Frame transfer method and frame transfer device
A network enables a transfer path to be formed between nodes in the network so as to transfer frames. A terminal for transmitting frames located outside the transfer path, upon transmitting a frame through the transfer path, writes the transfer path selection information related to the transfer path and the output line information related to the output line from the terminating node of the transfer path in the frame according to the destination information set in the frame and transmits the frame to the destination. The starting node of the transfer path decides the transfer path used for transferring the frame according to the transfer path selection information set in the frame to transmit the frame while the terminating node of the transfer path decides the output line used to output the frame according to the output line set in the frame, thereby transmitting the frame to the output line.
1. A frame transfer device, which is connected between a terminal for transmitting a frame and a starting node of a transfer path in a network defined between the starting node and a terminating node of the transfer path through the network, comprising:
a frame transmission/reception unit for receiving the frame transmitted from the terminal; and
a header process unit for writing, in the received frame, transfer path selection information for specifying a transfer path in the network to be used by the starting node of the transfer path for transferring the received frame through the network, and output line selection information for specifying an output line outside of the network to be used by the terminating node of the transfer path for outputting the transferred frame from the terminating node of the transfer path specified by the transfer path selection information,
wherein the frame transmission/reception unit transmits to the starting node the frame in which the transfer path selection information and the output line selection information are written;
the frame transmission/reception unit transmits, to the starting node, the transfer path selection information corresponding to a plurality of destination terminal addresses which correspond to a plurality of said output line to which frames are to be transferred via the network, and the output line selection information corresponding to the plurality of destination terminal addresses for transmission to the terminating node;
the frame transfer device is connected between the terminal for transmitting the frame and the starting node of the transfer path;
the network is a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network; and
the frame transmission/reception unit transmits from outside the MPLS network to the MPLS network when transmitting the frame.
2. A frame transfer device, which is connected to a node for receiving a frame from a terminal, and which is connected through a network to a plurality of terminating nodes of a transfer path in the network, comprising:
a frame transmission/reception unit for receiving the frame transferred by the node; and
a header process unit for deciding a transfer path in the network to be used for transferring the received frame through the network according to transfer path selection information included in the received frame, the transfer path selection information specifying the transfer path in the network leading to a destination of the frame outside of the network,
wherein the frame transmission/reception unit transmits the received frame to a terminating node on the network of the transfer path in the network decided by the header process unit;
the node is connected between the terminal and the frame transfer device;
the transfer path selection information is written in the frame by the node;
the frame transmission/reception unit transmits, to a starting node on the network, the transfer path selection information corresponding to a plurality of destination terminal addresses which correspond to a plurality of said destination of frames outside the network to which frames are to be transferred via the network, and destination selection information corresponding to the plurality of destination terminal addresses for transmission to the terminating node;
the network is a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network; and
the frame transmission/reception unit transmits from outside the MPLS network to the MPLS network when transmitting the frame.
3. A frame transfer device, which is connected to a node for receiving a frame from a terminal and to a starting node of a transfer path in a network, and which is connected to a terminal of destination of a frame, comprising:
a frame transmission/reception unit for receiving the frame transmitted from the node for receiving the frame through the starting node of the transfer path; and
a header process unit for deciding an output line outside of the network to be used for transmitting the frame according to an output line information included in the received frame, the output line information specifying the output line outside of the network decided from a destination of the frame,
wherein the frame transmission/reception unit transmits the received frame to the terminal of destination of the frame through the output line outside of the network decided by the header process unit;
the node is connected between the terminal and the frame transfer device;
the output line information is written in the frame by the node;
the frame transmission/reception unit transmits, to the starting node, transfer path selection information corresponding to a plurality of destination terminal addresses which correspond to a plurality of said output line to which frames are to be transferred via the network, and output line selection information corresponding to the plurality of destination terminal addresses for transmission to the terminal;
the network is a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network; and
the frame transmission/reception unit transmits from outside the MPLS network to the MPLS network when transmitting the frame.