JPS6385854A - Distributed processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To contrive to improve the maintenance and operation of a system by providing each processor with a means for forming a module constitution message stored in a self-processor and a means for sending the formed module constitution message to a common transmission line. CONSTITUTION:Each of processors 11-14 connected to the common transmission line 1 is provided with a function for sending a message indicating the change of program constitution in itself to the common transmission line and a function for sending the information of the program stored in itself to the common transmission line at the time of receiving the message from the common transmission line 1. At the time of changing the program constitution, a message indicating the program constitution of each processor is automatically sent to the transmission line. Therefore, the program constitution in the system can be grasped by integrating these messages.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a distributed processing system in which a series of processing is executed in a distributed manner by a plurality of processing devices. This invention relates to a distributed processing system that automatically recognizes changes in program configuration.

[Conventional technology]

In a distributed processing method in which a series of processing is distributed and processed by multiple processing devices connected to a common transmission path, programs for executing each of the series of processing are distributed and stored in each processing device, and each processing device is Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 146361/1983 describes a method of starting a program when the data required to execute the program is fetched from a transmission line into its own processing device and is collected. There is.

This method allows each processing device to perform a series of processes in a distributed manner, without requiring a management processing device to manage the entire system.

In addition, the present applicant has proposed, in the above-mentioned distributed processing system, that one or more of the processing devices are used for program development, and that the programs developed by these development processing devices are broadcast to a common transmission path. Japanese Patent Application No. 60-129378 proposes a software development method in which a processing device that requires the program takes in the program from the common transmission line at its own discretion and stores it in its own processing device.

By using the above method, a series of processes can be executed without the need for a mask that controls the entire system, and even in program development, programs can be developed on each development processing device without knowing the program configuration of the entire system. It becomes possible to load the required processing device at the timing of .

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in the above conventional technology, there is no means to understand what kind of programs are stored in each processing device and in what state they are running, which poses problems in system maintenance and operation. Something happened.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to solve the above-mentioned problems in conventional distributed processing systems, and to improve the maintainability and operability of the system. To provide a distributed processing system that automatically detects changes in the program configuration within the system and grasps the program configuration of the entire system.

[Means for solving problems]

The above object of the present invention is to provide a distributed processing system in which a series of processing of one job is distributed and processed by a plurality of processing devices connected to a common transmission path, in which each processing device is stored in its own processing device. This is achieved by a distributed processing system characterized in that it is configured to include means for creating the above-mentioned module configuration message, and means for transmitting the module configuration message created by the creation means onto the common transmission path. Ru.

[Effect]

In the present invention, a function is provided in each processing device connected to a common transmission path to send a message to the common transmission path indicating when the program configuration in the own processing device has changed, and a function is provided in each processing device connected to a common transmission path. When the program configuration changes, the program configuration in each processing device is automatically updated on the transmission path when the program configuration changes. By integrating these messages, it is possible to understand the program configuration within the system.

〔Example〕

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

First, the configuration of a distributed processing system to which the present invention is applied will be explained using FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a system to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, 1 is a unidirectional loop transmission line in the direction of the arrow; 11 to 14 are processing units that store application programs in their internal memory and execute them;
21 to 24 are transmission control devices (Network Control Pro) that control data transmission on the transmission path 1;
cessor (hereinafter referred to as rNcPJ).

Each of the processing devices 11 to 14 and each of the NCPs 21 to 24 are as follows:
They are bidirectionally connected, and the processing results (messages) of the processing devices 11-14 are sent onto the transmission line 1 via the NCPs 21-24.

Further, the NCPs 21 to 24 determine whether or not the message flowing on the transmission path 1 is necessary for the processing device connected to the NCP 1, and transfer the message determined to be necessary to the processing device connected to the self. It has a function to send to the device. When the processing devices 11 to 14 have all the messages necessary to execute the application programs stored therein,

Start this program. The program started is
It executes its own processing using the above message and outputs the result as a message.

In the embodiment described below, it is assumed that the processing device 14 is a processing device that grasps the program configuration, and is connected to a CRT 1400 for displaying and outputting the grasped program configuration.

Figure 3 shows the format of messages flowing on the transmission path. In the figure, FC (202) is a function code that corresponds to the content and function of the data.6 Each NCP uses the function code 202 to determine whether the received message is necessary for the processing device connected to it. determine whether it is a thing or not.

5A (203) is the NCP address (source address) that sent the message, and C (204) is the serial number necessary for transmission. Data (205) indicates the contents of the results processed by each application program, FCS (206) indicates error detection data, F(20
1 and 207) are flags indicating the beginning and end of the message, respectively.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing the internal configuration of a processing device 11 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. Processing 12
-14 also have the same configuration.

In FIG. 1, 101 is NCP21. It is a transmission control unit that controls data transfer between processing devices 11, and N
The message received from the CP 21 is sent to the reception buffer 102.
It has a function to send the message in the sending buffer 103 to the NCP 21 and, at the same time, to also store it in the receiving buffer 102 if the message is required by the application program within the own processing device. .

The processing unit 104 executes the application program 1
This is a unit for controlling the execution of 061 to 1063. The trigger message generation unit 107 is a unit for generating a "trigger message" indicating that the program configuration has changed when the program configuration in the own processing device changes, and the module configuration message generation unit 108 This is a unit for generating a "module configuration message" indicating information about stored application programs.

The external input/output control unit 109 is a unit for controlling input/output with external devices. The input/output data storage area 105 is an area for storing input/output messages for each application program.

FIG. 4(,) shows the contents of the input/output data storage area 105. The first line of area 1051 is an input/output message storage area for the application program 1061. In the input/output message storage area 1051, area 10511 contains input messages (
I), and the output message (0) is stored in area 10513. Further, the startup program area 10512 is an area indicating a program (P: program 1061 here) to be started by the input message stored in the area 10511.

Area 2 line 1052 is application program 1
062 input/output message storage area. Thereafter, an input/output message storage area is similarly set for each application program.

FIG. 4(b) shows the input/output message storage area 10.
51 is a diagram showing the format of an input message storage area 10511 in 51. FIG. In area 105111, the function code of the input message is set in advance. Area 105112 is an area for setting a flag indicating whether or not an input message is stored, and area 105113 is an area for storing the contents of the message white data section.

When an application program is activated by a plurality of input messages having different function codes, each of the areas 105111 to 105113 is set for each message. In addition, the output message storage area 1051
3 also has the same format.

FIG. 5(a) shows the trigger message generation unit 1.
The unit 107 is activated when the own processing device is started up or when the configuration of the application program stored in the own processing device changes due to addition or deletion of an application program, etc. A function code (FCa) indicating that the message is a trigger message and a self-processing device number (PNO) are set in the transmission buffer 103 as the data part contents.

The transmission control unit 101 first formats the contents of the transmission buffer 103 into the message format shown in FIG. 3 and outputs it to the common transmission path 1. The message format is shown in FIG. 5(b), and 611 to 617 are, respectively,
This corresponds to 201 to 207 in FIG. The FC unit 612 contains a function code (p'c) indicating that it is a trigger message.
In a), a processing device number (PNO) is set in the data section 615.

FIG. 6(a) is a diagram showing the processing flow of the module-configured message generation unit 108. This unit 1
08 is activated when a trigger message is received. In addition,
It is assumed that in the NCP connected to each processing device, a function code (FCa) indicating a trigger message is registered in advance as a function code of a message required by the own processing device.

The module configuration message generation unit 108 first transfers information about the application program stored in its own processing device, that is, the module configuration message data part, to the input/output data storage area 105.
630),
Next, the content created in the above process 630 and the function code (Feb) indicating that it is a module configuration message are set in the transmission buffer 103 (process 631).

FIG. 6(b) shows the contents of the five module configuration message data created in the above process 630. P.N.
OO 6550 is an area for storing the processing device number in the trigger message data section, PNO 6551 is the own processing device number, and P N U M 6552 is the number of application programs stored in the own processing device.

Further, 6553 to 6555 are areas set for each application program, and IFC655
3 and FC6554 are areas for storing the function code of the input message required by the target application program and the function code of the message output by the program, respectively.

Each of these areas includes the input/output data storage area l.
The function codes set in the input message storage area (I) and output message storage area (0) of O5 are respectively set.

Further, the contents of the startup program area (P) of the input/output data storage area 105 are set in the PIN F6555. The transmission control unit 101 has a transmission buffer 1
The contents of 03 are formatted into the message format shown in FIG. 3 and output to the common transmission path 1.

FIG. 6(c) is a diagram showing the contents of this message, and 651 to 657 are respectively 2 in FIG. 3 shown above.
Corresponds to 01-207. The FC section 652 contains a function code (Feb) indicating that it is a module configuration message.
However, the contents shown in FIG. 6(b) are set in the data section 655.

According to the above embodiment, in a distributed processing system, it is possible to understand the program configuration in each processing device that is distributed in a distributed manner, and when the program configuration changes, it can be detected and the known configuration can be updated. , it becomes possible to always grasp the latest program configuration.

Next, a process for grasping the program configuration in the system using the module installation message shown in FIG. 6(Q) will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a processing device for grasping the program configuration according to another embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the processing device 14 shown in FIG. 2.

This processing device 14 has the same overall configuration as the processing device 11 shown in FIG. 1, and 401 to 409 correspond to 101 to 109 of the processing device 11 shown in FIG. There is. The difference between the two is that a CRT console 1400 is connected to the external input/output control unit 409, and as an application program,
A program 4061 for understanding the program configuration within the system is stored.

Program for understanding program configuration in the above system 4061
The inside consists of a program area 6000 in which actual processing procedures are stored, and a program configuration table area 7000 for storing program configurations. FIG. 8 shows the program configuration table area 7000.
The format is shown below. This table shows the application programs stored in each processing device and
This shows the input/output relationship between each application program.

The program configuration table (TB) includes tables for each processing device (processing device table) 701 to 70n, and
Trigger processing device number storage area 750. 6 processing device table 7 consisting of processing device number storage area 760
01 to 70n are identified by serial numbers (table serial numbers) assigned to each.

The configuration of table 701 will be described below, but tables 702-? On also has the same configuration. table 70
1 is an area PNO (7011
), an area P NUM (7012) for storing the number of application programs in the processing device, and an area (7013, 7014) for storing information for each program.
,...) consists of □. These program information areas 7013, 7014. ... are identified by a serial number (program serial number) assigned to each area.

The area 7013 corresponding to program serial number 1 consists of an input data information section I F CI (70131), an output data information section OF CI (70132), and a program information section PIN F (70133). The same applies to areas 7014 and below corresponding to program serial numbers 2 and below.

The input data information section I F CI (70131) consists of an input function code I F C (701310) and an upstream program pointer I F CP (701311). This upstream program pointer I F CP
(701311) is the input function code IFC (70
1310) indicates the position in the module configuration table of the application program that outputs the message.

Further, the output data information section OF CI (70132) includes an output function code OF G (701320) and a downstream program pointer OF CP (701321). This downstream program pointer OF CP
C701321) is the output function code OF C(701
320) in the module configuration table of an application program that receives a message as input.

Note that a value that does not match the processing device number, for example, (-1), is set as an initial value in the trigger processing device number area 750. Further, the processing device number area 760 is an area indicating the number of processing devices recorded in the module configuration table.

Next, the processing contents of the program 6000 previously shown in FIG. 7, which is a program for creating the module configuration table described above and displaying the contents thereof, will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9(a) is a diagram showing the overall processing flow, and this program is started when a module configuration information message is received. The started program first reads the trigger processing device number area (Figure 6(b)) in the input message.
6550) with the contents of the trigger processing device number area 750 in the module configuration table (processing 8).
00). If the two do not match, "1" is set in the module configuration table processing device number area 760 (process 801).

Next, the trigger processing device number in the input message is set in the trigger processing device number area 750 (process 802
), the process moves to process 803. Further, in the comparison in process 800, if the trigger processing device number in the input message matches the trigger processing device number in the module planting table, the process directly advances to process 803.

In process 803, the processing device number (P N O) and the number of programs (PNUM) in the POI NT (760)th processing device table are set according to the contents of the input message. Next, depending on the contents of the input message, for each program, the I F in the input data information section IFCI (70131) of the POINT processing device table is
C, OFG in output data information section 0FCI (70132)
and program information section PINF (70133) (processing 804).

After that, the contents of the number of processing devices area are changed to # l ′1
increase (processing 805). After the above processing is completed, the first
The upstream pointer IFCP and downstream pointer 0FCP are set for each program in the processing device table from the th to the (POINT-1)th (processing 806).

This pointer setting process will be explained below with reference to FIG. 9(b).

This process is performed for each processing device table from the first to the (POINT-1)th. Here - as an example,
The processing table 701 shown in FIG. 8 will be explained.

First, initialize the counter i for this process (set it to '1')
(processing 853). Next, the i-th (in this case the first
IFC(7) of input data information section IFCI (70131) of program information area 7013 (70131)
The processing device table is searched for a program that outputs a message having the function code set to 01310) (processing 854).

If there is no program to output, set the upstream program pointer I F CP (701311) of the input data information section I F CI (70131) to a value indicating no program (for example, -1) (processing 857).
. If there is a program to output, the table serial number of the processing device table where the program is recorded,
and the program sequence number indicating the position in the table.
It is set in the upstream program pointer I F CP (701311) of the input data information section I F CI (70131) (processing 856).

Next, in process 858, as in the previous case, the i-th (first in this case) program information area 77013
(7) Output data information section OF CI (70132) (
7) Run a program whose input is a message with the function code set to OF C+ (701320).
Search from within the processing device table. If there is no program to be input, similarly to process 857, a value indicating no program is set as the program serial number in the downstream program pointer OF CP (701321) of the output data information section OF CI (70132) (process 86
1).

If there is a program to be input, process 856
Similarly, the table serial number of the processing device table in which the program is recorded and the program serial number are set in the downstream program pointer OF CP (701321) of the output data information section 0FCI (70132) (processing 860).

After completing the above processing, it is determined whether or not the value of the counter i matches the number of programs P N U M (7012) in the processing device table (step 862), and if it does not match, the value of the counter i is set to 1'1. "Increase (processing 863),
The process moves to process 854. That is, processes 854 to 861 are repeated for the number of programs recorded in the processing device table. After performing the processing shown in FIG. 9(b) on the processing device tables 1st to (POINT-1), the process moves to processing 807 in FIG. 9(a), and the contents of these tables are The output is displayed on the CRT 1400.

At this time, the upstream program pointer I in the processing device table
A program for which a value indicating no program is set in F CP (701311) or downstream program pointer OF CP (701321) is a program in which the input message is not generated or there is no program that uses the output message. Therefore, it is displayed and output with information indicating that it is not completed due to the program configuration.

According to the above embodiment, in the distributed processing system, the program configuration in each processing device distributed in a distributed manner is
It can be understood at the level of the entire system, and when the program configuration changes, it can be detected and the known configuration can be updated, making it possible to always know the latest program configuration.

It is also possible to detect programs that are incomplete due to their program structure.

In the above embodiment, the processing bag [14] is used as a processing device for setting the program for understanding the program configuration, but this is not limited to the processing device 14, and any number of processing bags Needless to say, it is possible to set a program for understanding the program configuration of the computer.

Further, by setting a conventionally used means for generating a trigger message in response to a key-in, it is possible to grasp the current program configuration in the system at the time of an operator's request.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, in a distributed processing system in which a series of processing of one job is distributed and processed by a plurality of processing devices connected to a common transmission path, each of the processing devices performs its own processing. Since the system is configured to include a means for creating the above-mentioned module configuration message stored in the device and a means for transmitting the module configuration message created by the means onto the common transmission path, maintainability and operability of the system are improved. This has the remarkable effect of realizing a distributed processing system that can improve performance. Furthermore, in addition to the above-mentioned means, if the configuration is such that it has means for capturing the module configuration message and using this to recognize the program configuration in the system, the configuration of the application program arranged in each processing device is provided. This has the advantage that it is possible to realize a distributed processing system that can grasp changes in the program configuration at the system-wide level, immediately detect changes in the program configuration, and update the program configuration.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a processing device showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a system implementing the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the format of a message to be transmitted.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the table configuration, FIG. 5(a), FIG. 6(a), FIG. 9(a) and FIG. 6(b) and (c) are diagrams showing the generated message format, FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a processing device showing another embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the table structure. 1 unidirectional loop transmission line, 11 to 14: processing device, 2
1 to 24: NCP, FC: Function code, FC number: Trigger message function code, FCb: Module configuration message function code, PNO: Processing device number, PNUM nib program number, IFCI: Input data information section, 0FCI:
Output data information section, IFCP: Input FC pointer, 0F
CP: Output FC pointer. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 (,) Figure 4 (1)) Figure 5 (a) Figure 5 (b) Figure 6 (a) Figure 6 (b) Figure 6 ( c) Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 (a)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a distributed processing system in which a series of processing for one job is processed in a distributed manner by a plurality of processing devices connected to a common transmission path, each of the processing devices stores data in its own processing device. A distribution system characterized in that it is configured to include means for creating information (module configuration message) regarding a program being executed, and means for transmitting the module configuration message created by the creation means onto the common transmission path. processing system. 2. In a distributed processing system in which a series of processes for one job are processed in a distributed manner by a plurality of processing devices connected to a common transmission path, each processing device receives information regarding the program stored in its own processing device. (module configuration message); and means for transmitting the module configuration message created by the creation unit onto the common transmission path; and receiving the module configuration message sent from another processing device; What is claimed is: 1. A distributed processing system characterized by having means for recognizing a program configuration within the system using this. 3. The distribution according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the module configuration message creation means is configured to create the module configuration message when the program configuration within its own processing device changes. processing system. 4. The distribution according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the module configuration message includes information regarding each program in the system as to whether or not there is a program that uses the output message of the program. processing system. 5. The module configuration message includes information regarding each program in the system regarding the presence or absence of a program that generates an input message to the program. distributed processing system.