JP2003018312A - Remote monitor system and communication equipment to be remotely monitored - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive remote monitor system, with which communication abnormality can be avoided in a simple configuration and control without double configuring a MODEM or control part. SOLUTION: When calling communication equipment 2 from a high-order monitor part 1, a ringer signal is pulsed by a pulse circuit 5 and a pulse signal is counted by a counter 6. During the normal operation of a MODEM 3 and a control part 4, the MODEM 3 responds and the ringer signal is stopped before counting to a preset threshold. When the count-up of the counter 6 is stopped, at the same time, a clear signal for clearing the value of the counter 6 for next counting is outputted from the control part 4, the count value is reset to an initial value and communication is started. During the abnormal operation of the MODEM 3 and the control part 4, since the MODEM 3 does not respond to the ringer signal, the pulse signal is counted up by the counter 6 and when counting exceeds the threshold, at the same time, a reset signal is outputted from the counter 6 so that the control part 4 and the MODEM 3 are reset.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote monitoring system for remotely monitoring communication equipment by using a telephone line network, and more particularly to a remote monitoring system and remote monitoring for remote monitoring using an automatic reset method by a ringer. And a communication device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a remote device is remotely monitored by a host device transmitting a telephone signal to the communication device. FIG. 3 is an example of a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional remote monitoring system. This remote monitoring system has a configuration in which a host 11, which is a higher-level device that remotely monitors the entire system, and a communication device 12, which is monitored by the host 11, are connected by a telephone network. Also, the communication device 1
2 includes a modem 13 that reports its own status to the host 11, and a control unit 14 that controls the entire communication device 12 and collects status information.

In the remote monitoring system having such a configuration, the host 11 remotely monitors the communication device 12 using the modem 11 connected by a public line or a dedicated line. Therefore, the host 11 makes a call to the communication device 12 periodically or at an arbitrary time and receives the status monitoring information collected by the control unit 14 through the modem 13.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional remote monitoring system, the modem 13 and the control unit 14 may individually malfunction due to external factors such as inductive lightning and power supply noise. There is a case in which both of the control stations 14 simultaneously make an abnormal operation and cannot respond to the communication from the host 11, which hinders the remote control. Further, in order to avoid such an abnormal operation, a method of providing parallel redundancy between the modem 13 of the communication device 12 and the control unit 14 is conceivable.
The hardware configuration such as the number of parts is increased by the duplication of the control unit 14 and the control unit 14. Furthermore, a higher-order control unit or the like is required for switching control of the parallel system, resulting in an increase in cost and a complicated control system.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to avoid a communication abnormality with a simple structure and control without a dual structure of a modem and a control unit. An object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive remote monitoring system that can be used, as well as a communication device that is remotely monitored.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a remote monitoring system of the present invention comprises a host monitoring means for monitoring the entire system by communication information, and a remote monitoring by this host monitoring means. In a remote monitoring system configured by a communication device that performs communication, the communication device is a pulse converter that converts a ringer signal received from the host monitoring unit into a pulse signal, and a modem that communicates with the host monitoring unit. Means, pulse counting means for counting the pulse signals output from the pulsing means, and outputting a reset signal when the count number exceeds a preset threshold value, and the count number of the pulse signals output from the pulsing means is the above-mentioned. When the modem responds within the threshold range, it outputs a clear signal to clear the count value of the pulse counting means. Together, and a control means for controlling communication between the upper-level monitoring unit. And
In the remote monitoring system, the pulse counting means transmits a reset signal to the modem and the control means to stop the communication operation of the modem and the control means when the count number of the pulse signals exceeds the threshold value.

That is, the remote monitoring system of the present invention is
Inside the communication device, a modem for performing communication, a pulsing means for pulsing the ringer signal, the pulses output from the pulsing means are counted, and a reset signal is sent when the count number exceeds a preset threshold value. When the modem responds within the preset threshold range of the pulse counting means such as a counter for outputting and the number of pulses output by the pulsing means, a clear signal for clearing the counter value is output to communicate. And a control means for controlling. Then, when calling the communication device monitored by the telephone line from the host of the superordinate monitoring means, the ringer signal is pulsed by the pulse converting means and the pulse signals are counted by the counter. At this time, while the modem and the control means are operating normally, the modem responds and the ringer signal stops before counting up to a preset threshold value, and the count-up of the counter stops, and at the same time, the control means prepares for the next count. A clear signal for clearing the value of the counter is output, the count value of the counter is returned to the initial value, and communication is started.

On the other hand, since the modem does not respond to the ringer signal during the abnormal operation of the modem and the control means, the pulse signal output from the pulser means for the ringer signal is counted up by the counter and exceeds the preset threshold value. At the same time, a reset signal is output from the counter to reset the control means and the modem. by this,
Even if noise enters the modem or control means in the communication device, runaway due to abnormal operation can be avoided.

Further, according to the present invention, in a communication device which is remotely monitored by communication information from the host monitoring means and executes communication, the communication device executes a communication with the host monitoring means, and the host monitoring. Pulsing means for converting the ringer signal received from the means into a pulse signal, the pulse signal output from the pulsing means is counted, and a pulse counting means for outputting a reset signal when the count number exceeds a preset threshold value, If the modem responds within the threshold value range of the pulse signal output from the pulsing means, it outputs a clear signal for clearing the count value of the pulse counting means and communicates with the upper monitoring means. And a control means for controlling the communication. When the pulse signal count exceeds the threshold value, the pulse counting means transmits a reset signal to the modem and the control means to stop the communication operation between the modem and the control means.

That is, the communication device of the present invention comprises a modem for communicating with the upper monitoring means, a pulsing means for converting the Ringer signal received from the upper monitoring means into a pulse signal, and a pulse for counting the pulse signals. It is equipped with a counting means and a control means for controlling the entire communication device, and when the modem or the control means is in an abnormal state such as runaway, the pulse counting means such as a counter counts the pulse signal a preset number of times. Then, the control means and the modem are reset to stop the runaway in the event of an abnormality. Also, when the control means and the modem are operating normally, the modem responds with a count number smaller than the preset number of times to go off-hook, and the control means outputs a clear signal to the counter to clear the count value. I am trying to do it.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a remote monitoring system according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a remote monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This remote monitoring system is composed of a host monitoring unit 1 that monitors the communication device 2 based on communication information, and a communication device 2 such as a PBX that is remotely monitored by the host monitoring unit 1. Further, the communication device 2 includes a modem 3 for control and status reporting from the higher-level monitoring unit 1, a control unit 4 including a CPU for controlling the communication device 2, and pulse conversion for converting a ringer signal into a pulse signal. It is composed of a circuit 5 and a counter 6 that counts the pulses output from the pulsing circuit 5.

Next, the operation of the remote monitoring system configured as described above will be described by using the waveform of each part. FIG. 2 is a waveform of each part of the remote monitoring system shown in FIG. 1, where (a) is a normal waveform and (b) is an abnormal waveform. In these waveform diagrams, the horizontal axis is the same time series and the time axis is. However, in FIG. 2B, the ringer signal (A) waveform and the ringer pulse waveform (B) shown in FIG. 2A are omitted. Further, the reference numerals added to the signal names in the waveforms of the respective portions of FIG. 2 represent the signal waveforms of the portions of the reference numerals attached to the respective signal lines in the system configuration diagram shown in FIG.
In addition, the count signal (D, E, F), the clear signal (G),
In the waveform diagram of FIG. 2, the reset signal (H) has different numerical suffixes such as 1 after the symbol and 2 when it is abnormal, but in the system configuration diagram of FIG. Therefore, the numeral suffix is attached with the removed reference numeral.

First, the normal operation of FIG. 2A will be described. First, when the upper monitoring unit 1 makes a control to the control unit 4 of the communication device 2 and a telephone call is made from the upper monitoring unit 1 to the communication device 2, a ringer signal is sent from the higher monitoring unit 1 to the communication device 2. (A) is transmitted. Then, the pulsing circuit 5 detects this Ringer signal (A) and converts it into a Ringer pulse waveform (B). Then, the pulsing circuit 5 sends the pulse signal (C) pulsed based on the Ringer pulse waveform (B) to the counter 6.

Then, the counter 6 counts the pulse signal (C) in which the ringer signal is pulsed. At this time, the count value of the pulse signal (C) counted by the counter 6 is the High level of the count signals (D1, E1, F1).
This is performed by changing the combination of h (hereinafter, abbreviated as H) and Low (hereinafter, abbreviated as L). That is, the count 1 of the pulse signal (C) is equal to the count signal (D1, E1, F
When 1) is (H, L, L), similarly, the count 2 of pulse signals is as follows when the count signal is (L, H, L).
When the count 3 is (H, H, L), the count 4 is (L, H, L), the count 5 is (H, L, H), and the like, the ringer signal (A) is pulsed. When the pulse signal (C) is counted up to the count 5, the counter 6 notifies the modem 3 that the count value is 5.

In this way, when the modem 3 recognizes that the ringer has been counted five times, it goes off-hook to connect the line, and at the same time, it informs the control unit 4 of the off-hook and starts communication. When the control unit 4 recognizes that it has gone off-hook, it sends a clear signal (G1) to the counter 6. This makes the counter 6
Clears the count value of the pulse signal (C) and prepares for the next communication start.

In other words, during normal operation, the modem 3
Is a count signal (D1, based on the ringer signal (A).
When E1, F1) is counted M times (that is, the pulse signal (C) is counted M times), the line is connected off-hook, and at the same time, the control unit 4 is notified of the off-hook and communication is started. As a result, the control unit 4 to the counter 6
A clear signal (G1) is transmitted to the counter 6 to clear the count value of the counter 6. When the upper monitoring unit 1 makes a call again to the communication device 2, the same operation as described above is repeated.

Next, the operation at the time of abnormality will be described with reference to the waveform of FIG. First, as in the case of the normal waveform in FIG. 2A, when the upper monitoring unit 1 calls the control unit 4 of the communication device 2 for control, the upper monitoring unit 1 The ringer signal (A) is transmitted to the communication device 2, and the pulsing circuit 5 detects this ringer signal (A) and converts it into a ringer pulse waveform (B). Since the waveform of this portion is the same as the ringer signal (A) and the ringer pulse waveform (b) of FIG. 2 (a), the waveform diagram is omitted in FIG. 2 (b). And
The pulsing circuit 5 transmits a pulse signal (C) pulsed based on the Ringer pulse waveform (B) to the counter 6.

Then, the counter 6 counts the pulse signal (C) in which the ringer signal is pulsed. At this time, the counter 6 counts the count value by the change of the H and L levels of the count signal (D2, E3, F2). That is, as described above, if the pulse signal (C) is not off-hook when counting up to the count 5, the count signal (D
2, E3, F2) continues as it is, the pulse signal (C) counts 6 when the count signal (D2, E2, F2) is (L, H, H), and the count signal (H, The pulse signal (C) counts 7 when H, H). When the counter 6 counts the preset value 7 (that is, the count signals D2, E2, F
2 H, H, H)), the modem 3 and the controller 4
A reset signal (H2) is transmitted to the device for resetting.
As a result, even if noise or the like enters the modem 3 or the control unit 4 in the communication device 2, continuation of abnormal operation can be avoided.

That is, in the abnormal operation, when the pulse signal (C) is not off-hooked by the predetermined count number M (that is, 5 pulses in the example of FIG. 2A), the counter 6 outputs the count signal (D2, When E2, F2) is counted up to a preset value N (that is, 7 pulses in the example of FIG. 2B), a reset signal (H2) is transmitted to the modem 3 and the control unit 4 to reset it. Has become. As a result, the modem 3 and the control unit 4 in the communication device 2
Even if noise or the like intrudes into the communication device 2, it is possible to prevent the abnormal operation of the communication device 2 from continuing.

Here, if the relationship between the count value M of the pulse signal (C) during normal operation and the count value N of the pulse signal (C) when not off-hook during abnormal operation is set to M <N, During normal operation, the counter 6 is off-hook before resetting the modem 3 and the control unit 4,
The ringer stops, the count value of the pulse signal (C) is cleared, and the modem 3 enters the communication state. Meanwhile, modem 3
Alternatively, when the control unit 4 is in an abnormal state such as a runaway, when the counter 6 counts the pulse signal (C) obtained by pulsing the ringer signal (A) N times, the modem 3 and the control unit 4 are reset and noise is generated. Prevents runaway in the event of abnormalities such as mixing.

[0021]

As described above, according to the remote monitoring system of the present invention, the control unit or the modem malfunctions due to noise contamination without duplicating the control unit of the communication device and the modem to provide parallel redundancy. Even when it becomes a state,
The communication device can be automatically reset without runaway. Thus, even if noise or the like enters the modem or the control unit in the communication device, the abnormal operation can be avoided by simple control. Therefore, it is possible to construct a more economical remote monitoring system with a realizable means.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a waveform of each part of the remote monitoring system shown in FIG. 1, where (a) is a normal waveform and (b) is an abnormal waveform.

FIG. 3 is an example of a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional remote monitoring system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Upper controller 2, 12 Communication device 3, 13 modem 4, 14 Control unit 5 pulse circuit 6 counter 11 host

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yu Fukuya             2-11-1, Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Stock             Ceremony company NTT Docomo F term (reference) 5K048 CA08 DA02 DC07 EA01 EA23                       FA06 FC01 GB05 HA01 HA02                 5K101 KK13 LL01 MM05 TT05 UU05                       VV03

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A remote monitoring system comprising: a host monitoring means for monitoring the entire system based on communication information; and a communication device which is remotely monitored by the host monitoring means and executes communication, wherein the communication device comprises: A modem that performs communication with the upper monitoring unit, a pulse converting unit that converts the Ringer signal received from the upper monitoring unit into a pulse signal, and counts and counts the pulse signals output from the pulse converting unit. Pulse counting means for outputting a reset signal when the number exceeds a preset threshold value, and if the modem responds within the threshold value range of the pulse signal output by the pulsing means, the pulse counting means A clear signal for clearing the count value of the means is output, and communication with the upper monitoring means is performed. When the count number of the pulse signal exceeds the threshold value, the pulse counting means transmits a reset signal to the modem and the control means, and the control means for controlling the modem and the control means. A remote monitoring system characterized by stopping communication operation. 2. A communication device for remotely monitoring and executing communication according to communication information from a host monitoring means, wherein a modem for communicating with the host monitoring means and a ringer signal received from the host monitoring means are provided. Pulse converting means for converting to pulse signals, pulse counting means for counting the pulse signals output from the pulse converting means, and outputting a reset signal when the number of counts exceeds a preset threshold, and output from the pulse converting means When the modem responds within the range of the threshold value of the generated pulse signal, a clear signal for clearing the count value of the pulse counting means is output and communication with the upper monitoring means is performed. When the count number of the pulse signal exceeds the threshold value, the pulse counting means , Sends a reset signal to said control means and the modem, the communication apparatus characterized by stopping the communication operation of the modem and the control unit.