JP2003283501A - Internet connecting equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stabilize an operation of a system by automatically detecting the hang-up of a cable modem 16 and resetting by a reset control part 20. <P>SOLUTION: The cable modem 16, a router 17 and a radio master unit 18 for an Internet connection are connected to a tap-off 15. The reset control part 20 is connected to the connecting point of the cable modem 16 and the router 17. The reset control part 20 has a function for resetting when the cable modem 16 is hung up or the like. The radio master unit 18 performs Internet connection services to a number of personal computers in a multiple dwelling house or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used for an internet connection service using a CATV system.
With the function to deal with the hang-up of the cable modem,
Internet connection device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The demand for information provision and mail transmission / reception services using the Internet has rapidly increased, and broadband Internet connection services with high communication speed have begun to spread in order to maximize the use of various contents. The cable television network provides broadband internet connection services using existing coaxial cable and optical fiber cable for television rebroadcast. The television rebroadcast signal is drawn into the user's house from the cable television station via the coaxial cable, the branch amplifier, and the tap-off. The television receiver is tap-off connected via a set pop box. Also, the personal computer is connected to the tap-off via a cable modem.

[0003]

By the way, the above conventional techniques have the following problems to be solved. The cable modem is connected to the server side by a coaxial cable, is connected to the personal computer side by a LAN (local area network) cable such as 10BASE-T, and has a predetermined interface circuit for bidirectional communication built therein. This cable modem is designed to be used with the power always on.
However, the operation may become unstable due to the intrusion of extraneous noise or the like, and the operation may hang up, making it impossible to connect the personal computer to the Internet. In such a case, the power of the cable modem is once turned off, then turned on again, and reset to recover.

However, even if the connection to the Internet is stopped, there is a problem that the user infers that there is a cause other than the cable modem, and it takes time to search for the cause. Further, there is a problem that a user who is unfamiliar with the operation of the cable modem cannot easily reset.

Also, a method of connecting a wireless LAN master unit to a cable modem via a router and wirelessly connecting to a personal computer is becoming widespread. According to this method, it is possible to collectively provide the Internet connection service to a plurality of personal computers equipped with a wireless LAN slave device. A wireless LAN is an optimal method for providing a broadband Internet connection service by a cable television company in a housing complex where wiring of a new LAN cable is not easy. However, since the cable modem is installed in a place out of reach of the user, such as a basement of an apartment house, there is a problem that the user cannot easily reset it.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an internet connection device capable of automatically resetting a cable modem. It is another object of the present invention to provide an internet connection device capable of remotely resetting a cable modem installed in a place that is out of reach.

[0007]

The present invention adopts the following constitution in order to solve the above points. <Structure 1> An Internet connection characterized by comprising a cable modem connected to a server via a cable to connect a terminal to the server, and a reset control unit for remotely performing a reset process on the cable modem. apparatus.

<Structure 2> A cable modem for connecting a terminal to the server by connecting to a server via a cable, a router, and a wireless LAN (local area network) master unit are sequentially connected, and the cable modem is connected. To
An internet connection device comprising a reset control unit for starting a reset process of the cable modem by remote control.

<Structure 3> Cable modem, router,
A wireless LAN (local area network) card is sequentially connected, and a timer for outputting a predetermined reset signal to the cable modem at a certain time, and a reset activated by the timer to start the reset process of the cable modem An internet connection device comprising a control unit.

<Structure 4> A cable modem, a router,
A wireless LAN base unit is sequentially connected, and the cable modem includes an operation monitoring unit that monitors the operating state of the cable modem, and a reset control unit that starts a reset process of the cable modem when a hang-up of the cable modem is detected. An internet connection device comprising:

<Structure 5> In the Internet connection device according to Structure 4, the operation monitoring unit monitors the level of the link pulse flowing through the LAN cable, and when the link pulse is not detected for a predetermined time or longer, the operation of the cable modem An internet connection device characterized by being judged as a hang-up.

<Structure 6> In the Internet connection device according to Structure 4, the operation monitoring unit monitors the level of the data signal flowing through the LAN cable, and when the data signal does not reach the above level for a certain period of time, An internet connection device characterized by determining that the cable modem has hung up.

<Structure 7> Cable modem, router,
A wireless LAN base unit is sequentially connected, and the cable modem monitors the operation state of the operation state of the cable modem and the level of the data signal flowing through the LAN cable, and the data signal is kept at the level for a certain time or longer. Is not reached,
An internet connection device comprising: a reset control unit for starting a reset process of the cable modem.

<Structure 8> In the Internet connection device according to Structure 5 or 6, the operation monitoring unit detects a hang-up of the cable modem when the monitored signal does not reach the above level for a predetermined time or longer. The internet connection device is characterized in that the reset control unit is operated, and the operation of the reset control unit is blocked until a predetermined time has elapsed after the reset operation.

<Structure 9> In the Internet connection device according to Structure 1, the head end side monitors the state of the cable modem to detect a hang-up of the cable modem, and the head end side is operated by remote control. An internet connection device comprising a reset remote control unit for starting a reset process of the cable modem in the reset control unit of the cable modem.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic structural explanatory view of a system using an internet connection device of the present invention.
The network 1 is the Internet. This network 1 has an Internet service provider (IS
The server 10 of P) is connected. This provider J
The contracted user can connect to the Internet through the server 10 and access the other terminal 11 and other sites.

A head end 12 is connected to the server 10. It is a headend for television broadcast rebroadcast connected to the receiving antenna of a cable television service company. A coaxial cable is connected to the head end 12. The relay amplifier 13 is for amplifying a television signal flowing through the coaxial cable 14 and a packet signal for the Internet. A tap-off 15 is connected to the branch terminal 5 of the relay amplifier 13. A television receiver is connected to the tap-off 15. In this tap-off 15, a cable modem 16 for connecting to the Internet, a router 17, and a wireless base unit 1
8 are connected in order.

A reset control unit 20 which receives an output signal of the cable modem 16 and performs a predetermined operation is connected to a connection point between the cable modem 16 and the router 17. The reset control unit 20 uses the cable modem 16
It has a function to reset when is hung up. An antenna 19 is connected to the wireless master device 18.
The antenna 19 transmits / receives packet signals for the Internet to / from a wireless slave device (not shown).

FIG. 2 is a more specific block diagram of the internet connection device of the present invention. All the blocks shown in this figure are housed in, for example, one case, suspended from a utility pole or fixed to an appropriate wall surface as described later. The output of the tap-off 15 is separated by a separation circuit 27 into a television signal and an Internet packet signal. The television signal is supplied to the television receiver 30. The internet packet signal is supplied to the cable modem 16. Note that the Internet packet signal is a signal that is transmitted and received bidirectionally, but in the following description, only the downstream flow will be described. The upstream direction is exactly the same, so the description is omitted.

The cable modem 16 receives the packet signal for the Internet from the tap-off 15 through the coaxial cable and transmits the signal to the router 17 through the local area network cable. Router 17
A wireless master device 18 is connected to the. An antenna 19 is connected to the wireless master device 18. As a result, the Internet connection service is provided to the plurality of personal computers 40 by the wireless LAN using the single cable modem 16.

The reset control section 20 comprises a link pulse detection circuit 22, a timer 23, a power supply control circuit 25, and a power supply switch 26.

A distributor 21 is inserted at the connection point between the cable modem 16 and the router 17, distributes the output signal of the cable modem 16 and inputs it to the link pulse detection circuit 22 of the reset controller 20. Link pulse detection circuit 2
Reference numeral 2 is a link pulse that is always output in a constant cycle when the cable modem 16 is operating normally. The output cycle is generally about 8 to 24 msec, and the packet signal for the Internet is inserted between the link pulses.

The timer 23 is a link pulse detection circuit 22.
Accept the output signal of. When the operation of the cable modem 16 becomes unstable or hangs up, the link pulse cannot be detected. When the link pulse is no longer detected for a certain period of time, the timer 23 operates the power control circuit 25 to turn off the power switch 26. That is, the power supplied to the cable modem 16 is cut off once,
The reset process of the cable modem 16 is executed.

The link pulse detection circuit 22 and the timer 23 can be modified as shown by the one-dot chain line at the bottom of the figure. This is to monitor the packet signal for the Internet, that is, the presence / absence of actually transmitted / received data through the distributor 21, and to check the cable modem 16
It is a circuit configured to detect a hang-up.

In this example, the data detection circuit 33 receives the output signal of the distributor 21 and detects the presence or absence of data. When data is no longer detected, the first timer 34 operates the power supply control circuit 25 to turn off the power supply switch 26, and the reset process of the cable modem 16 is executed.
Even if the cable modem 16 restores its operation, the user does not always immediately resume using the Internet. Also, the internet may be interrupted at midnight. Also at this time, when no data is detected, the first timer 34 starts the reset process of the cable modem 16. The second timer 35 is provided in order to prevent the reset process from being unnecessarily repeated in the monitoring time period of the first timer.

The second timer 35 operates so as to block the operation of the first timer 34 for a certain period of time after the reset process is once executed. This time is set to a time T2 that is sufficiently longer than the monitoring time T1 of the first timer 34. Specifically, the monitoring time T1 is 10 minutes, and the monitoring time T2 is 3
About 0 minutes to 1 hour is preferable.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the reset controller 20. The circuit of this figure shows an example of one using the data detection circuit 33 of FIG. The coupling transformer 51, the judgment circuit 52, and the one-shot multivibrator 53 constitute a data detection circuit 33. Coupling transformer 51
Is a circuit that receives the output of the cable modem 16 through the distributor 21. The determination circuit 52 is composed of an operational amplifier that determines whether the input signal level exceeds a threshold value and supplies the output to the one-shot multivibrator 53. That is, when data is detected, a high level signal is output for one clock. The one-shot multi-vibrator 53, when the high-level signal is input from the determination circuit 52, holds the state and maintains the output signal level at the high level, and when the low-level signal is input from the determination circuit 52, at the next timing. It is a circuit that switches the output signal level to a low level.

The first timer 34 is a circuit which counts a clock signal output from a clock circuit (not shown), counts up with a count value corresponding to the monitoring time T1, and outputs a trigger for activating the power supply control circuit 25. is there.
The first timer 34 uses the one-shot multivibrator 5
When the output signal of 3 becomes low level, counting starts,
When it goes to high level, it operates to clear the count value to zero. Therefore, while the cable modem 16 is operating normally and data is being detected, the first timer 34
Does not count up. On the other hand, when the data is no longer detected and the output of the one-shot multivibrator 53 remains at the low level for a long time, the first timer 34 counts up, the power control circuit 25 is activated, and the power switch 26 is operated. , Power supply 50 to cable modem 1
The power supplied to 6 is cut off.

The second timer 35 has exactly the same function as the first timer 34. However, it counts up at the monitoring time T2 which is sufficiently longer than the monitoring time T1. Further, the second timer 35 starts counting by the output of the first timer 34. When the counting is started, the output of the one-shot multivibrator 53 is forcibly held at the high level. That is, after the first timer 34 starts the power supply control circuit 25 and the reset process is executed, during the time T2,
Prevents the first timer 34 to start counting again, even if no data is detected. This makes the first
The timer 34 is prevented from unnecessarily repeating the reset operation in a short cycle. It should be noted that this circuit is merely an example, and any circuit configuration having a similar function may be used.

FIG. 4 is a time chart of main signals in the circuit of FIG. As shown in (a) of the figure, the link pulse R is received through the coupling transformer 51 at a cycle of a constant time T. When the data is detected, the one-shot multi-vibrator 58 outputs the signal DD. Signal D
When D is input to the first timer 34, the first timer 34 is reset and its output S1 becomes low level. Also,
When the signal DD is not input and the time T1 elapses, the first timer 34 counts up and its output S1 becomes high level. As a result, the power control circuit 25 outputs the reset control signal S2 to the power switch 26.
When the reset control signal is output, the one-shot multivibrator 5 is driven by this signal S2 as shown in FIG.
The output S3 of 3 is forcibly returned to the low level. At the same time, the second timer 35 is activated and the output S3 of the one-shot multivibrator 53 is held at a low level until the time T2 elapses, so that the first timer 34 does not count up again.

The method of detecting the hang-up of the cable modem 16 when the link pulse R is not detected for a certain period of time ensures the hang-up of the cable modem 16 even if the user does not use the Internet for a long time. Can be detected. However, it cannot be applied to a cable modem that does not generate the link pulse R. on the other hand,
The method of detecting the hang-up of the cable modem 16 when the data is not detected for a certain period of time automatically resets the cable modem 16 when the cable modem 16 is not used for a long time. The effect is that the system can be refreshed at a timing that does not interfere with communication.

FIG. 5A is an external view of a specific example of the Internet connection device of the present invention, and FIG. 5B is an external view of a television receiver portion. As shown in the figure, the Internet connection device 60 is one in which the circuit blocks described with reference to FIG. 2 are collectively housed in a metal case. For example, the internet connection device 60 is hung on a messenger wire 67 and imaginarily supported on an electric pole or the like. It Of course, it may be fixed to the outer wall of a building or the like. A connection terminal for the coaxial cable 68 is provided on the side surface of the Internet connection device 60. In addition, a connection terminal for the pull-in coaxial cable 62 and the antenna cable 64 is provided on the bottom surface. The pull-in coaxial cable 62 is connected to the set-up box 31 shown in FIG.
A television broadcast signal is supplied to the television receiver 30.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a usage state of the Internet connection device of the present invention. In each room of the housing complex 70, a television receiver 30 to which the set pop box 31 shown in FIG. 5 is connected and a personal computer 40 to which a wireless slave device 41 is connected are installed. Telephone pole 6
No. 1 is built on a road or the like in the immediate vicinity of the housing complex 70. Internet connection device 60 for telephone pole 61
Is fixed. A pull-in coaxial cable 62 is pulled out from the Internet connection device 60 and connected to a cable TV pull-in terminal 63. Cable tv
The lead-in terminal 63 is housed in the basement of the apartment house 70 or the like, and supplies a television signal to the set-up box 31 in each room of the apartment house 70. In this way, the television broadcast is displayed on the television receiver 30.

On the other hand, the antenna cable 64 pulled out from the internet connection device 60 is connected to the antenna 65. In this way, the antenna 65 and the wireless slave device 41 communicate with each other wirelessly at a predetermined frequency to form a local area network. As a result, users on each floor of the housing complex 70 can operate the personal computers 40 to connect to the Internet.

As described above, the cable modem 16
Is reset by the reset control unit 20, but in the above example, the hang-up of the cable modem 16 is automatically detected inside the Internet connection device 60, and the ricket process is performed. However, some headends 12 have a function of monitoring the operations of the relay amplifier 13 and the like that form the CATV system. By utilizing this, the cable modem 16 can be added as a monitoring target.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of monitoring the cable modem 16 on the side of the head end 12 and performing reset processing. In the figure, the head end 12 is provided with a monitoring unit 81 that monitors the operation of the cable modem 16 through a coaxial cable. When the monitoring unit 81 detects a hang-up of the cable modem 16, the cable modem 16 is reset by remote control.
A reset remote control unit 82 is provided. When the hang-up of the cable modem 16 is detected, the reset remote control unit 82 transmits a signal for activating the reset control unit 20 through the coaxial cable. After that, in the same way as described above, the cable modem 16
Is reset.

The reset remote control section 82 may be operated, for example, by an administrator who manages the headend 12. Since the cable modem 16 can be reset by remote control, the same effect as above can be obtained. If the cable modem 16 can be reset from the server side, the cable modem can be restored without the user being aware. For example, when the settings of various parameters are changed on the server side, the reset process can be forcibly performed without any user operation. Further, the reset remote control unit 82 can be provided on the terminal side. It is preferable that the user can perform the reset process with one click by using the application displayed on the terminal.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The cable modem 16 may be of any existing type.
The terminal on the user side may be any one such as a personal computer or a mobile terminal. It may be a digital television having an internet connection function. The reset processing method is arbitrary. The power may be turned on or off, or some circuits may be initialized. Further, if a circuit for notifying the outside when a hang-up is provided is provided on the cable modem side, the notification can be received from the outside and the cable modem can be easily reset by remote control. Further, the wireless master device does not necessarily have to be arranged on the telephone pole together with the cable modem. For example, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 6, the wireless master device 18 may be housed in the basement of an apartment house, and the antenna 65 may be placed in a place with good radio wave propagation conditions.

Cable modem, router, wireless LAN
The parent device may be integrated or may have a completely different function as long as it has an equivalent function. Further, if a timer is provided for controlling the cable modem so that it is reset once a day at midnight, the system can be stabilized by refreshing. Further, the constant connection method has a drawback that protection against computer viruses and hackers is weakened, but it has an effect that the connection environment can be switched by periodically forcibly disconnecting the terminal from the network. The structure of the timer is arbitrary, and the time setting is also arbitrary. It may operate by measuring time or by monitoring time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration explanatory diagram of a system using an Internet connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a more specific block diagram of the Internet connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a reset controller 20.

FIG. 4 is a time chart of main signals in the circuit of FIG.

5A is an external view of a specific example of the Internet connection device of the present invention, and FIG. 5B is an external view of a television receiver portion.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a usage state of the Internet connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example in which a cable modem 16 is monitored on the head end 12 side and a reset process is performed.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 network 11 terminal devices 10 servers 12 headend 13 Relay amplifier 15 tap off 16 cable modem 17 Router 18 Wireless base unit 19 antennas 20 Reset controller

Continued front page    F term (reference) 5K033 AA06 BA15 DA01 DB16 EA05                       EB03 EB08 EC01                 5K034 AA17 DD01 EE10 FF05 KK02                       TT01

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An Internet comprising: a cable modem connected to a server via a cable to connect a terminal to the server; and a reset control unit for remotely resetting the cable modem. Connection device. 2. A cable modem for connecting a terminal to the server by being connected to a server via a cable, a router, and a wireless LAN (local area network) master unit are sequentially connected, and the cable modem includes: An internet connection device comprising a reset control unit for starting a reset process of the cable modem by remote control. 3. A cable modem, a router, and a wireless LA
An N (local area network) card is sequentially connected, a timer for outputting a predetermined reset signal to the cable modem at a certain time, and a reset control for starting the reset processing of the cable modem by the timer. An internet connection device characterized by comprising: 4. A cable modem, a router, and a wireless LA
The N base unit is sequentially connected, and the cable modem has an operation monitoring unit for monitoring the operation state thereof and a reset control unit for starting a reset process of the cable modem when a hang-up of the cable modem is detected. An internet connection device characterized by being provided. 5. The Internet connection device according to claim 4, wherein the operation monitoring unit monitors the level of the link pulse flowing through the LAN cable, and when the link pulse is not detected for a certain period of time, the cable modem hangs up. An internet connection device characterized by being judged to be up. 6. The internet connection device according to claim 4, wherein the operation monitoring unit monitors the level of the data signal flowing through the LAN cable, and when the data signal does not reach the level for a certain period of time or more, the cable is used. An internet connection device characterized by determining that the modem is hung up. 7. A cable modem, a router, and a wireless LA
The N master unit is sequentially connected, and the cable modem monitors the operation state of the operation state of the cable modem and the level of the data signal flowing through the LAN cable, and the data signal is kept at the level for a certain period of time or longer. An internet connection device comprising: a reset control unit for starting a reset process of the cable modem when the connection is not reached. 8. The internet connection device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the operation monitoring unit detects a hang-up of the cable modem when the monitored signal does not reach the level for a certain period of time or more. An internet connection device, characterized in that the reset control unit is operated and the operation of the reset control unit is blocked until a predetermined time elapses after the reset operation. 9. The Internet connection device according to claim 1, wherein the headend side monitors the state of the cable modem to detect a hang-up of the cable modem, and the headend side is operated by remote control. An internet connection device comprising a reset remote control unit for starting a reset process of the cable modem in the reset control unit of the cable modem.