KR101367965B1 - Vehicle mobile router, mobile control platform and method for performing IP layer link aggregation based on flow - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for simultaneously using all of the mobile backbone network interfaces available in a vehicular mobile router and a vehicular mobile router supporting multiple mobile backbone interfaces is provided. The vehicle mobile router includes an interface unit including a subscriber interface configured to be connected to a plurality of mobile terminals located in the mobile vehicle, a mobile control platform, and a plurality of mobile backbone network interfaces configured to be connected to the plurality of backbone networks; An aggregation control unit that receives an IP address from the backbone network, registers an IP address assigned to the mobile control platform, and sets up IP layer link aggregation with the mobile control platform. A traffic distribution unit for distributing a plurality of mobile backbone network interfaces per flow and a traffic collecting unit for processing packets received through the plurality of mobile backbone network interfaces.

Description

Vehicle mobile router, mobile control platform and method for performing IP layer link aggregation based on flow}

The present invention relates to a flow-based IP layer link aggregation method in a vehicle mobile router, and in particular, supports a wireless LAN (WiFi), a Wibro, and a mobile communication (3G / LTE) interface for connection to a backbone network. A method of aggregating a plurality of heterogeneous mobile interfaces as well as a plurality of homogeneous mobile interfaces in a vehicle mobile router (VMR).

Due to the rapid proliferation of smartphones represented by the current iPhone, users with smartphones can use the Internet at no special cost where WLAN is available. Mobile network operators are installing wireless LANs in public places where users are competitively competitive in order to secure their service advantage over competitors.

In addition, there is an increasing demand for the use of the Internet using a wireless LAN while using public transportation (for example, buses, subways and trains). As a solution to this, it is installed in a mobile vehicle to provide a wireless LAN to customers in the mobile vehicle. There is an increasing demand for vehicle mobile routers that provide Internet-based services.

In order to meet these requirements, the vehicle mobile router must provide an available mobile backbone network interface such as wireless LAN (WiFi), Wibro, and mobile communication (3G / LTE) for connection with the backbone network. Provides wireless LAN (WiFi) interface for subscriber access.

As a substitute for a mobile router for a vehicle for the above purpose, mobile network operators have a Wibro or mobile communication (3G) interface for connection with a backbone network, which is connected to a wireless LAN (WiFi) for connection with a subscriber. It is releasing products that work together. However, these products typically support a single backbone network interface, and have a bandwidth that is higher than that of a WiBro or mobile communication (3G) interface used as a backbone network interface as a subscriber interface. As it is very small, there is a limit on the number of subscribers that can be supported, and therefore, there is a limit to the use in a mobile vehicle for public transportation.

A method for simultaneously using all mobile backbone network interfaces available in a vehicular mobile router and a vehicular mobile router that supports multiple backbone network interfaces (eg, WLAN, WiBro, and mobile communication) is provided.

In addition, in a vehicle mobile router supporting a plurality of mobile backbone network interfaces, by providing a flow-based IP layer link aggregation method for simultaneously using all available mobile backbone network interfaces, There is provided a method for smoothly providing Internet services to smartphone users.

According to an aspect, a vehicle mobile router includes an interface unit including a subscriber interface configured to be connected to a plurality of mobile terminals located in a mobile vehicle, a mobile control platform, and a plurality of mobile backbone network interfaces configured to be connected to a plurality of access networks. And an aggregation control unit configured to allocate an IP address from a plurality of access networks, register an IP address assigned to the mobile control platform, and establish IP layer link aggregation with the mobile control platform, and when the IP layer link aggregation is set, A traffic distribution unit for distributing input packets to a plurality of mobile backbone network interfaces for each flow, and a traffic collection unit for processing packets received through the plurality of mobile backbone network interfaces.

According to the present invention, all mobile backbone network interfaces available in a vehicle mobile router supporting a plurality of heterogeneous mobile interfaces can be used to provide Internet services to subscribers in a mobile vehicle, thereby providing Internet service in public transportation vehicles. As it is possible to establish a service communication environment, it can contribute to the spread of smartphones and service improvement.

1 is a view showing the configuration of the Internet service providing network of a vehicle mobile router according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile router for a vehicle performing IP layer link aggregation according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile control platform for performing IP layer link aggregation according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a diagram illustrating a packet format between a vehicle mobile router and a mobile control platform according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a diagram illustrating an IP layer link aggregation operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a vehicular mobile router according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a mobile control platform according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a traffic distributor of the mobile control platform according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. In addition, the terms described below are defined in consideration of the functions of the present invention, and this may vary depending on the intention of the user, the operator, or the like. Therefore, the definition should be based on the contents throughout this specification.

1 is a view showing the configuration of the Internet service providing network of a vehicle mobile router according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The mobile vehicle 100 includes a vehicle mobile router 110 and a plurality of mobile terminals 120, 130, and 140. The vehicle mobile router 110 is configured to support a plurality of mobile communication (HSDPA) interfaces and a Wibro interface. The vehicle mobile router 110 may be connected to the mobile terminals 120, 130, and 140 in the mobile vehicle using a wireless fidelity (WiFi) interface in the mobile vehicle 100. In addition, the vehicle mobile router 110 is connected to the backbone network through a high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) interface and a wireless broadband (Wibro) interface.

In order for the mobile terminals 120, 130, and 140 to use the vehicle mobile router 110 using a wireless LAN (WiFi) interface in the mobile vehicle 100, a procedure of subscribing to the vehicle mobile router 100 is performed. do. That is, the mobile terminals 120, 130, and 140 correspond to subscribers of the vehicle mobile router 110. The interface for the vehicle mobile router 110 to connect with the mobile terminals 120, 130, and 140 is called a subscriber interface, and the vehicle mobile router 110 is connected to the mobile control platform (MCP) 300 in the backbone network. Interface may be referred to as a mobile backbone network interface. Here, for convenience of description, a wireless LAN (WiFi) interface is used as a subscriber interface, and a mobile communication (HSDPA) interface and a Wibro interface will be described as being used as a mobile backbone network interface.

The vehicle mobile router 110 creates an IP-in-IP tunnel with a mobile control platform (MCP) 300 in the backbone network. Therefore, after the mobile terminal in the mobile vehicle 100, for example, the mobile terminal 120 is connected to the vehicle mobile router 110 through a wireless LAN, the vehicle mobile router 110 and the mobile control platform 300 are connected to each other. It is connected to the backbone network through the tunnel. Data transmitted from the backbone network to the mobile terminal 120, for example, data transmitted from the media server 200, is a tunnel between the vehicle mobile router 110 and the mobile control platform 300 through the mobile control platform 300. After passing through the wireless LAN is delivered to the mobile terminal 120.

To this end, the flow-based IP layer link aggregation method in the vehicle mobile router 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention is operated in combination between the vehicle mobile router 110 and the mobile control platform 300, the vehicle mobile By setting the IP address of the mobile control platform 300 in the router 110, the vehicle mobile router 110 recognizes the mobile control platform 300 when the vehicle is initially driven, and the mobile control platform 300 and the IP-in- Create an IP tunnel. When the IP layer link aggregation is established between the vehicle mobile router 110 and the mobile control platform 300, the vehicle mobile router 110 receives the data traffic received from the mobile terminals 120, 130, and 140. The backbone network interface may be used to transmit to the backbone network through the mobile control platform 300. In addition, the vehicle mobile router 110 may receive data traffic received from the mobile control platform 300 through a plurality of mobile backbone network interfaces and transmit the data traffic to the mobile terminals 120, 130, and 140.

2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a vehicle mobile router 110 that performs an IP layer link aggregation function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The vehicle mobile router 110 may include an application execution unit 210, an aggregator 220, and an interface unit 230.

The application execution unit 210 represents an upper control module that performs an application for controlling the operation of the vehicle mobile router 110 and the like.

The interface unit 230 may include a wireless LAN (WiFi) interface 232, a mobile communication (HSDPA) interface 234, and a Wibro interface 236. Wireless LAN (WiFi) interface 232 is used for the subscriber's connection. For the connection with the backbone network, the HSDPA interface 234 and the Wibro interface 234 are used as the mobile backbone network interface for the communication between the vehicle mobile router 110 and the mobile control platform 300. do. The type and number of interfaces included in the interface unit 230 may vary.

The aggregator 220, which is a core module of the IP layer link aggregation function, includes an aggregation controller 222, a traffic distributor 224, and a traffic collector 226. When the traffic distribution unit 224 receives the traffic transmitted from the wireless LAN (WiFi) interface 232 which is the subscriber interface via the application execution unit 210, the traffic distribution unit 224 through the mobile backbone network interface (234, 236) Corresponds to a traffic transmitter that transmits to the mobile control platform 300. The traffic collector 226 corresponds to a traffic receiver that receives and aggregates traffic from the mobile control platform 300 through the mobile backbone network interfaces 234 and 236.

The aggregation control unit 222 communicates with the aggregation control unit 322 of the mobile control platform 300 and the mobile network connected through the mobile backbone network interface, and the vehicle mobile router 110 and the mobile control platform 300 are connected. Process control messages for the addition, deletion and management of mobile backbone network interfaces (e.g., mobile communication (HSDPA) interface 234, Wibro interface 236, etc.) for communication. The aggregation control unit 222 is assigned an IP address from a mobile network (for example, HSDPA network and Wibro network), and when an IP address is assigned, an IP layer including an IP address assigned to the mobile control platform 300. A link add message can be sent. When a plurality of IP layer link addition messages are registered in the mobile control platform 300, IP layer link aggregation is established between the mobile control platform 300 and the aggregation control unit 222 of the vehicle mobile router 110. In addition, when the IP layer link update request message is received from the mobile control platform 300 to check the status (for example, whether an IP layer link has been added, deleted, or changed) for the mobile backbone network interface, the aggregation controller 222 may check the status of the IP layer link currently in use and send an IP layer link update response message including the verification result to the mobile control platform 300.

The traffic distributor 224 in the aggregator 220 performs a function of distributing traffic to the available mobile backbone network interfaces 234 and 236 in the IP layer link aggregation. The traffic distributor 224 uses the available mobile backbone network interfaces 234 and 236 evenly and also distributes the traffic so that the order of packets in the same session does not change. The reason for distributing the traffic so that the packets in the same session are not changed is that the packets in the same session are changed by the MCP traffic collector of the mobile control platform 300 when the packets are reversed by being sent to another mobile backbone interface. In 326 of 3), the work of reordering the packets of the corresponding session is required, which can greatly reduce the efficiency of link aggregation.

Accordingly, in the present invention, the traffic distribution unit 224 transmits packets of the same session to one mobile backbone network interface so that the packet reordering operation does not occur in the traffic collection unit of the neighboring system. As a discriminator for identifying the same session, flow information consisting of 5-tuple (source IP address, destination IP address, Protocol Id, source port number, and destination port number) can be used.

That is, according to the present invention, the packets belonging to the same flow are transmitted to one mobile backbone network interface, and the traffic distribution unit 224 considers the bandwidth of the corresponding mobile backbone network interface. Can be distributed to interfaces. Of course, in another embodiment, the traffic distribution unit 224 may transmit a traffic flow requiring high quality of service to the mobile communication (HSDPA) interface 234, and transmit a traffic flow requiring general QoS to the WiBro interface 236. have.

The traffic collection unit 226 removes the tunnel IP header of the packets received from the available mobile backbone network interfaces 324 and 326, and transmits the packet according to the information of the internal IP header, such as the application execution unit 210 in the system. It transmits to the upper control module or forwards to the mobile terminal (or subscriber terminal) through the subscriber interface.

3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile control platform 300 performing an IP layer link aggregation function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The mobile control platform 300 is located in the backbone network. The mobile control platform 300 may include an MCP application execution unit 310, an MCP aggregator 320, and an MCP interface unit 330.

The MCP application execution unit 310 represents an upper control module that performs an application for controlling the operation of the mobile control platform 300, and the like.

The MCP interface unit 330 includes an Ethernet interface 332.

The MCP aggregator 320, which is a core module of the IP layer link aggregation function, also has a structure similar to that of the vehicle mobile router 110.

The MCP aggregation control unit 322 communicates with the aggregation control unit 222 of the vehicle mobile router 110 and controls the MCP interface unit 330. When a plurality of IP layer link addition messages received from the vehicle mobile router 110 are registered in the MCP aggregation control unit 332, between the mobile control platform 300 and the aggregation control unit 222 of the vehicle mobile router 110. IP layer link aggregation is established. When the IP layer link aggregation is set, the MCP aggregation control unit 322 sets the mobile backbone network interface currently connected to the vehicular mobile router 110 to check the status of the mobile backbone network interface currently connected to the vehicular mobile router 110. The IP layer link update request message may be transmitted to the vehicle mobile router 110, and an IP layer link update response message may be received through the interface through which the IP layer link request message is transmitted from the vehicle mobile router 110.

Distributing the traffic to the mobile backbone network interface of the vehicular mobile router 110 based on the flow information in the MCP traffic distributor 324 is similar to the traffic distributor 224 of the vehicular mobile router 110. However, the MCP traffic distributor 324 distributes traffic by changing the destination address of the Outer IP header (ie, tunnel IP header) at the time of traffic transmission, which is related to the function of the traffic distributor of the vehicle mobile router 110. different.

For example, it is assumed that the vehicle mobile router 110 is assigned an IP address of 123.129.10.10 to the mobile communication (HSDPA) interface 234 and an IP address of 125.152.10.10. To the Wibro interface 236. When the traffic distribution unit 324 of the mobile control platform 300 distributes the traffic based on the flow information, the traffic that is desired to be transmitted to the mobile communication (HSDPA) interface 234 is set to the destination address of the tunnel IP header 123.129. The traffic set to 10.10 is transmitted, and the traffic desired to be transmitted to the Wibro interface 236 is transmitted by setting the destination address of the tunnel IP header to 125.152.10.10.

The traffic collection unit 326 receives the packets from the MCP interface unit 330, removes the tunnel IP header of the received packets, and then transmits the packets to the MCP application execution unit 210 in the system according to the information of the internal IP header. It transmits to the same higher control module or performs a function of foraging to another subscriber station.

4 is a diagram illustrating a packet format between a vehicle mobile router 110 and a mobile control platform 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The packet used between the vehicle mobile router 110 and the mobile control platform 300 may include an Outer IP header, a UDP header, an Inner IP header, and an IP payload, as shown in FIG. 4.

In the case of the vehicle mobile router 110, the IP header of the packet received from the subscriber in the mobile vehicle through the WLAN becomes an Inner IP header, and the vehicle mobile router 110 tunnels the packet to the mobile control platform 300. Pass it through. The Outer IP header may include a source IP address and a destination IP address. The source IP address of the Outer IP header of the packet transmitted from the vehicular mobile router 110 to the mobile control platform 300 becomes the IP address assigned to the mobile backbone network interface to be used by the vehicular mobile router 110. The destination IP address becomes the IP address of the mobile control platform 300. Further, the source IP address of the Outer IP header of the packet transmitted from the mobile control platform 300 to the vehicle mobile router 110 becomes the IP address of the mobile control platform 300, and the destination IP address of the Outer IP header is the vehicle mobile. IP address assigned to the mobile backbone network interface to be used in the router 110.

The UDP header is used to identify the packet used for IP layer link aggregation. By setting the destination port number of the UDP header, it is possible to distinguish that the packet is used for IP layer link aggregation, and it is also possible to distinguish the control packet from the data packet.

5 is a diagram illustrating an operation procedure of IP layer link aggregation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When the vehicle mobile router 110 is driven for the first time, an IP address of the mobile control platform 300 is obtained (510). The IP address of the mobile control platform 300 may be set by the operator, or may be set by default in a batch file, etc., so that the vehicle mobile router 110 is automatically set when the vehicle mobile router 110 is driven.

The vehicular mobile router 110 requests 512 a connection to an available mobile backbone network interface. In FIG. 5, it is assumed that a mobile communication (HSDPA) interface is operated first. In this case, the vehicle mobile router 110 requests a connection to the HSDPA network 10, and an IP address (eg, from the HSDPA network 10). 123.129.10.10) is assigned (514). The vehicle mobile router 110 transmits an IP layer link addition message including the IP address of the assigned mobile communication (HSDPA) interface to the mobile control platform 300 in the packet format of FIG. 4, and 516 the mobile control platform. When 300 receives the first IP layer link add message, an IP-in-IP tunnel is created 518 between the vehicle mobile router 110 and the mobile control platform 300.

The IP layer link addition message may be distinguished in the form of TLV (Type Length Value) in the packet format of FIG. 4, and may include information on the corresponding mobile backbone network interface and aggregation or not.

In FIG. 5, it is assumed that the Wibro interface is operated for the second time. In this case, the vehicle mobile router 110 requests a connection to the Wibro network 20 (520), and an IP address (for example, from the Wibro network 20). 125.152.10.10) is allocated (522). The vehicle mobile router 110 transmits an IP layer link addition message including the IP address assigned to the Wibro interface in the packet format of FIG. 4, similar to the mobile communication (HSDPA) interface (524). When the plurality of interfaces are notified from the vehicle mobile router 110, the IP layer link aggregation is set when the plurality of IP addresses are registered (526).

After the IP layer link aggregation is established, the mobile control platform 300 periodically sends an IP layer link update request message to the available mobile backbone network interface with the vehicle mobile router 110 (528), and the vehicle mobile router ( Receive an IP layer link update response message from 110, 530, to manage the links in the IP layer link aggregation. If there is no response message for the IP layer link update request message for a predetermined number of times, the mobile control platform 300 may consider that the mobile backbone network interface is not available and perform necessary processing.

If any mobile interface is not available among the mobile backbone network interfaces available in the vehicle mobile router 110 (532), the vehicle mobile router 110 for fast state management of links belonging to the IP layer link aggregation It is also possible to notify the mobile control platform 300 via another mobile interface using an IP layer link delete message (534). Of course, even if the vehicle mobile router 110 does not perform any operation as described above, the interface may be deleted by the IP layer link update request message.

6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a vehicle mobile router 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 6, the vehicle mobile router 110 sets an IP address of the mobile control platform (610).

The vehicle mobile router 110 drives an available mobile backbone network interface (eg, a mobile communication (HSDPA) interface, a WiBro interface, a WLAN interface) (620).

The vehicle mobile router 110 requests a connection to a mobile backbone network interface to a corresponding wireless access network (for example, a Wibro network and a mobile communication network) (630).

The vehicle mobile router 110 receives the IP information from the associated wireless access network (640).

The vehicle mobile router 110 transmits an IP layer link addition message to the mobile control platform 300 (650).

The vehicle mobile router 110 checks whether a plurality of mobile backbone network interfaces exist between the mobile control platform 300 and 660.

If there are a plurality of mobile backbone network interfaces between the mobile control platform 300, the vehicular mobile router 110 establishes IP layer link aggregation with the mobile control platform 330 (670).

If there is one mobile backbone network interface with the mobile control platform 300, the vehicle mobile router 110 establishes an IP-in-IP tunnel with the mobile control platform 330 (680).

The vehicular mobile router 110 may determine whether the additional mobile backbone network interface is driven (690), and if so, returns to operation 630 to continue operation.

7 is a flowchart illustrating operation in the mobile control platform 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 7, the mobile control platform 300 receives an IP layer link addition message from the vehicle mobile router 110 (710).

The mobile control platform 300 establishes an IP-in-IP tunnel with the vehicle mobile router 110 (720).

If the mobile control platform 300 determines that a plurality of mobile backbone network interfaces exist in the vehicle mobile router 110 (730), the mobile control platform 300 sets up IP layer link aggregation with the vehicle mobile router 110 (740).

The mobile control platform 300 may periodically transmit an IP layer link update request message to the vehicle mobile router 110 (750).

When the vehicle mobile router 110 receives the additional IP layer link addition message (760), the vehicle mobile router 110 may proceed to operation 730 to continue the operation.

8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a traffic distributor of the mobile control platform 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 8, the mobile control platform 300 receives a packet from the Internet network to a subscriber in the mobile vehicle 100 (810).

The mobile control platform 300 checks whether there is an available mobile backbone network interface from the mobile vehicle 100 to the vehicle mobile router 110 (820). If no available mobile backbone network interface to the vehicle mobile router 110 exists, the packet is discarded (880).

If there is an available mobile backbone network interface from the mobile vehicle 100 to the vehicle mobile router 110 (810), the mobile control platform 300 checks if there is an IP layer link aggregation with the vehicle mobile router 110. (830).

If the vehicle mobile router 110 and the IP layer link aggregation do not exist (830), the mobile control platform 300 transmits the packet to the mobile backbone network interface of the available vehicle mobile router (860).

If the vehicle mobile router 110 and the IP layer link aggregation exist (830), the mobile control platform 300 determines the flow based on the 5-tuple information of the received packet (840). The mobile control platform 300 determines the mobile backbone network interface of the on-vehicle mobile router 110 for the flow according to the traffic distribution policy (850). The mobile control platform 300 encapsulates and transmits the tunnel IP header for the mobile backbone network interface (870).

One aspect of the present invention may be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable recording medium. The code and code segments implementing the above program can be easily deduced by a computer programmer in the field. A computer-readable recording medium includes all kinds of recording apparatuses in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical disk, and the like. The computer-readable recording medium may also be distributed over a networked computer system and stored and executed in computer readable code in a distributed manner.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the above-described embodiments, but should be construed to include various embodiments within the scope of the claims.

100: mobile vehicle 110: vehicle mobile router
120, 130, and 140: mobile terminal 200: media server
300: mobile control platform

Claims (6)

An interface unit including a plurality of interfaces respectively connected to the plurality of mobile backbone networks;
An aggregation controller configured to set an IP layer link aggregation with the mobile control platform by receiving an IP address from the plurality of mobile backbone networks and registering the allocated IP address with a mobile control platform connected to the mobile backbone network;
A traffic distribution unit for distributing the received packet to the plurality of interface units on a flow-by-flow basis when the IP layer link aggregation is set; And
A traffic collecting unit for collecting the packets received through the plurality of interface units; Vehicle mobile router comprising a.
The method of claim 1, wherein the aggregation control unit
And a link update message including a link state with a mobile backbone network connected to the interface unit periodically transmitted and received with the mobile control platform.
The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic distribution unit
And a session of each packet by using the flow information of the received packet, and distribute the packets of the same session to one mobile backbone network interface.
The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic collecting unit
Removing the tunnel IP header of the packet received through the plurality of interfaces, the packet is collected according to the information of the internal IP header, and the aggregated packet transmitted to the upper control module or forwarded to the mobile terminal for a vehicle Mobile router.
In the method for performing IP layer link aggregation with the mobile control platform,
Receiving an IP address from at least one mobile backbone network and registering link information including the allocated IP address in the mobile control platform;
Setting an IP layer link aggregation according to the number of registered links with the mobile control platform; Method for performing IP layer link aggregation comprising a. 6. The method of claim 5,
After setting the IP layer link aggregation, periodically transmits and receives a link update message including a link status with the mobile backbone network and the mobile control platform, and if there is no response to the update message for a predetermined number of times, The method for performing IP layer link aggregation, further comprising the step of deleting the registered link information.

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