JPH0389646A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect the presence of the absence and the position of the change of the loop connection state by transmitting the state checking frame, which can be received by all devices and has a prescribed format, from an arbitrary device. CONSTITUTION:A communication control part 9 is provided as the checking frame transmitting means which transmits the state checking frame which can be received by all devices; and when the state checking frame transmitted by another device is received, the frame is relayed downward as it is if the local device does not automatically reconstitute a loop, but the present device address is inserted to the frame and this frame is relayed downward when the present device automatically reconstitutes the loop. When the state checking frame transmitted by the present device is received, the relevant frame is abandoned when the address of another device is not inserted to the frame, but these addresses are stored and are reported to a higher-order device if the address of another device is inserted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a plurality of information processing apparatuses (hereinafter simply referred to as apparatuses) that share a loop-shaped transmission line with a redundant configuration.

The present invention is used in a loop status monitoring method in a communication system that performs communication between two systems, and particularly relates to a device equipped with automatic loop reconfiguration means in the event of a failure.

〔overview〕

In information processing equipment that communicates by sharing a redundant loop-shaped transmission path and is equipped with a means to automatically reconfigure the loop in the event of a failure, it is possible to connect the loop by sending a single check frame). By making it possible to know the presence and location of a loop, it is possible to easily monitor the loop connection status.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in this type of communication system, a monitoring device is notified that a failure has occurred and the loop has been reconfigured through a control loop provided separately from the communication loop, or a loop monitoring device is provided. The monitoring device transmits frames to each device at regular intervals, reads out the loop connection status of each device in response, and checks for any changes in the status.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the conventional communication system described above, the monitoring device transmits frames for the number of devices at regular intervals, and it is necessary for the monitoring device to manage all changes in the loop connection status of individual devices. It was necessary to provide a separate control loop and to communicate changes in status to the monitoring device through this control loop.

Therefore, in either case, special equipment (monitoring device, control loop, etc.) is required, and there is a drawback that it is difficult to easily monitor the loop connection state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus having means for constructing a communication system that can easily monitor a loop connection state by eliminating the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention provides an information processing device that is connected to a loop-shaped transmission path having a redundant configuration, and includes means for communicating between the connected devices, and means for automatically reconfiguring the loop in the event of a loop failure. , a check frame transmitting means for transmitting a status check frame that can be received by all devices, and when receiving a status check frame transmitted by another device, if the own device does not automatically reconfigure the loop, the frame is transmitted. A first check frame relay means that relays the frame as it is downstream, and if the own device performs automatic loop reconfiguration, inserts the own device address into the frame and relays it downstream, and a status check frame transmitted by the own device. If the address of another device is not inserted in the frame, the frame is discarded, and if the address of another device is inserted, the first check is to memorize, notify, and display these addresses. The present invention is characterized by comprising a frame processing means.

Further, the present invention provides information that is connected to a loop-shaped transmission line having a redundant configuration, and includes means for communicating between the connected devices, and means for automatically reconfiguring the loop in the event of a loop failure. The processing device includes a check frame transmitting means for transmitting a status check frame that can be received by all devices, and a check frame transmitting means that transmits a status check frame that can be received by all devices. The frame is relayed downstream as is, and if the device itself is performing automatic loop reconfiguration, it returns a response frame containing information about the loop connection status after automatic reconfiguration to the source of the frame, and then frames the relevant frame. A second check frame relay means that relays the status check frame downstream, and when the self-device receives a status check frame transmitted by the self-device, discards the frame, and when the self-device receives a response frame to the status check frame transmitted by the self-device, the response frame is discarded. The present invention is characterized by comprising second check frame processing means for extracting and storing the transmission source address and loop connection information, as well as for notifying and displaying the same.

[Effect]

The check frame transmitting means transmits a status check frame in a predetermined format that can be received by all devices. and,
When the first or second check frame processing means receives a status check frame transmitted by another device,
When receiving the status check transmitted by the own device, the device performs predetermined processing depending on whether or not the own device is performing automatic reconfiguration.

Therefore, by transmitting a status check frame once from any device, it is possible to easily know whether or not the connection status of the loop has changed and where the connection status of the loop has changed.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main parts of a first embodiment of the present invention.

The first embodiment includes a reception buffer 1, a frame relay unit 2, and a transmission buffer 8, each of which is connected to a loop-shaped transmission path having a redundant configuration (not shown), and serves as a means for communicating between the connected devices. In an information processing device 20 equipped with a loop connection control unit 10 as a means for automatically reconfiguring a loop in the event of a loop failure, the present invention is characterized by transmitting a status check frame that can be received by all devices. When the communication control unit 9 acts as a check frame transmission means and receives a status check frame transmitted by another device, if the own device has not automatically reconfigured the loop, it relays the frame as it is downstream, and the own device If the device performs automatic loop reconfiguration, it inserts its own device address into the frame and relays it downstream, and when it receives a status check frame sent by its own device, it inserts the address of another device into the frame. a frame analysis unit 3 as a first check frame processing means, which includes means for discarding the frame if the frame is not inserted, and storing these addresses and notifying the host device if addresses of other devices have been inserted; All device address section 4, own device address section 5, frame type section 6,
It includes an insertion section 7 and a communication control B9.

Figures 2(a), 2), (C), and 2(d) are examples of the format of a status check frame. Figure 2(a) shows the format of the status check frame when the status check frame is sent, and Figure 2(b) shows the automatic restart of the loop. This is the format of the status check frame after it has been relayed once to the device that has performed the configuration, and (C) in the same figure shows the format of the status check frame that has been relayed twice to the device that has automatically reconfigured the loop. It is a format. And the same figure (
b) is a detailed example of the frame type (TYP) 204.

Among these, 207 is a command frame (COM), 20
8 indicates a data frame (DAT), and 209 indicates a check pick (CHK). Each device 201 is called a delimiter and recognizes the portion between the delimiters as a frame. 202 is the destination address (DA) of the frame, 203 is the source address (SA) of the frame, 204 is the area (frame type) (TYP) indicating the type of frame, and 205 and 206 are the loops that have been automatically reconfigured. Address ■ and address ■ inserted in the device.

Figure 3 shows the movement of the status check frame in the event of a failure, and the check frames (a), wa) and (C) in the figure are the same as those in Figure 2 (a), (b) and (C), respectively. It corresponds to the frame shown.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a communication system to which the present invention is applied.
) 301 and loop (1) 302 into 6 devices! 20
a to 2Of, and each device 20a to 2Of communicates with each other via loop (0) 301.

Next, the operation in the first embodiment will be explained.

When a frame is received from the transmission path, the signal line 100.10
1 and 102 to the frame relay unit 2, reception buffer 11, and frame analysis unit 3, respectively.
When the frame analysis unit 3 determines that the frame is addressed to the own device or to all devices, an instruction to start the reception operation is issued to the communication control unit 9 via the signal line 109. If the frame analysis unit 3 determines that the frame is not addressed to the device itself or to all devices, the frame relay unit 2 is notified of this via the signal line 108, and the frame is sent to the signal line 114.
and 115, and is relayed to other downstream devices not shown. On the other hand, when there is a frame transmission request from another device not shown in the figure via the signal line 124, the frame is transmitted to the other device not shown in the figure via the signal line 112, the transmission buffer 8, the signal line 113, and the signal line 115. . As described above, normal frame transmission and reception is performed.

Further, when the loop connection control unit 10 is notified of an abnormality in the transmission path from another device (not shown) via the signal line 118, the loop connection control unit 10 instructs automatic reconfiguration of the loop connection via the signal line 119. At the same time, the communication controller 9 is notified via the signal line 116 that the automatic reconfiguration of the loop connection has been performed.

Here, the feature of the present invention is that a status check frame for checking the loop connection status is provided in addition to the normal communication frame (command frame and coordinator frame), so that the loop status can be checked in one frame. This is what makes it possible.

When the transmission of a status check frame is instructed from another device (not shown) via the signal line ±25, the communication control unit 9
), set the destination address (DA) 202 to all device addresses, set the source address (SA) 203 to the own device address, and set the frame type (TYP) 204 to ``t fired'' (CHK). 20
9 is set to "1" and transmitted to other devices not shown in the figure via the signal line 112, transmission buffer 8, signal lines 113 and 115.

On the other hand, from other devices not shown, signal lines 100, 101 and 1
When a frame is received by the frame relay unit 2, reception buffer 11, and frame analysis unit 3 respectively via 02, the frame analysis unit 3 determines the destination address (
DA) 202, source address (SA) 203, and frame type (TYP) 204 fields are checked. Destination address (DA) is all device address,
The source address (SA) 203 is not the own device address, and the frame type (TYP) 204 is a check pit (
CHK) 209, it is determined that a status check frame transmitted by another device has been received, and the communication control unit 9 is notified via the signal line 121. At this time, the communication control unit 9 checks whether or not it has received a notification from the loop control unit 10 that the loop has been automatically reconfigured. Instructs to insert. The insertion unit 7 instructs the frame relay unit 2 to insert its own device address via the signal line 110, and the frame relay unit 2 receives this and inputs the frame type (TYP) 204 field and delimiter 201 of the received status check frame. After inserting the address 205 as the own device address between the signal lines 114 and 115
The data is relayed to other downstream devices not shown in the diagram.

On the other hand, when receiving the status check frame transmitted by another device, if the communication control unit 9 has not received notification from the loop connection control unit 10 that automatic loop reconfiguration has been performed, the communication control unit 9 and instructs the frame relay unit 2 to relay the status check frame as it is to another downstream device (not shown) via signal lines 114 and 115.

Destination address (DA) 202 when the frame is received
is the all-device address, the source address (SA) 203 is the own device address, and the frame type (TYP) 204 is the check pit (CHK) 209, the status check frame sent by the own device goes around the loop. This is a case where the frame analysis unit 3 detects this and notifies the communication control unit 9 via the signal line 123. In response to this, the communication control unit 9 transfers data from the reception buffer 1 to the signal line 1.
The status check frame is taken out via 03 and it is checked whether address information is embedded after the frame type (TYP) 204 field. If address information (address 205) is not embedded here, the loop connection state is normal, and if address information is embedded here, it can be seen that the loop is automatically reconfigured by the device. The communication control unit 9 stores this address information and notifies it to a higher-level device (not shown) via a signal line 120.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the main parts of a second embodiment of the present invention.

The information processing device 20a of the second embodiment has a communication control 9 as a check frame transmitting means for transmitting a status check frame that can be received by all devices, and a communication control 9 that transmits a status check frame that can be received by all devices, which is a feature of the present invention. When a status check frame is received, if the device has not automatically reconfigured the loop, the frame is relayed downstream, and if the device has automatically reconfigured the loop, it sends a message to the source of the frame. means to send back a response frame containing information about the loop connection status after automatic reconfiguration, and then to relay the frame downstream, and when the self-device receives a status check frame sent by the self-device, it discards the frame and When a response frame is received in response to a status check frame transmitted by the device, a second check frame processing means includes means for extracting and storing the source address and loop connection information of the response frame and notifying the higher-level device. , frame analysis section 3, all device address section 4,
It includes an own device address section 5, a frame type section 6, a response frame assembly section 11, and a communication control section 9.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are explanatory diagrams showing an example of a frame format. FIG. 2(a) shows a status check frame, and in the case of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2(a), only some additions are made to the contents of the type frame.
The configuration is similar. Figure 3) shows a status response frame, and loop connection information that is loop connection information of the device that transmitted the response frame between 71/- type (TYP) 204a and delimiter 201 of the status check frame in Figure (a). 210 is inserted.

FIG. 2C is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of the frame type (T Y P) 204a, and in the case of the first embodiment shown in FIG. A response frame (RES) 211 shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be explained.

The normal transmission and reception of frames is the same as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, so a description thereof will be omitted.

When the transmission of a check frame is instructed from another device (not shown) through the signal line 125, the communication control unit 9 assembles a frame in the format shown in FIG. , the source address (
SA) 203 as the own device address, type frame (T
The check pit (CHK) 209 of the YP) 204a is set to "1" and transmitted via the signal line 112, transmission buffer 8, signal lines 113 and 115 to other devices not shown.

On the other hand, from other devices not shown, signal lines 100, 101 and 1
When a frame is received by the frame relay section 2, reception buffer 1, and frame solution 13 via the frame relay section 02,
The frame analysis unit 3 checks the destination address (DA) 202, source address (SA) 203, and type frame (TYP) 2 (14a) of each frame.The destination address (DA) 202 is sent with all device addresses. If the original address (SA) 203 is not the own device address and the type frame (TyP) 204a has check bits (CHK) 209, it is determined that a status check frame sent by another device has been received, and each signal line 121 to the communication control unit 9, and the response frame assembly unit 11 via the signal line 12g.At this time, the communication control unit 9 receives a notification from the loop control unit to that the loop has been automatically reconfigured. If you have been notified of automatic reconfiguration, check whether the signal line 130
The response frame assembling unit 11 is instructed to assemble and transmit a response frame via the . The response frame assembling unit 11 sets the source address of the received status check frame to the destination address (DA) 202.
3, set the own device address to frame type (TYP) 20.
4a, further sets the response frame (RES) 211 bits, transmits the response frame to the transmission buffer 8 via the signal line 129, further via the signal lines 113 and 115, and then relays the frame via the signal line 122. 2 to relay the frame.

On the other hand, when receiving a status check frame transmitted by another device, if the communication control unit 9 has not received a notification from the loop connection control unit 1O that automatic loop reconfiguration has been performed, the communication control unit 9 The frame relay section 2 is instructed to simply relay the status check frame as it is to another downstream device (not shown) via the signal lines 114 and 115, but does not transmit the status response frame.

When the frame is received, the destination address (DA) 20
2 is the total device address, and the source address (SA) is 20
3 is the own device address, frame type (TYP) 204
If a is the check pit (CHK) 209, this means that the status check frame sent by the own device has gone around the loop and returned, and the frame analysis unit 3 detecting this returns the status check frame via the signal line 123. The communication control unit 9 is notified, and the communication control unit 9 discards the frame.

When the frame is received, the destination address (DA) 2C
I2 is the own device address, and the frame type (TYP)
If there is a response frame (RE 5) 211 in 204a, it means that the response frame to the status check frame sent by the own device has been received, and the frame analysis unit 3
notifies the communication control unit 9 of this via the signal line 127. In this case, since the loop is automatically reconfigured at the response frame transmission source, the communication control unit 9 takes out this response frame from the reception buffer 1, and sends the transmission source address (S, A) 203 and loop connection information 210. is extracted and notified to a higher-level device (not shown) via the signal line 120.

As described above, if a status check frame is sent and no response frame is returned before it goes around the loop and returns, the loop connection status is normal, and if a response frame is returned, the It can be seen that the device detected a loop abnormality and automatically reconfigured the loop.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to know whether or not there is a change in the connection state of the loop and where there is a change by transmitting a check frame once, and loop monitoring can be easily realized with any device. There is no need to provide special monitoring equipment or a separate loop for control, which has a great practical effect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main parts of a first embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2(a) to 2(d) are explanatory diagrams showing an example of the format of the status check frame. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the function of the check frame in the event of a failure. FIG. 4 is a block configuration diagram showing an example of a communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the main parts of a second embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 6(a), 6(b), and 6(C) are explanatory diagrams showing an example of the format of the status frame. 1... Receive buffer, 2... Frame relay! ,3・
... Frame analysis section, 4... All device address section, 5.
... Own device address section, 6... Frame type section, 7
insertion section, 8... transmission buffer, 9... communication control section,
10... Loop connection control unit, 11... Response frame assembly unit, 20.20a... Information processing device, 100-1
30...Signal line, 201...Delimiter, 202...
・Destination address (DA), 203... Source address (SA), 204.204a... Frame type (TYP), 205... Address ■, 206...
Address ■, 207... Command (COM), 20
g...Data (DAT), 209...Check pit (CHK), 210...Loop connection information, 2
11...Response frame bit (RES), 301...
- Loop (0), 302...Loop (1).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. The device is connected to a loop-shaped transmission line having a redundant configuration, and includes means for communicating between the connected devices, and means for automatically reconfiguring the loop in the event of a loop failure. In an information processing device, the information processing device must include a check frame transmitting means for transmitting a status check frame that can be received by all devices, and the device must automatically reconfigure the loop when receiving a status check frame transmitted by another device. For example, a first check frame relay means that relays the frame as it is downstream, and if the own device performs automatic loop reconfiguration, inserts the own device address into the frame and relays it downstream; When a status check frame is received, if the address of another device is not inserted in the frame, the frame is discarded, and if the address of another device is inserted, these addresses are memorized and notified and displayed. An information processing device comprising: first check frame processing means. 2. In an information processing device that is connected to a loop-shaped transmission path having a redundant configuration and includes means for communicating between the connected devices and means for automatically reconfiguring the loop in the event of a loop failure, A check frame transmitting means that transmits a status check frame that all devices can receive, and when receiving a status check frame transmitted by another device, if the device does not automatically reconfigure the loop, the frame is sent downstream as is. If the device itself is performing automatic loop reconfiguration, it returns a response frame containing information about the loop connection status after automatic reconfiguration to the source of the frame, and then relays the frame downstream. a second check frame relay means that discards the status check frame transmitted by the own device when the frame is received; and a second check frame relay means that discards the status check frame transmitted by the own device; and when the response frame is received for the status check frame transmitted by the own device, the source address of the response frame is and second check frame processing means for extracting and storing loop connection information and for notifying and displaying the information.