Converter and communication control method

Abstract

A converter for connecting its ATM network with other ATM networks through a LAN, which is provided with an address translation table storing external VPIs, internal VPIs uniquely assigned to the LAN, and opposing MAC addresses for opposing converters in correspondence and a processing unit for performing control for transmitting, to the LAN, frames changed from the external VPI/VCIs of headers of cells from its ATM network to the internal VPI/VCIs by referring to the address translation table and having opposing MAC addresses corresponding to the internal VPI/VCIs attached, removing the opposing MAC addresses of frames received from the LAN by referring to the address translation table, and transmitting cells changed from internal VPI/VCIs to external VPI/VCIs to its ATM network.

1 . A communication apparatus set between a plurality of first communication networks with the same communication protocol and a second communication network with a communication protocol different from said first communication networks,
 said communication apparatus comprising:   an address conversion table storing destination identifiers utilized in said first communication networks and hardware identifiers identifying data sender hardware connected to said second communication network in correspondence;   a receiving unit receiving destination information corresponding to address identifiers of data and hardware identifiers identifying sender hardware from said second communication network;   a judging unit judging if said received destination information is included in said address conversion table; and   a storing unit storing said hardware identifier received at said receiving unit in said address conversion table in correspondence with said destination identifier when said received destination information is included in said address conversion table.   
   
   
       2 . The communication apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , a unit for sending its own hardware identifier is further provided when it is judged that said received destination information is included in said address conversion table by said judging unit. 
   
   
       3 . A communication control method of a network system connecting a plurality of ATM networks to a LAN by a converter apparatus,
 said communication control method comprising:   having said converter apparatus provide an address conversion table, an opposing VPI-MAC table, and a control processor, set and register an internal VPI/VCI corresponding to an external VPI/VCI indicating a destination of a cell sent by said ATM networks and assigned uniquely to said LAN and an opposing MAC address in said address conversion table, set and register in said opposing VPI-MAC table said external VPI/VCI, said internal VPI/VCI, a destination MAC address for an opposing converter apparatus through said LAN, and an opposing MAC address indicating a MAC address of one's own apparatus, and send a special frame including said internal VPI/VCI, said destination MAC address, and said opposing MAC address indicating a MAC address of one's own system to said LAN according to the set; and registered contents in said opposing VPI-MAC table and   having said converter apparatus receive said special frame in accordance with said destination MAC address and set and register said opposing MAC address of said special frame in said address conversion table of the converter apparatus in correspondence with the external VPI/VCI and internal VPI/VCI.   
   
   
       4 . A converter apparatus for connecting a plurality of ATM networks by a LAN, comprising:
 an address conversion table storing an external VPI/VCI indicating a destination of a cell sent by an ATM network, an internal VPI/VCI assigned uniquely to said LAN, and an opposing MAC address of an opposing converter apparatus connected to said LAN in correspondence;   a first sending unit changing an external VPI/VCI of a header of a cell from the ATM network to an internal VPI/VCI by referring to said address conversion table and periodically sending to said LAN a special frame to which said opposing MAC address corresponding to said internal VPI/VCI has been added; and   a second sending unit removing said opposing MAC address of a response frame received from said LAN by referring to said address conversion table and sending a cell with an internal VPI/VCI changed to an external VPI/VCI to the ATM network.   
   
   
       5 . The converter apparatus as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said first sending unit further sends a special frame including said internal VPI/VCI contained in an IPv6 address to said LAN. 
   
   
       6 . A communication apparatus set between a plurality of first communication networks with the same communication protocol and a second communication network with a communication protocol different from said first communication networks, the communication apparatus comprising:
 an address conversion table storing destination identifiers utilized in said first communication networks and hardware identifiers identifying data sender hardware connected to said second communication network in correspondence;   a unit broadcasting destination information corresponding to a destination identifier included in said data to said second communication network when receiving data from a first communication network;   a receiving unit receiving hardware information corresponding to said address identifier from said second communication network; and   a storing unit storing said hardware identifier received at said receiving unit in said address conversion table in correspondence with said destination identifier.   
   
   
       7 . A communication apparatus set between a plurality of first communication networks with the same communication protocol and a second communication network with a communication protocol different from said first communication networks and having a self hardware identifier for identifying itself, the communication apparatus comprising:
 an address conversion table storing internal identifiers utilized in said second communication network and sender identifiers identifying data sender hardware in correspondence;   a receiving unit receiving from another communication apparatus via said second communication network another hardware identifier for identifying said other communication apparatus and an internal identifier used in said second communication network;   a judging unit judging if said received internal identifier is included in said address conversion table; and   a sending unit sending said self hardware identifier to said second communication network when said judging unit judges that said received internal identifier is included in said address conversion table.   
   
   
       8 . The communication apparatus as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising a storing unit storing said other hardware identifier for identifying said other communication apparatus received by said receiving unit in said address conversion table in correspondence with said internal identifier when said received internal identifier is included in said address conversion table.