JPH08204717A - Atm system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To easily build up an optimum system and to reduce the cost by building up a node control unit, a network control unit, an ATM input output unit and a general-purpose interface unit to a built-in card of a general-purpose personal computer so as to enhance the hardware compatibility. CONSTITUTION: An ATM input output unit 1 receives an ATM packet via an ATM packet ATM line 7 and applies parallel processing to the ATM packet and gives the resulting packet to bus lines 5, 6. Furthermore, the unit 1 sends data received through the bus lines 5, 6 to the ATM line 7 as an ATM packet. A node control unit 2 uses header information included in the ATM packet appearing at the bus lines 5, 6 to control the bus line with data obtained by referencing table in the unit 2 and sends the ATM packet to an object unit. A control unit 3 executes analysis processing. A general-purpose unit 4 converts ATM packet information and a general-purpose interface signal received from the bus line into ATM packet information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ATM system using an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) technology which is a high speed transmission / switching technology used for a broadband ISDN.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art ATM network technology is being researched and developed mainly as a part of global and large-scale next-generation network technology, and the system realized is A
There are many relatively large-scale examples centered on TM exchanges, etc.
Even in the implementation of TM-LAN, only limited topologies such as star type and ring type are performed.

[0003]

However, in each of the above-mentioned ATM-LANs, the optimum configuration in the area of ATM is aimed at, and an attempt is made to connect with conventional software and hardware. At the same time, the cost of the interface was high. That is, ATM-L
There is a lot of discussion about the topology regarding the AN, and there is a tendency that the ATM network is mainly considered. Therefore, when accommodating a conventional LAN (for example, Ethernet / Token Ring), the configuration of the ATM network is Since importance is attached to the optimality, there is a possibility that the existing LAN software / hardware will have an increased functional load.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, improves the affinity with conventional software and hardware while making the most of the original characteristics of the ATM network, and constructs an optimum system according to the application and scale. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ATM system having an architecture that can be realized easily and at low cost.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is an ATM input / output unit which receives an ATM packet, parallelizes it and sends it to a bus line, and sends the data received from the bus line as an ATM packet. And a node control unit that refers to the table by the header information that appears on the bus line and sends a packet to the target unit according to the referenced data, and a network control that rewrites the reference table of the node control unit and manages the network. Unit and AT received from Biline
A general-purpose interface unit that converts M-packet information to general-purpose interface signals and general-purpose interface signals to ATM packet information can be installed on a bus line consisting of general-purpose bus lines and high-speed input / output bus lines to build various systems. It is characterized by

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ATM general-purpose node device according to this embodiment. In FIG.
Reference numeral 1 denotes an ATM input / output unit. The ATM input / output unit 1 receives an ATM packet via an ATM line 7, parallelizes the received ATM packet (serial / parallel conversion), and sends it to a bus line. Furthermore, ATM
The input / output unit uses the data received from the bus line as A
It is sent to the ATM line 7 as a TM packet.

2 is a node control unit,
The node control unit 2 refers to the table in the unit 2 by the header information contained in the ATM packet appearing on the bus line, controls the bus line by the data obtained by referring to the table, and sends the ATM packet to the target unit. To do.

Reference numeral 3 is a network control unit, and the network control unit 3 is a CPU.
Built-in, it executes software-like analysis processing. The network control unit 3 has a function of rewriting the table in the node control unit 2 and a function of analyzing the contents of a packet including information about network line connection, disconnection, operation and management by software and determining the contents of rewriting of the table. Have.

A general-purpose interface unit 4 has a function of converting the ATM packet information received from the bus line into a general-purpose interface signal and a function of converting the general-purpose interface signal into ATM packet information.

The bus line comprises a general-purpose bus line 5 and a high-speed input / output bus line 6, and the ATM input / output unit 1, node controller unit 2, network controller unit 3, and general-purpose interface unit 4 are the general-purpose bus line 5 and high-speed input. -It is configured so that it can be mounted on the output bus line 6, and it is possible to easily and inexpensively construct an optimal system configuration according to the scale and application.

Reference numeral 8 is an I / F line for connecting to various terminals.

In FIG. 1, an ATM packet is an ATM packet.
The ATM packet transmitted / received by the input / output unit 1 is serial / parallel converted. Then, the general-purpose bus line 5 interrupts the node controller unit 2. When the node controller unit 2 permits, the ATM converted into serial / parallel
The packets are sent to the high-speed input / output bus line 6 in order from the header of the header.

After this ATM packet is once received in the node controller unit 2, the node controller unit 2 refers to the built-in table by the header information included in the ATM packet, and rewrites the header information according to the table. After that, the ATM packet is sent again to the target unit via the high-speed input / output bus line 6.

Information for rewriting the header address is also stored in the reference table, and it is possible to deal with the virtual path setting unique to the ATM network and the virtual line setting by the virtual channel. The reference table will be further described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 7 shows a VPI (virtual) at the header of the header in the input / output of a packet between the node controller unit 2 and the high-speed input / output bus line 6.
path identifier) / VCI (vir
It is a figure which shows the state where the value of the true channel identifier was rewritten. In this, I / F1
0, I / F 20, and I / F 30 are units such as the ATM input / output unit 1 and the general-purpose interface unit 4. Here, for example, the header VPI / VCI value of the packet received from the ATM input / output unit of the I / F 10 is VP.
A packet with I = a and VCI = b is rewritten as VPI = e and VCI = f and sent to the general-purpose interface unit 4 of the I / F 20, and is also sent from the ATM input / output unit 1 of the I / F 10 to VPI = c and VCI. The packet input as = d is rewritten as VPI = g, VCI = h,
It is sent from the general-purpose interface unit 4 of the I / F 30.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the conversion table in the node controller unit 2 at this time.

The value of 21 is the interface number assigned to this unit, and 22 is the V in the received packet.
Similarly, the PI value 23 is the VCI value at this time. By using these as address values, it is possible to specify the unit on the output side and obtain the VPI / VCI value of this outgoing packet by the conversion table.

It is assumed that the network controller unit 3 can perform a function of rewriting the reference table of the node controller unit 2 by software at the time of initial setting and a function of controlling each unit, interrupt, etc. via the general-purpose bus line 5. At the same time, ATM packets can be directly transmitted / received to / from the high-speed input / output bus line 6.

By adopting such a configuration, in the state after the line is established, packet switching and transfer are
Since it is performed by hardware means, it can be executed at extremely high speed (for example, 155.52 Mbps).

In FIG. 2, only the node controller unit 2 is mounted as a controller, and the reference table value is fixed, so the network control unit 3 is omitted. In the configuration of FIG. 2, the nodes are used in a one-to-one opposition and various general-purpose interfaces (RS232C8
1, SCSI82, Ethernet83, NTSC84
, Etc., a general-purpose and versatile ATM multiplexer can be easily and inexpensively constructed.

According to the ATM multiplexer shown in FIG.
The ATM packet received through the TM line 7 is RS2
32C81, SCSI82, Ethernet83, NTS
Can be output to any of the general-purpose interface lines of C84 via the general-purpose interface units 41 to 44,
Also, RS232C81, SCSI82, Ethernet 8
3, the data received from any one of the general-purpose interface lines of NTSC84 and the general-purpose interface units 41 to 44 is converted into an ATM packet, and the ATM line 7
Can be output to.

The network controller unit 3 is C
Since it has a built-in PU and has a software processing function, it is possible to perform advanced network management, operation, and establishment of virtual circuits. It monitors the status of each unit via the general-purpose bus line 5, controls it, and outputs high-speed input / output bus lines. The virtual circuit is established by exchanging packets with the network controller of another node via 6. Therefore, by using a node equipped with both a node controller and a net controller, an ATM-LAN as shown in FIG. 3 can be constructed.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 9 is an ATM general-purpose node device having the same configuration as that shown in FIG.
Is an ATM general-purpose node device having the same configuration as 9.

In FIG. 3, reference numerals 1 and 101 are ATM input / output units, 2 and 202 are node controller units,
3, 103 is a network control unit, 4,
Reference numeral 104 is a general-purpose interface unit, 5 and 105 are general-purpose bus lines, 6 and 106 are high-speed input / output bus lines, 7 is an ATM line, and 8 and 108 are various interface lines.

As described above, a plurality of node devices each composed of a general-purpose bus line, a high-speed input / output bus line, a node control unit, a network control unit, an ATM input / output unit, and a general-purpose interface unit are arranged, and an ATM packet header is provided. By rewriting the address of each part according to the reference table on the node control unit operating on each network control unit and managed by the network control software, ATM network control and formation of virtual paths, virtual channels, etc. can be performed. As possible,
Construction of an N-to-N ATM network and connection of various interfaces to each node via a general-purpose interface can be easily configured.

The node as shown in FIG. 1 can be used to construct the ATM network shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, 301, 302, 303,
304 is an ATM branching device (AH), 401, 402, 4
03, 404 are terminal adapters (TA), 501,
Reference numerals 502, 503, and 504 represent terminal devices.

Here, the ATM branching device (AH) 301-
Reference numerals 304 each include a general-purpose bus line 5, a high-speed input / output bus line 6, a node control unit 2, a network control unit 3, and an ATM input / output unit 1, and mainly perform network control and switching functions. Here, for example, the ATM input / output units in the ATM branching device 301 are the ATM branching devices 302 and 304.
ATM input / output unit and terminal adapter 40 in
Connected to 1.

Terminal adapters 401, 402, 40
3, 404 are general-purpose bus lines 5, high-speed input /
It is composed of an output bus line 6, an ATM input / output unit 1 and a general-purpose interface unit 4.

The ATM input / output unit in the terminal adapter and the ATM input / output unit in the ATM branching device are connected, and the general-purpose interface unit in the terminal adapter is connected to various terminal devices.

According to the system configuration shown in FIG. 4,
An ATM branching device mainly composed of a general-purpose bus line, a high-speed input / output bus line, a node control unit, a network control unit, and an ATM input / output unit, which has a network control and switching function, and a general-purpose bus line, a high-speed input, By using the terminal adapter composed of the output bus line, the ATM input / output unit, and the general-purpose interface unit, it is possible to easily construct an N-to-N ATM network including a plurality of ATM branching devices. Further, various interfaces can be easily connected by the terminal adapter of the terminal adapter connected to the ATM input / output unit of the ATM branching device, the processing and the conversion function of the ATM packet signal and the general-purpose interface signal.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for realizing the general-purpose node device of FIG. 1 more concretely.

As a general-purpose bus line, VME (VERSA
module euro bus)
Each ME bus high-speed input / output bus line has a width of 16 bits and operates at a clock of 19.44 MHz. Therefore, the total speed of the input / output bus is 622 Mbps, and the ATM packet switching capability of the node is also this value. Motorola 68030 is used as a CPU for the network controller, and a real-time OS is used.
Network management and control programs run under
It is possible to set up virtual circuits. Furthermore, conventional interfaces such as RS232C, Centro, SCSI, and NTSC are connected via a general-purpose interface unit.

In such a configuration, the network controller is preliminarily mounted on each interface unit (RS232C, Centro, SCSI, NTSC, etc.).
On the other hand, when the system is started up, a conversion table for routing is created from the network controller in the conversion table in the node controller.

Further, each interface unit is an ATM
It has the functions of cell assembly / separation.

When the conversion table is created, the I / F number is set for each interface unit, and VPI,
The initial value is also stored for the VCI value. After that, an example in which an ATM packet is actually sent from the RS232C unit to the ATM line via the ATM unit will be described.

When data is received by the RS232C unit, it is converted into ATM cells in the RS232C and sent to the high speed input / output bus as parallel data. After that, the parallel data is once rewritten in the conversion table in the node controller by rewriting the VPI / VCI value at the header head portion of the ATM packet, and sent again to the high speed input / output bus. This parallel data is input to the other party's ATM input / output unit and sent out from the ATM line 7.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another configuration example of FIG.
FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment. The internal bus of the personal computer is used as a general-purpose bus line, and the internal bus of the personal computer is also used for high-speed input / output bus lines. In this example, the ISA bus and the PCI bus.

In FIG. 6, 601 is a personal computer PC / AT
602 indicates a CPU in the personal computer. A general-purpose bus line, a high-speed input / output bus line, an internal bus in the personal computer 601, a PCI bus, an ISA
(EISA: extended industry s
A standard architecture) bus is used. In this case, software such as Microsoft's Windows can be used as the software.

The personal computer in FIG. 6 may be a workstation.

A node control unit, a network control unit, an ATM input / output unit, a general-purpose interface unit, a general-purpose personal computer,
Built on the interior card of a general workstation. This makes it easy to construct an ATM network and convert and connect the ATM and various interfaces.

As described above, by using the configurations of FIGS. 5 and 6, existing general-purpose hardware (for example, VME bus, P
CI bus, personal computer, etc.) and software (WINDOWS
Etc.) can be used to build an ATM network tool, so a simple general-purpose ATM multiplexer (one-to-one opposition), a front-end simple ATM network (N to N; A
(TM / LAN), ATM branching device, etc. can be realized easily and at low cost, and also has high compatibility with existing software and hardware.

In the apparatus shown in FIG. 6, the CPU in the personal computer or workstation plays the role of the network controller, and the general-purpose bus line corresponding to the VME bus is the ISA bus, or the PCI bus is used as the high-speed input / output bus line. To use.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, the AT
It is possible to provide an ATM system having an architecture that enhances the affinity with conventional software and hardware while making the most of the original characteristics of the M network, and can easily construct an optimum system according to the application and scale at a low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an ATM node device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an ATM multiplexer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an ATM-LAN according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an ATM network according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a specific example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation inside the node controller unit.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a conversion table.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ATM input / output unit 2 Node control unit 3 Network control unit 4 General purpose interface unit 5 General purpose bus line 6 High speed input / output bus line 7 ATM line 8 Various I / F lines

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ATM input / output unit that receives an ATM packet, parallelizes it, sends it to a bus line, and sends the data received from the bus line as an ATM packet, and refers to a table by the header information appearing on the bus line, A node control unit that sends a packet to a target unit according to the referenced data, a network control unit that rewrites the reference table of the node control unit and manages the network, and ATM packet information received from the biline into a general-purpose interface signal. A general-purpose interface unit for converting and converting a general-purpose interface signal into ATM packet information is mounted on a bus line consisting of a general-purpose bus line and high-speed input / output bus lines, and various An ATM system characterized by enabling system construction.