KR20050056685A - Method for checking paths of packet network - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a method for checking a path of a packet network using a network unique identifier (ID) and an interprocess communication (IPC) test packet. When it occurs, it checks the network section status check and finds the path where the error occurred and deals with it. For example, when a packet error occurs in a packet communication passing through several packet sub-networks between a base station and a base station controller of a mobile communication system, a status check for each sub-network section is performed. It is an invention that allows you to find and correct a path where an error occurred.

Description

 {Method for checking paths of packet network}

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a communication system, and in particular, to examine a path of a packet network by using a network unique identifier (hereinafter referred to as ID) and an inter-process communication (hereinafter referred to as IPC) test packet. It is about how to.

In the past, when a data error occurs in a path of a packet network, a technique for checking a network path and finding a path in which an error occurs has not been proposed.

Only the error in the packet network path could be identified, and the exact part of the error was difficult to identify.

In particular, when a packet error occurs in a packet communication that passes through multiple packet networks between a base station and a base station controller of a mobile communication system, the exact point at which the error occurs, that is, an error occurrence path was not known. As a result, fast and accurate actions were not possible when an error occurred.

An object of the present invention has been made in view of the above, and when a data error occurs in a packet communication through a plurality of packet networks, it is suitable to find and correct a path in which an error has occurred through a status check for each network section. It provides a packet network path checking method.

Another object of the present invention is when a packet error occurs in a packet communication that passes through several packet sub-networks between a base station and a base station controller of a mobile communication system, It provides the proper packet network path checking method so that the status check can find and correct the error path.

A feature of the packet network path checking method according to the present invention for achieving the above objects is the steps of transmitting at least one packet in one source network, and normalization of the packet in at least one network via the packet. Checking the presence or absence; setting the inspection result in a predetermined field of the packet allocated to the network by the corresponding network that has performed the inspection; and a destination network receiving the packet in which the inspection result is set; It includes the step of confirming.

More preferably, the destination network further includes transmitting a response to the packet reception including the test result to the source network, wherein the source network sends the response from the source network to the destination network through the response. Check the status of each route up to and take action accordingly.

More preferably, further comprising taking an action according to the inspection result in the destination network.

The packet may be an inter process communication (IPC) test packet, and the inter process communication (IPC) test packet may include a destination address field for indicating a destination address of the inter process communication (IPC) test packet. A transmission address field for indicating a source side address for transmitting the interprocess communication (IPC) test packet, and a signal ID for indicating that the packet is the interprocess communication (IPC) test packet. SID) field, a sequence number field for indicating the order of the interprocess communication (IPC) test packet, and a network error bit field for setting the check result in the interprocess communication (IPC) test packet. And the inter-process communication (IPC) test packet A cyclic redundancy check for checking whether or not the error (Cyclic Redundancy Check: CRC) field, a variable data is configured to include a data field to be inserted.

The network error bit field may include bits allocated to distinguish one or more networks through the packet, bits for indicating whether data is lost in the interprocess communication (IPC) test packet, and the cyclic redundancy. And a bit for indicating the presence or absence of an error of the check (CRC).

In addition, a bit value of the sequence number field indicating the order of the interprocess communication test packets transmitted from the source network is increased by a predetermined bit value according to the order of transmission from the source network.

In addition, the above checks the sequence number field of the inter-process communication (IPC) test packet to check whether the received inter-process communication (IPC) test packet has a sequential sequence number. Accordingly, when the received inter-process communication (IPC) test packet is not a sequential number, the corresponding network which has performed the sequential check of the sequence number changes and sets a predetermined bit value of the network error bit field assigned thereto. In the network error bit field, a bit value for indicating data loss is changed and set.

In addition, the value of the cyclic redundancy check (CRC) field of the inter-process communication (IPC) test packet is calculated to check whether there is an error in the received inter-process communication (IPC) test packet. Accordingly, when an error occurs in the received inter-process communication (IPC) test packet, the corresponding network that has performed the error check checks a predetermined bit for indicating an error of a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) in the network error bit field. Change the value to set it.

More preferably, the inter-process communication (IPC) test packet is transmitted and received in both directions between the source network and the destination network to check the status of each path. In particular, by routing the inter-process communication (IPC) test packet in both directions between the base station and the base station controller of the mobile communication system, to check the status of the network or boards provided between the base station and the control station Is characteristic.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a packet network path checking method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram illustrating a data path and a configuration between a control station and a base station in a mobile communication system. In particular, FIG. 1 illustrates a data path between a control station and a base station in a second generation mobile communication system. Here the data has a packet format.

In FIG. 1, blocks indicated by (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) are networks (or boards) through which packets pass, and each network has a unique ID. And these networks will be described below as a sub-network (sub-network).

Sub-networks (A), (B) and (C) belong to the control station 10, and the sub-networks (D), (E) and (B) belong to the base station 20.

In the present invention, in order to examine the network path from sub-network (a) to (bar), the sub-network (a) transmits an IPC test packet to the sub-network (bar), and the sub-network (bar) receives the received IPC test. Send a response to the packet to the subnetwork. Here, the response of the subnetwork (bar) is also an IPC test packet.

Accordingly, in response to the other party's response to the IPC test packet, it checks whether there is an error in the sub-networks through the IPC test packet.

Each illustrated sub-network (a-bar) is composed of a field programmable gate array (hereinafter, referred to as FPGA) as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, the sub-network includes an FPGA packet router 122 for routing packets, and an IPC test packet count detection and error detection unit 110 for detecting an IPC test packet and detecting an error.

The IPC test packet count detection and error detection unit 110 detects the IPC test packet, determines whether the sequence number in the IPC test packet is sequential, and performs a cyclic redundancy check of the IPC test packet. The CRC value is calculated, and the sequential sequence number and the calculated CRC value are set in the network error bit field (the network error bit field is shown in FIG. 4) in the IPC test packet.

Accordingly, the IPC test packet count detection and error detection unit 110 includes an IPC test packet detection unit (not shown) for determining whether the IPC test packet is a sequence number detection unit (not shown) for determining whether sequence numbers in the IPC test packet are sequential. ), A CRC calculator (not shown) for calculating the CRC value of the IPC test packet, and an error setting unit for setting output values of the sequence number detector and the CRC calculator in the network error bit portion of the IPC test packet.

The operation according to the configuration of the IPC test packet coefficient detection and error detection unit 110 is the procedure of FIG. 3.

4 is a diagram illustrating an IPC test packet format and a network error bit format for checking a packet network path of the present invention.

The IPC test packet of FIG. 4 is almost identical to a normal packet format for transmitting data of a general user.

In FIG. 4, the IPC test packet format includes a destination address field for indicating an address of a destination to which a packet arrives, a transmission address field for indicating a source side address for transmitting a packet, and an IPC test packet. Signal ID field (hereinafter abbreviated as SID) field, Sequence NO field for indicating the order of each IPC test packet, and network error bit to indicate the loss and error of IPC test packet. Field and a CRC field for checking an error of an IPC test packet.

In addition, variable data is inserted into the data field of the IPC test packet format. Therefore, the overall length of the IPC test packet is also variable.

In particular, in the present invention, the network error bit field is divided into parts for setting an error presence bit corresponding to a unique ID of each subnetwork. For example, (a) to (bar) shown in the network error bit field are initially set to "0", and the loss and error of the IPC test packet in any one of the sub-networks through which the IPC test packet passes. Is determined, the IPC test packet count detection and error detection unit 110 having the error bit set function of the corresponding subnetwork sets the initial bit value " 0 " corresponding to its area to " 1 ".

In addition, data loss bits and CRC error bits are inserted into the network error bit field to indicate the loss and error of the IPC test packet.

For example, if the subnetwork (a) and (bar) communicate as shown in FIG. 1, and the subnetwork (a) transmits an IPC test packet to the subnetwork (bar), the destination address field may include: The unique ID of the subnetwork (bar) is inserted, and the unique ID of the subnetwork (a) is inserted in the source address field. In addition, one byte indicating an IPC test packet is inserted into the SID field.

The sequence number field is incremented and inserted into the sequence number field according to the order in which the subnetwork transmits the IPC test packets. Therefore, when the subnetwork transmits a plurality of IPC test packets, the value of the sequence number field increases according to the transmission order.

All network error bit fields are set to a value of "0", and a CRC value for the IPC test packet is inserted at the end of the IPC test packet.

The following describes a packet network path checking procedure according to the present invention.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the sub-networks (a) and (bar) communicate with each other.

At this time, the subnetwork (a) transmits at least one IPC test packet to the subnetwork (bar). The subnetwork (bar) then sends a response to the subnetwork (a) for the received IPC test packets.

At this time, if the intermediate subnetworks through the IPC test packet are normal, all the responses of the IPC test packets transmitted from the subnetwork are returned.

On the other hand, if the intermediate subnetworks through the IPC test packet are normal, then the transmitted IPC test packet is returned or broken.

On the other hand, the procedure for investigating in which section the IPC test packet is lost or whether an error occurs in the IPC test packet is as follows.

Once the subnetwork (a) transmits at least one IPC test packet sequentially, the IPC test packets are routed through the sub-networks (B), (C), (D) and (E). To arrive.

At this time, the transmitted IPC test packet passes through the FPGA packet router 122 and the IPC test packet coefficient detection and error detection unit 110 of each subnetwork.

The IPC test packet count detection and error detection unit 110 performs the procedure shown in FIG. 3 on the received IPC test packet.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a packet network path checking procedure according to the present invention, and particularly, a detection and error investigation procedure of an IPC test packet.

First, the IPC test packet detection unit of the IPC test packet count detection and error detection unit 110 determines whether the received packet is an IPC test packet by examining the SID field of the received packet (S1, S2). At this time, if the received packet is not an IPC test packet, the received packet is transmitted to the next subnetwork. On the other hand, if the received packet is an IPC test packet, the sequence number detection unit searches for the sequence number in the sequence number field.

In particular, the sequence number detector determines whether the sequence numbers of the received IPC test packets increase sequentially starting from a value of "0" (S3).

On the other hand, all IPC test packets sent directly from the sub-network (a) must start with a value of "0" and increase by a value of "1" for each IPC test packet transmitted.

However, if the sequence number of the currently received IPC test packet is found to be larger than "1" than the sequence number of the immediately received IPC test packet, then either IPC test packet having an intermediate sequence number is lost. To judge. On the other hand, if the searched sequence number increases normally, the CRC calculator calculates a CRC value of the IPC test packet (S5).

In the IPC test packet count detection and error detection unit 110 of the sub-network searched when the sequence number of the IPC test packets received above is abnormally increased (starting from a value of "0" and not sequentially increasing), in particular, The error setting unit changes and sets the network ID bit value of "0", which is set in advance in the network error bit field of the IPC test packet, to "1" (S4). In addition, the error setting unit changes and sets the initial value "0" of the data loss bit to "1" in the network error bit field.

In addition, when the sequence number search is completed, the CRC calculator calculates a CRC value of the IPC test packet to determine whether there is a CRC error (S5, S6).

If an error occurs in the output of the CRC calculator, the error setting unit changes and sets the initial value "0" of the CRC error bit to "1" in the network error bit field (S7).

On the other hand, if there is no data loss or CRC error described above, the initial value which does not change any bit value of the network error bit field is left as it is and transmitted to the next subnetwork (S8).

In each of the sub-networks, the IPC test packets having gone through the above steps arrive at the last sub-network (bar). Then, the sub network (bar) can know whether data loss or CRC error has occurred through the network error bit field of the received IPC test packets, and also in which sub network the data loss or CRC error has occurred.

The subnetwork (bar) also sends a response to the subnetwork for the receipt of IPC test packets. At this time, the subnetwork (bar) sends the received IPC test packet back to the subnetwork in response to the reception. Subnetwork (A) then checks the status of the network paths in the network error bit field of the IPC test packets sent from the subnetwork (F).

As another example, the sub-network (bar) inserts and transmits the result (data loss / CRC error occurrence, error occurrence network, etc.) confirmed through the network error bit field of the IPC test packets into the data field of the IPC test packet. . Subnetwork (A) then checks the status of the network paths in the data field of the IPC test packet sent from the subnetwork (F).

According to the present invention described above, when a packet error occurs in a packet communication that passes through multiple packet networks through packet routing between a base station and a base station controller of the mobile communication system, As well as whether there is data loss or not, the exact point at which the error or data loss occurs, that is, the path of error occurrence, can be quickly and accurately performed when an error or data loss occurs.

In particular, in the present invention, it is possible to check the state of the bidirectional packet network path through the bidirectional IPC test packet.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the embodiments, but should be defined by the claims.

1 is a diagram showing a data path and a configuration between a control station and a base station in a mobile communication system.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of each sub-network for packet communication according to the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a packet network path checking procedure according to the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating an IPC test packet format and a network error bit format for checking a packet network path of the present invention.

Claims (15)

Transmitting at least one packet in one source network; Checking whether the packet is normal in at least one networks via the packet; Setting the inspection result in a predetermined field of the packet assigned to the network by the corresponding network which has performed the inspection; And confirming the inspection result by a destination network receiving the packet having the inspection result set. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending, by the destination network, a response to receiving the packet including the check result to the source network. The method of claim 2, wherein the source network checks the status of each path from the source network to the destination network through the response, and takes action accordingly. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of taking an action according to the inspection result in the destination network. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said packet is an Inter Process Communication (IPC) test packet. The method of claim 5, wherein the inter-process communication (IPC) test packet, A destination address field for indicating a destination address of the interprocess communication (IPC) test packet, a source address field for indicating a source side address for transmitting the interprocess communication (IPC) test packet, and the packet A Signal ID (SID) field for indicating that the inter-process communication (IPC) test packet, a sequence number field for indicating an order of the inter-process communication (IPC) test packet, and A network error bit field for setting the check result in an interprocess communication (IPC) test packet, a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) field for checking the presence of an error in the interprocess communication (IPC) test packet; In particular, the data field may include a data field into which variable data is inserted. Packet network path checking method. The network error bit field according to claim 6, wherein the network error bit field is a bit allocated to distinguish at least one network through the packet, and a bit for indicating data loss of the interprocess communication test packet. And a bit for indicating an error of the cyclic redundancy check (CRC). 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the bit value of the Sequence NO field to indicate the order of the interprocess communication (IPC) test packets transmitted in the source network is a predetermined bit in accordance with the order in which the source network transmits. Packet network path checking method, characterized in that the value increases in increments. 7. The packet network path of claim 6, wherein the sequence number field of the interprocess communication (IPC) test packet is examined to determine whether the received interprocess communication (IPC) test packet has a sequential sequence number. method of inspection. 10. The predetermined bit value of the network error bit field assigned to the network according to claim 9, wherein, when the received interprocess communication test packet is not a sequential number, the corresponding network which has performed the sequential check of the sequence number is assigned to itself. Packet network path checking method, characterized in that for setting and changing. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein when the received inter-process communication test packet is not a sequential number, the corresponding network which has undergone the sequential check indicates whether data is lost in the network error bit field. Packet network path checking method, characterized in that the bit value is changed and set. 7. The packet of claim 6, wherein the value of the cyclic redundancy check (CRC) field of the interprocess communication (IPC) test packet is calculated to check whether there is an error in the received interprocess communication (IPC) test packet. How to check the network path. The network of claim 12, wherein, as an error occurs in the received IPC test packet, the corresponding network that has performed the error check indicates an error of a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) in the network error bit field. Packet network path checking method, characterized in that for changing by setting a predetermined bit value. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein an interprocess communication (IPC) test packet is transmitted and received between the source network and the destination network in both directions to check the status of each path. 15. The network or board of claim 14, wherein the interprocess communication test packet is bidirectionally routed between a base station and a base station controller of a mobile communication system. Packet network path checking method characterized by checking the status of the network.