JP2686197B2 - Information processing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that communicates with an information processing apparatus via a communication line to register, search, or read various information such as image information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when an information processing device is used as a remote terminal of a center device via a communication line, an operator requests a remote connection at the start of the information processing device and a remote connection termination processing procedure at the end thereof. Are doing. In such an information processing device, when the operator leaves the seat while the remote connection is being made, or when the operator is performing local processing not through the communication line, the communication line or the center side Will waste resources.

Therefore, it is conceivable to disconnect the connection between the remote terminals from the center device side. For this method, for example, the operator of the remote side confirms whether or not the disconnection can be made by a telephone line different from the line for remote connection. For example, a method of disconnecting the power or ignoring the remote connection and forcibly turning off the power is used. However, the method of confirming whether the termination is possible by using another telephone line is troublesome, and the method of forcibly turning off the power has a risk of data destruction.

Therefore, as a method of terminating the connection from the center side device, for example, the center side device is provided with a timer,
When there is no data access from the remote terminal within a certain period of time, the program data being executed on the center side device is saved to the data storage unit and terminated normally, after which remote connection termination processing is performed There has been proposed a technique for cutting a wire (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-53309).

FIG. 2 shows an operation flow of remote control and timer control at the time of remote connection, retrieval, reading, and disconnection in the above conventional example. In FIG. 2, the center side device is
When the remote-side device gives an instruction to start remote access to an information file or the like (step 201), a remote terminal is connected and a timer for counting a predetermined time is started (step 202). This timer is configured to be reset (steps 204 and 206) each time a remote command is received from the remote terminal (steps 203 and 205), and monitors the time when there is no access between the center and the remote terminal.

Then, when a timeout of the timer is detected before the remote disconnection instruction, disconnection termination processing from the center side is activated.

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, when the access from the remote terminal is not detected for a certain period of time, the line is a connection end process from the center side regardless of the state of the process on the remote terminal side. You will be disconnected. This is because, for example, when performing the next search while locally processing the information retrieved from the center device on the remote terminal side, it is disconnected at a timing when it is not necessary to disconnect depending on the time required for local processing on the remote terminal side. The problem of

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem. The remote terminal side monitors the access state for an arbitrary time, and after the lapse of the arbitrary time, confirms with the operator to confirm the line. The present invention provides an information processing apparatus that can perform line disconnection control during remote processing and the like and can control line connection according to local processing time at a remote terminal by performing the disconnection process.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus having a communication means for communicating with an external information processing apparatus via a communication line, wherein the communication with the external information processing apparatus is performed via the communication means. Remote monitoring means for monitoring whether or not the content is remote processing, clocking means for counting a first predetermined time and resetting each time remote processing is detected by the remote monitoring means, and timing by the clocking means Disconnection confirmation means for confirming whether or not the remote disconnection in the communication means is possible in the second predetermined time when the time reaches the first predetermined time, and within the second predetermined time by the disconnectability confirmation means. A connection control means is provided for terminating and disconnecting the remote connection in the communication means when it is not confirmed whether or not remote disconnection is possible.

[0010]

The remote monitoring means monitors whether the content of communication with the external information processing device via the communication means is remote processing,
Therefore, every time remote processing is confirmed,
Resets the time measurement of the predetermined time. Then, when the time measured by the time measuring means reaches the first predetermined time, the disconnectability confirmation means confirms whether the remote disconnection is possible by the communication means at the second predetermined time, and confirms whether the remote disconnection is possible or not. When none of them is confirmed, the communication means terminates and disconnects the remote connection.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An information file device will be described as an example of an information processing device of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an information file device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, T is an information file device, which is connected to the telephone line K.

The information file device T has a system control circuit 101 for controlling the whole, a remote control circuit 102 as a remote monitoring means for monitoring the contents of communication, and a disconnection propriety for managing the end of remote processing and the possibility of operator's remote end. Remote end control circuit 103 as confirmation means
A timer control circuit 104 as a time measuring means for managing timeout, a timer 105 for measuring time, a communication control circuit 106 as a connection controlling means for controlling communication with an external device, and encoding and decoding of image information. A codec 107 for performing the following, and an image memory 108 for temporarily storing image information before encoding and image information after encoding,
Keyboard 1 for entering keywords and various control instructions
09, and an optical disk 110 as a storage medium for image information
A hard disk 111 for recording a storage address of image information on an optical disk and a keyword in association with each other; and a display control circuit 1 for controlling display of image information and various control screens.
12 and a CR that performs display under the control of the display control unit 112
T113, a scanner 114 for inputting image information, and a printer 115 for printing out image information.

A case where such an apparatus is connected to an information file apparatus having the same structure via the communication line K will be described. First, the input, display, and reading of image information on the self-side information file device will be described. In FIG. 1, the system control circuit 101 includes a keyboard 109.
Image input instructions from the operator via the scanner 1
Image information is input from 14 and stored in the image memory 108,
At the same time, the input image information is displayed on the CRT 113 through the display control circuit 112.

On the other hand, the image information stored in the image memory 108 is coded by the codec 107 and recorded on the optical disk 110. Here, the recording address of the image information on the optical disk 110 is associated with a keyword or the like input from the operator to the keyboard 109, and recorded and managed on the hard disk 111. Therefore, when reading the image information recorded on the optical disc, the system control circuit 101 detects a keyword input from the keyboard 109 and searches the hard disk 111 for a recording address that matches the keyword. Then, the system control circuit 101 creates list information including the recording address of the optical disk 110, and displays the list information on the CRT 113 via the display control circuit 112.

The operator uses the keyboard 109 to specify the image information to be obtained from the list of list information displayed on the CRT 113. The system control circuit 101 designates the encoded image information based on the recording address of the designated image information as designated by the operator.
The data is read from the memory 10, decoded in the codec 107, stored in the image memory 108, and displayed on the CRT 113 through the display control circuit 112.

Further, when printing this image information, the system control circuit 101 causes the printer 11 to copy the image information in the image memory 108 according to an instruction from the keyboard 109.
Pass to 5 and print. Next, a case where the above information file device performs remote access to the information file device on the center side via a telephone line or the like will be described with reference to FIG.

When remotely registering image information from the self-side information file device to the center-side information file device, the system control circuit 101 obtains the image information from the scanner 114 according to the operator's instruction from the keyboard 109, and the image is obtained. The data is stored in the memory 108 and displayed on the CRT 113 via the display control circuit 112. At this time, the image information stored in the image memory 108 is stored in the codec 1
It is coded according to 07.

Coded image information and keyboard 109
The keyword input from the remote control circuit 10
2, output to the communication line K through the communication control circuit 106,
It goes to the system control circuit via the communication control circuit and remote control circuit in the center side information file device. Then, in the center-side information file device, the system control circuit records the encoded image information on the optical disc and records the recording address on the hard disk in association with the keyword.

Similarly, in the case of performing remote search / read, the system control circuit 101 issues a keyword search instruction input from the operator via the keyboard 109 together with the keyword to the remote control circuit 1.
02, the communication control circuit 106, and the communication line K to the information file device at the center. Then, the information file device on the center side transmits the received instruction and keyword to the system control circuit via the communication control circuit and the remote control circuit.

The system control circuit detects from the hard disk what matches this keyword, and creates list information including the recording address of the optical disk. This result is sent to the communication line K via the remote control circuit and the communication control circuit, and is transmitted to the system control circuit 101 via the communication control circuit 106 and the remote control circuit 102 of the self-side information file device. The system control circuit 101 controls the display control circuit 112 to control the received result by the CR.
Display on T113.

The operator designates the image information to be obtained from the list of list information displayed on the CRT 113 with the keyboard 109. The identification information of the designated image is notified to the information file device on the center side via the system control circuit 101, the remote control circuit 102, the communication control circuit 106, and the communication line K.

In the information file device on the center side, the image identification information to be notified is transmitted to the system control circuit via the communication control circuit and the remote control circuit. The system control circuit takes out the encoded image information from the optical disc based on the designated recording address and passes it to the remote control circuit. Then, the encoded image information is passed to the self-side information file device via the remote control circuit, the communication control circuit, and the communication line K.

This information is sent to the communication control circuit 106, the remote control circuit 102, and the system control circuit 101 of the information file apparatus on its own side, decoded by the codec 107 and stored in the image memory 108, and at the same time, the display control circuit. 11
2 is displayed on the CRT 113. When remote registration / search / read operations are performed, the remote control circuit 1
02, the command data of the system control circuit 101 and the response data from the communication control circuit 106 go in and out. In such a case, in the present invention, the remote control circuit 102 instructs the timer control circuit 104 to reset the timer 105.

Next, the operation in the case where the remote processing is not performed and the remote processing is not performed will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an operation flow when the remote side terminal terminates the remote connection. When the system control circuit 101 detects a remote connection start instruction from the operator, the system control circuit 101 gives the instruction to the communication control circuit 106 via the remote control circuit 102 (step 301), and simultaneously causes the timer control circuit 104 to count the time of the timer 105. It is started (step 304).

This timer is controlled by the remote control circuit 102 every time remote processing is performed (step 302).
The timer control circuit 104 is reset (step 305). However, if no remote processing is performed and no remote disconnection is performed, the timer 105 times out after a certain period of time, and the timer control circuit 10
4 notifies the remote end control circuit 103 of the timeout (step 306).

The remote end control circuit 103 receives the time-out and starts the end confirmation procedure (step 312). The remote end control circuit 103 instructs the display control circuit 112 via the system control circuit 101 to display an inquiry about whether or not the operator is allowed to end C
At the same time as the RT113 (step 313), the timer control circuit 104 is instructed to start counting the timer 105 (step 307). This timer responds to an inquiry from the operator regarding whether or not to end (step 31
8) is a timer for monitoring, and the presence / absence of a key input from the keyboard 109 is repeated until the time is out (steps 308-311). And the keyboard 10
When the key input from 9 is confirmed, the timer control circuit 104 terminates the timer 105 (step 31
1) If the time is not confirmed and the time is out, the remote end control circuit 103 is instructed to end the remote operation (step 314).

The remote end control circuit 103 determines whether or not the remote end can be performed by a keyboard input (step 317) or a timer timeout (step 309) instruction (step 314). If the termination is possible, the remote disconnection procedure (step 315) is performed, and the remote termination control circuit 103 is instructed to disconnect (step 30).
3). If it is not completed, the timer reset procedure (step 31
8) is performed, and the timer control circuit 104 is instructed to start the timer again to confirm the remote command (step 304). Then, the remote end control circuit 103 ends (step 316).

It should be noted that a center file is stored in which identification information of a device that performs center processing and a plurality of timeout times that differ depending on the partner device to be connected, the connection method, or the operator are created. By obtaining the time-out time in the remote control circuit and notifying the timer control circuit 104, the disconnection can be made within the specified time-out time.

This makes it possible to set an appropriate time-out time according to the usage status of the partner device, the connection line, and the local processing time by the operator. When connecting to an information processing apparatus that monitors the passage of a predetermined time and forcibly disconnects the line, such as the center side information processing apparatus in the related art, the dummy signal is sent to the remote control circuit 102 and the like. Therefore, the problem can be solved by continuously sending at least at intervals shorter than the predetermined time in the center-side information processing device.

Further, in the above embodiments, the information file device was described as an example of the information processing device, but the information processing device is not limited to this. For example, a remote side and a center side such as a search terminal of a technical document database. Any device may be used as long as it is a device for transmitting and receiving information.

[0031]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention automatically disconnects a remote connection in an information processing apparatus which is remote-connected to a center apparatus but is not operated by an operator. The connection can be eliminated, and the resources of the communication line and the center device can be effectively used. Further, since the operator is asked to confirm before entering the disconnection procedure, unnecessary disconnection can be avoided.

Further, a suitable timeout time can be arbitrarily set according to various conditions such as a communication partner, a communication line, and an operator, and line connection control suitable for processing of a remote terminal can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an information file device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation flow diagram of a remote monitoring timer in a conventional example.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a remote end operation in a remote terminal according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 system control circuit 102 remote control circuit 103 remote end control circuit 104 timer control circuit 105 timer 106 communication control circuit 107 codec 108 image memory 109 keyboard 110 optical disk 111 hard disk 112 display control circuit 113 CRT 114 scanner 115 printer

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Masaya Okumura 2-18 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshiaki Tanaka 2-18 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hamamoto Anpachi 2-18 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-3-230242 (JP, A)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus comprising a communication means for communicating with an external information processing apparatus via a communication line, wherein whether the content of communication with the external information processing apparatus via the communication means is remote processing or not. A remote monitoring means for monitoring, a time measuring means for counting a first predetermined time and resetting each time the remote processing is detected by the remote monitoring means, and a time measured by the time measuring means for the first predetermined time. When it reaches, the second predetermined time is started and the first
A disconnectability confirmation means for notifying the operator that the predetermined time has been reached and confirming with the operator whether or not the remote disconnection in the communication means is possible, and the disconnectability confirmation means for operating the operation within the second predetermined time.
The information processing apparatus characterized by comprising a connection control means for cutting to end the remote connection with at the communication means than over data had allowed the selection instruction input of the remote cutting. 2. With an external information processing device via a communication line.
In an information processing device having a communication means for communicating, the contents of communication with the external information processing device via the communication means are
A remote monitoring means for monitoring whether or not the remote processing is performed and a remote monitoring means for measuring the first predetermined time.
Timing means that is reset each time a start process is detected, and when the timing by the timing means reaches the first predetermined time.
When the second predetermined time is started,
Notify the operator that the specified time has been reached, and
Confirm with the operator whether remote disconnection using communication means is possible
The disconnectability confirmation means, and the disconnectability confirmation means, within the second predetermined time, the operation
There was no input from the computer to select whether to allow remote disconnection.
Sometimes the remote connection by the communication means is terminated and disconnected
Information processing device characterized by comprising connection control means
Place.