JP5958626B2 - Communication control device and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device in which a computer is incorporated, and more particularly, to a technique for expanding functions realized by the computer.

  2. Description of the Related Art Electronic devices that realize high functions through operation control by a computer incorporated in advance, such as mobile phones and so-called IT home appliances, have become popular. In this type of electronic device, by causing the computer to execute a program called firmware, functions unique to the electronic device (communication functions such as call and e-mail transmission / reception for mobile phones, , The function of setting the cooking time and the function of cooking while adjusting the heating so that the rice is cooked at that time) are realized. Firmware is often incorporated into electronic devices in a state of being written in a nonvolatile memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory).

JP 2005-229146 A

  By the way, this type of electronic device is often more sophisticated as it is newer, and among the users of existing electronic devices, a function that gives the same function as the latest to the electronic device being used. Some want to expand. As described above, since the functions of this type of electronic device are realized by firmware, the firmware needs to be updated in order to expand the functions. However, since the firmware is incorporated into the electronic device in a state written in the nonvolatile memory, the update is performed by disassembling the electronic device and replacing the originally incorporated nonvolatile memory with the new firmware written. It is not easy to change the work.

  In recent years, if there is a bug or other problem in the firmware, the firmware can be written in a rewritable non-volatile memory such as a flash memory and embedded in an electronic device, so that it can be corrected easily. Some of them can be rewritten from their computers. In such an electronic device in which firmware can be rewritten, the function can be expanded by updating the firmware. However, the firmware that adds the function desired by the user is not necessarily provided by the developer of the electronic device, and if the firmware that adds the desired function is not provided, create it. You have to ask the electronic device developer. This is because it is impossible for users of electronic devices to modify the firmware. However, such a request is not always accepted by the developer of the electronic device. If the request is not accepted, a desired function cannot be added to the electronic device after all. As described above, even in an electronic device having a configuration in which firmware can be easily rewritten, it is not always possible to perform function expansion to newly add a desired function.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in an electronic device that realizes a unique function by operating a computer incorporated in advance according to firmware, the function can be easily expanded without updating the firmware. It aims at providing the technique which makes it do.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention executes a process according to firmware and implements firmware execution means for realizing a function specific to the electronic device, and a processing procedure for realizing a new function to be given to the electronic device. There is provided an electronic apparatus characterized by having a script execution means for reading and executing a function expansion script described using a predetermined script language and realizing the new function. In such an electronic device, a function expansion script corresponding to a newly added function is created, and the firmware is updated by storing the function expansion script in the electronic device and executing the script. It is possible to expand the functions of electronic devices without any problems. The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a technique that supports rewriting of data and programs written in a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory and facilitates maintenance work of electronic equipment. It is not a technology that realizes function expansion that gives an arbitrary function to a device.

  As a specific example of such an electronic device, a communication control device having the following configuration can be given. That is, a new function that is connected to two different communication networks and executes transfer control of data transmitted from one of the two communication networks to the other according to the firmware and the communication control device A script for extending a function of the communication control device (or realizing a new communication-related function) by reading and executing a function expansion script in which a processing procedure for realizing the process is described using a predetermined script language A communication control device having an execution unit.

  As another example of the configuration of such a communication control device, the first communication interface connected to the first communication network and the second communication network different from the first communication network are connected. The second communication interface and a new function to be given to the communication control device while executing transfer control processing of data transmitted from one of the first and second communication networks to the other according to the firmware A script for extending a function of the communication control device (or realizing a new communication-related function) by reading and executing a function expansion script in which a processing procedure for realizing the process is described using a predetermined script language A configuration including a control unit that executes an execution process is conceivable. In the communication control device having such a configuration, since both the data transfer control process and the script execution process are executed by one control unit, if the processing load of the script execution process becomes too high, the data transfer control There is a possibility that the execution of the process may be hindered. In particular, when the new function is a resident type, the possibility becomes remarkable. Therefore, when a resident function is newly added by executing the function expansion script, the control unit is configured to restrict the execution so that the processing load of the script execution process does not exceed a predetermined threshold. You may make it perform.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication system 1 including a communication control device 10 that is an embodiment of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the communication control device 10. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in a communication state monitoring function which is a new function given to the communication control apparatus 10;

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication system 1 including a communication control device 10 which is an embodiment of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention. The communication system 1 is an in-house information system in a company, for example. The communication system 1 is configured by connecting a head office LAN (Local Area Network) laid in the head office of the above company and a branch side LAN laid in a branch of the same company to a wide area network such as the Internet. ing. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the head office LAN is connected to a wide area network via a communication control device such as a router, for example, and the branch LAN includes the communication control device 10 and the gateway device GW. Connected to a wide area network. The gateway device GW of FIG. 1 is a gateway relay device for realizing unauthorized access from the Internet side to the branch side LAN, or conversely, restricting access from the PC of the branch side LAN to the Internet. Although a detailed illustration is omitted in FIG. 1, a similar gateway device is also provided between the communication control device that connects the head office LAN and the Internet and the Internet.

The communication control apparatus 10 is a router, for example, and is a communication apparatus (for example, a personal computer: expressed as “PC” in FIG. 1) connected to the branch side LAN, and another communication apparatus (for example, a PC). , A WWW server device) or a PC connected to the head office LAN, an electronic device that performs transfer control of data transmitted and received in accordance with TCP / IP (Transport Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). A computer (CPU: Central Processing Unit) is incorporated in the communication control device 10 in advance, and the above transfer control is realized by operating this computer according to firmware. The communication control device 10 is characterized in that it is configured so that a new function can be added without updating the firmware (that is, the function can be expanded).
Hereinafter, the communication control device 10 will be mainly described.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the communication control apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the communication control apparatus 10 includes a control unit 100, a first communication interface (hereinafter “I / F”) unit 110, a second communication I / F unit 120, an external device I / F unit 130, a storage And a bus 150 that mediates data exchange between these components.

  The control unit 100 is a CPU (that is, a computer incorporated in the communication control device 10). The control unit 100 functions as a control center of the communication control device 10 by executing firmware stored in the storage unit 140 (more precisely, the nonvolatile storage unit 144 included in the storage unit 140). To do. Although details will be described later, in the present embodiment, a communication control program 144 a is stored in advance in the nonvolatile storage unit 144 as firmware of the communication control apparatus 10.

  The first communication I / F unit 110 is a NIC (Network Interface Card), and is connected to the branch side LAN in FIG. The first communication I / F unit 110 receives a packet transmitted from the branch side LAN and delivers it to the control unit 100, while sending a packet delivered from the control unit 100 to the branch side LAN. Similarly to the first communication I / F unit 110, the second communication I / F unit 120 is a NIC, and is connected to the gateway device GW via a dedicated line (not shown) or the like. The second communication I / F unit 120 receives a packet transmitted from the gateway device GW and delivers the packet to the control unit 100, while transmitting the packet received from the control unit 100 to the gateway device GW.

  The external device I / F unit 130 is used to exchange data with an external storage medium such as a USB or an external device such as a serial console according to a predetermined protocol (USB or RS-232C). For example, when a USB memory is used as an external device, the external device I / F unit 130 may be configured with a USB interface. When a serial console is used as an external device, an external device is used with a serial interface such as an RS-232C interface. The device I / F unit 130 may be configured. The external device I / F unit 130 is for giving various instructions and data to the communication control device 10 from an external device connected to the external device I / F unit 130.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the storage unit 140 includes a volatile storage unit 142 and a nonvolatile storage unit 144. The volatile storage unit 142 is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory), and is used by the control unit 100 as a work area when executing various programs. On the other hand, the nonvolatile storage unit 144 is a hard disk or a flash memory. As shown in FIG. 2, the nonvolatile storage unit 144 stores a script execution program 144b, a setting file 144c, and a function expansion script 144d in addition to the communication control program 144a that is firmware of the communication control apparatus 10. .

  The communication control program 144a is a program for causing the control unit 100 to execute processing for establishing an IP-sec tunnel between the branch-side LAN and the head office-side LAN and packet transfer control processing via the IP-sec tunnel. . These processes are executed according to various setting values written in the setting file 144c. In this setting file 144c, the communication address of the default gateway (in this embodiment, the gateway device GW), the communication address of the establishment destination of the IP-sec tunnel, and the like are written in advance.

  The script execution program 144b is a program for causing the control unit 100 to execute a script execution process for executing a script that is an instruction group described in a predetermined script language (Lua in the present embodiment). In this embodiment, since Lua is adopted as the script language, the script execution process includes a process of converting a script to be processed into an intermediate code called a byte code, and a process of executing the byte code by LuaVM. Contains. In other words, the script execution program 144b includes a routine that performs conversion into the byte code and a routine that functions as a LuaVM. In the present embodiment, a script (hereinafter referred to as a function expansion script) describing a processing procedure for realizing a new function to be given to the communication control device 10 in the script language is executed by the script execution process. The new function is given to the communication control device 10.

  Various modes are conceivable as specific modes of giving the function expansion script to the communication control device 10. For example, a command file is input in advance for each command group constituting the function expansion script via a serial console connected to the external device I / F unit 130, or a text file describing the command group is created in advance. A mode in which this text file is input as a function expansion script is conceivable. As a specific method of giving the function expansion script created as a text file to the communication control apparatus 10, a method using an external storage medium such as a USB memory is conceivable. Specifically, a function expansion script created as a text file is stored in a USB memory, and this USB memory is attached to the external device I / F unit 130 of the communication control apparatus 10. Then, the control unit 100 of the communication control device 10 is caused to perform a process of reading out and storing (or executing) the text file from the USB memory via the external device I / F unit 130.

  In the present embodiment, a function expansion script given as a text file is stored in advance in the nonvolatile storage unit 144 (function expansion script 144d shown in FIG. 2), and the control unit 100 uses the external device I / F unit. When a script execution instruction is given from the serial console connected to 130, the execution of the function expansion script 144d by the script execution process is started, and a new function is given to the communication control apparatus 10. The reason why the function expansion is realized by using the function expansion script in this way is that it is impossible for the user of the communication control apparatus 10 to modify the firmware (communication control program 144a), and the firmware is modified. This is to realize the function expansion without any problem. In addition, Lua is adopted as the script language for describing the function expansion script in the present embodiment because the processing load of the script execution process is low compared to other script languages such as Perl (execution of the script execution program 144b). This is because it is suitable for incorporation into electronic devices.

  Here, as a new function given to the communication control apparatus 10 by executing the function expansion script, a resident function (an infinite loop is included in the processing procedure for realizing the function, which is executed by interrupt processing or the like) A function that continues the process until stop is instructed) and a turnaround type function (a function that terminates the process by storing or outputting the processing result). For example, as an example of the turnaround type function, the setting contents of the setting file 144c and the operation log file of the communication control device 10 are stored in a predetermined output destination (serial console or USB memory connected to the external device I / F unit 130). Can be output. By providing such a function, it is possible to output operation settings and operation log reports for the communication control apparatus 10 and to facilitate operation management of the communication control apparatus 10.

  On the other hand, as an example of the resident function, there is a communication state monitoring function whose processing procedure is shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. This communication state monitoring function monitors the communication state with the gateway device GW at a constant time interval (600 seconds in the present embodiment), and QoS (Quality of Service: for example, IP-) according to the monitoring result. This is a function for notifying the predetermined destination of the start (or stop) of the control for giving priority to the packet transmission / reception via the sec tunnel and the monitoring result. As shown in FIG. 3, the communication state monitoring function performs processing for transmitting a ping packet to the gateway device GW a predetermined number of times (step SA100), and according to the packet loss rate calculated from the number of response packets received in response to these ping packets. Processing for controlling QoS start and stop (steps SA110, SA120, SA150 and SA160), processing for notifying data indicating the monitoring result to a predetermined destination by e-mail (step SA130), and sleep for 600 seconds This is realized by sequentially executing the processing (step SA140).

  When it is desired to newly give the communication state monitoring function to the communication control device 10, a processing procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is described in Lua to generate a function expansion script, and this function expansion script May be executed by the control unit 100 of the communication control device 10 by executing the script execution process. In addition, when transmitting a ping packet to the gateway apparatus GW, the communication address of the gateway apparatus GW is required, but values that may differ for each communication control apparatus such as the communication address of the gateway apparatus GW What is necessary is just to set to the communication control apparatus 10 as a variable, and to acquire the environment variable with a getenv command. This is because one function expansion script can be commonly used by a plurality of communication control apparatuses, and convenience is improved.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, a function expansion script is created in which a processing procedure in a function desired to be newly given to the communication control apparatus 10 is described in a predetermined script language, and the function expansion script is created. By executing the script execution process, the function of the communication control apparatus 10 can be expanded without updating the firmware (that is, the communication control program 144a). In addition, in the case of function expansion by firmware update, it was necessary to stop the communication control apparatus once and update the firmware, and then restart the communication control apparatus. In this embodiment, the function expansion script Since the function expansion can be realized only by starting the execution of the function, it is possible to perform the function expansion while the communication control device is operating.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this embodiment may of course be modified as follows.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, Lua is used as the script description language for extending the function of the communication control device 10. However, when the processing capacity of the control unit 100 and the storage capacity of the storage unit 140 are sufficient. Of course, other script languages such as Perl may be used.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to a communication control device that is connected to two different communication networks and controls transfer of data transmitted from one communication network to the other communication network. The case has been described where the access status to the communication device (in the above embodiment, the gateway device GW) is monitored, and a new resident function is added to periodically transfer a mail indicating the access status to a predetermined destination. In the above embodiment, both the communication control process and the script execution process for realizing the new function are executed by the control unit 100. Therefore, if the processing load of the script execution process is too high, the communication control process is hindered and packet loss occurs. There is a risk of problems such as the occurrence of Therefore, when the newly added function is a resident type, the control unit 100 is caused to execute a process for limiting the execution so that the processing load of the script execution process does not exceed a predetermined threshold. Also good. Further, the threshold value may be dynamically updated according to the execution state of the communication control process (that is, the processing load required for executing the communication control process). For example, the higher the processing load required to execute the communication control process, the smaller the threshold (for example, the threshold is set as an environment variable, and the environment variable is updated according to the processing load of the communication control process. ). Furthermore, in order to prevent the above-described problems from occurring, means for executing firmware and means for executing script execution processing may be provided separately.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the execution of the function expansion script 144d is started in accordance with an instruction given from the serial console connected to the external device I / F unit 130 has been described. However, for example, the start and end of script execution may be controlled in accordance with an instruction (for example, an instruction given by communication using telnet) given via a communication network such as a branch LAN. In addition, a function expansion script is associated in advance with a specific one (hereinafter referred to as a script button) of the operators provided in the operation unit of the communication control device 10, and when the script button is pressed. Alternatively, the execution of the script associated with the script button may be started (or the script being executed is stopped). Further, a schedule may be set so that execution of the script is started (or stopped) at a predetermined time.

(4) In the embodiment described above, the processing procedure for the new function to be given to the communication control apparatus 10 is all defined by the function expansion script 144d. However, a library is created by functionalizing functions that are considered to be frequently used in the communication control device such as a script that realizes a function of transmitting a ping to a predetermined communication device and a function of transmitting an e-mail to a predetermined destination, An interface (so-called API: Application Programming Interface) for calling functions included in these libraries may be prepared. By providing such a library and publishing an API, it is not necessary to create a script for realizing a function of transmitting a ping to a predetermined communication device, and it is easy to create a function expansion script. . The processing procedure for each function may be described in a script language, or the processing procedure may be described in a C language or a machine language. When creating the library and API as described above, a library of functions and API (common library) that are considered to be used in various types of electronic devices, a library unique to each electronic device model, and It may be provided and disclosed separately for API (hereinafter, model-specific library).

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the communication control process and the script execution process that clearly show the characteristics of the communication control apparatus 10 are realized by software. However, each of the communication control means for executing the communication control process and the script execution means for executing the script execution process are realized by hardware such as an electronic circuit, and each of these means, the first communication I / F unit 110, the first Of course, the communication control apparatus may be configured by combining the two communication I / F units 120. In the above-described embodiment, the script execution program 144b is stored in advance in the nonvolatile storage unit 144 of the communication control apparatus 10, but a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory). The script execution program 144b may be written and distributed, or the script execution program 144b may be distributed by downloading via a telecommunication line such as the Internet. In the above-described embodiment, the firmware (communication control program 144a) that implements the communication control process and the script execution program 144b that implements the script execution process are configured as separate programs, but they are combined into one program. But of course.

(6) Although the application example of the present invention to the communication control device has been described in the above-described embodiment, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to, for example, a mobile phone or a so-called IT home appliance. In short, if the electronic device realizes a unique function by operating a pre-installed computer according to the firmware, it is possible to expand the function without updating the firmware by applying the present invention. It becomes.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication system, 10 ... Communication control apparatus, 100 ... Control part, 110 ... 1st communication I / F part, 120 ... 2nd communication I / F part, 130 ... External apparatus I / F part, 140 ... Memory | storage part, 142: volatile storage unit, 144: nonvolatile storage unit, 144a: communication control program, 144b: script execution program, 144c: setting file, 144d: script for function expansion, 150: bus.

Claims (13)

A first communication interface connected to the first communication network;
A second communication interface connected to a second communication network different from the first communication network;
Data transfer control means for executing transfer control of data transmitted from any one of the first and second communication networks to the other according to the firmware;
A function expansion script created using a function library and an application programming interface for calling a function included in the library is read and executed, and a script execution process for extending the function of the communication control device is executed. A control unit;
A communication control device comprising: A first communication interface connected to the first communication network;
A second communication interface connected to a second communication network different from the first communication network;
Data transfer control means for executing transfer control of data transmitted from any one of the first and second communication networks to the other according to the firmware;
Control that executes a script execution process that implements a new communication-related function by reading and executing a function expansion script created using a function library and an application programming interface for calling a function included in the library And
A communication control device.   The new function realized by executing the function expansion script is a function for supporting operation management of the communication control apparatus or a function for monitoring a communication state realized by data transfer control. The communication control device according to claim 1 or 2. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein transfer control by the data transfer control unit is executed in parallel with execution of script execution processing by the control unit. The library of functions is divided into a common library used in common by a plurality of types of communication control devices and a unique library for each model of the communication control device. The communication control device according to 1.   In the case where a resident function is newly given by executing the function expansion script, the control unit performs a process of restricting the execution so that the processing load by the script execution process does not exceed a predetermined threshold value. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein the communication control device is executed.   The communication control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit updates the threshold value according to an execution status of the data transfer control.   8. A storage unit storing the function library and the function expansion script, and the control unit reads and executes the function expansion script from the storage unit. The communication control device according to any one of the above.   The control unit has an operation unit provided with an operation unit, the function expansion script stored in the storage unit is associated with a specific one of the operation units, and the control unit performs the specific operation. 9. The communication control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the function expansion script is read from the storage unit and executed when triggered by an operation on a child.   Schedule setting for execution start time or execution stop time of the function expansion script stored in the storage unit is performed, and the control unit controls execution start or execution stop of the function expansion script according to the schedule setting The communication control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein   An external device interface unit to which a console for command line input of a command group constituting the function expansion script is connected, and the control unit is input via the console connected to the external device interface unit The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the script for function expansion is executed. Computer
Data transfer control means for receiving data transmitted from one of the two different communication networks to the other and executing the transfer control according to the firmware;
Script execution means for reading and executing a function expansion script created using a function library and an application programming interface for calling a function included in the library, and extending the function of the computer;
A program characterized by functioning as Computer
Data transfer control means for receiving data transmitted from one of the two different communication networks to the other and executing the transfer control according to the firmware;
Script execution means for reading and executing a function expansion script created using a function library and an application programming interface for calling a function included in the library, and realizing a new communication-related function;
A program characterized by functioning as

Images