# US 9,521,586 B2 · Mobile communication system, communication system, node, flow-control network, and communication-control method

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- Number: US 9,521,586 B2
- Document ID: US9521586B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/382,176
- Filed: 2013-02-20
- Published: 2015-01-08
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2012-03-02
- Assignees: Ntt Docomo, Inc.
- Applicants: Ntt Docomo, Inc.
- Inventors: Bunpei Yatsu; Takahiro Yamazaki; Motoshi Tamura; Tetsuya Nakamura; Shigeru Iwashina; Takashi Shimizu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521586B2

## CPC

- H04W 28/12: using signalling between network elements
- H04L 45/74: Address processing for routing
- H04L 65/1016: IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
- H04L 65/1073: Registration or de-registration
- H04L 65/1104: Session initiation protocol [SIP]
- H04W 8/04: Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
- H04W 28/02: Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
- H04M 7/006: {Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer (H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42)}
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

A mobile communication system includes an OpenFlow network and CSCFs. A first CSCF comprises a terminal information assigning unit that assigns information of an incoming terminal of a destination of a signal accommodated in a second CSCF to a header part of a signal destined for the second CSCF. The OpenFlow network comprises a storage unit that stores a correspondence relationship between the incoming terminal and a device accommodating the incoming terminal, a terminal information acquisition unit that acquires information of the incoming terminal from the header part of the signal, a transmission destination identification unit that identifies the device that is a transmission destination from the information, and an open flow transmission unit that transmits a signal to the identified device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A mobile communication system that provides a mobile communication function to a mobile communication terminal and includes a flow-control network and a node connected to the flow-control network,
wherein the node comprises circuitry configured to
assign, to a header part of a signal from the own node to another node, information indicating a mobile communication terminal of a destination or a transmission source of the signal accommodated in the other node; and
transmit the signal in which the information indicating a mobile communication terminal is assigned to the header part to the flow-control network in order to transmit the signal to the other node, and
the flow-control network comprises circuitry configured to
store accommodation device information indicating a correspondence relationship between the mobile communication terminal and a device accommodating the mobile communication terminal among devices as the other node, the devices having a same function;
receive the signal destined for the other node that is transmitted from the node;
acquire the information indicating a mobile communication terminal of a destination or a transmission source of the signal from the header part of the signal received;
identify a device of a transmission destination among the devices having the same function from the information acquired with reference to the accommodation device information stored; and
transmit the signal received to the device of a transmission destination identified,
wherein the devices having the same function include one of the devices which is replicated from another of the devices through virtual machine (VM) replication,
the mobile communication system performs path control for the other node, and
the accommodation device information is changed based on virtual machine replication.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The mobile communication system according to claim 1,
wherein the node assigns the information indicating a mobile communication terminal to the header part by rewriting a field indicating the destination in the header part of the signal with the information indicating a mobile communication terminal of a destination or a transmission source of the signal,
the flow-control network stores accommodation node information indicating a correspondence relationship between the mobile communication terminal and the node accommodating the mobile communication terminal among nodes included in the mobile communication system, and
identify the other node of the destination of the signal from the information acquired with reference to the accommodation node information stored.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The mobile communication system according to claim 2,
wherein the node also assigns information indicating a node number of the other node to the header part of the signal,
the flow-control network also acquires the information indicating the node number of the other node from the header part of the signal received, and
identifies the other node of the destination of the signal by additionally using the information indicating the node number of the other node acquired.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The mobile communication system according to claim 1, wherein the flow-control network identifies a device of a transmission destination among the other nodes having the same function based on the information in which a bit mask is applied to the information indicating a mobile communication terminal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The mobile communication system according to claim 1, wherein the node assigns information indicating a session related to the mobile communication terminal of the destination or the transmission source of the signal to the header part of the signal from the own node to another node as the information indicating the mobile communication terminal of the destination or the transmission source of the signal.

### Claim 6

A node in a mobile communication system that provides a mobile communication function to a mobile communication terminal and includes a flow-control network, the node connected to the flow-control network, and a device that accommodates the mobile communication terminal among devices having a same function, the flow-control network storing accommodation device information indicating a correspondence relationship between the mobile communication terminal and the device, the node comprising:
circuitry configured to
assign, to a header part of a signal from the own node to another node, information indicating a mobile communication terminal of a destination or a transmission source of the signal accommodated in the other node; and
transmit the signal in which the information indicating a mobile communication terminal is assigned to the header part to the flow-control network in order to transmit the signal to the other node,
wherein the devices having the same function include one of the devices which is replicated from another of the devices through is replicated through virtual machine (VM) replication,
the mobile communication system performs path control for the device, and
the accommodation device information is changed based on virtual machine replication.

### Claim 7

A flow-control network in a mobile communication system that provides a mobile communication function to a mobile communication terminal and includes the flow-control network, a node and another node connected to the flow-control network, the flow-control network comprising:
circuitry configured to
store accommodation device information indicating a correspondence relationship between the mobile communication terminal and a device accommodating the mobile communication terminal among devices having a same function;
receive the signal destined for the other node that is transmitted from the node;
acquire the information indicating a mobile communication terminal of a destination or a transmission source of the signal from the header part of the signal received;
identify a device of a transmission destination among the devices having the same function from the information acquired with reference to the accommodation device information stored; and
transmit the signal received to the device of a transmission destination identified,
wherein the devices having the same function include one of the devices which is replicated from another of the devices through virtual machine (VM) replication,
the circuitry performs path control for the other node, and
the accommodation device information is changed based on virtual machine replication.

### Claim 8

A communication-control method performed by a mobile communication system that provides a mobile communication function to a mobile communication terminal and includes a flow-control network and a node connected to the flow-control network, the communication-control method comprising:
a terminal information assigning step for assigning, by the node, to a header part of a signal from the own node to another node, information indicating a mobile communication terminal of a destination or a transmission source of the signal accommodated in the other node; and
a transmission step for transmitting, by the node, the signal in which the information indicating a mobile communication terminal is assigned to the header part in the terminal information assigning step to the flow-control network in order to transmit the signal to the other node;
an open flow reception step for receiving, by the flow-control network, the signal destined for the other node that is transmitted from the node;
a terminal information acquisition step for acquiring, by the flow-control network, the information indicating a mobile communication terminal of a destination or a transmission source of the signal from the header part of the signal received in the open flow reception step;
a transmission destination identification step for identifying, by the flow-control network, a device of a transmission destination among devices having a same function from the information acquired in the terminal information acquisition step with reference to accommodation device information indicating a correspondence relationship between the mobile communication terminal and a device accommodating the mobile communication terminal among the devices having the same function, the accommodation device information being stored in the flow-control network; and
an open flow transmission step for transmitting, by the flow-control network, the signal received in the open flow reception step to the device of a transmission destination identified in the transmission destination identification step,
wherein the devices having the same function include one of the devices which is replicated from another of the devices through virtual machine (VM) replication,
the method further includes performing path control for the other node, and
the accommodation device information is changed based on virtual machine replication.

### Claim 9

A communication-control method performed by a node in a mobile communication system that provides a mobile communication function to a mobile communication terminal and includes a flow-control network and the node connected to the flow-control network, and an device that accommodates the mobile communication terminal among devices having a same function, the flow-control network storing accommodation device information indicating a correspondence relationship between the mobile communication terminal and the device, the communication-control method comprising:
a terminal information assigning step for assigning, to a header part of a signal from the own node to another node, information indicating a mobile communication terminal of a destination or a transmission source of the signal accommodated in the other node: and
a transmission step for transmitting the signal in which the information indicating a mobile communication terminal is assigned to the header part in the terminal information assigning step to the flow-control network in order to transmit the signal to the other node,
wherein the devices having the same function include one of the devices which is replicated from another of the devices through is replicated through virtual machine (VM) replication,
the method further includes performing path control for the other node, and
the accommodation device information is changed based on virtual machine replication.

### Claim 10

A communication-control method performed by a flow-control network in a mobile communication system that provides a mobile communication function to a mobile communication terminal and includes the flow-control network, a node and another node connected to the flow-control network, the communication-control method comprising:
an open flow reception step for receiving a signal destined for the other node that is transmitted from the node;
a terminal information acquisition step for acquiring information indicating a mobile communication terminal of a destination or a transmission source of the signal from a header part of the signal received in the open flow reception step;
a transmission destination identification step for identifying a device of a transmission destination among devices having a same function from the information acquired in the terminal information acquisition step with reference to accommodation device information indicating a correspondence relationship between the mobile communication terminal and a device accommodating the mobile communication terminal among the devices having the same function, the accommodation device information being stored in the flow-control network; and
an open flow transmission step for transmitting the signal received in the open flow reception step to the device of a transmission destination identified in the transmission destination identification step,
wherein the devices having the same function include one of the devices which is replicated from another of the devices through virtual machine (VM) replication,
the method further includes performing path control for the other node, and
the accommodation device information is changed based on virtual machine replication.

### Claim 11

A communication system that provides a communication function to a communication terminal and includes a flow-control network and a node connected to the flow-control network, and an device that accommodates the mobile communication terminal among devices having a same function, the flow-control network storing accommodation information indicating a correspondence relationship between the mobile communication terminal and the device.
wherein the node comprises circuitry configured to
assign, to a header part of a signal from the own node to another node, information indicating a communication terminal of a destination or a transmission source of the signal accommodated in the other node; and
transmit the signal in which the information indicating a communication terminal is assigned to the header part to the flow-control network in order to transmit the signal to the other node, and
the flow-control network comprises circuitry configured to
store accommodation device information indicating a correspondence relationship between the communication terminal and a device accommodating the communication terminal among devices having a same function;
receive the signal destined for the device that is transmitted from the node;
acquire the information indicating a communication terminal of a destination or a transmission source of the signal from the header part of the signal received;
identify a device of a transmission destination among the devices having the same function from the information acquired with reference to the accommodation device information stored; and
transmit the signal received to the device of a transmission destination identified,
wherein the devices having the same function include one of the devices that is replicated from another of the devices through virtual machine (VM) replication,
the mobile communication system performs path control for the other node, and
the accommodation device information is changed based on virtual machine replication.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The communication system according to claim 11, wherein the node assigns information indicating a session related to the communication terminal of a destination or a transmission source of the signal to the header part of the signal from the own node to the other node as information indicating the communication terminal of a destination or a transmission source of the signal.

### Claim 13

A node in a communication system that provides a communication function to a communication terminal and includes a flow-control network, the node connected to the flow-control network, and an device that accommodates the mobile communication terminal among devices having a same function, the flow-control network storing accommodation information indicating a correspondence relationship between the mobile communication terminal and the device, the node comprising:
circuitry configured to
assign, to a header part of a signal from the own node to another node, information indicating a communication terminal of a destination or a transmission source of the signal accommodated in the other node: and
transmit the signal in which the information indicating a communication terminal is assigned to the header part to the flow-control network in order to transmit the signal to the other node,
wherein the devices having the same function include one of the devices which is replicated from another of the devices through is replicated through virtual machine (VM) replication,
the communication system performs path control for the other node, and
the accommodation device information is changed based on virtual machine replication.

### Claim 14

A flow-control network in a communication system that provides a communication function to a communication terminal and includes the flow-control network, a node and another node connected to the flow-control network to accommodate the communication terminal, the flow-control network comprising:
circuitry configured to
store accommodation device information indicating a correspondence relationship between the communication terminal and a device accommodating the communication terminal among devices having a same function;
receive the signal destined for the other node that is transmitted from the node;
acquire the information indicating a communication terminal of a destination or a transmission source of the signal from the header part of the signal received;
identify a device of a transmission destination among the devices having the same function from the information acquired with reference to the accommodation device information stored; and
transmit the signal received to the device of a transmission destination identified,
wherein the devices having the same function include one of the devices that is replicated from another of the devices through virtual machine (VM) replication, and
the communication system performs path control for the other node, and
the accommodation device information is changed based on virtual machine replication.

### Claim 15

A communication-control method performed by a communication system that provides a communication function to a communication terminal and includes a flow-control network and a node connected to the flow-control network, the communication-control method comprising:
a terminal information assigning step for assigning, by the node, to a header part of a signal from the own node to another node, information indicating a communication terminal of a destination or a transmission source of the signal accommodated in the other node; and
a transmission step for transmitting, by the node, the signal in which the information indicating a communication terminal is assigned to the header part in the terminal information assigning step to the flow-control network in order to transmit the signal to the other node;
an open flow reception step for receiving, by the flow-control network, the signal destined for the other node that is transmitted from the node;
a terminal information acquisition step for acquiring, by the flow-control network, the information indicating a communication terminal of a destination or a transmission source of the signal from the header part of the signal received in the open flow reception step;
a transmission destination identification step for identifying, by the flow-control network, a device of a transmission destination among devices having a same function from the information acquired in the terminal information acquisition step with reference to accommodation device information indicating a correspondence relationship between the communication terminal and a device accommodating the communication terminal among the devices having the same function, the accommodation device information being stored in the flow-control network; and
an open flow transmission step for transmitting, by the flow-control network, the signal received in the open flow reception step to the device of a transmission destination identified in the transmission destination identification step,
wherein the devices having the same function include one of the devices that is replicated from another of the devices through virtual machine (VM) replication,
the method further includes performing path control for the other node, and
the accommodation device information is changed based on virtual machine replication.

### Claim 16

A communication-control method performed by a node in a communication system that provides a communication function to a communication terminal and includes a flow-control network and the node connected to the flow-control network, and an device that accommodates the communication terminal among devices having a same function, the flow-control network storing accommodation device information indicating a correspondence relationship between the communication terminal and the device, the communication-control method comprising:
a terminal information assigning step for assigning, to a header part of a signal from the own node to another node, information indicating a communication terminal of a destination or a transmission source of the signal accommodated in the other node; and
a transmission step for transmitting the signal in which the information indicating a communication terminal is assigned to the header part in the terminal information assigning step to the flow-control network in order to transmit the signal to the other node,
the devices having the same function include one of the devices which is replicated from another of the devices through is replicated through virtual machine (VM) replication, and
the method further includes performing path control for the other node, and
the accommodation device information is changed based on virtual machine replication.

### Claim 17

A communication-control method performed by a flow-control network in a communication system that provides a communication function to a communication terminal and includes the flow-control network, a node and another node connected to the flow-control network, the communication-control method comprising:
an open flow reception step for receiving a signal destined for the other node that is transmitted from the node;
a terminal information acquisition step for acquiring information indicating a communication terminal of a destination or a transmission source of the signal from a header part of the signal received in the open flow reception step;
a transmission destination identification step for identifying a device of a transmission destination among devices having a same function from the information acquired in the terminal information acquisition step with reference to accommodation device information indicating a correspondence relationship between the communication terminal and a device accommodating the communication terminal among the devices having the same function, the accommodation device information being stored in the flow-control network; and
an open flow transmission step for transmitting the signal received in the open flow reception step to the device of a transmission destination identified in the transmission destination identification step,
wherein the devices having the same function include one of the devices that is replicated from another of the devices through virtual machine (VM) replication,
the method includes performing path control for the other node, and
the accommodation device information is changed based on virtual machine replication.