Abstract:
An internet protocol (IP) address management method and system are disclosed, having a switch unit that searches for an idle IP address in a database for allocation to an internet connection system. The internet connection system and the switch unit interconnect a subscriber to an IP service network.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a network applique and, in particular, an Internet Protocol (IP) address managing method in a switching system. The invention provides unified management of IP address allocation and return in a database of the switching system. Thereby, the invention prevents IP address exhaustion or idle IP address generation in a number of call connections.  
           [0003]    2. Background of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Generally, in managing IP addresses in a switching system of the related art, a prearranged number of IP addresses are respectively allocated, by an operator, to internet connection systems. These IP addresses are allocated in sequence, as the internet connection systems make their IP allocation requests.  
           [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an IP address management apparatus in a switching system of the related art. The IP address management apparatus comprises a subscriber  10 , an IP service network  25 , and a switching system  20  including a call processing unit  22 , a number translating unit  23  and a number of internet connection systems  24   a - 24   n.    
           [0006]    The subscriber  10  inputs a number or information by using a telephone or other inputting means for connecting with the IP service network  25 . When the subscriber is completely connected through the switching system, the IP service network  25  processes an IP packet to provide an IP service to the pertinent subscriber  10 .  
           [0007]    In the switching system  20 , the call processing unit  22  judges if a call requires an IP address for call processing to the internet connection systems  24   a - 24   n , when the subscriber  10  tries a call connection. The number translating unit  23  is connected with the call processing unit  22  for translating a destination number inputted from the subscriber  10 . The internet connection systems  24   a - 42   n  are allocated with IP addresses, prearranged by the operator, for connection with the IP service network  25 . IP addresses are returned to the call processing unit  22  when the connected call is released.  
           [0008]    Referring now to FIG. 2, an IP address managing method for the switching system of the related art will be described. In step S 11 , the internet connection systems  24   a - 24   n  are respectively allocated with IP addresses by the operator. When the subscriber  10  tries a Point-To-Point Protocol (PPP) connection requiring an allocated destination IP address, the destination number is translated to connect the pertinent internet connection system with the subscriber, in step S 13 . When requested to use the prearranged IP address from the pertinent internet connection system in step S 14 , the IP addresses are allocated in sequence, according to the number of IP addresses previously allocated by an operator of the switching system  20 , in step S 11 . The subscriber and the IP service network are connected via the allocated IP addresses, thereby providing the IP service to the subscriber in step S 15 .  
           [0009]    When the subscriber requests the termination of the connection with the IP service network, in step S 16 , the switching system  20  sends a call release request to the internet connection system in step S 17 . The pertinent internet connection system processes a call release to terminate the internet service, in step S 18 , and the allocated IP address is returned in the internet connection system in step S 19 .  
           [0010]    However, when PPP traffic is concentrated at one point, the idle addresses may be exhausted.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    An object of the invention is to solve at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described hereinafter.  
           [0012]    The present invention is proposed to solve the foregoing overall problems. An object of the invention to unify management of the IP address allocation and return of a switching system, under the control of a call processing unit, and thereby prevent IP address exhaustion or idle IP address generation. More particularly, according to the invention, a destination number received from a subscriber is translated and a connection is made to an internet connection system, if the internet call requires an IP address. The internet connection system makes an IP address allocation request to a call processing control unit, which accordingly searches for an idle IP address in a database. The database maintains a unified IP address system that allocates the idle IP address to the internet connection system. The idle IP address is transmitted to the internet connection system, which connects the subscriber and the IP service network via the allocated IP address.  
           [0013]    The object of the present invention can be achieved in whole or in part by an IP address managing apparatus comprising a subscriber unit for requesting or providing information; a switch unit connected with the subscriber unit for analyzing subscriber information and searching for an idle IP address in a database to allocate the idle IP address to an internet connection system; and an IP service network unit connected to the switch unit and having at least one router for LAN-to-LAN connection.  
           [0014]    The switch unit includes a call processing unit for judging if a call requires an IP address or not and performing a call process to the internet connection system when a subscriber tries a call access. A number translating unit connected with the call processing unit translates a destination number inputted from the subscriber; a database connected to the call processing unit manages the IP address. An internet connection system unit connects to the database to request an IP address allocation for connection with the IP service network and to return the IP address to the database when the connected call is released.  
           [0015]    Further, the database searches for the idle address to allocate the pertinent IP address, under the control of a call processing unit, when requested by the internet connection system to allocate the IP address. Also, the database stores an IP address returned from the internet connection system unit when the call is released.  
           [0016]    According to another embodiment, the object of the present invention can be achieved in whole or in part by an IP address managing method comprising receiving and translating a destination number from a subscriber; connecting to an internet connection system according to a result of the step of translating; requesting an IP address allocation from the internet connection system to a call processing unit; searching for an idle IP address in a database under the control of the call processing unit in response to the step of requesting; and transmitting the pertinent idle IP address to the internet connection system after the step of searching.  
           [0017]    The objects of the invention may be achieved in whole or in part by an internet protocol (IP) switching system, including a database that stores management information regarding IP addresses assigned to the switching system; and a call processing unit that processes a call from a subscriber and interconnects the subscriber with one of a number of internet connection systems, based on call information within the call, wherein the call processing unit maintains a record of idle IP addresses and active IP addresses, which are allocated to a number active calls, within the database.  
           [0018]    The objects of the invention may be further achieved in whole or in part by a method of managing internet protocol (IP) address allocation in a switching system, including allocating an idle IP address to an internet connection system when a subscriber requests access to the internet connection system; and indicating in a database record corresponding to the allocated IP address that the allocated IP address is active.  
           [0019]    According to the foregoing invention, the database manages IP address allocation and return, under the control of the call processing unit in the switching system, thereby preventing a problem that traffic is concentrated into one point to exhaust the IP addresses when a number of subscribers try connecting or the idle address is generated in the internet connection system with a seldom used connection.  
           [0020]    Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]    The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein:  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 illustrates an IP address management apparatus in a switching system of the related art.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 illustrates an IP address managing method in a switching system of the related art;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 illustrates an apparatus for managing IP addresses in a switching system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 illustrates the detailed structure of a database for managing the IP addresses; and  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 illustrates an IP address managing method in a switching system according to another preferred embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an apparatus for managing IP addresses in a switching system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The apparatus comprises a subscriber  10 , an IP service network  25 , and a switching system  20 . The switching system  20  including a database  21 , a call processing unit  22 , a number translating unit  23  and a number of internet connection system  24   a - 24   n.    
         [0028]    The subscriber  10  inputs a number, using a telephone or other inputting means, to obtain a connection with the IP service network  25 . When the subscriber is completely connected through the switching system, the IP service network  25  processes an IP packet to provide an IP service to the subscriber  10 .  
         [0029]    In the switching system  20 , the call processing unit  22  judges if a call requires an IP address or not, for call processing to the internet connection systems  24   a - 24   n , when the subscriber  10  tries a call connection. The number translating unit  23  is connected with the call processing unit  22  to translate a destination number inputted from the subscriber  10 . Database  21  is connected to the call processing unit  22  and the internet connection systems  24   a - 24   n  to manage the IP addresses. Internet connection systems  24   a - 42   n  are allocated with IP addresses prearranged by the operator for connection with the IP service network  25  and return the IP addresses when the connected call is released.  
         [0030]    When the call processing unit  22  is requested to allocate the IP addresses to internet connection systems  24   a - 24   n , the database  21  searches for idle IP addresses, under the control of the call processing unit  22 . These idle IP addresses are allocated to the pertinent internet connection systems. The allocated IP addresses are returned by the pertinent internet connection systems upon terminating the call.  
         [0031]    Also, the call processing unit in the switching system can directly control the operation within the switching system or the operation can be controlled by providing an additional control unit or an IP management unit  22   a.    
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 4 shows the detailed structure of the database  21  for managing IP addresses, in which each of A, B, C and D is an IP class for specifically discriminating each IP address. The Flag field indicates validity/invalidity or true/false of the IP address, and the Use field indicates whether the IP address is currently allocated (indicated as ‘T’) by using Yes or No.  
         [0033]    A process of allocating and returning IP addresses, under the control of the call processing unit  22  and the database  21 , will be described. In operating the system, a prearranged point indicating the IP address in the database  21  is displayed. If requested to allocate the IP address to the internet connection system, the Flag and Use fields of the identified IP address are searched. IP addresses are allocated in sequence. Also, if requested to return the IP address from the internet connection system, the Flag and Use fields of the IP address, allocated by the allocating process, are reset according to the IP address status.  
         [0034]    If the IP address is returned due to a fatal error, the Flag field is set to a value of F and the Use field is set to a value of No. However, if the IP address is returned due to a general reason, instead of the fatal error, the Flag field is set to T and the Use field is set No.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the IP address managing method in the switching system, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The subscriber  10  tries a PPP connection requiring the IP address for receiving an internet service. If the destination number received by the call processing unit  22  is one corresponding to a number assigned to an internet connection system, within switching system  20 , the call processing unit  22  transmits the destination number to the number translating unit  23  for translation, S 31  and S 32 , and connects to the pertinent internet connection systems  24   a - 24   n.    
         [0036]    When the call processing unit  22  is requested by the internet connection system  24   a - 24   n  to allocate the IP address for connecting the IP service network  25  with the subscriber  10 , in step S 33 , the idle IP addresses are searched in the database  21 , under the control of the call processing unit in step S 34 . If an idle address exists in the database  21 , step S 35 , it is allocated to the internet connection system  24   a - 24   n , under the control of the call processing unit in step S 36 . The IP service network  25  and the subscriber  10  are connected via the allocated IP address, thereby providing the IP service to the subscriber  10  in step S 37 .  
         [0037]    When requested to terminate the connection with the IP service network  25 , by the pertinent subscriber  10  in step S 38 , a call release is sent to the internet connection systems  24   a - 24   n , in step S 39 . The internet services are terminated from the pertinent internet connection system  24   a - 24   n  in step S 40 . IP addresses allocated to the pertinent internet connection system  24   a - 24   n  are returned to the database  21 , under the control of the call processing unit  22  in step S 41 .  
         [0038]    As described herein, upon receiving the destination number from the subscriber  10 , the destination number is translated. If it is judged that the internet call needs the IP address, connection to the internet connection system  24   a - 24   n  is performed. The internet connection system sends a request for an IP address to the call processing control unit  22 . In response to this request, the call processing unit searches for idle addresses in the database  21  and allocates an idle IP address to the requesting internet connection system  24   a - 24   n.    
         [0039]    When a termination of the connection to the IP service network is requested by the pertinent subscriber  10 , the call processing unit  22  sends a call release request to the pertinent internet connection system  24   a - 24   n . When the internet service is terminated, the IP address allocated to the pertinent internet connection system is returned to the database, under the control of the call processing unit. Once returned, the IP address is given an idle status.  
         [0040]    The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.