JP7701668B2 - Control device, control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a control device, a control method, and a program.

Time-sensitive networking (TSN) is known as a technology that ensures the reduction of delays and jitter in communications. In TSN, a control device (e.g., a CNC (Central Network Controller)) ensures the reduction of delays and jitter by controlling switches that are time-synchronized with the control device via a control communication network. In TSN, it is usually assumed that a single CNC controls switches that are strictly time-synchronized within a single control communication network.

In recent years, there has also been an increasing need to reduce delays and jitter in long-distance communications. For this reason, the use of TSN is being considered not only within a single control communication network, but also in communications via a main signaling network that connects a user's control communication network with a carrier's control communication network (Non-Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 2).

Yuhei Kawakami, 5 others, "Applying Time-aware Shaper Considering User Identifier to Service Provider Network" Conference: 2022 IEEE 19th Annual Consumer Communications & Networking Conference (CCNC) Yuhei Kawakami and six others, "Application of TAS Considering User Identifiers to Carrier Networks," Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Access Service Systems Laboratories, 2022 Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers General Conference, March 15-18, 2022, held online

However, in the above-mentioned technology, in communication via a main signal network that connects multiple control communication networks, a control device cannot manage switches in a control communication network other than the control communication network to which the control device is connected. In addition, there is no provision for multiple control devices in each of multiple control communication networks to cooperate with each other to perform communication control, synchronization, etc.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 20, the control device A designs the gate control list (GCL) for switches SW1-1 and SW1-2 of the control communication network to which the control device A is connected, and the control device B designs the GCL for switches SW2-1 and SW2-2 of the control communication network to which the control device A is connected. In this configuration, the control device A can design the GCL so that the timing obtained by adding a propagation delay T _T1 to the frame transmission completion time in switch SW1-1 in the control communication network of the control device A becomes the transmission start timing in the next switch SW1-2. This allows the control device A to reduce the delay of frames in the control communication network of the control device A.

However, because a control device B different from the control device A designs the GCLs of the switches SW2-1 and SW2-2 of the control communication network of the control device B, a frame transmitted from the switch SW1-2 and completely received by the switch SW2-1 may start transmitting the frame at a time delayed from the ideal transmission start, rather than at the timing obtained by adding a propagation delay _T2 to the timing of the end of frame transmission by the switch SW1-2 (ideal transmission start). As a result, a queuing delay _TQ occurs.

As such, it is difficult to reduce delays in communications across multiple control communication networks, and as an example, delays of up to one GCL cycle may occur.

In view of the above circumstances, the objective of the present disclosure is to provide a control device, a control method, and a program that can reduce delays in communications across multiple control communication networks.

In order to solve the above problem, a control device according to the present disclosure belongs to one of a plurality of control communication networks connected by a main signal network, and forwards frames transmitted from a transmitting terminal to a receiving terminal, and designs a first gate control list for each of a plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network. The control device includes a delay guarantee communication design information input unit that accepts input of delay guarantee communication design information indicating information related to the design of the first gate control list, a network topology storage unit that stores the network topology of the one control communication network, a gate control list storage unit that stores an existing gate control list of the one control communication network, and a control device that, when the frames are forwarded in accordance with the network topology, the delay guarantee communication design information, the existing gate control list, and a second gate control list for each of a plurality of communication devices in the other control communication network designed by another control device that belongs to another control communication network adjacent to the one control communication network, the control frame generation information transmitting unit transmits control frame generation information indicating a design command to set each of the gate control lists in the corresponding communication device when the frame is forwarded according to the gate control list for each of the communication devices in the control communication network; a delay requirement determining unit determines whether a terminal-to-terminal delay from a transmission start timing of the frame by the transmitting terminal to a reception end timing of the frame by the receiving terminal satisfies a delay requirement when the frame is forwarded according to a gate control list for each of the communication devices in the control communication networks, the gate control list being designed by each of the control devices belonging to the control communication networks; and a control frame generation information transmitting unit transmits control frame generation information indicating a design command to set each of the gate control lists in the corresponding communication device when the terminal-to-terminal delay is determined to satisfy the delay requirement.

In order to solve the above problem, a control device according to the present disclosure is a control device that belongs to one of a plurality of control communication networks connected by a main signaling network, transfers frames transmitted from a transmitting terminal to a receiving terminal, and designs gate control lists of a plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network, the control device including: a delay compensation communication design information input unit that receives input of delay compensation communication design information indicating information related to the design of the gate control list;
a gate control list storage unit that stores existing gate control lists for a plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network; a gate control list candidate calculation unit that designs one or more gate control list candidates for a plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network based on the network topology, the delay guaranteed communication design information, and the existing gate control list, and calculates transmission timings of the frames by the plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network when the frames are transferred in accordance with each of the designed one or more gate control list candidates; and a gate control list candidate calculation unit that calculates transmission timings of the frames by the plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network based on transmission timings of the frames corresponding to each of the one or more gate control list candidates for each of the plurality of communication devices in the plurality of control communication networks, which are designed by a plurality of control devices that belong to the plurality of control communication networks, respectively. an overall gate control list calculation unit that calculates a terminal-to-terminal delay from a timing at which the transmitting terminal starts transmitting the frame to a timing at which the receiving terminal ends receiving the frame when the frame is forwarded according to each combination of the gate control list candidates for each of the plurality of control communication networks, selects the combination with the smallest terminal-to-terminal delay, and determines each of the gate control list candidates constituting the combination as a gate control list for each of the plurality of communication devices in the plurality of control communication networks; a delay requirement determination unit that determines whether or not the terminal-to-terminal delay when the frame is forwarded according to the determined gate control list satisfies a delay requirement; and a control frame generation information transmission unit that transmits control frame generation information including a design instruction indicating that the gate control list determined by the overall gate control list calculation unit is to be set for each of the plurality of communication devices when it is determined that the terminal-to-terminal delay satisfies the delay requirement.

In addition, in order to solve the above problem, a control device according to the present disclosure is a control device that belongs to one of a plurality of control communication networks connected by a main signal network and transfers frames transmitted from a transmitting terminal to a receiving terminal, and that designs gate control lists for a plurality of communication devices in each of the plurality of control communication networks. The control device includes a delay guarantee communication design information input unit that accepts input of delay guarantee communication design information indicating information related to the design of the communication, an overall network topology storage unit that stores an overall network topology including the network topology of each of the plurality of control communication networks, a gate control list storage unit that stores an existing overall gate control list including existing gate control lists of the plurality of control communication networks, and a gate control list storage unit that stores a gate control list for a plurality of communication devices in the entirety of the plurality of control communication networks based on the overall network topology, the delay guarantee communication design information, and the existing overall gate control list. and an overall gate control list calculation unit that designs a gate control list for a receiving terminal and calculates transmission timings of the frames by the plurality of communication devices when the frames are forwarded according to the designed gate control list; a delay requirement determination unit that calculates a terminal-to-terminal delay from a reception end timing of the frame by the receiving terminal to a transmission start timing of the frame by the transmitting terminal based on the transmission timing and determines whether the terminal-to-terminal delay satisfies a delay requirement; and a control frame generation information transmission unit that transmits, when it is determined that the terminal-to-terminal delay satisfies the delay requirement, to the other control devices, control frame generation information including a design command for setting, in the gate control list designed by the overall gate control list calculation unit, gate control lists for communication devices of other control communication networks in the respective communication devices.

In addition, in order to solve the above problem, the control method according to the present disclosure is a control device that designs gate control lists for multiple communication devices in one control communication network among multiple control communication networks connected by a main signal network, the multiple communication devices belonging to the one control communication network and forwarding frames transmitted from a transmitting terminal to a receiving terminal, the control method including a network topology storage unit that stores the network topology of the one control communication network, and a gate control list storage unit that stores the gate control list of the one control communication network, the control method including the steps of: accepting input of delay-guaranteed communication design information indicating information related to the design of the gate control list; designing one or more gate control list candidates for the multiple communication devices in the one control communication network based on the network topology, the delay-guaranteed communication design information, and an existing gate control list, and calculating the transmission timing of the frame by the multiple communication devices in the one control communication network when the frame is forwarded according to each of the designed one or more gate control list candidates; and calculating the transmission timing of the frame by the multiple communication devices in the one control communication network, the multiple communication devices belonging to the multiple control communication networks, The method includes the steps of: calculating a terminal-to-terminal delay from a timing at which the frame starts to be transmitted by the transmitting terminal to a timing at which the frame ends to be received by the receiving terminal when the frame is forwarded by each combination of the gate control list candidates for each of the plurality of communication devices in the plurality of control communication networks, based on a transmission timing of the frame corresponding to each of one or more gate control list candidates for each of the plurality of communication devices in the plurality of control communication networks designed by a plurality of control devices; selecting the combination with the smallest terminal-to-terminal delay; and determining each of the gate control list candidates constituting the combination as a gate control list for each of the plurality of communication devices in the plurality of control communication networks; determining whether or not the terminal-to-terminal delay when the frame is forwarded according to the determined gate control list satisfies a delay requirement; and, when it is determined that the terminal-to-terminal delay satisfies the delay requirement, transmitting control frame generation information including a design instruction indicating that the determined gate control list is to be set for each of the plurality of communication devices.

To solve the above problem, the program disclosed herein causes a computer to operate as the above-mentioned control device.

The control device, control method, and program disclosed herein can reduce delays in communications across multiple control communication networks.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a control system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram illustrating an example of a control device illustrated in FIG. 1 . 2 is a diagram for explaining the frame transmission timing by the GCL designed by the control system shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram illustrating an example of the communication device illustrated in FIG. 1 . 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of a control device that executes processing first. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of a control device that executes processing other than the first and last processing. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a control device of a control communication network to which a Listener belongs. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a control device of a control communication network to which a Talker belongs. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a control system according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a functional configuration diagram illustrating an example of the control device illustrated in FIG. 9 . 10 is a diagram for explaining the frame transmission timing by the GCL designed by the control system shown in FIG. 9 . 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of one of the control devices shown in FIG. 10 . FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a control system according to a third embodiment. FIG. 14 is a functional configuration diagram showing an example of a parent control device shown in FIG. 13 . 14 is a diagram for explaining the frame transmission timing by the GCL designed by the control system shown in FIG. 13. 14 is a functional configuration diagram illustrating an example of a child control device illustrated in FIG. 13. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the parent control device shown in FIG. 14 . 10 is a diagram for explaining an example in which a control frame generation signal and a control frame notification signal are transmitted and received by a control device. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example in which a control frame is transmitted and received by a control device; 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the control device illustrated in FIG. 2 . FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining frame transmission timing by a GCL designed by a conventional control system.

First Embodiment
The overall configuration of the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a control system 100 according to the first embodiment.

The control system 100 comprises a plurality of control devices 1k (k = an integer from 1 to n, n is an integer of 2 or more), communication devices 2k-j (j = an integer from 1 to m, m is an integer of 2 or more) that are controlled by each of the plurality of control devices 1k via a control communication network NW1k, a transmitting terminal (Talker) 3, and a receiving terminal (Listener) 4. In the following explanation, the control communication networks NW11, NW12, ..., NW1n are referred to in the order in which a frame transmitted from Talker 3 is propagated. Therefore, the control communication network NW1k to which Talker 3 belongs is the control communication network NW11, and the control communication network NW1k to which Listener 4 belongs is the control communication network NW1n.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, n=3, and the control system 100 includes control device 11, control device 12, and control device 13. Also, in the example shown in FIG. 1, m=2, and control device 11 controls communication device 21-1 and communication device 21-2 via control communication network NW11, control device 12 controls communication device 22-1 and communication device 22-2 via control communication network NW12, and control device 13 controls communication device 23-1 and communication device 23-2 via control communication network NW13. Note that, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the number of communication devices 2k-j in each control communication network NW1k is the same, but this is not limited to the above and may be different from each other.

Talker 3 transmits frames to Listener 4 through delay-guaranteed communication (ST (Scheduled Traffic) communication) via multiple communication devices 2k-j. ST communication is communication in which the frame transmission timing and transmission interval are controlled. In ST communication, delay and jitter are controlled by communication device 2k-j performing time-division transfer control using TAS (Time Aware Shaper).

Lisner 4 receives frames sent by Talker 3 and forwarded by multiple communication devices 2k-j in each of multiple control communication networks NW1k. In the example shown in Figure 1, the frame sent by Talker 3 is forwarded in sequence by communication devices 21-1, 21-2, 22-1, 22-2, 23-1, and 23-2 and received by Lisner 4.

<Configuration of the control device>
The control device 1k belongs to one of the control communication networks NW1k among the multiple control communication networks NW1k connected by the main signal network NW2k. The control device 1k can be, for example, a CNC. The main signal network NW2k is a communication network that transmits and receives information between the control communication network NW1k and the control communication network NW1(k+1). Specifically, the main signal network NW2k is a communication network that connects the communication device 2k-m of the control communication network NW1k and the communication device 2(k+1)-1 of the control communication network NW1(k+1). Note that the fact that the control device 1k "belongs to the control communication network NW1k" means that the control device 1k is connected to the communication line that constitutes the control communication network NW1k via the communication port of the control device 1k (the "management port 101" in the following embodiment).

In addition, the control device 1k designs a GCL (first GCL) for each of the multiple communication devices 2k-j in each of the multiple control communication networks NW1k, which forwards frames transmitted from Talker 3 to Listener 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 1k includes a management port 101, a control frame notification signal receiving unit (control frame notification information receiving unit) 102, an adjacent network transmission timing reading unit (adjacent NW transmission timing reading unit) 103, a receiving terminal arrival time reading unit (Listener arrival time reading unit) 104, a network topology memory unit (NW topology memory unit) 105, a delay guaranteed communication design information input unit (ST design information input unit) 106, a gate control list memory unit (GCL memory unit) 107, a gate control list calculation unit (GCL calculation unit) 108, a delay requirement determination unit 109, a gate control list transmission timing reading unit (GCL transmission timing reading unit) 110, and a control frame generation signal transmitting unit (control frame generation information transmitting unit) 111.

The management port 101 is configured by a communication interface. For example, standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark), FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface), and Wi-Fi (registered trademark) may be used for the communication interface. The control frame notification signal receiving unit 102, adjacent network transmission timing reading unit 103, listener arrival time reading unit 104, ST design information input unit 106, GCL calculation unit 108, delay requirement determination unit 109, GCL transmission timing reading unit 110, and control frame generation signal transmitting unit 111 are configured by a controller. The controller may be configured by dedicated hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), may be configured by a processor, or may be configured to include both. The NW topology storage unit 105 and the GCL storage unit 107 are configured by memory. The memory may be composed of a register in hardware such as an ASIC or FPGA, or may be composed of a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), etc.

The management port 101 is a port through which the control device 1k connects to the control communication network NW1k.

The control frame notification signal receiving unit 102 receives control frame notification information corresponding to the control frame generation information transmitted from another control device 1k. The control frame notification information may be a control frame notification signal converted from a control frame, or may be the control frame itself. In the following explanation, an example in which the control frame notification information is a control frame notification signal will be described, but this example is not limiting.

As will be explained in detail later, the above control frame is generated by communication device 2k-j of the other control communication network NW1k based on a control frame generation signal. The generated frame is then received by communication device 2k-j of one control communication network NW1k via the main signal network NW2k. Communication device 2k-j of one control communication network NW1k then converts the received control frame into a control frame notification signal. This allows the control frame notification signal receiving unit 102 to receive the control frame notification signal. The control frame notification signal indicates the same content as the corresponding control frame generation signal.

In the first embodiment, the control frame notification signal includes a transmission timing indicated by absolute time. That is, the transmission timing is absolute time information. The transmission timing is either the frame transmission start timing by the communication device 2k-1 that transmits the frame first among the communication devices 2k-j of the control communication network NW1k when transmitting a frame from Talker 3 to Listener 4, or the frame transmission end timing by the communication device 2k-m that transmits the frame last among the communication devices 2k-j of the control communication network NW1k. Specifically, the control frame notification signal received from the control device 1(k-1) belonging to the control communication network NW1(k-1) includes the transmission end timing. The control communication network NW1(k-1) is an adjacent communication network on the side where the control communication network NW1k receives a frame from Talker 3. Also, the control frame notification signal received from the control device 1(k+1) belonging to the control communication network NW1(k+1) includes the transmission start timing. The control communication network NW1(k+1) is a communication network adjacent to the control communication network NW1k on the side that transmits frames to the Listener 4.

That is, the control frame notification signal receiving unit 102 receives a control frame including the above-mentioned transmission end timing from a control device 1(k-1) belonging to a control communication network NW1(k-1) that is adjacent to the control communication network (one control communication network) NW1k to which the control device 1k equipped with the control frame notification signal receiving unit 102 belongs, on the side that receives frames from Talker 3. In addition, the control device 1k receives a control frame including the above-mentioned transmission start timing from a control device 1(k+1) belonging to a control communication network NW1(k+1) that is adjacent to the one control communication network NW1k, on the side that transmits frames to Listener 4.

The control frame notification signal also includes a Listener arrival time, which is the timing at which Listener 4 finishes receiving the frame when the frame is transmitted according to a GCL designed by a control device 1n belonging to the control communication network NW1n to which Listener 4 belongs.

The adjacent network transmission timing reading unit 103 reads the transmission timing contained in the control frame notification signal received by the control frame notification signal receiving unit 102.

The Listener arrival time reading unit 104 reads the Listener arrival time contained in the control frame notification signal received by the control frame notification signal receiving unit 102.

The NW topology memory unit 105 stores the network topology (NW topology) of one control communication network NW1k. The NW topology is information indicating the connection form of the communication device 2k-j in one control communication network NW1k.

The ST design information input unit 106 accepts input of delay guaranteed communication design information (ST design information) indicating information regarding the design of the GCL. The ST design information is information for designing the GCL and may include, for example, frame length, transmission period, etc.

The GCL storage unit 107 stores existing (initial state) GCLs for multiple communication devices 2k-j in one control communication network NW1k. Specifically, the GCL storage unit 107 stores existing GCLs for each communication port of each of the multiple communication devices 2k-j in one control communication network NW1k.

In addition, the GCL memory unit 107 updates the existing GCL stored to the GCL designed by the GCL calculation unit 108.

The GCL calculation unit 108 reads out the network topology of one control communication network NW1k from the network topology memory unit 105. The GCL calculation unit 108 also reads out the existing GCLs for multiple communication devices 2k-j of one control communication network NW1k from the GCL memory unit 107.

The GCL calculation unit 108 designs a GCL (first GCL) for multiple communication devices 2k-j in one control communication network NW1k based on the NW topology, ST design information, existing GCL, and the frame transmission timing by communication device 2k-j belonging to another control communication network NW1k' adjacent to the one control communication network NW1k. Here, k' is k-1 or k+1. The frame transmission timing by communication device 2k'-j of the adjacent control communication network NW1k' is the transmission timing when a frame is forwarded according to a GCL (second GCL) for each of multiple communication devices 2k'-j in the other control communication network NW1k' designed by another control device 1k' belonging to the other adjacent control communication network NW1k'.

In addition, the GCL calculation unit 108 calculates the frame transmission timing by multiple communication devices 2k-j in one control communication network NW1k when the frame is forwarded by the designed GCL (first GCL).

In the first embodiment, each control device 1k executes processing in an order determined based on the network policy. In one example, processing may be executed from a control device 1-k belonging to a control communication network NW1k that has a high accommodation rate and therefore has many constraints in designing the GCL. A "high accommodation rate" of a GCL means, for example, that the GCL is highly complex, that the number of time slots or CoS (Class of Service) specified in the GCL is large, etc. In another example, the control device 1k may execute processing in the order in which frames transmitted by Talker 3 are forwarded from a control device 1k belonging to a control communication network NW1k to which Talker 3 belongs.

Specifically, first, the GCL calculation unit 108 of the control device 1k that executes the process first reads the NW topology of the control communication network NW1k from the NW topology storage unit 105. The GCL calculation unit 108 also acquires ST design information whose input is accepted by the ST design information input unit 106. The GCL calculation unit 108 also reads the existing GCL for the communication device 2k-j of the control communication network NW1k from the GCL storage unit 107. Then, the GCL calculation unit 108 designs GCLs for the multiple communication devices 2k-j based on the NW topology, the ST design information, and the existing GCL. Then, when a frame is forwarded by the designed GCL, the GCL calculation unit 108 calculates the frame transmission start timing by the communication device 2k-1 that transmits the frame first in the control communication network NW1k and the frame transmission end timing by the communication device 2k-m that transmits the frame last.

Next, the GCL calculation unit 108 of the control device 1(k+1) of the control communication network NW1(k+1) adjacent to the control communication network NW1k of the control device 1k that first executes the process on the side transmitting the frame reads out the NW topology of the control communication network NW1(k+1) from the NW topology storage unit 105. Also, the GCL calculation unit 108 acquires the ST design information inputted by the ST design information input unit 106. Also, the GCL calculation unit 108 reads out the existing GCL for the communication device 2(k+1)-j of the control communication network NW1(k+1) from the GCL storage unit 107. Then, the GCL calculation unit 108 designs the GCL of the communication device 2(k+1)-j in the control communication network NW1(k+1) based on the NW topology, the ST design information, the existing GCL, and further, the transmission end timing of the frame by the communication device 2k-m. For example, the GCL calculation unit 108 may design the GCL so that the timing obtained by adding the propagation delay T _T to the frame transmission end timing by the communication device 2k-m becomes the frame transmission start timing by the communication device 2(k+1)-1. Then, the GCL calculation unit 108 calculates the frame transmission end timing by the communication device 2(k+1)-m that receives the frame last in the control communication network NW1(k+1) when the frame is transferred according to the designed GCL.

In addition, the GCL calculation unit 108 of the control device 1(k-1) of the control communication network NW1(k-1) adjacent to the control communication network NW1k of the control device 1k that first executes the process on the side receiving the frame reads out the NW topology of the control communication network NW1(k-1) from the NW topology storage unit 105. In addition, the GCL calculation unit 108 acquires the ST design information inputted by the ST design information input unit 106. In addition, the GCL calculation unit 108 reads out the existing GCL for the communication device 2(k-1)-j of the control communication network NW1(k-1) from the GCL storage unit 107. Then, the GCL calculation unit 108 designs the GCL for the communication device 2(k-1)-j in the control communication network NW1(k-1) based on the NW topology, the ST design information, the existing GCL, and further, the frame transmission start timing by the communication device 2k-1. For example, the GCL calculation unit 108 may design the GCL so that the timing obtained by subtracting the propagation delay T _T from the frame transmission start timing by the communication device 2k-1 becomes the frame transmission end timing by the communication device 2(k-1)-m. Then, the GCL calculation unit 108 calculates the frame transmission start timing by the communication device 2(k-1)-1 that receives the frame first in the control communication network NW1(k-1) when the frame is transferred according to the designed GCL.

In this way, the calculation of the transmission timing described above is repeated until processing is executed in both the control device 11 of the control communication network NW1 to which Talker 3 belongs and the control device 1n of the control communication network NW1n to which Listener 4 belongs. In addition, the GCL calculation unit 108 of the control device 1n of the control communication network NW1n to which Listener 4 belongs further calculates the Listener arrival time.

Here, an example will be described in which the control device 11 executes processing for the first time in the control system 100 shown in Fig. 1. In this example, the GCL calculation unit 108 of the control device 11 designs GCLs for the communication devices 21-1 and 21-2, and calculates the frame transmission end timing (T _1f in Fig. 3) of the communication device 21-2.

The GCL calculation unit 108 of the control device 12 then designs the GCLs for the communication devices 22-1 and 22-2 based on the frame transmission end timing (T _1f in FIG. 3) of the communication device 21-2. For example, the GCL calculation unit 108 of the control device 12 may design the GCL so that the frame transmission start timing (T _2s in FIG. 3) of the communication device 22-1 is the timing obtained by adding the propagation delay T ₁₂ to the frame transmission end timing (T _1f in FIG. 3) of the communication device 21-2. The GCL calculation unit 108 of the control device 12 also calculates the frame transmission end timing (T _2f in FIG. 3) of the communication device 22-2.

Then, the GCL calculation unit 108 of the control device 13 designs the GCLs of the communication devices 23-1 and 23-2 based on the frame transmission end timing (T _2f in FIG. 3) of the communication device 22-2. For example, the GCL calculation unit 108 of the control device 13 may design the GCL so that the timing obtained by adding the propagation delay T ₂₃ to the frame transmission end timing (T _2f in FIG. 3) of the communication device 22-2 becomes the frame transmission start timing (T _3s in FIG. 3) of the communication device 23-1. The GCL calculation unit 108 of the control device 13 also calculates the frame transmission end timing of the communication device 23-2. Furthermore, the GCL calculation unit 108 of the control device 13 calculates the Listener arrival time (T _L in FIG. 3).

The delay requirement determination unit 109 determines whether the end-to-end delay T e when a frame is transferred according to the GCL for each of the communication devices 2k-j in the control communication networks NW1k, which is designed by each of the control devices 1k belonging to the control communication networks NW1k, satisfies the delay requirement. The end-to-end delay _{T e is} the time from the start of frame transmission by the Talker 3 to the end of frame reception by the Listener 4.

Specifically, first, the delay requirement determination unit 109 calculates the end-to-end delay T _e . For example, the delay requirement determination unit 109 calculates the end-to-end delay T _e based on the Li arrival time read by the Listener arrival time reading unit 104. Then, the delay requirement determination unit 109 determines whether the end-to-end delay T _e satisfies the delay requirement. For example, the delay requirement determination unit 109 may determine that the delay requirement is satisfied when the end-to-end delay T _e is less than a predetermined time, and may determine that the delay requirement is not satisfied when the end-to-end delay T _e is equal to or greater than the predetermined time.

If it is determined that the end-to-end delay T _e satisfies the delay requirement, the delay requirement determination unit 109 determines the GCL designed by the GCL calculation unit 108 of each control device 1k as the GCL to be used in communication from the Talker 3 to the Listener 4. In this case, the delay requirement determination unit 109 transmits a design command indicating that the GCL for the multiple communication devices 2k-j in each of the multiple control communication networks NW1k used in calculating the transmission timing is to be set to each of the multiple communication devices 2k-j.

If it is determined that the end-to-end delay T _e does not satisfy the delay requirement, the GCL calculation unit 108 of each control device 1 k designs a different GCL by the above-mentioned method, and calculates the transmission timing by the above-mentioned method using the different GCL. Then, the delay requirement determination unit 109 determines whether the end-to-end delay T _e based on the GCL satisfies the delay requirement. Then, these processes are repeated until it is determined that the end-to-end delay T _e satisfies the delay requirement.

The GCL transmission timing reading unit 110 reads the transmission timing calculated by the GCL calculation unit 108. The transmission timing is either the frame transmission start timing by the communication device 2k-j that transmits a frame first in one control communication network NW1k, or the frame transmission end timing by the communication device 2k-j that transmits a frame last in one control communication network NW1k.

The control frame generation signal transmission unit 111 transmits control frame generation information to another control device 1k. The control frame generation information may be a control frame generation signal for generating a control frame, or may be the control frame itself. In the following description, an example will be described in which the control frame generation information is a control frame generation signal, but this is not limited to this example. In the first embodiment, the control frame generation signal includes the transmission timing calculated by the GCL calculation unit 108.

Specifically, the control frame notification signal transmitted to control device 1 (k-1) of control communication network NW1 (k-1), which is adjacent to control communication network NW1k on the side receiving frames from Talker 3, includes a transmission start timing. Also, the control frame notification signal transmitted to control device 1 (k+1) of control communication network NW1 (k+1), which is adjacent to control communication network NW1k on the side transmitting frames to Listener 4, includes a transmission end timing.

That is, the control frame generation signal transmitter 111 transmits a control frame generation signal including a transmission start timing to a control device 1(k-1) of an adjacent control communication network NW1(k-1) on the side that receives frames from Talker 3 to one control communication network NW1k. The control frame generation signal transmitter 111 also transmits control frame generation information including a transmission end timing to a control device 1(k+1) of an adjacent control communication network NW1(k+1) on the side that transmits frames to Listener 4 to one control communication network NW1k.

In addition, the control frame generation signal transmitting unit 111 transmits a control frame generation signal generated by the delay requirement determination unit 109, which includes a design instruction indicating that each GCL is to be set to the corresponding communication device 2k-j, to another control device 1k via the management port 101.

<Configuration of communication device>
The communication device 2k-j is a network device that transfers frames received via the control communication network NW1k and the main signaling network NW2k according to the destination of the frame, and may be, for example, a switch.

As shown in FIG. 4, communication device 2k-j comprises a management port 201, a control frame generation signal receiving unit 202, a control frame generation unit 203, a control frame transmission unit 204, a main signal port 205, a control frame reception unit 206, and a control frame notification signal transmission unit 207. The management port 201 and the main signal port 205 are configured by a communication interface. The control frame generation signal receiving unit 202, the control frame generation unit 203, the control frame transmission unit 204, the control frame reception unit 206, and the control frame notification signal transmission unit 207 are configured by a controller.

The management port 201 is a port through which the communication device 2k-j connects to the control communication network NW1k.

The control frame generation signal receiving unit 202 receives a control frame generation signal from the control device 1k.

The control frame generating unit 203 generates a control frame corresponding to the control frame generation signal received by the control frame generation signal receiving unit 202.

The control frame transmitting unit 204 transmits the control frame generated by the control frame generating unit 203 via the main signal port 205.

The main signal port 205 is a port through which communication device 2k-j connects to the main signal network NW2k.

The control frame receiving unit 206 receives the control frame via the main signal port 205.

The control frame notification signal transmitting unit 207 transmits a control frame notification signal corresponding to the control frame received by the control frame receiving unit 206 via the management port 201 to the control device 1k belonging to the same control communication network NW1k.

<Operation of the control device>
Next, the operation of the control device 1k according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5 to Fig. 8. Fig. 5 to Fig. 8 are flowcharts showing an example of the operation of the control devices 1k, 1k', 1n, and 1 according to this embodiment. The operation of the control devices 1k, 1k', 1n, and 1 described with reference to Fig. 5 to Fig. 8 corresponds to a control method executed by the control devices 1k, 1k', 1n, and 1 according to this embodiment.

First, referring to Figure 5, we will explain the operation of the control device 1k, which first executes the processing.

In step S10, the ST design information input unit 106 accepts input of ST design information indicating information regarding the design of the GCL.

In step S11, the GCL calculation unit 108 reads the network topology of one control communication network NW1k from the network topology memory unit 105.

In step S12, the GCL calculation unit 108 reads out the existing GCLs for each of the multiple communication devices 2k-j in one control communication network NW1k from the GCL memory unit 107.

In step S13, the GCL calculation unit 108 calculates the GCL. Specifically, the GCL calculation unit 108 designs a GCL for multiple communication devices 2k-j in one control communication network NW1k based on the NW topology, ST design information, and the existing GCL. Then, the GCL calculation unit 108 calculates the transmission timing of frames by multiple communication devices 2k-j in one control communication network NW1k when frames are forwarded by the designed GCL.

In step S14, the GCL calculation unit 108 updates the existing GCL stored to the GCL designed by the GCL calculation unit 108.

In step S15, the GCL transmission timing reading unit 110 reads the transmission timing calculated by the GCL calculation unit 108.

In step S16, the control frame generation signal transmission unit 111 transmits a control frame generation signal including a transmission timing to the control device 1k' of the control communication network NW1k' adjacent to one control communication network NW1k. Specifically, the control frame generation signal transmission unit 111 transmits a control frame generation signal including a transmission start timing to the control device 1(k-1) of the adjacent control communication network NW1(k-1) on the side receiving a frame from Talker 3. In addition, the control frame generation signal transmission unit 111 transmits a control frame generation signal including a transmission end timing to the control device 1(k+1) of the adjacent control communication network NW1(k+1) on the side transmitting a frame to Listener 4.

The order of the above-mentioned steps S10 to S12 executed by the control device 1k is merely an example, and is not limited to this order. In addition, any two or more of the steps S10 to S12 may be executed at the same time.

Next, referring to Figure 6, an example of the operation of the control device 1k' that executes processing other than at the beginning and end is described.

In step S20, the control frame notification signal receiving unit 102 receives a control frame notification signal corresponding to a control frame generation signal including a transmission timing transmitted from the control device 1k.

In step S21, the adjacent network transmission timing reading unit 103 reads the transmission timing contained in the control frame notification signal received by the control frame notification signal receiving unit 102.

In step S22, the ST design information input unit 106 accepts input of ST design information indicating information regarding the design of the GCL.

In step S23, the GCL calculation unit 108 reads the network topology of the control communication network NW1k' from the network topology memory unit 105.

In step S24, the GCL calculation unit 108 reads out the existing GCLs for each of the multiple communication devices 2k'-j in the control communication network NW1k' from the GCL memory unit 107.

In step S25, the GCL calculation unit 108 calculates the GCL. Specifically, the GCL calculation unit 108 designs a GCL for multiple communication devices 2k'-j in the control communication network NW1k' based on the NW topology, the existing GCL, and the frame transmission timing by the communication device 2k-j in the control communication network NW1k. Then, the GCL calculation unit 108 calculates the frame transmission timing by the multiple communication devices 2k'-j in the control communication network NW1k' when the frame is forwarded according to the designed GCL.

In step S26, the GCL memory unit 107 updates the existing GCL stored to the GCL designed by the GCL calculation unit 108.

In step S27, the GCL transmission timing reading unit 110 reads the transmission timing calculated by the GCL calculation unit 108.

In step S28, the control frame generation signal transmission unit 111 transmits a control frame generation signal including a transmission timing to the control device 1k" of the control communication network NW1k" adjacent to the control communication network NW1k'. Here, when k'=k-1, k"=k-2. Also, when k'=k+1, k"=k+2. Specifically, when k'=k-1, the control frame generation signal transmission unit 111 transmits a control frame generation signal including a transmission start timing to the control device 1(k-2) of the control communication network NW1(k-2), which is adjacent to the control communication network NW1(k-1) on the side receiving frames from Talker 3. Also, when k'=k+1, the control frame generation signal transmission unit 111 transmits a control frame generation signal including a transmission end timing to the control device 1(k+2) of the control communication network NW1(k+2), which is adjacent to the control communication network NW1(k+1) on the side transmitting frames to Listener 4.

The order of the above-mentioned steps S21 to S24 executed by the control device 1k' is merely an example, and is not limited to this order. In addition, any two or more of the steps S21 to S24 may be executed at the same time.

Next, referring to Figure 7, an example of the operation of the control device 1n of the control communication network NW1n to which Listener 4 belongs is explained.

In step S30, the control frame notification signal receiving unit 102 receives a control frame notification signal corresponding to a control frame generation signal including a transmission timing transmitted from the control device 1 (n-1).

In step S31, the adjacent network transmission timing reading unit 103 reads the transmission timing contained in the control frame notification signal received by the control frame notification signal receiving unit 102.

In step S32, the ST design information input unit 106 accepts input of ST design information indicating information regarding the design of the GCL.

In step S33, the GCL calculation unit 108 reads the NW topology of the control communication network NW1n from the NW topology memory unit 105.

In step S34, the GCL calculation unit 108 reads out the existing GCLs for each of the multiple communication devices 2n-j in the control communication network NW1n from the GCL memory unit 107.

In step S35, the GCL calculation unit 108 calculates the GCL. Specifically, the GCL calculation unit 108 designs a GCL for multiple communication devices 2n-j in the control communication network NW1n based on the NW topology, the ST design information, the existing GCL, and the frame transmission timing by the communication device 2(n-1)-m in the control communication network NW1(n-1). Then, the GCL calculation unit 108 calculates the frame transmission timing by the multiple communication devices 2n-j in the control communication network NW1n when the frame is forwarded by the designed GCL.

In step S36, the GCL memory unit 107 updates the existing GCL stored to the GCL designed by the GCL calculation unit 108.

In step S37, the GCL calculation unit 108 calculates the Listener arrival time.

In step S38, the control frame generation signal transmitting unit 111 transmits a control frame generation signal including the Listener arrival time to the control device 11 of the control communication network NW11 to which Talker 3 belongs.

The order of the above-mentioned steps S31 to S34 executed by the control device 1n is merely an example, and is not limited to this order. In addition, any two or more of the steps S31 to S34 may be executed at the same time.

Next, referring to Figure 8, an example of the operation of the control device 11 of the control communication network NW11 to which Talker 3 belongs will be explained.

In step S40, the control frame notification signal receiving unit 102 receives a control frame notification signal corresponding to a control frame generation signal including a Listener arrival time transmitted from the control device 1n.

In step S41, the Listener arrival time reading unit 104 reads the Listener arrival time contained in the control frame notification signal received by the control frame notification signal receiving unit 102.

In step S42, the delay requirement determination unit 109 calculates the end-to-end delay T e when a frame is forwarded according to the GCL for multiple communication devices 2k-j in multiple control communication networks NW1k designed by each of multiple control devices _1k belonging to multiple control communication networks NW1k.

In step S43, the delay requirement determination unit 109 determines whether the end-to-end delay T _e satisfies the delay requirement.

If it is determined in step S43 that the end-to-end delay T _e satisfies the delay requirement, in step S44, the delay requirement determination unit 109 determines the GCL calculated by the GCL calculation unit 108 as the GCL to be used in the communication. Then, the delay requirement determination unit 109 transmits a design command indicating that the GCL for the multiple communication devices 2k-j in the multiple control communication networks NW1k used in the calculation of the transmission timing is to be set for each of the multiple communication devices 2k-j.

If it is determined in step S43 that the end-to-end delay T _e does not satisfy the delay requirement, the process returns to step S10 in Fig. 5 and is repeated. That is, if it is determined that the end-to-end delay T _e does not satisfy the delay requirement, the GCL calculation unit 108 of each control device 1k designs a GCL different from the already designed GCL. Then, the process of timing the transmission of frames by the multiple communication devices 2k-j in each of the multiple control communication networks NW1k when frames are transferred according to the different GCL is repeated until it is determined that the end-to-end delay T _e satisfies the delay requirement.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the control device 1k can reduce delays in communication across multiple control communication networks NW1k. Specifically, the control device 1k' determines the GCL of the communication device 2k'-j of the control communication network NW1k' based on the frame transmission timing based on the GCL of the communication device 2k-j of the adjacent control communication network NW1k, thereby suppressing the occurrence of unnecessary queuing delays TQ as described with reference to FIG. 20.

Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the control device 1k determines the GCL of the communication device 2k-j without using the NW topology and GCL of the control communication network NW1k to which the other control device 1k belongs, thereby preventing the NW topology and GCL of each control communication network NW1k from being leaked unnecessarily.

Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the control device 1k can design the GCL with a high degree of freedom within the control communication network NW1k to which the control device 1k belongs, without being exclusively controlled by the design of the GCL by another control device 1k.

Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, when the control device 11 determines that the end-to-end delay T _e satisfies the delay requirement, it decides to set the GCL used in the calculation of the end-to-end delay T _e to each communication device 2 k-j. Therefore, each control device 1 k does not need to calculate the transmission timing for all patterns of GCL. Therefore, the processing load in each control device 1 k can be reduced.

<<Second embodiment>>
The overall configuration of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a control system 100-1 according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are attached to the same functional units as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The control system 100-1 includes a plurality of control devices 1k-1, a communication device 2k-j controlled by each of the plurality of control devices 1k-1 via a control communication network NW1k, a Talker 3, and a Listener 4.

9, n=3, and control system 100-1 includes control device 11-1, control device 12-1, and control device 13-1. Also, in the example shown in FIG. 9, m=2, and control device 11-1 controls communication device 21-1 and communication device 21-2 via control communication network NW11, control device 12-1 controls communication device 22-1 and communication device 22-2 via control communication network NW12, and control device 13-1 controls communication device 23-1 and communication device 23-2 via control communication network NW13-1.

As shown in Figure 10, the control device 1k-1 includes a management port 101, a control frame notification signal receiving unit 102-1, a NW topology storage unit 105, an ST design information input unit 106, a GCL storage unit 107, a gate control list candidate calculation unit (GCL candidate calculation unit) 108-1, a delay requirement determination unit 109-1, a GCL transmission timing readout unit 110, a control frame generation signal transmission unit 111-1, an overall gate control list candidate readout unit (overall GCL candidate readout unit) 112, and an overall gate control list calculation unit (overall GCL calculation unit) 113. The GCL candidate calculation unit 108-1, the delay requirement determination unit 109-1, the control frame generation signal transmission unit 111-1, the overall GCL candidate readout unit 112, and the overall GCL calculation unit 113 are configured by a controller.

The control frame notification signal receiving unit 102-1 receives a control frame notification signal corresponding to a control frame generation signal transmitted from another control device 1k-1.

In the second embodiment, the control frame generation signal includes the transmission timing for each case in which the frame is forwarded according to one or more GCL candidates for each of the multiple communication devices 2k-j. In the second embodiment, the transmission timing refers to both the frame transmission start timing by communication device 2k-1 that transmits a frame first among the communication devices 2k-j belonging to the control communication network NW1k when transmitting a frame from Talker 3 to Listener 4, and the frame transmission end timing by communication device 2k-1 that transmits a frame last among the communication devices 2k-j belonging to the control communication network NW1k.

The GCL candidate calculation unit 108-1 designs one or more GCL candidates for multiple communication devices 2k-j in the control communication network NW1k based on the NW topology, ST design information, and existing GCLs. The GCL candidate calculation unit 108-1 also calculates the transmission timing of frames by multiple communication devices 2k-j in the control communication network NW1k when frames are forwarded according to each of the one or more GCL candidates.

In the first embodiment, each control device 1k performed processing in an order determined based on the network policy, but in the second embodiment, each control device 1k-1 can perform processing regardless of the timing at which other control devices 1k-1 perform processing and the results of processing by the other control devices 1k-1.

The control frame generation signal transmitter 111-1 transmits a control frame generation signal including the transmission timing read by the GCL transmission timing reader 110 via the management port 101. Specifically, the control frame generation signal transmitter 111 transmits a control frame generation signal including a transmission end timing and a transmission start timing to a specific control device 1k-1. The specific control device 1k-1 is a predetermined control device 1k-1 out of the multiple control devices 1k-1.

The overall GCL candidate reading unit 112 of a given control device 1k-1 reads the transmission timing of each of the multiple communication devices 2k-j when a frame is forwarded according to one or more GCL candidates calculated by the GCL calculation unit 108 of each control device 1k-1, which are included in the control frame notification signal.

The overall GCL calculation unit 113 of a given control device 1k-1 calculates an end-to-end delay T e (see FIG. 11 ) from the start timing of frame transmission by the Talker 3 to the end timing of frame reception by the Listener 4 when a frame is transferred according to each combination of GCL candidates for each of the multiple communication devices 2k-j in the multiple control communication networks NW1k, based on the transmission timing corresponding to each of one or more GCL candidates for each of the multiple communication devices 2k-j. Furthermore, the overall GCL calculation unit 113 selects the combination with the smallest _end -to-end delay T _e .

Moreover, the overall GCL calculation unit 113 of a given control device 1k-1 determines each of the GCL candidates constituting a combination with the smallest end-to-end delay T _e as the GCL for each of the multiple communication devices 2k-j in the multiple control communication networks NW1k.

The delay requirement determination unit 109-1 of a given control device 1k-1 determines whether or not the end-to-end delay T _e when a frame is transferred according to the GCL determined by the overall GCL calculation unit 113 satisfies the delay requirement.

If it is determined that the end-to-end delay T _e satisfies the delay requirement, the control frame generation signal transmitting unit 111-1 transmits a control frame generation signal including a design instruction indicating that the GCL determined by the overall GCL calculation unit 113 is to be set for each of the multiple communication devices 2k-j.

Note that the above-mentioned specific control device 1k-1 may be equipped with the overall GCL candidate readout unit 112 and the overall GCL calculation unit 113, and the other control devices 1k-1 may not be equipped with the overall GCL candidate readout unit 112 and the overall GCL calculation unit 113. In this embodiment, the control device 1k-1 that is not the specific control device 1k-1 transmits a control frame generation signal indicating the transmission timing in accordance with the GCL candidate calculated by the GCL candidate calculation unit 108-1 to the specific control device 1k-1 via the communication device 2k-j. Then, the overall GCL candidate readout unit 112 and the overall GCL calculation unit 113 of the specific control device 1k-1 execute the above-mentioned processing using the transmission timing indicated in the control frame notification signal corresponding to the control frame generation signal received from the control device 1k-1 that is not the specific control device 1k-1 and the transmission timing calculated by the specific control device 1k-1.

<Operation of the control device>
Next, the operation of the above-mentioned predetermined control device 1k-1 according to the second embodiment for determining the overall GCL will be described with reference to Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control device 1k-1 according to this embodiment for determining the overall GCL. The operation of the control device 1k-1 described with reference to Fig. 12 corresponds to the control method executed by the control device 1k-1 according to this embodiment. In this operation, the GCL candidate calculation unit 108-1 of the predetermined control device 1k-1 designs one or more GCL candidates for each of the multiple communication devices 2k-j in the control communication network NW1k to which the control device 1k-1 belongs, and calculates the transmission timing.

First, in step S50, the control frame notification signal receiving unit 102 receives a control frame notification signal corresponding to a control frame generation signal including a transmission timing, which is transmitted from a control device 1k that is not the specified control device 1k-1. The transmission timing of the GCL candidate included in the received control frame notification signal is read by the overall GCL candidate reading unit 112 and stored by the overall GCL storage unit 113.

In step S51, the overall GCL candidate reading unit 112 reads the transmission timing of each of the multiple communication devices 2k-j when a frame is forwarded according to one or more GCL candidates calculated by the GCL calculation unit 108 of each control device 1k-1.

In step S52, the overall GCL calculation unit 113 calculates the end-to-end delay T _e when a frame is forwarded according to each combination of GCL candidates for multiple communication devices 2k-j in multiple control communication networks NW1k, based on the transmission timing read out by the overall GCL candidate reading unit 112.

In step S53, the total GCL calculation unit 113 selects a combination with the smallest end-to-end delay T _e . The total GCL calculation unit 113 also determines each of the GCL candidates constituting the combination with the smallest end-to-end delay T _e as a GCL for each of the multiple communication devices 2 k-j in the multiple control communication networks NW1 k.

In step S54, the delay requirement determination unit 109-1 determines whether or not the end-to-end delay T _e (ie, the minimum end-to-end delay T _e ) when the frame is forwarded according to the GCL determined by the overall GCL calculation unit 113 satisfies the delay requirement.

If it is determined in step S54 that the End-to-End delay T _e satisfies the delay requirement, in step S55, the control frame generation signal transmitting unit 111-1 transmits a control frame generation signal including a design instruction indicating that the GCL determined by the overall GCL calculation unit 113 is to be set for each of the multiple communication devices 2k-j.

If it is determined in step S54 that the end-to-end delay T _e does not satisfy the delay requirement, the control device 1k-1 ends the process.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the control device 1k-1 can reduce delays in communication across multiple control communication networks NW1k, similar to the control device 1k of the first embodiment. Specifically, the control device 1k-1 determines the GCL of the communication device 2k-j of the control communication network NW1k based on the frame transmission timing based on the GCL for the communication device 2k-j of the adjacent control communication network NW1k, and therefore can suppress the occurrence of unnecessary queuing delays _TQ as described with reference to FIG. 20.

Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, the control device 1k-1 determines the GCL of the communication device 2k-j without using the network topology and GCL of the control communication network NW1k to which the other control devices 1k-1 belong, thereby preventing the network topology and GCL of each control communication network NW1k from being leaked unnecessarily.

Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, the control device 1k-1 can design the GCL so that the end-to-end delay T _e required throughout communication in which the Talker 3 transmits a frame to the Listener 4 is minimized.

<<Third embodiment>>
13, the control system 100-2 of the third embodiment includes one parent control device (control device) 1a and one or more child control devices (other control devices) 1bk. In the third embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the same functional units as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

<Configuration of parent control device>
As shown in FIG. 14, the parent control device 1a includes a management port 101, a control frame notification signal receiving unit 102-2, an ST design information input unit 106, an overall GCL calculation unit 108-2, a delay requirement determination unit 109-2, a control frame generation signal transmitting unit 111-2, a network topology reading unit (NW topology reading unit) 114, a network topology updating unit (NW topology updating unit) 115, a gate control list reading unit (GCL reading unit) 116, a gate control list updating unit (GCL updating unit) 117, an overall network topology memory unit (overall NW topology memory unit) 118, and an overall gate control list memory unit (overall GCL memory unit) 119. The overall GCL calculation unit 108-2, the delay requirement determination unit 109-2, the control frame generation signal transmission unit 111-2, the NW topology reading unit 114, the NW topology updating unit 115, the GCL reading unit 116, and the GCL updating unit 117 are configured by a controller. The overall NW topology storage unit 118 and the overall GCL storage unit 119 are configured by a memory. The parent control device 1a can be a CNC or the like managed by a service provider that provides a long-distance communication service.

The control frame notification signal receiving unit 102-2 receives a control frame notification signal corresponding to the control frame generation signal transmitted from the child control device 1bk.

In the third embodiment, the control frame notification signal received by the control frame notification signal receiving unit 102-2 of the parent control device 1a includes the network topology and GCL of each child control device 1bk.

The NW topology reading unit 114 reads the NW topology of each control communication network NW1bk to which the child control device 1bk belongs, which is included in the control frame notification signal.

The NW topology update unit 115 updates the NW topology of each control communication network NW1bk to which the child control device 1bk belongs, which is stored in the overall GCL memory unit 119, with the corresponding NW topology read by the NW topology read unit 114.

The GCL reading unit 116 reads the GCL for each of the multiple communication devices 2bk-j of the control communication network NW1bk to which the child control device 1bk belongs, which is contained in the control frame notification signal.

The GCL update unit 117 updates the GCLs for each of the multiple communication devices 2bk-j in the control communication network NW1bk stored in the overall GCL memory unit 119 with the corresponding GCLs read by the GCL reading unit 116.

The overall NW topology memory unit 118 stores the overall NW topology including the NW topology of each of the multiple control communication networks NW1a, NW1bk.

The overall GCL memory unit 119 stores the existing overall GCL, including the existing GCL for each of the multiple communication devices 2a-j, 2bk-j of the multiple control communication networks NW1a, NW1bk.

The overall GCL calculation unit 108-2 designs an overall GCL including GCLs for multiple communication devices 2a-j, 2bk-j in the multiple control communication networks NW1a, NW1bk based on the overall NW topology, ST design information, and the existing overall GCL. The overall GCL calculation unit 108-2 also calculates the frame transmission timing by multiple communication devices 2a-j, 2bk-j in the multiple control communication networks NW1a, NW1bk when the frame is forwarded by the designed overall GCL, as shown in Figure 15. The overall GCL calculation unit 108-2 also calculates the Listener arrival time.

The delay requirement determination unit 109-2 calculates an end-to-end delay T _e based on the transmission timing calculated by the overall GCL calculation unit 108-2. The delay requirement determination unit 109 also determines whether the end-to-end delay T _e satisfies the delay requirement.

If it is determined that the end-to-end delay T _e satisfies the delay requirement, the delay requirement determination unit 109 determines the overall GCL designed by the overall GCL calculation unit 108-2 as the overall GCL to be used in the communication. In addition, the delay requirement determination unit 109 reads out the GCL for the communication device 2bk-j of the control communication network NW1bk to which the child control device 1bk belongs in the determined overall GCL, and generates a design command to set the GCL to the communication device 2bk-j.

If it is determined that the end-to-end delay T _e does not satisfy the delay requirement, the overall GCL calculation unit 108-2 of the parent control device 1a designs a different GCL, calculates the transmission timing based on the GCL, and repeats the process until the end-to-end delay T _e satisfies the delay requirement.

The control frame generation signal transmitter 111-2 transmits a control frame generation signal including the design command generated by the delay requirement determination unit 109-2 and the GCL design information to the child control device 1bk. That is, when it is determined that the End to End delay T _e satisfies the delay requirement, the control frame generation signal transmitter 111-2 transmits a control frame generation signal including a design command for setting the GCL for the communication device 2bk-j of the child control communication network NW1bk in the overall GCL designed by the overall GCL calculation unit 108-2 to each communication device 2bk-j, and GCL design information indicating the GCL, to the child control device 1bk.

<Configuration of child control device>
As shown in FIG. 16, the child control device 1bk includes a management port 101, a control frame notification signal receiving unit 102-2, a NW topology memory unit 105, a GCL memory unit 107, a control frame generation signal transmitting unit 111-2, a NW topology reading unit 114, a GCL reading unit 116, and a GCL update unit 117.

The control frame generation signal transmitter 111-2 transmits a control frame generation signal including the NW topology read by the NW topology reader 114 and the GCL read by the GCL reader 116. This allows the control frame notification signal receiver 102-2 of the parent control device 1a described above to receive a control frame notification signal including the NW topology and GCL that corresponds to the control frame generation signal transmitted from the child control device 1bk.

The control frame notification signal receiving unit 102-2 receives a control frame notification signal corresponding to a control frame generation signal including a design instruction and GCL information transmitted by the control frame generation signal transmitting unit 111-2 of the parent control device 1a described above.

The GCL update unit 117 updates the GCL stored in the GCL memory unit 107 with the GCL indicated by the GCL information contained in the control frame notification signal received by the control frame notification signal receiving unit 102-2.

<Operation of the control device>
Next, the operation of the parent control device 1a according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 17. Fig. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the parent control device 1a according to the present embodiment. The operation of the parent control device 1a described with reference to Fig. 17 corresponds to the control method executed by the parent control device 1a according to the present embodiment.

In step S600, the control frame notification signal receiving unit 102-2 receives a control frame notification signal corresponding to the control frame generation signal transmitted from the child control device 1bk.

In step S601, the NW topology reading unit 114 reads the NW topology of each control communication network NW1bk to which the child control device 1bk belongs, which is included in the control frame notification signal.

In step S602, the NW topology update unit 115 updates the overall NW topology stored in the overall GCL memory unit 119 with the NW topology read by the NW topology read unit 114.

In step S603, the GCL reading unit 116 reads the GCLs for each of the multiple communication devices 2bk-j of the control communication network NW1bk to which the child control device 1bk belongs, which are included in the control frame generation signal.

In step S604, the GCL update unit 117 updates the overall GCL stored in the overall GCL memory unit 119 with the GCL read by the GCL reading unit 116.

In step S605, the ST design information input unit 106 accepts input of ST design information indicating information regarding the design of the GCL.

In step S606, the overall GCL calculation unit 108-2 reads the overall NW topology stored in the overall NW topology memory unit 118.

In step S607, the overall GCL calculation unit 108-2 reads out the existing overall GCL stored in the overall GCL storage unit 119. That is, the overall GCL calculation unit 108-2 reads out the existing overall GCL including the GCLs of each of the communication devices 2bk-j in the control communication network NW1bk to which each of the child control devices 1bk belongs, and the GCLs of each of the communication devices 2a-j in the control communication network NW1a to which the parent control device 1a belongs.

In step S608, the overall GCL calculation unit 108-2 calculates the overall GCL based on the ST design information, the overall NW topology, and the existing overall GCL. Specifically, the overall GCL calculation unit 108-2 designs the overall GCL. Then, the overall GCL calculation unit 108-2 calculates the frame transmission timing by the multiple communication devices 2a-j, 2bk-j in the multiple control communication networks NW1a, NW1bk when the frame is forwarded according to the designed overall GCL. At this time, the overall GCL calculation unit 108-2 calculates the Listener arrival time.

In step S609, the overall GCL memory unit 119 updates the existing GCL stored to the overall GCL designed by the overall GCL calculation unit 108-2.

In step S610, the delay requirement determination unit 109-2 calculates the end-to-end delay T _e based on the transmission timing calculated by the overall GCL calculation unit 108-2.

In step S611, the delay requirement determination unit 109 determines whether the end-to-end delay T _e satisfies the delay requirement.

If it is determined in step S611 that the End to End delay T _e does not satisfy the delay requirement, the parent control device 1a returns to step S608 and repeats the process.

If it is determined in step S611 that the end-to-end delay T _e satisfies the delay requirement, in step S612, the delay requirement determination unit 109 reads out the GCL for the communication device 2bk-j of the control communication network NW1bk to which the child control device 1bk belongs in the designed overall GCL.

In step S613, a design command to set the GCL in the communication device 2bk-j and the GCL information are sent to the child control device 1bk.

Note that the order of the above-mentioned processes from step S605 to step S607 executed by the parent control device 1a is one example, and is not limited to this order. Furthermore, any two or more of the processes from step S605 to step S607 may be executed at the same timing. Furthermore, in the above-mentioned operation executed by the parent control device 1a, steps S603 and S604 may be executed before steps S601 and S602 are executed. Furthermore, steps S601 and S602 and steps S603 and S604 may be executed at the same timing.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the parent control device 1a designs GCLs for each of the multiple communication devices 2a-j, 2bk-j across all of the control communication networks NW1a, NW1bk. This makes it possible to reduce delays in communication across the multiple control communication networks NW1a, NW1bk.

In the third embodiment, it is preferable that the NW topology and GCL are not transmitted or received between the multiple child control devices 1bk, and that the child control device 1bk transmits the NW topology and GCL only to the parent control device 1a. This prevents the child control device 1bk from receiving the NW topology and GCL of other child control devices 1bk, and avoids unnecessary diffusion of the NW topology and GCL.

<Modification>
In the first embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 18A, the control device 1k (control device 11 in the example of FIG. 18A) transmits a control frame generation signal to the communication device 2k-m (communication device 21-2 in the example of FIG. 18A). In such a configuration, the communication device 2k-m generates a control frame based on the control frame generation signal and transmits the control frame to the communication device 2(k+1)-1 (communication device 22-1 in the example of FIG. 18A) via the main signaling network NW2k (main signaling network NW21 in the example of FIG. 18A). Then, the communication device 2(k+1)-1 transmits a control frame notification signal based on the control frame to the control device 1(k+1) (control device 12 in the example of FIG. 18A).

However, this is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 18A. For example, as shown in FIG. 18B, control device 1k (control device 11 in the example of FIG. 18B) may transmit a control frame generated based on a control frame generation signal to communication device 2k-m (communication device 21-2 in the example of FIG. 18B). In such a configuration, communication device 2k-m transmits a control frame to communication device 2(k+1)-1 (communication device 22-1 in the example of FIG. 18B) via main signaling network NW2k (main signaling network NW21 in the example of FIG. 18B). Then, communication device 2(k+1)-1 transmits the control frame to control device 1(k+1) (control device 12 in the example of FIG. 18B). Furthermore, control device 1(k+1) generates a control frame notification signal based on the control frame. The same applies to the second and third embodiments.

<Program>
The above-mentioned control device 1k, control device 1k-1, parent control device 1a, and child control device 1bk can be realized by a computer 501. In addition, a program for functioning as the above-mentioned control device 1k, control device 1k-1, parent control device 1a, and child control device 1bk may be provided. In addition, the program may be stored in a storage medium or provided through a network. FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a computer 501 functioning as the control device 1k. The computers functioning as the control device 1k-1, parent control device 1a, and child control device 1bk may also be configured similarly to the computer 501. Here, the computer 501 may be a general-purpose computer, a dedicated computer, a workstation, a PC (Personal Computer), an electronic notepad, or the like. The program instructions may be program code, code segments, or the like for performing a required task.

As shown in FIG. 19, computer 501 includes processor 510, ROM (Read Only Memory) 520, RAM (Random Access Memory) 530, storage 540, input section 550, output section 560, and communication interface (I/F) 570. Each component is connected to each other via bus 580 so as to be able to communicate with each other. Processor 510 is specifically a CPU (Central Processing Unit), MPU (Micro Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), SoC (System on a Chip), etc., and may be composed of multiple processors of the same or different types.

The processor 510 controls each component and executes various arithmetic processing. That is, the processor 510 reads a program from the ROM 520 or the storage 540, and executes the program using the RAM 530 as a working area. The processor 510 controls each component and executes various arithmetic processing according to the program stored in the ROM 520 or the storage 540. In the above-described embodiment, the program related to the present disclosure is stored in the ROM 520 or the storage 540.

The program may be stored in a storage medium that is readable by computer 501. Using such a storage medium, the program can be installed in computer 501. Here, the storage medium in which the program is stored may be a non-transitory storage medium. The non-transitory storage medium is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. In addition, the program may be downloaded from an external device via a network.

ROM 520 stores various programs and various data. RAM 530 temporarily stores programs or data as a working area. Storage 540 is composed of a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive) and stores various programs including an operating system and various data.

The input unit 550 includes one or more input interfaces that receive input operations from a user and acquire information based on the user's operations. For example, the input unit 550 may be, but is not limited to, a pointing device, a keyboard, a mouse, etc.

The output unit 560 includes one or more output interfaces that output information. For example, the output unit 560 is a display that outputs information as a video, or a speaker that outputs information as an audio, but is not limited to these. Note that if the output unit 560 is a touch panel type display, it also functions as the input unit 550.

The communication interface (I/F) 570 is an interface for communicating with external devices.

The following supplementary notes are further disclosed regarding the above embodiment.
[Additional note 1]
A control device that belongs to one of a plurality of control communication networks connected by a main signaling network and transfers frames transmitted from a transmitting terminal to a receiving terminal, and designs a first gate control list for each of a plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network,
A memory and a controller are provided.
The controller includes a delay compensation communication design information input unit that receives an input of delay compensation communication design information indicating information related to a design of the first gate control list;
The memory includes:
storing a network topology of the one control communication network;
storing an existing gate control list of the one control communication network;
The controller:
designing the first gate control list based on the network topology, the delay guarantee communication design information, the existing gate control list, and transmission timings of the frame by a plurality of communication devices in the other control communication network when the frame is forwarded according to a second gate control list for each of the plurality of communication devices in the other control communication network designed by another control device belonging to the other control communication network adjacent to the one control communication network, and calculating transmission timings of the frame by the plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network when the frame is forwarded according to the first gate control list;
determining whether or not a terminal-to-terminal delay from a timing at which the transmitting terminal starts transmitting the frame to a timing at which the receiving terminal ends receiving the frame satisfies a delay requirement when the frame is transferred in accordance with a gate control list for each of a plurality of communication devices in the plurality of control communication networks, the gate control list being designed by each of a plurality of control devices belonging to the plurality of control communication networks;
a control device that transmits control frame generation information indicating a design command to set each of the gate control lists in the corresponding communication device when it is determined that the end-to-end delay satisfies the delay requirement.
[Additional note 2]
the transmission timing is either a frame transmission start timing by a communication device that receives the frame first in the one control communication network, or a frame transmission end timing by a communication device that receives the frame last in the one control communication network,
The control device described in Appendix 1, wherein the controller transmits control frame generation information including the transmission start timing to a control device of an adjacent control communication network on the side receiving the frame from the transmitting terminal, and transmits control frame generation information including the transmission end timing to a control device of an adjacent control communication network on the side transmitting the frame to the receiving terminal, to the one control communication network.
[Additional note 3]
3. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the memory updates the existing gate control list to the gate control list designed by the first gate control list calculation unit.
[Additional note 4]
A control device that belongs to one of a plurality of control communication networks connected by a main signaling network and transfers frames transmitted from a transmitting terminal to a receiving terminal, and designs a gate control list of a plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network,
A memory and a controller are provided.
The controller includes a delay compensation communication design information input unit that receives an input of delay compensation communication design information indicating information related to a design of the gate control list;
The memory includes:
storing a network topology of the one control communication network;
storing an existing gate control list for a plurality of communication devices of the one control communication network;
The controller:
designing one or more gate control list candidates for a plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network based on the network topology, the delay guarantee communication design information, and the existing gate control list, and calculating transmission timings of the frames by the plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network when the frames are forwarded according to each of the designed one or more gate control list candidates;
calculating a terminal-to-terminal delay from a transmission start timing of the frame by the transmitting terminal to a reception end timing of the frame by the receiving terminal when the frame is transferred by each combination of the gate control list candidates for each of the plurality of communication devices based on a transmission timing of the frame corresponding to each of one or more gate control list candidates for each of the plurality of communication devices in the plurality of control communication networks, the transmission timing being designed by a plurality of control devices each belonging to the plurality of control communication networks, selecting the combination with the smallest terminal-to-terminal delay, and determining each of the gate control list candidates constituting the combination as a gate control list for each of the plurality of communication devices in the plurality of control communication networks;
determining whether or not an end-to-end delay when a frame is forwarded according to the determined gate control list satisfies a delay requirement;
A control device that transmits control frame generation information including a design instruction indicating that the gate control list determined by the overall gate control list calculation unit is to be set in each of the multiple communication devices when it is determined that the terminal-to-terminal delay satisfies the delay requirement.
[Additional note 5]
A control device which belongs to one of a plurality of control communication networks connected by a main signaling network and transfers frames transmitted from a transmitting terminal to a receiving terminal, and designs gate control lists for a plurality of communication devices in each of the plurality of control communication networks, comprising a memory and a controller;
The controller includes a delay compensation communication design information input unit that receives an input of delay compensation communication design information indicating information related to the design of the communication;
The memory includes:
storing an overall network topology including a network topology of each of the plurality of control communication networks;
storing an existing overall gate control list including existing gate control lists of the plurality of control communication networks;
The controller:
an overall gate control list calculation unit that designs gate control lists for a plurality of communication devices in the entire plurality of control communication networks based on the overall network topology, the delay guarantee communication design information, and the existing overall gate control list, and calculates transmission timings of the frames by the plurality of communication devices when the frames are forwarded according to the designed gate control list;
a delay requirement determination unit that calculates a terminal-to-terminal delay from a reception end timing of the frame by the receiving terminal to a transmission start timing of the frame by the transmitting terminal based on the transmission timing, and determines whether the terminal-to-terminal delay satisfies a delay requirement;
a control frame generation signal transmission unit that transmits control frame generation information including design instructions for setting gate control lists for communication devices of other control communication networks in the GCL designed by the overall gate control list calculation unit to the other control devices when it is determined that the terminal-to-terminal delay satisfies the delay requirement; and
A control device comprising:
[Additional note 6]
A control method for a control device that designs gate control lists for a plurality of communication devices in one control communication network that belongs to one of a plurality of control communication networks connected by a main signaling network and transfers frames transmitted from a transmitting terminal to a receiving terminal, the control device comprising: a memory that stores a network topology of the one control communication network; and a memory that stores the gate control list of the one control communication network,
Accepting an input of delay guarantee communication design information indicating information related to the design of the gate control list;
designing one or more gate control list candidates for a plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network based on the network topology, the delay guarantee communication design information, and an existing gate control list, and calculating transmission timings of the frames by the plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network when the frames are forwarded according to each of the designed one or more gate control list candidates;
calculating a terminal-to-terminal delay from a transmission start timing of the frame by the transmitting terminal to a reception end timing of the frame by the receiving terminal when the frame is transferred by each combination of the gate control list candidates for each of the plurality of communication devices based on a transmission timing of the frame corresponding to each of one or more gate control list candidates for each of the plurality of communication devices in the plurality of control communication networks, the transmission timing being designed by a plurality of control devices each belonging to the plurality of control communication networks, selecting the combination with the smallest terminal-to-terminal delay, and determining each of the gate control list candidates constituting the combination as a gate control list for each of the plurality of communication devices in the plurality of control communication networks;
determining whether or not an end-to-end delay when a frame is forwarded according to the determined gate control list satisfies a delay requirement;
A control method, comprising: transmitting control frame generation information including a design instruction indicating that the determined gate control list is to be set in each of the plurality of communication devices when it is determined that the terminal-to-terminal delay satisfies the delay requirement.
[Additional note 7]
A non-transitory storage medium storing a program executable by a computer, the non-transitory storage medium storing the program causing the computer to operate as the control device described in any one of appended claims 1 to 5.

All publications, patent applications, and technologies described in this specification are incorporated by reference into this specification to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent application, and technology was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Although the above-described embodiments have been described as representative examples, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications and substitutions can be made within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present invention should not be construed as being limited by the above-described embodiments, and various modifications or changes are possible without departing from the scope of the claims.

1k, 1k-1, 1a, 1bk Control device 2k-j, 2a-j, 2bk-j Communication device 3 Transmitting terminal (Talker)
4. Listener
100, 100-1, 100-2 Control system 101 Management port 102, 102-1, 102-2 Control frame notification signal receiver (control frame notification information receiver)
103 Adjacent network transmission timing read unit (adjacent NW transmission timing read unit)
104 Receiving terminal arrival time readout unit (Listener arrival time readout unit)
105 Network topology storage unit (NW topology storage unit)
106 Delay guaranteed communication design information input unit (ST design information input unit)
107 Gate control list storage unit (GCL storage unit)
108 Gate control list calculation unit (GCL calculation unit)
108-1 Gate control list candidate calculation unit (GCL candidate calculation unit)
108-2 Overall Gate Control List Calculation Unit (Overall GCL Calculation Unit)
109, 109-1, 109-2 Delay requirement determination unit 110 Gate control list transmission timing read unit (GCL transmission timing read unit)
111, 111-1, 111-2: Control frame generation signal transmission unit (control frame generation information transmission unit)
112 Overall gate control list candidate reading unit (overall GCL candidate reading unit)
113 Overall Gate Control List Calculation Unit (Overall GCL Calculation Unit)
114 Network topology reading unit (NW topology reading unit)
115 Network topology update unit (NW topology update unit)
116 Gate control list reading unit (GCL reading unit)
117 Gate control list update unit (GCL update unit)
118 Overall network topology storage unit (overall NW topology storage unit)
119 Overall Gate Control List Memory Unit (Overall GCL Memory Unit)
201 Management port 202 Control frame generation signal receiving unit 203 Control frame generating unit 204 Control frame transmitting unit 205 Main signal port 206 Control frame receiving unit 207 Control frame notification signal transmitting unit 501 Computer 510 Processor 520 ROM
530 RAM
540 Storage 550 Input unit 560 Output unit 570 Communication interface 580 Bus NW1k, NWa, NWbk Control communication network NW2k Main signal network

Claims (7)

A control device that belongs to one of a plurality of control communication networks connected by a main signaling network and transfers frames transmitted from a transmitting terminal to a receiving terminal, and designs a first gate control list of a plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network,
a delay compensation communication design information input unit that receives an input of delay compensation communication design information indicating information related to a design of the first gate control list;
a network topology storage unit that stores a network topology of the one control communication network;
a gate control list storage unit that stores an existing gate control list of the one control communication network;
a gate control list calculation unit that designs the first gate control list based on the network topology, the delay guarantee communication design information, the existing gate control list, and transmission timings of the frame by a plurality of communication devices in the other control communication network when the frame is forwarded according to a second gate control list for the plurality of communication devices in the other control communication network designed by another control device belonging to the other control communication network adjacent to the one control communication network, and calculates transmission timings of the frame by the plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network when the frame is forwarded according to the first gate control list;
a delay requirement determination unit that determines whether or not a terminal-to-terminal delay from a timing at which the transmitting terminal starts transmitting the frame to a timing at which the receiving terminal finishes receiving the frame satisfies a delay requirement when the frame is transferred in accordance with a gate control list designed by each of a plurality of control devices belonging to the plurality of control communication networks;
a control frame generation information transmitting unit that transmits control frame generation information indicating a design command for setting the gate control list in each of the plurality of communication devices when it is determined that the terminal-to-terminal delay satisfies a delay requirement;
A control device comprising: the transmission timing is either a frame transmission start timing by a communication device that receives the frame first in the one control communication network, or a frame transmission end timing by a communication device that receives the frame last in the one control communication network,
2. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising a control frame generation information transmitting unit that transmits control frame generation information including the transmission start timing to a control device of an adjacent control communication network on the side that receives the frame from the transmitting terminal, and transmits control frame generation information including the transmission end timing to a control device of an adjacent control communication network on the side that transmits the frame to the receiving terminal, to the one control communication network. A control device as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the gate control list storage unit updates the existing gate control list to a first gate control list designed by the gate control list calculation unit. A control device that belongs to one of a plurality of control communication networks connected by a main signaling network, transfers a frame transmitted from a transmitting terminal to a receiving terminal, and designs a gate control list of a plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network,
a delay compensation communication design information input unit that receives an input of delay compensation communication design information indicating information related to a design of the gate control list;
a network topology storage unit that stores a network topology of the one control communication network;
a gate control list storage unit that stores existing gate control lists for a plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network;
a gate control list candidate calculation unit that designs one or more gate control list candidates for a plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network based on the network topology, the delay guarantee communication design information, and the existing gate control list, and calculates transmission timings of the frames by the plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network when the frames are forwarded according to each of the designed one or more gate control list candidates;
an overall gate control list calculation unit that calculates a terminal-to-terminal delay from a transmission start timing of the frame by the transmitting terminal to a reception end timing of the frame by the receiving terminal when the frame is transferred by each combination of the gate control list candidates based on a transmission timing of the frame corresponding to each of one or more gate control list candidates for each of a plurality of communication devices in the plurality of control communication networks, the transmission timing being designed by a plurality of control devices respectively belonging to the plurality of control communication networks, selects the combination with the smallest terminal-to-terminal delay, and determines each of the gate control list candidates constituting the combination as the gate control list for each of the plurality of communication devices in the plurality of control communication networks;
a delay requirement determination unit that determines whether a terminal-to-terminal delay when a frame is transferred according to the gate control list determined by the entire gate control list calculation unit satisfies a delay requirement;
a control frame generation information transmitting unit that transmits control frame generation information including a design command indicating that the gate control list determined by the overall gate control list calculating unit is set in each of the plurality of communication devices when it is determined that the terminal-to-terminal delay satisfies a delay requirement;
A control device comprising: A control device which belongs to one of a plurality of control communication networks connected by a main signaling network, transfers a frame transmitted from a transmitting terminal to a receiving terminal, and designs a gate control list of a plurality of communication devices in each of the plurality of control communication networks,
a delay compensation communication design information input unit that receives an input of delay compensation communication design information indicating information related to a design of the gate control list;
an overall network topology storage unit that stores an overall network topology including the network topologies of each of the plurality of control communication networks;
a gate control list storage unit for storing an existing overall gate control list including existing gate control lists of the plurality of control communication networks;
an overall gate control list calculation unit that designs gate control lists for a plurality of communication devices in the entire plurality of control communication networks based on the overall network topology, the delay guarantee communication design information, and the existing overall gate control list, and calculates transmission timings of the frames by the plurality of communication devices when the frames are forwarded according to the designed gate control list;
a delay requirement determination unit that calculates a terminal-to-terminal delay from a reception end timing of the frame by the receiving terminal to a transmission start timing of the frame by the transmitting terminal based on the transmission timing, and determines whether the terminal-to-terminal delay satisfies a delay requirement;
a control frame generation information transmitting unit that transmits control frame generation information to the other control devices, the control frame generation information including a design command for setting a gate control list for a communication device of another control communication network in the gate control list designed by the entire gate control list calculating unit to each of the communication devices when it is determined that the terminal-to-terminal delay satisfies the delay requirement;
A control device comprising: A control method for a control device that designs gate control lists for a plurality of communication devices in one control communication network that belongs to one of a plurality of control communication networks connected by a main signaling network and transfers frames transmitted from a transmitting terminal to a receiving terminal, the control device comprising: a network topology storage unit that stores a network topology of the one control communication network; and a gate control list storage unit that stores a gate control list of the one control communication network,
receiving an input of delay guarantee communication design information indicating information related to a design of the gate control list;
a step of designing one or more gate control list candidates for a plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network based on the network topology, the delay guarantee communication design information, and an existing gate control list, and calculating transmission timings of the frames by the plurality of communication devices in the one control communication network when the frames are forwarded according to each of the designed one or more gate control list candidates;
a step of calculating a terminal-to-terminal delay from a transmission start timing of the frame by the transmitting terminal to a reception end timing of the frame by the receiving terminal when the frame is transferred by each combination of the gate control list candidates for each of the plurality of communication devices in the plurality of control communication networks, the timing being based on a transmission timing of the frame corresponding to each of one or more gate control list candidates for each of the plurality of communication devices in the plurality of control communication networks, the combination being designed by a plurality of control devices each belonging to the plurality of control communication networks, selecting the combination with the smallest terminal-to-terminal delay, and determining each of the gate control list candidates constituting the combination as a gate control list for each of the plurality of communication devices in the plurality of control communication networks;
determining whether an end-to-end delay when a frame is forwarded according to the determined gate control list satisfies a delay requirement;
transmitting control frame generation information including a design instruction indicating that the determined gate control list is to be set in each of the plurality of communication devices when it is determined that the terminal-to-terminal delay satisfies the delay requirement;
A control method comprising: A program for causing a computer to function as a control device as described in claim 1, 2, 4, or 5.

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