JP3633479B2 - High speed communication system and time lending method for communication band - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a high-speed communication system capable of temporary use of a communication band and a method for lending time of a communication band, which includes a subscriber station provided with a subscriber device and a receiving station that accommodates each subscriber device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, subscriber terminals equipped with subscriber devices such as telephones, facsimiles, personal computers (hereinafter referred to as “PCs”) used by subscribers, and subscriber lines (telephone lines) connected to each subscriber device. There is known a high-speed communication system that uses a high frequency band to realize high-speed communication.
[0003]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-355435 describes an example of a conventional high-speed communication system. As shown in FIG. 6, the conventional high-speed communication system is used for each subscriber to receive service. A high-speed communication service provider comprising a subscriber terminal station 2 having a plurality of subscriber devices 1, an exchange 7 that accommodates each subscriber device 1 via a subscriber line 3, a processor 8, and a transmission device 9 ( (Hereinafter referred to as a “telecom carrier”). Further, the subscriber terminal station 2 and the accommodating station 4 have a one-to-one relationship, and each subscriber line 3 is a line that is normally used (hereinafter referred to as a “normal line”).
[0004]
When a redundant configuration is realized in such a high-speed communication system, a line is generally duplicated by providing a protection line in addition to a normal line. Here, the “protection line” refers to a line that is provided in preparation for the occurrence of an abnormality such as a failure, and is a line that is not normally used or a line that is normally used but has a low priority and cannot be used in the event of an abnormality.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even if the lines are duplicated, in the conventional high-speed communication system, first, when each subscriber is provided with the communication service through the subscriber unit 1, the content of the communication service is fixed. However, there is a problem that it is not possible to easily realize a time lending system for a communication band that can temporarily use the communication band. This is because all the lines are fixedly connected.
[0006]
In addition, as a second problem, if the line is doubled, the use efficiency of the line is lowered by the amount of the standby line that is not normally used, and the line network (optical fiber network) is not efficiently used. was there. This is due to the fact that all lines (optical wiring) are fixedly connected while the lines are doubled during normal times when no protection line is used.
[0007]
The present invention has been proposed in order to solve such problems of the conventional technology, and the connection destination of the line is made variable so that communication services that can be provided to subscribers can be diversified. In addition to providing a high-speed communication system capable of temporarily using a communication band, a line having a normal line and a protection line (such a line in which the line is doubled may be referred to as a “redundant line” in some cases. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for lending a communication band for a time when a subscriber terminal station and a receiving station are connected by a redundant line. .
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a high-speed communication system according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a subscriber line station having a subscriber unit used by a subscriber and a receiving station accommodating the subscriber unit as a redundant line. In the high-speed communication system having a configuration connected to the subscriber station, the connection destination of the subscriber device to the accommodation station is switched from the normal line forming the redundant line to the protection line, and the subscriber device is transferred to the accommodation station. Switching means to be connected is provided , the switching means has an optical layer switch and a control interface, and the optical layer switch is connected to the accommodating station of the subscriber unit according to a control signal received by the control interface. It is configured to switch the connection destination, and the accommodation station receives a request for lending the communication band from the subscriber, and whether it is in the connected line group. An exchange for selecting a line group related to the subscriber; and a processor for confirming a free state of a communication band with respect to the selected line group; When an instruction is sent from the accommodation station, a communication management device that outputs the control signal for controlling the optical layer switch is connected .
[0009]
According to the high-speed communication system of the present invention having such a configuration, when there is a temporary use request from the subscriber, the connection destination to the accommodation station of the subscriber device used by the subscriber is switched by the switching means. Switching, the subscriber unit can be connected to the accommodation station.
[0010]
The high-speed communication system according to claim 2 of the present invention is configured such that the control interface receives the control signal from the communication management device through wireless communication means or wired communication means.
[0011]
That is, the control interface can be configured to receive the control signal from a wireless communication means. Further, it may be configured such that the control interface for receiving the control signal from the wired communication means.
[0012]
The high-speed communication system according to claim 3 of the present invention includes means for monitoring control signals received by the control interface and storing charging information; means for calculating the amount of consideration from the charging information stored by the means; Is provided.
[0013]
According to the high-speed communication system of the present invention having such a configuration, when a communication line is temporarily used in response to a temporary use request from a subscriber, the amount of consideration corresponding to the temporary use is easily calculated. can do.
[0014]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication band time lending method in which a subscriber terminal station having a subscriber unit used by a subscriber and a receiving station accommodating the subscriber unit are connected by a redundant line. In this case, a request for lending the communication bandwidth from the subscriber is received by the exchange of the accommodating station, and the line group related to the subscriber is selected by the exchange from the connected line group, The processor checks the available bandwidth of the communication band for the selected line group, and outputs a control signal from the communication management device to the optical layer switch when the available bandwidth is available, and the subscriber layer device uses the optical layer switch. The connection destination of the mobile station is switched from the normal line forming the redundant line to the protection line, and the subscriber unit is connected to the mobile station to temporarily use the communication band. There as a method.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[First embodiment]
Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out a high-speed communication system and a communication bandwidth time lending method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Note that portions corresponding to those of the conventional example shown in FIG.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1, a high-speed communication system according to the present invention includes a subscriber terminal station 2 having a plurality (n) of subscriber devices 1 such as telephones, facsimiles, and personal computers used by subscribers, and each subscriber device. 1 is composed mainly of a receiving station 4 that accommodates each subscriber device 1 via a subscriber line (telephone line) 3 connected to 1, and the subscriber terminal station 2 and the receiving station 4 switch later. Are connected in a one-to-one relationship via an optical layer switch 10 (hereinafter referred to as “optical layer switch”).
[0018]
Each subscriber line 3 connected to each subscriber unit 1 is a line used as a normal line. Each subscriber unit 1 and the accommodating station 4 are in an n-to-1 relationship, and each subscriber unit 1 communicates with the accommodating station 4 for normal telephone voice and data.
[0019]
The subscriber terminal 2 is connected to a protection line 6 in preparation for a line failure, and is a switching means for switching the connection destination to the protection line 6. An optical layer switch 10 including a control interface 13 is connected to the subscriber terminal station 2. Yes.
[0020]
This optical layer switch 10 is means for switching the path (direction) of a signal (optical signal) by switching the connection destination of each subscriber unit 1 to the accommodating station 4 from each subscriber line 3 to the protection line 6. For example, it can be constituted by a fiber movement type optical switch (robot type, motor drive type), a MEMS (Micro Mechanical Machine System) optical switch, a waveguide type optical switch, or the like. The optical layer switch 10 is connected to each subscriber device 1 via a port 11 and is connected to a communication management device 5 described later via a control interface 13. The operation will be described later.
[0021]
The accommodating station 4 is provided with an exchange 7 that accommodates each subscriber line 3, a processor 8 that controls this, and a transmission device 9. In addition to each subscriber line 3, a protection line 6 is connected to the exchange 7. In addition, a communication management device 5 including a control interface 12 that outputs a control signal for controlling the optical layer switch 10 is connected to the accommodating station 4. This communication management device 5 mainly has a function of outputting a signal for controlling the optical layer switch 10 and monitoring it, but in addition to this, it monitors the usage of the line, collects the usage of the line and performs statistical processing thereof. It has functions such as display with graphs and graphs, and device diagnosis.
[0022]
In the high-speed communication system having the above-described configuration, a telecommunications carrier usually provides a high-speed communication service to each subscriber through the subscriber line 3, but the subscriber line 3 Provided by the subscriber as a normal line used by each subscriber during normal times.
[0023]
The spare line 6 is provided by one or more telecommunications carriers in preparation for a line failure in the case where each subscriber moves into an office building to form a group of subscribers. This is used when the subscriber line 3 cannot be used due to a line failure. Therefore, the standby line 6 is an unused unused line at normal times.
[0024]
In the high-speed communication system configured as described above, a communication bandwidth time lending system that can temporarily use the communication bandwidth can be realized.
Then, the operation content of the high-speed communication system when there is a request for temporary use of the communication band (hereinafter referred to as “temporary use request”) from each subscriber will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. To do. Here, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed on the accommodation station 4 side, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of operation contents in the entire system.
Note that S in FIG. 2 is an abbreviated step, and 1a in FIG. 3 indicates the subscriber device of the subscriber who has made a temporary use request among the subscriber devices 1 shown in FIG. .
[0025]
In the conventional high-speed communication system, the service content is fixed, so it is difficult to realize a communication bandwidth time lending system. However, in the above-described high-speed communication system, if there is a temporary use request, the communication bandwidth is secured. In the following manner, the communication bandwidth time lending system can be easily realized.
[0026]
Normally, each subscriber receives a high-speed communication service from a telecommunications carrier by performing telephone voice communication with the accommodating station 4 through the subscriber line 3.
In this case, first, in step 1, the exchange 7 receives a request from each subscriber through a communication means (not shown) such as a telephone or e-mail, and in step 2, the processor 8 determines whether the received request is a temporary use request. If it is not a temporary use request, the process returns to step 1. If it is a temporary use request, the process proceeds to step 3. In step 3, the exchange 7 selects a line group related to the subscriber who has requested temporary use from among the connected line groups, and in step 4 the processor 8 frees communication bandwidth for the line group. Check the situation. At this time, if there is a free communication band, the process proceeds to step 5, and if not, the process ends.
[0027]
In the subsequent step 5, an instruction is sent from the accommodating station 4 to the communication management apparatus 5, and a line connection instruction for instructing connection to an empty line is transmitted from the control interface 12 to the optical layer switch 10, and the processing is completed. To do.
Then, the optical layer switch 10 receives a line connection instruction via the control interface 13, and executes a switching process for connecting the protection line 6 to the port 11a connected to the subscriber line 3 for which temporary use is requested. Then, the subscriber unit 1a of the subscriber who has made a temporary use request is connected to the exchange 7.
[0028]
Since the connection of this line is performed using the unused spare line 6 which is not normally used, the unused spare line which is not normally used by executing the switching process by the optical layer switch 10 as described above. 6 can be used effectively, and the line utilization efficiency can be improved. Further, since the subscriber who has requested temporary use can temporarily use the communication band of the protection line 6, the communication carrier can provide a communication service different from the normal through the protection line 6, and the communication carrier can The contents of the communication service provided will be diversified.
[0029]
However, since the communication service corresponding to the temporary use request is performed using the protection line 6 that is not normally used, if a failure or the like occurs in the subscriber line 3 that is a normal line, the protection line 6 is normally set. It must be used instead of the subscriber line 3 being used. In this case, the provision of the communication service provided by interrupting the connection between the subscriber unit 1 and the exchange 7 connected to the protection line 6 by operating the optical layer switch 10 is suspended and is normally used. The restoration of the subscriber line 3 must be prioritized.
[0030]
On the other hand, as described above, when providing a new communication service to a subscriber in response to a temporary use request, the telecommunications carrier collects a fee from the subscriber who uses the service and obtains a consideration. Good. By doing so, the communication carrier can get a price corresponding to the provision of the service, while the subscriber can pay only for the temporary use of the communication line, and does not make useless payment. To do so, the following may be done.
[0031]
When providing a new communication service according to a temporary use request, the control interface 13 of the optical layer switch 10 is a wireless (for example, PHS: personal handy phone system) or wired (general public telephone line or dedicated line) communication. The control signal for instructing the connection to the protection line 6 is received from the control interface 12 of the communication management apparatus 5 through the means. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the control signal is monitored, the storage means 13a for storing the charging information necessary for calculating the price, and the price to be charged based on the charging information stored in the storage means 13a. By providing the control interface 13 with the consideration calculating means 13b for calculating the amount of the above, the amount of the above-mentioned consideration can be calculated. Note that the amount of consideration to be charged may be calculated based on the usage time of the communication band that is temporarily used.
[0032]
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the high-speed communication system and communication band time lending system according to the present invention will be described.
Also in the second embodiment, other system configurations including the optical layer switch 10 are the same as those in the first embodiment. The high-speed communication system according to the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a subscriber himself / herself temporarily uses a recovery line, which will be described later, as a normal line.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 1, in the high-speed communication system according to the present invention, a telecommunications carrier provides a high-speed communication service through a subscriber line 3 to a subscriber who is a recipient of a communication service. Has signed a contract to use a plurality of lines with a telecommunications carrier, and the capacity of the contracted line may be larger than the capacity of the normal line normally used. In this case, the surplus line (surplus line) exceeding the capacity of the normal line has a lower priority than the normal line, and is used as a detour line when an abnormality such as a line failure occurs. However, it may be in a state equivalent to an idle spare line that is not used in a normal use state. The bandwidth utilization efficiency can be improved by lending the bandwidth of the surplus free line to the subscriber himself / herself and other subscribers for temporary use.
[0034]
Next, the operation contents in the high-speed communication system for that purpose will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 5, the same steps as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same step numbers, and the description thereof is omitted or simplified.
In the high-speed communication system shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that a request to use a band larger than the band normally used in the subscriber who subscribes a plurality of lines among the subscribers is generated.
[0035]
In that case, first, in step 1, a request from the subscriber is received in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and in subsequent step 2, it is determined whether or not the received request is a temporary use request. If not, the process returns to Step 1; otherwise, the process proceeds to the subsequent Step 3. In step 3, a line group related to the subscriber who has made a temporary use request is selected from the line groups connected to the exchange 7, and in step 6 the communication band of the surplus line is selected for the line group. To see if there is a free line in the network. At that time, if there is a vacancy, the process proceeds to step 7;
[0036]
In subsequent step 7, the communication management apparatus 5 transmits a connection instruction from the control interface 12 to the surplus line to the optical layer switch 10, and the process is terminated.
Then, the optical layer switch 10 receives the connection instruction via the control interface 13 and executes a switching process in response to the connection instruction. As a result, the surplus line is connected to the subscriber apparatus 1a of the subscriber who has requested temporary use, and the subscriber apparatus 1a is connected to the exchange 7.
[0037]
With this line connection, a subscriber who has requested temporary use of the surplus line can use the surplus line temporarily. Therefore, since a surplus line that is not normally used can be used effectively, the line use efficiency can be improved as in the case of the first embodiment. In addition, since a subscriber who has requested temporary use can temporarily use a band with a surplus line, a telecommunications carrier can provide another communication service, and thus the contents of the provided service can be diversified. become.
[0038]
However, since this line uses a surplus line, in the unlikely event that a failure occurs in the telephone line that is normally used, the surplus line must be used instead of the subscriber line 3 that normally uses it. The point that priority should be given to restoration of the subscriber line 3 that is normally used is the same as in the case of the first embodiment.
[0039]
Then, when providing a new communication service corresponding to the above-described temporary use request, the communication carrier may obtain a price from a subscriber who uses it. The configuration of the control interface 13 of the optical layer switch 10 necessary for this is the same as in the case of the first embodiment.
[0040]
That is, when providing a new communication service according to the temporary use request, the control interface 13 of the optical layer switch 10 is connected to the surplus line from the control interface 12 of the communication management device 5 through other wireless or wired communication means. Since the control signal for instructing the connection is received, the storage means 13a and the value calculation means 13b may be provided in the control interface 13. Then, as in the case of the first embodiment, the amount of consideration to be charged can be calculated.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, in a high-speed communication system, a line can be allocated to a request for temporary use of a communication band. Therefore, the use efficiency of a redundant line is increased, and a line that is not normally used can be effectively used. . In addition, the services that can be provided to subscribers are diversified, and it is possible to easily lend time for communication bandwidth.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an entire high-speed communication system according to first and second embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed on the accommodation station side constituting the high-speed communication system in the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation contents of the entire high-speed communication system in the first and second embodiments.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part inside a control interface of the optical layer switch.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed on the accommodation station side constituting the high-speed communication system in the second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of an entire conventional high-speed communication system.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1a Subscriber apparatus 2 Subscriber terminal station 3 Subscriber line 4 Accommodating station 5 Communication management apparatus 6 Backup line 7 Switch 8 Processor 9 Transmission apparatus 10 Optical layer switch 11 Ports 12, 13 Control interface

Claims (4)

In a high-speed communication system having a configuration in which a subscriber terminal station having a subscriber unit used by a subscriber and a receiving station that accommodates the subscriber unit are connected by a redundant line.
A switching means for switching the connection destination of the subscriber unit to the accommodation station from a normal line forming the redundant line to a protection line, and connecting the subscriber unit to the accommodation station ;
The switching means has an optical layer switch and a control interface, and the optical layer switch is configured to switch the connection destination of the subscriber unit to the accommodating station in accordance with a control signal received by the control interface. Has been
The containment station
An exchange that receives a request for lending a communication band from a subscriber and selects a line group related to the subscriber from a group of connected lines, and a communication band availability for the selected line group Having a processor and
The accommodation station is connected to a communication management device that outputs the control signal for controlling the optical layer switch when an instruction is sent from the accommodation station after the availability of the communication band is confirmed. A high-speed communication system characterized by the above. The control interface is configured to receive the control signal from the communication management device through wireless communication means or wired communication means.
The high-speed communication system according to claim 1. There is provided means for monitoring control signals received by the control interface and accumulating charging information, and means for calculating the amount of consideration from the charging information accumulated by the means
The high-speed communication system according to claim 1 or 2. In the case where a subscriber terminal station having a subscriber device used by a subscriber and a receiving station that accommodates the subscriber device are connected by a redundant line,
A request for time lending of communication bandwidth from a subscriber is received by the exchange of the accommodation station,
A line group related to the subscriber is selected from the connected line groups by the switch,
Check the availability of communication bandwidth for the selected group of lines with a processor,
When there is a space, a control signal is output from the communication management device to the optical layer switch,
The optical layer switch switches the connection destination of the subscriber apparatus to the accommodation station from the normal line forming the redundant line to the protection line, and connects the subscriber apparatus to the accommodation station to temporarily set a communication band. Time lending method for communication bandwidth to be used.

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