JPH0831910B2 - Remote maintenance and operation method for communication terminal devices - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a remote maintenance / operation system of a communication terminal device for efficiently performing maintenance / operation of the communication terminal device.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, the general maintenance method for communication terminals such as telephone equipment and data home devices is to notify the failure receiver of the exchange within the communication network when the user or maintenance person discovers a terminal failure. , The failure receiver who received the report, based on the report information,
Alternatively, a simple test is carried out from a test stand in the station through a communication line, and it is separately confirmed whether the failure is occurring in the terminal or the communication network equipment side.

In the case of a terminal failure, a maintenance person is dispatched to the site to repair or replace the failed terminal.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

For this reason, for example, in a terminal used by an unspecified large number such as a public telephone, even if the terminal is out of order, another public telephone is sufficient for communication, or in a terminal in which it is difficult to find the failure only by appearance, The discovery of the failure is delayed,
There was a problem that the equipment availability fell.

In addition, when a failure is reported by the user, it is generally difficult for the failure recipient to grasp the exact failure status and details. For this reason, maintenance personnel often go to the site to check and confirm the failure status, and then again to go out for repair, which causes a delay in failure recovery and an increase in maintenance costs.

In order to solve the above problems, the method proposed by the present applicant in Japanese Patent Application No. 59-19758 "Maintenance method for home equipment for communication" (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-172871) is stored in the station. This is a system in which the device is arranged and automatically transmitted from the terminal, and the failure information is automatically received and recorded in the storage device. To access again to retrieve information,
There is a lack of immediacy in failure information.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to solve the above problems in the conventional maintenance system,
It is to provide a quick and efficient remote maintenance / operation method of a communication terminal device that can be realized without modifying the exchange facility.

[Means for solving problems]

The above object of the present invention is to provide a communication terminal device, an information receiving device that receives failure information transmitted from the communication terminal device, and a communication network facility that connects the information receiving device and the communication terminal device. In a remote maintenance / operation system for a communication terminal device, the communication terminal device is accommodated in a digital communication network or an analog communication network, and the communication terminal device has a corresponding digital or analog subscriber line interface and a failure. Means for self-detecting and an automatic transmission / reception means, the information receiving device is housed in a digital communication network, and the information receiving device has a digital subscriber line interface, an automatic transmitting / receiving means, and a received information processing means. A storage means is provided so that the communication terminal device and the information receiving device can be used as a general communication terminal processor in the communication network equipment. A communication path that is connected by col and that passes through only the digital network when the communication terminal device and the information receiving device are communication networks and the communication terminal device corresponding to the calling terminal is a digital terminal. Attempt to set, and if that is not possible, set a communication path through the digital communication network and the analog communication network. When the communication terminal device is an analog terminal, a communication path through the analog communication network and the digital communication network. After the setting, the failure information detected by the detecting means in the communication terminal device is automatically transferred to the information receiving device, which is achieved by the remote maintenance / operation system of the communication terminal device.

[Action]

In the present invention, unlike the prior art, an information receiving device connected to a communication terminal device by a general communication terminal protocol is provided to identify the possibility of digital communication or analog communication by the communication terminal protocol, In addition, both the communication terminal device and the information receiving device are switched to digital communication or analog communication so that failure information and the like can be automatically transferred to the information receiving device from either the analog terminal or the digital terminal. Is.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a connection configuration diagram of a maintenance / operation system of a communication terminal device showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure,
1A is a digital telephone terminal, 1B is a digital non-telephone terminal,
2A to 2C are digital line terminators, 3A is an analog telephone terminal, 3B is an analog non-telephone terminal, 4 is a digital communication network,
5A to 5C are digital line terminal devices inside the office, 6A and 6B are digital subscriber exchanges, and 7 is an information receiving device installed in a maintenance center and having a digital subscriber line interface.

Reference numeral 8 is an analog communication network, 9A and 9B are analog subscriber line exchanges, and 10 is a communication path set in the digital communication network. Digital 1-link connection paths, 11A and 11B are communication paths via a digital communication network and an analog communication network, and 12 is a communication path of an analog communication network.

 The outline of the operation of this system is as follows.

When the digital terminal 1A or 1B self-detects a failure, etc., the digital terminator 2A, 5A or 2B, 5B, respectively.
A self-call is made to the digital subscriber line exchange 6A in the digital communication network 4 via the
The subscriber telephone number corresponding to the information receiving device 7 accommodated in the 6B through the digital line terminating devices 2C and 5C is automatically dialed.

The digital communication network 4 refers to the destination terminal information in the call control information received from the calling terminal (1A or 1B) and the network structure of the digital communication network 4 so that the connection from the calling terminal to the called terminal is within the digital communication network. If it can be formed by the digital 1 link path 10, it will be described later (see Fig. 4).
An incoming call is made to the information receiving device 7. When the connection from the calling terminal to the called terminal cannot be formed only within the digital communication network, it will be described later (see FIG. 4) via the analog communication network 8, for example, the route of communication paths 11A → 12 → 11B. The information receiving device 7 is called. When the information receiving device 7 receives an incoming call, the information receiving device 7 automatically responds, so that a communication path is established between the calling digital terminal (1A or 1B) and the information receiving device 7.

Then, according to the communication procedure described later (see FIG. 3) between the digital terminal 1A or 1B and the information receiving device 7, it is a digital code signal in the case of the digital 1 link connection path 10 and PB in other cases. Fault information and the like is transmitted from the digital terminal 1A or 1B to the information receiving device 7 by transmitting and receiving with a signal or the like.

Further, when the analog terminal 3A or 3B self-detects a failure or the like, the communication path is similarly established by the communication path 11A → 10 or 12 → 11B via the analog subscriber exchange 9 in the analog communication network 8. , The analog terminal 3A or 3B transmits fault information or the like to the information receiving device 7.

FIG. 2 shows a specific example of the above digital telephone terminal,
It is a public telephone type digital telephone terminal block diagram. In the figure, 2 is the above-mentioned digital line terminal device connected to a digital telephone terminal, 13 is a digital interface control unit to be described later, and 14 is a device control unit for controlling the entire device.

Further, 15 is a charge processing unit, 15a, 18a, 19a, 20a and 23a are failure detection sensors, 16 is a code converter, 17 is a communication circuit, 18 is a handset, 19 is an input / output control unit, and 20 is a non-telephone function. Reference numeral 21 indicates a communication line, 22 indicates a local power supply unit, and 23 indicates a commercial power supply unit. These functions will be sequentially described below.

The above-mentioned digital interface controller 13 assembles the outgoing / incoming call detection control, the in-channel and out-channel digital code signals into a transmission format (not shown), and transmits them to the digital line terminating device 2.
On the contrary, it has a function of receiving a code signal sent from the digital line terminating device 2, decomposing and extracting it into an in-channel signal and an out-channel signal, and performing error control of the out-channel signal.

The device control section 14 controls the decoding and generation of the out-channel signal, the decoding and generation control of the in-channel code signal transmitted to and received from the information receiving device 7 shown in FIG. 1, the billing control of the public telephone, the call control, It has a function of controlling the entire device such as PB dial, function buttons, various displays, input / output control of audible sound, and non-telephone device control.

The charge processing unit 15 has a function of controlling charge storage based on the charge information of the device control unit 14, and includes a failure detection sensor.
The reference numeral 15a has a function of monitoring a failure of the fee processing unit 15, for example, a jam of a telephone card or the like at all times or when the apparatus is operating. 15b is the failure detection sensor 15a.
The signal line for detecting the failure information detected in step 1 by the device controller 14 is shown.

The code converter 16 has, for example, a function of converting a 64 kb / s digital audio signal into an analog audio signal and vice versa, and the call circuit 17 has a function of amplifying the analog audio signal. Is to have.

The failure detection sensor 18a has a function of detecting the disconnection when the cord for the handset 18 is disconnected by mischief or the like, and 18b is the device control of the cord disconnection information detected by the sensor 18a. The signal line for notifying the unit 14 is shown.

The input / output control unit 19 has a PB dial, various indicators and speakers, and the failure detection sensor 19a has a function of detecting a failure of the input / output control section 19. The non-telephone function unit 20 has a non-telephone communication function such as a facsimile, and the failure detection sensor 20a includes the non-telephone function unit 2 described above.
It has the function of detecting 0 failures.

The communication line 21 is a four-line communication line that connects the digital line terminating device 2 and the digital interface control unit 13, and the station power supply power supply unit 22 is a communication line from the communication network.
It has a function of extracting DC power supplied via 21 and converting it to a DC voltage required by the terminal to supply it to the terminal.

The commercial power supply unit 23 has a function of converting the commercial power AC 100V into a DC voltage required by the terminal and supplying it to the charge processing unit 15 or the optical telephone function unit 20 which consumes a large amount of power. . The failure detection sensor 23a has a function of detecting a failure of, for example, a backup battery at the time of a power failure of a commercial power supply (not shown).

The operation of the digital telephone terminal of the present embodiment constructed as described above will be described below.

In the case of a general telephone call, for example, when the handset 18 is picked up, a start detection switch which operates in conjunction with a hook switch (not shown) operates to connect the digital line terminating device 2 and the digital interface controller 13 to each other. Of the four communication lines 21 to be connected, the loop of the two lines to which the DC voltage is applied from the digital line terminating device 2 is closed.

Then, a DC power source flows through the communication line 21, enters the input side of the station power supply unit 22 as it is, and outputs a predetermined DC voltage to the output side. As a result, the device control unit 14 and the digital interface control unit 13 and the like which are operated by the station-supplied power are activated in the power-on reset state, and then the commercial power supply unit 23 is activated by the control of the device control unit 14, so that the entire terminal operates. The digital interface controller is activated.
A digital signal synchronization establishing operation is started between 13 and the digital line terminating device 2 and the line terminating device of a communication network (not shown).

Once synchronization is established, the out channel signal
As will be described later (see FIG. 3), control signals on the communication protocol are transmitted and received between the device control unit 14 and a digital subscriber line exchange (not shown), and as described above, between the other terminals. A communication path is set up.

When the partner terminal responds, the control signal is transmitted and received on the out channel, and the charge processing unit 15 performs the charge storing operation, and at the same time, the conversation is started on the in channel.

Further, in the case of a general incoming call, when an incoming call is received from the communication network, of the four communication lines 21 connecting the digital line terminal 2 and the digital interface controller 13,
A DC voltage is applied from the side of the digital line terminating device 2 to two lines other than the two lines for supplying the DC power, and this is detected by an incoming detection circuit (not shown) in the digital interface control unit 13, and the power is supplied. By operating the start-up circuit, the station power supply unit 22 is started, and thereafter, the communication procedure similar to that of the terminal call is taken to start communication.

Next, the operation when the terminal automatically detects a failure will be described.

There are roughly two types of failure detection methods. One is, for example, a failure detection sensor 18a for monitoring the disconnection of handset cords by mischief, a failure detection sensor 23a such as a backup battery during a power failure, or the like. Even when the terminal is not operating, power is being supplied from the commercial power supply unit 23, and there is a method of constantly monitoring the failure.The other is after the terminal starts operating by calling or receiving a call. As the detection method, for example, a card jam or the like detected by the failure detection sensor 15a of the charge processing section 15 or a failure detection sensor 20 of the non-telephone function section 20.
There is a failure detected by a.

For example, when the failure detection sensor 18a, which is constantly monitored, detects a failure, the device control unit 14 is notified of information via a signal line 18b so that a start-up detection switch (not shown) operates and the device is activated. The control unit 14 is activated.

The detected failure information is immediately called or stored in a memory device (not shown) in the terminal according to a pre-programmed procedure, and automatically called at a necessary time, and described in FIG. The information is transferred to the information receiving device 7 as failure information.

The terminal fault information transfer function is to transmit / receive a digital code signal when a digital one-link path is set up, and an in-channel PB signal or an illustrated channel when an analog communication network exists in the communication path route. FS (Frequency Sift) by not FS signal transceiver
The device control unit 14 has a transmission / reception control function of transmitting and receiving signals.

FIG. 3 shows the INS (I
nformation Network System) is an example of a communication protocol, and represents the signal sequence after the signal synchronization is established between the digital terminal and the digital subscriber line exchange, the solid line indicates the out-channel control signal, and the broken line indicates the in-channel enable signal. It represents an audio signal.

Explaining the connection procedure, first, when the calling terminal sends a calling signal to the originating exchange (step 1), an acceptance signal is returned from the originating exchange (step 2). In response to this, the calling terminal sends communication class information to the exchange (step 3).
Then, the dial enable signal is returned (step 4). Then, the dialing signal is transmitted from the calling terminal (step 5).
Then, the caller identification number (calling ID), the communication class, the callee identification number (calling ID), etc. are transferred as common line signals between stations in the communication network (step 6).

In response to this, the destination exchange sends an incoming call signal to the destination terminal (step 7) to activate the destination terminal, and when the confirmation signal is returned from the destination terminal to the destination exchange (step 8), it is transferred from the originating exchange. By sending the received communication class information to the destination terminal (step 9), what kind of terminal the source terminal requests and what type of communication the destination terminal requests, for example, telephone communication or text communication, The possibility of communication such as facsimile communication is determined, and if mutual communication is possible, a call confirmation is returned to the destination exchange (step 10).

Further, by a human operation or an automatic receiving operation, the destination terminal returns a response signal for starting communication to the destination exchange (step 11), and the end and end communication paths are limited.
Start communication using in-channel (Step 12 ~
15).

Here, although the communication class information is not shown, the transfer function designation information including the transfer speed type, the digital 1 link path setting request, and the like, and the consistency confirmation information for mutually confirming the possibility of communication are included. is there. Therefore, according to this protocol, before the end and end communication paths are set, for example, it is possible to confirm the digital 1-link path and identify the partner terminal as an analog terminal or a digital terminal.

In addition, the consistency confirmation information does not undergo processing such as signal format conversion in the digital communication network.
It is an out-channel signal that is transmitted to the end as it is. The digital switch does not have any particular relation to the usage of the signal, and the user can use it freely. do not need.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the information receiving device 7. In the figure, 24 is a digital interface control unit having substantially the same function as the digital interface control unit 13 shown in FIG. 2, and 25 is a device for controlling the entire device. A control unit, 26 is a code converter, 27 is a changeover switch, and 28 is an analog code converter. These functions will be sequentially described below.

The device control unit 25 decodes the out-channel signal,
Generation control, decoding of in-channel code signal transmitted / received to / from digital terminal, generation control, decoding of in-channel PB signal or FS signal transmitted / received to / from analog terminal, generation control, required received information Accordingly, it has a function of performing control such as transfer control for retransfer to another information receiving device (not shown) and call control.

The code converter 26 has the same function as that of the code converter 16 shown in FIG. 2, and the changeover switch 27 outputs an in-channel analog signal to the communication circuit side or the device control section side. The analog code converter 28 has a function of performing code conversion of an analog signal such as a PB signal transmitted / received to / from the terminal.

Further, 29 is a communication circuit, 30 is a handset, 31 is an operation unit for maintenance personnel to remotely control the terminal under test, or to operate the information receiving device itself, 32 is input / output control of information transmitted / received to / from the terminal An input / output control unit for performing display output, 33 is a display unit for performing display output,
Reference numeral 34 is an information storage unit that stores information, and 35 is a printer unit that prints out as needed.

Next, the digital telephone terminal (hereinafter, simply “terminal”)
1) A, the operation example of the information receiving apparatus 7 when the failure information is transferred will be described.

First, according to the communication procedure described in FIG. 3, when an incoming call signal arrives at the information receiving device 7, the digital interface control unit 24 detects the incoming call and automatically returns a response signal.
The communication procedure with the destination digital exchange 6B shown in the figure is entered, and the device control section 25 is notified of that fact.

In response to this, the device control section 25 judges from the communication class information described with reference to FIG. 3 whether this communication is a digital 1-link path communication. After the changeover switch 27 is switched to the analog code converter 28 side to prepare for transmission / reception with an analog PB signal or the like, in order to receive fault information, a communication state with a calling terminal (not shown) is entered to transmit / receive information.

The device control unit 25 analyzes the failure information and outputs the received information to the display unit 33 and the printer unit 35 via the input / output control unit 32 as necessary, or temporarily stores it in the information storage unit 34 for operation. Depending on the operation of the unit 31, it is output to each of the output units, or is automatically called to the preset transfer destination through the digital interface control unit 24 and is retransferred.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of automatically transferring the fault information and the like from the terminal 1A, which explains the operation of the first embodiment corresponding to the first claim of the present invention.

When, for example, the failure detection sensor 18a shown in FIG. 2 detects a failure (step 41), the terminal 1A automatically makes a call (step 42) and makes a digital 1 link path setting request (step 43). At the same time, the subscriber number of the information receiving device 7 which is programmed in advance is automatically dialed (step 44).

Next, by the communication procedure shown in FIG.
When the link path is confirmed (step 45) and the response signal from the information receiving device 7 is received (step 46), the terminal 1A
The information receiving device 7 and the information receiving device 7 enter a digital code signal communication operation using the in-channel path, and the fault information is transferred from the terminal 1A (step 47).

On the other hand, if the digital 1 link path is not set up, when an out-channel signal indicating that an analog network intervenes is received from the digital subscriber exchange 6A shown in FIG. 1 (step 48), the terminal 1A analog network. When the digital subscriber exchange 6A is notified of the communication by the out-channel signal (step 49) and the response signal is received (step 50), the analog signal such as the PB signal or the FS signal is received using the in-channel path. The failure information is transferred to the information receiving device 7 (step 51).

After the transfer is completed, the communication path disconnection procedure is entered to end the communication (step 52).

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of the information receiving device 7 at the time of information reception and information retransmission, for explaining the operation of the second embodiment corresponding to the second claim of the present invention.

At the same time that the information receiving device 7 detects an incoming call (step 53), whether or not it is a digital 1 link path is identified by the out-channel communication class signal explained in FIG. 3 (step 54).

In the case of the digital 1-link path, the response is automatically returned (step 55), the digital mode is selected by the information receiving device 7 (step 56), and the communication for receiving the fault information and the like is performed by the digital code signal. Then, the necessary information is received (step 57).

If it is not the digital 1-link path, the response is automatically returned (step 58), the analog mode is selected (step 59), and the failure information by the analog PB signal or the like is received (step 60).

Then, the call disconnection procedure is entered (step 61), and the line is released.

Next, the information receiving device 7 determines whether or not to retransmit the received information based on a preset standard (step 6).
2) If not re-transferred, output to various input / output means such as the display (step 63) and end (step 64). If it is determined to re-transfer, a digital 1 link path is requested to the transfer destination stored in advance,
Automatic calling and automatic dialing (step 65).

Then, when the digital 1 link path is set (step 66), it waits for reception of the partner response signal (step 67), and the transfer information from the terminal 1A is retransferred by the digital code signal (step 68).

Further, when the digital 1 link path cannot be set, the information receiving device 7 is notified that the communication is also performed through the analog network (step 69), waits for a response from the other party (step 70), and the received information is transmitted as an analog signal. Retransfer is performed (step 71).

When the information transfer is completed, the procedure for disconnecting the call is started (step 72) and the process is completed.

According to each of the above embodiments, the digital communication network accommodates
By having a maintenance system configuration consisting of a communication terminal having a digital subscriber line interface and an information receiving device, and having both the communication terminal and the information receiving device a transmission / reception function for digital code signals and analog PB signals, etc. Since both the originating and terminating terminals can identify whether or not the digital 1 link path is established, whether the fault information or the like is transferred by a digital code signal or an analog PB signal is determined by the route of the communication path. , There is an effect that can be automatically selected. Further, there is also an effect that the communication terminal accommodated in the analog network can easily transfer the failure information and the like to the information receiving device by using the analog PB signal and the like.

Furthermore, since the information receiving device is given a subscriber number and accommodated in the communication network, modification of the communication terminal and information receiving device is not required when modifying the maintenance / operation method or adding functions. ， There is also an effect that it can be handled only by changing.

In addition, by providing the information receiving device with a re-transfer function, centralized management of maintenance is possible by re-transferring information when there are few maintenance personnel at night or on holidays.
Further, by using the communication class signal, the information receiving device side can identify whether it is a test incoming call for fault information transfer or a general incoming call. Since the information receiving device can make a judgment before setting the in-channel communication path,
There is also an effect that erroneous connection can be automatically prevented.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, there is a remarkable effect that a remote maintenance / operation system of a communication terminal device for communication can be realized quickly and efficiently which can be realized without modifying the exchange equipment.

Further, when an analog network intervenes, or because failure information or the like can be received from a communication terminal accommodated in the analog network, the maintenance / operation method can be extended to existing analog terminals, and an information receiving device as necessary. There is an advantage that the maintenance can be centralized regardless of the communication path to be connected and the maintenance and operation costs can be reduced by re-transferring from.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a connection configuration diagram of a maintenance / operation system of a communication terminal device showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a concrete configuration example of a digital telephone terminal, and FIG. 3 is an operation of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an INS communication protocol for explaining the above, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an information receiving device, and FIG. 5 is a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart for explaining the second embodiment of the present invention when the information receiving apparatus receives information and retransmits information. 1A, 1B: Digital terminal, 3A, 3B: Analog terminal, 4: Digital communication network, 6A, 6B: Digital subscriber switch, 7: Information receiving device, 8: Analog communication network, 9A, 9B: Analog subscriber switch, 10, 11A, 11B, 12: Communication path, 13, 24: Digital interface control unit, 14, 25: Device control unit, 15a, 18a, 19a, 20a,
23a: failure detection sensor, 27: changeover switch, 31: operating part,
32: Input / output control unit.

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI Technical display location H04L 29/14 H04M 3/10

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A communication having a communication terminal device, an information receiving device for receiving failure information transmitted from the communication terminal device, and a communication network facility for connecting the information receiving device and the communication terminal device. In a remote maintenance / operation system of a communication terminal device, the communication terminal device is accommodated in a digital communication network or an analog communication network, and the communication terminal device has a digital or analog applicable subscriber line interface and a failure Detecting means and automatic transmitting / receiving means are provided, and the information receiving device is housed in a digital communication network, and the information receiving device has a digital subscriber line interface, an automatic transmitting / receiving means, received information processing means and storage means. Is provided, and the communication terminal device and the information receiving device are provided by a general communication terminal protocol in the communication network equipment. A communication path is set so that the communication network through the communication terminal device and the information receiving device is a digital terminal if the communication terminal device corresponding to the calling terminal is a digital terminal. Attempt, if that is not possible, set a communication path through the digital communication network and the analog communication network, and if the communication terminal device is an analog terminal, set a communication path through the analog communication network and the digital communication network. After that, the failure information detected by the detecting means in the communication terminal device is automatically transferred to the information receiving device. 2. A communication having a communication terminal device, an information receiving device for receiving failure information transmitted from the communication terminal device, and a communication network facility for connecting the information receiving device and the communication terminal device. In a remote maintenance / operation system of a communication terminal device, the communication terminal device is accommodated in a digital communication network or an analog communication network, and the communication terminal device has a digital or analog applicable subscriber line interface and a failure Detecting means and automatic transmission / reception means are provided, and the information receiving device is accommodated in a digital communication network, and the information receiving device includes a digital subscriber line interface, an automatic transmission / reception means and determination of necessity of retransmission. A reception information processing unit and a storage unit are provided so that the communication terminal device and the information receiving device are integrated in the communication network facility. Connected by a communication terminal protocol,
At the same time, if the communication terminal device and the information receiving device are communication networks, and the communication terminal device corresponding to the calling terminal is a digital terminal, an attempt is made to set up a communication path through the digital network only. If the communication terminal device is an analog terminal, a communication path passing through the digital communication network and the analog communication network is set. The failure information detected by the detection means in the communication terminal device is automatically transferred to the information receiving device, and is retransferred from the information receiving device to another information receiving device as necessary. Remote maintenance and operation method for communication terminal devices.