JPH08191257A - Maintenance and management system for network equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To attain rewriting of data in a responder and diagnosis of a line state and to improve efficiency and reliability of maintenance and management by contactlessly exchanging information between the responder fixed to a line equipment such as an electric pole and a portable interrogator. CONSTITUTION: A responder 20 capable of storing data such as line information, a set date, an ID number, and repair history in a memory and connected to a sensor 30 is fixed to a branch point such as an electric pole and a manhole 60 on a network line. A maintenance man M allows a portable interrogator 10 capable of contactlessly exchanging information with the responder 20 to get close to the responder 20 so as to read out or additionally write data stored in the memory. The sensor 30 stores data such as the alive/dead line and disconnection of a line and environmental temperature in the memory of the resoponder 20 and the interrogator 10 communicates with an external device by its CPU and displays the contents of the communication on a display part. Since a maintenance man M can acquire rich information while checking a real object in the field, the efficiency and reliability of maintenance and management can be improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for maintaining and managing main equipment in a network.

[0002]

[Prior Art] With the advancement of urban functions and living standards,
Various networks such as information and telecommunications, electric power, railways, roads, and gas have been newly established, renewed, and branched, and the amount is increasing. In addition, diversification of service forms and service ranges using networks is remarkable. In particular, in the field of information communication, the progress of multimedia and personalization has been remarkable, and the installation of optical fibers reaching homes has been promoted, and wireless networks such as PHS and portable telephones have been rapidly spreading. It is extremely important to efficiently and reliably maintain and manage the facilities that form these vast and diverse networks. For this reason, individual tow roads, pipelines, telephone poles, etc. are converted to IDs,
Databases of location information, connection information, capacity, maintenance history, deterioration status, etc. are being developed.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration and work procedure of the maintenance and management system of access network equipment in the current state of information communication. The part inside the dotted line frame shows the part that manages the database. Line setting / switching data, external equipment /
There is a dedicated system for map data, inspection results, repair / renewal data, etc., and the worker M inputs or corrects data from the terminals T1 to T3 to the database DB. Note that C is an FFA (Fiber Free Access) closure, which is necessary because the connection point of the electric wire and the electric wire length are finite, and is also a place for branching. The block means the work content, and each data is transmitted to the worker M on a paper basis.

These data are database DB of the center
Accumulated in. When opening a new line, work on site based on equipment map data and line data, and modify the database after completion. Inspections and repairs are also carried out through these series of operations, and the information about on-site equipment and the database DB of the center are integrated,
The equipment is being maintained and managed.

[0005]

However, when a huge database DB is to be constructed and operated in a unified manner,
A lot of work such as data input for update is required,
Backup and data protection measures to prevent system down and tampering must be considered. Also,
There is a time lag between the situation of the site and the data in the database DB, which changes one after another, and the network administrator cannot monitor it in real time, or
It is necessary to register in the database after inspection and repair. Furthermore, in the work, it is necessary to identify the target equipment by referring to the map and equipment ID output from the database, and at the site, work while mutually confirming the connection status, work content, etc. It was hanging. In addition, in the failure diagnosis, it is difficult for the center side to specify the failure point, and it is necessary to check some lines on site to specify the failure point from the rough estimation of the distance of the failure point.

An object of the present invention is to solve these problems and provide an efficient and highly reliable network management system.

[0007]

The network equipment maintenance management system according to the present invention is used by reversing the relationship between the responder and the interrogator used in the conventional data carrier system. Here, the data carrier system will be described. The data carrier is used for recognition and management of the mobile body. The data carrier system is composed of a responder (data carrier) attached to a mobile body and an interrogator (antenna and controller) fixed to the mobile body, and information is contactlessly communicated between the responder and the interrogator. The transponder is a transceiver (also called a tag, an ID tag, a data carrier, or a transponder) having a function of automatically transmitting a response signal when receiving a certain interrogation signal. The interrogator is a device including a signal processing device that receives a command from a host system and controls a signal with the responder, and an antenna (head) unit that remotely transmits and receives a signal. In the data carrier system, a moving person, an animal, a car, or the like has a responder, and communicates when approaching or passing a place where an interrogator is installed. Communication methods between the responder and the interrogator are roughly classified into an electromagnetic induction method and a microwave method. The electromagnetic induction method, which has a communication distance of about 1 m, has a simple structure and can form a small and inexpensive transmitter. Moreover, it is easy to supply power from a remote location. However, it is easily affected by the metal plate. On the other hand, in the microwave method, the transmitter is expensive and susceptible to water,
Communication is possible in the area up to about 10 m. For this reason,
Both methods are used to separate each other by taking advantage of their respective advantages, and are widely used for entrance / exit management, individual breeding management, expressway gate management, FA line management, etc.

The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a transponder fixed to equipment, and an interrogator that is moved or carried, and information communication is performed between the transponder and the interrogator in a non-contact manner. Is.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the transponder has a memory capable of storing and rewriting data and a radio wave oscillator, and wirelessly communicates with the interrogator.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is one in which a transponder is arranged in a branch facility or a line facility of a network.

According to the invention of claim 4, a sensor capable of monitoring the line status is connected to the transponder.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the interrogator moves and approaches the responder by a predetermined distance, information communication is performed between them. The information written in the transponder is "Management entity name""Management ID number""Installationdate""Trackname"
There are "track type", "connection destination name", "maintenance history", etc.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the data in the memory is rewritten by the information communication with the interrogator.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the interrogator communicates information with the responder arranged in the branch facility or line facility of the network.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the line status can be instantly monitored by the sensor.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 10 is an interrogator, which is on the moving side such as being carried by an operator. The configuration is such that an input / output unit 11 for exchanging data with an external device or a sensor, a memory 12, a CPU 13,
The control unit 14, the modulation / demodulation circuit 15, the transmission / reception antenna 16, the display unit 17, and the like. Reference numeral 20 denotes a transponder, which is a fixed side such as attached to equipment. The configuration is the transmitting / receiving antenna 2
1, a memory 22, a CPU 23, an input / output control unit 24 and the like. Technically, it differs greatly from the conventional data carrier system in the following points. A conventional interrogator (also called a controller or base station) is connected to a host PC separately for control, and is not suitable for mobile phones.
In the interrogator 10 of the present invention, the functions of the personal computer are integrated, and the interrogator 10 has a display function, a human power function, and a memory function to make it convenient to carry. The transponder 20 includes a transmission / reception antenna 21, an input / output control unit 24, and a CPU 2 like the conventional data carrier.
3, the memory 22 and the like are included, but in the present invention, the responder 20 is on the fixed side, and therefore the size and shape do not need to be considered so much as it is not necessary to be conscious of carrying. Flexible,
Moreover, if it is a seal, it can be easily attached and fixed. The most different point on the side of the transponder 20 is the power source, and since it is on the fixed side, the degree of freedom in selection increases, and there are few restrictions on mounting. It is possible to use solar cells, primary and secondary batteries, or to pull in from the network itself. Further, as described above, communication may be possible by supplying power from the reader / writer without having a power supply.

Since the transponder 20 has the CPU 23 and the memory 22, it can be easily combined with other sensors. If a sensor for detecting a line failure, a gas sensor, a temperature sensor, etc. are connected, it is possible to monitor and store extremely important information in maintenance and inspection. Interrogator 1
The communication method between 0 and the responder 20 may be selected according to the importance of each facility, environment, maintenance conditions, the number of connections, and the like.

FIG. 2 shows a usage image of the transponder 20. In FIG. 2, 30 is a sensor, 40 is a power pole, 50 is a house,
Reference numeral 60 indicates a manhole. The shaded area is the cable. The responder 20 is fixed to the branch point of the network line, the telephone pole 40, or the like. The responder 20 has line information (such as which line is connected to which line),
Data such as installation date and time, ID number, and repair history are stored. The worker M who holds the interrogator 10
The individual data can be read out and additional writing can be performed only by bringing the device close to the responder 20. For this reason, it is possible to easily operate even in the upper part of the electric pole 40 or in the narrow region of the bypass. In addition, since it is possible to obtain a wealth of information while checking the actual product on site without retrieving the information from the center database, it is highly reliable and maintenance can be easily performed.

The type of sensor is a continuity sensor (in the case of a metal cable) for detecting "liveness" or disconnection in the middle of the line, a monitor of the light sent from the station (in the case of an optical cable), or deterioration of equipment. Is an influencing factor,
It is a sensor for monitoring environmental temperature and environmental gas. It monitors at specified time intervals, stores information in a built-in memory, and reads it for periodic diagnosis.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the maintenance management system constructed according to the present invention. A transponder 20 having a rewritable memory of predetermined information (ID, connection status, work history, capacity, etc.) is attached to the main equipment by pasting or inserting. When changing connections or performing maintenance work, carry only the map information and head to the target facility. The equipment information is confirmed by the portable interrogator 10, and after the completion, the changed information is recorded on the responder 20 side. After completing a plurality of operations, connect the interrogator 10 to the communication network or insert a floppy disk into the center terminal to register or update in the center's database DB without the conventional confirmation and manual input work. Became possible. For monitoring, individual equipment may be visited to check individual information.

When the sensor 30 is combined, information can be remotely monitored during the patrol. FIG. 4 shows a state of remote monitoring. When the combination of the transponder 20 and the interrogator 10 employing the microwave method was used, the communication distance was about 4 m. Connected sensor 3
0 is OTDR ((Optical Time Domain Refractometry
) Is for measuring the loss and the defective portion from the end of the optical fiber. The position of the loss portion can be obtained by measuring the amount of backscattered light, which is composed of a light transmitting portion that generates an optical pulse and a light receiving portion that detects return light. ) Output monitor. An automobile 60 equipped with the interrogator 10 has a speed of 4
It was possible to read information such as the ID information of the telephone pole 40 and the monitor output at a speed of about 0 km. Real-time information on the equipment can be obtained remotely, and the efficiency of patrol monitoring work can be greatly improved.

Although the explanation has been mainly based on the telecommunications network, the network facility maintenance management system according to the present invention includes many infrastructure networks such as gas, water, railway, wiring facilities in buildings, circulation system in the reactor, and so on. It can be applied to various purposes for maintenance management of equipment. In addition, a new service such as a navigation system can be added depending on the variation of the information written in the responder.

As described above, by using the present invention, the complexity of the construction and maintenance of the database, the delay of information registration and update, the equipment failure position identification, which has been a big problem in the conventional equipment maintenance and management, can be identified. Eliminating difficulties, etc., an efficient and highly reliable maintenance management system can be realized.

[0024]

As described above, the present invention comprises a transponder fixed to a facility and an interrogator that is moved or carried, and the contactless information communication is performed between the transponder and the interrogator. Since the equipment itself has information such as ID, connection information, capacity, and repair history, the amount of information recorded is extremely large, and it is easy to add, change, and rewrite information, and read and write remotely. This enables reliable real-time maintenance in the field, simplification of database maintenance, speedy monitoring, and efficient and reliable maintenance of the network.

Further, since the transponder has a memory capable of rewriting data and a radio wave transmitter and is adapted to communicate wirelessly with the interrogator, it is easy to rewrite data in the memory, and it is possible to perform wireless remote communication. Reading and writing in high places,
Workability is significantly improved in maintenance management of equipment in narrow spaces and underground. For example, in manholes and in the management of underground buried objects, it may be possible to work without going underground.

Further, since the transponder is arranged in the branch facility or the line facility of the network, the information on the important points of the network can be easily obtained, and the information can be obtained at the branch point of the main line.
Information such as the name of each line and connection destination and the grounding time of equipment can be grasped on the spot during inspection. If it is installed on a telephone pole, it is possible to know the name, telephone number, address, etc. of the subscriber who is connected to the electric wire that has been dropped from each telephone pole, and it is possible to immediately correct it when a change occurs.

Further, since a sensor capable of monitoring the line status is connected to the transponder, it is possible to confirm whether or not the line end is connected to a predetermined station, equipment, or home by the sensor, or when equipment deterioration occurs. You can grasp the history of temperature, atmospheric gas, humidity, etc.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an installation situation of a transponder of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an example of a system configuration and a procedure according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of remote monitoring of sensor information.

FIG. 5 is an example of the configuration and procedure of a conventional telephone access network equipment maintenance management system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Interrogator 11 Input / output unit 12 Memory 13 CPU 14 Control unit 15 Modulation / demodulation circuit 16 Transmission / reception antenna 17 Display unit 20 Responder 21 Transmission / reception antenna 22 Memory 23 CPU 24 Input / output control unit 30 Sensor 40 Power pole 50 House 60 Car

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Ichinose 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A network equipment maintenance management system comprising a responder fixed to equipment and an interrogator to be moved or carried, wherein information communication is performed between the responder and the interrogator in a non-contact manner. . 2. The network equipment maintenance management system according to claim 1, wherein the transponder has a memory capable of rewriting data and a radio wave transmitter, and wirelessly communicates with the interrogator. 3. The network facility maintenance management system according to claim 1, wherein a responder is arranged in a branch facility or a line facility of the network. 4. The response device is connected with a sensor capable of monitoring the line status.
3. The network equipment maintenance management system according to any one of 3 above.