Communication device, communication method, and program

Abstract

This device provides communication equipment that helps distinguish between destination domains subject to URL offloading and other domains that are not subject to URL offloading, even if they share the same destination IP address. [Solution] The communication device includes a Domain Name System proxy unit that receives a name resolution request for a data server from a communication terminal, receives the destination IP address of the data server from a Domain Name System server, and, if it determines that the destination domain of the data server is subject to URL offloading, sends a dedicated IP address for URL (Universal Resource Locator) offloading to the communication terminal in place of the destination IP address.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication device, a communication method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Regarding communication devices, the following documents can be cited.

[0003] Patent Document 1 relates to a proxy DNS server with a cache function that aims to achieve both data addition and caching to ensure the consistency of DNS (Domain Name System) responses.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The following analysis is provided by the inventor of the present invention.

[0006] As cloud usage becomes more active, the number of cases where the same destination IP address corresponds to multiple domain names is increasing. In this case, when a domain that one wants to offload the URL and a domain that one does not want to offload have the same IP address, confusion may occur.

[0007] For example, conventionally, when a communication terminal resolves a name using a Domain Name System (DNS) server, a communication device (e.g., a router device) acts as a DNS proxy, refers to the result of name resolution, and when the destination domain is a target for URL (Universal Resource Locator) offloading, caches the destination IP address and changes the communication path according to the cache.

[0008] However, in this case, there were two problems, (1) and (2) below. (1) When using the same destination IP address for multiple domains, it is impossible to distinguish between the domains. Therefore, it is not possible to target only one of the domains for URL offloading. (2) All communications must pass through this communication device (e.g., a router). Therefore, routing settings for devices other than the communication terminal may be difficult.

[0009] The present invention aims to provide a communication device, a communication method, and a program that contribute to distinguishing between destination domains subject to URL offloading and other domains that are not subject to URL offloading, even if they have the same destination IP address. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a communication device can be provided that includes a domain name system proxy unit which receives a name resolution request for a data server from a communication terminal, receives the destination IP address of the data server from a domain name system server, and, if it is determined that the destination domain of the data server is subject to URL offloading, sends an IP address dedicated to URL (Universal Resource Locator) offloading to the communication terminal in place of the destination IP address.

[0011] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the computer of the communication device, A name resolution request for the data server is received from the communication terminal. The destination IP address of the data server is received from the Domain Name System server. If the destination domain of the data server is determined to be subject to URL offloading, a communication method can be provided that includes sending a dedicated IP address for URL (Universal Resource Locator) offloading to the communication terminal instead of the destination IP address. This method is tied to a specific machine, namely a computer, that executes the above method.

[0012] According to a third aspect of the present invention, the computer of the communication device, The process of receiving a name resolution request from a communication terminal to a data server, The process of receiving the destination IP address of the data server from the Domain Name System server, We can provide a program that, when it is determined that the destination domain of the data server is subject to URL offloading, executes a process to send a dedicated IP address for URL (Universal Resource Locator) offloading to the communication terminal in place of the destination IP address.

[0013] These programs can be recorded on a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium can be non-transitory, such as semiconductor memory, hard disks, magnetic recording media, or optical recording media. The present invention can also be embodied as a computer program product. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a communication device, a communication method, and a program that contribute to distinguishing between destination domains that are subject to URL offloading and other domains that are not subject to URL offloading, even if they have the same destination IP address. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This block diagram shows an example of the configuration of one communication device and the overall configuration of the device relating to this disclosure. [Figure 2]It is a block diagram showing an example of a cache stored in a conversion cache unit according to the present disclosure. [Figure 3] It is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a communication device when receiving a name resolution request from a communication terminal according to the present disclosure. [Figure 4] It is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a communication device when accessing a data server from a communication terminal according to the present disclosure. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing the configuration of a computer constituting a communication device according to the present disclosure.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] In the present disclosure, the drawings may be associated with one or more embodiments. Also, each embodiment described below can be combined with other embodiments as appropriate, and the present invention is not limited by each embodiment.

[0017] First, an overview of one embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the reference numerals of the drawings appended to this overview are for convenience of each element as an example to assist understanding, and are not intended to limit the present invention to the illustrated aspects. Also, the connection lines between blocks in the drawings and the like referred to in the following description include both bidirectional and unidirectional ones. The one-way arrow schematically shows the flow of the main signal (data) and does not exclude bidirectionality.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration and overall configuration of a communication device according to the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 1, the overall configuration includes a communication device 100, a communication terminal 200, a domain name system (DNS) server 300, a data server 400, and the Internet 600. The communication device 100 includes a DNS proxy unit 110, a conversion cache unit 120, and an IP address conversion and route change unit 130. Also, the communication device 100 is connected to the main route 500, which is the default route, and the Internet 600. Note that the communication device 100 may be, for example, a router device.

[0019] When the DNS proxy unit 110 receives a name resolution request for the data server 400 from the communication terminal 200, it sends the name resolution request for the data server 400 to the DNS server 300.

[0020] The DNS proxy unit 110 receives a name resolution response from the DNS server 300, and thereby receives the destination IP address of the data server 4.

[0021] When the DNS proxy unit 110 determines that the destination domain of the data server is a target for URL offloading, it sends an IP address dedicated for URL (Universal Resource Locator) offloading to the communication terminal 200 instead of the destination IP address.

[0022] Therefore, even if the destination IP address is the same, it is possible to distinguish between the case where the destination domain of the data server is a target for URL offloading and the case where it is not a target for URL offloading and handle them separately.

[0023] According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a communication device, a communication method, and a program that contribute to distinguishing between a destination domain that is a target for URL offloading and another domain that is not a target for URL offloading, even when the destination IP address is the same.

[0024] [First Embodiment] Next, the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration and overall configuration of a communication device according to the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the cache stored in the conversion cache unit according to the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the communication device when a name resolution request is received from the communication terminal according to the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the communication device when accessing the data server from the communication terminal according to the present disclosure.

[0025] Referring to Figures 1 to 3, an example of the operation of the communication device 100 when it receives a name resolution request from the communication terminal 200 will be explained.

[0026] Referring to Figure 1, the overall configuration includes a communication device 100, a communication terminal 200, a Domain Name System (DNS) server 300, a data server 400, and the Internet 600. The communication device 100 includes a DNS proxy unit 110, a translation cache unit 120, and an IP address translation and route change unit 130. The communication device 100 is also connected to the main route 500, which is the default route, and to the Internet 600.

[0027] Referring to Figure 3, the operation of the communication device 100 when it receives a name resolution request from the communication terminal 200 starts in step S301.

[0028] In step S302, when the DNS proxy unit 110 of the communication device 100 receives a name resolution request for the data server 400 from the communication terminal 200, it sends the name resolution request for the data server 400 to the DNS server 300.

[0029] In step S303, the DNS proxy unit 110 receives a name resolution response from the DNS server 300, thereby receiving the destination IP address of the data server 400.

[0030] In step S304, if the DNS proxy unit 110 determines that the destination domain of the data server is subject to URL offloading (step S304 Yes), in step S305, it sends an IP address dedicated to URL (Universal Resource Locator) offloading to the communication terminal 200 instead of the destination IP address.

[0031] The DNS proxy unit 110 may include a list of domain names of domains subject to URL offloading, or it may be connected to a storage device that includes a list of domain names of domains subject to URL offloading, and it may determine whether or not a destination domain is subject to URL offloading according to the domain name list.

[0032] Next, in step S306, the DNS proxy unit 110 creates a cache that associates the destination IP address with an IP address dedicated to URL offloading, and stores it in the translation cache unit 120.

[0033] Referring to Figure 2, the conversion cache unit 120 stores a cache 121 that associates the received destination IP address 122 with the IP address 123 dedicated to URL offloading.

[0034] In step S304, if the DNS proxy unit 110 determines that the destination domain of the data server is not subject to URL offloading (step S304 No), in step S307, it sends the destination IP address of the data server 400, which it received from the DNS server 300, to the communication terminal 200.

[0035] When the communication device 100 receives a name resolution request from the communication terminal 200, its operation ends in step S308.

[0036] Next, with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 4, an example of the operation of the communication device 100 when accessing the data server 400 from the communication terminal 200 will be explained.

[0037] When accessing the data server 400 from the communication terminal 200, the operation of the communication device 100 begins in step S401.

[0038] In step S402, the IP address translation and routing unit 130 of the communication device 100 receives the IP address used to access the data server 400 from the communication terminal 200.

[0039] When the IP address translation and routing unit 130 receives the IP address to be accessed, it proceeds to step S403 and determines whether a cache containing an IP address dedicated to URL offloading corresponding to the IP address to be accessed is stored in the translation cache unit 120.

[0040] If the IP address translation and route change unit 130 determines that the translation cache unit 120 does not contain a cache containing an IP address dedicated to URL offloading that corresponds to the IP address to be accessed (step S403 No), then in step S404, it uses the IP address to be accessed as the destination IP address, and in step S405, it communicates with the data server 400 via the main route 500, which is the default route shown in Figure 1.

[0041] On the other hand, if it is determined that the conversion cache unit contains a cache containing an IP address dedicated to URL offloading that corresponds to the IP address to be accessed (step S403 Yes), then in step S406, the IP address to be accessed is converted to the destination IP address associated with the IP address dedicated to URL offloading, and in step S407, the route is changed to communicate with the data server 400 via the internet 600.

[0042] For example, as shown in Figure 2, if the conversion cache unit 120 stores a cache 121 that associates the received destination IP address 122 with the dedicated URL offload IP address 123, the system will refer to the cache 121 and convert the IP address to be accessed to the destination IP address 122 that is associated with the dedicated URL offload IP address 123.

[0043] When accessing the data server 400 from the communication terminal 200, the operation of the communication device 100 ends in step S408.

[0044] Therefore, even with the same destination IP address, it is possible to distinguish between cases where the data server's destination domain is subject to URL offloading and cases where it is not.

[0045] As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a communication device, a communication method, and a program that contribute to distinguishing between destination domains that are subject to URL offloading and other domains that are not subject to URL offloading, even though they have the same destination IP address.

[0046] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and further modifications, substitutions, and adjustments can be made without departing from the basic technical idea of ​​the present invention. For example, the network configuration, the configuration of each element, and the message representation form shown in each drawing are examples to aid in understanding the present invention, and are not limited to the configurations shown in these drawings. Also, "A and / or B" is used to mean at least one of A or B.

[0047] Furthermore, the procedures described in the above-mentioned embodiment and the first embodiment can be implemented by a program that enables a computer (9000 in Figure 5) functioning as a communication device according to the present invention to perform the functions of a communication device. Such a computer is exemplified by a configuration comprising a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 9010, a communication interface 9020, a memory 9030, and an auxiliary storage device 9040, as shown in Figure 5. That is, the CPU 9010 in Figure 5 executes a control program for the communication device and performs update processing of each calculation parameter held in its auxiliary storage device 9040, etc.

[0048] Memory 9030 refers to RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), etc.

[0049] In other words, each part (processing means, function) of the communication device shown in the above-described embodiment and the first embodiment can be realized by a computer program that causes the computer's processor to execute each of the above-described processes using its hardware.

[0050] Finally, preferred embodiments of the present invention are summarized. [First form] The communication device includes a Domain Name System proxy unit, which may receive a name resolution request for a data server from a communication terminal. The Domain Name System proxy unit may receive the destination IP address of the data server from the Domain Name System server. If the Domain Name System proxy unit determines that the destination domain of the data server is subject to URL offloading, it may send a dedicated IP address for URL (Universal Resource Locator) offloading to the communication terminal instead of the destination IP address. [Second form] The communication device described in the first embodiment may further include a conversion cache unit. In the communication device described in the first embodiment, if the domain name system proxy unit determines that the destination domain is subject to URL offloading, it is preferable to create a cache linking the destination IP address with the IP address dedicated to URL offloading and store the cache in the translation cache unit. [Third form] The communication device described in the first embodiment may further include an IP address translation and routing unit. The IP address translation and routing unit of the communication device described in the first embodiment, when it receives an IP address from the communication terminal to access the data server, If the conversion cache unit determines that the cache containing the URL offload-dedicated IP address corresponding to the IP address to be accessed is not stored, the unit communicates with the data server via the main route, which is the default route, using the IP address to be accessed as the destination IP address. If the conversion cache unit determines that it stores a cache containing the dedicated URL offload IP address corresponding to the IP address to be accessed, it is preferable to convert the IP address to be accessed to the destination IP address associated with the dedicated URL offload IP address and reroute the communication to the data server via the internet. [Fourth form] The domain name system proxy unit of the communication device described in the first embodiment preferably includes a list of domain names of domains subject to URL offloading, or is connected to a storage device that includes the list of domain names of domains subject to URL offloading, and determines whether the destination domain is subject to URL offloading according to the list of domain names. [Fifth form] The communication method may include the computer of the communication device receiving a name resolution request for a data server from the communication terminal. The communication method may include the computer receiving the destination IP address of the data server from the domain name system server. The communication method may include, if the computer determines that the destination domain of the data server is subject to URL offloading, sending a dedicated IP address for URL (Universal Resource Locator) offloading to the communication terminal instead of the destination IP address. [Sixth form] In the communication method described in the fifth embodiment, the communication device further includes a conversion cache unit, If the computer determines that the destination domain is subject to URL offloading, it is preferable to create a cache that associates the destination IP address with the IP address dedicated to URL offloading, and to store the cache in the translation cache unit. [Seventh form] In the communication method described in the sixth embodiment, when the computer receives an IP address from the communication terminal to access the data server, If the conversion cache unit determines that the cache containing the URL offload-dedicated IP address corresponding to the IP address to be accessed is not stored, the unit communicates with the data server via the main route, which is the default route, using the IP address to be accessed as the destination IP address. If the conversion cache unit determines that it stores a cache containing the dedicated URL offload IP address corresponding to the IP address to be accessed, it is preferable to convert the IP address to be accessed to the destination IP address associated with the dedicated URL offload IP address and reroute the communication to the data server via the internet. [Eighth form] The program is installed on the computer of the communication device. The system may be configured to receive name resolution requests from the data server via a communication terminal. The program may cause the computer to perform a process to receive the destination IP address of the data server from the domain name system server. The program may cause the computer to perform the following process: if it determines that the destination domain of the data server is subject to URL offloading, it sends a dedicated IP address for URL (Universal Resource Locator) offloading to the communication terminal instead of the destination IP address. [Ninth form] The program described in the eighth embodiment further includes a conversion cache unit in the communication device. If the computer determines that the destination domain is subject to URL offloading, A process to create a cache that associates the aforementioned destination IP address with the aforementioned IP address dedicated to URL offloading, It is preferable to perform a process to store the cache in the conversion cache unit. [Tenth form] The program described in the eighth embodiment, when the computer receives an IP address from the communication terminal to access the data server, If the conversion cache unit determines that the cache containing the URL offload-dedicated IP address corresponding to the IP address to be accessed is not stored, the process of communicating with the data server via the main route, which is the default route, using the IP address to be accessed as the destination IP address, is performed. If it is determined that the conversion cache unit contains a cache including the dedicated URL offload IP address corresponding to the IP address to be accessed, it is preferable to perform a process to convert the IP address to be accessed to the destination IP address associated with the dedicated URL offload IP address and reroute the communication to the data server via the internet. Furthermore, the fifth and eighth forms described above can be expanded into the fourth form, similar to the first form.

[0051] Furthermore, the disclosures in the above-mentioned patent documents are incorporated into this work by reference. Within the framework of the full disclosure of the present invention (including the claims), further modifications and adjustments to the embodiments or examples are possible based on the fundamental technical concept. Also, within the framework of the disclosure of the present invention, various combinations or selections of various disclosure elements (including each element of each claim, each element of each embodiment or example, each element of each drawing, etc.) are possible. In other words, the present invention naturally includes the full disclosure, including the claims, and various modifications and alterations that a person skilled in the art could make in accordance with the technical concept. In particular, with respect to the numerical ranges described in this work, any numerical value or sub-range included within that range should be interpreted as being specifically described, even if not otherwise stated. Furthermore, each disclosure item of the above-mentioned cited documents may, if necessary, be used in combination with the items described in this work as part of the disclosure of the present invention, in accordance with the spirit of the present invention, in part or in whole, and this is also considered to be included in the disclosure of this application. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0052] 100 Communication devices 110 DNS Proxy Section 120 Conversion Cache Section 121 Cache 122 Destination IP address 123 IP address dedicated to URL offloading 130 IP Address Translation and Route Change Section 200 communication terminals 300 DNS servers 400 data servers 500 Main Route 600 Internet 9000 Computers 9010 CPU 9020 Communication Interface 9030 memory 9040 Auxiliary storage device

Claims

1. A communication device including a domain name system proxy unit that receives a name resolution request for a data server from a communication terminal, receives the destination IP address of the data server from a domain name system server, and, if it determines that the destination domain of the data server is subject to URL offloading, sends a dedicated IP address for URL (Universal Resource Locator) offloading to the communication terminal in place of the destination IP address.

2. Furthermore, including the conversion cache section, The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the domain name system proxy unit determines that the destination domain is subject to URL offloading, creates a cache linking the destination IP address and the IP address dedicated to URL offloading, and stores the cache in the translation cache unit.

3. Furthermore, it includes an IP address translation and route rerouting unit, When the IP address translation and routing unit receives an IP address from the communication terminal to access the data server, If it is determined that the conversion cache unit does not contain a cache containing the IP address dedicated to URL offloading that corresponds to the IP address to be accessed, the system communicates with the data server via the main route, which is the default route, using the IP address to be accessed as the destination IP address. The communication device according to claim 2, which, when it is determined that the conversion cache unit contains a cache including the IP address dedicated to URL offloading that corresponds to the IP address to be accessed, converts the IP address to be accessed to the destination IP address associated with the IP address dedicated to URL offloading and reroutes the communication to the data server via the internet.

4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the domain name system proxy unit includes a list of domain names of domains subject to URL offloading, or is connected to a storage device that includes the list of domain names of domains subject to URL offloading, and determines whether the destination domain is subject to URL offloading according to the list of domain names.

5. The computer in the communication device, A name resolution request for the data server is received from the communication terminal. The destination IP address of the data server is received from the Domain Name System server. A communication method that includes, when it is determined that the destination domain of the data server is subject to URL offloading, sending a dedicated IP address for URL (Universal Resource Locator) offloading to the communication terminal instead of the destination IP address.

6. The aforementioned communication device further includes a conversion cache unit, The communication method according to claim 5, wherein, if the computer determines that the destination domain is subject to URL offloading, it creates a cache linking the destination IP address and the IP address dedicated to URL offloading, and stores the cache in the conversion cache unit.

7. When the computer receives an IP address from the communication terminal to access the data server, If it is determined that the conversion cache unit does not contain a cache containing the IP address dedicated to URL offloading that corresponds to the IP address to be accessed, the system communicates with the data server via the main route, which is the default route, using the IP address to be accessed as the destination IP address. The communication method according to claim 6, wherein if it is determined that the conversion cache unit contains a cache including the IP address dedicated to URL offloading that corresponds to the IP address to be accessed, the conversion cache unit converts the IP address to be accessed to the destination IP address associated with the IP address dedicated to URL offloading, and reroutes the communication to the data server via the internet.

8. In the computer of the communication device, The process of receiving a name resolution request from a communication terminal to a data server, The process of receiving the destination IP address of the data server from the Domain Name System server, A program that, when it determines that the destination domain of the data server is subject to URL offloading, causes the communication terminal to send a dedicated IP address for URL (Universal Resource Locator) offloading instead of the destination IP address.

9. The aforementioned communication device further includes a conversion cache unit, If the computer determines that the destination domain is subject to URL offloading, A process to create a cache that associates the aforementioned destination IP address with the aforementioned IP address dedicated to URL offloading, The program according to claim 8, which causes the program to execute a process of storing the cache in the conversion cache unit.

10. When the computer receives an IP address from the communication terminal to access the data server, If it is determined that the conversion cache unit does not contain the cache containing the URL offload-dedicated IP address corresponding to the IP address to be accessed, the process of communicating with the data server via the main route, which is the default route, using the IP address to be accessed as the destination IP address, is performed. The program according to claim 9, which, when it is determined that the conversion cache unit contains a cache including the IP address dedicated to URL offloading that corresponds to the IP address to be accessed, converts the IP address to be accessed to the destination IP address associated with the IP address dedicated to URL offloading and performs a process to change the route so that communication is made to the data server via the internet.

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