Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-88338, filed on Mar. 28, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The embodiments discussed herein are related to a network connection device which performs data transmission and reception processing and a signal processing method in the device. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Conventional methods for managing a SONET/SDH (Synchronous Optical Network/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) communication network include supporting GMPLS (Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching) and supporting OSI (Open Systems Interconnection). Some communication protocols are used in combination in the entire network. 
         [0006]    Such a SONET/SDH communication network is managed by a piece of monitor and control equipment called an NMS (Network Management System). 
         [0007]    At this time, a SDCC (Section Data Communication Channel) prepared in a section overhead of a SONET/SDH frame is used for communication between an NMS and a transmission device and communication between transmission devices. 
         [0008]    A protocol used in a SDCC depends on whether a transmission device supports GMPLS or OSI. A TCP/IP protocol is used between transmission devices supporting GMPLS while an OSI protocol is used between transmission devices supporting OSI. 
         [0009]    A protocol used by a transmission device serving as an object to be monitored and controlled needs to be used in a control signal to be transmitted by an NMS. 
         [0010]    Accordingly, an NMS needs to be installed for each network group in which a common protocol is used in order to manage, e.g., the whole of a network where networks to which GMPLS-based management is applied and networks to which OSI-based management is applied are mixed. In this case, installation of NMSs entails a lot of costs and requires administrators for operating the NMSs to be stationed. 
         [0011]    Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2004-524784 discloses an OSI tunnel which encapsulates an IP packet in an OSI packet and allows the OSI packet to pass through a DCN (Data Communication Network) supporting OSI. 
         [0012]    The OSI tunnel makes it possible to monitor and control transmission devices supporting GMPLS by one NMS. The reduction in the number of NMSs leads to a reduction in costs and workforce. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0013]    According to an aspect of the invention, a network connection device for performing a process of transmitting and receiving a SONET/SDH frame comprises a first protocol processor which processes a first network management protocol; a second protocol processor which processes a second network management protocol; a frame header extractor which extracts a header from the received SONET/SDH frame; and a protocol identifier which identifies a network management protocol based on the extracted frame header, selects one of a control signal outputted from the first protocol processor and a control signal outputted from the second protocol processor based on a result of the identification, and outputs the control signal. 
         [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. 
         [0016]    The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended as examples, and all embodiments of the present invention are not limited to including the features described above. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a diagram showing an example of a network serving as an object to be monitored and controlled; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of a network connection device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a diagram showing a SONET/SDH frame format; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a diagram showing a frame format for the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP); 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a diagram showing a frame format for the Link Access Procedure on the D-channel (LAPD); 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart for explaining a processing operation of a D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart for explaining a processing operation of a LAPD control unit  160   a;    
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a diagram showing an example of a network serving as an object to be monitored and controlled; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of a gateway device according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a chart showing examples of pieces of information stored by protocol management units; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a flow chart for explaining a processing operation of a D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a flow chart for explaining a processing operation of the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370 ; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  is a diagram showing a network with a disconnection. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    Reference may now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0031]    Use of an OSI tunnel technique suffers from problems such as the cumbersomeness of work required for OSI tunnel setting and the danger of incorrect setting. Additionally, monitoring and control of a transmission device supporting OSI needs to be performed by another NMS, which leaves room for a reduction in costs and/or workforce. 
         [0032]    Therefore, there is a need for a method capable of easily managing the whole of a SONET/SDH communication network in a centralized manner by one piece of monitor and control equipment. 
         [0033]    Preferred embodiments of a network connection device and a gateway device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       First Embodiment 
       [0034]      FIG. 1  is a diagram showing an example of a network serving as an object to be monitored and controlled. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the network is configured such that a first network composed of repeating devices  10 A 1  to  10 A 3 , a second network composed of repeating devices  20 A 1  to  20 A 3 , and a third network composed of repeating devices  30 A 1  to  30 A 3  are connected. 
         [0035]    Any of the first to third networks is a network constructed in conformity with SONET/SDH. The first and third networks support GMPLS while the second network supports OSI. 
         [0036]    A SDCC (Section Data Communication Channel) prepared in a section overhead of a SONET/SDH frame is used for communication between repeating devices in the above-described network. 
         [0037]    However, the first to third networks use different protocols for communication between repeating devices. 
         [0038]    In other words, a TCP/IP protocol is used for communication among the repeating devices  10 A 1  to  10 A 3  supporting GMPLS and communication among the repeating devices  30 A 1  to  30 A 3 , while an OSI protocol is used for communication among the repeating devices  20 A 1  to  20 A 3 . 
         [0039]    As described above, a different protocol is used for communication in each small-scale network. Accordingly, conventional management of the whole network requires installment of a piece of monitor and control equipment for each small-scale network. 
         [0040]    There is also available a method of managing the first and third networks supporting GMPLS in a centralized manner by means of one piece of monitor and control equipment by setting an OSI tunnel between the repeating device  20 A 1  and the repeating device  20 A 2 . However, the setting of the OSI tunnel requires cumbersome work. 
         [0041]    For this reason, all repeating devices within the network shown in  FIG. 1  are each equipped with a network connection device according to this embodiment such that one piece of monitor and control equipment  40  can manage the whole network in a centralized manner without cumbersome work such as setting an OSI tunnel. 
         [0042]    More specifically, each repeating device is enabled to communicate both of an OSI control signal (LAPD) and a GMPLS control signal (PPP) on a SDCC. Accordingly, the piece of monitor and control equipment  40  may use both of an OSI control signal and a GMPLS control signal for network monitoring and control. 
         [0043]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of a network connection device according to this embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 2 , a network connection device  100  includes a signal reception unit  110 , a section overhead separation unit  120 , a D4-to-D12 byte acquirement unit  130 , and an error detector  140 . The network connection device  100  also includes a D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150 , a LAPD control unit  160   a , a PPP control unit  160   b , and a device alarm control unit  170 . The network connection device  100  further includes a section overhead multiplexing unit  180 , a SONET/SDH frame generation unit  190 , and a signal transmission unit  200 . 
         [0044]    In the following explanation, a description of the units at the time of SONET/SDH frame reception and a description of the units at the time of SONET/SDH frame transmission will be separately given below. The description of the units at the time of SONET/SDH frame reception will be given first. 
         [0045]    The signal reception unit  110  receives an optical signal (a SONET/SDH frame) transmitted from an opposing repeating device. The signal reception unit  110  subjects the received optical signal to electric conversion. The signal reception unit  110  then outputs the electric signal obtained after the conversion to the section overhead separation unit  120 . 
         [0046]    A SONET/SDH frame to be received by the signal reception unit  110  will be concretely described with reference to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  is a diagram showing a SONET/SDH frame format. 
         [0047]    In the network shown in  FIG. 1 , each repeating device transmits and receives a frame with 9 rows and 270 columns as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0048]    Nine rows by 9 columns at the top of a frame constitute a section overhead and serve as a header part of the frame. The first three rows in the section overhead constitute a Regenerator Section Overhead. The fourth row constitutes an AU-4 pointer. The last five rows constitute a Multiplex Section Overhead. The remaining 9 rows by 261 columns constitute a payload and serves as a region for storing information. 
         [0049]    An OSI control signal (LAPD) or a GMPLS control signal (PPP) transmitted from the monitor and control equipment  40  is mapped to D4 to D12 bytes in the Multiplex Section Overhead. 
         [0050]    Upon receipt of the frame from the signal reception unit  110 , the section overhead separation unit  120  separates a section overhead from the frame. The section overhead separation unit  120  outputs the section overhead to the D4-to-D12 byte acquirement unit  130 . 
         [0051]    Upon receipt of the section overhead from the section overhead separation unit  120 , the D4-to-D12 byte acquirement unit  130  acquires the D4 to D12 bytes from the section overhead. The D4-to-D12 byte acquirement unit  130  outputs the D4 to D12 bytes to the error detector  140 . 
         [0052]    Upon receipt of the D4 to D12 bytes from the D4-to-D12 byte acquirement unit  130 , the error detector  140  performs error detection by performing a checksum test and the like on the D4 to D12 bytes. If an error is detected, the error detector  140  notifies the LAPD control unit  160   a  and PPP control unit  160   b  that the error was detected. After the error detection, the error detector  140  outputs the D4 to D12 bytes to the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150 . 
         [0053]    When the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150  receives the D4 to D12 bytes from the error detector  140  and acquires the value of a bit at a predetermined position of the D4 to D12 bytes, it identifies a protocol in the D4 to D12 bytes on the basis of the value. 
         [0054]    A protocol identification method for the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 4  is a diagram showing a frame format for PPP. As shown in  FIG. 4 , if the monitor and control equipment  40  transmits a GMPLS control signal (PPP), the values of the ninth bit and the 17th bit in the bit sequence of the control signal are invariably “1” and “0”, respectively. 
         [0056]      FIG. 5  is a diagram showing a frame format for LAPD. As shown in  FIG. 5 , if the monitor and control equipment  40  transmits an OSI control signal (LAPD), the values of the ninth bit and the 17th bit in the bit sequence of the control signal are invariably “0” and “1”, respectively. 
         [0057]    The D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150  acquires the values of the ninth bit and the 17th bit in the bit sequence of the D4 to D12 bytes. If the values are “1” and “0” respectively, the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150  judges that the protocol is PPP. On the other hand, if the values are “0” and “1” respectively, the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150  judges that the protocol is LAPD. 
         [0058]    A processing operation of the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150  will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150 . The process flow shown in  FIG. 6  is repeatedly executed each time the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150  receives D4 to D12 bytes from the error detector  140 . 
         [0059]    First, the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150  performs protocol identification on received D4 to D12 bytes (operation S 110 ). If the identification has been successfully performed (YES in operation S 120 ), the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150  outputs the D4 to D12 bytes to a destination appropriate to the type of the protocol (operation S 130 ). 
         [0060]    Note that the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150  outputs the D4 to D12 bytes to the LAPD control unit  160   a  if a protocol in the D4 to D12 bytes is LAPD and outputs the D4 to D12 bytes to the PPP control unit  160   b  if the protocol in the D4 to D12 bytes is PPP. 
         [0061]    On the other hand, if the identification has been unsuccessfully performed (NO in operation S 120 ), the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150  outputs the D4 to D12 bytes to a predetermined destination (operation S 140 ) and ends the process. 
         [0062]    Note that the destination for the case of unsuccessful identification may be arbitrarily set. For example, either the LAPD control unit  160   a  or the PPP control unit  160   b  may be set as the destination. Alternatively, both the LAPD control unit  160   a  and the PPP control unit  160   b  may be set as the destination. 
         [0063]    The LAPD control unit  160   a  interprets the D4 to D12 bytes received from the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150  according to LAPD and performs processing. 
         [0064]    The PPP control unit  160   b  interprets the D4 to D12 bytes received from the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150  according to PPP and performs processing. 
         [0065]    The device alarm control unit  170  monitors the network connection device for a failure. When the device alarm control unit  170  detects any failure, it notifies the LAPD control unit  160   a  and PPP control unit  160   b  of the failure. 
         [0066]    A processing operation of the LAPD control unit  160   a  will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the LAPD control unit  160   a . The process flow shown in  FIG. 7  is repeatedly executed while the network connection device  100  is operating. Note that since a processing operation of the PPP control unit  160   b  is the same as the processing operation of the LAPD control unit  160   a  to be described below, a description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0067]    If the LAPD control unit  160   a , having received a notification from the error detector  140 , receives D4 to D12 bytes from the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150  (YES in operation S 150  and YES in operation S 190 ), it performs a retransmission requesting process (operation S 200 ). 
         [0068]    If the LAPD control unit  160   a , not having received a notification from the error detector  140 , receives the D4 to D12 bytes from the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150  (YES in operation S 150  and NO in operation S 190 ), it interprets the D4 to D12 bytes according to LAPD. If the D4 to D12 bytes indicate that a received frame is a retransmission request (YES in operation S 210 ), the LAPD control unit  160   a  makes a retransmission to a partner which has made the retransmission request (operation S 230 ). On the other hand, if the received frame is not a retransmission request (NO in operation S 210 ), the LAPD control unit  160   a  performs a normal process such as outputting the D4 to D12 bytes to a main control unit of a repeating device equipped with the network connection device (operation S 220 ). 
         [0069]    Referring back to operation S 150 , if the LAPD control unit  160   a  has not received D4 to D12 bytes from the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150  after a certain period of time (NO in operation S 150 , NO in operation S 160 , and YES in operation S 170 ), it performs a keep-alive process to maintain communication with an opposing repeating device (operation S 180 ). 
         [0070]    When the LAPD control unit  160   a  receives a notification from the device alarm control unit  170  (NO in operation S 150  and YES in operation S 160 ), the LAPD control unit  160   a  immediately performs the keep-alive process (operation S 180 ) even if the certain period of time has not elapsed. For example, the LAPD control unit  160   a  makes a retransmission request in response to the retransmission request not after the certain period of time but immediately after a notification from the device alarm control unit  170 , which has detected the failure, even if a retransmission to a partner which has made a retransmission request cannot be made due to some failure in the network connection device. 
         [0071]    The description of the units at the time of SONET/SDH frame transmission will be given. 
         [0072]    The LAPD control unit  160   a  creates a LAPD frame using information to be transmitted which is inputted from the main control unit of the repeating device (not shown) in accordance with the frame format for LAPD. 
         [0073]    The PPP control unit  160   b  creates a PPP frame using information to be transmitted which is inputted from the main control unit of the repeating device (not shown) in accordance with the frame format for PPP. 
         [0074]    The D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150  creates information for D4 to D12 bytes in accordance with the SONET/SDH frame format from the frame received from the LAPD control unit  160   a  or the frame received from the PPP control unit  160   b  depending on a result of the protocol type identification in operation S 130  of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0075]    The section overhead multiplexing unit  180  multiplexes the information for D4 to D12 bytes received from the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  150  into a section overhead. 
         [0076]    The SONET/SDH frame generation unit  190  generates a SONET/SDH frame using the section overhead received from the section overhead multiplexing unit  180 . 
         [0077]    The signal transmission unit  200  outputs, as an optical signal, the SONET/SDH frame generated by the SONET/SDH frame generation unit  190 . 
         [0078]    As described above, according to the first embodiment, the network connection device  100  identifies a protocol of a control signal transmitted from the monitor and control equipment  40  and processes the control signal by the LAPD control unit  160   a  or PPP control unit  160   b  depending on the type of the protocol. 
         [0079]    Since transmission devices constituting a SONET/SDH communication network are each equipped with the network connection device  100 , it is possible to manage the whole network in a centralized manner by the same piece of monitor and control equipment. Additionally, cumbersome work such as setting an OSI tunnel is unnecessary for the management. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0080]      FIG. 8  is a diagram showing an example of a network serving as an object to be monitored and controlled. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the network includes networks to be described below. A first network includes a repeating device  50 A 1 , a gateway device  50 A 2 , and a repeating device  50 A 3 . A second network includes a gateway device  60 A 1 , a repeating device  60 A 2 , and a repeating device  60 A 3 . A third network includes a gateway device  70 A 1 , a repeating device  70 A 2 , and a repeating device  70 A 3 . The first, second, and third networks are connected to one another. 
         [0081]    More specifically, the repeating device  50 A 1 , repeating device  50 A 3 , gateway device  70 A 1 , and gateway device  60 A 1  are connected to ports P 1  to P 4 , respectively, of the gateway device  50 A 2 . 
         [0082]    The repeating device  60 A 3 , repeating device  60 A 2 , gateway device  50 A 2 , and gateway device  70 A 1  are connected to ports P 5  to P 8 , respectively, of the gateway device  60 A 1 . 
         [0083]    The repeating device  70 A 2 , repeating device  70 A 3 , gateway device  50 A 2 , and gateway device  60 A 1  are connected to ports P 9  to P 12 , respectively, of the gateway device  70 A 1 . 
         [0084]    The above-described first to third networks are each a network constructed in conformity with SONET/SDH. The first network supports GMPLS while the second and third networks support OSI. 
         [0085]    Accordingly, a TCP/IP protocol is used for communication among the devices  50 A 1  to  50 A 3  while an OSI protocol is used for communication among the devices  60 A 1  to  60 A 3  and communication among the devices  70 A 1  to  70 A 3 . 
         [0086]    The gateway device  50 A 2 , gateway device  60 A 1 , and gateway device  70 A 1  described above are gateway devices according to this embodiment. It is possible to manage the whole network in a centralized manner by one piece of monitor and control equipment  40 . 
         [0087]    Note that a second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the monitor and control equipment  40  needs to use a control signal in a protocol used by a repeating device to which the monitor and control equipment  40  is connected for network monitoring and control. That is, the monitor and control equipment  40  uses a GMPLS control signal (PPP) in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0088]      FIG. 9  is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of a gateway device according to this embodiment. Note that the gateway device  50 A 2  shown in  FIG. 8  will be described as a representative example. 
         [0089]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , the gateway device  50 A 2  includes a main control unit  310 , a signal reception unit  320 , a section overhead separation unit  330 , and a D4-to-D12 byte acquirement unit  340 . The gateway device  50 A 2  also includes an error detector  350 , a protocol management unit  360 , and a D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370 . The gateway device  50 A 2  further includes a LAPD control unit  390   a , a PPP control unit  390   b , a device alarm control unit  380 , a section overhead multiplexing unit  400 , a SONET/SDH frame generation unit  410 , and a signal transmission unit  420 . 
         [0090]    The main control unit  310  is a processor which performs overall control of the gateway device  50 A 2  and performs information processing on a payload and a section overhead. 
         [0091]    In the following explanation, a description of the units at the time of frame reception and a description of the units at the time of frame transmission will be separately given below. The description of the units at the time of frame reception will be given first. 
         [0092]    The signal reception unit  320  receives an optical signal transmitted from an opposing repeating device, subjects the received optical signal to electric conversion, and then outputs the resultant signal to the section overhead separation unit  330 . 
         [0093]    Upon receipt of a frame from the signal reception unit  320 , the section overhead separation unit  330  separates the frame into a section overhead and a payload. The section overhead separation unit  330  outputs the section overhead to the D4-to-D12 byte acquirement unit  340  and outputs the payload to the main control unit  310 . 
         [0094]    Upon receipt of the section overhead from the section overhead separation unit  330 , the D4-to-D12 byte acquirement unit  340  acquires D4 to D12 bytes from the section overhead. The D4-to-D12 byte acquirement unit  340  outputs the D4 to D12 bytes to the error detector  350  and outputs the section overhead except for the D4 to D12 bytes to the main control unit  310 . 
         [0095]    Upon receipt of the D4 to D12 bytes from the D4-to-D12 byte acquirement unit  340 , the error detector  350  performs error detection by performing a checksum test and the like on the D4 to D12 bytes. If an error is detected, the error detector  350  notifies the LAPD control unit  390   a  and PPP control unit  390   b  that the error was detected. After the error detection, the error detector  350  outputs the D4 to D12 bytes to the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370 . 
         [0096]    The protocol management unit  360  stores the type of the protocol used for communication with a repeating device connected to the gateway device  50 A 2 . 
         [0097]    More specifically, the protocol management unit  360  stores a port and a protocol type in association with each other, as shown in a table of the gateway device  50 A 2  in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0098]    When the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  receives the D4 to D12 bytes from the error detector  350  and acquires the value of a bit at a predetermined position of the D4 to D12 bytes, it identifies a protocol in the D4 to D12 bytes on the basis of the value. Note that a protocol identification method is as described in the first embodiment. 
         [0099]    A processing operation of the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  will be described with reference to  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 11  is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370 . The process flow shown in  FIG. 11  is repeatedly executed each time the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  receives D4 to D12 bytes from the error detector  350 . 
         [0100]    The D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  judges through which port the received D4 to D12 bytes are inputted (operation S 240 ). 
         [0101]    The D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  searches the protocol management unit  360  (operation S 250 ) to see whether a correspondence between the port and a protocol type is registered. If the correspondence is already registered (YES in operation S 250 ), the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  determines a destination depending on a protocol type associated with the port (operation S 260 ) and outputs the D4 to D12 bytes to the destination (operation S 270 ). 
         [0102]    Note that the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  outputs the D4 to D12 bytes to the LAPD control unit  390   a  if the protocol type is LAPD and outputs the D4 to D12 bytes to the PPP control unit  390   b  if the protocol type is PPP. 
         [0103]    Referring back to operation S 250 , if the correspondence between the port and a protocol type is not registered (NO in operation S 250 ), the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  performs an identification and output process indicated by operations S 110  to S 140  in  FIG. 6  (operation S 280 ). After that, the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  registers the correspondence between the port and a protocol type in the protocol management unit  360  (operation S 290 ) only if the protocol identification has been successfully performed and ends the process. 
         [0104]    The LAPD control unit  390   a  interprets the D4 to D12 bytes received from the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  according to LAPD and performs processing. 
         [0105]    The PPP control unit  390   b  interprets the D4 to D12 bytes received from the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  according to PPP and performs processing. 
         [0106]    Note that concrete processing operations of the LAPD control unit  390   a  and PPP control unit  390   b  are as described with reference to  FIG. 7  in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0107]    The device alarm control unit  380  constantly monitors the gateway device for a failure. When the device alarm control unit  380  detects any failure, it notifies the LAPD control unit  390   a  and PPP control unit  390   b  of the failure. 
         [0108]    The description of the units at the time of frame transmission will be given. The LAPD control unit  390   a  creates a frame using information to be transmitted which is inputted from the main control unit  310  in accordance with a frame format for LAPD. 
         [0109]    The PPP control unit  390   b  creates a frame using information to be transmitted which is inputted from the main control unit  310  in accordance with a frame format for PPP. 
         [0110]    Upon receipt of the frame from the LAPD control unit  390   a  or PPP control unit  390   b , the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  recreates a frame by a protocol converter  371  if protocol conversion is necessary. The D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  creates, from the frame, information for D4 to D12 bytes in accordance with a SONET/SDH frame format. 
         [0111]    A processing operation of the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  will be described with reference to  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 12  is a flow chart for explaining the processing operation of the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370 . The process flow shown in  FIG. 12  is repeatedly executed each time the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  receives a frame from the LAPD control unit  390   a  or PPP control unit  390   b.    
         [0112]    First, the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  judges through which port a received frame is to be outputted. The D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  refers to a correspondence stored by the protocol management unit  360 , and identifies a protocol used by a destination device (operation S 300 ). 
         [0113]    If the protocol of the received frame and the protocol as a result of the identification are identical (YES in operation S 310 ), the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  creates information for D4 to D12 bytes from the received frame and outputs the D4 to D12 bytes to the section overhead multiplexing unit  400  (operation S 320 ). 
         [0114]    On the other hand, if the protocol of the received frame and the protocol as the determination result are different (NO in operation S 310 ), the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  recreates a frame in the protocol as the determination result by the protocol converter  371  (operation S 330 ). 
         [0115]    The D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  creates the information for D4 to D12 bytes from the frame, outputs the information to the section overhead multiplexing unit  400  (operation S 320 ), and ends the process. 
         [0116]    A failure may occur in the network, and a transfer path for a SONET/SDH frame may be changed. 
         [0117]    For example, as shown in  FIG. 13 , the transfer path between the repeating device  50 A 1  and the repeating device  70 A 2  may be changed from a normal transfer path (a path indicated by an arrow in a network on the upper side in  FIG. 13 ) (to a path indicated by an arrow in a network on the lower side in  FIG. 13 ) due to a disconnection. 
         [0118]    Even if correspondences between ports and protocol types as shown in  FIG. 10  are stored in the protocol management unit in each gateway device in advance of the occurrence of the disconnection, the disconnection does not cause a change in the contents of a table storing the correspondences. 
         [0119]    Even after the occurrence of the disconnection, the D4-to-D12 byte identifier of each gateway device likewise judges through which port a received frame is to be outputted. The D4-to-D12 byte identifier refers to the correspondences stored by the protocol management unit and identifies a protocol used by a destination device. If protocol conversion is necessary, the protocol converter recreates a frame. 
         [0120]    Accordingly, even if a SONET/SDH frame is transferred through the path after the occurrence of the disconnection, the gateway device  50 A 2  converts the D4 to D12 bytes of a frame from a protocol in the D4 to D12 bytes to the protocol used for communication with the repeating device  50 A 1 , to which the port P 1  is connected, PPP, as before. 
         [0121]    The gateway device  70 A 1  converts D4 to D12 bytes of a frame from a protocol in the D4 to D12 bytes to the protocol used for communication with the repeating device  70 A 2 , to which the port P 9  is connected, LAPD, as before. 
         [0122]    Consequently, even if a disconnection occurs, communication between the repeating device  50 A 1  and the repeating device  70 A 2  can be established. 
         [0123]    The section overhead multiplexing unit  400  multiplexes the information for D4 to D12 bytes received from the D4-to-D12 byte identifier  370  into a section overhead except for information for D4 to D12 bytes received from the main control unit  310 . 
         [0124]    The SONET/SDH frame generation unit  410  adds the section overhead received from the section overhead multiplexing unit  400  to a payload received from the main control unit  310 , thereby generating a SONET/SDH frame. 
         [0125]    The signal transmission unit  420  outputs, as an optical signal, the SONET/SDH frame generated by the SONET/SDH frame generation unit  410 . 
         [0126]    As described above, according to the second embodiment, each time the gateway device receives a control signal, it identifies the type of a protocol of the control signal and registers the protocol type in the protocol management unit. The gateway device processes the control signal by the LAPD control unit or PPP control unit depending on the protocol type determined by identification or a search of the protocol management unit. When a control signal is to be transmitted, the control signal is converted from the protocol of the control signal to a protocol used by a destination device, if necessary. 
         [0127]    Installment of the gateway device for each network group in which a common protocol is used in a SONET/SDH communication network makes it possible to manage the whole network in a centralized manner by the same piece of monitor and control equipment. Additionally, cumbersome work such as setting an OSI tunnel is unnecessary for the management. 
         [0128]    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 embodiment(s) of the present inventions 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. 
         [0129]    Although a few preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Technology Category: h