JP2005210249A - Communications system - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a communication system that reduces the burden on a communication device such as an edge node when executing assembly processing, and does not hinder processing normally performed by the communication device such as an edge node.
At least an assembly processing unit (20) for connecting a network (10) and at least one or more communication terminals (12) and assembling two or more data communication units transmitted from the communication terminal (12) into one data communication unit. One or more communication devices 18, an information database 28 that stores information on the communication devices 18 and the communication terminals 12 connected to the communication devices 18 in association with each other, and a response based on information stored in the information database 28 A management device 18 having a maximum assembly packet number setting unit 30 for setting a maximum assembly packet number for assembly processing performed by the communication device 16, and the communication device 16 is configured by the maximum assembly packet number setting unit 30. For the number of packets within the set maximum number of assembly packets Performing an assembly process Te is a communication system characterized.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system for transferring a packet by assembling a plurality of packets into a single packet in a communication device such as an edge node when transferring the packet.

  In packet transfer transferred to a network, transfer is often performed with a packet having a size far smaller than that of an MTU (Max Transfer Unit), and thus the load on core nodes constituting the network is increased. An assembly method has been proposed as a method for reducing the load on the core node (see Patent Document 1). The assembly method is a method of transferring a plurality of packets into a single packet in a communication device such as an edge node when transferring the packets. Thereby, since the number of packets flowing through the network can be reduced, the load of header processing in the core node can be reduced.

  In the assembly method described in Patent Document 1, the edge node detects the packet loss of the core node, and in synchronization with the detection of the packet loss, the core node in a state in which a plurality of packet data is assembled into one packet. By transmitting packet data in an assembled state at the edge node to the core node in this way, the load on the core node is reduced, and congestion and the like are avoided.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 15-304284

  However, as in the assembly method described in Patent Document 1, the monitoring of packet information that actually flows over the network, such as detecting packet loss of the core node, and setting of assembly conditions are all performed on the edge node itself that performs assembly processing. This is a heavy burden and may interfere with processing normally performed by the edge node, such as packet data routing processing and transfer processing.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a communication system that reduces the burden on a communication device such as an edge node when performing assembly processing, and does not hinder processing normally performed by the communication device such as an edge node. Objective.

  In order to achieve the above object, a communication system according to the present invention connects a network and at least one or more communication terminals, and assembles two or more data communication units transmitted from the communication terminal into one data communication unit. At least one communication device including assembly processing means, an information database for storing information on the communication device and the communication terminal connected thereto, and information stored in the information database. And a management device having a maximum assembly packet number setting means for setting a maximum number of assembly packets for assembly processing performed by the corresponding communication device, and the communication device is set by the maximum assembly packet number setting means. Packet data within the range of the maximum number of assembled packets Characterized by Li.

  As described above, according to the communication system according to the present invention, the maximum number of assembly packets for assembly processing performed by the communication device can be set by a management device different from the communication device. Can be reduced. Further, the communication system according to the present invention sets the maximum number of assembly packets from the network configuration of the communication device and the communication terminal connected thereto, and therefore sets assembly conditions and the like based on packet information that actually flows on the network. Unlike the case, it is possible to avoid the overload and congestion of the core node in advance.

  In the communication system according to the present invention, the communication device further includes an assembly number adjusting unit that adjusts the number of packets of packet data to be assembled by the assembly processing unit. If the packet data of the maximum assembly packet number set by the assembly packet number setting means is stored in the packet, the maximum assembly packet number is adjusted as the number of packets to be subjected to assembly processing, and the communication device adjusts the assembly packet within a predetermined time. When the packet data of the maximum number of assembly packets set by the number setting means is not stored, the number of packets stored within that time is preferably adjusted as the number of packets for assembly processing.

  In the communication system according to the present invention, the information database stores information related to the number of communication terminals connected to the communication device, and the maximum assembly packet number setting means stores the information database. Preferably, the maximum assembly packet number setting unit is configured to set the maximum assembly packet number based on the number of connected communication terminals. In this case, the maximum assembly packet number setting unit is stored in the information database. The maximum assembly packet number is set in proportion to the number of connected communication terminals, and the maximum assembly packet number setting means has a predetermined number of connected communication terminals stored in the information database. If the number does not exceed, set the maximum number of assembly packets to zero and the corresponding communication device It is preferably configured so as not to perform the assembly process.

  In the communication system according to the present invention, communication terminals used include, for example, VoIP terminals, mobile phones, personal computers, and the like, and can assemble and transmit various packet data such as voice data and image data. is there.

  Furthermore, in the communication system according to the present invention, the management device is preferably a management device that manages information of the communication terminal, for example, a gatekeeper when the communication terminal is a VoIP terminal. By using a management device that manages the communication system, the communication system according to the present invention can be easily applied to an existing communication system. In this case, it is preferable that the management device further includes a communication device search unit that searches for the communication device to which the communication terminal is connected based on information stored in the information database. By providing the communication device search unit, the maximum number of assemblies can be set by specifying the corresponding communication device from the IP address of the managed communication terminal.

  As described above, according to the assembly processing system of the present invention, when executing the assembly processing, the burden on the communication device such as the edge node is reduced, and the processing normally performed by the communication device such as the edge node is hindered. It is possible to provide a communication system without the above.

  Next, an embodiment of a communication system according to the present invention will be described based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a communication network including a communication system according to the present embodiment. 1 is an IP network in which a plurality of VoIP (Voice Over IP) terminals 12 (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d,...) Can communicate, and a plurality of core nodes 14 (14a, 14b, 14c).・ ・）. These VoIP terminals 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d,... And the core nodes 14a, 14b, 14c,... Are connected by a plurality of edge nodes 16 (16a, 16b,...). The edge node 16c is connected to a gatekeeper 18 that stores a correspondence database of telephone numbers and IP addresses, and notifies an IP address corresponding to the telephone number when an inquiry is made from the VoIP terminal 12.

  The VoIP terminal 12 shown in FIG. 1 has a function of digitizing an input voice signal and dividing it into packets, specifying an IP address notified from the gatekeeper 18 and sending it out to the communication network 10. . Further, the core nodes 14a, 14b, 14c,..., The edge nodes 16a, 16b, 16c, and the gatekeeper 18 shown in FIG. 1 are merely examples of the network 10, and for example, VoIp terminals 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d,. A relay device such as another router may be provided between the two. Further, in FIG. 1, the network 10 is an IP network through which VoIP terminals 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d,... Can communicate, but communication terminals other than the VoIP terminal 12, such as personal computers and mobile phones, can also communicate. Thus, various packet data such as voice data and image data can be communicated.

  In the communication system according to the present embodiment, the edge node 16 has an assembly function for collectively transferring a plurality of packets into one packet in addition to the normal edge node functions such as packet data routing processing and transfer processing. ing. As shown in FIG. 2, the edge note 16 has, as this assembly function, an assembly processing unit 20 that assembles a plurality of packet data transmitted from the VoIP terminal 12 into a single packet data, and packet data to be assembled temporarily. Assembly buffer 21 to be stored, transmission / reception unit 22 for transmitting / receiving information to / from gatekeeper 18, assembly number adjustment unit 24 for adjusting the number of packet data assembled by assembly processing unit 20, and these assembly processes A control unit 26 that controls the unit 20, the transmission / reception unit 22, and the assembly number adjustment unit 24.

  The assembly processing unit 20 stores in the assembly buffer 21 packet data that satisfies an assembly processing condition described later in the assembly buffer 21 as an assembly processing target, and stores packet data that does not satisfy the assembly condition in the assembly buffer 21. Without being transferred to the core node 14. The assembly processing unit 20 is configured to combine the packet data of the number of packets adjusted by the assembly number adjustment unit 24 into one. The assembly processing unit 20 assembles a single flow assembly that assembles only packets from the same terminal into one packet, and a packet from VoIP terminals that are different VoIP terminals and share a common edge router into one packet. Any of the multi-flow assemblies can be executed, but details of the assembly process are well known as in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, and therefore details thereof are omitted.

  When the number of packets stored in the assembly buffer 21 reaches the maximum number of assembly packets set by the gatekeeper 18 within a predetermined time, the assembly number adjustment unit 24 sets the maximum number of assembly packets by the assembly processing unit 20. If the maximum number of assembly packets set by the gatekeeper 18 is not reached within a predetermined time, the number of packet data stored in the assembly buffer 21 up to that time is processed by the assembly processing unit 20. The number of packets to be adjusted is adjusted.

  In the communication system according to the present embodiment, the gatekeeper 18 has a management function for managing the assembly function of the edge note 16 in addition to the function of notifying the VoIP terminal 12 of the IP address. As shown in FIG. 3, the gatekeeper 18 stores the information of the edge node 16 and the information of the VoIP terminal 12 connected to the information as the management function, and stores the information stored in the information database 28. Based on the maximum assembly packet number setting unit 30 for setting the maximum number of assembly packets for assembly processing performed by the corresponding edge node 16 based on the IP address of the VoIP terminal 12, the edge node 16 to which the VoIP terminal 12 is connected is information. An edge node search unit 32 that searches based on information stored in the database 28 and a transmission / reception unit 34 that transmits / receives information to / from the VoIP terminal 12 and the edge node 16 are provided.

  The information stored in the information database 28 includes, for example, the number of VoIP terminals 12 connected to the edge node 16, and the maximum assembly packet number setting unit 30 includes, for example, the number of connected VoIP terminals 12. The maximum number of assembly packets is set in proportion to the maximum number of assembly packets, that is, when the number of connected VoIP terminals 12 is large, the maximum number of maximum assembly packets is set, and when the number of connected VoIP terminals 12 is small, the maximum number of assembly packets It is configured to set a small number. Furthermore, when the number of connected VoIP terminals 12 has not reached a predetermined number, the maximum assembly packet number setting unit 30 sets the maximum assembly packet number to zero so that the edge node does not execute assembly processing. It is configured. Note that the maximum number of assembly packets refers to the maximum number of packet data collected in one assembly process in the edge node 16.

  Next, the operation of the communication system according to the present embodiment will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. For example, a case where a call is transmitted from the VoIP terminal 12a to the VoIP terminal 12c will be described. First, when the user inputs the telephone number of the incoming VoIP terminal 12c to the outgoing VoIP terminal 12a, the outgoing VoIP terminal 12a makes an inquiry to the gatekeeper 18 about the IP address corresponding to the telephone number, and the gatekeeper. 18 receives the inquiry by the transmission / reception unit 34 (S100). When the gatekeeper 18 receives the inquiry about the IP address from the VoIP terminal 12a, the transmission / reception unit 34 informs the originating VoIP terminal 12a of the IP address of the receiving VoIP terminal 12c (S102). Next, an incoming call request is made to the VoIP terminal 12c of the IP address, and a call is established when the user picks up the handset of the incoming VoIP terminal 12c (S104).

  Next, the gatekeeper 18 searches the information database 28 for the corresponding edge node 16a to which it is connected from the IP address of the originating VoIP terminal 12a by the edge node search unit 32 (S106), and the maximum assembly packet number setting unit 30 The number of VoIP terminals 12 connected to the edge node 16a stored in the information database 28 is extracted, and it is determined whether the number of VoIP terminals 12 exceeds a predetermined number (S108). When the number of connected VoIP terminals 12 has not reached the predetermined number, the maximum assembly packet number setting unit 30 sets the maximum assembly packet number to zero and performs assembly processing on the packet data transmitted to the edge node 16a. It is made to transmit without performing (S110).

  When the number of connected VoIP terminals 12 exceeds a predetermined number, the gatekeeper 18 sets the maximum number of assembly packets to be assembled in the edge node 16a by the maximum assembly packet number setting unit 30 (S112), and the transmission / reception unit 34 Information on the maximum number of assembly packets is transmitted to the transmission / reception unit 22 of the edge node 16a (S114).

  When the edge node 16a to which the originating VoIP terminal 12a is connected receives information on the maximum number of assembly packets, the packet data transmitted from the VoIP terminal 12 by the assembly processing unit 20 while being adjusted by the assembly number adjustment unit 24 Assembly processing is performed on In the assembly process, for example, the source IP address and the destination IP address of the received packet data match with those set in the route / mode setting information, or match with TOS (Type of Service) The packet data that satisfies the assembly processing condition such as the above is subjected to assembly processing, and the control unit 26 determines whether the assembly condition is satisfied. Packet data that has not been subjected to assembly processing is not stored in the assembly buffer 21 and transmitted to the core node 14 because assembly processing is not performed. The packet data transmitted from the receiving VoIP terminal 12a to the edge node 16 and subjected to assembly processing is temporarily stored in the assembly buffer 21. When the packet data of the maximum number of assembly packets is stored, the assembly number adjustment unit 24 adjusts the number of packets subjected to assembly processing as the maximum number of assembly packets, and the assembly processing unit 20 sets the number of packet data to 1 The data is collected and transmitted to the core node 14. However, if the packet data of the maximum number of assembly packets is not stored in the assembly buffer 21 within a predetermined time, the assembly number adjustment unit 24 adjusts only the packet data stored at that time as the number of packets to be subjected to assembly processing. Then, the assembly processing unit 20 bundles the number of packet data into one and transmits the packet data to the core node 14. When the node 16b at the edge to which the VoIP terminal 12c on the receiving side is connected receives the assembled packet data, it disassembles the packet data before assembly into the individual VoIP terminal 12b on the receiving side. Forward.

  On the other hand, the gatekeeper 18 determines whether or not the same processing as that of the receiving side VoIP 12a, that is, the processing of steps 106 to 114 has been performed for the receiving side VoIP terminal 12c (S116), and it is determined that the processing is not performed. In this case, if the receiving side VoIP terminal 12c performs the same processing as that of the receiving side VoIP 12a, that is, the processing of steps 108 to 114, and determines that the processing has been performed, the operation of the assembly system according to the present embodiment ends. A normal VoIP call is performed.

  As described above, as an operation of the communication system according to the present embodiment, the assembly process when transferring packet data from one VoIP terminal 12a on the transmission side, that is, the single flow assembly has been described. For example, the edge node 16a Alternatively, multiflow assembly may be performed in which packet data transmitted from two different VoIP terminals 12a and 12b on the transmission side are combined into one packet data. In the communication system according to the present embodiment, the maximum number of assembly packets is set in proportion to the number of VoIP terminals connected to the edge router. For example, the sound quality required for the VoIP terminal is connected to the edge router. The maximum number of assembly packets may be set based on the type of application used by terminals other than the existing VoIP terminal, the type of VoIP method of the VoIP terminal connected to the edge router, and the like.

1 is a conceptual diagram of a communication network including an embodiment of a communication system according to the present invention. It is a block diagram of the assembly function of the edge node used for the communication system which concerns on a present Example. It is a block diagram of the management function of the gatekeeper used for the communication system which concerns on a present Example. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the communication system which concerns on a present Example.

Explanation of symbols

10 Network 12 VoIP terminal (communication terminal)
14 Core node 16 Edge node (communication device)
18 Gatekeeper 20 Assembly Processing Unit 28 Information Database 30 Maximum Assembly Packet Number Calculation Unit

Claims (7)

At least one communication device including an assembly processing unit that connects at least one or more communication terminals to a network and assembles two or more data communication units transmitted from the communication terminal into one data communication unit;
An information database for storing information on the communication device and the communication terminal connected to the communication device in association with each other, and a maximum number of assembly packets for assembly processing performed by the corresponding communication device based on the information stored in the information database A maximum assembly packet number setting means for setting
The communication apparatus assembles packet data within a range of a maximum assembly packet number set by the maximum assembly packet number setting means. The communication apparatus further includes an assembly number adjusting unit that adjusts the number of packet data packets to be assembled by the assembly processing unit.
The assembly number adjusting means adjusts the maximum assembly packet number as the number of packets to be subjected to assembly processing when the communication device stores packet data of the maximum assembly packet number set by the assembly packet number setting means within a predetermined time. When the communication device does not store the packet data of the maximum number of assembly packets set by the assembly packet number setting means within a predetermined time, the number of packets stored within that time is adjusted as the number of packets for assembly processing. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication system is configured to. The information database stores information related to the number of communication terminals connected to the communication device,
The maximum assembly packet number setting means is configured to set the maximum assembly packet number based on the number of connected communication terminals stored in the information database. 2. The communication system according to 2. The maximum assembly packet number setting means is configured to set the maximum assembly packet number in proportion to the number of connected communication terminals stored in the information database. 3. The communication system according to 3. The maximum assembly packet number setting means sets the maximum assembly packet number to zero when the number of connected communication terminals stored in the information database does not exceed a predetermined number, and performs assembly processing on the corresponding communication device. 5. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein the communication system is configured not to perform the above. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the management device is a management device that manages information of the communication terminal. The said management apparatus is further provided with the communication apparatus search part which searches the said communication apparatus to which the said communication terminal is connected based on the information memorize | stored in the said information database. Communication system.

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