Communication Apparatus, Control Apparatus, Communication System, Communication Method, Method for Controlling Communication Apparatus, and Program

A control apparatus, connected to a communication apparatus that includes:

• a processing rule storage unit capable of storing a first processing rule for unknown packets set in advance, and a second processing rule set by a control apparatus,
• a packet processor that processes received packets based on processing rules stored in said processing rule storage unit, and
• a state notification unit that transmits a predetermined control message to said control apparatus when a packet is processed using said first processing rule;
• wherein
• said control apparatus creates, on receiving said predetermined control message, said second processing rule to be set in said communication apparatus and sets said second processing rule in said communication apparatus, and also discards packets included in said control message.

A communication system comprising:

• a communication apparatus including
• a processing rule storage unit capable of storing a first processing rule for unknown packets set in advance, and a second processing rule set by a control apparatus,
• a packet processor that processes received packets based on processing rules stored in said processing rule storage unit, and
• a state notification unit that transmits a predetermined control message to said control apparatus, when a packet is processed using said first processing rule, wherein
• said communication apparatus continues packet processing using said first processing rule until said second processing rule is set by said control apparatus;
• and
• a control apparatus, connected to said communication apparatus, that creates, on receiving said predetermined control message, said second processing rule to be set in said communication apparatus and sets said rule in said communication apparatus, and also discards packets included in said control message.