JP2001094603A - Communication device, communication terminal, data exchange and data exchange network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication device exchanging packets that can efficiently conduct setting processing of a new connection. SOLUTION: Data exchange 51-53 do not make a setting request of a new connection but data sender terminals 541-544, 551-554, 561-564 make it to their connected data exchanges. Upon the receipt of the setting request of the new connection, the data exchange adds new connection data including correspondence between input and output ports to connection data having already been registered. Furthermore, in the case that a destination passes through other data exchange, the data switch transmits the setting request data of the new connection to the other data exchange.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication apparatus, a communication terminal apparatus, a data exchange apparatus, and a data exchange network system for performing packet exchange, and more particularly to a network system and a communication apparatus for performing packet exchange using information on a data communication path. The present invention relates to a device, a communication terminal device, and a data exchange device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the expansion of networks, fixed-length packet switching devices have been widely used in order to enable data transmission between terminals connected to different networks. (Hereinafter, a fixed-length packet is called a cell.)

(Network Configuration) FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of a network composed of cell switching devices. Reference numerals 51 to 53 denote cell switching devices, each of which has a plurality of cell input / output I / Fs (hereinafter, referred to as ports) 511 to 516, 521 to 526, and 531.
It has ~ 536.

Reference numerals 541 to 544, 551 to 554, 5
Reference numerals 61 to 564 denote communication terminals, each of which has a port 511.
To 514, 521 to 524, 531 to 534 to the cell switching devices 51 to 53.

The cell switching devices 51 and 52 are connected to port 5
The cell exchanges 51 and 53 are connected to each other via ports 515 and 536 via the ports 16 and 525, and the cell exchanges 52 and 53 are connected to each other via the ports 526 and 535.

(Communication Terminal) FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of each communication terminal. Reference numeral 91 denotes a packet assembling unit, which has a function of distributing cells received from a port of the cell switching apparatus for each connection number included in the cell header and constructing a packet. FIG. 13 shows the cell format. Reference numeral 101 denotes a format of an input cell, which includes a cell header 1011 and a data part 1012. The cell header 1011 includes control information such as a connection number field 1013 and the like, and actual data transmitted in the cell is stored in the data section 1012.

On the other hand, the assembled packet is shown in FIG.
Has a format indicated by reference numeral 41. Similarly to the input cell, the packet includes a header 411 and a data section 412. The header is used for a destination address field 413 for storing a destination address of the packet, a source address field 414 for storing a source address, and for communication. It has a protocol identifier field 415 in which a protocol number is stored. The actual data of the packet is stored in the data section 412.

Reference numeral 92 denotes a packet distribution unit, which is a header 4 of the packet 41 input from the packet assembling unit 91.
11, an output destination protocol is calculated based on the protocol identifier 415 in the packet 11, a packet is output, and a destination address 413 in the header, and sometimes a source address 41
4, and sometimes has a function of notifying the connection management control unit 93 of a combination including the protocol number 415 (hereinafter, this combination is referred to as flow information).

Reference numerals 94 to 96 denote first to third communication protocol processing units, which process various protocols according to various communication applications. Here, the third protocol processing unit 96 processes an important protocol for connection control (hereinafter, referred to as a connection control protocol), and its function will be described later. Reference numeral 97 denotes a connection number table, which holds flow information and a corresponding connection number.

Reference numeral 98 denotes a connection number allocating unit, which includes first and second communication protocol processing units 94 and 95.
Has the function of determining the corresponding connection number from the connection number table 97 based on the flow information in the packet output from, and outputting the connection number and the output packet to the packet decomposing unit 99.

The packet decomposing unit 99 has a function of decomposing a packet input from the connection number allocating unit 98 into cells and embedding a connection number input at the same time in a cell header for transmission.

The connection management control unit 93 estimates the type, frequency, and sustainability of the received flow based on the received flow information received from the packet distribution unit 92, and determines whether to open a new connection to the received flow. Has functions. The judgment policy can be freely set by the user.

For a reception flow determined to require connection establishment, a connection control packet having a packet format indicated by reference numeral 42 in FIG. 14 is generated, and a connection control protocol processing unit (third protocol processing unit) 96 is used. Has a function of establishing a new connection with the cell switching apparatus and registering it in the connection number table. When a connection control packet is received by the connection control protocol, a new connection number 422 specified by the packet is assigned to the transmission flow information 421 specified by the packet, and the function is registered in the connection number table. Have. Similarly, it also has the function of deleting the connection for the reception flow and transmission flow, and the designation of registration and deletion is
Command field 42 in connection control packet
Specified by 3.

As described above, the connection control protocol assigns a new connection number to an upstream cell switching device or an upstream communication terminal (hereinafter, referred to as a node) of a specific flow between communication devices connected to each other. , A protocol for performing deletion.

(Cell Switching Device) FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of each cell switching device. Reference numeral 111 denotes an input / output port group, which includes input / output ports 1111 to 1116, and each input / output port is connected to a communication terminal or another cell switching device.

Reference numeral 112 denotes a cell exchange control unit, which will be described later in detail. Reference numeral 113 denotes an input cell header rewriting unit, and reference numerals 1131 to 113 corresponding to the respective input / output ports.
6 and an input cell header rewriting unit 1137 corresponding to the cell switching control unit.

Similarly, reference numeral 114 denotes an output cell header rewriting unit, and reference numeral 1141 corresponds to each input / output port.
1 to 1146, and an input cell header rewriting unit 1147 corresponding to the cell switching control unit.

Reference numeral 115 denotes an n × n cell switch which converts a cell input from an arbitrary input / output port 1111 to 1116 through an input cell header rewriting section 1131 to 1137 based on an output port number in the cell header. , Output to desired input / output ports 1111 to 1116 via output cell header rewriting units 1141 to 1147.

Reference numeral 116 denotes a cell exchange table corresponding to each of the input / output ports 1111 to 1116. For each port, an input cell of each connection number is output to which input / output port and how many connection numbers are output. It holds information on whether to connect and flow information corresponding to the connection. These pieces of cell exchange information are set by the cell exchange control unit 112.

The input cell header rewriting unit 113 refers to the cell exchange table 116 based on each input / output port number and the connection number 1013 included in the header 1011 in the input cell 101 shown in FIG. An output port number and an output connection number are calculated, and the output port number 1023 is converted into a cell format indicated by reference numeral 102 in FIG.
It has a function of rewriting the connection number field 1024 with the output connection number and inputting it to the cell switch 115.

The output cell header rewriting section 114 outputs the output port number 102 of the header 1021 in the output cell 102.
3 is removed, the content of the header 1021 is rewritten if necessary, and the function is converted to the cell format of reference numeral 101.

(Cell Switching Control Unit) FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the cell switching control unit 112 in FIG. The packet decomposing unit 121, the packet assembling unit 122, and the connection control protocol processing unit 123 have the same functions as those of the communication terminal in FIG.

Reference numeral 124 denotes a packet distribution unit, which determines whether the packet is a connection control packet or another packet based on a protocol identifier in a packet header. Is output to the route control unit 126. In addition, for a packet output to the route control unit 126, it has a function of notifying the flow information to the connection management control unit 127.

Reference numeral 125 denotes a routing control table, which holds correspondence information between connection node addresses, connection numbers, and port numbers. The route control unit 126 refers to the route control table 125 based on the destination address in the packet (transfer packet) input from the packet distribution unit 124, finds an output connection number, and sends the packet to the packet decomposing unit 121 together with the transfer packet. And has the function of outputting.

The connection management control unit 127 has a function of estimating the type, frequency, persistence, and the like of the received flow based on the received flow information received from the packet distribution unit 124, and determining whether to allocate a new connection to the received flow. Have. If it is determined that connection assignment is necessary, a new connection is established with another node using the connection control protocol processing unit 123,
The cell exchange table 116 is referred to based on the flow information, and if an entry corresponding to the flow information already exists, a new connection number is registered in the reception connection number of the entry. If the flow information is not registered, the upstream port of the flow is determined by referring to the cell switching table 116 based on the connection number used before the connection is opened (hereinafter, referred to as a default connection number), It has a function of registering a new connection number and flow information in the reception connection number of the cell exchange table 116 corresponding to this port.

When the connection control packet is received by the connection control protocol processing unit 123, the flow information and the received connection number are already registered in the cell exchange table 116 for the transmission flow specified by the connection control packet. If it is, the specified connection number is registered for the entry with the downstream port as the output destination port and the output connection number.

If the flow information and the received connection number are not registered in the cell switching table 116, the upstream port is determined by referring to the routing control table 125, and the connection number and the connection number are stored in the cell switching table 116 corresponding to this port. It has the function of registering downstream ports as output destination ports and further flow information. Similarly, it has a function of deleting a connection for a reception flow and a transmission flow.

(Communication Operation 541 → 551) Next, the conventional communication operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 11, 12 and 17 to 20. First, a case where transmission is performed from the communication terminal 541 to the communication terminal 551 will be described. In the following description, common reference numerals are used for components of the communication terminal.

The communication terminal 541 starts a higher-layer protocol packet transmission process (step S14h). The connection number assigning section 98 assigns a connection number by referring to the connection number table 97 based on the transmission flow information of the packet input from the first or second protocol processing section 94 or 95 (step S).
14i). FIG. 21 shows the registered contents of the connection number table 97 at this time. From the connection number table 97, the transmission connection number is determined to be 60.

The connection number allocating section 98 outputs the determined transmission connection number (60) and the output packet to the packet decomposing section 99. The packet decomposing unit 99 decomposes the packet input from the connection number allocating unit 98 into cells, and simultaneously embeds the input connection number (60) in the cell header (step S1).
4j), and transmits it to cell switching apparatus 51 (step S14).
k).

The cell switching device 51 has a port 511 corresponding to the terminal 541, that is, the input / output port 11 in FIG.
First, the input cell header conversion unit 1131 inputs / outputs the input / output port 1111 (port 1) based on the connection number (60) in the cell header.
The output destination port number and the output connection number are obtained by referring to the cell exchange table 116 of FIG. Portion 1 of the cell exchange table at this time is shown in FIG. The output port number (6) corresponding to the input connection number (60) in the cell exchange table is added to the cell header, the connection number field is rewritten to 70, and is input to the cell switch 115.

The cell switch 115 performs switching so that the cell is output to the output cell header conversion unit 1146 corresponding to the output port number 6 (input / output port 1116). In the output cell header conversion unit 1146, the output destination port number is changed to the cell header. From input / output port 11
16, ie, output from the port 561 of the cell switching apparatus 51.

The cell output from the port 516 of the cell switching device 51 is input from the port 525 of the cell switching device 52, and is output to the port 521 to which the terminal 551 is connected by the same processing.

The cell input to the communication terminal 551 is assembled into a packet and carried to a predetermined protocol processing unit. As described above, the cells of the flows registered in the connection number table and the cell exchange table are carried to the transmission destination only by the connection number, and in the cell exchange apparatus, high-speed operation is performed regardless of the cell exchange control unit. The cell can be exchanged at the same time.

(Communication Operation 541 → 552) Next, a communication operation in a case where flow information is not registered in the connection number table will be described by taking as an example a case where the communication terminal 541 transmits to the communication terminal 552. As in the case described above, the communication terminal 541 refers to the connection number table 97 shown in FIG. 21, but since the flow information is not registered, the default connection number 1
At 5, the cell will be transmitted.

The cell input to the cell exchange 51 is shown in FIG.
According to the cell exchange table of the port 1 shown in FIG. 2A, the output connection number 1 corresponding to the input connection number 15 is output.
The cell 01 is output to the port 7, that is, the output cell header conversion unit 1147, and supplied to the cell exchange control unit 112.

In the cell switching control unit 112, the cells are assembled into packets by the packet assembling unit 122, and the packet distribution unit 124 converts the cells into transfer packets as route control units 126.
(Step S132). Route control unit 126
Then, referring to the routing table in FIG. 23 based on the destination address of the transfer packet, the output connection number 106 is determined (step S13e), and output to the packet decomposing unit 121 together with the transfer packet (step S13p). The packet is decomposed into cells by the packet decomposing unit 121 and output (step S13q).

The cell output from the cell switching control section 112 is input to the input cell header rewriting section 1137 of the cell switching apparatus (FIG. 15), and the cell of the port 7 shown in FIG. Refer to the exchange table,
The cell having the port number 6 and the connection number 15 is input to the cell switch 115. Cells that have gone through the switch
The output cell header rewriting unit 1146 removes the port number, and inputs the port number to the cell switching device 52 from the output port.

Similarly, in the cell switching device 52, the cell of the connection number 15 is processed by the cell switching control unit 112 and outputs the cell to the terminal 552. As described above, a cell of a flow that is not registered in the connection number table or the cell switching table requires processing by the cell switching control unit 112.

(Flow registration operation) The following describes how a flow is registered in the connection number table and the cell exchange table. The aforementioned communication terminals 541 to 55
In the cell switching device 51, the packet distribution unit 124 in the cell switching device 51
6 and notifies the connection management control unit 127 of the flow information.

The connection management control unit 127 determines whether or not to allocate a new connection based on the packet reception frequency of the notified flow, the flow continuity according to the protocol, and the like (step S13f). If it is determined that connection assignment is necessary, a new connection number (here, 70) is assigned so as not to overlap with the already used connection number,
Connection control protocol processing unit 123 and communication terminal 5
Connection control packet (setting request, setting response) with the 41 connection control protocol processing unit 96
Are exchanged on the connection number 16 for connection control.

More specifically, the cell switching control unit 112 of the cell switching device refers to the routing table based on the source address in the transfer packet and acquires the corresponding port number (here, port number 1). (Step S13h). Next, it is checked whether an entry of the flow information (541 → 552) has already been registered in the cell exchange table (FIG. 22A) corresponding to the port number (step S13i). If there is no entry, the flow information and the input connection number 70 are registered, the output destination port is registered with 7, and the output connection number is registered with the default connection number 101 (step S131 (L)). If an entry exists, the destination port,
Since the output connection number has already been registered, only the input connection number 70 is registered (step S13).
j). Further, in order to request the communication terminal 541 to set up a new connection, a connection control packet is generated, and after transmitting 541 → 552 in the flow information field, 70 in the connection number field, and a setting request in the command field, it is transmitted. (Step S13m,
13p, 13q).

On the other hand, the communication terminal 541
Connection control packet (setting request) received from server 1
Based on the transmission flow (541 →
552) and the connection number 70 are registered (steps S141, S142, S143, S146), and a new connection is established. In order to notify the cell switching device 51 of the completion of the setting, a connection control packet (setting response) is generated (step S149) and transmitted with the connection number 16 (steps S14j and S14k).

Similarly, a connection control packet is also exchanged between the cell switching devices 51 and 52. That is, a connection control packet (setting request) is transmitted from the cell switching device 52 to the cell switching device 51. In the cell switching device 51, the flow source and destination addresses are respectively determined based on the flow information in the connection control packet, and the input / output destination port for the flow is determined by referring to the cell exchange table (FIG. 22A). It is resolved (step S135). In the entry of this flow information for the input port in the cell exchange table (as described above, the entry of this flow information has already been generated), the output connection number which has been left unresolved is registered in accordance with the connection control packet, and output. The output destination port number resolved earlier is also registered in the destination port (step S13).
8, S13b).

A connection control packet (setting response) is generated (step S13d), and transmitted to the cell switching device 52 through a packet disassembly process (steps S13p and S13).
q), the allocation of a new connection that bypasses the cell exchange control unit 112 of the cell exchange device 51 is completed for the flow (541 → 552).

Connections are allocated to the cell switching device 52 and the communication terminal 552 in the same manner, and a new connection is allocated throughout the entire flow 541 → 552.

[0047]

As described above, in the prior art, when allocating a new connection, it is necessary for the connection management control unit of each node to determine the necessity of connection allocation. In a concentrated cell switching apparatus, the load becomes large, which causes a connection opening delay. further,
The user can freely set the judgment policy, but if the judgment policies of all the nodes related to the flow are not set to the same contents, the end-to-end connection may not be established.

Also, the application of the communication device at the end of the flow cannot explicitly open a new connection or request the quality of the connection,
At the same time, there is a problem that an effective connection cannot be established in both directions.

[0049]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication device capable of efficiently performing a new connection assignment process.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a communication device capable of designating the type and quality of a new connection.

That is, the gist of the present invention resides in that a first communication packet having a plurality of input ports and output ports and comprising a header section and a data section input from a certain input port is added to the contents of the header section in the communication packet. Communication packet switching means for outputting to a designated output port based on the input and output ports, and an external I / F connected to a part of the input and output ports for connection to an external communication device; Input packet header conversion means for outputting a second communication packet obtained by converting the content of the header portion of the first communication packet based on predetermined header conversion information to communication packet switching means; Communication that is connected to a part of the input port and the output port of the first communication packet and is configured by a data portion of at least one first communication packet input from the output port A communication control means for analyzing a packet and performing processing in accordance with the protocol, wherein the exchange control means performs predetermined route information based on the contents of a header portion of the received communication packet. And obtain the header information of the corresponding communication packet,
A path control means for converting the communication packet 2 into a communication packet 1 for transfer; an exchange control packet identification means for identifying an exchange control packet among the received communication packets 2; And a header conversion information setting unit that rewrites the contents of the header conversion information, rewrites the contents of the exchange control packet, and transfers the exchange control packet using the path control unit.

Another gist of the present invention is that the header allocation control information is referred to based on the header information of the communication packet 2 and that the setting of the header allocation information is required or the content of the received exchange control packet When it is necessary to set the header assignment information, the header information setting means for making the setting and the header assignment information based on the header information of the transmission communication packet 2 are referred to, and the header information of the corresponding communication packet 1 is changed. In the case where the acquired and assigned header information is not registered, the header assigning means for assigning default header information and the transmission communication packet 2 assigned with default header information include:
A communication apparatus characterized by having transmission header information notifying means for notifying header information of communication packet 2 to header information setting means.

Another aspect of the present invention is a storage medium storing a program executable by a computer device, wherein the computer device executing the program functions as the communication device of the present invention. Exists in storage media.

Another aspect of the present invention resides in that a data exchange device communicably connected to each other and a communication terminal device connected to this data exchange device are combined with a data transmission source and a transmission destination. A communication terminal device in a data exchange network for transferring data between arbitrary communication terminals by performing data path control using the connection information registered corresponding to the communication information, wherein the connection information is When transmitting data to an unregistered destination, register the new connection information corresponding to this destination as its own registration information, and request the connected data exchange device to register the new connection information. There is provided a communication terminal device characterized by having means for performing.

Another aspect of the present invention resides in a combination of a data exchange device communicably connected to each other and a communication terminal device connected to the data exchange device, and a combination of a data transmission source and a data transmission destination. A data exchange device in a data exchange network for transferring data between arbitrary communication terminals by performing data path control using connection information registered corresponding to the A terminal, a plurality of input / output ports including ports corresponding to each of the other data exchange devices, a data exchange means for connecting any input / output port in accordance with a control signal, and data input from the input / output port From the plurality of input / output ports, an input / output port to which the data is to be output is determined based on the connection information, and control means is generated to control the data exchange means. When the data input from the input / output port is registration request data for new connection information, the control unit converts the new connection information from the information of the source and destination of the data. It generates and registers and, when the transmission destination is not the communication terminal device connected to itself, outputs registration request data to another connected data exchange device. .

Another aspect of the present invention resides in a data exchange network system including a data communication device and a data exchange device according to the present invention.

Another aspect of the present invention is a storage medium that stores a program executable by a computer device, and causes the computer device executing the program to function as a communication terminal device or a data exchange device of the present invention. The present invention resides in a storage medium.

In a network constituted by the communication devices according to the present invention configured as described above, the necessity of opening a new connection is determined only by the second communication device at the end of the connection. Frequently, this reduces the load on the first communication device that is likely to concentrate connections.

Also, the application of the communication device at the end of the connection can explicitly open the connection and request the quality of the connection, and at the same time, can open the connection effective in both directions.

[0059]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (Packet Switching Control Unit) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a cell switching control unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the entire cell switching device is shown in FIG. 15 similarly to the conventional example.

Packet disassembly unit 11, packet assembling unit 1
2. The packet distribution unit 14 and the routing control table 15 have the same functions as the components of the same name included in the conventional cell switching control unit described with reference to FIG.

The connection setting unit 13 has a function of performing a process on a predetermined cell exchange table in accordance with the flow information, connection number, and command in the connection setting packet input from the packet distribution unit 14. Commands input from the packet distribution unit 14 include a registration request, a registration response, a deletion request, and a deletion response. The data format of the connection setting packet is indicated by reference numeral 43 in FIG.

The path control unit 16 is provided with a protocol identifier 41 in the packet input from the packet distribution unit 14.
5 (FIG. 14), a function of discriminating between a route control packet and a transfer packet. In the case of a routing control packet, a routing control table and a cell switching table are set based on information in the packet. In the case of a transfer packet, it has a function of referring to a routing control table based on a destination address in the packet, determining an output connection number, and outputting the output connection number to the packet decomposing unit 11 together with the transfer packet.

The instruction connection rewriting unit 17 is
It has a function of rewriting the connection number in the connection setting packet to the connection number to be processed by the next node.

(Communication Terminal) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a communication terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention. The packet assembling unit 21, the packet distributing unit 22, the first protocol processing unit 124, the second protocol processing unit 225, the connection number table 27, and the packet decomposing unit 29 correspond to the conventional communication terminal described with reference to FIG. It has the same function as the included component of the same name.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a connection number allocating unit, which calculates a corresponding connection number from a connection number table based on flow information in a packet output from each communication protocol processing unit in the same manner as in the conventional example. It has a function of outputting a connection number and an output packet to the packet decomposing unit 29. Further, in this embodiment,
It has a function of notifying the connection setting unit 23 of the flow information of the transmission packet to which the default connection number 15 is assigned.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a fourth protocol processing unit, which is a connection setting protocol processing unit. The fourth protocol processing unit receives a connection registration / deletion instruction from the connection setting unit 23 and sends the instruction to the other communication terminal of the connection. It has a function of creating and transmitting a connection setting packet for notifying that the connection setting packet has been received, and conversely notifying the connection setting unit 23 of the content of the instruction when the connection setting packet is received.

Reference numeral 2a denotes a flow control table, and for what flow, what connection form (bidirectional, only transmission direction, Quality of Service)
ce) is described, and the contents can be freely set by the user, and can also be directly set by the communication application.

Reference numeral 2b is a temporary connection number table.
The contents are the same as the connection number table, but are used to manage connections that have been requested but not yet established. Here, the establishment of a connection indicates that the connection is in a usable state. Actually, the temporary connection number table is the same as the connection number table, and the connection establishment status may be distinguished by a flag.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a connection setting unit, which receives a transmission flow notification from the connection number allocating unit 28 as described above, and determines whether a new connection is to be allocated to the transmission flow based on the flow control table 2a. Has functions.

When connection allocation is determined by the flow control table 2a, the connection number table 2
7. Assign a new connection number not registered in the connection temporary number table 2b to the flow, register the new connection number in the connection temporary number table 2b, and issue a connection setting packet generation request to request a desired form of connection allocation. It has a function of instructing the connection setting protocol processing unit 26. However, when the flow notification for the connection setting packet is received, the above processing is not performed so that the connection setting packet is not generated and transmitted redundantly.

If the frequency of transmission of a packet for which a connection has not been allocated according to the flow control table 2a is high, the packet has a function of allocating a connection only to a connection in the transmission direction.

Conversely, connection setting protocol processing unit 2
6, when the connection setting notification is received, the connection number table 27 is set in accordance with the contents, and if necessary, the command of the connection setting packet is rewritten to an appropriate command, and the source address and the destination address are replaced. It has the function of returning. It also has a function of deleting a connection that is no longer used.

(Communication Operation) The communication means of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. It is assumed that the connection number table and the cell exchange table are in a state as shown in FIGS. The communication means of the flow for which a connection has already been established is the same as the above-described conventional example, and a description thereof will be omitted.

As in the case of the conventional example, transmission from the communication terminal 541 to the communication terminal 552 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. In transmitting data, the communication terminal 541 uses the connection number table 97 (FIG. 21).
However, since the flow information (541 → 552) has not been registered, the default connection number 15 is allocated by the packet allocation unit (step S1).
6d), decomposed into cells by the packet decomposing unit 11 and transmitted (steps S16t and 16u).

The cell input to the cell switching device 51 has a connection number of 10 according to the cell switching table (FIG. 22A).
The cell is input from the output port 7 to the connection management control unit 112 as one cell.

In the connection management control unit 112,
The cells are assembled into packets by the packet assembling unit 12,
The packet is sent to the route control unit 16 as a transfer packet by the packet distribution unit 14 (step S152). The route control unit 16 uses the destination address of the transfer packet as shown in FIG.
3, the output connection number 106 corresponding to the connection node 552 is determined (step S15).
o), and outputs the packet to the packet decomposing unit 11 together with the transfer packet (step S15p). The packet decomposing unit 11
The transfer packet is decomposed and output as a cell (step S15q).

The cell output from the connection control unit 112 is input to the input cell header rewriting unit 1137 in FIG. 15, and the cell exchange table of the port 7 is referred to based on the connection number 106 (FIG. 22B). Then, it is input to the cell switch as a cell with port number 6 and connection number 15. The cell that has passed through the switch has its port number removed by the output cell header rewriting unit 1146, and is input to the cell switching device 52 from the output port 516.

Similarly, in the cell switching device 52, the cell of the connection number 15 is processed by the cell switching control unit 112 and outputs the cell to the terminal 552. As described above, similarly to the conventional example, the cell of the flow not registered in the connection number table and the cell exchange table needs to be processed by the cell exchange control unit.

(Flow registration processing) [0099] In this embodiment, how a flow is registered in the connection number table and the cell exchange table will be described. For the flow from the communication terminals 541 to 552, the connection number assignment unit 28 of the communication terminal 541 assigns the default connection number (15) because no flow is registered in the connection number table 97 (step S16d). Then, the flow information of the packet is notified to the connection setting unit 23 (step S16v).

When notified of the default connection, the connection setting unit 23 refers to the flow control table based on the flow information and determines the necessity of allocating a new connection (step S16g). If it is determined that it is necessary, it is checked whether or not this flow is registered in the connection temporary number table 2b (step S16i). If there is no entry for this flow in the connection temporary number table 2b, the current In the connection number table 27 and the provisional number table 2b, an unregistered connection number (here, 70) is assigned to the flow, registered together with the flow information in the connection provisional number table (step S16p), and stored in the connection setting protocol processing unit. On the other hand, the connection type and the connection number obtained from the flow control table 2a are notified, and a request for opening a new connection is made (step S16q).

Further, according to the determination in step S16g,
Even if it is determined that connection allocation is unnecessary, it is detected whether a flow is registered in the connection temporary number table (step S16h), and even if it is not registered, only the transmission flow is registered in the connection temporary number table.
If the transmission flow has been registered in the temporary connection number table and this transmission flow is frequently used, it is considered that a new connection is required (step S16m), and the connection form is Only when a new connection number is assigned,
Registered in the connection number table (step S16
o). At the same time, the entry in the connection temporary number table is deleted. In the temporary connection number table, a flow for which there has been no transmission flow notification for a certain period of time is deleted.

Here, in the determination of necessity of connection assignment based on the flow control table in step S16g, it is assumed that a new bidirectional (541 ← → 552) connection is established. In step S16q, the connection setting packet generated by the connection setting protocol processing unit is
The packet is then passed to the packet disassembly unit 29 together with the connection number as a packet of the default connection number 15.
Output to The packet decomposing unit 29 decomposes the packet into cells having the connection number in the cell header (step S16t) and transmits the cell (step S16u).

In this process, the transmission flow information is notified to the connection setting unit 23 in the same manner as described above. However, since the transmission of the connection setting packet can be identified by the protocol identifier 415 in the flow information, The instruction to create the connection setting packet as described above is not issued.

The cell output from the terminal device 541 is output from the cell switching device 51 to the output converter corresponding to the seventh port via the cell switch by referring to the cell exchange table (FIG. 22A) as described above. The signal is output to 1147, and then input to the cell switching control unit 112.

In the cell switching control unit 112, the cell is assembled into a connection setting packet by the packet assembling unit 12, and delivered to the connection setting unit 13 via the packet distribution unit 14 (step S152).

If it is determined that the packet is a registration request packet (step S153), the input port (here, port 1) is referred to by referring to the routing table 15 based on the source address.
Is resolved (step S15b), and similarly, the output destination port (here, 6) is resolved based on the transmission destination address (step S15c). Since the flow type is bidirectional, the flow information (541 → 552) is entered in the entry corresponding to the output destination port 6 of the cell exchange table 116 (step S15f), and the input port 1 is entered in the output destination port field (step S1).
5g), the connection number 70 obtained from the connection setting packet is registered as an output connection number (step S15h). As for the input connection number, a connection number that has not been registered in the cell exchange table for port number 6 (here, 71) is selected and registered (step S15i).

In order to establish a bidirectional connection, the cell exchange table for port number 1 also contains the flow 552 → 541.
Is registered (step S15j), the output destination port 6 (step S15k), the input connection number 70 (step S151), and the output connection number 71 (step S1).
5m) is registered. As described above, the connection registered in the cell exchange table of the two ports becomes valid (established) from this point.

In the connection setting packet input from the connection setting unit 13 to the instruction connection rewriting unit 17, the value of the connection number field is rewritten to the new connection number 71 (step S15).
n), and is passed to the route control unit 16.

The route control unit 16 refers to the route control table 15 based on the destination address, and outputs the output connection number 10
6 (default connection) (step S1)
5o) Then, the packet is output to the packet decomposing unit. The connection setting packet is output as a cell via the packet decomposing unit 11 (steps S15p and 15q). Similar processing is performed in the cell switching device 52, and the communication terminal 552
The cell is delivered to.

In the communication terminal 552, the packet assembling section 21
The connection setting packet assembled in (1) is sent to the connection setting protocol processing unit 26 via the packet distribution unit 22 (step S162).

The connection setting protocol processing section 26 registers the new connection in the connection number table 27 (step S166), rewrites the value of the command field in the packet to a registration response command, and replaces the source and destination addresses ( Step S16b) Return (default connection number 15) (Step S16
(t, S16u), and notifies the connection setting unit 23 of the establishment of the connection.

The connection setting packet (registration response) transmitted from the communication terminal 552 is delivered to each cell switching control unit 112 of the cell switching devices 52 and 51 as a cell of the default connection. In each cell switching control unit, the value of the connection number field in the packet is sequentially rewritten (step S157) and transferred to the communication terminal 541 (steps S15a to S15q).

In the communication terminal 541, the connection setting protocol processing unit 26 notifies the connection setting unit 23 of the establishment of the connection number 70, and the connection setting unit 23 receives the notification and sets the corresponding entry from the connection temporary number table 2b. The process proceeds to the number table 27 (step S167). At this point, a new connection has been established at the communication terminal 541.

In this way, the connection number table of each communication terminal and the cell exchange table of each cell switching device are set, and a new bidirectional connection is allocated to the flow 541 ← → 552.

For the connection determined to be unnecessary by the connection setting unit 23 of the communication terminal at the end of the flow (step S16r), the connection of the deletion request and the deletion response is performed between the end and end nodes of the flow. Configuration packet is exchanged and connection number table,
Release processing is performed by deleting the entry in the cell switching table.

As described above, a bidirectional connection can be established only by determining the necessity of a new connection by only the connection setting unit of one of the communication terminals located at the end of the flow. In addition, it is not necessary to determine a new connection assignment in a cell switching device or the like, and a more efficient connection probability than before can be achieved.

Further, since the application of the communication terminal can directly set the flow control table, it is possible to explicitly open a connection having communication quality according to the application.

Further, since the routing table is dynamically set by the routing packet, even if a failure occurs in the communication route, the avoidance route is set, thereby improving the reliability. I have.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a communication method according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Rough communication means and the like are the same as those in the first embodiment, and here, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described.

The first embodiment is largely different in that two default connections, a default connection number 15 for data packet transfer and a default connection number 16 for connection setting packet transfer, are used. It is the same as the conventional example). FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication terminal used in the second embodiment. 9 and 10 show flowcharts thereof.

Among the packets input to the connection number allocating unit 37 from various protocols, packets for which a flow is not registered in the connection number table 38 are sent to the connection setting unit (step S17f). In the connection setting unit, for a packet for which setting of a new connection is not necessary (steps S17j, 171 and 17n), the connection number 15
(Step S17r). On the other hand, when it is determined that a new connection needs to be opened, the same processing as in the first embodiment is performed, and a connection opening request is notified to the connection setting protocol 36.

In the connection setting protocol,
A connection setting packet indicated by reference numeral 44 in FIG. 14 is generated (Step S17q). The connection setting packet includes a connection setting field 441 between the header 411 and the data field 442 of the transfer packet.
Is inserted, and the flow information is not inserted because the content overlaps with the header 441. The protocol identifier is not rewritten to the protocol 4 (connection setting protocol), and the protocol identifier of the transfer packet is used as it is. Each node can determine that this packet is a connection setting packet because it is communicated as a cell with the connection number 16.

The connection setting packet is assigned a connection number 16, passed to the packet decomposer, and transmitted as a cell. For reception, the packet with the connection number 16 is passed to the connection setting protocol, and the packets with the other connection numbers are passed to the higher-level protocol (step S17).
4).

In the connection setting protocol, the same processing as in the first embodiment is performed based on the contents of the received connection setting packet. However, when returning the connection setting packet (step S17b), the data section 44
2 shall be deleted. Further, after deleting the connection field of the received connection setting packet and returning to the original transfer packet form, the packet is output to the packet distribution unit as if the packet was received with the connection number 15 (step S173). ).

The cell switching apparatus is the same as the first embodiment except for the change accompanying the handling of the connection setting packet as a new connection number 16 packet, and a description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, by combining the connection setting packet and the transfer packet into one packet, a further reduction in the load on the cell switching device can be expected.

In the present embodiment, the case where the transfer packet is included in the connection setting packet has been described. However, this is not always necessary, and the connection setting packet and the transfer packet are separated as in the first embodiment.
Even if the transfer packet always uses the connection number 15 and the connection setting packet uses the connection number 16, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be expected.

The present invention can be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), but can be applied to a single device (for example, a copier, a facsimile). Device).

An object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) recording software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (a computer) of the system or the apparatus. Alternatively, it is needless to say that the present invention can also be achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Also,
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code.
It goes without saying that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by performing some or all of the actual processing, and the processing performs the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the above-mentioned storage medium, the storage medium described above (FIGS. 3 to 7, FIG.
The program code corresponding to the flowchart (shown in any of FIG. 10) will be stored.

[0112]

As described above, in the communication apparatus of the present invention, when allocating a new connection, the connection management control unit of each node does not need to judge the necessity of connection allocation, and the flow of the flow can be reduced. The determination need only be made at the end. As a result, especially in a cell switching apparatus in which connections are concentrated, the load required for determining a connection assignment as in the related art is reduced, thereby improving the connection opening delay and ensuring consistent end-to-end. There is an effect that a connection can be established.

Further, the application of the communication device at the end of the flow can explicitly open a new connection and issue a request for the quality of the connection. There is an effect that an effective connection can be established.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a cell exchange control unit using a communication method according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminal device using the communication method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a communication process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a communication process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a communication process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a communication process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a communication process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a cell exchange control unit using a communication method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a communication process according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a communication process according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network to which cell switching devices are connected.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional terminal device.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a data format of a cell.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a data format of a packet.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a cell switching device.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional cell exchange control unit.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a conventional communication processing procedure.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a conventional communication processing procedure.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a conventional communication processing procedure.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a conventional communication processing procedure.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a connection number table.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cell exchange table.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of a routing control table.

Claims (12)

[Claims] A plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports;
Communication packet switching means for outputting a first communication packet comprising a header portion and a data portion, which is input from a certain input port, to a specified output port based on the contents of the header portion in the communication packet; An external I / F connected to a part of a port and connected to an external communication device, and a predetermined content of the header portion of the first communication packet input from the plurality of external I / Fs Input packet header conversion means for outputting a second communication packet converted based on the header conversion information to the communication packet switching means, and a part of the input port and the output port of the packet switching means Analyzing a second communication packet constituted by the data portion of at least one of the first communication packets input from the output port,
A communication control unit for performing processing according to the protocol, wherein the exchange control unit refers to predetermined path information based on the content of the header part of the received communication packet. A route control means for acquiring header information of a corresponding communication packet, converting the communication packet 2 into a communication packet 1 and transferring the packet information; an exchange control packet identification means for identifying an exchange control packet among the received communication packets 2; A header conversion unit that rewrites the content of the header conversion information based on data in the packet and rewrites the content of the exchange control packet, and transfers the exchange control packet using the route control unit; A communication device comprising: information setting means. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the header allocation control information is referred to based on the header information of the communication packet 2 and the header allocation information needs to be set, or according to the content of the received exchange control packet. When information setting is necessary, header information setting means for making the setting, and referring to the header allocation information based on the header information of the transmission communication packet 2 to obtain the header information of the corresponding communication packet 1 And when the corresponding header information is not registered, the header allocating means for allocating the default header information, and for the transmission communication packet 2 to which the default header information is allocated, the header information of the communication packet 2 is changed. Transmission header information notifying means for notifying the header information setting means. Apparatus. 3. The switching control means further includes a route control packet identifying means for identifying a route control packet from the received communication packet 2, and sets the route control information based on the route control packet. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication is performed. 4. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the header allocation control information can be directly set from a communication application or a communication protocol, and can be set freely by a user. 5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said exchange control packet identification means performs packet identification based on header information of said communication packet 1. 6. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said exchange control packet identification performs packet identification based on header information of said communication packet 2. 7. A storage medium storing a program executable by a computer device, wherein the computer device executing the program causes the computer device to function as the communication device according to claim 1. 8. A connection comprising a data exchange device communicably connected to each other and a communication terminal device connected to the data exchange device, the connection being registered corresponding to a combination of a data source and a data destination. The communication terminal device in a data exchange network that transfers data between any of the communication terminals by the data exchange device performing data path control using information, wherein the connection information is not registered. When transmitting data to a destination, means for registering new connection information corresponding to the destination as its own registration information and requesting the connected data exchange device to register new connection information is provided. A communication terminal device comprising: 9. A connection comprising a data exchange device communicably connected to each other and a communication terminal device connected to the data exchange device, the connection being registered corresponding to a combination of a data source and a data destination. The data exchange device in a data exchange network for transferring data between any of the communication terminals by performing data path control by using the information, the data exchange device comprising: A data exchange unit that has a plurality of input / output ports including ports corresponding to each of the data exchange devices, and connects any input / output ports according to a control signal; and the connection of data input from the input / output ports. Based on the information, an input / output port to which the data is to be output is determined from the plurality of input / output ports. And control means for controlling the exchange means, said control means, data input from the input port, when a registration request data for the new connection information,
The new connection information is generated from the information of the transmission source and the transmission destination of the data, and registered, and if the transmission destination is not the communication terminal device connected to itself, the new connection information is transmitted to another connected data exchange device. A data exchange device for outputting the registration request data to the data exchange device. 10. A data exchange network system comprising the data communication device according to claim 8 and the data exchange device according to claim 9. 11. A storage medium storing a program executable by a computer device, wherein the computer device executing the program causes the computer device to function as the communication terminal device according to claim 8. 12. A storage medium storing a program executable by a computer device, wherein the computer device executing the program causes the computer device to function as the data exchange device according to claim 9.