JPH09331342A - Bus state management device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an operation fault or the like due to excess of the number of connected nodes. SOLUTION: A bus connection node number detection circuit 4 detects the number of nodes connected to a bus 2 based on information from a bus manager and host computer 3. Furthermore, a bus operation device 5 detects a fault in the bus, a bus transmission amount detection circuit 6 detects a transmission rate of the bus, a bus frequency band detection circuit 7 detects the presence of the transfer rate between nodes and that of isochronous transfer and a power supply detection circuit 8 obtains information relating to a power supply. The information is informed to a user by a user interface control circuit 9 by means of a liquid crystal display section 10, a light emission display section 11 and a voice output section 12 or the like. Thus, the user avoids an operation fault or the like.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bus state management device suitable for the above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, network systems have become widespread with the development of multimedia. Various network environments have been developed for personal computers. In a general household, a multimedia service can be realized by audio equipment and video equipment (hereinafter, referred to as AV equipment). For example, as a next-generation television receiver, an interactive television receiver having a CPU and its control software has also been developed.

However, these AV devices do not currently support networks and are not configured to be connected to a network bus. Therefore, recently, a unified standard of a digital interface system for transmitting and receiving data between a computer and a digital image device has been studied. IEEE (The Inst.) Is a low-cost peripheral interface suitable for multimedia applications.
itute of Electricaland Electronics Engineers, In
c.) 1394 is considered promising.

[0004] IEEE 1394 is capable of multiplex transfer of a plurality of channels. In addition, the IEEE 1394 has a isochronous transfer function that guarantees transfer of video and audio data within a fixed time, and thus is an appropriate digital interface for image transmission.

IEEE 1394 can adopt a daisy chain and a tree-like topology.
Multiple A using the network bus corresponding to 394
By connecting V devices, a network can be built at home.

In IEEE 1394, 63 buses are included in one bus.
Up to two nodes can be connected. Also possible is a topology in which the nodes are connected to bridges connected to the bus. Since 1023 bridges can be connected to the bus, 63 × 1023 nodes can be connected in this case. In addition, SCSI (Smal
l Computer System Interfase), the unique node ID set for each node to identify each node is automatically determined by bus reset.

However, the current IEEE 1394 regulations do not stipulate how to deal with the case where more than 64 nodes are connected to one bus or bridge, and in reality, more than 64 nodes are connected. Is also possible.

In IEEE1394, the node number of the connected node is managed by 6 bits. With these 6 bits, 64 numbers from 0 to 63 can be expressed. However, IEEE 1394 has a broadcast communication function that sends a command to all nodes, and the node number used to specify this broadcast is set to 63 (111111 in binary). . Therefore, the number of nodes that can be actually managed is 6 of node numbers 0 to 62.
There are three.

However, as described above, it is possible to connect 64 nodes to the bus. In this case,
The physical IC for controlling the physical layer sets the node number 63 to the device connected to the 64th device, and the node number of this node is the same as the number when the broadcast is designated. Therefore, the command transmitted to this node is broadcast.

Further, when the 65th node is newly connected, the physical IC sets 64 as the node number of this node. In other words, the range that can be represented by 6 bits is exceeded, and the node number 0 is actually set.
That is, in this case, the node number 0 is set in the 65th device in addition to the original node number 0. Therefore, when data is transferred to the node with node number 0, an acknowledgment (reception confirmation) from two nodes
There is a problem that is returned.

By the way, in IEEE1394,
When performing dubbing recording or the like between VTRs, the dubbing recording of image data is guaranteed by using the isochronous transfer function. However, when the IEEE 1394 bus is arranged over a plurality of rooms, the user may connect another device to the IEEE 1394 bus in a room different from the VTR being dubbed. When a user connects a new device to the IEEE 1394 bus during isochronous transfer, a bus reset occurs, data transmission is interrupted, and reliable dubbing recording is not performed.

In particular, when the IEEE 1394 bus is installed in a relatively wide area, even if the bus is not operating normally, the user does not notice any abnormality and a new device is added to the bus. There was also a risk that the problem would become even more serious by connecting the.

The IEEE 1394 also has a function of supplying the power of a predetermined device to another device via a bus. However, even if the device that supplies the power is not connected or the supply capacity of the power is insufficient, the information cannot be acquired in advance. For this reason, the device may not operate even if it is connected to the bus, and the device on the supply side may become inoperable due to the decrease in the power capacity because power is supplied to other devices. It was

[0014]

As described above, conventionally, the user cannot grasp information such as the number of devices connected to the bus and the number of connected devices. was there. In addition, the user cannot grasp the information that the occurrence of the bus reset should be avoided as in the case where the isochronous transfer is performed, the information on the presence / absence of the bus abnormality, the information about the power supply, etc. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a bus state management device capable of notifying information for preventing an abnormal operation or the like based on the number of buses connected. The purpose is to

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bus state management device which can announce information as to whether the bus is operating normally.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bus state management device capable of notifying the presence / absence of isochronous transfer in order to prevent interruption of transfer of synchronous data. .

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bus state management device capable of announcing information relating to bus data transmission.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bus state management device capable of notifying data transmission amount information between devices connected to a bus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bus state management device capable of notifying information regarding power supply via a bus.

[0021]

A bus state management device according to the present invention includes a management means for managing a bus, a detection means for detecting the state of the bus based on information from the management means, and this detection means. And a notification means for notifying the user based on the detection result of.

In the present invention, the detecting means detects the state of the bus based on the information from the managing means for managing the bus. The notification means notifies the user based on the detection result of the detection means.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a bus state management device according to the present invention.

The bus 2 corresponds to, for example, the IEEE 1394 standard, and a plurality of devices (not shown) and the bus state management device 1 are connected to the bus 2. The bus manager and host computer 3 are connected to the bus 2. The bus manager and host computer 3
It is compatible with the IEEE 1394 digital interface standard, and manages the node number of a node (not shown) connected to the bus 2 using a topology map, and also connects the node to the bus 2 using a speed map. It manages the data rate that can be transmitted between them.

Bus manager and host computer 3
Supplies various information to the bus connection number detection circuit 4, the bus operation detection circuit 5, the bus transmission amount detection circuit 6, the bus band detection circuit 7, and the power supply amount detection circuit 8 and controls these circuits. Has become.

The bus connection number detection circuit 4 detects the number of nodes connected to the bus 2 and outputs information based on the detection result to the user interface control circuit 9.
The bus operation detection circuit 5 detects whether or not the bus is abnormally operating, outputs a detection result, and outputs details of the abnormal operation. The output of the bus operation detection circuit 5 is given to the user interface control circuit 9.

The bus transmission amount detection circuit 6 detects the minimum guaranteed data transfer rate of the bus 2 and also detects the transfer rate with an adjacent node connected via the bus 2. It has become. The bus band detection circuit 7 detects the amount of data currently flowing on the bus 2 and also detects whether or not isochronous transfer is being performed. The power supply amount detection circuit 8 detects whether or not power can be supplied via the bus 2 and obtains information on the power supply capacity. Information such as detection results from the bus transmission amount detection circuit 6, the bus band detection circuit 7, and the power supply amount detection circuit 8 is supplied to the user interface control circuit 9. The user interface control circuit 9 controls the liquid crystal display unit based on the input information.
10, the light emitting display unit 11 and the audio output unit 12 are controlled.

The liquid crystal display unit 10 is, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal panel) or a TFT (Thin film Transistor) panel, the light emitting display unit 11 is an LED (light emitting diode) or a lamp, and the sound output unit 12 is There is a speaker or buzzer. The liquid crystal display unit 10, the light emitting display unit 11, and the audio output unit 12 are arranged, for example, in the vicinity of each device to be connected to the network, and are controlled by the user interface control circuit 9 to provide various information to the user. You can make announcements.

The functions of the bus connection number detection circuit 4, the bus operation detection circuit 5, the bus transmission amount detection circuit 6, the bus band detection circuit 7 and the power supply amount detection circuit 8 may be realized by the host computer. These functions may be realized as extended functions of the bus manager. Further, it is clear that these functions may be realized by a higher application layer.

Next, the operation of the embodiment thus configured will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the processing when the number of nodes connected to the bus exceeds the limit, and FIG. 3 shows a display example of the liquid crystal display unit 10.

In step S1 of FIG. 2, the number of nodes (devices) currently connected to the bus 2 is detected. That is, the bus connection number detection circuit 4 acquires the number of nodes connected to the bus 2 from the topology map managed by the bus manager and the host computer 3. In step S2, the bus connection number detection circuit 4 determines whether the number of connected buses is less than 62. 6 connected
If the number is one or less, the bus connection number detection circuit 4 detects the number of units connectable to the bus 2 and outputs this information to the user interface control circuit 9 in step S8.

The user interface control circuit 9 notifies the user of the information from the bus connection number detection circuit 4, and the liquid crystal display unit 10, the light emission display unit 11 and the voice output unit 12 are provided.
Is controlled. For example, when the number of connectable devices is the rear two, the liquid crystal display unit 10 and the light emitting display unit 11
Also, the user is notified by the voice output unit 12 and the like that the latter two units can be connected.

If the number of units connected to the bus 2 is 62 or more, the process proceeds to step S3 to determine whether the number of units connected is 62 or not. When 62 devices are connected to the bus 2, the bus connection number detection circuit 4 shifts the processing to step S7 and displays information indicating that the number of connectable devices is one after the user interface. Output to the control circuit 9. The user interface control circuit 9 informs the user by the liquid crystal display unit 10, the light emitting display unit 11 and the voice output unit 12 that the number of connectable devices is one.

If the number of units connected to the bus 2 is 63 or more, the process proceeds to step S4 to determine whether or not the number of units connected is 63. When 63 devices are connected to the bus 2, the bus connection number detection circuit 4 shifts the processing to step S6 and controls the user interface with information indicating that the upper limit of the connectable number has been reached. Output to the circuit 9. The user interface control circuit 9 causes the liquid crystal display unit 10, the light emitting display unit 11, and the audio output unit 12 to notify the user that the upper limit of the connectable number has been reached.

If the number of units connected to the bus 2 is not 63, the process proceeds to step S5 and the user interface control circuit 9 is provided with information indicating that the number of devices exceeding the limit is connected. Output. The user interface control circuit 9 includes a liquid crystal display unit 10 and a light emitting display unit.
The user and the voice output unit 12 notify the user that the number of connectable units exceeds the maximum connectable number.

Therefore, the user can determine whether or not a new device may be connected to the bus 2 by the notification from the liquid crystal display unit 10, the light emitting display unit 11 and the voice output unit 12. For example, the liquid crystal display unit 10, the light emitting display unit 11, or the audio output unit is provided in the interface portion that connects the device and the bus 2.
By providing 12, the user can easily grasp whether or not this device can be connected.

Similarly, the liquid crystal display unit 10, the light emitting display unit 11, the voice output unit 12, and the like notify each information of the bus state required by the user. For example, assume that an abnormality occurs in the operation of the bus 2. Then, the bus operation detection circuit 5 detects an abnormality of the bus 2 and acquires detailed information of the abnormal operation. The abnormality detection result and its detailed information are given to the user interface control circuit 9,
The user is notified by the liquid crystal display unit 10, the light emitting display unit 11, the voice output unit 12, and the like.

Further, the bus transmission amount detection circuit 6 detects the data transfer rate guaranteed to the bus 2 at the minimum and the transfer rate between adjacent nodes connected via the bus 2. In addition, the bus band detection circuit 7 detects the amount of data currently flowing on the bus 2 and also detects whether or not isochronous transfer is being performed. The detection results and the like are given to the user interface control circuit 9, and the liquid crystal display unit 10 and the light emitting display unit 11 are provided.
The user is notified by the voice output unit 12 and the like.

Further, the power supply amount detection circuit 8 detects whether or not power can be supplied from the device connected to the bus 2, and obtains information on the supply capacity. The user interface control circuit 9 is the power supply amount detection circuit 8
Based on the information from, the liquid crystal display unit 10, the light emitting display unit 11, the voice output unit 12, and the like are notified of information regarding power supply.

FIG. 3 is for explaining the notice by the liquid crystal display unit 10. In FIG. 3, the display screen 15 of the liquid crystal display unit 10
Above, a graphical display shows that seven devices are connected to the bus 2. That is, each device is represented by blocks B1 to B7, and blocks B1 to B7.
7 Bus 2 is indicated by a line 16 connecting the two. The line thickness indicates the data rate between the nodes detected by the bus transmission amount detection circuit 6, as shown in the display near the line. It is obvious that the data rate may be indicated not by the line thickness but by the color or the like. The display in the blocks B1 to B7 shows the type or name of each device and the node number, and the blocks B1 to B7 are a television receiver, a camera, a personal computer, a monitor, and DVR1 to 3 respectively.
It is indicated that each node number is No1 to No7.

Further, on the lower left side of the display screen 15, a display showing that the number of connected devices is 7 is also displayed. Further, information on the bus occupancy detected by the bus band detection circuit 7 and information indicating the presence / absence of isochronous transfer are also displayed. Incidentally, the circle marks attached to the blocks B1 to B7 indicate the empty ports of the respective devices. Further, by enclosing the node number in (), it is indicated whether or not power supply is possible.

From this display, the user can know the information on the current number of vehicles connected to the bus 2 and whether or not the number of vehicles has reached the limit, and the bus 2 currently trying to connect can operate normally. You can know whether you are doing or not. Further, it is possible to know whether or not isochronous transfer is currently being performed, and it is also possible to judge whether or not a new device may be connected. Further, the data transmission rate guaranteed for the bus 2 can be known, and the amount of data currently flowing on the bus 2 can also be known. Furthermore, bus 2
It is also possible to know whether or not power can be supplied via.

By the way, IEEE 1394 is a home LA
It is regarded as a promising interface for N (local area network). IEEE13 for home LAN
When adopting the 94 bus, considering the ease of connection of each device, the method of inserting the IEEE 1394 plug into the wall-mounted outlet is the same as connecting to the power outlet for household use. It is possible to adopt.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an outlet 21 used as the liquid crystal display unit 10, the light emitting display unit 11, the voice output unit 12 and the like in the embodiment of FIG.

The outlet 21 is embedded in the wall, and the surface panel 22 is exposed from the wall surface. An LCD 23 that constitutes a liquid crystal display unit, an LED 24 that constitutes a light emitting display unit, and a speaker 25 that constitutes a sound output unit are provided on the front panel 22. The LCD 23, the LED 24, and the speaker 25 can be controlled by the user interface control circuit to notify the user of information regarding the number of connected buses, presence / absence of abnormal operation, data transmission amount, power supply amount, and the like. It is like this.

The outlet 21 has a contact portion 26 into which a plug for connecting the bus and the interface portion of each device is inserted. The contact portion 26 is, for example,
It is connected to the bus on the back side of the wall, and by inserting the plug into the contact portion 26, the interface portion of the device and the bus are electrically connected.

Further, the outlet 21 is provided with a switch 27. The switch 27 can control conduction and non-conduction between the contact portion 26 and the bus, and when the plug is inserted into the contact portion 26, the switch 27 is switched. It is designed to enable hot swapping by turning 27 on and off.

The device is connected to the bus of the network by inserting the plug connected to the interface part of the device into the contact part 26 of the outlet 21 thus configured and turning on the switch 27. The same notification as in FIG. 3 is given by the LCD 23, the LED 24, and the speaker 25 of the outlet 21, and for example, the user determines whether or not the switch 27 may be turned on based on the notified information.

Also in this case, the same effect as that of the embodiment of FIG. 1 can be obtained.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, the user can be notified of the information about the bus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a bus state management device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific configuration of the liquid crystal display unit of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a liquid crystal display unit 10, a light emitting display unit 11, and a voice output unit 12.
Explanatory diagram showing an outlet having a function as.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Bus state management device, 2 ... Bus, 3 ... Bus manager and host computer, 4 ... Bus connection number detection circuit,
5 ... Bus operation detection circuit, 6 ... Bus transmission amount detection circuit, 7 ...
Bus band detection circuit, 8 ... Power supply amount detection circuit, 9 ... User interface control circuit, 10 ... Liquid crystal display section, 11 ...
Light emitting display, 12 ... Sound output

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A management unit for managing a bus, a detection unit for detecting a state of the bus based on information from the management unit, and a notification unit for notifying a user based on a detection result of the detection unit. A bus state management device comprising: 2. The detecting means includes information regarding the number of nodes connected to the bus, information regarding whether or not there is an abnormal operation of the bus, information regarding a transmission rate guaranteed for the bus, and data flowing on the bus. At least one of information regarding the amount of data, information indicating whether or not isochronous transfer is being performed via the bus, and information regarding power supply via the bus is detected. The bus state management device according to Item 1. 3. The bus state management device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit includes at least one of a liquid crystal display unit, a light emitting display unit, and a voice output unit. 4. The bus state management device according to claim 3, wherein the liquid crystal display unit graphically displays the state of the bus. 5. The bus state management device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit is provided on an outlet for connecting the bus and the node.