1. A communication system including: a communication apparatus that processes a packet according to control information set by a control apparatus; 5 a first control apparatus that controls said communication apparatus by setting said control information in said communication apparatus; a second control apparatus that operates in concert with said first control apparatus; and 10 said first control apparatus transmitting information necessary for interoperation between said first and second control apparatuses to said second control apparatus via said communication apparatus.

2. The communication system according to Claim 1, wherein said information necessary for interoperation between said first and second 15 control apparatuses is status information that indicates an operating status of said first control apparatus.

3. The communication system according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said second control apparatus is a control apparatus that operates as a standby system to said first control apparatus, and said second control 20 apparatus starts to operate as an active system when receiving a message requesting a switch to a standby system from said first control apparatus via said communication apparatus.

4. The communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 connected to said first and second control apparatuses via a management 25 network, and starting communication via said communication apparatus when a failure occurs in said management network.

5. The communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of control apparatuses that operate as standby systems to said first control apparatus are connected, and a control 30 apparatus ranked high in a predetermined priority order out of said plurality of control apparatuses starts to operate as an active system when receiving a message requesting a switch to a standby system from said first control apparatus via said communication apparatus. 19

6. A first control apparatus connected to a network including a communication apparatus that processes a packet according to control information set by a control apparatus, said first control apparatus comprising: 5 control means for controlling said communication apparatus by setting said control information in said communication apparatus; and information transmission means for transmitting information necessary for interoperation with a second control apparatus to said second control apparatus that operates in concert therewith via said 10 communication apparatus.

7. A second control apparatus connected to a network including: a communication apparatus that processes a packet according to control information set by a control apparatus; and a first control apparatus that controls said communication 15 apparatus by setting said control information in said communication apparatus, said second control apparatus comprising: control means for controlling said communication apparatus by setting said control information in said communication apparatus; and information receiving means for receiving information necessary 20 for interoperation with said first control apparatus from said first control apparatus via said communication apparatus, and operating in concert with said first control apparatus.

8. A communication apparatus comprising: means for receiving information necessary for interoperation 25 between a plurality of control apparatuses from a control apparatus out of said plurality of control apparatuses that control said communication apparatus by setting said control information in said communication apparatus; and means for transmitting information necessary for interoperation 30 between said plurality of control apparatuses to the remaining control apparatuses of said plurality of control apparatuses.

9. An information-relaying method in a network including: a communication apparatus that processes a packet according to 20 control information set by a control apparatus; a first control apparatus that controls said communication apparatus by setting said control information in said communication apparatus; and 5 a second control apparatus that operates in concert with said first control apparatus, said information-relaying method including: a step of having said communication apparatus receive information necessary for interoperation between said first and second control apparatuses from said first control apparatus; and 0 a step of having said communication apparatus forward said information necessary for interoperation between said first and second control apparatuses to said second control apparatus.

10. A program executed by a computer built into a communication apparatus that processes a packet according to control information set 5 by a control apparatus, said program executing: a process of receiving information necessary for interoperation between a plurality of control apparatuses from a control apparatus out of said plurality of control apparatuses that control said communication apparatus by setting said control information in said communication 0 apparatus; and a process of transmitting said information necessary for interoperation between said plurality of control apparatuses to the remaining control apparatuses of said plurality of control apparatuses. 5 Dated this 20th day of August 2014 Of Anand and Anand Advocates Agent for the Applicant 21

DESCRIPTION
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, CONTROL APPARATUS,
COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, INFORMATION-RELAYING
5 METHOD, AND PROGRAM
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001]
(DESCRIPTION OF RELATED APPLICATION)
10 The present invention is based upon and claims the benefit of the priority of Japanese patent application No. 2012-062222 filed on March 19th, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. [0002]
15 The present invention relates to a communication system, control
apparatus, communication apparatus, information-relaying method, and program, and particularly to a communication system, control apparatus, communication apparatus, information-relaying method, and program in which control apparatuses that control a communication apparatus are
20 provided.
BACKGROUND [0003]
In recent years, a technology called OpenFlow has been proposed (refer to Patent Literatures 1 and 2, and Non-Patent Literatures 1 to 3).
25 OpenFlow treats communication as an end-to-end flow, and performs path control, failure recovery, load balancing, and optimization for each flow. An OpenFlow switch that functions as a relay device comprises a secure channel for „ communicating with an OpenFlow controller, a control device, and operates according to a flow table suitably added or
30 rewritten by the OpenFlow controller. In the flow table, a set of matching rules (Header Fields) matching a packet header, flow statistics (Counters), and Instructions defining the content of processing applied to a packet matching a matching rule (Header Field) is defined for each flow (refer to the section of "4.1 Flow Table" in Non-Patent Literature
2

2). [0004]
For instance, upon receiving a packet, the OpenFlow switch searches for an entry having a matching rule that matches the header 5 information of the received packet in the flow table. When an entry matching the received packet is found as a result of the search, the OpenFlow switch updates the flow statistics (Counter) and performs the processing content (packet transmission from a designated port, flooding, discard, etc.) written in the action field of the entry on the
10 received packet. Meanwhile, when no entry matching the received packet is found as a result of the search, the OpenFlow switch forwards the received packet to the OpenFlow controller via the secure channel, requests the OpenFlow controller to determine the path of the packet based on the source and the destination of the received packet, and
15 updates the flow table after receiving a flow entry realizing this operation. As described, the OpenFlow switch forwards packets using entries stored in the flow table as processing rules. [0005]
Patent Literature 2 proposes a method that sets path information
20 for all network (NW) devices utilizing packets, to which a list of path information (entries in the flow table set by the OpenFlow switch) is added, without having controllers communicate with each other in an environment where a network (NW) device and an incompatible network (NW) device coexist. Patent Literature 1, in Paragraph 0029 and below,
25 introduces a configuration in which the OpenFlow is applied to a large-scale network such as a data center, and a plurality of controllers share the responsibilities of managing all network (NW) devices (refer to Fig. 4 as well). CITATION LIST
30 PATENT LITERATURE [0006]
Patent Literature 1
International Publication Number WO2008/0950 1 0 Patent Literature 2
3

Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P20 11 -1 66704A
NON-PATENT LITERATURE
[0007]
[Non-Patent Literature 1] 5 Nick McKeown, et. al. "OpenFlow: Enabling Innovation in Campus
Networks," [online], [searched on February 14, 2012], the Internet

[Non-Patent Literature 2]
"OpenFlow Switch Specification" Version 1.1.0 Implemented (Wire 10 Protocol 0x02), [online], [searched on February 14, 2012], the Internet

[Non-Patent Literature 3]
"OpenFlow Switch Specification" Version 1.0.0 Implemented (Wire
Protocol 0x01), [online], [searched on February 14, 2012], the Internet 15
SUMMARY
TECHNICAL PROBLEM
[0008]
The following analysis is given by the present invention. In a 20 case where a plurality of OpenFlow controllers (referred to as "OFC"
hereinafter) manage an OpenFlow switch (referred to as "OFS"
hereinafter) as in Patent Literature 2, the OFCs must be synchronized
with each other as discussed in Paragraph 0035 in Patent Literature 2.
Patent Literature 2 describes synchronization performed by responding 25 to update instructions of the flow table, but in addition to this, the
OFCs must be synchronized by exchanging status information indicating
the operating status of own apparatus in a configuration in which a
plurality of active and standby OFCs operate.
[0009]
30 However, when a failure occurs in the network between the OFCs
and the communication is disconnected, the OFCs cannot exchange
information with each other and cannot be synchronized.
[0010]
In this regard, Patent Literature 2 only describes that path
4

information is forwarded to NW devices in subsequent stages via a particular NW device (corresponding to an OFS) or controller, and does not discuss the possibility of a network failure between the controllers. Further, what is exchanged without having the controllers communicate 5 with each other in Patent Literature 2 is a part of instructions to set path information. [0011]
It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication system, control apparatus, communication apparatus,
10 information-relaying method, and program providing communication means for exchanging information needed for interoperation between a plurality of control apparatuses. SOLUTION TO PROBLEM [0012]
15 According to a first aspect, there is provided a communication
system including a communication apparatus that processes a packet according to control information set by a control apparatus, a first control apparatus that controls the communication apparatus by setting the control information in the communication apparatus, and a second
20 control apparatus that operates in concert with the first control apparatus; and the first control apparatus transmits information necessary for interoperation between the first and second control apparatuses to the second control apparatus via the communication apparatus.
25 [0013]
According to a second aspect, there is provided a first control apparatus connected to a network including a communication apparatus that processes a packet according to control information set by a control apparatus and comprising control means for controlling the
30 communication apparatus by setting the control information in the communication apparatus, and information transmission means for transmitting information necessary for interoperation with a second control apparatus to the second control apparatus that operates in concert therewith via the communication apparatus.
5

[0014]
According to a third aspect, there is provided a second control apparatus connected to a network including a communication apparatus that processes a packet according to control information set by a control
5 apparatus, and a first control apparatus that controls the communication apparatus by setting the control information in the communication apparatus; and the second control apparatus comprises control means for controlling the communication apparatus by setting the control information in the communication apparatus and information receiving
0 means for receiving information necessary for interoperation with the first control apparatus from the first control apparatus via the communication apparatus, and operates in concert with the first control apparatus. [0015]
5 According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a communication
apparatus comprising means for receiving information necessary for interoperation between a plurality of control apparatuses from a control apparatus out of the plurality of control apparatuses that control the communication apparatus by setting the control information in the
0 communication apparatus, and means for transmitting information necessary for interoperation between the plurality of control apparatuses to the remaining control apparatuses of the plurality of control apparatuses. [0016]
5 According to a fifth aspect, there is provided an
information-relaying method in a network including a communication apparatus that processes a packet according to control information set by a control apparatus, a first control apparatus that controls the communication apparatus by setting the control information in the
0 communication apparatus, and a second control apparatus that operates in concert with the first control apparatus; and the information-relaying method includes a step of having the communication apparatus receive information necessary for interoperation between the first and second control apparatuses from the first control apparatus and a step of having
6

the communication apparatus forward the information necessary for
interoperation between the first and second control apparatuses to the
second control apparatus. The present method is tied to a particular
machine, which is the communication apparatus that processes a packet 5 according to control information set by a control apparatus.
[0017]
According to a sixth aspect, there is provided a computer program
that realizes the functions of the first and second control apparatuses
and the communication apparatus. Further, this program can be stored 10 in a computer-readable (non-transient) storage medium. In other
words, the present invention can be realized as a computer program
product.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION
[0018]
15 According to the present invention, there is provided means for
exchanging information necessary for interoperation between a
plurality of control apparatuses.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] 20 Fig. 1 is a drawing for explaining an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
Fig. 2 is a drawing for explaining an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
Fig. 3 is a drawing showing the configuration of a communication 25 system of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of each
apparatus in the communication system of the first exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a drawing showing the configuration of a synchronization 30 message exchanged between an OFC and OFS of the first exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a drawing for explaining the content of each field in the
synchronization message in Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the
7

communication system of the first exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
Fig. 8 is a drawing for explaining the operation of a communication
system of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 9 is a continuation diagram of Fig. 8.
Fig. 10 is a continuation diagram of Fig. 9.
Fig. 11 is a continuation diagram of Fig. 10.
Fig. 12 is a continuation diagram of Fig. 11.
Fig. 13 is a continuation diagram of Fig. 12.
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0020]
First, a summary of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be given with reference to the drawings. Note that drawing reference signs in the summary are given to each element for convenience as examples solely for facilitating understanding and the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. [0021]
As shown in Fig. 1, the present invention can be realized in an exemplary embodiment thereof by a configuration including first and second control apparatuses 30A and 30B that operate in concert with each other, and a communication apparatus 20 that processes a packet according to control information set by the first control apparatus 30A or the second control apparatus 30B. [0022]
More concretely, the first control apparatus 30A transmits information necessary for the interoperation between the first and second control apparatuses to the communication apparatus 20. The information necessary for the interoperation between the first and second control apparatuses may be the set status of information for controlling communication apparatuses or OFSs under management as in Patent Literature 2, or for instance status information ("30A = ACT" in Fig. 1) indicating that the first control apparatus is active and operating as shown in Fig. 1 .
8

[0023]
Then, as shown in Fig. 2, the communication apparatus 20 forwards the information necessary for the interoperation between the first and second control apparatuses to the second control apparatus 30B. 5 The second control apparatus 30B performs processing based on the received information necessary for the interoperation between the first and second control apparatuses. For instance, when receiving the set status of control information for communication apparatuses and OFSs under management, the second control apparatus 30 B updates the set
10 status of the control information for communication apparatuses and OFSs on the side thereof and synchronize it. Further, for instance, when receiving the status information ("30A = ACT" in Fig. 1), the second control apparatus 30B updates the status information of the first control apparatus 30A held on the side thereof.
15 [0024]
As described, without having the first and the second control apparatuses 30A and 30B directly exchange data, it is possible to exchange the information necessary for the interoperation therebetween. The reason is that the information necessary for the interoperation is
20 relayed via a communication apparatus to be controlled. Further, as the protocol in which the first control apparatus 30A instructs the communication apparatus 20 to transmit the information, this can be achieved by using a Packet-Out message of the OpenFlow protocol described in Non-Patent Literature 2 or a Vendor-defined message
25 described in Non-Patent Literature 3. [0025]
[Exemplary Embodiment 1]
Next, a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention applied to state synchronization between a plurality of OFCs will be described in
30 detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 3 is a drawing showing the configuration of a communication system of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 shows three OFCs (OFC_A, OFCB, and OFC_C) 31A to 31C that operate in concert with each other and an OFS 21 controlled by an active OFC out of the OFCs
9

31A to 31C. [0026]
Any one of the OFC_A 31A, OFC__B 31B, and OFC_C 31C operates as an active (ACT) OFC and controls the OFS 21. Further, the 5 other OFCs stand by as standbys (SBY). Further, the OFC_A 31A, OFCB 31B, and OFCC 31C are connected to a management network via a layer 2 switch (L2SW) 11. The OFC_A 31A, OFCB 31B, and OFCC 31C exchange synchronization messages and other control messages with the other OFCs via the management network.
10 Furthermore, when a failure occurs in the management network, the OFC_A 31A, OFCB 31B, and OFC_C 31C exchange synchronization messages and other control messages with the other OFCs via the OFS 21. In the example in Fig. 3, the OFC__A 31A operates as an active OFC (ACT) and the OFC_B 31B and the OFC_C 31C stand by (SBY).
15 [0027]
Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of each apparatuseshown in Fig. 3. With reference to Fig. 4, the OFC_A 31A comprises a status information storage unit 31 1A that stores operating states of the OFCs including itself, and a message
20 transmission/reception unit 312A that transmits/receives
synchronization messages including at least the operating state thereof to/from the other OFCs. Since the OFC_B 31B and the OFC_C 31C are configured identically to the OFC_A 31A, the explanation will be omitted.
25 [0028]
The OFS 21 comprises a message processing unit 211 that forwards a synchronization message to the other OFCs when receiving the synchronization message from the OFCs 31A to 31C, and a packet processing unit 212 that processes a received packet according to a flow
30 entry set by the OFCs 31A to 31C. Further, the message processing unit 211 also transmits/receives normal messages between the OFS and the OFCs such as a request (Packet-In) of setting a flow entry to an active (ACT) OFC, flow entry setting transmitted by an OFC, etc. Note that Figs. 3 and 4 only show one OFS, however, a plurality of OFSs
10

may be connected. [0029]
Further, the OFCs 31A to 31C and the OFS 21 can be realized by adding the message forwarding function to the OpenFlow controller and 5 the OpenFlow switch described in Non-Patent Literatures 1 to 3. [0030]
Further, each unit (processing means) of the OFCs 31A to 31C and the OFS 21 shown in Fig. 4 can be realized by a computer program that has a computer that constitutes these apparatuses execute each
10 processing described using the hardware thereof. [0031]
Fig. 5 is a drawing showing the configuration of the synchronization message exchanged between the OFCs 31A to 31C via the message processing unit 211 of the OFS 21. With reference to Fig.
15 5, a Vendor header and an OpenFlow header are added to a message main body. [0032]
Fig. 6 is a drawing for explaining the information in each header in Fig. 5. Version to Vendor fields of the OpenFlow header and the
20 Vendor header are configured according to the Vendor-defined message described in the "5.5.4 Vendor" section on page 41 of Non-Patent Literature 3. In the present exemplary embodiment, an identifier indicating a message system is stored in a Type 1 field of the Vendor header, and a message identifier representing a message type is stored
25 in a Type 2 field thereof. Further, in the message main body, a synchronization message body can be stored following the IP address of the source OFC and a layer-4 port number. [0033]
The message forwarding function via the OFS can be realized by
30 using the synchronization message shown in Figs. 5 and 6 without changing the basic configuration of OpenFlow in Non-Patent Literatures 2 and 3. Messages configured differently can certainly be used without being limited to the example in Figs. 5 and 6. For instance, in the example in Figs. 5 and 6, the destination OFC is not specified and a
11

message is forward to an OFC connected by the OFS, however, the source OFC may specify the destination OFC for a synchronization message. [0034]
5 Next, the operation of the present exemplary embodiment will be
described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 7 is a sequence
diagram showing the operation of the communication system of the first
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. When a
predetermined condition is met, such as when a synchronization
0 message cannot be transmitted over the management network due to a failure between the OFC_A 31 A and the L2SW 11 in Fig. 3, the OFC_A 31A transmits a synchronization message to the OFS 21 (step S001). [0035] Upon receiving the synchronization message, the OFS 21 checks the
5 header information thereof (step S002). More concretely, the OFS 21 inspects whether or not the received message is a synchronization message to which the specific headers (especially Types 1 and 2 of the Vendor header) shown in Figs. 5 and 6 are added. [0036]
0 When the result of the inspection indicates that the message is
not a synchronization message but a normal control message (for instance Flow-mod, Packet-Out, etc.) (No in step S003), the. OFS 21 performs processing according to the control message (step S004). [0037]
5 Meanwhile, when the result of the inspection confirms that the
message is a synchronization message (Yes in the step S003), the OFS 21 forwards the synchronization message to the OFC_B 31B and OFC_C 31C (step S005). If the connections to the OFC_B 31B and OFC_C 31C have not been established at the time of the step S005, the OFS 21 may
0 wait for the connections to the OFC_B 31B and OFC_C 31C to be established. [0038]
Upon receiving the synchronization message, the OFC_B 31B and OFC_C 31C updates the content of their own status information storage
12

units 3 11 B and 3 1 1 C, respectively (step S006). [0039]
As described, according to the present exemplary embodiment, it becomes possible to exchange the status information between the OFCs 5 31A to 31C via the OFS 21 even when a failure occurs in the network connecting the OFCs 31A to 31C. The reason is the configuration in which the OFCs 31A to 31C transmit a synchronization message to the OFS 21, and the OFS 21, which has received the message, forwards the synchronization message to the OFCs 31B and 31C, the rest of the OFCs
10 other than the OFC 31A, from which the synchronization message was received. [0040]
[Exemplary Embodiment 2] Next, described will be a second exemplary embodiment, in which an
15 active OFC is switched by interactively exchanging messages between the OFCs. Since the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be carried out in the same configuration as the first exemplary embodiment, the operational differences will be mainly described below. Further, in the explanation below, it is assumed that
20 the switching order (priority order) of the OFCs has been determined to be the OFC_A 31A, the OFC_B 31B, and the OFC_C 31C. [0041]
Figs. 8 to 13 are drawings for explaining the operation of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 shows a
25 state in which a failure occurs between the OFC_A 31A operating as an active system (ACT) and the L2SW 11 in the same configuration as Fig. 3 (step S201). Upon detecting the failure, the OFC_A 31A transmits a switch request message to the OFS 21 (step S202). This switch request message is a request from the OFC_A 31A operating as an active system
30 (ACT) to the other OFCs standing by to operate as an active system (ACT). Further, the switch request message can be configured similarly to the synchronization message shown in Figs. 5 and 6 (the message body, and if necessary the Type 1 and Type 2 fields of the Vendor header are changed).
13

[0042]
Having received the switch request message, the OFS 21 performs the same confirmation processing as the synchronization message confirmation in the first exemplary embodiment. When the message is 5 confirmed to be a switch request message as a result of the confirmation, the OFS 21 forwards the switch request message to non-source OFCs, i.e., the OFC_B 31B and the OFC_C 31C, as shown in Fig. 9 (step S203). [0043]
10 Upon receiving the switch request message, the OFC_B 31B
acknowledges to be next in the switch order (priority order) and creates a response message (31B: ACT__OK) notifying the OFCA 31A that it is able to operate as an active system (ACT). Since the management network is not working, the OFC_B 31B transmits the response message
15 to the OFS 21, the source oft he switch request message, as shown in Fig. 10 (step S204). [0044]
Having received the response message, the OFS 21 performs the same confirmation processing as the synchronization message
20 confirmation in the first exemplary embodiment. When the message is confirmed to be a response message as a result of the confirmation, the OFS 21 forwards the response message to non-source OFCs, i.e., the OFC_A 31A and the OFC_C 31C, as shown in Fig. 11 (step S205). [0045]
25 Upon receiving the response message, the OFC_A 31A confirms
that the OFC_B 31B can replace it and operate as an active system (ACT), and then transmits an acknowledgment message to the OFS 21 as shown in Fig. 12 (step S206). Further, the OFCA 31A switches the operation mode from active (ACT) to standby (SBY) (step S207).
30 [0046]
Having received the acknowledgment message (ACK), the OFS 21 performs the same confirmation processing as the synchronization message confirmation in the first exemplary embodiment. When the message is confirmed to be a acknowledgment message (ACK) as a
14

result of the confirmation, the OFS 21 forwards the response message [acknowledgment message?] to non-source OFCs, i.e., the OFCB 31B and the OFC_C 31C, as shown in Fig. 13 (step S208). Upon receiving the acknowledgment message (ACK), the OFC_B 31B switches the 5 operation mode from standby (SBY) to active (ACT) (step S209). The OFCB 31B operates as an active (ACT) OFC and controls the OFS 21 thereafter. Further, the OFCs 31A to 31C may exchange the synchronization message as in the first exemplary embodiment. [0047]
10 As described, the present invention can be applied not only to the
transmission of synchronization messages, but also to the interactive message exchanges between OFCs. Further, the present invention can be applied to transmission/reception of information necessary for interoperation between the OFCs without having the information
15 exchanged by OFCs limited to the switch request message. [0048]
The exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described above, however, the present invention is not limited to the above exemplary embodiments and further modifications, replacements,
20 and adjustments can be added within the scope of the basic technological concept of the present invention. For instance, the configurations in the exemplary embodiments above are based on OpenFlow of the Non-Patent Literatures 1 to 3, however, the present invention can be applied to any centralized control communication
25 system having a similar mechanism. [0049]
Further, the exemplary embodiments above were explained using the OFS in Non-Patent Literatures 2 and 3 as an example of the communication apparatus, however, any non-OFS apparatus may be used
30 as long as the apparatus can perform packet processing functions based on control information set by an OFC and the message forwarding function between OFCs described above. For instance, a mobile telephone terminal, smartphone, tablet terminal, personal computer, game device, and mobile router having a switch function that exchanges
15

packets with built-in applications may be used.
[0050]
Finally, preferred modes of the present invention will be
summarized. 5 [0051]
[Mode 1]
(Refer to the communication system according to the first aspect.)
[0052]
[Mode 2] 10 In the communication system according to Mode 1,
the information necessary for interoperation between the first and
second control apparatuses is status information that indicates an
operating status of the first control apparatus.
[0053] 15 [Mode 3]
In the communication system according to Mode 1 or 2,
the second control apparatus is a control apparatus that operates as a
standby system to the first control apparatus and the second control
apparatus starts to operate as an active system when receiving a 20 message requesting a switch to a standby system from the first control
apparatus via the communication apparatus.
[0054]
[Mode 4]
In the communication system according to any one of Modes 1 to 3, 25 the communication system is connected to the first and second control
apparatuses via a management network and starts communication via the
communication apparatus when a failure occurs in the management
network.
[0055] 30 [Mode 5]
In the communication system according to any one of Modes 1 to 4,
a plurality of control apparatuses that operate as standby systems to the
first control apparatus are connected, and a control apparatus ranked
high in a predetermined priority order out of the plurality of control
16

apparatuses starts to operate as an active system when receiving a message requesting a switch to a standby system from the first control apparatus via the communication apparatus.
0056]
Mode 6]
Refer to the first control apparatus according to the second aspect.)
0057]
Mode 7]
Refer to the second control apparatus according to the third aspect.)
0058]
Mode 8]
Refer to the communication apparatus according to the fourth aspect.)
0059]
Mode 9]
Refer to the information-relaying method according to the fifth aspect.)
0060]
Modes 10 to 12]
Refer to the program of each apparatus according to the sixth aspect.)
0061] Note that Modes 6 to 12 can be developed into Modes 2 to 5 as Mode 1. [0062]
Further, each disclosure of Patent Literatures and Non-Patent Literatures listed above is incorporated herein by reference thereto. It should be noted that other objects, features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent in the entire disclosure and that modifications may be done without departing the gist and scope of the present invention as disclosed herein and claimed as appended herewith. Also it should be noted that any combination of the disclosed and/or claimed elements, matters and/or items may fall under the modifications aforementioned. REFERENCE SIGNS LIST [0063] 11: layer 2 switch (L2SW)
17

20: communication apparatus 21: OFS
30A: first control apparatus 30B: second control apparatus 5 31A to 31C: OFCA, OFC_B, OFC__C 211: message processing unit 212: packet processing unit 3 1 1 A to 311C: status information storage unit 312A to 312C: message transmission/reception unit
18

WE CLAIM:
1. A communication system including:
a communication apparatus that processes a packet according to
control information set by a control apparatus;
5 a first control apparatus that controls said communication
apparatus by setting said control information in said communication apparatus;
a second control apparatus that operates in concert with said first
control apparatus; and
10 said first control apparatus transmitting information necessary
for interoperation between said first and second control apparatuses to said second control apparatus via said communication apparatus.
2. The communication system according to Claim 1, wherein said
information necessary for interoperation between said first and second
15 control apparatuses is status information that indicates an operating status of said first control apparatus.
3. The communication system according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein
said second control apparatus is a control apparatus that operates as a
standby system to said first control apparatus, and said second control
20 apparatus starts to operate as an active system when receiving a message requesting a switch to a standby system from said first control apparatus via said communication apparatus.
4. The communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3
connected to said first and second control apparatuses via a management
25 network, and starting communication via said communication apparatus when a failure occurs in said management network.
5. The communication system according to any one of Claims 1 to 4,
wherein a plurality of control apparatuses that operate as standby
systems to said first control apparatus are connected, and a control
30 apparatus ranked high in a predetermined priority order out of said plurality of control apparatuses starts to operate as an active system when receiving a message requesting a switch to a standby system from said first control apparatus via said communication apparatus.
19

6. A first control apparatus connected to a network including a
communication apparatus that processes a packet according to control
information set by a control apparatus, said first control apparatus
comprising:
5 control means for controlling said communication apparatus by
setting said control information in said communication apparatus; and
information transmission means for transmitting information necessary for interoperation with a second control apparatus to said second control apparatus that operates in concert therewith via said 10 communication apparatus.
7. A second control apparatus connected to a network including:
a communication apparatus that processes a packet according to control information set by a control apparatus; and
a first control apparatus that controls said communication 15 apparatus by setting said control information in said communication apparatus, said second control apparatus comprising:
control means for controlling said communication apparatus by setting said control information in said communication apparatus; and
information receiving means for receiving information necessary 20 for interoperation with said first control apparatus from said first control apparatus via said communication apparatus, and
operating in concert with said first control apparatus.
8. A communication apparatus comprising:
means for receiving information necessary for interoperation
25 between a plurality of control apparatuses from a control apparatus out
of said plurality of control apparatuses that control said communication
apparatus by setting said control information in said communication
apparatus; and
means for transmitting information necessary for interoperation 30 between said plurality of control apparatuses to the remaining control apparatuses of said plurality of control apparatuses.
9. An information-relaying method in a network including:
a communication apparatus that processes a packet according to
20

control information set by a control apparatus;
a first control apparatus that controls said communication apparatus by setting said control information in said communication apparatus; and
5 a second control apparatus that operates in concert with said first
control apparatus, said information-relaying method including:
a step of having said communication apparatus receive information necessary for interoperation between said first and second control apparatuses from said first control apparatus; and
0 a step of having said communication apparatus forward said
information necessary for interoperation between said first and second control apparatuses to said second control apparatus.
10. A program executed by a computer built into a communication apparatus that processes a packet according to control information set
5 by a control apparatus, said program executing:
a process of receiving information necessary for interoperation between a plurality of control apparatuses from a control apparatus out of said plurality of control apparatuses that control said communication apparatus by setting said control information in said communication
0 apparatus; and
a process of transmitting said information necessary for interoperation between said plurality of control apparatuses to the remaining control apparatuses of said plurality of control apparatuses.
5 Dated this 20th day of August 2014
Of Anand and Anand Advocates Agent for the Applicant
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