JP2001092684A - Method and system for system switching of n+m waiting type redundant system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system switching method for an N+M waiting type redundant system for improving the reliability of this system by actualizing the latent failure of a preliminary module regardless of periodic switching or special test. SOLUTION: This N+M switching type redundant system is provided with N operating modules and M preliminary modules and a control means for capturing the non-use sub-module of the operating module in response to an outside request, and for making the non-use sub-module to execute processing corresponding to the outside request. When any system switching factor is generated in any operating module, the operating module is switched to the preliminary module, and any waiting preliminary module is switched to the operating system. When any sub-module of the operating modules is released, the operating module to which the released sub-module is belonging is decided as the candidate of the preliminary module, and when all the sub-modules of the candidate of the preliminary module are released, the candidate of the preliminary module is switched to the preliminary module, and the preliminary module in the waiting state is switched to the operating module.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a single module constituted by a set of a plurality of submodules having the same function, and N (operational) modules having this configuration and M (standby) modules (standby). In the N + M standby redundant system composed of the N + M module and the N + M standby redundant system, the potential failure of the spare module can be revealed without using a special test, and the reliability of the system can be improved.
The present invention relates to a system switching method and system for an M standby type redundant system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an N + M standby redundant system composed of N active (active) modules and M standby (standby) modules, one out of N active modules is used.
If a failure is detected in any of the modules, the failed module is disconnected from the system and replaced with a standby module in standby. In an N + M standby redundant system, M
Even if a simultaneous failure of up to the number of modules occurs, the system can continue to provide the required service or performance.

In the standby redundant system, the spare module only stands by until it is switched to the operation module. Therefore, even if a failure occurs during the standby, the failure cannot be detected. In other words, when the failure of the spare module becomes latent and the failure of the operation module occurs, the failure that has been latent in the spare module is not realized until the spare module is switched to the active system instead of the failed operation module. There is a problem that it becomes apparent.

As a means for solving such a problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 1-318323 discloses a method of switching systems in a standby multiplexing system, which utilizes a time during which system switching does not hinder the operation of a controlled system. Then, the operation module and the spare module are periodically switched at a cycle shorter than the average failure time, and if no failure detection signal is detected from the system that has become the main system due to system switching, the operation of the main system is performed. Until the next system switching, and if a failure detection signal is detected from the system that has become the main system due to system switching,
A method for immediately switching to a normal system is disclosed.

[0005] As a means for preventing potential failure of the spare module, there is a method of testing the spare module.
In Japanese Patent No. 2626127, “a backup route test method”, a backup route in a non-duplex input / output control device controlled by a dual centralized control device and a channel control device via both channel buses. The test method of (1) solves the problem that the test is not performed from the channel controller in which the central controller is the standby system to the standby system route inside the input / output controller via the channel bus. A route test method is disclosed.

[0006]

However, when one module is configured as a group of sub-modules having the same function, and an N + M standby redundant system is configured from N operation modules and M spare modules, For example, when a plurality of speech recognition circuits (speech recognition circuits: sub-modules) are mounted on a single package to constitute a system as one speech recognition device (speech recognition device: module), the above-described Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication When trying to apply the system switching method in the standby multiplexing system, the state of all submodules (speech recognition circuits) accommodated in the operation module (speech recognition device) to be switched is checked. , Make sure that all sub-modules are not used before switching Thus hindered the operation.
For this reason, there is a problem that the periodic switching process becomes complicated.

That is, in the switching process that is periodically performed, during switching, the sub-module (speech recognition circuit) under the module to be switched (speech recognition device) is guarded from being newly used, Wait until all the sub-modules (speech recognition circuits) are not used, and then switch to the spare module (speech recognition device), or change the information of the used sub-modules (speech recognition circuits). It is necessary to consider switching over after taking over to the submodule (speech recognition circuit) of the spare module (speech recognition device). For this reason, there is a problem that the processing time required for the periodic switching becomes long and the switching process becomes complicated.

An object of the present invention is to configure one module as a group of submodules having the same function,
N + from M operational modules and M spare modules
When configuring an M-standby redundant system, a potential failure of a spare module can be made obvious without regular switching or a special test, and the reliability of the system can be improved. It is to provide a system switching method and system.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an N (N ≧ 1 integer) operation module and an M (M ≧ 1 integer) spare module; A storage unit for storing control state information of the module and the spare module, and referring to the control state information stored in the storage unit in response to an external request, detecting an unused operation module, A system switching method for an N + M standby type redundant system, comprising: control means for allocating a process to a request, wherein the N + M operation modules and the spare module are assigned to the operation module when the allocation of the process to the external request and the release of the allocation are triggered. , A standby module candidate, and a standby module.

[0010] Further, N (N ≧ 1 integer) operation modules and M (M ≧ 1 integer) spare modules each comprising a set of a plurality of sub-modules each having the same function; A storage unit for storing control state information of all the sub-modules constituting the operation module and the spare module, and referring to the control state information stored in the storage unit for an external request,
Control means for capturing an unused sub-module in the operation module, and causing the unused sub-module to execute a process for an external request, wherein when the system switching factor occurs in any of the operation modules, Is switched to the standby system, and any of the standby modules that are on standby is switched to the active system. This is a system switching method for an N + M standby type redundant system, wherein when any of the submodules in the active module is released, Determining the operation module to which the released sub-module belongs as a spare module candidate; and when all the sub-modules of the spare module candidate are released, the spare module candidate is switched to the spare module and is in a standby state. Switching the spare module to the operation module. It is characterized in.

[0011] Further, when there is no unused sub-module in the operation module at the time of capturing the sub-module, the unused sub-module in the spare module candidate is captured.

When a switching factor of the system occurs in the operating module, the control status information of the operating module in which the switching factor has occurred is copied to the control status information of the standby module at the switching destination, and the standby module at the switching destination is copied. When switching to an operation module, based on the copied control state information, release the resources used in the operation module in which the switching factor has occurred, and reset the state of subordinate submodules as a new operation module. Features.

Further, the N + M standby type redundant system of the present invention, when any one of the operating modules is released, determines the operating module to which the released submodule belongs as a spare module candidate;
When all the submodules of the spare module candidate are released, the spare module candidate is switched to the spare module, and the standby module is switched to the operation module.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A system switching method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG.
1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a speech recognition system to which a system switching method of the present invention is applied. The voice recognition system 101 according to the present embodiment includes a transmission terminal x102, y1
03, z104 and voice call lines x105, y106, z
The connection is made at 107, and the calling terminals x102, y103, and z104 are connected to a circuit of an arbitrary voice recognition device via a voice communication path switch 108.

In FIG. 1, as a specific example, three speech recognition devices (modules) A10 are provided in the speech recognition system 101.
9, B113, C 117 is mounted, is respectively of a speech recognition apparatus, respectively in (module) three circuit (submodule) is mounted, the circuit A ₁ 11 of the speech recognition apparatus A109 originating terminal x102 is by the voice communication line x105
0, the calling terminal y103 is connected to the circuit A ₂ 111 of the voice recognition device A109 by the voice communication line y106.
Reference numeral 104 denotes a voice recognition device B1 via a voice communication line z107.
13 shows an example of connection to thirteen circuits B ₁ 114.

In this case, of the three speech recognition devices, two of the speech recognition devices A109 and B113 operate as "operation devices" (operation modules), and the speech recognition devices C and B113 operate as "operation devices" (operation modules).
117 shows an example of configuring a “2 + 1” standby redundant system in which the standby unit 117 is standby as a “spare device” (spare module).
If any one of the devices 13 fails, the service and performance of the speech recognition system 101 are maintained by switching the speech recognition device C117 that is on standby as the “backup device” to the “operation device”. Also, each of the voice recognition devices A109, B1
13 and C117 are speech recognition circuits (A ₁ ) 1 respectively.
10, (A ₂ ) 111, (A ₃ ) 112, (B ₁ ) 11
4, (B ₂ ) 115, (B ₃ ) 116, (C ₁ ) 118,
(C ₂ ) 119 and (C ₃ ) 120.

2, 3, and 4, the speech recognition system 101 includes circuits A, B, and C (sub-modules) housed in respective speech recognition devices. Control information 121 for storing control information A, B, and C relating to the control state, operating circuit management information 126 for managing circuits accommodated in the operating device, and after the standby device has been switched to the operating device, Management information including spare transition circuit management information 127 for managing a circuit accommodated in a voice recognition device (preliminary transition module) which is a candidate to be migrated, and spare circuit management information 128 for managing a circuit accommodated in the spare device 125 in the storage device 130, and furthermore, the voice communication path switch 108, the voice recognition device A10
9, B113, and C117.

FIG. 2 is a state transition diagram showing a control state of the speech recognition circuit in the present embodiment. In the initial state of the speech recognition system 101, the state of the speech recognition circuit is “empty”
In the state 201, when the circuit capture 202 is performed in response to a request from the transmission terminal (any of 102 to 104), in order to prompt the transmission terminal to input by voice,
The state transits to the “sending voice input request guidance” state 203. Upon completion of sending the voice input request guidance 204,
To monitor the completion of voice input from the calling device,
The state transits to the “voice input completion monitoring” state 205. In the input completion 206 by the voice from the calling terminal, in order to confirm whether or not the content recognized by the voice recognition circuit of the voice input from the calling terminal matches the content actually input,
The state transits to the “confirming input voice” state 207. When the confirmation OK 208 is returned from the calling terminal, the state transitions to the “empty” state 201. However, when the confirmation NG 209 is returned, the state transits to the “voice input re-request guidance sending” state 210 to request the voice input again, and returns to the “voice input completion monitoring” state 205 at the guidance sending completion 211 again. Transition.

FIG. 3 shows the speech recognition apparatuses A109 and B shown in FIG.
113 and control information A12 corresponding to C117, respectively.
FIG. 2 is a diagram specifically illustrating the configurations of B123 and C124. Control information transmitting terminal x102 and the circuit A ₁ 110 which is connected via the voice communication line x105 A 122
Indicates that the connection line 301 is connected to the "line x" and the control state 302 is "confirming the input voice", indicating that the circuit A ₂ connected to the calling terminal y103 via the voice communication line y106. 111 control information A122
Is connected to "line y" as the connection destination line 303, and "transmitting the voice input request guidance" as the control state 304.
The control information B123 of the circuit B ₁ 114 connected to the calling terminal z104 via the voice communication line z107 is connected to “line z” as the connection destination line 307, and “ The state that the voice input request guidance is being sent "is set," NULL "is set for the connection line of the control information 121, and" idle "is set for the control state. , Are managed as control information 121.

FIG. 4 shows a speech recognition device A109 and a speech recognition device B113 as operation modules and a speech recognition device C11.
7 is a configuration diagram illustrating an initial state of operational circuit management information 126, preliminary transition circuit management information 127, and backup circuit management information 128 when 7 is initially configured as a backup module. FIG.

The operational circuit management information 126 is information for managing empty circuits accommodated in the speech recognition apparatuses A and B to be operated in a chain, and includes the number of empty circuits 401, the first circuit number 402, and the last circuit number. 403.
In the initial state, the speech recognition device A1 which is an operation module
09 and a circuit (A ₁ ) 110, a circuit (A ₂ ) 111, and a circuit (A ₃ ) 11 accommodated in the voice recognition device B 113.
2, circuit (B ₁ ) 114, circuit (B ₂ ) 115, circuit (B
₃ ) A total of six circuits of 116 form an empty circuit chain, the number of empty circuits 401 is “6”, and the number of the first circuit is 40
"Circuit A _1" to 2, in the final circuit number 403 "circuit B _3" is stored, the "circuit A _2" to the next link circuit number 404 of the circuit A ₁ 110, the next link circuit of the circuit (A ₂₎ 111 “Circuit A ₃ ” in the number 405, “Circuit B ₁ ” in the next link circuit number 406 of the circuit (A ₃ ) 112, “Circuit B ₂ ” in the next link circuit number 407 of the circuit (B ₁ ) 114, (Circuit B ₂ )
“Circuit B ₃ ” is stored in the next link circuit number 408 of 115, and “NULL” indicating the end of the empty circuit chain is stored in the next link circuit number 409 of the circuit (B ₃ ) 116.

The spare transfer circuit management information 127 is information for managing the voice recognition device number to be the next spare device after the spare device is switched to the operation device and the vacant circuits under the chain in a chain. Transition voice recognition device number 410
And the number of empty circuits 411, the head circuit number 412, and the last circuit number 413. In the initial state, since the voice recognition device number to be the next backup device has not been determined yet, “NULL”,
“0” is stored in the number of empty circuits 411, and “NULL” is stored in each of the first circuit number 412 and the last circuit number 413.

The spare circuit management information 128 includes a spare (standby)
This is information for managing the target voice recognition device number and the empty circuits accommodated under the chain by a spare voice recognition device number 414, the number of free circuits 415, and the head circuit number 41.
6 and a final circuit number 417. In an initial state, a total of three circuits (C ₁ ) 118, circuit (C ₂ ) 119, and circuit (C ₃ ) 120 accommodated in the speech recognition device C 117 which is a spare module form an empty circuit chain. "C" is stored in the spare voice recognition device number 414, " ₃ " is stored in the number of empty circuits 415, "circuit C1" is stored in the _first circuit number 416, and "circuit C3" is stored in the last circuit number 417.
“Circuit C ₂ ” is the next link circuit number 418 of the circuit (C ₁ ) 118, “Circuit C ₃ ” is the next link circuit number 419 of the circuit C ₂ 119, and the next link circuit number 420 of the circuit (C ₃ ) 120 "NUL" indicating the end of the empty circuit chain
L ”is stored.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are processing flowcharts for explaining the capture processing of the voice recognition circuit. In the circuit capture processing 501, the number of empty circuits 401 in the operational circuit management information 126 is extracted (step 502), and the number of empty circuits is determined (step 503). If there is a vacant circuit, the leading circuit number 402 of the operating circuit management information 126 is extracted (step 50).
4) The next link circuit number is extracted from the extracted leading circuit number (step 505), and the extracted next link is “NUL”.
L ”(step 506). The next link is "NU
If it is not "LL", the extracted next link circuit number is set to the head circuit number 402 of the operation circuit management information 126 (step 507), and the number of empty circuits 401 in the operation circuit management information is set.
Is subtracted by 1 (step 508), the circuit number captured as circuit capture OK is returned (step 509), and the circuit capture processing 501 ends.

"NULL" of the next link in step 506
If it is determined to be NULL, “NULL” is set to the head circuit number 402 of the operation circuit management information 126 (step 510), and “NULL” is set to the last circuit number 403 of the operation circuit management information 126 ( Step 51
1) The processing after step 508 is performed.

If it is determined in step 503 that the number of empty circuits in the operation circuit is "0", the number of empty circuits 411 in the spare transfer circuit management information 127 is extracted (step 512), and the number of empty circuits is determined (step 513). ).

If there is a spare circuit in the spare transition circuit,
The leading circuit number 412 of the spare transfer circuit management information 127 is extracted (Step 514), the next link circuit number is extracted from the extracted leading circuit number (Step 515), and it is determined whether the next link is “NULL” (Step 516). . If there is a next link, the extracted next link circuit number is set to the leading circuit number 412 of the preliminary transition circuit management information 127 (step 517), and the number of empty circuits 411 of the preliminary transition circuit management information 127 is subtracted by "1". (Step 518), and Step 509 and subsequent steps are performed.

At step 516, the next link is "NUL
In the case of “L”, all the circuits under the voice recognition device that was about to be preliminarily shifted are used, so the premigration voice recognition device number 41 of the premigration circuit management information 127 is used.
0, the first circuit number 412, and the last circuit number 413 are "NU".
LL ”is set (step 519), and the processing from step 518 is performed.

As a result, the speech recognition device which has been treated as the target of the preliminary transition is excluded from the target. The logic for determining the backup transfer device will be described in the circuit release processing of FIG. If the number of vacant circuits in the spare transfer circuit is “0” in step 513, there is no circuit that can be captured, so the captured NG is returned (step 520), and the circuit capturing processing 501 is performed.
To end.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are processing flowcharts for explaining the release processing of the voice recognition circuit. Note that the release processing is processing for releasing the assignment of a function or stopping the operation.

In the circuit release processing 701, the pre-migration voice recognition device number 410 of the pre-migration circuit management information 127 is extracted (step 702), and it is determined whether it is "NULL" (step 703). If it is not "NULL", there is a voice recognition device to be preliminarily shifted, so it is determined whether or not it matches the voice recognition device number of the circuit to be released (step 704). Extracts the last circuit number 413 of the spare transfer circuit management information 127 (step 7).
05), the circuit number of the circuit to be released is set to the next link circuit number of the extracted final circuit (step 706), and the circuit number of the circuit to be released is set to the final circuit number 413 of the preliminary transition circuit management information 127. (Step 707), “NULL” is set to the next link circuit number of the circuit to be released (Step 708), and “1” is added to the number of empty circuits in the preliminary transition circuit management information 127 (Step 709), and preliminary transition voice recognition is performed. It is determined whether all the circuits under the device have been released (step 710).

In step 710, when all the circuits under the preliminary shift speech recognition device have been released, the preliminary switching process described with reference to FIG. 9 is executed (step 711), and the circuit release process 701 ends. If it is determined in step 710 that all the circuits under the control of the preliminary shift speech recognition apparatus have not been released, the circuit release processing 701 ends without performing the preliminary switching processing described with reference to FIG.

In step 704, if the speech recognition device number of the circuit to be released does not match the speech recognition device number of the preliminary transition circuit, the last circuit number 403 of the operating circuit management information 126 is extracted (step 712). It is determined whether it is "NULL" (step 713). If the final circuit is not “NULL” in the determination at step 713, the circuit number of the circuit to be released is set as the link circuit number next to the extracted final circuit (step 714), and the final circuit number 403 of the operational circuit management information 126 is set. Is set to the circuit number of the circuit to be released (step 715), "NULL" is set to the next link circuit number of the circuit to be released (step 716), and "1" is set to the number of empty circuits 401 in the operation circuit management information 126. The addition is performed (step 717), and the circuit release processing 701 ends.

In step 713, the operation circuit management information 12
In the case where the last circuit number 403 of the operation circuit management information 126 is “NULL”, the circuit number of the circuit to be released is set in the head circuit number 402 of the operation circuit management information 126 (step 718). In 403, the circuit number of the circuit to be released is set (Step 719), and Step 7 is executed.
Step 16 and subsequent steps are performed.

In step 703, if the pre-migration voice recognition device number 410 is "NULL", the pre-migration voice recognition device number 410 of the pre-migration circuit management information 127 is set to the voice recognition device number of the circuit to be released ( Step 72
0), the circuit number of the circuit to be released is set in the first circuit number 412 and the last circuit number 413 (step 721), and “NULL” is set in the next link circuit number of the circuit to be released (step 722), and the empty circuit “1” is set in Expression 411 (Step 723), and the circuit release processing 701 ends.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process for switching the standby transition speech recognition device (operation device) operating as the operation module to the standby device and the standby device standing by as the standby module to the operation device. When the preliminary switching process 901 is executed from step 711 in FIG.
The last circuit number 403 of the operation circuit management information 126 is extracted (step 902), and it is determined whether or not “NULL” (step 903). If it is not “NULL”, the spare circuit management information 1 is added to the link circuit number next to the extracted last circuit number 403.
28 is set as the first circuit number 416 (step 90).
4), the last circuit number 417 of the spare circuit management information 128 is set as the last circuit number 403 of the working circuit management information 126 (step 905), and the spare circuit management information 128 41 circuits
5 is added (step 906). As a result, the circuit under the voice recognition device that has been waiting as a standby device is incorporated into the operation device. Next, in order to set the voice recognition device stored in the preliminary transition circuit recognition device number 410 of the preliminary transition circuit management information 127 as a backup device, the entire contents of the preliminary transition circuit management information 127 are completely copied to the preliminary circuit management information 128. (Step 907), spare transition circuit management information 1
"NULL" in the 27 preliminary transition voice recognition device number 410
Is set (step 908), and the spare transfer circuit management information 1
"0" is set to the number of empty circuits 411 of the 27 (step 9).
09), the top circuit number 4 of the spare transfer circuit management information 127
“NULL” is set for each of the “12” and the last circuit number 413 (step 910), and the preliminary switching processing 901 is completed. As a result, the spare transfer speech recognition device (operating device) operating as the operation (operating) module shifts to the spare device. In step 903, the final circuit number 40
If No. 3 is “NULL”, the head circuit number 416 of the spare circuit management information 128 is set to the head circuit number 402 of the operation circuit management information 126 (step 911), and step 9
The processing after 05 is executed.

In FIGS. 10 to 13, the operation management information 126, the spare transfer circuit management information 127, and the spare circuit management information 128 specifically shown in FIG. A concrete example of how the change is made by executing step 901 will be described. FIG.
A reference numeral 1001 of 0 indicates a state after the circuits A ₁ , A ₂ , A ₃ , and B ₁ have been captured. The number 401 of empty circuits in the operation circuit management information 126 is “2”, and the number of head circuits 402 is “ Circuit B
₂ ”and“ circuit B ₃ ”are stored as the last circuit number 403.
1 in Figure 11 a state after the circuit A ₃ is released in this state
002. Step 7 of the circuit release processing 701 in FIG.
In the determination process of No. 03, the pre-migration voice recognition device number 410 of the pre-migration circuit management information 127 follows the route of “NULL”, and the processing after step 720 is executed. Number 410
In addition, “A”, which is the voice recognition device number of the circuit A ₃ , “1” is set as the number of empty circuits 411, and “Circuit A ₃ ” is set as the first circuit number 412 and the last circuit number 413.

In the state 1201 of FIG. 12, the circuits A ₁ and A ₂ are further released in the state of FIG.
13 shows a state immediately before the execution of No. 1 in FIG.
9 shows a state after execution of the preliminary switching process 901 in FIG. 9 requested to be executed from step 711 of the circuit release process 701 in FIG. When the circuit A ₁ in the state of FIG. 11, A ₂ is released, since it is a circuit which is housed in the pre transition speech recognition apparatus A, as shown in 1201 of FIG. 12, the circuit A _1, A ₂ preliminary It is incorporated into an empty circuit chain managed by the transition circuit management information 127. Since all the circuits (A ₁ , A ₂ , A ₃ ) under the control of the preliminary shift speech recognition apparatus A are released, the preliminary switching process 901 in FIG. 9 is executed following the route of step 711 in FIG.

As a result, the circuits C ₁ , C ₂ ,... Accommodated in the speech recognition device C managed by the backup circuit management information 128
C ₃ is incorporated into empty circuit chain that manages operational circuit, as a new spare device, pre-shifting circuit management information 12
The information of the voice recognition device A managed in step 7 is copied to the spare circuit management information 128, and the spare transition circuit management information 127 is initialized to determine a new spare transition circuit, and is indicated by 1202 in FIG. State.

In this way, when the circuit is released after being captured, the speech recognition device to be preliminarily shifted (the candidate of the speech recognition device to be the next spare device) is determined, and the subordinate of the speech recognition device to be preliminarily shifted is determined. When all the circuits are released, the voice recognition device that was on standby as a standby device is incorporated into the operation device, and the voice recognition device that was operating as the standby transition device is caused to be on standby as a standby device. Switching to the device can be easily realized. For this reason, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
All sub-modules (speech recognition devices) accommodated in the operation module to be switched (speech recognition device), which becomes a problem when applying the periodic switching of the system switching method in the standby multiplexing system, If the switching is not performed after checking the state of the voice recognition circuit) and confirming that all the submodules are not used, the operation of the system will be hindered, and the periodic switching processing will be complicated. Can be avoided.

Further, since the voice recognition device that is on standby as a standby device is a voice recognition device that has been normally used as an operating device until then, there is no potential for failure at the stage of transition to the standby device. Since the standby device and the operating device are sequentially switched, even if a special standby device test is not performed when the standby device is on standby, the failure of the standby device becomes apparent during the operation state, and the failure becomes latent. That can be avoided.

A failure switching process when a failure occurs in the speech recognition device in operation will be described with reference to FIGS. When a failure occurs in a certain device, there is a conventional method of returning to the past device state and restarting the operation of the device based on the stored past device state, which is applied to the present invention. FIG. FIG. 14 is a state transition diagram showing a control state of the speech recognition circuit described in FIG. 2. When a failure occurs in the speech recognition device, and when the speech recognition device is switched due to the failure, which state to return to in the past. It is a state transition diagram which added the state transition called. When the failure switching 1401 occurs in the state of the voice input request guidance being sent 203, the voice input request guidance sending state 20 is output to restart the guidance.
Transition to 3 again. When the failure switch 1402 occurs during the voice input completion monitoring 205, and when the input voice is being checked 20
7 when the failure switching 1403 occurs and the failure switching 1404 occurs during the voice input re-request guidance sending 210, the state transits to the voice input re-requesting guidance sending 210 status in order to request the voice input again. 4 shows a specific state transition to be performed. It should be noted that the method of making the transition shown here is merely an example, and it goes without saying that the system can be arbitrarily designed to return to any past state.

FIG. 15 and FIG.
In the state of, the voice recognition device A detects a failure,
FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 show a processing flow when a failure switch to a spare device occurs, and FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 show transitions of management information 125 and control information 121. Failure switching processing 150 in FIG.
When 1 is executed, the spare transfer speech recognition device number 410 (A) of the spare transfer circuit management information 127 and the spare speech recognition device number 414 (C) of the spare circuit management information 128 are extracted (step 1502), and failure switching is performed. In order to indicate that the switching is in progress, as shown by 1802 in FIG. 18, “failure switching” is added to the preliminary transition voice recognition device number 410 of the preliminary transition circuit management information 127 and the preliminary voice recognition device number 414 of the preliminary circuit management information 128, respectively. Medium ”(step 150
3) It is determined whether or not the preliminary transition voice recognition device number (A) extracted in step 1502 matches the failed voice recognition device number (A) (step 1504). In the examples of FIGS. 15, 17, and 18, a failure occurs in the preliminary transition voice recognition device A, and the route that matches in the determination of step 1504 is followed. "0", "NULL" is set for the first circuit number 412 and the last circuit number 413, and "0" is set for the number of empty circuits 415 of the spare circuit management information 128, and "NULL" is set for the first circuit number 416 and the last circuit number 417. It is set (step 1505), and the speech recognition device A which is a malfunctioning device is set.
The control information (A) 122 is completely copied to the control information (C) 124 of the voice recognition device C, which is a standby device (step 1506), and the processes after step 1508 are repeated by the number of circuits (step 1507).

The control state of each circuit of the control information (C) 124 copied in step 1506 (314 in FIG. 3)
316, 318) are extracted (step 1508), and it is determined whether the control state is “empty” (step 150 in FIG. 16).
9). If it is not "empty", the connection destination lines (313, 315, and 317 in FIG. 3) of the control information (C) 124 are extracted (step 1511), and the extracted connection destination line and the failed speech recognition device A are connected. The path within the voice communication path switch 108 is disconnected (step 1512), and then the path within the voice communication path switch 108 to the failure storage destination voice storage device C is reconnected (step 1513), and step 1508 is performed.
It is determined whether or not the control state extracted in step 1 is "sending voice input request guidance" (step 1514). Step 151
For "in the audio input requests guidance delivery" is 4, with respect to the corresponding circuit (circuit C _2), and instructs the voice input request guidance sent (step 1515), the originating terminal (102-1
04) for guidance.

If the determination in step 1514 is other than "voice input request guidance is being transmitted", the corresponding circuit (circuit C
₁ ) is instructed to transmit voice input re-request guidance (step 1516), the guidance is sent to the calling terminal in the same manner as described above, and the control state of the control information of the corresponding circuit is set to "transmitting voice input re-request guidance". (Step 151
7).

If the control state is determined to be "empty" in step 1509, the corresponding circuit (circuit C ₃ ) is chained to the operation circuit buffer (step 1519). When the processing of all circuits is completed, The failure switching processing ends (step 1518).

If it is determined in step 1504 that the failed device does not match the spare transfer device, the circuit accommodated in the failed speech recognition device is removed from the operational circuit chain (step 1520), and the spare transfer circuit management information 127
(Step 1510) to execute the process of incorporating the vacant circuit managed in the operation circuit buffer into the operation circuit buffer.
The processing after 05 is performed. The management information 126 to 128 and the control information 12 when a failure occurs in 1701 in FIG.
18 shows the contents of the management information 126 to 128 and the control information 122 and 124 after executing the failure switching processing 1501 in FIG.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a failure occurs in the operation device, the function of restarting the service from the state before the failure occurrence can be easily realized by using the standby device as the standby device. it can.

When the device failure is repaired, the circuit accommodated in the failed speech recognition device is re-managed as the spare circuit management information 128 described with reference to FIG. By setting "NULL" to the spare transfer speech recognition device number 410 in the circuit management information, the 2 + 1 spare (standby) redundant system can be reconstructed.

In the above embodiment, the 2 + 1 standby (standby) type redundant system has been described as an example. However, the standby transition voice recognition device number 4 in the standby transition circuit management information 127 of FIG.
10 and the spare speech recognition device number 414 of the spare circuit management information 128 are configured to be able to store a plurality of speech recognition device numbers, or the same configuration as the spare migration circuit management information 127 and the spare circuit management information 128 is managed. Needless to say, by providing a plurality of pieces of information, the information can be easily applied to the N + M standby (standby) type redundant system.

Further, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the method of managing empty circuits by chains has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to a method of managing empty circuits by a conventional technique such as an "empty / blocking management table". The effect remains the same.

Further, in the above embodiment, the speech recognition circuit is taken as an example of the sub-module and the speech recognition device is taken as an example of the module. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The function element that performs
+ M can be applied to all systems. For example, the present invention can be applied to all redundant systems, such as a plurality of relay devices in a communication satellite, an attitude control device, and a plurality of computers in a calculation center in a financial institution.

Further, as an example of a system switching factor, a case in which a failure occurs in the speech recognition device is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied to a system in which switching is performed by a predetermined switching factor, such as reaching a predetermined time or a usage fee reaching a predetermined amount in consideration of economy.

Although an example in which one module is composed of a plurality of sub-modules has been described, it goes without saying that the same can be applied to a case where one module is composed of only one sub-module.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, when some sub-modules under the operation module are released, the operation module having the partially released sub-module becomes the spare module next. A spare module candidate (spare transition module) to be determined is determined, and when all submodules under the spare module candidate are released, the spare module candidate (spare transition module) is switched to a spare module, and Since the standby module which has been in the standby state until then is switched to the operation module, switching between the operation module and the standby module can be easily realized. Furthermore, since the module that is on standby as a standby device is a module that has been normally used as an operating device, there is no possibility of failure at the stage of transition to the standby device, and the standby device and the operating device are sequentially connected. Since the switching is performed, it is possible to obtain an effect that the failure of the standby device can be made obvious during the operation state and not made latent, without performing a special standby device test when the standby device is on standby.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a speech recognition system.

FIG. 2 is a state transition diagram showing a control state of the speech recognition circuit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of control information in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of operational circuit management information, spare transition circuit management information, and spare circuit management information in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a capturing process of the voice recognition circuit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a continuation of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing release processing of the voice recognition circuit.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a continuation of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a switching process of the voice recognition device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of operational circuit management information, preliminary transition circuit management information, and preliminary circuit management information after the voice recognition circuit has been captured.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of operational circuit management information, spare transition circuit management information, and spare circuit management information after a part of the speech recognition circuit A is released.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of operational circuit management information, spare transition circuit management information, and spare circuit management information after all circuits under the control of the speech recognition device A are released.

FIG. 13 shows a specific configuration of operation circuit management information, spare transition circuit management information, and spare circuit management information after all circuits under the voice recognition device A have been released and switching between the standby device and the operation device has been performed. FIG.

FIG. 14 is a state transition diagram showing a control state of the speech recognition circuit in consideration of failure switching of the speech recognition device.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a failure switching process of the voice recognition device.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a continuation of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of operational circuit management information, spare transition circuit management information, spare circuit management information, and control information after some modules of the speech recognition device A are released.

FIG. 18 shows a specific example of operation circuit management information, spare transition circuit management information, spare circuit management information, and control information after the speech recognition device A has failed and the failure has been switched to the speech recognition device C, which is a standby device. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration.

[Explanation of symbols]

101: voice recognition system, 109: voice recognition device A,
110: voice recognition circuit A ₁ , 113: voice recognition device B,
117 ... Speech recognition device C, 121 ... Control information, 125 ...
Management information, 126: operational circuit management information, 127: spare transition circuit management information, 128: spare circuit management information, 129 ...
Control unit, 130: storage device, 410: preliminary transition voice recognition device number, 414: preliminary voice recognition device number.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for storing N (N ≧ 1 integer) operation modules and M (M ≧ 1 integer) spare modules, control means for storing control state information of the operation modules and spare modules, A control means for referring to the control state information stored in the storage means for the request, detecting an unused operation module, and assigning a process for an external request to the unused operation module. A system switching method, wherein the (N + M) operation modules and the spare modules are sequentially transitioned to the states of an operation module, a spare module candidate, and a spare module when an assignment of a process to an external request and a release of the assignment are triggered. N +
System switching method for M standby redundant system. 2. Each of the modules comprises a set of a plurality of sub-modules having the same function.
(N ≧ 1 integer) operation modules and M (M ≧ 1)
(Integer of 1), storage means for storing the control state information of all the sub-modules constituting the operation module and the spare module, and the control state information stored in the storage means in response to an external request. Control means for capturing an unused sub-module in the operation module, and causing the unused sub-module to execute a process for an external request, wherein the operation is performed when a system switching factor occurs in any of the operation modules. A system switching method for an N + M standby type redundant system in which a module is switched to a standby system and one of standby modules is switched to an operating system, wherein when any submodule in the operating module is released. Determining the operation module to which the release sub-module belongs as a spare module candidate; Switching all the submodules of the spare module candidate to the spare module and switching the standby module in the standby state to the operation module when all the submodules of the spare module candidate are released. System switching method for N + M standby type redundant system. 3. The N + M standby type redundant system according to claim 2, wherein when there is no unused sub-module in the operation module at the time of capturing the sub-module, the unused sub-module in the spare module candidate is captured. System switching method. 4. When a switching factor of a system occurs in an operation module, the control status information of the operation module in which the switching factor has occurred is copied to the control status information of the standby module at the switching destination, and the standby module at the switching destination is copied. When switching to an operation module, based on the copied control state information, release the resources used in the operation module in which the switching factor has occurred, and reset the state of subordinate submodules as a new operation module. 3. The system switching method for an N + M standby type redundant system according to claim 2, wherein: 5. Each of the modules is constituted by a set of a plurality of sub-modules having the same function.
(N ≧ 1 integer) operation modules and M (M ≧ 1)
(Integer of 1), storage means for storing the control state information of all the sub-modules constituting the operation module and the spare module, and the control state information stored in the storage means in response to an external request. Control means for capturing an unused sub-module in the operation module, and causing the unused sub-module to execute a process for an external request, wherein the operation is performed when a system switching factor occurs in any of the operation modules. An N + M standby type redundant system for switching a module to a standby system and switching one of standby modules to an active system, wherein when one of the submodules in the operating module is released, Means for determining an operation module to which the module belongs as a spare module candidate; Means for switching the spare module candidate to the spare module when all the submodules of the module candidate are released, and for switching the spare module in the standby state to the operation module. Redundant system.