JPS61177060A - Communication control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the frequency of deterioration of a device by reading out a value obtained by adding '1' to each communication area by each device every prescribed period, detecting the generation of abnormality in the corresponding device in accordance with the coincidence or dissidence of the read value with the precedently read value and forming previously fixed image data. CONSTITUTION:After the connection of a power supply, a CPU1 clears respective devices 3, 4, 5, 51 and also clears areas assigned to a memory to zero. During the period of normal operation, the respective devices 3, 4, 5, 51 access the areas in the memory which are assigned to the devices 3, 4, 5, 51 respectively every 2sec and add '1' successively. The CPU1 checks respective areas of the memory 2 in each interval of 2sec or more and decides whether the value read at that time coincides with the precedently read value or not to detect abnormality. When the device generating abnormality is a control unit FCU5 or 51, the message of an image is sent from the normal device to an opposite facsimile device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention Technical Field The present invention relates to a communication control method, and more particularly to a communication control method that detects abnormalities in communication devices at an early stage and contacts a service center to reduce the number of device failures. .

Conventional technology An abnormality in a peripheral device is notified by an input/output end interrupt, but there are some failures such as a hang-up in which the input/output end interrupt does not return from one peripheral device.

Such failures are detected by time monitoring using a timer. However, in the case of communication equipment that is not monitored by a computer, it has been difficult to detect abnormalities within the equipment early, and it is slow if the equipment is down, so it is preferable to have multiple equipment with the same function. ing. In order to use a computer online, a communication control device is first required for connection to a communication line. This equipment converts serial transmission codes into parallel computer codes, inverse conversion, transmission error control, line monitoring,
It has functions such as connecting and releasing lines. Therefore 1
Even in the event of a failure of the communication control equipment, it is necessary to design it in such a way that, in combination with the data transmission equipment, there will be no complete shutdown of the lines, and consideration must also be given to making it easy to expand the number of lines. .

Purpose The purpose of the present invention is to promptly detect an abnormality in a communication device in response to such a request, contact a service center, etc., and
An object of the present invention is to provide a communication control method that can reduce downtime.

Configuration In order to achieve the above object, the communication control method of the present invention includes a communication control system that controls a plurality of communication devices.
Each device reads the value added by 1 to each communication area at predetermined intervals, detects whether an abnormality has occurred in the corresponding device based on whether the value is the same as the last read value, and creates predetermined image data. The feature is that the occurrence of an abnormality is notified by transmitting the data from a normal communication device to the other party of the registered telephone number.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to examples.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a communication control system showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In Figure 2, 1 is the central processing unit (CPU), 2 is the main memory, 3 is the floppy/hard disk interface (FD/HD I/F), 4 is the communication control unit (CCU), 5.51 is a facsimile control unit (FCU), 6 is a CRT display, 7 is a keyboard, 8 is a network control unit (NCU), and 9 is a modem unit (
10 is a service center (PSTN), and 11 is a common bus.

The system shown in FIG. 2 constitutes, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) system, and is connected to other LAN systems via coaxial cables or the like. The multiple groups of LANs are functionally divided into work stations, file stations, print stations, communication stations, facsimile stations, etc., and the LAN in Figure 2 corresponds to the facsimile station. do.

A facsimile station communicates with a facsimile machine at a remote location, transmits data read from a file station, prints received data at a print station, and connects to this LAN.
can be used. The CRT display 6 and keyboard 7 are used to perform operations such as editing documents, and are also used for FD/H
The D.I/F 3 is a device to which an external memory for storing edited results is connected.

What is the period for sending and receiving facsimile transmission control procedures?

Other facsimile devices - NCU8 - Modem 9 - FCU5
- Communication is performed through the path of CCU 4, but when the transmission control procedure is finished and data transmission starts, other facsimile devices - NCU 8 - High-speed modem 9 - FCUS - Memory 2
Data is stored in the data area of the memory 2 in the case of reception, and data is read out in the case of transmission.

The FCUS 51 encodes and compresses data prior to transmission, and decodes received data to restore it to the original facsimile black and white signal. CPUI is memory 2
Error checking is performed on the received data stored in
Correct any errors.

In the present invention, in order to detect an abnormality in a communication device at an early stage, a memory area is allocated to each device in the system, and each device stores a value counted up in the allocated area at regular intervals. Write. Furthermore, in order to reduce the downtime of a device in which an abnormality has been detected, once an abnormality is detected, a normal facsimile device is used to immediately contact a remote service center and request recovery measures.

That is, in FIG. 2, interface 3, CCU
4. The FCUs 5 and 51 are memory 2 that can be accessed in common.
to detect anomalies. After turning on the power, the CPU 1 clears each device 3, 4, 5, and 51, and also clears the allocated area of the memory 2 to zero. After this, during the period of normal operation, each device 3, 4.5.5
1 accesses the area allocated to it in the memory 2 every 2 seconds and sequentially adds 1 to it.

The CPUI detects an abnormality by checking each area of the memory 2 at intervals of 2 seconds or longer, and determining each time whether the value is different from or the same as the previously read value. That is, if the read value has changed compared to the previous time, it is determined that it is normal, and if it has not changed, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the interface. When the device in which the abnormality has occurred is the FCU 5 or 51, an image message is sent from the normal device to the other party's facsimile device. Also, register a telephone number to request a service person for troubleshooting or recovery, and if an abnormality occurs,
From the normal FCU to modem 9, NCU3. The abnormality is notified to the registered facsimile device via. This results in
Even if the abnormal failure is serious, it is possible to minimize downtime.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of communication control operation showing one embodiment of the present invention.

First, when the power is turned on, the CPUI zero-clears the memory 2, the disk interface 3, the CCU 4, the FCU 5, etc., and the communication area (area of the memory 2) (step 101). Next, the CPUI.

Read the communication area of memory 2 every 2 seconds (step 102), and if the contents are the same as last time, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred (step 103), create image data (step 104), and register from the ROM. The number is read out (step 105). Of course, this number is the telephone number of a service person for fault diagnosis or recovery. Then, the above image data is automatically transmitted to the other party's facsimile device with this number, and the occurrence of an abnormality is notified (step 106).
). Note that when the area of the memory 2 is read in step 103, if the value is different from the previous value, the device determines that it is normal, returns to step 102 again, and reads the communication area every 2 seconds. In this way, abnormalities can be detected early and automatically and notified.

Effects As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect abnormalities in the device itself, automatically create data, and notify it to a predetermined location, so that abnormalities in the device can be detected early. It is possible to detect the problem at any time, and also shorten the time that the equipment is down.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a communication control operation showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a communication control system in which the present invention can be used. 1: CPU, 2: Memory, 3: Disk interface, 4: Communication control unit (CCU), 5, 51: Facsimile control unit (FCU), 6: CRT display, 7: Keyboard. 8: Network control unit (NCU), 9: Modem, 10: Service center, 11: Common bus. Figure 1 Start end

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a communication control system that controls multiple communication devices, each device reads the value added by 1 to each communication area at predetermined intervals, and depending on whether the value is the same as the previous reading, an error is detected in the corresponding device. Communication characterized by notifying the occurrence of an abnormality by detecting the occurrence, creating predetermined image data, and transmitting the data from a normal communication device to the other party at the registered telephone number. control method.