JPH06217031A - Terminal network controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a terminal network controller which can be connected to plural terminals, can easily choose the terminal that has the communication with a center, and can perform the setting and the change of the control information and an operation test. CONSTITUTION:A selection signal receiver means 4 receives an NRS signal, and a selector means 5 selects one of repeater means 3a-3c in accordance with the received NRS signal. The selected repeater means repeats the communication between the terminals 8a-8c to be connected and a center by means of a circuit connector means 2. Furthermore the means 5 switches the connection to a virtual terminal means 9 when a prescribed NRS signal is received. The means 9 performs the communication with the center which performs the setting and the change of the control information and an operation test of a terminal network controller.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal network control device for connecting a terminal such as a gas meter and the like to a center via a communication line to realize communication such as automatic meter reading and automatic notification between the center and the terminal. In particular, the present invention relates to a terminal network control device to which a plurality of terminals can be connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently, there is a terminal network control device for a telecontrol system for connecting terminals such as gas meters and water meters to perform automatic meter reading, automatic notification with the center, and remote control. Further, there are two types of such terminal network control devices, a device capable of connecting one terminal and a device capable of connecting a plurality of terminals.
Further, as a means for calling and connecting the terminal network control device from the center, a means for connecting using a no-ringing communication service provided by the telephone network is often used.
A means for connecting using this no-ringing communication service and a conventional means for the center to select one of a plurality of terminals connected to the terminal network control device and to communicate with the terminal will be described with reference to FIG.

First, a means for connecting using a no-ringing communication service will be described. Terminal network control device 1
Is connected to the exchange 12 via the telephone network 7. Exchange 1
No. 2 is equipped with a no ringing trunk (NRT) that realizes no ringing communication service. Center 1
3 calls NRT (NRT call 14 and response 1
5) The center 13 uses a telephone number of the telephone line 7 to which the terminal network control device 1 is connected and a signal called an NRS selection signal for selecting one of a plurality of terminal network control devices connected to the telephone line 7. Requesting the NRT to make a no ringing connection with the terminal network control device 1. Here, in order to simplify FIG. 5, the terminal network control device call 16 is described. The exchange 12 uses the terminal control device 1 requested by the center 13.
As a means for calling up, a plurality of NRS signals 18 obtained by inverting the voltage polarity of the telephone line 7 (polarity inversion 17) and then superimposing an AC signal of the same two frequencies as the push button signal of the telephone
It uses a means to send out one of these. It is different from the 16 Hz bell ringing signal sent when the exchange 12 calls the telephone. Therefore, when a plurality of terminal network control devices 1 are connected in a branched manner to the telephone line 7 and an arbitrary terminal network control device 1 is called from the center 13, the exchange 12 sends out by the designation of the NRS selection signal from the center 13. The type of NRS signal 18 is changed. Each terminal network control device 1 connected to the telephone line 7 has a specific NRS.
Only when the signal 18 is received, the no-ringing connection request is accepted, and as a response signal, the exchange 12 responds with the ANS signal 19 on which the AC signal of the same two frequencies as the push button signal # is superimposed, and the connection operation is completed. One type of N
The plurality of terminal network control devices 1 do not accept the no-ringing connection request for the RS signal 18. Upon receipt of the ANS signal 19, the exchange 12 sends a response 22 indicating the completion of the no-ringing connection to the center. In this way, no ringing connection is made.

Next, a means for the center to select one of a plurality of terminals connected to the terminal network control device and to communicate with the terminal will be described. FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a conventional terminal network control device. The terminal network control device 1 is connected to the telephone line 7 to form a DC loop of the line and detects a reversal of the voltage polarity of the telephone line 7, and a selection signal receiving means 4 for detecting the NRS signal 18. And a response signal transmitting means 6 for transmitting the ANS signal 19, and one predetermined NRS
Determination means 10 for requesting the response signal transmission means 6 to transmit an ANS signal only when the signal 18 is received;
After the completion of the no-ringing connection, the control telegram receiving means 11 for receiving the control telegram for selecting any one of the terminals 8a, 8b, 8c from the center 13 by the modem communication or the like, and the relay means 3a, 3b by the instruction of the control telegram receiving means 11, The selection means 5 for selectively switching one of the 3c and the center 13
The relay unit 3a relays communication between the terminal 13a and the terminal 8a, the relay unit 3b relays communication between the center 13 and the terminal 8b, and the relay unit 3c relays communication between the center 13 and the terminal 8c. The operation of this conventional terminal network control device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The connection means by the no-ringing communication service is as described above, and is performed by the selection signal reception means 4, the response signal transmission means 6, and the determination means 10 via the line connection means 2. At this stage, the operation of arbitrarily selecting the relay means 8a, 8b, 8c is not performed. After the completion of the no-ringing connection, the center 13 transmits a control message (terminal selection 21), and the control message receiving means 11 analyzes and analyzes this control message, and the selecting means 5
Is selected by an operation of selecting the relay means 8a, 8b, 8c designated by the center 13.

As described above, the NRS signal 18 for no-ringing connection is used to select one of the plurality of terminal network control devices 1 connected to the telephone line 7, but the terminals 8a, 8b, 8c. Not used to select.

The communication means for selecting the terminal after the no-ringing connection is not provided in the terminal network control device capable of connecting only one terminal.

Next, the means for changing the setting of the management information in the terminal network control device and testing the operation from the center will be described. The terminal network control device uses, as management information, the telephone number of the center when the terminal network control device makes a call, and the terminals 8a and 8b connected via the relay means 3a, 3b and 3c in order to increase the degree of freedom of the connected terminal. , 8c have information that defines the transmission rate, bit length, etc., and some have a function that allows the center to freely change the settings. In addition, there is one in which the center is equipped with means for remotely testing the terminal network control device. As means for performing such communication, the terminal network control device, in addition to the means for receiving the control message for selecting the terminals 8a, 8b, 8c, further controls the terminal network control device for setting management information and performing an operation test. Means for receiving.

[0008]

The conventional technique as described above is used in a terminal network control device capable of connecting a plurality of terminals,
Since it is necessary to provide special communication between the center and the terminal network control device for the center to select the terminal, the connection time between the center and the terminal network control device becomes long, and the terminal network control is performed as the communication procedure increases. The program size of the microcomputer that realizes the device increases and the cost increases. Further, it is necessary to provide means for considering that the determination means for changing the setting of management information in the terminal network control device and the operation for performing the operation can be distinguished from the means for selecting the terminal.

A first object of the terminal network control device of the present invention is to provide means capable of connecting a plurality of terminals and easily selecting a terminal from a center.

A second object is to provide a communication means for easily changing the setting of management information in the terminal network control device and performing an operation test from the center.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above first object, the present invention is to connect to a center via a telephone network providing a no-ringing communication service and to connect a plurality of terminals to the center. A terminal network control device for relaying communication between terminals, comprising line connection means for connecting to a telephone line, and a plurality of relay means for relaying communication between the center and the terminal according to a communication mode of the terminal. Selection signal receiving means for receiving a selection signal indicating a no-ringing connection request from the center, selection means for selecting one of the relay means according to the selection signal, and response signal transmission means for transmitting a response signal permitting the no-ringing connection. It is equipped with.

In order to achieve the second object, the virtual terminal means for changing the setting of the management information and the operation test of the terminal network control device, and the virtual terminal when the predetermined selection signal indicating the no ringing connection request is received. It is provided with a selection means for selecting.

[0013]

The terminal network control apparatus of the present invention receives the NRS signal by the selection signal receiving means. Further, the selection means selects the relay means according to the received NRS signal. And
The selected relay means relays communication between the terminal connected to the relay means and the center using the line connection means.

Further, when it is determined that the predetermined NRS signal has been received, the selecting means switches and connects to the virtual terminal means. Then, the virtual terminal means communicates with the center for changing the setting of the management information and testing the operation of the terminal network control device.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

In the figure, a terminal network control apparatus 1 of the present invention
Is a line connection means 2 for connecting to the telephone line 7 to form a DC loop of the line and detecting a reversal of the voltage polarity of the telephone line 7, a selection signal receiving means 4 for detecting the NRS signal, and A
Response signal transmitting means 6 for transmitting the NS signal 19, relay means 3a for relaying communication between the center and the terminal 8a, relay means 3b for relaying communication between the center and the terminal 8b, and communication between the center and the terminal 8c. So as to send the ANS signal to the response signal transmission means 6 after selecting one of the relay means 3a, 3b, 3c according to the received NRS signal and switching connection with the line connection means. It comprises a requesting selection means 5.

The selection means 5 selects the relay means 3a when the NRS signal (1) is received, and the NRS signal (2) is selected.
The relay means 3b is selected when the NRS signal is received, the relay means 3c is selected when the NRS signal (3) is received, and a request operation is performed to send the ANS signal to the response signal transmission means 6, and another NRS signal is selected. If received, it shall be ignored.

The operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, after the center 13 uses the no-ringing communication service to communicate with the terminal 8a connected to the terminal network control device 1 via the exchange 12,
It shows an example of continuously performing communication with the terminal 8b.
It is assumed that an NRT is connected to the exchange 12 as in FIG.

First, the center 13 connects with the NRT of the exchange 12, the NRT call 14 and the response 15. This part is the same as the conventional technique described with reference to FIG. continue,
The center 13 receives the telephone number of the telephone line 7 to which the terminal network control device 1 is connected and the NRS selection signal (1) for selecting the terminal 8a connected to the terminal network control device 1 connected to the telephone line 7. The NRT is requested to make a no ringing connection with the terminal network control device 1 using the called signal (terminal network control device call 16a). The exchange 12 sends the polarity reversal 17a to the terminal network control device 1 and then sends the NRS signal (1). In the terminal network control device 1, the selection signal receiving means 4 receives the NRS signal (1) and notifies the selection means 5. Upon receiving the NRS signal (1), the selection means 5 selectively switches the relay means 3a. Therefore, the relay means 3a
Is connected to the telephone line 7 via the line connection means 2 and relays the communication 24 between the center 13 and the terminal 8a. The communication between the center 13 and the terminal 8a is ended by the end request 25a from the center 13 to the exchange 12. The exchange 12 notifies the terminal network control device 1 of the termination of communication by the polarity restoration (polarity restoration 26a) operation of the voltage of the telephone line 7 by the termination request 25a. This operation is the means currently provided by the no ringing communication service. Next, the operation in which the center 13 continues to communicate with the terminal 8b will be described. Center 1
Reference numeral 3 is an NRS selection signal (2) for selecting the telephone number of the telephone line 7 to which the terminal network control device 1 is connected and the terminal 8b connected to the terminal network control device 1 connected to the telephone line 7.
The NRT is requested to make a non-ringing connection with the terminal network control device 1 using a signal called (terminal network control device call 16b). The exchange 12 sends the polarity inversion 17b to the terminal network control device 1, and then sends the NRS signal (2). In the terminal network control device 1, the selection signal receiving means 4 is NR.
The S signal (2) is received and the selection means 5 is notified. Upon receiving the NRS signal (2), the selection means 5 selectively switches the relay means 3b. Therefore, the relay unit 3b is connected to the telephone line 7 via the line connection unit 2 and relays the communication 27 between the center 13 and the terminal 8b. For the communication between the center 13 and the terminal 8b, the end request 2 from the center 13 to the exchange 12 is performed.
It ends at 5b. The exchange 12 notifies the terminal network control device 1 of the termination of communication by the polarity restoration (polarity restoration 26b) operation of the voltage of the telephone line 7 by the termination request 25b.

In this way, the center 13 selects the terminals 8a and 8b for communication. Although the operation example of selecting the terminal 8c and communicating is not described, the relay means 3c performs the same operation in which the center 13 calls the terminal network control device 1 so that the exchange outputs the NRS signal (3). You can choose
Communication between the center 13 and the terminal 8c is performed.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, the terminal network control device 1 of the present invention is provided with a virtual terminal means 9 for changing the setting of management information and an operation test of the terminal network control device 1 in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment. , And a means for selecting the virtual terminal 9 when a predetermined selection signal indicating a no-ringing connection request is received. The virtual terminal 9 is realized by software of a microcomputer that realizes the terminal network control device 1 as one method, and management information and the like are realized by a RAM of the microcomputer. In the second embodiment, the selection means 5 selects the relay means 3a when the NRS signal (1) is received, selects the relay means 3b when the NRS signal (2) is received, and selects the NRS signal ( 3) is selected when the relay means 3c is received, the virtual terminal 9 is selected when the NRS signal (9) is received, and the request signal transmission means 6 is requested to send an ANS signal. If an NRS signal is received, it shall be ignored.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. When the center 13 communicates with the terminals 8a, 8b, 8c, its operation is the same as in the first embodiment. When selecting the virtual terminal 9, the selecting means 5 selects the virtual terminal 9 by the same operation that the center 13 calls the terminal network control device 1 so that the NRS signal (9) is output from the exchange. Since various formats are conceivable for the format and procedure of the communication message between the virtual terminal 9 and the center, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0023]

As described above, according to the terminal network control apparatus of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (1) Since it is possible to select one of a plurality of terminals connected to the terminal network control device using the no-ringing communication means and communicate with the selected terminal and the center, the communication procedure is simple and inexpensive. A terminal network control device can be provided. (2) Since the center can start communication between the center and the terminal without going through a special communication procedure for exchanging control messages for selecting the terminal, the connection time between the terminal network control device and the center can be shortened. It is possible to increase the number of times of communication such as automatic meter reading per hour, which leads to a reduction in center equipment. (3) The communication procedure for changing the setting of management information in the terminal network control device and the operation test of the terminal network control device can be easily incorporated without depending on the communication procedure between the center and the terminal, and the function can be expanded.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a terminal network control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the device.

FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of a terminal network control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional terminal network control device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 terminal network control device 2 line connection means 3a, 3b, 3c relay means 4 selection signal receiving means 5 selection means 6 response signal transmission means 7 telephone lines 8a, 8b, 8c terminals 9 virtual terminal means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshinori Oishi 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masaaki Sakata 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A terminal network control device for connecting to a center through a telephone network that provides a no-ringing communication service, and connecting to a plurality of terminals to relay communication between the center and the terminals, which is connected to a telephone line. Connection means for establishing communication, a plurality of relay means for relaying communication between the center and the terminal according to a communication mode of the terminal, and a selection signal receiving means for receiving a selection signal indicating a no ringing connection request from the center A terminal network control device comprising: a selection means for selecting one of the relay means according to the selection signal; and a response signal transmission means for transmitting a response signal permitting the no-ringing connection. 2. A virtual terminal means for changing setting of management information and an operation test of a terminal network control device, and a selecting means for selecting the virtual terminal when a predetermined selection signal indicating a no ringing connection request is received. The terminal network control device according to claim 1.