JP2007281801A - Information processor, control method of computer, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To decide the most optimal packet size of transmit data to a target network address. <P>SOLUTION: An information processor 10 is characterized to include: a discrimination means which transmits test data which specifies a packet size to at least one address, discriminates whether the data of the packet size can reach the address or not by an answer for the test data; a repeating execution means which changes the packet size specified to the test data according to the discrimination result by the discrimination means, and makes the discrimination means repeatedly execute the discrimination; and an optimum value determination means which decides the optimal value of the packet size out of packet sizes specified to the data which can reach to the address based on the discrimination result by the discrimination means repeatedly executed by the repeating execution means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a computer control method, and a program, and more particularly to a technique for selecting an optimum packet size for data communication.

  One method for improving the communication speed is to increase the data packet size for communication. However, some communication devices do not support large packet sizes. If there is a device that does not support such a large packet size in the data communication path, communication cannot be performed normally.

Therefore, conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, a method of acquiring in advance data indicating which size of a packet is supported for each communication device and determining a packet size used for communication Has been proposed.
JP 2004-356854 A

  However, the conventional technique requires a function of responding information indicating a packet size that can be relayed by a repeater such as a hub or router in the data communication path. For this reason, the conventional technique cannot be used for an apparatus that does not have the above function.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and the object thereof is to target devices without examining in advance which packet size corresponds to each device in the middle of the data communication path. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus, a computer control method, and a program capable of determining an optimal packet size for the computer.

  In order to solve the above problems, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention transmits test data in which a packet size is specified for at least one address, and the data of the packet size reaches the address by a response to the test data. A determination unit that determines whether or not it is possible; a repetitive execution unit that repeatedly executes a determination by the determination unit by changing a packet size specified in the test data according to a determination result by the determination unit; And an optimum value determining means for determining an optimum value out of the packet sizes specified for the data that can reach the address, based on the determination result by the determining means repeatedly executed by the executing means. .

  Also, a control method of a computer according to the present invention (for example, a printer, a personal computer, a server computer, etc., the same shall apply hereinafter) transmits test data in which a packet size is specified for at least one address, A determination step of determining whether or not the data of the packet size can reach the address according to the response; and changing the packet size specified in the test data according to a determination result of the determination step; An optimum value is determined out of the packet sizes designated for the data that can reach the address, based on the iterative processing step for repeatedly processing the judgment by the step, and the judgment result by the judgment step repeatedly executed by the iterative processing step. Optimal value determination step Characterized in that it comprises a and.

  In addition, the program for causing the computer to function according to the present invention transmits test data specifying a packet size to at least one address, and whether the data of the packet size can reach the address by a response to the test data. A determination unit that determines whether or not, a repetitive execution unit that changes the packet size specified in the test data according to a determination result by the determination unit, and repeatedly processes the determination by the determination unit; and the repetitive execution unit Is a program for causing a computer to function as an optimum value determining means for determining an optimum value among packet sizes specified for data reachable to the address, based on the determination result by the determining means repeatedly executed by . The program may be stored in a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory), a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk-Read Only Memory), a memory card, or any other computer-readable information storage medium.

  In the aspect of the invention, the optimum value determining unit may determine the largest packet size specified as data reaching the address as the optimum value.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the determination unit further includes a measurement unit that measures a communication speed based on a time from when the test data is transmitted to the address until there is a response to the test data, The optimum value determining unit is configured to determine the packet size specified for the data that can reach the address based on the determination result by the determining unit repeatedly executed by the repeated executing unit and the communication speed measured by the measuring unit. Of these, the one having the fastest communication speed is determined as the optimum value.

  Further, in one aspect of the present invention, when it is determined that the repeat execution unit is reachable by the determination unit, the packet size specified in the test data is increased and the determination unit is not reachable. When the determination is made, the packet size specified for the test data is reduced, and the determination by the determination means is repeatedly executed.

  Further, in one aspect of the present invention, the determination by the determination unit is repeatedly performed by the repetitive execution unit every time it is detected that a predetermined event has occurred and / or every time a preset time interval elapses. The optimum value is determined by the optimum value determining means among packet sizes designated for data that can reach the address.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus further includes storage means for storing an optimum value of the packet size determined by the optimum value determination means in association with the address, and the repetitive execution means is stored in the storage means. The optimum value of the packet size is designated as the initial value of the test data, and the judgment by the judging means is repeatedly executed.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of a network system including an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the network system 1 includes an information processing apparatus 10, a hub 12, a network printer 14, a local area network 20, a router 30, a local area network 40 and a network printer 42.

  The information processing apparatus 10 is connected to the local area network 20 via the hub 12. A network printer 14 is connected to the local area network 20. The local area network 20 and the local area network 40 are connected via the router 30. A network printer 42 is connected to the local area network 40.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the information processing apparatus 10 communicates with the network printer 14 and the network printer 42, the communication paths are different. Therefore, when the information processing apparatus 10 communicates with each network printer, the information processing apparatus 10 performs communication with a packet size suitable for each communication path, thereby improving the communication speed. In the present embodiment, in order to improve the communication speed, the maximum packet size that can be communicated on the communication path is obtained, and this is set as the optimum packet size.

  A configuration provided for optimizing the packet size of data transmitted by the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration diagram of the information processing apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 10 physically includes a processor 100, a memory 102, a network interface controller 104 (hereinafter referred to as a NIC 104), a graphic interface 106, and a medium reading device 108. Each unit is connected to be communicable with each other via the bus 110.

  The processor 100 controls each unit of the information processing apparatus 10 based on an operating system stored in a ROM or hard disk (not shown), and a program read from an information storage medium stored in the memory 102 and the medium reader 108. In addition, a program and data are written in the memory 102 as necessary, and are also used for the operation of the processor 100.

  The NIC 104 is a communication card for connecting to a network. The NIC 104 may perform wired communication or wireless communication. The NIC 104 may be based on the Ethernet (registered trademark) standard.

  The graphic interface 106 includes a video memory, and transfers image data created in the video memory to the display 112. On the display 112, an image is drawn on the screen based on the transferred image data. The display 112 may be a CRT or a liquid crystal display externally connected to the information processing apparatus 10, or may be a display included in the same casing as the information processing apparatus 10.

  The medium reader 108 receives a computer-readable information storage medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM, and reads a program stored in the medium. The program read in this way is executed by the processor 100.

  FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of the information processing apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the information processing apparatus 10 functionally includes a transmission / reception unit 200, a control unit 202, a network information storage unit 204, a packet size information storage unit 206, a packet size confirmation instruction unit 208, an optimal packet size. A determination unit 210 and an alarm output unit 212 are included. Hereinafter, each part will be described in detail. These functions are realized by a program stored in a computer-readable information storage medium being read into the information processing apparatus 10 which is a computer system using the medium reading apparatus 108 and executed by the information processing apparatus 10. It is good also as what is done.

  The transmission / reception unit 200 has a function of transmitting / receiving data. The transmission / reception unit 200 is a function realized by the NIC 104 of the information processing apparatus 10. The transmission / reception unit 200 transmits a packet issued by a command such as ping or UDP / IP of the information processing apparatus 10, and receives a response packet for the transmitted test data.

  The control unit 202 has a function of controlling operations of physical hardware of the information processing apparatus 10 to control each function of the information processing apparatus 10, control timing of processing executed by each function, and the like. The control unit 202 is a function realized by the processor 100, the memory 102, and the operating system of the information processing apparatus 10.

  The network information storage unit 204 has a function of storing network information. The network information storage unit 204 is a function realized by the memory 102 of the information processing apparatus 10. The network information includes information such as table information in which host names and IP addresses are associated with each other and a routing table. The processor 100 refers to the network information stored on the memory 102 and acquires an IP address with the target host.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of network information stored in the network information storage unit 204. As shown in FIG. 4, a host and an IP address are stored in association with each other as network information. In this embodiment, the network of the local area network 20 is 192.168.1.0/255.255.255.0, and the network of the local area network 40 is 192.168.2.0/255.255.255. .0. The IP address of each host is as shown in FIG. In addition, since the router 30 is connected to both networks, each network has an IP address.

  The packet size information storage unit 206 has a function of storing information related to the packet size used when transmitting to each address in association with each address. The packet size information storage unit 206 is a function realized by the memory 102 of the information processing apparatus 10. Hereinafter, packet size information will be described using a specific example.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of packet size information. As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, as the packet size information, the set packet size, date / time, presence / absence of a confirmation history, and maximum packet size are stored in association with the IP address. The set packet size is a value of the currently set packet size when data is transmitted to each IP address. The date and time indicates the date and time when the packet size confirmation process was last performed. The presence / absence of the confirmation history indicates whether or not packet size confirmation processing has been performed so far. The maximum packet size is the maximum packet size value that can be transmitted to each IP address. In the present embodiment, the above items are stored in association with the IP address, but the address is not limited to the IP address, and may be a MAC address.

The packet size confirmation instruction unit 208 has a function for the information processing apparatus 10 to instruct new acquisition or update of information stored in the packet size information storage unit 206. The packet size confirmation instruction unit 208 instructs to update the stored contents of the packet size information storage unit 206 to the optimum value of the packet size determined by the optimal packet size determination unit 210 at a predetermined timing. The timing for instructing the confirmation of the packet size is exemplified below, but is not limited thereto.
(1) Timing at which the information processing apparatus 10 is activated (2) Timing at which a time interval preset by the user elapses (3) Timing before data transmission (4) Timing at which a predetermined operation is performed by the user (5 ) Timing of detecting that a communication error has occurred

  The optimal packet size determination unit 210 has a function of determining an optimal value among packet sizes specified for data that can reach the target address. Assume that the target address is at least one of the addresses stored in the network information. The optimal packet size determination unit 210 includes a communication determination unit 214 and a repetition determination unit 216, and realizes an optimal value of the packet size for each target address by the processing described below.

  The communication determination unit 214 has a function of transmitting test data in which a packet size is specified for an address, and determining whether or not the data of the packet size can reach the address by a response to the test data. The communication determination unit 214 includes a packet size setting unit 214A, a test data generation unit 214B, and a response determination unit 214C. Hereinafter, each part will be described in detail.

  The packet size setting unit 214A has a function of setting the packet size of test data to be transmitted to the target address. In the present embodiment, as a settable packet size, for example, a list of sizes such as 1.5 KB, 4 KB, 8 KB, 12 KB, and 16 KB is provided. In this case, the lower limit value of the packet size is 1.5 KB, and the upper limit value is 16 KB. The list of packet sizes is not limited to the above example.

  The packet size setting unit 214A refers to the stored contents of the packet size information storage unit 206 and sets the initial value of the packet size. The setting process of the initial value of the packet size is performed as follows using the hardware of the information processing apparatus 10.

  The processor 100 of the information processing apparatus 10 accesses the packet size information stored on the memory 102 and refers to the flag value of “presence / absence of confirmation history” corresponding to the target address. If this flag value is ON, the value of the currently set packet size is acquired, and this value is set as the initial value of the packet size. If the flag value is OFF, a lower limit value of the packet size (1.5 KB in this embodiment) is set as an initial value.

  Then, the packet size setting unit 214A sets the packet size while updating the packet size according to the determination result by the repetition determination unit 216 described below.

  The test data generation unit 214B has a function of generating test data having the packet size set by the packet size setting unit 214A. In the present embodiment, the test data is an ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) packet.

  The response determination unit 214C has a function of transmitting the test data generated by the test data generation unit 214B to the target address and determining whether the test data has arrived based on a response to the test data.

  Note that the communication determination unit 214 may be realized by, for example, a command ping that operates on a general PC. The packet size can be specified by giving it to ping as an argument.

  The repetition determination unit 216 has a function of determining whether to repeatedly execute the determination by the communication determination unit 214 by changing the packet size specified in the test data according to the determination result by the communication determination unit 214. The repetition determination unit 216 repeatedly executes the determination by the communication determination unit 214 based on the following determination criteria. Hereinafter, the case where the communication determination unit 214 determines that the test data has reached the target address and the case where it is not performed will be described separately.

  If the communication determining unit 214 determines that the test data has arrived, it further determines whether or not the packet size specified in the test data is the upper limit value of the packet list. If it is not the upper limit value of the packet list, the packet size specified in the communication determining unit 214 is changed to one larger, and the determination by the communication determining unit 214 is repeatedly executed. On the other hand, if it is the upper limit value of the packet list, the iterative process is terminated.

  When the communication determining unit 214 determines that the test data has not arrived, the packet size of the test data is the lower limit value of the packet list, or the communication determination is made immediately before the test data. It is determined whether the test data has reached the target address. If none of the above results in the determination, the packet size specified in the communication determination unit 214 is changed to a one-step smaller size, and the determination by the communication determination unit 214 is repeatedly executed. On the other hand, if any of the conditions is satisfied by the above determination, the iterative process is terminated.

  The alarm output unit 212 has a function of notifying the user of a warning based on the determination result by the repeated determination unit 216. The alarm output unit 212 is a function realized by including the display 112 of the information processing apparatus 10. The alarm output unit 212 indicates that there is a possibility of a network failure when the communication determining unit 214 determines that the test data packet size is at the lower limit and the test data has not reached the target address. Information is output to the display 112.

  The details of the operation related to the optimum packet size determination process in the information processing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the optimum packet size determination process in the information processing apparatus 10. As illustrated in FIG. 6, when the information processing apparatus 10 starts the packet size confirmation process, the information processing apparatus 10 sets a target address (S101). All addresses indicated in the network information may be set as target addresses, or a part thereof may be set as target addresses. Then, the information processing apparatus 10 refers to the packet size information stored on the memory 102 for the target address, and determines whether there is a history of packet size confirmation processing for the target address (S102). If it is determined that there is a history (S102; Y), an upper limit value of the packet size stored as history is set as the initial value of the packet size of the test data transmitted to the target address (S103). On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no history (S102; N), the lower limit value of the packet size list is set as the packet size value (S104).

  Next, the information processing apparatus 10 transmits test data specifying the packet size set in the target address (S105). Then, it is determined whether or not the test data has arrived based on a response from the target address to the transmitted test data (S106). If it is determined that the packet has reached (S106; Y), it is further determined whether or not the packet size of the test data is the upper limit size (S107). If it is determined that the size is the upper limit size (S017; Y), the upper limit size is stored in the memory 102 as the optimum value of the packet size (S108), and the process ends. If it is determined in S107 that the packet size is not the upper limit (S107; N), the packet size is increased by one step (S109), and the process returns to S105 and is repeated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S106 that there is no response to the test data transmitted within a predetermined time and the test data has not arrived (S106; N), whether the test data packet size is the lower limit. It is determined whether or not (S110). If it is determined that the packet size is not the lower limit (S110; N), it is further determined whether or not the immediately preceding test data has reached the target address (S111). If it is determined that the immediately preceding test data has arrived (S111; Y), the packet size specified in the immediately preceding test data is stored (S112). On the other hand, if it is determined in S111 that the previous test data has not arrived (S111; N), the packet size is decreased by one step (S113), and the process returns to S105 and is repeated.

  If it is determined in S110 that the packet size is the lower limit (S110; Y), since data cannot reach the target address, an alarm to that effect is displayed on the display 112 (S114). The process ends.

  According to the information processing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, a target address can be obtained without checking in advance which packet size corresponds to each device in the middle of the data communication path. The maximum packet size that can be reached can be determined.

  Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the packet with the fastest communication speed is set as the optimum packet size. The configuration provided in the information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described below. Note that the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 7 shows a functional block diagram of the information processing apparatus 11 according to the second embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the information processing apparatus 11 functionally includes a transmission / reception unit 200, a control unit 202, a network information storage unit 204, a packet size information storage unit 206, a packet size confirmation instruction unit 208, and a communication determination unit. 214, a repeat determination unit 216 and an alarm output unit 212 are included. Since the functional blocks denoted by the same reference numerals in the functional blocks shown in FIG. 7 and the functional blocks shown in FIG. 3 have the same functions, description thereof will be omitted below. Hereinafter, a communication speed measurement unit 214D newly added to the communication determination unit 214 in the second embodiment will be described.

  The communication speed measurement unit 214D has a function of measuring the communication speed based on the time from when the test data is transmitted to the target address until there is a response to the test data. The communication speed measuring unit 214D can obtain the communication speed as follows. For example, the response time after transmitting the test data by the ping command is measured. Then, the communication speed is obtained by dividing the packet size of the test data by the response time measured previously.

  In the information processing apparatus 11 according to the second embodiment, the communication speed is obtained for each packet size, and the fastest packet size is stored as the optimum packet size.

  Hereinafter, details of operations related to processing in the information processing apparatus 11 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart regarding the optimum packet size determination process of the information processing apparatus 11 according to the second embodiment. The information processing apparatus 11 sets a target address (S201). Then, referring to the packet size setting information stored in the memory 102, the maximum packet size value that can reach the target address is set as the initial value of the packet size of the test data transmitted to the target address (S202). ). The process for obtaining the maximum packet size can be performed by the method described in the first embodiment. Then, the test data specifying the set packet size is transmitted to the target address (S203), and the communication speed is measured based on the response time for the test data (S204). Next, it is determined whether the packet size of the test data is the minimum packet size (S205). If it is determined that the packet size is not the minimum (S205; N), the packet size is updated by reducing the packet size by one step (S206), and the process returns to step S203 to repeatedly measure the communication speed. On the other hand, when it is determined in S205 that the packet size is the minimum (S205; Y), the packet size with the fastest communication speed is stored (S207), and the process is terminated.

  According to the information processing apparatus 11 according to the second embodiment of the present invention described above, it is possible to check the target size without checking in advance which packet size corresponds to each device in the middle of the data communication path. Among the packet sizes that can reach the address to be transmitted, the packet speed with the fastest communication speed can be determined.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, when determining whether or not the test data has reached the target address, a plurality of packets may be transmitted at a predetermined interval, and the determination may be made based on their responses.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a network system including an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a hardware block diagram of information processing apparatus. It is a functional block diagram of an information processor. It is a figure which shows an example of network information. It is a figure which shows an example of packet size information. It is a flowchart of the determination process of the optimal packet size of information processing apparatus. It is a functional block diagram of the information processing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the determination process of the optimal packet size of the information processing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network system 10,11 Information processing apparatus, 12 Hub, 14 Network printer, 20 Local area network, 30 Router, 40 Local area network, 42 Network printer, 100 Processor, 102 Memory, 104 NIC, 106 Graphic interface, 108 Medium Reading device, 110 bus, 112 display, 200 transmission / reception unit, 202 control unit, 204 network information storage unit, 206 packet size information storage unit, 208 packet size confirmation instruction unit, 210 optimum packet size determination unit, 212 alarm output unit, 214 Communication determination unit, 214A packet size setting unit, 214B test data generation unit, 214C response determination unit, 214D communication speed measurement unit, 216 iteration Determining unit to.

Claims (8)

Determining means for transmitting test data designating a packet size to at least one address and determining whether or not the data of the packet size can reach the address by a response to the test data;
Repetitive execution means for changing the packet size designated in the test data according to the determination result by the determination means and repeatedly executing the determination by the determination means;
An optimum value determining means for determining an optimum value out of the packet sizes specified for the data that can reach the address, based on the determination result by the determining means repeatedly executed by the repeated execution means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optimum value determining unit determines the largest packet size designated as data reachable to the address as an optimum value. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The determination unit further includes a measurement unit that measures a communication speed based on a time from when the test data is transmitted to the address until there is a response to the test data,
The optimum value determining means includes
Based on the determination result by the determination means repeatedly executed by the repeated execution means and the communication speed measured by the measurement means, the communication speed is the fastest among the packet sizes specified for the data that can reach the address. An information processing apparatus characterized in that an object is determined as an optimum value. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The repetition execution means increases the packet size specified in the test data when it is determined that the determination means is reachable, and when it is determined that the determination means is not reachable, the test An information processing apparatus, wherein a packet size specified for data is reduced, and the determination by the determination means is repeatedly executed. An information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The optimum value determination unit is configured to repeatedly execute the determination by the determination unit by the repetition execution unit every time it detects that a predetermined event has occurred or / and every time a preset time interval elapses. An optimal value is determined from among the packet sizes specified for the data that can reach the address. An information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A storage unit configured to store an optimum value of the packet size determined by the optimum value determination unit in association with the address; and the repetitive execution unit sets the optimum value of the packet size stored in the storage unit of the test data. An information processing apparatus characterized by specifying an initial value and repeatedly executing the determination by the determination means. A determination step of transmitting test data designating a packet size to at least one address and determining whether or not the data of the packet size can reach the address by a response to the test data;
In accordance with the determination result in the determination step, the packet size specified for the test data is changed, and the repetition processing step for repeatedly processing the determination in the determination step;
An optimum value determining step for determining an optimum value among packet sizes designated for data that can reach the address, based on a determination result by the determination step that is repeatedly executed by the repetition processing step;
A computer control method comprising: Determining means for transmitting test data designating a packet size to at least one address and determining whether or not the data of the packet size can reach the address by a response to the test data;
Repetitive execution means for changing the packet size designated in the test data according to the determination result by the determination means, and repeatedly processing the determination by the determination means; and
An optimum value determining means for determining an optimum value out of the packet sizes specified for the data that can reach the address, based on the determination result by the determining means repeatedly executed by the repeated execution means;
As a program to make the computer function.

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