JP5225148B2 - Communication apparatus and communication control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication apparatus that adopts a communication mode in which a plurality of routes are set for communication addressed to the same destination address, and a communication control method thereof.

  Link aggregation function defined in IEEE 802.3 that enables multiple physical links to be used between opposing communication devices that support Ethernet (registered trademark), and end-to-end between two devices that support Ethernet By using the linear protection switching function defined in ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Standardization Sector) Recommendation G.8031, which realizes protection switching with redundant (End-to-End) connections, two devices It is possible to realize a communication mode that can take a plurality of paths for communication between the two.

  In addition, IEEE802.3WG is studying a method that enables high-speed switching of Ethernet link speeds such as 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps, and 1 Gbps, called Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE). Operation at a low link speed is becoming possible.

  On the other hand, in a communication mode that can take a plurality of communication paths, a method for selecting a communication path with lower power consumption in consideration of power consumption of each communication path has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).

JP 2006-237849 A

  However, the system described in Patent Document 1 is intended to select a path with low power consumption from a plurality of selectable communication paths, and each link used in each communication path so as to keep power consumption low. There is no mechanism to adjust the link speed of the system. For this reason, there is a problem that optimization cannot be performed so as to minimize power consumption in each communication device.

  In the system described in Patent Document 1, the degree of power consumption in the communication path is determined based on the presence / absence of burst transmission capability, the buffer amount, and other equipment information acquisition response frame information including at least one possible transmission rate. However, although a route with low power consumption is selected from a plurality of communication routes, there is a problem that dynamic control for reducing power consumption cannot be performed based on the amount of communication that changes every moment.

  The present invention provides a communication apparatus and a communication control method that optimally adjust the link speed and the number of used links so that power consumption is minimized in consideration of the communication amount for each communication flow to be transferred. Objective.

The present invention is a communication device capable of setting a plurality of communication paths for communication addressed to the same destination address, a plurality of communication interfaces each capable of switching among a plurality of link speeds, and a communication flow to be communicated Based on the communication amount for each and the power consumption at each link speed of each communication interface stored in advance, the link speed, the number of used links in the plurality of communication interfaces, so that the power consumption at the time of communication is minimized. And a communication control unit for performing communication settings for setting communication flow assignment to each communication interface, and the communication control unit responds to increase / decrease in communication flow to be transferred. For example, after adding a communication flow sequentially to the empty part of the link and setting the link speed and the number of used links, more than a predetermined number of communication flows Communicates settings each time it is added to the can portion re-communication apparatus characterized by, and is in communication control method like analogous thereto.

  In the present invention, the communication service can be provided with less power consumption than before by performing the control that minimizes the power consumption.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the communication system containing the communication apparatus by this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows an example of a structure of each communication apparatus of FIG. It is the figure which showed the function block of FIG. 2 so that operation | movement might be shown. It is a figure which shows an example of the data stored in the communication interface information storage means of the communication apparatus by this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement in the transfer rule control means of the communication apparatus by this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement of the communication setting in the communication apparatus by this invention.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a communication system including a communication device according to the present invention. In this communication system, communication devices 1 and 2 having the same structure and the same function capable of communication in a plurality of paths by applying a link aggregation function or an ITU-T G.8031 linear protection switching function, and the communication device 1 Network 3 including communication paths 1 to N set between the communication device 2 and the communication device 2, and a plurality of communication interface IFs provided at input / output ends on both sides of the communication devices 1 and 2 corresponding to each communication route Is done.

  In the communication system shown in FIG. 1, there are a plurality of communication paths 1 to N between the communication apparatus 1 and the communication apparatus 2, and the communication flow from the communication apparatus 1 to the communication apparatus 2 uses any one of the paths. Then transferred. When the communication apparatus 1 and the communication apparatus 2 are directly adjacent to each other, the communication paths 1 to N are each a single link, and a path (link) to be used is determined by, for example, link aggregation.

  On the other hand, when there is another communication device between the communication device 1 and the communication device 2, a plurality of communication routes are determined to be used by each communication flow by, for example, protection switching or load balancing mechanism.

  Each communication interface IF of the communication device 1 and the communication device 2 corresponds to a plurality of link speeds such as 10 Mbps / 100 Mbps / 1 Gbps used in Ethernet, for example, and the bandwidth of the communication flow transferred from the communication device 1 to the communication device 2 Accordingly, the communication device 1 autonomously sets the link speed of each communication interface.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the configuration of each communication apparatus in FIG. For example, the communication control unit 10 including a computer or the like includes a transfer processing unit 11, a transfer rule control unit 12, a link speed control unit 13, a transfer rule storage unit 14a including a memory, and a communication interface information storage unit 14b. A plurality of communication interfaces IFa1 to IFan and IFb1 to IFbn are provided on both sides of the communication control unit 10, respectively. The transfer rule storage unit 14a and the communication interface information storage unit 14b can be configured with one memory.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the functional block of FIG. 2 so as to show the operation when, for example, the communication flow input from the communication interface IFa1 to IFan side is output and transferred from the communication interface IFb1 to IFbn side. Based on the transfer rule 120 set by the transfer rule control unit 12, the transfer processing unit 11 receives data received by one of the communication interfaces IFa1 to IFan (for example, IFa1) on the input side, and communicates with the output destination on the output side. Transfer to interface (eg IFb2). The transfer rule control means 12 determines and sets the transfer rule 120 in the manner described later, and determines the link speed of each communication interface IFb1 to IFbn on the output side. The link speed control means 13 sets the communication interfaces IFb1 to IFbn to the link speed determined by the transfer rule control means 12.

  That is, the transfer rule control means 12 determines the link speed and the number of used links of each of the plurality of communication interfaces, and the allocation of the communication flow to each communication interface, and the number of used links and each communication determined by the transfer processing means 11. The communication flow is assigned according to the assignment of the communication flow to the interface, and the link speed determined by each link interface by the link speed control means 13 is set.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the communication interface information storage unit 14b includes link speeds that can be set for the communication interfaces IFb1 to IFbn, power consumption when operating at each link speed, and which communication for each destination. The interface may provide a route, that is, a linkable destination (address) of each communication interface is set and stored in advance. 4, b1, b2, b3,... Indicate link speeds, w1, w2, w3,... Indicate power consumption, and P1, P2, P3,. When the link speed that can be set in all communication interfaces and the power consumption at each link speed are shared, the link speed and power consumption that can be set may be stored as representative data.

  When the bandwidth of the communication flow to be transferred by the communication device is known in advance, the transfer rule control means 12 determines the destination of the communication flow, the communication interface that can be used for the destination, the link speed of each communication interface, Based on the power consumption information according to the link speed, the communication interface used for transfer, the link speed of each communication interface, and the allocation of the communication flow are determined so that the total power consumption is minimized.

  If the relationship between the link speed b1, b2 (b1 <b2) and the power consumption w1, w2 (w1 <w2) at each link speed is w2 <w1 * b2 / b1 (* means multiplication), Power consumption can be kept low by concentrating flows on a link with a high link speed b2. As an example of the algorithm executed by the transfer rule control means 12, for example, the following algorithm is executed in an apparatus including a plurality of communication interfaces compatible with 10 Mbps / 100 Mbps / 1000 Mbps.

  First, (int) (B / 1000) 1000Mbps links (communication interfaces) are prepared for the total bandwidth B of all communication flows, and the flows accommodated in the 1000Mbps link are accommodated in descending order of the required bandwidth. The process ends when there is no flow that can be accommodated. Next, if the total bandwidth B1 of the remaining flows is 0, the process ends. If B1 is non-zero, compare the power consumed (B1 / 100) * W100 with the required number of 100Mbps links ((int) (B1 / 100)) and the power consumption W1000 of one 1000Mbps link, Use the one with lower power consumption.

  Next, if the remaining flow total bandwidth B2 is 0, the process is terminated, and the same comparison is performed for the 100 Mbps link and the 10 Mbps link, and the one with lower power consumption is used.

  After that, when a new communication flow is added, it is accommodated in the empty part of the link in use, and if the bandwidth of the new communication flow does not fit in the empty part of the link in use, a new unused communication Use the interface (link) or perform the above process again to increase the accommodation rate as much as possible.

  FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the operation of the transfer rule control means 12 as described above. In FIG. 5, B indicates the remaining total bandwidth, b indicates the link speed, and k indicates the number of used links (communication interfaces). In step S1, the total bandwidth B1 of the remaining communication flow (where B1 <b1) when k1 links having the fastest link speed b1 are used from the total bandwidth B of all communication flows is obtained. In step S2, if the total bandwidth B1 of the remaining communication flow is 0, the operation is terminated. Otherwise, in step S3, consumption when the second highest link speed b2 link is allocated to the total bandwidth B1 of the remaining communication flow until the total bandwidth B2 of the remaining communication flow becomes B2 <b2. The power (B1 / b2) × w2 and the power consumption w1 of one link at the fastest link speed b1 are compared. If the power consumption (B1 / b2) × w2 is larger, k1 + 1 links of the fastest link speed b1 are allocated in step S4 (addition of one). If the power consumption (B1 / b2) × w2 is smaller, k1 links at the fastest link speed b1 and k2 links (B1 / b2 = k2) at the second highest link speed b2 are allocated in step S5.

  In step S6, if the total bandwidth B2 of the remaining communication flow is 0, the operation is terminated. Otherwise, in step S7, the consumption when the link with the third highest link speed b3 is allocated to the total bandwidth B2 of the surplus communication flow until the total bandwidth B3 of the surplus communication flow becomes B3 <b3. The power (B2 / b3) × w3 is compared with the power consumption w2 of one link at the second highest link speed b2. If the power consumption (B2 / b3) × w3 is larger, one link having the second highest link speed b2 is added in step S8. If power consumption (B2 / b3) × w3 is smaller, k3 links (B2 / b3 = k3) are allocated at the second-ranked link speed b3 in step S9.

  In step S10, the operation is terminated if the total bandwidth B3 of the remaining communication flow is 0, and so on, and the above operation is continued until the total bandwidth of the remaining communication flow becomes 0. Determine the link speed and communication flow allocation for each communication interface.

  Regarding communication flow allocation, a destination address of a communication flow and a communication interface that can be used for the destination are determined with reference to a linkable destination address of communication interface information shown in FIG. For example, when assigning a communication flow to a communication interface, priority is given to a communication flow having a matching destination address at the same time as giving priority to a flow having a large necessary bandwidth.

  The transfer rule control means 12 sets the transfer rule 120 so as to add a communication flow to the empty part of the link sequentially when there is an empty part in the link, and the transfer processing means 11 and the link speed control means 13 Processing is performed according to this.

  The transfer rule set as described above is stored in the transfer rule storage unit 14 a and used as the transfer rule 120 by the transfer processing unit 11.

  FIG. 6 shows the algorithm when a total of six communication flows of 500 Mbps, 350 Mbps, and 100 Mbps × 4 are transferred to the destination in a communication apparatus that can use four communication interfaces for a certain destination. 4 shows how each communication flow is accommodated in two 1000 Mbps communication interfaces. This example shows a case where the power consumption of one 1000 Mbps is lower than that of three 100 Mbps.

  Also, as a simpler case, in the 1: 1 linear protection switching, when there are a plurality of switching instances whose switching ends are the same port, the current / spare settings are combined in each switching instance, Usually, the transfer is performed only for the current use, and the standby system is operated at a low link speed so that only normality confirmation traffic can be transferred.

  Once the communication destination of the communication flow is determined, it is possible to flexibly handle the increase or decrease of the communication flow by re-determining the storage destination after the elapse of the predetermined time (that is, setting the allocation) every time the predetermined time elapses. It becomes possible.

  In addition to when a predetermined time elapses, each time when a predetermined number or more of communication flows are added to the vacant part, or when the vacant bandwidth falls below a predetermined value as a result of adding a communication flow, By re-determining the accommodation destination again (performing the assignment setting), it becomes possible to flexibly cope with an increase or decrease in the communication flow.

  In the above description, the operation when the communication flow input from the communication interface IFa1 to IFan side in FIG. 3 is output and transferred from the communication interface IFb1 to IFbn side is described. However, the operation is input from the communication interface IFb1 to IFbn side. When the communication flow is output and transferred from the communication interfaces IFa1 to IFan, the input and output are reversed and executed in the same manner.

  As described above, in a communication apparatus that includes a plurality of communication interfaces capable of selecting a plurality of link speeds and is connected by a plurality of communication paths in the network, the link speed of the communication interface is set in accordance with the communication amount of each communication flow to be transferred In addition, by providing means for controlling the number of used links and the allocation of communication flows to each communication interface so that the power consumption is minimized, it is possible to provide a communication service with less power consumption than before.

  1, 2 communication device, 3 network, 10 communication control unit, 11 transfer processing means, 12 transfer rule control means, 13 link speed control means, 14a transfer rule storage means, 14b communication interface information storage means, 120 transfer rule, IFa1 IFb1 communication interface.

Claims (4)

A communication device capable of setting a plurality of communication paths for communication addressed to the same destination address,
Multiple communication interfaces that can be switched among multiple link speeds,
The links in the plurality of communication interfaces are configured so that the power consumption during communication is minimized based on the communication amount for each communication flow to be communicated and the power consumption at each link speed of each communication interface stored in advance. A communication control unit for performing communication settings for setting the speed, the number of used links, and the allocation of the communication flow to each communication interface;
Equipped with a,
In order for the communication control unit to respond to increase / decrease of the communication flow to be transferred, if there is an empty part in the link, after sequentially adding the communication flow to the empty part of the link and setting the link speed and the number of used links A communication apparatus that performs communication setting again each time a predetermined number or more of communication flows are added to an empty portion . A communication device capable of setting a plurality of communication paths for communication addressed to the same destination address,
Multiple communication interfaces that can be switched among multiple link speeds,
The links in the plurality of communication interfaces are configured so that the power consumption during communication is minimized based on the communication amount for each communication flow to be communicated and the power consumption at each link speed of each communication interface stored in advance. A communication control unit for performing communication settings for setting the speed, the number of used links, and the allocation of the communication flow to each communication interface;
Equipped with a,
In order for the communication control unit to respond to increase / decrease of the communication flow to be transferred, if there is an empty part in the link, after sequentially adding the communication flow to the empty part of the link and setting the link speed and the number of used links A communication apparatus , wherein communication setting is performed again every time an available bandwidth of a communication flow becomes a predetermined value or less . A communication control method in a communication device, each having a plurality of communication interfaces that can be switched among a plurality of link speeds, and capable of setting a plurality of communication paths for communication addressed to the same destination address,
The links in the plurality of communication interfaces are configured so that the power consumption during communication is minimized based on the communication amount for each communication flow to be communicated and the power consumption at each link speed of each communication interface stored in advance. speed, use the number of links, and have rows communication control for implementing the communication settings for setting the allocation of the communication flow to each communication interface,
To cope with the increase or decrease in the communication flow to be transferred, if there is an empty part in the link, add a communication flow to the empty part of the link, set the link speed and the number of links used, and then perform communication over a predetermined number Set communication settings again each time a flow is added to an empty part.
A communication control method characterized by the above. A communication control method in a communication device, each having a plurality of communication interfaces that can be switched among a plurality of link speeds, and capable of setting a plurality of communication paths for communication addressed to the same destination address,
The links in the plurality of communication interfaces are configured so that the power consumption during communication is minimized based on the communication amount for each communication flow to be communicated and the power consumption at each link speed of each communication interface stored in advance. Perform communication control to implement communication settings that set the speed, number of links used, and communication flow allocation to each communication interface ,
In order to cope with the increase or decrease in the communication flow to be transferred, if there is an empty part in the link, add the communication flow to the empty part of the link sequentially, set the link speed and the number of used links, Set communication settings again every time becomes less than the specified value.
A communication control method characterized by the above.

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