JP2009159231A - Test device measurement system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a test device measurement system that suitably controls the processing amount of data transmitted from a test device according to the data processing capacity of an information processor. <P>SOLUTION: The information processor of the test device measurement system determines the utilization of its internal CPU, selects data to be processed out of received data according to the CPU utilization based upon priority added to packet data received from the test device through a private LAN network, and processes only the selected data. The priority is set on the test device side in a type-of-service (TOS) area of the header of the packet data. In a private LAN environment, different TOSs can be set for the same IP address and the same port number, and the priority having a different value is set to each of kinds of information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a test apparatus measurement system composed of a test target apparatus (test apparatus) and an information processing apparatus connected by a private LAN, and in particular, is sent from the test target apparatus to the information processing apparatus via a private LAN. Related to selection priority control of information.

  In the development of various devices such as mobile phones, when performing a performance measurement test of a new device, in order to measure the function of the new device, create a test card that simulates the function and collect various measurement information from the test card Then, a performance measurement test is performed. The test card is a device that is created for each function, and includes a storage unit that stores an application program corresponding to each function, a CPU that executes the application program, a communication function unit for connecting to a communication network, and the like. Usually, a test apparatus is comprised from the several test card for every function, and the control card which controls them. The control card is a communication control device that controls communication between each test card and an information processing device connected via a communication network, and stores a measurement system and a control system application program in the same manner as the test card. Means, a CPU for executing the application, and a communication function unit for connecting to a communication network.

  The test apparatus is connected to the information processing apparatus via a private LAN. A private LAN (Local Area Network) is a network configured with a private IP address, and is a communication network that is cut off from a public network such as the Internet. The information processing apparatus is, for example, a personal computer, and transmits various messages (commands) to the test apparatus, and receives, stores, and processes measurement information and control information from the test apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of a conventional test apparatus measurement system. The test apparatus 10 includes a plurality of test cards 11-1 to 11-n (referred to as test card 11 when referring to the entire test card) and a control card 12, and measurement information from each test card 11 is stored in the control card. And sent to the information processing apparatus 20 via the private LAN by the function of the measurement system application. Control information from the control system application of the control card 12 is also transmitted to the information processing apparatus 20 via the measurement system application. A command from the information processing apparatus 20 is sent to the control card 20 via the private LAN, and sent from the control card 20 to the test card 11. The transmission speed of the transmission path can be arbitrarily set in both directions as necessary (in FIG. 1, 1 Gbps in both directions).

In this way, the control card 12 sends the measurement information from the test card 11 and the control information from the control system application to the information processing device 20, and sends the command from the information processing device 20 to the test card 11. Among them, a measurement system application that sends data such as measurement information from the test card 11 and control information from the control system application to the information processing apparatus 20 is, for example, an Ethernet function unit (registered trademark) (for example, 1000BASE) -T), and is realized by functional configurations such as an IP function unit, a socket function unit, a TCP server function unit, and a transfer filter. For example, when the amount of transmission data such as control information and measurement information exceeds the processing capability of the information processing apparatus 20, the transfer filter discards a part of measurement information with low priority without sending it to the information processing apparatus 20. The type of measurement information to be filtered is selected individually by the operator by operating the information processing apparatus 20 and set as a command from the information processing apparatus 20. Note that, in a network having a plurality of routers, a method of controlling the amount of data processing between routers and distributing the load based on the CPU usage rate of the routers is known (Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-46539 A

  In Patent Document 1, load distribution of traffic on a transmission path is possible. However, when there is one information processing apparatus, all data is concentrated on the information processing apparatus as a result. It does not reduce the load.

  The transfer filter function reduces the load on the information processing device by discarding low-priority data. However, the operator manually monitors the data processing capability of the information processing device as needed and discards it by successive manual operations. Since it is necessary to set the data to be processed, real-time load control according to the processing capability of the information processing apparatus that constantly changes is not possible (for example, it is not possible to cope with a case where the amount of data temporarily increases) and is optimal. There is a problem that load control cannot be performed.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a test apparatus measurement system that optimally controls the amount of data transmitted from a test apparatus according to the data processing capability of the information processing apparatus, and controls the load on the information processing apparatus. .

  A first configuration of a test apparatus measurement system for achieving the above object includes a test apparatus and an information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus is transmitted as packet data from the test apparatus via a private LAN network. In the test apparatus measurement system that acquires and processes information, the test apparatus assigns a different priority to packet data having the same IP address and the same port number depending on the type of information in a predetermined header of the packet data. The packet data is transmitted to the information processing device, and the information processing device receives the packet data based on the priority included in the packet data and the CPU usage rate of the information processing device. At least a part of the packet data is selected from the list, and only the selected packet data is processed. And requirements to be.

  The second configuration of the test apparatus measurement system is that, in the first configuration, the predetermined area of the header of the packet data is a type of service area.

  According to a third configuration of the test apparatus measurement system, in the first or second configuration, the test apparatus acquires a plurality of test cards that generate measurement information, measurement information of the test cards, and the measurement information. And a control card for transmitting control information for responding to a command from the information processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus as packet data, the priority of the control information is higher than the priority of the measurement information, and the measurement It is a requirement that multiple levels of priority are set for information according to the type of measurement information.

  According to a fourth configuration of the test apparatus measurement system, in any of the first to third configurations, the information processing apparatus has a predetermined value or more when the CPU usage rate of the information processing apparatus is higher than a predetermined ratio. It is a requirement that only information for which priority is set is processed and information whose priority is less than a predetermined value is discarded before processing.

  According to the data processing method of the test apparatus measurement system of the present invention, the information processing apparatus in the test apparatus measurement system including the test apparatus and the information processing apparatus is transmitted as packet data from the test apparatus via a network using a private LAN. In the data processing method for acquiring and processing information, the test apparatus assigns different priorities to packet data having the same IP address and the same port number depending on the type of information in a predetermined area of the header of the packet data. The packet data is transmitted to the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus transmits the received packet data based on the priority included in the packet data and the CPU usage rate of the information processing apparatus. Select at least a part of the packet data from the list, and select the selected packet. It is a requirement to process the data only.

  According to the present invention, the amount of processing data is automatically increased or decreased on the information processing device side without limiting the processing of control information that must be processed according to the CPU usage rate of the information processing device. Can be controlled.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, such an embodiment does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the test apparatus measurement system in the embodiment of the present invention. The test apparatus 10 includes a plurality of test cards 11-1 to 11-n (referred to as the test card 11 when referring to the entire test card) and a control card 12, and measurement information from each test card 11 is the control card 12. The measurement system application 121 of the control card 12 acquires the measurement information and sends it to the information processing apparatus 20 via the private LAN network. Control information from the control system application 122 of the control card 12 is also transmitted to the information processing apparatus 20 via the measurement system application 121. A command from the information processing apparatus 20 is sent to the control card 12 via the private LAN, and sent to the control system application 122 and the test card 11 via the measurement system application 121.

  The meter application 121 includes an Ethernet function unit (registered trademark) 1211 as a communication protocol, an IP function unit 1212, a socket function unit 1213, and a TCP server function unit 1214, and further includes a priority setting unit 1215 characteristic of the present invention. Have. The priority setting unit 1215 has a function of adding a preset priority (priority) to control information and measurement information. The priority is set for each item of control information and measurement information, and is stored in the priority database 31. The priority database 31 is stored in a predetermined storage unit in the control card 12. The information processing apparatus 20 also has the same database 32 as the priority database 31.

  The priority setting unit 1215 of the control card 12 adds priority to the control information and measurement information, and transmits control information and measurement information data to the information processing apparatus 20. The priority is added in the header of the data. The transmission speed of the transmission path can be arbitrarily set in both directions as required (in FIG. 2, 1 Gbps in both directions as in FIG. 1).

  The information processing apparatus 20 includes an operating system (OS), a TCP / IP processing program (middleware), a storage unit that stores an application program that issues a command and processes the received measurement information and control information, and a CPU that executes the storage unit. When control data and measurement information data are received from the control card 12, they are processed by an application program. In this embodiment, the information processing device 20 determines the usage rate of the internal CPU, and the priority added to the data received from the test device via the private LAN network according to the CPU usage rate. Based on the received data, data to be processed is selected from the received data, and only the selected data is processed. Data not selected is discarded. If all the data cannot be processed even if the CPU usage rate reaches 100%, processing will be delayed and some of the received data will be discarded, but data that cannot be processed regardless of priority. If destroyed, important data may be destroyed. In the present invention, by adding priority to data, it is possible to prevent important data (for example, control information) having a high priority from being discarded and to avoid a delay in data processing.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a format example of data to which priority is added. A header is attached to the data, and the data to which the header is attached is divided into packet data of a predetermined byte and transmitted. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the data is divided into two packet data. The packet data includes a payload portion, and an Ethernet header (registered trademark), an IP header (for example, IPv4 (Internet Protocol Version 4)), and a TCP header as headers of the packet data. In this embodiment, priority information is set in the type of service (hereinafter referred to as TOS) area of the IP header.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting priority. Information set in the priority databases 31 and 32. The priority of the measurement information is set in a plurality of stages according to the measurement items of the measurement information. As shown in the figure, according to the importance of the measurement information item, the priority is divided into, for example, three levels, and values written in the TOS for priority “high”, “medium”, and “low” Is set. For example, the priority “high” is “3”, “medium” is “2”, and “low” is “1”. The control information is data having a higher priority than the measurement information, and a priority higher than the highest priority in the measurement information is set. For example, the priority of the control information is set to “4”.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data flow in the test apparatus measurement system according to the embodiment of the present invention. The control card 12 of the test apparatus 10 receives measurement data from the test card 11 corresponding to each function. The test cards 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 transmit delay profile information, cell monitoring measurement information, L1 reception level measurement information, and the like as measurement information to the control card 12, respectively. The priority setting unit 1215 of the measurement system application 121 of the control card 12 determines the measurement item of the received measurement information (the test card 11 is provided for each measurement item, that is, the function. The item can be determined), and the priority corresponding to the measurement item is selected with reference to the priority database 31. Further, the priority setting unit 1215 creates a payload of packet data from the measurement information. The creation of the payload is not limited to the priority setting unit 1215 and may be performed by another functional unit.

  On the other hand, the control card 12 not only receives measurement information from the test card 11, but also receives a command from the information processing apparatus 20, and the control system application 122 generates control information that is a response message to the command. When receiving the control information, the priority setting unit 1215 selects a priority corresponding to the control information. As described above, the priority of the control information is higher than any measurement information.

  The packetized measurement information and control information and the respective priorities are sent to the socket function unit 1213 via the TCP server function unit 1214, and the socket function unit 1213 sets the selected priority as a header when the socket is generated. Overwrite the TOS area. In the example of FIG. 5, it is assumed that the IP address (source address) is 192.168.0.1 and the port is 2001. Although the TOS value is uniquely determined in units of port numbers, it can be freely rewritten in a private LAN. Therefore, the priority is set in the TOS area by overwriting the TOS value once determined. As described above, setting different values of priority in the TOS area for the same IP address and the same port number is a function that can be implemented in a network in a private LAN environment.

  Thus, packets output from the control card 12 have the same IP address and port header information, but differ for the same IP address and the same port number depending on the type of information stored in the payload. The priority is set in the TOS area of the packet header, and the packet is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 20.

  The information processing apparatus 20 receives a packet from the control card 12. Since the information processing apparatus 20 also follows the same communication protocol as the control card, the Ethernet (Ethernet (registered trademark)) function unit 2011, the IP function unit 2012, the socket function unit are used as the functional configuration of the measurement system application 201 of the information processing apparatus 20. 2013, a TCP client function unit 2014 is provided, and the processing application 2015 processes the received measurement information and control information.

  Here, the socket function unit 2013 of the information processing device 20 reads the priority written in the TOS area of the header of the received packet, and executes packet distribution processing according to the priority.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining packet distribution processing according to priority. The socket function unit 2013 analyzes the priority written in the TOS of the header. The packet with the priority “4”, which is the highest priority, is control information that is processed with the highest priority, and is stored in a queue for control information that is processed with the highest priority among the queues provided in a plurality of stages. The control information accumulated in this queue is always read regardless of the CPU usage rate and processed by the processing application 2015.

  On the other hand, packets of priority “3”, “2”, “1” are measurement information, and the queue storing the measurement information is classified into a plurality of stages according to the CPU usage rate. It is sorted and accumulated. Then, in a plurality of queues classified for each CPU usage rate, packets accumulated in a queue with a CPU usage rate equal to or higher than the CPU usage rate (current CPU usage rate) acquired from the operating system (OS) are read out. Packets that have been processed and accumulated in a queue with a CPU usage lower than the current CPU usage are discarded. The filtering process according to the CPU usage rate will be described later.

  Data read from the queue is sent to the processing application 2015 via the TCP client function unit 2014. The control information processing of the processing application 2015 processes the control information, and the measurement information processing of the processing application processes the measurement information. The processed measurement information is displayed in a graph display or the like by the GUI display function.

  When a plurality of other applications other than the processing application 2015 are simultaneously activated and the CPU usage rate is close to 100%, for example, and the processing speed of the processing application 2015 is reduced, the CPU is transferred before the packet is transferred to the processing application 2015. Since the amount of packets transferred to the processing application 2015 is limited according to the usage rate, the processing speed can be recovered by reducing the load and reducing the CPU usage rate. At this time, the control information to be processed in preference to the measurement information is not discarded, but only the measurement information is discarded according to the CPU usage rate, thereby ensuring the processing of the control information and processing speed. Recovery and system stabilization.

  Since selection of packet data to be processed is performed by the information processing device 20 on the reception side, the control card 12 on the transmission side performs restrictions on acquisition of measurement information and generation of control information without considering the amount of data to be transmitted. There is no need to add a function to limit the amount of data to be transmitted on the transmission side.

  FIG. 7 is a processing sequence of the test apparatus measurement system in the embodiment of the present invention. The information processing apparatus 20 (specifically, the measurement system application 201) gives priority to the control card 12 as shown in FIG. 4 in order to set the priority in the priority database 31 of the control card 12. A priority setting command is transmitted together with the information (S10). Specifically, the priority information shown in FIG. 4 is set in advance in the priority database 32 of the information processing apparatus 20 and transferred to the priority database 31 of the control card 12.

  When receiving the priority information and the priority setting command, the control card 12 (specifically, the measurement system application 121) stores the priority information in the priority database 31 according to the priority setting command (S12). The control card 12 creates a response message to the priority setting command (processing completion notification indicating that it has been stored normally) (S14). When creating the response message for the command, the control card 12 accesses the priority database 31 and acquires the priority of the response message (S16). Note that the response message to the command is control information, and is data subject to the highest priority processing. In FIG. 4, the highest priority is “4”. The control card 12 converts the response message into packet data (S18), writes the acquired priority in the TOS area of the IPv4 header, and transmits the packet data to the information processing apparatus 20 (S20).

  Subsequently, the information processing apparatus 20 transmits to the control card 12 a measurement start command that instructs to start measurement on each test card 11 (S22). When receiving the measurement start command, the control card 12 outputs a measurement instruction to each test card 11 (S24). Each test card 11 starts each measurement based on the measurement instruction (S26). Each test card 11 generates measurement information at the start of measurement.

  Thereafter, when the predetermined time elapses in advance and the measurement information acquisition timing comes, the control card 12 acquires the measurement information from each test card 11 (S28). The acquisition timing is periodically generated with a period of about 10 ms, for example. Furthermore, the control card 12 accesses the priority database 31 and acquires the priority for the acquired measurement information (S30). As shown in FIG. 4, the priority varies depending on the type of measurement information, and the priority is acquired for each measurement information in units of test cards. The control card 12 converts each measurement information into packet data (S32), writes the acquired priority in the TOS area of the IPv4 header, and transmits the packet data to the information processing apparatus 20 (S34).

  FIG. 8 is a process flowchart of the control card 12 in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8A is a flowchart of the measurement information transmission process of the control card 12. When the control card 12 transmits a measurement instruction to each test card 11 (corresponding to S24 in FIG. 7), each test card 11 starts measurement, and the control card 12 periodically accesses the test card 11 to measure information. To get. That is, when a measurement information acquisition event occurs (S100), each test card 11 is accessed to acquire measurement information (S102).

  The control card 12 determines whether or not a dedicated band for response messages to the command (sometimes referred to as “message window”) is set in the communication band of the private LAN (S104), and the dedicated band is set. In this case, the remaining bandwidth is secured as a bandwidth for measurement information (S106). This is because the control information is preferentially transmitted on the network.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the message window. A measurement event for acquiring measurement information by the control card 12 and transferring it is generated periodically (for example, 10 ms). On the other hand, the control card 12 generates control information in response to a command from the information processing apparatus 20 and returns it to the information processing apparatus 20. Transmission of control information (message event) occurs irregularly, but when the measurement event and the message event overlap, there is a possibility that the amount of transmission data exceeds the private LAN communication band. Therefore, when a message event occurs, a message window is set for a certain time, and when a measurement event occurs during that period, measurement information is assigned to the remaining bandwidth. If a message window is not set when a measurement event occurs, measurement information is assigned to all bands.

  Returning to FIG. 8, the control card 12 accesses the priority database 31, acquires the priority for the acquired measurement information (S108) (corresponding to 28 in FIG. 7), and inserts the priority into the measurement information. Furthermore, when the data amount of the measurement information exceeds the remaining bandwidth, a discard flag is attached in order from the measurement information with the lowest priority (S110). In the packet transfer process, the packet data of the measurement information to which the discard flag is attached is discarded. Then, the control card 12 generates packet data of measurement information to which a priority and a discard flag are attached (S112), and sends a transmission request for the generated packet data to the packet transmission process of the control card 12 (S114). .

  FIG. 8B is a flowchart of the control information transmission process of the control card 12. When the control card 12 receives a command from the information processing device 20 and generates a response message (control information) in response to the command (S120) (corresponding to S14 in FIG. 7), the control card 12 accesses the priority database 31 and prioritizes the response message. The degree is acquired (S122) (corresponding to S16 in FIG. 7). Further, the control card 12 generates packet data of the response message to which the priority information is attached (S124) (corresponding to S18 in FIG. 7), and the transfer data amount exceeds the bandwidth at the measurement information transmission timing. Even if the response message packet data is not discarded, a bandwidth (message window) dedicated to the response message is secured so that the response message packet data is not discarded, and a transmission request for the response message packet data is made to the packet transmission processing of the control card 12 (S128). ).

  FIG. 8C is a flowchart of packet transmission processing of the control card 12. When the control card 12 receives the packet data of the measurement information and the packet data of the control information and receives these transmission requests (S130), the control card 12 performs a packet data transmission process (S132). In the packet data transmission process, the priority attached to each measurement information or control information packetized is overwritten in the TOS area of the IPv4 header added to the packet data and transmitted to the information processing apparatus 20.

  FIG. 10 is a process flowchart of the information processing apparatus 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention. When receiving the packet data from the control card 12 of the test apparatus 10 (S200), the information processing apparatus 20 extracts the priority written in the TOS area of the IPv4 header (S202). Further, the information processing apparatus 20 acquires the CPU usage rate from the OS (operating system) (S204), and distributes the packet data to be processed according to the CPU usage rate. In the process of FIG. 10, as an example, packet data is distributed based on CPU usage rates of 80%, 50%, and 25%.

  For example, when the CPU usage rate exceeds 80% (Y in S206), only the packet data with the priority “4” is selected (S208), and the priority “3”, “2”, “1” is selected. Packet data is discarded. That is, only control information is selected, and all measurement information is discarded. When the CPU usage rate is more than 50% and less than 80% (Y in S210), only the packet data with the priority “4” and “3” are selected (S212), and the packets with the priority “2” and “1” are selected. Discard the data. That is, in addition to the control information, only the highest priority among the measurement information is selected. If the CPU usage room is more than 25% and less than 50% (Y in S214), only the packet data of priority “4”, “3”, “2” is selected (S216), and the packet of priority “1” is selected. Discard the data. That is, data other than the lowest priority information among the measurement information is selected. When the CPU usage rate is less than 25% (N in S214), all packet data, that is, all of control information and measurement information are selected (S218). The selected packet data is transferred to the upper processing application 2015 and processed (S220).

  Since the amount of data transferred to the processing application 2015 decreases as the CPU usage rate increases, the load on the processing application 2015 is reduced and the CPU usage rate decreases. As a result, the processing speed is recovered and the system is stabilized. The data discarded before being transferred to the processing application 2015 is only the measurement information, and the control information that must be processed is transferred regardless of the CPU usage rate, so the amount of data transferred to the processing application 2015 is limited. Even if it is done, it is always processed without being discarded.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the configuration in which the priority is written in the TOS area of the IP header is exemplified. However, in the configuration in which the same value is given as the initial value for the same port number in another unused area. There may be.

It is a figure which shows the schematic structural example of the conventional test apparatus measurement system. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the test device measurement system in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a format of the data to which a priority is added. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting of a priority. It is a figure which shows the flow of the data in the test equipment measurement system of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the packet distribution process according to a priority. It is a processing sequence of the test equipment measurement system in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a process flowchart of the control card 12 in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining a message window. It is a process flowchart of the information processing apparatus 20 in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  10: Test device, 11: Test card, 12: Control card, 20: Information processing device, 121: Measurement system application, 122: Control system application, 1211: Ethernet function unit (registered trademark), 1212: IP function unit, 1213 : Socket function unit, 1214: TCP server function unit, 1215: priority setting unit, 201: measurement system application, 2011: Ethernet function unit (registered trademark), 2012: IP function unit, 2013: socket function unit, 2014: TCP Client function unit, 2015: processing application

Claims (5)

In a test apparatus measurement system comprising a test apparatus and an information processing apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus acquires and processes information transmitted as packet data from the test apparatus via a private LAN network,
The test apparatus sets different priorities for packet data having the same IP address and the same port number depending on the type of information in a predetermined area of the header of the packet data, and processing the packet data as the information processing To the device,
The information processing device selects at least a part of the received packet data based on the priority included in the packet data and the CPU usage rate of the information processing device, and the selected packet A test apparatus measurement system characterized by processing only data. In claim 1,
The test apparatus measurement system, wherein the predetermined area of the header of the packet data is an area of type of service. In claim 1,
The test apparatus comprises:
Multiple test cards that generate measurement information;
A control card that acquires measurement information of the test card and transmits the measurement information and control information for responding to a command from the information processing device to the information processing device as packet data,
The priority of the control information is higher than the priority of the measurement information, and a plurality of priorities are set for the measurement information according to the type of the measurement information. In claim 1,
When the CPU usage rate of the information processing apparatus is higher than a predetermined rate, the information processing apparatus processes only information set with a priority equal to or higher than a predetermined value, and processes information with a priority lower than the predetermined value before processing. A test apparatus measuring system characterized by discarding. In a data processing method in which the information processing apparatus in a test apparatus measurement system including a test apparatus and an information processing apparatus acquires and processes information transmitted as packet data from the test apparatus via a private LAN network.
The test apparatus sets different priorities for packet data having the same IP address and the same port number depending on the type of information in a predetermined area of the header of the packet data, and processing the packet data as the information processing To the device,
The information processing device selects at least a part of the received packet data based on the priority included in the packet data and the CPU usage rate of the information processing device, and the selected packet A data processing method characterized by processing only data.

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