JP2010057102A - Network control apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce an idle area retrieval time of resources such as a time slot in line setting of each controlled apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: A network control apparatus sets a line according to a table which manages the idle conditions of resources of the controlled apparatus, which serves as a line route, based on a designated line end point and a line speed. The network control apparatus includes pointer a management means that manages a maximum idle area pointer showing the head of the maximum idle area of the table, and a line setting means that sets a line using resources from a position which the maximum idle area pointer of the table indicates without checking the line speed when line setting is required. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a network element monitoring and control device that performs line setting (cross-connect) between line end points by controlling controlled devices such as a time switch (TSW: Time-Switch) and a space switch (SSW: Space-Switch). The present invention relates to a network control device such as (NE-OpS: Network Element Operating System).

  The controlled device for setting the line between the line end points includes a TTT structure in which three controlled devices (T) that are time switches are provided along the line route, and a controlled device that is a time switch along the line route. A T configuration in which one control device (T) is provided, a controlled device (T) that is a time switch, a controlled device (S) that is a space switch, and a controlled device (T) that is a time switch along a line path There is a TST structure or the like that provides A plurality of or one controlled device provided between the line end points form one island.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional system, which is based on the above-described TTT configuration. In FIG. 1, a network monitoring control device (NW-Ops: Network Operating System) 1 and a network element monitoring control device (NE-OpS) 3 are connected to a network 2 such as an IP (Internet Protocol) network. The element monitoring control device 3 controls a plurality of controlled devices 4 (4 # 1 to 4 # M), 5 (5 # 1,...), And 6 (6 # 1 to 6 # N). The network monitoring control device 1 has a function of designating two line end points and a line speed to the network element monitoring control device 3 at the time of line setting. The network element monitoring and control device 3 searches the free space in the time slot between the connection points for connecting the line end point designated by the network monitoring control device 1 and the line end point at the requested line speed, and cross-connects. Has a function to perform.

  Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 1, the operation will be described by taking as an example the case where the line end points a and b and a predetermined line speed are designated from the network monitoring control apparatus 1.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for setting a line in a conventional system. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a time slot management table provided on a database in the network element monitoring control device 3 and used for line setting. A time slot management table is provided for each route (plane) that is fixedly set between controlled devices (connected between devices via physical lines) and manages the status of “empty” and “used” in each time slot. 3 shows the time slot management table for connection between connection points P1 and P2 on the left, and the time slot management table for connection between connection points P3 and P4 on the right.

  In FIG. 2, when the network element monitoring control device 3 receives designation of the line end points a and b and the line speed from the upper network monitoring control device 1 (step S1), the network element monitoring control device 3 takes a route connecting the designated line end points a and b. A time slot between certain connection points is searched (step S2). More specifically, between the connection point P1 on the side facing the line end point a of the controlled apparatus 4 # 1 in which the line end point a is accommodated and the connection point P2 of the controlled apparatus 5 # 1 on the left side of FIG. A continuous free area corresponding to the specified line speed is searched from the time slot management table for connection between the connection points P1 and P2. Now, assuming that the size of one time slot is 64 kbps and the line speed requested by the host network monitoring and control device 1 is 128 kbps, two consecutive time slots are required. A free area starting from the pointer “7” is found. Next, a time slot for connection between the connection points P3 to P4 on the right in FIG. 3 between the connection point P3 on the side facing the connection point P2 of the controlled device 5 # 1 and the connection point P4 of the controlled device 6 # 2. A continuous free area corresponding to the specified line speed is searched from the management table. If the size of the time slot is 64 kbps and the line speed requested by the host network monitoring control device 1 is 128 kbps, two consecutive time slots are required. Discover free space that begins.

  Returning to FIG. 2, after the search, it is determined whether the connection points P1 to P4 can be connected as one line (step S3). If connection as one line is not possible, the process returns to the time slot search (step S2). Search for free space in.

If the connection can be made as one line, the cross connection between the line end points a and b is performed (step S4). More specifically, the controlled device 4 # 1 is controlled to perform a cross connect between the line end point a and the connection point P1, and the controlled device 5 # 1 is controlled to connect the connection point P2 to P3. The cross connection is performed, and the controlled device 6 # 2 is controlled to perform the cross connection between the connection point P4 and the line end point b. Then, the time slot management table is updated (the time slot in which the cross-connect is performed is updated from “free” to “used”) (step S5), and the process is terminated.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-51470

  The conventional line setting has been performed as described above, but the following problems have been pointed out.

  That is, as the number of accommodated time slots for each controlled device 4, 5, 6 increases, the time for searching the time slot management table becomes longer, and the time until response transmission to the network monitoring control device 1 and the network element monitoring control device 3 is increased. Will increase. In recent years, the capacity of controlled devices has been increasing, and devices with the number of accommodated time slots on the order of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands are common, and depending on the device, processing of several minutes to several tens of minutes is required for search processing of the time slot management table It may take time. During this time, the operator of the higher-level network monitoring control device 1 cannot determine whether the executed process is operating normally or is in an abnormal (no response) state, which may hinder system operation.

  Since the network monitoring control device 1 performs line setting for a plurality of network element monitoring control devices 3 and controlled devices 4, 5, 6 constituting the entire path, the individual network element monitoring control devices 3 and the controlled devices are controlled. The control devices 4, 5 and 6 are required to perform processing in a short time (processing on the order of 10 seconds at the latest). In the conventional processing method, as the number of lines to be set increases (as time slots become less free), it takes time to search for free areas, and a radical review of the processing method is necessary. .

  In addition, although the problem was demonstrated about the TTT structure, there exists a similar problem also about T structure including a time switch, TST structure, etc.

  The same problem applies not only to line settings by switching time slots using time switches, but also to line settings via multiple devices on the network according to a table that manages the availability of resources such as “empty paths”. Is assumed.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique related to integration of a switching function and a cross-connect function in a large-scale telecommunications network, but there is no mention of the above-described problems.

  In view of the above-described conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a network control device that can shorten the search time for free areas of resources such as time slots in the line setting of each controlled device.

  In one embodiment of this network control device, the network control device performs line setting according to a table for managing the availability of resources of a controlled device serving as a line route based on a designated line end point and line speed, Pointer management means for managing the maximum free area pointer indicating the head of the maximum free area of the table, and the position indicated by the maximum free area pointer in the table without checking the line speed when line setting is requested Line setting means for setting a line using resources.

  In the disclosed network control device, it is possible to shorten the search time for free areas of resources such as time slots in the line setting of each controlled device.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a system according to the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 4, a higher-level network monitoring control device (NW-OpS) 1 and a network element monitoring control device (NE-OpS) 3 are connected to a network 2 such as an IP network. Controlled devices 4 (4 # 1 to 4 # M), 5 (5 # 1,...), 6 (6 # 1 to 6 # N) are controlled. The controlled devices 4, 5, 6 are based on a TTT configuration in which three controlled devices (T) that are time switches are provided along the line path. An island is formed.

  The network element monitoring control device 3 receives the host network monitoring control device communication control unit 31 that communicates with the host network monitoring control device 1 and the network monitoring control device 1 via the host network monitoring control device communication control unit 31. An application processing unit 32 that controls line setting for the controlled devices 4, 5, and 6 in response to a request for line setting; a database 33 that is read (referenced) / written (updated) in the processing of the application processing unit 32; A controlled device communication control unit 34 that performs control communication with the controlled devices 4, 5, and 6.

  The database 33 indicates the status of “free” and “used” of each time slot provided for each route (surface) that is fixedly set between the controlled devices 4, 5, 6 (connected between the devices by physical lines). A time slot management table 331 to be managed and a time slot management table 331 are provided for each time slot management table 331. Each time slot management table 331 is provided with a maximum free area pointer 332 indicating the head of the maximum free area of the corresponding time slot management table 331. And a free space management table 333 that manages the free space start position and free space size in the corresponding time slot management table 331 in association with each other. The free space management table 333 is not used in the first embodiment, but is used in the second embodiment described later.

  The application processing unit 32 refers to the database 33 in response to the line setting request received from the network monitoring control device 1 via the higher-level network monitoring control device communication control unit 31, and changes the line setting from the idle time slots. A time slot specifying unit 321 for specifying a time slot to be used, and line setting of the controlled devices 4, 5, and 6 via the controlled device communication control unit 34 based on the time slot specified by the time slot specifying unit 321. A controlled device connection processing unit 322 to be controlled and a table update processing unit 323 for updating the database 33 upon completion of line setting are provided.

  Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 4, the operation will be described by taking as an example the case where the line end points a and b and a predetermined line speed are designated from the network monitoring control apparatus 1.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of the time slot management table 331 (331A, 331B) and the maximum free area pointer 332 (332A, 332B). FIG. 6A shows the time slot management table 331A and the maximum free space pointer 332A corresponding to the plane of the connection points P1 and P2, and the time slot management table 331B corresponding to the plane of the connection points P3 and P4, immediately before the line setting. The maximum free area pointer 332B holds the first pointer “7” of the maximum free area in the time slot management table 331A, and the maximum free area pointer 332B stores the time slot management table 331B. It holds the pointer “0” at the beginning of the largest free area in it. FIG. 6B shows how the time slot management table 331 (331A, 331B) and the maximum free space pointer 332 (332A, 332B) are updated after line setting.

  In FIG. 5, the network element monitoring control device 3 receives designation of the line end points a and b and the line speed from the host network monitoring control device 1 (step S11). Since the line speed is not used in the processing in the first embodiment, designation and reception thereof can be omitted.

  Next, the network element monitoring control device 3 determines the maximum free space pointer 332A corresponding to the plane of the connection points P1 and P2 and the maximum corresponding to the plane of the connection points P3 to P4 on the path connecting the designated line end points a and b. In accordance with the free space pointer 332B, the cross connection between the line end points a and b is performed without checking the line speed (step S12). More specifically, the cross connection between the line end point a and the connection point P1 is performed by controlling the controlled device 4 # 1. Next, the cross connection between the connection points P2 to P3 is performed by controlling the controlled device 5 # 1 based on the pointer “7” indicated by the maximum free space pointer 332A in FIG. 6A. Next, the cross connection between the connection point P4 and the line end point b is performed by controlling the controlled device 6 # 2 based on the pointer “0” indicated by the maximum free space pointer 332B in FIG. 6A.

  Next, the time slot management table 331 (331A, 331B) and the maximum free area pointer 332 (332A, 332B) are updated (step S13), and the process is terminated. In FIG. 6B, assuming that the line setting for two time slots (128 kbps when the time slot size is 64 kbps) is performed, the pointer “7, 8” of the time slot management table 331A is changed from “available” to “used”. The maximum free area pointer 332A is updated to a pointer “9” indicating the head of the new maximum free area. Further, the pointer “0, 1” of the time slot management table 331B is updated from “free” to “used”, and the maximum free space pointer 332B is updated to a pointer “14” indicating the head of the new maximum free space.

  In the first embodiment, when a line setting request is received, the cross connection between the line end points a and b is performed without checking the line speed according to the maximum free area pointer 332 (332A, 332B). Compared to the conventional method (FIG. 2), the search processing of the time slot management table 331 (331A, 331B) is omitted, and the processing time can be greatly shortened. If the free time slot area is smaller than the specified line speed, an abnormal end response should normally be returned from the controlled devices 4, 5, 6 side. It can be determined that the designated line speed is not acceptable "=" the line cannot be set as a device ", and no particular problem occurs.

<Second Embodiment>
In the second embodiment, the update processing of the time slot management table 331 and the maximum free space pointer 332 in the first embodiment described above can be performed at high speed without being affected by the free time slot state. Is. As a configuration for that purpose, an empty area management table 333 indicated by a broken line is provided in the database 33 of FIG. 4 in correspondence with the time slot management table 331 and the maximum empty area pointer 332.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing in the second embodiment. The difference from the processing in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is that the free space management table 333 is set after the time slot management table 331 in step S23. The update is performed, and the maximum free area pointer 332 is updated based on the result.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the time slot management table 331 (331A, 331B), the maximum free area pointer 332 (332A, 332B), and the free area management table 333 (333A, 333B). FIG. 8A shows the time slot management table 331A, the maximum free area pointer 332A and the free area management table 333A corresponding to the planes of the connection points P1 to P2, and the planes of the connection points P3 to P4 immediately before the line setting. A time slot management table 331B, a maximum free area pointer 332B, and a free area management table 333B are shown. The maximum free area pointer 332A holds the top pointer “7” of the maximum free area in the time slot management table 331A, and the maximum free area pointer 332B stores the pointer “1” of the maximum free area in the time slot management table 331B. 0 "is held. In the free space management table 333A, the pointers “0”, “2”, “7”, “14”, “19” and the sizes “1”, “1”, “6”, “4” indicating the heads are assigned to all free spaces in the time slot management table 331A. "1" in association with each other. The free area management table 333B includes pointers “0”, “7”, “14”, “18” indicating the head and sizes “3”, “1”, “2”, and “2” for all free areas in the time slot management table 331B. Correspondingly held.

  FIG. 8B shows the time slot management table 331A, maximum free area pointer 332A and free area management table 333A, time slot management table 331B, maximum free area pointer 332B and free area management table 333B after line setting. Show. If the line setting for 2 time slots (128 kbps when the time slot size is 64 kbps) is set, the pointer “7, 8” of the time slot management table 331A is updated from “free” to “used”, and free space management is performed. The pointer “7” and the size “6” corresponding to the free area where the line setting is made in the table 333A are updated to the pointer “9” and the size “4”, and the pointer “7” which is the maximum free area indicated by the free area management table 333A is displayed. 9 ”and the size“ 4 ”, the maximum free area pointer 332A is updated to the pointer“ 9 ”. Further, the pointer “0, 1” in the time slot management table 331B is updated from “free” to “used”, and the pointer “0” corresponding to the free area in which the line setting is set in the free area management table 333B, the size “3”. Is updated to the pointer “2” and the size “1”, and the maximum free space pointer 332B is updated to the pointer “14” according to the pointer “14” that is the maximum free space indicated by the free space management table 333B and the size “2”. .

  Rather than searching for and updating all the free areas in the time slot management tables 331A and 331B, the free area management tables 333A and 333B are updated once, and the maximum free area pointers 332A and 332B are updated based on the indicated maximum free area By doing so, the update process can be performed at high speed without the processing speed being affected by the empty time slot.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of processing for updating the free space management table 333 and the maximum free space pointer 332. Since the update is required not only for the line setting but also for the line deletion, the processing corresponds to both.

  In FIG. 9, when line setting or line deletion is performed and update processing is started, the process branches depending on whether the line setting or line deletion is performed (step S201). It is assumed that the free state of the time slot management table 331 has been updated at this time. In other words, it is assumed that the time slot in which the line setting is performed is updated from “available” to “used”, and the time slot in which the line is deleted is updated from “used” to “used”.

  In the case of the line setting, the size of the line setting is subtracted from the size of the corresponding area where the line setting is performed in the free area management table 333 (step S202), and it is determined whether or not the size is “0” (step S202). Step S203). If the size is not “0”, the pointer of the free space management table 333 is updated (step S204). That is, the pointer value is decremented by the size for which line setting has been performed (the size is added to the pointer value). If the size is “0”, the corresponding record is deleted from the free space management table 333 (step S205). In any case, the maximum free area pointer 332 is updated with the pointer value of the area having the largest size in the free area management table 333 (step S206), and the process ends.

  In the case of line deletion, a free space immediately before the free space position is searched from the free space management table 333, and the record is set as X (step S207). Further, a free space immediately after the free space position is searched from the free space management table 333, and the record is set to Y (step S208). Then, the continuity between the vacant area and the records X and Y is checked (step S209).

  If the vacant area and the records X and Y are not continuous, a new record is created in the vacant area management table 333 with the pointer and size of the vacant area (step S210). If the vacant area and the record X are continuous, the size of the vacant area is added to the size of the record X (step S211). When the vacant area and record Y continue, the size of the vacant area is added to the size of record Y, and the pointer of the vacant area is set as the pointer of record Y (step S212). . When the vacant area and records X and Y continue, the size of the vacant area and the size of record Y are added to the size of record X, and record Y is deleted (step S213).

  Next, in any case, if the size of the updated record in the free space management table 333 is larger than the size indicated by the free space indicated by the maximum free space pointer 332, the maximum free space pointer 332 is updated (step S214), and the process is performed. finish.

  10 to 15 are diagrams showing examples of updating the free space management table 333 and the maximum free space pointer 332.

  FIG. 10 shows an example in the case of line setting, and is an example in which the process proceeds from step S202 → S203 → S204 → S206 in FIG. That is, in FIG. 10, initially, as shown in FIG. 10A, all the time slots in the time slot management table 331 are “free”, and the free area management table 333 has one record of pointer “0” and size “20”. The maximum free area pointer 332 holds the pointer “0”. In this state, when two time slots from the pointer “0” are used as shown in (b), the record of the free space management table 333 is moved from the pointer “0” and the size “20” as shown in (c). The pointer is updated to “2” and size “18”. Then, as shown in (d), the maximum free space pointer 332 is updated to “2” based on the pointer “2” and the size “18” of the free space management table 333.

  FIG. 11 shows another example in the case of line setting, and is an example in the case of proceeding from step S202 → S203 → S205 → S206 in FIG. That is, in FIG. 11, initially, as shown in FIG. 11A, “free” time slots are distributed in the time slot management table 331, and the free space management table 333 has a maximum record of pointer “11” and size “3”. The maximum free area pointer 332 holds the pointer “11”. In this state, when 3 time slots from the pointer “11” are used as shown in (b), the third record of the free space management table 333 is set to the pointer “11” and the size “ 3 ”is updated to the pointer“ 11 ”and the size“ 0 ”, the record is deleted as shown in (d), and the maximum free space is determined based on the pointer“ 0 ”and the size“ 2 ”of the free space management table 333. The pointer 332 is updated to “0”.

  FIG. 12 shows an example in the case of line deletion, which is an example in which the process proceeds from step S207 → S208 → S209 → S210 → S214 in FIG. That is, in FIG. 12, initially, as shown in FIG. 12A, “free” time slots are distributed in the time slot management table 331, and the free space management table 333 has a maximum of “11” and “3” size records. The maximum free area pointer 332 holds the pointer “11”. In this state, when two time slots are released from the pointer “6” as shown in (b) and become “empty”, the pointer “6” is secondly placed in the free space management table 333 as shown in (c). Although a record of size “2” is added, as shown in (d), since the pointer “11” and size “3” of the free space management table 333 are still the largest free space, the maximum free space The area pointer 332 remains “11”.

  FIG. 13 shows another example in the case of line deletion, which is an example in which the process proceeds from step S207 → S208 → S209 → S211 → S214 in FIG. That is, in FIG. 13, initially, as shown in FIG. 13A, “free” time slots are distributed in the time slot management table 331, and the free space management table 333 has a maximum of “11” and “3” size records. The maximum free area pointer 332 holds the pointer “11”. In this state, when 3 time slots are released from the pointer “2” as shown in (b) and become “empty”, the first record in the free space management table 333 is set to the pointer “0” as shown in (c). , The pointer is updated from the size “2” to the pointer “0” and the size “5”, and the maximum free space pointer based on the pointer “0” and the size “5” of the free space management table 333 as shown in FIG. 332 is updated to “0”.

  FIG. 14 shows another example in the case of line deletion, which is an example in which the process proceeds from step S207 → S208 → S209 → S212 → S214 in FIG. That is, in FIG. 14, initially, as shown in FIG. 14A, “free” time slots are distributed in the time slot management table 331, and the free space management table 333 has a maximum record of pointer “11” and size “3”. The maximum free area pointer 332 holds the pointer “11”. In this state, when two time slots are released from the pointer “9” as shown in (b) and become “empty”, the second record in the free space management table 333 is pointed to the pointer “11” as shown in (c). , The pointer is updated from the size “3” to the pointer “9” and the size “5”, and the maximum free space pointer based on the pointer “9” and the size “5” of the free space management table 333 as shown in FIG. 332 is updated to “9”.

  FIG. 15 shows another example in the case of line deletion, which is an example in which the process proceeds from step S207 → S208 → S209 → S213 → S214 in FIG. That is, in FIG. 15, initially, as shown in FIG. 15A, “free” time slots are distributed in the time slot management table 331, and the free space management table 333 has a maximum of “11” and “3” size records. The maximum free area pointer 332 holds the pointer “11”. In this state, when two time slots are released from the pointer “2” as shown in (b) and become “free”, the first record in the free space management table 333 is set to the size “2” as shown in (c). ”To the size“ 6 ”, the previous second record is deleted, and the maximum free space pointer based on the pointer“ 0 ”and the size“ 6 ”of the free space management table 333, as shown in FIG. 332 is updated to “0”.

<Third Embodiment>
In the third embodiment, a plurality of maximum free area pointers 332 are provided according to the size of the free area, and the maximum free area pointer 332 having a size corresponding to the line speed designated by the host network monitoring control device 1 is set. By using it, many lines can be accommodated efficiently.

  That is, in the above-described first embodiment (the same applies to the second embodiment), since the line setting is unconditionally performed in the time slot indicated by the maximum free area pointer 332, the maximum free area is always used even in the small capacity line setting. Will end up. For this reason, when an attempt is made to set up a large-capacity line later, there is a case where a free area is insufficient and a line setting that can be originally set cannot be performed. For example, when two lines of size “2” and size “3” exist as free areas, and a line (64 kbps) using one time slot is set, the area of size “3” is used. As a result, two areas of size “2” remain in the free area. Even if an attempt is made to set a line (192 kbps) using 3 time slots after that, the line cannot be set (NG) due to insufficient free space. If a free area of size “2” is used in the first line setting using one time slot, the next line setting using three time slots can be made using the free area of size “3”.

  In the following, there are three maximum free area pointers 332: a maximum free area pointer 332L corresponding to the size “large”, a maximum free area pointer 332M corresponding to the size “medium”, and a maximum free area pointer 332S corresponding to the size “small”. The case will be described. Other configurations are based on the second embodiment described above and differ in that a plurality of maximum free area pointers 332 are provided.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of processing according to the third embodiment, which is performed when an empty area is generated in a time slot. Here, large, medium, and small sizes are determined in advance according to the line speed that may be set by the system, and the corresponding pointer is set when a free area of that size occurs. The rules can be appropriately changed according to the characteristics of the above.

  In FIG. 16, when the process is started, the pointer of the maximum continuous free area on the free area management table 333 is set to the maximum free area pointer 332L corresponding to the size “large” (step S31).

  Next, it is determined whether or not there is a space of the same size as a threshold value set in advance on the free space management table 333 (for example, “5” for the size “medium” and “2” for the size “small”) ( Step S32). If there is a free space of the same size, the maximum free space pointer 332M corresponding to the size “medium” and the maximum free space pointer 332S corresponding to the size “small” are respectively updated based on the free space pointer (step S33). ), The process is terminated.

  If there is no empty space having the same size as the preset threshold value, it is further determined whether or not there is an area having the smallest size among empty areas having a size larger than the threshold value (step S34). If there is an area of the smallest size, the maximum free area pointer 332M corresponding to the size “medium” and the maximum free area pointer 332S corresponding to the size “small” are respectively updated based on the pointer of the free area ( Step S35), the process is terminated. When there is no area of the smallest size, the same pointer as the maximum free area pointer 332L corresponding to the size “large” is set to the maximum free area pointer 332M corresponding to the size “medium” and the maximum free area corresponding to the size “small”. The pointer 332S is set (step S36), and the process is terminated.

  Thereby, in the initial state, the plurality of maximum free area pointers 332L, 332M, and 332S all indicate the same position, and the pointers are distributed according to the subsequent line setting status.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the time slot management table 331, the maximum free area pointer (large, medium, small) 332L, 332M, 332S, and the free area management table 333. In the initial state where the time slot management table 331 is all “free” as shown in FIG. 5A, the maximum free space pointers 332L, 332M, and 332S are all set to the same “0”. When the free space is dispersed by use of the subsequent time slots and a free space of size “5” “11” is generated as shown in (b), the maximum free space pointer 332L has the pointer “9” of size “11”. The maximum free area pointer 332M is set with a pointer “1” of size “5”, and the maximum free area pointer 332S is set with the same pointer “1” as the maximum free area pointer 332M. Also, as shown in (c), when free areas of size “4”, “2”, “1”, “3” occur, the pointer “1” of size “4” is set in the maximum free area pointer 332L, and the maximum free area is set. A pointer “1” having a size “4” is set as the area pointer 332M, and a pointer “9” having a size “2” is set as the maximum empty area pointer 332S.

  At the time of line setting, a time slot of an appropriate size is used by using the maximum free area pointers 332L, 332M, and 332S having a size corresponding to the line speed designated by the host network monitoring and control device 1. More lines can be accommodated efficiently. This embodiment is effective for a system in which the types of line speeds to be set are various.

<Fourth Embodiment>
In the fourth embodiment, the processing in the first and second embodiments described above is simplified by using a table sort function based on a database search key.

  That is, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 18, by sorting the free area management table 333 using “size” as a key, the “pointer” of the first record in the table can be used as the maximum free area pointer 332. In this case, it is not necessary to provide the maximum free area pointer 332 in a fixed manner, and the maximum free area pointer 332 is temporarily provided by performing the above processing when the maximum free area pointer 332 is required at the time of line setting. Can be generated.

  Also, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 18, the free area management table 333 is sorted in the order of the data position using the “pointer” as a key, so that the continuity with the free area immediately before and immediately after the area that has become free due to line deletion. Checking and merging processing (steps S207 to S213 in FIG. 9) can be facilitated. That is, since the sorted free space management table 333 indicates the free space pointer and size in the order of the data position, the continuity can be improved by checking the pointers and sizes of the records above and below the free space due to the line deletion. It can be checked immediately, and further processing can be performed even when merging.

<Fifth Embodiment>
In the fifth embodiment, the time slot area is divided according to the priority of the line, and management is performed by having “maximum free area pointer” and “free area management table” for each area. Thus, the efficiency of line accommodation in a form different from the third embodiment is realized.

  FIG. 19 shows a time slot management table 331, a maximum free area pointer (high priority, low priority) 332 (332Hi, 332Lo), a free area management table (high priority, low priority) 333 (333Hi, 333Lo) in the fifth embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of. In the time slot management table 331, many time slots with pointers “0” to “20” are set as high priority line areas, and slightly less time slots with pointers “21” to “30” are set as low priority line areas. In addition, a maximum free area pointer 332Hi and a free area management table 333Hi for the high priority line are provided corresponding to the high priority line area of the time slot management table 331, and the low priority line area of the time slot management table 331 is provided. A maximum free area pointer 332Lo and a free area management table 333Lo for high priority lines are provided.

  When setting the line, the priority designation is also received from the host network monitoring control device 1, and if the priority is high priority, the line setting is performed based on the maximum free space pointer 332Hi, and the priority is low priority. In this case, by performing line setting based on the maximum free area pointer 332Lo, it is possible to avoid as much as possible a situation where time slots are insufficient when setting a high priority line.

<Sixth Embodiment>
The sixth embodiment is applied to route search at the time of line setting via devices such as servers on the network, not devices such as time switches (TSW) and space switches (SSW).

  FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an application example to another system in the sixth embodiment. (A) is an example applied to a ring network by devices A to D, and (b) is an example applied to a network by devices A to E. In this case, the network control device that controls the line setting manages resources such as free packets of each device in a table (a resource management table corresponding to the time slot management table 331, the maximum free space pointer 332, and the free space management table 333). In accordance with the table, appropriate line setting is performed in consideration of resource availability. In (a), when the line end points are set as apparatuses B and D, line setting of apparatus B → apparatus C → apparatus D is performed. In (b), when the line end points are set as apparatuses B and C, line setting of apparatus B → apparatus A → apparatus D → apparatus C is performed.

<Summary>
The embodiment described above has the following advantages.
(1) By having the maximum free area pointer of the time slot of each controlled device in the network element monitoring control device, the controlled immediately without performing the search processing of the continuous free area of the time slot from the time slot management table The line setting process for the apparatus can be performed, and the processing time can be shortened.
(2) Having a free area management table in the network element monitoring control device, and managing / updating continuous free areas each time a line is set and a line is deleted, the maximum free area pointer is managed easily and at high speed. be able to.
(3) By managing the maximum free space pointer in multiple groups (for example, three types corresponding to large, medium, and small sizes) corresponding to the line setting size, it is efficient according to the system operation status, etc. Time slot management.
(4) The free space continuity check and merge processing can be easily performed by sorting the free space management table in order of size (size) or physical position (pointer).
(5) The time slot management table is divided into a plurality of parts (for example, two types corresponding to high priority and low priority) corresponding to the priority of the line setting, and the maximum free area pointer and free space corresponding to each part. By providing the area management table, efficient time slot management can be performed in accordance with the operation status of the system.
(6) The processing time for line setting can be shortened by applying to route search or the like at the time of line setting via a device such as a server on the network.

The present invention has been described above by the preferred embodiments of the present invention. While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, various modifications and changes may be made to the embodiments without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Obviously you can. In other words, the present invention should not be construed as being limited by the details of the specific examples and the accompanying drawings.
(Appendix 1)
A network control device that performs line setting according to a table that manages the availability of resources of a controlled device serving as a line route based on a designated line end point and line speed,
Pointer management means for managing a maximum free area pointer indicating the top of the maximum free area of the table;
Line setting means for setting a line using a resource from a position indicated by the maximum free area pointer in the table without checking a line speed when line setting is requested. Network control device.
(Appendix 2)
The pointer management means manages a pointer and a size for the free area of the resource of the table using a free area management table, and sets a pointer indicating the head of the largest free area indicated by the free area management table as the maximum free area pointer. The network control device according to attachment 1, wherein the network control device is set.
(Appendix 3)
A plurality of the maximum free area pointers according to the size of the free area,
3. The network control according to claim 1, wherein the line setting unit performs line setting using the maximum free area pointer corresponding to a size corresponding to a designated line speed. apparatus.
(Appendix 4)
The network control device according to appendix 1, wherein a sort of the free space size of the table is used as a key, and a pointer of the first record of the sorted table is used as the maximum free space pointer.
(Appendix 5)
Note that the continuity check and merge processing with the free area immediately before and immediately after the area freed by releasing resources is facilitated by sorting the free area pointers of the table as keys. 3. The network control device according to 2.
(Appendix 6)
The table is divided into areas by line priority, and the maximum free area pointer is provided for each area.
3. The network control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the line setting unit performs line setting using the maximum free area pointer corresponding to the priority of the line.
(Appendix 7)
A T-T-T configuration in which three time switches are provided along the line route, or a T configuration in which one time switch is provided along the line route, and the line. The network control device according to any one of appendices 1 to 6, wherein line setting is performed in a TST configuration in which a time switch, a space switch, and a time switch are provided along a route.
(Appendix 8)
The network control device according to any one of appendices 1 to 6, wherein a path usage status of a device on the network is managed by the table, and a line setting via the device is performed.
(Appendix 9)
A control method for a network control apparatus that performs line setting according to a table that manages the availability of resources of a controlled apparatus that is a line path based on a specified line end point and line speed,
A pointer management step for managing a maximum free area pointer indicating the head of the maximum free area of the table;
A line setting step of performing line setting using a resource from the position indicated by the maximum free space pointer in the table without checking the line speed when line setting is requested. Network control method.
(Appendix 10)
The pointer management step manages a pointer and a size for the free area of the resource of the table by a free area management table, and sets a pointer indicating the head of the largest free area indicated by the free area management table as the maximum free area pointer. The network control method according to appendix 9, wherein the network control method is set.
(Appendix 11)
A plurality of the maximum free area pointers according to the size of the free area,
11. The network control according to claim 9, wherein the line setting step performs line setting using the maximum free area pointer corresponding to a size corresponding to a designated line speed. Method.
(Appendix 12)
10. The network control method according to appendix 9, wherein the free space size of the table is sorted using the key, and the pointer of the first record of the sorted table is used as the maximum free space pointer.
(Appendix 13)
Note that the continuity check and merge processing with the free area immediately before and immediately after the area freed by releasing resources is facilitated by sorting the free area pointers of the table as keys. 10. The network control method according to 10.
(Appendix 14)
The table is divided into areas by line priority, and the maximum free area pointer is provided for each area.
11. The network control method according to claim 9, wherein in the line setting step, line setting is performed using the maximum free area pointer corresponding to the priority of the line.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the conventional system. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the line setting in the conventional system. It is a figure which shows the example of the time slot management table used for a line setting. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the system concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process example in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a time slot management table and the largest empty area pointer. It is a flowchart which shows the process example in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a time slot management table, the largest empty area pointer, and an empty area management table. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a process of an update of a free space management table and a maximum free space pointer. FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 1) illustrating an example of updating a free space management table and a maximum free space pointer. FIG. 10B is a diagram (part 2) illustrating an example of updating the free space management table and the maximum free space pointer. FIG. 10 is a third diagram illustrating an example of updating a free space management table and a maximum free space pointer; FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 4) illustrating an example of updating a free space management table and a maximum free space pointer; FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 5) illustrating an example of updating the free space management table and the maximum free space pointer. FIG. 16 is a diagram (No. 6) illustrating an example of updating the free space management table and the maximum free space pointer. It is a flowchart which shows the process example in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a time slot management table, the largest empty area pointer (large, medium, small), and an empty area management table. It is a figure which shows the process example in 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the time slot management table in 5th Embodiment, the largest empty area pointer (high priority, low priority), and an empty area management table (high priority, low priority). It is a figure which shows the example of application to the other system in 6th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network monitoring control apparatus 2 Network 3 Network element monitoring control apparatus 31 Host network monitoring control apparatus communication control part 32 Application processing part 321 Time slot specification part 322 Controlled apparatus connection processing part 323 Table update processing part 33 Database 331 Time slot management table 332 Maximum free space pointer 333 Free space management table 34 Controlled device communication control unit 4-6 Controlled device

Claims (9)

A network control device that performs line setting according to a table that manages the availability of resources of a controlled device serving as a line route based on a designated line end point and line speed,
Pointer management means for managing a maximum free area pointer indicating the top of the maximum free area of the table;
Line setting means for setting a line using a resource from a position indicated by the maximum free area pointer in the table without checking a line speed when line setting is requested. Network control device. The pointer management means manages a pointer and a size for the free area of the resource of the table using a free area management table, and sets a pointer indicating the head of the largest free area indicated by the free area management table as the maximum free area pointer. The network control device according to claim 1, wherein the network control device is set. A plurality of the maximum free area pointers according to the size of the free area,
The network according to claim 1, wherein the line setting unit performs line setting using the maximum free area pointer corresponding to a size corresponding to a designated line speed. Control device. 2. The network control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first record pointer of the sorted table is used as the maximum free area pointer by sorting using the size of the free area of the table as a key. The sorting of the free area pointers in the table as a key facilitates continuity check and merge processing with the free areas immediately before and immediately after the areas freed by releasing resources. Item 3. The network control device according to Item 2. The table is divided into areas by line priority, and the maximum free area pointer is provided for each area.
The network control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the line setting unit performs line setting using the maximum free area pointer corresponding to the priority of the line. A T-T-T configuration in which three time switches are provided along the line route, or a T configuration in which one time switch is provided along the line route, and the line. The network control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein line setting is performed in a TST configuration in which a time switch, a space switch, and a time switch are provided along a route. The network control device according to claim 1, wherein a path usage status of a device on the network is managed by the table, and a line setting via the device is performed. A control method for a network control apparatus that performs line setting according to a table that manages the availability of resources of a controlled apparatus that is a line path based on a specified line end point and line speed,
A pointer management step for managing a maximum free area pointer indicating the head of the maximum free area of the table;
A line setting step of performing line setting using a resource from the position indicated by the maximum free space pointer in the table without checking the line speed when line setting is requested. Network control method.

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