JPH0955736A - Network connection confirmation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To confirm the connectivity of a communication network with a single device at low cost by storing, collating, and discriminating information received by connecting the connection confirmation device to the communication network. SOLUTION: This connection confirmation device 1 confirms whether or not a normal connection with the network is made and consists of a storage means 2, a collating means 3, a discriminating means 4, etc. The storage means 2 stores the information received from the network 5. The collating means 3 collates the information stored in the storage means 2. Further, the discriminating means 4 discriminates whether or not the normal connection with the network 5 is made according to the collation result of the collating means 4. Then a connection with an arbitrary point of the network 5 to be communicated with is made and the whole or part of a signal S received from the communication network 5 is stored in the storage means 2; and the collating means 3 performs collation and the discriminating means 4 discriminates whether or not the normal connection with the communication network 5 is made.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network connection confirmation device for confirming network connectivity.

[0002] In a network such as a computer network, particularly a local area network, which can be installed relatively easily by a user, the cabling is chaotic because of the ease of installation, and one network connection point and another network connection point. It may be difficult to determine whether or not is physically (for example, electrically) or logically (higher protocol) connected. Further, when diagnosing a failure of a network device, it may be very difficult to specify the location of the failure in the above situation. Therefore, there is a demand for a means for determining whether or not the connection point between the network connection point and another connection point is connected at a required level.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are the following typical techniques for confirming network connectivity.

(1) Cable: The connectivity is confirmed by applying a voltage to one end point and confirming the voltage at the other end point in order to confirm the connectivity of the electric cable. (2) Optical cable: In order to confirm the connectivity of the optical cable, there is also a device for confirming the connectivity by modulating the optical signal with voice and transmitting it from the end point, and demodulating the optical signal into voice at the other end point.

(3) Telephone (exchange): The exchange sends a human identifiable voice (such as a dial tone) to the terminal (telephone) to confirm the physical level connectivity with the exchange. The higher level connectivity is confirmed by calling the special number of the exchange from the terminal and receiving the answering call.

(4) Computer network: For example, in Internet Protocol, ICMP (Internet Control Messa
ge Protocol) defines echo packets. When this echo packet is sent to a certain terminal, the receiving terminal returns (echoes) this packet to the sender. After sending the echo packet, the sender checks the connectivity with the specific terminal by checking if this packet is returned within a certain time.

(5) Network monitor: In a computer network, a network monitor (LA) for investigating the network usage state from the physical layer to the upper layer
N analyzer). The network monitor monitors the physical state of the network and transmitted signals and displays the collected information. Humans can analyze this to determine network connectivity.

[0008]

The above-mentioned conventional techniques have the following problems. -There are several layers in the network, and it is necessary to confirm connectivity at each level. Also, there are many communication protocols. Signal formats such as packets and communication procedures differ depending on the method. For this reason, many types of connection confirmation devices are required, or the function becomes complicated in order to make one type of connection confirmation device compatible with a plurality of networks.

It is necessary to confirm the connection during normal operation. In order to solve these problems, the present invention realizes network connectivity confirmation from the physical layer to the upper protocol layer with a single device and simplifies the device configuration, thereby realizing low cost, and , The purpose is not to interfere with normal communication when checking connectivity.

[0010]

Means for solving the problem will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. FIG. Figure 1,
2 and 3, the connection confirming device 1 is for confirming whether or not the device is normally connected to the network, and is composed of a storage means 2, a collating means 3, an identifying means 4, and the like. is there.

The storage means 2 stores the information received from the network. The matching means 3 is the storage means 2.
The information stored by is collated. The identifying unit 4 identifies whether or not the network is normally connected based on the result of the collation performed by the collating unit 3.

The communication network 5 is a network for performing communication. The transmission means 6 transmits data. Next, the operation will be described.

The storage means 2 stores the contents of all or part of the signal s received from the communication network 5 by connecting to an arbitrary connection point of the communication network 5, and the collating means 3
And the identification means 4 identifies whether or not the communication means 5 is normally connected.

The storage means 2 stores the signal s1 received from the communication network 5 by connecting to a certain connection point of the communication network 5, and the signal s2 received from the communication network 5 by connecting to another connection point. The storage unit 2 stores the data, and the collation unit 3 collates the signals s1 and s2 of the two to determine whether or not the connection point having the identification unit 4 and the other connection point are normally connected by the communication network 5. I try to identify.

The storage means 2 stores the signal s1 received from the communication network 5 by connecting to a certain connection point of the communication network 5, and then connects to another connection point to receive the signal s2 from the communication network 5. Then, the collating unit 3 collates the signals s1 and s2 of both of them, and one unit determines whether or not the connecting point of the identifying unit 4 is normally connected to the other connecting point by the communication network 5. I try to identify.

Further, the signal s1 is received from the communication network 5 by connecting to a certain connection point of the communication network 5, and the signal s2 is received from the communication network 5 by connecting to another connection point and connected to a certain connection point. The signals s1 and s2 are transferred to and collected by any of the connected device and the device connected to another connection point, and the collating means 3 collates the collected signals s1 and s2, and the identifying means 4 is connected. The point and other connection points are discriminated whether or not they are normally connected by the communication network 5.

In these cases, the physical device address included in the packet is used as the signals s, s1, and s2, and the connectivity at the physical connection level is confirmed. Also, the upper protocol address included in the packet is used as the signals s, s1, and s2, and the connectivity at the upper protocol level is confirmed.

Further, the network device is connected to the communication network 5, the transmission means 6 transmits the transmission signal s11 to the communication network 5 by the transmission method M, and the transmitted signal is received by the network device connected to the communication network 5. Then, the collating unit 3 collates, and the identifying unit 4 identifies whether the network device is normally connected to the communication network 5.

At this time, the transmission signal s11 is a signal that deviates from the signal format of the network, and physical connectivity is identified. Further, the transmission signal s11 conforms to the signal format of the communication network 5, but is a signal that can be distinguished from other communication signals.

As the transmission method M, the transmission signal s11 is repeatedly transmitted at time intervals according to a predetermined rule R, and whether the interval of the signals received by the receiving side matches the rule R within an error range or not. It is designed to identify whether or not it is properly connected to the network.

In these cases, the signal to be collated is not obtained from the communication network 5, but is stored in advance in the stored information 22,
The collation information 23 and the identification information 24 are set and used.

Therefore, the connectivity confirmation of the communication network 5 is realized by a single device from the physical layer to the upper protocol layer, and at the same time, the cost is realized by simplifying the configuration of the device, and at the time of confirming the connectivity. It becomes possible not to disturb normal communication.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments and operations of the present invention will be sequentially described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a diagram (No. 1) for explaining the configuration of the present invention. FIG. 1A shows a network connection confirmation device 1
Shows an example of a configuration diagram when the network is connected to the communication network 5 and the network connectivity is confirmed.

In FIG. 1A, a network connectivity confirming device 1 is for connecting to a device of a communication network 5 to confirm its connectivity. Here, a storage means 2 and a collating means 3 are used. , And identification means 4 and the like.

The storage means 2 stores the reception information received by connecting to the communication network 5. here,
In the case of a packet network, for example, the reception information is a device address of a device that has transmitted the packet, a logical address used in a higher-layer protocol, and the like (described later with reference to FIG. 5).

The collating means 3 collates the received information stored by the storage means 2, and here, the received information received by connecting to another connection point of the communication network 5 or when it is known in advance. Tries to match using the information that has been found.

The identification means 4 identifies whether or not the communication network 5 is normally connected to the communication network 5 based on the result of the verification by the verification means 3. The connectivity is identified by using the physical address of the transmitting device and the upper protocol address to identify the connectivity in various layers and protocols. For example, it is performed as follows.

When the address of the normally used device connected to the communication network is known in advance, the address is set in the connection confirmation device 1 and the connectivity is checked to check the connectivity between the device and the connection confirmation point. It becomes possible to confirm.

Address information can be extracted from a communication network at a plurality of connection points, stored in the storage means 2, and collated and identified to confirm the connectivity. -Here, the signal transmitted from the normally used device connected to the network is received, stored in the storage means 2, and collated,
Since it is identified, it is possible to confirm the connectivity without hindering normal communication.

1 (b) to 1 (d) will be described in detail below. FIG. 1B shows an example of a configuration in which signals received at a connection point are collated, and when the same information is included, it is identified that there is connectivity.

In FIG. 1B, the signal s1 received at the connection point A of one communication network 5 is stored, and then the signal s2 separately received at the connection point B of another communication network 5, By comparing the previously stored s1 with each other, it is possible to identify whether or not the connection point A and the connection point B are connected as the communication network 5.

At this time, the connectivity at the physical connection level is confirmed (identified) by using the physical device address in the packet (for example, the address of the data link layer such as the MAC address) as the received signals s1 and s2. I am trying to do it.

Confirming (identifying) the connectivity at the higher protocol level by using a higher protocol address (for example, an address of a network layer such as an IP address or a higher layer) as the received signals s1 and s2. I am trying.

FIG. 1C shows an example of the configuration in which one device performs storage, collation and identification. In FIG. 1C, the connection confirmation device E1 is first connected to the connection point A to store the received signal s1, and then the same connection confirmation device E1 is connected to another connection point B to receive the signal. By storing s2 and comparing both signals s1 and s2, it is possible to identify whether or not the connection point A and the connection point B are connected as the communication network 5. At this time, as in the case of FIG. 1B, the physical device address or higher protocol address in the packet is used as the received signals s1 and s2.

FIG. 1D shows an example of the configuration in which the information received and stored from the communication network 5 is transferred for collation and identification. In (d) of FIG. 1, the connection confirmation device E1 is first connected to the connection point A and the received signal s1 is stored, and this signal s is stored in the communication network 5 to be inspected or another means (other connectivity is used). By using a confirmed network or arbitrary information transmission means) to transmit to another connection confirmation device E2, and by checking the signal s2 received from the communication network 5 by the connectivity confirmation device E2,
Whether or not the connection point A and the connection point B are connected as the communication network 5 is identified. On this occasion,
As in the case of FIG. 1B, as the received signals s1 and s2, the physical device address in the packet or the higher protocol address is used.

FIG. 2 is a diagram (part 2) for explaining the configuration of the present invention. The connection confirmation device 1 having the configuration of FIG. 2 differs from that of FIG. 1 in that it transmits a signal for connection confirmation. When no device is connected to the communication network 5 or when no signal is transmitted even if the device is connected, a transmitting means 6 for transmitting a signal for confirming the connection in the communication network 5.
It has. This transmitting means 6 is characterized in that it transmits a connection confirmation signal without disturbing normal communication. For this purpose: -A connection confirmation signal that causes noise or useless signal to the communication network 5 is transmitted by a certain method.
For example, at a physical level, it transmits a signal that is electrically regarded as noise. Since it cannot be identified as true noise by only once, it is transmitted by a predetermined method such as a fixed time interval or a specific time. The receiving side confirms the connectivity by observing a signal that becomes noise according to a predetermined standard.

By using this means, it is possible to confirm the connectivity while minimizing the interference with normal communication. Figure 2 below
This will be described with reference to FIG. (1) Signal format of transmission signal s1: (1-1) In FIG. 2, the connection confirmation device E1 is connected to the connection point A of the communication network 5, and the signal s1 deviating from the signal format of the communication network 5 as the transmission signal s1. (Described later with reference to FIG. 5) is transmitted, and the deviating signal s2 is received by the connection confirmation device E2 connected to the connection point B, and the collation means 3 collates both of them to connect to the connection point A. Whether or not the point B is connected as the communication network 5 is identified.

(1-2) In FIG. 2, the connection confirmation device E1 is connected to the connection point A of the communication network 5, and the transmission signal s1 conforms to the signal format of the communication network 5 but is distinguished from other communication signals. A possible signal s1 (which will be described later with reference to FIG. 5) is transmitted, the connection confirmation device E2 connected to the connection point B receives this signal s2, and the collation means 3 collates both of them to obtain the connection point A. And whether the connection point B is connected as the communication network 5 or not.

(1-3) In FIG. 2, the connection confirmation device E1 is connected to the connection point A of the communication network 5, and a human-recognizable signal such as voice, image or data input as the transmission signal s1 is input to the network. The signal s1 converted into the signal conforming to the signal format of No. 5 is transmitted, and the connection confirmation device E2 connected to the connection point B receives this signal s2 and reverse-converts it to restore the original voice, image, data, etc. By a person's confirmation, the connection point A and the connection point B are identified as to whether or not they are connected as the communication network 5.

(2) Transmission method M: (2-1) In FIG. 2, the time for connecting the connection confirmation device E1 to the connection point A of the communication network 5 and transmitting the signal s1 as the transmission method M according to a predetermined rule R. By repeatedly transmitting at intervals, the connection confirmation device E2 connected to the connection point B receives this signal s2, and checks whether the reception interval of the signal s2 complies with the rule R within a certain error range.
Whether or not the connection point A and the connection point B are connected as the communication network 5 is identified.

(2-2) In FIG. 2, the connection confirmation device E1 is connected to the connection point A of the communication network 5, and the signal s1 is set as the transmission method M according to a predetermined rule R at a time (for example, a predetermined time). Connection confirmation device E2 connected to the connection point B by repeatedly transmitting at time intervals according to
Then, by receiving this signal s2 and checking whether or not the reception interval of the signal s2 follows the time that is the rule R within a certain error range (for example, periodically at a predetermined time),
Whether or not the connection point A and the connection point B are connected as the communication network 5 is identified.

FIG. 3 is a diagram (part 3) for explaining the configuration of the present invention. The connection confirmation device 1 configured as shown in FIG.
2, the collation information 23 and the identification information 24 can be set. These stored information 22 and collation information 2
3 and the identification information 24 are used to set the device address, the information required for verification, and the information required for identification, which are known in advance. If you set these,
It is not necessary to identify whether or not the connection point A and the connection point B are connected as the communication network 5 based on the information of the two connection points of the connection point A and the connection point B described above.
It is possible to identify whether or not the network is connected at one connection point.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the device of the present invention (Ethernet / In
ternet). This is an example of the device configuration of the connection confirmation device 1 of FIGS. 1 to 3 described above. In FIG. 4, the connection confirmation device 1 confirms the connectivity to the communication network 5, and is constituted by 11 to 17 shown in the figure.

The receiving circuit 11 receives the signals s1, s2, etc. from the communication network 5. At this time, as shown in the figure, the received signals include: a deviation signal of physical level, and a normal signal of physical level.

The MAC level signal extraction circuit 12, based on the normal signal of the physical level notified from the reception circuit 11,
It extracts a signal at the MAC level (described later with reference to FIG. 5).

The IP level signal extraction circuit 13 extracts the IP level signal based on the MAC level signal (described later with reference to FIG. 5). The storage / collation circuit 14 receives the physical level deviation signal notified by the reception circuit 11 from the MA signal.
The MAC level signal notified from the C level signal extraction circuit 12 and the IP level signal notified from the IP level signal extraction circuit 13 are stored and collated.

The setting circuit 15 sets various parameters from the outside. Connectivity confirmation signal generation circuit 16
Generates a signal for confirming various kinds of connectivity, and generates a predetermined deviation signal of a physical level, a predetermined MAC level signal, or a predetermined IPL level signal described above.

The transmission circuit 17 sends the connectivity confirmation signal generated by the connectivity confirmation signal generation circuit 16 to the communication network 5
Is to be sent to. The connection confirmation device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 has the necessary functions of the above-described configuration, and the connectivity of the communication network is confirmed by the procedure described above.

FIG. 5 shows a connection confirmation signal explanatory diagram of the present invention. This is IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) / Internet Protocol
As a specific example, the signal at the time of confirming the connectivity of the present invention will be described. The present invention can be applied to networks other than this specific example, telephone networks and other networks.

FIG. 5A shows an example of the connection confirmation information. Here, the following connection confirmation information shown in the figure is used. Connection confirmation information IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) Transmission side MAC address Intenet Protocol (network layer) Transmission side IP address IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) Preamble violation Here, in IEEE 802.3, a predetermined number of data bits called preamble are transmitted before packet transmission. It The preamble violation as used herein means to send out a predetermined number or more of preambles. This is a signal that is by definition considered an error and is ignored by normal equipment.

FIG. 5B shows an example of the MAC level signal. This is an example of the MAC level signal including the MAC address in FIG. 5A, and is composed of the following signals shown in the figure.

Preamble, 10 patterns (64 bits), destination address (48 bits), source address (48 bits), type (16 bits), data, FCS (32 bits) Therefore, if the position and the length of the signal from the beginning are specified, arbitrary information can be extracted, stored, collated, and identified. Since the address information has a particular characteristic depending on the connection point, for example, the source address is used as the already-received signals s1 and s2 to confirm the network connectivity. Further, if the same or specific information is confirmed at a plurality of connection points, it can be confirmed that there is network connectivity at those connection points.

FIG. 5C shows an example of the deviation signal. Here, the deviation signal (noise) shown in the figure is transmitted during the packet which is the normal signal. This deviation signal (noise) is ignored as noise by a device connected to a normal network and is discarded even if received. The connection confirmation device 1 of the present invention has a fixed period (within an error range) in order to distinguish from true noise.
Or repeatedly send a deviation signal (noise) at a certain time,
When the departure point (noise) is repeatedly received at the connection point on the reception side, it is determined that the connectivity is confirmed.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the connection confirmation device 1 is connected to the communication network 5 and the received information is stored, collated, and identified to confirm the connectivity, the connectivity confirmation of the communication network 5 is performed from the physical layer to the upper protocol layer. In addition, it is possible to realize a low cost by realizing it with a single device and simplifying the configuration of the device, and it is possible to prevent normal communication from being hindered when confirming connectivity.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory view (1) of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration explanatory diagram (2) of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory view (No. 3) of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a device configuration diagram (Ethernet / Internet) of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a connection confirmation signal of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Connection confirmation device 2: Storage means 3: Collation means 4: Identification means 5: Communication network 6: Transmission means 11: Reception circuit 12: MAC level signal extraction circuit 13: IP level signal extraction circuit 14: Storage / collation circuit 15 : Setting circuit 16: Connectivity confirmation signal generation circuit 17: Transmission circuit

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A network is connected to an arbitrary connection point, and all or part of the contents of a signal s received from the network is stored and collated to identify whether or not the network is normally connected. A network connection confirmation device comprising means. 2. A signal s1 received from the network is stored by connecting to a certain connection point of the network,
Whether the signal s2 received from the network is stored by connecting to another connection point, and both signals s1 and s2 are collated and whether the above-mentioned one connection point and another connection point are normally connected as a network A network connection confirmation device comprising means for identifying whether or not it is present. 3. A signal s1 received from the network connected to a certain connection point of the network and stored, and then connected to another connection point to receive a signal s received from the network.
2 is stored, and a means for identifying whether or not the certain connection point and the other connection point are normally connected as a network by comparing both signals s1 and s2 with one device is provided. A network connection confirmation device characterized in that 4. A network is connected to a connection point to receive a signal s1 from the network, and another connection point is connected to receive a signal s2 from the network,
The signals s1 and s2 are transferred to and collected by either a device connected to a certain connection point or a device connected to another connection point, and both of the collected signals s1 and s2 are collated to obtain the above-mentioned connection point. A network connection confirmation device comprising means for identifying whether or not another connection point is normally connected as a network. 5. A network connection confirmation apparatus having both the function when connected to a certain connection point according to claim 4 and the function when connected to another connection point. 6. A physical device address included in a packet as the signals s, s1, and s2 to confirm the connectivity at the physical connection level.
Any of the network connection confirmation devices described. 7. The network connection according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the signals s, s1, and s2 are upper protocol addresses included in a packet, and the connectivity at the upper protocol level is confirmed. Confirmation device. 8. A network device is connected to the network, a transmission signal s11 is transmitted to the network by a transmission method M, the transmitted signal is received by the network device connected to the network, collated, and the network device is connected to the network. A network connection confirmation device comprising means for identifying whether or not a connection is normally established. 9. A function of connecting to the network according to claim 8 and transmitting a transmission signal s11 to the network by a transmission method M, and a network device which receives and collates the transmitted signal by a network device connected to the network. A network connection confirmation device having both functions of identifying whether a device is normally connected to a network. 10. The network connection confirmation apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the transmission signal s11 is a signal deviating from a signal format of a network, and physical connectivity is identified. 11. The transmission signal s11 is a signal that complies with the signal format of the network but is distinguishable from other communication signals.
The network connection confirmation device described. 12. The transmission signal s11 is a voice, an image, data or a combination thereof which can be directly recognized by a human.
Alternatively, the network connection confirmation device according to claim 9. 13. A method of transmitting M, wherein the signal is repeatedly transmitted at a time interval according to a predetermined rule R, and whether or not the interval of signals received by the receiving side meets the rule R within an error range. 10. The network connection confirmation device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein it is identified whether or not it is normally connected to the network. 14. A transmission method s, wherein a signal is periodically transmitted at a predetermined time according to a predetermined rule R according to a predetermined rule R, and the signal received by the receiving side is rule R within an error range of a predetermined time. 10. The network connection confirmation device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein it is discriminated whether or not the device is normally connected to the network depending on whether or not the connection is satisfied. 15. The network connection confirmation device according to claim 1, wherein the signal to be collated is set not by being obtained from the network but by being settable.