JPH08228234A - Terminal network controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To attain the communication of the terminal network controller or the speech of a telephone set automatically by releasing ineffective hook-off state with a howler tone from a telephone line. CONSTITUTION: When a howler tone is outputted to telephone lines L1, L2, a line monitor section 3 discriminates whether a telephone set 39 or a terminal network controller is in a hook-off state to activate a latching relay 1. When the terminal network controller 37 is in an ineffective hook-off state, a main control section 6 is reset and data of a data memory section 5 are reported to a center after resetting. When the telephone set 39 is in an ineffective off- hook state, the latching relay 1 is selected to the position of communication on the occurrence of a terminal call such as emergency information even when the telephone set 39 is hooked off to report the information to the center. When the telephone set 39 continues the hook-off state even after lapse of a prescribed time, it is reported to the center.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a telephone installed in a house and transmits various information such as security information and meter reading information by no ringing communication through a general telephone line or by terminal calling communication. The present invention relates to a terminal network control device for releasing an invalid off-hook state for a general telephone line in a telemeter system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 4, a terminal network control device for performing data communication with a center side device using a telephone line connects or disconnects a telephone with respect to the telephone lines L1 and L2. Connection switching unit 1 and telephone lines L1, L
The line control unit 8 for detecting whether the calling signal from 2 is a normal call signal or a communication signal for performing data communication, a main control unit 6 including a microcomputer, a center side device and data reception A modem section 9, an off-hook detecting section 7 for monitoring the state of a home telephone connected to the line terminals T1 and T2 during communication of the network control device, and an interface section for connecting a meter, a sensor, a setting device, etc. 10, a power supply unit 14 that supplies power to each unit, a reset unit 12 that resets the main control unit 6, and an oscillation unit 13.
It has and.

The connection switching unit 1 is constituted by a latching relay for connecting or disconnecting the home telephone or the line control unit 8 / modem 9 to / from the telephone lines L1 and L2, and is connected to the telephone lines L1 and L2. Circuit side relay and a telephone side relay connected to the telephone.

The line side relay contact a1 is connected to the main control unit 6 via the line control unit 8 and the modem unit 9 and is also connected to the contact side a3 of the telephone side relay, and the contact a2 is connected to the main control unit via the modem unit 9. It is connected to the section 6 and also to the contact a4 of the telephone side relay. The contact b1 of the line side relay is connected to the contact b3 of the telephone side relay, and the contact b2 is connected to the contact b4 of the telephone side relay.

In the latching relay 1, both the line side relay and the telephone side relay are operated simultaneously or individually by a signal from the main control section 6, and the line side relay has contacts a1 and contacts. A telephone-side relay is connected to contacts a3 and a4 at a2, and the home telephone or the line control unit 8 / modem 9 can be switched to a communication position separated from the telephone lines L1 and L2.

When a call signal is applied to the telephone lines L1 and L2 and the main control unit 6 determines that the call signal is a normal call, the latching relay 1 is switched to the call position. When the main control unit 6 determines that the calling signal is a communication signal, the off-hook detection unit 7 monitors the usage state of the home telephone when the latching relay 1 is switched to the communication position and data transmission is performed. , ON / OFF of a mechanical switch that is opened / closed in response to attachment / detachment of a telephone handset is detected.

In addition to this terminal network control device, there is disclosed a terminal network control device for disconnecting equipment such as a telephone from a telephone line during data communication as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-326651. This terminal network control device, when the no-ringing signal from the center side is its own terminal, causes the main control device to drive the connection switching circuit to disconnect devices such as fax and telephone, which are harmful to no-ringing communication, from the telephone line. The communication is prevented from being interfered with by the wrong response.

However, in these terminal network control devices,
Since the main control unit 6 controls switching between the telephone and the telephone lines L1 and L2, the latching relay 1
If any abnormality occurs in the microcomputer of the main control unit 6 when is in the standby position or the communication position, the latching relay 1 remains in the standby position or the communication position, and the telephone cannot be used and communication cannot be performed. Things happen and you're in great trouble.

Therefore, the terminal network control device shown in FIG. 4 is provided with a changeover switch 4 for manually changing over the latching relay 1 so that the user can manually operate the telephone and the telephone line when the above situation occurs. Although L1 and L2 are connected, the operation of the changeover switch 4 is troublesome and burdens the user.

Further, the terminal network control device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-326651 has no such means. On the other hand, the terminal network control device described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-109464 discloses that after installing the terminal network control device,
A terminal network control device for resetting a latching relay when a local power supply voltage is applied to a telephone line is disclosed. This terminal network control device resets the latching relay to the telephone side to prevent the telephone from becoming unusable when it judges that the setting information is not set in the storage means after the device is installed. .

[0011]

However, in the terminal network control device described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-109464, the telephone and the telephone line are connected and the telephone can be used after the equipment is installed. The latching relay is not reset even if the setting information is set in the storage means and subsequent data communication and the like are performed and the local power supply voltage is applied to the telephone line.

Therefore, there is no means for preventing the in-home telephone from becoming unusable when an abnormality occurs in the microcomputer of the terminal network control device due to noise or other causes. Even in this terminal network control device, It was possible that the phone would become unusable.

In any of the above methods, the telephone line is switched, but the telephone line is not automatically switched by the howl sound from the telephone line. Moreover, when the telephone is not in use, only the off-hook detection unit is used, and when the user is absent, the telephone remains in the off-hook state, and the terminal network control device cannot communicate even if the terminal call such as emergency information is required. Therefore, there is a problem in that the center side cannot communicate with the terminal network control device even if it wants to communicate.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a terminal network control device that automatically switches the telephone line to the telephone side or the communication side by utilizing the howl sound from the telephone line. Also, even if an abnormality occurs in the main control unit, reset the main control unit,
The purpose is to provide a terminal network control device that can notify the center side. It is another object of the present invention to provide a terminal network control device that can automatically notify the center side if a call is made to the terminal such as emergency information even when the home telephone is not in use for a long period of time.

[0015]

The terminal network control device of the present invention solves the above problems, and as shown in FIG. 1, the telephone 39 or the line control unit 8 / modem 9 is connected to the telephone line L1. , L2 for connection and disconnection, an off-hook detection unit 7 for monitoring the off-hook state of the telephone 39, and a connection switching unit 1 for detecting howler sounds from the telephone lines L1, L2. A line monitoring section 3 to be operated, a data memory section 5 for storing the detection of a howler sound, and a reset section 12 for resetting when an abnormality occurs in the main control section 6 are provided.

As for the line monitoring unit 3, as shown in FIG. 2, a capacitor 20 for separating direct current from the telephone lines L1 and L2, a resistor 21 for limiting the detection level, and an output frequency of the howler sound are received. 400Hz receiver circuit 2
2, a timer count circuit 23 that counts a reception time of 400 Hz, and an input signal from the off-hook unit 7 to determine whether the telephone 39 is not in use or the main control unit 6 has an abnormality, and resets the data memory unit 5 and the reset unit. Circuit 1
2 or an output circuit 24 that outputs a signal to the main controller 6.

[0017]

In the means for solving the above problems, the telephone lines L1, L
When the howler sound is output to 2, the 400 Hz receiving circuit 22 and the timer count circuit 23 of the line monitoring unit 3 determine whether or not the howler sound is output. If it is confirmed as a howling sound, it is stored in the data memory unit 5. At this time, if the telephone 39 is not in use, it is confirmed by the signal output of the off-hook detector 7, and if there is a call from the terminal such as emergency information, the connection switching unit 1 is operated on the communication side to perform data communication to the center side. At the same time, even if there is no emergency information or the like, if the telephone 39 is not in use for a certain period of time, the center side is notified.

If a howler sound is detected when the signal from the off-hook detecting section 7 is not output, it is considered that some abnormality has occurred in the main control section 6 and the connection switching section 3 is set to the telephone 39.
After being set to the side, the reset circuit section 12 is operated to reset the main control section 6. After resetting, the main control unit 6 reads the contents of the data memory unit 5 and notifies the center side that an abnormality has occurred.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the terminal network control device of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, and the same parts as those in the above-mentioned conventional example are designated by the same reference numerals.

A telemeter system equipped with a terminal network control device according to an embodiment of the present invention uses a telephone line to perform no-ringing communication with a center side device or data transmission by calling a terminal. As shown in FIG. 3, a host computer 31, a center side device 32, a switching center 33 connected to the center side, a switching center 35 connected to the terminal side, and a no ringing trunk 36 used in no ringing communication, Terminal network control device 37 and telephone 39
And a terminal 38 such as a meter and a center.
Reference numeral 30 is a telephone line, and 34 is an interoffice relay line.

The terminal network control device 37 or the telephone 3
When 9 is in an invalid off-hook state for a certain period of time, the terminal-side switching center 35 applies a howler sound having a frequency of 400 Hz and an extremely large transmission output to the telephone line. Network control device 3
The line monitoring unit 3 of 7 detects the howler sound.

As for the howler sound detection of the line monitoring unit 3, as shown in FIG. 2, the capacitor 20 performs direct current insulation with the telephone line to pass only the alternating current component, and detects the high level howler sound for level detection. The frequency component is detected by the 400 Hz receiving circuit 22 formed of a PLL or the like after passing through the limiting resistance 21 of.

The timer counting circuit 23 for continuously counting the signal time of 400 Hz detects the howler sound, and if it is confirmed as the howler sound, the off-hook detector 7 outputs a signal to detect an abnormality in the main controller 6 or the telephone 39. There is an output circuit 24 for judging whether or not it is unused. When no signal is output from the off-hook detector 7, the main controller 6
The output circuit 24 judges that some abnormality has occurred in
The telephone 39 can be used by switching the connection switching unit 1 to the telephone 39 side of the contacts b1 and b2.

When a signal is output from the off-hook detector 7, it is determined that the telephone is not in use when the telephone 39 and the telephone line are connected, and the output circuit 24
Outputs a signal to the main controller 6. The main controller 6 uses the terminal 38
If there is emergency information from the output circuit 24, the connection switching unit 1 is switched to the communication side of the contacts a1 and a2 after the output of the howler sound signal from the output circuit 24, and a terminal call is made to the center device 32. If no signal is sent from the terminal such as emergency information, the main control unit 6 sets the connection switching unit 1 to the communication side of the contacts a1 and a2 when the signal from the off-hook detection unit 7 continues for a certain period of time after the end of the howling sound. Then, the terminal is called to the center side device 32.

In the above embodiment, the off-hook detecting section 7
If no signal is output from the output circuit 24, it is determined that some abnormality has occurred in the main control unit 6, and the output circuit 24 outputs a signal to the data memory unit 5 and the reset circuit 12. The reset circuit 12 receives a signal from the output circuit 24 and resets the main control unit 6 to return the network control device to normal operation, thereby suppressing the occurrence of a problem in the field and reducing power consumption due to abnormal operation. ing.

Since the signal is output to the data memory unit 5 by the signal output from the off-hook detecting unit 7, it is stored that the howler sound is detected even if the main control unit 6 is reset in the above embodiment. Further, the data memory unit 5 is
It is an element which is composed of an EROM or the like and which stores data even if the main control unit 6 is reset or the power is turned off.

Then, the main control section 6 which has been reset and returned to the normal state reads the data from the data memory section 5 and confirms that the howler sound is received.
Passes through the line control unit 8 and the modem 9 and the connection switching unit 1
To the communication side of the contacts a1 and a2, and the center device 3
By calling the terminal 2 to the terminal 2, the center side can confirm that there is an abnormality in the terminal network control device.

[0028]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably judge that the terminal network control device or the telephone is in the invalid off-hook state by detecting the howling sound from the telephone line. That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, even if an abnormality occurs in the main control unit of the terminal network control device, the telephone line and the telephone are automatically connected, so that the telephone cannot be used.

Further, according to the second aspect of the invention, even if the telephone is not used (remove the handset), the terminal network control device can immediately notify the center side if there is a call from the terminal such as emergency information. You can do it quickly. If the telephone is not in use after a certain period of time, the center can inform the center so that the center can grasp the status of the terminal. In the third aspect of the invention, since the terminal network control device is intended to be returned to the normal operation by resetting the main control unit, the occurrence of problems in the field due to the runaway of the terminal network control device itself is reduced, Power consumption and the like due to abnormal operation are reduced.

Further, in the invention according to the fourth aspect, since the fact that the howl sound is generated can be stored even if the main control unit is reset, the notification to the center side or the contents of the reset can be grasped. Further, in the invention according to claim 5, since the center side is informed that the main control unit has been reset, the situation of the terminal network control device on the center side can be grasped and the response after the occurrence of an abnormality can be taken. If you do it quickly,
There is no need to dispatch repair personnel from the center side, and the abnormality monitoring work on the center side is reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a terminal network control device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram of a line monitoring unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a telemeter system including a terminal network control device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a conventional terminal network control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 L1, L2 Telephone line T1, T2 Telephone connection terminal 1 Connection switching unit 3 Line monitoring unit 4 Changeover switch 5 Data memory unit 6 Main control unit 7 Off-hook detection unit 8 Line control unit 9 Modem 12 Reset circuit 13 Oscillation circuit 14 Power supply circuit 20 Power source separation capacitor 21 Level limiting resistor 22 400Hz receiving circuit 23 Timer counting circuit 24 Output circuit 30 Telephone line 31 Host computer 32 Center side network control device 33 Center side switching station 34 Inter-station relay line 35 Terminal side switching station 36 No ringing trunk 37 Terminal Network Control Device 38 Terminal 39 Home Phone

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A connection switching unit for connecting or disconnecting a telephone to or from a general telephone line, and a switching control unit for operating the connection switching unit. When the telephone is disconnected from the general telephone line. In a terminal network control device that uses a general telephone line to perform data communication with a center-side device, a state in which the general telephone line is closed even though the terminal network control device is not in data communication due to an abnormality has occurred When the regular telephone line continues for a certain period of time, a howler sound is output from the general telephone line to activate the connection switching unit to switch to a position where the telephone and the general telephone line are connected, and the howler sound is detected. A terminal network control device comprising a line monitoring unit. 2. The terminal network control device according to claim 1, wherein when the telephone is connected to an ordinary telephone line and a howling sound is detected by the line monitoring unit due to non-use of the telephone, a hauling If the telephone is off-hook even after the end of the sound, the connection switching unit is operated to switch to the position where the terminal network control device and the ordinary telephone line are connected. A terminal network control device characterized in that it is configured to notify the side. 3. The terminal network control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a howler sound is detected by the line monitoring unit, it is determined that some abnormality has occurred in the terminal network control apparatus, and the main of the terminal network control apparatus is determined. A terminal network control device having a configuration for resetting a control unit. 4. The terminal network control device according to claim 1, further comprising a data memory unit for storing that the howler sound is detected by the line monitoring unit. . 5. The terminal network control device according to claim 3, wherein the terminal network control device is configured to notify the center side that the terminal network control device has been reset by a howler sound detection.