Communication relay device, program, and management method

Abstract

A communication relay device is provided that is placed within a user private area for a user, and includes: a session establishment unit that establishes a first PDU session with a first UPF for communicating user data via a compatible wireless base station corresponding to the communication relay device, and establishes a second PDU session with a second UPF for communicating management data between the communication relay device and a management device that manages the communication relay device via the compatible wireless base station; and a management unit that communicates the user data via the first PDU session and communicates the management data with the management device via the second PDU session, wherein when the second PDU session is established, the session establishment unit re-establishes the second PDU session in response to a condition indicating that the second PDU session is abnormal being satisfied.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent document 1 describes a private 5G network. [Prior art document] [Patent documents] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-060972 A Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a communication relay device. The communication relay device may be located in a user private area for a user. The communication relay device may include a session establishment unit. The session establishment unit may establish a first PDU session with a first UPF for communicating user data via a compatible wireless base station corresponding to the communication relay device. The session establishment unit may establish a second PDU session with a second UPF via the compatible wireless base station for communicating management data between the communication relay device and a management device that manages the communication relay device. The communication relay device may include a management unit that communicates the user data via the first PDU session and communicates the management data with the management device via the second PDU session. When the second PDU session has been established, the session establishment unit may re-establish the second PDU session in response to a condition indicating that the second PDU session is abnormal being satisfied.

[0004] In the communication relay device, the session establishment unit may re-establish the second PDU session when a connection to a NAS layer fails while the second PDU session is established. When a connection to a NAS layer fails while the second PDU session is established, the session establishment unit may not re-establish the second PDU session when a field strength from the corresponding wireless base station is lower than a predetermined threshold, and may re-establish the second PDU session when a field strength from the corresponding wireless base station is higher than a predetermined threshold.

[0005] In any of the communication relay devices, the session establishment unit may, when the second PDU session has been established, if the NAS layer connection has been successful and there is no response from the management device, re-establish the second PDU session. When the second PDU session has been established, if the NAS layer connection has been successful and there is no response from the management device, the session establishment unit may, when the second PDU session has been established, if the NAS layer connection has been successful and there is no response from the management device, not re-establish the second PDU session if the field strength from the corresponding wireless base station is lower than a predetermined threshold, and may re-establish the second PDU session if the field strength from the corresponding wireless base station is higher than the predetermined threshold.

[0006] In any of the communication relay devices, the management unit may communicate with the management device via the second PDU session in accordance with CWMP (Customer Premises Equipment WAN Management Protocol).

[0007] In any of the communication relay devices, the management unit may transmit device-related information relating to the communication relay device to the management device via the second PDU session.

[0008] In any of the communication relay devices, the session establishment unit may establish the second PDU session with the second UPF located within a management closed area having the management device via the compatible wireless base station.

[0009] In any of the communication relay devices, the session establishment unit may establish the first PDU session with the first UPF located within the user closed area via the corresponding wireless base station.

[0010] In any of the communication relay devices, the session establishment unit may generate warning information if, after re-establishing the second PDU session, conditions indicating that the second PDU session is abnormal are met.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to function as the communication relay device.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a management method executed by a communication relay device located in a user private network for a user. The management method may include a session step of establishing a first PDU session with a first UPF via a compatible radio base station corresponding to the communication relay device for communicating user data, and establishing a second PDU session with a second UPF via the compatible radio base station for communicating management data between the communication relay device and a management device managing the communication relay device. The management method may include a user communication step of communicating the user data with a device outside the user private network via the first PDU session and the first UPF. The management method may include a management communication step of communicating the management data with the management device via the second PDU session and the second UPF. The management method may further include a re-establishment step of re-establishing the second PDU session when a condition indicating that the second PDU session is abnormal is satisfied, if the second PDU session has been established.

[0013] The above summary of the invention does not list all of the necessary features of the present invention, and subcombinations of these features may also constitute inventions. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] An example of a system 1 is shown schematically. [Figure 2] 10A and 10B show an example of a processing flow by the CPE 100. [Figure 3] 10A and 10B show an example of a processing flow by the CPE 100. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates an example of a functional configuration of a CPE 100. [Figure 5] 1 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a computer 1200 that functions as a CPE 100. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention according to the claims. Furthermore, not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0016] A service is known in which a telecommunications carrier builds a mobile communication network within the premises of a user, such as a company or organization, and operates it for the user. When the mobile communication network complies with the so-called 5G communication standard, such a service is called private 5G. In this embodiment, a case where the target mobile communication network complies with the 5G communication standard will be described as an example. However, the target mobile communication network may also comply with the LTE (Long Term Evolution) communication standard, the 6G communication standard, or a 7G or later communication standard. In private 5G, for example, a wireless base station and a CPE (Common Platform Enumeration) are installed within the user's premises. The CPE wirelessly connects to the wireless base station and relays communications between multiple communication terminals in the user network and the wireless base station, allowing the multiple communication terminals to communicate with outside the user's premises. The CPE 100 according to this embodiment has a function for appropriately supporting the user.

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a system 1. The system 1 includes a CPE 100. The system 1 may include a plurality of CPEs 100. The system 1 may include a radio base station 300. The system 1 may include a plurality of communication terminals 200. The system 1 may include an ACS (Auto Configuration Server) 700. The system 1 may include a UPF 400. The system 1 may include a UPF 600.

[0018] The CPE 100 is placed in a user closed area 10 for a user. The user closed area 10 may be, for example, a closed network dedicated to the user. The CPE 100 may be an example of a communication relay device.

[0019] The CPE 100 communicates with a plurality of subordinate communication terminals 200. The communication terminals 200 may be any terminal located within the user closed area 10. The communication terminals 200 may be various types of terminals depending on the services provided by the user. Examples of the communication terminals 200 include, but are not limited to, a PC (Personal Computer), a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a wearable terminal, a server, an imaging device, a voice input device, a voice output device, various sensors, and industrial equipment such as a robot. The CPE 100 may relay communication between the plurality of subordinate communication terminals 200.

[0020] The CPE 100 may wirelessly communicate with the communication terminal 200. The CPE 100 communicates with the communication terminal 200, for example, by Wi-Fi (registered trademark) (Wireless Fidelity). The CPE 100 may wirelessly communicate with the communication terminal 200 using other wireless communication methods.

[0021] The CPE 100 may perform wired communication with the communication terminal 200. The CPE 100 may be connected to the communication terminal 200 via a wired cable, for example.

[0022] The CPE 100 is wirelessly connected to the radio base station 300 and communicates wirelessly with the radio base station 300. The radio base station 300 is a radio base station that is installed and operated by a telecommunications carrier for the user of the CPE 100. The radio base station 300 may be an example of a compatible radio base station that is compatible with the CPE 100.

[0023] The CPE 100 according to this embodiment may be capable of establishing multiple PDU sessions, and may be a router device that supports multiple PDU sessions.

[0024] The CPE 100 establishes a PDU session (sometimes referred to as a first PDU session in this embodiment) with the UPF 400 for communicating user data via the radio base station 300. The UPF 400 may be an example of a first UPF. In this embodiment, the connection between the radio base station 300 and the UPF 400 may be referred to as a WAN (Wide Area Network) a. In this embodiment, the DNN (DN Name) of the DN (Data Network) 500 corresponding to the UPF 400 may be referred to as DNNa. The UPF 400 may be located within the user closed area 10. The UPF 400 may also be located outside the user closed area 10.

[0025] The CPE 100 communicates user data via the first PDU session. The CPE 100 may communicate user data with a device outside the user closed network 10 via the first PDU session.

[0026] The user data may be any data used to provide services using the private 5G network. For example, in a case where a user controls devices located in various locations and provides services to users of the devices, the user data may be control data transmitted from the CPE 100 to the devices, or device data transmitted from the devices to the CPE 100 indicating the status of the devices.

[0027] The CPE 100 establishes a PDU session (sometimes referred to as a second PDU session in this embodiment) with the UPF 600 via the radio base station 300 for communicating management data with the ACS 700. The UPF 600 may be an example of a second UPF. In this embodiment, the connection between the radio base station 300 and the UPF 600 may be referred to as a Wide Area Network (WAN) b. In this embodiment, the DNN of the DN corresponding to the UPF 600 may be referred to as a DNN b.

[0028] The UPF 600 corresponds to a managed closed area 20 managed by a telecommunications carrier that provides private 5G services to users. The UPF 600 may be located within the managed closed area 20.

[0029] The ACS 700 may be an example of a management device that manages the CPE 100. The ACS 700 is a device used by a communication carrier that provides private 5G services to users to manage the CPE 100.

[0030] The CPE 100 communicates the management data via the second PDU session. The CPE 100 may communicate the management data with the ACS 700 via the second PDU session.

[0031] The CPE 100 may communicate with the ACS 700 according to CWMP. Through communication according to CWMP, the CPE 100 and the ACS 700 may realize provisioning, remote configuration, FOTA (Firmware Over The Air), status monitoring, diagnosis, etc. The CPE 100 may also communicate with the ACS 700 according to other protocols.

[0032] The management data includes, for example, device-related data related to the CPE 100. The CPE 100 transmits the device-related data to the ACS 700 in response to, for example, a request from the ACS 700. The device-related data may include various log data. For example, the device-related data includes an event log, which is a log entry generated in response to a certain event occurring in the CPE 100. For example, the device-related data includes basic data for identifying the CPE 100 and status data indicating the irregular and changing status of the CPE 100. The status data may include hardware status data including the operating time, utilization rate, temperature, capacity, etc. of each of multiple hardware pieces included in the CPE 100. The status data may include setting data for multiple hardware pieces included in the CPE 100. The status data may include setting data for the network of the CPE 100. The status data may include data on the wireless environment of the CPE 100.

[0033] The management data includes, for example, configuration instruction data from the ACS 700 to the CPE 100. The configuration instruction data may include a configuration instruction for the hardware of the CPE 100. The configuration instruction data may include a configuration instruction for the network of the CPE 100. The management data includes, for example, control instruction data from the ACS 700 to the CPE 100. The control instruction data may include a reboot instruction for the CPE 100. The control instruction data may include an initialization instruction for the CPE 100.

[0034] For a user, the first PDU session, which is directly related to the service provided by the user, is very important. When a failure occurs in the first PDU session, a measure of restarting the CPE 100 is often taken. Many failures can be resolved by restarting the CPE 100.

[0035] The second PDU session is important for the carrier managing the status of the CPE 100, but it often has less impact on the services provided by the user than the first PDU session. If a malfunction occurs in the second PDU session, rebooting the CPE 100 will also interrupt the first PDU session, which may be undesirable. However, if a malfunction occurs in the second PDU session, the CPE 100 will not be properly managed, which may affect the services provided by the user in the long term.

[0036] Therefore, when the second PDU session is established, the CPE 100 according to this embodiment reestablishes the second PDU session, i.e., re-establishes the second PDU session, in response to the condition indicating that the second PDU session is abnormal being satisfied. This may resolve the malfunction of the second PDU session without affecting communication via the first PDU session, as would be the case if the CPE 100 were to be rebooted.

[0037] Fig. 2 shows an example of a processing flow by the CPE 100. The CPE 100 may execute the processing shown in Fig. 2 periodically, for example, every 10 minutes.

[0038] In step (sometimes abbreviated as S) 102, the CPE 100 determines whether or not a DNNb setting is present, that is, whether or not a second session is established. If it is determined that a DNNb setting is present, the process proceeds to S104, and if it is determined that a second session is not present, the process ends.

[0039] In S104, the CPE 100 executes a DNNb state determination. In S104, the CPE 100 checks the connection of the NAS (Non Access Stratum) layer. If the CPE 100 determines that the connection of the NAS layer is successful, it determines that the DNNb state is normal, and if it determines that the connection of the NAS layer is unsuccessful, it determines that the DNNb state is abnormal. If it determines that the DNNb state is normal, it proceeds to S106, and if it determines that the DNNb state is abnormal, it proceeds to S108.

[0040] In S106, the CPE 100 executes a DNNb state determination. In S106, the CPE 100 checks whether or not there is a response from the ACS 700. If the CPE 100 determines that there is a response from the ACS 700, it determines that the DNNb state is normal, and if it determines that there is no response from the ACS 700, it determines that the DNNb state is abnormal. If it determines that the DNNb state is normal, it ends the processing, and if it determines that the DNNb state is abnormal, it proceeds to S108.

[0041] In S108, CPE 100 determines the field strength of the radio wave received from wireless base station 300. If CPE 100 determines that the field strength from wireless base station 300 is higher than a predetermined threshold, it proceeds to S110, and if it determines that the field strength is lower, it ends the processing. Whether to proceed to S110 or to end the processing when the field strength is equal to the threshold may be arbitrarily settable and may be changeable.

[0042] In S110, the CPE 100 re-establishes the second PDU session, and then ends the process.

[0043] By executing the process shown in FIG. 2 , the CPE 100 can re-establish the second PDU session when the NAS layer connection fails and the radio wave conditions from the radio base station 300 are good, even if the second PDU session is established. If the NAS layer connection fails, the NAS layer connection may be re-established by re-establishing the second PDU session. This may enable the NAS layer connection to be established without restarting the CPE 100, even if the NAS layer connection fails. Furthermore, if the radio wave conditions from the radio base station 300 are poor, it is highly likely that the NAS layer connection has failed. However, by re-establishing the second PDU session only when the radio wave conditions are good, it is possible to prevent the second PDU session from being re-established unnecessarily. This prevents unnecessary increases in control signals and reduces network load.

[0044] By executing the process shown in FIG. 2 , the CPE 100 can re-establish the second PDU session if the NAS layer connection via the second PDU session is successful but there is no response from the ACS 700 and the radio wave conditions from the radio base station 300 are good. The lack of a response from the ACS 700 may be due to a fault in the ACS 700 or an internal malfunction within the CPE 100 that prevents packet communication. If the latter is the cause, re-establishing the second PDU session may resolve the internal malfunction within the CPE 100 and enable communication with the ACS 700. Furthermore, if the radio wave conditions from the radio base station 300 are poor, this is likely to be the reason for the packet interruption between the CPE 100 and the ACS 700. However, by re-establishing the second PDU session only when the radio wave conditions are good, unnecessary re-establishment of the second PDU session can be prevented. This prevents unnecessary increases in control signals and reduces network load.

[0045] Fig. 3 schematically illustrates an example of the flow of processing by the CPE 100. The CPE 100 may execute the processing illustrated in Fig. 3 after re-establishing the second PDU session in S110 of the processing illustrated in Fig. 2, for example.

[0046] In S202, the CPE 100 executes a DNNb state determination. In S202, the CPE 100 checks the connection of the NAS layer. If the CPE 100 determines that the connection of the NAS layer is successful, it determines that the DNNb state is normal, and if the CPE 100 determines that the connection of the NAS layer is unsuccessful, it determines that the DNNb state is abnormal. If it determines that the DNNb state is normal, it proceeds to S204, and if it determines that the DNNb state is abnormal, it proceeds to S206.

[0047] In S204, the CPE 100 executes a DNNb state determination. In S204, the CPE 100 checks whether or not there is a response from the ACS 700. If the CPE 100 determines that there is a response from the ACS 700, it determines that the DNNb state is normal, and if it determines that there is no response from the ACS 700, it determines that the DNNb state is abnormal. If it determines that the DNNb state is normal, it ends the processing, and if it determines that the DNNb state is abnormal, it proceeds to S206.

[0048] In S206, CPE 100 determines the electric field strength from wireless base station 300. If CPE 100 determines that the electric field strength from wireless base station 300 is higher than a predetermined threshold, it proceeds to S208, and if it determines that the electric field strength is lower, it ends the processing. Whether to proceed to S208 or to end the processing when the electric field strength is equal to the threshold may be arbitrarily settable and may be changeable.

[0049] In S208, the CPE100 outputs warning information. For example, the CPE100 outputs warning information indicating that the second PDU session has been re-established but the malfunction of the second PDU session has not been resolved. The CPE100 may transmit and output the warning information to a communication terminal on which the user of the CPE100 can view the warning information, or may display and output the warning information on a display on which the user of the CPE100 can view the warning information. This allows the user of the CPE100 to know that a malfunction may have occurred in the second PDU session and that the malfunction has not been resolved even after the second PDU session has been re-established, which can serve as an opportunity for the user to reboot the CPE100. The CPE100 may output warning information that further includes content prompting the user to reboot the CPE100.

[0050] 4 shows an example of the functional configuration of the CPE 100. The CPE 100 includes a terminal communication unit 102, a base station communication unit 104, and a control unit 110.

[0051] The terminal communication unit 102 communicates with a plurality of communication terminals 200 under the control of the CPE 100. The terminal communication unit 102 may perform wireless communication with the communication terminals 200 using a wireless communication method such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (registered trademark). The terminal communication unit 102 may perform wired communication with the communication terminals 200 via a wired cable.

[0052] The base station communication unit 104 performs wireless communication with the radio base station 300. The base station communication unit 104 may perform wireless communication with the radio base station 300 in accordance with the 5G communication method, the LTE communication method, the 6G communication method, or a communication method of 7G or later.

[0053] The control unit 110 has a management unit 112 and a session establishment unit 114. The management unit 112 manages communication with subordinate communication terminals 200. The management unit 112 manages communication with wireless base stations 300. The management unit 112 instructs the session establishment unit 114 to establish and disconnect various sessions.

[0054] The session establishing unit 114 establishes various sessions. The session establishing unit 114 may establish various sessions in response to instructions from the control unit 110.

[0055] For example, the session establishment unit 114 establishes a first PDU session with the UPF 400 for communicating user data via the radio base station 300. For example, the session establishment unit 114 establishes a second PDU session with the UPF 600 for communicating management data with the ACS 700 via the radio base station 300.

[0056] The management unit 112 communicates user data via the first PDU session established by the session establishment unit 114. For example, the management unit 112 transmits data received from the communication terminal 200 to the outside of the UPF 400 via the first PDU session. For example, the management unit 112 receives data from the outside of the UPF 400 to the communication terminal 200 via the first PDU session and transmits the data to the communication terminal 200.

[0057] The management unit 112 communicates management data with the ACS 700 via the second PDU session established by the session establishment unit 114. The management data may include device-related data related to the CPE 100, as described above. The management unit 112 may transmit the device-related data to the ACS 700 via the second PDU session. The management data may include configuration instruction data and control instruction data from the ACS 700 to the CPE 100, as described above. The management unit 112 may receive the configuration instruction data from the ACS 700 via the second PDU session. The management unit 112 may receive the control instruction data from the ACS 700 via the second PDU session.

[0058] When the second PDU session is established, the session establishment unit 114 re-establishes the second PDU session in response to a condition indicating that the second PDU session is abnormal being satisfied.

[0059] The condition indicating that the second PDU session is abnormal may be a condition that is satisfied when the NAS layer connection fails. That is, when the second PDU session is established and the NAS layer connection fails, the session establishment unit 114 may re-establish the second PDU session. For example, the session establishment unit 114 determines that the NAS layer connection has failed when, during the registration or authentication process, registration fails, authentication fails, or a timeout occurs.

[0060] The condition indicating that the second PDU session is abnormal may be a condition that is satisfied when, while the second PDU session is established, the NAS layer connection fails and the field strength from the radio base station 300 is higher than a predetermined threshold. That is, while the second PDU session is established, if the NAS layer connection fails and the field strength from the radio base station 300 is lower than the predetermined threshold, the session establishment unit 114 may not re-establish the second PDU session, but may re-establish the second PDU session if the field strength from the radio base station 300 is higher than the predetermined threshold. The threshold may be predetermined as a value that indicates a high probability that the NAS layer connection will fail if the field strength from the radio base station 300 is lower than the threshold. The threshold may be changeable.

[0061] The condition indicating that the second PDU session is abnormal may be a condition that is satisfied when the second PDU session is established, the NAS layer connection is successful, and there is no response from the ACS 700. In other words, the session establishment unit 114 may re-establish the second PDU session when the second PDU session is established, the NAS layer connection is successful, and there is no response from the ACS 700.

[0062] The condition indicating that the second PDU session is abnormal may be a condition that is satisfied when the NAS layer connection via the second PDU session is successful, and there is no response from the ACS 700, and the field strength from the radio base station 300 is higher than a predetermined threshold. In other words, when the NAS layer connection via the second PDU session is successful, and there is no response from the ACS 700, and the field strength from the radio base station 300 is lower than the predetermined threshold, the session establishment unit 114 may not re-establish the second PDU session, but may re-establish the second PDU session if the field strength from the radio base station 300 is higher than the predetermined threshold.

[0063] If the NAS layer connection fails and the second PDU session is re-established, the session establishment unit 114 may perform the NAS layer connection in response to the re-establishment of the second PDU session.

[0064] The session establishment unit 114 may generate warning information if the condition indicating that the second PDU session is abnormal is satisfied is not improved by re-establishing the second PDU session. That is, the session establishment unit 114 may generate warning information if the condition indicating that the second PDU session is abnormal is satisfied after the second PDU session is re-established. The session establishment unit 114 may output warning information indicating that the second PDU session has been re-established but the malfunction of the second PDU session has not been resolved, for example. The session establishment unit 114 may transmit and output the warning information to a communication terminal on which the user of the CPE 100 can view the warning information. The session establishment unit 114 may display and output the warning information on a display on which the user of the CPE 100 can view the warning information. The session establishment unit 114 may output warning information further including content prompting the CPE 100 to reboot.

[0065] 5 schematically illustrates an example of the hardware configuration of a computer 1200 functioning as CPE 100. A program installed on computer 1200 can cause computer 1200 to function as one or more "parts" of an apparatus according to the present embodiment, or cause computer 1200 to perform operations associated with an apparatus according to the present embodiment or one or more "parts" thereof, and / or cause computer 1200 to perform a process according to the present embodiment or steps of the process. Such a program can be executed by CPU 1212 to cause computer 1200 to perform specific operations associated with some or all of the blocks in the flowcharts and block diagrams described herein.

[0066] The computer 1200 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 1212, a RAM 1214, and a graphics controller 1216, which are interconnected by a host controller 1210. The computer 1200 also includes input / output units such as a communications interface 1222, a storage device 1224, a DVD drive, and an IC card drive, which are connected to the host controller 1210 via an input / output controller 1220. The DVD drive may be a DVD-ROM drive, a DVD-RAM drive, or the like. The storage device 1224 may be a hard disk drive, a solid-state drive, or the like. The computer 1200 also includes a ROM 1230 and legacy input / output units such as a keyboard, which are connected to the input / output controller 1220 via an input / output chip 1240.

[0067] The CPU 1212 operates according to programs stored in the ROM 1230 and the RAM 1214, thereby controlling each unit. The graphics controller 1216 acquires image data generated by the CPU 1212 into a frame buffer or the like provided in the RAM 1214 or into the graphics controller itself, and causes the image data to be displayed on the display device 1218.

[0068] The communication interface 1222 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The storage device 1224 stores programs and data used by the CPU 1212 in the computer 1200. The DVD drive reads programs or data from a DVD-ROM or the like and provides them to the storage device 1224. The IC card drive reads programs and data from an IC card and / or writes programs and data to an IC card.

[0069] The ROM 1230 stores therein a boot program or the like that is executed by the computer 1200 upon activation, and / or programs that depend on the hardware of the computer 1200. The input / output chip 1240 may also connect various input / output units to the input / output controller 1220 via a USB port, a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, etc.

[0070] The programs are provided by a computer-readable storage medium such as a DVD-ROM or an IC card. The programs are read from the computer-readable storage medium, installed in the storage device 1224, RAM 1214, or ROM 1230, which are also examples of computer-readable storage media, and executed by the CPU 1212. Information processing described in these programs is read by the computer 1200, and causes cooperation between the programs and the various types of hardware resources described above. An apparatus or method may be configured by implementing operations or processing of information in accordance with the use of the computer 1200.

[0071] For example, when communication is performed between the computer 1200 and an external device, the CPU 1212 may execute a communication program loaded into the RAM 1214 and instruct the communication interface 1222 to perform communication processing based on the processing described in the communication program. Under the control of the CPU 1212, the communication interface 1222 reads transmission data stored in a transmission buffer area provided in the RAM 1214, the storage device 1224, a DVD-ROM, or a recording medium such as an IC card, and transmits the read transmission data to the network, or writes reception data received from the network to a reception buffer area or the like provided on the recording medium.

[0072] Furthermore, the CPU 1212 may cause all or a necessary portion of a file or database stored in an external recording medium such as the storage device 1224, a DVD drive (DVD-ROM), an IC card, etc. to be read into the RAM 1214, and may perform various types of processing on the data on the RAM 1214. The CPU 1212 may then write back the processed data to the external recording medium.

[0073] Various types of information, such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases, may be stored on the recording medium and may undergo information processing. The CPU 1212 may perform various types of processing on data read from the RAM 1214, including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgment, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information search / replacement, etc., as described throughout this disclosure and specified by the instruction sequences of the programs, and write the results back to the RAM 1214. The CPU 1212 may also search for information in a file, database, etc. on the recording medium. For example, if multiple entries, each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute, are stored on the recording medium, the CPU 1212 may search for an entry whose attribute value of the first attribute matches a specified condition from among the multiple entries, read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, and thereby obtain the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute that satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0074] The above-described programs or software modules may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium on or near the computer 1200. A recording medium such as a hard disk or RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet can also be used as a computer-readable storage medium, thereby providing the programs to the computer 1200 via the network.

[0075] The blocks in the flowcharts and block diagrams in the present embodiments may represent stages of a process in which an operation is performed or "parts" of an apparatus responsible for performing the operation. Particular stages and "parts" may be implemented by dedicated circuitry, programmable circuitry provided with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium, and / or a processor provided with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium. The dedicated circuitry may include digital and / or analog hardware circuits, including integrated circuits (ICs) and / or discrete circuits. The programmable circuitry may include reconfigurable hardware circuits, such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and programmable logic arrays (PLAs), including AND, OR, XOR, NAND, NOR, and other logical operations, flip-flops, registers, and memory elements.

[0076] A computer-readable storage medium may include any tangible device capable of storing instructions that are executed by an appropriate device, such that a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon comprises an article of manufacture, including instructions that can be executed to create means for performing the operations specified in the flowcharts or block diagrams. Examples of computer-readable storage media may include electronic storage media, magnetic storage media, optical storage media, electromagnetic storage media, semiconductor storage media, etc. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media may include floppy disks, diskettes, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), static random access memory (SRAM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray disc, memory stick, integrated circuit card, etc.

[0077] The computer readable instructions may include either assembler instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or source or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Smalltalk®, JAVA®, C++, etc., and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages.

[0078] Computer-readable instructions may be provided to a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or another programmable data processing device, or a programmable circuit, either locally or via a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, so that the processor of the programmable data processing device, such as a computer, or the programmable circuit executes the computer-readable instructions to generate means for performing the operations specified in the flowcharts or block diagrams. Here, the computer may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet computer, a smartphone, a workstation, a server computer, a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or the like, or may be a computer system in which multiple computers are connected. Such a computer system in which multiple computers are connected is also called a distributed computing system, and is a broad definition of computers. In a distributed computing system, multiple computers collectively execute a program by each executing a portion of the program and passing data between the computers as needed during program execution.

[0079] Examples of processors include computer processors, central processing units, processing units, microprocessors, digital signal processors, controllers, microcontrollers, etc. A computer may have one or more processors. In a multiprocessor system with multiple processors, each processor executes a portion of a program and passes data between processors as needed during program execution, allowing the multiple processors to collectively execute the program. For example, in multitasking, each of the multiple processors may execute a portion of each task in small chunks by switching tasks at time slice intervals. In this case, which portion of a program each processor executes changes dynamically. Which portion of a program each of the multiple processors executes may also be statically determined by multiprocessor-aware programming.

[0080] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the claims that such modifications and improvements can also be included within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0081] It should be noted that the execution order of each process, such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages, in the devices, systems, programs, and methods shown in the claims, specifications, and drawings is not specifically stated as "before," "prior to," etc., and that the processes can be performed in any order unless the output of a previous process is used in a later process. Even if the operational flow in the claims, specifications, and drawings is described using "first," "next," etc. for convenience, this does not mean that the processes must be performed in this order. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1 system, 10 user closed area, 20 management closed area, 100 CPE, 102 terminal communication unit, 104 base station communication unit, 110 control unit, 112 management unit, 114 session establishment unit, 200 communication terminal, 300 wireless base station, 400 UPF, 500 DN, 600 UPF, 700 ACS, 1200 computer, 1210 host controller, 1212 CPU, 1214 RAM, 1216 graphic controller, 1218 display device, 1220 input / output controller, 1222 communication interface, 1224 storage device, 1230 ROM, 1240 input / output chip

Claims

1. A communication relay device disposed in a user's private area, a session establishment unit that establishes a first PDU session with a first UPF for communicating user data via a compatible wireless base station corresponding to the communication relay device, and establishes a second PDU session with a second UPF for communicating management data between the communication relay device and a management device that manages the communication relay device via the compatible wireless base station; a management unit that communicates the user data via the first PDU session and communicates the management data with the management device via the second PDU session; Equipped with When the second PDU session is established, the session establishment unit re-establishes the second PDU session in response to a condition indicating that the second PDU session is abnormal being satisfied. Communication relay device.

2. The communication relay device according to claim 1, wherein the session establishment unit re-establishes the second PDU session when a connection to a NAS layer fails while the second PDU session is established.

3. 3. The communication relay device according to claim 2, wherein the session establishment unit does not re-establish the second PDU session if a NAS layer connection fails when the second PDU session is established and the electric field strength from the corresponding radio base station is lower than a predetermined threshold, and re-establishes the second PDU session if the electric field strength from the corresponding radio base station is higher than a predetermined threshold.

4. The communication relay device according to claim 2, wherein the session establishment unit re-establishes the second PDU session when the second PDU session is established, if the NAS layer connection is successful, and if there is no response from the management device.

5. 5. The communication relay device according to claim 4, wherein, when the second PDU session is established, the NAS layer connection is successful, and there is no response from the management device, the session establishment unit does not re-establish the second PDU session if the electric field strength from the corresponding wireless base station is lower than a predetermined threshold, and re-establishes the second PDU session if the electric field strength from the corresponding wireless base station is higher than a predetermined threshold.

6. The communication relay device according to claim 1 , wherein the management unit communicates with the management device via the second PDU session in accordance with CWMP (Customer Premises Equipment WAN Management Protocol).

7. The communication relay device according to claim 1 , wherein the management unit transmits device-related information related to the communication relay device to the management device via the second PDU session.

8. The communication relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the session establishment unit establishes the second PDU session with the second UPF located within a management closed area having the management device via the corresponding wireless base station.

9. The communication relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the session establishment unit establishes the first PDU session with the first UPF located within the user closed area via the corresponding wireless base station.

10. 6. The communication relay device according to claim 1, wherein the session establishment unit generates warning information when a condition indicating that the second PDU session is abnormal is satisfied after the second PDU session is re-established.

11. A program for causing a computer to function as the communication relay device according to claim 1.

12. A management method executed by a communication relay device located in a user's private area, comprising: a session stage in which a first PDU session for communicating user data via a corresponding wireless base station corresponding to the communication relay device is established with a first UPF, and a second PDU session for communicating management data between the communication relay device and a management device that manages the communication relay device is established with a second UPF via the corresponding wireless base station; a user communication stage of communicating the user data via the first PDU session and the first UPF; a management communication step of communicating the management data with the management device via the second PDU session and the second UPF; Equipped with A re-establishment step of re-establishing the second PDU session in response to a condition indicating that the second PDU session is abnormal being satisfied when the second PDU session is established. The management method further comprises:

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