JP2013229811A - Communication device, route selection method and route selection program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a communication device, a route selection method and a route selection program, capable of selecting an appropriate route to a specific terminal device on the basis of a predetermined feature amount.SOLUTION: On the start point side of packet communication, wake path frame transmission means 11 broadcasts a wake path frame to a communication terminal point. At the terminal point, terminal-point-side reply wake path return means 14 returns a reply wake path frame to the start point side. A communication device in the middle incorporates the situation of the own device into a frame to be returned as reply information. Route selection means 19 selects a route using the reply information.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device, a route selection method, and a route selection program that select an optimal communication route from a plurality of communication devices.

  A data center can be cited as a representative example of a communication apparatus including a plurality of communication apparatuses and a terminal apparatus that performs communication using these as appropriate. In a data center, a large number of communication devices such as servers are arranged in a rack at high density. For this reason, a large amount of heat is generated due to the power consumption of these communication devices, and the reduction of power consumption is a major issue together with a cooling device that suppresses heat generation.

  Therefore, in order to reduce the power used in the communication system as much as possible, it has been proposed that the communication device is not always set to the normal operation mode, but actively uses the power saving mode. In this specification, “normal operation mode” refers to a state in which the hardware is executing processing in response to a processing request from an operation unit attached to the device or a processing request from another device, or these processing requests. The state that can respond immediately when receiving. On the other hand, the “power saving mode” is a mode that is applied after a predetermined time has elapsed since the “normal operation mode” is in the idle state, and some functions of the apparatus are stopped or restricted. This is a mode in which power consumption is suppressed more than in the “normal operation mode”.

  When the communication apparatus shifts to the power saving mode, a predetermined return time is required until these return to the normal mode. Therefore, in the first related technology related to the present invention, the terminal device grasps the return time required for each communication device to return from the power saving mode to the normal mode, and the time required for waiting for a response can be reduced. This is intended to save power consumption (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the first related technology, for this purpose, the terminal device sends an activation request to each communication device, measures the return time from the power saving mode to the normal mode, and grasps these times as the timeout time.

  According to the first related technique, it is not necessary to request the plurality of communication devices existing on the network to return to the normal mode without plan. However, in the first related technique, it is premised that the transmission path to the communication device that requests activation for returning to the normal mode is valid when necessary. Therefore, it is necessary to always keep the communication device arranged on the transmission path to the corresponding communication device in the normal mode, and there is a problem that the power saving effect is limited.

  This problem will be described with reference to FIG. In the communication system 100 illustrated in FIG. 18, first to third communication devices 103 to 105 are arranged on a path connecting the first terminal device 101 and the second terminal device 102. A certain signal is transmitted from the first terminal apparatus 101 to the second terminal apparatus 102. The communication path at this time is the first path that passes through the first communication apparatus 103 and the second communication apparatus 104 in order, and the second communication path that passes through the first communication apparatus 103 and the third communication apparatus 105 in order. There are two ways of the second route that passes through the communication device 104.

  Therefore, in the first related technology, the return time to the normal mode for the second and third communication devices 104 and 105 is considered in a state where the first communication device 103 is always maintained in the normal mode. The power saving effect cannot be expected sufficiently. Although FIG. 18 shows a relatively simplified communication system, if the communication path becomes more complicated, the power saving effect becomes further insufficient.

  Therefore, as a second related technique of the present invention, the mode change of all the communication devices 103 to 105 existing between the first terminal device 101 and the second terminal device 102 is remotely controlled using an external interface. To be considered. This second related technique is generally called out-band management.

  By the way, the communication system shown in FIG. 18 is an example with a simple configuration, and in reality, the number of communication devices constituting the system is often much larger than this example. In such a case, if the change of the mode of each communication device is managed out-of-band, a plurality of management terminal devices are required. As a result, the power consumption of the entire communication system increases due to the increase in power consumption of the management terminal device, and power saving cannot be realized sufficiently.

  Therefore, in the third related technique of the present invention, it is considered to use a magic packet as a technique for starting only a necessary communication device. In the third related technique, a magic packet having a configuration in which a MAC address (Media Access Control address) of a device to be activated is repeated a predetermined number of times is transmitted, and the corresponding device is activated.

  For example, it is assumed that the route from the first terminal apparatus 101 to the second terminal apparatus 102 shown in FIG. 18 is realized by a magic packet. For this purpose, it is necessary to sequentially send magic packets to all the communication devices 103 to 105 on the path. As an example, after sending a magic packet to the first communication device 103 and starting it in the normal mode, the magic packet is sent to the second communication device 104 located behind this and sent to the normal mode. To start.

  The first communication device 103 and the second communication device 104 each require a return time required for returning from the power saving mode to the normal mode. Therefore, the first terminal apparatus 101 needs to transmit a magic packet to the second communication apparatus 104 after the return time has elapsed and the first communication apparatus 103 is activated. FIG. 18 shows the communication system 100 with a simple route. However, when there are more communication devices on the route, the transmission process of the magic packet to each communication device becomes complicated, and the first processing is performed. The load on the terminal device 101 increases.

  Even if the magic packet is transmitted, the first terminal apparatus 101 cannot confirm that the corresponding communication apparatus on the path is activated. For this reason, another means is required to confirm that the corresponding communication device has been activated. Therefore, when this third related technology is used, when some communication devices on the path cannot be activated for some reason other than the magic packet, the system is expected without confirming the activation. May perform different actions.

  For this reason, the 4th related art (for example, refer to patent documents 2) different from the above 1st-3rd related art is also proposed.

  In the fourth related technique, the plurality of nodes are in a sleep state at a normal time when no event occurs. In the sleep state, these nodes transmit beacons at regular intervals to notify other nodes of the existence of the own node. A node in which an event has occurred in the sleep state transitions to an active state by executing communication processing. When a node receives an ACK (Acknowledgement) signal from another node in response to a beacon transmitted in its sleep state, it confirms the existence of another node that can communicate and executes a communication process to transition to an active state. To do. The node after transition to the active state transitions to the sleep state when the corresponding communication ends.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-222101 (paragraphs 0041 to 0043, FIG. 3) JP 2010-087583 A (paragraphs 0021 to 0023, FIG. 3)

  In the fourth related technology, when there is a node that responds to a beacon transmitted wirelessly, the node on the beacon transmission side becomes active. Therefore, even if the first terminal apparatus 101 receives the beacons of the first to third communication apparatuses 103 to 105 as shown in FIG. It cannot be determined whether an optimum route can be set. When the first terminal device 101 returns an ACK signal to all the beacons of the first to third communication devices 103 to 105, all of them transition to the active state when in the sleep state, and power consumption Can not save.

  As described above, the case where the route setting to the specific terminal device is set based on the specific feature amount called the management cost accompanying power saving has been described as an example. However, the route is selected based on the feature amount other than the management cost. There are similar problems.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication device, a route selection method, and a route selection program capable of selecting an appropriate route to a specific terminal device based on a predetermined feature amount.

  In the present invention, (b) wake path frame transmission means for broadcasting a wake path frame for searching for a special frame structure in which a specific terminal device is designated as an end point of packet communication, and (b) receiving the wake path frame described above (C) a wake path frame end point determination unit for determining whether the end point of the packet communication designated by the wake path frame received by the wake path frame reception unit is the own device; ) When this wake path frame end point determination unit determines that the own device is the end point of packet communication, a reply wake path having a special frame configuration different from this wake path frame is incorporated as response information. The route that this wake path frame has passed through the frame An end-point reply wake path frame return means for transmitting in the reverse direction; (e) a reply wake path frame reception means for receiving the reply wake path frame when it is sent; and (f) the reply wake path frame. A reply wake path frame end point determination unit for determining whether or not the end point of the packet communication specified by the reply wake path frame received by the reception unit is its own device; and (g) determination of whether the reply wake path frame end point is appropriate. A reply wake path frame forwarding means for forwarding the reply wake path frame to the next destination in the reverse direction when the means determines that the own device is not the end point; and (h) the reply wake Pass frame end point determination means Response information extracting means for extracting the response information incorporated in the reply wake path frame when the own apparatus is determined to be the end point, and (re) the reply wake path frame end point determination means for determining whether the own apparatus is the end point Route selection means for selecting one route using the reply information extracted by the reply information extracting means when there are a plurality of reply wake path frames determined to be The communication apparatus includes an end point of the packet communication and a communication start unit for starting communication on the route selected by the unit.

  In the present invention, (a) a wake path frame transmission for broadcasting a wake path frame for searching a special frame structure in which a specific terminal device is designated as an end point of packet communication from the terminal device serving as the start point of the packet communication. And (b) when the wake path frame transmitted in the wake path frame transmission step reaches the specific terminal device, a reply wake path frame having a special frame configuration different from the wake path frame is transmitted to the wake path frame. (C) the above-mentioned reply wake path frame returned in the end side reply wake path frame reply step is transmitted in the packet communication described above. The starting point A reply wake path frame receiving step received by the terminal device, and (d) packet communication in which a plurality of reply wake path frames received in the reply wake path frame receiving step exist for each path, and one of the paths is described above. The route selection method includes a route selection step in which the terminal device that is the starting point of the route is selected as a route for packet communication with the specific terminal device.

  Further, according to the present invention, a wake-up for searching for a special frame configuration in which (b) the above-mentioned specific terminal device is designated as the end point of the packet communication is sent to the computer that is going to start communication with the specific terminal device as the end point of the packet communication. (B) a special frame different from the wake path frame when the wake path frame transmitted by the wake path frame transmission process reaches the specific terminal device. A reply wake path frame receiving process for receiving the reply wake path frame of the configuration when the route on which the wake path frame has passed is transmitted in the reverse direction; and (c) the reply wake received by the reply wake path frame receiving process. Pass frame is own device Reply wake path frame end point determination process for determining whether to end the packet communication, and (d) If this apparatus does not determine that the own device is the end point of the packet communication in this reply wake path frame end point determination process Reply wake path frame transfer processing that incorporates a predetermined state of the own device in the wake path frame as response information and forwards it to the next destination, and (e) the reply wake path frame end point determination processing in the above-mentioned packet When there are a plurality of reply wake path frames determined to be communication end points for each route, a route selection process for selecting one of the frames, and (f) the packet described above for the route selected by the route selection process. Communication start processing for starting communication with the end point of communication is executed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a wake path frame as a new special frame that replaces a magic packet is defined, and by broadcasting this frame, a possible route to a specific terminal device as an end point of packet communication is established. It was decided to search and define a reply wake path frame as a new special frame to replace the magic packet, and return it to the transmission source of the wake path frame. Therefore, when there are a plurality of returned reply wake path frame paths, the transmission source of the wake path frame selects an appropriate one path from these reply wake path frames based on the response information. Can do.

It is a claim corresponding | compatible figure of the communication apparatus of this invention. It is a claim corresponding | compatible figure of the route selection method of this invention. It is a claim correspondence diagram of the route selection program of the present invention. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram showing the outline | summary of the structure of the 1st communication apparatus in this Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram showing the outline | summary of the structure of the 1st communication card | curd in the 1st communication apparatus of this Embodiment. It is a frame configuration diagram showing the configuration of this wake path frame uniquely defined in the present embodiment. It is a frame block diagram which shows the structure of the reply wake path frame uniquely defined by this Embodiment. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a transfer table illustrated in FIG. 6. It is a block diagram showing the specific structure of the management card | curd shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing showing an example of the cost table in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the mode of the frame discrimination | determination process which a frame identification part performs in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the mode of the frame transfer process at the time of receiving the wake path frame of this Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the mode of the process at the time of receiving the reply wake path frame of this Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the process when the entry in the standby state of this Embodiment times out. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the rollback process with respect to the port of this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the label management as an example of the deformation | transformation possibility of this invention. It is a system block diagram which shows the outline | summary of the conventional communication system.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram corresponding to the claims of the communication apparatus of the present invention. The communication apparatus 10 according to the present invention includes a wake path frame transmission unit 11, a wake path frame reception unit 12, a wake path frame end point determination unit 13, a termination side reply wake path frame return unit 14, and a reply wake path frame reception. Means 15, reply wake path frame end point determination unit 16, reply wake path frame transfer unit 17, reply information extraction unit 18, route selection unit 19, and communication start unit 20. Here, the wake path frame transmission means 11 broadcasts a wake path frame for searching for a special frame structure in which a specific terminal device is designated as an end point of packet communication. The wake path frame receiving means 12 receives the wake path frame described above. The wake path frame end point determination unit 13 determines whether the end point of the packet communication designated by the wake path frame received by the wake path frame receiving unit 12 is the own device. The end side reply wake path frame return means 14 incorporates a predetermined status of the own apparatus as reply information when the wake path frame end point determination means 13 determines that the own apparatus is the end point of the packet communication, and this wake path A reply wake path frame having a special frame configuration different from that of the frame is transmitted in the reverse direction along the path through which the wake path frame has passed. The reply wake path frame receiving means 15 receives the reply wake path frame when it is sent. The reply wake path frame end point determination unit 16 determines whether the end point of the packet communication designated by the reply wake path frame received by the reply wake path frame receiving unit 15 is the own device. When the reply wake path frame transfer means 17 determines that the reply wake path frame end point determination unit 16 does not identify itself as the end point, the reply wake path frame transfer means 17 reverses the route through which the wake path frame passes the next destination. Forward to. The reply information extracting means 18 extracts the above-mentioned reply information incorporated in the reply wake path frame when the reply wake path frame end point acceptance / rejection judging means 16 judges that the own apparatus is the end point. The route selection unit 19 is configured to respond to the response information extracted by the response information extraction unit 18 when there are a plurality of reply wake path frames for which the reply wake path frame end point determination unit 16 has determined that the own device is the end point. To select one route. The communication start unit 20 starts communication with the end point of the packet communication described above on the route selected by the route selection unit 19.

  FIG. 2 shows a claim correspondence diagram of the route selection method of the present invention. The route selection method 30 of the present invention includes a wake path frame transmission step 31, an end-side reply wake path frame return step 32, a reply wake path frame reception step 33, and a route selection step 34. Here, in the wake path frame transmission step 31, a wake path frame for searching with a special frame configuration in which a specific terminal device is designated as an end point of packet communication is broadcast from the terminal device serving as the start point of the packet communication. In the end side reply wake path frame return step 32, when the wake path frame transmitted in the wake path frame transmission step 31 reaches the specific terminal device, the reply wake having a special frame configuration different from the wake path frame is received. The path through which the wake path frame has passed is transmitted in the reverse direction. In the reply wake path frame reception step 33, the above-described reply wake path frame returned in the end point side reply wake path frame return step 32 is received by the terminal device serving as the starting point of the packet communication. In the route selection step 34, when there are a plurality of the reply wake path frames received in the reply wake path frame reception step 33 for each route, the terminal device serving as the starting point of the packet communication on one of the routes is specified as described above. As a route for packet communication with other terminal devices.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram corresponding to claims of the route selection program of the present invention. The route selection program 40 of the present invention sends a wake path frame transmission process 41, a reply wake path frame reception process 42, and a reply wake path frame end point to a computer that intends to start communication with a specific terminal device as the end point of packet communication. The determination processing 43, the reply wake path frame transfer process 44, the route selection process 45, and the communication start process 46 are executed. Here, the wake path frame transmission process 41 broadcasts a wake path frame for searching for a special frame structure in which the specific terminal device is designated as an end point of packet communication. In the reply wake path frame reception process 42, when the wake path frame transmitted in the wake path frame transmission process 41 reaches the specific terminal device, a reply wake path frame having a special frame configuration different from the wake path frame is received. Is received when the route through which the wake path frame has passed is transmitted in the reverse direction. In the reply wake path frame end point determination processing 43, it is determined whether or not the reply wake path frame received in the reply wake path frame reception processing 42 sets the own apparatus as the end point of packet communication. In the reply wake path frame transfer process 44, when the reply wake path frame end point determination process 43 does not determine that the own apparatus is the end point of packet communication, the reply wake path frame transfer state 44 returns the status of the own apparatus predetermined for the reply wake path frame. And forward to the next destination. In the route selection process 45, when there are a plurality of reply wake path frames for each route that have been determined that the own device is the end point of packet communication in the reply wake path frame end point determination processing 43, one route is selected from these. select. In the communication start processing 46, communication is started with the end point of the packet communication described above on the route selected in the route selection processing 45.

  <Embodiment of the Invention>

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of the communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention. In this communication system 200, first to third communication devices 203 to 205 are arranged between a first terminal device 201 and a second terminal device 202.

  FIG. 5 shows an outline of the configuration of the first communication apparatus. The configuration of the second and third communication devices 204 and 205 shown in FIG. 4 is basically the same as that of the first communication device 203. Therefore, illustration and description of the second and third communication devices 204 and 205 are omitted.

  The first communication device 203 has a first to fourth communication cards 212 to 215 and a management card 216 mounted in a housing 211. In the casing 211, first and second cooling modules 217 and 218 for cooling these cards are arranged. A power source (not shown) supplies power to the components inside the casing 211.

  FIG. 6 shows an outline of the configuration of the first communication card in the first communication apparatus. The second to fourth communication cards 213 to 215 shown in FIG. 5 have basically the same configuration as the first communication card 212. Therefore, the illustration of the specific configuration of the second to fourth communication cards 213 to 215 and the description thereof are omitted.

The first communication card 212 has a plurality of communication ports 222 ₁ , 222 ₂ ,... 222 _m arranged at one end of the card body 221. The card body 221 includes a frame identification unit 223, a frame processing unit 224, a table processing unit 225, a transfer table 226, and a management card communication unit 227 as functional components for communication. Further, a temperature measuring unit 228 for measuring the temperature of the card surface, a power consumption measuring unit 229 for measuring the power consumption of the entire first communication card 212, and a card state management unit 230 for managing these are also provided on the card body 221. Has been placed.

Here, the communication ports 222 ₁ , 222 ₂ ,..., 222 _m determine whether or not the communication path connecting to the opposite communication device (not shown) is usable, and transmit / receive frames. To do. When a frame reception unit (not shown) in the card body 221 receives a frame from another communication device, the frame identification unit 223 determines whether this frame is a normal frame, a wake path frame, or a reply wake path frame. Judgment is made.

  Here, the normal frame refers to a frame other than a wake path frame and a reply wake path frame conforming to Ethernet (registered trademark). The wake path frame is a frame used to activate or stand by the route in the system that has transmitted this frame to the end point. The reply wake path frame is a frame having a role of committing the path state between the frames by transferring this frame to the terminal device that has transmitted the wake path frame. These frames will be described in detail later.

The frame processing unit 224 generates a frame based on the information determined by the frame identification unit 223. The frame processing unit 224, a forwarding table 226 with reference to the communication port 222 _1, 222 _2, ..., consists 222 _m of the corresponding ones to transmit this frame. The management card communication unit 227 reads the state of the first communication card 212 from the card state management unit 230 and transmits it to the management card 216 shown in FIG. In addition, when the management card communication unit 227 receives a control signal from the management card 216, the management card communication unit 227 transmits the control signal to the card state management unit 230 to perform state management of the first communication card 212.

  The first communication card 212 can be switched to one of two states, active and standby. The first communication card 212 being in an active state means a state in which all circuit blocks in the first communication card 212 are available. The first communication card 212 being in a standby state refers to a state in which the temperature measurement unit 228 and the power consumption measurement unit 229 are not usable. Further, in the standby state, the frame identifying unit 223, the frame processing unit 224, and the table processing unit 225 are in a state in which functions for normal frames cannot be used.

  Thus, by restricting the use of the first communication card 212 in the standby state with respect to the active state, the power consumption of the first communication card 212 can be reduced. In the communication system 200, timeout periods are defined for active standby and standby standby so that entries for the first communication card 212 do not continue to increase.

  Here, an entry refers to each piece of data managed by the transfer table 226. The transfer table 226 will be described later.

  Next, active standby will be described. Active standby refers to a state of temporarily waiting for a communication device on a path to be activated. For example, it is assumed that the first terminal device 201 illustrated in FIG. 4 sets the second terminal device 202 as an end point MAC address and transmits a frame. At this time, if the first terminal device 201 knows what kind of communication device is arranged on the route up to the second terminal device 202 and manages them one by one, the first terminal The load for managing the device 201 increases. Further, if a new device for this management is required in the communication system 200 shown in FIG. 4, the power consumption of the device is naturally required, and the communication device for the purpose of reducing the power consumption of the entire system is required. Management becomes difficult to implement.

  Therefore, in the communication system 200 according to the present embodiment, the most power consumption can be achieved without knowing what communication device is arranged on the communication path from the first terminal device 201 to the second terminal device 202. The number of routes can be realized. For this reason, the first terminal apparatus 201 transmits a unique wake path frame.

  FIG. 7 shows the structure of this wake path frame uniquely defined in the present embodiment. Of these, FIG. 4A shows the format of the wake path frame. FIG. 5B illustrates the names of the fields constituting the wake path frame 241 and their contents.

  The wake path frame 241 has a frame configuration in which a preamble 242, an SFD (Start Frame Delimiter) 243, and a broadcast address 244 are followed by a next device MAC address 245 as a next transfer destination that is repeated 20 times. Further, the end point MAC address 246 is arranged next to the next device MAC address 245. Therefore, the communication device that has received the wake path frame 241 can determine whether or not the wake path frame 241 needs to be further transferred by comparing the MAC address of the own device with the end point MAC address 246.

  The instruction type 247 arranged next to the end point MAC address 246 indicates whether the instruction by the wake path frame 241 is standby or activation. If it is “0”, it is an instruction for standby, and if it is “1”, it is an instruction for active. Transaction ID (Transaction Identification) 248 is used to identify each instruction. FCS (Frame Check Sequence) 249 is used for checking a frame error.

  FIG. 8 shows the configuration of a reply wake path frame as another frame uniquely defined in the present embodiment. Of these, FIG. 4A shows the format of a reply wake path frame. FIG. 5B illustrates the names and contents of the fields constituting the reply wake path frame 251. FIG.

  The reply wake path frame 251 has a frame configuration in which the own device MAC address 255 as a communication device to be transmitted is repeated 20 times following the preamble 252, the SFD 253, and the destination MAC address 254. The end point MAC address 256 is an address indicating the end point of the route on which the wake path frame 241 is transmitted, and is the address of the start terminal of the reply wake path frame 251.

  The instruction type 257 determines whether the instruction by the wake path frame 241 shown in FIG. 7 is active or standby based on the bit value. If it is “0”, it is a standby instruction, and if it is “1”, it is an active instruction.

  The result 258 is a 2-bit field, and represents the transfer result of the wake path frame 241. That is, when the result 258 is “00”, it indicates that the transfer of the wake path frame 241 is successful, and when it is “01”, it indicates that a timeout has occurred. “10” represents a case where the wake path frame 241 has not been reached and there is no transfer destination, and “11” is an instruction for standby in the middle of the path activation performed earlier, or activated in the middle of the path standby. It represents a conflict as if an instruction was made. The transaction ID 259 is used for identifying each instruction. FCS 260 is used to check for frame errors.

  The wake path frame 241 and the reply wake path frame 251 have been explained using FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 in the middle, and the explanation of the term “active waiting” will be continued using the knowledge of these frames. In the communication system 200 according to the present embodiment, the first terminal apparatus 201 transmits the wake path frame 241 shown in FIG. 7 in order to know the optimum route to the second terminal apparatus 202. . At this time, the MAC address of the second terminal device 202 as the destination is incorporated into the end point MAC address 246. Further, since it is a premise that an intermediate communication device (first to third communication devices 203 to 205 in the example shown in FIG. 4) is unknown, transmission of a broadcast frame using the broadcast address 244 is performed.

  As a result, the wake path frame 241 sent out by the first terminal device 201 reaches all of the intermediate communication devices (first to third communication devices 203 to 205 in the example shown in FIG. 4). If all of these communication devices become active at this time, it is against the request for power saving. Therefore, in the communication system 200 of the present embodiment, among the communication devices that have received the wake path frame 241, a device that is in a standby state is in a state in which activation is temporarily suspended. This state is “active standby”.

  The reply wake path frame 251 shown in FIG. 8 is a frame used to determine whether each communication device that has become “active standby” becomes active. For example, it is assumed that the wake path frame 241 arrives at the first communication device 203 from the first terminal device 201 shown in FIG. Since the end MAC address 246 of the wake path frame 241 does not match the MAC address of the first apparatus 203, the first communication apparatus 203 further transfers the wake path frame 241 to the next second communication apparatus 204. When the second communication device 204 receives the transferred wake path frame 241, the end point MAC address 246 does not match the MAC address of the own device, so that the wake path frame 241 is further transmitted to the next second terminal device 202. Forward to.

  When receiving the wake path frame 241 transferred from the second communication device 204, the second terminal device 202 determines that the end point MAC address 246 matches the MAC address of the own device. Then, the first terminal device 201 knows that it is the end point of the communication path.

  That is, the second terminal apparatus 202 knows that there is no need to further transfer the wake path frame 241 transferred from the second communication apparatus 204. Then, the second terminal apparatus 202 transmits the reply wake path frame 251 in which the MAC address of the first terminal apparatus 201 as the transmission source of the wake path frame 241 is included as the destination MAC address 254 shown in FIG. . At this time, the result 258 of the reply wake path frame 251 becomes “00” indicating that the transfer of the wake path frame 241 is successful.

  At this time, the reply wake path frame 251 transmitted by the second terminal apparatus 202 is not a broadcast frame. Therefore, the reply wake path frame 251 is transferred in order from the second communication device 204 to the first communication device 203 in the opposite direction to the route followed by the wake path frame 241 and reaches the first terminal device 201. .

  Accordingly, in the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the first route from the second terminal device 202 to the first terminal device 201 through the second communication device 204 and the first terminal device 201 in order, Two reply wake path frames 251 of the second route that reaches the first terminal device 201 through the communication device 204, the third communication device 205, and the first terminal device 201 in this order are returned. At this time, the port state of all the communication devices on the way (first to third communication devices 203 to 205 in the example shown in FIG. 4) and the cost when using each of the corresponding communication devices are also the first. It can be grasped by incorporating it into the packet going back to the terminal device 201 of the terminal. The cost calculation will be described later.

  In the above description, the wake path frame 241 as a broadcast frame transmitted from the first terminal apparatus 201 reaches the second terminal apparatus 202, and the reply wake path frame 251 returns to the first terminal apparatus 201. It was assumed that it would come. There is also a wake path frame 241 that cannot actually reach the second terminal device 202. This is a case where the transmission line connecting the first terminal device 201 and the second terminal device 202 is disconnected. Considering such a case, the concept of “standby” is defined. In other words, “active standby” is not a state in which the corresponding communication device waits for forever to become active. If there is no instruction to become active before the predetermined time-out period elapses, the corresponding communication device returns to standby.

  The first terminal device 201 that has succeeded in receiving several reply wake path frames 251 determines which communication device passes through the route as a result of cost calculation. Therefore, when the first terminal device 201 determines the final route to reach the second terminal device 202, it is only necessary to start communication using the route before the time-out, and to “active” other than the corresponding route. The communication apparatus that has performed “standby” can automatically cancel this standby state.

  This completes the explanation of the term “active standby”. Similarly, “standby standby” refers to a state where the standby is temporarily suspended. Accordingly, when all the “standby standby” states time out in a certain communication device, the communication device becomes active. In the present embodiment, even when the wake path frame 241 does not reach the second terminal device 202 as the route end point (dead end), the corresponding communication device uses the reply wake path frame 251 as the first terminal device. Returning to 201, the active standby entry is digested.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of the transfer table shown in FIG. The transfer table 226 is a table that manages entries as data for reference when performing frame transfer. In the forwarding table 226, the port that received the wake path frame, the MAC address of the opposite port of each port, the transaction ID, the wake path frame transmission source port, and the port status are associated with the entry number as the number of each entry. Is stored.

  A port control unit (not shown) receives the control signal from the frame identification unit 223 shown in FIG. 6 and activates the port, sets it to standby, and sets the link down. The port control unit monitors the state of the port and blocks the port under the control of the management card communication unit 227.

  Transaction IDs are used in the transfer table 226. This is because a series of processing is managed using the transaction ID because it is necessary to perform the same operation in all the communication devices on the path. In the communication system 200 of this embodiment, in order to perform transaction processing, each communication apparatus is rolled back or committed by returning a response to the transmitted wake path frame with a reply wake path frame.

  FIG. 10 shows a specific configuration of the management card shown in FIG. The management card 216 includes a device control unit 271 that controls the entire card. The device control unit 271 is connected to the communication card communication unit 273, the cost table 274, and the cooling module management unit 275.

  Here, the communication card communication unit 273 receives the respective states of the first to fourth communication cards 212 to 215 shown in FIG. 5 and notifies the device control unit 271 of them. The communication card communication unit 273 transmits the control signal transmitted from the device control unit 271 to the first to fourth communication cards 212 to 215.

  The device control unit 271 receives the state of the first to fourth communication cards 212 to 215 from the communication card communication unit 273, and based on this, the spanning tree protocol for eliminating the situation where these control and broadcast packets loop. (STP: Spanning Tree Protocol) processing and updating of the table constituting the cost table 274 are performed. In a network in which STP is used, each communication device preferentially uses a low-cost port. Therefore, in this embodiment, the device heat generation amount and power consumption value are quantitatively evaluated against this cost and reflected in the cost value to select a path with less heat generation amount and power consumption of the entire system. Like to do.

  The cost table 274 stores the cost used for the spanning tree protocol.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of a cost table. In the cost table 274, the cost based on the cooling cost, the cost based on the conventional link speed, and the value obtained by adding these two costs are associated with the port numbers of the first to fourth communication cards 212 to 215, respectively. It is remembered.

  Returning to FIG. 10, the description of the management card 216 will be continued. The cooling module management unit 275 controls the first and second cooling modules 217 and 218 and manages these states. A fan (not shown) for air cooling is mounted in the first and second cooling modules 217 and 218. The fan adjusts the rotation speed under the control of the management card 216. As a result of such control, air is blown at a sufficient number of rotations of the fan so that the temperature condition in the first communication device 203 shown in FIG. 5 is satisfied.

  As shown in FIG. 5, first to fourth communication cards 212 to 215 and a management card 216 are mounted inside the housing 211 that constitutes the first communication device 203. The second and fourth communication cards 213 and 215 arranged at a position close to the first and second cooling modules 217 and 218, and the first and the second communication cards 213 and 215 arranged at a position far from the distance In the third communication cards 212 and 214, the number of rotations of the fan required for the heat generation amount is different. The closer to the first and second cooling modules 217, 218, the smaller the number of revolutions required during operation of those cards.

  In other words, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the first and third communication cards 212 and 214 have a lower cooling efficiency than the second and fourth communication cards 213 and 215. Therefore, if the same communication function is realized in the first communication device 203, the second or fourth communication cards 213 and 215 that are close in distance to the first and second cooling modules 217 and 218 are used. If this is done, the cooling cost will be lower with respect to the amount of heat generated by the card.

  The processing of the spanning tree protocol itself is a well-known technique, so that the description thereof is omitted. Here, the cost calculation method in the spanning tree protocol will be described. In the first communication card 212 shown in FIG. 6, in order to calculate the cooling cost, the card state management unit 230 periodically measures the temperature of the card by the temperature measurement unit 228 in the active state, The power consumption measuring unit 229 measures the power consumption. These measurement results are notified from the first communication card 212 through the management card communication unit 227 to the management card 216 shown in FIG. In this way, the management card 216 knows the usage status and power consumption status of each card such as the first communication card 212 in the first communication device 203.

  The device control unit 271 in the management card 216 specifically shown in FIG. 10 receives the current temperature and power consumption information notified from the first to fourth communication cards 212 to 215. The device control unit 271 estimates an increase in device power consumption that is expected when each of the first to fourth communication cards 212 to 215 is used. Then, the heat generation amount of each component that increases due to the increase in the power consumption of the device is estimated, the rising heat amount, the first to fourth communication cards 212 to 215, the first and second cooling modules 217 and 218, respectively. The cost is calculated by evaluating the positional relationship.

  When calculating the cost, as shown in the cost table 274 of FIG. 11, a value obtained by adding the cost of the conventional spanning tree protocol based on the link speed and the cooling cost is used as the cost value for the calculation of the spanning tree protocol according to the present embodiment. use.

  Next, determination of frames received by the ports of the first to third communication apparatuses 203 to 205 in the communication system 200 shown in FIG. 4 will be described using the first communication apparatus 203 as an example. As already described, in the present embodiment, when a frame receiving unit (not shown) of the first communication apparatus 203 receives a frame, the frame identifying unit 223 determines whether the frame is a normal frame or a wake path frame, or It is determined whether it is a reply wake path frame.

  FIG. 12 shows a state of frame discrimination processing performed by the frame identification unit. When the frame is received by the frame receiving unit (step S301: Y), the frame identifying unit 223 in the first communication device 203 shown in FIG. 6 extracts the destination address (step S302). When this destination address is a broadcast address (step S303: Y), the frame identification unit 223 determines whether the MAC address of its own port is repeated 20 times after the destination address of the frame (step S304).

  Consider a case where the frame received by the first communication apparatus 203 is the wake path frame 241 shown in FIG. In this case, the frame configuration is such that the next device MAC address 245 as the next transfer destination is repeated 20 times following the broadcast address 244. Therefore, the frame identification unit 223 determines that the MAC address of its own port has been repeated 20 times in step S304 (Y), and the frame processing unit 224 processes the frame as the wake path frame 241 (step S305). ). After the determination, the frame receiving unit waits for reception of the next frame (return).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S304 that the frame configuration is such that the MAC address of its own port is not repeated 20 times after the broadcast address 244 (N), the frame processing unit 224 processes the frame as a normal frame. (Step S306). After the determination, the frame receiving unit waits for reception of the next frame (return).

  When the destination address is not determined to be a broadcast address in step S303 (N), the frame identification unit 223 determines whether the MAC address of the opposite port is repeated 20 times after the destination address (step S307).

  Consider a case where the frame received by the first communication apparatus 203 is the reply wake path frame 251 shown in FIG. In this case, the frame configuration is such that the MAC address 255 of its own apparatus is repeated 20 times following the destination MAC address 254 different from the broadcast address. Therefore, in this case, the frame identifying unit 223 determines that the MAC address of the opposite port is repeated 20 times in step S307 (Y), and the frame processing unit 224 processes the frame as the reply wake path frame 251. (Step S308). After determination, the frame receiving unit waits for reception of the next frame (return).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S307 that the MAC address 255 of the opposite port is not repeated 20 times after the destination MAC address 254 (N), the frame processing unit 224 determines that the frame is a normal frame. (Step S306). After determination, the frame receiving unit waits for reception of the next frame (return).

  After determining the received frame, the frame processing unit 224 of the first communication device 203 performs frame transfer with reference to the transfer table 226 shown in FIG. 9 in step S305, step S306, or step S307. . This will be described next. However, since the normal frame transfer method is a well-known technique, a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 13 shows a frame transfer process when a wake path frame is received. Here, a description will be given assuming that the first communication card 212 in the first communication device 203 has received the wake path frame 241 sent out by the first terminal device 201.

  The frame processing unit 224 in the first communication card 212 of the first communication device 203 compares and determines whether or not the end point MAC address 246 in the wake path frame 241 matches its own MAC address (step S321). Since the end point MAC address 246 is the MAC address of the second terminal device 202, it does not match (N).

  Therefore, the frame processing unit 224 of the first communication apparatus 203 determines whether there is a transfer destination port other than the reception port (step S322). The presence of the transfer destination means that there is a port whose port state is not link-down or blocking other than the reception port.

  When there is no transfer destination port (N), the route from the originally planned first terminal device 201 to the second terminal device 202 through the first communication device 203 and the second communication device 204 in order. Cannot be set. Therefore, in this case, the first communication device 203 gives up transferring the wake path frame 241. Therefore, in order to notify this situation, the first communication device 203 transmits a reply wake path frame 251 shown in FIG. 8 to the first terminal device 201 (step S323), and ends the processing (end). At this time, the result 258 of the reply wake path frame 251 is set to “10” indicating that the transfer destination does not exist and the frame has not reached yet.

  On the other hand, it is assumed that the frame processing unit 224 in the first communication device 203 that has received the wake path frame 241 determines that there is a transfer destination port in addition to the reception port (step S322: Y). At this time, the frame processing unit 224 checks whether the instruction type 247 of the received wake path frame 241 is activated (step S324).

  When the activation instruction is performed (step S324: Y), the first communication card 212 determines whether the state of the own port is in a state other than “standby standby” in which standby is in progress (step S324: Y). Step S325). If the current instruction to activate the route is “standby standby”, the instructions will conflict. Therefore, in such a case (N), the result 258 is set to “11” as a conflict so as not to cancel the previous instruction, the reply wake path frame 251 is transferred (step S326), and the process is performed. End (end).

  If the first communication card 212 determines that the state of its own port is other than “standby standby” (step S325: Y), the wake path frame 241 is transferred from the first communication device 203 to the next second communication. The process of transferring to the device 204 will proceed. For this purpose, it is checked whether or not the own port or the transfer destination port is in a standby state (step S327). If there is a standby state (Y), this is set to the “active standby” state (step S328), the transfer table 226 shown in FIG. 9 is updated, a wake path frame 241 is generated, and the next port is transmitted from each port. The data is transferred to the second communication device 204 (step S329), and the processing as the first communication device 203 is ended (end).

  If it is determined in step S327 that there is no standby state (N), the process proceeds to step S329 as it is to perform the transfer process of the wake path frame 241 and end the process as the first communication device 203. (End)

  By the way, it is assumed that the communication performed between the first terminal device 201 and the second terminal device 202 is finished, and the communication path between them is no longer necessary. In such a case, if other devices do not use the same route, it is preferable to shift the communication device existing on the route to the power saving mode (standby state) in order to reduce power consumption. In such a case, the instruction type 247 of the wake path frame 241 sent from the first terminal apparatus 201 to the first communication apparatus 203 is a standby instruction of “0”.

  If the instruction type 247 of the wake path frame 241 is an instruction for standby (step S324: N), the first communication device 203 checks whether the state of its own port is a state other than “active standby” (step S324). S330). If it is in the “active standby” state (N), the current instruction to set the path to standby represents a race condition. Therefore, in this case, the result 258 is set to “11” as a conflict so as not to cancel the previous instruction, the reply wake path frame 251 is transferred (step S331), and the process ends (END).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the state of the own port is a state other than “active standby” (step S330: Y), it is checked whether the own port and the transfer destination port have an active state (step S330: Y). Step S332). As a result, if there is an active state (Y), this is set to “standby standby” for standby (step S333), and the transfer table 226 shown in FIG. 9 is updated. Then, a wake path frame 241 is generated and transferred from each port to the next second communication device 204 (step S329), and the processing as the first communication device 203 is ended (END).

  If neither the own port nor the transfer destination port is in an active state (step S332: N), the process proceeds to step S329 as it is, and the transfer process of the wake path frame 241 is performed, and the process as the first communication device 203 is ended. It will be (end).

  The first terminal apparatus 201 has been described above, but in the case of the communication system 200 according to the present embodiment, the process illustrated in FIG. 13 is performed by the first terminal apparatus 201 and the second terminal apparatus 202 illustrated in FIG. The present invention can be applied in common to the first to third communication devices 203 to 205.

  For example, it is assumed that the wake path frame 241 whose end point MAC address 246 is the second terminal device 202 is transmitted to the second terminal device 202. In this case, the second terminal device 202 determines that the end point MAC address 246 matches its own MAC address (step S321: Y). Therefore, the result 258 of the reply wake path frame 251 is set to “00” as success, and this is transferred to the first terminal device 201 (step S334), and the processing is ended (END).

  FIG. 14 shows a state of processing when a reply wake path frame is received. Here, the first communication card 212 shown in FIG. 6 will be described as an example.

  Assume that the first communication card 212 receives the reply wake path frame 251 shown in FIG. The frame processing unit 224 in the first communication card 212 extracts the transaction ID 259 from the reply wake path frame 251 shown in FIG. 8 (step S351). The table processing unit 225 checks whether there is another entry that matches the transaction ID 259 in the transfer table 226 shown in FIG. 9 (step S352). If there is no match (N), the received reply wake path frame 251 is discarded (step S353). At the same time, the frame processing unit 224 creates a wake path frame 241 and transmits the wake path frame 241 to the end point MAC address 255 (step S354), and rolls back the entire route to the end point MAC address 255. To return to (End).

  On the other hand, it is assumed that there is an entry that matches the transaction ID 259 in step S352 (Y). In this case, the frame processing unit 224 checks whether the result 258 of the reply wake path frame 251 is “00” indicating that the transfer of the wake path frame 241 is successful (step S355). If so (Y), the receiving port as the related entry and the port state of the transmission source port of the wake path frame 241 are determined (step S356).

  Then, it is checked whether there is an entry that is “active standby” or “standby standby” in all the entries having the same transaction ID 259, that is, whether there is an entry in which the other port state is in the standby state (step). S357). If it exists (Y), all the entries are deleted (step S358). Then, the reply wake path frame 251 is transferred to the transmission source port of the wake path frame (step S359), and the process ends (end).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S357 that there is no entry whose other port state is in the standby state (N), the reply wake path frame 251 is transferred to the transmission source port of the wake path frame (step S35). S359), the process ends (END).

  On the other hand, when the result 258 of the reply wake path frame 251 is other than “00” indicating that the transfer of the wake path frame 241 is successful (N) in step S355, the receiving port is rolled back (step S355). S360). Then, it is confirmed whether or not all entries having the same transaction ID 259 are “active standby” or “standby standby”, that is, whether there is any remaining standby in the port state of the corresponding transaction ID entry (step S361).

  If the corresponding entry exists (step S361: Y), the process is terminated as it is (end). If the corresponding entry does not exist (step S361: N), the reply wake path frame 251 is transferred to the transmission source port of the wake path frame (step S359), and the process ends (end).

  FIG. 15 shows processing when an entry in the standby state times out. Assume that an entry in the transfer table 226 shown in FIG. 9 that is “active standby” or “standby standby” has timed out. In this case, the table processing unit 225 shown in FIG. 6 checks whether there is another entry with a matching transaction ID in the transfer table 226 (step S371).

  If such an entry exists (step S371: Y), rollback processing is performed on the port status of the corresponding entry (step S372). Then, the result 258 of the reply wake path frame 251 shown in FIG. 8 is set to time-out occurrence of “01”, the reply wake path frame 251 is transferred to the transmission source port (step S373), and the process ends. (End).

  If there is no other entry having a matching transaction ID in step S371 (N), the process proceeds to step S273 as it is. That is, in this case, the reply wake path frame 251 in which the result 258 is set to occurrence of timeout of “01” is transferred to the transmission source port (step S373), and the process ends (end).

  FIG. 16 shows the flow of rollback processing for a port. When the rollback processing described in FIG. 14 or FIG. 15 is performed, the table processing unit 225 illustrated in FIG. 6 uses the transfer table 226 illustrated in FIG. It is checked whether or not there is an entry that is “standby” (step S391). If the “standby” state such as active or standby has already disappeared (Y), there is a possibility that activation or standby has already been performed or set directly by another wake path frame. Therefore, in this case, the state of the port is not changed and remains “active” or “standby”, and only the rollback target entry (entry with matching transaction ID) is deleted (step S392). End processing (END).

  When there is no entry having the same port number and the port status being “active” or “standby” (step S391: N), the port number is the same and “active standby” or “standby standby” is set. It is checked whether there is a certain entry (step S393). If such an entry exists (Y), since another wake path frame instruction has been received, nothing is processed for the port. Only the entry to be rolled back is deleted (step S394), and the process ends (end).

  If it is determined in step S393 that there is no entry with the same port number and “active standby” or “standby standby” (N), neither active nor standby exists and there is no other “standby” entry. , The last “standby” entry for this port. Therefore, if the port status is “active standby”, “standby” is set, and if “standby standby” is set “active”, information related to the wake path frame (transaction ID, wake path frame transmission source port) is deleted (step S395). ). Then, the process ends (END). As a result, the “standby” entry is no different from the normal entry.

The first to fourth communication card 212 to 215 shown in FIG. 6, their communication ports 222 _1, 222 _2, the card state management unit 230 each time the port status of the ...... 222 _m is updated card status Is transmitted to the management card 216 in the first communication device 203 shown in FIG. 5 via the management card communication unit 227. The management card 216 collects information obtained from the first to fourth communication cards 212 to 215 by the device control unit 271 shown in FIG.

When all the port states of the communication ports 222 ₁ , 222 ₂ ,... 222 _m of any one of the first to fourth communication cards 212 to 215 are in the standby state, the device control unit 271 displays the communication card. Sends a standby instruction to set to standby. For example, if the first communication card 212 receives a standby instruction from the device control unit 271, the first communication card 212 becomes standby.

The device control unit 271 continues to monitor the port states of the communication ports 222 ₁ , 222 ₂ ,..., 222 _m for the first communication card 212 that is in standby in this example. When any one of the port states of the communication ports 222 ₁ , 222 ₂ ,... 222 _m becomes active, an active instruction is transmitted to the first communication card 212. Thus, in this example, the first communication card 212 is changed from the standby state to the active state.

  In the communication system 200 shown in FIG. 4, the first to third communication devices 203 to 205 perform such management. In this state, it is assumed that the first terminal apparatus 201 transmits a wake path frame 241 instructing activation with the second terminal apparatus 202 as an end point. Even if all of the first to third communication devices 203 to 205 are in a standby state, the reply wake path frame 251 is transferred from the second terminal device 202 to the first terminal device 201. A path that can be used for communication is determined, and even if the required path is standby, it can be set to “active standby” in order to activate it.

  In this way, the first terminal device 201 on the transmission side has the first to third communication devices 203 to 203 in a state where the candidate communication paths between the first terminal device 201 and the second terminal device 202 are secured. Each cost calculation in 205 is performed, an optimum route is determined, and packet communication with the second terminal device 202 is started through this route. Since the route used for this communication is a route calculated by the cost calculation method, the cooling cost is excellent and power saving can be achieved.

When the scheduled communication between the first terminal device 201 and the second terminal device 202 is completed, the first terminal device 201 or the second terminal device 202 transmits a wake path frame 241 instructing standby to the other side. What is necessary is just to transmit toward a terminal device. In this way, a communication card in which all of the port states of the communication ports 222 ₁ , 222 ₂ ,... 222 _{m in} the first to third communication devices 203 to 205 are in the standby state is the standby state. In addition, in a communication device including a plurality of communication cards, when all the communication cards are in standby, the device itself shifts to standby and power saving can be achieved.

  According to the communication system 200 of the present embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

  First, all the routes from the remote to the MAC address of the target terminal device are activated or set to standby by using the wake path frame 241 without directly connecting all the communication devices and the terminal device for performing these settings. can do. In addition, the status of each communication device on the route can be confirmed using the reply wake path frame 251. For this reason, the apparatus which connects with the communication apparatus located on a communication path and manages these can be reduced.

  In this embodiment, in order to perform regular maintenance, in a communication system including devices that need to be switched between an active state and a standby state, these devices can be easily activated or put into standby. There is an effect.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the concept of “active standby” or “standby standby” is introduced to reserve a state to be active or standby, and to determine these states when necessary. Accordingly, there is an effect that it is not necessary to frequently shift the corresponding device to the active state or the standby state. Moreover, in this Embodiment, with respect to the specific communication apparatus group which comprises a communication system, these communication apparatuses can implement | achieve transaction processing autonomously.

  Further, in the present embodiment, information including the heat generation amount and the cooling cost is used in the route cost. For this reason, a path using a communication device with excellent power consumption can be used, and the amount of heat generation and power consumption can be reduced. Further, by suppressing the heat generation amount of the communication device, noise and power consumption by the cooling module can be reduced. Furthermore, by reducing the heat generation amount of the communication device, the processing load on the device and the load on the cooling module can be reduced, so that the lifetime of each component can be extended.

  <Deformability of invention>

  The present invention is not limited to the technique using the communication system 200 described in the embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, the first to third communication devices 203 to 205 shown in FIG. 4 need not have a device configuration in which a plurality of communication cards and a cooling module are mounted on the casing 211 as shown in FIG. As an example, an apparatus configured with a box-type switch may be used. In this case, the cooling module need not be provided in the apparatus. For example, a room air conditioner may cool the inside of the communication device.

  In the embodiment, the wake path frame 241 and the reply wake path frame 251 are shown as special frames other than the normal frame. However, for example, they can be appropriately expanded or modified for use.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the first to third communication devices 203 to 205 or their components are activated or set to standby. However, specific settings can be made for all communication devices on the route, or the settings can be changed. You may make it perform switching which cancels | releases. As an example, set the same VLAN (Virtual LAN) for the communication devices on the corresponding route, or cancel the setting, or set the same band for the policer (shaper), or cancel the setting. It may be. In this case, such setting may be performed from the terminal device to the corresponding communication device, or some pattern settings may be registered in advance in the communication device so that label management is performed. It may be.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining label management as an example of the deformability of the present invention. Labels “1” and “2” are prepared for the first communication device 203 shown in FIG. 5A, and labels “2” and “3” are set in advance in the second communication device 204 shown in FIG. "Is prepared. Then, by broadcasting a wake path frame that enables the label “2” of these, the communication devices 203 and 204 can be remotely controlled. Similarly, a specific label that is in a valid state can be remotely controlled to an invalid state by using a wake path frame.

  In the embodiment, the active instruction during standby standby and the standby instruction during active standby are set as conflicts, but the present invention is not limited to this. Depending on the communication system, when instructions for conflicting states are on standby, priority may be given to these instructions for processing.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment, it is assumed that Ethernet (registered trademark) is used as a communication method between communication apparatuses, but other communication protocols may naturally be used. Furthermore, although the present embodiment has been described on the assumption that one MAC address is assigned to one port, for example, when a plurality of MAC addresses are assigned to one port by using a hub. The present invention can also be applied to.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment, the present invention has been described with reference to an example in which a route search that can reduce the cost due to power consumption is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can also be applied to a case where a route is selected using other feature quantities such as communication reliability, distance from the management terminal, and total operation time.

  Also, in the embodiment, by notifying the first terminal device 201 of information related to the cost of each of the communication devices 203 to 205, the route through which the first terminal device 201 passes is the best in management cost. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the second terminal device 202 located at the end point returns the reply wake path frame 251 to the first terminal device 201 along each route, the time information at that time is incorporated into the reply wake path frame 251 and transmitted. If it carries out, it can discriminate | determine which path | route has the shortest delay time in the 1st terminal device 201 side. When the route is selected in consideration of only the delay time in this way, the second terminal device 202 may simply return the reply wake path frame 251 by incorporating the time information.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment, the wake path frame 241 has a field for describing the end point MAC address. However, a field for describing the start point MAC address as the address of the terminal device that is the starting point of transmission of the wake path frame 241 is also provided. You may do it. In this case, instead of returning the reply wake path frame 251 by referring to the transmission source port for the wake path frame 241 of each entry as in the embodiment, the start MAC address of the wake path frame 241 is designated as the destination. It is also possible to reply.

  Some or all of the embodiments described above are described as in the following supplementary notes, but are not limited to the following descriptions.

(Appendix 1)
A wake path frame transmission means for broadcasting a wake path frame for searching a special frame configuration in which a specific terminal device is designated as an end point of packet communication;
Wake path frame receiving means for receiving the wake path frame;
A wake path frame end point determination unit for determining whether the end point of the designated packet communication of the wake path frame received by the wake path frame reception unit is the own device;
When this wake path frame end point determination unit determines that the own device is the end point of packet communication, a reply wake path frame having a special frame configuration different from the wake path frame is incorporated as response information. An end-side reply wake path frame return means for transmitting the path that the wake path frame has passed in the reverse direction,
A reply wake path frame receiving means for receiving the reply wake path frame when it is sent;
A reply wake path frame end point determination unit for determining whether the end point of the packet communication specified by the reply wake path frame received by the reply wake path frame reception unit is the own device;
A reply wake path frame transfer means for transferring the reply wake path frame to the next destination in the reverse direction through the route through which the wake path frame has passed when the reply wake path frame end point determination means determines that the apparatus is not the end point; ,
Reply information extraction means for extracting the reply information incorporated in the reply wake path frame when the reply wake path frame end point determination means determines that the apparatus is the end point;
When there is a plurality of reply wake path frames for which the reply wake path frame end point determination unit determines that the own device is the end point, one route is selected using the response information extracted by the response information extraction unit Route selection means,
A communication apparatus comprising: communication start means for starting communication with the end point of the packet communication on the route selected by the route selection means.

(Appendix 2)
2. The communication apparatus according to appendix 1, further comprising: a reply-time response information incorporating means for incorporating a predetermined state of the own apparatus as the reply information in a reply wake path frame transferred by the reply wake path frame transferring means.

(Appendix 3)
3. The communication apparatus according to appendix 2, wherein the route selection unit selects the route on which the reply wake path frame has arrived by combining the reply information at the time of transfer for each route.

(Appendix 4)
4. The communication apparatus according to appendix 3, wherein the response information incorporation means at the time of transfer incorporates the power consumption of the own apparatus or a management cost based on the power consumption as the reply information.

(Appendix 5)
When the wake path frame receiving means broadcasts the received wake path frame, the active standby state where the communication start means waits for an active state until a predetermined time at which the communication start means is expected to start communication. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising active standby setting means for setting to

(Appendix 6)
The communication apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a transfer table indicating whether a port used for packet transfer is in the active standby state or in another state.

(Appendix 7)
When the wake path frame received by the wake path frame receiving means cannot be broadcast to the next transfer destination, the reply wake path frame in which the state is incorporated as the reply information is reversed in the path through which the wake path frame has passed. The communication apparatus according to appendix 1, further comprising a reply wake path frame return means for non-reach when transmitting.

(Appendix 8)
The wake path frame includes a field of a destination MAC address (Media Access Control address) representing an end point of the packet communication and a field in which a next device MAC address as a destination to which a frame is sent is repeated a plurality of times. The communication apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein the communication apparatus is configured as described above.

(Appendix 9)
2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reply wake path frame includes a field of an end point MAC address representing an end point of the packet communication and a field in which the own apparatus MAC address is repeated a plurality of times. .

(Appendix 10)
The reply information is time information representing a time at which the end-side reply wake path frame reply means returns the reply wake path frame, and the route selection means is a route on which the reply wake path frame has reached the shortest from this time. The communication apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein the communication device is selected.

(Appendix 11)
The management cost is calculated as a sum of a cooling cost that varies depending on a distance from a cooling unit of a communication card used when communicating using a corresponding port of the own device and a cost based on a link speed. The communication apparatus according to appendix 4.

(Appendix 12)
A wake path frame transmission step of broadcasting a wake path frame for searching for a special frame configuration in which a specific terminal device is designated as an end point of packet communication from the terminal device serving as a starting point of the packet communication;
When the wake path frame transmitted in the wake path frame transmission step reaches the specific terminal device, the route through which the wake path frame passes through the reply wake path frame having a special frame configuration different from the wake path frame is reversed. A reply side reply wake path frame reply step for transmitting in the direction;
A reply wake path frame receiving step of receiving the reply wake path frame returned in the end side reply wake path frame reply step by a terminal device serving as a starting point of the packet communication;
When a plurality of reply wake path frames received in this reply wake path frame receiving step exist for each route, one of these routes is routed by the terminal device that is the starting point of the packet communication with the specific terminal device. A route selection method comprising: selecting a route as a route selection step.

(Appendix 13)
When the specific terminal device sends out the route that the wake path frame has passed through the reply wake path frame in the reverse direction reply wake path frame return step, the relay communication device located in each route automatically A response information incorporation step for incorporating and transferring the status of the device as response information, and in the route selection step, the response information for each route is integrated, and the terminal device serving as the starting point of the packet communication is 13. The route selection method according to appendix 12, wherein a route for packet communication with the terminal device is selected.

(Appendix 14)
When there is no next transfer destination before the wake path frame transmitted in the wake path frame transmission step reaches the specific terminal apparatus, the communication apparatus incorporates the unreached state in the reply wake path frame as response information. 14. The route selection method according to supplementary note 13, further comprising a non-arrival reply wake path frame returning step of transmitting the route through which the wake path frame has passed in the reverse direction to the starting point side of the packet communication.

(Appendix 15)
When the wake path frame transmitted in the wake path frame transmission step is received by the communication device in front of the specific terminal device and broadcast to the next destination, those corresponding ports in the own device are determined in the route selection step. 13. The route selection method according to claim 12, further comprising an active standby step of setting an active standby state for waiting for an active state until a predetermined time when packet communication is expected to start for the route. .

(Appendix 16)
To a computer that tries to start communication with a specific terminal device as the end point of packet communication,
A wake path frame transmission process for broadcasting a wake path frame for searching a special frame configuration in which the specific terminal device is designated as an end point of packet communication;
When the wake path frame transmitted in the wake path frame transmission process reaches the specific terminal device, the route through which the wake path frame passes through the reply wake path frame having a special frame configuration different from the wake path frame is reversed. Reply wake path frame reception process to receive this when sending in the direction,
A reply wake path frame end point determination process for determining whether the reply wake path frame received in the reply wake path frame receiving process is the end point of the packet communication;
When the reply wake path frame end point validity determination process does not determine that the own device is the end point of packet communication, the state of the own device predetermined in the reply wake path frame is incorporated as response information and transferred to the next destination. Reply wake pass frame transfer processing,
A path selection process for selecting one path from a plurality of the reply wake path frames determined by the reply wake path frame end point validity determination process when there is a plurality of reply wake path frames for each path;
A route selection program for executing communication start processing for starting communication with the end point of the packet communication on the route selected in the route selection processing.

(Appendix 17)
The route selection program according to appendix 16, wherein in the route selection process, an optimum route is selected using the response information for each route.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Communication apparatus 11 Wake path frame transmission means 12 Wake path frame reception means 13 Wake path frame end point determination unit 14 End point reply wake path frame return unit 15 Reply wake path frame reception unit 16 Reply wake path frame end point determination unit 17 Reply Wake path frame transfer means 18 Reply information extraction means 19 Route selection means 20 Communication start means 30 Route selection method 31 Wake path frame transmission step 32 End point side reply wake path frame return step 33 Reply wake path frame reception step 34 Route selection step 40 Route Selection program 41 Wake path frame transmission process 42 Reply wake path frame reception process 43 Reply wake path frame end point Discrimination process 44 Reply wake path frame transfer process 45 Route selection process 46 Communication start process 200 Communication system 201 First terminal device 202 Second terminal device 203 First communication device 204 Second communication device 205 Third communication device 212 first communication card 213 second communication card 214 third communication card 215 fourth communication card 216 management card 217 first cooling module 218 second cooling module 221 card body 223 frame identification unit 224 frame processing unit 225 Table processing unit 226 Transfer table 228 Temperature measurement unit 229 Power consumption measurement unit 230 Card state management unit 241 Wake path frame 242 Preamble 244 Broadcast address 245 Next device MAC address 246, 256 End point M C address 247 instruction type 251 reply MAC address 258 result 271 device control unit 274 cost table 275 cooling module manager of wake path frame 255 own device

Claims (10)

A wake path frame transmission means for broadcasting a wake path frame for searching a special frame configuration in which a specific terminal device is designated as an end point of packet communication;
Wake path frame receiving means for receiving the wake path frame;
A wake path frame end point determination unit for determining whether the end point of the designated packet communication of the wake path frame received by the wake path frame reception unit is the own device;
When this wake path frame end point determination unit determines that the own device is the end point of packet communication, a reply wake path frame having a special frame configuration different from the wake path frame is incorporated as response information. An end-side reply wake path frame return means for transmitting the path that the wake path frame has passed in the reverse direction,
A reply wake path frame receiving means for receiving the reply wake path frame when it is sent;
A reply wake path frame end point determination unit for determining whether the end point of the packet communication specified by the reply wake path frame received by the reply wake path frame reception unit is the own device;
A reply wake path frame transfer means for transferring the reply wake path frame to the next destination in the reverse direction through the route through which the wake path frame has passed when the reply wake path frame end point determination means determines that the apparatus is not the end point; ,
Reply information extraction means for extracting the reply information incorporated in the reply wake path frame when the reply wake path frame end point determination means determines that the apparatus is the end point;
When there is a plurality of reply wake path frames for which the reply wake path frame end point determination unit determines that the own device is the end point, one route is selected using the response information extracted by the response information extraction unit Route selection means,
A communication apparatus comprising: communication start means for starting communication with the end point of the packet communication on the route selected by the route selection means.   2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reply-time response information incorporating means for incorporating a predetermined state of the own apparatus in the reply wake path frame transferred by the reply wake path frame forwarding means as the reply information. .   3. The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the route selection unit selects the route on which the reply wake path frame has arrived by combining the response information at the time of transfer for each route.   4. The communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transfer response information incorporating means incorporates the power consumption of the own apparatus or a management cost based on the power consumption as the reply information.   When the wake path frame receiving means broadcasts the received wake path frame, the active standby state where the communication start means waits for an active state until a predetermined time at which the communication start means is expected to start communication. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising active standby setting means for setting to   6. The communication apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a forwarding table indicating whether a port used for packet forwarding is in the active standby state or in another state. When the wake path frame received by the wake path frame receiving means cannot be broadcast to the next transfer destination, the reply wake path frame in which the state is incorporated as the reply information is reversed in the path through which the wake path frame has passed. 2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising reply wake path frame reply means for non-reach when transmitting.   The management cost is calculated as a sum of a cooling cost that varies depending on a distance from a cooling unit of a communication card used when communicating using a corresponding port of the own device and a cost based on a link speed. The communication device according to claim 4. A wake path frame transmission step of broadcasting a wake path frame for searching for a special frame configuration in which a specific terminal device is designated as an end point of packet communication from the terminal device serving as a starting point of the packet communication;
When the wake path frame transmitted in the wake path frame transmission step reaches the specific terminal device, the route through which the wake path frame passes through the reply wake path frame having a special frame configuration different from the wake path frame is reversed. A reply side reply wake path frame reply step for transmitting in the direction;
A reply wake path frame receiving step of receiving the reply wake path frame returned in the end side reply wake path frame reply step by a terminal device serving as a starting point of the packet communication;
When a plurality of reply wake path frames received in this reply wake path frame receiving step exist for each route, one of these routes is routed by the terminal device that is the starting point of the packet communication with the specific terminal device. A route selection method comprising: selecting a route as a route selection step. To a computer that tries to start communication with a specific terminal device as the end point of packet communication,
A wake path frame transmission process for broadcasting a wake path frame for searching a special frame configuration in which the specific terminal device is designated as an end point of packet communication;
When the wake path frame transmitted in the wake path frame transmission process reaches the specific terminal device, the route through which the wake path frame passes through the reply wake path frame having a special frame configuration different from the wake path frame is reversed. Reply wake path frame reception process to receive this when sending in the direction,
A reply wake path frame end point determination process for determining whether the reply wake path frame received in the reply wake path frame receiving process is the end point of the packet communication;
When the reply wake path frame end point validity determination process does not determine that the own device is the end point of packet communication, the state of the own device predetermined in the reply wake path frame is incorporated as response information and transferred to the next destination. Reply wake pass frame transfer processing,
A path selection process for selecting one path from a plurality of the reply wake path frames determined by the reply wake path frame end point validity determination process when there is a plurality of reply wake path frames for each path;
A route selection program for executing communication start processing for starting communication with the end point of the packet communication on the route selected in the route selection processing.

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