JP2007174135A - Communication system, communication device, and normality testing method used for them - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication system in which effective testing can be performed corresponding to its objects while time, cost, and man-hours for the testing can be drastically reduced. <P>SOLUTION: A testing data control unit 145 retrieves a storage where [testing data A] are present based on an indication transmitted from a control unit 15 and indicates a testing data switching unit 144 to select the testing data A from a testing data storage 141 when the testing data A are present in the testing data storage 141. The testing data switching unit 144 transmits the testing data A selected from the testing data storage 141 to a switching unit 12. When the testing data A are returned to a testing unit 14 through the intermediary of an optional external device or a transmission line, the test data control unit 145 compares the testing data A previously stored in a testing data storing unit 1451 when external data are written with the returned testing data A, and informs the control unit 15 of a comparison result. The control unit 15 informs (display) a monitoring device 8 and a data rewriting device 9 of a testing result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system, a communication apparatus, and a normality test method used for them, and more particularly to a communication system and a test of a communication apparatus constituting the communication system.

  Conventionally, when testing a communication system and a communication device constituting the communication system, as shown in FIG. 10, a test apparatus (measuring instrument) 109 for transmitting and receiving test data is prepared and set, and the communication system is configured. It is necessary to connect to one of the communication devices 101 to 107 and perform a test based on the test data, which consumes a great deal of time, money, and man-hours.

  In FIG. 10, the communication devices 101 to 104 and 107 are connected to the communication device 105, the communication devices 101, 104 and 105 and the monitor device 108 are connected to the communication device 106, and the test device 109 connected to the communication device 105 is used. The communication devices 105 and 107 are the test targets.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 11, there is a technique in which a test unit 114 having test data 1141 is mounted in advance on a certain communication apparatus 101 and a test is performed using the test data 1141. However, this method can only perform tests using predetermined test data (mounted test data 1141). Problems occurring in the communication system are various, and a test data of only one predetermined pattern cannot sufficiently function as a test.

  In FIG. 11, the communication apparatus 101 includes an interface unit 111 for connecting to another communication apparatus (not shown), a switching unit 112, a data processing unit 113, and a test unit 114 that holds test data 1141. The control unit 115 controls each of these units.

JP-A-62-222739

  In the above-described conventional communication system test method, it is necessary to prepare and set a measuring instrument for transmitting and receiving test data, to connect to the communication system again, and to perform the test, which requires a great amount of time, money, and man-hours. .

  Further, in the conventional communication system test method, when a test is performed using an external test apparatus, a plurality of communication apparatuses cannot be tested at a time. Furthermore, in a conventional communication system test method, there is a technique in which test data is preinstalled in a communication device and a test is performed using the test data. However, this method can only perform a test using predetermined test data. There are a wide variety of problems that occur in communication systems, and it is not possible to deal with these problems with only one pattern of test data loaded in advance.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can greatly reduce time / expenses and man-hours, and can perform an effective test according to the purpose, a communication apparatus, and those It is to provide a normality test method used for the above.

A communication system according to the present invention is a communication system comprising a plurality of communication devices,
A test unit provided in at least one of the plurality of communication devices and delivering test data to another device;
The test means includes storage means for storing a plurality of test data, and means for rewriting the test data stored in the storage means with data from the outside.

A communication device according to the present invention is a communication device that constitutes a communication system together with a plurality of other devices,
A test means for distributing test data to the other device;
The test means includes storage means for storing a plurality of test data, and means for rewriting the test data stored in the storage means with data from the outside.

The normality test method according to the present invention is a normality test method used in a communication system including a plurality of communication devices,
Providing at least one of the plurality of communication devices with test means for distributing test data to another communication device;
A storage means for storing a plurality of test data is provided in the test means,
The test data stored in the storage means can be rewritten to external data.

  That is, in the communication system normality test method of the present invention, in a communication system composed of a plurality of communication devices and transmission lines connecting them, the normality confirmation of each communication device and the transmission line is performed efficiently and appropriately. It is characterized by being implemented by a method.

  More specifically, in the normality test method for a communication system according to the present invention, a plurality of test data is stored in the test unit of the communication device, and the test data can be written (rewritten) from the outside.

  When performing a test, the test unit of the communication device transmits arbitrary test data to the switching unit according to an instruction from the control unit, and is transmitted to the outside of the communication device through the interface unit. The test data transmitted to the outside of the communication device returns to the test unit of the communication device via an arbitrary transmission path and the external device. The test unit compares the received test data with the transmitted test data, and notifies the control unit of the comparison result.

  It is also possible to pass test data through a plurality of communication devices and transmission lines in one transmission. In this case, it is possible to test a plurality of communication devices and transmission lines in one transmission of test data. It becomes possible.

  As described above, in the normality test method of the communication system of the present invention, preparation / setting of a test instrument and connection to the communication system are not required, so that time / cost and man-hours can be greatly reduced. Is possible.

  In the communication system normality test method of the present invention, a plurality of test data can be stored in the communication device in advance, and test data can be selected and used according to the purpose. Can be carried out.

  Furthermore, in the normality test method for a communication system according to the present invention, test data stored in the communication device can be rewritten from the outside, so that a more effective test can be performed.

  By adopting the configuration and operation as described above, the present invention can achieve a significant reduction in time, cost, and man-hours, and an effect that an effective test can be performed according to the purpose is obtained.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the communication device 1 includes an interface unit 11 for connecting to another communication device (not shown), a switching unit 12, a data processing unit 13, a test unit 14, and a control unit that controls these units. 15 and a data writing unit 16 connected to the data rewriting device 9 in order to write test data to the testing unit 14.

  The test unit 14 selects one of the test data storage units 141 to 143 that store the test data and the test data stored in the test data storage units 141 to 143 and outputs the selected test data to the switching unit 12. And a test data control unit 145 that controls the test data storage units 141 to 143 and the test data switching unit 144, and the test data control unit 145 includes a test data storage unit 1451.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the flow of communication data during normal operation of the communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a test during test operation of the communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the flow of data. The operation of the communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In this embodiment, communication devices 1 to 4 and 7 that perform communication data multiplexing and data processing, a communication device 5 that performs switching of communication data, a communication device 6 that integrates the communication devices 1 to 5 and 7, and these devices The data rewrite device 9 can be arbitrarily connected / disconnected to the communication device 1. These configurations are the same as the conventional communication system, and are not special configurations.

  During normal operation, communication data that enters the communication device 1 from the outside is input to the data processing unit 13 via the interface unit 11 and the switching unit 12, and after the data processing as necessary is executed, the switching unit is again performed. 12 and the interface unit 11 to be output to the outside of the communication device 1.

  When the test is performed, the control unit 15 issues a test start instruction to the test unit 14. The test unit 14 transmits arbitrary test data to the switching unit 12 according to an instruction from the control unit 15. In response to an instruction from the control unit 15, the switching unit 12 selects data from the test unit 14 instead of data from the data processing unit 13, and transmits the test data to the interface unit 11.

  The test data transmitted to the outside of the communication device 1 through the interface unit 11 returns to the test unit 14 of the communication device 1 via an arbitrary transmission path and the communication device. The test unit 14 compares the received test data with the transmitted test data, and notifies the control unit 15 of the comparison result. The control unit 15 determines the test OK / NG based on the comparison result of the test unit 14.

  Moreover, the test part 14 is provided with the test data storage parts 141-143 which are several data storage parts, the test data switching part 144, and the test data control part 145 as mentioned above. Further, the test data control unit 145 has a test data storage unit 1451, which stores what test data is stored in which storage unit when the test data is written from the outside.

  When the transmission instruction from the control unit 15 is “test data A”, the test data control unit 145 searches the storage unit having “test data A” based on the instruction. As a result, the test data control unit 145 recognizes that the test data A is stored in the test data storage unit 141, instructs the test data switching unit 144 to select test data from the test data storage unit 141, and The switching unit 144 transmits the test data from the test data storage unit 141 to the switching unit 12.

  The test data returned to the test unit 14 via any external device or transmission path is input to the test data control unit 145. The test data control unit 145 compares the test data A stored in advance in the test data storage unit 1451 with the returned test data when writing data from the outside, and notifies the control unit 15 of the comparison result. The control unit 15 notifies (displays) the test result to the monitor device 8 and the data rewriting device 9.

  The maintenance person / tester confirms the test result by notification (display) in the monitor device 8 or the data rewrite device 9. In the case of test NG, depending on the test result, the suspicious part is identified, the device is replaced, and the retest is performed as necessary.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the test based on the data stored in the test unit 14 is not sufficient, the test data of the test unit 14 can be rewritten from the outside to appropriate arbitrary test data. Data rewriting is performed by connecting a device (such as a personal computer) containing a data writing tool to the data writing unit (interface) 16. Furthermore, rewriting can be performed by downloading test data from the monitor device 8 to the test data storage unit 1451 of the communication device 1.

  FIG. 4 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the communication apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of rewriting test data according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the communication device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, the other communication devices 2 to 7 can be configured and operated in the same manner as the communication device 1.

  First, the control unit 15 sends a test start instruction (test data A selection instruction) to the test data control unit 145 as a test execution instruction based on the test data A during operation during transmission / reception of communication data (see a1 in FIG. 4). (Refer to a2 in FIG. 4). Upon receiving this test start instruction, the test data control unit 145 recognizes that the test data A is stored in the test data storage unit 141 with reference to the information in the test data storage unit 1451, and sends it to the test data switching unit 144. An instruction is issued to select the test data A from the test data storage unit 141 (see a3 in FIG. 4).

  Upon receiving this instruction, the test data switching unit 144 selects the test data A in the test data storage unit 141 (see a4 in FIG. 4) and issues a selection completion notification to the test data control unit 145 (see FIG. 4). a), and starts transmitting the test data A to the switching unit 12. Upon receiving the selection completion notification, the test data control unit 145 issues a test data A selection completion notification to the control unit 15 (see a6 in FIG. 4).

  Receiving this notification, the control unit 15 issues a test data selection instruction to the switching unit 12 so as to select data from the test unit 14 instead of data from the data processing unit 13 (see a7 in FIG. 4). . Upon receiving this instruction, the switching unit 12 issues a test data selection completion notification to the control unit 15 (see a8 in FIG. 4), and transmits the test data A from the test unit 14 to the interface unit 11. As a result, the test data A is output to the outside of the communication device 1.

  Next, rewriting of test data will be described with reference to FIG. In the conventional technique, the test data is only “test data A” of one pattern (for example, pattern A). However, in this embodiment, “test data B” composed of a different pattern B is used. , B have different data lengths, for example, “test data C” which is the maximum data length allowed in the system.

  In the present embodiment, an effective test is performed by selecting and using these test data A to C according to the test purpose, that is, by selecting the test data stored in the test data storage units 141 to 143. It is possible. The method for selecting and using these test data is as described above.

  If the test purpose cannot be achieved with these test data alone and the problem cannot be reproduced, arbitrary test data, for example, “test data C” is rewritten to “test data D” from the data rewriting device 9. Here, “test data D” is data having the shortest data length allowed in the system.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the test data stored in the communication device 1 is selectively used, so that it is not necessary to prepare and set a test measuring instrument and connect to the communication system. Costs and man-hours can be greatly reduced.

  In this embodiment, a plurality of test data is stored in the communication apparatus 1 in advance, and test data according to the purpose can be selected and used, so that an effective test according to the purpose is performed. be able to.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the test data stored in the communication device 1 alone cannot fulfill the test purpose and the problem cannot be reproduced, the test data can be rewritten from the outside, so that a more effective test is performed. be able to.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a flow of test data during a test operation of the communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a configuration of test data used in the communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

  In the first embodiment of the present invention described above, the main purpose is to test the communication device 7 as shown in FIG. 3. However, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to test the device 7 and the communication device 2). In FIG. 6, the test data sent from the communication device 1 is sent to the communication device 7 and the communication device 2, and the test results of the communication device 7 and the communication device 2 are sent to the communication device 1.

  Thereby, in this embodiment, not only can the test be made more efficient, but also a communication path close to the actual operation state (see FIG. 2) can be obtained, so that a more appropriate test can be performed. As shown in FIG. 7, this can be realized by having “address for communication device 7” and “address for communication device 2” in the test data.

  6 and 7, first, the data transmitted from the communication device 1 [see FIG. 7 (1)] is route-selected (switched) by the communication device 5 and input to the communication device 7. When the communication device 7 has successfully processed the data, data indicating “test OK” is added after the “address for the communication device 7”. Thereafter, the communication device 7 outputs the data to the communication device 5 [see FIG. 7 (2)].

  The data is switched again by the communication device 5 and input to the communication device 2. When the data can be processed normally in the communication device 2, as in the case of the test device 7, data indicating “test OK” is added after the “address for the communication device 2” [see FIG. 7 (3). ].

  The test data output from the communication device 2, switched again by the communication device 5, and returned to the communication device 1 [see FIG. 7 (3)] returns to the test data control unit 145 of the communication device 1, and the test data control unit Reference numeral 145 refers to the data to determine “communication device 7 = test OK” and “communication device 2 = test OK”.

  For example, when the communication device 7 cannot properly process the test data, the communication device 7 cannot add “data meaning test OK”. The test data control unit 145 of the communication device 1 that has received the data [see FIG. 7 (3 ′)] recognizes that the communication device 7 has not been able to perform normal data processing, and “communication device 7 = abnormal (failure)”. , “Test device 2 = normal” is determined.

  According to this determination result, in this embodiment, it is possible to carry out further investigations by conducting tests focused on the communication device 7 and selecting effective test patterns. In FIG. 6, only two devices, “communication device 7” and “communication device 2”, can be tested at a time, but in an actual communication system, data processing is performed by more communication devices. It is possible to put the number of “communication device addresses” in the test data accordingly.

  As described above, in this embodiment, since it is possible to perform tests on a plurality of communication devices 2 and 7 at a time, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment of the present invention described above, further tests are performed. Efficiency can be improved.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the flow of test data during the test operation of the communication system according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the operation of the communication system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. is there. FIG. 9A is a sequence chart showing an operation during a test operation of the communication system according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9B is a test result data of the communication device 7, the communication device 2, and the communication device 5. FIG. 9C is a diagram illustrating received data received by the communication device 1.

  In the test method according to the second embodiment of the present invention described above, a plurality of communication devices 2 and 7 can be tested at the same time, and data processing is actually performed in the “data processing unit” of each communication device 2 and 7. It is very effective in terms of meaning, but if there is a failure in the transmission path on the way, the test data does not return to the communication device 1, so that the communication device 1 recognizes up to which device the test is OK (normal). Can not do it.

  Further, when the number of test target devices increases, the “address of each communication device + data pattern” increases accordingly, so that the test data length becomes longer. In the third embodiment of the present invention, the above two problems are solved. The operation of the communication system according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  8 shows a case where there is a failure in the transmission path between the communication device 7 and the communication device 2 (between the communication device 5 and the communication device 2 in FIG. 8). The operation in this case will be described with reference to FIG.

  At the start-up of the communication system or at the start of the test, the monitor device 8 sends test data “communication device 1 → communication device 7”, “communication device 7 → communication device 2”, “ A path (path) connection that can pass through “communication device 2 → communication device 1” is performed, and the test data output by each communication device is transmitted to the subsequent communication device through the path (path). Keep it.

  At the start of the test, a “test start notification” is issued from the monitor device 8 to all the test target devices (communication device 1, communication device 7, communication device 2, communication device 5) [see b1 in FIG. 9 (a)]. . Receiving the “test start notification”, each of the communication devices 2 and 7 activates a “test data arrival waiting timer” owned by each device. The timer value of this “test data arrival waiting timer” can be arbitrarily set by an instruction from the monitor device 8.

  The communication device 1 that has received the “test start notification” transmits the test data to the communication device 7 [see b2 of FIG. 9A]. When the communication device 7 receives the test data within the “test data arrival waiting timer” time, it transmits the test data to the communication device 2 via the communication device 5 without performing data processing [FIG. ) B3, b4]. Here, “as is” indicates that “the relevant bit (bit 0) remains“ 0 ”without being rewritten” in the “test data format”.

  Subsequently, the communication device 2 waits for test data from the communication device 7 (communication device 5), but the test data does not reach within the time of the “test data arrival wait timer”. In this case, the communication device 2 transmits the test data format “rewritten corresponding bit (bit 1) to“ 1 ”” to the subsequent communication device 5 (see b5 and b6 in FIG. 9A).

  In each communication device, when the “test data arrival waiting timer” times out, as described above, the test data format with the corresponding bit rewritten to “1” [see FIG. 9C] is transmitted to the subsequent stage. To do.

  Subsequently, the communication device 5 receives the test data “device test B” from the communication device 2 within the time of the “test data arrival waiting timer”, and transmits the test data as it is to the communication device 1 [FIG. B7, b8].

  The communication device 1 receives the test data within the time of the “test data arrival wait timer”, and refers to each bit in the test data control unit 145. The communication apparatus 1 determines that there is a failure in “communication apparatus 7 output-transmission path-communication apparatus 2” by rewriting test data bit1 = 1, and notifies the monitor apparatus 8 of the result [ Refer to b9 in FIG. 9A]. In this way, in this embodiment, it is possible to carry out a test of the entire communication system including the transmission path and the communication device.

  As described above, in this embodiment, in addition to a plurality of communication devices, a test including a transmission line connecting them (see FIG. 9B) can be performed at a time. Can be made more efficient.

  In the present invention, the test is not only performed by a command input to the monitor device 8 by the operator / maintenance operator of the communication system, but also by automatically providing a cycle timer in the monitor device 8 in advance. It is also possible to carry out typical tests.

  In the present invention, the above test function [test unit 14 and data writing unit (interface) 16] is mounted not only on the specific communication device 1 but also on a plurality or all of the communication devices 1 to 7, thereby making it more meaningful. It is possible to conduct a simple test.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the communication apparatus by 1st Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the flow of the communication data at the time of normal operation of the communication system by 1st Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the flow of the test data at the time of test operation | movement of the communication system by 1st Example of this invention. It is a sequence chart which shows operation | movement of the communication apparatus 1 by 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of rewriting of the test data by 1st Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the flow of the test data at the time of the test operation | movement of the communication system by 2nd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the test data used with the communication system by the 2nd Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the flow of the test data at the time of test operation | movement of the communication system by the 3rd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the communication system by the 3rd Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the flow of the test data at the time of test operation | movement of the communication system by a prior art example. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the communication apparatus by a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

1-7 Communication device
8 Monitor device
9 Data rewriting device
11 Interface section
12 Switching section
13 Data processing section
14 Test Department
15 Control unit
16 Data writing part 141-143 Test data storage part
144 Test data switching part
145 Test data control unit 1451 Test data storage unit

Claims (12)

A communication system comprising a plurality of communication devices,
Test means provided in at least one of the plurality of communication devices and delivering test data to other devices;
The communication system, wherein the test means includes storage means for storing a plurality of test data, and means for rewriting the test data stored in the storage means with data from the outside.   2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the test means includes transmission means for selecting and transmitting arbitrary test data among a plurality of test data stored in the storage means.   The test means compares the test data transmitted from the transmission means with the test data returned via the other apparatus to determine whether there is an abnormality in the transmission path between the other apparatus and the other apparatus. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the communication system is detected.   4. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the test data is transmitted through a plurality of communication devices and a transmission path by one transmission from the transmission unit. A communication device constituting a communication system with a plurality of other devices,
Test means for distributing test data to the other device;
The communication device includes: a storage unit that stores a plurality of test data; and a unit that rewrites the test data stored in the storage unit with data from the outside.   6. The communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the test unit includes a transmission unit that selects and transmits arbitrary test data among a plurality of test data stored in the storage unit.   The test means compares the test data transmitted from the transmission means with the test data returned via the other apparatus to determine whether there is an abnormality in the transmission path between the other apparatus and the other apparatus. The communication device according to claim 6, wherein the communication device is detected.   The communication apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the test data is passed through a plurality of communication apparatuses and a transmission path by one transmission from the transmission means. A normality test method used in a communication system composed of a plurality of communication devices,
Providing at least one of the plurality of communication devices with test means for distributing test data to another communication device;
A storage means for storing a plurality of test data is provided in the test means,
A normality test method characterized in that the test data stored in the storage means can be rewritten to external data. The normality test method according to claim 9, wherein the test unit selects and transmits arbitrary test data among a plurality of test data stored in the storage unit.
Communications system.   The test means compares the test data selected and transmitted with the test data returned via the other communication device, and determines the transmission path between the other communication device and the other communication device. The normality test method according to claim 10, wherein presence or absence of abnormality is detected.   The normality test method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the test data is passed through a plurality of communication devices and a transmission path by one transmission from the test means.

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