JPH09162927A - Network system and equipment and method of information communication used for the system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the information communication equipment and the information communication method in which data received by each equipment is maintained as the same contents by allowing a receiver side equipment to rearrange definitely and process the data transmission sequence from each equipment interconnected by a network. SOLUTION: An event to update data by the user entry is sent once by a transmission section 16 to its own equipment and other information communication equipments as a data packet, an information communication equipment 1 uses a reception section 17 to receive the data and data in a main storage section 23 via a control section 18 are updated and indicated for the user by a user output of an output section 20. Since the event by the user entry does not directly update the data in the main storage section 23, events of all the equipments including the event by its own equipment are processed simply and effectively in a definite order. Thus, the information communication equipment and the information communication method to keep the data received by each equipment as the same contents are obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data delivery method between information communication devices interconnected by a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Information and communication equipment (hereinafter simply referred to as equipment)
, And the data exchange between these devices strongly depends on the nature of the data to be exchanged or on the arrival order of the exchanged data. Therefore, it may be required to uniquely determine the order in which the plurality of devices are exchanged.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, devices A, B, C
In the network system consisting of three units, the devices A, B, and C duplicate and hold the data of the same content in each device.

The update of the data is rewritten to the data in its own device (hereinafter referred to as its own device).

The change is transmitted to another device (hereinafter referred to as another device).

The other device updates the data held by the device based on the change, thereby uniquely maintaining the data content held by each device.

Such a method is often used because it requires a small amount of data to be exchanged.

FIG. 2 shows this state, and the event that the user "enters a circle" in the device A is transmitted to each device (FIG. 2 (a)), and the data held by each device is updated. (FIG.2 (b)).

However, since the data is updated in parallel in each device, if the update is not performed in a unique manner in time, that is, the arrival order of the packets indicating the change point is determined by the device. If there is a difference depending on each device, as shown in FIG. 3, a difference may occur in the contents held by each device.

In FIG. 3A, at the same time, the device A transmits an event "a move in a region surrounding a circle" (a), and the device B transmits a "write an x at the current position of a circle" event (b). Are being sent. If the data indicating the event is simply processed in the order of arrival, the local reception is the fastest. Therefore, in the device A, the order of (a) and (b). In the device B, the (b) and (a). Order-The device C arrives and processes, for example, in the order of (b) and (a) (arrival order). In this case, the data in the device A is different from the data in the devices B and C. Will occur (FIG. 3 (b)).

The method for updating the data of the own device is also roughly divided into the following: -Update the data of the own device and send it to the other party (without confirming the completion of sending).

Update the data of its own device and send it to the other party (if the completion of sending cannot be confirmed, restore it).

After the transmission to the other party is completed, the own device data is updated.

The following can be mentioned.

In the former case, the data update and transmission of the own device are given the highest priority, and the states of other devices are not concerned.

In the middle person, the data update and transmission of the own device have the highest priority, but if the other device cannot receive the data, it is invalid.

In the latter case, after confirming that another device has been able to receive the data, the device can be updated for the first time. The fact that the data arrives is the same in each device, apart from the arrival order of the data.

2 and 3, the former method is used as the front bank, but the same situation occurs even if the middle method and the latter method are adopted.

As a method for avoiding such a difference and keeping the arrival order unique, several methods have been proposed and used so far.

A method in which the time is synchronized among the devices, the transmission time is added to the data packet, and the data packet is transmitted to make the time unique.

A method in which each device temporarily transmits a data packet to an information providing device (hereinafter referred to as a server), the server arranges the order of the data packets, and transmits the data packet to each device to maintain uniqueness. .

Only one token is issued between each device, and the token is sequentially transferred to another device at regular time intervals. Each device can send a data packet only while holding the token, thereby maintaining uniqueness.

In the method of (1) how to synchronize time, (2) how to handle data packets transmitted from different communication devices at the same time (even if they are not actually transmitted at the same time Such a situation occurs when the transmission timing is actually shifted due to the above).

In the method of (1), considering the load on the server, it is necessary for the server to have a capacity superior to that of a normal device, and (2) when transmitting from a source terminal to another device. A simple comparison with this means that the route is doubled, which means that the traffic is doubled.

(3) The server centrally manages information regarding the order of data packets. In case of sudden loss of the server, it is necessary to take preventive measures such as saving the managed data.

There is a problem as described above.

The method (1) has problems such as (1) recovery processing when a token is lost, and (2) increase in communication cost due to communication for token exchange.

Further, in the above methods, since the transmitting side first updates the contents and then transmits the updated contents to other devices, there is a high possibility that the deviation of the update results in each device cannot be avoided. There is a problem.

[0029]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As described above,
In the conventional technology, there are methods such as time and token management or server installation to keep the order of data packets exchanged between devices on the network unique. There were problems such as an increase in the communication cost of the device, a concentration of the load, and a correspondingly high cost at the time of failure recovery.

Therefore, according to the present invention, data received by each device is processed by uniquely rearranging the data transmission order from each device among the devices connected to each other by a network and processing them. (EN) Provided are an information communication device and a method for maintaining the same contents.

[0031]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network system in which a plurality of information communication devices are connected via a network and data packets are transmitted and received between the information communication devices, respectively. At least one information communication device among a plurality of information communication devices transmits and receives the data packets, and communication means for transmitting order information indicating an order for arranging the data packets, and the data received by the communication means. At least one information communication device other than the one information communication device transmits and receives the data packet, the order information generating means generating the order information based on the order of arrival of packets or a certain rule. And a communication means for receiving the order information,
It has an order determination means for determining the order of the data packets based on the order information received from the communication means.

With the information communication device of the present invention, since the order of exchanged data is uniquely maintained and processed among the devices connected to each other via the network, the resulting data has the same content. To be kept.

A second aspect of the present invention is a network system in which a plurality of information communication devices are connected via a network, and data packets are transmitted and received between the information communication devices. A communication unit that transmits and receives the data packet and order information indicating an order for arranging the data packet, and an order of arrival of the data packet received by the communication unit, or the order information is generated based on a certain rule. And an order determining unit that determines the order of the data packets based on the order information received from the communication unit, and at least one information communication device in the network stores the order information. At least one information communication device other than the one information communication device transmitting the sequence information. It is intended to receive the ordinal information.

[0034] A third aspect of the present invention is an information communication device to which a plurality of information communication devices are connected via a network, and which transmits and receives data packets between the respective information communication devices. At least one of the information communication devices transmits and receives the data packets, and transmits order information indicating an order for arranging the data packets, and an order of arrival of the data packets received by the communication means. , Or order information generating means for generating the order information based on a certain rule.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is an information communication device connected to a plurality of information communication devices via a network, and transmits / receives a data packet between the information communication devices. At least one of the information communication devices transmits and receives the data packets, and receives the order information indicating the order for arranging the data packets, and the order information based on the order information received from the communication means. It has an order determination means for determining the order of the data packets.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is an information communication method in which a plurality of information communication devices are connected via a network, and data packets are transmitted and received between the information communication devices, respectively. One of the information communication devices transmits and receives the data packet, and generates order information indicating the order of arrival of the received data packet or the order for arranging the data packets based on a certain rule. And then send.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is an information communication method in which a plurality of information communication devices are connected via a network, and data packets are transmitted and received between the respective information communication devices. One of the information communication devices transmits and receives the data packets, receives order information for arranging the data packets, and determines the order of the data packets based on the received order information. .

[0038]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First Embodiment An information communication device (hereinafter, also referred to as a device) of a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

A plurality of devices appearing in this embodiment constitute a network as shown in FIG. 1 and have a structure shown in FIG. A device that provides packet order information, which will be described later, among the plurality of devices is called a server. still,
Similar to the other embodiments.

A block diagram of a device in which this embodiment operates will be described with reference to FIG.

The device comprises a transmission unit 16, a reception unit 17, a server unit 21, a control unit 18, an input unit 19, an output unit 20, a main storage unit 23, a reception data management unit 22, and a packet information data management unit 24. . Events, packets, control commands, data packets, packet information, packet order information, etc. are exchanged among them.

The input unit 19 receives an input from the user, generates an event or an operation command according to the type of the input, and passes it to the transmission unit 16.

The output unit 20 displays the data stored in the main storage unit 23 on a screen or the like, and provides a means for the user to refer to the data.

The control unit 18 controls the overall equipment and controls communication with other equipment. Further, the data stored in the main storage unit 23 is changed according to the control command passed from the receiving unit 17 and the instruction indicated by the event.

The transmitter 16 converts the input event into a packet and transmits it to another device including its own device.

The receiving unit 17 receives packets transmitted from its own device and other devices, and sorts the processing according to the type of the packet. When the packet is a control command, the packet is passed to the control unit 18 and the processing is entrusted to the control unit 18. If the packet is a data packet indicating an event due to user input or the like, the packet is stored in the reception data management unit 22. If the packet is packet order information, the order of the data packets in the reception data management unit 22 is changed according to the contents of the packet order information, and the packets whose order has been determined are sequentially transferred to the control unit 1.
Process at 8.

The server unit 21 generates packet information from the data packet passed from the receiving unit 17, and stores the packet order information in the packet information data managing unit 24.
Then, the contents of the packet information data management unit 24 are collected at regular intervals to generate packet order information, and the transmission unit 16
The packet information data managing unit 24 deletes the contents of the packet information data managing unit 24.

In the case of this embodiment, the main storage unit 23 stores data in which the same contents are maintained in each device.

The reception data management unit 22 adds packets in the order in which they are input, extracts the oldest packet, and outputs it. Although the reception data management unit 22 and the packet information data management unit 24 are provided separately from the main storage unit 23 in this embodiment, a part of the main storage unit 23 may be allocated to them.

Transmitting unit 16, receiving unit 17, server unit 21
The operation will be defined in more detail by the flow chart described later.

As shown in FIG. 4, an event such as data update, which is input by the user, is once transmitted by the transmitter 16 as a data packet to the own device and another device, and then received by the receiver 17. , Control unit 18
After the corresponding data in the main storage unit 23 is updated by way of it, the output unit 20 shows it to the user. Note that the event input by the user does not directly update the data in the main storage unit 23 of the own device. This is a simple and effective method for processing the events in all the devices including the events in the own device in a unique order based on the packet order information by the server unit 21 described later.

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of the device of this embodiment.

The flowchart shows the transmission block (a),
It consists of a receiving block (b) and a server block (c),
By executing each block in parallel, the device operates.

(A) The operation of the transmission block will be described.

(Step a1) An event occurs that requires mutual information exchange between devices.

(Step a2) The event generated in the device is converted into a data packet.

(Step a3) A header is added to the data packet. In this embodiment, identification information unique to each device is added as a header. There are various forms of the format and the adding method of the identification information. As an example, “device ID of the device
+ The total number of packet transmissions from the device "and is added to the beginning of the data packet. For example, the device ID is 88
The header of the 2277392nd packet from the 77th device is “8877-2277392”.

(Step a4) The generated data packets are sequentially transmitted to the own device and other devices.

(B) The operation of the reception block will be described.

(Step b0) The packets transmitted from the own device and other devices arrive.

(Step b1) Packets arriving at the equipment are classified into data packets, packet sequence information, and control information. In the case of a data packet, the process proceeds to step b2.
In the case of packet order information, the process proceeds to step b3. In the case of control information, the process proceeds to step b5.

(Step b2) The data packet is stored in the received data management unit 22. Return to step b0.

(Step b3) The order of the data packets in the reception data management section 22 is sorted based on the contents of the packet order information. Proceed to step b4.

(Step b4) A "sorted" mark is added to the sorted data packet. Figure 2
Shown in The description will be given later. Go to step b6.

(Step b5) The device is controlled based on the content of the control information. Return to step b0.

(Step b6) If there is a data packet marked as "sorted" in the reception data management unit 22, the process proceeds to Step b7, and if not, the process returns to Step b0.

(Step b7) The "sorted" data packet at the head of the received data management section 22 is taken out.

(Step b8) Processing is performed based on the content of the data packet taken out, and the process returns to Step b6.

The contents of FIG. 6 will be described. This figure is a diagram for explaining changes in the state of the reception data management unit 22 during the operation of the reception block.

First, the packet sequence information is "start time",
It consists of "end time", "start sequence number", "end sequence number" and "sequence".

The start time and end time represent the time relating to the packet information included in the packet sequence information, and the start sequence number and the end sequence number indicate the number of packets at that time and the range of the sequence numbers.

Therefore, in the example of the figure, the sequence number 223304 is set between 13:15:20 and 13:15:22.
9 packets from 223 to 223313 are transmitted, and the order is "me-1, me-2, me-3, you-.
1,. . . It is shown that it is ".

Here, me-1 indicates that the total transmission number from the device whose device ID is me is 1. The "re" point in the figure indicates the "sorted" mark.

As a result of the sorting, the packets from me-1 to you-4 are marked as "sorted", and after the processing of the "sorted" packets, the unsorted you-
5, you-6 remains.

The operation of the server block will be described.
The server block operates in a manner associated with step b2 of the reception block.

(Step c1) When a data packet arrives from step b2, the process proceeds to step c2.

(Step c2) The header of the data packet is taken out, and a unique sequence number is added to this to generate packet information.

(Step c3) The packet information is stored in the packet information information data management section 24.

(Step c4) When the predetermined time interval has been reached, the process proceeds to step c5, otherwise proceeds to step c1.

(Step c5) The contents of the packet information data management unit 24 are transmitted as packet order information to the own device and other devices, and the packet information data management unit 24 is emptied.

FIG. 7 shows an operation example based on the above flow chart. It is assumed that there are transmitting devices T1 and T2, a server S, and a receiving device R.

In FIG. 7A, from T1 and T2,
A data packet P11 for each of its own device and other devices,
P21 is transmitted, and each device arrives at each device with a time difference. The server generates and transmits the packet order information N1.

In the receiving device R, the packets P21 and P11 are
Are received and accumulated in the received data management unit 22, packet order information N1 arrives, the inside of the received data management unit 22 is sorted based on N1, and the process proceeds to the processing of data packets.

In FIG. 7B, at R, the packet P12 from T1 arrives after the packet P22 from T2. However, the packet order information N2 (=
[P12, P22]), the arrival order is P1.
2 and P22 are processed in this order.

In this example, the roles of transmission and reception are fixed, but in reality, transmission is performed in each of the devices T1, T2, S, R, and based on the packet sequence information from the server. Reception is performed.

Modification A A modification A of the first embodiment is shown.

The flow chart of each block is the same as in FIG.

Each block is executed in parallel for each session for each session in each device.

The transmission block transmits packets in parallel for each session.

The reception block and the server block correspond to individual sessions based on the session information.

As long as the condition that the server block is executed by only one device in each session is satisfied, there is no problem even if each server block for a plurality of sessions is executed in the same device.

Further, the header information of the packet includes the session identifier in addition to that of the first invention.

For example, the format is “session identifier + device ID of device + total packet transmission number from the device in the session”.

For example, in the session aaa, the device 3
The header of the packet transmitted by the 325 to the 229383-th packet is “aaa-3325-229383”.

FIG. 8 shows a comparison between the packet flow according to the first embodiment and that of the modification A.

In the first embodiment, by providing only one server on the network that can communicate with each other, the load on the server increases as the number of devices on the network increases, and the packet order transmitted from the server is increased. The information is
Unnecessary information is included between devices that individually communicate on the network, and each communication depends on the state of other communication on the network (FIG. 8A).

However, in the modified example A, a server is provided for each session, and the packet order information transmitted by each server is only for packets transmitted in the session, so that the independence of individual communications is enhanced. (FIG. 8B).

In the device configuration, the control unit 18, the server unit 21, the main storage unit 23, the received data management unit 22, and the packet information data management unit 24 are integrally configured by the CPU and the memory, and the steps described above are performed. The flowcharts of a and step b may be converted into a program as software, stored in the memory, and executed by the CPU.

Second Embodiment A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 22, the configuration of the equipment is the first.
In the configuration of the device of the embodiment, the successor server data management unit 30
Will be added.

The transmission block is the same as in the first embodiment.

The reception block is shown in the flow chart of FIG.

The steps b0 to b8 are the same as in the previous example.

(Step d1) If the packet order information has arrived within a fixed time since the last arrival of the packet order information, go to Step b0, otherwise go to Step d2.
Proceed to.

(Step d2) If the device is currently executing the server block, go to Step b0, otherwise go to Step d3.

(Step d3) If the successor server data management unit 30 is empty, go to Step d5, otherwise go to Step d4.

(Step d4) If the first successor server information of the successor server data management unit 30 designates its own device, the process proceeds to step d5, and if not, the process proceeds to step b0.

(Step d5) Successive server declaration information indicating that the device itself operates the server block as a server is generated and transmitted to another device as a control packet.

(Step d6) Start execution of the server block in the device.

(Step e1) If the control information in step b1 is the successor server information, the process proceeds to step e2, and if not, the process proceeds to step e3.

(Step e2) The successor server information is added to the successor server data management unit 30.

(Step e3) If it is the successor server declaration information, go to Step e4, otherwise go to Step b8.

(Step e4) Server selection is stopped.

(Step f4) The execution of the server block is started.

The server block is shown in the flow chart of FIG.

(Step g1) If a successor server is designated, the process proceeds to step g2. If not, the process proceeds to step c1.

No designation is made by the user or
There is a method such as appointed by a timer periodically. In addition, no designation may be made not only once but also a plurality of times.

(Step g2) The successor server is determined.
There are various determination methods, such as designation by the user and selection of roulette.

(Step g3) Steps c1 to c5 of generating successor server information for the determined successor server and transmitting it to another device as a control packet are the same as above.

FIG. 11 shows an operation example of this embodiment.

The server S determines the successor server to be T1,
The successor server information M1 is transmitted to each device.

The S stops its operation after transmitting P22 of T2.

In each of the devices T1, T2, R, when the transmission (reception) interval of the packet sequence information exceeds the upper limit, the successor server data management unit 30 is referred to for each device, and the T1 designated as the successor server is Succeeding server declaration information is transmitted, and T2 and R not designated as the succeeding server stand by for a certain period of time.

When T2 and R receive the successor server declaration information of T1, the standby for canceling the successor server is stopped.

After that, the packet order information N2 is transmitted from T1.

In this operation example, P22 and P12 are not included in the packet order information N2 and are made useless packets.
The contents of the packet order information N2 are transmitted empty. If the successor server declaration information is not received and the successor server information is not transmitted (received) even after the deadline for waiting for the successor server declaration information, each device starts operating as a successor server.

The measures to be taken when a plurality of servers exist at the same time by operating each device as a server will be described in Modifications B1 and B2 described later.

Third Embodiment A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

The transmission block is the same as above.

The server block is shown in the flowchart shown in FIG.

The steps c1 to c5 and g1 to g3 are the same.

The server block is executed by each device in each session. The server block has two operation modes, a server mode and a standby mode. The server mode operates in the server block of only one device on the network or the session, and the server blocks of other devices operate in the standby mode. .

(Step h1) If the operation mode is the server mode, go to Step g1; otherwise, go to Step h2.
Proceed to.

(Step h2) If the packet order information arrives, the process proceeds to Step h3, and if not, the process proceeds to Step c1.

(Step h3) The packet information indicated by the packet order information is deleted from the packet information data management section 24.

(Step h4) If the operation mode is the server mode, proceed to Step c4, otherwise proceed to Step h1.

The reception block is shown in a flow similar to that of the flow chart shown in FIG. 12, and the steps related to the operation and start of operation of the server block are the steps of checking the operation mode and changing the operation mode. . The operation of the server block is the transition to the server mode.

(Step d2) If the server block is currently being executed in the server mode, the process proceeds to step b0. Otherwise, go to step d6.

(Step f4) The operation mode of the server block is changed to the server mode.

FIG. 13 shows an operation example of this embodiment.

The state of packet exchange is the same as in FIG. 11, but in this embodiment, the server block is always operating in the standby mode even at T1, T2, and R, so T1 changes the server block to the server mode. When you do, that is, L
When 1 is transmitted, among the packets [P11, P21, P22, P12] that T1 has received so far, the packets P11 and P21 included in the last packet order information N1 transmitted by S are deleted and T1 Packet information of P22 and P12 exists in the packet information data management unit 24.

This is a packet transmitted from each device during the server loss period after the server S stops operating and before T1 operates as a successor server. T1 is the packet sequence information N2 when the operation starts and the order is P22, P1
The information contained in 2 is transmitted.

In FIG. 11, packet information is not added to the packet information data management unit 24 unless T1 starts operating as a server. Therefore, the packet order information N2 is transmitted as empty packet order information. ,
Note that no packet order information is generated for P22 and P12.

Modification B1 As a modification B1 of the above embodiment, in the server block,
When the timing for transmitting the packet sequence information is reached, it is confirmed whether or not the device can transmit the packet sequence information. If the packet sequence information cannot be transmitted, the operation of the server block is shifted to the standby mode.

As a result, when the packet sequence information cannot be transmitted at a predetermined time interval due to the operating state of the device or the like, the other devices are notified that "the server is not functioning" by transmitting even if the transmission timing is shifted. Even when the successor server is selected as the one or after the successor server is activated and the successor server is activated, it is possible to avoid the situation in which the two servers operate at the same time and become confused by transmitting the packet order information.

The transmission block and the reception block are similar.

The server block is shown in the flow chart of FIG.

Note that steps c1 to c5, g1 to g3,
h1 to h5 are the same.

(Step j1) It is checked whether or not the packet sequence information can be transmitted, and if it can be transmitted, the process proceeds to step c5. Otherwise, go to step j2.

(Step j2) The operation mode is changed to the standby mode.

Modification B2 As in Modification B2, the transmission block and the server block are the same as above. The reception block is shown in the flowchart shown in FIG.

(Step e3) If it is the successor server declaration information, go to step k1; otherwise, go to step b.
8 f, (step k1) If the successor server declaration information is from the own device, proceed to step k2, otherwise proceed to step e4.

(Step k2) The operation mode is changed to the standby mode, and the process proceeds to step e4.

As a result, when the successor server declaration information is received and the information is not transmitted by the own device, this indicates that the other device is operating in the server mode, and the operation of the server block. By shifting the mode to the standby mode, the device that is still operating in the server mode for some reason also shifts to the standby mode, and as a result, only one device that operates in the server mode on the network or session can be limited. .

Fourth Embodiment A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

Incidentally, steps c1 to c5, g1 to g3,
h1 to h4 and j2 are the same.

The reception block is the same as above. The transmission block is also the same as the flowchart in FIG.
Include the relation information between packets in the header information. The server block is shown in the flowchart shown in FIG.

(Step j1) If it is possible to transmit the packet sequence information, go to Step l1; otherwise, go to Step j2.
Proceed to.

(Step l1) The packet information in the packet information data management section 24 is sorted based on the relation information between the packets. After that, the process proceeds to step c5.

FIG. 17 shows an example of the relation information and the sort state.

You-1, you-2, and you-3 are
One piece of data is divided into three pieces, and it is necessary to process them continuously, and the relational information is you-1, you
-2, you-3 are added to you-3 and each has a "successor"
It indicates that "follows immediately after you-1" and "follows immediately after you-2". The packet information data management unit 2 that stores the header information from me-1 to you-5
When 4 is sorted based on the relationship information, it becomes as shown on the right side of the figure as an example. Sort rules not explicitly stated here,
The results may differ depending on the order in which the rules are applied.
However, as a result, you-1 and you-
2, you-3 will always line up consecutively.

A modification of the above embodiment is shown. These variants are what to do if the data packet does not arrive.

Variant C1 In any of the data delivery methods described above, the data packet pointed to by the packet order information is received data management unit 22.
It is assumed that when the packet order information is received, any data packet indicated by the packet order information has been received. However, in actuality, there is a problem of data packet retransmission and timing, and when sorting the contents of the received data management unit 22 based on the packet order information, there may be no target data packet or no arrival. However, none of the data delivery methods described above has a method for coping with such a situation.

Therefore, in the modification C1, when sorting the contents of the reception data management section 22 based on the packet order information, if the data packet pointed to by the packet order information does not exist in the reception data management section 22, then at that time point. The sorting is stopped, and the data packet is waited for within a fixed time. When the data packet arrives, sorting is restarted. When new packet sequence information arrives within the waiting time, the packet sequence information is temporarily saved, and the sorting process based on the current packet sequence information is completed and then processed.

This allows the data packet to arrive within a certain time later than the arrival of the packet sequence information for the data packet.

The transmission block and the server block are the same as above. Note that, as shown in FIG. 23, the reception unit 17 includes a non-arrival elimination standby data management unit 32.

The reception block is shown by the flowchart shown in FIG. Steps d1 to d6 are shown as a server selection subroutine a and steps k1 to k2 are shown as a server selection subroutine b, which are not affected by the change of the processing flow.

(Step m1) In the sorting of the reception data management unit 22 based on the packet order information, if there is a non-arrival packet, the process proceeds to step m2, otherwise proceeds to step b4.

(Step m2) The unarrival packet information is
Store in the arrival waiting list.

(Step m3) Including the non-arrival packet,
The packet order information is transferred to the non-arrival elimination standby data management unit 32.
To be stored.

(Step m4) The sorting of the received data management unit 22 is interrupted, and the process returns to Step b0.

(Step m5) When the data packet arrives, the arrival waiting list is confirmed. If the data packet is included in the waiting list, the process proceeds to step m6, and if not, the process proceeds to step b2.

(Step m6) The non-arrival packet information indicated by the data packet is deleted from the arrival waiting list.

(Step m7) If the packet information indicated by the packet order information at the head of the non-arrival elimination standby data management unit 32 is not in the arrival standby list, proceed to Step m8, otherwise proceed to Step b0.

(Step m8) The packet order information at the head of the non-arrival elimination standby data management unit 32 is removed, the process proceeds to Step b3, and the sorting is restarted.

(Step m9) If the non-arrival elimination standby data management unit 32 is empty when the packet sequence information arrives, the process proceeds to b3. If not empty, proceed to m10.

(Step m10) The packet order information is added to the non-arrival elimination standby data management unit 32, and step b0
Proceed to.

Modification C2 In Modification C1 described above, in sorting the contents of the reception data management unit 22 based on the packet order information, the method of coping with the case where the data packet indicated by the packet order information does not exist in the reception data management unit 22. However, this method only passively waits for data packets.

Therefore, in the modification C2, in sorting the contents of the reception data management unit 22 based on the packet order information, if the data packet pointed to by the packet order information does not exist in the reception data management unit 22, then at that time point. The sorting is stopped, the server is requested to retransmit the data packet, and the data packet is waited for within a fixed time. When the server is requested to retransmit the data packet, the corresponding data packet is received by the received data management unit 22.
And send it to the request source device. When the data packet arrives, the request source device restarts sorting. When new packet sequence information arrives within the waiting time, the packet sequence information is temporarily saved, and after the sorting process based on the current packet sequence information is completed, the packet sequence information is sorted.

The transmission block and the server block are the same as in the first modification. The receive block is shown by modifying a portion of the flowchart of FIG.

(Step m2) The non-arrival packet information is stored in the arrival waiting list, and a control packet requesting retransmission of the non-arrival packet is transmitted to the source device of the non-arrival packet.

The destination of the resend request may be the server. The device requested to resend transmits the data packet indicated by the resend request to the requesting device.

Modification C3 In Modifications C1 and C2, when sorting the contents of the reception data management unit 22 based on the packet order information, the data packet pointed to by the packet order information is the reception data management unit 22.
The method for coping with the case where the data packet does not exist is realized, but in any case, the method is to wait for the data packet within a fixed time limit. However, when the importance of each data packet is not high, even if a very small number of data packets are lost, the influence on the communication at the user level becomes small. For example, on both devices, user input from a pen and screen output
When exchanging data packets to talk with each other, the basic operation is to change the brightness of the pixel at the specified position, even if the update information about a pixel is lost,
The surrounding pixels allow the user to understand without trouble.

Therefore, in the modification C3, when sorting the contents of the reception data management unit 22 based on the packet order information, if the data packet pointed to by the packet order information does not exist in the reception data management unit 22, the data packet is sorted. Ignore the packet information about and continue sorting and processing.

As a result, even if a packet is lost, the processing at the device is not suspended and smooth communication at the user level is realized.

The transmission block and the server block are the same as above. The reception block is shown in the flowchart shown in FIG.

(Step n1) In the sorting of the reception data management unit 22 based on the packet order information, if there is a non-arriving packet, the process proceeds to step n2, otherwise proceeds to step b4.

(Step n2) As for the non-arrival packet information, it is determined that there is no data packet, the portion for the data packet of the reception data management unit 22 is filled, and the process proceeds to step b4.

Modification C4 In Modification C3, when sorting the contents of the reception data management unit 22 based on the packet order information, if the data packet pointed to by the packet order information does not exist in the reception data management unit 22, The data packet originally did not exist, and the sorting was continued and processed. However, even if the data packet arrives after the sorting is completed and before the data packet is actually taken out from the received data management unit 22 and processed, the data packet is discarded.

Therefore, in the modification C4, in sorting the contents of the reception data management unit 22 based on the packet order information, if the data packet pointed to by the packet order information does not exist in the reception data management unit 22, the data packet is sorted. Add packet information for the to the waiting list and continue sorting. At this time, a place is secured in the reception data management unit 22 because the data packet is empty,
Mark the "sorted" mark. After that, the data packets marked as "sorted" are sequentially taken out and processed, but the data packet having an empty content is not processed, and the packet information about the data packet is removed from the arrival waiting list. And the arrival of the data packet, the arrival waiting list is searched, and if the packet information of the data packet is included in the arrival waiting list, the packet information of the data packet is deleted from the arrival waiting list, Directly receive data management unit 2
Insert it in the place that is secured as empty in 2.

As a result, the intermediate stage between the modification 1 and the modification 3, that is, the loss of the packet does not cause a serious situation, but if it arrives late before the actual processing, it arrives. By changing the processing and processing the packet, it becomes possible to delay the waiting of the packet that arrives late until the processing limit.

The transmission block and the server block are the same as above. The reception block is shown in the flowchart shown in FIG.

(Step p1) In the sorting of the reception data management unit 22 based on the packet order information, if there is a non-arrival packet, the process proceeds to step p2, otherwise proceeds to step b4.

(Step p2) An empty packet is generated with respect to the non-arrival packet information, and the empty packet is inserted into the place where the data packet indicated by the non-arrival packet information should originally be located.

(Step p3) The unarrival packet information is stored in the arrival waiting list.

(Step p4) When the data packet arrives, the arrival waiting list is confirmed. If the data packet is included in the waiting list, the process proceeds to step p5.

(Step p5) The non-arrival packet information corresponding to the data packet is deleted from the arrival waiting list.

(Step p6) The corresponding empty packet in the received data management unit 22 is replaced with the corresponding data packet,
Go to step b0.

(Step p7) If the content of the data packet is empty, proceed to Step p8, otherwise proceed to Step b8.

(Step p8) The non-arrival packet information corresponding to the empty packet is deleted from the arrival waiting list.

Modification C5 In Modifications C1 to C4, when sorting the contents of the reception data management unit 22 based on the packet order information, the method of coping with the case where the data packet indicated by the packet order information does not exist in the reception data management unit 22 The characteristics of each method are shown. However, all of them require the operation on the device on the receiving side, and the action on the device on the transmitting side which receives the same packet sequence information and can know the packet information regarding the data packet transmitted from the self device is not performed. If an action is taken from the transmitting side, it is possible to deal with it more efficiently without the need for the individual actions of the receiving side.

Therefore, in the modification C5, the header of the transmitted data packet is added to the transmitting packet list section 34 in the transmission block. For this purpose, the transmitting packet list section 34 and the transmitting section 16 are provided as shown in FIG. Further, in sorting the contents of the reception data management unit 22 based on the packet order information, among the data packets pointed to by the packet order information, the data packets included in the transmitting packet list unit 34, that is, the data packets transmitted by the own device are If it does not exist in the reception data management unit 22, the data packet is retransmitted to another device including the own device.

As a result, each device can detect the loss related to the data packet transmitted by itself, and by coping with this, it becomes unnecessary for the receiving side device to individually deal with the situation where the packet has not arrived.

The flowchart is as follows. The server block is similar. The transmission block is shown by modifying the flowchart of FIG.

(Step a3) The data packet is transmitted and the header of the data packet is stored in the transmitting header list section 34.

The reception block is shown by the flowchart shown in FIG.

(Step q1) If the header of the arrived data packet matches that in the packet list under transmission 34, the process proceeds to step q2, and if not, the process proceeds to step p4.

(Step q2) The corresponding packet header is deleted from the transmitting packet list section 34.

(Step q3) If the unarriving packet in the sorting of the received data management unit 22 based on the packet order information matches the one in the packet list under transmission 34, the process proceeds to Step q4, otherwise to Step b4.

(Step q4) The unarrival packet is transmitted,
That is, it is retransmitted.

As a result, the packet transmitted from the own device is monitored, and if the packet order information does not include the packet information related to the packet, the packet is considered to have been lost and is retransmitted.

[0212]

As described above, according to the network, the information communication device and the information communication method of the present invention, the data order to be exchanged between the devices connected to each other in the network is processed uniquely. The data obtained as is also kept the same.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a background of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a first diagram illustrating the background of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a second diagram illustrating the background of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a device in which the first embodiment operates.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a change in contents of a reception data management unit.

FIG. 7 is an operation example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an operation comparison of the first invention and its modification A.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a receiving block according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a server block according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an operation example of the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a server block according to the third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 is an operation example of the third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a server block of Modification B1.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a reception block of modification B2.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a server block according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an example of sorting of a packet information data management unit based on relationship information.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a reception block of modification C1.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a reception block of modification C3.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a reception block of modification C4.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a reception block of modification C5.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram of a device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of a device of Modification C1.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram of a device of Modification C5.

[Explanation of symbols]

 16 ... Sending unit 17 ... Reception unit 18 ... Control unit 19 ... Input unit 20 ... Output unit 21 ... Server unit 22 ... Received data management unit 23 ... Main storage unit 24 ... Packet information data management Department

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A network system in which a plurality of information communication devices are connected via a network and data packets are transmitted and received between the respective information communication devices, wherein at least one of the plurality of information communication devices is an information communication device. Is a communication unit that transmits and receives the data packets, and transmits order information indicating an order for arranging the data packets, and the arrival order of the data packets received by the communication unit, or based on a certain rule. Order information generating means for generating the order information, at least one information communication device other than the one information communication device, transmitting and receiving the data packet, communication means for receiving the order information, and the communication And an order determination means for determining the order of the data packets based on the order information received from the means. Network system, characterized in that. 2. A network system in which a plurality of information communication devices are connected via a network and data packets are transmitted and received between the information communication devices, wherein the information communication devices transmit the data packet and the data packet. A communication unit that transmits and receives sequence information indicating a sequence for arranging, an order of arrival of the data packets received by the communication unit, or a sequence information generation unit that generates the sequence information based on a certain rule; Order determining means for determining the order of the data packets based on the order information received from the communication means, at least one information communication device in the network transmitting the order information, and transmitting the order information At least one information communication device other than the one information communication device that is Network system, characterized in that. 3. An information communication device, wherein a plurality of information communication devices are connected via a network, and data packets are transmitted and received between the respective information communication devices, wherein at least one information communication device among the plurality of information communication devices. A device transmits and receives the data packets, and a communication unit that transmits order information indicating an order for arranging the data packets; an order of arrival of the data packets received by the communication unit, or a fixed rule. And an order information generating means for generating the order information. 4. An information communication device, wherein a plurality of information communication devices are connected via a network, and data packets are respectively transmitted and received between said information communication devices, wherein at least one information communication device among said plurality of information communication devices. A device transmits and receives the data packets, and a communication unit that receives order information indicating an order for arranging the data packets, and an order for determining the order of the data packets based on the order information received from the communication unit. An information communication device characterized by having a determining means. 5. An information communication method in which a plurality of information communication devices are connected via a network, and data packets are transmitted and received between the information communication devices, wherein the information communication device is one of the plurality of information communication devices. Characterized by transmitting and receiving the data packets, and generating and transmitting order information indicating the order of arrival of the received data packets or the order for arranging the data packets based on a certain rule. Information communication method. 6. An information communication method in which a plurality of information communication devices are connected via a network, and data packets are transmitted and received between the respective information communication devices, wherein one of the plurality of information communication devices is an information communication device. An information communication method, comprising: transmitting and receiving the data packets, receiving order information for arranging the data packets, and determining the order of the data packets based on the received order information.