JP6260403B2 - COMMUNICATION DEVICE, COMMUNICATION PROGRAM, AND COMMUNICATION METHOD - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a communication apparatus, a communication program, and communication method, for example, the central terminal constituting a transmission system, a communication device for transmitting power-off notification signal, it is capable of applying to a communication program, and communication method.

  For example, in a transmission system, a remote-side transmission device has a function of notifying a power-off notification signal including an R-INH frame to a center-side device in order to notify a power-off state (see Patent Document 1).

  Here, the R-INH frame is used as means for notifying the center side (station side) of the power-off state of the remote transmission apparatus. This power-off notification function is to send the R-INH frame to the center-side transmission device immediately before the transmission device is turned off. The purpose is that a maintenance person on the station side (center side) can determine that the power is turned off on the remote side.

  Conventionally, since it is necessary for the transmission apparatus to maintain power that allows the firmware to operate until the R-INH frame can be transmitted after the power is turned off, a large-capacity capacitor is generally mounted in the transmission apparatus. It is.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a power-off notification function in the conventional remote device 90. As shown in FIG. 2, in the conventional remote device 90, when the voltage monitoring unit 92 detects power-off, the voltage monitoring unit 92 notifies the CPU 93 of a power-off signal. After notifying the power-off signal, the CPU 93 generates an R-INH frame, and the communication circuit 96 transmits the R-INH frame.

JP 2010-252192 A

  However, in the conventional power-off notification function in the remote device, the CPU generates and sends out the R-INH frame after detecting the power-off in the transmission device, so that the time required to generate and send out the R-INH frame It depends. Therefore, in order to ensure the operation of the firmware, a large-capacity capacitor for holding electric power is required, so that the device cost is increased or the configuration scale of the device is increased.

Therefore, it is possible to reduce the time required to send the power-off notification signal, reduce the power required for sending the power-off notification signal, and send the power-off notification signal without providing a large-capacity electrolytic capacitor. There is a need for a communication device , a communication program, and a communication method.

In order to solve this problem, the first aspect of the present invention provides a communication device that transmits a power-off notification signal to a station-side device when a power-off occurs. (1) When receiving power supply after the device is started A power-off notification signal generating means for generating a power-off notification signal addressed to the station side device, and (2) a power-off notification signal storing means for storing the power-off notification signal generated by the power-off notification signal generating means, (3) Power-off detection means for detecting power-off, and (4) Transmission control for transmitting a power-off notification signal stored in the power-off notification signal storage means when power-off detection is detected by the power-off detection means. And (5) a power-off notification signal storing means stores a standby power-off notification signal and an operational power-off notification signal for the power-off notification signal, and (6) transmission. The control means uses the power-off notification signal generation means. The alarm time information is periodically updated to overwrite power failure notification signal for standby, then characterized in that for switching the power-off notification signal for the wait as power failure notification signal for operation It is a communication device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication program for transmitting a power-off notification signal to a station-side device when a power-off occurs. A power-off notification signal generating means for generating a power-off notification signal for the destination, (2) a power-off notification signal storing means for storing a power-off notification signal generated by the power-off notification signal generating means, and (3) a power-off notification And (4) when power-off detection is detected by the power-off detection means, function as transmission control means for transmitting the power-off notification signal stored in the power-off notification signal storage means, (5) The power-off notification signal storage unit stores a standby power-off notification signal and an operational power-off notification signal for the power-off notification signal, and (6) the transmission control unit stores the power-off notification signal. Periodically updated by generating means The alarm time information overwrites the power-off notification signal for the standby, then, is a communication program characterized by switching the power discontinuity notification signal for the wait as power failure notification signal for operation.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the communication method for transmitting a power-off notification signal to the station side device when a power-off occurs, (1) when the power-off notification signal generating means is supplied with power after the device is started And (2) storing the power-off notification signal generated by the power-off notification signal generating means in the power-off notification signal storing means, and (3) power-off detecting means. (4) When the transmission control means detects the power interruption by the power interruption detection means, it transmits the power interruption notification signal stored in the power interruption notification signal storage means . (5) The power-off notification signal storage means stores a standby power-off notification signal and an operational power-off notification signal for the power-off notification signal. (6) The transmission control means uses the power-off notification signal generation means. Power supply for standby with periodically updated alarm occurrence time information Overwriting the notification signal, then, is a communication method characterized by switching the power discontinuity notification signal for the wait as power failure notification signal for operation.

  According to the present invention, the time required for sending the power-off notification signal is shortened, the power required for sending the power-off notification signal is reduced, and the power-off notification signal is sent without a large-capacity electrolytic capacitor. can do.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the transmission system which concerns on embodiment, and the internal structure of a remote apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the conventional transmission system, and the internal structure of a remote apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the transmission process of the power-off notification signal of the remote apparatus which concerns on embodiment.

(A) Main Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of a communication device , a communication program, and a communication method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  This embodiment exemplifies a case where the present invention is applied to a communication device provided in a remote transmission device (hereinafter referred to as a remote device) in a transmission system.

(A-1) Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a transmission system 100 and an internal configuration of a remote device 1 according to the embodiment.

  The transmission system 100 according to the embodiment includes a remote device 1 and a center device (station side device) 2. Although FIG. 1 illustrates the case where there is one remote device 1, the center device 2 may exchange information with a plurality of remote devices 1.

  The center device 2 exchanges information with the remote device 1. The center device 2 manages the remote devices that make up the transmission system 100. For example, the center device 2 uses a network management protocol such as SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) to control the remote device 1 based on the status notification signal from the remote device 1. It manages the situation. For this reason, the center device 2 has a network management function such as an SNMP manager.

The remote device 1 exchanges information with the center device 2 through a communication line. The remote device 1 has a status notification function that notifies the center device 2 of its own status. In this embodiment, a case where SNMP is applied as a network management protocol between the remote device 1 and the center device 2 is illustrated. Therefore, the remote device 1 has a function as an SNMP agent and actively notifies the center device 2 of its own status.

In FIG. 1, the remote device 1 includes a power holding electrolytic capacitor 11, a voltage monitoring unit 12, a CPU 13, a RAM 14, a ROM 15, and a communication circuit 16 .

  The power holding electrolytic capacitor 11 is a power supply unit that supplies power to a circuit mounted in the remote device 1 when the main power supply of the remote device 1 is cut off. In this embodiment, the power holding electrolytic capacitor 11 illustrates a capacitor (electrolytic capacitor) that holds power until a power-off notification signal is sent to the center device 2 after the power-off is detected. The power holding electrolytic capacitor 11 may be a battery such as a secondary battery instead of the electrolytic capacitor as long as it can hold power and supply power to various circuits after detection of power interruption. Also good. Here, the “power-off notification signal” is a signal including an R-INH frame.

  The voltage monitoring unit 12 monitors the power supplied to the remote device 1. The voltage monitoring unit 12 supplies a power-off signal 31 to the communication circuit 16 to be described later when the value of the supplied power is lower than a threshold value. The voltage monitoring unit 12 monitors the power value supplied to the remote device 1. After the main power supply of the remote device 1 is cut off for some reason, the power holding electrolytic capacitor 11 supplementarily supplies power to each component of the remote device 1. Therefore, the voltage monitoring unit 12 monitors whether or not the supply power value (that is, the power value discharged from the power holding electrolytic capacitor 11) is lower than the threshold value.

  Here, in the conventional method, the voltage monitoring unit notifies the CPU of the power-off signal 31 in order to create an R-INH frame after detecting the power-off. However, in this embodiment, as will be described later, the firmware generates an R-INH frame in advance and stores the R-INH frame in the internal memory (R-INH frame memory 162) before detecting power-off. . Therefore, the voltage monitoring unit 12 notifies the communication circuit 16 of the power-off signal 31 in order to start reading of the R-INH frame when the power-off is detected.

  The CPU 13 manages the functions of the remote device 1. The CPU 13 reads the processing program stored in the ROM 15 and executes the processing program using data necessary for the processing stored in the RAM 14 to realize the function of the remote device 1.

  The CPU 13 functioning as firmware generates an R-INH frame in advance in firmware when power is supplied (before detection of the power-off signal 31), and the generated R-INH frame is a communication circuit. It is stored in 16 internal memories (R-INH frame memory 162).

  The firmware may create an R-INH frame (at least with destination information written) when the remote device 1 is activated, or may create an R-INH frame after a predetermined time has elapsed since activation. May be. In addition, the firmware updates the alarm occurrence time information (year / month / day hour: minute: second), for example, every second to reflect the result in the R-INH frame in order to identify the time when the power interruption has occurred. I have to.

  The communication circuit 16 controls frame transmission of communication signals under the control of the CPU 13. As the communication circuit 16, for example, a circuit device such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) can be applied. The communication circuit 16 performs transmission control of the main signal frame to be transmitted by the remote device 1 and also performs transmission control of the R-INH frame stored in the internal memory (R-INH frame memory 162) when power-off is detected. To do.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the communication circuit 16 includes a TIME_TICK update unit 161, an R-INH frame memory 162, a frame memory read control unit 163, a contention control circuit unit 164, a selector 165, a signal switching unit 166, and a register 167.

  The TIME_TICK updating unit 161 is an internal counter for autonomously operating the communication circuit 16 that is hardware. Here, TIME_TICK is a time stamp provided inside the apparatus. The TIME_TICK updating unit 161 updates the TIME_TICK register 23 every second from the firmware. Further, the TIME_TICK update unit 161 loads the updated TIME_TICK register 23 and operates the counter at a cycle of 10 ms to update the time stamp.

  The R-INH frame memory 162 stores R-INH frames generated by firmware. The R-INH frame has an SNMP trap frame format so that the stored R-INH frame can be read and transmitted immediately.

  The R-INH frame memory 162 stores a total of four R-INH frames in which R-INH frames each having two destinations are distinguished from the operation side and the standby side. For example, in FIG. 1, the destination “DA1” is shown for the R-INH frame “DA1_1” and the R-INH frame “DA1_2”, the number “1” after “_” is the operational aspect, and the number after “_”. “2” indicates a standby surface.

  Here, the reason why the R-INH frame memory 162 stores two types of R-INH frames, that is, the operation side and the standby side, is as follows. As described above, the firmware updates the alarm occurrence time information (year / month / day hour: minute: second) every second. For this reason, if the power-off signal 31 is received while updating the time information, the R-INH frame is prevented from being transmitted with information that has not been updated. Two types of R-INH frames are stored.

  In the R-INH frame memory 162, the firmware updates the alarm occurrence time information (year / month / day hour: minute: second) every second by the firmware, and then switches the standby side to the operational side. Yes.

  When the frame memory read control unit 163 acquires the power-off signal 31, the frame memory read control unit 163 sets a transmission start flag for the R-INH frame, reads the R-INH frame, and controls the selector 165.

The contention control circuit unit 164 controls contention avoidance between the main signal frame and the R-INH frame when the main signal frame is being transmitted when transmitting the R-INH frame. When the contention control circuit unit 164 obtains the enable signal from the R-INH frame transmission enable register 21, when the main signal frame is being transmitted, the contention control circuit unit 164 counts the number of transmitted bytes of the main signal frame with an internal counter. After counting the predetermined number of transmission bytes, the contention control circuit unit 164 causes the signal switching unit 166 to stop transmitting the main signal frame.

  The selector 165 overwrites the TIME_TICK information from the TIME_TICK update unit 161 on the R-INH frame read from the R-INH frame memory 162 under the control of the frame memory read control unit 163, and sets the R-INH frame. This is given to the signal switching unit 166.

  The signal switching unit 166 sends the acquired main signal frame or the R-INH frame from the selector 165 to the subsequent stage. When transmitting the R-INH frame, if the main signal frame is being transmitted, the signal switching unit 166 stops the transmission of the main signal frame under the control of the contention control circuit unit 164 and transmits the R-INH frame. Is sent out.

The register 167 stores setting information (bit information) related to the R-INH frame generated by the firmware. The register 167 includes an R-INH frame transmission enable register 21, an R-INH transmission frame length register 22, a TIME_TICK register 23, a TIME_TICK offset register 24, an operation plane setting register 25, and an R-INH state reading register 26.

R-INH frame transmission enable register 21 stores a R-INH transmission enable signal, when receiving the power-off signal 31, the R-INH transmission enable signal (FIG. 1 to competition control circuit unit 164, the enable signal 32 ).

  The R-INH transmission frame length register 22 stores frame length information of each R-INH frame stored in the R-INH frame memory 162.

  The TIME_TICK register 23 stores the TIME_TICK updated by the TIME_TICK update unit 161.

  The TIME_TICK offset register 24 stores offset information of TIME_TICK.

  The operation side setting register 25 stores which of the destination R-INH frames stored in the R-INH frame memory 162 is the operation side.

  The R-INH state reading register 26 stores state information of the R-INH frame.

(A-2) Operation of Embodiment Next, the operation of the power-off notification signal (R-INH frame) sending process in the remote device 1 according to this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the power-off notification signal transmission process of the remote device 1 according to the embodiment.

  First, when power is supplied to the remote device 1, the power holding electrolytic capacitor 11 holds the capacitor power. Further, the basic frame of the R-INH frame from the firmware is stored in the R-INH frame memory 162. At this time, the basic frame configuration is written in the SNMP trap format in which the destination information (for example, the MAC address) of the center apparatus 2 is written.

  When the power is cut off in the remote device 1 (S101), the power held by the power holding electrolytic capacitor 11 is released (S102). When the power holding electrolytic capacitor continues to discharge power, the capacity of the power holding electrolytic capacitor decreases, and the voltage decreases for removal.

  The voltage monitoring unit 12 constantly monitors the power supply value in the remote device 1 and when the power supply power value falls below the threshold (S103), the voltage monitoring unit 12 notifies the communication circuit 16 of the power-off signal 31 (S104). ).

When the communication circuit 16 acquires the power-off signal 31, the R-INH frame transmission enable register 21 of the register 167 notifies the contention control circuit unit 164 of the enable signal 32 (S105).

  When the contention control circuit unit 164 receives the enable signal 32, the contention control circuit unit 164 confirms the transmission status of the main signal frame (S106). When the main signal frame is being transmitted, the process proceeds to S107, and when the main signal frame is not transmitted, the process proceeds to S110.

  When the main signal frame is being transmitted, the contention control circuit unit 164 confirms the following two operations.

  First, if the main signal frame being transmitted has been transmitted for 64 bytes or more, the transmission of the main signal frame is stopped (S108).

  When the main signal frame being transmitted is less than 64 bytes, the contention control circuit unit 164 waits until the transmission of the main signal frame being transmitted is completed (S109).

  The contention control circuit unit 164 notifies the enable signal 33 to the frame memory read control unit 163 (S110).

  When the frame memory read control unit 163 receives the enable signal, the operation side setting register 25 of the register 167 is checked to check the operation side of the R-INH frame to be transmitted (S111).

  The frame memory read control unit 163 confirms the transmission frame length register value of the R-INH frame from the R-INH transmission frame length register 22 and transmits the R-INH frame stored in the R-INH frame memory 162 to the transmission frame length. The register value is read (S112).

  After reading out the R-INH frame, the frame memory read control unit 163 controls the selector 165 so that the TIME_TICK information of the TIME_TICK update unit 161 is added to the R-INH frame sent from the R-INH frame memory 162 by the selector 165. Overwriting is performed (S113).

  The R-INH frame output from the selector 165 is given to the signal switching unit 166, and the signal switching unit 166 receives the control of the contention control circuit unit 164 and sends the R-INH frame to the center device (station side device) 2. Is sent out (S114). Thereby, the R-INH frame can be transmitted to the center apparatus (station side apparatus) 2.

(A-3) Effect of Embodiment As described above, according to this embodiment, the remote device that is the transmission device generates the R-INH frame and receives the power-off signal before receiving the power-off signal. Since the R-INH frame can be sent immediately afterward, the time required for sending the R-INH frame can be shortened. As a result, a capacitor having a small capacity can be mounted, and the device cost can be reduced and the circuit scale of the device can be reduced.

  According to this embodiment, for example, the capacitance of the capacitor can be reduced by about 30% compared to the conventional case. Further, for example, by reducing the capacity of the capacitor, the cost of components can be reduced by about 60% and the mounting area can be reduced by about 60-70%.

(B) Other Embodiments Although various modified embodiments have been mentioned in the above-described embodiments, the following modified embodiments can be applied to the present invention.

(B-1) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a remote device as a transmission device uses an R-INH frame has been described. However, the present invention can be widely applied to devices and systems that notify an R-INH frame when power failure is detected. .

(B-2) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the network management protocol applies SNMP is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to SNMP. For example, the present invention can be widely applied as long as the remote device notifies the center device of its own status periodically or when some command is notified.

(B-3) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the R-INH frame memory stores an R-INH frame (basic frame) in which two destinations are written in advance is illustrated. One may be sufficient and three or more may be sufficient.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Transmission system, 1 ... Remote apparatus, 11 ... Electrolytic capacitor for electric power holding, 12 ... Voltage monitoring part, 13 ... CPU, 14 ... RAM, 15 ... ROM, 16 ... Communication circuit, 161 ... TIME_TICK update part, 162 ... R -INH frame memory, 163 ... frame memory read control unit, 164 ... contention control circuit unit, 165 ... selector, 166 ... signal switching unit, 167 ... register.

Claims (4)

In a communication device that transmits a power-off notification signal to a station-side device when a power-off occurs,
A power-off notification signal generating means for generating a power-off notification signal addressed to the station-side device when receiving power supply after starting the device;
A power-off notification signal storing means for storing the power-off notification signal generated by the power-off notification signal generating means;
Power-off detection means for detecting power-off,
A transmission control means for transmitting the power-off notification signal stored in the power-off notification signal storage means when a power-off is detected by the power-off detection means ;
The power-off notification signal storage means stores a standby power-off notification signal and an operational power-off notification signal for the power-off notification signal,
The transmission control unit overwrites the standby power-off notification signal with the alarm occurrence time information periodically updated by the power-off notification signal generation unit, and then uses the standby power-off notification signal for operation. A communication apparatus that is switched as a power-off notification signal . Time information update means for updating time information is provided,
2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission control means transmits the latest time information updated by the time information update means in the power-off notification signal when a power-off occurs. . In a communication program that sends a power-off notification signal to the station-side device when a power-off occurs,
Computer
A power-off notification signal generating means for generating a power-off notification signal addressed to the station-side device when receiving power supply after starting the device;
A power-off notification signal storing means for storing the power-off notification signal generated by the power-off notification signal generating means;
Power-off detection means for detecting power-off,
A transmission control means for transmitting the power-off notification signal stored in the power-off notification signal storage means when the power-off detection means is detected by the power-off detection means;
To function,
The power-off notification signal storage means stores a standby power-off notification signal and an operational power-off notification signal for the power-off notification signal,
The transmission control unit overwrites the standby power-off notification signal with the alarm occurrence time information periodically updated by the power-off notification signal generation unit, and then uses the standby power-off notification signal for operation. As a power-off notification signal
A communication program characterized by the above. In a communication method for transmitting a power-off notification signal to a station-side device when a power-off occurs,
When the power-off notification signal generating means receives the supply of power after starting the device, it generates a power-off notification signal addressed to the station side device,
Storing the power-off notification signal generated by the power-off notification signal generating means in the power-off notification signal storing means;
The power interruption detection means detects the power interruption,
When the transmission control means detects the power interruption by the power interruption detection means, it transmits the power interruption notification signal stored in the power interruption notification signal storage means ,
The power-off notification signal storage means stores a standby power-off notification signal and an operational power-off notification signal for the power-off notification signal,
The transmission control unit overwrites the standby power-off notification signal with the alarm occurrence time information periodically updated by the power-off notification signal generation unit, and then uses the standby power-off notification signal for operation. A communication method characterized by switching as a power-off notification signal .

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