1. A handover processing method in which, in a communication system in which a plurality of access routers each configuring a subnet are connected via a communication network, at least one or more access points providing unique communication areas are connected to each of the plurality of access routers, and respective subnets of the plurality of access routers are configured to overlap with one another, a mobile node, configured to communicate with a correspondent node through wireless access with the access point within the communication area, switches connection from an access point with which communication is currently being performed to another access point as a result of movement, the handover processing method comprising a step of:
providing, by the access point, strength information held by the access point itself, the strength information that is information promoting a handover processing in a layer 3 or information not promoting the handover processing in the layer 3; and
receiving, by the mobile node, the provided strength information, deciding whether to perform a handover in the layer 3 based on the received strength information, and performing the handover processing in the layer 3 based on the decision.
2. The handover processing method according to claim 1, wherein the access point provides the strength information in response to a request from the mobile node.
3. The handover processing method according to claim 1, wherein:
the mobile node, after the connection to the access point is switched, transmits to an access point the strength information at the access point before the switch and prefix information assigned to an access router to which the access point is connected; and
the access point generates new strength information based on the received strength information and prefix information.
4. The handover processing method according to claim 3, wherein a timing at which the strength information and the prefix information are transmitted is indicated by the access router.
5. The handover processing method according to claim 1, wherein the strength information is information set in advance.
6 A handover processing method in which, in a communication system in which a plurality of access routers each configuring a subnet are connected via a communication network, at least one or more access points providing unique communication areas are connected to each of the plurality of access routers, and respective subnets of the plurality of access routers are configured to overlap with one another, a mobile node, configured to communicate with a correspondent node through wireless access with the access point within the communication area, switches connection from an access point with which communication is currently being performed to another access point as a result of movement, the handover processing method comprising a step of:
receiving, by the mobile node, a predetermined message transmitted from an external source, deciding whether to perform a handover in a layer 3 based on a number of predetermined messages received, and performing handover processing in the layer 3 based on the decision.
7. A handover processing method in which, in a communication system in which a plurality of access routers each configuring a subnet are connected via a communication network, at least one or more access points providing unique communication areas are connected to each of the plurality of access routers, and respective subnets of the plurality of access routers are configured to overlap with one another, a mobile node, configured to communicate with a correspondent node through wireless access with the access point within the communication area, switches connection from an access point with which communication is currently being performed to another access point as a result of movement, the handover processing method comprising a step of:
receiving, by the mobile node, a predetermined message transmitted from an external source and, when the received predetermined message includes a predetermined piece of information, making an acquisition request to a predetermined server for acquiring strength information serving as a judgment basis for a handover processing in a layer 3;
transmitting, by the predetermined server, the strength information to the mobile node in response to the acquisition request; and
deciding, by the mobile node, whether to perform a handover in the layer 3 based on the strength information, and performing the handover processing in the layer 3 based on the decision.
8. A handover processing method in which, in a communication system in which a plurality of access routers each configuring a subnet are connected via a communication network, at least one or more access points providing unique communication areas are connected to each of the plurality of access routers, and respective subnets of the plurality of access routers are configured to overlap with one another, a mobile node, configured to communicate with a correspondent node through wireless access with the access point within the communication area, switches connection from an access point with which communication is currently being performed to another access point as a result of movement, the handover processing method comprising a step of:
providing, by a control terminal controlling the communication network, strength information that is information promoting a handover processing in a layer 3 or information not promoting the handover processing in the layer 3; and
receiving, by the mobile node, the provided strength information, deciding whether to perform a handover in the layer 3 based on the received strength information, and performing the handover processing in the layer 3 based on the decision.
9. An access point in a handover processing method in which, in a communication system in which a plurality of access routers each configuring a subnet are connected via a communication network, at least one or more access points providing unique communication areas are connected to each of the plurality of access routers, and respective subnets of the plurality of access routers are configured to overlap with one another, a mobile node, configured to communicate with a correspondent node through wireless access with the access point within the communication area, switches connection from an access point with which communication is currently being performed to another access point as a result of movement, the access point comprising:
a storage means for storing therein strength information that is information promoting a handover processing in a layer 3 or information not promoting the handover processing in the layer 3; and
a providing means for providing the stored strength information.
10. The access point according to claim 9, wherein the providing means provides the strength information in response to a request from the mobile node.
11. The access point according to claim 9, further comprising:
a receiving means for receiving from the mobile node, after the connection to the access point is switched, the strength information at the access point before switching and prefix information assigned to an access router to which the access point is connected; and
a generating means for generating new strength information based on the received strength information and prefix information.
12. The access point according to claim 11, wherein a timing at which the strength information and the prefix information are transmitted is indicated by the access router.
13. The access point according to claim 9, wherein the strength information is information set in advance.
14. A mobile node in a handover processing method in which, in a communication system in which a plurality of access routers each configuring a subnet are connected via a communication network, at least one or more access points providing unique communication areas are connected to each of the plurality of access routers, and respective subnets of the plurality of access routers are configured to overlap with one another, the mobile node, configured to communicate with a correspondent node through wireless access with the access point within the communication area, switches connection from an access point with which communication is currently being performed to another access point as a result of movement, the mobile node comprising:
a receiving means for receiving strength information provided by the access point and held by the access point, the strength information that is information promoting a handover processing in a layer 3 or information not promoting the handover processing in the layer 3;
a deciding means for deciding whether to perform a handover in the layer 3 based on the received strength information; and
a controlling means for performing the handover processing in the layer 3 based on the decision.
15. The mobile node according to claim 14, wherein the controlling means requests that the access point provides the strength information.
16. The mobile node according to claim 14, further comprising:
a transmitting means for transmitting to the access point, after the connection to the access point is switched, the strength information at the access point before switching and prefix information assigned to an access router to which the access point is connected.
17. The mobile node according to claim 16, wherein a timing at which the strength information and the prefix information are transmitted is indicated by the access router.
18. The mobile node according to claim 14, wherein the strength information is set in advance.
19. A mobile node in a handover processing method in which, in a communication system in which a plurality of access routers each configuring a subnet are connected via a communication network, at least one or more access points providing unique communication areas are connected to each of the plurality of access routers, and respective subnets of the plurality of access routers are configured to overlap with one another, the mobile node, configured to communicate with a correspondent node through wireless access with the access point within the communication area, switches connection from an access point with which communication is currently being performed to another access point as a result of movement, the mobile node comprising:
a receiving means for receiving a predetermined message transmitted from an external source;
a deciding means for deciding whether to perform a handover in a layer 3, based on a number of predetermined messages received; and
a controlling means for performing handover processing in the layer 3 based on the decision.
20. A mobile node in a handover processing method in which, in a communication system in which a plurality of access routers each configuring a subnet are connected via a communication network, at least one or more access points providing unique communication areas are connected to each of the plurality of access routers, and respective subnets of the plurality of access routers are configured to overlap with one another, the mobile node, configured to communicate with a correspondent node through wireless access with the access point within the communication area, switches connection from an access point with which communication is currently being performed to another access point as a result of movement, the mobile node comprising:
a receiving means for receiving a predetermined message transmitted form an external source;
a transmitting means for, when the received predetermined message includes a predetermined piece of information, making an acquisition request to a predetermined server for acquiring strength information serving as a judgment basis for a handover processing in a layer 3;
a deciding means for deciding whether to perform a handover in the layer 3 based on the strength information from the predetermined server; and
a controlling means for performing the handover processing in the layer 3 based on the decision.
21. A mobile node in a handover processing method in which, in a communication system in which a plurality of access routers each configuring a subnet are connected via a communication network, at least one or more access points providing unique communication areas are connected to each of the plurality of access routers, and respective subnets of the plurality of access routers are configured to overlap with one another, the mobile node, configured to communicate with a correspondent node through wireless access with the access point within the communication area, switches connection from an access point with which communication is currently being performed to another access point as a result of movement, the mobile node comprising:
a receiving means that receives strength information provided by a control terminal controlling the communication network, the strength information that is information promoting a handover processing in a layer 3 or information not promoting the handover processing in the layer 3;
a deciding means that decides whether to perform a handover in the layer 3 based on the received strength information; and
a controlling means that performs the handover processing in the layer 3 based on the decision.
22. A handover processing method used when, in a communication network configured such that networks with different properties overlap, a mobile node switches connection from a network to which the mobile node currently belongs to another network having different properties as a result of movement, the handover processing method comprising a step of:
receiving, by the mobile node, information from an edge terminal positioned on an edge of the network to which the mobile node currently belongs, the information stating that the edge terminal is positioned at the edge of the network to which the mobile node currently belongs; and
deciding, by the mobile node, whether to perform a handover based on the received information, and performing processing of the handover based on the decision.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a switch core,
a plurality of Fibre Channel ports,
each Fibre Channel port comprises port control logic situated between the Fibre Channel link and the said switch core,
route determination logic coupled to said switch core and said Fibre Channel port control logic,
the route determination logic comprising a state machine, wherein the state machine has a plurality of modes of operation including:
a first mode of operation in which the state machine is idle and monitors for signals,
a second mode of operation, responsive to detecting a signal indicating a route request was generated from one or more port control logic modules,
a third mode of operation, responsive to decoding the results of a route determination logic block, and
a fourth mode of operation, responsive to the signal to create a route, asserts signals to build a route response back to the port control logic, one of the signals capable of indicating to the port control to wait until the entire frame is received.
2. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the state machine also comprises another mode of operation, responsive to decoding the results of a route determination logic block to assert a signal to build a discard received frame route response to the port control logic.
3. An apparatus comprising:
a switch core,
route determination apparatus,
a plurality of ports, the ports comprising:
a Fibre Channel link, and
port control logic coupled to said Fibre Channel link,
the ports being coupled to the route determination apparatus,
the route determination apparatus comprising:
a route determination module, the route determination module receiving input signals representing the results of route rules applied to a received Fibre Channel frame,
signals representing encoded route results, and
a multiplexer, whereby the select is encoded from the input signals representing the results of route rules applied to a received Fibre Channel frame and the input signals are the possible routing states and the output signals containing the specific routing state chosen from the input select signals.
4. An apparatus for routing data between a plurality of ports in a Fibre Channel switch, wherein each of the plurality of ports is coupled to the switch and a route determination apparatus, the route determination apparatus comprising:
an indication of the port speed of each of the plurality of ports,
a route request arbitration module coupled to each of the plurality of ports of the switch comprising:
logic for identifying which of the plurality of ports signaled that a route determination is requested,
logic to signal each port that requested a route determination be accomplished to send route request information to the route determination apparatus, and
logic to read the route request from a said port,
the route determination apparatus determining the route for the received data and signaling the port to transfer the frame to the switch.