JP5795567B2 - COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, IN-HOUSE DEVICE, AND POWER-OFF NOTIFICATION FUNCTION - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system that performs communication between a station-side device and a home-side device.

  Conventionally, a communication system (for example, a PON (Passive Optical Network) system) that communicates between a station-side device and a home-side device is known. In such a communication system, in order to confirm the normality of the system, a frame folding test is performed between the station side device and the in-home device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-142529 A

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a communication system 100 that communicates between a station-side device 120 and a customer-side device 110. As shown in FIG. 1, the station apparatus 120 and the in-home apparatus 110 are connected by an optical fiber 130. The in-home device 110 includes an optical module 111, a processing unit 112, a user IF termination unit 113, a packet buffer 114, a power supply unit 115, a power supply monitoring unit 116, a power-off notification capacitor 117, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the in-home device 110 operates by receiving power from a power source (for example, a 12V power source). The power supply unit 115 converts a voltage (for example, 12V) from the power source into a voltage (for example, 3.3V) suitable for each component in the in-home device 110 apparatus, and supplies the converted voltage to each component in the in-home device 110.

  In the communication system 100 as shown in FIG. 1, when the user turns off the power of the in-home device 110, the station-side device 120 detects a line break. The in-home device 110 is usually equipped with a power-off notification function so that the station-side device 120 can determine whether the line disconnection is due to a failure or power failure.

  In the in-home device 110 shown in FIG. 1, in order to realize such a power-off notification function, a power-supply monitoring unit 116 and a power-off notification capacitor 117 are provided. The power monitoring unit 116 monitors the occurrence of power interruption and notifies the processing unit 112 of the monitoring result. The power-off notification capacitor 117 is provided between the power supply and the power supply unit 115, and stores power for issuing a power-off notification when the power is turned off. When the power supply monitoring unit 116 detects a power-off, the processing unit 112 notifies the station-side device 120 of the occurrence of the power-off using the power stored in the power-off notification capacitor 117. Thereby, the station-side device 120 can determine that the line disconnection of the in-home device 110 is due to the power failure.

  In the in-home device 110 as described above, it is necessary to use a large-capacity capacitor as the power-off notification capacitor 117 in order to store the power necessary for the power-off notification. An aluminum electrolytic capacitor is generally used as the large-capacity power-off notification capacitor 117. However, since the aluminum electrolytic capacitor has a limited life, there is a high possibility of failure if it is used for a long time. If the power supply of the in-home device 110 is turned off while the power-off notification capacitor 117 is broken, the power-off notification cannot be issued. Therefore, the station-side device 120 may erroneously determine that a line disconnection has occurred and issue an unnecessary alarm. There is.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of testing the power-off notification function of the in-home device in a communication system that communicates between the station-side device and the in-home device. There is.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a communication system according to an aspect of the present invention is a communication system that communicates between a station-side device and a home-side device, and the station-side device has a function of notifying a power-off to the home-side device. A test instructing unit for instructing the test. The in-home device has a power storage unit that stores power for issuing a power-off notification when the power is turned off, and a power-off that turns off the power to the in-home device when the test instruction unit is instructed to test the power-off notification function. And a notification unit that issues a power-off notification to the station-side device using the power stored in the power storage unit when the power of the in-home device is cut off.

  Another aspect of the present invention is an in-home device. This device is an in-home device that communicates with the station-side device, and when the power-off unit that stores power for issuing a power-off notification when the power is cut off and the station-side device is instructed to test the power-off notification function , A power cut-off unit that turns off the power of the inside-premises device, and a notification unit that issues a power-off notification to the station-side device using the power stored in the power storage unit when the power inside the home-side device is cut off With.

  Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a power-off notification function test method. This method is a method for testing the power-off notification function of the in-home device, the step of storing power for issuing a power-off notification when the power is cut off, and instructing the in-home device to test the power-off notification function. Steps and steps to turn off the power of the in-home device when instructed to test the power-off notification function, and a power-off notification using the stored power when the power of the inside device is turned off Issuing.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and a representation of the present invention converted between an apparatus, a method, a system, a program, a recording medium storing the program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in the communication system which communicates between a station side apparatus and a home side apparatus, the power-off notification function of a home side apparatus can be tested.

It is a figure which shows an example of the communication system which communicates between a station side apparatus and a customer-side apparatus. It is a figure which shows the communication system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of a power supply disconnection part.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the communication system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Each block shown in the block diagram of the present specification can be realized in terms of hardware by an element such as a CPU of a computer or a mechanical device, and in terms of software, it can be realized by a computer program or the like. The functional block realized by those cooperation is drawn. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by a combination of hardware and software.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 10 is a communication system that communicates between a station-side device 12 and a customer-side device 14. The station side device 12 and the in-home device 14 are connected via an optical fiber 16. In the present embodiment, the in-home device 14 has a power-off notification function that notifies the station-side device 12 that the power has been cut off.

  The communication system 10 according to the present embodiment may be a PON system in which a single optical fiber is shared by a plurality of users, for example. In the case of a PON system, an optical splitter (not shown) is provided between the station-side device 12 and the premises device 14, and the station-side device 12 and the plurality of premises devices 14 are connected via the optical splitter. Is done.

  First, the configuration of the station side device 12 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the station side device 12 includes a processing unit 13 and an optical module 15.

  The optical module 15 is an optical receiving unit that converts an upstream optical signal transmitted from the in-home device 14 through the optical fiber 16 into an electrical signal, and photoelectrically converts the electrical signal from the processing unit 13 to obtain an optical fiber as a downstream optical signal. 16 includes an optical transmitter that transmits to the in-home device 14 via 16 and a multiplexing / demultiplexing unit that multiplexes / demultiplexes the upstream optical signal and downstream optical signal.

  The processing unit 13 includes a test instruction unit 27, a determination unit 29, and a main signal processing unit 31. The test instructing unit 27 instructs the in-home device 14 at a predetermined time interval whether or not the power-off notification function is normal (hereinafter referred to as “power-off notification function test”). For example, in the case of a PON system, the test instruction unit 27 may instruct the in-home device 14 to perform a power-off notification function test using an OAM (operation, administration, and maintenance) frame. The predetermined time interval may be, for example, once an hour, once a day, once a week, or the like. The OAM frame is converted into an optical signal by the optical module 15 and sent to the in-home device 14 via the optical fiber 16.

  The determination unit 29 determines whether or not the power-off notification function of the in-home device 14 is normal based on the power-off notification received from the in-home device 14. The main signal processing unit 31 performs predetermined digital signal processing on the main signal transmitted to the in-home device 14 and the main signal received from the in-home device 14.

  Next, the configuration of the in-home device 14 will be described. The in-home device 14 includes an optical module 18, a processing unit 20, a user IF termination unit 22, a packet buffer 24, a power supply unit 26, a power supply monitoring unit 28, a power supply cutoff notification capacitor 30, and a power supply disconnection unit. 32.

  The optical module 18 is an optical receiving unit that converts a downstream optical signal transmitted from the station side device 12 through the optical fiber 16 into an electrical signal, and photoelectrically converts the electrical signal from the processing unit 20 to obtain an optical fiber as an upstream optical signal. 16 includes an optical transmitter that transmits to the in-home device 14 via 16 and a multiplexing / demultiplexing unit that multiplexes / demultiplexes the upstream optical signal and downstream optical signal.

  The processing unit 20 includes a control unit 21, a notification unit 23, and a main signal processing unit 25. The controller 21 performs OAM frame processing. The main signal processing unit 25 performs predetermined digital signal processing on the main signal transmitted to the station side device 12 and the main signal received from the station side device 12. When the power of the in-home device 14 is cut off, the notification unit 23 issues a power-off notification to the station-side device 12 using the power stored in the power-off notification capacitor 30. The power interruption is detected by the power monitoring unit 28.

  A user IF termination unit 22 and a packet buffer 24 are connected to the processing unit 20. The user IF termination unit 22 is connected to a user IF (Interface) and performs predetermined termination processing on the main signal output to the user IF and the main signal received from the user IF. The packet buffer 24 buffers the main signal to be transmitted / received.

  The in-home device 14 operates by receiving power from a power source (for example, a 12V power source). The power supply unit 26 converts a voltage (for example, 12V) from the power source into a voltage (for example, 3.3V) suitable for each component in the in-home device 14, and supplies the converted voltage to each component in the in-home device 14.

  The power-off notification capacitor 30 functions as a power storage unit that stores power for issuing a power-off notification when the power is cut off. The power-off notification capacitor 30 is provided between the power supply and the power supply unit 26, and always stores the charge supplied from the power supply. By providing the power-off notification capacitor 30, the power supply to each component in the in-home device 14 is maintained for a short time even when the power supply from the power supply is cut off. The power-off notification capacitor 30 is required to have a large capacity in order to store power necessary for power-off notification. The power-off notification capacitor 30 may be an aluminum electrolytic capacitor, for example. Note that the power storage unit is not limited to a capacitor, and any device that can store power that can issue a power-off notification at least once can be applied. An example of such a device is a battery.

  The power monitoring unit 28 monitors the occurrence of power interruption and reports the monitoring result to the processing unit 20. The power monitoring unit 28 is provided in parallel with the power-off notification capacitor 30. The power interruption occurs, for example, when the user unplugs the in-home device 14 from the outlet. The power supply monitoring unit 28 monitors, for example, a voltage (for example, 12V) from the power supply, and detects a power supply interruption when the voltage drops below a predetermined value.

  When the power disconnection unit 32 is instructed by the test instruction unit 27 of the station-side device 12 to perform the power-off notification function test, the power disconnection unit 32 turns off the power of the in-home device 14. The power cutoff unit 32 is provided upstream of the power cutoff notification capacitor 30 and the power monitoring unit 28, that is, between the power source and the power cutoff notification capacitor 30 and the power monitoring unit 28. When the control unit 21 of the processing unit 20 receives a frame instructing the power-off notification function test from the station-side device 12, the control unit 21 disconnects the power from the power-off unit 32 using, for example, GPIO (General Purpose Input / Output). Instruct. Receiving the instruction, the power cutoff unit 32 momentarily cuts off the power supply from the power source to the in-home device 14.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the power disconnection unit 32. As shown in FIG. 3, the power disconnection unit 32 includes a P-type FET 33, a reset IC 34, a photocoupler 35, pull-up resistors 36 and 37, and a current limiting resistor 38. A power source is connected to the source of the P-type FET 33, the output of the reset IC 34 is connected to the gate, and a power-off notification capacitor 30 is connected to the drain. The output of the reset IC 34 is connected to the output of the photocoupler 35, and the Hi / Lo voltage is input to the input of the photocoupler 35 from the control unit 21 of the processing unit 20 through the current limiting resistor 38. The input and output of the reset IC 34 are pulled up to the power supply voltage by pull-up resistors 36 and 37.

  When the instruction frame of the power-off notification function test is received from the test instruction unit 27 of the station-side device 12, the control unit 21 of the processing unit 20 of the in-home device 14 uses, for example, GPIO or the like as an input to the power-off unit 32. The Hi voltage is output. Then, the Lo voltage is input to the reset IC 34 through the photocoupler 35 for power supply separation, and the reset IC 34 enters a reset state. When the reset IC 34 is reset, the reset IC 34 outputs the Lo voltage to the gate of the P-type FET 33 for a certain time, so that the P-type FET 33 is disconnected for a certain time. As a result, the power supply from the power source to the power-off notification capacitor 30 is interrupted for a certain time. At this time, the power monitoring unit 28 detects the power interruption and reports it to the processing unit 20. Upon receiving the report, the notification unit 23 of the processing unit 20 issues a frame for notifying the power-off. This frame is transmitted from the optical module 18 to the station side device 12 via the optical fiber 16. The power-off notification frame received by the optical module 15 of the station side device 12 is sent to the determination unit 29 of the processing unit 13. The operation of each unit after the power is turned off is performed using the power stored in the power-off notification capacitor 30. That is, after the power is cut off, the electric charge stored in the power cut-off notifying capacitor 30 is discharged to the power supply unit 26 and supplied to each unit through the power supply unit 26.

  The determination unit 29 determines whether or not the power-off notification function of the in-home device 14 is normal based on the power-off notification received from the in-home device 14. That is, if the determination unit 29 instructs the in-home device 14 to perform the power-off notification function test and then receives the power-off notification from the in-home device 14 within a predetermined time, the power-off notification function of the in-home device is normal. Judge that there is. The fact that the power-off notification is sent is because it can be determined that the components that realize the power-off notification function such as the power-off notification capacitor 30 are normal. On the other hand, if the determination unit 29 does not receive the power-off notification from the home-side device 14 within a predetermined time after instructing the power-off notification function test to the home-side device 14, the power-off notification function of the home-side device is abnormal. It is determined that The fact that the power-off notification is not sent even though the power-off notification function test is instructed is because it can be determined that a component such as the power-off notification capacitor 30 has failed. If the determination unit 29 determines that the power-off notification function is abnormal, for example, the determination unit 29 may issue an alarm to the administrator.

  As described above, according to the communication system 10 according to the present embodiment, the power-off notification function of the in-home device 14 can be tested. By periodically performing the power-off notification function test, it is possible to detect at an early stage that an abnormality has occurred in the power-off notification function of the in-home device 14, and take measures such as repair and replacement of the in-home device 14. be able to. As a result, the station side device 12 can appropriately determine whether the line disconnection of the in-home device 14 is due to a power failure or due to other factors.

  In the present embodiment, the power cut-off unit 32 of the in-home device 14 is turned off when the station-side device 12 is instructed to perform a power cut notification function test while the main signal processing unit 25 is processing the main signal. It is not necessary to execute. The station-side device 12 periodically instructs the power-off notification function test regardless of whether the in-home device 14 is processing the main signal. If the main signal processing unit 25 cuts off the power supply while processing the main signal, the main signal processing is interrupted. In such a case, the control unit 21 supplies power to the power supply disconnection unit 32. Do not instruct refusal. Thereby, the situation where the main signal processing is interrupted can be avoided.

  Furthermore, when the power-off notification function test is instructed from the station side device 12 while the main signal processing unit 25 is processing the main signal, the notification unit 23 notifies that the power-off notification function test cannot be executed. A frame to be transmitted may be issued to the station side device 12. When this notification is received, the determination unit 29 of the station-side device 12 does not determine that the power-off notification function of the home-side device 14 is abnormal even if the power-off notification is not received from the home-side device 14. When receiving the notification that the power-off notification function test cannot be executed, the test instruction unit 27 of the station side device 12 may instruct the power-off notification function test again after a while.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the test instruction unit 27 of the station side device 12 checks the presence / absence of the main signal communicating with the in-home device 14, and if there is no communication of the main signal, the power is disconnected to the in-home device 14. A notification function test may be directed. Also in this case, the situation where the main signal processing is interrupted can be avoided.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to combinations of the respective constituent elements and processing processes, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. is there.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Communication system, 12 Station side apparatus, 13, 20 Processing part, 14 Home-side apparatus, 15, 18 Optical module, 16 Optical fiber, 21 Control part, 23 Notification part, 26 Power supply part, 27 Test instruction part, 28 Power supply monitoring , 29 determination unit, 30 power-off notification capacitor, 32 power-off unit, 33 P-type FET, 34 reset IC, 35 photocoupler.

Claims (15)

A communication system for communicating between a station side device and a home side device,
The station-side device includes a test instruction unit that instructs a test of a power-off notification function to the in-home device,
A power storage unit that stores power for issuing a power-off notification when the power is cut off;
When instructed to test the power-off notification function from the test instruction unit, a power-off unit that turns off the power of the in-home device; and
A notification unit that issues a power-off notification to the station-side device using the power stored in the power storage unit when the power of the in-home device is cut off;
A communication system comprising:   The station side device determines that the power-off notification function of the in-home device is normal when receiving the power-off notification from the in-home device after instructing the in-home device to test the power-off notification function The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit that performs the determination.   If the determination unit does not receive a power-off notification from the in-home device after instructing the in-home device to test the power-off notification function, it indicates that the power-off notification function of the in-home device is abnormal. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein an alarm is issued.   The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the power storage unit is a capacitor.   5. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the test instructing unit instructs the in-home device to perform a power-off notification function test at a predetermined time interval.   The station side device confirms the presence or absence of a main signal communicating with the in-home device, and instructs the in-home device to perform a power-off notification function test when there is no main signal communication. The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.   7. The power-off unit does not execute power-off when an instruction for a power-off notification function is instructed while the in-home device is processing a main signal. A communication system according to claim 1.   The notifying unit notifies the station side device that the test cannot be performed when the in-home device is instructed to test the power-off notification function while processing the main signal. The communication system according to claim 7. An in-home device that communicates with a station-side device,
A power storage unit that stores power for issuing a power-off notification when the power is cut off;
When instructed to test the power-off notification function from the station-side device, a power-off unit that turns off the power of the in-home device,
A notification unit that issues a power-off notification to the station-side device using the power stored in the power storage unit when the power of the in-home device is cut off;
An in-home device characterized by comprising:   10. The home according to claim 9, wherein the power cut-off unit does not turn off the power when a test of a power cut-off notification function is instructed while the in-home device is processing a main signal. Inner device.   The notifying unit notifies the station side device that the test cannot be performed when the in-home device is instructed to test the power-off notification function while processing the main signal. The in-home apparatus according to claim 10. A method for testing a power-off notification function of an in-home device,
Storing power for issuing a power-off notification when the power is turned off;
Instructing the in-home device to test the power-off notification function;
When instructed to test the power-off notification function, turning off the power of the in-home device;
Issuing a power-off notification using the stored power when the power of the in-home device is turned off; and
A power-off notification function test method comprising:   The power-off notification function test method according to claim 12, wherein the test instruction for the power-off notification function is performed at predetermined time intervals.   In the step of turning off the power of the in-home device, the power-off is not executed when the test of the power-off notification function is instructed while the in-home device is processing the main signal. The power-off notification function test method according to claim 12 or 13.   In the step of turning off the power of the in-home device, if the in-home device is instructed to test the power-off notification function while processing the main signal, issue a notification indicating that the test cannot be executed. The power-off notification function test method according to claim 14.

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