JPH11355308A - Atm exchange, in-network path information acquisition method in atm network and recording medium recording its control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ATM exchange by which a network manager can easily manage the network. SOLUTION: Command processing sections 21-1 to 21-n that receive a command to check a route for object asynchronous transfer mode ATM exchanges 2-1 to 2-n from a node management device controls setup message generating sections 22-1 to 22-n to generate a setup message. Message transmission reception sections 23-1 to 23-n discriminates whether or not an in-network path information element is given to the setup message or a release message, transmits/ receives the setup message or the release message or generates the release message or the like. In-network path information processing sections 24-1 to 24-n give the in-network path information element to the setup message to be sent or the received setup message and the received release message or extract the in-network path information element from the setup message to be sent or the received setup message and the received release message.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an ATM switch and an ATM switch.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for acquiring intra-network route information in a TM network and a recording medium on which a control program is recorded.
ynchronous Transfer Mode:
(Asynchronous transfer mode) in a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ATM exchange is an exchange which realizes ATM. In the ATM layer in the ATM exchange, a 53-byte cell is switched by hardware. SVC (Switched Virtual Con
In order to establish a path of (connection), routing processing is performed by software.

At this time, in order to establish a path, an ATM is used.
forum's UNI (UserNetwork In
terface) is used. This signaling method is based on ITU-T Q.2. 2931 based protocol.

Further, a PNNI is provided between switches (SW).
(Private Network-Node Int
By exchanging the addresses of the switches with each other and exchanging information on the state of each link using the protocol of "interface", the topology of the switches in the network and the resources in the network are recognized, and an optimal route is determined. doing.

[0005] As for the connection charging method between the public network and the leased line network in the above-mentioned ATM exchange, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H09-0909 discloses
There is a technique disclosed in JP-A-172508. That is, ISDN (Integrated Service)
As a connection charging method between a public network and a dedicated line network in an exchange using a s Digital Network trunk line, there is a method of performing centralized charging between a host computer, a public network gateway station, and a transmitting station.

In this method, as shown in FIG. 9, each of the exchanges 7 and 8 incorporates serial number processing units 71 and 81, trunk line connection path processing units 72 and 82, and accounting processing units 73 and 83. , Is externally connected to the accounting host 9. Each of the above exchanges 7 and 8 communicates with a public network gateway exchange (not shown) and a relay exchange (not shown) connected to a subscriber line of a public network exchange (not shown). It is incorporated in a system consisting of an exchange (not shown).

The serial number processing unit 7 of each of the exchanges 7 and 8
1 and 81, at the time of call setup, a call serial number is set as setup (SETUP) information on a setup message for each call, and the trunk line connection path processing sections 72 and 8
In No. 2, trunk line connection route information is created by assigning a local exchange code for each call, and charging units 73 and 83 charge for each trunk line based on the trunk line connection route information.

[0008]

In the above-described conventional connection charging system, a function of giving a call serial number or trunk line connection path information is used, so that public network charging and trunk lines can be performed without considering the user. Similar to the billing, the public line connection billing can be accurately counted as one call.

However, in the PNNI, which is a protocol between switches in an ATM network, each switch determines an optimal route for call connection. Therefore, what route is currently used for call setting is determined by the network. The administrator cannot know and cannot perform network management.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to record an ATM exchange, a method for acquiring intra-network route information in an ATM network, and a control program therefor, which can easily perform network management by a network administrator. It is to provide a recording medium.

[0011]

An ATM exchange according to the present invention uses a signaling function to set / release a path for transmitting / receiving data in an asynchronous transfer mode.
A TM exchange, which creates a setup message for confirming a route to a destination device, and adds information of the own device to the setup message as an intra-network route information element when relaying the setup message. Addition means, means for generating and transmitting a release message including the intra-network route information element added to the setup message when receiving the setup message addressed to the own device, and transmitting the release message as it is when relaying the release message. Means for transferring to a station.

A method for acquiring intra-network route information in an ATM network according to the present invention is a method for acquiring intra-network route information in an ATM network for setting / releasing a path for transmitting / receiving data in an asynchronous transfer mode by using a signaling function. A for transmitting and receiving data in the asynchronous transfer mode
A step of creating a setup message for confirming a route to a destination device in the TM exchange; and a step of adding information of the own device as an intra-network route information element to the setup message when relaying the setup message; Creating and transmitting a release message including the intra-network route information element added to the setup message when receiving the setup message addressed to the own device; and transferring the release message as it is to the next station when relaying the release message And steps.

According to the present invention, there is provided a recording medium in which an intra-network path information acquisition control program in an ATM network is recorded.
A recording medium recording an in-network path information acquisition control program for causing a computer to acquire path information in the ATM network in an ATM network in which release is performed using a signaling function, wherein the in-network path information acquisition control program comprises: Causing the computer to create a setup message for confirming the route to the destination device, and, when relaying the setup message, add the information of the own device to the setup message as a route information element in the network; When a message is received, a release message including the intra-network route information element added to the setup message is created and transmitted, and when the release message is relayed, the release message is transferred to the next station as it is.

That is, the present invention uses the signaling function of the ATM exchange. The signaling function is a function of setting / releasing an SVC path. Set the path by the setup (SETUP) message,
The path is released by a RELEASE message. In these messages, variable length information elements such as the partner's ATM address and own ATM address are set. The present invention is realized by adding a new information element to the variable length information element.

More specifically, an AT for constructing an ATM network
M from the node management device connected to the M exchange
By inputting a command in which the ATM address of the TM exchange is set, a setup message is transmitted to the target ATM exchange in the network.

At this time, an in-network path information element is set as an information element on the setup message, and the setup message in which the in-network path information element is set is transferred to the next ATM exchange.

When the setup message in which the intra-network path information element is set is received in the target ATM exchange, a release message in which the intra-network path information element is set is transmitted to the originating ATM exchange.

When the ATM switch to which the command has been input receives a release message in which the intra-network route information element is set, the information is output to the node management device so that the network administrator can determine which ATM switch is currently used. It is possible to easily recognize whether a call connection is made. Therefore, network management by the network administrator can be easily performed.

[0019]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ATM network according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, an ATM network 1 is composed of ATM exchanges 2-1 to 2-n.

The ATM switches 2-1 to 2-n are provided with command processing units 21-1 to 21-n, respectively, and a setup (SET).
(UP) message creation units 22-1 to 22-n, message transmission / reception units 23-1 to 23-n, and in-network route information processing units 24-1 to 24-n.

The command processing units 21-1 to 21-n are sent from a node management device (not shown) to a target ATM exchange 2-1 to 2-2.
When a command for checking the route for -n is input, the setup message creating units 22-1 to 22-n
Control. Setup message creation unit 22-1
22-n creates a setup message under the control of the command processing units 21-1 to 21-n.

The message transmission / reception units 23-1 to 23-n determine whether or not an in-network route information element is added to a setup message or a release message, transmit / receive a setup message or a release message, create a release message, and the like.

The intra-network route information processing units 24-1 to 24-n add or extract intra-network route information elements to a setup message to be transmitted, a received setup message, and a received release message.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific example of a network system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a network according to an embodiment of the present invention includes switches (SW) (ATM switches) 3-1 to 3-5 and a node management device 4- connected to each of the switches 3-1 to 3-5.
1 to 4-5.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of transmitting a setup message according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of receiving a setup message according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of transmitting a release message according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of receiving a release message according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows an ATM network 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an intra-network route information element according to an embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the ATM network 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The ATM exchanges 2-1 to 2-n realize the operations shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 by executing a program recorded in a control memory (not shown), and the control memories include a floppy disk and an RO.
M (read only memory), IC (integrated circuit) memory and the like can be used.

The network according to one embodiment of the present invention is composed of five stations 3-1 to 3-5. The route from the switch 3-1 to the switch 3-5 includes the route of the switch 3-1 → the switch 3-2 → the switch 3-3 → the switch 3-5, and the switch 3-1 → the switch 3-2 →
There are two routes, that is, the route of the switch 3-4 → the route of the switch 3-5.

However, when the trunk line between the switch 3-4 and the switch 3-5 is unavailable due to a failure or the like, the route from the switch 3-1 to the switch 3-5 is only the former. In that case, it is not known whether the switch 3-1 is passing through the switch 3-3 or the switch 3-4.

Here, a command for checking the route to the switch 3-5 is input from the node management device 4-1 connected to the switch 3-1 (step S in FIG. 3).
1). The command processing unit 21-1 of the switch 3-1 that has received this command sets up the setup message creating unit 22.
-1 is controlled to create a setup message for the switch 3-5 (step S2 in FIG. 3).

This setup message creating section 22-
An essential information element and an intra-network route information element (6-1 in FIG. 8) are set in the setup message created in step 1 (step S3 in FIG. 3). Since the switch 3-1 originates in the intra-network route information element, the logging pointer (6- in FIG. 8) is used.
2) is set to 0 by the intra-network route information processing unit 24-1. Thereafter, the message transmitting / receiving unit 23-1 switches to the switch 3-2.
(Step S4 in FIG. 3).

The message transmitting / receiving unit 23-2 (not shown) of the switch 3-2 that has received the setup message determines whether or not the intra-network route information element is added to this setup message (step S1 in FIG. 4).
1).

When the intra-network route information element is added to the setup message, the intra-network route information processing unit 24-2
(Not shown) sets its own ATM address to the ATM address (6-3 in FIG. 8) of the intra-network route information element of the setup message (step S12 in FIG. 4).

Further, the intra-network route information processing section 24-2 counts up a logging pointer to indicate that its own ATM address has been set (step S13 in FIG. 4).
This logging pointer indicates the number of switches (including the target switch) up to the target switch, and is used as a pointer when the next switch sets its own ATM address in the ATM address of the route information element in the network. Is done.

The own ATM address has only 13 bytes of the network prefix part. Therefore, own AT
The location where the M address is set is 2 + logging pointer × 13th byte from the head of the intra-network route information element.

The message transmitting / receiving unit 23-2 is provided with a switch 3
If it is determined that the setup message from -1 is not addressed to the own station (step S14 in FIG. 4), the setup message in which the own ATM address and the logging pointer are set as described above is transmitted to the next switch 3-3 (step S14). FIG. 4 step S16).

When the intra-network route information element is not added to the setup message, the message transmission / reception unit 23-2 recognizes the setup message as a setup message for setting a normal SVC path and transfers the setup message to the next switch 3-3. (Step S16 in FIG. 4).

When the switch 3-3 receives the setup message from the switch 3-2, the switch 3-2
Then, a setup message in which the own ATM address and the logging pointer are set or a setup message for setting a normal SVC path is transmitted to the switch 3-5.

Message transmitting / receiving unit 23 of switch 3-5
In -5 (not shown), it is determined whether or not the intra-network route information element is added to the setup message sent from the switch 3-3 (step S11 in FIG. 4).

When the intra-network route information element is added to the setup message, the intra-network route information processing unit 24-5
(Not shown) sets its own ATM address to the ATM address of the intra-network route information element of the setup message (step S12 in FIG. 4), and counts up a logging pointer to indicate that the own ATM address has been set (FIG. 4). 4 steps S13).

The message transmitting / receiving unit 23-5 is provided with the switch 3
When it is determined that the setup message from -1 is addressed to the own station (step S14 in FIG. 4), a release message transmission process is performed to transmit a release message to the setup message (step S1 in FIG. 4).
5).

In this release message transmitting process, the intra-network path information element (the switch 3-5 is also included in the intra-network path information element) on the setup message received by the message transmitting / receiving unit 23-5 is released. The message is copied (steps S21 and S22 in FIG. 5). Thereafter, the message transmitting / receiving unit 23-5 transmits the created release message (Step S23 in FIG. 5).

The switches 3-3 and 3-2 transmit the release message to the message transmitting / receiving sections 23-3 and 2-3.
When received in 3-2, it is determined whether or not the intra-network route information element is added to the release message (FIG. 6).
Step S31).

When the intra-network route information element is added to the release message, the message transmitting / receiving units 23-3 and 23-2 determine whether the release message is addressed to the own station (step S32 in FIG. 6). Switch 3-
In 3, 3-2, it is determined that the packet is not addressed to the own switch.
The message transmitting / receiving units 23-3 and 23-2 transfer the release message to the next switch (step S3 in FIG. 6).
4).

Upon receiving the release message, the message transmitting / receiving unit 23-1 of the switch 3-1 determines whether or not the intra-network route information element is added to the release message (step S31 in FIG. 6). Since the intra-network route information element is added to the release message, the message transmitting / receiving unit 23-1 determines whether the release message is addressed to the own station (step S32 in FIG. 6).

Since the switch 3-1 determines that the packet is addressed to its own switch, the intra-network route information processing unit 24-1 extracts the intra-network route information element from the release message, and the command processing unit 21-1 operates the node management device. The in-network route information element is notified to 4-1 (step S33 in FIG. 6).

Here, the reason why the switch 3-5 returns the release message in response to the setup message in which the intra-network route information element is set is to prevent unnecessary calls from existing in the ATM network 1.

Next, referring to the sequence chart shown in FIG. 7, first, the node management device 4-1 connected to the switch 3-1 sends the switch 3 to the switch 3-1.
A command for inquiring about the path to -5 is input (5-1 in FIG. 7).

The switch 3-1 transmits the setup message to the switches 3-2, 3-3 and 3-5 as described above (5-2 to 5-4 in FIG. 7). At this time, the passing information whose logging pointer is 0 is passed from the switch 3-1 to the switch 3-2, and the switch 3-2
-3 to the route information with a logging pointer of 1 (switch 3
-2 including the ATM address of -2) and the switch 3-
From the switch 3 to the switch 3-5, the passing information (including the ATM address of the switches 3-2 and 3-3) of the logging pointer is passed to the switch 3-5. 3-2, 3-3
3-5 ATM address).

When a release message corresponding to the setup message is created by the switch 3-5, the release message is transmitted to the switch 3-1 via the switches 3-3 and 3-2 (5- in FIG. 7). 5-5
7).

At this time, in the switch 3-5, the above-mentioned route information [the route information whose logging pointer is 3 (switch 3-
2, 3-3, and 3-5) are copied into the release message, so that the switch 3-1 has the logging information of the passing information of 3 (the switch 3-2 and the switch 3-2).
3-3 and 3-5 ATM addresses).

Therefore, there are three stations including the switch 3-5 from the switch 3-1 to the switch 3-5.
It can be seen that the call is connected to the switch 3-5 via the switches 3-2 and 3-3. The intra-network route information element is an information element only between the switches 3-1 to 3-5.

In the above description, the switch 3-1 → the switch 3-2 → the switch 3 according to the PNNI protocol.
-3 → The case where the route of the switch 3-5 is set has been described. However, in the PNNI protocol, the route is determined according to the traffic, cost, and the presence or absence of a failure.
1 → Switch 3-2 → Switch 3-4 → Switch 3-5
This is also effective when a route is set.

As described above, the node management devices 4-1 to 4-
5, a command in which the ATM addresses of the target ATM exchanges 2-1 to 2-n are set is input, and in the ATM network 1, the target ATM exchanges 2-1 to 2-n have the network route information element as an information element. Sends the set-up message and sends the setup message to the target AT
By transmitting a release message in which the intra-network route information element is set from the M exchanges 2-1 to 2-n, the network administrator establishes a call connection via any of the currently existing ATM exchanges 2-1 to 2-n. Can be easily recognized.

In this case, when the ATM switch 2-1 to 2-n to which the command has been received receives the release message in which the intra-network route information element is set, the information is transmitted to the node management devices 4-1 to 4-5. , The network administrator can easily recognize which of the ATM exchanges 2-1 to 2-n is currently connected, so that network management by the network administrator can be easily performed.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, in an ATM exchange for setting / releasing a path for transmitting / receiving data in an asynchronous transfer mode by using a signaling function, a path to a destination apparatus is determined. Creates a setup message for confirming the route, adds the information of the own device as an intra-network route information element to the setup message when relaying the setup message, and is added to the setup message when receiving the setup message addressed to the own device. By creating and transmitting a release message including the in-network path information element and transferring the release message as it is when relaying the release message, there is an effect that network management by a network administrator can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific example of a network system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the time of transmitting a setup message according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the time of receiving a setup message according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation at the time of transmitting a release message according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of receiving a release message according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sequence chart showing an operation of the ATM network according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an intra-network route information element according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ATM network according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ATM network 2-1 to 2-n ATM switch 3-1 to 3-5 Switch 4-1 to 4-5 Node management device 21-1 to 21-n Command processing unit 22-1 to 22-n Setup (SETUP) ) Message creation unit 23-1 to 23-n Message transmission / reception unit 24-1 to 24-n Network route information processing unit

Claims (9)

[Claims] An ATM exchange for setting / releasing a path for transmitting / receiving data in an asynchronous transfer mode by using a signaling function, wherein a setup message for confirming a path to a destination apparatus is transmitted. Creating means for creating, an adding means for adding information of the own device to the setup message as a route information element in the network when relaying the setup message, and a network added to the setup message when receiving the setup message addressed to the own device Means for creating and transmitting a release message including an internal route information element;
Means for transferring the release message as it is to the next station when relaying the release message. 2. The ATM switch according to claim 1, further comprising means for extracting the intra-network route information element from the release message when receiving a release message corresponding to the setup message created by the own device. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said adding means adds address information for identifying the own device and information indicating the number of stations passed to the own device as said intra-network route information element. The ATM exchange according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. An intra-network route information acquisition method in an ATM network for setting / releasing a path for data transmission / reception in an asynchronous transfer mode using a signaling function, wherein the method includes the steps of: A that sends and receives
A step of creating a setup message for confirming a route to a destination device in the TM exchange; and a step of adding information of the own device as an intra-network route information element to the setup message when relaying the setup message; Creating and transmitting a release message including the intra-network route information element added to the setup message when receiving the setup message addressed to the own device; and transferring the release message as it is to the next station when relaying the release message And a step of obtaining intra-network route information. 5. The ATM switch according to claim 4, further comprising a step of, upon receiving a release message corresponding to the setup message created by the own device, extracting the in-network path information element from the release message. Method for acquiring route information in the network. 6. The step of adding information of the own device as the intra-network route information element includes the step of: adding address information for identifying the own device and information indicating the number of stations passed to the own device in the network. 6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the information is added as a route information element. 7. An in-network path information for causing a computer to acquire path information in the ATM network in an ATM network in which a path for transmitting and receiving data in an asynchronous transfer mode is set / released by using a signaling function. A recording medium on which an acquisition control program is recorded, wherein the in-network route information acquisition control program causes a computer to create a setup message for confirming a route to a destination device, and to set up the setup message when relaying the setup message. Causing the information of the own device to be added to the message as an intra-network route information element, and upon receiving a setup message addressed to the own device, generating and transmitting a release message including the intra-network route information element added to the setup message; Release message when relaying the message A recording medium on which an in-network route information acquisition control program is recorded, which is transferred to a next station as it is. 8. The network route information acquisition control program causes a computer to extract the network route information element from the release message upon receiving a release message corresponding to the setup message created by the computer. A recording medium on which the in-network route information acquisition control program according to claim 7 is recorded. 9. The in-network route information acquisition control program, when causing a computer to add information of the own device as the in-network route information element, includes address information for identifying the own device and a process to reach the own device. 9. The recording medium according to claim 7, wherein information indicating the number of passed stations is added as the network route information element.