JPS6355613A - Remote operating system for computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten the duration of a fault by remote operating a resetting function via an approximate computer forming a network. CONSTITUTION:A network circuit 10 wired over an entire area of an iron mill plural process computers 12 in a computer room of each plant via an optical fiber, etc., A central control panel 14 is set at the center of the circuit 10. In this case, each computer group contains a resetting function to start successively the computers set at the remote side. Thus a kind of the function group is obtained. If a computer B, for example, has a trouble and stops its function, this trouble is decided by a central monitor device of the panel 14 and this panel 14 issues a command to a computer A having a resetting function to reset the computer B. As a result, the computer B can be reset 10 its initial state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a computer remote control system, and more particularly to a computer remote control system that remotely performs recovery operations when a failure occurs.

(Prior Art) Today, process computers have become widespread, and in many manufacturing sites they are networked and function organically as a whole. For example, a process computer at a production site such as a steelworks receives instructions from a production planning computer that receives instructions from higher-level orders to create a manufacturing plan, performs control according to the ever-changing product specifications, and records manufacturing results. A single line connects the entire steelworks, and the data from each process computer is organically combined, such as by sending it to a totaling computer and using it as production specification data for the next process.

However, at present, it is still underdeveloped, and when a large number of such computers are connected together, many problems arise, especially in terms of maintenance, and the advantages of computer networks have not yet been fully utilized.

In other words, for example, you can use some form of medium (
In the system where each computer is connected using a floppy disk, magnetic tape, etc., an operator is attached to each process computer to transfer data, etc., and also to perform resets etc. in the event of computer trouble. restoration work was being carried out.

In recent years, in the network method mentioned above,
Data transfer between computers began to be performed automatically between computers, eliminating the need for operators and requiring only monitoring from a central control panel. However, even in such a case, if a computer problem occurs, a worker must go to the computer where the problem occurred and carry out recovery operations by performing reprocessing operations. If a problem occurs and it takes time to recover, and if all the computers must be operated by a third person, operational errors due to inexperience can also become a problem.

Several methods have been proposed for remote control of convenience stores.

What is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-15419 is an initial program loading method by remote control, the gist of which is to confirm the readiness to receive initial program loading information by providing a remote computer with a response function. However, when a computer problem occurs, the system receives a recovery instruction signal sent through the network line and loads the initial program of the local computer. This method is possible only when the period between

However, the usual trouble is that there is a problem with the line,
The problem that can be recovered by this proposed method is limited because it often does not respond to instructions from the line.

JP-A No. 55-53764 discloses one of the remote control methods for computer systems forming a network, in which a device is installed to monitor and set the computer environment between computers connected to the network. Each monitoring device is connected to a separate line from the network, and requests from other computers are sent to the target computer's monitoring device through this separate line, and the target computer is started up here. Let them do it. According to this method, activation is performed in a so-called normal state, and since a line separate from the network is required to transmit the signal, the line becomes redundant and complicated. Additionally, malfunctions occur due to noise and other factors in long-distance lines, making it difficult to put it into practical use.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) An object of the present invention is to configure a computer network from a large number of convenience stores as described above, and to enable a plurality of computers installed in close proximity to communicate with each other. By making the reset switch operable, the present invention provides a system in which when a failure occurs, as long as at least one of the above-mentioned computers is normal, it can be reset by remote control.

(Means for Solving the Problems) Here, the gist of the present invention is to
Among the large number of computers connected to the network, multiple computers installed in close proximity can each have the main power control function for each other's convenience store, and based on commands from the central operation panel, the computers installed in close proximity can This is a computer remote control method in which a computer operates the main power supply of the other computer.

The number and combination of computers installed in close proximity as described above may be set as appropriate depending on the scale of the network and the functions of each constituent computer. It is enough. However, in some cases, all networked computers may have such functionality; such a group of computers, i.e. several computers installed in close proximity, can A function loop may be configured to execute a function (also referred to as a function).

Further, it is sufficient that the main power supply operation function is an automated version of what was conventionally performed manually, and there is no need to particularly explain the specific control system and the like.

Furthermore, in order to prevent the normal system from starting due to an operator's erroneous operation of the central operation panel, a protection circuit may be further provided that activates the reset function upon reception of a continuous number of reset signals.

(Function) Next, the system of the present invention will be specifically explained using a computer network in a steelworks as an example.

As shown in the attached drawing, a network line 10 that is spread throughout the steelworks connects multiple process computers (symbol 1) in the computer room of each factory using optical fibers.
2), and a central operation panel 14 is usually built into the center of this network. The computer room is equipped with multiple computers that participate in the network, as well as many computers (not shown) that directly control the movements of the machines. At this time, each computer group has a reset function that sequentially activates the other party's convenience store, as shown by the dotted line in the figure, and forms a kind of functional loop.

For example, if computer B, which makes up the network in the illustrated example, causes a problem and stops operating, a central monitoring device (not shown) installed on the central control panel determines the abnormality, and then From the operation panel 14, a command is issued to computer A, which both have a reset function, to enable computer B to be reset. Computer A
Immediately upon receiving this command, the computer operates the power reset switch of computer B and resets computer B to its initial state.

Furthermore, even if computers A and B become defective, this time,
Computer A can be reset via computer C, which has cent functionality for computer A, and then computer B can be reset via computer A.

The reset circuit can be as simple as inserting a relay in series with a normal manual reset circuit, and the relay activation wire is shorter than that between adjacent computers, and can be modified by simply adding a program. It is possible.

When a communication failure occurs and transmission cannot be sent after computer A, a reset command is sent to computer C using the pack loop, computer C starts computer A, and the loop is restored.

(Example) CPU for materials in steel works and hot rolling factories, rolling CP
A computer network as shown in the attached drawing is constructed between the IJ and refinement CPUs, and each process computer group is provided with a reset function according to the present invention in series with a reset switch to form a reset II function loop, and the central operation It can be reset on the board.

As the factory continued to operate using this computer network, two computer failures occurred within six months, but recovery was completed in two to three minutes each time. Conventionally, recovery took at least 10 to 15 minutes and caused production line stoppages, but in both cases there was only a pitch down (reduction in production efficiency) due to material stoppages.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, although the reset function is operated remotely via a nearby computer forming a network, the following effects can be seen despite the simple configuration.

(1) There is no need to travel to the site where the failure occurred, and the time required for the failure to occur can be shortened.

(2) Recovery work for multiple machines can be done centrally, resulting in a labor-saving effect.

(3) System destruction due to operational errors is eliminated because recovery operations are unified.

In particular, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect in that there is no production line stoppage, which was a problem in the past, and there is no system destruction due to malfunction, and the practical benefits are great.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The accompanying drawing is a schematic illustration of a device computer network comprising a plurality of computers equipped with a reset function according to the present invention. 10: Network line 12: Computer 14: Central operation panel

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Among the large number of computers connected to a computer network, multiple computers installed in close proximity can each have the ability to control the main power of the other computer, based on commands from the central operation panel. , a computer remote control method in which the nearby computer operates the main power supply of the other computer; (2) The system according to claim 1, wherein a functional loop for main power operation is configured between the plurality of computers installed in close proximity.