JPS63245040A - Data communication automatic synchronizing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain easy and quick connection between computers in case of connecting plural computers or the like with different communication system by storing the communication system of the computer in advance into a system storage means. CONSTITUTION:For example, computers 5, 6 connected to channel selection circuits 1, 2, in the event of their installation, sends its communication system to a data communication automatic synchronizing equipment automatically. The communication system is stored in a system storage means 22 in relation to the computers 5, 6. Upon the receipt of a connection request, a synchronizing control circuit 10 stores an input signal of a computer received through the channel selection circuits 1, 2 into a data storage means 19 temporalily. Then the communication system of the computer is read from the system storage means 22 and applies revision processing to the data stored in the data storage means 19 so as to match with the communication system of an opposite computer. Thus, the mutual communication between plural communication equipments with different communication systems is attained easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to an automatic data communication synchronization device that enables mutual communication between a plurality of communication devices using different communication methods.

"Prior Art" When mutual communication is performed between information processing devices, for example, between computers, a common communication method must be set. For example, when attempting to mutually use information between communication devices that are independently controlled by separate processors, the connection is easy if they use a common communication method.

However, when each communication device uses a different communication method, it is necessary to understand the communication method, design a circuit or program for data conversion, and insert a so-called interface between the two.

"Problems to be Solved by the Invention" Various existing interfaces are available, and in practice, it is sufficient to appropriately select and use them. However, if the communication method of each communication device is unknown, it is first necessary to check its structure and signal processing method.

For example, in the case of the R3-232C serial data communication system, its parameters include transfer rate (band rate), stop bits, character bits, parity bits, and other control codes. There is also a distinction between synchronous and asynchronous methods. All of these parameters, etc. must be checked and dealt with accordingly.

However, such work is relatively complicated, sometimes leads to errors in judgment, and may take a relatively long time until the device operates normally.

The present invention has been made with attention to the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic data communication synchronization device that facilitates mutual communication between a plurality of communication devices each using a different communication method. .

"Means for Solving the Problems" The automatic data communication synchronization device of the present invention includes two sets of channel selection circuits to which a plurality of communication devices each having a different communication method are connected, and a channel selection circuit between the two sets of channel selection circuits. It consists of an inserted synchronous control circuit, and this synchronous control circuit has a
method storage means for storing the communication method of each of the communication devices;
communication control means for controlling the connection operation of the channel selection circuit in response to connection requests from each communication device; data storage means for temporarily storing signals input from the channel selection circuit; and the communication method of the connected communication devices. The present invention is characterized by comprising a conversion circuit that performs conversion processing on the data stored in the data storage means so as to be compatible with the data storage means.

"Operation" In the device of the present invention, for example, a computer connected to the channel selection circuit automatically transmits the communication method to the device when the device is installed. Alternatively, when connecting and installing a computer to this device, an operator manually inputs the communication method into this device. The communication method is stored in the method storage means in association with the computer.

When a connection request is made, the synchronization control circuit temporarily stores one computer input signal input through the channel selection circuit in the data storage means.

Then, the communication method of the computer is read from the method storage means, and the data stored in the data storage means is converted and outputted so as to be compatible with the communication method of the connected computer.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the automatic data communication synchronization device of the present invention.

This device has a configuration in which a synchronization control circuit 10 is inserted between two channel selection circuits 1 and 2. Each channel selection circuit 1.2 has one or more channel connection terminals 3.4, to which a plurality of computers 5 and 6 are connected.

The synchronization control circuit 10 connects these channel selection circuits 1 and 2.
It is used to connect any combination unit connected to the It is assumed that each computer operates using an arbitrary communication method.

This synchronous control circuit 10 includes signal selection circuits 11.12,
From a signal detection circuit 13.14, a communication control means 15.16, a conversion circuit 17.18, a data storage means 19, a central processing unit (CPU) 20, an input/output device 21, and a method storage means 22. It is configured.

Here, the channel selection circuit L2 includes communication control means 15.
16, which is a switch circuit that selects a computer connected to any channel connection terminal 3 and connects it to the synchronization control circuit 10. Note that the channel connection terminal 3.4 also has a function of converting serial data input from the computer into several-bit parallel data to be processed within the synchronous control circuit 10. As such a channel selection circuit 1.2, one used in a known time division switch or the like is used.

The signal selection circuits 11 and 12 determine from which channel the data is input, and when the communication control means 15 and 16 notify the central processing unit (CPU) 20 of the data input through an interrupt, the signal selection circuits 11 and 12 determine whether the data has been input through the interrupt. This circuit operates to store data in the data storage means 19 via the conversion circuit 17 or 18. In this case, the data passes through the data conversion circuit 17 or 18 as it is,
The data is stored in the data storage means 19 in such a way that it can be identified that it has been input from a specific channel. Specifically, this circuit uses the channel number input from the communication control means 15 as a key to control data writing so that the data written in the data storage means 19 can be read.

As will be described later, the signal detection circuits 13 and 14 check the communication method of the computer connected to the channel, recognize the communication method of the connected computer by referring to the method storage means 22, and select the communication method. This is a circuit that instructs the conversion circuit 17 to perform conversion processing that is suitable for the following. This circuit consists of a microprocessor, memory for its operation, and the like.

The communication control means 15.16 recognizes the channel priority level (priority), monitors the data input to each channel of the channel selection circuit 1.2, and selects the computer that has requested connection according to the priority. This circuit sequentially connects the synchronous control circuit 10 to the synchronous control circuit 10. This circuit is similar to known communication control devices conventionally used in computer networks and the like.

The conversion circuits 17 and 18 are circuits that read data stored in the data storage means 19 according to instructions from the central processing unit 20, convert the format of the data, and output the converted data to the channel selection circuit 1.2.

The data storage means 19 is a storage device consisting of a random access memory (RAM), etc., which stores computer input signals in association with channel numbers to which they are connected.

A central processing unit (CPLI) 20 manages the operations of each part of the device.

The input/output device 21 uses the central processing unit 20 to monitor the current state of the device, perform self-diagnosis, or manually store the communication method of a newly connected combi router in the method storage means 22. used for. This consists of known devices such as a keyboard and a display.

The data communication automatic synchronization device of the present invention having the above configuration operates as follows.

First, before starting to use the device, the communication method of each combination connected to the channel selection circuit L2 is stored in the method storage means 2.
Store it in 2. This work can be done manually by an individual operator using the input/output device 21, or by automatically performing a predetermined procedure when a combination machine is connected to the channel selection circuit 1.2. It is also possible to execute the program, recognize the communication method of the computer, and input it.

This procedure is performed by the signal detection circuit 13 by executing a predetermined built-in program.

First, when the computer 5 is connected to the channel selection circuit 1, the signal detection circuit 13 communicates with the computer 5 and receives a constant slam signal output from the computer 5 using various known communication methods. , and try to find out the communication method.

In reality, while receiving specific sample data repeatedly transmitted by the computer, the signal detection circuit 13 performs the task of checking various data by changing the communication method (serial data setting) until the data can be captured.

The communication method to be checked is stored in a read-only memory (ROM) or the like in the signal detection circuit 13.

The communication method thus determined is stored in the method storage means 22 in association with the channel to which the computer is connected.

Next, a case in which communication between computers is actually performed will be explained.

First, it is assumed that the computer 5 requests connection to a convenience store through the channel selection circuit 1. The communication control means 15 recognizes the connection request and switches the connection of the channel selection circuit 1. At the same time, the selected channel number is notified to the signal detection circuit 13, signal selection circuit 11, and central processing unit 20. The input signal of the computer 5 is stored in the data storage means 19 by the signal selection circuit 11 in association with its channel number. On the other hand, the signal detection circuit 13 recognizes the communication method of the computer by referring to the method storage means 22 using the channel number as a key. Exactly the same process is executed on the side of the channel selection circuit 2 to which the computer 6 is connected.

In this way, the signal detection circuits 13, 14 are connected to each computer 5.
．． For example, when the human input data from the combicoater 5 is stored in the data storage means 19, the conversion circuit 18 recognizes the communication method of the signal detection circuits 13 and 14 according to a command from the central processing unit 120. Based on the J-borrow method,
Executes data conversion processing. This conversion procedure itself is exactly the same as the conventionally individually designed interface. The data after the conversion processing is transmitted to the computer 6 through the signal selection circuit 12 and the channel selection circuit 2.

In the above embodiment, serial data is taken in from one combicoater 5, the data is serial-to-parallel converted and processed in the channel selection circuit 1, and the data is transmitted to the other computer by the channel selection circuit 2. I am converting it to real and sending it again. Of course, this device is designed to allow two-way communication, so it works in the opposite direction as well.

The timing of transmitting and receiving the data is adjusted to the three methods of each computer, and the communication control means 15 synchronizes with the automatic fishing. This is also similar to the operation of a known time division switch.

More specific connection examples using the apparatus of the present invention will be explained using FIGS. 2 to 5.

FIG. 2 shows an example in which serial data manually input from channel 30 is output to channel 31 after converting its band rate.

Here, the human power data 30a is 19200 bps (baud 7 seconds), and the output data 31
a is 9600 bps (baud 7 seconds).

In this case, if the manual speed of the manual data is high, the receiving operation of the computer connected to the channel 31 on the receiving side will not be in time. Therefore, at appropriate times, the communication control means 15 operates to send a hold signal or a stop code to the channel 30 in accordance with instructions from the central processing unit 20 to delay data processing.

FIG. 3 also shows an example in which serial data input from channel 32 is converted in band rate and output to channel 33.

Here, the human power data 32a is 96000 bps (baud 7 seconds), and the output data 33
a is 19200 bpS (baud 7 seconds).

In this case, since the speed of human input data is slow, the input data is temporarily stored in the data storage means 19, read out sequentially at a high speed, and sent to the channel 33.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which serial data input from channel 34 is output to channel 35 in a different synchronous mode.

Input data from channel 34 is input to data field 3.
4a and a synchronization character (SC) 34b. On the other hand, the data output to the channel 35 includes a data field 35a and two types of synchronization characters 35b and 3.
It is composed of 5C. In this case, the conversion circuit 17 (
In FIG. 11), the synchronization character 34b is converted into synchronization characters 35b and 35C and added to the data field 35a.

FIG. 5 shows an example in which serial data input from channel 30.32.34 is output to channel 35.31.33 by so-called time division processing.

The connections between the channels are made in the relationship shown in Figure 2.3.4, and each channel is connected to the conversion 3 as described above.
Perform simultaneous communication while executing 6.

This time-division connection is executed by the communication control device 15 according to instructions from the central processing unit 20. Of course, communication in the opposite direction is performed in the same manner. These transformations are simultaneously 1
Implemented for a set or sets of input/output serials.

"Modification" The data communication automatic synchronization device of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

The signal selection circuit, signal detection circuit, conversion circuit, etc. can be divided or integrated, and replaced with functional blocks of the same type.

Further, the method storage means may be incorporated into the signal detection circuit or the communication control means.

Further, communication control and writing control to each storage means may be performed by the central processing unit itself.

"Effects of the Invention" According to the data communication automatic synchronization device of the present invention described above, when connecting a plurality of combi coaters each having a different communication method, the communication method of the computer is stored in advance in the method storage means. If you do this, the conversion process to the appropriate communication method will be automatically performed when connecting to a computer using any other method.

Therefore, connection work between computers can be easily and quickly performed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the automatic data communication synchronization device of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 5 are explanatory diagrams showing specific operational examples of the automatic data communication synchronization device of the present invention. 1.2...Channel selection circuit, 5.6...
... Combi coater (communication device), 10... Synchronous control circuit, 15.16... Communication control means, 17.18...
... Conversion circuit, 19 ... Data storage means, 20 ... Central processing unit (CPU), 22 ...
...Method storage means. Applicant Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 2 Connecting multiple communication devices each with different communication methods
The synchronous control circuit comprises a set of channel selection circuits and a synchronous control circuit inserted between the two sets of channel selection circuits, and the synchronous control circuit includes a method storage means for storing the communication method of each of the communication devices; Communication control means for controlling the connection operation of the channel selection circuit in response to connection requests from each communication device;
It has a data storage means for temporarily storing the signal inputted from the channel selection circuit, and a conversion circuit that performs a conversion process of the data stored in the data storage means so as to be compatible with the communication method of the connected communication device. A data communication automatic synchronization device characterized by: