System and method for communication

Abstract

A communications system includes: a first node device provided in a first network; a first controller controlling the first node device; a second node device provided in a second network and connected to the first node device; and a second controller controlling the second node device. The first controller sets the first node device with a processing rule according to which packets transferred between the first and second controllers are processed. The second controller sets the second node device with a processing rule according to which the packets are processed. The first and second controllers exchanges the packets each other through at least the first and second node devices.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A control apparatus configured to control a plurality of forwarding nodes in a first network, the control apparatus comprising:
 a memory configured to store a topology data including the forwarding nodes in the first network; and   a processor configured to execute program instructions to:
 receive, from one of the forwarding nodes connected to an edge forwarding node of a second network, a retrieval packet including an identifier which represents a second control apparatus, wherein the second control apparatus controls the edge forwarding node of the second network; 
 identify, based on the identifier, boundary information defining a boundary between the first network and the second network; and 
 store the boundary information with the topology data. 
   
     
     
         28 . The control apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the processor is configured to execute program instructions to identify the boundary information when the identifier does not represent the control apparatus. 
     
     
         29 . The control apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the processor is configured to execute program instructions to:
 identify, based on the boundary information and the topology data, a forwarding instruction to forward a data packet; and   send the forwarding instruction to the forwarding node connected to an edge forwarding node of a second network.   
     
     
         30 . The control apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein the forwarding instruction includes a matching rule and an action for processing the packet corresponding to the matching rule. 
     
     
         31 . The control apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the processor is configured to execute program instructions to send a second retrieval packet including a second identifier which represents the control apparatus. 
     
     
         32 . The control apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the retrieval packet is Link Layer Discovery Protocol packet. 
     
     
         33 . A network system comprising:
 a plurality of the forwarding nodes; and   a control apparatus configured to control the forwarding nodes in a first network, wherein the control apparatus comprises:
 receive, from one of the forwarding nodes connected to an edge forwarding node of a second network, a retrieval packet including an identifier which represents a second control apparatus, wherein the second control apparatus controls the edge forwarding node of the second network; 
 identify, based on the identifier, boundary information defining a boundary between the first network and the second network; and 
 store the boundary information with the topology data. 
   
     
     
         34 . The network system according to  claim 33 , wherein the processor is configured to execute program instructions to identify the boundary information when the identifier does not represent the control apparatus. 
     
     
         35 . The network system according to  claim 33 , wherein the processor is configured to execute program instructions to:
 identify, based on the boundary information and the topology data, a forwarding instruction to forward a data packet; and   send the forwarding instruction to the forwarding node connected to an edge forwarding node of a second network.   
     
     
         36 . The network system according to  claim 35 , wherein the forwarding instruction includes a matching rule and an action for processing the packet corresponding to the matching rule. 
     
     
         37 . The network system according to  claim 33 , wherein the processor is configured to execute program instructions to send a second retrieval packet including a second identifier which represents the control apparatus. 
     
     
         38 . The network system according to  claim 33 , wherein the retrieval packet is Link Layer Discovery Protocol packet. 
     
     
         39 . A network control method for a network including a plurality of forwarding nodes, the network control method comprising:
 receiving, from one of the forwarding nodes connected to an edge forwarding node of a second network, a retrieval packet including an identifier which represents a second control apparatus, wherein the second control apparatus controls the edge forwarding node of the second network;   identifying, based on the identifier, boundary information defining a boundary between the first network and the second network; and   storing the boundary information with a topology data.   
     
     
         40 . The network control method according to  claim 39 , further comprising of identifying the boundary information when the identifier does not represent the control apparatus. 
     
     
         41 . The network control method according to  claim 39 , further comprising:
 identifying, based on the boundary information and the topology data, a forwarding instruction to forward a data packet; and   sending the forwarding instruction to the forwarding node connected to an edge forwarding node of a second network.   
     
     
         42 . The network control method according to  claim 41 , wherein the forwarding instruction includes a matching rule and an action for processing the packet corresponding to the matching rule. 
     
     
         43 . The network control method according to  claim 39 , further comprising of sending a second retrieval packet including a second identifier which represents the control apparatus. 
     
     
         44 . The network control method according to  claim 39 , wherein the retrieval packet is Link Layer Discovery Protocol packet.