JP7623931B2 - Communication Equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a communication device that communicates via an optical wavelength network.

Applications installed on computers, tablets, smartphones, etc. (hereinafter referred to as communication devices) communicate, for example, with applications on other communication devices on the network via a network. The communication throughput required by applications is increasing, and networks are required to achieve such throughput services. For example, Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration that enables slicing of optical resources in an optical transport network to provide high-throughput services.

R. Casellas, et. al. , "Enabling network slicing across a disaggregated optical transport network", in 2019 Optical Fiber Communications Conference and Exhibition (OFC), 2019, pp. 1-3

For example, a communication device and an optical wavelength network in which wavelength paths are set up could be connected by an optical link, and when an application installed on the communication device requests communication, the optical wavelength network could set up a wavelength path on an on-demand basis to carry out the communication. However, the optical resources for setting up wavelength paths are finite, and it is not always possible to set up wavelength paths in the optical wavelength network.

The present invention provides technology that increases the frequency of providing high-throughput communication to applications that require it, while preventing situations in which communication is not possible.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a communication device connected to a first network that sets wavelength paths and a second network that performs packet switching, and having one or more applications installed, is provided with a control means that, when it receives a communication request with another communication device from a first application of the one or more applications, determines whether or not a wavelength path can be set via the first network, and if the wavelength path can be set, configures the communication device so that the first application communicates with the other communication device via the first network, and if the wavelength path cannot be set, configures the communication device so that the first application communicates with the other communication device via the second network.When the control means receives the communication request, it determines whether the communication device has a wavelength that can be assigned to the first application, and if the communication device does not have a wavelength that can be assigned to the first application, it determines that the wavelength path cannot be set .

This invention makes it possible to prevent situations where communication is not possible, while increasing the frequency with which high-throughput communication is provided to applications that require it.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates a frame structure according to an embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of a process executed by a control unit according to an embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of a process executed by a control unit according to an embodiment.

The following embodiments are described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. Two or more of the features described in the embodiments may be combined in any desired manner. In addition, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted.

First Embodiment
1 is a configuration diagram of a communication system according to the present embodiment. A communication device 1 is connected to an optical wavelength network 2 and an IP network 3. The optical wavelength network 2 is an optical network that uses wavelength multiplexing technology, spatial multiplexing technology, etc., and is configured to set one wavelength path between two communication devices 1 in response to a request from the communication devices 1. Note that spatial multiplexing technology includes a technology of spatially multiplexing and transmitting multiple optical signals in one optical fiber using a multi-core optical fiber, and a technology of spatially multiplexing and transmitting multiple optical signals of different propagation modes in one optical fiber using a multi-mode optical fiber. The IP network 3 is, for example, a packet switching network such as the Internet.

Figure 2 is a configuration diagram of a communication device 1 according to this embodiment. Note that multiple applications are installed in the communication device 1. The applications have identification information for identifying the application. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the applications are classified into a first type of application and a second type of application. The first type of application is an application that requires high throughput in communication with other communication devices 1, and the second type of application is an application that does not require high throughput in communication with other communication devices 1.

The optical interface unit 14 has multiple optical interfaces, and one or more of the multiple optical interfaces are connected to the optical wavelength network 2. Hereinafter, the optical interface connected to the optical wavelength network 2 is referred to as the first optical interface. Furthermore, the optical link between the first optical interface and the optical wavelength network 2 is referred to as the optical link corresponding to the first optical interface. Moreover, one or more of the multiple optical interfaces different from the first optical interface are connected to the IP network 3. Hereinafter, the optical interface connected to the IP network 3 is referred to as the second optical interface.

When a first type application installed in the communication device 1 requests communication with another communication device 1 (hereinafter, a first type application that requests communication will be referred to as a requesting application), the requesting application first transmits a first wavelength path request message including its identification information to the control unit 11. The first wavelength path request message includes information that identifies the other communication device 1. When the control unit 11 receives the first wavelength path request message, it determines whether the communication device 1 has a wavelength that can be assigned to the communication. If the communication device 1 has one or more assignable wavelengths, the control unit 11 transmits a second wavelength path request message to the optical wavelength network 2, the second wavelength path request message including information indicating one or more wavelengths that can be assigned to the communication (hereinafter, referred to as one or more assignable wavelengths), information indicating the optical link corresponding to the first optical interface of each of the one or more wavelengths, and information identifying the other communication device 1 that is the communication partner.

When the optical wavelength network 2 receives the second wavelength path request message, it determines whether a wavelength path can be set between the communication device 1 and the other communication device 1 using one of the one or more allocable wavelengths. If the optical wavelength network 2 can set a wavelength path between the communication device 1 and the other communication device 1 using one of the one or more allocable wavelengths, it sets a wavelength path between the communication device 1 and the other communication device 1, and notifies the communication device 1 of a setting completion message including information indicating the wavelength of the set wavelength path and the optical link that accommodates the wavelength path (one of the one or more optical links corresponding to one or more first optical interfaces). When setting the wavelength path, the optical wavelength network 2 inquires the other communication device 1 about available wavelength paths, and sets the wavelength path taking into account the wavelength paths that the other communication device 1 can use. It also notifies the other communication device 1 of the identification information of the communication device 1.

When the control unit 11 receives the setting completion message, it notifies the distribution unit 12 of the identification information of the requesting application, and notifies it that data from the application of the identification information will be output to the frame processing unit 13. Based on the notification from the control unit 11, the distribution unit 12 outputs the data from the requesting application to the frame processing unit 13. Note that the distribution unit 12 also outputs the identification information of the requesting application to the frame processing unit 13 together with the data from the requesting application.

The frame processing unit 13 performs framing processing on the data from the requesting application. Specifically, the data from the requesting application is divided into pieces of a predetermined length, and a header containing identification information of the requesting application is added to each piece of data of the predetermined length. Figure 3 shows the frame structure. In Figure 3, reference numeral 50 indicates one frame, reference numeral 51 indicates one header in which identification information of the requesting application is stored, and reference numeral 52 indicates one payload in which data of the requesting application is stored. The frame processing unit 13 outputs the framed data to the optical interface unit 14.

When the control unit 11 receives the setting completion message, it notifies the optical interface unit 14 of the identification information of the requesting application, as well as information indicating the wavelength of the set wavelength path and the first optical interface corresponding to the optical link that accommodates the wavelength path. The optical interface unit 14 modulates light of the wavelength notified for the requesting application with the framed data of the requesting application output by the frame processing unit 13, and transmits it from the first optical interface notified for the requesting application. The identification information included in the frame is used by the other communication device 1 to determine which application to pass the data to. Note that the optical interface unit 14 can determine which requesting application the framed data from the frame processing unit 13 corresponds to, based on the identification information included in the framed data from the frame processing unit 13.

On the other hand, if the control unit 11 receives the first wavelength path request message and determines that the communication device 1 does not have an allocatable wavelength resource, or if the control unit 11 receives a setting impossible message from the optical wavelength network 2 in response to the transmitted second wavelength path request message, indicating that a wavelength path cannot be set between the communication device 1 and another communication device 1, the control unit 11 notifies the distribution unit 12 of the identification information of the requesting application and notifies the packet processing unit 15 that data from the requesting application of the identification information will be output. In this case, the distribution unit 12 outputs the data from the requesting application to the packet processing unit 15 based on the notification from the control unit 11.

When the control unit 11 notifies the packet processing unit 15 that data from the requesting application is to be output, the control unit 11 notifies the packet processing unit 15 of information identifying the other communication device 1. The packet processing unit 15 packetizes the data from the requesting application and outputs it to the optical interface unit 14. The packet processing unit 15 determines the destination address of the packet based on the information identifying the other communication device 1 and sets it in the packet header.

The optical interface unit 14 optically modulates the packet from the packet processing unit 15 and outputs it from one or more second optical interfaces.

When a second type application communicates, it outputs the data to be communicated and information identifying the destination communication device 1 to the distribution unit 12. The distribution unit 12 determines that an application that outputs data to the distribution unit 12 together with information identifying the destination communication device 1 without sending a first wavelength path request message to the control unit 11 is a second type application. When the distribution unit 12 receives data from a second type application, it outputs the data together with information identifying the destination communication device 1 to the packet processing unit 15.

Figure 4 is a flowchart of the process executed by the control unit 11. When the control unit 11 receives the first wavelength path request message in S10, it determines whether there is an available optical resource, i.e., an assignable wavelength, in S11. If there is an available optical resource, the control unit 11 transmits a second wavelength path request message to the optical wavelength network 2 in S12, and receives a setting completion message or a setting impossible message in response. If the wavelength path is set, i.e., if the control unit 11 receives a setting completion message, in S14, the control unit 11 configures the communication device 1 so that communication is performed via the optical wavelength network 2. On the other hand, if there is no available optical resource in S11, or if the wavelength path is not set in S13, i.e., if the control unit 11 receives a setting impossible message, in S15, the control unit 11 configures the communication device 1 so that communication is performed via the IP network 3.

As described above, in this embodiment, an application that requires high throughput requests a wavelength path when starting communication. When a wavelength path is requested, the communication device 1 determines whether or not the wavelength path can be set based on available optical resources, and if available optical resources are available, requests the optical wavelength network 2 to set the wavelength path. When the wavelength path is set, the communication device 1 performs communication by the application that requires high throughput using the set dedicated wavelength path. This makes it possible to provide high-throughput communication to the application. On the other hand, when there are no available optical resources or when the wavelength path cannot be set in the optical wavelength network 2, the communication device 1 performs the communication via the IP network 3. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which communication services cannot be provided to an application that requests communication. Note that in communication via the IP network 3, the throughput may be slower than when a dedicated wavelength path is used. However, since the throughput of communication via the IP network 3 may differ depending on the state of the IP network 3, it may be possible to perform communication with high throughput.

In this embodiment, the applications installed in the communication device 1 were previously classified into first type applications and second type applications. The first type applications sent a first wavelength path request message to the control unit 11 when communicating, and the second type applications sent transmission data directly to the distribution unit 12 when communicating. However, instead of classifying the applications into the first type and the second type in advance, the application itself can be configured to determine whether or not to request a wavelength path based on the throughput required for the communication to be started. Specifically, if it is determined that high throughput is required, the application requests a wavelength path from the control unit 11, and if it is determined that high throughput is not required, the application can be configured to send transmission data to the distribution unit 12.

In addition, in this embodiment, an application classified as a second type application transmits transmission data to the distribution unit 12 without requesting a wavelength path from the control unit 11. However, in a modified version of this embodiment, the application itself does not make the determination, but the control unit 11 does.

Figure 5 is a flowchart of the process executed by the control unit 11 in the modified embodiment. Note that the same process as in the flowchart of Figure 4 is given the same step number, and the description thereof is omitted. Note that the applications are classified into a first type application and a second type application. In S20, the control unit 11 receives a communication request from the application that starts communication, the communication request including information identifying the communication device 1 of the communication destination and information indicating whether it is the first type or the second type. In S21, the control unit 11 determines whether the application making the communication request is the first type or the second type. If it is the second type, the control unit 11 proceeds to the process of S15, and if it is the first type, the control unit 11 proceeds to the process of S11. Note that in this case, the second type application does not need to notify the allocation unit 12 of information identifying the communication device 1 of the communication destination.

With the above configuration, for example, it is possible to prevent situations where communication is not possible, while increasing the frequency of providing high-throughput communication to applications that require it. This makes it possible to contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is to "build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation."

The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the invention.

11: Control unit, 12: Distribution unit, 13: Frame processing unit, 14: Packet processing unit

Claims (7)

A communication device connected to a first network that sets wavelength paths and a second network that performs packet switching, and in which one or more applications are installed, comprising:
a control means for determining whether or not a wavelength path can be set via the first network when a communication request with another communication device is received from a first application of the one or more applications, and configuring the communication device so that the first application communicates with the other communication device via the first network if the wavelength path can be set, and configuring the communication device so that the first application communicates with the other communication device via the second network if the wavelength path cannot be set ,
When the control means receives the communication request, it determines whether the communication device has a wavelength that can be allocated to the first application, and if the communication device does not have a wavelength that can be allocated to the first application, it determines that the wavelength path cannot be set . The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the control means, when the communication device has a wavelength that can be assigned to the first application, makes a request to the first network to set up the wavelength path, and determines whether the wavelength path can be set up based on a response to the setting request from the first network. a first processing means for framing and processing data from the one or more applications;
second processing means for packetizing and processing data from the one or more applications;
A distribution means for outputting data from the one or more applications to the first processing means or the second processing means;
Equipped with
3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the control means notifies the distribution means that, when the wavelength path can be set, data from the first application will be output to the first processing means, and, when the wavelength path cannot be set, notifies the distribution means that data from the first application will be output to the second processing means. 4. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein the distribution means outputs data from a second application among the one or more applications that output data to the distribution means to the second processing means without transmitting the communication request to the control means. the one or more applications are classified into a first type of application and a second type of application;
The communication device of claim 3 , wherein the first application is of the first type. The communication device according to claim 5 , wherein the second type application, when communicating with another communication device, outputs data to the sorting means without transmitting the communication request to the control means. the one or more applications are classified into a first type of application and a second type of application;
The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control means determines whether or not to set up a wavelength path via the first network only when the first application is of the first type, and configures the communication device so that the first application communicates with the other communication device via the second network when the first application is of the second type.

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