JPH1023019A - Path-setting method and system therefor by using time measurement cell - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To set the shortest path in an ATM network, independently of resource management. SOLUTION: A terminator 3 generates a time measurement cell, based on a control signal 2 from a host management system 21 or a setup request signal 8 from terminal equipment 7 and sends the cell to a network. A repeated 5 or 6 is used to receive the time measurement cell, adds its own repeater number of the cell and sends the resulting cell to a terminator 4, and the terminator 4 adds its terminator number to the time measurement cell and sends back the resulting cell to the terminator 3. The terminator 3 receives the sent-back time measurement cell to recognize a data transfer time up to the terminator 4, based on the time information generated and detected time information added to the time measurement cell generated. Furthermore, the path is recognized from device numbers of passing device added in a payload. The times for all the paths is measured, respective transfer times are compared and then the shortest path is set.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to path setting in an ATM network, and more particularly, to a path setting method using a time measuring cell and its method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of path setting method is known as PVC.
In (Parent Virtual Channel), a system administrator sets a path based on the transmission path length and the amount of traffic in the network by a higher-level management system. In addition, SVC (Signal
In a ling virtual channel, a higher-level management system in a network such as a server sets a path based on the amount of traffic in the network. For this reason, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 292114, a technique for setting a path that avoids a congestion state by detecting or monitoring a traffic state is described.

[0003]

According to the prior art,
The path setting is set by resource management such as the amount of traffic, and the path setting of the shortest path is not taken into consideration, so the data transfer time and delay time increase, resulting in a network configuration with good performance from the viewpoint of the user. There is a problem that there is no.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optimal path setting method and a method for minimizing data transfer time and delay time without depending on resource management by performing accurate time measurement at the time of path setting. Is to provide.

Another object of the present invention is to allow a cell to pass through a path similar to that of a user cell before setting a path, thereby confirming cell discard due to congestion or the like and path continuity. It is to provide a setting method and its method.

[0006]

A path setting method using a time measuring cell according to the present invention is a path setting method in an ATM network in which a plurality of terminating devices and relay devices are connected. Generating a time measurement cell in response to a request, adding a device number to the cell when the time measurement cell passes through the terminating device or the relay device, and extracting the folded time measurement cell Detecting a path route and a transmission time, and searching a shortest path route from the detection result, and setting a path.

A path setting method using a time measuring cell according to the present invention is a path setting method in an ATM network in which a plurality of terminating devices and relay devices are connected.
A generation circuit of a terminal device for generating a cell for time measurement in response to a control signal from a higher-level management system or a call setting request signal from a terminal device; and a circuit for measuring time when the cell for time measurement passes through the terminal device or the relay device. An additional circuit of a terminating device and a relay device for adding a device number to a cell, and a detecting circuit of a terminating device for extracting the folded time measurement cell and detecting a path route and a transmission time; The measurement result by the measurement cell is transferred to the upper management system, a shortest path is searched from the measurement result, and a path is set.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the present invention includes a first terminal device 3 for generating and detecting a time measurement cell in a network, and a second terminal device for turning back the time measurement cell.
, And first and second relay devices 5 and 6 through which time measurement cells pass. The first terminating device 3 is connected to first and second relay devices 5 and 6 by signal lines 11 and 13, respectively.
4 are connected by first and second relay devices 5 and 6, respectively. The first terminal device 3 and the first terminal device 7 are connected by a signal line 8, and the second terminal device 4 and the second terminal device 10 are connected by a signal line 9. In addition, a higher-level management system 1 that monitors, controls, and manages the status and abnormality of each device in the network is connected to all devices in the network by a control signal 2.

FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram of the second and third terminating devices 3 and 4 and the first and second relay devices 5 and 6. FIG. Next, a first terminal device 3 for generating and detecting the time measurement cell, a second terminal device 4 for turning back the time measurement cell, first and second relay devices 5 through which the time measurement cell passes, 6 will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 2A, when a control signal 2 (or 8) such as a call request is input from the upper management system 1 or the first terminal 7, the first terminating device 3 Information is collected from the time stamp 18 and the time measurement cell is assembled by the time measurement cell generation circuit 16. Then, the time measurement cell is inserted from the insertion circuit 15 into the main signal.

On the detection side of the first terminating device 3, when a time measuring cell is detected from the main signal by the time measuring cell detecting circuit 21, the time stamp 18 is sent to the time measuring circuit 19.
The data transfer time on an arbitrary path is measured based on the detection time information from the device and the generation time information added in the time measurement cell. At the same time, the path route detection circuit 20 can know the passed path from the device number added in the time measurement cell. The detection side of the second terminating device 4 is the first
When the time measurement cell detection circuit 21 detects the time measurement cell from the main signal, the device number addition circuit 16 adds the own device number and relays the time measurement cell insertion circuit 15 from the main signal. Insert into the main signal to the device. Switching of the above functions is realized by the switching circuit 17.

As shown in FIG. 2B, when the first and second relay devices 5 and 6 detect a time measuring cell from the main signal by the time measuring cell detecting circuit 21, the first and second relay devices 5 and 6 The own device number is added, and inserted again from the insertion circuit 15 into the main signal.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. When constructing an ATM network, a logical path between devices is set. Here, when setting a path from the first terminating device 3 to the second terminating device 4, in the case of a PVC that sets a semi-fixed path like a dedicated line, the path is controlled by the control signal 2 from the upper management system 1. Set. In SVC such as connectionless service, a call request signal 8 from the first terminal 7 is transmitted.
Set the path by First, the first terminal device 3-
The measurement of the data transfer time of the route from the signal line 11 to the first relay device 5 to the signal line 12 to the second terminal device 4 will be described. The path of this route is referred to as path A.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the control signal 2 or the call request signal 8 is received by the first terminating device 3, generation time information is collected from the time stamp 18 and the time measurement cell generation circuit 16 generates the time information. Assemble the measuring cell. The time stamp 18 can be realized by a counter. And
The time measurement cell is inserted into the main signal from the insertion circuit 15 and transmitted to the relay device 5 via the signal line 11. First
When the time measuring cell detecting circuit 21 detects the time measuring cell from the main signal, the repeater 5 adds its own device number by the device number adding circuit 16 and inserts it again into the main signal from the inserting circuit 15; 12 through the second terminator 4
Sent to When the second terminal device 4 detects the time measurement cell from the main signal by the time measurement cell detection circuit 21, the second termination device 4 adds its own device number by the device number addition circuit 16,
The signal is inserted into the main signal from the time measurement cell insertion circuit 15 and is looped back to the first repeater 5 via the signal line 12. The time measuring cell folded back to the first terminal device 3 in this way is detected from the main signal by the time measuring cell detecting circuit 21 from the main signal, and is detected by the time measuring circuit 19 from the time stamp 18. The data transfer time of the path A from the time information and the generation time information added to the time measurement cell to the second terminal device 4 via the first relay device 5 is measured. At the same time, the path of the path A can be known from the device number added in the time measuring cell by the path path detecting circuit 20. And the upper management system 1
Notify.

Next, measurement of the data transfer time of the route of the first terminating device 3-signal line 13-second relay device 6-signal line 14-second terminating device 4 will be described. The path of this route is referred to as path B.

In the same manner as described above, the first terminal device 3 generates a time measuring cell, and the second terminal device 6
Sent to When the second relay device 6 detects the time measurement cell, it adds its own device number and sends it out to the second terminal device 4 via the signal line 14. The second terminal device 4 adds its own device number and sends it out again to the first terminal device 3 via the second relay device 6. The first terminal device 3 can know the data transfer time and the route of the path B. The upper management system 1 can also obtain the same information (by comparing the data transfer time of the path A and the data transfer time of the path B, it is possible to know the shortest path to the second terminal device 4. Here, the path A If the path time is short, the upper management system 1 can set the shortest path by setting the path A via the first relay device 5.

Further, the fact that the time can be detected by the first terminating device 3 which has generated the cell for time measurement can confirm that the path route is not in a congested state and the conduction state is good.

FIG. 3 shows the sequence of FIG. 1. In the PVC, the upper management system 1 sends a control signal 2 to the first terminal device 3, the first relay device 5, and the second terminal device 4 to set the path A. Perform (S101). In the case of SVC, when the first terminal 7 sends a call request signal 8 to the first terminating device 3,
The first terminating device 3 notifies the higher-level management system 1, and the higher-level management system 1 reports the information of the path A to the first terminating device 3, the first relay device 5, and the second terminating device 4 (S10).
1).

The first terminating device 3 generates a cell for time measurement by setting the path A, and sends it to the first relay device 5 (S102). The first relay device 5 adds its own device number and sends a time measurement cell to the second terminal device 4 (S
103). The second terminal device 4 returns after adding its own device number (S104), and sends it back to the first terminal device 3 (S105). The first terminal device 3 notifies the host management system 1 of the time measurement result of the path A and the path information of the path A from the detected time measurement cell (S106).

Next, in order to set the path B, the setting of the path A is canceled (S107), and the setting of the path B is sent to the first terminal device 3, the second relay device 6, and the second terminal device 4. Notify (S108).

Similarly to the path A, the first terminating device 3 generates a time measuring cell and sends it to the second relay device 6 (S
109). The second relay device 6 adds its own device number,
The time measurement cell is transmitted to the second terminal device 4 (S11).
0). The second terminating device 4 loops back after adding its own device number (S111), and sends it back to the first terminating device 3 (S112). The first terminal device 3 notifies the host management system 1 of the time measurement result of the path B and the path information of the path B from the detected time measurement cell (S113). The host management system 1 compares the time measurement results of the path A and the path B, and determines which path route is the shortest distance (here, the path A).

In order to set the path A, the setting of the path B is canceled (S114), and the setting of the path A is performed (S11).
5).

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a system configuration according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, there are only two types of path settings. However, even if the number of relay devices is two as shown in FIG. 4, the path route from the first terminal device 3 to the second terminal device 4 is not changed. In the case of setting, a possible path route is a path C (first relay device 5-third relay device 23-second relay device 6) and a path D (first relay device 5-third relay device 23). -Fourth relay device 24-second relay device 6), path E (first relay device 5-fourth relay device 24)
-Third relay device 23-second relay device 6), path F
There are four types (first relay device 5-fourth relay device 24-second relay device 6), and a time measurement cell is transmitted from the first terminal device in each path as in the first embodiment. By comparing the returned data transfer times, it is possible to search for and set the path route with the shortest data transfer time.

Further, even when the network configuration becomes complicated and the number of relay devices becomes n, transmission of the time measurement cells as described above on all conceivable path routes enables the shortest data transfer time. A path route can be searched and set.

In the first and second embodiments of the present invention, only the path setting between the terminating devices is performed. However, the path between the terminating device and the relay device (the first terminating device 3 in FIG. 2 also between the relay devices 23, the first relay device 5 and the second terminal device 4) and between the relay devices (the first relay device 5 and the second relay device 6 in FIG. 4) as shown in FIG. This can be achieved by providing each device with a simple configuration.

[0028]

According to the present invention, it is possible to set a shortest path which does not depend on resources such as a traffic amount and a path length on an arbitrary path, and obtain an optimized path having good performance for a user. is there.

Further, since the time measurement cell is actually passed through the same path route as the user cell when setting the path, there is an effect that the conduction state and the congestion state are confirmed before operation.

Further, since the device number of the passing device is added during the payload of the time measuring cell, it is possible to confirm the path route between arbitrary devices.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2A is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminating device in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a relay device in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the one-to-one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a system configuration according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 upper management system 2 control signal 3 first terminal device 4 second terminal device 5 first relay device 6 second relay device 7 first terminal device 8 between first terminal device and first terminal device 9 Signal between second terminal device and second terminal device 10 Second terminal device 11 Signal between first terminal device and first relay device 12 First relay device and second terminal device 13 Signal between the first terminal device and the second relay device 14 Signal between the second relay device and the second terminal device 15 Time measurement cell insertion circuit 16 Time measurement cell generation and device number addition Circuit 17 Switching circuit between generation device and loopback device 18 Time stamp circuit 19 Time measurement circuit 20 Path path detection circuit 21 Cell detection circuit for time measurement 22 Delay insertion circuit 23 Third relay device 24 Fourth relay device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A path setting method in an ATM network in which a plurality of terminating devices and a relay device are connected, wherein a time measuring cell is generated in response to a request from an upper management system or a terminal device; Adding a device number to the cell when passing through the terminating device or the relay device; extracting the folded time measurement cell to detect a path route and a transmission time; and A path setting method using a time measurement cell, comprising a step of searching for a shortest path, and setting a path. 2. A path setting method in an ATM network in which a plurality of terminal devices and a relay device are connected, wherein a terminal for generating a time measurement cell by a control signal from an upper management system or a call setting request signal from a terminal device. A generation circuit of a device, an additional circuit of a termination device and a relay device for adding a device number to the time measurement cell when the time measurement cell passes through the termination device or the relay device, and the folded time measurement cell Extracting a path route and a detection circuit of a terminal device for detecting a transmission time, transferring a measurement result by the time measurement cell to the higher-level management system, and searching for a shortest path route from the measurement result. A path setting method using a time measurement cell, wherein a path is set.