Patent ID: 8630183
Filing Date: 2014-01-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A packet transfer system comprising: a plurality of load distribution packet transfer devices provided among a plurality of user terminals and a plurality of gateway devices connected to a relay network to the Internet; and a load distribution management device configured to operate in association with the plurality of load distribution packet transfer devices, wherein each of said load distribution packet transfer devices includes: a plurality of line interfaces each configured to accommodate a connection line with the user terminals or the gateway devices; and a protocol processing unit configured to control transfer of user packets and communication control packets between line interfaces respectively configured to accommodate a connection between a user terminal and a gateway device, wherein said protocol processing unit is configured to perform the functions of: transferring a connection start request packet received from one of the user terminals requesting to start a connection to the relay network, to the plurality of gateway devices; extracting gateway identification information from each response packet received within a predetermined time period, adding the gateway identification information to a connection manage table, and notifying the load distribution management device of a selection request including the gateway identification information, when the protocol processing unit has received a response packet in response to the connection start request packet from the gateway device; transferring a response packet from the load distribution management device to the requesting one of the user terminals, when the protocol processing unit has received the response packet which includes a selected gateway identification information, from the load distribution management device; and thereafter transferring a user packet and a communication control packet each other between the requesting one of the user terminals and the selected gateway.