication partner by the port number. The port number is uniquely set in each communication device on the network, and is stored and managed in a table called a connection state table together with the application using the port, the port number and the destination address of the communication partner application. The transmission packet whose port number is designated by the application is transmitted to the corresponding destination address managed in this connection status table. This packet is passed from the connection state table of the receiving device to the corresponding application based on the port number at the receiving destination, and is passed to the determined application. As described above, in connection-oriented communication, an application can specify a destination application using a port as a window. In this embodiment, generally, one or a plurality of ports used as described above are specified by the port management means 5 so that they can be used as a window for receiving a packet addressed to a wireless network from a computer network. Port numbers are managed. This port number is specified by the protocol conversion means 4 in the connection establishment request packet, and is also used by the specific port reception means 6 to identify the packet addressed to the wireless network.

The specific port receiving means 6 receives a packet addressed to a specific port managed by the port managing means 5 among the packets received by the computer network connecting means 2. Further, when receiving a connection establishment request packet from the computer net connection means 2 to the own station that specifies a specific port, the specific port reception means 6 transmits an acknowledgment to the packet via the computer net connection means 2.

When the local address (hereinafter abbreviated as ID) in the wireless network of the mobile node is designated by the protocol conversion unit 4, the address inquiry unit 7 refers to the address table 8 and refers to the gateway device corresponding to the designated ID. If the address is registered, the address is notified to the protocol conversion means 4. If not registered, the address management server on the computer network is inquired as to which gateway device the mobile node having that ID is connected to, and as a result, the address of the gateway device is registered in the address table together with the mobile node ID. At the same time, it notifies the protocol conversion means 4.

The address table 8 has an area for registering the address of another gateway device and the ID of the mobile node of the wireless network connected thereto in association with each other. 2 to 4 are examples of system configurations using the gateway device shown in FIG. In these figures, N1 is the basic computer network, W1 and W
2 is a wireless network of the same quality.

S1 is the gateway device shown in FIG. 1 having both interfaces of the computer network N1 and the wireless network W1, and S2 is shown in FIG. 1 having both interfaces of the computer network N1 and the wireless network W2. It is a gateway device. m
1, m2, m3 are mobile nodes connected to W1, m
4 is a mobile node connected to W2.

H1 is an address management server connected to the computer network N1, which is a gateway device S1,
It manages information indicating which mobile node is connected to S2. r1 is a general node connected to the computer network N1. The operation of the gateway device according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described in the following (1) to (4).

(1) An operation of communicating between the mobile node m4 on the wireless network W2 and the mobile node m1 on the wireless network W1. In the gateway device using FIG. 1 and FIG.
Described below is how the mobile node m4 of the wireless network W2 establishes communication with the mobile node m1 of the wireless network W1 when only one specific port is used.

All the gateway devices on the network have previously agreed to use a specific port for establishing communication with a node on the wireless network.
By this agreement, the specific ports held by the port management means 5 of the gateway devices S1 and S2 are designated as P and R, respectively. The concrete method to realize this agreement is to obtain it from the port management server in the network via the network, to install it in the software program in advance, to read it from the data file at system startup, or to let the operator It can be realized by any of the methods of inputting at system startup.

First, the mobile node m4 is connected to the mobile node m1.
In order to communicate with the gateway device S2, the packet 21 for setting up the call by designating the ID of the mobile node m1 as the destination is transmitted to the gateway device S2. The format of packet 21 is shown in FIG.
It shows in (a). This packet 21 is created in accordance with the protocol of the wireless network and indicates "Call I
D "and" calling ID "indicating the calling party.

When the wireless network connecting means 3 receives the call setting request packet 21 in the gateway device S2, the wireless network connecting means 3 determines whether the node having the designated ID is currently connected to the wireless area of the wireless network W2. Check. This confirmation is performed by, for example, a method in which the wireless network connection unit 3 as a master station in the wireless network W2 uses the frequency assigned as the control channel to obtain a response from the mobile node m1 or the mobile node m1.
When it enters the wireless area of the wireless network W2, the location is registered in the address mapping device S2 by itself.

As a result of the confirmation, when the mobile node m1 is connected to the wireless network W2, the wireless network connecting means 3 executes the communication procedure in the normal wireless network as the master station, and the mobile node m4 and the mobile node m1 are connected. Set up a call between them and connect. In the case of the system example of FIG. 2, since the node m1 having the designated ID is not connected to the wireless network W2, the wireless network connecting means 3 passes the packet to the protocol converting means 4 together with the ID of the mobile node m1. The protocol conversion means 4 inquires of the address inquiry means 7 to which wireless network the node having the designated ID is currently connected.

If the gateway device corresponding to the ID designated by referring to the address table 8 is not held, the address inquiry means 7 further makes an inquiry to the address management server h1 on the computer network via the network. The packet 22 is transmitted. The format of the packet 22 is shown in FIG. This packet is created according to the protocol of the computer network, and the header part including "source port", "destination port", "source address", "destination address", and "option data", and "command""commanddata" And a data section including "data". In the case of the packet 22, the fields other than the “option data” in the header section are written in the above order in the port R of the gateway device S2,
The port T of the address management server h1, the address of the gateway device S2, and the address of the address management server h1 are set. Also, "command" in the data section
Is a command (CMD1) for inquiring which gateway device the mobile node is connected to,
In the "command data", the ID of the mobile node m1 to be inquired is set. In this case "data"
You can ignore the contents of.

Address management server h that received the inquiry
1 is the I designated by the "command data" of the packet 22.
The packet 23 notifies the gateway device S1 of the address of the gateway device having an interface with the wireless network to which D is connected. The format of the packet 23 is shown in FIG. This packet 23
5 has the same format as the packet 22 shown in FIG. 5B, but the source and the destination are interchanged,
A command (CMD2) indicating that it is a response to the inquiry is set in the "command", and an address of the gateway device S1 that is the response target is set in the "command data".

This packet 23 is notified to the protocol conversion means 4 by the address inquiry means 7 and held in the address table 8. The protocol conversion means 4 obtains the address of the gateway device S1. When the inquiry of the address is normally completed in this way, the protocol converting means 4 informs the wireless network connecting means 3 of the mobile node m.
Notify that connection with 1 is possible. As a result, the wireless network connection means 3 completes the call setup requested by the mobile node m4.

At the same time, the protocol conversion means 4
Via the computer network connection means 2, the gateway device S
The connection of the connection is requested by the packet 24 to the port P of 1. A format example of the packet 24 is shown in FIG. A connection establishment request (CMD) in the computer network is sent to the "command" of packet 24.
3), the "destination address" is the address of the gateway device S1, the "destination port" is P, and the "option data" is the wireless network W1 of the mobile node m1.
ID is set. The packet 24 is received by the specific port receiving means 6 via the computer network connecting means 2 of the gateway device S1. The specific port receiving means 6 of the gateway device S1 transmits an acknowledgment for the packet 24 of the connection establishment request to the gateway device S2 which is the transmission source of the packet 24 via the computer network connecting means 2. This establishes a connection between the port X (port number other than R) of the gateway device S2 and the port P of the gateway device S1, and as a result, the packet addressed to the port P of the gateway device S1 corresponds to the wireless network W1. Will be handed over to the child station.

Upon completion of the call setting of the wireless network and the establishment of the connection of the computer network, the specific port receiving means 6 of the gateway device S1 thereafter,
A packet for the port P from the computer network N1 is sent to the I of the mobile node specified by the "option data".
It is passed to the protocol conversion means 4 together with D. The protocol conversion means 4 confirms with the wireless network connection means 3 whether or not the mobile node having the designated ID is connected to the wireless network W1, and if not connected, further through the address inquiry means 7. It is confirmed by referring to the address table 8 to which the mobile node having the designated ID is connected. In the case of the system example of FIG. 2, since the target movement mode m1 is connected to the wireless network W1 to which the gateway device S1 is connected, the address inquiry means 7 does not make an inquiry to others. Upon confirming that the protocol conversion unit 4 is connected to the wireless network W1, the protocol conversion unit 4 transmits the data received at the port P to the target mobile node m1 via the wireless network connection unit 3. This packet is packet 25. The format of the packet 25 is shown in FIG. This format is the same as that of the packet 21 shown in FIG. 5A, and is received by the mobile node m1 indicated by "Destination ID".

As described above, the wireless network W2
The mobile node m4 can communicate with the mobile node m1 of the wireless network W1 via a connection set with the port R of the gateway device S2 and the port P of the gateway device S1 as the windows. In addition,
Although the mobile node ID is specified in the option data of the header part, after the connection between the gateway device S2 and the gateway device S1 is established, the data part whose data part is composed of only the mobile node ID is transmitted by the user. It can also be realized by transmitting it as option data in a data packet to be transmitted. In this case, the mobile node ID is transmitted in the first data packet after the connection is established.

(2) Mobile node m1 on the wireless network W1 and general node r1 on the computer network N1
The action of communicating with. In the gateway device using FIG. 1 and FIG.
Mobile node m if only one particular port is used
The manner in which communication between 1 and the general node r1 is established will be described.

Since the general node r1 communicates with the mobile node m1, the packet 31 is a packet for attempting to connect to the port P to the gateway device S1. An example of the format of this packet 31 is shown in FIG. In this packet, as in the case of FIG. 5D, the “command” is a connection establishment request (CMD) in the computer network.
3), the "destination address" is the address of the gateway device S1, the "destination port" is P, and the "option data" is the wireless network W1 of the mobile node m1.
ID is set.

This packet 31 is sent to the gateway device S.
In 1, the specific port receiving means 6 receives it via the computer network connecting means 2. The specific port receiving means 6 transmits a packet 34, which means an acknowledgment to the packet 31 of the connection establishment request, to the general node r1 which is the transmission source. This establishes a connection between the port X of the gateway device S2 (any port number other than R) and the port P of the gateway device S1, and as a result, the port P of the gateway device S1.
The packet addressed to the packet is delivered to the corresponding slave station of the wireless network W1.

After that, the specific port receiving means 6 of the gateway S1 receives the data for the port P received from the general node r1 via the computer network N1.
It is passed to the protocol conversion means 4 together with the ID of the mobile node designated by the "option data". The protocol conversion means 4 confirms with the wireless network connection means 3 whether or not the mobile node having the specified ID is connected to the wireless network W1, and if not connected, further specifies through the address inquiry means 7. Check which mobile node with the given ID is connected to. In the case of the system example of FIG. 3, since the target movement mode m1 is connected to the wireless network W1 to which the gateway device S1 is connected, the address inquiry means 7
Does not make any other inquiries. Upon confirming that the data is connected to the wireless network W1, the protocol conversion unit 4 transmits the data received at the port P to the target mobile node m1 via the wireless network connection unit 3.

Next, the case where the mobile node m1 starts communication with the general node r1 will be described. It is assumed that the general node r1 is pseudo-assigned with an ID on the wireless network (hereinafter referred to as pseudo ID) and is managed by the address management server h1.
This is because the mobile node can directly specify the pseudo ID to communicate.

First, the mobile node m1 requests the gateway apparatus S1 for call setup by the packet 33 in which the destination ID is set to the pseudo ID of the general node r1. This packet 33 is shown in FIG. When the gateway device S1 receives the packet 33, the gateway device S1 performs the call setting requested by the mobile node m1 on the wireless network W1 by the wireless network connection unit 3 and also simulates the general node r1 designated by the "destination ID" of the packet 33. The ID is passed to the protocol conversion means 4. The protocol conversion unit 4 confirms the location of the designated pseudo ID by referring to the address inquiry unit 7, and makes a request to the general node r1 via the computer network connection unit 2. The connection setting is the same as the operation described in (1) above, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.
Thus, the connection between the port P of the gateway device S1 and the port of the general node r1 (this port number is Q) is set.

Thereafter, the packet received from the mobile node via the wireless network connecting means 3 is passed to the protocol converting means 4 and transmitted to the target general node r1 through the set connection. The address of the general node r1 may be transmitted as data after the call setup with the gateway device S1 is completed.

In the gateway device S1, the pseudo ID in the wireless network is pseudo-assigned to the general node r1, but the mobile node sets the address of the general node on the computer network as a packet option. May be. (3) An operation of communicating between the mobile node m4 of the wireless network W2 and the general node r1 of the computer network N1.

1 and 4, in the case of using only one specific port in the gateway device,
The manner in which communication is established between the mobile node m4 and the general node r1 will be described. When the general node r1 does not know to which wireless network the mobile node m4, which is a communication partner, is currently connected, in order to communicate with the mobile node connected to the wireless network, the general node r1 is directed to the nearest gateway device S1. Send. Since the general node r1 communicates with the mobile node m4, the packet 41 is a packet that tries to connect to the port P with respect to the gateway device S1. The packet 41 is shown in FIG.

The packet 41 is sent to the specific port receiving means 6 via the computer network connecting means 2 of the gateway device S1.
Received by. The gateway device S1 uses packet 4
The ID of the mobile node m1 designated by 1 is passed to the protocol conversion means 4. In the system example of FIG. 4, the mobile node m4 is not connected to the wireless network W1 to which the gateway device S1 is connected.
Makes an inquiry to the address management server h1 via the address inquiry means 7 in order to obtain the address of the gateway device having the interface with the wireless network to which the specified mobile node ID is connected. The inquiry to the address management server h1 is made by the packet 42 shown in FIG.

The address management server h1 sends a packet 43 replying the address of the gateway device S2 to the gateway device S1. The packet 43 is shown in FIG. The address inquiry means 7 of the gateway device S1 receives the packet 43 and transfers it to the protocol conversion means 4.
The protocol conversion means 4 uses the computer network connection means 2 to request the port P of the gateway device S2 to establish a connection. This packet is shown in packet 44 of FIG.

In the gateway device S2, the connection establishment request packet 44 is received by the specific port receiving means 6 via the computer network connecting means 2. The specific port receiving means 6 passes the ID of the mobile node designated as “option data” to the protocol converting means 4.
The protocol conversion means 4 inquires whether the node having the designated ID is connected to the wireless network W2. In the case of the system example of FIG. 4, the mobile node m4
Is connected to the wireless network W2, the address inquiry means 7 ends normally without making an inquiry. The protocol conversion means 4 uses the computer network connection means 2 to establish a connection with the gateway device S2. The establishment of the connection is the same as the operation of (1), so the detailed description will be omitted. As a result, a connection is established between the port R of the gateway device S2 and the port X of the gateway device S1 (any port number other than R), and as a result, the packet addressed to the port R of the gateway device S2 is transmitted to the wireless network. W
2 will be passed to the corresponding slave station. This allows
A connection using the port X (any number other than P) of the gateway device S2 and the port P (any number other than P) of the gateway device S1 as a contact is set.

After that, when the gateway device S2 receives the packet designating the ID of the mobile node m4, it transmits it to the port P of the gateway device S1. Further, in the gateway device S1, when the packet addressed to the port P is received by the specific port receiving means 6, the protocol converting means 4 converts the protocol to the port P for the target mobile node m4 via the wireless network connecting means 3. Send the received data to.

Prior to the communication with the mobile node, the general node r1 inquires the address management server h1 of the address of the gateway device having the interface with the wireless network to which the mobile node m4 is connected. In the case of this embodiment, A connection may be established to the port P of the gateway device S2. Next, as another example, when the gateway device does not have an interface with the wireless network, the device is connected to the master station controlling the wireless network by a standard connection interface such as RS232-C. The configuration is shown in FIG.
In the figure, the components having the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment have the same functions, so that the description will be omitted and only different points will be described.

Reference numeral 10 is an RS-232C connection means, which is connected to the protocol conversion means 4 and the master station of the wireless network, and mutually converts data for the protocol conversion means 4 and serial data for the master station of the wireless network. Relay. Reference numeral 11 denotes a master station of the wireless network, which has the same function as the wireless network connecting means 3 shown in FIG. 1, and the interface of the wireless network connecting means 3 of the first embodiment to the protocol converting means 4 is a serial interface. Only the difference is.

Regarding the operation of the gateway device in the other embodiment configured as described above, the RS-232C connection means 10 is interposed between the wireless network connection means 3 and the protocol conversion means 4 in the first embodiment. The only difference is that they are the same. Although the port management means 5 holds only one specific port in the description of the operation of the embodiment, it may hold as many ports as the maximum number of mobile nodes connectable to the wireless network. . Then, the ID of the partner mobile node can be uniquely identified from the address and port included in the packet transmitted from the mobile node, and conversely, the address + port can be uniquely identified from the ID of the mobile node. In this case, the address table 8 needs to manage the address of the gateway device and its port number and the ID of the mobile node in association with each other. Further, the specific port receiving means 6 receives connection establishment requests addressed to all ports managed by the port managing means 5. Then, from the received packet, the protocol conversion means 4 can refer to the address table 8 and uniquely specify the ID of the mobile node of the transmission destination from the received port number, so that it is not necessary to add the ID of the mobile node as optional data. .

In the embodiment, the wireless net connection means 3
Has described the case of controlling the communication with the wireless network, the network to which the wireless network connecting means 3 connects is
It may be one of a plurality of simple networks of the same quality. In other words, if there are a plurality of networks that use a simpler protocol than the computer network protocol and the node can move between the networks, the wireless network connecting means 3 may be configured to include an interface for connecting the simple network. Good.

Similarly, in another embodiment, RS-232
The C connecting means 10 may be configured to connect the master station of the above-mentioned simple network instead of connecting the master station 11 of the wireless network.

[0070]

As described above, according to the present invention, when there are a plurality of homogeneous small-scale networks such as a digital cordless telephone system and there is a node moving between the networks, the address By inquiring about the other party's address by the inquiry means or confirming the address by the address table, there is an effect that it is possible to communicate even if the node moves to another network while using a different address system in each network. is there.

In other words, in the entire network including a plurality of wireless networks and computer networks of the same quality, the mobile node which is a communication partner between the wireless networks can be uniquely identified by the address in the wireless network. When the mobile node moves, it has an effect that it can continue the communication and can communicate with a mobile node that does not know which wireless network is currently connected.

Moreover, since it is not necessary to add the function of supporting the protocol of the computer network to the slave unit of the wireless network which is strictly required to be portable and compact, the portability and the miniaturization can be reduced. The above effect can be obtained while maintaining.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a gateway device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of communication between mobile nodes connected to different wireless networks in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of communication between a mobile node connected to a wireless network and a general node connected to a computer network in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of communication between a mobile node connected to a wireless network and a general node connected to a computer network in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an example of a packet format in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an example of a packet format in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an example of a packet format in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a gateway device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 gateway device 2 computer net connection means 3 wireless net connection means 4 protocol conversion means 5 port management means 6 specific port reception means 7 address inquiry means 8 address table 10 RS232-C connection means 11 wireless network master station

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A gateway device having an interface for connecting both a computer network and a wireless network, comprising: a computer network connection control means for transmitting and receiving packets to and from the computer network according to the protocol of the computer network; and a wireless network according to the protocol of the wireless network. A wireless network connection control unit that transmits and receives packets to and from the network and manages a communicable slave station that exists in the wireless area as a master station, and a logical port used for communication control related to the communication path of the computer network and the identification of the communication partner. Of the packets received by the computer network connection control means, the port management means that secures one of them and holds the logical port number representing the logical port for communication with the wireless network, A specific packet receiving means for receiving a packet including a local address in the wireless network of the recipient and addressed to the specific port, and converting the packet received by the specific packet receiving means into a format suitable for the protocol in the wireless network An address table holding means for storing the first protocol conversion means for outputting to the network connection control means, the local address of another wireless network, and the address of the node to which the master station managing the wireless network belongs in association with each other; When the packet received by the network connection control means is not a packet addressed to the local address of the slave station managed by the wireless network connection control means, the address table holding means is referred to and the address of the corresponding node is fetched. , Total A gateway device, comprising: second protocol conversion means for converting a packet addressed to an extracted address into a format suitable for a protocol in a computer network and outputting the packet to a computer network connection control means. 2. A gateway device having an interface for connecting both a master station of a computer network and a master station of a wireless network, comprising: a computer network connection control means for transmitting and receiving a packet to and from a computer network according to a protocol of the computer network; A master station connecting means for transmitting and receiving data to and from the master station, and one of the logical ports used for communication control relating to the communication path of the computer network and the identification of the communication partner are secured, and the logic is used for communication with the wireless network. A port management unit that holds a logical port number that represents a port, and a packet that is received by the computer network connection control unit and that includes a local address in the destination wireless network and that receives a packet addressed to the specific port. Packet receiving means, a first protocol converting means for converting the packet received by the specific packet receiving means into a format suitable for a protocol in the wireless network and outputting it to the master station connecting means, and a local address of another wireless network. , The address table holding means for storing the address of the node to which the master station managing the wireless network belongs, and the packet received by the master station connecting means is the local address of the slave station managed by the master station. When the packet is not addressed, the address of the corresponding node is retrieved by referring to the address table holding means, and converted into a packet addressed to the retrieved address in a format suitable for the protocol in the computer network, and computer network connection control means Second protocol to output to A gateway device comprising: a conversion unit. 3. A gateway device having an interface for connecting both a computer network and a wireless network, comprising: a computer network connection control means for transmitting and receiving packets to and from the computer network according to the protocol of the computer network; and a wireless network according to the protocol of the wireless network. A wireless network connection control unit that transmits and receives packets to and from the network and manages a communicable slave station that exists in the wireless area as a master station, and a logical port used for communication control related to the communication path of the computer network and the identification of the communication partner. Of these, the maximum number of slave stations that can be managed by the wireless network connection control means is secured, and the correspondence between the logical port numbers that represent those logical ports for communication with the wireless network and the local address of each slave station Port management means for holding all the relationships, specific packet reception means for receiving a packet addressed to any port held by the port management means among packets received by the computer network connection control means, and specific packet reception First protocol converting means for converting the packet received by the means into a format suitable for a protocol in the wireless network and outputting the converted packet to the wireless network connection control means, a local address of another wireless network, and a parent managing the wireless network. The address table holding means for storing the address and the port number of the node to which the station belongs, and the packet received by the wireless network connection control means are addressed to the local address of the slave station managed by the wireless network connection control means. When the packet is not , Referring to the address table holding means, extracting the address and port number of the corresponding node, converting it into a packet addressed to the extracted address and port in a format suitable for the protocol in the computer network, and using it as the computer network connection control means. And a second protocol converting means for outputting. 4. A gateway device having an interface for connecting both a master station of a computer network and a master station of a wireless network, comprising: a computer network connection control means for transmitting and receiving packets to and from a computer network according to a protocol of the computer network; Of the maximum number of slave stations that can be managed by the master station connection means among the master station connection means that sends and receives data to and from the master station and the logical ports used for communication control related to the communication path of the computer network and the identification of the communication partner Received by the computer network connection control means, and the port management means that retains all the correspondence between the logical port numbers that represent those logical ports for communication with the wireless network and the local address of each slave station. In the packet, the specific port Specific packet receiving means for receiving a packet addressed to the destination; first protocol converting means for converting the packet received by the specific packet receiving means into a format suitable for a protocol in the wireless network and outputting the converted packet to the master station connecting means; The address table holding means for storing the local address of the wireless network in correspondence with the address and port number of the node to which the parent station managing the wireless network belongs, and the packet received by the parent station connecting means When the packet is not addressed to the local address of the slave station managed by the means, the address and the port number of the corresponding node are fetched by referring to the address table holding means, and the packet is fetched in a format suitable for the protocol in the computer network. Address and port And a second protocol conversion means for converting into a network and outputting it to the computer network connection control means. 5. The gateway device further includes a local address of a slave station in a communicable state on all wireless networks that can communicate via a computer network, and a node of a node to which a master station that manages the slave station belongs. When a packet that is not addressed to the local address of the station managed by the address management unit and the wireless network connection control unit that manages the address in association with each other is received,
5. A destination address inquiry means for inquiring the address of the node corresponding to the local address to the address management means, and outputting the address of the corresponding node to the computer network connection control means. Any of the gateway devices. 6. A gateway device having an interface for connecting both a computer network and a simple network, comprising: a computer network connection control means for transmitting and receiving packets to and from the computer network according to the protocol of the computer network; and a simple network protocol according to the protocol of the simple network. Secures one of a simple network connection control means for transmitting / receiving packets to / from the network and managing a node existing in the simple network as a node, and a logical port used for communication control related to identification of a communication route of a computer network and a communication partner. Then, of the packets received by the computer network connection control means and the port management means for holding the logical port number representing the logical port for communication with the simple network, A specific packet receiving unit that receives a packet addressed to the specific port and that includes a local address in the simple network of the recipient, and a packet received by the specific packet receiving unit is converted into a format suitable for the protocol in the simple network and simplified. A first protocol conversion means for outputting to the network connection control means, an address table holding means for storing a local address of another simple network and an address of a node to which a parent node managing the simple network is associated, When the packet received by the network connection control means is a packet not addressed to the local address of the node managed by the simple network connection control means,
A second protocol for referring to the address table holding means, fetching the address of the corresponding node, converting it to a packet addressed to the fetched address in a format suitable for the protocol in the computer network, and outputting it to the computer network connection control means. A gateway device comprising: a conversion unit. 7. A gateway device having an interface for connecting both a computer network and a simple network, comprising: a computer network connection control means for transmitting and receiving packets to and from the computer network according to the protocol of the computer network; and a simple network protocol according to the protocol of the simple network. Simple network connection control means for transmitting / receiving packets to / from the network and managing a node existing in the simple network as a parent node, and a simple network among logical ports used for communication control relating to the communication route of the computer network and identification of the communication partner The maximum number of slave stations that can be managed by the connection control means is secured, and the logical port numbers that represent those logical ports for communication with the simple network and the local address of each node Port management means for holding all correspondences, specific packet receiving means for receiving a packet addressed to any port held by the port management means among packets received by the computer network connection control means, and specific packet First protocol converting means for converting a packet received by the receiving means into a format suitable for a protocol in the simple network and outputting it to the simple network connection control means, a local address of another simple network, and managing the simple network Address table holding means for storing the address and port number of the node to which the parent node belongs, and the packet received by the simple network connection control means are addressed to the local address of the node managed by the simple network connection control means. Not a packet When
By referring to the address table holding means, the address and port number of the corresponding node are fetched, converted into a packet addressed to the fetched address and port in a format suitable for the protocol of the computer network, and output to the computer network connection control means. And a second protocol conversion unit for performing the same. 8. The gateway device further associates a local address of a node in a communicable state on all simple networks capable of communicating via a computer network with an address of a parent node managing the node. When a packet not addressed to the local address of the node managed as the parent node by the address management means and the simple network connection control means to be managed is received, the address management means is inquired about the address of the node corresponding to the local address, 8. The gateway device according to claim 6, further comprising a destination address inquiry means for outputting the address of the corresponding node to the computer network connection control means.