Server and remote quality measurement method

Abstract

This server is provided with a collection unit that collects a response to a signal transmitted to each of a plurality of remote devices to be remotely monitored, and a comparison / determination unit that performs, when the responses are obtained from all of the plurality of remote devices, a comparison and a determination using the plurality of responses obtained from the plurality of remote devices.　

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a server and a remote quality measurement method. [Background technology]

[0002] Technologies for real-time network quality assurance and control have been proposed. Methods for collecting network quality information include request (trigger)-based and subscribe (period)-based. Conventional network quality information collection involves collecting quality information from multiple remote devices on a request (trigger) or subscribe (period) basis, and comparing the collected quality information to perform real-time quality assurance and control. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] RFC1157, “A Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)”,<URL: https: / / datatracker.ietf.org / doc / html / rfc1157> [Non-patent document 2] ITU-T, G.989.3, “40-Gigabit-capable passive optical networks (NG-PON2): Transmission convergence layer specification” Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the timing of receiving quality information from each remote device and the timing of starting comparison are not synchronized, which causes a discrepancy between the two, making it impossible to perform rapid control and therefore not necessarily achieving optimal control.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that can perform optimal quality assurance control in a communication network. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a server comprising: a collection unit that collects responses to signals sent to each of a plurality of remote devices that are the subject of remote monitoring; and a comparison and judgment unit that performs a comparison and judgment using the multiple responses obtained from the plurality of remote devices when responses have been obtained from all of the plurality of remote devices.

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a remote quality measurement method that collects responses to signals sent to each of multiple remote devices that are the target of remote monitoring, and when responses have been received from all of the multiple remote devices, performs a comparative judgment using the multiple responses received from the multiple remote devices. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The present invention makes it possible to perform optimal quality assurance control in a communication network. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a communication system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by a server in the first embodiment. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by a server in the second embodiment. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by a server in the second embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a communication system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 6] 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by a server in the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (First embodiment) Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a communication system 100 in the first embodiment. The communication system 100 includes a server 10, a plurality of remote devices 20-1 to 20-2, a plurality of switches 30-1 to 30-3, and a terminal 40. The number of remote devices 20 and switches 30 is not limited to the numbers shown in Fig. 1. Hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between the remote devices 20-1 and 20-2, they will be referred to as remote devices 20, and when there is no need to distinguish between the switches 30-1 to 30-3, they will be referred to as switches 30.

[0011] In the example shown in FIG. 1 , server 10 is connected to switches 30-2 and 30-3 via transmission paths. Switch 30-2 is connected to switch 30-1 and remote device 20-1 via transmission paths. Switch 30-3 is connected to switch 30-1 and remote device 20-2 via transmission paths. Switch 30-1 is connected to switches 30-2 and 30-3 and terminal 40 via transmission paths. The transmission paths may be optical transmission paths such as optical fiber, or may be electrical circuits such as coaxial cables. In the following explanation, the transmission paths will be described as optical transmission paths. Note that remote devices 20-1 and 20-2 may be connected to server 10 via the same route via switch 30.

[0012] The server 10 collects quality information from each of the remote devices 20-1 and 20-2. For example, the server 10 transmits a Request or Subscribe signal to the remote devices 20-1 and 20-2. The server 10 receives a Report transmitted from each of the remote devices 20-1 and 20-2. The Report is a response to the Request or Subscribe signal. The server 10 performs a comparison and judgment using the collected quality information, and controls the routes and the remote devices 20-1 and 20-2 based on the judgment result. The server 10 is one aspect of a monitoring device.

[0013] The remote device 20 is a device to be monitored in the network. When the remote device 20 receives a Request or Subscribe signal sent from the server 10, it sends a Report to the server 10.

[0014] The switch 30 switches paths under the control of the server 10. By switching paths, the switch 30 connects the server 10 and the remote device 20 so that they can communicate with each other, or connects the server 10 and the terminal 40 so that they can communicate with each other. In the following explanation, the switch 30 will be described as an optical switch, but when performing electrical communications, the switch 30 may be an electrical switch such as an L2SW (L2 switch) or an L3SW (L3 switch) or a router.

[0015] The terminal 40 is a communication device that communicates with the server 10 .

[0016] Next, a specific configuration of the server 10 will be described. The server 10 includes a communication unit 11, a collection unit 12, a comparison and determination unit 13, and a control unit 14. In the first embodiment, the comparison and determination unit 13 does not perform processing until it receives an instruction from another functional unit (for example, the collection unit 12). That is, in the first embodiment, the comparison and determination unit 13 is a functional unit that does not operate autonomously. The processing performed by the comparison and determination unit 13 is, for example, a comparison and determination of quality.

[0017] The communication unit 11 communicates with the remote device 20 via the switch 30. The communication unit 11 transmits a Request or Subscribe signal to the remote device 20 and receives a Report from the remote device 20.

[0018] The collection unit 12 collects reports transmitted from each remote device 20. In the first embodiment, the collection unit 12 causes the comparison and judgment unit 13 to execute processing when reports are received from all remote devices 20. Specifically, when reports are received from all remote devices 20, the collection unit 12 outputs a trigger (hereinafter referred to as a "start signal") to the comparison and judgment unit 13 to cause the comparison and judgment unit 13 to execute processing, thereby causing the comparison and judgment unit 13 to execute processing. Here, all remote devices 20 are remote devices 20 that are targets for collecting quality information in the server 10 and are registered in advance. The collection unit 12 sets a reception flag for each registered remote device 20, and determines that reports have been received from all remote devices 20 when all reception flags are TRUE.

[0019] The comparison and judgment unit 13 performs processing in response to a start signal output from the collection unit 12. Specifically, when the comparison and judgment unit 13 receives a start signal from the collection unit 12, it acquires reports sent from each remote device 20 from the collection unit 12 and performs a quality comparison and judgment using each acquired report. The processing performed by the comparison and judgment unit 13 is the same as in the past. The comparison and judgment unit 13 performs a comparison and judgment, and if it determines that control is necessary, it notifies the control unit 14 of the control content. On the other hand, if it performs a comparison and judgment and determines that control is not necessary, the comparison and judgment unit 13 does not do anything in particular.

[0020] The control unit 14 generates a Request or Subscribe signal. The control unit 14 controls the communication unit 11 to transmit the generated Request or Subscribe signal to the remote device 20. The control unit 14 controls the remote device 20 and the switch 30 in accordance with the notification content notified by the comparison / determination unit 13.

[0021] 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by the server 10 in the first embodiment. It is assumed that the server 10 and the remote device 20 are connected to each other via the switch 30 so as to be able to communicate with each other when the processing in FIG. 2 starts. The collection unit 12 initializes the reception flags corresponding to all remote devices 20 to FALSE (step S101). The control unit 14 generates a Request addressed to each remote device 20. The control unit 14 transmits the Request to each remote device 20 via the communication unit 11 (step S102). Note that although the configuration in which the server 10 transmits the Request to each remote device 20 has been shown here, the server 10 may transmit a Subscribe signal to each remote device 20.

[0022] The Request sent from the server 10 is received by the remote device 20-1 via the switch 30-2. The Request sent from the server 10 is received by the remote device 20-2 via the switch 30-3. The collection unit 12 determines whether or not a Report has been received (step S103). If the collection unit 12 determines that a Report has not been received (step S103-NO), the collection unit 12 waits until a Report is received.

[0023] On the other hand, if the collection unit 12 determines that a Report has been received (step S103—YES), it changes the reception flag of the remote device 20 (e.g., remote device 20-1) that is the sender of the Report from FALSE to TRUE (step S104). Thereafter, the collection unit 12 determines whether all the reception flags are TRUE (step S105). If the collection unit 12 determines that not all the reception flags are TRUE (some or all of the reception flags are FALSE) (step S105—NO), it waits until another Report is received.

[0024] For example, in the above example, only the reception flag corresponding to the remote device 20-1 is set to TRUE, and only the reception flag corresponding to the remote device 20-2 is set to FALSE in the collection unit 12. Therefore, the collection unit 12 determines that all reception flags are not TRUE.

[0025] Thereafter, in the processing of step S103, when the Report transmitted from the remote device 20-2 is received, the collection unit 12 changes the reception flag of the remote device 20 (for example, the remote device 20-2) that is the sender of the Report from FALSE to TRUE. The collection unit 12 determines whether all the reception flags are TRUE. In this case, the reception flag of the collection unit 12 corresponding to the remote device 20-1 and the reception flag corresponding to the remote device 20-2 are TRUE. Therefore, the collection unit 12 determines that all the reception flags are TRUE.

[0026] As described above, when the collection unit 12 determines that all the reception flags are TRUE (YES in step S105), it outputs an activation signal to the comparison and determination unit 13. After outputting the activation signal, the collection unit 12 may reset all the reception flags to FALSE.

[0027] When the comparison / determination unit 13 receives a start signal from the collection unit 12, it acquires the reports transmitted from each remote device 20 from the collection unit 12. The comparison / determination unit 13 performs a comparison / determination using the acquired reports from each remote device 20 (step S106). The comparison / determination unit 13 determines whether or not control is necessary as a result of the comparison / determination (step S107). If the comparison / determination unit 13 determines that control is not necessary (step S107-NO), it ends the process.

[0028] On the other hand, if comparison and determination unit 13 determines that control is necessary (step S107-YES), it notifies control unit 14 of the control content (step S108). Control unit 14 generates a control signal for controlling remote device 20 or switch 30 based on the control content notified by comparison and determination unit 13. Control unit 14 performs control by transmitting the generated control signal to remote device 20 or switch 30 via communication unit 11 (step S109).

[0029] According to the communication system 100 configured as above, the comparison and judgment unit 13 executes the comparison and judgment process at the timing when the collection unit 12 receives reports from all remote devices 20. This synchronizes the timing of receiving quality information from each remote device 20 and the timing of starting comparison and judgment. This makes it possible to perform optimal quality assurance control in the communication network.

[0030] (Second embodiment) In the first embodiment, the comparison and determination unit operates in response to a start signal from the collection unit. In the second embodiment, a configuration in which the comparison and determination unit operates autonomously will be described.

[0031] The system configuration in the second embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment. Furthermore, the functional units included in the server 10 are the same as those in the first embodiment, except that the comparison and determination unit 13 operates autonomously and does not output a start-up signal from the collection unit 12. Here, when the comparison and determination unit 13 operates autonomously, the comparison and determination unit 13 reads out the reception flag held by the collection unit 12 at high speed without synchronizing with the processing of the collection unit 12.

[0032] Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by the server 10 in the second embodiment. It is assumed that, at the start of the processing in Fig. 3, the server 10 and the remote device 20 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via the switch 30. Fig. 3 mainly explains the processing performed by the collection unit 12.

[0033] The collection unit 12 initializes the reception flags corresponding to all remote devices 20 to FALSE (step S201). The control unit 14 generates a Request addressed to each remote device 20. The control unit 14 transmits the Request to each remote device 20 via the communication unit 11 (step S202). Note that although the configuration in which the server 10 transmits the Request to each remote device 20 has been shown here, the server 10 may transmit a Subscribe signal to each remote device 20.

[0034] The Request sent from the server 10 is received by the remote device 20-1 via the switch 30-2. The Request sent from the server 10 is received by the remote device 20-2 via the switch 30-3. The collection unit 12 determines whether or not a Report has been received (step S203). If the collection unit 12 determines that a Report has not been received (step S203-NO), the collection unit 12 waits until a Report is received.

[0035] On the other hand, if the collection unit 12 determines that the Report has been received (step S203-YES), it changes the reception flag of the remote device 20 (e.g., remote device 20-1) that sent the Report from FALSE to TRUE (step S204). After that, the collection unit 12 repeatedly executes the processes from step S203 onwards until it has received Reports from all remote devices 20.

[0036] 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by the server 10 in the second embodiment. In FIG. 4, the processing performed by the comparison and determination unit 13 will be mainly explained.

[0037] The comparison and determination unit 13 reads out the reception flags of the collection unit 12 at high speed (step S211). The comparison and determination unit 13 refers to the reception flags of the collection unit 12 that have been read out and determines whether all the reception flags are TRUE or not (step S212). If the comparison and determination unit 13 determines that all the reception flags are not TRUE (step S212-NO), the comparison and determination unit 13 reads out the reception flags of the collection unit 12 at high speed again.

[0038] On the other hand, if the comparison and determination unit 13 determines that all the reception flags are TRUE (step S212-YES), it resets all the reception flags of the collection unit 12 to FALSE (step S213). The comparison and determination unit 13 acquires a report of each remote device 20 from the collection unit 12 and performs a comparison and determination using the acquired report of each remote device 20 (step S214). The comparison and determination unit 13 determines whether or not control is necessary as a result of the comparison and determination (step S215). If the comparison and determination unit 13 determines that control is not necessary (step S215-NO), it ends the process.

[0039] On the other hand, if comparison and determination unit 13 determines that control is necessary (step S215-YES), it notifies control unit 14 of the control content (step S216). Control unit 14 generates a control signal for controlling remote device 20 or switch 30 based on the control content notified by comparison and determination unit 13. Control unit 14 performs control by transmitting the generated control signal to remote device 20 or switch 30 via communication unit 11 (step S217).

[0040] According to the communication system 100 of the second embodiment configured as described above, the comparison and judgment unit 13 independently and at high speed monitors the reception flags of the collection unit 12, and when the reception flags corresponding to all remote devices 20 become TRUE (a state indicating that reports have been received from all remote devices 20), the comparison and judgment is performed using the reports obtained from all remote devices 20 by the collection unit 12. This synchronizes the timing of receiving quality information from each remote device 20 and the timing of starting comparison and judgment. This makes it possible to perform optimal quality assurance control in the communication network.

[0041] (Third embodiment) In the third embodiment, a configuration will be described in which the comparison and determination unit executes processing in accordance with the time when the report is predicted to be received.

[0042] 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a communication system 100b in the third embodiment. The communication system 100b includes a server 10b, a plurality of remote devices 20-1 to 20-2, a plurality of switches 30-1 to 30-3, and a terminal 40.

[0043] The communication system 100b differs in configuration from the communication system 100 in that it includes a server 10b instead of the server 10. The other configurations of the communication system 100b are the same as those of the communication system 100. The differences from the communication system 100 will be described below.

[0044] The server 10b includes a communication unit 11, a collection unit 12b, a comparison and determination unit 13, a control unit 14, and a timing adjustment unit 15. As in the first embodiment, the comparison and determination unit 13 does not perform processing until it receives an instruction from another functional unit (for example, the timing adjustment unit 15). That is, in the third embodiment, the comparison and determination unit 13 is a functional unit that does not operate autonomously.

[0045] The collection unit 12b collects the reports transmitted from each remote device 20. When the collection unit 12b has received reports from all remote devices 20, it acquires the time at which all reception flags become TRUE (hereinafter referred to as the "reception completion time"). The collection unit 12b notifies the timing adjustment unit 15 of the acquired reception completion time information.

[0046] The timing adjustment unit 15 estimates the next estimated time of report reception based on information about past reception completion times notified by the collection unit 12b. When reports are transmitted periodically, for example, the timing adjustment unit 15 calculates the difference between the past two reception completion times and adds the difference to the last report reception time to calculate the estimated report reception time. The timing adjustment unit 15 causes the comparison and determination unit 13 to execute processing in accordance with the estimated report reception time. Note that if it takes time to process a report received by the collection unit 12b, the timing adjustment unit 15 may take the time required to process the report into account in the estimated report reception time (for example, add the time required to process the report to the estimated report reception time).

[0047] Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing by the server 10b in the third embodiment. It is assumed that, at the start of the processing in Fig. 6, the server 10b and the remote device 20 are communicably connected via the switch 30. In Fig. 6, the same processes as those in Fig. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in Fig. 2, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0048] When the collection unit 12b determines that all the reception flags are TRUE (YES in step S105) after the processes from step S101 to step S105 are executed, the collection unit 12b acquires the reception completion time. The collection unit 12b notifies the timing adjustment unit 15 of the acquired reception completion time.

[0049] The timing adjustment unit 15 estimates the next expected time of report reception based on the past reception completion time notified by the collection unit 12b (step S301). Thereafter, the timing adjustment unit 15 determines whether the current time is the expected time of report reception (step S302). If the timing adjustment unit 15 determines that the current time is not the expected time of report reception (step S302-NO), it waits until the current time becomes the expected time of report reception.

[0050] On the other hand, if the timing adjustment unit 15 determines that the current time is the predicted time for receiving the Report (YES in step S302), it causes the comparison and determination unit 13 to execute processing (step S303). Specifically, when the current time becomes the predicted time for receiving the Report, the timing adjustment unit 15 outputs a start signal to the comparison and determination unit 13 to cause the comparison and determination unit 13 to execute processing. Thereafter, the processing from step S106 onwards is executed.

[0051] In the communication system 100b configured as described above, the next predicted time of report reception is estimated based on the time when report reception is completed from all remote devices 20 (reception completion time). Then, the timing adjustment unit 15 causes the comparison and judgment unit 13 to execute the comparison and judgment process in accordance with the predicted report reception time. The comparison and judgment unit 13 performs the comparison and judgment at the timing when the report is received. This aligns the timing of receiving quality information from each remote device 20 and the timing of starting the comparison and judgment. This makes it possible to perform optimal quality assurance control in the communication network.

[0052] Some of the functional units of the servers 10, 10b and the remote device 20 in the above-described embodiments may be implemented by a computer. In this case, a program for implementing the functions may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed. Note that the term "computer system" here includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices.

[0053] Furthermore, "computer-readable recording media" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, as well as storage devices such as hard disks built into computer systems. Furthermore, "computer-readable recording media" may also include devices that dynamically store programs for a short period of time, such as communication lines used when transmitting programs over networks like the Internet or over communication lines like telephone lines, or devices that store programs for a fixed period of time, such as volatile memory within the computer systems that serve as servers or clients. Furthermore, the programs may be programs that implement some of the aforementioned functions, or may be programs that can realize the aforementioned functions in combination with programs already stored in the computer system, or may be programs that are implemented using programmable logic devices such as FPGAs.

[0054] Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes designs within the scope of the gist of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0055] The present invention can be applied to a communication system that collects network quality information. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 10, 10b...server, 20, 20-1 to 20-2...remote device, 30, 30-1 to 30-3...switch, 40...terminal, 11...communication unit, 12, 12b...collection unit, 13...comparison and judgment unit, 14...control unit, 15...timing adjustment unit

Claims

1. a collection unit that collects responses to signals transmitted to each of a plurality of remote devices that are targets of remote monitoring; a comparison and determination unit that performs a comparison and determination using the responses obtained from the plurality of remote devices at a timing when responses are obtained from all of the plurality of remote devices; Equipped with a timing adjustment unit that predicts the time at which a response will be received from the remote device; the collection unit holds a flag indicating whether a response has been received for each remote device, and each time a response is received from a remote device, changes the state of the flag corresponding to the remote device from which the response has been received to a state indicating that a response has been received, and notifies the timing adjustment unit of the time when the state of the flag has changed to a state indicating that responses have been received from all of the plurality of remote devices as a reception completion time; the timing adjustment unit calculates an expected reception time, which is the time when responses will next be received from all of the plurality of remote devices, based on the information on the reception completion time, and outputs a start signal to the comparison and judgment unit at the calculated expected reception time to cause the comparison and judgment unit to execute processing; The comparison and determination unit, upon receiving the activation signal, performs a comparison and determination using a plurality of responses received from all of the plurality of remote devices.

2. When the collection unit needs time to process the response, the timing adjustment unit adds the time required to process the response to the estimated reception time and outputs the activation signal to the comparison and determination unit. The server of claim 1 .

3. A collection unit collects responses to signals transmitted to each of a plurality of remote devices that are targets of remote monitoring, a comparison and determination unit, when responses are received from all of the plurality of remote devices, performing a comparison and determination using the plurality of responses received from the plurality of remote devices; a timing adjustment unit for predicting a time when a response will be received from the remote device; the collection unit holds a flag indicating whether a response has been received for each remote device, and each time a response is received from a remote device, changes the state of the flag corresponding to the remote device from which the response has been received to a state indicating that a response has been received, and notifies the timing adjustment unit of the time when the state of the flag has changed to a state indicating that responses have been received from all of the plurality of remote devices as a reception completion time; the timing adjustment unit calculates an expected reception time, which is the time when responses will next be received from all of the plurality of remote devices, based on the information on the reception completion time, and outputs a start signal to the comparison and judgment unit at the calculated expected reception time to cause the comparison and judgment unit to execute processing; The remote quality measurement method, wherein the comparison and determination unit, upon receiving the activation signal, performs a comparison and determination using a plurality of responses obtained from all of the plurality of remote devices.

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