JP2001320415A - Router - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a router whose power consumption can entirely be reduced. SOLUTION: The router 100 is provided with a WAN side module control circuit 203 that controls a switch circuit 202 in response to an access request to an exchange 200 to control supply of power to a WAN side module 201, link pulse detection circuits 121-12n that detect link pulses exchanged between terminals 11-1n and the router 100, and a power supply control section 170 that controls supply of power to terminal side modules 111-11n, a main control section 130, the switch circuit 202 and the WAN side module control circuit 203 on the basis of the result of detection reported by the link pulses 121-12n.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a router device, and more particularly, to a router device capable of reducing power consumption of the entire device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Routers are often used in communications on communication networks such as the Internet and LANs (Local Area Networks). FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of such a router device.

In an example shown in FIG. 8, terminal devices 821 to 82
n is connected to exchanges 841 to 84n via a router 800. Although not shown, exchanges 841 to 84n
Can be connected to a communication network such as a LAN (local area network) and a WAN (wide area network).

The terminal device 821 includes a terminal module 83
1 and exchanges information with the main control unit 810. Similarly, the terminal devices 822 to 82n exchange information with the main control unit 810 via the terminal-side modules 832 to 83n. On the other hand, the exchanges 841 to 84n
Each exchanges information with the main control unit 810 via the WAN-side modules 851 to 85n. Here, the main control unit 810 and the terminal-side modules 831 to 83n
It is assumed that power is always supplied to the WAN-side modules 851 to 85n. This power is, for example,
It is supplied from the device power supply.

[0005] The main control unit 810 controls the entire router 800, and is composed of, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The main control 810 outputs link information to the WAN-side modules 851 to 85n as necessary, and selects and establishes an information transmission path between the terminal devices 821 to 82n and the exchanges 841 to 84n. For example, when establishing an information transmission path between the terminal device 821 and the exchange 841, a link establishment instruction is output to the WAN module 851 connected to the exchange 841.

More specifically, the main control unit 810 refers to routing protocol data included in data exchanged between the terminal devices 821 to 82n, and communicates with the terminal devices 821 to 82n and the exchanges 841 to 84n. Select and establish an information transfer path between The routing protocol data includes, for example, a link source address, a link destination address, and transmission / reception data actually exchanged. Terminal device 821 as an information transmission path
In the case where a connection between the terminal and the exchange 841 is selected, the address of the terminal device 821 is stored in the link source address, and the address of the exchange 841 is stored in the link destination address.

[0007]

However, in the above router, when the power of the router is turned on, the main controller 810, the terminal side modules 831 to 83n, and the WAN side modules 851 to 85n are always connected to the main controller 810. , Power is supplied. In other words, even when the terminal devices 821 to 82n are not powered on, or when no information is exchanged between the terminal devices 821 to 82n and the exchanges 841 to 84n, etc. Is powered.

As a result, the power consumption of the entire router device is increased, and there is a possibility that the operation cost is wasted. In addition, an increase in power consumption may cause the whole or a part of the device to generate heat, which may cause problems such as shortening of product life and reduction of safety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide a router device capable of reducing the power consumption of the entire device.

[0010]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power supply control unit for controlling power supplied to each unit in the apparatus according to an access state between a port on the terminal side and a port on the network side. And

The power supply control means includes first power supply means for controlling power supply to an interface unit corresponding to each port on the main control unit and the terminal, and power supply control means for controlling power supply to an interface unit corresponding to each port on the network side. A second power supply means for performing control, the first power supply means performs power supply control based on a detection result of a specific signal exchanged at each port on the terminal side, the second power supply The supply unit controls power supply by monitoring an access request to each port on the network side.

When the signal indicating the link establishment state is not detected within a predetermined time, the first power supply means stops the power supply to the interface corresponding to the undetected port, and The power supply unit stops supplying power to an interface corresponding to a port for which an access request has not been made within a predetermined time. Therefore, it is possible to stop the power supply to the interface units corresponding to the terminals and the ports on the network side which are not required for the exchange of information, and it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the entire apparatus.

The data exchanged between the terminal-side port and the network-side port includes a link source address indicating the address of the device connected to the terminal-side port and the device connected to the network-side port. And the second power supply means grasps the access request to the port on the network side by referring to the link destination address.

If the first power supply means does not detect a signal indicating a link established state from all ports on the terminal side within a predetermined time, the first power supply means supplies power to the main control unit and the interface unit corresponding to each port on the terminal side. To stop. Therefore, in such a case, power supply to the main control unit and the interface unit corresponding to a port that is not required for information exchange can be stopped, so that the power consumption of the entire apparatus can be further reduced. .

[0015] The second power supply means is supplied with power from the first power supply means, and the first power supply means detects a signal indicating a link established state within a predetermined time from all ports on the terminal side. Otherwise, power supply to the second power supply means is stopped. Therefore, in such a case, since power is consumed only in the first power supply means, the power consumption of the entire apparatus can be further reduced. Further, since the power supply to the second power supply means is controlled by the first power supply means, a single power supply system can be provided, which is convenient in terms of circuit design.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a communication system using a router device according to the present invention.

In the communication system shown in FIG.
1 to 1n are connected to the exchange 200 via the router device 100. The exchange 200 is connected to a WAN (Wide Area Network) 300. Terminal devices 11-1n
Is a terminal device connectable to a communication network such as a WAN, for example, a personal computer. Although FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which the exchange 200 is connected to the WAN 300, the exchange 200
It may be connected to a communication network such as a LAN (local area network) or the Internet.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the router device 100. Here, the first power supply means described in the claims is a link pulse detection circuit 1
The second power supply unit corresponds to the switch circuit 202 and the WAN-side module control circuit 203. The interface unit corresponding to each port on the terminal side is a terminal-side module 11
Interface units corresponding to 1 to 11n and corresponding to ports on the network side correspond to the WAN-side module 201.

The terminal device 11 includes a terminal module 111
The information is exchanged with the main control unit 130 via. Similarly, the terminal devices 12 to 1n exchange information with the main control unit 130 via the terminal-side modules 112 to 11n, respectively. On the other hand, the exchange 200
Information is exchanged with the main control unit 130 via the AN-side module 201. Necessary information is exchanged between the main control unit 130 and the WAN-side module control circuit 203. Here, the terminal-side modules 111 to 1
1n and the main control unit 130 are supplied with power via the power supply control unit 170.

Power is supplied to the WAN module 201 under the control of the switch circuit 202. The switch circuit 202 supplies power to the WAN-side module 201 according to an instruction from the WAN-side module control circuit 203. Here, power is supplied to the WAN-side module control circuit 203 and the switch circuit 202 via the power supply control unit 170.

The link pulse detection circuit 121 monitors the exchange of information between the terminal device 11 and the terminal-side module 111 and notifies the power control unit 170 of necessary information. The link pulse detection circuits 122 to 12n also notify the power control unit 170 of necessary information in a similar procedure. Here, it is assumed that power is always supplied to the link pulse detection circuits 121 to 12n from the device power supply or the like while the device power is turned on.

The power control section 170 controls power supply to the main control section 130, the terminal modules 111 to 11n, the switch circuit 202, and the WAN module control circuit 203. For example, the power supply control unit 170 is supplied with electric power from a device power supply or the like, and outputs the link pulse detection circuits 121 to 121.
In response to the notification from 12n, power is supplied to the main control unit 130, the WAN-side module control circuit 203, the switch circuit 202, and the terminal-side modules 111 to 11n.

Here, the main control unit 130 controls the entire apparatus, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage medium for storing data, and an I / O (input / output) having an interface function with an external apparatus. Device). Each of the terminal-side modules 111 to 11n has an interface function with an information terminal device such as a personal computer, and is configured by, for example, an interface card (INF card) corresponding to the 10BASE-T standard. The WAN module 201 has an interface function with a communication network such as a WAN.
INF cards and the like that comply with such standards.

Next, the operation will be described. here,
The case where information is exchanged only between the terminal device 11 and the exchange 200 will be described as an example. The same applies to the operation of exchanging information between the terminal devices 12 to 1n and the exchange 200.

During access, the terminal devices 11 to 1
n and the router device 100 exchange predetermined data. At this time, the exchange of information between the terminal devices 11 to 1n and the router device 100 is performed with a predetermined signal. Hereinafter, this predetermined signal is referred to as a link pulse.

The link pulse detection circuits 121 to 12n
Each detects a link pulse exchanged between the terminal devices 11 to 1n and the router device 100, and outputs the detection result to the power control unit 170. In the present embodiment, since the exchange of the link pulse is performed only between the terminal device 11 and the router device 100,
The link pulse detection circuit 121 notifies the power control unit 170 that the link pulse has been detected, and the link pulse detection circuits 122 to 12n notify the power control unit 170 that the link pulse has not been detected.

Here, the link pulse detection circuits 121 to 1
The operation of 2n will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the link pulse detection circuits 121 to 12n.

The link pulse detection circuit 121 determines whether a link pulse exchanged between the terminal device 11 and the router device 100 has been detected (step S301). If a detection has been made (step S301),
The power supply control section 170 is notified of the link pulse detection (step S303). If no link pulse has been detected (step S301), it is determined whether a link pulse has not been detected within a predetermined time (step S302). When the detection is performed within a predetermined time (step S302),
Step S303 is executed. If there is no detection within a predetermined time (step S302), the power supply control unit 170 is notified that link pulse is not detected (step S3).
04).

In the present embodiment, the link pulse detection circuit 121 notifies the power supply control section 170 that the link pulse has been detected. On the other hand, the link pulse detection circuits 122 to
12n performs the same operation as the link pulse detection circuit 121, but cannot detect the link pulse, and thus notifies the power supply control unit 170 that the link pulse is not detected.

Then, the power supply control section 170 controls power supply to the terminal side modules 111 to 11n based on the notification results from the link pulse detection circuits 121 to 12n. At this time, when information is exchanged (accessed) in any one of the terminal devices 11 to 1n, the power control unit 170 includes the main control unit 130, the switch circuit 202, and the WAN-side module control circuit 203. Supply power to In the present embodiment, the main control unit 1
30, supply power to the WAN-side module control circuit 203, the switch circuit 202, and the terminal-side module 111.

The link pulse detection circuits 121 to 12
n repeats the operation of step S301 to step 303 or step S301 to step S304. Therefore, when any one of the terminal devices 11 to 1n starts exchanging information, power is supplied to the corresponding terminal-side module immediately.

The main control unit 130 stores address information of a terminal device or the like connected to the router device 100 in a storage medium such as an internal memory in advance. In the present embodiment, the addresses of the terminal devices 11 to 1n and the exchange 200 are stored. The data (link pulse) exchanged between the terminal devices 11 to 1n and the router device 100 include:
It is assumed that routing protocol data is included. The routing protocol data is data used for establishing an information transmission path, and includes, for example, a link destination address, a link source address, and transmission / reception data with which information is actually exchanged as shown in FIG. FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of routing protocol data.

Next, the operation of the main control unit 130 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the main control unit 130.

The main control unit 130 is provided with the terminal-side module 11
The routing protocol data exchanged between the router device 100 and the router device 100 is received (step S501). Then, the address of the terminal device or the like stored in advance is compared with the link destination address and the link source address included in the routing protocol data, and the addresses of the link source terminal device and the link destination exchange are stored in the router device 100. It is determined whether it matches the connected one (step S502).

If they match (step S502), the WAN
The access request is notified to the side module control circuit 203 (step S503). If they do not match (step S501), the access request is not notified (step S501).
504). In the present embodiment, the link destination address stores the address of the exchange 200, and the link source address stores the address of the terminal device 11, so that the main control unit 130 Notify access request.

FIG. 6 shows the WAN-side module control circuit 20.
6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation 3;

The WAN-side module control circuit 203 determines whether there is an access request from the main control unit 130 (step S601). If there is an access request (step S601), W
It notifies that the power supply to the AN-side module 201 is to be performed (step S602), and turns on a timer provided therein (step S603). The reason why the timer is turned on is to secure a setup time for the WAN-side module 201 after the power is turned on. And WA
The N-side module control circuit 203 outputs
The main controller 130 is notified of the access permission (step S604).

When there is no access request (step S
601), the WAN-side module control circuit 203 determines whether an access request has been made within a predetermined time (step S605). If there is an access request within a predetermined time, the switch circuit 202 is notified that power is to be supplied to the WAN-side module 201 (step S606). If there is no access request within a certain time, the switch circuit 202 is notified that power supply to the WAN-side module 201 is to be stopped (step S607), and an access denial notification is sent to the main control unit 130. Performed (Step S608). The main control unit that has received the access denial notification notifies the WAN module 201 that the access is denied.

In the present embodiment, the WAN module control circuit 203 notifies the switch circuit 202 that power is to be supplied to the WAN module 201. Then, the switch circuit 202 supplies power to the WAN-side module 201. The main control unit 130
In response to an access permission notification from the WAN-side module control circuit 203, the WAN-side module 201 is notified of information necessary for linking. And the main control unit 13
0 transmits information from the exchange 200 obtained via the WAN-side module 201 to the terminal device 11 via the terminal-side module 111. The main control unit 130
Transmits information from the terminal device 11 obtained through the terminal-side module 111 to the exchange 200 via the WAN-side module 201. Accordingly, information can be exchanged between the terminal device 11 and the exchange 200. That is, an information transmission path between the terminal device 11 and the exchange 200 is established.

The WAN module control circuit 203
Represent steps S601 to S604 and steps S601 to S601.
606 or the operations of steps S601 to S608 are repeatedly executed. Therefore, the WAN-side module control circuit 2
Reference numeral 03 denotes an appropriate W for the switch circuit 202 in accordance with an access situation between the terminal devices 11 to 1n and the exchange 200.
A power supply instruction can be issued to the AN-side module 201.

Next, when an information transmission path is established between the terminal device 11 and the exchange 200, but there is no access for a certain period of time between the terminal device 11 and the exchange 200, or when the terminal devices 11 to 1n The operation in the case where the operation is not performed due to interruption or the like will be described. Note that the terminal device 1
The same applies to the operation between the exchanges 2-1n and the exchange 200.

Since there is no access from the terminal devices 11 to 1n, the main control unit 130 cannot receive the routing protocol data exchanged between the terminal devices 11 to 1n and the router device 100. for that reason,
The main control unit 130 includes a WAN-side module control circuit 203.
Does not notify the access request. Accordingly, the WAN-side module control circuit 203 notifies the switch circuit 202 that power supply to the WAN-side module 201 is to be stopped (Steps S605 to S607). As a result, power is not supplied to the WAN-side module 201.

On the other hand, link pulse detection circuits 121 to 12
n cannot detect a link pulse exchanged between the terminal devices 11 to 1n and the router device 100.
(Steps S302 to S304).

Then, the power supply controller 170 stops supplying power to the terminal-side modules 111 to 11n. Further, since information is not exchanged in all of the terminal devices 11 to 1n, the main control unit 130, the switch circuit 202, and the WAN-side module control circuit 2
Also, the power supply to 03 is stopped.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the link pulse detection circuits 121 to 12n are connected to the terminal devices 11 to 1
n and a detection result of a link pulse exchanged between the router device 100 and the router device 100, the power control unit 170 notifies the power control unit 170 of the terminal modules 111 to 11n and the main control unit. 130, the power supply to the switch circuit 202 and the WAN-side module control circuit 203 is controlled. Further, the WAN-side module control circuit 203 grasps an access state to the exchange 200 and controls power supply to the WAN-side module 201 through the switch circuit 202. Therefore, power can be supplied only to the parts necessary for the operation in the router device 100, so that the power consumption of the entire device can be reduced.

For example, when one or more of the terminal devices 11 to 1n are accessed, the terminal-side module corresponding to the accessed terminal device, the main control unit 130, and the W
AN side module control circuit 203, switch circuit 202
And power to the WAN-side module 201. The exchange 200 and the terminal devices 11 to 11
If there is a terminal device that has not been accessed for a certain period of time even if a link is established between the terminal device and the terminal device 1n, power supply to the terminal-side module corresponding to the terminal device can be stopped. Further, in a state where access has not been performed for all terminal devices for a certain period of time, the terminal-side modules 111 to 11n, the main control unit 130, the switch circuit 202, the WAN-side module control circuit 203, and W
Power supply to the AN-side module 201 can be stopped.

In the above embodiment, the router 100
Has been described with respect to a configuration in which one WAN-side module 201 is included inside the router device.
A plurality of side modules may be included. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of another embodiment according to the present invention.

The router shown in FIG. 7 has a configuration in which WAN-side modules 211 to 2n1, switch circuits 212 to 2n2, and WAN-side module control circuits 213 to 2n3 are added to the router shown in FIG. The exchanges 210 to 2n0 are connected to the router device 100. Here, the WAN-side modules 211 to 2n1, the switch circuits 212 to 2n2, and the WAN-side module control circuits 213 to 2n3 are exchanges 210 to 2n, respectively.
It is assumed that it corresponds to 0.

The main control unit 130 is connected to the terminal devices 11 to 11n and the exchange 200 in the same manner as the operation in the previous embodiment.
To the 2n0 according to the routing protocol data exchanged with the WAN side module control circuit 20.
The required access request is notified to 3-2n3. W
The AN-side module control circuits 203 to 2n3, when receiving an access request to the exchange corresponding to themselves,
Power supply to the corresponding WAN-side module is permitted through the switch circuit. That is, when there is no access request to the switch corresponding to the self, the power supply to the corresponding WAN module is stopped by the same procedure. Note that the WAN-side module control circuits 203 to 2n3
The operation in the power supply control performed by is the same as the operation in the previous embodiment.

As described above, in this embodiment, power is supplied only to the WAN-side module corresponding to the exchange for which an access request has been made. Therefore, even when a plurality of exchanges are connected to the router device 100, the power consumption of the entire device can be reduced.

[0051]

According to the present invention, the power supply control means includes:
Power supply to a user interface unit and a main control unit corresponding to the terminal-side and network-side ports in response to detection of a signal indicating a link state exchanged at each terminal-side port and an access request to each network-side port Control. Therefore, it is possible to stop power supply to the interface unit that is not necessary for exchanging information between the terminal side port and the network side port. When information is not exchanged in all of the ports on the terminal side, power supply to the main control unit and all the interface units can be stopped. Thus, power consumption of the entire apparatus can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a communication system using a router device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the router device 100.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of link pulse detection circuits 121 to 12n.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of routing protocol data.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a main control unit 130.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the WAN-side module control circuit 203;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of another embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing one configuration of a conventional router device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 to 1n Terminal device 100 Router device 200 Switching device 300 WAN 111 to 11n Terminal side module 121 to 12n Link pulse detection circuit 130 Main control unit 170 Power supply control unit 201 WAN side module 202 Switch circuit 203 WAN side module control circuit

Claims (6)

[Claims] A plurality of input / output ports provided on a terminal side and a network side, an interface unit corresponding to each port on the terminal side and the network side, and a main control unit for controlling the entire apparatus; A router device that arbitrarily selects an information transmission path between a terminal and a network-side port, according to the access status between the terminal-side port and the network-side port, the power supplied to each unit in the device. A router device comprising power supply control means for controlling. 2. The power supply control means includes: a first power supply means for controlling power supply to an interface unit corresponding to each port on a main control unit and a terminal; and a power supply control unit for controlling an interface unit corresponding to each port on a network side. A second power supply means for performing power supply control, wherein the first power supply means performs power supply control based on a detection result of a specific signal exchanged at each port on the terminal side, 2. The router device according to claim 1, wherein the power supply means performs power supply control by monitoring an access request to each port on the network side. 3. The first power supply unit, when a signal indicating a link establishment state is not detected within a predetermined time, stops supplying power to an interface unit corresponding to a port for which no detection has been performed. 3. The router device according to claim 2, wherein the second power supply unit stops supplying power to an interface corresponding to a port for which an access request has not been made within a predetermined time. 4. Data exchanged between the terminal side port and the network side port includes a link source address indicating an address of a device connected to the terminal side port and a network source port. 4. The router according to claim 2, wherein the second power supply means grasps an access request to a port on the network side by referring to the link destination address. apparatus. 5. The first power supply unit, if not detecting a signal indicating a link establishment state from all ports on the terminal side within a predetermined time, outputs a signal to the main control unit and an interface unit corresponding to each port on the terminal side. The router device according to claim 2, wherein the power supply is stopped. 6. The second power supply means is supplied with power from the first power supply means, and the first power supply means receives a signal indicating a link establishment state within a predetermined time from all ports on the terminal side. The router device according to claim 2, wherein the power supply to the second power supply unit is stopped when the power supply is not detected.