JPH05304541A - Terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the line utility efficiency by sending/receiving data through the selection of an exchange system based on a fluctuation of communication quantity of data sent/received on the way of data transmission by a selected exchange system. CONSTITUTION:When a network control section 4 establishes a setup of a line exchange network with a relevant terminal equipment 12-i, the section 4 sets a prescribed time T to a line timer 5. A timer processing section 51 informs expiration of time to a network selection processing section 1 after lapse of the time T. The network selection processing section 1 calculates a transmission reception byte number per unit time accumulated in a communication quantity accumulation section 22, that is, the communication quantity based on transmission reception byte number. In this case, the communication quantity accumulation section 22 is cleared. The network selection processing section 1 compares the communication quantity with a predetermined quantity and gives a command to the network control section 4 after a line exchange network is in use when the communication quantity does not exceed the prescribed quantity to replace the line exchange network with a packet exchange network.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal device for transmitting and receiving data between terminals connected via a packet switching network and an ISDN network connected to a circuit switching network.

In the data transmission / reception between terminals, when a large amount of data is temporarily transferred in a lump, a circuit switching system is used, and discrete data communication is performed so that the data to be transmitted / received is acquired in a conversational format. If the packet switching method is used.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 shows a conventional system configuration diagram. FIG. 8 shows a terminal network connected to an ISDN network that can be connected by either the circuit switching method or the packet switching method. The terminal device 6 is a business program 60, 66,
67, a transmission / reception processing unit 61, a circuit switching control unit 62, and a packet switching control unit 63, and terminal devices 71-1, 71-2, ... 71-n (hereinafter referred to as "terminal devices" via the ISDN network 18). Data is transmitted to and received from the terminal device 71-i).

The business programs 60, 66, 67 are terminal devices 71-i.
A switching method (whether to use the circuit switching network or the packet switching network) for transmitting and receiving data is selected, and the transmission / reception processing unit 61 is requested to make a line connection with the terminal device 71-i.

This exchange system is selected by the business program 66 for temporarily transferring a large amount of data, such as file transfer, by temporarily occupying the line and using the terminal device 71.
The business program 67, which selects a circuit switch that can be combined with -i and acquires the data to be transmitted / received in a conversational format and communicates discrete data, selects a packet switch system that can use the circuit only when transmitting data.

The transmission / reception processing unit 61 uses the business programs 66 and 67.
On the basis of the switching method specified by, the circuit switching control unit 62 is designated when the circuit switching is designated, and the packet switching control unit 63 is designated when the packet switching method is designated with the destination terminal device 71-i. Instruct line connection.

The circuit switching control unit 62 sets a communication path that occupies the line from the calling to the disconnection with the designated terminal device, and the transmission / reception processing unit 61 thereafter stores the data transmitted by the business program 66. The transmission and the reception of the data that the business program 65 wants to receive from the partner terminal device 71-i are performed according to the circuit switching sequence of the circuit switching control unit 62.

Similarly, when using the packet switching system, the transmission / reception processing unit 61 requests the packet switching control unit 63 to establish a line connection with the terminal device 71-i of the other party. The packet switching control unit 63 establishes a line connection with the designated terminal device based on the sequence between packet terminals, and thereafter the transmission / reception processing unit 61 transmits the data transmitted by the business program 67 and the business program 67. Performs the transmission / reception processing of the reception of the data desired to be received from the destination terminal device 71-i according to the sequence between the packet terminals of the packet switching control unit 63.

[0009]

The switching network used for transmitting and receiving data between terminals uses the circuit switching method for temporarily transferring a large amount of data as described above and uses the circuit switching method to transmit and receive data. A packet switching method is used when performing discrete data communication such as acquisition in a conversational format.

However, when a large amount of data to be transmitted / received or a small amount of discrete data is transmitted, there is a problem that the transmission efficiency which is not necessarily achieved is not achieved due to the characteristics of the selected switching network. ..

According to the present invention, the switching method is switched based on the fluctuation of the communication amount transmitted and received during the data transmission by the selected switching method to transmit and receive the data, thereby improving the line use efficiency.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention. In a data transmission / reception terminal device connected to an exchange network capable of transmitting / receiving data by a plurality of exchange systems having different systems, the terminal device comprises a communication amount calculation unit 2 for counting the data amount of transmission / reception data, and the data amount. In response to the switching method for transmitting / receiving data, a network selection processing section 1 and a transmission control procedure corresponding to the switching method selected / instructed by the network selection processing section 1 are activated to communicate with the partner terminal. And a network control unit 4 for connecting a line between the terminals, and the terminal device performs a time-out interrupt when a predetermined time elapses after the line with the partner terminal device is connected.
The network selection processing unit 1 selects a switching method for data transmission / reception when the timeout interrupt occurs.

[0013]

The communication amount calculation unit 2 counts the data amount of transmission / reception data, and the network selection processing unit 1 activated by the timeout of the line timer 5 transmits / receives data according to the data amount. By selecting, it becomes possible to use a data exchange network that is optimal for the amount of transmitted / received data.

[0014]

EXAMPLE FIG. 2 shows a system configuration diagram of an example. Figure 2
Shows a network configuration composed of terminal devices connected to an ISDN network capable of transmitting and receiving data by selecting a circuit switching system and a packet switching system. The terminal device (10)
, Home data line terminal (DSU) 14, ISDN
It comprises a network 18 and terminal devices (12-1, 2, ..., N).

The terminal device (10) includes a physical layer control unit 11 and a D
The processing device 40 includes a MAC (Direct Memory Access Controller) 12, a line timer 5, and a processing device 40.
Is a network control unit 4, a network selection processing unit 1, and a timer processing unit 51.
And a communication amount calculation unit 2 having a transmission / reception unit 21, a transmission buffer 25, a reception buffer 26, and a communication amount accumulation unit 22, and a business program 41.

The DSU 14 has a function of forming a user / network interface between the ISDN network 18 and the terminal device 10. The physical layer control section 11 controls the data in accordance with the specified physical and electrical characteristics of the line. It has a function to send and receive
The AC 12 has a function of performing conversion of communication speed, parallel / serial conversion of data, and direct transfer of data to a memory (not shown) of the processing device.

The business program 41 is a predetermined terminal device 12-i.
In order to start data transmission / reception with (i = 1, 2, ..., N), the transmission / reception unit 21 of the communication amount calculation unit 2 is requested to perform transmission / reception processing. The transmission / reception unit 21 requests the network control unit 4 for call setting in order to establish a line connection with the terminal device 12-i designated by the business program 41.

The network control unit 4 selects a switching system which is held in advance as an initial value, for example, a circuit switching network, and selects a partner terminal device,
That is, the call setup with the terminal device 12-i is started. The call setup sequence performed by the network control unit 4 is shown in the signal sequence of the calling terminal and the called terminal in FIG. FIG. 4 shows inter-terminal protocols in the circuit switching method and the packet switching method. As shown in FIG. 4 (a), the call setting of the circuit switching is a response to the call setting from the calling terminal and the called terminal. When received from, the line network sets (communication is possible) a communication path exclusively used between terminals (the terminal device 10 and the terminal device 12-i), and the line connection is maintained until the communication path is disconnected.

As shown in FIG. 4 (b), the packet switching method call setup is such that when the network accepts a call setup request sent from the calling terminal to the network, (1) the network calls the called terminal. After confirming the response from the terminal and the response from the calling terminal, the response confirmation is returned to both terminals to establish the physical layer connection (electrical condition). (2) Next, the calling terminal sends the SABM (S
et Asynchronous Balanced M
ode: Unbalanced mode and UA (Unnumbered)
Data link layer connection is established between terminals by sending and receiving an acknowledgment (unnumbered confirmation). (3) The calling terminal sends a call request CR (Call Request).
est) to the network, and the network receives an incoming call IC (incommuni
ng call) to the called terminal, and the called terminal responds to the network with an incoming call acceptance CA (Call Accepted). (4) The network completes connection to the calling terminal CC (Call Con)
connected) to complete the connection of the network layer between the terminals using the packet switching network.

The data transmission / reception processing after the line connection with the terminal device 12-i is completed by using the circuit switching network will be described according to the network switching procedure according to the embodiment of FIG. In FIG. 3, when the network control unit 4 establishes the call setting of the circuit switching network with the terminal device 12-i in the processing step 80, the line timer 5 is processed in the processing step 81 by the predetermined time T (time-out after the time T elapses). Occurrence) is set.

In the case of transmission, the business program 41 stores the data to be transmitted in the transmission buffer 25 in processing step 82. In processing step 83, the transmission / reception unit 21 takes out the data in the transmission buffer 25 and transmits it via the network control unit 4, and accumulates the number of bytes of the transmitted data in the communication amount accumulation unit 22 as the number of transmission bytes (Sd).

In the case of reception, the transmitting / receiving unit 21 is processed in a processing step 84.
Stores the received data from the terminal device 12-i in the receive buffer 26, and determines the number of bytes of the received data by the number of received bytes (R
As a d), the total amount of communication is accumulated in the communication amount accumulation unit 22, and the business program 41
Notify that the data has been received. In processing step 85, the business program 41 extracts the received data from the reception buffer 26 and performs the processing based on the data.

When the time set in the line timer 5 has passed, an interrupt (timeout) is notified to the timer processing section 51. In processing step 86, the timer processing unit 51 notifies the network selection processing unit 1 of the timeout using the timer value (interval occurrence interval timer value = T) as a parameter.

In processing step 87, the network selection processing unit 1 determines the number of transmission / reception bytes per unit time, that is, the communication, based on the number of transmission / reception bytes (Sd, Rd) accumulated in the communication amount accumulation unit 22 during the time T. The amount (= (Sd + Rd) / T) is calculated. At this time, the communication amount accumulating unit 22 is cleared.

The network selection processing section 1 determines the communication amount in the processing step 88 in advance by a predetermined value (for example, in the case of a communication amount exceeding this value, an efficient circuit switching as a communication form of high density and long telegram). Recommended for use). (1) If the amount of communication does not exceed the predetermined value, check whether the circuit switching network is being used, and then issue an instruction to the network control unit 4,
In processing step 89, the network is switched from the circuit switching network to the packet switching network. FIG. 5 shows a switching sequence to the packet switching network.

In FIG. 5, the calling terminal sends a line switching request message to the called terminal (FIG. 5), and the called terminal returns a response to the line switching permission message (FIG. 5). Next, when the calling terminal sends a "disconnect" to the network to release the connection between the terminals in the circuit switched network,
The calling terminal and the called terminal are connected by the packet switching network by the call control sequence (FIG. 5) similar to (b). (2) If the traffic exceeds the predetermined value, it is confirmed whether or not the packet switching network is being used, and then an instruction is issued to the network control unit 4, and in step 90, the packet switching network switches the circuit switching network. Switch the net to. FIG. 6 shows a switching sequence to the circuit switching network.

In FIG. 6, the calling terminal establishes a connection between the terminals by the packet switching network according to a sequence (FIG. 6) between the network and the terminal which is started by transmitting a line switching request to the called terminal via the network. To be released. The connection between the calling terminal and the called terminal by circuit switching is performed by a call control sequence (FIG. 6) similar to that of FIG.

The above description is an embodiment in the case where the switching network in use is temporarily disconnected and switched to a new switching network. However, in the data transmission / reception processing between terminals based on the transmission / reception processing in the packet switching network. As a process in the case where a file transfer occurs temporarily, an embodiment in which the circuit switching network is temporarily used while maintaining the connection in the packet switching network is used for the temporary circuit switching network in FIG. Follow the instructions below.

In FIG. 7, a terminal device is used in the packet switching network.
If 10 and the terminal device 12-i are connected (processing step 70) and a temporary large amount of data transmission status occurs due to file transfer during data transmission / reception processing (processing step 71),
In step 72, the terminal devices are connected in the circuit switching network while maintaining the connection between the terminals in the packet switching network.
In the connection sequence of the circuit switching network in this case, in the sequence shown in FIG. 6, the calling terminal receives the line connection permission from the called terminal in response to the line switching request, and sends a response (RR) to the network. This is possible by shifting to the sequence of call setting (FIG. 6) after (FIG. 6).

When the call setting is established, a file transfer by the circuit switching network is performed in a processing step 73, and when the file transfer processing is completed, a terminal connection in the circuit switching network is released in a processing step 74.

[0031]

In a system using a data exchange network, even in the case of file transfer in which a large amount of data is collectively transferred at one time, or in the case of transmission / reception of discrete data in an interactive format, the network selection processing unit In No. 1, by periodically checking the transmission / reception data amount counted by the communication amount calculation unit 2, it is possible to select a network suitable for data transmission / reception, and it is possible to improve the line usage efficiency.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a network switching procedure according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a signal sequence of a calling terminal and a called terminal.

FIG. 5: Switching sequence to packet switching network

FIG. 6 is a sequence for switching to a circuit switching network.

[Fig. 7] Temporary circuit switching network usage procedure

FIG. 8: Conventional system configuration diagram

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a network selection processing unit, 10, 12-1, 12-2, ... 12-n, 6, 71-1, 7
1-2, ... 71-n, terminal devices, 11 physical layer control unit, 12 DM
AC, 14 is a home data line terminal (DSU), 18 is I
SDN network, 2 is a communication amount calculation unit, 21 is a transmission / reception unit, 22 is a communication amount accumulation unit, 25 is a transmission buffer, 26 is a reception buffer, 4 is a network control unit, 40 is a processing device, 41, 66, 67 are tasks. program,
5 is a line timer, 51 is a timer processing unit, 61 is a transmission / reception processing unit, 62 is a circuit switching control unit, 63 is a packet switching control unit, and 70,71 to 74,80,81, to 89,90 are processing steps. Represents.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A data transmission / reception terminal device connected to an exchange network capable of data transmission / reception according to a plurality of exchange systems of different systems, wherein the terminal device comprises a communication amount calculation unit for counting the data amount of transmitted / received data. 2) and a network selection processing unit (1) for selecting an exchange method for transmitting / receiving data according to the data amount
And a network control unit (4) for connecting a line with a partner terminal by activating a transmission control procedure according to the switching system selected and instructed by the network selection processing unit (1). A terminal device having a characteristic communication network selecting function. 2. The terminal device has a line timer (5) for performing a time-out interrupt when a predetermined time elapses after a line with a partner terminal device is connected, and the network selection processing unit (1) 2. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device is configured to select an exchange method for transmitting / receiving data when the time-out interrupt occurs.