JPH03292027A - Communication channel testing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect a cause of a fault latent in a packet switching network early by identifying a 1st communication channel with a fault end call arriving at the packet switching network therethrough automatically and testing an overall call setting path to an information processor from the identified 1st communication channel automatically. CONSTITUTION:A fault line detection means 100 analyzes the end state of a call set between a terminal equipment 1 and an information processor 4 via a 1st communication channel 32 to identify the 1st communication channel 32 from which an abnormal end call is detected. A test connection executing means 200 executes the test connection from an accommodation terminal of the 1st communication channel 32 from which the fault line detection means 100 detects the fault end call to confirm the presence of the abnormal connection. Thus, a fault cause latent in the packet switching network is detected early and the lowering in the service for the user is prevented.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Regarding a communication line testing method in a bucket switching network that transmits data transmitted from a plurality of terminal devices to an information processing device, it is necessary to investigate the causes of interruptions in data communication by spending a huge amount of time and effort. The purpose of this method is to analyze the termination status of the call that is being set up between the terminal device and the information processing device via the first communication line, and detect abnormally terminated calls. faulty line detection means for identifying the first communication line that has been
Test connection execution means for executing test connections to all the second communication lines from the accommodation terminal of the first communication line in which the faulty line detection means detected the abnormally terminated call, and confirming the presence or absence of an abnormal connection; The system is configured to provide the following.

(Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a communication line testing method in a bucket switching network that transmits data transmitted from a plurality of terminal devices to an information processing device.

With the spread of personal computers in recent years, an information service that installs information processing equipment that connects to personal computers owned by many users via public communication networks and sends and receives information to and from the connected personal computers. Entrepreneurs are emerging.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional bucket switching network.

In FIG. 3, a plurality of terminal devices f1 owned by information service users are accommodated in a public communication network 2 via a modem (MD) 11 and a subscriber line 21, and each user An information processing device 4 installed by a business providing information services to a bucket switching network 3 and a subscriber line 2
It is accommodated in public communication M42 via 2.

The bucket switch w43 is composed of two sets of bucket switches 33 and 35 connected by a communication line 1i134, and the packet switch 33 connects to the subscriber line 22 via the communication line 32 and modem (MD) 31. connected,
Furthermore, the packet switch 35 is connected to the information processing device 4 via a communication line 36.

The user makes a call to the public communication network 2 from the terminal device 1 via the modulator/demodulator (MD) 11 and the subscriber line 21, and dials the telephone number assigned to the subscriber line 22 of the provider. When connected to line 22, packet switch 33
detects an incoming call from terminal device 1 via modulator/demodulator (MD) 31 and communication line 32, transmits and receives call setting information to and from terminal device 1 according to a predetermined procedure, and then The call setting information for the information processing device 4 is transmitted to the packet switch 35 via the packet switch 34 according to a predetermined procedure. A call is set by transmitting call setting information to the information processing device 4 via the vacant communication line 36 according to a predetermined procedure.

Thereafter, from the terminal device 1 to the modulator/demodulator (MD) 11, the subscriber!
21, public communication network 2, subscriber line 22, variable fiit [(M
D) 31, J flip! 32, Bucket 7) Switching machine 3
3. A call is set up with the information processing device 4 via the communication line 34, packet switch 35 and communication line 36,
Necessary data communication is started between the terminal device 1 and the information processing device 4.

When the data communication between the terminal device 1 and the information processing device 4 is completed, the terminal device ? 1!1 sends and receives call release information to and from the packet switch 33 according to a predetermined procedure to release the call, and the bucket switch 1a33 sends and receives call release information to and from the packet switch 35 according to a predetermined procedure to release the call. The packet switch 35 releases the call, and sends and receives call release information to and from the information processing device 4 according to a predetermined procedure to release the call.

Furthermore, if the communication is interrupted for some reason during data communication between the terminal device 1 and the information processing device 4, the information processing device 4 sends the release cause added to the call release information based on a predetermined procedure. The cause of the interruption is recorded in the code and sent back to the packet switch 35, and the packet switch 35, based on a predetermined procedure,
Recording the cause of interruption in the release cause code added to the call release information and sending it back to the packet switch 33, and based on a predetermined procedure, the packet switch 33 records the cause of interruption in the release cause added to the call release message, send it back to terminal device 1,
Release each call.

The user whose data communication with the information processing device 4 has been interrupted attempts to restart the data communication with the information processing device 4 by repeating the same process as described above, but if the cause of the data communication interruption is unknown. If compromised or left unattended, data communication interruptions will occur again, resulting in a decline in service to users.

Furthermore, if the cause of data communication interruption is the bucket switching network 3 or information processing device 4 owned by the provider, the user will have to pay the communication fee to the public each time the subscriber line 21 is connected to the subscriber line 22. This will be billed by the communication network 2.

Note that the packet switches 33 and 35 record a call setup message every time a call is set up between the terminal device 1 and the information processing device 4, and
A call setup message is recorded each time a call that was set up between the two parties is released.

Therefore, a business that receives a complaint from a user regarding data communication interruption can detect the interrupted data communication by analyzing the call setup messages and call release messages recorded by the packet switches 33 and 35 one by one. However, it would take a huge amount of time and effort to analyze all the call setup messages and call release messages for the huge number of calls processed by the packet switching network 3, so it is difficult to quickly eliminate the causes of data communication interruptions. It is difficult to do so.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

As is clear from the above explanation, in conventional packet switching networks, terminal bags! 1 and the information processing device 4 is interrupted, the only way to investigate the cause of the interruption is to analyze the huge amount of call setup messages and call release messages one by one, This requires a lot of time and effort, and it becomes impossible to quickly eliminate the cause of data communication interruption, resulting in a problem that the service provided to users deteriorates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to make it possible to quickly determine the cause of data communication interruption without spending a huge amount of time and effort.

[Means to solve the problem]

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

In FIG. 1, 1 is a terminal device, 3 is a packet switching network,
4 is an information processing device, 32 is a first communication line, and 36 is a second communication line.

Reference numeral 100 denotes a faulty line detection means provided within the packet switching network 3 according to the present invention.

200 is a test connection execution means provided in the packet switching network 3 according to the present invention.

[Effect]

The bucket exchange y43 transmits data transmitted from the plurality of terminal devices 1 via the first communication line 32 to the information processing device 4 via the plurality of second communication lines 36.

The faulty line detection means 100 analyzes the termination state of the call being set up between the terminal device 1 and the information processing device i4 via the first communication port 132, and detects the first call in which the abnormally terminated call has been detected. Identify the communication line 32.

The test connection execution means 200 executes a test connection from the accommodation terminal of the first communication line 32 where the faulty line detection means 100 detected the abnormally terminated call to all the second communication lines 36, and detects the abnormal connection. Check if there is.

Therefore, the first communication line through which the abnormally terminated call arrived at the packet switching network is automatically identified, and the comprehensive call setup path from the identified first communication line to the information processing device is automatically tested. This makes it possible to detect the cause of a latent failure in the packet switching network at an early stage, and to prevent a decline in service to users.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a packet switching network according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals indicate the same objects throughout the figures.

In FIG. 2, the fault line detection means 1 in FIG.
00, a fault line detection section 3321 is provided in the common section 332 of the bucket exchange 33, and as the test connection execution means 200 in FIG. Connection sections 3521 are provided within the common section 352 of the packet switch 35, respectively. Note that the first communication line 32 and the first communication line 36 will hereinafter be simply referred to as communication lines 32 and 3.
It is called 6.

In FIG. 2 as well, a plurality of terminal devices 1 owned by information service users are accommodated in a public communication '1I42 via a modem (MD) 11 and a subscriber line 21, and each user An information processing device 4 installed by a business providing information services to the public is accommodated in the public communication network 2 via a packet switching network 3 and a subscriber line 22.

The user makes a call to the public communication network 2 from the terminal device 1 via the modulator/demodulator (MD) 11 and the subscriber line 21, and dials the telephone number assigned to the subscriber line 22 of the provider. 122, the packet switching network 3 sets up a call to the information processing device 4 through the same process as described above.

Thereafter, from the terminal device 1, the modem (MD) 11, the subscriber line 21, the public communication network 2, the subscriber line 22, the modem (MD)
31, communication line 32, bag/) switch 33, communication port 11#t34, packet switch 35 and communication line 36
A call is set up with the information processing device 4 via the terminal device 1 and the information processing device 4, and required data communication is started between the terminal device 1 and the information processing device 4.

When the data communication between the terminal device 1 and the information processing device 4 is completed, the terminal bag! The call that was set up between 'l and the information processing device 4 is released through the same process as described above.

Furthermore, if the communication is interrupted for some reason during data communication between the terminal device 1 and the information processing device 4, the information processing device 4 uses the call release information based on the predetermined procedure as described above. The reason for the interruption is recorded in the release cause code added to the call release information and sent back to the packet switch tR 35, and the packet switch 35 records the reason for the interruption in the release cause code added to the call release information based on a predetermined procedure, and the packet switch Based on a predetermined procedure, the packet exchanger 33 records the cause of interruption in the release cause added to the call release message, returns it to the terminal bag f1, and releases the call.

Note that the packet switches 33 and 35 record a call setting message every time a call is set up between the terminal device 1 and the information processing device 4, and also record a call setup message between the terminal device 1 and the information processing device W4.
A call release message is recorded each time a call that was set up between the two parties is released.

On the other hand, a faulty line detection unit 3321 provided in the common unit 332 of the Pakent exchange 33 periodically refers to the call release message that the common unit 332 sends back to the communication line 32 via the line unit 331, and detects the call release message. When the attached release cause is analyzed and a release cause indicating that data communication has been interrupted is detected, the communication line 32 that returned the call release message with the release cause added is identified and recorded, and then tested. Activate the connection section 3322.

The activated test connection unit 3322 detects the faulty line detection unit 33
21 identifies an incoming test call to the information processing device 4, sequentially specifies each communication line 34 leading to the packet switch 35, and sends the call to the packet switch 35 via the specified packet switch 35. , the information processing device 4
When the packet switch 35 transmits the call setting information to the corresponding communication line 34 and the call setting reception information is returned from the packet switch 35,
is judged to be normal, immediately releases the incoming call, and connects to the next communication line 3.
Repeat the same test call via 4.

When the test call via all communication lines 34 is completed,
The test connection unit 3322 records the communication lines 34 on which the test call was not successfully completed.

On the other hand, in the packet switch 35, the common section 352 is the communication port &? When receiving and analyzing the call setting information from t34 and identifying that the call is a test call, the test connection unit 3521
Start.

The activated test connection unit 3521 sequentially specifies each communication port fli36 leading to the information processing device 4, transmits call setting information to the information processing device 4 via the specified communication line 36,
When the call setup acceptance information is returned from the information processing device 4, the call setup via the corresponding communication line 36 is determined to be normal, the incoming call is immediately released, and a similar test is performed via the next communication port i36. Repeated incoming calls.

When the test call via all communication lines 36 is completed,
The test connection unit 3521 records the communication lines 36 on which the test call was not successfully completed.

The vendor extracts the communication lines 32 where the data communication was interrupted and the communication lines 34 and 36 where the test call was not received normally recorded by the test connection units 3322 and 3521, and investigates the cause of the data communication interruption. Take appropriate measures to resolve the cause.

If no abnormality is detected in the packet exchange m3, it is determined that the cause of data communication interruption may exist in the terminal device 1 or the public communication network 2, and appropriate measures are requested from all concerned parties. do.

As is clear from the above description, according to this embodiment, when data communication between the terminal device 1 and the information processing device 4 is interrupted for some reason, the interrupted communication FIG. 132 is a communication diagram automatically detected by the faulty line detection unit 3321! 32 to the information processing device 4 via all the communication lines 34 and 36 in the packet switching network 3, the test connection section 3322 and the test connection section 3521 automatically test the normality of the incoming call from the communication line 34 and 36 in the packet switching network 3.
The cause of interruption within the packet switching network 3 can be quickly determined without any human intervention.

Note that FIG. 2 is only one embodiment of the present invention, and the configuration of the packet switching network 3, for example, is not limited to that shown in the figure, and many other modifications may be considered; The effect of the present invention does not change even in this case. Also, each terminal device 1
The connection between the packet switching network 3 and the packet switching network 3 is not limited to that shown in the figure, and many other modifications may be considered, but the effects of the present invention remain the same in any case.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, in the packet switching network,
The first communication line through which the abnormally terminated call arrived at the packet switching network is automatically identified, and a comprehensive call setup path from the identified first communication line to the information processing device is automatically tested. , it becomes possible to detect the cause of a latent failure in a packet-switched network at an early stage, and it becomes possible to prevent a decline in service to users.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a packet switching network according to an embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional packet switching network. In the figure, 1 is a terminal device, 2 is a public communication network, 3 is a packet switching network, 4 is an information processing device, 11 and 31 are modulators and demodulators (MDs), 21 and 22 are subscriber lines, and 32 is (
1) communication line, 33 and 35 are packet switches,
34 is a communication line, 36 is a (second) communication line, 100 is a faulty line detection means, 200 is a test connection execution means, 331
and 351 is a line part, 332 and 352 are a common part,
Reference numeral 3321 indicates a faulty line detection section, and 3322 and 3521 indicate a test connection section. Figure 1: Original map of the present invention

Claims (1)

[Claims] Data transmitted from a plurality of terminal devices (1) via a first communication line (32) is transferred to a plurality of second communication lines (32).
6), the terminal device (1) and the information processing device (4) via the first communication line (32).
faulty line detection means (100) that analyzes the termination state of a call that is being set up between and identifies the first communication line (32) in which an abnormally terminated call has been detected; ) executes a test series from the accommodation terminal of the first communication line (32) where the abnormally terminated call was detected to all the second communication lines (36) to check whether there is an abnormal connection. Test connection execution means (200
) A communication line testing method characterized by providing the following.