JP2011004057A - Call control system, communication repeater, communication apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a call control system which enhances the implementation accuracy of communication path release while reducing the network traffic by storing the information of a partner device in the connected communication path in a communication apparatus.SOLUTION: The call control system is equipped with: a communication apparatus 10 equipped with a communication path release signal generation unit 12 which, under control of a signal control unit 14, generates a communication path release signal including the IP address information of a communication apparatus 30 for communication path connection; a communication relay means (MGCF) 20 equipped with a storage unit 22 which, under control of a signal control unit 25, stores the IP address information and the port information of the communication apparatus 30 for communication path connection in the line information 22a when the communication path is connected; a port information extraction unit 23 which extracts the port information based on the IP address information included in the communication path release signal; and a communication path release unit 24 which releases a connected communication path based on the port information. Highly precise communication path release is performed by deducing the port number from the IP address information of the communication path release signal and reducing the traffic of the communication path release signal.

Description

  The present invention relates to a call control system that performs call control between communication apparatuses, and more particularly, to a call control system that performs highly accurate call control by managing line information associated with line address information.

  Due to the rapid spread of mobile phones in recent years, the number of mobile phone subscribers is approaching the ratio of one user per person. Therefore, it is necessary for carriers to plan facilities that can withstand high traffic due to an increase in the number of subscribers per system to be provided. Considering a system design that handles bursty large-scale traffic, the configuration exceeds 10,000 calls. May be taken. Here, 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) architecture related to the specifications of the third generation mobile phone (3G) system is used for the mobile phone in recent years. In the 3GPP architecture, when the ATM network and the IP network are interconnected by a gateway, protocols called IP-ALCAP and ALCAP are used. In IP-ALCAP and ALCAP, control plane (C-PLANE) message control and user plane (U-PLANE) between RNCs (Radio Network Controllers) for handover communication paths (communication paths) ) Protocol for requesting acquisition. Here, the control plane (C-PLANE) exchanges data related to call connection, and the user plane (U-PLANE) exchanges normal communication data.

The communication path set by the protocol is normally released by transmitting / receiving a REL (Release Request) signal. Further, when a communication path and related resources are collectively released due to apparatus restart or an internal abnormality, the communication path and related resources are released by transmitting and receiving a RES (Reset Request) signal and an RSC (Reset Confirm Message) signal. It is recommended that the RES signal should be transmitted with a combination of IP (Internet Protocol) address and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) port number (IPTA) specified for each communication path or with all communication paths specified (no IPTA specified). It has been. In addition, the node that has received the RES signal specifies the corresponding communication path in the case of IPTA designation according to the Q2631 recommendation, and in the case of all communication path designation (no IPTA designation), all the nodes managed by the receiving node are specified. Release the communication path. There are cases where a plurality of call control systems (servers / logical servers) are installed in the server configuration of the node. Under this environment, if all call control systems specify individual communication paths (no IPTA specification) when an individual failure occurs, the communication path controlled by the call control system in which no failure has occurred is also released. Is concerned. For this reason, communication path resources cannot be released if all communication paths are specified (IPTA is not specified). (Assuming that there are call control systems (servers) A, B, and C in the node. Even if call control system (server) A encounters a failure, call control systems (servers) B and C are in a normal state. Therefore, it is necessary to release only the communication path and related resources managed by the call control system (server) A. In this case, the call control systems (servers) B and C must be set when all communication paths are specified (IPTA is not specified). (The communication path is also released.)
When a failure occurs during operation with high network load, it is necessary to send and receive multiple RES / RSC signals by specifying the IP address and UDP port number (IPTA) to release the connected communication path As a result, network traffic rapidly increases.

  A conventional call control system has a technique for transmitting a restart notification packet when a restart process is executed, and releasing a communication path related to the transmission side on the receiving side based on the restart notification packet (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-172454

  However, since the conventional call control system does not have information for identifying the communication path to be released, all the communication paths related to the transmission side are released by the restart notification packet, so that the network traffic is rapidly increased. Have. In addition, since the conventional call control system has no information for identifying a communication path to be released, there is a problem of service degradation that a communication path not corresponding to a failure is also released.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and by storing information on a partner device in a connected communication path in the communication device, call control that improves the implementation accuracy of communication path release while suppressing network traffic. The purpose is to provide a system.

  In the call control system disclosed in the present application, a communication device generates a communication path release signal including IP address information of a communication line connected to the communication path. In the call control system disclosed in the present application, the communication relay unit stores the IP address information and the port information of the communication path connection line when the communication path is connected, and the port information based on the IP address information included in the communication path release signal. And the connected communication path is released based on the port information.

  Since the call control system disclosed in the present application can determine the port number for releasing the communication path from the IP address information included in the communication path release signal, the communication amount of the communication path release signal can be reduced, and the network traffic can be suppressed while suppressing the network traffic. Accurate communication path release can be implemented.

1 is a block diagram of a call control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Data example and system configuration diagram of call control system according to first embodiment of the present invention The flowchart at the time of communication path connection of the call control system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention The flowchart at the time of communication path release of the call control system according to the first embodiment of the present invention FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram of the call control system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, the call control system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a call control system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a data example and system configuration diagram of the call control system described in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is this diagram 1 is a flowchart when the communication path of the call control system described in FIG. 1 is connected, FIG. 4 is a flowchart when the communication path of the call control system described in FIG. 1 is released, and FIG. 5 is a call control system described in FIG. The sequence diagram of is shown.

  In FIG. 1, the call control system according to the present embodiment includes a communication device 10, a communication device 30 having the same configuration as the communication device 10, and a communication relay unit (MGCF) 20. The communication device 10 includes a transmission / reception unit 11, a communication path release signal generation unit 12, a communication path connection signal generation unit 13, and a signal control unit 14. In the call control system according to the present embodiment, the communication relay means (MGCF) 20 includes a transmission / reception unit 21, a storage unit 22, a line information 22a, a port information extraction unit 23, a communication path release unit 24, A signal control unit 25 and a data processing unit 26 are provided.

  The transmission / reception unit 11 and the transmission / reception unit 21 transmit and receive signals between the communication device 10 and the communication relay unit (MGCF) 20, respectively. The communication path release signal generation unit 12 generates the above-described RES / RSC signal as a communication path release signal including the IP address information of the communication line targeted for communication path release when releasing the connected communication path. . The communication path connection signal generation unit 13 also connects an ERQ (Establish Request) signal or ECF (Establish) as a communication path connection signal including the IP address information of the communication path to be connected when a new communication path is connected. (Confirm) signal is generated. The signal control unit 14 controls distribution of the signal received by the transmission / reception unit 11 to each functional unit.

  The storage unit 22 also receives the IP address information and the port of the communication device 30 to be connected to the communication path based on the ERQ signal or ECF signal as the communication path connection signal from the communication device 10 received by the transmission / reception unit 21. Information is stored in the line information 22a. Further, the port information extraction unit 23 receives the IP address information based on the IP address information of the communication path to be released from the communication path release target included in the RES signal or RSC signal as the communication path release signal received by the transmission / reception unit 21. The port information associated with is extracted from the storage unit 22. The communication path release unit 24 releases the connected communication path based on the port information extracted by the port information extraction unit 23.

  The signal control unit 25 controls distribution of the signal received by the transmission / reception unit 21 to each functional unit. Further, the data processing unit 26 performs data editing processing on U-PLANE and C-PLANE on the signal received by the transmitting / receiving unit 21. In the call control system according to the present embodiment, the communication device 30 has the same configuration as that of the communication device 10, and the transmission / reception unit 31, the communication path release signal generation unit 32, the communication path connection signal generation unit 33, and the like. And a signal control unit 34. The transmission / reception unit 31, the communication path release signal generation unit 32, the communication path connection signal generation unit 33, and the signal control unit 34 are respectively the transmission / reception unit 11, the communication path release signal generation unit 12, and the communication path connection described above. The signal generation unit 13 and the signal control unit 14 have the same functions.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the line information 22a includes an instance ID item, an IP address item, a UDP port number (IPTA) item, a signal information item, and a signal control information item. This instance ID item indicates an instance ID number that is an ID number for uniquely identifying a communication path. The IP address item indicates an IP address in a communication path corresponding to the instance ID number. The UDP port number (IPTA) item indicates the UDP port number in the communication path corresponding to the instance ID number. This signal information item indicates information including various identifiers related to the signal corresponding to the instance ID number. The signal control information item indicates information related to signal control corresponding to the instance ID number.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the call control system disclosed in the present application includes an IP-RNC 10A included in the communication device 10, an RNC 30A included in the communication device 30, and a Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF). 20, an IP network 100, and an ATM network 200. The IP-RNC 10A is an RNC (Radio Network Controller; base station controller) that performs communication by the above-described IP-ALCAP via an IP (Internet Protocol) network 100. The RNC 30A is an RNC that performs communication using the above-described ALCAP via an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) network 200. Further, the MGCF 20 is an example of the communication relay means (MGCF) 20, performs protocol control of IP-ALCAP (conforms to Q2631 recommendation), relays network communication between the IP network 100 and the ATM network 200, and It is a gateway server that handles voice and data communication between two networks.

The operation of the call control system according to this embodiment based on the above configuration will be described below.
First, the IP-RNC 10A uses the transmitter / receiver 11 to transmit the ERQ signal generated by the communication path connection signal generator 13 for connection of a communication path (handover path) according to an instruction from the signal controller 14. Send to MGCF20. As shown in FIG. 3, the MGCF 20 receives the ERQ signal at the transmitting / receiving unit 21 (S1).

  The transmission / reception unit 21 notifies the signal control unit 25 of reception of this ERQ signal (S2). Here, the signal control unit 25 may normalize the received ERQ signal as necessary. Specifically, this normalization includes, for example, converting binary data into text data and converting variable length data into fixed length data. The signal control unit 25 determines that the received signal is an ERQ signal, and instructs the storage unit 22 to store the IP address and UDP port number (IPTA) included in the ERQ signal in the line information 22a. (S3).

  The signal control unit 25 instructs the storage unit 22 to store the signal information and signal control information included in the ERQ signal in the line information 22a (S3). The data processing unit 26 performs U-Plane connection according to an instruction from the signal control unit 25 (S4). The signal control unit 25 causes the data processing unit 26 to generate an ECF signal and causes the transmission / reception unit 21 to transmit the ECF signal (S4). As described above, when the communication path is connected, the MGCF 20 stores the IP address and UDP port number (IPTA) of the IP-RNC 10A that requested the communication path connection in the line information 22a.

  Next, the IP-RNC 10A transmits the RES signal generated by the communication path release signal generation unit 12 to release the handover path according to the instruction of the signal control unit 14 to the MGCF 20 by the transmission / reception unit 11. Here, the communication path release signal generation unit 12 sets the transmission unit of the RES signal with an IPTA setting pattern in which the IP address is specified (the UDP port number is fixed (ignored (NULL))).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the MGCF 20 receives the RES signal at the transmitting / receiving unit 21 (S11). The transmission / reception unit 21 notifies the signal control unit 25 of reception of this RES signal (S12). Here, the signal control unit 25 may normalize the received RES signal as necessary.

 The signal control unit 25 determines that the received signal is a RES signal, and instructs the port information extraction unit 23 to extract the UDP port number from the line information 22a stored in the storage unit 22. . The port information extraction unit 23 extracts a UDP port number (IPTA) from the line information 22a stored in the storage unit 22 based on the IP address of the IPTA information included in the RES signal (S13). The port information extracting unit 23 extracts corresponding signal control information from the line information 22a.

  The data processing unit 26 performs U-Plane release according to an instruction from the signal control unit 25 (S14). The signal control unit 25 causes the data processing unit 26 to generate an RSC signal and causes the transmission / reception unit 21 to transmit the RSC signal (S4). The call control system disclosed in the present application can set the IPTA IP address and UDP port number to ignored (NULL) in the RES signal, and at this time, all communication paths related to the IPTA specified by the IP address parameter are set. An interface specification to disconnect can be provided.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the MGCF 20 receives an ERQ signal addressed to the RNC 30A from the IP-RNC 10A as a communication path connection sequence according to this procedure (S21), and generates a communication path (S22). Here, the MGCF 20 stores the IP address and port number of the RNC 30A included in the ERQ signal.

  The MGCF 20 transmits an ERQ signal addressed to the RNC 30A (S23), the RNC 30A generates a communication path (S24), and returns an ECF signal to the MGCF 20 as a response to the ERQ signal (S25). The MGCF 20 transmits an ECF signal to the IP-RNC 10A (S26), and a communication path is established and a handover connection is established (S27).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the MGCF 20 generates a RES signal addressed to the RNC 30A as a communication path release sequence in accordance with this procedure, triggered by the restart of the device or the occurrence of an internal abnormality (S31). Is received (S32), and the communication path is released (S33). In S32 of this communication path release sequence, the MGCF 20 extracts the port number stored in S21 described above based on the IP address of the communication path release target included in the RES signal.

  The MGCF 20 transmits a REL signal addressed to the RNC 30A (S34), the RNC 30A releases a communication path (S35), and returns an RLC signal to the MGCF 20 as a response to the REL signal (S36). The MGCF 20 transmits an RSC signal to the IP-RNC 10A after releasing the communication path in S33 described above (S37), and the communication path is released to complete the handover (S38).

  As described above, since the MGCF 20 can extract the UDP port number (IPTA) from the IP address included in the RES signal when the communication path is released, the necessary communication amount of the communication path release signal can be reduced, and the network traffic is suppressed. A highly accurate communication path release can be performed. Further, since the MGCF 20 can extract the UDP port number (IPTA) from the IP address included in the RES signal when the communication path is released, the communication path to be released can be identified only from the IP address, and the communication path not corresponding to the failure Network traffic can be suppressed without releasing.

  In addition, the hardware configuration of the communication relay unit and the communication device of the call control system according to the present embodiment includes a CPU, a memory, a storage device, an input device, and a bus connecting the above-described units. In this embodiment, the connection and release of the communication path between the IP-RNC and the MGCF relayed through the IP network are handled, but the connection and release of the communication path between the RNC and the MGCF relayed through the ATM network are similarly performed. Can be implemented.

[Appendix] The following appendices are further disclosed with respect to the embodiments including the above examples.
(Supplementary note 1) When transmitting / receiving a signal to / from a communication partner, a communication process for requesting connection / release of a communication path, and connection / release of the communication path between the communication devices based on the request. In the call control method including a communication relay step for relay management, the communication step generates a communication path release signal including IP address information of a communication line to be released when the connected communication path is released. A path release signal generation step, wherein the communication relay step stores the IP address information and port information of the communication line based on the communication path connection signal from the communication device received in the transmission / reception step; Based on the IP address information of the communication line targeted for communication path release included in the communication path release signal received in the transmission / reception step, the IP address information A port information extracting step for extracting the associated port information from the storage step; and a communication path releasing step for releasing the connected communication path based on the port information extracted by the port information extracting step. Call control method.

(Supplementary note 2) The communication relay step included in the call control method according to supplementary note 1 stores the IP address information and port information of the communication line based on the communication path connection signal from the communication device received in the transmission / reception step. Based on the IP address information of the communication path to be released included in the communication path release signal received in the communication path release signal received in the storage step and the transmission / reception step, the port information associated with the IP address information is extracted from the storage step. A call control method comprising: a port information extraction step to be extracted; and a communication path release step to release a connected communication path based on the port information extracted by the port information extraction step.

(Additional remark 3) When the communication process included in the call control method according to additional remark 1 releases the connected communication path, the communication path generates a communication path release signal including the IP address information of the communication line to be released. A call control method comprising a release signal generation step.

(Supplementary note 4) When performing signal transmission / reception with a communication partner, communication means for requesting connection / release of a communication path and connection / release of the communication path between the communication devices based on the request. In a call control program for causing a computer to function including a communication relay means for relay management, when the communication apparatus means releases a connected communication path, the communication path release includes the IP address information of the communication line to be released. IP address information and port information of the communication line based on a communication path connection signal from the communication device received by the transmission / reception means by the computer functioning as a communication path release signal generation means for generating a signal And a communication path release target communication included in the communication path release signal received by the transmission / reception means. Based on the IP address information of the line, port information extraction means for extracting the port information associated with the IP address information from the storage means, connected based on the port information extracted by the port information extraction means Call control program for causing a computer to function as communication path releasing means for releasing a communication path.

(Supplementary Note 5) The communication relay means included in the call control program according to Supplementary Note 4 stores the IP address information and port information of the communication line based on the communication path connection signal from the communication device received by the transmission / reception means. Based on the IP address information of the communication path to be released included in the communication path release signal received by the storage means and the transmission / reception means, the port information associated with the IP address information is extracted from the storage means. And a call control program for causing a computer to function as a communication path releasing means for releasing a connected communication path based on the port information extracted by the port information extracting means.

(Appendix 6) A communication path for generating a communication path release signal including IP address information of a communication line to be released from the communication path when the communication means included in the call control program described in Appendix 4 releases the connected communication path. A call control program for causing a computer to function as a release signal generating means.

10, 30 Communication device 10A IP-RNC
30A RNC
11, 31 Transmission / reception unit 12, 32 Communication path release signal generation unit 13, 33 Communication path connection signal generation unit 14, 34 Signal control unit 20 Communication relay means (MGCF)
21 Transmission / Reception Unit 22 Storage Unit 22a Line Information 23 Port Information Extraction Unit 24 Communication Path Release Unit 25 Signal Control Unit 26 Data Processing Unit 100 IP Network 200 ATM Network

Claims (5)

A communication device that requests connection and release of a communication path when relaying a signal with a communication partner, and communication that relays and manages connection and release of the communication path between the communication devices based on the request. A call control system including a relay means;
The communication device is
A communication path release signal generating means for generating a communication path release signal including IP address information of a communication line to be released when the connected communication path is released;
The communication relay means is
Storage means for storing IP address information and port information of the communication line based on a communication path connection signal from the communication device received by the transmission / reception means;
Port information for extracting the port information associated with the IP address information from the storage unit based on the IP address information of the communication path to be released included in the communication path release signal received by the transmission / reception unit Extraction means;
A communication path releasing means for releasing a connected communication path based on the port information extracted by the port information extracting means;
In the communication relay device as the communication relay means included in the call control system according to claim 1,
Storage means for storing IP address information and port information of the communication line based on a communication path connection signal from the communication device received by the transmission / reception means;
Port information for extracting the port information associated with the IP address information from the storage unit based on the IP address information of the communication path to be released included in the communication path release signal received by the transmission / reception unit Extraction means;
A communication relay device comprising: a communication path releasing unit that releases a connected communication path based on the port information extracted by the port information extracting unit.
The communication apparatus included in the call control system according to claim 1,
A communication apparatus comprising communication path release signal generation means for generating a communication path release signal including IP address information of a communication line for which a communication path is to be released when releasing a connected communication path.
Communication process for requesting connection and release of a communication path when performing signal transmission / reception with a communication partner, and communication for relay management of connection and release of a communication path between the communication devices based on the request A call control method including a relay step,
The communication step is
A communication path release signal generating step for generating a communication path release signal including IP address information of a communication line to be released when a connected communication path is released;
The communication relay step is
A storage step of storing IP address information and port information of the communication line based on a communication path connection signal from the communication device received in the transmission / reception step;
Port information that extracts the port information associated with the IP address information from the storage step based on the IP address information of the communication path to be released included in the communication path release signal received in the transmission / reception step An extraction process;
A communication path releasing step of releasing a connected communication path based on the port information extracted by the port information extracting step.
Communication means for requesting connection and release of a communication path when performing signal transmission / reception with a communication partner, and communication for relay management of connection and release of the communication path between the communication devices based on the request In a call control program including a relay means and causing a computer to function,
The communication device means comprises:
Causing a computer to function as a communication path release signal generating means for generating a communication path release signal including IP address information of a communication line to be released when a connected communication path is released;
The communication relay means is
Storage means for storing IP address information and port information of the communication line based on a communication path connection signal from the communication device received by the transmission / reception means;
Port information for extracting the port information associated with the IP address information from the storage unit based on the IP address information of the communication path to be released included in the communication path release signal received by the transmission / reception unit Extraction means,
A call control program for causing a computer to function as communication path releasing means for releasing a connected communication path based on port information extracted by the port information extracting means.

Images