JP2001251654A - Controller and private branch exchange mounted with this controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily rewrite or append program data with a simple configuration at low cost. SOLUTION: A key telephone master unit uses a flash memory 153 into which program data can be rewritten or appended as a main storage section for storing the program data used by a CPU 152, a control unit 15 incorporates an interface section 156 for general-purpose portable medium. The section 156 is provided with only a protocol conversion function that converts the data form of the program data stored in a memory card 200 into a data form handled by each section of the control unit 15, and the CPU 152 realizes a function of data transfer between the memory card 200 and the CPU 152 or between the memory card 200 and the flash memory 153.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used, for example, as a central control unit of a key telephone main unit, and performs a control process based on program data stored in a storage unit, and a private branch exchange equipped with the control device. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, key telephone systems have been widely used in office buildings and offices. Recently, a multimedia-compatible button telephone system that can handle not only audio signals from telephone terminals but also video signals and computer data from video telephone terminals and personal computers has been proposed as an extended type.

In a central control unit used in a key telephone main unit of this type of key telephone system, control program data is stored in a storage element such as a ROM, and a processor performs control processing based on the control program data. Is generally used.

[0004] In the above control device, the following problems occur in changing program data, collecting operation data, and interfaces. The problems caused by these various factors will be described below in different cases.

(First case) Since a ROM cannot be rewritten, if a program needs to be changed or added due to the discovery of a bug in the early stage of commercialization or the revision of specifications, the old ROM is replaced with a new ROM. I needed to. In this case, the following is conventionally considered. (1) Shut down the system for a long time and remove and replace the control unit to replace it. (2) Prepare a set of ROMs for changing the system.

However, in the case of (1), stopping the communication device for a long time has a great effect on the user and complicates the work, so that a burden is imposed on a construction worker. In the case of (2),
When changing a large number of systems, the number of ROs
The problem that M is required arises.

(Second Case) Conventionally, when collecting operation data, a method of storing the data in a storage element or collecting the data on-line has been considered. However, in the former,
It is necessary to prepare a storage element for storing operation data separately from a storage element used for normal operation, which complicates the configuration of equipment and increases the cost of the system. In the latter case, a load is imposed on the communication process, and the transmission speed in communication is limited, so that all the necessary information cannot be collected.

(Third Case) Conventionally, a P-ROM (Programmab) has been used as a storage element for storing program data.
It is also considered to employ a rewritable element such as le ROM). However, writing data into this type of storage element requires the use of a dedicated interface corresponding to the connected device, which imposes a heavy burden on the manufacturer.

[0009]

As described above, in the control device used in the conventional key telephone main unit, in order to enable rewriting or addition of program data owned by itself and collection of operation data, It is necessary to replace storage elements and prepare a large number of storage elements, and a dedicated interface is required for writing program data to the main storage unit, which complicates the configuration of the device and increases the cost. There was a defect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a control apparatus and a control apparatus which can easily rewrite or add program data and collect operation data, and which can be realized at a low cost with a simple configuration. The present invention provides a private branch exchange equipped with a personal computer.

[0011]

A control device according to the present invention is capable of connecting a storage unit capable of rewriting stored program data and a portable medium, and is capable of communicating with the portable medium. A portable media interface unit having a function, and a processor for controlling a predetermined control target based on the program data stored in the storage unit and connecting the storage unit and the portable media interface unit. It is prepared for.

In the above configuration, the variable media interface unit is provided with protocol conversion means for directly connecting the portable medium to the storage unit or the processor, and the processor is stored in the portable medium in response to a setting request. A data transfer unit for transferring and storing the program data to a storage unit, or transferring and storing at least a part of the program data or other data stored in the storage unit connected to the processor to a portable medium; I have.

That is, the present invention uses a rewritable storage element of program data as a main storage unit, and installs a PCMCIA memory card, a SmartMedia
a (registered trademark), CompactFlash (registered trademark), etc., a built-in portable medium interface unit for handling general-purpose portable media, and the portable medium interface unit stores data of program data stored in the portable medium. Only the function of converting the format into a data format handled by each unit in the control device is provided, and the function of transferring data between the portable medium and the processor or the storage unit is executed by the processor.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to set up a dedicated interface unit corresponding to the connected device in the exchange device for rewriting or adding the program data in the main storage unit, and it is possible to use a general-purpose portable medium. Interface unit in the control device, the function of transferring the program data of the portable medium to the main storage unit is realized by the function of the processor, and the program data in the main storage unit is converted into the program data of the portable medium. Rewriting or adding program data on a portable medium eliminates the need to replace storage elements, and eliminates the need to prepare dedicated interfaces for a large number of storage elements and connected devices. The control device can be configured with a simple configuration with high degree of cost and at low cost. In addition, since it is possible to transfer and write at least a part of the program data or other data stored in the main storage unit to a portable medium, for example, the program data of the main storage unit or other Even if this data is destroyed, it will be protected if the same program data or other data as the program data or other data in the main storage unit is stored in a portable medium.

Further, in the above configuration, the processor comprises:
An operating state information transfer means for monitoring the operating state of the processor itself, the apparatus itself, or a control target, and transferring and storing the operating state monitoring result to a portable medium is further provided.

According to this configuration, data and operation data indicating the operation state of the control device or the private branch exchange in which the control device is mounted are transferred from the processor to the portable medium. For this reason, the operation state of the control device and the private branch exchange device can be constantly managed, and for example, when an operation error or a program runaway occurs, the cause can be analyzed, thereby quickly taking a countermeasure such as a recovery operation. It becomes possible. Furthermore, operation data can be collected.

In the above configuration, the portable media interface unit previously associates the format of data to be transferred between the portable media and the processor or the storage unit with the data format of a plurality of connected devices, and A function of selecting and setting according to the connected device connected to the media is provided. By doing so, the portable media interface unit can be, for example, a DOS file Sys.
If it is made to correspond to a general-purpose file system such as tem, portable media can be accessed by a commercially available personal computer or the like, thereby being versatile and convenient.

Further, the private branch exchange according to the present invention accommodates a plurality of extensions and is capable of connecting at least one external line. Under the control of the control device of the present invention, the private branch exchange exchanges between the extensions and between the extension and the external line. It is characterized by having a function of selectively connecting. According to this configuration, it is possible to flexibly cope with a case where a new type of extension terminal is connected to the extension or a case where a new additional function is added to the private branch exchange.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment in which the control device of the present invention is applied to a control unit of a key telephone main unit. Reference numeral 1 denotes a key telephone main unit.

The key telephone main unit 1 includes a central office line interface unit 11, a key telephone terminal interface unit 12, and a standard telephone terminal interface unit 13.
And a control unit 15 for controlling the whole inside of the key telephone main unit 1, and these are PCM (Pulse Code Modulatio).
n) interconnected via highway 16 and control data highway 17;

The office line interface unit 11 is connected to a public network (not shown) via office lines SL1 to SLn, and establishes a call with a plurality of telephone terminals (not shown) via the public network. Performs control and the like. That is, the office line interface unit 11 performs interface processing between the office lines SL1 to SLn and the key telephone main unit 1 and the office line SL.
It monitors and controls control signals for 1 to SLn. Further, a control signal is exchanged with the control unit 15, and P
It has a time slot assigner for notifying the timing of transmitting and receiving various data signals on the CM highway 16 and a codec for performing analog / digital and digital / analog conversion of audio signals, detecting an incoming level signal, closing a DC loop, It has a function such as sending dial pulses.

Button telephone terminal interface unit 1
2, a plurality of extensions 21 to 2m are accommodated, and key telephones 31 to 3m used as extension terminals are connected to these extensions 21 to 2m, respectively. The key telephone terminal interface unit 12 performs interface processing between the extensions 21 to 2 m and the key telephone main unit 1 and monitors and controls control signals for the extensions 21 to 2 m. Furthermore, a function of transmitting and receiving a control signal to and from the control unit 15 and transmitting and receiving a voice signal and a control signal to and from a time slot assigner or key telephones 31 to 3m for notifying the timing of transmitting and receiving various data signals on the PCM highway 16. have.

Standard telephone terminal interface unit 13
Accommodates a plurality of extensions 41 to 4p, and standard telephones 51 to 5p as analog extension terminals are connected to these extensions 41 to 4p, respectively. The standard telephone terminal interface unit 13 has extensions 41 to 4 respectively.
It performs interface processing between p and the key telephone main unit 1, and monitors and controls control signals for extensions 41 to 4p. Further, a control signal is exchanged with the control unit 15, and P
It has a time slot assigner for notifying the timing of transmitting and receiving various data signals on the CM highway 16 and a codec for performing analog / digital and digital / analog conversion of voice signals, and also generates and sends incoming signals, supplies DC, dial pulses. It has functions such as reception of data.

The control unit 15 has an SIO (Serial In)
Out) 151 and CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1
52, the flash memory 153, and the time switch 1
54, a RAM 155, and a portable media interface unit 156, and the circuits are interconnected via a microcomputer bus 157.

The SIO 151 is a control data highway 1
7 and the CPU 1
The calculation control data calculated by 52 is sent to the control data highway 17. CPU 152
Executes the entire control in the key telephone main unit 1 based on the control program stored in the flash memory 153. In addition, the CPU 152 includes the flash memory 15.
3 and the portable media interface unit 156 are connected.

The flash memory 153 has a plurality of storage blocks each capable of storing data of a predetermined amount (not necessarily a fixed amount), and rewrites data stored in units of the storage blocks. Alternatively, it is a known device to which addition can be performed, and the CPU 152
Stores the program data used by.

The time switch 154 is connected to the station line interface unit 11 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 152.
Channel switching of digital signals transmitted via the PCM highway 16 is performed between the key telephone terminal interface unit 12 and the standard telephone terminal interface unit 13.

The RAM 155 stores data when the CPU 152 executes a process, and particularly stores various data and the like at the time of an exchange operation.

The card socket 100 is connected to the portable medium interface unit 156, and the card socket 100 has a P used as a portable medium.
A CMCIA memory card 200 is connected so that it can be inserted and removed. The portable medium interface unit 156 has a communication function with the memory card 200 connected to the card socket 100 and a protocol conversion function for directly connecting the memory card 200 to the microcomputer bus 157 in the control unit 15. It has.

In response to the setting request, the CPU 152 transfers the program data stored in the memory card 200 to the flash memory 153 for storage, or stores the program or general data stored in the flash memory 153, the RAM 155, or the like. Is provided with a data transfer function of transferring and storing at least a part of the data stored in the memory card 200 to the memory card 200.

Next, the operation of the key telephone main unit 1 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure and operation contents. When a power switch (not shown) is turned on and power supply from a power supply unit (not shown) is started, the CPU 152 starts a control process as shown in FIG.

When this control process is started, the CPU 152
Executes a well-known startup process based on the program data stored in the flash memory 153 (step 2a).

Subsequently, the CPU 152 determines whether or not the mode is set to the control program writing mode (step 2b). If the mode is set to the normal mode (N
O) Based on the program data stored in the flash memory 153, for example, extensions 21 to 2m and 41 to
The processing shifts to control processing for realizing the original operation as the key telephone main device 1 such as the exchange connection between the 4p and the extension lines 21 to 2m and 41 to 4p and the office lines SL1 to SLn (step). 2c).

On the other hand, if the control program writing mode is set in step 2b (YES), C
The PU 152 stores the memory card 2 in the card socket 100.
00 is connected or not (step 2).
d) If not connected (NO), step 2
The process shifts to a normal control process in step c, and if connected (YES), the program data stored in the memory card 200 is transferred to the flash memory 153 (step 2e) and transferred to the flash memory 153. A write process is performed so as to rewrite or add to the program data (step 2f).

Subsequently, the CPU 152 determines whether or not the writing of the program data transferred to the flash memory 153 has been completed (step 2g), and repeats the processing of steps 2e to 2g until the writing is completed. Then, when the writing of all the program data is completed, the CPU 152 ends the processing.

In the above operation, an example in which the program data stored in the memory card 200 is transferred to the flash memory 153 has been described.
At least a part of the data stored in the AM 155 may be transferred to the memory card 200 and written.

Next, an example to which this embodiment is applied will be described.

For example, when it is desired to add a new service not provided to the key telephone main unit 1, the conventional R
Although it was necessary to extract the OM from the key telephone main unit 1 and replace it with a ROM storing a new program, in the case of the present embodiment, the program data for executing the additional function is written in the memory card 200 by a personal computer or the like. This memory card 200 is inserted into the card socket 100 of the key telephone main unit 1, and the flash memory 1 is inserted.
It is only necessary to write the program data for executing the new service in 53, and it is not necessary to modify the flash memory 153 at all.

Also, when it is desired to change or add the key telephones 31 to 3m to a new type of key telephone, it is only necessary to write program data relating to the change or addition to the memory card 200.

The CPU 152 monitors the contents of the registers of the CPU 152 itself and the operation state of each unit in the control unit 15 or the whole key telephone main unit 1, and transfers the operation state monitoring result to the memory card 200 for storage. It further has a state information transfer function. In other words, the maintenance staff accessing the memory card 200 can always manage the operation state of each part in the control unit 15 and the entire key telephone main unit 1. Further, the CPU 152 can cause the memory card 200 to collect operation data necessary for the operation of the key telephone main device 1 as a whole, and can also read the operation data written in the memory card 200.

The portable media interface unit 1
Reference numeral 56 designates the format of data to be transferred between the memory card 200 and the CPU 152 or the flash memory 153 in advance corresponding to the data formats of a plurality of connected devices, and selectively sets according to the connected devices connected to the memory card 200. Has functions.

As described above, in the above embodiment, the CP
A flash memory 153 capable of rewriting or adding program data is used as a main storage unit for storing program data used by the U 152, a general-purpose portable medium interface unit 156 is built in the control unit 15, and a portable medium Interface unit 156 is provided with only a protocol conversion function for converting the data format of the program data stored in the memory card 200 into a data format handled by each unit in the control unit 15, and the memory card 200 and the CPU 152 or the flash memory 1
The function of performing data transfer between the CPU 53 and the RAM 155 is realized by the CPU 152.

Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated interface unit corresponding to the connected device in the control unit 15 for rewriting or adding the program data in the flash memory 153, and a general-purpose portable media interface unit is required. 156 is provided in the control unit 15,
The function of transferring the program data of the memory card 200 to the flash memory 153 is realized by the function of the CPU 152 so that the program data in the flash memory 153 is rewritten to the program data of the memory card 200 or the program data of the memory card 200 is rewritten. Since it is added, there is no need to replace the ROM as in the past, and there is no need to prepare a large number of ROMs and dedicated interfaces corresponding to the connected devices. The telephone main unit 1 and the control unit 15 can be configured with a simple configuration and at low cost.

The program data or general data stored in the flash memory 153, the RAM 155
At least a part of the data stored in the memory card 2
00, it is possible to write the data in the flash memory 15 due to a failure of the control unit 15, for example.
Even if the program data of the flash memory 153 is destroyed, the same program data as the program data of the flash memory 153 is stored in the memory card 200, so that the data is protected.

In the above embodiment, the control unit 1
5 or the data indicating the operation state of the key telephone main unit 1 is transferred from the CPU 152 to the memory card 200. Therefore, the maintenance person accessing the memory card 200 needs to operate the control unit 15 and the operation state of the key telephone main unit 1. Can always be managed. By doing so, for example, when an operation abnormality or a program runaway occurs, the cause can be analyzed, thereby making it possible to quickly perform a countermeasure such as a recovery operation.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the memory card 200 and the C
The format of data to be transferred between the PU 152 and the flash memory 153 is made to correspond to the data format of a plurality of connected devices in advance, and a function of selecting and setting according to the connected devices connected to the memory card 200 is provided. I have. By doing so, the portable media interface unit 156 can be connected to, for example, a DOS file system.
If a general-purpose file system such as em is used, the memory card 200 can be accessed by a commercially available personal computer or the like, which makes it versatile and convenient.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the control device of the present invention is applied to the control unit 15 of the key telephone main device 1. However, the control target of the control device of the present invention is not limited to the key telephone main device, and is optional. You may. For example, the present invention may be applied to a private branch exchange device of a digital private branch exchange system other than the key telephone system.

In the above embodiment, a flash memory is used as a storage element, but another nonvolatile element such as an EEPROM may be used. Further, in the above-described embodiment, a PCMCIA memory card is used as a portable medium.
A general-purpose portable medium such as mpactFlash may be used. In addition, the configuration of the control device, the configuration of the portable media interface unit, the function of the CPU, and the like can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0050]

As described in detail above, in the present invention, a rewritable storage element of program data is used as a main storage unit, a general-purpose portable medium interface unit is built in a control device, and The media interface unit has only a function to convert the data format of the program data stored in the portable medium into the data format handled by each unit in the control device, and performs data transfer between the portable medium and the processor or the storage unit. Since the functions to be performed are realized by the processor, there is no need to replace storage elements for rewriting or adding program data in the main storage unit. There is no need to prepare a dedicated interface, and program data in the main memory can be rewritten using portable media. Can be performed easily add,
Moreover, it is possible to provide a control device which can be realized at a low cost with a simple configuration and a private branch exchange device equipped with the control device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a key telephone main unit in which a control unit according to the present invention is applied to a control unit.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary flowchart showing an operation procedure and contents by a CPU in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Key telephone main unit, 11 ... Local line interface unit, 12 ... Key telephone terminal interface unit, 13 ... Standard telephone terminal interface unit, 15 ... Control unit, 16 ... PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) highway, 17 ... Control data highway 100: Memory card socket, 151: SIO (Serial In Out), 152: CPU (Central Processing Unit), 153: Flash memory, 154: Time switch, 155: RAM, 156: Portable media interface unit, 157 ... Microcomputer bus 200 memory card

Claims (6)

[Claims] A storage unit capable of rewriting stored program data; a portable medium interface unit to which a portable medium can be connected, and a communication function with the portable medium; A control unit that controls a predetermined control target based on the program data stored in the storage unit, and further includes a processor that connects the storage unit and the portable media interface unit. Control device. 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the portable medium interface unit includes a protocol conversion unit for directly connecting a portable medium to the storage unit or the processor. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:
The program data stored in the portable medium is transferred to the storage unit for storage, or at least a part of the program data or other data stored in the storage unit connected to the processor is transferred to the portable medium. 3. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising data transfer means for storing the data. 4. The processor further includes an operation state information transfer unit that monitors an operation state of the processor or the apparatus itself or the control target, and transfers and stores the operation state monitoring result to the portable medium. The control device according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The portable medium interface unit associates in advance the format of data to be transferred between the portable medium and the processor or the storage unit with the data format of a plurality of connected devices, and 3. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising a function of selecting and setting according to a connected device connected to the transport medium. 6. A plurality of extensions can be accommodated and at least one external line can be connected, and the control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, controls the extension between the extensions and between the extension and the external line. A private branch exchange having a function of selectively connecting.