JP3080150B2 - General-purpose interface control device and general-purpose interface control method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a general-purpose interface control device controlled by a higher-level device, and more particularly to a function of detecting an abnormality in the output of a general-purpose interface signal (hereinafter referred to as an ER signal) and the abnormality detection. The present invention relates to a general-purpose interface control device and a general-purpose interface control method including an emergency notification function of urgently notifying control software of an abnormal state detected by a function, a function of easily searching for the cause of the abnormality, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this kind of general-purpose interface control device has a communication abnormality by detecting an abnormality of a DR signal in a general-purpose interface as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 1-23158 (hereinafter referred to as Prior Art 1). It is configured for the purpose of detecting.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a general-purpose interface control device according to prior art 1.

In FIG. 5, a communication control adapter (general purpose interface control device) 50 includes a processor 51, a communication control unit 52, a data set ready (DR) detection unit 53,
And another control unit 54. The processor 51 controls the communication control unit 52 to execute a communication process. The communication control unit 52 executes data communication under the control of the processor 51. The DR detection unit 53 monitors the ON of the data set ready (DR) signal from the modem while the data terminal ready (ER) signal of its own adapter is ON, and sends an interrupt signal to the processor 51 when the DR signal is turned OFF. Occur.

Next, the operation of the general-purpose interface control device shown in FIG. 5 will be described. The processor 51 that has received the command (transmission) from the host computer (not shown) continues to control the communication control unit 52 until the transmission of the transmission data is completed according to a predetermined procedure. The communication control unit 52 that has received the transmission command from the processor 51 controls the interface with the modem according to a prescribed rule, and controls the transmission operation. During execution of this transmission command (ER signal: ON), the DR
A signal abnormality is constantly monitored by the DR detection unit 53, and when an abnormality of the DR signal is detected, an interrupt is generated in the processor 51. The processor 51 that has received this interrupt executes the abnormality processing based on the determined software procedure.

[0006]

However, the general-purpose interface control device according to the prior art 1 attempts to continue communication without detecting an abnormality of the main output signal (ER signal) of the general-purpose interface. It had the disadvantage of low reliability.

If an output signal to the general-purpose interface becomes abnormal for some reason during operation of the general-purpose interface control device, the communication is interrupted. Since no countermeasures are provided, an enormous amount of opportunity loss occurs, such as the inability to operate many devices and systems to investigate the cause.

Therefore, a technical problem of the present invention is that if an abnormality occurs in an output signal (ER signal) to a general-purpose interface for some reason during operation of a general-purpose interface control device, the abnormality is immediately detected. An object of the present invention is to provide a general-purpose interface control device and a general-purpose interface control method capable of obtaining a highly reliable system.

Another technical problem of the present invention is that when an abnormality occurs in the ER signal, the cause of the abnormality can be easily investigated (ER
An object of the present invention is to provide a general-purpose interface control device and a general-purpose interface control method that can obtain a system with high maintainability by detecting a signal abnormality, holding an ER signal abnormality display, and installing a measurement terminal.

[0010]

According to the present invention, a control unit which has a plurality of external interface terminals, is controlled by a host device, controls the entire device, a storage unit for storing device control firmware, and control data. A general-purpose interface control device having a general-purpose interface control circuit for controlling a plurality of general-purpose interfaces based on instructions from a storage unit for storing data and a control unit, when a DR signal indicating a data set ready from a modem is on, the own general-purpose interface Detecting means for detecting an abnormality in the output of the ER signal, which is a data terminal ready signal in the control signal, and generating abnormality information; holding means for retaining the abnormality information; An emergency interrupt control unit that performs an emergency interrupt to control software consisting of in-device software; An abnormality display means for displaying an abnormal state based on the abnormal information; a signal indicating the abnormal state based on the abnormal information; and a physical external measurement terminal indicating the current state of the ER signal, and controls the control unit. And an address monitor unit which can monitor the execution address of the firmware.

Here, in the general-purpose interface control device of the present invention, an ER signal abnormality display terminal for displaying an abnormality state based on the abnormality information, a DR signal state display terminal, and execution of firmware for controlling the control unit. It is preferable to have an address collection terminal for collecting an address, and to be able to investigate a failure cause in a short time.

According to the present invention, controlling the entire apparatus based on control from a higher-level apparatus, storing apparatus control firmware, storing control data, and controlling the control unit Controlling a plurality of general-purpose interfaces based on an instruction, wherein when a DR signal indicating a data set ready from a modem is on, an ER signal indicating a data terminal ready in a control signal of the general-purpose interface is provided. Detecting an output abnormality and generating abnormality information; retaining the abnormality information; and performing an emergency interrupt to control software including firmware in the apparatus or software in a higher-level apparatus based on the abnormality information. Displaying an abnormal state based on the abnormal information; and an abnormal state signal indicating the abnormal state based on the abnormal information. A physical external measurement terminal for indicating the current state of the ER signal, and enabling monitoring of an execution address of firmware for controlling the control unit. Can be

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a general-purpose interface control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a general-purpose interface control device includes a control unit 1, a firmware storage unit 2, a data storage unit 3, a communication control unit 4, an ER signal abnormality detection unit 5, and an emergency interrupt control unit 6. ER signal status display means 7 and an address monitor unit 8.

The control unit 1 has a function of controlling the communication control means 4 to realize communication with a modem. Further, the control unit 1 has a function capable of realizing interrupt control.

The firmware storage unit 2 stores firmware for controlling the whole of the general-purpose interface control device. The firmware stored in the firmware storage unit 2 controls the internal bus 30 from the control unit 1. Necessary parts are read out via the control unit 1 and executed.

The data storage unit 3 stores the control data of the communication control means 4 and the general-purpose interface control device as a whole and the data transmitted / received to / from the modem. In this case, writing / reading is performed by the control unit 1 as needed.

The communication control means 4 controls data transfer with the modem based on an instruction from the control section 1.

The ER signal abnormality detecting means 5 converts the ER signal out of the output signal of the general-purpose interface control device and the DR signal sent from the modem during the transmission of the data to the modem by the communication control means 4. The emergency interrupt control unit 6 and the ER signal status display means 7
To the detected abnormality.

The emergency interrupt control unit 6 receives the detection result of the ER signal abnormality detecting means 5 and generates an emergency interrupt signal for the control unit 1.

The ER signal status display means 7 displays the ER signal among the output signals of the general-purpose interface control device and the detection result of the ER signal abnormality detection means 5 during the transmission of the data to the modem by the communication control means 4. It has a function of inputting and displaying each status.

When the ER signal abnormality detecting means 5 detects an abnormality, the address monitor unit 8 is designed so that the execution address of the firmware can be connected to the measuring instrument in order to investigate the cause.

Next, the operation of the general-purpose interface control device of FIG. 1 will be described.

The control unit 1 having received a transmission request from a higher-level device (not shown) instructs the communication control means 4 to start a transmission operation with a modem. Hereinafter, the communication control means 4 and the control unit 1
Means that the transmission operation is controlled in accordance with the determined procedure until the transmission of the transmission data is completed. While the communication control means 4 is executing the transmission operation, the ER signal abnormality detection means 5 inputs the ER signal and the DR signal of the general-purpose interface, and when the DR signal is on, the timing (abnormality) at which the ER signal turns off occurs. Keep checking if not. If an abnormality occurs in which the ER signal is turned off when the DR signal is on, the abnormality is immediately detected, abnormality information is generated, and the emergency information is notified to the emergency interrupt control unit 6 and the ER signal status display means 7. I do. The emergency interrupt controller 6 that has received the notification transmits an emergency interrupt signal to the controller 1. Upon receiving the emergency interrupt signal, the control unit 1 processes this abnormal process according to a predetermined procedure with the highest priority, terminates the subsequent transmission, and
The detailed data of the failure is stored in the data storage unit 3 for investigating the cause, and the transmission operation is terminated.

On the other hand, the status display means 7 of the ER signal that has received the notification of the ER signal, that is, the notification of the abnormality information, immediately stores the occurrence of the abnormal state and continues to display the state.

As a result, a communication failure due to an abnormality in the ER signal is immediately detected, and necessary measures can be executed. Therefore, it is possible to improve the reliability of the system, which can prevent the system from being confused due to erroneous data. is there.

Next, measures for improving maintainability of the general-purpose interface control device of FIG. 1 will be described.

In the case of a general-purpose interface control device in which an abnormality of the ER signal in the general-purpose interface signal occurs for some reason, the cause can be easily investigated by the following procedure. The necessary equipment is connected to the faulty device in advance as follows. Here, as the trigger point, an ER signal abnormality detection signal from the ER signal state display means 7 is used.
The sampling signals include the ER signal abnormality detection signal, the ER signal and the DR signal of the general-purpose interface, and each signal of the address monitor unit 8.

When these signals are connected and an error of the ER signal occurs, the execution address of the firmware executed immediately before the error and the state of the ER / DR signal of the general-purpose interface are determined. The defective step is immediately found from the address, and the problem that the ER becomes abnormal can be solved in a short time. As a result, a highly maintainable system can be provided.

Next, the general-purpose interface control device according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 will be described more specifically.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram specifically showing the general-purpose interface control device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the ER of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a detailed diagram of the signal abnormality detection circuit 16, and FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing a comparison between the normal operation and the abnormal operation of the ER signal abnormality detection circuit 16.

In FIG. 2, the control unit 1 controls the general-purpose interface control device as in the case of the control unit 1 in FIG. The ROM 12 corresponds to the firmware storage unit 2 in FIG. 1 and stores firmware for controlling the entire general-purpose interface control device.

The random access memory (RAM) 13
Corresponds to the data storage unit 3 of FIG. 1 and stores control data of the communication control unit 4 'and the general-purpose interface control device as a whole, and data transmitted / received to / from the modem. This RAM 13
Is written / read at any time by the control unit 1.

The communication control unit 4 ′ is connected to the control line 1
1, and controls data transfer with the modem based on the instruction. Further, the communication control unit 4 ′ controls each signal of the general-purpose interface via the general-purpose interface unit 15 and the control line 14. The general-purpose interface control circuit includes a communication control unit 4 ′ and a general-purpose interface unit 15, and corresponds to the communication control unit 4 in FIG.

The general-purpose interface unit 15 comprises a driver and a receiver for each signal of the general-purpose interface.

The ER signal abnormality detection circuit 16 is provided with the ER signal
Corresponding to the signal abnormality detection means 5, the communication control unit 4 'receives the ER signal of the output signal of the general-purpose interface control device and the DR signal transmitted from the modem during transmission for transferring data to the modem, An abnormality in the ER signal is detected, and the detected abnormality is notified to the emergency interrupt control unit 6, the ER signal abnormality holding register 17, and the ER signal abnormality display terminal 20 via the control line 18.

The emergency interrupt control unit 6 receives the detection result of the ER signal abnormality detection circuit 16 and generates an emergency interrupt signal 19 for the control unit 1.

The ER signal abnormality holding register 17 has a function of inputting the detection result of the ER signal abnormality detection circuit 16 via the control line 18 and holding the state. This register 17 is a register that holds that an abnormality of the ER signal has occurred, and can be read out and reset from the control unit 1.

The ER signal abnormality display terminal 20 is connected to the control line 18
Is to display the state of. When a failure of the ER signal occurs, a trigger signal can be obtained from this terminal.

The ER signal status display terminal 21 is connected to the control line 14 for controlling the general-purpose interface unit 15 by the communication control unit 4 ′.
Of the signals, only the ER signal is specially displayed.

When the ER signal abnormality detection circuit 16 detects an abnormality, the address sampling terminal 22 is used to investigate the cause.
It is considered that the execution address of the firmware can be connected to the measuring instrument.

Next, the ER signal abnormality detection circuit 16 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ER signal abnormality detection circuit 16 includes a driver 31 and a flip-flop circuit (F / F).
F) 32.

The ER signal in the control line 14 is input to the driver 31, the gate of the driver 31 is released only when the DR signal is on, and the input ER signal is output to the F / F32.

The F / F 32 detects the change of the ER signal from ON to OFF, sets the ER signal abnormality processing signal to ON as abnormality information, and keeps this state.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing a comparison between the normal operation and the abnormal operation of the general-purpose interface control device of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 (a) shows a time chart of the normal operation. Because there is no abnormality in the DR signal,
ER signal abnormality processing signal remains off. FIG. 11B is a time chart when an abnormality occurs in the ER signal, and the ER signal abnormality processing signal is turned on.
The signals are transmitted to the emergency interrupt control unit 6, the ER signal abnormality holding register 17, and the ER signal abnormality display terminal 20 via the control line 18.

Next, the operation of the general-purpose interface control device of FIG. 2 will be described.

Control unit 1 receiving a transmission request from a host device
Instructs the communication control unit 4 'to start the transmission operation with the modem. Thereafter, the communication control unit 4 'and the control unit 1 continue to control the transmission operation according to the determined procedure until the transmission of the transmission data is completed. While the communication control unit 4 'is performing the transmission operation,
The signal abnormality detection circuit 16 inputs the ER signal among the control signals of the general-purpose interface and the DR signal received from the modem, and checks whether the timing (abnormality) at which the ER signal is turned off when the DR signal is on is generated. Continue to check in the circuit shown in 3.

If an abnormality occurs such that the ER signal is turned off when the DR signal is turned on, the abnormality is immediately detected, and the emergency interrupt control unit 6 and the ER are controlled via the control line 18.
The signal abnormality holding register 17 and the ER signal abnormality display terminal 20 are notified. Emergency interrupt control unit 6 that has been notified
Transmits an emergency interrupt signal to the control unit 1 via the control line 19. Control unit 1 that receives emergency interrupt signal
Processes this abnormal processing with the highest priority according to a predetermined procedure, terminates subsequent transmissions, and uses R
The detailed data of the failure is stored in the AM 13 and the transmission operation ends.

On the other hand, the ER receiving the notification of the abnormality of the ER signal
The signal abnormality holding register 17 immediately stores that this abnormal state has occurred, and continues to display the state.

As a result, a communication failure due to an abnormality in the ER signal is immediately detected, and necessary measures can be taken. Therefore, it is possible to improve the reliability of the system, which can prevent the confusion of the system due to erroneous data. is there.

Next, measures for improving maintainability will be described.

In the case of a general-purpose interface control device in which an abnormality of the ER signal in the general-purpose interface signal occurs for some reason, the cause can be easily investigated by the following procedure.

The necessary measuring instruments are connected in advance to the obstacle device as follows. As a trigger point, an ER signal abnormality display terminal 20 is used and connected so as to recognize an abnormality of the ER signal. The sampling signal includes an ER signal abnormality display terminal 20, an ER signal status display terminal 21 of a general-purpose interface, and the like.
, DR signal status display terminal 23, and address collection terminal 22.

When these signals are connected and an error occurs in the ER signal, the execution address of the firmware executed immediately before the signal and the state of the ER / DR signal of the general-purpose interface are determined. The defective step is immediately found from the address, and the problem that the ER becomes abnormal can be solved in a short time. As a result, a highly maintainable system can be provided.

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention,
If an abnormality occurs in the output signal (ER signal) of the general-purpose interface, it is immediately detected and an emergency interrupt is issued to the control unit. Therefore, a general-purpose interface control device and a general-purpose interface control method that can obtain a highly reliable system are provided. can do.

Further, according to the present invention, since the abnormality of the ER signal is detected, the abnormality is retained, and an abnormality confirmation terminal is provided, a general-purpose interface control device and a general-purpose interface control which can obtain a system with high maintainability can be obtained. A method can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a general-purpose interface control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the general-purpose interface control device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating details of an ER abnormality detection circuit in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing a comparison between the normal operation and the abnormal operation of the general-purpose interface control device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a general-purpose interface control device according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control part 2 Firmware storage part 3 Data storage part 4 Communication control means 4 'Communication control part 5 ER signal abnormality detection means 6 Emergency interrupt control part 7 ER signal state display means 8 Address monitor parts 11, 14, 18, 19, 24 control line 12 ROM 13 RAM 15 general-purpose interface section 16 ER signal abnormality detection circuit 17 ER signal abnormality holding register 20 ER signal abnormality display terminal 21 ER signal state display terminal 22 address sampling terminal 23 DR signal state display terminal 30 internal bus 31 driver 32 Flip-flop circuit (F / F) 50 Communication control adapter (general purpose interface control device) 51 Processor 52 Communication control unit 53 DR detection unit 54 Other control unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04L 29/14 H04L 29/10

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A control unit that has a plurality of external interface terminals, is controlled by a host device, and controls the entire device;
A general-purpose interface control device having a firmware storage unit for storing device control firmware, a control data storage unit for storing control data, and a general-purpose interface control circuit for controlling a plurality of general-purpose interfaces based on instructions from the control unit Detecting means for detecting an abnormality in the output of an ER signal indicating a data terminal ready in a control signal of its own general-purpose interface and generating abnormality information when a DR signal indicating a data set ready from a modem is on, Holding means for holding information, an emergency interrupt control unit including an emergency interrupt to control software comprising internal firmware or software in a higher-level device based on the abnormal information, and an abnormal interrupt control unit based on the abnormal information. An abnormality display means for displaying the state; and an abnormal state signal indicating the abnormal state based on the abnormality information. A general-purpose interface control device comprising: a physical external measurement terminal for indicating the current state of an ER signal; and an address monitor unit capable of monitoring an execution address of firmware for controlling the control unit. . 2. The general-purpose interface control device according to claim 1, wherein an ER signal abnormality display terminal for displaying an abnormal state based on the abnormality information, a DR signal state display terminal, and firmware for controlling the control unit. A general-purpose interface control device having an address collection terminal for collecting an execution address, and configured so that a cause of a failure can be investigated in a short time. 3. Controlling the entire apparatus based on control from a higher-level apparatus, storing apparatus control firmware, storing control data, and controlling a plurality of general-purpose apparatuses based on instructions from the control unit. Controlling the interface, wherein when the DR signal indicating the data set ready from the modem is ON, the abnormality of the output of the ER signal indicating the data terminal ready in the control signal of the own general-purpose interface is detected. Generating abnormality information, retaining the abnormality information, performing an emergency interrupt to control software composed of firmware in the device or software in a higher-level device based on the abnormality information, And displaying the abnormal state signal indicating the abnormal state and the current state of the ER signal based on the abnormal information. A physical external measurement terminal as shown in the figure, and capable of monitoring an execution address of firmware for controlling the control unit.