Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.

Technology using a network in the cloud is known. For example, Patent Literature (PTL) <NUM> discloses a cloud system that connects a plurality of cloud locations by interconnecting the locations via a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Such a cloud system can help to avoid the depletion of Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN)-IDs.

In conventional process control systems using physical equipment, control communication is performed using physical communication cables. Such a process control system could be operated on a network in the cloud.

<CIT> discloses a method implemented by an electronic device to enable discovery in a virtual execution environment that does not support multicast, where the method includes receiving a real-time publish-subscribe (RTPS) protocol packet, determining a current participant list from the participant list updater, and sending a copy of a payload of the RTPS protocol packet to a participant in the current participant list, in response to determining the participant did not originate the RTPS protocol packet.

<CIT> relates to an apparatus and method for defining content distribution paths in a content distribution network integrate unicast and multicast connections. Content engines in the content distributed network are organized into channels with a master content engine maintaining specific content. The content distribution network is further organized into a distribution hierarchy based on network topology and channel definitions, first by establishing unicast paths through the content distributed network and then by integrating multicast paths into the unicast hierarchy. The further organization of the content distribution network establishes distribution trees from the channel masters to the network edges.

<CIT> discloses a method including receiving from a host node comprising a tenant multicast application with a single tenant deployment, an encapsulated multicast packet over unicast at a virtual replicator, the encapsulated multicast packet comprising receiver information for the virtual replicator, replicating the encapsulated multicast packet at the virtual replicator, and transmitting the encapsulated multicast packet over unicast to a plurality of receiving nodes based on the receiver information. The receiving nodes comprise the tenant multicast application and the virtual replicator operates in a cloud without multicast capability.

"<NPL>), discloses that, traditionally, cloud gateways were built with proprietary routers. From years of experience operating cloud network, it was found that commodity router based cloud gateways are hard to scale, lack of extensibility and are difficult to inter-operate with the SDN-based cloud networks. To this end, a Disaggregated Software-defined Router (DSR) has been built to serve cloud access traffic. Cloud router functionalities are split into several disjoint modules: <NUM>) an access module built out of off-the-shelf commodity switches; <NUM>) a software-based fast and scalable forwarding module; <NUM>) a robust and scalable routing module built with commodity servers; <NUM>) an SDN control module for traffic management and devices configuration. All the components can be independently scaled and maintained. DSR can deliver new network features at high velocity and has sustained the rapid growth of the cloud access traffic. In this paper, the design, implementation and operational experiences of DSR are presented.

Networks in the cloud generally do not support one-to-many communication methods, including multicast and broadcast. Such communication methods are, however, used for control communication. Therefore, it has been difficult to use control communication protocols with networks in the cloud.

It would be helpful to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program that can achieve control communication on a network in the cloud.

The object is achieved by the subject-matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are defined by the dependent claims. Examples are provided to facilitate the understanding of the present disclosure. An information processing apparatus according to examples includes a control communication unit configured to transmit and receive control communication information according to a control communication protocol, and an adaptor configured to generate first control communication information of a first communication method for one-to-many communication from among the control communication information required for control communication based on the control communication protocol, the adaptor generating the first control communication information with use of information acquired along a path different from a communication path of the control communication on a network in a cloud, and to output the first control communication information to the control communication unit.

This enables control communication on a network in the cloud. The information processing apparatus generates the first control communication information of the first communication method using information acquired along a path different from the communication path of the control communication in the network on the cloud. Therefore, the information processing apparatus can achieve the functions necessary for control communication without having the first control communication information of the first communication method, which includes multicast, broadcast, and the like that are not supported by the network in the cloud, go through the communication path of control communication on the network. The information processing apparatus enables communication by the control communication protocol even on a network in the cloud in which multicast and broadcast cannot be used.

In an example, the information processing apparatus may include a virtualization interface, and the control communication unit and the adaptor may function on a virtual machine constructed by the virtualization interface. This enables the information processing apparatus to achieve control communication on the virtual machine constructed by the virtualization interface. The information processing apparatus can also construct and activate a plurality of virtual machines on a single physical server.

In an example, the adaptor may be configured to generate the first control communication information with use of the information aggregated in the virtualization interface. In this way, the information processing apparatus can output the first control communication information to the control communication unit based on information acquired via the virtualization interface from the outside, such as a network environment manager. In other words, the information processing apparatus can achieve the functions necessary for control communication using a path different from the communication path of control communication on the network in the cloud.

In an example, the adaptor may be configured to refrain from transmitting the first control communication information of the first communication method acquired from the control communication unit to the outside. This enables the information processing apparatus to reduce the communication volume on the network in the cloud.

In an example, for second control communication information of the first communication method, the adaptor may be configured to convert a communication method between a second communication method for one-to-one communication and the first communication method. This enables the information processing apparatus to transmit and receive the second control communication information via the second communication method on a network in the cloud in which the first communication method is not supported.

In an example, the adaptor may be configured to transmit and receive the second control communication information between the control communication unit and the outside along the communication path or the path. This enables the information processing apparatus to exchange the second control communication information with an external node.

In an example, the adaptor may be configured to transmit and receive, along the communication path, third control communication information of a second communication method for one-to-one communication. This enables the information processing apparatus to achieve normal control communication according to the control communication protocol.

In an example, the information processing apparatus may further include a network setting manager, and the adaptor may be configured to generate network setting information based on the acquired first control communication information and set the network setting information in the network setting manager. This enables the information processing apparatus to manage routing information from the first control communication information generated in the adaptor.

An information processing method according to several examples is an information processing method to be executed by an information processing apparatus, the information processing method including generating first control communication information of a first communication method for one-to-many communication from among control communication information required for control communication based on a control communication protocol, the first control communication information being generated with use of information acquired along a path different from a communication path of the control communication on a network in a cloud; and transmitting and receiving the control communication information according to the control communication protocol.

A program according to several examples is configured to cause an information processing apparatus to execute operations including: generating first control communication information of a first communication method for one-to-many communication from among control communication information required for control communication based on a control communication protocol, the first control communication information being generated with use of information acquired along a path different from a communication path of the control communication on a network in a cloud; and transmitting and receiving the control communication information according to the control communication protocol.

According to the present disclosure, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program that can achieve control communication on a network in the cloud can be provided.

The background and problems with conventional technology are described in greater detail.

In conventional process control systems using physical equipment, control communication is performed using physical communication cables. For example, when a process control system is operated in a virtual environment in the cloud, the processing of each control device is realized on a virtual machine (VM), and communication between VMs is performed by connecting each VM to a virtual control network.

In control communication, multicast is used for the purpose of transmitting data simultaneously to a plurality of devices by one-to-specified number communication on the network. Similarly, in control communication, broadcast is used for the purpose of transmitting data simultaneously to a plurality of devices by one-to-unspecified number communication on the network, without limiting the communication destination.

Examples of control communication information using multicast include time synchronization information, diagnostic information, and alarm information.

Time synchronization information is transmitted by the node that is the master of time synchronization to all nodes belonging to a defined time group. Each node receives the same time information at approximately the same timing. Therefore, by taking into account routing delays on the network, the nodes on the network are set to the same time. There may be multiple master and time group pairs.

The diagnostic information corresponds to dead/alive monitoring information for a node. The diagnostic information is transmitted by each node at regular intervals to a defined range of nodes, including, for example, all nodes in the same subnet and specific nodes in another subnet. By receiving the diagnostic information, each node identifies that the source node of transmission is connected to the network and operating, and that the source node is aware of whether each node itself is operating.

The alarm information is transmitted to all nodes to notify other nodes of an anomaly that has occurred on a node.

An example of control communication information using broadcast is routing information. Routing information is used by each node to communicate with another Internet Protocol (IP) network segment and is delivered by an L3 switch.

However, networks in the cloud generally do not support multicast and broadcast. Therefore, it has been difficult to use control communication protocols with networks in the cloud.

To resolve such a problem, it would be helpful to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program that can achieve control communication on a network in the cloud. Embodiments of the present disclosure are mainly described below with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of a control communication system <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> focuses mainly on the configuration of a first information processing apparatus <NUM>, described below, and illustrates the configuration of the first information processing apparatus <NUM> in detail.

The control communication system <NUM> includes the first information processing apparatus <NUM>, a second information processing apparatus <NUM>, a network environment manager <NUM>, and a physical control network <NUM>. The first information processing apparatus <NUM>, the second information processing apparatus <NUM>, the network environment manager <NUM>, and the physical control network <NUM> are communicably connected to each other via a network NW1.

The first information processing apparatus <NUM> is one physical server or a plurality of physical servers that can communicate with each other. In <FIG>, the first information processing apparatus <NUM> is illustrated as one physical server as an example for the sake of explanation. The first information processing apparatus <NUM> is not limited to these examples and may be any general purpose electronic device, such as a PC or smartphone, or another electronic device dedicated to the control communication system <NUM>.

The second information processing apparatus <NUM> is one physical server or a plurality of physical servers that can communicate with each other. In <FIG>, the second information processing apparatus <NUM> is illustrated as one physical server as an example for the sake of explanation. The second information processing apparatus <NUM> is not limited to these examples and may be any general purpose electronic device, such as a PC or smartphone, or another electronic device dedicated to the control communication system <NUM>.

The network environment manager <NUM> manages the network environment of the entire network NW1. The network environment manager <NUM> includes a monitoring functional unit <NUM>, a time master functional unit <NUM>, and a routing information distributor <NUM>.

The monitoring functional unit <NUM> includes, for example, a Network Management System (NMS). The monitoring functional unit <NUM> monitors the network NW1 and provides functions such as dead/alive monitoring, traffic obstacle and error detection, security maintenance, performance management, and report generation for each apparatus communicably connected to the network NW1.

The time master functional unit <NUM> includes, for example, an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server. The time master functional unit <NUM> provides the function of acquiring and distributing correct time information.

The routing information distributor <NUM> includes, for example, a server that processes routing information. The routing information distributor <NUM> provides a function to manage routing information for the entire network NW1.

The physical control network <NUM> includes a physical network switch <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, and a control monitoring apparatus <NUM> as a human machine interface (HMI). The controller <NUM> and the control monitoring apparatus <NUM> are communicably connected to the network NW1 via the physical network switch <NUM>. The physical control network <NUM> is communicably connected to the first information processing apparatus <NUM>, the second information processing apparatus <NUM>, and the network environment manager <NUM> on the network NW1 via the physical network switch <NUM>. The physical network switch <NUM> connects the second information processing apparatus <NUM> along with the network in the cloud, described below, and the physical control network <NUM>.

The configuration and functions of the first information processing apparatus <NUM> are mainly described below with reference to <FIG>.

The first information processing apparatus <NUM> includes a physical Network Interface Card (NIC) <NUM> as hardware. The first information processing apparatus <NUM> is communicably connected to the network NW1 via the physical NIC <NUM>.

The first information processing apparatus <NUM> includes a virtualization interface <NUM>. The virtualization interface <NUM> provides functions as a hypervisor. The virtualization interface <NUM> constructs a virtual environment in the first information processing apparatus <NUM>. The virtualization interface <NUM> constructs at least one VM in the first information processing apparatus <NUM>. As an example in <FIG>, the virtualization interface <NUM> constructs two VMs, a first VM <NUM> and a second VM <NUM>, in the first information processing apparatus <NUM>.

The first VM <NUM> and the second VM <NUM> are connected to each other on a virtual control network NW2 through the virtual L2 switch <NUM> on the virtualization interface <NUM>. The first VM <NUM> and the second VM <NUM> are under the network environment in the cloud.

The first VM <NUM> is communicably connected to the virtual control network NW1 via a first virtual NIC <NUM>. The first VM <NUM> includes a first adaptor <NUM>, a first control communication unit <NUM>, and a first application <NUM>. The first adaptor <NUM>, the first control communication unit <NUM>, and the first application <NUM> function on the first VM <NUM> as a virtual machine constructed by the virtualization interface <NUM> of the first information processing apparatus <NUM>.

The information transmitted on the virtual control network NW2 is received by the first control communication unit <NUM> through the first virtual NIC <NUM> and the first adaptor <NUM>, in that order. The information outputted from the first control communication unit <NUM> is transmitted to the virtual control network NW2 via the first adaptor <NUM> and the first virtual NIC <NUM>, in that order. The first control communication unit <NUM> is functionally connected to the first application <NUM>.

The second VM <NUM> is communicably connected to the virtual control network NW2 via a second virtual NIC <NUM>. The second VM <NUM> includes a second adaptor <NUM>, a second control communication unit <NUM>, and a second application <NUM>. The second adaptor <NUM>, the second control communication unit <NUM>, and the second application <NUM> function on the second VM <NUM> as a virtual machine constructed by the virtualization interface <NUM> of the first information processing apparatus <NUM>.

The information transmitted on the virtual control network NW2 is received by the second control communication unit <NUM> through the second virtual NIC <NUM> and the second adaptor <NUM>, in that order. The information outputted from the second control communication unit <NUM> is transmitted to the virtual control network NW2 via the second adaptor <NUM> and the second virtual NIC <NUM>, in that order. The second control communication unit <NUM> is functionally connected to the second application <NUM>.

In the following, the first control communication unit <NUM> and the second control communication unit <NUM> are collectively described as the "control communication unit". The first adaptor <NUM> and the second adaptor <NUM> are collectively described as the "adaptor". In <FIG>, the functions of the control communication unit and adaptor are illustrated with primary focus on the second control communication unit <NUM> and the second adaptor <NUM>, but the functions of the control communication unit and adaptor in the following description apply to both the first VM <NUM> and the second VM <NUM>.

The control communication unit transmits and receives control communication information to and from external devices via the adaptor in accordance with the control communication protocol. In this specification, the "control communication information" includes, for example, the time synchronization information, diagnostic information, and alarm information each described above.

The adaptor generates the first control communication information from among the control communication information required for control communication based on the control communication protocol, the adaptor generating the first control communication information with use of information acquired along a path different from the communication path of the control communication on a network in the cloud that includes the first VM <NUM> and the second VM <NUM>. The first control communication information is information of the first communication method for one-to-many communication, which is not supported by the network in the cloud that includes the first VM <NUM> and the second VM <NUM>. The adaptor outputs the generated first control communication information to the control communication unit.

In this specification, the "first control communication information" includes, for example, time synchronization information and diagnostic information. The "first communication method" includes, for example, multicast and broadcast.

The adaptor generates the first control communication information using information aggregated in the virtualization interface <NUM> of the first information processing apparatus <NUM>.

For example, the external time master functional unit <NUM> is used for time synchronization information. An external time synchronization function such as the time master functional unit <NUM> is used to set the time of the virtualization interface <NUM>. The virtualization interface <NUM> can set the time of each of the first VM <NUM> and the second VM <NUM>. The adaptor acquires the time information from the virtualization interface <NUM>, converts the time information into time synchronization information for control communication, and outputs the result to the control communication unit. In this way, the adaptor generates multicast time synchronization information using the time information acquired from the virtualization interface <NUM> not along the communication path of control communication on the network in the cloud via the physical NIC <NUM> and the virtual L2 switch <NUM>, but rather along a path different from that communication path.

For example, for the diagnostic information, an external dead/alive monitoring function, such as the monitoring functional unit <NUM>, is used. The external monitoring functional unit <NUM> performs dead/alive monitoring of all nodes. The virtualization interface <NUM> of each first information processing apparatus <NUM> acquires the dead/alive information from the external monitoring functional unit <NUM>. The adaptor acquires the dead/alive information from the virtualization interface <NUM>, converts the dead/alive information into diagnostic information as dead/alive monitoring information from each node in control communication, and outputs the result to the control communication unit. In this way, the adaptor generates multicast diagnostic information using the dead/alive information acquired from the virtualization interface <NUM> not along the communication path of control communication on the network in the cloud via the physical NIC <NUM> and the virtual L2 switch <NUM>, but rather along a path different from that communication path.

The adaptor does not transmit the first control communication information of the first communication method acquired from the control communication unit to the outside. Since the first communication method is not supported on the communication path of control communication on the network in the cloud via the physical NIC <NUM> and the virtual L2 switch <NUM>, the adaptor pretends to have transmitted the first control communication information along the communication path without actually transmitting this information to the outside. In other words, the adaptor does not perform a process that returns an error to the control communication unit even if the first control communication information is not transmitted to the outside. Alternatively, the adaptor may output false information to the control communication unit indicating that the first control communication information was transmitted.

For example, the adaptor pretends to transmit time synchronization information for control communication without actually transmitting the information. Since the time acquired externally from the time master functional unit <NUM>, for example, is sufficiently reliable, the adaptor mainly performs a process to use the external time master functional unit <NUM>, via the virtualization interface <NUM>, to generate multicast time synchronization information and output this information to the control communication unit.

For example, the adaptor pretends to transmit diagnostic information for control communication without actually transmitting the information. Since the dead/alive information acquired externally from the monitoring functional unit <NUM>, for example, is sufficiently reliable, the adaptor mainly performs a process to use the external monitoring functional unit <NUM>, via the virtualization interface <NUM>, to generate multicast diagnostic information and output this information to the control communication unit.

For second control communication information of the first communication method, the adaptor converts the communication method between a second communication method for one-to-one communication and the first communication method. The adaptor transmits and receives the second control communication information between the control communication unit and the outside along the communication path of control communication on the network in the cloud via the physical NIC <NUM> and the virtual L2 switch <NUM>. In this specification, the "second control communication information" includes, for example, alarm information. The "second communication method" includes, for example, unicast.

For example, the adaptor converts the protocol of multicast alarm information, acquired from the control communication unit, to unicast. The adaptor adds information indicating broadcast communication to the multicast communication frame corresponding to the alarm information acquired from the control communication unit, encapsulates the data into unicast for all nodes, and transmits the result. The adaptor may communicate using a VPN capable of performing such conversion.

For example, the adaptor converts the protocol of unicast alarm information, received from the outside along the communication path of control communication on the network in the cloud, to multicast. The adaptor outputs the converted multicast alarm information to the control communication unit as alarm information in the control communication.

The adaptor transmits and receives third control communication information of the second communication method, for one-to-one communication, between the control communication unit and the outside along the communication path of control communication on the network in the cloud. In this specification, the "third control communication information" includes any other control communication information based on unicast, excluding various information based on multicast or broadcast, for example. The adaptor performs data acquisition from devices, for example, as usual based on unicast control communication. Based on unicast communication supported by the network in the cloud, the adaptor can transmit and receive the third control communication information without restriction.

The first VM <NUM> further includes a first network setting manager <NUM>. The second VM <NUM> further includes a second network setting manager <NUM>. In the following, the first network setting manager <NUM> and the second network setting manager <NUM> are collectively referred to as the "network setting manager".

The adaptor generates network setting information based on the acquired first control communication information and sets the network setting information in the network setting manager. In this specification, the "network setting information" includes, for example, routing information delivered by multicast or broadcast according to a routing protocol. The network setting manager includes routing table information that is updated after receipt of the delivered routing information.

The adaptor uses routing table settings for routing information without using protocols. The routing information is acquired by use of the settings for the routing table on the network setting manager, without use of distribution information for a routing protocol that uses multicast or broadcast.

In the cloud, data is typically routed properly when communicating by the default gateway, even if IP network segments are separated. Therefore, in such cases, it is possible to simply set the default gateway in the routing table on the VM. In a case in which the default gateway alone does not suffice, the adaptor generates diagnostic information and generates routing information based on the diagnostic information. The adaptor sets the generated routing information in the routing table.

With reference to <FIG>, the flow of processing executed by the adaptor of the first information processing apparatus <NUM> in <FIG> is now mainly described. <FIG> is a flowchart for explaining a first example of the first information processing method executed by the first information processing apparatus <NUM> in <FIG>.

In step S101, the adaptor of the first information processing apparatus <NUM> acquires information via the virtualization interface <NUM> along a path different from the communication path of control communication on the network in the cloud.

In step S102, using the information acquired in step S101, the adaptor generates the first control communication information of the first communication method for one-to-many communication from among the control communication information required for control communication based on the control communication protocol.

In step S103, the adaptor outputs the first control communication information generated in step S102 to the control communication unit that transmits and receives control communication information according to the control communication protocol.

<FIG> is a flowchart for explaining a second example of the first information processing method executed by the first information processing apparatus <NUM> in <FIG>.

In step S201, the adaptor of the first information processing apparatus <NUM> acquires the second control communication information. For example, the adaptor acquires the multicast alarm information from the control communication unit. For example, the adaptor receives the unicast alarm information from the outside along the communication path of control communication on the network in the cloud.

In step S202, for the second control communication information acquired in step S201, the adaptor converts the communication method between the first communication method and the second communication method. For example, the adaptor converts multicast alarm information, acquired from the control communication unit, to unicast. For example, the adaptor converts unicast alarm information, received from the outside, to multicast.

In step S203, the adaptor outputs the second control communication information for which the communication method was converted in step S202. For example, the adaptor transmits alarm information converted to unicast to the outside along the communication path of control communication on the network in the cloud. For example, the adaptor outputs alarm information converted to multicast to the control communication unit.

<FIG> is a flowchart for explaining a third example of the first information processing method executed by the first information processing apparatus <NUM> in <FIG>.

In step S301, the adaptor of the first information processing apparatus <NUM> acquires the third control communication information. For example, the adaptor acquires the unicast third control communication information from the control communication unit. For example, the adaptor receives the unicast third control communication information from the outside along the communication path of control communication on the network in the cloud.

In step S302, the adaptor outputs the third control communication information acquired in step S301. For example, the adaptor transfers the unicast third control communication information as is to the outside along the communication path of control communication on the network in the cloud. For example, the adaptor outputs the unicast third control communication information as is to the control communication unit.

According to the first information processing apparatus <NUM> and the first information processing method executed by the first information processing apparatus <NUM> in the above embodiment, control communication can be achieved on a network in the cloud. The first information processing apparatus <NUM> generates the first control communication information of the first communication method using information acquired along a path different from the communication path of the control communication in the network on the cloud. Therefore, the first information processing apparatus <NUM> can achieve the functions necessary for control communication without having the first control communication information of the first communication method, which includes multicast, broadcast, and the like that are not supported by the network in the cloud, go through the communication path of control communication on the network. The first information processing apparatus <NUM> enables communication by the control communication protocol even on a network in the cloud in which multicast and broadcast cannot be used.

The first information processing apparatus <NUM> can achieve control communication on the network in the cloud without modification to the first application <NUM> and the second application <NUM> operating on the network in the cloud or to the control communication unit. The first information processing apparatus <NUM> can distribute the load for control communication and achieve improved functionality together with the evolution of Information Technology (IT) by substituting some of the functions of the control communication protocol with the functions of IT, including the virtualization interface <NUM> and the adaptor.

By including the virtualization interface <NUM>, the first information processing apparatus <NUM> can achieve control communication on a virtual machine constructed by the virtualization interface <NUM>. The first information processing apparatus <NUM> can also construct and activate a plurality of virtual machines on a single physical server.

By generating the first control communication information using the information aggregated in the virtualization interface <NUM>, the first information processing apparatus <NUM> can output the first control communication information to the control communication unit based on information acquired from the outside, such as the network environment manager <NUM>, via the virtualization interface <NUM>. In other words, the first information processing apparatus <NUM> can achieve the functions necessary for control communication using a path different from the communication path of control communication on the network in the cloud.

By not transmitting the first control communication information of the first communication method received from the control communication unit to the outside, the first information processing apparatus <NUM> can reduce the communication volume on the network in the cloud.

By converting the communication method between the second communication method and the first communication method for the second control communication information of the first communication method, the first information processing apparatus <NUM> can transmit and receive the second control communication information via the second communication method on a network in the cloud in which the first communication method is not supported.

By transmitting and receiving second control communication information between the control communication unit and the outside along the communication path of control communication on the network in the cloud, the first information processing apparatus <NUM> can exchange the second control communication information with an external node.

By transmitting and receiving the third control communication information of the second communication method along the communication path of the control communication in the network on the cloud, the first information processing apparatus <NUM> can achieve normal control communication according to the control communication protocol.

By generating network setting information based on the acquired first control communication information and setting the network setting information in the network setting manager, the first information processing apparatus <NUM> can manage routing information from the first control communication information generated in the adaptor.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a variation of the control communication system <NUM> of <FIG>. <FIG> illustrates only a portion of the control communication system <NUM> of <FIG>, including the first information processing apparatus <NUM> and the network environment manager <NUM>.

In the above embodiment, the adaptor of the first information processing apparatus <NUM> has been described as transmitting and receiving the second control communication information between the control communication unit and the outside along the communication path of control communication on the network in the cloud via the physical NIC <NUM> and the virtual L2 switch <NUM>, but this configuration is not limiting. The adaptor may transmit and receive the second control communication information between the control communication unit and the outside along a path different from the communication path of the control communication on the network in the cloud.

For example, the network environment manager <NUM> may further include an alarm server <NUM>. The adaptor may be communicably connected directly to the alarm server <NUM>. The adaptor may transmit multicast alarm information acquired from the control communication unit to the alarm server <NUM> after conversion to a communication method according to the communication protocol for communication with the alarm server <NUM>. The adaptor may output alarm information, received from the alarm server <NUM> according to the communication protocol for communication with the alarm server <NUM>, to the control communication unit after conversion to multicast.

In the above embodiment, the control communication unit and the adaptor have been described as functioning on a virtual machine constructed by the virtualization interface <NUM>, but this configuration is not limiting. The first information processing apparatus <NUM> need not include the virtualization interface <NUM>. The control communication unit and the adaptor may function on the first information processing apparatus <NUM> as a physical server.

In the above embodiment, the adaptor has been described as generating the first control communication information using the information aggregated in the virtualization interface <NUM>, but this configuration is not limiting. The adaptor may be communicably connected directly to the monitoring functional unit <NUM> and/or the time master functional unit <NUM>. The adaptor may directly acquire the dead/alive information and/or the time information through external functions including the monitoring functional unit <NUM> and the time master functional unit <NUM>.

In the above embodiment, the adaptor has been described as generating network setting information based on the acquired first control communication information and setting the network setting information in the network setting manager, but this configuration is not limiting. The first information processing apparatus <NUM> need not include the network setting manager.

In the above embodiment, an external time synchronization function such as the time master functional unit <NUM> has been described as being used to set the time of the virtualization interface <NUM>, but this configuration is not limiting. An external time synchronization function such as the time master functional unit <NUM> may be used to set the time of the first information processing apparatus <NUM> as a physical sever used by the virtualization interface <NUM>.

In the above embodiment, the adaptor has been described as acquiring the time information from the virtualization interface <NUM>, but this configuration is not limiting. The adaptor may acquire the time information from the first VM <NUM> and/or the second VM <NUM>.

In the above embodiment, the external monitoring functional unit <NUM> has been described as performing the dead/alive monitoring of all nodes, but this configuration is not limiting. The virtualization interface <NUM> of each physical server as the first information processing apparatus <NUM> may perform the dead/alive monitoring of all nodes.

The configuration and functions of the second information processing apparatus <NUM> are mainly described below with reference to <FIG> is a block diagram corresponding to <FIG>, which illustrates an example configuration of the control communication system <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the configuration of the second information processing apparatus <NUM> in more detail, focusing mainly on the configuration of the second information processing apparatus <NUM> while illustrating a more simplified form of the first information processing apparatus <NUM>, including the first VM <NUM> and the second VM <NUM>, in the cloud network environment of <FIG>.

Consider the case in which the physical control network <NUM>, which is the physical network, is connected to the cloud network environment including the first VM13 and the second VM <NUM>. The control communication system <NUM> needs to transmit information to the physical control network <NUM> after restoring the multicast or broadcast communication method that was originally supposed to be used for transmission and reception as control communication on the cloud network environment side. Therefore, the control communication system <NUM> includes the second information processing apparatus <NUM>. The second information processing apparatus <NUM> similarly performs the processes performed by the adaptor of the first information processing apparatus <NUM>, such as generating the first control communication information from other information, and transmits the generated information to the physical control network <NUM> according to the control communication protocol.

The network in the cloud, including the first VM <NUM> and the second VM <NUM>, and the second information processing apparatus <NUM> are communicably connected to each other by the virtual control network NW2. The second information processing apparatus <NUM> is communicably connected to the network in the cloud and the physical control network <NUM>.

The second information processing apparatus <NUM> has an NIC <NUM> that includes a physical NIC as hardware. The second information processing apparatus <NUM> is communicably connected to the network NW1 via the NIC <NUM>. The second information processing apparatus <NUM> is communicably connected to the virtual control network NW2 via the NIC <NUM>. The second information processing apparatus <NUM> is communicably connected to the first VM <NUM> and the second VM <NUM> in the cloud network environment via the NIC <NUM> and the virtual control network NW2.

The second information processing apparatus <NUM> includes an adaptor <NUM>. The adaptor <NUM> functions on the second information processing apparatus <NUM>. Information transmitted from the physical control network <NUM> via the physical network switch <NUM> on the network NW1 is received by the adaptor <NUM> via the NIC <NUM>. Information outputted from the adaptor <NUM> is transmitted to the virtual control network NW2 via the NIC <NUM>. Information transmitted from the network in the cloud on the virtual control network NW2 is received by the adaptor <NUM> via the NIC <NUM>. Information outputted from the adaptor <NUM> is transmitted to the physical control network <NUM> via the NIC <NUM> and the network NW1.

The adaptor <NUM> generates the first control communication information from among the control communication information required for control communication based on the control communication protocol, the adaptor <NUM> generating the first control communication information with use of information, from the network in the cloud, acquired along a path different from the communication path of the control communication. The first control communication information is information of the first communication method for one-to-many communication, which is not supported by the network in the cloud that includes the first VM <NUM> and the second VM <NUM>. The adaptor <NUM> transmits the generated first control communication information to the physical control network <NUM>.

The adaptor <NUM> generates the first control communication information using information aggregated in the network environment manager <NUM>.

For example, for the diagnostic information, the dead/alive monitoring function of the monitoring functional unit <NUM> is used. The monitoring functional unit <NUM> performs dead/alive monitoring of all nodes. The adaptor <NUM> of the second information processing apparatus <NUM> acquires the dead/alive information from the monitoring functional unit <NUM>. The adaptor <NUM> converts the acquired dead/alive information into diagnostic information as dead/alive monitoring information from each node in the control communication and transmits the result to the physical control network <NUM>. In this way, the adaptor <NUM> generates multicast diagnostic information using the dead/alive information acquired from the network environment manager <NUM> not along the communication path of control communication, but rather along a path different from that communication path.

For the second control communication information of the first communication method, the adaptor <NUM> converts the communication method between the second communication method for one-to-one communication and the first communication method. The adaptor <NUM> transmits and receives the second control communication information between the network in the cloud and the physical control network <NUM> along the communication path of the control communication.

For example, the adaptor <NUM> converts the protocol of unicast alarm information, received from the first VM <NUM> and the second VM <NUM> in the cloud via the virtual control network NW2, to multicast. The adaptor <NUM> de-encapsulates the encapsulation performed by the adaptor of the first information processing apparatus <NUM> and transmits the alarm information to the physical control network <NUM> as multicast information.

For example, the adaptor <NUM> converts the protocol of multicast alarm information, received from the physical control network <NUM> via the network NW1, to unicast. The adaptor <NUM> adds information indicating broadcast communication to the multicast communication frame corresponding to the alarm information received from the physical control network <NUM> and encapsulates the data into unicast for all nodes. The adaptor <NUM> transmits the encapsulated unicast alarm information to the first VM <NUM> and the second VM <NUM> via the virtual control network NW2.

With reference to <FIG>, the flow of processing executed by the adaptor <NUM> of the second information processing apparatus <NUM> in <FIG> is now mainly described. <FIG> is a flowchart for explaining a first example of the second information processing method executed by the second information processing apparatus <NUM> in <FIG>.

In step S401, the adaptor <NUM> of the second information processing apparatus <NUM> acquires information from the network in the cloud along a path different from the communication path of the control communication.

In step S402, using the information acquired in step S401, the adaptor <NUM> generates the first control communication information of the first communication method for one-to-many communication from among the control communication information required for control communication based on the control communication protocol.

In step S403, the adaptor <NUM> transmits the first control communication information generated in step S402 to the physical control network <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart for explaining a second example of the second information processing method executed by the second information processing apparatus <NUM> in <FIG>.

In step S501, the adaptor <NUM> of the second information processing apparatus <NUM> acquires the second control communication information. For example, the adaptor <NUM> receives multicast alarm information from the physical control network <NUM> via the network NW1. For example, the adaptor <NUM> receives unicast alarm information from the first VM <NUM> and the second VM <NUM> on the network in the cloud via the virtual control network NW2.

In step S502, for the second control communication information acquired in step S501, the adaptor <NUM> converts the communication method between the first communication method and the second communication method. For example, the adaptor <NUM> converts multicast alarm information, received from the physical control network <NUM>, to unicast. For example, the adaptor <NUM> converts unicast alarm information received from the network in the cloud to multicast.

In step S503, the adaptor <NUM> outputs the second control communication information for which the communication method was converted in step S502. For example, the adaptor <NUM> transmits the alarm information converted to unicast to the first VM <NUM> and the second VM <NUM> on the network in the cloud. For example, the adaptor <NUM> transmits the alarm information converted to multicast to the physical control network <NUM>.

According to the second information processing apparatus <NUM>, the second information processing method executed by the second information processing apparatus <NUM>, and the control communication system <NUM> in the above embodiment, control communication can be achieved on a network in the cloud. The second information processing apparatus <NUM> generates the first control communication information of the first communication method using information from the network in the cloud acquired along a path different from the communication path of the control communication and transmits the first control communication information to the physical control network <NUM>. Therefore, the second information processing apparatus <NUM> can achieve the functions necessary for control communication between the network in the cloud and the physical control network <NUM> without having the first control communication information of the first communication method, which includes multicast, broadcast, and the like that are not supported by the network, go through the communication path of control communication on the network. The second information processing apparatus <NUM> enables communication by the control communication protocol even between the physical control network <NUM> and the network in the cloud, in which multicast and broadcast cannot be used.

By converting the communication method between the second communication method and the first communication method for the second control communication information of the first communication method, the second information processing apparatus <NUM> can transmit and receive the second control communication information via the second communication method between the physical control network <NUM> and the network in the cloud, in which the first communication method is not supported.

The second information processing apparatus <NUM> transmits and receives the second control communication information between the network in the cloud and the physical control network <NUM> along the communication path of control communication on the network in the cloud. This enables the control communication system <NUM> to exchange the second control communication information between the network and the physical control network <NUM> via the second information processing apparatus <NUM>.

By including the physical network switch <NUM> as an apparatus different from the second information processing apparatus <NUM>, the control communication system <NUM> can use an apparatus specialized for switch functions as the physical network switch <NUM>.

By the network in the cloud and the second information processing apparatus <NUM> being connected to each other by the virtual control network NW2, the second information processing apparatus <NUM> can transmit and receive information such as the second control communication information to and from the network in the cloud via the virtual control network NW2.

In the above embodiment, the adaptor <NUM> of the second information processing apparatus <NUM> functions on the second information processing apparatus <NUM> as a physical server, but this configuration is not limiting. The second information processing apparatus <NUM> may include a virtualization interface, like the first information processing apparatus <NUM>. The adaptor <NUM> may function on a virtual machine constructed by such a virtualization interface.

By including such a virtualization interface, the second information processing apparatus <NUM> can provide functions related to control communication on a virtual machine constructed by the virtualization interface. The second information processing apparatus <NUM> can also construct and activate a plurality of virtual machines on a single physical server.

In the above embodiment, the second information processing apparatus <NUM> has been described as being arranged in the control communication system <NUM> as an apparatus different from the physical network switch <NUM>, but this configuration is not limiting. The second information processing apparatus <NUM> may be an apparatus integrally configured with the physical network switch <NUM>. In this case, the second information processing apparatus <NUM> may be a router having the various functions described above for the adaptor <NUM> and the switching function of the physical network switch <NUM>.

In other words, the second information processing apparatus <NUM> may include, in addition to the adaptor <NUM>, a relay that functions as a network switch connecting the network in the cloud and the physical control network <NUM>. The adaptor <NUM> and the relay may function on the second information processing apparatus <NUM> as a physical server or on a virtual machine constructed by the above-described virtualization interface.

This enables the second information processing apparatus <NUM> to provide the various functions of the adaptor <NUM> and switching functions together on a single apparatus. The number of apparatuses configuring the control communication system <NUM> can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the control communication system <NUM> has been described as including the physical network switch <NUM>, but this configuration is not limiting. Instead of the physical network switch <NUM>, the control communication system <NUM> may include a virtual network switch having the same functions as the physical network switch <NUM>.

In the above embodiment, the physical network switch <NUM> has been described as being included in the physical control network <NUM>, but this configuration is not limiting. The physical network switch <NUM> need not be included in the physical control network <NUM>.

It will be clear to a person of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be implemented in certain ways other than the above embodiments without departing from the essential features thereof Accordingly, the above explanation merely provides examples that are in no way limiting. The scope of the present disclosure is to be defined by the appended claims, not by the above explanation. Among all changes, various changes that are within the range of equivalents are considered to be included therein.

For example, the arrangement, orientation, number, and the like of the above-described components are not limited to the above explanation or the drawings. The arrangement, orientation, number, and the like of each component may be selected freely as long as the functions of the component can be achieved.

For example, the functions and the like included in each of the steps in the above-described first information processing method may be rearranged in any logically consistent way. A plurality of steps may be combined into one, and individual steps may be divided.

For example, the functions and the like included in each of the steps in the above-described second information processing method may be rearranged in any logically consistent way. A plurality of steps may be combined into one, and individual steps may be divided.

Claim 1:
An information processing apparatus (<NUM>) under a network environment in a cloud in a control communication system for control communication with physical equipment comprising:
a control communication unit (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to transmit and receive control communication information according to a control communication protocol; and
an adaptor (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to generate first control communication information of a first communication method, including at least either multicast or broadcast, for one-to-many communication from among the control communication information required for the control communication based on the control communication protocol, the adaptor (<NUM>, <NUM>) generating the first control communication information with use of information acquired from a network environment manager (<NUM>) not included in a network in the cloud along a path different from a communication path, where the first communication method is not supported, of the control communication on the network in the cloud, and to output the first control communication information to the control communication unit.