JPH06276236A - Lan/wan connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a method by which tariff can be fairly charged to a user who uses an integral digital communication network by managing the communicating time of each user. CONSTITUTION:A LAN/WAN connector which connects a LAN which houses plural terminals which operate packet communication with the other LAN, is equipped with a central processing part 11 which sets a speech line between the LANs according to a communication request from one terminal to the other terminal, plural clocking means 15a which clock a time until a prescribed time ends according to an activation designation, and clock a time again from the beginning of the prescribed time at the time of receiving the activation designation before the prescribed time ends, and memory which registers an entry number for each communication request, and stores the clocked values of the clocking means 15a according to a transmission origin address and destination address, and a command by each entry number.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a LAN and a wide area communication network (hereinafter referred to as "WA") connected to a public network such as an integrated digital communication network.
N-)).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, the following methods have been considered as a charge management system for line usage charges in this type of system.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system to which a LAN-WAN connection device is applied. In this figure, LAN-WAN
The connection devices 1 and 2 interconnect the LAN 3 and the LAN 4 by the integrated digital communication network 5. A user terminal 6 and a user terminal 7 connected to the LAN 3 are communicating with a user terminal 8 and a user terminal 9 connected to the LAN 4, respectively.

In FIG. 4, when the user terminal 6 and the user terminal 8, the user terminal 6 and the user terminal 9, the user terminal 7 and the user terminal 8, and the user terminal 7 and the user terminal 9 respectively perform data communication, integrated digital communication is performed. A line usage fee is incurred because the network 5 is used. In this example, since the integrated digital communication network 5 is used for circuit switching, it is necessary to pay the circuit usage fee generated by the one of the LAN-WAN connection devices 1 and 2 that made the call.

Therefore, in order to charge the user who has used the generated line usage fee, the LAN-WAN connection devices 1 and 2 take account of the packet for each user, and the user is charged according to the number of packets.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional LAN-WAN connection device. In FIG. 5, Ether I / F
The part 10 has three Ether ports 1, 2, and 3,
It takes an interface with the user terminals 6 and 7. The central processing unit 11 controls the LAN-WAN connection device. The line I / F unit 12 serves as an interface with the integrated digital communication network 5. Further, the routing processing unit 13 determines the destination of the packet, and the packet processing unit 14 converts the format of the packet. An accounting method using an account in the conventional configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

When a packet flows from the user terminal 6 to the user terminal 8, the packet first passes through the Ether port 1 to which the user terminal 6 is connected and the Ether I / F.
Enter 10. The packet processed by the Ether I / F unit 10 is determined by the routing processing unit 13 to which the packet is addressed, and is distributed to each destination. If the packet is addressed to another port of the own node, Ether I / F unit 1
0 through Ether port 2 or Ether port 3
Sent to. In this example, since the user terminal 8 is connected to the LAN 4 which is remotely connected, the format is converted by the packet processing unit 14, and the packet is sent to the integrated digital communication network 3 through the line I / F unit 12.

After that, the data is sent to the user terminal 8 through the LAN-WAN connection device 2. When the routing processing unit 13 processes a packet, the number of packets is counted for each source and destination. As a result, after the end of communication, the line usage fee is calculated by the number of accounts for each sender (user), and the billing information for each user is managed. If you want to manage charges more strictly, you can create an account for each packet length and reflect the difference in charges for each packet length.

[0009]

However, in the above charge management system for the LAN-WAN connection device, the charge management system manages the number of packets irrespective of the actual line use time. There was a problem that I could not.

The present invention solves such a problem. For example, if a LAN-WAN connection is made by using circuit switching, it is necessary to bear a large charge if the communication time is long even with a small amount of data. On the contrary, an LA that realizes a fair charge management function such that even if the amount of data is large and the communication is completed in a short time, a small charge may be charged
It is an object to provide an N-to-N connecting device.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a LAN-connecting a LAN accommodating a plurality of terminals for packet communication with another LAN via a public network.
A WAN connecting device, wherein the terminal 1 to another LAN
In response to communication requests to other terminals accommodated in
A central processing unit that sets a communication path between the LAN and another LAN via the public network, and measures time until a predetermined time is set in advance and the predetermined time ends according to a start command, and When the start command is received before the predetermined time ends, a plurality of time counting means for counting the time from the beginning of the predetermined time again, and an entry number is registered for each communication request, and for each entry number, A source address and a destination address, and a memory that stores a time value of the time measuring means according to a command, and each terminal according to charge information transmitted from the public network after the communication path disconnection process. Is calculated.

[0012]

Therefore, according to the present invention, the line usage fee charged for the LAN-WAN connection can be charged to each user in a form close to the actual line usage fee regardless of the amount of data.
This has the effect of enabling fair charge management.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a LAN connecting device of the present invention will be described with reference to the system configuration diagram of FIG. 4 and FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 4, the system to which the LAN connecting device of this embodiment is applied is also the same as the conventional example, that is, the user terminal 6 and the user terminal 8, the user terminal 6 and the user terminal 9, and the user terminal 7. The user terminal 8, the user terminal 7, and the user terminal 9 communicate with each other via the integrated digital communication network 5 connected by the LAN connection devices 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 shows a LAN-WAN according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram of a connecting device. In FIG. 1, the same components as those in FIG. 5 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted. The feature of this embodiment is that a charge management processing unit 15 is provided. When a packet flows from the user terminal 6 to the user terminal 8, the packet is first sent to the user terminal 6
Through Ether port 1, which is connected to
Enter the r I / F unit 10. The packet processed by the Ether I / F unit 10 is sorted by the routing processing unit 13 to determine the destination of the packet. If the packet is addressed to another port of the own node, Ether I / F unit 10
Through Ether port 2 or Ether port 3
Sent to. In this example, since the user terminal 8 is connected to the LAN 4 which is remotely connected, the format is converted by the packet processing unit 14 and the packet is sent to the integrated digital communication network 3 through the line I / F unit 12. After that, it is sent to the user terminal 8 through the LAN-WAN connection device 2.

When the routing processing unit 13 processes a packet, the charge management processing unit 15 manages the communication time for each user. In order to manage this communication time, the charge management processing unit 15 includes timers 1 (T1) to 4 (T).
It is provided with a clocking means which is the four communication monitoring timers 15a of 4). Thus, after the communication is completed, the line usage fee is divided by the ratio of the communication time for each user, and the charging information for each user is managed based on the result of the division.

FIG. 2 shows a LAN-WAN according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 shows a structure of a communication charge management table in a charge management processing unit of the connection adapter 2. The LAN-WAN connection device also has the same table structure in the memory (not shown). In FIG. 2, the source address and the destination address a, b, c, d are the user terminal 6, respectively.
7 shows terminal identifications 7, 8 and 9.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a processing sequence relating to the communication charge management table of FIG. Below, FIG.
The operation of the embodiment will be described based on the processing sequence of FIG.

In the above embodiment, when the user terminal 6 issues a communication request to the user terminal 8 for sending packet data (hereinafter simply referred to as "data") 1, L
The AN-WAN connection device 1 sends a call setup message to connect to the WAN, receives the call setup acceptance message and the response message, and communicates with the LAN-WAN connection device 2 via the integrated digital communication network 5. Set the path.

After this, the LAN connection device 1 uses the data 1
To the integrated digital communication network 5. At this time,
Of the entry "A1" of the entry "A1" in the column of the user terminal 6 of the communication charge management table of FIG. 2 is written with the addresses a and c of the user terminal 6 and the user terminal 8, respectively, and the initial packet generation time is the time at that time. Write. At that time, the communication monitoring timer 1 is activated in response to the activation command from the central processing unit 11.

Next, the data 2 is sent from the user terminal 6 to the user terminal 8. In this case, since the communication path has already been set, it is sent to the integrated digital communication network 5 as it is. At this time, the time at that time is written in the last packet occurrence time column of the previous entry "A1" in the communication charge management table. At the same time, the time from the initial packet generation time to the final packet generation time is written in the communication time column. At that time, the communication monitoring timer 1 is restarted.

Further, from the user terminal 8 to the user terminal 6
On the other hand, when the data 3 is sent, the data 3 is transferred to the user terminal 6 as before, and the time at that time is written in the last packet generation time of the same entry "A1" in the communication charge management table. . At the same time, the value in the column of communication time is updated. At that time, the communication monitoring time 1 is also restarted.

Data 4 from the user terminal 7 to the user terminal 9
Is sent, the data 4 is transferred to the integrated digital communication network 5, and the source address and the destination address of the entry "B2" in the column of the user terminal 7 in the communication charge management table are set in the user terminal. 7 and the addresses b and d of the user terminal 9, respectively, and the time at that time is written in the initial packet generation time. At that time, the communication monitoring timer 2 is started.

Thus, each time a packet with a different entry is generated, an entry is added and the initial packet generation time is written. When a packet of the same entry occurs, the communication monitoring timer is restarted and the last packet occurrence time of that entry is updated. At the same time, the communication monitoring timer for each newly added entry is started.

Next, when the communication monitoring timer 1 times out, it is determined that the communication related to this entry A1 has ended. However, since there is another entry B2 that is in communication, the communication path is not cut off. The value in the column of communication time at the time of completion of communication is reflected in the column of total communication time for each call. After that, the columns of the initial packet generation time, the last packet generation time, and the communication time are cleared in this entry A1.

With respect to the communication monitoring timers 2, 3 and 4, the same processing is performed when there is another entry in communication at the time of time-out. When data transfer occurs again with respect to an entry for which communication has been completed once, the value at that time is written at the initial packet generation time of the previously cleared area of the communication charge management table of the corresponding entry, as in the past.

When the communication monitoring timer 1 times out, the actual communication path of the integrated digital communication network 5 is disconnected if there is no other entry in communication. In this example, the disconnection is always performed by the calling side for setting the communication path, that is, the LAN-WAN connection device 1 on the calling side. When the release message is received from the integrated digital communication network 5 after the disconnection message is sent, since the charge display information element is included in the release message, the total communication time for each call of all entries that have communicated the charge. Divide by the ratio of. When the communication charge for each entry can be calculated, it is written for each user in the cumulative communication charge column for each user. After this, the information of all entries is deleted. LAN-WA on the receiving side
Since the N connection device 2 does not notify the charge after disconnection, the cumulative communication charge for each user will not be updated as a result even if the same process is performed, and management can be performed only by the calling side.

[0028]

As is apparent from the above-described embodiment, the present invention allows each L to be connected between LANs connected via the public network.
When the terminals connected to the AN perform packet communication, the communication charge for each terminal can be calculated according to the time to use the line of the public network regardless of the amount of packets to be transmitted, so a fair charge for each terminal It has the effect of realizing the management function.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a LAN-WAN connection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a structure of a communication charge management table in a charge management processing unit of the LAN-WAN connection device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a processing sequence relating to the communication charge management table of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a system to which a LAN-WAN connection device is applied.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional LAN-WAN connection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 LAN-WAN connection device 3, 4 LAN 5 Comprehensive digital communication network (public network) 6, 7, 8, 9 User terminal 10, Ether I / F unit 11 Central processing unit 12 Line I / F unit 13 Routing processing Section 14 packet processing section 15 charge management processing section 15a communication monitoring timer (time measuring means)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location H04L 12/56 8732-5K H04L 11/02 F 8529-5K 11/20 102 D

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A LAN for connecting a LAN accommodating a plurality of terminals for packet communication to another LAN via a public network.
A WAN connection device, which sets up a communication path between the LAN and another LAN via the public network in response to a communication request from one of the terminals to another terminal accommodated in the other LAN. A central processing unit that performs a predetermined time, and measures the time until the predetermined time is set according to a start command in advance and the start command is received before the predetermined time ends, A plurality of time counting means for counting time from the beginning of a predetermined time, an entry number is registered for each communication request, a source address and a destination address for each entry number, and a time counting value of the time counting means according to a command And a memory storing therein a LAN-W for calculating a communication charge for each terminal according to charge information transmitted from the public network after the communication path disconnection process. AN connection device. 2. The LAN-WAN connection device according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit issues the activation command to the timing means each time a packet is received from the terminal.