JPH07146737A - Remote power supply controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform miniaturization and to lower a price while providing multiple functions. CONSTITUTION:This remote power supply controller 50 transfers an auxiliary program stored inside a main memory 57 to an auxiliary memory 55 when a device is started and a microprocessor 58 turns off the power of the main memory 57 by executing the auxiliary program. Thus, a temporary message reception standby state is attained. When a message is received, the microprocessor 58 turns on the power of the main memory 57 and switches to an operation by a main program. In the main program, the interpretation of the received message or the like are performed and in the case of a power supply application message addressed to a present station, the power supply application operation of a master device is performed. When the master device is started, the microprocessor 58 is operated by the auxiliary program and turns off the power of the main memory 57.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote power supply control device for continuously operating for 24 hours, which receives instructions from an online message sender and turns on a power supply of a parent device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A remote power supply control device is used to power on a parent device, such as a computer, which performs various information processing, from a remote location. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing such a system. The system shown in the figure is a message sender 1, a modem (or DSU: subscriber line termination device).
2, a communication line 3, a modem (or DSU: subscriber line terminating device) 4, a remote power control device 5, and a master device 6.

The message sending source 1 is composed of a message sending terminal such as a microcomputer or a host computer, and is for sending the power-on message of the parent device 6 through the modem 2 and the communication line 3. Communication line 3
Is a network including an analog line and a digital line, which connects the message transmission source 1 and the remote power supply control device. The remote power control device 5 includes a communication line 3 and a modem 4.
The power-on telegram of the parent device 6 is received via the, and the power of the parent device 6 is turned on, and a detailed description will be given later.

The parent device 6 is a device whose power is turned on by the remote power supply control device 5. As for the relationship between the parent device 6 and the message sending source 1, for example, the parent device 6 is a client / server system. There is a configuration in which the message transmission source 1 performs a function as a server and the message transmission source 1 has a function as a client, or the parent device 6 performs a process as a terminal device managed by the message transmission source 1 formed of a host computer.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the remote power supply control device 5. Remote power control device 5 in the figure
Includes a line interface unit 7, a status display unit 8, a maintenance interface unit 9, a power-on interface unit 10, a memory (RAM) 11, a memory (ROM) 12, a microprocessor 13, and a bus 14. The line interface unit 7 is an interface unit that is connected to a communication line interface such as the modem 4 and receives power-on instruction data via the communication line 3. The status display unit 8 includes a display and the like, and displays the operating status of the remote power supply control device 5. The maintenance interface unit 9 has various maintenance setting functions. The power-on interface unit 10 controls the power supply of the parent device 6 via a power ON / OFF interface (not shown).

The memory 11 is composed of a RAM, and is a memory for storing the data received by the line interface unit 7 and for forming a work area when the microprocessor 13 processes. In addition, the memory 12 is an RO
It is a memory configured by M and storing an operation program of the remote power supply control device 5. The microprocessor 13
It has a function as a central processing unit for controlling the remote power supply control device 5, and executes various communication protocols by executing an operation program stored in the memory 12. The bus 14 is the microprocessor 1
3 for connecting the respective components such as the memory 11 and the like.

[0007] The remote power supply control device 5 configured as described above
Then, when the power of the device is turned on, the power is supplied to each unit, and the power control operation of the parent device 6 is performed. That is, the line interface unit 7 monitors the communication line 3, and when the power-on message of the parent device 6 is sent, the line interface unit 7 receives this and notifies the microprocessor 13 of it. The microprocessor 13 executes the main program stored in the memory 12 to instruct the power-on interface unit 10 to power on the parent device 6. When the parent device 6 is powered on and stands up by this operation, the communication line 3 connected to the remote power supply control device 5 is pulled in, and thereafter, the parent device 6 and the message transmission source 1 are connected to each other, and these lines are connected. Communicate between them.

[0008]

As described above, the remote power supply controller 5 constantly monitors the presence or absence of power-on instruction data received from the online system for 24 hours, or only within a predetermined time range by a timer or the like. Upon receiving power-on instruction data from the online system, power-on control of the parent device 6 is performed. Therefore, the remote power supply control device 5 has two
It is premised on continuous operation for 4 hours, and high reliability is required. On the other hand, in the remote power control device 5,
In recent years, along with the demand for diversification and high reliability of the system, further improvement of its reliability, improvement of security, support of various communication protocols, etc. are required. Therefore, the remote power supply control device 5 has a multi-function. Is required.

For example, as an example of such multi-functionalization, the function of monitoring the communication state on the communication line 3 and recording a log, the information in the power-on data is identified, and the power is turned on only from a specific client. There are functions that cannot be performed. Therefore, it is indispensable to mount a memory having a larger capacity in the control unit that performs the processing of the remote power supply control device 5, and the power consumption and the heat generation amount tend to increase accordingly. The remote power control device 5 is a small device that can be built in the parent device 6 for the purpose of use as the device.
And because it requires high-speed processing, it is multifunctional,
Lower power consumption is required.

However, it is difficult to reduce the amount of heat generation and to reduce the size of the conventional remote power supply control device 5 in the configuration of the conventional remote power supply control device 5 described above. It was difficult to incorporate 5 in it.

In order to solve the problem of heat generation, it is considered that the heat generation is not suppressed but the heat dissipation condition is positively improved, and an improvement of the cooling method is considered. As such a cooling method, a heat dissipation plate, a heat pipe, an electric fan or the like having high heat conductivity is used. However, for a small device such as the remote power supply control device 5 that continuously operates for 24 hours and requires high reliability, a heat sink or a heat pipe that requires a large space cannot be adopted. Moreover, it was not possible to realize the price reduction. Furthermore, the electric fan system is
It was unreliable and could not be used in a remote power control device that requires 24-hour operation.

As another method, there is a method of realizing a large capacity and low power consumption by using a fixed disk, but in this case, a message from a high speed line cannot be immediately processed and space is required. This method could not be adopted in a remote power supply control device that cannot statically incorporate a fixed disk.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a remote power supply control device which can realize multi-functionality, miniaturization, and cost reduction. .

[0014]

A remote power supply control device of the present invention is a remote power supply control device which receives a message from a message transmission source for instructing power-on of a parent device and controls power-on of the parent device. An auxiliary memory that stores an auxiliary program for monitoring whether or not a power-on message is received from the message sender, and a power-on message for the parent device that interprets the power-on message received by executing the auxiliary program. And a main memory which stores a main program for performing a turn-on and which is turned off when the power-on message is monitored by the auxiliary program.

[0015]

In the remote power supply controller of the present invention, when the power is turned on, the microprocessor reads the main program from the main memory and transfers the auxiliary program stored in the main memory to the auxiliary memory. After that, the microprocessor turns off the power of the main memory by the auxiliary program. As a result, the remote power supply control device enters the temporary power-on message reception waiting state (state 1).

When the electronic message is received in the state 1, the microprocessor turns on the power of the main memory and switches to the operation of the main program. Then, the main program is put into a waiting state for receiving a message, and when a message is received in this state, the microprocessor determines whether the message is a power-on message addressed to its own station, and the power-on message addressed to its own station If there is, a power-on operation of the parent device is performed, and the device waits for a ready signal from the parent device. As a result, the remote power control device shifts to state 3.

In state 3, when the parent device is successfully started up and a ready signal is received from the parent device, the microprocessor operates by the auxiliary program and the remote power control device shifts to the sleep state (state 2). . Then, in such a sleep state, when the ready signal is turned off from the parent device, the remote power supply control device enters the temporary power-on message reception waiting state of state 1.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a remote power supply control device of the present invention. The remote power control device 50 in the figure is
Line interface unit 51, status display unit 52, maintenance interface unit 53, power-on interface unit 54, auxiliary memory 55, main memory power supply control unit 56, main memory 5
7, a microprocessor 58, and a bus 59.

In such a remote power control device 50, the line interface section 51 to the power-on interface section 54 are respectively the conventional line interface sections 7 to 7.
Since it is similar to the power-on interface unit 10, its description is omitted.

The auxiliary memory 55 is composed of a volatile memory such as a RAM and is a memory for storing the data received by the line interface unit 51 and for storing an auxiliary program for performing the operation in the temporary power-on instruction waiting state. The main memory power supply control unit 56 has a function of controlling the power supply of the main memory 57 according to an instruction from the microprocessor 58.

FIG. 4 shows a circuit configuration of the main memory power supply controller 56. As shown in the figure, the main memory power supply control unit 56 is mainly composed of a power supply control transistor 56a and an I / O register 56b. That is, the input of the I / O register 56b is connected to the data bus, and the output thereof is connected to the base of the power supply control transistor 56a. In addition, VCC (+ 5V) is applied to the collector of the power supply control transistor 56a.
Is applied, and the emitter side is connected to the power supply terminal of the main memory 57.

The main memory 57 is composed of a non-volatile semiconductor memory such as a ROM, and stores, for example, a main program for performing a power-on operation as the remote power control device 50 such as interpreting a received power-on message. The main memory power supply control unit 56 stops the power supply during message monitoring.

The auxiliary program is a simple program in the temporary power-on instruction waiting state, and the main memory 6 is turned off when the parent device 6 is in operation, and the remote power control device 50 is in the sleep state (low power consumption). It is a program that consists of two programs that are kept in an operating state. The main program is a program that operates contrary to the auxiliary program, and determines power supply control operations such as determining a message stored in a buffer in the auxiliary memory 55 and power-on operation of the parent device 6, and security. It is a program that realizes functions, log management functions, and high functionality to meet the multi-functional demands from the market.

Further, the microprocessor 58 has a bus 5
A central processing unit that connects the line interface unit 51 to the main memory 57 by 9 and executes the auxiliary program stored in the auxiliary memory 55 and the main program stored in the main memory 57 to perform various processes ( CPU). Since the relationship between the remote power supply control device 50 and the electronic message transmission source 1 or the parent device 6 is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the description thereof is omitted here.

Next, the operation of the remote power supply control device configured as described above will be described. FIG. 5 is a state transition diagram of the remote power control device 50. << Status 1: Temporary power-on message reception waiting status (auxiliary program) >> ・ From the online system (message sender 1), determine whether the power-on instruction message is addressed to your station. The data is stored in the buffer provided in the auxiliary memory 55.・ If it is not addressed to your own station, ignore the message.・ When receiving the message addressed to the own station, the status is changed to 3.

<< State 2: Sleep state (auxiliary program) >> Indicates a state in which a ready signal from the parent device 6 is being received. In this case, in order to suppress the amount of heat generation, the main memory 57 is powered off and the auxiliary program on the auxiliary memory 55 operates.・ Do not perform any other operations. When the ready signal is turned off due to the power supply of the parent device 6 being turned off, the state 1 is entered.

<< State 3: When the parent device is powered on (main program) >> The state when the parent device is powered on is shown. -It operates by analyzing the contents of the electronic message addressed to itself stored in the auxiliary memory 55 and by executing the main program having other functional programs. -Indicates the state until the ready signal is received from the parent device 6. -If the startup of the master device 6 fails, the state 1 is entered. When the parent device 6 is successfully started up, the state 2 is entered.

Next, the startup process of the parent device 6 will be described.
First, prior to the normal operation of the remote power control device 50, the operation of the remote power control device 50 at the time of abnormality will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the startup process in the event of an abnormality. When the remote power supply control device 50 is powered on (step S1), the microprocessor (CPU)
58 reads the main program from the main memory 57 (step S2), and first checks the main memory (ROM) 57 itself (steps S3 and S4). If the check result is OK, then the auxiliary program is transferred to the auxiliary memory (RAM) 55 (ROM → RAM), and the auxiliary memory 55
Is checked (steps S5 and S6). On the other hand, if the check result in step S4 is NG, the remote power supply control device 50 itself is reset up to a predetermined number of times (N times) (steps S7 and S8), and the process returns to step S3 again to return to the main memory 57. Check.

If the result of the RAM check in steps S5 and S6 is OK, the process proceeds to step S11. In this step S11, the result of the RAM check is OK, so the process proceeds to step S12 to perform the normal operation. To do.
On the other hand, when the result of the RAM check is not OK, the microprocessor 58 does not use the auxiliary memory 55,
The operation is performed only by the main program in the main memory 57 (step S9), and a message reception waiting state is set (step S1).
0). In this case, since the judgment of the RAM check result in step S11 is NG, step S1
The process moves to 3 and an alarm is notified to the outside.

That is, when the auxiliary memory 55 cannot be used, the main program waits for a message reception, not the auxiliary program wait for a message reception. As a result, although the heat generation amount increases, the power control operation of the parent device 6 as the remote power control device 50 is guaranteed. As a result of checking the main memory 57, if normal startup is not possible even after performing reset N times, the remote power supply control device 50 itself cannot operate.
The process moves to 3 and an alarm notification is given to the outside.

Next, the startup operation of the remote power supply control device 50 in a normal state will be described. 7 and 8 are flowcharts thereof. First, when the remote power control device 50 is powered on (step S1), a microprocessor (CPU)
58 reads the main program from the main memory 57 (step S2) and transfers the auxiliary program stored in the main memory 57 to the auxiliary memory 55 (step S2). Then, the microprocessor 58 instructs the main memory power supply controller 56 to turn off the power of the main memory 57 by the transferred auxiliary program, and the main memory power supply controller 56 turns off the power of the main memory 57 (step S4). As a result, the remote power supply control device 50 enters the temporary message reception standby state,
The microprocessor 58 operates with the auxiliary program (step S5). That is, it becomes the state 1 in the state transition.

In this state, the system waits for a message from the communication line 3 (step S6). When the message is received, the microprocessor 58 issues an ON command to the main memory power supply controller 56, The memory power supply control unit 56 turns on the power supply of the main memory 57 (step S7). This allows
The microprocessor 58 operates the main program on the main memory 57 (step S8), and receives the takeover data stored in the auxiliary memory 55 (step S9). When a message is received in the above-mentioned temporary message waiting state, the received data is directly stored in the auxiliary memory 55,
This is passed to the main program in step S9. In addition to this, the auxiliary memory 55 is also configured to store various log data and the like in the reception waiting state, and these data are also stored in step S9.
Delivered to the main program.

Thereafter, the remote power supply control device 50 enters a telegram waiting state by executing the main program (step S1).
0, S11), when a message is received in this message waiting state,
A compare check is performed between the message and the message data stored in the main memory 57 in advance (step S12,
S13).

The power-on instruction message from the message sender 1 may be received in the message waiting state by the auxiliary program in step S6 or received in step S11, which is remote from the message sender 1. When looking at the power control device 50, there is no response to the power-on instruction message,
Since the power-on instruction message is repeatedly transmitted, the above processing is performed. That is, the main program is activated at the first reception, and the actual power-on instruction message is received at the subsequent reception.

In the compare check in steps S12 and S13, the microprocessor 58 analyzes the data stored in the auxiliary memory 55, and when it confirms that the content of the data is the power-on instruction message for the parent device 6, the power is turned on. The parent device 6 using the input interface unit 54
Is turned on (step S14), and it is determined whether or not this has been performed a prescribed number of times = N times (step S15). If it is within N times, the state of waiting for a ready signal from the parent device 6 is set (step S16). ). As a result of such processing, the state is
Transition from state 1 to state 3.

The ready signal is a signal that is always output to the remote power control device 50 while the operation program of the parent device is normally started up and can be operated normally. This is an interface signal indicating that the parent device 6 has normally started up within the time set for each.

In step S13, if the data stored in the auxiliary memory 55 is not the power-on instruction for the parent device 6, the process returns to step S5 and the temporary message reception waiting state is entered. Furthermore, in step S16, when the ready signal cannot be received from the parent device 6, the power of the parent device 6 is once turned off (step S1).
7) Return to step S14 to restart. Then, when such restarting is performed N times or more (step S15), the process returns to step S5, and the temporary message reception waiting state is again established.

On the other hand, when the ready signal is received from the parent device 6 in step S16, the line use right of the communication line 3 is transferred to the parent device 6 (step S18), and further, the microprocessor 58 causes the main memory power supply control unit. A power-off command for the main memory 57 is output to 56 (step S1).
9), the remote power control device 50 enters a sleep state in which it is operated by the auxiliary program. As a result, the remote power control device 50 shifts from state 3 to state 2. The sleep state is maintained while the ready signal is received from the parent device 6, and when the ready signal from the parent device 6 is cut off, the standby state is again set. That is, in step S20, the reception of the ready signal from the parent device 6 is monitored, and if the ready signal is being received, the sleep state is maintained (step S21), and if it is not received, the process returns to step S5.

As described above, in this embodiment, the temporary power-on message reception waiting state (state 1) and the sleep state (state 2).
Then, it operates by the auxiliary program which is a very simple program, and it operates by the main program only when the power of the parent device is actually turned on (state 3) where it is necessary to actually judge the telegram. It is possible to suppress the heat generation amount as a whole. In the present embodiment, unlike the conventional sleep of the microprocessor itself, which controls the power supply of the memory unit and does not cause the microprocessor to sleep, it is always necessary for the remote power supply control device 50. It is possible to make an action.

[0041]

As described above, according to the remote power supply control device of the present invention, at the time of monitoring the reception of the power-on message, the auxiliary program for performing the monitoring operates, and the main operation is performed only when the message is received. Since the power of the memory was turned on and it was made to operate by the main program, while realizing multiple functions,
It is possible to reduce the power consumption of the device, and it is possible to reduce the power consumption even in the case of a device that is too small to mount a fixed disk or a device that does not have a fixed disk in terms of cost. is there. Since there is no need to use a cooling mechanism such as an electric fan, the size of the device can be reduced in this respect as well.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote power supply control device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a general remote power source control.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional remote power supply control device.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a main memory power supply control unit in the remote power supply control device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a state transition diagram of the remote power supply control device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of the remote power supply control device of the present invention when an abnormality occurs.

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart (No. 1) of the remote power supply control device of the present invention in a normal state.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart (No. 2) of operation of the remote power supply control device of the present invention at a normal time.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 message transmission source 6 parent device 50 remote power supply control device 55 auxiliary memory 56 main memory power supply control unit 57 main memory 58 microprocessor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A remote power supply control device that receives a message from a message sender that issues a power-on instruction to a parent device, and that controls the power-on of the parent device. An auxiliary memory for storing an auxiliary program for monitoring the presence or absence, and a main program for interpreting the power-on message received by the execution of the auxiliary program and for turning on the power of the parent device, and A remote power supply control device comprising: a main memory that is turned off when a power-on message is monitored by an auxiliary program.