Abstract:
Provided are a communication apparatus of an application for serving communication of a relay node and a method thereof, includes: a plurality of component groups that are configured to perform work by at least one built-in component and correspond to each plurality of different applications; and an assembly controller that outputs control signals to at least one of the plurality of component groups, the plurality of component groups being packaged by setting the connection between each component group. With this, in fabricating application for serving the communication of the relay node that simultaneously needs at least two applications, the application package in a type where each application is combined can be simply and easily fabricated while using the existing application package as it is and since the present invention uses the existing application package as it is, it can perform the applications alone without modifying each application.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application Serial Number 10-2008-0121643, filed on Dec. 3, 2008 and Korean Patent Application Serial Number 10-2009-0031963, filed on Apr. 13, 2009, the entirety of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a communication apparatus of an application for serving communication of a relay node and a method thereof, and in particular, to a communication apparatus of application for serving communication of a relay node that can perform communication of a relay node by designing an application package where a plurality of applications are combined and a method thereof. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A Software Communication Architecture (SCA) is a standardized communication software structure to largely improve interoperability between communication systems and to reduce development and distribution costs, which was proposed by Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Joint Program Office (JPO), USA. 
         [0006]    The SCA adopts a real time operating system (OS) and a Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), which is an industrial standard of a distributed object model, as middleware to provide an integrated environment for different types of hardware and software. Herein, the SCA is an independent system design framework rather than a standardized system limited to a specific system. 
         [0007]    The SCA binds several components into one package by application that performs one waveform function and installs and arranges it in hardware and then operates it. A representative example adopting the SCA may include an SDR system. The SDR system adopts the SCA as a standard of a software framework. 
         [0008]    The application having the SCA structure basically manages the operations of install, instantiation, start, stop, shutdown, uninstall, etc., in one application level. Therefore, it is difficult to apply the foregoing application to a wired and wireless relay node that needs at least two applications. 
         [0009]    Of course, a relay application package fabricated after unbinding the software package of two or more applications and newly defining the connection relationship with all the components existing therein can be applied to the wired and wireless relay node. However, this has a problem in that a process of fabricating a separate application package is complicated and difficult. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In order to solve the above problem of the related art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a communication apparatus of an application for serving communication of a relay node capable of easily and simply fabricating application of serving communication of a relay node by proposing a new application package as a type where a plurality of applications are combined while maintaining a configuration of each application as it is, and a method thereof. 
         [0011]    In order to achieve the above object, there is provided a communication apparatus of an application for serving communication of a relay node, including: a plurality of component groups that are configured to perform work by at least one built-in component and correspond to each plurality of different applications; and an assembly controller that outputs control signals to at least one of the plurality of component groups, the plurality of component groups being packaged by setting the connection between each component group. 
         [0012]    In the plurality of component groups, each component group is set to be connected to each other, based on a domain profile where configuration information and connection information on the corresponding application communicating apparatus are defined. 
         [0013]    The domain profile includes profile information on each of the plurality of component groups. The domain profile is prepared with an extensible markup language (XML) file. 
         [0014]    The component further includes internal input ports and internal output ports to connect to other components of applications corresponding to the corresponding component groups and external input ports and external output ports to connect to components of applications corresponding to other component groups. 
         [0015]    The external input ports each correspond to the external output ports built in other component groups and the external output ports one-to-one correspond to the external input ports built in other component groups. 
         [0016]    In order to achieve the above object, there is provided a communication apparatus for an application for serving communication of a relay node according to the present invention, including: a component package that includes a plurality of component groups with at least one built-in component; a domain profile where profile information on the component package is defined; and a combined application factory that configures the component package based on the domain profile, the component groups corresponding to each of a plurality of different applications, the component package being packaged by being set to be connected between the plurality of component groups according to the connection information provided from the combined application factory. 
         [0017]    The domain profile includes profile information on each of the plurality of component groups. 
         [0018]    The communication apparatus further includes a plurality of application factories that correspond to each of the plurality of component groups and configures the corresponding component groups based on the profile information included in the domain profile. 
         [0019]    The combined application factory transfers the profile information obtained from the domain profile to each of the application factories corresponding to the plurality of component groups. 
         [0020]    In order to achieve the above object, there is provided a communication method of application for serving communication of a relay node, comprising: configuring a plurality of component groups with at least one built-in component; packaging the plurality of component groups by setting the connection between the plurality of component groups based on profile information defined in the domain profile; and performing communication between the plurality of component groups by the connection set between the plurality of component groups, the plurality of component groups corresponding to each plurality of different applications. 
         [0021]    The domain profile is defined configuration information and connection information on each of the plurality of component groups. 
         [0022]    The domain profile is prepared with an extensible markup language (XML) file. 
         [0023]    The packaging includes obtaining the connection information between the plurality of component groups from the domain profile. 
         [0024]    The packaging further includes setting the connection between components built in the plurality of component groups; and setting the connection between a component built in any one of the plurality of component groups and a component built in another component group. 
         [0025]    The setting the connection is set so that input ports of the components built in each component group each correspond to output ports thereof. 
         [0026]    With the present invention, in fabricating the application for serving communication of the relay node that simultaneously needs at least two applications, the application package of a type where each application is combined can be simply and easily fabricated while using the existing application package as it is. 
         [0027]    Further, since the present invention uses the existing application package as it is, it can perform the applications alone without modifying each application. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a SCA structure applied to the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a diagram showing a relay node structure applied to the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication apparatus of application according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is a diagram showing a profile structure of combined application according to the embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0032]      FIGS. 5 to 7  are flowcharts illustrating an operational flow of a communication method of application according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0034]    The present invention relates to a communication apparatus of an application for serving communication of a relay node and a method thereof. The embodiment to be described below describes an example of providing communication of a relay node in an application based on an SCA structure. 
         [0035]    First,  FIG. 1  shows an SCA basic structure. The relationship of the applications in the SCA structure will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0036]    In the Software Communications Architecture (SCA) structure, an Operating System (OS), a Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), and an SCA Core Framework (CF) are disposed on an upper layer of hardware, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Digital Signal Processor, or a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). 
         [0037]    Herein, managers such as a domain manager, a device manager, a file manager, and an application factory and a domain profile in an XML file type exist in the SCA core framework. 
         [0038]    Several managers of the SCA core framework arrange the plurality of components of an upper application based on the domain profile in the corresponding hardware and executes them. At this time, each component uses the corresponding ports depending on the connection setting defined in the SCA to transmit and receive therebetween. The connection of each component is set in one way and connection setting information and port information corresponding thereto between each component is defined in the XML file type in the domain profile. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  schematically shows a communication structure using a wired and wireless relay node. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the wired and wireless relay node transfers signals and data input from a first device A to a second device B and on the contrary, transfers signals and data input from the second device B to the first device A, on a communication system. Herein, the first device A and the second device B are devices that can be communicated in a wired or wireless scheme. Further, the signals and data input and output to and from the first device A may be the same or different mode as the signals and data input and output from the second device B. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the first device A and the second device B have the same line thickness, but illustrate only one embodiment. As a result, the embodiment is not limited thereto. 
         [0040]    Therefore, the first device A and the second device B is not limited to a repeater, a bridge, a router, a gateway, etc. 
         [0041]    In the SCA structure of the present invention, when the applications are arranged in hardware, an application package, which can be applied to a relay node requiring at least two applications, is suggested. 
         [0042]      FIG. 3  shows a structure of the application according to the embodiment of the present invention. In particular,  FIG. 3  shows a structure of a combined application package proposed in the present invention. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the combined application package includes an application X  140  and an application Y  150  and includes an application Z  130  that is a combined application of a type where the application X  140  and the application Y  150  are combined with each other. In other words, the application package of a type where the application X  140  and the application Y  150  are combined by the application Z  130  is formed. Of course, each application factory is provided corresponding to the application X  140 , the application Y  150 , and the application Z  130  on the SCA structure. 
         [0044]    At this time, the component group claimed in the claims of the present invention corresponds to each application, that is, the application X  140  and the application Y  150 . Herein, each application controls the driving of components built in the component groups corresponding to the corresponding applications. The embodiment of the present invention describes, by way of example, one of the component groups included in the corresponding applications. The following description does not describe the component group separately but describes, by way of example, but how the components built in the corresponding group are included in the applications. 
         [0045]    The configuration of the application X  140  and the application Y  150  has the same configuration as a general application. 
         [0046]    In other words, the application X  140  is configured to include the application X factory  103  of the SCA core framework and the application X factory  103  configures and drives the application X  140  based on the profile information of the application X  140  defined in the domain profile  110 . However, in the combined application package structure of the present invention, the application X factory  103  receives the profile information of the application X  140  from the application Z factory  100 . Herein, the application Z factory  100  is an combined application factory defined in the claims. 
         [0047]    The application X  140  includes an assembly controller X  141  and a plurality of components. The assembly controller X  141  sets the connection of each component in the application X  140  and outputs signals that controls the driving of each component. At this time, the assembly controller X  141  includes control ports  141   a  and  141   b  that outputs control signals to the components, wherein the control ports  141   a  and  141   b  are provided to correspond to each component. 
         [0048]    Each component includes an internal input port and an output port for communicating with other components in the application X  140 . Meanwhile, at least one of the plurality of components in the application X  140  includes an external input port and an external output port for communicating with components included in other applications. 
         [0049]      FIG. 3  shows, by way of example, one that a component A  143  and a component B  145  are provided in the application X  140 . However, the number of components is not limited thereto. The component A  143  includes an input port  143   b  and an output port  143   a  for communicating with the component B  145  in the application X  140 . The component B  145  includes an input port  145   a  and an output port  145   b  for communicating with the component A  143  in the application X  140 . Meanwhile, the component B  145  includes an external input port  145   d  and an external output port  145   c  for communicating with components in other applications. 
         [0050]    At this time, in the application X  140 , the assembly controller X  141  sets ‘connection  1 ’  147  between the output port  143   a  of the component A  143  and the input port  145   a  of the component B  145  based on the connection information of the application X  140 . In addition, the assembly controller X  141  sets ‘connection  2 ’  148  between the output port  145   b  of the component B  145  and the input port  143   b  of the component A  143 . At this time, each component, that is, the component A  143  and the component B  145  maintain the setting information of ‘the connection  1 ’  147  and ‘the connection  2 ’  148 . Therefore, the component A  143  can transmit signals to the component B  145  through ‘the connection  1 ’  147  and the component B  145  can transmit signals to the component A  143  through ‘the connection  2   148 ’. 
         [0051]    Meanwhile, the application Y  150  is configured to include the application Y factory  105  of the SCA core framework and the application Y factory  105  configures and drives the application Y  150  based on the profile information of the application Y  150  defined in the domain profile  110 . However, in the combined application package structure of the present invention, the application Y factory  105  receives the profile information of the application Y  150  from the application Z factory  100 . The application Y  150  includes an assembly controller Y  151  and a plurality of components. The assembly controller Y  151  sets the connection of each component in the application Y  150  and outputs signals that control the driving of each component. At this time, the assembly controller Y  151  includes control ports  151   a  and  151   b  that outputs control signals to the components, wherein the control ports  151   a  and  151   b  are provided to correspond to each component. 
         [0052]    The component includes an internal input port and an output port for communicating with other components within the application Y  150 . Meanwhile, at least one of the plurality of components in the application Y  150  includes an external input port and an external output port for communicating with components included in other applications. 
         [0053]      FIG. 3  shows, by way of example, how a component C  153  and a component D  155  are provided in the application Y  150 . However, the number of components is not limited thereto. The component C  153  includes an input port  153   b  and an output port  153   a  for communicating with the component D  155  in the application Y  150 . The component D  155  includes an input port  155   a  and an output port  155   b  for communicating with the component C  153  in the application Y  150 . Meanwhile, the component C  153  includes an external input port  153   c  and an external output port  153   d  for communicating with the component B  145  in another application, that is, the application X  140 . 
         [0054]    At this time, in the application Y  150 , the assembly controller Y  151  sets ‘connection  3 ’  157  between the output port  153   a  of the component C  153  and the input port  155   a  of the component D  155  based on the profile information of the application Y  150 . In addition, the assembly controller Y  151  sets ‘connection  4 ’  158  between the output port  155   b  of the component D  155  and the input port  153   b  of the component C  153 . At this time, each component, that is, the component C  153  and the component D  155  maintain the setting information of ‘the connection  3 ’  157  and ‘the connection  4 ’  158 . Therefore, the component C  153  can transmit signals to the component D  155  through ‘the connection  3 ’  157  and the component D  155  can transmit signals to the component C  153  through ‘the connection  4 ’  158 . 
         [0055]    Meanwhile, the application Z  130  is configured to include the application Z factory  100  of the SCA core framework and the application Z factory  100  configures and drives the application Z  130  based on the profile information of the application Z  130  defined in the domain profile  110 . At this time, the profile information of the application Z  130  includes the configuration information and connection information of the application Z  130 . In addition the profile information of the application Z  130  includes the profile information of the application X  140  and the application Y  150 . 
         [0056]    Therefore, the application Z factory  100  transmits the profile information of the application X  140  obtained by parsing the profile information of the application Z  130  to the application X factory  103  and transmits the profile information of the application Y  150  to the application Y factory  105 . 
         [0057]    The application Z  130  includes the assembly controller Z  131 . At this time, the application Z  130  includes the application X  140  and the application Y  150 . 
         [0058]    The assembly controller Z  131  controls the driving of the application X  140  and the application Y  150  that are included in the application Z  130 . In addition, the assembly controller Z  131  sets the connection between the application X  140  and the application Y  150 . In other words, the assembly controller Z  131  sets the connection between the external input port  145   d  and the external output port  145   c  of the component B  145  in the application X  140  and the external input port  153   c  and the external output port  153   d  of the component C  153  in the application Y  150  according to the configuration information of the application Z  130 . 
         [0059]    At this time, the assembly controller Z  131  sets ‘connection  5 ’  137  between the external output port  145   c  included in the component B  145  of the application X  140  and the external input port  153   c  of the component C  153  included in the application Y  150 . Further, the assembly controller Z  131  sets ‘connection  6 ’  138  between the external output port  153   d  included in the component C  153  of the application Y  150  and the external input port  145   d  of the component B  145  included in the application X  140 . 
         [0060]    Therefore, when transmitting signals from the application X  140  to the application Y  150 , the application X  140  transmits the signals to the external output port  145   c  of the component B  145 , such that the signals transmitted from the component B  145  are input from the application Y  150  to the external input port  153   c  of the component C  153 . Meanwhile, when transmitting signals from the application Y  150  to the application X  140 , the application Y  150  transmits the signals to the external output port  153   d  of the component C  153 , such that the signals transmitted from the component C  153  are input from the application X  140  to the external input port  145   d  of the component B  145 . 
         [0061]    The communication between the application X  140  and the application Y  150 , which are different applications, can be achieved. 
         [0062]      FIG. 4  shows the profile structure of the combined application package defined in the SCA based domain profile according to the present invention and shows in detail the profile structure of the application Z. 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the profile of the application z  130  is defined in the domain profile  110  in the xml file format. Herein, the case where the profile of the application Z  130  is Z.ASAD.xml  111  will be described as an example. Herein, ASAD is an abbreviated word for Aggregate Software Assembly Descriptor (SAD) and the Software Assembly Descriptor (SAD) file includes information on components configuring application. 
         [0064]    The Z.ASAD.xml  111  includes AC-Z.SPD.xml and AC-Z.SCD.xml that includes assembly controller information (AC-Z) on the application Z  130 . Herein, the Software Package Descriptor (SPD) file includes information for identifying the implementation object of the unit software component. Further, the Software Component Descriptor (SCD) file includes information on an interface that is provided and used by the component. For example, the AC-Z.SCD.xml includes the interface information of the component B and the component C in  FIG. 3 . At this time, the Z.ASAD.xml  111  includes the connection information of the component B  145  and the component C  153 , that is, the connection information and the port information, etc. on ‘the connection  5 ’  137  and ‘the connection  6 ’  138  in the application Z  130 . 
         [0065]    Meanwhile, the Z.ASAD.xml further includes an X.SAD.xml  113  that is the profile of the application X  140  and a Y.SAD.xml  115  that is a profile of the application Y  150 . 
         [0066]    The X.SAD.xml  113  that is the profile of the application X  140  includes AC-X.SPD.xml and AC-X.SCD.xml that are information on the assembly controller X  141  of the application X  140 . Further, the X.SAD.xml  113  includes the component information that is included in the application X  140 . Describing the case of  FIG. 3  as an example, the X.SAD.xml  113  includes the A.SPD.xml and A.SCD.xml that is the information of the component A  143  and includes B.SPD.xml and B.SCD.xml that are the information of the component B  145 . 
         [0067]    Meanwhile, the Y.SAD.xml  115  that is the profile of the application Y  150  includes AC-Y.SPD.xml and AC-Y.SCD.xml that are information on the assembly controller Y  151  of the application Y  150 . Further, the Y.SAD.xml  115  includes the component information that is included in the application Y  150 . Describing the case of  FIG. 3  as an example, the Y.SAD.xml  115  includes the C.SPD.xml and C.SCD.xml that is the information of the component C  153  and includes D.SPD.xml and D.SCD.xml that are the information of the component D  155 . 
         [0068]    Therefore, if Z.ASAD.xml  111  that is the profile of the application Z  130  defined in the domain profile  110  is parsed by the application Z factory  100 , the configuration information of the application Z  130  as well as the profile information of the application X  140  and the application Y  150  are also obtained. 
         [0069]    The operational flow of the present invention configured as above will be described. 
         [0070]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing the operational flow of the combined application package according to the present invention. 
         [0071]    Referring first to  FIG. 5 , if the driving request of the application Z  130  is input from the outside (S 500 ), the application Z factory  100  is driven (S 510 ). At this time, the application Z factory  100  parses the profile of the application Z  130  defined in the domain profile  110  (S 520 ) and the profiles of the application X  140  and application Y  150  are obtained from the profile of the parsed application Z  130 . Further, the application Z factory  100  obtains the configuration information of the application Z  130  from the profile of the parsed application Z  130 , that is, obtains the information of the assembly controller Z  131  and the connection information of the application Z  130  (S 530 ). 
         [0072]    The application Z factory  100  configures the application Z  130  based on the configuration information of the obtained application Z  130 . Meanwhile, the application Z factory  100  transmits the profile of the obtained application X  140  to the application X factory  103  and transmits the profile of the application Y  150  to the application Y factory  105 , respectively (S 540 ). 
         [0073]    Thereafter, the application X factory  103  and the application B factory receiving the profile from the application Z factory  100  are each subjected to processes of  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b.    
         [0074]    First, as shown in  FIG. 6   a , the application X factory  103  is driven by the application Z factory  100  (S 600   a ). At this time, the application X factory  103  parses the profile transmitted from the application Z factory  100  (S 610   a ) and obtains the configuration information of the application X  140  from the profile of the parsed application X  140  (S 620   a ). Herein, the configuration information of the application X  140  includes the information of the assembly controller X  141  and the internal connection information of the application X  140 . 
         [0075]    Therefore, the application X factory  103  configures the application X  140  according to the configuration information of the obtained application X  140  (S 630   a ). At this time, the application X  140  sets the connection between components in the application X  140  according to the configuration information (S 640   a ). 
         [0076]    Therefore, the components inside the application X  140  exchanges predetermined information according to the connection setting at this time, the connection of each component is set in one way and the information exchange can be performed only between the connection set components. 
         [0077]    As shown in  FIG. 6   b , the application Y factory  105  is driven by the application Z factory  100  (S 600   b ). At this time, the application Y factory  105  parses the profile transmitted from the application Z factory  100  (S 610   b ) and obtains the configuration information of the application Y  150  from the profile of the parsed application Y  140  (S 620   b ). Herein, the configuration information of the application Y  150  includes the information of the assembly controller Y  151  and the internal connection information of the application Y  150 . 
         [0078]    Therefore, the application Y factory  105  configures the application Y  150  according to the configuration information of the obtained application Y  150  (S 630   b ). At this time, the application Y  150  sets the connection between components in the application Y  150  according to the configuration information (S 640   b ). 
         [0079]    Therefore, the components inside the application Y  150  exchanges predetermined information according to the connection setting. At this time, the connection of each component is set in one way and the information exchange can be performed only between the connection set components. 
         [0080]    After performing the process of  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b , the application Z  130  performs processes subsequent to ‘B’ of  FIG. 7 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , if both the application X  140  and the application Y  150  are configured, the application Z  130  sets the connection between the application X  140  and the application Y  150  according to the connection information of the application Z  130 . In other words, the application Z  130  sets the connection between the components in the application X  140  and the components in the application Y  150 . 
         [0081]    Therefore, the application X  140  and the application Y  150  exchange the predetermined information according to the connection set of the application Z  130 . Likewise, the connection of each component is set in one way and the information exchange can be performed only between the connection set components. 
         [0082]    As described above, the communication apparatus of application for serving communication of a relay node and the method thereof according to the present invention is not limited to the configuration and method of the embodiments described as above, but the embodiments may be configured by selectively combining all the embodiments or some of the embodiments so that various modifications can be made.