JPH1051454A - Satellite line connection interface device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To provide a satellite line connection interface device which realizes a receiving system which is small and easy to maintain for a receiving user. SOLUTION: CPU2 of personal computer 20
1 is a VPI of an ATM cell to be received via the host bus 22, the bus interface 17, and the local bus 16.
Write the / VCI value to the VPI / VCI management table 15. When a packet is received via a satellite line, a frame in a satellite line section is received by the receiving interface 11, the frame is terminated by the satellite line processing unit 12, and the ATM cell is sent to the ATM processing unit 13 via the local bus 16. AT
The M processing unit 13 determines whether the VPI / VCI value of the received ATM cell exists in the table, and if it exists, the AT
The M cell is assembled into an IP packet and sent to the personal computer 20 via the reverse route. On the other hand, VPI / VC
If there is no I value, the ATM cell is discarded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a satellite communication network in which IP (Internet Protocol) packets are transmitted in ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) cells.
The present invention relates to a satellite line connection interface device which receives an ATM cell via a satellite line and assembles an IP packet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration of a conventional receiving system in which an IP packet is received by a satellite communication network in which the IP packet is transmitted by ATM cells. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a communication satellite, a transmitter 2 transmits an ATM cell to the communication satellite 1 using a satellite line, and a receiver 3 receives information from the satellite line.

The satellite line connection device 4 converts a physical layer frame from a satellite line section frame to an ATM physical layer frame. The ATM connection device 5 receives the frame of the ATM physical layer from the satellite line connection device 4, terminates the ATM protocol, and extracts the IP packet from the ATM cell. A
The TM connection interface module 6 is configured to be mountable on the terminal 7, and extracts an IP packet by terminating the ATM protocol. The terminal 7 is a terminal that receives an IP packet.

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional receiving system, when an IP packet is to be received using a satellite communication network in which the IP packet is transmitted in ATM cells, information is transmitted from a satellite line. A receiver 3 for receiving, a satellite line connection device 4 for terminating the satellite line protocol, and an ATM connection device 5 or ATM connection interface module 6 for terminating the ATM protocol are required. Therefore, in order to construct a receiving system, there is a disadvantage that it is necessary to prepare a large space in which all these devices can be installed.

[0005] Further, since all these devices are independent, the channel setting of the receiver must be performed by the receiver 3, while the setting of the satellite line connecting device must be set by the satellite line connecting device 4. is there. In addition, in order to identify a received ATM cell by a VPI (virtual path identifier) / VCI (virtual channel identifier) value, the VPI / V
It was necessary to register the CI value in the ATM connection device 5. Therefore, when each device is installed apart from each other, it is necessary to move to the installation location of each device in order to set each device, and there is also a disadvantage that maintenance is difficult to perform.

In ATM, two-stage connection multiplexing is considered, one of which is multiplexing at a virtual channel level, and the other is multiplexing at a virtual path level. The value is routing information for identifying these virtual channels and virtual paths. Also, VC
The I / VPI value is provided in the header of the ATM cell, and the ATM cell is transferred in the network based on these values.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide a satellite line connection interface device that realizes a receiving system that is small and easy to maintain for a receiving user. I have.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is directed to a personal computer for receiving data from a satellite line in a satellite communication network in which IP packets are transmitted by ATM cells. A satellite line connection interface device mounted on a terminal, such as a satellite line processing means for receiving a frame transmitted in a satellite line section from the satellite line and terminating the satellite line section; Storage means provided with a rewritable VPI / VCI management table for setting the VPI / VCI value of the ATM cell received by the terminal from the ATM cell stream having the frame terminated by the terminal, / VCI management table before the terminal receives from the ATM cell stream It is characterized by comprising the ATM processing means for terminating the ATM protocol by selecting the ATM cell.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the storage means stores a rewritable IP address set by the terminal for a destination IP address of an IP packet received from the satellite line. An address management table, wherein the satellite line connection interface device further includes a packet filtering unit for selecting an IP packet assembled by the ATM processing unit based on the destination IP address with reference to the IP address management table. It is characterized by having.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or the second aspect of the present invention, the terminal controls a satellite receiver for receiving information from the satellite line. A satellite receiver control means for transmitting a receiver control command to the satellite receiver and transmitting an answer to the receiver control command from the satellite receiver to the terminal.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of a receiving system in each of the embodiments described below will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the same reference numerals as in FIG. 5 denote the same components in FIG. 5, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 80 denotes a satellite line connection interface module according to the present invention.
It is mounted on an expansion bus of a terminal such as a personal computer. Reference numeral 81 denotes a data receiving cable for receiving data via the satellite line from the receiver 3 by the satellite line connection interface module 80. Reference numeral 82 denotes a receiver and a satellite line connection interface for controlling the receiver 3. This is a control cable connected to the module 80. In the following embodiments, description will be made focusing on a specific configuration of the satellite line connection interface module 80.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a satellite line connection interface module 10 according to the first embodiment. In this figure, a receiving interface 11 receives a packet from a receiver 3 via a satellite line. The satellite line processing unit 12 includes the reception interface 11
Terminates the frame of the satellite link section based on the received packet. The ATM processing unit 13 assembles an ATM cell in which the frame of the satellite line section is terminated into an IP packet. The storage unit 14 holds a VPI / VCI management table 15 and the like, and the VPI / VCI management table 15 manages VPI / VCI values of received ATM cells.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a local bus in the satellite line connection interface module 10. The bus interface 17 includes the satellite line connection interface module 10 and the personal computer 2 as its host.
0 is connected. The personal computer 20 has the satellite line connection interface module 10 mounted thereon and has a CPU (central processing unit) 21.
The CPU 21 is connected to the bus interface 17 via the host bus 22. The memory and other devices connected to the host bus 22 are not shown because they are well known.

Next, the operation of the satellite line connection interface module having the above configuration will be described. The CPU 21 of the personal computer 20 receives the VP via the host bus 22, the bus interface 17, and the local bus 16.
The VPI / VCI value on the I / VCI management table 15 can be rewritten. Therefore, the personal computer 2
0 writes the VPI / VCI value of the ATM cell desired to be received in this table.

On the other hand, when a packet is received via a satellite line, the satellite line connection interface module 10 receives the frame of the satellite line section by the reception interface 11 and the satellite line processing unit 12 converts the frame of the satellite line section. Terminate. Thus, the ATM cell in which the frame of the satellite line section is terminated is sent to the ATM processing unit 13 via the local bus 16.

The ATM processing unit 13 refers to the VPI / VCI management table 15 in the storage unit 14 and compares the VPI / VCI value of the received ATM cell with the VPI / VCI value in the table. . The received AT
If the VPI / VCI value of the M cell exists in the VPI / VCI management table 15, the ATM processing unit 13 assembles the ATM cell into an IP packet. In contrast,
The VPI / VCI value of the received ATM cell is VPI / VC
If it does not exist in the I management table 15, the ATM
The processing unit 13 discards the received ATM cell.

If the VPI / VCI value of the ATM cell exists in the VPI / VCI management table, the AT
The IP packet assembled from the ATM cells in the M processing unit 13 is transmitted to the local bus 16 and the bus interface 1.
7. The data is sent to the personal computer 20 via the host bus 22 and processed by the personal computer 20.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since the process from the end of the frame in the satellite link section to the assembly of the IP packet is performed inside the satellite link connection interface module 10, it is necessary to construct a receiving system. It is only necessary to prepare a personal computer 20 on which the receiver 3 and the satellite line connection interface module 10 are mounted.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a satellite line connection interface module 30 according to the second embodiment. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 3, the storage unit 34 stores the VPI / VCI
The management table 15 and the IP address management table 38 are held. The IP address management table 38 is a table for managing the IP address of a received IP packet. Further, reference numeral 39 denotes a packet filtering unit for selecting a received IP packet.

Next, the operation of the satellite line connection interface module having the above configuration will be described. The CPU 21 of the personal computer 20 receives the VP via the host bus 22, the bus interface 17, and the local bus 16.
The VPI / VCI value on the I / VCI management table 15 and the IP address on the IP address management table 38 can be rewritten. Therefore, the personal computer 20 uses the VPI / VC of the ATM cell which the personal computer 20 wants to receive.
The I value and the IP address of the terminal 7 and the netmask (for a plurality of networks sharing a single IP network address) are written in these tables.

Next, when the satellite line connection interface module 30 receives a packet via the satellite line,
The frame in the satellite link section is received from the reception interface 11 and the satellite link processing section 12 terminates the frame in the satellite link section. As a result, the ATM cell in which the frame in the satellite line section is terminated is sent to the ATM processing unit 13 via the local bus 16.

Then, the ATM processing unit 13 refers to the VPI / VCI management table 15 in the storage unit 34 and determines the VPI / VCI value of the received ATM cell and the VP in the table.
Compare the I / VCI values. If the VPI / VCI value of the received ATM cell exists in the VPI / VCI management table 15, the ATM processing unit 13 stores
Assemble to P packet. In contrast, the received ATM
If the VPI / VCI value of the cell does not exist in the VPI / VCI management table 15, the ATM processing unit 13 discards the received ATM cell.

Further, when the VPI / VCI value of the ATM cell exists in the VPI / VCI management table, the IP packet assembled from the ATM cell by the ATM processing unit 13 is transmitted to the packet filtering unit 39 via the local bus 16. Sent to Packet filtering unit 39
Refers to the IP address management table 38 in the storage unit 34, and refers to the IP address in the table and the received IP address.
Compare the destination IP address contained in the packet.

Now, whether the destination IP address of the received IP packet matches the IP address in the IP address management table 38 or the destination IP address of the received IP packet is
If it is the network broadcast address or the subnetwork broadcast address of the P address, the packet filtering unit 39 converts the received IP packet into the local bus 16,
Via the bus interface 17 and the host bus 22,
The data is transmitted to the personal computer 20.

On the other hand, the destination IP address of the received IP packet is not the network broadcast address of the IP address in the IP address management table 38, not the subnetwork broadcast address, and further matches the IP address in the IP address management table 38. If not, the received IP packet is discarded.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the destination IP
Since the filtering is performed by the address, even if the IP address and the ATM cell are not uniquely associated with each other, the receiver 3 (satellite line side) sends the information to the terminal side.
IP packets not addressed to the terminal itself will not be transmitted.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a satellite line connection interface module 50 according to the third embodiment. In the figure, the same components as those in FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted here. In FIG. 4, a receiver control interface 70 transmits and receives a control command to and from the receiver 3.

In the present embodiment, the process of receiving a packet via a satellite line is the same as in the second embodiment.
On the other hand, the personal computer 20 is connected to the host bus 2
2, via the bus interface 17 and the local bus 16, using the receiver control interface 70,
The receiver control command can be transmitted to the receiver 3. On the other hand, the personal computer 20 transmits an answer (response) sent from the receiver 3 to the above-described receiver control command from the receiver control interface 70 via the local bus 16, the bus interface 17, and the host bus 2.
2 can be received.

As described above, in this embodiment, the receiver 3 can be controlled from the terminal 7 (satellite line connection interface module side), and even if the receiver 3 and the terminal 7 are installed separately from each other. There is an advantage that it is not necessary to move to the installation location of the receiver 3 in order to set the receiver 3.

As described above, in each embodiment of the present invention,
The entire process from the end of the frame in the satellite line section to the assembly of the IP packet is performed inside the satellite line connection interface module 80 (see FIG. 2). Therefore, the receiving system can be realized only by the personal computer on which the receiver 3 and the satellite line connection interface module 80 are mounted.

Further, in the satellite line connection interface module having an interface for controlling the receiver 3 as in the third embodiment, even if the receiver 3 and the terminal 7 are set apart, the receiver 3 It is not necessary to go to the installation location of the receiver in order to set the setting, and it is possible to provide the receiving user with a small receiving system with good maintainability. In the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the second embodiment has been described. However, the present embodiment may be configured so as to be applied to the first embodiment.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Satellite line processing means for terminating a transmission frame in a satellite line section, and a VPI for storing VPI / VCI values of ATM cells
/ VCI management table and a satellite line connection interface device having ATM processing means for selecting an ATM cell to be received by a terminal by referring to the table and terminating the ATM protocol, a personal computer for receiving data from the satellite line, etc. In this case, the terminal from the end of the frame in the satellite link section to the assembling of the IP packet can be performed only by the satellite link connection interface device. Can be realized only by a personal computer or the like that implements the method, and the effect that a small receiving system can be provided to the receiving user is obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the IP
An IP address management table for storing the destination IP address of the packet is provided, and the IP packet assembled by the ATM processing means is selected based on the destination IP address with reference to this table.
Even if the M cell is not uniquely associated,
An effect is obtained that IP packets not addressed to the own terminal are not transmitted.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the satellite line connection interface device is provided with satellite receiver control means for controlling the satellite receiver from the terminal.
Even if the satellite receiver and the terminal are installed separately, there is no need to go to the installation location of the satellite receiver to set the satellite receiver, and the receiving system has good maintainability for the receiving user. Can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a satellite line connection interface module 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a receiving system for receiving IP packets from a satellite communication network that transmits IP packets using ATM cells in each embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a satellite channel connection interface module 30 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a satellite channel connection interface module 50 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional technique in which an IP packet is transferred to an ATM
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a receiving system for receiving an IP packet from a satellite communication network that transmits cells.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Communication satellite, 2: Transmitter, 3: Receiver, 7: Terminal, 1
0, 30, 50, 80 ... satellite line connection interface module, 11 ... reception interface, 12 ... satellite line processing unit, 13 ... ATM processing unit, 14, 34 ... storage unit, 1
5 VPI / VCI management table, 16 local bus, 17 bus interface, 20 personal computer, 21 CPU, 22 host bus, 38 I
P address management table, 39: packet filtering unit, 70: receiver control interface, 81: data reception cable, 82: control cable

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Nakajima 3-19-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A satellite line connection interface device mounted on a terminal such as a personal computer for receiving data from a satellite line in a satellite communication network in which IP packets are transmitted by ATM cells. Line processing means for receiving and terminating a frame to be transmitted from the satellite line, and VPI of an ATM cell received by the terminal from the ATM cell stream in which the frame of the satellite line section is terminated by the satellite line processing means. A storage unit provided with a rewritable VPI / VCI management table in which the / VCI value is set by the terminal; and the ATM with reference to the VPI / VCI management table.
An ATM processing means for selecting an ATM cell received by the terminal from a cell stream and terminating an ATM protocol. 2. The storage unit includes a rewritable IP address management table in which a destination IP address of an IP packet received from the satellite line is set by the terminal. With reference to the IP address management table, the ATM
The IP packet assembled by the processing means is transmitted to the destination IP.
The satellite line connection interface device according to claim 1, further comprising a packet filtering means for selecting based on an address. 3. A means for controlling a satellite receiver for receiving information from the satellite line from the terminal, comprising: transmitting a receiver control command from the terminal to the satellite receiver; 3. The satellite line connection interface device according to claim 1, further comprising satellite receiver control means for transmitting an answer to the receiver control command from the terminal to the terminal.