JP3405896B2 - Device connection configuration management device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for managing a connection configuration between apparatuses that serially connect apparatuses that support different communication speeds, and more particularly, to an IE.
In a device environment that uses a high-performance serial bus interface standardized as EE1394, a device connection configuration that notifies the occurrence of performance deterioration due to the connection of a low-speed device between high-speed devices and does not reduce the performance The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for supporting the construction of the.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When AV devices, computers, etc. are connected to each other, it is necessary for each device to follow a common interface in order to enable organic coupling between the devices. In recent years, several interfaces have been standardized to enable mutual connection in a wide variety of devices, and ordinary AV devices and the like have connection ports conforming to this standardized interface.

There is IEEE 1394 as one of such standardized interfaces. The IEEE 1394 is a serial interface using two pairs of signal lines, and up to 63 devices conforming to the IEEE 1394 (hereinafter referred to as nodes) can be connected on one bus. Node has 1 port for connecting to other nodes
Each node on the bus is connected with a cable between the ports, and the device configuration has a tree structure as shown in FIG. 30, for example.

The IEEE 1394 is compatible with plug and play, and hot plug-in for plugging and unplugging the cable while the power is on is also possible. IEEE
In 1394, when the power is turned on or when the configuration is changed by newly adding or removing a node on the bus, the node that detects the configuration change issues a reset signal on the bus. Then (bus reset state), the system configuration is automatically recognized again. As a result, a node called a root node in each device is determined, and the ID number of each device is determined based on this.

At this time, all the nodes sequentially transmit the packet data recording the communication speed supported by themselves and the connection information of their own ports on the bus by broadcasting. This packet data to be transmitted is called a self ID packet.
In IEEE 1394, node ID numbers are set to be assigned in the order in which self ID packets are issued, and S, which is another standardized interface, is set.
Unlike CSI, the user does not need to set an ID with a DIP switch or the like. Figure 3 shows the format of the self-ID packet.
Shown in 1. As shown in FIG. 31, the self ID packet has information such as its own ID number (Phy ID), transfer rate (spd), and port connection status (p0 to p2) recorded therein. The connection status (p0-p2) is
ID is rewritten in the process of determining the root node
The number (Phy ID) is rewritten every time its own ID number is newly determined. In addition, in the format of the self-ID packet of FIG. 31, the items of connection status are 3 from p0 to p2.
Only one is listed, and it seems as if the number of ports is limited to three, but one device can have multiple self-ID packets and, if there are more ports, another self-ID. Since the port information can be recorded in the packet, it is possible to provide four or more ports.

Further, in the transfer speed (spd) column, the communication speed supported by the device is recorded in advance. Currently, IEEE 1394 has a communication speed of S1.
00 (98.304 Mbit / sec), S200 (1
96.608 Mbit / sec), S400 (393.
216 Mbit / sec) is specified. S200
Those supporting S100 must also support S100, and those supporting S400 must support S200 and S200.
We have to support 100.

When the system configuration is re-recognized, one of the nodes becomes a configuration manager (hereinafter referred to as CFM) in principle. C
There must be only one FM on the bus, and if there are multiple CFM capable nodes, only one of them will be the CFM. This CFM is the protocol for IEEE 1394, isochronos.
us) Management of transfer channels according to the transfer mode, management of device configuration on the bus, management of power supply capacity, and the like.

In order to perform such an operation, the node that becomes the CFM receives all the self-ID packets transmitted from all the nodes after the bus reset, and from the information, how each device is connected And a speed map showing which communication speed between devices is performed and which is recorded. Figure 3 shows the format of the topology map and speed map respectively.
2, shown in FIG. In the topology map, the item name (s
elf id packet [n])
All ds are recorded in the order of ID numbers, and the regularity of the order of assigning ID numbers and the connection state of each port of the node recorded in the items (p0 to p2) of the self ID packet indicate the connection state of the device. .

Further, the speed map contains item names (spe
In the ed code [i]) part, the maximum communication speed that can be supported is recorded for each combination of all IDs, that is, for each combination of all nodes. As described above, nodes having different maximum transfer rates can coexist on the bus. Between nodes with different maximum transfer rates, communication is performed at the highest speed supported by both nodes. For example, when the node of S100 and the node of S400 communicate with each other, the node of S400 also supports S100, and thus the communication is performed in S100. This is transparent to the user and is entirely automatic.

It should be noted that the actually connected node does not necessarily have the CFM capability. In particular, peripheral devices and the like often do not have the CFM capability for cost reasons. Therefore, there may be no CFM on the bus in some cases. However, even in this case, some functions such as isochronous transfer cannot be used, the system configuration is re-recognized, and each route is assigned an ID number, so normal operation does not occur. You can do it. However, of course, the topology map and speed map are not created.

[0011]

Although a plurality of speeds are specified in IEEE 1394, even nodes having different communication speeds can communicate by using the highest speed supported by both nodes. But,
For example, in SCSI, the interface IC of each device is connected in parallel at the cable portion of the port as shown in FIG. 34 (a), but in IEEE 1394 each device is temporarily connected to each port as shown in FIG. 34 (b). The interface ICs are connected in series and pass through, and the interface ICs of each device are completely connected in series. This is an effective method not only for preventing signal collision and signal attenuation but also for detecting cable insertion / removal. But because of this, SCSI
Unlike the case where the interface ICs are connected in parallel as described above, the communication speed between the devices is influenced by the communication speed supported by the devices interposed therebetween.

That is, as shown in FIG. 35A, when a node with a slow communication speed is connected between two nodes with a fast communication speed, the interface IC of the node with a slow communication speed has a high speed. Since the data cannot be transferred, even if the communication is between nodes with high communication speed as a result, communication must be performed according to the speed of the slower node between them, and the performance of each node can be utilized. There is a problem that there is no. To solve this, there is no choice but to change the device connection configuration so that nodes with high communication speeds are connected to each other as shown in FIG. Since this is a physical matter, the user has to perform work of disconnecting and connecting the cables connecting the nodes.

By the way, in order for each device to communicate at an optimum speed, the user changes the device configuration,
There are two major problems. One is a problem that the user cannot judge whether or not the optimum communication speed is obtained only by looking at the connected device configuration. Since the node automatically selects the communication speed, the user does not need to know the communication speed, and there is no device provided with the current speed display mechanism. Also, even if each device is equipped with a function to display the current communication speed, it is often the case that one communication is only for a moment, so it may not be possible for the user to recognize the current communication speed. Conceivable. Also, if the node that supports a high communication speed is a node that supports only a low communication speed, the current communication speed display will be smaller than the maximum speed supported by that node. Optimal communication speed. However, the user will judge that the connection state is not optimal only with this information.

In order to determine whether or not communication is possible at an optimum communication speed between certain nodes, it is necessary to determine which node is communicating and what is the maximum communication speed of each node. The user needs to know. However, even if it is possible to know it, it is very difficult for the user to judge whether the entire device configuration is optimum based on the information in IEEE 1394, which can connect many nodes.

Another problem is that even if it is found that communication is not possible at the optimum speed, the user does not know how to change the device configuration. Basically, you can reconfigure to connect fast nodes, but you have to know the transfer speed and the number of ports supported by each node, and if the number of nodes increases, you can build an optimal connection configuration. Is extremely difficult.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides IEEE13
Like the 94 interface, the communication speed between devices is
Whether or not each device is communicating at the optimum communication speed can be easily determined from the device configuration connected by the interface that affects the communication speed supported by the device sandwiched between the devices. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for constructing and displaying a connection configuration of equipment so that the equipment can output an optimum communication speed.

[0017]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a device connection configuration management apparatus for managing the communication speed between a plurality of devices for which the maximum communication speed is individually determined. A connection status acquisition means for acquiring the status and a speed acquisition means for acquiring the maximum communication speed of the device are provided. The device connection state means the positional relationship between the devices connected in series. Then, using two of the plurality of devices as target devices, the maximum communication speeds of the two target devices are compared, and the slower maximum communication speed is calculated as the theoretical maximum communication speed between the target devices. Theoretical maximum communication speed calculation means, maximum communication speed of equipment,
With reference to the connection state of the devices, the maximum communication speeds of the two target devices and the devices connected in series between them are compared, and the slowest maximum communication speed is calculated as the actual maximum communication speed between the target devices. The maximum communication speed calculation means is provided,
Further, there is provided first signal output means for outputting a predetermined first signal when the calculated theoretical maximum communication speed between the target devices is different from the actual maximum communication speed.

Further, the pre-connection state acquisition means and the theoretical maximum communication speed calculation means can be replaced with actual maximum communication speed acquisition means for acquiring the actual maximum communication speed calculated by the external device. In addition, the device connection configuration management device detects that communication between devices is performed with an unsuitable device storage device that stores a target device when the first signal is output by the first signal output device. Communication detection means, and second signal output means for outputting a predetermined second signal when it is detected by the communication detection means that the target device stored in the unsuitable device storage means actually performs communication. Is preferably provided.

Further, in the device connection configuration management device, there is further provided a notifying means for performing a predetermined notifying operation by the first signal or the second signal, and a command for turning on / off the notifying by the notifying means. ON to accept
A / OFF command receiving means and a notification control means for controlling ON / OFF of the notification by the notification means according to the command to turn ON / OFF may be provided.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a device connection configuration construction device for constructing a connection configuration of a plurality of devices in which the maximum communication speed and the number of ports are individually determined, and the maximum communication of each device is made. A speed acquisition means for acquiring the speed and a port number acquisition means for acquiring the number of ports of each device are provided, and the maximum communication speed of each device and the number of ports are used to determine the maximum of the devices sandwiched between the devices. An optimum configuration constructing means is provided for constructing a connection configuration of devices so that the communication speed does not become lower than the maximum communication speed between the devices at both ends.

This device connection configuration construction device is provided with a constraint condition designation receiving means for accepting designation of constraint conditions for connection between devices, and the optimum configuration construction means follows the specified constraint conditions to connect devices. It is desirable to set it up to build the configuration. Further, the invention of the present application is a device speed management method for managing a speed between a plurality of devices in which the maximum communication speed is individually determined. A connection state acquisition step for acquiring and a speed acquisition step for acquiring the maximum communication speed of two target devices and devices connected in series between them are provided. Then, compare the maximum communication speed of each device with the theoretical maximum communication speed calculation step that compares the maximum communication speed of the two devices and calculates the slowest maximum communication speed as the theoretical maximum communication speed between the target devices. However, the actual maximum communication speed calculation step that calculates the slowest maximum communication speed as the actual maximum communication speed between the target devices is provided, and the calculated theoretical maximum communication speed between the target devices and the actual maximum communication speed. And a signal output step of outputting a predetermined signal when the values are different from each other.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a device configuration construction method for constructing a connection configuration of a plurality of devices in which the maximum communication speed and the number of ports are individually determined. A speed acquisition step for acquiring and a port number acquisition step for acquiring the number of ports of each device are provided, and further, from the maximum communication speed of each device and the number of ports, the maximum communication speed of a device sandwiched between arbitrary devices. Has an optimum configuration construction step for constructing a connection configuration of equipment so that the communication speed does not become lower than the maximum communication speed between the equipment at both ends.

This device configuration construction method further includes a constraint condition designating step for designating constraint conditions in connection between devices, and connecting the devices while performing the optimum configuration construction step according to the constraint conditions designated here. It is effective to construct the structure.

[0024]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of a device connection configuration management device 1 according to the first embodiment. The device connection configuration management device 1 is built in one of the nodes connected in conformity with IEEE 1394, and can acquire all information that can be received by the node. As shown in FIG. 1, the device connection configuration management device 1 has an actual maximum communication speed acquisition unit 10,
Speed acquisition unit 11, theoretical maximum communication speed calculation unit 12, first signal output unit 13, inappropriate device storage unit 14, communication detection unit 1
5, a second signal output unit 16, a notification unit 17, an ON / OFF command reception unit 18, and a notification control unit 19.

The actual maximum communication speed acquisition unit 10 is the slowest maximum communication speed among the maximum communication speeds calculated by an external device between the two target devices and the devices connected in series between them, ie, between the target devices. This is the part that acquires the maximum communication speed between actual devices. More specifically, as described above, in principle, one of the devices connected based on IEEE 1394 is the CFM, and the speed map is constructed here. The actual communication speed is recorded in this speed map for each combination of IDs of all nodes, and the actual maximum communication speed acquisition unit 10 acquires the data of this speed map as it is.

Note that which node is the CFM is recorded in the root node, and since the root node has the highest ID number among the nodes connected on the bus, the ID of the root node is The number is a self ID issued from all nodes one by one when the bus is reset.
You can know this by counting the number of packets. Therefore, the actual maximum communication speed acquisition unit 10 first issues a read command to the root node to read the data of the address in which the node ID number of the CFM is recorded, knows the node ID number of the CFM, and further, to this CFM. It issues a command to read the speed map.

The speed acquisition unit 11 is a part for acquiring the maximum communication speed of each node. Here, the maximum communication speed of each node can be obtained by acquiring the above-mentioned topology map from the CFM. That is, the contents of self-ID packets of all nodes are recorded in the topology map in the order of IDs, and the maximum communication speed supported by each node is recorded in the self-ID packet. , It is possible to obtain the maximum communication speed of each node. In addition,
The method of acquiring the topology map from the CFM is the same as the method of acquiring the speed map described above.

The theoretical maximum communication speed calculation unit 12 is a part that compares the maximum communication speeds of two target devices and calculates the slower maximum communication speed as the theoretical maximum communication speed between the target devices. Then, the maximum communication speed supported by the node in which the device connection configuration management device 1 is provided,
Compare the maximum communication speed of all other nodes one by one,
The slower communication speed is calculated as the theoretical maximum communication speed between the target devices. In addition, here, the theoretical maximum speed between the node in which the device connection configuration management device 1 is provided and another node is calculated.
The theoretical maximum speed may be calculated for all combinations of nodes.

The first signal output unit 13 calculates the calculated theoretical maximum communication speed and the actual maximum communication speed for each target device, here, for each node including the device connection configuration management device 1 and all other nodes. If the communication speed of the
Output a signal. The first signal includes information for specifying a target device having a different theoretical maximum communication speed and actual communication speed.

The inappropriate device storage unit 14 stores the target device when the first signal is output from the first signal output unit 13. The communication detection unit 15 also detects that communication has been performed between the devices. In IEEE1394,
When communication is performed between the respective nodes, information regarding the node with which the communication is performed is flown on the bus, so that it is possible to easily know which node the communication is performed with.

The second signal output section 16 is the communication detection section 1
5 is a part which outputs a predetermined second signal when it is detected that the two devices stored in the inappropriate device storage section 14 actually communicate with each other. The notification unit 17 is a unit that performs a predetermined notification operation according to the second signal, and here, the notification unit 17 is provided by an LED provided on an exterior panel of a node that incorporates the device connection configuration management device and a buzzer.
Are configured. The warning notification LED may be prepared as a warning-dedicated LED, or may be used as a power supply or an access LED by changing colors or blinking at the time of warning. Further, as the notification unit 17, a display device using a liquid crystal or a fluorescent tube other than the LED may be used, and a display device such as a CRT may be used to display not only a warning but also a device name that does not allow optimum communication. May be displayed. Also, by providing LEDs etc. on other nodes,
It is also possible to give a warning by turning on the LED or the like of the nodes that are improperly connected.

The ON / OFF command receiving unit 18 is a unit for receiving a command to turn ON / OFF the notification by the notification unit 17, and here, an ON / OFF command is issued by operating a predetermined switch by the user of the system. Shall be instructed. The notification control unit 19 turns ON / OFF the notification by the notification means according to the command to turn ON / OFF.
The notification control unit 19 is controlled to be turned on / off.

When the built-in node is a general-purpose computer, each component of the device connection configuration management device having the above configuration operates on the computer except for the physical components such as the notification unit 17. It can be realized by incorporating a program that causes the operation of the above-mentioned components into such a computer, and this program can be recorded in a recording medium such as a floppy disk that can be read by the computer. This point is the same in the following embodiments.

Next, the operation of the device connection configuration management device having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of a device system connected based on IEEE 1394.
In FIG. 2, it is assumed that the seven nodes (node A to node G) surrounded by a square have the original device configuration. This device configuration itself can communicate at an optimum speed in all combinations between nodes. Further, it is assumed that the node D includes the device connection configuration management device according to the present invention. Now, it is assumed that a node H is newly added to the device configuration surrounded by the square. Then, as described above, the node H and the node F to which the node H is connected detect that the state of the port has changed, and issue a bus reset. All the nodes in the bus reset state transmit the packet data by broadcast as described above, and the node ID number and CFM of each node are determined. Here, it is assumed that the node C becomes the CFM.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation until the improperly connected equipment of the equipment connection configuration management device is stored in the improper equipment storage unit 14. First, the actual maximum communication speed acquisition unit 10 and the speed acquisition unit 11 are respectively CFM.
A read command for reading the topology map and the speed map is issued (S101). Next, speed acquisition unit 1
1 gets the maximum communication speed supported by itself (S1
02). This may be obtained from the topology map, or it may be obtained from its own self ID packet.

Next, the theoretical maximum communication speed calculation unit 12 reads the maximum communication speed supported by the node to be compared from the topology map (S103). Then, the smaller speed of the read speed and the maximum communication speed supported by itself is set as the "theoretical maximum communication speed" between the nodes (S104 to S106). Then, the actual maximum communication speed acquisition unit 10 determines the "actual communication speed" between the ID number of its own node and the ID number of the partner node.
Is read from the speed map (S107).

Then, the first signal output unit 13 compares the theoretical maximum communication speed thus obtained with the actual communication speed (S108). If the theoretical maximum communication speed is lower than the actual communication speed, it is judged that the optimum speed cannot be obtained in the communication with the partner node due to the existence of slow equipment. Then, a predetermined first signal is output (S109), and the inappropriate device storage unit 14 stores the ID number of the partner device (S110). In FIG.
The maximum communication speed for nodes D and H is "S40
Although it is "0", the actual communication speed is the node D of S400.
Since the node F of S100 exists between the node H and the node H of S400 and the actual communication speed is "S100", the actual communication speed is smaller than the theoretical maximum communication speed. Therefore, the first signal output unit 13 outputs the first signal, and the inappropriate device storage unit 14 stores the ID number of the node H.

If the actual communication speed is the same as the theoretical maximum communication speed, the first signal output unit 13 does not generate a signal and shifts to the next processing. The above check is performed for all nodes (S111). In this example,
If the partner node ID number and the node ID number of your own become the same during the check, you will check the communication between yourself and yourself, but there is no problem because the correct value will be returned even if you check it. In order to eliminate useless processing time, the check may not be performed when the node ID number is the same as the own node ID number.

Next, the operation of the device connection configuration management device up to the notification of a predetermined warning when communication is made between devices that are improperly connected will be described. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation according to FIG. 4. First, the communication detection unit 15 detects that the node D containing the device connection configuration management device has communicated with another node (S201). Then, it is determined whether or not the ID of the node with which the communication is performed is stored in the inappropriate device storage unit 14 (S202). Here, the ID
If is not stored in the inappropriate device storage unit 14, the process ends. If the ID is stored, the second signal output unit 16 outputs a predetermined second signal to the notification unit 17, whereby the notification unit 17 issues a warning by the LED and the buzzer (S203). This warning is continuously issued until the user gives an OFF command through the ON / OFF command receiving unit 18, and if there is an OFF command, the ON / OFF command receiving unit 18 receives it and informs the notification control unit 19 of it. The notification of the warning by the notification unit 17 is ended (S204, S20).
5).

In the present embodiment, the output of the first signal output unit 13 is used to store the device with an inappropriate connection state in the inappropriate device storage unit 14, and the device with the inappropriate connection performs communication. I am trying to give a warning when I do. In other words, for example, if a device with the highest communication speed than these devices is connected between the hard disk and the printer, the connection between the hard disk and the printer is determined to be inappropriate, but the actual connection between the hard disk and the printer is Since there is no communication, inconvenience does not occur. In consideration of such a case, the warning is given only when there is an improper connection with respect to an actually communicated device. However, by directly inputting the output of the first signal output unit 13 to the notification unit 17, a warning may be notified when an inappropriate combination of devices is searched.

The use of the first signal and the second signal is
The present invention is not limited to the above example, and can be used, for example, as a control signal for other devices such as a device connection configuration construction device described later.
In the above-described embodiment, the warning is stopped according to the user's instruction. However, this is an OFF command when, for example, a certain period of time has passed or communication with another node has been performed. ON / OFF command reception unit 18 as a signal
The warning may be stopped by inputting into. Alternatively, the warning may not be given normally, and the warning may be given only when the user gives an ON command.

Further, when the above method is used, if the CFM does not exist on the bus, the topology map and the speed map cannot be read, so this mechanism ends without doing anything. In this case, no warning is given because no check is made, but a display mechanism indicating that the CFM did not exist may be provided. Then, in the above embodiment, the device connection configuration management device according to the present invention is
Although it is built in one of the nodes connected to the system by EEE1394, the device connection configuration management device itself is independent. Therefore, if the device connection configuration management device itself can obtain the connection state of other devices, the maximum communication speed data, and the communication state data, the IE
It is not necessary to connect based on EE1394, and if the first signal from the first signal output unit 13 is obtained and the notification unit 17 is operated by this, for example, it is connected to the system. Even if it is not necessary, it suffices to input the connection state of other equipment and the data of the maximum communication speed with an input device such as a keyboard.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 5 shows a functional block diagram of a device connection configuration management apparatus according to the second embodiment. The functional speed management device according to the second embodiment is applicable to the case where none of the devices connected to the system has a function as a CFM and a topology map or a speed map cannot be obtained. The difference between this device connection configuration management device and the device connection configuration management device according to the first embodiment is that the actual maximum communication speed acquisition unit 10 is replaced with a connection state acquisition unit 20a and an actual maximum communication speed calculation unit 20b. Speed acquisition unit 2
1 is different in function.

The connection status acquisition section 20a is a section for acquiring the connection status of each device. Specifically, this part acquires the self-ID packet of each device transmitted at the time of bus reset. As described above, the self-ID packet is provided with a column of connection status (p0 to p2), and here, information indicating which port of each device is connected to the "parent" node or the "child" node. And the ID of each node is stored, and the connection state of each device is determined by this.

More specifically, first, the "parent" of the node
The attributes “and child” represent a connection relationship between directly connected nodes, and one of the two directly connected devices becomes a “parent” and the other one becomes a “child”. Also,
A so-called leaf node in which only one other node is connected to its own port is always a "child" node, and a node in which all ports are "parents" is a root node. Then, the ID number of each node is assigned from the leaf node connected to the port with the smallest number of the root node. At this time, if a so-called planch node in the middle is branched, The leaf node connected to the port with the smallest number of the branch node is given priority and the ID number is assigned. Finally, the highest ID number is assigned to the root node. In this way, ID numbers are assigned according to a certain regularity, so the ID of each node
If the connection relationship between the number and the port of each node is known, the connection state of each device will be uniquely determined.

The speed acquisition unit 21 is the same as that of the first embodiment in that it is the part that acquires the maximum communication speed of each device, but since there is no topology map, the speed acquisition unit 21 is When the bus is reset, the transfer rate of each device recorded in the self ID packet transmitted from each node is acquired. The actual maximum communication speed calculation unit 20b uses the maximum communication speed acquired by the speed acquisition unit 21 and
By referring to the connection state of the device acquired by the connection state acquisition unit 20a, the maximum communication speeds of the two target devices and the devices connected in series between the two target devices are compared, and the slowest maximum communication speed is actually measured between the target devices. It is a part calculated as the communication speed of. Here, the actual communication speed is calculated between the node in which the device connection configuration management device 2 is provided and all other nodes. However, it goes without saying that the theoretical maximum speed may be calculated for all combinations of nodes depending on the case.

The operation of the device connection configuration management device 2 having the above configuration will be described below for the points different from the first embodiment. Again, using the example of the configuration of the device system as shown in FIG. 2, a device system configuration with seven nodes (nodes A to G) that can communicate at the optimum speed in the boxed area is newly added. It is assumed that the node H is added. In addition, it is assumed that the node D includes the device connection configuration management device 2 according to the present invention, and that all the nodes do not have the CFM function.

Since the node H is connected, the node H and the node F to which the node H is connected detect that the state of the port has changed, issue a bus reset, and automatically re-recognize the system configuration. Done. As a result, the root node is first determined, and based on this, each node issues a self ID packet on the bus, and node ID numbers are assigned in the order in which this self ID packet was issued. From the self-ID packet issued on this bus, the connection status acquisition unit 20a of the device connection configuration management device 2
Acquires the node ID and the connection state of the port, and the speed acquisition unit 21 acquires the maximum communication speed of each node. Next, the actual maximum communication speed calculation unit 20b calculates the actual communication speed between the node D including the device connection configuration management device 2 and each node from these pieces of information. Then, the theoretical maximum communication speed calculation unit 22 calculates the theoretical maximum communication speed between the node D and each node from the maximum communication speed of each node acquired by the speed acquisition unit 21. Hereinafter, processing by the first signal output unit 23 and the like is performed, but since these are the same as in the case of the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

Here, the actual communication speeds between the nodes of all the sets to be calculated and the theoretical maximum communication speeds are obtained, and then the differences in these speeds are compared. These values may be compared with each other between the nodes each time the actual communication speed and the theoretical maximum communication speed are obtained. Needless to say, CFM on the bus
This device connection configuration management device is effective even when there is a device that can be a device.

(Embodiment 3) Next, an embodiment of the device connection configuration construction apparatus according to the present invention will be described. This equipment connection configuration construction device is also built in one of the nodes connected in conformity with IEEE 1394, and it is possible to acquire all information that can be received by the node. FIG. 6 shows a functional block diagram of the device connection configuration construction device 3 according to the present embodiment. The device connection configuration construction device 3 includes a speed acquisition unit 3
1, a port number acquisition unit 32, a constraint condition designation reception unit 33, an optimum configuration construction unit 34, and a display unit 35.

The speed acquisition unit 31 is a part for acquiring the maximum communication speed of each device, and specifically reads the maximum communication speed of each device from the self-ID packet transmitted from each node at the time of bus reset. The port number acquisition unit 32 is a part that acquires the port number of each device, and also reads the port number of each device from the self-ID packet transmitted from each node at the time of bus reset.

The speed acquisition unit 31 and the port number acquisition unit 32 may acquire the maximum communication speed and the number of ports of each device by reading the self ID packet in the topology map of the CFM. The restraint condition designation receiving unit 32 is a unit that receives designation of restraint conditions in connection between devices. Here, as a constraint condition, a port that is not used is an "unused port", and a port that is determined to be connected in advance is a "fixed port". It is assumed that the user specifies the port status and connection status of each device displayed on the screen using an input device such as a keyboard (see FIG. 14).

When the constraint condition is designated, for example,
When the physical layer interface IC for IEEE 1394 supports three ports, the IC issues a self ID packet with the number of supported ports as three, but in reality, due to cost and device size, etc. Sometimes, you only have one connector to which you can connect the cable. In such a case, the remaining two ports are theoretically present, but are actually ports that cannot be used, and such ports must be “unused ports”.

In the case where there are two devices conforming to IEEE 1394 in one housing such as a television with a built-in VCR, the connection port is changed because these devices are connected in the housing. It is not possible. It is necessary to make such a port a "fixed port" because it is prescribed to be connected in advance. Furthermore, on the user side, when arranging the device, from the relationship of the length of the cable,
There is also a demand for connecting two specific devices, and a demand for connecting and disconnecting a certain device frequently to a specific port of another device having a front surface. Even in such a case, it is necessary to set it as a "fixed port". For various other reasons, the constraint condition designation accepting unit 33 can determine “unused port” and “fixed port”. By recording these setting data as a file, they can be used again when the device configuration is redone when the number of devices increases in the future.

The optimum configuration construction unit 34 includes a maximum communication speed of each device acquired by the speed acquisition unit 31 and a port number acquisition unit 32.
From the number of ports acquired by, the device connection configuration is constructed so that the maximum communication speed of the devices sandwiched between arbitrary devices does not become lower than the maximum communication speed between the devices at both ends. In addition, when the constraint condition is designated by the constraint condition designation receiving unit 32, the constraint condition is bound to the designated constraint condition. How the optimum configuration construction unit 34 concretely constructs a device configuration will be described in detail later.

The display section 35 is a section for displaying the connection configuration of the equipment constructed by the optimum configuration construction section 34, and a CRT is used here. However, this may be of any type as long as it can inform the user of the device configuration, for example, a printer or the like. In addition, as a display form, a configuration diagram showing a connection state of the devices is displayed here.

Device connection configuration construction device 3 having the above configuration
Can be realized by incorporating a program into a general-purpose computer that causes the general-purpose computer to perform the above-described operations, excluding the physical components such as the display unit 35. It is possible to write on a readable recording medium such as a floppy disk. Here, it is assumed that the device connection configuration construction device 3 is incorporated in a general-purpose computer to which a CRT as a node is connected.

Next, a method for the optimum configuration construction unit 34 to construct a device connection configuration in which the maximum communication speed of the devices sandwiched between arbitrary devices does not become lower than the maximum communication speed between the devices at both ends will be described. To do. Here, a method of connecting by classifying by speed (hereinafter referred to as "classification by speed")
Shall be used. FIG. 7 shows a flowchart showing the procedure of the speed classification method. By using this procedure, it is assumed that the optimum device connection configuration for the device system shown in FIG. 2 is constructed. First, the optimum configuration construction unit 34 acquires the maximum communication speed and the number of ports of each device (S301). Next, based on this, the devices are sorted by the highest communication speed and arranged, and further, among the devices having the same highest communication speed, the devices having the most ports are arranged (S302). If both ports have the same port, either one will do, but here the nodes with the highest node ID numbers will be listed in order.
As a result, the nodes shown in FIG. 2 are arranged in the state shown in FIG.

Then, the fastest speed group is sequentially searched and connected (S303). In the state as shown in FIG. 8, the free port 0 of the node H having the highest priority and the free port 0 of the next node C are searched and connected (S304, S).
305) (see step (1) in FIG. 9). Free ports to be searched are searched in ascending order of the port number of the node with the highest priority. If there are unconnected nodes in this speed group, then port 1 of node H, which has the highest priority, and port 0 of the third node will be connected. In this case, Since there is no such node,
The next highest speed group is set as the search target (S306, S
307).

At this time, in the first search, a free node in the node group having a higher communication speed is searched, free ports in the current speed group connected to this are searched, and these are connected. In the case of FIG. 8, port 1 of node H
Is searched first, and then port 0 of node A having a high priority in the current speed group to be searched is searched,
These are connected (see step (2) in FIG. 9). In the following, each node is connected in the speed group to be searched by the above procedure (see procedure (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) in FIG. 9).
In the above procedure, if the same speed group is connected and there are no free ports that can be connected, and there is a node that is not connected, a free port of a speed group faster than that speed group is used. Use to connect.

The connection is made in this way, and the processing is repeated until all the nodes in the slowest speed group are connected (S308). As a result, the device configuration as shown in FIG. 9 is finally constructed. FIG. 10 shows a tree structure of this device configuration. In the speed-based classification method for constructing the connection configuration of the devices by such a procedure, the speed is classified according to the speed group before the connection is made. Therefore, as is apparent from FIG. 9 and FIG. Will remain. Therefore, when a new device is to be added, there is an empty port in the node of each speed group, so there is an advantage that a device configuration that enables communication at an optimum speed can be easily connected without changing the device configuration again.

By the way, normally, it is possible to construct a configuration capable of communicating at an optimum speed by the above procedure, but depending on the device configuration, a device configuration at an optimum speed may not be constructed. This happens, for example, when there are many nodes that have only one port. Specifically, optimization cannot be performed in the case of the device configuration as shown in FIG. In such a case, it is conceivable to configure the device by the following procedure.

First, similarly to the above, the respective devices are grouped and arranged according to the speed, and further arranged in the order of the most ports in the same group. FIG. 12 shows a diagram in which the device configurations shown in FIG. 11 are arranged in this order. In this figure, when the port 0 of the node A with the highest priority is sequentially connected in the above procedure, the port 0 of the node A and the port 0 of the node F are connected, and then the port 1 of the node A and the node E of the node E are connected. When port 0 is connected, there will be no port to connect next.

As a result of connecting the same speed group in this way, when there are no free ports that can be connected and there are unconnected nodes, as described above, a speed group faster than that speed group is selected. I am going to use the free port to perform the connection process again,
In this case, since it is the fastest speed group, there is no higher speed group, and in order to connect all nodes, it is necessary to connect to a node slower than its own speed. In such a case, there is always a device that cannot communicate at the optimum speed regardless of the configuration.

As described above, when the nodes are connected, and there is no port to be connected next, the node which should be originally connected is not connected to that port, and the node with the highest priority in the next speed group is connected. Connect to port 0 (see step (2) in FIG. 13). Then, the unconnected nodes (there may be multiple nodes) that were originally supposed to be connected are moved to the next speed group.

In the present case, the node E, which was supposed to be connected to the port number 1 of the node A, corresponds to such a node and is moved to the next speed group (step in FIG. 13).
(See (3)). At this time, the node that will move to the next speed group is always a node that has only one port, and the priority when moving to the next speed group is the node with the number of ports of that speed group being one. The highest rank in In the illustrated example, the moved node E will be moved before the node D of the speed group of S200.

Thereafter, the same procedure as described above is repeated, the search target moves to the next speed group, and port 0 of node C of the speed group of S200 is connected to port 1 of node A. As a result, the node C has only one free port, and when the node C is connected to the next node D, there is no port to be connected. Therefore, the node D is moved to the next speed group in the same manner as above.

Finally, a device configuration as shown in FIG. 13 is constructed. In this example, when node E of S400 communicates with the same node A and node F of S400, and when node D of S200 communicates with node A and node F of S400 and node C and node E of S200. The optimum speed cannot be obtained. However, S400, S
Among the three speeds of 200 and S100, the performance degradation is contained in one.

In the above method, when a node that cannot be connected is moved to the next speed group, instead of moving the moving node to the highest position among the nodes having one port, When constructed as the lowest one, the positions of node E and node D in FIG. 13 are just opposite. In this case, the node D of S200 can communicate at the optimum speed, but S4
The node E of 00 does not have the optimum speed. In this way, only the node E is affected by performance degradation compared to the original algorithm.
There is a two-step decrease in speed. Which is better depends on the case, so a suitable method may be adopted as necessary.

The operation of the device connection configuration construction device having the above configuration will be described below. Again, using the example of the configuration of the equipment system as shown in FIG.
For equipment systems with two nodes (node A to node G). It is assumed that a node H is newly added. Further, it is assumed that the node D is a computer connected to the CRT and is equipped with the device connection configuration construction device according to the present invention.

Since the node H is connected, the node H and the node F connected to the node H detect that the state of the port has changed and issue a bus reset. As a result, each node broadcasts the self-ID packet on the bus. Then, the speed acquisition unit 31 reads the maximum communication speed of each device from each self-ID packet,
Further, the port number acquisition unit 32 reads the port number of each device from each self-ID packet.

Next, the user receives the constraint condition designation receiving section 33.
Specifies the constraint conditions for connection between devices. Here, as shown in the column of “specified condition” on the specified screen displayed on the display part 35 through the constraint condition specification reception part 33 as shown in FIG. 14, “fixed port” and “unused port” are displayed.
Is specified. After that, these designated ports are regarded as established and other devices are not connected.

Next, the optimum configuration construction unit 34 constructs an optimum equipment connection configuration by the above-mentioned "speed classification method". First, in the device system shown in FIG. 2, each device is classified according to the maximum communication speed based on the maximum communication speed of each device acquired by the speed acquisition unit 31 and the number of ports of each device acquired by the port number acquisition unit 32. Further, the devices having the same communication speed are arranged in descending order of the number of ports. However, the fixed ports designated by the constraint condition designation receiving unit 33 are not included in the number. Also in the following processing, it is assumed that there is no fixed port. However, the connection by the fixed port is considered. As a result, each node in FIG. 2 is brought into a state as shown in FIG.

Then, a free port 0 of the node H having the highest priority and a free port 1 of the next node C are searched and connected (see FIG. 1).
6 Procedure (1)). Since all the nodes in this speed group are connected, the next highest speed group is searched. Therefore, in the next speed group, the port 0 of the node A having the higher priority is searched, and this is the port 1 of the node H.
(See step (2) in FIG. 16). Thereafter, the nodes are connected in the speed group to be searched by the above procedure (see steps (3) and (4) in FIG. 16). As a result, a device configuration as shown in FIG. 16 is constructed.

When the device configuration is constructed, the display section 35 is shown in FIG.
A configuration diagram of the optimum device as shown in 6 is displayed. In the present embodiment, the “classification method by speed” is used as a method for constructing a connection configuration of devices that can obtain an optimum communication speed, but other methods can also be used. Such a method can also be used.

First, a method for always using the used port from an empty port of the fastest speed group (hereinafter referred to as "shortest distance method") will be described. FIG. 17 shows a flowchart showing the procedure of the shortest distance method. By using this procedure, it is assumed that an optimum device connection configuration is constructed for the device system shown in FIG. First, similar to the classification method by speed, the maximum communication speed and the number of ports of each device are acquired (S401), and based on this, each device is classified and arranged according to the maximum communication speed, and further the same speed group Among them, the ports having the largest number of ports are arranged (S402). This allows
The nodes shown in FIG. 2 are arranged in the state shown in FIG.

Next, the node having the highest priority is targeted for retrieval (S403). Here, the node H is the search target. Then, a free port with a lower number of the node H is searched, and a free port of the node C having the next highest priority is searched and these are connected (S404, S4).
05) (see step (1) in FIG. 18). This operation is repeated until there are no free ports in the node to be searched (S40
6). Here, port 1 and port 2 of node H are also added.
Respectively, port 0 of node A and port 0 of note D
And the empty port of the node H disappears (see steps (2) and (3) in FIG. 18). When there are no free ports for the node to be searched, the node with the next highest priority is set to the search target (S401). Here, the node C is the next search target. In the same manner, all the nodes are connected while preferentially using the port of the node with the higher priority (S408) (see steps (4) (5) (6) (7) in FIG. 18). As a result of the above operation, a device configuration as shown in FIG. 18 is constructed. Further, FIG. 19 shows a tree structure of this device configuration.

As can be seen from FIG. 19, the shortest distance method taking the above-mentioned procedure can minimize the average distance between the devices, and the number of devices to be relayed decreases. Therefore, there is an advantage that the influence of noise can be suppressed. Furthermore, as another method, a method for constructing an optimum device connection configuration by using the already connected portion as much as possible (hereinafter, referred to as “shortest distance minimum change method”) will be described. In this method, since it is necessary to acquire the connection status of each device, the connection status acquisition unit 2 included in the device connection configuration management apparatus according to the second embodiment is further included in the device configuration of FIG.
It is necessary to provide a component such as 0a. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the shortest distance minimum change method.
First, the maximum communication speed, the number of ports, and the connection status of each device are acquired (S501). Then, while maintaining the acquired connection state, the devices are classified and arranged according to the maximum communication speed, and further arranged from the one having the largest number of ports in the same speed group (S502). Then, the search target is set to the maximum speed group (S503).

Next, with the node having the highest priority as the reference node, one port is selected from this reference node and the nodes connected to the reference node (S50).
4). It should be noted that the term “connected” as used herein means a case of being connected by the following process, and does not include those connected from the beginning. Therefore, initially, there is no node connected to the reference node and only one port is selected from the reference node. The procedure for selecting one port from the reference node and the nodes connected to the reference node (hereinafter referred to as “reference port selection procedure”) will be described in detail later.

Then, the port connected to the port selected in the reference port connection procedure is selected from the nodes in the speed group to be searched other than the reference node and the node connected to the reference node (S505). This selection procedure (hereinafter referred to as "connection port selection procedure") will also be described in detail later. The above processing is repeated until all the nodes of the speed group to be searched are directly or indirectly connected to the reference node (S506). If all the nodes in the speed group to be searched are connected to the reference node, the search target is changed to a speed group one step slower (S50).
7) Then, the above operation is repeated again to connect the nodes of all speed groups to the reference node (S50).
8).

Now, the reference port selection procedure will be described in detail. FIG. 21 shows a flow chart showing this reference port selection procedure. As a general rule, the nodes whose ports are selected are searched from the reference node in descending order of priority. First, from the reference node and the node connected to the reference node, it is determined whether or not there is a port connected to the node having the same speed as the speed currently being searched (S601), and if there is, this port is selected. (S60
2).

If no port is selected here, it is next determined whether or not there is a free port (S603), and if there is a free port, this is selected (S604). Further, if there is no free port, it is judged whether or not a node having a different two-step speed is connected from all the nodes to be searched (S
605) If there is, this port is selected (S60).
6).

Again, if no port is selected,
Since all the nodes to be searched are connected to the nodes having different speeds by one step, this port is selected (S
607). Next, the connection port selection procedure will be described in detail. FIG. 22 shows a flowchart showing this connection port selection procedure. First, if the node connected to the node having the same speed as the speed currently being searched is selected in the reference port selection procedure, that is, the node already selected in the reference port selection procedure is already connected. It is determined whether there is a node in the search target group (S
701). If there is such a node, the port connected to the port selected in the reference node selection procedure of the node is selected (S702).

If no port is selected here, it is next determined whether or not each node has a free port (S).
703). If there is a free port, the free port is selected (S704). If there is no free port, it is further determined whether or not there is a node connected to a node having a different two-step speed (S705), and if there is, a node having a different two-step speed is connected. A port is selected (S706). If no further port is selected, it is determined whether or not there is a node connected to a node having a different one-step speed (S707). If there is, a node having a different one-step speed is connected. The selected port is selected (S708). If no port is selected here, there should be only a port that is not connected to the port selected in the reference port selection procedure and that is connected to the node of the speed group to be searched, so select that port ( S709).

A case will be described below in which an optimum device connection configuration is specifically constructed for the device system shown in FIG. 2 by using the minimum distance minimum change method having the above procedure. In this method, unlike the above two methods, the connection state of FIG. 2 is used as it is. First, the maximum communication speed, the number of ports, and the connection status of each device are acquired in S501, and S5 is acquired.
With 02, while maintaining the acquired connection state, the devices are sorted according to the maximum communication speed and arranged, and further arranged in the same speed group with the largest number of ports. As a result, the nodes shown in FIG. 2 are arranged in the state as shown in FIG. Then, in S503, the search target is set to the maximum speed group, that is, the speed group of "S400". Next, in step S504, one port is selected from the reference node and the nodes connected to the reference node. Here, the node H serves as a reference port, and one port is initially selected from only the node H. Specifically, in S601, it is determined whether or not any of the ports of the reference node H is connected to a node in the speed group of the search target. No port is selected here because it is not connected to any node in the group. If node H
And the node C are connected, the port of the node H connected to the node C is selected.

Next, in S603, it is determined whether or not there is a free port. Since the node H that is currently being searched has two free ports, the port 0 with the lower number is selected. Then, in S505, the port of the partner node connected to the selected port is selected from the reference node and the nodes other than the node connected to the reference node. That is, in this case, a node other than the node H and a node of the speed group to be searched, that is, the node C is selected. Specifically, first, S
In step 701, it is determined whether or not there is a speed node to be searched that is already connected to the port selected in the reference port selection procedure. In the present case, there is no such node, so
Further, in S703, it is determined whether or not each node has a free port. Again, no ports are selected because all ports on node C are filled. Therefore, S70
In step 5, it is determined whether or not there is a node connected to a node having a different two-step speed. Since such a node also does not exist, in S707, there is a node connected to a node having a different one-step speed. Determine whether or not. Here, since the node C is connected to the node E and the node A which are different in one-step speed, the port 0 connected to the node E, which has a smaller number, is selected, and as a result, the port 0 of the node H is selected. And the port 0 of the node C are connected.
By this connection, the node C and the node E which were originally connected are not connected, and the port 0 of the node E becomes an empty port (see steps (1) and (2) in FIG. 24).

With the above procedure, all the nodes of the speed group of "S400" are connected to the reference node, and therefore the search target is the speed group of the next "S200" in S507. Then, again, one port is selected from the next reference node or the node connected to the reference node by the reference port selection procedure of S504. This time, since the node C is connected to the reference node H, one port is selected from the nodes H and C. Of these ports, only port 1 of node C is connected to the speed group to be searched, so port 1 of node C is selected. And S
At 505, the port 1 of the node A connected to the port 1 of the node C just selected is selected, and as a result, the port 1 of the node C and the port 1 of the node A are connected (FIG. 24). See step (3)).

Even with this procedure, since all the nodes of the speed group of "S200" are not yet connected to the reference node, the process returns to S504, and one port is selected from the reference node and the node connected to the reference node. To be done. In the present case, one node is selected from the node H and the nodes C and A directly or indirectly connected thereto. And now, since it is the port 2 of the node A that is connected to the speed group to be searched,
This port is selected. Similarly to the above, in this case, the port 0 of the node D connected to the port 2 of the node A is selected in S505, and the port 2 of these nodes A is selected.
And port 0 of node D are connected (procedure (4) in FIG. 24).
reference). FIG. 24 shows the connection state established in the process so far.

Thereafter, the port 2 of the node H and the port 0 of the node E are connected by the above procedure (see step (5) in FIG. 25).
Here, the speed group to be searched is changed, and the port 2 of the node H and the port 1 of the node F, the port 0 of the node A and the port 1 of the node B, the port 2 of the node D and the port 0 of the node G are changed. Will be connected (see steps (6) (7) (8) in FIG. 25). FIG. 25 shows the constructed device configuration. Further, FIG. 26 shows a diagram showing this device configuration as a tree structure. Note that, in FIG. 26, the connection parts that are not changed are drawn with thick lines.

In this shortest distance minimum change method, since the optimum device connection configuration is constructed so as not to change the already connected state as much as possible, the user's load of changing the device connection is reduced. In addition to the above methods, as a general rule, if the speed information of each device and the number of ports are known, the maximum communication speed of the device sandwiched between arbitrary devices by various algorithms will not become smaller than the maximum communication speed between the devices at both ends. It goes without saying that it is possible to construct a connection configuration of such devices, and a method other than the above may be adopted. Furthermore, although only one type of device configuration is created in the present embodiment, a connection configuration of a plurality of devices is constructed and presented by the above-described methods, or the user is allowed to select conditions in advance, and accordingly A device connection configuration may be constructed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the restraint conditions in the restraint condition designation receiving portion 33 are specified by the user. However, this is not limited to the user's designation, but the device information provided by the manufacturer. You may do by reading the file. For example, ports that cannot be used because there are no connectors, or multiple IEEE13
It is difficult for the user to determine a port that has a built-in 94-compliant device and cannot change the connection. Therefore, it is conceivable to read the device information file provided by the device manufacturer so that the settings are automatically performed. The device is identified by issuing a read command for reading the device information to each device on the bus and using the manufacturer name, model number, or the like. The device information file provided by this manufacturer may be supplied on a medium such as a floppy disk together with a device conforming to IEEE 1394.
It may be recorded in a specific area such as a ROM built in a device conforming to E1394.

Further, in the above embodiment, the device configuration constructed on the display unit 35 is displayed in the form of a block diagram. However, due to the display function of the personal computer, one screen is displayed when the number of nodes increases. The connection status may be displayed in a text format because there is a possibility that it will not fit in. Even if the node ID number is displayed at this time, the node ID number is meaningless because it changes with each change in the device configuration. Therefore, as with the table shown in FIG. 14, it should be easy for the user to understand. It is preferable to display the name of the device. Each device has device-specific information. The device-specific information includes a manufacturer name, a device name (model number), a device type, a serial number, and a world number that is unique to all devices. The wide number is included, and these pieces of information can be read by issuing a read command of individual information to each device.

In FIG. 27, an example of displaying where the ports of each device are connected in a text format by using the manufacturer name and model name information obtained from each device in the same format as in FIG. Show. Since this format focuses on nodes, it is suitable to see information such as free ports and see the whole information. Further, FIG. 28 shows an example in which the display is performed by focusing on the cable. Since the focus is on the cable, it is clear which port of which device is connected to which port of which device, and it is easier to understand when changing the connection configuration than when focusing on the node.

Further, the following configuration can be adopted to assist the user in changing the connection of the device. That is, when there are a plurality of devices of the same type, or when it is difficult to identify the device from the model number, it may be difficult for the user to change the connection of the device just by looking at the display screen. In order to deal with such a case, a configuration as shown in FIG. 29 may be further added to the device configuration management device in FIG. The configuration of FIG. 29 has a screen position input unit 41 that accepts designation of a position on the screen by an input device such as a mouse, a position on the screen of any of the devices stored in the optimum configuration construction unit 34, and a screen. A position signal output unit 42 that outputs a predetermined signal including ID information of the device when the positions designated by the position input unit 41 match,
A notification unit 52 such as an LED provided in each device and its own I
The notification unit 52 when receiving the signal including the D information
The notification control unit 51 for activating the.

With such a configuration, by selecting the device displayed on the CRT with, for example, a mouse, the screen position input unit 41 receives the input of the position, and the position signal output unit 42 receives the input. Corresponding to the input position,
A signal is issued to the device, and the notification control unit 51 of the device that receives the signal activates a notification unit such as an LED of the notification unit 52. Accordingly, the user can easily specify the device and easily change the connection. Also,
In the case of a device that does not have the notification control unit 51 or the notification unit 52, for example, in the case of a hard disk, the same process can be performed by performing a read process and turning on the access lamp.

In this embodiment, the purpose is to examine the optimum equipment configuration plan and present it to the user. However, it is confirmed that there is an equipment that cannot communicate at the optimum speed shown in the first or second embodiment. By combining with the device connection configuration management device for detection, it is possible to both detect an inappropriate device configuration and examine a configuration plan. Then, in the present embodiment, the device connection configuration construction device is built in one of the nodes connected to the system by IEEE 1394, but this is because the maximum communication speed and the number of ports of each device are the keyboard, the external storage device, etc. You don't need to be connected to the system if you can get more.

[0097]

From the above, the present invention has the following effects. First, in the device connection configuration management device according to the present invention, the connection status acquisition means acquires the connection status of the equipment, and the speed acquisition means acquires the maximum communication speed of the equipment.
Then, the theoretical maximum communication speed calculation means sets the two devices as target devices, compares the maximum communication speeds of the two target devices, and calculates the slower maximum communication speed as the theoretical maximum communication speed between the target devices. However, the actual maximum communication speed calculation means refers to the maximum communication speed of the device and the connection state of the device and compares the maximum communication speeds of the two target devices and the devices connected in series between them, and the slowest maximum communication speed. Calculate the speed as the actual maximum communication speed between the target devices. Then the first
The signal output means outputs a predetermined first signal when the theoretical maximum communication speed between the calculated target devices and the actual maximum communication speed are different.

By such an operation, in a device system connected by an interface in which the communication speed between two devices is influenced by the communication speed supported by the device sandwiched between the two devices, the two connected devices are connected. When the actual maximum speed is lower than the theoretical maximum speed, that is, when there is a device connection that cannot communicate at the optimum speed, the predetermined first signal is output. By detecting this first signal with a predetermined detection device or by using it as a control signal for another device, the user knows that there is a device that cannot communicate at the optimum speed, and the communication is performed at the optimum speed. It is possible to perform control such as operating another device in response to the existence of the device that cannot. As a result, it is possible to prevent improper connection of the device and utilize the original performance of the device.

In the device connection configuration management device, if the connection state acquisition means and the theoretical maximum communication speed calculation means are replaced with the actual maximum communication speed acquisition means, for example, IEEE139
If it is used for a system that can obtain externally necessary information such as CFM information in a device system connected in conformity with 4, it is possible to further simplify the necessary configuration and contribute to cost reduction. You can

If the device connection configuration management apparatus is further provided with an inappropriate device storage means, a communication detection means, and a second signal output means, the inappropriate device storage means is provided with the first device.
The target device when the signal is output, that is, the device that is connected improperly with respect to the communication speed is stored, and the communication detection unit detects that the device stored in the inappropriate device storage unit has communicated. If so, the second signal output means outputs a predetermined second signal.

By such an operation, the second signal is output only when the device connected at an inappropriate device speed actually communicates, so this second signal is detected by the predetermined detection device. Of a device that the user is not actually communicating with, by using it as a control signal for other devices, or that the device cannot communicate at the optimum speed. It is possible to perform control such as activating other equipment in response to the presence of.

In other words, since communication is not actually performed, a warning or the like is not issued for a device that theoretically causes no problem even if an improper device connection is made, and an improper device connection that actually causes a problem is connected. It is possible to give a warning, etc., so that the user does not change the device configuration that does not actually affect the decrease in communication speed, and as a result, the connection configuration As the number of options increases, the degree of freedom in connecting devices will increase.

Further, if the device connection configuration management device is provided with an informing means for performing a predetermined informing operation in response to the first signal or the second signal, the device is output when an improperly connected device exists. The notification means is activated by the first signal or the second signal to notify the presence of an improper device connection. This allows the user to easily know that there is a device that cannot communicate at the optimum speed due to an improper connection. Also, if necessary, for example, by connecting the device to an appropriate port, and if the notification means is activated, disconnecting from that port and connecting to another port can be repeated to enable communication at an optimum speed. It is possible to find out the configuration and correct the connection status.

If the device connection configuration management device provided with the above-mentioned notifying means is provided with the ON / OFF command receiving means and the notifying control means, the ON / OFF command receiving means turns on / off the notification by the notifying means. Accepts commands that should be turned off,
The notification control means controls ON / OFF of the notification by the notification means according to the received command. Thereby, for example, when the notification means is a warning such as a buzzer, the buzzer continues to sound for a long time, or the IEEE1394
If it is connected in accordance with the above, it will make the user feel uncomfortable if a warning is given each time the bus is reset. In such a case, the discomfort can be reduced by inputting the OFF command. In addition, if the user wants to know whether or not there is an improper device connection, by inputting an ON command, it is possible to know whether or not there is an improper device connection when necessary.

Further, in the device connection configuration construction device according to the present invention, the speed acquisition means acquires the maximum communication speed of each device,
The port number acquisition means acquires the port number of each device. Then, the optimum configuration construction means, based on the acquired maximum communication speed of each device and the number of ports, that the maximum communication speed of the device sandwiched between arbitrary devices does not become smaller than the maximum communication speed between the devices at both ends. Build a device connection configuration.

With such an operation, if the constructed equipment configuration is displayed on the display means such as a CRT, the user can easily know the optimal equipment configuration proposal, and based on this, the user can obtain the optimal equipment configuration. It is possible to realize various device connections. In particular, the greater the number of devices to be connected, the more difficult it is for the user to find the optimum device configuration.

Further, the constructed device configuration can be recorded in a recording medium such as a floppy disk and used later, and this data is used when the same plurality of devices are connected at other places. You can also do it. In such a device connection configuration construction device, the constraint condition designation accepting means further accepts the designation of the constraint condition in the connection between the devices, and the device of the device is constructed in accordance with the constraint condition designation accepted by the constraint condition designation acceptance by the optimum configuration constructing means. The following effects can be obtained by constructing the connection configuration. In other words, it is theoretically possible, but since a connector is not provided, a port that cannot be actually used, or two devices are built in one housing, the internal connection cannot be changed. Considering the existence of ports, and also securing free ports for connecting new devices in the future, and fixing the connection between devices so that the device layout cannot be changed considering the cable length. It is possible to more flexibly find a realistic device configuration plan such as connection.

Further, in the device speed management method according to the present invention, the connection status of the two target devices is acquired in the connection status acquisition step, and the maximum of the two target devices and the devices connected in series between them are acquired in the speed acquisition step. The communication speed is acquired, the maximum communication speeds of the two target devices are compared in the theoretical maximum communication speed calculation step, and the slower maximum communication speed is calculated as the theoretical maximum communication speed between the target devices. Then, in the actual maximum communication speed calculation step, the maximum communication speed of each device is compared, the slowest maximum communication speed is calculated as the actual maximum communication speed, and further, in the logical output between the target devices calculated in the signal output step. A predetermined signal is output when the maximum communication speed and the actual maximum communication speed are different.

By such an operation, in the device system connected by the interface such that the communication speed between the two devices affects the communication speed supported by the devices sandwiched between the two devices, the two connected devices are connected. When the actual maximum speed is lower than the theoretical maximum speed between the devices, that is, when there is a device connection that cannot communicate at the optimum speed, the signal output step outputs a predetermined signal. By detecting this signal with a predetermined detection device or using it as a control signal for other devices, the user knows that there is a device that cannot communicate at the optimum speed, or a device that cannot communicate at the optimum speed. It is possible to perform control such as operating other equipment in response to the presence of
With this as a clue, the user can prevent the connection configuration of the device that cannot exhibit the original performance of the device.

Further, in the device configuration construction method according to the present invention, the maximum communication speed of each device is acquired in the speed acquisition step, the port number of each device is acquired in the port number acquisition step, and acquired in the optimum configuration construction step. From the maximum communication speed of each device and the number of ports, a device connection configuration is constructed so that the maximum communication speed of a device sandwiched between arbitrary devices does not become lower than the maximum communication speed between the devices at both ends.

By such operation, if the device configuration constructed in the optimal configuration construction step is displayed on the display means such as CRT, the user can easily know the optimal device configuration plan, and the user can use it based on this. The person can realize the optimum device connection. Further, in the above device configuration construction method, a constraint condition in connection between devices is designated in the constraint condition designation step, and a device connection configuration is constructed in accordance with the designated constraint condition in the optimum configuration construction step. By doing so, it becomes possible to construct a more flexible and realistic device connection configuration considering ports that cannot be used or ports that should be fixed due to various reasons.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a device connection configuration management device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection example of a device system conforming to IEEE1394.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the device connection configuration management device according to the first embodiment until a first signal is output.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the device connection configuration management device according to the first embodiment from the output of the first signal to the issuing of a warning.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a device connection configuration management device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a device connection configuration construction device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing of a velocity classification method.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which each device of the device system shown in FIG. 2 is classified by speed and arranged in descending order of the number of ports.

9 is a diagram showing a connection configuration constructed by a speed classification method for the device system shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the connection configuration shown in FIG. 9 as a tree structure.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a device system that cannot be completely optimized.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state in which the device systems shown in FIG. 11 are classified according to speed and are arranged in descending order of the number of ports.

13 is a diagram showing a connection configuration constructed by a speed classification method for the device system shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a designation screen for a constraint condition designation receiving unit.

FIG. 15 specifies unused ports as fixed ports for the device system shown in FIG. 2 and classifies each device by speed,
It is a figure showing the state where it arranged from the one with many ports.

16 is a diagram showing a connection configuration constructed by a speed classification method for the device system shown in FIG. 2 in which constraint conditions are specified as in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing processing of the shortest distance method.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a connection configuration constructed by a speed classification method for the device system shown in FIG. 2.

19 is a diagram showing the connection configuration shown in FIG. 18 as a tree structure.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the process of the shortest distance minimum change method.

21 is a flowchart showing the detailed operation of S504 in the flowchart of FIG.

22 is a flowchart showing the detailed operation of S505 in the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a state in which each device of the device system shown in FIG. 2 is classified by speed while maintaining the connection state and arranged in descending order of the number of ports.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a connection state in the middle of constructing a connection configuration by the shortest distance minimum change method for the device system shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a connection configuration constructed by the shortest distance minimum change method for the device system shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the connection configuration shown in FIG. 25 as a tree structure.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example in which a constructed device configuration is displayed in a text format using information on a manufacturer name and a model name.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example in which the constructed device configuration is displayed by paying attention to the cable connection using the information of the meter name and the model name.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a configuration example for selecting a device displayed on a CRT and operating a notification means of the device.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an example of a device system conforming to IEEE1394.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a format of a self ID packet.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a format of a topology map.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a format of a speed map.

34A is a diagram showing a connection state of an interface IC in SCSI, and FIG. 34B is a diagram showing IEEE13
It is a figure which shows the connection state of the interface IC in 94.

FIG. 35A is a diagram showing an example of a connection configuration in which some devices cannot obtain an optimum speed, and FIG. 35B shows an example of a connection configuration in which all devices can obtain an optimum speed. It is a figure.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2 device connection configuration management device 3 Device connection configuration construction equipment 10 Actual maximum communication speed acquisition unit 11, 21 Speed acquisition unit 12, 22 Theoretical maximum communication speed calculator 13, 23 First signal output section 14, 24 Inappropriate device storage section 15, 25 Communication detector 16, 26 Second signal output section 17, 27 Notification section 18, 28 ON / OFF command acceptance section 19, 29 Notification control unit 20a Connection status acquisition unit 20b Actual maximum communication speed calculator 31 Speed acquisition unit 32 port number acquisition unit 33 Restraint condition specification section 34 Optimal configuration construction section 35 display

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-252541 (JP, A) JP-A-10-31484 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04L 29/08 H04L 12/40

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. A device connection configuration management device that manages the communication speed between a plurality of devices for which the maximum communication speed is individually determined, and a connection state acquisition unit that acquires the connection state of the device, and the maximum communication of the device. Using the speed acquisition means for acquiring the speed and two devices among the plurality of devices as the target devices, the maximum communication speeds of the two target devices are compared, and the slower maximum communication speed is theoretically calculated between the target devices. The theoretical maximum communication speed calculation means for calculating the maximum communication speed, the maximum communication speed of the device, and the connection state of the device are referred to to determine the maximum communication speed of the two target devices and the devices connected in series between them. In comparison, the actual maximum communication speed calculation method that calculates the slowest maximum communication speed as the actual maximum communication speed between the target devices and the calculated theoretical maximum communication speed between the target devices and the actual maximum communication speed are different The case, device connection configuration management system having a first signal output means for outputting a predetermined first signal. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the connection state acquisition means and the theoretical maximum communication speed calculation means are replaced with an actual maximum communication speed acquisition means for acquiring an actual maximum communication speed calculated by an external device. Connection configuration management device. 3. The device connection configuration management device according to claim 1, further comprising: an unsuitable inter-device storage unit that stores a target device when the first signal is output by the first signal output unit, Communication detecting means for detecting communication between the devices, and a predetermined second when the communication detecting means detects that the target device stored in the unsuitable device storage means actually communicates with each other. A device connection configuration management device including: a second signal output unit that outputs a signal. 4. The device connection configuration management device according to claim 1, further comprising an informing means for performing a predetermined informing operation according to the first signal or the second signal. Management device 5. The device connection configuration management device according to claim 4, further comprising: an ON / OFF command receiving unit that receives a command to turn ON / OFF the notification by the notification unit; and a command to turn ON / OFF. A device connection configuration management device comprising: a notification control unit that controls ON / OFF of the notification by the notification unit. 6. A device connection configuration construction device for constructing a connection configuration of a plurality of devices in which the maximum communication speed and the number of ports are individually determined, and a speed acquisition means for acquiring the maximum communication speed of each device, The maximum communication speed of the device sandwiched between any devices is smaller than the maximum communication speed between the devices at both ends, based on the port number acquisition method that acquires the number of ports of the device, the maximum communication speed of each device, and the number of ports. A device connection configuration construction device provided with an optimum configuration construction means for constructing a device connection configuration that does not occur. 7. The device connection configuration construction apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising constraint condition designation receiving means for receiving designation of constraint conditions in connection between devices, wherein the optimum configuration construction means specifies the designated constraint conditions. A device connection configuration construction device for constructing a device connection configuration according to the following. 8. A device speed management method for managing a speed between a plurality of devices for which a maximum communication speed is individually determined, wherein two devices out of the plurality of devices are target devices and connection between the target devices. Compare the connection status acquisition step to acquire the status, the speed acquisition step to acquire the maximum communication speed of the two target devices and the devices connected in series between them, and the maximum communication speed of the acquired two target devices. , The theoretical maximum communication speed calculation step of calculating the slowest maximum communication speed as the theoretical maximum communication speed between the target devices and the maximum communication speed of each device are compared, and the slowest maximum communication speed is actually calculated between the target devices. Outputs a predetermined signal when the actual maximum communication speed calculation step for calculating the maximum communication speed and the calculated theoretical maximum communication speed between the target devices are different from the actual maximum communication speed Equipment speed management method and a signal output step. 9. A device configuration construction method for constructing a connection configuration of a plurality of devices in which the maximum communication speed and the number of ports are individually determined, the speed acquisition step of acquiring the maximum communication speed of each device, and each device. From the port number acquisition step to acquire the number of ports of each device, the maximum communication speed of each device, and the number of ports, the maximum communication speed of the device sandwiched between arbitrary devices does not become smaller than the maximum communication speed between the devices on both ends. An optimal configuration construction step for constructing such a device connection configuration, and a device configuration construction method comprising: 10. The apparatus configuration construction method according to claim 9,
A device configuration construction method further comprising a constraint condition specification step for designating a constraint condition in connection between devices, wherein the optimum configuration construction step constructs a device connection configuration while complying with the specified constraint condition.