WO2019069401A1 - Network management system and network management method - Google Patents

Network management system and network management method Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2019069401A1
WO2019069401A1 PCT/JP2017/036153 JP2017036153W WO2019069401A1 WO 2019069401 A1 WO2019069401 A1 WO 2019069401A1 JP 2017036153 W JP2017036153 W JP 2017036153W WO 2019069401 A1 WO2019069401 A1 WO 2019069401A1
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Prior art keywords
communication
port
priority
communication device
highest priority
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PCT/JP2017/036153
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French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
大介 長川
専 梶野
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三菱電機株式会社
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Application filed by 三菱電機株式会社 filed Critical 三菱電機株式会社
Priority to JP2018545244A priority Critical patent/JP6437175B1/en
Priority to CN201780068879.5A priority patent/CN109923839B/en
Priority to PCT/JP2017/036153 priority patent/WO2019069401A1/en
Publication of WO2019069401A1 publication Critical patent/WO2019069401A1/en

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
    • H04L12/42—Loop networks

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a network management system and a network management method for setting a communication path of a communication network.
  • Some communication networks include loops in which nodes are connected in a ring. Such a communication network may continue to relay useless data because it can not discard useless data in a loop. For this reason, it is desirable to discard useless data by appropriately setting the communication path in the communication network.
  • each node blocks relay of user data performed on one port side of the node connected to the ring network, and transmits / receives a priority for setting the node as a master node. Based on the received priority, it is determined whether to transition to the master node.
  • Patent Document 1 that is the above-described conventional technique, there is a problem that an appropriate communication path can not be set when a plurality of loops are configured.
  • the present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is an object of the present invention to obtain a network management system capable of setting an appropriate communication path even when a plurality of loops are configured.
  • the present invention comprises, in a network management system, a plurality of communication devices connected in a loop in a communication network.
  • the communication apparatus is a communication apparatus in which the first highest priority is set among the apparatus priorities set for each communication apparatus in the communication network.
  • a control unit that performs path determination of whether or not the own apparatus is connected to a communication path that relays the largest number of communication apparatuses from the priority apparatus based on the number of relay stages of frames from the apparatus to the own apparatus.
  • control unit determines that the own device is connected to the communication path relaying the largest number of communication devices from the priority device, determines that among the ports: Set any port in the loop to the end of the communication network.
  • the network management system according to the present invention has an effect that an appropriate communication path can be set even when a plurality of loops are configured.
  • Block diagram showing the configuration of the communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention A diagram showing an example of configuration of a network management system according to a first embodiment Flowchart showing transmission / reception procedure of arbitration frame according to the first embodiment Flow chart showing processing procedure of port setting according to the first embodiment The figure which shows the state which closed the loop in the network management system concerning Embodiment 1.
  • a diagram showing an example of another configuration of the network management system according to the first embodiment The figure which shows the state which closed the loop in the network management system of another configuration concerning Embodiment 1.
  • Flowchart showing transmission / reception procedure of arbitration frame according to the second embodiment Flow chart showing processing procedure of port setting according to the second embodiment
  • a figure showing an example of hardware constitutions of a control part with which a communications device concerning an embodiment is provided
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 shows a functional configuration of the communication device 10X disposed in a network management system 101 described later.
  • the communication device 10X is connected to another communication device 10X.
  • the communication device 10X may be referred to as a station.
  • the network management system 101 is a system that manages a ring network in which a plurality of communication devices 10X are connected in a loop in a communication network.
  • a plurality of communication devices 10X are connected via communication lines.
  • the communication network is called a network.
  • Each communication device 10X manages route settings and networks in the network management system 101 by transmitting and receiving various data including various information to and from other nearest communication devices 10X in a loop.
  • / W NetworkWork
  • the nearest other communication device 10X in the loop is the adjacent communication device 10X in the loop or the adjacent communication device 10X via many types of devices such as relay devices in the loop.
  • the nearest other communication device 10X in the loop is the communication device 10X of the shortest communication path from the own device among the communication devices 10X in the loop.
  • the arbitration process of the N / W management station is a process of setting the N / W management station to any of the communication devices 10X.
  • the N / W management station is a device that performs various settings in the network.
  • the N / W management station manages how the communication device 10X connected to the network management system 101 is connected and what kind of communication is performed.
  • the N / W management station may set which data each communication device 10X transmits and receives.
  • any one of the communication devices 10X is an N / W management station. Therefore, each communication device 10X is a candidate for the N / W management station. In other words, all communication devices 10X in the network management system 101 are N / W management candidate stations until the N / W management station is set.
  • the communication device 10X includes a communication unit 51 that communicates with the latest communication device 10X in a loop, a control unit 52 that executes path setting in the network and arbitration of the N / W management station, and various data. And a storage unit 53 for storing data.
  • the control unit 52 controls the communication unit 51 and the storage unit 53. Therefore, communication unit 51 transmits data in accordance with an instruction from control unit 52, and storage unit 53 stores or changes data in accordance with an instruction from control unit 52.
  • control unit 52 executes route setting in the network and arbitration processing of the N / W management station with the communication device 10X. Specifically, the control unit 52 holds the storage unit 53 based on the later-described arbitration frame received from the latest communication device 10X in the loop and the data held by the storage unit 53 of the communication device 10X. Change the data you are working with. Further, the control unit 52 generates an arbitration frame using a part of the data held by the storage unit 53, and transmits the arbitration frame to the nearest communication device 10X in a loop. Further, control unit 52 determines whether the communication path from N / W management station to own station is a communication path for relaying the largest number of communication devices 10X in the loop as viewed from N / W management station. Execute the judgment.
  • control unit 52 controls the opening and closing of ports, which will be described later, based on the route determination. As described above, the control unit 52 controls port opening / closing and transmission of the arbitration frame based on the data held by the storage unit 53 and the received arbitration frame, thereby setting the path in the network and N / N. And execute the arbitration process of the W management station.
  • Examples of data stored in the storage unit 53 are data set for each communication device 10X and data set for each port provided in the communication device 10X.
  • the data set for each communication device 10X is three, that is, the own station priority, the highest priority, and the transmission time at the N / W highest priority station.
  • the priority is a priority for each station to become an N / W management station, and the higher the priority, the easier it is to become an N / W management station.
  • the data set for each port is two, the number of relay stages and the port number. In the following description, the transmission time at the N / W highest priority station is referred to as the transmission time.
  • the own station priority is a priority for becoming the N / W management station, which the own station that is the own communication device 10X has.
  • the own station priority is a device priority set for each communication device 10X, and does not overlap with the own station priorities that other stations that are other communication devices 10X have. In other words, different local station priorities are set to the respective communication devices 10X in the network.
  • the communication device 10X having a high priority of its own station becomes an N / W management station by arbitration.
  • Each communication apparatus 10X in the network has its own station priority set before the communication path setting process.
  • the highest priority is the highest priority among the local priorities recognized by the local station in the network. That is, the highest priority is the own station priority of the communication device 10X having the highest own station priority in the network among the own station priorities of the communication device 10X recognized by the own station.
  • the communication device 10X can not recognize another station before the communication path setting process. Therefore, the communication device 10X only knows the own station priority of the own station at the start of setting of the communication path. Therefore, the communication apparatus 10X sets the own station priority of the own station to the highest priority when setting of the communication path is started. In other words, the initial value of the local station priority is the local station's highest priority.
  • the highest priority among the own station priority and the own station priority of the own station that the recognized other station has, is the highest. Find out and set it as the highest priority.
  • the communication apparatus 10X sets the highest priority among the recognized local station priorities to the highest priority.
  • the communication apparatus 10X having the highest own station priority in the network recognized by the own station is referred to as the N / W highest priority station.
  • the N / W highest priority station is a master station, and among the communication devices 10X, the communication device 10X having the highest priority of its own station serving as an N / W management station.
  • the highest own station priority recognized by the own station is the second highest priority.
  • the first highest priority indicates the highest priority among the own station priorities.
  • the own station priority of the priority apparatus which is the N / W highest priority station is the first highest priority.
  • the highest priority recognized by the other communication device 10X among the own station priorities is the third highest priority.
  • the control unit 52 determines the communication path based on the number of relay stages, the second highest priority, and the third highest priority.
  • the transmission time is the time at which the N / W highest priority station transmits data to the nearest communication device 10X in the loop.
  • the local station is the N / W highest priority station before the communication path setting process. Therefore, the communication apparatus 10X sets the current time of the own station as the transmission time when setting of the communication path is started.
  • the number of relay stages is the number of relay stages of data from the communication device 10X for which the highest priority is set.
  • the number of relay stages of data is counted at ports provided in each communication device 10X. Therefore, when the port receives data from the nearest communication device 10X in the loop, the number of relay stages of the received data is increased by one.
  • the relay stage number has no set value at the start of setting of the communication path. In other words, the initial value of the number of relay stages is no set value, and 0 stages are set when setting of the communication path is started.
  • the port is disposed in the communication device 10X, receives data sent from the most recent communication device 10X in the loop, captures it into its own station, and transmits its own data to the most recent communication device 10X in the loop. Send.
  • Each communication device 10X is connected to at least two other communication devices 10X because it is disposed in a ring-connected network. Thus, each communication device 10X has at least two ports.
  • the port number is a number assigned to a port provided in the communication device 10X.
  • the port number is set for each port so as not to be duplicated in one communication device 10X.
  • the communication apparatus 10X has its own station priority set prior to the start of communication path setting. Also, the communication device 10X sets a port number before setting of the communication path is started. In addition, when the communication device 10X starts the setting of the communication path, the communication device 10X updates the highest priority, the transmission time, and the number of relay stages based on the content of the data received from the latest communication device 10X in the loop.
  • each communication device 10X holds three data set for each communication device 10X and two data set for each port. Then, each communication device 10X broadcasts, to the other communication device 10X, a first frame in which all or part of the local station priority, the highest priority, the transmission time, and the number of relay stages are stored. Further, each communication device 10X receives, from another communication device 10X, a second frame in which all or part of the local station priority, the highest priority, the transmission time, and the number of relay stages are stored. The communication unit 51 performs transmission of the first frame and reception of the second frame via the port with the nearest other communication device 10X in the loop.
  • the first frame transmitted by the communication unit 51 is any of the first to third arbitration frames described later generated by the communication device 10X, and the second frame received by the communication unit 51 is the closest in the loop.
  • the first to third arbitration frames, which will be described later, are generated by the other communication device 10X.
  • each communication device 10X does not transfer the received arbitration frame to the other communication device 10X even if it receives the arbitration frame from the other communication device 10X nearest to the other in the loop. In other words, the communication device 10X does not execute relay of the arbitration frame.
  • FIG. 2 is a diagram of a configuration example of the network management system according to the first embodiment.
  • An example of the network management system 101 is an FA network used in the field of FA (Factory Automation) for automation of a factory production process.
  • FA Vectory Automation
  • FIG. 2 the communication device 10X is indicated by communication devices 11-14.
  • communication devices 11 to 14 are connected in a ring to form a loop. Specifically, the communication device 11 is connected to the communication device 12, and the communication device 12 is connected to the communication device 14. The communication device 14 is connected to the communication device 13, and the communication device 13 is connected to the communication device 11.
  • the communication device 11 includes ports P11a and P11b, and the communication device 12 includes ports P12a and P12b.
  • the communication device 13 also includes ports P13a and P13b, and the communication device 14 includes ports P14a and P14b.
  • the port P11b is connected to the port P12a via a communication line, and the port P12b is connected to the port P14b.
  • the port P14a is connected to the port P13b, and the port P13a is connected to the port P11a.
  • each of the communication devices 11 to 14 sets a communication path that can prevent the circulation of the frame. Further, each of the communication devices 11 to 14 sets, by arbitration, the only N / W management station in charge of managing the communication in the network management system 101.
  • the network management system 101 transmits and receives any of the first to third arbitration frames between the latest communication devices 10X in the loop.
  • the first to third arbitration frames are examples of arbitration frames.
  • the first arbitration frame is an arbitration frame that is broadcasted to the nearest other communication device 10X in the loop when the communication device 10X starts to set the communication path.
  • the second and third arbitration frames are arbitrations in which the communication device 10X that receives any of the first to third arbitration frames broadcasts according to the contents of the first to third arbitration frames received. It is a frame. Therefore, when the communication device 10X starts to set the communication path, the communication device 10X transmits the first arbitration frame and receives any of the first to third arbitration frames. Then, upon receiving any of the first to third arbitration frames, the communication device 10X transmits the second or third arbitration frame. In the following description, any one of the first to third arbitration frames is referred to as an N-th arbitration frame.
  • the N-th arbitration frame is a data frame transmitted and received between the latest communication devices 10X in the loop.
  • the N-th arbitration frame is transmitted and received in the network management system 101, and is used for path setting in the network management system 101 and setting of the N / W management station.
  • the communication devices 11 to 14 broadcast the N-th arbitration frame from all ports at a period C1 shorter than the specific time Tx.
  • the specific time Tx and the cycle C1 are set based on the number of communication devices 10X arranged in the network management system 101 and the total distance of communication paths that the network management system 101 has. Therefore, the specific time Tx and the period C1 change depending on the configuration of the network management system 101.
  • the communication device 11 broadcasts the Nth arbitration frame from the ports P11a and P11b, and the communication device 12 broadcasts the Nth arbitration frame from the ports P12a and P12b.
  • the communication device 13 broadcasts the N-th arbitration frame from the ports P13a and P13b, and the communication device 14 broadcasts the N-th arbitration frame from the ports P14a and P14b.
  • the broadcast transmission of the Nth arbitration frame eliminates the need for the HUB to interpret the communication content of the Nth arbitration frame even when the HUB which is a relay apparatus is disposed in the loop.
  • the HUB is a communication unit having a communication specification different from that of the communication devices 11-14.
  • the HUB in the first embodiment When the HUB in the first embodiment receives the Nth arbitration frame at the port, the HUB transmits the Nth arbitration frame from the appropriate port, thereby transferring the Nth arbitration frame without changing it.
  • the port suitable for transmitting the Nth arbitration frame may be a port other than the port that has received the Nth arbitration frame, or the port that has received the Nth arbitration frame.
  • the case where the port transmitting the N-th arbitration frame is a port other than the port that has received the N-th arbitration frame will be described.
  • a port that has received the N-th arbitration frame may be referred to as a reception port.
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the transmission and reception procedure of the arbitration frame according to the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process procedure of port setting according to the first embodiment.
  • the communication devices 11 to 14 disposed in the network management system 101 hold their own station priority, highest priority, transmission time, number of relay stages, and port number, respectively. Then, when the communication devices 11 to 14 each start the setting of the communication path, the other communication devices 11 to 14 nearest in the network management system 101 have their own station priority, highest priority, and transmission time. , And broadcast transmission of a first arbitration frame storing the number of relay stages. The number of relay stages stored in the first arbitration frame by the communication apparatuses 11 to 14 here is zero.
  • Each of the communication devices 11 to 14 receives the first arbitration frame from the other nearest communication device 10X in the network management system 101. Also, when the communication devices 11 to 14 receive the first arbitration frame, they transmit the second or third arbitration frame to the other communication device 10X closest to the other in the loop.
  • step S100 when the communication unit 51 of the communication device 11 receives the N-th arbitration frame from the other nearest communication devices 12 and 13 in the loop, the communication unit 51 controls the received N-th arbitration frame Send to The communication unit 51 receives the first arbitration frame from the communication device 12 first, and then receives the second or third arbitration frame. Also, it is the first arbitration frame that the communication unit 51 receives from the communication device 13 first, and then receives the second or third arbitration frame.
  • the first arbitration frame stores the following four data.
  • the priority stored in the first arbitration frame is an initial value set in the communication apparatus 11.
  • the second arbitration frame stores the following four data. -Highest priority-Transmission time-Number of relay stages-Local station priority
  • the highest priority contained in the Nth arbitration frame received is higher than the highest priority held by the local station. Is also sent when high.
  • the communication apparatus 11 transmits the second arbitration frame when the received highest priority is higher than the held highest priority. Therefore, the highest priority and transmission time stored in the second arbitration frame are the same as those included in the received Nth arbitration frame.
  • the number of relay stages stored in the second arbitration frame is the number of relay stages in which one is added to the number of relay stages included in the received Nth arbitration frame.
  • the second arbitration frame is also transmitted when the highest priority received and the highest priority held are the same and a specific condition is satisfied.
  • the third arbitration frame stores the following four data. -Local station priority-Highest priority-Transmission time-Number of relay stages
  • the highest priority contained in the Nth arbitration frame received is higher than the highest priority held by the local station. Is also sent if it is low.
  • the communication apparatus 11 transmits the third arbitration frame when the received highest priority is lower than the held highest priority.
  • the number of relay stages stored in the third arbitration frame is the number of relay stages of the port that has received the smallest number of relay stages among the ports that have received the Nth arbitration frame storing the highest priority. Therefore, the number of relay stages stored in the third arbitration frame is the smallest number of relay stages among the number of relay stages included in the N-th arbitration frame in which the highest priority is stored.
  • the control unit 52 extracts data from the received Nth arbitration frame.
  • the control unit 52 extracts its own station priority, highest priority, transmission time, and relay stage number. Further, when receiving the second arbitration frame, the control unit 52 extracts the highest priority, the transmission time, the number of relay stages, and the own station priority.
  • the control unit 52 determines whether or not the difference between the extracted transmission time and the current time is within the specific time Tx.
  • the current time may be the time when the communication unit 51 receives the Nth arbitration frame, or may be the time when the control unit 52 performs the determination. If the difference between the transmission time and the current time is longer than the specific time Tx, the control unit 52 resets the highest priority and the number of relay stages held in the storage unit 53 to the values at the start time. Thus, when the communication apparatus 11 does not receive data from the N / W highest priority station for longer than the specific time Tx, the communication apparatus 11 deletes old data of the network configuration.
  • the communication apparatus 11 when the difference between the transmission time and the current time is equal to or less than the specific time Tx, the communication apparatus 11 performs the second arbitration frame or the second arbitration frame at a cycle C1 shorter than the specific time Tx according to the processing of steps S110 to S155 below.
  • the third arbitration frame is transmitted to the nearest communication device 12 or 13 in the loop.
  • step S110 the control unit 52 determines whether the Nth arbitration frame has been received from a plurality of different ports.
  • the control unit 52 here determines whether or not the N-th arbitration frame has been received from the ports P11a and P11b.
  • the control unit 52 When the communication device 11 receives the N-th arbitration frame from one port, that is, No in step S110, the control unit 52 is the highest priority in the received N-th arbitration frame, and is the own station. The communication device 11 compares the highest priority held in the storage unit 53. Then, in step S130, the control unit 52 determines whether or not the received highest priority is higher than the held highest priority.
  • step S130 When the highest priority in the received N-th arbitration frame is lower than the held highest priority, that is, No in step S130, the control unit 52 holds the memory unit 53 in step S140. Data will not change. Then, in step S145, the communication unit 51 transmits the third arbitration frame from the port that has received the N-th arbitration frame. As described above, when the highest priority received is lower than the highest priority held, the communication apparatus 11 does not change the data held by the own station. Then, the communication apparatus 11 broadcasts the third arbitration frame from the port that has received the Nth arbitration frame.
  • the third arbitration frame includes four data of the own station priority, the highest priority, the transmission time, and the number of relay stages.
  • the number of relaying stages included in the third arbitration frame is the number of stages having the smallest number of relaying stages among the ports that have received the arbitration frame storing the highest priority.
  • the communication device 11 prevents the use of a communication path with a large number of relay stages.
  • the clockwise direction of the loop is the detour direction in the loop as viewed from the communication device 11, and the counterclockwise direction of the loop is the detour direction in the loop.
  • the number of relay stages of the arbitration frame sent from the counterclockwise direction in the loop is smaller than the number of relay stages of the arbitration frame sent from the clockwise direction in the loop. Therefore, the communication apparatus 11 broadcasts the third arbitration frame, including the one with the smallest number of relay stages in the third arbitration frame.
  • the second arbitration frame includes four data of highest priority, transmission time, number of relay stages, and own station priority.
  • step S150 the control unit 52 changes the highest priority, the transmission time, and the number of relay stages stored in the storage unit 53. At this time, the control unit 52 changes the highest priority and transmission time held in the storage unit 53 to the highest priority and transmission time in the received Nth arbitration frame. Further, the control unit 52 changes the number of relay stages of the port that has received the N-th arbitration frame to the number of relay stages + 1. Thus, the number of relay stages is increased by one each time the Nth arbitration frame passes through the communication device 10X. In step S155, the communication unit 51 broadcasts the second arbitration frame storing the changed data from a port other than the port that received the N-th arbitration frame.
  • step S110 when the communication device 11 receives the N-th arbitration frame from a plurality of different ports, that is, in the case of Yes in step S110, the control unit 52 sets the highest priority in the received N-th arbitration frame. The highest priority that the communication device 11 which is the own station holds in the storage unit 53 is compared. Then, in step S120, the control unit 52 determines whether or not the received highest priority is the same as the held highest priority.
  • control unit 52 executes the processing in steps S130 to S155.
  • step S120 the control unit 52 has its own station on the loop. I will judge. That is, when the highest priority received from a plurality of different ports coincides with the held highest priority, the control unit 52 determines that the communication device 11 is present in a loop.
  • each communication device 10X executes the processing of steps S100 to S155 described above one or more times.
  • each communication device 10X updates the highest priority, transmission time, and the number of relay stages held in its own station.
  • the communication apparatus 11 has a port of a path for relaying the most stations in the loop from the communication apparatus 10X having the highest priority, by the processing of steps S160 to S250 shown in FIG. Close
  • the communication device 10X of the path that relays the most stations from the N / W highest priority station closes the port connected to the path that relays the most stations.
  • the network management system 101 can set a communication path that can eliminate the loop and prevent one communication device 11 from receiving the same frame multiple times. The processes of steps S160 to S250 will be described below.
  • step S160 the control unit 52 determines whether the number of relay stages held by the storage unit 53 is no set value.
  • the number of relay stages held by the storage unit 53 is the number of relay stages of the reception port. Therefore, the initial value of the number of relay stages held in the storage unit 53 is no set value, and is updated by the process of step S150.
  • step S160 If the number of relay stages held is not the set value, that is, if Yes in step S160, the control unit 52 adds one to the number of relay stages received, in step S180. Change to a value In other words, the control unit 52 sets the received number of relay stages + 1 stage as the new number of relay stages.
  • the storage unit 53 holds the number of relay stages after the change.
  • step S160 the control unit 52 receives the Nth received step than the number of relay stages held in step S170. It is determined whether the number of relay stages in the arbitration frame is smaller.
  • An example in the case where the number of relay stages in the received Nth arbitration frame is smaller than the number of relay stages held is an example in which a communication path shorter than the current state is found by the received Nth arbitration frame .
  • step S170 If the number of relay stages in the received N-th arbitration frame is smaller than the number of relay stages held, that is, Yes in step S170, the control unit 52 holds the number of relay stages held in step S180. Is changed to a value obtained by adding one stage to the number of relay stages received. After the process of step S180, the control unit 52 executes the process of step S190 described later.
  • the communication device 11 compares the number of relay stages of each port.
  • the control unit 52 compares the number of relay stages at the ports P11a and P11b with the number of relay stages received.
  • the control unit 52 controls the communication device 11 at step S190. Among the provided ports, it is determined whether there is a port having a matching number of relay stages. Further, after the process of step S180, in step S190, the control unit 52 determines whether or not there is a port having the same number of relay stages among the ports included in the communication device 11.
  • step S220 the control unit 52 selects one of the ports with the same number of relay stages. Close ports other than the youngest port. In other words, the control unit 52 opens only the port with the smallest port number among the ports with the same number of relay stages. As a result, the closed port can transmit and receive only the frame that does not circulate in the Nth arbitration frame and loop.
  • An example in the case where there is a port having a matching number of relay stages is a case where the own station is the communication device 10X that relays the most stations from the N / W highest priority station.
  • the control unit 52 may close any port and open any port among the ports whose number of relay stages matches, but there is only one open port.
  • control unit 52 in step S200 has one more relay stages than the other ports. Determine if there is a port.
  • communication unit 51 When there is no port whose number of relay stages is one more than that of other ports, that is, No in step S200, communication unit 51 is a port whose number of relay stages is two or more more than other ports in step S210.
  • the second arbitration frame storing the changed data is broadcasted from a port other than the receiving port.
  • An example in the case where there are ports whose number of relay stages is two or more more than the number of relay stages of other ports is a case where the communication apparatus 10X which relays the most stations from the N / W top priority station is undecided.
  • control unit 52 when there is a port whose number of relay stages is one more than that of other ports, that is, in the case of Yes in step S200, control unit 52 has its own station priority stored in the Nth arbitration frame received. The local station priority stored in the storage unit 53 is compared. Thereby, the control unit 52 compares the own station priority held by the communication apparatus 10X of the transmission source with the own station priority held by the communication apparatus 11 as the own station. In the example in which there are ports whose number of relay stages is one more than that of other ports, either one of the local station or the nearest other station in the loop relays the largest number of stations from the N / W highest priority station. This is the case of the communication device 10X.
  • control unit 52 determines whether or not the received own station priority is lower than the held own station priority.
  • the control unit 52 performs relay in step S240. Close a port that is one more stage than the other ports.
  • the control unit 52 Closes a port whose number of relay stages is one more than that of other ports.
  • step S250 If a port whose number of relay stages is one more than that of other ports is closed, this port is opened. When a port whose number of relay stages is one more than that of other ports is open, the control unit 52 does not execute opening / closing of the port.
  • the communication device 10X of the path for relaying the most stations from the N / W highest priority station closes the port connected to the path for relaying the most stations by the processes of steps S160 to S250. It becomes.
  • the number of communication devices 10X connected in a ring shape is an even number, in any of the communication devices 10X in the network management system 101, ports having the same number of relay stages are generated.
  • the number of communication devices 10X connected in a ring shape is an odd number, in any of the communication devices 10X in the network management system 101, a port whose number of relay stages is one more than other ports is generated.
  • the communication device 10X in which a port having the same number of relay stages is generated closes one of the ports.
  • the communication device 10X or the nearest communication device 10X in the loop closes the port whose number of relay stages is one more than the other ports.
  • the port closed in the process of step S220 or step S240 is automatically opened by the control unit 52 when the closing condition is not satisfied due to the change of the communication path or the reset due to the passage of time. This enables the opened port to transmit and receive all frames.
  • the station which has not received the N-th arbitration frame storing the highest priority higher than its own station priority within the specific time Tx has the highest priority of its own station on the network. It will be the only N / W management station in charge of network management, judging it to be a station.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the loop is closed in the network management system according to the first embodiment.
  • the network management system 101 shown in FIG. 2 closes the loop will be described.
  • the local station priorities of the communication devices 11 to 14 are indicated by [1] to [4]. It is assumed that the smaller the numerical value indicating the local station priority, the higher the priority.
  • the communication apparatus 11 has its own station priority set to [1]
  • the communication apparatus 12 has its own station priority set to [2]
  • the communication apparatus 13 has its own station priority [3]. Is set, and the communication apparatus 14 has its own station priority set to [4].
  • the communication devices 11 to 14 in the network management system 101 execute the processes of steps S100 to S250 described above, the communication devices 12 to 14 recognize the number of relay stages as follows.
  • the communication device 12 recognizes that the number of relay stages of the port P12a that receives the N-th arbitration frame from the communication device 11 is one.
  • the communication device 13 recognizes that the number of relay stages of the port P13a that receives the N-th arbitration frame from the communication device 11 is one.
  • the communication device 14 recognizes that the number of relaying stages of the port P14b that receives the N-th arbitration frame from the communication device 12 is two, and relays the port P14a that receives the N-th arbitration frame from the communication device 13. Recognize that the number of stages is two. In FIG. 5, the case where the number of relay stages is one is shown as ⁇ 1>, and the case where the number of relay stages is two is shown as ⁇ 2>.
  • the communication device 11 since the communication device 11 is the N / W highest priority station, it becomes the N / W management station, and the communication device 14 becomes the station of the communication path for relaying the most stations from the N / W management station. In this case, the communication device 14 closes one of the ports.
  • the port with the same number of relay stages has a port number other than the smallest port number. Close the port of. If the port number of the port P14b is smaller than the port number of the port P14a, the communication device 14 closes the port P14b.
  • the communication device 14 when the communication device 14 closes the port P14b, the communication device 14 discards the Nth arbitration frame even if it receives it, without transmitting it. Specifically, when the communication device 14 receives the Nth arbitration frame sent from the communication device 12 or the communication device 13, the communication device 14 discards the received Nth arbitration frame.
  • the communication apparatus 11 broadcasts the first arbitration frame from all the ports at period C1 even after becoming the N / W management station.
  • the communication devices 12 and 13 transmit the second or third arbitration frame to the communication device 14.
  • the communication device 14 receives and discards the second or third arbitration frame.
  • the network management system 101 in such a state, when the communication path is changed, when a new communication device 10X is connected, or when the communication device 10X higher than the communication device 11 which is the N / W management station is connected. May be In such a case, when the condition for closing the port P14b or the condition for the communication device 11 to become the N / W management station is not satisfied, the network management system 101 resets the communication path and the setting of the N / W management station. The processes of S100 to S250 are performed one or more times. Thereby, any communication device 10X becomes a new N / W management station, and any port of any communication device 10X is closed.
  • the configuration of the network management system is not limited to the configuration having one loop as in the network management system 101 shown in FIG. 2, but may be a configuration having a plurality of loops.
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of another configuration of the network management system according to the first embodiment.
  • the network management system 102 includes six communication devices 10X and two HUBs 31 and 32 will be described.
  • the communication device 10X is indicated by communication devices 21 to 26.
  • Each of the communication devices 21 to 26 has the same function as the communication device 10X described above.
  • the devices having communication specifications different from the communication devices 21 to 26 are the HUBs 31 and 32 will be described here
  • devices having communication specifications different from the communication devices 21 to 26 are devices other than the HUBs 31 and 32. It may be.
  • communication devices 21 to 26 and HUBs 31 and 32 are connected in a ring.
  • the communication device 21 is connected to the HUB 31, and the HUB 31 is connected to the communication device 22.
  • the communication device 22 is connected to the communication device 24, and the communication device 24 is connected to the communication device 25.
  • the communication device 25 is connected to the communication device 26, and the communication device 26 is connected to the HUB 32.
  • the HUB 32 is connected to the communication device 23, and the communication device 23 is connected to the communication device 21.
  • the HUB 32 is connected to the HUB 31.
  • the network management system 102 includes a first loop, a second loop, and a third loop.
  • the first loop is a loop in which the communication device 21, the HUB 31, the communication device 22, the communication device 24, the communication device 25, the communication device 26, the HUB 32, and the communication device 23 are connected in a ring shape.
  • the second loop is a loop in which the communication device 21, the HUB 31, the HUB 32, and the communication device 23 are connected in a ring shape.
  • the third loop is a loop in which the HUB 31, the communication device 22, the communication device 24, the communication device 25, the communication device 26, and the HUB 32 are connected in a ring shape.
  • the communication device 21 includes ports P21a and P21b, and the communication device 22 includes ports P22a and P22b. Also, the communication device 23 includes ports P23a and P23b, and the communication device 24 includes ports P24a and P24b.
  • the communication device 25 further includes ports P25a and P25b, and the communication device 26 includes ports P26a and P26b.
  • the port P21b is connected to the HUB 31, and the HUB 31 is connected to the port P22a.
  • the port P22b is connected to the port P24b, and the port P24a is connected to the port P25a.
  • the port P25b is connected to the port P26b, and the port P26a is connected to the HUB 32.
  • the HUB 32 is connected to the port P23a, and the port P23b is connected to the port P21a.
  • each of the communication devices 21 to 26 executes the same operation as the communication device 11 described above. Thereby, the network management system 102 executes setting of the communication path in which the loop is closed and arbitration of the N / W management station.
  • FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the loop is closed in the network management system of another configuration according to the first embodiment.
  • the network management system 102 shown in FIG. 6 closes the loop will be described.
  • the local station priorities of the respective stations are indicated by [1] to [6].
  • [1] to [6] of the local station priority are set to the communication devices 21 to 26, respectively.
  • the communication devices 21 to 26 in the network management system 102 execute the processes of steps S100 to S250 described above, the communication devices 22 to 26 recognize the number of relay stages as follows.
  • the communication device 22 recognizes that the number of relay stages of the port P22a that receives the N-th arbitration frame from the communication device 21 is one. Further, the communication device 24 recognizes that the number of relaying stages of the port P 24 b which receives the N-th arbitration frame from the communication device 22 is two, and relays the port P 24 a which receives the N-th arbitration frame from the communication device 25. Recognize that the number of stages is three. In addition, the communication device 25 recognizes that the number of relay stages of the port P 25 a that receives the N-th arbitration frame from the communication device 24 is three.
  • the communication device 23 recognizes that the number of relay stages of the port P23b that receives the N-th arbitration frame from the communication device 21 is one.
  • the HUB 31 receives the Nth arbitration frame from the communication device 21
  • the HUB 31 relays the Nth arbitration frame to the communication device 22 and the HUB 32.
  • the HUB 32 relays the N-th arbitration frame from the HUB 31 to both of the communication devices 23 and 26.
  • the port P23a of the communication device 23 receives the N-th arbitration frame sent from the communication device 21 which is sent via the HUBs 31 and 32. Then, the communication device 23 recognizes that the number of relay stages of the port P23a that receives the N-th arbitration frame from the HUB 32 is one.
  • the port P26a of the communication device 26 receives the N-th arbitration frame from the HUB 32.
  • the port P26a of the communication device 26 and the port P21a of the communication device 21 are connected via the communication device 23 and the HUB 32. Therefore, in this communication path, the number of relay stages of port P26a is two.
  • the port P26a of the communication device 26 and the port P21b of the communication device 21 are also connected via the HUBs 31 and 32. Therefore, in this communication path, the number of relay stages of port P26a is one. In this case, the communication device 26 recognizes that the number of relay stages of the port P26a that receives the N-th arbitration frame from the HUB 32 is one.
  • the communication device 25 recognizes that the number of relay stages of the port P 25 b that receives the N-th arbitration frame from the communication device 26 is two.
  • ⁇ 1> indicates the case where the number of relay stages is one
  • ⁇ 2> indicates the case where the number of relay stages is two
  • ⁇ 3> indicates the case where the number of relay stages is three.
  • the communication device 21 is an N / W management station. Then, in the first loop, the communication device 25 becomes a station of a route for relaying the most stations from the communication device 21 which is the N / W highest priority station. Further, in the second loop, the communication device 23 becomes a station of a route for relaying the most stations from the communication device 21 which is the N / W highest priority station.
  • the communication device 25 and the communication device 23 close one of the ports.
  • the first loop here includes six communication devices 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 23. Therefore, as described in step S220, the communication device 25 closes ports other than the port with the smallest port number among the ports with the same number of relay stages. If the port number of the port P25a is smaller than the port number of the port P25b, the communication device 25 closes the port P25a.
  • the second loop also includes two communication devices 21 and 23. Therefore, as described in step S220, the communication device 23 closes the ports other than the port with the smallest port number among the ports having the same number of relay stages. If the port number of the port P23b is smaller than the port number of the port P23a, the communication device 23 closes the port P23b. The third loop is also eliminated by the communication device 25 closing the port P25a.
  • IEEE 802.1AS IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.1AS.
  • IEEE802.1AS a protocol for arbitrating a route setting and an N / W management station in a network is defined between the latest communication devices in a loop.
  • the HUB which is a relay apparatus needs to interpret IEEE802.1AS. For this reason, communication processing in the communication network has been complicated.
  • the network management systems 101 and 102 broadcast the N-th arbitration frame between the latest communication devices 10X in the loop, and do not transfer the received N-th arbitration frame to the other communication devices 10X. For this reason, since the HUBs 31 and 32 which are relay apparatuses do not have to interpret the communication, it is possible to easily realize the route setting of the network and the arbitration of the N / W management station.
  • the network management system 101 102 broadcasts the N-th arbitration frame between the nearest communication devices 10X in the loop, so that a plurality of loops pass through the HUBs 31 32. Even when they are connected together, each loop can be closed individually. As a result, it is possible to prevent a wasteful data frame from continuously rotating in the loop, and it is possible to avoid the pressure of the communication band in the loop.
  • the network management system 101, 102 closes the port of the path that relays the most stations from the N / W highest priority station, it is possible to minimize the propagation delay from the N / W highest priority station. Become. As a result, it is possible to shorten the communication time in the network including the loop.
  • the network management systems 101 and 102 close the port of the route that relays the most stations from the N / W highest priority station, the N / W management station and the time delivery station performing time synchronization are the same stations. In this case, it is possible to improve the accuracy of time synchronization in which the propagation delay causes an error.
  • the network management systems 101 and 102 store the data of the transmission time in the N-th arbitration frame, it is possible to eliminate the loop while suppressing the data of the port held by each station.
  • each station stores the N / W highest priority station and the number of relay stages for each port, thereby suppressing the data amount of the later-described Mth arbitration frame for setting a communication path.
  • the network management systems 101 and 102 of the second embodiment are systems having the same configuration as the network management systems 101 and 102 of the first embodiment.
  • the communication device 10X of the second embodiment includes a communication unit 51, a control unit 52, and a storage unit 53.
  • Examples of data stored in the storage unit 53 are data set for each communication device 10X and data set for each port provided in the communication device 10X.
  • data set for each communication device 10X is its own station priority.
  • the data set for each port is four, that is, the highest priority, the number of relay stages, the port number, and the port type.
  • the port type is any of "Priority”, “Standard”, “Closed” and “No Type".
  • the “priority” port is a port on the N / W highest priority station side. Each station other than the N / W highest priority station has one "priority” port.
  • the “standard” ports are all ports except “closed” and “no type” at the N / W highest priority station.
  • the “standard” ports are all ports other than the "priority”, “close” and “no type” at stations other than the N / W highest priority station.
  • the “closed” port is a port that closes the path at the time of loop configuration.
  • the “no type” port is a port not linked up.
  • the “no type” port is a “standard” port immediately after link up.
  • the "preferred” port is referred to as the preferred port
  • the "standard” port is referred to as the standard port
  • the "closed” port is referred to as the closed port.
  • the highest priority, the number of relay stages, and the port number set for each port are the same data as the highest priority, the number of relay stages, and the port number described in the first embodiment.
  • the communication device 10X manages the highest priority, the number of relay stages, and the port number for each port.
  • the fourth to sixth arbitration frames are examples of arbitration frames.
  • the fourth arbitration frame is an arbitration frame that is broadcasted to the nearest other communication device 10X in the loop when the communication device 10X starts to set the communication path.
  • the fifth and sixth arbitration frames are arbitrations in which the communication device 10X that receives any of the fourth to sixth arbitration frames broadcasts according to the contents of the received fourth to sixth arbitration frames. It is a frame. Therefore, when the communication device 10X starts to set the communication path, the communication device 10X transmits the fourth arbitration frame and receives any of the fourth to sixth arbitration frames. Then, when the communication device 10X receives any of the fourth to sixth arbitration frames, the communication device 10X transmits the fifth or sixth arbitration frame. In the following description, any one of the fourth to sixth arbitration frames is referred to as an Mth arbitration frame.
  • the fourth to sixth arbitration frames will now be described.
  • the fourth arbitration frame stores the following three data.
  • the priority stored in the fourth arbitration frame is an initial value set in the communication device 10X.
  • the fifth arbitration frame stores the following three data.
  • Local Station Priority Highest Priority Relay Stage Number An example of the highest priority stored in the fifth arbitration frame is the highest priority set for the port. Also, an example of the number of relay stages stored in the fifth arbitration frame is the number of relay stages set for the port.
  • the sixth arbitration frame stores the following three data.
  • Local Station Priority Highest Priority Relay Stage The sixth arbitration frame is transmitted when the local station has a port with the highest priority than the port receiving the highest priority.
  • the highest priority stored in the sixth arbitration frame is the highest priority among the highest priorities set for the port of the local station.
  • the number of relay stages stored in the sixth arbitration frame is the number of relay stages set for the port to which the highest priority is set.
  • FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an arbitration frame transmission / reception procedure according to the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a process procedure of port setting according to the second embodiment. 8 and 9, the communication processing procedure of the communication device 10X disposed in the network management systems 101 and 102 will be described. Since the communication devices 11 to 14 and 21 to 26 execute the same processing, the communication processing procedure of the communication device 11 disposed in the network management system 101 will be described here. In the processes of FIGS. 8 and 9, the same processes as the processes described in FIGS. 3 and 4 will not be described.
  • all communication devices 11 to 14 are N / W highest priority stations.
  • all communication devices 11 to 14 that are N / W highest priority stations are assigned to the other communication devices 10X in the network management system 101 as their own station priority, highest priority, relaying stage number And broadcast transmission of a fourth arbitration frame.
  • the communication devices 11 to 14 periodically broadcast the fourth arbitration frame from all the standard ports at a period C1 shorter than the specific time Tx.
  • the number of relay stages stored in the fourth arbitration frame by the communication apparatuses 11 to 14 here is zero.
  • step S300 when the communication device 11 receives the Mth arbitration frame from the communication devices 12 and 13, the control unit 52 determines the local station priority, the highest priority, and the number of relay stages from the received Mth arbitration frame. Extract.
  • control unit 52 compares the highest priority stored in the received Mth arbitration frame with the highest priority of the receiving port.
  • control unit 52 determines whether or not the highest priority in the received M-th arbitration frame is the same as the highest priority of the reception port held in the storage unit 53.
  • step S320 the control unit 52 determines that the received highest priority is higher than the held highest priority. Also determine whether it is high.
  • step S330 the control unit 52 determines whether the port type of the reception port is a priority port It is determined whether or not.
  • the control unit 52 does not change the data held in the storage unit 53 in step S340, and the communication unit 51
  • the fifth arbitration frame is broadcasted from the port that received the M arbitration frame.
  • the communication apparatus 11 notifies the station that has transmitted the Mth arbitration frame that it can not become the N / W highest priority station.
  • the fifth arbitration frame includes three pieces of data: the local station priority, the highest priority of the receiving port, and the number of relay stages of the receiving port.
  • step S350 the control unit 52 resets the highest priority, the number of relay stages, and the port type of all ports held by the own station to the values at the start, and the communication unit 51 performs the fourth arbitration frame from all ports.
  • the control unit 52 sets the receiving port in step S390 as the highest priority. Change the number of relay stages and the port type.
  • control unit 52 changes the highest priority of the reception port to the highest priority received, changes the number of relay stages of the reception port to the number of relay stages received + 1, and changes the port type to the priority port Do. Then, the communication device 11 executes the process of step S400 described later.
  • control unit 52 stores the received Mth arbitration frame in step S360. It is determined whether a value obtained by adding one stage to the number of relay stages being set is smaller than the number of relay stages set in the reception port.
  • the control unit 52 changes the number of relay stages of the reception port in step S380. Specifically, the control unit 52 changes the number of relay stages of the reception port to the number of relay stages received + 1. In other words, when the number of relay stages of the reception port can be set to a smaller value than the current setting, the control unit 52 changes the number of relay stages of the reception port to a value obtained by adding one stage to the number of relay stages received. Do. Thereafter, the communication device 11 executes the process of step S400 described later.
  • the communication unit 51 selects all standard ports Broadcast 5 arbitration frames.
  • the highest priority stored in the fifth arbitration frame is the highest priority set for the reception port, and the number of relay stages stored in the fifth arbitration frame is the number of relay stages set for the reception port is there.
  • the communication device 11 executes the process of step S400 after step S380 or step S390.
  • each communication device 10X executes the processing of steps S300 to S390 described above one or more times.
  • each communication device 10X updates the highest priority, the port type, and the number of relay stages held in its own station.
  • the control unit 52 compares the highest priority of the reception port with the highest priority of another port other than the reception port in the own station.
  • the highest priority of the reception port is the highest priority of the other port. It is determined whether they are the same.
  • the control unit 52 determines that the highest priority of the reception port is the highest priority of another port. Determine whether it is higher than the degree.
  • the control unit 52 sets the highest priority lower than the highest priority of the reception port in step S420.
  • the port type of the port being changed is changed to the standard port, and the communication unit 51 transmits the fifth arbitration frame from all the standard ports.
  • the communication unit 51 changes the port to a standard port and transmits the fifth arbitration frame from all the standard ports.
  • the fifth arbitration frame here includes the local station priority, the highest priority of the receiving port, and the number of relay stages of the receiving port.
  • the control unit 52 changes the port type of the reception port to the standard port in step S430 and performs communication
  • the unit 51 transmits the sixth arbitration frame from the reception port.
  • the control unit 52 does not change the highest priority of the reception port and the number of relay stages.
  • the communication unit 51 changes the port to a standard port, and transmits the sixth arbitration frame from the receiving port.
  • the sixth arbitration frame here is set to the local station priority, the highest highest priority among the highest priorities held by each port, and the port to which the highest highest priority is set. And the number of relay stages.
  • the communication apparatus 11 executes the processing of steps S410 to S430 and the processing of step S400 each time.
  • the control unit 52 determines that the own station is present on the loop and cancels the loop. To determine if there is a port to close. Specifically, the control unit 52 compares the number of relay stages between ports having the same highest priority.
  • step S440 the control unit 52 determines whether or not there is a port with the same number of relay stages among the ports having the same highest priority. If there is a port with which both the highest priority and the number of relay stages match among the ports included in the communication apparatus 11, that is, if Yes in step S440, the control unit 52 sets the highest priority and the number of relay stages in step S470. Closes the ports other than the port with the lowest port number among the matched ports. The control unit 52 may close any port and open any port as long as the highest priority and the number of relay stages coincide with each other, but there is only one open port.
  • control unit 52 sets the highest priority in step S460.
  • the same port with two relay stages more than other ports is changed to a standard port.
  • control unit 52 stores the smallest number of relaying stages among the number of relaying stages of the ports with the highest priority in the sixth arbitration frame, and communication unit 51 stores the sixth arbitration frame. Broadcast. In this case, the communication unit 51 broadcasts the sixth arbitration frame from the ports excluding the receiving port.
  • control unit 52 receives the Mth arbitration
  • the local station priority stored in the frame is compared with the local station priority stored in the storage unit 53.
  • step S480 the control unit 52 determines whether or not the own station priority stored in the received Mth arbitration frame is lower than the held own station priority. If the own station priority stored in the received Mth arbitration frame is lower than the held own station priority, that is, if No in step S480, the control unit 52 determines in step S500 that Among the ports with the same priority, close ports with one more relay stage than other ports.
  • step S480 the control unit 52 in step S490 Among the ports having the same highest priority, if the number of relay stages is one more than that of the other ports, this port is changed to a standard port.
  • control unit 52 when the control unit 52 is a station on the communication path which relays the most stations in the loop from the N / W highest priority station, the control unit 52 sets the port connected to this communication path. By closing, a communication path is set which prevents one station from receiving the same frame multiple times.
  • the port closed in the process of step S470 or step S500 is automatically opened by the control unit 52 when the closing condition is not satisfied due to the change of the communication path or the reset due to the passage of time. This enables the opened port to transmit and receive all frames.
  • the number of relay stages of the opened ports is compared with the port having the same highest priority, and is set as a priority port if the number of relay stages is the smallest, and is set as a standard port otherwise.
  • the station which has not received the M-th arbitration frame storing the highest priority higher than its own station priority within the specific time Tx has the highest priority of its own station on the network. It will be the only N / W management station in charge of network management, judging it to be a station.
  • a station that is not the N / W management station is N when the priority port can not receive a new Mth arbitration frame even if the specific time Tx has elapsed since the previous reception of the Mth arbitration frame. / W judge that the management station is absent. Then, a station that is not the N / W management station resets the highest priority, the number of relay stages, and the port type of all ports held by the own station to the values at the start, and then broadcasts the fourth arbitration frame.
  • the station that has set the closed port determines that the loop configuration has been canceled if it can not receive a new Mth arbitration frame even after the specific time Tx has elapsed since the previous reception of the Mth arbitration frame. And change the closed port to a standard port.
  • the specific time Tx described in the first embodiment and the specific time Tx described in the second embodiment may be different or may be the same.
  • the network management systems 101 and 102 broadcast the Mth arbitration frame between the nearest communication devices 10X in the loop, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained. You can get it.
  • the network management system 101, 102 can eliminate the loop while suppressing the data amount of the Mth arbitration frame. .
  • FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a control unit included in the communication device according to the embodiment.
  • the control unit 52 of the communication device 10X can be realized by the control circuit 300 shown in FIG. 10, that is, the processor 301 and the memory 302.
  • An example of the processor 301 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit, central processing unit, processing unit, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, processor, also referred to as DSP) or a system LSI (Large Scale Integration).
  • Examples of the memory 302 are a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM).
  • the control unit 52 is realized by the processor 301 reading and executing a program for executing the operation of the control unit 52 stored in the memory 302. Also, it can be said that this program causes a computer to execute the procedure or method of the control unit 52.
  • the memory 302 is also used as a temporary memory when the processor 301 executes various processes.
  • the program executed by the processor 301 is a computer-executable computer-program product having a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium including a plurality of instructions for performing data processing. is there.
  • the program executed by the processor 301 causes the computer to execute data processing of a plurality of instructions.
  • control unit 52 may be realized by dedicated hardware. Further, a part of the functions of the control unit 52 may be realized by dedicated hardware and a part may be realized by software or firmware.
  • the configuration shown in the above embodiment shows an example of the contents of the present invention, and can be combined with another known technique, and one of the configurations is possible within the scope of the present invention. Parts can be omitted or changed.
  • 10X 11 to 14, 21 to 26 communication apparatus, 51 communication unit, 52 control unit, 53 storage unit, 101, 102 network management system, P11a, P11b, P12a, P12b, P13a, P13b, P14a, P14b, P21a, P21b , P22a, P22b, P23a, P23b, P24a, P24b, P25a, P25b, P26a, P26b ports.

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Abstract

A network management system (101) is provided with communication devices (11-14) that are connected in a loop within a communication network. On the basis of the number of stages involved in relaying a frame to a communication device (14) from a priority device which is a communication device (11) assigned with a first priority that is highest among device priorities assigned to the communication devices (11-14) within the communication network, the communication device (14) carries out path determination as to whether the communication device (14) is connected to a communication path through which relaying from the priority device is performed to the greatest number of communication devices , and sets, among ports (P14a, P14b) located in the loop, one (P14b) of the ports as the terminal end of the communication network, when it is determined that the communication device (14) is connected to the communication path through which relaying from the priority device is performed to the greatest number of communication devices.

Description

ネットワーク管理システムおよびネットワーク管理方法Network management system and network management method
　本発明は、通信ネットワークの通信経路を設定するネットワーク管理システムおよびネットワーク管理方法に関する。 The present invention relates to a network management system and a network management method for setting a communication path of a communication network.
　通信ネットワークの中には、ノードがリング状に接続されたループを含んだものがある。このような通信ネットワークは、ループ内で無駄なデータを破棄できないので、無駄なデータを中継し続ける場合がある。このため、通信ネットワーク内の通信経路を適切に設定することによって無駄なデータを破棄することが望まれている。 Some communication networks include loops in which nodes are connected in a ring. Such a communication network may continue to relay useless data because it can not discard useless data in a loop. For this reason, it is desirable to discard useless data by appropriately setting the communication path in the communication network.
　特許文献１に記載のネットワークシステムは、各ノードが、リング型ネットワークに接続されたノードの一方のポート側でおこなわれるユーザデータの中継をブロックし、ノードをマスターノードに設定する優先順位を送受信し、受信した優先順位に基づいてマスターノードに遷移するか否かを判定している。 In the network system described in Patent Document 1, each node blocks relay of user data performed on one port side of the node connected to the ring network, and transmits / receives a priority for setting the node as a master node. Based on the received priority, it is determined whether to transition to the master node.
国際公開第２００６／０７２９９６号WO 2006/072996
　しかしながら、上記従来の技術である特許文献１では、複数のループが構成された場合に適切な通信経路を設定できないという問題があった。 However, in Patent Document 1 that is the above-described conventional technique, there is a problem that an appropriate communication path can not be set when a plurality of loops are configured.
　本発明は、上記に鑑みてなされたものであって、複数のループが構成された場合であっても適切な通信経路を設定することができるネットワーク管理システムを得ることを目的とする。 The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is an object of the present invention to obtain a network management system capable of setting an appropriate communication path even when a plurality of loops are configured.
　上述した課題を解決し、目的を達成するために、本発明は、ネットワーク管理システムにおいて、通信ネットワーク内でループ状に接続された複数の通信装置を備える。また、本発明のネットワーク管理システムは、通信装置が、通信ネットワーク内の通信装置毎に設定された装置優先度の中で最も高い第１の最優先度が設定されている通信装置である優先装置から自装置までのフレームの中継段数に基づいて、自装置が優先装置から最も多くの通信装置を中継する通信経路に接続されているか否かの経路判定を実行する制御部を有する。また、本発明のネットワーク管理システムは、制御部が、自装置が優先装置から最も多くの通信装置を中継する通信経路に接続されていると判定した場合には、制御部が、ポートのうち、ループ内にある何れかのポートを通信ネットワークの終端に設定する。 In order to solve the problems described above and to achieve the object, the present invention comprises, in a network management system, a plurality of communication devices connected in a loop in a communication network. Further, in the network management system according to the present invention, the communication apparatus is a communication apparatus in which the first highest priority is set among the apparatus priorities set for each communication apparatus in the communication network. And a control unit that performs path determination of whether or not the own apparatus is connected to a communication path that relays the largest number of communication apparatuses from the priority apparatus based on the number of relay stages of frames from the apparatus to the own apparatus. Further, in the network management system according to the present invention, when the control unit determines that the own device is connected to the communication path relaying the largest number of communication devices from the priority device, the control unit determines that among the ports: Set any port in the loop to the end of the communication network.
　本発明にかかるネットワーク管理システムは、複数のループが構成された場合であっても適切な通信経路を設定することができるという効果を奏する。 The network management system according to the present invention has an effect that an appropriate communication path can be set even when a plurality of loops are configured.
本発明の実施の形態１にかかる通信装置の構成を示すブロック図Block diagram showing the configuration of the communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention 実施の形態１にかかるネットワーク管理システムの構成例を示す図A diagram showing an example of configuration of a network management system according to a first embodiment 実施の形態１にかかる調停フレームの送受信手順を示すフローチャートFlowchart showing transmission / reception procedure of arbitration frame according to the first embodiment 実施の形態１にかかるポート設定の処理手順を示すフローチャートFlow chart showing processing procedure of port setting according to the first embodiment 実施の形態１にかかるネットワーク管理システムでループを閉じた状態を示す図The figure which shows the state which closed the loop in the network management system concerning Embodiment 1. 実施の形態１にかかるネットワーク管理システムの別構成の例を示す図A diagram showing an example of another configuration of the network management system according to the first embodiment 実施の形態１にかかる別構成のネットワーク管理システムでループを閉じた状態を示す図The figure which shows the state which closed the loop in the network management system of another configuration concerning Embodiment 1. 実施の形態２にかかる調停フレームの送受信手順を示すフローチャートFlowchart showing transmission / reception procedure of arbitration frame according to the second embodiment 実施の形態２にかかるポート設定の処理手順を示すフローチャートFlow chart showing processing procedure of port setting according to the second embodiment 実施の形態にかかる通信装置が備える制御部のハードウェア構成例を示す図A figure showing an example of hardware constitutions of a control part with which a communications device concerning an embodiment is provided
　以下に、本発明の実施の形態にかかるネットワーク管理システムおよびネットワーク管理方法を図面に基づいて詳細に説明する。なお、これらの実施の形態によりこの発明が限定されるものではない。 Hereinafter, a network management system and a network management method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by these embodiments.
実施の形態１．
　図１は、本発明の実施の形態１にかかる通信装置の構成を示すブロック図である。図１では、後述するネットワーク管理システム１０１に配置される通信装置１０Ｘの機能構成を示している。通信装置１０Ｘは、他の通信装置１０Ｘに接続されている。なお、以下では、通信装置１０Ｘを局という場合がある。 Embodiment 1
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a functional configuration of the communication device 10X disposed in a network management system 101 described later. The communication device 10X is connected to another communication device 10X. Hereinafter, the communication device 10X may be referred to as a station.
　ネットワーク管理システム１０１は、通信ネットワーク内で複数の通信装置１０Ｘがループ状に接続されたリングネットワークを管理するシステムである。ネットワーク管理システム１０１の通信ネットワークでは、複数の通信装置１０Ｘが通信線を介して接続されている。なお、以下の説明では通信ネットワークをネットワークという。 The network management system 101 is a system that manages a ring network in which a plurality of communication devices 10X are connected in a loop in a communication network. In the communication network of the network management system 101, a plurality of communication devices 10X are connected via communication lines. In the following description, the communication network is called a network.
　各通信装置１０Ｘは、ループ内で直近の他の通信装置１０Ｘとの間で、種々の情報を含んだ種々のデータを送受信することによって、ネットワーク管理システム１０１内の経路設定およびネットワークを管理するＮ／Ｗ（NetWork）管理局の調停処理を実行する。ループ内で直近の他の通信装置１０Ｘは、ループ内で隣接する通信装置１０Ｘまたはループ内で中継装置といった多種類の装置を介して隣接する通信装置１０Ｘである。換言すると、ループ内で直近の他の通信装置１０Ｘは、ループ内の通信装置１０Ｘのうち、自装置から最も短い通信経路の通信装置１０Ｘである。Ｎ／Ｗ管理局の調停処理は、Ｎ／Ｗ管理局を通信装置１０Ｘの何れかに設定する処理である。 Each communication device 10X manages route settings and networks in the network management system 101 by transmitting and receiving various data including various information to and from other nearest communication devices 10X in a loop. / W (NetWork) Executes arbitration process of management station. The nearest other communication device 10X in the loop is the adjacent communication device 10X in the loop or the adjacent communication device 10X via many types of devices such as relay devices in the loop. In other words, the nearest other communication device 10X in the loop is the communication device 10X of the shortest communication path from the own device among the communication devices 10X in the loop. The arbitration process of the N / W management station is a process of setting the N / W management station to any of the communication devices 10X.
　Ｎ／Ｗ管理局は、ネットワーク内の種々の設定を実行する装置である。Ｎ／Ｗ管理局は、ネットワーク管理システム１０１に接続されている通信装置１０Ｘがどのように接続され、どのような通信を実行するかを管理する。Ｎ／Ｗ管理局は、各通信装置１０Ｘが何れのデータを送受信するかの設定を行ってもよい。 The N / W management station is a device that performs various settings in the network. The N / W management station manages how the communication device 10X connected to the network management system 101 is connected and what kind of communication is performed. The N / W management station may set which data each communication device 10X transmits and receives.
　ネットワーク管理システム１０１では、通信装置１０Ｘの何れか１つがＮ／Ｗ管理局となる。したがって、各通信装置１０Ｘは、何れもＮ／Ｗ管理局の候補である。換言すると、Ｎ／Ｗ管理局が設定されるまでは、ネットワーク管理システム１０１内の通信装置１０Ｘは、全てＮ／Ｗ管理候補局である。 In the network management system 101, any one of the communication devices 10X is an N / W management station. Therefore, each communication device 10X is a candidate for the N / W management station. In other words, all communication devices 10X in the network management system 101 are N / W management candidate stations until the N / W management station is set.
　通信装置１０Ｘは、ループ内で直近の通信装置１０Ｘとの間で通信を行なう通信部５１と、ネットワーク内の経路設定およびＮ／Ｗ管理局の調停を実行する制御部５２と、種々のデータを記憶する記憶部５３とを備えている。 The communication device 10X includes a communication unit 51 that communicates with the latest communication device 10X in a loop, a control unit 52 that executes path setting in the network and arbitration of the N / W management station, and various data. And a storage unit 53 for storing data.
　制御部５２は、通信部５１および記憶部５３を制御する。したがって、通信部５１は、制御部５２からの指示に従ってデータを送信し、記憶部５３は、制御部５２からの指示に従ってデータを記憶または変更する。 The control unit 52 controls the communication unit 51 and the storage unit 53. Therefore, communication unit 51 transmits data in accordance with an instruction from control unit 52, and storage unit 53 stores or changes data in accordance with an instruction from control unit 52.
　また、制御部５２は、ネットワーク内の経路設定と、Ｎ／Ｗ管理局の調停処理と、を通信装置１０Ｘとの間で実行する。具体的には、制御部５２は、ループ内で直近の通信装置１０Ｘから受信した後述の調停フレームと、通信装置１０Ｘの記憶部５３が保持しているデータとに基づいて、記憶部５３が保持しているデータを変更する。また、制御部５２は、記憶部５３が保持しているデータの一部を用いて調停フレームを生成し、ループ内で直近の通信装置１０Ｘに送信する。また、制御部５２は、Ｎ／Ｗ管理局から自局までの通信経路が、Ｎ／Ｗ管理局から見てループ内で最も多くの通信装置１０Ｘを中継する通信経路であるか否かの経路判定を実行する。そして、制御部５２は、経路判定に基づいて、後述するポートの開閉を制御する。このように、制御部５２は、記憶部５３が保持しているデータおよび受信した調停フレームに基づいて、ポートの開閉および調停フレームの送信を制御し、これによりネットワーク内の経路設定と、Ｎ／Ｗ管理局の調停処理とを実行する。 Further, the control unit 52 executes route setting in the network and arbitration processing of the N / W management station with the communication device 10X. Specifically, the control unit 52 holds the storage unit 53 based on the later-described arbitration frame received from the latest communication device 10X in the loop and the data held by the storage unit 53 of the communication device 10X. Change the data you are working with. Further, the control unit 52 generates an arbitration frame using a part of the data held by the storage unit 53, and transmits the arbitration frame to the nearest communication device 10X in a loop. Further, control unit 52 determines whether the communication path from N / W management station to own station is a communication path for relaying the largest number of communication devices 10X in the loop as viewed from N / W management station. Execute the judgment. Then, the control unit 52 controls the opening and closing of ports, which will be described later, based on the route determination. As described above, the control unit 52 controls port opening / closing and transmission of the arbitration frame based on the data held by the storage unit 53 and the received arbitration frame, thereby setting the path in the network and N / N. And execute the arbitration process of the W management station.
　記憶部５３が記憶するデータの例は、通信装置１０Ｘ毎に設定されるデータ、および通信装置１０Ｘが備えるポート毎に設定されるデータである。通信装置１０Ｘ毎に設定されるデータは、自局優先度と、最優先度と、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局での送信時刻との３つである。優先度は、各局がＮ／Ｗ管理局になるための優先順位であり、優先度が高いほどＮ／Ｗ管理局になりやすい。また、ポート毎に設定されるデータは、中継段数と、ポート番号との２つである。なお、以下の説明では、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局での送信時刻を、送信時刻という。 Examples of data stored in the storage unit 53 are data set for each communication device 10X and data set for each port provided in the communication device 10X. The data set for each communication device 10X is three, that is, the own station priority, the highest priority, and the transmission time at the N / W highest priority station. The priority is a priority for each station to become an N / W management station, and the higher the priority, the easier it is to become an N / W management station. The data set for each port is two, the number of relay stages and the port number. In the following description, the transmission time at the N / W highest priority station is referred to as the transmission time.
（自局優先度）
　自局優先度は、自らの通信装置１０Ｘである自局が有している、Ｎ／Ｗ管理局になるための優先度である。この自局優先度は、通信装置１０Ｘ毎に設定される装置優先度であり、他の通信装置１０Ｘである他局が有している自局優先度とは重複しない。換言すると、ネットワーク内の各通信装置１０Ｘには、それぞれ異なる自局優先度が設定される。ネットワーク内では、自局優先度の高い通信装置１０Ｘが、調停によってＮ／Ｗ管理局となる。ネットワーク内の各通信装置１０Ｘは、通信経路の設定処理前に自局優先度が設定される。 (Local station priority)
The own station priority is a priority for becoming the N / W management station, which the own station that is the own communication device 10X has. The own station priority is a device priority set for each communication device 10X, and does not overlap with the own station priorities that other stations that are other communication devices 10X have. In other words, different local station priorities are set to the respective communication devices 10X in the network. In the network, the communication device 10X having a high priority of its own station becomes an N / W management station by arbitration. Each communication apparatus 10X in the network has its own station priority set before the communication path setting process.
（最優先度）
　最優先度は、ネットワーク内で自局が認識している自局優先度のうち最も自局優先度が高いものである。すなわち、最優先度は、自局が認識している通信装置１０Ｘの自局優先度のうち、ネットワーク内で最も高い自局優先度を有している通信装置１０Ｘの自局優先度である。 (Highest priority)
The highest priority is the highest priority among the local priorities recognized by the local station in the network. That is, the highest priority is the own station priority of the communication device 10X having the highest own station priority in the network among the own station priorities of the communication device 10X recognized by the own station.
　通信装置１０Ｘは、通信経路の設定処理前は、他局を認識できていない。このため、通信装置１０Ｘは、通信経路の設定開始時は、自局の自局優先度しか把握していない。したがって、通信装置１０Ｘは、通信経路の設定開始時は、自局の自局優先度を最優先度に設定する。換言すると、自局優先度の初期値は、自局の最優先度である。通信装置１０Ｘは、通信経路の設定開始後に、他局を認識すると、認識した他局が有している自局優先度と、自局の自局優先度との中から最も高い自局優先度を探し出して、最優先度に設定する。 The communication device 10X can not recognize another station before the communication path setting process. Therefore, the communication device 10X only knows the own station priority of the own station at the start of setting of the communication path. Therefore, the communication apparatus 10X sets the own station priority of the own station to the highest priority when setting of the communication path is started. In other words, the initial value of the local station priority is the local station's highest priority. When the communication apparatus 10X recognizes the other station after the start of setting of the communication path, the highest priority among the own station priority and the own station priority of the own station that the recognized other station has, is the highest. Find out and set it as the highest priority.
　このように、通信装置１０Ｘは、認識済みの自局優先度の中から最も優先順位の高いものを最優先度に設定する。以下の説明では、自局が認識しているネットワーク内で、最も高い自局優先度を有している通信装置１０ＸをＮ／Ｗ最優先局という。Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局は、マスタ局であり、通信装置１０Ｘのうち、Ｎ／Ｗ管理局となる自局優先度が最も高い通信装置１０Ｘである。 Thus, the communication apparatus 10X sets the highest priority among the recognized local station priorities to the highest priority. In the following description, the communication apparatus 10X having the highest own station priority in the network recognized by the own station is referred to as the N / W highest priority station. The N / W highest priority station is a master station, and among the communication devices 10X, the communication device 10X having the highest priority of its own station serving as an N / W management station.
　ネットワーク内の通信装置１０Ｘ毎に設定された自局優先度の中で自局が認識している最も高い自局優先度が第２の最優先度である。また、自局優先度の中で実際に最も高い優先度を示すものが第１の最優先度である。換言すると、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局である優先装置の自局優先度が、第１の最優先度である。また、自局優先度の中で他の通信装置１０Ｘが認識している最も高い優先度が第３の最優先度である。制御部５２は、中継段数と、第２の最優先度と、第３の最優先度と、に基づいて、通信経路の判定を実行する。 Among the own station priorities set for each communication device 10X in the network, the highest own station priority recognized by the own station is the second highest priority. Also, the first highest priority indicates the highest priority among the own station priorities. In other words, the own station priority of the priority apparatus which is the N / W highest priority station is the first highest priority. Further, the highest priority recognized by the other communication device 10X among the own station priorities is the third highest priority. The control unit 52 determines the communication path based on the number of relay stages, the second highest priority, and the third highest priority.
（送信時刻）
　送信時刻は、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局が、ループ内で直近の通信装置１０Ｘにデータを送信する時刻である。通信装置１０Ｘは、通信経路の設定処理前は、自局がＮ／Ｗ最優先局である。したがって、通信装置１０Ｘは、通信経路の設定開始時は、自局の現在時刻を送信時刻に設定する。 (Transmission time)
The transmission time is the time at which the N / W highest priority station transmits data to the nearest communication device 10X in the loop. In the communication device 10X, the local station is the N / W highest priority station before the communication path setting process. Therefore, the communication apparatus 10X sets the current time of the own station as the transmission time when setting of the communication path is started.
（中継段数）
　中継段数は、最優先度が設定されている通信装置１０Ｘからのデータの中継段数である。データの中継段数は、各通信装置１０Ｘが備えるポートでカウントされる。したがって、ポートが、ループ内で直近の通信装置１０Ｘからデータを受信すると、受信したデータの中継段数を１段だけ加算する。これにより、ネットワーク内で送受信するデータは、通信装置１０Ｘを介して送受信されるたびに、１段ずつ段数が増えていく。中継段数は、通信経路の設定開始時は、設定値なしである。換言すると、中継段数の初期値は、設定値なしであり、通信経路の設定が開始される際に０段が設定される。 (Number of relay stages)
The number of relay stages is the number of relay stages of data from the communication device 10X for which the highest priority is set. The number of relay stages of data is counted at ports provided in each communication device 10X. Therefore, when the port receives data from the nearest communication device 10X in the loop, the number of relay stages of the received data is increased by one. Thus, the number of stages of data transmitted and received in the network increases by one each time transmitted and received via the communication device 10X. The relay stage number has no set value at the start of setting of the communication path. In other words, the initial value of the number of relay stages is no set value, and 0 stages are set when setting of the communication path is started.
　ポートは、通信装置１０Ｘに配置されており、ループ内で直近の通信装置１０Ｘから送られてくるデータを受信して自局内に取り込むとともに、ループ内で直近の通信装置１０Ｘに自局のデータを送信する。各通信装置１０Ｘは、リング状に接続されたネットワークに配置されているので少なくとも２つの他の通信装置１０Ｘに接続されている。したがって、各通信装置１０Ｘは、少なくとも２つのポートを備えている。 The port is disposed in the communication device 10X, receives data sent from the most recent communication device 10X in the loop, captures it into its own station, and transmits its own data to the most recent communication device 10X in the loop. Send. Each communication device 10X is connected to at least two other communication devices 10X because it is disposed in a ring-connected network. Thus, each communication device 10X has at least two ports.
（ポート番号）
　ポート番号は、通信装置１０Ｘが備えるポートに割り当てられる番号である。ポート番号は、１つの通信装置１０Ｘ内で重複しないようにポート毎に設定される。 (port number)
The port number is a number assigned to a port provided in the communication device 10X. The port number is set for each port so as not to be duplicated in one communication device 10X.
　通信装置１０Ｘは、通信経路の設定開始前に自局優先度が設定される。また、通信装置１０Ｘは、通信経路の設定開始前にポート番号を設定する。また、通信装置１０Ｘは、通信経路の設定を開始すると、ループ内で直近の通信装置１０Ｘから受信したデータの内容に基づいて、最優先度、送信時刻、中継段数を更新する。 The communication apparatus 10X has its own station priority set prior to the start of communication path setting. Also, the communication device 10X sets a port number before setting of the communication path is started. In addition, when the communication device 10X starts the setting of the communication path, the communication device 10X updates the highest priority, the transmission time, and the number of relay stages based on the content of the data received from the latest communication device 10X in the loop.
　このように、各通信装置１０Ｘは、通信装置１０Ｘ毎に設定される３つのデータと、ポート毎に設定される２つのデータとを保持している。そして、各通信装置１０Ｘは、他の通信装置１０Ｘに、自局優先度、最優先度、送信時刻および中継段数の全部または一部を格納した第１のフレームをブロードキャスト送信する。また、各通信装置１０Ｘは、他の通信装置１０Ｘから、自局優先度、最優先度、送信時刻および中継段数の全部または一部が格納された第２のフレームを受信する。通信部５１は、ループ内で直近の他の通信装置１０Ｘとの間でポートを介した、第１のフレームの送信と第２のフレームの受信とを行う。通信部５１が送信する第１のフレームは、通信装置１０Ｘが生成した後述の第１から第３の調停フレームの何れかであり、通信部５１が受信する第２のフレームは、ループ内で直近の他の通信装置１０Ｘが生成した後述の第１から第３の調停フレームの何れかである。 Thus, each communication device 10X holds three data set for each communication device 10X and two data set for each port. Then, each communication device 10X broadcasts, to the other communication device 10X, a first frame in which all or part of the local station priority, the highest priority, the transmission time, and the number of relay stages are stored. Further, each communication device 10X receives, from another communication device 10X, a second frame in which all or part of the local station priority, the highest priority, the transmission time, and the number of relay stages are stored. The communication unit 51 performs transmission of the first frame and reception of the second frame via the port with the nearest other communication device 10X in the loop. The first frame transmitted by the communication unit 51 is any of the first to third arbitration frames described later generated by the communication device 10X, and the second frame received by the communication unit 51 is the closest in the loop. The first to third arbitration frames, which will be described later, are generated by the other communication device 10X.
　なお、各通信装置１０Ｘは、ループ内で直近の他の通信装置１０Ｘから調停フレームを受信しても、受信した調停フレームを他の通信装置１０Ｘに転送しない。換言すると、通信装置１０Ｘは、調停フレームの中継を実行しない。 Note that each communication device 10X does not transfer the received arbitration frame to the other communication device 10X even if it receives the arbitration frame from the other communication device 10X nearest to the other in the loop. In other words, the communication device 10X does not execute relay of the arbitration frame.
　つぎに、ネットワーク管理システム１０１の構成について説明する。図２は、実施の形態１にかかるネットワーク管理システムの構成例を示す図である。ネットワーク管理システム１０１の一例は、工場の生産工程の自動化を図るＦＡ（Factory　Automation）の分野で用いられるＦＡネットワークである。ここでは、ネットワーク管理システム１０１が、４つの通信装置１０Ｘを備えている場合について説明する。図２では、通信装置１０Ｘを、通信装置１１～１４で示している。 Next, the configuration of the network management system 101 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram of a configuration example of the network management system according to the first embodiment. An example of the network management system 101 is an FA network used in the field of FA (Factory Automation) for automation of a factory production process. Here, a case where the network management system 101 includes four communication devices 10X will be described. In FIG. 2, the communication device 10X is indicated by communication devices 11-14.
　ネットワーク管理システム１０１内では、通信装置１１～１４がリング状に接続されており、ループを形成している。具体的には、通信装置１１は、通信装置１２に接続され、通信装置１２は、通信装置１４に接続されている。また、通信装置１４は、通信装置１３に接続され、通信装置１３は、通信装置１１に接続されている。 In the network management system 101, communication devices 11 to 14 are connected in a ring to form a loop. Specifically, the communication device 11 is connected to the communication device 12, and the communication device 12 is connected to the communication device 14. The communication device 14 is connected to the communication device 13, and the communication device 13 is connected to the communication device 11.
　通信装置１１は、ポートＰ１１ａ，Ｐ１１ｂを備え、通信装置１２は、ポートＰ１２ａ，Ｐ１２ｂを備えている。また、通信装置１３は、ポートＰ１３ａ，Ｐ１３ｂを備え、通信装置１４は、ポートＰ１４ａ，Ｐ１４ｂを備えている。 The communication device 11 includes ports P11a and P11b, and the communication device 12 includes ports P12a and P12b. The communication device 13 also includes ports P13a and P13b, and the communication device 14 includes ports P14a and P14b.
　そして、ポートＰ１１ｂは、通信線を介してポートＰ１２ａに接続され、ポートＰ１２ｂは、ポートＰ１４ｂに接続されている。また、ポートＰ１４ａは、ポートＰ１３ｂに接続され、ポートＰ１３ａは、ポートＰ１１ａに接続されている。 The port P11b is connected to the port P12a via a communication line, and the port P12b is connected to the port P14b. The port P14a is connected to the port P13b, and the port P13a is connected to the port P11a.
　ネットワーク管理システム１０１のようなループを含むネットワークでは、ループ内でフレームが循環すると帯域を圧迫するので、各通信装置１１～１４が、フレームの循環を防止できる通信経路を設定する。また、各通信装置１１～１４は、ネットワーク管理システム１０１内の通信の管理を担当する唯一のＮ／Ｗ管理局を調停によって設定する。 In a network including a loop such as the network management system 101, when a frame circulates in the loop, the bandwidth is compressed. Therefore, each of the communication devices 11 to 14 sets a communication path that can prevent the circulation of the frame. Further, each of the communication devices 11 to 14 sets, by arbitration, the only N / W management station in charge of managing the communication in the network management system 101.
　ここで、調停フレームについて説明する。ネットワーク管理システム１０１は、ループ内で直近同士の通信装置１０Ｘ間で、第１から第３の調停フレームの何れかの送受信を行う。第１から第３の調停フレームは、調停フレームの例である。第１の調停フレームは、通信装置１０Ｘが、通信経路の設定を開始した際に、ループ内で直近の他の通信装置１０Ｘにブロードキャスト送信する調停フレームである。また、第２および第３の調停フレームは、第１から第３の調停フレームの何れかを受信した通信装置１０Ｘが、受信した第１から第３の調停フレームの内容に応じてブロードキャスト送信する調停フレームである。したがって、通信装置１０Ｘは、通信経路の設定を開始すると、第１の調停フレームを送信し、第１から第３の調停フレームの何れかを受信する。そして、通信装置１０Ｘは、第１から第３の調停フレームの何れかを受信すると、第２または第３の調停フレームを送信する。なお、以下の説明では、第１から第３の調停フレームの何れか１つを、第Ｎの調停フレームという。 Here, the arbitration frame will be described. The network management system 101 transmits and receives any of the first to third arbitration frames between the latest communication devices 10X in the loop. The first to third arbitration frames are examples of arbitration frames. The first arbitration frame is an arbitration frame that is broadcasted to the nearest other communication device 10X in the loop when the communication device 10X starts to set the communication path. The second and third arbitration frames are arbitrations in which the communication device 10X that receives any of the first to third arbitration frames broadcasts according to the contents of the first to third arbitration frames received. It is a frame. Therefore, when the communication device 10X starts to set the communication path, the communication device 10X transmits the first arbitration frame and receives any of the first to third arbitration frames. Then, upon receiving any of the first to third arbitration frames, the communication device 10X transmits the second or third arbitration frame. In the following description, any one of the first to third arbitration frames is referred to as an N-th arbitration frame.
　第Ｎの調停フレームは、ループ内で直近同士の通信装置１０Ｘ間で、送受信されるデータフレームである。第Ｎの調停フレームは、ネットワーク管理システム１０１内で送受信されることにより、ネットワーク管理システム１０１内の経路設定およびＮ／Ｗ管理局の設定に用いられる。 The N-th arbitration frame is a data frame transmitted and received between the latest communication devices 10X in the loop. The N-th arbitration frame is transmitted and received in the network management system 101, and is used for path setting in the network management system 101 and setting of the N / W management station.
　通信装置１１～１４は、第Ｎの調停フレームを、特定時間Ｔｘより短い周期Ｃ１で全てのポートからブロードキャスト送信する。特定時間Ｔｘおよび周期Ｃ１は、ネットワーク管理システム１０１に配置される通信装置１０Ｘの数およびネットワーク管理システム１０１が有する通信経路の総距離に基づいて設定されるものである。したがって、特定時間Ｔｘおよび周期Ｃ１は、ネットワーク管理システム１０１の構成によって変動する。 The communication devices 11 to 14 broadcast the N-th arbitration frame from all ports at a period C1 shorter than the specific time Tx. The specific time Tx and the cycle C1 are set based on the number of communication devices 10X arranged in the network management system 101 and the total distance of communication paths that the network management system 101 has. Therefore, the specific time Tx and the period C1 change depending on the configuration of the network management system 101.
　通信装置１１は、ポートＰ１１ａ，Ｐ１１ｂから第Ｎの調停フレームをブロードキャスト送信し、通信装置１２は、ポートＰ１２ａ，Ｐ１２ｂから第Ｎの調停フレームをブロードキャスト送信する。また、通信装置１３は、ポートＰ１３ａ，Ｐ１３ｂから第Ｎの調停フレームをブロードキャスト送信し、通信装置１４は、ポートＰ１４ａ，Ｐ１４ｂから第Ｎの調停フレームをブロードキャスト送信する。第Ｎの調停フレームがブロードキャスト送信されることによって、ループ内に中継装置であるＨＵＢが配置された場合であっても、ＨＵＢが第Ｎの調停フレームの通信内容を解釈する必要がなくなる。ＨＵＢは、通信装置１１～１４とは異なる通信仕様の通信ユニットである。実施の形態１でのＨＵＢは、第Ｎの調停フレームをポートで受信すると、適切なポートから第Ｎの調停フレームを送信し、これにより第Ｎの調停フレームを変更することなく転送する。第Ｎの調停フレームを送信するのに適切なポートは、第Ｎの調停フレームを受信したポート以外のポートであってもよいし、第Ｎの調停フレームを受信したポートであってもよい。以下の説明では、第Ｎの調停フレームを送信するポートが、第Ｎの調停フレームを受信したポート以外のポートである場合について説明する。なお、以下の説明では、第Ｎの調停フレームを受信したポートを受信ポートという場合がある。 The communication device 11 broadcasts the Nth arbitration frame from the ports P11a and P11b, and the communication device 12 broadcasts the Nth arbitration frame from the ports P12a and P12b. The communication device 13 broadcasts the N-th arbitration frame from the ports P13a and P13b, and the communication device 14 broadcasts the N-th arbitration frame from the ports P14a and P14b. The broadcast transmission of the Nth arbitration frame eliminates the need for the HUB to interpret the communication content of the Nth arbitration frame even when the HUB which is a relay apparatus is disposed in the loop. The HUB is a communication unit having a communication specification different from that of the communication devices 11-14. When the HUB in the first embodiment receives the Nth arbitration frame at the port, the HUB transmits the Nth arbitration frame from the appropriate port, thereby transferring the Nth arbitration frame without changing it. The port suitable for transmitting the Nth arbitration frame may be a port other than the port that has received the Nth arbitration frame, or the port that has received the Nth arbitration frame. In the following description, the case where the port transmitting the N-th arbitration frame is a port other than the port that has received the N-th arbitration frame will be described. In the following description, a port that has received the N-th arbitration frame may be referred to as a reception port.
　つぎに、図３および図４を用いて、ネットワーク管理システム１０１内に配置されている通信装置１０Ｘの通信処理手順について説明する。なお、通信装置１１～１４は同様の処理を実行するので、ここでは通信装置１１の通信処理手順について説明する。 Next, the communication processing procedure of the communication device 10X disposed in the network management system 101 will be described using FIG. 3 and FIG. Since the communication devices 11 to 14 execute the same processing, the communication processing procedure of the communication device 11 will be described here.
　図３は、実施の形態１にかかる調停フレームの送受信手順を示すフローチャートである。図４は、実施の形態１にかかるポート設定の処理手順を示すフローチャートである。ネットワーク管理システム１０１内に配置されている通信装置１１～１４は、それぞれ自局優先度と、最優先度と、送信時刻と、中継段数と、ポート番号とを保持している。そして、通信装置１１～１４は、それぞれ、通信経路の設定を開始すると、ネットワーク管理システム１０１内で直近の他の通信装置１１～１４に、自局優先度と、最優先度と、送信時刻と、中継段数とを格納した第１の調停フレームをブロードキャスト送信する。ここでの通信装置１１～１４が、第１の調停フレームに格納する中継段数は０段である。 FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the transmission and reception procedure of the arbitration frame according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process procedure of port setting according to the first embodiment. The communication devices 11 to 14 disposed in the network management system 101 hold their own station priority, highest priority, transmission time, number of relay stages, and port number, respectively. Then, when the communication devices 11 to 14 each start the setting of the communication path, the other communication devices 11 to 14 nearest in the network management system 101 have their own station priority, highest priority, and transmission time. , And broadcast transmission of a first arbitration frame storing the number of relay stages. The number of relay stages stored in the first arbitration frame by the communication apparatuses 11 to 14 here is zero.
　各通信装置１１～１４は、ネットワーク管理システム１０１内で直近の他の通信装置１０Ｘから、第１の調停フレームを受信する。また、通信装置１１～１４は、第１の調停フレームを受信すると、第２または第３の調停フレームをループ内で直近の他の通信装置１０Ｘに送信する。 Each of the communication devices 11 to 14 receives the first arbitration frame from the other nearest communication device 10X in the network management system 101. Also, when the communication devices 11 to 14 receive the first arbitration frame, they transmit the second or third arbitration frame to the other communication device 10X closest to the other in the loop.
　通信装置１１～１４は、同様の処理を実行するので、ここでは、通信装置１１における通信処理手順について説明する。ステップＳ１００において、通信装置１１の通信部５１がループ内で直近の他の通信装置１２，１３から第Ｎの調停フレームを受信すると、通信部５１は、受信した第Ｎの調停フレームを制御部５２に送る。通信部５１が通信装置１２から最初に受信するのは第１の調停フレームであり、その後、第２または第３の調停フレームを受信する。また、通信部５１が通信装置１３から最初に受信するのは第１の調停フレームであり、その後、第２または第３の調停フレームを受信する。 Since the communication devices 11 to 14 execute the same processing, the communication processing procedure in the communication device 11 will be described here. In step S100, when the communication unit 51 of the communication device 11 receives the N-th arbitration frame from the other nearest communication devices 12 and 13 in the loop, the communication unit 51 controls the received N-th arbitration frame Send to The communication unit 51 receives the first arbitration frame from the communication device 12 first, and then receives the second or third arbitration frame. Also, it is the first arbitration frame that the communication unit 51 receives from the communication device 13 first, and then receives the second or third arbitration frame.
　ここで第１から第３の調停フレームについて説明する。
（第１の調停フレーム）
　第１の調停フレームは、以下の４つのデータを格納している。
・自局優先度
・最優先度
・送信時刻
・中継段数
　第１の調停フレームに格納されるデータは、通信装置１１に設定されている初期値である。 Here, the first to third arbitration frames will be described.
(First arbitration frame)
The first arbitration frame stores the following four data.
The priority stored in the first arbitration frame is an initial value set in the communication apparatus 11.
（第２の調停フレーム）
　第２の調停フレームは、以下の４つのデータを格納している。
・最優先度
・送信時刻
・中継段数
・自局優先度
　第２の調停フレームは、受信した第Ｎの調停フレームに含まれる最優先度の方が、自局が保持している最優先度よりも高い場合に送信されるものである。換言すると、通信装置１１は、受信した最優先度の方が、保持している最優先度よりも高い場合に、第２の調停フレームを送信する。したがって、第２の調停フレームに格納される最優先度および送信時刻は、受信した第Ｎの調停フレームに含まれていたものと同じである。また、この場合に第２の調停フレームに格納される中継段数は、受信した第Ｎの調停フレームに含まれる中継段数に１段を追加した中継段数である。なお、第２の調停フレームは、受信した最優先度と、保持している最優先度とが同じであって、且つ特定の条件を満たす場合にも送信される。 (Second arbitration frame)
The second arbitration frame stores the following four data.
-Highest priority-Transmission time-Number of relay stages-Local station priority In the second arbitration frame, the highest priority contained in the Nth arbitration frame received is higher than the highest priority held by the local station. Is also sent when high. In other words, the communication apparatus 11 transmits the second arbitration frame when the received highest priority is higher than the held highest priority. Therefore, the highest priority and transmission time stored in the second arbitration frame are the same as those included in the received Nth arbitration frame. Further, in this case, the number of relay stages stored in the second arbitration frame is the number of relay stages in which one is added to the number of relay stages included in the received Nth arbitration frame. The second arbitration frame is also transmitted when the highest priority received and the highest priority held are the same and a specific condition is satisfied.
（第３の調停フレーム）
　第３の調停フレームは、以下の４つのデータを格納している。
・自局優先度
・最優先度
・送信時刻
・中継段数
　第３の調停フレームは、受信した第Ｎの調停フレームに含まれる最優先度の方が、自局が保持している最優先度よりも低い場合に送信されるものである。換言すると、通信装置１１は、受信した最優先度の方が、保持している最優先度よりも低い場合に、第３の調停フレームを送信する。第３の調停フレームに格納される中継段数は、最優先度が格納された第Ｎの調停フレームを受信したポートのうち、最も小さい中継段数を受信したポートの中継段数である。したがって、第３の調停フレームに格納される中継段数は、最優先度が格納された第Ｎの調停フレームに含まれる中継段数のうち最も小さい中継段数である。 (Third arbitration frame)
The third arbitration frame stores the following four data.
-Local station priority-Highest priority-Transmission time-Number of relay stages In the third arbitration frame, the highest priority contained in the Nth arbitration frame received is higher than the highest priority held by the local station. Is also sent if it is low. In other words, the communication apparatus 11 transmits the third arbitration frame when the received highest priority is lower than the held highest priority. The number of relay stages stored in the third arbitration frame is the number of relay stages of the port that has received the smallest number of relay stages among the ports that have received the Nth arbitration frame storing the highest priority. Therefore, the number of relay stages stored in the third arbitration frame is the smallest number of relay stages among the number of relay stages included in the N-th arbitration frame in which the highest priority is stored.
　通信装置１１が、第Ｎの調停フレームを受信すると、制御部５２が、受信した第Ｎの調停フレーム内からデータを抽出する。制御部５２は、第１または第３の調停フレームを受信すると、自局優先度、最優先度、送信時刻、および中継段数を抽出する。また、制御部５２は、第２の調停フレームを受信すると、最優先度、送信時刻、中継段数、および自局優先度を抽出する。 When the communication device 11 receives the Nth arbitration frame, the control unit 52 extracts data from the received Nth arbitration frame. When receiving the first or third arbitration frame, the control unit 52 extracts its own station priority, highest priority, transmission time, and relay stage number. Further, when receiving the second arbitration frame, the control unit 52 extracts the highest priority, the transmission time, the number of relay stages, and the own station priority.
　そして、制御部５２は、抽出した送信時刻と、現在時刻との差が特定時間Ｔｘ内であるか否かを判定する。なお、現在時刻は、通信部５１が第Ｎの調停フレームを受信した時刻であってもよいし、制御部５２が判定を実行する時刻であってもよい。送信時刻と、現在時刻との差が特定時間Ｔｘよりも長い場合、制御部５２は、記憶部５３で保持している最優先度および中継段数を開始時の値にリセットする。これにより、通信装置１１は、特定時間Ｔｘよりも長い間、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局からデータを受信しない場合には、ネットワーク構成の古いデータを削除する。 Then, the control unit 52 determines whether or not the difference between the extracted transmission time and the current time is within the specific time Tx. The current time may be the time when the communication unit 51 receives the Nth arbitration frame, or may be the time when the control unit 52 performs the determination. If the difference between the transmission time and the current time is longer than the specific time Tx, the control unit 52 resets the highest priority and the number of relay stages held in the storage unit 53 to the values at the start time. Thus, when the communication apparatus 11 does not receive data from the N / W highest priority station for longer than the specific time Tx, the communication apparatus 11 deletes old data of the network configuration.
　一方、送信時刻と、現在時刻との差が特定時間Ｔｘ以下の場合、通信装置１１は、以下のステップＳ１１０からＳ１５５の処理に従って、特定時間Ｔｘよりも短い周期Ｃ１で第２の調停フレームまたは第３の調停フレームをループ内で直近の通信装置１２，１３に送信する。 On the other hand, when the difference between the transmission time and the current time is equal to or less than the specific time Tx, the communication apparatus 11 performs the second arbitration frame or the second arbitration frame at a cycle C1 shorter than the specific time Tx according to the processing of steps S110 to S155 below. The third arbitration frame is transmitted to the nearest communication device 12 or 13 in the loop.
　ステップＳ１１０において、制御部５２は、複数の異なるポートから第Ｎの調停フレームを受信したか否かを判定する。ここでの制御部５２は、ポートＰ１１ａ，Ｐ１１ｂから第Ｎの調停フレームを受信したか否かを判定する。 In step S110, the control unit 52 determines whether the Nth arbitration frame has been received from a plurality of different ports. The control unit 52 here determines whether or not the N-th arbitration frame has been received from the ports P11a and P11b.
　通信装置１１が、１つのポートから第Ｎの調停フレームを受信した場合、すなわちステップＳ１１０においてＮｏの場合、制御部５２は、受信した第Ｎの調停フレーム内の最優先度と、自局である通信装置１１が記憶部５３で保持している最優先度とを比較する。そして、ステップＳ１３０において、制御部５２は、受信した最優先度が、保持している最優先度よりも高いか否かを判定する。 When the communication device 11 receives the N-th arbitration frame from one port, that is, No in step S110, the control unit 52 is the highest priority in the received N-th arbitration frame, and is the own station. The communication device 11 compares the highest priority held in the storage unit 53. Then, in step S130, the control unit 52 determines whether or not the received highest priority is higher than the held highest priority.
　受信した第Ｎの調停フレーム内の最優先度が、保持している最優先度よりも低い場合、すなわちステップＳ１３０においてＮｏの場合、ステップＳ１４０において、制御部５２は、記憶部５３で保持しているデータは変更しない。そして、ステップＳ１４５において、通信部５１は、第Ｎの調停フレームを受信したポートから第３の調停フレームを送信する。このように、通信装置１１は、受信した最優先度が、保持している最優先度よりも低い場合、自局で保持しているデータは変更しない。その上で、通信装置１１は、第Ｎの調停フレームを受信したポートから、第３の調停フレームをブロードキャスト送信する。 When the highest priority in the received N-th arbitration frame is lower than the held highest priority, that is, No in step S130, the control unit 52 holds the memory unit 53 in step S140. Data will not change. Then, in step S145, the communication unit 51 transmits the third arbitration frame from the port that has received the N-th arbitration frame. As described above, when the highest priority received is lower than the highest priority held, the communication apparatus 11 does not change the data held by the own station. Then, the communication apparatus 11 broadcasts the third arbitration frame from the port that has received the Nth arbitration frame.
　前述したように、第３の調停フレームは、自局優先度と、最優先度と、送信時刻と、中継段数との４つのデータを含んでいる。第３の調停フレームに含まれる中継段数は、最優先度を格納した調停フレームを受信したポートのうち、最も中継段数の少ない段数である。これにより、通信装置１１は、中継段数の多い通信経路を用いることを防止する。ループ内に５つの通信装置が配置されている場合を考える。５つのうちの第１の通信装置がＮ／Ｗ最優先局でなければ、第１の通信装置は、ループの時計回りの方向から送られてくる調停フレームと、反時計回りの方向から送られてくる調停フレームとを受信する場合がある。ループの時計回りの方向が、通信装置１１から見てループ内の遠回りの方向であり、ループの反時計回りの方向が、ループ内の近回りの方向であるとする。この場合、ループ内の反時計回りの方向から送られてくる調停フレームの中継段数は、ループ内の時計回りの方向から送られてくる調停フレームの中継段数よりも、中継段数が少ない。このため、通信装置１１は、最も中継段数の少ないものを第３の調停フレームに含めて、第３の調停フレームをブロードキャスト送信する。 As described above, the third arbitration frame includes four data of the own station priority, the highest priority, the transmission time, and the number of relay stages. The number of relaying stages included in the third arbitration frame is the number of stages having the smallest number of relaying stages among the ports that have received the arbitration frame storing the highest priority. Thus, the communication device 11 prevents the use of a communication path with a large number of relay stages. Consider the case where five communication devices are arranged in a loop. If the first communication device of the five is not the N / W highest priority station, the first communication device is sent from the counterclockwise direction and the arbitration frame coming from the clockwise direction of the loop. It may receive an incoming arbitration frame. It is assumed that the clockwise direction of the loop is the detour direction in the loop as viewed from the communication device 11, and the counterclockwise direction of the loop is the detour direction in the loop. In this case, the number of relay stages of the arbitration frame sent from the counterclockwise direction in the loop is smaller than the number of relay stages of the arbitration frame sent from the clockwise direction in the loop. Therefore, the communication apparatus 11 broadcasts the third arbitration frame, including the one with the smallest number of relay stages in the third arbitration frame.
　受信した第Ｎの調停フレーム内の最優先度が、保持している最優先度よりも高い場合、すなわちステップＳ１３０においてＹｅｓの場合、記憶部５３で保持しているデータを変更し、第２の調停フレームを生成する。前述したように、第２の調停フレームは、最優先度と、送信時刻と、中継段数と、自局優先度との４つのデータを含んでいる。 If the highest priority in the received N-th arbitration frame is higher than the held highest priority, that is, in the case of Yes in step S130, the data held in the storage unit 53 is changed, and the second Generate an arbitration frame. As described above, the second arbitration frame includes four data of highest priority, transmission time, number of relay stages, and own station priority.
　制御部５２は、ステップＳ１５０において、記憶部５３で保持している最優先度、送信時刻および中継段数を変更する。このとき、制御部５２は、記憶部５３で保持している最優先度および送信時刻を、受信した第Ｎの調停フレーム内の最優先度および送信時刻に変更する。また、制御部５２は、第Ｎの調停フレームを受信したポートの中継段数を、中継段数＋１に変更する。このように、第Ｎの調停フレームは、通信装置１０Ｘを通るたびに、中継段数が１段ずつ増えていく。ステップＳ１５５において、通信部５１は、変更後のデータを格納した第２の調停フレームを、第Ｎの調停フレームを受信したポート以外のポートからブロードキャスト送信する。 In step S150, the control unit 52 changes the highest priority, the transmission time, and the number of relay stages stored in the storage unit 53. At this time, the control unit 52 changes the highest priority and transmission time held in the storage unit 53 to the highest priority and transmission time in the received Nth arbitration frame. Further, the control unit 52 changes the number of relay stages of the port that has received the N-th arbitration frame to the number of relay stages + 1. Thus, the number of relay stages is increased by one each time the Nth arbitration frame passes through the communication device 10X. In step S155, the communication unit 51 broadcasts the second arbitration frame storing the changed data from a port other than the port that received the N-th arbitration frame.
　ステップＳ１１０において、通信装置１１が、複数の異なるポートから第Ｎの調停フレームを受信した場合、すなわちステップＳ１１０においてＹｅｓの場合、制御部５２は、受信した第Ｎの調停フレーム内の最優先度と、自局である通信装置１１が記憶部５３で保持している最優先度とを比較する。そして、ステップＳ１２０において、制御部５２は、受信した最優先度が、保持している最優先度と同じか否かを判定する。 In step S110, when the communication device 11 receives the N-th arbitration frame from a plurality of different ports, that is, in the case of Yes in step S110, the control unit 52 sets the highest priority in the received N-th arbitration frame. The highest priority that the communication device 11 which is the own station holds in the storage unit 53 is compared. Then, in step S120, the control unit 52 determines whether or not the received highest priority is the same as the held highest priority.
　受信した第Ｎの調停フレーム内の最優先度が、保持している最優先度と異なる場合、すなわちステップＳ１２０においてＮｏの場合、制御部５２は、ステップＳ１３０からＳ１５５の処理を実行する。 If the highest priority in the received N-th arbitration frame is different from the held highest priority, that is, No in step S120, the control unit 52 executes the processing in steps S130 to S155.
　一方、受信した第Ｎの調停フレーム内の最優先度が、保持している最優先度と同じ場合、すなわちステップＳ１２０においてＹｅｓの場合、制御部５２は、自局がループ上に存在していると判断する。すなわち、複数の異なるポートから受信した最優先度と、保持している最優先度とが一致する場合、制御部５２は、通信装置１１がループ上に存在していると判断する。 On the other hand, if the highest priority in the received N-th arbitration frame is the same as the held highest priority, that is, Yes in step S120, the control unit 52 has its own station on the loop. I will judge. That is, when the highest priority received from a plurality of different ports coincides with the held highest priority, the control unit 52 determines that the communication device 11 is present in a loop.
　ネットワーク管理システム１０１では、各通信装置１０Ｘが、上述したステップＳ１００からＳ１５５の処理を１回または複数回実行する。これにより、各通信装置１０Ｘは、自局で保持している最優先度、送信時刻および中継段数を更新していく。 In the network management system 101, each communication device 10X executes the processing of steps S100 to S155 described above one or more times. Thus, each communication device 10X updates the highest priority, transmission time, and the number of relay stages held in its own station.
　その後、通信装置１１は、図４に示すステップＳ１６０からＳ２５０の処理によって、最優先度を持つ通信装置１０Ｘからループ内で最も多くの局を中継する経路のポートを有していれば、このポートを閉じる。これにより、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局から最も多くの局を中継する経路の通信装置１０Ｘが、最も多くの局を中継する経路に接続されているポートを閉じる。この結果、ネットワーク管理システム１０１は、ループを解消し、１つの通信装置１１で同一のフレームを複数回受信することを防ぐことができる通信経路を設定することが可能となる。以下、ステップＳ１６０からＳ２５０の処理について説明する。 Thereafter, if the communication apparatus 11 has a port of a path for relaying the most stations in the loop from the communication apparatus 10X having the highest priority, by the processing of steps S160 to S250 shown in FIG. Close As a result, the communication device 10X of the path that relays the most stations from the N / W highest priority station closes the port connected to the path that relays the most stations. As a result, the network management system 101 can set a communication path that can eliminate the loop and prevent one communication device 11 from receiving the same frame multiple times. The processes of steps S160 to S250 will be described below.
　ステップＳ１６０において、制御部５２は、記憶部５３が保持している中継段数が、設定値なしであるか否かを判定する。記憶部５３が保持している中継段数は、受信ポートの中継段数である。したがって、記憶部５３が保持している中継段数は、初期値は設定値なしであり、ステップＳ１５０の処理によって更新されていく。 In step S160, the control unit 52 determines whether the number of relay stages held by the storage unit 53 is no set value. The number of relay stages held by the storage unit 53 is the number of relay stages of the reception port. Therefore, the initial value of the number of relay stages held in the storage unit 53 is no set value, and is updated by the process of step S150.
　保持している中継段数が設定値なしである場合、すなわち、ステップＳ１６０においてＹｅｓの場合、ステップＳ１８０において、制御部５２は、保持している中継段数を、受信した中継段数に１段を足した値に変更する。換言すると、制御部５２は、受信した中継段数＋１段を、新たな中継段数に設定する。記憶部５３は、変更された後の、中継段数を保持しておく。 If the number of relay stages held is not the set value, that is, if Yes in step S160, the control unit 52 adds one to the number of relay stages received, in step S180. Change to a value In other words, the control unit 52 sets the received number of relay stages + 1 stage as the new number of relay stages. The storage unit 53 holds the number of relay stages after the change.
　保持している中継段数に何れかの設定値が設定されている場合、すなわち、ステップＳ１６０においてＮｏの場合、ステップＳ１７０において、制御部５２は、保持している中継段数よりも、受信した第Ｎの調停フレーム内の中継段数の方が少ないか否かを判定する。保持している中継段数よりも、受信した第Ｎの調停フレーム内の中継段数の方が少ない場合の例は、受信した第Ｎの調停フレームによって、現状よりも短い通信経路が見つかった場合である。 If any set value is set to the number of relay stages held, that is, if No in step S160, the control unit 52 receives the Nth received step than the number of relay stages held in step S170. It is determined whether the number of relay stages in the arbitration frame is smaller. An example in the case where the number of relay stages in the received Nth arbitration frame is smaller than the number of relay stages held is an example in which a communication path shorter than the current state is found by the received Nth arbitration frame .
　保持している中継段数よりも、受信した第Ｎの調停フレーム内の中継段数の方が少ない場合、すなわち、ステップＳ１７０においてＹｅｓの場合、ステップＳ１８０において、制御部５２は、保持している中継段数を、受信した中継段数に１段を足した値に変更する。制御部５２は、ステップＳ１８０の処理の後、後述するステップＳ１９０の処理を実行する。 If the number of relay stages in the received N-th arbitration frame is smaller than the number of relay stages held, that is, Yes in step S170, the control unit 52 holds the number of relay stages held in step S180. Is changed to a value obtained by adding one stage to the number of relay stages received. After the process of step S180, the control unit 52 executes the process of step S190 described later.
　通信装置１１は、ステップＳ１６０からＳ１８０の後、各ポートの中継段数を比較する。このとき、制御部５２は、ポートＰ１１ａ，Ｐ１１ｂでの中継段数と、受信した中継段数とを比較する。 After steps S160 to S180, the communication device 11 compares the number of relay stages of each port. At this time, the control unit 52 compares the number of relay stages at the ports P11a and P11b with the number of relay stages received.
　具体的には、保持している中継段数が、受信した第Ｎの調停フレーム内の中継段数以下の場合、すなわち、ステップＳ１７０においてＮｏの場合、ステップＳ１９０において、制御部５２は、通信装置１１が備えるポートの中に、中継段数の一致するポートがあるか否かを判定する。また、ステップＳ１８０の処理の後、ステップＳ１９０において、制御部５２は、通信装置１１が備えるポートの中に、中継段数が一致するポートがあるか否かを判定する。 Specifically, if the number of relaying stages held is equal to or less than the number of relaying stages in the received Nth arbitration frame, that is, if No at step S170, the control unit 52 controls the communication device 11 at step S190. Among the provided ports, it is determined whether there is a port having a matching number of relay stages. Further, after the process of step S180, in step S190, the control unit 52 determines whether or not there is a port having the same number of relay stages among the ports included in the communication device 11.
　通信装置１１が備えるポートの中に、中継段数の一致するポートがある場合、すなわち、ステップＳ１９０においてＹｅｓの場合、ステップＳ２２０において、制御部５２は、中継段数が一致したポートのうち、ポート番号が最も若いポート以外のポートを閉じる。換言すると、制御部５２は、中継段数が一致したポートのうち、ポート番号が最も若いポートのみを開ける。これにより、閉じられたポートは、第Ｎの調停フレームおよびループで循環しないフレームしか送受信できなくなる。中継段数の一致するポートがある場合の例は、自局が、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局から最も多くの局を中継する通信装置１０Ｘの場合である。なお、制御部５２は、中継段数が一致したポートのうち、何れのポートを閉じて、何れのポートを開けてもよいが、開けるポートは１つである。 If there is a port with a matching number of relay stages among the ports provided in the communication apparatus 11, that is, if Yes in step S190, in step S220, the control unit 52 selects one of the ports with the same number of relay stages. Close ports other than the youngest port. In other words, the control unit 52 opens only the port with the smallest port number among the ports with the same number of relay stages. As a result, the closed port can transmit and receive only the frame that does not circulate in the Nth arbitration frame and loop. An example in the case where there is a port having a matching number of relay stages is a case where the own station is the communication device 10X that relays the most stations from the N / W highest priority station. The control unit 52 may close any port and open any port among the ports whose number of relay stages matches, but there is only one open port.
　通信装置１１が備えるポートの中に、中継段数の一致するポートが無い場合、すなわち、ステップＳ１９０においてＮｏの場合、ステップＳ２００において、制御部５２は、中継段数が他のポートよりも１段だけ多いポートがあるか否かを判定する。 When there is no port having the same number of relay stages among the ports included in the communication device 11, that is, No in step S190, the control unit 52 in step S200 has one more relay stages than the other ports. Determine if there is a port.
　中継段数が他のポートよりも１段だけ多いポートがない場合、すなわち、ステップＳ２００においてＮｏの場合、ステップＳ２１０において、通信部５１は、中継段数が他のポートよりも２段以上多いポートであって受信ポート以外のポートから、変更後のデータを格納した第２の調停フレームをブロードキャスト送信する。中継段数が他のポートの中継段数より２段以上多いポートがある場合の例は、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局から最も多くの局を中継する通信装置１０Ｘが未定の場合である。 When there is no port whose number of relay stages is one more than that of other ports, that is, No in step S200, communication unit 51 is a port whose number of relay stages is two or more more than other ports in step S210. The second arbitration frame storing the changed data is broadcasted from a port other than the receiving port. An example in the case where there are ports whose number of relay stages is two or more more than the number of relay stages of other ports is a case where the communication apparatus 10X which relays the most stations from the N / W top priority station is undecided.
　一方、中継段数が他のポートよりも１段だけ多いポートがある場合、すなわち、ステップＳ２００においてＹｅｓの場合、制御部５２は、受信した第Ｎの調停フレームに格納されている自局優先度と、記憶部５３で保持している自局優先度とを比較する。これにより、制御部５２は、送信元の通信装置１０Ｘが保持している自局優先度と、自局である通信装置１１が保持している自局優先度とを比較する。中継段数が他のポートよりも１段だけ多いポートがある場合の例は、自局またはループ内で直近の他局の何れか一方が、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局から最も多くの局を中継する通信装置１０Ｘの場合である。 On the other hand, when there is a port whose number of relay stages is one more than that of other ports, that is, in the case of Yes in step S200, control unit 52 has its own station priority stored in the Nth arbitration frame received. The local station priority stored in the storage unit 53 is compared. Thereby, the control unit 52 compares the own station priority held by the communication apparatus 10X of the transmission source with the own station priority held by the communication apparatus 11 as the own station. In the example in which there are ports whose number of relay stages is one more than that of other ports, either one of the local station or the nearest other station in the loop relays the largest number of stations from the N / W highest priority station. This is the case of the communication device 10X.
　ステップＳ２３０において、制御部５２は、受信した自局優先度が、保持している自局優先度よりも低いか否かを判定する。受信した第Ｎの調停フレームに格納されている自局優先度が、保持している自局優先度よりも低い場合、すなわち、ステップＳ２３０においてＹｅｓの場合、ステップＳ２４０において、制御部５２は、中継段数が他のポートよりも１段だけ多いポートを閉じる。このように、中継段数が他のポートよりも１段だけ多いポートがあり、自局の自局優先度がループ内で直近の他局の自局優先度よりも高い場合には、制御部５２は、中継段数が他のポートよりも１段だけ多いポートを閉じる。 In step S230, control unit 52 determines whether or not the received own station priority is lower than the held own station priority. When the own station priority stored in the received Nth arbitration frame is lower than the own station priority held, that is, in the case of Yes in step S230, the control unit 52 performs relay in step S240. Close a port that is one more stage than the other ports. As described above, when there is a port whose number of relay stages is one more than that of the other ports, and the own station's own station priority is higher than the nearest other station's own station priority in the loop, the control unit 52 Closes a port whose number of relay stages is one more than that of other ports.
　一方、受信した第Ｎの調停フレームに格納されている自局優先度が、保持している自局優先度以上の場合、すなわち、ステップＳ２３０においてＮｏの場合、ステップＳ２５０において、制御部５２は、中継段数が他のポートよりも１段だけ多いポートが閉じている場合には、このポートを開ける。なお、中継段数が他のポートよりも１段だけ多いポートが開いている場合には、制御部５２は、ポートの開閉を実行しない。 On the other hand, if the own station priority stored in the Nth arbitration frame received is equal to or higher than the own station priority held, that is, if No in step S230, the control unit 52 in step S250: If a port whose number of relay stages is one more than that of other ports is closed, this port is opened. When a port whose number of relay stages is one more than that of other ports is open, the control unit 52 does not execute opening / closing of the port.
　このように、ステップＳ１６０からＳ２５０の処理によって、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局から最も多くの局を中継する経路の通信装置１０Ｘが、最も多くの局を中継する経路に接続されているポートを閉じることとなる。リング状に接続された通信装置１０Ｘの数が偶数である場合、ネットワーク管理システム１０１内の何れかの通信装置１０Ｘにおいて、中継段数の一致するポートが発生する。一方、リング状に接続された通信装置１０Ｘの数が奇数である場合、ネットワーク管理システム１０１内の何れかの通信装置１０Ｘにおいて、中継段数が他のポートよりも１段だけ多いポートが発生する。中継段数の一致するポートが発生した通信装置１０Ｘは、何れかのポートを閉じる。また、中継段数が他のポートよりも１段だけ多いポートが発生した場合、通信装置１０Ｘまたはループ内で直近の通信装置１０Ｘが、中継段数が他のポートよりも１段だけ多いポートを閉じる。 In this manner, the communication device 10X of the path for relaying the most stations from the N / W highest priority station closes the port connected to the path for relaying the most stations by the processes of steps S160 to S250. It becomes. When the number of communication devices 10X connected in a ring shape is an even number, in any of the communication devices 10X in the network management system 101, ports having the same number of relay stages are generated. On the other hand, when the number of communication devices 10X connected in a ring shape is an odd number, in any of the communication devices 10X in the network management system 101, a port whose number of relay stages is one more than other ports is generated. The communication device 10X in which a port having the same number of relay stages is generated closes one of the ports. In addition, when there is a port whose number of relay stages is one more than that of other ports, the communication device 10X or the nearest communication device 10X in the loop closes the port whose number of relay stages is one more than the other ports.
　なお、ステップＳ２２０またはステップＳ２４０の処理で閉じられたポートは、通信経路の変更、または時間経過によるリセットによって、閉じる条件を満たさなくなった時に、制御部５２によって自動的に開けられる。これにより、開けられたポートは、全てのフレームを送受信できるようになる。 The port closed in the process of step S220 or step S240 is automatically opened by the control unit 52 when the closing condition is not satisfied due to the change of the communication path or the reset due to the passage of time. This enables the opened port to transmit and receive all frames.
　また、通信装置１０Ｘのうち、特定時間Ｔｘ以内に、自局優先度より高い最優先度を格納した第Ｎの調停フレームを受信しなかった局は、自局がネットワーク上で最も優先度の高い局であると判断し、ネットワークの管理を担当する唯一のＮ／Ｗ管理局となる。 Also, among the communication devices 10X, the station which has not received the N-th arbitration frame storing the highest priority higher than its own station priority within the specific time Tx has the highest priority of its own station on the network. It will be the only N / W management station in charge of network management, judging it to be a station.
　図５は、実施の形態１にかかるネットワーク管理システムでループを閉じた状態を示す図である。ここでは、図２に示したネットワーク管理システム１０１が、ループを閉じた場合について説明する。 FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the loop is closed in the network management system according to the first embodiment. Here, the case where the network management system 101 shown in FIG. 2 closes the loop will be described.
　図５では、通信装置１１～１４の自局優先度を［１］から［４］で示している。自局優先度を示す数値は、小さい数値ほど高優先であるとする。ここでは、通信装置１１は、自局優先度に［１］が設定され、通信装置１２は、自局優先度に［２］が設定され、通信装置１３は、自局優先度に［３］が設定され、通信装置１４は、自局優先度に［４］が設定されているとする。 In FIG. 5, the local station priorities of the communication devices 11 to 14 are indicated by [1] to [4]. It is assumed that the smaller the numerical value indicating the local station priority, the higher the priority. Here, the communication apparatus 11 has its own station priority set to [1], the communication apparatus 12 has its own station priority set to [2], and the communication apparatus 13 has its own station priority [3]. Is set, and the communication apparatus 14 has its own station priority set to [4].
　この場合において、ネットワーク管理システム１０１内の通信装置１１～１４が、上述したステップＳ１００からＳ２５０の処理を実行すると、通信装置１２～１４は、以下のように中継段数を認識する。 In this case, when the communication devices 11 to 14 in the network management system 101 execute the processes of steps S100 to S250 described above, the communication devices 12 to 14 recognize the number of relay stages as follows.
　すなわち、通信装置１２は、通信装置１１から第Ｎの調停フレームを受信するポートＰ１２ａの中継段数が１段であることを認識する。また、通信装置１３は、通信装置１１から第Ｎの調停フレームを受信するポートＰ１３ａの中継段数が１段であることを認識する。また、通信装置１４は、通信装置１２から第Ｎの調停フレームを受信するポートＰ１４ｂの中継段数が２段であることを認識し、通信装置１３から第Ｎの調停フレームを受信するポートＰ１４ａの中継段数が２段であることを認識する。図５では、中継段数が１段である場合を＜１＞で示し、中継段数が２段である場合を＜２＞で示している。 That is, the communication device 12 recognizes that the number of relay stages of the port P12a that receives the N-th arbitration frame from the communication device 11 is one. In addition, the communication device 13 recognizes that the number of relay stages of the port P13a that receives the N-th arbitration frame from the communication device 11 is one. Further, the communication device 14 recognizes that the number of relaying stages of the port P14b that receives the N-th arbitration frame from the communication device 12 is two, and relays the port P14a that receives the N-th arbitration frame from the communication device 13. Recognize that the number of stages is two. In FIG. 5, the case where the number of relay stages is one is shown as <1>, and the case where the number of relay stages is two is shown as <2>.
　また、通信装置１１は、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局なので、Ｎ／Ｗ管理局となり、通信装置１４がＮ／Ｗ管理局から最も多くの局を中継する通信経路の局となる。この場合、通信装置１４は、何れかのポートを閉じる。ここでのネットワーク管理システム１０１は、リング状に接続された通信装置１０Ｘの数が偶数であるので、ステップＳ２２０で説明したように、中継段数が一致したポートのうち、ポート番号が最も若いポート以外のポートを閉じる。ポートＰ１４ｂのポート番号が、ポートＰ１４ａのポート番号よりも若い場合、通信装置１４は、ポートＰ１４ｂを閉じる。 Further, since the communication device 11 is the N / W highest priority station, it becomes the N / W management station, and the communication device 14 becomes the station of the communication path for relaying the most stations from the N / W management station. In this case, the communication device 14 closes one of the ports. In the network management system 101 here, since the number of communication devices 10X connected in a ring is an even number, as described in step S220, the port with the same number of relay stages has a port number other than the smallest port number. Close the port of. If the port number of the port P14b is smaller than the port number of the port P14a, the communication device 14 closes the port P14b.
　ネットワーク管理システム１０１において、通信装置１４がポートＰ１４ｂを閉じると、通信装置１４は、第Ｎの調停フレームを受信しても送信せずに破棄する。具体的には、通信装置１４は、通信装置１２または通信装置１３から送られてくる第Ｎの調停フレームを受信すると、受信した第Ｎの調停フレームを破棄する。 In the network management system 101, when the communication device 14 closes the port P14b, the communication device 14 discards the Nth arbitration frame even if it receives it, without transmitting it. Specifically, when the communication device 14 receives the Nth arbitration frame sent from the communication device 12 or the communication device 13, the communication device 14 discards the received Nth arbitration frame.
　通信装置１１は、Ｎ／Ｗ管理局となった後も、周期Ｃ１で全てのポートから第１の調停フレームをブロードキャスト送信する。これにより、通信装置１２，１３は、第２または第３の調停フレームを、通信装置１４に送信する。そして、通信装置１４が、第２または第３の調停フレームを受信して破棄する。 The communication apparatus 11 broadcasts the first arbitration frame from all the ports at period C1 even after becoming the N / W management station. Thus, the communication devices 12 and 13 transmit the second or third arbitration frame to the communication device 14. Then, the communication device 14 receives and discards the second or third arbitration frame.
　このような状態のネットワーク管理システム１０１において、通信経路が変更される場合、新たな通信装置１０Ｘが接続される場合、または、Ｎ／Ｗ管理局である通信装置１１よりも高い通信装置１０Ｘが接続される場合がある。このような場合において、ポートＰ１４ｂを閉じる条件または通信装置１１がＮ／Ｗ管理局となる条件を満たさなくなると、ネットワーク管理システム１０１は、通信経路およびＮ／Ｗ管理局の設定をリセットし、ステップＳ１００からＳ２５０の処理を１回または複数回実行する。これにより、何れかの通信装置１０Ｘが新たなＮ／Ｗ管理局となり、何れかの通信装置１０Ｘの何れかのポートが閉じられる。 In the network management system 101 in such a state, when the communication path is changed, when a new communication device 10X is connected, or when the communication device 10X higher than the communication device 11 which is the N / W management station is connected. May be In such a case, when the condition for closing the port P14b or the condition for the communication device 11 to become the N / W management station is not satisfied, the network management system 101 resets the communication path and the setting of the N / W management station. The processes of S100 to S250 are performed one or more times. Thereby, any communication device 10X becomes a new N / W management station, and any port of any communication device 10X is closed.
　なお、ネットワーク管理システムの構成は、図２に示したネットワーク管理システム１０１のような１つのループを有した構成に限らず、複数のループを有した構成であってもよい。 The configuration of the network management system is not limited to the configuration having one loop as in the network management system 101 shown in FIG. 2, but may be a configuration having a plurality of loops.
　図６は、実施の形態１にかかるネットワーク管理システムの別構成の例を示す図である。ここでは、ネットワーク管理システム１０２が、６つの通信装置１０Ｘと、２つのＨＵＢ３１，３２とを備えている場合について説明する。図６では、通信装置１０Ｘを、通信装置２１～２６で示している。各通信装置２１～２６は、前述した通信装置１０Ｘと同様の機能を有している。なお、ここでは、通信装置２１～２６とは異なる通信仕様の装置がＨＵＢ３１，３２である場合について説明するが、通信装置２１～２６とは異なる通信仕様の装置は、ＨＵＢ３１，３２以外の装置であってもよい。 FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of another configuration of the network management system according to the first embodiment. Here, a case where the network management system 102 includes six communication devices 10X and two HUBs 31 and 32 will be described. In FIG. 6, the communication device 10X is indicated by communication devices 21 to 26. Each of the communication devices 21 to 26 has the same function as the communication device 10X described above. Although the case where the devices having communication specifications different from the communication devices 21 to 26 are the HUBs 31 and 32 will be described here, devices having communication specifications different from the communication devices 21 to 26 are devices other than the HUBs 31 and 32. It may be.
　ネットワーク管理システム１０２内では、通信装置２１～２６およびＨＵＢ３１，３２がリング状に接続されている。具体的には、通信装置２１は、ＨＵＢ３１に接続され、ＨＵＢ３１は、通信装置２２に接続されている。また、通信装置２２は、通信装置２４に接続され、通信装置２４は、通信装置２５に接続されている。また、通信装置２５は、通信装置２６に接続され、通信装置２６は、ＨＵＢ３２に接続されている。また、ＨＵＢ３２は、通信装置２３に接続され、通信装置２３は、通信装置２１に接続されている。そして、ＨＵＢ３２が、ＨＵＢ３１に接続されている。 In the network management system 102, communication devices 21 to 26 and HUBs 31 and 32 are connected in a ring. Specifically, the communication device 21 is connected to the HUB 31, and the HUB 31 is connected to the communication device 22. The communication device 22 is connected to the communication device 24, and the communication device 24 is connected to the communication device 25. The communication device 25 is connected to the communication device 26, and the communication device 26 is connected to the HUB 32. The HUB 32 is connected to the communication device 23, and the communication device 23 is connected to the communication device 21. The HUB 32 is connected to the HUB 31.
　このように、ネットワーク管理システム１０２は、第１のループと、第２のループと、第３のループとを有している。第１のループは、通信装置２１、ＨＵＢ３１、通信装置２２、通信装置２４、通信装置２５、通信装置２６、ＨＵＢ３２および通信装置２３がリング状に接続されたループである。第２のループは、通信装置２１、ＨＵＢ３１、ＨＵＢ３２および通信装置２３がリング状に接続されたループである。第３のループは、ＨＵＢ３１、通信装置２２、通信装置２４、通信装置２５、通信装置２６、ＨＵＢ３２がリング状に接続されたループである。 Thus, the network management system 102 includes a first loop, a second loop, and a third loop. The first loop is a loop in which the communication device 21, the HUB 31, the communication device 22, the communication device 24, the communication device 25, the communication device 26, the HUB 32, and the communication device 23 are connected in a ring shape. The second loop is a loop in which the communication device 21, the HUB 31, the HUB 32, and the communication device 23 are connected in a ring shape. The third loop is a loop in which the HUB 31, the communication device 22, the communication device 24, the communication device 25, the communication device 26, and the HUB 32 are connected in a ring shape.
　通信装置２１は、ポートＰ２１ａ，Ｐ２１ｂを備え、通信装置２２は、ポートＰ２２ａ，Ｐ２２ｂを備えている。また、通信装置２３は、ポートＰ２３ａ，Ｐ２３ｂを備え、通信装置２４は、ポートＰ２４ａ，Ｐ２４ｂを備えている。また、通信装置２５は、ポートＰ２５ａ，Ｐ２５ｂを備え、通信装置２６は、ポートＰ２６ａ，Ｐ２６ｂを備えている。 The communication device 21 includes ports P21a and P21b, and the communication device 22 includes ports P22a and P22b. Also, the communication device 23 includes ports P23a and P23b, and the communication device 24 includes ports P24a and P24b. The communication device 25 further includes ports P25a and P25b, and the communication device 26 includes ports P26a and P26b.
　そして、ポートＰ２１ｂは、ＨＵＢ３１に接続され、ＨＵＢ３１は、ポートＰ２２ａに接続されている。また、ポートＰ２２ｂは、ポートＰ２４ｂに接続され、ポートＰ２４ａは、ポートＰ２５ａに接続されている。また、ポートＰ２５ｂは、ポートＰ２６ｂに接続され、ポートＰ２６ａは、ＨＵＢ３２に接続されている。また、ＨＵＢ３２は、ポートＰ２３ａに接続され、ポートＰ２３ｂは、ポートＰ２１ａに接続されている。 The port P21b is connected to the HUB 31, and the HUB 31 is connected to the port P22a. The port P22b is connected to the port P24b, and the port P24a is connected to the port P25a. The port P25b is connected to the port P26b, and the port P26a is connected to the HUB 32. The HUB 32 is connected to the port P23a, and the port P23b is connected to the port P21a.
　このような構成のネットワーク管理システム１０２において、各通信装置２１～２６は、前述した通信装置１１と同様の動作を実行する。これにより、ネットワーク管理システム１０２は、ループを閉じた通信経路の設定と、Ｎ／Ｗ管理局の調停とを実行する。 In the network management system 102 having such a configuration, each of the communication devices 21 to 26 executes the same operation as the communication device 11 described above. Thereby, the network management system 102 executes setting of the communication path in which the loop is closed and arbitration of the N / W management station.
　図７は、実施の形態１にかかる別構成のネットワーク管理システムでループを閉じた状態を示す図である。ここでは、図６に示したネットワーク管理システム１０２が、ループを閉じた場合について説明する。 FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the loop is closed in the network management system of another configuration according to the first embodiment. Here, the case where the network management system 102 shown in FIG. 6 closes the loop will be described.
　図７では、各局の自局優先度を［１］から［６］で示している。ここでは、通信装置２１～２６にそれぞれ、自局優先度の［１］から［６］が設定されているとする。この場合において、ネットワーク管理システム１０２内の通信装置２１～２６が、上述したステップＳ１００からＳ２５０の処理を実行すると、通信装置２２～２６は、以下のように中継段数を認識する。 In FIG. 7, the local station priorities of the respective stations are indicated by [1] to [6]. Here, it is assumed that [1] to [6] of the local station priority are set to the communication devices 21 to 26, respectively. In this case, when the communication devices 21 to 26 in the network management system 102 execute the processes of steps S100 to S250 described above, the communication devices 22 to 26 recognize the number of relay stages as follows.
　すなわち、通信装置２２は、通信装置２１から第Ｎの調停フレームを受信するポートＰ２２ａの中継段数が１段であることを認識する。また、通信装置２４は、通信装置２２から第Ｎの調停フレームを受信するポートＰ２４ｂの中継段数が２段であることを認識し、通信装置２５から第Ｎの調停フレームを受信するポートＰ２４ａの中継段数が３段であることを認識する。また、通信装置２５は、通信装置２４から第Ｎの調停フレームを受信するポートＰ２５ａの中継段数が３段であることを認識する。 That is, the communication device 22 recognizes that the number of relay stages of the port P22a that receives the N-th arbitration frame from the communication device 21 is one. Further, the communication device 24 recognizes that the number of relaying stages of the port P 24 b which receives the N-th arbitration frame from the communication device 22 is two, and relays the port P 24 a which receives the N-th arbitration frame from the communication device 25. Recognize that the number of stages is three. In addition, the communication device 25 recognizes that the number of relay stages of the port P 25 a that receives the N-th arbitration frame from the communication device 24 is three.
　また、通信装置２３は、通信装置２１から第Ｎの調停フレームを受信するポートＰ２３ｂの中継段数が１段であることを認識する。ＨＵＢ３１は、通信装置２１から第Ｎの調停フレームを受信すると、第Ｎの調停フレームを通信装置２２およびＨＵＢ３２に中継する。ＨＵＢ３２は、ＨＵＢ３１からの第Ｎの調停フレームを通信装置２３，２６の両方に中継する。 Further, the communication device 23 recognizes that the number of relay stages of the port P23b that receives the N-th arbitration frame from the communication device 21 is one. When the HUB 31 receives the Nth arbitration frame from the communication device 21, the HUB 31 relays the Nth arbitration frame to the communication device 22 and the HUB 32. The HUB 32 relays the N-th arbitration frame from the HUB 31 to both of the communication devices 23 and 26.
　通信装置２３のポートＰ２３ａは、ＨＵＢ３１，３２を介して送られてくる、通信装置２１からの第Ｎの調停フレームを受信する。そして、通信装置２３は、ＨＵＢ３２から第Ｎの調停フレームを受信するポートＰ２３ａの中継段数が１段であることを認識する。 The port P23a of the communication device 23 receives the N-th arbitration frame sent from the communication device 21 which is sent via the HUBs 31 and 32. Then, the communication device 23 recognizes that the number of relay stages of the port P23a that receives the N-th arbitration frame from the HUB 32 is one.
　また、通信装置２６のポートＰ２６ａは、ＨＵＢ３２から第Ｎの調停フレームを受信する。通信装置２６のポートＰ２６ａと通信装置２１のポートＰ２１ａとは、通信装置２３およびＨＵＢ３２を介して接続されている。したがって、この通信経路では、ポートＰ２６ａの中継段数が２である。ところが、通信装置２６のポートＰ２６ａと通信装置２１のポートＰ２１ｂとは、ＨＵＢ３１，３２を介した接続もされている。したがって、この通信経路では、ポートＰ２６ａの中継段数が１である。この場合、通信装置２６は、ＨＵＢ３２から第Ｎの調停フレームを受信するポートＰ２６ａの中継段数が１段であることを認識する。 Also, the port P26a of the communication device 26 receives the N-th arbitration frame from the HUB 32. The port P26a of the communication device 26 and the port P21a of the communication device 21 are connected via the communication device 23 and the HUB 32. Therefore, in this communication path, the number of relay stages of port P26a is two. However, the port P26a of the communication device 26 and the port P21b of the communication device 21 are also connected via the HUBs 31 and 32. Therefore, in this communication path, the number of relay stages of port P26a is one. In this case, the communication device 26 recognizes that the number of relay stages of the port P26a that receives the N-th arbitration frame from the HUB 32 is one.
　また、通信装置２５は、通信装置２６から第Ｎの調停フレームを受信するポートＰ２５ｂの中継段数が２段であることを認識する。図７では、中継段数が１段である場合を＜１＞で示し、中継段数が２段である場合を＜２＞で示し、中継段数が３段である場合を＜３＞で示している。 In addition, the communication device 25 recognizes that the number of relay stages of the port P 25 b that receives the N-th arbitration frame from the communication device 26 is two. In FIG. 7, <1> indicates the case where the number of relay stages is one, <2> indicates the case where the number of relay stages is two, and <3> indicates the case where the number of relay stages is three. .
　また、通信装置２１は、Ｎ／Ｗ管理局となる。そして、第１のループでは、通信装置２５が、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局である通信装置２１から最も多くの局を中継する経路の局となる。また、第２のループでは、通信装置２３が、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局である通信装置２１から最も多くの局を中継する経路の局となる。 Also, the communication device 21 is an N / W management station. Then, in the first loop, the communication device 25 becomes a station of a route for relaying the most stations from the communication device 21 which is the N / W highest priority station. Further, in the second loop, the communication device 23 becomes a station of a route for relaying the most stations from the communication device 21 which is the N / W highest priority station.
　これにより、通信装置２５および通信装置２３は、何れかのポートを閉じる。ここでの第１のループは、６つの通信装置２１，２２，２４，２５，２６，２３を含んでいる。このため、通信装置２５は、ステップＳ２２０で説明したように、中継段数が一致したポートのうち、ポート番号が最も若いポート以外のポートを閉じる。ポートＰ２５ａのポート番号が、ポートＰ２５ｂのポート番号よりも若い場合、通信装置２５は、ポートＰ２５ａを閉じる。 Thus, the communication device 25 and the communication device 23 close one of the ports. The first loop here includes six communication devices 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 23. Therefore, as described in step S220, the communication device 25 closes ports other than the port with the smallest port number among the ports with the same number of relay stages. If the port number of the port P25a is smaller than the port number of the port P25b, the communication device 25 closes the port P25a.
　また、第２のループは、２つの通信装置２１，２３を含んでいる。このため、通信装置２３は、ステップＳ２２０で説明したように、中継段数が一致したポートのうち、ポート番号が最も若いポート以外のポートを閉じる。ポートＰ２３ｂのポート番号が、ポートＰ２３ａのポート番号よりも若い場合、通信装置２３は、ポートＰ２３ｂを閉じる。なお、通信装置２５がポートＰ２５ａを閉じたことによって、第３のループも、解消されている。 The second loop also includes two communication devices 21 and 23. Therefore, as described in step S220, the communication device 23 closes the ports other than the port with the smallest port number among the ports having the same number of relay stages. If the port number of the port P23b is smaller than the port number of the port P23a, the communication device 23 closes the port P23b. The third loop is also eliminated by the communication device 25 closing the port P25a.
　通信経路を設定するプロトコルを規定した規格の１つにＩＥＥＥ（Institute　of　Electrical　and　Electronics　Engineers）８０２．１ＡＳがある。このＩＥＥＥ８０２．１ＡＳでは、ループ内で直近同士の通信装置間で、ネットワーク内の経路設定およびＮ／Ｗ管理局を調停するためのプロトコルが規定されている。このプロトコルでは、中継装置であるＨＵＢが、ＩＥＥＥ８０２．１ＡＳを解釈する必要があった。このため、通信ネットワーク内での通信処理が複雑化していた。一方、ネットワーク管理システム１０１，１０２は、ループ内で直近同士の通信装置１０Ｘ間で第Ｎの調停フレームをブロードキャスト送信し、かつ受信した第Ｎの調停フレームは、他の通信装置１０Ｘへ転送しない。このため、中継装置であるＨＵＢ３１，３２が通信を解釈しなくてもよいので、容易にネットワークの経路設定とＮ／Ｗ管理局の調停とを実現することができる。 One of the standards that defines a protocol for setting a communication path is IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.1AS. In this IEEE802.1AS, a protocol for arbitrating a route setting and an N / W management station in a network is defined between the latest communication devices in a loop. In this protocol, the HUB which is a relay apparatus needs to interpret IEEE802.1AS. For this reason, communication processing in the communication network has been complicated. On the other hand, the network management systems 101 and 102 broadcast the N-th arbitration frame between the latest communication devices 10X in the loop, and do not transfer the received N-th arbitration frame to the other communication devices 10X. For this reason, since the HUBs 31 and 32 which are relay apparatuses do not have to interpret the communication, it is possible to easily realize the route setting of the network and the arbitration of the N / W management station.
　このように実施の形態１によれば、ネットワーク管理システム１０１，１０２は、ループ内で直近同士の通信装置１０Ｘ間で第Ｎの調停フレームをブロードキャスト送信するので、複数のループがＨＵＢ３１，３２を介して接続された場合であっても、各ループを、それぞれ閉じることができる。これにより、無駄なデータフレームが、ループ内を回り続けることを防止できるので、ループ内での通信帯域の圧迫を回避できる。 As described above, according to the first embodiment, the network management system 101 102 broadcasts the N-th arbitration frame between the nearest communication devices 10X in the loop, so that a plurality of loops pass through the HUBs 31 32. Even when they are connected together, each loop can be closed individually. As a result, it is possible to prevent a wasteful data frame from continuously rotating in the loop, and it is possible to avoid the pressure of the communication band in the loop.
　また、ネットワーク管理システム１０１，１０２は、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局から最も多くの局を中継する経路のポートを閉じるので、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局からの伝搬遅延を最小限に抑えることが可能となる。この結果、ループを含んだネットワーク内での通信時間を短縮することが可能となる。 Also, since the network management system 101, 102 closes the port of the path that relays the most stations from the N / W highest priority station, it is possible to minimize the propagation delay from the N / W highest priority station. Become. As a result, it is possible to shorten the communication time in the network including the loop.
　また、ネットワーク管理システム１０１，１０２は、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局から最も多くの局を中継する経路のポートを閉じるので、Ｎ／Ｗ管理局と、時刻同期を行う時刻配信局と、が同じ局である場合、伝搬遅延が誤差要因となる時刻同期の精度を向上させることが可能となる。 In addition, since the network management systems 101 and 102 close the port of the route that relays the most stations from the N / W highest priority station, the N / W management station and the time delivery station performing time synchronization are the same stations. In this case, it is possible to improve the accuracy of time synchronization in which the propagation delay causes an error.
　また、ネットワーク管理システム１０１，１０２は、第Ｎの調停フレームに、送信時刻のデータを格納しているので、各局が保持しておくポートのデータを抑制しつつループを解消することができる。 Further, since the network management systems 101 and 102 store the data of the transmission time in the N-th arbitration frame, it is possible to eliminate the loop while suppressing the data of the port held by each station.
実施の形態２．
　つぎに、図８から図１０を用いてこの発明の実施の形態２について説明する。実施の形態２では、各局がポート毎にＮ／Ｗ最優先局および中継段数を記憶しておくことによって、通信経路を設定するための後述する第Ｍの調停フレームのデータ量を抑制する。 Second Embodiment
Second Embodiment A second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10. In the second embodiment, each station stores the N / W highest priority station and the number of relay stages for each port, thereby suppressing the data amount of the later-described Mth arbitration frame for setting a communication path.
　実施の形態２のネットワーク管理システム１０１，１０２は、実施の形態１のネットワーク管理システム１０１，１０２と同様の構成を有したシステムである。実施の形態２の通信装置１０Ｘは、実施の形態１の通信装置１０Ｘと同様に、通信部５１と、制御部５２と、記憶部５３とを備えている。 The network management systems 101 and 102 of the second embodiment are systems having the same configuration as the network management systems 101 and 102 of the first embodiment. Similarly to the communication device 10X of the first embodiment, the communication device 10X of the second embodiment includes a communication unit 51, a control unit 52, and a storage unit 53.
　記憶部５３が記憶するデータの例は、通信装置１０Ｘ毎に設定されるデータ、および通信装置１０Ｘが備えるポート毎に設定されるデータである。実施の形態２では、通信装置１０Ｘ毎に設定されるデータは、自局優先度である。また、ポート毎に設定されるデータは、最優先度と、中継段数と、ポート番号と、ポート種別の４つである。 Examples of data stored in the storage unit 53 are data set for each communication device 10X and data set for each port provided in the communication device 10X. In the second embodiment, data set for each communication device 10X is its own station priority. Also, the data set for each port is four, that is, the highest priority, the number of relay stages, the port number, and the port type.
　ポート種別は、「優先」、「標準」、「閉」および「種別なし」の何れかである。「優先」のポートは、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局側のポートである。Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局以外の各局は、「優先」のポートを１つずつ有している。「標準」のポートは、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局では、「閉」および「種別なし」を除く全てのポートである。また、「標準」のポートは、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局以外の局では、「優先」、「閉」および「種別なし」を除く全てのポートである。「閉」のポートは、ループ構成時に経路を閉じるポートである。「種別なし」のポートは、リンクアップしていないポートである。「種別なし」のポートは、リンクアップの直後は「標準」のポートとなる。以下の説明では、「優先」のポートを、優先ポートといい、「標準」のポートを標準ポートといい、「閉」のポートを、閉ポートという。 The port type is any of "Priority", "Standard", "Closed" and "No Type". The “priority” port is a port on the N / W highest priority station side. Each station other than the N / W highest priority station has one "priority" port. The “standard” ports are all ports except “closed” and “no type” at the N / W highest priority station. The "standard" ports are all ports other than the "priority", "close" and "no type" at stations other than the N / W highest priority station. The "closed" port is a port that closes the path at the time of loop configuration. The “no type” port is a port not linked up. The “no type” port is a “standard” port immediately after link up. In the following description, the "preferred" port is referred to as the preferred port, the "standard" port is referred to as the standard port, and the "closed" port is referred to as the closed port.
　ポート毎に設定される、最優先度、中継段数、およびポート番号は、実施の形態１で説明した、最優先度、中継段数、およびポート番号と同様のデータである。実施の形態２では、通信装置１０Ｘが、最優先度、中継段数、およびポート番号を、ポート毎に管理する。 The highest priority, the number of relay stages, and the port number set for each port are the same data as the highest priority, the number of relay stages, and the port number described in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the communication device 10X manages the highest priority, the number of relay stages, and the port number for each port.
　ネットワーク管理システム１０１，１０２内では、ループ内で直近同士の通信装置１０Ｘ間で、第４から第６の調停フレームの送受信が行われる。第４から第６の調停フレームは、調停フレームの例である。第４の調停フレームは、通信装置１０Ｘが、通信経路の設定を開始した際に、ループ内で直近の他の通信装置１０Ｘにブロードキャスト送信する調停フレームである。また、第５および第６の調停フレームは、第４から第６の調停フレームの何れかを受信した通信装置１０Ｘが、受信した第４から第６の調停フレームの内容に応じてブロードキャスト送信する調停フレームである。したがって、通信装置１０Ｘは、通信経路の設定を開始すると、第４の調停フレームを送信し、第４から第６の調停フレームの何れかを受信する。そして、通信装置１０Ｘは、第４から第６の調停フレームの何れかを受信すると、第５または第６の調停フレームを送信する。なお、以下の説明では、第４から第６の調停フレームの何れか１つを、第Ｍの調停フレームという。 In the network management systems 101 and 102, transmission and reception of the fourth to sixth arbitration frames are performed between the nearest communication devices 10X in the loop. The fourth to sixth arbitration frames are examples of arbitration frames. The fourth arbitration frame is an arbitration frame that is broadcasted to the nearest other communication device 10X in the loop when the communication device 10X starts to set the communication path. Also, the fifth and sixth arbitration frames are arbitrations in which the communication device 10X that receives any of the fourth to sixth arbitration frames broadcasts according to the contents of the received fourth to sixth arbitration frames. It is a frame. Therefore, when the communication device 10X starts to set the communication path, the communication device 10X transmits the fourth arbitration frame and receives any of the fourth to sixth arbitration frames. Then, when the communication device 10X receives any of the fourth to sixth arbitration frames, the communication device 10X transmits the fifth or sixth arbitration frame. In the following description, any one of the fourth to sixth arbitration frames is referred to as an Mth arbitration frame.
　ここで第４から第６の調停フレームについて説明する。
（第４の調停フレーム）
　第４の調停フレームは、以下の３つのデータを格納している。
・自局優先度
・最優先度
・中継段数
　第４の調停フレームに格納されるデータは、通信装置１０Ｘに設定されている初期値である。 The fourth to sixth arbitration frames will now be described.
(4th arbitration frame)
The fourth arbitration frame stores the following three data.
The priority stored in the fourth arbitration frame is an initial value set in the communication device 10X.
（第５の調停フレーム）
　第５の調停フレームは、以下の３つのデータを格納している。
・自局優先度
・最優先度
・中継段数
　第５の調停フレームに格納される最優先度の例は、ポートに設定されている最優先度である。また、第５の調停フレームに格納される中継段数の例は、ポートに設定されている中継段数である。 (Fifth arbitration frame)
The fifth arbitration frame stores the following three data.
Local Station Priority Highest Priority Relay Stage Number An example of the highest priority stored in the fifth arbitration frame is the highest priority set for the port. Also, an example of the number of relay stages stored in the fifth arbitration frame is the number of relay stages set for the port.
（第６の調停フレーム）
　第６の調停フレームは、以下の３つのデータを格納している。
・自局優先度
・最優先度
・中継段数
　第６の調停フレームは、最優先度を受信したポートよりも、最優先度が高いポートが自局にある場合に送信されるものである。第６の調停フレームに格納される最優先度は、自局のポートに設定されている最優先度の中で最も高い最優先度である。また、第６の調停フレームに格納される中継段数は、最も高い最優先度が設定されているポートに設定されている中継段数である。 (Sixth arbitration frame)
The sixth arbitration frame stores the following three data.
Local Station Priority Highest Priority Relay Stage The sixth arbitration frame is transmitted when the local station has a port with the highest priority than the port receiving the highest priority. The highest priority stored in the sixth arbitration frame is the highest priority among the highest priorities set for the port of the local station. Further, the number of relay stages stored in the sixth arbitration frame is the number of relay stages set for the port to which the highest priority is set.
　図８は、実施の形態２にかかる調停フレームの送受信手順を示すフローチャートである。図９は、実施の形態２にかかるポート設定の処理手順を示すフローチャートである。図８および図９では、ネットワーク管理システム１０１，１０２内に配置されている通信装置１０Ｘの通信処理手順について説明する。通信装置１１～１４，２１～２６は、同様の処理を実行するので、ここではネットワーク管理システム１０１に配置された通信装置１１の通信処理手順について説明する。なお、図８および図９の処理のうち図３および図４で説明した処理と同様の処理については、重複する説明は省略する。 FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an arbitration frame transmission / reception procedure according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a process procedure of port setting according to the second embodiment. 8 and 9, the communication processing procedure of the communication device 10X disposed in the network management systems 101 and 102 will be described. Since the communication devices 11 to 14 and 21 to 26 execute the same processing, the communication processing procedure of the communication device 11 disposed in the network management system 101 will be described here. In the processes of FIGS. 8 and 9, the same processes as the processes described in FIGS. 3 and 4 will not be described.
　通信経路の設定開始時は、全ての通信装置１１～１４がＮ／Ｗ最優先局である。通信経路の設定開始時には、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局である全ての通信装置１１～１４が、ネットワーク管理システム１０１内の他の通信装置１０Ｘに、自局優先度と、最優先度と、中継段数とを格納した第４の調停フレームをブロードキャスト送信する。通信装置１１～１４は、第４の調停フレームを、全ての標準ポートから、特定時間Ｔｘより短い周期Ｃ１で定期的にブロードキャスト送信する。ここでの通信装置１１～１４が、第４の調停フレームに格納する中継段数は０段である。 At the start of communication path setting, all communication devices 11 to 14 are N / W highest priority stations. At the start of communication path setting, all communication devices 11 to 14 that are N / W highest priority stations are assigned to the other communication devices 10X in the network management system 101 as their own station priority, highest priority, relaying stage number And broadcast transmission of a fourth arbitration frame. The communication devices 11 to 14 periodically broadcast the fourth arbitration frame from all the standard ports at a period C1 shorter than the specific time Tx. The number of relay stages stored in the fourth arbitration frame by the communication apparatuses 11 to 14 here is zero.
　通信装置１１～１４は、同様の処理を実行するので、ここでは、通信装置１１における通信処理手順について説明する。ステップＳ３００において、通信装置１１が通信装置１２，１３から第Ｍの調停フレームを受信すると、制御部５２は、受信した第Ｍの調停フレーム内から自局優先度、最優先度、および中継段数を抽出する。 Since the communication devices 11 to 14 execute the same processing, the communication processing procedure in the communication device 11 will be described here. In step S300, when the communication device 11 receives the Mth arbitration frame from the communication devices 12 and 13, the control unit 52 determines the local station priority, the highest priority, and the number of relay stages from the received Mth arbitration frame. Extract.
　そして、制御部５２は、受信した第Ｍの調停フレームに格納されている最優先度と、受信ポートの最優先度とを比較する。ステップＳ３１０において、制御部５２は、受信した第Ｍの調停フレーム内の最優先度が、記憶部５３で保持している、受信ポートの最優先度と同じか否かを判定する。 Then, the control unit 52 compares the highest priority stored in the received Mth arbitration frame with the highest priority of the receiving port. In step S310, the control unit 52 determines whether or not the highest priority in the received M-th arbitration frame is the same as the highest priority of the reception port held in the storage unit 53.
　受信した最優先度が、保持している最優先度と異なる場合、すなわちステップＳ３１０においてＮｏの場合、ステップＳ３２０において、制御部５２は、受信した最優先度が、保持している最優先度よりも高いか否かを判定する。 If the received highest priority is different from the held highest priority, that is, No in step S310, in step S320, the control unit 52 determines that the received highest priority is higher than the held highest priority. Also determine whether it is high.
　受信した最優先度が、保持している受信ポートの最優先度よりも低い場合、すなわちステップＳ３２０においてＮｏの場合、ステップＳ３３０において、制御部５２は、受信ポートのポート種別が優先ポートであるか否かを判定する。 If the received highest priority is lower than the highest priority of the reception port held, that is, No in step S320, in step S330, the control unit 52 determines whether the port type of the reception port is a priority port It is determined whether or not.
　保持しているポート種別が優先ポートでない場合、すなわちステップＳ３３０において、Ｎｏの場合、ステップＳ３４０において、制御部５２は、記憶部５３で保持しているデータは変更せず、通信部５１は、第Ｍの調停フレームを受信したポートから第５の調停フレームをブロードキャスト送信する。この第５の調停フレームの送信により、通信装置１１は、第Ｍの調停フレームを送信した局に、Ｎ／Ｗ最優先局になり得ないことを通知する。第５の調停フレームは、前述したように、自局優先度と、受信ポートの最優先度と、受信ポートの中継段数との３つのデータを含んでいる。 If the port type being held is not a priority port, that is, if No in step S330, the control unit 52 does not change the data held in the storage unit 53 in step S340, and the communication unit 51 The fifth arbitration frame is broadcasted from the port that received the M arbitration frame. By transmitting the fifth arbitration frame, the communication apparatus 11 notifies the station that has transmitted the Mth arbitration frame that it can not become the N / W highest priority station. As described above, the fifth arbitration frame includes three pieces of data: the local station priority, the highest priority of the receiving port, and the number of relay stages of the receiving port.
　一方、保持しているポート種別が優先ポートである場合、すなわちステップＳ３３０において、Ｙｅｓの場合、通信経路が変更された、またはＮ／Ｗ最優先局が不在になった可能性がある。したがって、ステップＳ３５０において、制御部５２は、自局が保持する全ポートの最優先度、中継段数、ポート種別を開始時の値にリセットし、通信部５１は、全ポートから第４の調停フレームを送信する。 On the other hand, if the port type held is the priority port, that is, in the case of Yes in step S330, the communication path may be changed or the N / W highest priority station may be absent. Therefore, in step S350, the control unit 52 resets the highest priority, the number of relay stages, and the port type of all ports held by the own station to the values at the start, and the communication unit 51 performs the fourth arbitration frame from all ports. Send
　受信した最優先度が、保持している受信ポートの最優先度よりも高い場合、すなわちステップＳ３２０においてＹｅｓの場合、ステップＳ３９０において、制御部５２は、受信ポートに設定している、最優先度、中継段数、およびポート種別を変更する。 If the received highest priority is higher than the highest priority of the receiving port held, that is, Yes in step S320, the control unit 52 sets the receiving port in step S390 as the highest priority. Change the number of relay stages and the port type.
　具体的には、制御部５２は、受信ポートの最優先度を、受信した最優先度に変更し、受信ポートの中継段数を、受信した中継段数＋１に変更し、ポート種別を優先ポートに変更する。そして、通信装置１１は、後述するステップＳ４００の処理を実行する。 Specifically, the control unit 52 changes the highest priority of the reception port to the highest priority received, changes the number of relay stages of the reception port to the number of relay stages received + 1, and changes the port type to the priority port Do. Then, the communication device 11 executes the process of step S400 described later.
　受信した最優先度が、保持している受信ポートの最優先度と同じである場合、すなわちステップＳ３１０においてＹｅｓの場合、ステップＳ３６０において、制御部５２は、受信した第Ｍの調停フレームに格納されている中継段数に１段を足した値が、受信ポートに設定されている中継段数よりも小さいか否かを判定する。 If the highest priority received is the same as the highest priority of the received port held, that is, Yes in step S310, the control unit 52 stores the received Mth arbitration frame in step S360. It is determined whether a value obtained by adding one stage to the number of relay stages being set is smaller than the number of relay stages set in the reception port.
　受信した中継段数に１段を足した値が、受信ポートの中継段数よりも小さい場合、すなわちステップＳ３６０において、Ｙｅｓの場合、ステップＳ３８０において、制御部５２は、受信ポートの中継段数を変更する。具体的には、制御部５２は、受信ポートの中継段数を、受信した中継段数＋１に変更する。換言すると、受信ポートの中継段数を、現在の設定よりも小さな値にすることができる場合には、制御部５２は、受信ポートの中継段数を受信した中継段数に１段を足した値に変更する。この後、通信装置１１は、後述するステップＳ４００の処理を実行する。 If the value obtained by adding one stage to the received number of relay stages is smaller than the number of relay stages of the reception port, that is, in the case of Yes in step S360, the control unit 52 changes the number of relay stages of the reception port in step S380. Specifically, the control unit 52 changes the number of relay stages of the reception port to the number of relay stages received + 1. In other words, when the number of relay stages of the reception port can be set to a smaller value than the current setting, the control unit 52 changes the number of relay stages of the reception port to a value obtained by adding one stage to the number of relay stages received. Do. Thereafter, the communication device 11 executes the process of step S400 described later.
　一方、受信した中継段数に１段を足した中継段数が、受信ポートの中継段数以上である場合、すなわちステップＳ３６０において、Ｎｏの場合、ステップＳ３７０において、通信部５１は、全ての標準ポートから第５の調停フレームをブロードキャスト送信する。第５の調停フレームに格納される最優先度は、受信ポートに設定されている最優先度であり、第５の調停フレームに格納される中継段数は、受信ポートに設定されている中継段数である。 On the other hand, if the number of relaying stages obtained by adding one to the number of relaying stages received is equal to or greater than the number of relaying stages of the receiving port, that is, No in step S360, the communication unit 51 selects all standard ports Broadcast 5 arbitration frames. The highest priority stored in the fifth arbitration frame is the highest priority set for the reception port, and the number of relay stages stored in the fifth arbitration frame is the number of relay stages set for the reception port is there.
　通信装置１１は、ステップＳ３８０またはステップＳ３９０の後、ステップＳ４００の処理を実行する。 The communication device 11 executes the process of step S400 after step S380 or step S390.
　ネットワーク管理システム１０１では、各通信装置１０Ｘが、上述したステップＳ３００からＳ３９０の処理を１回または複数回実行する。これにより、各通信装置１０Ｘは、自局で保持している最優先度、ポート種別および中継段数を更新していく。 In the network management system 101, each communication device 10X executes the processing of steps S300 to S390 described above one or more times. Thus, each communication device 10X updates the highest priority, the port type, and the number of relay stages held in its own station.
　制御部５２は、受信ポートの最優先度と、自局内の受信ポート以外の別ポートの最優先度とを比較し、ステップＳ４００において、受信ポートの最優先度が、別ポートの最優先度と同じであるか否かを判定する。受信ポートの最優先度と、別ポートの最優先度とが異なる場合、すなわちステップＳ４００において、Ｎｏの場合、ステップＳ４１０において、制御部５２は、受信ポートの最優先度が、別ポートの最優先度よりも高いか否かを判定する。 The control unit 52 compares the highest priority of the reception port with the highest priority of another port other than the reception port in the own station. In step S400, the highest priority of the reception port is the highest priority of the other port. It is determined whether they are the same. When the highest priority of the reception port and the highest priority of another port are different, that is, in the case of No in step S400, in step S410, the control unit 52 determines that the highest priority of the reception port is the highest priority of another port. Determine whether it is higher than the degree.
　受信ポートの最優先度が、別ポートの最優先度よりも低い場合、すなわちステップＳ４１０においてＮｏの場合、ステップＳ４２０において、制御部５２は、受信ポートの最優先度よりも低い最優先度が設定されているポートのポート種別を標準ポートに変更し、通信部５１は、全標準ポートから第５の調停フレームを送信する。 When the highest priority of the reception port is lower than the highest priority of another port, that is, No in step S410, the control unit 52 sets the highest priority lower than the highest priority of the reception port in step S420. The port type of the port being changed is changed to the standard port, and the communication unit 51 transmits the fifth arbitration frame from all the standard ports.
　このように、通信部５１は、受信ポートよりも最優先度が低いポートがある場合、このポートを標準ポートに変更したうえで、全標準ポートから第５の調停フレームを送信する。ここでの第５の調停フレームは、自局優先度と、受信ポートの最優先度と、受信ポートの中継段数とを含んでいる。 As described above, when there is a port having the highest priority than the receiving port, the communication unit 51 changes the port to a standard port and transmits the fifth arbitration frame from all the standard ports. The fifth arbitration frame here includes the local station priority, the highest priority of the receiving port, and the number of relay stages of the receiving port.
　受信ポートの最優先度が、別ポートの最優先度よりも高い場合、すなわちステップＳ４１０において、Ｙｅｓの場合、ステップＳ４３０において、制御部５２は、受信ポートのポート種別を標準ポートに変更し、通信部５１は、受信ポートから第６の調停フレームを送信する。なお、制御部５２は、受信ポートの最優先度および中継段数は変更しない。 When the highest priority of the reception port is higher than the highest priority of another port, that is, in the case of Yes in step S410, the control unit 52 changes the port type of the reception port to the standard port in step S430 and performs communication The unit 51 transmits the sixth arbitration frame from the reception port. The control unit 52 does not change the highest priority of the reception port and the number of relay stages.
　このように、通信部５１は、受信ポートよりも最優先度が高いポートがある場合、このポートを標準ポートに変更したうえで、受信ポートから第６の調停フレームを送信する。ここでの第６の調停フレームは、自局優先度と、各ポートが保持する最優先度の中で最も高い最優先度と、この最も高い最優先度が設定されているポートに設定されている中継段数と、を含んでいる。 As described above, when there is a port having the highest priority than the receiving port, the communication unit 51 changes the port to a standard port, and transmits the sixth arbitration frame from the receiving port. The sixth arbitration frame here is set to the local station priority, the highest highest priority among the highest priorities held by each port, and the port to which the highest highest priority is set. And the number of relay stages.
　受信ポートの最優先度と、別ポートの最優先度とが異なる場合、すなわちステップＳ４００において、Ｎｏの場合、通信装置１１は、ステップＳ４１０からＳ４３０の処理とステップＳ４００の処理とを都度実行する。 When the highest priority of the reception port and the highest priority of another port are different, that is, in the case of No in step S400, the communication apparatus 11 executes the processing of steps S410 to S430 and the processing of step S400 each time.
　受信ポートの最優先度と、別ポートの最優先度とが同じである場合、すなわちステップＳ４００において、Ｙｅｓの場合、制御部５２は、自局がループ上に存在すると判定し、ループを解消するために閉じるポートがあるか否かを判定する。具体的には、制御部５２は、最優先度が同じであるポート間で、中継段数を比較する。 When the highest priority of the reception port and the highest priority of another port are the same, that is, in the case of Yes in step S400, the control unit 52 determines that the own station is present on the loop and cancels the loop. To determine if there is a port to close. Specifically, the control unit 52 compares the number of relay stages between ports having the same highest priority.
　ステップＳ４４０において、制御部５２は、最優先度が同じであるポートの中で、中継段数の一致するものがあるか否かを判定する。通信装置１１が備えるポートの中に、最優先度および中継段数の両方が一致するポートがある場合、すなわち、ステップＳ４４０においてＹｅｓの場合、ステップＳ４７０において、制御部５２は、最優先度および中継段数が一致したポートのうち、ポート番号が最も若いポート以外のポートを閉じる。なお、制御部５２は、最優先度および中継段数が一致したポートであれば、何れのポートを閉じて、何れのポートを開けてもよいが、開けるポートは１つである。 In step S440, the control unit 52 determines whether or not there is a port with the same number of relay stages among the ports having the same highest priority. If there is a port with which both the highest priority and the number of relay stages match among the ports included in the communication apparatus 11, that is, if Yes in step S440, the control unit 52 sets the highest priority and the number of relay stages in step S470. Closes the ports other than the port with the lowest port number among the matched ports. The control unit 52 may close any port and open any port as long as the highest priority and the number of relay stages coincide with each other, but there is only one open port.
　通信装置１１が備えるポートの中に、最優先度および中継段数の両方ともが一致するポートがない場合、すなわち、ステップＳ４４０においてＮｏの場合、ステップＳ４５０において、最優先度が同じであるポートの中で、中継段数が他のポートよりも１段だけ多いポートがあるか否かを判定する。 When there is no port in which the highest priority and the number of relay stages match among the ports included in the communication apparatus 11, that is, No in step S440, among the ports with the same highest priority in step S450. Then, it is determined whether there is a port whose number of relay stages is one more than that of other ports.
　最優先度が同じであるポートの中に中継段数が他のポートよりも１段だけ多いポートがない場合、すなわち、ステップＳ４５０においてＮｏの場合、ステップＳ４６０において、制御部５２は、最優先度が同じで中継段数が他のポートよりも２段以上多いポートを標準ポートに変更する。さらに、ステップＳ４６０において、制御部５２は、最優先度が一致したポートの中継段数のうち、最も小さい中継段数を第６の調停フレームに格納し、通信部５１が、この第６の調停フレームをブロードキャスト送信する。この場合において、通信部５１は、受信ポートを除くポートから、第６の調停フレームをブロードキャスト送信する。 When there is no port whose number of relay stages is one more than that of other ports among the ports having the same highest priority, that is, No in step S450, the control unit 52 sets the highest priority in step S460. The same port with two relay stages more than other ports is changed to a standard port. Further, in step S460, control unit 52 stores the smallest number of relaying stages among the number of relaying stages of the ports with the highest priority in the sixth arbitration frame, and communication unit 51 stores the sixth arbitration frame. Broadcast. In this case, the communication unit 51 broadcasts the sixth arbitration frame from the ports excluding the receiving port.
　一方、最優先度が同じであるポートの中に中継段数が他のポートよりも１段だけ多いポートがある場合、すなわち、ステップＳ４５０においてＹｅｓの場合、制御部５２は、受信した第Ｍの調停フレームに格納されている自局優先度と、記憶部５３で保持している自局優先度とを比較する。 On the other hand, when there is a port having the same number of relay stages as the number of relay stages one more than the other ports among the ports having the same highest priority, that is, in the case of Yes in step S450, control unit 52 receives the Mth arbitration The local station priority stored in the frame is compared with the local station priority stored in the storage unit 53.
　そして、ステップＳ４８０において、制御部５２は、受信した第Ｍの調停フレームに格納されている自局優先度が、保持している自局優先度よりも低いか否かを判定する。受信した第Ｍの調停フレームに格納されている自局優先度が、保持している自局優先度よりも低い場合、すなわち、ステップＳ４８０においてＮｏの場合、ステップＳ５００において、制御部５２は、最優先度が同じであるポートの中で中継段数が他のポートよりも１段だけ多いポートを閉じる。 Then, in step S480, the control unit 52 determines whether or not the own station priority stored in the received Mth arbitration frame is lower than the held own station priority. If the own station priority stored in the received Mth arbitration frame is lower than the held own station priority, that is, if No in step S480, the control unit 52 determines in step S500 that Among the ports with the same priority, close ports with one more relay stage than other ports.
　一方、受信した第Ｍの調停フレームに格納されている自局優先度が、保持している自局優先度以上の場合、すなわち、ステップＳ４８０においてＹｅｓの場合、ステップＳ４９０において、制御部５２は、最優先度が同じであるポートの中で中継段数が他のポートよりも１段だけ多いポートが閉ポートである場合には、このポートを標準ポートに変更する。 On the other hand, if the own station priority stored in the received Mth arbitration frame is equal to or higher than the held own station priority, that is, Yes in step S480, the control unit 52 in step S490 Among the ports having the same highest priority, if the number of relay stages is one more than that of the other ports, this port is changed to a standard port.
　このように、制御部５２は、自局がＮ／Ｗ最優先局からループ内で最も多くの局を中継する通信経路上の局である場合には、この通信経路に接続されているポートを閉じることによって、１つの局で同一フレームを複数回受信することを防ぐ通信経路を設定する。 As described above, when the control unit 52 is a station on the communication path which relays the most stations in the loop from the N / W highest priority station, the control unit 52 sets the port connected to this communication path. By closing, a communication path is set which prevents one station from receiving the same frame multiple times.
　なお、ステップＳ４７０またはステップＳ５００の処理で閉じられたポートは、通信経路の変更、または時間経過によるリセットによって、閉じる条件を満たさなくなった時に、制御部５２によって自動的に開けられる。これにより、開けられたポートは、全てのフレームを送受信できるようになる。開けられたポートは、最優先度が同一のポートとの間で中継段数が比較され、中継段数が最も小さい場合には優先ポートに設定され、その他の場合は標準ポートに設定される。 The port closed in the process of step S470 or step S500 is automatically opened by the control unit 52 when the closing condition is not satisfied due to the change of the communication path or the reset due to the passage of time. This enables the opened port to transmit and receive all frames. The number of relay stages of the opened ports is compared with the port having the same highest priority, and is set as a priority port if the number of relay stages is the smallest, and is set as a standard port otherwise.
　また、通信装置１０Ｘのうち、特定時間Ｔｘ以内に、自局優先度より高い最優先度を格納した第Ｍの調停フレームを受信しなかった局は、自局がネットワーク上で最も優先度の高い局であると判断し、ネットワークの管理を担当する唯一のＮ／Ｗ管理局となる。 Further, among the communication devices 10X, the station which has not received the M-th arbitration frame storing the highest priority higher than its own station priority within the specific time Tx has the highest priority of its own station on the network. It will be the only N / W management station in charge of network management, judging it to be a station.
　また、Ｎ／Ｗ管理局ではない局は、優先ポートにおいて、前回の第Ｍの調停フレームの受信から特定時間Ｔｘが経過しても新たな第Ｍの調停フレームを受信できなかった場合に、Ｎ／Ｗ管理局が不在であると判断する。そして、Ｎ／Ｗ管理局ではない局は、自局が保持する全ポートの最優先度、中継段数、ポート種別を開始時の値にリセットし、その後、第４の調停フレームをブロードキャスト送信する。 In addition, a station that is not the N / W management station is N when the priority port can not receive a new Mth arbitration frame even if the specific time Tx has elapsed since the previous reception of the Mth arbitration frame. / W judge that the management station is absent. Then, a station that is not the N / W management station resets the highest priority, the number of relay stages, and the port type of all ports held by the own station to the values at the start, and then broadcasts the fourth arbitration frame.
　また、閉ポートを設定した局は、前回の第Ｍの調停フレームの受信から、特定時間Ｔｘが経過しても新たな第Ｍの調停フレームを受信できなかった場合、ループ構成が解除されたと判断し、閉ポートを標準ポートに変更する。 Also, the station that has set the closed port determines that the loop configuration has been canceled if it can not receive a new Mth arbitration frame even after the specific time Tx has elapsed since the previous reception of the Mth arbitration frame. And change the closed port to a standard port.
　なお、実施の形態１で説明した特定時間Ｔｘと、実施の形態２で説明した特定時間Ｔｘとは、異なるものであってもよいし、同じであってもよい。 The specific time Tx described in the first embodiment and the specific time Tx described in the second embodiment may be different or may be the same.
　このように実施の形態２によれば、ネットワーク管理システム１０１，１０２は、ループ内で直近同士の通信装置１０Ｘ間で第Ｍの調停フレームをブロードキャスト送信するので、実施の形態１と同様の効果を得ることができる。 As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the network management systems 101 and 102 broadcast the Mth arbitration frame between the nearest communication devices 10X in the loop, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained. You can get it.
　また、ネットワーク管理システム１０１，１０２は、各局がポート毎にＮ／Ｗ最優先局および中継段数を記憶しているので、第Ｍの調停フレームのデータ量を抑制しつつループを解消することができる。 In addition, since each station stores the N / W highest priority station and the number of relay stages for each port, the network management system 101, 102 can eliminate the loop while suppressing the data amount of the Mth arbitration frame. .
　ここで、制御部５２のハードウェア構成について説明する。図１０は、実施の形態にかかる通信装置が備える制御部のハードウェア構成例を示す図である。通信装置１０Ｘの制御部５２は、図１０に示した制御回路３００、すなわちプロセッサ３０１およびメモリ３０２により実現することができる。プロセッサ３０１の例は、ＣＰＵ（Central　Processing　Unit、中央処理装置、処理装置、演算装置、マイクロプロセッサ、マイクロコンピュータ、プロセッサ、ＤＳＰともいう）またはシステムＬＳＩ（Large　Scale　Integration）である。メモリ３０２の例は、ＲＡＭ（Random　Access　Memory）、ＲＯＭ（Read　Only　Memory）である。 Here, the hardware configuration of the control unit 52 will be described. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a control unit included in the communication device according to the embodiment. The control unit 52 of the communication device 10X can be realized by the control circuit 300 shown in FIG. 10, that is, the processor 301 and the memory 302. An example of the processor 301 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit, central processing unit, processing unit, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, processor, also referred to as DSP) or a system LSI (Large Scale Integration). Examples of the memory 302 are a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM).
　制御部５２は、プロセッサ３０１が、メモリ３０２で記憶されている、制御部５２の動作を実行するためのプログラムを読み出して実行することにより実現される。また、このプログラムは、制御部５２の手順または方法をコンピュータに実行させるものであるともいえる。メモリ３０２は、プロセッサ３０１が各種処理を実行する際の一時メモリにも使用される。 The control unit 52 is realized by the processor 301 reading and executing a program for executing the operation of the control unit 52 stored in the memory 302. Also, it can be said that this program causes a computer to execute the procedure or method of the control unit 52. The memory 302 is also used as a temporary memory when the processor 301 executes various processes.
　このように、プロセッサ３０１が実行するプログラムは、コンピュータで実行可能な、データ処理を行うための複数の命令を含むコンピュータ読取り可能かつ非遷移的な（non-transitory）記録媒体を有するコンピュータプログラムプロダクトである。プロセッサ３０１が実行するプログラムは、複数の命令がデータ処理を行うことをコンピュータに実行させる。 Thus, the program executed by the processor 301 is a computer-executable computer-program product having a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium including a plurality of instructions for performing data processing. is there. The program executed by the processor 301 causes the computer to execute data processing of a plurality of instructions.
　また、制御部５２を専用のハードウェアで実現してもよい。また、制御部５２の機能について、一部を専用のハードウェアで実現し、一部をソフトウェアまたはファームウェアで実現するようにしてもよい。 Further, the control unit 52 may be realized by dedicated hardware. Further, a part of the functions of the control unit 52 may be realized by dedicated hardware and a part may be realized by software or firmware.
　以上の実施の形態に示した構成は、本発明の内容の一例を示すものであり、別の公知の技術と組み合わせることも可能であるし、本発明の要旨を逸脱しない範囲で、構成の一部を省略、変更することも可能である。 The configuration shown in the above embodiment shows an example of the contents of the present invention, and can be combined with another known technique, and one of the configurations is possible within the scope of the present invention. Parts can be omitted or changed.
　１０Ｘ，１１～１４，２１～２６　通信装置、５１　通信部、５２　制御部、５３　記憶部、１０１，１０２　ネットワーク管理システム、Ｐ１１ａ，Ｐ１１ｂ，Ｐ１２ａ，Ｐ１２ｂ，Ｐ１３ａ，Ｐ１３ｂ，Ｐ１４ａ，Ｐ１４ｂ，Ｐ２１ａ，Ｐ２１ｂ，Ｐ２２ａ，Ｐ２２ｂ，Ｐ２３ａ，Ｐ２３ｂ，Ｐ２４ａ，Ｐ２４ｂ，Ｐ２５ａ，Ｐ２５ｂ，Ｐ２６ａ，Ｐ２６ｂ　ポート。 10X, 11 to 14, 21 to 26 communication apparatus, 51 communication unit, 52 control unit, 53 storage unit, 101, 102 network management system, P11a, P11b, P12a, P12b, P13a, P13b, P14a, P14b, P21a, P21b , P22a, P22b, P23a, P23b, P24a, P24b, P25a, P25b, P26a, P26b ports.

Claims (16)

  1. 　通信ネットワーク内でループ状に接続された複数の通信装置を備え、
    　前記通信装置は、前記通信ネットワーク内の通信装置毎に設定された装置優先度の中で最も高い第１の最優先度が設定されている通信装置である優先装置から自装置までのフレームの中継段数に基づいて、前記自装置が前記優先装置から最も多くの通信装置を中継する通信経路に接続されているか否かの経路判定を実行する制御部を有し、
    　前記制御部は、前記自装置が前記優先装置から最も多くの通信装置を中継する通信経路に接続されていると判定した場合には、ポートのうち、ループ内にある何れかのポートを前記通信ネットワークの終端に設定する、
    　ことを特徴とするネットワーク管理システム。     A plurality of communication devices connected in a loop in the communication network;
    The communication device relays a frame from the priority device to the device itself, which is the communication device to which the first highest priority is set among the device priorities set for each communication device in the communication network. The control unit executes path determination as to whether or not the own device is connected to a communication path for relaying the largest number of communication devices from the priority device based on the number of stages.
    If the control unit determines that the own device is connected to the communication path that relays the most communication devices from the priority device, the control unit may communicate with any one of the ports in the loop. Set to the end of the network,
    Network management system characterized by.
  2. 　前記通信装置は、
    　前記ループ内で直近の他の通信装置との間で前記ポートを介した、第１のフレームの送信と第２のフレームの受信とを行う通信部と、
    　前記装置優先度の中で前記自装置が認識している最も高い装置優先度である第２の最優先度を記憶する記憶部と、
    　をさらに有し、
    　前記通信部は、
    　前記第２の最優先度を格納した前記第１のフレームを前記他の通信装置に送信するとともに、
    　前記装置優先度の中で前記他の通信装置が認識している最も高い装置優先度である第３の最優先度が格納された前記第２のフレームを前記他の通信装置から受信し、
    　前記制御部は、
    　前記優先装置から前記自装置までのデータの中継段数と、前記第２の最優先度と、前記第３の最優先度と、に基づいて、前記経路判定を実行する、
    　ことを特徴とする請求項１に記載のネットワーク管理システム。     The communication device is
    A communication unit that performs transmission of a first frame and reception of a second frame via the port with another communication device closest to the loop;
    A storage unit which stores a second highest priority which is the highest device priority recognized by the own device among the device priorities;
    And have
    The communication unit is
    Transmitting the first frame storing the second highest priority to the other communication device;
    Receiving, from the other communication device, the second frame in which a third highest priority, which is the highest device priority recognized by the other communication device among the device priorities, is stored;
    The control unit
    The path determination is performed based on the number of relay stages of data from the priority device to the own device, the second highest priority, and the third highest priority.
    The network management system according to claim 1, characterized in that:
  3. 　前記装置優先度は、前記通信装置毎に設定され、
    　前記中継段数は、前記通信装置のポート毎に設定されている、
    　ことを特徴とする請求項２に記載のネットワーク管理システム。     The device priority is set for each of the communication devices.
    The number of relay stages is set for each port of the communication device.
    The network management system according to claim 2, characterized in that:
  4. 　前記装置優先度は、前記通信装置のポート毎に設定され、
    　前記中継段数は、前記通信装置のポート毎に設定されている、
    　ことを特徴とする請求項２に記載のネットワーク管理システム。     The device priority is set for each port of the communication device,
    The number of relay stages is set for each port of the communication device.
    The network management system according to claim 2, characterized in that:
  5. 　前記制御部は、前記第３の最優先度が前記第２の最優先度よりも高い場合、前記第２の最優先度の値を前記第３の最優先度の値に変更し、
    　前記通信部は、前記第３の最優先度を受信したポートとは異なるポートから、前記値が変更された前記第２の最優先度を格納した前記第１のフレームを送信する、
    　ことを特徴とする請求項２に記載のネットワーク管理システム。     When the third highest priority is higher than the second highest priority, the control unit changes the value of the second highest priority to the value of the third highest priority.
    The communication unit transmits the first frame storing the second highest priority, the value of which has been changed, from a port different from the port that received the third highest priority.
    The network management system according to claim 2, characterized in that:
  6. 　前記第２のフレームには、前記中継段数が格納されており、
    　前記制御部は、前記第３の最優先度が前記第２の最優先度よりも高い場合、前記中継段数に１段を加算し、
    　前記通信部は、前記第３の最優先度を受信したポートとは異なるポートから、前記１段が加算された新たな中継段数を格納した前記第１のフレームを送信する、
    　ことを特徴とする請求項２から５のいずれか１つに記載のネットワーク管理システム。     The number of relay stages is stored in the second frame,
    The control unit adds one stage to the number of relay stages when the third highest priority is higher than the second highest priority.
    The communication unit transmits the first frame storing the number of relay stages to which the one stage has been added, from a port different from the port that received the third highest priority.
    The network management system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that:
  7. 　前記ループには、前記通信装置とは異なる通信仕様の装置が接続され、
    　前記通信部は、前記第１のフレームをブロードキャスト送信し、前記第２のフレームを受信しても前記第２のフレームを前記他の通信装置に転送せず、
    　前記異なる通信仕様の装置は、前記第２のフレームを受信すると、前記第２のフレームを前記他の通信装置に転送する、
    　ことを特徴とする請求項２から６のいずれか１つに記載のネットワーク管理システム。     An apparatus having a communication specification different from that of the communication apparatus is connected to the loop,
    The communication unit broadcasts the first frame, and does not transfer the second frame to the other communication device even if the second frame is received.
    The device of the different communication specification transfers the second frame to the other communication device when the second frame is received.
    The network management system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that:
  8. 　前記通信装置は、
    　前記記憶部が、前記自装置の装置優先度をさらに記憶し、
    　前記通信部が、特定時間内に前記自装置の装置優先度よりも高い前記第３の最優先度を受信しなかった場合に、前記制御部が、前記通信ネットワークの管理を行うネットワーク管理局になる、
    　ことを特徴とする請求項２から７のいずれか１つに記載のネットワーク管理システム。     The communication device is
    The storage unit further stores the device priority of the own device,
    When the communication unit does not receive the third highest priority higher than the device priority of the own device within a specific time, the control unit controls the communication network to the network management station. Become,
    The network management system according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that:
  9. 　前記第１のフレームおよび前記第２のフレームには、前記優先装置が前記第１のフレームを送信した送信時刻が格納されており、
    　前記制御部は、前記送信時刻から現在時刻までの差が前記特定時間よりも長い場合に、前記第２の最優先度および前記中継段数をリセットする、
    　ことを特徴とする請求項８に記載のネットワーク管理システム。     The transmission time at which the priority apparatus has transmitted the first frame is stored in the first frame and the second frame,
    The control unit resets the second highest priority and the number of relay stages when the difference from the transmission time to the current time is longer than the specific time.
    The network management system according to claim 8, characterized in that:
  10. 　前記第２の最優先度の初期値は、前記自装置の装置優先度と同じである、
    　ことを特徴とする請求項８に記載のネットワーク管理システム。     The initial value of the second highest priority is the same as the device priority of the own device,
    The network management system according to claim 8, characterized in that:
  11. 　複数の通信装置がループ状に接続された通信ネットワーク内で、前記通信装置が、前記通信ネットワーク内の通信装置毎に設定された装置優先度の中で最も高い第１の最優先度が設定されている通信装置である優先装置から自装置までのフレームの中継段数に基づいて、前記自装置が前記優先装置から最も多くの通信装置を中継する通信経路に接続されているか否かの経路判定を実行する判定ステップを含み、
    　前記判定ステップでは、前記通信装置が、前記自装置が前記優先装置から最も多くの通信装置を中継する通信経路に接続されていると判定した場合には、ポートのうち、ループ内にある何れかのポートを前記通信ネットワークの終端に設定する、
    　ことを特徴とするネットワーク管理方法。     In the communication network in which a plurality of communication devices are connected in a loop, the communication device is set to the highest first highest priority among the device priorities set for each communication device in the communication network. It is determined whether or not the own device is connected to a communication path for relaying the most communication devices from the priority device based on the number of relay stages of frames from the priority device which is the communication device to the own device. Including a decision step to be performed,
    In the determination step, when the communication device determines that the own device is connected to the communication path for relaying the most communication devices from the priority device, any one of the ports is in a loop. Setting the port on the end of the communication network,
    Network management method characterized in that.
  12. 　前記通信装置が、前記装置優先度の中で前記自装置が認識している最も高い装置優先度である第２の最優先度を記憶する記憶ステップと、
    　前記通信装置が、前記ループ内で直近の他の通信装置との間で前記ポートを介した、第１のフレームの送信と第２のフレームの受信とを行う通信ステップと、
    　をさらに含み、
    　前記通信ステップでは、
    　前記通信装置が、前記第２の最優先度を格納した前記第１のフレームを前記他の通信装置に送信するとともに、
    　前記通信装置が、前記装置優先度の中で前記他の通信装置が認識している最も高い装置優先度である第３の最優先度が格納された前記第２のフレームを前記他の通信装置から受信し、
    　前記判定ステップでは、
    　前記通信装置が、前記優先装置から前記自装置までのデータの中継段数と、前記第２の最優先度と、前記第３の最優先度と、に基づいて、前記経路判定を実行する、
    　ことを特徴とする請求項１１に記載のネットワーク管理方法。     A storage step of storing the second highest priority which is the highest device priority recognized by the own device among the device priorities;
    A communication step of transmitting the first frame and receiving the second frame via the port with the nearest other communication device in the loop;
    Further include
    In the communication step,
    The communication device transmits the first frame storing the second highest priority to the other communication device.
    The second frame in which the third highest priority, which is the highest device priority recognized by the other communication device among the device priorities, is stored in the second communication device Received from
    In the determination step,
    The communication device executes the path determination based on the number of relay stages of data from the priority device to the device itself, the second highest priority, and the third highest priority.
    The network management method according to claim 11, characterized in that:
  13. 　前記装置優先度は、前記通信装置のポート毎に設定され、
    　前記中継段数は、前記通信装置のポート毎に設定されている、
    　ことを特徴とする請求項１２に記載のネットワーク管理方法。     The device priority is set for each port of the communication device,
    The number of relay stages is set for each port of the communication device.
    The network management method according to claim 12, characterized in that:
  14. 　前記第３の最優先度が前記第２の最優先度よりも低い場合であって、かつ前記第３の最優先度を受信したポートが前記優先装置側のポートである場合、前記通信装置が、自装置内の全ポートの前記第２の最優先度および前記中継段数をリセットするリセットステップをさらに含む、
    　ことを特徴とする請求項１２に記載のネットワーク管理方法。     If the third highest priority is lower than the second highest priority and the port receiving the third highest priority is the port on the priority device side, the communication device The reset step of resetting the second highest priority of all the ports in the own apparatus and the number of relay stages,
    The network management method according to claim 12, characterized in that:
  15. 　前記第１のフレームおよび前記第２のフレームには、前記優先装置が前記第１のフレームを送信した送信時刻が格納されており、
    　前記通信装置は、前記送信時刻から現在時刻までの差が特定時間よりも長い場合に、前記第２の最優先度および前記中継段数をリセットする、
    　ことを特徴とする請求項１２から１４のいずれか１つに記載のネットワーク管理方法。     The transmission time at which the priority apparatus has transmitted the first frame is stored in the first frame and the second frame,
    The communication apparatus resets the second highest priority and the number of relay stages when the difference between the transmission time and the current time is longer than a specific time.
    The network management method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that:
  16. 　前記通信装置は、前記第１のフレームをブロードキャスト送信し、前記第２のフレームを受信しても前記第２のフレームを前記他の通信装置に転送しない、
    　ことを特徴とする請求項１２から１５のいずれか１つに記載のネットワーク管理方法。     The communication device broadcasts the first frame, and does not transfer the second frame to the other communication device even if the second frame is received.
    The network management method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that:
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