A more detailed description will be given below on the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention can be carried out in various other modes, and should not be misunderstood as being limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather than limiting the present invention, these embodiments are provided to make the disclosure of this specification thorough and complete, and descriptive to convey the scope of the present invention well to those skilled in the art.
[Configuration Example of Communication Network System]
A reference is made to
The telecommunications carrier IP network CNW is connected to wireless access networks of different types including a wireless LAN (WLAN: Wireless Local Area Network) ANW1, a WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) network ANW2, and a mobile phone network ANW3. The telecommunications carrier IP network CNW is also connected to a general household network ANW4, which is a wired access network. Furthermore, the telecommunications carrier IP network CNW is connected to an enterprise network ENW. The telecommunications carrier IP network CNW includes geographically (locally) varying IP networks that are built specific to areas such as the Kanto region/Kansai region (the eastern/western parts of Japan) or prefectures, but is spread nationwide to logically constitute the Internet INW together with a provider network.
The wireless LAN ANW1, as a public wireless LAN spot, has not-shown components including a wireless LAN controller and a wired LAN, and allows the user terminals 5 in a wireless zone (service area) it provides to access via access points AP. The user terminals 5 that can access the wireless LAN ANW1 are mobile terminals such as mobile IP phone terminals and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants).
The WiMAX network ANW2 has not shown components including a base station controller, and allows the user terminals 5 in a wireless zone it provides to access via base stations BS. The user terminals 5 that can access the WIMAX network ANW2 are mobile terminals such as mobile IP phone terminals and PDAs.
The mobile phone network ANW3 has not shown components including base stations, a base station controller, and a telephone switchboard, and allows the user terminals 5 in a wireless zone it provides to access via the base stations. The user terminals 5 that can access the mobile phone network ANW3 are mobile terminals such as mobile IP phone terminals and PHSs (Personal Handyphone Systems).
The general household network ANW4, which is a landline telephone network, allows the user terminals 5 to access via a not-shown telephone switchboard. The user terminals that can access the general household network ANW4 are landline IP phone terminals and mobile IP phone terminals that are cordless handsets of landline phones.
The enterprise network ENW is built from Ethernet®, and allows an information transmission terminal 7 such as a personal computer to access.
In order to deliver information to multiple user terminals 5 in a specific area irrespective of the type of access network, the communication network system SYS is further composed of a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server 8, the DNS server 10, a local DNS server 11, and an LDNS (Location Domain Name System) server 12.
In this communication network system SYS, the DHCP server 8 is placed in the wireless LAN ANW1 and the WiMAX network ANW2 each, the local DNS server 11 is placed in the telecommunications carrier IP network CNW, and the DNS server 10 and the LDNS server 12 are placed in the Internet INW.
[Configuration Example of User Terminal]
In the communication network system SYS shown in
The user terminal 5 as a multi-wireless terminal has an OS (Operating System) 50, a PHY/MAC (Physical/Media Access Control) module 51 and a TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) control module 52. The OS 50 is an OS of Windows® Mobile or the like.
The PHY/MAC module 51 is composed of a WiMAX PHY/MAC module 51A compliant with IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.16d or 16e, a WLAN PHY/MAC module 51B compliant with IEEE 802.11, and an other type wireless PHY/MAC module 51C compliant with other type wireless standard. The WiMAX PHY/MAC module 51A controls the physical layer (the first layer) and MAC layer (the lower sublayer of the data link layer (the second layer)) of the WiMAX network ANW2. The WLAN PHY/MAC module 51B controls the physical layer and MAC layer of the wireless LAN ANW1. The other type wireless PHY/MAC module 51C controls the physical layer and MAC layer of the mobile phone network ANW3.
The TCP/IP control module 52 has a TCP/IP normal processing module 53 and a location information control module 54. The location information control module 54 is composed of a radio wave strength monitoring table 55, a terminal settings table 56, a location information management module 57, a DNS registration/update processing module 58, a radio wave strength monitoring management module 59, and a DHCP area code processing module 60.
The location information control module 54 in the TCP/IP control module 52 performs control related to location information separately from normal TCP/IP processing that is performed by the TCP/IP normal processing module 53. The radio wave strength monitoring table 55 is a database for managing the radio field intensities of base stations (wireless access devices) that are obtained by the radio wave strength monitoring management module 59 and then prioritized. The radio wave strength monitoring table 55 notifies the radio wave strength monitoring management module 59 of a base station of the highest priority as a marker device.
The terminal settings table 56 is a database for managing parameters that are entered and set in the user terminal 5 by a user in advance. The location information management module 57 obtains, manages, and creates an area code that is registered in the LDNS server 12 by the user terminal 5. The DNS registration/update processing module 58 controls registration/update of an area code in the LDNS server 12 by the user terminal 5.
The radio wave strength monitoring management module 59 monitors radio waves from the PHY/MAC module 51, and obtains the physical (MAC) address and radio field intensity of a base station. The DHCP area code processing module 60 obtains, from the radio wave strength monitoring management module 59, the MAC address of a base station that serves as a marker device, and communicates with the DHCP server 8 to obtain the area code of the user terminal 5.
[Configuration Example of Information Transmission Terminal]
In the communication network system SYS shown in
The information transmission terminal 7 has an OS (Operating System) 70, a PHY/MAC module 71, a TCP/IP control module 72, and an application module 75. The OS 70 is an OS of Windows® or the like.
The PHY/MAC module 71 is composed of a 10/100/1000 Base-TX PHY/MAC module 71A. The 10/100/1000 Base-TX PHY/MAC module 71A exerts control on the physical layer and the MAC layer including control of transmission/reception of Ethernet® frames.
The TCP/IP control module 72 has a TCP/IP normal processing module 73 and a DDDS/DNS message processing module74. The TCP/IP normal processing module 73 performs normal TCP/IP processing. The DDDS/DNS message processing module 74 has a function of communicating with the DNS server 10 and the LDNS server 12 in order to obtain the URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) and IP address of the user terminal 5 to which information is to be delivered.
The application module 75 is composed of a user information table 76, a terminal settings table 77, an information transmission application module 78, and an area code control module 79.
The user information table 76 in the application module 75 is a database for storing the URI and IP address of the user terminal 5 that is associated with an area code obtained by the area code control module 79 from the DDDS/DNS message processing module 74. The terminal settings table 77 is a database for managing parameters that are entered and set in the information transmission terminal 7 by an information sender in advance.
The information transmission application module 78 is application software for transmitting information such as SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), and performs SIP or other call control procedures to establish a communication session with the user terminal 5.
The area code control module 79 cooperates with the DDDS/DNS message processing module 74 in storing, in the user information table 76, obtained URIs and IP addresses of multiple user terminals 5 in association with an area code entered by the information sender. The area code control module 79 also notifies the information transmission application module 78 of the IP addresses of multiple user terminals 5.
[Configuration Example of DHCP Server]
In the communication network system SYS shown in
The DHCP server 8 has an OS (Operating System) 80, a PHY/MAC module 81, and a TCP/IP processing module 82. The OS 80 is an OS of Windows® or the like.
The PHY/MAC module 81 is composed of a 10/100/1000 Base-TX PHY/MAC module 81A. The 10/100/1000 Base-TX PHY/MAC module 81A exerts control on the physical layer and the MAC layer including control of transmission/reception of Ethernet® frames.
The TCP/IP processing module 82 has a DHCP processing module 83, which includes a DHCP normal processing module 84 and a DHCP area code processing module 85, a conversion table 86, and a terminal management table 87.
The TCP/IP processing module 82 performs normal processing and extended processing related to TCP/IP. The DHCP processing module 83 performs normal processing and extended processing that relate to only DHCP out of TCP/IP. The DHCP normal processing module 84 performs normal processing related to DHCP. The DHCP area code processing module 85 distributes an area code to the user terminal 5 using DHCP.
The conversion table 86 is a database for managing the area code and IP address of a base station (an access point AP or a base station BS) in association with the MAC address of the base station. The terminal management table 87 is a database for managing an IP address and an area code that are assigned (allocated) to the user terminal 5.
The DHCP server 8 also has a conversion table 86 for conversion between the MAC address of a base station of a wireless access network as an access network, or the MAC address of a default gateway of a wired access network, and location information of the base station or the default gateway. The DHCP server 8 employs this configuration to send, along with an allocated IP address, location information of a base station of a wireless access network to be accessed or location information of a default gateway of a wired access network as location information of an area where the user terminal 5 is located, in response to an inquiry that is made by the user terminal 5 when the user terminal 5 receives radio waves from the base station, or an ARP response from the default gateway, and that contains the obtained MAC address of the base station of the wireless access network or of the default gateway.
[Configuration Example of DNS Server]
In the communication network system SYS shown in
The DNS server 10 has an OS (Operating System) 100, a PHY/MAC module 101, and a TCP/IP processing module 102. The OS 100 is an OS of Windows® or the like.
The PHY/MAC module 101 is composed of a 10/100/1000 Base-TX PHY/MAC module 101A. The 10/100/1000 Base-TX PHY/MAC module 101A exerts control on the physical layer and the MAC layer including control of transmission/reception of Ethernet® frames.
The TCP/IP processing module 102 has a normal DNS processing module 103, which performs various types of normal processing that are to be controlled by the DNS server 10. The normal DNS processing module 103 is composed of a DNS update processing module 104, a DNS address resolution module 105, a DNS message analyzing module 106, and an IP address management table 107.
The DNS update processing module 104 in the normal DNS processing module 103 updates an IP address that is associated with the URI of the user terminal 5. The DNS resolution module 105 receives an inquiry (DDDS query) from the information transmission terminal 7 via the local DNS server 11 and sends, in response, an IP address that is associated with the URI of the user terminal 5.
The DNS message analyzing module 106 analyzes a DNS message received from the local DNS server 11, and determines whether the message is about update of the IP address of the user terminal 5 or resolution (inquiry) of the IP address of the user terminal 5. The IP address management table 107 is for managing an IP address that is associated with the URI of the user terminal 5.
[Configuration Example of Local DNS Server]
In the communication network system SYS shown in
The local DNS server 11 has an OS (Operating System) 110, a PHY/MAC module 111, and a TCP/IP processing module 112. The OS 110 is an OS of Windows® or the like.
The PHY/MAC module 111 is composed of a 10/100/1000 Base-TX PHY/MAC module 11A. The 10/100/1000 Base-TX PHY/MAC module 111A exerts control on the physical layer and the MAC layer including control of transmission/reception of Ethernet® frames.
The TCP/IP processing module 112 has a DNS processing module 113, which analyzes a DNS message received from the user terminal 5 to determine whether the message is about update of the IP address of the user terminal 5 or resolution (inquiry) of the IP address of the user terminal 5. The DNS processing module 113 is composed of an LDNS processing module 114, a normal DNS processing module 115, and a DNS message analyzing module 116.
The LDNS processing module 114 in the DNS processing module 113 communicates, as a proxy for the user terminal 5, with the LDNS server 12 on the Internet INW, and asks for a URI that is associated with an area code. The LDNS processing module 114 also updates a URI.
The normal DNS processing module115 performs various types of normal processing that are to be controlled by the DNS server 10. Specifically, the normal DNS processing module 115 communicates, as a proxy for the user terminal 5, with the DNS server 10 on the Internet INW and asks for an IP address that is associated with a URI. The normal DNS processing module 115 also updates an IP addresses.
The DNS message analyzing module 116 analyzes a DNS message that the user terminal 5 receives from the DNS server 10, and determines whether the message is about update or resolution (inquiry) of the IP address of the user terminal 5.
[Configuration Example of LDNS Server]
In the communication network system SYS shown in
The LDNS server 12 has an OS (Operating System) 120, a PHY/MAC module 121, and a TCP/IP processing module 122. The OS 120 is an OS of Windows® or the like.
The PHY/MAC module 121 is composed of a 10/100 Base-TX PHY/MAC module 121A. The 10/100 Base-TX PHY/MAC module 121A exerts control on the physical layer and the MAC layer including control of transmission/reception of Ethernet® frames.
The TCP/IP processing module 122 performs normal processing and extended processing related to TCP/IP. The TCP/IP processing module 122 has a DNS processing module 123, which has a DNS registration module 124, an area code-URI registration table 125, and a terminal URI management table 126.
The DNS processing module 123 processes DNS messages received from the local DNS server 11. The DNS registration module 124 has a function of processing a DNS message received from the local DNS server 11 to obtain area code-URI association information and registers the obtained information in the area code-URI registration table 125. The DNS registration module 124 also performs timer monitoring for keeping stored data it manages up to date.
The area code-URI registration table 125 is a database that receives an area code and sends, in response, a pointer (URI pointer) which is used in referring to another database, specifically, the terminal URI management table 126, in order to manage the URIs of multiple user terminals 5 associated with an area code.
The terminal URI management table 126 is a database for managing the URIs of multiple user terminals 5 that are associated with a specific area code. The terminal URI management table 126 engages in database cooperation with the area code-URI registration table 125 through pointers.
[Operation Example of Communication Network System]
Described next with reference to
In this communication network system SYS, a DDDS protocol for resolving a URI between the DNS server 10 and the user terminal 5 is extended such that multiple URIs (e.g., SIP-URI) and multiple IP addresses are resolved from location information.
For dynamic update of location information when the user terminal 5 moves from one location to another, the location information and the registered IP address are automatically updated by the DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name System) function as the user terminal 5 enters a specific area.
In future application to an all-IP network system, type differences among wireless access networks such as the wireless LAN ANW1 and the WiMAX network ANW2 are absorbed by using the same location information for the user terminal 5 that are in the same area regardless of the type of access network. Therefore, when the user terminal 5 is connected to a network, the DHCP server 8 sends in response area information as location information to the user terminal 5 based on the L2 address (MAC address) of the base station BS of the wireless access network or the L2 address of the access point AP. The user terminal 5 uses the received area information to register location information in the DNS server 10.
[Operation A: Terminal Location Registration Procedure]
In the communication network system SYS shown in
A flow chart of an activation operation in the user terminal is shown in
(1) The user terminal 5 is powered on and activated (Processing Step 61).
(2) In order to register the radio wave strengths of base stations (62) in the database (DB), the user terminal (multi-wireless terminal) 5 which can use multiple types of wireless access technology monitors radio waves of all wireless access networks and all channels.
(3) In order to determine which one is a marker device (63, 64), a base station of a wireless access network that serves as the reference for identifying location information is determined as a marker device instead of a wireless access network that is actually accessed. For instance, the wireless LAN ANW1 or other wireless access networks that have a narrow access area and accordingly allow fine identification of location information are preferred to the WiMAX network ANW2. The radio wave strengths of radio waves received from base stations are stored in the radio wave strength monitoring table 55, and a marker device (wireless access device) to serve as the reference for area code identification is determined from the radio wave strength and from the priority set in advance in accordance with the type of wireless access network. There may be multiple marker devices.
(4) DHCP Processing (65): The hardware address (MAC address) of the marker device is inserted in an extension field of an inquiry made to obtain an IP address from the DHCP server 8. The DHCP server 8 searches for an area code with the MAC address of the marker device as the key, and sends the area code to the user terminal 5 in response to the inquiry.
(5) Area Code Extraction (66): The user terminal 5 stores, in the terminal settings table 56, the area code obtained from the DHCP server 8 in response to the inquiry. If the association between a base station and an area code is stored in the terminal settings table 56 on the assumption that the user terminal 5 moves frequently, the number of times the inquiry is made to the DHCP server 8 is reduced.
(6) DNS Server Registration Processing (67): Mapping information of the URI and IP address of the user terminal 5 is registered in the DNS server 10. The URI and the IP address need to be registered (updated) through DDNS as often as suitable on the assumption that the user terminal 5 moves to new locations where the user terminal 5 uses various IP addresses to access.
(7) LDNS Registration Processing (68): The obtained area code is used to register in the LDNS server 12. The DNS server 10 and the LDNS server 12 are accessed via the local DNS server 11, which is owned by a telecommunications carrier.
Details of each of the processing will be described next.
Processing 1: Presetting of Parameters (Processing Step 61 in
In the case where the DHCP server 8 is yet to obtain location information because it is not long after the user terminal 5, whose configuration is detailed in
In this embodiment, an area code serving as location information is expressed with the use of an existing, globally unique phone number system (E.164). Details are as follows:
(1) An unused country number (for example, +83) is used as a key number (identifier code) that identifies the data as location information, and the remaining 9-digit phone number is systemized into location information.
(2) An existing system covering city code and local number is utilized since this embodiment values compatibility with existing communication network systems and area partitioning.
(3) The remaining digits (subscriber number) are all “0” or customized to fit the area. For instance, the number can be further specified by employing wireless access network type number (access network identifier).
Advantages of expressing location information with the use of an existing phone number system include compatibility with the existing phone number system, the ease of imagining location information, and simpler mounting resulting from high compatibility with conventional methods in retrieving a URI (SIP-URI) from a phone number.
Processing 2: Wireless/Wired Network Connection (see Processing 31 of
To access a network, the user terminal 5 normally connects to a wireless access device, such as the access point AP of the wireless LAN ANW1 or the base station BS of the WiMAX network ANW2, through which an authentication server (omitted from the drawing) performs user authentication. The user terminal 5 is allowed to connect to the network in question only when verified through this user authentication.
Processing 3: Marker Device Selection (see Processing 32 of
In the case where the parameter presetting of Processing 1 is not carried out, a marker device (a wireless access device) to serve as the reference for identifying location information is determined in order to make an inquiry to the DHCP server 8. The marker device is desirably the access point AP or base station BS (may simply be referred to as base station when there is no particular need to discriminate one from the other) of a wireless access network that allows fine location information identification and thus serves as the reference for identifying location information, instead of a wireless access network that is actually accessed. When it is the WiMAX network ANW2 that the user terminal 5 connects to, the access point AP of the wireless LAN ANW1, or a device having the highest radio wave strength (a Bluetooth base station or the like), is determined as a marker device for higher location information precision.
In the multi-wireless user terminal 5 whose configuration is detailed in
Processing 4: Acquisition of IP Address and Area Code by DHCP (see Processing 33 of
The user terminal 5 that is allowed to connect to the network then obtains an IP address associated with the base station that serves as a marker device by the DHCP. In this embodiment, RFC 2131 which defines DHCP is extended and a function is added to obtain, from the DHCP server 8, location information of the base station to which the user terminal 5 is connected.
(4-1) User Terminal Processing 1
The TCP/IP normal processing module 53 of the user terminal 5 obtains the MAC address of the marker device from the radio wave strength monitoring management module 59 through the DHCP area code processing module 60, adds the obtained MAC address into an option field of a DHCP Discover message or a DHCP Request message (see
(4-2). DHCP Server Processing
The DHCP server 8 sends an area code in response to an inquiry from the user terminal 5. The DHCP server normal processing module 84 in the DHCP server 8 whose configuration is detailed in
The DHCP area code processing module 85 obtains an area code by referring to the conversion table 86 for conversion from a base station MAC address to an area code. The DHCP area code processing module 85 transfers the obtained area code to the DHCP normal processing module 84 to send the area code along with an IP address to the user terminal 5 in response to the inquiry. The DHCP processing module 83 manages the area code in the terminal management table 87 in association with the IP address that is assigned to the user terminal 5 (terminal IP address).
(4-3) User Terminal Processing 2
The user terminal 5 obtains an area code from the DHCP server 8 and keeps the obtained area code in the terminal settings table 56. The DHCP area code processing module 60 in the user terminal 5 obtains an area code from a DHCP message and hands over the area code to the location information management module 57, where the area code is kept.
Processing 5: DNS Server Registration Processing (see Processing 34 of
The user terminal 5 registers mapping information of URI and IP address in the DNS server 10. The URI and the IP address need to be registered and updated through DDNS as often as suitable on the assumption that the user terminal 5 moves to new locations where the user terminal 5 use various IP addresses to access. The user terminal 5 does not directly register (update) the URI and the IP address in the DNS server 10. Instead, the URI and the IP address are temporarily registered in the local DNS server 11, and then registered in the DNS server 10 by the local DNS server 11.
(5-1) User Terminal Processing
The DNS registration/update processing module 58 in the user terminal 5 adds, to a DNS update message (see
(5-2) Local DNS Server Processing
In the local DNS server 11 whose configuration is detailed in
(5-3) DNS Server Processing
In the DNS server 10 whose configuration is detailed in
Strictly speaking, the DNS update processing module 104 performs, through the 10/100/1000 Base-TX PHY/MAC module 101A, the OS 100 and the DNS message analyzing module 106, processing of registering an IP address received from the local DNS server 11.
Processing 6: LDNS Server Registration Processing (see Processing 35 of
The user terminal 5 uses the obtained area code to register in the LDNS server 12.
(6-1) User Terminal Processing 1
The DNS registration/update processing module 58 in the user terminal 5 adds, to a DNS update message, mapping information where a URI obtained from the terminal settings table 56 and the area code of the user terminal 5 obtained from the location information management module 57 are mapped out, and sends the message to the local DNS server 11.
(6-2) User Terminal Processing 2
The location information management module 57 of the user terminal 5 adds information on the type of a network accessed by the user terminal 5 to an area code, and registers the area code in the DNS server 10.
The location information management module 57 of the user terminal 5 obtains the type of a network that is actually accessed by the user terminal 5 from one of the wireless PHY/MAC modules 51A, 51B and 51C, and partially converts the already obtained area code.
In an area code “+83-ab-cde-0000” shown in
(6-3) Local DNS Server Processing
In the local DNS server 11, the DNS message analyzing module 116 of the DNS processing module 113 analyzes a DNS update message received from the user terminal 5 to determine whether the message is about IP address registration or area code registration. When it is found as a result of the analysis that the message is about area code registration, the LDNS processing module 114 carries out processing of registering in the LDNS server 12.
Whether the received DNS update message is about IP address registration or area code registration is judged in the DNS message analyzing module 116 by referring to the “TYPE value” of the DNS update message shown in
(6-4) LDNS Server Processing
The LDNS server 12 registers and manages an area code obtained as location information from the user terminal 5.
In the LDNS server 12 whose configuration is detailed in
The DNS registration module 124 registers the area code of the user terminal 5 in the area code-URI registration table (NAPTR resource code) 125. Since the assumption here is that different user terminals 5 are in one area, the server is mounted such that multiple user terminals 5 can be managed in association with one area code by further managing the URI in another table, specifically, the terminal URI management table 126.
[Operation B: Procedure of Updating Terminal Location upon Switching of Marker Device]
In the communication network system SYS shown in
The radio wave strength monitoring management module 59 of the user terminal 5 regularly monitors the radio wave strengths of radio waves from surrounding base stations through the wireless PHY/MAC modules 51A, 51B and 51C, and updates the radio wave strength monitoring table 55 accordingly (Processing Step 612).
The radio wave strength monitoring management module 59 consults the radio wave strength monitoring table 55 to judge whether or not the base station that is optimum for obtaining area codes (marker device) has changed (613). In the case where the current marker device is changed (in the case where the order of records of the table 55 has been rearranged), the radio wave strength monitoring management module 59 activates processing of asking the location information management module 57 for an area code (614).
As in the terminal location registration procedure of Operation A described above, the user terminal 5 makes an inquiry about the area code through the DHCP server 8, and when there is a change in area code, updates, through the local DNS server 11, information registered in the LDNS server 12 (615 to 618, see Processing 33, 34, 35 of
[Operation C: Procedure of Updating Terminal Location upon Handover]
In the communication network system SYS shown in
When the user terminal 5 moves from one wireless zone to another in the communication network system SYS, handover or roaming processing (switching of base stations) takes place (Processing Step 622). As a result of Processing 622, the user terminal 5 is connected to a new base station near a place to which the user terminal 5 has moved (623). The handover/roaming processing is performed by the wireless PHY/MAC modules 51A, 51B and 51C and the OS 50.
Then a marker device in the area where the user terminal 5 is now located is determined (624). This operation is carried out through the same procedure as Processing 32 described in detail with reference to
[Operation D: Procedure of Information Delivery from Information Transmission Terminal]
In the communication network system SYS shown in
Processing 1: Area Code Input (see Processing 41 of FIG. 4)
In the information transmission terminal 7 whose configuration is detailed in
The information sender activates the information transmission application module (SIP or the like) 78 of the application module 75 through a screen displayed on the information transmission terminal 7. The information transmission application module 78 activates an area code input menu through the area code control module 79 and prompts the information sender to enter an area code. The entered area code is sent from the information transmission application module 78 to the area code control module 79, which then stores the area code in the terminal settings table 77.
Processing 2: Acquisition of URI of User Terminal in Information Transmitted Area (see Processing 42 of
After the information sender enters an area code in the information transmission terminal 7, the DNS/DDDS procedure is employed to inquire the LDNS server 12 about the URIs of multiple user terminals 5 located in a specific area to which information is delivered.
(2-1) Information Transmission Terminal Processing 1
The information transmission terminal 7 creates an inquiry message from the area code entered, and sends the inquiry message to the LDNS server 12.
The area code control module 79 in the information transmission terminal 7 sends the entered area code to the DDDS/DNS message processing module 74 of the TCP/IP control module 72. The DDDS/DNS message processing module 74 notifies the local DNS server 11 of the area code through the OS 70 and the 10/100/1000 Base-TX PHY/MAC module 71A.
(2-2) Local DNS Server Processing
In the local DNS server 11, the DNS message analyzing module 116 analyzes the DNS inquiry message received from the information transmission terminal 7 to determine whether the message is an IP address inquiry or an area code inquiry. When it is found as a result of the analysis that the message is an area code inquiry, the LDNS processing module 114 carries out processing of making an inquiry to the LDNS server 12.
(2-3) LDNS Server Processing
The LDNS server 12 analyzes the inquiry message (DDDS message) received through the local DNS server 11 from the information transmission terminal 7, and sends URIs in response.
In the LDNS server 12, the DNS registration module 124 of the DNS processing module 123 obtains the location inquiry from the information transmission terminal 7 through the local DNS server 11. The DNS registration module 124 obtains an area code from the inquiry message, and refers to the area code-URI registration table 125 and another table, specifically the terminal URI management table 126, to obtain the URIs of all relevant user terminals 5. The DNS registration module 124 sends the obtained URI to the information transmission terminal 7 by way of the extended DDDS message shown in
Processing 3: Acquisition of User Terminal (Information Receiver Terminal) IP Address (see Processing 43 of
After obtaining the URIs of the user terminals 5, the information transmission terminal 7 employs the DNS procedure to ask the DNS server 10 for the IP addresses of multiple user terminals 5 to which information is delivered.
(3-1) Information Transmission Terminal Processing 1
The information transmission terminal 7 creates an inquiry message from the URIs and sends the inquiry message to the local DNS server 11.
The information transmission application module 78 of the information transmission terminal 7 obtains the URIs from the user information table 76 and notifies the DDDS/DNS message processing module 74 of the obtained URIs, thereby sending the inquiry message to the local DNS server 11.
(3-2) Local DNS Server Processing
In the local DNS server 11, the DNS message analyzing module 116 analyzes the DNS inquiry message received from the information transmission terminal 7 to determine whether the message is an IP address inquiry or an area code inquiry. When it is found as a result of the analysis that the message is an IP address inquiry, the normal DNS processing module 115 carries out the processing of making an inquiry to the DNS server 10 through the DNS message analyzing module 116.
(3-3) DNS Server Processing
The DNS server 10 analyzes the inquiry message (DNS message) received through the local DNS server 11 from the information transmission terminal 7, and sends IP addresses in response.
In the DNS server 10, the DNS address resolution module 105 of the normal DNS processing module 103 obtains the location inquiry from the information transmission terminal 7. The DNS address resolution module 105 obtains URIs from the inquiry message, extracts from the IP address management table 107 the IP addresses of all user terminals 5 that are associated with the obtained URIs, and sends the IP addresses to the information transmission terminal 7 by way of the DNS message shown in FIG. 16 in response to the inquiry message.
(3-4) Information Transmission Terminal Processing 2
The information transmission terminal 7 stores, in the user information table 76, the IP addresses obtained from the DNS server 10 through the local DNS server 11.
Processing 4: Information Transmission to User Terminal (Information Receiver Terminal) (see Processing 44 of
The information transmission terminal 7 uses the obtained IP addresses and a call control procedure such as SIP to establish calls to the respective user terminals 5, and delivers information.
The information transmission application module 78 of the information transmission terminal 7 obtains the IP addresses of the user terminal 5 from the user information table 76, and sends an SIP INVITE message to the user terminals 5. The information transmission terminal 7 exchanges such messages as “200 OK” and “ACK” with the user terminals 5, to thereby establish calls. Using RTP (Real-time Transfer Protocol) or the like, the information transmission terminal 7 then sends information to be provided to the user terminals 5.
[Operation E: Data Deletion Procedure]
In the communication network system SYS shown in
In the LDNS server 12 shown in
In the case where no data update is made by the user terminal 5 during timer monitoring, the DNS registration module 124 judges that the user terminal 5 has been powered off or moved out of the reception range, and deletes the data (area code) of this user terminal 5 from the area code-URI registration table 125 (637, 638).
An embodiment of the present invention makes area-based information delivery utilizing IP technology possible regardless of the type of access network, and information can be delivered uniformly, by multi-cast or the like, to user terminals whose wireless access network types differ from one another if the user terminals are in the same area. The present invention is not particularly limited to wireless access networks and is also applicable to user terminals that connect to wired access networks. The present invention can therefore provide an FMC (Fixed Mobile Convergence) information delivery service where mobile communications and wired communications are blended as in the use of a mobile phone terminal as a cordless handset of a landline phone terminal.
In addition, the present invention uses DNS and DHCP, which are general IP mechanisms, to accomplish the function described above, and therefore can readily be applied to existing application software (message sending software and the like) Information is delivered only to a user who registers his/her location through DDNS, and is not delivered to a user who does not wish to receive the information delivery. Also, users can sign up to or off from the information providing service at will.
Furthermore, the present invention makes it possible to deliver information to multiple subscribers (user terminals) located in a specific area. Accordingly, a local organization (a travel agency, a local government, or a local trade association, for example) can deliver local information, tourist attraction information, and information valid for a limited time to travelers who have signed up to the service in advance only while they are staying in the area. This is advantageous to users in that information of a specified area can be received, and is advantageous to such organizations as those in tourist business in that the improved convenience in sight-seeing and shopping attracts more customers.
The information providing service control system according to an embodiment of the present invention is superior to prior art in the following aspects:
(1) Since the present invention utilizes existing DHCP and DNS, there is no need to newly mount a control module for obtaining location information, and the present invention can be applied by extending, only a little, functions that are indispensable to normal mobile IP phone terminals. The introduction of the present invention to an existing system therefore requires only a few adjustments.
(2) By employing the present DNS server-like management in management of location information, location information management can be hierarchized and the service can be provided as a public service (a universal service independent of a specific business organization).
(3) In the case where the E.164 phone number system is used as location information, the existing ENUM procedure can be utilized and accordingly the introduction of the present invention requires even fewer adjustments.
[Modification Example]
In the communication network system SYS of the embodiment described above, the DNS server 10, the local DNS server 11, and the LDNS server 12 are separate from one another, but the functions of these servers may be integrated into one DNS server.
Wireless access networks of different types may include WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) networks in addition to wireless LANs and WiMAX networks.
The processing in the embodiment described above is provided as computer-executable programs, and can be provided in the form of recoding medium such as CD-ROM or flexible disk, or through a communication line.
It is not always necessary to execute all of the processing in the embodiment described above. Instead, some of the processing may be selected to be executed in combination.
The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. JP2006-206887 filed on Jul. 28, 2006 including the specification, claims, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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JP2006-206887 | Jul 2006 | JP | national |