Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-210174, filed on Oct. 26, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The embodiments discussed herein are related to a communication control method, a network system, and a communication control device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Because of increase in demands for communications, the number of pieces of network equipment coupled to one network is increasing. For example, each relay device (for example, router) in a network individually controls the route of transfer of packets and therefore it is difficult to flexibly configure the routes of packets as the whole of the network. 
         [0004]    In contrast, in a network to which techniques of the software defined networking (SDN) are applied, the control functions of the respective pieces of network equipment are aggregated into one piece of software and thus e.g. flexible route configuring is possible. For example, in the OpenFlow protocol, the route control functions of packets are separated from the relay devices of packets and are aggregated into a single device called an SDN controller (for example, refer to Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2015-39097). The SDN controller includes an open application programming interface (API). Thus, by setting route information in each relay device in accordance with an external control application, flexibly configuring routes of packets is enabled as the whole of the network. 
         [0005]    In order to solve problems about the fault tolerance and the scalability of the performance accompanying concentration of control functions on the SDN controller, a distributed SDN controller has been researched and developed (for example, refer to Hikichi et al., “Study on Scalability for Distributed SDN controller,” the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers NV workshop, 2015). The distributed SDN controller is in charge of control of not all relay devices in the network but part of the relay devices. Thus, the load of control processing of the relay devices can be distributed among plural distributed SDN controllers (hereinafter, represented as the “controller”). 
         [0006]    A control application transmits a control message addressed to the relay device only to the controller that controls this relay device. Because of restrictions on the specifications of the OpenFlow network, the controller can transmit the control message only to the relay device that is controlled by the controller and does not transmit the control message to the relay device that is controlled by other controller. 
         [0007]    For this reason, it is preferable that, between the control application and the controllers, pieces of information indicating the correspondence relationship between the controller and the relay devices controlled by this controller (hereinafter, “controller information”) correspond with each other. The controller information is dynamically changed even in operation for executing load balancing processing or failover processing. As management systems of the controller information, a centralized management system in which a specific information management server manages the controller information and a cache system in which the control application and the controllers are made to hold the controller information as a cache (for example, refer to Pankaj Berde et al., “ONOS: Towards an Open, Distributed SDN OS,” HotSDN′ 14, Aug. 22, 2014) are cited. 
         [0008]    In the case of the centralized management system, the control application and the controllers refer to the controller information in the common information management server. For this reason, discordance of the controller information does not occur between the control application and the controllers. However, access from the control application and plural controllers concentrates on the information management server and the load of the information management server increases. Therefore, improvement in the performance such as the processing speed is difficult in the centralized management system. 
         [0009]    On the other hand, in the case of the cache system, the control application and the controllers each update the cache of the controller information held in the self-device in accordance with an update instruction transmitted from a device of the update source of the controller information. For this reason, in the case of the cache system, the problem about the performance like that in the centralized management system does not occur. 
         [0010]    However, the update timing of the cache of the control application and the update timing of the cache of the controllers fluctuate depending on the load of the network or the load of the device that operates the control application and the controllers themselves. Therefore, possibly the update timing of the cache varies between the control application and the controllers and discordance of the controller information occurs as a result. 
         [0011]    If discordance of the controller information occurs between the control application and the controllers, a control message addressed to a relay device that is not a control target for the controller is transmitted from the control application to this controller. At this time, the controller does not transmit but discard the control message and makes an error notification to the control application. 
         [0012]    When receiving the error notification, the control application retransmits the control message. Therefore, after the pieces of controller information in the control application and the controller correspond with each other due to update of the cache, the control message is transmitted from the correct controller to the relay device. However, a problem that delay is caused in control processing of the relay device due to the retransmission of the control message occurs. In view of the above-described problems, it is preferable that the delay time of the control can be reduced. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0013]    According to an aspect of the embodiments, a communication control method executed by a system, the communication control method includes transmitting, by a load control device, a request instructing update of destination information to a plurality of communication control devices that control a plurality of nodes and a network control device that controls the plurality of communication control devices, the destination information being stored in each of the plurality of communication control devices and the network control device and including a correspondence relationship between a node and a communication control device that control the node for each of the plurality of nodes; starting, by each of the plurality of communication control devices and the network control device, update of the destination information in response to the request; completing the update by a communication control device among the plurality of communication control devices; receiving, by the communication control device, a control message that is transmitted from the network control device and is for controlling a target node in the plurality of nodes; extracting a target control device that controls the target node from the plurality of communication control devices stored in the destination information of the communication control device in response to the control message; and transferring the control message from the communication control device to the target control device when it is determined that the extracted target control device is not the communication control device. 
         [0014]    The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. 
         [0015]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a configuration diagram illustrating one example of a network system; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an operation of a comparative example of the network system; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an operation of a first embodiment of a network system; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of the first embodiment of the network system; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a configuration diagram illustrating one example of a load control server; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a configuration diagram illustrating one example of a network control server; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a configuration diagram illustrating one example of a controller; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an operation of ping-pong transmission of a control message in the first embodiment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of a ping-pong transmission of a control message in the first embodiment; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating an operation of a second embodiment of a network system; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of the second embodiment of the network system; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a configuration diagram illustrating another example of the controller; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a controller in the second embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating an operation of a third embodiment of a network system; 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of the third embodiment of the network system; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a controller in the third embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]      FIG. 1  is a configuration diagram illustrating one example of a network system. The network system includes controllers  1   a  and  1   b  that are one example of a communication control device, a network control server  2  that is one example of a network control device, a load control server  3  that is one example of an update device, and relay devices  4  disposed at plural nodes #1 to #4. In the present embodiment, the numbers of nodes of the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  and the relay devices  4  are one example and are not limited. 
         [0033]    The controllers  1   a  and  1   b , the network control server  2 , and the load control server  3  carry out communications via a network NW 1  for control, such as a local area network (LAN). The controllers  1   a  and  1   b  and the relay devices  4  at the respective nodes #1 to #4 carry out communications via a network NW 2  for control, such as an LAN. 
         [0034]    The relay devices  4  are disposed at the nodes #1 to #4 (see numbers in parentheses) in a network NW 3  to which packets are transmitted. The relay device  4  is a switch device such as a router for example and relays packets to another communication device. As the packet, the internet protocol (IP) packet is cited for example. However, the packet is not limited thereto. 
         [0035]    The controllers  1   a  and  1   b  are computers that control the relay devices  4  at the nodes #1 to #4. The controllers  1   a  and  1   b  each share the control of the relay devices  4  at the nodes #1 to #4. Thus, the load of control processing of the relay devices  4  at the nodes #1 to #4 is distributed to the controllers  1   a  and  1   b.    
         [0036]    The controllers  1   a  and  1   b  and the network control server  2  hold, as a cache, pieces of controller information  10   a ,  10   b , and  20 , respectively, indicating the correspondence relationship between the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  and the nodes #1 to #4 of the relay devices  4  controlled by the controllers  1   a  and  1   b . That is, the pieces of controller information  10   a ,  10   b , and  20  indicate the correspondence relationship between the respective nodes #1 to #4 and the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  that control the respective nodes #1 to #4. The pieces of controller information  10   a  and  10   b  are one example of first information and fourth information. The controller information  20  is one example of second information and third information. 
         [0037]    In the pieces of controller information  10   a ,  10   b , and  20 , node identifications (IDs) (#1 to #4) and device IDs (represented by symbols  1   a  and  1   b  as one example) for identification of the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  are associated with each other and registered. This allows the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  and the network control server  2  to discriminate the relay devices  4  of control target nodes of the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  by referring to a respective one of the pieces of controller information  10   a ,  10   b , and  20 . 
         [0038]    The load control server  3  instructs the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  and the network control server  2  to update the pieces of controller information  10   a ,  10   b , and  20  (see “update instruction”). The controllers  1   a  and  1   b  and the network control server  2  update the pieces of controller information  10   a ,  10   b , and  20  in accordance with the update instruction of the load control server  3 . 
         [0039]    In the example of  FIG. 1 , in the pieces of controller information  10   a ,  10   b , and  20 , the device ID corresponding to the node #2 is updated from “ 1   a ” to “ 1   b ” (see “ 1   a  (-&gt; 1   b )”). Due to this, the controller  1   a  excludes the relay device  4  of the node #2 from the control target nodes and the controller  1   b  adds the relay device  4  of the node #2 to the control target nodes (see dotted-line arrow). 
         [0040]    The load control server  3  dynamically updates the pieces of controller information  10   a ,  10   b , and  20  in operation for executing distributed processing or failover processing between the controllers  1   a  and  1   b . The controllers  1   a  and  1   b  and the network control server  2  update the caches of the pieces of controller information  10   a ,  10   b , and  20  in accordance with the update instruction of the load control server  3 . According to this cache system, the lowering of the performance of control processing of the relay device  4  due to concentration of access does not occur differently from the centralized management system, in which a specific information management server manages the controller information. 
         [0041]    In the network control server  2 , a control application  21  based on e.g. the OpenFlow API is implemented. The control application  21  generates a control message for controlling the relay device  4 . The control message is one example of control information. The control message is in conformity to the OpenFlow standards for example, and destination information, setting information of the packet relay route of the relay device  4 , and so forth are included. 
         [0042]    The control application  21  refers to the controller information  20  and retrieves the device ID corresponding to the node ID of the control target node. The control application  21  transmits a control message only to the controller  1   a  or  1   b  of the retrieved device ID. For example, the control application  21  transmits a control message addressed to the relay device  4  of the node #1 only to the controller  1   a  of the device ID “ 1   a ” corresponding to the node #1. 
         [0043]    When receiving the control message from the network control server  2 , the controller  1   a  or  1   b  detects the device ID corresponding to the node ID equivalent to the destination of the control message. If the detected device ID corresponds with the device ID of the self-device, the controller  1   a  or  1   b  transfers the control message to the relay device  4  of the destination. For example, if the controller  1   a  receives a control message addressed to the relay device  4  of the node #1, the controller  1   a  transfers the control message to the relay device  4  of the node #1 because the device ID corresponding to the node ID “#1” is “ 1   a ,” i.e. the device ID of the self-device. 
         [0044]    However, if the detected device ID does not correspond with the device ID of the self-device, the controller  1   a  or  1   b  does not transfer the control message to the relay device  4  of the destination. For this reason, if discordance of the pieces of controller information  10   a ,  10   b , and  20  exists among the control application  21  and the controllers  1   a  and  1   b , the control message is not transmitted to the relay device  4  of the control target node #1 to #4. 
         [0045]    As described above, the pieces of controller information  10   a ,  10   b , and  20  are updated in accordance with the update instruction of the load control server  3 . However, the update timing of the pieces of controller information  10   a ,  10   b , and  20  fluctuates depending on the load state of the network NW 1  or the load state of the network control server  2  and the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  themselves. Therefore, possibly the update timing of the pieces of controller information  10   a ,  10   b , and  20  varies and discordance of the pieces of controller information  10   a ,  10   b , and  20  occurs as a result. Operation in this case will be described below by taking an example. 
         [0046]    In  FIG. 2 , an operation of a comparative example of the network system is illustrated. In  FIG. 2 , a configuration common to  FIG. 1  is given the same symbol and description thereof is omitted. 
         [0047]    The present example represents the case in which update of the controller information  20  of the network control server  2  gets delayed with respect to the update instruction of the load control server  3  in the example of  FIG. 1 . For example, in the pieces of controller information  10   a  and  10   b  of the controllers  1   a  and  1   b , the device ID corresponding to the node ID “#2” has been updated to “ 1   b .” In contrast, in the controller information  20  of the network control server  2 , the device ID corresponding to the node ID “#2” remains “ 1   a.”   
         [0048]    The control application  21  generates a control message addressed to the relay device  4  of the node #2. In the controller information  20 , the node #2 is associated with the device ID “ 1   a ” (see dotted-line circle). Thus, the control application  21  transmits the control message to the controller  1   a.    
         [0049]    When receiving the control message, the controller  1   a  detects, from the controller information  10   a  held in the self-device, the device ID “ 1   b ” corresponding to the node ID “#2” equivalent to the destination of the control message (see dotted-line circle). Because the device ID “ 1   b ” does not correspond with the device ID “ 1   a ” of the self-device, the controller  1   a  discards the control message (see “discard”). 
         [0050]    If a difference is generated between the controller information  20  of the control application  21  and the controller information  10   a  of the controller  1   a  as above, the control message is not transmitted to the relay device  4  of the destination. In this case, the control application  21  retransmits the control message in response to an error notification from the controller  1   a . Therefore, after the pieces of controller information  20  and  10   a  of the control application  21  and the controller  1   a  correspond with each other due to update of the controller information  20 , the control message is transmitted from the correct controller  1   b  to the relay device  4 . However, delay is caused in control processing of the relay device  4  due to the retransmission of the control message. 
         [0051]    Therefore, in the embodiment, if determining that the device that controls the control target node #2 is not the self-device based on the controller information  10   a , the controller  1   a  transfers the control message to the other controller  1   b , which controls the control target node #2, to reduce the delay time of the control. The operation of the embodiment will be described below by taking an example. 
       First Embodiment 
       [0052]    In  FIG. 3 , an operation of a first embodiment of a network system is illustrated. In  FIG. 3 , a configuration common to  FIG. 1  is given the same symbol and description thereof is omitted. The contents of the pieces of controller information  20 ,  10   a , and  10   b  in the present example are common to the example of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0053]    The control application  21  transmits a control message addressed to the relay device  4  of the control target node #2 to the controller  1   a  corresponding to this relay device  4 . When receiving the control message, the controller  1   a  detects the device ID “ 1   b ” corresponding to the node #2 as the destination of the control message (see dotted-line circle). For the controller  1   a , the detected device ID “ 1   b ” does not correspond with the device ID “ 1   a ” of the self-device. Thus, the controller  1   a  determines that the device that controls the relay device  4  of the node #2 is not the self-device, and transfers the control message to the other controller  1   b  (see “transfer”). 
         [0054]    When receiving the control message, the controller  1   b  detects the device ID “ 1   b ” corresponding to the node #2 as the destination of the control message (see dotted-line circle). For the controller  1   b , the detected device ID “ 1   b ” corresponds with the device ID “ 1   b ” of the self-device. Thus, the controller  1   b  determines that the device that controls the relay device  4  of the node #2 is the self-device, and transfers the control message to the relay device  4  of the node #2. 
         [0055]    As above, when the controller  1   b  associated with the control target node #2 in the controller information  10   a  of the self-device is not the self-device, the controller  1   a  transfers the control message to the other controller  1   b  associated with the control target node #2. Thus, the control message is not discarded and therefore the network control server  2  does not need to retransmit the control message. Accordingly, the delay time of the control of the relay device  4  of the control target node #2 is reduced. 
         [0056]    As described with reference to  FIG. 1 , if the device ID corresponding to the node ID equivalent to the destination of a control message corresponds with the device ID of the self-device in the controller information  10   a  or  10   b , the controller  1   a  or  1   b  transfers the control message to the relay device  4  of this node ID. That is, if the controller  1   a  or  1   b  associated with the control target node #1 to #4 in the controller information  10   a  or  10   b  of the self-device is the self-device, the controller  1   a  or  1   b  transfers the control message to the control target node #1 to #4. Thus, the controller  1   a  or  1   b  can control the relay device  4  of the control target node #1 to #4. 
         [0057]      FIG. 4  is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of the first embodiment of the network system. For example,  FIG. 4  illustrates a sequence of the operation of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0058]    First, the load control server  3  transmits an update instruction to the network (NW) control server  2  and the controllers  1   a  and  1   b . The controllers  1   a  and  1   b  complete the update of the pieces of controller information  10   a  and  10   b  in accordance with the update instruction before the network control server  2  transmits a control message (see symbols S 2  and S 3 ). However, in the network control server  2 , the update of the controller information  20  gets delayed (see “delay”) and is completed after the transmission of the control message (see symbol S 1 ). 
         [0059]    Next, the network control server  2  transmits the control message addressed to the relay device  4  of the control target node #2 to the controller  1   a . The controller  1   a  detects the device ID “ 1   b ” corresponding to the node #2 as the destination of the control message (see symbol S 4 ). For the controller  1   a , the detected device ID “ 1   b ” does not correspond with the device ID “ 1   a ” of the self-device. Thus, the controller  1   a  determines that the device that controls the relay device  4  of the node #2 is not the self-device, and transfers the control message to the other controller  1   b.    
         [0060]    When receiving the control message, the controller  1   b  detects the device ID “ 1   b ” corresponding to the node #2 as the destination of the control message (see symbol S 5 ). For the controller  1   b , the detected device ID “ 1   b ” corresponds with the device ID “ 1   b ” of the self-device. Thus, the controller  1   b  determines that the device that controls the relay device  4  of the node #2 is the self-device, and transfers the control message to the relay device  4  of the node #2. In this manner, the network system operates. 
         [0061]    Next, configurations of a controller, a network control server, and a load control server will be described. 
         [0062]      FIG. 5  is a configuration diagram illustrating one example of a load control server. The load control server depicted in  FIG. 5  may be the load control server  3  depicted in  FIG. 1 . The load control server  3  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  30 , a read only memory (ROM)  31 , a random access memory (RAM)  32 , a non-volatile memory  33 , and a communication port  34 . The CPU  30  is coupled to the ROM  31 , the RAM  32 , the non-volatile memory  33 , and the communication port  34  via a databus  35  so that signals can be input and output mutually. 
         [0063]    A program to drive the CPU  30  is stored in the ROM  31 . The RAM  32  functions as a working memory of the CPU  30 . The communication port  34  is a physical layer/media access control (PHY/MAC) device for example. The communication port  34  carries out communications with the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  and the network control server  2  via the network NW 1 . 
         [0064]    Instruction information  330  included in an update instruction is held in the non-volatile memory  33 . In the instruction information  330 , the node ID and the device ID as the update target in the pieces of controller information  10   a ,  10   b , and  20  are included. In the case of the update instruction in  FIG. 1 , the node ID “#2” and the device ID “ 1   b ” are included in the instruction information  330 . 
         [0065]    When the CPU  30  reads the program from the ROM  31 , an update control unit  300  and an update instructing unit  301  are formed as functions in the CPU  30 . For example, the update control unit  300  generates the instruction information  330  according to the load state of the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  and writes the instruction information  330  to the non-volatile memory  33 , and notifies the update instructing unit  301  of that effect. 
         [0066]    The update instructing unit  301  is one example of an instructing unit and instructs the network control server  2  and the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  to update the pieces of controller information  10   a ,  10   b , and  20 , respectively. For example, the update instructing unit  301  reads out the instruction information  330  from the non-volatile memory  33  in response to the notification from the update control unit  300 . Then, the update instructing unit  301  transmits the update instruction including the instruction information  330  to the network control server  2  and the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  via the communication port  34 . 
         [0067]      FIG. 6  is a configuration diagram illustrating one example of a network control server. The network control server depicted in  FIG. 6  may be the network control server  2  depicted in  FIG. 1 . The network control server  2  includes a CPU  25 , a ROM  26 , a RAM  27 , a non-volatile memory  28 , and a communication port  29 . The CPU  25  is coupled to the ROM  26 , the RAM  27 , the non-volatile memory  28 , and the communication port  29  via a databus  24  so that signals can be input and output mutually. 
         [0068]    A program to drive the CPU  25  is stored in the ROM  26 . The RAM  27  functions as a working memory of the CPU  25 . The communication port  29  is a PHY/MAC device for example. The communication port  29  carries out communications with the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  and the load control server  3  via the network NW 1 . 
         [0069]    In the non-volatile memory  28 , a control message  280  waiting for being transmitted and the controller information  20  are held. The controller information  20  indicates the correspondence relationship between the nodes #1 to #4 and the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  that control the nodes #1 to #4 as described above. The non-volatile memory  28  is one example of a first storing unit that stores the controller information  20 . 
         [0070]    When the CPU  25  reads the program from the ROM  26 , an update processing unit  250 , a network (NW) control unit  251 , and a message transmitting unit  252  are formed as functions in the CPU  25 . The network (NW) control unit  251  and the message transmitting unit  252  are equivalent to the control application  21  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0071]    The update processing unit  250  is one example of a first update processing unit and updates the controller information  20  in accordance with the update instruction of the update instructing unit  301  of the load control server  3 . For example, when receiving the update instruction from the load control server  3  via the communication port  29 , the update processing unit  250  updates the controller information  20  based on the instruction information  330  in the update instruction. 
         [0072]    The network control unit  251  generates the control message  280  of a control target node and writes the control message  280  to the non-volatile memory  28 . In accordance with transmission timing, the network control unit  251  reads out the control message  280  from the non-volatile memory  28  and outputs the control message  280  to the message transmitting unit  252 . 
         [0073]    The message transmitting unit  252  is one example of a transmitting unit and transmits the control message  280  to the controller  1   a  or  1   b  that controls the control target node based on information on the device ID corresponding to the control target node in the controller information  20 . That is, the message transmitting unit  252  transmits the control message  280  to the controller  1   a  or  1   b  associated with the control target node in the controller information  20 . The control message  280  is transmitted to the controller  1   a  or  1   b  via the communication port  29 . The control message  280  thereby reaches the controller  1   a  or  1   b  that controls the control target node #1 to #4. 
         [0074]      FIG. 7  is a configuration diagram illustrating one example of a controller. The controller depicted in  FIG. 7  may be the controller  1   a  or  1   b  depicted in  FIG. 1 . The controllers  1   a  and  1   b  include a CPU  16 , a ROM  11 , a RAM  12 , a non-volatile memory  13 , and a communication port  14 . The CPU  16  is coupled to the ROM  11 , the RAM  12 , the non-volatile memory  13 , and the communication port  14  via a data bus  15  so that signals can be input and output mutually. 
         [0075]    A program to drive the CPU  16  is stored in the ROM  11 . The RAM  12  functions as a working memory of the CPU  16 . The communication port  14  is a PHY/MAC device for example. The communication port  14  carries out communications with the network control server  2  and the load control server  3  via the network NW 1  and carries out communications with the relay devices  4  of the respective nodes #1 to #4 via the network NW 2 . 
         [0076]    In the non-volatile memory  13 , a control message  130  received from the network control server  2  or the other controller  1   a  or  1   b  and the controller information  10   a  or  10   b  are held. The pieces of controller information  10   a  and  10   b  are one example of the first information and the fourth information and indicate the correspondence relationship between the nodes #1 to #4 and the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  that control the nodes #1 to #4 as described above. The non-volatile memory  13  is one example of a second storing unit that stores the controller information  10   a  or  10   b.    
         [0077]    When the CPU  16  reads the program from the ROM  11 , an update processing unit  160 , a node control unit  161 , and a message transfer processing unit  162  are formed as functions in the CPU  16 . The update processing unit  160  is one example of a second update processing unit. The update processing unit  160  updates the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  for each of the nodes #1 to #4 in accordance with an update instruction from the load control server  3 . 
         [0078]    The node control unit  161  is one example of a receiving unit and receives the control message  130  transmitted from the message transmitting unit  252  of the network control server  2  and writes the control message  130  to the non-volatile memory  13 . After executing given processing relating to the control message  130 , the node control unit  161  notifies the message transfer processing unit  162  of the completion of the processing. 
         [0079]    The message transfer processing unit  162  is one example of a transfer processing unit. When the controller  1   a  or  1   b  associated with the control target node #1 to #4 in the controller information  10   a  or  10   b  is not the self-device, the message transfer processing unit  162  transfers the control message to the other controller  1   a  or  1   b  associated with the control target node #1 to #4. For example, when receiving the above-described notification from the node control unit  161 , the message transfer processing unit  162  reads out the control message  130  and detects the device ID of the control target node equivalent to the destination of the control message  130  from the controller information  10   a  or  10   b.    
         [0080]    If the detected device ID is not the ID of the self-device, the message transfer processing unit  162  transfers the control message to the other controller  1   a  or  1   b  that controls the control target node #1 to #4 in accordance with the controller information  10   a  or  10   b . Thus, the control message is not discarded and therefore the network control server  2  does not need to retransmit the control message. Accordingly, the delay time of the control of the relay device  4  of the control target node #1 to #4 is reduced. 
         [0081]    When the controller  1   a  or  1   b  associated with the control target node #1 to #4 in the controller information  10   a  or  10   b  is the self-device, the message transfer processing unit  162  transfers the control message to the relay device  4  of the control target node #1 to #4. For example, if the detected device ID is the ID of the self-device, the message transfer processing unit  162  transfers the control message to the other controller  1   a  or  1   b  that controls the control target node #1 to #4 in accordance with the controller information  10   a  or  10   b . This allows the controller  1   a  or  1   b  to control the relay device  4  of the control target node #1 to #4. 
         [0082]    In the present embodiment, if discordance occurs in the pieces of controller information  10   a  and  10   b , a phenomenon in which the control message  130  is repeatedly transmitted and received between the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  (so-called ping-pong transmission) occurs as described below. 
         [0083]    In  FIG. 8 , an operation of a ping-pong transmission of a control message in the first embodiment is illustrated. In  FIG. 8 , a configuration common to  FIG. 1  is given the same symbol and description thereof is omitted. 
         [0084]    The present example represents the case in which update of the pieces of controller information  20  and  10   b  of the network control server  2  and the controller  1   b  gets delayed with respect to the update instruction of the load control server  3  in the example of  FIG. 1 . That is, in the controller information  10   a  of the controller  1   a , the device ID corresponding to the node ID “#2” has been updated to “ 1   b .” However, in the controller information  20  of the network control server  2  and the controller information  10   b  of the controller  1   b , the device ID corresponding to the node ID “#2” remains “ 1   a.”   
         [0085]    The control application  21  generates a control message addressed to the relay device  4  of the node #2. In the controller information  20 , the node #2 is associated with the device ID “ 1   a ” (see dotted-line circle). Thus, the control application  21  transmits the control message to the controller  1   a.    
         [0086]    When receiving the control message, the controller  1   a  detects the device ID “ 1   b ” corresponding to the node #2 as the destination of the control message (see dotted-line circle). For the controller  1   a , the detected device ID “ 1   b ” does not correspond with the device ID “ 1   a ” of the self-device. Thus, the controller  1   a  determines that the device that controls the relay device  4  of the node #2 is not the self-device, and transfers the control message to the other controller  1   b  (see “transfer”). 
         [0087]    When receiving the control message, the controller  1   b  detects the device ID “ 1   a ” corresponding to the node #2 as the destination of the control message (see dotted-line circle). For the controller  1   b , the detected device ID “ 1   a ” does not correspond with the device ID “ 1   b ” of the self-device. Thus, the controller  1   b  determines that the device that controls the relay device  4  of the node #2 is not the self-device, and transfers the control message to the controller  1   a  as the transmission source of the control message (see “transfer”). 
         [0088]    The controllers  1   a  and  1   b  repeat the transmission and reception operation of the control message until the controller information  10   b  of the controller  1   b  is updated. That is, the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  carry out the ping-pong transmission until the completion of the update of the controller information  10   b.    
         [0089]      FIG. 9  is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of a ping-pong transmission of a control message in the first embodiment. For example,  FIG. 9  illustrates a sequence of the operation of  FIG. 8 . 
         [0090]    First, the load control server  3  transmits an update instruction to the network control server  2  and the controllers  1   a  and  1   b . The controller  1   a  completes the update of the controller information  10   a  in accordance with the update instruction before the network control server  2  transmits a control message (see symbol S 11 ). On the other hand, in the network control server  2  and the controller  1   b , the update of the pieces of controller information  20  and  10   b  gets delayed (see “delay”) and is completed after the transmission of the control message (see symbol S 12 ). 
         [0091]    Next, the network control server  2  transmits the control message addressed to the relay device  4  of the control target node #2 to the controller  1   a . For the controller  1   a , the device ID “ 1   b ” corresponding to the node #2 as the destination of the control message does not correspond with the device ID “ 1   a ” of the self-device. Thus, the controller  1   a  determines that the device that controls the relay device  4  of the node #2 is not the self-device, and transfers the control message to the other controller  1   b.    
         [0092]    For the controller  1   b , the device ID “ 1   a ” corresponding to the node #2 as the destination of the control message does not correspond with the device ID “ 1   b ” of the self-device. Thus, the controller  1   b  determines that the device that controls the relay device  4  of the node #2 is not the self-device, and transfers the control message to the other controller  1   a . This causes the control message to be subjected to ping-pong transmission between the controllers  1   a  and  1   b.    
         [0093]    In the controller  1   b , after the completion of the update of the controller information  10   b  (see symbol S 12 ), the device ID “ 1   b ” corresponding to the node #2 as the destination of the control message corresponds with the device ID “ 1   b ” of the self-device. Thus, the controller  1   b  determines that the device that controls the relay device  4  of the node #2 is the self-device. Therefore, the controller  1   b  transfers the control message to the relay device  4  of the node #2, so that the ping-pong transmission stops. 
         [0094]    In order to avoid the above-described ping-pong transmission of the control message, when transmitting the control message, the network control server  2  and the controller  1   a  may give comparison information for comparing the newness between the pieces of controller information  20  and  10   a  to the control message as described below. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0095]    In  FIG. 10 , an operation of a second embodiment of a network system is illustrated. In  FIG. 10 , a configuration common to  FIG. 1  is given the same symbol and description thereof is omitted. In the present embodiment, information relating to the numbers of times of update of pieces of controller information  20   x ,  10   ax , and  10   bx  is used as the above-described comparison information. 
         [0096]    For example, version information “VER” is used as the above-described information. The VER is stored for each of the nodes #1 to #4 in the pieces of controller information  20   x ,  10   ax , and  10   bx . The VER in the pieces of controller information  10   ax  and  10   bx  is one example of first update information and fourth update information. The VER in the controller information  20   x  is one example of second update information and third update information. 
         [0097]    The VER is included in the instruction information  330  of the update instruction from the load control server  3 . The VER is a numerical value that increases by one every update as one example. When the VER is larger, the information corresponding to this VER is newer. If the number of load control servers  3  is one as in the present embodiment, a counter may be provided in the update instructing unit  301  of the load control server  3  and the VER may be generated by the counter. 
         [0098]    On the other hand, if plural load control servers  3  exist, a consensus algorithm like “RAFT” (refer to Diego Ongaro and John Ousterhout, “In Search of an Understandable Consensus Algorithm”) can be used for example in order to ensure the uniqueness of the VER. When receiving an update instruction, the update processing units  250  and  160  rewrite the VER of the relevant node ID in the pieces of controller information  20   x ,  10   ax , and  10   bx  in accordance with the VER in the instruction information  330 . 
         [0099]    The control application  21  generates a control message addressed to the relay device  4  of the control target node #2 and then gives registration information  200  about the control target node #2 in the controller information  20   x  to the control message. In the registration information  200 , the node ID “#2,” the device ID “ 1   a ,” and the VER “ 3 ” are included. The node ID and the device ID in the pieces of controller information  20   x ,  10   ax , and  10   bx  in the present example are the same as those in the example of  FIG. 8 . 
         [0100]    The control application  21  transmits the control message given the registration information  200  to the controller  1   a . For example, in  FIG. 6 , the update processing unit  250  causes the non-volatile memory  28  to store the VER on each node basis. The message transmitting unit  252  gives the registration information  200  of the VER of the control target node #1 to #4 to the control message and transmits the control message given the registration information  200  to the controller  1   a.    
         [0101]    As described later, it suffices that the controller  1   a  can compare the newness between the pieces of controller information  20   x  and  10   ax . Because the node ID and the device ID of the registration information  200  are obvious, only the VER may be given to the control message. That is, it is obvious that the node ID is the node ID “#2” equivalent to the destination of the control message and the device ID is the device ID “ 1   a ” of the controller  1   a  itself that has received the control message. 
         [0102]    When receiving the control message given the registration information  200 , the controller  1   a  compares the device ID “ 1   a ” included in the registration information  200  and the device ID “ 1   b ” in registration information  100   a  corresponding to the node ID “#2” in the controller information  10   ax . For the controller  1   a , the respective device IDs discord with each other as the result of the comparison. Thus, the controller  1   a  compares the VER “ 3 ” of the registration information  200  (see dotted-line circle) and the VER “ 4 ” of the registration information  100   a  (see dotted-line circle) (see “comparison”). The controller  1   a  thereby determines which of the registration information  200  of the network control server  2  and the registration information  100   a  of the self-device is newer regarding the control target node #2. 
         [0103]    In the present example, the VER “ 4 ” of the registration information  100   a  about the control target node #2 is larger than the VER “ 3 ” of the registration information  200  given to the control message. Thus, as the result of the comparison of the respective VERs, the controller  1   a  determines that the registration information  100   a  of the self-device is newer than the registration information  200  of the network control server  2 . 
         [0104]    Therefore, the controller  1   a  determines that the device that controls the control target node #2 is not the self-device, and transfers the control message to the other controller  1   b  in accordance with the device ID “ 1   b ” of the registration information  100   a  (see “transfer”). At this time, the controller  1   a  gives the registration information  100   a  to the control message. 
         [0105]    In this manner, the controller  1   a  gives the registration information  100   a  of the self-device to the control message and transfers the control message if determining that the registration information  100   a  of the self-device is newer than the registration information  200  of the network control server  2  based on the result of the comparison of the respective VERs. Because the VER is included in the registration information  100   a  (see dotted-line circle), the controller  1   b  as the transmission destination can compare the newness between the pieces of controller information  10   ax  and  10   bx  regarding the control target node #2 based on the VER. 
         [0106]    When receiving the control message given the registration information  100   a , the controller  1   b  compares the device ID “ 1   b ” included in the registration information  100   a  and the device ID “ 1   a ” in registration information  100   b  corresponding to the node ID “#2” in the controller information  10   bx . Because the respective device IDs discord with each other as the result of the comparison, the controller  1   b  compares the VER “ 4 ” of the registration information  100   a  (see dotted-line circle) and the VER “ 3 ” of the registration information  100   b  (see dotted-line circle) (see “comparison”). The controller  1   b  thereby determines which of the registration information  100   a  of the other controller  1   a  and the registration information  100   b  of the self-device is newer regarding the control target node #2. 
         [0107]    In the present example, the VER “ 4 ” of the registration information  100   a  about the control target node #2 is larger than the VER “ 3 ” of the registration information  100   b . Thus, as the result of the comparison of the respective VERs, the controller  1   b  determines that the registration information  100   a  of the other controller  1   a  is newer than the registration information  100   b  of the self-device, and changes the controller information  10   bx  based on the registration information  100   a.    
         [0108]    For example, the controller  1   b  changes the device ID to “ 1   b ” and changes the VER to “ 4 ” (see arrows) so that the registration information  100   b  in the controller information  10   bx  may correspond with the registration information  100   a  of the other controller  1   a . This allows the controller  1   b  to set the controller information  10   bx  of the self-device to the latest updated state. 
         [0109]    The controller  1   b  can determine that the device that controls the control target node #2 is the self-device based on the controller information  10   bx . Thus, the controller  1   b  transfers the control message to the relay device  4  of the control target node #2. This allows the controller  1   b  to control the relay device  4  of the control target node #2. 
         [0110]      FIG. 11  is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of the second embodiment of the network system. For example,  FIG. 11  illustrates a sequence of the operation of  FIG. 10 . 
         [0111]    First, the network control server  2  transmits the control message given the registration information  200  including the VER “ 3 ” to the controller  1   a . Next, the controller  1   a  compares the VER “ 3 ” of the registration information  200  and the VER “ 4 ” of the registration information  100   a  in the controller information  10   ax  (see symbol S 21 ). 
         [0112]    The controller  1   a  determines that the registration information  100   a  of the self-device is newer than the registration information  200  of the network control server  2  as the result of the comparison of the respective VERs, and transmits the control message given the registration information  100   a  including the VER “ 4 ” to the controller  1   b  in accordance with the device ID “ 1   b ” of the registration information  100   a . Next, the controller  1   b  compares the VER “ 4 ” of the registration information  100   a  and the VER “ 3 ” of the registration information  100   b  in the controller information  10   bx  (see symbol S 22 ). 
         [0113]    The controller  1   b  determines that the registration information  100   a  of the other controller  1   a  is newer than the registration information  100   b  of the self-device as the result of the comparison of the respective VERs, and changes the controller information  10   bx  based on the registration information  100   a  (see symbol S 23 ). The controller information  10   bx  thereby becomes the latest updated state. 
         [0114]    Next, the controller  1   b  transfers the control message to the relay device  4  of the control target node #2. In this manner, the network system operates. 
         [0115]      FIG. 12  is a configuration diagram illustrating the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  in the present embodiment. In  FIG. 12 , a configuration common to  FIG. 7  is given the same symbol and description thereof is omitted. 
         [0116]    The controllers  1   a  and  1   b  include the CPU  16 , the ROM  11 , the RAM  12 , the non-volatile memory  13 , and the communication port  14 . When the CPU  16  reads a program from the ROM  11 , the update processing unit  160 , a node control unit  161   a , a message transfer processing unit  162   a , a change processing unit  163 , and an information comparing unit  164  are formed as functions in the CPU  16 . 
         [0117]    The update processing unit  160  causes the non-volatile memory  13  to store the VER for each of the nodes #1 to #4 in accordance with an update instruction. Thus, the controller information  10   ax  or  10   bx  represented in  FIG. 10  is held in the non-volatile memory  13 . 
         [0118]    The node control unit  161   a  is one example of the receiving unit. The node control unit  161   a  receives a control message given the registration information  200  or  100   a  via the communication port  14  and notifies the information comparing unit  164  of the VER in the registration information  200  or  100   a.    
         [0119]    The information comparing unit  164  is one example of a comparing unit and compares the VERs regarding the control target node. For example, the information comparing unit  164  compares the VER given to the received control message and the VER in the controller information  10   ax  or  10   bx  of the self-device. Then, the information comparing unit  164  notifies the change processing unit  163  and the message transfer processing unit  162   a  of the result of the comparison. 
         [0120]    If it is determined that the registration information  200  or  100   a  given to the control message is newer than the registration information  100   a  or  100   b  of the self-device based on the result of the comparison of the respective VERs, the change processing unit  163  changes the registration information  100   a  or  100   b  of the self-device based on the registration information  200  or  100   a  given to the control message. This allows the controller  1   a  or  1   b  to set the controller information  10   ax  or  10   bx  of the self-device to the latest updated state. 
         [0121]    The message transfer processing unit  162   a  is one example of the transfer processing unit. If it is determined that the registration information  100   a  or  100   b  of the self-device is newer than the registration information  200  or  100   a  given to the control message based on the result of the comparison of the respective VERs, the message transfer processing unit  162   a  gives the control message the registration information  100   a  or  100   b  about the control target node in the controller information  10   ax  or  10   bx  and transfers the control message. This allows the controller  1   a  or  1   b  as the transfer destination of the control message to compare the VERs. 
         [0122]      FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the controller  1   a  or  1   b  in the second embodiment. The present operation is periodically carried out for example. 
         [0123]    The node control unit  161   a  determines whether or not a control message (control MSG) has been received in the communication port  14  (SU). The controller  1   a  or  1   b  ends the operation if a control message has not been received (No of SU). 
         [0124]    If a control message has been received (Yes of SU), the message transfer processing unit  162   a  detects the device ID corresponding to the node ID as the destination of the control message from the controller information  10   ax  or  10   bx  and compares this device ID with the device ID of the self-device (St 2 ). If the respective device IDs correspond with each other (Yes of St 2 ), the message transfer processing unit  162   a  determines that the device that controls the control target node #1 to #4 is the self-device, and transfers the control message to the relay device  4  of the control target node #1 to #4 (St 3 ). 
         [0125]    If the respective device IDs do not correspond with each other (No of St 2 ), the information comparing unit  164  compares the VER of the registration information  200  or  100   a  given to the control message and the VER in the controller information  10   ax  or  10   bx  of the self-device (St 4 ). 
         [0126]    If the VER of the registration information  100   a  or  100   b  of the self-device is equal to or larger than the VER of the registration information  200  or  100   a  given to the control message (Yes of St 4 ), the message transfer processing unit  162   a  gives the registration information  100   a  or  100   b  of the self-device to the control message (St 5 ). Next, the message transfer processing unit  162   a  transfers the control message given the registration information  100   a  or  100   b  to the other controller  1   a  or  1   b  according to the device ID of the registration information  100   a  or  100   b  (St 6 ). 
         [0127]    If the VER of the registration information  100   a  or  100   b  of the self-device is smaller than the VER of the registration information  200  or  100   a  given to the control message (No of St 4 ), the change processing unit  163  changes the registration information  100   a  or  100   b  of the self-device based on the registration information  200  or  100   a  given to the control message (St 7 ). Even when the registration information  200  or  100   a  is not given to the control message, because the node ID and the device ID in the registration information  200  or  100   a  are obvious as described above, the change processing unit  163  can change the registration information  100   a  or  100   b  of the self-device from the obvious node ID and device ID. 
         [0128]    Next, the message transfer processing unit  162   a  determines that the device that controls the control target node #1 to #4 is the self-device based on the registration information  100   a  or  100   b , and transfers the control message to the control target node #1 to #4 (St 8 ). In this manner, the controller  1   a  or  1   b  operates. 
         [0129]    As above, according to the present embodiment, the newer controller information  10   ax ,  10   bx , or  20   x  can be discriminated by the comparison of the VERs in the pieces of controller information  10   ax ,  10   bx , and  20   x . For this reason, the above-described ping-pong transmission of the control message is avoided. Accordingly, the delay of control processing of the relay device  4  is reduced. 
       Third Embodiment 
       [0130]    In  FIG. 14 , an operation of a third embodiment of a network system is illustrated. In  FIG. 14 , a configuration common to  FIG. 1  is given the same symbol and description thereof is omitted. In the present embodiment, information relating to the clock times when pieces of controller information  20   y ,  10   ay , and  10   by  are updated is used as the above-described comparison information. 
         [0131]    For example, the elapsed times from the update clock times (elapsed time=current clock time−update clock time) regarding the pieces of controller information  20   y ,  10   ay , and  10   by  are used as the above-described information. The update clock time is stored as update clock time information (see “clock time”) for each of the nodes in the pieces of controller information  20   y ,  10   ay , and  10   by . At the time of update of the pieces of controller information  20   y ,  10   ay , and  10   by  based on an update instruction, the update processing units  250  and  160  each detect the update clock time by a timer for example. Then, the update processing units  250  and  160  update the update clock time information in the pieces of controller information  20   y ,  10   ay , and  10   by.    
         [0132]    The network control server  2  and the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  give information indicating the elapsed time calculated from the update clock time of the controller information  20   y ,  10   ay , or  10   by  (hereinafter, represented as the “elapsed time information”) to a control message and transmit the control message. The network control server  2  and the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  compare the newness among the pieces of controller information  20   y ,  10   ay , and  10   by  by comparing the elapsed time information given to the control message and the elapsed time information obtained from the controller information  20   y ,  10   ay , or  10   by . Here, the update clock time information of the pieces of controller information  10   ay  and  10   by  is one example of first clock time information and fourth clock time information. The update clock time information of the controller information  20   y  is one example of second clock time information and third clock time information. A description will be made below by taking an operation example. 
         [0133]    The control application  21  generates a control message addressed to the relay device  4  of the control target node #2 and then gives registration information  201  about the control target node #2 (node ID “#2” and device ID “ba”) and the elapsed time information “00:10” in the controller information  20   y  to the control message. 
         [0134]    The elapsed time information is calculated from the update clock time information about the control target node #2 (clock time “20:02”) in the controller information  20   y . In the present example, the current clock time is defined as “20:12” and the elapsed time “00:10” is calculated from the difference between the current clock time and the update clock time. The node ID and the device ID in the pieces of controller information  20   y ,  10   ay , and  10   by  in the present example are the same as those in the example of  FIG. 8 . 
         [0135]    The control application  21  transmits the control message given the registration information  201  and the elapsed time information to the controller  1   a . For example, in  FIG. 6 , the update processing unit  250  causes the non-volatile memory  28  to store the update clock time information on each node basis. Then, the message transmitting unit  252  gives the registration information  201  and the elapsed time information to the control message and transmits the control message given the registration information  201  and the elapsed time information to the controller  1   a . As described later, it suffices that the controller  1   a  can compare the newness between the pieces of controller information  20   y  and  10   ay . Because the node ID and the device ID of the registration information  201  are obvious as described above, only the elapsed time information may be given to the control message. 
         [0136]    When receiving the control message given the registration information  201  and the elapsed time information, the controller  1   a  compares the device ID “ 1   a ” included in the registration information  201  and the device ID “ 1   b ” in registration information  101   a  corresponding to the node ID “#2” in the controller information  10   ay . Because the respective device IDs discord with each other as the result of the comparison, the controller  1   a  compares the elapsed time information “00:10” of the registration information  201  and the elapsed time information “00:07” (see symbol  102   a ) calculated from the update clock time information corresponding to the node ID “#2” (see dotted-line circle) (see “comparison”). 
         [0137]    The controller  1   a  thereby determines which of the registration information  201  of the network control server  2  and the registration information  101   a  of the self-device is newer regarding the control target node #2. The time of the elapsed time information  102   a  is calculated from the difference between the current clock time “20:12” and the update clock time “20:05.” 
         [0138]    In the present example, the time “00:07” of the elapsed time information of the registration information  101   a  about the control target node #2 is smaller than the time “00:10” of the elapsed time information given to the control message. Thus, the controller  1   a  determines that the registration information  101   a  of the self-device is newer than the registration information  201  of the network control server  2  as the result of the comparison of the respective pieces of elapsed time information. 
         [0139]    Accordingly, the controller  1   a  determines that the device that controls the control target node #2 is not the self-device, and transfers the control message to the other controller  1   b  in accordance with the device ID “ 1   b ” of the registration information  101   a  (see “transfer”). At this time, the controller  1   a  gives the registration information  101   a  and the elapsed time information “00:07” to the control message. 
         [0140]    As above, if determining that the registration information  101   a  of the self-device is newer than the registration information  201  of the network control server  2  based on the result of the comparison of the respective pieces of elapsed time information, i.e. the pieces of update clock time information, the controller  1   a  gives the registration information  101   a  of the self-device and the elapsed time information to the control message and transfers the control message. This allows the controller  1   b  as the transfer destination to compare the newness between the pieces of controller information  10   ay  and  10   by  regarding the control target node #2 based on the elapsed time information. 
         [0141]    When receiving the control message given the registration information  101   a  and the elapsed time information, the controller  1   b  compares the device ID “ 1   b ” included in the registration information  101   a  and the device ID “ 1   a ” in registration information  101   b  corresponding to the node ID “#2” in the controller information  10   by . For the controller  1   b , the respective device IDs discord with each other as the result of the comparison. Thus, the controller  1   b  compares the elapsed time information “00:07” given to the control message and the elapsed time information “00:10” (see symbol  102   b ) calculated from the update clock time information corresponding to the node ID “#2” (see dotted-line circle) (see “comparison”). The controller  1   b  thereby determines which of the registration information  101   a  of the other controller  1   a  and the registration information  101   b  of the self-device is newer regarding the control target node #2. 
         [0142]    In the present example, the time “00:10” of the elapsed time information of the registration information  101   b  of the controller  1   b  is larger than the time “00:07” of the elapsed time information given to the control message. Thus, the controller  1   b  determines that the registration information  101   a  of the other controller  1   a  is newer than the registration information  101   b  of the self-device as the result of the comparison of the respective pieces of elapsed time information, and changes the controller information  10   by  based on the registration information  101   a.    
         [0143]    For example, the controller  1   b  changes the device ID to “ 1   b ” so that the registration information  101   b  in the controller information  10   by  may correspond with the registration information  101   a  of the other controller  1   a . Furthermore, the controller  1   b  changes the update clock time information to “20:05” (see arrow) based on the received elapsed time information. This allows the controller  1   b  to set the controller information  10   by  of the self-device to the latest updated state. 
         [0144]    In the present embodiment, the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  compare the newness among the pieces of controller information  20   y ,  10   ay , and  10   by  by comparing the elapsed time information. However, the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, if the clock time synchronization of the timer that counts the current clock time is established among the network control server  2  and the respective controllers  1   a  and  1   b , the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  may compare the update clock time information instead of the elapsed time information. 
         [0145]      FIG. 15  is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of the third embodiment of the network system. For example,  FIG. 15  illustrates a sequence of the operation of  FIG. 14 . 
         [0146]    First, the network control server  2  transmits the control message given the registration information  201  and the elapsed time information “00:10” to the controller  1   a . Next, the controller  1   a  compares the elapsed time information “00:10” and the elapsed time information “00:07” calculated from the update clock time information in the controller information  10   ay  (see symbol S 31 ). 
         [0147]    The controller  1   a  determines that the registration information  101   a  of the self-device is newer than the registration information  201  of the network control server  2  as the result of the comparison of the respective pieces of elapsed time information. Then, the controller  1   a  transmits the control message given the registration information  101   a  and the elapsed time information “00:07” to the controller  1   b  in accordance with the device ID “ 1   b ” of the registration information  101   a . Next, the controller  1   b  compares the elapsed time information “00:07” of the registration information  101   a  and the elapsed time information “00:10” in the controller information  10   by  (see symbol S 32 ). 
         [0148]    The controller  1   b  determines that the registration information  101   a  of the other controller  1   a  is newer than the registration information  101   b  of the self-device as the result of the comparison of the respective pieces of elapsed time information. Then, the controller  1   b  changes the controller information  10   by  based on the elapsed time information given to the control message (see symbol S 33 ). The controller information  10   by  thereby becomes the latest updated state. 
         [0149]    Next, the controller  1   b  transfers the control message to the relay device  4  of the control target node #2. In this manner, the network system operates. 
         [0150]    The controllers  1   a  and  1   b  in the present embodiment have the same configuration as the above-described configuration of  FIG. 12 . When the pieces of controller information  10   ay  and  10   by  are updated in accordance with an update instruction, the update processing unit  160  acquires the current clock time from an internal timer for example and causes the non-volatile memory  13  to store the current clock time as the update clock time information for each of the nodes #1 to #4. Thus, the controller information  10   ay  or  10   by  represented in  FIG. 14  is held in the non-volatile memory  13 . 
         [0151]    The node control unit  161   a  is one example of the receiving unit. The node control unit  161   a  receives the control message given the registration information  201  or  101   a  and the elapsed time information via the communication port  14  and notifies the information comparing unit  164  of the elapsed time information. 
         [0152]    The information comparing unit  164  is one example of the comparing unit. The information comparing unit  164  compares the elapsed time information given to the control message and the update clock time information of the self-device, i.e. the elapsed time information calculated from the update clock time information, regarding the control target node. The information comparing unit  164  notifies the change processing unit  163  and the message transfer processing unit  162   a  of the result of the comparison of the respective pieces of elapsed time information. 
         [0153]    If it is determined that the registration information  201  or  101   a  given to the control message is newer than the registration information  101   a  or  101   b  of the self-device based on the result of the comparison of the respective pieces of elapsed time information, the change processing unit  163  changes the registration information  101   a  or  101   b  of the self-device based on the registration information  201  or  101   a  given to the control message. Moreover, the change processing unit  163  changes the update clock time information of the controller information  10   ay  or  10   by  of the self-device based on the elapsed time information given to the control message. This allows the controller  1   a  or  1   b  to set the controller information  10   ay  or  10   by  of the self-device to the latest updated state. 
         [0154]    The message transfer processing unit  162   a  is one example of the transfer processing unit. If it is determined that the registration information  101   a  or  101   b  of the self-device is newer than the registration information  201  or  101   a  given to the control message based on the result of the comparison of the respective pieces of elapsed time information, the message transfer processing unit  162   a  gives the control message the registration information  101   a  or  101   b  about the control target node in the controller information  10   ay  or  10   by  and transfers the control message. This allows the controller  1   a  or  1   b  as the transfer destination of the control message to compare the elapsed time information. 
         [0155]      FIG. 16  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the controller  1   a  or  1   b  in the third embodiment. In  FIG. 16 , processing common to  FIG. 13  is given the same symbol and description thereof is omitted. The present operation is periodically carried out for example. 
         [0156]    If the respective device IDs do not correspond with each other (No of St 2 ), the information comparing unit  164  calculates the elapsed time from the clock time of the update clock time information in the controller information  10   ay  or  10   by  (St 4   a ). The information comparing unit  164  thereby acquires the elapsed time information. Next, the information comparing unit  164  compares the elapsed time information given to the control message and the elapsed time information of the self-device acquired from the update clock time information (St 4   b ). 
         [0157]    If the time of the elapsed time information of the self-device is equal to or smaller than the time of the elapsed time information given to the control message (Yes of St 4   b ), the message transfer processing unit  162   a  gives the registration information  101   a  or  101   b  of the self-device and the elapsed time information to the control message (St 5   a ). Next, the message transfer processing unit  162   a  transfers the control message given the registration information  101   a  or  101   b  and the elapsed time information to the other controller  1   a  or  1   b  according to the device ID of the registration information  101   a  or  101   b  (St 6   a ). 
         [0158]    If the time of the elapsed time information of the self-device is larger than the time of the elapsed time information given to the control message (No of St 4   b ), the change processing unit  163  changes the registration information  101   a  or  101   b  of the self-device based on the registration information  201  or  101   a  given to the control message (St 7   a ). Even when the registration information  201  or  101   a  is not given to the control message, the node ID and the device ID in the registration information  201  or  101   a  are obvious as described above. For this reason, the change processing unit  163  can change the registration information  101   a  or  101   b  of the self-device from the obvious node ID and device ID. 
         [0159]    Next, the message transfer processing unit  162   a  determines that the device that controls the control target node #1 to #4 is the self-device based on the registration information  101   a  or  101   b . Then, the message transfer processing unit  162   a  transfers the control message to the control target node #1 to #4 (St 8   a ). In this manner, the controller  1   a  or  1   b  operates. 
         [0160]    As above, according to the present embodiment, the newer controller information  10   ay ,  10   by , or  20   y  can be discriminated by the comparison of the elapsed time information in the pieces of controller information  10   ay ,  10   by , and  20   y . Thus, the above-described ping-pong transmission of the control message is avoided. Accordingly, the delay of control processing of the relay device  4  is reduced. 
         [0161]    As described thus far, the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  according to the embodiments exist in the network NW 2  for control including the plural nodes #1 to #4 and the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  that control the plural nodes #1 to #4. The controllers  1   a  and  1   b  include the non-volatile memory  13 , the update processing unit  160 , the node control unit  161  or  161   a , and the message transfer processing unit  162  or  162   a . The non-volatile memory  13  stores the controller information  10   a ,  10   ax ,  10   ay ,  10   b ,  10   bx , or  10   by  indicating the correspondence relationship between the respective nodes #1 to #4 and the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  that control the respective nodes #1 to #4. 
         [0162]    The update processing unit  160  updates the controller information  10   a ,  10   ax ,  10   ay ,  10   b ,  10   bx , or  10   by  in accordance with an update instruction of the load control server  3 . The node control units  161  and  161   a  receive a control message for the control target node #1 to #4 from the network control server  2 . 
         [0163]    When the controller  1   a  or  1   b  associated with the control target node #1 to #4 in the controller information  10   a ,  10   ax ,  10   ay ,  10   b ,  10   bx , or  10   by  is not the self-device, the message transfer processing units  162  and  162   a  transfer the control message to the other controller  1   a  or  1   b  associated with the control target node #1 to #4. 
         [0164]    According to the above-described configuration, when the controller  1   a  or  1   b  that controls the control target node is not the self-device, the message transfer processing units  162  and  162   a  transfer the control message to the other controller  1   a  or  1   b  that controls the control target node. Thus, the control message is not discarded and therefore the network control server  2  does not need to retransmit the control message. Accordingly, according to the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  in accordance with the embodiments, the delay time of the control of the control target node #1 to #4 is reduced. 
         [0165]    The network system according to the embodiments includes the plural nodes #1 to #4, the network control server  2 , the controllers  1   a  and  1   b , and the load control server  3 . The network control server  2  generates control messages for the respective nodes #1 to #4. The controllers  1   a  and  1   b  control the plural nodes #1 to #4. 
         [0166]    The network control server  2  includes the non-volatile memory  28 , the update processing unit  250 , and the message transmitting unit  252 . The non-volatile memory  28  stores the controller information  20 ,  20   x , or  20   y  indicating the correspondence relationship between the respective nodes #1 to #4 and the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  that control the respective nodes #1 to #4. The update processing unit  250  updates the controller information  20 ,  20   x , or  20   y  in accordance with an update instruction of the load control server  3 . The message transmitting unit  252  transmits a control message to the controller  1   a  or  1   b  associated with the control target node #1 to #4 in the controller information  20 ,  20   x , or  20   y.    
         [0167]    The controllers  1   a  and  1   b  include the non-volatile memory  13 , the update processing unit  160 , the node control unit  161  or  161   a , and the message transfer processing unit  162  or  162   a . The non-volatile memory  13  stores the controller information  10   a ,  10   ax ,  10   ay ,  10   b ,  10   bx , or  10   by  indicating the correspondence relationship between the respective nodes #1 to #4 and the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  that control the respective nodes #1 to #4. 
         [0168]    The update processing unit  160  updates the controller information  10   a ,  10   ax ,  10   ay ,  10   b ,  10   bx , or  10   by  in accordance with an update instruction of the load control server  3 . The node control units  161  and  161   a  receive the control message transmitted from the message transmitting unit  252 . 
         [0169]    When the controller  1   a  or  1   b  associated with the control target node #1 to #4 in the controller information  10   a ,  10   ax ,  10   ay ,  10   b ,  10   bx , or  10   by  is not the self-device, the message transfer processing units  162  and  162   a  transfer the control message to the other controller  1   a  or  1   b  associated with the control target node #1 to #4. 
         [0170]    The load control server  3  instructs the network control server  2  and the controllers  1   a  and  1   b  to update the pieces of controller information  20 ,  20   x , or  20   y , and  10   a ,  10   ax , or  10   ay , and  10   b ,  10   bx , or  10   by , respectively. 
         [0171]    The network system according to the embodiments includes the same configuration as the above-described controllers  1   a  and  1   b  and therefore provides the same operation and effects as the above-described contents. 
         [0172]    All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 5