Patent Document

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/797,590 filed Mar. 5, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,058,069, issued on Jun. 6, 2006), which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-058242 filed Mar. 3, 2000, both of which are incorporated by reference herein. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a controller for a delay variation buffer, and in particular to a controller and control method suitable for a delay-variation buffer absorbing delay variation of cells received from ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) network and transferred to STM (synchronous transfer mode) network. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   In a network composed of an ATM network connecting two STM networks that both uses existing network equipment to transfer data in a period of constant frame, a circuit emulation service is needed at an interface between ATM and STM networks to perform bi-directional conversion between ATM cell and STM frame. A circuit emulator providing the circuit emulation service (hereafter, abbreviated as CE) is implemented by emulating STM on ATM line. 
   Since ATM cells may be transferred through different paths across an ATM network, variations in delay or jitter occur to cells that were nominally spaced prior to transfer across the ATM network. In order to generate STM frames from asynchronously arriving cells and stably and reliably transmit them to the STM network, the CE is provided with a buffer for buffering ATM cells arriving with variations in delay and a delay-variation absorbing controller. 
   There have been proposed several delay-variation buffer controllers aiming at absorbing the variations in delay to avoid a substantial reduction in the quality of service. 
   For example, Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication No. 4-331529 discloses a delay-variation buffer controller that controls a delay-variation absorbable width based on a calculated cell loss ratio. 
   However, such a delay-variation buffer controller can be applied to only the case where ATM cells permitted to be discarded are converted into STM frames. In other words, a delay-variation control cannot be successfully performed unless ATM cells are permitted to be discarded. Since ATM communication is characterized in that a network can be constructed independently of type of service, it is preferable that the delay-variation buffer control is applied to not only ATM cells that are permitted to be discarded but also ATM cells that are not permitted to be discarded. 
   As another prior art, Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication No. 9-102772 discloses an ATM/STM converter in which readout of cells from a delay-variation absorbing buffer is controlled based on detected cell delay variation on ATM line. Such a buffer control can avoid increasing data delay caused by the capacity of the buffer increasing more than necessary in communication environment with wide variation in delay. 
   However, this prior art needs to measure the amount of cell variation by sending test cells before actual data transmission. Therefore, the detected cell delay variation does not reflect an actual network operation status, which cannot achieve proper cell delay variation control. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a delay variation buffer controller allowing proper cell delay variation control reflecting an actual network operation status. 
   According to the present invention, a controller for controlling a data buffer, includes: a detector for detecting an empty status of the data buffer when data is read out from the data buffer at intervals of a controllable time period; a counter for counting number of contiguous times the empty status was detected; and a buffer controller for changing the controllable time period depending on a value of the counter at a time when the empty status is not detected. 
   According to an aspect of the present invention, a controller includes: a detector for detecting an empty status of the data buffer when data is read out from the data buffer at intervals of a controllable time period; a counter for counting number of contiguous times the empty status was detected; a calculator for calculating a proper time period depending on a value of the counter at a time when the empty status is not detected and the value of the counter is not zero; and a timing corrector for correcting the controllable time period to match the proper time period and setting the controllable time period to a predetermined value when the empty status is not detected and the value of the counter is zero. 
   The calculator may calculate the proper timing period such that the proper time period increases linearly with an increase of the value of the counter. The calculator may calculate the proper time period X by an expression as follows:
 
 X=Y×Z+B,  
 
where Y is a value of the counter, Z is a current controllable timing period, and B is a minimum value of controllable time period.
 
   The timing corrector may set the controllable time period to the predetermined value when the empty status is not detected and the value of the counter is zero, wherein the predetermined value is an initial value which is a minimum value of the controllable time period. 
   The controller may further include: a determiner for determining whether a value of the counter exceeds a predetermined threshold; and a message creator for creating a message when the value of the counter exceeds the predetermined threshold, the message indicating that the number of contiguous times the empty status was detected exceeds the predetermined threshold. 
   The counter may be reset after correcting the controllable time period to match the proper time period or creating the message. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, a control method for controlling a data buffer, includes the steps of: a) detecting an empty status of the data buffer when data is read out from the data buffer at intervals of a controllable time period; b) counting number of contiguous times the empty status was detected to produce a count value; c) calculating a proper time period depending on a count value at a time when the empty status is not detected and the count value of not zero; d) correcting the controllable time period to match the proper time period; and e) setting the controllable time period to a predetermined value when the empty status is not detected and the count value is zero. 
   According to still another aspect of the present invention, a device for use in an ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) node connecting an ATM network and a STM (synchronous transfer mode) network, includes: a cell disassembler for converting a sequence of ATM cells into a sequence of STM frames; a buffer for storing an ATM cell received from the ATM network and sending it to the cell disassembler with a controllable time delay to absorb cell delay variation; a detector for detecting an empty status of the buffer when a ATM cell is read out from the buffer at intervals of the controllable time delay; a counter for counting number of contiguous times the empty status was detected; and a buffer controller for changing the controllable time delay depending on a value of the counter at a time when the empty status is not detected. 
   As described above, according to the present invention, a variation buffer value can be rapidly corrected to a proper value without any test prior to actual data communication. Therefore, efficient data communication can be achieved reflecting the actual network operation status. 
   In the case where no cell delay variation is detected, the variation buffer value is initialized to the basic value and thereby ATM cells stored in the buffer are read out at intervals of a shorter time period. Since undesired delay of transfer of ATM cells stored in the buffer can be avoided, the variation buffer control is suitable for data communications requiring real-time operation. 
   Further, since the network management side can know on the correction of variation buffer value by receiving the autonomous message, the capability of management and maintenance can be improved without burden on the network management side. 
   Further, when the number of contiguous occurrences of cell delay variation exceeds the predetermined value, an autonomous message of over-frequency of delay variation occurrence is sent to the network management side and the buffer value is not updated. Therefore, rapid maintenance work can be achieved without burden on the network management side. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a network system configuration employing a delay variation buffer controller; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a circuit emulator (CE) having a function of delay variation buffer control according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a controller in the circuit emulator of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing an operation of correcting a variation buffer value in the embodiment; 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing an operation of statistical processing of delay variation occurrence in the embodiment; 
       FIG. 6  is a sequence diagram showing the operation of correcting a variation buffer value in the embodiment; and 
       FIG. 7  is a sequence diagram showing an operation of the controller in the case where the frequency of occurrence exceeds a predetermined value. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , it is assumed for simplicity that a network system is composed of STM networks connected via an ATM network  10 . The network is realized by shifting an existing dedicated network using a time-division multiplexer (hereafter, abbreviated as TDM) to ATM network such that the existing TDM is accommodated under the ATM network. 
   More specifically, ATM nodes  11 . 1  and  11 . 2  are connected via the ATM network  10 . The ATM node  11 . 1  is connected to an existing TDM  12 . 1  that is in turn connected to PBX (Private Branch eXchange)  13 . 1  and a host computer  14 . 1 . Similarly, the ATM node  11 . 2  is connected to an existing TDM  12 . 2  that is in turn connected to PBX  13 . 2  and a host computer  14 . 2 . The respective PBXs  13 . 1  and  13 . 2  may accommodate local networks (not shown). Synchronous communications using STM frames are performed in the host computer  14 . 1  and the local network accommodated in the PBX  13 . 1  and in the host computer  14 . 2  and the local network accommodated in the PBX  13 . 2 . 
   In addition, the ATM node  11 . 1  and  11 . 2  are connected to management and maintenance terminals  15 . 1  and  15 . 2 , respectively, and thereby various settings and cell delay variation monitoring are performed in each of the ATM nodes  11 . 1  and  11 . 2 . Further, a network management system (NMS)  16  is connected to both the ATM nodes  11 . 1  and  11 . 2  to manage the network composed of ATM network  10  and ATM nodes  11 . 1  and  11 . 2 . 
   The ATM node  11 . 1  has a circuit emulator (CE)  17 . 1  implemented therein to allow STM/ATM conversion and cell delay variation control. Similarly, the ATM node  11 . 2  has a circuit emulator (CE)  17 . 2  implemented therein to allow STM/ATM conversion and cell delay variation control. Since the circuit emulators  17 . 1  and  17 . 2  have the same circuit configuration, the circuit emulator  17 . 1  will be described as an example. 
   Circuit Emulator (CE) 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the circuit emulator  17 . 1  includes a delay-variation absorbing buffer  20 . 1 , a cell assembly and disassembly (CLAD)  21 . 1 , and a controller  22 . 1 . The delay-variation absorbing buffer  20 . 1  sequentially stores ATM cells that are received from the ATM network  10 , to absorb cell delay variations under control of the controller  22 . 1 . The CLAD  21 . 1  assembles STM frames from ATM cells and disassembles STM frames into ATM cells. The controller  22 . 1  controls the operations of the delay-variation absorbing buffer  20 . 1  and the CLAD  21 . 1 . 
   More specifically, the controller  22 . 1  controls a delaying time period (msec) of ATM cells in the delay-variation absorbing buffer  20 . 1 . Hereafter, such a delaying time period is called a variation buffer value. The delay-variation absorbing buffer  20 . 1  reads out the stored ATM cells to send them to the CLAD  21 . 1  in a period of the controlled variation buffer value (msec). 
   When receiving the ATM cells from the delay-variation absorbing buffer  20 . 1 , the CLAD  21 . 1  assembles a STM frame of a preset format from the ATM cells and transmits it to the TDM  12 . 1 . On the other hand, when receiving a STM frame from the TDM  12 . 1 , the CLAD  21 . 1  disassembles the STM frame into ATM cells and transmits them directly to the ATM network  10 . 
   The controller  22 . 1  monitors the presence or absence of ATM cells in the buffer  20 . 1  to detect the occurrence of cell delay variation. As will be described later, when no cell is stored in the buffer  20 . 1  after an elapse of a controlled variation buffer value, the controller  22 . 1  determines that cell delay variation occurs. When such a cell delay variation contiguously occurs a plurality of times, the controller  22 . 1  adjusts the variation buffer value for delaying the readout of ATM cells in the buffer  20 . 1  based on the contiguous frequency of occurrence of cell delay variation. The details of the controller  22 . 1  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3-5 . 
   Delay Variation Absorbing Control 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the controller  22 . 1  includes a delay variation monitor  30 . 1 , a statistical processing section  31 . 1 , a buffer value correcting section  32 . 1 , and a messaging section  33 . 1 . 
   The delay variation monitor  30 . 1  checks whether the buffer  20 . 1  is empty when an elapse of a controlled variation buffer value. If the buffer  20 . 1  stores no cells at the time when the controlled variation buffer value has elapsed, then the delay variation monitor  30 . 1  detects the occurrence of cell delay variation. Then, the delay variation monitor  30 . 1  notifies the statistical processing section  31 . 1  of the occurrence of cell delay variation. 
   The statistical processing section  31 . 1  counts the contiguous occurrence of cell delay variation notified from the delay variation monitor  30 . 1  and calculates a proper variation buffer value depending on the number of contiguous times the cell delay variation has occurred. The proper variation buffer value is output to the buffer value correcting section  32 . 1  and the messaging section  33 . 1 . 
   The buffer value correcting section  32 . 1  replaces a current variation buffer value with the received proper variation buffer value, which is used as an absorbing time width to delay transfer of ATM cells from the delay-variation absorbing buffer  20 . 1  to the CLAD  21 . 1 . Therefore, after this, a period of readout of ATM cells is set to the new proper variation buffer value. Thereafter, a correction completion notice is sent to the messaging section  33 . 1 . 
   The messaging section  33 . 1  autonomously creates a message based on notices received from the statistical processing section  31 . 1  or the buffer value correcting section  32 . 1  and then transmits the message to the management and maintenance terminal  15 . 1  and NMS  16 . 
   The controller  22 . 1  as described above includes a program-controlled processor such as CPU (central processing unit) (not shown). Necessary programs including a buffer control program stored in read-only memory (ROM) or the like are allowed to run on the CPU. Therefore, the delay variation monitor  30 . 1 , the statistical processing section  31 . 1 , the buffer value correcting section  32 . 1 , and the messaging section  33 . 1  may be implemented by running a delay variation absorbing control program on the CPU. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , when the variation absorbing buffer control program starts, it is determined whether a current variation buffer value (msec) has elapsed (step S 40 ). When the current variation buffer value (msec) has elapsed (YES at step S 40 ), the delay variation monitor  30 . 1  is instructed to monitor the current status of the buffer  20 . 1  to determine whether cell delay variation occurs (step S 41 ). If the buffer  20 . 1  stores no cells at that time, then the delay variation monitor  30 . 1  detects the occurrence of cell delay variation (YES at step S 41 ). Then, the delay variation monitor  30 . 1  sends a notice of the occurrence of cell delay variation to the statistical processing section  31 . 1 . 
   When receiving the notice of the occurrence of cell delay variation from the delay variation monitor  30 . 1  (YES at step S 41 ), the statistical processing section  31 . 1  increments a counter by one to count the number of notices of the occurrence of cell delay variation and then determines whether the count exceeds a predetermined count value (step S 43 ). When the count exceeds the predetermined count value, which means that the number of contiguous times the notice of the occurrence of cell delay variation has been received (YES at step S 43 ), the statistical processing section  31 . 1  sends a notice of over-frequency of delay variation occurrence to the messaging section  33 . 1  (step S 44 ) and thereby the messaging section  33 . 1  is instructed to autonomously send a message to the management and maintenance terminal  15 . 1  and NMS  16  (step S 45 ). Thereafter, the control goes back to the step S 40  (return). When the count is equal to or smaller than the predetermined count value (NO at step S 43 ), the control also goes back to the step S 40  (return). 
   On the other hand, when receiving no notice of the occurrence of cell delay variation (NO at step S 41 ), the statistical processing section  31 . 1  determines whether the contiguous variation occurrence count is 0 (step S 46 ). If the contiguous variation occurrence count is not 0, that is, the counter&#39;s value is 1 or more (NO at step S 46 ), it is determined that the phenomenon of variation that has occurred stops. Therefore, the buffer  20 . 1  is instructed to read out the stored cells (step S 47 ) and the buffer value correcting section  32 . 1  is instructed to correct the variation buffer value using a new proper variation buffer value (step S 48 ). When the variation buffer value correction has been completed, the buffer value correcting section  32 . 1  notifies the messaging section  33 . 1  of the completion of variation buffer value correction. Thereby the messaging section  33 . 1  is instructed to autonomously send a message indicative of the completion of variation buffer value correction to the management and maintenance terminal  15 . 1  and NMS  16  (step S 45 ). Thereafter, the control goes back to the step S 40  (return). 
   If the contiguous variation occurrence count is 0, that is, the counter&#39;s value is zero (YES at step S 46 ), it means that no variation occurrence is detected and any variation occurrence has been never detected so far. Therefore, the variation buffer value is set to the basic value and thereby the cells are read out from the buffer  20 . 1  to the CLAD  21 . 1  at intervals of the initial constant time period (step S 49 ). Thereafter, the control goes back to the step S 40  (return). 
   Hereafter, the details of proper variation buffer value calculated by the statistical processing section  31 . 1  will be described with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
   First of all, it is assumed that variable X is a proper variation buffer value (msec), variable Y is a counter indicative of the number of times a notice of occurrence of variation has been received, variable Z is a current variable buffer value, variable A is a maximum permissible count value of variation occurrence, and variable B is a minimum correction value of variation buffer value. The minimum correction value of variation buffer value is defined as a minimum amount of variation to be absorbed, which is determined depending on the capacity of the variation absorbing buffer  20 . 1  and the ATM network  10 . The variable Z is initially set to a predetermined basic variable buffer value. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , when the statistical processing starts, the counter Y and variable Z are initialized to zero and the basic variable buffer value, respectively. Then, the statistical processing section  31 . 1  determines whether a variation detection notice is received from the delay variation monitor  30 . 1  (step S 50 ). When the variation detection notice is received (YES at step S 50 ), the statistical processing section  31 . 1  increments the counter Y by one (step S 51 ). Thereafter, it is determined whether the counter Y exceeds the variable A indicative of the maximum permissible count value of variation occurrence (step S 52 ). When the counter Y exceeds the variable A (YES at step S 52 ), the statistical processing section  31 . 1  sends a notice of over-frequency of delay variation occurrence to the messaging section  33 . 1  (step S 53 ) and then the counter Y is reset to 0 (step S 54 ). Thereafter, the control goes back to the step S 50  (return). When the counter Y is equal to or smaller than the variable A (NO at step S 52 ), the control also goes back to the step S 50  (return). 
   On the other hand, when no variation detection notice is received (NO at step S 50 ), the statistical processing section  31 . 1  determines whether the counter Y is 0 (step S 55 ). If the counter Y is not 0 (NO at step S 55 ), it is determined that the phenomenon of variation that has occurred stops and the statistical processing section  31 . 1  calculates a variable X indicative of a proper variation buffer value at that time by the following expression:
 
 X=Y×Z+B   (1),
 
where Y is a counter indicative of the number of times a notice of occurrence of variation has been received, Z is a current variable buffer value, and B is a minimum correction value of variation buffer value (step S 56 ).
 
   Then, the statistical processing section  31 . 1  instructs the buffer value correcting section  32 . 1  to replace the variation buffer value with the calculated proper variation buffer value X (step S 57 ). Then the counter Y is reset to 0 (step S 54 ) and the control goes back to the step S 50  (return). 
   When the counter Y is 0 (YES at step S 55 ), the current variation buffer value is set to the basic value (step S 58 ) and the control goes back to the step S 50  (return). 
   As described above, the variation buffer value gradually increases from the basic variation buffer value (initial value) depending on a status of occurrence of cell variation. When no variation occurrence is detected and the contiguous occurrence counter y is zero, the cells are read out from the buffer  20 . 1  to the CLAD  21 . 1  at intervals of the basic variation buffer value. In this manner, when the occurrence of cell delay variation has been detected, the current variation absorbing time width, that is, the current variation buffer value, is changed to a proper variation buffer value calculated. On the other hand, when the occurrence of cell delay variation has never been detected, the current variation buffer value is reduced to the basic variation buffer value, which can make the delaying time of ATM cells stored in the buffer  20 . 1  as short as possible. 
   Buffer Value Correction 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , when the delay variation monitor  30 . 1  detects the occurrence of cell delay variation when no cells to be read out are found in the buffer  20 . 1  (variation detection  60 ). Then, the delay variation monitor  30 . 1  sends a notice of the occurrence of cell delay variation to the statistical processing section  31 . 1  (detection notice  61 ). 
   When receiving the notice of the occurrence of cell delay variation from the delay variation monitor  30 . 1 , the statistical processing section  31 . 1  calculates a proper variation buffer value using the expression (1) when it is determined that cell delay variation that has occurred stops (calculation  62 ). Then, the statistical processing section  31 . 1  sends a variance buffer value correction notice to the buffer value correcting section  32 . 1  (correction notice  63 ). 
   When receiving the correction notice  63  from the statistical processing section  31 . 1 , the buffer value correcting section  32 . 1  corrects a current variation buffer value using the proper variation buffer value according to the correction notice  63  (correction  64 ). When the correction has been completed, the buffer value correcting section  32 . 1  sends a correction completion notice to the messaging section  33 . 1  (correction completion notice  65 ). 
   When receiving the correction completion notice  65 , the messaging section  33 . 1  creates a message having a predetermined format (creation  66 ) and sends the message as autonomous messages  67  and  68  to the management and maintenance terminal  15 . 1  and NMS  16 . Here, the autonomous message includes information such that the management and maintenance terminal  15 . 1  and NMS  16  can recognize which flow a variation occurs in and how much amount of a corresponding buffer value is corrected by the buffer value correcting section  32 . 1 . 
   Over Occurrence Frequency Limit 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , when the delay variation monitor  30 . 1  detects the occurrence of cell delay variation when no cells to be read out are found in the buffer  20 . 1  (variation detection  70 ). Then, the delay variation monitor  30 . 1  sends a notice of the occurrence of cell delay variation to the statistical processing section  31 . 1  (detection notice  71 ). 
   When receiving the notice of the occurrence of cell delay variation from the delay variation monitor  30 . 1 , the statistical processing section  31 . 1  increments a counter by one to count the number of contiguous occurrences of cell delay variation and then determines whether the count exceeds a predetermined count value. When it is determined that the count exceeds the predetermined count value (over variation occurrence frequency limit  72 ), the statistical processing section  31 . 1  sends a notice of over-frequency of delay variation occurrence to the messaging section  33 . 1  (over occurrence frequency notice  73 ). 
   When receiving the notice of over-frequency of delay variation occurrence, the messaging section  33 . 1  creates a message having a predetermined format (creation  74 ) and sends the message as autonomous messages  75  and  76  to the management and maintenance terminal  15 . 1  and NMS  16 . Here, the autonomous message includes information such that the management and maintenance terminal  15 . 1  and NMS  16  can recognize which flow a variation occurs in and how many times delay variations occur contiguously. 
   As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the delay variation monitor  30 . 1  detects the occurrence of cell delay variation in a period of a set variation buffer value, the statistical processing section  31 . 1  counts the number of contiguous occurrences of cell delay variation. When no delay variation disappears, the statistical processing section  31 . 1  calculates a proper variation buffer value using the expression (1) and a current variation buffer value is updated by the proper variation buffer value. When the correction has been completed or the number of contiguous occurrences of cell delay variation exceeds the predetermined value, the messaging section  33 . 1  sends an autonomous message to the management and maintenance terminal  15 . 1  and NMS  16 . 
   Therefore, the variation buffer value can be rapidly corrected to a proper variation buffer value reflecting the actual network operation status. Since the network management side can know on the correction of variation buffer value by receiving the autonomous message, the capability of management and maintenance can be improved without burden on the network management side. 
   Further, when the number of contiguous occurrences of cell delay variation exceeds the predetermined value, an autonomous message of over-frequency of delay variation occurrence is sent to the management and maintenance terminal  15 . 1  and NMS  16  and the buffer value is not updated. Therefore, rapid maintenance work can be achieved without burden on the network management side.

Technology Category: h