System for server obtaining terminal address via searching address table or via broadcasting to all terminals through exchange in response to terminal address interrogation request

Abstract

A originating terminal sends an ATM address interrogation request to a server if the ATM address of another party's terminal is unknown at the time of communication. Upon receiving the ATM address interrogation request from the terminal, the server refers to an ATM address table, searches the table for an ATM address corresponding to a protocol address contained in the interrogation request and notifies the originating terminal of this ATM address. If an ATM address corresponding to the protocol address has not been registered in the ATM address table, the server transfers (broadcasts) the ATM address interrogation request to all terminals. The server notifies the originating terminal of an ATM address obtained by an answer in response to this interrogation request and registers the ATM address in the ATM address table.

1. An address management method in a communication system equipped with a plurality of terminals, and a server having an address table for storing registering a corresponding relationship between a protocol first address and terminal a second address of each terminal, and an exchange which accommodates each terminal and the server, said the method comprising the steps of:
 a first step in which an originating terminal sends a terminal address interrogation request to the server if the terminal address of another party's terminal is unknown at the time of communication;  
 a second step in which the server, upon receiving the terminal address interrogation request from the terminal, refers to the address table and searches for a terminal address corresponding to a protocol address contained in said interrogation request;  
 a third step in which, if a terminal address corresponding to said protocol address is obtained from the address table, the server notifies the terminal of this terminal address;  
 a fourth step in which, if the terminal address is not obtained from the address table, the server transfers the terminal address interrogation request containing said protocol address to all terminals via the exchange;  
 sending, to the server by an originating terminal, an address interrogation request which includes a fist value indicative of a request and a first address;  
 transferring, to a plurality of terminals by the server, the address interrogation request which includes the first value and the first address;  
 the fifth step in which, whenreceiving, by each terminal receives the terminal address interrogation request transferred from the server, the terminal determines;  
 determining by each terminal whether the protocol first address contained included in the address interrogation request received from the server agrees with its a terminal's own protocol first address and notifies the server of its own terminal address if agreement is achieved; and, ;  
 a sixth step in which the server notifies the originating terminal of the terminal address of which it has been notified 
 notifying, by each terminal, in response to the address interrogation request, the server of an answer which includes a terminal's own second address which is not registered in the server and a second value indicative of an answer when agreement is achieved;  
 receiving, from one of the plurality of terminals by the server, the answer which includes the second value and the second address which corresponds to the first address; and  
 registering, in the server, a corresponding relationship between the first address and the second address which is included in the answer.  
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , in the communication system which includes a switch or exchange which accommodates each terminal and the server, wherein said fourth the transferring step includes:
 a step in which the exchange or switch connects the server with all a plurality of terminals by PVCs (permanent virtual channels) having identical values ; and  
 a step in which, when a terminal an address interrogation request having said identical a predetermined value for a PVC has entered from the server, the exchange or switch performs cell copying, whereby said the address interrogation request cell is transferred to all the plurality of terminals.  
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , in the communication system which includes a switch or exchange which accommodates each terminal and the server, wherein said fourth the transferring step includes:
 a step in which the exchange or switch connects the server with all a plurality of terminals by PVCs (permanent virtual channels) having identical values and divides all the plurality of terminals into a plurality of groups;  
 a step in which, when a terminal an address interrogation request having said identical a predetermined value for a PVC has entered from the server, the exchange or switch  performs cell copying, wherein said the address interrogation request cell is transferred to all terminals in first group;  
 a step in which the server performs monitoring to determine whether a prescribed terminal has answered with a terminal second address within a set period of time;  
 a step in which the server sends the address interrogation request cell to all the plurality of terminals of the next group if no terminal answers with a terminal second address within the set period of time; and  
 a step in which the server transfers the address interrogation request cell while successively changing the group until a prescribed terminal answers with a terminal second address.  
 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a seventh step in which, when the server receives the answer of the terminal address from the terminal, the server newly stores the corresponding relationship between said protocol address and the terminal address, of which it has been notified, in the address table. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising an eighth step in which the server stores, in the address table, corresponding relationship between the protocol address of the originating terminal and the terminal address which are contained in the terminal address interrogation request received from said originating terminal. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a seventh step in which, when the server receives the answer of the terminal address from the terminal, the server deletes a corresponding relationship, referred to least recently, between a protocol address and terminal address if the address memory is full An address management method in a communication system equipped with a plurality of terminals, and a server for registering a corresponding relationship between a first address and a second address of each terminal, the method comprising the steps of:  
 sending, to the server by an originating terminal, an address interrogation request which includes a first value indicative of a request and a first address;  
 transferring, to a plurality of terminals by the server, the address interrogation request which includes the first value and first address;  
 receiving, by each terminal, the address interrogation request transferred from the server;  
 determining by each terminal whether the first address included in the address interrogation request from the server agrees with a terminal's own first address;  
 notifying, by the terminal, in response to the address interrogation request, the server of an answer which includes a terminal's own second address which is not registered in the server and a second value indicative of an answer when agreement is achieved;  
 receiving, from one of the plurality of terminals by the server, the answer which includes the second value and the second address which corresponds to the first address;  
 deleting a corresponding relationship, referred to least recently, between a first address and a second address if the server cannot accommodate a corresponding relationship between the first address and second address included in the answer received form a prescribed terminal; and  
 an eight stepregistering, in whicha memory by the server newly stores the, a corresponding relationship between said protocolthe first address and the terminalsecond address, of which is has been notified,is included in the address tableanswer.  
 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a ninth step in which each terminal sends periodically the server an interrogation request for its own terminal's address, whereby the corresponding relationship between its own terminal's protocol address and the terminal address is kept in the address table. 
     
     
       8. A communication system equipped with a plurality of terminals, and a server having an address table for storing registering a corresponding relationship between a protocol first address and terminal second address of each terminal, and an exchange which accommodates each terminal and the server, wherein each of the said the terminals comprises:
 means for sending a terminal , to the server, an address interrogation request to the server if the terminal address of another party's terminal is unknown at the time of communication which includes a first value indicative of a request and a first address; and  
 communication means for communicating with the other party's terminal via the exchange using a terminal address of which it has been notified by the server in response to the interrogation request; and 
 Terminal address answering means for answering the server with an answer including its own terminal address ifwhich is not registered in the server and a second value indicative of an answer when a protocolfirst address contained, included  in an a terminal address interrogation request transferredwhich has been received from the server agrees with its own protocolfirst address; and  
 saidthe server comprises:  
 means for referring to the address table and searching for a terminal address corresponding to a protocol address contained in a terminal address interrogation request from a terminal; 
 means which, if a terminal address corresponding to said protocol address has not been registered in the address table, is for transferring the terminal address interrogation request containing said protocol which includes the first value and the first address to all a plurality of terminals via the exchange ; and  
 means for notifying the terminal which has issued the interrogation request of a terminal address found from the address table or of a terminal address obtained by an answer from a terminal 
 registration means for registering, in the server, a corresponding relationship between the first address and the second address which is included in the answer which has been received from one of the plurality of terminals in response to the address interrogation request which has been transferred from the server.  
 
     
     
       9. The communication system according to  claim 8 , wherein said exchange comprises:
 means for connecting the server with all terminals by PVSs (permanent virtual channels) having identical values; and    means which, when a terminal address interrogation request having said identical value for PVC has entered from the server, is for performing cell copying and transferring said interrogation request cell to all terminals.    
     
     
       10. The communication system according to  claim 8 , wherein said server has registration means which, when the server receives the answer of the terminal address from a prescribed terminal, is for newly storing the corresponding relationship between a protocol address and the terminal address, of which it has been notified, in the address table. 
     
     
       11. The communication system according to claim  10   8 , wherein when the server receives the answer of the terminal address cannot register a corresponding relationship between the first address, and second address included in the answer which is received from the prescribed terminal, said the registration means deletes a corresponding relationship, referred to least recently, between a protocol first address and terminal second address if the address memory is full . 
     
     
       12. A server in a communication system equipped with a plurality of terminals, the server for managing a corresponding relationship between a protocol address and terminal address of each terminal, and an exchange which accommodates each terminal and the server, said the server comprising:
 an address table for storing the corresponding relationship between a protocol address and terminal address of each of the plurality of terminals;  
 search means for referring to said address table and searching for a terminal address corresponding to a protocol address contained in a terminal address interrogation request from a terminal; and  
 interrogation means which, if a terminal address corresponding to the protocol address has not been registered in the address table, is for interrogating all receiving, from an originating terminal, an address interrogation request including a first value indicative of a request and a first address, and for transferring the address interrogation request to a plurality of terminals, via an exchange, or the terminal address corresponding to this protocol address; wherein in response to receipt of a terminal address interrogation request from an originating terminal, said search means refers to said address table to obtain the terminal address conforming to the protocol address contained in this terminal address interrogation request and, if this terminal address has not been registered, said interrogation means interrogates the terminals for terminal address ;  
 means for receiving, form one of the plurality of terminals having it's own second address which is not registered in the server, an answer including a second value indicative of an answer and a second address which corresponds to the first address, in response to the address interrogation request which has been transferred from the server; and  
 registration means for registering, in a memory, a corresponding relationship between the first address and the second address which is included in the answer.  
 
     
     
       13. The server according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 means for receiving notification of an answer from a prescribed terminal in response to the terminal address interrogation request; and    registration means for newly registering the corresponding relationship between the protocol address and the terminal address, of which it has been notified, in said address table.    
     
     
       14. The server according to claim  13   12 , wherein when the server receives the an answer of the terminal including a second value indicative of an answer and a second address from the prescribed terminal one of the plurality of terminals, said the registration means deletes a corresponding relationship, referred to least recently, if said address memory is full the server can not accommodate a corresponding relationship between the first address and second address, and registers, in a memory of the server, the corresponding relationship between the protocol first address and the terminal second address, of which it has been notified, in said address table which is included in the answer. 
     
     
       15. The server according to  claim 12 , wherein said terminal address the interrogation means divides all a plurality of terminals into a plurality of groups, interrogates all terminals of a first group for a terminal second address and, if notification of an answer of a terminal including the second address is not received within a set period of time, interrogates all terminals of the next group for a terminal second address. 
     
     
       16. In a network system having a server, the method of registering in the server a corresponding relationship between a first identifier and a second identifier for a communication party, comprising the steps of:
 receiving an interrogation request including a first value indicative of a request and a first identifier;    determining a corresponding second identifier is not registered in the server;    transferring the interrogation request to a plurality of terminals which can accommodate the communication party;    receiving, from a terminal having it's own second identifier which is not registered in the server, an answer including a second value indicative of an answer and a second identifier which corresponds to the communication party identified by the first identifier, in response to the interrogation request; and    registering a corresponding relationship between the first identifier and the second identifier which is included in the answer.    
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the corresponding relationship between the first identifier and the second identifier is registered in a vacancy which has been formed by deleting an entry which has a corresponding relationship between a first identifier and a second identifier.  
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the vacancy is formed by deleting an entry which has the oldest reference time.  
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the system includes a switch or exchange and wherein the transferring step includes:
 a step in which the switch or exchange connects the server with a plurality of terminals by PVCs (permanent virtual channels);    a step in which, when the interrogation request, in the form of a cell having a predetermined virtual channel identifier, is entered from the server, the switch or exchange appends tag information indicating a terminal group to the cell, performs cell copying based on the tag information indicating the terminal group, and transfers the cell to terminals of the terminal group.    
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the system includes a switch or exchange and wherein the transferring step includes:
 a step in which the switch or exchange connects the server with a plurality of terminals by PVCs (permanent virtual channels) and divides the plurality of terminals into a plurality of groups;    a step in which, when the interrogation request in the form of a cell is entered from the server, the switch or exchange performs cell copying, whereby the interrogation request cell is transferred in a first group;    a step in which the server performs monitoring to determine whether a prescribed terminal has answered with its own identifier within a set period of time;    a step in which the server sends the interrogation request cell to all terminals of the next group when no terminal answers with its own identifier within the set period of time; and    a step in which the server transfers the interrogation request while successively changing the group until a prescribed terminal answers with its own identifier.    
     
     
       21. The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising a step in which, when the server receives the answer including the second identifier and the second value from the one of the plurality of terminals, the server registers the corresponding relationship between the first identifier and the second identifier in place of a memory in the server designated by an index value which is calculated based on a value of the first identifier or the second identifier.  
     
     
       22. The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising a step in which the server periodically receives an interrogation request including a second identifier and a second value indicative of an answer from each terminal of the plurality of terminals, whereby the corresponding relationship between the first identifier of its own terminal and the second identifier is kept in a server.  
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of terminals are a plurality of ATM terminals.  
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 16  wherein the first identifier is a protocol address.  
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 16  wherein the second identifier is a terminal address.  
     
     
       26. In a network system having a server, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving, from an originating terminal by the server, an address interrogation request including a first address and a first value indicative of a request;    transferring, by the server, the address interrogation request to a plurality of terminals;    receiving, from an originating terminal by the server, an answer including a second value indicative of an answer and second address which corresponds to a first address;    deleting, from the server, an entry which has a corresponding relationship between a first address and a second address from the server to form a vacancy when the server cannot register a corresponding relationship between the first address and the second address which is included in the answer; and    registering in a vacancy of the server a corresponding relationship between the first address and the second address which is included in the answer.    
     
     
       27. The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the vacancy is formed by deleting the entry which has the oldest reference time.  
     
     
       28. An address resolution system equipped with a plurality of terminals, a switch or exchange which accommodates each terminal of a plurality of terminals and a server, wherein
 each terminal of the plurality of terminals comprises: 
 means for sending a terminal address interrogation request which includes a first value indicative of a request and a first address to the server if a second address of another party's terminal is unknown at the time of communication; and  
 means for answering the server with an answer including a terminal own second address and a second value indicative of an answer when a first address included in a terminal address interrogation request received from the server agrees with a terminal own first address; and  
   the server comprises: 
 means for transferring the terminal address interrogation request including the first value indicative of the request and the first address to the plurality of terminals; and  
   receiving means for receiving, in response to the terminal address interrogation request which has been transferred by the server, an answer including a second address corresponding to the first address from one of the plurality of terminals;    means for registering in the server a corresponding relationship between the first address and the second address which has been included in the answer.    
     
     
       29. The address resolution system according to  claim 28 , wherein the switch or exchange comprises:
 means for connecting the server with a plurality of terminals by PVCs (permanent virtual channels); and    means which, when a terminal address interrogation request cell having a predetermined value for a PVC is entered from the server, is for performing cell copying and transferring of the interrogation request cell to the plurality of terminals.    
     
     
       30. The address resolution system according to  claim 28 , wherein the server has registration means which when the server receives the answer including the second address corresponding to the first address from one of the plurality of terminals, is for registering a corresponding relationship between the first address and the second address in a place designated by an index value which is calculated based on a value of the first address or the second address.  
     
     
       31. The address resolution system according to  claim 28 , wherein when the server receives the answer including the second address corresponding to the first address from the one of the plurality of terminals, the registration means deletes an entry which has a corresponding relationship between a first address and a second address from the server when the server cannot accommodate an entry having a corresponding relationship between the first address and the second address which are included in the answer which has been received from the one of the plurality of terminals.  
     
     
       32. A sever comprising:
 means for receiving, from an originating terminal, an address interrogation request including a first address and a first value indicative of a request;    means for transferring the address information request to a plurality of terminals;    means for receiving an answer including a second value indicative of an answer and a second address which corresponds to the first address from one of the plurality of terminals in response to the address interrogation request which has been transferred; and    means for registering, in a memory of the server, a corresponding relationship between the first and the second address in a place designated by an index value which is calculated based on a value of the first address or the second address,    wherein when the server receives the answer including the second address corresponding to the first address from the one of the plurality of terminals, the registration means deletes a corresponding relationship, referred to least recently, when the server can not accommodate a corresponding relationship between the first address and the second address, and registers the corresponding relationship between the first address and the second address which is included in the answer.    
     
     
       33. The server according to  claim 32 , wherein the terminal address interrogation means diverts terminals into a plurality of groups, interrogates terminals of a first group for a second address and, when a notification of an answer including a second address is not received within a set period of time, interrogates the terminals of the next group for a second address.  
     
     
       34. In a network system including communication parties accommodated by terminals, a method of registering a corresponding relationship between a first identifier and a second identifier for a communicating party, comprising the steps of:
 when a communication request is issued, determining, in a terminal accommodating an originating party, whether a second identifier for another communicating party is registered;    sending to a server an interrogation request including a first value indicative of a request and a first identifier of the other communicating party when the second identifier is not registered in the terminal;    transferring, by the server, the interrogation request to a plurality of terminals which can accommodate the other communicating party when the second identifier corresponding to the first identifier is not registered in the server;    receiving, at the server, an answer including a second value indicative of an answer and the second identifier which corresponds to the other communicating party identified by the first identifier in response to the interrogation request, said answer from a terminal having it's own second identifier which is not registered in the server;    sending the answer to the terminal accommodating the originating party; and    registering, in the terminal accommodating the originating party, a corresponding relationship between the first identifier and the second identifier which is included in the answer.    
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 34  wherein the receiving step further includes:
 registering, in the server, the corresponding relationship between the first identifier and the second identifier which is included in the answer.    
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 34  wherein when the second identifier corresponding to the first identifier is registered in the server, the server responds to the interrogation request by sending the answer to the terminal accommodating the originating party.  
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 34  wherein the plurality of terminals are a plurality of ATM terminals.  
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 34  wherein the first identifier is a protocol address.  
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 34  wherein the second identifier is a terminal address.  
     
     
       40. A network identifier resolution system equipped with a plurality of terminals, a switch or exchange which accommodates each terminal of a plurality of terminals and a server, wherein:
 each terminal of the plurality of terminals comprising: 
 a processor that receives a communication request message, determines a first identifier from the communication request message, checks a local storage area for a corresponding second identifier, and when a second identifier is not registered, creates an interrogation request message which includes a first value indicative of a request and the first identifier; and  
 a network interface unit that sends to the server the interrogation request message and receives answers and interrogation request messages from the server;  
   the server comprising: 
 a processor that receives the interrogation request message, checks a storage area for a corresponding second identifier, and when a second identifier is not registered, forwards the interrogation request;  
 network interface unit for transferring the interrogation request message including the first value indicative of the request and the first identifier to a plurality of terminals, and receiving, in response to the interrogation request message, an answer including a second identifier corresponding to the first identifier from one of the plurality of terminals having it's own second identifier which is not registered in the server; and  
   the storage area for registering a corresponding relationship between the first identifier and the second identifier which has been included in the answer.    
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 40  wherein a terminal of the plurality of terminals is a plurality of ATM terminals.  
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 40  wherein the first identifier is a protocol address.  
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 40  wherein the second identifier is a terminal address.