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 this received signal.

Abstract: A configuration having a control device that sets a processing rule in a forwarding node, the configuration being capable of forwarding control of duplicated packets in private IP address spaces. At least one forwarding node among forwarding nodes operates as a logical channel control device that establishes a logical channel to an external node, generate or delete a virtual port information associated with said logical channel established to said external node, and gives notification thereof to the control device, and the control device computes a forwarding path of a packet using the notified port information.

Abstract: A communication terminal communicating with a network including a control apparatus that generates a processing rule defining a packet processing method, the communication terminal comprises: a request unit that requests an address of the control apparatus when requesting for establishing a connection to the network; a communication unit that establishes a communication channel to the control apparatus based on an address acquired by the address request; and a processing unit that processes a packet based on a processing rule transmitted by the control apparatus via the communication channel.

Abstract: A communication system includes a network device to be used for packet handling; and a controller capable of sending, to the network device, a packet handling rule according to a first protocol. The network device classifies, based on a condition, indicative of a scope under which the controller is capable of controlling the network device, whether to handle the packet according to the packet handling rule sent from the controller or to handle the packet according to a table entry that the network device autonomously sets based on a second protocol.

Abstract: In an access apparatus which has an offloading function, resources of the access apparatus are excessively consumed when handover occurs between access apparatuses. A communication system (1) according to the present invention includes an access apparatus (access functions (11, 12)) including means for terminating a communication path with a communication terminal (50), and an access control apparatus (access GW function (C-plane) (20)) that controls the access apparatus. The communication system (1) according to the present invention includes determination means (communication terminal management function (20a)) for determining whether or not to prompt a switching process of the communication path in accordance with a movement history of the communication terminal (50) based on an operation state of the communication terminal (50).

Abstract: For use in a communication system where communication is carried out by setting a packet handling operation (flow entry) in the nodes by a control device, the present invention provides a configuration in which statistical information may be collected at a desired information granularity level without increasing the control load of the control device. A node of the communication system includes a packet processing unit that processes a received packet according to a packet handling operation defining a matching rule and processing of a packet that matches the matching rule; and a statistical information recording unit that records statistical information on a packet according to a division different from the matching rule, and a statistical information collection device is provided that issues an instruction on a division, according to which the statistical information is to be recorded, to the node and collects the statistical information.

Abstract: A communication technique, a control technique, and a management technique are provided that can suppress effects on communication services caused when switching a communication path route. A communication apparatus (4) which performs communication over communication paths configured in a network includes: a first means for identifying a communication path group corresponding to the communication paths to one of which a received packet belongs; and a second means for forwarding the received packet to a network node associated with the communication path group corresponding to the received packet, among a plurality of network nodes which can terminate the communication paths.

Abstract: A communication system includes a network device to be used for packet handling; and a controller capable of sending, to network device, a packet handling rule according to a first protocol. The network device classifies, based on a condition, indicative of a scope under which the controller is capable of controlling the network device, whether to handle the packet according to the packet handling rule sent from the controller or to handle the packet according to a table entry that the network device autonomously sets based on a second protocol.

Abstract: A base station (1) is connectable to a mobile station (4) by a plurality of Radio Access Technologies (RATs) including first and second RATs. The base station (1) is configured to be able to use a communication path (400) that passes through a first upstream network (140) corresponding to the first RAT, when the mobile station (4) performs communication via the second RAT. This enables, for example, efficient use of the upstream networks when the Multi-RAT base station (1) supports a plurality of upstream networks.

Abstract: A communication technique and a communication path control technique are provided that can suppress effects on communication services caused when switching a communication path route. A communication apparatus (4) which performs communication through a communication path configured in a network, includes: a first means that can receive a packet routing policy which indicates a gateway (3) associated with the communication path from a control apparatus (5) which can send a control single concerning the communication path to the communication apparatus; and a second means that can forward the received packet to the gateway associated with the communication path to which the received packet belongs, based on the packet routing policy.

Abstract: A technique enabling diverse communication quality control for a communication service is provided. A communication apparatus includes a first means for storing a parameter notified from a control apparatus, wherein the control apparatus can send a control signal related to the communication path to the communication apparatus; and a second means that can perform communication quality control on a packet, based on a quality class of the communication path corresponding to the packet and the parameter corresponding to the communication path.

Abstract: A technique enabling diverse communication quality control for a communication service is provided. A communication apparatus according to the present invention is a communication apparatus that performs communication over a communication path set up in a network, including: a first means for identifying the communication path corresponding to a packet; and a second means for adding quality information to the packet, wherein the quality information is selected from among a plurality of pieces of quality information associated with a quality class of the identified communication path.

Abstract: A base station (1) is connectable to a mobile station (4) by a plurality of Radio Access Technologies (RATs) including first and second RATs. The base station (1) is configured to be able to use a communication path (400) that passes through a first upstream network (140) corresponding to the first RAT, when the mobile station (4) performs communication via the second RAT. This enables, for example, efficient use of the upstream networks when the Multi-RAT base station (1) supports a plurality of upstream networks.

Abstract: A communication system, a communication apparatus, a control method, and a control apparatus are provided that make it possible to flexibly increase/decrease a U-plane processing function of a communication apparatus. A communication system in which a logical path (50) is set up in a network to perform communication, comprises: a control plane (30) for the logical path; and a control apparatus (20) that, in response to a request from the control plane, selects from communication equipment resources a communication equipment (10) to perform user-plane processing in connection with data transmission through the logical path, and sets an operation rule related to the user-plane processing in the selected communication equipment.

Abstract: A communication system, a serving gateway, a communication method, and a base station are provided that make it possible to flexibly increase/decrease a U-plane processing function of a communication apparatus. A communication system in which a logical path is configured in a network to perform communication, comprises: second gateways (740-1, 740-2), which are deployed for a plurality of first gateways (720-1, 720-2), respectively; a transport network (760), which the logical paths configured between a base station (770) and the second gateways pass through; and a control apparatus (710) that controls packet forwarding in the transport network, wherein the control apparatus controls the transport network so that a logical path to which a packet belongs is identified and the packet will be forwarded to the second gateway corresponding to the identified logical path.

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 includes a network device to be used for packet handling; and a controller capable of sending, to the network device, a packet handling rule according to a first protocol. The network device classifies, based on a condition, indicative of a scope under which the controller is capable of controlling the network device, whether to handle the packet according to the packet handling rule sent from the controller or to handle the packet according to a table entry that the network device autonomously sets based on a second protocol.

Abstract: A communication system includes: a control apparatus setting a process rule defining a process content appropriate to a received packet in a forwarding node; and a forwarding node comprising a packet process unit processing a received packet in accordance with the process rule. The forwarding node further includes: a request unit transmitting a process rule setting request to the control apparatus if the received packet is a first packet for which the process rule is not set; and a restriction unit restricting transmission of the setting request for a second packet satisfying a condition obtained from the first packet.

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: A control apparatus is configured to generate a processing rule that defines packet processing in a communication apparatus and set the processing rule in the communication apparatus, to determine one or more logical networks for broadcast targets, based on correspondence relationship between network address and logical network, to obtain one or more communication apparatuses connected to the determined one or more logical networks and to set the one or more communication apparatuses to perform broadcast transmission to the determined one or more logical networks.