JP2004260581A - Method and device for automatically degenerating line in communication line failure and communication control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic line degenerating method in a communication line failure for switching the communication attribute of a normal line to the communication attribute of a communication line where a failure occurs for substitution in the case that the failure occurs in one of communication lines and to provide its device and a communication control program in a system for allocating a communication attribute to each of a plurality of communication lines and performing data communication on the basis of the allocated attribute. <P>SOLUTION: This automatic line degenerating method in a communication line failure has the steps for: automatically selecting one normal communication line among the plurality of communication lines when the occurrence of a failure (7) is detected in one communication line among the plurality of communication lines (3a and 3b); changing the attribute of the selected normal communication line to use the changed attribute as a substitution for the communication line where the failure has occurred; and replacing the communication line where the failure has occurred with the selected normal communication line to perform data communication used in a dedicated manner. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a data communication method, a device thereof, and a communication control program, and more particularly, to an automatic line degeneration method, a device, and a communication control program when a communication line fails.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a prior art, Patent Literature 1 discloses an apparatus and a method for controlling switching of a communication line when a failure occurs in any communication line in a system for performing data communication using a plurality of communication lines. In Patent Literature 1, a detour destination line having a small communication load is selected and switched while considering the load distribution of the remaining normal communication lines except for the communication line in which the failure has occurred, and the data communication is resumed after the failure is recovered. In order to be able to automatically return to the communication line, a configuration including the detouring line information and the detour destination line information is disclosed.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Patent No. 2732775 (paragraphs [0008] to [0013])
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when performing data communication using a plurality of communication lines, predetermined attributes such as transmission-only (or data request line) and reception-only (or data response line) may be assigned to the communication line in advance. In such a case, in the related art disclosed in Patent Document 1, a detour line having the same attribute as the failed line is required. If there is no alternative detour line having the same attribute as the failed line, There is a problem that selection and switching cannot be performed.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the related art.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for performing data communication using a plurality of communication lines, wherein an attribute is assigned to each of the plurality of communication lines, and each of the communication lines is dedicated based on the attribute. And a step of automatically selecting one normal communication line among the plurality of communication lines when the occurrence of a failure in one of the plurality of communication lines is detected. Changing the attribute of the selected normal communication line to be used as a substitute for the failed communication line, and exclusively using the failed communication line based on the changed attribute. Performing a data communication by using a selected normal communication line instead of the normal communication line.
[0007]
According to the method described in claim 1, when an attribute is assigned to each communication line in advance, by changing the attribute of the normal line to the attribute of the failed line, it can be used as a substitute for the failed line. . Therefore, even when there is no normal line having the same attribute as the failed line, it is possible to secure an alternative line by changing the attribute of the normal line.
[0008]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the automatic line degeneration method according to the first aspect, the attribute represents one of a data request for data communication and a data response. A degeneration method is provided.
[0009]
According to the method described in claim 2, the attribute assigned to each communication line represents either a data request for data communication or a data response. That is, from the viewpoint of a client receiving an information data providing service from a data center (data server) through data communication, a line with a data request attribute indicates a line dedicated to transmission to the data center, and a line with an attribute for data response indicates a line. Indicates a line exclusively used for receiving data from the data center. As described above, the efficiency of data communication can be increased by dividing the plurality of communication lines into transmission only lines and reception only lines.
[0010]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the automatic line degeneration method according to the first aspect, the step of changing includes, when the occurrence of a failure is detected, the data communication exclusively using the failed communication line. There is provided an automatic line degeneration method characterized by temporarily suspending a call and temporarily closing a selected normal communication line.
[0011]
According to the method described in claim 3, when the occurrence of the failure is detected, the data communication using the failed line exclusively is temporarily suspended, and the process waits until an alternative communication line is secured. On the other hand, the normal communication line selected as the substitute line is temporarily closed in order to change its attribute in the same way as the faulty line, and the attribute change operation is performed. By performing the attribute change in this way, it is possible to smoothly recover data communication at the time of failure.
[0012]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for performing data communication using a plurality of communication lines, wherein an attribute is assigned to each of the plurality of communication lines, and each communication line is dedicated based on the attribute. Means used for predetermined data communication, and automatically selects one normal communication line among the plurality of communication lines when a failure of one communication line among the plurality of communication lines is detected. Means for changing the attribute of the selected normal communication line to be used as a substitute for the failed communication line, and exclusively using the failed communication line based on the changed attribute. Means for performing data communication by using a selected normal communication line as an alternative. An automatic line degeneration device in the event of a communication line failure is provided.
[0013]
According to the device of the fourth aspect, when an attribute is previously assigned to each communication line, the attribute of the normal line is changed to the attribute of the failed line, so that it can be used as a substitute for the failed line. Therefore, even when there is no normal line having the same attribute as the failed line, it is possible to secure an alternative line by changing the attribute of the normal line.
[0014]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the automatic line degeneration device according to the fourth aspect, when the change unit detects the occurrence of the failure, the change unit performs the data communication exclusively using the failed communication line. There is provided an automatic line degeneration device including a memory unit for temporarily holding and a unit for temporarily closing a selected normal communication line.
[0015]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the occurrence of a failure is detected, the data communication exclusively using the failed line is temporarily suspended, and the process waits until an alternative communication line is secured. On the other hand, the normal communication line selected as the substitute line is temporarily closed in order to change its attribute in the same way as the faulty line, and the attribute change operation is performed. By performing the attribute change in this way, it is possible to smoothly recover data communication at the time of failure.
[0016]
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication control program for realizing control of data communication using a plurality of communication lines on a computer, wherein an attribute is assigned to each of the plurality of communication lines, and the attribute is assigned to the attribute. A process for exclusively using each communication line for predetermined data communication, and automatically detecting the occurrence of a failure in one of the plurality of communication lines when the plurality of communication lines are detected. Selecting one of the normal communication lines, and changing the attribute of the selected normal communication line to be used as a substitute for the failed communication line; and Performing data communication exclusively using the failed communication line by using the selected normal communication line as a substitute, and performing automatic line degeneration in the event of a communication line failure. Control program is provided.
[0017]
According to the program described in claim 6, when an attribute is assigned to each communication line in advance, by changing the attribute of the normal line to the attribute of the failed line, it can be used as a substitute for the failed line. Therefore, even when there is no normal line having the same attribute as the failed line, it is possible to secure an alternative line by changing the attribute of the normal line.
[0018]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the communication control program according to the sixth aspect, when the change processing detects the occurrence of the failure, the data communication exclusively uses the failed communication line. And a process for temporarily closing the selected normal communication line.
[0019]
According to the program described above, when the occurrence of a failure is detected, the data communication using the failed line exclusively is temporarily suspended, and the process waits until an alternative communication line is secured. On the other hand, the normal communication line selected as the substitute line is temporarily closed in order to change its attribute in the same way as the faulty line, and the attribute change operation is performed. By performing the attribute change in this way, it is possible to smoothly recover data communication at the time of failure.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0021]
FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram of an information system in which the apparatus and method of the present invention and the program thereof are used. In FIG. 1, a client information system 1 for receiving a data service is connected via a gateway server 4 to a data server information system 2 for providing a data service via a plurality of communication lines 3. For example, a business application server or the like is connected to the client information system 1 and transmits a data request for an inquiry request to the information centers A to D provided in the data server information system 2. Through D to receive a data response as an inquiry response. The information centers A to D may be provided in the same data server information system 2 or may be provided in different data server information systems 2.
[0022]
The apparatus, the method and the program according to the embodiment of the present invention are used by being incorporated in a gateway server 4 connected to the data server information system 2 via a plurality of communication lines 3. The client information system 1 for receiving the data service and the data server information system 2 for providing the data service include those for requesting various information and responding to it in an online manner. For example, as the client information system 2, a system that requests an inquiry of customer credit information when using a credit card, a debit card, or the like can be considered. As the data server information system 2, the customer credit information is transmitted in response to the inquiry request. Something to answer is possible.
[0023]
FIG. 2 shows a part of the information system of FIG. 1 in detail. In FIG. 2, information terminals 1 a and 1 b constituting a plurality of business application servers are connected to a client information system 1, each of which is connected via a gateway server 4, a protocol converter 5 and a plurality of communication lines 3. Connected to the server information system 2 to send inquiry requests (or data requests) to the information centers A to D in the server information system 2; , An inquiry response (or a data response) is received.
[0024]
The gateway server 4 receives the inquiry request from the plurality of information terminals 1a or 1b, converts the protocol by the protocol converter 5, and then transmits the inquiry request through the line 3a dedicated to transmission of the inquiry request. A is transmitted to any of A to D. Then, any of the information centers A to D receiving the inquiry request sends the inquiry response to the protocol converter 5 and the gateway server 4 via the line 3b dedicated to the inquiry response. After receiving the inquiry response, the gateway server 4 sends the inquiry response to the terminal 1a or 1b that made the inquiry request. Although only one inquiry request line 3a dedicated to data request is shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of inquiry request lines 3a may actually exist. Similarly, only one inquiry response line 3b dedicated to data response is shown, but a plurality of inquiry response lines 3b may actually exist.
[0025]
FIG. 3 shows a part of the information system of FIG. 2 in detail. As shown in FIG. 3, between the gateway server 4 (the protocol converter 5 is omitted in FIG. 3 for simplicity) and information centers A to D in the data server information system 2, A plurality of, for example, four, dedicated communication lines 3 are provided, and initialization of the gateway server 4, for example, initialization at power-on, causes a query request from the gateway server 4 (client information system 1), That is, it is assigned to the request dedicated line 3a for transmitting the data request and the inquiry reply, that is, the answer dedicated line 3b for receiving the data reply. That is, at the time of initial setting by the gateway server 4, the attribute as the request line 3a dedicated to the inquiry request is assigned to the two communication lines 3, and the attribute as the answer line 3b dedicated to the inquiry response is assigned to the remaining two communication lines 3. It is assigned and sends and receives data by socket communication. The query request function and the query reply function are separately called by the gateway server 4 and processed asynchronously.
[0026]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a gateway server 4 and a configuration related thereto according to an embodiment of the present invention. The main body 40 of the gateway server 4 includes a memory 4a in which either the attribute 3a dedicated to sending an inquiry request or the attribute 3b dedicated to receiving an inquiry response for each communication line 3 according to the above-described initialization is allocated. It has been memorized. The main body 40 of the gateway server 4 is connected to the TCP / IP socket 11 in the application interface API in each information terminal 1a or 1b in the client information system 1 via the TCP / IP socket 41.
[0027]
Transmission and reception between each of the information terminals 1 a and 1 b and the gateway server 40 are performed by TCP / IP sockets 42, 43, 44 and TCP / IP sockets 45, 46, 47 connected to the TCP / IP socket 41. The transmission and reception of the inquiry request (data request) and the inquiry response (data response) according to the present invention are performed via the buffer memory 49 and the protocol converter 5 via the TCP / IP sockets 43 and 44 and the TCP / IP sockets 46 and 47, respectively. The connection is made. As described above, for example, four dedicated communication lines 3 are connected between the protocol converter 5 and the data server information system 2, and when the gateway server main body 40 is initialized, communication is performed. The attribute of the inquiry request transmission only 3a or the inquiry response reception only 3b of the line 3 is assigned. That is, two lines 3a dedicated to sending inquiry requests and two lines 3b dedicated to receiving inquiry responses are set.
[0028]
On the other hand, the TCP / IP socket 45 is connected to the data server information system 2 via the public line 6 such as the Internet via the TCP / IP 48, and performs data communication other than the present invention.
[0029]
FIG. 5 briefly shows an automatic line degeneration method in the event of a communication line failure according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, there are three communication lines between the information centers A to D in the data server information system 2 and the gateway server 4, and one communication line 3a is referred by the initial setting of the gateway server 4. Communication line attributes are set for request transmission, and communication line attributes for two communication lines 3b are set for reception of an inquiry response, and are stored in the memory (4a in FIG. 4) in the gateway server 4. .
[0030]
If a failure 7 occurs in one request transmission line 3a, the request transmission line 3a does not exist. In this case, when the gateway server 4 detects the failure 7, the data transmission via the request transmission line 3a is temporarily suspended in the buffer memory (49 in FIG. 4), and the two response reception lines 3b Is closed, the setting of the communication line attribute is changed from receiving the inquiry response to transmitting the inquiry request, and the attribute in the memory (4a in FIG. 4) in the gateway server 4 is updated. Then, after the communication line attribute is changed, the data transmission temporarily suspended in the buffer memory (49 in FIG. 4) is resumed via the request transmission line 3a whose attribute has been changed.
[0031]
6 to 10 show in more detail the automatic line degeneration method in the event of a communication line failure according to one embodiment of the present invention described in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the communication circuit configuration includes three communication lines 3, one transmission line for inquiry request (for data request), and two reception lines for inquiry response (for data response). . In the table stored in the memory 4a in the main body 40 of the gateway server 4, at the time of initialization, line names 00001, 00002, and 00003 are set as line attributes, respectively, as an inquiry request line (the request transmission line 3a in FIG. (Corresponding to), an inquiry reply line (corresponding to the answer receiving line 3b in FIG. 5), and an inquiry reply line (corresponding to the answer receiving line 3b in FIG. 5). Then, the gateway server 4 monitors the operating line status, and if it is normal, puts information of "normal" in the line status column of the table in the memory 4a.
[0032]
In a normal state, the inquiry request message 1 from the user application interface API in the client information system 1 is transmitted through the buffer memory 49 in the main body 40 of the gateway server 4 via the inquiry request line 00001 to the data server. It is sent to any of the information centers A to D in the information system 2. An inquiry response message 1 for the inquiry request message 1 is created in any of the information centers A to D that have received the inquiry request message 1, and is returned to the gateway server 4 via the inquiry response line 00002. The gateway server 4 receives the inquiry response message 1 via the inquiry response line 00002 and sends it to the user application interface API in the client information system 1 via the buffer memory 49 in the main unit 40.
[0033]
Next, referring to FIG. 7, a situation where a failure has occurred in the inquiry request line 00001 is shown. When detecting the occurrence of the failure of the inquiry request line 00001, the gateway server 4 temporarily holds the inquiry request message 1 from the user application interface API in the client information system 1 on the buffer memory 49. Then, the information in the line status column of the line name 00001 in the table of the memory 4a is updated to the information of “abnormal”.
[0034]
Next, referring to FIG. 8, the main body 40 of the gateway server 4 sends a closing request transmission of the line name 00003 in the data server information system 2 in order to change the line attribute of the line name 00003 to the inquiry request line. The information is sent to the information centers A to D, and a response to the closing request is received from the information centers A to D in the data server information system 2. Then, the main body 40 of the gateway server 4 updates the information in the line status column in the line name 00003 of the table in the memory 4a to closed.
[0035]
Next, referring to FIG. 9, the main body 40 of the gateway server 4 updates the line attribute of the line name 00003 to the inquiry request line, and transmits the start request of the line name 00003 to the information center in the data server information system 2. A to D, and receives a response to the station opening request from the information centers A to D in the data server information system 2. Then, the main body 40 of the gateway server 4 updates the line attribute column in the line name 00003 of the table in the memory 4a to the requested line, and updates the information in the line status column to open.
[0036]
Next, referring to FIG. 10, there is shown a state after the gateway server 4 has automatically recovered from the failure as described above. As shown in the table in the memory 4a, the line attribute column of the line name 00003 is changed to the required line, and the line status column is changed normally. Then, the inquiry request message 1 from the client information system 1 temporarily held in the buffer memory 49 is changed to the information center A in the data server information system 2 via the line 00003 whose line attribute has been changed as the request line. To D. Then, the inquiry response message 1 for the inquiry request message 1 from the information centers A to D in the data server information system 2 is sent to the gateway server 4 via the answer line 00002. The gateway server 4 receives the inquiry response message 1 via the response line 00002 and sends it to the client information system 1 via the buffer memory 49.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when an attribute is assigned to each communication line in advance, by changing the attribute of the normal line to the attribute of the faulty line, it can be used as a substitute for the faulty line. . Therefore, even when there is no normal line having the same attribute as the failed line, it is possible to secure an alternative line by changing the attribute of the normal line.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an entire information system in which an apparatus and a method of the present invention are used.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a part of the information system of FIG. 1 in detail;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a part of the information system of FIG. 2 in detail;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a gateway server of the automatic line degeneration device at the time of a communication line failure according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram briefly showing an automatic line degeneration method at the time of a communication line failure according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing in detail an automatic line degeneration method at the time of a communication line failure according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing in detail an automatic line degeneration method at the time of a communication line failure according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing in detail an automatic line degeneration method at the time of a communication line failure according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing in detail an automatic line degeneration method at the time of a communication line failure according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing in detail an automatic line degeneration method at the time of a communication line failure according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Client information system 2 Data server information system 3 Communication line 3a Data request transmission line 3b Data response reception line 4 Gateway server 4a Memory 5 Protocol converter 7 Failure 49 Buffer memory

Claims (7)

A method for performing data communication using a plurality of communication lines,
Assigning an attribute to each of the plurality of communication lines, and using each of the communication lines exclusively for predetermined data communication based on the attribute;
Automatically detecting one faulty communication line in the plurality of communication lines upon detecting occurrence of a failure in one communication line in the plurality of communication lines, and selecting an attribute of the selected normal communication line; Changing to use as a substitute for the failed communication line,
Performing data communication exclusively using the failed communication line based on the changed attribute with the selected normal communication line based on the changed attribute. Automatic line degeneration method. 2. The automatic line degeneration method according to claim 1, wherein the attribute represents one of a data request and a data response for the data communication. 2. The automatic line degeneration method according to claim 1, wherein, when the occurrence of the failure is detected, the step of changing temporarily suspends data communication exclusively using the failed communication line, and An automatic line degeneration method characterized by temporarily closing a normal communication line. An apparatus for performing data communication using a plurality of communication lines,
Means for assigning an attribute to each of the plurality of communication lines and using each communication line exclusively for predetermined data communication based on the attribute;
Automatically detecting one faulty communication line in the plurality of communication lines upon detecting occurrence of a failure in one communication line in the plurality of communication lines, and selecting an attribute of the selected normal communication line; Means for changing to use as a substitute for the failed communication line,
Means for performing data communication exclusively using the failed communication line based on the changed attribute by using the selected normal communication line as an alternative. Automatic line degeneration device in case of line failure. 5. The automatic line degeneration device according to claim 4, wherein said changing unit temporarily suspends data communication for exclusive use of the failed communication line when the occurrence of the failure is detected; Means for temporarily closing a selected normal communication line. A communication control program for realizing control of data communication using a plurality of communication lines on a computer,
Assigning an attribute to each of the plurality of communication lines, based on the attribute, using each communication line exclusively for predetermined data communication;
Automatically detecting one faulty communication line in the plurality of communication lines upon detecting occurrence of a failure in one communication line in the plurality of communication lines, and selecting an attribute of the selected normal communication line; Processing to be used as a substitute for the failed communication line,
Performing data communication exclusively using the failed communication line based on the changed attribute by using the selected normal communication line as an alternative. A communication control program that causes automatic line degeneration. 7. The communication control program according to claim 6, wherein, when the occurrence of the failure is detected, the change processing temporarily suspends data communication exclusively used for the failed communication line. Temporarily closing a normal communication line.

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