JPH1155292A - Group communication rate control method network resource sharing method, rate control scheduling method and communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a group communication rate control method, network resource sharing method, a rate control scheduling method, and communication system in which a communication rate can be managed and ensured by group units, and the communication rate can be shared and effectively used by all members in a group. SOLUTION: An ATM cell flowing from a terminal 1 through an upstream line 9 to an ATM switch part 6, or an ATM cell flowing from a grouping processing part 8 through a downstream 10 to an ATM switch part 6 is temporarily stored in a buffer part 31. Then, the reading of the ATM cell from the buffer part 31 to the ATM switch part 6 is controlled by a group round robin part 32 and a whole round robin part 33 in a round robin system following a preliminarily set time slice per each line or a time slice per each group preliminarily set based on the requested rate for each group.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a group communication system for transmitting data by packetizing data between terminals such as computers using a network, and in particular, for transmitting data only between terminals belonging to a predetermined group. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a communication system for transmitting data between terminals such as computers, there is a system for transmitting data in packets using a communication line such as Ethernet or Ethernet and a telephone line.
In this case, a bridge or a router is installed at both ends for the connection between the Ethernets, and an Ethernet packet (an IP packet or the like in the case of a router) is converted into a protocol on a communication line for communication. That is, an Ethernet packet or an IP packet is transferred to an HDLC (High L
(in the case of HDLC, a packet is mapped between a start flag and an end flag and transmitted over a communication line).

In recent years, as a form of a communication network, 53
ATM (Asynchronous) which divides into byte cells and transmits
Transfer Mode) networks have begun to be used, and especially because of their high compatibility with computer communications, their application to computer networks is rapidly advancing. ATM
In the case of (1), since the transmission rate is higher than that of Ethernet, and switching or routing can be performed at high speed in cell units based on cell addresses, it is expected to be used for high-speed computer communication.

[0004] As one of the computer communication services, a group communication system that enables communication only between predetermined users has been studied. What is a group communication system?
By limiting communication between computer terminals in the same system to group members set in advance, it is possible to reduce costs by sharing equipment and to ensure security that communication packets do not leak outside the group.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a group communication system using an ATM network, here, "Packet communication method and apparatus" by Hayase / Irie / Ota (Japanese Patent Application No. 9-32).
No. 58), wherein 1 is a terminal, 2 is a LAN, 3 is an edge device, 4 is a filter unit, 5 is a center device, 6 is an ATM switch unit, and 7 is management. Unit, 8 is a grouping processing unit, 9 is an uplink, 10
Is an example of a flow of a downlink, and 11 is an example of a flow of a communication packet between terminals.

[0006] The edge device 3 converts a packet and an ATM cell, and connects the terminal 1 to the center device 5. The filter unit 4 determines whether there is a terminal 1 to be received based on the packet header information of the received packet, transmits the packet to the corresponding terminal 1 if present, and discards the packet if not. The center device 5 accommodates the edge device 3 and provides group communication. The ATM switch 6 switches ATM cells according to cell header information (address). The management unit 7 sends the address of the edge device 3 (MAC (Media Access
Control) address or ATM address or a virtual line (PVC: Permanent Vi
group information indicating the correspondence between the number of the virtual circuit) and the group. The grouping processing unit 8 includes a management unit 7
From the group information, and send and receive packets only between group members. The uplink 9 is a virtual uplink for transmitting ATM cells from the edge device 3 to the grouping processing unit 8, and the downlink 10 is a grouping processing unit 8
This is a virtual downlink line for transmitting ATM cells from the ATM device to the edge device 3.

A PVC is set in advance between the management unit 7, the grouping processing unit 8, and the edge device 3, and communication of all ATM cells is performed via the PVC. At least one terminal corresponds to one edge device 3. Group information is registered for each edge device 3. Therefore, terminals connected to the same edge device 3 always belong to the same group. The edge device 3 has at least one PV
C corresponds.

In the communication between the terminals, the packet from the transmitting terminal is converted into an ATM cell by the edge device 3 and then transmitted to the grouping processing unit 8 through the virtual uplink line 9. The grouping processing unit 8 receives the AT from the edge device 3
Multicast the M cell to all the edge devices 3 belonging to the group through the virtual downlink 10 (create and transmit as many copies as the number of receptions in which only the header information of the ATM cell is rewritten to the edge device of the group member). . The edge device 3 that has received the ATM cell outputs the filter unit 4
, It is determined whether there is a terminal 1 to receive based on the packet header information, and if there is a corresponding terminal 1, it is transmitted to it. Note that a configuration is also possible in which the grouping processing unit 8 converts an ATM cell and a packet, and transmits the ATM cell from the grouping processing unit 8 to only the edge device 3 to which the receiving terminal 1 is connected, based on the packet header information. .

In the group communication system using the ATM network as described above, high-speed group communication at a variable rate using the characteristics of the ATM is possible. There is a problem that the communication is affected by communication traffic of another group which is completely unrelated to communication between terminals in the same group. In particular, when the number of ATM cells flowing into the ATM switch unit exceeds the allowable amount, the cells are discarded by all members according to the same rule. In addition, it was impossible to share and effectively use rates within a group.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a conventional communication system in which a rate is effectively used by sharing a system, in which a communication system using a cable modem is shown. In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a terminal, and 22 denotes a cable. Modem, 23
Is a tap-off, 24 is a relay amplifier, and 25 is a cable modem center device.

The cable modem 22 connects the terminal 21 and the center device 25. Tap off 23 is cable modem 2
Connect the line from 2 to the coaxial cable. Relay amplifier 2
4 concentrates the coaxial cable and raises the signal level. The cable modem center device 25 accommodates a line concentrator.

In communication in this system, a transmission packet from the terminal 21 is transmitted to the cable modem 22 and the tap-off 23
Through the relay amplifier 24 to the cable modem center device 25. In addition, the terminal 21
The packet received by the cable modem center device 2
5 to a relay amplifier 24, a tap-off 23, and a cable modem 22 through a coaxial cable. Therefore, low-cost communication through concentrators is possible, but since the unit affected by communication traffic is a set of members sharing the concentrator, rate management / guarantee in an arbitrarily configurable group unit is not possible Met.

[0013]

As described above, in the conventional group communication using the ATM network, only a specific limited member among registered edge devices or computers connected to the edge device is used. Group communication for communication is possible, but the closed rate within the group cannot be managed or guaranteed at all, and communication traffic in other groups, which is not related to communication between group members, is used for intra-group communication. Had an effect.
In addition, it was impossible to share and effectively use rates within a group or system. Furthermore, in a communication system using a conventional cable modem, rate management and guarantee can be performed in units of members that share a line concentrator, but rate management and guarantee in groups that can be set arbitrarily cannot be performed. .

An object of the present invention is to provide a group communication rate control method and a communication system which enable rate management and assurance in a group unit, and in which all members in a group can share and effectively use a rate. .

Another object of the present invention is to enable rate management and assurance on a group basis, to allow all members in a group to share and use the rate effectively, and to share rates in all groups in the system. An object of the present invention is to provide a group communication rate control method and a communication system that can be used effectively.

[0016]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a plurality of terminals are connected to a network accommodating a plurality of lines connected directly to at least one terminal or via a LAN. Converting data from any one of the terminals belonging to the group into a switching unit in the network, and converting the switching unit into at least one of a plurality of lines assigned to the one group via a switch in the network. In the group communication method that enables communication only between terminals belonging to each group by sending to the switch, the switching unit obtained by converting the data from the terminal is temporarily stored before being read into the switch, and it corresponds to each group Switching units to be read into the switch based on the required rate for each group. Suggest group communication rate control method for controlling a round-robin fashion according to the time slice of the order set group.

The conventional group communication system using ATM and the communication system using cable modem are different from each other in that a switching unit to be read into a switch is controlled by a round robin method based on request rate information for each group which can be set arbitrarily. The difference is that the rate can be managed and assured at the same time, and that the rate can be shared and used effectively by all members in the group.

According to the present invention, a switching unit based on data from a terminal is temporarily stored in a switch and then read and passed through the switch. Is controlled by a round robin method according to a time slice set in advance based on the requested rate. For this reason, rate management in groups that can be set arbitrarily
Effective use by guarantee and rate sharing among all members in the group becomes possible.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

First Embodiment FIG. 3 shows a system configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. That is, 1 is a terminal, 2 is LA
N, 3 are edge devices, 4 is a filter unit, 5 is a center device, 6 is an ATM switch unit, 7 is a management unit, 8 is a grouping processing unit, 9 is an uplink, 10 is a downlink, and 11 is a communication packet between terminals. 31 is a buffer unit, 32
Is a group round robin unit, 33 is an entire round robin unit, 34 is a control signal transmitted and received between the buffer unit 31 and the group round robin unit 32, and 35 is transmitted from the entire round robin unit 33 to the group round robin unit 32 Control signal.

The buffer unit 31 temporarily stores ATM cells read by the ATM switch unit 6. The group round robin unit 32 reads from the buffer unit 31 that accumulates ATM cells passing through virtual uplink and downlink lines 9 and 10 between all edge devices 3 belonging to the group and the grouping processing unit 8 in units of groups. Control. The whole round robin unit 33 controls all the group round robin units 32.

A PVC is previously set between the management unit 7, the grouping processing unit 8, the edge device 3, the group round robin unit 32, and the entire round robin unit 33, and all A
Communication of TM cells is performed via PVC. At least one terminal corresponds to one edge device 3. Group information is registered for each edge device 3. Therefore, terminals connected to the same edge device 3 always belong to the same group. At least one PVC corresponds to the edge device 3. There is one buffer unit for each PVC. Therefore, cells of different groups are not mixed in one buffer unit.

The round robin method is used for scheduling a process in a time-division processing system, and processes a process requesting a process for a fixed time (time slice) in the order of being placed in a queue. The process that does not end at the end is put at the end of the queue again. In the round robin control in the present system, if there is a process that has been completed in the middle of a time slice, the next process is processed without waiting for the end of the time slice. For this reason, the reading process is omitted for the buffer section where no ATM cell exists, and the rate sharing in the unit of round robin control enables effective use.

Next, the flow of a packet in terminal-to-terminal communication will be described. The communication packet from the terminal 1 is converted into an ATM cell by the edge device 3 and transmitted to the grouping processing unit 8 through the virtual uplink 9. At this time, ATM
Before the switch unit 6 reads the ATM cells, the ATM cells are temporarily stored in the buffer unit 31. The ATM cell read into the ATM switch unit 6 arrives at the grouping processing unit 8 through the virtual uplink line 9. The grouping processing unit 8 multicasts the ATM cells to all the edge devices 3 of the group to which the transmitted edge device 3 belongs through the virtual downlink 10 based on the received ATM cell header information. The ATM cells that have been multicast are temporarily stored in the buffer unit 31, then read into the ATM switch unit 6, and arrive at each edge device 3 through the virtual downlink 10. The edge device 3 that has received the ATM cell determines in the filter unit 4 whether or not there is a terminal 1 to receive based on the packet header information, and transmits the corresponding terminal 1 if there is one.

In the present system, ATM used for communication
The cells are temporarily stored in the buffer unit 31 and read into the ATM switch unit 6. In order to enable rate management and assurance in groups and effective use of rates by sharing, control of the ATM cell rate read from the buffer unit 31 is performed in a hierarchical manner between the entire round robin unit 33 and the group round robin unit 32. The configuration realizes the following.

FIG. 4 shows a flow of the operation of the entire round robin unit 33, and the operation will be described below.

In the whole round robin unit 33, the entire operation of one group round robin unit 32 in a unit time is registered as one process in a queue in the whole round robin unit 33. The process registration in the queue in the entire round robin unit 33 is performed at predetermined time intervals (rounds) in accordance with the process registration order and frequency predetermined based on the request rate information set for each group. After the registration of the process group, the following operation is repeated, and when there are no more processes registered in the queue, the queue is registered again and the processing is continued. (1) Take out one process from the queue. (2) During the time slice, the group round robin unit 32 corresponding to the process is operated.

FIG. 5 shows a flow of the operation of the group round robin section 32, which will be described below.

The group round robin unit 32 registers a cell read from one buffer unit 31 as a process in a queue in the group round robin unit 32. In the case of the group round robin unit 32,
Processes are registered in the queue in the registration order determined for each round, but each buffer unit 31 is treated equally. After the registration of the process group, the following operation is repeated until the round ends or there are no more processes registered in the queue. (1) Take out one process from the queue. (2) During the time slice, an ATM cell is read from the buffer unit 31 corresponding to the process. If there is no ATM cell in the buffer unit 31, the process returns to (1) without waiting for the end of the time slice.

When the round is completed or there are no more processes registered in the queue, if all the buffer units 31 belonging to the group are empty, the entire round robin unit 33 is notified to end the operation, and If a non-empty buffer unit 31 exists, the queue is registered again and the process proceeds to the next round.

As described above, in the present system, among the registered edge devices 3 or the terminals 1 connected thereto, when performing group communication in which communication is performed only between predetermined members, group communication is performed in group units. Management and assurance, and effective use by sharing the rate among all members in the group.

In this embodiment, the ATM cell used for communication between terminals is multicast to all the edge devices 3 belonging to the group by the grouping processing unit 8 and transmitted to the terminal 1 by each edge device 3. Or discarding is used, but the grouping processing unit 8
A configuration is also possible in which the conversion of M cells and packets is performed, and the ATM cells are transmitted from the grouping processing unit 8 only to the edge device 3 to which the receiving terminal 1 is connected, based on the packet header information. Further, the function of the edge device 3 can be implemented on the terminal 1. The implementation form of these functions can be easily changed as needed.

In the present embodiment, a method of allocating a time zone to each group by the entire round robin unit 33 is used. However, the time zone allocation to a group is not necessarily limited to the round robin method. For example, a method of allocating each may be used.

Although the communication between the edge device 3 and the center device 5 is performed by the ATM system, the present invention is not limited to this, and any communication system such as the STM system may be used.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 shows a system configuration according to the embodiment of FIG.
The same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. That is, 1 is a terminal, 2 is a LAN, 3 is an edge device, 4 is a filter unit, 5
Is a center device, 6 is an ATM switch unit, 7 is a management unit, 8
Is a grouping processing unit, 9 is an uplink, 10 is a downlink, 11 is an example of a flow of communication packets between terminals, 31 is a buffer, 32 is a group round robin, 33 is an entire round robin, and 34 is a buffer 31. Control signals transmitted and received between the group round robin unit 32 and
5 is a control signal transmitted from the entire round robin unit 33 to the group round robin unit 32, and 41 is a control signal transmitted from the group round robin unit 32 to the entire round robin unit 33.

A PVC is previously set between the management unit 7, the grouping processing unit 8, the edge device 3, the group round robin unit 32, and the entire round robin unit 33, and all the A
Communication of TM cells is performed via PVC.

Next, the flow of a packet in terminal-to-terminal communication will be described. The communication packet from the terminal 1 is converted into an ATM cell by the edge device 3 and transmitted to the grouping processing unit 8 through the virtual uplink 9. At this time, ATM
Before the switch unit 6 reads the ATM cells, the ATM cells are temporarily stored in the buffer unit 31. The ATM cell read into the ATM switch unit 6 arrives at the grouping processing unit 8 through the virtual uplink line 9. The grouping processing unit 8 multicasts the ATM cells to all the edge devices 3 of the group to which the transmitted edge device 3 belongs through the virtual downlink 10 based on the received ATM cell header information. The ATM cells that have been multicast are temporarily stored in the buffer unit 31, then read into the ATM switch unit 6, and arrive at each edge device 3 through the virtual downlink 10. The edge device 3 that has received the ATM cell determines in the filter unit 4 whether or not there is a terminal 1 to receive based on the packet header information, and transmits the corresponding terminal 1 if there is one.

In this system, the ATM used for communication
The cells are temporarily stored in the buffer unit 31 and read into the ATM switch unit 6. In order to enable rate management and assurance in groups and effective use of rates by sharing, control of the ATM cell rate read from the buffer unit 31 is performed in a hierarchical manner between the entire round robin unit 33 and the group round robin unit 32. The configuration realizes the following.

FIG. 7 shows a flow of the operation of the entire round robin section 33, and the operation will be described below.

The whole round robin unit 33 registers the entire operation of one group round robin unit 32 within a unit time as one process in a queue in the whole round robin unit 33. The process registration in the queue in the whole round robin unit 33 is performed in accordance with the process registration order and frequency determined for each fixed time (round) based on the request rate information set for each group and the current communication status. Done. After the registration of the process group, the following operation is repeated. When the round ends or when there are no more processes registered in the queue, the queue is registered again and the process proceeds to the next round. (1) Take out one process from the queue. (2) During the time slice, the group round robin unit 32 corresponding to the process is operated, and if the operation end is notified from the currently operating group round robin unit 32, the end of the time slice is not waited for. Return to (1).

FIG. 8 shows a flow of the operation of the group round robin section 32, and the operation will be described below.

The group round robin unit 32 registers a cell read from one buffer unit 31 as a process in a queue in the group round robin unit 32. In the case of the group round robin unit 32 as well, processes are registered in the queue in the registration order determined for each round, but each buffer unit 31 is treated equally. After the registration of the process group, the following operation is repeated until the round ends or there are no more processes registered in the queue. (1) Take out one process from the queue. (2) During the time slice, an ATM cell is read from the buffer unit 31 corresponding to the process. If there is no ATM cell in the buffer unit 31, the process returns to (1) without waiting for the end of the time slice.

When the round is completed or there are no more processes registered in the queue, if all the buffer units 31 belonging to the group are empty, the entire round robin unit 33 is notified to end the operation, and If a non-empty buffer unit 31 exists, the queue is registered again and the process proceeds to the next round.

As described above, in the present system, among the registered edge devices 3 or the terminals 1 connected thereto, when performing group communication in which communication is performed only between predetermined members, the system is performed in group units. Management and assurance, effective utilization by sharing rates among all members in the group, and effective utilization by sharing rates among all groups in the system.

In this embodiment, the ATM cell used for communication between terminals is multicast to all the edge devices 3 belonging to the group by the grouping processing unit 8 and transmitted to the terminal 1 by each edge device 3. Or discarding is used, but the grouping processing unit 8
A configuration is also possible in which the conversion of M cells and packets is performed, and the ATM cells are transmitted from the grouping processing unit 8 only to the edge device 3 to which the receiving terminal 1 is connected, based on the packet header information. Further, the function of the edge device 3 can be implemented on the terminal 1. The implementation form of these functions can be easily changed as needed.

Although the communication between the edge device 3 and the center device 5 is performed by the ATM system, the communication is not limited to the ATM system but may be performed by any communication system such as the STM system.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 shows a system configuration according to the embodiment of FIG.
The same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. That is, 1 is a terminal, 2 is a LAN, 3 is an edge device, 4 is a filter unit, 5
Is a center device, 6 is an ATM switch unit, 7 is a management unit, 8
Is a grouping processing unit, 9 is an uplink, 10 is a downlink, 11 is an example of a flow of communication packets between terminals, 51 is a round robin unit, 52 is a group buffer unit, 53 is a round robin unit 51 and a group buffer unit 52, Is a control signal transmitted and received between

The round robin unit 51 is configured to execute A between all edge devices 3 belonging to the group and the grouping processing unit 8.
The buffer unit 52 for storing TM cells is controlled. The group buffer unit 52 temporarily stores ATM cells related to intra-group communication set for each group.

In the round-robin control of this system, similarly to the first and second embodiments, when there is a process that is completed in the middle of a time slice, the next process is performed without waiting for the end of the time slice. Is processed. For this reason, the reading process is omitted for the group buffer unit 52 in which no ATM cell is present, and effective utilization by sharing the rate in units of round robin control becomes possible.

A PVC is previously set between the management unit 7, the grouping processing unit 8, the edge device 3, and the round robin unit 51, and communication of all ATM cells is performed via the PVC.

Next, the flow of a packet in terminal-to-terminal communication will be described. The communication packet from the terminal 1 is converted into an ATM cell by the edge device 3 and transmitted to the grouping processing unit 8 through the virtual uplink 9. At this time, ATM
Before the switch unit 6 reads the ATM cells, the ATM cells are temporarily stored in the group buffer unit 52 for the belonging group. AT
The ATM cells read into the M switch unit 6 arrive at the grouping processing unit 8 via the virtual uplink line 9.
The grouping processing unit 8 multicasts the ATM cells to all the edge devices 3 of the group to which the transmitted edge device 3 belongs through the virtual downlink 10 based on the received ATM cell header information. The multicast ATM cells are temporarily stored in the group buffer 52 for the group to which they belong, then read into the ATM switch 6 and passed through the virtual downlink 10 to each edge device 3.
Incoming call. The edge device 3 that has received the ATM cell determines in the filter unit 4 whether or not there is a terminal 1 to receive based on the packet header information, and transmits the corresponding terminal 1 if there is one.

As described above, ATM cells used for communication are temporarily stored in the group buffer unit 52 and read into the ATM switch unit 6. The AT read from the group buffer unit 52 in order to enable rate management and assurance in groups and effective use of rates by sharing.
The round robin unit 51 realizes the control of the M cell rate as follows.

FIG. 10 shows the flow of the operation of the round robin unit 51, and the operation will be described below.

In the round robin unit 51, cell reading from each group buffer unit 52 is registered in a queue as one process. The process registration in the queue is performed in accordance with the process registration order and frequency determined for each fixed time (round) based on the request rate information set for each group and the current communication status. After the registration of the process group, the following operation is repeated. When the round ends or when there are no more processes registered in the queue, the queue is registered again and the process proceeds to the next round. (1) Take out one process from the queue. (2) During the time slice, the ATM cell is read from the group buffer unit 52 corresponding to the process. If no ATM cell exists in the corresponding group buffer unit 52, the process returns to (1) without waiting for the end of the time slice.

As described above, in the present system, when realizing group communication in which communication is performed only between predetermined members in the registered edge device 3 or the terminal 1 connected to the edge device 3, a group unit Rate management and guarantee,
Effective utilization by sharing rates among all members in the group and effective utilization by sharing rates among all groups in the system are possible.

In the present embodiment, the ATM cell used for inter-terminal communication is multicast to all the edge devices 3 belonging to the group by the grouping processing unit 8 and transmitted to the terminal 1 by each edge device 3. Or discarding is used, but the grouping processing unit 8
A configuration is also possible in which the conversion of M cells and packets is performed, and the ATM cells are transmitted from the grouping processing unit 8 only to the edge device 3 to which the receiving terminal 1 is connected, based on the packet header information. Further, the function of the edge device 3 can be implemented on the terminal 1. The implementation form of these functions can be easily changed as needed.

In this embodiment, the case where one buffer unit corresponds to one group has been exemplified. However, the present invention is applicable even if there are a plurality of buffer units corresponding to one group. In this case, the reading of the ATM cells from each buffer unit can be performed, for example, at every time zone set in proportion to the number of terminals or edge devices connected to the buffer unit.

Although the communication between the edge device 3 and the center device 5 is performed by the ATM system, the communication is not limited to the ATM system and may be any communication system such as the STM system.

In the above description, the ATM cell is used as a switching unit.
The same applies when an Ethernet frame, a MAC frame, an IP packet, or the like is used.

[Fourth Embodiment] FIG. 11 shows a system configuration of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Here, an up / down line and an input / output buffer unit are provided for each user. Here is an example. In the figure, 101 is a terminal, 102 is a LAN, 103 is an edge device, 104 is an uplink provided for each user, 105 is a downlink provided for each user, 106 is a center device, and 107 is provided for each user. , An input buffer unit, an output buffer unit provided for each user, a switch unit, a grouping processing unit, a management unit, a line control unit (group round robin unit), and a group control unit. (Entire round robin unit) 114 is a scheduling determining unit that determines the process registration order and frequency of the line control unit 112 based on the set of users belonging to the group.
Reference numeral 15 denotes a scheduling determination unit that determines the process registration order and frequency of the group control unit 113.

Reference numeral 116 denotes reading of a switching unit from the buffer unit by the line control unit 112.
Reference numeral 17 denotes a signal for controlling the line control unit 112 by the group control unit 113, and 118 denotes a scheduling decision unit 1.
Reference numeral 14 denotes a notification of the determined process scheduling to the line control unit 112, and reference numeral 119 denotes a notification of the process scheduling determined by the scheduling determination unit 115 to the group control unit 113.

Here, it is assumed that communication by the ATM system is performed between the edge device 103 and the center device 106. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any communication system such as the STM system may be used.

The edge device 103 is connected to the terminal 101 or the LA
In order to connect the N102 and the center device 106, the terminal 1
01 is converted to an ATM cell, and the uplink 1
04 to the center device 106. Center device 10
In 6, after passing through the switch unit 109, the cells received by the grouping processing unit 110 are reconverted into packets.

Based on the header information of the packet, the grouping processing unit 110 transfers the packet to the receiving-side edge device 103 if the communication is between terminals belonging to the same group. A filtering process of discarding is performed. When transferring a packet, the packet is converted into an ATM cell again, and the switch unit 1
09 from the downlink 105. Here, the grouping processing unit 110 is outside the switch unit 109, but a configuration in which the same function as the grouping processing unit 110 is provided in the switch unit is also possible.

The grouping processing unit 110 broadcasts to all members in the same group and performs filtering in the edge device 103 or the input buffer unit or the output buffer unit, or has a broadcast function in the switch unit. Edge device 103
Alternatively, a configuration in which filtering is performed by the input buffer unit or the output buffer unit of the downlink 105 is also possible. Information on users and groups for filtering is managed by the management unit 111, and is notified to the grouping processing unit 110, the edge 103 device, the input buffer unit, or the output buffer unit.

In the input buffer unit 107 and the output buffer unit 108 on both the input side and the output side of the switch unit 109, cells input to the switch unit 109 or cells output from the switch unit 109 are temporarily stored. Note that a switch configuration having a buffer unit only on the input side or only on the output side is also possible.

The cells to be stored are written in the buffer section of the transmitting user for the uplink 104, and are stored in the downlink 1
05 is written to the buffer unit of the receiving user. The reading from the buffer unit is controlled by the above-described hierarchized round robin method, thereby realizing rate control on a group basis and bandwidth sharing (rate sharing and use) within the group.

The group control unit 113 performs round robin control using the operation of one time slice of the line control unit 112 in charge of each group as one process. Also,
Each line control unit 112 realizes rate control on a group basis by performing round robin control as one process on cell reading for one time slice from a buffer unit of a line for each user. Further, for the buffer unit having no cell, the line control unit 112 terminates the process of reading from the buffer unit in the middle of the time slice, thereby realizing band sharing within the group.

The process registration order and frequency in the round robin control of the group control unit 113 and the line control unit 112 are determined based on the user / group information of the management unit 11 and the network usage status.
15 is determined, and this is notified to the group control unit 113 and the line control unit 112. For each line control unit 112,
The scheduling determination unit 114 performs scheduling so as to read out from the buffer units of all the lines of all the users belonging to the group. For this reason, all the line control units 112 in charge of the belonging group read out the cells from the buffer units of the lines of the users belonging to the plurality of groups.

[Fifth Embodiment] In the above-described embodiments, by layering round robin control, rate control in groups and band sharing within the group are possible. However, for a user belonging to a plurality of groups, which group the communication partner belongs to depends on the selection of the buffer unit for storing cells,
All the line controllers in charge of the group to which they belong read cells from all the buffer units of the user without being reflected in the selection of the buffer unit to be read by the line controller.

Therefore, when communicating with a partner belonging to the same group but belonging to a different group set, not only the line control unit in charge of the group to which the group belongs in common but also the group other than the group to which the group belongs to in common Even the line control unit in charge of the group reads out the cells, and the communication is performed using the band of the group which is not related to the communication.

For example, consider a case where a packet is transmitted from user A belonging only to group # 1 to user B belonging to groups # 1 and # 2 in the group configuration shown in FIG. Since user A belongs only to group # 1, communication between users A and B is performed in group # 1.
Communication. However, both the line control unit in charge of group # 1 and the line control unit in charge of group # 2 read cells from the buffer unit on the downlink to user B. Group # 2
Communication bandwidth is deprived.

As described above, in the embodiments described so far, when each user belongs to one group, group communication in which rate control and bandwidth sharing within the group can be performed on a group basis. However, if there is a user who belongs to multiple groups, it may be affected by communication in another group to which the user belongs. There is a problem that sharing of bandwidth within a network becomes impossible in a strict sense.

Therefore, in the embodiment described below, the switching unit is stored in the buffer unit corresponding to any group included in the group set to which the transmitting user and the receiving user belong in common, and each line control unit is Schedules the switching unit to be read from the buffer unit corresponding to the group in charge, so that the line control units of groups other than the set of groups to which the transmitting user and the receiving user belong in common for each packet are It is possible to eliminate the need to read out the switching unit of each group and to control the rate of each group and share the bandwidth within the group without using the bandwidth of the group unrelated to communication even if there are users belonging to multiple groups. did.

FIG. 13 shows a system configuration according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals. That is, 101 is a terminal, 102 is a LAN, 103 is an edge device, 104 is an uplink, 10
6 is a center device, 107 is an input buffer unit, 108 is an output buffer unit, 109 is a switch unit, 110 is a grouping processing unit, 111 is a management unit, 112 is a line control unit, 1
13 is a group control unit, and 115 is a scheduling decision unit.

Reference numeral 116 denotes reading of a switching unit from the buffer unit by the line control unit 112.
Reference numeral 17 denotes a signal by which the group control unit 113 controls the line control unit 112, 118 denotes a notification of the process scheduling determined by the scheduling determination unit (124) to the line control unit 112, and 119 denotes a signal determined by the scheduling determination unit 115. The notification to the group control unit 113 of the performed process scheduling is shown.

Reference numeral 121 denotes a downlink corresponding to one subset of the group to which the user belongs, 122 denotes an input buffer unit corresponding to one subset of the group to which the user belongs, and 123 denotes a group to which the user belongs. The output buffer unit 124 corresponding to one subset of the set, based on the user set belonging to the group for the upstream, and the process registration order / frequency of the line control unit 112 based on the subset of the group the user belongs to for the downstream. Scheduling determining means for determining, 125 is the center device 10
A common group search unit 6 searches for a group set to which the transmitting user and the receiving user belong in common.

First, the flow of a packet between terminals will be described.
The packet from the transmitting terminal is converted into a switching unit by the edge device 103, and once passed through the uplink 104.
Switch unit 1 after writing to input buffer unit 107
09 to the output buffer unit 108.
And transmitted to the grouping processing unit 110.

The grouping processing unit 110 performs a filtering process, searches the group set to which the transmitting user and the receiving user belong in common by the common group search unit 125, and searches the downlink 12 corresponding to the group set.
1 and the input buffer unit 122 corresponding to the line.
Write the switching unit to. After that, the switching unit is input from the input buffer unit 122 to the switch unit 109, written from the switch unit 109 to the output buffer unit 123, and transmitted to the edge device 103.

The scheduling decision means 124 of the channel control unit 112 determines from the buffer unit of the user in the group in charge of the uplink channel 104 the downlink channel 121
The schedule is determined so as to read only from all the buffer units corresponding to the group set including the group in charge of the line control unit.

For example, in the group configuration shown in FIG. 12, the line control unit 112 in charge of the group # 1 performs the buffering of the users A, B, and C for the uplink 104, and the users B and C for the downlink 121. Out of the buffer units corresponding to {# 1} and {# 1, # 2} and the buffer unit of the user A.

If the selection of the downlink 121 from the grouping processing unit 110 to the edge device 103 and the reading of the downlink 121 from the buffer unit are determined as in this example,
Even when there are users belonging to a plurality of groups, it is possible to perform rate control on a group basis and bandwidth sharing within a group without using the downlink bandwidth of a group not related to communication.

Here, the grouping processing unit 110
Is described outside the switch unit 109, but the same applies to a configuration in which the grouping processing unit 110 is included in the switch unit and the output buffer unit 108 of the uplink 104 and the input buffer unit 122 of the downlink 121 are omitted. Can be implemented.

Also, the configuration in which the grouping processing unit 110 performs the filtering process has been described. However, in the configuration in which the grouping processing unit 110 broadcasts and the edge device 103 performs filtering, all users broadcast from the grouping processing unit 110 are filtered. , A buffer unit for writing the switching unit,
The present invention can be similarly implemented by providing a buffer unit corresponding to a group to which the transmitting user belongs. Also in this case, the grouping processing unit 110 is included in the switch unit,
The present invention can be similarly implemented by a configuration in which the output buffer unit for the uplink and the input buffer unit for the downlink are omitted.

Although the switching unit has been described here, examples of the switching unit include an ATM cell, a time slot, an Ethernet frame, a MAC frame, and an IP packet.

[Sixth Embodiment] FIG. 14 shows a system configuration of a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 14, the same components as those in FIGS. 11 and 13 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
That is, 101 is a terminal, 102 is a LAN, 106 is a center device, 109 is a switch unit, 110 is a grouping processing unit, 111 is a management unit, 112 is a line control unit, 113 is a group control unit, and 115 is a scheduling decision unit. .

Reference numeral 116 denotes reading of a switching unit from the buffer unit by the line control unit 112.
Reference numeral 17 denotes a signal by which the group control unit 113 controls the line control unit 112, 118 denotes a notification of the process scheduling determined by the scheduling determination unit (133) to the line control unit 112, and 119 denotes a signal determined by the scheduling determination unit 115. The notification to the group control unit 113 of the performed process scheduling is shown.

Reference numeral 121 denotes a downlink, 122 denotes an input buffer, 123 denotes an output buffer, 125 denotes a common group search means, and 131 denotes an uplink based on a group set to which a transmitting user and a receiving user belong in common. 132 is an edge device for selectively connecting the LAN 102 or the terminal 101 to the network; 132 is a common group search means for the edge device 131 to search for a group set to which the transmitting user and the receiving user belong in common; Scheduling determining means 134 for determining the process registration order and frequency of the line control unit 112 based on the set is an uplink corresponding to one subset of the group to which the user belongs.

First, the flow of a packet between terminals will be described.
The packet from the transmitting terminal is converted into a switching unit by the edge device 131. At this time, the common group searching means 132 searches for a group set to which the transmitting user and the receiving user belong in common, and the searched group set Are written to the buffer unit 122 once, read out to the switch unit 109 via the up line 134 corresponding to, and are once output to the buffer unit 123 and transmitted to the grouping processing unit 110.

The grouping processing unit 110 performs a filtering process, searches a group set to which the transmitting user and the receiving user belong in common by the common group search unit 125, selects the input buffer unit 122 corresponding to the group set, Write the switching unit. Thereafter, the switching unit is input from the input buffer unit 122 to the switch unit 109, written from the switch unit 109 to the output buffer unit 123, and transmitted to the edge device 131.

The scheduling decision means 133 of the line control unit 112 determines the schedule so that both the uplink and the downlink can be read out only from all the buffers corresponding to the group set including the group in charge of the line control unit 112. I do.

For example, in the group configuration shown in FIG. 12, the line control unit 112 in charge of the group # 1 performs the {# 1} and {# 1, # 2} and the buffer of the user A.

If the selection of the line and the reading from the buffer unit are determined as in this example, even if there are users belonging to a plurality of groups, the band of the upper and lower lines of the group irrelevant to the communication is not used. In addition, it is possible to perform rate control and band sharing within a group unit.

Here, the grouping processing section 110
Is described outside the switch unit 109, but the same applies to a configuration in which the grouping processing unit 110 is included in the switch unit and the output buffer unit 123 of the uplink 134 and the input buffer unit 122 of the downlink 121 are omitted. Can be implemented.

Also, the configuration in which the grouping processing unit 110 performs the filtering process has been described. In the configuration in which the grouping processing unit 110 broadcasts and the edge device 131 performs filtering, all users broadcast from the grouping processing unit 110 are filtered. , A buffer unit for writing the switching unit,
The present invention can be similarly implemented by providing a buffer unit corresponding to a group to which the transmitting user belongs. Also in this case, the grouping processing unit 110 is included in the switch unit,
The present invention can be similarly implemented by a configuration in which the output buffer unit for the uplink and the input buffer unit for the downlink are omitted.

Although the description has been made using the switching unit, examples of the switching unit include an ATM cell, a time slot, an Ethernet frame, a MAC frame, and an IP packet.

[Seventh Embodiment] FIG. 15 shows a system configuration according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 15, the same components as those in FIGS. 11, 13, and 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Represent. That is, 101 is a terminal, 102 is a LAN, 103
Is an edge device, 104 is an uplink, 106 is a center device, 107 is an input buffer, 108 is an output buffer, 109 is a switch, 110 is a grouping processor, 111 is a manager, 112 is a line controller, and 113 is a line controller. The group control unit 115 is a scheduling decision unit.

Reference numeral 116 denotes reading of a switching unit from the buffer unit by the line control unit 112.
Reference numeral 17 denotes a signal for controlling the line control unit 112 by the group control unit 113, reference numeral 118 denotes a notification of the process scheduling determined by the scheduling determination unit (142) to the line control unit 112, and reference numeral 119 denotes a determination by the scheduling determination unit 115. The notification to the group control unit 113 of the performed process scheduling is shown.

Reference numeral 125 denotes common group search means,
41 is an input buffer unit corresponding to one group of the group set to which the user belongs, 142 is an output buffer unit corresponding to one group of the group set to which the user belongs, and 143 is based on the user set to which the group belongs. For the downlink, the scheduling decision means 144 for determining the process registration request / frequency of the line control unit 112 based on the group to which the user belongs is a downlink corresponding to one group of the group to which the user belongs.

First, the flow of a packet between terminals will be described.
The packet from the transmitting terminal is converted into a switching unit by the edge device 103, and once passed through the uplink 104.
Switch unit 1 after writing to input buffer unit 107
09 to the output buffer unit 108.
And transmitted to the grouping processing unit 110.

The grouping processing section 110 performs a filtering process, searches for a group set to which the transmitting user and the receiving user belong in common by the common group searching means 125, and downloads a group corresponding to one of the groups included in the group set. The line 144 is selected, and the switching unit is written into the input buffer unit 141 corresponding to the line. Thereafter, the switching unit is the input buffer unit 1
41 is input to the switch unit 109 and the switch unit 10
9 is written to the output buffer unit 142 and transmitted to the edge device 103.

The scheduling decision means 143 of the line control unit 112 decides a schedule so as to read out the switching unit from all the buffer units of the users in the group in charge.

For example, in the group configuration shown in FIG. 12, the line control unit 112 in charge of the group # 1 performs the buffering for the users A, B, and C for the uplink 104 and the users A and B for the downlink 144. , C from the buffer unit corresponding to group # 1.

If the selection of the downlink 144 from the grouping processing unit 110 to the edge device 103 and the reading of the downlink 144 from the buffer unit are determined as in this example,
Even if there are users belonging to multiple groups,
It is possible to perform rate control on a group basis and bandwidth sharing within a group without using a downlink band of a group irrelevant to communication.

Here, the grouping processing section 110
Is described outside the switch unit 109, but the grouping processing unit 110 is included in the switch unit, and the output buffer unit of the uplink 104 and the downlink 14
A configuration in which the fourth input buffer unit 141 is omitted can be similarly implemented.

In the configuration in which the grouping processing unit 110 performs the filtering process, the configuration is such that the grouping processing unit 110 broadcasts and the edge device 103 performs filtering. , A buffer unit for writing the switching unit,
The present invention can be similarly implemented by providing a buffer unit corresponding to a group to which the transmitting user belongs. Also in this case, the grouping processing unit 110 is included in the switch unit,
The present invention can be similarly implemented by a configuration in which the output buffer of the uplink and the input buffer of the downlink are omitted.

Although the description has been made using switching units, examples of switching units include ATM cells, time slots, Ethernet frames, MAC frames, and IP packets.

[Eighth Embodiment] FIG. 16 shows a system configuration of an eighth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 16, the same components as those of FIGS. 11, 13, 14, and 15 are shown. It is represented by the same symbol. That is, 101 is a terminal, 102 is LA
N, 106 are center devices, 109 is a switch unit, 110
Denotes a grouping processing unit, 111 denotes a management unit, 112 denotes a line control unit, 113 denotes a group control unit, and 115 denotes a scheduling decision unit.

Reference numeral 116 denotes reading of a switching unit from the buffer unit by the line control unit 112.
Reference numeral 17 denotes a signal by which the group control unit 113 controls the line control unit 112, 118 denotes a notification of the process scheduling determined by the scheduling determination unit (151) to the line control unit 112, and 119 denotes a signal determined by the scheduling determination unit 115. The notification to the group control unit 113 of the performed process scheduling is shown.

Reference numeral 125 denotes common group search means,
41 is an input buffer unit, 142 is an output buffer unit, 14
4 is a downlink, 151 is a scheduling decision means for deciding the process registration order and frequency of the circuit control unit 112 based on the group to which the user belongs, and 152 is any one of a group set to which the transmitting user and the receiving user belong in common. Select the uplink line corresponding to the group
02 or an edge device that connects the terminal 101 to the network, 153 is a common group search unit that searches the edge device 152 for a group set to which the transmitting user and the receiving user belong in common, and 154 is one of group sets to which the user belongs. This is an uplink line corresponding to the group.

First, the flow of a packet between terminals will be described.
The packet from the transmitting terminal is converted into a switching unit by the edge device 152. At this time, the common group searching means 153 searches for a group set to which the transmitting user and the receiving user belong in common, and searches the group set. Uplink 1 corresponding to any of the groups included in
The data is temporarily written to the buffer unit 141 through the buffer unit 54, read out to the switch unit 109, output once to the buffer unit 142, and transmitted to the grouping processing unit 110.

The grouping processing unit 110 performs a filtering process, searches the common group search unit 125 for a group set to which the transmitting user and the receiving user belong in common, and stores the input buffer unit 141 corresponding to any of the group sets. Select and write the switching unit. Thereafter, the switching unit is input from the buffer unit 141 to the switch unit 109, is written from the switch unit 109 to the buffer unit 142, and is transmitted to the edge device 152.

The scheduling decision means 151 of the channel control unit 112 determines a schedule so as to read out from all the buffer units corresponding to the group in charge of the channel control unit 112 for both the uplink and the downlink.

For example, in the group configuration shown in FIG. 12, the line control unit 112 in charge of the group # 1 sets the {# 1} among the buffers of the users A, B, and C for both the uplink and the downlink. Read from the corresponding buffer unit.

If line selection and reading from the buffer unit are determined as in this example, even if there are users belonging to a plurality of groups, it is possible to use the upper and lower lines of a group not related to communication without using the band. In addition, it is possible to perform rate control and band sharing within a group unit.

Here, the grouping processing unit 110
Is described outside of the switch unit 109, but the same applies to a configuration in which the grouping processing unit 110 is included in the switch unit and the output buffer unit 142 of the uplink 154 and the input buffer unit 141 of the downlink 144 are omitted. Can be implemented.

In the configuration in which the grouping processing unit 110 performs the filtering process, the configuration in which the grouping processing unit 110 broadcasts and the edge device 151 performs the filtering process is applied to all users broadcast from the grouping processing unit 110. , A buffer unit for writing the switching unit,
The present invention can be similarly implemented by providing a buffer unit corresponding to a group to which the transmitting user belongs. Also in this case, the grouping processing unit 110 is included in the switch unit,
The present invention can be similarly implemented by a configuration in which the output buffer unit for the uplink and the input buffer unit for the downlink are omitted.

Although the description has been made using switching units, examples of switching units include ATM cells, time slots, Ethernet frames, MAC frames, and IP packets.

[0118]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a group communication system that allows communication only between terminals belonging to a predetermined group, management and assurance of communication rates in units of groups, which was not feasible in the past, and sharing and effective use within groups And can be shared and used effectively within the system.

Further, according to the present invention, even when there are users belonging to a plurality of groups, it is possible to perform rate control on a group basis and bandwidth sharing within a group.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a conventional ATM group communication system.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a communication system using a cable modem.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of an entire round robin unit according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of a group round robin unit according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a system according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of an entire round robin unit according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart of a group round robin unit according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a system showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart of a round robin unit according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a group configuration of users.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of a system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram of a system showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram of a system showing an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,101 ... terminal, 2,102 ... LAN, 3,103,
131, 152 ... edge device, 4 ... filter unit, 5, 1
06: center device, 6: ATM switch unit, 7, 111
... Management unit, 8,110 ... Grouping processing unit, 9,10
4,134,154 ... uplink 10,105,12
1, 144: Downlink, 11: Example of flow of communication packets between terminals, 31: Buffer unit, 32: Group round robin unit, 33: Overall round robin unit, 34, 35, 4
1, 53, 117: control signal, 51: round robin unit, 52: group buffer unit, 107, 122, 14
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Input buffer part, 108, 123, 142 ... Output buffer part, 109 ... Switch part, 112 ... Line control part,
113: Group control unit, 114, 115, 124, 1
33, 143, 151 ... scheduling decision means, 1
16: reading of a switching unit, 118: notification to a line control unit, 119: notification to a group control unit, 12
5,132,153 ... common group search means.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shunsuke Tsutsumi 3- 19-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Inside Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Genichi Nishio 3--19 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo No. 2 Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (12)

[Claims] A plurality of terminals are connected to a network accommodating a plurality of lines connected directly to at least one terminal or via a LAN, and data from any one terminal belonging to one group is transmitted to the network. Between the terminals belonging to each group by transmitting the switching unit to at least one of the plurality of lines assigned to the one group via a switch of the network. In a group communication method in which only communication is possible, the switching unit obtained by converting data from the terminal is temporarily stored before being read to the switch, and the reading of the switching unit corresponding to each group to the switch is performed at the required rate for each group. According to a preset time slice in group units based on the Group communication rate control method and controlling by robin scheme. 2. A plurality of terminals are connected to a network accommodating a plurality of lines connected directly to at least one terminal or via a LAN, and data from any one terminal belonging to one group is transmitted to the network. Between the terminals belonging to each group by transmitting the switching unit to at least one of the plurality of lines assigned to the one group via a switch of the network. In a group communication method in which only communication is possible, the switching unit obtained by converting the data from the terminal is temporarily stored before being read into the switch, and the switching unit is switched to the switching unit corresponding to a plurality of lines assigned to one group. Read in a round according to a preset time slice for each line Group communication rate control method and controlling the bin method. 3. A method of controlling reading of a switching unit corresponding to each of a plurality of lines assigned to one group into a switch by a round robin method according to a preset time slice of a line unit and corresponding to each group. 3. The group communication rate control method according to claim 2, wherein the reading of the switching unit to the switch is controlled by a round robin method according to a preset time slice in the group unit based on the required rate for each group. 4. A plurality of terminals are connected to a network accommodating a plurality of lines connected directly to at least one terminal or via a LAN, and data from any one terminal belonging to one group is transmitted to the network. Between the terminals belonging to each group by converting the switching unit into at least one of the plurality of lines assigned to the one group via the switch unit of the network. In a group communication system in which communication can be performed only by the switch, at least one buffer unit for temporarily storing the switching unit to be read into the switch unit is provided for each group, and the switching unit from the buffer unit corresponding to each group is read into the switch unit. Is set in advance based on the request rate for each group. Communication system characterized in that a round robin unit for controlling a round-robin fashion according to the time slice of each loop. 5. A plurality of terminals are connected to a network accommodating a plurality of lines connected directly to at least one terminal or via a LAN, and data from any one terminal belonging to one group is transmitted to the network. Between the terminals belonging to each group by converting the switching unit into at least one of the plurality of lines assigned to the one group via the switch unit of the network. In a group communication system in which communication can be performed only by a switch, a buffer unit for temporarily storing a switching unit to be read into a switch unit is provided for each line, and a switching unit from the buffer unit corresponding to a plurality of lines assigned to one group Is read into the switch section, and the time Communication system characterized in that a group round robin unit for controlling a round-robin fashion according to the scan. 6. A group for controlling reading of a switching unit from a buffer unit corresponding to each of a plurality of lines assigned to one group into a switch unit by a round robin method according to a preset line unit time slice. A round robin unit is provided, and reading of the switching unit from all the buffer units corresponding to each group to the switch unit is performed by a round robin method according to a group unit time slice set in advance based on a request rate for each group. The communication system according to claim 5, further comprising an overall round robin unit for controlling. 7. A plurality of terminals are connected to a network accommodating a plurality of lines directly connected to at least one terminal or via a LAN, and data from any one terminal belonging to one group is transmitted to the network. A group communication method for transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of lines assigned to the one group via a network so that communication is possible only between terminals belonging to each group. And when the receiving terminal searches for a group set to which the terminal belongs in common, and when processing data from the terminal through the network,
A network resource sharing method characterized in that communication is performed using only resources of a group to which a data transmitting terminal and a data receiving terminal commonly belong in accordance with the search result. 8. The network resource sharing method according to claim 7, wherein a switch for transferring the switching unit obtained by converting the data from the terminal between all users, an input to the switch in the switching unit, an output from the switch, or an output from the switch. A line control unit corresponding to a group that controls both, and a group control unit that controls the operation of all the line control units are provided, and rate control is performed for band management in groups and band sharing between members in the same group. A scheduling method, in which a switching unit input to or output from a switch is temporarily stored corresponding to a group set to which a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal of searched data belong in common, and each line control unit Reads out the switching unit corresponding to all group sets including the group in charge A rate control scheduling method characterized by performing scheduling in the following manner. 9. The network resource sharing method according to claim 7, wherein a switch for transferring the switching unit obtained by converting the data from the terminal between all users, an input to the switch in the switching unit, an output from the switch, or an output from the switch. A line control unit corresponding to a group that controls both, and a group control unit that controls the operation of all the line control units are provided, and rate control is performed for band management in groups and band sharing between members in the same group. A scheduling method, in which a switching unit to be input to or output from a switch corresponding to any group of a group to which a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal of searched data belong in common is temporarily stored. The line control unit schedules to read the switching unit corresponding to the group in charge. A rate control scheduling method characterized by performing a judging. 10. A plurality of terminals are connected to a network accommodating a plurality of lines connected directly to at least one terminal or via a LAN, and data from any one terminal belonging to one group is transmitted to the network. In a group communication system in which communication is possible only between terminals belonging to each group by transmitting to at least one of a plurality of lines assigned to the one group via a network, a data transmission terminal And a common group search means for searching for a group set to which the receiving terminal belongs in common, and when processing data from the terminal through the network,
A communication system characterized in that communication is performed using only resources of a group to which a data transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal commonly belong according to the search result. 11. The communication system according to claim 10, wherein a switch unit for transferring a switching unit obtained by converting data from the terminal between all users, an input to the switching unit of the switching unit or an output from the switching unit, A communication unit that has a line controller corresponding to a group that controls both of them and a group controller that controls the operation of all line controllers, and performs band management in groups and band sharing among members in the same group. In the system, a buffer unit for temporarily storing a switching unit input to the switch unit or output from the switch unit is provided for each subset of the belonging group set, and the transmitting terminal and the receiving terminal of the data retrieved by the common group retrieval unit are provided. Switching units are accumulated in the buffer section corresponding to the group set belonging to the common, Communication system line control unit, characterized in that the scheduling from the buffer unit corresponding to all of the groups set that contains the group responsible to read the switching unit. 12. The communication system according to claim 10, wherein a switch unit for transferring the switching unit obtained by converting the data from the terminal between all users, an input to the switching unit of the switching unit or an output from the switching unit, A communication unit that has a line controller corresponding to a group that controls both of them and a group controller that controls the operation of all line controllers, and performs band management in groups and band sharing among members in the same group. A buffer unit for temporarily storing a switching unit input to the switch unit or output from the switch unit, corresponding to each group to which the unit belongs, and a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal of the data retrieved by the common group retrieval unit are provided. The switching unit is assigned to the buffer corresponding to any of the groups that belong to the same group. A communication system, wherein the positions are accumulated, and each line control unit performs scheduling so as to read out a switching unit from a buffer unit corresponding to a group in charge.