JP2004334684A - Obstacle report system and obstacle report device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To rapidly report, in the event of a fault, the fault state to a service provider, to facilitate the change of contact address information by the service provider, and to improve the preciseness of the contact address data. <P>SOLUTION: A monitoring device 32 set in a monitoring center 30 periodically requests a response to a monitored device 42 such as a server in a data center 40 and receives the response showing normal or abnormal from the monitored device. When the content of the response received this time is differed from the content of the response received the last, the monitoring device 32 transmits a report item (occurrence of the fault or restoration of the fault) for the monitored device 42 to a reporting device 33. The reporting device 32 has a contact address table 35 storing contact address information correctable by the service provider 20 of the monitored device 42, and transmits the report item to the service provider 20 according to the contact address information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a failure communication system that monitors a monitored device such as a server and reports a failure when a failure occurs, and a failure communication device suitable for the failure communication system. Further, the present invention provides a failure communication system and a failure communication system suitable for monitoring a monitored device such as a plurality of servers installed in a plurality of data centers and notifying a service provider of a failure when a failure occurs. The present invention relates to a fault communication device suitable for a vehicle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, the number of mission-critical systems has increased, and service providers who provide services using data centers are promptly requesting notification of failure occurrence in the centers. In order to respond to the demands, the center will link an SLA (Service Level Agreement) etc. with the service provider, quantitatively determine the trouble report time, etc., and if it cannot be satisfied, the data center operator Are increasingly penalizing service providers.
On the other hand, when a failure occurred in the data center, the network monitoring system detected a failure in a device in the center and notified the operator. The operator has investigated which service provider is affected by the faulty device and reported to the affected service provider by telephone.
[0003]
However, the work flow of the failure notification has the following problems. That is, the first problem is that it is necessary to manually follow a complicated network route to specify the range of influence of the failure generating device, and the range of influence cannot be specified in a short time. The second problem is that when the number of devices in the center has increased and the redundant configuration for increasing the availability has been intricately intertwined, many services have to be provided when a failure occurs in the backbone network. It has had a disability effect on the provider. Therefore, when a failure occurs, it is necessary to contact many service providers. In addition, high costs, such as securing personnel, were required to solve the problem.
[0004]
A third problem is that the change of the contact information of the service provider is performed in writing, and it takes time to change the contact information due to the processing time such as receiving a document. As a result, there has been a mismatch in the recognition of contact information between the service provider and the data center operator. For this reason, when a failure was reported, reliable communication could not be made. The fourth problem is that the data center operator mainly contacts the service provider by telephone, and cannot contact many people in a short time. The fifth problem is that some contacts are manually contacted, and some of them have been left out of contact.
As a method for solving this, the inventions described in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 have been developed.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-307526 A
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-7-44422
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the invention described in Patent Literature 1 aims to notify a service provider of a failure when a failure occurs. For this purpose, it is necessary to create a failure status table. Have been.
Therefore, there is a problem that the service stop state cannot be immediately determined. In addition, there is a problem that the system lacks flexibility because the update of the contact information and the contact means by the service provider is not considered.
Further, the invention described in Patent Document 2 is an invention that aims to easily implement change / addition of a monitoring target on a monitoring center side without affecting a device on a user side.
[0007]
For this purpose, the invention described in Patent Document 2 requires a dedicated monitoring device (SVP, CCP, monitoring unit) to be attached to the device to be monitored, and even if a failure occurs in the monitoring device, the monitoring device However, there is a problem that if an abnormality occurs, it may not be possible to detect a failure of the device to be monitored. In addition, there is only a description that a notification is made using a set communication medium (for example, TEL or FAX), but no specific configuration is shown. Further, a specific configuration for contacting many people in a short time is not shown. Further, a configuration for coping with a line failure is not shown. There is a problem that the flexibility of the system is lacking because the update of the contact information and the communication method by the service provider is not considered.
That is, in the inventions described in Patent Literatures 1 and 2, there is a problem that it is difficult to clarify the range of influence from failure detection in the system and to promptly contact many users without omission.
[0008]
The present invention provides a service provider that can promptly notify a service provider of a fault situation when a fault occurs, enables the service provider to change contact information more easily, and improves the accuracy of the contact data. The challenge is to improve.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, in a failure communication system that monitors a monitored device used by a service user and notifies a failure to a service provider when a failure occurs in the monitored device, Request a response periodically, receive a response indicating normal or abnormal from the monitored device, if there is a difference between the content of the response received this time and the content of the previously received response, A monitoring device for transmitting a message indicating a state to the communication device, and a contact table storing contact information that can be modified by a service provider of the monitored device, and a service provider based on the contact information. And a communication device for notifying the user of the communication information.
The monitoring device periodically requests a response from the monitored device, receives a response indicating normality or abnormality from the monitored device, and determines whether a difference between the content of the currently received response and the content of the previously received response is received. If it is found, a message indicating the state of the monitored device is transmitted to the communication device. The contact device has a contact table storing contact information that can be modified by the service provider of the monitored device, and communicates the message to the service provider based on the contact information.
[0010]
Here, the contact information stored in the contact table includes contact information and contact means designated by the service provider, and the contact device communicates with the contact stored in the contact table. You may comprise so that the said message may be communicated using a means.
The contact information and the contact means stored in the contact table may be configured to be changeable by the service provider.
In addition, the message may be configured to indicate a failure occurrence or a failure recovery.
The monitored device may be a server installed in a data center, and the monitoring device and the communication device may be installed in a monitoring center.
[0011]
Further, according to the present invention, in a failure communication device that communicates a failure when a failure occurs in the monitored device, a storage unit having a contact table storing contact information that can be corrected, based on the contact information, And a transmitting means for transmitting a message indicating the state of the monitored device received from the monitoring device to a service provider. The transmitting means notifies the service provider of a message indicating the status of the monitored device received from the monitoring device based on the contact information.
[0012]
Here, the contact information stored in the contact table includes a contact specified by the service provider and a contact unit, and the transmitting unit transmits the contact to the contact stored in the contact table. You may comprise so that the said message may be transmitted using a communication means.
The contact information and the contact means stored in the contact table may be configured to be changeable by the service provider.
In addition, the message may be configured to indicate a failure occurrence or a failure recovery.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a failure communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention and a failure communication device suitable for the failure communication system will be described.
First, an overview of the fault communication system and the fault communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 showing the entire configuration of the fault communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention. It has a fault monitoring device that constantly monitors multiple servers installed in data centers and a fault notification device that reports faults. It constantly monitors multiple servers installed in multiple data centers and provides services when a fault occurs. This is a system for notifying the provider of a failure. The system is configured so that a failure can be immediately and accurately notified to a data center user (service provider) from the occurrence of the failure.
[0014]
In FIG. 1, a fault monitoring device 32 installed in a monitoring center 30 periodically requests a response from a monitored device 42 such as a server installed in a data center 40.
The monitoring device 32 receives a response from the monitored device 42 (the response includes a response (normal) indicating normal and a response (abnormal) indicating abnormal ("normal" / "abnormal")). If a response from the monitored device 42 cannot be obtained, the response of the monitored device 42 is determined to be “abnormal”.
When there is a difference between the response received this time and the previous response, the monitoring device 32 notifies the monitored device 42 of the message (the message includes a message indicating that a fault has occurred (failure occurrence) and The communication (failure recovery) (“failure occurrence” / “failure recovery”) indicating the recovery is transmitted to the communication device 33. The communication device 33 has contact information that can be corrected by the service provider 20 of the monitored device 42 itself. The communication device 33 transmits a message to the service provider 20 according to the contact information of the service provider 20 of the monitored device 42.
[0015]
In this way, the fault communication system according to the present embodiment can automatically detect a fault and identify the affected service provider 20 in a short time, so that the fault can be quickly notified to the service provider 20. it can. As a result, there is no need to spend time tracing a complicated local communication network and examining the area of influence. Further, when a failure occurs in the local communication network 41 of the data center 40, the influence is exerted on many service providers 20, but it is possible to contact many of them quickly and at low cost. Further, the contact information and the contact means (for example, e-mail, FAX, etc.) designated by the service provider 20 are updated in real time, and the updated contact means is notified of the trouble by the updated contact means. You will be able to contact without any errors.
[0016]
Hereinafter, a failure communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention and a failure monitoring device suitable for the failure communication system will be described in detail.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the fault communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a form of a communication frame used when performing communication in the present embodiment.
In FIG. 1, the communication between the present system devices except for the transmission and reception between the communication terminal accommodating device 01 and the communication terminal 21 is performed as shown in FIG. Is done. At this time, a device ID (Identification), which is a code unique to each device, is set as a transmission destination and a transmission source. Further, the devices in the present system have device IDs so as to be unique. An example of the device ID is an IP address in an IP (Internet Protocol) network. The reason why the communication frame shown in FIG. 2 is not used for the communication between the communication terminal accommodating apparatus 01 and the communication terminal 21 is because the communication between them is realized by a wide range of communication means.
[0017]
The wide area communication network 00 is a network that connects computers at remote locations using a communication line provided by a communication carrier. A device that connects a communication line to the communication terminal 21 in the wide area communication network 00 is referred to as a communication terminal accommodation device 01. A network device that connects a communication line to the monitoring center 30 in the wide area communication network 00 is referred to as a monitoring center line accommodation device 02.
The contact terminal accommodation device 01 is a gateway that absorbs the difference between the communication method in the wide area communication network 00 and the communication method of the contact terminal 21. Here, the device ID of the contact terminal accommodating device 01 is set as “contact terminal accommodating device 01ID”.
[0018]
The contact terminal accommodation device 01 has an interface for connecting to the backbone of the wide area communication network 00 and an interface for connecting a communication line to the contact terminal 21. When the communication terminal accommodating apparatus 01 receives the information indicating the communication means, the address (number), the object, and the message from the communication apparatus 33, the communication terminal accommodating apparatus 01 specifies the address (number) using the method of the communication means, The connection to the contact terminal 21 is made, and the object and the message are transmitted. Further, the contact terminal accommodation device 01 receives a connection request from the contact terminal 21 and connects. Thereafter, an input instruction is output to the contact terminal 21 so that an input can be made from the input interface of the contact terminal 21. Thereafter, the contact terminal accommodating apparatus 01 receives, from the contact terminal 21, an update request ("update"), a device ID of the contact terminal 21 ("contact terminal 21ID"), a contact means used for contact, and an address (number). . The communication terminal accommodation device 01 connects to the communication device 33 when receiving them. Thereafter, a request for updating the communication means and the address (number) is transmitted to the communication device 33.
[0019]
The monitoring center line accommodation device 02 is a network device such as a router. Here, the device ID of the monitoring center line accommodation device 02 is set as “monitoring center line accommodation device 02ID”. The monitoring center line accommodating device 02 confirms that the communication from the monitoring device 32 to the monitoring center line accommodating device 02 via the local communication network 31 is normally performed. Therefore, the monitoring center line accommodation device 02 is registered in the monitored device table 34 of the monitoring device 32 to be monitored. When a failure occurs in this monitoring, the monitoring device is informed to all the service providers registered in the contact table 35 stored in the storage means of the communication device 33 that the monitoring device has detected the failure.
The monitoring center line accommodating device 02 has an interface for connecting to the backbone of the wide area communication network 00 and an interface for connecting a communication line to the monitoring center 30. Further, when receiving the “response request” from the monitoring device 32, the monitoring center line accommodating device 02 determines its own status and sends “normal” or “abnormal” as a response indicating the status to the monitoring device 32. Reply.
[0020]
The service user 10 uses the service using the service use terminal 11.
The service use terminal 11 is a computer. The service use terminal 11 has an interface (such as a modem) for connecting to the wide area communication network 00. The service use terminal 11 connects to the monitored device 42 such as a server through the interface. The service use terminal 11 inputs information to the monitored device 42. The input information is processed by the monitored device 42 or another server that cooperates, and is output in another form. This is called a service. Examples of services include an information providing service, a settlement service, a mail service, and the like. That is, the service use terminal 11 can use various services by using the monitored device 42 such as a server when the service user 100 operates.
[0021]
The service provider 20 uses the monitored device 42 in the data center 40 to provide a service to the service user 10. The service provider 20 uses the contact terminal 21.
The contact terminal 21 is a device having a data input / output function such as a computer / FAX / telephone. The contact terminal 21 makes a connection request to the contact terminal accommodation device 01 on the wide area communication network 00 and connects. At that time, the contact terminal 21 uses a keyboard / button / dial or the like according to the instruction of the contact terminal accommodation device 01, and indicates “update” indicating an update request, “contact terminal 21ID” which is the device ID of the contact terminal 21, The address (number) of the contact terminal 21 and the contact means used for reporting the failure are transmitted. Thereby, the contact terminal 21 can change the contact means and the address (number) of the contact table 35 stored in the contact device 33. In addition, the communication terminal 21 can perform communication in response to a connection request from the communication terminal accommodation device 01, and receives and outputs a device ID and a message from the communication terminal accommodation device 01. In addition to the update of the contact information, the confirmation can be made by the same means.
[0022]
The monitoring center 30 is a facility for monitoring data centers located in various places.
The local area communication network 31 is configured by combining a wide area communication network 00, a monitoring device 32, and a communication device 33 with a LAN (local area network) device such as a router or a hub. Even if a failure occurs in a line between the monitoring center line accommodating device 02 and the local communication network 31 or in the local communication network 31 itself, a redundant configuration is provided so that communication between the communication device 33 and the communication terminal accommodation device 01 can be performed. Have.
[0023]
The monitoring device 32 is a computer. Here, the device ID of the monitoring device 32 is set as “monitoring device 32 ID”. The monitoring device 32 has an interface (LAN interface) for connecting to the private network 31. The monitoring device 32 connects to a device in the wide area communication network 00 and a device connected to the local communication network 41 in the data center 40 through the interface. The monitoring device 32 holds a monitored device table 34 stored in a storage unit provided in the monitoring device 32. The monitoring device 32 sequentially transmits a response request (“response request”) to the monitored devices having the monitored device ID set in the monitored device table 34 in the monitoring device 32 at regular intervals. From the monitored device. After a certain period of time, the monitoring device 32 confirms the response, and the monitoring device 32 transmits a confirmation result to the communication device 33 according to the pattern.
[0024]
The communication device 33 is a computer. Here, the device ID of the communication device 33 is set as “communication device 33ID”. The communication device 33 has an interface (LAN interface) for connecting to the local communication network 31. The communication device 33 holds a contact table 35 stored in a storage unit of the communication device 33. When receiving the monitored device ID and the confirmation result from the monitoring device 32, the communication device 33 confirms the monitored device ID, and clarifies the communication means and the address (number) according to the confirmation result. After that, the communication device 33 transmits the communication means, the address (number), the target (= monitored device ID), and the message (= confirmation result) to the communication terminal accommodation device 01.
[0025]
In addition, the communication device 33 receives the update request of the communication means and the address (number) from the communication terminal accommodation device 01, changes the contact table 35, and transmits the update result to the communication terminal accommodation device 01.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the monitored device table 34. As shown in FIG. 3, the monitored device table 34 has a monitored device ID column, a currently responded content column, and a previously responded content column. There is. The monitored device table 34 can be registered / changed / deleted by the monitor 36 using the monitoring device 32.
[0026]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contact table 35. As shown in FIG. 4, the contact table 35 has a monitored device ID column, a contact terminal ID column, a contact means column, and an address (number) column. is there. The contact table 35 can be registered / changed / deleted by the monitor 36 from the communication device 33. Further, the service provider 20 can use the contact terminal 21 to update the contact means and the address (number) of the record in which the contact device ID in the contact table 35 is the contact terminal 21 ID.
The data center 40 is a place where the wide area communication network 00 is drawn into a robust building, and a large number of servers are installed / operated to provide services. Here, only the data center 40 will be described as an example, but there may be a plurality of data centers and a plurality of monitored devices.
[0027]
The private communication network 41 is configured by combining a wide area communication network 00 with LAN devices such as a router and a hub for connecting a large number of server-type computers and the like.
Normally, the monitored device 42 is a server-type computer that processes information input from the service using terminal 11 and transmits some result or data to a predetermined destination. Here, the device ID of the monitored device 42 is set as “monitored device 42ID”. The monitored device 42 has an interface (LAN board or the like) for connecting to the local communication network 41. The monitored device 42 is registered in the monitored device table 34 of the monitoring device 32 to be monitored. Further, when receiving the “response request” from the monitoring device 32, the monitored device 42 determines its own state, and transmits “normal” or “abnormal” to the monitoring device 32 as a response according to the state.
[0028]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the monitoring device 32 shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, a fault monitoring device 32 includes a monitoring timer 51, a determination timer 52, an input unit 53 operated by a monitor 36, a LAN interface 54, a fault confirmation unit 55, and a monitored device table 34 stored in a storage unit (not shown). Have.
As shown in FIG. 3, the monitored device table 34 has a "monitored device ID" column, a "current response" column, and a "previous response" column. There is. Here, the monitored device ID records the device ID of the device to be monitored. The “response this time” field records the content of the response this time. The column of "previous response" records the content of the previous response.
[0029]
Upon receiving the notification of the start of monitoring from the monitoring timer 51, the monitored device table 34 initializes the table, and transmits a response request notification for requesting a response to all the monitored devices. . When a response from each monitored device is received, the monitored device table 34 records the content of the response in the “response this time” column. Further, upon receiving the notification of the start of the determination from the determination timer 52, the monitored device table 34 prohibits the updating of the “current response” column, and stores the monitored device ID, the content of the current response and the content of the previous response as necessary. Is transmitted to the failure confirmation unit 55 in response to the request. The monitored device table 34 can be registered / changed / deleted by the monitor 36 using the input unit 53.
[0030]
The monitoring timer 51 transmits a monitoring start notification to the monitored device table 34 at a predetermined monitoring interval (for example, three minutes, five minutes, or the like). Further, a notification of the start of the determination timer is transmitted to the determination timer 52. The monitoring interval of the monitoring timer 51 is set by the monitor 36 using the input unit 53.
When the determination timer 52 receives the notification of the start of the determination timer from the monitoring timer 51, after the set determination interval (for example, three minutes, five minutes, or the like) has elapsed from that point, the determination start of the determination is displayed in the monitored device table 34. Send notifications. The monitor 36 sets the determination interval of the determination timer 52 using the input unit 53. The determination interval needs to be equal to or longer than the sum of the time required for the communication frame to reciprocate between the monitoring device 32 and the monitored device and the processing time of the monitored device.
[0031]
The input unit 53 allows the monitor 36 to set the timer values of the monitoring timer 51 and the determination timer 52, and to add / change / delete records in the monitored device table 34.
The LAN interface 54 is an interface for communicating with the private communication network 31.
Upon receiving the monitored device ID, the content of the current response, and the content of the previous response from the monitored device table 34, the failure checking unit 55 compares the content of the current response with the content of the previous response. As a result, if there is a difference between the content of the current response and the content of the previous response, the confirmation result is transmitted to the communication device 33.
[0032]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the communication device 33 shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, the fault communication device 33 has an input unit 61 operated by the monitor 36, a LAN interface 62, a transmission unit 63 constituting a transmission unit, and a contact table 35 stored in a storage unit (not shown).
The contact table 35 includes a “monitored device ID” column, a “contact terminal ID” column, a “contact means” column, and an “address (number)” column as shown in FIG. (One monitored device ID can have a plurality of communication device IDs). The monitored device ID records the device ID of the device to be monitored. The contact terminal ID is a device ID of the contact terminal 21 owned by a person who performs a service using the monitored device 42. The communication means records communication means (communication medium) to the communication terminal 21. For example, “e-mail” / “TEL” / “FAX” / “notification not required” can be selected.
[0033]
The address (number) records the address (number) used when notifying the contact terminal 21 using the contact means. For example, an e-mail address, a TEL number, a FAX number, and the like. If "notification unnecessary" is recorded by the communication means, transmission to this record is not performed. The contact table 35 can be registered / changed / deleted by the monitor 36 from the input unit 61.
The contact table 35 receives the monitored device ID and the confirmation result from the monitoring device 32. At this time, if the monitored device ID is the monitoring center line accommodating device 02, the contact table 35 indicates to the transmitting unit 63 the object (= “monitoring device”), the confirmation result, and the communication means of all records. Send the address (number). If the monitored device ID is not the monitoring center line accommodating device 02, the communication unit and the address (number) of the target (= monitored device ID), the confirmation result, and the record including the monitored device ID are transmitted.
[0034]
When the contact table 35 receives the contact terminal ID, the contact means, the address (number), and the update instruction ("update") from the contact terminal accommodation device 01, the contact table 35 includes the contact device ID in the contact table 35. Update the record contact method and address (number). When the update is performed normally, the contact table 35 indicates that the update has been completed as the communication means, address (number), object (= communication device ID), and communication information to the contact terminal accommodation device 01 (= “update completed”). ”).
The input unit 61 allows the monitor 36 to add / change / delete records in the contact table 35.
The LAN interface 62 is an interface for communicating with the private communication network 31.
Upon receiving the monitored device ID, the contact means, the address (number), and the confirmation result from the contact table 35, the transmitting unit 63 sends the contact means, the address (number), the target, and the contact to the contact terminal accommodation device 01. The item (= confirmation result) is transmitted.
[0035]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the fault communication system of FIG. Hereinafter, the operation of the fault communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The monitoring device 32 reads the monitored device ID from the monitored device table 34 in the monitoring device 32 (Step S70). The monitoring device 32 transmits a response request to the monitored device having each monitored device ID in the monitored device table 34 (Step S71). The monitoring device 32 receives a response from each monitored device (Step S72). The monitoring device 32 records the response from the monitored device ID in the monitored device table 34 (Step S73). The steps S70 to S73 are defined as a monitoring phase 77. This monitoring phase 77 is executed by the monitoring device 32.
[0036]
After a lapse of a fixed time, the monitoring device 32 checks the monitored device table 34 (Step S74). The process of step S74 is referred to as a confirmation phase 78. The confirmation phase 78 is executed by the monitoring device 32.
The confirmation result is transmitted to the contact terminal accommodation device 01 (step S75). The process in step S75 is referred to as a communication phase 79. The communication phase 79 is executed by the communication device 33. The communication terminal accommodating device 01 outputs the confirmation result to the communication terminal 21 (Step S76).
[0037]
Next, detailed operations of the three phases of the monitoring phase 77, the confirmation phase 78, and the communication phase 79 shown in FIG. 7 will be described below with reference to flowcharts. Here, as an example, the monitored device will be described as a monitored device 42 which is one of a plurality of monitored devices.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing details of the monitoring phase 77. The monitoring phase 77 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.
The monitoring timer 51 transmits a monitoring start notification (“monitoring start”) to the monitored device table 34 at predetermined intervals (step S80). The monitoring timer 51 transmits a notification of the start of the determination timer to the determination timer 52 (Step S86).
[0038]
Upon receiving the notification of the start of monitoring from the monitoring timer 51, the control means (not shown) of the monitoring device 32 performs the following three initialization processes on the monitored device table 34.
First, the contents of all columns of the current response are transferred to the column of the previous response of the same record. Secondly, for all records in the monitored device table 34, “abnormal” is recorded in the column of the current response, and “” (Null) is recorded in the column of the confirmation result. Third, if the update of the field of the current response is prohibited, it is canceled (step S81).
[0039]
The monitoring device 32 reads out all monitored device IDs (including “monitoring line accommodating device 01 ID”) from the monitored device table 34 (Step S82). The monitoring device 32 transmits a communication frame (the transmission destination is the monitored device ID, the transmission source is the monitoring device 32 ID, and the content is a response request) to the monitored device having each monitored device ID in the monitored device table 34. I do. For example, when transmitting to the monitored device 42, a communication frame (transmission destination = monitored device 42ID, transmission source = monitoring device 32ID, content = response request) is obtained (step S83).
[0040]
When the monitored device 42 receives a communication frame (transmission destination = monitored device 42 ID, transmission source = monitoring device 32 ID, content = response request) from the monitoring device 32, the communication frame (transmission destination = monitoring device 32 ID, transmission source) = Monitored device 42ID, content = normal or abnormal). The monitoring device 32 receives a communication frame (transmission destination = monitoring device 32ID, transmission source = monitored device 42ID, content = normal or abnormal) from the monitored device 42 (step S84). The monitoring device 32 records that there is a response ("response") in the field of the current response of each record including the monitored device 42ID in the monitored table 34 (step S85).
[0041]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of the confirmation phase 78. The confirmation phase 78 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.
The determination timer 52 transmits a notification to the monitored device table 34 to start the determination at a predetermined interval after the determination interval elapses from the time when the notification of the start of the monitoring timer is received from the monitoring timer 51 (at the predetermined interval) ( Step S90).
When the notification of the start of the determination is received from the determination timer 52, the update of the column of the current response in the monitored device table 34 is prohibited (step S91). The monitoring device 32 searches the monitored device table 34 for a record whose monitored device ID is the monitoring center line accommodation device 02ID (step S92). The monitoring device 32 checks the contents of the column of the current response of the record whose monitored device ID is the monitoring center line accommodating device 02ID in the monitored device table 34 (step S93).
[0042]
When the content of the column of the current response is “abnormal”, the failure confirmation unit 55 determines whether the monitored device ID, the content of the current response column, The contents of the previous response column are received (step S94). If the content of the current response column is "normal", the failure confirmation unit 55 receives the monitored device IDs of all records, the content of the current response column, and the content of the previous response column (step S95). .
Upon receiving the monitored device ID, the content of the column of the current response, and the content of the column of the previous response, the failure checking unit 55 compares the content of the column of the current response with the content of the column of the previous response (step S96).
[0043]
If there is a difference between the contents of the column of the current response and the contents of the column of the previous response, the failure confirmation unit 55 sends the communication frame (the transmission destination is the communication device 33 ID, the transmission destination is the transmission destination) to the communication device 33 via the LAN interface 54. The source device transmits the monitoring device 32 ID, and the communication frame includes the monitored device ID and the confirmation result.
The result is divided into the following two patterns. First, when the content of the current response column is “abnormal” and the content of the previous response column is “normal”, the confirmation result is set to “failure occurred”. Second, when the content of the current response column is “normal” and the content of the previous response column is “abnormal”, the confirmation result is set to “failure recovery” (step S97).
[0044]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing details of the communication phase 79. The communication phase 79 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The communication device 33 receives a communication frame (the transmission destination is the communication device 33ID, the transmission source is the monitoring device 32ID, the content is the monitored device ID, and the confirmation result) from the monitoring device 32 (step S100).
The control unit (not shown) of the communication device 33 checks the monitored device ID using the contact table 35 (step S101).
[0045]
When the device ID of the monitored device is the monitoring center line accommodating device 02ID, the control unit transmits the target (= “monitoring device”) and the confirmation result to the transmitting unit 63 (step S102). When the monitored device is other than the monitoring center line accommodating device 02ID, the control unit transmits the target (= monitored device ID) and the confirmation result to the transmitting unit 63. This is performed because the name "monitoring center line accommodating device 02ID" is not disclosed to the service user, so that it is rephrased as "monitoring device" (step S103).
[0046]
Next, when the monitored device is the monitoring center line accommodating device 02ID, the control means transmits the communication means and addresses (numbers) of all the records in the contact table 35 to the transmitting unit 63 (step S104). If the monitored device is other than “monitoring center line accommodation device 02ID”, the communication means and the address (number) of the record including the monitored device ID in the contact table 35 are all transmitted to the transmitting unit 63 in order. (Step S105).
The transmitting unit 63 first receives the target and the confirmation result from the contact table 35. Next, each time the transmitting unit 63 receives the communication means and the address (number) from the contact table 35, the communication frame (the transmission destination is the communication terminal accommodation device 01ID, the transmission source is the communication device 33ID, and the content is the communication means , An address (number), an object, and a communication frame that is a message (= confirmation result) (step S106).
[0047]
Next, output of information from the contact terminal accommodation device 01 to the contact terminal 21 will be described below.
The communication terminal accommodating device 01 receives a communication frame from the communication device 33 (the communication destination is the communication terminal accommodating device 01ID, the transmission source is the communication device 33ID, and the content is the communication means, the address (number), the communication frame including the target and the communication items) Is received, the address (number) is specified using a predetermined communication means, a connection to the communication terminal 21 is made, and the object and the message are transmitted. For example, if the contact means is e-mail ("e-mail") and the address (number) is "name@domain.com", the destination is set to "name @ domain" using the mail server function of the contact terminal accommodation device 01. .Com ", the body is set to the monitored device ID and the message, and the electronic mail is transmitted.
[0048]
If the communication means is telephone (= "TEL") and the address (number) is "090-1234-5678", the communication terminal accommodation device 01 dials the telephone number "090-1234-5678", The monitored device ID and the message are transmitted using the voice response function.
The contact terminal 21 receives and outputs the target and the message from the contact terminal accommodation device 01. For example, "monitored device 42ID", "failure occurrence", "contact terminal 21ID", "contact update" and the like can be output.
[0049]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of changing the communication means and the address (number). Hereinafter, the process of changing the communication means and the address (number) will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
The service provider 20 uses the contact terminal 21 to make a connection request to connect to the contact terminal accommodation device 01 on the wide area communication network 00 (step S110). The service provider 20 operates an operation means such as a keyboard / button / dial at the communication terminal 21 in accordance with an instruction of the communication terminal accommodating device 01 to request an update ("update"), a communication terminal 21ID, a communication means, The address (number) is transmitted (step S111).
[0050]
The communication terminal accommodation device 01 connects to the communication device 33. The communication terminal accommodating apparatus 01 transmits a communication frame (a communication frame in which the transmission destination is the communication device 33ID, the transmission source is the communication terminal 21ID, the content is the communication means, the address (number), and the communication information is updated ("update")). (Step S112).
When the communication device 33 receives the communication frame (the transmission destination is the communication device 33 ID, the transmission source is the communication terminal 21 ID, the content is the communication means, the address (number), and the communication frame indicating “update” (“update”), the communication device 33 The communication means and the address (number) of the record including the communication terminal 21ID as the transmission source are updated in the communication terminal ID field in the destination table 35 (step S113).
[0051]
When the update is performed normally, the communication device 33 transmits the communication frame (the transmission destination is the communication terminal accommodation device 01ID, the transmission source is the communication device 33ID, and the communication device 33 includes the communication means and the address (number) as the contents. The communication terminal 21ID transmits a communication frame in which the message is updated ("update completed") (step S114).
The communication terminal accommodating device 01 transmits the communication frame (the transmission destination is the communication terminal accommodating device 01ID, the transmission source is the communication device 33ID, the content is the communication means, the address (number), the communication terminal 21ID, and the communication information) from the communication device 33. If it has been received, the address (number) is designated using a predetermined communication means, the connection to the communication terminal 21 is made, and the communication terminal 21 ID and the message are transmitted (step S115).
The contact terminal 21 receives and outputs the contact terminal 21 ID and the message from the contact terminal accommodation device 01. The contact terminal 21 outputs, for example, the received device ID “contact terminal 21ID” and the contact information “contact update” (step S116).
[0052]
As described above, the failure communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention monitors the monitored device 42 used by the service user 10 and, when the failure of the monitored device 42 occurs, notifies the service provider 20 In the fault communication system for notifying a fault by sending a response to the monitored device 42 periodically, and based on the response from the monitored device 42, whether the monitored device 42 is normal or abnormal. 32, and a contact table 35 storing contact information that can be corrected by the service provider 20 of the monitored device 42, and the monitoring device can monitor the monitored device based on the monitoring result of the monitored device. And a communication device 33 for notifying the service provider 20 of the abnormality of the monitored device 42 based on the contact information.
[0053]
Further, the failure communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention monitors the monitored device 42 used by the service user 10 and, when a failure occurs in the monitored device 42, notifies the service provider 20 of the failure. In the failure communication system, a response is periodically requested to the monitored device 42, a response indicating normal or abnormal is received from the monitored device 42, the content of the response received this time and the response received last time. If there is a difference in the content of the monitored device 42, there is provided a monitoring device 32 for transmitting a message indicating the state of the monitored device 42 to the communication device 33, and a storage means for storing a contact table 35 storing contact information. A contact device 33 for transmitting the message to the service provider 20 based on the contact information; and a contact device 33 used by the service provider 20 and stored in the contact table 35. It is characterized in that it comprises a terminal device 21 for changing the information.
[0054]
The contact information stored in the contact table 35 includes contact information and contact means designated by the service provider, and the contact device 33 transmits the contact information to the contact stored in the contact table 35. The above information is communicated by means. The contact information and the contact means stored in the contact table 35 can be changed by the contact terminal 21 used by the service provider 20. When a response from the monitored device 42 cannot be obtained, the monitoring device 32 regards the response from the monitored device 42 as a response indicating that there is an abnormality. The message is an item representing occurrence of a failure or recovery from a failure. The monitored device 42 is a server installed in the data center 40, and the monitoring device 32 and the communication device 33 are installed in the monitoring center 30. Further, according to the above-described embodiment, in the fault communication device 33 for notifying a fault when a fault occurs in the monitored device 42, a storage unit having a contact table 35 storing contact information that can be corrected, It is characterized by comprising transmitting means for transmitting, to the contact terminal 21 of the service provider 20, a message indicating the state of the monitored device 42 received from the monitoring device 32 based on the preceding information.
[0055]
Therefore, the system can automatically detect a failure, clarify the range of influence, and report the failure, so that when a failure occurs, many people can be immediately contacted. Also, there is no omission of communication. In addition, communication costs can be reduced.
In addition, since the service provider can change the contact information and the communication method in the event of a failure, the request for changing the contact information and the communication method of the service provider can be promptly reflected. In addition, since the service provider can check the contact information by itself, there is also an effect that the service provider and the center do not have a mismatch in recognition of the contact information.
In addition, when a failure occurs, the failure status can be promptly notified to the service provider, and the service provider can easily change the contact information and improve the accuracy of the contact data.
[0056]
Further, there is no need to create a failure status table, and the service stop status can be determined directly from the monitored device table 34 (state change value table).
Also, no special device is required on the monitored device side. Also, it is possible to contact many people in a short time.
Also, it is possible to monitor the monitoring center line accommodating device 02 and respond to a line failure.
In addition, there is an effect that the change / addition of the monitoring target can be realized on the monitoring center 30 side without affecting the device on the service user side.
[0057]
Note that the above embodiment can be variously modified. For example, the wide area communication network 00 may be configured as a private network. In addition, by newly adding a record to the contact table 35, it is possible to contact center operation personnel, equipment maintenance personnel, center managers, and the like other than the service provider. Further, if the monitoring device 32 is configured to receive a failure pattern from the monitored device 42, a failure pattern field is added to the contact table 35, and the received failure pattern is compared with the registered failure pattern. Thereby, the contact can be changed according to the failure pattern.
[0058]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, at the time of occurrence of a failure, the failure status is promptly notified to the service provider, the contact information can be easily changed by the service provider itself, and the contact data can be changed. Accuracy can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a fault communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a form of a communication frame used in the fault communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a monitored device table used in the fault communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a contact table used in the failure communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a monitoring device in the fault communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a communication device in the failure communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of the fault communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a detailed process of a monitoring phase in the fault communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a detailed process of a confirmation phase in the fault communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of a communication phase in the failure communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a change process of a communication unit and the like in the fault communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
00 ... wide area communication network (network)
01 ・ ・ ・ Contact terminal accommodation device
02 ・ ・ ・ Monitoring center line accommodation device
11 ・ ・ ・ Service use terminal
21 ・ ・ ・ Contact terminal
30 ・ ・ ・ Monitoring center
40 ・ ・ ・ Data center
31, 41 ... private communication network
32 Monitoring device
33 ・ ・ ・ Contact device
34 ・ ・ ・ Monitored device table
35 ・ ・ ・ Contact table
42 ・ ・ ・ Monitored device
51 ・ ・ ・ Monitoring timer
52 ... judgment timer
53, 61 ... input unit
54, 62 ... LAN interface
55 ・ ・ ・ Failure confirmation unit
63 ... Transmission unit constituting transmission means

Claims (9)

In a failure communication system that monitors a monitored device used by a service user and notifies a failure to a service provider when a failure occurs in the monitored device,
When a response is periodically requested to the monitored device and a response indicating normal or abnormal is received from the monitored device, and there is a difference between the content of the currently received response and the content of the previously received response. Has a monitoring device for transmitting a message indicating a state of the monitored device to a communication device, and a contact table storing contact information that can be modified by a service provider of the monitored device, wherein the contact A communication device for notifying the service provider of the message based on the information. The contact information stored in the contact table includes contact information and contact means designated by the service provider, and the contact device uses the contact means to contact the contact stored in the contact table. 2. The failure communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication information is communicated by a notification. 3. The fault communication system according to claim 2, wherein the contact information and the communication means stored in the contact information table can be changed by the service provider. The failure notification system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the notification is a matter indicating occurrence of a failure or recovery from a failure. 5. The fault communication system according to claim 1, wherein the monitored device is a server installed in a data center, and the monitoring device and the communication device are installed in a monitoring center. . In a failure communication device that reports a failure when a failure occurs in the monitored device,
Storage means having a contact table storing contact information that can be modified, and transmitting means for transmitting, to the service provider, a message received from the monitoring apparatus and indicating the state of the monitored device, based on the contact information. And a failure communication device. The contact information stored in the contact table includes a contact and a contact unit designated by the service provider, and the transmitting unit transmits the contact unit to the contact stored in the contact table. 7. The fault communication device according to claim 6, wherein the message is transmitted by using the error notification device. 8. The fault communication device according to claim 7, wherein the contact information and the communication means stored in the contact information table can be changed by the service provider. The fault communication device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the communication item is an item indicating occurrence of a failure or recovery from a failure.

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