JPH03225407A - Automatic power source remote control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the safety by enabling a remote device to turn off its power source a time indicated by time value data after the power source is turned on and a power-OFF command can not be received. CONSTITUTION:A host computer 1 when actuating the remote device 2 sends a power-ON command to the remote device 2, and also determines the power- OFF time of the day and sends the time value for turning off the power source the certain time later at the same time. A power-OFF means 4B makes a power- OFF timer 10 count up after the power source is turned on and checks the received time value and the value of the power-OFF timer 10. When the OFF command is sent from the host computer 1 within the constant time, the remote device 2 turns off its power source according to the OFF command. When the time value for turning off the power source is not updated and the constant time is elapsed, the remote device 2 turns off its power source without the command from the host computer 1. Consequently, a state wherein the power source can not be turned off is evaded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an automatic power supply remote control system, and particularly to a system in which a host computer and a remote computer or a remote device such as a terminal device are connected via a communication line. In,
This invention relates to an automatic power supply remote control method for remote equipment.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in a system in which a host computer and a remote computer or a remote device such as a terminal device are connected via a communication line, the power supply of the remote device is controlled by an on/off command from the host computer. , the power to the remote device is turned on at the start of program processing, and turned off at the end of the processing.

Incidentally, as a conventional technique related to this type of automatic power supply remote control, for example, a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 63-63258 is known.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The above-mentioned conventional technology suffers from line failures, program runaways, etc.
There is no consideration given to the case where it becomes impossible to turn off the power to the remote equipment, which may cause a disaster to the remote equipment such as remote computers and terminal devices that are running unmanned. The problem is that it is difficult to ensure safety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art and provide an automatic power remote control system that can reliably turn off the power of a remote device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] According to the present invention, the above object is to provide a remote computer or a remote device such as a terminal device with a timer function so that a remote command from a host computer is transmitted due to a line failure or the like. Even if the power cannot be controlled correctly due to a runaway program, etc., by setting the time value data for turning off the power in advance, the power can be turned off unconditionally after a certain period of time. This is achieved by making sure that

[Function] A remote device such as a computer or a terminal device installed in a remote location is equipped with a timer function, and when a power-on command is issued from the host computer, a time value is added to turn off the power after a certain period of time. Based on this data, the power is automatically turned off after a certain period of time.

As a result, remote devices such as remote computers and terminal devices can avoid situations in which it is impossible to turn off the power due to line failure, program runaway, or the like.

[Embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the automatic power supply remote control system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an automatic power supply remote control unit according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a remote control system to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining the format of the off command data, FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining the operation in response to the normal power off command in the automatic power remote control unit, and FIG. 5 explains the operation in response to the power off command according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a flowchart. 1 and 2, 1 is a host computer, 2 is a communication line, 3 is a remote device, 4 is an automatic power remote control unit, 4A is an analysis and data processing means, 4B is a power off means, and 5 is a main A power supply system reception buffer, 6 a data processing section, 7 a main power supply, 8 an auxiliary power supply system reception buffer, 9 an auxiliary power supply, and 10 a power off timer.

As shown in FIG. 2, a remote control system to which the present invention is applied includes a host computer 1, a remote computer,
A remote device 2 such as a terminal device is connected through a communication line [3, and the power of the remote device 2 is normally controlled to be turned on or off by a control command from the host computer 1.

The remote device 2 is equipped with an automatic power supply remote control section 4 according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, this automatic power supply remote control section 4 is normally configured with a main power system receiving buffer 5, a data processing section 6, and a ghost 7, and analyzes and processes data on the main power system. This is performed by the analysis and data processing means 4A consisting of the reception buffer 5 and data processing s6.

The automatic power remote control method according to the prior art turns on the power to a remote device 2 installed in a remote location, and
The main control process is when the power is turned off after communication is completed, and when a failure occurs in the communication line 3 or a program runaway occurs in the data processing unit 6, etc. , there is a lack of certainty in turning off the power to the remote device 2 when it is unattended.

Therefore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the automatic power supply remote control section 4 described above is equipped with a power off means 4B comprising an auxiliary power system receiving buffer 8, an auxiliary power supply 9, and a power off timer 10.

When starting up the remote device 2, the host computer 1 sends a power-on command to the remote device 2, and at the same time predetermines the power off time for that day and sends a time value for turning off the power after a certain period of time. do. Power off means 4B
After receiving the power-on command, the power-off timer 10 is counted up, and the received time value and the power-off timer 10 are counted up.
Check the value of .

If the remote device 2 receives an off command from the host computer 1 within the time value for turning off the power after a certain period of time, the remote device 2 turns off the power of the device in accordance with the off command. Further, if the remote device 2 does not update the time value for turning off the power and reaches the predetermined time,
To turn off the power of a device even without a command from a host computer 1.

In order to turn on and off the power of the remote device as described above, the power on/off command data given from the host computer 1 to the remote device 2 is structured as shown in FIG.

In other words, the data format is that the remote device has an address area A (1 byte), a power-on command area B (1 byte),
It consists of a power off command area C (1 byte), a constant time power off time value (N bytes), and a data area E.

Next, the operation in the case of a normal power off command in one embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be explained with reference to the flow shown in FIG.

(1) When the host computer 1 turns off the power of the remote device 2, it transmits power-off command data including the address of the remote device 2, a power-off command, and data to the remote device 2. The remote device 2 receives this data,
The address is checked to determine whether the data is for the own remote device 2 (step 10).
1,102).

(2) In step 102, the received data is
If not, the data is discarded and preparations are made for receiving the next data (step 103).

(3) In step 102, if the received data is for the local remote device, it is checked whether the data is a power off command, and if it is not a power off command, data processing is continued (step 104. 105).

(4) In step 104, if the received data is a power off command, check whether data processing is completed;
Waiting for the completion of data processing, the main power of the device is turned off (steps 106 and 107).

Next, the operation of the automatic power supply control section 4 in response to a power on/off command in one embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the flow shown in FIG.

(1) When the host computer 1 turns on the power of the remote device 2, the host computer 1 sends the remote device 2 the address of the remote device 2, a power-on command, and an off time value for turning off the power after a certain period of time. Sends power-on command data including The remote device 2 receives this data, checks its address, and determines whether the data is for its own remote device 2 (steps 201, 202).
.

(2) In step 202, the received data is
If not, the data is discarded and preparations are made for receiving the next data (step 203).

(3) Also, in step 202, if the received data is for the own remote device, it is checked whether the data is a power-on command, and if it is not a power-on command, the data is discarded ( Step 204.203).

(5) If the received data is a power-on command in step 204, the main power of the device is turned on and an off time value (off timer value) is set (steps 205 and 206).

(6) After that, while continuing to process the data, check the power-on command and the update of the off-time value for turning off the power after a certain period of time, continue to monitor whether the off-command is given, and set the timer. Continue counting process (step 2)
07.208).

(7) If the data processing is completed and the timer counts up to the off time value, but the power off command cannot be received from the host computer 1, it is assumed that a normal power off command could not be received due to a line failure, etc. The main power of the device is turned off (steps 209 and 210).

According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, when the power is turned on at the time of starting the remote device, a time value for turning off the power is set, and when the time has elapsed, a turn-off command is issued from the host computer. Since the main power of the remote device 2 can be turned off even when the remote device 2 cannot be received, highly safe and reliable remote control can be performed.

The embodiment of the present invention described above has been described as applying the present invention to a system in which a host computer and a remote device have a one-to-one correspondence.
It can also be applied to systems that support N-to-N.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, in a remote control system in which a host computer and a remote device such as a remote computer or a terminal device are connected via a communication line, line failure or remote device failure can occur. Even if it becomes impossible to turn off the power to the remote device from the host computer due to some kind of failure such as a runaway program, the power to the remote device can be turned off after a certain period of time has passed after the power was turned on. , it is possible to prevent disasters and the like to remote equipment, and it is possible to improve safety and reliability.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an automatic power supply remote control unit according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a remote control system to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining the format of the off command data, FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining the operation in response to the normal power off command in the automatic power remote control unit, and FIG. 5 explains the operation in response to the power off command according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a flowchart. 1...Host computer, 2 communication line, 3.
...Remote location device, 4...Automatic power supply remote control unit, 4A...Analysis and data processing means, 4B
. . . Power off means, 5 . . . Main power system reception buffer, 6 . . . Data processing section, 7 . . .
...Main power supply, 8...Auxiliary power supply system reception buffer,
9...Auxiliary power supply, 10...Power off timer・'-)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Connected to the host computer via a communication line,
In an automatic power supply remote control system for a remote device that is equipped with a means for turning on/off the power according to a command from a host computer, the host computer, when commanding the power on, generates time value data for turning off the power after a certain period of time. and when the remote device cannot receive a power-off command after turning on the power and the time specified by the time value data has elapsed, the remote device turns off its own power. Automatic power supply remote control system.