Communication apparatus and communication control method in a communication system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016234673-A1
Application number	US-201415023148-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 19, 2014
Priority date	Sep 19, 2013
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A communication apparatus and a communication control method are provided that make it possible to easily relocate communication apparatus while the continuity of a service a mobile terminal is using is maintained. In a communication system including a terminal ( 400 ), communication apparatuses (A, B) that provide a service to the terminal ( 400 ) each include: a virtual machine ( 10 ) that manages a state of communication with the terminal ( 400 ) by using information on a session for providing the service; and a virtual machine management section ( 11 ) that controls execution of the virtual machine and migration of the virtual machine.

First claim

1 . A communication apparatus that provides a service to a terminal in a communication system including the terminal, the communication apparatus comprising:
a virtual machine that is configured to manage a state of communication with the terminal by using session information on a session for providing the service; and a virtual machine controller for controlling execution of the virtual machine and migration of the virtual machine.

2 . The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the virtual machine continues providing the service to the terminal by using the session information that is moved from another communication apparatus by the migration.

3 . The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the session information is information required to reproduce a state of the session.

4 . The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the virtual machine continues providing the service to the terminal based on information on a service having been provided to the terminal from another communication apparatus that is a source of the migration.

5 . The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the virtual machine relays providing of the service from a service providing server in an external network to the terminal.

6 . The communication apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising an address translation unit for translating a source address of a packet from the terminal to the service providing server into a common address and thereby concealing the terminal from the service providing server as if always the same terminal accesses.

7 . A communication control method for a communication apparatus that provides a service to a terminal in a communication system including the terminal, the method comprising:
by a virtual machine controller controlling execution of a virtual machine and migration of the virtual machine; and by the virtual machine, managing a state of communication with the terminal by using session information on a session for providing the service.

8 . The communication control method according to claim 7 , wherein the virtual machine continues providing the service to the terminal by using the session information that is moved from another communication apparatus by the migration.

9 . The communication control method according to claim 7 , wherein the session information is information required to reproduce a state of the session.

10 . The communication control method according to claim 7 , wherein the virtual machine continues providing of the service to the terminal based on information on a service having been provided to the terminal from another communication apparatus that is a source of the migration.

11 . The communication control method according to claim 7 , wherein the virtual machine relays providing of the service from a service providing server in an external network to the terminal.

12 . The communication control method according to claim 11 , further comprising, by an address translation unit, translating a source address of a packet from the terminal to the service providing server into a common address and thereby concealing the terminal from the service providing server as if always the same terminal accesses.

13 . A communication system including a terminal, comprising:
a plurality of communication apparatuses that provide a service to the terminal, wherein each communication apparatus includes: a virtual machine for managing a state of communication with the terminal by using session information on a session for providing the service; and a virtual machine unit for controlling execution of the virtual machine and migration of the virtual machine.

14 . The communication system according to claim 13 , wherein the virtual machine continues providing the service to the terminal by using the session information that is moved from the other communication apparatus by the migration.

15 . The communication system according to claim 13 , wherein the session information is information required to reproduce a state of the session.

16 . The communication system according to claim 13 , wherein the virtual machine continues providing the service to the terminal based on information on a service having been provided to the terminal from the other communication apparatus that is a source of the migration.

17 . The communication system according to claim 13 , wherein the virtual machine relays providing of the service from a service providing server in an external network to the terminal.

18 . The communication system according to claim 17 , further comprising an address translation unit for translating a source address of a packet from the terminal to the service providing server into a common address and thereby concealing the terminal from the service providing server as if always the same terminal accesses.

19 . A non-transitory medium storing a program which causes a computer to function as a communication apparatus that provides a service to a terminal in a communication system including the terminal, the program causing the computer to implement:
a virtual machine function of managing a state of communication with the terminal by using information on a session for providing the service; and a virtual machine control function of controlling execution of the virtual machine and migration of the virtual machine.

Assignees

• Nec Corp

Inventors

• Fujinami Makoto

Classifications

• H04L61/2539

  Hiding addresses; Keeping addresses anonymous · CPC title

• H04L67/142

  Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms · CPC title

• H04W88/005

  Data network PoA devices · CPC title

• H04W8/02 Primary

  Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks · CPC title

• H04W36/12 Primary

  Reselecting a serving backbone network switching or routing node · CPC title