JP2001084213A - Device and method for switching ports for facsimile control unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To switch opposite communication host computers according to a switching command from a host computer by connecting a plurality of host computers to one FCU(facsimile control unit). SOLUTION: A standby system host 7 connected to a subport 10 issues a communication request command, while a main port 2 is conducting communication with a host 5 in operation through a port for operation, a communication request command detecting part 14 detects the communication request command and sends a port switching signal 16 to a port switching part 15. The port 15 separates the port 2 and connects the subport 10 to a main control part 3. Subsequently, service is performed for the host 7 connected to the port 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile control device, and more particularly to a port switching method and method for a facsimile control device in which a plurality of ports are provided and connected to a host computer to switch operation ports between the plurality of ports.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 shows a conventional host and facsimile control device (hereinafter referred to as FC) having a configuration of two, a host computer of an active system (hereinafter simply referred to as a host) and a standby host.
U is abbreviated as a network connection diagram.

The FCU 1 is installed between a host and various communication networks (public line in the example of FIG. 3), and under the control of the host, a facsimile apparatus (hereinafter abbreviated as FAX) and data such as a form. A device that performs transmission and reception, and is connected to a host via an omni-net 8.

[0004] The port 2 is a host communication port for connecting the FCU 1 to the omni-net 8 and has a built-in media access control unit for executing an omni-net access control method. Further, it has a host address setting section for setting a unit address of a host to communicate with, and executes data communication with the host set in the host address section.

The main control unit 3 encodes data from the host and outputs it to the line control unit 4, and decodes the data from the line control unit 4 and outputs it to the host.

[0006] The line control unit 4 transmits / receives calls to / from various communication networks,
Communication with the other party's FAX is performed by the FAX control procedure.

[0007] The line side port 5 connects the FCU 1 to various communication networks.

[0008] The operation system host 6 is connected via a public line or the like.
This is a computer device that performs data communication with a partner FAX.

[0009] The standby host 7 is connected via a public line or the like.
This is a computer device that performs data communication with a partner FAX.

The omni-net 8 is a CSMA / Ack (Carrier Sence Multiple) system for connecting a host and the FCU 1.
-Access with Acknowledge) bus-type LAN
(Local Area Network). A device connected to the omni-net needs to set a unit address for identifying its own station on the omni-net, and the port 2 of the FCU 1
Sets the unit address. In addition, the port 2 of the FCU 1 also sets a host address that is a unit address of a host that communicates with the port 2.

The two hosts (active host 6 and standby host 7) form a hot standby system.
Therefore, the active host 6 and the standby host 7 have exactly the same system configuration. Also, both hosts are always started up, but only one host is actually operating.

In FIG. 3, the active host 6 is connected to the omni-net 8 by a branch cable 20,
The port 2 of U1 is connected to the omni-net 8 by a branch cable 22. On the other hand, the branch cable 21 connected to the standby host 7 is not connected to the omni-net 8.

The unit addresses of the active host 6 and the standby host 7 are both set to “02”, the unit address of port 2 is set to “01”, and the host address is set to “02”.

When switching from the active host 6 to the standby host 7, the branch cable 20 is disconnected from the omni-net 8, and the branch cable 21 is connected to the omni-net 8. When the connection of the branch cable 21 is completed, communication from the standby host 7 to the FCU 1 becomes possible.

[0015]

However, the above-described conventional host switching method has the following problems.

The first problem is that every time a host is switched, a branch cable connection operation between the host and the omni-net is manually performed.

The reason is that since the FCU has only one port, the same unit address is set to 2
This is because one host cannot be connected to one omni-net.

The second problem is that when both the active host and the standby host are started up and operated, the unit address of each host cannot be shared.

The reason is that unit addresses must be different in order to connect each host to the same omni-net.

A third problem is that when switching between the active host and the standby host, the host address of the FCU must be changed.

The reason is that in order for the FCU to communicate with a host having a different unit address, the host address setting must be changed.

An object of the present invention is to connect an active host and a standby host set to the same unit address to one FCU, and to switch a communication partner host by issuing a switch command from the host. Capable FCU
Is to provide.

[0023]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a port switching system of a facsimile control device includes a plurality of ports connected to a host computer in a facsimile control device, and exclusive control of requests from the plurality of host computers. Exclusive control means for establishing a connection state with the specified host computer, a request signal issued from a host computer other than the specified host computer, and a connection state detected, and the connection state is specified by issuing the request signal from the specified host computer; Switching means for switching to another host computer.

The port switching method of the facsimile control device according to the second invention of the present invention is a method for switching a port between a main port connected to a first host computer, a sub port connected to a second host computer, and a request from the first host computer. And an exclusive control unit for exclusive control of a request from the second host computer and connecting between the main port or the sub port and the line control unit, and encoding transmission data input from the exclusive control unit. A main control unit that decodes received data input from the line control unit and outputs the data to the exclusive control unit, a line control unit that controls communication with the other party facsimile device, and the other party facsimile device. And a line-side port connected to a connected communication network.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the port switching system of the facsimile control device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the exclusive control unit comprises: a communication request command detecting unit for detecting a communication request command from the host computer; When the command detection unit detects the communication request command, the communication unit includes a port connected to the host computer that issued the communication request command and a port switching unit that switches a port so as to connect the main control unit. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile control device according to the second aspect, the exclusive control unit includes a communication request command detecting unit that detects a communication request command from the host computer; A port switching unit that switches a port to connect the port connected to the host computer that issued the communication request command and the main control unit when the command detection unit detects the communication request command; An operation port monitoring unit that monitors port operation states and transmits port operation information to a host computer connected to a port other than the operation port.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the port switching method of the facsimile control device according to the fourth aspect, the host computer receives and displays the port operation information transmitted by the operation port monitoring unit to notify an operator. It has an FCU status monitoring unit.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the port switching system of the facsimile control device according to the second aspect of the present invention, when one of the ports is an operation port, the exclusive control unit may receive a command other than a communication request command as input data from the other port. It is characterized by being ignored.

A port switching method for a facsimile control device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is a port switching method for a facsimile control device provided with a plurality of ports connected to a host computer, wherein one port is an operation port and the other port is disconnected. Receiving a communication request command from the host computer connected to the other port when in the state, stopping the service to the host computer connected to the operation port when receiving the communication request command, disconnecting the operation port, and setting the communication request command Is connected to another port connected to the host computer that has issued the command, and a service is provided to the host computer connected to the other port.

The port switching method of the facsimile control device according to the eighth aspect of the present invention is the port switching method according to the seventh aspect, wherein the port operating status is monitored, the port operating information is transmitted to a host computer connected to the port which is not the operating port, The host computer connected to the terminal receives the port operation information, displays it, and notifies the operator.

[0031]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An FCU according to the present invention has a port for communicating with a plurality of hosts, a function for identifying a communication request command from the host, and a function for performing exclusive control between ports. When receiving the request command, it communicates only with the host connected to that port,
By receiving only a communication request command from another port and performing port switching, it communicates with only one host at the same time.

As described above, by exclusively controlling a plurality of ports with a communication request command, communication with a plurality of hosts can be switched.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

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

Referring to FIG. 1, the FCU 1 includes a branch cable 22 connected to the main port 2 and a sub port 1.
It is connected to the omni-net 8 and the omni-net 9 via a branch cable 23 connected to the omni-net. The active host 6 is connected to the omni-net 8 via a branch cable 20, and the standby host 7 is connected to the omni-net 9 via a branch cable 21. Node 12
Is the omni-net 8, the node 13 is the omni-net 9,
It is connected. Further, the FCU 1 is connected to a public line to communicate with a facsimile (not shown).

The FCU 1 includes a main port 2, a sub port 10, an exclusive control unit 11, a main control unit 3, a line control unit 4, and a line side port 5.

The main port 2 is a port connected to the omni-net 8 and has a built-in media access control section for executing the omni-net access control method. Further, it has a host address setting section for setting a unit address of a host to communicate with, and executes data communication with the host set in the host address section.

The sub port 10 is a port connected to the omni-net 9 and has the same function as the main port 2.

The exclusive control unit 11 comprises a communication request command detecting unit 14 and a port switching unit 15, and performs exclusive control of data for the active host 6 and data for the standby host 7.

The communication request command detector 14 identifies the communication request command received from the main port 2 and the sub port 10, detects the receiving port, and transmits a communication request response command to the detected port. When a communication request command is detected from the main port 2 and the sub port 10 at the same timing, priority processing for connecting the main port 2 to the main control unit 3 is performed with priority given to reception from the main port 2.

The port switching unit 15 switches the connection between each port and the main control unit 3 based on the port switching signal 16 from the communication request command detection unit 14.

The main control unit 3 encodes data from the host and outputs it to the line control unit 4, and decodes the data from the line control unit 4 and outputs it to the host.

The line controller 4 transmits / receives calls to / from various communication networks (public lines in the example of FIG. 1) and transmits / receives faxes to / from the other party's fax.
Communication is performed according to the control procedure.

The line side port 5 connects the FCU 1 to various communication networks.

The active host 6 is a computer device that performs data communication with a facsimile machine via a public line or the like. The active host 6 is used for normal operation.

The standby host 7 is a computer device that performs data communication with a facsimile machine via a public line or the like. The standby host 7 is used for operation in place of the active host 6 when the active host 6 has a problem.

The omni-net 8 is connected to the active host 6 and the FC.
This is a bus-type LAN using the CSMA / Ack method for connecting U1.

The omni-net 9 communicates with the standby host 7 and the FC.
Connect U1. It has the same function as Omninet 8.

The node 12 transmits / receives data to / from a device connected to the omni-net 8, such as a terminal or a workstation connected to the omni-net 8.

The node 13 transmits / receives data to / from a device connected to the omni-net 9, such as a terminal or a workstation connected to the omni-net 9.

The operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, with reference to FIG. 1, a procedure for performing communication between the active host 6 and the FCU 1 will be described below.

When the power is turned on, the FCU 1 waits for reception of a communication request command from the host.

The operator of the active host 6 issues a communication request command to the FCU 1 when starting communication with the FCU 1.

When the FCU 1 receives a communication request command from the active host 6 at the main port 2, it passes it to the exclusive control unit 11.

When the communication request command detecting section 14 of the exclusive control section 11 detects that this command has been received from the main port 2, it outputs a port switching signal 16 to the port switching section 15 and indicates the completion of port switching. A communication request response command is output to the main port 2.

The port switching unit 15 connects the main port 2 to the main control unit 3 and disconnects the sub port 10 from the main control unit 3 in response to a port switching signal 16 from the communication request command detection unit 14. Thereafter, the main port 2 becomes an operation port (a port connected to the main control unit 3 is referred to as an operation port), and the exclusive control unit 11 passes only the data input from the main port 2 to the main control unit 3 and the sub port 10
All the data input from is discarded except for the communication request command.

When the active host 6 receives the communication request response command from the FCU 1, it starts transmitting and receiving data to and from the partner FAX.

When data is transmitted from the active host 6, data sent from the active host 6 is sent to the main control unit 3 via the main port 2 of the FCU 1 and the exclusive control unit 11. The main control unit 3 performs an encoding process and the like of the input data, and passes the data to the line control unit 4. Line control unit 4
Sends out the data received from the main controller 3 to the line side port 5 according to the facsimile control procedure.

When receiving data from the other party's FAX,
The data is transferred from the line side port 5 to the main port 2 in a flow opposite to that during the host transmission.

The same procedure is used when communication is started from the standby host 7.

Next, from the active host 6 to the standby host 7
Or a case where switching from the standby host 7 to the active host 6 is performed.

When switching between hosts, processing by issuing a communication request command from the host is performed.

When switching from the active host 6 to the standby host 7, the operator of the standby host 7 issues a communication request command to the FCU 1.

When the FCU 1 receives the communication request command from the standby host 7 at the subport 10, it passes it to the exclusive control unit 11.

When the communication request command detecting section 14 of the exclusive control section 11 detects that this command has been received from the subport 10, the communication request command detecting section 14 outputs a port switching signal 16 to the port switching section 15 and a communication request indicating completion of port switching. The response command is output to the subport 10.

The port switching section 15 connects the subport 10 to the main control section 3 and disconnects the main port 2 from the main control section 3 by a port switching signal 16 from the communication request command detection section 14. As a result, the FCU 1 thereafter communicates with the standby host 7 via the subport 10, and ignores all inputs from the main port 2 except for the communication request command.

Again, the standby host 7 to the active host 6
When the host is switched to the active host 6 and the active host 6 operates, the active host 6 issues a communication request command to the FCU 1.

The FCU 1 identifies the communication request command received from the main port 2 by the exclusive control unit 11 and switches the operation port from the sub port 10 to the main port 2 in the same manner as switching to the standby host 7. After that, the input from the subport 10 is ignored except for the communication request command.

In the above-described procedure, when the communication request command detecting section 14 of the exclusive control section 11 detects a communication request command from both ports at the same timing, it performs priority processing for connecting the main port 2 to the main control section 3. .
Otherwise, as described above, the port that finally detected the communication request command is connected to the main control unit 3.

When the operation port is determined, even if data other than the communication request command is received from another port, the data is discarded. Therefore, the broadcast frame is transmitted from the nodes 12 and 13 on the omni-net 8 and the omni-net 9. Even if transmitted, it does not affect communication on the operation port side.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention.
Shown in

Referring to FIG. 2, the configuration of the second embodiment differs from the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that an operating port monitoring unit 17 is added to the exclusive control unit 11. The FCU status monitoring unit 18 is added inside the active host 6 and the standby host 7.

Here, the operating port monitoring unit 17 and the FCU status monitoring unit 18 added in the second embodiment will be described.

The operating port monitoring unit 17 is connected to the main port 2
In addition, the port operation status (host communication start and communication completion) of the subport 10 is monitored, and port operation information is notified to a host connected to a port other than the operation port.

The FCU status monitoring unit 18 receives and displays the port operation information transmitted by the operation port monitoring unit 17 of the FCU 1 to notify the operator.

The operation of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

It is assumed that the active host 6 is communicating with the FCU 1 using the main port 2, and the standby host 7 is up and waiting.

The operating port monitoring unit 17 is connected to the main port 2
When the communication starts and completes, the information is sent to subport 1.
It notifies the standby host 7 from 0.

The standby host 7 is provided with an FCU status monitor 18
Thus, the information received from the active port monitoring unit 17 is displayed, and the communication start and communication completion information between the active host 6 and the FCU 1 is notified to the operator.

Conversely, even when the standby host 7 is in operation, the operating status of the subport 10 from the active host 6 can be confirmed by the same procedure.

As described above, the present embodiment produces a new effect that one host can check the communication status between the other host and the FCU 1.

Therefore, when one of the hosts tries to communicate with the FCU 1 for the purpose of a test or the like, the communication with the FCU 1 is issued by issuing a communication request command after confirming the completion of the communication without obstructing the communication of the other host. can do.

In the above-described embodiment, the FCU and the host are connected by an omni-net. However, the FCU and the host are not limited to the omni-net, but can be similarly constructed by another LAN such as an Ethernet.

Although the FCU has been described as having two ports, the main port and the sub port, the same concept can be applied to the case where the number of ports becomes three or more.

Further, the case where the active host and the standby host are used as the hosts has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to the active host and the standby host, but can be applied to a case where a plurality of hosts having the same priority are connected. In this case, when the communication request command is detected at the same timing, the priority may be given to the main port 2 or each port may be given priority.

[0088]

The first effect is that when a plurality of hosts connected to the FCU are switched and operated, it is not necessary to manually change the cable connection.

The reason is that a means is provided for connecting each host to an individual port and switching the port to be used by a command operation from the host.

The second effect is that when both the active host and the standby host connected to the FCU are started up and operated, the unit addresses of the hosts can be shared.

The reason is that a plurality of ports are provided, and means for connecting each host to the FCU via another omni-net is provided.

A third effect is that it is not necessary to change the host address set for each port of the FCU when switching hosts.

The reason is that a means is provided for sharing the system settings of both hosts.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a second embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a conventional configuration.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 FCU 2 Main port 3 Main control part 4 Line control part 5 Line side port 6 Working host 7 Standby host 8 Omni net 9 Omni net 10 Subport 11 Exclusive control part 12 Node 13 Node 14 Communication request command detection part 15 Port switching Unit 16 Port switching signal 17 Active port monitoring unit 18 FCU status monitoring unit 20 Branch cable 21 Branch cable 22 Branch cable 23 Branch cable

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) H04N 1/00 107

Claims (8)

[Claims] An exclusive control means for providing a plurality of ports connected to a host computer to a facsimile control device, and exclusively controlling requests from the plurality of host computers to establish a connection with the specified host computer;
Switching means for detecting a request signal issued from the host computer other than the specified host, and switching a connection state from the specified host computer to a host other than the specified host computer which issued the request signal. Characteristic facsimile control device port switching method. 2. A main port connected to a first host computer, a subport connected to a second host computer, and exclusive requests from the first host computer and requests from the second host computer. An exclusive control unit that controls and connects between any of the main port or the sub port and the line control unit, and encodes transmission data input from the exclusive control unit, outputs the encoded data to the line control unit, and inputs the data from the line control unit. A main control unit that decodes received data and outputs the decoded data to the exclusive control unit, a line control unit that controls communication with a partner facsimile device, and a line-side port that connects to a communication network connected to the partner facsimile device. Port switching method for facsimile control device. 3. The communication control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the exclusive control unit detects a communication request command from the host computer, and issues the communication request command when the communication request command detection unit detects the communication request command. 3. A port switching system for a facsimile control device according to claim 2, further comprising: a port switching unit that switches a port so as to connect the port connected to the designated host computer and the main control unit. 4. An exclusive control unit for detecting a communication request command from the host computer, and issuing the communication request command when the communication request command detecting unit detects the communication request command. A port switching unit that switches a port so as to connect the port connected to the host computer and the main control unit, and monitors the port operation state of the main port and the sub port, and operates the port to the host computer connected to a port other than the operation port. 3. The port switching system for a facsimile control device according to claim 2, further comprising an operating port monitoring unit for transmitting information. 5. The facsimile control according to claim 4, wherein the host computer has an FCU status monitoring unit that receives and displays the port operation information transmitted by the operation port monitoring unit and notifies an operator. Device port switching method. 6. The port switching of the facsimile control device according to claim 2, wherein the exclusive control unit ignores a command other than a communication request command as input data from the other port when one port is an operation port. method. 7. A port switching method in a facsimile control device provided with a plurality of ports connected to a host computer, wherein one of the ports is an operation port and the other port is disconnected from the host computer connected to the other port. Accepts a communication request command,
When the communication request command is received, the service to the host computer connected to the operation port is stopped, the operation port is disconnected, and the other port connected to the host computer that has issued the communication request command is connected to the other port. Providing a service to a host computer connected to a facsimile control device. 8. The operation status of a port is monitored, and port operation information is transmitted to a host computer connected to a port that is not an operation port. The host computer connected to a port that is not an operation port receives and displays the port operation information and displays it to an operator. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the notification is performed.