Telecommunications packet switching system

DESCRIPTION

GIVES

PATENT OF INVENTION

No. 98,740

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APPLICANT: TELEFÓNICA DE ESPANA, SA, Spanish, Industrial, Gran Via 28 28013 Madrid, Spain

EPIGRAPH: TELEINFORM PACKAGE SWITCHING SYSTEM

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INVENTORS: Francisco Golderos Sanchez, Pedro Lizcano Martin, Jua.n Dato Solis, Bernardo Escudero Allen and Juan Jose Perez Blanco

Claim of right of priority under Article 4 of the Paris Convention of 20 March 1883.

Spain, November 5, 1,990, No.9002803

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DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY

resume

Building on a hardware and software framework, an advanced multiprocess-multiprocessor generation system is configured, which can be connected to multiple networks, which allows a large concentration of lines at low speeds, as well as a control center that performs operating functions, and a terminal, which allows the interchange with the system and that has, for the electric supply, a DC / DC converter in each unitary element.

TELEPHONE OF ESPANA, SA

TELEINFORM PACKAGE SWITCHING SYSTEM

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OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a teleinformatic packet switching system consisting of a piece of hardware and other software, forming an advanced multiprocess-multiprocessor generation system whose clear purpose is based on the provision of a fully distributed hardware and software structure. , error-tolerant, with flexible configuration and removable management across the network, It can switch and transmit information previously divided into packets, between a source and a destination, following the different specific protocols.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention has application within the telecommunications industry.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, several packet switching systems are known to exist, all of which are designed to perform packet data switching between a source and a destination.

However, it has been observed in all known systems for packet switching that they do not incorporate into the system itself the different types on the market for broader modems, that is, integrated modems.

It has also been found that these electronic switching systems should have greater packet capacity and at the same time connect data lines as well as incorporate better quality of services.

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As a result of the foregoing, the exploitation of networks constituted by applying a suitable system would be much better, and the cost of setting up per line would be lower.

It would also allow for the admission of data interfaces at a higher speed, offering a suitable capacity to support a wide range of physical level interfaces.

Finally, it would be considered appropriate for this system to have a definition and support of the physical levels of data interfaces for connection to digital transmission networks.

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However, it is currently not known that electronic packet switching systems, which have existed to date on the market, have the characteristics shown to be suitable.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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The tele-informatic packet-switching system proposed by the invention is an effective solution for improving the services of other presently existing tele-packet-switched systems regarding packet-switching and line-connection capabilities as well as quality of service, cost, the operation of data networks, the speed and definition of data interfaces, the flexibility to adapt to different data networks, the incorporation of new services and various facilities.

The teleinformatic packet-switching system described below is mainly composed of a piece of hardware and a piece of software; It is, in short, an advanced, multiprocess-multiprocessor generation system with fully distributed, error-tolerant hardware and software structure with flexible configuration and removable management across the network itself.

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hardware consists of:

- By the network center.

- By the control center.

- By the operating terminals.

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The network exchange performs the packet switching function, allowing a high concentration of low speed lines and connection to the following types of networks:

1, - To the switched telephone network, either directly or via modem.

2, - To the IBERMIC network directly via high and very high speed lines.

3, - To other packet switching networks, through dedicated lines.

4, - It also allows the direct connection of subscribers through dedicated lines, as well as the incorporation of the elements necessary for the connection to future types of networks, as they begin to appear.

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In the network center, we can see three perfectly different parts:

A. - The connecting network.

B. - The units of process.

C.— The local interconnection path.

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The local interconnection route consists of a serial bus, consisting of three parts:

Cl.- One for clock signal distribution.

C2.- Another for data transmission, from process unit to connection elements.

C3. - Another for data transmission, from the connecting network to the elements of the process unit.

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The process units are physically constituted by a set of elements interconnected with each other and with one element of the connecting network via the local interconnection path.

Communication between the various elements of a process unit, and between them and those of other process units, is via said local interconnection path.

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The system incorporates three types of process units, which are distinguished from each other by their function:

-Packet switching units, which perform the packet switching function and service the external data lines.

- Control and supervisory units, which perform central control functions of the system, such as massive disk storage, communication with the control center for exploration and other functions.

- Switching and control units that perform the packet switching and central control functions of the system This type of process units is useful for servicing a reduced number of lines.

The connecting network, which is made up of a variable number of network elements, all interconnected directly with each other and through one another, forms a flat grid, which, while allowing uniform growth, provides alternative paths between any two elements of the network.

The control center is made up of one or more computers, according to the required capacity, as well as the necessary peripherals such as console or discharge devices, which ensure the ease of transporting the software designed for that control center.

In the control center are the operating functions; It controls and processes information related to the management and conservation of the system.

Scanning terminals are process-capable computers with a screen that allows color, mouse, and peripheral graphics to make system operation more efficient.

Scanning terminals can be local or remote via the control center connection network.

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The system software implements the functions of the system, which consists of:

- By the basic software.

- by the application software.

- By the scanning software.

Basic software provides the application software with a virtual machine environment, isolating it to the maximum from the hardware, that is, from the application software point of view, the system is a single processor with no errors, no memory limitations. , with unlimited process capability, etc., etc.

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Application software's mission is to specify the implementation of system functions ie:

- Packet switching.

- Implementation of communications protocols.

- Exploration functions.

- Etc, etc.

Operating software enables the supervision and administration of the system and its associated network by performing the following functions:

- Communication between applications, regardless of their physical location.

- Carrying out traffic and quality of service measures.

- Data management of the operating network.

- Establishment and release of virtual circuits.

- Establishment and release of services for the communication between applications existing in different equipment of the system.

- Data transformation to achieve independence between functions existing in different equipment.

System software is organized through resource abstraction and overlap grouping techniques, where the ability of each layer's components to operate is defined by its interface with the top layer, through which it accesses the abstract resources that the bottom layer elaborate and present.

There are two layers in the system softwa re:

- A low level

- Another high level.

-ΙΟ-

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Low-level software has the purpose of elaborating the abstract resources used by the high-level software, using, for this purpose, the physical resources offered by the hardware.

Hardware provides high-level software with the following features:

- Communication between high level components.

- Access to processors for execution of high level programs.

- Access to peripheral devices.

High-level software is deployed as a single type of component called a process, which is the elemental unit of implementation.

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The creation of processes is dynamic, that is, they are created when needed and destroyed when they are no longer needed.

Interprocess communication takes place by means of messages, which allow data exchange independently of the processor in which this is performed.

Ecploration software is designed according to the concept of functional units, understood as those software entities that together provide all the functionality of the system.

Each functional entity has a specific mission that sometimes coincides with a system function, and sometimes groups more than one.

This functional decomposition into functional units allows to make independent functions that have little connection between them, with a view to both its implementation and its operation, offering advantages of software management, uniformity and realization.

Each functional unit consists of a basic services module, which comprises a set of features and services common to all of them, as well as the full details of their interactions and a functional unit core that will be different for each case, and which will be responsible for provide all specific functions.

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DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

To complete the description that is being made, and in order to aid a better understanding of the features of the invention, the present specification includes, as an integral part thereof, seven planed sheets, in which, by way of illustration and not restrictive the following was represented:

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Figure number 1. - Shows a diagram showing an overview of the system's possibilities to connect to different types of networks.

Figure number 2. - Shows a block diagram showing the three main parts of the system.

Figure number 3. - Shows again a diagram showing the integral parts of the network exchange.

Figure number 4. - Shows a diagram in which the composition of the process units appears.

Figures 5, 6 and 8 show different diagrams of the connection network.

Figure number 7. - Shows again a diagram of the composition of the process units.

Figure number 9. - Shows a block diagram of the relationship between hardware and software.

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Figure number 10. - Shows a diagram of the relationships between different high-level software processes.

Figure number 11. - Shows the structure of the scanning software.

IREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

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In view of these figures, and specifically figure 9, it can be seen how the teleinformatic packet switching system proposed by the invention consists essentially of a hardware part (15) and another software part (16) and (17). .

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The teleinformatic packet switching system is an advanced generation multiprocess-multiprocessor system with fully distributed, fault tolerant hardware and software structure, flexible configuration and remote management, ie remote control via the network itself. .

hardware (15) is as can be inferred from Figure 2, by the following parts:

A network exchange (7), a control exchange (8) and operating terminals (6).

The network exchange (7) performs the packet switching function and allows a large concentration of low speed lines and, as can be seen in figure 1, allows the system connection

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(1) the following types of networks:

To the switched telephone network (4) either directly or through moderators (5).

The IBERMIC network (3), either directly or via high or very high speed lines.

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of packets (2) through

Other switching networks dedicated lines and modems (5).

The network exchange also allows direct connection of subscribers (6) through dedicated lines and modems (5), as well as the implementation of the necessary elements for connection to future types of networks as they appear.

In the network exchange 7, shown in figure 2, three parts can be distinguished according to figure 3, which are perfectly differentiated:

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- The process units (9) and (10).

- The connecting network (11).

- And the local interconnection path (12).

-15The local interconnection track (12) consists of a serial bus, consisting of three parts:

- One for clock signal distribution.

- One for transmitting chdos from the elements of the process unit (9) and (10) to the connecting unit (11).

- One for data transmission from the connecting network (11) to the elements of the process units (9) and (10).

The process units (9) and (10) are physically comprised of a set of elements (13) interconnected with each other and a network element (14) of the connecting network (11) via the local interconnection path (12). as shown in figures 4 and 7.

Communication between the different elements (13) of a process unit (9) or (10) and between them and the elements of other process units (9) or (10) takes place via said interconnecting path. location (12).

The system incorporates the following three process types (9) or (10), which are distinguished from each other by their function:

- Packet switching units (10), which perform the packet function and service external data lines.

- Control and supervision units (9), which perform central control functions of the system, such as massive disk storage and communication with the central.

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(8) for operational and other functions.

- Switching and control units that perform the packet switching and central control functions of the system.

These type of process units are useful for servicing a reduced number of lines.

The connecting network (11) which is constituted as shown in figures 5, 6 and 8 by a variable number of network elements (14), which are all interconnected via local interconnecting pathways (12), either directly each other or through the other elements, constituting a flat grid which, while allowing uniform growth, provides alternative paths between the network elements (14) and any other network elements (11).

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The control center (8) consists of one or more computers, according to the required capacity, as well as the necessary peripherals, such as console or download devices, which ensure the ease of transporting the software designed for that control center ( 8).

The control center (8) contains the operating functions; It controls and processes information related to the management and conservation of the system (1).

Scanning terminals (6) are process-capable computers with a screen that allows the color graphical representation of mouse and peripherals that make system operation easier.

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effective.

The ejection terminals can be local or remote via the connection network (7) to the control center (8).

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system software implements its functions, which consists of:

- by the basic software (16).

- by the application software (17).

- the operating software shown in figure number 11.

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Basic software (16) provides application software (17) in a virtual machine environment, isolating it to the maximum from hardware (15), that is, from the application software (17) standpoint system ( 1) Be a single processor with no errors, no memory limitation, unlimited process capability, etc., etc.

Application software (17) has as its mission to specify the implementation of system functions (1) ie:

- Packet switching.

- Implementation of communications protocols.

- Exploration functions.

- Etc, etc.

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The scanning software, shown in figure 11 in graphical form and in a block diagram, allows the supervision and administration of the system (1) and the associated network through the following functions:

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- Communication between applications, regardless of their physical location.

- Carrying out traffic and quality of service measures.

- Data management of the operating network.

- Establishment and release of virtual transport circuits.

- Establishment and release of sessions for communication between existing applications in different system equipment.

- Data transformation to achieve independence between functions and components in different equipment.

The system software is organized by resource abstraction and overlapping grouping techniques, in which the ability of the components of each layer to operate is defined by its interface with the upper layer, through which it accesses the abstract resources that the lower layer elaborates and features .

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There are two layers to system software, which are:

- One low level.

- Another high level.

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Low-level software has as its purpose the elaboration of abstract resources used by high-level software, using for this purpose the physical features offered by the hardware (15).

high level software

At the same time, the following features:

offers to

- Communication between high level components.

- Access to processors for execution of high level programs.

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- Access to peripheral devices.

As shown in figure 10, high level software is deployed as a single type of component, called process 18, 19, 20 and 21 which is the elemental unit of deployment.

The creation of processes 20 and 21 in this example of figure 10 is dynamic, that is, they are created when they are needed and destroyed when they are no longer.

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Processos Interprocess communication takes place through messages, which allow data exchange independently of the processor on which they are executed.

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Some of these messages are process creation messages (22) and others are process interaction messages (23).

The exploration software is designed according to the concept of functional units, understood as those software entities that, as a whole, provide all the functionality of the system, as shown in figure number 11.

Each functional unit has a specific mission, which sometimes matches a system function, and sometimes groups more than one.

This functional decomposition into functional units allows to make independent functions that have little connection between them, with a view to both its implementation and its operation, offering advantages of software management, uniformity and realization.

Each functional unit has a basic services module (25), which includes a set of facilities and services (26) common to all of them, as well as the concrete details of their interactions and a functional unit core (24) that will be different for each case and which provides all the specific functions.