JPH04150120A - Station diagnostic system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the accuracy of station diagnosis and the processing speed of a system by comparing a data transmitted by a response transmission means with the data of a diagnostic test of a start control means so as to discriminate the fault or the normal state of the station. CONSTITUTION:The diagnostic system consists of a diagnostic start section 1, a diagnostic replacement section 3, a processing section 5 subjected to diagnosis, and a diagnostic monitoring section 7. Then a station connected to a LAN (local area network) receives a data resulting from the test started for the diagnosis of the station and transmits a response to the data. Moreover, the transmitted data is compared with the diagnostic test data of the start control means 1 to discriminate the fault or the normal state of the station. Furthermore, whether or not a response to the data resulting from the diagnostic test is transmitted in a prescribed time from the station transmitting the diagnostic test is monitored. Thus, the accuracy of diagnosis and the processing speed of the system are improved.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention diagnoses the communication paths of stations connected on a LAN (Local Area Network),
The present invention relates to a station diagnosis method for detecting failures, etc. of the station.

(Prior Art) As a method for determining whether stations connected to the above LAN are operating normally, for example, each station in a media access method using a token parasim bus method has a method for receiving and passing tokens. It must be done within a certain amount of time. The above media access method detects when frames have stopped flowing for a certain period of time for each source address by monitoring the source address (SA) added in frames and data frames for receiving and passing tokens from each station. Detect and create healthy or unhealthy information for your station. This healthy or unhealthy information is generally referred to as a live list.

Next, a loop test for determining the status of each station will be explained using FIG. 6.

Of each station connected on LAN15,
The diagnostic station 17 transmits a diagnostic frame to one station to be diagnosed via LAN 1.5.

The transmitted diagnostic frame is sent to the station to be diagnosed 19
is returned and transmitted to the diagnostic station 17. The diagnostic station 17 compares the diagnostic frame transmitted to one station to be diagnosed with the diagnostic frame transmitted after being looped back from that one diagnostic frame, thereby determining the diagnostic status of the station to be diagnosed 19 and the LAN 15. Determine the condition.

Here, the method for creating the event list described in - will be explained using the configuration diagram shown in FIG. 7 showing the transmission elements in the station. The station 25 is connected to the media 23 and has a transmission board 27 and a memory board 29, the transmission board 27 is equipped with a transmission LSI and transmission software 1, and the memory board 29 is equipped with a transmission software 2 and an application process. We are prepared. The method for creating the live list described above is based on the transmission LSI, transmission software 1, etc., since healthy information is created by transmitting a frame including the source address from each station on the LAN 15 and the status of the transmission operation is determined. It has not been easy to determine the health status of all patients.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, the method for creating the above live list information is based on the transmission LSI of the transmission board 1 that directly accesses the media 23.
Only the status of transmission software 1. It was difficult to determine whether the transmission software 2, the status of the application process using the transmission, the status of resources such as the buffer that stores the transmitted data, etc., were in a healthy state.

Also, since the loopback test method is executed between two stations, in order for all stations on the LAN to perform diagnosis with other stations than their own, the number of stations should be N (N-1,). (N) sets of loopback tests are required, and the loopback test transactions reduce the transmission speed of control data and monitoring data on the LAN, which may lead to a delay in system processing speed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and its purpose is to reliably grasp the transmission operation of each station, improve the accuracy of diagnosis of the station, and quickly execute the diagnosis of the station. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a station diagnostic system that improves the processing speed of the system.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides startup control means for starting and controlling a diagnostic test of a station connected to a LAN; response transmission means for receiving data from a diagnostic test activated by the activation control means and transmitting a response to the data; and a response transmission means for receiving data from a diagnostic test activated by the activation control means; determining means for determining whether the station is abnormal or normal by comparison; and diagnostic monitoring means for monitoring whether a response to data from a diagnostic test is transmitted from the station within a predetermined time by the response transmitting means. The main point is to be prepared.

(Operation) In the station diagnostic system having the above configuration, a diagnostic test of a station connected to the LAN receives data from an activated test and transmits a response to the data.

The transmitted data is compared with the diagnostic test data of the activation control means to determine whether the station is abnormal or normal.

Furthermore, since it is monitored whether a response to the data from the diagnostic test is transmitted from the station to which the diagnostic test is transmitted within a predetermined time, the station diagnosis can be executed quickly.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail using the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing one embodiment of the station diagnosis system of the present invention.

The station diagnosis system has a diagnosis activation section 1 for carrying out a return test between each station, and a diagnosis switching section 3 for changing the diagnosis activation section 1 and the stations on the LAN in a predetermined order. The station diagnostic system also includes a diagnostic processing unit 5 that receives return data transmitted from the diagnostic startup unit 1 and transmits the data, and a diagnostic monitoring unit 5 that monitors whether diagnosis is being performed regularly. It has part 7.

The diagnosis activation unit 1 and the like are provided to a communication user in the upper layer of the application, which is the seventh layer of the communication protocol layer 11 shown in FIG. In addition, the diagnostic startup unit 1 and the like transmit and receive data using frames provided from the communication protocol layer 11, which is composed of the presentation layer 1 session layer, transport layer, network layer, data link layer, and physical layer below the application layer. is executed.

A diagnostic transmission frame 13 using the above-mentioned frame will be explained with reference to FIG.

The diagnostic transmission frame 13 is a diagnostic frame that is a type of the diagnostic transmission frame 13.

A frame type (FT) that identifies return frames, return proxy frames, and diagnostic replacement frames, and a frame sending station (SA) that indicates the frame transmission destination.
has. In addition, the diagnostic transmission frame 13 indicates return data in the case of a diagnostic frame and a return frame, the station address where a diagnosis error occurred in the case of a return substitute frame, and the next diagnostic station address in the case of a diagnosis replacement frame. Data indicating that
).

The diagnostic status of each station will be explained using the diagnostic transmission flume 13 with reference to FIG.

Stations 81 to S4 are connected on the LAN, and station S3 is the station with the diagnosis error.

First, the station to start the diagnosis is determined by the diagnosis monitoring unit 7 of each station after the time multiplied by the TD time of the station address from the time when the diagnosis transmission frame was last received by each station. This is when no transmission frame is sent.

Note that the numbers in the figure indicate station addresses, D indicates a diagnostic frame, L indicates a return data frame, S indicates a return substitute frame, and T indicates a diagnosis replacement frame.

The activated station S1 broadcasts the diagnostic frame D to all stations using a multicast address or a global cast address. The diagnostic frame D is received by the diagnostic processing unit 5 of each station and sent back using a return frame L or a multicast address.

Among the stations, station S2 receives the diagnostic frame D and transmits a return frame L to station S1. Due to a diagnostic error, station S3 cannot transmit return frame T even after one hour has passed since diagnostic frame D was transmitted from station S1. Therefore, the diagnostic station S1 transmits the return proxy frame S. When this return proxy frame is transmitted, station S4 transmits return frame L to station S1. Upon receiving the return frame L, the station S1 ends the diagnostic operation and transmits the diagnostic replacement frame T. Upon receiving the diagnostic replacement frame, station S2 transmits diagnostic frame D. Since the station S2 cannot receive the return frame L even after one hour has passed since the diagnosis frame D was transmitted, the station S2 transmits the return substitute frame S. After transmission, the return frame L from station S4 is sent to station S1.
transmitted to. When the station s2 finishes the diagnosis, the station S4 becomes the diagnostic station.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained using the processing flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b).

First, the main routine is activated and the own station address is assigned to variable ST. After the assignment, the maximum station address on the LAN is assigned to Smax (steps 100 to 110).

The diagnostic monitoring time (TMI) is the station address T in the variable ST. is the value multiplied by time (step 120)
If the diagnostic monitoring time (TM 1 ) has elapsed, the process proceeds to step 140, and if it has not elapsed, the process proceeds to step 160 (steps 120 to 130).

Proceeding to step 140, a diagnostic processing subroutine is activated.

First, station S1 is first activated for diagnosis.
is substituted with zero for the next diagnostic station (NS) (step 500).
, substitute SmaX (maximum station address on the LAN) to the number of stations (N), and count up the own station address to variable S. After counting up, the station S1 that is started first broadcasts the diagnostic frame D (
Steps 510-530).

After the round-trip transmission, when station S1 receives return data from another station, it proceeds to step 550;
If the return frame L is not received, the process proceeds to step 600 (step 540).

Proceeding to step 550, if the diagnostic data D and the returned data do not match, the station S1 determines that the station indicated by the variable S is abnormal, and the process proceeds to step 630. On the other hand, when the diagnostic data and the returned data match, station S1 assigns the variable S to the next diagnostic station (NS) when it is zero, determines that the station indicated by the variable S is normal, and performs the next diagnostic station. If the station (NS) is not zero, the station indicated by the variable S is determined to be normal and step 63
0 (steps 550-580).

On the other hand, when proceeding to step 600, station S1 returns to step 540 when the broadcast transmission is within one hour.
When the time has elapsed, the return proxy frame S is broadcast and transmitted, and a variable S is set in the data field of the return proxy frame S.

Then, station S1 determines that the station indicated by variable S is abnormal and proceeds to station 630 (steps 600 to 620).

Proceeding to step 630, the station S1 counts up the variable S, sets the variable S to 1 when the counted up variable S is larger than the maximum station address on the LAN, and sets the variable S to 1, so that the variable S is the maximum station address on the LAN. When it is smaller, the process similarly proceeds to step 650 (step 640,
660).

Proceeding to step 650, the station S1 decrements the station number variable N, and if the decremented station number N is zero, that is, the diagnosis is completed and there is no next diagnostic station, the station S1 returns to the main routine,
If the diagnosis is not completed or there is a next diagnostic station, the process returns to step 510 (steps 650, 670).

After the subroutine ends, the next diagnostic station, for example station S2, is set in the diagnostic replacement frame T and broadcasted, and the process returns to step 120 (step 150).

On the other hand, when proceeding to step 160, station S1 proceeds to step 140 of the diagnostic processing subroutine if the next diagnostic station is the own station upon reception of the diagnostic replacement frame, and if the next diagnostic station is not the own station, the station S1 proceeds to step 170. (Step 160).

Proceeding to step 170, the station saves the data of the diagnostic frame D when receiving the diagnostic frame, and proceeds to step 210 if the station does not receive the diagnostic frame.

When the source address of the diagnostic frame D is not equal to the value of minus one of the station address, the station returns to step 120, and when the source address is equal to the value of minus one of the station address, it broadcasts a return frame. Then return to step 120 (steps 170-2
00).

Proceeding to step 210, when the station receives the return frame L, it determines that the frame sending station (SA) of the return frame I/L is normal; otherwise, the station proceeds to step 250.

When the source address of the return frame L is not equal to the value of minus 1 of the station address, the station:
Returning to step 120, when the source address is equal to the local station address minus 1, the return frame L
After broadcast transmission, the process returns to step 120 (step 2
10-240).

Proceeding to step 250, if the station receives the return proxy frame S, it determines that the frame sending station (SA) of the return proxy frame S is normal, and if the station does not receive the return proxy frame S, it returns to step 130. When the source address of the diagnostic frame D is not equal to the value of minus one of the station address, the station proceeds to step 120, and when the source address is equal to the value of minus one of the station address, it broadcasts the return frame L. After doing so, the process returns to step 120 (steps 170 to 200).

This allows station diagnostics to be processed quickly.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably grasp the transmission operation of each station, improve the accuracy of diagnosis of the station, and quickly execute the diagnosis of the station. This makes it possible to improve the processing speed of the system.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of the station diagnosis system of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a communication protocol layer, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a diagnostic transmission frame, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing each station. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conventional diagnosis situation, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing transmission elements of each station. 1...Diagnosis starting unit 3...Diagnosis replacement unit 5...Diagnosed processing unit 7...Diagnosis monitoring unit...Communication protocol layer

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A station diagnostic system that executes a diagnostic test of a station connected to a LAN, comprising: startup control means for starting and controlling the diagnostic test; a response transmission means for receiving data from a diagnostic test and transmitting a response to the data; and a response transmission means that compares the data transmitted by the response transmission means with the data from the diagnosis test of the activation control means and transmits a response to the data. A station characterized in that it comprises a determination means for determining abnormality or normality, and a diagnostic monitoring means for monitoring whether a response to data from a diagnostic test is transmitted from the station within a predetermined time by the response transmission means. Diagnostic system.