KR20010084769A - Ethernet TCP/IP Modem - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A TCP/IP(Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) modem for use in an Ethernet is provided to realize an improved process speed than a real time operation system of existing software driving way by having various communication protocol within a TCP/IP modem for use in an Ethernet. CONSTITUTION: A serial communication unit(11) parallel exchanges data with a terminal that the function of a TCP/IP communication is not supported. An Ethernet communication unit(12) takes charge of an Ethernet using a CSMA/CD(Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection) protocol. A program memory unit(13) is realized with a ROM and a RAM and stores program processing a protocol such as an Ethernet, ARP(address resolution protocol), RARP(reverse address resolution protocol), IP(Internet protocol), UDP(user datagram protocol), ICMP(Internet Control Message Protocol), and TCP(transmission control protocol). A processor unit(14) executes the program stored in the program memory unit(13), outputs the data of the TCP/IP inputted to the Ethernet communication unit(12) into the serial communication unit(11), converts the data inputted through the serial communication unit(11) to the data of the TCP/IP, and outputs the data to the Ethernet communication unit(12). A data memory unit(15) is realized with a RAM.

Description

Tcp / IP Modem for Ethernet {Ethernet TCP / IP Modem}

The present invention relates to a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) modem for an Ethernet device that can be controlled by an AT command of a modem.

TCP / IP is one of the most used communication protocols today and it is a communication protocol related to communication between different types of computers. Protocols that make up TCP / IP include Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP), Internet Protocol (IP), Internet Message Protocol (ICMP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), and User Datagram Protocol (UDP). There is this.

In recent years, as the Internet application field increases, there is a tendency to add TCP / IP communication function to many existing devices. TCP / IP communication functions, which were used only in dedicated communication equipments, are spreading to various control and monitoring equipments due to the explosive increase in Internet applications. In particular, if the Internet 2 (IPng) technology currently in progress in the United States becomes practical, it can be applied to a wide range of applications so that the Internet technology can be used for all home electronic products.

As the necessity of the TCP / IP communication function increases, the case of adding the TCP / IP communication module to the existing equipment is increasing. Especially, the necessity of TCP / IP communication function through Ethernet, which is widely used in LAN environment, is expanding.

In order to communicate via Ethernet, the Ethernet controller must be connected to the existing equipment, and software supporting the Ethernet interface as well as TCP / IP must be running. Most general-purpose operating systems have no problem because they basically support the TCP / IP protocol. However, in order to develop a TCP / IP communication system, it is necessary to have professional knowledge and technology for Internet communication. There is a lot of difficulty in adding TCP / IP communication function to a small device that is developed without the above.

On the other hand, a commercial real-time operating system (TCP / IP communication) can be achieved by using a real-time operating system (Real-Time Operating System), but due to the port of the system and high price, it is difficult to apply this. In addition, the Ethernet interface has a technical time to install an Ethernet controller and write a new device driver. That is, you can develop TCP / IP, Ethernet interface module, real-time operating system, etc., or purchase and port a commercial product to complete the configuration. This process has a problem of delaying the development period of the equipment and economic development.

The present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and its object is to facilitate the TCP / IP / Ethernet communication function by connecting to the serial port of the equipment to perform the TCP / IP communication function in a similar manner to the modem control process. It is to provide a TCP / IP modem for Ethernet, an interface device that can be added easily.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an Ethernet TCP / IP modem apparatus according to the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of setting and processing a connection mode according to an AT command by a TCP / IP modem for Ethernet according to the present invention.

3 is a flowchart showing a process in the processor unit of the TCP / IP modem for Ethernet according to the present invention.

※ Explanation of code for main part of drawing

11: serial communication unit

12: Ethernet communication unit

13 program memory

14: processor unit

15: data memory

In order to achieve the above object, the TCP / IP modem for Ethernet according to the present invention,

Serial communication unit for transmitting and receiving data with the equipment that is not supported TCP / IP communication;

An Ethernet communication unit connected to an Ethernet port capable of transmitting and receiving TCP / IP data and transmitting and receiving data in a TCP / IP / Ethernet format;

A program memory unit for storing a program capable of processing a TCP / IP / Ethernet protocol and a program for processing an AT command, which is a modem command, so that a processor can easily access a device that does not support TCP / IP;

The program stored in the program memory unit is executed to convert the data of the TCP / IP / Ethernet type input through the Ethernet communication unit into a form that can be recognized by the equipment that does not support TCP / IP and output to the serial communication unit, A processor unit converting data input through the serial communication unit into a TCP / IP / Ethernet form and outputting the converted data to the Ethernet communication unit;

The processor unit may include a data memory unit for storing data for processing or changing the content of the stored data.

Hereinafter, a TCP / IP modem for Ethernet according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a TCP / IP modem for Ethernet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The serial communication unit 11 transmits and receives data serially with a terminal that does not support the TCP / IP communication function. If necessary, a line driver according to the TIA / EIA-232 or RS232C protocol may be included.

The Ethernet communication unit 12 is a device in charge of Ethernet using the CSMA / CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access / Collision Detect) protocol and operates according to the IEEE 802.3 standard. The Ethernet communication unit 12 may be configured with the same device as the processor unit 14 according to the processor unit, and devices for Ethernet hardware interfaces such as pulse transformers and terminators may be attached to terminal ports, and 10BaseT, which is specified in IEEE 802.3, Various interfaces such as 10BaseT5, 10Base2 and 10BaseF can be installed.

The program memory unit 13 is implemented as a ROM or a RAM, and stores a program capable of processing protocols such as Ethernet, ARP, RARP, IP, UDP, ICMP, and TCP. In addition, a program for the processor 14 to process an AT command, which is a modem command, is stored in the program memory unit 13 so that equipment without TCP / IP support is easily accessible. If necessary, the program memory unit 13 provides a function of changing program contents in a mounted or detached state.

The processor unit 14 may execute a program stored in the program memory unit 13 to recognize the TCP / IP data input to the Ethernet communication unit 12 in a terminal that does not support the TCP / IP protocol. The serial communication unit 11 converts the data into the serial communication unit 11 and converts the data input through the serial communication unit 11 into TCP / IP data to output the data to the Ethernet communication unit 12. In addition, the processor unit 14 executes a program for a device which does not support the TCP / IP protocol to facilitate TCP / IP client mode and server mode connection using a modem command (AT command). Can be.

The data memory unit 15 is implemented as a RAM, and provides a function of storing data for processing by the processor unit 14 or changing the content of the stored data.

The operation of the TCP / IP modem for Ethernet according to the present invention configured as described above will be described in detail.

2 is a description of the connection mode of the processor unit 14 of the TCP / IP modem for Ethernet according to the present invention. The modem command sets the IP address and other environment of the TCP / IP modem for the Ethernet, and sets TCP / IP. Set the connection mode.

There are two types of TCP / IP connection modes. There are an active connection mode and a passive connection mode. The active connection mode is to actively connect to a host to be connected, and the passive connection mode is to wait for a counterpart host to connect and to connect when a connection comes in.

In the environment setting and connection method by the AT command of FIG. 2, first, the environment setting 21 is performed by the AT command. At this time, the AT command can be made by using a standard AT command, and by using an extended AT command when there is no appropriate standard AT command. After setting the environment 21, the TCP / IP connection mode is set by the AT command (22). According to the set connection mode, if a passive connection waits for a connection from another host (23), and if an active connection, the connection is made with a predetermined IP address (24). At the time of connection, data communication is performed as shown in FIG.

3 is a flowchart illustrating the processor unit 14 of the TCP / IP modem for Ethernet according to the present invention, in which the TCP / IP data entered through the Ethernet communication unit 12 is connected to a device that does not support the TCP / IP protocol. The output to the serial communication unit 11 is described in detail.

The ARP data processing step 31 performs data processing defined in RFC903 if the data entered into the Ethernet communication unit 12 is ARP data.

The RARP data processing step 32 performs the data processing defined in RFC903 if the data entered into the Ethernet communication unit is RARP data.

The IP data processing step 33 processes data in the form of IP as defined in RFC791. The IP data processing step 33 may also include a TCP / IP header compression process defined in RFC1114. The data processed by the IP data processing step 33 is input to the ICMP data processing step 34, the UDP data processing step 35, or the TCP data processing step 36 according to the type thereof.

ICMP data processing step 34 performs the data processing function defined in RFC792.

The UDP data processing step 35 performs a data processing function defined in RFC768.

The TCP data processing step 36 performs the data processing function defined in RFC793.

The data output from the UDP data processing step 35 and the TCP data processing step 36 is performed by data processing defined by a device that does not support TCP / IP regardless of the TCP / IP protocol (37). This step may be omitted depending on the characteristics of the device that is not supported TCP / IP connected through the serial communication unit 11.

The data passed through the above steps is output to the equipment not supported TCP / IP through the serial communication unit (11).

On the other hand, the data input from the serial communication unit 11 goes through the reverse process shown in Figure 3 and goes through the following process.

A serial communication unit 11 → data processing 37 defined in equipment not supported by TCP / IP connected to the serial communication unit → TCP data processing 36 → IP data processing 33 → Ethernet communication unit 12;

Serial communication section (11) → TCP data processing (36) → IP data processing (33) → Ethernet communication section (12)

Companies that have developed equipments that do not need the Internet communication function have been trying to add TCP / IP communication function in accordance with the recent expansion of the Internet application field, but have suffered from technical problems. Conventionally, there is a difficulty in developing a TCP / IP module through Ethernet or porting a real-time operating system to an existing equipment, and adding an Ethernet interface circuit in hardware. The present invention has been developed without considering the communication environment because it is equipped with a plug-in method to a device that does not have a TCP / IP communication function and performs a TCP / IP communication capable of supporting both client and server functions by AT command that is a modem interface, The TCP / IP communication function can be easily added to various devices, which shortens the development period of the equipment and makes it economical. In addition, by incorporating various communication protocols into the Ethernet TCP / IP modem itself, it is possible to realize an improved processing speed than the real-time operating system of the conventional software driving method, and to reduce the difficulty of manufacturing a driving driver for each individual device. The present invention realizes the modularization of equipment having TCP / IP communication function by providing an interface device having TCP / IP communication function to such companies that manufacture intelligent equipment, thereby allowing the companies to avoid time or economic duplication of investment. The ease of use of TCP / IP communication provides a way to invest in their own technology.

Claims (1)

Serial communication unit for transmitting and receiving data with the equipment that is not supported TCP / IP communication; An Ethernet communication unit connected to an Ethernet port capable of transmitting and receiving TCP / IP data and transmitting and receiving data in a TCP / IP / Ethernet format; A program memory unit for storing a program capable of processing a TCP / IP / Ethernet protocol and a program for processing an AT command, which is a modem command, so that a processor can easily access a device that does not support TCP / IP; The program stored in the program memory unit is executed to convert the data of the TCP / IP / Ethernet type input through the Ethernet communication unit into a form that can be recognized by the equipment that does not support TCP / IP and output to the serial communication unit, A processor unit converting data input through the serial communication unit into a TCP / IP / Ethernet form and outputting the converted data to the Ethernet communication unit; And a data memory unit configured to store data for processing in the processor unit or to change contents of the stored data.