JPH06164754A - Automatic backup system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To suppress useless call and to exclude the useless use of a backup line by replying to an incoming call in response to the presence of a usual line on the restart of the usual line whose usage is once stopped. CONSTITUTION:Computer communication is started by applying power in the inter-computer communication between host computers interrupting the inter- computer communication while the power is interrupted once. In the host computer system starting up early, when the communication is implemented via a usual line 24 and when a fault detection section detects that the communication is disable from the line 24, and an automatic dial function section makes dialing to an opposite host computer via an exchange network 26. The computer receives an incoming call at its control section 60 via a transmission/reception section 66 and selects the communication line from the line 24 to the backup line by means of a changeover section 34. Simultaneously the control section 60 commands the referencing of a display flag 54 of a control section 42 to a reference section 64 and sends the result of reference to the control section 62 and when display is registered, the communication is entered.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic backup system that considers whether or not a normal line is used after the system is started up for automatic backup upon receiving an incoming call.

In a computer network or the like,
There is a system in which a host computer, a workstation, and the like are connected through a communication line to operate them. In such a system, even if the host computer or the like is normal, if the communication line fails, the system may not operate normally. Is backed up by the exchange network.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art The configuration of a computer network is shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, 20 ₁ and 20 ₂ are host computer systems, 24 is a communication line, and 26 is a switching network.

Communication of such a computer network
When a failure occurs in the transmission line (see Fig. 4)
For example, the host computer system 2
0₁Then, the detection of the failure is performed by the host computer system.
20₁Normal line control unit 30 ₁In the fault detection part of
Host computer system 20₂At
Occurrence of a failure is detected by the host computer system 20.₂Normal
Line control unit 30₂It is assumed that it is detected by the failure detection unit of
And the host computer system 20₂Is there
The automatic call function unit that operates
Storage computer system 20₁Make a call to. E
Storage computer system 20₁Backup line system
Part 32₁Unconditionally accepts the incoming call and
Switching unit 34₁The normal line control unit 30₁Back from
Up line control unit 32₁Switch to and accept the unconditional
Host computer system 20 responding to the response₂Is
Used line switching unit 34₂(Used line switching unit 34₁
Corresponding to. ) Is the normal line control unit 30₂(Normal line control
Part 30₁Corresponding to. ) To backup line control unit 3
Two₂(Backup line control unit 32₁Corresponding to. )What
Host computer system 20 by switching
₁And host computer system 20₂Back between
Set up line (see Figure 5) Host computer
System 20 ₁And host computer system 20₂When
Continue communication between. The normal line control unit 30₁，
Thirty₂, And the backup line controller 32₁, 32
₂Is a single or common processor, memory, and
It is composed of a transmitter and a receiver.
And a processor is connected to the receiver.

[0005]

In the above-mentioned trouble, the conventional backup function of the computer network operates normally, but when the computer network is in the following operation state, the backup function is more than necessary. May be used. This will be explained below.

For example, there is a case where the use of the computer network as described above is interrupted at regular intervals. That is, every night the host computer system 20
_This is because the host computer system 20 ₁ and the host computer system 20 ₂ do not always start up at the same time in a computer network in which ₁ and 20 ₂ are stopped and started up every morning. Therefore, even if the host computer system which started up early cannot communicate with the other host computer system through the communication line 24, the host computer system which started up early cannot be communicated with the other host computer system. Since the failure detection unit of the system determines that a failure has occurred in the communication line 24 (see FIG. 6), the backup line is used in the same manner as described above, although the communication line 24 can be used. There is a problem that it is set between host computer systems (see FIG. 8). In setting the backup line in such a situation, a recalling operation may be performed from the host computer system that was started up to the other host computer system (see FIG. 7).

The present invention was created in view of the above technical problem, and an object thereof is to provide an automatic backup system capable of eliminating useless use of backup lines.

[0008]

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the principle of the present invention. The present invention relates to the backup line control unit 2
In a device having the normal line control unit 4 and connected to the opposite device via the normal line or a switching network, the normal line control unit 4 displays whether or not the normal line is used after the device is stopped. The display flag 6 and the registration means 8 for registering the presence or absence of the normal line used by the device after the device is stopped are provided in the display flag, and the display flag is displayed when the backup line control unit 2 receives an incoming call. 6 is referred to, and when the display flag 6 referred to by the reference means 10 indicates the use, the incoming call response control unit 12 of the backup line control unit 2 receives unconditional acceptance of the incoming call. And an incoming call control means 14 for causing the incoming call response control section 12 to reject the incoming call when the incoming call is rejected.

[0009]

When the backup line control unit 2 of the device of the present invention receives an incoming call from the opposite device, the reference means 10 refers to the display flag 6. When the display flag 6 indicates the use of the normal line, the incoming call control unit 14 causes the incoming call response control unit 12 of the backup line control unit 2 to accept the incoming call unconditionally, but it indicates the use. If not, the incoming call control unit 14 causes the incoming call response control unit 12 to reject the incoming call.

As described above, even when an automatic call is made from the opposite device when the power is turned on or the like, and when the normal line is used, an unconditional acceptance of the incoming call is performed and the call is transmitted through the switching network. A backup line is set, but when the normal line is not used, incoming calls are rejected and communication is performed via the normal line, so that it is possible to avoid useless setting of the backup line.

[0011]

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is also an embodiment in a computer network similar to that of FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 40 is a host computer system. 42 is a normal line control unit, 44 is a backup line control unit, and 34 is a used line switching unit.
The normal line control unit 42 includes a transmission / reception control unit 50 and a registration unit 5
2, a normal line use presence / absence display flag 54, and a transmission / reception unit 56. The transmission / reception control unit 50 and the registration unit 52 are composed of a processor configured similarly to that shown in FIG. 3 and a memory storing a program. The normal line use presence / absence display flag 54 is configured by using a predetermined memory area of the memory. The transmitter / receiver 56 is
The configuration is similar to that of the transmission / reception unit described with reference to FIG.

The backup line control unit 44 comprises an incoming call response control unit 60, an incoming call control unit 62, a reference unit 62, and a transmission / reception unit 66. Incoming call response control unit 6
0, the incoming call control unit 62, and the reference unit 62 are configured by a processor configured similarly to the conventional host computer system shown in FIG. 3, and a memory that stores a program. The transmission / reception unit 66 has the same configuration as the transmission / reception unit described with reference to FIG.

However, each reference numeral is used for each component of the host computer system without showing a subscript for distinguishing each host computer system in the computer network, but in the following, communication between computers is performed. At this time, the host computer system that starts up earlier is referred to as a subscript 1 and the host computer system that starts up later is referred to as a subscript 2.

In FIG. 2, the backup line control unit 4
Reference numeral 4 corresponds to the backup line control unit 2 in FIG. 1, and normal line control unit 42 corresponds to the normal line control unit 4 in FIG. The normal line use presence / absence display flag 54 corresponds to the display flag 6 in FIG. 1, and the registration unit 52 corresponds to the registration means 8 in FIG. The reference unit 62 corresponds to the reference unit 10 in FIG. The incoming call response control unit 60 is the incoming call response control unit 12 of FIG.
Corresponding to the above, the incoming call control unit 62 has the incoming call control means 14 of FIG.
Corresponding to.

In the computer network configured as described above, in order to perform inter-computer communication between the host computer systems whose powers have been temporarily turned off and inter-computer communication has been interrupted, those host computer systems are turned on to perform computer-to-computer communication. It is assumed that communication has started.

In the operating state of this computer network, when the host computer system 40 ₁ which started up early tries to communicate via the normal line 24, it is a conventionally known obstacle that the communication cannot be performed via the communication line 24. When detected by a detection unit (not shown), a conventionally known automatic call function unit (not shown) makes a call to the partner host computer system 40 ₂ via the exchange network 26.

Host computer that received the call
System 40₂Then, the transmitter / receiver 66₂That incoming
Incoming call response control unit 60₂Received by, incoming call response control unit
60 ₂Is normally connected to the line switching unit 34.
Switch from line 24 to the backup line.

With this switching, the incoming call response control unit 60 ₂
Instructs the reference unit 62 ₂ to refer to the normal line use presence / absence display flag 54 of the normal line control unit 42. The result is referred to and the result is sent to the incoming call control unit 62 ₂ .

In the incoming call control unit 62 ₂ , if the display indicating that the normal line has been used is registered in the normal line use presence / absence display flag 54 from the start-up of the power source to the incoming call, referring to FIG. In the same manner as described above, the incoming call is unconditionally received, a backup line is set, and communication is started. It should be noted that the display indicating that the normal line is used indicates that when the normal line is used after the power is turned on, the use is indicated by the transmission / reception control unit 5.
The registration unit 52 is notified from 0, and the registration unit 52 registers the display indicating that the normal line is used in the normal line use presence / absence display flag 54.

However, if the display indicating that the normal line has been used is not registered in the normal line use presence / absence display flag 54 from the time the power is turned on to the time the incoming call arrives, the state described with reference to FIG. 7 is entered. And returns a response for rejecting the incoming call through the switching network, and the normal line 24
Assuming that it can be used, the ordinary communication is started via the line 24 by a known method. Further, the host computer system 40 ₁ recognizes that the normal line has been restored by receiving the refusal response, and starts communication through the normal line 24.

Therefore, it is possible to avoid setting up a backup line in the switching network even though the normal line is normal. This saves on communication costs. The subsequent switching back from the backup line to the normal line follows a conventionally known method.

In the above embodiment, an example that occurs when the power source is turned on has been described, but in other similar cases,
For example, the present invention can be applied when there is a similar operation state even when restarting after system reset.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the use of the normal line once stopped is resumed, the incoming call is answered depending on whether the normal line is used or not. In this case, it is possible to avoid setting up a backup line even though the normal line is normal. Therefore, it is useful for saving communication costs.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional computer network.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing fault detection and automatic call origination in the computer network of FIG.

5 is a diagram showing backup switching from the operating state of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing automatic calling at the time of startup in the computer network of FIG.

7 is a diagram showing re-calling and unconditional acceptance in the operating state of FIG.

8 is a diagram showing backup switching from the operating state shown in FIG. 7. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 backup line control unit 4 normal line control unit 6 display flag 8 registration means 10 reference means 12 incoming call response control unit 14 incoming call control unit 40 backup line control unit 42 normal line control unit 52 registration unit 54 normal line use presence / absence display flag 60 incoming call Response control unit 62 Incoming call control unit 64 Reference unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A device having a backup line control unit (2) and a normal line control unit (4), which is connected to an opposite device via the normal line or a switching network, wherein the normal line control unit (4) ), A display flag (6) for indicating whether or not the normal line is used after the device is stopped, and a registration means (8) for registering in the display flag whether or not the normal line is used by the device after the device is stopped. And a reference means (10) for referring to the display flag (6) when the backup line control unit (2) receives a call, and the display flag (6) referred to by the reference means (10). ) Indicates that the incoming call is to be accepted unconditionally by the incoming call response control section (12) of the backup line control section (2), and when not indicating that the incoming call is rejected. The incoming call response control unit ( Automatic backup method which is characterized by comprising a reception control means (14) causing a 2).