CA1253938A - Arrangement for path selection in a communications network - Google Patents
Arrangement for path selection in a communications networkInfo
- Publication number
- CA1253938A CA1253938A CA000468001A CA468001A CA1253938A CA 1253938 A CA1253938 A CA 1253938A CA 000468001 A CA000468001 A CA 000468001A CA 468001 A CA468001 A CA 468001A CA 1253938 A CA1253938 A CA 1253938A
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- terminal
- path selection
- selection equipment
- network
- computer
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
In an integrated network (K) for communication are connected terminals (T1-T4) and computers (P1-P4). Each terminal is capable of being linked to the desired computer which performs the desired operating task entered via the terminal. When it is activated, the terminal will cause linking to occur with a piece of path selection equipment (RI, RS, RD, RE) and the transmission to the latter of a definition of the type of work that it is wished to have carried out from the terminal. Depending on the nature of the aforementioned definition received, the path selection equipment will send back to the terminal information relating to the traffic route to be allocated in the network to the terminal when it is activated so that it can be connected to the computer concerned. The connection between the terminal and the path selection equipment is interrupted as soon as the terminal has received the aforementioned information.
In an integrated network (K) for communication are connected terminals (T1-T4) and computers (P1-P4). Each terminal is capable of being linked to the desired computer which performs the desired operating task entered via the terminal. When it is activated, the terminal will cause linking to occur with a piece of path selection equipment (RI, RS, RD, RE) and the transmission to the latter of a definition of the type of work that it is wished to have carried out from the terminal. Depending on the nature of the aforementioned definition received, the path selection equipment will send back to the terminal information relating to the traffic route to be allocated in the network to the terminal when it is activated so that it can be connected to the computer concerned. The connection between the terminal and the path selection equipment is interrupted as soon as the terminal has received the aforementioned information.
Description
S393~3 TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Arrangement for Path select;on ;n a commun;cat;ons_network The present ;nvent;on relates to an arrangement ;n a communications network, for example an ;ntegrated network for data, telephony, text and/or ;mages. The arrangement compr;ses term;nals and computers connected and/or capable of be;ng connected to the network, sa;d computers be;ng able to Perform a var;ety of operat;ng tasks. Each term;nal ;s capable of being l;nked to a des;red or random computer wh;ch w;ll perform the operating task not;f;ed from the terminal on act;vat;on.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The underly;ng concept for the use of the aforementioned terminals and computers, that ;s to say host computers or host processors, ;n connection with the aforementioned network is that each terminal shall be capable of being act;vated for the purpose of l;nking it to the one computer or to any of the computers which is able to execute the operating task which it ;s w;shed to have carried out from the term;nal, on act;vat;on, and that the computers in the netwQrk wh;ch perform the operat;ng tasks shall be ut;l;zed ir~ the most effect;ve manner poss;ble and w;thout unnecessar;ly lengthy wa;t;ng t;mes for each term;nal.
` '` ` : ' ' 125393~3 One poss;bLe means by which the above problem may be solved is to des;gn the term;nals ;n such a way that each term;nal ;s capable largely of ;ts own accord of determining and controlling the path via which a link with an unoccupied host computer can be established.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
TECHNICAL PROBLEM
The solut;on env;saged does, however, ;nvolve the use of technically compl;cated terminals which, for that reason, must be designed as complete co~puters hav;ng, for example, their own software for the internal processing of information received from and transmitted to the network.
The wish ex~sts to be able to use term;nals of s;mple des;gn for commun;cat;on with the network and the host computers, for example term;nals of the teletype k;nd w;th a recorder and a screen/pr;nt-out facility, etc. The Possibility of also connecting complicated terminals to the network, if so desired, shall also be provided.
SOLUTION
The pr;nc;pal object of the present ;nvention is to propose an arrangement which will solve, amongst other things, the problem outlined above. What may primarily be regarded as being characteristic of the novel arrangement is that each terminal is so arranged, when activated, as to cause linking with a piece of path select;on equipment and transmission to it of a definition of the type of work ;t ;s wished to have performed from the terniral.
Depend;ng on the nature of the aforement;oned def;n;t;on, the oath select;on equ;pment w;ll transm;t back to the term;nal infor~at cr relat;ng to the traff;c route to be allocated in the networ~ ~
the term;nal enabling it to be linked to a computer which is :tc~Cle of perform;ng the task. Once the term;nal has received the .
1;~5~3938 _3- 71504-8 aforementioned information in respect of the selected path, the connection between the terminal and the path selection equipment will be interrupted, allowing the terminal to utilize the infor-mation transmitted from the path selection equipment in order to effect a link of its own with the most suitable computer available at that particular time, which must, of course, be capable of performing the desired task. More specifically, the invention is characterized in that the terminal, when activated, is connected to a piece of path selection equipment and a trans-mission to the path selection equipment of a definition of thetype of work to be performed is caused by input via the terminal, and that each terminal transmits a code describing the design and capacity of the terminal, in that the path selection equipment, depending on the nature of the aforementioned definition and on said code, sends back to the terminal information relating to the traffic route to be allocated in the network to the terminal, so that it can be connected to a computer which is capable of performing the task, in that the path selection equipment or the computer sends back informationto the terminal relating to the required design and capacity of the terminal for performing the type of work in question, and in that the connection between the terminal and the path selection equipment is interrupted once the terminal has received the aforementioned information.
In further developments of the idea of invention it is proposed that the terminal shall be so arranged that, in the ~2S3938 -3a- 71504-8 event of the aforementioned activation, it will cause automatic linking to take place with the path selection equipment. Inter-ruption of the connection to the path selection equipment once the information in respect of the selected path has been trans-mitted to the terminal should preferably be performed from the terminal.
The network may incorporate one or more pieces of path se]ection equipment which for this purpose can be positioned, for example, at the outlets of an outgoing selector. It is also possible to arrange a piece of path selection equipment in one or more of the aforementioned host computers, for example in a computer with which each terminal usually operates. Each piece of path selection equipment is capable in one embodiment of being called up from a host computer, for example when the terminal is required to switch to another type of operating task, in conjunction with the rearrangement of connections of high or low priority, etc.
Each piece of path selection equipment should preferably be capable of being controlled by means of one or more monitoring organs arranged in the network and which control the path directing function of each piece of path selection equipment. In the event of it not being possible to establish communication paths from the terminal, for example because of over-loading in the network, the terminal will receive information to this effect from the path selection equipment.
lZ~3938 -3b- 71504-8 The invention also incorporates further exchanges of information between a terminal and the path selection equipment/
computers. Each terminal may, for example, receive notification indicating whether .. ~ .. . .. .
, .~Z~3B
;t ;s capable of act;ng as a rece;v;ng element ;n a g;ven operat;ng task.
The object of the ;nvention will also function in networks wh;ch represent the ;ntegrat;on of two or more networks with different network arch;tectures. In this case the network will conta;n p;eces of path select;on equ;pment wh;ch can serve each network architecture.
It will also be poss;ble ;n this ;nstance to make use of conversion equipment enabl;ng term;nals for a f;rst network arch;tecture to be utilized for communication with the computers of a second network arch;tecture and of a th;rd network arch;tecure, and so on.
The direct;on of traffic paths within the network by the p;eces of path select~on equ;pment should preferably be capable of be;ng determ;ned on the bas;s of traffic measurements performed by the computers and/or the conversion equipment of the network. The lS computers and/or the pieces of conversion equ;pment ;nfluence the pieces of path select;on equ;pment v;a central mon;tor;ng devices ;n the network.
ADVANTAGES
The invention permits the use of term;nals of s;mple des;gn at the same time as the network function in its ent;rety can be used in an optimal fash;on. The one or more Pieces of path select;on equ;pment can continue to be suppl;ed w;th information ;n respect of the load on the network and on the host computers and ;n respect of actual needs, etc. The fac;lity for the allocation of pr;or;ty to connections can be provided, and both s;mple and complicated terminals can be connected to the network, etc. The ;nvention may be applied with advantage to integrated networks which are able to serve equipment designed for mutually different network arch;tectures, in wh;ch case the use ;s also proposed of a component-saving arrangement for the p;eces of convers;on equipment which are ~sed for communicat;on between d;fferent types of equ;pment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embod;ment of an arrangement wh;ch exh;b;ts the ~2S3938 s;gn;f;cant character;st;c features of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
F;gure 1 shows in the form of a block diagram the bas;c des;gn of a commun;cat;ons network having, amongst other th;ngs, term;nals, processors and path select;on equ;pment; and F;gure Z shows in the form of a block d;agram the basic des;gn of the central monitoring organs in the network ;n accordance with Figure 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A commun;cat;ons network, for example an ;ntegrated network for data, telephony, text and/or ;mages, is ;nd;cated by K ;n F;gure 1. The des;gn of the network may be of a previously disclosed type and will accordingly not be described here in detail, but is shown only in princ;ple by means of a selector symbol V and inputs and outputs in the network.
A number of term;nals T1, TZ, T3, T4 are connected to the network via storage devices RT-~I, RT-S~ RT-~ and RT-E for the purpose of determining the path selection in the network. To the network are also connected host computers or processors P1, P2, P3 and P4, these des;gnations being able to represent not only the processors but also mail boxes, text conference equ;pment, and connect;on equ;pment to other networks, etc. The aforement;oned p;eces of equipment can also ;nclude mult;plexers and concentrators. Each of the term;nals T1-T4 shall be capable of being linked to the aforementioned p;eces of equ;pment P1-P4 for the purpose of perform;ng different operating tasks. The host computers are able ;n this respect to perform d;fferent operat;ng tasks. Two or more computers can, of course, perform the same operating task, should the need for the operating task in question to be Performed exist with;n the network. Each of the terminals ;s thus capable of being connected to one or more computers via the network.
In accordance with the invention, the des;gn ;llustrated includes pieces of specific path selection equ;pment RI, RS, RD and RE, to ,.~
- .
J 2S~393~3 which the term;nals are automatically linked v;a the network when they are act;vated. The pieces of path select;on equipment are connected to outlets ;n the selection network in accordance with Figure 1, but may, as an alternat;ve or in addition, be arranged inside or adjacent to one or more of the pieces of equipment P1-P4.
The latter case will be of interest, for example, when a terminal is used almost exclus;vely with a single processor, which is provided in this way with a piece of path selection equipmen~ of this kind.
]o In the embodiment shown, use is made of a network which provides the integration of networks with a number, being in the case illustrated three, of different network architectures. Terminals, processors and Path selection equipment are provided in this case for each of the network architectures, and also for the integrated network as such.
The term;nal T1, the storage device RT-CI for path selection ;nformat;on, the path select;on equipment RI and the processor P4 are matched to the overall ;ntegrated network architecture, referred to here as ICNA, which is the preferred designation for the Integrated Communications Network Architecture used by the Swed;sh Telecommun;cations Adm;nistration. T2, RT-S, RS and P4 are matched to a network architecture ;n accordance with SNA (System Network Architecture), which constitutes a first network arch;tecture developed for a company. T3, RT-~ RD and T2 are contained in the DCNA (D;str;buted Communication Network Architecture) network architecure, which constitutes a second network arch;tecture developed for a company. T4, RT-E, RE and P1 are conta;ned in the DECNET (Digital Equipment Computer Network) network architecture, which constitutes a third network architecture developed for a company.
In order to Permit communication between terminals and processors of different architectures, the network design includes CIS
conversion equ;pment, which is conversion equipment between ICNA
and SNA. Similarly, CIE is convers;on equipment between ICNA and DECNET, CID between ICNA and DCNA, CSI between SNA and ICNA (which ~2~i393~3 can be the same as CIS), CEI between DECNET and ICNA (which can be the same as CIE), and CDI between DCNA and ICNA (which can be the same as CID).
The aforementioned architectures SNA, DCNA and DECNET represent at the present time the most common network architectures and trace routines. ICNA overlaps all three of the aforementioned architectures and presupposes the use of OSI, on condition that OSI has been defined.
When one terminal of the aforementioned term;nals T1-T4 ;s occupied or ;s act;vated, it w;ll be connected automat;cally to the path selection equipment RI, RS, RD or RE of the group or architecture to which it belongs. The operator initiates his work at the terminal by indicating the designation of the task which he wishes to perform.
The path selection equipment translates the name of the task into path selection information which is transmitted back to the storage device of the term;nal, that is to say to one of the p;eces of path select;on equipment RT-~I, RT-S, RT-~ or RT-E. The storage equipment for the terminal concerned controls the establ;shment of the connect;on to that processor which is able to perform the task.
Each piece of path selection equipment may conveniently also be so arranged as to provide automatic switching over from one computer which is already linked, to another computer. This may be of interest if the operating task at the terminal changes, and if it is w;shed to have performed another type of work which the computer concerned is unable to execute. Another reason for the aforementioned switching over is that the computer concerned may be required to perform a task of higher priority than that with which it is involved at the time.
In a preferred embodiment one or 00re terminals are executed in ~ 30 such a way that each term;nal for each computer and/or each piece ;~ of path select;on equipment is able to transmit a code wh;ch descr;bes the characterist;cs and execution of the term;nal, for example the key arrangement, graph;cs, capab;l;t;es, colour, and pr;nt-out capab;lities, etc. The path select;on equ;pment ;s able ;n a preferred embodiment to take ;nto account the aforementioned ' :.:", terminal character;st;cs when select;ng the computer. The path selection equipment notifies the terminal of any restr1ctions on the uses of the terminal for the desired task. The path selection equipment can also notify the terminals of the type of terminal which should be used if complete processing of the task is desired.
The aforement;oned information can also be provided by the computer ;f information relating to the type of terminal is transmitted further to the computer.
D;fferent instances of trace routine convers;on may occur ;n accordance w;th the above. If the terminal and the processor are matched to the same arch;tecture and trace routine, no convers;on equipment will be linked in. Conversion equipment will be requ;red ;f either the processor or the terminal is matched to ICNA. If neither the terminal nor the processor is matched to ICNA, then -L5 two pieces of conversion equ;pment w;ll requ;re to be linked together v;a ICNA. The Table below shows the occas;ons when the d;fferent p;eces of conversion equ;pment are requ;red.
Processor: INCA SNA DCNA DECNET
Term;nal ICNA None CIS CID CIE
SNA CSI None CSI - CID CSI-CIE
DCNA CDI CDI-CIS None CDI-CIE
DECNET CEI CEI - CIS CEI-CID None The concept for the equipment illustrated contains functions for 25 the control, monitor;ng and adm;n;strat;on of the network, which ;s shown clearly ;n F;gure 2. The p;eces of path select;on equ;pment connected to the network K ;n F;gure 1 are ;nd;cated ;n Figure 2 by the des;gnat;on R. The pieces of convers;on equ;pment and the processors ;n accordance w;th F;gure 1 are ;ncluded ;n a sim;lar fash;on ;n F;gure 2 and are ;nd;cated respect;vely by the des;gnat;ons C and P. The central mon;toring organs ;n the network are symbolized by CDP (eentral Mon;tor;ng Processors). Control paths 1-6 are ;ndicated by arrows. The arrow 1 ;nd;cates the poss;bility for changing the path selection information, the blocking of certain traffic and/or the allocation of priority to '~
~2S39~8 certa;n traff;c v;a the P;eces of equ;pment R. The arrow 2 ind;cates ava;lab;lity ;nformat;on and/or traff;c statistics from the path selection equipment. The arrow 3 indicates availability information and/or traffic statistics from the conversion equipment, whereas 5 the arrow 4 ;ndicates corresponding information or statistics from the processors P. The processors can also be controlled so as to allocate pr;ority to certain traffic, as indicated by the arrow 5.
The interrupt;on of certain connections, for example those with low priority, can also be controlled; see the arrow 6.
The central mon;tor;ng processors may be of a prev;osuly d;sclosed type and may ;nclude connect;ons for a pr;nter S, a screen ~ and a keyboard TA, etc.
Changes to traffic path ;nformation shall be capable of being made from appropriate central po;nts ;n the network, cf. CDP, wh;ch w;ll arr;ve at the p;eces of path selection equ;pment R v;a separate selectors. The term;nals and the operators must ;dentify themselves to the path select;on equ;pment R so that the latter can select a path or, ;f necessary, block traff;c on the basis of its orig;n.
Processors and p;eces of convers;on equ;pment shall meter their traffic continuously and shall notify blocking s;tuations to the central mon;toring po;nts of the network, wh;ch ;n turn control the operat;on of the pa~h select;on equ;pment. The path select;on equ;pment shall be able to commun;cate w;th the central mon;tor;ng points of the network and shall not;fy any commun;cat;on requ;rements wh;ch cannot be executed. The poss;b;l;ty shall be afforded of ;nterrupt;ng connect;ons of low pr;or;ty v;a the processors from a central po;nt ;n the network, should the ;nformat;on from the path select;on equ;pment so requ;re.
The ;nvent;on ;s not restr;cted to the embod;ment descr;bed above by way of example, but may undergo mod;fcat;ons w;th;n the context of the follow;ng Patent Cla;ms and the idea of invention.
Arrangement for Path select;on ;n a commun;cat;ons_network The present ;nvent;on relates to an arrangement ;n a communications network, for example an ;ntegrated network for data, telephony, text and/or ;mages. The arrangement compr;ses term;nals and computers connected and/or capable of be;ng connected to the network, sa;d computers be;ng able to Perform a var;ety of operat;ng tasks. Each term;nal ;s capable of being l;nked to a des;red or random computer wh;ch w;ll perform the operating task not;f;ed from the terminal on act;vat;on.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The underly;ng concept for the use of the aforementioned terminals and computers, that ;s to say host computers or host processors, ;n connection with the aforementioned network is that each terminal shall be capable of being act;vated for the purpose of l;nking it to the one computer or to any of the computers which is able to execute the operating task which it ;s w;shed to have carried out from the term;nal, on act;vat;on, and that the computers in the netwQrk wh;ch perform the operat;ng tasks shall be ut;l;zed ir~ the most effect;ve manner poss;ble and w;thout unnecessar;ly lengthy wa;t;ng t;mes for each term;nal.
` '` ` : ' ' 125393~3 One poss;bLe means by which the above problem may be solved is to des;gn the term;nals ;n such a way that each term;nal ;s capable largely of ;ts own accord of determining and controlling the path via which a link with an unoccupied host computer can be established.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
TECHNICAL PROBLEM
The solut;on env;saged does, however, ;nvolve the use of technically compl;cated terminals which, for that reason, must be designed as complete co~puters hav;ng, for example, their own software for the internal processing of information received from and transmitted to the network.
The wish ex~sts to be able to use term;nals of s;mple des;gn for commun;cat;on with the network and the host computers, for example term;nals of the teletype k;nd w;th a recorder and a screen/pr;nt-out facility, etc. The Possibility of also connecting complicated terminals to the network, if so desired, shall also be provided.
SOLUTION
The pr;nc;pal object of the present ;nvention is to propose an arrangement which will solve, amongst other things, the problem outlined above. What may primarily be regarded as being characteristic of the novel arrangement is that each terminal is so arranged, when activated, as to cause linking with a piece of path select;on equipment and transmission to it of a definition of the type of work ;t ;s wished to have performed from the terniral.
Depend;ng on the nature of the aforement;oned def;n;t;on, the oath select;on equ;pment w;ll transm;t back to the term;nal infor~at cr relat;ng to the traff;c route to be allocated in the networ~ ~
the term;nal enabling it to be linked to a computer which is :tc~Cle of perform;ng the task. Once the term;nal has received the .
1;~5~3938 _3- 71504-8 aforementioned information in respect of the selected path, the connection between the terminal and the path selection equipment will be interrupted, allowing the terminal to utilize the infor-mation transmitted from the path selection equipment in order to effect a link of its own with the most suitable computer available at that particular time, which must, of course, be capable of performing the desired task. More specifically, the invention is characterized in that the terminal, when activated, is connected to a piece of path selection equipment and a trans-mission to the path selection equipment of a definition of thetype of work to be performed is caused by input via the terminal, and that each terminal transmits a code describing the design and capacity of the terminal, in that the path selection equipment, depending on the nature of the aforementioned definition and on said code, sends back to the terminal information relating to the traffic route to be allocated in the network to the terminal, so that it can be connected to a computer which is capable of performing the task, in that the path selection equipment or the computer sends back informationto the terminal relating to the required design and capacity of the terminal for performing the type of work in question, and in that the connection between the terminal and the path selection equipment is interrupted once the terminal has received the aforementioned information.
In further developments of the idea of invention it is proposed that the terminal shall be so arranged that, in the ~2S3938 -3a- 71504-8 event of the aforementioned activation, it will cause automatic linking to take place with the path selection equipment. Inter-ruption of the connection to the path selection equipment once the information in respect of the selected path has been trans-mitted to the terminal should preferably be performed from the terminal.
The network may incorporate one or more pieces of path se]ection equipment which for this purpose can be positioned, for example, at the outlets of an outgoing selector. It is also possible to arrange a piece of path selection equipment in one or more of the aforementioned host computers, for example in a computer with which each terminal usually operates. Each piece of path selection equipment is capable in one embodiment of being called up from a host computer, for example when the terminal is required to switch to another type of operating task, in conjunction with the rearrangement of connections of high or low priority, etc.
Each piece of path selection equipment should preferably be capable of being controlled by means of one or more monitoring organs arranged in the network and which control the path directing function of each piece of path selection equipment. In the event of it not being possible to establish communication paths from the terminal, for example because of over-loading in the network, the terminal will receive information to this effect from the path selection equipment.
lZ~3938 -3b- 71504-8 The invention also incorporates further exchanges of information between a terminal and the path selection equipment/
computers. Each terminal may, for example, receive notification indicating whether .. ~ .. . .. .
, .~Z~3B
;t ;s capable of act;ng as a rece;v;ng element ;n a g;ven operat;ng task.
The object of the ;nvention will also function in networks wh;ch represent the ;ntegrat;on of two or more networks with different network arch;tectures. In this case the network will conta;n p;eces of path select;on equ;pment wh;ch can serve each network architecture.
It will also be poss;ble ;n this ;nstance to make use of conversion equipment enabl;ng term;nals for a f;rst network arch;tecture to be utilized for communication with the computers of a second network arch;tecture and of a th;rd network arch;tecure, and so on.
The direct;on of traffic paths within the network by the p;eces of path select~on equ;pment should preferably be capable of be;ng determ;ned on the bas;s of traffic measurements performed by the computers and/or the conversion equipment of the network. The lS computers and/or the pieces of conversion equ;pment ;nfluence the pieces of path select;on equ;pment v;a central mon;tor;ng devices ;n the network.
ADVANTAGES
The invention permits the use of term;nals of s;mple des;gn at the same time as the network function in its ent;rety can be used in an optimal fash;on. The one or more Pieces of path select;on equ;pment can continue to be suppl;ed w;th information ;n respect of the load on the network and on the host computers and ;n respect of actual needs, etc. The fac;lity for the allocation of pr;or;ty to connections can be provided, and both s;mple and complicated terminals can be connected to the network, etc. The ;nvention may be applied with advantage to integrated networks which are able to serve equipment designed for mutually different network arch;tectures, in wh;ch case the use ;s also proposed of a component-saving arrangement for the p;eces of convers;on equipment which are ~sed for communicat;on between d;fferent types of equ;pment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embod;ment of an arrangement wh;ch exh;b;ts the ~2S3938 s;gn;f;cant character;st;c features of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
F;gure 1 shows in the form of a block diagram the bas;c des;gn of a commun;cat;ons network having, amongst other th;ngs, term;nals, processors and path select;on equ;pment; and F;gure Z shows in the form of a block d;agram the basic des;gn of the central monitoring organs in the network ;n accordance with Figure 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A commun;cat;ons network, for example an ;ntegrated network for data, telephony, text and/or ;mages, is ;nd;cated by K ;n F;gure 1. The des;gn of the network may be of a previously disclosed type and will accordingly not be described here in detail, but is shown only in princ;ple by means of a selector symbol V and inputs and outputs in the network.
A number of term;nals T1, TZ, T3, T4 are connected to the network via storage devices RT-~I, RT-S~ RT-~ and RT-E for the purpose of determining the path selection in the network. To the network are also connected host computers or processors P1, P2, P3 and P4, these des;gnations being able to represent not only the processors but also mail boxes, text conference equ;pment, and connect;on equ;pment to other networks, etc. The aforement;oned p;eces of equipment can also ;nclude mult;plexers and concentrators. Each of the term;nals T1-T4 shall be capable of being linked to the aforementioned p;eces of equ;pment P1-P4 for the purpose of perform;ng different operating tasks. The host computers are able ;n this respect to perform d;fferent operat;ng tasks. Two or more computers can, of course, perform the same operating task, should the need for the operating task in question to be Performed exist with;n the network. Each of the terminals ;s thus capable of being connected to one or more computers via the network.
In accordance with the invention, the des;gn ;llustrated includes pieces of specific path selection equ;pment RI, RS, RD and RE, to ,.~
- .
J 2S~393~3 which the term;nals are automatically linked v;a the network when they are act;vated. The pieces of path select;on equipment are connected to outlets ;n the selection network in accordance with Figure 1, but may, as an alternat;ve or in addition, be arranged inside or adjacent to one or more of the pieces of equipment P1-P4.
The latter case will be of interest, for example, when a terminal is used almost exclus;vely with a single processor, which is provided in this way with a piece of path selection equipmen~ of this kind.
]o In the embodiment shown, use is made of a network which provides the integration of networks with a number, being in the case illustrated three, of different network architectures. Terminals, processors and Path selection equipment are provided in this case for each of the network architectures, and also for the integrated network as such.
The term;nal T1, the storage device RT-CI for path selection ;nformat;on, the path select;on equipment RI and the processor P4 are matched to the overall ;ntegrated network architecture, referred to here as ICNA, which is the preferred designation for the Integrated Communications Network Architecture used by the Swed;sh Telecommun;cations Adm;nistration. T2, RT-S, RS and P4 are matched to a network architecture ;n accordance with SNA (System Network Architecture), which constitutes a first network arch;tecture developed for a company. T3, RT-~ RD and T2 are contained in the DCNA (D;str;buted Communication Network Architecture) network architecure, which constitutes a second network arch;tecture developed for a company. T4, RT-E, RE and P1 are conta;ned in the DECNET (Digital Equipment Computer Network) network architecture, which constitutes a third network architecture developed for a company.
In order to Permit communication between terminals and processors of different architectures, the network design includes CIS
conversion equ;pment, which is conversion equipment between ICNA
and SNA. Similarly, CIE is convers;on equipment between ICNA and DECNET, CID between ICNA and DCNA, CSI between SNA and ICNA (which ~2~i393~3 can be the same as CIS), CEI between DECNET and ICNA (which can be the same as CIE), and CDI between DCNA and ICNA (which can be the same as CID).
The aforementioned architectures SNA, DCNA and DECNET represent at the present time the most common network architectures and trace routines. ICNA overlaps all three of the aforementioned architectures and presupposes the use of OSI, on condition that OSI has been defined.
When one terminal of the aforementioned term;nals T1-T4 ;s occupied or ;s act;vated, it w;ll be connected automat;cally to the path selection equipment RI, RS, RD or RE of the group or architecture to which it belongs. The operator initiates his work at the terminal by indicating the designation of the task which he wishes to perform.
The path selection equipment translates the name of the task into path selection information which is transmitted back to the storage device of the term;nal, that is to say to one of the p;eces of path select;on equipment RT-~I, RT-S, RT-~ or RT-E. The storage equipment for the terminal concerned controls the establ;shment of the connect;on to that processor which is able to perform the task.
Each piece of path selection equipment may conveniently also be so arranged as to provide automatic switching over from one computer which is already linked, to another computer. This may be of interest if the operating task at the terminal changes, and if it is w;shed to have performed another type of work which the computer concerned is unable to execute. Another reason for the aforementioned switching over is that the computer concerned may be required to perform a task of higher priority than that with which it is involved at the time.
In a preferred embodiment one or 00re terminals are executed in ~ 30 such a way that each term;nal for each computer and/or each piece ;~ of path select;on equipment is able to transmit a code wh;ch descr;bes the characterist;cs and execution of the term;nal, for example the key arrangement, graph;cs, capab;l;t;es, colour, and pr;nt-out capab;lities, etc. The path select;on equ;pment ;s able ;n a preferred embodiment to take ;nto account the aforementioned ' :.:", terminal character;st;cs when select;ng the computer. The path selection equipment notifies the terminal of any restr1ctions on the uses of the terminal for the desired task. The path selection equipment can also notify the terminals of the type of terminal which should be used if complete processing of the task is desired.
The aforement;oned information can also be provided by the computer ;f information relating to the type of terminal is transmitted further to the computer.
D;fferent instances of trace routine convers;on may occur ;n accordance w;th the above. If the terminal and the processor are matched to the same arch;tecture and trace routine, no convers;on equipment will be linked in. Conversion equipment will be requ;red ;f either the processor or the terminal is matched to ICNA. If neither the terminal nor the processor is matched to ICNA, then -L5 two pieces of conversion equ;pment w;ll requ;re to be linked together v;a ICNA. The Table below shows the occas;ons when the d;fferent p;eces of conversion equ;pment are requ;red.
Processor: INCA SNA DCNA DECNET
Term;nal ICNA None CIS CID CIE
SNA CSI None CSI - CID CSI-CIE
DCNA CDI CDI-CIS None CDI-CIE
DECNET CEI CEI - CIS CEI-CID None The concept for the equipment illustrated contains functions for 25 the control, monitor;ng and adm;n;strat;on of the network, which ;s shown clearly ;n F;gure 2. The p;eces of path select;on equ;pment connected to the network K ;n F;gure 1 are ;nd;cated ;n Figure 2 by the des;gnat;on R. The pieces of convers;on equ;pment and the processors ;n accordance w;th F;gure 1 are ;ncluded ;n a sim;lar fash;on ;n F;gure 2 and are ;nd;cated respect;vely by the des;gnat;ons C and P. The central mon;toring organs ;n the network are symbolized by CDP (eentral Mon;tor;ng Processors). Control paths 1-6 are ;ndicated by arrows. The arrow 1 ;nd;cates the poss;bility for changing the path selection information, the blocking of certain traffic and/or the allocation of priority to '~
~2S39~8 certa;n traff;c v;a the P;eces of equ;pment R. The arrow 2 ind;cates ava;lab;lity ;nformat;on and/or traff;c statistics from the path selection equipment. The arrow 3 indicates availability information and/or traffic statistics from the conversion equipment, whereas 5 the arrow 4 ;ndicates corresponding information or statistics from the processors P. The processors can also be controlled so as to allocate pr;ority to certain traffic, as indicated by the arrow 5.
The interrupt;on of certain connections, for example those with low priority, can also be controlled; see the arrow 6.
The central mon;tor;ng processors may be of a prev;osuly d;sclosed type and may ;nclude connect;ons for a pr;nter S, a screen ~ and a keyboard TA, etc.
Changes to traffic path ;nformation shall be capable of being made from appropriate central po;nts ;n the network, cf. CDP, wh;ch w;ll arr;ve at the p;eces of path selection equ;pment R v;a separate selectors. The term;nals and the operators must ;dentify themselves to the path select;on equ;pment R so that the latter can select a path or, ;f necessary, block traff;c on the basis of its orig;n.
Processors and p;eces of convers;on equ;pment shall meter their traffic continuously and shall notify blocking s;tuations to the central mon;toring po;nts of the network, wh;ch ;n turn control the operat;on of the pa~h select;on equ;pment. The path select;on equ;pment shall be able to commun;cate w;th the central mon;tor;ng points of the network and shall not;fy any commun;cat;on requ;rements wh;ch cannot be executed. The poss;b;l;ty shall be afforded of ;nterrupt;ng connect;ons of low pr;or;ty v;a the processors from a central po;nt ;n the network, should the ;nformat;on from the path select;on equ;pment so requ;re.
The ;nvent;on ;s not restr;cted to the embod;ment descr;bed above by way of example, but may undergo mod;fcat;ons w;th;n the context of the follow;ng Patent Cla;ms and the idea of invention.
Claims (8)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A communications system comprising a plurality of terminals and computers connected to a communications network, with each terminal being connectable via the network to a desired computer which performs a desired operation task entered via the terminal, characterized in that the terminal, when activated, is connected to a piece of path selection equipment and a trans-mission to the path selection equipment of a definition of the type of work to be performed is caused by input via the terminal, and that each terminal transmits a code describing the design and capacity of the terminal, in that the path selection equipment, depending on the nature of the aforementioned definition and on said code, sends back to the terminal information relating to the traffic route to be allocated in the network to the terminal, so that it can be connected to a computer which is capable of performing the task, in that the path selection equipment or the computer sends back information to the terminal relating to the required design and capacity of the terminal for performing the type of work in question, and in that the connection between the terminal and the path selection equipment is interrupted once the terminal has received the aforementioned information.
2. A system in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that each of the computers incorporates a piece of path selection equipment especially designed for the respective terminal with which it is mainly used.
3. A system in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that each piece of path selection equipment is controllable by means of one or more monitoring means arranged in the network and controlling the path directing function of each piece of path selection equipment.
4. A system in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that each piece of path selection equipment includes means to notify a calling terminal whenever a required connection of the activated terminal cannot be executed.
5. A system in accordance with claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the path selection equipment is arranged to control the aforementioned monitoring means so as to interrupt a connection having a low priority.
6. A system in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each terminal incorporates a storage device for path selec-tion information.
7. A system in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each piece of path selection equipment is switchably arr-anged in such a way that automatic switching will take place from any already linked computer to another computer, when the linked computer is unable to execute a particular type of task and when the other computer is able to perform the task.
8. A system in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the terminal transmits information to the path selection equipment, the information describing the characteristics of the terminal, the path selection equipment taking account of these characteristics when linking the terminal to a computer.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000468001A CA1253938A (en) | 1984-11-16 | 1984-11-16 | Arrangement for path selection in a communications network |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000468001A CA1253938A (en) | 1984-11-16 | 1984-11-16 | Arrangement for path selection in a communications network |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1253938A true CA1253938A (en) | 1989-05-09 |
Family
ID=4129163
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000468001A Expired CA1253938A (en) | 1984-11-16 | 1984-11-16 | Arrangement for path selection in a communications network |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1253938A (en) |
-
1984
- 1984-11-16 CA CA000468001A patent/CA1253938A/en not_active Expired
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