JP7513102B2 - Link setting device, link setting method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a link setting device, a link setting method, and a program.

Common channel signaling is the prevalent signaling protocol in public switched telephone networks around the world. That is, public switched telephone networks use a protocol defined as common channel signaling to communicate control information related to the establishment of calls on a communication path. In today's public switched telephone networks, common channel signaling is completely separate from voice and is transmitted between switches over a network that is separate from voice.

In recent years, it has been envisaged that a communication network will be constructed that passes through an IP (Internet Protocol) network in order to transmit common channel signals.
Non-Patent Document 1 describes SIGTRAN (signaling transport), a technology for converting common lines to IP. Non-Patent Document 2 shows SCTP (Stream Control Transmission Protocol) association (connection) technology in SIGTRAN. Note that, for resolving IP addresses required for establishing SCTP associations, it is assumed that, for example, device Config is used, or DNS (Domain Name System) is used to determine IP addresses from domain names.

"TTC TR-1005 SIGTRAN Technical Report", [online], [accessed 2020.08.14], Internet <URL:https://www.ttc.or.jp/application/files/5415/5435/4555/TR-1005v1.pdf> “RFC4960 Stream Control Transmission Protocol”, [online], [accessed 2020.08.14], Internet <URL:https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc4960> Kosuke Watanabe, "A Study on Link Setting Methods for IP-based Common Lines," Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, 2020 General Conference, B-6-40, March 2020

Non-Patent Document 3 describes a method for setting up an accommodation link that converts a common line link to an IP. When converting a common line link to an IP, the system ensures redundancy by using multiple logical links. In this case, in order to ensure the reliability of the transfer device, the device is distributed, but the setting of the accommodation link becomes complicated, and a certain number of man-hours are required for the design work and the test to confirm the same communication.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to automate the design and setting of accommodation links.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 provides a link setting device for allocating a plurality of logical links having different routes in a communication system for transferring a common channel signal that controls a connection between a plurality of exchanges via an IP network, the link setting device comprising: a first table that is installed at each base and manages addresses of a plurality of signal transfer points connected to the IP network , point codes indicating each of the bases , and registration IDs that identify the signal transfer points installed at each base; a signal transfer point determination unit that refers to the first table and assigns each link established between each exchange and each IP conversion device that connects each exchange to the IP network to ports indicated by consecutive port numbers in each of the IP conversion devices, calculates the port numbers, and determines which of a plurality of signal transfer points installed at the same base is to be selected; and a port determination unit that determines the port of the signal transfer point to which the port of each of the IP conversion devices is to be connected.
Other means will be described in the description of the embodiment of the invention.

The present invention makes it possible to automate the design and configuration of accommodation links.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an IP-based communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a point code conversion table required to generate a logical link of a common line. FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a port management table. FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram of an IP-based communication system. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a link setting device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present invention relates to a communication system that transfers common channel signals that control connections between multiple exchanges via an IP network. In this invention, the destination of an IP-STP (Signal Transfer Point) is specified based on the port number of an IP conversion device and the number of IP-STP (Signal Transfer Point) entries with the same point code that a link setting device has. This makes it possible to design the accommodation of IP-STP (Signal Transfer Point). The link setting device assigns multiple logical links with different routes.
In the following embodiments, the IP-STP may be referred to as a signaling transfer point.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an IP-based communication system according to this embodiment.
This communication system is configured to include a plurality of exchanges 2a to 2c, a plurality of IP conversion devices 3a to 3b, a plurality of signal transfer points 4a to 4f, and a link setting device 1. The signal transfer points 4a to 4f in Fig. 1 are located at the same base. The link setting device 1 manages the signal transfer points 4a to 4f as point code information α. Note that this communication system includes signal transfer points having other point code information and a number of exchanges, but these are omitted from the illustration.

The link setting device 1 designs links between a plurality of IP conversion devices 3a-3b and a plurality of signal transfer points 4a-4f and sets the designed links in each device. The link setting device 1 is a computer equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a storage device (not shown).
The exchanges 2a to 2c connect telephone sets to each other.

The IP conversion devices 3a to 3b have a function of converting common line signals of the exchanges 2a to 2c, etc. into IP signals, and a function of inversely converting the IP-converted common line signals, thereby connecting the exchanges 2a to 2c, etc. to an IP network.
The signaling transfer points 4a to 4f are part of the nodes that make up the IP network.

Link 51a is a path that logically connects between exchange 2a and IP conversion device 3a. Link 51b is a path that logically connects between exchange 2a and IP conversion device 3b. Link 52a is a path that logically connects between exchange 2b and IP conversion device 3a. Link 52b is a path that logically connects between exchange 2b and IP conversion device 3b. Link 53a is a path that logically connects between exchange 2c and IP conversion device 3a. Link 53b is a path that logically connects between exchange 2c and IP conversion device 3b. In reality, there are three or more exchanges, so many more links are established between the exchanges and the IP conversion devices.

The link 61a is a path that logically connects the IP conversion device 3a and the signaling transfer point 4a, and connects the signaling transfer point 4a to the exchange 2a via the link 51a.
The link 62a is a path that logically connects the IP conversion device 3a and the signaling transfer point 4e, and connects the signaling transfer point 4e to the exchange 2b via the link 52a.
The link 63a is a path that logically connects the IP conversion device 3a and the signaling transfer point 4f, and connects the signaling transfer point 4f to the exchange 2c via the link 53a.

The link 61b is a path that logically connects the IP conversion device 3b and the signaling transfer point 4b, and connects the signaling transfer point 4b to the exchange 2a via the link 51b.
The link 62b is a path that logically connects the IP conversion device 3b and the signaling transfer point 4f, and connects the signaling transfer point 4f to the exchange 2b via the link 53b.
The link 63b is a path that logically connects the IP conversion device 3b and the signaling transfer point 4e, and connects the signaling transfer point 4e to the exchange 2c via the link 52b.

These links 61a to 63a and links 61b to 63b are designed by the link setting device 1 described above, and the results of that design are set in each device. The link setting device 1 performs accommodation design to assign links so as to distribute the load to the signal transfer points at each base based on point code information. In this way, the link setting device 1 can automate the accommodation design and setting of the signal transfer points, reducing labor hours.

Requirements
The accommodation design of the exchanges 2a to 2c to the signal transfer points 4a to 4f is premised on the distribution of the load on the processing performance of the signal transfer points 4a to 4f. The link setting device 1 performs the accommodation design taking into consideration the past records of the traffic volume and the like in the sections from the exchanges 2a to 2c to the signal transfer points 4a to 4f.

"Solution"
The link setting device 1 designates the allocation destination based on the port numbers of the IP conversion devices 3a and 3b and the number of registered signal transfer points at the same site. In other words, the link setting device 1 designates the signal transfer point logically connected to the port by the remainder obtained by dividing the port numbers of the IP conversion devices 3a and 3b by the number of entries of signal transfer points with the same point code (PC).

For example, consider the case where the port number of IP conversion device 3a is 30001 and the number of registered signal transfer points is 6. Since the remainder when 30001 is divided by 6 is 1, the link setting device 1 determines that the signal transfer point that is the destination of port number 30001 of IP conversion device 3a has a registration ID of 1. In this case, signal transfer point 4a is selected.

Consider also the case where the port number of IP conversion device 3a is 30005 and the number of registered signal transfer points is 6. Since the remainder when 30005 is divided by 6 is 5, the link setting device 1 determines that the signal transfer point that is the destination of port number 30005 of IP conversion device 3a has a registration ID of 5. In this case, signal transfer point 4e is selected.

The port numbers used by the IP conversion device 3a are actually consecutive. The IP conversion device 3a assigns port numbers to the links established with each exchange in order. The signal transfer point is determined by the remainder obtained by dividing consecutive port numbers, so that the load on each signal transfer point is uniform.
This allows the link setting device 1 to mechanically assign links so that the loads of the signal transfer points are equalized using a simple calculation method. Note that the link setting device 1 only needs to calculate port numbers and assign them so that the loads of the signal transfer points are equalized, and is not limited to using the remainder of division.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the point code conversion table 18 required to generate a logical link of a common line.
The point code conversion table 18 is a first table, which includes a point code column, a registration ID column, and an IP address column, and is stored in a storage device (not shown) of the link setting device 1. Each row of this point code conversion table 18 corresponds to a signaling transfer point.

The point code field stores the point code that indicates the location where this signal transfer point is installed. The registration ID field stores a number that identifies this signal transfer point, where each location is assigned a sequential number starting from 0. The IP address field stores the IP address of this signal transfer point.

The first row of the point code conversion table 18 stores information related to the signal transfer point 4a, with α stored in the point code column, 1 stored in the registration ID column, and 172.10.100.1 stored in the IP address column. In other words, this indicates that the IP address of the signal transfer point 4a is 172.10.100.1 and the registration ID is 1.

The second row of the point code conversion table 18 stores information related to the signal transfer point 4b, with α stored in the point code column, 2 stored in the registration ID column, and 172.10.100.2 stored in the IP address column. This indicates that the IP address of the signal transfer point 4b is 172.10.100.2 and the registration ID is 2.

Similarly, information related to the signaling transfer points 4c to 4f is stored in the third to sixth rows of the point code conversion table 18. And information related to other signaling transfer points related to the point code β is stored from the seventh row onwards.
The point code conversion table 18 is installed at each base station, and manages the addresses, serial numbers, and point codes indicating the base stations of a plurality of signal transfer points connected to the IP network.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the port management table 19. As shown in FIG.
The port management table 19 is a second table, and includes an address (STP Addr) column, a port (STP Port) column, and an available/busy management column of the signaling transfer point 4. Each row of the port management table 19 corresponds to each port of the signaling transfer point 4, and manages whether or not this port is available.

In the first row of the port management table 19, 172.10.100.1 is stored in the address column, 30001 is stored in the port column, and "Used" is stored in the available/busy management column. This indicates that port 30001 of the signal transfer point 4a is blocked.

In the second row of the port management table 19, 172.10.100.1 is stored in the address column, 30002 is stored in the port column, and "Used" is stored in the available/busy management column. This indicates that port 30002 of the signal transfer point 4a is blocked.

In the third row of the port management table 19, 172.10.100.1 is stored in the address column, 30003 is stored in the port column, and "NOT Used" is stored in the availability management column. This indicates that port 30003 of the signal transfer point 4a is available.

In the fourth row of the port management table 19, 172.10.100.1 is stored in the address column, 30004 is stored in the port column, and "NOT Used" is stored in the availability management column. This indicates that port 30004 of the signal transfer point 4a is available.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of an IP-based communication system.
The IP conversion device 3 notifies the link setting device 1 of its own IP address, port number and point code of the connection destination, and requests the IP address and port number of the signal transfer point 4 to be connected (S10).

The link setting device 1 specifies the signaling transfer point 4 to which the port of the IP conversion device 3 is to be connected by the processing of steps S11 to S15.
The link setting device 1 notifies the point code conversion table 18 of the point code, requests the number of registered signal transfer points 4 (S11), and receives a notification of the number of registered signal transfer points 4 related to the point code from the point code conversion table 18 (S12). This enables the link setting device 1 to distribute the load to all signal transfer points installed at bases.

Then, the link setting device 1 determines the registration ID of the destination signal transfer point 4 from the number of registered signal transfer points related to the point code (S13).

The link setting device 1 notifies the point code conversion table 18 of this registration ID, requests the IP address of the signaling transfer point 4 (S14), and receives notification of the IP address from the point code conversion table 18 (S15).
Next, the link setting device 1 specifies an available port of the signalling transfer point 4, which is the connection destination, as the connection destination port.

The link setting device 1 sends the IP address and port request of the identified signal transfer point 4 to the port management table 19 (S16) and receives a notification of the port (S17). The port management table 19 identifies an available port in response to the port request, notifies the port number, and sets the port number to "Used."

The link setting device 1 notifies the identified signal transfer point 4 of the IP address and port information of the IP conversion device 3 to be connected to, and requests the unblocking of the port (S18). This allows the link setting device 1 to easily select an available port of the identified signal transfer point 4. The signal transfer point 4 unblocks the port and responds with an unblocking notification to the link setting device 1 (S19).

The link setting device 1 notifies the IP conversion device 3 of the IP address and port information of the signaling transfer point 4 to be connected (S20). This allows the signaling transfer point 4 to open only the ports to be used, thereby ensuring safety.
The IP converter 3 uses the notified IP address and port information of the signaling transfer point 4 to request establishment of an SCTP (Stream Control Transmission Protocol) association to the signaling transfer point 4 (S21). As a result, an SCTP association is established between the port of the IP converter 3 and the port of the signaling transfer point 4. As a result, the IP converter 3 can establish an SCTP association with the signaling transfer point 4 and autonomously set a link.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the link setting device 1. As shown in FIG.
This link setting device 1 comprises a request receiving section 11, an IP-STP registration number acquiring section 12, a connection destination IP-STP determining section 13, a connection destination IP-STP IP address acquiring section 14, a connection destination IP-STP port determining section 15, an IP-STP-oriented request processing section 16, and a request responding section 17. Furthermore, the link setting device 1 stores a point code conversion table 18, a port management table 19, and a program in a storage device (not shown). The program is stored in a storage medium (not shown) and is read and installed in this link setting device 1. This link setting device 1 is a computer, and each section is embodied by the CPU executing the program.

The request receiving unit 11 receives a request for the IP address and port of the IP conversion device 3 and the connection point code from the IP conversion device 3, and passes this request to the IP-STP registration number acquisition unit 12.

The IP-STP registration number acquisition unit 12 refers to the point code conversion table 18 with the point code of the connection destination to acquire the number of registered signal transfer points 4 related to this point code. The IP-STP registration number acquisition unit 12 regards the number of signal transfer points 4 related to a specific point code in the point code conversion table 18 as the registration number.

The destination IP-STP determination unit 13 calculates the remainder when the port number of the IP conversion device 3 is divided by the number of registrations of the signal transfer point 4, and passes this to the destination IP-STP IP address acquisition unit 14 as the registration ID of the signal transfer point 4. The IP-STP registration number acquisition unit 12 and the destination IP-STP determination unit 13 function as a signal transfer point determination unit that refers to the point code conversion table 18 and determines the destinations of each IP conversion device 3 that connects each exchange 2 to the IP network so that they are evenly distributed among multiple signal transfer points 4 installed at the same location.

The destination IP-STP IP address acquisition unit 14 refers to the point code conversion table 18 using the registration ID of the signal transfer point 4, acquires the IP address of the signal transfer point 4 associated with this registration ID, and passes this to the destination IP-STP port determination unit 15.

The destination IP-STP port determination unit 15 searches the port management table 19 with the IP address of the signal transfer point 4 to determine an available port, and passes the IP address and port of the signal transfer point 4 to the IP-STP request processing unit 16. The destination IP-STP port determination unit 15 functions as a port determination unit that determines the port of the signal transfer point 4 to which the port of the IP conversion device 3 is to be connected.

The IP-STP request processing unit 16 sends the IP address and port of the IP conversion device 3 to the connected signal transfer point 4, requesting the port to be unblocked. The signal transfer point 4 unblocks the port and responds to the IP-STP request processing unit 16 with a blockage unblocking notification.

Next, the request response unit 17 responds with the IP address and port of the destination signal transfer point 4 to the IP conversion device 3. As a result, the IP conversion device 3 and the signal transfer point 4 autonomously establish an SCTP (Stream Control Transmission Protocol) association.

Effects of the embodiment
According to the link setting device of this embodiment, it is possible to automate the accommodation design and setting of signal transfer points. The link setting device can reduce the number of operating man-hours by automating the design work of signal transfer point allocation and port designation when setting up a link. Furthermore, the link setting device can reduce the number of operating man-hours when replacing IP conversion devices and signal transfer points and when increasing or decreasing the number of operating man-hours.

<<Summary of the invention and its effects>>
The invention described in claim 1 is a link setting device for assigning a plurality of logical links having different routes in a communication system that transfers common line signals that control connections between a plurality of exchanges via an IP network, the link setting device comprising: a first table that is installed at each base and manages addresses, serial numbers, and point codes indicating a plurality of signal transfer points connected to the IP network; a signal transfer point determination unit that refers to the first table and determines the connection destinations of each IP conversion device that connects each exchange to the IP network so that the connection destinations are evenly distributed among a plurality of signal transfer points installed at the same base; and a port determination unit that determines the ports of the signal transfer points to which the ports of each of the IP conversion devices are connected.

In this way, the accommodation design and configuration of signal transfer stations can be automated.

In the invention described in claim 2, the signal transfer point determination unit of the link setting device described in claim 1 is characterized in that, when multiple signal transfer points are installed at a certain base, the signal transfer point to which the address and port of the IP conversion device are connected is specified by the remainder obtained by dividing the port number by the number of registered signal transfer points installed at the base.

In this way, links can be mechanically assigned to distribute the load among each signal transfer point using a simple calculation method.

In the invention described in claim 3, the signal transfer point determination unit sets the number of registered signal transfer points related to a specified point code in the first table to the number of registered signal transfer points installed at the base related to the point code, which is a link setting device as described in claim 2.

In this way, the load can be distributed across all signal relay stations installed at the base.

In the invention described in claim 4, the link setting device described in claim 1 is further provided with a second table for managing whether or not the port of the signal transfer point is available, and the port determination unit determines the port of the signal transfer point to which the address, port, and point code of the IP conversion device are connected based on the second table.

In this way, an available port at the identified signal transfer point can be easily selected.

In the invention described in claim 5, the link setting device described in claim 4 is characterized in that the port determined by the port determination unit is notified to the signal transfer point determined by the signal transfer point determination unit, and the port blockage is released.

In this way, signal transfer stations can open only the ports they use, ensuring security.

In the invention described in claim 6, the link setting device described in claim 1 is characterized in that it notifies the IP conversion device of the address and port of the signal transfer point determined by the signal transfer point determination unit.

In this way, the IP conversion device can establish an SCTP association with the signaling transfer point and autonomously set up the link.

The invention described in claim 7 is a link management method by a link setting device for assigning multiple logical links having different routes in a communication system that transfers common line signals that control connections between multiple exchanges via an IP network, characterized in that the signal transfer point determination unit executes the steps of: referring to a first table installed at each base and managing the addresses, serial numbers, and point codes indicating the bases of multiple signal transfer points connected to the IP network, determining that the connection destinations of each IP conversion device connecting each exchange to the IP network are evenly distributed among multiple signal transfer points installed at the same base; and a port determination unit determines the ports of the signal transfer points to which the ports of each IP conversion device are connected.

In this way, the accommodation design and configuration of signal transfer stations can be automated.

In the invention described in claim 8, a program is provided for causing a computer, which is a link setting device for assigning multiple logical links having different routes in a communication system that transfers common line signals that control connections between multiple exchanges via an IP network, to execute the following steps: referring to a first table that is installed at each base and manages the addresses, serial numbers, and point codes indicating multiple signal transfer points connected to the IP network, determine the connection destinations of each IP conversion device that connects each exchange to the IP network so that they are evenly distributed among multiple signal transfer points installed at the same base; and determining the ports of the signal transfer point to which the ports of each IP conversion device are connected.

In this way, the accommodation design and configuration of signal transfer stations can be automated.

1 Link setting device 11 Request receiving unit 12 IP-STP registration number acquisition unit (part of signal transfer point determination unit)
13 Destination IP-STP determination unit (part of the signaling transfer point determination unit)
14 Destination IP-STPIP address acquisition unit
15 Destination IP-STP port determination unit (port determination unit)
16 IP-STP request processing unit 17 Request response unit 18 Point code conversion table (first table)
19 Port Management Table (Second Table)
2a to 2c Exchange 3 IP conversion device 3a, 3b IP conversion device 4a to 4f Signal transfer point

Claims (8)

A link setting device for allocating a plurality of logical links having different paths in a communication system for transferring a common channel signal that controls a connection between a plurality of exchanges via an IP network, comprising:
a first table for managing addresses of a plurality of signal transfer points installed at respective bases and connected to the IP network , point codes indicating the respective bases , and registration IDs for identifying the signal transfer points installed at the respective bases ;
a signal transfer point determination unit which refers to the first table, assigns each link established between each exchange and each IP conversion device which connects each exchange to an IP network to a port indicated by a consecutive port number in each IP conversion device, calculates the port number, and determines which of a plurality of signal transfer points installed at the same base;
a port determination unit for determining a port of the signal transfer point to which each port of the IP conversion device is to be connected;
A link setting device comprising: When a plurality of signal transfer points are installed at a certain base, the signal transfer point determination unit designates the signal transfer point to which the address and port of the IP conversion device are connected by a remainder obtained by dividing the port number obtained when the links established between the IP conversion device and each exchange are assigned in order to the ports indicated by consecutive port numbers in each of the IP conversion devices by the number of registered signal transfer points installed at the base.
2. The link setting device according to claim 1. the signal transfer point determination unit sets the number of registered signal transfer points related to a predetermined point code in the first table to the number of registered signal transfer points installed at a base related to the point code;
3. The link setting device according to claim 2. a second table for managing the addresses and ports of the signal transfer points and whether the ports are available;
the port determination unit determines the address, port, and port of the signal transfer point to which the point code is connected based on the second table;
2. The link setting device according to claim 1. notifying the signal transfer point determined by the signal transfer point determination unit of the port determined by the port determination unit, and causing the signal transfer point to release blockage of the port;
5. The link setting device according to claim 4. notifying the IP conversion device of the address and port of the signal transfer point determined by the signal transfer point determination unit;
2. The link setting device according to claim 1. 1. A link management method for allocating a plurality of logical links having different paths in a communication system for transferring a common channel signal that controls a connection between a plurality of exchanges via an IP network, the method comprising:
a signal transfer point determination unit, which is installed at each base, refers to a first table that manages addresses of a plurality of signal transfer points connected to the IP network, point codes indicating each of the bases , and registration IDs that identify the signal transfer points installed at each base , and assigns each link established between each IP conversion device that connects each exchange to an IP network to a port indicated by a consecutive port number in each of the IP conversion devices, and determines one of a plurality of signal transfer points installed at the same base by calculating the port number;
a port determination unit determining a port of the signal transfer point to which each port of the IP conversion device is connected;
A link setting method comprising the steps of: A computer that is a link setting device for assigning a plurality of logical links having different paths in a communication system that transfers a common channel signal that controls connections between a plurality of exchanges via an IP network,
a procedure of allocating each link established between each exchange and each IP conversion device connecting each exchange to the IP network to a port indicated by a consecutive port number in each IP conversion device in order by referring to a first table that manages addresses of a plurality of signal transfer points installed at each base and connected to the IP network, point codes indicating each of the bases, and registration IDs that identify the signal transfer points installed at each base, and calculating the port number to determine which of a plurality of signal transfer points installed at the same base is to be assigned;
determining a port of the signaling transfer point to which each port of the IP conversion device is connected;
A program for executing.

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