JP4264795B2 - Network quality evaluation device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network quality evaluation apparatus that takes in a communication packet propagating on a communication network and evaluates the communication quality of the communication network based on the information, and particularly reduces the amount of communication information between a probe and a probe manager. The present invention relates to a possible network quality evaluation apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventional network quality evaluation devices measure communication packets propagating on a communication network at each point of the communication network, evaluate the communication quality of the communication network line based on the measured communication packet, monitor traffic, etc. Is to do.
[0003]
For example, as such a network quality evaluation apparatus, “Japanese Patent Application No. 11-274273 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-103090)” and “Japanese Patent Application No. 11-304215 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-304215)” No. 127795) ”and the like.
[0004]
FIG. 7 is a configuration block diagram showing an example of such a conventional network quality evaluation apparatus. In FIG. 7, 1 is a tap circuit, 2 is a physical layer circuit, 3 is a filter circuit, 4 is a timer circuit, 5 is a write circuit for writing data into the memory, 6 is a memory, 7 is a read circuit for reading data from the memory, 8 Is a memory control circuit that controls the operation of the write circuit 5 and the read circuit 7, 9 is a control circuit that controls the entire probe, and 10 is a communication circuit that communicates via a router.
[0005]
Further, in FIG. 7, 1 to 10 constitute the probe 50, 1 to 4 constitute the communication packet capturing means 51, and the configuration block diagram composed of 1 to 10 shows the details of the probe indicated by "PB01" in FIG. Is shown. Further, “R” in FIG. 7 represents a router, and “P” represents a probe.
[0006]
“NT01” in FIG. 7 is a network provided by an ISP (Internet Service Provider: hereinafter referred to simply as “provider”), and the network shown in “NT01” in FIG. 7 is connected to each other via a plurality of routers. Yes.
[0007]
In addition, the companies indicated by “CM01” and “CM02” in FIG. 7 are also connected to the network indicated by “NT01” in FIG. 7 via the router, and the probe manager indicated by “PM01” in FIG. 7 is also connected via the router. It is connected to the network indicated by “NT01” in FIG.
[0008]
Then, the probes indicated by “PB01” and “PB02” in FIG. 7 are connected to the ports of the corporate router indicated by “CM01” and “CM02” in FIG. 7, respectively.
[0009]
On the other hand, in the probe 50, a communication packet propagating through the network is input to the tap circuit 1, and the output of the tap circuit 1 is connected to the physical layer circuit 2. The output of the physical layer circuit 2 is connected to the write circuit 5 via the filter circuit 3, and the output of the timer circuit 4 is also connected to the write circuit 5.
[0010]
The output of the write circuit 5 is connected to the memory 6. The output of the memory 6 is connected to the reading circuit 7, and the output of the reading circuit 7 is connected to the control circuit 9.
[0011]
The communication output of the control circuit 9 is transmitted over the network via the communication circuit 10. Further, the control signal of the memory control circuit 8 is connected to the writing circuit 5 and the reading circuit 7, respectively, and the control signal of the control circuit 9 is connected to the timer circuit 4 and the memory control circuit 8, respectively.
[0012]
Here, the operation of the conventional example shown in FIG. 7 will be described. The tap circuit 1 extracts a communication packet propagating on the network without interfering with the communication, and the extracted communication packet is converted into a logic signal by the physical layer circuit 2, and a necessary packet from the communication packet designated by the filter circuit 3. Alternatively, data is selectively extracted.
[0013]
The writing circuit 5 receives the packet or data selected by the filter circuit 3 and the time stamp output from the timer circuit 4 (hereinafter, the packet or data and the time stamp are simply referred to as information) and controls the memory control circuit 8. The received information is written into the memory 6.
[0014]
On the other hand, the readout circuit 7 reads out information from the memory 6 based on the control of the memory control circuit 8 and outputs the information to the control circuit 9, and the control circuit 9 sends the read information “PM01” in FIG. To the probe manager.
[0015]
For example, the probe manager indicated by “PM01” in FIG. 7 includes specific packet information extracted by the probe indicated by “PB01” in FIG. 7 connected to the corporate router indicated by “CM01” in FIG. By collating with specific packet information extracted by the probe shown in “PB02” in FIG. 7 connected to the enterprise router shown in “CM02”, packet loss, delay time, delay fluctuation between the two enterprises, Measure communication quality items such as throughput.
[0016]
As a result, by connecting a probe to the port of the router that wants to monitor the communication packet on the communication network, extracting a specific communication packet and analyzing the communication packet extracted by the probe manager, packet loss, delay time, delay It is possible to measure communication quality items such as fluctuation and throughput.
[0017]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional example shown in FIG. 7, a packet or data as information and a time stamp are transmitted from the probe shown in “PB01” and “PB02” in FIG. 7 to the probe manager shown in “PM01” in FIG. .
[0018]
When such communication between the probe and the probe manager is performed via the network indicated by “NT01” in FIG. 7, “NT01” in FIG. 7 depends on the information amount of communication between the probe and the probe manager. There is a problem that the network load shown in FIG.
Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to realize a network quality evaluation apparatus capable of reducing the amount of information of communication between a probe and a probe manager.
[0019]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such a problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is:
In a network quality evaluation apparatus that takes in a communication packet propagating on a communication network and evaluates the communication quality of the communication network based on the information,
A capturing unit that outputs the communication packet as information together with a capturing time stamp, a ring memory that stores information for a certain period of the information output by the capturing unit, and a probe manager connected to the communication network In the normal state, the communication circuit that performs communication with the communication circuit and the information of the predetermined period stored in the ring memory are thinned out and read out and transmitted to the probe manager, and a detailed read request is issued from the probe manager. If there is a control circuit that reads the information for a certain period stored in the ring memory as it is and transmits it to the probe manager, communication information between the probe and the probe manager as a whole It becomes possible to reduce the amount.
[0020]
The invention according to claim 2
In the network quality evaluation apparatus according to claim 1,
The control circuit comprises:
By reading the information before and after the transmission information for which the detailed read request has been requested and transmitting the information to the probe manager, it is possible to reduce the amount of communication information between the probe and the probe manager as a whole.
[0021]
The invention described in claim 3
In the network quality evaluation device according to claim 2,
The control circuit comprises:
By dividing and transmitting the information before and after corresponding to the transmission information requested to be read in detail according to the communication network load, it is possible to prevent the network load from being concentrated at a certain point in time.
[0022]
The invention according to claim 4
In the network quality evaluation apparatus according to claim 1,
The control circuit comprises:
When the detailed read request is made, the information is read out by shortening the thinning interval and transmitted to the probe manager, so that it is possible to prevent the network load from being concentrated at a certain point in time.
[0023]
The invention according to claim 5
In the network quality evaluation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The control circuit comprises:
By reading and transmitting information other than the information that has already been transmitted to the probe manager when there is a detailed read request, it is possible to prevent transmission of duplicate information, so that between the probe and the probe manager as a whole The amount of communication information can be reduced.
[0024]
The invention described in claim 6
In the network quality evaluation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The control circuit comprises:
When the detailed read request is made, when the requested information is transmitted, or when the fixed read request is voluntarily canceled after a lapse of a certain time from the detailed read request, a problem occurs in the probe manager. Since the transmission of the detailed information is canceled, the information amount of communication between the probe and the probe manager as a whole can be reduced.
[0025]
The invention described in claim 7
In the network quality evaluation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The control circuit comprises:
By having the probe manager function, the probe integrated with the probe manager function eliminates communication with the probe manager, so that it is possible to reduce the amount of communication information between the probe and the probe manager as a whole. .
[0026]
The invention described in claim 8
In the network quality evaluation apparatus according to claim 1,
The ring memory is
By comprising the semiconductor memory, it becomes possible to reduce the information amount of communication between the probe and the probe manager as a whole.
[0027]
The invention according to claim 9
In the network quality evaluation apparatus according to claim 1,
The ring memory is
By comprising the magnetic disk, it becomes possible to reduce the amount of information of communication between the probe and the probe manager as a whole.
[0028]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a network quality evaluation apparatus according to the present invention.
[0029]
1, reference numerals 1 to 5, 7, 9, 10, and 51 are assigned the same reference numerals as in FIG. 7. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a ring memory using a semiconductor memory, and reference numeral 12 controls the ring memory 11 during detailed reading. A memory control circuit 13 is a memory control circuit that controls the ring memory 11 during thinning-out reading.
[0030]
1 to 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 constitute a probe 50a, and the probe 50a shows details of the probe indicated by "PB11" in FIG. Further, “R” in FIG. 1 represents a router, and “P” represents a probe.
[0031]
“NT11” in FIG. 1 is a network provided by a provider. In the network shown in “NT11” in FIG. 1, lines are connected to each other via a plurality of routers.
[0032]
Further, the companies indicated by “CM11” and “CM12” in FIG. 1 are also connected to the network indicated by “NT11” in FIG. 1 via the router, and the probe manager indicated by “PM11” in FIG. 1 is also connected via the router. It is connected to the network indicated by “NT11” in FIG.
[0033]
Then, probes indicated by “PB11” and “PB12” in FIG. 1 are connected to the ports of the router of the company indicated by “CM11” and “CM12” in FIG. 1, respectively.
[0034]
On the other hand, in the probe 50a, a communication packet propagating through the network is input to the tap circuit 1, and the output of the tap circuit 1 is connected to the physical layer circuit 2. The output of the physical layer circuit 2 is connected to the write circuit 5 via the filter circuit 3, and the output of the timer circuit 4 is also connected to the write circuit 5.
[0035]
The output of the write circuit 5 is connected to the ring memory 11. The output of the ring memory 11 is connected to the readout circuit 7, and the output of the readout circuit 7 is connected to the control circuit 9.
[0036]
The communication output of the control circuit 9 is transmitted over the network via the communication circuit 10. Further, the control signals of the memory control circuits 12 and 13 are connected to the writing circuit 5 and the reading circuit 7, respectively, and the control signal of the control circuit 9 is connected to the timer circuit 4 and the memory control circuits 12 and 13, respectively.
[0037]
Here, the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control circuit 9, FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the storage operation of the ring memory 11, FIG. 4 is a timing diagram for explaining how to read data, and FIG. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the probe manager shown to "."
[0038]
In “S001” in FIG. 2, the control circuit 9 controls the memory control circuit 13 to read out information from the ring memory 11 during normal operation.
[0039]
For example, assuming that the probe 50a takes in information every second, the memory control circuit 13 reads information from the ring memory 11 once per minute and outputs it to the control circuit 9.
[0040]
That is, for example, information is read from the information stored in the ring memory 11 indicated by “DT21” in FIG. 3 at a thinning interval indicated by “IT21” in FIG.
[0041]
Incidentally, the ring memory 11 is assigned with the head address and the last address indicated by “TA31” and “EA31” in FIG. 4, and stores the information taken in the write pointer indicated by “WP31” in FIG. Is moved to the next address and the fetched information is sequentially stored.
[0042]
For example, when the write pointer moves to the position (address) indicated by “WP32” in FIG. 4, the information indicated by “DT31” in FIG. 4 is stored.
[0043]
Further, for example, when the write pointer reaches the final address indicated by “EA31” in FIG. 4, the write pointer indicates the head address indicated by “TA31” in FIG. 4 as indicated by “WP33” in FIG. Returning to FIG. 4, the information is overwritten as indicated by “OW31” in FIG.
[0044]
By such an operation, the ring memory 11 stores information for a certain period of information taken in.
[0045]
Then, in “S002” in FIG. 2, the control circuit 9 controls the communication circuit 10 to transmit the read information to the probe manager indicated by “PM11” in FIG. 1 via the network indicated by “NT11” in FIG. To do.
[0046]
Then, in “S003” in FIG. 2, the control circuit 9 determines whether or not a detailed read request has been made from the probe manager indicated by “PM11” in FIG. 1. If there is no detailed read request, “S001” in FIG. Return to the step shown in.
[0047]
If there is a request for detailed reading in “S003” in FIG. 2, the control circuit 9 controls the memory control circuit 12 in “S004” in FIG. 2 to change from the ring memory 11 to “PM11” in FIG. Predetermined information before and after the information requested to be read from the probe manager is read.
[0048]
For example, the memory control circuit 12 reads the information for 1 minute before and after the information requested by the probe manager indicated by “PM11” in FIG. .
[0049]
That is, for example, when there is a request for detailed reading for the thinned-out information indicated by “DT22” in FIG. 3, from the information stored in the ring memory 11 indicated by “DT21” in FIG. The predetermined information before and after “DT23” in FIG. 3 is read.
[0050]
In “S005” in FIG. 2, the control circuit 9 controls the communication circuit 10 to transmit the predetermined information read out to the probe manager indicated by “PM11” in FIG. 1 via the network indicated by “NT11” in FIG. To do.
[0051]
Then, in “S006” in FIG. 2, the control circuit 9 determines whether or not a detailed read release request has been received from the probe manager indicated by “PM11” in FIG. 1. The process returns to the step shown in S004 ".
[0052]
If there is a request to cancel the detailed reading in “S006” in FIG. 2, the process returns to the step shown in “S001” in FIG.
[0053]
On the other hand, in “S101” in FIG. 4, the probe manager indicated by “PM11” in FIG. 1 determines whether or not information has been received from each probe, and when information is received, in FIG. The probe manager shown in the middle “PM11” analyzes the contents of the received information.
[0054]
For example, if the received information is thinned information, the probe manager indicated by “PM11” in FIG. 1 uses the thinned information to determine communication quality items such as packet loss, delay time, delay fluctuation, and throughput. While calculating, it compares the value received beforehand with the received information, judges normality / abnormality, and displays or accumulates the received information as appropriate.
[0055]
In addition, for example, when the received information is the information that has been read in detail, the probe manager indicated by “PM11” in FIG. 1 performs communication such as packet loss, delay time, delay fluctuation, and throughput based on the information that has been read in detail. While calculating the quality item, it compares a preset value with the received information to determine normality / abnormality, and displays or accumulates the received information as appropriate.
[0056]
In “S103” in FIG. 4, the probe manager indicated by “PM11” in FIG. 1 determines whether or not the received information is abnormal as a result of the analysis of the received information. In S104 ", the probe manager indicated by" PM11 "in FIG. 1 transmits a detailed read request for the received information to the probe that has transmitted the information via the network indicated by" NT11 "in FIG. The process returns to the step shown in “S101”.
[0057]
If “S103” in FIG. 4 is determined to be normal, the probe manager indicated by “PM11” in FIG. 1 in “S105” in FIG. 4 transmits the information via the network indicated by “NT11” in FIG. A detailed read release request is transmitted to the probe that has transmitted “”, and the process returns to the step indicated by “S101” in FIG.
[0058]
As a result, when information is normal, the information is thinned out and transmitted as transmission information, and detailed information is transmitted as transmission information as necessary, thereby reducing the amount of communication information between the probe and the probe manager as a whole. It becomes possible. In addition, since detailed information can be acquired at the time of abnormality, accurate abnormality analysis and the like can be performed.
[0059]
For example, in the case described above, since information for one second is transmitted to the probe manager once a minute in the normal state, the information amount in the normal state can be reduced to “1/60”.
[0060]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the control circuit 9, the memory control circuit 12, and the memory control circuit 13 are described separately for simplicity of explanation, but of course, all the controls are included in one control circuit 9. You may be allowed to.
[0061]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, for the sake of simplicity of explanation, a write circuit 5 and a read circuit 7 are provided for the ring memory 11. However, the memory control circuit 12 or the memory control circuit 13 transmits information to the ring memory. The writing circuit 5 and the reading circuit 7 become unnecessary by realizing the function of writing to the memory 11 and the function of reading information from the ring memory 11.
[0062]
In the description of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the probe 50a reads predetermined information before and after the information when it is abnormal and transmits it to the probe manager. However, the memory control circuit does not transmit detailed information. 13 may be transmitted by changing the thinning interval stepwise.
[0063]
In other words, when an abnormality is detected by the probe manager, detailed information is not transmitted immediately, but information with a thinning interval shorter than the current state is transmitted, and then a request for more detailed information from the probe manager is made. If there is, information that further shortens the thinning interval is transmitted.
[0064]
For example, when normal, information for 1 second is sent to the probe manager once a minute, and when an abnormality is detected, information for 1 second is sent to the probe manager once every 30 seconds. When there is a request, information for 1 second is transmitted to the probe manager once every 10 seconds.
[0065]
That is, FIG. 6 is a timing chart for explaining how to read out such information. Information from the information stored in the ring memory 11 indicated by “DT41” in FIG. 6 at the thinning interval indicated by “IT41” in FIG. Read out.
[0066]
If there is a request for detailed reading of the thinned-out information indicated by “DT42” in FIG. 6, the information is read at the thinning interval indicated by “IT42” in FIG.
[0067]
Further, if there is a detailed read request for the information read out by thinning out indicated by “DT43” in FIG. 6, the information is read out at a thinning interval indicated by “IT43” in FIG.
[0068]
In this case, it is possible to prevent the network load from being concentrated at a certain point in time by controlling the memory control circuit 13 as necessary to change the thinning interval and transmitting it to the probe manager.
[0069]
In the description of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the probe 50a reads predetermined information before and after the information when it is abnormal and transmits it to the probe manager. Detailed information may be divided and transmitted according to the load.
[0070]
In this case, it is possible to prevent the network load from being concentrated at a certain point in time by dividing the detailed information according to the network load and transmitting it to the probe manager in a time division manner.
[0071]
Further, when detailed information (or information with a reduced thinning interval) is transmitted at the time of abnormality, the information already transmitted may be excluded and transmitted. In this case, transmission of duplicate information can be prevented, so that it is possible to reduce the amount of communication information between the probe and the probe manager as a whole.
[0072]
Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the probe 50a transmits detailed information to the probe manager when “abnormal”, but it is not particularly limited to “abnormal”, and detailed information is provided on the probe manager side. The detailed read request may be made even when it is necessary.
[0073]
In the description of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the probe manager actively releases the detailed read request, but of course, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the detailed read request may be voluntarily canceled when the probe 50a transmits the detailed information by the detailed read request, or the detailed read request may be voluntarily canceled after a predetermined time has elapsed since the first detailed read request. .
[0074]
In this case, since the detailed read request is automatically canceled by the probe 50a, the transmission of the detailed information is canceled even if a problem occurs in the probe manager, so that the communication between the probe and the probe manager as a whole is canceled. The amount of information can be reduced.
[0075]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, for the sake of simplicity of explanation, the probe manager indicated by “PM11” in FIG. 1 and the probes indicated by “PB11” and “PB12” in FIG. 1 are described separately. The probe manager function may be integrated into any of the probes indicated by “PB11” or “PB12”.
[0076]
In this case, since the probe integrated with the probe manager function does not communicate with the probe manager, the amount of communication information between the probe and the probe manager can be reduced as a whole.
[0077]
In addition, although the semiconductor memory is illustrated as the ring memory 11, it is of course not limited thereto, and may be a magnetic disk such as a hard disk, or a combination of a semiconductor memory and a magnetic disk.
[0078]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects.
According to the first, second, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth aspects of the present invention, the information is thinned out and transmitted as transmission information in a normal state, and detailed information is transmitted as transmission information as necessary. As a whole, the amount of communication information between the probe and the probe manager can be reduced. In addition, since detailed information can be acquired at the time of abnormality, accurate abnormality analysis and the like can be performed.
[0079]
According to the invention of claim 3 and claim 4, the memory control circuit is controlled as necessary to change the thinning interval and transmitted to the probe manager, or detailed information according to the network load. By dividing and transmitting to the probe manager in time division, it is possible to prevent the network load from being concentrated at a certain point.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of a network quality evaluation apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a control circuit.
FIG. 3 is a timing diagram illustrating how to read information.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a storage operation of a ring memory.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the probe manager.
FIG. 6 is a timing diagram illustrating how to read information.
FIG. 7 is a configuration block diagram showing an example of a conventional network quality evaluation apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tap circuit 2 Physical layer circuit 3 Filter circuit 4 Timer circuit 5 Write circuit 6 Memory 7 Read circuit 8, 12, 13 Memory control circuit 9 Control circuit 10 Communication circuit 11 Ring memory 50, 50a Probe 51 Capture means

Claims (9)

In a network quality evaluation apparatus that takes in a communication packet propagating on a communication network and evaluates the communication quality of the communication network based on the information,
Capture means for outputting the communication packet as information together with a capture time stamp;
A ring memory in which information for a certain period is stored among the information output by the capturing means;
A communication circuit for communicating with the probe manager connected to the communication network;
In the normal state, the entire apparatus is controlled and the information of the predetermined period stored in the ring memory is thinned out and read out and transmitted to the probe manager. When there is a detailed read request from the probe manager, the ring memory A network quality evaluation apparatus comprising: a control circuit that reads the information for a certain period stored in the data as it is and transmits the information to the probe manager. The control circuit comprises:
The network quality evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information before and after the transmission information requested to be read in detail is read and transmitted to the probe manager. The control circuit comprises:
3. The network quality evaluation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information before and after the transmission information requested to be read in detail is divided and transmitted according to the communication network load. The control circuit comprises:
2. The network quality evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the detailed read request is made, the information is read out by shortening a thinning interval and transmitted to the probe manager. The control circuit comprises:
5. The network quality evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when there is a detailed read request, information other than the information already transmitted to the probe manager is read and transmitted. The control circuit comprises:
The detailed read request is voluntarily canceled when the requested information is transmitted when the detailed read request is made, or after a predetermined time has elapsed since the detailed read request. Item 5. The network quality evaluation apparatus according to any one of Items 4 to 6. The control circuit comprises:
6. The network quality evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the network quality evaluation apparatus has a function of the probe manager. The ring memory is
2. The network quality evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a semiconductor memory. The ring memory is
2. The network quality evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a magnetic disk.

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