JPH11212940A - Multicast system and method, and network actor and node actor for the system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform a multicast to a specific object group in a network with little traffic. SOLUTION: Logical networks 10-1 and 10-2 are defined regardless physical network constitution. Network actors 50-1 and 50-2 are arranged at one of nodes 20-2 and 20-6 in the respective logical networks 10-1 and 10-2 to manage distribution paths led to the nodes during operation on the respective logical networks. Then, node actors 60-1, 60-2≡ are arranged at the individual nodes 20-1, 20-2... to manage the domain names as well as the distribution paths led to AP(application) objects (processes) 40-1, 40-2... while the whole in those nodes are operated. When a message is multicasted to a process group belonging to the specific domain, the message is set to the network actor on the same logical network from its originating process. Then, the message is sent to the all node actors during operation from the said network actor and then, sent to the process during operation that is adapted to a designated domain.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multicast system for sending the same message to a specific group of processes (objects) on a communication network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a message is sent to a plurality of specific process groups (for example, only process groups belonging to one specific business group) on a network, the following two methods are conventionally used.

In the first method, a packet is transmitted to all nodes (hosts) on a network using an IP broadcast address, and a receiving process receives or discards the packet as necessary. Or how to do it. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when it is desired to deliver a message only to the process of the business group A, the message is broadcast to all the nodes, and only the process of the business group A receives the message. Is to discard.

[0004] The second method is a unicast method in which a message is simply transmitted individually to each process.

[0005]

The IP broadcast method has the following problems. First, traffic increases due to IP broadcast.
Second, IP broadcasts cannot be transmitted across routers and gateways. Third, it puts extra load on processes that do not need the message.

[0006] The unicast method has the following problems. First, the definition information indicating the location of the node where each process of the distribution destination starts is required in advance, and if there is a change in the network configuration, a change in the node arrangement, addition or deletion of a process, etc., the definition information Must also be corrected. Second, since the caster attempts transmission regardless of whether the partner process is running, wasteful transmission occurs, especially when the number of partner processes is large and many of them are not running. Will increase.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to enable multicasting to a specific group of processes on a network with as little traffic as possible.

Another object of the present invention is to enable multicasting across routers and gateways.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a multicast system with less transmission waste.

[0010]

In the multicast system according to the present invention, a plurality of nodes are arranged on a network, and a plurality of objects are arranged on all or a part of the plurality of nodes. You can join a domain. Each node has its own node actor, and each node actor knows the delivery path to each of the active objects in its node and the domain in which each of the active objects participates. Also, a network actor is located at one predetermined node on the network, and the network actor knows the distribution path to each of the node actors running on the network. An object that wants to multicast a message can send a message to the network actor containing the destination domain designation, and the network actor will deliver the message to all node actors running on the network. . Then, each node actor distributes the message only to the objects participating in the designated destination domain among the active objects in its own node.

In this way, the message is multicast to the group of objects participating in the domain specified by the source object. At that time, for nodes and objects that are not running, and for objects that are running but do not participate in the specified domain,
Useless message delivery is not performed.

[0012] The network may be a logical network defined logically irrespective of the configuration of the physical network. Therefore, distribution across routers and gateways is possible.

[0013] The object desiring to send the message desirably sends a message to the network actor with a temporary path each time the object is sent,
Disconnect the temporary path immediately after transmission. Also, the distribution path between each node actor and the network actor is desirably established at the start timing of each node actor, and is maintained until each node actor ends. Therefore, the network actor knows the distribution path to each node actor each time the node actor is activated. The distribution path between each object and the node actor in each node is preferably set at the activation timing of each object and held until each object ends. The node actor knows the distribution path to each object each time it starts. Upon activation of each object, preferably the domain of each object is also notified to the node actor. By doing so, it is possible to flexibly respond to changes in the network configuration and node arrangement, and addition and deletion of objects.

[0014] Preferably, the distribution means of the network actor distributes the received message to all active node actors if the received message includes a specific domain designation but not a specific node designation. ,
If the received message includes the designation of a specific node, the received message is delivered only to the node actor of the designated node. Also, preferably, the distribution means of each node actor, if the received message includes the specification of a specific domain but does not include the specification of a specific object, transmits the received message to a running domain that is participating in the specified domain. Deliver to all objects, while if the received message contains a specific specific object designation, distribute the received message only to the specified object. This enables not only multicasting to a group of objects in a specific domain, but also distribution of different patterns such as message distribution to an object in a specific node and message distribution to a specific object in a specific domain. .

The present invention also provides a network actor and a node actor as described above. The network actor and the node actor are typically implemented by executing software by a computer, and a computer program therefor can be provided to the computer through a medium such as various disk-type storages, various semiconductor memories, and communication networks. it can.

[0016]

FIG. 1 shows a schematic overall configuration of an embodiment of a multicast system according to the present invention.

A communication network 100 is connected to the router 3
It is configured as an aggregate of a number of physical network segments interconnected by 0-1, 30-2,... One or more logical networks 10-1, 10-2,... Are defined on the communication network 100. Each of the logical networks 10-1, 10-2,... Usually has a large number of nodes (= hosts) 20-1, 20-
2, ... are included.

Each of the nodes 20-1, 20-2,...
It has one or more application (AP) objects (= processes) 40-1, 40-2,... (In FIG. 1, the AP objects in other nodes than the node 20-1 are shown). Illustration is omitted). Each of the AP objects 40-1, 40-2,... Performs a process relating to a specific task, but participates in one of several task groups defined in advance according to the type or content of the task. For example, the AP object 40-1 participates in a business group performing a search of a specific database, another AP object 40-2 participates in a business group performing a calculation, and so on. Each business group is called a domain. In the present embodiment, the domains are defined according to the type or content of the business, but this is merely an example for explanation. Of course, the domain may be defined from another viewpoint (for example, from the viewpoint of cost, management form, processing speed, etc.).

FIG. 2 shows the logical configuration of this system. Symbols connecting diamonds and black dots by lines in the figure are assigned “one-to-N”, in which N (one or more) elements on the black dot mark belong to one element on the diamond mark side. Represents a relationship.

The logical network 10 is an aggregate of many nodes 20 installed in a physical network.
This logical network 10 is logically defined and has nothing to do with the definition of the physical segment configuration or LAN / WAN. In one node 20, one or more AP objects 40 operate. Therefore, each A
The P object 40 belongs to one network 10 and one node 20. Also, one domain 70
, One or more AP objects 40 are participating. However, each AP object 40 does not necessarily need to participate in the domain 70. That is, there may be an AP object 40 that does not belong to any domain.

Referring back to FIG. In each of the logical networks 10-1, 10-2,...
A daemon process called a network actor (NWA) is arranged. For example, the logical network 10-1
In the example, the network actor 50-1 is arranged in the node 20-2, and in the logical network 10-2, the node
The network actor 50-2 is located at -6.
The network actors 50-1, 50-2,... Perform overall message distribution control in the respective logical networks 10-1, 10-2,.

The individual nodes 20-1, 20-2,
, Daemon processes 60-1, 60-2,... Called node actors (NDA) are arranged one by one. The node actors 60-1, 60-2,... Perform message distribution control in the respective nodes 20-1, 20-2,.

FIG. 3 specifically shows the functions of the network actor 50 and the node actor 60.

An AP object 40 that wants to multicast a message to a group of AP objects participating in a specific domain establishes a temporary path 81 every time of distribution to a network actor 50 on its own logical network, and transmits the message. Send out. After the transmission, the path 81 is immediately disconnected.

A distribution path 83 is established between the network actor 50 and each node actor 60 on the logical network 10 to which the network actor 50 belongs at the timing of activation (typically, machine boot) of the node actor 60.
Then, at the timing of termination of the node actor 60 (typically, shutdown of the machine), each distribution path 83 is disconnected. During the operation of the node actor 60,
The distribution path 83 remains set.

The network actor 50 has, in the memory of the network actor 50, a node actor table 51 for managing the operating nodes 20 on the logical network 10 to which the network actor 50 belongs. In the node actor table 51, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the node names of all the active nodes 20 on the logical network 10 and the identification numbers (distribution path IDs, For example, a file descriptor is registered. When each node actor 51 starts, the node actor 60 sends a start notification indicating its own node name and a distribution path to the network actor 50,
Based on the activation notification, the network actor 50
The node name of the activated node actor 60 and the distribution path I
D can be registered in the node actor table 51.

The network actor 50, which has received a message to be multicast to a specific domain from the AP object 40, refers to the node actor table 51 and sends the message to all the node actors 60 operating on the logical network 10 to receive the message. Deliver the message.

Between the node actor 60 and each AP object 40 in the same node, a distribution path 85 is established at the timing when the AP object 40 is activated.
Then, at the end timing of the AP object 40, the distribution path 85 is disconnected. During the operation of the AP object 40, the distribution path 85 remains set.

The node actor 60 has an AP for managing a running AP object 40 on the same node.
Object management table 61 and domain table 6
Three. In the AP object table 61,
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the object names of all the AP objects 40 operating in the node and the distribution path I of the distribution path 85 to the operating AP object 40
D is registered. In the domain table 63, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the object names of all the active AP objects 40 and the names (domain names) of the domains in which the active AP objects 40 participate are registered. Have been. Individual AP object 40
Is started, the AP object 40 sends a start notification indicating its object name, distribution path, and domain name to the node actor 60, and based on the start notification, the node actor 60 The object name and the distribution path ID can be registered in the AP application table 61 and the domain table 63.

When the node actor 60 receives a message to be multicast to a specific domain from the network actor 50, the node actor 60 refers to the AP object table 61 and the domain table 63, and checks the active AP participating in the specified domain. The message is delivered only to the object 40.

FIG. 7 shows the format of a message sent from the AP object 40.

The packet of the message 90 includes a header 91 representing information for communication control and user data 93 which is the net content of the message. The header 90 includes an object name, a network name, a node name, and a domain name indicating the source AP object 40, and an object name, a network name, a node name, and a domain name indicating the destination AP object name 40. ing.

The AP object 40 wishing to multicast a message to a group of AP objects participating in a specific domain sets the name of the specific domain to the destination domain name in the header 91 of the message 90. At this time, no data is set in the destination object name or the destination node name of the header 91 (= NU
LL data is set). This message is multicast as illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the AP object 40-1.
Is assumed to multicast a message to a group of AP objects participating in a specific domain D1. The arrows in the figure indicate the message flow. The source AP object 40-1 establishes a temporary path 81 on the network actor 50-1 on the logical network to which the AP object 40-1 belongs, and the network actor 50-1
Send the message to -1. In the header 91 of this message, "D1" is set as the destination domain name. The network actor 50-1 receiving the message distributes the message to all the node actors 60-1, 60-2, and 60-3 operating on the same logical network. Each of the node actors 60-1, 60-2, and 60-3 that have received the message includes, among the active AP objects in the same node, the AP application 40- which is participating in the specified domain D1.
The message is delivered only to 2, 40-3, and 40-6.

As described above, a message is multicast only to AP objects participating in a specific domain. At that time, the source AP application 40-1 needs to transmit the message only once. On the logical network, the message is sent only to active nodes. Within the node, the message is sent only to AP objects that are up and participating in the specified domain. According to this multicast method, compared to the conventional IP broadcast method, traffic is reduced, and no unnecessary load is placed on an AP object whose message is unnecessary. Furthermore, since a logical network can be defined across routers and gateways irrespective of the physical segment configuration, message distribution across routers and gateways is possible. In addition, compared to the conventional unicast method, the network configuration and nodes can respond more flexibly to changes such as one or the addition and deletion of AP objects, and the idle nodes and objects are wasted. There is no transmission.

In the above description, a case is described in which the source AP object multicasts to a group of objects in a specific domain on the logical network to which the source AP object belongs. However, other patterns can be cast.

For example, by specifying the destination network name in the message header 91 but not specifying the destination object name, node name and domain name, the message is distributed to all active AP objects in the logical network. be able to. By specifying the destination network name and node name, but not specifying the destination object name and domain name,
The message can be delivered to all active AP objects in the specified node. In addition, by specifying the network name, node name, and domain name of the destination, but not specifying the object name of the destination, the active AP participating in the specified domain in the specified node is specified.
Messages can only be delivered to objects. Also, by specifying the destination object name, network name, and node name, the message can be sent to only one specified object in the specified node. Further, if the location of a network actor on another logical network is known, messages can be cast in various patterns as described above to AP objects on the other logical network.

The above embodiment is an example of the present invention,
The present invention can be implemented in other various forms.

For example, since a logical network can be logically defined irrespective of the physical configuration of the network, a certain logical network can be set so as to partially overlap with another logical network. Then
AP objects existing in the overlapping area belong to a plurality of logical networks. Also, since the domain can be freely defined, one AP object 40
May participate in a plurality of domains 70 (eg, participate in both the computation processing domain and the high-speed processing domain). In such a case, the present invention can be applied without any problem.

Further, for example, a narrow-area logical network can be defined within one wide-area logical network. In that case, one network actor is arranged in each of the networks, a distribution path is established between the wide area network actor and the narrow area network actor, and the wide area network actor is a distribution path ID of the narrow area network actor. , A hierarchical network actor system can be employed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a conceptual configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram specifically showing functions of a network actor 50 and a node actor 60.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a node actor table.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an AP object table.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a domain table.

FIG. 7 is a data format diagram showing a configuration of a message sent from an AP object 40.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a hierarchy of message delivery to a specific domain.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Logical network 20 Node 40 AP application (process) 50 Network actor (NMA) 51 Node actor table 60 Node actor (NDA) 61 AP object table 63 Domain table 70 Domain (business group) 81 Temporary path 83 Distribution path 90 Message 91 Header 93 User data

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hideaki Yamamoto 3-3-3 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo NTT Data Communications Co., Ltd. (72) Ryosuke Masuki Inventor Ryosuke Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo 3-3-3 NTT Data Communication Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Jun Uchikawa 1-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Within Sumitomo Bank, Ltd. (72) Inventor Nobuhiko Ichiki Tokyo 1-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku Within Sumitomo Bank, Ltd.

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A network, a plurality of nodes arranged in the network, a plurality of objects arranged in all or a part of the plurality of nodes, each of which can participate in a predetermined domain, A node actor that is individually located and knows a first distribution path to each of the live objects in each node, and a domain in which each of the live objects is joined; and one predetermined node And a network actor that knows a second distribution path to each of the active node actors on the network, wherein a source object of the plurality of objects comprises:
Means for transmitting a message including a designation of a destination domain to the network actor, wherein the network actor receives the message and transmits the message to all of the active node actors.
First delivery means for delivering the message using the delivery path of the above, wherein each of the node actors receives the message and receives a specified one of the active objects in the same node. A second delivery means for delivering the message using only a second delivery path to only objects participating in the multicast method. 2. The multicast system according to claim 1, wherein said network is a logical network logically defined irrespective of the configuration of a physical network. 3. A temporary path is established between the source object and the network actor when the source object transmits the message, and the temporary path is disconnected immediately after transmitting the message. The described multicast method. 4. The first distribution path is established between each of the node actors and the network actor when each of the node actors is activated, and the first distribution path is held until the end of each of the node actors. The multicast method according to claim 1, wherein 5. The multicasting scheme of claim 4, wherein when each of said node actors is activated, each of said node actors informs said network actor of said first distribution path. 6. In each of the nodes, when each of the objects is activated, the second distribution path is established between each of the objects and the node actor.
2. The multicasting method according to claim 1, wherein the distribution path of the object is held until the end of each object. 7. A multicasting system according to claim 4, wherein each of said objects notifies said node actor of said first distribution path and said domain when each of said objects is activated. 8. The message may include a designation of an object, a node, and a domain of a transmission destination. The first distribution unit of the network actor may specify that the received message includes a designation of a specific domain. Distributes the received message to all active node actors when it does not include the designation of the node, while the received message includes the designation of a particular particular node when the received message includes the designation of a particular node. The second distribution means of each of the node actors, when the received message includes a specific domain designation, but does not include a specific object designation, when the received message does not include the specific object designation, the received message To all active objects participating in the When containing the specified object is delivered only to the specified the received message object,
The multicast method according to claim 1. 9. A destination located at a node on the network, knowing a distribution path to each of the active objects in the node and a domain in which each of the active objects participates. Receiving a message including a designation of a domain, and using only the delivery path, the message is transmitted to only the objects that are participating in the designated destination domain among the active objects in the node. A node actor having distribution means for distribution. 10. When the received message includes a specific domain specification but does not include a specific object specification, the distributing means may determine whether the received message is in operation while participating in the specified domain. 10. Distribute to all objects, while distributing the received message only to specified objects when the received message includes the designation of a particular specific object.
The described node actor. 11. A destination located at a node on the network, knowing a delivery path to each of the active objects in the node and a domain in which each of the active objects participates. Receiving a message including a designation of a domain, and using only the delivery path, the message is transmitted to only the objects that are participating in the designated destination domain among the active objects in the node. A computer-readable recording medium carrying a computer program for causing a computer to function as a node actor having distribution means for distributing. 12. A system which is located at a node on a network, knows a delivery path to each of the working nodes on the network, receives a message, and sends a message to all of the working nodes. A network actor having distribution means for distributing the message using the distribution path. 13. The distribution means distributes the received message to all active node actors when the received message includes the specification of a specific domain but does not include the specification of a specific node. 13. The network actor of claim 12, wherein, when the received message includes a designation of a particular particular node, delivering the received message only to the node actor of the designated node. 14. A node located on a network, knowing a delivery path to each of the working nodes on the network, receiving a message, and A computer-readable recording medium that carries a computer program for causing a computer to function as a network actor having a distribution unit that distributes the message using the distribution path. 15. A method for multicasting a message between a plurality of objects located at a plurality of nodes on a network, each of which can participate in a predetermined domain, wherein the node actor individually located at each node comprises: Knowing a first distribution path to each of the live objects in each node and the domain in which each of the live objects is joined; and a network actor located at one predetermined node. Knowing a second distribution path to each of the active node actors on the network; and wherein a source object of the plurality of objects comprises:
Sending a message including a destination domain designation to the network actor, wherein the network actor receives the message and sends the first message to all active node actors.
Distributing the message using the distribution path of, wherein each of the node actors receives the message and, among the active objects in the same node, objects that participate in a specified destination domain And using only the second delivery path to deliver the message.