Mobile IP communication scheme using visited site or nearby network as temporal home network

Abstract

A mobile IP communication scheme in which a visited site or nearby network of a mobile computer is utilized as a temporal home network of a mobile computer is disclosed. The mobile computer exchanges a message with a mobile computer management device provided in a visited site or nearby network from a visited site, so as to acquire a network configuration information of the visited site or nearby network, and sets the acquired network configuration information in a communication program to be used in carrying out communications. The mobile computer management device leases a temporal home address to be used by an externally located mobile computer in response to a request message from the mobile computer, and registers the mobile computer as a mobile node which regards a network to which the mobile computer management device belongs as a home network, in response to a registration message from the mobile computer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A mobile computer device capable of carrying out communications while moving over inter-connected networks, comprising: 
 an exchange processing unit for exchanging a message with a management device provided in a visited site network or a nearby network to which the mobile computer device is connected through a network from a visited site, so as to acquire a network configuration information of the visited site network or the nearby network, the management device having a management function for enabling the communications by the mobile computer device at the visited site; and    a setting unit for setting the network configuration information acquired according to the message in a communication program to be used in carrying out the communications.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the exchange processing unit exchanges the message with the management device which is a mobile computer management device having a unit for managing a moving location information of each registered mobile computer device and transferring data destined to each registered mobile computer device to its moving location.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the exchange processing unit transmits to the mobile computer management device a registration message for registering a current location information of the mobile computer device according to a temporal home address, the registration message containing a query message for acquiring the network configuration information.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the exchange processing unit transmits to the mobile computer management device a registration message for registering a current location information of the mobile computer device according to a temporal home address to be used at the visited site network or the nearby network that is provided at the mobile computer device in advance, when the visited site network or the nearby network registers the temporal home address to be used by the mobile computer device in advance.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the exchange processing unit exchanges the message with the mobile computer management device which has a unit for leasing a temporal home address in response to a request from the mobile computer device.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the exchange processing unit transmits to the mobile computer management device a request message for requesting a leasing of a temporal home address to be used at the visited site network or the nearby network in order to operate as a mobile node by regarding the visited site network or the nearby network as a home network, and receives a response message containing the temporal home address from the mobile computer management device in response to the request message.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the exchange processing unit transmits to the mobile computer management device a registration message for registering a current location information of the mobile computer device according to the temporal home address obtained from the response message, and receives a registration response message indicating permission/rejection of a registration from the mobile computer management device in response to the registration message.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the exchange processing unit exchanges the message with the management device which has a unit for leasing a temporal address in response to a request from the mobile computer device.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the exchange processing unit transmits to the management device a request message for requesting a leasing of a temporal address, the request message containing a query message for acquiring the network configuration information.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the exchange processing unit makes a query to a server that manages the network configuration information in a network to which the management device belongs, according to the message exchanged with the management device, and acquires the network configuration information contained in an answer message received from said server.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the exchange processing unit acquires the network configuration information contained in an answer message received from the management device.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the setting unit sets the network configuration information to an information storage portion indicating a network setting in the communication program.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the exchange processing unit transmits a query message for acquiring the network configuration information by attaching at least one of a host information regarding a host of the mobile computer device and a user information regarding a user of the mobile computer device, and receives an answer message containing at least one of a host specific setting information for the host and a user specific setting information for the user in addition to the network configuration information, in response to the query message; and 
 the setting unit sets at least one of the host specific setting information and the user specific setting information to an appropriate portion of the communication program.    
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a selection unit for sending a selection request packet to each one of a plurality of management devices provided in a plurality of networks, and dynamically selecting the management device from said plurality of management devices according to a state of a response to the selection request packet from computer management device.    
     
     
         15 . A mobile computer device capable of carrying out communications while moving over inter-connected networks, comprising: 
 a selection unit for selecting one of a plurality of mobile computer management devices provided in a plurality of networks, each mobile computer management device having functions for managing a moving location of each registered mobile computer device and transferring data destined to each registered mobile computer device to its moving location; and    a message exchange unit for exchanging a message with a selected mobile computer management device from a visited site, so as to register the mobile computer device to the selected mobile computer management device as a mobile node which regards one network to which the selected mobile computer management device belongs as a home network.    
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the message exchange unit exchanges a message with the selected mobile computer management device from the visited site, so as to acquire a network configuration information of said one network; and 
 the device further comprises a setting unit for setting the network configuration information acquired from the mobile computer management device in a communication program to be used in carrying out the communications.    
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the message exchange unit transmits a registration message that contains a query message for acquiring the network configuration information.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the message exchange unit transmits a request message for requesting a leasing of a temporal home address, the request message containing a query message for acquiring the network configuration information.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the message exchange unit makes a query to a server that manages the network configuration information in a network to which the selected mobile computer management device belongs, according to the message exchanged with the selected mobile computer management device; and 
 the device further comprises a setting unit for setting the network configuration information contained in an answer message received from said server in a communication program to be used in carrying out the communications.    
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the message exchange unit transmits to the selected mobile computer management device a request message for requesting a leasing of a temporal home address to be used at said one network in order to operate as a mobile node by regarding said one network as a home network, and receives a response message containing the temporal home address from the selected mobile computer management device in response to the request message.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the message exchange unit transmits to the selected mobile computer management device a registration message for registering a current location information of the mobile computer device according to the temporal home address obtained from the response message, and receives a registration response message indicating permission/rejection of a registration from the selected mobile computer management device in response to the registration message.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the message exchange unit transmits to the selected mobile computer management device a registration message for registering a current location information of the mobile computer device according to a temporal home address to be used at said one network that is provided at the mobile computer device in advance, when said one network registers the temporal home address to be used by the mobile computer device in advance.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the message exchange unit transmits a query message for acquiring a network configuration information by attaching at least one of a host information regarding a host of the mobile computer device and a user information regarding a user of the mobile computer device, and receives an answer message containing at least one of a host specific setting information for the host and a user specific setting information for the user in addition to the network configuration information, in response to the query message; and 
 the device further comprises a setting unit for setting the network configuration information and at least one of the host specific setting information and the user specific setting information to appropriate portions of a communication program.    
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the selection unit selects one selected mobile computer management device that can exchange the messages with the mobile computer device in a shortest time among said plurality of mobile computer management devices.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the selection unit selects one selected mobile computer management device among said plurality of mobile computer management devices that is specified by a user.  
     
     
         26 . A mobile computer management device to be provided in a prescribed network among inter-connected networks, comprising: 
 an address leasing unit for leasing a temporal address to be used by a mobile computer in response to a request message from the mobile computer;    a moving management unit for receiving a registration message from the mobile computer to which the temporal address is leased, and registering and managing a correspondence between the temporal address and a current location of the mobile computer;    a network configuration information response unit for returning to the mobile computer one message containing a network configuration information of one network to which the mobile computer management device belongs or a resource server information that has the network configuration information; and    a data transfer unit for capturing data transmitted to the temporal address, and transferring the data to the current location of the mobile computer according to the registered correspondence.    
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein when the request message is received from the mobile computer, the address leasing unit returns an available address among a plurality of reserved addresses in said one network as the temporal address if the available address exists, or an error message if the available address does not exist.  
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 a unit for returning a response packet immediately upon receiving a selection request packet from the mobile computer, and making a transition to a normal operation of the mobile computer management device with respect to the mobile computer upon receiving a decided selection packet from the mobile computer in response to the response packet.    
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the network configuration information response unit transmits a response message containing said one message to the mobile computer in response to the registration message.  
     
     
         30 . A mobile computer management device, to be provided in a prescribed network among inter-connected networks, for managing mobile IP communications of a registered mobile computer, comprising: 
 an address leasing unit for leasing a temporal home address to be used by a mobile computer located outside a subnet to which the mobile computer management device is connected, in response to a request message from the mobile computer; and    a registration unit for registering the mobile computer as a mobile node to be managed by the mobile computer management device, in response to a registration message from the mobile computer to which the temporal home address is leased.    
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 an information providing unit for providing a network configuration information of a network to which the mobile computer management device belongs or a resource server information that has the network configuration information, to the mobile computer.    
     
     
         32 . A mobile information management device for use in conjunction with a mobile computer management device which is provided in a prescribed network among inter-connected networks and managing mobile IP communications of a registered mobile computer, the mobile information management device comprising: 
 an address leasing unit for leasing a temporal address to be used by a mobile computer located outside a subnet to which the mobile information management device is connected, in response to a request message from the mobile computer; and    an information providing unit for providing a network configuration information of a network to which the mobile information management device belongs or a resource server information that has the network configuration information, to the mobile computer.    
     
     
         33 . A communication control method for a mobile computer device capable of carrying out communications while moving over inter-connected networks, the method comprising the steps of: 
 exchanging a message with a management device provided in a visited site network or a nearby network to which the mobile computer device is connected through a network from a visited site, so as to acquire a network configuration information of the visited site network or the nearby network, the management device having a management function for enabling the communications by the mobile computer device at the visited site; and    setting the network configuration information acquired according to the message in a communication program to be used in carrying out the communications.    
     
     
         34 . A communication control method for a mobile computer device capable of carrying out communications while moving over inter-connected networks, the method comprising the steps of: 
 selecting one of a plurality of mobile computer management devices provided in a plurality of networks, each mobile computer management device having functions for managing a moving location of each registered mobile computer device and transferring data destined to each registered mobile computer device to its moving location; and    exchanging a message with a selected mobile computer management device from a visited site, so as to register the mobile computer device to the selected mobile computer management device as a mobile node which regards one network to which the selected mobile computer management device belongs as a home network.    
     
     
         35 . A communication control method for a mobile computer management device to be provided in a prescribed network among inter-connected networks, the method comprising the steps of: 
 leasing a temporal address to be used by a mobile computer in response to a request message from the mobile computer;    receiving a registration message from the mobile computer to which the temporal address is leased, and registering and managing a correspondence between the temporal address and a current location of the mobile computer;    returning to the mobile computer one message containing a network configuration information of one network to which the mobile computer management device belongs or a resource server information that has the network configuration information; and    capturing data transmitted to the temporal address, and transferring the data to the current location of the mobile computer according to the registered correspondence.    
     
     
         36 . A communication control method for a mobile computer management device, to be provided in a prescribed network among inter-connected networks, for managing mobile IP communications of a registered mobile computer, the method comprising the steps of: 
 leasing a temporal home address to be used by a mobile computer located outside a subnet to which the mobile computer management device is connected, in response to a request message from the mobile computer; and    registering the mobile computer as a mobile node to be managed by the mobile computer management device, in response to a registration message from the mobile computer to which the temporal home address is leased.    
     
     
         37 . A communication control method for a mobile information management device for use in conjunction with a mobile computer management device which is provided in a prescribed network among inter-connected networks and managing mobile IP communications of a registered mobile computer, the method comprising the steps of: 
 leasing a temporal address to be used by a mobile computer located outside a subnet to which the mobile information management device is connected, in response to a request message from the mobile computer; and    providing a network configuration information of a network to which the mobile information management device belongs or a resource server information that has the network configuration information, to the mobile computer.    
     
     
         38 . An article of manufacture, comprising: 
 a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computer to function as a mobile computer device capable of carrying out communications while moving over inter-connected networks, the computer readable program code means includes: 
 first computer readable program code means for causing said computer to exchange a message with a management device provided in a visited site network or a nearby network to which the mobile computer device is connected through a network from a visited site, so as to acquire a network configuration information of the visited site network or the nearby network, the management device having a management function for enabling the communications by the mobile computer device at the visited site; and  
 second computer readable program code means for causing said computer to set the network configuration information acquired according to the message in a communication program to be used in carrying out the communications.  
   
     
     
         39 . An article of manufacture, comprising: 
 a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computer to function as a mobile computer device capable of carrying out communications while moving over inter-connected networks, the computer readable program code means includes: 
 first computer readable program code means for causing said computer to select one of a plurality of mobile computer management devices provided in a plurality of networks, each mobile computer management device having functions for managing a moving location of each registered mobile computer device and transferring data destined to each registered mobile computer device to its moving location; and  
 second computer readable program code means for causing said computer to exchange a message with a selected mobile computer management device from a visited site, so as to register the mobile computer device to the selected mobile computer management device as a mobile node which regards one network to which the selected mobile computer management device belongs as a home network.  
   
     
     
         40 . An article of manufacture, comprising: 
 a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computer to function as a mobile computer management device to be provided in a prescribed network among inter-connected networks, the computer readable program code means includes: 
 first computer readable program code means for causing said computer to lease a temporal address to be used by a mobile computer in response to a request message from the mobile computer;  
 second computer readable program code means for causing said computer to receive a registration message from the mobile computer to which the temporal address is leased, and register and manage a correspondence between the temporal address and a current location of the mobile computer;  
 third computer readable program code means for causing said computer to return to the mobile computer one message containing a network configuration information of one network to which the mobile computer management device belongs or a resource server information that has the network configuration-information; and  
 fourth computer readable program code means for causing said computer to capture data transmitted to the temporal address, and transfer the data to the current location of the mobile computer according to the registered correspondence.  
   
     
     
         41 . An article of manufacture, comprising: 
 a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computer to function as a mobile computer management device, to be provided in a prescribed network among inter-connected networks, for managing mobile IP communications of a registered mobile computer, the computer readable program code means includes: 
 first computer readable program code means for causing said computer to lease a temporal home address to be used by a mobile computer located outside a subnet to which the mobile computer management device is connected, in response to a request message from the mobile computer; and  
 second computer readable program code means for causing said computer to register the mobile computer as a mobile node to be managed by the mobile computer management device, in response to a registration message from the mobile computer to which the temporal home address is leased.  
   
     
     
         42 . An article of manufacture, comprising: 
 a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computer to function as a mobile information management device for use in conjunction with a mobile computer management device which is provided in a prescribed network among interconnected networks and managing mobile IP communications of a registered mobile computer, the computer readable program code means includes: 
 first computer readable program code means for causing said computer to lease a temporal address to be used by a mobile computer located outside a subnet to which the mobile information management device is connected, in response to a request message from the mobile computer; and  
 second computer readable program code means for causing said computer to provide a network configuration information of a network to which the mobile information management device belongs or a resource server information that has the network configuration information, to the mobile computer.