JPH02234236A - Data processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To omit the necessity to entirely stop a data processor even when the function of a module is stopped for its own diagnosis, etc., by adding a pseudo answer circuit to each module and attaining the selection of the function parts and the pseudo answer circuits. CONSTITUTION:When a data request signal is inputted to a pseudo answer circuit 4 for transmission of data to a module 5, the circuit 4 produces a prescribed answer signal. A selection part 2 selects the circuit 4 in place of a function part 3 with an instruction and connects the circuit 4 to a transmission/ reception part 1. Thus it is possible to obtain a data processor which has the high working efficiency and is not required to stop its entire working even when the module function is stopped for self-diagnosis, etc.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Summary) ゜ A common bus that transmits signals, at least one module having a transmitter/receiver unit that transmits and receives signals between the common bus and a functional unit that implements a predetermined data processing function. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a multi-module connection device with high work efficiency that does not require stopping the operation of the entire device when the function of a module is stopped to perform self-diagnosis, etc. on a data processing device that has a module. and a pseudo response circuit that generates a predetermined response signal when a data request signal requesting data transmission to the module is input to the circuit, and a pseudo response circuit that generates a predetermined response signal in place of the functional section when instructed In this configuration, the module is provided with a selection section that selects a response circuit and connects it to the transmission/reception section.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a data processing device having data processing functions such as data arithmetic processing, printing processing, and storage processing, and particularly relates to a common bus that transmits signals, a transmitting/receiving section that transmits and receives signals between the common bus, and a predetermined The present invention relates to a data processing device having at least one module having a functional unit that realizes a data processing function.

Here, the term "module" refers to a functional unit that is highly functionally independent and can be replaced with hardware.

A "data processing device" refers to a device that performs arithmetic processing on data, and performs various data processing such as searching, printing, displaying, or storing.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 5, there has been a data processing device having a common bus 61 and a module 105 having a predetermined data processing function.

As shown in the figure, the module 105 of the device has a driver/receiver 101 as a transmitter/receiver unit that transmits and receives signals with other modules, and an MPU that operates according to a program, and has the function of realizing a predetermined data processing function. 103, and a common bus interface 102 that adjusts the signal level, timing, drive current, etc. between the functional unit 103 and the common bus 61.

Furthermore, a sub-bus 71 is connected to the module 105 for notifying a signal for logically disconnecting the module 105 from the device when performing self-diagnosis.

Incidentally, an overall schematic diagram of the data processing apparatus is shown in FIG.

Next, a case in which self-diagnosis is performed by the data processing device will be described.

Here, "self-diagnosis" is performed according to a program (firmware) in which each module automatically checks for the presence or absence of a fault location and points out the fault location.

In order to cause the module 105 shown in FIG. 5 to execute a self-diagnosis program, the original function of the module must be stopped, and the self-diagnosis program is transferred to the functional section 103 to execute the program. .

At this time, in order to avoid any adverse effects on other modules, it was necessary to temporarily stop the operation of the entire data processing device, rather than simply disconnecting the module 105 from the common bus 61.

This is because if the module 105 is simply placed in a disconnected state, there will be no response to accesses from other modules via the common bus 61, which may disrupt the operation sequence of the entire device. .

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, in a conventional data processing device configured with modules, in order to perform self-diagnosis, it is necessary to stop not only the target module but the entire device. However, as data processing equipment has become larger, more multifunctional, and more complex in recent years, there has been a problem in that stopping the entire equipment in order to diagnose a part of the equipment's functions has a large impact. .

Therefore, the present invention provides an improvement in work efficiency that does not require stopping the operation of the entire device even when the original work of the modules constituting the data processing device is stopped in order to perform self-diagnosis or the like. This was done with the aim of providing a high-performance data processing device.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention transmits and receives signals between a common bus 6 that transmits signals and the common bus 6, as shown in FIG. In a data processing device having a transmitting/receiving unit 1 and at least one module 5 having a functional unit 3 that implements a predetermined data processing function, when a data request signal requesting data transmission to the module 5 is input to the circuit. includes a pseudo-response circuit 4 that generates a predetermined response signal, and a selection section 2 that selects the pseudo-response circuit 4 instead of the functional section 3 and connects it to the transmitting/receiving section 1 when instructed to do so. This is provided in the module 5.

(Function) When it is necessary to stop the original function of a certain module 5 due to self-diagnosis or the like, an instruction is sent to the selection unit 2 through a signal line provided separately from the common bus 6, for example. give.

Then, the selection section 2 selects the pseudo-response circuit 4 instead of the functional section 3 that is selected during normal operation, and connects it to the common bus 6.

When the transmitting/receiving section 1 receives a data transmission request signal from another module of the device to the module 5 through the common bus 6 while the original function is stopped, the signal is The signal is input to the pseudo-response circuit 4 selected instead of the functional section 3.

Then, the pseudo-response circuit 4 generates a predetermined response signal in response to the signal and transmits it via the transmitting/receiving section 1 to the other module or the like that transmitted the signal.

Here, the "predetermined signal" is, for example, a signal indicating that the module is undergoing self-diagnosis or the like.

Therefore, even if the module 5 has stopped its function, it appears to other modules as if it were operating normally, so the operating sequence of the entire device can be temporarily maintained. .

(Example) Next, a data processing device according to an example of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the device has a plurality of modules 51, 52, 53, ... 5n having various functions, a common bus 60 and a sub-bus 70 that are branch-connected to each module, and the device It has a maintenance module 50 for maintenance management.

Each of these modules has a transmitting/receiving section 1 that transmits and receives signals to and from other modules other than itself via the common bus 60.
1, 12, ...in, 10.

The module 51 (the same applies to other modules) according to this embodiment will be explained based on FIGS. 3 and 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, the module 51 includes the transmitting and receiving unit 1
a driver/receiver as a driver/receiver, a multiplexer 2l as a selection section 2, a functional section 31 for realizing a predetermined data processing function, a pseudo-response circuit 41, and an OR element 8.
1.

Here, the functional unit 31 is a control unit 31 configured with an MPU, hardware, etc. that operates according to a program necessary to realize the functions of the module 51, as shown in the figure.
a, a common interface circuit 3lb that adjusts the signal level, timing, drive current, etc. between the control unit 31a and the common bus 60 connected via the transmitting/receiving unit 1l, and the sub-bus 70. It has a sub-bus interface circuit 31c that adjusts levels and the like.

Further, as shown in the figure, the pseudo response circuit 41 includes a register 41a that temporarily holds input signals, a decoder 4lb that analyzes signals such as input commands, and generates a predetermined response signal based on the analysis result. A status encoder 41c and a transmitter 41 that transmits the generated response signal.
d, and a register 41e that temporarily holds the signal.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the transmitting/receiving section 1l has buffers 711a and llb, and a NOR element 11c and lid.

Furthermore, as shown in the figure, the multiplexer 21 is
It has AND elements 21a, 2lb, 21c, 21d, 21f and an OR element 21e.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3.4, the sub-bus 70 includes an MOE signal line 70a used to connect and disconnect between the module 51 and the common bus 60, the functional section 31, and the pseudo-response circuit 41. It has a DIAG signal line 70b used for switching and selecting, and a data line 70c used for transmitting data for self-diagnosis and the like.

Next, the operation of the data processing apparatus according to this embodiment will be explained.

When the module 51 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 performs normal operation, the DIAG line 70b of the sub-bus 70 is set to "1".
By setting the "'' state, the outputs of the AND elements 21a and 21d of the multiplexer 21 shown in FIG. It becomes possible to exchange signals in both directions.

That is, when outputting a signal from the module 51 to another module, the buffer lla of the driver/receiver 11 is output by outputting the WT signal in the "1" state from the common bus interface circuit 3lb.
Since the buffer 1lb is opened and the buffer 1lb is closed, only the output line is opened, and the signal processed by the control section 31a is transmitted.

On the other hand, when the module 51 receives a signal from another module, the common bus interface circuit 3lb changes the buffer lla of the driver/receiver 11 by setting the WT signal to the llOIT state.
The signal is received by closing the buffer llb and opening the buffer llb, and predetermined processing is performed by the control section 31a.

On the other hand, when the module 51 shown in FIG. 3.4 performs self-diagnosis, the DIAG line 70 of the sub-bus 70
By setting b to the 44088 state, the outputs of the AND elements 21a and 21d of the multiplexer 2l shown in FIG. circuit 4l
Select.

Thereafter, the maintenance module 50 transfers the self-diagnosis program to the control section 31a of the functional section 3l via the sub-bus interface circuit 3lb via the data line 70c of the sub-bus 70.

Then, the control unit 31a performs a self-diagnosis according to the diagnostic program.

While the self-diagnosis is being executed, a signal is sent to the module 51 that includes, for example, a command "Send how many bytes of data" and data indicating the machine number of the other module that sent the command. Suppose that

The signal is input to the pseudo-response circuit 41 via the driver/receiver l1 and the multiplexer 21.

The signal is temporarily held in the register 41a and then sent to the decoder 4.
The content of the signal is analyzed by lb.

If the analyzed signal is a signal that includes a command requesting data transmission, that fact is sent to the status encoder 41c, and a machine number indicating the destination of the command is sent to the transmitter 41d. Sent out.

The status encoder 41c is the decoder 4l.
When a signal requesting data transmission is input from b,
The transmitting unit 41d generates a signal indicating that “the module 51 is undergoing self-diagnosis”, and sends a signal to the analyzed destination.
1411 to cause the WT signal to be transmitted.
In state 1, the buffer lla of the driver/receiver l1 is opened and the data is transmitted to the destination.

As explained above, while the self-diagnosis program is being executed, the functional unit 31 loses its ability to transmit and receive data to and from the common bus 60, but since the pseudo-response circuit 41 is connected to the common bus 60, the common bus 60
This makes it possible for the module 51 to appear as if it is performing normal operation relative to the other modules above.

Therefore, the operating sequence of the entire device can be temporarily maintained, and even if the data processing device is in operation, one
This means that a self-diagnosis program can be executed for one module.

Incidentally, in this embodiment, as in the conventional case, the sub-bus 70 is connected to the MO
By providing the E signal line 70a, a defective module that has failed or the like can be disconnected from the common bus 60 and removed from the device.

Furthermore, the module 51 can be shut off not only by the sub-bus 70 but also by outputting the OE signal from the common bus interface circuit 2lb and the transmitter 41d.

Although the above embodiment has been described only for one module 51, the same applies to a plurality of modules.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the present invention provides a pseudo-response circuit in each module and makes it possible to select the functional section and the response circuit, so that when performing self-diagnosis on the module, the function By selecting the pseudo-response circuit instead of the functional section, when the function of the original module is stopped for self-diagnosis etc., by selecting the pseudo-response circuit instead of the functional section, When there is a data transmission request from another module, a predetermined response signal is transmitted.

Therefore, even if the function of the original module is stopped due to self-diagnosis, etc., other modules will appear to be operating normally due to self-diagnosis, etc., so the device Since this does not adversely affect the overall flow of operations and does not require the entire device to be shut down, it is possible to realize a data processing device with a long continuous operation time and high work efficiency.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment and a conventional example, Fig. 3 is a diagram showing in detail a pseudo-response circuit among the modules of the embodiment, and Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a module according to a conventional example. 1 (11)... Transmission/reception section (driver/receiver) 2 (
21)... Selection section (multiplexer) 3, 31...
Functional parts 4, 41...pseudo response circuits 6, 60...common bus

Claims (1)

[Claims] A common bus (6) that transmits signals, a transmitter/receiver (1) that transmits and receives signals between the common bus (6), and a functional unit (3) that implements a predetermined data processing function. A pseudo-response that generates a predetermined response signal when a data request signal requesting data transmission to the module (5) is input to the circuit, in a data processing device having at least one module (5) having the module (5). Circuit (4
), and a selection section (2) that selects the pseudo-response circuit (4) instead of the functional section (3) and connects it to the transmitting/receiving section (1) when instructed to do so. ).