KR102513610B1 - Apparatus and method for checking disconnetcted sector of ethernet network - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for checking a disconnected section of a network. The method for checking a disconnected section of a network according to the present invention receives a network configuration from a user, stores it, and uses data received from slave devices constituting the network. There is an effect of identifying the disconnection section by updating the network configuration and comparing it with the stored network configuration.

Description

Apparatus and method for checking disconnection section of Ethernet network {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CHECKING DISCONNETCTED SECTOR OF ETHERNET NETWORK}

The present invention relates to an Ethernet network, and more particularly, to a technique for confirming a disconnection of a network.

Ethernet network equipment has two ports and has a switch function, so it is possible to configure a network in a ring shape. Therefore, Ethernet is increasingly being used as an industrial network.

Devices equipped with 2-port Ethernet and built-in switch function produce a special protocol for each vendor and exchange information between devices supporting the protocol to provide users with ring shape and peripheral device information or disconnection section information.

1 shows an example of a ring-shaped network among Ethernet networks according to the prior art.

In the network, the master device 10 and the slave devices 20, 30, and 40 are configured in a ring shape.

Since the master device 10 has a first port 11 and a second port 12, it is possible to communicate with slave devices in both directions. Since the other slave devices 20, 30, and 40 also have two ports, it is possible to relay communication frames between the respective ports.

In the case of the master device 10, this relay can be turned on or off to control the ring network, and in the case of the slave, since the relay is basically turned on, communication frames can be transmitted.

Therefore, even if a disconnection occurs between the first slave device 20 and the second slave device 30, the second slave device 30 to the nth slave device connects to the first slave device 20 through the second port 12. Up to (40), there is an advantage in that communication is possible through the first port.

However, when a disconnection section occurs in the network, the master device must determine the problematic section using a special control protocol. The communication frame according to this control protocol includes information about the network path and designates a target to receive the information or is set so that all devices can receive the information.

If a prearranged special protocol is used, the master device can recognize this situation and change the route to continue communication and, if necessary, notify the user to support recovery of the problematic section.

However, if a device that does not use such a special protocol or does not support such a protocol participates in the network, there is a problem in that it is impossible to find a problem point using this method.

In the case of communication using the general TCP/IP protocol, only data is exchanged between peers and information about the network path is not included, so slave devices participating in the network cannot know information about the problematic section. . In addition, since the master device 10 does not periodically send special information, there is a problem in that the user cannot know whether a problem has occurred in the device to be communicated with or a problem such as disconnection on the network path.

The inventors of the present invention have made efforts to solve the problem of a ring-type network that does not use a special protocol of the prior art. The present invention has been completed after much effort to complete a method for identifying a network situation using only a general data exchange protocol rather than a special protocol.

An object of the present invention is to provide a network device and method capable of detecting a network disconnection section even in an Ethernet network environment that does not use a special protocol.

Meanwhile, other unspecified objects of the present invention will be additionally considered within the scope that can be easily inferred from the following detailed description and effects thereof.

An apparatus for checking a network disconnection section according to the present invention,

a first port and a second port for communication with another device; a storage unit for storing a network configuration input from a user; a reception management unit for updating a network configuration using the data received through the first and second ports; and a comparator for comparing the received network configuration with the updated network configuration to determine a problem in a network path.

The network configuration input from the user may be a ring-type network configuration.

In addition, the network configuration input from the user may include slave devices connected to the first port and their order, and slave devices connected to the second port and their order.

The reception management unit is characterized in that it collects results by periodically transmitting data to slave devices constituting the network.

The reception management unit is characterized in that the data is transmitted only to slave devices that have not communicated within a preset network configuration update period, and results are collected.

A method for checking a network disconnection section according to another embodiment of the present invention,

(a) receiving and storing a network configuration from a user; (b) updating a network configuration using data received through the first and second ports for Ethernet communication; and (c) identifying a problem in a network path by comparing the updated network configuration with the stored network configuration.

The network configuration input from the user may be a ring-type network configuration.

The network configuration input from the user may include slave devices connected to the first port and their order, and slave devices connected to the second port and their order.

It is characterized in that it further comprises; periodic data transmission to the slave devices constituting the network after the step (a).

The periodically transmitting data to the slave devices may include collecting results by transmitting the data only to slave devices that have not communicated within a preset network configuration update period.

According to the present invention, there is an effect of checking a network path and whether there is an abnormality without using a special protocol for checking a network path.

In addition, there is an advantage in that a disconnection section can be identified even in a network composed of general network devices that do not support a special protocol.

On the other hand, even if the effects are not explicitly mentioned here, it is added that the effects described in the following specification expected by the technical features of the present invention and their provisional effects are treated as described in the specification of the present invention.

1 is a structural diagram of a ring-type network according to the prior art.
2 is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for checking a network disconnection section according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a schematic flowchart of a method for checking a network disconnection section according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
※ It is revealed that the accompanying drawings are exemplified as references for understanding the technical idea of the present invention, and thereby the scope of the present invention is not limited.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, look at the configuration of the present invention guided by various embodiments of the present invention and the effects resulting from the configuration. In the description of the present invention, if it is determined that a related known function may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention as an obvious matter to those skilled in the art, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Terms such as 'first' and 'second' may be used to describe various elements, but the elements should not be limited by the above terms. The above terms may only be used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, a 'first element' may be named a 'second element', and similarly, a 'second element' may also be named a 'first element'. can Also, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Terms used in the embodiments of the present invention may be interpreted as meanings commonly known to those skilled in the art unless otherwise defined.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, look at the configuration of the present invention guided by various embodiments of the present invention and the effects resulting from the configuration.

2 is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for checking a network disconnection section according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

An apparatus 100 for checking a network disconnection section according to the present invention is composed of a storage unit 110, a reception management unit 120, a comparison unit 130, a first port 140, and a second port 142.

The network disconnection section check device 100 checks the disconnection section in advance in a ring-type network configuration to allow the user to take necessary measures. To this end, the device 100 for checking the network disconnection section may include a controller (not shown) including one or more processors and memories. The processor may execute programs for data communication or control a device, and instruction codes for driving the processor may be stored in a memory.

The storage unit 110 stores the network configuration input by the user.

In a ring-type network configuration, since devices are connected in both directions in a ring shape using two ports, detour communication in the other direction is possible even if a disconnection section occurs. Accordingly, a user may configure a network using a ring-type network configuration, and the storage unit 110 may store it in a table form.

Table 1 below shows an example of a ring-type network configuration.

1st port 2nd port slave #n slave #1 … slave #2 slave #2 … slave #1 slave #n

An n-th slave device is connected to the first port 140, and an n−1-th slave device is connected to the n-th slave device, so that the connection continues until the first slave device.

The first slave device is connected to the second port 142 and thereafter connected to the nth slave device in order.

Therefore, the second slave device is the third, fourth... It may be connected to the master device through the first port 140 through the n-th slave device, or connected to the master device through the second port 142 through the first slave device.

The reception management unit 120 arranges the network configuration as shown in Table 1 using the data received from each slave device. When slave devices transmit data, data may be requested from slave devices that use the data and do not transmit data. Alternatively, Table 1 may be updated by arranging the network configuration according to status information periodically transmitted from slave devices. Since each slave device periodically transmits notification that it is active, it updates the configuration of the network using this. Since data or notifications transmitted by slave devices include information about which slave device transmitted data or notifications, network configuration information can be updated through this.

That is, the slave devices constituting the network must communicate with the device 100 for checking the network disconnection section at a period shorter than the period for updating the network configuration information as shown in Table 1 so that the network configuration information can be kept up to date. Accordingly, the device 100 for checking a network disconnection section may request status information from a slave device that has not transmitted status information within a network configuration information update period and reflect the status information in network configuration information.

If a network disconnection occurs between the first slave and the second slave as shown in FIG. 1, the table according to the network configuration will be updated as shown in Table 2 below.

1st port 2nd port slave #n slave #1 … X slave #2 X X X

That is, the n-th slave device to the second slave device are connected to the first port 140, but the first slave device is not connected, and only the first slave device is connected to the second port 142. .

The comparison unit 130 determines network disconnection based on the network configuration updated by the reception management unit 120 .

That is, network disconnection is determined by comparing Table 2, in which the network configuration is updated, with Table 1 input from the user.

Comparing Tables 1 and 2, the second slave device to nth slave devices appear in the first port 140, and only the first slave device appears in the second port 142.

Accordingly, the comparator 130 may determine that the first slave device and the second slave device are disconnected.

Table 3 below shows an example of another network configuration.

1st port 2nd port slave #n slave #1 X X X X X X

In Table 3, it can be seen that only the nth slave device is connected to the first port 140 and only the first slave device is connected to the second port.

The comparator 130 may compare this with Table 1 to determine that the network after the second port of the first slave device and the network after the first port of the n-th slave device are disconnected.

The control unit may notify the user of the change in network configuration in various ways, such as by visually displaying the change to the user or by transmitting it to the user terminal.

As described above, the device 100 for checking the network disconnection section according to the present invention has the advantage of being able to check network failure information without using a special protocol for network disconnection.

3 is a flow chart summarizing once again a method for checking a network disconnection section according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

A method for checking a network disconnection section according to the present invention may be performed by a control unit including one or more processors and memories.

First, network configuration is received from the user (S10).

There are ring type, linear type, star type, etc. in the network configuration, but in the present invention, an effect can be seen in the case of a ring type network configuration. In the case of a straight or star type, if a network disconnection occurs, normal operation is impossible immediately, but in a ring type network configuration, a detour path can be formed, so even if a network disconnection occurs, it is difficult to immediately identify it.

The network configuration may be configured as a table such as Table 1 and stored in a storage unit.

When the network configuration is input, a data transmission request may be periodically transmitted to the slave devices (S20) and data may be received from the slave devices (S30).

Slave devices transmit data when there is necessary data even if they do not request data transmission. In that case, slave device information included in this data may be used. Also, if all slave devices transmit periodic data, the data transmission request may be omitted.

Next, the network configuration is updated by the received data (S30).

If there is a network disconnection section, the network configuration will be updated as shown in Table 2 or Table 3. Since the network configuration is updated continuously at regular intervals, the network status can be quickly identified.

When the network configuration is updated, it is compared with the network configuration input from the user (S50) to determine whether the network configuration has changed (S60).

If the network configuration is changed, it is possible to check the network disconnection section by comparing the slave devices connected to each port (S70).

As such, the network disconnection section confirmation method or apparatus according to the present invention does not use a special protocol for identifying the network environment, but uses a general protocol for data transmission and can identify network disconnection, so a general device that does not support a special protocol. It has the advantage that it can be applied to networks composed of .

The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the description and expression of the embodiments explicitly described above. In addition, it is added once again that the scope of protection of the present invention cannot be limited due to obvious changes or substitutions in the technical field to which the present invention belongs.

Claims (10)

a first port and a second port for communication with another device;
a storage unit for storing a network configuration input from a user;
a reception management unit for updating a network configuration using the data received through the first and second ports; and
A comparison unit for identifying a problem in a network path by comparing the input network configuration with the updated network configuration;
The reception management unit
Data is periodically transmitted to slave devices constituting the network, but data is transmitted only to slave devices that have not performed communication within a preset network configuration update period to collect results
Network disconnection section checking device.
According to claim 1,
Characterized in that the network configuration input from the user is a ring-type network configuration, network disconnection section confirmation device.
According to claim 1,
The network configuration input from the user may include slave devices connected to the first port and their order, and slave devices connected to the second port and their order.
delete delete In the network disconnection section checking method performed by a control unit including one or more processors and memories:
(a) receiving and storing a network configuration from a user;
(b) updating a network configuration using data received through the first and second ports for Ethernet communication; and
(c) comparing the updated network configuration with the stored network configuration to identify a problem in the network path;
Further comprising periodically transmitting data to slave devices constituting the network after step (a),
The periodically transmitting data to the slave devices may include transmitting data only to slave devices that have not communicated within a preset network configuration update period to collect results.
How to check the network disconnection section.
According to claim 6,
Characterized in that the network configuration input from the user is a ring-type network configuration, network disconnection section confirmation method.
According to claim 6,
The network configuration input from the user may include slave devices connected to the first port and their order, and slave devices connected to the second port and their order.
delete delete

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