JPH05327814A - Communication protocol converter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow one processor to implement the conversion of plural kinds of communication protocols by using a program transferred in a file form from a file memory, thereby converting the communication protocol. CONSTITUTION:An active processor 10 can correspond with the conversion of plural kinds of communication protocols by using a different program, A standby processor 11 implements the processing of communication protocol conversion on behalf of the processor 10 when it is faulty. A file memory 4 stores programs for communication protocol conversion. A signal reception unit 3 decides the communication protocol conversion required at the reception of a setting request and transfers the program required for the execution to the active processor 10. A fault monitoring unit 8 monitors the fault of the active processor 10 and transfers the same program used for the active processor 10 to the standby processor 11. Thus, plural kinds of communication protocols are converted by one processor.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication protocol conversion device for converting a communication protocol of a call input from a communication line into a communication protocol of a communication partner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional communication protocol conversion device disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-244940. In the figure, 1 is a communication line for transmitting a communication signal from the outside to the communication protocol conversion device, and 2 is an external communication partner to which the communication signal converted by the communication protocol conversion device is sent. 3 is a signal receiving unit for receiving a communication signal from the communication line 1, 4 is a file memory containing a program for converting a communication protocol, and 5 is a file control unit for controlling the file memory 4. Is. Reference numerals 6a, 6b and 6c denote a dedicated processor of the communication protocol A, a dedicated processor of the communication protocol B and a dedicated processor of the communication protocol C, which perform individual communication protocol conversions, and 7 denotes a dedicated processor of each of the dedicated processors 6a, 6b and 6c. It is a general-purpose processor that performs communication protocol conversion on behalf of them in the event of a failure. Reference numeral 8 is a failure monitoring unit that constantly monitors the failure status of the dedicated processors 6a, 6b, 6c and the general-purpose processor 7, and 9 is a system bus to which these units are connected.

Next, the operation will be described. The fault monitoring unit 8 monitors the state of each dedicated processor 6a, 6b, 6c for communication protocol conversion via the system bus 9. When each of the dedicated processors 6a, 6b, 6c is normal, when the signal receiving unit 3 receives a communication call setting request from the communication line 1, the call setting request is analyzed or a preset value is used. , Select a dedicated processor for necessary communication protocol conversion and transmit the received signal to the corresponding dedicated processor. For example, when the received signal is determined to be the communication protocol A, the signal receiving unit 3 transmits the signal to the dedicated processor 6a of the communication protocol A. Signal receiving unit 3
Upon receiving the signal, the dedicated processor 6a performs a predetermined communication protocol conversion to the external communication partner 2
A series of processing is completed by transmitting the signal which has undergone the communication protocol conversion.

Next, when the dedicated processor 6a of the communication protocol A fails for some reason and cannot perform the communication protocol conversion, the failure monitoring unit 8 detects the failure of the dedicated processor 6a and sends it to the signal receiving unit 3. Notify that. At this stage, the signal receiving unit 3
Is a temporary interruption of communication due to a failure of the dedicated processor 6a of the communication protocol A in response to a communication request of a call currently being communicated by the communication protocol A or a request for setting a new call by the communication protocol A, Alternatively, the new call setup is rejected.

After that, the failure monitoring unit 8 executes, from the file memory 4, a normal general-purpose processor 7 with a program equivalent to the program for communication protocol conversion which is being processed by the dedicated processor 6a of the communication protocol A which is currently in failure. To the file control unit 5 so that the file control unit 5
Reads the specified program from the file memory 4 and transfers the file to the general-purpose processor 7. When the file transfer is completed and the general-purpose processor 7 is ready for the communication protocol conversion A, the signal receiving unit 3 resumes communication with the outside. The signal from the outside is transmitted to the general-purpose processor 7 through the system bus 9 this time, and the general-purpose processor 7 carries out the processing of the dedicated processor 6a by performing the communication protocol conversion corresponding to the communication protocol A.

When the faulty processor is the dedicated processor 6b or 6c of the communication protocol B or C, the program corresponding to the dedicated processor 6b or 6c is used as the general-purpose processor 7.
As in the case of the communication protocol A, the failure is avoided by transferring the file to the. By the above operation,
Dedicated processor 6 with a minimum number of general-purpose processors 7 installed
Communication protocol conversion is realized in a manner that avoids the obstacles a, 6b, and 6c.

[0007]

Since the conventional communication protocol converter is constructed as described above, the number of dedicated processors 6a, 6b, 6c corresponding to the type of communication protocol to be converted must be mounted. In addition to increasing the number of processors that must be installed in the device, the operating rate of the dedicated processor for communication protocol conversion, which is rarely used, becomes low, resulting in high speed, small size, and low power consumption of the device. There was a problem that it was hindered.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to obtain a communication protocol conversion device capable of converting a plurality of types of communication protocols with one processor.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication protocol conversion device capable of supporting a plurality of types of communication protocol conversions by changing a program. A spare processor that substitutes the protocol conversion process,
A file memory accommodating a program for each communication protocol conversion, a signal receiving unit that determines a communication protocol conversion required when a call setup request is received, and transfers the program necessary for execution to the active processor, and an active processor The fault monitoring unit is provided for performing fault monitoring and transferring the same program as the active processor to the spare processor when a fault occurs.

In the communication protocol conversion device according to the second aspect of the present invention, a program for converting each communication protocol is provided in advance in the active processor and the standby processor, and is required when a call setup request is received. A signal reception unit that determines the communication protocol conversion and instructs the active processor to select the program required for the processing, and monitors the failure of the active processor. When a failure occurs, the same program as the active processor is selected. A fault monitoring unit for instructing the above is provided.

[0011]

According to the present invention, in the active processor, the communication protocol conversion is performed using the program transferred from the file memory based on the communication protocol conversion determined by the signal receiving unit when the call setting request is received. By performing the above, a communication protocol conversion device capable of processing a plurality of types of communication protocol conversions with a single processor is realized.

Further, the active processor in the invention described in claim 2 is necessary for the processing from the programs provided in advance based on the communication protocol conversion determined by the signal receiving unit at the time of receiving the call setting request. By selecting one, the need for program transfer is eliminated and the preparation time for communication protocol conversion processing is greatly reduced.

[0013]

【Example】

Example 1. Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention described in claim 1. In the figure, 1 is a communication line, 2 is a communication partner, 3 is a signal receiving unit, 4 is a file memory, 5
Is a file control unit, 8 is a failure monitoring unit, and 9 is a system bus, which are the same as or equivalent to those of the conventional one denoted by the same reference numeral in FIG.

Numeral 10 is an active processor capable of executing a plurality of types of communication protocol conversion processing by changing a program by file transfer. Numeral 11 is used when some failure occurs in the active processor 10. Instead, it is a spare processor that substitutes the communication protocol conversion processing. Reference numeral 12 is a changeover switch for switching the connection of the signal receiving unit 3 from the active processor 10 to the spare processor 11 under the control of the failure monitoring unit 8 when a failure occurs in the active processor 10, and 13 is also a connection to the external communication partner 2. Is a changeover switch for changing over from the active processor 10 to the spare processor 11.

Next, the operation will be described. The fault monitoring unit 8 is the active processor 1 for communication protocol conversion.
0 and the state of the spare processor 11 are constantly monitored via the system bus 9. When each of the processors 10 and 11 is normal, when the signal receiving unit 3 receives a call setting request from the communication line 1, the call setting request is analyzed or required from a preset value. Communication protocol conversion is determined, and the program necessary for the communication protocol conversion is stored in the file processor 4 from the active processor 10
The file control unit 5 is instructed to transfer the data to the file control unit 5 via the system bus 9. Upon receiving the instruction, the file control unit 5 immediately reads the program required for conversion of the communication protocol from the file memory 4, and transfers the file to the active processor 10 via the system bus 9. The active processor 10, which has received the file transfer, carries out the preparation necessary for the communication protocol conversion processing.

When the preparation of the active processor 10 is completed,
The signal receiving unit 3 starts transmitting the communication signal received from the communication line 1 to the active processor 10. The active processor 10, which has received the communication signal from the signal receiving unit 3 via the changeover switch 12, carries out a predetermined communication protocol conversion, and the communication protocol conversion to the external communication partner 2 via the changeover switch 13. A series of processing is completed by transmitting.

After the series of communication protocol conversion processing is completed, when the signal receiving unit 3 receives a call setting request by a communication protocol different from the previous one from the communication line 1, or the communication protocol setting is changed. In this case, the file control unit 5 is instructed to transfer another program required for the communication protocol conversion to the active processor 10 by the file memory 4. Upon receiving the instruction, the file control unit 5 immediately reads the program necessary for the communication protocol conversion from the file memory 4, and reads it out from the active processor 1
File transfer to 0. The active processor 10, which has received the file transfer, carries out preparations necessary for the new communication protocol conversion processing, and performs the new communication protocol conversion processing in the same procedure as before.

Next, when the active processor 10 fails for some reason and communication protocol conversion cannot be performed, the failure monitoring unit 8 determines that the active processor 10 is active.
When the fault of (1) is detected, the fact is notified to the signal receiving unit 3. At this stage, the signal receiving unit 3 temporarily interrupts communication or sets a new call for a communication request for a call currently in communication or a request for setting a new call due to a failure of the active processor 10. Make a denial.

Thereafter, the fault monitoring unit 8 executes a program equivalent to the program for communication protocol conversion which is being processed by the active processor 10 which is currently in trouble.
The file control unit 5 is instructed via the system bus 9 to transfer from the file memory 4 to the normal spare processor 11. Upon receiving the instruction, the file control unit 5 immediately reads the program required for the communication protocol conversion from the file memory 4, and transfers the file to the spare processor 11 via the system bus 9. The backup processor 11 that has received the file transfer performs the preparation necessary for the communication protocol conversion processing.

At this time, the fault monitoring unit 8 instructs the changeover switches 12 and 13 to perform a changeover operation,
The connection between the signal receiving unit 3 and the external communication partner 2 is switched from the active processor 10 to the standby processor 11 to switch the connection. When the preparation of the spare processor 11 is completed, the signal receiving unit 3 starts transmitting the communication signal received from the communication line 1 to the spare processor 11.
The standby processor 11, which has received the communication signal from the signal receiving unit 3 via the changeover switch 12, continuously executes the communication protocol conversion performed by the active processor 10 to communicate with the external communication partner 2. A series of processes is completed by transmitting the converted signal via the changeover switch 13.

After that, when the signal receiving unit 3 receives a call setting request by a communication protocol different from the previous one from the communication line 1, or when the communication protocol setting is changed, the operation is performed by the active processor 10. It is similar to the case.

Example 2. In the first embodiment, the changeover switches 12 and 13 for changing over the active processor 10 and the spare processor 11 are expressed by the image of mechanical switches, and a signal line for processing a communication signal and a signal for connecting each unit. Although the line and the line are installed separately, the change-over switches 12 and 13 may be electric switches or logical ones, and the change-over switch and each signal line are all in the system. You may combine them as a bus.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing such a second embodiment, and as shown in the figure, the signal receiving unit 3, the file memory 4, the file control unit 5, the fault monitoring unit 8, the active processor 10 and the spare processor. A system bus 14 connects the processors 11 to each other, and a system bus 15 connects the active processor 10, the standby processor 11, and the external communication partner 2 to each other.
The system buses 14 and 15 are the changeover switches 12 and 13 and the changeover switch 1 in the first embodiment.
Signal lines connected to the active processor 10, the spare processor 11 and the signal receiving unit 3 or the communication partner 2 via 2, 13 and a signal line for the fault monitoring unit 8 to control the changeover switches 12, 13, and further, It includes all the functions of the system bus 9. Since the operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, its explanation is omitted.

Example 3. Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention described in claim 2. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In the figure, 16 is an active processor different from the one denoted by reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 in that it has a program section in which a plurality of programs corresponding to respective communication protocol conversions are stored in advance, and 17 is It is a spare processor different from that designated by reference numeral 11 in FIG. 1 in that it has a program part similar to that of the working processor 16.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the active processor 16 and the spare processor 17. In the figure, reference numeral 21 is a microprocessor (hereinafter, referred to as MPU) that controls the entire processor and executes communication protocol conversion processing. 22a is MPU
21 is a program used when processing the communication protocol conversion related to the communication protocol A, 22b and 22c are programs used when processing the communication protocol conversion related to the communication protocol B or communication protocol C, and 23 is each of these. Program 22a, 22
b and 22c are program parts stored in advance. Reference numeral 24 is a selection switch for selecting a necessary program 22a, 22b, 22c when the MPU 21 executes communication protocol conversion.

Next, the operation will be described. The fault monitoring unit 8 is the active processor 1 for communication protocol conversion.
6 and the state of the spare processor 17 to the system bus 9
Are monitoring via. When each of the processors 16 and 17 is normal, when the signal receiving unit 3 receives a call setting request from the communication line 1, the call setting request is analyzed or required from a preset value. The active processor 16 is instructed via the system bus 9 to determine the appropriate communication protocol conversion and select the programs 22a, 22b, 22c required for the communication protocol conversion. The active processor 16 that has received the instruction selects a program required for the communication protocol conversion from the internal program unit 23, and performs the preparation necessary for the communication protocol conversion processing.

The program selection operation will be described with reference to FIG. The MPU 21 of the active processor 16 instructed to perform the communication protocol conversion that should perform the process uses the program 2 for converting each communication protocol in the program unit 23.
In order to select a necessary program from 2a, 22b and 22c, the selection switch 24 is switched according to the instruction from the signal receiving unit 3 to select the desired program.
Since each of the programs 22a, 22b, 22c is stored in advance in the built-in program section, there is no need for processing such as file transfer, and execution of the program, that is, communication protocol conversion processing, can be realized simply by switching the selection switch 24. it can.

After the preparation of the working processor 16 is completed in this way, the signal receiving unit 3 is put into operation by the working processor 1.
The communication signal received from the communication line 1 is transmitted to 6. The active processor 16 which has received the communication signal from the signal receiving unit 3 via the changeover switch 12 performs a predetermined communication protocol conversion, and the changeover switch 13
A series of processing is completed by transmitting the signal which has undergone the communication protocol conversion to the external communication partner 2 via.

After the series of communication protocol conversion processing is completed, when the signal receiving unit 3 receives a call setting request by the communication protocol different from the previous one from the communication line 1, or the communication protocol setting is changed. In this case, the active processor 16 is instructed to select another program required for the communication protocol conversion. The MPU 21 of the active processor 16 selects another program from the program section 23 according to the instruction,
Perform necessary preparations for new communication protocol conversion processing,
New communication protocol conversion processing is performed in the same procedure as before.

Next, if the active processor 16 fails for some reason and communication protocol conversion cannot be performed, the failure monitoring unit 8 causes the active processor 16 to perform the communication protocol conversion.
When the fault of (1) is detected, the fact is notified to the signal receiving unit 3. At this stage, the signal receiving unit 3 temporarily interrupts communication or sets a new call for a communication request of a call currently being communicated or a request for setting a new call due to a failure of the active processor 16. Make a denial. After that, the fault monitoring unit 8 instructs the normal spare processor 17 to select a program equivalent to the program for communication protocol conversion which is currently being processed by the active processor 16 having a fault. The spare processor 17 that has received the instruction selects the same program as that executed by the active processor 16 from the internal program unit 23, and executes the preparation necessary for the new communication protocol conversion processing.

At this point, the fault monitoring unit 8 instructs the changeover switches 12 and 13 to perform a changeover operation,
The connection between the signal receiving unit 3 and the external communication partner 2 is switched from the active processor 16 to the standby processor 17 to switch the connection. When the preparation of the spare processor 17 is completed, the signal receiving unit 3 starts transmitting the communication signal received from the communication line 1 to the spare processor 17.
The standby processor 17, which has received the communication signal from the signal receiving unit 3 via the changeover switch 12, continuously executes the communication protocol conversion performed by the active processor 16 to communicate with the external communication partner 2. A series of processes is completed by transmitting the protocol-converted signal via the changeover switch 13.

After that, when the signal receiving unit 3 receives a call setting request by a communication protocol different from the previous one from the communication line 1, or when the communication protocol setting is changed, the operation is performed by the active processor 16. It is similar to the case.

Example 4. In the third embodiment described above, the changeover switches 12 and 13 for changing over the active processor 16 and the spare processor 17 are represented by the image of mechanical switches. However, even if these switches are electrical switches, they are logical. It is also possible to use a system bus type in which a signal line for processing a communication signal, a signal line for connecting each unit, and the changeover switch are all integrated into one. This is the same as that shown in 2. Further, in FIG.
Although the programs stored in advance in 3 are three types for conversion of the communication protocols A, B, and C, it goes without saying that it is not necessary to limit to three types in particular.

[0034]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the program transferred from the file memory to the processor based on the communication protocol conversion determined by the signal receiving unit at the time of receiving the call setting request. Since the communication protocol conversion is performed by using, it is possible to process a plurality of types of communication protocol conversion by one processor, the operating rate of the processor is increased, and The number can be minimized, and the device can be downsized and the power consumption can be reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the program necessary for the processing is selected from the programs provided in the processor in advance based on the communication protocol conversion determined by the signal receiving unit when the call setting request is received. Since it is configured to select one, it is not necessary to transfer a program for each communication protocol conversion, the preparation time for the communication protocol conversion processing is significantly shortened, and the processing speed can be increased.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a communication protocol converter according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a communication protocol converter according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a communication protocol converter according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of each processor in the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional communication protocol conversion device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 signal receiving unit 4 file memory 5 file control unit 8 fault monitoring unit 10 working processor 11 spare processor 16 working processor 17 spare processor 22a, 22b, 22c program 23 program section

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] December 10, 1992

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0005

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

After that, the failure monitoring unit 8 executes, from the file memory 4, a normal general-purpose processor 7 with a program equivalent to the program for communication protocol conversion which is being processed by the dedicated processor 6a of the communication protocol A which is currently in failure. To the file control unit 5 so that the file control unit 5
Reads the specified program from the file memory 4 and transfers the file to the general-purpose processor 7. The file transfer is complete, general-purpose processor 7 communication protocol
When the preparation corresponding to rule A is completed, the signal receiving unit 3 resumes communication with the outside. A signal from the outside is transmitted to the general-purpose processor 7 through the system bus 9 this time, and the general-purpose processor 7 performs the communication protocol conversion corresponding to the communication protocol A, so that the dedicated processor 6
Take over the processing of a.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0008

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0008]

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one processor realizes a plurality of types of communication protocol conversion , and the processor has a failure.
Even if it occurs, the spare processor can continue communication.
In addition, we have achieved higher speed, smaller size, and lower power consumption of the device.
The purpose is to obtain an existing communication protocol converter.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0011

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0011]

According to the present invention, in the active processor, the communication protocol conversion is performed using the program transferred from the file memory based on the communication protocol conversion determined by the signal receiving unit when the call setting request is received. By doing so, multiple types of communication protocol conversion can be processed by one processor, and
Processor failure due to running processor
Even if it does, a communication protocol conversion device which continues a communication protocol conversion process is realized.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0012

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Further, the active processor in the invention described in claim 2 is provided in advance in the processor based on the communication protocol conversion determined by the signal receiving unit when the call setting request is received , in addition to the operation of claim 1. By selecting the program required for the processing from among the stored programs, the need for program transfer is eliminated and the preparation time for the communication protocol conversion processing is greatly shortened.

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0034

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0034]

As described above, according to the invention described in claim 1, the active processor and the active processor are selected based on the communication protocol conversion determined by the signal receiving unit when the call setting request is received.
When the active processor fails, the communication processor used by the active processor
For the spare processor that realizes the Tocol conversion instead
Te, since it is configured to implement a communication protocol conversion using the file memory by riff Airu transferred program, it is possible to process multiple types of communication protocol conversion in a single processor, the processor operating rate is Higher, the number of processors to be installed in the equipment can be minimized, and the working processor fails.
However, the communication processing can be maintained, and the device can be downsized and the power consumption can be reduced.

[Procedure Amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0035

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a program provided in advance for the working and standby processors based on the communication protocol conversion determined by the signal receiving unit when the call setup request is received. since it is configured to select the one necessary for the process from the file menu
It is necessary to implement a memory and a file control unit
It is possible to reduce the device size and power consumption.
Can, in addition each time there is no need to transfer the program when the communication protocol conversion, when processor failure
The switching time to the spare processor and the preparation time for the communication protocol conversion processing are significantly shortened, which has the effect of speeding up the processing.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An active processor for executing a predetermined communication protocol conversion process according to a file-transferred program, a file memory accommodating a plurality of programs corresponding to each of the communication protocol conversions, and a file memory. A file control unit for transferring the created program to the active processor and a communication protocol conversion required when a call setting request is received, and instructing the file control unit to transfer the file of the program required for execution. When a failure occurs in the signal receiving unit and the working processor, a failure occurs by constantly monitoring the failure status of the backup processor and the working processor that executes the processing of the communication protocol conversion instead of the failure. When the file is detected A communication protocol conversion device comprising: a control unit; and a failure monitoring unit for instructing the spare processor to transfer the same program as the active processor from the file memory. 2. A program for holding a plurality of programs corresponding to each of various communication protocol conversions, and an active processor for executing conversion processing of a predetermined communication protocol according to one of the programs, and a call setting request. Determine the communication protocol conversion required when receiving,
A signal receiving unit for instructing the active processor to select a program necessary for its execution, and holding a program equivalent to the active processor in its program part, when some failure occurs in the active processor, Instead, the failure status of the spare processor that executes the processing of the communication protocol conversion and the working processor is constantly monitored, and when a failure is detected, the spare processor is used by the working processor. A communication protocol conversion device comprising: a fault monitoring unit for instructing the spare processor to select the same program as the one.