Abstract:
An Internet network control method is disclosed. When an inter-layer interworking occurs in the Internet network, an upper layer transmits control information on layers related to the interworking to the layers. Therefore, a uniform system for packet exchange in the Internet network is provided. Additionally, since a packet header of a packet transmitted among the layers includes an identifier (ID) regarding a slice, information may be distributed in a centralized system or a distributed system.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2009-0127989 and 10-2010-0121883, respectively filed on Dec. 21, 2009 and Dec. 2, 2010, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a method for controlling an Internet network. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Recently, the future Internet is being actively studied to develop the Internet to overcome limits of the present Internet technology. Organizations and projects for research regarding the future Internet, such as Global Environment for Network Innovation(GENI), Future Internet Research and Experimentation(FIRE), and the like, are now active around the U.S. and Europe. Also, domestically, a future Internet testbed is under construction in Korea. 
         [0006]    GENI refers to a project in progress in the U.S. regarding the future Internet. GENI aims at constructing a national network infrastructure capable of being maintained for a long time and of providing an almost real environment, and constructing a network infrastructure for various fields including science and engineering. 
         [0007]    FIRE refers to a future Internet project in progress in Europe. FIRE aims at developing future Internet technologies of the future Internet in a framework program (FP7) and constructing an infrastructure for various experiments. 
         [0008]    Researches for a network virtualization technology related to the future Internet are actively being performed. The network virtualization technology provides a variety of logical networks desired by users on a single physical network. Such logical networks may be virtual networks. With regard to the future Internet, a slice may be a network function operated on the virtual network. A sliver may be a function by which the slice is practically operated on a node. 
         [0009]    Control information is used when various architectures and services of the Internet are carried out in the physical Internet network. The control information may include performance of a packet, a virtual network including the packet, a virtual node related to the packet, a sliver related to the packet, and a virtual interface related to the packet. 
         [0010]    For example, according to GENI, a packet structure provisionally includes a sliver identifier (SliverID) and a virtual interface ID (VirlFID). However, different from a slice ID (SliceID), the SliverID and the VirIFID are the control information to be managed substantially by each node. Information subjected to the node, such as the SliverID and the VirIFID, are capable of mutual communication among the nodes only when distributed by a centralized system or a distributed system. 
         [0011]    Accordingly, a new method to control the Internet network is desired. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0012]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling an Internet network divided into a plurality of layers, the method including transmitting control information on a plurality of first layers out of the plurality of layers, the first layers related to an interworking, to the plurality of first layers from an upper layer of the first layers when the interworking occurs between the plurality of first layers. 
         [0013]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for transmitting a packet in an Internet network, including inputting an ID related to a slice of the Internet network to a packet header of the packet. 
       EFFECT 
       [0014]    According to embodiments of the present invention, when an inter-layer interworking occurs in an Internet network, an upper layer transmits control information on a layer related to the interworking to the layers. Therefore, the suggested Internet network provides a uniform system for packet exchange in the Internet network. 
         [0015]    Additionally, according to embodiments of the present invention, since a packet header of a packet transmitted among the layers includes an identifier (ID) regarding a slice, information may be distributed in a centralized system or a distributed system. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    These and/or other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an Internet network according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a message in an Internet network according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a method to control an Internet network according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a hierarchical structure of an Internet network according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a hierarchical structure of an Internet network according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating a structure of a conventional packet; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a structure of a packet according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. Exemplary embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an Internet network  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0026]    A clearing house  120  may function as an information center that manages information, registry, database, and the like to share resources and generate slices on the Internet network  100 . The clearing house  120  may authenticate and authorize a researcher  110  of the Internet. Additionally, the clearing house  120  may manage slices, component registries, and the like, and also manage policies and portals for finding resources. 
         [0027]    The slice may refer to a virtual network generated on the Internet network  100  to perform a service defined by the researcher  110 . 
         [0028]    The sliver may refer to various levels of application by the researcher  110  with respect to the Internet network  100 . 
         [0029]    An operation and management portal (O&amp;M portal)  130  may refer to a portal to operate and manage the Internet network  100 . The researcher  110  may connect to the O&amp;M portal  130  and thereby acquire information on the operation and management states of the Internet network  100 . 
         [0030]    An aggregate manager  140  may manage a sub network  150  included in the Internet network  100 . The sub network  150  may include a plurality of nodes  160 . The nodes  160  may download and execute programs of the researcher  110 . Depending on embodiments, the nodes  160  may function as a component manager. A data interface  170  may refer to a physical interface on a data plane interconnecting the plurality of nodes  160 . 
         [0031]    A researcher portal  180  may refer to a portal of a group to which the researcher  110  belongs to. The researcher portal  180  may manage a project carried out by the group including the researcher  110  with respect to the Internet network  100 . 
         [0032]    A control interface  190  may refer to an interface to perform control and management in the clearing house  120 , the O&amp;M portal  130 , the aggregate manager  140 , the plurality of nodes  160  of the sub network  150 , and the researcher portal  180 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating flow of a message in an Internet network according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a researcher  201  of the Internet network according to the embodiment may acquire a credential (CD) and then transmit a request slice identifier (ID) message to a clearing house  202  in operation  205 . The request slice ID message may include the CD. The clearing house  202  may respond to a request of the researcher ( 201 ) by transmitting a slice ID (SliceID) to the researcher  201 . 
         [0035]    The researcher  201  may transmit a query resource (QueryRsc) message to an aggregate manager  203  in operation  206 . A QueryRsc message may include a CD. The aggregate manager  203  may transmit a resource information (RscInfo) message to the researcher  201  in response to the QueryRsc message. 
         [0036]    The researcher  201  may transmit a reserve resource message to the aggregate manager  203  in operation  207 . The reserve resource message may include a resource specification and SliceID. 
         [0037]    The resource specification may refer to a specification describing resources on the Internet network. Depending on embodiments, the resource specification may describe a specification of the resource, a request for the reserve resource, details regarding the reserve resource, relations among the resources, and the like. In addition, the resource specification may be expressed by an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) schema. 
         [0038]    The aggregate manager  203  may transmit a ticket message to the researcher  201  in response to the reserve resource message. 
         [0039]    The researcher  201  may transmit a create sliver request message to a component manager  204  in operation  208 . The create sliver request message may include information on the researcher  201  (UserInfo), a ticket name (TkName), and the like. 
         [0040]    The component manager  204  may transmit a result message to the researcher  201  in response to the create sliver request message. The result message may include information on the sliver. 
         [0041]    The researcher  201  may transmit a download software (DownloadSW) request message to the component manager  204  in operation  209 . The DownloadSW request message may include TkName and an object code (objCode). The objCode may be a program source or an object program. The component manager  204  may transmit a result message to the researcher  201  in response to the DownloadSW request message. 
         [0042]    The researcher  201  may transmit a start sliver request message to the component manager  204  in operation  210 . The start sliver request message may include UserInfo, and a sliver name or slice name. The component manager  204  may transmit a result message to the researcher  201  in response to the start sliver request message. 
         [0043]    The researcher  201  may transmit a stop sliver request message to the component manager  204  in operation  211 . The stop sliver request message may include Userinfo, and the sliver name or slice name. The component manager  204  may transmit a result message to the researcher  201  in response to the stop sliver request message. 
         [0044]    The researcher  201  may transmit a destroy sliver request message to the component manager  204  in operation  212 . The destroy sliver request message may include Userinfo, and the sliver name or slice name. The component manager  204  may transmit a result message to the researcher  201  in response to the destroy sliver request message. 
         [0045]    Depending on embodiments, the researcher  201  may transmit at least one of a list sliver request message and a list slice request message to the component manager  204 . In case of receiving the list sliver request message, the component manager  204  may transmit a result message regarding the list sliver to the researcher  201 . In case of receiving the list slice request message, the component manager  204  may transmit a result message regarding the list slice to the researcher  201 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a method to control an Internet network according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , according to the method to control the Internet network divided into a plurality of layers, when an interworking occurs among first layers out of the plurality of layers, an upper layer of the first layers may transmit the control information on a plurality of the first layers related to the interworking to the plurality of first layers in operation  310 . 
         [0048]    According to an aspect of the present invention, the plurality of layers of the Internet network may include a virtual operator, a slice, a virtual network, a virtual node, a virtual interface, and a sliver. The layers of the Internet network according to an embodiment will be described in further detail with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0049]    In a case where data is transmitted and received among layers, the inter-layer interworking may occur when the plurality of layers are collectively processed to perform a single service. 
         [0050]    The control information may include at least one selected from a virtual operator ID related to the virtual operator of the Internet network, a slice ID related to the slice of the Internet network, a virtual network ID related to the virtual network of the Internet network, a virtual node ID related to the virtual node of the Internet network, a virtual interface ID related to the virtual interface of the Internet network, and a sliver ID related to the sliver of the Internet network. 
         [0051]    Depending on embodiments, an interworking may occur among virtual network layers out of the plurality of layers of the Internet network. When the interworking occurs between a first virtual network and a second virtual network of the virtual network layers, a slice layer which is an upper layer of the virtual network layer may transmit the control information on the first virtual network and the second virtual network to the first virtual network and the second virtual network, respectively. Here, the control information may include the virtual network ID related to the first virtual network and the virtual network ID related to the second virtual network. 
         [0052]    According to the Internet network control method, a packet may be transmitted among the plurality of first layers which are related to the interworking in operation  320 . Here, a packet header included in the packet may include the control information. Also, the packet header may include an ID related to the slice of the Internet network. A structure of the packet will be described in further detail with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a hierarchical structure of an Internet network according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the Internet network according to the present embodiment may include a virtual operator  410  as an uppermost layer. A plurality of the virtual operators  410  may be included. 
         [0055]    Each of the virtual operators  410  may include at least one slice  420  as a lower layer. 
         [0056]    Each slice  420  may include at least one virtual network  430  as a lower layer. Each virtual network  430  may include a physical network ID (pwid) which is ID information for identifying each physical network. 
         [0057]    Each virtual network  430  may include at least one virtual node  440  as a lower layer. Each virtual node  440  may include a physical node ID (pnid) which is ID information for identifying each physical node. 
         [0058]    Each virtual node  440  may include at least one sliver  450  as a lower layer. 
         [0059]    Each sliver  450  may include at least one virtual interface  460  as a lower layer. 
         [0060]    Depending on embodiments, the virtual interface  460  may be a combination of a plurality of virtual interfaces. The virtual interface  460  may include at least one selected from an interface related to a virtual radio, an interface related to a virtual Lamda, an interface related to a virtual link, and an interface related to a socket. The virtual Lamda may be a virtual wavelength. 
         [0061]    Depending on embodiments, the virtual interface  460  may include a virtual radio ID (vrid) which is ID information for identifying each virtual radio, a virtual wavelength ID (vwid) which is ID information for identifying each virtual wavelength, a virtual link ID (vlid) which is ID information for identifying each virtual link, a socket ID (skid) which is ID information for identifying each socket, and a physical interface ID (pfid) which is ID information for identifying each physical interface. 
         [0062]    Each of the layers in the Internet network may include the ID information for identifying components included therein. More specifically, the virtual operator  410  may include a virtual operator ID (VirOprID) as the ID information for identifying each virtual operator  410 . The slice  420  may include a slice ID (SliceID) as the ID information for identifying each slice  420 . The virtual network  430  may include a virtual network ID (VirNetID) as the ID information for identifying each virtual network  430 . The virtual node  440  may include a virtual node ID (VirNodID) as the ID information for identifying each virtual node  440 . The sliver  450  may include a sliver ID (SliverID) as the ID information for identifying each sliver  450 . In addition, the virtual interface  460  may include a virtual interface ID (VirIFID) as the ID information for identifying each virtual interface  460 . 
         [0063]    According to an aspect of the present invention, the virtual operator  410 , the slice  420 , the virtual network  430 , the virtual node  440 , the sliver  450 , and the virtual interface  460  of the Internet network may be arranged in a different order. For example, the slice  420  may be an uppermost layer in the Internet network while the virtual operator  410  is a lower layer of the slice  420 . 
         [0064]    In addition, the layers may be physical components rather than the virtual components. For example, the hierarchical structure may include a physical operator, a slice, a physical network, a physical node, a sliver, and a physical interface. Also, the layers may be partially virtual and partially physical. 
         [0065]    The Internet network may include a super virtual operator which is an upper layer of the virtual operator  410 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a hierarchical structure of an Internet network according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the Internet network may include a super virtual operator  510  as an uppermost layer. The Internet network may include a virtual operator as a lower layer of the super virtual operator  510 , a slice as a lower layer of the virtual operator, a virtual network as a lower layer of the slice, a virtual node as a lower layer of the virtual network, and a sliver as a lower layer of the virtual node. 
         [0068]    When an interworking occurs between a first virtual operator  520  and a second virtual operator  521  of the virtual operator layer, the super virtual operator  510  which is the upper layer of the virtual operator may transmit the control information on the first and the second virtual operators  520  and  521  related to the interworking to the first and the second virtual operators  520  and  521 . Depending on embodiments, the control information may include VirOprIDs of the first and the second virtual operators  520  and  521 . 
         [0069]    When an interworking occurs between a first slice  530  and a second slice  531  of the slice layer, the first virtual operator  520  which is the upper layer of the slice may transmit the control information on the first and the second slices  530  and  531  related to the interworking to the first and the second slices  530  and  531 . Depending on embodiments, the control information may include SliceIDs of the first and the second slices  530  and  531 . 
         [0070]    When an interworking occurs between a first virtual network  540  and a second virtual network  541  of the virtual network layer, the first slice  530  which is the upper layer of the virtual network may transmit the control information on the first and the second virtual networks  540  and  541  related to the interworking to the first and the second virtual networks  540  and  541 . Depending on embodiments, the control information may include VirNetIDs of the first and the second virtual networks  540  and  541 . 
         [0071]    When an interworking occurs between a first virtual network  550  and a second virtual node  551 , the first virtual network  540  which is the upper layer of the virtual node layer may transmit the control information on the first and the second virtual nodes  550  and  551  related to the interworking to the first and the second virtual nodes  550  and  551 . Depending on embodiments, the control information may include VirNodIDs of the first and the second virtual nodes  550  and  551 . 
         [0072]    In addition, when an interworking occurs between a first sliver  560  and a second sliver  561 , the first virtual node  550  which is the upper layer of the sliver layer may transmit the control information on the first and the second slivers  560  and  561  related to the interworking to the first and the second slivers  560  and  561 . Depending on embodiments, the control information may include SliverIDs of the first and the second slivers  560  and  561 . 
         [0073]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating a structure of a conventional packet  610 . 
         [0074]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the conventional packet  610  includes an L2 header  611 , a packet header including SliverID  612  and VirIFID  613 , an experimental header  614 , and a payload  615 . 
         [0075]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a structure of a packet  710  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0076]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the packet  710  includes an L2 header  711 , an experimental header  712 , and a payload  713 . 
         [0077]    The L2 header  711  may include information on a traffic type of the Internet network, for example, OxFFFE[FI]. 
         [0078]    According to the embodiment, the experimental header  712  may include data fields of a slice type  721 , slice information  722 , and an ether type  723 . 
         [0079]    Table 1 shows the slice type  721 , and the slice information  722  corresponding to the slice type  721 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Slice Type 
                   
               
               
                 721 
                 Slice Information 722 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 SliceType(0) 
                 sliceID 
               
               
                 SliceType(1) 
                 sliverID/virtualIFID 
               
               
                 SliceType(2) 
                 sliverID/virtualIFID/srcGeoLocID/dstGeoLocID 
               
               
                 SliceType(3) 
                 sliceID/virNetID/virNodeID/sliverID/virtualIFID 
               
               
                 SliceType(4) 
                 sliceID/virNetID/virNodeID/sliverID/virtualIFID/geoLocID 
               
               
                 SliceType(5) 
                 sliceID/virNetID/virNodeID/sliverID/virtualIFID/ 
               
               
                   
                 srcGeoLocID/dstGeoLocID 
               
               
                 SliceType(6) 
                 src(SliceType-4 + )/dst(SliceType-4 + ) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0080]    Referring to Table 1, SliceType-4+ represents information except for SliceID from a SliceType-4. 
         [0081]    The ether type  723  may be allocated with 2 bytes. 
         [0082]    The above-described embodiments of the present invention may be recorded in non-transitory computer-readable media including program instructions to implement various operations embodied by a computer. The media may also include, alone or in combination with the program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like. The program instructions recorded on the media may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the embodiments, or they may be of the kind well-known and available to those having skill in the computer software arts. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD ROM disks and DVDs; magneto-optical media such as optical disks; and hardware devices that are specially configured to store and perform program instructions, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include both machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing higher level code that may be executed by the computer using an interpreter. The described hardware devices may be configured to act as one or more software modules in order to perform the operations of the above-described embodiments of the present invention, or vice versa. 
         [0083]    Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described exemplary embodiments. Instead, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.