Network relay device and connection path selection method

Abstract

To provide a network relay device that can normally connect to the IPv4 Internet using high-speed IPv4 over IPv6, and can connect to the IPv4 Internet using a PPPoE connection for communications from communication terminal devices in which IPv4 over IPv6 failures occur. [Solution] The device comprises a PPPoE connection unit that connects to the IPv4 Internet via a PPPoE server, an IPv4 over IPv6 connection unit that connects to a first router via an IPv4 over IPv6 tunnel and connects to the IPv4 Internet via the first router, and a connection path selection unit that determines the connection path to the IPv4 Internet, and the connection path selection unit selects the connection path based on the MAC address or SSID of the source communication terminal device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a network relay device that relays an IPv4 communication terminal device and an IPv4 Internet, and a method for selecting a connection path of the network relay device.

Background Art

[0002] Regarding a network relay device connected to an IPv4 communication terminal device in an IPv4 / IPv6 mixed network environment, the following patents have been applied for.

[0003] Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2015-164287) discloses an apparatus and method for easily setting an appropriate operation mode for relaying IPv4 packets. The network relay device described in Patent Document 1 operates in either a first operation mode that operates as a router function unit or a second operation mode that operates as a bridge function unit, and relays IP packets. It includes a packet relay processing unit, an operation mode setting unit that selectively sets the operation mode of the packet relay processing unit to either the first operation mode or the second operation mode, a tunneling processing unit that terminates an IPv4 over IPv6 tunnel, and a communication test unit that performs a communication test via such a tunnel with another network relay device different from the network relay device that terminates such a tunnel. When the communication test results in successful communication, the operation mode setting unit sets the operation mode of the packet relay processing unit to the first operation mode.

[0004] Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent No. 6532975) discloses a connection service using IPv4 over IPv6 that can be expanded in a form with less load.

[0005] The connection service described in Patent Document 2 includes a shared IP network connection control device managed by a telecommunications carrier and configured with IPv6, provided in a shared IP network; a carrier connection control device provided in an ISP network managed by a connection carrier; a gateway relay router provided at the end of the shared IP network side of the ISP network 3; and customer premise equipment provided at the end of the shared IP network side of the user network. The customer premise equipment is relayed to the shared IP network connection control device and assigned an IPv4 address from the carrier connection control device. Tunneling using an IPv6 capsule is performed between the customer premise equipment and the gateway relay router, and the distribution by the connection carrier is performed by the shared IP network connection control device that is not the termination point.

[0006] Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-007412) discloses a gateway device capable of supporting PPPoE and its control method, in which a connected terminal selects a protocol to be used between PPPoE and IPoE and a method of simultaneously selecting a plurality of PPPoE sessions.

[0007] In the gateway device described in Patent Document 3, an IPoE / PPPoE forwarding table in which a network address, a protocol type, a destination IP address used in IPoE, and a search index of a PPPoE session used in PPPoE are registered is provided. The protocol type is selected according to the network address on the IPoE / PPPoE forwarding table that matches the destination IP address included in the header information of the IP packet of the input frame. When the selected protocol type is PPPoE, a PPPoE session is also selected from the search index corresponding to the network address.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0008]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] Currently, in general households, by contracting with an ISP (Internet Service Provider), it is possible to connect to the IPv4 Internet using IPv4 or IPv4 over IPv6. IPv4 over IPv6 is a method in which an IPv6 tunnel is constructed between a network relay device within the home and a BR (Border Relay) installed in the network of a VNE (Virtual Network Enabler), and the connection to the IPv4 Internet is made through the VNE. Among these, when connecting to the IPv4 Internet using the PPPoE method, which is a conventional connection method, since it passes through the ISP's network termination device, when the traffic increases, this network termination device becomes congested and becomes a bottleneck, resulting in a possible slowdown in the communication speed.

[0010] On the other hand, when connecting to the IPv4 Internet using IPv4 over IPv6, it can be expected that the communication speed will be faster than when connecting to the IPv4 Internet using the PPPoE method. However, in the connection with a communication terminal device within the home, there are problems such as limited available port numbers and inability to use a fixed IP address. Specifically, there are obstacles such as problems in some online games, inability to install a server, in some network cameras, inability to access a camera installed at home from the outside, and inability to use a VPN using PPTP or L2TP / IPsec. In particular, in a network environment where a communication terminal device in which a failure occurs in IPv4 over IPv6 communication and a communication terminal device in which no failure occurs coexist, two routers, i.e., a router for IPv4 over IPv6 connection and a router for PPPoE connection, are installed, the router for IPv4 over IPv6 connection is set to PPPoE bridge, and the terminals connected to each router are assigned, etc., a complex network configuration was required.

[0011] The network relay device described in Patent Document 1 includes a packet relay processing unit that relays IPv4 packets, a tunneling processing unit that terminates an IPv4 over IPv6 tunnel, and a communication test unit that performs a communication test via the IPv4 over IPv6 tunnel, and selects an operation mode according to the result of the communication test. Therefore, it is possible to connect to the IPv4 Internet by the PPPoE method, and it is also possible to connect to the IPv4 Internet by IPv4 over IPv6. However, the communication test described in Patent Document 1 is a test for determining which of the first to fourth connection forms the network connection form in which the network relay device is installed is, and once the connection method is determined, it is not assumed to change the connection method during use. Therefore, the user of the network relay device described in Patent Document 1 has to choose either to connect to the IPv4 Internet by the PPPoE method, or to connect to the IPv4 Internet by IPv4 over IPv6, resigning himself to the fact that the communication speed may be slow, or that there are problems with some online games, that servers cannot be installed, or that in some network cameras, etc., the cameras installed at home cannot be accessed from the outside.

[0012] The invention described in Patent Document 2 relates to a communication method for connecting to an IPv4 network operator in an IPv6 access network. When providing IPv4 over IPv6 via a shared IP network of IPv6, it provides an environment that has low load, few network constraints, and is easy to improve the user experience, but it does not describe the connection to the IPv4 Internet by the conventional PPPoE method.

[0013] The invention described in Patent Document 3 is an invention of a gateway device that can support both IPoE and PPPoE and is used to realize communication between a network constructed within an enterprise and an external network. However, it does not specifically describe how to determine whether to connect to the Internet by PPPoE or IPoE. Also, Patent Document 3 does not describe IPv4 over IPv6.

[0014] The main object of the present invention is to provide a network relay device that can easily connect to the Internet even in a network environment where a communication terminal device with a failure in IPv4 over IPv6 communication and a communication terminal device without a failure coexist. A further object of the present invention is to provide a network relay device that relays a communication terminal device having an IPv4 communication interface and an IPv4 Internet, which usually connects to the IPv4 Internet by fast IPv4 over IPv6, and communication from a communication terminal device with a failure in IPv4 over IPv6 connects to the IPv4 Internet by PPPoE connection. A further object of the present invention is to provide a network relay device that can identify the type of communication from a communication terminal device and connect to the IPv4 Internet by PPPoE connection for the type of communication with a failure in IPv4 over IPv6.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0015] (1) A network relay device according to a situation is a network relay device that relays a communication terminal device having an IPv4 communication interface and the IPv4 Internet, and includes a PPPoE connection unit that connects to the IPv4 Internet via a PPPoE server, and an IPv4overIPv6 connection unit that connects to a first router via an IPv4overIPv6 tunnel and connects to the IPv4 Internet via the first router, and a connection path selection unit that determines a connection path to the IPv4 Internet. The connection path selection unit selects a connection path by PBR (Policy Based Routing).

[0016] In a normal case, communication routing is determined using a destination IP address and a routing table. However, when there are two types of routing paths for connecting to the IPv4 Internet, i.e., routing via a PPPoE server and routing via an IPv4overIPv6 tunnel, it is not possible to determine which routing to select based on the destination IP address. However, the network relay device grasps the source IP address and MAC address, and can determine whether the communication is from a communication terminal device where an IPv4overIPv6 failure occurs based on the source IP address and / or MAC address. Normally, routing via an IPv4overIPv6 tunnel is used, and when the communication is from a communication terminal device where an IPv4overIPv6 failure occurs, by connecting to the IPv4 Internet via a PPPoE server, a network relay device with high speed and no failure can be realized. Also, even when there coexist a communication terminal device where an IPv4overIPv6 communication failure occurs and a communication terminal device where no failure occurs, it is possible to simply connect to the Internet without the need to change the router settings for each communication terminal device or construct a special network using multiple routers. Note that the PBR (Policy Based Routing) in the present invention is not a function of determining a transfer destination based only on the destination IP address like ordinary IP routing, but a function of controlling the routing of packets (unicast) using various other information.

[0017] (2) In the network relay device according to the second invention, in the network relay device according to one aspect, in PBR, the connection path may be selected based on the MAC address or SSID of the source communication terminal device.

[0018] Examples of information that can be used in PBR include the source IP address and the source MAC address as candidates. However, the IP address may change due to reconnection of the communication terminal device or the like even for the same communication terminal device. Therefore, when selecting a connection path using the IP address of the source communication terminal device, it is necessary to fixedly assign an IP by the MAC address with DHCP or manually assign a fixed IP on the client side. On the other hand, if the connection path is selected using the MAC address of the source communication terminal device, it is only necessary to specify the MAC address unique to the source communication terminal device, so the identification of the communication terminal device for selecting the connection path is simple and reliable. Note that when a wireless access point is connected to the LAN-side interface of the network relay device, it may be determined whether to use an IPv4 over IPv6 connection or a PPPoE connection for each SSID (Service Set Identifier) of the wireless access point. In such a case, the connection path may be selected based on the SSID of the wireless access point instead of the source MAC address.

[0019] (3) The network relay device according to the third invention, in the network relay device according to the second invention, further includes a correspondence table between the MAC address and the model name of the communication terminal device, and the connection path may be selected based on the model name of the communication terminal device determined from the MAC address using the correspondence table or the SSID.

[0020] When setting the MAC address of a communication terminal device where an IPv4 over IPv6 failure occurs in the network relay device, the user can identify the communication terminal device where the failure occurs and input its MAC address. However, it is rather difficult for general users of network relay devices to check the MAC address of the communication terminal device where the failure occurs and input it into the network relay device. On the other hand, regarding the correspondence between the MAC address and the model name of the communication terminal device, it is provided, for example, by Internet security software, etc., and the model name can be specified from the MAC address. Note that the correspondence table between the MAC address and the model name of the communication terminal device exists on a server accessible via the Internet, and the network relay device may access the server with the correspondence table and perform a search.

[0021] (4) The network relay device according to the fourth invention, in the network relay device according to the third invention, further includes a model-specific route selection list for setting the relationship between the model name or SSID of the communication terminal device and the connection path, and the selection of the connection path may be performed based on the model name or SSID and the model-specific route selection list.

[0022] By providing the network relay device with a model-specific route selection list, when a packet is transmitted from the communication terminal device to the network relay device, the network relay device first identifies the model name from the source MAC address using the correspondence table, and then can identify the connection path to be selected from the model-specific route selection list based on the identified model name or SSID.

[0023] (5) The network relay device according to the fifth invention is the network relay device according to the fourth invention, and the correspondence between the model name or SSID and the selected connection path in the model-specific route selection list may be set by the user of the communication terminal device.

[0024] In many cases, the user of the communication terminal device understands whether the corresponding communication terminal should be connected via IPv4 over IPv6 or via PPPoE. Also, when a wireless access point is connected to the LAN-side interface of the network relay device, the user usually understands which connection path should be selected for each SSID of the wireless access point. In such a case, it is easy and reliable for the user to set the correspondence between the model name or SSID and the selected connection path. If a failure occurs during use, the setting can be changed. However, for the initial value of the model-specific route selection list, it is desirable for the network relay device to set an initial value that is considered appropriate. For example, in some servers, network cameras, etc., communication terminal devices that require a fixed IP address, and communication terminal devices that perform VPN connections using PPTP or L2TP / IPsec, there may be a disadvantage that certain functions cannot be used due to the IPoE mechanism. Therefore, PPPoE may be selected as the initial setting. In this case, route selection for each model may be performed using the set initial value, and the user may change the setting if a failure occurs.

[0025] (6) The network relay device according to the sixth invention is the network relay device according to the fourth or fifth invention, and further includes a communication type specifying unit that specifies the type of communication transmitted from the communication terminal device. The selection of the connection path may be based on the model name and the type of communication.

[0026] For example, when the communication terminal device is a game console, in an online game or the like, even if it is the same game console, there are games that experience failures when communicating via IPv4 over IPv6 and games that do not experience failures. This is because the types of communication used in online games are different. Therefore, by providing the network relay device with a communication type specifying unit that recognizes the type of communication and a communication type-specific route selection list, it becomes possible to select a connection function according to the type of game rather than by game console. In addition, from the perspectives of the accuracy and speed of connection function selection, when selecting a connection function, first, in the model-specific route selection list, it is desirable to determine whether the model is one in which failures may occur depending on the type of communication, and to activate the function of recognizing the type of communication only for those models in which failures may occur.

[0027] (7) The network relay device according to the seventh invention, in one aspect, is the network relay device according to the sixth invention, further comprising an IPv6 connection unit, connected to a communication terminal device having an IPv6 communication interface, and connected to the IPv6 Internet via a second router of an ISP (Internet Service Provider), or via a network having an IPv6 closed network and a VNE (Vertual Network Enabler).

[0028] In the future, it is expected that the number of communication terminal devices equipped with an IPv6 communication interface will increase, and also that the number of users using IPv6 in communication terminal devices equipped with both IPv4 and IPv6 will increase. Therefore, it is desirable that the network relay device be connected not only to a communication terminal device having an IPv6 communication interface but also to the IPv6 Internet. In addition, in the connection to the IPv6 Internet, there are a mode of being connected via a network having an IPv6 closed network and a VNE and a mode of being directly connected via a second router of an ISP. It is desirable that the network relay device according to the fifth invention can support both modes.

[0029] (8) In a network relay device according to an eighth aspect, in the network relay device according to the seventh aspect, the communication terminal device includes at least one of a personal computer, a smartphone, a game machine, a network camera, an IoT home appliance, and a network server. For a communication terminal device that requires a fixed IP address and a communication terminal device that performs a VPN connection using PPTP or L2TP / IPsec, a PPPoE connection path may be selected.

[0030] The network relay device of the present invention can also support communication terminal devices such as game machines and network cameras that may experience problems when communicating over IPv4 over IPv6, so it can achieve both high-speed communication over IPv4 over IPv6 and use with a wide range of communication terminal devices.

[0031] (9) A connection path selection method according to another aspect is a connection path selection method for a network relay device that relays a communication terminal device having an IPv4 communication interface and an IPv4 Internet. The network relay device includes a PPPoE connection unit that connects to the IPv4 Internet via a PPPoE server, and an IPv4 over IPv6 connection unit that connects to a first router via an IPv4 over IPv6 tunnel and connects to the IPv4 Internet via the first router. The connection path selection method includes a MAC address extraction step of extracting the MAC address of the source communication terminal device, a communication terminal device identification step of identifying the model name of the communication terminal device using the MAC address, a model-specific connection path determination step of determining whether it is possible to connect over IPv4 over IPv6 for the identified model name, and a connection path selection step of connecting over IPv4 over IPv6 if it is possible to connect over IPv4 over IPv6, and connecting via PPPoE if there is a possibility of a failure in the IPv4 over IPv6 connection.

[0032] In a connection path selection method according to another aspect, the MAC address of the communication terminal device at the transmission source is extracted, the type of the communication terminal device is specified using a correspondence table between the MAC address and the type of the communication terminal device, and when the communication terminal can be connected by IPv4 over IPv6, it is connected by IPv4 over IPv6. When there may be a failure in the IPv4 over IPv6 connection, by connecting to the IPv4 Internet via a PPPoE server, it is possible to connect to the IPv4 Internet without causing a burden on the user and without any failure. Note that the correspondence table between the MAC address and the type of the communication terminal device exists on a server accessible via the Internet, and the network relay device may access the server having the correspondence table for searching.

[0033] (10) The connection path selection method according to the tenth invention is a connection path selection method according to another aspect. The connection path selection method further includes a communication type specifying step of specifying the type of communication transmitted from the communication terminal device. The model-specific connection path determination step may determine whether it is possible to connect by IPv4 over IPv6 based on the model name of the communication terminal device and the type of communication transmitted from the communication terminal device.

[0034] For example, when the communication terminal device is a game console, in an online game or the like, even with the same game console, there are games that experience failures when communicating via IPv4 over IPv6 and games that do not. This is because the types of communication used in the online game are different. Therefore, by having the network relay device recognize the type of communication and determine whether a failure will occur when the communication is an IPv4 over IPv6 connection, it is possible to make a more accurate determination of whether there is a failure. Note that from the viewpoint of the accuracy and speed of connection function selection, when selecting a connection function, first, in the model-specific connection path determination step, it is determined whether the model may experience a failure depending on the type of communication, and it is desirable to activate a function that recognizes the type of communication only for those models that may experience a failure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0035]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

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Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0036] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Also, in the case of the same reference numerals, their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions thereof will not be repeated.

[0037] [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the network relay device 100 according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the first network connection mode using the network relay device 100, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the second network connection mode using the network relay device 100. Further, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of connection path selection in the network relay device 100, FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of the MAC address / device correspondence table 55 in the network relay device 100, and FIG. 6 is a table showing an example of the model-specific path selection list 57 in the network relay device 100.

[0038] (Configuration of Network Relay Device 100) As shown in FIG. 1, the network relay device 100 is composed of a data relay processing unit 10, an interface unit 30, and a connection path selection unit 50. The data relay processing unit 10 includes a PPPoE connection unit 15 that connects IPv4 packets to the IPv4 Internet 120 via the PPPoE server 130 of the ISP (Internet Service Provider) by PPPoE connection, an IPv4overIPv6 connection unit 20 that connects IPv4 packets to the IPv4 Internet 120 via the IPv4overIPv6 tunnel 140 and the first router 150 of the ISP, and an IPv6 connection unit 25 that connects IPv6 packets to the IPv6 Internet 160 via the second router 170 of the ISP. Note that the IPv4overIPv6 connection unit 20 and the IPv6 connection unit 25 may be connected to the IPv4 Internet 120 and the IPv6 Internet 160 via the IPv6 closed network 180 and the VNE (Vertual Network Enabler) 190, respectively.

[0039] In this embodiment, although the data relay processing unit 10, the interface unit 30, and the connection path selection unit 50 of the network relay device 100 are configured as separate hardware, at least some of the functions of the network relay device 100 may be realized by the operation of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) based on a predetermined program.

[0040] The interface unit 30 includes a WAN-side I / F 35 that connects to a PPPoE server 130, a first router 150, a second router 170, etc., and a LAN-side I / F (interface) 40 that connects to communication terminal devices 110 such as personal computers, smartphones, game machines, network cameras, and network servers. The communication terminal device 110 includes at least one of a personal computer, a smartphone, a game machine, a network camera, IoT home appliances, and a network server. For the communication terminal device 110 that requires a fixed IP address and the communication terminal device 110 that performs a VPN connection using PPTP or L2TP / IPsec, a PPPoE connection path needs to be selected. Normally, the selection of the connection path in the network relay device 100 is performed based on the IP address of the destination. However, the selection of the connection path between the PPPoE connection path and the IPv4 over IPv6 connection path cannot be performed based on the IP address of the destination. Therefore, the connection path selection unit 50 selects a connection path based on the information of the source by PBR (Policy Based Routing).

[0041] Specifically, it includes a control unit 60 that extracts information such as the IP address and MAC address of IPv4 data transmitted from the communication terminal device 110 and selects whether to transmit the IPv4 data via a PPPoE connection path or an IPv4 over IPv6 connection path, a MAC address / device correspondence table 55 for identifying the model name of the communication terminal device 110 based on the MAC address, and a model-specific route selection list table 57 for setting the relationship between the model name or SSID of the communication terminal device 110 and the connection path.

[0042] (First network connection mode) Fig. 2 shows the first network connection mode using the network relay device 100. On the LAN side of the network relay device 100, a communication terminal device 110 equipped with an IPv4 communication interface and / or a communication terminal device 110 equipped with an IPv6 communication interface are connected. Note that the communication terminal device 110 is equipped with both an IPv4 communication interface and an IPv6 communication interface and may perform IPv4 communication or IPv6 communication as required.

[0043] On the WAN side of the network relay device 100, an IPv4 connection path connected to the PPPoE server 130 of the ISP, an IPv4 over IPv6 connection path connected to the first router 150 of the ISP, and an IPv6 connection path connected to the second router 170 of the ISP are connected. An IPv4 over IPv6 tunnel 140 is provided between the network relay device 100 and the first router 150 and is terminated by the network relay device 100 and the first router 150. Terminating the tunnel means encapsulating an IPv4 packet into an IPv6 packet and extracting the IPv4 packet from the IPv6 packet. Also, the PPPoE server 130 and the first router 150 are connected to the IPv4 Internet 120, and the second router 170 is connected to the IPv6 Internet 160. Based on the determination of the connection path selection unit 50, the network relay device 100 selects one of the connection parts in the data relay processing unit 10, and transmits data to the IPv4 Internet 120 or the IPv6 Internet 160 via the connection path corresponding to the selected connection part.

[0044] (Second network connection mode) Fig. 3 shows the second network connection mode using the network relay device 100. In the second connection mode, the IPv4 connection path connected to the PPPoE server 130 is the same as that in the first connection mode, but the IPv4 over IPv6 connection path and the IPv6 connection path are different in that they are connected to the Internet via an IPv6 closed network 180 such as NTT's Flets network and a VNE 190 (Vertual Network Enabler). An IPv4 over IPv6 tunnel 140 is provided between the network relay device 100 and the fourth router 210, and it is terminated by the network relay device 100 and the fourth router 210. The third router 200 is the router device at the entrance of the IPv6 closed network 180. The fourth router 210 is a device that terminates an IPv4 over IPv6 tunnel 140 such as an AFTR (Address Family Translate Router), and the fifth router 220 has a function of performing mutual conversion between an IPv4 private address and an IPv4 global address such as a CGN (Carrier Grade NAT). The connection mode on the LAN side of the network relay device 100 is the same as that in the first network connection mode.

[0045] (Flowchart of connection path selection) Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of connection path selection in the network relay device 100 according to the first embodiment. Each step will be described below. (S1) Wait until the transmission data from the communication terminal device 110 is received. (S2) When the transmission data is received, extract the MAC address of the transmission source. (S3) Identify the model name of the source communication terminal device 110 using the extracted MAC address and the MAC address / device correspondence table 55 (see FIG. 5). (S4) Refer to the model-specific route selection list 57 (see FIG. 6) that sets the relationship between the model name or SSID of the communication terminal device 110 and the connection path, and check whether a failure has occurred in the source communication terminal device 110. (S5) If there is a possibility of a failure occurring in the model of the source communication terminal device 110, select the PPPoE connection path. Note that depending on the type of communication, even if there is a possibility of a failure occurring, it is desirable to select the PPPoE connection path. (S6) If no failure occurs in the model of the source communication terminal device 110, select an IPv4 over IPv6 connection path with a higher communication speed. (S7) Transmit the data to the IPv4 Internet 120 via the selected connection path.

[0046] (MAC address / device correspondence table 55) FIG. 5 shows an example of the MAC address / device correspondence table 55. In the MAC address / device correspondence table 55, for each MAC address, the vendor and model name of the communication terminal device 110 can be searched. Note that the MAC address / device correspondence table 55 exists on a server accessible via the Internet, and the network relay device 100 may access the server with the correspondence table for searching.

[0047] (Model-specific route selection list 57) FIG. 6 shows an example of the model-specific route selection list 57. In FIG. 6, for each device model name or SSID, it is described whether to connect via IPv4 over IPv6 or PPPoE. Also, if it is necessary to connect via PPPoE depending on the type of communication, that is also described. Regarding the model-specific route selection list 57, it also exists on a server accessible via the Internet, and the network relay device 100 may access the server with the correspondence table for searching.

[0048] In many cases, the user of the communication terminal device 110 understands whether the corresponding communication terminal device 110 should be connected via IPv4 over IPv6 or via PPPoE. Also, when a wireless access point is connected to the LAN-side interface 40 of the network relay device 100, the user usually understands which connection path should be selected for each SSID of the wireless access point. In such cases, the user can easily determine whether to connect via IPv4 over IPv6 or via PPPoE, and since the determination is reliable, the user may fill in the connection path column in the model-specific route selection list 57. If the user makes a setting, the setting can be changed if a failure occurs during use. However, it is desirable that the network relay device 100 automatically sets the initial value that seems appropriate for each model as the initial value of the model-specific route selection list 57. For example, in some servers, network cameras, etc., communication terminal devices that require a fixed IP address, or communication terminal devices that perform VPN connections via PPTP or L2TP / IPsec, there may be a disadvantage that certain functions cannot be used due to the IPoE mechanism. Therefore, PPPoE may be selected as the initial setting.

[0049] [Second Embodiment] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the network relay device 100a according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of connection path selection in the network relay device 100a according to the second embodiment. The network connection mode, the MAC address / device correspondence table 55, and the model-specific route selection list 57 are the same as those of the network relay device 100 in the first embodiment.

[0050] (Configuration of Network Relay Device 100a) The network relay device 100a according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7 has a communication type specifying unit 65 and a communication-specific route selection list 59 added to the connection path selection unit 50 with respect to the network relay device 100 of the first embodiment. For example, when the communication terminal device 110 is a game console, in an online game or the like, even if it is the same game console, there are games that experience problems when communicating over IPv4 over IPv6 and games that do not. This is because the types of communication used in online games are different. Therefore, by equipping the network relay device 100 with a function to recognize the type of communication, it becomes possible to select the connection function according to the type of game rather than by game console.

[0051] The network relay device 100a of the second embodiment includes a communication type specifying unit 65 in the connection path selection unit 50 to recognize the type of communication transmitted from the communication terminal device 110 of the transmission source. Furthermore, in the case of a game console or the like, it is determined whether the recognized type of communication is a communication in which a problem occurs when communicating over IPv4 over IPv6, based on a communication-by-communication path selection list 59 that describes the types of communication in which problems occur. If it is a communication in which a problem occurs, a PPPoE connection path is selected. When recognizing the type of communication, for example, parameters used by a router to determine the priority of a packet in QoS (Quality of Service) control, such as the TCP / UDP port number or the TOS (Type of Service) field of the IPv4 header, can be referred to. Note that, from the viewpoints of the accuracy and speed of connection path selection, when selecting a connection path, first, in the model-specific path selection list 57, it is determined whether the model is one that needs to be connected by PPPoE depending on the type of communication. It is desirable to activate the function of recognizing the type of communication only for those communication terminal devices 110 that need to be connected by PPPoE depending on the type of communication. Also, when the user selects a path in the model-specific path selection list 57, the path selected by the user may be preferentially connected over the path selected by the communication type specifying unit 65.

[0052] (Flowchart of connection path selection) Fig. 8 shows a flowchart of connection path selection in the network relay device 100a according to the second embodiment. The flowchart of Fig. 8 has steps S13 - S15 added to the flowchart of Fig. 4, and the rest is the same as the flowchart of Fig. 4. In the first embodiment, when a device has a failure in the IPv4 over IPv6 connection in step S4, the PPPoE connection path is selected. However, in the second embodiment, when it is determined in step S4 that a device has a failure, it is further determined whether the device has a failure in all communications (step S13). For example, a network camera that needs to have a fixed IP address corresponds to a device that has a failure in all communications. On the other hand, in the case of a network game console, since there may be cases where there is no failure depending on the type of communication, it is determined that it is not a device that has a failure in all communications. Then, when it is a device that has a failure in all communications, the PPPoE connection path is selected (step S5). When it is determined that the device is not a device that has a failure in all communications, the communication type is specified by the communication type specifying unit 65 (step S14). When the specified communication type is a communication in which a failure occurs in IPv4 over IPv6, the PPPoE connection path is selected; otherwise, the IPv4 over IPv6 connection path is selected (step S15).

[0053] In the present invention, the communication terminal device 110 corresponds to the "communication terminal device", the network relay devices 100 and 100a correspond to the "network relay device", the PPPoE server 130 corresponds to the "PPPoE server", the IPv4 Internet 120 corresponds to the "IPv4 Internet", the PPPoE connection unit 15 corresponds to the "PPPoE connection unit", the IPv4 over IPv6 tunnel 140 corresponds to the "IPv4 over IPv6 tunnel", the first router 150 corresponds to the "first router", the IPv4 over IPv6 connection unit 20 corresponds to the "IPv4 over IPv6 connection unit", the connection path selection unit 50 corresponds to the "connection path selection unit", the communication type identification unit 65 corresponds to the "communication type identification unit", the IPv6 connection unit 25 corresponds to the "IPv6 connection unit", the second router 170 corresponds to the "second router", the IPv6 closed network 180 corresponds to the "IPv6 closed network", the VNE 190 corresponds to the "network owned by VNE", and the IPv6 Internet 160 corresponds to the "IPv6 Internet".

[0054] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is as described above, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be understood that various other embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Further, in this embodiment, the actions and effects according to the configuration of the present invention are described, but these actions and effects are merely examples and do not limit the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0055] 15 PPPoE connection unit 20 IPv4 over IPv6 connection unit 25 IPv6 connection unit 50 Connection path selection unit 65 Communication type identification unit 100 Network relay device 110 Communication terminal device 120 IPv4 Internet 130 PPPoE server 140 IPv4 over IPv6 tunnel 150 First router 160 IPv6 Internet 170 Second Router 180 IPv6 Closed Network 190 VNE (Vertual Network Enabler)

Claims

1. A network relay device that relays a communication terminal device in a home equipped with an IPv4 communication interface and the IPv4 Internet, a PPPoE connection unit that connects to the IPv4 Internet via a PPPoE server, an IPv4 over IPv6 connection unit that connects to a first router via an IPv4 over IPv6 tunnel and connects to the IPv4 Internet via the first router, and a connection path selection unit that determines a connection path to the IPv4 Internet, wherein the connection path selection unit selects the connection path based on the MAC address or SSID of the communication terminal device of the transmission source. A network relay device.

2. The network relay device according to claim 1, wherein the connection path selection unit selects the connection path based on the SSID of the communication terminal device of the transmission source.

3. Furthermore, it has a correspondence table between the MAC address and the model name of the communication terminal device, The network relay device according to claim 1, wherein the connection path is selected based on the model name of the communication terminal device determined from the MAC address using the correspondence table or the SSID.

4. Furthermore, it has a model-specific route selection list that sets the relationship between the model name or SSID of the communication terminal device and the connection path, The network relay device according to claim 3, wherein the selection of the connection path is performed by the model name or SSID and the model-specific route selection list.

5. The network relay device according to claim 4, wherein the correspondence between the model name or SSID and the selected connection path in the model-specific route selection list is set by the user of the communication terminal device.

6. Furthermore, it has a communication type identification unit that identifies the type of communication transmitted from the communication terminal device, The network relay device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the selection of the connection path is selected based on the model name and the type of communication.

7. Furthermore, it is provided with an IPv6 connection part, connected to the communication terminal device provided with an IPv6 communication interface, and connected to the IPv6 Internet via a second router of an ISP (Internet Service Provider) or via a network owned by an IPv6 closed network and a VNE (Virtual Network Enabler), the network relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The communication terminal device includes at least one of a personal computer, a smartphone, a game machine, a network camera, an IoT home appliance, and a network server. For the communication terminal device that requires fixing of the IP address and the communication terminal device that performs a VPN connection by PPTP or L2TP / IPsec, the connection path of the PPPoE is selected, the network relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A method for selecting a connection path of a network relay device that relays a communication terminal device in a home equipped with an IPv4 communication interface and an IPv4 Internet, The network relay device includes a PPPoE connection part that connects to the IPv4 Internet via a PPPoE server, and an IPv4overIPv6 connection part that connects to a first router via an IPv4overIPv6 tunnel and connects to the IPv4 Internet via the first router. The connection path selection method includes: An address extraction step of extracting the MAC address and / or SSID of the source communication terminal device; A connection path determination step of determining whether it is possible to connect by IPv4overIPv6 based on the MAC address or SSID; A connection path selection method including a connection path selection step of connecting by IPv4overIPv6 when it is possible to connect by IPv4overIPv6, and connecting by PPPoE when there may be a failure in the IPv4overIPv6 connection.

10. The connection path selection method further includes a communication type specifying step of specifying the type of communication transmitted from the communication terminal device. The connection path determination step determines whether it is possible to connect by IPv4overIPv6 based on the MAC address or SSID of the communication terminal device and the type of communication transmitted from the communication terminal device, the connection path selection method according to claim 9.

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