JP2000252988A - Exchange system, controller for the exchange system and method for configuring them - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an exchange system suitably interconnecting a plurality of kinds of existing communication networks, a multi-processor system of a configuration executing interconnection control and exchange control for the communication networks at a high speed, and a control method of the exchange system by means of a simple configuration and a simple procedure. SOLUTION: The exchange system is provided with an ATM switch 10 that interconnects existing communication networks to exchange asynchronously signals by means of cells of a fixed length, various communication network interfaces interconnecting each communication network with the switch, converting/inversely converting signals/cells into cells/signals from each communication network and applying conversion/inverse conversion to a control signal and a control procedure from each communication network to an internal signal and an internal procedure of the exchange system, and a control section of multi-processor configuration that connects a plurality of processors whose functions are distributed depending on contents of control to the ATM switch 10 respectively, communicates a control signal to each communication network interface to conduct exchange control required for inter- network connection or the like. The communication between the multi-processor is executed by an ATM switch exclusively for other message transfer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a switching system, and more particularly to a multimedia system suitable for handling a plurality of types of media (voice / image / data) communicated at various speeds via various media. (Hardware configuration / operating system configuration) and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In today's digital communication network, a packet communication network for carrying a signal by putting a signal on a variable-length packet indicated in "Basic knowledge of data exchange" published by the Telecommunications Association, and "Gentle Communication" issued by the Telecommunications Association. Digital switching ”, a time-division communication network (hereinafter, referred to as a“ time-division communication network ”) that carries a signal in a time-division time slot within a synchronized frame.
An STM (Synchronous Transfer Mode) communication network), an asynchronous transfer mode communication network (hereinafter referred to as an ATM) that carries a signal by putting a signal on a fixed-length packet called a cell called "B-ISDN picture book reader" published by Ohmsha. (Async
hronous Transfer Mode), and
Various types such as an IP network (Internet) in which a signal is placed on a variable-length packet called an IP packet shown in "Master Ring TCP / IP" issued by Ohm and an IP packet is communicated according to a procedure called an Internet Protocol (IP). Audio, video and data media are communicated over a communication network. Also, the medium for transmitting the signal
In addition to conventional wired media such as metallic wires and optical fibers, the use of wireless as a signal transmission medium, such as the mobile communication network shown in the “Mobile Communication System” published by Kagaku Shimbun, is rapidly increasing. ing. This mobile communication network also has the ST as shown in the "Mobile Communication Handbook" issued by Ohmsha.
Like the M communication network, PDC and PHS communication networks that communicate by putting signals in time slots and modulate using different codes for each signal as shown in "Easy Digital Mobile Communication" issued by the Telecommunications Association. CDMA communication networks for communication are evolving.

[0003]

The actual communication networks and communication systems described above have been independently developed and introduced, and the signal formats (speed / format) and communication procedures (signal system, protocol, etc.) And so on). In addition, since the characteristics of the communication network are different, the communication service to be provided and the control mechanism for providing the service (for example, the configuration of an operation system, the configuration of a hardware / software interface, and the function and configuration of communication application software) are also required. Differences exist.

A communication network user who transmits and receives information by using a communication network, and a provider that provides a communication network, eliminate (or absorb) the differences between the communication networks described above. The ability to communicate with the other party using a communication service that can optimally communicate information with the device (terminal) you want to use when you want to use it without worrying about the communication equipment improves the usability of the communication equipment and reduces the communication cost, It is desired to lead to social development and contribution.

[0005] For this reason, "CTRON" issued by TRON Association
As described in “Overview-Introduction / Common Rules-”, the above-described multiple types of media (voice / image / data) and communication networks (S
Although an integrated communication network that can handle TM / ATM or wired / wireless in an integrated manner is also being studied, it is only a part of media that is integrated and processed. Absent. Indeed, it is possible to perform interworking between networks that integrate various communication networks as described above, and networks that enable communication by interconnecting with simple control by absorbing differences between communication networks It is required to provide a simple communication network / communication device (mainly a switching system) and a control method thereof.

Further, focusing on application software developed in each communication network, it is a valuable property unique to a communication network (developer) developed with a great deal of man-hours, and includes a hardware configuration and a basic software configuration. There is also a desire to use this even if it changes. That is, there is a demand that existing application software can be used as it is even when interworking a plurality of communication networks.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems for realizing integration or interconnection of existing communication networks.

Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a switching system suitable for configuring a communication network for realizing integration or interconnection of existing communication networks and a control method therefor with a simple configuration and procedure. Is the purpose.

That is, while existing communication networks are kept as they are, the existing communication networks are connected to each other so as to make full use of the communication capabilities and services provided originally by the communication networks, and the interconnection and communication services are connected. It performs necessary signal conversion, exchange, or control processing to implement the provision, and from the terminals of each existing communication network, when desired, an exchange system for providing information to a desired destination and in a desired medium. It is an object of the present invention to provide the control method with a simple configuration and procedure.

In constructing the above-described switching system, it is assumed that the scale of the switching device becomes large and traffic for providing various forms of services from a plurality of types of networks is concentrated. Therefore, the control mechanism of the switching system includes basic control functions such as signal processing and communication processing control such as various and enormous call connection control and inter-network signal conversion, as well as the switching system resource management function, operation and To provide a control device and control method (processor for exchange control and control software) that executes maintenance and monitoring functions at high speed and reliably without deteriorating the performance of the existing communication network, in a configuration that is easy to expand and change. That is the object of the present invention.

Specifically, the present invention also provides a control device and a signal processing device using a multiprocessor necessary for realizing a switching system suitable for handling multimedia, and also provides a control method therefor. Is the purpose. It is another object of the present invention to provide means for optimally distributing functions and loads of the control device and the signal device.

In order to realize a switching system suitable for handling multimedia, a procedure for exchanging control signals with various networks and a signal exchanged in this procedure are processed and communicated to the processor. And an interface device for converting various signals transmitted and received between various networks into a uniform format in the switching system. The present invention also provides a switching system, a communication network, a signal switching method, and a control method of a communication network, which can be interconnected with various communication networks and have a configuration that is versatile and easily expandable and changeable. It is an object of the invention.

[0013]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a switching system according to the present invention provides a fixed-length packet (cell) as a switch for connecting between networks and exchanging signals.
ATM switch for asynchronously exchanging signals, connecting the switch to each communication network and converting / inverting a signal from the communication network into a cell, and converting a control signal and a control procedure from each communication network into the switching system. Various communication network interfaces for converting / inverting to signals and procedures for use. The control unit for controlling the switching system is configured to connect each of a plurality of processors, whose functions are distributed according to the control contents, to the ATM switch. It is configured to perform exchange control and the like. An ATM dedicated to message transfer between processors different from the ATM switch is provided between the plurality of processors.
High-speed message transfer processing between processors with function / load distribution by interconnecting via switches,
In addition, the configuration does not increase the load of the ATM switch for exchanging signals for communication between networks.

[0014] The control unit provides a communication service of an existing network so that the communication service provided by the various communication networks can be continuously processed or converted into a communication service suitable for another communication network. When the application software to be introduced is introduced, it is provided with the application conversion software for absorbing the difference between the software configuration and functions and the interface conversion means of the operation system of the exchange system body. With this configuration, even if the application software is added or changed, it is absorbed and operated to convert and provide various communication services.

More specifically, the control unit includes a plurality of processors, and executes an independent function for each processor. The independent functions include a function of managing resources of the entire switching system and a function of maintaining and operating the switching system (a processor having this function has an interface for communicating with an externally provided maintenance and operation center. ), A function of processing a common channel signal (this processor has an interface function with a common channel signal network), and a function of processing a multimedia call. Among them, the function of processing a call can be processed by distributing the load among a plurality of processors.

Further, in the multiprocessor configuration according to the present invention, a dedicated ATM switch is provided as a device for transferring messages between processors, and this device directly connects all the processors via a line, and stores the address in the cell header address. Based on this, messages were exchanged. Further, a routing table for this exchange is set in advance when the exchange system is started up, and is exchanged based on this routing table, thereby enabling high-speed transfer processing.

Each processor is also connected to an ATM switch for exchanging various signals, and is configured to be able to directly exchange signals with devices in the exchange system on an in-channel.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A switching system according to the present invention, a configuration of a communication network using the switching system, switching control, and an embodiment of communication network control will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the conventional integrated switching system, there are restrictions on the communication networks to be interconnected and the types of signals that can be handled. However, the switching system of the present invention interfaces with each communication network and establishes a connection between each communication network. ATM transmission and reception
It has a function of converting to cells, a procedure for transmitting and receiving control signals necessary for information transfer between each communication network, and a function for terminating the signals. Information is transferred, and information to be transferred between the communication networks is transmitted to the AT.
By exchanging with the M switch, it is possible to interconnect a plurality of different communication networks.

Further, in the switching system of the present invention, in order to process the control signals of the various communication networks as described above and interconnect them, the control unit has a multiprocessor configuration including a plurality of processors. The functions and additions are dispersed, and high-speed and reliable control can be easily realized.

In the embodiments of the present invention described below, the interconnection between an ATM communication network and an STM communication network is mainly described as an example, but the switching system of the present invention and the switching system using the same are used. The communication network and the control method can be applied to interconnection between other types of communication networks such as an ATM communication network and an IP communication network, and an STM communication network and an IP communication network.

FIG. 1 is a network configuration diagram showing a configuration example of a communication network using the switching system of the present invention. The communication network is a multimedia communication network 100 including the switching system 1 of the present invention.
An ATM communication network (for example, a cell relay network) 101 for transmitting and receiving information in an ATM cell, and an STM communication network (for example, NT) for transmitting and receiving information in time-division multiplexed time slots.
Digital switching network and INS64 communication network provided by T) 1
02, IP communication network (for example, OCN provided by NTT) 103 for transmitting and receiving information in IP packets, PDC / PH
A mobile communication network 104 such as S is connected.
The switching system 1 of the present invention converts signals including information communicated between the user terminals 106 (or CS) accommodated in each communication network, and analyzes and converts control signals such as connection requests. By doing so, connection between different communication networks is performed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the switching system of the present invention. Switching system 1 of the present invention
Are various information (voice, image, data, etc.) transmitted and received between users converted to ATM cells, and between a processor of a control unit 60 (details will be described later) and each device (communication network or communication network interface device). Control information transmitted and received by
ATM which is exchanged with a signal having a configuration included in the information section of a TM cell
A switch 10, an ATM interface having an interface function with an ATM communication network (hereinafter, referred to as ATMIF) 20, and an STM interface having an interface function with an STM communication network (hereinafter, referred to as STMIF)
30, an IP interface (hereinafter, referred to as IPIF) 40 having an interface function with the Internet,
A signal control device (hereinafter, referred to as SIG) 50 having a function of transmitting and receiving control signals to and from each communication network; controlling the entire switching system; processing of call control signals exchanged with each communication network; and switching control And a trunk 70 having functions necessary for realizing various services.

Since this switching system connects various communication networks, it is preferable that the ATMSW 10 be a switch having a large capacity and no cell loss.
The use of the common buffer type ATM switch disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1669 or the cell division type ATM switch disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-98917 makes it possible to realize an economical and highly reliable switching system. In this specification, a signal having a configuration in which the control information and the like are included in an information section of an ATM cell may be simply referred to as an in-channel.

When there is a call from the terminal 106-3 of the ATM communication network 101 to the terminal 106-1 of the STM communication network 102, a signal for controlling the connection is sent from the ATMIF 20 to the ATMS.
It is input to the control unit 60 via W10 and SIG50.
When the control unit 60 confirms the availability of the terminal 106-1 of the STM communication network 102 by the call connection control, the AT
MIF10 and STMIF30 are set and controlled.
ATMSW1 between ATMIF20 and STMIF30
It operates so that information between terminals can be exchanged and converted via 0 to be transmitted and received. If there is a connection request from the terminal 106-3 to the Internet 103, the IPIF 40 is selected instead of the STMIF 30, and the same operation is performed. Also,
A necessary talkie or trunk can be selected from the trunks 70 during communication control and connected to each communication network interface.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the switching system according to the present invention. In particular, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 60 constituting the switching system in detail. The control unit 60 of the switching system 1 of the present invention is provided externally with a resource management processor (hereinafter referred to as RMP) 640 having a function of managing resources of the entire switching system 1 and a function of performing maintenance and operation of the switching system. And operation and maintenance processor (hereinafter referred to as OMP) 65 having an interface function for communicating with the maintenance and operation center
0, a common line signal processor (hereinafter referred to as a CSP) 62 having a function of processing a common line signal specified by the ITU-T recommendation and an interface function with a common line signal network
0, a call processing processor (hereinafter referred to as CLP) 630 for realizing a switching control function of a multimedia call by terminating a call control signal from each communication network. The overall control was adopted. More specifically, a configuration is provided in which a dedicated ATM switch (hereinafter referred to as an ATM hub) 610 for transferring a message exchanged between the processors is provided, and the switching system 1 is controlled by connecting the processors. Note that C
The LP can be composed of a plurality of processors according to the capacity (load) of the switching system, and the load can be distributed among the plurality of CLPs. ATM hub 61
The switch used for 0 connects the processors and does not require a switch having a large capacity as compared with the ATMSW 10. Therefore, a switch similar to the ATMSW 10 with a reduced capacity may be used.

The switching system 1 of the present invention operates as follows, taking as an example the communication between the ATM network and the STM network described briefly with reference to FIG. (1) When there is a call from the ATM communication network 101 to the STM communication network 102, the ATMI receiving the signal for controlling the connection
F20 converts this control signal into ATM cell-B1100 format and inputs it to CLP 630 in-channel. More specifically, the control signal paths CP1 and CP
2 transfers the cell 1100. If there are a plurality of CLPs 630, the CLP 6 specified by the RMP 640
The respective devices are set so that the ATM cell-B1100 is input to 30.

(2) The selected CLP 630 performs call connection control in cooperation with each processor in which functions are distributed.
The message exchanged between the processors is converted into an ATM cell-C1200 format and transferred using the message transfer paths MP1 and MP2 of the ATM hub 610. In this embodiment, messages are exchanged between the CSP 620 and the RMP 640 to perform call connection control. If the connection with the STM communication network 102 is possible, the setting and control of the ATMIF 10 and the STMIF 30 are performed by in-channel. Specifically, ATMS
The cell 1100 is connected to the control signal paths CP1 to CP3 of W10.
Transfer and set. (Details will be described separately with reference to FIG. 7).

(3) Thereafter, the ATMIF 20 and the STM
It operates so that information between terminals can be exchanged and converted with the IF 30 via the ATMSW 10 and transmitted and received.
Specifically, the user information path SP of the ATMSW 10
ATM cell -A1 containing information to be communicated in SP1 and SP2
000 are exchanged, and the ATM cell-A
1000 and STM signal conversion.

According to the switching system of the present invention, the ATM hub 610 is provided to connect the processors whose functions are distributed,
Since the message transfer between the processors required for the operation of the multiprocessor is configured as an ATM cell and executed,
Messages between processors can be transferred at high speed, and processing delay, which is a problem in a multiprocessor configuration, can be reduced. Also, since the message is converted into ATM cells and transferred, each processor sets the destination of the processor to which the message is to be sent to the AT.
Just add it to the header of the M cell and send it as a cell,
The ATM hub (switch) self-routes the ATM cell based on the information in the header and transfers the ATM cell to the destination processor. In other words, the message transmission / reception control of each processor is simplified, and a control unit excellent in high speed and reliability can be configured. Further, since this ATM hub is provided separately from the ATM switch for exchanging information between users and operates independently, messages between processors necessary for interconnecting various communication networks are transmitted by A.
The use of TM switch resources does not occur. That is, the ATM switch can allocate all resources for exchanging information between users to be transmitted and received between communication networks, except when the in-channel communication of the control signal is temporarily executed. It is a large-capacity switch that does not easily cause cell loss or loss, and a switching system suitable for connecting various communication networks can be easily provided.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of an ATM logical path set via an ATM switch for transmitting and receiving control signals in-channel between each processor and each device (communication network interface or the like) constituting the switching system. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example.

The RMP 640 has a path (C
P3-1 to CP3-4) are set to directly control and manage the configuration of each device. The OMP 650 also sets paths (CP4-1 to CP4-4) between all the devices, and directly monitors and maintains the monitoring / maintenance / operation information with an external maintenance / operation center for maintaining / operating the switching system. Send and receive In addition, call connection control information is transmitted from each communication interface to the SI.
It is transmitted to and received from the CLP 630 via the path CP2 via the G50 (CP1 and CP3 in FIG. 3 are omitted). Through these paths, the control ATM cell-B 1100 shown in FIG. 3 is transferred.

As described above, since each processor directly establishes a logical path between itself and a device, control signals do not concentrate on one device, so that there is no bottleneck in the communication path of control signals. There are features. Since these paths pass through the ATM switch 10 for exchanging information, loss of control signals may occur due to a temporary increase in information exchanged by the ATM switch. In addition, the nature (length: the number of cells transmitted and received in the in-channel, the priority) of the control signal also differs depending on the device and the control content. In order to transmit and receive these ATM cell signals by one means, it is necessary to adopt a general and highly reliable procedure. In the switching system of the present embodiment, AAL5 / HDL defined by the ITU-T recommendation
A configuration is adopted in which the cell is formed and transmitted and received in C.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of an ATM path set via an ATM hub for transmitting and receiving messages between processors of the switching system of the present invention.
In the switching system of the present embodiment, the paths MP1 to MP6 are connected to the ATM hub 610 so that all processors can directly communicate with each other.
Is set. The concept of the path setting is the same as that of the in-channel transmission / reception ATM path set between the processor and the devices constituting the switching system described with reference to FIG. 4, but the format of the message exchanged between the processors is fixed. In addition, since a dedicated ATM hub is provided, it is not affected by other information, that is, cell loss does not occur. Therefore, a simple procedure and a cell configuration are simplified compared to the procedure and the cell configuration defined in the ITU-T recommendation. High-speed transfer was made possible using the configuration. In order to make this interface for a multi-vendor, a procedure and a cell configuration defined in the ITU-T recommendation may be adopted.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of each processor constituting a multiprocessor used in the control unit of the switching system according to the present invention. The processor used in the switching system of the present invention includes a main processor 651, memories 654 and 652, a maintenance interface 65B, etc. as shown in FIG.
1. The processor connected via the system bus 662
A processor which has an inter-processor ATM link control unit (hereinafter referred to as an ATM link) 656 having an interface function with the M hub 610 and an in-channel communication control unit 659 having an interface function with the ATM switch 10; An ATM link for transferring a message between them is connected to a general-purpose bus 661 close to the processor chip 651. ATM link 656 is
When the main processor 651 transfers a message to another processor, the message is transferred to the ATM cell-C1200.
, The destination information of the predetermined destination processor is inserted into the header, and the header information is transmitted to the ATM hub 610. When the ATM cell is received from the ATM hub 510, the message of the payload portion is taken out and the main processor 651 is extracted.
It works to transfer to. As described above, the ATM hub self-routes the cell containing the message based on the information of the header of the ATM cell-C, so that the message is transferred at high speed and reliably. With this configuration, a message exchanged between the processors can be transferred within the processor with low delay, and the total inter-processor transfer delay can be reduced.

The in-channel control unit 659 for transmitting / receiving a control signal to / from a device (such as a communication network interface) in-channel has a low control processing speed on the device side. Even if the control information transmitted and received through the in-channel is processed, a great effect cannot be obtained from the processing of the entire processor. Therefore, the system bus 6 serving as the IO device inside the processor is not used.
62.

When the present processor is used as the CSP 620, an interface with a common channel signal network defined by the ITU-T recommendation is provided.
When used as 0, an interface with an externally installed maintenance / operation center is provided.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the switching system suitable for multimedia according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a call setting operation for interconnecting an ATM communication network and an STM communication network and exchanging multimedia. In particular, FIG. 1 shows a multiprocessor having an ATM hub employed in the switching system of the present invention. The operation of the switching system will be described mainly with respect to the operation.

(1) When a call is made from the ATM communication network 101 to the STM communication network, the ATM communication network sends a signaling ATM cell 2000 (hereinafter, a control signal and a control signal) storing a SETUP message created by the SSCOP procedure. ) Is sent to the ATMIF 20 connected to the ATM communication network.

(2) The control signal reaches the SIG 50 in which the logical path (CP1, FIG. 3) is set in advance via the ATMIF 20 via the ATM switch 20.

(3) The SIG 50 converts the control signal into a format determined in the switching system (110 in FIG. 3).
0), and in the processor CLP 630 determined by the instruction of the RMP 640, the A
The transfer is performed using the TM path (CP2 in FIG. 3).

(4) Upon receiving this control signal, the CLP 630 analyzes the contents and cooperates with another processor to hunt resources inside the switching system necessary for switching control (operates as a multiprocessor). Specifically, the following operation is performed while transferring messages between processors at the ATM hub 610.

A) All resources of the switching system are RMP
The CLP 630 converts the resource hunt request message into an ATM cell and manages the RMP 64
0 (see FIG. 3, 120)
0) to the ATM hub 610. ATM hub 610
Transmits the cell based on the header information (FIG. 3, MP
Transfer to PMP 640 using 2).

B) Upon receiving the resource hunt request message, the RMP 640, upon hunting for the indicated resource, converts the OK message into an ATM cell signal 23 in the same manner.
00 is returned to the CLP 630.

C) When the resource hunt is confirmed by the OK message, the CLP 630 performs control signal conversion (conversion to an IAM message) for transferring this message to the next switching system (the STM communication network 102 to be connected to). This message is converted into an ATM cell signal 2400
Through the path of the ATM hub 610 (FIG. 3, MP2).
Transfer to SP620. This is a configuration in which the STM communication network 102 at the connection destination performs connection control with a control signal specified by a common channel signal network (not shown), and a CSP provided with a common channel signal network interface for transmitting and receiving control signals. For use.

D) The CSP 620 transmits the IAM signal 2500 obtained by converting the control signal for the common channel signal network to the switching system of the STM communication network 102.

E) When the ICM signal 2600 as a response control signal is returned from the switching system of the STM communication network 102 via the common channel signal network, the CSP 620
The C signal is converted into an IMC message, and the signal 2700 converted into an ATM cell is transferred to the CLP 630.

F) The signal 2700 is transmitted from the CSP 620 to the AT
When transferred to the CLP 630 via the M hub 610, the CLP 630 converts this signal 2700 into a control signal PROC2800 for the ATM communication network,
The data is transferred to the SIG 50 using the ATM path set to 0 in advance.

(5) The SIG converts the PROC 2800 from a format inside the switching system to a format (1000 in FIG. 3) for transmitting to the ATM communication network, and transmits the PROC 2800 via the ATM SW 10 and the ATM IF 20 to the PRO.
ATM cell 29 for signaling storing C message
00 to the ATM communication network 101.

(6) Switching system 1 by the above procedure and operation
The connection control within the network is completed, and the ATM communication network and the STM communication network can be interconnected. Specifically, an ATM cell containing user information from an ATM communication network (FIGS. 3, 10)
00) is exchanged with the STMIF 30 via the path from the ATMIF 20 to the ATMSW 10 (SP2 in FIG. 3),
The IF 30 converts the user information extracted from the ATM cell into S
STM network 10 is inserted into a predetermined time slot of the TM line.
Send to 2. Conversely, similarly, after the STM signal and the ATM signal are converted, the ATM cells are exchanged by the ATM SW 10 and the user information from the STM communication network 102 is transmitted to the ATM communication network 101.

That is, according to the switching system of the present invention, a line for communicating a control signal between the ATM switch and the processor and a device in the switching system is provided.
By providing an ATM hub for exchanging messages exchanged between processors exclusively, transmission / reception and conversion of control signals can be performed at high speed even in a multiprocessor configuration. In addition, since the media converted between the communication networks exchange signals converted into ATM cells between the networks, a multimedia network with a small processing delay can be realized.

[0052]

As described above, according to the switching system of the present invention, it is possible to improve the processing capability by using a multiprocessor configuration for the control unit and to suppress the processing delay which is a problem in the multiprocessor configuration. In addition, since each processor is connected to an ATM switch and an ATM logical path that carries signals for controlling each device constituting the switching system is directly set, there is no place where control signals are concentrated, and the amount of traffic depends on the amount of traffic. It is possible to provide users with less homogeneous services.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a network configuration diagram showing a configuration example of a communication network using a switching system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a switching system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the switching system.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of an ATM path set in the switching system.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of an ATM path set in an ATM hub.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a processor used in the control unit.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the exchange system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Switching system, 10 ... ATM switch, 20 ... ATM communication network interface, 30 ...
STM communication network interface, 40 ... IP communication network interface, 50 ... Signal processing device (SIG), 60 ...
Control unit, 100: multimedia communication network, 101: ATM communication network, 102:
STM communication network, 103 ... IP communication network, 1
04: mobile communication network, 106: communication terminal,
610: ATM hub; 620: common line signal processor (CSP); 630: call processor (CL)
P), 640... Resource Management Processor (RMP), 6
50 ... Maintenance and operation processor (OMP).

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Koji Hirayama, 216 Totsuka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the Information and Communications Division, Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Koji Nishii 216 Totsuka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa F-term in the Information and Communication Division, Hitachi, Ltd. (Reference) 5K030 HA10 HB01 HB02 HB21 HB29 JA06 KA01 KX01 LB05 LC01 LC09 LE03

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An exchange system for transferring information by connecting a plurality of communication networks, wherein signals from the plurality of communication networks are transmitted in an asynchronous transfer mode.
A plurality of interface devices for converting into one cell, comprising a plurality of input lines and output lines, the first cell received on any of the input lines from the interface device based on information of the header of the cell; A first ATM switch for transferring to any one of a plurality of output lines; a first ATM switch connected to the first ATM switch for inputting / outputting the first cell to convert the cell into control information; A plurality of processors for controlling a system, and a second ATM switch for transferring a second cell in which inter-processor control information transmitted and received between the plurality of processors is inserted to a destination processor based on header information of the cell. An exchange system characterized by comprising: 2. A switching system for transferring information by connecting between a plurality of types of communication networks, comprising: a first ATM cell in which information input / output to / from the communication network and a header including destination information are added to the information. And a plurality of types of interface devices for performing the conversion of the control signal to and from the communication network and the conversion between the terminated control signal and the first ATM cell; and a plurality of input lines and outputs. A first ATM switch that includes a line and transfers a first ATM cell received on one of the input lines from the interface device to any of the plurality of output lines based on information in a header of the cell. A first ATM cell which is connected to a first ATM switch and into which the terminated control signal is inserted is input / output from each of the plurality of types of interfaces, and converts the cell into terminated control information. A plurality of processors that control the switching system, and a second cell that transfers a second cell in which inter-processor control information transmitted and received between the plurality of processors is inserted to a destination processor based on header information of the cell. An exchange system comprising an ATM switch. 3. The switching system according to claim 1, wherein control signals from the plurality of communication networks are transferred to any of the plurality of processors via the first ATM switch, based on the control signals. The inter-processor control information is transmitted and received between the processors via the second ATM switch to control the switching system. The information transmitted and received between the plurality of communication networks is transmitted to and received from the plurality of communication networks based on the control of the switching system. 3. The switching system according to claim 1, wherein data is transferred between a plurality of interfaces connected to an input line and an output line of one ATM switch. 4. A control device for a switching system for transferring information between a plurality of types of communication networks, each of which is connected via a first ATM switch,
Sends and receives control signals input and output to and from the plurality of types of communication networks converted to the first cell in the asynchronous transfer mode, performs conversion between the first cell and control information, and outputs a message between the plurality of processors. A plurality of processors that process the message and control the switching system based on the control information, and convert the message and a second cell in the asynchronous transfer mode to transmit and receive the second cell; and A second ATM for transferring the second cell from the source processor to any of a plurality of processors which are destinations of the message based on header information of the cell;
A control device for a switching system, comprising: a switch. 5. A processor for managing resources of the switching system, a processor for maintaining and operating the switching system, and a common line signal for processing a common line signal transmitted to and received from the communication network. A call processor for performing a call control between the communication networks, and when the call processor receives a control signal from an originating communication network, the message is subjected to the management processor or the maintenance / operation. 5. The switching system control device according to claim 4, wherein said call processing processor controls connection between said calling side communication network and said called side communication network by transmitting and receiving to and from a processor or said common line signal processing processor. 6. The switching system control device according to claim 5, wherein said call processor further comprises a plurality of processors, and additionally performs call processing. 7. The method according to claim 7, wherein the state of the management processor is different from the state of the management processor.
(1) setting an ATM switch, selecting one of the plurality of call processors according to the state of the switching system, and controlling the connection between the originating communication network and the receiving communication network; A control device for a switching system according to claim 6.