JPH09284290A - Processing flow trace test system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To confirm the normality of various processing for a usage parameter control(UPC) function by confirming the operation of the UPC function when various cells are received. SOLUTION: When a processing flow trace test request signal from an input terminal 7 is active, a processing flow trace test data insert section 4 provides information to a payload of a received cell based on an input cell identification discrimination result signal from a cell identification section 1, an algorithm discrimination result signal from an algorithm arithmetic section 2 and a mapping discrimination result signal from a mapping section 3 and sends the result as delay cell data to a cell memory section 5. When the transmission time is in contention with other cell, the mapping section 3 conducts priority discrimination to decide an output time of the cell from the cell memory section 5. The cell read from the cell memory section 5 is outputted from an output terminal 8 from output cell data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a processing flow trace processing system, and more particularly to an ATM (Asyncron).
The present invention relates to a test method for an apparatus that performs determination and processing on a cell-by-cell basis used in a ous transfer mode (asynchronous transfer mode) network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art ATM technology is a broadband ISDN (Int
integrated Services Digital N
This system is used as a means for realizing the network (B-ISDN) and enables high-speed transmission using fixed-length packets.

All the information transmitted in this ATM network is carried in fixed length blocks called cells, regardless of the communication media such as voice, image, and data. The cell is composed of a header part and a payload part carrying user information, and an identifier indicating a destination is stored in the header part.

ATM is characterized in that multiplexing at an arbitrary speed is possible, efficient use of burst data randomly generated by using the statistical multiplexing effect, and network design and operation by non-hierarchical multiplexing. There are the points that the management can be simplified, that there are fluctuations in delay, that cell loss may occur, and that channel setting and capacity setting can be separated.

As a method of testing the above ATM network, as shown in FIG. 6, OAM (Operation) is used.
Administration & Maintena
There is a method of performing a test by providing a pointer 35 indicating the mounting position of the virtual path (hereinafter, referred to as VP) operation information and an area in which the VP operation information 33 of a predetermined number of stations are mounted in each cell. Incidentally, 31 indicates an OAM type, and 32 indicates writing position information. Further, this method is described in detail in JP-A-5-268257.

[0006] In this method, each station has VP operation information 3
When 3 is installed in the OAM cell, the pointer 35 is updated and sent to the next station. At that time, when the payload becomes full, the pointer 35 is used as the final value and the new OAM cell creation request information 34 is added, and the OAM cell is transferred to the next station.

The station that has received the OAM cell including the new OAM cell creation request information 34 erases the new OAM cell creation request information 34 and transfers the OAM cell, creates a new OAM cell, and sets the pointer. A new OAM cell carrying the VP operation information of that station is transferred to the next station with 35 as the initial value.

That is, in the above method, when each station in the ATM communication network receives a VP trace instruction from the operation and maintenance center, it creates an OAM cell for control and monitoring, and sends it to the instructed destination station. When a cell is received, the VP operation information of its own station is installed and transmitted to the next station, so that the operation and maintenance center collects the OAM cell from the receiving station and collects the VP.
Is a method of tracing.

In the above method, each station in the ATM communication network detects the presence / absence of a new OAM cell creation request in the received OAM cell, and OAM cell detects that there is no new OAM cell creation request in the OAM cell.
The step of mounting the VP operation information of the own station in the cell, the step of detecting whether or not there is a mountable area for the next station in the OAM cell after mounting the VP operation information of the own station, and the step of the next station When it detects that there is no mountable area, it issues a new OAM cell creation request to the next station.
The step of mounting in a cell and transferring to the next station, and deleting the new creation request when the new OAM cell creation request is detected in the received OAM cell and transferring it, and creating a new OAM cell And loading the VP operation information of the station to the next station.

Further, in the VP operation information trace device for performing the trace by the above-mentioned method, when the VP trace instruction is received from the operation and maintenance center, the OAM for control monitoring is received.
A means for creating a cell and transmitting it to the designated called station,
When receiving an OAM cell from another station, each station in the ATM communication network has means for mounting the VP operation information of the own station in the OAM cell and transferring it to the next station, and recovers the OAM cell from the receiving station. Therefore, the operation and maintenance management center has means for tracing the VP.

In this VP operation information trace device, the OA
A means for detecting the presence / absence of a request to newly create an OAM cell when receiving an M cell; and a means for mounting the VP operation information of the own station in the OAM cell when detecting that there is no request for new creation in the OAM cell, A means for detecting whether or not there is a mountable area for the next station in the OAM cell after mounting the VP operation information of the station, and a new method for the next station when it is detected that there is no mountable area for the next station. A means for mounting an OAM cell creation request in the OAM cell and transferring the request to the next station, and a method of deleting the new creation request when the new OAM cell creation request is detected in the received OAM cell and transferring the new OAM cell creation request. Create an OAM cell to create your own VP
Each station in the ATM communication network has means for mounting operation information and transmitting it to the next station.

The described capacity of the VP operation information storage area of the payload of the OAM cell is limited to a predetermined number, and the OAM cell transmitted by the instruction from the operation and maintenance center is the VP operation information of each station for each elapsed station. A certain ID is installed.

When the pointer information coincides with the position information of the final VP operation information storage area, the station mounts a new OAM cell creation request in the OAM cell and transfers it to the next station. An OAM cell is created, the ID of its own station is installed, the received OAM cell is transferred, and a new OAM cell is sent to the next station. By repeating this operation, stations on all VPs from the originating station to the terminating station are totaled with the minimum number of OAM cells.

[0014]

The above-mentioned conventional virtual path operation information trace device uses a system for collecting in-device information using OAM cells. This method manages traffic in the ATM device and
UPC (Usage Parameter) used to maintain S (Quality Of Service)
r Control function, that is, a flow control (Flow Control) function, a shaping (Shaping) function, and the like (in addition, the Leaky Buc
ket, Jumping Window, Slidein
Not enough information is available to confirm the operation of g Windows, etc.).

Although these functions discriminate the cell type and the processing changes for each cell type, the OAM cell receives the same treatment as the user cell in these functions.
Only the information on the operation when the cell is determined to be the user cell can be confirmed, and the operation when the empty cell or the like determined to be a cell other than the user cell is received cannot be confirmed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to confirm the operation of the UPC function when various cells are received, and to confirm the normality of the processing of each function. To provide a flow trace test system.

[0017]

A process flow trace test system according to the present invention is a process flow trace test for an ATM device which performs various processes for maintaining transfer quality in a network when transferring cells in an asynchronous transfer mode. In the system, a region where user information is loaded in the input cell with information and processing results obtained in the processing process of the various processes for an input cell at the time of input of a test instruction signal for instructing tracing of a processing flow of the various processes. It is equipped with a means for writing in the payload section.

Another processing flow trace processing system according to the present invention is, in the above-mentioned configuration, the flow control processing for controlling cell transmission from a terminal in accordance with at least the frame transmitted from the network, and the network. In order to maintain the internal transfer quality, a shading process for rearranging cells from the terminal and a usage parameter control process are included.

Another process flow trace processing system according to the present invention is a process flow trace test system for an ATM device which performs various processes to maintain transfer quality in a network when transferring a plurality of types of cells in an asynchronous transfer mode. The generation means for generating the plurality of types of cells at the time of inputting the test instruction signal for instructing the trace of the processing flow of the various processes, and the various types for the cells generated by the generation means at the time of the input of the test instruction signal A means for writing information and a processing result obtained in the processing step of the processing in a payload portion which is an area for carrying user information in the cell, and information written in the payload portion of the cell when the test instruction signal is input. And means for monitoring.

In still another processing flow trace processing system according to the present invention, in the above configuration, the various processings include a flow control processing for controlling cell transmission from a terminal according to at least a frame transmitted from the network, and It comprises a usage parameter control process including a shading process for rearranging cells from the terminal in order to maintain the transfer quality in the network.

In still another processing flow trace processing system according to the present invention, in the above-mentioned configuration, the plurality of types of cells are used for maintenance at least only within the own device and cells sent to the network. Includes and.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, the operation of the present invention will be described below.

A process flow for instructing tracing of a process flow of various processes in an ATM device for performing various processes of UPC in order to maintain the transfer quality in the network. The obtained information and the processing result are written in the payload section by the processing flow / trace test data insertion section.

As a result, U when various cells are received
It becomes possible to confirm the operation of the PC function, and it is possible to confirm the normality of various processes of the UPC function.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, in the cell 101 input from the input terminal 6, the connection and cell type are read from the information contained in the header by the cell identification unit 1, and the algorithm calculation unit 2 outputs the algorithm determination information signal 103.
Sent to

On the other hand, the cell itself is input to the processing flow / trace test data insertion section 4, and when the processing flow / trace test request signal 108 from the input end 7 is off, the delay due to the calculation processing in the algorithm calculation section 2 is caused. Phase adjustment processing for matching is performed.

When the processing flow trace test request signal 108 from the input terminal 7 is on, that is, when the processing flow trace test is performed, the input cell identification determination result from the cell identification unit 1 is added to the payload of the input cell. The signal 102, the algorithm determination result signal 105 from the algorithm calculation unit 2 and the mapping determination result signal 106 from the mapping unit 3 are placed and input to the cell memory unit 5 as delay cell data 109.

Here, the algorithm determination result signal 105
Is a signal of the result obtained by the algorithm calculation section 2 from the algorithm determination information signal 103. The mapping determination result signal 106 is the determination result used to determine the cell output time from the cell transmission time signal 104 obtained by the algorithm calculation unit 2.

When the transmission time conflicts with that of another cell, the mapping unit 3 makes a priority decision and determines the output time. The mapping unit 3 determines the cell transmission order, and the mapping unit 3 manages the address of the cell memory unit 5 to perform the processing.

Address management is performed by the cell memory control signal 107 output from the mapping section 3. When the output time of the cell comes, the cell is read from the cell memory unit 5 and output as output cell data 110 from the output terminal 8.

The above configuration is for verifying the traffic shaping function. Traffic shaping divides a received cell into a shaping target cell and a non-shaping target cell, and manages the cell interval so as to satisfy the contract conditions of the cell.

The determination of the shaping target cell and the non-shaping target cell is performed depending on the type of the cell, and different processing is performed depending on the determination result. When the OAM cell is used, it is determined from the cell type that the cell is a shaping target cell, and only the shaping operation of the OAM cell can be confirmed.

In order to solve this problem, a test mode is provided in one embodiment of the present invention, and when this test mode is set, the shaping judgment is performed for all cells and the judgment is performed. The calculation result and information are written in the payload of the cell. With this method, it is possible to confirm the judgments for all types of cells.

The traffic shaping function uses the connection number of the arriving cell [virtual path identifier (V
PI), virtual channel identifier (VCI)], and monitors the interval with the cell that has arrived immediately before for each connection. If the interval is less than the specified interval, the cell emission is delayed and specified. This is a process to prevent the transfer at a speed exceeding the contracted speed by the user by expanding the interval more than the specified interval.

To check this function in the device, the input cell may be monitored on the output side and the cell interval for each connection may be measured. However, fluctuations in the buffer existing in the device cause variations in the cell interval. However, it is very difficult to confirm the correct shaping operation.

Therefore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the time of the cell arriving at the shaping processing unit, the time output from the shaping processing unit, and the determination result performed to maintain the shaping interval are stored in the payload of the cell. The writing operation is confirmed by writing to the cell and monitoring the cell outside the device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a processing flow trace processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cell data generator 11, an ATM device 12, and a cell data receiver 13.
And a control device 14.

Controller 14 connected to ATM device 12
When a processing flow trace test request is issued from the ATM device 12, the ATM device 12 receives the control signal 113 from the control device 14 to set the processing flow trace test mode.

At this time, when the input cell data 111 is generated from the cell data generator 11, when this cell passes through the circuit of the portion which performs the shaping processing, the processing in the middle of the shaping processing and the result of the shaping processing are executed in the payload. Information is written.

The cell in which the information of the process in progress and the process result is written in the payload is sent from the ATM device 12 to the cell data receiver 13 as the output cell data 112. By monitoring the output cell data 112 with the cell data receiver 13, it is possible to confirm whether the shaping process is normally performed from the arrival cell interval and the information written in the payload.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a cell format of a process flow trace test according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a cell header portion 21 is provided in the header of the cell, a sequential number insertion position 22 defined in the ATM adaptation layer 1, a cell arrival time (ta) storage position 23, and a theoretical transmission of the arrival cell are provided in the payload. Time (TETn) storage position 24 and minimum cell interval (T
s) Storing position 25 and remaining CDV (Cell D
elay Variation) Allowable value (τs) storage position 26 and algorithm calculation parameter storage position 27
An algorithm determination result storage position 28, an ideal transmission time (to) storage position 29, and a theoretical transmission time [TET (n + 1)] storage position 30 of the next cell are provided.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the shaping operation according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the shaping operation according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
(A) shows the operation when the cell is output as it is,
FIG. 5B shows the operation when the cells are delayed and output, and FIG. 5C shows the operation when the cells are not shaped because they are sufficiently far from the arrival of the previous cell.
5D shows the operation when the theoretical transmission time of the arrival cell is updated, FIG. 5E shows the operation when the non-user cell is output as it is, and FIG. 5F shows the non-user cell. Shows the operation when arrives before the previous cell is transmitted.

The shaping operation according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The shaping process is performed based on the CDV reduction type algorithm. First, at the start of the operation, the parameters for the connection are initialized (step S1 in FIG. 4) and the time counter is initialized [(Ti
mer) = 0] (step S2 in FIG. 4).

When the cell arrives, the arrival time ta and the connection number of the arrival cell are set. And are latched (step S3 in FIG. 4). Then, various parameters T of the connection
s, τs, TETn, to are read (step S in FIG. 4).
4), The arriving cell is an in-house cell (a cell that is uniquely defined by the manufacturer and used in a closed form in the equipment)
It is determined whether or not (step S5 in FIG. 4).

If the cell is an in-house cell, the in-house cell is not sent to the outside of the apparatus. Therefore, the shaping operation is stopped and the time of the in-house cell is not managed. That is, in the case of an in-house cell, the state is the same as when the cell has not arrived.

If it is not the in-house cell, it is determined whether the arrived cell is a shaping target cell (if a cell not defined as an input cell is input, it is determined as a non-shaping target cell) (step in FIG. 4). S6).

If the cell is not determined to be a shaping target cell, that is, if it is determined to be a non-shaping target cell, the cell arrival time ta is transmitted as an ideal transmission time to (t
o = ta) (step S17 in FIG. 4) [see FIG. 5 (a)].

On the other hand, when it is determined that the cell is a shaping target cell, it is determined whether the cell is a user cell (step S7 in FIG. 4). If it is determined to be a user cell in this determination, C
It is determined whether the function of LP (Cell Loss Priority) is used, that is, whether CLP is determined (step S8 in FIG. 4).

When determining CLP, it is determined whether CLP = 0 (low loss) or CLP = 1 (high loss) (step S9 in FIG. 4). If CLP = 0, theoretical transmission time T
The value of the allowable CDV allowable value τs and ETn are compared with the cell arrival time ta (TETn> ta + τs) (step S10 in FIG. 4).

CD where theoretical transmission time TETn can remain
If it is larger than the sum of the value of V allowable value τs and the cell arrival time ta, the cell is delayed (to = TETn−τ).
s) (step S20 in FIG. 4) [see FIG. 5 (b)].

When the theoretical transmission time TETn is smaller than the sum of the remaining CDV allowable value τs and the cell arrival time ta, if TETn = max (TETn), the cell arrival time is not performed. ta is sent as the ideal sending time to (to = ta) (step S in FIG. 4).
12) [see FIG. 5 (c)].

Further, when the theoretical transmission time TETn is smaller than the sum of the remaining CDV allowable value τs and the cell arrival time ta, if TETn = max (ta), the cell arrival time without performing shaping. While ta is sent as the ideal sending time to (to = ta), the value of the theoretical sending time TETn is updated (step S12 in FIG. 4).
[See FIG. 5D].

Thereafter, the minimum cell interval Ts is added to the theoretical transmission time TETn, and the theoretical transmission time TET of the next cell is added.
Let (n + 1) [TET (n + 1) = TETn + T
s] (step S13 in FIG. 4).

If it is not determined as a user cell in the determination in step S7, that is, if the shaping target cell is determined as a non-user cell, or if CLP = 1, the cell arrival time ta is later than the ideal transmission time to. It is determined (to <ta) (step S18 in FIG. 4).

When it is determined that the cell arrival time ta is after the ideal transmission time to, the cell arrival time ta is transmitted as the ideal transmission time to (to = ta) (step S1 in FIG. 4).
9) [see FIG. 5 (e)].

Further, the cell arrival time ta is the ideal transmission time t
If it is not determined to be after o, that is, if the non-user cell arrives before the transmission of the previous cell, the continuity of the cell is maintained and the cell is immediately output [see FIG. In this case, the non-user cell is transmitted after the preceding cell due to the contention control of the mapping unit 3.

When the ideal transmission time to is determined (step S14 in FIG. 4), the ideal transmission time to and the theoretical transmission time TET (n + 1) of the next cell are written in a memory not shown (step S15 in FIG. 4). Update the counter [(T
imager) = (Timer) +1] (FIG. 4, step S1
6) Return to step S3.

When performing the shaping process, various judgments are made as described above, and the judgment result is obtained. The judgment result is shown in FIG. 3 by the processing flow / trace test data insertion unit 4. It is accommodated in a position according to the cell format shown.

In this case, the processing flow / trace test data insertion unit 4 uses the cell arrival time ta, the theoretical transmission time TETn of the arriving cell, the minimum cell interval Ts, the parameters regarding the time of the remaining CDV allowable value τs and the in-house cell, The shaping target cell and the determination result of the user cell are stored as the algorithm calculation parameter in the algorithm calculation parameter storage position 27 of the payload of the cell.

Further, TETn in step S10 of FIG. 4>
ta + τs, TETn = max (t in step S11
a, TETn), and the determination result of to <ta in step S18 is stored in the algorithm determination result storage position 28 as the algorithm calculation determination result.

The ideal transmission time to finally obtained from the above judgment result is stored in the ideal transmission time storage position 29, and the theoretical transmission time TET (n + 1) of the next cell is stored in the theoretical transmission time storage position of the next cell. Store in 30.

Although the above-mentioned processing has been described for confirming the normality of the shaping function, other processing of the UPC (Flow Control function, Leaky Bu) is performed.
ccket function, Jumping Window function, S
It can also be applied to confirmation of normality of a riding window function or the like).

As described above, when the process flow / trace test request signal 108 for instructing the trace of the process flow of various processes in the ATM device 12 which performs various processes of UPC in order to maintain the transfer quality in the network is turned on, the input cell is input. By writing the information and the processing result obtained in the process of various processes in the payload part by the process flow / trace test data insertion part 4, it is possible to confirm the operation of the UPC function when various cells are received. The normality of various processes of the UPC function can be confirmed.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the ATM device which performs various processes to maintain the transfer quality in the network when the cells are transferred in the asynchronous transfer mode, the processing flow of the various processes is Receives various cells by writing the information obtained in the process of various processing on the input cell and the processing result at the time of input of the test instruction signal for instructing the trace in the payload part, which is the area where user information is placed in the input cell. It is possible to confirm the operation of the UPC function at the time of performing, and it is possible to confirm the normality of various processes of the UPC function.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a cell format of a process flow trace test according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a shaping operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5A is a diagram showing an operation when a cell according to an embodiment of the present invention is output as it is, and FIG. 5B is an operation when a cell according to an embodiment of the present invention is output after being delayed. FIG. 6C is a diagram showing an operation in the case where the cell is not shaped because it is far from the arrival time of the previous cell according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7D is a theory of the arrival cell according to the embodiment of the present invention. Diagram showing the operation when the target transmission time is updated,
(E) is a diagram showing an operation when a non-user cell according to one embodiment of the present invention is output as it is, and (f) shows a non-user cell according to one embodiment of the present invention that arrives before the transmission of the previous cell. It is a figure which shows operation | movement in the case.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a cell format of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Cell Identification Section 2 Algorithm Operation Section 3 Mapping Section 4 Processing Flow / Trace Test Data Insertion Section 5 Cell Memory Section 11 Cell Data Generation Section 12 ATM Device 13 Cell Data Receiver 14 Control Device 22 Sequential Number Insertion Position 23 Cell Arrival Time ( ta) storage position 24 theoretical transmission time (TETn) storage position of arriving cell 25 minimum cell interval (Ts) storage position 26 residual CDV allowable value (τs) storage position 27 algorithm calculation parameter storage position 28 algorithm determination result storage Position 29 Ideal transmission time (to) storage position 30 Theoretical transmission time [TET (n + 1)] storage position of the next cell

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A process flow trace test system for an ATM device, which performs various processes for maintaining transfer quality in a network when cells are transferred in an asynchronous transfer mode, wherein traces of process flows of the various processes are traced. When inputting a test instruction signal for instructing, there is provided means for writing information and processing results obtained in the processing steps of the various processing for the input cell into a payload part which is an area for carrying user information in the input cell. Processing flow trace processing system. 2. The various processes include a flow control process for controlling cell transmission from a terminal in accordance with at least a frame sent from the network, and an array of cells from the terminal to maintain transfer quality in the network. 2. The processing flow trace processing system according to claim 1, wherein the processing flow trace processing system comprises processing of usage parameter control including reshading processing. 3. A processing flow trace test system of an ATM device, which performs various kinds of processing in order to maintain transfer quality in a network when transferring a plurality of types of cells in an asynchronous transfer mode, wherein the processing flow of the various kinds of processing. Generating means for generating the plurality of types of cells at the time of inputting the test instruction signal for instructing the trace, and information obtained in the processing steps of the various processes for the cells generated by the generating means at the time of inputting the test instruction signal, It has a means for writing the processing result in the payload portion, which is an area for carrying user information in the cell, and a means for monitoring the information written in the payload portion of the cell when the test instruction signal is input. And processing flow trace processing system. 4. The various processes include at least a flow control process for controlling cell transmission from a terminal in accordance with a frame sent from the network, and an array of cells from the terminal for maintaining transfer quality in the network. 4. The processing flow trace processing system according to claim 3, wherein the processing flow trace processing system comprises processing of usage parameter control including reshading processing. 5. The cell according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of types of cells include at least a cell used for maintenance only within the own device and a cell transmitted to the network. Processing flow trace processing system.