JPH08149155A - New network automatic network transfer method and packet switch with automatic network transfer function - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Regarding the method of incorporating a new station into the packet switching network, the purpose is to automatically create and update the exchange table of the new station and the existing station to incorporate the new station into the network. . [Structure] A new station incorporated into a packet switching network composed of a plurality of packet switching stations having a switching table for designating a packet transmission route allows a packet to be transferred via one or more adjacent stations provided with a direct route. Each time the switching center relays, a packet that records the relay station name and the number of relays is sent to all existing packet switching centers, and each receiving station receives from the route to the final relay station recorded in the packet with the few number of relays. The packets are returned to the new station by sequentially specifying them in the exchange table of the own station as a route to the new station, and the new station starts from the route that goes through the first relay station recorded in the packet with the fewest number of relays from the returned packets. The exchange table is automatically created / updated by sequentially specifying it in the exchange table of the own station as a route to that station.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for incorporating a new packet switching station into a packet switching network. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many packet communication systems that divide and exchange data in units called packets are installed in public communication networks and corporate communication networks. Packet switching stations that exchange packets are connected by lines and transmission lines (hereinafter, the lines and transmission lines are collectively referred to as transmission lines), but the transmission lines are installed one-to-one between all packet switching stations. In most cases, one packet switching station is installed for one to several packet switching stations.

A packet is transmitted to another packet switching station to each packet switching station (specifically, a packet switching station installed in the packet switching station) in the packet switching network including the packet switching station and the transmission line as described above. A table (called a routing table or an exchange table, which will be hereinafter referred to as an exchange table) for selecting a transmission path to be used when performing is provided. In the exchange table, it is general that all packet switching stations that are the destinations of packets and information about the transmission paths that should be selected when transmitting a packet to each packet switching station are stored in association with each other.

When a new packet switching station is newly installed in the packet switching network, a transmission line is installed from the new station to the nearest one or several packet switching stations, and the switching table of the new station is A transmission path (hereinafter, referred to as a route, except for physical description) to be selected when transmitting a packet to another packet switching station is designated for all existing packet switching stations. At the same time, the newly established station is added to the exchange tables of all the existing packet exchange stations, and the route to be selected when transmitting a packet to the newly established station is designated. When the creation and updating of the exchange tables in the new station and the existing packet switching station are completed, the new station is considered to have been incorporated into the packet network.

However, the creation of the exchange table for the newly established station and the update of the exchange table of the existing station increase dramatically as the size of the packet network increases, and the use start time of the exchange table of each station is synchronized. Since it is necessary to take it, the network transfer work of the new station is a heavy burden on the network operator.

From the above, it has been desired to develop a network transfer method capable of efficiently transferring a new packet switching station into a packet switching network.

[0006]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a packet switching network, FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of an exchange table before installation of a new station in the prior art, and FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of an exchange table after installation of a new station in the prior art. FIG. 15 is a block diagram of the exchange table of the newly established station in the prior art.

[0007] Figure 12 is shows a configuration diagram of a packet switching network comprising a model for explaining the replacement table, figure, packet switching station illustrated in solid lines 1a~1f and the transmission path (route) 3 _{- 1} to _3-6 form the packet switching network before the new station is installed. Further, the packet switching station 1g shown by the dotted line is a new packet switching station which is about to be incorporated into the above network, and the transmission lines (routes) _3-7 to _3-9 are new packet switching stations.
This is a new transmission path between 1g and some existing packet switching stations.

Each packet switching station 1a-1g has a packet.
A packet switch is provided, and the packet switch is equipped with a packet switch.
Switch that specifies the route that should be selected when sending
Tables 2a to 2g are provided, but packet switching is shown in the figure.
The illustration of the machine is omitted, and it is particularly necessary in the following description.
The description of the packet switch will be omitted unless necessary. Well
Also, in the following, packet switching stations 1a to 1g and switching tables
Bulls 2a-2g and Route 3 _-1~ 3_-9When individually referring to
Packet switching stations A to G, using the symbols shown in the figure,
Exchange tables A to G and routes R-1 to R-9 (or
Simply referred to as R-1).

First, the configuration of the exchange tables AF of the packet switching stations AF before the packet switching station G is installed in the packet switching network having the configuration of FIG. 12 will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, the exchange table is a table in which a route to be selected when a packet is transmitted from the packet switching station is designated in advance for each packet switching station as the transmission destination. One or a plurality of routes are designated as the routes to be selected, and FIGS. 13 to 15 show examples of exchange tables in which two routes which can be selected for each destination packet switching station are designated. Here, the "first" of the route number is the first route that is preferentially selected, and the "second" is the second route (also referred to as a detour route) that is selected when the first route cannot be used due to congestion or the like. is there. In the station name column of FIG. 13, the station address and the station code are actually specified, but from the convenience of explanation, only the code A to F of the packet switching station shown in FIG. 12 is described and the route number column is entered. "R-" is omitted and only numbers are described (the same applies to the configuration explanatory diagrams of other exchange tables).

The exchange table will be described below with reference to the exchange table A provided in the packet exchange station A of FIG. 12 as an example, in comparison with FIG. As shown in (1) of FIG. 13, in the exchange table A, the routes R-1 and R-2 are designated as the first route and the second route used when transmitting the packet to the packet switching center B, respectively. There is. Therefore, in order to transmit the packet from the packet switching station A to the packet switching station B, when the packet switching device (not shown) in the packet switching station A confirms the route in the switching table A, the route R
-1 and R-2 are designated as the routes to be selected. When the packet switch obtains this, it first confirms whether R-1 of the first route can be used, and if so, sends a packet to R-1. As is clear from FIG. 12, R
Since -1 is the route to the packet switching station B and R-2 is the route to the packet switching station C, when R-1 is selected, the packet is directly transmitted to the packet switching station B which is the destination station. Become.

When the route R-1 cannot be used due to congestion or failure and the second route R-2 is selected, the packet is transmitted to the packet switching center C. The destination route of the packet addressed to the packet switching center B is confirmed using the table C. As shown in (3) of FIG. 13, the exchange table C of the packet switching station C is R-3 for the first route and R-2 for the second route to the packet switching station B.
Is specified, the received packet is sent to the packet switching center B via the route R-3 if the first route R-3 can be used. In this case, the packet transmitted from the packet switching station A is relayed to the packet switching station C and sent to the packet switching station B.

Here, a case will be described in which when the packet switching station A selects the second route R-2, the packet switching station C cannot use the first route R-3. In this case, since the route R-2 is designated as the second route to the packet switching station B in the switching table C of FIG. 13 (3), if the second route is selected, the packet is sent to the packet switching station A of the transmission source. Will be returned. Since this example is an example in which the route R-1 to the packet switching station B cannot be used in the packet switching station A, when a packet is transmitted from the packet switching station C to the packet switching station A, the packet switching station A and the packet switching station A are switched. A “ping-pong phenomenon” in which packets are exchanged between the stations C is likely to occur.

The phenomenon called "ping-pong phenomenon" or "circling around phenomenon" in which one packet is transferred in a loop between a plurality of stations is confirmed by a switch when confirming a route through which a packet is transmitted. This can be prevented by not forwarding the packet to the packet switching station included in. In the following,
The description will be given on the assumption that measures are taken to prevent the "ping-pong phenomenon" and the "circling around phenomenon" in the packet switch.

The same applies to the packet switching stations C to F listed in the switching table A, but as the route to the packet switching station D, only R-4 is designated in the first route, and the second route is used. Is not specified. This is because, as is clear from the figure, the packet cannot be transmitted to the packet switching station D unless it goes through the packet switching station A. Therefore, when R-4 of the first route cannot be selected, another route is selected. However, the packet cannot be transmitted to the packet switching station D. For the same reason, the exchange table D of the packet switching center D indicates that all packets for any packet switching center are to be transmitted via the route R-4, that is, the packet switching center A, as shown in (4) of FIG. And the second route is not specified. The same applies to other exchange tables.

Next, a case where a packet switching station G is newly installed in the packet switching network of FIG. 12 will be described. The newly established station G is assumed to have routes R-7, R-8, and R-9 installed for the three stations of the packet switching stations B, C, and F, respectively. In order to be able to send packets to the packet switching station G when the new station G is installed, it is necessary to change the switching tables AF of the existing packet switching stations AF.

FIG. 14 shows the switching tables AF of the existing packet switching stations AF after the new station G is installed.
In the figure, the part surrounded by the double line shows the part changed from FIG. As shown, all exchange tables A ~
Although the route designation for the packet switching station G is added to F, in the example of the switching table A, as shown in (1) of FIG. R-2 may be designated and vice versa (the route number "1 /"
The designation "2" indicates that the route R-1 or R-2 is designated). As is clear from FIG. 12, when R-1 is selected, R is routed through the packet switching stations A-B-G.
When -1 is selected, the packet is sent to the newly established station G via the packet switching station A-C-G. However, when the number of stations passing through is the same, other conditions, For example, the route to be the first route is determined by comprehensively considering the distance relationship between the stations, the traffic condition, the station size, and the like.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, a new route R-7 is provided in each of the first routes to the switching tables B, C, F of the three switching stations B, C, F. , R-8, R-9 are designated, route R-3 is designated in the exchange table B, route R-3 or R-6 is designated in the exchange table C, and route R-6 is designated in the exchange table F as the second route. It Further, in the exchange table D and the exchange table E, the same route R-4 or R-5 as that for all other packet exchange stations is the first for the newly established station G.
It is designated as the root and the second route is not designated. Since these designations are clear from the network configuration of FIG. 12, detailed description will be omitted.

As described above, it becomes possible to transmit packets from the existing packet switching stations A to F to the newly installed packet switching station G. In addition to this, the switching table is changed with the installation of the new station G. There are some points that you should do, so I will explain. First, in the switching table B, the second route to the packet switching center F is designated as R-1 to R- in FIG.
It is appropriate to change to 7. Further, in the exchange table C, the packet exchange station F is installed before the packet exchange station G is installed.
However, only R-6 of the first route was specified,
With the installation of the packet switching center G, the route R-8 can be used as the second route.

Although the second route has not been designated in the exchange table F up to that point, with the establishment of the packet exchange station G, as shown in (6) of FIG. 14 for the packet exchange stations A to E. It is possible to specify R-9 as the second route in the. On the contrary, for the newly established station G, as described above, R-6
Is designated as the second route. In addition, in the switching table F, R- is assigned to the first route to the packet switching stations B and E.
9. It is possible to specify R-6 for the second route, but since it becomes complicated, the description is omitted in (6) of FIG. The grounds for the above changes are clear from the network configuration in FIG.

On the other hand, in the newly created switching table G in the newly established packet switching station G, routes for all existing packet switching stations AF are designated. FIG. 15 is an exchange table G created based on the network configuration of FIG. Figure 15
The reason for selecting each route shown in (4) is clear from FIG.

By changing the exchange tables A to F of the existing packet switching stations A to F and creating the exchange table G of the new packet switching station G as described above, the existing packet switching stations A to F can create new packets. Both the packet transmission to the exchange G and the packet transmission from the new packet exchange G to the existing packet exchanges AF can be performed. That is, the new station is incorporated into the packet switching network by creating and updating the switching table.

[0022]

As described above, when a new packet switching station is installed in the existing packet switching network, the switching table of the new packet switching station is used as a work for incorporating the new station into the packet switching network. In addition to the creation of the above, it is necessary to change the existing exchange tables of all packet switching stations. However, for example, even when only one newly installed station is installed in a packet switching network in which 1000 packet switching stations are installed, the existing 1000
While specifying the route to the packet switching station of the station,
Since the exchange table of 1000 existing stations must be changed, the amount of work is enormous.

In the prior art, the creation / modification of the exchange table is performed at each packet switching station (new station and existing station) using a maintenance operation terminal or the like, or by a remote operation from a maintenance operation center or a specific control station. Although this method is performed, it requires a lot of labor because these are manual operations. In particular, as the scale of the packet switching network increases, the amount of work to be performed increases rapidly, and the possibility of mistakes increases accordingly.

Further, since the time when the newly installed or changed exchange table is provided to the actual service must be the same, the time when the exchange table is created and changed is restricted, and the time when the exchange table is provided to the service is synchronized. In addition, there is a problem in that a great deal of labor is required for switching the exchange table.

As described above, the conventional method of creating / updating the exchange table places a heavy burden on the service provider, and a network transfer method capable of automatically transferring a new station to the existing network is demanded. ing.

It is an object of the present invention to automatically create / update an exchange table for new stations and existing stations to incorporate the new stations into the network.

[0027]

1 and 2 are views for explaining the principle of the automatic network incorporation method for a new station according to the present invention, FIG.
FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of a packet switch with an automatic network transfer function according to the present invention.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 _-1 to 1 _-4 are packet switching stations, 2 is one or a plurality of routes selected at the time of packet transmission in each packet switching station 1 _-1 to _1-4 . Exchange table specified for each packet switching center, 3 _-1 ~
3 _-3 is a transmission line (route), 4 is a network transfer request packet, 5
Is a network transfer notification packet, and 6 is a network transfer response packet.

First, referring to FIG. 1, the principle of the present invention (claim 1) for automatically incorporating a new packet switching station (hereinafter referred to as a new station) into a packet switching network composed of a plurality of packet switching stations will be described with reference to FIG. Explain.

When the new station 1 _-1 is incorporated into the packet switching network, the new station 1 _-1 has one or more packet switching stations (hereinafter referred to as direct transmission with the new station) provided with the direct transmission line 3 _-1. the packet switching station road is provided referred to as adjacent stations) through one _-2 every time the relay is performed in the packet switching office, summed with all existing packet switching packets for recording relay station the relay number The packet is transmitted to the station (the packet switching stations _1-4 are the destination stations of the packet).

Packet switching station 1 that received the packet
_-4 designates the route to the final relay station 1 _-3 recorded in each packet in order from the packet with the smallest number of relays as the route to the new station 1 _{-1 in} the exchange table 2 of its own station, and the received packet Is sent back to the newly established station _1-1 .

The newly established station 1 _-1 has a route 3 which passes through the first relay station 1 _-2 recorded in each packet in order from the packet with the smallest number of relays among the packets returned from the same packet switching station 1 _{-4. -1} is designated in the exchange table 2 of the own station as a route to the packet exchange station _1-4 .

As a result, the new packet switching station 1 _-1 and all existing packet switching stations 1 _-4 (adjacent station 1 _-3 , relay station and final relay station 1 _-3 also become packet destination stations 1 _-4 ) The switching table 2 of 1 is automatically created or updated, and the new packet switching station 1 _-1 is incorporated into the packet switching network.

Next, the principle of a specific automatic network incorporation method for a new station (claim 2) according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The Figure 2 is a packet switching center corresponding to the packet switching station 1 in FIG. 1 ₂ (neighbor) and the packet switching office 1 _-3 (RS or final relay station) is not shown only the one station, FIG. As in the case of 1, the case where there are a plurality of these stations will be described as an example.

The packet switching stations 1 _-1 to 1 _-4 shown in FIG.
Each have an exchange table 2 as in FIG. New station 1 _-1 1 or more when the direct transmission path 3 _-1 is provided between the adjacent station 1 _-2, the transmission path 3 of new
_-1 specify the replacement table 2 of the own station as a top priority selection route when transmitting a packet to each of the neighboring stations 1 _-2. Further, each adjacent stations 1 _-2 also the transmission path 3 _-1 transmission path provided between the to new station 1 _-1 Add new station to replace table 2 of the own station when the provided 3 _{- 1} is designated as preference route for new station 1 _-1.

With the above designation completed, the new station 1_-1
Is a newly established station 1 when it is incorporated into the packet switching network._-1
Is each adjacent station 1_-2Incorporation into own station's packet switching network
A network transfer request packet 4 for requesting is transmitted. Each adjacent station
1_-2When the network transfer request packet 4 is received, the new
Each packet switching station 1 excluding station_-Four, New station at sender
1 _-1, The number of relays is “1”, the source packet switching station (below
Below, referred to as the source station) to the destination packet switching station (hereinafter
Below, it will be referred to as the transmission destination station or the notification destination station)
Information to identify your own station is recorded at the beginning of the relay station record field to be recorded.
Create a net transfer notification packet 5 that has been set for each packet
Exchange station 1_-Four(As in FIG. 1, other adjacent station 1 _-2,During
Station 1_-3(Including).

[0037] As each packet switching station 1 _-2 to 1 _-4 receives a network admission notification packet 5 that is transmitted from one or more neighboring stations 1 _-2 confirm the destination, if the destination is not its own station (if applicable to packet switching station 1 _-3 in FIG. 2) adds 1 to the relay number set to a network incorporated notification packet 5, record finally identifying the self station information of the relay station record field Then, the network transfer notification packet 5 is transmitted to the destination station.

When the destination station is the own station (see the packet in FIG. 2)
Exchange station 1_-FourIs recorded as the sender.
Add the newly established station to the exchange table 2 of your own station
Station 1 _-1As a route to, network transfer with a small number of relays
The maximum number of packets recorded in the relay station record column in order from the knowledge packet 5.
Final relay station 1_-3And the final relay station 1_-3Against
Route 3_-3The new station 1_-1Exchange your own as a route to
A predetermined number is designated in the conversion table 2.

At this time, if the highest priority selection route for the newly established station is designated in the exchange table 2 of the own station (adjacent station 1
_-2 occurs when receiving a network admission notification packet 5 of which destination station the own station from other neighboring stations 1 _-2), newly elected routes are specified below following order of priority selected route.

When the designation and addition of the route to the newly established station to the exchange table 2 is completed, the received network transfer notification packet 5
The network transfer response packet 6 created by exchanging the packet switching stations set as the transmission destination and the transmission source is transmitted to the new station 1 _-1 which is the new transmission destination.

The network incorporated response packet 6 each packet switching station 1 _-3 to 1 _-2 has received the check the destination confirms that the destination is not own station, the destination station the network admission response packet 6 It is transferred to the newly established station _1-1 .

When the new station 1 _-1 receives the network transfer response packet 6 transmitted from all the packet switching stations one by one or in plurals, the new station 1 _-1 avoids duplication of the same station as the transmission source station of each network transfer response packet 6. Add the replacement table 2, the same packet switching station 1 _-4 as a root for each packet switching station 1 _-4
Its extracts relay stations leading from the network incorporated reply packet 6 is small number of relays are recorded in the relay station record fields in the order in net incorporation response packet 6 transmitted (become neighbor station 1 _-2) from the route _3-1 against the top relay station 1 _-2 specify up to a predetermined number of exchange table 2 of the own station as a route for each packet switching station 1 _-4.

Incidentally, since the replacement table 2 in new station 1 _-1 specifies the highest priority selected route for the neighboring stations 1 _-2 has already been performed, route 3 elected upon receipt of a incorporated response packet 6 _-1 is specified below the next highest priority route. Add after the next rank.

Next, each means provided in the packet switch with the automatic network transfer function according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, 1 is a packet switching station, 10 is a packet switching machine with an automatic network transfer function according to the present invention (hereinafter, simply referred to as a packet switching machine), and 11 is a predetermined number or less of routes selected at the time of packet transmission. It is an exchange table designated in advance for each packet switching station.

Reference numeral 12 designates a network transfer request packet for requesting transfer to the packet switching network of the own station when installed in the new station and inputting a predetermined instruction, and a transmission path is directly provided from the new station. The network transfer request creating means for sending to one or a plurality of adjacent stations, and 13 is a destination station when receiving a network transfer request packet from all other packet switching stations other than the new station and the source station. Create a network transfer notification packet in which the newly established station, the number of relays is “1”, and the information for identifying the own station is set at the beginning of the relay station recording field that records the relay stations from the source station to the destination station. It is a network transfer notification creating means for transmitting to all packet switching stations.

Reference numeral 14 confirms the transmission destination when the network transfer notification packet is received from the adjacent station or another packet switching station,
If the destination is not the own station, add 1 to the number of relays set in the network transfer notification packet, record the information for identifying the own station at the end of the relay station recording field, and send it to the destination station. If the destination is your own station, add the new station set as the source to the exchange table 11 of your own station, and enter it in the relay station record column in order from the network transfer notification packet with the smallest number of relays as the route to the new station. The last recorded relay station is extracted, the route to the last relay station is designated as a route to the newly established station up to a predetermined number in the exchange table 11 of its own station, and then the received network transfer notification packet is transmitted to the network transfer response creating means.
It is a network transfer notification processing means for sending to 15.

When the network transfer notification packet is received from the network transfer notification processing means 15, the network transfer response packet is transmitted by switching the packet exchange stations set as the transmission source and the transmission destination of the received network transfer notification packet. A network transfer response creating means for creating and transmitting the created network transfer response packet to the new station, 16 confirms the destination when the network transfer response packet is received, and confirms that the destination station is not its own station If so, the network transfer notification packet is sent to the destination station, and if it is confirmed that the destination is its own station, the network transfer response packet is sent from all the packet switching stations one by one or more. The source station is added to its own exchange table 11 to avoid duplication of the same station, and the number of relays is small in the network transfer response packet transmitted from the same packet exchange station as a route to each packet exchange station. The first relay station recorded in the relay station recording field is sequentially extracted from the network transfer response packet, and the route to the first relay station is designated up to a predetermined number in the exchange table 11 of the own station as the route to each packet exchange station. It is a net transfer response processing means.

[0048]

The automatic network transfer method for a new station according to the present invention has been described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 in the description of the means for solving the problems. Therefore, the operation of the present invention will be described without duplication. .

In FIG. 1, the new station 1 _-1 transmits a packet notifying the network transfer to all the packet switching stations when the new station 1 _-1 transfers to the packet switching network. At this point, the new station 1 _-1 the exchange table 2 because it is not specified route to another packet switching station transmits a packet over the neighboring stations 1 _-2.

The above packet is received by the destination packet switching station _1-4 directly or by relaying to another packet switching station. The number of relays and the relay station are recorded each time the packet switching station is relayed. So, if you check the packet with a small number of relays among the packets transmitted from multiple neighboring stations,
It can be found the shortest route to new station 1 _-1.

[0051] Therefore packet switching station 1 receives a packet _-4 check the final relay station 1 _-3 recorded in the packet relay count is small, the root 3 _-3 to its final relay station 1 _-3 by specifying the replacement table 2 as the root of the newly established station 1 _-1, the replacement table 2 can specify the optimum route to new station 1 _-1.

Similarly, in the newly established station 1 _-1 , the head relay station recorded in the packet with the smallest number of relays among the packets returned from the same packet switching station 1 _-4 is confirmed, and this head relay station is checked. by specifying the replacement table 2 as the root for the (neighboring stations 1 _-2 becomes one) packet switching station 1 _-4 have folded the packet route for optimal route designated for the packet switching station 1 _-4 it can.

[0053] exchange table above (comprising a packet switching station 1 _-4 when also packet switching station 1 _-2 to 1 _-3 was the destination of the packet) manner all packet switching station 1 _-4 existing 2 an appropriate route to the new station 1 _-1 is automatically specified, and an appropriate route to all existing packet switching stations 1 _-4 is automatically specified in the exchange table 2 of the new station 1 _-1. Therefore, the incorporation of the new station into the packet-switched network can be done quickly and accurately without requiring human intervention.

In FIG. 2, a new station _1-1 is installed,
When performing a test of the transmission line 3 _-1 provided between the new station 1 _-1 and one or more adjacent stations 1 _-2 , set the adjacent station in the exchange table 2 of the new station 1 _-1. transmission line 3 to each of the adjacent stations 1 _-2
-1 be designated as priority selection route to its neighboring stations 1 _-2. The transmission path 3 also adds a new station to the exchange table 2 of the own station at each neighboring station 1 _-2, provided between the newly established station 1 _-1 the highest priority selected routes for new station 1 _-1
Specify _-1 .

[0055] When for incorporated the new station 1 _-1 in a state in which the test was terminated above the specified transmission path _3-1 to the packet switching network, the own new station 1 _-1 to each adjacent station 1 _-2 The network transfer request packet 4 for requesting the transfer to the packet switching network of the station is transmitted. As each neighboring station 1 _-2 receives a network admission request packet 4, transmits a network admission notification packet 5 for notifying a transfer to the packet switched network of new stations to the total packet exchange 1 _-4 except new station 1 _-1 to (although the destination network admission notification packet 5 includes all packet switching station 1 _-2 to 1 _-4 except new station 1 _-1, packet switching station 1 _-2 to 1 _-3 also halftone incorporated notifications When the destination of the packet 5 is the packet switching station 1 of FIG.
_-4 ).

[0056] In this time, the replacement table 2 in new station 1 _-1 not specified a route existing packet switching station, except for neighboring stations 1 _-2 new station 1 _-1 to all packet switching station Although it is impossible to transmit the network admission notification packet 5 directly against, as described above, new station 1 _-1 sends a network admission request packet 4 to the adjacent station 1 _-2 neighbor 1 _-2 network incorporated By transmitting the notification packet 5, it becomes possible to perform network transfer notification to all existing packet switching stations.

[0057] network sent one or more the exchange of notification destination packet station 1 _-4 to neighbor 1 _-2 incorporated notification packet 5
When receiving, the number of relays of each network transfer notification packet 5 is confirmed, and as a route to the newly established station 1 _-4 from the route to the last relay station 1 _-3 recorded in the network transfer notification packet 5 having the smallest number of relays. Since it is set in the exchange table 2 of its own station, the optimum route is automatically designated.

The packet switching station _{1-4, which} is the destination of the network transfer notification packet 5, creates the network transfer response packet 6 in which the transmission destination and the transmission source of the network transfer notification packet 5 are exchanged, and the newly established station 1 _-1.
(The packet switching station _1-4 is also the transmission source station for the network transfer response packet, so the packet switching station _1-4 is also referred to as the notification destination station if confusion is avoided). When the new station 1 _-1 from all notification destination station 1 _-4 receiving a network admission response packet 6, the head of the relay station to the network incorporated reply packet 6 fewest number of relays for each notification destination station 1 _-4 are recorded because it specifies the root 3 _-1 with respect to the relay stations recorded (neighbor 1 _-2) to exchange table 2 of the own station as a route when transmitting a packet to the packet exchange 1 _-4 as the optimal Routes are specified. All notification destination stations 1
By performing the same processing on _-4, the replacement table 2 in new station 1 _-1 so that the route to all existing packet switching station 1 _-4 is automatically specified.

[0059] Creating exchange table 2 in new station 1 _-1 and all existing packet switching station 1 _-4 and the update is completed by the above, new station 1 _-1 and all existing packet switching station 1 _-2 to 1 _{- 4} it is possible to send and receive packets to and from, the end transfer to the packet switched network of new station 1 _-1. Exchange table 2
Is created and updated by the network incorporation request packet 4 from the newly established station _1-1.
Since the transmission is automatically performed after the transmission of, the incorporation of the newly established station _{1-1 into} the packet switching network is performed accurately and quickly.

Next, the operation of the packet switch with an automatic network transfer function according to the present invention will be described while avoiding duplication with the contents described in the means for solving the problems. When the packet switch 10 according to the present invention is installed in each packet switch station constituting the packet switch network and a new packet switch station that intends to be incorporated into the packet switch network, each means in the packet switch 10 is as described above. Take action.

As a result, when the packet switch 10 is installed in the new station, appropriate routes for all existing packet switch stations are automatically specified in the switch table 11 and installed in the existing packet switch station. In case of exchange table
An appropriate route selected when sending a packet to the newly established station for 11 is automatically specified. By creating and updating the exchange table 11, the new station is automatically incorporated into the existing packet switching network, but since it does not require manpower, it is performed quickly and accurately.

[0062]

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are configuration diagrams of an embodiment exchange table of the present invention, FIG. 6 is an embodiment network transfer request packet format of the present invention, FIG. 7 is an embodiment network transfer notification packet format of the present invention, and FIG. 9 and 10 are diagrams for explaining the recorded contents of the network transfer notification packet of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a packet switch with an automatic network transfer function of the embodiment of the present invention. is there.

Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same objects,
2 and 11 are exchange tables, 12 is a network transfer request creating unit, 13 is a network transfer notification creating unit, 14 is a network transfer notification processing unit, 15 is a network transfer response creating unit, 16 is a network transfer response processing unit, and 17 is a packet. Transmitter / receiver, 18 information type identification unit, 19 command analysis unit, 20 control unit, 21 packet switch, 22 line control unit, 22
Is a line interface and 24 is a maintenance operation console.

First, an embodiment of an automatic network incorporation method for a new station according to the present invention will be described. The embodiment based on the principle of FIG. 1 and the embodiment based on the principle of FIG. 2 will be described together with reference to FIGS. 4 to 11. To do. Further, the transmission / reception paths of packets such as the network incorporation request packet, the network transfer notification packet, and the network transfer response packet shall refer to those described in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Further, the model of the packet switching network used in the following description uses the packet switching network of FIG. 12 used in the description of the prior art, and the packet switching stations 1a to 1 shown in FIG.
g, exchange table 2a through 2g, similarly to the description of the prior art if the root 3 _-1 to 3 _-9 individually pointed packet switching station A~
G, exchange tables A to G, and routes R-1 to R-9 (or simply R-1 to R-9).

As in the prior art, the packet switching stations A to F and the routes (transmission lines) R-1 to R-6 shown by the solid lines in FIG. 12 constitute a network before the new station is installed, and are indicated by dotted lines. The illustrated packet switching station G is a new packet switching station (hereinafter referred to as a new station) which is to be incorporated into the packet switching network of FIG. 12, and routes R-7 to R-9 are new packet switching stations and existing packet switching stations. This is a new transmission line (route) between some of the stations. The contents of the exchange tables AF of the packet switching stations AF before the packet switching station G is installed are shown in FIG.
Since it is exactly the same as that shown in FIG.
A description will be given from the time when the new packet switching center G is installed.

With the installation of the packet switching station G, the new station G
A transmission line is installed between the existing packet switching station and the existing packet switching station, but the packet switching station (adjacent station) where the transmission line is installed
Are packet switching stations B, C and F as in the prior art.
It is assumed that there are three stations.

When transmission lines R-7, R-8 and R-9 are respectively provided between the new station G and the adjacent stations B, C and F, the new station G and the adjacent stations B, C and F respectively. From the own station, the physical performance of the new transmission line is tested, and then the opposite test is performed between the new station G and each of the adjacent stations B, C, and F via the new transmission lines R-7 to R-9. The data transmission functions of the new transmission lines R-7 to R-9 are tested to confirm the normality of the transmission lines. Since this counter test is performed by the lower protocol, the test is completed in a relatively short time.

Since the route information of the newly established transmission line is required when the above-mentioned opposite test is performed, the newly established station G at this time has the packet exchange stations B and C as the destination stations in its own exchange table 2g. , F, and each adjacent station B, C,
The new transmission lines R-7, R-8, and R-9 are designated as the first route (highest priority selection route) for F, respectively. Similarly, each adjacent station B, C, F adds a new packet switching station G to its own exchange table B, C, F, and R-
Specify 7, R-8, and R-9.

FIG. 5 shows the exchange table G of the newly established station G. At this point, R-7, R-8, R-9, ie, the first route to the adjacent stations B, C, F, that is, Only the routes marked with a circle in FIG. 4 are designated. FIG. 4 shows the exchange tables A to F of the packet exchanges other than the newly established station G. At this point, the packet exchange G is added only to the exchange tables B, C, and F, and the first exchange for the packet exchange G is performed. R-7, R-8, R-9 as routes (○ in Fig. 4
(Indicated by a mark) are designated respectively. 4 and 5
In, the description of "R-" is omitted in the route number. Also, the part surrounded by double lines in the figure shows the part that is added or changed with the installation of the new station G.

When the test of the transmission path is completed, the new station G manually sends a network transfer request packet to each of the adjacent stations B, C and F. FIG. 6 shows a network transfer request packet 4
3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format (see FIG. 2). As shown in the figure, at the beginning of the network transfer request packet 4, a code indicating "network transfer request" is set as the information type of this packet, and the address or code of the adjacent stations B, C, F (hereinafter, Address) is individually designated, the address of its own station, that is, the newly established station G is set as the transmission source, and transmission is performed.

The adjacent stations B, C, and F that have received this network transfer request packet 4 respectively receive the network transfer notification packet 5 (see FIG. 2).
Reference) is created and transmitted to all the packet switching stations AF except the own station and the newly established station G, but since the processing contents in the adjacent stations B, C and F are the same, the processing in the adjacent station B will be taken as an example. The details will be described.

When the adjacent station B receives the network transfer request packet 4, it creates a network transfer notification packet 5 for notifying each station of the transfer of the new station to the packet switching network, and all other packet switching stations other than the new station G ( (Including adjacent stations C and F).

FIG. 7 shows an example of the format of the network transfer notification packet 5. As shown in the figure, at the beginning of the network transfer notification packet 5, a code indicating "network transfer notification" is set as the information type of the packet, and its own station B is set as the transmission destination.
And 5 packets are stored in which the addresses of the packet switching stations A and C to F except the newly established station G are stored. Further, the address of the newly established station G is stored in the transmission source, not the address of the own station (adjacent station B).

In the column of the number of times of relaying in FIG. 7, the number of packet switching stations (referred to as relay stations) through which the network transfer notification packet 5 passes through until it reaches the notification destination station, that is, the notification destination station. Although counted and recorded, the number of relays is the number of times that the network transfer notification packet 5 is relayed and switched by the packet switching station between the newly established station G and the notification destination station, so the adjacent station B also becomes one of the relay stations. . Therefore, the number of relays (n) of the network transfer notification packet 5 transmitted from the adjacent station B is set to "1" (n
= 1) is set. In the relay station recording column, the packet switching stations relaying the network transfer notification packet 5 sequentially record their own addresses. At the time of transmission from the adjacent station B, the address of the adjacent station B itself is firstly recorded. Relay station (head station)
Is recorded and sent.

The network transfer notification packet 5 created as described above is transmitted to all packet switching stations other than the own station and the newly established station G. The route to be transmitted is described in (2) of FIG. It is selected by the exchange table B. For example, if the network transfer notification packet 5 destined to the packet switching station A is in a state where the first route can be used, the R- of the first route designated in the column of the station name A in (2) of FIG. 13 is used. 1. If the first route cannot be used, it is sent to R-3 of the second route. When it is sent to R-3 of the second route, it is sent to the packet switching center C (see FIG. 12), so that the packet switching center C sends the received network transfer notification packet 5 to the switching table C shown in (3) of FIG. To the route R-2 designated as the first route for the station name A. As described in the prior art, if the packet switching center C cannot use the R-2 of the first route, selecting the second route R-3 causes a ping-pong phenomenon, and therefore this selection is not performed.

Next, the processing performed in the packet switching station that relays the network transfer notification packet 5 will be described. As an example, a case where the packet switching station A receives the network transfer notification packet 5 whose destination is the packet switching station D from the adjacent station B will be described.

When the packet switching station A receives the network transfer notification packet 5 whose destination is the packet switching station D (notification destination station), it confirms that this packet is not addressed to itself and sends it to the packet switching station D. However, at that time, the relay count is incremented by one. If this network transfer notification packet 5 is sent from the adjacent station B of the newly established station G to the packet switching station A via the first route R-1, the number of relays n is “1”. , Add "1" to this, n =
Set to 2.

The relay station records the number of relays and records its own address at the end of the relay station recording field. However, when the network transfer notification packet 5 is sent directly from the packet switching station B, it is sent to the first relay station. Since only the address of the packet switching station B is recorded, the address of the packet switching station A is recorded at the position of the second relay station address in FIG.

The network transfer notification packet 5 that has been subjected to the above processing is transmitted from the packet switching station A to the packet switching station D. The route to be transmitted is the station name of the switching table A in FIG. 13 (1). Select the first route R-4 designated for D. Although the second route is not specified for the station name D in the exchange table A, as is clear from FIG. 12, there is no detour route for the packet exchange station D, so the first route in the packet exchange station A is set. If the route R-4 cannot be used, no packet is transmitted to the packet switching center D.

As described above, the network transfer notification packet 5 is sent to all packet switching stations. FIG. 9 illustrates an example of the route and recorded contents of the network transfer notification packet sent from the adjacent station B. It is a figure. Information recorded in the network transfer notification packet 5 generated by the packet switching station B as an adjacent station in the generation station transmission packet column in FIG. 9, and network transfer notification packet 5 in the reception packet column below the second relay station. , And the recorded contents of the network transfer notification packet 5 received by each packet switching station after the second relay station (the “type information” shown in FIG. 7 is omitted) are abbreviated. In the figure, the portion surrounded by double lines shows the network transfer notification packet received by the final receiving station, that is, the notification destination station of the network transfer notification packet 5 instead of the relay station.

In FIG. 9, when the notified station is not the E station, the second station
Although two relay stations are shown, the upper part shows the case where the packet switching station B selects the first route as the route to the destination station, and the lower part shows the case where the second route is selected. For example, if the destination is the packet switching station A, and the packet switching station B selects the first route R-1, the network transfer notification packet 5 is directly received by the packet switching station A. 2 relay stations are the final receiving stations,
It is not sent to the third relay station. However, when the second route R-3 is selected, the network transfer notification packet 5 is sent to the packet switching station C, and the packet switching station C becomes the second relay station and becomes the third relay station (final receiving station). It is sent to a packet switching station A (lower stage). Therefore, the notification destination station (final receiving station) receives the network transfer notification packet in either the upper stage or the lower stage. Although the second route may be selected after the second relay station, the second route is not described in the network configuration of FIG. 12 because it is the prohibited route described above.

When the network transfer notification packet 5 is transmitted from the packet switching station B to the packet switching station E, there is no route other than the first route R-5 as shown in FIG.
In FIG. 9, only the packet switching station E which is the final receiving station is shown in the second relay station. Further, in the example of FIG. 9, when the second route is selected in the adjacent station B, the number of relays to the notification destination station which is the final receiving station is all one more than when the first route is selected. This may not always be the case, depending on the network configuration. Since the route and recorded contents of the network transfer notification packet transmitted from the adjacent stations C and F are the same, illustration and description thereof are omitted.

Next, the processing in the notified station that has received the network transfer notification packet 5 will be described using the packet switching station A as an example. The process at the notified station includes a process of creating and transmitting a network transfer response packet 6 (see FIG. 2) from the network transfer notification packet 5 and a process of updating the exchange table 11 of the own station. The creation of the response packet 6 will be described.

Packet switching station A uses network transfer notification packet 5
When receiving the confirmation message, the destination of the network transfer notification packet is confirmed, and if it is confirmed that the destination is the own station, the address of the own station set as the destination is set as the source address and the source. The address of the newly established station G is replaced with the address of the transmission destination, and a network transfer response packet 6 in which a code indicating that it is a network transfer response packet is set as the type information at the beginning of the packet is created.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the format of the network transfer response packet 6, but as shown in the figure,
In addition to the network transfer response code being set as the information type,
The transmission destination and the transmission source of the network transfer notification packet 5 are simply exchanged.

The packet exchange station A uses the network transfer response packet 6
Is created, it will be sent to the new station G set as the destination.
At this point in time, since the newly established station G is not specified in the exchange table A of the packet exchange station A, the route for transmitting the network transfer response packet 6 is unknown. Therefore, the relay station recorded at the end of the relay station recording field of the created network transfer response packet (hereinafter referred to as the final relay station, this final relay station is the same as the final relay station of the received network transfer notification packet). Is confirmed), the route to the final relay station is confirmed by the exchange table 2, and the network transfer response packet is transmitted to the route. In the above example, since the final relay station is the packet switching station B, the network transfer response packet 6 is sent to the route R-1 to the packet switching station B.

After this, the notified station starts updating its own exchange table A, but since the network transfer notification packet 5 is also sent from the adjacent stations C and F other than the adjacent station B, the received network is received. The transfer notification packet 5 is once stored, and after receiving all of them, the update of the exchange table 2 is started.

The network transfer notification packet received by the packet switching station A as the communication destination station is the network transfer notification packet transmitted from the adjacent station B shown in FIG. 9 (the packet at the top stage or the next stage in FIG. 9). (Any one of the above) and those transmitted from the adjacent stations C and F. FIG. 10 describes network transfer notification packets that may be received by each notification destination station (excluding some notification destination stations). As shown in FIG. 10, there are 6 types of network transfer notification packets, which may be received by the packet switching station A as the communication destination station, from the adjacent stations B, C, and F, respectively, but a total of 6 types. Since any one of the two types is received from the adjacent station, the actual number of reception is three.

Assuming that each of the adjacent stations B, C and F has transmitted the network transfer notification packet 5 to the packet switching station A via the first route, the packet switching station A has the route selection order of FIG. 1 ”(indicating the first route), which is the number A-1, A-3, and A-5, is received.

There may be a slight difference in the timing at which the packet switching station A receives these three network transfer notification packets 5, and how many network transfer notification packets the notified station receives. Since it cannot be known in advance, the packet exchange station A temporarily stores all the network transfer notification packets 5 received within a fixed time after receiving the first network transfer notification packet in an appropriate storage means.

When a fixed time has passed, the network transfer notification packet 5 stored during that time is taken out. In this example, the above three types of network transfer notification packets 5 are taken out.
First, the source of these network transfer notification packets 5 is confirmed, and the address of the source station (new station G in this example) is added to the exchange table A shown in (1) of FIG. Next, the number of relays of the three received network transfer notification packets is compared.

When there is a difference in the number of relays of the network transfer notification packet 5, the route to the final relay station recorded in the network transfer notification packet having the smallest number of relays in the exchange table A is the first route to the newly established station G. Then, the route to the final relay station of the network transfer notification packet with the next smallest number of relays is designated as the second route. If the predetermined number of routes is three or more, the routes are designated as the third route and below in ascending order of the number of relays.

In this example, since the predetermined number of routes is two, two of the three types of network transfer notification packets 5 having the smaller number of relays are used for route designation. These two network transfer notification packets 5 are shown in FIG.
A-1 and A-3 are marked with a circle in the column for the minimum number of relays. Since these two network transfer notification packets 5 are directly transmitted from the adjacent stations B and C to the packet switching station A,
Although the number of relays is 1, there is no difference, but in such a case, the route (or the partner packet switching station to which the route is set) is prioritized in advance, and the route with the higher priority is assigned the first priority. Designate as one route.

As shown by the numbers A-1 and A-3 in FIG. 10, the final relay station recorded in the two extracted network transfer notification packets 5 is the first relay station and is the packet switching station. B and C, for example, when a packet is transmitted from the packet switching station A through either the packet switching station B or the packet switching station C, the route to the packet switching station B is given priority. If so, the route to the packet switching station B is designated as the first route and the route to the packet switching station C is designated as the second route as the route to the newly established station G in the switching table A.

At this stage, only the packet switching station (final relay station) that directly transmits the packet to the newly established station G is selected, but the route number, not the address of the packet switching station, is required for route designation. Becomes In this example, the route numbers to the packet switching stations B and C are required, which is obtained by indexing the first route to the packet switching stations B and C in the switching table A (see (1) in FIG. 13). As a result, the first routes R-1 and R-2 to the packet switching stations B and C are set in the switching table A as the first route and the second route to the new station G, respectively.

FIG. 4A shows the exchange table A after the above settings have been made (however, at this stage, only the route designation to the newly established station G is finished). In the figure, the first route to the newly established station G is "1/2" and the second route is "2".
"/ 1" is described, which means that the route R-1 or R-2 is designated as the first route and the route R-2 or R-1 is designated as the second route.

Next, a method of updating the exchange table B in the packet exchange station B will be described. The packet switching station B generates a network transfer notification packet 5 as an adjacent station and transmits it to each packet switching station, while receiving the network transfer notification packet 5 designated by the adjacent stations C and F as a notification destination station. The recorded content of the network transfer notification packet 5 to be received is shown in FIG. 10. However, when the network transfer notification packet is received from the adjacent stations C and F via the first route, the number B in FIG.
-1 and B-3 will be received. Since these two network transfer notification packets 5 have different numbers of relays, the route (R-3) of the network transfer notification packet of number B-1, which has a small number of relays, to the new relay station G is the first route to the newly established station G. Although the route is designated as the route, the first route to the newly established station G in the exchange table B in FIG. 3B is already the route R-7 as the highest priority route to the adjacent station as described above. Is set, the route R-3 to the final relay station C of the network transfer notification packet 5 (number B-1) having the smallest number of relays is designated as the second route in this case. Therefore, the exchange table B is shown in FIG.
The contents are shown in (2).

Next, an example of the packet switching center C will be described. The first route and the second route to the newly established station G of the exchange table C of the packet exchange station C are set in the same manner as the exchange table B. However, in the case of the packet exchange station C, not only the new station G but also the packet exchange It is desirable to change the route to station F. There is no detour route to the packet switching station F until the new station G is installed, so (3) in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the switching table C does not specify the second route for the packet switching station F, but when the new station G is installed, the second route is passed through the new station G as the second route for the packet switching station F. The route is ready for use. Hereinafter, an example of a method for adding the designation of the detour route (second route) to the packet switching station in which the route is newly set for the new station will be described.

First, the information of the route set by the new station G for each adjacent station when the new station G is installed is notified to all the adjacent stations B, C and F in advance. In the above description, it is assumed that only the information of the route set for each adjacent station is notified to each adjacent station. However, in the case of specifying and adding a detour route, other adjacent stations are notified. The route information to be installed is also notified, and this information is stored in each adjacent station.

When the packet switching station C receives the network transfer notification packet 5 from the adjacent stations B and F under the above-mentioned premise, it compares the plurality of network transfer notification packets 5 received in the same manner as described above. In this case, since the first route for the newly established station G has already been set as described above, the route determined by this comparison is designated as the second route for the new station G. If the network transfer notification packet received by the packet switching station C is the numbers C-1 and C-3 in FIG. 10, both packets have the same number of relays, so either one of them is processed in the same manner as in the packet switching station B. Is set as the second route. as a result,
As shown in (3) of FIG. 3, in the exchange table C, the route R-3 or R-6 is designated as the second route for the newly established station G.

When the route to the packet switching station other than the newly established station is reviewed at the time of updating the exchange table, when the route to the final relay station is indexed by the exchange table, the route to the final relay station is checked. Also check the second route, and if the second route is not specified, the route from the new station to its final relay station is included in the new routes to the adjacent stations that were previously notified by the new station. Check whether or not If the route is set from the newly established station to the final relay station, the new route from the own station to the newly established station is designated as the second route to the final relay station.

In the above example, the final relay station F is extracted from the network transfer notification packet numbered C-3 in FIG. 10. This is because this network transfer notification packet is transmitted from the new station G to the packet switching station F.
It is shown that the packet has been sent to the packet exchange station C via the packet exchange station C and that the packet can be transmitted from the packet exchange station C to the packet exchange station F via the new station G.

The route is reviewed based on the above. Specifically, when the exchange table C is indexed to know the route to the final relay station F set in the exchange table C,
Since it is confirmed that the second route is not set to the packet switching station F, it is checked whether the new route notified from the new station G in advance includes the route from the new station G to the adjacent station F. Confirm. As a result, it can be confirmed that the route R-9 is installed from the newly established station G to the adjacent station F. Therefore, the route from the newly established station G via the route R-9 is set as the second route to the packet switching station F. specify.

Thus, the route R-8 to the newly established station G is set.
Is set as the second route to the packet switching center F.
As a result, the exchange table C is updated as shown in (3) of FIG. 4, and the route R-8 is set as the second route to the packet switching station F, which has no second route until now.

Next, an example of the packet switching center D will be described. In the packet switching station D, as shown in FIG. 10, all the final relay stations of the network transfer notification packet 5 received as the notification destination station are the same station (packet switching station A). When extracting the final relay station when specifying the route, if there are a plurality of network transfer notification packets 5 with the smallest number of relays and the final relay station is the same station, leave only one and set the route to that station. 1st route (2nd route if 1st route is already specified)
Network transfer notification packet 5
The route to the final relay station is designated as the second route (or the route of the next priority if the second route is already designated). However, if all the final relay stations selected to specify the second route and below are the same as the final relay station that sets the first route, only the first route is specified in the exchange table, and the second route is specified. Is not set.

Therefore, in the exchange table D of the packet switching station D which receives the network transfer notification packet 5 as shown in FIG. 10, the packet switching station is set to the first route to the new station G as shown in (4) of FIG. The route R-4 for A is designated, and the second route is not designated. The reason for this is clear from the network configuration shown in FIG.

Next, an example of the packet switching center F will be described. In the packet switching station F, packets for all other packet switching stations are routed to the route R- until the new station G is installed.
6, that is, since the packet is transmitted via the packet switching center C,
As shown in (6) of FIG. 13, the exchange table F does not specify the second route for all of the other packet exchange stations AF. However, when the new station G is installed, it is desirable to use the route R-9 passing through the new station G as the second route. Hereinafter, a method of adding a designation of a detour route (second route) to a packet switching station including a packet switching station (in this example, packet switching stations A, D, and E) in which a new route is not set for a newly established station An example will be described.

Upon receiving the network transfer notification packet 5 as the notification destination station, the packet switching station F selects the route R-6 as the second route to the newly established station G in the same manner as the packet switching station B or C, and exchange table F Specify in. At this time, the own station is a station to which a new route is set between the new station and the new station as an adjacent station to the new station, and the new station G has set a route to a packet switching station other than the own station. (Confirm by a method similar to the case of setting the second route to the packet switching station F in the switching table C, but in this example, a new route is set from the new station G to the packet switching station B C) Confirms the route to each existing station in the exchange table of its own station, extracts any station for which the second route is not designated, and designates the route to the newly established station as the second route for these stations.

In the exchange table F of the packet switching station F at this time, the second route is not set for all of the packet switching stations A to E as shown in (6) of FIG. Since the route R-9 is installed between the newly established station G and the newly established station G, the above process is performed, and the route R-9 is set as the second route to the packet switching stations A to E in the exchange table F. Is specified. (6) of FIG. 4 shows the exchange table F to which this designation is added.

Such processing is performed when the packet switching station (for example, the packet switching station F) is provided with a route only to the other one station. , A new route is established between the newly established station and the newly established station, and another packet switching station (adjacent station)
If the route has been set for, the route via the newly established station can be used as the second route.

In the notification destination station that has received the network transfer notification packet as described above, the new station G is added to the exchange table of its own station, and a predetermined number of routes (for example, 2) to the new station G are designated, and The renewal is over.

Next, the processing of the network transfer response packet will be described. Under the above-mentioned premise, the network transfer response packet 6 is transmitted from each notified station to the new station G in three types (number of adjacent stations). The packet switching station (relay station), which has received the network transfer response packet 6 directly from the notification destination station or via another packet switching station, transfers it to the destination new station G, and the new station G sends these. When all are received, the received network transfer response packet 6 is classified by the transmitting station (that is, the notification destination station of the network transfer notification packet) and the processing is started.

First, an example of the network transfer response packet transmitted from the packet switching center A will be described. It is assumed that the network transfer response packet 6 received by the new station G from the packet switching station A has three types of contents, numbers A-1, A-3 and A-5 in FIG. In this case, the destination station and the source station are replaced with those in FIG. 10), and the newly established station G, as a route to the packet switching station A, is the head relay station recorded in the network transfer response packet 6 with a small number of relays, that is, ,
The route for the first relay station is set as the first route, and the route for the first relay station having the larger number of relays is set as the second route.

In this example, A-1 and A-3 correspond, but the number of relays of these two network transfer response packets is the same (both are 1), and the first relay station is B and C. In the case of the same, one is set as the first route and the other is set as the second route in the same manner as in the notification destination station of the network transfer notification packet. The first relay station is limited to the three adjacent packet switching stations B, C and F, but the first route for these three stations has already been specified in the switching table G of the new station G (see FIG. 5). ), The route number is also determined by checking the first relay station. as a result,
As shown in FIG. 5, in the exchange table G of the newly established station G, R-7 (or R) is set as the first route to the packet exchange station A.
-8) and the route R-8 (or R- as the second route
7) is set.

Routes for the other packet switching stations B, C, D, E, F are set in the same manner. Among them, for the adjacent stations B, C, F, from the received network transfer response packet 6 The obtained route is designated as the second route. In addition,
The new station G receives from the packet switching station C the network transfer response packet 6 with the minimum number of relays via the packet switching station B and two via the packet switching station F (numbers C-1 and C-3 in FIG. 10).
Packet of which the destination station and the source station are exchanged), the second route to the packet switching station C is the route R-7 to the packet switching station B or the route R-9 to the packet switching station F. Specify one of them in the same way as above.

In the above processing, for example, when the network transfer notification packet is transmitted from the adjacent stations C and F to the packet switching station B, the network transfer notification packet from the adjacent station C is transmitted via the second route. Then, when the network transfer notification packet from the adjacent station F is transmitted via the first route, the new station G records the same relay station as the numbers B-2 and B-3 in FIG. The received network transfer response packet 6 is received.
Since the number of relays recorded in these two network transfer response packets is two, the packet switching station F may be selected as the first relay station instead of the packet switching station C. In that case, as a second route from the newly established station G to the packet switching station B, a route R- to the packet switching station F
However, as is clear from FIG. 12, the route R-8 is more appropriate as the second route from the newly established station G to the packet switching station B.

As described above, if one of the network transfer notification packets is transmitted via the first route and the other is transmitted via the second route, a non-optimal route may be designated in the exchange table 11. Such a situation can be avoided by transmitting the network transfer request packet 4 when the traffic of the packet switching network is low. Since it is common sense to avoid the busy hours of traffic as a time zone for incorporating new stations into the network, this coping method does not pose a particular problem.

FIG. 5 shows the exchange table G of the newly established station G in which the route to each packet exchange station is designated as described above. The exchange table G in FIG. 5 is exactly the same as the exchange table G (see FIG. 15) manually created in the prior art. Further, the existing exchange tables A to F of the packet exchanges A to F are as shown in FIG. 4, which also has the same contents as the exchange tables A to F (see FIG. 14) created by the conventional technique. There is.

A packet switch with an automatic network transfer function according to the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as a packet switch) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of the packet switch 10 shown in FIG. 3. First, the operation when the packet switch of FIG. 11 is installed in a new station will be described.

When a packet switch is newly installed, a transmission line is provided between the packet switch and the adjacent station. This transmission line (not shown) is connected to the line interface 23 of FIG. It is connected to the packet switch 21 of the exchange 10. The normality of the newly established transmission line is confirmed by the opposite test with the other station of the other party, but since this test is performed by a known method, the explanation is omitted and the operation after the confirmation of the normality of the transmission line is performed. Will be explained.

First, the maintenance and operation console 24 is operated to set the address of each adjacent station whose transmission path is set to the own station in the exchange table 11 of the own station, and is set for each adjacent station. The transmission path is stored in the exchange table 11 as the first route for the adjacent station. This processing is input from the maintenance operation console 24 by a predetermined method, but when the command analysis unit 19 analyzes the input command and confirms that it is a record in the exchange table 11, the input information from the maintenance operation console 24 is input. Is transferred to the exchange table 11 and recorded in the exchange table 11.

Prior to the opposite test, each adjacent station adds the address of the newly established station to its own exchange table and specifies the route number of the newly established transmission line as the first route to the newly established station. Is performed in the same manner as the recording of the exchange table 11 described above at the new station. In addition, in addition to the process of adding a route to the new station to the exchange table 11 in the existing packet switching station (described later), when adding a second route to the necessary packet switching station, maintenance of the packet switching station of the new station is performed. The operation console 24 notifies each adjacent station of the route information of the newly established transmission path, and each adjacent station stores this route information in the exchange table 11 or the memory (not shown) in the control unit 20. I will let you.

When these processes are completed, the maintenance operation console 24 inputs a command for creating a network transfer request packet. When the command analysis unit 19 identifies this command, the input from the maintenance operation console 24 is input to the network transfer request creation unit 12
Transfer to. The address of the adjacent station to which the network transfer request packet is transmitted and the address of the local station are input as information from the maintenance and operation console 24. The network transfer request creation unit 12 uses these information as shown in FIG. A network transfer request packet is created and sent to the packet switch 21 via the packet transmitting / receiving unit 17. The network transfer request creating unit 12 is a part that realizes the network transfer request creating unit 12 of FIG.

The network transfer request packet is sent to the line controller 22.
And is transmitted to each adjacent station via the line corresponding unit 23. Hereinafter, the operation will be described assuming that the packet switch of FIG. 12 is a packet switch installed in the adjacent station. The network transfer request packet is sent to the control unit 20 via the line interface unit 23, line control unit 22, and packet switch 21 in each adjacent station. The network transfer request packet is sent from the packet transmission / reception unit 17 to the information type identification unit 18 in the control unit 20, and the information type identification unit 18 uses the information type column at the beginning of the received packet (see FIG. 6) to indicate that this packet is a network. When it is confirmed that the packet is a transfer request packet, this packet is sent to the network transfer notification creating unit 13.

The network transfer notification creating unit 13 creates a network transfer notification packet as shown in FIG. 7, but the addresses of all packet switching stations specified in the exchange table 11 are specified for the destination station, and Specifies the address of the newly established station (the address of the newly established station is known at this point in the adjacent station where this operation is performed). In addition, "1" is set to the number of relays of the network transfer notification packet, and the address of the own station is recorded as the first relay station at the head of the relay station recording field. Net Transfer Notification Creation Department
Reference numeral 13 sequentially transmits the plurality of created network transfer request packets to the destination packet switching station via the packet transmitting / receiving unit 17. The network transfer notification creating unit 13 is a packet transmitting / receiving unit.
Together with 17, it is a part that realizes the network transfer notification creating means 13 of FIG.

Next, the packet switch shown in FIG. 11 will be described as a packet switch installed in the packet switch station (relay station) installed behind the adjacent station and relaying the network transfer notification packet. When the control unit 20 receives the network transfer notification packet transmitted from the adjacent station via the line corresponding unit 23, the line control unit 22, and the packet switch 21, the information type identifying unit 18 determines that the received packet is a network transfer notification packet. If it is confirmed that there is, it is transferred to the network transfer notification processing unit 14.

The network transfer notification processing unit 14 confirms whether or not the destination station of the transferred network transfer notification packet is its own station, and if it is not its own station, the relay count of the network transfer notification packet is set to "1". Is added, and the address of the own station is recorded next to the relay station address recorded in the relay station recording column (the position of the second relay station when received from the adjacent station) and transmitted to the destination station. At the time of transmission, the exchange table 11 is accessed, and the exchange table 11 is transmitted to the route designated for the transmission destination station. After that,
The same processing is performed in the packet switching stations (relay stations) other than the destination station, and the network transfer notification packet is added with the number of times of relaying each time it passes through the packet switching station, and the address of the relayed packet switching station is added. The network transfer notification processing unit 14 is a part that realizes the network transfer notification processing unit 12 of FIG. 3 together with the packet transmitting / receiving unit 17.

As described above, the network transfer notification packet arrives at the network transfer notification destination station designated as the destination.
Hereinafter, the packet switch shown in FIG. 11 will be described as a packet switch installed in the notified station. The incoming network transfer notification packet is sent to the network transfer notification processing unit 14 via the information type identification unit 18, and the network transfer notification processing unit 14 confirms that the destination station of the network transfer notification packet is its own station. Then, the network transfer notification packet is temporarily stored in a memory (not shown) provided inside the network transfer notification processing unit 14 or in the control unit 20. This is because the network transfer notification packet may be sent from other neighboring stations. While the network transfer notification processing unit 14 stores the network transfer notification packet, it transfers the network transfer notification packet to the network transfer response creating unit 15. The network transfer response creating unit 15 changes the type information of the received network transfer notification packet from the code of “network transfer notification” to the code of “network transfer response” and switches the transmission destination station and the transmission source station. The packet created by this process is a "network transfer response packet", but the destination of the network transfer response packet is a new station,
The source is the own packet switching station. The network transfer response creating unit 15 is a part that realizes the network transfer response creating unit 15 of FIG.

The network transfer response creating unit 15 sends this network transfer response packet to the new station, which is the destination station, via the packet transmitting / receiving unit 17, and at this point the route of the new station is specified in the exchange table 11. Since it is not, the last relay station recorded at the end of the relay station record field of this network transfer response packet (same as the last relay station of the received network transfer notification packet) is confirmed, and the route to that final relay station is confirmed. After confirmation by the exchange table 11, the network transfer response packet is transmitted to the route.

On the other hand, the network transfer notification processing unit 14 reads out the previously stored network transfer notification packet after the elapse of a certain time. At this point, all network transfer notification packets sent from a plurality of adjacent stations have been received and stored, so these network transfer notification packets are compared and a predetermined number (for example, 2) is selected from the network transfer notification packets with the smallest number of relays. And confirm the final relay station recorded in the network transfer notification packet. At this time, after confirming the final relay station for all the received network transfer notification packets, a predetermined number of final relay stations may be extracted from the final relay station while avoiding duplication.

Next, the network transfer notification processing unit 14 accesses the exchange table 11, adds the new station address recorded in the transmission source of the network transfer notification packet to the exchange table 11, and uses the exchange table 11 to move the destination. The route designated for the final relay station confirmed in step 1 is indexed, and the route is stored in the exchange table 11 as the route to the newly established station. At this time, the route to the final relay station of the network transfer notification packet with the smaller number of relays is designated as the priority route for the newly established station. This allows the exchange table of the notified station
Although 11 is updated, the details of the above processing are the same as those described with reference to FIGS.

As described above, the network transfer response packet transmitted from the notification destination station of the network transfer notification packet is received directly or by relaying one or more packet switching stations to the new station as the transmission destination. The eleventh packet switch will be described as a packet switch installed in a packet switching station that relays a network transfer response packet.

The network transfer response packet is sent to the network transfer response processing unit 16 when the information type is identified by the information type identifying unit 18, but the network transfer response processing unit 16 sends the received network transfer response packet to its own destination. When it is confirmed that the station is not the station, the network transfer response packet is transferred as it is to the new station as the transmission destination via the packet transmitting / receiving unit 17. At this time, if the route designation for the new station is added to the exchange table 11 of the packet switching station, the network transfer response packet is sent out through the route, but if the new station is not added yet, the network transfer response is sent. Confirm the relay station before the local station address recorded in the relay station record column of the packet, and then use the exchange table 11
Then, the route to the relay station is confirmed and the network transfer response packet is sent to the route. Normally, the network transfer response packet is transferred in the same route as that of the network transfer notification packet in reverse, so that such a method can be adopted.

Next, with the packet switch of FIG. 11 as a packet switch installed in a new station which is the destination of the network transfer response packet, processing of the network transfer response packet in the new station will be described. When the network transfer response processing unit 16 receives the network transfer response packet, it confirms the transmission destination, and when it confirms that it is its own station, this network transfer response packet is provided inside the network transfer response processing unit 16 or within the control unit 20. Once stored in a memory (not shown). After a certain time has passed, the network transfer response processing unit 16 reads the stored network transfer response packet,
Processing is performed by classifying by source station.

The network transfer response processing unit 16 compares the number of relays of a plurality of network transfer response packets sent from the same transmission source (notification destination station), and selects a predetermined number (for example, 2) from the network transfer response packet with the smallest number of relays. Is checked and the first relay station recorded in the network transfer response packet is confirmed.

Next, the network transfer response processing unit 16 accesses the exchange table 11, adds the address of the transmission source station to the exchange table 11, and is designated to the first relay station as a route to the transmission source station. The designated route (the first relay station is an adjacent station, so the exchange table 11 has already designated the route). At this time, the route to the first relay station of the network transfer response packet with the smaller number of relays is designated as the priority route for the source station. By performing this for all the source stations, the exchange table 11 of the newly established station is completed. The method of creating the exchange table in the new station is the same as that described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 10, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to FIGS. 3 to 11, FIGS. 3 to 11 merely show one embodiment of the present invention. It goes without saying that it is not limited.

For example, the packet switch shown in FIG. 10 can be configured in various ways, but the packet switch of the present invention does not exclude a configuration different from that of FIG. For example, the configuration of the maintenance operation console 24 is connected to the control unit 20 via the packet switch 21, or a personal computer or workstation is used in place of the maintenance operation console 24, the effect of the present invention remains unchanged. Absent.

Further, when the network transfer notification processing unit 14 of the packet switch of the notification destination station of the network transfer notification packet receives the network transfer notification packet, the network transfer notification processing unit 14 adds the new station to the exchange table 11 before adding the new network station. Since the response packet was created and sent to the new station, the notified station itself and the packet switching station that relays the network transfer response packet cannot select the route to the new station by the exchange table 11, and the network transfer response packet It has been explained that the route is selected by checking the relay station recorded in the inside. But the exchange table
If a new station is added to 11 (the notification destination station receives the first network transfer notification packet after a certain period of time) and then a network transfer response packet is transmitted, the notification target station exchanges its own station. Routes can be selected using the table. Also, if a fixed time is set to a time common to all packet switching stations, the switching table will be updated sooner for stations closer to the neighboring station (the number of relays is smaller), so the network transfer response from the reporting station far from the neighboring station Exchange table that has been renewed at the relay station near the neighboring station when the packet is sent
It is possible to use 11 to send a network transfer response packet to a new station. Even if such a method is adopted, the effect of the present invention does not change.

Although it has been stated that the network transfer response packet is created by exchanging the transmission destination and the transmission source of the network transfer notification packet, in order to match the transfer direction of the network transfer response packet, The order may be reversed.
In that case, the newly established station that has received the network transfer response packet selects a route for the final relay station instead of the first relay station as the route specified in the exchange table, but it is clear that the effect of the present invention does not change in that case either. is there.

[0142]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a newly established packet switching station is incorporated in a packet switching network, the switching table of the newly established station and the switching table of the existing packet switching station are updated. Since this is done automatically, it can be done more quickly and accurately than when manually creating and updating the exchange table. Further, even when there are a large number of existing packet switching stations, the creation and update of the exchange table is completed in an extremely short time, so that the complicated work for synchronizing the creation and update timing of the exchange table is unnecessary.

As described above, the present invention greatly contributes to reduction of labor and cost when incorporating a new station in the packet switching network.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the principle of the automatic network incorporation method of a new station according to the present invention (1)

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the principle of the automatic network incorporation method for a new station according to the present invention (2)

FIG. 3 is a basic configuration diagram of a packet switch with an automatic network transfer function according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exchange table according to an embodiment of the present invention (1)

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram (2) of the exchange table according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a network transfer request packet format according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a network transfer notification packet format according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 8 is a network transfer response packet format according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram (1) of recorded contents of the network transfer notification packet according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram (2) of recorded contents of the network transfer notification packet according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a packet switch with an automatic network transfer function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a packet switching network.

FIG. 13 is a conventional exchange table configuration diagram (before installation of a new station)

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of a conventional exchange table (after installation of a new station)

FIG. 15 is a conventional exchange table configuration diagram (new station).

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 packet switching station 2, 11 exchange table 3 transmission line (route) 4 network transfer request packet 5 network transfer notification packet 6 network transfer response packet 10 packet switch with automatic network transfer function 12 network transfer request creating means 13 network transfer notification creating means 14 Network transfer notification processing means 15 Network transfer response creating means 16 Network transfer response processing means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A packet switching network comprising a plurality of packet switching stations, each of which is provided with a switching table in which a predetermined number or less of routes selected at the time of packet transmission are designated in advance for each destination packet switching station. A network incorporation method for automatically incorporating a packet switching station, wherein the newly-established packet switching station exchanges one or a plurality of adjacent packet exchanges provided with a direct transmission path when the own station is incorporated into the packet switching network. Each time a relay is performed in the packet switching station via the station, a packet for adding the number of relays and recording the relay station is transmitted to all existing packet switching stations, and the packet switching station receiving the packet is When the route to the final relay station recorded in each packet in order from the packet with the smallest number of relays is designated as the route to the new station in the exchange table of the own station, , The received packet is sent back to the new packet switching center, and the new packet switching center records the packets recorded in order from the packet with the smallest number of relays among the packets returned from the same packet switching center. By specifying the route passing through the relay station of the node as a route to the packet switching station in its own switching table, the switching tables of the new packet switching station and the existing packet switching station are automatically created or updated. And the automatic network transfer method of the new station. 2. The newly-established packet switching station sets a route by the transmission channel in a switching table as a highest-priority selected route when transmitting a packet to each of one or a plurality of adjacent packet switching stations provided with a direct transmission channel. After designating, when transmitting its own station to the packet switching network, it sends a network transfer request packet requesting each of the adjacent packet switching stations to transfer to its own packet switching network, When the transmission path is provided, the station adds the new packet switching station to the switching table of the own station and sets the route by the transmission path provided between the station and the new packet switching station to the new packet switching station. When the network transfer request packet is received by designating it as the highest priority selection route for each of the packet switching stations other than the new packet switching station and the transmission source The newly installed packet switching station, the number of relays is "1", and the network transfer is set at the beginning of the relay station recording column for recording the relay stations from the source packet switching station to the destination packet switching station. Each packet switching station that has created a notification packet and transmitted it to all the packet switching stations, and that has received the network transfer notification packet from the adjacent packet switching station or another packet switching station, does not have its own destination. Adds "1" to the number of relays set in the network transfer notification packet, records the information for identifying the own station at the end of the relay station recording field, and transmits the information to the destination station. If it is a station, add the new packet switching station set as the source to the own station's switching table, and relay as a route to the new packet switching station in order from the network transfer notification packet with the smallest number of relays. The final relay station recorded in the record column is extracted, the route to the final relay station is specified as a route to the new packet switching station in the exchange table of the local station, and then the received network transfer notification packet is transmitted. The network transfer response packet created by exchanging the packet switching stations set as the destination and the source is transmitted to the new packet switching station, and each packet switching station receiving the network transfer response packet transmits the network transfer response packet. When it is confirmed that the destination of the response packet is not its own station, the network transfer response packet is transferred to the destination packet switching station, and the network transfer response packet transmitted from all the packet switching stations one by one or plural Upon receipt of the new packet switching station, the new packet switching station adds the source packet switching station of each network transfer response packet to its own switching table to avoid duplication of the same station. Then, from the network transfer response packets transmitted from the same packet switching station as the route to each packet switching station, the first relay station recorded in the relay station recording column is extracted in order from the network transfer response packet with the smallest number of relays. 2. The automatic network incorporation method for a newly established station according to claim 1, wherein the route to the leading relay station is designated as a route to each packet switching station up to a predetermined number in its own exchange table. 3. A packet switch having a function of automatically incorporating a new packet switching station into the packet switching network when the new packet switching station is installed in the packet switching network consisting of a plurality of packet switching stations. , A switching table that pre-designates a predetermined number of routes or less to be selected for packet transmission for each destination packet switching center, and when a predetermined instruction is input when a new packet switching center is installed. , A network transfer request creating means for creating a network transfer request packet requesting transfer to the packet switching network of its own station and sending out from the newly installed packet switching station to one or a plurality of adjacent packet switching stations provided with a direct transmission path. When the network transfer request packet is received from the new packet switching station, all the packet switching stations other than the new packet switching station and the transmission source are transmitted to the transmission destination. The newly installed packet switching station, the number of relays is "1", and the network transfer is set at the beginning of the relay station recording column for recording the relay stations from the source packet switching station to the destination packet switching station. A network transfer notification creating unit that creates a notification packet and sends it to all the packet switching stations, and confirms the transmission destination when the network transfer notification packet is received from the adjacent packet switching station or another packet switching station. If the destination is not the own station, add 1 to the number of relays set in the network transfer notification packet, record the information for identifying the own station at the end of the relay station record field, and send it to the destination station. If the destination is your own station, add the new packet switching station set as the source to your own exchange table,
As the route to the new packet switching station, the final relay stations recorded in the relay station recording column are extracted in order from the network transfer notification packet with the smallest number of relays, and the route to the final relay station is set as the route to the new packet switching station. A network transfer notification processing means for sending the network transfer notification packet to the network transfer response creating means after designating a predetermined number in the exchange table of the own station, and a network transfer notification packet received from the network transfer notification processing means , A network transfer response packet in which the source and destination of the received network transfer notification packet are exchanged to create a network transfer response packet, and the created network transfer response packet is transmitted to the new station. Creating means, and confirming the destination when the network transfer response packet is received, and if it is confirmed that the destination is not its own station, When the transfer notification packet is transferred to the destination packet switching station and it is confirmed that the destination is its own station, the source of the network transfer response packet transmitted from all the packet switching stations one by one or in plurals. Add a packet switching station to the switching table of its own station to avoid duplication of the same station, and a network transfer response packet with a small number of relays among network transfer response packets sent from the same packet switching station as a route to each packet switching station. A network transfer response processing means for extracting the first relay station recorded in the relay station recording field in order from and specifying a route to the first relay station as a route to each packet switching station up to a predetermined number in its own exchange table. A packet switch with an automatic network transfer function, which is equipped with