JPH09168014A - Centralized signaling processing system in atm exchange network - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the maintenance of ATM switches by easily adding functions or the like to each ATM switch in an ATM exchange network. SOLUTION: The exchange network is made up of plural small sized ATM switches 111-116 without a signaling processing function and exclusive use ATM switches 121, 122 with the signaling processing function, each small sized ATM switch is provided with a setting section 115 to set its own switch based on instruction from an exclusive use ATM switch, and each exclusive use ATM switches provided with a signaling path setting section 202 and a user path setting section 203, which respectively set and instruct the signaling path and the user communication path to each small sized ATM switch. As a result, signaling processing functions are concentrated onto the exclusive use ATM switches and then the function addition of the software for the signaling processing and its maintenance are facilitated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an ATM (Asyn)
The present invention relates to a signaling (Signaling) processing method in a cronous transfer mode switching network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Protocol specifications for signaling processing in an ATM switch of an ATM switching network of this type are defined by ITU.
-T Recommendation (ITU-T Commeme
Nation) Q. 2931 and the specification of the user network of ATM Forum (User-Nntwork Int)
erface Specification). Conventionally, such signaling processing and its associated additional functions are provided in each ATM switch in the ATM switching network.

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional small-sized ATM switch, since the signaling processing and the additional functions accompanying it are mounted in the memory and processed by the CPU in each ATM switch, the load is reduced. Dispersion can be achieved. However, when a new function is added to the distributed ATM switches, it takes time and labor to update the file for each ATM switch, and there is also a problem that it takes time to deal with a failure. Further, when it is attempted to improve the additional function of each small ATM switch, the amount of hardware such as an increase in the memory capacity in the ATM switch is increased, and the amount of software for adding the function is also increased. There is also the problem that it becomes complicated. The increase and complexity of the amount of software causes a problem that the operation of the ATM switch becomes unstable. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to easily add a function to each ATM switch in an ATM switching network and facilitate maintenance of the ATM switch.

[0004]

In order to solve such problems, the present invention provides a plurality of small ATM switches having no signaling processing function, and at least one or more signaling dedicated ATM switches having a signaling processing function. To the ATM switching network, the small ATM switch is provided with a switch setting unit for setting its own switch based on an instruction from the signaling dedicated ATM switch, and the signaling dedicated ATM switch is connected to the small ATM switch. And this signaling-only A
A signaling path setting unit for instructing the switch setting unit of each small ATM switch on this path to set a signaling path between the TM switches, and an AT processing the signaling received through the set signaling path.
A user path setting unit for instructing the switch setting unit of each small ATM switch connecting the ATM terminals to the user communication path between the M terminals is provided. Therefore, since the signaling path setting unit and the user path setting unit of the signaling dedicated ATM switch set the signaling path and the user communication path, respectively, these signaling processing functions can be integrated in the signaling dedicated ATM switch. As a result, it becomes easy to add the function of software that performs signaling processing and maintain it.

Further, when a plurality of signaling dedicated ATM switches are provided, each signaling dedicated ATM switch is provided with an interoperation state monitoring unit for monitoring the operating state of the other signaling dedicated ATM switch, and always performs signaling processing. If a failure of the first signaling dedicated ATM switch is detected, the signaling path established between the first signaling dedicated ATM switch and each ATM terminal is set to the second signaling dedicated ATM switch and each Change the settings to connect to the ATM terminal. As a result, some signaling-only A
Dedicated A for other signaling in case of TM switch failure
Since the TM switch can substitute the signaling process, the reliability of the switching network is improved.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of an ATM switching network to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, the ATM switching network is
ATM terminals 101-107 and small ATM switch 11
1-116, and ATM switch 12 dedicated to signaling
1, 122, and each of the above units is connected by a line.

Here, the small ATM switches 111 to 11
Each of the 6 has an ATM switch 1 dedicated to signaling
A switch setting unit 211 that sets its own switch according to instructions from 21, 122 is provided. Further, the signaling dedicated ATM switches 121 and 122 include a signaling processing unit 201 and a signaling path setting unit 20.
2, a user path setting unit 203 and an interoperation status monitoring unit 204 are provided.

In the ATM switching network configured as above, when the small ATM switch 115 is installed,
An operation of setting a path used for signaling between the ATM terminals 101 and 102 under the control and the signaling dedicated ATM switch 121 will be described. In this case, the signaling dedicated ATM switch 121
First, the signaling path setting unit 202 of the small ATM switches 115, 11 corresponding to the path with the own switch.
3, 111 are selected, and first, the switch setting unit 211 of the small ATM switch 115 is instructed to set a signaling path. Then, the switch setting unit 211 sets the switch of the small ATM switch 115 according to the instructed information. Such a signaling path setting unit 202
Is similarly issued to the switch setting units 211 of the small ATM switches 111 and 113, and
Each switch is set in the switches 111 and 113.

The signaling path setting instruction information is composed of a virtual path identifier (hereinafter, VPI) and a virtual channel identifier (hereinafter, VCI) of the incoming line and a VPI and VCI of the outgoing line. , Switch setting section 2
In 11, the switch is set so that the input side and the output side are connected according to these instruction information. Where each small A
In the TM switches 115, 113 and 111, the VPI and VCI of the incoming line and the VPI and VCI of the outgoing line
The correspondence relationship with is as follows.

That is, in the small ATM switch 115, the VPI of the ATM terminal 101 side line (VPI = VPI =
0), VCI (for example, VCI = 5), and VPI (VPI = a) that is not assigned to other communication on the line connected to the small ATM switch 113 side as the output side.
1) and VCI (VCI = b1) (where a1 and b1 are numerical values) correspond to each other. Further, in the small-sized ATM switch 113, since the output side line of the small-sized ATM switch 115 is connected as the input side, the same VPI (VPI
= A1) and VCI (VCI = b1). On the output side, VPI (VPI = a2), VCI (VPI) that is not assigned to other communication on one of the two lines connected to the small ATM switch 111.
CI = b2) (where a2 and b2 are numerical values) correspond.

In the small ATM switch 111, similarly, a line on the small ATM switch 113 side as the input side and a signaling dedicated ATM switch 12 as the output side are provided.
VPI and VCI are determined so that the line on the first side is connected. In this way, the setting is made so that the signaling path of the ATM terminal 101 is connected to the signaling dedicated ATM switch 121. Also, the ATM terminal 10
Similarly, for the signaling path of 2, the AT dedicated to signaling is also used.
It is set to be connected to M121.

Next, the signaling dedicated ATM switch 12
The operation of the user path setting unit 203 in 1 will be described. In this example, the signaling paths of the ATM terminals 103 and 104 are also the signaling dedicated ATM switch 1
21 is assumed to be connected. In such a situation, when the ATM terminal 101 requests a connection with the ATM terminal 103 by signaling, the ATM terminal 101
Signal (signal such as setup) enters the signaling dedicated ATM switch 121 through a signaling path between the ATM terminal 101 and the signaling dedicated ATM switch 121, is analyzed by the signaling processing unit 201, and is subjected to routing processing. Is given.
As a result, signaling dedicated ATM switches 121 and A
A through the signaling path with the TM terminal 103
Signaling reaches the TM terminal 103.

Here, by this signaling procedure, the AT
The M terminal 101 has a VPI as a user communication channel.
(VPI = a3), VCI (VCI = b3) (a3, b
3 is assigned a numerical value), and the ATM terminal 103 has VPI (VPI = a4), VC as user communication channels.
It is assumed that I (VCI = b4) (a4 and b4 are numerical values) is assigned. At this time, the user path setting unit 203
The small ATM switches 115 and 116 corresponding to the path between the ATM terminal 101 and the ATM terminal 103 are selected, and the small ATM switches are selected.
The switch setting units 211 of the switches 115 and 116 are instructed to set user paths, respectively. Then
Each switch setting unit 211 sets switches according to the instructed information.

The information of the user path setting instruction has the same correspondence relationship as the signaling path setting instruction. That is, in this case, in the small ATM switch 115, the VPI (VPI = a
3), VCI (VCI = b3), and VPI (VPI = a5), VC not allocated to other communication on the line connected to the small ATM switch 116 side as the output side.
I (VCI = b5) (where a5 and b5 are numerical values) corresponds. Further, in the small-sized ATM switch 116, since the output side line of the small-sized ATM switch 115 is connected as the input side, similar VPI (VPI = a5), VCI
(VCI = b5). Also, on the outgoing side, ATM
The VPI (VP) of the line connected to the terminal 103
I = a4) and VCI (VCI = b4) correspond. In this way, a user communication path from the ATM terminal 101 to the ATM terminal 103 is established.

By the way, in the signaling dedicated ATM switches 121 and 122, the above-mentioned interoperation state monitoring unit 2 is used.
04 are provided, and each inter-operation status monitoring unit 204 mutually monitors the operation status of the signaling dedicated ATM switch by exchanging signals such as a health check. Here, the signaling dedicated ATM switch 122 is the signaling dedicated ATM switch 121.
When the failure is detected, the signaling path setting unit 202 of the signaling dedicated ATM switch 122 sets the signaling paths to the switch setting units 211 of all the small ATM switches that set the signaling path with the signaling dedicated ATM switch 121. , Send information to unlock these paths. Then, in the switch setting unit 211 of each small ATM switch, the signaling dedicated ATM switch 1
21 cancels the signaling path with 21.

Subsequently, the signaling path setting unit 202 of the signaling dedicated ATM switch 122 sets a signaling path between the switch setting unit 211 in these small ATM switches and the signaling dedicated ATM switch 122. Give instructions. This signaling path setting information is sent to the switch setting unit 211 of each ATM switch as described above, and as a result, each small ATM switch and signaling dedicated ATM switch 12
A signaling path is set between the two. In this way, when the signaling dedicated ATM switch 121 fails, the path is switched to the signaling dedicated ATM switch 122 side, and the processing dedicated to the signaling dedicated ATM switch 121 is performed in the signaling dedicated ATM switch 122.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware function of each ATM switch described above. In the figure, the ATM switches are line interfaces 11-1.
n, a switch unit 2, a cell disassembling / assembling unit 3, a CPU 4, and a memory 5, and these units are configured to be connected via a bus BS. Any ATM switch has the same configuration on hardware. Has become. Here, the function of the switch setting unit 211 described above in the small ATM switches 111 to 116 is implemented as a program in the memory 5, and is realized by the CPU 4 executing this program. In addition, the signaling dedicated ATM switch 12
The functions of the signaling processing unit 201, the signaling path setting unit 202, the user path setting unit 203, and the interoperation status monitoring unit 204 in the reference numerals 1, 122 are also implemented as programs in the memory 5, and the CPU 4 executes these programs. It is realized by doing.

Also, an ATM switch 1 dedicated to signaling
In the case of reception, the signaling path setting information and the user path setting information transmitted and received between the small-sized ATM switches 21 and 122 are stored in the memory via the line interface 1, the switch section 2 and the cell disassembly / assembly section 3. Stored in 5,
It is processed by the CPU 4. Also, when transmitting the signaling path setting information and the user path setting information,
Data is transmitted to the line interface 1 through the reverse order of the above, that is, the CPU 4, the memory 5, the cell disassembly / assembly unit 3, and the switch unit 2. Information sent and received between the signaling dedicated ATM switches 121 and 122 is also sent and received through the same route.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, an ATM switching network is composed of a plurality of small ATM switches having no signaling processing function and at least one signaling dedicated ATM switch having a signaling processing function. However, the small ATM switch is provided with a switch setting unit that sets its own switch based on an instruction from the signaling dedicated ATM switch, and the signaling dedicated A
Since the TM switch is provided with the signaling path setting unit and the user path setting unit to instruct the respective small ATM switches to set the signaling path and the user communication path, respectively, the signaling processing functions are signaled. It can be integrated into a dedicated ATM switch, and therefore, it becomes easy to add the function of software that performs signaling processing and its maintenance. Further, since the small-sized ATM switch is equipped with the minimum functions, it is resistant to failures and the switching network can be constructed at low cost. Further, when a plurality of signaling dedicated ATM switches are provided, each signaling dedicated ATM switch is provided with an interoperation state monitoring unit that monitors the operating state of the other signaling dedicated ATM switch, and performs signaling processing at all times. When a failure of one signaling-dedicated ATM switch is detected, the signaling path established between the first signaling-dedicated ATM switch and each ATM terminal is connected to the second signaling-dedicated ATM switch and each AT.
Since the connection with the M terminal is made, or when the signaling dedicated ATM switch fails, another signaling dedicated ATM switch can substitute the signaling processing, so that the reliability of the switching network is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ATM switching network to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of each ATM switch forming the ATM switching network.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 to 1n ... Line interface, 2 ... Switch unit, 3
... Cell disassembly / assembly section, 4 ... CPU, 5 ... Memory, 101-
107 ... ATM terminal, 111-116 ... Small ATM switch, 121, 122 ... Signaling dedicated ATM switch, 201 ... Signaling processing unit, 202 ... Signaling path setting unit, 203 ... User path setting unit, 204
... Interoperation status monitoring unit, 211 ... Switch setting unit.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An ATM switching network comprising a plurality of small ATM switches having no signaling processing function and at least one signaling-dedicated ATM switch having a signaling processing function, wherein the small-sized ATM switch is dedicated to the signaling. AT
A switch setting unit for setting its own switch based on an instruction from the M switch is provided, and the signaling dedicated A
A signaling path setting unit that instructs the TM switch to set a signaling path between the ATM terminal connected to the small ATM switch and the signaling dedicated ATM switch to the switch setting unit of each small ATM switch on this path; A user path setting unit that processes the signaling received through the set signaling path and instructs the switch setting unit of each small ATM switch that connects the ATM terminals to the user communication path. A centralized signaling processing method in an ATM switching network, characterized in that 2. The interoperable state according to claim 1, wherein when a plurality of first and second signaling dedicated ATM switches are provided, each signaling dedicated ATM switch monitors the operating state of the other signaling dedicated ATM switch. When a failure is detected in the first signaling-dedicated ATM switch, which is provided with a monitoring unit and always performs signaling processing, a signaling path established between the first signaling-dedicated ATM switch and each small ATM switch. Is changed so that the second ATM for exclusive use of signaling and each small ATM switch are connected to each other, and processing of signaling from an ATM terminal connected to each small ATM switch is performed. Centralized signaling processing method in network.