JP2868701B2 - Network equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network device for a system connected to a plurality of networks in a general industrial system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 9 shows, for example, Mitsubishi Electric Technical Report Vol. 6
5, No. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional network device shown on pages 47 to 52 of 1991,
In the figure, A, B, C, and D denote different network systems, 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d denote transmission paths that carry data in the network systems A, B, C, and D, 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d denote transmission paths. The transmission lines 1a, 1
b, 1c, and 1d are transmission / reception blocks that receive data carried on the transmission path and transmit data to the transmission path. Reference numerals 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d denote microprocessors that control transmission / reception processing and protocol processing of each of the network systems A, B, C, and D, 4a, 4b, and 4d.
c, 4d are the microprocessors 3a, 3b, 3c,
3d is an internal local bus.

Next, 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d are connected to the transmission / reception blocks 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d by the internal local buses 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d in each of the network systems A, B, C and D. This is a transmission / reception buffer memory. 5a ₁ , 5b ₁ , 5c ₁ , 5d
₁ represents the network system A, B, C, the transmission and reception buffer memory 5a for each D, 5b, 5c, a portion of 5d, storage each network systems A, B, C, so that the network management information D is capable of transmitting and receiving It is an area that is done. For example, all nodes store network management information area 5a ₁ may include a node status from a predetermined address x address of the buffer memory 5a is composed from the area of y address, the node address ND1 of a network system A to NDn Is stored.

Further, reference numerals 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d denote microprocessors provided for each of the network systems A, B, C, D for processing upper interfaces, 7a, 7b,
7c, 7d are microprocessors 6a, 6b, 6c, 6
d is an internal local bus. The transmission / reception buffer memories 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d are also used as local memories of the microprocessors 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d for the upper interface processing. Next, 8a, 8b, 8
c and 8d denote drivers / receivers for exchanging data with the upper connection terminal device 10, and 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d denote interfaces connecting the drivers / receivers 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d to the higher connection terminal device 10. Cable.

Also, 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d
Is a driver / receiver for connecting the workstation 13 to a network device via the interface cable 12. When the workstation 13 checks the operation status of each network system by the user who manages the network, the workstation / driver 11
a, 11b, 11c, of the 11d, are connected by an interface cable 12 to driver / receiver corresponding to the network to be sure, the sending and receiving buffer memories 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d area 5a ₁ of, 5b
Network status information stored in ₁ , 5c ₁ and 5d ₁ is collected and reported.

Next, the operation will be described. First, an operation outline of the network system A will be described. The data of the transmission path 1a of the network system A is received by the transmission / reception block 2a,
Is analyzed by a transmission / reception block 2a and a microprocessor 3a which controls transmission / reception processing and protocol processing,
It is stored in the transmission / reception buffer memory 5a. When detecting that the data is stored in the transmission / reception buffer memory 5a, the microprocessor 6a for the upper interface processing reports the reception to the upper connection terminal apparatus 10 and urges the upper connection terminal apparatus 10 to perform the data reception processing. In this way, the network system A sends the higher-level connection terminal device 10
Is received.

On the other hand, when transmitting data from the upper connection terminal device 10, the upper connection terminal device 10 transmits data to the transmission / reception buffer memory 5a of the network system A via the interface cable 9a. It requests the microprocessor 6a for transmission processing. As a result, the transmission data is transferred to the transmission / reception buffer memory 5a of the network system A under the control of the microprocessor 6a. Then, the transmission / reception buffer memory 5 is controlled by the microprocessor 3a.
When it is detected that the transmission data is stored in the transmission path a, the transmission processing is performed on the transmission path 1a of the network system A. The transmission / reception processing is similarly performed for the network systems B, C, and D.

When the upper connection terminal apparatus 10 transmits and receives data using the network systems A, B, C and D in parallel, the above network system transmission and reception processing is performed in parallel. At this time, the upper connection terminal device 10 connects the interface cables 9a, 9b,
The transmission / reception buffer memories 5a, 5b,
Access 5c and 5d. In this case, since the transmission / reception buffer memories 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d are configured as separate discontinuous memories,
The different network systems A, B, C, and D are accessed through four different procedures through a, 9b, 9c, and 9d, and by replacing addresses in the buffer memory.

[0009] Any of the network systems A, B,
Also in C and D, the status information of all the nodes is stored in the areas 5a ₁ and 5b for storing the network management information by the periodic update operation by the microprocessors 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d which perform transmission / reception processing and protocol processing.
_1, 5c _1, 5d updates to ₁ operates as to be stored. Here, the storage operation of the network management information will be described using the network system A as an example. The microprocessor 3a collects status information of its own node of the network system A at a certain period by some method,
Sequentially storing the latest information to the own node status information storage area of the storing area 5a ₁ network management information.

On the other hand, the status information of the other nodes of the network system A is based on the fact that the microprocessor 3a which performs transmission / reception processing and protocol processing performs reception / analysis processing on the status information of other nodes sequentially transmitted from the transmission line 1a. the is sequentially storing network management information to another node status storage area for storing area 5a _1. Thus, the status information of all the nodes in the network system A, the network management information can be aggregated to save area 5a _1. For the other network systems B, C, and D, similar operations are performed to store the network management information in the areas 5b ₁ , 5b ₁ ,
5c ₁ and 5d ₁ are connected to the respective network systems B, C and D.
Are sequentially stored.

The upper connection terminal device 10 is provided with an area 5a for storing network management information via interface cables 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and microprocessors 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d for upper interface processing.
_1, 5b _1, to access the 5c _1, 5d _1. In this case, the upper connection terminal device 10 accesses the statuses of all nodes in all network systems according to the respective processing procedures. The accessed status information is processed and edited by the upper connection terminal device 10.

[0012]

Since the conventional network device is configured as described above, when a plurality of network systems A, B, C, and D are connected to the upper connection terminal device 10, Interface hardware such as microprocessors 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, drivers / receivers 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, and interface cables 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d are required as many as the number of networks. There was a problem of becoming. In addition, when viewed from the upper-level connection terminal device 10, the number of memories to be accessed by the number of the plurality of networks, that is, the transmission / reception buffer memories 5a, 5b, 5
c and 5d are present, and these are
There is a problem that a method of efficiently accessing from 0 is required, and the load on software is increased.

Further, in the conventional network device, the upper connection terminal device 10 and each of the network systems A, B,
Handshake for access is necessary for the number of interfaces with C and D, and the transmission / reception buffer memories 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d serving as access areas are discontinuous. , D
When accessing the network, it is necessary to access each network individually, and the upper connection terminal device 10 needs to have the handshake process as many as the number of networks, and the processing load of the upper connection terminal device 10 is large. There was a problem of becoming.

In a conventional network device, when a plurality of network systems A, B, C, and D exist, each network independently sets a network management data area independently of other networks, and The device 10 must perform network management for a plurality of network systems A, B, C, and D, each of which has an unified access method, which causes a problem of increasing the load on the higher-level connection terminal device 10. Was.

In the conventional network device, when performing network management, there are management targets for the number of networks in an arbitrary aggregation node. Therefore, a management device for each of the network systems A, B, C, and D is required. When the upper connection terminal device 10 performs the network management process, the individual information of each of the network systems A, B, C, and D is collected / edited through the plurality of interfaces, and processed by the upper connection terminal device 10. Have to do
There has been a problem that the processing load on the upper connection terminal device 10 increases.

In the conventional network device, when a failure occurs in any one of the plurality of network systems A, B, C, and D, the upper-level connection terminal device 10 performs the failure in addition to the data transmission / reception processing. The network switching process is performed after detecting and analyzing, and there is a problem that the processing load increases.

The first and second aspects of the present invention have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a network device capable of simplifying a physical interface with an upper connection terminal device. I do.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a network device capable of simplifying a data transmission processing function with an upper connection terminal and a network management processing function.

A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a network device capable of facilitating a degraded operation function when a failure occurs.

[0020]

[0021]

[0022]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network apparatus in which a transmission / reception holding unit stores management information of each network accessible from the control unit and the general control unit. Area for use.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network device, wherein the central control means has a network management function for performing network management of the aggregated nodes and network management of each of the plurality of networks, and an externally provided workstation. And an input / output interface means for mediating between them.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network apparatus for performing a degenerate operation when a failure occurs in any one of a plurality of networks so that the transmission / reception holding means can be accessed from the central control means. A degraded operation management area in which degraded operation information is defined is provided, and a fault avoidance during data transmission / reception processing using an arbitrary network is provided to the general control means by a degenerated operation stored in the degraded operation management area. A switching function for switching networks based on the driving information is provided.

[0025]

[0026]

[0027]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a network device comprises:
A network management area for storing management information of each network, which is accessible from the control means and the general control means, is provided in the transmission / reception holding means, so that the interface with a higher-level connection terminal device connected to a plurality of networks is shared. Thus, the processing load on the higher-level connection terminal device can be reduced without paying much attention to a plurality of networks.

In the network apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the workstation accesses the network management area of the transmission / reception holding means only through the input / output interface means to collect the management information of each network. In addition, the management of a plurality of networks with the workstation can be simplified, and the load processing of the upper connection terminal device can be reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network device, wherein the degraded operation information which determines how to perform the degraded operation when a failure occurs in any one of the plurality of networks so that the degraded operation can be accessed from the overall control means. The degraded operation information stored in the degraded operation management area is provided in the degenerate operation management area in which the degenerate operation management area in which is stored is provided in the transmission / reception holding unit, Is provided, a switching function is provided for switching networks based on the network. Therefore, when a failure occurs in any one of the networks, the degenerate operation can be performed in any of the other networks without increasing the load on the higher connection terminal device. .

[0030]

【Example】

Embodiment 1 FIG. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a network device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The same reference numerals are given to the corresponding parts shown in FIG. In the figure, reference numerals 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d denote network systems (a plurality of networks) A,
B, C, D transmission / reception blocks (transmission / reception means) 2a, 2
b, 2c, 2d are connected to the internal local buses 4a, 4b, 4c,
A transmission / reception buffer memory (transmission / reception holding means) connected by 4d. Reference numeral 21 denotes a general microprocessor (general control means) for supervising and managing each of the network systems A, B, C, and D; 22, a local memory of the general microprocessor 21; 23, an internal local bus of the general microprocessor 21; Reference numeral 24 denotes a driver / receiver for connecting to the upper connection terminal device 10 via the interface cable 25.

The transmission / reception buffer memories 20a, 20
As described above, b, 20c, and 20d are also configured as local memories of the supervising microprocessor 21, and are configured so that the address space is a continuous memory area when viewed from the supervising microprocessor 21. In other words, the transmission / reception buffer memory 20a,
20b, 20c, 20d are microprocessors (control means) 3 of each of the network systems A, B, C, D.
a, 3b, 3c, 3d and a common memory of the supervising microprocessor 21.

Next, the operation will be described. First, an operation outline of the network system A will be described. Data of the transmission path (plural transmission paths) 1a of the network system A is transmitted and received by the transmission / reception block 2a of the network system A.
And analyzed by the microprocessor 3a and stored in the transmission / reception buffer memory 20a.
When detecting that the data has been stored in the transmission / reception buffer memory 20a, the supervisory microprocessor 21 reports the reception to the upper connection terminal device 10 and notifies the upper connection terminal device 1 of the reception.
0 prompts the data reception process. In this manner, data reception processing from the network system A to the higher-level connection terminal device 10 is performed.

On the other hand, when data is transmitted from the upper connection terminal device 10, the upper connection terminal device 10 transmits the data to the transmission / reception buffer memory 20a of the network system A via the interface cable 25. Request transmission processing to. As a result, the transmission data is transferred to the transmission / reception buffer memory 20a of the network system A. When the microprocessor 3a detects that the transmission data is stored in the transmission / reception buffer memory 20a, the transmission processing is performed on the transmission path 1a of the network system A. The transmission / reception processing is similarly performed for the network systems B, C, and D.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the upper connection terminal apparatus 10 and the transmission / reception buffer memories 20a, 20b, 2
Since the data transmission / reception management with respect to 0c and 20d is performed by one general microprocessor 21, the configuration and processing can be simplified. When the upper connection terminal apparatus 10 transmits and receives data using the network systems A, B, C, and D in parallel, the network system transmission and reception processing is performed in parallel. The connection terminal device 10 uses only the interface cable 25 to transmit and receive buffer memories 20a, 20b, 20c, 20c.
d can be accessed. Further, the transmission / reception buffer memory 2
Since 0a, 20b, 20c, and 20d are configured as one continuous area, only the addresses for the transmission / reception buffer memories 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d are replaced via the single interface cable 25 in the same procedure. , Different network systems A, B,
C and D can be accessed. For example, received data from different networks can be stored in a transmission / reception buffer configured as a continuous memory space, so that when reading received data of each network, it can be read only by replacing addresses.

Embodiment 2 FIG. Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the network device according to the second embodiment. The corresponding parts shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
In the figure, 20a ₁ , 20b ₁ , 20c ₁ , 20d ₁
Represents a part of the transmission / reception buffer memories 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d for each of the network systems A, B, C, and D, and an area where the network management information of each of the network systems A, B, C, and D is stored (network management). Area). These areas 20a ₁ and 20b
₁ , 20c ₁ and 20d ₁ are transmission / reception buffer memories 20a, 20b and 20 configured as a continuous memory space.
It is provided in a fixed area (predetermined address space) of c and 20d, and is configured to be accessible from the supervising microprocessor 21 only by replacing the address.

[0036] Here, a configuration example of the status information of all the nodes is stored network management information to store area 20a ₁ in FIG. In the figure, area 20a ₁
Is y from a certain address x in the buffer memory 20a.
The node statuses of the network system A from node addresses ND1 to NDn are sequentially stored. This configuration example, the network system B, C, and intended to be assigned Similarly for D, the transmission and reception buffer memories 20b, 20c, the area 20b ₁ of 20d, 20c _1, 20d ₁ are also similarly configured.

Next, the operation will be described. First, an operation outline of the network system A will be described. The data of the transmission path 1a of the network system A is received by the transmission / reception block 2a,
Is analyzed by the microprocessor 3a and stored in the transmission / reception buffer memory 20a. When detecting that data has been stored in the transmission / reception buffer memory 20a, the supervisory microprocessor 21 reports that the data has been received to the upper connection terminal device 10, and urges the upper connection terminal device 10 to perform data reception processing. In this manner, data reception processing from the network system A to the higher-level connection terminal device 10 is performed.

On the other hand, when data is transmitted from the upper connection terminal device 10, the upper connection terminal device 10 transmits the data to the transmission / reception buffer memory 20a of the network system A via the interface cable 25.
It requests the supervising microprocessor 21 for transmission processing. As a result, the transmission data is transferred to the transmission / reception buffer memory 20a of the network system A. When the microprocessor 3a detects that the transmission data is stored in the transmission / reception buffer memory 20a, the transmission processing is performed on the transmission path 1a of the network system A. The transmission / reception processing is similarly performed for the network systems B, C, and D.

Each of the network systems A, B,
In C and D, the status information of all the nodes is stored in an area 20a ₁ for storing the network management information by an update operation executed at a fixed cycle by the microprocessors 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d which perform transmission / reception processing and protocol processing. , 20b ₁ , 20c ₁ and 20d ₁ store the latest information. Here, only the network system A will be described. The microprocessor 3a collects status information of the nodes of the network system A at a constant period by some method, sequentially stores the latest information to the own node status information storage area of the storing area 20a ₁ network management information.

On the other hand, the status information of the other nodes of the network system A is an area for storing the network management information by the microprocessor 3a receiving and analyzing the status information of the other nodes sequentially transmitted from the transmission line 1a. It is sequentially stored in another node status storage area 20a _1. Thus, the status information of all the nodes in the network system A, the network management information can be aggregated to save area 20a _1. Other network systems B, C, the same operation for the D, and network management information stored area _{20b 1, 20c 1, 20d 1} , status information of all the nodes of the network system are stored sequentially.

The upper connection terminal device 10 stores the network management information in the areas 20a ₁ and 20a ₁ via the interface cable 25 and the supervising microprocessor 21.
20b ₁ , 20c ₁ and 20d ₁ are accessed. In this case, the upper connection terminal device 10 can access status information of all nodes of all network systems by a unified interface that differs only in the buffer memory address. The accessed status information is processed and edited by the upper connection terminal device 10.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the upper connection terminal device 10 transmits the network management information to the areas 20a ₁ , 20b ₁ , 20c ₁ , 2c 2 via the interface cable 25 and the supervising microprocessor 21.
When accessing 0d _1, it can be accessed by a unified interface only buffer memory addresses are different.
In other words, the transmission / reception buffer memories 20a, 20b,
Microprocessors 3a, 3b, 3
c, 3d and areas 20a ₁ , 20b ₁ , 20c ₁ , 2 in which management information of each network is stored in a fixed area accessible to the supervising microprocessor 21.
0d ₁ , the area 20 a
_If the addresses of ₁ , 20b ₁ , 20c ₁ , and 20d ₁ are assigned to predetermined values, or if the offset addresses are unified, if the upper connection terminal device 10 tries to access these network management information, the addresses are changed. Each area can be accessed simply by replacing.

Embodiment 3 FIG. Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the network device according to the third embodiment. The corresponding parts shown in FIG. 2 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. In the figure, 27 is the interface cable 2
8 is a driver / receiver (input / output interface means) for connecting the workstation 29 to a network device via the interface 8. The workstation 29 includes the interface cable 28 and the driver / receiver 2
7, under the control of the supervising microprocessor 21,
Transmission / reception buffer memories 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d
The area 20a ₁ , 20b ₁ , 20c ₁ , 20d ₁ is accessed, status information of each area is collected, and the operation status of each network system is reported to a user who manages the network. The configuration of each area 20a ₁ , 20b ₁ , 20c ₁ , 20d ₁ is the same as in FIG.

Next, the operation will be described. Note that each of the network systems A, B, C, and D and the upper-level connection terminal device 1
The data transmission / reception operation and the storage operation of the network management information between 0 and 0 are the same as those in the first and second embodiments described above, and thus description thereof will be omitted. Workstation 29
Are areas 20a ₁ , 20b ₁ , 20c for storing network management information via the interface cable 28 and the supervising microprocessor 21 at regular intervals.
₁ and 20d ₁ to collect the status information of each area, so that each network system A,
Network management individual information of B, C, and D is collected, and the operation status of each network system is reported to the user who manages the network.

As described above, in the third embodiment, the workstation 29 transmits the status information of all the nodes of all the network systems via the single driver / receiver 27 only by changing the address, and the transmission / reception buffer memory. , The data transmission processing function with the general microprocessor 21 and the network management processing function can be simplified.

Embodiment 4 FIG. Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the network device according to the fourth embodiment. The corresponding parts shown in FIG. 2 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. In the figure, in the fourth embodiment, areas 20a ₁ , 20b ₁ , 20c for storing network management information are shown.
₁ and 20d ₁ are different from those of the above-described embodiment. FIG.
Is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a network management information in the area 20a ₁ of the reception buffer memory 20a.
In the figure, the area 20a ₁ is provided on the y address from the address x address with sending and receiving buffer memory 20a, with the node status from node address ND1 of a network system A to NDn are sequentially stored, further priority turn, system name for storing a flag area (area for degenerate operation management) 20a ₂ indicating whether or not the backup of the network system, the network system name to be used in place of the network system when in the network system failure Area (degenerate operation management area) 20a ₃
Is provided. The symbols j, k, and l in the figure are any of the network systems B, C, and D.

The information on the backup is as follows:
Upper connection terminal device 1 in network system A
0, or by the workstation 29, and are pre-written in the area 20a _1. In the illustrated example, it is assumed that the backup system names are D, C, and B from the top, and the backup presence / absence flags are 1, 1, and 0 from the top as the information on the backup. This configuration example is similarly assigned to the network systems B, C and D, and the areas 20b ₁ and 20c of the transmission / reception buffer memories 20b, 20c and 20d.
_1, the 20d ₁ configuration is the same.

Next, the operation will be described. Note that each of the network systems A, B, C, and D and the upper-level connection terminal device 1
Since the data transmission / reception operation between 0 and the storage operation of the network management information are the same as those in the second and third embodiments, the description will be omitted. In the following description, only the network system A will be described. Here, FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the fourth embodiment. In the figure, first, in step ST1,
Upper connection terminal 10 or workstation 29 is set in advance area 20a _1. Next, step ST
2, it is assumed that a failure has occurred in the network system A in the data transmission / reception operation and the network management information storage operation.

When a failure occurs, first, at step ST3
, The upper connection terminal 10 issues a transmission request to the network system A in the following procedure. First, a transmission request is sent from the host connection terminal device 10 to the general microprocessor 21. Supervising microprocessor 21 which has received the request, checks status of the own node in its own network system A, and the status of the destination node in area 20a _1. Then, when detecting an abnormality in the own node, the supervisory microprocessor 21
In step ST4, according to the priority of the areas 20a _1, reaffirmed by the backup network system whether the flag area 20a ₂ area 20a ₁ flags, to check the backup network system name system name area 20a _3.

First, in step ST5, it is determined whether or not the network is a backup network system j (for example, network system B). If it is the backup network system j, step S
The result of the determination at T5 is "YES", and the
Proceed to T6. In step ST6, the status of the backup network system j is confirmed. If the status of the backup network system j is normal, the determination result in step ST6 is “YES”.
And proceeds to step ST7. In step ST7,
The transmission process for the network system A is switched to the backup network system j (for example, the network system B) to execute the transmission process.

On the other hand, if the status of the backup network system j is abnormal, the determination result in step ST5 is "NO", and the process proceeds to step ST8. In step ST8, it is determined whether or not it is a backup network system k (for example, network system C). If it is the backup network system k, the determination result in step ST8 is “YES”, and the process proceeds to step ST9. In step ST9, the status of the backup network system k is confirmed. If the status of the backup network system k is normal, step S
The decision result in T9 is "YES", and the step S
Proceed to T10. In step ST10, the transmission process for the network system A is switched to the backup network system k (for example, the network system C) and the transmission process is performed.

On the other hand, if the status of the backup network system k is abnormal, the determination result in step ST8 is "NO", and the process proceeds to step ST11. In step ST11, it is determined whether or not it is the backup network system 1 (for example, the network system D). If it is the backup network system 1, the determination result in step ST11 is "YES", and the process proceeds to step ST12. In step ST12, the status of the backup network system 1 is confirmed. If the status of the backup network system 1 is normal, the determination result in step ST12 is “YES”, and the process proceeds to step ST13. In step ST13, the transmission process for the network system A is switched to the backup network system 1 (for example, the network system D) and the transmission process is performed.

On the other hand, if the status of the backup network system 1 is abnormal, step ST11
Is "NO" in step ST14.
Proceed to. In step ST14, since there is no alternative network system, transmission is stopped on the assumption that an abnormality has occurred in the transmission process.

As described above, in the fourth embodiment, the workstation 29 can be accessed from both the supervising microprocessor 21 and the microprocessors 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d which manage the protocol of each network among a plurality of networks. , Transmission / reception buffer memories 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d in which continuous addresses are set
Area 20a ₁ , 20b ₁ , 20c ₁ , 20d ₁
In order of priority, a flag indicating the presence or absence of backup of the network system and a network system name used in place of the network system when a failure occurs in the network system are stored. When a failure occurs, the degenerate operation is performed in one of the other networks according to the information, so that the degenerate operation operation function at the time of the failure can be simplified.

Embodiment 5 FIG. Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the network device according to the fifth embodiment. The corresponding parts shown in FIG. 2 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. In the figure, in the fifth embodiment, areas 20a ₁ , 20b ₁ , 20c for storing network management information are shown.
₁ and 20d ₁ are different from those of the above-described embodiment. That is, in the fifth embodiment, the transmission / reception buffer memories 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d of each network system are set as one continuous area.
areas 20a ₁ , 20b ₁ , 20 for storing network management information in areas other than a, 20b, 20c, 20d
c ₁ and 20d ₁ are provided. Each area 20
The configurations of a ₁ , 20b ₁ , 20c ₁ , and 20d ₁ are the same as in FIG.

Next, the operation will be described. Note that each of the network systems A, B, C, and D and the upper-level connection terminal device 1
The data transmission / reception operation between 0 and 0 is the same as in the above-described second embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. In any of the network systems A, B, C, and D, the status information of all the nodes is transmitted to the transmission / reception buffer memory 20 by the microprocessors 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d, which perform transmission / reception processing and protocol processing, by a periodic update operation.
The latest information is stored in areas 20a ₁ , 20b ₁ , 20c ₁ , 20d ₁ provided separately from a, 20b, 20c, 20d. Here, the network system A will be described as an example. The microprocessor 3a collects status information of the nodes of the network system A at a constant period by some method, sequentially stores the latest information to the own node status information storage area of the storing area 20a ₁ network management information.

On the other hand, the status information of the other nodes in the network system A is obtained by the microprocessor 3a, which performs transmission / reception processing and protocol processing, performing reception / analysis processing on the status information of other nodes sequentially transmitted from the transmission path 1a. the is sequentially storing network management information to another node status storage area for storing area 20a _1. Thereby, the network system A
Status information of all the nodes of a network management information can be aggregated to save area 20a _1. For the other network systems B, C, and D, the same operation is performed to store the network management information in the area 20.
to _{b 1, 20c 1, 20d 1} , status information of all the nodes of the network system are stored sequentially.

As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, when the higher-level connection terminal apparatus 10 transmits and receives data using the network systems A, B, C, and D in parallel, the network system transmission and reception processing is performed in parallel. At this time, the upper connection terminal device 10 transmits and receives the transmission / reception buffer memory 20 only through the interface cable 25.
a, 20b, 20c, and 20d can be accessed. Further, the transmission / reception buffer memories 20a, 20b, 20c, 2
Since 0d is configured as one continuous area, the transmission / reception buffer memories 20a, 20b, 20
By simply replacing the addresses for c and 20d, different network systems A, B, C and D can be accessed. In addition, the upper connection terminal device 10 is connected to the area 20 for storing network management information via the interface cable 25 and the general microprocessor 21 by a unified interface having only a buffer memory address.
_{a 1, 20b 1, 20c 1} , 20d 1 can access.

[0059]

[0060]

[0061]

As described above , according to the first aspect of the present invention, the network management information in which the management information of each network accessible from the control means and the general control means is stored in the transmission / reception holding means. Since it is configured to provide an area, if the address of the network management area is assigned to a predetermined value or the offset address is unified, if an attempt is made to access these network management information from a higher-level connection terminal device, You can access each network management area simply by replacing the address. Therefore, the method of accessing the network management information from the central control unit can be simplified, and there is an effect that the network control process that has been performed by the upper-level connection terminal device can be processed by the central control unit.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input / output interface means for accessing a network management area to collect management information and for mediating with a workstation provided outside. Since the workstation can access the network management area of the transmission / reception holding means only through the input / output interface means, management information can be easily collected with a simple procedure, and processing such as re-editing can be eliminated. effective.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the degraded operation information that determines how to perform the degraded operation when a failure occurs in any one of the plurality of networks is accessible to the overall control means. The stored degenerate operation management area is provided in the transmission / reception holding means, and the network is switched based on the degenerate operation information stored in the degenerate operation management area to avoid failure during data transmission / reception processing using an arbitrary network. Is configured in the integrated control means so that the integrated control means can process from failure detection to failure avoidance and degraded operation, thereby increasing the system load without increasing the processing load on the higher-level terminal equipment. There is an effect that realization can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a network management information storage area of a network device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a network management information storage area of a network device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional network device.

[Explanation of symbols]

A, B, C, D Network system (plural networks), 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d Transmission path (plural transmission paths), 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d Transmission / reception block (transmission / reception means), 3a, 3b, 3c , 3d microprocessor (control means), 10 higher connection terminal devices, 20a,
20b, 20c, 20d receive buffer memory (receive holding _{means), 20a 1, 20b 1,} 20c 1, 20d
₁ area (network management area), 20a ₂
Flag area (degraded operation management area), 20a ₃ areas (degraded operation management area), 21 general microprocessor (general control means), 27 drivers / receivers (input / output interface means), 29 workstations.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of transmission paths for transmitting data of a plurality of networks, transmission / reception means provided for each of the plurality of networks, for performing transmission / reception processing with the transmission paths, and data transmitted / received by the transmission / reception means. In a network device comprising a transmission / reception holding means for holding and a control means for managing a protocol of a data transmission / reception process performed by the transmission / reception means, performs data transmission / reception management between the transmission / reception holding means and a higher-level terminal device. General control means , the transmission and reception holding means, the control means and
Each network accessible from the general control means
Network management area where network management information is stored.
Network device characterized by comprising. 2. The network management area is accessed.
To collect the management information
Mediated and placed under the control of the general control means
Contractor comprising input / output interface means
The network device according to claim 1 . 3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein said transmission / reception holding means comprises :
Access from the plurality of networks
What to do if any network fails
Degraded operation information that determines whether to perform degraded operation is stored.
An outgoing operation management area, and the general control means is optional.
Failure during data transmission / reception processing using existing networks
Avoiding the degenerated operation stored in the degenerated operation management area
Switching function that switches networks based on information
The network device according to claim 1 , wherein the network device is provided.