JP3752860B2

JP3752860B2 - Connection switch type network control method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: JP3752860B2
Application number: JP25782498A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 隆西門; 謙二川北; 宜則宮本
Original assignee: Hitachi Ltd
Current assignee: Hitachi Ltd
Priority date: 1997-09-19
Filing date: 1998-09-11
Publication date: 2006-03-08
Anticipated expiration: 2018-09-11
Also published as: JPH11163942A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、ＡＴＭ(Asynchronous Transfer Mode)、フレームリレー等、１通信回線上に複数のコネクションを実現し、各交換機でコネクション識別子を置換しながら複数通信回線の複数のコネクションを接続交換するコネクションスイッチ型交換機を使って構成した通信ネットワークに係わり、大規模ネットワーク構成での高速ＩＰパケット交換や、障害回復が容易な信頼性の高いネットワークを実現するのに適した通信ネットワーク制御方法および装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来のＡＴＭ、フレームリレーを代表とするコネクションスイッチ型交換機については、その１例のＡＴＭについて、１９９５年オーム社発行、絵ときＡＴＭネットワークバイブル１７頁〜２３頁に述べられている。図２は、従来の該コネクションスイッチ型交換機の機能及び概略構造を示す。コネクションスイッチ型交換機１は、通信端末装置あるいは別ネットワークへのゲートウエイ装置等の端点装置や別のコネクションスイッチ型交換機を隣接装置として通信回線２（２−１、２−２、２−８、２−９）で接続し、該隣接装置とを結ぶ各通信回線２に複数の論理的なコネクション３（３−１−１、３−１−２、３−１−３、３−８−１、３−９−１、３−９−２）を設定する機能を持つ。さらに、交換機１は、接続された２つあるいは１つの通信回線３中に設定された２つのコネクション３を接続交換する機能を有する。本コネクションの接続交換は、各通信回線２毎あるいは交換機１全体で共通に保持したスイッチングテーブル４を用い、通信回線２毎に装備した通信回線制御機構８、スイッチングテーブル検索機構７、及び、コネクション識別子変換機構５と、スイッチ機構６により実現される。図２の例では、スイッチングテーブル４、スイッチングテーブル検索機構７、及び、コネクション識別子変換機構５を回線インタフェース１９（１９−１、１９−２、１９−８、１９−９）として、通信回線２毎に持つ。
【０００３】
スイッチングテーブル４は、接続交換する各コネクションペアに対して、入力側のコネクションが使用する通信回線の通信回線情報と該入力コネクションに割り当てられたコネクション識別子から、接続交換先の出力側のコネクションが使用する通信回線の通信回線情報と該出力コネクションに割り当てられたコネクション識別子、および帯域属性等の該コネクションの接続属性情報への対応関係を表すテーブルである。図２の例では、入力通信回線２−１内のコネクション３−１−１、３−１−２、３−１−３を、それぞれ、通信回線２−８のコネクション３−８−１、及び通信回線２−９のコネクション３−９−１、３−９−２に接続交換する例を示す。本例では、各通信回線２毎にスイッチングテーブル４を保持した例を示し、すでに、スイッチングテーブル４が通信回線毎になっているため、入力側通信回線情報は省略し、１つ１つのスイッチングテーブルエントリは、入力側コネクション識別子情報４１、出力側通信回線情報４２、出力側コネクション識別子情報４３、接続属性情報４４及び該エントリが有効か無効かを示す有効ビット４５から構成している。本スイッチングテーブル４の構成は、以下で説明するスイッチングテーブル検索機構の実現方式と絡んで多少異なり、入力側の通信回線情報だけでなく、入力側のコネクション識別子情報が省略されるケースもある。また、各スイッチングテーブルエントリが有効か無効かを表
すために、本例のように、有効・無効を表す有効ビット４５を設けるケースもあれば、該有効ビット４５を設けず、該エントリの入力側、あるいは出力側の通信回線情報やコネクション識別子情報に無効エントリを表す特別な値を使用する場合もある。なお、上記スイッチングテーブル４で使用されるコネクション識別子は、例えばＡＴＭでは、ＶＰＩ（Virtual Path Identifier）とＶＣＩ（Virtual Channel Identifier）という２つの数字ペアーを用いて表される。
【０００４】
通信回線制御機構８は、それぞれ対応する各通信回線２に接続し、該通信回線２の物理的な信号のやり取り方式に従った入出力制御を行なう。具体的には、対応する通信回線２からシリアルに入力されるデータに対しては、あるデータパケット単位に変換し、変換した結果のデータパケット６０を対応する信号線５１を介して対応するコネクション識別子変換機構５に渡す。また、逆に、対応する信号線５７（５７−１、５７−２、５７−８、５７−９）を介してスイッチ機構６からデータパケット受け取ると、該データパケットを該通信回線２の物理的な信号のやり取り方式に従ってシリアルに出力する。
【０００５】
コネクション識別子変換機構５は、交換機１に入ってきたデータパケット６０のヘッダ６１内に格納されたコネクション識別子情報６２の書換えを行う機構である。上記の通り、通信回線２から入力されたデータパケット６０は、対応する通信回線制御機構８で処理され、信号線５１を介して対応するコネクション識別子変換機構５に渡される。コネクション識別子変換機構５は、コネクション識別子情報６２の書換えを行う前に、まず、該データパケット６０を一時的に保持した後、該データパケット６０のヘッダ部６１に書き込まれたコネクション識別子情報６２を、信号線５２を介してスイッチングテーブル検索機構７に渡す。
【０００６】
スイッチングテーブル検索機構７は、信号線５２を介して入力された入力データパケット６０のコネクション識別子情報６２と、該スイッチングテーブル検索機構７が対応する通信回線の通信回線情報を基に、信号線５３を介してスイッチングテーブル４を検索し、該検索結果のスイッチングテーブルエントリ情報４０を信号線５４を介して上記をコネクション識別子変換機構５に返す。なお、対応するエントリがみつからなかった場合、あるいは、対応するエントリが無効の場合は、信号線５４で有効な情報を返せないため、信号線５４の情報が有効か無効かを示す検索結果有効無効情報も信号線５５を介して該コネクション識別子変換機構５に返す。本スイッチングテーブル検索機構の実現方式は様々であり、入力情報である入力回線情報および入力コネクション識別子情報をそのままインデクスとしてスイッチングテーブルを検索するダイレクトマップ方式、該入力情報をハッシング関数を使用した値を使って検索するハッシング方式、格納された情報により直接検索可能なメモリを使って該入力情報で直接検索するコンテンツアドレッサブルメモリ方式、及び、これら方式の組み合わせが用いられる。
【０００７】
該コネクション識別子変換機構５は、上記スイッチングテーブル検索機構７から検索結果が返ってくると、信号線５５の検索結果有効無効情報をまずチェックする。該チェックの結果、検索結果が有効であると分かると、該コネクション識別子変換機構５は、信号線５４を介して渡される検索結果のスイッチングテーブルエントリ情報４０を用い、上記入力データパケットヘッダ６１内のコネクション識別子情報６２を、該検索結果のスイッチングテーブルエントリ情報４０の出力側のコネクションのコネクション識別子情報４３の値で書換える。
【０００８】
次に、上記コネクション識別子変換機構５で処理された入力データパケット６０は、上記検索結果のスイッチングテーブルエントリ情報４０の出力側の通信回線情報４２と共に、対応する信号線５６（５６−１、５６−２、５６−８、５６−９）を介して、スイッチ機構６に送られる。スイッチ機構６は、入力通信回線から出力通信回線へのデータパケットのスイッチング機能を持ち、該出力側通信回線情報を元に、該入力データパケット６０を入力通信回線から出力通信回線に対応する信号線５７（５７−１、５７−２、５７−８、５７−９）に転送する。信号線５７に転送されたデータパケットは、対応する上記通信制御機構８を介して、対応する通信回線２に出力される。
【０００９】
さらに、交換機１は、交換機内部の信号線５６−０及び５７−０でスイッチ機構６に接続した制御機構９を持ち、ある予約されたコネクション識別子を持つコネクションが該信号線５６−０を介して該制御機構９に接続するように予めスイッチングテーブル４設定されている。該制御機構９は、一般的にプロセッサを用いた情報処理機構で構成し、ソフトウェアプログラムを用いて、該制御機構９の機能が実現される。該制御機構の１つとしてコネクション設定・解放機構１０があり、該予約されたあるコネクション識別子を持つシグナリング用コネクション８２を介して、新たなコネクションの接続交換の設定、解放要求を受ける。該コネクションの設定・解放要求を受けると、該コネクション設定・解放機構１０は、信号線５８を介してスイッチングテーブル４の設定・変更を行なうと共に、必要に応じて、さらに、通信回線２で隣接した交換機、通信装置に対して、該コネクション設定・解放要求を転送する。
【００１０】
また、上記で、入力データパケット６０に対するスイッチングテーブル４の検索結果が無効の場合は、コネクション識別子変換機構５にて破棄されるか、あるいは、コネクション識別子変換機構５では、入力データパケットの書換えは行われず、該入力データパケットの接続交換先回線として、制御機構９を指定して、該入力データパケット６０は、スイッチ機構６に送られ、さらに、スイッチ機構６が制御機構９に転送し、制御機構９にてエラー処理が行われる。
【００１１】
また、上記コネクションスイッチ型交換機を使った通信ネットワークのネットワーク制御方法については、同じく、１９９５年オーム社発行、絵ときＡＴＭネットワークバイブル１１１頁〜１４５頁に述べられている。例えば、ＡＴＭ上でＩＰ（Internet Protocol）パケット通信を実現する方式として、ＬＡＮエミュレーションやＩＰoverＡＴＭと呼ばれる方式があるが、これらの方式はどちらも、ＩＰパケットを送る際、該ＩＰパケットのヘッダ部にある宛先ＩＰアドレスに持つＡＴＭ通信ネットワーク内の端点装置、あるいは、該ＩＰパケットを宛先装置まで転送してくれるＡＴＭ通信ネットワーク内での宛先端点装置に対して既にコネクションがあるかを調べ、まだ、該コネクションが設定されていなければ、該宛先端点装置に対して、ＡＴＭのコネクションを張ってから、張ったコネクションを使ってＩＰパケットを送るという方式を取る。さらに、該コネクションの設定は、上記シグナリング用コネクションを介した各隣接交換機のコネクション設定・解放機構間のやり取りで実現され、設定される該コネクションに対応するコネクション識別子は、該コネクションの経路上の各交換機が独自が割り当てるため、各交換機の前後でコネクション識別子の値は、一般に次々と変わる形となる。
【００１２】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上記従来方式では、ＩＰパケットデータの宛先が変わる毎にコネクションの設定処理が必要となるうえ、コネクションの数も、最悪、該通信ネットワーク内の端点装置の数の２乗のオーダとなり、大規模ネットワークでは、コネクション識別子やスイッチングテーブルエントリが不足するという問題があった。また、各コネクションに割り当てられたコネクション識別子の対応関係も、各交換機で独自に管理、保持されているため、通信ネットワークのどこかで障害が発生した際、コネクション識別子間の対応関係が失われ、端点装置の利用者プログラムにお願いして、再度コネクションを端点から端点まで設定しなおさなければならないという問題があった。
【００１３】
【課題を解決するための手段】
そこで、解決のための基本手段として、該通信ネットワークの各交換機と運用管理通信路で接続した該通信ネットワークのネットワーク管理装置を設け、該ネットワーク管理装置の中に該通信ネットワーク全体のコネクションを一元的に管理するコネクション管理手段とコネクション管理情報を設け、該コネクション管理手段は、コネクション管理情報を参照・更新しながら、連続したコネクション識別子を持つ一定の数のコネクション群を１つのグループとし、通信ネットワーク内のコネクションを１つまたは複数のあるグループ化単位で該通信ネットワークで一元的に管理し、複数の交換機を経由するコネクションでも１つのコネクション識別子を用い、該グループ化単位で連続したコネクション識別子を持つコネクション群単位で、コネクションの設定・解放を各交換機に指示する。一方、各コネクションスイッチ型交換機には、運用管理通信路を介した上記ネットワーク管理装置のコネクション管理手段の指示に従い、グループ化単位のコネクション設定・解放処理を行う機能をコネクション設定・解放手段に持たせる。また、複数のグループ化単位間で優先度を設け、一交換機で同一コネクション識別子に関して、複数のグループ化単位によるコネクション設定がされた場合は、小さいグループ化単位値のコネクション識別子を持つコネクション設定を優先度大とする処理を行う。
【００１４】
また、上記グループ化単位のコネクション管理に適したコネクションスイッチ型交換機として、該交換機のスイッチングテーブルに対応して、スイッチングマスクレジスタ、マスク機構、スイッチング情報変換機構を設け、１スイッチングテーブルエントリで、指定されたグループ化単位での複数のコネクションの接続交換を実現する。具体的には、スイッチングテーブルに対応して上記コネクション設定・解放機構から信号線を介して値の設定が可能なスイッチングマスクレジスタを設け、さらに、入力データパケットのヘッダ中のコネクション識別子情報を該スイッチングマスクレジスタの内容とＡＮＤするマスク機構とを設け、該マスク機構の出力をスイッチングテーブル検索機構の入力としてスイッチングテーブルを検索する。さらに、該スイッチングテーブル検索機構からの検索結果のスイッチングテーブルエントリ情報を入力とし、該検索結果のスイッチングテーブルエントリ情報の出力側コネクション識別子情報を、上記スイッチングマスクレジスタの値をビット反転した値と上記入力データパケットのコネクション識別子情報とをＡＮＤした値に、さらに該検索結果のスイッチングテーブルエントリ情報の出力側コネクション識別子情報に対してＯＲした値に変換するスイッチング情報変換機構を設け、該スイッチング情報変換機構の処理結果を新たな検索結果として、上記コネクション識別子変換機構に入力して、さらに、スイッチ機構を通してコネクションの接続交換を実現する。
【００１５】
また、複数のグループ化単位の優先度制御の実現のために、上記スイッチングテーブル、スイッチングマスクレジスタ、スイッチングテーブル検索機構、マスク機構、スイッチング情報変換機構のセットをグループ化検索機構として、該グループ化検索機構を複数個設け、同時に複数のグループ化単位値による検索を行うと共に、さらに該グループ化検索機構間の固定の優先度付け、あるいは、該グループ化検索機構の各スイッチングレジスタに設定された値の比較で優先度付けを行なう優先度判定選択機構を設け、同時に検索された複数のスイッチングテーブルエントリの中から、該エントリが有効でかつ、上記グループ化単位数が小さいスイッチングテーブルエントリを選択し、該選択結果を新たに検索結果として、コネクション識別子変換機構、スイッチ機構を通してコネクションの接続交換を行なう。
【００１６】
上記解決のための基本手段に加え、さらに、大規模通信ネットワークでの高速ＩＰパケット交換や信頼性の高いネットワークを実現するため、以下の手段を用いる。
【００１７】
まず、第１に、初期設定で各端点装置間で端点間単方向コネクションを設定する。該端点間単方向コネクションは、宛先の端点装置毎にユニークなコネクション識別子を持ち、各端点装置から同一宛先の端点装置に向かう端点間単方向コネクションが、すべて同じコネクション識別子を持つ多対１コネクションで構成する。さらに、通信ネットワーク内の端点装置をレベル０装置、端点装置に隣接接続した端点接続交換機をレベル１装置、レベル１装置に隣接接続し、レベル１装置に属さない交換機をレベル２装置、同様にして、レベルｎ−１中継交換機に隣接接続し、レベルｎ−１以下の装置に属さない交換機をレベルｎ装置という形で該通信ネットワーク全体を端点装置を最下層と階層に分類した時、ｉ＞＝１のすべての階層レベルｉの装置について、該レベルｉ装置から各レベル（ｉ−１）装置に向かう該端点間単方向コネクションは、互いに連続したコネクション識別子を持ち、さらに、将来の装置の接続拡張のために適当な数のコネクション識別子を該レベルｉ装置で予約し、該予約を含めて該レベルｉ装置から各レベル（ｉ−１）装置に向かう該各端点間単方向コネクションのコネクション識別子数の合計をあるグループ化単位数の倍数にして、該グループ化単位で、該レベル（ｉ−１）装置向け及び予約分のコネクション識別子を割り当て、該レベルｉ装置に隣接接続するすべてのレベル（ｉ＋１）装置から該レベルｉ装置に向け、上記グループ化単位で、上記で割り当てたコネクション識別子を持つコネクション群を張り、
該レベルｉ交換機にて、該各レベル（ｉ＋１）装置から該レベルｉ装置への該コネクション群を、該レベルｉ装置から該各レベル（ｉ−１）装置への各コネクションまたはコネクション群に分配接続すると共に、さらに、上記で設定した、上位階層から下位階層に向かうグループ化単位のコネクションを使った単方向コネクションに、各端点装置から、同一あるいはより大きなグループ化単位値のコネクション群で接続して、端点間の単方向コネクションを構成する。
【００１８】
次に、高速ＩＰパケット交換を実現する手段として、上記初期設定で設定された端点間単方向コネクションを用い、さらに、端点装置に隣接接続した各端点接続交換機に、制御機構の１つとして、ＩＰアドレスから該ＩＰアドレスを持ったＩＰデータパケットを転送すべき宛先端点装置に向かう該端点間単方向コネクションのコネクション識別子に変換するＩＰ・コネクション変換機構を設ける。該ＩＰ・コネクション変換機構は、端点装置とあるＩＰデータ用のコネクション識別子で接続し、ネットワーク管理装置から配布されたＩＰアドレスと宛先端点装置への端点間単方向コネクションのコネクション識別子との対応を示すＩＰ・コネクション変換情報を用い、端点装置からＩＰデータ用のコネクション識別子を使って送られてきたＩＰデータパケットを対応する宛先端点装置への端点間単方向コネクションのコネクション識別子を用いて宛先端点装置まで転送する、あるいは、端点装置がＩＰデータ用のコネクション識別子を使って送ってきたＩＰアドレスを宛先端点装置への端点間単方向コネクションのコネクション識別子に変換して端点装置に返し、端点装置が、返ってきた端点間単方向コネクションのコネクション識別子とＩＰアドレスのペアをキャッシュに持ちながら、該対応する端点間単方向コネクション識別子を使って、ＩＰデータパケットを送信する。
【００１９】
次に、動的に発生する端点装置からの新規コネクション設定・解放要求処理の上記グループ化単位による処理手段としては、端点装置に隣接接続した各端点接続交換機に、あるグループ化単位の倍数の新規コネクション設定単位で設定した、各コネクション群に対し、該コネクション群の設定情報と各コネクションの端点装置へ割り当て有無を管理する端点コネクション管理情報を備え、コネクション設定・解放機構が、該端点コネクション管理情報を参照・更新しながら、端点装置からの各コネクション・設定解放要求をバッファリングし、該交換機から宛先装置までのコネクションを、上記新規コネクション設定単位にて設定・解放を行なう処理を行なう。すなわち、上記、各コネクションの設定要求に対しては、必要に応じて、該交換機から要求の宛先装置までのコネクション群を上記新規コネクション設定単位で張り、該コネクション群を全て未割り当て状態として上記端点コネクション管理情報を作成・登録してバッファリングし、該バッファリングされた上記宛先装置と該交換機間のコネクション群の中から未割り当て状態のコネクションを選び出し、該コネクションのコネクション識別子を使って、該コネクションを要求元の端点装置まで延長するよう該交換機のスイッチングテーブルを設定する。また、端点装置からのコネクションの解放要求に対しては、該コネクションに対応する該交換機から要求元へのコネクションの接続設定を無効化し、該コネクションの該交換機から宛先装置までの部分のコネクションは、未割り当てとして、上記端点コネクション管理情報を更新してバッファに返す。さらに、上記各端点コネクション管理情報には、該管理情報が管理するコネクション群の解放タイミングを得るためのタイムアウト情報を持ち、上記一端点コネクション管理情報に対応するコネクション群が、端点装置に対してすべて未割り当て状態のまま一定期間以上継続した場合は、上記コネクション設定・解放手段が定期的なチェックを行い、該コネクション群を解放する。
【００２０】
次に、該通信ネットワークの障害処理に対しては、複数のグループ化単位値を使って、通常経路用のあるグループ化単位のコネクション群に対し、該コネクション群のコネクション識別子を含み、該グループ化単位値より大きいグループ化単位値のコネクション群を使って予め設定した、迂回用のコネクション群を持ち、該通信ネットワーク内に障害が発生した時に、ネットワーク管理装置のグループ化コネクション管理手段が、該迂回コネクションが設定されている場合は、小さいグループ化単位値を持つ障害のコネクション群の接続交換の設定の無効化を障害経路上の交換機に指示する処理を行なう。また、迂回コネクション群が設定されていない部分に障害が発生した場合は、該グループ化コネクション管理手段が、上記ネットワーク管理装置に保持した該通信ネットワーク内の装置間の接続構成情報及びコネクション管理情報を参照し、迂回経路を決定し、帯域等の条件を考慮し、障害コネクション群のコネクション識別子をそのまま、迂回用のコネクション識別子として使うか、迂回用の別のコネクション識別子を使うかを判断し、必要に応じて迂回用のコネクション識別子を割り当て、先ず、迂回経路の途中、次に、迂回経路のソース側の端あるいは障害コネクションが双方向コネクションの場合は迂回経路のどちらか一方の一端、最後に、迂回経路のもう一方の一端の順で、該迂回経路上の各交換機あるいは端点装置に対して、該障害コネクション群のグループ化単位で、該迂回用のコネクション識別子を持つ迂回用のコネクション群の接続交換、あるいは該迂回用コネクション群と、もともと障害コネクションに接続していたコネクション群との接続交換を、指示する処理を行なう。
【００２１】
上記手段によれば、端点装置間で既に設定されたコネクションを用いるため、ＩＰパケット交換時のコネクション設定処理がなく、高速なＩＰパケット交換が実現できる。また、ネットワークワイドに上記グループ化単位で管理されたコネクションを用い、しかも、階層化してコネクション群を統合、分配接続する方式でコネクション設定するため、端点装置間でコネクションを張っても、端点装置数オーダのコネクション識別子しかいらない。また、さらに、上記本発明の交換機は、１つのスイッチングテーブルエントリで複数のコネクションの接続交換が可能なため、上記グループ化単位の管理と連動することで、該交換機の機能を有効に活用して、非常に少ないスイッチングテーブルエントリで、端点装置間のコネクションを実現できる。すなわち、大規模ネットワーク構成においても、コネクション識別子やスイッチングテーブルエントリが不足する可能性が少なくなり、大規模ネットワークへの適用が可能となる。さらに、複数のグループ化単位値を使い、予め、迂回用のコネクション群を設定することが可能であり、迂回用のコネクション群が予め設定されている場合は、障害コネクション群の無効化のみで障害処理が行なえる。また、迂回用のコネクション群がない場合でも、該通信ネットワーク内のすべてのコネクションがグループ化単位で、しかも、一意的なコネクション識別子で管理されているため、グループ化単位で簡単に迂回路の設定が可能となり、信頼性の高いネットワークを構築できる。
【００２２】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、図を用いて、本発明の実施形態を説明する。
【００２３】
図１は、本発明の全体構成図である。本発明の通信ネットワークは、図１に示す通り、通信端末装置１１−１、１１−２、１１−３、１１−４、１１−６、１１−７、１１−８あるいは外部ネットワーク１２とのゲートウエイ装置１１−９を端点装置とし、複数のコネクションスイッチ型交換機１（１−１、１−２、１−３、１−４、１−１０、１−１１）を中継装置として通信回線２で結んだ構成をとる。上記通信ネットワークには、該通信ネットワーク全体を管理するネットワーク管理装置１３を設け、該ネットワーク管理装置１３は、通信回線２とは別の運用管理ネットワーク１４にて、該通信ネットワーク内のすべての交換機１と接続し、該ネットワーク管理装置１３と各交換機１間でコネクションの設定・解放要求等をやり取りするための運用管理通信路１５として該運用管理ネットワーク１４を利用している。
【００２４】
ネットワーク管理装置１３は、該通信ネットワークのネットワーク構成情報２０を記憶保持し、上記運用管理通信路１５あるいはネットワーク管理装置１３に接続された通信線１６を介してネットワーク構成情報２０を設定更新するためのネットワーク構成情報設定手段１７を持つ。上記ネットワーク構成情報２０としては、該通信ネットワークを構成する端点装置１１及びコネクションスイッチ型交換機１の接続構成情報２１と、初期のコネクション設定情報を指示する初期コネクション設定指示情報２２に加え、コネクションを一定の単位でグループ化して設定管理する単位を指示するグループ化単位値２４と、該グループ化単位での管理を適用するコネクション識別子の範囲を指示するグループ化適用範囲情報２５からなるグループ化管理指示情報２３を持つ。
【００２５】
ネットワーク管理装置１３は、さらに、グループ化コネクション管理手段１８を持ち、該グループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、上記ネットワーク構成情報として記憶されたグループ化管理指示情報２３に従い、該指示情報２３のグループ化適用範囲２５で指定されたコネクション識別子を持つコネクションを、該指示情報２３のグループ化単位値２４で指定された単位で管理し、結果をコネクション管理情報３０として保持する。コネクション管理情報３０の一実施例としては、図３に示す通り、１つの該グループ化コネクション全体の管理情報として、上記グループ化管理指示情報２３のコピー３５、及び、後述する該グループとスイッチングテーブルとの対応情報３６を持つと共に、さらに、グループ化単位値２４で指定された単位のコネクション群毎に、該コネクション群の使用状態３１及び経路３２、属性情報３３を持つ。
【００２６】
次に、本発明のグループ化コネクション管理手段１８が、上記グループ化単位値２４に従って、該グループ化単位でのコネクションを設定する手順を図４に示す。まず、グループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、ネットワーク管理装置１３に記憶保持された上記初期コネクション設定指示情報２２の指示に従って初期コネクションの設定する時、あるいは、端点装置１１に隣接接続した端点接続コネクションスイッチ型交換機
１−１、１−２、１−３、１−４から新規コネクション設定要求を運用管理通信路１５を介して受け、コネクション設定処理を開始する（処理１０１）。次に、該初期コネクション設定の指示またはコネクション要求時の指定より、コネクション管理情報３０を参照し、上記グループ化管理指示情報２３のグループ化単位値２４を１つの単位として、フリーな、あるいは、指示・指定された、連続したコネクション識別子を一括割当てする（処理１０２）。次に、ネットワーク管理装置１３に保持された上記接続構成情報２１を参照して要求されたコネクションの経路上にある交換機１を特定する（処理１０３）。次に、処理１０３で特定した経路上の各交換機１に対し、入力通信回線側も出力通信回線側も処理１０２で連続割り当てした同じコネクション識別子群を用いて、要求経路上の入力通信回線から出力通信回線へ一括接続交換するコネクション群を設定するよう、運用管理通信路１５を介して指示する（処理１０４）。次に、処理１０４による指示を受けた各交換機１では、各交換機１のコネクション設定・解放機構１０が該指示を受け、指示されたコネクション群を、指示されたコネクション識別子群を用い、指示された入力通信回線から出力通信回線にコネクション識別子の値を変更することなく接続交換するよう、上記スイッチングテーブル４を一括設定し、該設定の成否結果を運用管理通信路１５を介して該グループ化コネクション管理手段１８に返す（処理１０５）。最後に、グループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、処理１０５のコネクション設定成否結果を各交換機１から受け取り、該成否結果に基づきコネクション管理情報３０を更新して、コネクション設定処理を終了する（処理１０６）。
【００２７】
また、本発明のグループ化コネクション管理手段１８が、上記グループ化単位値２４に従ってグループ化単位でのコネクション解放を行なう手順については、図５に示す。まず、端点装置１１に隣接接続する端点接続交換機１−１、１−２、１−３、１−４から運用管理通信路１５を介してグループ化単位のコネクション解放要求を該グループ化コネクション管理手段１８が受けた時、あるいは、構成変更による初期設定コネクションの変更、障害、異常の発生でコネクションの解放が必要となった際、該グループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、グループ化単位のコネクション解放処理を開始する（処理１１１）。次に、グループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、ネットワーク管理装置１３内に保持した上記コネクション管理情報３０を参照して解放対象のコネクションの解放対象部分の経路上にある交換機を特定する（処理１１２）。次に、処理１１２で特定した経路上の各交換機に対し、該コネクションの設定時のグループ化単位で該コネクション群の一括解放を指示する（処理１１３）。処理１１３による指示を受けた各交換機１では、各交換機１のコネクション設定・解放機構１０が該指示を受け、該コネクション設定・解放機構１０は、該交換機１のスイッチングテーブル４の内、指示されたコネクション群に対応するエントリーを一括クリアして、指示されたコネクション群をコネクション設定時のグループ化単位で一括解放し、該成否結果を運用管理通信路１５を介して該グループ化コネクション管理手段１８に返す（処理１１４）。最後に、グループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、処理１１４の成否結果を各交換機１から受け取り、該成否結果に基づきコネクション管理情報３０を更新して、コネクション解放処理を終了する（処理１１５）。
【００２８】
上記説明では、簡単のため、１つのグループ化単位によるネットワークワイドなコネクションの設定・解放管理方法を示したが、以下では複数のグループ化単位によるネットワークワイドなコネクションの設定・解放管理方法を示す。
【００２９】
まず、図１において、ネットワーク管理装置１３は、ネットワーク構成情報２０として、それぞれのグループ化単位値情報が倍数・約数の関係にある複数のグループ化管理指示情報２３を保持する。また、該ネットワーク管理装置１３のグループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、それぞれのグループ管理指示情報２３に対応して、個別のコネクション管理情報３０をネットワーク管理装置１３内に保持する。
【００３０】
図６は、本発明のグループ化コネクション管理手段１８による複数のグループ化単位によるネットワークワイドなコネクションの設定・解放手順を示す。まず、処理１０１、あるいは、処理１１１に記載内容に従い、コネクションの設定・解放を開始する（処理１２１）。次に、コネクションの設定・解放時の指示、あるいは、要求の際、複数のグループ化管理指示情報２３のうちのどのグループ化管理指示情報を使用するのかを、明示的な選択指示、あるいは、各グループ化管理指示情報との関係から、指示されたコネクション識別子による暗示的な選択指示で受け、以下の処理で使用するグループ化管理指示情報２３、及び、該グループ化管理指示情報２３に対応するコネクション管理情報３０を選択する（処理１２２）。処理１２２で選択されたグループ化管理指示情報２３及びコネクション管理情報３０を使用し、設定の場合は、処理１０２、処理１０３の処理を、解放の場合は、処理１１２の処理を行なう（処理１２３）。次に、設定・解放に対応して、処理１０４、処理１１３を行い、必要な交換機１に指定されたグループ化単位でのコネクションの設定・解放を指示する。但し、その際、全てのコネクション管理情報３０をチェックし、同一コネクション識別子対して、複数のグループ化単位によるコネクション設定を行う場合、あるいは、複数のグループ化単位値によるコネクション設定が既にされている状態で該コネクション識別子のあるグループ化単位でのコネクション解放を行う場合は、該グループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、コネクション識別子がオーバラップした範囲内の１つ１つのコネクションを見た場合、該各コネクション識別子を範囲に含む複数のグループ化単位コネクション設定のうち、グループ化単位値が一番小さいコネクション設定が有効となるように指示する（処理１２４）。次に、処理１２４の指示を受けた各交換機１では、処理１０５、処理１１４と同様にして、該指示通りに、該各交換機１のスイッチングテーブル４を更新して、コネクションの一括設定・解放を行い、結果の成否を運用管理通信路１５を介して、ネットワーク管理装置１３のグループ化コネクション管理手段１８に返す（処理１２５）。最後に、処理１０６、処理１１５と同様に、グループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、処理１２５の各交換機１から返された成否結果を受け取り、該成否に基づき、処理１２２で選択したコネクション管理情報３０を更新する（処理１２６）。
【００３１】
なお、上記処理１２４におけるコネクション識別子オーバラップ時の処理の実現方式の実施例については、後で述べる。
【００３２】
次に、上記の本発明のグループ化コネクション管理に適したコネクションスイッチ型交換機の構成図を図７に示す。本発明の該交換機におけるデータパケットの交換処理手順を示す図８と共に、本発明の実施例を説明する。
【００３３】
図７の実施例のコネクションスイッチ型交換機１では、図２で示した従来方式の交換機の機構に加え、スイッチングテーブル４に対応して上記コネクション設定・解放機構１０から信号線５８を介して値の設定が可能スイッチングマスクレジスタ４６と、マスク機構４７、スイッチング情報変換機構４８を持つ。図７の実施例では、スイッチングテーブル４、スイッチングマスクレジスタ４６、マスク機構４７、スイッチング情報変換機構４８を回線インタフェース１９（１９−１、１９−２、・・・）として、通信回線２毎に持つ。また、制御機構９は、運用管理通信路１５である運用管理ネットワーク１４に接続し、制御機構９の一つであるコネクション設定・解放機構１０は、ネットワーク管理装置１３からのコネクション設定・解放指示を、該運用管理通信路１５を介して受けられる構成となっている。以下に、本交換機を用いた、データの接続交換の流れを示す。
【００３４】
まず、通信回線２（２−１、２−２、・・・）からシリアルに入力されたデータは、各通信回線に対応する通信制御機構８にて、あるデータパケット単位に変換され、入力データパケット６０として、対応する信号線５１を介して対応するコネクション識別子変換機構５に渡される（処理１３１）。次に、該入力データパケット６０を受けたコネクション識別子変換機構５は、まず、該データパケット６０を一時的に保持し、該データパケット６０のヘッダ部６１に書き込まれたコネクション識別子情報６２を信号線５２ａに出力する（処理１３２）。従来方式では、この信号線５２ａは、直接、スイッチングテーブル検索機構７に接続していたが、本発明では、対応するマスク機構４７に接続している。各マスク機構４７は、信号線５２ａから入力された入力データパケット６０のコネクション識別子情報６２と、信号線５９を介して入力されるスイッチングマスクレジスタ４６の内容とをＡＮＤし、結果を信号線５２ｂに出力してスイッチングテーブル検索機構７に渡す（処理１３３）。次に、スイッチングテーブル検索機構７は、従来同様、信号線５２ｂを介して入力された上記マスク処理後の入力データパケット６０のコネクション識別子情報６２と、該各スイッチングテーブル検索機構７が対応する通信回線の通信回線情報を基に、信号線５３を介してスイッチングテーブル４を検索し、検索結果のスイッチングテーブルエントリ情報４０と該検索結果が有効か無効かを示す検索結果有効無効情報を、それぞれの検索機構７に対応する信号線５４ａ、５５にそれぞれ出力する（処理１３４）。従来では、この信号線５４ａは、直接、コネクション識別子変換機構５に接続していたが、本発明では、各通信回線に対応したスイッチング情報変換機構４８に接続している。次に、スイッチング情報変換機構４８は、信号線５４ａから入力された検索結果のスイッチングテーブルエントリ情報４０の出力側コネクション識別子情報部４３を、信号線５９を介して得た上記スイッチングマスクレジスタ４６の値をビット反転した値と、信号線５２ａを介して得た上記入力データパケット６０のコネクション識別子情報６２とをＡＮＤした値に、さらに、該検索結果のスイッチングテーブルエントリ情報４０の出力側コネクション識別子情報４３に対してＯＲした値に変換し、信号線５４ｂに出力する（処理１３５）。信号線５４ｂは各コネクション識別子変換機構５に接続しており、以降の処理は、従来方式と同じである。すなわち、各コネクション識別子変換機構５は、信号線５５の検索結果有効無効情報と、信号線５４ｂの上記変換後の検索結果情報を入力とし、検索が有効の場合、該変換後の検索結果の出力側コネクション識別子情報４３で入力データパケット６０のコネクション識別子情報部４２を書換えた後、検索結果のスイッチングテーブルエントリ４０の出力通信回線情報４２と一緒に、該書換え処理後の入力データパケット６０を、対応する信号線５６（５６−１、５６−２、・・・）を介してスイッチ機構６に送る。また、検索結果が無効の場合は、コネクション識別子変換機構５で破棄するか、あるいは、入力データパケット６０の書換えを行わず、出力回線情報として、制御機構９を指定して、入力データパケット６０スイッチ機構６に送る（処理１３６）。次に、スイッチ機構６は、各信号線５６を介して得た出力回線情報４２を基に、同じく同信号線を介して得た上記書換え処理後のデータパケット６０を、接続交換先の通信回線に対応する信号線５７（５７−１、５７−２、・・・）に出力し、対応する通信制御機構８に渡す（処理１３７）。最後に、各通信制御機構８は、各信号線５７を介して得た書換え処理後のデータパケット６０を、対応する通信回線２にシリアルに出力する。なお、上記で、検索が無効で、かつ、コネクション識別子変換機構５で破棄しない場合は、スイッチ機構６での接続交換処理の結果、データパケット６０は、制御機構９に送られ、制御機構９にてエラー処理が行われる（処理１３８）。
【００３５】
上記の通り、本実施例は、スイッチングマスクレジスタでマスクされる値を単位として、１つのスイッチングテーブルエントリで、該単位分連続したコネクション識別子を持つコネクション群を接続交換する交換機の例である。すなわち、本実施例は、ある１つのグループ化単位で接続交換を実現する。次に、複数のグループ化単位で接続交換を行う交換機の実施例を示す。
【００３６】
図９は、本発明の複数のグループ化コネクション管理に適したコネクションスイッチ型交換機を示す。前実施例と同様に、本実施例におけるデータパケットの交換処理手順を示す図１２と共に、本発明の実施例を説明する。
【００３７】
図７の実施例では、スイッチングテーブル４、スイッチングマスクレジスタ４６、マスク機構４７、スイッチング情報変換機構４８は、通信回線２毎に１セットずつしか持たないが、図８の本実施例では、該セットをグループ化検索機構５０（５０−１、５０−２、・・・）として、各通信回線に対して複数セット持つ。さらに、本実施例では、新たに、優先度判定選択機構４９も通信回線対応に持つ。
【００３８】
各通信回線２（２−１、２−２、・・・）からシリアルに入ってきたデータは、対応する通信回線制御機構８及びコネクション識別子変換機構５でそれぞれ処理１３１及び処理１３２が行われ、信号線５２ａに入力データパケット６０のコネクション識別子情報６２が出力される（処理１４１）。次に、信号線５２ａの入力データパケット６０のコネクション識別子情報６２は、同時に上記複数のグループ化検索機構５０に渡され、該各グループ化検索機構５０のマスク機構４７への入力として、処理１３３、１３４、１３５が並列に行われ、複数のスイッチングテーブル４が同時に検索される。該並列検索の結果、それぞれのグループ化検索機構５０のスイッチング情報変換機構４８の結果が各信号線５４ｂ（５４ｂ−１、５４ｂ−２、・・・）に、該検索結果の各有効無効情報が、各信号線５５ｂ（５５ｂ−１、５５ｂ−２、・・・）に出力される（処理１４２）。次に、該複数の信号線５４ｂと５５ｂは、各通信回線に対応する優先度判定選択機構４９に接続し、複数のグループ化検索機構５０の各スイッチングテーブル４の検索結果の中から１つが選択される。該各優先度判定選択機構４９は、信号線５５ｂから得た上記各グループ化検索機構５０の各スイッチングテーブル検索機構７の検索結果有効無効情報情報と、信号線５４ｂから得た各グループ化検索機構５０の各スイッチング情報変換機構４８で変換後の検索結果の各スイッチングテーブルエントリ情報４０を入力とし、対応する信号線５５ｂの検索結果有効無効情報が検索有効を示すグループ化検索機構５０のスイッチングテーブルエントリ情報４０について、あらかじめグループ化検索機構５０間に固定的に設けた優先度に従った優先度判定、あるいは、各グループ化検索機構５０の各スイッチングマスクレジスタ４６の値を信号線５９（５９−１、５９−２、・・・）を介して入力し、該値を符号なし整数として値が大きい方に対応するグループ化検索機構５０の検索結果のスイッチングテーブルエントリを優先度大とする優先度判定を行ない、上記複数のグループ化検索機構５０の検索結果の内から検索結果が有効で優先度が最も高いスイッチングテーブルエントリを１つを選び出し、信号線５４ｃに出力する。さらに、該優先度判定選択機構４９は、同時に、上記すべての信号線５５ｂの検索結果有効無効情報をＯＲした結果を、該選択結果の有効性を示す検索結果有効無効情報として信号線５５ｃに出力する（処理１４３）。信号線５５ｃ、信号線５４ｃは、各通信回線に対応したコネクション識別子変換機構５に接続し、以降の処理は、従来方式と同じである。すなわち、処理１３６のコネクション識別子変換機構５によるコネクション識別子の書換え処理、処理１３７のスイッチ機構６によるデータパケット６０の通信回線間交換処理、及び処理１３８の通信回線制御機構８による通信回線への出力処理が行われる（処理１４４）。
【００３９】
図１０は、上記図９及び図１２の処理１４３で説明した優先度判定選択機構４９の一実施例を示す。本実施例は、２つのグループ化検索機構５０の検索結果に対して、上記処理１４３の優先度判定に従い、１検索結果を選択出力する機構の例である。該優先度判定機構４９は、４つの選択回路９１と、１つの比較回路９２と、１つのＯＲ回路９４からなる。選択回路９１は、０、１値を持つ選択入力と、２つの値を入力とし、選択入力の値により、後者の２つの入力の一方を選択出力する機能を持つ。また、比較回路９２は、２つの符号なし整数値を入力として、該２つの値を比較して、入力１＞入力２の時、１を出力し、入力１＜＝入力２の時、０を出力する機能を持つ。まず、選択回路９１−１、９１−２は、それぞれのグループ化検索機構５０の検索結果有効無効情報５５ｂ（５５ｂ−１、５５ｂ−２）を選択入力とし、選択される側の値としては、スイッチングマスクレジスタ値５９（５９−１、５９−２）と値０を入力とする。該入力により、該検索結果有効無効情報５５ｂが１の時は、それぞれのスイッチングマスクレジスタ値５９（５９−１、５９−２）を、検索結果有効無効情報５５ｂが０の時は、０を出力する。該選択回路９１−１、９１−２の役割は、実効優先度値の計算であり、該検索結果有効無効情報５５ｂが０の時は、０を出力することで、擬似的な優先度として最低の優先度を出力する。次に、選択回路９１−１と９１−２の結果の実効優先度値は、比較回路９２に入力される。比較回路９２は、該選択回路９１−１、９１−２の出力である実効的な優先度値の比較を行い、比較結果を、選択回路９１−３への選択入力としている。選択回路９１−３は、比較回路９２の比較結果により、選択機構９１−３に入力される２つのグループ化検索機構５０の検索結果情報５４ｂ−１、５４ｂ−２のうち一方を選択し、その結果を信号線５４ｃに出力する。具体的には、選択回路９１−１の出力結果の実効優先度値が選択回路９１−２の出力結果の実効優先度値より大きい場合は、検索結果情報５４ｂ−１の値を、そうでない場合は、検索結果情報５４ｂ−２の値を選択し、信号線５４ｃに出力する。また、一方で、選択回路９１−１、９１−２の実効優先度値は、選択回路９１−４にも入力し、上記比較回路９２の比較結果を選択入力として、上記２つの実効優先度値のうち、大きい方の実効優先度値を選択して、信号線９３に出力する。該信号線９３の値は、下記で説明する3つ以上のグループ化検索機構５０の結果から優先度判定により１つを選択する場合に用いる。また、上記優先度判定による選択処理の一方で、２つのグループ化検索機構５０の検索結果有効無効情報５５ｂ−１、５５ｂ−２は、ＯＲ回路９４に入力し、その結果を、該優先度判定選択機構４９の出力結果５４ｃが有効か無効かを示す情報として、信号線５５ｃに出力する。
【００４０】
図１０の実施例では、２つのグループ化検索機構５０の検索結果からの優先度判定による選択機構の一実施例を示したが、図１１に示す通り、図１０で示した優先度判定選択機構４９を階層的に接続することで、3つ以上のグループ化検索機構５０の検索結果に対する選択も可能である。なお、図１１の例は、４つのグループ化検索機構５０の検索結果に対する選択機構の実現例を示す。
【００４１】
次に、図７〜図１２で示した本発明の交換機を使い、上記で図６で述べた、処理１２４におけるコネクション識別子オーバラップ時の処理の一実施例を図１３を用いて説明する。本実施例では、処理１２４は、図１３（ａ）のグループ化コネクション設定・解放初期化手順、及び、図１３（ｂ）の初期化後グループ化コネクション設定・解放指示手順の２つの手順により実現される。図１３（ａ）のグループ化コネクション設定・解放初期化手順は、ネットワーク管理装置１３のグループ化コネクション管理手段１８が、図１の通信ネットワーク内の図７〜図１２で説明した本発明の各交換機１へのグループ化コネクション設定指示に先立ち、該各交換機１に指示する初期化処理である。該初期化処理では、各グループ化単位値を２のべき乗に制限し、ネットワーク管理装置１３のグループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、図７〜図１２で説明した本発明の各交換機１のコネクション設定・解放機構１０に対し、運用管理通信路１５を介して指示し、以下の処理を行なわせる。該各交換機１が持つ複数のグループ化検索機構５０間の優先度制御が固定である交換機の場合は、グループ化単位値が小さい方に、より優先度の高いグループ化検索機構５０を使用するように考慮しながら、どのグループ化検索機構５０のスイッチングマスクレジスタ５９を設定するかを指定して、（各グループ化単位値−１）の各ビットを反転した値を、それぞれのグループ化単位に対応した別々のグループ化検索機構５０のスイッチングマスクレジスタ５９への設定させる（処理１５１）。次に、上記各交換機からの該初期化処理完了の返事を待ち、グループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、各グループ化単位と各グループ化検索機構５０のスイッチングテーブル４の対応関係を各グループ化単位対応のコネクション管理情報３０にスイッチングテーブル対応情報３６として記憶する（処理１５２）。
【００４２】
図１３（ｂ）は、図１３（ａ）の初期化手順以降のグループ化コネクション設定・解放指示の手順を表す。図１３（ａ）の初期化手順実行後は、処理１５２で各コネクション管理情報３０に記憶したスイッチングテーブル対応情報３６を用い、グループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、どのグループ化検索機構５０のスイッチングテーブル４を使用するかを指定して、各交換機１に対して、対応するグループ化単位でのコネクション設定・解放処理指示を行なう（処理１５３）。
【００４３】
上記図１３の実施例では、図７、８、９、１０の本発明のグループ化コネクション管理に適した本発明のコネクションスイッチ型交換機で通信ネットワークを構成した場合の手順を示したが、図１４では、グループ化検索機構５０も、優先度判定選択機構複数４９も持たない従来の交換機を利用した場合の、上記で図６で述べた処理１２４におけるコネクション識別子オーバラップ時の処理の実現の一実施例を示す。
【００４４】
従来交換機を用いた場合は、ネットワーク管理装置のグループ化コネクション管理手段は、まず、初期のコネクション設定時は、全コネクション識別子空間の値を範囲とし、初期化以降のコネクション設定・解放時は、該設定・解放を行なうコネクション識別子群の値を範囲とし、該範囲の両端点と、該範囲内に含まれる設定済み、あるいは、これから設定する、すべての各グループ化コネクションの開始コネクション識別子値と終了コネクション識別子を変化点として、該変化点を変化点の値の上昇順にソーティングした変化点リストを作成する（処理１６１）。次に、影響グループ化単位値として該コネクション設定・解放要求のグループ化単位値を記憶する（処理１６２）。次に、上記範囲の両端点の開始側の変化点について、該変化点のコネクション識別子を持つコネクションを検索し（処理１６３）、もし、該コネクションが存在する場合は、該変化点を設定開始値として記憶し、該コネクションの中で最小のグループ化単位値を設定グループ化単位値として記憶し、処理１６８に飛ぶ（処理１６４）。処理１６３で該当するコネクションが存在しない場合は、設定終了点として、上記開始側の変化点の値を記憶する（処理１６５）。次に、該変更リストの中で該設定終了点に続き、該設定終了点とは違う値を持つ次の変化点を、設定開始点として記憶し、コネクション解放要求の場合は、該設定終了点から該設定開始点までのコネクション識別子を持つコネクション群の解放指示をコネクション解放経路上の交換機に指示する（処理１６６）。次に、上記設定開始点をコネクション識別子に持つコネクションの中で最小のグループ化単位値を設定グループ化単位値として記憶する（処理１６７）。次に、該変更リストに従い、該設定開始点に続く変化点を順にチェックし、該変化点をコネクション識別子に持つコネクションのグループ化単位値が前記の設定グループ化単位値以下である最小の変化点、あるいは、前記設定開始点に対応したコネクション群の終了点となる最小の変化点を探索する（処理１６８）。次に、処理１６２で記憶した影響グループ化単位値と、前期設定グループ化単位値とを比べ（処理１６９）、設定グループ化単位値が影響グループ化単位値以上で、かつ、コネクションの設定処理の場合は、該設定開始点から該変化点までのコネクション設定指示を対応する交換機に指示する（処理１７０）。また、設定グループ化単位値が影響グループ化単位値未満で、かつ、コネクションの解放処理の場合は、該設定開始点から該変化点までコネクション設定指示を対応する交換機に指示する（処理１７１）。次に、該変化点が変更リストの最後の変化点であるかをチェックし（処理１７２）、最後の変化点ならば処理を終了する。処理１７２のチェックで最後の変化点でないと判明した場合は、処理１６９で得られた変化点について、該変化点をコネクション識別子に持つコネクションを検索し（処理１７３）、対応するコネクションが存在する場合は、該変化点を設定開始点として記憶し、該コネクションの中の最小のグループ化単位値を設定グループ化単位値として記憶し、処理１６８に戻る（処理１７４）。逆に処理１７３で対応するコネクションが存在しない場合は、該変化点を設定終了点として記憶し、処理１６６に戻る（処理１７５）。
【００４５】
次に、本発明のグループ化コネクション管理を使用した、各端点装置間の単方向コネクションへの応用例を図１５を用いて説明する。
【００４６】
図１５では、図を簡単化するため、通信ネットワーク上のすべての端点装置１１間を単方向のコネクション３で結んだ状態の一部分として、端点装置１１−１及び１１−１３から各端点装置１１に対して、単方向コネクション３を結んだ一実施例を示す。本実施例の通信ネットワークは、１２個の端点装置１１（１１−１〜１１−１５）と、４つの端点接続コネクションスイッチ鵜型交換機１（１−１、１−２、１−３、１−４）と、２つの中継コネクションスイッチ型交換機１（１−１０、１−１１）が、通信回線２により結ばれた構成をしている。本実施例で示す端点装置１１間単方向コネクションは、初期設定時に初期コネクション設定指示情報２２を用いて設定される。該端点装置１１間単方向コネクションは、宛先の端点装置１１毎にユニークなコネクション識別子を持ち、各端点装置１１から同一宛先の端点装置１１に向かう端点間単方向コネクションは、すべて同じコネクション識別子を持つ共に、多対１のコネクションを構成する。例えば、端点装置１１−１に向かうコネクションは、コネクション識別子０ｘ１００を、端点装置１１−２へのコネクションは、コネクション識別子０ｘ１０１をといった具合になっており、さらに、端点装置１１−２に向かうコネクションに注目すると、交換機１−１において、端点装置１１−１から交換機１−１を介して端点装置１１−２に向かうコネクションと、交換機１−１０から交換機１−１を介して端点装置１１−２に向かうコネクションがコネクション識別子０ｘ１０１で合流している。なお、上記のコネクション識別子の表記で使用した０ｘは、１６進数を表す接頭文字列である。
【００４７】
さらに、該単方向コネクションは、上記グループ化コネクションを用いて実現する。図１６に該グループ化コネクションの適用手順の一実施例示す。
【００４８】
まず、通信ネットワーク内の交換機１及び端点装置１１を図１７に示す手順で階層的に分類する（処理１８１）。次に、各階層レベルの装置について、下位階層へのコネクション数を保持した各階層装置対応の下位コネクション数変数を０に設定し、該レベル装置の予備コネクション情報を空として予備コネクションなしの状態とする。さらに、距離、帯域幅等の情報を用いて、該各レベル装置に直接接続する１レベル上位の装置の中から、最も主要な接続関係にあると考えられる上位レベル装置を主上位レベル装置として選び出し、記憶する（処理１８２）。次に、下位コネクション数が０の階層レベル０端点装置１１を１つ選択し、同装置１１の下位コネクション数変数を１に設定すると共に（処理１８３）、選択した端点装置１１と要求コネクション数＝１をパラメータとして図１８に示す再帰的なグループ化単方向コネクション割当て処理をコールして、該端点装置１１を含む枝木を構成する交換機１について、上位階層から下位階層に向かうグループ化コネクションを用いた単方向コネクションを設定する（処理１８４）。次に、まだコネクションが設定されていない別の端点装置１１を下位コネクション数が０のレベル０装置を検索することにより探し出し、あれば、処理１８３に戻る（処理１８５）。処理１８５までの処理で、すべての端点装置１１について、上位階層からのグループ化コネクションを用いた単方向コネクションが設定されるので、後は、最短経路法等の従来の経路決定アルゴリズムを使い、各端点装置１１から、処理１８５までで設定されたそれぞれのグループ化された単方向コネクションに、同じまたはより大きいグループ化コネクションを使って接続し、端点装置間の単方向コネクションを設定する（処理１８８）。
【００４９】
上記の処理１８１の図１７の階層化分類は、以下の手順で行う。まず、階層レベルを表す変数ｎに０を代入し、すべての端点装置１１をレベル０装置とする（処理１９１）。次にｎを１つ増す（処理１９２）。次に、該通信ネットワーク内の交換機１で、レベルｎ−１の端点装置１１あるいは交換機１に隣接接続し、レベルｎ−１以下の装置に属さない交換機１をレベルｎ装置とする（処理１９３）。さらに、該通信ネットワークに属する交換機１で、まだ階層化レベルが割り当てられていない交換機があれば、処理１９２に戻り（処理１９４）、階層化レベルが割り当てられていない交換機１がなくなるまで、処理１９２〜処理１９４を繰り返す。本階層化によると、例えば、図１５の例では、端点装置１１は、すべてレベル０装置、端点装置１１に直接隣接接続する端点接続交換機１−１、１−２、１−３、１−４は、レベル１装置、端点接続交換機に接続する交換機１−１０、１−１１は、レベル２装置となる。
【００５０】
また、上記の処理１８４の下位階層方向へのグループ化コネクションを使った単方向コネクションの設定は、図１８に示す手順で行う。まず、パラメータとして渡された装置に接続する上位レベル装置があるかどうかを主上位レベル装置があるかどうかで調べ、なければ処理を終了する（処理２０１）。主上位レベル装置が存在する場合は、該主上位レベル装置の予備コネクションに、パラメータで指定された要求コネクション数分のコネクションが残っているかをチェックする（処理２０２）。もし、必要な数のコネクションが残っている場合は、処理２０８までスキップするが、残っていない場合は、処理２０３〜処理２０７を行い、予備コネクションを確保する。そこで、必要な数のコネクションが残っていない場合は、要求コネクション数にいくつかの予備を加え、該主上位レベル装置のレベルに対応した２のべき乗のグループ化単位値の倍数となる値を計算し、追加すべき予備コネクション数とする（処理２０３）。次に、該主上位レベル装置の１段上にさらに上位レベル装置が存在するかをチェックし（処理２０４）、もしあれば、該主上位レベル装置と、処理２０３で計算した追加の予備コネクション数を新たなパラメータとして、図１８の本処理を再帰的に呼び出し、その結果得られたコネクションを該主上位レベル装置の予備コネクションとして登録する（処理２０５）。処理２０４で、該主上位レベル装置の上に上位レベル装置がないと判明した場合は、追加の予備コネクション数分の連続した未割当てコネクション識別子を割当て、該主上位レベル装置を端点とするコネクションとして、該主上位レベル装置の予備コネクションに登録する（処理２０６）。次に、処理２０５または処理２０６により追加登録された予備コネクションを、該主上位レベル装置の下位コネクションとして、下位コネクション数変数に追加した予備コネクション数を加える（処理２０７）。以上、処理２０２〜処理２０７により、必要な数のコネクションが予備コネクションとして登録されていることが保証されるので、最後に、同予備コネクションから要求分のコネクションを取り出し、パラメータで指定された装置に取り出したコネクションを分配接続するように該主上位レベル装置のスイッチングテーブルを設定し、同コネクションを結果として返し、処理を終了する(処理２０８)。
【００５１】
次に、上記処理を図１５の交換機１−１に着目して考えて見る。レベル１装置である交換機１−１は、レベル０装置である端点装置１１−１、１１−２、１１−３の３つの装置に接続している。従って、処理２０４により、端点装置１１−１用のコネクション識別子を０ｘ１００として、端点装置１１−２、１１−３には、端点装置１１−１に連続した、０ｘ１０１、０ｘ１０２のコネクション識別子が割り当てられる。さらに、本例ではグループ化単位値を４とした場合を示し、処理２０４により、交換機１−１０から交換機１−１に向って、０ｘ１００〜０ｘ１０３のコネクション識別子を持つグループ化単位値４のコネクション群が張られ、該コネクション群のうち、０ｘ１００〜０ｘ１０２が、それぞれ端点装置１１−１、１１−２、１１−３に分配接続されている。
【００５２】
また、交換機１−１０では、交換機１−２分の０ｘ１０４〜０ｘ１０７分と、交換機１−３分の０ｘ１０８〜０ｘ１０ｂ分が集まり、さらに、処理１８８により、例えば、端点装置１１−１３から交換機１−２へは、本実施例では、より大きなグループ化単位値８を使って、０ｘ１００〜０ｘ１０７のコネクション群で結んでいる。
【００５３】
すなわち、以上の実施例では、ｉ＞＝１について、階層レベルｉ装置から各レベル（ｉ−１）装置に向かう該端点間単方向コネクションは、互いに連続したコネクション識別子を持ち、さらに、将来の装置の接続拡張のために適当な数のコネクション識別子を該レベルｉ装置で予約し、該予約を含めて各レベルｉ装置からレベル（ｉ−１）装置に向かう該各端点間単方向コネクションのコネクション識別子数の合計をあるグループ化単位数の倍数にして、該グループ化単位で、該レベル（ｉ−１）装置向け及び予約分のコネクション識別子を割り当て、該レベルｉ装置に隣接接続するすべてのレベル（ｉ＋１）装置から該レベルｉ装置に向け、上記グループ化単位で、上記で割り当てたコネクション識別子を持つコネクション群を張り、該レベルｉ交換機にて、該レベル（ｉ＋１）装置から該レベルｉ装置への該コネクション群を、該レベルｉ装置から該レベル（ｉ−１）装置への各コネクションまたはコネクション群に分配接続すると共に、さらに、上記処理で設定した、上位階層から下位階層へのあるグループ化単位のコネクションを使った単方向コネクションに、各端点装置から、同一、あるいはより大きなグループ化値のコネクション群で接続して、端点間の単方向コネクションを構成することを特徴としている。
【００５４】
図１５の一実施例では、処理１８８において、各端点装置１１からは、グループ化単位値８を使い、各交換機１において、各グループ化単位間のコネクションの接続交換情報についてオーバラップのない方式を用いた。しかし、グループ化単位値が小さいコネクション群の接続交換情報は、グループ化単位値の大きいコネクション群の接続交換情報より優先されるという上記グループ化方式を用い、各交換機１のグループ化コネクション間の接続交換情報がオーバラップする方式を用いることも可能である。図１９は、処理１８８において、グループ化単位値１６を使い、各端点装置１１から上位階層から下位階層へのグループ化単位のコネクションを用いた単方向コネクションに接続した例を示す。本実施例では、例えば、交換機１−１において、グループ化単位値１６で、コネクション識別子０ｘ１００〜０ｘ１０ｆまでのコネクションが端点装置１−１から交換機１−１を介して交換機１−１０に接続交換されている。一方で、端点装置１１−１から交換機１−１を介して端点装置１１−１、１１−２、１１−３に接続交換するコネクションが、コネクション識別子がそれぞれ０ｘ１００、０ｘ１０１、０ｘ１０２で、グループ化単位値１のコネクションを用いて設定されている。この場合、コネクション識別子、０ｘ１００、０ｘ１０１、０ｘ１０２を持つコネクションについては、後者が優先され、前者のグループ単位値１６の接続交換情報は無視される。
【００５５】
上記実施例では、端点装置１１間の単方向コネクションの実現例について示したが、レベル１装置を端点装置と考え、それぞれの装置のレベルを仮想的に１つ下げて張った端点接続交換機間の単方向コネクションを設定するケースにも適用できる。
【００５６】
次に、上記端点装置１１間の単方向コネクションを用いて、ＩＰデータの経路制御を行う実施例を図２０、図２１、図２２を用いて説明する。
【００５７】
本実施例では、まず、各ＩＰアドレスまたはＩＰアドレス群に対応して、対応する宛先ＩＰアドレスを持つＩＰデータをどの端点装置１１に向けて送るべきか、あるいはどの端点装置１１を通して送るべきかを示すＩＰ経路情報２６をネットワーク管理装置１３に持つ。該ネットワーク管理装置１３のグループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、該ＩＰ経路情報２６を用い、初期化処理時に、図２１の処理を行う。まず、該ネットワーク管理装置１３のグループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、該ＩＰ経路情報２６とコネクション管理情報３０を用い、各ＩＰアドレスあるいはＩＰアドレス群から、初期設定で設定した各端点装置間の宛先端点装置１１宛ての単方向端点装置間コネクションのコネクション識別子に変換するＩＰ・コネクション変換情報２７を作成する（処理２１１）。次に、該グループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、該ＩＰ・コネクション変換情報２７を端点装置１１に隣接接続した端点接続コネクションスイッチ型交換機１に運用管理通信路１５を介して送付する（処理２１２）。各端点接続交換機１は、制御機構９の１つとして、ＩＰ・コネクション変換機構７１を持ち、該ＩＰ・コネクション変換機構７１が該ＩＰ・コネクション変換情報２７を受け、信号線５８を介して、該交換機１内に保持する（処理２１３）。
【００５８】
上記初期化処理後のＩＰデータの経路制御は、図２２の手順により行われる。
【００５９】
上記ＩＰ・コネクション変換機構７１は、該端点接続交換機１が隣接接続する各端点装置１１との間でそれぞれある値のＩＰ用コネクション識別子を持つＩＰ用コネクション７２により接続されている。各端点装置１１は、該ＩＰ用コネクション７２を使って、ＩＰデータを該端点接続交換機１に送信する（処理２２１）。次に、該ＩＰデータを受けた該ＩＰ・コネクション変換機構７１は、受けたＩＰデータのＩＰヘッダ内の宛先ＩＰアドレスをキーとして該端点接続交換機１内に保持されたＩＰ・コネクション変換情報２７を検索し、対応する宛先端点装置１１に向かう端点間単方向コネクション８０のコネクション識別子を取り出す（処理２２２）。次に、ＩＰ・コネクション変換機構７１は、ＩＰデータの各データパケット６０のコネクション識別子情報部６２を、前処理で得た端点間単方向コネクション識別子の値に置換える（処理２２３）。さらに、ＩＰ・コネクション変換機構７１は、スイッチングテーブル４を信号線５８を介して検索し、該端点間単方向コネクション識別子に対応する出力通信回線情報を取り出し（処理２２４）、該出力回線情報と共に、置換後のＩＰデータの各データパケットを、信号線５６−０に出力してスイッチ機構６に渡す（処理２２５）。スイッチ機構６は、渡された出力回線情報を基に、対応する通信回線にむけて、ＩＰデータの各データパケットを接続交換し（処理２２６）、以降、各交換機で上記端点間単方向コネクション識別子に従って宛先の端点間単方向コネクション８０に乗って接続交換されて、宛先の端点装置１１にデータパケットが配送される（処理２２７）。
【００６０】
上記実施例では、各端点接続の交換機１のＩＰ・コネクション変換機構７１が直接ＩＰデータのデータ転送を行ったが、該ＩＰ・コネクション変換機構７１は、ＩＰアドレスから対応する端点間単方向コネクション識別子への変換機能だけを提供し、各端点装置１１が、まず、該変換機能を使って、対応する端点間単方向コネクション識別子情報を得てから、各端点装置１１が、該端点間単方向コネクション識別子を使って、ＩＰデータを送付してもよい。本方式の一実施例は、図２３の構成及び図２４に示す手順で行われる。
【００６１】
各端点装置１１は、過去に送信したＩＰデータの宛先ＩＰアドレスに対応するＩＰ・コネクション変換情報２７を一部ＩＰ・コネクション変換キャッシュ２８として保持している。ＩＰデータを送信する際には、各端点装置１１は、まず、該ＩＰ・コネクション変換キャッシュ２８を検索する（処理２３１）。もし、該ＩＰデータの宛先ＩＰアドレスに対応するエントリが該キャッシュにない場合は、対応するＩＰ・コネクション変換情報２７を得るため、該ＩＰ用コネクション７２使って、該宛先ＩＰアドレス情報をＩＰ・コネクション変換機構７１に送信する（処理２３２）。該宛先IPアドレス情報を受けた該ＩＰ・コネクション変換機構７１は、各端点接続交換機に保持した上記ＩＰ・コネクション変換情報２７を検索して、検索結果の該ＩＰ・コネクション変換情報を要求元の該端点装置に返す（処理２３３）。該返答を受けた端点装置１１は、返されたＩＰ・コネクション変換情報２７を上記ＩＰ・コネクション変換キャッシュ２８に記憶する（処理２３４）。処理２３２、２３３、２３４により、該ＩＰ・コネクション変換キャッシュに対応する情報が登録されるので、登録された対応する変換情報を元に、各端点装置１１は、対応する端点間単方向コネクション８０のコネクション識別子を見つけ出し、該端点間単方向コネクション識別子を使って、端点接続交換機１に該ＩＰデータを送信する（処理２３５）。以降は、各交換機で上記端点間単方向コネクション識別子に従って先の端点間単方向コネクション８０に乗って接続交換されて、宛先の端点装置１１にデータパケットが配送される（処理２３６）。
【００６２】
上記、図２３、２４の実施例では、ＩＰ・コネクション変換情報２７の一部だけを各端点装置１１がキャッシュとして保持する例を示したが、端点装置１１が外部ネットワークに接続するゲートウェイ装置等の場合は、ＩＰ・コネクション変換キャッシュ２８として、ＩＰ・コネクション変換情報２７全体を該端点装置１１にキャッシュとして保持してもよい。該方式の場合は、例えば、上記処理２３２〜処理２３４にて、動的にＩＰ・コネクション変換情報２７の一部分を必要な部分だけ取ってくるのではなく、端点装置１１の初期化処理にて、該端点装置１１が隣接接続した端点接続交換機１に、該ＩＰ・コネクション変換情報２７の全情報を要求し、該情報２７の全情報を予めキャッシュする方式がある。また、もう１つの方法としては、１つ前の実施例とも共通の図２１の初期化処理にて、処理２１３で、端点接続交換機１のＩＰ・コネクション変換機構７１が、該ＩＰ・コネクション変換情報２７をネットワーク管理装置１３のグループ化コネクション管理手段１８から受けた後、さらに、受けた該ＩＰ・コネクション変換情報２７の全情報を、該交換機１が隣接接続した必要な端点装置１１に、上記ＩＰ用コネクションを介して転送し、該端点装置１１上にＩＰ・コネクション変換キャッシュ２８として、保持する方式もある。特に、後者の場合で、隣接接続したすべての端点装置１１がＩＰ・コネクション変換情報２７全体をキャッシュとして持つ場合は、該端点接続交換機１では、ネットワーク管理装置１３から送られてくるＩＰ・コネクション変換情報２７を各端点装置１１に転送するだけで、保持しなくてもよい。
【００６３】
さらに、別の実施例としては、各端点装置１１は、端点接続交換機１にＩＰデータを送り、端点接続交換機１が端点接続交換機間の単方向コネクションを使ってＩＰデータを宛先端点接続交換機１に送付し、該宛先端点接続交換機１が宛先端点装置１１に送付するという方式もある。本実施例の構成及びＩＰデータの経路制御手順を、図２５、図２６、図２７に示す。
【００６４】
ネットワーク管理装置１３は、各ＩＰアドレスまたはＩＰアドレス群に対応して、対応するＩＰアドレスを持つＩＰデータをどの端点接続交換機通して、どの端点装置に向けて送るべきか、あるいはどの端点接続交換機、端点装置を通して送るべきかを示すＩＰ経路情報２６を持つ。該ネットワーク管理装置１３のグループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、該ＩＰ経路情報２６を用い、初期化処理時に、図２６の処理を行う。該ネットワーク管理装置１３のグループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、該ＩＰ経路情報２６とコネクション管理情報３０を用い、各ＩＰアドレスあるいはＩＰアドレス群から、初期設定で設定した各端点接続交換機間の宛先端点接続交換機宛ての単方向端点接続交換機間コネクションのコネクション識別子に変換するＩＰ・端点接続交換機間コネクション変換情報７３を作成する（処理２４１）。さらに、グループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、該ＩＰ経路情報２６と接続構成情報２１を用い、各ＩＰアドレスあるいはＩＰアドレス群に対応して、各ＩＰデータの宛先端点接続交換機から、どの通信回線を介して宛先の端点装置に転送すべきかを示すＩＰ・端点回線変換情報７４を作成する（処理２４２）。次に、該グループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、端点装置に隣接接続した端点接続コネクションスイッチ型交換機１に対し、該ＩＰ・端点接続交換機間コネクション変換情報７３及び該端点接続交換機に対応した該ＩＰ・端点回線変換情報７４を運用管理通信路１５を介して送付する（処理２４３）。各端点接続交換機１は、制御機構９の１つとして、ＩＰ・コネクション変換機構７１及びＩＰ・端点回線変換機構７５を持ち、該ＩＰ・コネクション変換機構７１が該ＩＰ・端点接続交換機間コネクション変換情報７３及びＩＰ・端点装置変換情報７４の送付を受け、該情報を信号線５８を介してそれぞれ該交換機１内に保持する（処理２４４）。
【００６５】
上記初期化処理後のＩＰデータの経路制御は、図２７の手順により行われる。
【００６６】
ＩＰ・コネクション変換機構７１及びＩＰ・端点回線変換機構７５は、該端点接続交換機が隣接接続する各端点装置との間でそれぞれある値のＩＰ用コネクション識別子を持つＩＰ送信用コネクション７８、ＩＰ受信用コネクション７９により接続されている。また、初期設定で設定された各端点接続交換機宛ての端点接続交換機間単方向コネクションは、該端点接続交換機１１の該ＩＰ・端点回線変換機構７５に初期設定で接続している。
【００６７】
ＩＰデータを送信する場合、各端点装置１１は、該ＩＰ送信用コネクション７８を使って、該端点接続交換機１に送信する（処理２５１）。次に、該ＩＰデータを受けた該ＩＰ・コネクション変換機構７１は、受けたＩＰデータのＩＰヘッダ内の宛先ＩＰアドレスをキーとして該端点接続交換機内に保持されたＩＰ・端点接続交換機間コネクション変換情報７３を検索し、対応する宛先端点接続交換機１に向かう端点接続交換機間単方向コネクション識別子を取り出す（処理２５２）。次に、ＩＰ・コネクション変換機構７１は、ＩＰデータの各データパケット６０のコネクション識別子情報部６２を、前処理で得た端点間単方向コネクション識別子の値に置換える（処理２５３）。さらに、ＩＰ・コネクション変換機構７１は、スイッチングテーブル４を信号線５８を介して検索し、該端点接続交換機間単方向コネクション８１のコネクション識別子に対応する出力通信回線情報を取り出し（処理２５４）、該出力回線情報と共に、置換後のＩＰデータの各データパケットを、信号線５６−０に出力してスイッチ機構６に渡す（処理２５５）。スイッチ機構６は、渡された出力回線情報を基に、対応する通信回線にむけて、ＩＰデータの各データパケットを接続交換し（処理２５６）、以降、各交換機で上記端点間単方向コネクション識別子に従って先の端点接続交換機間単方向コネクション８１に乗って接続交換されて、宛先の端点装置接続の交換機１にデータパケットが配送される（処理２５７）。宛先端点接続交換機１では、上記ＩＰ・端点回線変換機構７５が、該端点接続交換機間単方向コネクション８１を通して送信元の端点接続交換機１から送信された該ＩＰデータを受け取り、該ＩＰ・端点回線変換機構７５が上記該ＩＰ・端点回線変換情報７４を参照して、該ＩＰデータに対応する宛先端点装置１１への通信回線情報を得る（処理２５８）。次に、該ＩＰ・端点回線変換機構７５は、ＩＰデータの各データパケット６０のコネクション識別子情報部６２を、ＩＰ受信用コネクション７９のコネクション識別子の値に置換え（処理２５９）、処理２５８で得た端点装置に対応する通信回線情報と共に、該置換後のＩＰデータの各データパケットを、信号線５６に出力してスイッチ機構６に渡す（処理２６０）。スイッチ機構６は、渡された出力回線情報を基に、対応する通信回線にむけて、ＩＰデータの各データパケットを接続交換し、宛先の端点装置１１にＩＰデータが送付される（処理２６１）。
【００６８】
上記では、初期設定コネクションへのグループ化コネクションの利用の実施例を示したが、次に、端点装置１１から動的に発生するコネクション設定・解放要求に対するグループ化コネクションの利用実施例について説明する。
【００６９】
端点装置１１からの動的なコネクション設定・解放要求は、図２の従来方式交換機で述べた通り、予約されたコネクション識別子を持つ、シグナリング用コネクション８２を介して、端点接続交換機１のコネクション設定・解放機構１０に伝えられ処理される。但し、本発明の本実施例のコネクション設定・解放機構１０は、従来のように端点装置１１からのコネクション設定・解放要求毎に、実際に要求元から宛先までのコネクションの設定・解放を行なうのではなく、端点接続交換機１では、端点装置１１からのコネクション設定・解放要求をバッファリングし、あるグループ化単位の倍数の新規コネクション設定単位で、該端点接続交換機から宛先装置までのコネクション群の設定・解放を行い、該コネクション群から１つずつ小出しにし、端点装置１１からのコネクションの設定・解放要求に対応して、小出しにしたコネクションへの端点装置とのコネクションの接続設定及び該接続設定の解放を行なう。そのため、本発明の各端点接続交換機１の該コネクション設定・解放機構１０では、上記バッファリングのための新規コネクション設定単位で設定した各コネクション群に対し、該コネクション群の設定情報と各コネクションの端点装置へ割り当て有無を管理する端点コネクション管理情報６３を持つ。また、各端点コネクション管理情報６３には、該コネクション群の解放のタイミングを得るためのタイムアウト情報も持つ。該端点コネクション管理情報６３の、一実現例としては、例えば、図２８に示す通り、新規コネクション設定単位で設定したコネクション群毎に、該コネクション群の宛先情報６４、コネクション群の属性情報６５、コネクション群の先頭コネクション識別子値６６、設定コネクション数６７、そして、該コネクション群で端点装置１１に未割り当てのフリーコネクション数６８、フリーコネクション識別子情報６９、及び、上記タイムアウト情報７０を持つ。
【００７０】
該端点コネクション管理情報６３を用いた、端点装置１１からのコネクションの設定要求の実現例としては、図２９に示す手順で行なう。まず、端点装置１１は、シグナリング用コネクション８２を介して新規コネクション設定要求を出す（処理２７１）。次に、該要求を受けた端点接続交換機１のコネクション設定・解放機構１０は、要求の宛先、属性に対応した端点コネクション管理情報６３をチェックし、フリーコネクション数情報６８が０でない端点コネクション管理情報６３を探す。もし、フリーコネクション数情報６８が０でない端点コネクション管理情報６３があれば、処理２７５に飛ぶ（処理２７２）。もし、対応するすべての端点コネクション管理情報６３のフリーコネクション数情報６８が０の場合は、コネクション設定・解放機構１０は、運用管理通信路１４を介して、ネットワーク管理装置１３のグループ化コネクション管理手段１８に、上記新規コネクション設定単位に対応するグループ化単位で、該端点接続交換機１から要求の宛先装置までの要求属性を持つ該新規コネクション設定単位数分のコネクション群の設定を依頼する（処理２７３）。処理２７３の結果得られた、コネクション群について、コネクション設定・解放機構１０は、新たな端点コネクション管理情報６３を作成し、該コネクション群は、すべて未割り当てとして、タイムアウト情報７０以外の情報を初期化し、登録する（処理２７４）。次に、処理２７２で見つけた、あるいは、処理２７４で登録した、要求に合った未割り当てのコネクションを持つ該端点コネクション管理情報６３を用い、該端点コネクション管理情報６３のフリーコネクション識別子情報６９から、未割り当てのコネクション識別子を要求数分取り出し、フリーコネクション数情報６８を要求数分減らし、取り出したコネクション識別子を割り当て状態として、フリーコネクション識別子情報６９を更新する（処理２７５）。次に、該端点接続交換機１から宛先装置まで張られた、処理２７５で得たコネクション識別子に対応するコネクションに、該コネクションと同じコネクション識別子を用いて、要求元の端点装置１１まで接続するようスイッチングテーブル４を設定する（処理２７６）。最後に、コネクション設定・解放機構１０は、処理２７５で得たコネクション識別子を要求元の端点装置１１に返す（処理２７７）。
【００７１】
図３０は、端点装置１１からのコネクションの解放要求に対する処理手順を示す。
【００７２】
まず、端点装置１１は、シグナリング用コネクション８２を介してコネクションの解放要求を出す（処理２８１）。次に、該要求を受けた端点接続交換機１のコネクション設定・解放機構１０は、コネクション識別子情報を元に、解放するコネクションに対応した端点コネクション管理情報６３を検索する（処理２８２）。次に、コネクション設定・解放機構１０は、該検索結果の端点コネクション管理情報６３のフリーコネクション数情報６８を要求数分増やし、フリーコネクシ
ョン識別子情報６９について、解放要求のあったコネクションが未割り当てとなるように更新する（処理２８３）。次に、コネクション設定・解放機構１０は、該交換機のスイッチングテーブル４の該コネクションに対応するエントリを無効化する（処理２８４）。次に、上記検索結果の端点コネクション管理情報６３の設定コネクション数情報６７とフリーコネクション数情報６８が等しくなった場合、コネクション設定・解放機構１０は、現在の時刻を該端点コネクション管理情報６３のタイムアウト情報７０に現在の時刻情報を記憶する（処理２８５）。該タイムアウト情報７０は、後述する定期的に起動される図３１の未割り当てコネクションのタイムアウト処理によりチェックされ、ある一定期間以上、設定コネクション数情報６７とフリーコネクション数情報６８が等しい状態のままの端点コネクション管理情報６３に対応する未割り当てコネクション群は、ネットワーク管理装置１３のグループ化コネクション管理手段１８に要求して、解放される。最後に、結果を要求元の端点装置に返す（処理２８６）。
【００７３】
図３１は、上記説明の通り、端点接続交換機で定期的に起動されるコネクション設定・解放機構の新規コネクション設定単位で設定されたコネクション群の解放処理の手順を示す。まず、設定コネクション数情報６７とフリーコネクション数情報６８が等しい状態の端点コネクション管理情報６３を順に１つずつ取り出す（処理２８７）。もし、該当する管理情報６３がなければ、定期的に起動される今回の処理を終了する。もし、あれば、該端点コネクション管理情報６３のタイムアウト情報７０をチェックし（処理２８８）、もし、現在時刻と比較して一定期間以上経っていなければ、処理２８７に戻る。もし、一定期間以上経っていれば、ネットワーク管理装置１３のグループ化コネクション管理手段１８に対して、該端点コネクション管理情報６３に対応するコネクション群の解放を上記新規コネクション設定単位に対応したグループ化単位ですべて解放を要求すると共に、該端点コネクション管理情報６３を削除し、処理２８７に戻る（処理２８９）。
【００７４】
次に、本発明のグループ化コネクション管理を用いた、障害処理の実施例について説明する。該グループ化コネクション使った障害処理には大きく２つの方法がある。１つは、複数のグループ化単位値を用い、コネクション識別子がオーバラップした迂回パス用のコネクション群を予め設定しておき、障害部位が既に迂回パスを持つコネクション群であるケースの障害処理方式である。本例として、図１９の端点間単方向コネクションの障害処理例を示した図３２を用いて説明する。図３２では、交換機１−１１から交換機１−３に向かう通信路２に障害が発生した例を示す。本例では、該障害により、コネクション識別子０ｘ１０８〜０ｘ１０ｂを持つ交換機１−１１から交換機１−３に向かうコネクション群が障害の影響を受ける。しかし、本例では、該コネクション群とオーバラップする形で、コネクション識別子０ｘ１００〜０ｘ１０ｆを持つコネクション群の設定が既になされており、該コネクション群を使えば、交換機１−１０を通して、コネクション識別子０ｘ１０８〜０ｘ１０ｂを持つコネクション群は、交換機１−３に接続しているため、障害部を迂回できる。すなわち、該障害に対しては、交換機１−１１のスイッチングテーブルに設定されている、上記の障害で影響を受ける交換機１−１１から交換機１−３へのコネクション群用の設定を無効化するだけで、障害回復が行なえる。
【００７５】
グループ化コネクションを使った障害処理のもう１つの方式は、上記のような迂回パス用のコネクションが予めは設定されていないケースでの障害処理である。本例として、図１５の端点間単方向コネクションの障害処理例を示した図３３を用いて説明する。本例では、図３２の例と同様に、交換機１−１１から交換機１−３に向かう通信路２に障害が発生した例を示す。本例では、図３２の場合と違い、該障害により影響を受けるコネクション識別子０ｘ１０８〜０ｘ１０ｂを持つ交換機１−１１から交換機１−３に向かうコネクション群に対する迂回コネクションは、予めは設定されていない。そこで、図３３の例では、障害を受けたコネクション群のグループ化単位で、交換機１−１１から、交換機１−１０を通して、交換機１−３に向かう迂回コネクション群８３を設定している。この場合、障害を受けたコネクション群のコネクション識別子をそのまま用い、交換機１−１１から交換機１−１０にコネクション群を設定して、既に交換機１−１０から交換機１−３に設定された、同じコネクション識別子を持つコネクション群に接続してもよい。しかし、帯域等の問題で、コネクションを共用できないケースの場合には、本実施例のように、０ｘ２０８から０ｘ２０ｂという別のコネクション群を割り当て、交換機１−１１及び交換機１−３にて、コネクション識別子０ｘ１０８〜０ｘ１０ｂのコネクション群に接続交換している。
【００７６】
以上の例で示した障害処理の手順の一実施例をもう一度、図３４を用いて説明する。
【００７７】
まず、ネットワーク管理装置１３のグループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、何らかの方法で障害を検知すると、まず、コネクション管理情報３０及び接続構成情報２１を元に、障害で影響を受ける障害コネクション群及び障害経路を特定する（処理２９１）。次に、コネクション管理情報３０を参照し、該障害コネクション群のグループ化単位値より大きいグループ化単位で、該障害コネクション群を迂回するコネクション群が既に設定されているかどうか調べる（処理２９２）。もし、迂回コネクション群が既に設定されている場合は、該障害経路上の各交換機１に対し、グループ化コネクション管理手段１８は、運用管理通信路１５を介して、該障害コネクション群に対応する接続交換の無効化を指示し（処理２９３）、該無効化に対応して、コネクション管理情報３０を更新後、障害処理を終了する（処理２９４）。処理２９２で、もし、迂回コネクション群が発見できなかった場合は、障害処理の過渡的な状態で、別の部位が障害であるかのように見える状況を最小限化するため、以下の手順で迂回路の設定を行なう。まず、接続構成情報２１及びコネクション管理情報３０を参照し、迂回経路を決定する（処理２９５）。次に、帯域等の条件を考慮し、障害コネクション群のコネクション識別子をそのまま、迂回用のコネクション識別子として使うか、迂回用の別のコネクション識別子を使うかを判断し、必要に応じて迂回用の新たなコネクション識別子を割り当てる（処理２９６）。次に、障害コネクション群のグループ化単位で、迂回用のコネクション識別子を持つ迂回用のコネクション群の接続交換を、処理２９５で決定した迂回経路の途中に位置する各交換機１に対して、運用管理通信路１５を介して指示する（処理２９７）。経路途中の各交換機１に対する迂回コネクション群の設定が終了したら、次に、迂回経路のソース側の端に位置する交換機１または端点装置１１に対し、障害コネクション群に接続していたコネクション群を、処理２９７で設定した迂回コネクション群に、障害コネクション群と同じグループ化単位値で、接続交換するよう指示する。但し、障害コネクション群が双方向コネクションの場合は、どちらか一方をソース側と考える（処理２９８）。ソース側の交換機１あるいは端点装置１１の設定が終了した後、迂回経路のもう一方の一端の交換機１または端点装置１１に対し、障害コネクション群に接続していたコネクション群を、処理２９７で設定した迂回コネクション群に、障害コネクション群と同じグループ化単位値で、接続交換するよう指示する（処理２９９）。最後に、該迂回経路の設定に対応して、該コネクション管理情報更新する（処理３００）。
【００７８】
図１の上記実施例では、ネットワーク管理装置１３と各コネクションスイッチ型交換機１とは、運用管理ネットワーク１４上に実現した、運用管理通信路１５にて接続されている例を示したが、図３５に示す通り、ネットワーク管理装置１３がコネクションスイッチ型交換機１で中継された該通信ネットワークに通信回線２で直接接続し、予め定められたあるコネクション識別子を使った運用管理通信路用コネクション８４を運用管理通信路１５とし、該通信ネットワーク内の各コネクションスイッチ型交換機１のコネクション設定・解放機構１０等の制御機構９の様々な機構と該ネットワーク管理装置１３のグループ化コネクション管理手段１８が接続してもよい。なお、図３５の実施例では、交換機１毎に別々のコネクション識別子を使って、交換機１毎に個別の運用管理用コネクション８４を設定した例を示す。
【００７９】
また、上記実施例では、制御機構９を各交換機１に１つ設けた例を示したが、図３６に示す通り、各通信回線２対応に制御機構９を設け、さらに制御用のコネクションのデータパケット６０だけを対応する制御機構９内の各機構に振り分ける制御コネクション振り分け機構８５を設け、上記実施例の制御機構９の様々な機構を通信回線対応に持ってもよい。
【００８０】
また、上記実施例では、ネットワーク管理装置１３を上記通信ネットワーク全体で１つ設けた例を示したが、該通信ネットワーク全体のすべてのコネクション群を上記グループ化単位で一元的に管理するという点が実現されれば、例えば、複数のネットワーク管理装置を設け、分散データベースと同様な方式で、該ネットワーク管理装置間で該コネクション管理情報の一貫制御されたキャッシュを持ち、コネクション識別子の担当範囲や、担当の交換機の範囲で処理を分担して、複数のネットワーク管理装置で処理を分散した形で実現してもよい。
【００８１】
【発明の効果】
本発明によれば、大規模な通信ネットワークにおいても、コネクション識別子やスイッチングテーブルエントリが不足せず、高速なＩＰパケット交換が実現できる。実際、ＩＰパケット交換には、端点装置間で既に設定されたコネクションを用いるので、ＩＰパケット交換時のコネクション設定処理がなく、常に高速性が維持できる。しかも、該端点間コネクションは、ネットワークワイドにグループ化単位管理されたコネクションを用い、階層化してコネクション群を統合、分配接続する方式で設定するため、端点装置間でコネクションを張っても、端点装置数オーダのコネクション識別子しかいらず、さらに、本発明の交換機を用いることで、非常に少ないスイッチングテーブルエントリでハードウェアによる高速スイッチングが可能である。
【００８２】
また、音声・ビデオ等、帯域保証が必要とするデータ通信等で、動的にコネクションの設定が必要となるケースについても、本発明では、端点接続交換機にて本発明のグループ化単位のコネクション設定・解放を使い、個々の端点装置からの各コネクション設定・解放要求毎には要求元から宛先装置までのコネクションの設定を行わず、まとめて設定・解放を行う方式を用いることで、実際のコネクションの設定・解放処理回数が減ると共に、さらに、本発明の交換機を使うことで、スイッチングテーブルエントリの使用数も減るという効果がある。
【００８３】
さらに、本発明によれば、大規模ネットワークにおいても、コネクション管理を一元的に行え、障害時も回復が容易である。従来は、各交換機毎に個別に管理保持したコネクション識別子によって接続交換を行っていたのに対し、本発明では、ネットワーク全体で一元的に管理されたコネクション識別子を用いて、各交換機にてコネクションの接続交換が行われているので、何か障害が発生して、ある交換機の接続交換情報が失われても、障害回復が容易に行える。しかも、本発明では、グループ単位でコネクションを管理しているので、ネットワーク全体で一元的に管理しても、各交換機からの要求数は少なくて済み、管理量も削減できる。
【００８４】
また、本発明の複数のグループ化単位値を使い、予め、迂回用のコネクション群を設定することで、迂回用のコネクション群が予め設定されている部分の障害は、障害コネクション群の無効化のみで障害処理が行なえる。また、迂回用のコネクション群がない場合でも、該通信ネットワーク内のすべてのコネクションがグループ化単位で、しかも、一意的なコネクション識別子で管理されているため、端点装置の利用者プログラムにコネクション再設定をお願いする必要がなく、該通信ネットワーク内で、障害部分をグループ化単位で迂回路の動的設定が可能となり、信頼性の高いネットワークを構築できる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明のグループ化単位によるコネクション管理の一実施例の全体構成図。
【図２】従来方式のコネクションスイッチ型交換機の一構成図。
【図３】本発明のグループ化単位によるコネクション管理情報の一構成図。
【図４】本発明のグループ化単位によるコネクション設定処理の一手順図。
【図５】本発明のグループ化単位によるコネクション解放処理の一手順図。
【図６】本発明の複数グループ化単位によるコネクション解放処理の一手順図。
【図７】本発明のグループ化単位によるコネクション管理に適したコネクションスイッチ型交換機の一構成図。
【図８】本発明の図７の交換機の入力データパケットの処理手順図。
【図９】本発明の複数グループ化単位によるコネクション管理に適したコネクションスイッチ型交換機の一構成図。
【図１０】本発明の図９の２者選択用の優先度判定選択機構の一構成図。
【図１１】本発明の図１０の優先度判定選択機構のｎ者選択への拡張の一構成図。
【図１２】本発明の図９の交換機の入力データパケットの処理手順図。
【図１３】本発明の交換機を用いた、本発明の複数グループ単位間の優先度処理(処理１２４)のための初期化処理(ａ)、及びコネクション設定解放処理(ｂ)の一手順図。
【図１４】従来交換機を用いた、本発明の複数グループ単位間の優先度処理(処理１２４)のためのコネクション設定解放処理の一手順図。
【図１５】本発明のグループ化単位によるコネクションを用いた端点装置間の単方向コネクションの一部分構成図。
【図１６】本発明のグループ化単位によるコネクションを用いた端点装置間の単方向コネクション設定処理の一手順図。
【図１７】本発明の図１６内の通信ネットワーク内装置の階層化処理の一手順図。
【図１８】本発明の図１６内の同一枝木へのグループ化単位の単方向コネクション割り当て処理の一手順図。
【図１９】本発明のグループ化単位によるコネクションを用いた端点装置間の単方向コネクションの別の一部分構成図。
【図２０】本発明のグループ化単位の端点装置間の単方向コネクションを用いたＩＰパケットの一転送方式図。
【図２１】本発明の図２０のグループ化単位の端点装置間の単方向コネクションを用いたＩＰパケットの転送方式の初期化処理の一手順図。
【図２２】本発明の図２０のグループ化単位の端点装置間の単方向コネクションを用いたＩＰパケットの転送方式の一転送手順図。
【図２３】本発明のグループ化単位の端点装置間の単方向コネクションを用いたＩＰパケットの別の一転送方式図。
【図２４】本発明の図２３のグループ化単位の端点装置間の単方向コネクションを用いたＩＰパケットの転送方式の一転送手順図。
【図２５】本発明のグループ化単位の端点装置間の単方向コネクションを用いたＩＰパケットの別の一転送方式図。
【図２６】本発明の図２５のグループ化単位の端点装置間の単方向コネクションを用いたＩＰパケットの転送方式の初期化処理の一手順図。
【図２７】本発明の図２５のグループ化単位の端点装置間の単方向コネクションを用いたＩＰパケットの一転送方式の一転送手順図。
【図２８】本発明のグループ化単位によるコネクション設定・解放のための端点コネクション情報の一構成図。
【図２９】本発明のグループ化単位によるコネクション設定を使った端点装置からのコネクション設定要求の一処理手順図。
【図３０】本発明のグループ化単位によるコネクション設定を使った端点装置からのコネクション解放要求の一処理手順図。
【図３１】本発明のグループ化単位によるコネクション設定を使った端点装置からのコネクション解放要求処理に関連した定期的に起動されるコネクション群の解放処理の一手順図。
【図３２】本発明のグループ化単位によるコネクション設定を使った一障害回復方式例図。
【図３３】本発明のグループ化単位によるコネクション設定を使った別の一障害回復方式例図。
【図３４】本発明のグループ化単位によるコネクション設定を使った障害回復処理の一手順図。
【図３５】本発明に関わる運用管理通信路を通信ネットワーク内のコネクションで実現した一構成図。
【図３６】本発明に関わる各交換機の制御機構を通信回線対応に持った一構成図。
【符号の説明】
１、１−１、１−２、１−３、１−４、１−１０、１−１１…コネクションスイッチ型交換機、２、２−１、２−２、２−８、２−９…通信回線、３、３−１−１、３−１−２、３−１−３、３−８−１、３−９−１、３−９−２…コネクション、４…スイッチングテーブル、５…コネクション識別子変換機構、６…スイッチ機構、７…スイッチングテーブル検索機構、８…通信回線制御機構、９…制御機構、１０…コネクション設定・解放機構、１１…端点装置、１１−１、１１−２、１１−３、１１−４、１１−６、１１−７、１１−８…通信端末装置、１１−９…ゲートウェイ装置、１２…外部ネットワーク、１３…ネットワーク管理装置、１４…運用管理ネットワーク、１５…運用管理通信路、１６…通信線、１７…ネットワーク構成情報設定手段、１８…グループ化コネクション管理手段、１９、１９−１、１９−２、１９−８、１９−９…回線インタフェース、２０…ネットワーク構成情報、２１…接続構成情報、２２…初期コネクション設定指示情報、２３…グループ化管理指示情報、２４…グループ化単位値、２５…グループ化適用範囲情報、２６…ＩＰ経路情報、２７…ＩＰ・コネクション変換情報、２８…ＩＰ・コネクション変換キャッシュ、３０…コネクション管理情報、３１…使用状況、３２…経路、３３…属性、３５…グループ化管理指示情報のコピー、３６…スイッチングテーブルとの対応情報、４０…スイッチングテーブルエントリ、４１…入力コネクション識別子情報、４２…出力回線情報、４３…出力コネクション識別子情報、４４…接続属性情報、４５…有効ビット、４６…スイッチングマスクレジスタ、４７…マスク機構、４８…スイッチング情報変換機構、４９…優先度判定選択機構、５０、５０−１、５０−２、・・・…グループ化検索機構、５１…信号線（入力データパケット情報）、５２…信号線（入力コネクション識別子情報）、５２−１…信号線（生の入力コネクション識別子情報）、５２−２…信号線（マスク変換後の入力コネクション識別子情報）、５３…信号線（スイッチングテーブルエントリ検索および検索結果情報）５４…信号線（スイッチングテーブルエントリ検索結果情報）、５４ａ、５４ａ−１、５４ａ−２、・・・…信号線（生のスイッチングテーブルエントリ検索結果情報）、５４ｂ、５４ｂ−１、５４ｂ−２、・・・…信号線（変換後のスイッチングテーブルエントリ検索結果情報）、５４ｃ…信号線（優先度選択したスイッチングテーブルエントリ検索結果情報）、５５、５５ｂ−１、５５ｂ−２、・・・…信号線（検索結果有効無効情報）、５５ｃ…信号線（選択後の検索結果有効無効情報）、５６、５６−０、５６−１、５６−２、５６−８、５６−９…信号線（出力回線情報、出力データパケット情報）、５７、５７−０、５７−１、５７−２、５７−８、５７−９…信号線（出力データパケット情報）、５８…信号線（スイッチングテーブルエントリ、スイッチングマスクレジスタ参照・設定情報、ＩＰ・コネクション変換情報、ＩＰ・端点接続交換機間コネクション変換情報、ＩＰ・端点回線変換情報）、５９、５９−１、５９−２、・・・…信号線（スイッチングマスク情報）、６０…データパケット、６１…ヘッダ、６２…コネクション識別子情報、６３…端点コネクション管理情報、６４…宛先情報、６５…属性情報、６６…先頭コネクション識別子値、６７…設定コネクション数、６８…フリーコネクション数、６９…フリーコネクション識別子情報、７０…タイムアウト情報、７１…ＩＰ・コネクション変換機構、７２…ＩＰ用コネクション、７３…ＩＰ・端点接続交換機間コネクション変換情報、７４…ＩＰ・端点回線変換情報、７５…ＩＰ・端点回線変換機構、７８…ＩＰ送信用コネクション、７９…ＩＰ受信用コネクション、８０…端点装置間単方向コネクション、８１…端点接続交換機間単方向コネクション、８２…シグナリング用コネクション、８３…迂回グルプ化コネクション群、８４…運用管理通信路用コネクション８５…制御コネクション振り分け機構、９１、９１−１、９１−２、９１−３、９１−４…選択回路、９２…比較回路、９３…信号線（実効優先度値）。[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a connection switch type that realizes a plurality of connections on one communication line such as ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode), frame relay, etc., and connects and exchanges a plurality of connections of a plurality of communication lines while replacing connection identifiers in each exchange. The present invention relates to a communication network control method and apparatus suitable for realizing a high-speed IP packet exchange in a large-scale network configuration and a highly reliable network that is easy to recover from a failure.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Regarding connection switch type exchanges represented by conventional ATMs and frame relays, one example of ATM is described in 1995, published by Ohm Co., Ltd. FIG. 2 shows the function and schematic structure of the conventional connection switch type exchange. The connection switch type exchange 1 is a communication line 2 (2-1, 2-2, 2-8, 2-) with a terminal device such as a communication terminal device or gateway device to another network or another connection switch type exchange as an adjacent device. 9), a plurality of logical connections 3 (3-1-1, 3-1-2, 3-1-3, 3-8-1, 3) are connected to each communication line 2 connected to the adjacent device. -9-1, 3-9-2). Further, the exchange 1 has a function of connecting and exchanging two connections 3 set in two connected or one communication line 3. The connection exchange of this connection uses the switching table 4 held in common for each communication line 2 or the entire exchange 1, the communication line control mechanism 8, the switching table search mechanism 7 provided for each communication line 2, and the connection identifier This is realized by the conversion mechanism 5 and the switch mechanism 6. In the example of FIG. 2, the switching table 4, the switching table search mechanism 7, and the connection identifier conversion mechanism 5 are used as the line interface 19 (19-1, 19-2, 19-8, 19-9). To have.
[0003]
The switching table 4 uses the connection on the output side of the connection exchange destination based on the communication line information of the communication line used by the input side connection and the connection identifier assigned to the input connection for each connection pair to be exchanged. 4 is a table showing the correspondence relationship between the communication line information of the communication line to be connected, the connection identifier assigned to the output connection, and the connection attribute information of the connection such as the bandwidth attribute. In the example of FIG. 2, the connections 3-1-1, 3-1-2, and 3-1-3 in the input communication line 2-1 are connected to the connections 3-8-1 of the communication line 2-8, respectively. An example of connection exchange for connections 3-9-1 and 3-9-2 of the communication line 2-9 is shown. In this example, an example in which the switching table 4 is held for each communication line 2 is shown. Since the switching table 4 is already provided for each communication line, input-side communication line information is omitted, and each switching table is one by one. The entry includes input side connection identifier information 41, output side communication line information 42, output side connection identifier information 43, connection attribute information 44, and a valid bit 45 indicating whether the entry is valid or invalid. The configuration of the switching table 4 is slightly different from the implementation method of the switching table search mechanism described below, and not only the communication line information on the input side but also the connection identifier information on the input side may be omitted. It also indicates whether each switching table entry is valid or invalid.
Therefore, as in this example, there are cases where a valid bit 45 indicating validity / invalidity is provided, or the effective bit 45 is not provided, and communication line information or connection identifier information on the input side or output side of the entry is provided. In some cases, a special value representing an invalid entry is used. Note that the connection identifier used in the switching table 4 is represented by using, for example, two number pairs of VPI (Virtual Path Identifier) and VCI (Virtual Channel Identifier) in ATM.
[0004]
The communication line control mechanism 8 is connected to each corresponding communication line 2 and performs input / output control according to the physical signal exchange method of the communication line 2. Specifically, data serially input from the corresponding communication line 2 is converted into a certain data packet unit, and the converted data packet 60 is connected to the corresponding connection identifier via the corresponding signal line 51. It is passed to the conversion mechanism 5. Conversely, when a data packet is received from the switch mechanism 6 via the corresponding signal line 57 (57-1, 57-2, 57-8, 57-9), the data packet is physically transferred to the communication line 2. It outputs serially according to the exchange method of various signals.
[0005]
The connection identifier conversion mechanism 5 is a mechanism for rewriting the connection identifier information 62 stored in the header 61 of the data packet 60 that has entered the exchange 1. As described above, the data packet 60 input from the communication line 2 is processed by the corresponding communication line control mechanism 8 and passed to the corresponding connection identifier conversion mechanism 5 via the signal line 51. Before rewriting the connection identifier information 62, the connection identifier conversion mechanism 5 first temporarily holds the data packet 60, and then stores the connection identifier information 62 written in the header portion 61 of the data packet 60. The signal is transferred to the switching table search mechanism 7 through the signal line 52.
[0006]
Based on the connection identifier information 62 of the input data packet 60 input via the signal line 52 and the communication line information of the communication line to which the switching table search mechanism 7 corresponds, the switching table search mechanism 7 The switching table 4 is searched for, and the switching table entry information 40 of the search result is returned to the connection identifier conversion mechanism 5 via the signal line 54. If the corresponding entry is not found, or if the corresponding entry is invalid, valid information cannot be returned on the signal line 54. Therefore, the search result valid / invalid indicating whether the information on the signal line 54 is valid or invalid. Information is also returned to the connection identifier conversion mechanism 5 via the signal line 55. There are various methods for realizing this switching table search mechanism, and the direct map method for searching the switching table using the input line information and the input connection identifier information as input indexes as they are, and the input information using a value using a hashing function. In this case, a hashing method for searching for content, a content addressable memory method for searching directly with the input information using a memory that can be directly searched using stored information, and a combination of these methods are used.
[0007]
When the search result is returned from the switching table search mechanism 7, the connection identifier conversion mechanism 5 first checks the search result valid / invalid information of the signal line 55. If it is determined that the search result is valid as a result of the check, the connection identifier conversion mechanism 5 uses the switching table entry information 40 of the search result passed through the signal line 54 and stores the search result in the input data packet header 61. The connection identifier information 62 is rewritten with the value of the connection identifier information 43 of the connection on the output side of the switching table entry information 40 of the search result.
[0008]
Next, the input data packet 60 processed by the connection identifier conversion mechanism 5 is connected to the corresponding signal line 56 (56-1, 56-) together with the communication line information 42 on the output side of the switching table entry information 40 of the search result. 2, 56-8, 56-9) and sent to the switch mechanism 6. The switch mechanism 6 has a data packet switching function from the input communication line to the output communication line, and based on the output side communication line information, the input data packet 60 is a signal line corresponding to the output communication line from the input communication line. 57 (57-1, 57-2, 57-8, 57-9). The data packet transferred to the signal line 57 is output to the corresponding communication line 2 via the corresponding communication control mechanism 8.
[0009]
Further, the exchange 1 has a control mechanism 9 connected to the switch mechanism 6 by signal lines 56-0 and 57-0 inside the exchange, and a connection having a reserved connection identifier is connected via the signal line 56-0. The switching table 4 is set in advance so as to connect to the control mechanism 9. The control mechanism 9 is generally composed of an information processing mechanism using a processor, and functions of the control mechanism 9 are realized using a software program. As one of the control mechanisms, there is a connection setup / release mechanism 10 which receives a connection exchange setup / release request for a new connection via the signaling connection 82 having the reserved connection identifier. Upon receiving the connection setting / release request, the connection setting / release mechanism 10 sets / changes the switching table 4 via the signal line 58 and, if necessary, further connects with the communication line 2. The connection setting / release request is transferred to the exchange and the communication device.
[0010]
In addition, when the search result of the switching table 4 for the input data packet 60 is invalid as described above, the connection identifier conversion mechanism 5 discards it, or the connection identifier conversion mechanism 5 rewrites the input data packet. Instead, the control mechanism 9 is designated as the connection exchange destination line of the input data packet, the input data packet 60 is sent to the switch mechanism 6, and the switch mechanism 6 forwards the control mechanism 9 to the control mechanism 9. Error processing is performed at 9.
[0011]
Similarly, the network control method of the communication network using the connection switch type exchange is described in 1995, published by Ohm Co., and the ATM network bible on pages 111 to 145. For example, as a method for realizing IP (Internet Protocol) packet communication on ATM, there are methods called LAN emulation and IPoverATM, both of which are in the header portion of the IP packet when sending the IP packet. It is checked whether there is already a connection to the destination terminal device in the ATM communication network having the destination IP address or the destination terminal device in the ATM communication network that transfers the IP packet to the destination device. Is not set, an ATM connection is established to the destination endpoint device, and then an IP packet is transmitted using the established connection. Furthermore, the setting of the connection is realized by the exchange between the connection setting / release mechanisms of each adjacent exchange via the signaling connection, and the connection identifier corresponding to the set connection includes each connection route on the path of the connection. Since the exchange is uniquely assigned, the value of the connection identifier before and after each exchange is generally changed one after another.
[0012]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above conventional method, connection setting processing is required every time the destination of the IP packet data changes, and the number of connections is, at worst, on the order of the square of the number of end point devices in the communication network. However, there is a problem that connection identifiers and switching table entries are insufficient. In addition, since the correspondence of connection identifiers assigned to each connection is also managed and held independently by each exchange, when a failure occurs somewhere in the communication network, the correspondence between connection identifiers is lost, There was a problem in that it was necessary to reset the connection from the end point to the end point by asking the user program of the end point device.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Therefore, as a basic means for solving the problem, a network management device of the communication network connected to each exchange of the communication network through an operation management communication path is provided, and the connection of the entire communication network is centralized in the network management device. The connection management means and connection management information are provided in the communication network, and the connection management means refers to and updates the connection management information while making a certain number of connection groups having continuous connection identifiers as one group and within the communication network. A connection having a continuous connection identifier in the grouping unit, in which one connection identifier is used for a connection through a plurality of exchanges, and the connection is managed centrally in the communication network in one or a plurality of grouping units. In group units, The setting and release of the action to instruct the respective exchanges. On the other hand, each connection switch type exchange has a function for performing connection setting / release processing for each grouping unit in accordance with an instruction from the connection management means of the network management device via the operation management communication path. . In addition, when priority is set between multiple grouping units and connection setting is made with multiple grouping units for the same connection identifier on one switch, priority is given to connection settings with connection identifiers with small grouping unit values. The process that makes it large is performed.
[0014]
In addition, as a connection switch type exchange suitable for connection management in the grouping unit, a switching mask register, a mask mechanism, and a switching information conversion mechanism are provided corresponding to the switching table of the exchange, and designated by one switching table entry. Realize connection exchange of multiple connections in grouped units. Specifically, a switching mask register capable of setting a value from the connection setting / release mechanism via the signal line is provided corresponding to the switching table, and the connection identifier information in the header of the input data packet is further switched. A mask mechanism for ANDing the contents of the mask register is provided, and the switching table is searched by using the output of the mask mechanism as an input of the switching table search mechanism. Further, the switching table entry information of the search result from the switching table search mechanism is input, the output side connection identifier information of the switching table entry information of the search result, the value obtained by bit-inverting the value of the switching mask register, and the input A switching information conversion mechanism for converting the value obtained by ANDing the connection identifier information of the data packet to an OR value for the output side connection identifier information of the switching table entry information of the search result is provided. The processing result is input as a new search result to the connection identifier conversion mechanism, and further, connection exchange of the connection is realized through the switch mechanism.
[0015]
Further, in order to realize priority control of a plurality of grouping units, the set of the switching table, switching mask register, switching table search mechanism, mask mechanism, and switching information conversion mechanism is used as a grouping search mechanism. A plurality of mechanisms are provided, and a search is performed using a plurality of grouping unit values at the same time. Further, a fixed priority is assigned between the grouping search mechanisms, or the values set in the respective switching registers of the grouping search mechanism are set. A priority determination and selection mechanism for prioritizing by comparison is provided, and a switching table entry in which the entry is valid and the number of grouping units is small is selected from a plurality of switching table entries searched simultaneously. The connection identifier is used as a new search result of the selection result. Conversion mechanism, performs connection switching of a connection through the switch mechanism.
[0016]
In addition to the basic means for solving the above problems, the following means are used in order to realize high-speed IP packet exchange in a large-scale communication network and a highly reliable network.
[0017]
First, a unidirectional connection between end points is set between the end point devices in the initial setting. The unidirectional connection between end points has a unique connection identifier for each destination end point device, and the end point unidirectional connections from each end point device to the same destination end point device are all-to-one connections having the same connection identifier. Constitute. Further, the end point device in the communication network is a level 0 device, the end point connection switch adjacent to the end point device is connected adjacent to the level 1 device, the switch not belonging to the level 1 device is the level 2 device, and so on. When an exchange that is adjacently connected to a level n-1 relay switch and does not belong to a device of level n-1 or lower is classified as a level n device, the entire communication network is classified into a lowermost layer and a hierarchy as i> = For all hierarchical level i devices, the end-to-end unidirectional connections from the level i device to each level (i-1) device have connection identifiers that are continuous to each other, and the connection expansion of future devices An appropriate number of connection identifiers are reserved at the level i device for each end, and each end from the level i device to each level (i-1) device including the reservation The total number of connection identifiers of inter-unidirectional connections is a multiple of a certain number of grouping units, and in this grouping unit, connection identifiers for the level (i-1) device and reserved are allocated, and the level i device is assigned. From all the level (i + 1) devices that are adjacently connected to the level i device, a connection group having the connection identifier assigned above is extended in the grouping unit,
In the level i exchange, the connection group from each level (i + 1) device to the level i device is distributed and connected to each connection or connection group from the level i device to each level (i-1) device. In addition, the unidirectional connection using the grouping unit connection from the upper layer to the lower layer set as described above is connected from each end point device with a connection group having the same or larger grouping unit value. Configure a unidirectional connection between endpoints.
[0018]
Next, as a means for realizing high-speed IP packet exchange, the unidirectional connection between the end points set in the initial setting is used, and further, each end point connection switch adjacently connected to the end point device is connected to the IP An IP / connection conversion mechanism is provided that converts an IP data packet having the IP address from the address into a connection identifier of the unidirectional connection between the end points toward the destination end point device to be transferred. The IP / connection conversion mechanism is connected to an endpoint device with a connection identifier for IP data, and indicates the correspondence between the IP address distributed from the network management device and the connection identifier of the unidirectional connection between the endpoints to the destination endpoint device Using IP / connection conversion information, an IP data packet sent from an endpoint device using a connection identifier for IP data is sent to the destination endpoint device using a connection identifier of a unidirectional connection between endpoints to the corresponding destination endpoint device. The IP address sent by the endpoint device using the connection identifier for IP data is converted to the connection identifier of the unidirectional connection between the endpoints to the destination endpoint device and returned to the endpoint device, and the endpoint device returns Connection identifier of the unidirectional connection between the endpoints While having an IP address pairs in the cache, with the corresponding end point between unidirectional connection identifier, and transmits the IP data packets.
[0019]
Next, as a processing means by the above grouping unit of the new connection setting / release request processing from the endpoint device which is dynamically generated, each endpoint connection exchange adjacently connected to the endpoint device has a new multiple of a certain grouping unit. For each connection group set in the connection setting unit, the connection group setting information and end point connection management information for managing the presence / absence of assignment to the end point device are provided, and the connection setting / release mechanism includes the end point connection management information. While referring to / updating, each connection / setting release request from the endpoint device is buffered, and the connection from the exchange to the destination device is set / released in units of the new connection setting. That is, in response to the setting request for each connection, if necessary, a connection group from the exchange to the requested destination device is extended in the new connection setting unit, and all the connection groups are set to the unassigned state. Connection management information is created / registered and buffered, an unassigned connection is selected from the buffered connection group between the destination device and the exchange, and the connection identifier of the connection is used to select the connection management information. Is set to extend to the requesting endpoint device. In addition, in response to a connection release request from the end point device, the connection setting of the connection from the exchange corresponding to the connection to the request source is invalidated, and the connection of the connection from the exchange to the destination device is: As unallocated, the end point connection management information is updated and returned to the buffer. Further, each end point connection management information has time-out information for obtaining the release timing of the connection group managed by the management information, and all the connection groups corresponding to the one end point connection management information are transmitted to the end point device. If the connection setting / release means continues in a non-assigned state for a certain period or longer, the connection setting / release means periodically checks and releases the connection group.
[0020]
Next, for failure processing of the communication network, a plurality of grouping unit values are used to include a connection identifier of the connection group for a connection group of a grouping unit for a normal route, and the grouping The grouping connection management means of the network management device has a detour connection group set in advance using a connection group having a grouping unit value larger than the unit value, and when a failure occurs in the communication network, When a connection is set, a process for instructing the exchange on the failure path to invalidate the connection exchange setting of the failed connection group having a small grouping unit value is performed. Further, when a failure occurs in a portion where no detour connection group is set, the grouped connection management means stores connection configuration information and connection management information between devices in the communication network held in the network management device. Refer to, determine the detour route, consider conditions such as bandwidth, determine whether to use the connection identifier of the faulty connection group as it is as the detour connection identifier or another detour connection identifier, and Depending on the connection identifier for the detour, first, in the middle of the detour route, next, the end of the detour route on the source side or one end of the detour route if the fault connection is a bi-directional connection, finally, In order of the other end of the detour path, for each exchange or endpoint device on the detour path, In the grouping unit of the harmful connection group, the connection exchange of the detour connection group having the detour connection identifier, or the connection exchange of the detour connection group and the connection group originally connected to the faulty connection, Perform the process of instructing.
[0021]
According to the above means, since the connection already set up between the end point devices is used, there is no connection setting process at the time of IP packet exchange, and high-speed IP packet exchange can be realized. In addition, because connections are managed in a network-wide manner using connections managed in the above grouping units, and the connections are grouped to integrate and distribute connections, the number of endpoint devices can be established even if connections are established between endpoint devices. Only order connection identifiers are required. Furthermore, since the exchange of the present invention can exchange connections of a plurality of connections with one switching table entry, it effectively utilizes the functions of the exchange by linking with the management of the grouping unit. The connection between the endpoint devices can be realized with very few switching table entries. That is, even in a large-scale network configuration, the possibility of lacking connection identifiers and switching table entries is reduced, and application to a large-scale network is possible. Furthermore, it is possible to set a detour connection group in advance using a plurality of grouping unit values. When a detour connection group is set in advance, a failure can be detected only by invalidating the failed connection group. Can be processed. Even when there is no detour connection group, since all connections in the communication network are managed in a grouping unit and with a unique connection identifier, a detour can be easily set in a grouping unit. This makes it possible to build a highly reliable network.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0023]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication network of the present invention is a gateway to communication terminal apparatuses 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, 11-4, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 or an external network 12. The device 11-9 is an end point device, and a plurality of connection switch type exchanges 1 (1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-10, 1-11) are connected via a communication line 2 as relay devices. Take the configuration. The communication network is provided with a network management device 13 for managing the entire communication network. The network management device 13 is connected to all the exchanges 1 in the communication network by an operation management network 14 different from the communication line 2. And the operation management network 14 is used as an operation management communication path 15 for exchanging connection setting / release requests and the like between the network management device 13 and each exchange 1.
[0024]
The network management apparatus 13 stores and holds the network configuration information 20 of the communication network, and sets and updates the network configuration information 20 via the operation management communication path 15 or the communication line 16 connected to the network management apparatus 13. It has network configuration information setting means 17. As the network configuration information 20, in addition to the connection configuration information 21 of the end point device 11 and the connection switch type switch 1 constituting the communication network, and the initial connection setting instruction information 22 for instructing initial connection setting information, the connection is fixed. Grouping management instruction information consisting of a grouping unit value 24 for indicating a unit to be set and managed in units of unity, and grouping application range information 25 for indicating a range of connection identifiers to which management in the grouping unit is applied Have 23.
[0025]
The network management device 13 further has a grouping connection management unit 18, and the grouping connection management unit 18 applies the grouping application of the instruction information 23 according to the grouping management instruction information 23 stored as the network configuration information. A connection having a connection identifier specified in the range 25 is managed in a unit specified by the grouping unit value 24 of the instruction information 23, and the result is held as connection management information 30. As an example of the connection management information 30, as shown in FIG. 3, as the management information of one whole grouped connection, a copy 35 of the grouping management instruction information 23, and the group and switching table described later are used. In addition, each connection group in the unit specified by the grouping unit value 24 has a use state 31, a path 32, and attribute information 33 for the connection group.
[0026]
Next, FIG. 4 shows a procedure in which the grouping connection management means 18 of the present invention sets a connection in the grouping unit according to the grouping unit value 24. First, the grouping connection management means 18 sets an initial connection in accordance with the instruction of the initial connection setting instruction information 22 stored and held in the network management apparatus 13 or an end point connection connection switch type connected adjacent to the end point apparatus 11. switch
A new connection setting request is received from 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, and 1-4 via the operation management communication path 15, and connection setting processing is started (processing 101). Next, referring to the connection management information 30 from the initial connection setting instruction or the specification at the time of connection request, the grouping unit value 24 of the grouping management instruction information 23 is set as one unit and is free or instructed. Assign the specified continuous connection identifiers in batch (process 102). Next, the exchange 1 on the route of the requested connection is specified with reference to the connection configuration information 21 held in the network management device 13 (process 103). Next, for each switch 1 on the path specified in the process 103, the same input is used from the input communication line on the request path using the same connection identifier group assigned in the process 102 on both the input communication line side and the output communication line side. An instruction is given via the operation management communication path 15 to set a connection group for batch connection exchange to the communication line (process 104). Next, in each exchange 1 that has received an instruction from the processing 104, the connection setting / release mechanism 10 of each exchange 1 receives the instruction, and the designated connection group is designated using the designated connection identifier group. The switching table 4 is collectively set so that connection exchange is performed without changing the value of the connection identifier from the input communication line to the output communication line, and the success / failure result of the setting is managed via the operation management communication path 15 in the grouped connection management. It returns to the means 18 (process 105). Finally, the grouping connection management means 18 receives the connection setting success / failure result of the process 105 from each switch 1, updates the connection management information 30 based on the success / failure result, and ends the connection setting process (process 106).
[0027]
FIG. 5 shows a procedure in which the grouping connection management means 18 of the present invention performs connection release in grouping units in accordance with the grouping unit value 24 described above. First, a connection release request for grouping units is sent from the end point connection exchanges 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 adjacently connected to the end point device 11 through the operation management communication path 15 to the grouped connection management means. When the connection 18 is received or when it is necessary to release the connection due to the change of the initial connection due to the configuration change, the occurrence of a failure, or the abnormality, the grouped connection management means 18 performs the connection release processing of the grouping unit. Start (process 111). Next, the grouped connection management means 18 refers to the connection management information 30 stored in the network management device 13 and identifies the exchange on the release target portion of the connection to be released (process 112). Next, the switch on the route specified in the process 112 is instructed to release the connection group in a grouping unit when the connection is set (process 113). In each switch 1 that has received an instruction from the processing 113, the connection setting / release mechanism 10 of each switch 1 receives the instruction, and the connection setting / release mechanism 10 is instructed in the switching table 4 of the switch 1. The entry corresponding to the connection group is collectively cleared, the instructed connection group is released in a grouping unit at the time of connection setting, and the success / failure result is sent to the grouped connection management means 18 via the operation management communication path 15. Return (process 114). Finally, the grouping connection management means 18 receives the success / failure result of the process 114 from each switch 1, updates the connection management information 30 based on the success / failure result, and ends the connection release process (process 115).
[0028]
In the above description, for the sake of simplicity, a network-wide connection setting / release management method using one grouping unit has been described. However, a network-wide connection setting / release management method using a plurality of grouping units will be described below.
[0029]
First, in FIG. 1, the network management device 13 holds a plurality of grouping management instruction information 23 in which each grouping unit value information has a multiple / divisor relationship as network configuration information 20. Further, the grouping connection management means 18 of the network management apparatus 13 holds individual connection management information 30 in the network management apparatus 13 corresponding to each group management instruction information 23.
[0030]
FIG. 6 shows a procedure for setting and releasing a network-wide connection by a plurality of grouping units by the grouping connection management means 18 of the present invention. First, in accordance with the contents described in the process 101 or 111, connection setting / release is started (process 121). Next, an instruction at the time of setting / releasing a connection, or which grouping management instruction information of a plurality of grouping management instruction information 23 to use at the time of a request, an explicit selection instruction, or each Based on the relationship with the grouping management instruction information, an implicit selection instruction by the instructed connection identifier is received, and the grouping management instruction information 23 used in the following processing and the connection corresponding to the grouping management instruction information 23 The management information 30 is selected (process 122). The grouping management instruction information 23 and the connection management information 30 selected in the process 122 are used, and in the case of setting, the processes 102 and 103 are performed, and in the case of release, the process 112 is performed (process 123). . Next, in response to the setting / release, processing 104 and processing 113 are performed to instruct setting / release of the connection in the grouping unit designated for the required exchange 1. However, at that time, when all the connection management information 30 is checked and connection setting is performed with a plurality of grouping units for the same connection identifier, or connection setting with a plurality of grouping unit values has already been performed. In the case of releasing a connection in a grouping unit having the connection identifier, the grouping connection management means 18 looks at each connection identifier within the range where the connection identifiers overlap. Among the plurality of grouping unit connection settings including the range, the connection setting with the smallest grouping unit value is instructed to become effective (process 124). Next, each switch 1 that has received the instruction of the process 124 updates the switching table 4 of each switch 1 in accordance with the instructions in the same manner as the processes 105 and 114, and performs batch setting / release of connections. The result is returned to the grouping connection management means 18 of the network management device 13 via the operation management communication path 15 (process 125). Finally, similarly to the processing 106 and the processing 115, the grouping connection management means 18 receives the success / failure result returned from each switch 1 in the processing 125, and based on the success / failure, the connection management information 30 selected in the processing 122 is obtained. Update (process 126).
[0031]
An embodiment of a method for realizing the process at the time of connection identifier overlap in the process 124 will be described later.
[0032]
Next, FIG. 7 shows a configuration diagram of a connection switch type switch suitable for the grouped connection management of the present invention. An embodiment of the present invention will be described with FIG. 8 showing a data packet exchange processing procedure in the exchange of the present invention.
[0033]
In the connection switch type exchange 1 of the embodiment of FIG. 7, in addition to the mechanism of the conventional exchange shown in FIG. 2, the value of the value is set via the signal line 58 from the connection setting / release mechanism 10 corresponding to the switching table 4. A switching mask register 46 that can be set, a mask mechanism 47, and a switching information conversion mechanism 48 are provided. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the switching table 4, the switching mask register 46, the mask mechanism 47, and the switching information conversion mechanism 48 are provided for each communication line 2 as the line interface 19 (19-1, 19-2,...). . The control mechanism 9 is connected to the operation management network 14 that is the operation management communication path 15, and the connection setting / release mechanism 10 that is one of the control mechanisms 9 receives a connection setting / release instruction from the network management device 13. The operation management communication path 15 can be received. The flow of data connection exchange using this exchange is shown below.
[0034]
First, data serially input from the communication line 2 (2-1, 2-2,...) Is converted into a certain data packet unit by the communication control mechanism 8 corresponding to each communication line, and the input data. The packet 60 is passed to the corresponding connection identifier conversion mechanism 5 via the corresponding signal line 51 (process 131). Next, upon receiving the input data packet 60, the connection identifier conversion mechanism 5 first temporarily holds the data packet 60 and uses the connection identifier information 62 written in the header portion 61 of the data packet 60 as a signal line. The data is output to 52a (process 132). In the conventional method, the signal line 52 a is directly connected to the switching table search mechanism 7, but in the present invention, the signal line 52 a is connected to the corresponding mask mechanism 47. Each mask mechanism 47 ANDs the connection identifier information 62 of the input data packet 60 input from the signal line 52a and the contents of the switching mask register 46 input via the signal line 59, and the result is sent to the signal line 52b. The data is output and passed to the switching table search mechanism 7 (process 133). Next, the switching table search mechanism 7 is connected to the connection identifier information 62 of the input data packet 60 after the mask process, which is input via the signal line 52b, and the communication line to which each switching table search mechanism 7 corresponds. The switching table 4 is searched through the signal line 53 on the basis of the communication line information, and the search result switching table entry information 40 and the search result valid / invalid information indicating whether the search result is valid or invalid are retrieved. The signals are output to the signal lines 54a and 55 corresponding to the mechanism 7 (process 134). Conventionally, the signal line 54a is directly connected to the connection identifier conversion mechanism 5, but in the present invention, it is connected to the switching information conversion mechanism 48 corresponding to each communication line. Next, the switching information conversion mechanism 48 obtains the output side connection identifier information section 43 of the switching table entry information 40 as a search result input from the signal line 54 a, and the value of the switching mask register 46 obtained via the signal line 59. And the value obtained by ANDing the connection identifier information 62 of the input data packet 60 obtained via the signal line 52a, and the output side connection identifier information 43 of the switching table entry information 40 of the search result. Is converted into a value obtained by ORing and output to the signal line 54b (processing 135). The signal line 54b is connected to each connection identifier conversion mechanism 5, and the subsequent processing is the same as in the conventional method. That is, each connection identifier conversion mechanism 5 receives the search result valid / invalid information of the signal line 55 and the search result information after the conversion of the signal line 54b as input, and outputs the search result after the conversion when the search is valid. After rewriting the connection identifier information part 42 of the input data packet 60 with the side connection identifier information 43, the input data packet 60 after the rewriting process is handled together with the output communication line information 42 of the switching table entry 40 of the search result. To the switch mechanism 6 via the signal lines 56 (56-1, 56-2,...). If the search result is invalid, it is discarded by the connection identifier conversion mechanism 5, or the input data packet 60 is not rewritten, and the control mechanism 9 is designated as output line information, and the input data packet 60 switch Send to mechanism 6 (process 136). Next, based on the output line information 42 obtained via each signal line 56, the switch mechanism 6 uses the same rewritten data packet 60 obtained via the same signal line as the connection exchange destination communication line. Are output to the corresponding signal line 57 (57-1, 57-2,...) And passed to the corresponding communication control mechanism 8 (process 137). Finally, each communication control mechanism 8 serially outputs the rewritten data packet 60 obtained via each signal line 57 to the corresponding communication line 2. If the search is invalid and the connection identifier conversion mechanism 5 does not discard the data as described above, the data packet 60 is sent to the control mechanism 9 as a result of the connection exchange processing in the switch mechanism 6, and is sent to the control mechanism 9. Then, error processing is performed (processing 138).
[0035]
As described above, the present embodiment is an example of an exchange that connects and exchanges connection groups having connection identifiers that are continuous for one unit in one switching table entry, with the value masked by the switching mask register as a unit. In other words, in this embodiment, connection exchange is realized in one grouping unit. Next, an embodiment of an exchange that performs connection exchange in a plurality of grouping units will be described.
[0036]
FIG. 9 shows a connection switch type switch suitable for managing a plurality of grouped connections according to the present invention. Similar to the previous embodiment, the embodiment of the present invention will be described with FIG. 12 showing the data packet exchange processing procedure in the present embodiment.
[0037]
In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the switching table 4, the switching mask register 46, the mask mechanism 47, and the switching information conversion mechanism 48 have only one set for each communication line 2, but in the present embodiment of FIG. As a grouping search mechanism 50 (50-1, 50-2,...), A plurality of sets are provided for each communication line. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a priority determination / selection mechanism 49 is newly provided for communication lines.
[0038]
Data entered serially from each communication line 2 (2-1, 2-2,...) Is subjected to processing 131 and processing 132 by the corresponding communication line control mechanism 8 and connection identifier conversion mechanism 5, respectively. The connection identifier information 62 of the input data packet 60 is output to the signal line 52a (process 141). Next, the connection identifier information 62 of the input data packet 60 of the signal line 52a is simultaneously passed to the plurality of grouping search mechanisms 50, and as an input to the mask mechanism 47 of each grouping search mechanism 50, the processing 133, 134 and 135 are performed in parallel, and a plurality of switching tables 4 are searched simultaneously. As a result of the parallel search, the result of the switching information conversion mechanism 48 of each grouped search mechanism 50 is sent to each signal line 54b (54b-1, 54b-2,. Are output to the signal lines 55b (55b-1, 55b-2,...) (Processing 142). Next, the plurality of signal lines 54b and 55b are connected to a priority determination / selection mechanism 49 corresponding to each communication line, and one of the search results of each switching table 4 of the plurality of grouping search mechanisms 50 is selected. Is done. Each priority determination / selection mechanism 49 includes the search result valid / invalid information information of each switching table search mechanism 7 of each grouping search mechanism 50 obtained from the signal line 55b and each grouping search mechanism obtained from the signal line 54b. The switching table entry of the grouping search mechanism 50 in which each switching table entry information 40 of the search result after conversion by each of the switching information conversion mechanisms 50 of 50 is input and the search result valid / invalid information of the corresponding signal line 55b indicates that the search is valid. For the information 40, priority determination according to a priority fixed in advance between the grouping search mechanisms 50, or the value of each switching mask register 46 of each grouping search mechanism 50 is indicated by a signal line 59 (59-1). , 59-2,...), And the value is an unsigned integer and corresponds to the larger value. The switching table entry of the search result of the grouping search mechanism 50 is subjected to priority determination, and the switching table having the highest priority among the search results of the plurality of grouped search mechanisms 50 is effective. One entry is selected and output to the signal line 54c. Further, the priority determination / selection mechanism 49 simultaneously outputs the result of ORing the search result valid / invalid information of all the signal lines 55b to the signal line 55c as the search result valid / invalid information indicating the validity of the selection result. (Process 143). The signal line 55c and the signal line 54c are connected to the connection identifier conversion mechanism 5 corresponding to each communication line, and the subsequent processing is the same as in the conventional method. That is, the connection identifier rewriting process by the connection identifier conversion mechanism 5 in the process 136, the inter-communication line exchange process of the data packet 60 by the switch mechanism 6 in the process 137, and the output process to the communication line by the communication line control mechanism 8 in the process 138. Is performed (process 144).
[0039]
FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of the priority determination / selection mechanism 49 described in the processing 143 of FIGS. The present embodiment is an example of a mechanism that selectively outputs one search result for the search results of the two grouped search mechanisms 50 according to the priority determination of the process 143. The priority determination mechanism 49 includes four selection circuits 91, one comparison circuit 92, and one OR circuit 94. The selection circuit 91 has a function of inputting a selection input having 0 and 1 and two values as input, and selecting and outputting one of the latter two inputs according to the value of the selection input. The comparison circuit 92 receives two unsigned integer values, compares the two values, outputs 1 when input 1> input 2, and sets 0 when input 1 <= input 2. Has a function to output. First, the selection circuits 91-1 and 91-2 have the search result valid / invalid information 55b (55b-1 and 55b-2) of each grouped search mechanism 50 as a selection input, and values to be selected are as follows: The switching mask register value 59 (59-1, 59-2) and the value 0 are input. By this input, when the search result valid / invalid information 55b is 1, the respective switching mask register values 59 (59-1, 59-2) are output, and when the search result valid / invalid information 55b is 0, 0 is output. To do. The role of the selection circuits 91-1 and 91-2 is to calculate the effective priority value. When the search result valid / invalid information 55b is 0, by outputting 0, the pseudo priority is the lowest. The priority of is output. Next, the effective priority values resulting from the selection circuits 91-1 and 91-2 are input to the comparison circuit 92. The comparison circuit 92 compares the effective priority values output from the selection circuits 91-1 and 91-2, and uses the comparison result as a selection input to the selection circuit 91-3. The selection circuit 91-3 selects one of the search result information 54b-1 and 54b-2 of the two grouping search mechanisms 50 input to the selection mechanism 91-3 based on the comparison result of the comparison circuit 92, The result is output to the signal line 54c. Specifically, if the effective priority value of the output result of the selection circuit 91-1 is greater than the effective priority value of the output result of the selection circuit 91-2, the value of the search result information 54b-1 is not the case. Selects the value of the search result information 54b-2 and outputs it to the signal line 54c. On the other hand, the effective priority values of the selection circuits 91-1 and 91-2 are also input to the selection circuit 91-4, and the comparison result of the comparison circuit 92 is used as a selection input, and the two effective priority values are selected. Of these, the larger effective priority value is selected and output to the signal line 93. The value of the signal line 93 is used when one is selected by priority determination from the results of three or more grouping search mechanisms 50 described below. In addition, in the selection process based on the priority determination, the search result valid / invalid information 55b-1 and 55b-2 of the two grouped search mechanisms 50 are input to the OR circuit 94, and the result is input to the priority determination. Information indicating whether the output result 54c of the selection mechanism 49 is valid or invalid is output to the signal line 55c.
[0040]
In the embodiment of FIG. 10, one embodiment of the selection mechanism based on the priority determination from the search results of the two grouped search mechanisms 50 is shown. However, as shown in FIG. 11, the priority determination selection mechanism shown in FIG. By connecting 49 in a hierarchical manner, it is possible to select the search results of three or more grouped search mechanisms 50. In addition, the example of FIG. 11 shows the implementation example of the selection mechanism with respect to the search result of the four grouping search mechanisms 50. FIG.
[0041]
Next, an example of processing at the time of connection identifier overlap in the processing 124 described with reference to FIG. 6 using the exchange of the present invention shown in FIGS. 7 to 12 will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the processing 124 is realized by two procedures: a grouping connection setting / release initialization procedure of FIG. 13A and a post-initialization grouping connection setting / release instruction procedure of FIG. 13B. Is done. The grouping connection setting / release initialization procedure in FIG. 13A is performed by the grouping connection management means 18 of the network management device 13 in each switch of the present invention described in FIGS. 7 to 12 in the communication network of FIG. This is an initialization process for instructing each exchange 1 prior to the grouping connection setting instruction for 1. In the initialization process, each grouping unit value is limited to a power of 2, and the grouping connection management means 18 of the network management device 13 sets the connection setting / switching of each exchange 1 according to the present invention described with reference to FIGS. The release mechanism 10 is instructed via the operation management communication path 15 to perform the following processing. In the case of an exchange in which priority control among a plurality of grouping search mechanisms 50 of each exchange 1 is fixed, the grouping search mechanism 50 having a higher priority is used for the smaller grouping unit value. In consideration of the above, the switching mask register 59 of which grouping search mechanism 50 is set is specified, and the value obtained by inverting each bit of (each grouping unit value-1) corresponds to each grouping unit. The switching mask register 59 of the different grouped search mechanism 50 is set (process 151). Next, the grouping connection management means 18 waits for a reply of the completion of the initialization processing from each of the exchanges, and the grouping connection management means 18 sets the correspondence between each grouping unit and the switching table 4 of each grouping search mechanism 50 to each grouping unit. Is stored as the switching table correspondence information 36 in the connection management information 30 (process 152).
[0042]
FIG. 13B shows a grouped connection setup / release instruction procedure after the initialization procedure of FIG. After the initialization procedure of FIG. 13A is executed, the switching table correspondence information 36 stored in each connection management information 30 in the process 152 is used, and the grouping connection management means 18 uses which switching table 4 of the grouping search mechanism 50. Is designated and a connection setting / release processing instruction is issued for each switching unit 1 in a corresponding grouping unit (processing 153).
[0043]
In the embodiment of FIG. 13, the procedure when the communication network is configured by the connection switch type exchange of the present invention suitable for the grouped connection management of the present invention of FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10 is shown. In the case of using a conventional exchange having neither the grouping search mechanism 50 nor the priority determination / selection mechanism 49, an implementation of the process at the time of connection identifier overlap in the process 124 described above with reference to FIG. An example is shown.
[0044]
When a conventional exchange is used, the grouping connection management means of the network management device first sets the range of all connection identifier spaces when initial connection is set, and at the time of connection setting / release after initialization, The value of the connection identifier group to be set / released is a range, both end points of the range, and the start connection identifier values and end connections of all grouped connections that have been set or will be set in the range. Using the identifier as a change point, a change point list is created in which the change points are sorted in ascending order of the value of the change point (process 161). Next, the grouping unit value of the connection setting / release request is stored as the influence grouping unit value (processing 162). Next, a search is made for a connection having the connection identifier of the change point for the change point on the start side of the both end points of the above range (process 163). If the connection exists, the change point is set as a setting start value. And the smallest grouping unit value in the connection is stored as the set grouping unit value, and the process jumps to process 168 (process 164). When there is no corresponding connection in the process 163, the value of the change point on the start side is stored as the setting end point (process 165). Next, the next change point having a value different from the setting end point in the change list is stored as a setting start point. In the case of a connection release request, the setting end point is stored. The switch on the connection release path is instructed to release the connection group having the connection identifier from to the setting start point (process 166). Next, the smallest grouping unit value among the connections having the setting start point as the connection identifier is stored as the setting grouping unit value (process 167). Next, according to the change list, the change points following the setting start point are checked in order, and the minimum change point where the grouping unit value of the connection having the change point as a connection identifier is equal to or less than the set grouping unit value. Alternatively, the minimum change point that is the end point of the connection group corresponding to the setting start point is searched (process 168). Next, the influence grouping unit value stored in the process 162 is compared with the previous group setting grouping unit value (process 169), the setting grouping unit value is equal to or greater than the influence grouping unit value, and the connection setting process In this case, a connection setting instruction from the setting start point to the change point is instructed to the corresponding exchange (process 170). If the setting grouping unit value is less than the influence grouping unit value and the connection release process, a connection setting instruction is instructed to the corresponding exchange from the setting start point to the change point (process 171). Next, it is checked whether or not the change point is the last change point in the change list (process 172), and if it is the last change point, the process is terminated. When it is determined by the check in process 172 that the change point is not the last change point, a connection having the change point as a connection identifier is searched for the change point obtained in process 169 (process 173), and a corresponding connection exists. Stores the change point as the setting start point, stores the minimum grouping unit value in the connection as the setting grouping unit value, and returns to processing 168 (processing 174). Conversely, if there is no corresponding connection in process 173, the change point is stored as a setting end point, and the process returns to process 166 (process 175).
[0045]
Next, an application example to the unidirectional connection between each endpoint device using the grouped connection management of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0046]
In FIG. 15, in order to simplify the drawing, the terminal devices 11-1 and 11-13 are connected to the terminal devices 11 as a part of a state in which all the terminal devices 11 on the communication network are connected by the unidirectional connection 3. On the other hand, an embodiment in which a unidirectional connection 3 is connected is shown. The communication network of the present embodiment includes twelve end point devices 11 (11-1 to 11-15) and four end point connection connection switch vertical switches 1 (1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1- 4) and two relay connection switch type exchanges 1 (1-10, 1-11) are connected by a communication line 2. The unidirectional connection between the endpoint devices 11 shown in this embodiment is set using the initial connection setting instruction information 22 at the time of initial setting. The unidirectional connection between the end point devices 11 has a unique connection identifier for each destination end point device 11, and all end point unidirectional connections from each end point device 11 to the same end point device 11 have the same connection identifier. Together, they form a many-to-one connection. For example, the connection toward the end point device 11-1 is a connection identifier 0x100, the connection to the end point device 11-2 is a connection identifier 0x101, and the connection toward the end point device 11-2 is noted. Then, in the exchange 1-1, the connection from the endpoint device 11-1 to the endpoint device 11-2 via the exchange 1-1, and the exchange 1-10 to the endpoint device 11-2 via the exchange 1-1. Connections merge at connection identifier 0x101. Note that 0x used in the notation of the connection identifier is a prefix character string representing a hexadecimal number.
[0047]
Further, the unidirectional connection is realized using the grouped connection. FIG. 16 shows an embodiment of the application procedure of the grouped connection.
[0048]
First, the exchange 1 and the endpoint device 11 in the communication network are classified hierarchically according to the procedure shown in FIG. 17 (process 181). Next, for each hierarchical level device, the lower connection number variable corresponding to each hierarchical device that holds the number of connections to the lower hierarchical level is set to 0, and the spare connection information of the level device is empty and there is no spare connection state. To do. Further, by using information such as distance and bandwidth, an upper level device considered to have the most main connection relationship is selected as a main upper level device from one level higher devices directly connected to each level device. Is stored (process 182). Next, one hierarchical level 0 end point device 11 having a lower connection number of 0 is selected, the lower connection number variable of the same device 11 is set to 1 (process 183), and the selected end point device 11 and the number of requested connections = The recursive grouped unidirectional connection allocation process shown in FIG. 18 is called with 1 as a parameter, and the grouped connection from the upper hierarchy to the lower hierarchy is used for the exchange 1 constituting the branch tree including the end point device 11. The established unidirectional connection is set (process 184). Next, another endpoint device 11 for which no connection has yet been set is found by searching for a level 0 device having the number of lower connections of 0, and if there is, the processing returns to processing 183 (processing 185). In the processing up to processing 185, for all the end point devices 11, unidirectional connections using grouped connections from higher layers are set, and thereafter, using a conventional route determination algorithm such as the shortest route method, The end point device 11 is connected to each grouped unidirectional connection set up to the processing 185 using the same or larger grouped connection, and a unidirectional connection between the end point devices is set (processing 188). .
[0049]
The hierarchical classification in FIG. 17 of the above-described processing 181 is performed according to the following procedure. First, 0 is substituted into a variable n representing a hierarchical level, and all end point devices 11 are set as level 0 devices (processing 191). Next, n is incremented by 1 (process 192). Next, the exchange 1 in the communication network is connected adjacently to the end point device 11 of level n-1 or the exchange 1, and the exchange 1 that does not belong to the device of level n-1 or lower is set as a level n device (processing 193). . Furthermore, if there is an exchange that has not yet been assigned a hierarchical level in the exchange 1 belonging to the communication network, the process returns to process 192 (process 194), and the process 192 is continued until there is no exchange 1 to which no hierarchical level is assigned. -Repeat the process 194. According to this hierarchy, for example, in the example of FIG. 15, the end point devices 11 are all level 0 devices, and end point connection exchanges 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 that are directly adjacent to the end point device 11. Are the level 1 devices and the exchanges 1-10 and 1-11 connected to the endpoint connection exchange are level 2 devices.
[0050]
Further, the setting of the unidirectional connection using the grouped connection in the lower layer direction in the processing 184 is performed according to the procedure shown in FIG. First, it is checked whether there is a higher level device connected to the device passed as a parameter by checking whether there is a main higher level device, and if not, the processing is terminated (processing 201). If there is a main higher level device, it is checked whether or not there are remaining connections for the number of requested connections specified by the parameters in the spare connection of the main higher level device (process 202). If the necessary number of connections remain, the process skips to the process 208. If not, the process 203 to the process 207 are performed to secure a spare connection. Therefore, if the required number of connections does not remain, add some reserves to the number of requested connections and calculate a value that is a multiple of the power-of-two grouping unit value corresponding to the level of the main higher-level device. And the number of spare connections to be added (process 203). Next, it is checked whether or not there is a higher level device one level higher than the main higher level device (step 204). If there is, the main higher level device and the number of additional spare connections calculated in step 203 18 is recursively called as a new parameter, and the resulting connection is registered as a spare connection of the main higher-level device (processing 205). If it is determined in process 204 that there is no higher level device above the main higher level device, continuous unassigned connection identifiers corresponding to the number of additional spare connections are allocated, and a connection with the main higher level device as an end point is assigned. Then, it is registered in the spare connection of the main higher level device (process 206). Next, the number of spare connections added to the lower connection number variable is added to the spare connection additionally registered in the process 205 or 206 as the lower connection of the main higher level apparatus (process 207). As described above, the processing 202 to the processing 207 guarantees that the necessary number of connections are registered as backup connections. Finally, the requested connection is extracted from the backup connection, and the device designated by the parameter is used. The switching table of the main higher-level device is set so that the extracted connection is distributedly connected, the connection is returned as a result, and the process ends (process 208).
[0051]
Next, the above processing will be considered by paying attention to the exchange 1-1 in FIG. The exchange 1-1, which is a level 1 device, is connected to three devices, endpoint devices 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, which are level 0 devices. Therefore, in the process 204, the connection identifier for the end point device 11-1 is set to 0x100, and the end device 11-2 and 11-3 are assigned the connection identifiers of 0x101 and 0x102 consecutive to the end point device 11-1. Further, this example shows a case where the grouping unit value is 4, and a group of uniting unit value 4 connections having connection identifiers of 0x100 to 0x103 from the exchange 1-10 to the exchange 1-1 by the process 204. In the connection group, 0x100 to 0x102 are distributed and connected to the end point devices 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3, respectively.
[0052]
Further, in the exchange 1-10, 0x104 to 0x107 minutes for the exchange 1-2 and 0x108 to 0x10b for the exchange 1-3 are gathered, and further, for example, from the end point device 11-13 to the exchange 1- 1 by the processing 188. In the present embodiment, a connection group of 0x100 to 0x107 is connected to 2 using a larger grouping unit value 8.
[0053]
That is, in the above embodiment, for i> = 1, the unidirectional connection between end points from the hierarchical level i device to each level (i-1) device has a continuous connection identifier, and further, a future device. An appropriate number of connection identifiers are reserved in the level i device for the connection expansion of the connection, and the connection identifiers of the unidirectional connections between the endpoints from the level i device to the level (i-1) device including the reservation The total number is a multiple of a certain number of grouping units, and in this grouping unit, a connection identifier for the level (i-1) device and a reserved connection identifier is allocated, and all levels (adjacent connections to the level i device ( i + 1) From the device to the level i device, in the grouping unit, a connection group having the connection identifier assigned above is extended, and In the network i exchange, the connection group from the level (i + 1) device to the level i device is distributed and connected to each connection or connection group from the level i device to the level (i-1) device. Furthermore, by connecting to the unidirectional connection using the grouping unit connection from the upper layer to the lower layer set in the above process from each end point device with the same or a larger grouping value connection group, It is characterized by forming a unidirectional connection between end points.
[0054]
In one embodiment of FIG. 15, in the process 188, each end point device 11 uses a grouping unit value of 8, and each exchange 1 uses a method that does not overlap the connection exchange information of connections between the grouping units. Using. However, using the above grouping method in which connection exchange information of a connection group having a small grouping unit value is given priority over connection exchange information of a connection group having a large grouping unit value, connections between grouped connections of each switch 1 It is also possible to use a scheme in which exchange information overlaps. FIG. 19 shows an example in which the grouping unit value 16 is used in the processing 188 and each end point device 11 is connected to a unidirectional connection using a grouping unit connection from the upper layer to the lower layer. In the present embodiment, for example, in the exchange 1-1, the connection of the connection identifiers 0x100 to 0x10f with the grouping unit value 16 is connected and exchanged from the terminal device 1-1 to the exchange 1-10 via the exchange 1-1. ing. On the other hand, the connections exchanged from the end point device 11-1 to the end point devices 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 via the exchange 1-1 have connection identifiers 0x100, 0x101, and 0x102, respectively, and are grouping units. It is set using a value 1 connection. In this case, for connections having connection identifiers 0x100, 0x101, and 0x102, the latter is given priority, and the connection exchange information of the former group unit value 16 is ignored.
[0055]
In the above-described embodiment, an example of realizing a unidirectional connection between the end point devices 11 has been described. However, the level 1 device is considered as an end point device, and the end point connection switches between the end point connection exchanges that are virtually lowered by one level. It can also be applied to the case where a unidirectional connection is set.
[0056]
Next, an embodiment in which IP data path control is performed using a unidirectional connection between the endpoint devices 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. 20, 21, and 22.
[0057]
In this embodiment, first, in correspondence with each IP address or IP address group, to which end point device 11 IP data having a corresponding destination IP address should be sent or through which end point device 11 should be sent. The network management apparatus 13 has the IP route information 26 shown. The grouping connection management means 18 of the network management device 13 uses the IP route information 26 and performs the process of FIG. 21 during the initialization process. First, the grouping connection management means 18 of the network management device 13 uses the IP route information 26 and the connection management information 30 and uses each IP address or IP address group as a destination endpoint between the endpoint devices set by the initial setting. IP / connection conversion information 27 to be converted into a connection identifier of the connection between the unidirectional end point devices addressed to the device 11 is created (processing 211). Next, the grouping connection management means 18 sends the IP / connection conversion information 27 to the end point connection switch type switch 1 adjacently connected to the end point device 11 via the operation management communication path 15 (process 212). Each end-point connection exchange 1 has an IP / connection conversion mechanism 71 as one of the control mechanisms 9, and the IP / connection conversion mechanism 71 receives the IP / connection conversion information 27, and It is held in the exchange 1 (process 213).
[0058]
The route control of the IP data after the initialization process is performed according to the procedure of FIG.
[0059]
The IP / connection conversion mechanism 71 is connected to each end point device 11 to which the end point connection exchange 1 is adjacently connected by an IP connection 72 having a certain IP connection identifier. Each endpoint device 11 transmits the IP data to the endpoint connection exchange 1 using the IP connection 72 (process 221). Next, the IP / connection conversion mechanism 71 that has received the IP data uses the IP / connection conversion information 27 held in the endpoint connection exchange 1 with the destination IP address in the IP header of the received IP data as a key. The connection identifier of the unidirectional connection 80 between the end points toward the corresponding destination end point device 11 is retrieved (process 222). Next, the IP / connection conversion mechanism 71 replaces the connection identifier information part 62 of each data packet 60 of IP data with the value of the unidirectional connection identifier between end points obtained in the preprocessing (processing 223). Further, the IP / connection conversion mechanism 71 searches the switching table 4 via the signal line 58, extracts output communication line information corresponding to the unidirectional connection identifier between the end points (process 224), and together with the output line information, Each data packet of the IP data after replacement is output to the signal line 56-0 and passed to the switch mechanism 6 (process 225). The switch mechanism 6 connects and exchanges each data packet of IP data to the corresponding communication line based on the passed output line information (process 226), and thereafter, the unidirectional connection identifier between the end points at each exchange. Then, the connection is exchanged on the destination end point unidirectional connection 80, and the data packet is delivered to the destination end point device 11 (process 227).
[0060]
In the above embodiment, the IP / connection conversion mechanism 71 of the exchange 1 connected to each end point directly transfers the IP data, but the IP / connection conversion mechanism 71 determines the unidirectional connection identifier between end points corresponding to the IP address. Each endpoint device 11 first obtains the corresponding unidirectional connection identifier information between the endpoints using the conversion function, and then each endpoint device 11 receives the unidirectional connection between the endpoints. The IP data may be sent using the identifier. One embodiment of this method is performed by the configuration shown in FIG. 23 and the procedure shown in FIG.
[0061]
Each endpoint device 11 holds a part of IP / connection conversion information 27 corresponding to the destination IP address of IP data transmitted in the past as an IP / connection conversion cache 28. When transmitting IP data, each endpoint device 11 first searches the IP / connection conversion cache 28 (process 231). If there is no entry corresponding to the destination IP address of the IP data in the cache, in order to obtain the corresponding IP / connection conversion information 27, the IP connection 72 is used to obtain the corresponding IP / connection conversion information 27. The data is transmitted to the conversion mechanism 71 (process 232). Upon receiving the destination IP address information, the IP / connection conversion mechanism 71 searches the IP / connection conversion information 27 held in each end point connection exchange, and uses the IP / connection conversion information of the search result as the request source. Return to the end point device (process 233). The endpoint device 11 that has received the response stores the returned IP / connection conversion information 27 in the IP / connection conversion cache 28 (process 234). Since the information corresponding to the IP / connection conversion cache is registered by the processing 232, 233, 234, each end point device 11 uses the corresponding conversion information registered so that each end point device 11 has the corresponding one-way connection 80 between the end points. The connection identifier is found, and the IP data is transmitted to the endpoint connection exchange 1 using the unidirectional connection identifier between the endpoints (process 235). Thereafter, each exchange exchanges the connection on the previous unidirectional connection 80 between the end points according to the unidirectional connection identifier between the end points, and the data packet is delivered to the destination end point device 11 (process 236).
[0062]
In the above-described embodiments of FIGS. 23 and 24, an example is shown in which each endpoint device 11 holds only a part of the IP / connection conversion information 27 as a cache, but the endpoint device 11 is connected to an external network such as a gateway device. In this case, the entire IP / connection conversion information 27 may be held in the endpoint device 11 as a cache as the IP / connection conversion cache 28. In the case of this method, for example, in the above-described processing 232 to processing 234, instead of dynamically fetching only a necessary part of the IP / connection conversion information 27, in the initialization processing of the endpoint device 11, There is a system in which all the information of the IP / connection conversion information 27 is requested to the end point connection exchange 1 to which the end point device 11 is adjacently connected and all the information 27 is cached in advance. Further, as another method, in the initialization process of FIG. 21 which is common to the previous embodiment, in the process 213, the IP / connection conversion mechanism 71 of the end point connection exchange 1 performs the IP / connection conversion information. 27 is received from the grouping connection management means 18 of the network management device 13, and all the received information of the IP / connection conversion information 27 is further transferred to the required end point device 11 to which the exchange 1 is adjacently connected. There is also a method in which the data is transferred via a connection for use and held as the IP / connection conversion cache 28 on the terminal device 11. In particular, in the latter case, when all the end point devices 11 that are adjacently connected have the entire IP / connection conversion information 27 as a cache, the end point connection exchange 1 receives the IP / connection conversions sent from the network management device 13. The information 27 need only be transferred to each endpoint device 11 and may not be retained.
[0063]
Furthermore, as another embodiment, each end point device 11 sends IP data to the end point connection exchange 1, and the end point connection exchange 1 uses the unidirectional connection between the end point connection exchanges to send the IP data to the destination end point connection exchange 1. There is also a method in which the destination endpoint connection exchange 1 sends it to the destination endpoint device 11. The configuration of this embodiment and the IP data path control procedure are shown in FIGS.
[0064]
The network management device 13 corresponds to each IP address or group of IP addresses, through which end point connection exchange the IP data having the corresponding IP address should be sent to which end point device, or which end point connection switch, It has IP route information 26 indicating whether it should be sent through the end point device. The grouping connection management means 18 of the network management device 13 uses the IP route information 26 and performs the process of FIG. 26 during the initialization process. The grouping connection management means 18 of the network management device 13 uses the IP route information 26 and the connection management information 30 to connect the destination end point connection between the end point connection exchanges set by the initial setting from each IP address or IP address group. The IP / endpoint connection exchange connection conversion information 73 to be converted into the connection identifier of the connection between the unidirectional endpoint exchange exchanges addressed to the exchange is created (process 241). Further, the grouped connection management means 18 uses the IP route information 26 and the connection configuration information 21 to correspond to each IP address or IP address group from the destination end point connection exchange of each IP data via which communication line. Then, IP / endpoint line conversion information 74 indicating whether or not to transfer to the destination end point device is created (process 242). Next, the grouped connection management means 18 sends the IP / endpoint connection switch connection conversion information 73 and the IP / IP corresponding to the endpoint connection switch to the endpoint connection switch type switch 1 connected adjacent to the end point device. The end point line conversion information 74 is sent through the operation management communication path 15 (process 243). Each of the end point connection exchanges 1 has an IP / connection conversion mechanism 71 and an IP / end point line conversion mechanism 75 as one of the control mechanisms 9, and the IP / connection conversion mechanism 71 provides connection conversion information between the IP / end point connection exchanges. 73 and the IP / endpoint device conversion information 74 are received, and the information is held in the switch 1 via the signal line 58 (process 244).
[0065]
The route control of the IP data after the initialization process is performed according to the procedure of FIG.
[0066]
The IP / connection conversion mechanism 71 and the IP / endpoint line conversion mechanism 75 are respectively configured to have an IP transmission connection 78 and an IP reception connection having an IP connection identifier having a certain value with each end point device to which the end point connection exchange is adjacently connected. Connection 79 is established. Further, the unidirectional connection between the end point connection exchanges addressed to each end point connection exchange set in the initial setting is connected to the IP / end point line conversion mechanism 75 of the end point connection exchange 11 by the initial setting.
[0067]
When transmitting IP data, each endpoint device 11 transmits the endpoint data to the endpoint connection switch 1 using the IP transmission connection 78 (process 251). Next, the IP / connection conversion mechanism 71 that has received the IP data converts the connection between the IP and the endpoint connection exchange held in the endpoint connection exchange with the destination IP address in the IP header of the received IP data as a key. The information 73 is searched, and the unidirectional connection identifier between the end point connection exchanges toward the corresponding destination end point connection exchange 1 is extracted (process 252). Next, the IP / connection conversion mechanism 71 replaces the connection identifier information part 62 of each data packet 60 of the IP data with the value of the unidirectional connection identifier between end points obtained in the preprocessing (processing 253). Further, the IP / connection conversion mechanism 71 searches the switching table 4 via the signal line 58, extracts the output communication line information corresponding to the connection identifier of the unidirectional connection 81 between the end point connection exchanges (processing 254), and Along with the output line information, each data packet of the replaced IP data is output to the signal line 56-0 and passed to the switch mechanism 6 (process 255). The switch mechanism 6 connects and exchanges each data packet of IP data to the corresponding communication line based on the passed output line information (processing 256), and thereafter, the unidirectional connection identifier between the end points at each exchange. Then, the connection is exchanged on the unidirectional connection 81 between the end point connection exchanges, and the data packet is delivered to the exchange 1 connected to the destination end point device (process 257). In the destination endpoint connection exchange 1, the IP / endpoint line conversion mechanism 75 receives the IP data transmitted from the source endpoint connection exchange 1 through the unidirectional connection 81 between the end point connection exchanges, and the IP / endpoint line conversion is performed. The mechanism 75 refers to the IP / endpoint line conversion information 74 and obtains communication line information to the destination end point device 11 corresponding to the IP data (process 258). Next, the IP / endpoint line conversion mechanism 75 replaces the connection identifier information portion 62 of each data packet 60 of the IP data with the value of the connection identifier of the IP reception connection 79 (process 259), and is obtained by the process 258. Each data packet of the replaced IP data is output to the signal line 56 together with the communication line information corresponding to the end point device, and passed to the switch mechanism 6 (process 260). The switch mechanism 6 connects and exchanges each data packet of the IP data to the corresponding communication line based on the passed output line information, and the IP data is sent to the destination endpoint device 11 (process 261). .
[0068]
In the above, an example of using a grouped connection for an initial setting connection has been described. Next, an example of using a grouped connection in response to a connection setting / release request dynamically generated from the endpoint device 11 will be described.
[0069]
The dynamic connection setup / release request from the end point device 11 is sent to the end point connection exchange 1 via the signaling connection 82 having a reserved connection identifier as described in the conventional exchange of FIG. It is transmitted to the release mechanism 10 and processed. However, the connection setup / release mechanism 10 of the present embodiment of the present invention actually sets / releases the connection from the request source to the destination for each connection setup / release request from the end point device 11 as in the prior art. Instead, the endpoint connection exchange 1 buffers the connection setup / release request from the endpoint equipment 11, and sets the connection group from the endpoint exchange to the destination apparatus in a new connection setup unit that is a multiple of a certain grouping unit.・ Release, one by one from the connection group, and in response to a connection setting / release request from the terminal device 11, the connection setting of the connection to the terminal device to the connection and the connection setting Release. Therefore, in the connection setting / release mechanism 10 of each end point connection exchange 1 of the present invention, for each connection group set in the new connection setting unit for buffering, the setting information of the connection group and the end point of each connection It has end point connection management information 63 for managing the presence / absence of assignment to a device. Each end point connection management information 63 also has time-out information for obtaining the release timing of the connection group. As an example of realization of the end point connection management information 63, for example, as shown in FIG. 28, for each connection group set in a new connection setting unit, destination information 64 of the connection group, attribute information 65 of the connection group, connection The group has a first connection identifier value 66, a set connection number 67, a free connection number 68 unassigned to the end point device 11 in the connection group, free connection identifier information 69, and the timeout information 70.
[0070]
An example of realizing a connection setting request from the end point device 11 using the end point connection management information 63 is performed according to the procedure shown in FIG. First, the end point device 11 issues a new connection setting request via the signaling connection 82 (process 271). Next, the connection setup / release mechanism 10 of the endpoint connection exchange 1 that has received the request checks the endpoint connection management information 63 corresponding to the destination and attribute of the request, and the endpoint connection management information whose free connection number information 68 is not 0. Look for 63. If there is endpoint connection management information 63 in which the free connection number information 68 is not 0, the process jumps to process 275 (process 272). If the free connection number information 68 of all the corresponding end point connection management information 63 is 0, the connection setup / release mechanism 10 performs grouped connection management means of the network management device 13 via the operation management communication path 14. 18 requests the setting of connection groups corresponding to the number of new connection setting units having a request attribute from the endpoint connection switch 1 to the request destination device in a grouping unit corresponding to the new connection setting unit (processing 273). ). For the connection group obtained as a result of the process 273, the connection setup / release mechanism 10 creates new end point connection management information 63, and initializes all information other than the timeout information 70 as unassigned. And registration (process 274). Next, using the end point connection management information 63 that has been found in the process 272 or registered in the process 274 and has an unallocated connection that matches the request, from the free connection identifier information 69 of the end point connection management information 63, Unassigned connection identifiers are extracted by the number of requests, the free connection number information 68 is reduced by the number of requests, the extracted connection identifiers are assigned, and the free connection identifier information 69 is updated (process 275). Next, switching is performed so that the connection corresponding to the connection identifier obtained in the process 275 is connected to the requesting endpoint device 11 using the same connection identifier as the connection established from the endpoint connection exchange 1 to the destination device. Table 4 is set (process 276). Finally, the connection setup / release mechanism 10 returns the connection identifier obtained in the process 275 to the requesting endpoint device 11 (process 277).
[0071]
FIG. 30 shows a processing procedure for a connection release request from the endpoint device 11.
[0072]
First, the endpoint device 11 issues a connection release request via the signaling connection 82 (process 281). Next, the connection setup / release mechanism 10 of the endpoint connection exchange 1 that has received the request searches the endpoint connection management information 63 corresponding to the connection to be released based on the connection identifier information (process 282). Next, the connection setup / release mechanism 10 increases the free connection number information 68 of the end point connection management information 63 of the search result by the number of requests, and free connection
The connection identifier information 69 is updated so that the connection requested to be released becomes unallocated (process 283). Next, the connection setup / release mechanism 10 invalidates the entry corresponding to the connection in the switching table 4 of the exchange (process 284). Next, when the set connection number information 67 and the free connection number information 68 of the end point connection management information 63 of the search result are equal, the connection setting / release mechanism 10 sets the current time as the timeout of the end point connection management information 63. The current time information is stored in the information 70 (process 285). The time-out information 70 is checked by a time-out process for an unallocated connection shown in FIG. 31 that is periodically started as will be described later, and the end point where the set connection number information 67 and the free connection number information 68 remain equal for a certain period or longer. The unassigned connection group corresponding to the connection management information 63 is released upon request to the grouped connection management means 18 of the network management device 13. Finally, the result is returned to the requesting endpoint device (process 286).
[0073]
FIG. 31 shows a procedure for releasing a connection group set in a new connection setting unit of a connection setting / release mechanism that is periodically started by the end point connection exchange as described above. First, the end point connection management information 63 in a state where the set connection number information 67 and the free connection number information 68 are the same is sequentially extracted one by one (process 287). If there is no corresponding management information 63, the current process that is periodically started is terminated. If there is, the time-out information 70 of the end point connection management information 63 is checked (process 288), and if the predetermined time or more has not passed compared with the current time, the process returns to process 287. If a predetermined period has elapsed, the grouping connection management means 18 of the network management device 13 releases the connection group corresponding to the end point connection management information 63 to the grouping unit corresponding to the new connection setting unit. In step 289, all of the end point connection management information 63 is deleted, and the process returns to the process 287 (process 289).
[0074]
Next, an embodiment of failure processing using the grouped connection management of the present invention will be described. There are two major methods of failure handling using the grouped connection. One is a failure processing method in a case where a plurality of grouping unit values are used, a connection group for a detour path with overlapping connection identifiers is set in advance, and the failure part is a connection group having a detour path already. is there. This example will be described with reference to FIG. 32 showing a failure processing example of the unidirectional connection between end points in FIG. FIG. 32 shows an example in which a failure has occurred in the communication path 2 from the exchange 1-11 to the exchange 1-3. In this example, due to the failure, the connection group from the exchange 1-11 having the connection identifiers 0x108 to 0x10b to the exchange 1-3 is affected by the failure. However, in this example, the connection group having the connection identifiers 0x100 to 0x10f is already set in an overlapping manner with the connection group. If the connection group is used, the connection identifiers 0x108 to Since the connection group having 0x10b is connected to the exchange 1-3, it can bypass the failure part. That is, for the failure, only the setting for the connection group from the exchange 1-11 to the exchange 1-3 affected by the failure, which is set in the switching table of the exchange 1-11, is invalidated. So you can recover from the failure.
[0075]
Another method of failure processing using grouped connections is failure processing in the case where a connection for a bypass path as described above is not set in advance. This example will be described with reference to FIG. 33 showing a failure processing example of the unidirectional connection between end points in FIG. In this example, as in the example of FIG. 32, an example in which a failure has occurred in the communication path 2 from the exchange 1-11 to the exchange 1-3 is shown. In this example, unlike the case of FIG. 32, the detour connection for the connection group from the switch 1-11 having the connection identifiers 0x108 to 0x10b affected by the failure to the switch 1-3 is not set in advance. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 33, a detour connection group 83 from the switch 1-11 to the switch 1-3 through the switch 1-10 is set in units of connection groups that have failed. In this case, the connection identifier of the connection group that has failed is used as it is, the connection group is set from the exchange 1-11 to the exchange 1-10, and the same connection that has already been set from the exchange 1-10 to the exchange 1-3. A connection group having an identifier may be connected. However, in the case where the connection cannot be shared due to a problem of bandwidth or the like, another connection group from 0x208 to 0x20b is allocated as in this embodiment, and the connection identifiers are assigned by the exchange 1-11 and the exchange 1-3. The connection is exchanged to a connection group of 0x108 to 0x10b.
[0076]
An example of the failure processing procedure shown in the above example will be described again with reference to FIG.
[0077]
First, when the grouped connection management unit 18 of the network management device 13 detects a failure by any method, first, based on the connection management information 30 and the connection configuration information 21, the group of connection connections and the failure path affected by the failure are determined. It is specified (process 291). Next, the connection management information 30 is referred to, and it is checked whether or not a connection group that bypasses the failed connection group is already set in a grouping unit larger than the grouping unit value of the failed connection group (process 292). If a detour connection group has already been set, the grouped connection management means 18 connects the connection corresponding to the failed connection group via the operation management communication path 15 for each exchange 1 on the failed path. Instructing invalidation of the exchange (process 293), and updating the connection management information 30 in response to the invalidation, the fault process is terminated (process 294). In process 292, if no detour connection group is found, the following procedure is used to minimize the situation where another part appears to be a fault in the transient state of the fault process. Set up a detour. First, the detour route is determined with reference to the connection configuration information 21 and the connection management information 30 (process 295). Next, considering the conditions such as the bandwidth, determine whether to use the connection identifier of the faulty connection group as it is as a connection identifier for detouring or to use another connection identifier for detouring. A new connection identifier is assigned (process 296). Next, operation management is performed for each exchange 1 located in the middle of the detour route determined in the process 295 for connection exchange of the detour connection group having a detour connection identifier in units of failure connection groups. An instruction is given via the communication path 15 (process 297). When the setting of the bypass connection group for each switch 1 in the middle of the path is completed, the connection group connected to the faulty connection group is then connected to the switch 1 or the end point device 11 located at the source side end of the bypass path. The bypass connection group set in the process 297 is instructed to exchange connections with the same grouping unit value as that of the failed connection group. However, if the fault connection group is a bidirectional connection, one of them is considered as the source side (process 298). After the setting of the source-side switch 1 or the end point device 11 is completed, the connection group connected to the failed connection group is set in the process 297 for the switch 1 or the end point device 11 at the other end of the detour path. The bypass connection group is instructed to exchange connections with the same grouping unit value as that of the failed connection group (process 299). Finally, the connection management information is updated in accordance with the setting of the detour route (process 300).
[0078]
In the above embodiment of FIG. 1, the network management apparatus 13 and each connection switch type exchange 1 are connected to each other via the operation management communication path 15 realized on the operation management network 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the network management device 13 directly connects to the communication network relayed by the connection switch type exchange 1 via the communication line 2 and manages the operation management communication path connection 84 using a predetermined connection identifier. Even if various mechanisms of the control mechanism 9 such as the connection setting / release mechanism 10 of each connection switch type exchange 1 in the communication network and the grouping connection management means 18 of the network management device 13 are connected as the communication path 15. Good. In the example of FIG. 35, an individual operation management connection 84 is set for each exchange 1 using a separate connection identifier for each exchange 1.
[0079]
In the above embodiment, an example in which one control mechanism 9 is provided in each exchange 1 is shown. However, as shown in FIG. 36, a control mechanism 9 is provided for each communication line 2, and control connection data is further provided. A control connection distribution mechanism 85 that distributes only the packet 60 to each mechanism in the corresponding control mechanism 9 may be provided, and various mechanisms of the control mechanism 9 of the above-described embodiment may be provided for communication lines.
[0080]
In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which one network management device 13 is provided for the entire communication network. However, all the connection groups of the entire communication network are centrally managed in the grouping unit. If realized, for example, a plurality of network management devices are provided, and a cache in which the connection management information is consistently controlled between the network management devices in a manner similar to a distributed database, The processing may be shared within the range of the exchanges, and the processing may be realized in a distributed manner by a plurality of network management devices.
[0081]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, high-speed IP packet exchange can be realized without a shortage of connection identifiers and switching table entries even in a large-scale communication network. Actually, since the connection already set up between the end point devices is used for the IP packet exchange, there is no connection setting process at the time of IP packet exchange, and the high speed can always be maintained. In addition, since the connection between the end points uses a connection managed in a grouping unit in the network wide, and is set in a system in which the connection groups are integrated and distributed and connected in a hierarchy, even if the connection between the end point devices is established, the end point device Only a few order connection identifiers are used. Furthermore, by using the exchange of the present invention, high-speed switching by hardware is possible with very few switching table entries.
[0082]
In addition, even in cases where connection settings are required dynamically for data communications that require bandwidth guarantee, such as voice / video, the present invention uses the end point connection exchange to set connection settings for the grouping unit of the present invention. -Using the release, each connection setting / release request from each individual endpoint device does not set the connection from the request source to the destination device, but uses the method of setting / release collectively, so that the actual connection The number of setting / release processes is reduced, and the use of the exchange of the present invention has the effect of reducing the number of switching table entries used.
[0083]
Furthermore, according to the present invention, connection management can be performed centrally even in a large-scale network, and recovery can be easily performed even in the event of a failure. Conventionally, connection exchange is performed by connection identifiers managed and held individually for each exchange, whereas in the present invention, connection identifiers are managed by each exchange using connection identifiers managed centrally in the entire network. Since connection exchange is performed, even if some failure occurs and connection exchange information of a certain exchange is lost, failure recovery can be easily performed. In addition, in the present invention, since connections are managed in units of groups, the number of requests from each switch can be reduced and the amount of management can be reduced even if they are managed centrally in the entire network.
[0084]
In addition, by using a plurality of grouping unit values of the present invention and setting a detour connection group in advance, the failure of the part where the detour connection group is set in advance is only invalidation of the fault connection group Can handle faults. Even if there is no detour connection group, all connections in the communication network are managed in grouping units and with unique connection identifiers, so the connection is reset in the user program of the endpoint device. In the communication network, it is possible to dynamically set a detour in units of grouping faults, and a highly reliable network can be constructed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of connection management according to a grouping unit of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a conventional connection switch type exchange.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of connection management information according to grouping units of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a procedure diagram of connection setting processing by a grouping unit according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a procedure diagram of connection release processing by a grouping unit according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a procedure diagram of connection release processing by a plurality of grouping units according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a connection switch type switch suitable for connection management by a grouping unit of the present invention.
8 is a processing procedure diagram of an input data packet of the exchange of FIG. 7 of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a connection switch type switch suitable for connection management by a plurality of grouping units according to the present invention.
10 is a configuration diagram of a priority determination and selection mechanism for two-party selection in FIG. 9 according to the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of an extension of the priority determination / selection mechanism of FIG. 10 to n-user selection according to the present invention.
12 is a processing procedure diagram of an input data packet of the exchange of FIG. 9 according to the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram of initialization processing (a) and connection setting release processing (b) for priority processing (processing 124) between a plurality of group units of the present invention using the exchange of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a procedure diagram of connection setting release processing for priority processing (processing 124) between a plurality of group units of the present invention using a conventional exchange;
FIG. 15 is a partial configuration diagram of a unidirectional connection between endpoint devices using a connection based on a grouping unit of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a procedure diagram of a unidirectional connection setting process between end point devices using a connection by grouping unit of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram of a hierarchization process of the devices in the communication network in FIG.
FIG. 18 is a procedure diagram of unidirectional connection allocation processing in units of grouping to the same branch tree in FIG. 16 of the present invention.
FIG. 19 is another partial configuration diagram of the unidirectional connection between the end point devices using the connection by the grouping unit of the present invention.
FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a method for transferring an IP packet using a unidirectional connection between endpoint devices in a grouping unit according to the present invention.
FIG. 21 is a procedure diagram of initialization processing for an IP packet transfer method using a unidirectional connection between endpoint devices in the grouping unit of FIG. 20 according to the present invention.
FIG. 22 is a transfer procedure diagram of an IP packet transfer method using a unidirectional connection between the end point devices in the grouping unit of FIG.
FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating another IP packet transfer method using a unidirectional connection between endpoint devices in the grouping unit of the present invention.
FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a transfer procedure of an IP packet transfer method using a unidirectional connection between the endpoint devices in the grouping unit of FIG.
FIG. 25 is another IP packet transfer method diagram using a unidirectional connection between endpoint devices in the grouping unit of the present invention.
FIG. 26 is a procedure diagram of an initialization process of an IP packet transfer method using a unidirectional connection between endpoint devices in the grouping unit of FIG. 25 according to the present invention.
27 is a diagram showing a transfer procedure of an IP packet transfer method using a unidirectional connection between endpoint devices in the grouping unit of FIG. 25 according to the present invention.
FIG. 28 is a block diagram of end point connection information for connection setting / release by grouping unit of the present invention.
FIG. 29 is a processing procedure diagram of a connection setting request from an endpoint device using connection setting by grouping unit of the present invention.
FIG. 30 is a processing procedure diagram of a connection release request from an endpoint device using connection setting by grouping unit of the present invention.
FIG. 31 is a sequence diagram of a connection group release process that is periodically started in connection with a connection release request process from an endpoint device using connection setting by grouping unit of the present invention;
FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of one failure recovery method using connection setting by a grouping unit of the present invention.
FIG. 33 is a diagram showing another example of the failure recovery method using the connection setting by the grouping unit of the present invention.
FIG. 34 is a procedure diagram of failure recovery processing using connection setting by a grouping unit according to the present invention.
FIG. 35 is a block diagram of an operation management communication path related to the present invention realized by a connection in a communication network.
FIG. 36 is a block diagram showing a control mechanism of each exchange related to the present invention corresponding to a communication line.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-10, 1-11 ... connection switch type exchange, 2, 2-1, 2-2, 2-8, 2-9 ... communication Line, 3, 3-1-1, 3-1-2, 3-1-3, 3-8-1, 3-9-1, 3-9-2 ... connection, 4 ... switching table, 5 ... connection Identifier conversion mechanism, 6 ... switch mechanism, 7 ... switching table search mechanism, 8 ... communication line control mechanism, 9 ... control mechanism, 10 ... connection setting / release mechanism, 11 ... end point device, 11-1, 11-2, 11 -3, 11-4, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 ... communication terminal device, 11-9 ... gateway device, 12 ... external network, 13 ... network management device, 14 ... operation management network, 15 ... operation Management communication path, 16 ... communication line, 17 ... network structure Information setting means, 18 ... grouped connection management means, 19, 19-1, 19-2, 19-8, 19-9 ... line interface, 20 ... network configuration information, 21 ... connection configuration information, 22 ... initial connection setting Instruction information 23 ... Grouping management instruction information 24 ... Grouping unit value 25 ... Grouping application range information 26 ... IP route information 27 ... IP / connection conversion information 28 ... IP / connection conversion cache 30 ... Connection management information, 31 ... usage status, 32 ... route, 33 ... attribute, 35 ... copy of grouping management instruction information, 36 ... information associated with switching table, 40 ... switching table entry, 41 ... input connection identifier information, 42 ... output line information, 43 ... output connection identifier information, 44 ... connection attributes 45 ... valid bit 46 ... switching mask register 47 ... mask mechanism 48 ... switching information conversion mechanism 49 ... priority determination selection mechanism 50, 50-1, 50-2, ... grouped search Mechanism 51 ... Signal line (input data packet information) 52 ... Signal line (input connection identifier information) 522-1 ... Signal line (raw input connection identifier information) 52-2 ... Signal line (after mask conversion) Input connection identifier information), 53... Signal line (switching table entry search and search result information) 54... Signal line (switching table entry search result information), 54 a, 54 a-1, 54 a-2,. Raw switching table entry search result information), 54b, 54b-1, 54b-2,..., Signal lines (switches after conversion) Ching table entry search result information), 54c... Signal line (priority selected switching table entry search result information), 55, 55b-1, 55b-2,... Signal line (search result valid / invalid information), 55c ... Signal line (search result valid / invalid information after selection), 56, 56-0, 56-1, 56-2, 56-8, 56-9 ... Signal line (output line information, output data packet information), 57 , 57-0, 57-1, 57-2, 57-8, 57-9 ... signal line (output data packet information), 58 ... signal line (switching table entry, switching mask register reference / setting information, IP connection) Conversion information, IP / endpoint connection exchange connection conversion information, IP / endpoint line conversion information), 59, 59-1, 59-2,... Information), 60 ... data packet, 61 ... header, 62 ... connection identifier information, 63 ... end point connection management information, 64 ... destination information, 65 ... attribute information, 66 ... first connection identifier value, 67 ... number of set connections, 68 ... Number of free connections, 69 ... Free connection identifier information, 70 ... Timeout information, 71 ... IP / connection conversion mechanism, 72 ... Connection for IP, 73 ... Connection conversion information between IP and end point connection exchange, 74 ... IP / End point line conversion information 75 ... IP / endpoint line conversion mechanism, 78 ... IP transmission connection, 79 ... IP reception connection, 80 ... unidirectional connection between end point devices, 81 ... unidirectional connection between end point connection exchanges, 82 ... connection for signaling, 83 ... Detour grouping connection group, 84 Management channel connection for 85 ... control connection distributing mechanism, 91,91-1,91-2,91-3,91-4 ... selection circuit, 92 ... comparison circuit, 93 ... signal line (effective priority value).

Claims

Realize multiple logical connections on a single communication line, have a switching table showing the connection exchange relation of connections in each switch, and replace multiple connection of multiple communication lines while replacing the connection identifier that is the identifier of each connection Connection exchange, ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode), and frame relay representative switch is a connection switch type switch,
In the communication network system configured such that the connection switch type exchange is a relay device, a gateway device with a plurality of communication terminal devices or external networks is an end point device, and the plurality of relay devices and a plurality of end point devices are connected by a communication line. Provided in the communication network is a network management device connected to each of the exchanges in the communication network by an operation management network configured by a line different from the communication line, and the network management device is connected to the entire communication network. The connection management means and the connection management information, the connection management means uses the operation management network as an operation management communication path for communicating with each exchange, and the connection management means includes the connection management information. While referring to and updating A fixed number of connections having continuous connection identifiers are grouped into one group, connections in a communication network are managed in the grouping unit, and a single connection identifier is used even for connections that pass through a plurality of exchanges. A connection switch type network control method and apparatus for instructing each exchange to set / release a connection via the operation management communication path in units of connection groups having consecutive connection identifiers.

2. The network management device according to claim 1, wherein the network management device stores and holds network configuration information of the communication network, and stores the network configuration information via the operation management communication path or another communication line connected to the network management device. Has network configuration information setting means to update settings,
As the network configuration information, in addition to the connection configuration information of the end point devices and connection switch type exchanges constituting the communication network and the initial connection setting instruction information for instructing initial connection setting information, connections are grouped in a fixed number of units. Grouping management instruction information including a grouping unit value for instructing a management unit and grouping application range information for instructing a range of connection identifiers to which management in the grouping unit is applied. ,
The grouping connection management means of the network management device, in accordance with the grouping management instruction information stored as the network configuration information, for the connection having the connection identifier specified in the grouping application range of the instruction information In the unit specified by the grouping unit value of information, the connection management information that manages the connection usage status, route, and attribute information is held in the network management device,
The grouping connection management means sends a new connection setting request to the operation management communication path when setting an initial connection according to the instruction of the initial connection setting instruction information or from an end connection connection switch type switch adjacent to the end point device. When receiving the request, the connection management information is referred to by the connection setting instruction or the specification at the time of request, and the grouping unit value of the grouping management instruction information is set as one unit. Allotted consecutive connection identifiers are collectively assigned, a connection switch type switch on the route of the requested connection is identified by referring to the connection configuration information, and an input side communication line is connected to each switch on the route. Connection identifiers that are continuously assigned to the communication line on the output side The connection group with, and instruction through the 該運 for management communication path to the collective connection switching setting from the input communication line on request path to the output communication line,
Each connection switch type exchange has a control mechanism for controlling the exchange connected to the operation management communication path. As one of the control mechanisms, it has a connection setting / release mechanism for setting and releasing a connection. The connection setting / release mechanism of each exchange receives the above instruction, and changes the value of the connection identifier from the designated input communication line to the output communication line using the designated connection identifier group. The switching table of the exchange is collectively set so that the connection is exchanged, and the success / failure result of the setting is returned to the grouped connection management means of the network management device via the operation management communication path,
The connection switch type network control method and apparatus, wherein the grouped connection management means receives the success / failure results from each of the exchanges and updates connection management information based on the success / failure results.

3. The grouping connection management means of the network management device according to claim 1, wherein the grouping connection management unit receives a connection release request for the grouping unit from an end point connection connection switch type switch adjacent to the end point device via an operation management communication path. When the initial connection is changed due to a configuration change or when a connection needs to be released due to a failure or abnormality, the grouped connection management means refers to the connection management information, and Identify each connection switch type switch on the route of the connection release target part of the connection, and instruct each switch on the route to release the connection group in a grouping unit at the time of setting the connection,
In each exchange receiving the instruction, the connection setting / release mechanism of each exchange receives the instruction, and the connection setting / release mechanism adds an entry corresponding to the designated connection group in the switching table of the exchange. Clear all at once, release the connection group in a designated grouping unit, return the success / failure result to the grouping connection management means of the network management device via the operation management communication path,
The connection switch type network control method and apparatus, wherein the grouped connection management means receives the success / failure result from each of the exchanges and updates the connection management information based on the success / failure result.

2. The connection management means of the network management device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of grouping unit values having a multiple / divisor relationship are handled, and the connection management information is individually associated with each grouping unit value. Each connection management information holds the management information of the connection in the communication network set in the corresponding grouping unit,
The connection management means instructs each exchange in the communication network to set / release the connection group in the unit of the grouping unit value for the same communication line of the same exchange. When a connection group with another grouping unit value having a connection identifier of the connection group to be released has already been set, each switch is given priority so that the setting of the connection with the smallest grouping unit value is valid. A connection switch type network control method and apparatus characterized by instructing.

In Claims 1-3, as the network configuration information of the network management device, each grouping unit value information holds a plurality of grouping management instruction information having a multiple / divisor relationship,
The grouping connection management means of the network management device specifies the connection usage status, connection route, and attribute information for a group having connection identifiers in a specified range in accordance with each group management instruction information. Each of the connection management information managed in
The grouped connection management means sends a new connection setting request to the operation management communication when setting a connection by initial setting according to the instruction of the initial connection setting instruction information or from an end connection connection switch type switch adjacent to the end point device. When receiving a connection release request in grouping units via an operation management communication path from an end-point connection connection switch type switch adjacent to the end-point device, or when receiving an initial setting connection by configuration change When it is necessary to release a connection due to a change, failure, or abnormality, it is explicitly or instructed which grouping management instruction information of the grouping management instruction information is used. From the relationship between the connection identifier and grouping management instruction information, In response to the selection instruction, the grouping unit value of the selected grouping management instruction information according to the selection instruction is used as one unit to set and release a connection group having continuous connection identifiers. Instruct the connection switch type switch above via the operation management communication path,
In response to the connection group setting / release instruction, the connection setting / release mechanism of each exchange connects and exchanges the designated connection group to the designated communication line path using the designated connection identifier group in accordance with the instruction. Setting or releasing the settings in the switching table for connection connection exchange for
Furthermore, when setting a connection with a plurality of grouping unit values having the same connection identifier for the same communication line of the same switch, or a connection setting with a plurality of grouping unit values having the same connection identifier has already been made. When releasing a connection in a grouping unit with the connection identifier in the state, when the grouped connection management unit sees each connection within the range where the connection identifiers overlap, the connection identifier is displayed. Set / release the connection setting / release mechanism of the connection switch type switch on the connection route so that the connection setting with the smallest grouping unit value is valid among the connection settings of multiple grouping units included in the range. Features to direct Connection Switched network control method and apparatus for.

An exchange for connecting and exchanging a plurality of communication lines, wherein the exchange is connected to an adjacent device such as another exchange or a communication terminal device or a gateway device to another network that are adjacently connected via the communication line. An exchange having a function of setting a plurality of logical connections in each communication line connecting to a device and connecting and exchanging two connections connected to the exchange or two of the connections set in one communication line Yes, for each connection pair to be connected and exchanged, the exchange determines the connection on the output side of the connection exchange destination from the communication line information of the communication line used by the connection on the input side and the connection identifier assigned to the input connection. Correspondence relationship between communication line information of communication line to be used and connection identifier assigned to the output connection, and Individual switching table representing the attribute information of optional the connection connected in correspondence with each communication line, or one in the exchange, has,
Further, for the data packet corresponding to each communication line and transmitted through the input side communication line, the switching table is obtained from the communication line information of the corresponding communication line and the connection identifier information written in the header portion of the data packet. And a switching table search mechanism that returns search result valid / invalid information information indicating valid / invalid of the search result and switching table entry information corresponding to the search valid.
If the search result valid / invalid information information from the switching table search mechanism indicates that the search is valid, the connection identifier information portion of the data packet header using the search result valid / invalid information information of the switching table search mechanism for the input data packet A connection identifier conversion mechanism having a correspondence with the line that rewrites the connection identifier of the connection on the output side of the connection exchange destination, and using the search result, the data packet is transferred from the input communication line to the output communication line of the connection exchange destination. A switch mechanism for exchanging connections; a control mechanism connected to the switch mechanism with a special signal line; and a connection setting / release mechanism as one of the control mechanisms. Special connection via the signal line at the initial setting of the switching table It is set to be exchanged for a signaling connection having an identifier, and the switching table is updated by a request received through the signaling connection to set and release a new connection. Connection switch type exchange
The connection switch type exchange further has a switching mask register whose value can be set via the signal line from the connection setting / release mechanism corresponding to the switching table,
Further, the connection switch type exchange has a mask mechanism, and the mask mechanism is a mechanism for ANDing the connection identifier information in the header of the input data packet with the contents of the switching mask register, and the connection identifier information of the input data packet. Instead of directly inputting into the switching table search mechanism, the switching table is searched using the result of passing through the mask mechanism as an input to the switching table search mechanism,
Further, the connection switch type exchange has a switching information conversion mechanism, and the switching information conversion mechanism receives the switching table entry information as a search result from the switching table search mechanism and outputs the switching table entry information as the search result. Side connection identifier information is a value obtained by ANDing the value obtained by bit-inverting the value of the switching mask register and the connection identifier information of the input data packet, and further, in the output side connection identifier information of the switching table entry information of the search result. It is a mechanism that converts it to an ORed value,
The result of the switching information conversion mechanism is input to the connection identifier conversion mechanism as a new search result, and when the search is valid, the connection identifier of the input data packet is rewritten, and the output communication line information of the search result And a switch mechanism for switching a data packet processed by the connection identifier conversion mechanism from an input communication line to an output communication line as a connection exchange destination .

7. The connection switch type exchange according to claim 6, wherein the switching table, the switching mask register, the mask mechanism, and the switching information conversion mechanism according to claim 6 are set as one set, and a plurality of such sets are provided as a grouping search mechanism. In the computerized search mechanism, after the respective switching tables are simultaneously searched by the method according to claim 6, the search result is converted by each switching information conversion mechanism, and the exchange has a priority determination selection mechanism, and the priority The decision selection mechanism takes the search result valid / invalid information information of the switching table search mechanism of each of the above grouped search mechanisms and the switching table entry information of the search result after conversion by the switching information conversion mechanism as input, and the conversion search result valid A switch where invalid information indicates that the search is valid. Grouping table entry information, the priority determination according to the priority fixed between the grouping search mechanisms in advance, or the value of each switching mask register of each of the above grouping search mechanisms is input, and the value is As an unsigned integer, a priority determination is made with the priority of the search result of the grouped search mechanism corresponding to the larger value, and the search result is valid and prioritized from the search results of the plurality of grouped search mechanisms. Search result valid / invalid information that selects one switching table entry having the highest degree, outputs the selection result, and ORs all the search result valid / invalid information information to indicate the validity of the selection result. Output as information,
The selection result and search result valid / invalid information information of the priority determination / selection mechanism are input to the connection identifier conversion mechanism as new search results and search result valid / invalid information information, and if the search is valid, an input data packet In addition, the data packet processed by the connection identifier conversion mechanism is connected from the input communication line using the output communication line information of the switching table entry of the selection result of the priority determination and selection mechanism. A connection switch type network control method and apparatus having a switch mechanism for exchanging connections to an output communication line of a switching destination.

The communication network according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is configured by using the connection switch type exchange according to any one of claims 6 and 7, each grouping unit value is a power of 2, and the grouping connection management means of the network management device Instructs the connection setting / release mechanism of each connection switch type switch in the network at the time of initial setting via the operation management communication path, and the priority control between the grouping search mechanisms of the switch is fixed. If the grouping unit value is smaller, specify which grouping search mechanism switching mask register to set while considering using a higher priority grouping search mechanism (each Switching of individual grouping search mechanism corresponding to each grouping unit with the value of grouping unit value-1) Set the register, wait for a reply of the completion of the initial setting from each of the exchanges, the correspondence between each grouping unit performed in the initial setting process and the switching table of each grouping search mechanism, each grouping unit Store as switching table correspondence information in the corresponding connection management information,
After the initial setting, the grouping connection management means of the network management device refers to the switching table correspondence information stored at the time of the initial setting, and when the connection setting / release processing instruction to each switch is instructed, which grouping search mechanism In accordance with the instruction, the switching setting / release mechanism of each switching unit updates the specified switching table entry in each switching unit and specifies the one grouping unit. A connection switch type network control method and apparatus for setting and releasing a connection group.

In Claims 4 and 5, each switch of the communication network is configured by a conventional connection switch type switch having neither the grouping search mechanism nor the priority determination / selection mechanism,
When the grouping connection management means of the network management device issues a setting / release instruction for a connection in a certain grouping unit,
The grouped connection management means of the network management apparatus starts with step 0. First, when setting an initial connection, the range of all connection identifier spaces is set, and when setting or releasing a connection after initialization, the setting / release is performed. The range of connection identifier groups to be used, and the start connection identifier values and end connection identifier values of all grouped connections to be set or to be set included in the range, and both end points of the range. As a change point, create a change point list that sorts the change points in ascending order of the value of the change point,
Next, as step 1, the grouping unit value of the connection setup / release request is stored as an influence grouping unit value.
Next, as step 2, for the change point on the start side of the both end points of the above range, a connection having the connection identifier of the change point is searched, and if there is a corresponding connection, start setting the change point Stores as a value, stores the minimum grouping unit value in the connection as the set grouping unit value, and jumps to step 4; if there is no corresponding connection, the start of the above range as the setting end point Memorize the value of the change point on the side,
Next, in step 3, following the setting end point in the change list, the next change point having a value different from the setting end point is stored as a setting start point. Instructs the exchange on the connection release path to release the connection group having the connection identifier from the setting end point to the setting start point, and further, the smallest grouping unit among the connections having the setting start point as the connection identifier Store the value as a setting grouping unit value,
Next, as step 4, according to the change list, the change points following the setting start point are checked in order, and the grouping unit value of the connection having the change point as a connection identifier is equal to or less than the set grouping unit value. The minimum change point or the minimum change point that is the end point of the connection group corresponding to the setting start point is searched. Next, as step 5, the influence grouping unit value stored in step 1 and the previous period setting are searched. Compared with the grouping unit value, if the setting grouping unit value is equal to or greater than the influence grouping unit value and the connection setting process, the connection setting instruction from the setting start point to the change point obtained in step 4 is issued. When the corresponding switch is instructed and the setting grouping unit value is less than the influence grouping unit value and the connection release processing, the setting start point Indicates the connection setting instruction to the corresponding switch to Luo said change point,
Next, as Step 6, it is checked whether or not the change point obtained in Step 4 is the last change point in the change list. If it is the last change point, the process is terminated. For the change point, a connection having the connection identifier of the change point is searched, and when there is a corresponding connection, the change point is stored as a setting start point, and the smallest grouping unit in the connection is stored. A value is stored as a set grouping unit value, and the process returns to step 4. Conversely, when there is no corresponding connection, the change point is stored as a setting end point, and the process returns to step 3 is used. Connection switch type network control method and apparatus.

The connection exchange of the connection group having the grouping unit value larger than the grouping unit value, including the connection identifier of the connection group simultaneously with the setting of the connection exchange of the connection group having a certain grouping unit value. A connection switch type network control method and apparatus having a setting for the same communication line of the same exchange.

6. An exchange according to claim 4, wherein a connection group of a grouping unit connected to the exchange has a grouping unit that is a divisor relationship with the grouping unit, and the total number of connections is a connection of the connection group. A connection switch type network control method and apparatus characterized by distributing connections to a plurality of connection groups smaller than the number and managing connections remaining without being distributed connection as backups.

The communication network system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the end point device is connected to the level 0 device, the end point connection exchange connected adjacent to the end point device is connected to the level 1 device, and the level 1 device. Switches that do not belong to level 1 devices are connected to level 2 devices in the same manner, and switches that do not belong to devices below level n-1 are hierarchically classified in the form of level n devices. When setting up one unidirectional connection between end points between each level 0 device,
The end-to-end unidirectional connection has a unique connection identifier for each destination end-point device, and the end-to-end uni-directional connections from each end-point device toward the same destination end-point device are all many-to-one connections having the same connection identifier. And for all hierarchy level i devices with i> = 1, the end-to-end unidirectional connections from the level i device to each level (i-1) device have consecutive connection identifiers, and A suitable number of connection identifiers are reserved in the level i device for connection expansion of future devices, and the end points are unidirectional from the level i device to each level (i-1) device including the reservation. The total number of connection identifiers of connections is a multiple of a certain number of grouping units, and the level (i-1) device is used in the grouping unit. And a reserved connection identifier is assigned, and a connection group having the connection identifier assigned as described above is set in the grouping unit from all level (i + 1) devices adjacent to the level i device to the level i device. The level i exchange distributes the connection group from each level (i + 1) device to the level i device to each connection or connection group from the level i device to each level (i-1) device. Connect and
Furthermore, each end point device connected to the unidirectional connection using a certain grouping unit connection from the upper layer to the lower layer set in the above process with a connection group having the same or larger grouping unit value. A connection switch type network control method and apparatus, characterized in that a unidirectional connection between end point devices is formed in a form.

Instead of the unidirectional connection between end points of claim 12, the level 1 device is considered as an end point device, and the unidirectional connection between the end point connection exchanges in which the level of each device is virtually lowered by one is provided. Connection switch type network control method and apparatus.

13. The terminal device according to claim 12, which corresponds to each IP (Internet Protocol) address or group of IP addresses, and which unidirectional connection between end point devices according to claim 12 is used to deliver data to the device corresponding to the IP address. The IP / connection conversion information shown is held in an end point device of the communication network, or an end point connection exchange connected to the end point device, and the unidirectional connection between the end point devices according to claim 12, using the IP / connection conversion information. A connection switch type network control method and apparatus, characterized in that each end point device or each end point connection exchange delivers IP data.

13. The IP route information according to claim 12, which indicates to which end point device IP data corresponding to each IP address or group of IP addresses and having a corresponding destination IP address should be sent, or through which end point device should be sent In the network management device, and the grouping connection management means of the network management device uses the IP route information and the connection management information, and from each IP address or IP address group, the destination between the endpoint devices set by the initial setting. IP / connection conversion information to be converted into a connection identifier of a unidirectional connection between end point devices destined for the end point device is created, and the grouped connection management means is an end point connection connection switch that connects the IP / connection conversion information adjacent to the end point device. Sent to type switch via operation management channel , Each endpoint connect switch that received with said transmission holds the IP · connection transformation information,
Each of the end point connection exchanges further has an IP / connection conversion mechanism as one of the control mechanisms, and the IP / connection conversion mechanism is between each end point device to which the end point connection switch is adjacently connected. Each endpoint device uses the IP connection to transmit IP data to the endpoint connection exchange, and receives the IP data. The mechanism searches the IP / connection conversion information held in the end point connection exchange using the destination IP address in the IP header of the received IP data as a key, and connects the end point unidirectional connection to the corresponding destination end point device. Take out the identifier and use the connection with the unidirectional connection identifier between the endpoints to Characterized by distributing an IP data, connection switched network control method and device.

13. The IP path according to claim 12, which indicates to which endpoint device to which IP data having a corresponding destination IP address should be sent or which endpoint device should be sent in correspondence with each IP address or group of IP addresses. Information is held in the network management device, and the grouping connection management means of the network management device uses the IP route information and connection management information, and from each IP address or IP address group, between the end point devices set by the initial setting. IP / connection conversion information to be converted into a connection identifier of a unidirectional connection between end point devices destined for the destination end point device is created, and the grouped connection management means connects the end point device to the end point connection connection adjacent to the end point device. Send to switch type switch via operation management channel And, each endpoint connect switch that received with said transmission holds the IP · connection transformation information,
Each of the endpoint connection exchanges further has an IP / connection conversion mechanism as one of the control mechanisms, and the IP / connection conversion mechanism is between each of the endpoint devices to which the endpoint connection exchange is adjacently connected. Connected by an IP connection having a value IP connection identifier,
Each end point device holds part of the IP / connection conversion information corresponding to the destination IP address of the IP data transmitted in the past as an IP / connection conversion cache. When the translation cache is searched and there is no entry corresponding to the destination IP address of the IP data in the cache, first, the destination IP address is obtained using the IP connection to obtain the corresponding IP / connection translation information. The information is transmitted to the IP / connection conversion mechanism, and the IP / connection conversion mechanism, which has received the destination IP address information, searches the IP / connection conversion information held in each end-point exchange and searches for the IP / connection conversion result. Return connection conversion information to the requesting endpoint device,
The end point device that has received the response stores the returned IP / connection conversion information in the IP / connection conversion cache, and based on the corresponding conversion information registered in the IP / connection conversion cache, between the corresponding end points. A connection switch type network control method and apparatus characterized by finding a unidirectional connection identifier and transmitting the IP data to an adjacent endpoint connection exchange using a connection having the unidirectional connection identifier between the end points.

17. The IP / connection conversion according to claim 16, wherein each terminal connection exchange receives the IP / connection conversion information from the grouping connection management means of the network management apparatus, or the terminal apparatus transmits the IP / connection conversion via the IP connection. When a request for information is sent to the endpoint connection exchange, the endpoint connection exchange sends the IP / connection conversion information to each endpoint device or the requested endpoint device via an IP connection. The end point device holds the whole, not a part of the IP / connection conversion information, as a cache,
When the endpoint device transmits IP data, the endpoint device finds a corresponding unidirectional connection identifier between endpoints based on the cache information that holds the entire IP / connection conversion information held in the endpoint device, and the endpoint device A connection switch type network control method and apparatus for transmitting the IP data to an adjacent endpoint connection exchange using a connection having a unidirectional connection identifier.

14. The IP address according to claim 13, corresponding to each IP address or group of IP addresses, and indicating which end-point connected exchange unidirectional connection according to claim 13 should be used to deliver data to a device corresponding to the IP address.・ Connection conversion information between end-point exchanges,
Corresponding to each IP address or IP address group, it indicates the correspondence between each endpoint connection exchange to which communication line connected to the endpoint device and data can be delivered to the device corresponding to the IP address. Have the end point line conversion information in each end point switch of the communication network,
14. Each terminal connection exchange uses the IP / endpoint connection exchange connection conversion information and the IP / endpoint line conversion information to deliver IP data via the end point device unidirectional connection according to claim 13. A connection switch type network control method and apparatus.

14. The end point connection switch and the end point device according to claim 13, wherein, corresponding to each IP address or IP address group, IP data having a corresponding IP address should be sent to which end point device through which end point connection switch The network management device has IP route information indicating whether it should be sent through the network management device, and the grouped connection management means of the network management device uses the IP route information and connection management information to initialize from each IP address or IP address group. IP-to-endpoint connection exchange connection conversion information to be converted into a connection identifier of a unidirectional connection between the endpoint exchanges addressed to the destination end-point exchange between the endpoint connection exchanges set in step 1, and further, the IP route information and connection configuration Each IP address or IP address Corresponding to the network group, IP / endpoint line conversion information indicating which communication line should be transferred to the destination end point device from the destination end point exchange of each IP data is created, and the grouped connection management means For each end point connection switch type switch that is adjacently connected to the end point device, the IP / end point connection exchange conversion information and the IP / end point line conversion information corresponding to the end point connection switch are sent to the operation management communication path. Each endpoint connection exchange that has received the transmission holds the connection conversion information between the IP and the endpoint connection exchange and the IP / endpoint line conversion information,
Each of the endpoint connection exchanges further has an IP / connection conversion mechanism and an IP / endpoint line conversion mechanism as one of the control mechanisms, and is unidirectional between the endpoint connection exchanges destined for the endpoint connection exchange set in the initial setting. The connection is connected to the IP / endpoint line conversion mechanism, and the IP / connection conversion mechanism and the IP / endpoint line conversion mechanism are for IP having a certain value with each end point device to which the end point connection exchange is adjacently connected. Connected by an IP connection with a connection identifier,
Each endpoint device transmits the IP data to the endpoint connection exchange using the IP connection, and the IP / connection conversion mechanism that receives the IP data receives the destination IP address in the IP header of the received IP data. Is used as a key to retrieve the IP-to-endpoint connection exchange conversion information held in the endpoint connection exchange, to extract the unidirectional connection identifier between the endpoint connection exchanges toward the corresponding destination end point exchange, and to Use a connection with a direction connection identifier to deliver IP data to the destination endpoint connection exchange,
In the destination end point exchange, the IP / end point line conversion mechanism receives the IP data transmitted from the source end point connection exchange through the unidirectional connection between the end point connection exchanges, and the IP / end point line conversion mechanism A connection switch type network control method characterized by referring to the IP / endpoint line conversion information and transmitting the IP data to the end point device connected to the communication line corresponding to the IP data via the IP connection. And equipment.

6. The connection setup / release mechanism of each endpoint connection exchange adjacently connected to the endpoint device buffers the connection setup request from the endpoint device and sets in a new connection setting unit that is a multiple of a certain grouping unit. For each connection group, the connection group setting information and end point connection management information for managing the presence or absence of assignment to the end point device of each connection,
When the connection setup / release mechanism receives a new connection setup request from an adjacent endpoint device via a signaling connection, the connection setup / release mechanism checks the endpoint connection management information to determine a free connection whose destination and attribute conditions meet the request. The end point connection management information is searched, and if the end point connection management information matching the condition is not found, the grouped connection management means of the network management device is Requests setting of the number of connection groups corresponding to the number of new connection setting units having the request attribute from the endpoint connection exchange to the requested destination device in a grouping unit corresponding to the new connection setting unit, and is obtained from the grouped connection management means. The assigned connection group is unassigned to the endpoint device. Register to point connection management information,
Using the end point connection management information discovered by the search or newly registered, the necessary number of connections are selected from the management information, the management information is updated, and the exchange to the destination selected by the above processing. A connection switch type network control method, wherein a switching table is set to connect to a requesting endpoint device with the same connection identifier as the connection, and the set connection identifier is reported to the requesting endpoint device And equipment.

In claim 20, each endpoint connection management information further includes timeout information for releasing a connection group, and when a connection release request is received from a neighboring endpoint device via a signaling connection, The connection setup / release mechanism retrieves the end point connection management information corresponding to the connection identifier of the release request, and the end request connection information of the end point connection management information of the search result is assigned to the end point device. The connection is updated so that the connection is unassigned, the entry corresponding to the connection in the switching table of the exchange is invalidated, and the number of new connection setting units corresponding to the end point connection management information of the search result Consisting of When all connections in the connection group are unassigned to the end point device, timeout information for releasing the connection group is set in the end point connection management information, and the connection setting / release is performed separately from the above processing. The mechanism periodically checks each end point connection management information in a state where all the corresponding connection groups are unassigned, and there is a connection group corresponding to the end point connection management information based on the timeout information set in the above process. If it is determined that all unassigned statuses continue for a certain period or longer, grouping corresponding to the above new connection setting unit is made to the grouping connection management means of the network management device via the operation management communication path. The connection corresponding to the endpoint connection management information in units Group all release requests, connection switched network control method and device and deletes the said end point connection management information.

6. The grouping according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of grouping unit values are used and a connection group of a certain grouping unit value for a normal route includes a connection identifier of the connection group and is larger than the grouping unit value. A connection group that has a detour connection group set in advance using a unit value connection group, and the grouping connection management means of the network management device has in the network management device when a failure occurs in the communication network Refer to the management information and connection configuration information to identify the faulty connection group and fault path affected by the fault, and further refer to the connection management information to determine a grouping unit larger than the grouping unit value of the faulty connection group A connection group that bypasses the failed connection group by value has already been set. If the detour connection group has already been set, the switch on the failed path is instructed to invalidate the connection exchange corresponding to the failed connection group via the operation management communication path. A connection switch type network control method and apparatus for updating the connection management information in response to the invalidation.

6. When a failure occurs in the communication network according to claim 1, the grouping connection management means of the network management device refers to the connection management information and connection configuration information that the network management device has, and The faulty connection group and the faulty route that are affected are identified with reference to the connection management information, and there is already a connection group that bypasses the faulty connection group with a grouping unit value larger than the grouping unit value of the faulty connection group. If the bypass connection group is not set, refer to the connection configuration information and the connection management information, determine the bypass route, consider the conditions such as bandwidth, and connect the connection of the faulty connection group. Use the identifier as it is as a connection identifier for detours, or The connection identifier for the detour is allocated if necessary, and the connection exchange of the detour connection group having the detour connection identifier is performed in the grouping unit of the failed connection group. After instructing each switch located in the middle of the route via the operation management communication path and completing the setting of the detour connection group for each switch in the middle of the route, next, the source side of the detour route or the faulty connection If the group is a bidirectional connection, consider one of the bypass paths as the source side, and connect the connection group connected to the faulty connection group to the switch or end point device located at the source side end of the bypass path. The connection is exchanged to the bypass connection group set in the above process with the same grouping unit value as the faulty connection group. After completing the setting of the source side exchange or the end point device, the connection group connected to the failed connection group is connected to the destination side exchange or the end point device which is the other end of the detour path. Instructing the detour connection group set in the above processing to exchange connections with the same grouping unit value as the fault connection group, and finally updating the connection management information in accordance with the setting of the detour path A connection switch type network control method and apparatus.

6. The network management device according to claim 1, wherein the network management device is directly connected to the communication network relayed by a connection switch type switch using a communication line in the same manner as the end point device or each switch. 6. Each connection switch type exchange in the communication network is connected to the network management device by a connection using the network, and the operation management connection is managed in place of the operation management communication path by the management operation network according to claim 1-5. A connection switch type network control method and apparatus for use as a communication path.

20. The connection setting / release mechanism according to claim 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 20, 21 or the IP / connection conversion mechanism according to claim 15, 16, 19 or 19, which is a control mechanism. A control connection distribution mechanism that has the IP / endpoint line conversion mechanism described above corresponding to each communication line of each connection switch type switch, and further distributes only the data packets of the connection addressed to the control mechanism to each mechanism within the corresponding control mechanism. A connection switch type network control method and apparatus characterized by comprising:

The connection management information according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the network management devices are provided in the communication network, and the connection management information according to claim 1 managed in an integrated manner throughout the communication network, in a manner similar to a distributed database. A connection switch characterized in that each network management device has a cache whose consistency is controlled between the network management devices, and each network management device shares processing within a range of connection identifiers or exchanges Network control method and apparatus.