JP2000069069A - System and method for processing connection - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the degree of allowance in the connection of a device to be connected through an interface. SOLUTION: This system is provided with transmission/reception circuits (communication means) 18 and 22 to perform communication through a management control unit 1 and a device 10 to be connected. The management control unit 1 performs processing for permitting a connection and supplies power through an interface cable 11 to the device 10 to be connected when prescribed conditions are satisfied from the received power use information of the device 10 connected. Further, when the connection is not permitted over the supply allowed power of the management control unit 1, the device 10 to be connected changes information by lowering use power and communicates it to the management control unit 1 again.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a connection processing system and a connection processing method for supplying power by performing connection processing from a main unit to a downstream connected device connected via an interface (I / F).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method of forming a network, there is a method of forming a stair-like star topology network (hereinafter, STN) as shown in FIG. When the STN is formed, each signal line is connected between the management control device 1 and the hub 2 in the main unit, and between the hubs 2, 3 and the connected devices 4, 5, and 6. In this case, there is only one management control device 1 on the STN for STN control.

The hubs 2 and 3 having a signal repeater function are indispensable functions for forming an STN because they serve as additional connection points for connected devices. Each connected device is physically connected to the management control device 1 via the hubs 2 and 3. However, since the hub functions as a repeater, it is ethically shown in FIG.
Is the same as that directly connected to the management control device 1 as shown in FIG. Each of the connected devices 4, 5, and 6 may be a computer I / O such as a printer, a scanner, and a keyboard. In such a network system, power is not supplied to connected devices by supplying power through a cable forming a network. To manage the power to be supplied, the management control device 1 reads the information unique to each connected device at the time of connection, and calculates the required power to permit the connection.

[0004]

However, the above-described conventional connection processing method has the following problems.

[0005] At the time of reading information at the time of connection of a connected device newly connected to the STN, if the calculated value exceeds the power usage amount (allowable amount) on the supply side, the use of the connected device due to the inability to supply power. Is not allowed. Since there is a limit in the allowable amount of a power supply that supplies power via a network cable, the number of power supplies is limited. In addition, the management control device 1
Performs all the permission processing, the connected device cannot determine why the connection is not permitted.

Conventionally, since this connection information is information specific to the connected device, the user has to stop using the connected device or stop using another device, which is not convenient.

Further, it is difficult to understand why the connection is not established.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connection processing system and a connection processing method which improve the tolerance of connection of a device to be connected. And

[0009]

The connection processing system and connection processing method of the present invention are configured as follows.

(1) A connection processing system for supplying electric power by performing connection processing from a management control device to a connected device connected via an interface, wherein the management control device and the connected device are connected to each other. A communication unit for performing communication, wherein the management control device performs a process of permitting connection when predetermined connection conditions are satisfied from power consumption information of the connected device obtained by the communication unit, and When power is supplied through the interface and the connection is not permitted beyond the supply allowable power of the management control device from the power consumption information, the connected device reduces the power consumption. The information is changed to communicate with the management control device again.

(2) In the connection processing system of the above (1), the management control device is provided with detection means for detecting an abnormal state of the connected device, and when the abnormality is detected, power is supplied to the connected device. To stop.

(3) In the connection processing system of the above (1) or (2), when the power consumption of the connected device is reduced, the power distribution control in the connected device main body according to the power amount is performed. Control means for performing the operation.

(4) A connection processing method for supplying power by performing connection processing for a connected device connected to the management control device via an interface, wherein the management control device is obtained by communication means. When a predetermined connection condition is satisfied from the power consumption information of the connected device, a process of permitting connection is performed to supply power to the connected device via the interface, and the management is performed from the power consumption information. When the connection is not permitted because the supply power exceeds the supply allowable power of the control device, the connected device is changed to the information in which the used power is reduced, and communicates with the management control device again.

(5) In the connection processing method of the above (4), the management control device stops the power supply to the connected device when the abnormality is detected by the detecting means for detecting an abnormal state of the connected device. I did it.

(6) In the connection processing method according to the above (4) or (5), the connected device performs power distribution control in the connected device main body according to the amount of power when the amount of used power is reduced. I did it.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the description of FIGS. 1 and 2 has been described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration of the management control device in the main unit logically connected to FIG. 2 and one of the connected devices 4, 5, and 6. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a network cable (interface) 11 for connecting the management control device 1 and the connected device 10, and includes signal lines Data (Data) 1, Data 2 and VBU.
It is composed of a total of four cables, S and GND (ground) power lines. VBUS is for power supply, and GND is VBUS or GND for data lines.

Data1 and Data2 are provided to the management control device 1 and all ports downstream of the hubs 2 and 3 described above.
There are pull-down resistors 12 and 13 on the signal line. Accordingly, when the connected device 10 is not connected to the downstream ports of the management control device 1 and the hubs 2 and 3 or when power is not supplied to the pull-up resistor 14 of the connected connected device 10 The signal lines Data1 and Data2 are both pulled down to the ground level by the pull-down resistors 12 and 13 connected to the downstream side. This state is referred to as a disconnected state.

On the upstream side of all the connected devices 10, the signal line Data1 is connected to the power supply circuit 15 via the FET 16 by the pull-up resistor 14, and power is supplied to the connected device 10, and the signal lines are connected. In the pause state, the signal line Data1 having the pull-up resistor 14 is at a certain voltage or higher, and the signal line Data2 is substantially at the ground level. The state of the two signal lines is referred to as a connection state.

In the connected device 10, the Data 1 signal is connected to the FET 16 via the pull-up resistor 14. As a result, when the signal line is at rest, the FE
The signal line Dat is controlled by turning on / off T16.
The state of a1 changes, and two kinds of cable states of a disconnected state and a connected state can be generated in a pseudo manner.

The detection circuit (abnormality detection means) 24 is a circuit for monitoring the voltage levels of both the Data1 and Data2 signals from the transmission / reception circuit 22. Further, the detection circuit 24 receives information from the control circuit 23 to the transmission / reception circuit 22 as to whether or not data transmission / reception is suspended.

The management control device 1 includes a management control device 1, a power supply circuit 25 for supplying power to the connected device 10, an FET 26 for turning on / off the power supply for the connected device 10, a transmission / reception circuit 22, a control circuit 23, The detection circuit 24 includes pull-down resistors 12 and 13. The connected device 10 connected to the management control device 1 by the network cable 11 includes a power supply circuit 15, an FET 16, a control circuit 17 for main control, a transmission / reception circuit 18, a writable RO,
M20, a timer 19 for counting a standby time, a pull-up resistor 20, and a display circuit 21.

The control circuit 17 performs main control of the connected device 10, and controls the connected device 10 by the transmission / reception circuit 18 according to the control of the management control device 1. In addition, it is possible to monitor by the timer when there is no request from the management control device 1 for a predetermined time or more. The control circuit 17 outputs a signal attac for turning on / off the power supply of the pull-up resistor 14 connected to Data1.
h. With this control, the connection state and the disconnection state described above can be created.

A process in which the management control device 1 permits or prohibits the connection with the connected device 10 is called a connection process. In this connection process, the detection circuit 24 of the management control device 1 uses two signal lines Dat.
The status of a1 and Data2 is constantly monitored. On this occasion,
It monitors the state of the two types of signals, the connected state and the disconnected state, and when an activity occurs, the control circuit 2
3 to the transmission / reception circuit 22 to start the connection processing to the downstream connected device. The power supply circuit 25 is designed not only to operate the management control device 11 but also to supply power to a connected device of a type in which power is supplied by a cable via a bus. I have. However, an upper limit is set for the amount of power that can be supplied, and this information is notified to the control circuit 23, and connection is not permitted for a power exceeding the amount of power during connection processing.

However, the power is always output so that the new connected device 10 can be connected at any time. FET
Reference numeral 26 functions as a switch so that the power supply can be stopped in the event that the downstream power supply connected device enters an overcurrent or abnormal mode. don signal is F
Control circuit 2 provided to turn on / off ET
The operation is performed by the power supply circuit 25 in accordance with the instruction 3.

When the power is supplied by the cable 11, the connected device 10 waits for the transmission / reception circuit 18 to start the connection process.

The management control device 1 transmits a device information of the connected device 10 to the transmission / reception circuit 18 in order to establish a connection with the connected device 10 in response to the occurrence of the activity of the detection circuit 24. Is transmitted to the management control device 1. The connected device 10 has the device information in the ROM 20, and returns the default information to the management control device 1 after the power-on reset.

The management control device 1 analyzes and controls the information included in the device information. However, when power is supplied via a cable as in a connected device 10 of a type that supplies power, the management control device 1 performs management. It is necessary to manage so that the power of the control device itself does not exceed. At this time, if a device of the same power supply type is connected to the connected device 10 other than the connected device 10, the capacity of the connected device 10 may be added and the capacity of the management control device 1 may be exceeded. .

In this case, the last connected device 1
0 connection is prohibited. This ensures the safety of the power supply circuit 25.

If the connected device 10 does not receive a regular exchange from the management control device 1 for a certain period of time after transmitting the device information, the connection is not permitted and the control circuit 17 turns off the FET 16. .

As a result, a disconnected state occurs between the management control device 1 and the connected device 10.

Once the disconnection state occurs, the connection process is terminated once.

The connected device 10 prepares the next device information of the default value stored in the ROM 20 as the connection is not permitted. Also in this case, the FE of the management control device 1
Since power supply is performed via T26, the connected device 1
0 can operate. This device information has reduced power capacity because the power information has been changed and the display circuit 21 is not used.

When the FET 16 is turned on by the control circuit 17, Data1 and Data2 are again connected, and
The detection circuit 24 detects the activity again. From here on, only the device information is the same as in the previous connection processing, but different.

The management control device 1 again converts the total power by the control circuit 23 and changes the connected device 1 according to the connection conditions.
Permission and prohibition of 0 are performed.

The ROM 20 of the connected device 10 stores device information in several steps up to the minimum amount of power for operating the function, and repeats the above processing until the minimum power mode is reached. At that time, the connected device 1
The 0 control circuit (control means) 17 performs power distribution control in the connected device 10 according to the amount of power used.

The above connection processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the connection processing operation of the embodiment. Note that this processing operation is performed according to an instruction from a CPU (not shown) in the control circuits 17 and 23.
0 and a program stored in a ROM (not shown) in the management control device 1.

First, in step S101, it is confirmed whether or not the connected device 10 is connected. If connected, the process proceeds to step S102. Next, in step S102, the management control device 1 checks the device information transmitted from the connected device 10, and if the used power information in the device information does not exceed the supply allowable power, the process proceeds to step S104. Power is supplied by performing connection permission processing.

On the other hand, if the power exceeds the supply allowable power, the process proceeds to step S103. In step S103, the connected device 10 reads the device information whose power consumption has been reduced from the ROM 20, and transmits the device information to the management control device 1 again.

As described above, in this embodiment, in order to enhance the connectivity, when the connection is not permitted for the connected device 10 in the connection permitting process at the time of the new connection, the management device 1 is automatically renewed. Since the connection information is generated and the connection information is read again, and at the time of the reconnection, the total power amount on the management control device 1 side is reduced by notifying the power capacity smaller than the connection information that was not permitted last time. , Device information can be changed automatically without connecting / disconnecting cables,
Connection tolerance can be improved.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a connection processing system that supplies a power by performing a connection process to a connected device connected via an interface from the management control device, a communication unit that performs communication between the management control device and the connected device, The management control device performs a process of permitting connection when a predetermined connection condition is satisfied from the power consumption information of the connected device obtained by the communication unit, and performs a process of allowing power to the connected device via the interface. While performing the supply, if the connection is not permitted beyond the supply allowable power of the management control device from the power consumption information, the connected device changes to the information that has reduced the power consumption and again the Since the communication with the management control device is performed, the tolerance of connection can be improved, and the effect that the connected device can be used efficiently can be obtained. That.

Further, the management control device is provided with a detecting means for detecting an abnormal state of the connected device, and when the abnormality is detected, the power supply to the connected device is stopped, thereby improving the safety. Has the effect of leading to

In addition, when the connected device is provided with control means for performing power distribution control in the connected device main body according to the amount of power when the used power amount is reduced, the connected device can be used efficiently. There is an effect that can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a network topology connection configuration according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a logical connection configuration according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration of a connection processing system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a connection processing operation according to an embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 management control device 2 hub 3 hub 4 connected device 5 connected device 6 connected device 10 connected device 11 network cable 15 power supply circuit 16 FET 17 control circuit (control means) 18 transmission / reception circuit (communication means) 20 ROM 22 transmission and reception Circuit (communication means) 23 Control circuit 24 Detection circuit (Detection means) 25 Power supply circuit 26 FET

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A connection processing system for supplying power by performing connection processing from a management control device to a connected device connected via an interface, wherein the management control device communicates with the connected device. Communication means for performing
The management control device performs a process of permitting connection when a predetermined connection condition is satisfied from the power consumption information of the connected device obtained by the communication unit, and performs a process of allowing power to the connected device via the interface. While performing the supply, if the connection is not permitted beyond the supply allowable power of the management control device from the power consumption information, the connected device changes to the information that has reduced the power consumption and again the A connection processing system for communicating with a management control device. 2. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising a detecting unit for detecting an abnormal state of the connected device, wherein when the abnormality is detected, the power supply to the connected device is stopped. The connection processing system as described. 3. A control device for controlling power distribution in the main body of the connected device according to the amount of power when the amount of used electric power is reduced in the connected device.
Or the connection processing system according to 2. 4. A connection processing method for supplying power by performing connection processing on a connected device connected to a management control device via an interface, wherein the management control device is provided with communication means. When a predetermined connection condition is satisfied from the power consumption information of the connected device, a process for permitting connection is performed to supply power to the connected device via the interface, and the management control is performed based on the power consumption information. If the connection is not permitted due to exceeding the supply allowable power of the device, the connected device changes to the information in which the power consumption is reduced and communicates with the management control device again. Processing method. 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the management control device stops the power supply to the connected device when the abnormality is detected by the detecting means for detecting the abnormal state of the connected device. Connection processing method. 6. The connection process according to claim 4, wherein the connected device performs power distribution control in the connected device main body according to the amount of power when the amount of used power is reduced. Method.