JP2002077176A - Atm communication equipment and loop setting method for data transmission route - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To arbitrarily execute the loop setting of a data transmission route in remote side ATM communication equipment from a center side. SOLUTION: In the case that RLB signals from data terminal equipment a40 change from the state of OFF (step 200) to ON (step 201), this ATM communication equipment a10 which detects the change prepares an OAM cell for indicating the request of the loop setting, and transmits it through an ATM network to the ATM communication equipment b30 on a remote side ( step 210). In the remote side ATM communication equipment b30, the transmitted OAM cell of a loop setting request is received, the loop of the data transmission route is set and the OAM cell for indicating a loop setting response is prepared and returned to the ATM communication equipment a10 on the center side (step 220).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an ATM network and an ATM network.
The present invention relates to an ATM communication device that performs data communication using ATM cells via a TM line, and more particularly to a method for setting a loop of a data transmission route in a remote ATM communication device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to confirm the normality of data communication between ATM communication devices, a loop is set in a data transmission route of an ATM communication device on a remote side (hereinafter referred to as a remote side), and a loop is set on a center side. The data transmitted from the data terminal device is compared with the received data returned by the loop of the data transmission route on the remote side.

As a method for setting a loop of the data transmission route, for example, a maintenance operation device is connected to an ATM communication device on the remote side, and a loop setting instruction is issued from the maintenance operation device or a front side of the ATM communication device on the remote side. Some operation has to be performed at the place where the ATM communication device on the remote side is installed, such as whether to issue a loop setting instruction by operating the panel.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional method, when the remote-side ATM communication device is installed in a remote place or an unmanned base station, the remote-side ATM communication device is contacted and communicated to the remote place. Have the maintenance operation device connected,
It is necessary to issue a loop setting instruction from the maintenance operation device or to issue a loop setting instruction by operating the front panel of the ATM communication device to set a loop on the data transmission route. Further, in the case of an unmanned base station, it is necessary for a maintenance person to go to the installation location and set a loop on the data transmission route. For this reason, there is a problem that it takes a lot of man-hours to confirm the normality of the data communication between the ATM communication devices.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has as its object to confirm the normality of data communication between a center-side ATM communication device and a remote-side ATM communication device with less man-hours. A method for setting a loop of a data transmission route to be enabled, an ATM communication device for realizing the method,
Another object of the present invention is to provide a data communication normality confirmation method performed by using the method.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a data transmission route loop setting method, an ATM communication device, and a data transmission route loop setting method capable of arbitrarily setting a data transmission route loop in a remote ATM communication device from a center side. An object of the present invention is to provide a data communication normality checking method.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an AT which performs data communication via an ATM network.
In the M communication device, a cell having information for requesting a loop setting of a data transmission route is assembled, and a cell generation / assembly means for transmitting the cell to the ATM network, and receiving the cell transmitted via the ATM network, Cell disassembly / analysis means for detecting whether the received cell has the information for requesting the loop setting, and, if the received cell has the information for requesting the loop setting, data in the ATM communication device. Loop setting means for setting a transmission route loop.

In the ATM communication device of the present invention, a control signal transmitted from a terminal device connected to the ATM communication device and instructing a loop setting / release of a data transmission route in a remote ATM communication device is transmitted. Further comprising a terminal control signal receiving means for receiving, wherein when the control signal instructing the loop setting / release is received, the cell generating / assembling means may include an OAM cell provided with information requesting the loop setting / release. It may be configured to assemble and send to the ATM network. Further, the cell disassembly / analysis means shall detect whether the received OAM cell has the information for requesting the loop release, and
When the M cell includes the information for requesting the loop release, the configuration may further include a loop release unit that releases the loop of the data transmission route set in the ATM communication device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for setting / releasing a loop of a data transmission route according to the present invention. Receiving an instruction, assembling an OAM cell including information for requesting a loop setting or a loop release according to the received instruction, sending the assembled OAM cell to the remote-side ATM communication device via the ATM network, The received OAM
It is characterized in that it detects whether the information provided in the cell indicates a loop setting or a loop release, and sets or releases a loop according to the detection result.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the data communication normality checking method of the present invention, at first, a remote AT
An instruction for setting a loop in the M communication device is sent from the terminal device to the center-side ATM communication device, and a loop in the remote-side ATM communication device is set using the data transmission route setting / releasing method according to the present invention. The device transmits predetermined data for confirming normality to the remote-side ATM communication device, receives data returned through the loop of the remote-side ATM communication device at the terminal device, and compares and checks the transmitted and received data. Finally, the remote ATM
An instruction to release a loop in the communication device is sent from the terminal device to the center-side ATM communication device, and the loop in the remote-side ATM communication device is released using the data transmission route setting / release method according to the present invention.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, V.V. An ATM communication device which has an interface on the terminal device side and performs data communication by ATM cells via an ATM network and an ATM line. RLB in 24 interface signals
OAM which is a standard function of ATM communication
(Operation Administration and Maintenance) A case in which a cell is used to generate / analyze loop setting information with a remote ATM communication device to thereby set a data transmission route loop in a remote ATM communication device. Will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration example in an embodiment of an ATM communication network to which the present invention is applied. The ATM communication network according to the present embodiment includes a pair of data terminal devices a4 for performing data communication, for example, as shown in FIG.
0, b50, ATM communication devices a10, b30 respectively connected to these data terminal devices, and ATM network 20.
It is composed of In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a maintenance operation device 60 for maintenance and inspection is connected to the ATM communication device b50.

As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the ATM communication devices a10 and b30 include a data terminal control unit 100 connected to the data terminal devices a40 and b50, an ATM network control unit 102 connected to the ATM network 20, and an ATM cell. , A cell disassembly unit 104 for disassembling ATM cells, an OAM control unit 103 for creating and analyzing OAM cells, and an OAM used in route setting and release processing.
It comprises a memory 106 for storing configuration information related to cell creation and analysis, a loop circuit 107 for forming a loop in the ATM communication device, and a timer 109 for time management in route setting and release processing. I have. The ATM communication device b30 further includes a maintenance operation device 6
A maintenance control unit 105 connected to the control unit 0 and an LED 108 for indicating a state in which a loop is set are provided.

In this embodiment, the conventional maintenance operation device 60
The loop setting and release of the data transmission route in the ATM communication device b30, which has been performed by connecting, for example, are performed from the ATM communication device a10 side.

Specifically, the ATM communication device a on the center side
10 receives a signal indicating a request for setting or canceling a loop input from the outside, such as a remote loopback signal (RLB signal) output from the data terminal device a40, for example, and receives a loop in the ATM communication device b30 on the remote side. A cell indicating a control instruction for setting or canceling is created and transmitted to the ATM communication device b30. A on the remote side
The TM communication device b30 receives these cells and sets and releases a loop according to the control instruction indicated by the received cells. In this embodiment, a case where an OAM cell is used as a cell indicating a control instruction will be described.

FIG. 3 shows an example of control signals transmitted and received between the data terminal device and the ATM communication device. In this example,
V. 24 shows an RLB signal and other main signals in the H.24 interface. In the present embodiment, V.V. The case where the RLB signal of the H.24 interface is used will be described as an example. It is not limited to 24. The present invention can be applied to other interfaces in the same manner as in the present embodiment, as long as a signal for instructing the setting or canceling of a loop on the remote side is substantially included as one of the control signals. Can be.

The operation for setting a loop in the data transmission route for the remote-side ATM communication device b30 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows an example of a sequence for setting a loop of a data transmission route from the ATM communication device a10 to the ATM communication device b30 in response to the RLB signal being turned on from the data terminal device a40.

In a state where normal data communication is being performed, the RLB signal from the data terminal device a40 is off (step 200). When the RLB signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state (step 201), the data terminal control unit 100 of the ATM communication device a10 that has detected this change sets the OAM control unit 103 to the loop setting to the ATM communication device b30. Make a request.

The OAM control unit 103, which has received the loop setting request from the data terminal control unit 100, transmits the "loop setting request" among the configuration information stored in the memory 106 of the own device (the ATM communication device a10). An OAM cell indicating a request for a loop setting is created based on the identification information for indicating in the OAM cell format.

Specifically, for example, OA as shown in FIG.
Use the M cell format. The OAM cell format shown in FIG. 6 is a format defined by ITU-T I.610, and by defining the function type field 400 in this format independently, the sequence shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. Realize. For example, when a loop setting request, a loop setting response, a loop release request, and a loop release response are indicated, the function type field 400 of the OAM cell format is set to “1000: loop setting request”, “1001: loop setting response”, "110
0: loop release request "," 1101: loop release response "
Set to.

The OAM cell of the loop setting request created by the OAM control section 103 is transmitted to the ATM communication apparatus b30 on the remote side via the ATM network 20 by being passed to the cell assembling section 101 (step 210). . Furthermore, O
After passing the OAM cell indicating the loop setting request to the cell assembling unit 101, the AM control unit 103 activates the timer 109 in accordance with a response waiting time (for example, 1 second) for the preset loop setting request, and It is in a state of waiting for a response to the setting request. Here, it is assumed that the response waiting time is stored in the memory 106 together with the configuration information on the OAM cell format for indicating the setting and release of the loop shown in FIG.

On the other hand, the remote-side ATM communication device b30
Then, the OAM cell of the loop setting request sent via the ATM network 20 is received, and the received cell is extracted as an OAM cell by the cell disassembly unit 104, and the OAM control unit 103
Pass to The OAM control unit 103 analyzes the received OAM cell with reference to the configuration information of the OAM cell format shown in FIG.

When the OAM control section 103 determines that the received OAM cell is the OAM cell of the loop setting request, the OAM control section 103 issues a "loop setting" instruction to the data terminal control section 100. The data terminal control unit 100 having received the loop setting instruction controls the loop circuit 107 to set a loop, and the ATM communication device b30 enters a loop setting state.

The data terminal control unit 100 includes a loop circuit 1
When the control of step 07 is completed, the loop setting completion is notified to the OAM control unit 103. O receiving notification of loop setting completion
The AM control unit 103 refers to the configuration information (FIG. 6) stored in the memory 106, and the OA indicating the loop setting response.
An M cell is created and passed to the cell assembling unit 101, and the OAM cell of the loop setting response is transmitted from the cell assembling unit 101 to the center-side ATM communication device a10 via the ATM network 20 (step 220).

In the ATM communication apparatus a10 which has received the OAM cell of the loop setting response 501 in a loop setting request response waiting state, the ATM communication device a10
It is extracted as an OAM cell and passed to the OAM control unit 103. The OAM control unit 103 analyzes the passed OAM cell according to the configuration information (FIG. 6) stored in the memory 106. When the OAM control unit 103 determines that the received OAM cell is the loop setting response 501, the OAM control unit 103 releases the response waiting state of the loop setting request and sets the LED 1 indicating that the ATM communication device b30 located on the remote side is in the loop setting.
08 is turned on, and the sequence of the loop setting process ends.

By completing the above loop setting sequence, the preparation for confirming the normality of the data communication between the ATM communication device a10 and the ATM communication device b30 is completed.
The normality of the data communication is confirmed by transmitting predetermined data from the data terminal device a10 on the center side, receiving data returned from the remote side through the loop set by the loop setting sequence described above, This is performed by performing a compare check on received data.

If a timeout occurs in the timer 109 for waiting for a response to the loop setting request in a state of waiting for a response to the loop setting request, that is, the OA of the loop setting response
If the M cell cannot be received within the set time (1 second in this example), the OAM cell of the loop setting request is transmitted again according to the above-described loop setting sequence, and the apparatus waits for a response to the loop setting request. Perform this process multiple times (for example, three times)
If the loop setting response OAM cell cannot be received even after repetition, release the loop setting request response waiting state,
The sequence of the loop setting process ends.

Next, the remote-side ATM communication device b30
On the other hand, the operation of releasing the loop set in the data transmission route will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which the RLB signal from the data terminal device a10 is turned off,
From the M communication device a10 to the ATM communication device b30,
It is an example of a sequence for performing a loop release of a data transmission route.

In this sequence, first, the AT on the remote side
While the LED 108 is turned on during the loop setting of the M communication device b30, the ATM communication device a10 on the center side turns on the RLB signal from the data terminal device a40 (step 30).
0), the data terminal control unit 100 of the ATM communication device a10 sends the change to the OAM control unit 103 to the ATM communication device b3.
Issue a loop release request to 0.

The OAM control unit 103, which has received the loop release request from the data terminal control unit 100, creates an OAM cell of the loop release request (see FIG. 6) and passes it to the cell assembling unit 101, so that the ATM network is The OAM cell of the loop release request is transmitted to the ATM communication device b30 via the communication device 20 (step 310). Further, the OAM control unit 103
After passing the OAM cell of the loop release request to the cell assembling unit 101, a response waiting time (for example, 1
The timer 109 is started so as to measure the time (second), and a response waiting state for a loop release request is set. Here, it is assumed that the response waiting time corresponding to the loop release request is set in advance and stored in the memory 106, similarly to the above-described waiting time at the time of the loop setting request.

In the remote-side ATM communication device b30 that has received the OAM cell of the loop release request, the received cell is extracted as an OAM cell by the cell disassembly unit 104, and
It is passed to the AM control unit 103. The OAM control unit 103
The received OAM cell is analyzed according to the configuration information (FIG. 6) stored in the memory 106, and the OA of the loop release request is analyzed.
If the cell is determined to be an M cell, an instruction to release the loop is issued to the data terminal control unit 100.

The data terminal control unit 100 that has received the instruction to release the loop controls the loop circuit 107 to release the loop setting. When the release control of the loop circuit 107 is completed,
The data terminal control unit 100 notifies the OAM control unit 103 of the completion of the loop release. Upon receiving the notification of the completion of the loop release, the OAM control unit 103 creates an OAM cell of a loop release response, passes it to the cell assembling unit 101, and sends a loop release response from the cell assembling unit 101 to the ATM communication device a10 via the ATM network 20. Is transmitted (step 320).

In the ATM communication apparatus a10 on the center side, which has received the OAM cell of the loop release response in the waiting state for the response to the loop release request, the received cell is extracted as an OAM cell by the cell disassembly unit 104, and the OAM control unit 103 Passed to The OAM control unit 103 analyzes the passed OAM cell according to the configuration information (FIG. 6) stored in the memory 106. The OAM control unit 103 receives the OA
If it is determined that the M cell indicates a loop release response, the state of waiting for a response to the loop release request is released, and the loop setting LED 108 of the ATM communication device b30 on the remote side is turned off.
The sequence of the loop release processing ends.

If the OAM cell of the loop release response cannot be received in one second in the state of waiting for the response of the loop release request, the timer 109 set by the response wait time of the loop release request (1 second in this example). When a timeout occurs, the OAM cell of the loop release request is transmitted again by the above-described loop release processing sequence, and the system enters a state of waiting for a response to the loop release request. If the OAM cell of the loop release response cannot be received even after performing this processing a plurality of times (for example, three times), the loop release request response wait state is released, and the loop release processing sequence ends.

Next, another example of the processing sequence for releasing the loop of the data transmission route set by the ATM communication device b30 in response to a loop setting request from the ATM communication device a10 will be described with reference to FIG.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 7, in the unique data field 500 of the OAM cell format indicating the loop setting request, the time for indicating the loop setting is set in the field 500a. Note that field 50
The unique data fields 401 other than 0a are “spare” and are not particularly limited in the present invention. Except for the OAM cell of the loop setting request, the same configuration information as the setting in FIG. 6 is used. These pieces of configuration information are stored in the memory 106 in advance.

In the processing sequence of this embodiment, the remote-side ATM communication device b30 is connected to the center-side ATM communication device a.
After receiving the OAM cell of the loop setting request 500 from Step 10 (Steps 210 and 211 in FIG. 4), after completing the loop setting in the loop circuit 107, the data terminal control unit 100 of the ATM communication device b30 on the remote side sends the loop setting request 500 The timer 109 is activated with the setting of the time 500a indicated by the OAM cell. Further, the data terminal control unit 10
0 means that the ATM 109 has not
When the OAM cell of the loop release request 502 is not received from the communication device a10, the loop setting set in the loop circuit 107 is released and the loop setting state is released.

In the processing sequence of this example, when the OAM cell of the loop release request 502 from the ATM communication device a10 to the ATM communication device b30 does not pass, for example, the ATM network 2
This is a process that is effective when a failure has occurred in 0.

According to the ATM communication device of the present embodiment, conventionally, in order to confirm the normality of data communication between the ATM communication devices, the ATM communication device is contacted and maintained at a remote place where the ATM communication device on the remote side is installed. When the operation device is connected, a loop setting instruction is issued from the maintenance operation device, or a loop setting instruction is performed by operating the front panel of the ATM communication device, and a loop is set on the data transmission route, or the remote ATM communication device is used. Is installed in an unmanned base station, go to the installation location, connect the maintenance operation device to the ATM communication device, and issue a loop setting instruction from the maintenance operation device,
There is only a means of instructing the loop setting by operating the front panel of the ATM communication device and making a loop setting in the data transmission route. V. By simply turning on the RLB signal of the 24 interface signal, a loop can be set in the data transmission route of the remote ATM communication device, and the normality of data communication between the ATM communication devices can be confirmed. It is possible to reduce the number of steps for confirming the normality of data communication.

In this embodiment, a case has been described in which a data terminal route connected to the center-side ATM communication device sets a data transmission route loop in the remote-side ATM communication device by using an RLB signal as a trigger. The means for instructing the setting and cancellation of the loop in is not limited to this.

For example, through the maintenance operation device 60 connected to the center-side ATM communication device or an operation panel for inputting an operation instruction to the ATM communication device, a control signal indicating a loop setting request and a loop release request on the remote side is transmitted. By sending the information to the OAM control unit 103 via the maintenance control unit 105, the remote-side ATM communication device may set or release a loop as in the case of the present embodiment. However, in such a case, for example, the ATM to which the maintenance operation device 60 shown in FIG.
The communication device b30 is the center-side ATM communication device, and the remote-side ATM communication device is the ATM communication device a10 in FIG.

The cell format that can be used for setting and releasing a loop in the present invention is not limited to the OAM cell format shown in FIGS. For example, if the cell has a format indicating a loop setting request and a loop release request, respectively, and it is possible to recognize the request content indicated by each cell by analyzing these cells at the receiving-side ATM communication device, A configuration using cells of a format other than the example may be used.

[0044]

According to the present invention, it is possible to confirm the normality of data communication between the center-side ATM communication device and the remote-side ATM communication device with less man-hours. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to arbitrarily set and release the loop of the data transmission route in the remote side ATM communication device from the center side.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an ATM communication network to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an ATM communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a physical interface between a data terminal device and an ATM communication device.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a sequence example for realizing a loop setting in a remote-side ATM communication device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a sequence for realizing cancellation of a loop set by an ATM communication device on the remote side;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an OAM cell format defined as an example for implementing a loop setting / loop release in a remote-side ATM communication device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of an OAM cell format defined for realizing loop setting / loop release in a remote-side ATM communication device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 30 ... ATM communication device, 20 ... ATM network, 40,
50 ... data terminal device, 60 ... maintenance operation device, 100 ...
Data terminal control unit, 101: cell assembly unit, 102: AT
M network control unit, 103 OAM control unit, 104 cell disassembly unit, 105 maintenance control unit, 106 memory, 107 loop circuit, 108 LED, 109 timer.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masahito Hirokawa 94 Nippon Telecom Technology Co., Ltd., Koriyama-shi, Fukushima Prefecture (72) Inventor Kazuaki Endo 94 Nippon Telecom Technology, Koriyama-shi, Fukushima Prefecture F term (reference) 5K030 GA14 HA10 HB06 HB11 JA05 MC02 5K035 AA07 CC08 CC09 CC10 DD02 GG06 GG10 MM03

Claims (5)

[Claims] An AT that performs data communication via an ATM network
In the M communication device, a cell having information for requesting a loop setting of a data transmission route is assembled, and a cell generating / assembling means for transmitting the cell to the ATM network; and receiving the cell transmitted via the ATM network, Cell disassembly / analysis means for detecting whether or not the received cell has the information for requesting the loop setting; and if the received cell has the information for requesting the loop setting, the data in the ATM communication device. An ATM communication device comprising: a loop setting unit configured to set a transmission route loop. 2. The ATM communication device according to claim 1, wherein a control signal transmitted from a terminal device connected to the ATM communication device and instructing a loop setting of a data transmission route in a remote ATM communication device is transmitted. Further comprising a terminal control signal receiving means for receiving, when the control signal instructing the loop setting is received, the cell generating / assembling means assembles an OAM cell having information for requesting the loop setting, and An ATM communication device for transmitting data to a network. 3. The ATM communication device according to claim 2, wherein when the received OAM cell has information for requesting said loop release, the loop of the data transmission route set by said ATM communication device is released. The terminal control signal receiving unit further receives a control signal transmitted from the terminal device and instructing a loop release of a data transmission route in a remote-side ATM communication device. The assembling means, when the control signal instructing the loop release is received, assembles an OAM cell provided with the information requesting the loop release and sends it to the ATM network; A, in addition to the detection processing, detecting whether the received OAM cell has information for requesting the loop release. TM communication device. 4. A method for setting and releasing a loop of a data transmission route in a remote side ATM communication device connected to a center side ATM communication device via an ATM network from said center side ATM communication device. The side ATM communication device receives a control instruction indicating one of a loop setting and a loop release input from the outside, and in response to the received instruction, generates an OAM cell having information for requesting a loop setting or a loop release. Assemble,
The information is sent to the remote-side ATM communication device via the ATM network, and the remote-side ATM communication device detects whether the information included in the received OAM cell indicates a loop setting or a loop release. A method for setting / releasing a loop of a data transmission route, wherein a loop is set or released accordingly. 5. A center-side ATM to which a terminal device is connected.
A method for confirming the normality of communication between a communication device and a remote-side ATM communication device connected to the center-side ATM communication device via an ATM network, comprising: a loop setting instruction in the remote-side ATM communication device From the terminal device to the center-side ATM communication device, and a loop in the remote-side ATM communication device is set using the data transmission route setting / releasing method according to claim 4; Confirmation data,
The terminal device transmits the data for normality confirmation transmitted to the center-side ATM communication device and the remote-side ATM communication device via the ATM network, and returned through a loop set by the remote-side ATM communication device. 5. The data transmission route according to claim 4, wherein the terminal device compares and checks the transmitted and received data with the terminal device, and sends an instruction for loop release in the remote-side ATM communication device from the terminal device to the center-side ATM communication device. A data communication normality confirmation method, wherein a loop in the remote-side ATM communication device is released using a setting / release method.