JPH0415740A - Multi-port switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily identify a computer that sent an output display message to a screen by adding the output transmitter identifiers to the output display messages received form plural computers and displayed on the screen for each division (delimiter) of the message data. CONSTITUTION:A control mechanism 16 checks whether the output data received from a computer #i serves as a delimiter or not to show the division of the data. If so, the mechanism 16 outputs the block data (the data stored in a store buffer included in an input/output interface 11-i) covering up to the delimiter to a display device 21 of a display input device 20 via a transmission buffer 12 with the No of the computer #i of the output transmitter of the data added to the head of the block data. Thus the output message given from the computer #i is displayed on the screen of the device 21 together with the No of the com puter #i. Thus the computer that sent the output message displayed on the screen is easily identified.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention has an input/output port that interfaces with a plurality of computers, and one of the plurality of input/output ports is connected to a display input device. The present invention relates to a multi-port switching device for switching connections.

(Prior art) In recent years, one display/input device W (
In order to share the display input terminal (display input terminal) with multiple computers, it is equipped with an input/output port that serves as an interface for multiple computers.
A multi-port switching device has been developed that switches and connects one of the plurality of input/output ports to a display input device. Generally, this type of multi-port switching device applies an output method (so-called dripping method) in which output data from a plurality of computers is unconditionally output to a display input device and displayed on a screen. Therefore, the operator could not identify which computer the screen display content came from.

The multi-port switching device described above has an input computer specification function (computer specification mode )have. Normally, data input from a display input device to a designated computer is returned to the display input device via a multiport switching device so that the display input device can confirm that the data has been correctly input to the computer. displayed on the screen. This display is generally called an echoback display.

Now, if data is output from another computer while echo back display is being performed, and that output data is output to the display input device, the echo pack display data can be combined with the data from the other computer. It becomes impossible to distinguish. Conventionally, in order to prevent such problems,
In computer specification mode, output data from other computers is temporarily stored in a buffer provided at the input/output port, and data is not sent to the display input device until input processing to the specified computer is completed and computer specification mode is canceled. Output was prohibited. However, with this method, the operator may forget input, or
If you leave your desk, access from other computers may completely stop for a long period of time, and you may not be able to see important messages from the system, or the input/output port buffer may overflow and data may be discarded. There was a problem with putting it away.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) As mentioned above, the conventional multi-port switching device unconditionally outputs the output data from the computer to the display input device and displays it on the screen. There was a problem in that it was not possible to identify whether the data came from a computer or not. Additionally, in the past, if an operator forgot to input data or left his/her seat in the computer designated mode, the output of output data from a non-designated computer to the display/input device would be completely stopped for a long period of time, so the system There were problems in which important messages could not be seen or the input/output port buffers would overflow and data would be discarded.

This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to display data (
An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-port switching device in which the output light of message data can be identified on the screen.

Another object of the present invention is that in a mode for inputting data into a designated computer, if no input is made for a predetermined period of time because the operator forgets to input data or leaves his/her seat, It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-port switching device that can automatically cancel the mode and resume outputting output data from another computer to a display input device.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention includes an input/output port that interfaces with a plurality of computers, and a method for switching and connecting one of the plurality of input/output ports to a display input device. A first mode for automatically switching and displaying output data from multiple computers to a display input device in a multi-port switching device, or a cutting edge for inputting data from a display input device among multiple computers. A switch means for switching and setting a second mode that specifies a unique computer, and a monitoring timer for monitoring a period in which no data is input from the display input device when the second mode is set. means, and when mode ~1 above is set, while switching the input/output port of the computer connected to the display input device, the output data from the computer is inputted with an identifier unique to the computer for each data section. a first control means that outputs the output to the display input device with a and a second control for automatically switching from the second mode to the first mode in response to time-out detection by the monitoring timer means, and enabling data input/output between the designated computer and the display input device. The invention is characterized in that it is provided with a control mechanism having means.

(Function) According to the above configuration, when the first mode (automatic mode) is set, the output data from each computer is
Data delimiters (e.g. C for carriage return)
An identifier such as a computer number (or input/output port number) is attached to each unit (delimiter such as an R code) and is output to the display/input device and displayed on the screen, making it easy to identify the output source of the displayed message. Further, according to the above configuration, in order to connect the display input device to a specific computer and input data from the display input device to the same computer, the operator selects the second mode (computer designation mode, computer selection mode).
If no input is made for a predetermined period of time due to reasons such as forgetting to input or leaving your seat, a timeout will be detected by the monitoring timer means and the mode will switch from the second mode to the first mode. mode is automatically switched.

When the mode is switched to the first mode, the operation of outputting the output data from each computer (in data division units) to the display input device is restarted. In this way, in the present invention, if a situation occurs in which the device would normally remain in the second mode, the device is automatically switched from the second mode to the first mode and the device is switched to the second mode. This prevents the computer from being left in the second mode, so even if the operator forgets to enter input for a long time or leaves his/her seat, output messages from each computer will be displayed on the screen. This will prevent problems such as important messages not being seen or being thrown away.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of a multi-board switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, IO is a multiport switching device, 20 is n computers #1. #2...
This is a display input device (display input terminal) shared by #n (not shown). The display input device 20 is a calculator $1
．． It has a display device 21 for displaying output messages from #2, .

In the multi-boat switching device 10, 11-1°11-
2...11-n is computer #1. #2...This is an input/output interface that is an input/output port with #n. The input/output interfaces 11-1 to 11-n are for computers #1 to #
The computer includes an input/output control section for controlling data input/output to and from computers #1 to #n, and a storage buffer (none of which is shown) for temporarily storing output data from the computers #1 to #n. 12
inputs the output data from the computers #1 to #n received by the input/output interfaces 11-1 to 11-n in units of block data separated by delimiters, and displays the output data on the display device 21.
This is a transmission buffer for temporarily storing output display messages and messages.

Note that the data echoed back from a total of 1al#1 to #n (echoback display data) is temporarily stored in the transmission buffer 12 without being managed in block data units as described above. 13 is a human output interface 11-1 to 11 for input data (key input data) from the keyboard unit 22.
- This is an input buffer for temporary storage when outputting to either of n.

14 is set to an automatic mode for automatically switching and outputting the output data from the computers #1 to #n to the display input device 20 (the display device 21 of the display input device 20), or the display input device 20 (
A changeover switch section for specifying a cutting edge computer for key input data from the keyboard section 22) and switching between a computer specification (computer selection) mode for connecting the specified computer and the display input device 20; It is. Reference numeral 15 denotes a monitoring timer (key input monitoring timer) for monitoring time in order to detect a state in which key input from the keyboard section 22) in the display input device WZDC has been interrupted for a predetermined period or more in the computer specification mode; is a control mechanism that has a built-in microprocessor and controls the entire multi-port switching device IO.

Next, the operation of the multiport switching device IO shown in FIG. 1 will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, by operating the changeover switch section 14, either automatic mode or computer specification mode can be set. Further, when no special operation is performed, the changeover switch section 14 is in an automatic mode setting state.

First, a case where the automatic mode is set by the changeover switch section 14 will be described. Multiport switching device 1
The control mechanism 16 of 110 checks whether the automatic mode is set based on the state of the changeover switch section 14 (step SL). If the automatic mode is set, the control mechanism 16 determines whether there is output data from the computers #1 to #n to the input/output interfaces 11-1 to lln, for example, from the input/output interface 11-1. -11
The check is performed by a data reception interrupt from -n (step S2).

If there is output data from computer #i (i is one of 1 to n), the control mechanism 16 determines whether the data is a delimiter (usually a CR code representing a carriage return) indicating a data delimiter. If it is not a delimiter, the data is loaded into the storage buffer in the corresponding input/output interface 11-1 (step S4), and the process returns to step S1. On the other hand, if it is a delimiter, the control mechanism 1B stores the block data (data stored in the storage buffer in the input/output interface 11-1) up to the delimiter, for example, by placing the output light of the same data at the beginning. Number of computer #i (can be the number of human output interface 11-1, that is, the port number)
is attached and output to the display device 2I of the display input device 20 via the transmission buffer 12 (step S5). As a result, the output message from computer #i is displayed on the display device 21 with the computer number of computer #i attached thereto.

Therefore, the user (operator) can easily identify which computer the output message displayed on the screen is from. When the control mechanism 16 finishes step S5, it returns to step 51. Note that in the automatic mode, all key input data from the keyboard section 22 of the display input device 20 is discarded.

Next, the changeover switch section 14 is operated, and for example, the computer #
1 is specified and a computer specification (computer selection) mode is set for connecting the specified computer #1 and the display input device 20. When the computer specification mode is set by the changeover switch section 14, that is, when the automatic mode is no longer set, the control mechanism 16 checks whether there is a key input from the keyboard section 22 in the display input device 20. (Step S6). If there is a key input, the control mechanism 16 temporarily stores the key input data in the input buffer I3, and then transfers the key input data to the changeover switch unit 1.
The data is transmitted to designated computer #1 via input/output interface ll-1, which is an input/output port with computer #1 designated by No. 4 (step S7).

Then, the control mechanism 1B sets a predetermined timer value in the monitoring timer 15 and starts the timer 15 in order to monitor the time until the next key input (step S8).

When the control mechanism 16 starts the monitoring timer 15, the control mechanism 16 returns to step S1 and again determines the presence or absence of the automatic mode. In the case of the computer specification mode as in this embodiment, the control mechanism 16 returns to step S1.
6, the presence or absence of key input from the keyboard section 22 is checked as described above. If there is no key input, the control mechanism 16 checks whether or not a timeout of the monitoring timer 15 has occurred (step S9). If a timeout has not occurred, the control mechanism 16 takes action from the designated computer (here, computer #1). Output data to the input/output interface (input/output interface 1l-1) (here, echo back data from the designated computer corresponding to key input data transferred to the designated computer, designation for command input, response data from the computer) ) is present (step 510).

If there is output data from the designated computer, the control mechanism 16 outputs the data to the display device 21 via the transmission buffer 12 to display it on the screen (step 5ll), and returns to step S1. On the other hand, if there is no output data from the designated computer, the control mechanism 16 checks whether there is output data from other computers (step 51).
2) If there is output data from another computer (non-designated computer), the data is loaded into the storage buffer in the corresponding input/output interface (step S4), and the process returns to step S1. In this way, data output from a non-designated computer during the computer designation mode is not output to the display device 21 via the transmission buffer 12 because the echo-back display of key input data from the designated computer or the response to a command input is required. This is to prevent the data from being disturbed by output data from unspecified computers. However, output data from other companies' computers in the computer specification mode is stored in the storage buffer in the corresponding input/output boat and is not discarded.

Now, in the computer specification mode, if the operator leaves the display input device 20 for a long time or leaves the key input operation unattended for a long time, and the key input is interrupted for a predetermined period or more, the monitoring timer 15 times out. Conventionally, even if key input is interrupted for a long period of time, displaying and outputting data from undesignated computers remains prohibited, and therefore emergency messages and the like are not displayed, potentially causing serious system trouble. On the other hand, in this embodiment, when it is detected by the timeout of the monitoring timer 15 that the key input has been interrupted for a predetermined period or more (step S9), the control mechanism 16 changes the mode of the multi-board switching device 10 from the computer specified mode to the computer specified mode. Automatically switch to automatic mode (step 8)
13). Then, the control mechanism 16 transmits the computer output data accumulated in the storage buffers in the input/output interfaces corresponding to several unspecified computers during the period of the computer specification mode to the display device 21 via the transmission buffer 12.
(step 514). That is, the control mechanism 16
Referring to the storage buffers in each input/output interface, block data separated by delimiters is assigned a corresponding computer number in units, and is output to the display device 2I in the transmission buffer 12 in red and white. This allows the system to continue functioning. In this embodiment, the data after the last delimiter existing in the buffer remains in the buffer until it is detected in step S3 that a new delimiter has been output.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, an output display message that is output from a plurality of computers and displayed on the screen includes an identifier (computer number, input/output port) for identifying the output light. Since a delimiter (number, etc.) is attached to each delimiter of message data, it is possible to easily identify from which computer the output display message on the screen comes from using this identifier.

Further, according to the present invention, in the computer designation mode (second mode) for inputting data to a designated computer, input is interrupted for a long time due to reasons such as the operator forgetting to input data or leaving his/her seat. In this case, the mode can be canceled automatically and the output data from other computers can be resumed to the display input device. There is no risk of causing serious trouble.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multi-board switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining the operation. lO・・Multi-boat switching device, 11-1 to 11-〇・
・I/O interface (I/O port), I2...
Transmission buffer, 13... Input buffer, 14... Changeover switch section, 15... Monitoring timer, 16... Control mechanism, 20... Display input device, 21... Display device, 22
...Keyboard section. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A multi-port switching device comprising an input/output port that interfaces with a plurality of computers, and switchingly connects one of the plurality of input/output ports to a display/input device having a display/input function, comprising: A first mode for automatically switching and displaying output data from a plurality of computers on the display/input device, or a second mode for specifying the only computer to be connected to the display/input device among the plurality of computers. switch means for switching and setting the mode; monitoring timer means for monitoring a period in which no data is input from the display input device when the second mode is set by the switch means; When the first mode is set by the switch means, while switching the input/output port connected to the display/input device, the output data from the computer corresponding to the port is transferred to the computer at each data break. a first control means that attaches a unique identifier to the computer and outputs it to the display/input device, and when the second mode is set, an input that corresponds to the computer specified in the second mode; The output port and the display input device are connected to enable data input/output between the specified computer and the display input device, and the mode is switched from the second mode to the second mode in response to timeout detection by the monitoring timer means. 1. A multi-port switching device comprising: a control mechanism having a second control means for automatically switching to the first mode;