JPH1132040A - Individual collecting device for command response message - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently collect and manage a response message which is trans ferred from a switchboard to a maintenance terminal. SOLUTION: A command transmitting means 3 adds a command number for identifying a command to be transferred from another command, which is being executed to the command to be transferred and transmits it to a switchboard 1. A number-generating means 4 of the switchboard 1 generates a sequence number, communicates this command number and the sequence number to a maintenance terminal 2, and they are stored in a number storing means 5 of the maintaining terminal 2. The switchboard 1 adds the sequence number to the response message corresponding to this command, and transmits it to the maintaining terminal 2. A controlling means 8 of the maintaining terminal 2 extracts the command number, corresponding to the sequence number added to the response message from the number storing means 5, relates the response message to this command number, and stores it in a response message storing means 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a communication apparatus provided with a plurality of exchanges (hosts) and a maintenance terminal (maintenance operation terminal) for centrally managing the exchanges. The present invention relates to a technology for efficiently collecting and managing messages (data) at the maintenance terminal.

[0002] In a communication device (communication network) comprising a plurality of exchanges (hosts) connected by communication lines, a maintenance terminal (workstation, personal computer, etc.) is connected to each exchange via the communication line, and each exchange is connected. Operational status of the
It monitors and manages the failure status intensively,
In such a communication device, it is necessary to efficiently collect and manage various messages (data) related to maintenance operation transferred from each exchange to the maintenance terminal.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In a communication apparatus in which a plurality of exchanges connected to each other via a communication line are monitored intensively by a maintenance terminal connected to the exchange via a communication line, the maintenance terminal includes: In addition, various messages (data) required for maintenance operation sent from each exchange are collected and managed as follows.

First, at a maintenance terminal, an operator (maintenance worker) periodically or as necessary issues various commands for instructing a failure occurrence status and other data transfer necessary for maintenance operation. To the exchange.

[0005] The exchange executes processing corresponding to the command sent from the maintenance terminal, and sends necessary data and the like as a message to the maintenance terminal. In addition, the exchange voluntarily sends various types of data as messages to the maintenance terminal when an abnormality, a failure, or the like occurs, or when necessary.
Hereinafter, a message as a response to a command from the maintenance terminal is referred to as a response message, and a message voluntarily sent by the exchange is referred to as an autonomous message.

[0006] In the maintenance terminal, these messages sent from the exchange are sequentially stored in a storage device, and the operator searches the messages stored in the storage device for a message he or she needs, and checks the operation status of the exchange, Refer to and check the failure occurrence status, etc., and perform necessary work.

[0007]

The messages and data sent from the exchange to the maintenance terminal have been diversified and increased with the enhancement and enhancement of the functions of the exchange and the maintenance terminal. Also, even if the operator executes a command (sends a command to the exchange) at the maintenance terminal, it does not mean that a response message can be received in real time, and it takes time, so the maintenance terminal receives messages from each exchange as needed during that time. doing.

Therefore, the operator needs to search for a response message that he / she needs from a large number of messages stored in the storage device, which is not easy and requires many man-hours. there were.

In addition, when a plurality of commands are executed consecutively, similar response messages may be sent to the maintenance terminal continuously. In this case, it is difficult to distinguish them, and depending on the situation, In some cases, the search had to be abandoned, and in some cases it was necessary to retry command execution.

In such a case, unnecessary load is imposed on the communication line and other resources, the use efficiency of the communication line and the congestion are reduced, and a message having a high degree of importance and urgency such as occurrence of a failure from the exchange is transmitted to this. There has been a problem that notification may not be possible or may be delayed due to a phenomenon, which may lead to the spread and expansion of failures.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and various kinds of maintenance operation messages (data) transferred from an exchange to a maintenance terminal are efficiently collected and stored.
Providing technology for management, facilitating maintenance and operation work,
The purpose is to achieve high efficiency.

[0012]

A description will be given with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 1 showing the principle configuration of the present invention. The present invention is provided as the following command response message individual collecting device applied to a communication device including a plurality of exchanges 1 and a maintenance terminal 2 connected to the exchange 1 via a communication line.

That is, a command sending means 3 provided in the maintenance terminal for sending a command for giving an instruction to the exchange 1 to the exchange by adding a command number for identifying it from other commands being executed; A sequence number is generated when a command is received from the terminal 2, and a command number added to the received command and a number provided in the exchange 1 for sending a number notification message in which the sequence number is set to the maintenance terminal 2 The maintenance terminal 2 includes a generation unit 4 and a number storage unit 5 provided in the maintenance terminal 2 for storing a sequence number set in the number notification message sent from the maintenance terminal 2 in association with a command number.

Further, a response message provided in the exchange 1 is sent to the maintenance terminal 2 by adding a sequence number generated by the number generation means 4 to a response message corresponding to the command sent from the maintenance terminal 2. Sending means 6; response message storage means 7 provided in the maintenance terminal 2 for storing a response message sent from the exchange 1;
A command number corresponding to the sequence number set in the response message from the server is taken out from the number storage means 5, and the response message is stored in the response message storage means in association with the command number. Command response message collecting device provided with the control means 8 provided.

Further, the present invention is applied to a communication apparatus (computer system) including a plurality of exchanges 1 and a maintenance terminal 2 connected to the exchange 1 via a communication line.
The following command response message individual collection program can be provided as a storage medium that stores the program.

That is, a command sending means 3 for sending a command to the exchange 1 with a command number for discriminating from a command being executed being added to a command for giving an instruction to the exchange 1
A number generating means for generating a sequence number when a command is received from the maintenance terminal 2 and transmitting a command number added to the received command and a number notification message in which the sequence number is set to the maintenance terminal 2 When,
A number storage means for storing a sequence number set in the number notification message sent from the maintenance terminal in association with a command number.

Further, a response message sending means 6 for adding the sequence number generated by the number generating means 5 to the response message corresponding to the command sent from the maintenance terminal 2 and sending the response message to the maintenance terminal 2; A response message storage unit 7 for storing a response message sent from the switch 1;
And a control unit 8 for extracting a command number corresponding to the sequence number set in the response message from the number storage unit 5 and storing the response message in the response message storage unit 7 in association with the command number. A command-response-message individual collection program.

According to the present invention, from the maintenance terminal 2 to the exchange 1
, The exchange 1 generates a sequence number, notifies the maintenance terminal 2 of the command number and the sequence number, and then the exchange 1 adds the sequence number to a response message as a response to the command. In addition, it is sent to the maintenance terminal 2.

The maintenance terminal 2 retrieves the command number corresponding to the notified sequence number from the number storage unit 5 and stores the response message in the response message storage unit 7 in association with the command number. As a result, in the maintenance terminal 2, the operator can easily recognize the correspondence between the command and the response message corresponding to the command.

Therefore, in the maintenance terminal 2, the operator can easily specify the response message he or she needs from the large number of messages received from the exchange 1, and the operator can easily search and reduce the number of work steps. As a result, it is possible to greatly reduce the maintenance work, thereby facilitating the maintenance work and improving the efficiency.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a plurality of exchanges (host computers), which are not shown, but each exchange 11 is connected to each other via a communication line and accommodates a plurality of subscriber terminals. doing.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a maintenance terminal (maintenance operation terminal) including a personal computer or a workstation.
The maintenance terminal 12 is connected to each exchange 11 via a communication line. The maintenance terminal 12 receives a response message sent from the exchange 11 as a response to a command sent to the exchange 11 or an autonomous message sent by the exchange 11 independently, based on an instruction of an operator (maintenance worker). This is a device for centrally monitoring and managing the operation status and failure occurrence status of each exchange 11 at a remote location.

The maintenance terminal 12 has a catalog function from the viewpoint of improving the efficiency of issuing commands. The catalog function includes a command for prompting the exchange 11 to transfer necessary information and a command for executing other processing.
This is a function in which a set of commands is sequentially executed (transferred to the exchange 11) by executing the catalog by storing a plurality of files in a file.

The maintenance terminal 12 includes a transmission / reception unit 13 for transmitting / receiving messages and data to / from the exchange 11, a sequence storage unit 14, a comparison unit 15, an individual data storage unit 16, and a display unit 17.

The sequence storage unit 14 stores a sequence number management table, a command information management table, an execution command management table, and a catalog information management table.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sequence number management table stores sequence numbers (for example, 0 to 99).
9) is a table in which a command number is set using index (IDX) as an index. As shown in FIG. 4, the command information management table is a table in which detailed information including a password, a command name, a size, and a sequence number is set using a command number (for example, 0 to 99) as an index (IDX). is there.

As shown in FIG. 5, the execution command management table is a table in which a catalog number (for example, 0 to 8) is used as an index (IDX) to set a command number of a currently executed command. is there. As shown in FIG. 6, the catalog information management table uses a catalog number (for example, 0 to 8) as an index (IDX) to specify a catalog name, a command No. It is a table in which detailed information including “.” Is set.

In FIG. 2, as will be described in detail later,
The comparison unit 15 compares and determines whether or not the message sent from the exchange 11 is a response message requested by the operator based on the sequence number and the command number.

When the comparison unit 15 determines that the response message is a response message requested by the operator, the received response message is stored in the individual data storage unit 16 with the catalog name stored in the sequence storage unit. Is stored.

The display unit 17 displays a list or a part of a plurality of response messages stored in the individual data storage unit 16 as a list, and displays a list from which the operator wants to display detailed contents. It is for specifying and displaying the details of the specified response message. In the process from the issuance of the command to the reception of the response message, if a communication error or the like has occurred and ended abnormally, the corresponding message in the list of response messages displayed on the display unit 17 will be replaced with the response message that ended normally. Display with a different color or mark.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process according to the embodiment of the present invention. Before processing, maintenance terminal (PC)
At 12, the operator prepares a catalog in which a plurality of commands for the exchange (exchange office) 11 are set. In addition, an option for specifying whether to individually collect response messages based on the present invention is specified. here,
It shall be specified to collect response messages individually. When specifying this option, the backup destination (storage device) is also specified.

When the operator executes the catalog at the maintenance terminal 12, the commands set in the catalog are sequentially transmitted to the exchange 11 via the transmission / reception unit 13 together with the command numbers described below (ST).
1).

When transferring this command, the maintenance terminal 12 performs the following registration and other processing in the catalog information management table, the command information management table, and the execution command management table.

That is, the catalog number for identifying the specified catalog from other running catalogs is
The catalog is allocated with reference to the catalog information management table (FIG. 6), and the catalog name (file name) of the designated catalog is entered in a column corresponding to the allocated catalog number (for example, number 2) in the catalog information management table. , A command No. (order of the command to be transferred from the beginning of the catalog), and a storage device for storing the response message.

Next, for the command to be transferred, a command number (different from the command No.) for identifying it from other commands being executed is allocated by referring to the command information management table (FIG. 4). The command name and the like of the command to be transferred are registered in a column corresponding to the assigned command number (for example, number 10) in the table.

An execution command management table (FIG. 5)
The command number (No. 10) is registered in the column corresponding to the catalog number (No. 2). Next, the maintenance terminal 11
The command number (No. 10) is added to the command to be transferred and sent to the exchange 11.

Upon receiving a command from the maintenance terminal 12 (ST2), the exchange 11 generates a sequence number. This sequence number is for distinguishing a received command from other received commands, and is generated by a counter or the like that is sequentially incremented when a command is received from the maintenance terminal 12.

The exchange 11 transmits to the maintenance terminal 12 a number notification message in which the command number (No. 10) added to the received command and the sequence number (for example, 996) are set (ST3). .

When the maintenance terminal 12 receives the number notification message from the exchange 11, the maintenance terminal 12 stores a number corresponding to the sequence number (No. 996) set in the transmitted number notification message in the sequence number management table (FIG. 3). The command number (10
Number). Further, for confirmation, the sequence number (No. 996) is registered in a column corresponding to the command number (No. 10) in the command information management table (FIG. 4) (ST4).

When the exchange 11 performs a process corresponding to the received command, collects necessary data and the like and generates a response message, it adds the sequence number (No. 996) to the response message, The data is transmitted to the maintenance terminal 12 (ST5).

When receiving the response message, the maintenance terminal 12 uses the sequence number (No. 996) added to the response message as an index.
The sequence number management table (FIG. 3) is searched, and the corresponding command number (No. 10) is read (ST).
6).

Next, the comparison unit 15 of the maintenance terminal 12 sequentially compares the command number (No. 10) with the command numbers registered in the execution command management table (FIG. 5).
It is determined whether there is a match (ST7). ST
In step 7, if there is no match, it is determined that the message is not a response message for a command included in the catalog being executed, and a predetermined storage unit is not distinguished from other messages as usual. Collect all at once.

In ST7, if there is a match, it is determined that the response message is a response message for a command included in the catalog being executed, and the command corresponds to the command number (No. 10) in the execution command management table (FIG. 5). The catalog number (No. 2) is read out, the information such as the catalog name and the storage location registered in the column corresponding to the catalog number (No. 2) of the catalog information management table (FIG. 6) is read, and the response message is read out. It is stored in the individual data storage unit 16 in association with the catalog name (ST8). When a response message is stored in the individual data storage unit 16, the storage time is also stored.

When the exchange 11 completes the transfer of the response message to the maintenance terminal 12 without any abnormality,
A command execution end message is sent to the maintenance terminal 12 (S
T9).

When the maintenance terminal 12 receives the command execution end message, the command information management table (FIG. 4)
In the column corresponding to the command number (No. 10) and the catalog number (No. 2) in the execution command management table (FIG. 5).
Is cleared (ST10) to prepare for the execution of the next command.

Next, the display unit 17 sequentially displays the identification of the received response message, the command name, the catalog name, and the like, and if necessary, the operator can display the detailed contents from among these. By specifying, the details of the specified response message are displayed (ST11). The display for notifying the operator of the start and end of the execution of the catalog is also performed in real time.

By designating a command name, a catalog name, and the like, the operator selects only a corresponding message from the response messages stored in the individual data storage unit 16 and causes the display unit 17 to display the contents. Check and maintenance work.

The maintenance terminal 12 stores the individual data storage unit 1
6 has various auxiliary functions for easily accessing those required by the operator among the response messages stored in the command message 6. For example, by giving a predetermined input instruction, a command name or a catalog name can be obtained. The list can be displayed in chronological order based on the storage time of the response message.

Further, it is detected whether or not an abnormality has occurred during the period from the transmission of the command to the reception of the response message, and a different color or mark is attached so that the abnormally terminated one can be distinguished from the normally terminated one. Thus, the display method can be changed and displayed on the display unit 17.

According to the present embodiment, of the various message groups sent from the exchange to the maintenance terminal, the response message is stored in the individual data storage unit 16 separately from other autonomous messages and the like. The message can be easily distinguished from other autonomous messages and the like.

Further, even when a plurality of catalogs are executed in parallel, a response message for a required catalog can be easily distinguished from a response message for another catalog.

Further, when referring to the response message, the operator can easily confirm the identification information of the response message stored in the individual data storage section 16 in a list displayed in time series. . Further, it is possible to easily confirm whether the processing is abnormal termination or normal termination based on a difference in display color or the like.

Therefore, the operator can quickly, reliably and easily obtain the necessary response message,
It is possible to respond quickly to failures, prevent the spread and spread of the failures, and greatly contribute to improving the efficiency and quality of maintenance operations.

The embodiments described above are described for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, but are not described for limiting the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiment is intended to include all design changes and equivalents belonging to the technical scope of the present invention.

[0056]

According to the present invention, a response message transferred in response to a request from a maintenance terminal among various messages (data) related to maintenance operation transferred from the exchange to the maintenance terminal is transmitted from another autonomous message or the like. In addition to the distinction, the response message corresponding to the command transferred to the exchange can be distinguished from the response message corresponding to other commands, so that the collection and management of the response message can be performed with high efficiency. This has the effect of facilitating maintenance work and increasing efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle configuration of the present invention.

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

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a sequence number management table stored in a sequence storage unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a command information management table stored in a sequence storage unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an execution command management table stored in a sequence storage unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a catalog information management table stored in a sequence storage unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 switch 2 maintenance terminal 3 command transmission means 4 number generation means 5 number storage means 6 response message transmission means 7 response message storage means 8 control means

Claims (5)

[Claims] A communication apparatus comprising: a plurality of exchanges; and a maintenance terminal connected to the exchanges via a communication line, wherein a command for giving an instruction to the exchange is distinguished from another command being executed. A command sending means provided in the maintenance terminal for sending a command number to the exchange, and a sequence number is generated when a command is received from the maintenance terminal; the command number added to the received command; A number generation unit provided in the exchange, which sends a number notification message in which a sequence number is set to the maintenance terminal, and associates a sequence number set in the number notification message sent from the maintenance terminal with a command number. A number storage means provided in the maintenance terminal for storing, and a record corresponding to a command sent from the maintenance terminal. A response message sending unit provided in the exchange, which adds a sequence number generated by the number generation unit to the response message and sends the response message to the maintenance terminal; and a response message sent from the exchange is stored. A response message storage unit provided in the terminal, a command number corresponding to a sequence number set in the response message from the exchange is taken out from the number storage unit, and the response message is associated with the command number and the response message A command response message individual collecting device, comprising: a control unit provided in the maintenance terminal, which is stored in a storage unit. 2. The command-response-message collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance terminal executes a catalog in which a plurality of commands are set, thereby sequentially changing the commands set in the catalog. A command response, wherein the control means stores the response message in the response message storage means in association with a catalog to which a command corresponding to the command number belongs. Message individual collector. 3. The command / response message individual collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit also stores a storage time when storing the response message in the response message storage unit, and stores the storage time in the response message storage unit. A command response message individual collecting device, wherein the stored plurality of response messages are displayed in a time series on a display means provided in the maintenance terminal based on the storage time. 4. The command / response message individual collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit detects whether an abnormality has occurred during a period from transmission of the command to reception of the response message,
A command-response-message individual collecting device, wherein a display method provided in the maintenance terminal is differently displayed so that an abnormally ended one can be distinguished from a normally ended one. 5. A response message individual collection program applied to a communication device having a plurality of exchanges and a maintenance terminal connected to the exchanges via a communication line, the program comprising a command for giving an instruction to the exchanges. Command sending means for adding a command number for identification from other commands being executed and sending the command to the exchange; generating a sequence number when a command is received from the maintenance terminal; and adding a command to the received command. Number generating means for sending a number notification message in which a number and the sequence number are set to the maintenance terminal; and a number storage for storing a sequence number set in the number notification message sent from the maintenance terminal in association with a command number. Means and a response message corresponding to a command sent from the maintenance terminal. Response message sending means for adding the sequence number generated by the generating means to send to the maintenance terminal, response message storage means for storing the response message sent from the exchange, setting in the response message from the exchange Control means for extracting a command number corresponding to the set sequence number from the number storage means, storing the response message in the response message storage means in association with the command number. A storage medium that stores a collection program.