Abstract: When a communication apparatus receives a packet in accordance with a predetermined protocol through a second connection IF different from a first connection IF to which a packet having a same address as an address included in the packet in accordance with the predetermined preset protocol has so far been connected, a management unit receives a notification from the communication apparatus, and checks, with reference to a storage storing information on one or more connection Ifs supporting address floating, whether or not the first connection IF and the second connection IF of the communication apparatus belong to a common connection IF group that supports address floating to determine presence or absence of the address floating.

Abstract: The wireless communication terminal includes: a plurality of communication interfaces each of which corresponds to at least one of a plurality of wireless access systems; a first unit receiving an instruction from a prescribed control apparatus, the instruction including a wireless access system determined by the control apparatus based on a status of the wireless communication terminal, which changes along with movement of the wireless communication terminal; and a second unit communicating by using a communication interface corresponding to the instructed wireless access system.

Abstract: A network system, a node apparatus, a control apparatus, a communication control method, and a control method are provided that make it possible to easily perform control of a physical layer device required for flow control. In a communication system including a plurality of nodes constituting a network and a control apparatus controlling each node in units of flows, at least one communication interface is provided to each port of the nodes; the control apparatus instructs the node to set a physical layer mode on a port, and the node, in accordance with the physical layer mode indicated by the control apparatus, make setting of a corresponding communication interface.

Abstract: A communication system, a method for controlling service quality, a control apparatus, and a communication apparatus are provided that enable flexible packet forward processing control based on service quality information. A communication system in which a logical path is established over a network to perform communication includes: a control apparatus that retains a policy indicating an association between a logical path and service quality information (QoS); and a communication apparatus that provides a packet with the service quality information (QoS) corresponding to the logical path to which the packet belongs, in accordance with a control message sent from the control apparatus.

Abstract: A communication system, in which a mobile terminal uses a data path that was generated with an ISP network by a base station in a home network to access a NW via the ISP network, includes an authentication means and connection control means in the ISP network. The base station accepts an access request from the mobile terminal and transmits information relating to the base station and the mobile terminal to the connection control means. The authentication means determines based on the information whether a linking service that connects to the home NW without traversing the ISP network can be provided to the mobile terminal, and if the linking service can be provided, notifies this information to the connection control means. Based on this notification, the connection control means requests the base station to generate a data path for providing the linking service, and the base station generates the data path.

Abstract: A communication device performs communication over a communication path configured in a network, includes: a communication path identification section that can identify a communication path to which a received packet belongs; and a switching section that can forward the received packet to a network node associated with the communication path to which the received packet belongs, among multiple network nodes that can terminate the communication path.

Abstract: A communication system, in which a mobile terminal uses a data path that was generated with an ISP network by a base station in a home network to access a NW via the ISP network, includes an authentication means and connection control means in the ISP network. The base station accepts an access request from the mobile terminal and transmits information relating to the base station and the mobile terminal to the connection control means. The authentication means determines based on the information whether a linking service that connects to the home NW without traversing the ISP network can be provided to the mobile terminal, and if the linking service can be provided, notifies this information to the connection control means. Based on this notification, the connection control means requests the base station to generate a data path for providing the linking service, and the base station generates the data path.

Abstract: A communication control method and a communication system are provided that realize traffic offload while reducing the processing load on a base station. A base station in a mobile network includes a gateway (PO-GW) for connecting a mobile terminal (UE) in the mobile network to a packet data network (PDN), and a control function (MME, DNS, HSS) of the mobile network allows the mobile terminal to access the gateway (PO-GW), in response to a request from the mobile terminal to connect to the PDN via the base station.

Abstract: A technique that can enhance the effectiveness of traffic offloading is provided. A base station of the present invention includes: a first means for selecting an MME (Mobility Management Entity), based on information included in a message sent from a terminal; and a second means for sending a connection request sent from the terminal to the selected MME, wherein the first means is able to select a virtual MME that operates a function of the MME through a virtual machine, based on the information included in the message.

Abstract: A charging control method and system are provided that can reduce the processing load on a function of performing charging control. The charging control system includes a policy and charging rules function (PCRF), a plurality of gateways (P-GWs) each including a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF), and a relay section including a relay server and a switch that connects the PCRF and the plurality of PCEFs in a hierarchical manner. The PCRF is directly connected to the relay section, whereby the number of sessions is reduced.

Abstract: A new traffic offloading technique in a communication system is provided. A control apparatus of the present invention includes: a first means for managing a policy used for load balancing among a plurality of networks including a first network and a second network, wherein the first network includes a first network node that performs predetermined signal processing and the second network includes a second network node that operates a function of the first network through a virtual machine; and a second means for notifying the policy to a communication apparatus, which is capable of selecting a network node to which communication data related to a terminal is to be sent.

Abstract: A new traffic offloading technique in a communication system is provided. A communication apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first means for selecting, from among a plurality of network nodes including a first network node and a second network node, the second network node for a terminal capable of autonomous communication with a communication-counterpart equipment, wherein the first network node performs predetermined signal processing in a first network and the second network node operates a function of the first network node through a virtual machine in a second network; and a second means for sending communication data related to the terminal to the second network node selected.

Abstract: Effects on communication services caused by re-establishment of a communication path are suppressed when resource control is performed in a communication system. A communication apparatus according to the present invention is a communication apparatus in a communication system providing communication services to a terminal through a communication path associated with the terminal, and includes: a first means capable of switching a plurality of first sessions set up between the communication apparatus and a network node to a plurality of second sessions corresponding respectively to the plurality of first sessions; and a second means capable of sending to the network node a control signal including information related to the plurality of second sessions.

Abstract: Effects on communication services caused by re-establishment of a communication path are suppressed when resource control is performed in a communication system. A server according to the present invention is a server in a communication system providing communication services to a terminal through a communication path associated with the terminal, and includes: a first means capable of operating a network function on a virtual machine, wherein the network function is to communicate with an opposite network node via a first session; and a second means capable of forwarding control information including information related to a second session from the network function to the opposite network node, wherein the network function switches the first session to the second session.

Abstract: Effects on communication services caused by re-establishment of a communication path are suppressed when resource control is performed in a communication system. A communication apparatus according to the present invention is a communication apparatus in a communication system providing communication services to a terminal through a communication path associated with the terminal, and includes: a first means capable of switching a first session set up between the communication apparatus and a network node to a second session; and a second means capable of sending a control signal including information related to the second session to the network node.

Abstract: A technique making it possible to perform flexible virtual machine control is provided. A server according to the present invention is characterized by including: a first means capable of operating a plurality of network functions executed by a network node on a plurality of virtual machines corresponding respectively to the network functions; and a second means capable of forwarding a received signal to a virtual machine that operates a network function corresponding to the received signal, wherein the first means is capable of controlling a resource to allocate to the virtual machine corresponding to the network function, depending on a type of the network function.

Abstract: When the functions of dedicated appliances are executed by using virtualization technology, the dynamic activation, deactivation, and the like of a virtual machine makes it difficult to continuously manage communication status. An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first means capable of executing a virtual network function, which provides, on a virtual machine, a function related to communication processing; and a second means capable of connecting a shared database, which stores communication status related to the communication processing executed by each of a plurality of the virtual network functions, with each of the plurality of the virtual network functions.

Abstract: When the functions of dedicated appliances are executed by using virtualization technology, the dynamic activation, deactivation, and the like of a virtual machine makes it difficult to continuously manage communication status. An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first means capable of providing a network function that executes communication processing; a second means capable of forwarding a received packet to a network function associated with a communication path group to which the received packet belongs, among a plurality of network functions; and a third means capable of connecting a shared database with each of the plurality of virtual network functions, wherein the shared database stores communication status related to the communication path corresponding to each of the plurality of virtual network functions, wherein the communication status is associated with the communication path group.

Abstract: When the functions of dedicated appliances are executed by using virtualization technology, the dynamic activation, deactivation, and the like of a virtual machine makes it difficult to continuously manage communication status. An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first means capable of providing a network function that executes communication processing; a second means capable of forwarding a received packet to a network function associated with a communication path to which the received packet belongs, among a plurality of network functions; and a third means capable of connecting a shared database with each of the plurality of virtual network functions, wherein the shared database stores communication status related to the communication path corresponding to each of the plurality of virtual network functions.

Abstract: A technique making it possible to perform flexible virtual machine control is provided. A server according to the present invention is characterized by including: a first means capable of operating a plurality of network functions executed by a network node on a plurality of virtual machines corresponding respectively to the network functions; and a second means capable of forwarding a received signal to a virtual machine that operates a network function corresponding to the received signal based on tag information added to the received signal.