JP2000341287A - Communication management method and communication management device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To always maintain a network communication load at an appropriate level so that a line is not occupied by execution of some data communication tasks. SOLUTION: The amount of communication data per unit time by all data communication tasks transmitting and receiving data using a network is calculated. Next, the communication load of the network is determined from the communication data amount per unit time. As a result, when it is determined that the communication load of the network is large, the suspension time when performing one-step data transmission and reception in each data communication task is adjusted to be long, and it is determined that the communication load of the network is small. If so, the suspension time is adjusted to be shorter.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication management method and a communication management apparatus for a computer device having a task of transmitting and receiving data to and from a partner computer device via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in the convenience industry, which is one type of distribution and retail business, each chain store has a POS (Point Of Point).
Sales: A point-of-sale information system), a host computer is installed at the headquarters that supervises each chain store, and the store computer, which is the upper controller of each POS system, is connected to the host computer via a dedicated line. The headquarters can centrally manage sales and orders at each chain store. In recent years, data communication opportunities between each store and the headquarters have increased due to an increase in management items at the headquarters, etc. , The communication load on the network is increasing. On the other hand, the line capacity of the network is limited. For this reason, if multiple data communication tasks that send and receive large amounts of data are executed at the same time,
These tasks occupy a network line, and even if a task of transmitting highly important data is activated during this time, the data may not be transmitted smoothly.

[0003]

As described above, in the related art, the execution of some data communication tasks occupies a network line with a partner computer device, which hinders the communication of highly important data. There was a fear.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication management method capable of always maintaining a communication load of a network at an appropriate level so that a line is not occupied by execution of a part of data communication business. Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication management apparatus which can prevent a line from being occupied by executing some data communication tasks, and can always maintain a network communication load at an appropriate level.

[0005]

The invention according to claim 1 of the present application is a communication management method for a computer device capable of simultaneously executing a plurality of data communication tasks via a network. Calculates the amount of communication data per unit time by all data communication services that are transmitting and receiving data. Next, the communication load of the network is determined from the communication data amount per unit time. As a result, when it is determined that the communication load of the network is large, the suspension time when performing one-step data transmission and reception in each data communication task is adjusted to be long, and it is determined that the communication load of the network is small. If so, the suspension time is adjusted to be shorter. By repeating the above steps periodically, the communication load of the network is always made appropriate.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication management apparatus mounted on a computer device capable of simultaneously executing a plurality of data communication operations via a network, comprising: a storage unit, a calculation unit, a comparison unit, and a stop time. It has adjusting means. The storage unit stores the amount of communication data per unit time for every data communication task that transmits and receives data using the network. The calculating means calculates the total amount of communication data per unit time stored for each data communication task by the storage means. The comparing means is a comparing means for comparing the total amount of communication data calculated by the calculating means with a predetermined appropriate data amount. The suspension time adjusting means adjusts the suspension time when executing one-step data transmission / reception in each data communication operation when the total amount of communication data exceeds the appropriate data amount by the comparing means, and suspends when the total amount of communication data falls below the appropriate data amount. Adjust so that the time is shorter.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a host computer 2 is connected via a communication line 1 as shown in FIG.
Is a case where the communication management device 4 of the present invention is mounted on the store computer 3 of the store POS system connected to the network.

In FIG. 1, a communication line 1 is, for example, a TC
P / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet P
rotocol) is a dedicated line for a computer-to-computer network. The store computer 3 resides, for example, UNIX (trademark) as a multitasking OS (Operating System), and executes various data communication tasks for performing data transmission with the host computer 2 under the control of the OS. In addition, centralized control of a plurality of POS terminals 6 connected via the in-line line 5 is used to manage sales and inventory of each product in the store.

The communication management device 4 monitors the communication load of the communication line 1 based on the operation status of various data communication operations executed by the store computer 3, and the line is not occupied by executing some data communication operations. Thus, the operation of various data communication tasks is controlled.

FIG. 2 is a process configuration diagram of the communication management device 4. The communication management device 4 includes a communication library 41,
It comprises a communication management memory 42 and a communication management process 43. The communication library 41 executes various data communication tasks (applications) 32 mounted on the store computer 3 under the control of the OS 31 mounted on the store computer 3 to execute the OS 3
According to the system function provided from the communication line 1
And data transmission and reception via the.

Here, when data transmission occurs due to execution of the data communication service 32, the OS 31 firstly issues a system function [socketX] to instruct creation of a socket, as shown in FIG. I will provide a. This allows
System function [socketX] by communication library 41
Is executed to create a socket that serves as a communication terminal. Next, the system function [co
nnectX]. Thereby, the communication library 41
Executes a system function [connectX], and a connection between sockets is established between the store computer 3 and the host computer 2 via the communication line 1 to form a link. Next, data transmission is instructed. Provide a system function [sendX] to perform As a result, the system function [sendX] is executed by the communication library 41, and the data message is transmitted from the store computer 3 to the host computer 2 via the communication line 1. Since the data capacity per message is limited, data that cannot be transmitted in one message is divided into a plurality of steps and transmitted. In this case, the system function [ sendX]. When data transmission is completed in this way, finally, a system function [closeX] for instructing closing of the socket is provided. As a result, the communication library 41 uses the system function [close
X] is executed and the socket is closed.

On the other hand, when data is received by execution of the data communication service 32, the OS 31
As shown in (b), first, a system function [socketX] for instructing creation of a socket is provided. As a result, a socket is created. Next, a system function [bindX] for instructing to lock the line is provided. As a result, the system function [bindX] is executed by the communication library 41, and the communication line 1 between the store computer 3 and the host computer 2 is restricted. Next, the system function [listenX] for specifying a queue I will provide a. As a result, the system function [listenX] is executed by the communication library 41, and the queue in the restricted line is specified. Therefore, the system function [acceptX] for instructing to wait for a connect request is provided. As a result, the system function [acceptX] is executed by the communication library 41, and the connection library waits. When a link with the host computer 2 is established, a system function [recvX] for instructing data reception is provided. As a result, the communication library 41 uses the system function [recv
X] is executed, and the data message transmitted from the host computer 2 via the communication line 1 is received. In addition,
In the case of data that cannot be received in one message, the system function [recvX] is provided each time one message is received. When data reception is completed in this way, finally, a system function [closeX] for instructing closing of the socket is provided to close the socket.

The communication library 41 includes, among the system functions, [socketX], [sendX],
Each time [recvX] and [closeX] are provided, the communication management shared memory 42 is automatically accessed. FIG. 3 shows a record format of the communication management shared memory 42. In the figure, the item “number” is a record number unique to the record. The item “use” is a flag (1 :) for identifying whether the record is in use or unused.
In use, 0: unused). The item “PID” is a program ID code of the data communication service 32 managed by the record. The item “socket number” is a socket number used in the data communication service 32 managed by the record. The item “transmission amount” is the number of bytes of data transmitted in the data communication service 32 managed by the record. The item “reception amount” is the number of bytes of data received by the data communication service 32 managed by the record. The item “sleep time” is a pause time (in milliseconds) when data transmission / reception of one step is executed in the data communication task 32 managed by the record.

That is, the communication library 41
When the system function [socketX] is provided from S31, as shown in FIG. 5, first, as ST1, one unused record (the flag of the item "use" = 0) is secured from the communication management shared memory 42. Next, as ST2, the program ID code of the data communication service 42 to be executed is acquired from the OS 31, and the item “PI
D ". Next, a system function [socketX] is executed as ST3 to create a socket. And
If the socket has been successfully created as ST4, ST
As 5, the number of the created socket is set in the item "socket number" of the secured record. ST
As 6, the flag “in use” = 1 is set in the item “use” of the same record. On the other hand, if the socket cannot be created normally in ST4, the unused record secured in ST7 is released.

The communication library 41 is an OS3
When the system function [sendX] is provided by
As shown in FIG. 1, first, a system function [send
X] to transmit data. If the data has been successfully transmitted in ST2, the program ID code of the data communication service 42 to be executed is obtained in ST3, the number of the socket to which the data was transmitted is obtained, and the program ID code and the socket number are obtained. Is used as a search key to search the communication management shared memory 42. If a record in which the item “PID” and the item “socket number” match the search key is detected in ST4, the number of bytes of data transmitted in the current step in the item “transmission amount” of the record is determined in ST5. Is added.
Thereafter, the operation is temporarily stopped for the time set in the item "sleep time" of the corresponding record in ST6.

The communication library 41 is an OS3
7, when the system function [recvX] is provided from ST1, as shown in FIG.
X] to receive data. Then, if the data has been normally received in ST2, the program ID code of the data communication service 42 to be executed is obtained as well as the number of the socket to which the data was transmitted in ST3, and the program ID code and the socket number are obtained. Is used as a search key to search the communication management shared memory 42. If a record in which the item "PID" and the item "socket number" match the search key is detected in ST4, the number of bytes of data transmitted in the current step in the item "reception amount" of the record is determined in ST5. Is added.
Thereafter, the operation is temporarily stopped for the time set in the item "sleep time" of the corresponding record in ST6.

Further, the communication library 41 is an OS 3
When the system function [closeX] is provided from FIG.
First, as ST1, the program ID code of the data communication service 42 to be executed is acquired, the number of the socket used is acquired, and the program ID code and the socket number are used as search keys to obtain the communication management shared memory. Search for 42. If a record in which the item "PID" and the item "socket number" match the search key is detected in ST2, a flag = 0 indicating unused is set in the item "use" of the record in ST3. Then, the system function [closeX] is executed to close the socket.

The communication management process 43 repeatedly executes the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 in response to an interrupt signal input every time a predetermined time (for example, one second) is counted from a timer (not shown). ing. That is, when there is an interrupt from the timer, the communication management process 43
As 1, all in-use records (the flag of the item “use” = 1) are extracted from the communication management shared memory 42, and the data (the number of bytes) of the items “transmission amount” and “reception amount” of the extracted record are extracted. By adding all of them, the total number A of transmitted / received bytes per fixed time is calculated.

Next, as ST2, the total number A of transmitted / received bytes per fixed time is compared with a preset ideal number B of bytes. Here, the ideal byte number B is set as the ideal byte number B by calculating about 80% of the maximum line capacity per unit time in order to give a margin to the line capacity of the communication line 1.

If the total number of transmitted / received bytes A exceeds the ideal number of bytes B in ST2, the communication load on the communication line 1 is in a high load state. Time T (sleep time)
In order to lengthen, the calculation of the following equation (1) is executed. T = (A ÷ B) × T (1) If the total number of transmitted / received bytes A does not exceed the ideal number of bytes B in ST2, the communication load of the communication line 1 is in a low load state, so one step is performed in ST4. In order to shorten the pause time T (sleep time) when the data transmission / reception is executed, the following equation (2) is calculated. T = (1− (A ÷ B)) × T (2) In ST3 and ST4, if the calculated value falls below 1.0 ms, the pause time T = 1.0 ms is set. Set.

When the new pause time T is calculated in ST3 or ST4, the item "sleep time" of the in-use record on the communication management shared memory 42 is used as ST5.
Is updated to the above pause time T. Thereafter, if the values of the items “transmission amount” and “reception amount” of the in-use record are initialized to “0”, the current timer interrupt processing is terminated.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when one of the data communication services 32 is activated in the store computer 3, a record for the data communication service 32 is secured in the communication management shared memory 42. And
In this record, the data amount (byte) transmitted or received by execution of the data communication service 32 is accumulated and stored. However, since this data amount is cleared in the processing of the communication management process 43 that is periodically executed, the communication data amount stored and managed in the communication management memory 42 corresponds to the execution interval of the communication management process 43. The amount of communication data per unit time [bytes / second].

When the communication management process 43 is executed, the communication data amount of the record currently used, that is, the record corresponding to the data communication service 32 being executed among the records stored and managed in the communication management memory 42 is executed. Are added. As a result, the communication data amount A per unit time by all data communication services 32 transmitting and receiving data using the communication line 1 is calculated. Next, the communication line 1 is determined by comparing the communication data amount A with a preset ideal value B.
Is determined. For example, the maximum line capacity of the communication line 1 is 64 Kbyte / sec, and the ideal value B is set to about 80
Suppose that it is set to 50 Kbyte / sec. Then, when the communication data amount A exceeds the ideal value B, that is, the total number of transmission / reception data bytes per unit time is 50 Kbyt.
If e / sec is exceeded, it is determined that the communication load is high, and a pause time (sleep time) when performing one-step data transmission / reception in each data communication service 32
Is adjusted to be longer. On the other hand, when the communication data amount A does not exceed the ideal value B, that is, when the total number of transmitted and received data bytes per unit time does not exceed 50 Kbyte / sec, it is determined that the communication load is low, and In the data communication service 32, adjustment is made so that the temporary stop time (sleep time) when performing one-step data transmission / reception is reduced.

Therefore, when the amount of data transmitted / received via the communication line 1 is large and the communication load is high, the pause time when one-step data transmission / reception is executed in each data communication service 32 is extended. Since the automatic adjustment is performed, the communication load is reduced. As a result, since the line is not occupied by a part of the data communication service 32, even if a data communication service of high importance occurs, the data communication can be performed smoothly.

When the amount of data transmitted / received via the communication line 1 is small and the communication load is low, the pause time when executing one-step data transmission / reception in each data communication service 32 is shortened. Since the automatic adjustment is performed, the communication load increases. As a result, unnecessary stoppage time is reduced, and communication efficiency is improved.

Further, by displaying the contents of each record stored and managed in the communication management shared memory 42, for example, on a display, there is an advantage that the status of data communication using the communication line 1 can be confirmed in a timely manner.

In the embodiment, the communication line 1
Although the ideal byte number B for giving a margin to the line capacity is set to about 80% of the maximum line capacity, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this value.

[0028]

As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the communication load of the network is always maintained at an appropriate level so that the line is not occupied by the execution of some data communication services. And a communication management method capable of improving communication efficiency. According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a line from being occupied by executing a part of data communication business, to maintain a network communication load at an appropriate level at all times, and to enhance communication efficiency. A communication management device can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an overall configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram showing a process configuration of the communication management apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a view showing a record format of a communication management shared memory shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an OS when transmitting and receiving data in the embodiment.
4 is a flowchart for explaining a system function provided by the system.

5 is a flowchart showing a main part processing procedure when a system function [socketX] of the communication library shown in FIG. 2 is received.

Fig. 6 System function [sendX] of the communication library
5 is a flowchart showing a main part processing procedure at the time of reception.

Fig. 7 System function [recvX] of the same communication library
5 is a flowchart showing a main part processing procedure at the time of reception.

FIG. 8: System function [closeX] of the communication library
5 is a flowchart showing a main part processing procedure at the time of reception.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a main part of a timer interruption process executed by the communication management process shown in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication line 2 ... Host computer 3 ... Store computer 4 ... Communication management device 41 ... Communication library 42 ... Communication management memory 43 ... Communication management process

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F-term (reference)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A communication management method for a computer device capable of simultaneously executing a plurality of data communication tasks via a network, wherein the communication data per unit time by all data communication tasks transmitting and receiving data using the network. The communication load of the network is determined from the communication data amount per unit time, and when it is determined that the communication load of the network is large, one-step data transmission / reception is executed in each data communication business. A communication management method characterized in that, when it is determined that the communication load of the network is small, the suspension time is adjusted so that the suspension time becomes short. 2. A communication management apparatus mounted on a computer device capable of simultaneously executing a plurality of data communication tasks via a network, wherein a unit time is set for every data communication task transmitting and receiving data using the network. Storage means for storing the amount of communication data per unit; calculating means for calculating the total amount of communication data per unit time stored for each data communication operation by the storage means; and total amount of communication data calculated by the calculating means And a comparing means for comparing the communication data with the predetermined suitable data amount. When the communication data total amount exceeds the proper data amount, the comparing means temporarily compares the total amount of the communication data when performing one-step data transmission / reception in each data communication business. Adjust so that the stop time becomes longer, and if it falls below, adjust so that the pause time becomes shorter Communication management apparatus being characterized in that includes the stop time adjustment means.