JPH0766816A - Line traffic reduction method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce a line utility cost by comparing a destination identification number with a stored number at each transfer of an Ethernet frame and allowing a terminal equipment to receive data only when the both are matched. CONSTITUTION:When an Ethernet frame A is sent from computers 2, 3 on an Ethernet network to a personal computer 1 via a line 14, a filter 19 in a MAC bridge 4 compares a destination Ethernet address and an Ethernet address stored in the personal computer 1 based on the frame A. The frame A is circulated on a line only when both the addresses are matched and received by the personal computer 1. Thus, data independently of the personal computer 1 are not sent to the line 14, in which traffic is reduced. Thus, the utility efficiency of the line 14 is improved and the effective transfer speed of data communication to a remote terminal equipment is increased.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention reduces traffic on a line when relaying remote terminals scattered in small offices or homes where an Ethernet network is not built and terminals on the Ethernet network. The present invention relates to a method of reducing line traffic.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, communication is performed between terminals installed at a predetermined distance. When a plurality of terminals are logically connected to an Ethernet network, they can be connected without any problem if the distance between the terminals is within about 1 km. However, if communication is to be performed between terminals that have a longer distance, MAC is added to each Ethernet network.
It is required to provide a (Media Access Control) bridge, and communication is performed by linking these MAC bridges with a line.

Now, a conventional communication method will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

Conventionally, the structure shown in FIG. 6 is required to connect the Ethernet networks separated to each other to the remote place. That is, the MAC bridge 34 connected to one Ethernet network 45 via the transceiver 71 and the transceiver cable 72, the MAC bridge 54 connected to the other Ethernet network 65 via the transceiver 81 and the transceiver cable 82, and the MAC bridge. 34-MAC bridge 54
A link 44 between them is required.

The computers 32 and 33 are linked to the Ethernet network 45, while the computer 31 and 33 are
Is linked to the Ethernet network 65. The computers 32 and 33 are linked to the Ethernet network 45 via the transceiver 71 and the transceiver cable 72, while the computer 31 is connected to the transceiver 8
1. It is linked to the Ethernet network 65 via the transceiver cable 82.

As shown in FIG. 5, a computer 32.3
3 includes an Ethernet interface 41 as hardware, and a driver program 42 for controlling the Ethernet interface 41 and network software 43 as software. The MAC bridge 34 includes an Ethernet interface 35 and a line interface 36 as hardware, while the Ethernet interface 35,
Driver programs 37 and 38 for controlling the line interface 36 and a data link relay module 40 are provided as software. The MAC bridge 54 includes an Ethernet interface 55 and a line interface 56 as hardware, while the Ethernet interface 55 and a line interface 5 are provided.
The driver programs 57 and 58 for controlling the respective 6 and the data link relay module 60 are provided as software. The computer 31, which is a remote terminal, includes an Ethernet interface 48 as hardware, and also has a driver program 46 for controlling the Ethernet interface 48 and network software 4
7 is provided as software.

According to the above construction, one MAC bridge is provided for each Ethernet network, and an Ethernet frame (data packet) flowing on each Ethernet network is transmitted between the MAC bridges 34 and 54 via the line 44. It is relayed to each other.

The Ethernet frame generated by the computer 31 is discharged to the Ethernet network 65 via the Ethernet interface 48 and taken into the main storage device of the MAC bridge 54 via the Ethernet network 65 and the Ethernet interface 55. After that, the MAC bridge 54 discharges the Ethernet frame already fetched from the Ethernet network 65 to the line 44 in order to relay the Ethernet frame to the Ethernet network 45. At this time, the data link relay module 60 transfers the Ethernet frame taken from the Ethernet interface 55 to the line interface 56. The transferred Ethernet frame is taken into the main storage device of the MAC bridge 34 via the line interface 36. Thereafter, the fetched Ethernet frame is discharged by the data link relay module 40 to the Ethernet network 45 via the Ethernet interface 35. The ejected Ethernet frame is taken into the computer 32 (33) via the Ethernet interface 41. As a result, data is transferred from the computer 31 to the computer 32 (33).

On the contrary, when data is transferred from the computer 32 (33) to the computer 31, the Ethernet frame includes an Ethernet interface 41, an Ethernet network 45, an Ethernet interface 35, a line interface 36, a line 44, and a line interface 56. , Ethernet interface 5
5, the Ethernet network 65, and the Ethernet interface 48 in order.

By performing the above operation, a plurality of computers (31, 32, 33) remote from each other on both Ethernet networks (45, 65) communicate with each other.

[0011]

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional method, even if an Ethernet frame irrelevant to the computer 31 is generated, the MAC bridge 34 transmits this irrelevant Ethernet frame to the line 4.
It relays to 4. That is, since unnecessary data is relayed to the line 44, the traffic on the line extremely increases. As a result, the effective transfer rate of the communication data required by the computer 31 is significantly reduced.

For example, when the computer 32 transfers an Ethernet frame addressed to the computer 33 to the Ethernet network 45 in order to communicate with the computer 33, this Ethernet frame is taken into the MAC bridge 34, and the line 44, the MAC bridge 54,
And to the computer 31 via the Ethernet network 65. However, since the transferred Ethernet frame is unnecessary data for the computer 31, it is discarded without being captured. Similarly, from computer 33 to computer 32
The Ethernet frame transferred to the computer 31 is unnecessary data for the computer 31, and therefore is discarded without being captured.

As described above, according to the conventional communication method,
Traffic on line 44 is significantly increased because line 44 is frequently occupied for the transfer of extraneous Ethernet frames that need not be transferred by the remote terminal.

Further, among the line services, when the packet service or the like is used, the fee is charged according to the number of packets flowing on the line. According to the conventional communication method, every time an unrelated Ethernet frame flows on the line. However, there is a problem in that the line usage fee for that amount is additionally charged.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to reliably reduce traffic on a line by not transmitting an Ethernet frame unrelated to a distant terminal to the line. The purpose is to provide a method for reducing line traffic.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention reduces line traffic when an Ethernet frame is relayed between a terminal on an Ethernet network and a remote terminal. The method includes the following steps.

That is, the above-mentioned line traffic reducing method comprises a step of establishing a line communication path connecting the remote terminal and a terminal on the Ethernet network based on a connection request from the remote terminal, and the line communication path is established. After being
The step of recognizing the terminal identification number of the remote terminal based on the Ethernet frame initially generated on the remote terminal side and storing the terminal identification number, and the case where the Ethernet frame is generated on the Ethernet network side And comparing the destination terminal identification number with the stored terminal identification number and transferring the Ethernet frame to the remote terminal via the line communication path only when both terminal identification numbers match.

[0018]

According to the above method, when the Ethernet frame is generated on the remote terminal side after the line communication path is established, the remote terminal which has transmitted the Ethernet frame is based on the Ethernet frame generated first. The terminal identification number of is recognized. The recognized terminal identification number is stored as the terminal identification number of the remote terminal.

Thereafter, each time an Ethernet frame is transferred from a terminal on the Ethernet network to a remote terminal, the terminal identification number of the destination of this Ethernet frame (the terminal that should receive this Ethernet frame) and the stored remote terminal. Is compared with the terminal identification number. Only when both terminal identification numbers match as a result of comparison,
The Ethernet frame is transferred from the terminal on the Ethernet network to the remote terminal via the line communication path, and is received by the remote terminal. Therefore, an Ethernet frame that does not have a stored terminal identification number is
Since the data is judged to be irrelevant to the remote terminal and is not sent to the line communication path, it is not received by the remote terminal.

On the other hand, when an Ethernet frame is generated on the remote terminal side after the line communication path is established, this Ethernet frame is directed from the remote terminal to the Ethernet network in the line communication path regardless of the terminal identification number. Transferred and received by the terminal on the Ethernet network.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following will describe one embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS.

An example of a system configuration used in the line traffic reduction method of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a personal computer 1 (a workstation or the like) is used as a remote terminal, and the personal computer 1 and the Ethernet network 15 (hereinafter,
Ethernet frames are transmitted to and received from a plurality of computers 2 and 3 linked to the Ethernet 15). The Ethernet frame has a format as shown in FIG. 4, a destination address which is the Ethernet address of a terminal which receives the Ethernet frame, a source address which is the Ethernet address of the terminal which is transmitting the Ethernet frame, and communication. It consists of data related to.

In addition to the MAC (Medi
a Access Control) Bridge 4 is linked. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the computers 2 and 3 has an Ethernet interface 11 as hardware, and has an Ethernet driver program 12 for controlling the Ethernet interface 11 and a network software program 13 for controlling the network. Prepared as software. An example of the MAC bridge 4 is ISDN manufactured by Nissin Electric Co., Ltd.
Corresponding "LANBASE IR64B" etc. are mentioned. Each terminal is linked to the Ethernet 15 via a plurality of transceivers 20 and transceiver cables 21.

The MAC bridge 4 mainly includes, as hardware, a central processing unit (not shown) including an arithmetic unit and a main storage unit, and an Ethernet interface 5 and a line interface 6 which are input / output devices with the outside. I have it. As shown in FIG. 2, the MAC bridge 4 includes, as software, an Ethernet driver program 7 for controlling the Ethernet interface 5, a line driver program 8 for controlling the line interface 6, and an Ethernet in a data link layer (not shown). It has a data link relay module 10 which is a program for controlling data transfer between a network and a line.

The MAC bridge 4 includes a line 14 (public line, high-speed dedicated line, etc.) and an interface board 9
The personal computer 1 is connected via the. The interface board 9 has a line interface 9a, and exchanges Ethernet frames with the personal computer 1 via the line interface 6 and the line 14 in the MAC bridge 4. The interface board 9 is built in, for example, the personal computer 1, and examples thereof include "S & I IB-98" which is an ISDN board package for personal computers manufactured by Nissin Electric Co., Ltd.

The personal computer 1 makes a call connection request to the MAC bridge 4 via the interface board 9 and transmits / receives an Ethernet frame using the line 14, and at the same time, connects the line communication path already connected.
It has the function of disconnecting as appropriate. On the other hand, the MAC bridge 4 receives the call connection request from the personal computer 1 and relays the Ethernet frame between the Ethernet 15 and the line 14. The personal computer 1 also includes, as software, a line interface driver program 16 for controlling the line interface 9a and a network software program 17 for controlling the network.

The MAC bridge 4 takes in the Ethernet frame initially generated on the personal computer 1 side after the line communication path is established, and based on this, the Ethernet address (terminal identification number) of the personal computer 1 (remote terminal). ) Is recognized and the Ethernet address is stored in the main storage device (not shown) of the filter 19.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the Ethernet frame A is transferred from the terminal (computers 2 and 3) on the Ethernet 15 to the personal computer 1,
The Ethernet address of the Ethernet frame A is compared with the Ethernet address of the personal computer 1 which has been stored. As a result of this comparison, when both Ethernet addresses match, the Ethernet frame A is transferred from the computer 2 (or 3) on the Ethernet network to the personal computer 1 via the line communication path. At this time, an Ethernet frame that does not match the stored Ethernet address is determined as data irrelevant to the personal computer 1 and is not sent to the line 14, so it is not received by the remote terminal.

However, the Ethernet frame A may have an Ethernet address (broadcast address or multicast address) for a plurality of terminals as a destination address. When the destination address of the Ethernet frame A fetched from the Ethernet 15 is the address addressed to the plurality of terminals, the Ethernet frame A is discharged to the line 14 and then transferred to the personal computer 1 and received. The addresses addressed to these terminals are stored in the main storage device in advance.

On the other hand, when an Ethernet frame is generated on the personal computer 1 side after the line communication path is established, the Ethernet frame is discharged to the line 14 regardless of the Ethernet address, and the personal computer 1 to the line 14 in the line communication path. Computer 2 via Ethernet 15
3 is transferred. A line communication path is formed by connecting the MAC bridge 4, the line 14, and the interface board 9 based on a call connection request from the personal computer 1.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the MAC bridge 4 is provided on the Ethernet 15 side, the interface board 9 is provided on the personal computer 1 side, and the MAC bridge 4 and the interface board 9 are linked by the line 14. is doing. As a result, the personal computers 1 scattered at remote locations and the computers 2 and 3 on the Ethernet 15 are logically connected to each other.

In the above structure, the Ethernet frame generated by the personal computer 1 is discharged to the line 14 via the line interface 9a in the interface board 9. The Ethernet frame discharged to the line 14 is transmitted to the MA via the line interface 6.
It is taken into the C bridge 4. In the MAC bridge 4,
The Ethernet frame fetched via the line interface 6 is controlled by the data link relay module 10 and transferred to the Ethernet 15 via the Ethernet interface 5. The Ethernet frame transferred to the Ethernet 15 is taken into each of the computers 2 and 3 from each Ethernet interface 11. As a result, the Ethernet frame generated by the personal computer 1 is transferred to the interface board 9 and the line 1.
4, the line interface 6, the Ethernet interface 5, and the Ethernet 15 are transmitted in this order to the computers 2.3.

On the other hand, the Ethernet frame A generated by the computers 2 and 3 on the Ethernet 15 is temporarily stored in the main storage device in the filter 19 of the MAC bridge 4 via the Ethernet interface 11, the Ethernet 15 and the Ethernet interface 5. Is stored. Based on this Ethernet frame A, the destination Ethernet address is recognized. Then, the filter 19 performs a matching operation.

That is, in this matching operation,
When the destination Ethernet address matches the Ethernet address (stored) of the personal computer 1, the Ethernet frame A is sent to the line 14. At this time, the Ethernet frame A is controlled by the data link relay module 10 and is discharged to the line 14 via the line interface 6. The Ethernet frame A discharged to the line 14 is the interface board 9
It is taken into the personal computer 1 through the internal line interface 9a. As a result, Ethernet frame A on Ethernet 15
5, the Ethernet interface 5, the line interface 6, the line 14, and the interface board 9 are transmitted in this order to the personal computer 1. On the other hand, when the two Ethernet addresses do not match, it is determined that the Ethernet frame A is data unrelated to the personal computer 1, and the Ethernet frame A is not discharged to the line 14 and thus is not received by the personal computer 1. .

As described above, the computers 2 and 3 on the Ethernet network to the personal computer 1
When transmitting the Ethernet frame A via the line 14 to the destination, the filter 19 compares the destination Ethernet address with the Ethernet address (stored) of the personal computer 1 based on the Ethernet frame A in the MAC bridge 4. And matching is performed. In other words, the Ethernet frame A is sent over the line and received by the personal computer 1 only when the two Ethernet addresses match. Therefore, no data irrelevant to the personal computer 1 is flown on the line 14, and the traffic on the line 14 is significantly reduced. Therefore, the line 14 can be used efficiently, and the effective transfer rate of data communication to the remote terminal is increased, so that the cost required for using the line can be significantly reduced. This is particularly effective when communicating with remote terminals scattered in small offices or homes where the Ethernet network is not built and terminals on the Ethernet network.

[0036]

The line traffic reducing method of the present invention is
Based on a connection request from the remote terminal, a step of establishing a line communication path connecting the remote terminal and a terminal on the Ethernet network, and after the line communication path is established, it is first generated on the remote terminal side. Recognizing the terminal identification number of the remote terminal based on the Ethernet frame and storing the terminal identification number, and when the Ethernet frame is generated on the Ethernet network side, the destination terminal identification number of this Ethernet frame and the stored And the step of transferring the Ethernet frame to the remote terminal via the line communication path only when both terminal identification numbers match.

Therefore, no data irrelevant to the remote terminal is transferred on the line, and the line traffic can be surely reduced. In addition, since the line traffic can be reduced, the line can be efficiently used and the effective transfer speed of the communication data to the remote terminal can be increased, so that the cost required for using the line can be significantly reduced. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a line traffic reduction method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a system configuration used in the above line traffic reduction method.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the hardware of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a format of the Ethernet frame of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a system configuration example used in a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the hardware of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 personal computer (remote terminal) 2 computer (terminal on Ethernet network) 4 MAC bridge 9 interface board 14 line 19 filter

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A line traffic reduction method for reducing line traffic when an Ethernet frame is relayed between a terminal on an Ethernet network and a remote terminal, the remote traffic being based on a connection request from the remote terminal. The process of establishing a line communication path that connects the terminal to the terminal on the Ethernet network, and after the line communication path is established, the terminal identification of the remote terminal based on the Ethernet frame initially generated on the remote terminal side. A step of recognizing the number and storing the terminal identification number, and, when an Ethernet frame is generated on the Ethernet network side, compares the destination terminal identification number of the Ethernet frame with the stored terminal identification number,
And a step of transferring the Ethernet frame to a remote terminal through a line communication path only when both terminal identification numbers match.