WO2016167378A1 - Device for supporting connection between host and client devices concerning plurality of kinds of physical layers - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a device for supporting connection between host and client devices concerning a plurality of kinds of physical layers, the device comprising: an input interface unit capable of processing N kinds of physical layer-related signals comprising k^th physical layer-related signals, the input interface unit performing a function of receiving a host device signal transmitted from the host device; a host physical layer analysis unit (21) for performing functions of analyzing the host device signal and extracting information regarding the physical layer of the host device; a signal conversion unit (30) comprising N transceivers (31), each transceiver converting an input physical layer signal to an output physical layer signal and outputting the same, the k^th transceiver processing the k^th physical layer-related signal; a signal switching unit (40) configured such that, when it is confirmed as a result of analysis by the host physical layer analysis unit (21) that the host device signal is the j^th physical layer-related signal, a signal path is formed to make the host device signal become an input physical layer signal of the j^th transceiver; and an output interface unit connected to the client device to perform a function of transmitting the output physical layer signal of the j^th transceiver to the client device.

Description

Host-client device support device related to multiple types of physical layers

The present invention relates to a connection support device that enables communication connection in a host device and a client device regardless of the difference in the physical layer protocol used by each device. More specifically, the physical layer information of the device is extracted. To improve the ease of use of plug-and-connect connectivity between multiple devices, using a combination of multiple transceivers and switching technologies. A connection support device.

Since the physical layer protocols used for the main communication are various, and each protocol has a different function and characteristic values, a separate configuration such as an adapter or a connector is required for communication connection between the physical layers of different protocols. For example, when a physical layer related to a control signal input to an actuator mounted on a robot is different from a physical layer related to a processor generating the control signal, a configuration for physically and logically connecting the two physical layers is required.

The conventional physical layer connection adapter is for 1: 1 connection, and when the physical layer protocol of one side and the other side to be connected is determined, and the physical layer of one side or the other side is changed, the corresponding adapter cannot be used. It was.

Furthermore, since one adapter may form only one connection, when one side and the other side need two or more connections, a plurality of adapters have to be inevitably applied. This caused the area where the adapters were mounted to be excessively large and caused an overall weight increase.

In the Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-0584387 (name of the invention: physical layer device for infrared connection between USB devices, hereinafter referred to as the prior art 1), the USB of the first USB device from the USB upper layer of the first USB device PS for converting parallel data transmitted through a Media Access Control (MAC) layer to serial; changing data serially converted through the PS unit to one of wired mode and wireless mode according to a user's selection A first wire transfer unit configured to transfer in the wired mode according to the selection of the selector, and a first wireless transfer unit configured to transmit in the wireless mode according to the selection of the selector; A non-return zero with inversion (NRZI) encoder configured to convert the serial data transmitted from the first selector into NRZ data and transmit the converted NRZ data; a differential driver for making and transferring an inverting signal and a non-inverting signal; and transmitting the inverting signal and the non-inverting signal from the differential driver. Disclosed is a physical layer device for infrared connection between a USB device, characterized in that it comprises a first USB connection to receive and connect to a second USB device via a USB cable.

Since the prior art is applicable only when both the physical layer protocols of one side and the other side of the connection target are USB, the first problem is that it is not applicable to the connection between targets using different physical layers, and the physical layer device uses infrared rays. The second problem is that it is impossible to use when there is a physical obstacle between one side and the other side, so that only one device is scheduled for one connection, and two or more connections between one side and the other side are requested. Inevitably there is a third problem that additional connection devices have to be applied.

In order to solve the above technical problem, the present invention provides a combination of a plurality of transceivers capable of modulating and demodulating signals between predetermined protocols, and the physical layer protocol of the host device and the physical layer protocol of the client device. A configuration including a signal switching unit for generating a signal path is proposed.

In addition, in order to implement a plug and connect function, the connection support apparatus of the present invention includes a configuration for analyzing and extracting physical layer information of a host device or a client device.

In addition, in order to form not only one signal path but also two or more signal paths in which two or more host devices and client devices are involved, a configuration of receiving and processing a rule of connection is provided.

According to the present invention, even when the host device uses various physical layers including wireless / wired, the first effect, which enables the connection with the client device, and the physical layer information on the host device side do not need to be used. When connected to the device of the invention, a variety of patterns, such as the second effect of increasing the usability of the physical layer information being applied automatically increases, N: 1 single connection pattern, N: M single connection pattern, N: M plural connection pattern The third effect is to provide a configuration for the connection method of.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-described effects, but should be understood to include all the effects deduced from the configuration of the invention described in the detailed description or claims of the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment (first pattern) of a connection support apparatus between a plurality of physical layer-related host-client devices of the present invention.

2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment (second pattern) of a connection support apparatus between a plurality of physical layer-related host-client devices according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment (third pattern) of a connection support apparatus between a plurality of physical layer-related host-client devices according to the present invention.

In order to solve the above technical problem, the present invention is capable of processing N-type physical layer-related signals consisting of k-th physical layer-related signals (k is a natural number of 1 or more and N or less), and is a host device transmitted from the host device. An input interface unit performing a function of receiving a signal, a host physical layer analyzing unit 21 performing a function of extracting physical layer information of the host device by analyzing the host device signal, and one input physical layer signal The N-th transceiver 31 for converting and outputting an output physical-layer signal of a signal, and the k-th transceiver (k being a natural number of 1 or more than N) processes the k-th physical layer related signal. When the host device signal is a j-th physical layer related signal (j is a natural number of 1 or more and N or less) according to the analysis result of the host physical layer analysis unit 21, the host device A signal switching unit 40 which performs a function of forming a signal path so that this signal becomes an input physical layer signal of the jth transceiver (j is a natural number of 1 or more and N or less), and is connected to a client device to output the jth transceiver. The present invention provides an apparatus for supporting connection between a plurality of physical layer-related host-client devices, including an output interface unit for transmitting a physical layer signal to the client device.

An embodiment of the present invention further includes a signal noise canceller 60 for improving the host device signal quality input to the input interface, wherein the signal noise canceller is an input of the signal switch 40. It may be characterized by removing the noise contained in the host device signal at the front end.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the signal amplifier 70 further includes a signal amplifier 70 for improving the host device signal quality input to the input interface unit, and the signal amplifier 70 is the signal switch unit 40. Amplifying the host device signal from which the noise is removed at the front end of the input.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the input interface unit may comprise one or more screw terminals (pluggable screw terminal).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the input interface unit includes one or more input terminals, and the one or more input terminals are respectively D-SUB, USB, RS-232, RS-485, TTL, CAN, RS- 449, V.35, V.34, I.430, I.431, T1, E1, POTS, SONET / SDH, OTN, DSL, PHY can be characterized in that any one of the standard terminal.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the input interface unit comprises one or more wireless signal receiving modules, wherein the one or more wireless signal receiving modules are each selected from among Bluetooth, 802.11a / b / g / n, and ZigBee. It may be characterized in that one can receive a wireless signal.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the signal switching unit 40 may further include an externally exposed user interface that allows a user to manually input physical layer information of the host device. .

Also, an input interface capable of processing N kinds of physical layer related signals including k-th physical layer related signals (k is a natural number of 1 or more and N or less) and performing a function of receiving a host device signal transmitted from the host device. The physical layer-related signals including the r-th physical layer-related signal (r is a natural number of 1 or more and M or less) can be processed, and are connected to the client device to output an output of the signal conversion unit 30 to the client device. An output interface unit for transmitting a function to the host device, a host physical layer analyzer 21 for analyzing the host device signal, and extracting physical layer information of the host device, and physical layer information of the client device. Client physical layer analysis unit 22 performing the function of collecting, one output physical layer signal to one output physical layer And a plurality of transceivers 31 for converting and outputting an arc, and the xy transceiver (TRxy, x is a natural number of 1 or more and N or less, y is a natural number of 1 or more and M or less) and transmits the x-physical layer related signal to the y-physical layer. According to an analysis result of the signal conversion unit 30, the host physical layer analysis unit 21, and the client physical layer analysis unit 22 which converts into a related signal, the host device signal is the x physical layer related signal (x is If the client device is associated with the y physical layer, and the host device signal is an input physical layer of TRxy (x is a natural number of at least 1 N, y is a natural number of at least 1 M). The present invention provides a connection support apparatus between a plurality of physical layer-related host-client devices, which includes a signal switching unit 40 which performs a function of forming a signal path to be a signal.

In one embodiment of the present invention, further comprising a signal noise removing unit 60 for improving the host device signal quality input to the input interface unit, the signal noise removing unit of the signal switching unit 40 The noise included in the host device signal may be removed at an input front end.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus further includes a signal amplifier 70 for improving the host device signal quality input to the input interface, and the signal amplifier 70 is the signal switching unit 40. It may be characterized in that for amplifying the host device signal from which the noise is removed at the front end of the input.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the input interface unit 10 and the output interface unit each comprises one or more input terminals and output terminals, wherein the one or more input terminals is a screw terminal (pluggable screw terminal) It can be characterized.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the input interface unit 10 and the output interface unit comprises one or more input terminals and output terminals, respectively, the one or more input terminals and output terminals, respectively, D-SUB, USB, RS-232, RS-485, TTL, CAN, RS-449, V.35, V.34, I.430, I.431, T1, E1, POTS, SONET / SDH, OTN, DSL, PHY It may be characterized by any one of the standard terminals.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the input interface unit 10 and the output interface unit each comprises at least one wireless signal receiving module, wherein the at least one wireless signal receiving module is Bluetooth, 802.11a / b / It may be characterized in that it can receive any one of the radio signal selected from g / n, ZigBee.

In one embodiment of the present invention, at least two input terminals of the input interface unit receives signals from at least two host devices, and at least two output terminals of the output interface unit are connected to at least two client devices. The signal switching unit 40 receives a rule forming two or more signal paths connecting the two or more host devices and the two or more client devices, respectively, and the two or more signal paths according to the rule. The apparatus may further include a signal path setting unit which performs a function of setting a signal path.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described the present invention. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. In the drawings, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted in order to clearly describe the present invention, and like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the specification.

Throughout the specification, when a part is "connected" to another part, it includes not only "directly connected" but also "indirectly connected" with another member in between. . In addition, when a part is said to "include" a certain component, this means that it may further include other components, without excluding the other components unless otherwise stated.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention is a device that supports the connection between the host device and the client device of the same or different physical layer, an input interface unit for performing a function of receiving a host device signal transmitted from the host device, the host device signal by analyzing the host A signal conversion unit including a host physical layer analysis unit 21 which performs a function of extracting physical layer information of a device, and a transceiver 31 which converts one input physical layer signal into one output physical layer signal and outputs the same; 30), the signal switching unit 40 and the client to form a signal path so that the host device signal is the input physical layer signal of the predetermined transceiver 31 according to the analysis result of the host physical layer analysis unit 21, the client. It is connected to the device to transmit the output physical layer signal of the transceiver 31 to the client device. It has a major component output interface unit for.

Regarding the number of signal paths formed by the signal switching unit 40, three patterns are considered in the present invention. In the first pattern and the second pattern, the number of signal paths formed by the signal switching unit 40 is one, which corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and one host device and one client device. Means to connect.

Although the second pattern and the third pattern all have in common that the client device physical layer information is collected and used, the second pattern handles only one connection, and the third pattern includes two or more host devices and two client devices. There is a difference.

The first pattern may also be referred to as an N: 1 single connection pattern, where the input side processes one of the N physical layer protocols (ie, it is not N inputs), and on the output side the client It means to output according to one protocol determined according to the physical layer protocol of the side. For example, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, there are four possible physical layer options (a, b, c, and d) in the input interface. However, when the actual host device applies the physical layer protocol b, the signal switching unit ( 40) will perform signal switching so that the input host device signal is input to TRb (a transceiver configured to have a physical layer protocol of b as an input physical layer signal), and the output of TRb is transmitted to the client through the output interface unit of the present invention. Will be. The physical layer protocol (x) of the output signal at this time may be one of a, b, c, and d, but is not necessarily limited thereto.

The second pattern may also be referred to as an N: M single connection pattern, and the input may process one selected from N physical layer protocols (i.e., not N inputs), and on the output side, M It means outputting according to one protocol selected from the physical layer protocols. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, there are three possible physical layer options (a, b, c) in the input interface, but the actual host device applies the physical layer protocol a, and the actual client device has the physical layer. It is known that p is applied, and the signal switching unit 40 is configured such that the input host device signal has TRap (physical layer protocol of a as an input physical layer signal and p physical layer protocol of p as an output physical layer signal). Signal switching to be input to the transceiver) and the output of TRap will be transmitted to the client via the output interface of the present invention. The difference between the second pattern and the first pattern is that in the second pattern, the physical layer of the client device may be selected by the user within a predetermined range (one of p and q in the embodiment of FIG. 2), but the first pattern In the above, the physical layer protocol of the client device is determined from the beginning. Therefore, in the case of the second pattern, a separate configuration for collecting physical layer information of the client device is required.

The third pattern may be referred to as an N: M plural connection pattern, and the number of signal paths formed by the signal switching unit 40 is two or more. In terms of signals, inputs from two or more host devices occur, and output to two or more client devices via the device of the present invention. That is, it relates to the case where two or more host devices and two or more client devices are interconnected. The implementation configuration of the third pattern is almost the same as the configuration required for the second pattern, but two or more host devices and two or more client devices are interconnected. It's important to note that you need rule settings on how to connect your client devices. The third pattern can handle two host devices (they select and use one of N possible physical layer protocols each) on the input side, and two client devices (these are each on the output side). Select one of the M possible client-side devices' physical layer protocols). For example, according to an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a situation in which two host devices and two client devices are connected using two signal paths will be described. In the situation where there is a choice of physical layer protocols of the three possible host devices represented by a, b, and c, two actually connected host devices apply the physical layer protocols a and b, respectively, and 2 represented by p, q. In a situation where there is a choice of physical layer protocols of possible client devices, the two physically connected client devices are applying the physical layer protocols of p and q. The signal switching unit 40 has two host device signals each configured / manufactured to have TRap (a physical layer protocol signal of a as an input physical layer signal and a physical layer protocol signal of p as an output physical layer signal. ) And TRbq (signal switching of the physical layer protocol of b as an input physical layer signal and a transceiver configured and manufactured to have a signal of the physical layer protocol of q as an output physical layer signal) Which signal is transmitted to the transceiver is determined by a rule input to the signal path determining unit 41 of the signal switching unit 40.) The outputs of the TRap and TRbq are output interface unit 50 I, respectively. It will be sent to two client devices via / Fp and I / Fq.

Hereinafter, each pattern will be described as a separate embodiment.

<First Embodiment>

This is related to the first pattern.

Referring to FIG. 1, in view of a signal, a signal frame generated in a host device is transmitted to an input interface unit of a device of the present invention through a predetermined medium, and the host physical layer analysis unit 21 inputs an input host device signal. Information such as the physical layer type of the host device is extracted from the host device. Subsequently, the host device signal is input to the signal switching unit 40 after improving the signal quality while passing through the signal noise removing unit 60 and the signal amplifier, and the signal switching unit 40 is configured to physically extract the host device. By using the hierarchical information, a signal path is formed and transmitted to the appropriate transceiver 31, and the output physical layer signal, which is the output of the transceiver 31, is transmitted to the outside through the output interface to reach the client device.

Hereinafter, the configuration of each major component will be described in detail.

The input interface performs a function of receiving a host device signal transmitted from the host device, and in view of the characteristics of the present invention, the input interface should be able to process a plurality of (N) physical layer related signals. Such a function may be expressed using the expression that it is possible to process N kinds of physical layer related signals composed of k-th physical layer related signals (k is a natural number of 1 or more and N or less).

As an embodiment of the input interface unit, the input interface may include one or more screw terminals. This is to use the screw terminal as a kind of custom terminal type, as a means for indirectly connecting and connecting various (wire-based) standard protocol related terminals described later. In other words, the application of the screw terminal means that the connecting element can accommodate the standard terminal type of the specific physical layer protocol provided by the host device and the connecting element that can accommodate the terminal type of the input interface (screw terminal) of the present invention. This means that a predetermined custom connector (sub connector) including all of them is required. The advantage of applying the screw terminal is that the number of actual terminals provided in the input interface of the present invention is too large or the layout as long as it is possible to manufacture a custom connector that can convert the standard terminal format of each protocol of the host device. This complexity can be prevented, and further, the product can be miniaturized.

Of course, it is not excluded to directly include a standard terminal format (of wired-based protocol) associated with each physical layer in the input interface. In this case, the input interface unit includes one or more input terminals, and these input terminals are D-SUB, USB, RS-232, RS-485, TTL, CAN, RS-449, V.35, and V.34, respectively. It is obvious that the standard terminal is any one selected from I.430, I.431, T1, E1, POTS, SONET / SDH, OTN, DSL, and PHY, but is not limited to these options. When the standard terminal type is directly applied, the above-described custom connector is not required, and there is an advantage in that the terminal provided in the host device (or connection medium) can be directly bonded.

In addition, the input interface unit of the present invention, in order to handle the wireless-based physical layer protocols, may be made including one or more wireless signal receiving module, the wireless signal receiving module of each of Bluetooth, 802.11a / b / g / n, ZigBee It may be any one selected, but is not limited to this kind. The wireless signal receiving module may be a hardware chip capable of receiving a wireless signal and performing a custom signal processing function. The wireless signal receiving module may be mounted inside the casing without being exposed to the outside, but may introduce the wireless signal into the casing. Consideration should be given to the design of existing means (antennas, etc.).

In addition, of course, the input interface unit of the present invention can be configured to cover both the wired protocol and the wireless protocol.

The host physical layer analysis unit 21 analyzes the host device signal and performs a function of extracting physical layer information of the host device. The extracted physical layer information is used as the basis information for determining to which transceiver 31 the host device signal is transmitted by the signal switching unit 40 to be described later. A method of extracting physical layer information from the host device signal may be a known method such as extraction from header information of the host device signal, but is not limited thereto.

The signal converter 30 includes a combination of a plurality of transceivers 31. Since the transceiver 31 is a functional element for converting one input physical layer signal into one output physical layer signal and outputting the signal, the signal conversion unit 30 of the present invention includes N transceivers 31. In this case, it means that N signal conversion patterns can be used, and it can also mean that N input side wired / wireless based physical layer protocols can be processed. Each transceiver 31 constituting the combination of N can be referred to as a kth transceiver (k is a natural number of 1 or more and N or less). In this case, the kth transceiver is input to the kth physical layer related signal. Will be defined to handle. Which of the plurality of transceivers 31 the host device signal is to be processed is determined by the signal switching unit 40 to be described later.

As described above, it is assumed that all of the output sides of the plurality of transceivers constituting the signal conversion unit 30 have one single physical layer protocol. What protocol is to be applied may be selected as the physical layer protocol of the client device.

The signal switching unit 40 can be configured using a normal switching circuit, and receives the physical layer information of the host device according to the analysis result of the host physical layer analysis unit 21, and the host device signal is j-th. When the physical layer related signal (j is a natural number of 1 or more and N or less), the signal path is input so that the host device signal is input to the jth transceiver (j is a natural number of 1 or more and N or less).

The output interface unit is connected to the client device and transmits an output physical layer signal (host device signal processed by the jth transceiver) of the jth transceiver to the client device.

The output interface unit requires only one output terminal (or one wireless signal module), and this one output terminal may be a pluggable screw terminal. In this case, various client physical layers may be connected through a custom connector. The protocol can be supported. In addition, D-SUB, USB, RS-232, RS-485, TTL, CAN, RS-449, V.35, V.34, I.430, I.431, T1, E1, POTS, SONET / SDH, It may be any one standard terminal selected from among OTN, DSL, and PHY, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the output terminal of the output interface unit may be one wireless signal transmission module, the wireless signal reception module may be any one selected from Bluetooth, 802.11a / b / g / n, ZigBee.

The apparatus for supporting connection between a plurality of physical layer-related host-client devices according to the present invention may further include a signal noise canceller 60 for improving the host device signal quality input to the input interface. The unit removes the noise included in the host device signal at the input front end of the signal switching unit 40. The noise canceling algorithm applies well-known technology, and of course, it is not limited to a specific method. The signal noise removing unit 60 may be implemented at the front end of the host physical layer analysis unit 21 described above or may be implemented at the rear end of the signal amplification unit 70 to be described later.

The signal amplifier 70 of the present invention performs a function of amplifying the host device signal from which noise is removed at the front end of the signal switching unit 40 in order to improve the host device signal quality input to the input interface unit. The signal amplification circuit can apply a known technique, and of course, may be implemented in front of the signal noise removing unit 60 described above.

Second Embodiment

This is related to the second pattern.

In the case of the second pattern, there is a difference in the configuration of the transceiver combination constituting the signal conversion unit 30, the detailed functions of the signal switching unit 40, and the like in the case of the first connection pattern, and the client physical layer analysis unit 22 There is a difference that additional provision.

The input interface unit can process N kinds of physical layer related signals including kth physical layer related signals (k is a natural number of 1 or more and N or less), and performs a function of receiving a host device signal transmitted from the host device. . The detailed configuration of the input terminal is the same as that in the first pattern.

The output interface unit may process M-type physical layer related signals including the r-physical layer related signals (r is a natural number of 1 or more and M or less), and is connected to the client device to output an output of the signal conversion unit 30. Performs the function of sending to the client device.

In addition, in order to implement the second pattern, the present invention should additionally include a client physical layer analysis unit 22 that performs a function of collecting physical layer information of the client device as an essential component. The extracted physical layer information of the client device is used as the basis information for determining to which transceiver 31 the host device signal is transmitted by the signal switching unit 40 to be described later along with the physical layer information of the host device. As a method of collecting physical layer information from the client device, a general known technique for collecting hardware information may be used.

The signal conversion unit 30 is composed of a combination of a plurality of transceivers 31, and the xy transceiver (TRxy, x is a natural number of 1 or more and N or less, y is a natural number of 1 or more and M or less) is related to the x physical layer It is defined as a function of converting a signal into a y-physical layer related signal. In the case of the first pattern, since the output interface is intended for a single physical layer protocol, the signal converter 30 at that time only needs to have as many transceivers 31 as the number of physical layer protocols scheduled on the input interface side. In the case of the second pattern, since the output interface side also plans a plurality of physical layer protocols, the maximum number of transceivers 31 to be provided is the product of the number of physical layer protocols on the input interface and the number of physical layer protocols on the output interface. (This is the maximum value, and of course, the transceiver 31 can be omitted in the case of unnecessary connection patterns.)

The signal switching unit 40 is a host device signal according to the analysis results of the host physical layer analysis unit 21 and the client physical layer analysis unit 22, the x-physical layer-related signal (x is a natural number of 1 or more than N) When the client device is determined to be related to the y th physical layer, the host device signal is a signal path such that an input physical layer signal of TRxy (x is a natural number of 1 or more and N or less and y is a natural number of 1 or more and M or less). To form.

The signal noise removing unit 60 and the signal amplifier 70 may be further provided as in the case of the first pattern.

Third Embodiment

This is related to the third pattern.

The input interface unit can process N kinds of physical layer related signals including kth physical layer related signals (k is a natural number of 1 or more and N or less), and performs a function of receiving a host device signal transmitted from the host device. . The detailed configuration of the input terminal is the same as that in the first pattern and the second pattern.

The output interface unit may process M-type physical layer related signals including the r-physical layer related signals (r is a natural number of 1 or more and M or less), and is connected to the client device to output an output of the signal conversion unit 30. Performs the function of sending to the client device. Unlike in the first pattern and the second pattern, the actual number of output terminals should be two or more.

The host physical layer analysis unit 21 and the client physical layer analysis unit 22 should be provided as in the case of the second pattern.

The configuration of the signal converter 30 is the same as that of the second pattern.

As described above, in the third pattern, two or more host devices and two or more client devices are involved. Specifically, two or more input terminals of the input interface unit receive signals from two or more host devices. Two or more output terminals of the output interface unit is a pattern that is connected to two or more client devices, and it is necessary to strictly determine which host device and which client device are to be connected, so that the signal switching unit 40 plays such a role. do.

The signal switching unit 40 receives a rule forming two or more signal paths connecting two or more host devices and two or more client devices, respectively, and sets two or more signal paths according to the rule. It should further include a signal path setting unit for performing a function. The rule may be entered from the beginning, or may be subsequently input by the user. The user interface may be a hardware interface such as a switch or a program capable of inputting information, but is not limited to this type. Such a rule may bundle a pair of predetermined physical layer protocols, and if the input and output physical layer protocols are the same, a case such as direct connection without conditions may be considered.

The signal noise removing unit 60 and the signal amplifier 70 may be further provided as in the case of the first pattern.

The foregoing description of the present invention is intended for illustration, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be easily modified in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. will be. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. For example, each component described as a single type may be implemented in a distributed manner, and similarly, components described as distributed may be implemented in a combined form.

The scope of the present invention is represented by the following claims, and it should be construed that all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents are included in the scope of the present invention.

10: Input interface (I / F) part

Physical Layer Analyzing Unit (PLA)

21: host physical layer analysis unit: PLA (H)

22: client physical layer analysis unit: PLA (C)

30: Signal Transforming Unit (ST)

31: Transceiver: TR (Transceiver)

40: signal switching unit: SW (SWitching unit)

41: signal path determining unit 41: PD (Path Determinating unit)

50: output interface (I / F) section

60: Signal Noise Reduction Unit: NR (Noise Reduction unit)

70: signal amplifier: A (Amplifier)

a, b, c, d: Physical layer type of host device

p, q, x: Physical layer type on the client device side

Claims (14)

1. In a device supporting a connection between a host device and a client device of the same or heterogeneous physical layer,

   An input interface unit capable of processing N-type physical layer-related signals including k-th physical layer-related signals (k is a natural number of 1 or more and N or less), and receiving a host device signal transmitted from the host device;

   A host physical layer analyzer 21 for analyzing the host device signal and extracting physical layer information of the host device;

   N transceivers 31 converting one input physical layer signal into one output physical layer signal and outputting the same, and the kth transceiver (k is a natural number of 1 or more and N or less) receives the kth physical layer related signal. A signal conversion unit 30 for processing;

   When the host device signal is a j-th physical layer related signal (j is a natural number of 1 or more and N or less) according to the analysis result of the host physical layer analysis unit 21, the j transceiver (j is 1). A signal switching unit 40 which performs a function of forming a signal path so as to be an input physical layer signal equal to or less than N natural numbers);

   An output interface unit connected to a client device to transmit an output physical layer signal of the jth transceiver to the client device;

   Connection support apparatus between a plurality of physical layer-related host-client device, characterized in that comprises a.
2. The method according to claim 1,

   And a signal noise removing unit 60 for improving the host device signal quality inputted to the input interface unit.

   The signal noise removing unit removes noise included in the host device signal at an input front end of the signal switching unit (40).
3. The method according to claim 2,

   And a signal amplifier 70 for improving the host device signal quality input to the input interface unit.

   The signal amplification unit 70 amplifies a host device signal from which noise is removed at an input front end of the signal switching unit 40.
4. The method according to claim 1,

   And the input interface unit comprises at least one pluggable screw terminal.
5. The method according to claim 1,

   The input interface unit comprises one or more input terminals,

   The one or more input terminals are respectively D-SUB, USB, RS-232, RS-485, TTL, CAN, RS-449, V.35, V.34, I.430, I.431, T1, E1, POTS Device support for connection between a plurality of physical layer-related host-client device, characterized in that any one of the standard terminal selected from SONET / SDH, OTN, DSL, PHY.
6. The method according to claim 1,

   The input interface unit comprises at least one wireless signal receiving module,

   The at least one wireless signal receiving module may be connected to a plurality of physical layer-related host-client devices, each of which may receive one of wireless signals selected from Bluetooth, 802.11a / b / g / n, and ZigBee. Support device.
7. In a device supporting a connection between a host device and a client device of the same or heterogeneous physical layer,

   An input interface unit capable of processing N-type physical layer-related signals including k-th physical layer-related signals (k is a natural number of 1 or more and N or less), and receiving a host device signal transmitted from the host device;

   It is possible to process M physical layer related signals consisting of the r physical layer related signals (r is a natural number of 1 or more and M or less), and is connected to the client device to transmit the output of the signal converter 30 to the client device. An output interface unit which performs a function of doing the above;

   A host physical layer analyzer 21 for analyzing the host device signal and extracting physical layer information of the host device;

   A client physical layer analyzer 22 which performs a function of collecting physical layer information of the client device;

   A plurality of transceivers 31 are provided for converting one input physical layer signal into one output physical layer signal and outputting the same. The xy transceiver (TRxy, x is a natural number of 1 or more and N or less, y is 1 or more and M or less A natural number) is a signal converter 30 for converting the x-th physical layer related signal into the y-th physical layer related signal;

   It is made, including

   According to an analysis result of the host physical layer analysis unit 21 and the client physical layer analysis unit 22, the host device signal is an xth physical layer related signal (x is a natural number of 1 or more and N or less), and the client device. When the signal is related to the y th physical layer, the host device signal performs a function of forming a signal path such that an input physical layer signal of TRxy (x is a natural number of 1 or more and N or less, y is a natural number of 1 or more and M or less). Signal switching unit 40;

   Connection support apparatus between a plurality of physical layer-related host-client device comprising a.
8. The method according to claim 7,

   And a signal noise removing unit 60 for improving the host device signal quality inputted to the input interface unit.

   The signal noise removing unit removes the noise included in the host device signal at the input front end of the signal switching unit 40.
9. The method according to claim 8,

   And a signal amplifier 70 for improving the host device signal quality input to the input interface unit.

   The signal amplification unit 70 amplifies a host device signal from which noise is removed at an input front end of the signal switching unit 40.
10. The method according to claim 7,

    The input interface unit 10 and the output interface unit each comprises one or more input terminals and output terminals,

    And at least one input terminal is a pluggable screw terminal.
11. The method according to claim 7,

    The input interface unit 10 and the output interface unit each comprises one or more input terminals and output terminals,

    The one or more input terminals and output terminals are respectively D-SUB, USB, RS-232, RS-485, TTL, CAN, RS-449, V.35, V.34, I.430, I.431, T1, E1 Device for supporting connection between a plurality of physical layer-related host-client device, characterized in that any one of the standard terminal selected from POTS, SONET / SDH, OTN, DSL, PHY.
12. The method according to claim 7,

    The input interface unit 10 and the output interface unit each comprises one or more wireless signal receiving module,

    The at least one wireless signal receiving module may be connected to a plurality of physical layer-related host-client devices, each of which may receive one of wireless signals selected from Bluetooth, 802.11a / b / g / n, and ZigBee. Support device.
13. The method according to claim 7,

    Two or more input terminals of the input interface unit receive signals from two or more host devices,

    Two or more output terminals of the output interface unit is connected to two or more client devices,

    The signal switching unit 40 receives a rule forming two or more signal paths connecting the two or more host devices and the two or more client devices, respectively, and the two or more signal paths according to the rule. Signal path setting unit for performing a function for setting the signal path; connection support apparatus between a plurality of physical layer-related host-client device further comprises.
14. The method according to claim 13,

    The signal switching unit 40 further includes a user interface for allowing a user to manually input a rule for manually setting the two or more signal paths. Connection support device between client devices.

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