JPH07105807B2 - Ring network configuration control method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a configuration control method for a ring-shaped network, and in particular, the network is sequentially expanded in response to a new start-up of a station (ST) or failure recovery. The present invention relates to a network expansion method suitable for traveling.

[Conventional technology]

In a network system, the failure recovery monitoring method can be applied to extended control of a network.
As a conventional failure recovery monitoring method, for example, JP-A-59-5063
No. 9, JP-A-60-120633 or JP-A-58-197940 are known. In this case, the ST (ST # A) adjacent to one side of the fault location sends a kind of supervisory signal to the ST (ST # B) adjacent to the other side through the fault location. The recovery of the faulty part is detected depending on whether or not #B has received the monitoring signal. However, with these conventional monitoring methods,
The transmission line between ST # A and ST # B, for example, the first ring transmission line of the active system and the second ring transmission line of the standby system are not proliferating in a ring shape. Therefore, for example, a point that guarantees that the token can normally circulate between both STs, that is, medium access control (Medium Access Cont
(rol: MAC) No consideration is given to ensuring the normality of level communication.

International Standards Organization ISO (International Standard Organiza
According to the open system connection model defined by the section (1), the lower first layer is a physical (PHY) and the lower second layer is a data link (DLC). The DLC layer is further divided into a medium access control (MAC) and a logical link control (LLC) from the lower level.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the above conventional technology, no consideration is given to confirming the normality of MAC level communication, and even if the PHY function is normal,
If the function is abnormal, normal communication cannot be performed, so it is not sufficient as a method for monitoring the failure recovery.

An object of the present invention is to provide a network monitoring method capable of confirming the normality of MAC level communication.

Another object of the present invention is to apply this monitoring method to randomly expand the ST, or recover the failure irregularly, while expanding the network sequentially, that is,
It is to provide a control method for sequentially incorporating STs in a network.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a test ring is configured in a form that includes an ST newly incorporated in a network, or an ST that monitors failure recovery, and through this test ring.
Check the normality of MAC level communication.

In the present invention, when the test ring is formed,
Alternatively, the ST that has started up due to failure recovery and another ST that has already started up or have started up at the same time are linked to form the maximum test ring. ) The ST is made to judge which role it should play in forming the test ring, that is, whether it is a ring fold or a normal connection.

[Action]

In order to reliably detect that the faulty part has recovered normally or that there is no abnormality in the circuit part that is newly incorporated in the network, it is necessary to test the part to be detected in the original communication mode of the network. desirable. Therefore,
When the ring network is targeted, the normality confirmation test of the faulty part or the newly added part is configured by another ring including the above test target independently from the regular ring network which is already in operation. The test operation may be performed in this test ring without affecting the regular network.

What role each ST plays in the test ring,
In other words, ring return from the active transmission ring to the standby transmission ring (hereinafter referred to as TAIL), ring return from the standby ring to the active ring (hereinafter referred to as HEAD), or normal connection without ring return ( Hereinafter, it will be referred to as NORM). For this reason, when each ST rises,
Predetermined test data is sent out on the rings, and reception of the test data from the upstream ST on each ring is checked. When the test data sent from the local ST is received from the active ring or the standby ring, it becomes NORM. When the test data sent by the local ST cannot be received, when the test data sent by another ST is received from the active ring and the standby ring, NORM is received and only from the active ring is received from the standby ring. TAI when not receiving
L, HEAD when receiving from the standby ring but not from the active ring. By doing this, multiple STs
If all STs are launched at the same time, all those STs can be included in one test ring, which enables rapid network expansion. If no test data is received from either the active ring or the standby ring, the ST
A closed ring (local ring) is formed inside (hereinafter referred to as ISOL), and the reception of the test data on both rings is monitored in order to monitor the new rising of another ST.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 1 is a diagram in the middle of expanding a ring network that best represents the features of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a network system, FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram of ST, and FIG. The steps are shown step by step.

In FIG. 2, 1 is an ST having a concentrating function, 2 is an end device connected to the ST, and 3 is a first connecting a plurality of STs to each other.
It is a dual ring transmission line composed of a (active system) and a second (standby system) transmission line. Further, each ST1 is provided with a plurality of end connection branch lines 4 for connecting the end device 2 to the ring transmission line.

FIG. 3 shows the internal structure of the ST. Reference numbers 1 to
4 corresponds to each of the above elements. 5 is a dual-system transmission line switch circuit for performing, for example, the first transmission line 3A to the second transmission line 3B, or the reverse of the transmission line in the opposite direction, as a countermeasure for transmission line abnormality, 6 is connected to the ST Local ring (ISOL) that enables local communication only between connected terminals
And a switch circuit for connecting the local ring to the dual ring, and a branch bypass for selectively connecting or disconnecting the terminal connection branch line 4 to the local ring.
The switch 9 (9-A, 9-B) is a communication control device,
A control operation for testing the normality of a part to be newly added to the network, that is, a ring transmission line part to be expanded, control of the above-mentioned various switches, and communication with the terminal device 2 and other communication control devices on the network. Communication control. 9-A is the main communication control device, and 9-B is the slave communication control device. Both communication control devices have the same communication function,
Can be exchanged for each other. Reference numeral 10 is a start signal detection circuit for detecting that ST has risen or the failure has been restored by turning on the power, based on a predetermined current value or the like. FIG. 4 shows the internal structure of the switch circuit 5. This circuit
A plurality of switches SW for switching the connection relationship among the transmission lines 3A, 3B and the control device 9-B and the switch circuit 6.
Including 1 to SW9.

Based on the above configuration, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 (A) to 6 (J). In Fig. 6, the structure of the ST is simplified to make the explanation easier to understand.
The main communication control device 9-A (hereinafter, referred to as the main MAC), the slave communication control device 9-B (hereinafter, referred to as the slave MAC), and the activation signal detection circuit 10 are described. The operations are arranged in time series from (A) to (J).

(A): Shows a state in which all STs have not risen. In the ST that has not risen (turned on at the end of power supply), each MAC or the like is set to be bypassed from the transmission line 3 so that the received signal can be relayed as it is. By doing so, it is possible to intercommunicate between the STs that have risen (there may be a plurality) with the STs that have not risen in between.

(B): Only the sub-ST1-B is in a standing state as shown in FIG. ST1-B sends ring round test data 20 (RCC), which will be described later with reference to FIG. 5, via MAC9-A, and whether this signal makes a round in ring transmission line 3 and returns within a predetermined time. Monitor whether or not. If the return of the above signal cannot be detected even after the lapse of a predetermined time, it is determined that communication in the ring network via the transmission path 3 is impossible, and the ST
An activation signal is applied to the local ring switch circuit 6 to form a closed local ring in 1-B.

(C): Shows that ST1-B is in the local ring (ISOL) state as shown in FIG. In this example, the test data does not go round the first ring 3A, so that it becomes ISOL. This occurs, for example, when there is a failure in the transmission line 3, or when the total length of the transmission line 3 is too long for signal relaying only at the rising ST. In ISOL, the configuration control instruction data (B
R) is continuously sent to the first ring.

(D): Shows a case where ST1-A further rises. ST1-A
When the RCC 20 is sent, the start signal detection circuit 10 of ST1-B detects this and moves the MAC 9-B to the detection side as shown in FIG. ST1-A sends BR21 after detecting that RCC20 cannot make one round of the ring and before moving to ISOL. ST1-B is BR2
When 1 is received, the configuration control instruction response data (RA) 22 described later in FIG. 5 is sent to the second ring.

(E): shows formation of a test ring. By receiving RA22 and not receiving BR21, ST1-A becomes HEAD (return to the second ring) as shown in FIG. The test ring 31 is now formed. Since the test ring 31 is independent of the local ring 32 which is already in operation, the normality of the test ring 31 can be tested without affecting the communication taking place via the local ring 32. Further, this test can be performed through the ring-shaped test ring 31, so that the normality of the MAC level communication can be confirmed as described above.

The test in this case can be performed as follows in a token-controlled ring network, for example.
Note that each of the MAC9-A and 9-B has, for example, the document "Token
Ring Access Method and Physical Layer Specification, IEE Standard, 802.5,1985 (Token Ring Access Met
hod and Physical Layer Specifications, IEEE Standar
d 802.5 1985) (ISO / DP8802 / 5) ”is added with a control function that operates according to the protocol. Test ring
For 31, the test operation is performed according to the above protocol. If there is no failure on the ring, the protocol will be in the normal state, and the existing Stand-by or Active state. On the other hand, if there is a failure on the test ring 31, the protocol is in an abnormal state, that is, the Beacon state. This makes it possible to confirm the normality of the MAC level communication of the test ring.

(F): Indicates expansion of the network. By test ring
When the normality of the MAC level communication is confirmed, the test ring 31 is incorporated into the ring 32 in the operating state. In this case
The state of ST1-B is shown in FIG. ST1-B in TAIL state
Will continue to send BR21 to the first ring.

(G): Shows the operation when a plurality of STs newly start up. Upon receiving BR21, ST1-C and ST1-D send RA22 to the second ring.

(H): Shows the format of a test ring including a plurality of raised STs. Since ST1-C receives BR21 and RA22, NORM
Becomes ST1-D becomes TAIL because it receives BR21 but not RA22. As a result, ST1-B, ST1-C and ST1
A test ring containing -D is formed.

(I): Shows the connection between the ring in operation (including ST1-A and ST1-B) and the test ring. ST1 in TAIL state
-D keeps sending to BR21 on the first ring.

(J): End of network expansion, that is, all STs are NO
It becomes RM, indicating that communication is possible only via the first ring.

The features of the invention of FIG. 1 are best represented. In FIG. 1, ST1-A and ST1-D are already standing up, and a ring 32 for communicating between both STs is formed. ST1-B is not yet started. Therefore, the case where ST1-C has risen is shown. That is, the test link 31 including S1-A, ST1-C and ST1-D (ST1-B is not connected to the ring because it has not risen yet) is formed independently of the ring 32 in the operating state. . These two rings exist independently without affecting each other. In forming the test ring, the STs contained in the ring do not have to be adjacent to each other, and more than two STs can be included in the same test ring.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of the communication frame. 50 is a start delimiter (SD) that indicates the start of the frame,
51 is a frame control (Fr
ame Control: FC), 52 is a destination address (Destination Address: DA) indicating a destination, 53 is a source address (Source Address: SA) indicating a source, and 54 is information (Information: INF) which is transmission information.
O), 55 is a frame check sequence (Frame Che
ck Sequence: FCS), 56 is an end delimiter (ED) indicating the end of the frame.

In this embodiment, as a control frame, a Ring Circulation Check (RCC), a configuration control instruction frame (Beacon Reconfeguration: BR),
Configuration control instruction response frame (Reconfiguration Acknowle
dge: RA). The DA52 for these control frames
Indicates an address addressed to all STs (broadcast), SA53 includes a source (self) ST address, and INFO54 includes test data. FC51 is used to distinguish each frame. If FC51 is 1-byte information, for example, if FC51 is X'03 ', RCC, X
If it is' 02 ', it is defined as BR, and if it is X'04', it is defined as RA. In this case, X'02 'may be BR or RA, and the two may be distinguished by the reception transmission path. That is, the frame of FC51: X'02 'received from the first transmission path is BR, and the frame of FC51: X'02' received from the second transmission path is RA. In addition, the FC51 of the frame not used for the above configuration control
Is X'00 '.

12 (A) to (D) show the internal state of the ST. The figure (A) shows the state where ST is NORM. The first ring 3-A is used for communication with another ST. In the figure, the broken line shows the ring in the operating state (hereinafter the same). The figure (B) shows the state of ISOL. As described above, the terminal devices connected to the ST can communicate with each other. Here, BR21 is continuously transmitted to the first transmission line 3A. In this embodiment, two MACs are used.
Since it is unknown whether the ST newly starts up is the upstream side or the downstream side of the ST, the activation signal detection circuit 10 is provided on the side where the MAC is not placed. When the activation signal detection circuit 10 detects the rising edge of ST, the MAC is relocated to the detection side. FIG. 6C shows the state of HEAD. The ring in the operating state is used to return the data received from the second transmission line 3B to the first transmission line 3A. When BR is received from the first ring 3A, RA is sent to the second ring 3B.
Send to. Figure (D) shows the state of TAIL. The ring in the operating state is used to loop back the data received from the first transmission line 3A to the second transmission line 3B. BR21 continues to be sent to the first transmission line 3A. The rising edge of the new ST can be detected by receiving the RA.

Figures 13 to 16 summarize the above description in the operation flow of ST. For example, the ST which has been started by turning on the power supplies the RCC as shown in FIG. 13 and checks whether or not the ring is closed (step 100).
If the RCC sent from the own ST is received, it is judged that the ring is closed (step 110) and NORM is set (step 20).
0), end. If it does not receive the RCC sent by its own ST, it then sends BR (step 120). If BR is not received for a predetermined time or longer (step 130), it is determined that communication via the receiving side of the first ring is impossible, and then RA is determined to determine whether communication is possible via the second ring. Is received (step 140). When RA is received, it is determined that communication via the second ring is possible, and HEAD is set (step 15).
0). If RA is not received, it is determined that communication via the second ring is also impossible, and ISOL is set (step 160). On the other hand, when BR is received, it is determined that communication via the receiving side of the first ring is possible. Send RA to second ring (step
170) together with monitoring the reception of RA (step 180).
If RA is not received, it becomes TAIL (step 190), and if RA is received, it becomes HEAD (step 200).

FIG. 14 shows the operation flow of the ST in the ISOL state. When an activation signal is detected, this operation flow starts. When an activation signal is detected on the receiving side of the first ring (step 300), M
The AC is connected to the receiving side of the first ring and the ring is folded back (step 310). When the normality of the test ring is confirmed (step 320), it becomes TAIL (step 330). on the other hand,
When a signal is detected on the side of the second ring, the second ring is folded back (step 340), the normality of the test ring is confirmed (step 350), and then HEAD is set (step 360).

FIG. 15 shows an operation flow of the ST in the HEAD state. The normality of the test ring is being monitored (step 400), and when normality is detected, it becomes NORM (step 410). If the test ring is normal, HEAD is maintained (step 420).

FIG. 16 shows an operation flow of the ST in the TAIL state. When RA is received, BR transmission is stopped (step 500), the normality of the test ring is checked (step 510), and if it is normal, N
It becomes an ORM (step 520), and if not normal, the TAIL setting is maintained (step 530).

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, it is possible to test the normality of the MAC level communication in the part where a new ring is to be expanded, so that it is possible to monitor failure recovery and perform necessary and sufficient confirmation at system startup. Further, since the test is performed by forming a local ring separately from the ring transmission line which is already in operation, there is an effect that the test can be executed without affecting the network system in operation.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to start up from any ST on the ring, and each standing ST can communicate with each other via the ring formed by the rising ST. Further, according to the present invention, even when a plurality of STs are started up at the same time, a single ring including those STs is formed, which has the effect of shortening the startup time of the network system.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the state of a network in the process of expansion according to the present invention, and FIG.
Overall system configuration diagram, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the ST, FIG. 4 is an internal configuration diagram of the switch circuit 5, FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a communication frame, and FIG. (J) is a state diagram of the network expansion process, FIGS. 7 to 11 are diagrams showing the internal state of the ST in the network expansion process, and FIG.
Figures (A)-(D) are explanatory views of various states of ST, and Figures 13-
FIG. 16 is an operation flowchart of ST. 1 ... Integrated device (ST), 2 ... Terminal device, 3 ... Ring transmission line, 9 ... Communication control device, 10 ... Activation signal detection circuit, 31 ... Test ring, 6 ... Local ring switch Circuit, 5 ... Dual transmission line switch circuit.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Takeshi Harakawa, No. 1 Horiyamashita, Horiyamashita, Hadano City, Kanagawa Prefecture (56) References JP-A-56-112162 (JP, A) JP-A-56-112162 61-33049 (JP, A) JP 62-25537 (JP, A) JP 62-258536 (JP, A) JP 62-169543 (JP, A) JP 61-187446 (JP, A)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of concentrators arranged substantially annularly, a first transmission line prepared for transmitting information in a first direction between the concentrators annularly, and the concentrator. A second transmission line prepared for transmitting information in a ring in a second direction between the concentrators, each concentrator having a first communication adapter for connecting to the dual ring transmission line; In the ring-shaped network having a second communication adapter, a first local ring (operating ring) in which at least a first communication adapter of a concentrator that is already operating among the concentrators is inserted 2 is formed by using a part of the transmission line, and when another concentrator is newly started up, the second communication adapter of one of the already operating concentrators and newly started up First communication adapter of the integrated device Second local ring data and is inserted (test ring),
It is formed independently of the operating ring by using a part of the first and second transmission paths, and by transmitting test data to the test ring, it is determined whether the test ring is normal or abnormal. When this is done, the working ring and the test ring are combined to form a new working ring, and the formation of the working ring is repeated with the rise of a new concentrator, and the working ring is expanded stepwise. A method for controlling the configuration of a ring-shaped network, which comprises expanding the ring-shaped network according to the above. 2. The ring network configuration control method according to claim 1, wherein each of the concentrators has a first switch and a second switch for connecting to a transmission line, The first switch accommodates the dual ring transmission line, is dually connected to the first communication adapter via the second switch, and is dually connected to the second communication adapter. Connected, and has a function of connecting or disconnecting the dual ring transmission line and the first communication adapter or the second communication adapter, and the operation ring is expanded by the concentrator, A switch is used to provide an input side of the first transmission line and an input side of the first communication adapter, an output side of the second transmission line and an output side of the first communication adapter, and the first side.
The output side of the transmission path of the second communication adapter and the output side of the second communication adapter,
By connecting the input side of the second transmission line and the input side of the second communication adapter, the data received from the first transmission line is connected to the first side via the first communication adapter. A first connection state of returning to a second transmission line; an input side of the first transmission line and an input side of the second communication adapter; and an output side of the second transmission line by the first switch. The output side of the second communication adapter, the first
An output side of the transmission path of the first communication adapter and an output side of the first communication adapter,
By connecting the input side of the second transmission line and the input side of the first communication adapter, the data received from the second transmission line is transferred to the first side via the first communication adapter. A second connection state that returns to a first transmission line, the input side of the first transmission line and the input side of the first communication adapter by the first switch, the output side of the first transmission line, and the The output side of the first communication adapter, the second
An input side of the transmission path of the second communication adapter and an input side of the second communication adapter,
By connecting the output side of the second transmission line and the output side of the second communication adapter, the data received from the first transmission line can be transmitted via the first communication adapter to the first side. A third connection state in which data transmitted to one transmission line and received from the second transmission line is transmitted to the second transmission line via the second communication adapter; and by the second switch , The first communication adapter is separated from the dual ring transmission line, and a fourth connection state that constitutes a local ring including the first communication adapter in the concentrator is taken. A configuration control method for a ring-shaped network, comprising: 3. The ring network configuration control method according to claim 2, wherein the concentrator transmits test data to the dual ring transmission line, and the test data is transmitted to the first ring. When receiving from the transmission line and not receiving from the second transmission line, controlling the first switch to be in the first connection state, receiving the test data from the second transmission line, And when not receiving from the first transmission line, the first switch is controlled so as to be in the second connection state, and the test data is received from the first transmission line and the second transmission line. In this case, the first switch is controlled so as to be in the third connection state, and when the test data is not received from the first transmission path or the second transmission path, the fourth connection state Will be Configuration control method for a ring network, wherein the controller controls the second switch. 4. The ring network configuration control method according to claim 1, wherein the concentrator accommodates one or a plurality of ring branch lines for connecting a terminal device to the ring network. The operation of assembling the test ring into the operating ring is performed by the dual ring transmission line, the first communication adapter, and the second communication in the concentrator, which serves as a contact for incorporation immediately before performing the assembling operation. A method for controlling the configuration of a ring-shaped network, wherein the ring branch line is connected to the ring-shaped network via the first communication adapter regardless of the connection state with the adapter.