Network system for managing QoS

Abstract

The invention reduces the initial setting cost, the management cost, and reconfiguration cost of QoS guarantee for network devices. A management device has a control unit and the storage unit. The control unit obtains the number of terminals contained in the network system and connection relations of the network system at the time of initial setting for QoS guarantee. A control unit stores an operation policy which an administrator inputs. The control unit creates QoS control configuration for each connection path between adjacent two network devices using the number of terminals in the network system, the connection relations, and the operation policy. And QoS control configuration is the information for controlling the QoS guarantee of network devices. And the control unit sets the QoS control configuration in the network devices.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be appreciated by the description which follows in conjunction with the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a network management system according to an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of a management device;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of an operation policy;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a system parameter;

FIG. 5 is a configuration block diagram of a network device;

FIG. 6 is a configuration block diagram of a personal computer;

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing how the network management system operates upon initial setting;

FIGS. 8A to 8D are explanatory diagrams with FIG. 8A showing an example of network device information, FIG. 8B showing an example of personal computer information, FIG. 8C showing an example of a setting request, and FIG. 8D showing an example of a guaranteeing flow definition setting request;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an example of an access log;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart for settings creating processing of the management device;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart for processing of the network device;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart for agent program processing of the personal computer;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of settings;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of an example of number of terminals;

FIGS. 15A and 15B are explanatory diagrams each showing an example of QoS control information as a part of settings;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of an example of QoS control information that is held by each I/F of the network device;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a GUI screen of the management device;

FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram for when the network management system is in operation;

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a session log;

FIG. 20 is a flow chart for settings updating processing of the management device;

FIG. 21 is a configuration block diagram of the network management system after a change in network configuration; and

FIG. 22 is a sequence diagram of the network management system after a change in network configuration.

Claims

1. A management device, which is included in a network system that contains at least one terminal that sends and receives at least one of audio data and video data as a data flow, and at least one network device that transfers the data flow sent and received by the terminals while guaranteeing QoS of the data flow, and which manages QoS guarantee control that is executed by the network devices, the management device comprising: a control unit; anda storage unit,wherein the control unit is configured to:obtain the number of terminals contained in the network system and connection relations in the network system when QoS control is about to start in the network system;store, in the storage unit, an operation policy entered by an administrator;use the number of terminals in the network system, the connection relations, and the operation policy to create, for each of a connection path between adjacent two of the network devices or for each of a connection path between one of the network devices and one of the terminals that is adjacent to the network device, QoS control information for controlling the QoS guarantee that is executed by the network devices; andset the created QoS control information in the network devices.

2. The management device according to claim 1, wherein, in creating QoS control information, the control unit gives different characteristics to QoS control information for the audio data and QoS control information for the video data.

3. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the network system has an authentication server which performs authentication before the terminals log into the network, andwherein the control unit is configured to:obtain, from the authentication server, a log of the terminals logging into the network;obtain, from each terminal, information of a data flow that is to be guaranteed of QoS and used by the terminal; anduse the obtained log and the obtained data flow information to calculate for each of a connection path between adjacent two of the network devices or for each of a connection path between one of the network devices and one of the terminals that is adjacent to the network device, the number of terminals using the connection path.

4. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the network system has an SIP server which establishes communication sessions between the terminals, andwherein the control unit is configured to:obtain a log of communication sessions from the SIP server;use the obtained communication session log, the number of terminals in the network system, the connection relations, and the operation policy to create QoS control information for controlling the QoS guarantee that is executed by the network devices; andset the created QoS control information in the network devices.

5. The management device according to claim 4, wherein the storage unit stores a settings update time and at least one analysis period, andwherein, when the settings update time is reached, the control unit is configured to:obtain the communication session log from the SIP server;select log entries of the communication session log that are within the analysis periods;use the selected log entries, the number of terminals in the network system, the connection relations, and the operation policy to create QoS control information for controlling the QoS guarantee that is executed by the network devices; andset the created QoS control information in the network devices.

6. The management device according to claim 1, wherein, when the control unit detects a configuration change in the network system, the control unit is configured to: obtain the number of terminals contained in the network system and connection relations in the network system;use the number of terminals in the network system, the connection relations, and the operation policy to create, for each of a connection path between adjacent two of the network devices or for each of a connection path between one of the network devices and one of the terminals that is adjacent to the network device, QoS control information for controlling the QoS guarantee that is executed by the network devices; andset the created QoS control information in the network devices.

7. A network system, comprising: at least one terminal which sends and receives at least one of audio data and video data as a data flow;at least one network device which transfers the data flow sent and received by the terminals while guaranteeing QoS of the data flow; anda management device which manages QoS guarantee control that is executed by the network devices,wherein the management device has a control unit and a storage unit, wherein the control unit is configured to:determine, for each data flow that is to be guaranteed of QoS, flow identification information which is an identifier of the data flow;create, for each of a connection path between adjacent two of the network devices or for each of a connection path between one of the network devices and one of the terminals that is adjacent to the network device, QoS control information for controlling the QoS guarantee that is executed by the network devices, the QoS control information containing the flow identification information;set the created QoS control information in the network devices;install, to each terminal, an agent which has a function of attaching the data flow identification information to a data flow that is sent by the terminal; andset the determined flow identification information in the terminals,wherein the terminals attach the flow identification information to corresponding data flows and send the data flows, andwherein the network devices attach the flow identification information to corresponding data flows and transfer received data flows.

8. A network system, comprising: at least one terminal which sends and receives at least one of audio data and video data as a data flow;at least one network device which transfers the data flow sent and received by the terminals while guaranteeing QoS of the data flow;a management device which manages QoS guarantee control that is executed by the network devices;an authentication server which performs authentication before the terminals log into the network; andan SIP server which establishes communication sessions between the terminals,wherein the management device has a control unit and a storage unit, andwherein the control unit is configured to:obtain the number of terminals contained in the network system and connection relations in the network system when QoS control is about to start in the network system;store, in the storage unit, an operation policy entered by an administrator;use the number of terminals in the network system, the connection relations, and the operation policy to create, for each of a connection path between adjacent two of the network devices and a connection path between one of the network devices or for each of one of the terminals that is adjacent to the network device, QoS control information for controlling the QoS guarantee that is executed by the network devices; andset the created QoS control information in the network devices.

9. The network system according to claim 8, wherein, in creating QoS control information, the control unit gives different characteristics to QoS control information for the audio data and QoS control information for the video data.

10. The network system according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is configured to: obtain, from the authentication server, a log of the terminals logging into the network;obtain, from each terminal, information of a data flow that is to be guaranteed of QoS and used by the terminal; anduse the obtained log and the obtained data flow information to calculate, for each of a connection path between adjacent two of the network devices or for each of a connection path between one of the network devices and one of the terminals that is adjacent to the network device, the number of terminals using the connection path.

11. The network system device according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is configured to: obtain a log of communication sessions from the SIP server;use the obtained communication session log, the number of terminals in the network system, the connection relations, and the operation policy to create QoS control information for controlling the QoS guarantee that is executed by the network devices; andset the created QoS control information in the network devices.

12. The network system according to claim 11, wherein the storage unit stores a settings update time and at least one analysis period, andwherein, when the settings update time is reached, the control unit is configured to:obtain the communication session log from the SIP server;select log entries of the communication session log that are within the analysis periods;use the selected log entries, the number of terminals in the network system, the connection relations, and the operation policy to create QoS control information for controlling the QoS guarantee that is executed by the network devices; andset the created QoS control information in the network devices.

13. The network system according to claim 8, wherein, when the control unit detects a configuration change in the network system, the control unit is configured to: obtain the number of terminals contained in the network system and connection relations in the network system;store, in the storage unit, an operation policy entered by an administrator;use the number of terminals in the network system, the connection relations, and the operation policy to create, for each of a connection path between adjacent two of the network devices or for each of a connection path between one of the network devices and one of the terminals that is adjacent to the network device, QoS control information for controlling the QoS guarantee that is executed by the network devices; andset the created QoS control information in the network devices.