JP4021828B2 - Communication information processing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system that communicates packets and performs multi-stage relay, and in particular, performs idle negotiation before link establishment, and adjusts the bit rate difference between a received signal and a transmitted signal at a relay node. The present invention relates to a communication information processing method used in the last relay node of a communication system for inserting and removing sets.

  In Gigabit Ethernet (registered trademark), it is indispensable to perform auto-negotiation before link establishment. Conventionally, in this auto-negotiation, only the auto-negotiation code set is communicated, and no idle code set is included. As shown in FIG. 9, at the time of auto-negotiation, the sequence of four auto-negotiation code sets / -C1 /, / C2 + /, / + C1 /, / C2- / is repeated. Whether the change of the running disparity is the type (a) or the type (b) in FIG. 10 is determined according to the polarity of / Config_Reg / composed of two data codes. Type (a) is for neutral polarity and type (b) is for reversed polarity.

  Note that / Config_Reg / is a 16-bit setting register value Config_Reg encoded by 8B / 10B. The description between / means one code or one code set. Further, +/− immediately before the description indicates a case where the running disparity value immediately before transmitting one code or one code set indicated by the description is +/−. +/- immediately after the description indicates a case where the running disparity value immediately after transmitting one code or one code set indicated by the description is +/-. Further, + and − shown below the frame of each symbol in FIG. 10 indicate the running disparity value at that time.

  When some idle code sets in the signal are replaced with control information code sets including control information, communication between devices is performed and operation / maintenance of the communication system is performed, or the idle code set is set at a relay node. The above-mentioned auto-negotiation becomes a problem when clock replacement is performed by insertion / extraction. Therefore, a process for replacing some auto-negotiation code sets with idle code sets is required. The processing is shown in Patent Document 1. The invention described in this document will be described below.

  The relay node that starts relaying has an idle code set replacement unit, and receives at least one auto-negotiation code set among continuously repeated auto-negotiation code sets received during the period of the auto-negotiation communication state. Replace with at least one idle code set and transmit downstream. In the relay node in the middle of the relay, a FIFO buffer is provided, the received signal is input to the FIFO buffer, and the output is transmitted with an independent clock. When the capacity upper limit Smax of the FIFO buffer is exceeded or falls below the lower limit Smin, this is adjusted by abandoning or inserting the idle code set.

When the relay node that ends the relay receives an idle code set between the received auto-negotiation code set and the next auto-negotiation code set, the relay node transmits them downstream except for these idle code sets. Since some auto-negotiation code sets have been replaced with idle code sets, relay nodes that are in the middle of relaying do not have to determine the auto-negotiation communication state, but by processing common to the packet communication state (insertion / extraction of the idle code set) The clock can be changed. Thereby, the relay node is simplified. Furthermore, it is possible to realize a maintenance monitoring function of a packet communication system in which a part of the idle code set is replaced with a maintenance monitoring information code set, and maintenance monitoring information is communicated between relay nodes. As a result, the reliability of the system can be improved.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-223245

In the above-described conventional technique, in order to eliminate idle code sets between auto-negotiation code sets at a relay node that terminates relaying, a FIFO buffer and complicated stuff / destuff processing are necessary. As a result, there is a problem that the circuit scale included in the communication device of the relay node that ends the relay increases.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication information processing method capable of simplifying the configuration of the communication device of the relay node that ends the relay.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and the invention according to claim 1 is a communication system that performs auto-negotiation before link establishment, and terminates relay of the communication system that performs multi-stage relay. In the communication information processing method in the relay node, the / Config_Reg / value obtained by encoding the configuration register value included in the received auto negotiation code set is read from the received signal, and the running disparity value of the / Config_Reg / For each of + and-, the values of / + Config_Reg / and / -Config_Reg / and the arrangement order of the above ++ Config_Reg / and / -Config_Reg / are read as auto negotiation information, and the auto negotiation information held in advance is read. Updated to the auto-negotiation information And distribution, based on a predetermined code sequence to produce auto-negotiation signal, characterized in the auto-negotiation communication state, the transmission signal is switched to the auto negotiation signal the generating from the received signal, and outputs, that Is a communication information processing method.

The invention according to claim 2 performs communication using 8B / 10B code, performs auto-negotiation before link establishment, and the relay node adjusts the bit rate difference between the received signal and the transmitted signal. In a communication information processing method in a relay node that completes relay of a communication system that performs multi-stage relay by communicating packets by inserting and removing sets, it detects that an auto-negotiation code set is included in the received signal, and auto-negotiation communication status Is a communication information processing method for reproducing and transmitting a signal of only the auto-negotiation code set when it is determined as the auto-negotiation communication state, and the setting register value included in the received auto-negotiation code set is encoded. Read the value of / Config_Reg / from the received signal, For each of the g / running disparity values + and-, read the + / Config_Reg / and / -Config_Reg / values and the above-mentioned / + Config_Reg / and / Config_Reg / as the auto-negotiation information and store them in advance. Auto-negotiation information is updated to the read auto-negotiation information, an auto-negotiation signal is generated based on the held auto-negotiation information and a predetermined code arrangement , and transmitted in the auto-negotiation communication state. A communication information processing method characterized in that a signal is switched from the received signal to the generated auto-negotiation signal and output.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the communication information processing method according to the first or second aspect, the process of updating the auto-negotiation information held in advance to the read auto-negotiation information is read. This is executed when the auto negotiation information has not been changed a predetermined number of times continuously .
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the communication information processing method according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the generation and output of the auto-negotiation code is performed by repeating −−K28.5 / + D21.5 / a predetermined number of times. Starting from the time of detection.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the communication information processing method according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the generation and output of the auto-negotiation code includes /K28.5/+D21.5/ during a predetermined octet. It is characterized by ending when it is not detected.

  According to the present invention, the relay node that ends the relay only needs to have a storage area for storing / + Config_Reg / and / -Config_Reg /, and a large-scale FIFO buffer (reception received by the conventional technique). A storage area for temporarily storing signals is not necessary. In addition, auto-negotiation code sets can be reproduced simply by assigning fixed patterns to stored ++ Config_Reg / and / -Config_Reg /, eliminating the need for complicated stuff / destuff processing, which was necessary in the prior art. . Accordingly, the circuit scale included in the communication device of the relay node that ends the relay can be reduced.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a process of a communication information processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, a system to which a communication apparatus using the method according to this embodiment is applied will be described.

<System description>
FIG. 2 is an example of a gigabit Ethernet (registered trademark) system (ie, a system to which the IEEE 802.3z standard is applied) to which this embodiment is applied, and includes termination devices Ta and Tb and M relays (M is 1 or more). And devices R-1 to RM. This system performs communication using 8B / 10B codes, performs auto-negotiation before link establishment, and relay nodes insert and remove idle code sets to adjust the bit rate difference between received and transmitted signals. A system for communicating packets.

  In this system, a signal is communicated from the terminal device Ta to Tb via the relay devices R-1 to RM, and a signal is communicated from the terminal device Tb to Ta via the relay devices RM to R-1. There is a communication system b. The communication systems a and b each take either a packet communication state or an auto-negotiation communication state. In the packet communication state, a plurality of Ethernet (registered trademark) frames transmitted from a terminating device that is a transmitting end and one or more idle code sets that fill between the Ethernet (registered trademark) frames are transferred to a relay device that is a relay node. It relays and communicates to the terminating device that is the receiving end.

  In the auto-negotiation communication state, an auto-negotiation code set that is continuously repeated is transmitted from the terminating device that is the transmitting end. The signal is relayed to a relay device that is a relay node and communicated to a terminal device that is a receiving end. 3 and 4 show operations when the communication system of FIG. 2 transitions between the packet communication state and the auto-negotiation communication state. In FIG. 3, both the communication systems a and b are in the bucket communication state, and the Ethernet (registered trademark) frame is communicated between the termination devices via the relay device. In FIG. 4, when a failure occurs in the communication system b (communication interruption between the relay apparatuses Rd and R− (d + 1)), the termination signal Ta detects a reception signal interruption, and the communication system a automatically switches from the bucket communication state. Transition to the negotiation communication state (the terminal device Ta continuously transmits the auto-negotiation code set and the terminal device Tb receives it), and the terminal device Tb receives the auto-negotiation code set, so that the terminal device Tb The auto-negotiation code set is repeatedly transmitted continuously, and the signal is relayed to the relay device R- (d + 1) (relay node immediately before the failure occurrence section).

  However, the operation of the relay start node (here, relay device R-1) and relay end node (here, relay device RM) shown below is not a continuous repetition signal of the auto-negotiation code set between the relay devices of the communication system a. Thus, a signal obtained by replacing a part of the continuous repetition of the auto negotiation code set with the idle code set (see reference numeral 11 in FIG. 4).

  Also, with respect to the signal transmitted by R- (d + 1) from the relay device RM of the communication system b, part of the continuous repetition of the auto-negotiation code set is idle due to the operation of the relay start node (here, the relay device RM). The signal is replaced with a code set. In FIG. 4, in order to detect a reception signal disconnection at the termination device Ta due to a communication disconnection between the relay devices Rd and R- (d + 1), the relay device Rd detects a reception signal disconnection due to the communication disconnection. Then, a signal including a control signal indicating the occurrence of a failure is transmitted downstream (relay devices R- (dl) to R-1) (see reference numeral 12). Further, when the relay device R-1 (relay node that ends the relay in the communication system b) receives a signal including a control signal indicating the occurrence of a failure, or detects a reception signal disconnection, the termination that is a reception end The device Ta is notified of the reception signal disconnection (see reference numeral 13). At this time, for example, transmission to the terminal device Ta is stopped. In addition, the code | symbol 14 in FIG. 4 is a continuous repetition signal of the auto negotiation code | symbol set in the case of abnormality mentioned above.

<Description of relay start node>
FIG. 5 is a timing chart illustrating an operation example of a relay node that starts relaying. As shown in FIG. 10, the signals at the time of auto-negotiation are four auto-negotiation code sets / -C1 /, / C2 + /, / + C1 /, / C2- / in the pattern (a) or (b). A sequence of repetitions, both of which are 16-octet patterns with running disparity values starting with-and ending with-. For this reason, it matches the eight idle code sets / 12 / in terms of pattern length and running disparity values at the start and end. By using this feature, the pattern (a) or (b) is periodically replaced with 8/12 / without changing the running disparity.

Of the input 16 octet pattern repetitions of (a) or (b), the pattern is made into 8 consecutive idle code sets / 12 / at a rate of once every N times (N is an integer of 2 or more). Replace. Hereinafter, an example of the -negotiation signal processing method in the relay node that starts relaying will be described.
(1) Auto-negotiation signal processing is performed prior to control signal insertion and clock replacement (idle code set insertion / extraction).
(2) Confirm that the /-K28.5/+D21.5/ code pattern is detected at 16-octet intervals from the signal code string.
(3) Every time Ns times (Ns is an integer of 2 or more), the detection of (2) is repeated for Ns times, and 16 octets including -K28.5 / + D 21.5 / Replace with the continuous idle code set / 12 /.
(4) If /K28.5/+D21.5/ cannot be detected before the number of detections reaches Ns, return to the initial state and start counting from 0 again.

<Description of relay end node>
6 to 8 are timing charts showing an operation example of the relay node that ends the relay. Information necessary to reproduce the auto-negotiation signal, that is, the + / Config_Reg / pattern, the / -Config_Reg / pattern, (a) / (b) which type is partly replaced with 12 / Read from the negotiation signal. Further, based on this information, a complete auto negotiation signal is generated and transmitted to the terminating device that is the receiving end. An example of processing is shown below.

(1) Processing is performed after insertion of control signals and clock replacement (idle code set insertion / extraction).
(2) When /-K28.5/+D21.5/ is detected, the next two octets are read as / + Config_Reg / (Figure 7).
(3) If 1 octet following / + Config_Reg / is /+K28.5/, type (a) and if -K28.5 /, type (b) is determined (FIG. 7).
(4) When /+K28.5/-D21.5/ is detected, the next two octets are read as / -Config_Reg / (Fig. 7). Or when /-K28.5/+D21.5/ is detected, read 9,10 octets as / -Config_Reg /
(5) After performing (2)-(4), each reading value is used as auto-negotiation information.
In this case, when the same succession value is indicated K times (K is an integer of 2 or more), it is possible to protect against a code error by using this as auto-negotiation information.

(6) Generate and send an auto negotiation signal using auto negotiation information (FIG. 8). That is, the arrangement of the four auto-negotiation code sets / -C1 /, / C2 + /, / + C1 /, / C2- / is repeated.
(7) Auto-negotiation signal generation starts when N / K28.5 / + D21.5 / is detected continuously (Figure 6). However, the protection time for the transition from the initial state defined by Nr to the auto-negotiation communication state needs to be shorter than the 12 / replacement interval at the relay start node.
(8) The generation of the auto-negotiation signal ends when N-octet / −K28.5 / + D21.5 / is not detected, and transitions to the initial state (FIG. 6). However, Nt needs to be larger than the number of consecutive / 12 / octets (16 in this example) generated by the relay start node replacing the auto-negotiation code set. Further, Nt needs to have a + margin in consideration of an increase in the number of / 12 /, which is increased by clock change processing (/ 12 / insertion) by each relay node.

  Note that the method of collecting auto-negotiation information is not limited to this example, and any method may be used as long as the value and type of / + Config_Reg / and / -Config_Reg / are read according to the code arrangement of the auto-negotiation signal shown in FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram for realizing processing for the above-described auto negotiation signal. In this figure, the process S1 is "/-K28.5/+D21.5/ code pattern detection", which detects the code pattern of /-K28.5/+D21.5/ from the code string of the received signal. The detection timing is output. Process S2 is “auto-negotiation communication state determination”, and it is determined whether or not it is in the auto-negotiation communication state. In the initial state, “0” is output, and when the detection timing of −−K28.5 / + D21.5 / is continuously input Nr times at an interval of 16 octets, transition to the auto-negotiation communication state and “1” Is output. In the auto-negotiation communication state, if the detection timing of −−K28.5 / + D21.5 / is not input during Nt octets, the state transits to the initial state and “0” is output.

  Process S3 is “auto-negotiation information reading”, and auto-negotiation information is read from the received signal when /−K28.5/+D21.5/ is detected. The 2 octets following /-K28.5/+D21.5/ are used as 20 bits wide / + Config_Reg / value, and 1-bit type value depending on whether or not the next octet is /+K28.5/ (When specified as 0 (a), 1 (b), etc.), 2 octets after 6 octets are output as a 20-bit width / -Config_Reg / value. Each time reading is completed, the reading timing is output. Process S4 is “hold auto-negotiation information”. When the auto-negotiation information input at the read timing has not been changed continuously K times, the held auto-negotiation information is updated to the read auto-negotiation information. To do.

  Process S5 is “auto-negotiation signal generation”, which generates and outputs an auto-negotiation signal based on the held auto-negotiation information and a predetermined code arrangement. Process 6 is “signal switching”. When the auto-negotiation communication state is “1”, the playback auto-negotiation signal is selected and output, and when it is “0”, the received signal is selected and output.

It is a block diagram which shows the process of the communication information processing method by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram showing a communication system to which the embodiment is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the case where packet communication is normally performed in the communication system. It is a figure for demonstrating the case where abnormality generate | occur | produces in the communication system. It is a figure for demonstrating the process of the communication apparatus of the first relay node in the communication system. It is a figure for demonstrating the process of the communication apparatus of the last relay node in the same communication system. It is a figure for demonstrating the process of the communication apparatus of the last relay node in the same communication system. It is a figure for demonstrating the process of the communication apparatus of the last relay node in the same communication system. It is a figure which shows the signal format at the time of auto negotiation. It is a figure which shows the signal content which a termination | terminus apparatus transmits / receives at the time of auto negotiation.

Explanation of symbols

Ta, Tb ... Terminator
R-1 to RM: Relay device (relay node)

Claims (5)

In a communication information processing method in a relay node that performs auto-negotiation before link establishment and terminates relay of a communication system that performs multi-stage relay,
Read the value of / Config_Reg /, which is the encoded configuration register value, included in the received auto negotiation code set from the received signal,
For each of the above-mentioned / Config_Reg / running disparity values + and-, read the values of / + Config_Reg / and / -Config_Reg / and the arrangement order of the ++ Config_Reg / and / -Config_Reg / as auto-negotiation information,
Update the auto negotiation information held in advance to the read auto negotiation information,
Based on the held auto-negotiation information and a predetermined code sequence, an auto-negotiation signal is generated,
In the auto-negotiation communication state, the transmission signal is switched from the received signal to the generated auto-negotiation signal and output.
A communication information processing method. Performs communication using 8B / 10B codes, performs auto-negotiation before link establishment, and relay nodes communicate packets by inserting and removing idle code sets to adjust the bit rate difference between received and transmitted signals. In the communication information processing method in the relay node that ends the relay of the communication system that performs multi-stage relay,
Detects that the received signal contains an auto-negotiation code set,
Determine the auto-negotiation communication status,
When it is judged as auto-negotiation communication state,
A communication information processing method for reproducing and transmitting a signal of only an auto-negotiation code set ,
Read the value of / Config_Reg /, which is the encoded configuration register value, included in the received auto negotiation code set from the received signal,
For each of the above-mentioned / Config_Reg / running disparity values + and-, read the values of / + Config_Reg / and / -Config_Reg / and the arrangement order of the ++ Config_Reg / and / -Config_Reg / as auto-negotiation information,
Update the auto negotiation information held in advance to the read auto negotiation information,
Based on the held auto-negotiation information and a predetermined code sequence, an auto-negotiation signal is generated,
In the auto-negotiation communication state, the transmission signal is switched from the received signal to the generated auto-negotiation signal and output.
A communication information processing method. 2. The process of updating the auto-negotiation information held in advance to the read auto-negotiation information is executed when the read auto-negotiation information has not been continuously changed a predetermined number of times. Or the communication information processing method of Claim 2.   The communication information processing according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the generation and output of the auto-negotiation code starts when /-K28.5/+D21.5/ is continuously detected a predetermined number of times. Method.   The communication information processing according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the generation and output of the auto-negotiation code is terminated when /-K28.5/+D21.5/ is not detected for a predetermined octet. Method.

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