JPH04326836A - Virtual path capacity controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the high-speed and high-reliability virtual path capacity controller in respect to the capacity control of a virtual path in an asynchronous transfer mode transmission network. CONSTITUTION:When changing the capacity of a virtual path 9 by a link 1 connected onto the virtual path 9 and a communication node 2, it is judged according to the information of a control information holding means 8 whether the capacity of the virtual path 9 can be changed at the link 1 connected to the communication node 2 or not and when the capacity can be changed, a control signal is informed through a control signal communicating means 6 to the prescribed communication node 2 so as to change the information in the control information holding means 8. Therefore, the capacity of the virtual path is changed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION The present invention relates to a partial path capacity control device, and in particular to an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM).
(chronous Transfer Mode)
The present invention relates to a virtual path capacity control device that determines whether or not the capacity can be changed in response to a request to increase or decrease the capacity of a virtual path for which a route has already been set in a transmission network, and performs capacity change processing.

0002

[Background Art] Conventionally, processing associated with changes such as increases and decreases in virtual path capacity involves managing path information in a management network at one centralized station, and processing changes in the capacity of all paths in the management network. A centralized control method is known in which this is performed through centralized control. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a conventional centralized control method. In the figure, a centralized control device 11 holds information such as all path routes, path capacities, network configurations, and capacities of each transmission means accommodated in a management network 10 to be controlled. In the management network 10, there is a virtual path terminal communication node 1.
21, 122, virtual path 13, communication node 1
41, 142, 143, link 1 which is a transmission means
51 , 152 , 153 , 154 , and control communication means 161 , 162 for controlling communication between these and the central control device 11 .

[0003] A communication node is a device that connects a plurality of links, and transmits cells received from a link to the next designated link. As a result, the virtual path 13 is set. Links 151, 152, 153, 154
is a transmission means between communication nodes, and an optical fiber or the like is used. A request to change the capacity of the virtual path 13 is sent from the virtual path terminal communication nodes 121 and 122 to the control communication means 1.
61, 162, the central control device 1
1 determines whether or not the capacity can be changed from the information it holds regarding the management network 10, and transmits the result to the control communication means 161, 16.
2 using the virtual path terminal communication node 121,
Notify 122. Furthermore, if there is a change in capacity in the virtual path state, the central control device 11 controls the management network 1
Change information regarding 0.

0004

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional centralized control method, only the centralized control device performs all capacity control processing within the management network, so as the frequency of capacity control increases, the control processing speed slows down. However, there was a problem in that the throughput reached saturation and capacity control became impossible. Additionally, if the network is managed by dividing it into multiple parts to reduce the load on the central control unit, communication between the central control units is required to control the capacity of virtual paths that span the management network of multiple central control units. The problem is that the speed decreases. In addition, since all processing is performed by the central control device, if a failure occurs in the central control device, it becomes impossible to control the capacity of all virtual paths within the management network, leading to reliability problems. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a high-speed and highly reliable virtual path capacity control device for virtual path capacity control in an asynchronous transfer mode transmission network. .

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] FIG. 1 shows a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention. A virtual path (9) generated from a virtual path identifier assigned to a cell in an asynchronous transfer mode transmission network and a routing table (4) possessed by a communication node (2).
), connecting a plurality of transmission means (1) accommodating virtual paths (9) on the route, reading information on cells transferred via the transmission means (1), and instructing the cell transfer route. Referring to Table (4), a communication node (2) having a switch section (3) that logically connects the transmission means (1)
) is provided, and in a virtual path capacity control device (5) that changes the virtual path capacity in response to a virtual path capacity change request from the terminal communication node of the virtual path, the virtual path (
control signal communication means (6) that communicates control signals using a communication function provided between the communication node and the communication node that needs to transmit and receive control signals when changing the capacity of the communication node (9); and the communication node (2). control information holding means (8) that holds information necessary for capacity control processing performed by the communication node (2) on the transmission means (1) to which the communication node (2) connects, and information for determining whether or not to change the capacity; A self-communication node (2) that accommodates a virtual path for which a capacity change request is made by a terminal communication node based on the information of the control information holding means (8) by a signal.
It is determined whether or not the capacity of the virtual path (9) accommodated by the transmission means (1) connected to the transmission means (1) can be changed. capacity control means (7) that notifies the node of a control signal regarding capacity change and changes the information in the information holding means (8);
).

[0007]

According to the present invention, when a virtual path terminal communication node changes the capacity of a virtual path, it sends a control signal to one or more communication nodes on the virtual path. The communication node (2) on the virtual path (9) that has received the control signal from the virtual path terminal communication node transmits the transmission means (1) connected to its own communication node (2).
), for the transmission means (2) in which the virtual path (9) is accommodated, based on the information in the control information holding means (8) of the virtual capacity changing device (5) held by the communication node (2). It is determined whether or not the capacity change requested by the terminal communication node is possible, and if the capacity change is possible, the information in the control information holding means (8) is changed to permit the capacity change of the virtual path (9). The result of whether or not the capacity change made by this communication node (2) can be changed is sent to other communication nodes on the virtual path (9) route or to the virtual path terminal communication node that has made the direct capacity change request to the virtual path capacity change device. The control signal is notified by the control signal communication means (6) in (5). The communication node on the virtual path route that received the control signal similarly determines whether or not the capacity of the virtual path can be changed at the communication node, adds the result to the control signal, and sends it to a predetermined communication node on the virtual path route. Send as a control signal.

[0008] Ultimately, all communication nodes on the route of the virtual path (9) for which the capacity change request is made will ask about the transmission means (1) connected to its own communication node and accommodating the virtual path (9). Determines whether the requested capacity change is possible. This determination result is collected in the virtual path termination communication node that made the capacity change request using a control signal. This virtual path termination communication node determines whether or not the capacity of the virtual path can be changed based on the result of determining whether or not the capacity can be changed based on the control signal. In this way, it is possible to control the capacity of a virtual path by sending and receiving predetermined control signals between communication nodes on the virtual path route to change the capacity of the virtual path without using a centralized control device that manages the network. Become.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the virtual capacity control system of the present invention. In the figure, for example, if the communication node 20 is connected to the side that receives cells with respect to the link 31, it is said that the communication node 20 is connected to the downstream side of the link 31; It is said that the communication node 20 connected to the sending side is connected to the upstream side of the link 36. Also, the communication node 19 adjacent to the communication node 20 via one link 31 or the link 36
The communication nodes 21 that are adjacent to each other via the communication nodes are called adjacent communication nodes. The cell received by the communication node 20 here has a virtual identifier number (VPI) for identifying the destination.
It consists of a header part with a description area and an information part with actual information.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a communication node for controlling virtual path capacity according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This figure shows the part indicated by 10 in FIG. In FIG. 3, the upstream links are links 311 to 311 to the communication node 20.
31i, and the downstream links to the communication node 20 are links 361 to 36n. Upstream link 311
~31i is the virtual path 321 ~32j, 3
31 to 33k, and downstream links 361 to 36
n is the virtual path 341 to 34h, 351 to
It has a length of 35m. The configuration of the communication node 20 includes a switch section 30, a routing table 38, and a virtual path capacity control device 40.

Among them, the switch section 30 has a link 311
31i, read the identification number included in the header area of the arriving cell transferred from the upstream communication node 19, refer to the routing table 38 that describes the transfer route of the arriving cell, and follow the route instructions in the routing table 38. Upstream links 311 to 31i and downstream links 361
Virtual path 341 accommodated in ~36n
~34h, 351~35m. The routing table 38 is a table that describes the destinations of cells held by the communication node 20. Figure 4 shows the routing table 38.
An example is shown below. In this example, if the cell received from link A has VPI number 1, communication node 20 changes the VPI to number 10 and transmits the cell to link B. By setting this routing table 38 at a plurality of communication nodes, a virtual path, which is a cell transmission route, is configured.

The virtual path capacity control device 40 is composed of a control signal communication means 50, a capacity control means 60, and a control information holding means 70. The control signal communication means 50 includes a control signal communication section 51 , and the capacity control means 60 includes a control signal processing section 61 , a capacity changeability determining section 62 , and a control information changing section 6
3, and the control information holding means 70 has a control information holding section 71.
has.

Control signal communication section 5 of control signal communication means 50
1 uses a virtual path or a communication function provided between a communication node that requires transmission and reception of control signals over some communication line to control the capacity of the virtual path 34 that passes through its own communication node. Send and receive control signals between other communication nodes.

The control signal processing unit 61 of the capacity control means 60 transmits the control signal received by the control signal communication unit 51 to the capacity changeability determining unit 62. Further, the control signal processing unit 61 composes a predetermined control signal in response to a request from the capacity changeability determining unit 62, and requests the control signal communication unit 51 to transmit the control signal to a predetermined communication node. Upon receiving the control signal from the control signal processing unit 61, the capacity changeability determining unit 62 changes the link 31 or 36 connected to its own communication node 20.
The control information holding unit 71 of the control information holding means 70 stores the usage status of the link accommodating the virtual path for which the capacity change request described in the control signal has been made.
It is determined whether the requested capacity change is possible based on whether or not the link has free capacity for the change. The capacity control means 60 controls the control information changing unit 6 when the capacity changeability determining unit 62 determines that the capacity can be changed.
3, the information in the control information holding unit 71 is changed, and the capacity change of the corresponding link is permitted.

The capacity changeability determining unit 62 adds the determination result to the received control signal and sends it to the upstream adjacent communication node (for example, the communication node 21), which is the next determined communication node. The control signal processing unit 61
instruct. The control signal processing unit 61 sends a control signal to a predetermined communication node (communication node 21). The control information changing unit 63 changes the information in the control information holding unit 71 in response to a request from the capacity changeability determining unit 62. The control information holding unit 71 stores information necessary for processing performed by the own communication node 20 in virtual path capacity control, such as the usage status of the links 31 and 36 to which the own communication node 20 connects and the number of adjacent communication nodes connected to the relevant links. Hold.

Hereinafter, virtual path capacity control processing in the network according to the first embodiment will be explained. FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment of the present invention.
Each stage of the processing of the example is shown. In the figure, A to E are communication nodes, 41 is a virtual path whose capacity is to be changed, and 42
1 to 425, control signals 43 indicate virtual paths after capacity change. In this figure, descriptions of links, control signal communication functions, etc. that are unnecessary for explanation purposes are omitted.

First, when performing capacity change processing for the virtual path 41, the upstream terminal communication node A of the virtual path 41 sends a control signal 421 describing the virtual path number whose capacity is to be changed, the changed capacity, etc. by the control signal communication unit 51. Downstream terminal communication node E of the corresponding virtual path 41
(Step 1).

Next, in the communication node E which has received the control signal through the control signal communication section 51, the capacity change possibility determining section 62 determines whether or not the capacity change is possible, and if the capacity change is possible,
The control information changing unit 63 changes the link usage status information held by the control information holding unit 71, and the virtual path 4
1 capacity change is permitted. After that, the control signal processing section 61,
A control signal 422 that describes the changed virtual path number, the changed capacity, and the result of whether or not the change can be made at the communication node E is sent via the control signal communication unit 51 to the upstream adjacent communication node D of the communication node E on the virtual path 41 route. Send (step 2).

Communication node D that received the control signal 422
The capacity change determination unit 62 of the communication node D determines whether or not the capacity of the virtual path described in the control signal in the link connecting to the communication node D can be changed, and if the capacity change is possible, the change is approved and the change is made. The judgment result is sent to the control signal 422.
and propagates the control signal 423 to the upstream adjacent communication node C. Such processing is performed one after another. Communication node C sends the judgment result of capacity change to control signal 422.
The control signal 423 added to the node B is propagated to the next upstream adjacent communication node B (step 3). The above process is repeated, and finally the control signal 425 arrives at the upstream terminal communication node A of the virtual path (step 4). All communication nodes A, B, on the route of the virtual path 41
If the fact that the capacity change is permitted in C, D, and E is written in the control signal 425, the capacity of the virtual path is changed, and the virtual path 43 becomes the changed one (step 5). In this way, in this embodiment, virtual path capacity control is performed by performing distributed control using the communication nodes on the virtual path route that performs capacity control.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained. FIG. 6 shows the configuration of a communication node for performing virtual path capacity control according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted. The feature of the second embodiment is that the control signal processing unit 61 and capacity changeability determining unit 62 in the capacity control means 60 in the first embodiment are replaced with a control signal processing unit B64 and a capacity changeability determining unit B65. Therefore, the control is divided into two stages: investigating whether the capacity can be changed and processing the capacity change. The control signal processing unit B64 processes two types of control signals: a control signal for investigating whether or not the capacity can be changed, and a control signal for capacity change processing. When the communication node 20 receives a control signal for investigating whether the capacity can be changed from the upstream adjacent communication node 19 of the virtual path to be controlled, the capacity determination unit B65 sends the control signal to the own communication node 20 using the control information holding unit 71. Among the connecting links 31 and 36, it is determined whether or not the capacity can be changed for the one that accommodates the virtual path. Further, the determination result as to whether or not the capacity can be changed is added to the previously received control signal and transmitted to the adjacent communication node 21 on the downstream side of the virtual path.

On the other hand, when the communication node 20 receives a control signal for capacity change processing from the downstream adjacent communication 21 of the virtual path to be controlled, the capacity determination unit B65 performs control via the control signal information change unit 63. The information in the information holding unit 71 is changed to permit a capacity change in the link connecting to the communication node 20.

Next, virtual path capacity control processing in a network according to the second embodiment will be explained. FIG. 7 shows each stage of the process of the second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 101 is a virtual path, 1021 to 1024 are control signals for investigating whether capacity can be changed, 1031 to 1034 are control signals for capacity change processing, and 104 is a virtual path after capacity change.

When performing capacity change processing on the virtual path 101, the upstream terminal communication node A of the virtual path 101 uses the control signal communication unit 51 to transmit a virtual path number whose capacity is to be changed and a capacity change inquiry function that describes the capacity change. control signal 1021 is transmitted to the downstream adjacent communication node B of the communication node A on the virtual path 101 (step 1).

[0024] Next, the communication node B that has received the investigation control signal 1021 determines whether or not the capacity can be changed in the link connecting to its own communication node B, based on the investigation control signal 1021 indicating whether or not the capacity can be changed. The capacity change determination unit B65 determines whether the capacity change is possible, adds the result to the previously received control signal 1021 to create a new control signal 1022 for investigating whether the capacity change is possible, and further transmits it to the downstream adjacent communication node C. . In this way, the investigation as to whether the capacity can be changed is performed up to the downstream terminal communication node E of the virtual path 101 using the control signals 1023 and 1024 for investigating whether the capacity can be changed (step 2).

Control signal 1024 for investigating whether or not the capacity can be changed
If the received control signal 1024 contains information that capacity changes are possible for all links on the virtual path 101, the downstream terminal communication node E that has received the control signal processing unit B64 Processes the control signal 1031 for capacity change processing and sends the control signal communication unit 51 to the upstream adjacent communication node D on the virtual path 101 route.
Send to. Upon receiving this control signal 1031, the communication node D uses the control information changing unit 63 to change the control information to the control information holding unit 71.
The information in the communication node D is changed, and the capacity of the link connecting to the communication node D is changed (step 3).

Processing similar to step 3 is performed when a control signal 1032 for capacity change processing from the communication node D is transmitted to the upstream adjacent communication node C on the virtual path 101.
The capacity change in the link connecting to the communication node C is performed, and then the control signal 1033 for capacity change processing is transmitted from the communication node C to the upstream adjacent communication node B, and the capacity change in the link connecting to the communication node B is performed. Furthermore, a control signal 10 for capacity change processing is sent from the communication node B.
34 is transmitted to the upstream terminating communication node A (step 4).

When the upstream terminal communication node A on the virtual path 101 receives the control signal 1034 for capacity change processing, the capacity change of the virtual path 101 is completed. The capacity of the virtual path 101 is changed and becomes the virtual path 104 (step 5). As described above, in the second embodiment, by changing the control signal processing section B64 and the capacity changeability determining section B65, capacity control of the virtual path is performed in two stages: investigation of changeability and change processing.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 shows the configuration of a communication node for performing virtual path capacity control according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted. The feature of this embodiment is that the control signal processing section 61 and capacity changeability determining section 62 in the capacity control means 60 in the first embodiment are replaced with a control signal processing section C66 and a capacity changeability determining section C67. By doing so, it is possible to change the transfer route of the control signal when changing the capacity.

Control signal processing section C66 of capacity control means 60
Assuming that the own communication node 20 is the upstream terminal communication node of the virtual path to be controlled, the communication node 20 sends a capacity change signal to all communication nodes on the virtual path via the control signal communication unit 51. Send control signals. Further, the capacity changeability determination unit C6 of the capacity control means 60
When the own communication node 20 receives a control signal for capacity change from another communication node 19, a control information holding unit 7 stores information about the link connecting to the own communication node 20 that accommodates a virtual path. Based on the information in 71, it is determined whether or not the capacity can be changed, and if possible, the control information change unit 63
The information in the control information holding unit 71 is changed via the control information holding unit 71 to permit a capacity change in the link accommodating the virtual path among the links 31 and 36 connected to the own communication node 20.

When the upstream terminal communication node is the communication node 19 as shown in FIG. Via 51,
It is directly sent to the upstream terminal communication node 19 of the virtual path as a control signal for returning the capacity change result. The upstream terminal communication node 19 of the virtual path, which has received control signals from all the communication nodes on this virtual path route, changes the capacity of the virtual path if the capacity can be changed in all the communication nodes.

Next, virtual path capacity control processing in a network according to the third embodiment will be explained. FIG. 9 shows each stage of processing in the third embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 111 indicates a virtual path, 1121 to 1124 are control signals for capacity change, 1131 to 1134 are control signals for returning the capacity change result, and 114 is a virtual path after capacity change.

[0032] When changing the capacity of the virtual path 111, the upstream terminal communication node A of the virtual path 111 must be connected to all communication nodes B, C,
Control signals 1121 to 1124 for changing capacity to D and E
(Step 1).

[0033] In each communication node B, C, D, and E that has received the control signals 1121 to 1124, a capacity change determination unit is used to determine whether or not to change the capacity of the link that accommodates the corresponding virtual path among the links connected to each communication node. The C67 determines whether the capacity can be changed based on the information in the control information holding unit 71, and if the capacity can be changed as a result, changes the information in the control information holding unit 71 via the control information changing unit 63, and changes the capacity. Recognize. Next, each communication node B, C, D, E
transmits the result of whether or not the capacity change is possible to the upstream terminal communication node A of the virtual path 111 as control signals 1131 to 1134 for returning the capacity change result (step 2).

[0034] The upstream terminal communication node A of the virtual path 111 connects all communication nodes B on the virtual path 111 route.
, C, D, E control signal 113 for returning capacity change results.
1 to 1134, and all communication nodes B and C
, D, and E, the capacity of the virtual path is changed. 114 is the virtual path after the capacity change (step 3).

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 10 shows the configuration of a communication node for performing virtual path capacity control according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 in the same figure
The same components are given the same reference numerals and their explanations will be omitted. The feature of the fourth embodiment is that the control signal processing section 61 and the capacity changeability determining section 62 in the capacity control means 60 in the first embodiment are changed to a control signal processing section D66 and a capacity changeability determining section D68. Therefore, two virtual paths (hereinafter referred to as mutual virtual paths) that are accommodated in the same or different virtual path routes and in which one upstream terminal communication node and the other downstream terminal communication node are the same communication node. ) at the same time.

The control signal processing unit D68 has a function of processing two types of control signals: an upstream virtual path capacity change control signal and a downstream virtual path capacity change control signal. If the received control signal is an uplink virtual path capacity change control signal, the capacity changeability determination unit D69 determines whether the capacity of the uplink virtual path can be changed. On the other hand, if the received control signal is a control signal for changing the capacity of the downlink virtual path, the capacity changeability determining unit D69 determines whether or not the capacity of the downlink virtual path can be changed.

As a result of determining whether the capacity change is possible, the capacity change possibility determining unit D69 determines that the capacity change is possible, and if the capacity change is possible, the control information change unit 6
3 to change the information in the control information holding unit 71 and permit the capacity change. The result of determining whether or not the capacity can be changed is added to the received control signal and transmitted as a control signal to the upstream adjacent communication node of the virtual path to be controlled.

Next, virtual path capacity control processing in a network according to the fourth embodiment will be explained. FIG. 11 shows the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Each stage of the processing of the example is shown. In the figure, 120 is an upstream virtual path, and 121 is a downstream virtual path. Reference numerals 1241 to 1244 indicate upstream virtual path capacity change control signals, and 1251 to 1254 indicate downlink virtual path capacity change control signals. Among a set of two virtual paths that perform capacity control, the communication node A that requests capacity control is the downstream terminal communication node.The virtual path 120 is the upstream virtual path, and conversely, the communication node A is the upstream terminal communication node. The virtual path 121 serving as a node is assumed to be a downlink virtual path.

When changing the capacity of the mutual virtual path from one virtual path terminal communication node A, the communication node A transmits the control signal 1241 for changing the capacity of the upstream virtual path 120 to the upstream virtual path on the upstream virtual path 120 route. Transmit to side adjacent communication node B (step 1
).

[0040] Upon receiving the control signal 1241, the communication node B determines whether or not the capacity can be changed with respect to the upstream virtual path 120 in the capacity change determination unit D69, and if the capacity can be changed, changes the information in the control information holding unit 71. However, capacity changes are permitted. The communication node B adds the result to the received control signal 1241 and further sends a control signal 1242 to the upstream adjacent communication node C of the virtual path 120.
Send as. Communication node C receives control signal 1
242 with the result that the capacity can be changed is added and transmitted to the upstream adjacent communication node D as a control signal 1243. Next, the communication node D adds the result that the capacity can be changed to the received control signal 1243 and sends it to the control signal 1243.
to the upstream terminal communication node E (step 2
).

The upstream terminal communication node E of the virtual path 120 that has received the control signal 1244 changes the capacity of the virtual path 120 if the capacity change is recognized in all communication nodes on the virtual path 120 route. 122 is the upstream virtual path after the change (step 3).

The upstream terminal communication node E of the upstream virtual path 122 then connects the downstream virtual path 121
For the purpose of changing the capacity of the upstream virtual path 12
A control signal 1251 for changing the capacity of the downlink virtual path 121 is transmitted to the upstream adjacent communication node D of the two routes (step 4).

[0043] Upon receiving the control signal 1251, the communication node D performs the process of changing the capacity of the downstream virtual path 121 in the same way as the process of changing the capacity of the upstream virtual path 122. A capacity change control signal 1252 is transmitted from the communication node D on the downstream virtual path 121 to the upstream adjacent communication node C. Next, the communication node C that has received the capacity change control signal 1252 transmits a capacity change control signal 1253 to the upstream adjacent communication node B on the downlink virtual path 121 route. Further, the communication node B that has received the capacity change control signal 1253 transmits a capacity change control signal 1254 to the upstream terminal communication node A (step 5).

[0044] When the upstream terminal communication node A of the downlink virtual path that has received the last capacity change control signal 1254 has confirmed the capacity change in all the communication nodes on the virtual path 121 route, the communication node A changes the capacity of the virtual path 121.
Change the capacity of 123 is the virtual path after the capacity change (step 6). In this way, in the fourth embodiment, the capacity of virtual paths in mutual directions can be changed.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, necessary control can be performed between communication nodes on the route of a virtual path subject to capacity control without using a centralized control device that performs capacity control of the virtual path. Capacity control of the virtual path can be performed by distributed control for transmitting and receiving signals. Therefore,
The control processing speed is increased, and since a centralized control device is not used, device failure does not affect the capacity control function of the entire network, and virtual path capacity control can be performed with high reliability. Can be done.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a virtual path capacity control method according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a communication node for performing virtual path capacity control according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a routing table.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing processing at each stage in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a communication node for performing virtual path capacity control according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing processing at each stage in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a communication node for performing virtual path capacity control according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing processing at each stage in a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a communication node for performing virtual path capacity control according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing each stage of processing in a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a conventional centralized control method.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1' Transmission means 2 Communication node 3 Switch section 4 Routing table 5 Capacity changing means 6 Control signal communication means 7 Capacity control means 8 Control information holding means 9, 9' Virtual path 19, 20, 21, 22 Communication node 31, 36,3
7 Link 30 Switch section 38 Routing table 40 Virtual path capacity control device 50 Control signal communication means 51 Control signal communication section 60 Capacity control means 70 Control information holding means 71 Control information holding section 72 Control information holding sections 31, 32, 34, 35 ,41,43,101,104
,111,114,120,121,122,123
Virtual path 61 Control signal processing section 62 Capacity changeability determining section 63 Control information changing section 64 Control signal processing section B 65 Capacity changeability determining section B 66 Control signal processing section C 67 Capacity changeability determining section C 68 Control signal processing section D 69 Capacity changeability determining unit D

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of transmission means accommodating virtual paths are connected on a route of a virtual path generated by a virtual path identifier assigned to a cell in an asynchronous transfer mode transmission network and a routing table held by a communication node. , a communication node having a switch unit that reads information on cells transferred via the transmission means and logically connects the transmission means by referring to the routing table that indicates the transfer route of the cells. , in a virtual path capacity control device that changes the capacity of a virtual path in response to a virtual path capacity change request from a terminal communication node of the virtual path, when changing the capacity of the virtual path passing through its own communication node, control is performed. A control signal communication means that communicates control signals using a communication function provided between a communication node that needs to transmit and receive signals, and a capacity control process that the communication node performs on the transmission means to which the communication node connects. control information holding means for holding necessary information and information for determining whether or not to change the capacity; and a control information holding means for holding necessary information and information for determining whether or not to make a capacity change; The transmission means connected to the own communication node in which the path is accommodated determines whether or not the capacity of the accommodated virtual path can be changed, and if it is possible to change the capacity, it sends a predetermined signal via the control signal communication means. A virtual path capacity control device comprising capacity control means for notifying a communication node of a control signal regarding capacity change and changing information in the information holding means.