JP2007249851A - Information processor and information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To optimally allocate a resource of a TOE. <P>SOLUTION: An application part 11 issues a command in response to an operation of a user, a TOE selection processing part 13 selects an allocated side for executing communication processing as to a network protocol stack, based on the issued command, a communication processing part 14 executes the communication processing, in response to a selection result of the allocated side, to allocate optimally the resource of the TOE. The present invention is applicable to a personal computer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and a program, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus and method, and a program for performing communication using a TOE (TCP / IP Offload Engine).

  Conventionally, there is TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) as a protocol used in networks such as the Internet. TCP / IP was originally implemented by software (program) in UNIX (registered trademark), and even today, most of the processing is performed by software. However, as the demand for network transfer of large-capacity data increases, there is a growing demand for faster TCP / IP processing.

  In response to such a request, for example, the processing of TCP / IP, which is called the TOE (TCP / IP Offload Engine), where the CPU (Central Processing Unit) resource on the host side has been spent, is transferred to another chip ( There is a technology that (dedicated hardware) does instead. By doing so, it becomes possible to allocate the CPU resources on the host side only to the processing related to the application program, thereby reducing the load on the CPU on the host side and speeding up the TCP / IP processing.

  Also, after storing the incoming AV (Audio Visual) data in the AV buffer circuit, the packet processing unit generates jumbo packet data of 32 kilobytes, and the generated jumbo packet based on the header data generated by the CPU There is also a transmission apparatus that divides data to generate and transmit an Ethernet (registered trademark) packet of a maximum of 1518 bytes (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-229905 A

  However, in software TCP / IP processing, the number of sessions is logically infinite, but since the TOE is hardware, there is a problem that the number of sessions (resources) that use it is limited. It was.

  For example, the transmission device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-229905 divides and transmits packet data, but when the divided packet data is transmitted by the TOE, the resources of the TOE are optimized. There was a possibility that it could not be assigned.

  In addition, since it is an original control method for controlling the TOE, there is a general problem that users (developers) who perform network programming need to develop while being conscious of using the TOE. there were.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and makes it possible to optimally allocate TOE resources.

  One aspect of the present invention is an information processing apparatus that performs communication via a network, an issuing unit that issues a command in response to a user operation on an application program, and a network protocol stack based on the issued command An information processing apparatus comprising: a selection unit that selects an assignment destination for performing communication processing related to the communication unit; and a communication processing unit that performs the communication process according to a selection result of the assignment destination.

  The network is a mechanism in which at least two devices are connected and information can be transmitted from one device to another device. Devices that communicate via a network may be independent devices, or may be internal blocks that constitute one device.

  The communication is not only wireless communication and wired communication, but also communication in which wireless communication and wired communication are mixed, that is, wireless communication is performed in one section and wired communication is performed in another section. May be. Further, communication from one device to another device may be performed by wired communication, and communication from another device to one device may be performed by wireless communication.

  The selection means may be provided by an include file and controlled by an API called by the application program.

  The communication processing means may include a first processing means for performing the communication processing by hardware and a second processing means for performing the communication processing by software.

  The issuing means issues a command with a value added to instruct the first processing means to perform the communication process as an argument of the command, and the selecting means If the first processing means does not perform the communication processing based on the command, the communication processing is assigned to the first processing means, whereas the first processing means When the process has already been performed, the communication process can be assigned to the second processing means.

  The selection means reads setting information indicating whether to assign the communication process to the first processing means based on the issued command, and the read setting information is sent to the first processing means. When the communication process is indicated to be assigned, the communication process is assigned to the first processing means, and the setting information indicates that the communication process is not assigned to the first processing means. In this case, the communication processing can be assigned to the second processing means.

  The selection means further assigns the communication processing to the first processing means when the first processing means is not performing the communication processing, whereas the first processing means has already assigned the communication processing. When processing is performed, the communication processing can be assigned to the second processing means.

  The network protocol stack may be TCP / IP.

  One aspect of the present invention is an information processing method for an information processing apparatus that performs communication via a network, an issue step for issuing a command in response to a user operation on an application program, and the issued command An information processing method including a selection step of selecting an assignment destination for performing communication processing related to a network protocol stack, and a communication processing step of performing the communication processing according to a selection result of the assignment destination.

  One aspect of the present invention is an issuance step of issuing a command in response to an operation on an application program by a user in a program for causing a computer to perform a process of performing communication via a network, and based on the issued command Thus, the program includes a selection step of selecting an allocation destination for performing communication processing related to the network protocol stack, and a communication processing step of performing the communication processing in accordance with the selection result of the allocation destination.

  In one aspect of the present invention, a command is issued in response to an operation to the application program by a user, an assignment destination for performing communication processing related to a network protocol stack is selected based on the issued command, and the assignment destination The communication process is performed according to the selection result.

  As described above, according to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to optimally allocate TOE resources.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Correspondences between constituent elements of the present invention and the embodiments described in the specification or the drawings are exemplified as follows. This description is intended to confirm that the embodiments supporting the present invention are described in the specification or the drawings. Therefore, even if there is an embodiment which is described in the specification or the drawings but is not described here as an embodiment corresponding to the constituent elements of the present invention, that is not the case. It does not mean that the form does not correspond to the constituent requirements. Conversely, even if an embodiment is described here as corresponding to a configuration requirement, that means that the embodiment does not correspond to a configuration requirement other than the configuration requirement. It's not something to do.

  An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention (for example, the personal computer 1 in FIG. 1) includes an issuing unit (for example, the application unit 11 in FIG. 1) that issues a command in response to an operation on an application program by a user. A selection means (for example, the TOE in FIG. 1) that selects an assignment destination (for example, the TOE 21-1 to the TOE 21-N or the TCP / IP processing unit 22 in FIG. 1) that performs communication processing related to the network protocol stack based on the command that has been issued. A selection processing unit 13) and communication processing means (for example, the communication processing unit 14 in FIG. 1) that performs communication processing according to the selection result of the assignment destination.

  The selection means can be provided by an include file and controlled by an API called by an application program.

  The communication processing means includes first processing means (for example, TOE 21-1 to TOE 21 -N in FIG. 1) that performs communication processing by hardware, and second processing means (for example, in FIG. 1) that performs communication processing by software. A TCP / IP processing unit 22).

  The issuing unit issues a command (for example, a command with an option) to which a value indicating that the first processing unit is instructed to perform communication processing is issued as an argument of the command. If the first processing means is not performing communication processing based on the issued command, the communication processing is assigned to the first processing means, whereas the first processing means has already performed communication processing. If so, the communication processing can be assigned to the second processing means.

  The selection means reads setting information indicating whether or not to assign communication processing to the first processing means based on the issued command (for example, standard command), and the read setting information communicates to the first processing means. If the process indicates that the communication process is assigned, the communication process is assigned to the first processing means, whereas if the setting information indicates that the communication process is not assigned to the first process means, the second process Communication processing can be assigned to the means.

  The selecting means further assigns the communication processing to the first processing means when the first processing means is not performing the communication processing, whereas if the first processing means is already performing the communication processing, Communication processing can be assigned to the second processing means.

  The network protocol stack can be TCP / IP.

  An information processing method or program according to one aspect of the present invention is based on an issue step (for example, the process of step S11 in FIG. 2) for issuing a command in response to an operation on an application program by a user, and the issued command. A selection step (for example, processing in step S13 in FIG. 2) for selecting an assignment destination for performing communication processing related to the network protocol stack, and a communication processing step (for example, in FIG. 2) for performing communication processing according to the selection result of the assignment destination. Step S14).

  The program according to one aspect of the present invention can be recorded on a recording medium (for example, the removable medium 121 in FIG. 8).

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a personal computer 1 to which the present invention is applied.

  The personal computer 1 is a device that communicates with other devices connected to the network via the network, and is an example of the information processing apparatus of the present invention.

  The personal computer 1 is configured to include an application unit 11, a standard command interface unit 12, a TOE selection processing unit 13, and a communication processing unit 14.

  The application unit 11 is an application program such as a development environment (development tool) in which a user (developer) performs programming. For example, the user performs network programming by operating the application unit 11. The application unit 11 supplies commands corresponding to user operations to the standard command interface unit 12.

  Here, the command is a command given to the personal computer 1 in response to an operation on the application program by the user. In the following description, a general command (a command to which no option is added) is referred to as a standard command, and a standard command to which an option is added is referred to as an option-added command. Furthermore, when it is simply referred to as a command, it will be described as including both a standard command and a command with options.

  The standard command interface unit 12 performs predetermined processing corresponding to the command supplied from the application unit 11. The standard command interface unit 12 supplies the command supplied from the application unit 11 to the TOE selection processing unit 13.

  The standard command interface unit 12 includes, for example, a socket API (Socket Application Program Interface), and performs inter-process communication (IPC (InterProcess Communication)) based on a command supplied from the application unit 11. These socket APIs are implemented by, for example, BSD sockets when the OS (Operating System) is UNIX (registered trademark), and Winsock (Windows (registered trademark) Sockets) when the OS is Windows (registered trademark). ).

  The TOE selection processing unit 13 selects one of the TOE 21-1 to TOE 21 -N based on the command with options supplied from the application unit 11 via the standard command interface unit 12, and selects the selected TOE 21-1. TCP / IP processing is assigned to any one of TOE21-N. Further, when the TCP / IP processing cannot be assigned to the TOE 21-1 to TOE 21 -N, the TOE selection processing unit 13 selects the TCP / IP processing unit 22, and the TCP / IP processing unit 22 performs the TCP / IP processing. Assign.

  Further, for example, the TOE selection processing unit 13 is provided with these functions as a library (Library), and the library is implemented as an include file (Include File) or the like. That is, since the TOE selection processing unit 13 is provided as an include file, it is possible to implement functions related to the TOE selection processing unit 13 by including this include file. In other words, the user (developer) implements the function related to the TOE selection processing unit 13 by programming in the same manner as normal network programming without being aware of the special function related to the TOE selection processing unit 13. It can be said that it can be made. As a result, programming problems can be reduced and the number of man-hours during development can also be reduced.

  The library that provides the function of the TOE selection processing unit 13 is not limited to an include file, and may be any file that can define the library.

  The communication processing unit 14 communicates with other devices connected to the network via the network by performing TCP / IP processing based on the selection result by the TOE selection processing unit 13.

  The communication processing unit 14 is configured to include the TOE 21-1 to TOE 21 -N and the TCP / IP processing unit 22.

  The TOE 21-1 is, for example, dedicated hardware that performs TCP / IP processing. When the TOE 21-1 is selected by the TOE selection processing unit 13, it performs TCP / IP processing for one session.

  In TCP / IP processing, for example, checksum, IP fragment (IP Fragment), or IP defragment processing, session creation processing, packet loss, etc. Retransmission processing or routing processing is performed.

  Similar to the TOE 21-1, the TOE 21-2 is, for example, dedicated hardware that performs TCP / IP processing. When the TOE 21-2 is selected by the TOE selection processing unit 13, the TCP 21 Process.

  Like the TOE 21-1, the TOE 21-3 is a dedicated hardware that performs TCP / IP processing, for example. When selected by the TOE selection processing unit 13, the TOE 21-3 performs TCP / IP processing for one session. Process.

  Each of the TOE 21-4 to TOE 21-N is, for example, dedicated hardware that performs TCP / IP processing, as in the case of the TOE 21-1, and if selected by the TOE selection processing unit 13, each session On the other hand, it performs TCP / IP processing.

  That is, each of the TOE 21-1 to TOE 21 -N performs TCP / IP processing for different sessions.

  The TCP / IP processing unit 22 is, for example, software (software program) that performs TCP / IP processing. The TCP / IP processing unit 22 performs TCP / IP processing for a plurality of sessions within the range allowed by the resource.

  Since the TCP / IP processing unit 22 is configured as software, for example, it is possible to perform TCP / IP processing for a plurality of sessions as long as the resources allow.

  As described above, in the personal computer 1, the application unit 11 supplies the command with options according to the user's operation to the TOE selection processing unit 13 via the standard command interface unit 12, and the TOE selection processing unit 13 In accordance with the command with options supplied from the application unit 11, the TOE 21-1 to the TOE 21-N or the TCP / IP processing unit 22 is selected and assigned, and the processing is assigned to the TOE 21-1 to Each of the TOE 21-N or the TCP / IP processing unit 22 executes TCP / IP processing.

  In the present embodiment, for example, since the TOE 21-1 to TOE 21 -N are configured as hardware, the application unit 11, standard command interface unit 12, TOE selection, excluding the TOE 21-1 to TOE 21 -N. Each of the processing unit 13 and the TCP / IP processing unit 22 of the communication processing unit 14 is configured as, for example, software executed by a CPU 111 described later. However, by making the hardware configuration of the TOE 21-1 to TOE 21 -N different from the configuration of FIG. 1, each of the application unit 11 to the communication processing unit 14 can be configured as software or hardware alone, It can also be configured as a combination of software and hardware. That is, the personal computer 1 only needs to have at least the functional configuration of FIG.

  Further, in the following description, when it is not necessary to individually distinguish the TOE 21-1 to the TOE 21 -N, they will be simply referred to as the TOE 21.

  As described above, in the personal computer 1, the TOE selection processing unit 22 selects a certain TOE from a plurality of TOEs (TOE 21-1 to TOE 21-N), and the selected TOE is a TCP / IP. As an example of the processing, the data transmission processing by the personal computer 1 in FIG. 1 will be described below as an example of the processing. This process is started when the user gives an instruction to perform a predetermined process for transmitting data via the user interface.

  In step S <b> 11, the application unit 11 issues a command with options in accordance with a user operation, and supplies the issued command with options to the standard command interface unit 12.

  Here, the command with options is a command for assigning the TOE 21 to an arbitrary session. That is, when an option-added command is issued, the TOE 21 is preferentially assigned to that session. For example, when sending (receiving) AV (Audio Visual) data or FTP (File Transfer Protocol) of a large file (data), the application unit 11 issues these commands by issuing a command with options. When transmitting (receiving), it is possible to transmit (receive) from any of the TOE 21-1 to TOE 21 -N.

  For example, in the case of the UNIX (registered trademark) BSD socket command described above, an option is added to the “setsockopt command” which is a command for setting an option of a specified socket. Can be implemented.

  Specifically, at the time of development, for example, a user (a developer who performs network programming) can set a standard command to a command with options by setting a flag parameter with an option of “setsockopt command”. it can. In this way, a command with an option can be issued with a minimal addition of simply adding an option to a conventional standard command.

  In the above-described example, the UNIX (registered trademark) BSD socket command has been described, but the same applies to the case of the Windows (registered trademark) Winsock command.

  In step S <b> 12, the standard command interface unit 12 performs a predetermined process according to the command with options supplied from the application unit 11. Further, the standard command interface unit 12 supplies the command with options supplied from the application unit 11 to the TOE selection processing unit 13.

  In step S <b> 13, the TOE selection processing unit 13 performs a TOE selection process based on the command with options supplied from the standard command interface unit 12.

  Here, details of the TOE selection processing by the TOE selection processing unit 13 in step S13 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S21, the TOE selection processing unit 13 determines whether there is a free TOE among the TOE 21-1 to the TOE 21-N.

  If it is determined in step S21 that there is a free TOE 21, the process proceeds to step S22, and the TOE selection processing unit 13 assigns TCP / IP processing to a free TOE among the TOE 21-1 to TOE 21-N. Thus, the TOE selection process is terminated, the process is returned to step S13 in FIG. 2, and the processes after step S14 are executed.

  For example, in step S22, the TOE selection processing unit 13 has already performed TCP / IP processing for a session with each of the TOE 21-1 to the TOE 21-3, and the TOE 21-4 is free. Allocate TCP / IP processing to an empty TOE 21-4.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S21 that there is no free TOE, the process advances to step S23, and the TOE selection processing unit 13 assigns TCP / IP processing to the TCP / IP processing unit 22.

  That is, since the TCP / IP processing unit 22 is configured as software, for example, it is possible to perform TCP / IP processing for a plurality of sessions within the range allowed by the resource.

  In step S24, the TOE selection processing unit 13 notifies the standard command interface that the TOE allocation has failed because the TOE 21 is not empty and the TCP / IP processing unit 22 has been assigned TCP / IP processing. The data is supplied to the application unit 11 via the unit 12, the TOE selection processing is terminated, the processing is returned to step S13 in FIG. 2, and the processing after step S14 is executed.

  At this time, the application unit 11 displays, for example, the content (message) corresponding to the notification based on the notification indicating that the TOE allocation failed, supplied from the TOE selection processing unit 13 (described later). To be displayed on the output unit 117). As a result, the user can know that the TOE assignment has failed by confirming the displayed message.

  In this way, the TOE selection processing unit 13 can perform the TOE selection processing when an option-added command has been supplied. In other words, if there is an arbitrary session to be accelerated, the user (developer) can assign the TOE 21 (arbitrarily) to the session by issuing a command with an option.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 2, in step S <b> 14, the communication processing unit 14 performs TCP / IP processing based on the result of the TOE selection processing by the TOE selection processing unit 13.

  Here, details of TCP / IP processing by the communication processing unit 14 in step S14 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 31, the communication processing unit 14 determines whether a process is assigned to the TOE 21.

  If it is determined in step S31 that the process is assigned to the TOE 21, the process proceeds to step S32, and the TOE 21 to which the process is assigned (selected) among the TOEs 21-1 to 21-N is connected to the TCP / IP. The IP process is performed, the TCP / IP process is terminated, the process is returned to step S14 in FIG. 2, and the data transmission process is terminated.

  For example, when the process is assigned to the TOE 21-4, in step S32, the TOE 21-4 performs a TCP / IP process.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S31 that no processing is assigned to the TOE 21 (when TCP / IP processing is assigned to the TCP / IP processing unit 22), the process proceeds to step S33, and the TCP / IP processing unit is processed. 22 performs TCP / IP processing, ends TCP / IP processing, returns processing to step S14 in FIG. 2, and ends data transmission processing.

  As described above, in the personal computer 1, the TOE selection processing unit 13 selects the TOE 21 so that the number of sessions (resources) is optimal, and the selected TOE 21 transmits (receives) data. .

  As described above, in the present invention, limited resources of the TOE 21 are selected in accordance with the usage status of the TOE 21, and the selected TOE 21 performs TCP / IP processing. Therefore, the resources of the TOE 21 can be optimally allocated. it can. Even when processing cannot be assigned to the TOE 21, the TCP / IP processing unit 22 can perform TCP / IP processing.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, processing related to the TOE 21 that is a special control can be controlled by a standard API such as a BSD socket or Winsock. As a result, the user (developer) can perform programming in the same way as normal network programming, with minimal changes such as adding options to the standard command, without being particularly aware of the special function TOE21. Can do.

  In the above-described example, the TOE selection processing unit 13 selects the TOE 21 to be used based on the command with options (standard command to which the option is added). However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the standard command is selected. May be used as they are. Hereinafter, processing for selecting the TOE 21 using the standard command will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a personal computer 51 to which the present invention is applied.

  In FIG. 5, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. That is, in FIG. 5, the personal computer 51 is configured to include a TOE selection processing unit 61 instead of the TOE selection processing unit 13 constituting the personal computer 1 of FIG.

  The TOE selection processing unit 61 reads the TOE automatic allocation information according to the standard command supplied from the application unit 11 via the standard command interface unit 12, and based on the read TOE automatic allocation information, the TOE 21-1 to Select TOE21-N and assign TCP / IP processing to any of the selected TOE21-1 to TOE21-N. Further, when the TCP / IP processing cannot be assigned to the TOE 21-1 to TOE 21 -N, the TOE selection processing unit 13 selects the TCP / IP processing unit 22, and the TCP / IP processing unit 22 performs the TCP / IP processing. Assign.

  Here, although details will be described later, the TOE automatic allocation information refers to whether to perform TCP / IP processing using any one of the TOE 21-1 to TOE 21 -N set to either on or off. Is the information that is set. For the TOE automatic allocation information, for example, the information is set in advance as an initial value by a user operation on the application program.

  In addition, for example, the TOE selection processing unit 61 is provided with these functions as a library, like the TOE selection processing unit 13, and the library is implemented by an include file or the like.

  As described above, in the personal computer 51, the application 11 supplies the standard command corresponding to the user operation to the TOE selection processing unit 61 via the standard command interface unit 12, and the TOE selection processing. The unit 61 selects the TOE 21-1 to TOE 21 -N or the TCP / IP processing unit 22 according to the standard command supplied from the application unit 11, assigns the process, and assigns the process to the TOE 21-1 to TOE 21. Each of the -N or TCP / IP processing unit 22 executes TCP / IP processing.

  Next, data transmission processing by the personal computer 51 of FIG. 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 51, the application unit 11 issues a standard command in accordance with a user operation, and supplies the issued standard command to the standard command interface unit 12.

  For example, in step S51, the application unit 11 issues a BSD socket command (on the Windows (registered trademark) OS when operating on the UNIX (registered trademark) OS) in response to a user operation. In the case of the operation, the Winsock command is issued), and the issued BSD socket command (Winsock command) is supplied to the standard command interface unit 12.

  In step S <b> 52, the standard command interface unit 12 performs predetermined processing according to the standard command supplied from the application unit 11. Further, the standard command interface unit 12 supplies the standard command supplied from the application unit 11 to the TOE selection processing unit 61.

  For example, in step S52, when operating on a UNIX (registered trademark) OS, the standard command interface unit 12 performs processing according to the BSD socket command supplied from the application unit 11. The standard command interface unit 12 supplies the BSD socket command supplied from the application unit 11 to the TOE selection processing unit 61.

  In step S53, the TOE selection processing unit 61 performs a TOE selection process based on the standard command supplied from the standard command interface unit 12.

  Here, details of the TOE selection processing by the TOE selection processing unit 61 in step S53 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S61, the TOE selection processing unit 61 reads the TOE automatic allocation information based on the standard command supplied from the standard command interface unit 12, and determines whether the TOE automatic allocation information is on.

  Here, as described above, the TOE automatic allocation information indicates whether to perform TCP / IP processing using any of the TOE 21-1 to TOE 21 -N set to either on or off. It is the set information. For example, when the data transmitted from the personal computer 51 is AV data or FTP of a large file (data), the TOE automatic allocation information is transmitted by setting the setting to ON ( When receiving, it is transmitted (received) from any of the TOE 21-1 to TOE 21 -N.

  The TOE automatic allocation information may be set in advance as an initial value or included in a command, for example, by a user operation. When the TOE automatic allocation information is set as an initial value, it is recorded in, for example, a recording unit 118 (to be described later) composed of a hard disk or a RAM (Random Access Memory) 113 (to be described later). In this case, the TOE selection processing unit 61 reads out the TOE automatic allocation information recorded in the recording unit 118 to determine whether the TOE automatic allocation information is on.

  If the TOE automatic allocation information is off in step S61, the process proceeds to step S64, where the TOE selection processing unit 61 allocates TCP / IP processing to the TCP / IP processing unit 22 and ends the TOE selection processing. Then, the process returns to step S53 in FIG. 6 to execute the processes after step S54.

  On the other hand, if the TOE automatic allocation information is turned on in step S61, the process proceeds to step S62, and the TOE selection processing unit 61 determines whether there is a free TOE 21 among the TOE 21-1 to the TOE 21-N. judge.

  If it is determined in step S62 that there is no free TOE 21, the process proceeds to step S64, where the TOE selection processing unit 61 assigns TCP / IP processing to the TCP / IP processing unit 22 and ends the TOE selection processing. Then, the process returns to step S53 in FIG. 6 to execute the processes after step S54.

  That is, since the TCP / IP processing unit 22 is configured as software, for example, it is possible to perform TCP / IP processing for a plurality of sessions within the range allowed by the resource.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S62 that there is a free TOE 21, the process proceeds to step S63, where the TOE selection processing unit 61 assigns TCP / IP processing to the free TOE 21 and ends the TOE selection processing. Then, the process returns to step S53 in FIG. 6 to execute the processes after step S54.

  Specifically, for example, when each of the TOE 21-1 and the TOE 21-2 has already been assigned, the TOE selection processing unit 61 assigns TCP / IP processing to the empty TOE 21-3.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 6, in step S54, the communication processing unit 14 performs TCP / IP processing based on the result of the TOE selection processing by the TOE selection processing unit 61.

  The TCP / IP process in step S54 is the same as the above-described process in step S14 in FIG. 2 (TCP / IP process in FIG. 4), and a description thereof will be omitted.

  As described above, in the personal computer 51, the TOE 21 is selected by the TOE selection processing unit 61 so that the number of sessions (resources) of the TOE 21-1 to the TOE 21-N is optimized. Is sent (received).

  As described above, in the present invention, limited resources of the TOE 21 are selected in accordance with the usage status of the TOE 21, and the selected TOE 21 performs TCP / IP processing. Therefore, the resources of the TOE 21 can be optimally allocated. it can. Even when processing cannot be assigned to the TOE 21, the TCP / IP processing unit 22 can perform TCP / IP processing.

  By the way, in the above-described example, the assignment of the TOE 21 using the command with options (described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 2) and the automatic TOE assignment information (described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 6) has been described. These command with options and TOE automatic allocation information may be performed simultaneously.

  For example, when there are four TOEs 21 (TOE 21-1 to TOE 21-4), among the four TOEs 21, the TOE 21-1 and the TOE 21-2 are commanded with options, and the remaining TOE 21-3 and TOE 21-4 are May be assigned according to the TOE automatic assignment information.

  Note that the information regarding the number of assigned TOEs 21 may be set in advance as an initial value by a user operation, for example, as in the automatic TOE assignment information.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the resources of the TOE 21 can be optimally allocated.

  Further, according to the present invention, a user (developer) can easily perform network programming. That is, the TOE 21 serving as special control can be controlled by an API such as a standard BSD socket or Winsock. As a result, the user (developer) can perform programming in the same manner as normal network programming without being aware of the special function TOE.

  In the above-described example, the personal computer 1 (or personal computer 51) has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a network such as a video camera, an AV (Audio Visual) server, or a switcher is used. Any device that communicates with other devices connected to the network by connecting to the network.

  In the above-described example, TCP / IP is described as an example of the network protocol stack. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, UDP / IP (User Datagram Protocol / Internet Protocol) may be used. Good.

  The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware, but can also be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software may execute various functions by installing a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware or various programs. For example, it is installed from a recording medium in a general-purpose personal computer or the like.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the personal computer 1 that executes the above-described series of processing by a program. The CPU 111 executes various processes according to a program recorded in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 112 or a recording unit 118. The RAM 113 appropriately stores programs executed by the CPU 111 and data. The CPU 111, the ROM 112, and the RAM 113 are connected to each other by a bus 114.

  An input / output interface 115 is also connected to the CPU 111 via the bus 114. The input / output interface 115 is connected to an input unit 116 including a keyboard, a mouse, and a microphone, and an output unit 117 including a display and a speaker. The CPU 111 executes various processes in response to commands input from the input unit 116. Then, the CPU 111 outputs an image or the like obtained as a result of the processing to the output unit 117.

  The recording unit 118 connected to the input / output interface 115 is composed of, for example, a hard disk and records programs executed by the CPU 111 and various data. The communication unit 119 communicates with an external device via the Internet or other networks.

  Further, the program may be acquired via the communication unit 119 and recorded in the recording unit 118.

  When the removable medium 121 is loaded, the drive 120 connected to the input / output interface 115 drives them and acquires programs and data recorded therein. The acquired program and data are transferred to the recording unit 118 and recorded as necessary.

  The recording medium is distributed to provide a program to the user separately from the computer, and includes a magnetic disk (including a flexible disk) on which the program is recorded, an optical disk (CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory)) , DVD (Digital Versatile Disk)), magneto-optical disk (including MD (Mini-Disk) (registered trademark)), or removable media 121 made of semiconductor memory, etc. The program is configured by a ROM 112, a recording unit 118, and the like that are provided to the user in a built-in state and in which a program is recorded.

  The program for executing the above-described series of processing is installed in a computer via a wired or wireless communication medium such as a local area network, the Internet, or digital satellite broadcasting via an interface such as a router or a modem as necessary. You may be made to do.

  In the present specification, the step of describing the program stored in the recording medium is not limited to the processing performed in chronological order according to the described order, but is not necessarily performed in chronological order. It also includes processes that are executed individually.

  The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the personal computer to which this invention is applied. 3 is a flowchart for explaining data transmission processing by the personal computer of FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart for explaining details of processing for TOE selection by the personal computer of FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart for explaining details of TCP / IP processing by the personal computer of FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows the other structure of one Embodiment of the personal computer to which this invention is applied. It is a flowchart explaining the process of data transmission by the personal computer of FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining details of processing for TOE selection by the personal computer of FIG. 5. It is a block diagram explaining the structure of a personal computer.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Personal computer, 11 Application part, 12 Standard command interface part, 13 TOE selection processing part, 14 Communication processing part, 21-1 thru | or 21-N TOE, 22 TCP / IP processing, 51 Personal computer, 61 TOE selection processing part, 111 TOE selection processing unit, 112 ROM, 113 RAM, 118 recording unit, 119 communication unit, 120 drives, 121 removable media

Claims (9)

In an information processing apparatus that performs communication via a network,
Issuing means for issuing commands in response to user operations on application programs;
Selection means for selecting an assignment destination for performing communication processing related to the network protocol stack based on the issued command;
An information processing apparatus comprising: communication processing means for performing the communication processing according to the selection result of the assignment destination. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit is controlled by an API (Application Program Interface) provided by an include file and called by the application program. The communication processing means includes
First processing means for performing the communication processing by hardware;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second processing unit that performs the communication processing by software. The issuing means issues a command with a value added to instruct the first processing means to perform the communication processing as an argument of the command,
The selecting means assigns the communication process to the first processing means when the first processing means is not performing the communication processing based on the issued command, and the first processing means The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the processing means has already performed the communication process, the communication process is assigned to the second processing means. The selection means reads setting information indicating whether to assign the communication process to the first processing means based on the issued command, and the read setting information is sent to the first processing means. If the communication process is assigned, the communication process is assigned to the first processing means, whereas the setting information indicates that the communication process is not assigned to the first processing means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the communication process is assigned to the second processing unit. The selecting means further assigns the communication processing to the first processing means when the first processing means is not performing the communication processing, whereas the first processing means has already assigned the communication processing. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when processing is performed, the communication processing is assigned to the second processing means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the network protocol stack is TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). In an information processing method of an information processing apparatus that performs communication via a network,
An issuing step for issuing a command in response to an operation to the application program by the user;
Based on the issued command, a selection step of selecting an assignment destination for performing communication processing related to the network protocol stack;
A communication processing step of performing the communication processing according to a selection result of the assignment destination. In a program that causes a computer to perform a process of communicating via a network,
An issuing step for issuing a command in response to an operation to the application program by the user;
Based on the issued command, a selection step of selecting an assignment destination for performing communication processing related to the network protocol stack;
A communication processing step for performing the communication processing according to a selection result of the allocation destination.

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