JPH0888672A - Intelligent communication protocol monitor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To realize an intellight communication protocol monitor that automatically detects the error position of protocol in data on a channel and estimates its cause. CONSTITUTION: The communication protocol monitor having a protocol analysis section 3 being a conventional monitor is provided with a couple of protocol software sets A', B' operating correctly a protocol decided between both communication systems A, B, and with an intelligent processing section 6 which has a function of managing a state and a parameter of a couple of protocol software sets A', B', a function of detecting the error of the protocol of the communication systems A, B by comparing data analyzed by the protocol analysis section 3 based on received data from a channel 1 with reply data from the protocol software sets A', B' and a function of estimating a cause to the error according to the content of the error. Thus, the error location of the communication software is automatically pointed out from data transmitted on the channel 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an intelligent communication protocol monitor, and more particularly, to communication for judging in real time whether or not a computer or terminal equipped with a communication protocol such as OSI protocol is operating normally. It is useful as a protocol monitor device or as a communication software development support tool for detecting an erroneous communication protocol operation and instructing a malfunction of software of a communication system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the importance of heterogeneous communication has increased,
Various OSI communication systems have been developed. Product development is required in the development of communication systems, in which there are compatibility tests that test the functions of individual systems to check whether they conform to OSI standard specifications, and mutual compatibility between systems that conform to standard specifications. An interconnect test is performed to test connectivity.

For these tests, a tester type tool for externally transmitting a test scenario to the system under test and judging whether the operation is correct or not by a response thereto, and a monitor for inspecting a protocol sequence etc. by tapping a communication line. Method tools are used.

A communication protocol monitor device, which is a monitor-type tool according to the prior art, has only a line data reception function for receiving data flowing on a line and a protocol analysis function for analyzing the received data according to the protocol of each layer. It was only for passively monitoring the data flowing on the line.

[0005]

As described above, in the communication protocol monitoring device according to the prior art, a person who is familiar with the protocol manually performs the analysis of the data displayed on the monitor and the determination of the protocol error. Therefore, not only the skill is required for the work, but also much labor and time are required.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional technique, it is an object of the present invention to provide an intelligent communication protocol monitor device capable of automatically detecting a protocol error portion of data flowing on a line and estimating the cause thereof.

[0007]

The structure of the present invention for achieving the above object is to connect a communication line between one communication system and the other communication system in the middle of the line and take in data flowing through this line. In an intelligent communication protocol monitor for detecting a protocol error in this data, a protocol analyzing means for analyzing the protocol by analyzing the data and a protocol negotiated between the one and the other communication systems are operated properly. For executing the protocol software corresponding to each communication system, and managing the state and parameters of the pair of protocol software stored in the protocol software storage means, and the protocol from the protocol analysis means. Day And an intelligent processing means for detecting the error of the protocol of the communication system by comparing the response data from the corresponding protocol software storage means and estimating the cause of the error according to the content of the error. Characterize.

[0008]

According to the present invention having the above-described structure, the protocol of the data flowing on the line connecting the communication systems is a protocol in which the correct protocol software corresponding to each communication system is pseudo-transmitted and received via the intelligent processing section. Contrast with.

Based on the comparison result, the intelligent processing unit automatically detects the error portion of the protocol and estimates the cause.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an intelligent communication protocol monitor apparatus according to this embodiment, together with communication systems A and B to which the intelligent communication protocol monitor apparatus is applied. As shown in the figure, the intelligent communication protocol monitor device is connected in the middle of the line 1 connecting the communication systems A and B.

The line interface unit 2 has a function of receiving data flowing on the line 1 for each direction and transmitting it to the protocol analysis unit 3. The protocol analysis unit 3 creates screen display information by analyzing the data according to a protocol specified in advance and displays the screen display information on the screen display unit 5, and at the same time, displays the protocol information element (hereinafter referred to as PDU).
It is transmitted to the intelligent processing unit 6 corresponding to the applicable protocol. The line interface unit 2, the protocol analysis unit 3, and the screen display unit 4 constitute a communication protocol monitor device having the same configuration as the conventional one.

The intelligent processing section 6 exists for each protocol,
Transmission / reception processing unit 7, error determination unit 8, error cause estimation unit 9, state / parameter history management unit 10, pseudo error history management unit 1
1 and an error cause history management unit 12.

The transmission / reception processing unit 7 receives data from the protocol software A'and B'executed by the protocol analysis unit 3 and the protocol software execution units 13 and 14, and also transmits data to the protocol software A'and B '. . In addition, the transmission / reception processing unit 7 calculates the state and the dynamic parameter values updated as the data is transmitted / received.
The state / parameter history management unit 10 is passed to the protocol analysis unit 3 and the protocol software A ′, B ′.
The received data is compared, and when the compared data are different, it is determined that a pseudo error has occurred, and the pseudo error history management unit 11 determines the status at that time, the dynamic parameter, the type of pseudo error, and the PDU in which the pseudo error has occurred. The information of the pseudo error is transmitted to the error determination unit 8. Here, the “pseudo error” refers to something that may be an error.

The error determination unit 8 determines whether the pseudo error received from the transmission / reception processing unit 7 is an error according to the content of the pseudo error. Thus, if there is an error, the error cause estimation unit 12 is passed the information on the type of error and the PDU in which the error occurred. Also, according to the contents of the error,
It decides whether to restore the state and dynamic parameters of both protocol software A ', B'to the values before the error occurred. Further, when an error occurs, screen display information for notifying the screen display unit 5 of the occurrence of the error is created.

The error cause estimator 9 manages the type of error received from the error determiner 8, information on the PDU in which the error occurred, pseudo error history information and status / parameter history management stored in the pseudo error history manager 11. By referring to the state / parameter history information stored in the unit 10, a pseudo error location that causes an error is pointed out and the cause of the error is estimated. However,
It is also conceivable that the pseudo error that has caused the error is a pseudo error that has just occurred, as in the case where no pseudo error has occurred so far. If there are multiple possible causes,
The most probable cause of the error is estimated by referring to the error cause history. When the cause of the error is found, screen display information for notifying the screen display unit 5 of the cause of the error is created.

The status / parameter history management unit 10 manages the status of both protocol software A'and B'and the history of dynamic parameters. This history information is recorded each time the protocol software A ′, B ′ transmits / receives data to / from the transmission / reception processing unit 7 in the intelligent processing unit 6. In addition, this history information shows the status and dynamic parameters in the protocol software A'and B'when an error occurs.
Is retained to revert to the value it was in when it was working correctly.

The pseudo error history management unit 11 records and manages a history of pseudo errors detected by the transmission / reception processing unit 7. This history information is used to point out a pseudo error location that causes an error when the error occurs.

The error cause history management unit 12 sequentially records the errors generated in communication. The status / parameter history management unit 10 and the pseudo error history management unit 11 delete the data each time the monitoring of one communication is completed, while the error cause history management unit 12 holds the data permanently. The error cause history information at this time is composed of errors that occurred in the past, their causes, and the number of occurrences. When there are multiple possible causes for an error, the most frequent cause is the most likely cause. Moreover, the operator can arbitrarily add the cause of the newly discovered error to the history information. This makes it possible to provide a learning function that automatically investigates the cause when a similar error occurs in the future.

The protocol software A ', B'has protocol software negotiated between the communication systems A, B and is considered to be correct.
Has the function of simulating the operation of in real time. It also has the states of the protocol software A ′ and B ′, dynamic parameters that change with transmission / reception of PDUs and timer events, and static parameters given as invariant values.
The static parameters are set to the same values as the static parameters of the communication systems A and B, and the state and dynamic parameters are set to the initial values at the start of monitoring.

The screen display unit 5 has a function of displaying the screen display information obtained from the protocol analysis unit 3 and the error determination unit 8 and the error cause estimation unit 9 in the intelligent processing unit 6 on the display.

In general, the sequence of communication protocols is
There are two types: one that only makes a request (REQ) and one that requests a response to the request. A positive response (R
There is an ESP) and a negative response (REJ). Whether the data obtained from the protocol analysis unit 3 is REQ or RESP /
The transmission / reception processing unit 7 in the intelligent processing unit 6 determines whether it is REJ.

The operation sequence of the transmission / reception processing unit 7 in the intelligent processing unit 6 is shown in FIGS. 2 to 7. In the transmission / reception processing unit 7, events shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 occur in response to data reception from the protocol analysis unit 3, data reception from the protocol software A ′ and B ′, and timer T1 timeout. The timer T1 is used to determine whether or not the response to REQ is non-response.

As shown in FIG. 2, when data in the direction from the communication system A to the communication system B is received from the protocol analysis unit 3, the identification of the received data is judged (see step S ₁ ), and the received data is In the case of REQ, process 1 (see FIG. 5) is performed. Received data is RESP / REJ
In the case of, it is judged from the protocol software A ′ whether or not the data has already been received (see step S ₂ ), and if it has been received, the process 3 (see FIG. 7) is performed, and if not, the event ends. To do.

As shown in FIG. 3, from the protocol software A'and B ', for example, the protocol software A'
When receiving the direction of the data protocol software B 'from determines the identity of the received data (step S _3), if the received data is REQ performs processing 2 (see FIG. 6). This sequence is considered when the protocol software voluntarily sends a REQ in a particular state.

On the other hand, when the received data is RESP / REJ, it is judged from the protocol software A ′ whether or not the data has already been received (see step S ₄ ), and the protocol analysis unit 3 determines, for example, the communication system A to the communication system B.
Process 3 (see FIG. 7) if line data to
And ends the event if not received.

The processes of steps S ₂ and S ₄ are performed because it is unclear which RESP / REJ of the protocol software A ', B'or the protocol analysis unit 3 is received first. .

As shown in FIG. 4, REQ is transmitted from the communication system B to the communication system A, and accordingly, R is sent from the protocol software B'to the protocol software A '.
After EQ is sent, if the time of the timer T1 becomes expired timeout, and determines whether it has received a RESP / REJ from the communication system A and the protocol software A '(step S _5, S _6, S ₇ reference ), If received from both sides, it is determined that there is no pseudo error regarding no response, and the event ends. When the RESP / REJ is not received from the communication system A only, the protocol software A ′ only, or the communication system A and the protocol software A ′, the pseudo errors 3, 4 and 5 (number 3 at this time, respectively) are received.
Numbers 4 and 5 correspond to the numbers of the items of "pseudo error" in the table shown in FIG. same as below. ) Is recorded in the pseudo error history management unit (see steps S ₈ , S ₉ and S ₁₀ ), and the error determination unit 8 is requested to perform processing (step S ₁₁ ).

The process 1 shown in FIG. 5 is executed, for example, when the REQ from the communication system A to the communication system B is received as described above. In this process 1, first, it is judged whether or not the data received by the protocol software A ′ can be transmitted (step S ₁₂ ), and if it cannot be transmitted, it is judged as a pseudo error 1 and the pseudo error history management unit 11 is judged. recorded (step S _16), requests processing to the error determining unit 8 (see step S _17). If it can be transmitted, the state and dynamic parameters of the protocol software A ′ are updated (see step S ₁₃ ), and the PDU received from the protocol analysis unit 3 is transmitted to the protocol software B ′ (see step S ₁₄ ). It starts a timer T1 for detecting a response (see step S _15).

As described above, the process 2 shown in FIG. 6 is performed when REQ is received from the protocol software A ', for example. In the specific state of the protocol software A ′, the protocol software A ′ voluntarily REQs.
May be transmitted, and this sequence corresponds to it. In this case, it is determined as the pseudo error 2 and is recorded in the pseudo error history management unit 11 (see step S ₁₈ ) and the error determination unit 8 is requested to perform the processing (see step S ₁₉ ).

As described above, the process 3 shown in FIG. 7 REQs the communication system B and the protocol software B'from the communication system B and the protocol software A '.
Is transmitted, and RESP / REJ is received from the communication system A and the protocol software A ′ as a response. In this process 3, first, the reception from the communication system A and the protocol software A ′ are both RES.
It is determined whether or not it is P (see step S ₂₀ ), and if the reception from the communication system A and the protocol software A ′ is not RESP, it is determined to be pseudo errors 6, 7 and 8, respectively, and the pseudo error history management unit. 11 (step S
₂₃ ), and requests the error determination unit 8 to perform processing (step S).
₂₅ ). If both of them are RESP, it is determined whether the parameter values are equal (see step S _21), if different, it is determined that the pseudo error 9, recorded in the pseudo error history management unit 12 (see step S ₂₄₎ , requests processing to the error determining unit 8 (see step S _25). If the parameter values are equal, sends a PDU received from the protocol analysis section 3 to the protocol software B '(see step S _22),
End the event.

The error determination unit 8 determines whether or not to update the state and the dynamic parameter. If the update is to be performed, step S ₂₂ is executed, and if not updated, step S ₂₂ is not executed.

FIG. 8 shows an example of determination of a pseudo error by comparing the operation of the protocol software A'and the operation of the communication system A. "A: REQ" in the figure means that A transmits REQ. Also, in pseudo-errors 3 to 9, "B: REQ" and "B ': REQ" indicate that B and B'transmit REQ before the operation of A and A'.

The communication protocol monitoring apparatus according to the present embodiment is particularly useful in the case of a normal sequence (in the case of pseudo errors 6 and 9) in which it is difficult to detect an error with a normal software development support tool, such as RESP returning to REQ. Also,
The advantage is that it can be judged to be incorrect.

According to the above-mentioned embodiment, the protocol of the data flowing on the line 1 is pseudo-transmitted and received between the correct protocol software A'and B'corresponding to each communication system through the intelligent processing section 6. Contrast with the protocol.

Based on the comparison result, the intelligent processing unit automatically detects the error portion of the protocol and estimates the cause.

[0037]

As described above in detail with the embodiments, according to the present invention, the protocol error portion of the data flowing on the line is automatically detected and the error portion of the communication software is pointed out according to the content of the error. be able to. Therefore, it is useful for the development support of communication software when a person who is not familiar with the protocol creates the communication software.

Further, according to the present invention, when an error is detected, both protocol software are returned to the state before the error occurred, so that in the communication which is continuously performed after the error is detected. Can also monitor for the same error detection.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the sequence of a transmission / reception processing unit in the intelligent processing unit in the above embodiment (an event generated by data reception from a protocol analysis unit).

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the sequence of a transmission / reception processing unit in the intelligent processing unit in the above embodiment (an event generated by data reception from protocol software).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the sequence of a transmission / reception processing unit in the intelligent processing unit according to the above-described embodiment (event generated by timer T1 timeout).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (process 1) showing a sequence of a transmission / reception processing unit in the intelligent processing unit in the above embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart (process 2) showing a sequence of a transmission / reception processing unit in the intelligent processing unit in the above embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart (process 3) showing a sequence of a transmission / reception processing unit in the intelligent processing unit in the above embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a table showing the types of pseudo errors determined in FIGS. 4 to 7 together with their contents.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A, B Communication system A ', B'Protocol software 1 Line 3 Protocol analysis unit 6 Intelligent processing unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An intelligent communication protocol monitor apparatus for connecting a communication line between one communication system and another communication system, and capturing data flowing through this line to detect a protocol error in the data. , A pair of protocol analysis means for analyzing the protocol by analyzing the data, and a pair of protocol software corresponding to each communication system for correctly operating the protocol negotiated between the one and the other communication systems. Managing the state and parameters of a pair of protocol software stored in the protocol software executing means and the protocol software storing means, and the protocol data from the protocol analyzing means and the corresponding protocol software storing means. An intelligent communication protocol monitor device comprising: intelligent processing means for detecting a protocol error of the communication system by comparing response data from the device and estimating the cause of the error according to the content of the error. 2. The intelligent processing unit, when communication is performed thereafter even if an error is detected, sets the state and parameters of both protocol software according to the content of the error before the error occurs. The intelligent communication protocol monitor device according to claim 1, wherein the intelligent communication protocol monitor device is returned to the above.