JPH06268717A - Communications equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the develpement, evaluation and trouble cause pursuit of a communications equipment and its communication opposite equipment without using a dedicated measuring equipment. CONSTITUTION:The communication equipment 1 is composed of a line control part 105 controlling communication with the communication opposite equipment 2, a line connection part 101 controlling line control parts 105 with each other, a various state storage part 103 storing the state of the communications equipment 1, a display use port 104 connecting a data terminal, a maintenance function part 106 outputting the state of the communication equipment 1, which is read from the various state storage part 103 to the display use port 104 and a central control part 102 generally controlling the communications equipment 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention provides a device having a communication function, such as an exchange, a telephone, an ISDN terminal, a data terminal,
The present invention relates to bucket terminals, facsimiles, TV phones, and the like.

Also, personal computers, word processors, printers, etc., can be used because they have a communication function. It can also be used for development equipment and measurement equipment that are connected to a personal computer and operated.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an analyzer or the like adapted to the communication protocol has been used for monitoring communication between a communication device and a communication partner device. When monitoring the contents of communication between multiple devices at the same time, the number of measuring devices such as protocol analyzers was required. Further, in order to inspect the disconnection or short circuit of the communication line, the communication line was removed from the communication device and the test was conducted with an inspection device such as a tester. In addition, when the communication device or the communication partner device operates by supplying power from the communication line, the power supply state was verified by connecting a dedicated inspection device having a power receiving function to the communication line.

For example, in the case of a private branch exchange having an extension telephone as a communication partner as a communication device, the conventional private branch exchange does not have a function of displaying a communication protocol with the extension telephone, and the private branch exchange itself has no function. When monitoring the communication between the exchange and the extension telephone, an analyzer or the like that conforms to the protocol must be used. In that case, as shown in FIG. 7, a protocol analyzer C can be connected between the private branch exchange A and the extension telephone set B connected to the private branch exchange A, and the communication protocol and the like can be viewed on the screen of the protocol analyzer C.

When the extension telephone connected to the private branch exchange does not operate, it is necessary to determine whether the cause is the private branch exchange, the communication line, or the extension telephone. At this time, when verifying whether the communication line is defective, as shown in FIG. 8, one end point A of the communication line is short-circuited, and the other end point B is inspected by a tester or the like, so that the communication line is in the middle. You can verify whether or not you are disconnected.

In the case of a private branch exchange that accommodates an extension telephone set that operates by receiving power from a communication line, it is necessary to verify whether or not the power supply to the extension telephone set is normally performed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, the inspection device B having a function of verifying the power supply state to the extension telephone is connected to the communication line to which power is supplied from the private branch exchange A.

[0007]

Conventionally, when monitoring communication between a communication device and a communication partner device, an analyzer suitable for the protocol has been used. For example, in order to verify communication with a communication partner device connected to a communication line in which a failure has occurred, remove the communication line from the communication device or communication partner device once, and then use a protocol analyzer in the meantime. Etc. had to be put in.
If it is a communication partner device operating by power supply from the communication line, the state at the time of the failure cannot be maintained if it is removed from the communication line, so that it was necessary to wait for the same failure to occur again.

Further, if the protocol between the communication device and the communication partner device is unique and there is no analyzer suitable for the protocol in the market, it is very difficult to confirm the operation. Also, if there is an analyzer that conforms to the protocol, when monitoring the communication between the communication device and the communication partner device, you must bring the protocol analyzer to the place where the communication device or the communication partner device is and connect it to the communication line. There wasn't. In addition, if you are very far away, it will take time to move, so when you need speed to check the operating status, you can communicate the status with the local person by telephone etc. There was no choice but to do it, and it was difficult to grasp the situation.

When verifying a failure such as a disconnection or short circuit of a communication line, the communication line must be removed and one end should be short-circuited, and then the continuity test must be conducted with a tester or the like at the other end. It was When the communication line is very long and the communication device and the communication partner device are separated from each other, it is necessary to go to the places where the communication device and the communication partner device are located to perform the work.

In the case of a communication device operating by power supply from a communication line, when checking whether power is normally supplied to the communication device, dedicated inspection equipment is required and power is supplied. I had to connect the inspection equipment to the communication line and inspect it. In the case where there are multiple communication devices that are being supplied with power and are scattered in various places, it was necessary to bring the inspection equipment to each place for inspection.

Further, in order to monitor the communication of the communication device having a plurality of communication lines at the same time, measurement equipment such as a protocol analyzer is required for the number of communication lines.

Therefore, in the present invention, by providing the communication device itself with the function of monitoring the communication protocol, the dedicated measuring device and inspection function are used for the development, evaluation, and investigation of the cause of failure of the communication device or its communication partner device. The purpose is to enable without.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a line control unit for controlling communication between a communication device and a partner device communicating with the communication device, and connection between the line control units.・ A line connection unit that controls disconnection, various status storage units for storing the status of the communication device, a display port for connecting a data terminal, and the various status storage units A maintenance function unit that outputs the status of the communication device to the display port, and a central control unit that controls the line control unit, the line connection unit, various status storage units, the display port, and the maintenance function unit. Is a communication device.

[0014]

When a device having a communication function (hereinafter referred to as a communication device) monitors communication with a communication partner device, a measuring device such as an analyzer is usually connected between the communication device and the communication partner device. Done.

By incorporating a function of displaying a communication protocol in the communication device itself and providing an input / output port (hereinafter referred to as a display port) for displaying the communication protocol, a data terminal or the like connected to the display port can be provided. It can display the communication protocol and does not require measurement equipment such as an analyzer.

The communication line can be tested by operating from the data terminal connected to the display port. As a result, it is possible to easily separate whether the communication device itself is defective, such as when the communication partner device does not operate, or the communication line is defective.

When the communication partner device or the communication device itself is operating by receiving power from the communication line, when verifying the state of the communication device such as whether power is being normally supplied, it is normally necessary to use other communication lines. This is done by connecting a power receiving inspection device or the like to the end, but if the present invention is used, the status of the communication device such as power supply is displayed by operating from the data terminal connected to the display port provided in the communication device. It does not require measuring equipment or inspection functions.

In a communication device having a plurality of communication lines,
It is possible to simultaneously monitor communication with a plurality of communication partner devices without using a measuring device or the like.

[0019]

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a communication device. Line control unit 1
Reference numeral 05 controls communication between the communication device 1 and the communication partner device 2. It also has a test signal generator and outputs a test signal to the communication line. The line connection unit 101 controls connection and disconnection of communication between the plurality of line control units 105. The central control unit 102 is a core of all controls of the communication device 1. The display port 104 is an input / output interface prepared for outputting the state of the communication device 1 to the data terminal 3 connected to it and for receiving the information input from the data terminal 3. Maintenance function section 10
Reference numeral 6 provides services such as a protocol display function, a communication device status display function, and a line test function.

FIG. 2 shows the flow of processing of the maintenance function. Every time the line control unit 105 communicates with the communication partner device 2, the communication function unit 106 is notified of the communication protocol and state change. The maintenance function unit 106 converts the contents and state changes of the communication protocol received from the line control unit 105 into character characters, etc., and at the same time adds a line number, time and relative time to monitor multiple lines, and displays a port for display. Output to 104 at any time. In this way, the communication protocol and operating state are output to the data terminal 3 connected to the display port 104.

Further, various states of the communication device 1 are stored in the various state storage section 103, and are rewritten every time the state of the communication device 1 changes. When an operation is performed from the data terminal 3 connected to the display port 104, the maintenance function unit 106 reads various states of the communication device 1 from the various state storage units 103, converts them into character characters, etc., and displays them in the display port 104. Output. In this way, various states of the communication device 1 are output to the data terminal 3.

When a line test operation is performed from the data terminal 3 connected to the display port 104, the maintenance function unit 106 informs the line control unit 105 of the fact. Then, the test signal generator provided in the line controller 105 outputs the test signal to the communication line. As a result, the communication line is tested.

FIG. 3 shows the operating procedure. When it is desired to monitor the communication between the communication device 1 and the communication partner device 2 connected thereto (FIG. 4), (1) the display port 10 of the communication device 1
The data terminal 3 is connected to 4. Then, (2) the operation is started from the data terminal 3. When the operation is started, a menu (3) is displayed on the screen of the data terminal 3, and (4) various functions (protocol display, line test, communication device status display) are selected from the menu.

(5) When the protocol display function is selected,
(6) Protocol display is started. (7) During this period, the communication protocol and status of the communication device 1 and the communication partner device 2 are displayed on the screen of the data terminal C in real time. When it is desired to end the protocol display function, (8) the end operation is performed from the data terminal 3. As a result, (9) protocol display ends.

(10) When the line test function is selected, first, (11) the communication line to be tested is selected. At this time, a plurality of communication lines may be selected. Then (1
2) Select what kind of test signal (single sine wave, composite frequency signal, isolated pulse, continuous pulse, etc.) is output or the test signal currently output is stopped. (13) When the output of the test signal is selected, the test signal is output from the test signal generation unit of the line control unit 105 to the selected communication line. (14) When the stop of the test signal is selected, the test signal currently output to the communication line is stopped. As shown in FIG. 5, a measuring device such as an oscilloscope 4 can be connected to the communication partner device side of the communication line to confirm that the test signal is normally output. If a normal test signal cannot be confirmed here, it is understood that the communication line is defective such as cut or short-circuited in the middle.

(15) When the communication device status display function is selected, various states of the communication device 1 are displayed on the screen of the data terminal 3 (FIG. 4).

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, by connecting a modem to the display port 104 of the communication device 1 and passing through a public network, remote operation can be performed from the data terminal 3 at a remote location, and the remote location can be performed. The communication protocol and state of the installed communication device 1 and the partner communication device 2 can be grasped in real time.

[0028]

According to the present invention, the function of the measuring device for monitoring the communication protocol is provided in the communication device itself, and the measuring device dedicated to the development, evaluation, and investigation of the cause of failure of the communication device or its communication partner device, It was possible without using inspection equipment. Also, when simultaneously monitoring a plurality of communication protocols, it is not necessary to have as many measuring devices as protocol analyzers as the number of communication partner devices. In addition, since the protocol can be constantly monitored, it is easy to perform the operation of spattering the connection of measuring instruments and the like.

At the development stage of the communication device, it is possible for a plurality of people to develop it simultaneously while checking the protocol with the communication partner device online. Further, even if the protocol between the communication device and the communication partner device is unique and cannot be supported by a commercially available protocol analyzer, the development can proceed without problems if the communication device has a display function.

Further, since the communication device has a function of displaying the communication protocol and the operating state online, the communication protocol of the communication device and the communication partner device in which the failure occurs, the state of the communication device, etc. Even when the communication partner device is operating by the power supply from the communication line, it is possible to see the faulty state without disconnecting the communication line.

Further, since the communication device is provided with a display port, when the communication device is installed in a remote place, the display port is connected to a modem or the like, and the data terminal at hand is connected through a public network. The operating status can be confirmed in real time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of maintenance processing of the communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation procedure of the communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration during protocol display and communication status display in the communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration at the time of defect verification of a communication line in the communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration during remote operation using a modem in the communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration when a protocol is displayed in a conventional communication device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration at the time of defect verification of a communication line in a conventional communication device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration at the time of verifying a state of a communication device in a conventional communication device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 communication device 2 communication partner device 3 data terminal 4 oscilloscope 101 line connection unit 102 central control unit 103 various status storage unit 104 display port 105 line control unit 106 maintenance function unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A line control unit for controlling communication between a communication device and a partner device communicating with the communication device, a line connection unit for controlling connection / disconnection between the line control units, and the communication device. Status storage unit for storing the status of the above, a display port for connecting a data terminal, and a maintenance function for outputting the status of the communication device read from the status storage unit to the display port. And a central control unit that controls the line control unit, the line connection unit, various state storage units, the display port, and the maintenance function unit.