JP2005051580A - Band control method and band control system depending on preferential flow in ethernet line - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a band control method (band control system) for controlling a band depending on users / applications different from a band control of prior arts for controlling a single frame flow. <P>SOLUTION: The band control method depending on a preferential flow in an Ethernet includes the steps of: setting a band limit value in the Ethernet line and a ratio of a plurality of priorities; classifying Ethernet frame flows into groups of a plurality of priorities on the basis of provided identification data; temporarily storing classified frames to a plurality of queues for each priority; counting transfer bits of the classified frames; selecting one of the plurality of queues depending on the count; and transferring the Ethernet frame corresponding to the priority in response to the count and the selected queue. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a bandwidth control (limitation) method for counting and limiting the number of bits of a frame flow in an Ethernet (registered trademark) line.

A conventional bandwidth control (limitation) method will be described with reference to FIG.
Band control is performed by a bit counter 21 and a transfer / discard block 23 that are inserted into the Ethernet line and reset every predetermined time by a timer 22.
The bit counter 21 in FIG. 10 counts the number of bits in the frame flow. When the count reaches a predetermined value, the bit counter 1 sends a transfer OFF signal to the transfer / discard block 23.
When the transfer / discard block 23 receives the transfer OFF signal, the frame flow transfer is stopped.
The timer 22 resets the counter 1 at a predetermined interval (for example, 1 second).

Next, the operation of the band control in FIG. 10 will be described with a specific example.
Assume an Ethernet line with a physical speed of 100 Mbps.
Set the timer to 1 second interval and set the transfer OFF counter value to 50Mbit.
If the frame flow exceeds 50 Mbit in one second, the excess frame flow is discarded, so that the upper limit is practically 50 Mbps.

  The followings are known as techniques related to bandwidth control (limitation) in Ethernet lines. (For example, see Patent Document 1)

JP 2002-94574 A (0005) (0006)

In the above publication, the following description is made.
To provide a LAN-to-LAN connection system and a station-side device capable of connecting a user LAN to a wide-area LAN of a telecommunications carrier by an inexpensive device and further setting a contract bandwidth from the user LAN. The purpose is “an inter-LAN connection system that connects a user LAN and a wide area LAN of a telecommunications carrier via an optical fiber transmission line, and is installed between the wide area LAN and the optical fiber transmission line. A first optical conversion device that performs electrical / optical conversion of a predetermined data frame to be transmitted to the network and transfers the data frame by medium access control, and is transmitted between the user LAN and the optical fiber transmission line installed in the user's home And an optical conversion device that performs electrical / optical conversion of the data frame to be transferred and transfers the data frame by medium access control. The first optical conversion device on the side is provided with at least two MAC switches that transfer according to the MAC address of the data frame, and the transfer frequency of the data frame transferred between these MAC switches is freely set at a predetermined interval, The amount of data from the user LAN transferred from the second optical conversion device via the optical fiber transmission line is band-limited to a desired transmission capacity. "

In the conventional bandwidth control method shown in FIG. 10, since all the frame flows of the Ethernet line are handled as one flow, there is a problem that there is a limitation regardless of the importance of the data contents.
However, since it is common for an unspecified number of users to share an Ethernet line, it is considered necessary to limit the bandwidth for each user / application, but this cannot be realized by the conventional bandwidth control method.
In addition, since the system does not have a buffer, the performance is reduced in the case of an application (TCP communication or the like) that is vulnerable to packet loss.

An object (object) of the present invention is to provide a band control method (band control method) for controlling a band for each user / application, instead of band control for a conventional single frame flow.

In order to solve the above problem,
A step of setting a bandwidth limit value and a ratio in a plurality of priorities in the Ethernet line; a step of classifying the Ethernet frame flow into the plurality of priority groups according to identification data to which the Ethernet frame flow is assigned; and Temporarily storing in a plurality of queues each time, counting the transfer bits of the classified frames, selecting any one of the plurality of queues according to the count, and counting and selecting The step of transferring an Ethernet frame corresponding to the priority according to the queue is implemented to realize bandwidth control for each priority flow in the Ethernet line. (Claim 1)
The bandwidth limit value is set as a maximum value of a counter that is reset every predetermined time, and the ratio of the plurality of priorities is set by weighting a count for one bit. (Claim 2)
In addition, it is possible to set the highest priority group that has priority over a plurality of priorities set by the ratio. (Claim 3)
The plurality of priorities are set for the Ethernet-compatible devices owned by the same customer connected to the Ethernet line. (Claim 4)
The plurality of priorities are set for a plurality of customers connected to the Ethernet line. (Claim 5)
Further, according to a priority flow bandwidth control method in the Ethernet line for transferring the frame transfer in the Ethernet line according to the priority set for each frame,
Frame flow classification means for classifying the Ethernet frame flow into the plurality of priority groups based on the identification data assigned thereto, a plurality of queues for temporarily storing the classified frames for each priority, and the classification of the classified frames Counter means for counting transfer bits according to a set ratio, queue selection means for selecting any one of the plurality of queues according to the count, and output from the counter means and queue selection means And a transfer means for transferring the frame. (Claim 6)
The bandwidth limit value is set as a maximum value of a counter that is reset every predetermined time, and the ratio of the plurality of priorities is set by weighting a count for one bit. (Claim 7)
Further, the counting means includes a highest priority queue counter comparison unit, a priority queue counter comparison unit, and a priority ratio counter comparison unit, and the bandwidth limit value and the priority ratio are set by the counter maximum value setting unit and the priority ratio setting unit. Set. (Claim 8)

In the configuration of the present invention,
-Reliable priority processing can be realized by shifting the bandwidth control time of multiple queues.
That is, even when frames with low priority are transferred in large quantities and consume a large amount of bandwidth, the highest priority frame transfer can be preferentially guaranteed.
-Flexible queue weighting by ratio setting is realized.
That is, since the user can arbitrarily set the transfer ratio between the priority queues, a flexible priority processing function can be utilized for the user's needs.
・ Highly accurate bandwidth setting can be realized by linking bit count and ratio setting.
That is, by performing the bandwidth of each priority queue with the transfer bit count + ratio, precise bandwidth control not possible in the past can be performed.
-Can be realized with simple hardware In other words, bandwidth control and ratio priority processing are divided into blocks, and by simplifying the processing, it can be realized only with simple hardware, leading to cost reduction.

FIG. 1 shows the hardware configuration of the priority flow-specific bandwidth control method in the Ethernet line of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a frame flow classification unit, which classifies according to priority or protocol type in a frame and distributes them to each queue.
Reference numeral 2 denotes a queue (queue) that temporarily stores frames, and includes a plurality of queues. (3 in Fig. 1)
Reference numeral 3 denotes a carrier detection unit which sends a carrier signal to the counter unit when passing through the frame.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a timer which counts time and periodically transmits a reset signal (103).
A transfer unit 5 selects a queue and transfers a frame in accordance with an instruction from the counter unit. A gap is inserted between the frames.
A counter unit 6 compares the counter setting by the user with the frame counter, and instructs the transfer unit to transfer.

A detailed block diagram of the counter unit 6 in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 7 denotes a counter maximum value setting unit, which sets a bandwidth limit value in bits / s.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a highest priority queue counter comparison unit, which compares the counter set by the user with the number of bits transmitted from the highest priority queue, and when it exceeds, the transfer is turned off at (105).
Reference numeral 9 denotes a priority queue counter comparison unit, which compares the counter value passed from the highest priority queue with the number of bits transmitted from the priority queue, and when exceeded, turns off the transfer at (107).
Reference numeral 10 denotes a priority ratio counter comparison unit that designates the next transfer queue in the transfer unit.
Reference numeral 11 denotes a priority ratio setting unit that sets the weight of each queue by a magnification.

The signals in FIGS. 1 and 2 are as follows.
Reference numeral 101 denotes a frame flow, which indicates a frame flow (main signal) of the Ethernet line.
A carrier signal 102 transmits a signal during frame flow transfer. Used for bit counting by the counter unit 6.
A reset signal 103 is periodically transmitted by the timer unit 4.
Reference numeral 104 denotes queue information, which is an information signal indicating whether or not a frame exists in each queue.
Reference numeral 105 denotes the highest priority queue ON / OFF, which instructs the transfer unit 5 to turn ON / OFF the transfer from the highest priority queue.
Reference numeral 106 denotes a queue selection signal, which instructs the transfer unit 5 about a queue to be transferred next.
If there is no frame to be transferred, the queue is instructed.
Reference numeral 107 denotes a priority queue ON / OFF, which instructs the transfer unit 5 to turn on / off the transfer from the priority queue.
Reference numeral 108 denotes a counter maximum value that is a maximum bandwidth.
Reference numeral 109 denotes a priority ratio indicating the priority weight value of each queue. (For example, an integer of 1 to 10)
Reference numeral 201 denotes a remaining counter, which is performed by the highest priority queue counter comparison unit 8. Counter maximum value 108-Transfer bit from the highest priority queue is passed to the highest priority queue counter comparison unit 9.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a model environment in which the bandwidth control method for each priority flow in the Ethernet line of the present invention is implemented.
In FIG. 3, a 1000BASE-T interface (1 Gbit / s) is connected to apparatus A that implements the bandwidth control method for each priority flow in the Ethernet line of the present invention.
-The bandwidth control of apparatus A is set to 500 Mbit / s. (Maximum counter value is set to 500M)
-The queue of device A is
• Three priority queues (priority 1) / high priority queue (2) / low priority queue (3).
-The highest priority queue of device A is always given priority.
The priority ratio of the high priority queue of device A: the low priority queue is 1:10.
(High priority = 1 Low priority = 2. High priority is transferred twice as many.)
-Assume that frames with priority levels 1 to 3 are input in order at a speed of 1 Gbit / s.
(Each priority frame is input at about 333 Mbit / s.)

Hereinafter, a frame flow accompanying the operation of FIG. 3 will be described.
The frame 101 input to the device A is allocated to the queue 2 by the frame flow classification unit 1.
The allocation method is classified according to the IP header ToS field, IP address, etc. of the frame. The number / capacity of the queue 2 can be designed arbitrarily.
In the model of FIG. 1, priority 1 frames are assigned to the highest priority queue,
Assign priority 2 frames to the high priority queue,
Assign priority 3 frames to the low priority queue,
It has become.

In the transfer unit 5,
-A frame exists in the highest priority queue.
-The highest priority queue transfer is ON by the signal 105.
When the above two conditions are satisfied, the frame is transferred from the highest priority queue.
In the model of FIG. 3, a frame with priority 1 is transferred and output from device A.

In the transfer unit 5,
-There is no frame in the highest priority queue.
• The highest priority queue transfer is turned off by signal 105.
Either of the above two conditions,
• The priority queue is turned ON by signal 107.
When the above condition is satisfied, the frame is transferred according to the queue instruction by the signal 106.
(If no transfer is instructed in the queue instruction, transfer is performed when a frame enters the queue.)
In the model of FIG. 3, frames with priority 2 or priority 3 are output from device A.

In the transfer unit 5,
Both signals 105/107 are OFF.
There is no frame in the highest priority queue when signal 105ON / signal 107OFF.
No frame in priority queue when signal 105OFF / signal 107ON.
In any of the above conditions, the frame is not transferred.

Next, band control of the model of FIG. 3 will be described.
1. A reset signal 103 is transmitted from the timer 4. (In this model, 1 second (S) interval)
2. The highest priority queue counter comparison unit 8 notifies the priority queue counter comparison unit 9 of “counter maximum value 108−frame counter value transferred from the highest priority queue = remaining bandwidth” with a signal 201. (The remaining band initial value is 0.)
3. The frame counters of the highest priority queue counter comparison unit 8 and the priority queue counter comparison unit 9 are reset.
4). From the carrier signal 102 detected by the carrier detection unit 3, the highest priority queue counter comparison unit 8 and the priority queue counter comparison unit 9 perform a bit count of frames transmitted from each queue.
5. The highest priority queue counter comparison unit 8 compares the maximum value set by the counter maximum value setting unit 7 with the bit count value transferred from the highest priority queue, and if the maximum value is exceeded, the signal 105 gives the highest priority queue. Turn off transfer.
In this model, since the counter maximum value setting unit 7 is set to 500M, if 500 Mbit or more is transferred per second, the transfer from the highest priority queue is stopped and the bandwidth is limited. Since the frame input is 333 Mbit / s, it is all transferred.
6). The priority queue counter comparison unit 9 compares the surplus bandwidth set in 2 with the bit count value transferred from the priority queue, and if the surplus bandwidth is exceeded, the priority queue counter is transferred with the signal 107. Turn it off.
In this model, since the setting of the counter maximum value setting unit 7 is 500 M, transfer from the highest priority queue, approximately 167 Mbit / s minus approximately 333 Mbit / s is the surplus bandwidth.
From the priority queue, the frame of priority 2 is about 333 Mbit / s, and the frame of priority 3 is about 667 Mbit, which is about 333 Mbit / s. Therefore, about 500 Mbit is not transferred.
FIG. 4 shows transfer states of the priority 1 frame and the priority 2 and 3 frames.

The operation of priority ratio control will be described.
The priority ratio control is mainly executed by the priority ratio counter comparison unit 10 and the priority ratio setting unit 11 shown in FIG.
1. A reset signal 103 is transmitted from the timer 4. (In this model, 1 second (s) interval)
2. The counter is reset, and the priority ratio setting unit 11 sets the priority ratio in the priority ratio counter comparing unit 10 based on the set priority ratio signal 109.
Further, the priority ratio counter comparison unit 10 designates “no transfer” by the signal 106.
In this model, high priority = 1 and low priority = 2 are set.
3. The priority ratio counter comparison unit 10 uses the signal 102 to count (individually) the number of transfer bits from each priority queue.
At that time, the number of bits multiplied by the ratio setting for each queue is counted.
In this model, when 1 bit is transferred from the high priority queue, it becomes a counter + 1.
When 1 bit is transferred from the low priority queue, the counter becomes +2.
4). The priority ratio counter comparison unit 10 determines the transfer queue to be instructed from the signal 106 in the following process while the signal 102 is lost (frame gap 96 bits). (Priority selection when counters match is determined at the design stage)
However, this process is completed with an interframe gap (96 bits).

An example of a queue selection process will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 shows an example in which the number of queues is 4 (A, B, C, D) and the bit counter is 32 bits.
A 32-bit queue (A) and a 32-bit queue (B) are input to the first-stage compare 51, and a queue ((A) or (B)) having a small count value is selected.
Further, the 32-bit queue (C) and the 32-bit queue (D) are input to the first-stage compare 2, and the queue ((C) or (D)) having a small count value is selected.
Next, a queue with a smaller count value among the queues selected by the first-stage compare 51 and 52 is output to the second-stage compare 53 as a selection queue (2-bit output).
The first-stage compare 51, 52 and the second-stage compare 53 include a clock generator (CLK) 5
4 is operated by the clock signal from 4.
However, when the most significant counter of the last selected counter is 1, a “no transfer” signal is output as a “no transfer” signal.
In this model, the output 106 of the second-stage compare 53 is a 3-bit signal.
That is, in this model, the queue with the smallest counter value and a frame is selected.
(If there is no frame anywhere, no forwarding is selected.)

An example of transfer of a high priority queue and a low priority queue when priority ratio control is performed will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 shows a case where the highest priority queue is transferred 333 Mbits one second ago, and the remaining 167 Mbits are transferred from the priority queue.
(a) is a frame number and shows 1 to 13 frames after reset.
(b) is the count value of the high priority queue.
(c) is the count value of the low priority queue.
(d) shows the selected queue.
(e) shows the number of bits actually transferred from the high priority queue.
(f) indicates the number of bits actually transferred from the low priority queue.
If the counter values are the same, high priority is transferred.
As shown in FIG. 6, the frame is transferred with an actual transfer bit (4096: 2048) in a state in which the priority ratio 1: 2 (high: low) is maintained in 1 to 13 frames.

Next, an example in which “empty” exists in the queue in the transfer of the high priority queue and the low priority queue when priority ratio control is performed will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7 also shows a case in which the highest priority queue is transferred 333 Mbit one second ago, and the remaining 167 Mbit is transferred from the priority queue, as in FIG. 6.
(a)-(f) has shown the same thing as FIG.
If the counter values are the same, high priority is transferred.
In FIG. 7, the frames with high priority are (empty) from 1 to 3 frames, and there are frames in the low priority queue.
After 3 frames, the frames of the high priority queue and the low priority queue are (empty).
From 4 to 12 frames, there are frames for both the high priority queue and the low priority queue.
As shown in FIG. 7, a queue having a minimum counter value and a frame is selected and transferred.

An application example of the priority flow-specific bandwidth control method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 8 shows a case where the bandwidth control method for each priority flow according to the present invention is applied as an Internet connection application for general households.
In FIG. 8, reference numeral 81 denotes a bandwidth control device for each priority flow according to the present invention, which is connected between connection points between the Internet network 83 and home wiring, and has an internal structure as shown in FIG.
82-1 is a telephone in the home, and the bandwidth of the telephone line is set to the highest priority (highest priority queue).
82-2 is a home appliance installed in the home, and the bandwidth of the line is set to high priority (high priority queue), and 82-3 is a personal computer installed in the home. Therefore, the bandwidth of the line is set to low priority (low priority).
In FIG. 8, the bandwidth of the telephone line, which is an important lifeline, is set to the highest priority, and the bandwidth of each device is secured by the necessary ratio setting, thereby realizing stable bandwidth control. be able to.

With reference to FIG. 9, another application example of the priority flow-specific bandwidth control method of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 9 shows a case where the bandwidth control method for each priority flow according to the present invention is applied as an outdoor Internet connection application.
In FIG. 9, reference numeral 91 denotes a priority flow-specific bandwidth control apparatus of the present invention, which is connected between the Internet network 93 and an outdoor connection point, and has an internal configuration as shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 92-1 denotes a customer A who provides a premium service, and the line bandwidth of the customer A is set to a high priority (ratio 1).
92-2 is a customer B providing a gold service, and the line bandwidth of the customer B is set to a high priority (ratio 2), and 92-2 is a customer C providing a general service. Is set to low priority (ratio 5).
In FIG. 9, since ratio setting is possible for each customer, service differentiation and diversification can be realized with a simple device.
For example, Premier Services: High Priority, High Price, Business
General service: Low priority, low price, for general users
Gold service: middle of the above services

In the bandwidth control method and bandwidth control method for each priority flow in the Ethernet line according to claims 1 to 8, reliable priority processing can be realized by shifting the bandwidth control time of a plurality of queues.
Also, flexible queue weighting by ratio setting is realized.
In addition, a high-accuracy bandwidth setting can be realized by linking bit count and ratio setting.
Furthermore, it can be realized with simple hardware, and the bandwidth control and ratio priority processing are divided into blocks, and by simplifying the processing, it can be realized only with simple hardware, and there is a unique action and effect that leads to cost reduction. Therefore, industrial applicability is extremely large.

It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the bandwidth control system according to the priority flow of the Ethernet line of this invention. It is a figure which shows the detailed block diagram of the counter part 6 in FIG. It is a figure which shows the model environment of the bandwidth control system according to the priority flow of Ethernet of this invention. It is a figure which shows the transfer state of a priority 1 frame and a priority 2 and 3 frame. It is a figure explaining the process of queue selection. It is a figure which shows frame transfer by priority ratio control in the bandwidth control of this invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating frame transfer by priority ratio control when “free” exists in a queue. It is a figure which shows the example of application of the bandwidth control system classified by priority flow of this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of application of the bandwidth control system according to priority flow of this invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the flow control system of the conventional Ethernet line.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Frame flow classification | category part 2 Queue according to priority 3 Carrier detection part 4 Timer 5 Transfer part 6 Counter part 7 Counter maximum value setting part 8 Highest priority queue counter comparison part 9 Priority queue counter comparison part 10 Priority ratio counter comparison part 11 Priority ratio setting section

Claims (8)

Setting a bandwidth limit value and a ratio at a plurality of priorities in the Ethernet line;
Classifying the Ethernet frame flow into the plurality of priority groups according to the assigned identification data;
Temporarily storing the classified frames in a plurality of queues for each priority;
Counting transfer bits of the classified frames;
Selecting any one of the plurality of queues according to the count;
And a step of transferring an Ethernet frame corresponding to a priority according to the count and the selected queue. 2. The Ethernet according to claim 1, wherein the bandwidth limit value is set as a maximum value of a counter that is reset every predetermined time, and the ratio of the plurality of priorities is set by weighting a count for one bit. Bandwidth control method for each priority flow in a line. 3. The bandwidth control method according to priority flow in an Ethernet line according to claim 1, wherein a highest priority group can be set over a plurality of priorities set by the ratio. 4. The Ethernet line according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of priorities are set for Ethernet-compatible devices owned by the same customer connected to the Ethernet line. 5. Band control method for each priority flow. 4. The bandwidth control method according to priority flow in an Ethernet line according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of priorities are set for a plurality of customers connected to the Ethernet line. 5. . It is a bandwidth control method for each priority flow in the Ethernet line that transfers frames on the Ethernet line according to the priority set for each frame,
Frame flow classification means for classifying the Ethernet frame flow into the plurality of priority groups according to the identification data assigned thereto,
A plurality of queues for temporarily storing the classified frames for each priority;
Counter means for counting transfer bits of the classified frames according to a set ratio, respectively;
Queue selecting means for selecting any one of the plurality of queues according to the count;
A bandwidth control method for each priority flow in an Ethernet line, comprising: transfer means for transferring a frame in accordance with outputs from the counter means and the queue selection means. The Ethernet according to claim 6, wherein the bandwidth limit value is set by a maximum value of a counter that is reset every predetermined time, and the ratio of the plurality of priorities is set by weighting a count for one bit. Bandwidth control method for each priority flow in the line. The counting means includes a highest priority queue counter comparison unit, a priority queue counter comparison unit, and a priority ratio counter comparison unit, and a band limit value and a priority ratio are set by the counter maximum value setting unit and the priority ratio setting unit. The bandwidth control method for each priority flow in the Ethernet line according to claim 6 or 7.

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