Router device and datagram transfer method for data communication network system

Claim 2

A router device for transferring datagrams among networks comprising: network interfaces connected with networks including at least one virtual connection oriented network; a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a transfer target network interface; connection identifier analysis means for determining a transfer target network interface for a datagram entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; and transfer means for transferring the datagram to the transfer target network interface determined by the connection identifier analysis means.

Claim 3

The router device of claim 1, further comprising reception means for receiving a datalink frame from the virtual connection and assembling the datalink frame into the datagram.

Claim 4

The router device of claim 1, wherein the memory also stores a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and an output virtual connection identifier to be used in a case where a network connected with the transfer target network interface is a virtual connection oriented network.

Claim 5

The router device of claim 3, wherein the connection identifier analysis means also notifies an output virtual connection identifier for the datagram to the transfer target network interface.

Claim 6

The router device of claim 1, wherein the memory also stores a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a next hop network layer address to be used in a case where network connected with the transfer target network interface is a non-virtual connection oriented network.

Claim 7

The router device of claim 5, wherein the connection identifier analysis means also notifies a next hop network layer address for the datagram to the transfer target network interface.

Claim 8

The router device of claim 1, further comprising: datagram analysis means for registering in advance a correspondence between a datagram content and a transfer target network interface, and determining a transfer target network interface for the datagram according to a datagram content of the datagram when the memory does not store the transfer target network interface in correspondence to the virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; wherein the transfer means transfers the datagram to the transfer target network interface determined by the datagram analysis means when the memory does not store the transfer target network interface in correspondence to the virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection.

Claim 9

The router device of claim 1 wherein: the memory also stores a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a quality of service; the connection identifier analysis means also determines a quality of service for the datagram by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; and the router device further comprises: scheduler means for applying a priority control for datagrams to be transferred by the router device according to the quality of service determined by the connection identifier analysis means, such that the transfer means transfers the datagram to which the priority control is applied by the scheduler means.

Claim 10

The router device of claim 8, further comprising: datagram analysis means for registering in advance a correspondence between a datagram content and a transfer target network interface, and determining a transfer target network interface for the datagram to which the priority control is applied by the scheduler means according to a datagram content of the datagram; wherein the scheduler means makes the priority control of orders in which datagrams are given to the datagram analysis means.

Claim 11

The router device of claim 8 further comprising: processing means for determining a transfer target network interface and/or next hop network layer address and applying a network layer processing for the datagram to be transferred by the router device; wherein the scheduler means makes the priority control of orders in which datagrams are given to the processing means.

Claim 12

The router device of claim 1, further comprising datagram processing means for applying a network layer processing to the datagram to be transferred by the router device.

Claim 13

The router device of claim 11, wherein the datagram processing means is separately provided for each network interface.

Claim 14

A router device for transferring datagrams among networks, comprising: at least one network interface connected with at least one virtual connection oriented network; a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and an output virtual connection identifier; connection identifier analysis means for determining an output virtual connection identifier for a datagram entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; and transfer means for transferring the datagram such that the datagram is outputted to a virtual connection having the output virtual connection identifier determined by the connection identifier analysis means.

Claim 15

A router device for transferring datagrams among networks, comprising: at least one network interface connected with at least one virtual connection oriented network; a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and an output virtual connection identifier; connection identifier analysis means for determining an output virtual connection identifier for a datagram entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; and transfer means for transferring the datagram such that the datagram is outputted to a virtual connection having the output virtual connection identifier determined by the connection identifier analysis means.

Claim 16

The router device of claim 13, further comprising reception means for receiving a datalink frame from the virtual connection and assembling the datalink frame into the datagram.

Claim 17

A router device for transferring datagrams among networks, comprising: at least one network interface connected with at least one virtual connection oriented network; a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a quality of service; connection identifier analysis means for determining a quality of service for a datagram entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; scheduler means for applying a priority control for datagrams to be transferred by the router device according to the quality of service determined by the connection identifier analysis means; and transfer means for transferring the datagram to which the priority control is applied by the scheduler means.

Claim 18

A router device for transferring datagrams among networks, comprising: at least one network interface connected with at least one virtual connection oriented network; a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a quality of service; connection identifier analysis means for determining a quality of service for a datagram entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; scheduler means for applying a priority control for datagrams to be transferred by the router device according to the quality of service determined by the connection identifier analysis means; and transfer means for transferring the datagram to which the priority control is applied by the scheduler means.

Claim 19

The router device of claim 15, further comprising: datagram analysis means for registering in advance a correspondence between a datagram content and a transfer target network interface, and determining a transfer target network interface for the datagram to which the priority control is applied by the scheduler means according to a datagram content of the datagram; wherein the scheduler means makes the priority control of orders in which datagrams are given to the datagram analysis means.

Claim 20

The router device of claim 15, further comprising: processing means for determining a transfer target network interface and/or next hop network layer address and applying a network layer processing for the datagram to be transferred by the router device; wherein the scheduler means makes the priority control of orders in which datagrams are given to the processing means.

Claim 21

A router device for transferring AAL frames from an ATM network through network interfaces connected with networks including at least one ATM network, each network interface connected with said at least one ATM network including reception means for receiving ATM cells from an ATM network and assembling an AAL frame from the received ATM cells, and transmission means for forming ATM cells from an AAL frame and transmitting the formed ATM cells to an ATM network, the router device comprising: a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a transfer target network interface; connection identifier analysis means for determining a transfer target network interface for an AAL frame assembled from ATM cells entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; processing means for determining a transfer target network interface for the AAL frame by assembling datagram from the AAL frame and analyzing the assembled datagram, when the memory does not store the transfer target network interface in correspondence to the virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; and transfer means for transferring the AAL frame to the transfer target network interface determined by one of the connection identifier analysis means and the processing means.

Claim 22

A router device for transferring AAL frames from an ATM network through network interfaces connected with networks including at least one ATM network, each network interface connected with said at least one ATM network including reception means for receiving ATM cells from an ATM network and assembling an AAL frame from the received ATM cells, and transmission means for forming ATM cells from an AAL frame and transmitting the formed ATM cells to an ATM network, the router device comprising: a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a transfer target network interface; connection identifier analysis means for determining a transfer target network interface for an AAL frame assembled from ATM cells entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; processing means for determining a transfer target network interface for the AAL frame by assembling datagram from the AAL frame and analyzing the assembled datagram, when the memory does not store the transfer target network interface in correspondence to the virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; and transfer means for transferring the AAL frame to the transfer target network interface determined by one of the connection identifier analysis means and the processing means.

Claim 23

An ATM network interface card device for interfacing an ATM network and a bus for connecting other network interfaces connected with other networks, the ATM network interface card device comprising: reception means for receiving ATM cells from the ATM network and assembling an AAL frame from the received ATM cells; a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a transfer target network interface; connection identifier analysis means for determining a transfer target network interface for an AAL frame assembled from ATM cells entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; and transfer means for transferring the AAL frame through the bus to the transfer target network interface determined by the connection identifier analysis means.

Claim 24

An ATM network interface card device for interfacing an ATM network and a bus for connecting other network interfaces connected with other networks, the ATM network interface card device comprising: reception means for receiving ATM cells from the ATM network and assembling an AAL frame from the received ATM cells; a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a transfer target network interface; connection identifier analysis means for determining a transfer target network interface for an AAL frame assembled from ATM cells entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; and transfer means for transferring the AAL frame through the bus to the transfer target network interface determined by the connection identifier analysis means.

Claim 25

A router device for transferring datagrams among networks, comprising: at least one network interface connected with at least one virtual connection oriented network; a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a protocol type information indicating a type and/or a version of a protocol; connection identifier analysis means for determining a protocol type information for a datagram entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; datagram analysis means for determining a transfer target network interface/next hop network layer address for the datagram according to a datagram content of the datagram, the datagram analysis means having a plurality of processors in correspondence to different protocols, and the datagram is entered into one of said plurality of processors which corresponds to a protocol of a type and/or a version indicated by the protocol type information determined by the connection identifier analysis means; and transfer means for transferring the datagram to the transfer target network interface/next hop network layer address determined by the datagram analysis means.

Claim 26

A router device for transferring datagrams among networks, comprising: at least one network interface connected with at least one virtual connection oriented network; a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a protocol type information indicating a type and/or a version of a protocol; connection identifier analysis means for determining a protocol type information for a datagram entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; datagram analysis means for determining a transfer target network interface/next hop network layer address for the datagram according to a datagram content of the datagram, the datagram analysis means having a plurality of processors in correspondence to different protocols, and the datagram is entered into one of said plurality of processors which corresponds to a protocol of a type and/or a version indicated by the protocol type information determined by the connection identifier analysis means; and transfer means for transferring the datagram to the transfer target network interface/next hop network layer address determined by the datagram analysis means.

Claim 39

A data communication network system, comprising: networks including at least one virtual connection oriented network; a transmission node provided in each network for transmitting datagrams such that datagrams destined to an identical destination are transmitted through at least one specific virtual connection; and a router device for connecting at least two of the networks, the router device including: network interfaces connected with said at least two of the networks; a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a transfer target network interface; connection identifier analysis means for determining a transfer target network interface for a datagram entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; and transfer means for transferring the datagram to the transfer target network interface determined by the connection identifier analysis means.

Claim 40

A data communication network system, comprising: networks including at least one virtual connection oriented network; a transmission node provided in each network for transmitting datagrams such that datagrams destined to an identical destination are transmitted through at least one specific virtual connection; and a router device for connecting at least two of the networks, the router device including: network interfaces connected with said at least two of the networks; a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a transfer target network interface; connection identifier analysis means for determining a transfer target network interface for a datagram entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; and transfer means for transferring the datagram to the transfer target network interface determined by the connection identifier analysis means.

Claim 41

A data communication network system comprising: networks including at least one virtual connection oriented network; a transmission node provided in each network for transmitting datagrams such that datagrams destined to an identical destination are transmitted through at least one specific virtual connection; and a router device for connecting at least two of the networks, the router device including: at least one network interface connected with said at least two of the networks; a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and an output virtual connection identifier; connection identifier analysis means for determining an output virtual connection identifier for a datagram entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; and transfer means for transferring the datagram such that the datagram is outputted to a virtual connection having the output virtual connection identifier determined by the connection identifier analysis means.

Claim 42

A data communication network system comprising: networks including at least one virtual connection oriented network; a transmission node provided in each network for transmitting datagrams such that datagrams destined to an identical destination are transmitted through at least one specific virtual connection; and a router device for connecting at least two of the networks, the router device including: at least one network interface connected with said at least two of the networks; a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and an output virtual connection identifier; connection identifier analysis means for determining an output virtual connection identifier for a datagram entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; and transfer means for transferring the datagram such that the datagram is outputted to a virtual connection having the output virtual connection identifier determined by the connection identifier analysis means.

Claim 43

A data communication network system, comprising: networks including at least one virtual connection oriented network; a transmission node provided in each network for transmitting datagrams such that datagrams with an identical quality of service are transmitted through at least one specific virtual connection; and a router device for connecting at least two of the networks, the router device including: at least one network interface connected with said at least two of the networks; a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a quality of service; connection identifier analysis means for determining a quality of service for a datagram entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; scheduler means for applying a priority control for datagrams to be transferred by the router device according to the quality of service determined by the connection identifier analysis means; and transfer means for transferring the datagram to which the priority control is applied by the scheduler means.

Claim 44

A data communication network system, comprising: networks including at least one virtual connection oriented network; a transmission node provided in each network for transmitting datagrams such that datagrams with an identical quality of service are transmitted through at least one specific virtual connection; and a router device for connecting at least two of the networks, the router device including: at least one network interface connected with said at least two of the networks; a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a quality of service; connection identifier analysis means for determining a quality of service for a datagram entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; scheduler means for applying a priority control for datagrams to be transferred by the router device according to the quality of service determined by the connection identifier analysis means; and transfer means for transferring the datagram to which the priority control is applied by the scheduler means.

Claim 45

A data communication network system, comprising: networks including at least one ATM network; a transmission node provided in each network for transmitting datagrams such that datagrams destined to an identical destination are transmitted through at least one specific virtual connection; and a router device for connecting at least two of the networks, and for transferring AAL frames from an ATM network through network interfaces connected with the networks, each network interface connected with said at least one ATM network including reception means for receiving ATM cells from an ATM network and assembling an AAL frame from the received ATM cells, and transmission means for forming ATM cells from an AAL frame and transmitting the formed ATM cells to an ATM network, the router device including: a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a transfer target network interface; connection identifier analysis means for determining a transfer target network interface for an AAL frame assembled from ATM cells entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; processing means for determining a transfer target network interface for the AAL frame by assembling datagram from the AAL frame and analyzing the assembled datagram, when the memory does not store the transfer target network interface in correspondence to the virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; and transfer means for transferring the AAL frame to the transfer target network interface determined by one of the connection identifier analysis means and the processing means.

Claim 46

A data communication network system, comprising: networks including at least one ATM network; a transmission node provided in each network for transmitting datagrams such that datagrams destined to an identical destination are transmitted through at least one specific virtual connection; and a router device for connecting at least two of the networks, and for transferring AAL frames from an ATM network through network interfaces connected with the networks, each network interface connected with said at least one ATM network including reception means for receiving ATM cells from an ATM network and assembling an AAL frame from the received ATM cells, and transmission means for forming ATM cells from an AAL frame and transmitting the formed ATM cells to an ATM network, the router device including: a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a transfer target network interface; connection identifier analysis means for determining a transfer target network interface for an AAL frame assembled from ATM cells entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; processing means for determining a transfer target network interface for the AAL frame by assembling datagram from the AAL frame and analyzing the assembled datagram, when the memory does not store the transfer target network interface in correspondence to the virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; and transfer means for transferring the AAL frame to the transfer target network interface determined by one of the connection identifier analysis means and the processing means.

Claim 47

A data communication network system, comprising: networks including at least one ATM network; a transmission node provided in each network for transmitting datagrams such that datagrams destined to an identical destination are transmitted through at least one specific virtual connection; and a router device for connecting at least two of the networks including an ATM network; and an ATM network interface card device for interfacing an ATM network and a bus for connecting other network interfaces connected with other networks, the ATM network interface card device including: reception means for receiving ATM cells from the ATM network and assembling an AAL frame from the received ATM cells; a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a transfer target network interface; connection identifier analysis means for determining a transfer target network interface for an AAL frame assembled from ATM cells entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; and transfer means for transferring the AAL frame through the bus to the transfer target network interface determined by the connection identifier analysis means.

Claim 48

A data communication network system, comprising: networks including at least one ATM network; a transmission node provided in each network for transmitting datagrams such that datagrams destined to an identical destination are transmitted through at least one specific virtual connection; and a router device for connecting at least two of the networks including an ATM network; and an ATM network interface card device for interfacing an ATM network and a bus for connecting other network interfaces connected with other networks, the ATM network interface card device including: reception means for receiving ATM cells from the ATM network and assembling an AAL frame from the received ATM cells; a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a transfer target network interface; connection identifier analysis means for determining a transfer target network interface for an AAL frame assembled from ATM cells entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; and transfer means for transferring the AAL frame through the bus to the transfer target network interface determined by the connection identifier analysis means.

Claim 49

A data communication network system, comprising: networks including at least one virtual connection oriented network; a transmission node provided in each network for transmitting datagrams such that datagrams of an identical protocol type and/or version are transmitted through at least one specific virtual connection; and a router device for connecting at least two of the networks, the router device including: at least one network interface connected with said at least two of the networks; a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a protocol type information indicating a type and/or a version of a protocol; connection identifier analysis means for determining a protocol type information for a datagram entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; datagram analysis means for determining a transfer target network interface/next hop network layer address for the datagram according to a datagram content of the datagram, the datagram analysis means having a plurality of processors in correspondence to different protocols, and the datagram is entered into one of said plurality of processors which corresponds to a protocol of a type and/or a version indicated by the protocol type information determined by the connection identifier analysis means; and transfer means for transferring the datagram to the transfer target network interface/next hop network layer address determined by the datagram analysis means.

Claim 50

A data communication network system, comprising: networks including at least one virtual connection oriented network; a transmission node provided in each network for transmitting datagrams such that datagrams of an identical protocol type and/or version are transmitted through at least one specific virtual connection; and a router device for connecting at least two of the networks, the router device including: at least one network interface connected with said at least two of the networks; a memory for storing a correspondence between a virtual connection identifier and a protocol type information indicating a type and/or a version of a protocol; connection identifier analysis means for determining a protocol type information for a datagram entered from a virtual connection, by referring to the memory according to a virtual connection identifier of the virtual connection; datagram analysis means for determining a transfer target network interface/next hop network layer address for the datagram according to a datagram content of the datagram, the datagram analysis means having a plurality of processors in correspondence to different protocols, and the datagram is entered into one of said plurality of processors which corresponds to a protocol of a type and/or a version indicated by the protocol type information determined by the connection identifier analysis means; and transfer means for transferring the datagram to the transfer target network interface/next hop network layer address determined by the datagram analysis means.

Claim 51

A transmission node device for transmitting datagrams to a router device, comprising: a memory for storing a correspondence between a destination and an output virtual connection identifier, the correspondence being known to the router device; datagram analysis means for determining an output virtual connection identifier for a datagram to be transmitted, by referring to the memory according to a destination of the datagram; and transmission means for transmitting the datagram to a virtual connection having the output virtual connection identifier determined by the datagram analysis means, such that datagrams destined to an identical destination are transmitted through at least one specific virtual connection.

Claim 52

A transmission node device for transmitting datagrams to a router device, comprising: a memory for storing a correspondence between a destination and an output virtual connection identifier, the correspondence being known to the router device; datagram analysis means for determining an output virtual connection identifier for a datagram to be transmitted, by referring to the memory according to a destination of the datagram; and transmission means for transmitting the datagram to a virtual connection having the output virtual connection identifier determined by the datagram analysis means, such that datagrams destined to an identical destination are transmitted through at least one specific virtual connection.

Claim 53

A transmission node device for transmitting datagrams to a router device, comprising: a memory for storing a correspondence between a quality of service specifying information indicating a quality of service and an output virtual connection identifier, the correspondence being known to the router device; datagram analysis means for determining an output virtual connection identifier for a datagram to be transmitted, by referring to the memory according to a quality of service specifying information of the datagram; and transmission means for transmitting the datagram to a virtual connection having a virtual connection identifier identical to the output virtual connection identifier determined by the datagram analysis means, such that datagrams with an identical quality of service specifying information are transmitted through at least one specific virtual connection.

Claim 54

A transmission node device for transmitting datagrams to a router device, comprising: a memory for storing a correspondence between a quality of service specifying information indicating a quality of service and an output virtual connection identifier, the correspondence being known to the router device; datagram analysis means for determining an output virtual connection identifier for a datagram to be transmitted, by referring to the memory according to a quality of service specifying information of the datagram; and transmission means for transmitting the datagram to a virtual connection having a virtual connection identifier identical to the output virtual connection identifier determined by the datagram analysis means, such that datagrams with an identical quality of service specifying information are transmitted through at least one specific virtual connection.

Claim 55

A transmission node device for transmitting datagrams to a router device, comprising: a memory for storing a correspondence between a protocol type information indicating a type and/or a version of a protocol and an output virtual connection identifier, the correspondence being known to the router device; datagram analysis means for determining an output virtual connection identifier for a datagram to be transmitted, by referring to the memory according to a type and/or a version of a protocol of the datagram; and transmission means for transmitting the datagram to a virtual connection having a virtual connection identifier identical to the output virtual connection identifier determined by the datagram analysis means, such that datagrams of an identical protocol type and/or version are transmitted through at least one specific virtual connection.

Claim 56

A transmission node device for transmitting datagrams to a router device, comprising: a memory for storing a correspondence between a protocol type information indicating a type and/or a version of a protocol and an output virtual connection identifier, the correspondence being known to the router device; datagram analysis means for determining an output virtual connection identifier for a datagram to be transmitted, by referring to the memory according to a type and/or a version of a protocol of the datagram; and transmission means for transmitting the datagram to a virtual connection having a virtual connection identifier identical to the output virtual connection identifier determined by the datagram analysis means, such that datagrams of an identical protocol type and/or version are transmitted through at least one specific virtual connection.