JPH10301671A - Remote initializing device, remote initialization system and remote initializing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remotely initialize a terminal without disconnecting power supply. SOLUTION: When abnormality of a terminal 90 is detected, a host computer 10 sends a reset instruction. The reset instruction is sent by an NRSD (remote initializing device) 50 in a specific sound signal waveform to an NRSD 80 through a public circuit 60 and the reset instruction is detected in the NRSD 80. The NRSD 80 sends a reset signal to the DTE (terminal) 90 in accordance with detection of the reset instruction and initializes the DTE 90.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing system in which information is transferred between a host computer and a terminal device via a public line to reset (initial setting) the terminal device from the host computer side. A remote initialization device, a remote initialization system, and a remote initialization method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ATM system of a financial institution is known as an information processing system for transferring information between a host computer and a terminal device via a public line. An unattended ATM (automatic teller machine) can be remotely monitored from a host computer, and the host computer issues an alarm when there is no response from the ATM to the host computer. As a result, the maintenance service is contacted from the center where the host computer is installed, and an inspection system is employed in which the maintenance service person goes to an unattended ATM for investigation.

[0003] An OS (operating system) for controlling the system on the host computer or the terminal device side
With the advancement of applications (also called tasks) for performing tasks and operations, the host computer or the terminal device may stop abnormally for some reason. Further, the host computer may be stopped for periodic inspection.

When the host computer is restarted after being stopped, it is necessary to initialize the terminal device as well. Usually, one of the following methods is used for this initial setting.

1) Manually turn off the power of the terminal device once,
Turn on the power again.

2) The reset button of the terminal device is manually operated.

[0007]

In any case, the conventional system requires a manual reset instruction. For this reason, the terminal device requires a person to initialize the terminal device in order to restart the host computer after stopping. This is not suitable for an ATM system which saves labor costs by unattended terminal equipment (ATM).

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a remote initialization device capable of automatically initializing a terminal device from the host computer when the terminal device is connected to the host computer via a public line. , A remote initialization system and a remote initialization method.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided an information processing system for communicating information between a host computer and a terminal device via a public line. A reset command detecting means installed between the terminal device and the public line, for detecting a reset command sent from the public line, and a reset signal for initializing the terminal device in response to the detection of the reset command And reset signal generating means for generating the reset signal.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote initialization system for remotely initializing the terminal device of an information processing system for communicating information between a host computer and a terminal device via a public line. A remote initialization device having reset command detection means for detecting a reset command sent from a public line, and reset signal generation means for generating a reset signal for initializing the terminal device in response to the detection of the reset command; Is installed between the public line and the terminal device, the host computer detects the presence or absence of an abnormality of the terminal device, and when the abnormality of the terminal device is detected, the host computer issues the reset command. The data is transmitted to the public line.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the remote initialization system according to the second aspect, the public line transfers the information in the form of an analog signal.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the remote initialization system according to the second aspect, the public line transfers the information by optical communication.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the remote initialization system according to the second aspect, the host computer monitors the presence or absence of transmission of information from the terminal device after transmitting the reset command, and waits for a predetermined time. Even if the information is not transmitted, a warning of an abnormality of the terminal device is issued.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote initialization method for remotely initializing the terminal device of an information processing system for performing information communication between a host computer and a terminal device via a public line. A reset command detection circuit for detecting a reset command sent from a public line and a reset signal generation circuit for generating a reset signal for initializing the terminal device in response to the detection of the reset command are provided on the terminal device side. Then, the host computer detects the presence or absence of an abnormality in the terminal device, and when the abnormality of the terminal device is detected, sends the reset command from the host computer to the public line, and sends the reset signal. An instruction is detected by the reset instruction detection circuit, and a reset signal generated by the reset signal generation circuit is used. Characterized by initializing the terminal device.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the remote initialization method according to the sixth aspect, the public line transfers the information in the form of an analog signal.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the remote initialization method according to the sixth aspect, the public line transfers the information by optical communication.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the remote initialization method according to the sixth aspect, the host computer monitors the presence or absence of transmission of information from the terminal device after transmitting the reset command, and waits for a predetermined time. Even if the information is not transmitted, a warning of an abnormality of the terminal device is issued.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows a system configuration according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a host computer 10 exchanges information with a terminal device (abbreviated as DTE) 90 via a public line 60 to execute various information processing.

A communication control device (abbreviated as CCP) 20 mainly performs connection / disconnection to the public line 60 in accordance with an instruction from the host computer 10. Data line termination (D
(Abbreviated as CE) converts a digital information signal transmitted from the host computer via the CCP 20 into an analog audio signal to be transmitted by the public line 60. Further, it converts an analog audio signal received from the public line 60 into a digital audio signal. CCP20, DC
A well-known thing can be used for E30. Remote initialization device (N
Upon receiving a reset command from the host computer 10 via the control computer 40, the RSD 50 converts the reset command into an analog audio signal and sends it out to the public line 60. The reset command in the form of the audio signal is detected by the NRSD 80 provided on the DTE 90 side, and a reset signal is sent from the NRSD 80 to the DTE 90.

The control computer 40 monitors the communication of the communication system, and when detecting that a reset command is output from the host computer 10, the NRSD5.
For 0, an instruction to temporarily stop the communication system and a reset instruction are transferred. The control computer 40 is not always necessary, and the reset command may be sent from the host computer 10 to the NRSD 50 via a signal line different from the telephone signal line. DTE90 is NRSD80, DCE7
0 is connected to the public line 60.

The circuit configuration of the NRSD 50 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, a CPU 51 writes / reads information to / from a later-described component according to a system control program stored in a ROM 52. In addition, according to the control program shown in FIG. 6 stored in the ROM 52, the controller controls processing for generating a reset command in the form of an analog audio signal and processing for temporarily disconnecting the public line 60.

The ROM 52 stores the system control program, the control program shown in FIG. 6, and data used for executing the operations of these programs, for example, data such as frequency and time for generating an audio signal of a reset command. . The reset command in the form of an audio signal may have a signal waveform that can be distinguished from the others. In the present embodiment, an audio signal that can be converted into an analog / digital signal between a specific code having a plurality of bits and an audio signal is used.

The RAM 53 temporarily stores data required for the CPU 51 to execute an operation and an execution result of the operation. The input / output interface 54 receives a reset command from the control computer 40. The control circuit 55 receives data (frequency, time) for generating an audio signal of the reset command from the CPU 51, and causes the audio signal generation circuit 56 to generate an audio signal of the reset command. For the control circuit 55 and the audio signal generation circuit, for example, a known circuit such as a modulation circuit that creates a specific analog signal waveform can be used.

The input / output interface (I / O) 57 is C
The instruction from the PU 51 is transferred to the switch 58 and the public line 60 is
The signal line between the DCE 30 and the DCE 30 is disconnected / connected by the switch 58.

The circuit configuration of the NRSD 80 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, a CPU 81 writes / reads information to / from a later-described component according to a system control program stored in a ROM. Also, RO
A reset signal is generated in accordance with the control program of FIG. 7 stored in M82.

The ROM 82 stores the system control program, the control program shown in FIG. 7, and data used for executing the operations of these programs, for example, the pulse width of the reset signal (reset signal generation time). Normally, a pulse signal having a fixed width is used as the reset signal. Therefore, the pulse signal is used as the reset signal in the present embodiment.

The RAM 83 temporarily stores data required for the CPU 81 to execute an operation and the result of the operation. The signal detection circuit 84 can use a decoder, and detects a reset command in the form of a digital signal transmitted via the public line 60.

The I / O 85 outputs a reset signal in the form of a pulse signal to the DTE 90 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 81. DTE
At 90, this reset signal is transferred to the CPU inside the DCE 90 via the OR (or) circuit 86,
Reset U. Further, a reset signal generated by manual operation of the reset button 85 can be transferred to the CPU inside the DCE 90 via the OR circuit 86. In a terminal device having a reset signal generation circuit,
What is necessary is just to connect the reset generation circuit and the external input terminal of the reset signal in parallel.

The operation of the system of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 shows a processing procedure executed by the host computer 10, and FIG. 5 shows a processing procedure of the control computer 10 according to the present invention. FIG.
7 shows a processing procedure of the NRSD 50 on the reset command transmitting side, and FIG. 7 shows a processing procedure of the NRSD 80 on the reset command receiving side.

During normal operation, the host computer 10 repeatedly executes the loop processing of steps S400 → S410 → S420 in FIG. 4 to execute an application program and exchange information with the DTE 90. This information is sent to the DCE 30 via the CCP 20 and transferred to the DCE 70 in the form of an analog audio signal. DC
At E70, the analog audio signal is converted into a digital signal and sent to the DTE 90 via the NRSD80. DTE9
“0” sends information to the host computer 10 through a reverse route to the above-described information transfer.

[0032] If an error occurs in communication for some reason,
For example, when the host computer 10 detects that a response signal or information has not been sent from the DTE 90 even after a certain period of time has passed, the host computer 10 sets the DT
It is assumed that an abnormality has occurred in E90, and a reset command is sent to the control computer 40 (step S400 in FIG. 4 →
S430). Thereafter, the host computer 10 continues to send reset commands at predetermined intervals for a certain period of time by the loop processing of steps S430 to S450 in FIG.

The control computer 40 repeatedly executes the processing procedure of FIG. 5 to monitor whether a reset command has been received. Upon receiving the reset command (step S500 in FIG. 5), the control computer 40 sends an instruction to disconnect the line and an instruction to generate a reset signal to the NRSD 50 (steps S510 to S520 in FIG. 5).

When the CPU 51 of the NRSD 50 detects that the line disconnection instruction has been input to the I / O 54, it instructs the switch 58 to disconnect the communication line (step S6 in FIG. 6).
00 → S650). Step. It should be noted here that the communication system between the NRSD 50 and the public line 60 is not disconnected even if the line is physically disconnected.
The communication system between the NRSD 50 and the NRSD 50 is disconnected. As a result, the information is transmitted from the host computer 10 to the DTE.
It is not sent to the DTE 90 and does not adversely affect the DTE 90.

Next, when the reception of the reset command is detected in step S610 of FIG.
A control circuit 55 reads necessary data from the RAM 53 (see FIG. 2) to generate an audio signal reset command.
(Steps S620 to S630 in FIG. 6). As a result, a reset command of the specific signal waveform is transmitted from the audio signal generation circuit 50 to the public line 60. After this, NRS
The CPU 51 of D50 turns on the switch 58 and sets the DTE
It prepares for the restart of communication 90 (step S640 in FIG. 6).

The CP of the NRSD 80 on the reset command receiving side
When U81 (see FIG. 3) repeatedly executes the control procedure of FIG. 7 and finds that the signal detection circuit 84 has detected the reset signal (step S710 of FIG. 7), it resets the I / O 85 to, for example, level-on. The signal is sent for a fixed time (loop processing of steps S720 to S730 in FIG. 7).
As a result, a reset signal having a pulse width for the above-mentioned fixed time is sent from the I / O 85 to the DTE 90. As a result, the DTE 90 is automatically initialized. After initial setup,
The DTE 90 will resume communication with the host computer 10.

After transmitting the reset command in step S430 in FIG. 4, the host computer 10 waits for information transmission from the DTE 90. DTE9 if information is received
0, it is determined that the communication has been restored to normal, and the control procedure shifts to a control procedure during normal operation (steps S440 → S420 → S in FIG. 4).
410).

On the other hand, if no information is sent from the DTE 90 within a certain period of time after sending the reset command, the host computer 10 connects to the public line 60 or the DT.
E90 is determined to be abnormal, and a warning indicating that the abnormality has occurred is displayed on a display attached to the host computer 10 (steps S450 → S450 in FIG. 4).

In this way, the host computer 10 measures a certain time after sending the reset signal, and waits for a response from the DTE 90 within the certain time, so that an abnormality of the public line 60 or the DTE 90 can be detected. Becomes

(Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 1 described above, the public line transfers analog voice signals. A second embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a public line (ISDN) for performing optical communication will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 8, the same parts as those in the first embodiment of FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 100 denotes a terminal adapter (TA) for connecting a device such as a computer or a DTE having no ISDN standard user network interface to the ISDN 120.

Reference numeral 110 denotes a subscriber terminating unit (DSU) for mutually converting a signal from a computer into an AMI code for optical communication. As is well known, the ISDN 120 can perform packet communication using the D channel and the B channel. In the present embodiment, the host computer 10 transmits a reset command directly to the DTE 90 in this embodiment. Therefore, the NRS is provided on the host computer 10 side.
D need not be installed. NRS installed on DTE90 side
The point that D80 detects the reset command transferred by ISDN 120 and resets DTE 90 is the same as in the first embodiment, and detailed description will not be required.

The following embodiment can be carried out in addition to the above-described embodiment.

1) In the above embodiment, the host computer 10 detects a communication error on the side of the DTE 90. However, the control computer 40 monitors the presence or absence of a communication error. You may let me know.

2) It is essential to install an NRSD (remote initialization device) for detecting a reset command on the DTE 90 side, but the NRSD for generating a reset signal in the form of a signal for public line transfer is provided by the host computer 10. There is no particular need to provide it on the side. In this case, the DCE 30 or the TA 100 may convert the reset command generated by the host computer 10 into a signal suitable for a public line.

3) Although the NRSD 80 provided on the DTE 90 side is described as a single unit in the above embodiment, the DCE 70
Of course, it may be incorporated in the TA100.

4) After restarting the processing after stopping the host computer 10, a communication error of the DTE 90 is normally detected without manually initializing the DTE 90. Therefore, the host computer 10 executes the control procedure of FIG. By executing, the DTE 90 can be automatically initialized.
However, without executing the application, the DTE
90 can also be initialized. In this case, a reset command is input from the keyboard of the host computer 10 or an instruction to send the reset command is input.
Transmit to TE90. When communication is not established between the DTE 90 and the host computer 10, for example, the DCE 70 of the DTE 90 may be called using well-known communication software such as TCP / IP to establish communication. Of course.

[0047]

As described above, the first, second and sixth aspects of the present invention are described above.
According to the invention, since the terminal device can be remotely initialized from the host computer, it is possible to automatically recover the communication abnormality due to the runaway of the CPU of the terminal device. This eliminates the need for manual initial setting as in the related art, so that the labor of maintenance and inspection staff can be reduced.

According to the third, fourth, seventh and eighth aspects of the present invention, a remote initialization system corresponding to an existing commercial telephone line can be constructed.

According to the fifth and ninth aspects of the present invention, the presence or absence of transmission of information from the terminal device after the remote initialization to the terminal device is monitored by the host computer. Can identify abnormalities in the terminal device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the NRSD 50.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the NRSD 80.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the host computer 10.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a control computer 40.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the NRSD 50.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of NRSD80.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Host computer 20 CCP 30, 70 DCE 40 Control computer 50, 80 NRSD 60 Analog public line 90 DTE 100 TA 110 DSU 120 ISDN public line

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An information processing system for communicating information between a host computer and a terminal device via a public line, a reset command installed between the terminal device and the public line and sent from the public line. A reset command detecting means for detecting a reset command, and a reset signal generating means for generating a reset signal for initializing the terminal device in response to the detection of the reset command. 2. A remote initialization system for remotely initializing said terminal device of an information processing system for communicating information between a host computer and a terminal device via a public line, wherein said information is transmitted from said public line. A remote initialization device having reset instruction detection means for detecting a reset instruction, and reset signal generation means for generating a reset signal for initializing the terminal device in response to the detection of the reset instruction; Installed between the terminal devices, the host computer detects the presence or absence of an abnormality of the terminal device, and when the abnormality of the terminal device is detected, sends the reset command from the host computer to the public line. A remote initialization system. 3. The remote initialization system according to claim 2, wherein said public line transfers said information in the form of an analog signal. 4. The remote initialization system according to claim 2, wherein said public line transfers said information by optical communication. 5. The remote initialization system according to claim 2, wherein the host computer monitors whether or not information has been transmitted from the terminal device after transmitting a reset command,
If the information is not transmitted after a lapse of a predetermined time, a remote initialization system warns of an abnormality of the terminal device. 6. A remote initialization method for remotely initializing said terminal device of an information processing system for performing information communication between a host computer and a terminal device via a public line, said information being sent from said public line. A reset command detecting circuit for detecting a reset command, and a reset signal generating circuit for generating a reset signal for initializing the terminal device in response to the detection of the reset command, which is provided on the terminal device side; By detecting the presence or absence of an abnormality of the terminal device, when the abnormality of the terminal device is detected, the host computer sends the reset command to the public line, and the transmitted reset command is the reset command The terminal device is detected by a detection circuit, and the terminal device is reset by a reset signal generated by the reset signal generation circuit. Remote initialization method which is characterized in that the period set. 7. The remote initialization method according to claim 6, wherein the public line transfers the information in the form of an analog signal. 8. The remote initialization method according to claim 6, wherein the public line transfers the information by optical communication. 9. The remote initialization method according to claim 6, wherein the host computer monitors whether or not information has been transmitted from the terminal device after transmitting the reset command, and the information of the information is transmitted even after a predetermined time has elapsed. In the case where there is no transmission, a remote initialization method is provided, wherein an error of the terminal device is warned.