JPH06236336A - Terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To dynamically set a line address in a terminal equipment. CONSTITUTION:The terminal equipment which makes a communication with a host computer through a local area network is provided with a register 2 in which line addresses are registered and a line address setting part 13 which sends a collation message to the line address destinations registered in the register in order and sets a corresponding line address to its line address unless there is an answer to the collation message; and the line address setting part 13 detects an unused line address in the register 2 and sets it to its own line address.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal device for dynamically setting its own line address in a terminal device connected to a host computer by a local area network (LAN).

A system in which a plurality of terminal devices and a host computer are connected via a LAN and a host computer executes a predetermined process when the terminal device is activated has become widespread.

When the terminal device communicates with the host computer, the line address of the terminal device is notified and a communication path with the host computer is formed, but conventionally, a fixed LAN address is assigned to the terminal device. Therefore, there is a problem in that the operator must set the line address in each terminal device, and thus a setting error is likely to occur. Further, since this line address is associated with the virtual communication path handled by the host computer on a one-to-one basis, there is a problem that the maximum number of connections of the terminal device is limited.

Therefore, there is a demand for a terminal device that solves the above problems.

[0005]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional example. Figure 5
A plurality of terminal devices 20-01 to 20-m are connected via LAN 30.
1 shows an example of a system configuration connected to a host computer 1.

Here, when communicating with another device using the LAN 30, a communication path is established by the LAN address of the transmission destination (mainly the host computer 1) and the LAN address of the transmission source (the relevant terminal device). Post communication is required. Therefore, a unique LAN address is assigned to each of the terminal devices 20-01 to 20-m in advance, and based on this LAN address, the communication control unit 21 of each of the terminal devices 20-01 to 20-m
Each communicates with the host computer 1.

The host computer 1 has a port for a virtual communication path (a port for a virtual communication path for the communication control section 3 to perform multiplex communication, a maximum of m corresponding to a node number in FIG. 5),
The multi-controller 4 converts the LAN address of the terminal device notified from the terminal devices 20-01 to 20-m into a node number by referring to the register 2a, and the communication control unit 3 performs the main control based on this node number. The communication control with the corresponding terminal devices 20-01 to 20-m is performed while interacting with the unit 5 and the like.

In this way, since the terminal devices 20-01 to 20-m and the node numbers are associated one to one, the terminal devices
The maximum number of connected units from 20-01 to 20-m is limited to m.
When the terminal devices 20-01 to 20-m are connected to the LAN 30, the LAN addresses of self and the host computer 1 are registered in the disk device 24 by a setup program (not shown) in each terminal device. . Then, at the time of operation, it is stored in a predetermined address of the memory 22 and used by the communication control unit 21.

Since this LAN address needs to correspond to the contents of the register 2a, when adding terminals, the register 2a
Also need to be updated. Therefore, the terminal devices 20-01 to 20
Operate any one of the terminals -m to update the contents of the register 2a.

[0010]

Since the LAN address in the conventional LAN 30 is unique to the terminal device and is associated with the virtual communication path of the host computer 1, the number of terminals that can be updated with the host computer 1 is limited. However, there is a problem in that a LAN address must be set in each of the terminal devices 20-01 to 20-m, and thus a setting error is likely to occur.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a line (LA).
N) It is an object to provide a terminal device that dynamically sets an address.

[0012]

In the principle diagram of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, 1 is a local area network (hereinafter referred to as LA).
The host computer connected to N) communicates with the terminal device 10. Reference numeral 10 denotes a terminal device connected to the same LAN, which includes a line address setting unit 13 and a register 2. Here, a plurality of LAN addresses are registered in the register 2. Further, the line address setting unit 13 sequentially transmits the inquiry messages to the line address destinations registered in the register 2, detects the line address with no response, and sets it as its own line address.

In addition to the above-mentioned means, by providing a communication control unit for setting a line address by the line address setting unit at the start of communication and canceling the setting at the end of communication,
Only when communicating, set the unused line address to its own LAN address.

Further, the line addresses registered in the register are classified according to the terminal type, and the line address setting unit identifies its own terminal type, and the unused line address of the corresponding classification is used. Is configured to detect.

[0015]

Operation: When communicating with the host computer 1, the terminal device
The LAN address setting unit 13 of 10 outputs, to the LAN, inquiry messages as to whether the registered LAN addresses are in use in order from the head of the register 2. If the LAN address is set in another terminal device 10, there will be a response,
An inquiry message is output to the LAN address next to the register 2. In this way, the inquiry messages are sent to the LAN in the order of the registry.
If there is no response to the inquiry message, the line address is set to its own line address.

At this time, when the terminal device also receives the inquiry message with the set line address,
Of course, it will respond. As described above, each terminal device 10 is provided with the registry 2, and the line address setting unit 13 detects an unused line address, so that the line address can be automatically set in the terminal device 10.

Further, if the communication control unit causes the line address setting unit 13 to set its own line address at the start of each unit communication, and cancels the setting at the end of the communication, the line address Is not unique to the terminal device and will be dynamically set.

As described above, if the host computer 1 has a free mouth (corresponding to an unused line address) of the communication path, the communication path can be established with this mouth, so that the terminal device 10 The number of installed computers can be made larger than the maximum communication path of the host computer 1.

Since a plurality of types of terminal devices having different protocols and the like are connected to the LAN and the communication path may be determined by the type on the host computer 1 side, in this case, the register 2 is used as a terminal. The line address setting unit 13 of the terminal device 10 identifies the model by itself and performs an operation of detecting an unused line address in the corresponding category.

[0020]

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart. In FIG. 2, 1 is a host computer, 10-01 to 10-n are n terminal devices, each of which is an LA
It is connected to N 30. Each terminal device 10-01 to 10-n is
Here, they are all the same model, and host computer 1
It has a register 2, the LAN address setting unit 13, and a response unit 15, each of which has the same contents as the register 2 included in, and issues an inquiry message at the start of communication to set an unused LAN address by itself and set it at the end of communication. Delete that LAN address. That is, each terminal device 10-01 to 10-n
An unused LAN address is detected and self-set for each unit communication.

Register 2 in the host computer 1
Is the same as the registration list 2 illustrated in the terminal device 10-01. Here, the maximum registrable number m of LAN addresses are registered, and the multi-controller 4 refers to the terminal device 10-01 to The LAN address notified from 10-n is converted into a node number. The flag indicates whether the node number is valid (01) or invalid (00). Reference numeral 3 is a communication control unit, which uses the communication path (corresponding to the node number) established by the multi-controller 4 to make the terminal devices 10-01 to 10-n
Multiplex communication with. 4 is a multi-controller,
A node number corresponding to the LAN address notified from the terminal devices 10-01 to 10-n is allocated from the m node numbers, and a communication path is established. A main control unit 5 performs data processing in the host computer 1.

In the terminal device 10-01 (the terminal devices 10-01 to 10-n have the same configuration and the same reference numerals are used for the components), reference numeral 2 is a register, which is the same as the register 2 provided in the host computer 1. Therefore, it has the illustrated contents.

Reference numeral 13 is a LAN address setting unit (corresponding to the line address setting unit 13 in FIG. 1). Before starting communication with the host computer 1, it refers to the register 2 and sequentially starts from the node number 01. Temporarily set the LAN address of
Also, an inquiry message is sent to the same LAN address as LAN 3
Send to 0, and if there is no response within the specified time, the LAN
The address is stored in a predetermined address of the memory 14. In addition,
The own LAN address to be provisionally set need not be that of the register 2 as long as it can be identified.

Reference numeral 15 is a response unit, which is used for the other terminal devices 10-02 to 10-n.
When the inquiry message for the self address is received, that is, when the inquiry message is received while the communication path is established with the host computer 1, a predetermined response is sent to the LAN 30.

A communication control unit 11 has the LAN address setting unit 13 and a response unit 15, and when the main control unit 23 makes a communication request, it instructs the LAN address setting unit 13 to set the LAN address, After the address is set in the memory 14, the LAN address is used to communicate with the host computer 1. Then, when the series of communication is completed, the LAN address set in the memory 14 is invalidated.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a main control unit, which performs input / output control of a display unit (not shown), a keyboard, etc., predetermined data processing, and in-terminal control such as instructing the communication control unit 11 to exchange data.
In the system having the above configuration, the LAN address setting operation in the terminal device 10-01 is as follows. See FIG. 3 (1) In the terminal device 10-01, when the main control unit 16 requests the communication control unit 11 to communicate with the host computer 1, the LAN address setting unit 13 first registers for reference. If the node number x of the book 2 is set to 01 (step) and the flag of the node number 01 is valid (01), the LAN address of the node number 01 (5E1800010000)
Is used as a temporary own LAN address, and L of node number 01
An inquiry message is sent to the LAN 30 to the destination of the AN address (5E1800010000). Step (2) In each of the terminal devices 10-01 to 10-n, the communication control unit 11 determines that the inquiry message is addressed to itself and does not use an unused LAN.
If the inquiry message is an address detection inquiry message, a response message is output to the LAN 30 via the response unit 15, and this inquiry message is ignored if it is not addressed to itself.

The contents of the inquiry message and the response message are predetermined identification data. (3) LAN address of node number 01 (5E1800010000)
If this is being used by another device, this response will be received within the specified time, so the LAN address setting part of the terminal device 10-01
13 recognizes that the LAN address (5E1800010000) is in use and refers to the next node number 02 in the register 2.

In the case of FIG. 2, since the flag of the node number 02 is invalid at (00), the next node number 03 is referred to, and after confirming that the flag is valid at (01),
Use the LAN address (5E1800010002) of node number 03 to send the inquiry message to the LAN as in step.
Output to 30. Then, if there is a similar response, the process proceeds to the next node number in the register 2. In this way, the inquiry messages are output to the LAN 30 in the order of the register, and if the response to the inquiry message is not within the predetermined time, the LAN address is stored in the predetermined area of the memory 14 as its own LAN address. For example, LA
If the inquiry message is sent using the N address (5E1800010002) and the response is not within the predetermined time, (5E1800
010002) to its own LAN address. If there is a response to all the LAN addresses registered in the register 2, the setting operation is repeated from the beginning of the register 2 immediately or after a predetermined time. Step
(4) When the LAN address is set as described above, the communication control unit 11 uses the LAN address of the memory 14 to start communication with the host computer 1. (5) When the communication ends, the communication control unit 11 invalidates the LAN address set in the memory 14. As described above, the LAN address of each terminal device 10-01 to 10-n is dynamically set in each terminal device 10-01 to 10-n,
That is, an unused node number is detected at the start of communication,
It is set automatically.

As a result, it is extremely rare that all of the maximum communication paths m of the host computer 1 are used at the same time, so the number n of terminal devices can be made larger than m. (Other Embodiment 1) Usually, terminal devices of different models having different communication protocols are also connected to the LAN 30. In this case, the port of the communication path of the host computer 1 (node number)
Is associated with the terminal model, and therefore the LAN address also corresponds to the model.

In such a case, the node number of the register 2 is classified according to the model (addition of an identification flag to the register 2 or by the range of the node number), and the LAN address setting unit 13 determines whether or not it is in its own device. The setting operation described above is performed based on the model set in and the corresponding classification.

As described above, the register 2 is initialized, and this is set to the host computer 1 and each terminal device 10-0.
By distributing to 1 to 10-n, the LAN address is dynamically set, so that setting operation, setting error, etc. can be eliminated, and the number of terminals that can be installed in the host computer 1 depends on the communication frequency. It can be more than the maximum communication channel that it has. (Other Embodiment 2) This embodiment shows a case where a plurality of host computers are connected to a LAN.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another embodiment 2 for explaining the present embodiment, in which terminals 10-01 to 10-y are LA
Directory of multiple hosts 1-1 to 1-x connected to N
Has 1-1 to 1-x. Then, at the start of communication, the register of the host to communicate with is selected, and the line address is set by the procedure described above. This enables communication with any host.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, each terminal device is provided with a dynamic LAN address setting means for self-setting a free LAN address at the time of communication. Since the address is dynamically set by itself, there are no setting mistakes. To change the address, it is easy to operate simply by changing the register. Since the free LAN address at the time of communication is used, the maximum communication that the host computer has LA terminals with more than the number of routes
There is an effect that it can be connected to N.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment.

[Fig. 3] Operation flowchart diagram

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of another embodiment 2.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional example

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,1-1 ~ 1-x Host computer 2 Register 2a Register 3 Communication control unit 4 Multi-controller 5 Main control unit 10 Terminal device 10-01 to 10n to 10y Terminal device 11 Communication control unit 13 Line address setting unit, LAN address setting unit 14 Memory 15 Response unit 16 Main control unit 20-01 to 20-m Terminal device 21 Communication control unit 22 Memory 23 Main control unit 24 Disk device 30 Local area network LAN

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A terminal device communicating with a host computer via a local area network, wherein a registration list (2) in which a line address is registered, and an inquiry message are sequentially sent to a line address destination registered in the registration list. When there is no response to the inquiry message sent, a line address setting unit (13) for setting the corresponding line address to its own line address is provided, and the line address setting unit (13) causes the register ( A terminal device characterized by detecting an unused line address of 2) and setting it to its own line address. 2. The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a communication control unit that causes the line address setting unit to set a line address at the start of communication and cancels the setting at the end of communication. 3. The line address registered in the register is divided according to the terminal type, and the line address setting unit identifies its own terminal type, and The terminal device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the terminal device is configured to detect an unused line address.