Communication system, address notification apparatus, communication control apparatus, terminal, communication method, and program

A communication control apparatus for use in a communication system including the communication control apparatus, a first address notification apparatus provided in a first communication network, and a second address notification apparatus provided in a second communication network that is different from the first communication network, comprising:

• circuitry configured to receive a set of addresses from a terminal that can communicate with the first address notification apparatus that is a Session Traversal Utilities for NAT (STUN) server and the second address notification apparatus that is a STUN server, and transmits the set of addresses to a communication partner terminal that is a communication partner of the terminal,
• wherein the set of addresses includes a first source address obtained from a response to an address request that is transmitted to the first address notification apparatus from the terminal, the first source address being an address that is used as a source address of the terminal on a side of the first communication network, and a second source address obtained from a response to an address request that is transmitted to the second address notification apparatus from the terminal, the second source address being an external address that is used as a source address of the terminal on a side of the second communication network,
• wherein the circuitry converts a score, that is calculated based on an ICE protocol, of at least one address among scores indicating priority added to each address of the set of addresses such that communication between the terminal and the communication partner terminal passes through the first communication network,
• wherein the circuitry is further configured to
• receive, from the communication partner terminal, a second set of addresses including addresses notified to the communication partner terminal from the first address notification apparatus and the second address notification apparatus and scores indicating priority added to each address, and
• convert a score, of at least one address among the second set of addresses, that is calculated based on an ICE protocol such that communication between the terminal and the communication partner terminal passes through the first communication network.

A communication method executed in a communication system including a first address notification apparatus provided in a first communication network, a second address notification apparatus provided in a second communication network that is different from the first communication network, and a communication control apparatus,

• wherein the first address notification apparatus is a Session Traversal Utilities for NAT (STUN) server that includes circuitry that receives an address request from a terminal that can communicate with the first address notification apparatus and with the second address notification apparatus, obtains a first source address from the address request, the first source address being an address that is used as a source address of the terminal on a side of the first communication network, and transmits a response including the first source address to the terminal, and
• the second address notification apparatus is a STUN server includes circuitry that receives an address request from the terminal, obtains a second source address from the address request, the second source address being an external address that is used as a source address of the terminal on a side of the second communication network, and transmits a response including the second source address to the terminal,
• wherein the communication control apparatus performs
• receiving, from the terminal, a set of addresses including addresses notified to the terminal from the first address notification apparatus and the second address notification apparatus and scores indicating priority added to each address,
• converting a score, of at least one address, that is calculated based on an ICE protocol such that communication between the terminal and a communication partner terminal that is a communication partner of the terminal passes through the first communication network,
• transmitting the set of addresses and the scores including the converted score to the communication partner terminal,
• receiving, from the communication partner terminal, a second set of addresses including addresses notified to the communication partner terminal from the first address notification apparatus and the second address notification apparatus and scores indicating priority added to each address,
• converting a score, of at least one address among the second set of addresses, that is calculated based on an ICE protocol such that communication between the terminal and the communication partner terminal passes through the first communication network, and
• transmitting the second set of addresses and the scores including the converted score to the terminal.

A communication system including a first communication control apparatus and a first address notification apparatus that are provided in a first communication network, and a second communication control apparatus and a second address notification apparatus that are provided in a second communication network,

• each of the first communication control apparatus and the second communication control apparatus comprising circuitry configured to receive a set of addresses from a terminal that can communicate with the first address notification apparatus that is a Session Traversal Utilities for NAT (STUN) server and the second address notification apparatus that is a STUN server, and transmit the set of addresses to a communication partner terminal that is a communication partner of the terminal,
• wherein the set of addresses includes a first source address obtained from a response to an address request that is transmitted to the first address notification apparatus from the terminal, the first source address being an address that is used as a source address of the terminal on a side of the first communication network, and a second source address obtained from a response to an address request that is transmitted to the second address notification apparatus from the terminal, the second source address being an external address that is used as a source address of the terminal on a side of the second communication network,
• each of the first communication control apparatus and the second communication control apparatus comprising circuitry that converts a score, that is calculated based on an ICE protocol, of at least one address among scores indicating priority added to each address of the set of addresses such that communication between the terminal and the communication partner terminal passes through the first communication network,
• wherein the circuitry is further configured to
• receive, from the communication partner terminal, a second set of addresses including addresses notified to the communication partner terminal from the first address notification apparatus and the second address notification apparatus and scores indicating priority added to each address, and
• convert a score, of at least one address among the second set of addresses, that is calculated based on an ICE protocol such that communication between the terminal and the communication partner terminal passes through the first communication network.