JP2004260671A - Network route extraction device and route extraction method, route extraction program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

An information communication service that passes through a plurality of networks is searched for a network path that satisfies the required conditions of the service, thereby improving the information communication service.
The service attribute information includes network topology information, network resource information, service attribute information in which service attributes are set, and network attribute information in which network attributes are set, and a service is provided based on the service attribute information and network attribute information. Choose the right network. In the selected network, route information is obtained based on the network topology information and network resource information.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network path extraction that extracts a path based on the use status of a network resource such as a communication apparatus and a communication path in accordance with the conditions of a plurality of information communication services (also referred to as network services) provided using a network. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a route extraction method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
With the diversification of information communication services provided using networks, network path extraction based on network resource usage has become important in terms of quality and the like. Conventional techniques for realizing the network path extraction device and the path extraction method include the following (for example, see Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2). Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which a network resource management system manages, processes, and provides network resource information based on a specific transmission method according to a specific information communication service form in a single communication network. Have been. Non-Patent Document 2 discloses that a network resource management system in a single communication network can collect information on interface and line speed of a communication device and use the information based on connection state information managed by the system. Techniques for managing network resource information have been disclosed. These can efficiently provide services using network resources in a single communication network.
[0003]
[Non-patent document 1]
Yu Miyoshi, et al., "An Implementation of Service Resource Management Architecture," World Telecommunications Congress 2002, TS19.1, September 26, 2002 [Non-Patent Document 2]
"Development and sales of network configuration automatic search software" Port Discovery "started", Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd., [Online], published on July 11, 2001 (searched on January 17, 2003), Internet <URL: http / / Www. hitachi-sk. co. jp / News / News132. html>
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as services become diversified, it becomes necessary to provide services not only through a single communication network but also through a plurality of networks. For a service passing through a plurality of networks having different quality conditions, it has not been possible to automatically specify an optimal route for satisfying the service requirements and a network connection form satisfying the quality and the like.
[0005]
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to obtain a network route that satisfies the service requirements for an information communication service via a plurality of networks, and to improve the information communication service.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a network path extraction device of the present invention is a path extraction apparatus that extracts a network path in providing an information communication service across a plurality of networks, and includes a plurality of network management objects. A network information collecting unit that connects to the communication device and a network management system that manages the network and an external system that provides services via the network, and collects device management information that configures the network from the communication device or the network management device. A network topology component that creates network topology information based on the device management information; a network resource component that creates network resource information based on the device management information; And a database storing service attribute information in which the network topology information, the network resource information, and service attributes are set, and network attribute information in which the network attributes are set. A network suitable for the service is selected based on the information and the network attribute information.
[0007]
As a result, it is possible to select a network that meets the conditions for the network requested by the service and provide it to the service system.
[0008]
Further, the network path extracting device is characterized in that in the selected network, path information is obtained based on the network topology information and network resource information.
[0009]
This makes it possible to obtain a network route that is more suitable in terms of quality and the like within the selected network, thereby improving information and communication services.
[0010]
The network path extraction method is a network path extraction method performed by using a path extraction apparatus that extracts a network path in providing an information communication service that spans a plurality of networks, wherein the apparatus management information that configures the network is collected. Gathering network information, creating network topology information based on the device management information, creating network resource information based on the device management information, creating a network resource information, An application interface step of receiving a request, wherein the network topology information, the network resource information, service attribute information in which service attributes are set, and a network in which network attributes are set. And a network attribute information, based on said service attribute information and the network attribute information, and selects a network suitable for the service.
[0011]
As a result, it is possible to select a network that meets the conditions for the network requested by the service and provide it to the service system.
[0012]
The route extraction method for a network is characterized in that route information is obtained in the selected network based on the network topology information and the network resource information.
[0013]
This makes it possible to obtain a network route that is more suitable in terms of quality and the like within the selected network, thereby improving information and communication services.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the route extracting apparatus 1. The route extracting device 1 is connected to a communication device 11, a network management system 12, an external system 13, a screen terminal 14, and a network. The route extraction device 1 includes an NW information collection unit 6, an NW topology configuration unit 5, an NW resource configuration unit 4, an NW resource DB (database) 8, an application interface unit 10 (abbreviated as an AP-IF unit), a rule DB 9, and a service. It is composed of a resource subprogram unit 2, a service resource DB 7, and a subprogram management unit 3.
[0016]
The NW information collection unit 6 collects, from all the communication devices 11 to be managed, device management information such as device configuration information of devices configuring a network and setting information relating to the network using a management protocol such as SNMP 6a or Telnet 6b. . The NW information collection unit 6 is connected to the NW management system 12 using the NW management system interface 6c, so that the NW management system 12 holds device management information such as device configuration information and network setting information. In that case, that information can be collected. When the route extraction device 1 is started and when the communication device 11 and the NW management system 12 are connected for the first time, the initial configuration information of all the communication devices 11 to be managed is read. A change in information (for example, the incorporation or disconnection of a new communication device in the network, etc.), a failure state, and the like are collected as fluctuation difference information periodically or by notification from all the communication devices 11.
[0017]
The NW topology configuration unit 5 creates NW topology information 81 based on the device configuration information collected by the NW information collection unit 6 and the device management information such as network setting information, and stores it in the NW resource DB 8. The NW topology information 81 is information indicating a route between all the communication devices 11 on the network, and is information indicating that the communication devices 11 are connected to each other. When the NW information collection unit 6 detects the failure information of the communication path and the increase / decrease information of the communication device, the affected NW topology information 81 is recalculated, and the NW topology information 81 of the NW resource DB 8 is updated. Keep in condition. Then, network route information is obtained based on NW topology information 81 (routes between all communication devices on the network) and NW resource information 80 described later.
[0018]
The NW resource configuration unit 4 obtains NW resource information 80 of the resources configuring the network from the device configuration information, setting information, communication signal band information, device quality information, etc. of all the communication devices 11 collected by the NW information collection unit 6. Is created and stored in the NW resource DB 8. Therefore, the NW resource information 80 includes information such as the route between the communication devices 11 and the quality of the route. Further, in the NW resource configuration unit 4, when there is a request from the service resource subprogram unit 2 via the subprogram management unit 3 for the NW profile 90 stored in the later-described rule DB 9, the NW profile 90 is created. Perform reading.
[0019]
The NW resource DB 8 is a DB that stores NW resource information 80 and the like. NW topology information 81, which is a path between all communication devices on the network created by the NW topology configuration unit 5, and device management information such as device configuration information and setting information, initial resource information, and increase / decrease information of communication devices. This is a DB that stores NW resource information 80 determined based on the information.
[0020]
The AP-IF unit 10 receives a service request from the external system 13 or the screen terminal 14, and notifies one or more appropriate service resource subprograms from among service resource subprograms existing for each service. The resulting service and response message are returned to the external system 13, the screen terminal 14, or the like.
[0021]
The rule DB 9 is a protocol used by the NW information collection unit 6 to collect device configuration information, network setting information, resource increase / decrease information, path cost information of each resource, and the like from all the communication devices 11 and the NW management system 12. This is a DB that stores device management IF information 91 such as (SNMP and Telnet) and information such as a pre-set NW profile 90 described later.
[0022]
The service resource subprogram unit 2 is called from the AP-IF unit 10 and transmits a service type and a service request parameter for each service to the subprogram management unit 3 in response to a service request from the external system 13 or the screen terminal 14. I do. In addition, by using a common API (Application Program Interface) provided by the subprogram management unit 3 by absorbing an interface unique to the service, the subprogram management unit 3 is connected to the NW resource configuration unit 4 and the NW topology configuration unit 5 to read information and transmit operations. And returns the resulting route information to the AP-IF unit 10.
[0023]
In the service processing, as shown in FIG. 4 described later, the service resource DB 7 holds NW resource information 80 to be used and information for associating services, or a service profile 70 different for each preset service. Etc. are stored.
[0024]
The subprogram management unit 3 provides the service resource subprogram unit 2 with a common function API. It initializes and manages tables and the like when the service resource subprogram is introduced, and stores a service profile 70 in which service-specific requirements are described in the service resource DB 7 when the service resource subprogram is introduced. When requesting resources on the network, the subprogram management unit 3 compares the service profile 70 with the NW profile 90 for each parameter and extracts an NW domain having necessary NW characteristics. .
[0025]
The network path extraction device 1 can be realized by a computer program using a computer as a network path extraction program. The network path extraction program can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.
[0026]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a service profile 70 and NW profiles 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d. FIG. 2 shows a case where a service is executed from the external system 13 or the screen terminal 14 via the domain 1 of the network, via the domain 2 or the domain 3 or the domain 4. As a service system for a request from the external system 13 or the screen terminal 14, there is, for example, a data distribution service. The service profile 70 is a file in which the attributes of the service are set. The requests required by the service include a required bandwidth, a required QoS (Quality of Service), an error rate, a user-side IF (interface), and a server-side IF (interface). , A transmission layer, and the like. The NW profiles 90a, 90b, 90c, and 90d are files in which the attributes of the network are set, and the provided bandwidth, the provided QoS, the error rate, the user-side IF, the server-side IF, the transmission layer, and the like are set for each NW domain. Have been.
[0027]
The route extracting method compares the service profile 70 with the NW profiles 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d and notifies the external system of a matching NW domain. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the NW profile 90b of the domain 2 has the server-side IF of ATM150M / 2.4G and does not satisfy the server-side connection condition. Further, the NW profile 90d of the domain 4 has an error rate of 10 ⁻⁴ and does not satisfy the condition of the error rate. Therefore, for the service system having the service profile 70, the domains 2 and 4 are not selected as target networks. The processing flow of this route extraction method will be described with reference to FIG.
[0028]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing flow of route extraction, which will be described with reference to FIG. 1 as appropriate. First, the NW resource configuration unit 4 sends a periodic information acquisition request to the NW information collection unit 6 via the NW topology configuration unit 5 in order to collect the NW resource information 80 (S1, S2). The periodic information acquisition request is a request for acquiring the device configuration information, the setting information regarding the network, and the like. The NW information collection unit 6 acquires the device management IF information 91 (management protocol such as SNMP6a or Telnet6b) for each communication device 11 or NW management system 12 with reference to the rule DB 9 (S3), and acquires the acquired device management IF information. Based on 91, it requests device management information such as device configuration information and setting information from the communication device 11 or the NW management system 12 (S4). The communication device 11 or the NW management system 12 transmits the requested device management information to the NW information collection unit 6 (S5). The NW information collection unit 6 transmits the obtained device management information to the NW topology configuration unit 5 (S6). The NW topology configuration unit 6 creates NW topology information 81 based on the state of the communication device, the device configuration information, and the setting information included in the device management information (S7), and stores the created NW topology information 81 in the NW resource DB8. (S8) Also, the device management information is transmitted to the NW resource configuration unit 4 (S9). The NW resource configuration unit 4 creates available NW resource information 80 on the NW route based on the device management information (S10) and stores it in the NW resource DB 8 (S11).
[0029]
As a result, the NW topology information 81 and the available NW resource information 80 on the network route can be stored in the NW resource DB 8, and thereafter, the available route information can be notified to the service request.
[0030]
Next, when a service request is input from the external system 13 or the screen terminal 14 (S12), the AP-IF unit 10 calls an appropriate service resource subprogram according to the service request (S13). The called service resource subprogram transmits the service type and the service request parameter to the subprogram management unit 3 (S14). The subprogram management unit 3 refers to the service resource DB 7 to acquire the service profile 70 corresponding to the service type (S15), and sends the NW resource configuration unit 4 all the management target NW domains. Request the NW profile 90 (S16). The NW resource configuration unit 4 acquires the NW profile 90 with reference to the rule DB 9 (S17) and transmits the NW profile 90 to the subprogram management unit 3 (S18). The subprogram management unit 3 compares the condition set in the service profile 70 with the condition set in the NW profile 90 for each condition (S19), and selects an NW domain satisfying the necessary condition (S20). ).
[0031]
Next, in order to obtain route information in the selected NW domain, the subprogram management unit 3 specifies a start point and an end point of a service request and a list of available NW domains, and Is made to the NW topology configuration unit 5 (S21). The NW topology configuration unit 5 acquires available route information from the NW resource information 80 stored in the NW resource DB 8 (S22), and based on the NW topology information 81 and the acquired plurality of available route information. Then, a route connecting the designated start point and end point via the designated NW domain is determined (S23). Then, the applicable route search result is sent to the subprogram management unit 3 (S24). The subprogram management unit 3 sends the applicable route search result to the service resource subprogram unit 2 as a route candidate extraction result (S25). The route candidate extraction result is presented to the external system 13 or the screen terminal 14 via the AP-IF unit 10 (S26) (S27).
[0032]
As a result, it is possible to select a target NW domain in response to the service request, and obtain a route available through the selected NW domain. In the case of a network operator having a large number of NW domains, the route calculation can be reduced by narrowing down the NW domains to be subjected to route calculation for route calculation in advance, and the time required for route calculation can be shortened. The response time to the service user can be reduced.
[0033]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an association between NW resource information and a service. In the service 40, the path between the start point and the end point of the service is indicated by a solid line, reference numeral 40a indicates the start point of the service, and reference numeral 40b indicates the end point of the service. In the service 40, a service profile 70 shown in FIG. 2 is set. Reference numeral 40a indicates, for example, a user's login to the service system, and reference numeral 40b indicates, for example, access to content such as a server or a DB of the service system. The service 40 includes an access link 41 to the access NW, a connection unit 42 to the core NW, a core NW link 43 to the core NW, and a server connection link 44 to the server. An NW profile 90e is set in the access NW, and an NW profile 90f is set in the core NW. Further, the core NW linked from the core NW link 43 is composed of at least the device A400, the relay device A410, the relay device B420, the relay device C430, and the device B440. The processing is performed by the device B440 via the device A410, the relay device B420, and the relay device C430. The device configuration information and setting information of the core NW are stored in the NW resource DB 8 (see FIG. 1) together with quality information and the like as NW resource information 80a. The NW resource information 80a includes the device A400, the device B440, the relay device A410, the relay device B420, and the relay device C430 as the device configuration information of the core NW. , A relay device B420, and a route 45, 46, 47, 48 that can be used via the relay device C430. In the core NW, although not shown, for example, when the relay device B420 has a failure, the failure information is held in the NW resource information 80a, and the route information that does not pass through the relay device B420 is obtained in combination with the NW topology information. The service is provided by using another route from the relay apparatus A410 to the relay apparatus C430.
[0034]
Thus, after selecting an NW domain based on the NW profiles 90e and 90f and the service profile 70, it is possible to search for an optimal route in the selected NW domain.
[0035]
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the route extracting device 1 when a new service is provided. FIG. 5B shows a configuration in which an external system C is newly added to the configuration shown in FIG. In FIG. 5A, the NW resource DB 8 stores NW resource information 80. A service profile B7B is stored in the service resource DB7, and a service resource subprogram 2B corresponding to the external system (service system B) 13B is installed in the path extraction device 1.
[0036]
When a new external system (service system C) 13C is connected to the path extraction device 1, a service resource subprogram (original) 21C corresponding to the external system 13C is registered in the path extraction device 1 through the subprogram management unit 3. , The service profile C7C is added to the service resource DB7. At this time, the service resource subprogram 2C has an interface with the external system 13C via the AP-IF unit 10 (see FIG. 1) and can be called. The NW resource information 80 stored in the NW resource DB 8 can be shared by a plurality of services such as the external system 13B and the external system 13C.
[0037]
The present invention described above can be widely modified without being limited to the above embodiment. For example, the available route information may be searched by focusing on quality, searching by focusing on cost, or searching by focusing on processing speed.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, for a service passing through a plurality of networks having different conditions, it is possible to find an optimal network that satisfies the service requirements.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a route extraction device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a service profile and an NW profile.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of a route extraction method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an association between NW resource information and a service.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a route extraction device when a new service is provided.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 route extraction device 2 service resource subprogram unit 3 subprogram management unit 4 NW resource configuration unit 5 NW topology configuration unit 6 NW information collection unit 7 service resource DB
8. NW resource DB
9. Rule DB
10. AP-IF unit 70 Service profile 80, 80a NW resource information 90, 90a to 90f NW profile

Claims (6)

A route extraction device for extracting a route of a network in providing an information communication service across a plurality of networks, comprising: a plurality of communication devices to be managed on the network; a network management system for managing the network; Connected to the system via the network,
A network information collection unit that collects device management information configuring the network from the communication device or the network management device, a network topology configuration unit that creates network topology information based on the device management information, A network resource configuration unit for creating network resource information by means of an application, and an application interface unit for receiving a request from the external system, and service attribute information and a network in which the network topology information, the network resource information, and service attributes are set. A database storing network attribute information in which attributes of the service are set, and selecting a network suitable for the service based on the service attribute information and the network attribute information. Path extraction devices of the network, wherein. 2. The network path extraction device according to claim 1, wherein, in the selected network, path information is obtained based on the network topology information and network resource information. A method for extracting a route of a network using a route extracting apparatus for extracting a route of a network in providing an information communication service across a plurality of networks, comprising:
A network information collecting step of collecting device management information constituting the network, a network topology creating step of creating network topology information based on the device management information, and a network creating network resource information based on the device management information A resource creating step, an application interface step of receiving a request from the external system, and service attribute information in which the network topology information, the network resource information, and service attributes are set, and network attribute information in which network attributes are set. And selecting a network suitable for the service on the basis of the service attribute information and the network attribute information. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein in the selected network, route information is obtained based on the network topology information and the network resource information. A network path extraction program for use in a network path extraction apparatus, wherein the network path extraction apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 is realized. A computer-readable recording medium on which the network path extraction program according to claim 5 is recorded.

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