JP2010068139A - Communication device, method of controlling quality-path, and program for controlling quality-path - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a function for warranting a lower limit of communication quality of a main signal to a communication device dealing with a variable-length main signal. <P>SOLUTION: A quality-path control message, which includes a main signal identification parameter for identifying the main signal to be subjected to quality control and path control, a quality control parameter including upper and lower limits of a quality warranty level, and a path control parameter indicating a method of controlling the path of the main signal, is acquired from an external communication device for storing in a request management database. The contents of the quality-path control massage is compared with information of an internal structure management database for storing information on the internal structure of the communication device for evaluation, the results are allowed to respond to the external communication device, and the communication device is controlled according to the evaluation results and the contents of the quality-path control message. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication apparatus, a quality / path control method, and a quality / path control program, and more particularly, to control quality control and path control of a variable-length main signal flowing into and out of a communication apparatus from an external communication apparatus. The present invention relates to a communication apparatus, a quality / route control method, and a quality / route control program to be executed accordingly.

  The International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) has been promoting standardization of the Next Generation Network (NGN). This NGN is expected to be able to guarantee the communication quality of variable-length main signals according to applications and services. That is, the NGN transfers a variable length main signal as in an IP (Internet Protocol) network, and the main signal with quality assurance as in an SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) network or an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) network. Designed to transfer. The quality / route control technology that supports the communication quality assurance function of NGN is roughly classified into Diffserv (for example, see Non-Patent Documents 1 to 6) and Intserv (for example, see Non-Patent Documents 7 to 13).

  In general Diffserv, a priority is assigned to each main signal. In addition, the communication conditions using Diffserv are set with the main signal control conditions according to the priority and other information. The main signal flowing into and out of the communication device is subjected to quality control and path control based on information such as the assigned priority and control conditions corresponding to the priority.

  On the other hand, in general Intserv, the main signal is classified for each flow according to address information and priority. In addition, a communication condition using Intserv is set with a control condition for a main signal according to a flow and other information. The main signal flowing into and out of the communication device is subjected to quality control and path control based on the flow and control conditions corresponding to the flow.

Diffserv and Intserv are implemented in routers and Ethernet switches for guaranteeing the bandwidth of the main signal, delay guarantee, and the like, and are already used in service networks of communication carriers. In the future, telecommunications carriers will be able to provide bandwidth guarantee services using NGN.
IETF RFC2474 `` Definition of the Differentiated Services Field (DS Field) in the IPv4 and IPv6 Headers '', 1998 IETF RFC2475 “An Architecture for Differentiated Services”, 1998 IETF RFC2597 “Assured Forwarding PHB Group” 1999 IETF RFC3140 "Per Hop Behavior Identification Codes", 2001 IETF RFC3246 "An Expedited Forwarding PHB", 2002 IETF RFC3260 “New Terminology and Clarifications for Diffserv”, 2002 IETF RFC1633 `` Integrated Services in the Internet Architecture: an Overview '', 1994 IETF RFC2211 `` Specification of the Controlled-Load Network Element Service '', 1997 IETF RFC2212 “Specification of Guaranteed Quality of Service”, 1997 IETF RFC2205 “Resource ReSerVation Protocol (RSVP)” 1997 IETF RFC2215 `` General Characterization Parameters for Integrated Service Network Elements '', 1997 IETF RFC3209 "RSVP-TE: Extensions to RSVP for LSP Tunnels", 2001 IETF RFC3473 `` Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) Signaling Resource ReserVation Protocol-Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE) Extensions '', 2003

  However, we have confirmed through research and development that there are two common issues in Diffserv and Intserv. The first problem is that Diffserv and Intserv provide a function for determining and guaranteeing upper limits of bandwidth and delay, but do not have a function for setting and guaranteeing lower limits. The second problem is that Diffserv and Intserv may not meet the communication quality level indicated in the control condition of the main signal depending on the internal architecture of the communication device. Do not refuse to use it. When providing a network signal guarantee service for the main signal to the network operator, the carrier is expected to guarantee the minimum communication quality contracted between the carrier and the network user. Yes. However, conventional routers and Ethernet switches deployed on the network are not manufactured so as to guarantee the lower limit of the communication quality of the main signal. Furthermore, conventional routers and Ethernet switches have not made it possible to determine whether or not the main signal control conditions described can be realized when the main signal control conditions are described in the device configuration file according to the correct syntax. It was.

  For this reason, when providing a communication quality guarantee service using a router or Ethernet switch, a telecommunications carrier can change the control conditions of the communication device used and the main signal flowing in and out in various ways according to the requirements of the network user. In practice, it is practically impossible to pursue appropriate control conditions in advance.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a communication device that handles a variable-length main signal with a guarantee function for a lower limit value of communication quality of the main signal.

  FIG. 1 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

The present invention (Claim 1) is a communication device 100 that controls communication quality and transmission path of a main signal flowing in and out based on an instruction from an external communication device 200 that manages a network,
A port 132 for terminating a connection with an external node;
A signal transfer means 130 connected to the port 132 for transmitting / receiving a variable-length main signal to / from a node and transferring a main signal to / from another signal transfer means in the device;
Route switching means for switching the route connecting between the signal transfer means;
Control management means 110 for controlling and managing the inside of the device in response to an instruction from the external communication device 200,
The signal transfer means 130 is
Based on the control of the control management means 110, including quality control means 131 for controlling the communication quality of the main signal,
The control management means 110
A main signal identification parameter for identifying a main signal subject to quality control and path control from the external communication device 200, a quality control parameter including an upper limit value and a lower limit value of the quality assurance level, and path control of the main signal A transmission / reception unit 111 for acquiring a quality / route control message including a route control parameter indicating a method and storing the quality / route control message in the request management database 113 and transmitting a quality assurance response message to the external communication device;
A feasibility evaluation means 115 for comparing and evaluating the contents of the quality / route control message stored in the request management database 113 and the contents of the internal structure management database 114 storing the internal structure information of the device;
Depending on the evaluation result of the feasibility evaluation means 115 and the contents of the quality / route control message, the signal transfer means 130, the route switching means 120, the quality control means 111, or the internal control means 112 for controlling a part of these,
Have

Further, the present invention (Claim 2) is the internal structure management database 114,
Each connection relation of the signal transfer means 130, the path switching means 120, and the port 132 is expressed in a matrix, and information including an available remaining bandwidth, a necessary buffer amount, and a connection relation is stored as each matrix component.
In the feasibility evaluation means 115,
The upper limit value and lower limit value of the quality assurance level of the quality control parameter or the value of the route control parameter is compared with the matrix component of the internal structure management database 114, and the quality control parameter or the route control parameter is satisfied. If there is, it is determined that the guarantee is possible, and means for responding to the external communication device 200 is included.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention.

The present invention (Claim 3) is a quality / path control method for controlling the communication quality and transmission path of a main signal flowing into and out of a communication apparatus based on an instruction from an external communication apparatus,
The communication device
A main signal identification parameter for identifying a main signal subject to quality control and path control from an external communication device, a quality control parameter including an upper limit value and a lower limit value of a quality assurance level, and a main signal path control method A message receiving step (step 1) of acquiring a quality / route control message including a routing control parameter indicating
A feasibility evaluation step (step 2) for comparing and evaluating the contents of the quality / route control message and the contents of the internal structure management database storing the internal structure information of the communication apparatus and responding to the result to the external communication apparatus; ,
An internal control step (step 3) for controlling the communication apparatus is performed according to the result of the feasibility evaluation step and the content of the quality / control route message.

Further, the present invention (Claim 4), in the feasibility evaluation step (Step 2),
The upper and lower limits of the quality assurance level of the quality control parameter, or the value of the routing control parameter, the internal connection relationship of the communication device stored in the internal structure management database, the available remaining bandwidth, and the necessary buffer If the quality control parameter or the route control parameter is satisfied as compared with any information of the quantity, it is determined that the guarantee is possible, and a response is made to the external communication device.

  The present invention (Claim 5) is a quality / route control program for causing a computer to function as each means constituting the communication apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a communication function for negotiating a request such as a lower limit value of communication quality with an external communication device and a main signal, a management function (request management database, An internal structure management database) is deployed in the control management means. In addition, a function for determining whether or not the quality of communication of the main signal can be guaranteed is provided in the control management unit according to the device configuration and the request of the external communication device. When guaranteeable, a function for controlling the signal transfer means, the quality control means, and the path switching means is given to the control management means in response to a request from the external communication device. Further, the control management unit has a function of notifying an external device of whether communication quality can be guaranteed. Thereby, the communication device with quality / path control function determines whether or not the communication quality of the main signal flowing in / out according to the request of the external communication device can be guaranteed, and according to the request, the signal transfer unit, the quality control unit, and By controlling the route switching means, it is possible to guarantee the communication quality of the main signal.

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

  FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a communication device with a quality / route control function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The communication apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a control management unit 110, a path switching unit 120, a plurality of signal transfer units 130, and wirings 140. The control management unit 110 is connected to the external communication device 200 that manages the network, and the signal transfer unit 130 is connected to the external communication device 210 that transmits and receives the main signal. Here, the external communication device 210 connected to the signal transfer device 130 may have the same function as the communication device 100 with the quality / path control function or the external communication device 200.

  FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the control management unit in one embodiment of the present invention.

  The control management unit 110 is configured based on a communication processing unit 111 that performs communication with the external communication device 200, a request from the external communication device 200 acquired via the communication processing unit 111, and the like. An internal control management unit 112 that controls elements, a request management database 113, an internal architecture management database 114, and an existing information management database 115 are configured.

  The request management database 113 stores the quality / route control message received from the external device 200 by the communication processing unit 111 (details will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 9).

  The internal architecture management database 114 stores the connection relationship and usable bandwidth in the communication device 100 and is referred to by the internal control management unit 112 (details will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 10).

  The existing information database 115 stores standard / corporate MIB (Management Information Base) that is a list of management variables included in the router / layer 2 switch and configuration information. The control management unit 110 An IP address is assigned to the interface with reference to the database 115, and a protocol is set.

  Hereinafter, an operation between the external communication device 200 and the control management unit 110 will be described.

  5 and 6 are sequence charts of the quality control method according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In the processing of FIG. 5, when the communication processing unit 111 of the control management unit 110 receives a request based on the quality / route control message from the external communication device 200, the internal control management unit 112 determines whether or not the quality is guaranteed. Refer to the management database 114 to determine whether or not the quality can be guaranteed (step 102). If the quality cannot be guaranteed, the external communication apparatus 200 is notified of the “not guaranteed” (step 103). Is notified (step 104). When the determination is made that guarantee is possible, the internal control management unit 112 controls the signal transfer unit 130, the path switching unit 120, the control management unit 110, or a part thereof.

  In the process of FIG. 6, when the communication processing unit 111 of the control management unit 110 receives a request based on the quality / route control message from the external communication device 200, the internal control management unit 112 determines whether or not the quality is guaranteed. The internal architecture management database 114 is referenced to determine whether or not the quality can be guaranteed (step 202). If the quality cannot be guaranteed, “not guaranteed” is notified as a response (step 203). If it can be guaranteed, the external communication device 200 is notified of “guarantee permitted” as a temporary response (step 204). Based on the response from the control management unit 110, the external communication device 200 determines whether to stop quality control (step 205) or to execute quality and path control (step 208). The control management unit 110 is notified of the confirmation. As a result, the control management unit 110 performs a temporary cancellation process (step 207), and notifies the external communication device 200 of the result (step 211). On the other hand, when the execution of quality and path control is confirmed in the external communication apparatus 200, the message is notified to the control management unit 110 (step 209). Thereby, the control management part 110 controls quality and a path | route. At this time, in response to a subsequent instruction from the external communication device 200. The signal transfer unit 130, the quality control unit 131, the path switching unit 120, or a part of them may be controlled (step 210). The result is notified to the external communication device 200 (step 211).

  Next, the guarantee availability determination processing in the route management unit 110 in step 102 in FIG. 5 and step 202 in FIG. 6 will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of quality assurance availability determination processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the communication processing unit 111 of the control management unit 110 includes the quality control parameter and the path control parameter transmitted from the external communication device 200 by the processing of the request step (step 101 in FIG. 5 or step 201 in FIG. 6). When the quality / route control message is received, the internal control manager 112 stores these parameters in the request management database 113 and analyzes the parameters (steps 301 and 302).

  Next, the internal control management unit 112 confirms the internal configuration with reference to the internal architecture management database 114 that stores the connection relationship, the remaining bandwidth, the buffer amount, and the like of each node in the communication device 100 (step 303).

  Then, it is determined whether or not the communication quality of the main signal can be guaranteed through the above three confirmation items (step 304). If the guarantee is not possible, the process proceeds to the response step (step 103) in FIG. 5 or step 203 in FIG. On the other hand, if the guarantee is possible, the process proceeds to the response step (step 105) in FIG. 5 or the provisional response step (step 204) in FIG.

  The execution order of the quality control parameter confirmation step (step 301), the path control parameter confirmation step (step 302), and the internal architecture confirmation step (step 303) may be changed.

  Next, an example of messages exchanged between the control management unit 110 and the external communication device 200 is shown. FIG. 8 is an example of parameters exchanged in the request step in one embodiment of the present invention. The exchanged parameters (quality / route control message) are a main signal identification parameter, a route control parameter, and a quality control parameter.

  First, the communication apparatus 100 needs to select a main signal that guarantees communication quality from among various main signals that flow in and out. Therefore, information (main signal identification parameter) for identifying the main signal whose communication quality is guaranteed is received from the external communication device 200. The main signal identification parameters include a source MAC address, a destination MAC address, a source IP address, a destination IP address, a port number, a Layer 7 payload, a VLAN (Virtual LAN) Tag ID, an MPLS (Multi Protocol Label Switching) label value, and the like. Exists.

  Furthermore, the communication device 100 needs to transfer the incoming main signal between appropriate ports. For this purpose, the port information of the end point of the section for transferring the main signal and the main signal transfer method (path control parameter) are received from the external communication device 200. As a main signal transfer method, there are static routing of OSPF (Open Shortest Path First), VLAN, tag VLAN, MPLS, and the like. The routing control parameters for that purpose include entry and exit port numbers, VLAN + VLAN Tag ID, MPLS + LSP label value, and static route.

  In addition, the communication device 100 needs to determine the guarantee level of the communication quality of the incoming main signal. The information (quality control parameter) of the lower limit value and the upper limit value of the communication quality of the main signal is received from the external communication device 200. As methods for specifying the communication quality of the main signal, there are a discard rate, priority, loss priority, scheduling, priority, bandwidth, burst tolerance, MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit), and the like. Quality control parameters for that purpose include discard rate, priority, loss priority, scheduling, priority, bandwidth, burst tolerance, and MTU upper and lower limits, which are stored in the request management database 113 shown in FIG. .

  FIG. 9 shows an example of a request management database of the control management unit in one embodiment of the present invention. In the request management database 113, the request content shown in FIG. 8 is managed by assigning a request ID to each quality / route control message as shown in FIG. May be. For example, the control management unit 110 compares the bandwidth requested in the guarantee availability determination step (step 102 or step 202) with the available remaining bandwidth, and compares the available bandwidth with the requested bandwidth. If it exists sufficiently, it is determined that the quality control parameter confirmation step (step 301) can guarantee.

  Next, the internal architecture confirmation step (step 303) will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 10, the connection relationship of each functional unit such as the port 132, the signal transfer unit 130, and the path switching unit 120 of the communication apparatus is expressed by nodes and lines (FIG. 10B). ). Next, the connection relationship between the nodes is expressed by a matrix (FIG. 10C). For example, the matrix component is an available remaining bandwidth or a necessary buffer amount. As shown in FIG. 11 in the form of FIG. 10C, it is assumed that it is managed by the internal architecture management database 114. The internal control management unit 112 refers to the internal architecture management database 114 and uses a Dijkstra method, a Warsal Floyd method, or the like for a path connecting between the port specified in the path control parameter of FIG. 8 and the corresponding node. It is possible to search. For example, a node whose usable remaining bandwidth is larger than the requested bandwidth is “available”, and a node other than that is “unusable”. It is determined whether or not it is possible to connect the designated ports only between the available nodes.

  When it is determined that “guarantee is possible” in the internal architecture confirmation step (step 303) of the quality assurance availability determination step (step 102), the internal control management unit 112 performs quality communication based on the quality / route control message. All or part of the signal transfer unit 130, the path switching unit 120, and the control management unit 110 in the apparatus 100 are controlled.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of a network to which a communication device with a quality / control function according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. A communication device network 310 with a quality / route control function in FIG. 3 is a network composed of a plurality of communication devices 100 with a quality / route control function. However, a communication device other than the communication device 100 with the quality / route control function may exist.

  The communication device 100 with a quality / path control function is connected to another communication device with a quality / path function and an external communication device via a transmission line or a network. However, you may connect with communication apparatuses other than these. In this case, the external communication device exchanges a control message different from the quality / route control message with a communication device other than the communication device 100 with the quality / route control function. However, the control message may be the same as the quality / route control message.

  The communication device 100 with the quality / path control function controls itself as described above based on the instruction from the external communication device, and consequently controls the quality and route of the main signal.

  As shown in the figure, as described above, by using a plurality of communication devices 100 capable of controlling the quality and the route, and configuring the communication device network 310 in which the quality and the route are controlled, the quality and the route It is possible to establish a communication path 320 that is controlled.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, each communication device 100 with a quality / path control function that receives a request from the external communication device 200 that manages the network communicates the main signal that flows in and out based on the above method. It was shown that the quality and route control can be executed, and the communication quality of the main signal can be guaranteed on the communication path connecting from end to end of the network 310.

  The operation of the components shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 can be constructed as a program and installed in a computer used as a communication device with a quality / path control function or distributed via a network. It is.

  Further, the constructed program can be stored in a portable storage medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, or a CD-ROM, and can be installed or distributed in a computer.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications can be made within the scope of the claims.

  The present invention can be applied to a communication system for guaranteeing communication quality.

It is a principle block diagram of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the principle of this invention. It is a block diagram of a communication apparatus with a quality / path control function in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the control management part in one embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence chart (the 1) of the quality control method in one embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence chart (the 2) of the quality control method in one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the quality assurance availability determination process in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a parameter exchanged in the request step in an embodiment of the present invention. It is an example of the request | requirement management database which the control management part in one embodiment of this invention has. It is an example of the conversion process from the internal architecture information to the data for calculation in one embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the internal architecture management database which the control management part in one embodiment of this invention has. It is an example of the network to which the communication apparatus with a quality / path control function in one embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

100 Communication Device with Quality / Route Control Function 110 Control Management Unit, Control Management Unit 111 Transmission / Reception Unit, Communication Processing Unit 112 Internal Control Unit, Internal Control Unit 113 Request Management Database 114 Internal Structure Management Database, Internal Architecture Management Database 115 Existing Information ( Standard / corporate MIB and configuration information) management database 115 Feasibility evaluation means 120 Path switching means 130 Signal transfer main signal transfer section 131 Quality control means, quality control section 132 Port 200 External communication apparatus 210 External communication apparatus 310 Quality / path control Function-equipped communication device network 320 Quality and path controlled communication path

Claims (5)

Based on an instruction from an external communication device that manages a network, a communication device that controls communication quality and transmission path of a main signal flowing in and out,
A port that terminates the connection with an external node;
A signal transfer means connected to the port for transmitting / receiving a variable-length main signal to / from the node and transferring the main signal to / from another signal transfer means in the device;
Path switching means for switching a path connecting the signal transfer means;
Control management means for controlling and managing the inside of the device in response to an instruction from the external communication device,
The signal transfer means includes
Quality control means for controlling communication quality of the main signal based on the control of the control management means,
The control management means includes
A main signal identification parameter for identifying a main signal subject to quality control and path control from the external communication device, a quality control parameter including an upper limit value and a lower limit value of a quality assurance level, and path control of the main signal A transmission / reception means for acquiring a quality / routing control message including a routing control parameter indicating a method, storing the quality / routing control message in a request management database, and transmitting a response message indicating whether or not quality assurance is possible;
A feasibility evaluation means for comparing and evaluating the content of the quality / route control message stored in the request management database and the content of the internal structure management database storing information on the internal structure of the device;
In accordance with the evaluation result of the feasibility evaluation means and the content of the quality / route control message, the signal transfer means, the route switching means, the quality control means, or an internal control means for controlling a part thereof,
A communication apparatus comprising: The internal structure management database is
Each connection relation of the signal transfer means, the port of the signal transfer means, and the path switching means is expressed as a matrix, and information including the remaining remaining bandwidth, necessary buffer amount, and connection relation is stored as each matrix component. ,
The feasibility evaluation means includes
An upper limit value and a lower limit value of the quality assurance level of the quality control parameter or a value of the path control parameter is compared with the matrix component of the internal structure management database, and the quality control parameter or the path control is compared. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining that the parameter can be guaranteed when the parameter is satisfied. A quality / path control method for controlling the communication quality and transmission path of a main signal flowing into and out of the communication apparatus based on an instruction from an external communication apparatus,
The communication device
A main signal identification parameter for identifying a main signal subject to quality control and path control from the external communication device, a quality control parameter including an upper limit value and a lower limit value of a quality assurance level, and path control of the main signal A message receiving step of obtaining a quality / routing message including a routing parameter indicating a method and storing it in a request management database;
Compare and evaluate the content of the quality / route control message and the content of the internal structure management database storing the internal structure information of the communication device, and a feasibility evaluation step of responding to the external communication device with the result;
An internal control step for controlling the communication apparatus according to the result of the feasibility evaluation step and the content of the quality / control route message;
A quality / route control method characterized by: In the feasibility evaluation step,
The upper and lower limits of the quality assurance level of the quality control parameter, or the value of the routing control parameter, the internal connection relationship of the communication device stored in the internal structure management database, and the remaining available bandwidth And comparing the information on any of the necessary buffer amounts to determine that the quality control parameter or the path control parameter is satisfied, and respond to the external communication device. 3. Quality / route control method described in 3.   A quality / route control program for causing a computer to function as each means constituting the communication device according to claim 1.

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