Control device and path switching method
The control device and method facilitate rapid route switching in interconnected networks by using coordinating units to manage and re-route communication paths based on status information, addressing the challenge of prolonged interruptions in existing systems.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NT T INC
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-11
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-15
AI Technical Summary
Existing communication systems struggle to promptly detect and switch routes in interconnected networks when failures occur, leading to prolonged communication interruptions, especially when different networks are connected, such as in wireless and optical access networks.
A control device and method that includes a receiving unit to repeatedly receive status information from interconnected networks and a control unit to switch communication paths between wireless and wired networks based on detected failures, using coordinating units to quickly re-route communication to minimize interruptions.
This approach reduces communication interruption time by enabling rapid route switching between interconnected networks, even when failures occur, by utilizing coordinating units to manage and re-establish connections efficiently.
Smart Images
Figure JP2024039927_15052026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Control Device and Route Switching Method
[0001] The present invention relates to a control device and a route switching method.
[0002] With the reduction of latency and improvement of reliability in wireless communication systems, there is a demand for a low-latency and highly reliable optical access NW in the wired communication network (NW) accommodated in the wireless communication system.
[0003] In the prior art, there is a ring-type optical access network system that can restore communication by switching to a redundant route (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This ring-type optical access network system has a configuration in which a ring-shaped optical fiber transmission path includes a plurality of station-side optical switches and a plurality of subscriber-side optical switches. Each station-side optical switch is connected to one station-side device, and each subscriber-side switch is connected to a plurality of subscriber-side devices. When a fiber failure occurs, the ring-type optical access network system changes the routes of the station-side device and the subscriber-side device where the communication interruption has occurred to a redundant route when the station-side optical switch can receive an optical signal from the station-side device upon notification of the communication interruption of the station-side device. When the station-side optical switch cannot receive an optical signal from the station-side device, it transfers the communication setting information of the station-side device to another station-side device and outputs an instruction to change the route.
[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-085309
[0005] The above-described prior art is a recovery method closed within the optical access network system. Therefore, when other networks or systems are connected, it may be difficult to promptly detect the trigger for switching to a redundant route. For example, when a wireless base station is connected to the optical access network system, even if a failure occurs in the wireless section, the optical access network cannot detect the abnormality. Thus, it is difficult to perform control to change the route in cooperation between systems, and there is a concern that the communication interruption time may become long.
[0006] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a control device and a route switching method that can shorten the time of communication interruption even when a failure occurs in one network in a communication system in which different networks are interconnected.
[0007] A control device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a wireless communication network having a first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device that convert wireless signals and wired signals; a wired communication network connected to the wireless communication network and having a distribution device that transfers wired signals; a receiving unit that repeatedly receives status information indicating the state of communication using a transmission path between the distribution device and the first processing device from the distribution device in an interconnected communication network having a first processing device and a second processing device connected to the wired communication network, at different timings; and a control unit that controls the interconnected communication network to switch a first path of a terminal device that communicates with the first processing device via the first wireless communication device and the distribution device to a second path that communicates with the second processing device via the second wireless communication device and the distribution device when the receiving unit detects the occurrence of a communication failure using the transmission path based on the status information received by the receiving unit.
[0008] A route switching method according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a receiving step of repeatedly receiving status information indicating the state of communication using a transmission path between a distribution device and the first processing device from a distribution device in an interconnected communication network having a wireless communication network having a first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device that convert wireless signals and wired signals; a wired communication network connected to the wireless communication network and having a distribution device that transfers wired signals; and a receiving step of controlling the interconnected communication network to switch a first route of a terminal device that communicates with the first processing device via the first wireless communication device and the distribution device to a second route that communicates with the second processing device via the second wireless communication device and the distribution device, when a communication failure using the transmission path is detected based on the status information received in the receiving step.
[0009] This invention makes it possible to reduce the time of communication interruption in a communication system in which different networks are interconnected, even if a failure occurs in one of the networks.
[0010] This figure shows an example of the configuration of a communication system according to the first embodiment. This figure shows an example of a connection information table according to the first embodiment. This is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the communication system according to the first embodiment. This is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the communication system according to the first embodiment. This figure shows an example of the configuration of a communication system according to the second embodiment. This figure shows an example of the configuration of a communication system according to the third embodiment. This figure shows a schematic of the hardware configuration example of an information processing device applied to the first to third embodiments.
[0011] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0012] (First Embodiment) Figure 1 shows the configuration of a communication system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The communication system 1 includes one or more terminal devices 2, two or more wireless base stations 3, one or more circuit distribution devices 4, two or more computing processing devices 5, a wireless communication network control device 6, a wired communication network control device 7, and a computing processing device control device 8. The direction from the terminal device 2 to the computing processing device 5 is called upstream, and the direction from the computing processing device 5 to the terminal device 2 is called downstream. The wireless base station 3 and the circuit distribution device 4 are connected by a transmission path 91 of the first transmission section. The circuit distribution device 4 and the computing processing device 5 are connected by a transmission path 92 of the second transmission section. Transmission paths 91 and 92 each transmit wired signals. The wired signals are, for example, optical signals. When the wired signals are optical signals, transmission paths 91 and 92 are, for example, optical fibers. Relay devices and amplification devices may be provided between optical fibers. The wired signals may also be electrical signals. If the wired signal is an electrical signal, then transmission lines 91 and 92 are communication cables that transmit electrical signals. Relay devices, amplifiers, etc., may be provided between the communication cables.
[0013] In the following, the two wireless base stations 3 will be referred to as wireless base stations 3-1 and 3-2, and the two computing devices 5 will be referred to as computing devices 5-1 and 5-2. The transmission path 91 between wireless base station 3-1 and the circuit distribution device 4 will be referred to as transmission path 91-1, the transmission path 91 between wireless base station 3-2 and the circuit distribution device 4 will be referred to as transmission path 91-2, the transmission path 92 between the circuit distribution device 4 and the computing device 5-1 will be referred to as transmission path 92-1, and the transmission path 92 between the circuit distribution device 4 and the computing device 5-2 will be referred to as transmission path 92-2. Furthermore, assume that route P1 passes through terminal device 2, wireless base station 3-1, circuit distribution device 4, and computing device 5-1, and that route P2, the destination of route P1, passes through terminal device 2, wireless base station 3-2, circuit distribution device 4, and computing device 5-2.
[0014] The terminal device 2 and the wireless base station 3 constitute a wireless network (wireless communication network). Each device within the wireless network, such as the terminal device 2 and the wireless base station 3, is controlled by the wireless communication network control device 6. The terminal device 2 communicates wirelessly with the wireless base station 3. The terminal device 2 communicates wirelessly with one wireless base station 3 at a time.
[0015] The wireless base station 3 accommodates one or more terminal devices 2. The wireless base station 3 converts wireless signals received from the terminal devices 2 into wired signals such as optical signals or electrical signals and outputs them to the transmission path 91, and converts wired signals such as optical signals or electrical signals input from the transmission path 91 into wireless signals and transmits them to the terminal devices 2.
[0016] The circuit distribution device 4, transmission lines 91 and 92 constitute a wired network (wired communication network). Each device within the wired section, such as the circuit distribution device 4, is controlled by the wired communication network control device 7. The circuit distribution device 4 constructs multiple paths by connecting the wireless base station 3 and the computing processing unit 5. For example, the circuit distribution device 4 has a plurality of first ports and a plurality of second ports. Each first port is connected to each transmission line 91, and each second port is connected to each transmission line 92. The circuit distribution device 4 outputs wired signals input from a first port from the second port corresponding to that first port, and outputs wired signals input from a second port from the first port corresponding to that second port, according to settings made by the wired communication network control device 7 and input devices (not shown). At this time, the circuit distribution device 4 may perform conversions of wired signals, such as converting electrical signals to optical signals.
[0017] The computing device 5 transmits and receives wired signals via the transmission line 92. The computing device 5 receives information from the terminal device 2 or the wireless base station 3 and processes the received information. Furthermore, the computing device 5 transmits information indicating the processing results to the terminal device 2 or the wireless base station 3. In addition, the computing device 5 establishes a communication session with the wireless base station 3 and processes applications used by the terminal device 2, as needed.
[0018] The wireless communication network control device 6 has a coordinating unit 61 and a data collection control unit 62. The coordinating unit 61 transmits and receives data with terminal devices 2 and wireless base stations 3. The coordinating unit 61 transmits and receives data with terminal devices 2 via wireless base stations 3 that the terminal devices 2 can communicate with wirelessly. The coordinating unit 61 also transmits and receives data with the coordinating unit 71 of the wired communication network control device 7 and the coordinating unit 81 of the computing processing device control device 8.
[0019] The data collection control unit 62 collects and controls information from control target devices within the wireless section, such as terminal devices 2 and wireless base stations 3, via the coordination unit 61, and also performs setting changes and status monitoring of the control target devices. The information collected includes, for example, connection status and communication quality in the wireless environment, and the operating status of each functional unit and component within the device. The data collection control unit 62 communicates with the wired communication network control device 7 and the computing processing device control device 8 via the coordination unit 61. The data collection control unit 62 changes the settings of control target devices within the wireless section, such as terminal devices 2 and wireless base stations 3, according to route switching instructions received from the wired communication network control device 7 via the coordination unit 61.
[0020] The wired communication network control device 7 includes a linking unit 71, a data collection control unit 72, and a storage unit 73. The linking unit 71 transmits and receives data with the circuit distribution device 4. The linking unit 71 also transmits and receives data with the linking unit 61 of the wireless communication network control device 6 and the linking unit 81 of the computing processing device control device 8.
[0021] The data collection control unit 72, via the linkage unit 71, collects and controls information from controlled devices within the wired section, such as the circuit distribution device 4, and also performs setting changes and status monitoring of the controlled devices. The information collected from the circuit distribution device 4 includes, for example, status information such as the communication quality of each transmission line 91, 92, the connection status with other devices, and the operating status of each functional unit and component within the device. When the data collection control unit 72 detects a fault in the second transmission section based on the collected information, it reads the destination route from the storage unit 73. The data collection control unit 72 instructs the controlled devices within the wired section, such as the circuit distribution device 4, to switch to the destination route, and also instructs the wireless communication network control device 6 and the computing processing device control device 8 to switch to the destination route via the linkage unit 71. The storage unit 73 stores a connection table showing the route between the terminal device 2 and the computing processing device 5, and the destination route information for that route.
[0022] The computing processing unit control device 8 includes a communication unit 81 and a data collection control unit 82. The communication unit 81 transmits and receives data with the computing processing unit 5. The communication unit 81 also transmits and receives data with the communication unit 61 of the wireless communication network control device 6 and the communication unit 71 of the wired communication network control device 7.
[0023] The data collection control unit 82 collects and controls information from the computing device 5 via the linkage unit 81, and performs setting changes and status monitoring of the computing device 5. The information collected includes, for example, the connection status with other devices, communication quality, and the operating status of each functional unit and component within the device. The data collection control unit 82 changes the settings of the computing device 5 according to the route switching instruction received from the wired communication network control device 7 via the linkage unit 81, and switches the computing device 5 to which the terminal device 2 is connected.
[0024] With the above configuration, each control unit—the wireless communication network control unit 6, the wired communication network control unit 7, and the computing device control unit 8—collects and controls information from their respective controlled devices, and performs setting changes and status monitoring for the controlled devices. Each control unit communicates with other control units via the linkage units 61, 71, and 81 at the appropriate timing to exchange information. When the data collection control unit 72 of the wired communication network control unit 7 detects a failure in the transmission path 92 between the line distribution device 4 and the computing device 5, it uses the linkage units 61, 71, and 81 to quickly notify the wireless communication network control unit 6 and the computing device control unit 8 of the failure, and switches both the wireless section and the computing device 5. This maintains connectivity between the terminal device 2 and the computing device 5.
[0025] Thus, in this embodiment, in an interconnected communication network consisting of a wireless communication network, a wired communication network, and a computing processing unit 5, when a communication interruption occurs between the circuit distribution device 4 and the computing processing unit 5, each control device communicates using the cooperation units 61, 71, and 81, thereby shortening the time from the detection of the communication interruption to the completion of the switch between the wired and wireless sections.
[0026] Here, for comparison, we will explain the operation when transmission line 92 fails using conventional technology. In a communication system using conventional technology, if a failure in transmission line 92-1 is detected during communication via path P1, only the second transmission section is changed to establish the connection relationship between the radio base station 3-1 and the computing device 5-2. This makes it possible to switch from the computing device 5-1 that has experienced a failure to the computing device 5-2. However, if only the second transmission section is switched, the opposing device of the radio base station 3-1 will switch from the computing device 5-1 to the computing device 5-2. As a result, inconsistencies in communication sessions and settings may occur. When such inconsistencies occur, it is expected that the communication interruption time will be prolonged.
[0027] Furthermore, having backup routes allows for faster recovery in the event of a failure. However, providing backup routes incurs costs.
[0028] On the other hand, in this embodiment, when a failure occurs in the transmission path 92 between the line distribution device 4 and the computing device 5, the interoperation units 61, 71, and 81 of each control device are used to notify the system of the failure, thereby switching both the wireless section and the computing device 5. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the communication interruption time between the terminal device 2 and the computing device 5.
[0029] Next, we will explain an example of the operation of the communication system 1 shown in Figure 1. Here, we will explain an example in which the line distribution device 4 detects a fault in the second transmission section while the terminal device 2 and the computing processing device 5-1 are communicating via route P1.
[0030] Figure 2 shows an example of a connection information table. The connection information table is stored in the storage unit 73 of the wired communication network control device 7. The connection information table contains multiple connection information entries. The routes indicated by the second and subsequent connection information entries are the routes to which the route indicated by the first connection information entry is switched, i.e., backup routes. The connection information includes connection information identification information, route identification information, and information on the wireless base stations 3 and computing processing devices 5 along the route. If there are multiple routes to which the connection information is switched, three or more connection information entries are set in the connection information table. In this case, priority is assigned to the connection information of the routes to which the connection information is switched in advance. For example, the lower the connection information number or the row number in the connection information table, the higher the priority.
[0031] With the wireless base station 3-1 and the computing device 5-1 connected via route P1, connection information C1 indicating the configuration of route P1 and connection information C2 indicating the configuration of the destination route P2 are set in the connection information table. The connection information table may be pre-loaded into the wired communication network control device 7. When the collection control unit 72 of the wired communication network control device 7 detects a communication interruption on route P1 indicated by connection information C1, it changes the settings of the circuit distribution device 4 to switch to the destination route P2 indicated by connection information C2 from the connection information table. Furthermore, the collection control unit 72 instructs the wireless communication network control device 6 and the computing device control device 8 to switch to route P2. The wireless communication network control device 6 changes the connection destination of the terminal device 2 to the wireless base station 3-2 according to the received switching instruction. The computing device control device 8 switches from computing device 5-1 to computing device 5-2 according to the received switching instruction.
[0032] Figure 3 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the communication system 1. First, the terminal device 2 and the wireless base station 3-1 establish a connection (step S101), and the wireless base station 3-1 establish a connection with the circuit distribution device 4 (step S102). Furthermore, the circuit distribution device 4 establishes a connection with the computing processing device 5-1 (step S103). The circuit distribution device 4 has a correspondence set between a first port to which transmission line 91-1 is connected and a second port to which transmission line 92-1 is connected. As a result, the terminal device 2 communicates with the computing processing device 5-1 via route P1 (step S104).
[0033] Specifically, the wireless base station 3-1 converts the wireless signal received from the terminal device 2 into a wired signal and outputs it to the transmission line 91-1. The circuit distribution device 4 receives the wired signal transmitted through the transmission line 91-1 and outputs it to the transmission line 92-1. The computing processing device 5-1 receives the wired signal transmitted through the transmission line 92-1. The computing processing device 5-1 also outputs a wired signal destined for the terminal device 2 or the wireless base station 3-1 to the transmission line 92-1. The circuit distribution device 4 receives the wired signal transmitted through the transmission line 92-1 and outputs it to the transmission line 91-1. The wireless base station 3-1 converts the wired signal transmitted through the transmission line 91-1 into a wireless signal and transmits it to the terminal device 2.
[0034] Next, the communication system 1 detects a fault in the transmission line 92-1 (step S1). Step S1 includes the operations of steps S111 to S122 below.
[0035] The data collection control unit 72 of the wired communication network control device 7 receives data from the circuit distribution device 4 via the linking unit 71 at regular intervals, or monitors the circuit distribution device 4 to confirm the normality of the monitored object (step S111). For example, the data collection control unit 72 periodically sends queries to the circuit distribution device 4 (step S112) to obtain information on the received optical power of each transmission line 92 in the circuit distribution device 4 (step S113). The data collection control unit 72 determines that the device is normal if the received optical power is above a preset threshold.
[0036] If a failure occurs in transmission line 92-1, the circuit distribution device 4 becomes unable to communicate with the computing device 5-1 (step S114). The data collection control unit 72 of the wired communication network control device 7 sends an inquiry for the next cycle to the circuit distribution device 4 (step S115) and receives information on the received optical power of each transmission line 92 in the circuit distribution device 4 (step S116). The data collection control unit 72 detects that a communication interruption has occurred in the second transmission section of the first path, i.e., between the circuit distribution device 4 and the computing device 5-1, because the received optical power of transmission line 92-1 indicated by the received information is below a threshold (step S117). Note that the communication interruption can also be caused by a failure in the computing device 5-1, in addition to a failure in transmission line 92-1.
[0037] Furthermore, the circuit distribution device 4 may transmit an error log, such as an interruption in communication with a counterpart device like the wireless base station 3 or the computing device 5, to the wired communication network control device 7 instead of information on the received optical power. The collection control unit 72 of the wired communication network control device 7 detects a communication interruption between the circuit distribution device 4 and the computing device 5-1, which is the second transmission section of the first route, based on the error log received via the coordination unit 71.
[0038] When the wired communication network control device 7 detects a communication interruption between the circuit distribution device 4 and the computing device 5-1, the collection control unit 72 refers to the connection information table stored in the storage unit 73 to identify the connection information C1 of the route P1 using the computing device 5-1. The collection control unit 72 reads the connection information C2 of the destination route for the connection information C1 from the connection information table. The collection control unit 72 decides to switch to the route P2 indicated by the read connection information C2 (step S118). In this way, the determination of the destination route is made based on pre-set connection information. When the wired communication network control device 7 switches routes after detecting a failure, it uses the pre-set connection information as described above to make the destination of each device and route unique.
[0039] The data collection control unit 72 of the wired communication network control device 7 instructs the circuit distribution device 4, via the coordination unit 71, to switch the route P1 between the wireless base station 3-1 and the computing processing device 5-1 to the route P2 between the wireless base station 3-2 and the computing processing device 5-2 (step S119). The circuit distribution device 4 changes the connection destination setting to switch the route P1 between the wireless base station 3-1 and the computing processing device 5-1 to the route P2 between the wireless base station 3-2 and the computing processing device 5-2 according to the received instruction (step S120).
[0040] Furthermore, the data collection control unit 72 of the wired communication network control device 7 transmits a switching instruction to the wireless base station 3-2 of route P2 to the wireless communication network control device 6 via the cooperation unit 71 (step S121), and transmits a switching instruction to the computing processing device control device 8 to the computing processing device 5-2 of route P2 (step S122). For communication between the wired communication network control device 7 and the wireless communication network control device 6, and between the wired communication network control device 7 and the computing processing device control device 8, data transmission and reception may be performed using, for example, RESTCONF (Representational State Transfer Configuration Protocol), NETCONF (Network Configuration Protocol), SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), etc.
[0041] Figure 4 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the communication system 1, a continuation of Figure 3. The computing processing unit control device 8 switches from computing processing unit 5-1 to computing processing unit 5-2 (step S2). Step S2 includes the operations of the following steps S201 to S203.
[0042] When the data collection control unit 82 of the computing processing unit control device 8 receives instructions from the wired communication network control device 7 via the linkage unit 81, it accesses the computing processing unit 5-2 via the linkage unit 81 and switches from computing processing unit 5-1 to computing processing unit 5-2 (step S201). At this time, processing that is being executed in computing processing unit 5-1 may be transferred to computing processing unit 5-2 without interruption using techniques such as live migration. The computing processing unit 5-2 establishes a connection with the circuit distribution device 4 according to the instructions from the computing processing unit control device 8 (step S202). Furthermore, the circuit distribution device 4 establishes a connection with the wireless base station 3-2 (step S203).
[0043] Next, the wireless communication network control device 6 notifies the terminal device 2 and the wireless base station 3 of the change in connection from wireless base station 3-1 to wireless base station 3-2, and establishes a connection between wireless base station 3-2 and the terminal device 2 (step S3). Step S3 includes the operations of the following steps S301 to S305.
[0044] When the collection control unit 62 of the wireless communication network control device 6 receives an instruction from the wired communication network control device 7 via the cooperation unit 61, it transmits a switching instruction to the wireless base station 3-2 to the wireless base station 3-1 and the terminal device 2 via the cooperation unit 61 (steps S301, S302). The switching instruction to the terminal device 2 may be transmitted from the wireless base station 3-1. Also, the wireless base station 3-2 may acquire information regarding communication with the terminal device 2 from the wireless base station 3-1. The terminal device 2 changes the connection destination from the wireless base station 3-1 to the wireless base station 3-2 in accordance with the instruction received from the wireless communication network control device 6 (step S303). Thereby, a connection is established between the terminal device 2 and the wireless base station 3-2 (step S304).
[0045] By the above processing, the terminal device 2 and the calculation processing device 5-2 are connected by the path P2. Specifically, the wireless base station 3-2 converts the wireless signal received from the terminal device 2 into a wired signal and outputs it to the transmission line 91-2. The line distribution device 4 inputs the wired signal transmitted through the transmission line 91-2 and outputs it to the transmission line 92-2. The calculation processing device 5-2 receives the wired signal transmitted through the transmission line 92-2. Also, the calculation processing device 5-2 outputs a wired signal addressed to the terminal device 2 or the wireless base station 3-2 to the transmission line 92-2. The line distribution device 4 inputs the wired signal transmitted through the transmission line 92-2 and outputs it to the transmission line 91-2. The wireless base station 3-2 converts the wired signal transmitted through the transmission line 91-2 into a wireless signal and transmits it to the terminal device 2.
[0046] Note that part or all of the processing of steps S119 to S120, the processing of steps S121, S301 to S304, and the processing of steps S122, S201 to S203 may be performed in parallel or in an exchanged order.
[0047] By the operations shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connection change between the calculation processing device 5-2 and the terminal device 2 can be promptly implemented. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the service interruption time in case of a failure in the second transmission section or a failure of the calculation processing device 5.
[0048] Specifically, the communication system 1 can be configured as follows. For example, as the radio base station 3, a Wi-Fi AP (access point) or a radio base station in a cellular system can be used. The radio base station in a cellular system is, for example, an eNB (eNodeB) or a gNB (gNodeB). The radio base station 3 is a device that communicates wirelessly with the terminal device 2 and communicates with the upper NW by wire such as optical communication.
[0049] As the line distribution device 4, an optical switch is mainly used. When the line distribution device 4 shown in FIG. 1 is an optical switch, the line distribution device 4 uniquely establishes a physical connection relationship from among 2 inputs × 2 outputs = 4 paths. The calculation processing device 5 is a device mainly implemented by a CPU (central processing unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) such as a server. The calculation processing device 5 performs calculation processing necessary for communication with the terminal device 2 and video processing of applications used in the terminal device 2.
[0050] The radio communication network control device 6 is a controller that controls the radio base station 3. For example, the radio communication network control device 6 is a device that controls the terminal device 2, such as a RIC (RAN Intelligence Controller) or a Wi-Fi controller. The wired communication network control device 7 is a controller that controls the line distribution device 4. The wired communication network control device 7 performs control such as monitoring the life and death of the line distribution device 4 and changing the path. The calculation processing device control device 8 is a controller that controls the calculation processing device 5. The calculation processing device control device 8 performs resource management of a physical server such as a virtualization platform.
[0051] Furthermore, when this embodiment is applied to a cellular system, the optical transmission section is defined as MBH (Mobile Back-Haul), MFH (Mobile Front-haul), or MMH (Mobile Mid-haul) in accordance with the processing division of the radio signal by the radio base station 3 and the computing device 5. For example, when the communication system 1 is applied to 5G (5th Generation Mobile Communication System), the computing device 5 may perform the functions of a DU (Distributed Unit) or CU (Central Unit), or the function of a UPF (User Plane Function), which is the endpoint of the U-plane of a 5GC (5th Generation Core network).
[0052] According to the embodiment described above, the wireless communication network control device 6, the wired communication network control device 7, and the computing processing device control device 8 communicate directly via the coordinating units 61, 71, and 81, thereby shortening the time required for processing from communication interruption detection to switching. Furthermore, in the conventional technology, redundant paths were configured by preparing two different paths in advance in the circuit distribution device 4 and always assigning different wavelengths to those paths. However, by applying this embodiment, the same wavelength can be used for paths P1 and P2, and path switching can be completed quickly, so a reduction in the number of wavelengths in that section can also be expected.
[0053] (Second Embodiment) In the second embodiment, the coordinating units of each control device do not communicate directly with each other, but communicate via an integrated management control device.
[0054] Figure 5 shows a communication system 11 of the second embodiment. In the communication system 11 of the second embodiment shown in Figure 5, the same reference numerals are used for parts that are the same as those in the communication system 1 of the first embodiment shown in Figure 1, and their descriptions are omitted. The difference between the communication system 11 shown in Figure 5 and the communication system 1 shown in Figure 1 is that the second embodiment further includes an integrated management control device 110.
[0055] The linking unit 61 of the wireless communication network control device 6 transmits data destined for the wired communication network control device 7 and data destined for the computing processing device control device 8 to the integrated management control device 110. The linking unit 71 of the wired communication network control device 7 transmits data destined for the wireless communication network control device 6 and data destined for the computing processing device control device 8 to the integrated management control device 110. The linking unit 81 of the computing processing device control device 8 transmits data destined for the wireless communication network control device 6 and data destined for the wired communication network control device 7 to the integrated management control device 110.
[0056] The integrated management control device 110 includes an integrated management control unit 111. The integrated management control unit 111 transmits data received from the linkage unit 61 to one or both of the linkage units 71 and 81 depending on the destination, transmits data received from the linkage unit 71 to one or both of the linkage units 61 and 81 depending on the destination, and transmits data received from the linkage unit 81 to one or both of the linkage units 61 and 71 depending on the destination. The integrated management control unit 111 may also convert the protocol and data format used in the data received from the linkage unit 61, linkage unit 71, or linkage unit 81 to the protocol and data format used by the destination linkage unit 61, linkage unit 71, or linkage unit 81 before transmitting. For example, in an NW orchestrator, the wireless communication network control device 6, wired communication network control device 7, and computing processing device control device 8 that control the control units and controllers of various controlled devices communicate via the integrated management control unit 111. Although this is less fast than direct communication, it allows for communication using a common interface, resulting in a simpler configuration in terms of implementation.
[0057] (Third Embodiment) In the third embodiment, the wireless communication network control device, the wired communication network control device, and the computing device control device are integrated and implemented into a single integrated management control device.
[0058] Figure 6 shows the configuration of the communication system 12 according to the third embodiment. In the communication system 12 of the third embodiment shown in Figure 6, the same reference numerals are used for parts that are the same as those in the communication system 1 of the first embodiment shown in Figure 1, and their descriptions are omitted. The difference between the communication system 12 shown in Figure 6 and the communication system 1 shown in Figure 1 is that the communication system 12 is equipped with an integrated management control device 120 that consolidates the wireless communication network control device 6, the wired communication network control device 7, and the computing device control device 8.
[0059] The integrated management control device 120 comprises a wireless communication network control unit 60, a wired communication network control unit 70, and a computing processing unit control unit 80. The wireless communication network control unit 60 has a linkage unit 61 and a data collection control unit 62. The wired communication network control unit 70 has a linkage unit 71, a data collection control unit 72, and a storage unit 73. The computing processing unit control unit 80 has a linkage unit 81 and a data collection control unit 82. For example, the wireless communication network control unit 60, the wired communication network control unit 70, and the computing processing unit control unit 80 may be implemented on a single physical server computer as virtual machines or containers, or they may be implemented as a program that executes the wireless communication network control unit 60, the wired communication network control unit 70, and the computing processing unit control unit 80 as a single process on the CPU.
[0060] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the hardware configuration example of the wireless communication network control device 6, wired communication network control device 7, computing processing device control device 8, and integrated management control devices 110 and 120 applied to this embodiment. The information processing device 900 includes a processor 901, main memory 902, communication interface 903, auxiliary storage device 904, input / output interface 905, and internal bus 906. The processor 901, main memory 902, communication interface 903, auxiliary storage device 904, and input / output interface 905 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via the internal bus 906. The information processing device 900 may be applied to, for example, the wireless communication network control device 6, wired communication network control device 7, computing processing device control device 8, and integrated management control devices 110 and 120. For example, the cooperation units 61, 71, 81 and the integrated management control units 111 and 121 correspond to the communication interface 903. Also, for example, the storage unit 73 may be configured using the auxiliary storage device 904. Some or all of the linkage units 61, 71, 81, the data collection control units 62, 72, 82, and the integrated management control units 111, 121 may be configured using a processor 901 and a main memory 902. Some or all of the functions of the linkage units 61, 71, 81, the data collection control units 62, 72, 82, and the integrated management control units 111, 121 may be implemented using hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).
[0061] Furthermore, the wireless communication network control device 6, the wired communication network control device 7, the computing processing device control device 8, and the integrated management control devices 110 and 120 may be implemented using multiple information processing devices. For example, the wireless communication network control device 6, the wired communication network control device 7, the computing processing device control device 8, and the integrated management control devices 110 and 120 may be implemented using a cloud or similar device. Note that it is arbitrary which functional unit of the wireless communication network control device 6, the wired communication network control device 7, the computing processing device control device 8, and the integrated management control devices 110 and 120 is implemented in which information processing device. Also, one functional unit of the wireless communication network control device 6, the wired communication network control device 7, the computing processing device control device 8, and the integrated management control devices 110 and 120 may be realized by multiple information processing devices.
[0062] According to the embodiment described above, the control device has a receiving unit and a control unit. For example, the receiving unit corresponds to the coordinating unit 71 of the embodiment, and the control unit corresponds to the collection control unit 62, collection control unit 72, and collection control unit 82 of the embodiment. The receiving unit repeatedly receives status information at different timings from the distribution device in an interconnected communication network having a wireless communication network having a first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device that convert wireless signals and wired signals, a wired communication network connected to the wireless communication network and having a distribution device that transfers wired signals, and a first processing device and a second processing device connected to the wired communication network, indicating the state of communication using the transmission path between the distribution device and the first processing device. Based on the status information received by the receiving unit, the control unit detects the occurrence of a communication failure using the transmission path between the distribution device and the first processing device, and controls the interconnected communication network to switch the first path of a terminal device that communicates with the first processing device via the first wireless communication device and the distribution device to a second path that communicates with the second processing device via the second wireless communication device and the distribution device. The second path to which the first path is switched may be determined in advance before the failure occurs.
[0063] The wired signal may also be an optical signal. In this case, the status information may be information indicating the received optical power of the optical signal received by the distribution device from the transmission path between the distribution device and the first processing device.
[0064] The control unit may include a wired communication network control unit for controlling a wired communication network, a wireless communication network control unit for controlling a wireless communication network, and a processing unit control unit for controlling the first and second processing units. For example, the wired communication network control unit corresponds to the wired communication network control device 7 and wired communication network control unit 70 of the embodiment, the wireless communication network control unit corresponds to the wireless communication network control device 6 and wireless communication network control unit 60 of the embodiment, and the wireless communication network control unit corresponds to the computing processing unit control device 8 and computing processing unit control unit 80 of the embodiment. Based on status information, when the wired communication network control unit detects a communication failure using the transmission path between the distribution device and the first processing unit, it performs the following processes: instructing the distribution device to switch the transfer of wired signals between the first wireless communication device and the first processing unit to the transfer of wired signals between the second wireless communication device and the second processing unit; instructing the wireless communication network control unit to switch the wireless connection destination of the terminal device to the second wireless communication device; and instructing the processing unit control unit to connect the second processing unit to the distribution device.
[0065] The control device can also be implemented using a computer and a program, and the program can be recorded on a recording medium or provided via a network.
[0066] While embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations are not limited to these embodiments and include designs and the like that do not depart from the spirit of this invention.
[0067] 1, 11, 12 Communication System 2 Terminal Device 3-1, 3-2 Wireless Base Station 4 Circuit Distribution Device 5-1, 5-1 Computing Processor 6 Wireless Communication Network Control Device 7 Wired Communication Network Control Device 8 Computing Processor Control Device 60 Wireless Communication Network Control Unit 61 Coordination Unit 62 Data Collection Control Unit 70 Wired Communication Network Control Unit 71 Coordination Unit 72 Data Collection Control Unit 73 Storage Unit 80 Computing Processor Control Unit 81 Coordination Unit 82 Data Collection Control Unit 91-1, 91-2, 92-1, 92-2 Transmission Line 110, 120 Integrated Management Control Device 111, 121 Integrated Management Control Unit 900 Information Processing Device 901 Processor 902 Main Memory 903 Communication Interface 904 Auxiliary Storage Device 905 Input / Output Interface 906 Internal Bus
Claims
1. A control device comprising: a wireless communication network having a first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device that convert wireless signals and wired signals; a wired communication network connected to the wireless communication network and having a distribution device that transfers wired signals; and an interconnected communication network having a distribution device connected to the wired communication network, the receiving unit repeatedly receives status information indicating the state of communication using a transmission path between the distribution device and the first processing device at different timings from the distribution device; and a control unit that controls the interconnected communication network to switch a first path of a terminal device that communicates with the first processing device via the first wireless communication device and the distribution device to a second path that communicates with the second processing device via the second wireless communication device and the distribution device when the receiving unit detects the occurrence of a communication failure using the transmission path based on the status information received by the receiving unit.
2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the wired signal is an optical signal.
3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the status information indicates the received optical power of the optical signal received by the distribution device from the transmission line.
4. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the second path to which the first path is switched is predetermined before the occurrence of the fault.
5. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a wired communication network control unit for controlling the wired communication network, a wireless communication network control unit for controlling the wireless communication network, and a processing unit control unit for controlling the first processing unit and the second processing unit, and the wired communication network control unit, upon detecting a communication failure using the transmission path based on the status information, performs the following processes: instructing the distribution unit to switch the transfer of wired signals between the first wireless communication device and the first processing unit to switch the wireless connection destination of the terminal device to the second wireless communication device, and instructing the processing unit control unit to connect the second processing unit to the distribution unit.
6. A route switching method comprising: a receiving step of repeatedly receiving status information indicating the state of communication using a transmission path between the distribution device and the first processing device from the distribution device in an interconnected communication network having a wireless communication network having a first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device that convert wireless signals and wired signals; a wired communication network connected to the wireless communication network and having a distribution device that transfers wired signals; and a first processing device and a second processing device connected to the wired communication network, at different timings; and a control step of controlling the interconnected communication network to switch a first route of a terminal device that communicates with the first processing device via the first wireless communication device and the distribution device to a second route that communicates with the second processing device via the second wireless communication device and the distribution device, when a communication failure using the transmission path is detected based on the status information received in the receiving step.