JPH10224352A - Function management method and function management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the monitor control system by which a system change or the like is made flexibly in the monitor control system where terminal equipments are connected to a host device. SOLUTION: When a host monitor control section 8 detects rising of the system or replacement or the like of a plurality of subordinate monitor control sections 4-1-4-m of a subordinate monitor controller 4, the section 8 sends a command RTRV-MIB (Retrieve Management Information Base) for collecting information relating to monitor control functions realized by each of the subordinate monitor control sections 4-1-4-m to a plurality of the subordinate monitor control sections 4-1-4-m. Then the section 8 collects detailed information with respect to the monitor control functions realized and defined in advance in the inside of the subordinate monitor control sections 4-1-4-m and generates a maintenance menu to apply monitor control to the subordinate monitor control sections 4-1-4-m based on the detailed information collected from a plurality of the subordinate monitor control sections 4-1-4-m.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a supervisory control system, and more particularly, to a supervisory control system in which a terminal device is connected to a host device. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in a subscriber transmission path control device, a terminal has a main signal monitoring control unit, and the main signal monitoring control unit is configured to execute a control command from a higher-level device.

[0002] At this time, if an error or the like occurs in the terminal, the main signal monitoring control unit notifies the host device of an alarm.
The higher-level device detects an error generated in the terminal by an alarm from the terminal, and notifies the maintenance person of the error. A plurality of terminals are connected to the host device, and various alarms are supplied from the plurality of terminals. The higher-level device has a monitoring mode in which alarms from a plurality of terminals are received in a concentrated manner and the plurality of terminals are centrally managed.

[0003] On the other hand, a variety of services are characteristic of a subscriber unit as a terminal, and, in conjunction with the recent increase in the capacity of information, the monitoring control items handled by a higher-level device tend to be an enormous amount of information. It is in.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a conventional communication system. The conventional communication system 31 includes the terminal device 3
2. While monitoring and controlling the terminal device 32, the terminal device 3
And a lower-level supervisory controller 34 connected to the lower-level supervisory controller 34 via a digital line 35 for controlling the connection of the terminal device 32. A subscriber transmission controller such as a so-called DLC (Digital Loop Carrier) connected by a digital line is configured.

[0005] The lower monitoring controller 34 is composed of a plurality of lower monitoring controllers 4-1 to 4-m which are modularized. Different monitoring control functions are set for the plurality of lower monitoring control units 34-1 to 34-m, respectively.
Via the communication units 37-1 to 37-m, for example, 25 is connected to a digital line 35 conforming to the standard. In addition,
X. 25 is a standard for connection of a digital data network recommended by ITU-TSS (International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector), and includes a DTE (Data Terminal Equipment) and a DCE for terminals operating in a packet mode on a public data network.
(Data line terminating device).

[0006] A plurality of lower monitoring control units 34-1 to 34-m
For example, the monitoring control function set to the terminal device 32 includes a loopback function for monitoring the state of the terminal device 32 and the line by returning to the terminal device 32 (loopback), and monitoring a branch of the main signal. Split function to monitor the status of the line, Add to monitor the status of the line by adding another signal to the main signal (Add
) Function.

[0007] In this case, the lower monitoring control section 34-1 includes:
Two monitoring control functions of a loopback function and a split function are set, and the lower monitoring control unit 34-m includes:
Three monitoring control functions of a loopback function, a split function, and an add function are set. The lower monitoring control units 34-1 to 34-m are connected to the digital line 35 via the communication units 37-1 to 37-m, and connected to the upper monitoring control device 36 via the digital line 35. . The higher-level supervisory control device 36 is composed of a digital exchange, collects alarms and the like of the terminal device 32 and the lower-level supervisory control device 34, and collects the terminal device 32 and the lower-level supervisory control device 34.
Monitoring control unit 38 and monitoring monitoring control unit 3 that monitor and control
8 comprises a man-machine interface (MMI) unit 39 for notifying the information collected to the maintenance person.

[0008] The higher-level supervisory control unit 38 is connected to the digital line 35 via the communication unit 40, exchanges main signals from the lower-level supervisory control unit 34, and performs a plurality of lower-level supervisory control units 34-1 to 34-1. The monitoring control according to the monitoring control function set to 34-n is performed. At this time, the upper-level monitoring control unit 38 has a database 41 therein, and the plurality of lower-level monitoring control units 34-1 to 34 stored in the database 41.
Monitor and control according to the detailed information of -m.

The database 41 stores information on monitoring control functions that can be realized for each of the lower monitoring controllers 34-1 to 34-m under the higher monitoring controller 36. The man-machine interface 39 includes a monitor 42
And an input device 43, the monitor 42 displays an alarm or the like generated by the terminal device 32 or the lower monitoring control units 34-1 to 34-m, and a plurality of lower monitoring control units 34-1 to 34-m.
The monitor control function that can be realized by 34-m is displayed. The maintenance person is notified of the alarm displayed on the monitor 42 of the man-machine interface unit 39 and the plurality of lower monitoring control units 34-1 to 34-1.
The monitoring control function that can be realized by 4-m is recognized, and a command of the monitoring control function that can be realized is transmitted to the lower monitoring control units 34-1 to 34-m that have generated the alarm.

At this time, in the conventional communication system 31,
The database 41 of the higher-level supervisory control unit 38 has in advance all the information of the supervisory control functions that can be supervised and controlled by the lower-level supervisory control units 34-1 to 34-m. Next, an operation of a conventional communication system will be described with reference to a transition diagram of FIG.
In the conventional system, when there is a request for monitoring and control from the maintenance person through the man-machine interface unit 39, the upper control unit 38 uses the maintenance menu from the information on the lower monitoring control units 34-1 to 34-m stored in the database 41 in advance. Display the screen. The maintenance person selects the monitoring control function according to the maintenance menu (step S3-1).

When the supervisor selects the supervisory control function, the upper supervisory controller 38 supplies a command for executing the selected function to the lower supervisory controllers 34-1 to 34-m (step S3-2). . Lower monitoring control units 34-1 to 34
In -m, the monitoring control according to the command supplied from the higher-level monitoring control unit 38 is executed (step S3-3). As described above, the supervision and control of the lower-level supervisory control device 34 and the terminal device 32 by the higher-level supervisory control device 36 is executed.

Next, a description will be given of a man-machine interface when the supervisory control device 36 selects the supervisory control for the lower supervisory control device 34 and the terminal device 32. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of a conventional man-machine interface. FIG. 8A shows the lower monitoring control unit 3.
4-1 maintenance menu, FIG.
4 shows a display screen of a 4-m maintenance menu.

In FIGS. 8A and 8B, reference numerals 51a, 51a
b is a display of a shelf face, and the lower face monitoring control units 34-1 to 34- are provided on the shelf faces 51a and 51b.
The area corresponding to m is displayed. Reference numeral 52 denotes a function menu, which is a shelf face 51a, 51.
This menu is used to select what processing is to be performed on the lower monitoring control units 34-1 and 34-m selected in b.

A control "Cont" for executing monitoring control processing shaded by the function menu 52
When "rol" is selected, the control menus 53a and 53b are displayed as subwindows. The control menus 53a and 53b display all monitoring control functions that can be monitored and controlled by the lower monitoring control device 34.
Among all the displayed monitoring control functions, the lower monitoring control unit 34- selected by the shelf faces 51a and 51b.
The area of the functions that can be executed in the 1,34-m is shown in FIG.
The display is shaded as shown in FIG.

By displaying the shaded control menus 53a and 53b as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the maintenance person can select the lower-level monitoring control unit 34-1 selected on the shelf faces 51a and 51b. , 34-m recognizes the functions that can be executed, and selects the selected lower-level monitoring control units 34-1, 34-m.
Instruct m to execute the monitoring control function. In a conventional communication system of this type, the contents of the database of the higher-level supervisory control device are stored in the lower-level supervisory control device connected to the higher-level supervisory control device at the time of system production in accordance with the functions mounted on the lower-level supervisory control unit. It is set in advance. After the start-up, monitoring and control are performed by the set database.

When a card mounted on the lower monitoring and control apparatus is replaced, a display screen corresponding to the replaced card is displayed on the menu screen, for example.
The contents are displayed as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, and the contents of the database of the higher-level supervisory control device are updated when the maintenance person selects the function of the replaced card from the control menu.

[0017]

However, in this kind of conventional supervisory control system, the upper supervisory controller has all the alarms supplied from the lower supervisory controller and the control commands supplied to the lower supervisory controller. Because it was necessary
Unless detailed information, names, and the like handled by the lower-level supervisory control device are determined in the system development / design stage, the lower-level supervisory control device cannot, of course, develop or design the higher-level supervisory control device. Therefore, there is a problem that development and design take time.

Further, if a customer specification is changed or a new service occurs after the development and design, detailed information and a name of both the lower monitoring controller and the upper monitoring controller must be changed. In addition, the system could not be easily changed, and the system lacked flexibility. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a function management method and a function management system that can flexibly change the system.

[0019]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, information relating to the function of a lower-level device is stored in a higher-level device.
In the function management method for executing a function of the lower-level device by sending a command from the higher-level device to the lower-level device based on the information, information of a function executable by the lower-level device is transmitted from the lower-level device to the upper-level device. And information for selecting a command of a function to be executed by the lower-level device is generated based on the information collected from the lower-level device.

According to the first aspect, information on functions executable by the lower-level device is collected from the lower-level device to the higher-level device, and information for selecting a command to be transmitted to the lower-level device based on the information collected from the lower-level device is constructed. Therefore, there is no need to previously set information relating to functions that can be executed by the lower-level device in the higher-level device. Therefore, since the upper-level device and the lower-level device can be separately designed and developed, development design can be performed efficiently, and Even when a lower-level device is added or a function of a lower-level device is changed, information on functions executable by the lower-level device is collected, so that information after the addition of a lower-level device and a change in the function of the lower-level device can be easily obtained. Therefore, the degree of freedom of the system can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a low-level device having a predetermined function and information of a function connected to the low-level device and executable by the low-level device are owned and executed by the low-level device based on the information. In a function management system having a higher-level device that controls functions, a database provided in the higher-level device and managing information of functions executable by the lower-level device, and a database provided in the higher-level device and executable by the lower-level device Information collection command sending means for sending a command to collect information of various functions to the lower order device, provided in the lower order device,
Information transmitting means for transmitting the information to the higher-level device based on the command transmitted from the higher-level device, and updating the database based on the information supplied from the lower-level device provided in the higher-level device Data updating means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises selection information generating means for generating selection information for selecting a function to be executed in the lower-level device based on the database. A fourth aspect is characterized in that a plurality of the lower order devices are connected to the upper order device. Claim 5 is characterized in that the plurality of lower-level devices have different functions in each device.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the lower-level device has a plurality of hierarchical structures with respect to the higher-level device. According to the second to sixth aspects of the present invention, even if the database of the higher-level device and the detailed information of the lower-level device are different due to, for example, the time of system development or the time of function change of the lower-level device, the system startup or the function change Sometimes, a command from a higher-level device updates the database of the higher-level device with information from the lower-level device, and the information in the database of the higher-level device can be automatically updated to information according to the current lower-level device. It is not necessary to previously set the information of the lower device connected to the device, and it is not necessary for the higher device to know the detailed information of the lower device in advance.

[0024]

FIG. 2 shows a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. The supervisory control system 1 of the present embodiment supervises and controls the terminal device 2 and the terminal device 2, and connects to the lower supervisory control device 4 via the digital line 5 to control the connection of the terminal device 2. And a higher-order supervisory control device 6 for controlling the connection of the terminal device 2 and a subscriber transmission control device such as a so-called DLC (Digital Loop Carrier) for connecting the subscriber and the exchange via a digital line. I have.

The lower monitoring controller 4 is composed of a plurality of lower monitoring controllers 4-1 to 4-m which are modularized. Different monitoring control functions are set for the plurality of lower monitoring control units 4-1 to 4-m, respectively.
X. 1 through 7-m. 25 is connected to the digital line 5. Plural lower monitoring control units 4-1 to 4-
The monitoring control function set to m includes, for example, a loopback function for monitoring the state of the terminal device 2 and the line by returning to the terminal device 2 (loopback), and monitoring a branch of the main signal. Split function to monitor the line status by using, Add to monitor the line status by adding another signal to the main signal
) Function.

Here, two monitoring control functions, a loopback function and a split function, are set in the lower monitoring controller 4-1. The lower monitoring controller 4-m has a loopback function and a split function. , And an add function are set. Lower monitoring controller 4-
1 to 4-m are connected to the digital line 5 via the communication units 7-1 to 7-m, and are connected to the higher-level supervisory control device 6 via the digital line 5. The higher-level supervisory control device 6 is composed of a digital exchange, collects alarms and the like of the terminal device 2 and the lower-level supervisory control device 4, and collects the terminal device 2
And a higher-level supervisory control unit 8 for monitoring and controlling the lower-level supervisory control device 4, and a man-machine interface (MMI) unit 9 for notifying a maintenance person of information collected by the higher-level supervisory control unit 8.

The upper supervisory control unit 8 is connected to the digital line 5 via the communication unit 10, exchanges main signals from the lower supervisory control unit 4, and includes a plurality of lower supervisory control units 4-1 to 4-1. The monitoring control according to the monitoring control function set in 4-n is performed. At this time, the upper-level monitoring controller 8 has a database 11 therein, and performs monitoring control according to the detailed information of the plurality of lower-level monitoring controllers 4-1 to 4-m stored in the database 11.

The database 11 stores information on monitoring control functions that can be realized for each of the lower monitoring controllers 4-1 to 4-m under the higher monitoring controller 6. The man-machine interface unit 9 has a monitor 12 and an input device 13, and displays an alarm or the like generated by the terminal device 2 or the lower monitoring control units 4-1 to 4-m on the monitor 12, and a plurality of lower monitoring units. The monitoring control functions that can be realized by the control units 4-1 to 4-m are displayed. The maintenance person recognizes the alarm displayed on the monitor 12 of the man-machine interface unit 9 and the monitoring control function that can be realized by the plurality of lower monitoring control units 4-1 to 4-m, and recognizes the lower monitoring control at which the alarm is generated. Part 4-
A command of a monitoring control function that can be realized is sent to 1 to 4-m.

At this time, the configuration is such that the database 11 of the upper monitoring controller 8 is automatically updated by the detailed information supplied from the plurality of lower monitoring controllers 4-1 to 4-n at the time of starting up the system. Have been. FIG. 1 shows a transition diagram of the monitoring control system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The higher-level supervisory controller 8 starts up the system by turning on the power, or the lower-level supervisory controller 4-1 of the lower-level supervisory controller 4.
４−4-m is detected (step S1-
1).

The higher-level monitoring controller 8 determines in step S1-1
To start up the system or the lower-level supervisory controller 4
When the replacement of the plurality of lower-level monitoring control units 4-1 to 4-m is detected, the plurality of lower-level monitoring control units 4-1 to 4-m are detected.
m, an information collection command (R) for collecting information relating to a monitoring control function that can be realized by each of the lower monitoring control units 4-1 to 4-m from the plurality of lower monitoring control units 4-1 to 4-m.
TRV-MIB; Retrieve Management Information Ba
se) is supplied (step S1-2).

The plurality of lower monitoring control units 4-1 to 4-m are:
Information collection command RTRV-MI from the higher-level monitoring controller 8
When B is supplied, detailed information on a predefined feasible monitoring control function is transmitted to the higher-level monitoring control device inside the lower-level monitoring control units 4-1 to 4-m (step S).
1-3). Here, the database 1 of the higher-level monitoring controller 8
Update 1 will be described in detail. FIG. 3 shows a transition diagram of the database update operation according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates an operation when the information collection command RTRV-MIB is supplied from the higher-order monitoring control unit 8 to the lower-order monitoring control unit 4-m.

When the system is started or when instructing to capture the detailed information is instructed by the man-machine interface unit 9, the information monitoring command “RTRV-MIB: m” as shown in step S2-1 in FIG. Is transmitted to the digital line 5 (step S2-1).
The command “RTRV-MIB: m” indicates an instruction to capture detailed information of the lower-level monitoring controller 4-m.

The lower supervisory control unit 4-m is composed of the upper supervisory control unit 8
From the command "RT" as shown in step S2-1 in FIG.
RV-MIB: m "is supplied, the step S of FIG.
The response as shown in 2-2 is sent to the upper-level monitoring controller 8.
To supply. The response shown in step S2-2 in FIG. 3 indicates that the loopback function, the split function, and the add function are valid. In the response of step S2-2 in FIG. 3, <F1-a> indicates that F1 is the loopback function, and <F1-b = Y> executes the loopback function, and <F1-c = N> Indicates that the loopback function stops. Also, in the response of step S2-2 in FIG. 3, <F2-a> indicates that F2 is the split function, and <F2-b = Y> executes the split function, and <F2-c = N> Indicates that the split function stops. Further, in the response of step S2-2 in FIG. 3, <F3-a> indicates that F3 is the add function, and the add function is executed by <F3-b = Y>, and <F3-c
= N> indicates that the add function stops. Note that <F4-a = null> indicates that F4 is not defined.

A response as shown in step S2-2 in FIG. When the above-mentioned response is supplied to the higher-level monitoring control unit 8, the higher-level monitoring control unit 8 refers to the database 11 set therein, and details of the corresponding lower-level monitoring control unit 4-m stored in the database 11. Compare with information. Here, the upper-level monitoring control unit 8 checksums the Checksum (= 3) of the valid monitoring control function in the detailed information supplied from the lower-level monitoring control unit 4-m and the corresponding lower level stored in the database. The checksum of the effective supervisory control function is compared with the supervisory control unit 4-m. If the two checksums do not match, the corresponding detailed information of the database is transmitted to the detailed information supplied from the lower supervisory control unit 4-m. Update with information.

Further, the higher-level supervisory control device is configured to be able to collect only the checksum from the lower-level supervisory control device according to a command instruction as needed. In the higher-level monitoring controller 6, the database 1 of the higher-level monitoring controller 8
The information stored in 1 is a man-machine interface unit 9
Is displayed on the monitor 12 as a maintenance menu.

The maintenance person recognizes the monitor 12 of the man-machine interface unit 9 of the higher-level supervisory control device 6, and performs maintenance management according to the maintenance menu displayed on the monitor 12. Here, a case where the maintenance person executes the split function of the lower monitoring control unit 4-m using the control function will be described.

The maintenance person operates the man-machine interface 9
By recognizing the monitor 12, the lower-level monitoring controller 4-m can determine that the split function is executable. Therefore, the maintenance person selects and executes F2 for realizing the split function according to the maintenance menu displayed on the monitor 12. Maintenance person realizes split function
When F2 is executed, the upper-level monitoring controller 8 supplies a command as shown in step S2-3 of FIG.

When receiving the command as shown in step S2-3 of FIG. 3, the lower monitoring controller 4-m executes the split function specified by the command. Next, the maintenance menu displayed on the monitor 12 of the man-machine interface unit 9 will be described. FIG. 4 is a view showing a display screen of a maintenance menu of the man-machine interface unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A shows the case where the lower monitoring control unit 4-1 is selected, and FIG. 4B shows the lower monitoring control unit 4-m.
Shows the maintenance menu when is selected.

FIG. 4A shows the maintenance menu screen 21.
As shown in FIG. 4B, the lower monitoring control units 4-1 to 4-
shelf face 2 for selecting the monitoring target from the m
2, and a function menu 23 for selecting a function to be executed are displayed.
As shown in FIG. 4A, when a hatched area of the shelf face 22 is clicked, and a hatched control function of the function menu 22 is clicked, a monitoring control operation executable by the lower monitoring controller 4-1 is performed. The displayed control menu 24a is displayed.

The control menu 24a displays a monitoring control function which can be monitored and controlled by the lower monitoring controller 4-1 held in the database 11 of the upper monitoring controller 8. The lower-level monitoring controller 4-1 can execute the loopback function and the split function. Therefore, the characters “Loopback” and “Split” indicating the functions and “Y” and “Y” for determining the operation / stop of each function are displayed. The character "N" is displayed.

The maintenance person selects a control function to be executed from the control menu 24a by using the input device 13, and clicks an "OK" button. When the “OK” button is clicked by the maintenance person, the higher-level monitoring controller 8
The command selected by the maintenance person is supplied to the lower monitoring controller 4-1. Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the user clicks on the hatched area of the shelf face 22 and clicks on the control function of the function menu 22 indicated by the diagonal line, the lower monitoring control unit 4-m is clicked.
A control menu 24b displaying the monitoring control operations that can be executed in the menu is displayed.

The control menu 24b displays a monitoring control function which can be monitored and controlled by the lower monitoring controller 4-m held in the database 11 of the upper monitoring controller 8. The lower-level monitoring controller 4-1 can execute the loop-back function and the split function, and thus determines the operation / stop of the characters “Loopback”, “Split”, “add” indicating the function and similar functions. The characters “Y” and “N” are displayed.

The maintenance person selects a control function to be executed from the control menu 24b using the input device 13, and clicks an "OK" button. When the “OK” button is clicked by the maintenance person, the higher-level monitoring controller 8
The command selected by the maintenance person is supplied to the lower monitoring controller 4-m. FIG. 5 shows a control menu 24a of the man-machine interface unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure showing the definition state of 24b.

As shown in FIG. 5, the control menu 2
4F and 4B indicate the names of functions which are information of the response supplied from the lower monitoring controller 4-1 to 4-m and held in the database 11 of the upper monitoring controller 8 <Fn-
a), a predetermined field size and the number of characters are set in the direction of the arrow X in the order of <Fn-b> for instructing the operation of the function F1, and <Fn-c> for instructing the stop of the function Fn. Arrow Y
It is set to be arranged in the direction.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, at the time of system startup, the upper monitoring controller 8 supplies the lower monitoring controllers 4-1 to 4 -m with an information collection command. By receiving detailed information on the monitoring control function from -1 to 4-m, the database 11 of the upper monitoring control unit 8 is stored in the lower monitoring control unit 4-1 to 4-1.
Since the data can be updated to the data adapted to the state of 4-m, the detailed information on the monitoring control functions of the lower monitoring controllers 4-1 to 4-m attached to the lower monitoring controller 4 is previously stored in the upper monitoring controller. 8 does not need to be set in the database 11, the time and effort of creating the database 11 of the higher-level monitoring control unit 8 can be omitted, and detailed information on the configuration of the lower-level monitoring and control device 4 is not required when designing the higher-level monitoring and control device 6. The degree of freedom in designing the upper-level monitoring and control device 6 can be improved.

Further, even if the lower monitoring controllers 4-1 to 4-m, which are modules mounted on the lower monitoring controller 4, are replaced, the lower monitoring easily replaced by the command RTRV-MIB from the upper monitoring controller 8 is performed. Detailed information on the monitoring control functions of the control units 4-1 to 4-m is stored in the lower monitoring control units 4-1 to 4-4.
-M, the database 1 of the higher-level monitoring controller 8
1 can be updated, so that the maintenance person needs to update the database 11 of the higher-level monitoring control unit 8 based on the information of the lower-level monitoring control units 4-1 to 4-m attached to the lower-level monitoring control device 4. Since there is no maintenance, maintenance management becomes easy. When the lower monitoring control units 4-1 to 4-m are replaced, the contents of the database 11 of the higher monitoring device 6 automatically correspond to the information of the newly installed lower monitoring control units 4-1 to 4-m. It becomes possible to easily cope with replacement of a large number of lower monitoring control units and new mounting, thereby improving expandability.

Further, even in a system configuration in which a plurality of layers of supervisory control devices are provided between the highest level and the terminal, it is possible that each layer of the supervisory control devices has a function of communication processing and an interface with an application. A high-level (simple) system that incorporates a basic OS (Operating System) in common and runs on the commonly installed OS after the device is installed
By downloading an application in a language, it is possible to perform complicated and dynamic monitoring and control on a terminal.

[0048]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, information on functions executable by a lower-level device is collected from a lower-level device to a higher-level device, and the information is collected by the lower-level device based on the information collected from the lower-level device. Since information for selecting a command to be sent is constructed, it is not necessary to set information on functions executable by the lower device in the upper device in advance, and therefore, the upper device and the lower device can be separately developed and designed. The development design can be performed efficiently, and even if a lower-level device is added or the function of a lower-level device is changed, information on the functions that can be executed by the lower-level device is collected, so that the lower-level device can be added, Since the information after the change can be easily obtained, there is a feature that the degree of freedom of the system can be improved.

According to the second to sixth aspects, even when the database of the higher-level device and the detailed information of the lower-level device become different due to the system development, the function change of the lower-level device, or the like, a command from the higher-level device can be used. The upper device database is updated with the detailed information from the lower device, and the detailed information in the higher device database is set to the detailed information according to the current state of the lower device. It is not necessary to set the detailed information of the lower-level device in advance, and it is not necessary for the higher-level device to know the detailed information of the lower-level device in advance. Therefore, the upper-level device and the lower-level device can be separately developed and designed. In addition, it is possible to efficiently develop and design, and to collect information on functions that can be executed by lower-level devices even when lower-level devices are added or the functions of lower-level devices are changed. Ri, additional lower apparatus, because the information after the change of the functions of the lower apparatus can be easily acquired, has a feature such that can improve the flexibility of the system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a transition diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a transition diagram of a database update operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display screen of a maintenance menu of a man-machine interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a definition state of a control screen of a man-machine interface unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional communication system.

FIG. 7 is a transition diagram of a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display screen of a conventional man-machine interface.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 supervisory control system 2 terminal device 4 lower-level supervisory control unit 4-1 to 4-m lower-level supervisory control unit 5 digital line 6 higher-level supervisory control unit 7-1 to 7-m communication unit 8 higher-level supervisory control unit 9 man-machine interface unit Reference Signs List 10 Communication unit 11 Database 12 Monitor 13 Input device

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A function management method in which information relating to a function of a lower device is held in a higher device, and a command is transmitted from the higher device to the lower device based on the information, and the function of the lower device is executed. The information for collecting information on a function executable by the lower-level device from the lower-level device to the higher-level device, and selecting a command of a function to be executed by the lower-level device based on the information collected from the lower-level device And a function management method. 2. A low-level device having a predetermined function and information on a function connected to the low-level device and executable by the low-level device, and controlling a function to be executed by the low-level device based on the information. A function management system comprising: a database provided in the upper device and managing information of functions executable by the lower device; and a database provided by the upper device and executed by the lower device. Information collecting command sending means for sending a command for collecting information to the lower order device; information sending means provided in the lower order device for sending the information to the upper order device based on the command sent from the upper order device And a data updating unit provided in the higher-level device and updating the database based on the information supplied from the lower-level device. Function management system to. 3. The function management system according to claim 2, further comprising selection information generation means for generating selection information for selecting a function to be executed in the lower-level device based on the database. 4. The function management system according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the lower devices are connected to the upper device. 5. The function management system according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of lower-level devices has a different function. 6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the lower-level device has a plurality of hierarchical structures with respect to the higher-level device.
A function management system according to any one of the preceding claims.