METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ROUTE SELECTION OF HOST IN MULTIHOMING SITE

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus for route selection of a host in a multihoming site. The method includes: receiving transition technology information sent by a client premises equipment CPE; associating the transition technology information with an Internet Protocol IP address of the CPE and recording association information in an entry; and performing route selection according to the association information in the entry. In the embodiments, the transition technology information is associated with the IP address of the CPE, that is, the CPE corresponds to a corresponding transition technology, so that a host is capable of clearly learning a transition technology used by a home network of the CPE. Therefore, a proper CPE can be selected during routing, and selecting a best route can be ensured.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

FIG. 1is a schematic flowchart of a method for route selection of a host in a multihoming site according to an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment describes the present invention from the perspective of a host. The method includes:

S101: Receive transition technology information sent by a CPE.

In this embodiment of the present invention, the transition technology information in the CPE may be configured in advance, or may be some parameters, generated according to a certain rule, in a network message that is delivered by a DHCPv4 or DHCPv6 server and received by the CPE. The transition technology information may include: a tunnel mode, such as IPv4-in-IPv6 or IPv6-in-IPv4, used by a home network of the CPE, and an address conversion mode and a protocol conversion mode, such as NAT44 (IPv4 address conversion, whose typical application is the conversion between a private address and a public address) and NAT64 (the conversion between an IPv6 packet and an IPv4 packet, which belongs to protocol conversion), used by the home network of the CPE. In addition, if no transition technology is used, that is, if no information about the tunnel mode, the address conversion mode, the protocol conversion mode, and the like is included, the CPE uses the original IPv4/IPv6 for access by default.

Of course, the transition technology information in this embodiment of the present invention includes, but is not limited to, the above information. It may further include other more detailed transition information, for example, a specific transition technology solution such as 6rd or DS-Lite.

S102: Associate the transition technology information with an IP address of the CPE and record association information in an entry. The entry may be a routing entry, or may be an independent entry. The association information may be a mapping between the IP address of the CPE and its corresponding transition technology information.

S103: Perform route selection according to the association information in the entry.

In this embodiment, the transition technology information is associated with the IP address of the CPE, that is, the CPE corresponds to a corresponding transition technology, so that the host is capable of clearly learning a transition technology used by a home network of the CPE. Therefore, a proper CPE can be selected during routing, and selecting a best route can be ensured.

FIG. 2is a schematic flowchart of another method for route selection of a host in a multihoming site according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method includes:

S201: Send a transition technology information request message to a CPE.

In this embodiment, to acquire transition information of an uplink for better routing, the host needs to send the transition technology information request message to the CPE. Currently, in most transition scenarios, user hosts are all dual-stack, that is, both an IPv4 address and an IPv6 address exist, and IPv4 and IPv6 can be used simultaneously for communication. Therefore, in this embodiment, the host may also send the transition technology information request message to the CPE by using multiple different methods.

As an embodiment of the present invention, the host can request transition technology information by using some existing request configuration messages such as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv4 Solicit (DHCPv4 Solicit) message, a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6 Solicit (DHCPv6 Solicit) message, or a Router Solicit message. The DHCPv4

Solicit message applies to a scenario where the CPE delivers the transition technology information by using an IPv4 protocol, while the DHCPv6 Solicit message and the Router Solicit message apply to a scenario where the CPE delivers the transition technology information by using an IPv6 protocol. Of course, this embodiment of the present invention does not limit a method used by the host for delivering the transition technology information request message. The host may even use a newly defined standard to send a dedicated transition technology information request message, instead of using an existing request configuration message to send the transition technology information request message.

S202: Receive transition technology information returned by the CPE.

In this embodiment of the present invention, the transition technology information in the

CPE may be configured in advance, or may be some parameters, generated according to a certain rule, in a network message that is delivered by a DHCPv4 or DHCPv6 server and received by the CPE. The transition technology information may include: a tunnel mode, such as IPv4-in-IPv6 or IPv6-in-IPv4, used by a home network of the CPE, and an address conversion mode and a protocol conversion mode, such as NAT44 (IPv4 address conversion, whose typical application is the conversion between a private address and a public address) and NAT64 (the conversion between an IPv6 packet and an IPv4 packet, which belongs to protocol conversion), used by the home network of the CPE. In addition, if no transition technology is used, that is, if no information about the tunnel mode, the address conversion mode, the protocol conversion mode, and the like is included, the CPE uses the original IPv4/IPv6 for access by default.

Of course, the transition technology information in this embodiment of the present invention includes, but is not limited to, the above information. It may further include other more detailed transition information, for example, a specific transition technology solution such as 6rd or DS-Lite.

S203: Associate the transition technology information with an Internet Protocol IP address of the CPE and record association information in an entry.

S204: Perform route selection according to the association information in the entry.

In this embodiment, the transition technology information is associated with the IP address of the CPE, that is, the CPE corresponds to a corresponding transition technology, so that the host is capable of clearly learning a transition technology used by a home network of the CPE. Therefore, a proper CPE can be selected during routing, and selecting a best route can be ensured.

FIG. 3is a schematic flowchart of another method for route selection of a host in a multihoming site according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, transition technology information is delivered to the host by using DHCPv4. The method includes the following steps:

S301: The host sends a DHCPv4 Solicit message to a CPE.

Though the DHCPv4 Solicit message is mainly used to assign an IP address to the host, in this embodiment of the present invention, it may also be simultaneously served as a request message for the host to request acquiring of transition technology information.

S302: After receiving the DHCPv4 Solicit message, the CPE forwards it to a broadband remote access server (Broadband Remote Access Server, BRAS) in relay forward (RELAY-FORW) message mode. During the process, the CPE is served as a DHCPv4 relay agent to forward the message.

S303: After receiving the RELAY-FORW message, the BRAS, also served as a DHCPv4 relay agent, forwards the RELAY-FORW message to a DHCPv4 server.

S304: After receiving the RELAY-FORW message of the BRAS, the DHCPv4 server delivers a relay reply (RELAY-REPL) message to the BRAS.

S305: The BRAS forwards the RELAY-REPL message to the CPE.

S306: After receiving the RELAY-REPL message forwarded by the BRAS, the CPE adds transition technology information to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv4 Advertise (DHCPv4 Advertise) message and delivers it to the host. In this embodiment, for example, the CPE may add the transition technology information in the OPTION_Transitioninfo field of the DHCPv4 Advertise message.

S307: After receiving the DHCPv4 Advertise message to which the transition technology information is added, the host immediately associates an IP address of the CPE with the transition technology information for subsequent route selection.

In this embodiment, the transition technology information is associated with the IP address of the CPE, that is, the CPE corresponds to a corresponding transition technology, so that the host is capable of clearly learning a transition technology used by a home network of the CPE. Therefore, a proper CPE can be selected during routing, and selecting a best route can be ensured.

FIG. 4is a schematic flowchart of another method for route selection of a host in a multihoming site according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, transition technology information is delivered to the host by using DHCPv6. The method includes the following steps:

S401: The host sends a DHCPv6 Solicit message to a CPE.

S402: After receiving the DHCPv6 Solicit message, the CPE forwards it to a Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS) in the mode of a RELAY-FORW message. During the process, the CPE is served as a DHCPv6 relay agent to forward the message.

S403: After receiving the RELAY-FORW message, the BRAS, also served as a DHCPv6 relay agent, forwards the RELAY-FORW message to a DHCPv6 server.

S404: After receiving the RELAY-FORW message of the BRAS, the DHCPv6 server delivers a relay reply (RELAY-REPL) message to the BRAS.

It should be noted that when a standardized transition technology, such as 6rd or DS-Lite, is used, the message itself delivered by the DHCPv6 server may carry some transition information.

S405: The BRAS forwards the RELAY-REPL message to the CPE.

S406: After receiving the RELAY-REPL message forwarded by the BRAS, the CPE adds transition technology information to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6 Advertise (DHCPv6 Advertise) message and delivers it to the host. In this embodiment, for example, the CPE may add the transition technology information in the OPTION_Transitioninfo field of the DHCPv6 Advertise message. It should be noted that the transition technology information may be configured in the CPE in advance. When the message itself delivered in step S404carries some transition information, the CPE may also extract the transition information and then perform certain processing to obtain required transition technology information.

S407: After receiving the DHCPv6 Advertise message to which the transition technology information is added, the host immediately associates an IP address of the CPE with the transition technology information for subsequent route selection.

In this embodiment, the transition technology information is associated with the IP address of the CPE, that is, the CPE corresponds to a corresponding transition technology, so that the host is capable of clearly learning a transition technology used by a home network of the CPE. Therefore, a proper CPE can be selected during routing, and selecting a best route can be ensured.

FIG. 5is a schematic flowchart of another method for route selection of a host in a multihoming site according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, transition technology information is delivered to the host by using Neighbor Discovery (ND). The method includes the following steps:

S501: The host sends a router solicit (Router Solicit) message to a CPE.

S502: After receiving the Router Solicit message, the CPE adds transition technology information to a router advertise (Router Advertise) message and delivers it to the host.

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, that “the host sends a Router Solicit message to a CPE” is not a prerequisite for the CPE to deliver the transition technology information, and the CPE may also automatically deliver the transition technology information to the host on the premise of receiving no Router Solicit message.

S503: After receiving the Router Advertise message to which the transition technology information is added, the host immediately associates an IP address of the CPE with the transition technology information for subsequent route selection.

In this embodiment, the transition technology information is associated with the IP address of the CPE, that is, the CPE corresponds to a corresponding transition technology, so that the host is capable of clearly learning a transition technology used by a home network of the CPE. Therefore, a proper CPE can be selected during routing, and selecting a best route can be ensured.

FIG. 6is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for route selection of a host in a multihoming site according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus includes a receiving unit601, an information association unit602, and a route selection unit603, where:

The receiving unit601is configured to receive transition technology information sent by a CPE.

In this embodiment of the present invention, the transition technology information in the CPE may be configured in advance, or may be some parameters of a DHCPv4 or DHCPv6 server that are received by the CPE and are generated according to a certain rule. The transition technology information may include: a tunnel mode used by a home network of the CPE, and an address conversion mode and a protocol conversion mode used by the home network of the CPE. In addition, if no transition technology is used, that is, if no information about the tunnel mode, the address conversion mode, the protocol conversion mode, and the like is included, the CPE uses the original IPv4/IPv6 for access by default.

The information association unit602is configured to associate the transition technology information with an IP address of the CPE and record association information in an entry. The entry may be a routing entry, or may be an independent entry. The association information may be a mapping between the IP address of the CPE and its corresponding transition technology information.

The route selection unit603is configured to perform route selection according to the association information in the entry.

In this embodiment, the transition technology information is associated with the IP address of the CPE, that is, the CPE corresponds to a corresponding transition technology, so that the host is capable of clearly learning a transition technology used by a home network of the CPE. Therefore, a proper CPE can be selected during routing, and selecting a best route can be ensured.

FIG. 7is a schematic structural diagram of another apparatus for route selection of a host in a multihoming site according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus includes a receiving unit701, an information association unit702, a route selection unit703, and a sending unit704, where:

The sending unit704is configured to send a transition technology information request message to a client premises equipment CPE.

As an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus may request transition technology information by using some existing request configuration messages such as a DHCPv4 Solicit message, a DHCPv6 Solicit message, or a Router Solicit message. The DHCPv4 Solicit message applies to a scenario where the CPE delivers the transition technology information by using an IPv4 protocol, while the DHCPv6 Solicit message and the Router Solicit message apply to a scenario where the CPE delivers the transition technology information by using an IPv6 protocol.

Of course, this embodiment of the present invention does not limit a method used by the host for delivering the transition technology information request message. The host may even use a newly defined standard to send a dedicated transition technology information request message, instead of using an existing request configuration message to send the transition technology information request message.

The receiving unit701is configured to receive the transition technology information sent by the CPE.

In this embodiment of the present invention, the transition technology information in the CPE may be configured in advance, or may be some parameters of a DHCPv4 or DHCPv6 server that are received by the CPE and are generated according to a certain rule. The transition technology information may include: a tunnel mode used by a home network of the CPE, and an address conversion mode and a protocol conversion mode used by the home network of the CPE. In addition, if no transition technology is used, that is, if no information about the tunnel mode, the address conversion mode, the protocol conversion mode, and the like is included, the CPE uses the original IPv4/IPv6 for access by default.

As an embodiment of the present invention, the receiving unit701may include three receiving modules: a first receiving module, a second receiving module, and a third receiving module. The three receiving modules are divided by logical functions according to different types of request messages sent by the sending unit. In practical implementation, one receiving unit is capable of performing the implementation.

When the transition technology request message sent by the sending unit is a DHCPv4 Solicit message, the first receiving module is configured to receive a DHCPv4 Advertise message which is delivered by the CPE according to a RELAY-REPL message of a DHCPv4 server, where the DHCPv4 Advertise message includes the transition technology information. For the specific information interaction of the whole process, reference may be made to the description of the embodiment corresponding toFIG. 3. Details are not repeated herein.

When the transition technology request message sent by the sending unit is the DHCPv6 Solicit message, the second receiving module is configured to receive a DHCPv6 Advertise message which is delivered by the CPE according to a RELAY-REPL message of a DHCPv6 server, where the DHCPv6 Advertise message includes the transition technology information. For the specific information interaction of the whole process, reference may be made to the description of the embodiment corresponding toFIG. 4. Details are not repeated herein.

When the transition technology request message sent by the sending unit is the Router Solicit message, the third receiving module is configured to receive a Router Advertise message returned by the CPE, where the Router Advertise message includes the transition technology information. It should be noted that even if the sending unit does not send the Router Solicit message, the CPE may also return the transition technology information. For the specific information interaction of the whole process, reference may be made to the description of the embodiment corresponding toFIG. 5. Details are not repeated herein.

The information association unit702is configured to associate the transition technology information with an IP address of the CPE and record association information in an entry.

The route selection unit703is configured to perform route selection according to the association information in the entry.

In this embodiment, the transition technology information is associated with the IP address of the CPE, that is, the CPE corresponds to a corresponding transition technology, so that the host is capable of clearly learning a transition technology used by a home network of the CPE. Therefore, a proper CPE can be selected during routing, and selecting a best route can be ensured.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art may understand that all or part of the steps of the methods in the embodiments may be implemented by a program instructing relevant hardware. The program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. When the program is run, the steps of the foregoing methods in the embodiments are performed. The storage medium may be a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a Read-Only Memory (ROM), or a Random Access Memory (RAM).

The foregoing specific embodiments further describe the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention in detail. It should be understood that, the foregoing description is merely about specific embodiments of the present invention, but is not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.