JP2003008612A - Network interface device, network interface method, network interface method, network interface program, and recording medium recording network interface program - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To facilitate data transfer between computers connected to communication lines of different communication protocols. SOLUTION: A computer 10 is connected to an Ethernet (registered trademark) 105 and a control LAN 109, and uses a virtual address for identifying the computer 110 in the Ethernet.
The network interface device 106 that mediates data transmission from the computer 100 to the computer 110 receives the data and the virtual address from the computer 100.
04, the real address of the computer 110, and the virtual address are stored in association with each other, the virtual address and the data received by the Ethernet adapter 104 are input, the real address associated with the virtual address is detected, and the data is stored. A network interface function 108 for converting to a format of the control LAN 109, and a control L for transmitting data to the computer 110 using the converted data and the real address.
An AN adapter 107 is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to TCP / IP.
(Transmission Control Pro
non-TCP / I such as a network for control and a network for control.
The present invention relates to a network interface device and communication software (middleware) for transparently exchanging data between P networks.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a so-called FA (Factor Automation) system such as a factory production system, or in a so-called PA (Process Automation) system such as a water treatment plant or a chemical plant, various equipments used are controlled. In addition, a communication network (control LAN (Local Area Network)) using a dedicated communication protocol is used. This control LAN is a communication protocol (non-TCP / IP network) different from TCP / IP and Ethernet normally used in offices and the like.
Is.

On the other hand, applications such as factory production control and production planning are usually executed by office computers such as personal computers, workstations or general-purpose machines, and usually TCP / IP and Ethernet are used as communication protocols. There is.

In order to carry out production management and production planning operations, it is necessary to collect control site information, and as a result, control LAN (non-TCP / IP network) and TCP / IP.
A means for exchanging data with the network is required.

FIG. 15 shows, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-11659.
1 shows a conventional network interface device shown in "Network Interface Device". In the example of this figure, the computer 1501 connected to the Ethernet and the computer connected to the control LAN 1514 are connected by operating as follows. (1) The data transmitted from the computer 1501 connected to the Ethernet is the network interface device 15
When it reaches 00, an interrupt is generated from the Ethernet controller. (2) When the interrupt reason is the reception interrupt, the Ethernet side reception buffer 150 is stored in the downlink queue 1512.
Queuing the pointer to 5. Further, the downlink frame conversion task 1510 is activated from the scheduler 1509. (3) The downlink frame conversion task 1510 first
The downlink queue 1512 is searched, and if there is data, a frame conversion process for converting the received data stored in the Ethernet reception buffer 1505 from the Ethernet frame to the control LAN frame is performed according to the queued order. (4) Next, the downlink frame conversion task 1510
The converted data is sent to the control LAN side transmission buffer 1506.
Request the data transmission to the control LAN controller.

[0006]

In a network using TCP / IP and Ethernet, position information of a connected computer is uniquely identified, and an IP address and a MAC (Media) are used as address information for transferring data.
a Access Control) address. On the other hand, the control LAN has an address system unique to the control LAN.

For example, in the case of a control LAN that realizes an inter-sequencer network, a network number for identifying a network to which a control device (sequencer) belongs and a unique control device for uniquely identifying each control device in the network to which the control device belongs. An address is composed of a set of station numbers.

In addition, a network that normally uses Ethernet uses TCP / IP as an upper communication protocol at the same time, and an application operating on a computer has an Ethernet level (OSI (Open Sys).
tems Interconnection) communication layer, which corresponds to the data link layer)
P (Internet Protocol) level (O
In the SI communication layer, programming is performed by considering only the address of the network layer).

However, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-116
In the example of the 591 “network interface device”,
Although it converts the data structure at the Ethernet level (in the OSI communication layer, the data link layer level), it does not have the function of converting the difference in address system at the data link layer level. Therefore, for example, a computer connected to the Ethernet is conscious of the address information on the control LAN assigned to the computer on the control LAN to be communicated,
It is necessary to send the address information corresponding thereto to the network interface device. Therefore, a function (software or hardware) for adding address system information for each control LAN is required, and there is a problem that expandability of the application is limited.

Further, since the conversion of the address system at the network layer level is not considered, the application on the computer connected to the Ethernet is controlled by the control LA.
It is necessary to develop software in consideration of the N network layer level address system and the address of the communication target computer, and since position transparency cannot be guaranteed, there is a problem in that application productivity is poor.

An object of the present invention is to provide an environment in which an application on a computer connected to an Ethernet and an application on a computer connected to a control LAN can communicate without being aware of each other's address system. . This makes it possible to develop software with excellent expandability and position transparency, and to improve productivity.

[0012]

A network interface device according to the present invention comprises a communication line of a first communication protocol for connecting a first information processing terminal with a first communication protocol, and the first communication protocol. Is connected to a communication line of a second communication protocol that connects the second information processing terminal with a different second communication protocol, and the first information processing terminal transmits data to the second information processing terminal In the network interface device that mediates that, a virtual address for identifying the second information processing terminal in the first communication protocol, and a real address for identifying the second information processing terminal in the second communication protocol And a virtual address management table that associates the virtual address with the real address and the first communication protocol. Then, the communication unit that receives the virtual address and the data from the first information processing terminal, and the virtual address and the data received by the communication unit are input, and using the input virtual address, the virtual address A control table is searched, a real address associated with the virtual address is detected, a control unit that outputs the detected real address and the input data, and the real address and the data are input from the control unit, The input data is converted into a format used by the second communication protocol, and a data routing unit that outputs the converted data and the real address is provided, and the communication unit converts the converted data and the real address. Input from the data routing section above,
The converted data is transmitted to the real address via the second communication protocol.

The above network interface device is
The communication unit has an interface address corresponding to the first communication protocol, the communication unit receives the virtual address from the first information processing terminal, outputs the received virtual address to the control unit, and the control unit The virtual address is input from the communication unit, the virtual address management table is searched using the input virtual address, and when it is detected that the virtual address is stored in the virtual address management table, the It is characterized in that the interface address is notified to one information processing terminal and a connection between the first information processing terminal and the communication line is established using the interface address.

The first communication protocol is TCP / IP (TCP / IP), the second communication protocol is a unique protocol having a unique address system, and the data routing is The section is characterized in that the data and the real address are converted into a format corresponding to the unique protocol.

The communication unit receives the virtual address from the first information processing terminal, outputs the received virtual address to the control unit, and the control unit inputs the virtual address from the communication unit, When the virtual address management table is searched using the input virtual address and it is detected that the virtual address is stored in the virtual address management table, the real address corresponding to the virtual address is acquired and acquired. The connection between the second information processing terminal and the communication line is established using the real address described above.

The first communication protocol is a unique protocol having a unique address system, and the second communication protocol is a TPC / IP (T) protocol.
CP / IP), and the data routing unit converts the data and the real address into a format corresponding to the TPC / IP.

The above network interface device is
MAC (Media Access Control)
l) A feature of establishing a connection between an information processing terminal connected to a communication line of a TCP / IP communication protocol and a communication line using an address.

The virtual address management table identifies the second virtual address for identifying the first information processing terminal in the second communication protocol and the first information processing terminal in the first communication protocol. Storing a second real address, associating the second virtual address with the second real address, and the communication unit, via the second communication protocol, the second virtual address and the data Received from the second information processing terminal, the control unit inputs the second virtual address and data received by the communication unit,
The virtual address management table is searched using the input second virtual address, the second real address associated with the second virtual address is detected, and the detected second real address and the input data are output. The control unit and the data routing input the second real address and the data from the control unit, convert the input data into a format used by the first communication protocol, and convert the converted data and the first data. Output the two real addresses to the communication unit,
The communication unit inputs the converted data and the second real address from the data routing unit, and transmits the converted data to the second real address via the first communication protocol. And

The data routing unit is characterized by converting at least a data transmission / reception sequence and a data length into a data transmission / reception sequence and a data length of a communication protocol to be transmitted.

The first communication protocol executes either multicast communication or broadcast communication, and the virtual address management table stores an identifier corresponding to either the multicast communication or the broadcast communication, Corresponding to the identifier and the virtual address, the communication unit receives the identifier and data from the first information processing terminal via the first communication protocol, the control unit, the communication unit The received identifier and data are input, the virtual address management table is searched using the input identifier, the real address associated with the identifier is detected, and the detected real address and the input data are output. It is characterized by

The virtual address management device further stores path information for specifying a place where the data of the second information processing terminal is stored and access information for accessing the path information, The communication unit receives, via the first communication protocol, the path information and an access command for accessing data using the path information from the first information processing terminal. Input the information and the access command, search the virtual memory management table using the path information to obtain access information corresponding to the path information, and output the obtained access information to the data routing unit, The data routing unit inputs the access command and the access information, and based on the input access command and access information. There are, characterized in that access to said second information processing terminal.

A network interface device according to the present invention comprises a communication line of a first communication protocol for connecting a first information processing terminal with a first communication protocol, and a second communication different from the first communication protocol. It is connected to the communication line of the second communication protocol that connects the second information processing terminal with the protocol, and mediates the transmission of data between the first information processing terminal and the second information processing terminal. In the network interface device, the first information processing terminal mediates transmission of data from the first information processing terminal to the second information processing terminal, and the second information processing terminal transmits the first information. A second intermediary unit for intermediating transmission of data to the processing terminal, wherein the first intermediary unit is the second information processing terminal in the first communication protocol. Stores a virtual address of the second information processing terminal for identifying the second information processing terminal and a real address of the second information processing terminal for identifying the second information processing terminal in the second communication protocol, and stores the second information. A first virtual address management table that associates a virtual address of a processing terminal with a real address of the second information processing terminal, and a virtual address of the second information processing terminal via the first communication protocol. A first communication unit that receives data from the first information processing terminal, and a virtual address and data of the second information processing terminal received by the first communication unit are input, and the input second Using the virtual address of the information processing terminal, the virtual address management table is searched, the real address of the second information processing terminal associated with the virtual address of the second information processing terminal is detected, and the detected second of A first controller for outputting the data input and real address of the multicast processing terminal,
The real address of the second information processing terminal and the data are input from the first control unit, the input data is converted into a format used by the second communication protocol, and the converted data and the second data are input. And a first data routing unit that outputs the real address of the information processing terminal of the first data communication unit, and the first communication unit includes the converted data and the real address of the second information processing terminal as the first data. Input from the routing unit, via the second communication protocol, the converted data is transmitted to the real address of the first information processing terminal, the second intermediary unit, in the second communication protocol A virtual address of the first information processing terminal for identifying the first information processing terminal, and a first information processing terminal for identifying the first information processing terminal in the first communication protocol A second virtual address management table that stores the real address and associates the virtual address of the first information processing terminal with the real address of the first information processing terminal, and via the second communication protocol A second communication unit that receives the virtual address and data of the first information processing terminal from the second information processing terminal, and a virtual address of the first information processing terminal received by the second communication unit And the data, and using the virtual address of the input first information processing terminal, search the virtual address management table,
Second control for detecting the real address of the first information processing terminal associated with the virtual address of the first information processing terminal and outputting the detected real address of the first information processing terminal and the input data Section, the real address of the first information processing terminal and the data from the second control unit is input, the input data is converted into a format used by the first communication protocol, and the converted data A first data routing unit for outputting the real address of the first information processing terminal, and the second communication unit for converting the converted data and the real address of the first information processing terminal into the first data routing unit. The data is input from the second data routing unit, and the converted data is transmitted to the real address of the first information processing terminal via the first communication protocol.

The first intermediary section and the second intermediary section are constituted by independent hardware, and the independent hardware is connected by using a bus.

The first communication protocol is TCP / IP (TCP / IP), and the second communication protocol is a unique protocol having a unique address system. The intermediary unit of is a plurality of second intermediary units corresponding to each of a plurality of unique protocols.

A network interface system according to the present invention includes a first information processing terminal connected to a communication line of a first communication protocol and a communication line of a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol. A second information processing terminal connected, a network interface device connected to the communication line of the first communication protocol and the communication line of the second communication protocol,
In the network interface system that mediates transmission of data from the first information processing terminal to the second information processing terminal via the network interface device, the second information processing terminal may be the first information processing terminal. Having a virtual address corresponding to a communication protocol and a real address corresponding to the second communication protocol, the first information processing terminal transmits the virtual address and data to the network interface device, and the network The interface device has the above real address,
A virtual address management table that stores the virtual address and associates the real address with the virtual address, and the virtual address and data from the first information processing terminal via the first communication protocol. The communication unit to be received and the virtual address and data received by the communication unit are input, the virtual address management table is searched using the input virtual address, and the real address associated with the virtual address is detected. A control unit for outputting the detected real address and the input data, and inputting the real address and the data from the control unit, converting the input data into a format used by the second communication protocol, The communication unit includes a data routing unit that outputs the converted data and the real address, and the communication unit includes the converted data and the real address. Is input from the data routing unit, the converted data is transmitted to the real address via the second communication protocol, and the second information processing device converts the conversion from the communication unit of the network interface device. It is characterized in that the received data is received.

A network interface method according to the present invention provides a first information processing terminal connected to a communication line of a first communication protocol and a communication line of a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol. A second information processing terminal to be connected, a network interface device connected to the communication line of the first communication protocol and the communication line of the second communication protocol, via the network interface device, In the network interface method for mediating transmission of data from the first information processing terminal to the second information processing device, the first information processing terminal is assigned to the second information processing terminal. A virtual address corresponding to one communication protocol is acquired, and the virtual address and data are transferred to the network. The network interface device stores the virtual address, a real address corresponding to the second communication protocol, and a virtual address correspondence that associates the real address with the virtual address, Via the first communication protocol, the virtual address and data are received from the first information processing terminal, the received virtual address is used to search for the stored virtual address correspondence, and the virtual address is stored in the virtual address. Detects the real address associated with
The received data is converted into a format used by the second communication protocol, the converted data is transmitted to the real address via the second communication protocol, and the second information processing device is the network. It is characterized in that the converted data is received from the interface device.

A network interface program according to the present invention includes a communication line of a first communication protocol to which a first information processing terminal is connected by a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol. The second information processing terminal is connected to the communication line of the second communication protocol by the communication protocol, and mediates that the first information processing terminal transmits data to the second information processing terminal. In a network interface program that realizes processing on a computer, a virtual address that identifies the second information processing terminal in the first communication protocol and a real address that identifies the second information processing terminal in the second communication protocol. A process of storing the address in the virtual address management table and associating the virtual address with the real address; A communication process for receiving the virtual address and the data from the first information processing terminal via the first communication protocol, and the virtual address and the data received by the communication process are input, and the input virtual address Using the above, the virtual address management table is searched, the real address associated with the virtual address is detected, and the detected real address and the input data are output, and the real address is output from the control process. A data routing process of inputting the data, converting the input data into a format used by the second communication protocol, and outputting the converted data and the real address,
It is characterized by comprising a transmission process of inputting the data converted by the data routing process and the real address and transmitting the converted data to the real address via the second communication protocol.

A recording medium recording a network interface program according to the present invention includes a communication line of a first communication protocol to which a first information processing terminal is connected by a first communication protocol, and the first communication protocol. Is connected to the communication line of the second communication protocol to which the second information processing terminal is connected by a different second communication protocol,
In a computer-readable recording medium having a network interface program for realizing a process of mediating transmission of data by the first information processing terminal to the second information processing terminal, the first communication A virtual address for identifying the second information processing terminal in the protocol and a real address for identifying the second information processing terminal in the second communication protocol are stored in a virtual address management table, and the virtual address and the virtual address are stored in the virtual address management table. A process of associating a real address, a communication process of receiving the virtual address and data from the first information processing terminal via the first communication protocol, and a virtual address and data received by the communication process. Enter and search the above virtual address management table using the entered virtual address,
A control process of detecting a real address associated with the virtual address, outputting the detected real address and the input data, and inputting the real address and the data from the control process, A data routing process of converting to a format used by a second communication protocol, outputting the converted data and the real address, and inputting the data converted by the data routing process and the real address, the second communication And a transmission process for transmitting the converted data to the real address via a protocol.

[0029]

1 is a diagram showing the basic configuration of a network interface system according to the present invention.
In the figure, the computer 100 is connected to the Ethernet 105, and the computer 110 is connected to the control LAN 109. The network interface device 106 according to the present invention is configured to be simultaneously connected to the Ethernet 105 and the control LAN 109.

Further, the network interface device 1
Reference numeral 06 includes an Ethernet adapter 104 that executes communication using the Ethernet 105, a control LAN adapter 107 that executes communication using the control LAN 109, and a network interface function 108. Ethernet adapter 104 and control LAN adapter 107
Together with, it is also called a communication unit. The communication unit transmits / receives data to / from a communication line that uses two or more different communication protocols. In addition, the network interface function 108
Includes a control unit for associating a virtual address with a real address, and a data routing unit for converting a data format.

Computer 1 connected to Ethernet 105
00 is an Ethernet adapter 104 that is hardware for performing communication using Ethernet, and an OS (Operating S) implemented by software.
system) 101, TCP / IP and related protocols 102, and applications 103.
Here, the related protocol is an ARP (Address) that resolves the correspondence between the IP address and the MAC address.
TCP (Resolution Protocol)
/ IP is a communication protocol that is supplementarily required when executing communication using IP.

Computer 11 connected to control LAN 109
Reference numeral 0 denotes a control LAN adapter 107, which is hardware for performing communication using the control LAN 109, an OS 101 realized by software, and a control LAN communication S.
/ W111 and an application 112.

Here, the computer 100 connected to the Ethernet 105 and the computer 110 connected to the control LAN 109 are different in the target business (the computer 110 is
The control is mainly performed, and the computer 100 mainly performs the information processing. However, the OS 10 of the computer 100
1 and the OS 101 of the computer 110 are usually different types of OS depending on the presence / absence of real-time property, but since they are functionally equivalent (basic software for managing the resources of the computer), the same numbers are assigned. is there.

Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram when the network interface function 108 of the network interface device 106 is realized by software.

Network interface function 108
OS 101, TCP / IP and related protocols 10
2, ARP 201, control LAN communication S / W 111, data routing S / W 200, and database 202 for managing address information. Where ARP
Although 201 is one of the communication protocols included in TCP / IP and related protocols, it is specified in particular because it is necessary in the description of the operation. TCP / IP and related protocol 102, ARP 201, control LAN communication S / W
Reference numeral 111 corresponds to a control unit of the network interface function 108. The data routing S / W 200 is
It corresponds to the data routing unit of the network interface function 108.

Further, FIGS. 3 and 4 show tables for managing the information referred to by the ARP 201 and the data routing S / W 200. Address information management table 300 and virtual I
The P address management table 400 and the virtual control LAN address management table 401 are tables included in the database 202.

The address information management table 300 of the network interface device 106 manages communication related address information in the network interface device 106. Specifically, a MAC (Media Access Controller) assigned to the Ethernet adapter 104 of the network interface device 106.
ol) address 300a, IP address 300b, and control LAN address 300c which is address information in the control LAN.

Further, the virtual IP address management table 400 is
An IP address 400b virtually assigned to the computer 110 connected to the control LAN 109 and an actual address in the control LAN (address configuration depends on the address system of the control LAN) 400a. The virtual control LAN address management table 401 includes a real IP address 401a on the Ethernet and a virtual control LAN address 40
1b and. The virtual IP address management table 400 and the virtual control LAN address management table 401 are collectively referred to as a virtual address management table.

Here, a virtual IP address is assigned to the computer 110 connected to the control LAN 109 according to some rule at an arbitrary timing such as when the system is designed or when the system is started up, and control L of those computers is set.
It is assumed that the address is stored in the virtual IP address management table 400 in combination with the address on the AN 109. The virtual IP address is a virtual IP
It is assumed that it is stored in the address management table 400.

The function of the control unit included in the network interface function 108 is the TCP in this embodiment.
/ IP and related protocol 102, ARP 201, and control LAN communication S / W 111. Also,
The data routing unit is a data routing S / W2
It is realized by 00.

Control unit (TCP / IP and related protocol 102, ARP 201 and control LAN communication S / W 111)
One of the) is a communication unit (Ethernet adapter 10
4. Input the virtual address and data received by the control LAN adapter 107). The virtual address is a virtual address assigned to an information processing terminal connected to a different communication protocol. The control unit searches the virtual address management table by using the input virtual address, detects the real address associated with the virtual address, and outputs the detected real address and the input data to the data routing unit. . The data routing unit (data routing S / W function 200) inputs the real address and the data from the control unit, and converts the input data into a format used by the communication protocol of the real address.

Next, from the application 103 on the computer 100 connected to the Ethernet 105, the control LA
The operation in the case of starting communication and executing the business toward the application 112 on the computer 110 connected to N109 will be described.

Data transfer is performed by (1) as shown in FIG.
IP connection establishment phase (S501) and (2)
The data transmission / reception phase (S502) can be divided into two phases.

First, the operation procedure of the IP connection establishment phase will be described.

When the application 103 of the computer 100 communicates with the application 112 of the computer 110 to perform business, it is necessary to first establish an IP connection. At that time, since it is necessary to know the address at the Ethernet level (data link level of the OSI communication layer), the TCP / IP and the related protocol 102 of the computer 100 broadcast the ARP request packet to the Ethernet 105. The ARP request packet contains the IP address of the computer to be transmitted.

Upon receiving the ARP request packet transmitted from the computer 100, the ARP 201 of the network interface device 106 receives the virtual I of the database 202.
The P address management table 400 is checked, and the target IP address is I managed by the virtual IP address management table 400.
When it matches with the P address (that is, the IP address virtually assigned to the computer 110 connected to the control LAN 109), the MAC address given to the Ethernet adapter 104 of the address information management table 300 by the ARP response packet. Send back 300a.

Computer 1 that received the ARP response packet
00 is the computer 1 connected to the control LAN 109 thereafter.
For data transmission to 10, the MAC address received in the ARP response packet is recognized as the MAC address of the computer and data is transmitted.

Next, the data transmission / reception phase will be described.

Computer 1 connected to Ethernet 105
00 to computer 110 connected to control LAN 109
When the data is transmitted to the computer, the data transmitted from the computer 100 includes the MAC address of the network interface device 106 as the destination MAC address,
As the destination IP address, the data transmission target computer 110
And an IP address virtually assigned to.

The network interface device 106 that has received the above data performs the following operation to deliver the data to the destination computer 110.

That is, the Ethernet adapter 104 is
The IP level data (IP packet) is extracted from the received data, and the TCP / IP and related protocol 102 are requested to process the data. In TCP / IP and related protocol 102, first, the destination IP address is extracted from the IP packet. Next, the database 202
Search the virtual IP address management table 400 managed by
The real address on the control LAN corresponding to the extracted IP packet is extracted. Then, the extracted real address on the control LAN and the TCP data part in the IP packet are passed to the data routing S / W 200 to request processing.

The data routing S / W 200 creates a valid data structure in the control LAN based on the received TCP data part and the real address on the control LAN. Specifically, the data routing S / W 200 performs data structure conversion at the Ethernet level (data link layer level of the OSI layer) and TCP / IP level (transport layer and network layer level). Next, the data routing S / W 200 transmits data to the target computer 110 through the control LAN communication S / W 111.

At this time, the source information included in the data to be transmitted to the computer 110 includes the address information management table 30 as the source address.
The control LAN address of the network interface device 106 managed by 0 is designated.

The above is the control LA from the Ethernet 105.
It is an explanation of the interface to N109. Next, an interface from the control LAN 109 to the Ethernet 105 will be described.

Since the control LAN 109 has no international standard and the address system differs depending on the implementation method (product),
Here, this embodiment will be described by using an arbitrary address system as an example. In FIG. 1, the control LAN 1
It is premised that the computer 110 connected to the server 09 has an address having a combination of a network number and a computer number.

In each computer 110 connected to the control LAN 109, if the destination address cannot be resolved, the control LAN address of the network interface device 106, which is the default computer number for requesting data transfer, is preset. And If the destination address cannot be resolved, the computer 110 sets the computer 100
When the destination cannot be determined as a result of the analysis of the virtual control LAN address assigned to. In such a case, the computer 110 transmits data to the network interface device 106.

A flow of processing when data is transferred from the computer connected to the control LAN 109 to the computer 100 connected to the Ethernet 105 is shown.

Computer 11 connected to control LAN 109
The data transmitted from 0 is received by the control LAN adapter 107 of the network interface device 106. The data includes the virtual control LAN address assigned to the computer 100. Further, the data is passed to the control LAN communication S / W 111.

The control LAN communication S / W 111 takes out the destination control LAN address specified in the data,
Virtual control LAN of virtual control LAN address management table 401
The address 401b is searched. When the corresponding virtual control LAN address is found in the virtual control LAN address management table 401, the data routing S / W 200 is requested to transfer the data.

Here, the computer 100 on the Ethernet which transfers data from the computer 110 on the control LAN,
A virtual control LAN address is assigned at any time, such as when designing the system or starting up the system.
It is assumed that it is registered in the virtual control LAN address management table 401.

The data routing S / W 200 first establishes an IP connection with the computer 100 on the corresponding Ethernet based on the information of the real IP address 401a on the Ethernet in the corresponding table of the virtual control LAN address management table 401. Establish. In addition, the data routing S / W 200 sends the input data to TCP / IP.
Convert to a data structure that corresponds to the communication protocol of.

After establishing the IP connection, the data routing S / W 200 transfers the previously received data to the computer 100 on the destination Ethernet.

In this way, Ethernet (and TCP /
An application on a computer that is used in a so-called information system connected to IP) can control the information collecting destination control LAN even if the connection target is connected to the control LAN.
Since it is possible to create a program without paying attention to the address system of, the development efficiency is improved.

As described above, the network interface device according to this embodiment uses the Ethernet (and TCP
/ IP) and a computer connected by a communication protocol other than Ethernet (hereinafter referred to as a control LAN) are interconnected with the following functions (from Ethernet to control LAN) Interface). (1) A database function for assigning a virtual IP address to a computer connected to the control LAN and managing the relationship between the assigned IP address and address information in the address system of the control LAN. (2) Address resolution protocol (ARP) issued from a computer connected to Ethernet (and TCP / IP)
In contrast, the IP address to be resolved is (1) above
If it is a virtual IP address managed by
Proxy ARP function that returns a response with the MAC address of the Ethernet adapter on the network interface device side. (3) Control LAN from a computer connected to Ethernet
The destination address is searched for the data transmitted to the computer connected to the computer, the address mapping with the address of the corresponding control LAN is performed, and the data at the Ethernet level (data link layer level of the OSI layer) A data transfer function that performs structure conversion and data structure conversion at the TCP / IP level (transport layer and network layer level).

The network interface device of this embodiment is an Ethernet (and TCP / IP)
The following functions are provided in the interconnection between the computer connected to the computer and the computer connected to the control LAN (in the case of the interface from the control LAN to the Ethernet). (1) A database function for assigning a virtual control LAN address to a computer connected to Ethernet (and TCP / IP) and managing the relationship between the assigned control LAN address and IP address information. (2) The destination address is searched for the data transmitted from the computer connected to the control LAN to the computer connected to the Ethernet (and TCP / IP), and the address mapping with the corresponding IP address is performed. Further, a data transfer function for performing data structure conversion at the Ethernet level (data link layer level of the OSI layer) and TCP / IP level (transport layer and network layer level).

The network interface device of this embodiment manages a database holding a correspondence relationship between Ethernet (and TCP / IP) addresses and control LAN addresses in one correspondence table, and performs all the functions described above by software. Will be realized in.

The network interface device of this embodiment is an Ethernet (and TCP / IP)
When a computer connected to the computer and a computer connected to the control LAN communicate with each other, it has a communication protocol conversion function that converts (maps) different communication protocols (data transmission / reception sequence, data length, etc.) in each network. .

Embodiment 2. In FIG. 6, the network interface function 108 of the network interface device 106 is implemented by separate hardware of an Ethernet (and TCP / IP) processing module (first intermediary unit) 600 and a control LAN processing module (second intermediary unit) 601. The block diagram of embodiment (For example, the PCI bus Ethernet processing board and control LAN processing board in a PC / AT compatible machine) which implement | achieves and cooperates both with an internal bus or an expansion bus is shown.

However, although only one control LAN processing module 601 is shown in the figure, a plurality of control LAN processing modules having different communication protocols may be connected by an internal bus.

The Ethernet (and TCP / IP) processing module 600 includes an OS 101, TCP / IP and related protocols 102, ARP 201, and transfer S / W (1) 6.
02, an ARP 201, and a database 604 that manages information referred to by the transfer S / W (1) 602. Here, as in the first embodiment, the ARP 201
It is one of the communication protocols included in TCP / IP and related protocols.
It is clearly stated.

The control LAN processing module 601
OS 101, control LAN communication S / W 113, transfer S
/ W (2) 603 and a database 605 that manages information referred to by the transfer S / W (2) 603.
TCP / IP and related protocols 102, ARP 20
1. The control LAN communication S / W 113 realizes the function executed by the control unit of the network interface function 108. Transfer S / W (1) 602, Transfer S / W (2) 603
Realizes the function executed by the data routing unit of the network interface function 108. TCP / IP
The related protocol 102 and ARP 201 are also referred to as a first control unit, and the control LAN communication S / W 113 is also referred to as a first data routing unit. Also, control LAN communication S / W1
13 is also called a second control unit, and the transfer S / W (2) 603 is also called a second data routing unit.

Further, FIGS. 7 and 8 show tables included in the database 604 which manages the information referred to by the ARP 201 and the transfer S / W (1) 602.

The address information management table 700 of the Ethernet (and TCP / IP) processing module manages communication related address information of the Ethernet (and TCP / IP) processing module in the network interface device 106. Specifically, the MAC (Media Acce) assigned to the Ethernet adapter 104 of the Ethernet (and TCP / IP) processing module.
ess Control) address 700a and IP address 700b.

Inter-module transfer address management table 800
Is the IP address 800b virtually assigned to the computer 110 connected to the control LAN 109 and the control LAN 1
The control LAN processing module 601 that manages the computer 110 connected to the server 09 has an address 800a on the internal bus or expansion bus.

Further, the transfer S / W is shown in FIGS.
(2) Database 6 that manages information referenced by 603
The table contained in 05 is shown.

The control LAN processing module address management table 900 manages communication-related address information of the control LAN processing module 601. Specifically, it is composed of the control LAN address 900a of the control LAN module.

The virtual IP address management table 1000 has an IP address 1000b virtually assigned to the computer 110 connected to the control LAN 109 and an actual address in the control LAN (the address configuration depends on the address system of the control LAN). ) 1000a.

Here, as in the first embodiment, the control LA
A virtual IP address is assigned to the computer 110 connected to the N109 according to some rule at an arbitrary timing such as when the system is designed or when the system is started up.
It is assumed that they are stored in the inter-module transfer address management table 800 and the virtual IP address management table 1000.

Next, from the application 103 on the computer 100 connected to the Ethernet 105, the control LA
The operation in the case of starting communication and executing the business toward the application 112 on the computer 110 connected to N109 will be described.

Data transfer is performed by (1) as shown in FIG.
IP connection establishment phase (S501) and (2)
The data transmission / reception phase (S502) can be divided into two phases.

First, the operation procedure of the IP connection establishment phase will be described.

When the application 103 of the computer 100 communicates with the application 112 of the computer 110 to perform a task, it is necessary to first establish an IP connection. At that time, since it is necessary to know the address of the Ethernet level (data link level of the OSI communication layer), TCP / IP of the computer 100 and the related protocol broadcast the Ethernet 105.
An ARP request packet is transmitted to. The ARP request packet contains the IP address of the computer to be transmitted.

Ethernet (and TCP / IP) processing module 60 of the network interface device 106
The ARP 201 of 0 is the AR transmitted from the computer 100.
When the P request packet is received, the inter-module transfer address management table 800 in the database 604 is checked and the target IP address is the inter-module transfer address management table 80.
If it matches the IP address managed by 0 (that is, the IP address virtually assigned to the computer 110 connected to the control LAN 109), the ARP reply packet is used to send the Ethernet (and TCP / IP).
MAC address 700 assigned to the Ethernet adapter 104 in the address management table 700 of the processing module
Send back a.

Computer 1 that received the ARP response packet
00 is the computer 1 connected to the control LAN 109 thereafter.
For data transmission to 10, the MAC address received in the ARP response packet is recognized as the MAC address of the computer and data is transmitted.

Next, the data transmission / reception phase will be described.

Computer 1 connected to Ethernet 105
00 to computer 110 connected to control LAN 109
When data is transmitted to the computer 100, the data transmitted from the computer 100 includes the destination MAC address, the MAC address of the Ethernet (and TCP / IP) processing module 600 of the network interface device 106, and the destination IP address. An IP address virtually assigned to the data transmission target computer 110 is included.

The network interface unit 106 which has received the above data carries out the following operations to deliver the data to the destination computer 110.

That is, Ethernet (and TCP / I
P) Ethernet adapter 10 of processing module 600
4 takes out IP level data (IP packet) from the received data and requests TCP / IP and the related protocol 102 to perform processing. In TCP / IP and related protocol 102, first, the destination IP address is extracted from the IP packet. Next, the inter-module transfer address management table 800 managed by the database 604 is searched,
The control LAN processing module 601 corresponding to the extracted IP packet is extracted. Next, the TCP / IP and related protocol 102 transfers the extracted address on the internal bus (or expansion bus) of the control LAN processing module 601, the destination IP address, and the TCP data part in the IP packet S / W (1 ) Pass it to 602 to request processing.

Next, the transfer S / W (1) 602 is a control LAN processing module that requests processing based on the received TCP data section and the address on the internal bus (or expansion bus) of the control LAN processing module. Towards 601,
TCP via internal bus control 607 and internal bus 606
The data part and the destination IP address are transmitted.

The control LAN processing module 601 which has received the TCP data portion and the destination IP address requests the transfer S / W (2) 603 for processing through the internal bus control 607.

In the transfer S / W (2) 603, the virtual IP address management table 1000 managed by the database 605 is searched based on the received destination IP address, and the real address on the control LAN corresponding to the destination IP address is searched. To extract.

Then, in the transfer S / W (2) 603, the control LA is executed based on the extracted real address on the control LAN 109.
Generate valid data structure in N, control LAN communication S / W
Data is transmitted to the target computer 110 via 113.

At this time, the transmission source address included in the data transmitted to the computer 110 is the control LAN managed by the address management table 900 of the control LAN processing module 601.
Specifies the control LAN address of the processing module.

The above is the control LA from the Ethernet 105.
It is an explanation of the interface to N109. Next, an interface from the control LAN 109 to the Ethernet 105 will be described.

Similar to the first embodiment, the control LAN 109
Since there is no international standard and the address system differs depending on the implementation system (product), this embodiment will be described here using an arbitrary address system as an example. That is, in FIG. 1, the computer 110 connected to the control LAN 109 has an address in which a network number and a computer number are combined.

Further, in each computer 110 connected to the control LAN 109, when the destination address cannot be resolved, the control LAN address of the network interface device 106, which is the default computer number for requesting data transfer, is preset. And

Computer 11 connected to control LAN 109
The flow of processing when data is transferred from 0 to the computer 100 connected to the Ethernet 105 is shown.

Computer 11 connected to control LAN 109
The data transmitted from 0 is the control LAN adapter 107.
The control LAN communication S / W 113 is requested to perform processing.

The control LAN communication S / W 113 searches the inter-module transfer address management table (2) 1100 based on the destination control LAN address of the data.

Inter-module transfer destination address management table (2)
When the corresponding control LAN address is registered in 1100, the control LAN communication S / W 113 passes the data to the transfer S / W (2) 603 and requests the transfer.

The transfer S / W (2) 603 uses the internal bus control 6 based on the data requested to be transferred and the internal bus address 1100a of the transfer destination module previously retrieved and extracted.
Through 07, the target processing module is requested to transfer data.

The module requested to process (here,
Ethernet (and TCP / IP) processing module 60
0), transfer S / through the internal bus control 607.
W (1) 602 receives the data to be transferred.

Next, the transfer S / W (1) 602 searches the virtual control LAN address management table 1200 based on the destination control LAN address and extracts the IP address of the computer 100 on the Ethernet to be transferred.

Further, the transfer S / W (1) 602 establishes an IP connection with the IP address of the computer 100 on the Ethernet which is the communication target.

After the IP connection can be established, the transfer S / W (1) 602 transfers the transfer target data using the IP connection.

As described above, in realizing the network interface by this method, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, it is possible to construct an environment in which a plurality of types of control LANs can be simultaneously and transparently accessed from Ethernet (and TCP / IP). Therefore, it is possible to select the device and the network according to the control, and the integrated management application (Ethernet and TCP / TCP /
Development on a computer connected to the IP) is facilitated, and productivity can be improved.

In the data transmission / reception phase of the first and second embodiments, the data routing S
/ W200 (Fig. 2) or transfer S / W (2) 603 (Fig. 6), the control LAN is one-to-one with the received IP packet.
Data is being generated. However, a one-to-one correspondence may not be possible depending on the maximum allowable data length of the control LAN and the processing content. In this case, the conversion rule corresponding to the processing content is stored in the database 202 or the database 6.
In preparation for 05, it is necessary to take measures with multiple packets.

In the network interface device of this embodiment, the connection module for Ethernet and the connection module for control LAN are composed of independent hardware, and each of them is provided with an internal bus of a computer (for example, an internal bus of a personal computer). ) Or a dedicated inter-module connection bus (for example, a sequencer basic bus (Q bus, A bus, etc.)), and at that time maintains the correspondence relationship between the Ethernet (and TCP / IP) address and the control LAN address. The database is distributed and managed by each communication module.

Third embodiment. Correspondence to multicast communication or broadcast communication will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 13. Here, the configuration of the network interface device will be described using the configuration of the software of FIG. 2, but the configuration of the separate hardware of FIG. 6 can also be applied by the same method.

Here, FIG. 13 is a virtual IP address management table managed by the database 202 in FIG.
Real address 13 on the control LAN of the computer on the control LAN
00a, virtual IP address 1300b, and group identifier 1300c.

The group identifier 1100c shown in FIG.
This is an identifier corresponding to a group address in P multicast, and usually a group identifier in IP multicast communication is stored as management information. Furthermore,
Even if this information is registered in the network interface device as configuration information in advance, the computer 11 connected to the control LAN 109 using some communication protocol.
You may register by performing the registration procedure from 0.

Next, from the application 103 on the computer connected to the Ethernet 105, control LAN is used by using multicast communication or broadcast communication.
The operation when executing a job with the application 112 on the computer 110 connected to the computer 109 will be described.

The multicast communication or the broadcast communication is normally performed by UDP (UserDatagram P).
Since the protocol is used, the IP connection establishment phase described in the first and second embodiments is not necessary. Therefore, only the data transmission / reception phase will be described.

Computer 1 connected to Ethernet 105
00 to computer 110 connected to control LAN 109
When transmitting data to the computer 100, the data transmitted from the computer 100 includes the MAC address of the network interface device 106 as the destination MAC address and the multicast communication group identification IP address as the destination IP address.

The network interface unit 106 which has received the above data carries out the following operation to deliver the data to the destination computer 110.

That is, the Ethernet adapter 104 uses the received data as IP level data (IP packet).
To request the processing of the data from TCP / IP and the related protocol 102. In TCP / IP and the related protocol 102, first, the IP packet is transmitted to the destination I.
The P address (group identification IP address) is taken out.
Next, the virtual IP address management table 1300 managed by the database 202 is searched to retrieve the group identification I
The real address table on the control LAN corresponding to the P address is extracted. In the case of multicast communication, there may be a plurality of extracted real address tables on the control LAN, and in the case of broadcast communication, the real address tables on all control LANs are applicable. To do. The real address table on the control LAN is a unit including "real address on control LAN", "virtual IP address", and "group identifier" shown in FIG.

Then, the list of the extracted real addresses on the control LAN and the TCP data part in the IP packet are passed to the data routing S / W 200 to request the processing.

The data routing S / W 200 generates a valid data structure in the control LAN based on the received TCP data part and the list of real addresses on the control LAN, and a plurality of target LANs are transmitted through the control LAN communication S / W 111. The data is transmitted to the computer 110, respectively.

At this time, the source information included in the data transmitted to the computer 110 includes the address information management table 30 as the source address.
Control L of network interface device managed by 0
Specify the AN address.

As described above, since pseudo multicast or broadcast communication can be supported, the same message is simultaneously transmitted from a computer connected to Ethernet (and TCP / IP) to a plurality of computers connected to the control LAN. When desired, transmission packets on Ethernet can be reduced, and network bandwidth can be used efficiently. Also, Ethernet (and TCP /
It is also possible to improve the development efficiency of an application that operates on a computer connected to IP).

As described above, when the control LAN side does not support broadcast or multicast communication, the network interface device of this embodiment is transmitted from a computer connected to Ethernet (and TCP / IP). By making the broadcast or multicast communication correspond to the individual communication to each computer connected to the control LAN, the broadcast or multicast communication is apparently made compatible.

Fourth Embodiment Correspondence to file transfer will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 14. Here, as in the third embodiment, the configuration of the network interface device will be described using the software configuration of FIG. 2, but the configuration of separate hardware of FIG. 6 can also be applied in the same manner.

FIG. 14 shows the database 20 in FIG.
2 is a file management table 1400 managed by 2 and comprises path information 1400a specified when using ftp and path information (access information) 1400b in the computer 110 on the control LAN 109 in which the corresponding file exists. ftp is one of access commands. ftp
Other access commands may be used.

Computer 1 connected to Ethernet 105
The operation when ftp (file transfer) is executed from 00 will be described.

In ftp, the path information of the file to be written or read is designated. In FIG. 2, an ftp packet designating certain path information reaches the network interface device 106 from the computer 100 connected to the Ethernet 105.

The network interface device 106 performs the following operation.

That is, the Ethernet adapter 104 uses the received data as IP level data (IP packet).
To request the processing of the data from TCP / IP and the related protocol 102. In TCP / IP and the related protocol 102 (ftp in the fourth embodiment), the designated path is taken out and the file management table 1400 managed by the database 202 is searched.

When information matching the designated path information is managed, the path information on the control LAN is passed to the data routing S / W 200 to request processing.

The data routing S / W 200 transfers (transmits or receives) a file from the received path information to the computer 110 connected to the target control LAN 109 through the control LAN 109 and returns the result.

As described above, by providing the file path conversion function, it becomes possible to send and receive the information to be managed as a file such as the control program and various parameters of the control device by using ftp. Therefore, the control program is changed. And parameters can be changed easily.

The network interface device of this embodiment holds a database for managing file information such as control programs and control parameters held by the computer connected to the control LAN, and stores ftp from the computer connected to the Ethernet. When there is a request for file transfer used, by returning the information of the database, f
Realize the tp function.

Embodiment 5. FIG. In the above embodiment, TCP / IP is used as the first communication protocol, and the control LAN having its own protocol is used as the second communication protocol, but the present invention is not limited to these. A combination of other communication protocols may be used.
Further, Ethernet has been described as a communication line using the TCP / IP communication protocol. However, the communication line is not limited to Ethernet, and may be another communication line such as a talk link or FDDI.

Sixth Embodiment The network interface device described in the first to fourth embodiments can be realized by either hardware or firmware. Further, the network interface device can be realized by a program (network interface program) that causes a computer to execute the processing executed by the network interface device. Further, the program can be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium. The program recorded on the recording medium is loaded into the memory of the computer and executed.

[0134]

According to the network interface device, the network interface system and the method according to the present invention, a program for executing data transfer between information processing terminals connected to communication lines having different communication protocols has an address system. The program can be created easily because it can be created without consideration.

Further, by creating the function of the network interface device by dividing the hardware for each communication protocol, it becomes possible to select a device and a network according to the communication protocol.

By using the multicast function provided in TCP / IP, it is possible to reduce the number of transmission packets transferred on the communication line (Ethernet). The development efficiency of applications running on a computer connected to a communication line (Ethernet) is also improved.

Further, by providing the function of converting the file path, it becomes possible to transmit the information to be managed as a file such as the control program and various parameters of the controller by using the file transfer function, and the change of the control program and the The parameters can be changed easily.

Further, according to this network interface device, data transfer between the information processing terminal connected to the communication line of TCP / IP and the information processing terminal connected to the communication line of communication protocol different from TCP / IP Will be easier.

Further, according to this network interface device, data transfer between an information processing terminal connected to a communication line of its own communication protocol and an information processing terminal connected to a communication line of another communication protocol is easy. become.

According to this network interface program, communication between different communication protocols can be facilitated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram when the network interface function 108 of the network interface device 106 is realized by software.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an address information management table 300 of the network interface device 106.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual IP address management table 400.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a procedure up to data transfer.

FIG. 6 is a diagram in which the network interface function 108 is realized by separate hardware of an Ethernet processing module 600 and a control LAN processing module 601.

7 is a diagram showing an example of an address information management table 700. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an inter-module transfer address management table 800.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an address management table 900 of a control LAN processing module.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual IP address management table 1000.

FIG. 11 is an inter-module transfer address management table 1100.
The figure showing an example.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual control LAN address management table 1200.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual IP address management table.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a file management table 1400.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a conventional network interface device.

[Explanation of symbols]

100, 110, 1301 Computer, 101 OS, 1
02 TCP / IP and related protocols, 103, 11
2 application, 104 Ethernet adapter, 105 Ethernet, 106 network interface device, 107 control LAN adapter, 108
Network interface function, 109, 1314
Control LAN, 111, 113 Control LAN communication S /
W, 200 Data Routing S / W, 201 AR
P, 202 database, 602 transfer S / W (1),
603 Transfer S / W (2), 604, 605 database, 1305 Ethernet side reception buffer, 130
6 control LAN side transmission buffer, 1309 scheduler, 1310 downlink frame conversion task, 1312
Down queue.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (54) [Title of Invention] Network interface device, network interface method, and network interface                     Interface method, network interface program, and network interface professional                     Recording medium recording gram

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A second information processing using a communication line of a first communication protocol for connecting a first information processing terminal with the first communication protocol and a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol. A network interface device, which is connected to a communication line of a second communication protocol for connecting a terminal, and mediates that the first information processing terminal transmits data to the second information processing terminal, A virtual address for identifying the second information processing terminal in the communication protocol and a real address for identifying the second information processing terminal in the second communication protocol are stored, and the virtual address and the real address are stored. A virtual address management table to be associated with the virtual address and data from the first information processing terminal via the first communication protocol. The receiving communication unit, the virtual address and the data received by the communication unit are input, the virtual address management table is searched using the input virtual address, and the real address associated with the virtual address is detected. A control unit for outputting the detected real address and the input data, and inputting the real address and the data from the control unit, converting the input data into a format used by the second communication protocol, A data routing unit that outputs the converted data and the real address, the communication unit inputs the converted data and the real address from the data routing unit, via the second communication protocol, A network interface device, characterized in that the converted data is transmitted to the real address. 2. The network interface device has an interface address corresponding to the first communication protocol, the communication unit receives the virtual address from the first information processing terminal, and receives the virtual address. To the control unit, the control unit inputs a virtual address from the communication unit,
When the virtual address management table is searched using the input virtual address and it is detected that the virtual address is stored in the virtual address management table, the interface address is notified to the first information processing terminal. The network interface device according to claim 1, wherein a connection between the first information processing terminal and a communication line is established by using the interface address. 3. The first communication protocol is a te
CIP / IP (TCP / IP), the second communication protocol is a unique protocol having a unique address system, and the data routing unit uses the unique data for the data and the real address. 3. The network interface device according to claim 1, wherein the network interface device is converted into a format corresponding to a protocol. 4. The communication unit receives the virtual address from the first information processing terminal, outputs the received virtual address to the control unit, and the control unit inputs the virtual address from the communication unit. Then
When the virtual address management table is searched using the input virtual address and it is detected that the virtual address is stored in the virtual address management table, the real address corresponding to the virtual address is acquired and acquired. 2. The network interface device according to claim 1, wherein a connection between the second information processing terminal and the communication line is established using the real address. 5. The first communication protocol is a unique protocol having a unique address system, and the second communication protocol is TPC / IP (TCP / IP), 5. The network interface device according to claim 1, wherein the data routing unit converts the data and the real address into a format corresponding to the TPC / IP. 6. The network interface device is a MAC (Media Access Controller).
6. The network interface device according to claim 3, wherein the connection between the information processing terminal connected to the communication line of the TCP / IP communication protocol and the communication line is established by using the ol) address. 7. The virtual address management table indicates a second virtual address for identifying the first information processing terminal in the second communication protocol and a second virtual address in the first communication protocol. A second real address to be identified is stored, the second virtual address and the second real address are associated with each other, and the communication unit, via the second communication protocol, the second virtual address and the data. From the second information processing terminal, the control unit inputs the second virtual address and the data received by the communication unit, using the input second virtual address, the virtual address management table The control unit that searches and detects the second real address associated with the second virtual address, and outputs the detected second real address and the input data; The second real address and the data are input from the control unit, the input data is converted into a format used by the first communication protocol, and the converted data and the second real address are input to the communication unit. The communication unit inputs the converted data and the second real address from the data routing unit, and transmits the converted data to the second real address via the first communication protocol. The network interface device according to claim 1, wherein 8. The network interface according to claim 1, wherein the data routing unit converts at least a data transmission / reception sequence and a data length into a data transmission / reception sequence and a data length of a communication protocol to be transmitted. apparatus. 9. The first communication protocol executes either multicast communication or broadcast communication, and the virtual address management table stores an identifier corresponding to either the multicast communication or the broadcast communication. Then, the identifier and the virtual address are associated with each other, the communication unit receives the identifier and data from the first information processing terminal via the first communication protocol, and the control unit uses the communication. The unit receives the received identifier and data, searches the virtual address management table using the entered identifier, detects the real address associated with the identifier, and detects the detected real address and the input data. The network interface device according to claim 1, wherein the network interface device outputs the data. 10. The virtual address management device further stores path information for specifying a location where the data of the second information processing terminal is stored and access information for accessing the path information. The communication unit receives, via the first communication protocol, the path information and an access command for accessing data using the path information from the first information processing terminal, and the control unit is The path information and the access command are input, the virtual memory management table is searched using the path information, the access information corresponding to the path information is acquired, and the acquired access information is output to the data routing unit. Then, the data routing unit inputs the access command and the access information, and inputs the access command and the access information. The network interface device according to claim 1, wherein the second information processing terminal is accessed based on the above. 11. A communication line of a first communication protocol for connecting a first information processing terminal with the first communication protocol,
The first information processing terminal and the second information are connected to a communication line of a second communication protocol that connects the second information processing terminal with a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol. In a network interface device that mediates transmission of data to and from a processing terminal, a first mediation unit that mediates transmission of data from the first information processing terminal to the second information processing terminal, A second mediation unit that mediates transmission of data from the second information processing terminal to the first information processing terminal, wherein the first mediation unit is the first communication protocol in the first communication protocol. A virtual address of the second information processing terminal for identifying the second information processing terminal,
The second communication protocol stores the real address of the second information processing terminal that identifies the second information processing terminal, and stores the virtual address of the second information processing terminal and the second information processing terminal. A first virtual address management table that associates real addresses with each other; and a first virtual information management table that receives the virtual address and data of the second information processing terminal from the first information processing terminal via the first communication protocol. One virtual communication unit and the virtual address and data of the second information processing terminal received by the first communication unit are input, and the virtual address management is performed using the input virtual address of the second information processing terminal. The table is searched, the real address of the second information processing terminal associated with the virtual address of the second information processing terminal is detected, and the real address of the detected second information processing terminal and the input data are output. The first control unit, and the real address of the second information processing terminal and the data are input from the first control unit, and the input data is converted into a format used by the second communication protocol. A first data routing unit that outputs the converted data and the real address of the second information processing terminal, wherein the first communication unit includes the converted data and the real address of the second information processing terminal. Input the address and from the first data routing unit, via the second communication protocol,
The converted information is transmitted to the real address of the first information processing terminal, and the second mediation unit identifies the first information processing terminal in the second communication protocol. Virtual address of
Stores the real address of the first information processing terminal that identifies the first information processing terminal in the first communication protocol, and stores the virtual address of the first information processing terminal and the virtual address of the first information processing terminal. A second virtual address management table that associates real addresses with each other, and a second virtual information management table that receives the virtual address and data of the first information processing terminal from the second information processing terminal via the second communication protocol. The second communication unit and the virtual address and data of the first information processing terminal received by the second communication unit are input, and the virtual address management is performed using the input virtual address of the first information processing terminal. The table is searched, the real address of the first information processing terminal associated with the virtual address of the first information processing terminal is detected, and the real address of the detected first information processing terminal and the input data are output. The second control unit, and the real address of the first information processing terminal and the data are input from the second control unit, and the input data is converted into a format used by the first communication protocol. And a first data routing unit that outputs the converted data and the real address of the first information processing terminal, and the second communication unit includes the converted data and the real address of the first information processing terminal. Address and input from the second data routing unit, via the first communication protocol,
A network interface device, characterized in that the converted data is transmitted to a real address of the first information processing terminal. 12. The first intermediary unit and the second intermediary unit are configured by independent hardware, and the independent hardware is connected using a bus. The network interface device according to claim 11. 13. The first communication protocol is TPC / IP (TCP / IP), and the second communication protocol is a unique protocol having a unique address system, 13. The network interface device according to claim 11, wherein the second mediation unit is a plurality of second mediation units corresponding to a plurality of unique protocols. 14. A first information processing terminal connected to a communication line of a first communication protocol, and second information connected to a communication line of a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol. A processing terminal, a network interface device connected to the communication line of the first communication protocol and the communication line of the second communication protocol, and the first information processing terminal via the network interface device. In the network interface system that mediates the transmission of data from the second information processing terminal to the second information processing terminal, the second information processing terminal uses the virtual address corresponding to the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol. And a corresponding real address, the first information processing terminal sends the virtual address and data to the network. To the interface device, the network interface device stores the real address and the virtual address, and associates the real address and the virtual address with a virtual address management table and the first communication protocol. Then, the communication unit that receives the virtual address and the data from the first information processing terminal, the virtual address and the data received by the communication unit are input, and the virtual address management is performed using the input virtual address. A control unit that searches the table, detects a real address associated with the virtual address, outputs the detected real address and the input data, and inputs the real address and the data from the control unit and inputs the data. The converted data is converted into a format used by the second communication protocol, and the converted data and the actual address are converted. And a data routing unit that outputs the converted data and the real address from the data routing unit, and outputs the converted data via the second communication protocol. A network interface system, wherein the second information processing device transmits to a real address, and the second information processing device receives the converted data from a communication unit of the network interface device. 15. A first information processing terminal connected to a communication line of a first communication protocol, and second information connected to a communication line of a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol. A processing terminal, a network interface device connected to the communication line of the first communication protocol and the communication line of the second communication protocol, and the first information processing terminal via the network interface device. In the network interface method for mediating transmission of data from the second information processing device to the second information processing device, the first information processing terminal corresponds to the first communication protocol assigned to the second information processing terminal. The virtual address is acquired, the virtual address and data are transmitted to the network interface device, and The network interface device stores the virtual address, a real address corresponding to the second communication protocol, and a virtual address correspondence that associates the real address with the virtual address, and stores the virtual address via the first communication protocol. Then, the virtual address and data are received from the first information processing terminal, the stored virtual address correspondence is searched using the received virtual address, and the real address associated with the virtual address is detected. Converting the received data into a format used by the second communication protocol, transmitting the converted data to the real address via the second communication protocol, and the second information processing device, A network interface characterized by receiving the converted data from a network interface device. Face method. 16. A communication line of a first communication protocol to which a first information processing terminal is connected by the first communication protocol, and second information by a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol. A network that is connected to a communication line of a second communication protocol to which a processing terminal is connected and that realizes a process for mediating the transmission of data from the first information processing terminal to the second information processing terminal by a computer In the interface program, a virtual address management table is provided that includes a virtual address that identifies the second information processing terminal in the first communication protocol and a real address that identifies the second information processing terminal in the second communication protocol. The virtual address is stored in the virtual address via the process of associating the virtual address with the real address. And a communication process of receiving data from the first information processing terminal, the virtual address and the data received by the communication process are input, and the input virtual address is used to search the virtual address management table, A control process of detecting a real address associated with the virtual address and outputting the detected real address and the input data, and inputting the real address and the data from the control process, A data routing process of converting the data into the format used by the second communication protocol and outputting the converted data and the real address, and the data converted by the data routing process and the real address are input, and the second communication is performed. A transmission process for transmitting the converted data to the real address via a protocol. Tsu network interface program. 17. A communication line of a first communication protocol to which a first information processing terminal is connected by a first communication protocol, and a second information by a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol. A network that is connected to a communication line of a second communication protocol to which a processing terminal is connected and that realizes a process for mediating the transmission of data from the first information processing terminal to the second information processing terminal by a computer In a computer-readable recording medium recording an interface program, a virtual address for identifying the second information processing terminal in the first communication protocol, and a second information processing terminal in the second communication protocol Storing a real address to be identified in a virtual address management table and associating the virtual address with the real address; A communication process for receiving the virtual address and the data from the first information processing terminal via a communication protocol, and the virtual address and the data received by the communication process are input, and using the input virtual address, The virtual address management table is searched, the real address associated with the virtual address is detected, the detected real address and the input data are output, and the real address and the data are output from the control process. Data routing processing for inputting and converting the input data into a format used by the second communication protocol and outputting the converted data and the real address, data converted by the data routing processing, and the real address And send the converted data to the real address via the second communication protocol. Recording medium storing a network interface program, characterized in that it comprises a transmission process of.