JPH07236006A - Centralized maintenance management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically select a connection route of an information processing unit. CONSTITUTION:When a terminal 1a replies to a call from a center 6 and a line is connected, the center 6 sends a password to the terminal 1. When the password is correct, a changeover discrimination section 31a outputs the password via a network control section 30a. When the password is correct, the center 6 outputs an acknowledge signal. Upon the receipt of the acknowledge signal by the network control section 30a, the changeover discrimination section 31a outputs a switching control signal. The changeover section 32a connects an information processing unit 2a to the network control section 30a to connect the processing unit 2a and a console of the center 6. The connection route is switched also by an alarm signal ARM from the processing unit 2a and an external switching signal SW1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a centralized maintenance management system for centrally managing a terminal equipped with an information processing device from a center, and more particularly to a centralized system capable of switching a connection route of the information processing device without arranging a staff member at the terminal. It relates to a maintenance management system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a system in which terminals equipped with an information processing device are dispersedly arranged in a wide area, and the information processing device is allowed to unmannedly control and monitor a plant or the like in each terminal. A console for inputting data to the device and displaying data from the device is connected to the device via a dedicated line. In addition, there is a center for performing maintenance and inspection of all terminals from one location, and the terminals are distributed to remote terminals and are connected via a public line network. In such a system, when switching the connection route for connecting the information processing device, which is usually connected to the console of the terminal, to the console of the center, staff is assigned to both the terminal and the center, and the staff connects the terminal and the center to the public line. It was carried out by performing the operation of connecting with the network.

[0003]

As described above, in order to switch the connection route of the information processing device and perform maintenance and inspection from the center by operating the console, staffs are arranged at both the terminal and the center and the staff switches the connection route. There was a problem that the operation of had to be performed. In order to solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a centralized maintenance management system capable of switching the connection route of an information processing device without arranging a staff member at a terminal.

[0004]

The present invention is directed to a center for centralized maintenance management, a terminal equipped with an information processing device and a console connected to the center, and a public line network for connecting a line between the terminal and the center. The center calls the terminal, sends the first password to the terminal after the line is connected, and sends a confirmation signal to the terminal that the second password received after this sending is correct, The terminal responds to the call from the center, sends out the second password to the center if the first password received after the line is connected is correct, and receives the confirmation signal after this sending, the information processing device and the console It disconnects the connection and connects the information processing apparatus to the public line network.

The terminal is equipped with a connection route switching device,
The connection route switching device controls the connection with the public line network, sends a response signal to the call from the center and a second password to the public line network, and a network control unit received by the network control unit. A password determining unit that determines whether the password of 1 is correct, outputs a second password to the network control unit if it determines that the password is correct, and outputs a switching control signal when the network control unit receives a confirmation signal; The processing device and the console are connected to each other, and when the switching control signal is input, the switching device is disconnected to connect the information processing device to the network control unit.

Further, it is composed of a center for centralized maintenance management, a terminal equipped with an information processing device and a console connected to the center, and a public line network for connecting a line between this terminal and the center. When the first password received after the line is connected is answered in response to the call from the terminal, the second password is transmitted to the terminal, and the terminal responds to the switching request signal from the information processing device or the outside. Call the center, and after the line is connected, the first
Is sent to the center, and if the second password received after the sending is correct, the information processing device and the console are disconnected and the information processing device is connected to the public line network.

Further, the terminal is provided with a connection route switching device,
The connection route switching device controls the connection with the public line network, dials the call number of the center to call the center, and sends a first password to the public line network, an information processing device, or an external device. When the switching request signal is input from the device, the calling number is output to the network control unit, the first password is output to the network control unit after the line is connected, and the second password received by the network control unit is correct. It is determined whether or not it is correct, and a switching determination unit that outputs a switching control signal and normally connects the information processing device and the console. When the switching control signal is input, this connection is disconnected to connect the information processing device to the network. And a switching unit connected to the control unit.

[0008]

According to the present invention, when the terminal responds to the call from the center and the line is connected, the first password is sent from the center, and if the first password is correct, the second password is sent from the terminal. When the second password is transmitted, a confirmation signal is transmitted from the center. Then, the terminal receiving the confirmation signal disconnects the connection between the information processing device and the console and connects the information processing device to the public line network, so that the information processing device and the console of the center are connected.

Further, in response to a call from the center, a response signal is transmitted from the network control unit in the connection route switching device provided in the terminal, and it is determined that the first password received by the network control unit is correct. A second password is output from the unit, and the second password is sent from the network control unit to the public line network. When the network control unit receives the confirmation signal, the switching determination unit outputs the switching control signal and the switching unit connects the information processing device to the network control unit, so that the information processing device and the console of the center are connected.

When a switching request signal from the information processing device or the outside is generated, the terminal calls the center and the center responds to the call and the line is connected. Then
The terminal sends the first password, and if the first password is correct, the center sends the second password. If this second password is correct, the terminal disconnects the connection between the information processing device and the console and connects the information processing device to the public line network, so that the information processing device and the center console are connected.

Further, when a switching request signal is input from the information processing device or the outside, the switching judgment unit in the connection route switching device provided in the terminal outputs the call number of the center to the network control unit, and the network control unit. Calls the center by dialing the calling number. After the line is connected, the switching judgment unit outputs the first password, and the network control unit sends the first password to the public line network. Then, if the second password received by the network control unit is correct, the switching determination unit outputs a switching control signal and the switching unit connects the information processing device to the network control unit, so that the information processing device and the console of the center are connected. Are connected.

[0012]

1 is a block diagram of a centralized maintenance management system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the centralized maintenance management system. In FIG. 1, 1a, 1b ... 1n are terminals, 2a
Is an information processing apparatus using a computer for controlling and monitoring a plant (not shown), 3a is an information processing apparatus 2a
A connection route switching device for switching the connection route of 4a is provided with a keyboard, a display device, etc., not shown, and is a console for inputting data to the information processing device 2a and for displaying the data of the device. A certain public line network, 6 is a center for performing centralized maintenance management of the terminals 1a ... 1n.

Reference numeral 30a is a network control unit (NCU) for controlling connection with the public line network 5,
An unillustrated modulator / demodulator (modem) for converting a digital signal sent from the information processing device 2a to the public line network 5 and a signal sent from the public line network 5 to a digital signal for the information processing device 2a is provided. Prepare for the inside,
Incoming call control responding to a call from the center 6, the center 6
Call control, send and receive passwords, etc.

Further, 31a is a switching judgment unit, which stores the calling number of the center 6, the password given to the center 6 and the password given to the terminal 1a, and checks the password sent from the center 6 and will be described later. The switching unit is controlled. 32a normally connects the information processing device 2a and the console 4a, and disconnects this connection when a switching control signal is input from the switching determination unit 31a.
A switching unit that connects a to the network control unit 30a, 33a is a switching request signal, that is, an alarm signal AR from the information processing device 2a.
This is an input unit to which a switching signal SW1 is input from the outside by the operation of M or a staff member.

Next, the operation of the centralized maintenance management system will be described with reference to FIG. 2 when the connection route of the information processing device 2a is switched from the center 6. In the terminal 1a, normally, unmanned operation is performed in which the information processing device 2a controls and monitors a plant or the like. The switching unit 32a in the connection route switching device 3a selects the route A shown in FIG. 1 as the connection route,
Therefore, the information processing device 2a and the console 4a are connected by a dedicated line.

When switching the connection route from the center 6 for maintenance and inspection of the terminal 1a, the center 6 calls the terminal 1a by dialing the calling number of the terminal 1a (a telephone number if it is a telephone line) (step 101). . As a result of dialing by the center 6, a dial signal is sent from the center 6 to the public line network 5, and a call signal is sent from the public line network 5 to the terminal 1a.

When the network control unit 30a of the terminal 1a receives the call signal, it sends a response signal to the public line network 5 and outputs an incoming call request notification signal to the switching judgment unit 31a to make an incoming call request. To notify. In this way, the center 6
A line is connected between the terminal 1a and the terminal 1a (step 102).

After the line is connected, the center 6
The password given to is sent to the public line network 5 (step 103). The network control unit 30a that has received this password via the public line network 5 outputs the password to the switching determination unit 31a. The switching determination unit 31a compares the received password with the stored password of the center 6 and determines whether the password is correct (step 10).
4).

If the passwords do not match in step 104, it can be determined that the connection destination is not the center 6, so the switching determination unit 31a controls the network control unit 30a to send a disconnection signal to the public line network 5. In this way, the line is disconnected (step 111).

If the passwords match in step 104, it can be determined that the connection destination is the center 6, so the switching determination unit 31a performs network control of the stored own password, that is, the password given to the terminal 1a. It is output to the unit 30a. This password is the network control unit 30a.
Is transmitted to the public line network 5 (step 105). Next, the center 6 which has received this password via the public line network 5 compares the received password with the registered password to judge whether the password is correct (step 106).

If the password received in step 106 is not registered, it can be determined that the connection destination is not the terminal 1a, so the center 6 sends a disconnection signal to the public line network 5 to disconnect the line (step 111). ). If the password received in step 106 is registered, it can be determined that the connection destination is the terminal 1a, so the center 6 sends a confirmation signal to the public line network 5 (step 107).

Upon receiving this confirmation signal via the public line network 5, the network control unit 30a outputs a confirmation notification signal to the switching determination unit 31a to notify that the confirmation signal has been received. Upon receiving this notification, the switching determination unit 31a can determine that the line has been correctly connected, and therefore outputs a switching control signal to the switching unit 32a to change the connection route to the route B shown in FIG. With this, the information processing device 2a of the terminal 1a and the console (not shown) in the center 6 are connected via the switching unit 32a, the network control unit 30a, and the public line network 5,
Console operation from the center 6 side (step 10
8).

As described above, the modulation / demodulation device (modem) in the network control unit 30a converts the digital signal sent from the information processing device 2a to the public line network 5 and sends it out from the public line network 5. Since the signal is converted into a digital signal for the information processing device 2a, communication via the public line network 5 is possible.

After the center 6 has operated the console to complete the maintenance and inspection, the center 6 sends a disconnection signal to disconnect the line (step 10).
9). On the other hand, the network control unit 30a receiving the disconnection signal via the public network 5 outputs a disconnection notification signal to the switching determination unit 31a to notify that the disconnection request has been made.

The switching judgment section 31a which has received the disconnection notification signal
Is a switching recovery signal for recovering the route A to the switching unit 32a.
To return the connection route to route A. In this way, the information processing device 2a and the console 4a are connected again (step 110). The above is the operation when the connection route is changed from the center 6, and therefore, the connection route of the information processing device 2a can be switched and restored without arranging an attendant at the terminal 1a.

Next, the operation when the connection route is switched from the terminal side due to a failure occurrence or the like will be described with reference to FIG. When a failure occurs in the terminal 1a, the information processing device 2a outputs an alarm signal ARM that is a switching request signal to the input unit 33.
It is output to a (step 201).

The input unit 33a outputs this switching request signal to the switching determination unit 31a. The switching determination unit 31a, to which the switching request signal is input, outputs the stored call number of the center 6 to the network control unit 30a. Then, the network control unit 30a dials this calling number to call the center 6 (step 202). As a result of dialing by the network control unit 30a, a dial signal is sent from the network control unit 30a to the public line network 5, and a call signal is sent from the public line network 5 to the center 6.

When the center 6 does not respond to the call (step 203), the network controller 30a repeats the call of the center 6 by dialing the call number again (step 202). In addition, the center 6 is the public line network 5
When a call signal is received via the call and a response signal is sent to the public line network 5 in response to the call, the line is connected (step 203).

After the line is connected in this way, the switching judgment unit 31a outputs the stored password of the terminal 1a to the network control unit 30a, and the network control unit 30a sends this password to the public line network 5. (Step 204). Next, the center 6, which has received this password via the public network 5, compares the received password with the registered password as in step 106 of FIG. 2 and determines whether the password is correct (step 205). ).

If the password received in step 205 is not registered, the center 6 sends a disconnection signal to the public line network 5 to disconnect the line (step 21).
1). If the password received in step 205 is registered, the center 6 sends the password of the center to the public line network 5 (step 206), and at the same time, an alarm is issued to the staff of the center 6 to cause a failure. Notify that. The network control unit 30a that has received this password via the public line network 5 outputs the password to the switching determination unit 31a.

The switching judgment section 31a uses the step 10 of FIG.
Center 6 which remembers the password and the same as 4
The passwords are compared to determine whether the password is correct (step 207). If the passwords do not match in step 207, the switching determination part 31a controls the network control part 30a to send a disconnection signal to the public line network 5 to disconnect the line (step 211).

If the passwords match in step 207, the switching judgment section 31a can judge that the line is correctly connected, and therefore, a switching control signal is output to the switching section 32a to change the connection route to the route B. , Controls the network control unit 30a to send a confirmation signal to the public network 5 as a response to the center 6 (step 20).
8). With this, the information processing apparatus 2a and the console of the center 6 are connected as in the case of FIG.

If the failure of the terminal 1a can be removed by operating the console from the center 6, the line is disconnected (step 209) and the connection route of the information processing device 2a is restored (step 210). This operation is similar to steps 109 and 110 in FIG. In this way, when a failure occurs in the terminal 1a, the information processing device 2
The connection route of a can be automatically switched.

Although the connection route is automatically switched according to the alarm signal ARM output from the information processing apparatus 2a in the present embodiment, the switching signal SW1 by the operation of the staff member of the terminal 1a may be used. The operation in this case is exactly the same as the above.

Although the connection route is restored by disconnecting the line from the center 6 in any of FIGS. 2 and 3, it can also be restored by inputting the restoration signal SW2 from the terminal 1a side. . In this case, the input unit 33
Switching determination section 31a to which the restoration signal SW2 is input from a
Controls the network control unit 30a to send a disconnection signal to the public line network 5 to disconnect the line. Then, the switching recovery signal is output to the switching unit 32a to return the connection route to the route A. In this way, if the terminal 1a has an attendant, the connection route of the information processing device 2a can be switched and restored by the operation of the attendant.

[0036]

According to the present invention, since the terminal connects the information processing apparatus and the public line network in response to the call from the center, the connection route of the information processing apparatus can be switched without arranging a staff member at the terminal. The console can be operated from the center, which is an effective means for maintenance and inspection. Further, since the password is alternately sent between the center and the terminal to check whether the line is properly connected, it is possible to prevent incorrect line connection.

By providing the terminal with a connection route switching device including a network control unit, a switching determination unit, and a switching unit, the connection route of the information processing device is automatically checked after confirming the password in response to a call from the center. It is possible to realize a terminal that is switched dynamically with a simple configuration.

Further, since the terminal connects the information processing apparatus to the public line network in response to the generation of the switching request signal from the information processing apparatus or the outside, the connection route of the information processing apparatus is automatically set when the terminal fails. The connection route can be switched by an operator from the outside. Further, since the password is alternately sent between the center and the terminal to check whether the line is properly connected, it is possible to prevent incorrect line connection.

Further, by providing the terminal with a connection route switching device including a network control unit, a switching determination unit, and a switching unit, it operates in response to the generation of a switching request signal from the information processing device or the outside, and the password is confirmed. A terminal that automatically switches the connection route of the information processing device later can be realized with a simple configuration.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a centralized maintenance management system that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the centralized maintenance management system.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the centralized maintenance management system.

[Explanation of Codes] 1a, 1b, 1n Terminal 2a Information processing device 3a Connection route switching device 4a Console 5 Public line network 6 Center 30a Network control unit 31a Switching determination unit 32a Switching unit 33a Input unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A center for centralized maintenance and management, a terminal equipped with an information processing device and a console connected to the center, and a public line network for connecting a line between this terminal and the center. The terminal calls the terminal, sends the first password to the terminal after the line is connected, and sends a confirmation signal to the terminal that the second password received after the sending is correct, and the terminal sends the confirmation signal from the center. If the first password received after the line is connected is answered in response to the call, the second password is sent to the center, and the confirmation signal is received after the sending, the information processing device and the console A central maintenance management system characterized by disconnecting the connection and connecting the information processing device to the public line network. 2. The centralized maintenance management system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is provided with a connection route switching device, the connection route switching device controls connection with a public line network, and a response signal to a call from the center is provided. A network control unit that sends the second password to the public line network, and determines whether the first password received by this network control unit is correct. If it is determined that the password is correct, the second password is sent to the network control unit. A switching determination unit that outputs and outputs a switching control signal when the network control unit receives a confirmation signal is normally connected to an information processing device and a console. When the switching control signal is input, this connection is disconnected and information is output. A centralized maintenance management system, comprising: a switching unit that connects a processing device to the network control unit. 3. A center for centralized maintenance management, a terminal equipped with an information processing apparatus and a console connected to the center, and a public line network for connecting a line between this terminal and the center. In response to a call from the terminal, the second password is sent to the terminal when the first password received after the line is connected is correct, and the terminal switches from the information processing device or the outside. The center is called in response to a request signal, the first password is sent to the center after the line is connected, and if the second password received after this sending is correct, the connection between the information processing device and the console is established. A centralized maintenance management system characterized in that the information processing device is separately connected to a public line network. 4. The centralized maintenance management system according to claim 3, wherein the terminal is provided with a connection route switching device, the connection route switching device controls connection with a public line network, and dials a call number of the center. When the center is called and the first password is sent to the public line network, and the switching request signal is input from the information processing device or the outside, the calling number is output to the network control unit and the line is connected. After that, the first password is output to the network control unit, and it is determined whether the second password received by the network control unit is correct. A centralized system characterized by having a switching unit for connecting a processing device and a console, and disconnecting this connection when the switching control signal is input to connect the information processing device to the network control unit. Mamoru management systems.