JP2003309581A - Gateway device and communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gateway device and a communication system capable of realizing both high-speed data transmission in accordance with IEEE 1394 standards and connection to the Internet by an IP (Internet protocol). <P>SOLUTION: The gateway device is provided with IEEE 1394 interfaces 16, 18 for transmitting and receiving a 1394 packet conforming to the IEEE 1394 standards and an IP-1394 packet conforming to IP over IEEE 1394 standards for transmitting the IP packet by the IEEE 1394, a storage section 14 for storing conversion information (conversion table) of a protocol corresponding to the transmission source and/or the transmission destination of the packets, a conversion means (12) for converting the protocol of the accepted packet on the basis of the conversion table, and a transfer means (12) for transferring the accepted packet from the interfaces 16, 18 or the packet having the converted protocol to the transmission destination. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gateway device for controlling packet transmission between communication networks and a communication system for transmitting packets using a plurality of types of protocols.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Video cassette recorders, DVDs (Digi
tal Versatile Disk or Digital Video Disk) An IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electr.
onics Engineers) 1394 is often used. Further, in order to connect to a communication network such as the Internet, an external communication device such as a modem or a wireless communication device is often connected to the above-mentioned IEEE 1394 network (bus).

However, the protocol (communication protocol) between IEEE 1394 and the Internet is different, and in order to connect an external communication device to the IEEE 1394 network, protocol conversion is required. For example, a gateway device (hereinafter referred to as a gateway) is used to perform protocol conversion. In this case, the IEEE1394 network and the Internet protocol TC
P / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Pr)
otocol) network is connected via a gateway.

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, IEEE13
In some cases, the 94 network and the TCP / IP network cannot be completely separated. For example, in an in-vehicle LAN, one of two networks connected to a gateway is a closed network that prohibits a user from connecting and disconnecting a device, and the other is an open network that allows a user to connect and disconnect a device. I am trying. For example, it is possible that a DVD player that performs data transmission in packets conforming to IEEE 1394 (1394 packet) and an external communication device that preferably transmits data in IP packets are connected to the same network. In this case, 1394 packet and IP over
There is a problem in that a packet conforming to rIEEE1394 is mixed and it is difficult to transfer with a conventional gateway.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a gateway device capable of transferring a packet between a plurality of communication networks including a communication network that transmits a packet by a plurality of types of protocols. With the goal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gateway device capable of realizing both high-speed data transmission by IEEE 1394 and connection to the Internet or the like by IP.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gateway device capable of converting a protocol of a received packet into a protocol which can be transmitted by a destination.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a gateway device capable of converting the protocol of a received packet at high speed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a communication system capable of realizing both high-speed data transmission by IEEE 1394 and connection to the Internet or the like by IP.

[0010]

A gateway device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a gateway device which is connected to a plurality of communication networks and controls packet transmission between the communication networks, wherein the plurality of communication networks are of a plurality of types. It is characterized in that it includes a communication network for transmitting a packet by a protocol, and is provided with a transfer means for transferring a packet received from each communication network to a destination.

In such a gateway device, the transfer means transfers the packet received from each of the plurality of communication networks including the communication network for transmitting the packet by the plurality of kinds of protocols to the destination. For example, the transfer unit transfers a packet received from a communication network that transmits a packet using a high-speed data transmission protocol and a general-purpose communication protocol to another communication network. Further, the packet received from the other communication network is transferred to the communication network by the transfer means. As a general-purpose communication protocol,
IP (Internet Pro) used in the Internet
tocol).

A gateway device according to a second invention is the first device.
In the invention, the packets transmitted by the plurality of types of protocols are packets conforming to IEEE 1394,
IP ov for transmitting IP packets by IEEE1394
er IEEE 1394 compliant packet is included.

Such a gateway device is based on the IEEE standard.
A packet conforming to 1394 (hereinafter referred to as 1394 packet) and a packet conforming to IP over IEEE1394 (hereinafter referred to as IP-1394 packet)
Each of the packets is accepted from the communication network that transmits the packet and transferred to the destination. In the communication network,
The IP over IEEE 1394 is used to transmit an IP packet (IP-1394 packet) through the IEEE 1394 bus.

The gateway device according to the third invention is the first device.
Alternatively, in the second invention, there is provided conversion means for converting the protocol of the received packet into a protocol which can be transmitted by the destination, and the transfer means is adapted to transfer the received packet or the packet obtained by converting the protocol. Is characterized by.

In such a gateway device, the conversion means converts the protocol of the received packet into a protocol that can be transmitted by the destination. For example, when a 1394 packet is received, if the transmission destination can transmit the 1394 packet, it is transferred as it is, and if only the IP-1394 packet can be transmitted, it is converted into an IP-1394 packet and transferred.

The gateway device according to the fourth invention is the third device.
In the invention, a storage unit that stores conversion information of a protocol regarding a transmission source and / or a transmission destination of the packet is included, and the conversion unit is configured to convert the protocol of the received packet based on the conversion information. Is characterized by.

Such a gateway device stores the conversion information of the protocol according to the source and / or the destination of the packet in the storage unit, and converts the protocol of the packet based on the stored conversion information. For example, it is possible to store in the storage unit a protocol and an address that can be transmitted by the destination. Further, when the transmission source and the transmission destination are fixed to some extent, the transmission source and the transmission destination can be paired and stored in the storage unit.

The communication system according to the fifth invention is IEEE
IEEE 1394-compliant packets and IP packets
IP over IEEE 139 transmitted by E1394
It is characterized in that it is provided with a gateway device for converting a packet conforming to the standard No. 4 and is adapted to transmit an IP packet by IEEE1394.

In such a communication system, a gateway is connected to a communication network for transmitting 1394 packets and IP-1394 packets, and both of the packets can be converted and transferred. In the communication network, IP packets (IP-1394 packets) are transmitted by the IEEE1394 bus.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments thereof. In this description, an on-vehicle LAN provided in a vehicle will be described as an example. FIG. 1A shows an example of a communication system (hereinafter, referred to as an in-vehicle LAN) including a gateway device (hereinafter, referred to as a gateway) according to the present invention. Further, FIG. 2 shows an example of the gateway 10.

The on-vehicle LAN (Local Area Network) is a CL-LAN and an OP-LA connected to the gateway 10.
N and. The CL-LAN is a LAN in which the automobile manufacturers limit the devices that can be connected and prohibit the connection and disconnection of the devices by persons other than the automobile manufacturer. OP-L
The AN is a LAN that allows automobile users to freely connect and disconnect devices. In this description, CL-LAN
Includes a speedometer 26 and a navigation system 2
4, a speaker 22 and a display 20 are connected, and a DVD player 34, an in-vehicle PC is connected to the OP-LAN.
The (Personal Computer) 32 and the external communication device 30 are connected.

Each device 20, 22, 24, 26, 30, 3
2, 34 have an IEEE 1394 interface,
It is connected to the IEEE 1394 bus. However,
The connection of each device to the IEEE 1394 bus shown in (a) is a simplified illustration of the daisy chain connection of each device shown in FIG. 1 (b). In addition, the external communication device 3
Although not shown, 0 is connected to a communication network such as the Internet.

IEEE 1394 is 100 Mbps, 2
High-speed data transmission such as 00 Mbps or 400 Mbps is possible. The IEEE 1394 is capable of Asynchronous transmission that mainly transmits a command or a message and the like, and Isochronous transmission that mainly transmits real-time data such as a moving image or sound.
Also, according to RFC (Request For Comments) 2734, an IP that transmits an IP packet by IEEE1394
over IEEE 1394 (IPv4 over I
EEE1394) is defined, and it is also possible to transmit IP packets.

The devices connected to the OP-LAN and CL-LAN and the gateway 10 are the Async of the IEEE 1394 packet (hereinafter referred to as 1394 packet).
One or both of a hornous transmission or an Isochronous transmission and an IP over IEEE 1394 packet (hereinafter referred to as an IP-1394 packet) is possible. For example, from the DVD player 34 to the display 20 via the gateway 10 to 1394
The packet is transmitted, or the IP-from the external communication device 30 to the navigation system 24 via the gateway 10.
It can transmit 1394 packets (IP packets) and the like.

The gateway 10 is, as shown in FIG.
IEEE13 to which CL-LAN and OP-LAN are connected
It includes a 94 interface 16 and 18, a control unit 12 that controls transfer of data (packet) between the IEEE 1394 interfaces 16 and 18, and a storage unit 14 that stores various information used for packet transfer. Storage unit 14
Includes flash memory.

The control unit 12 uses the CL-LAN or OP-L.
It operates as a transfer unit that transfers the packet received from the AN to the destination. The control unit 12 uses CL-LAN and OP.
-Transfer packets sent from one of the LANs to the other based on the header. Further, the control unit 12 operates as a conversion unit that converts the protocol of the received packet into a transmittable packet of the transmission destination, and transfers the received packet or the protocol-converted packet to the transmission destination. The storage unit 14 stores protocol conversion information (conversion table) according to the transmission source and / or the transmission destination of the packet, and the control unit 12 converts the protocol of the received packet based on the conversion table.

The identification of the transmission destination and / or the transmission source of the packet is performed by, for example, 1394 packet (Asyncrono).
It can be identified based on the 1394 address included in the header of (us transmission) or based on the IP address included in the header of the IP-1394 packet.
In the case of 1394 Isochronous transmission, the destination and / or the source of the packet can be identified based on the channel number. In addition, the control unit 12 of the gateway 10 controls the device compatible with IEEE 1394 13
It is also possible to assign a 94 address or obtain an assigned 1394 address, assign an IP address to a device corresponding to IP (TCP / IP), or obtain an assigned IP address. These pieces of information are stored in the storage unit 14 and used for creating a conversion table and the like.

The control unit 12 distinguishes between the 1394 packet and the IP-1394 packet based on the header of the received packet. In the case of a 1394 packet, the data portion included in the packet is passed to the application layer in the OSI reference model, and in the case of the IP-1394 packet, the data portion included in the packet is passed to the IP layer (network layer) in the OSI reference model. Identification between a 1394 packet and an IP-1394 packet is performed by identifying tcode in the packet header and et in the data field.
It can be distinguished by "her_type". IP
In the case of −1394 packet, tcode = 0x0A,
ether_type = 0x0800, and the other 13
It can be distinguished from 94 packets.

The control unit 12 also collects and provides service information indicating what kind of service each device provides. The collected service information is stored in the storage unit 14. For collecting service information, for example, IEEE1394
In the above, AV / C (Audio Video / Control) can be used, and in the IP (TCP / IP) protocol, SLP (Service Location Protocol) can be used. For example, the service provided by the device can be acquired based on the subunit number of the device corresponding to IEEE1394. The control unit 12 controls the AV /
Both networks (CL-LA
N, OP-LAN), for example, the service information of the device connected to one LAN can be provided to the device connected to the other LAN. It is also possible to limit the service information provided.

Next, data transmission (packet transmission) between CL-LAN and OP-LAN using the gateway according to the present invention will be described. In this description, OP-
An example will be described in which a packet is transmitted from an arbitrary device X connected to the LAN to an arbitrary device A connected to the CL-LAN.

A 1394 packet from device X to device A A
In case of synchronous transmission, for example, AV /
Using C, the controller 12 of the gateway 10 uses the device X.
And the communication between the devices A is negotiated. The address and the like of the destination are acquired by negotiation. Here, the device A, the device X, and the gateway 10 are 139
Asynchronous transmission of 4 packets is possible,
For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, each 1394 address is 3, 5, and 1. The CL-IP address and the like represent the CL-LAN side IP address, and the OP-IP address and the like represent the OP-LAN side IP address. Equipment X
Sends a request packet (service discovery request packet) for acquiring the address of the device A to the OP-LAN. Upon receiving the request packet, the control unit 12 of the gateway 10 acquires the address (3) of the device A based on the service information stored in advance.

The control unit 12, as shown in FIG.
The acquired address (3) of the device A and the address (5) of the transmission source (device X) of the request packet are stored in the conversion table, and the device X is notified of the address (1) of itself (gateway 10). Once stored in the conversion table,
The destination address can be acquired by referring to the conversion table. Alternatively, a conversion table may be created in advance and stored in the storage unit 14.

In the OP-LAN, from the device X (1394 address: 5) that received the notification to the gateway 10
The packet is transmitted to (1394 address: 1). The control unit 12 of the gateway 10 changes the transmission source and the transmission destination of the packet received from the device X based on the conversion table stored in the storage unit 14, and the gateway 10
The packet is transferred from (1394 address: 1) to the device A (1394 address: 3).

A 1394 packet from device X to device A I
In the case of sochronous transmission, for example, AV / C
Use to negotiate. Here, device A,
The device X and the gateway 10 use Is of a 1394 packet.
It is possible to transmit chronologically, and each device can be identified based on the subunit number or the like.

After the negotiation is completed in the same manner as the packet transmission from the device X to the device A described above, FIG.
As shown in (a), the channel (channel number 3) established between the device A and the gateway 10 and the channel (channel number 2) established between the transmission source (device X) of the request packet and the gateway 10 are As shown in FIG. 4B, it is stored in the conversion table. The control unit 12 of the gateway 10 changes the channel of the packet received from the device X based on the conversion table, and transfers the packet to the device A using the channel 3.

When the IP-1394 packet is transmitted from the device X to the device A, negotiation is carried out by using, for example, SLP. Here, the device A, the device X, and the gateway 10 can transmit IP-1394 packets. For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, each IP address is "xx.
x. yyy. 2.5 "," xxx.yyy.1.2 "and" xxx.yyy.1.1 (OP-LAN), xx
x. yyy. 2.1 (CL-LAN) ".

Similar to the packet transmission from the device X to the device A described above, after the completion of the negotiation, FIG.
As shown in (b), the acquired address (xx) of the device A
x. yyy. 2.5) and the address (xxx.yyy.1.2) of the transmission source (device X) of the request packet are stored in the conversion table. The control unit 12 of the gateway 10 changes the transmission source and the transmission destination of the packet received from the device X based on the conversion table, and transfers the packet to the device A.

When the 1394 packet transmitted from the device X is converted into the IP-1394 packet and transmitted to the device A, negotiation is performed using AV / C and SLP, for example. Here, the device A and the gateway 10 can transmit an IP-1394 packet. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, each IP address is “xxx.
yyy. 2.2 ”and“ xxx.yyy.2.1 ”, the device X and the gateway 10 can perform Asynchronous transmission of 1394 packets, and the respective 1394 addresses are 5 and 1.

After the negotiation is completed in the same manner as the packet transmission from the device X to the device A described above, FIG.
As shown in (b), the acquired address (xx) of the device A
x. yyy. 2.2) and the address (5) of the transmission source (device X) of the request packet are stored in the conversion table. Based on the conversion table, the control unit 12 of the gateway 10 changes the transmission source and transmission destination of the packet received from the device X, tcode and ether_type, and transfers the packet to the device A.

When the IP-1394 packet transmitted from the device X is converted into a 1394 packet and transmitted to the device A, negotiation is performed using AV / C and SLP, for example. Here, the device A and the gateway 1
0 is capable of Asynchronous transmission of 1394 packets. For example, as shown in FIG.
The addresses are 5 and 1, device X and gateway 1
0 is capable of transmitting an IP-1394 packet, and each IP address is "xxx.yyy.1.2" and "xxx.y."
yy. 1.1 ".

Similar to the packet transmission from the device X to the device A described above, after the completion of the negotiation, FIG.
As shown in (b), the acquired address of device A (5)
And the address (xx) of the sender (device X) of the request packet
x. yyy. 1.2) is stored in the conversion table. Based on the conversion table, the control unit 12 of the gateway 10 changes the transmission source and transmission destination of the packet received from the device X, tcode and ether_type, and transfers the packet to the device A.

The case where the packet is transmitted from the device X connected to the OP-LAN to the device A connected to the CL-LAN has been described above as an example. Packet transmission to a device connected to can be performed in the same manner. Also, CL-LA
An external communication device is connected to N, and IP-1 is set in CL-LAN.
It is also possible to transmit 394 packets (IP packets).

The data portion (payload) of the packet
Can also be used to specify the transfer destination of the packet.
For example, the DVD player 34 often transmits video data to the display 20 and audio data to the speaker 22, but the transfer destination of the packet cannot be specified only by the address of the transmission source (DVD player). . However, if the payload of the packet contains a control command related to the display, the destination is the display 2
It can be specified that it is 0, and if the payload includes a control command related to the speaker, it can be specified that the transmission destination is the speaker 22.

In the on-vehicle LAN, the combination of the transmission source and the transmission destination is often fixed to some extent, and the transmission source and the transmission destination are paired and stored in the conversion table described above. When the addresses of the transmission source and the transmission destination are paired, it is possible to limit each transmission destination to which the transmission source can transmit data, and it is possible to improve security. However, it is of course possible to transfer the packet based on the destination without considering the source.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, as a plurality of types of protocols, IEEE 1394 and IP o are used.
Although the description has been made by using the version IEEE 1394 as an example, any plural kinds of protocols can be used. For example, any data transmission bus other than IEEE 1394 can be used, or any protocol other than the IP protocol can be used. It is also possible to carry out packet transfer and protocol conversion compatible with IPv6 in response to expansion from IPv4 to IPv6.

In the above-described embodiment, the in-vehicle LA
Although N has been described as an example, the gateway and the communication system of the present invention can be used between arbitrary communication networks. For example, data transfer and protocol conversion can be performed by connecting between arbitrary networks such as an open network and a closed network, a high speed network and a low speed network, a control network and an information network, a vehicle exterior network and a vehicle interior network.

[0047]

According to the gateway device of the first aspect of the present invention, between the communication network transmitting the packet by the plural kinds of protocols and the communication network transmitting the packet by the one or plural kinds of protocols by the transfer means. Packets can be forwarded with. Within the communication network connected to the gateway, it is possible to transmit packets by using a plurality of types of protocols.

According to the gateway device of the second aspect of the present invention, by transmitting the 1394 packet and the IP-1394 packet, the IP packet can be transmitted by the IEEE 1394 bus. Therefore, the high speed data transmission by the IEEE 1394 and the Internet by the IP are possible. Can be realized together.

According to the gateway device of the third aspect of the present invention, the converting means converts the protocol of the received packet into a protocol that can be transmitted by the transmission destination when the transmission source and the transmission destination have different transmission protocols. You can

With the gateway device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the protocol conversion information is stored in the storage unit, and the protocol of the packet is converted based on the stored conversion information, whereby the protocol is converted at high speed. The processing speed can be improved.

According to the communication system of the fifth invention, I
Since IP packets can be transmitted on the EEE1394 bus,
High-speed data transmission by IEEE1394 and IP (In
It is possible to realize both the connection to the Internet by the ternet Protocol).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an in-vehicle LAN (communication system) including a gateway (gateway device) according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a gateway.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of packet transfer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of packet transfer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of packet transfer.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of packet transfer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of packet transfer.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Gateway (gateway device) 12 Control unit (transfer means, conversion means) 14 Memory OP-LAN, CL-LAN communication network

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A gateway device connected to a plurality of communication networks and controlling packet transmission between the communication networks, wherein the plurality of communication networks include a communication network transmitting packets by a plurality of types of protocols, A gateway device comprising a transfer means for transferring a packet received from each communication network to a destination. 2. The packets transmitted by the plurality of types of protocols are packets conforming to IEEE 1394,
IP ov for transmitting IP packets by IEEE1394
A packet according to IEEE 1394 is included. 3. A conversion means for converting the protocol of the received packet into a protocol that can be transmitted by the transmission destination, wherein the transfer means is configured to transfer the received packet or the packet obtained by converting the protocol. The gateway device according to claim 1, wherein the gateway device is a gateway device. 4. A storage unit for storing protocol conversion information regarding a packet transmission source and / or a transmission destination, wherein the conversion means converts the protocol of the received packet based on the conversion information. The gateway device according to claim 3, wherein the gateway device is provided. 5. A packet conforming to IEEE 1394 and an IP for transmitting an IP packet by IEEE 1394
A communication system comprising a gateway device for converting a packet conforming to over IEEE 1394, and transmitting an IP packet by IEEE 1394.