JP2000307577A - Monitoring and control support equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: The present invention relates to a monitoring control support device that is connected to a single or a plurality of devices and a plurality of terminals via a communication line, and transfers information related to monitoring and control of these devices. It is an object of the present invention to operate stably even when any terminal or a communication link formed between the terminals has a congestion or a failure. SOLUTION: Plural M devices 10 to be monitored and controlled are provided.
Queues 11-1 to 11-m of a plurality m (<M) individually corresponding to attributes of -1 to 10-M, and a plurality of messages individually given by these devices 10-1 to 10-M. m of the queues 11-1 to 11-m, the message collection unit 12 accumulates the message in a queue corresponding to the attribute of the device from which the message is transmitted, and the queues 11-1 to 11-m And a delivery unit 14 for sequentially reading the individually stored messages and delivering the messages to a plurality of N terminals 13-1 to 13-N to be used for monitoring control.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a supervisory control support device which is connected to a single or a plurality of devices and a plurality of terminals via a communication line and transfers information related to supervisory control of these devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, communication devices have been improved in performance and reduced in size by applying advanced digital transmission technology and information processing technology. In addition, many of the exchanges, relay stations, and radio stations in which such communication devices are installed are unmanned, and the monitoring and control are performed remotely and collectively by applying the advanced technology described above. Adaptation to competition and liberalization of markets among multiple telecommunications carriers is being actively pursued.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional monitoring and control support device. In the figure, a plurality of communication devices 90-1
To 90-M and the plurality of terminals 91-1 to 91-N are connected to the monitoring and control support apparatus 100 via communication lines 92-1 to 92-M and 93-1 to 93-N, respectively. Monitoring control support device 10
0 indicates the communication lines 92-1 to 92-M and 93-1 to 93 described above.
Together with the network processor 101 connected to the
2, a processor (CPU) 103, a floppy disk drive (FDD) 104, a hard disk drive (HDD) 105, and a keyboard (KB) 10
6, a mouse 107 and a display device (CRT) 108.

[0004] Such a monitoring and control support apparatus 100
With respect to the above, software for achieving the processing described later is mounted on the processor 103, but the hardware is configured as a general-purpose workstation having a communication port or other information processing device. In the monitoring and control support device having such a configuration, the processor 103 is laid between the communication devices 90-1 to 90-M and the terminals 91-1 to 91-N by cooperating with the network processor 101 at the time of startup. A communication link (path) is formed on the communication lines 92-1 to 92-M and 93-1 to 93-N.

[0005] The network processor 101 takes a communication interface based on a signal system and a communication procedure applied to the communication lines 92-1 to 92-M and 93-1 to 93-N. Since the method is not related to the present invention, the description is omitted below.

As shown in FIG. 12, communication devices 90-1 to 90-M are stored in a specific storage area of the main storage of the processor 103.
(Hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that it indicates a failure or other event that has occurred in any communication device) between the terminal 91-1 and the terminal 91-1-N. Queue 103A is arranged in advance. Under the communication interface performed by the network processor 101 as described above, the processor 103 sequentially fetches a message given from any of these communication devices 90-1 to 90-M via a corresponding communication line, and waits for a message. It is stored in the matrix 103A (FIG. 12 (1), FIG. 13 (1)).

Further, the processor 103
3A, the above-mentioned messages are sequentially read out based on the first-in first-out method, and the terminal 91-1 is read out.
The message is delivered to a desired terminal among the 91-N (FIG. 12 (2), FIG. 13 (2)). Note that, for simplicity, the number of terminals to which these messages are distributed is assumed here to be plural for each message.

[0008] Further, the processor 103 waits for a response (FIG. 13 (3)) to be given from the terminal, which is the destination of the message thus distributed, via the uplink of the corresponding communication link, and receives the response. Upon recognition, the subsequent message connected to the queue 103A is similarly delivered (FIG. 13 (4)). On the other hand, the terminals 91-1 to 91-N are provided to a man-machine interface for setting commands and control information related to monitoring and control of the communication devices 90-1 to 90-M.

These commands and control information are transmitted to the communication devices 90-1 to 90-M under reversible processing performed by the processor 103 in cooperation with the network processor 101.
Of these, it is appropriately distributed to the communication device to be the destination.

Note that the floppy disk drive 104
And the hard disk drive 105 includes the communication device 9
These communication devices 90-1 to 90-M together with the delivery form and destination of the above-described messages, commands and control information between 0-1 to 90-M and terminals 91-1 to 91-N. And attributes unique to the terminals 91-1 to 91-N are registered as a system configuration related to the monitoring control, and the distribution form and the like of these are appropriately referred to by the processor 103.

Further, among the terminals 91-1 to 91-N, for example,
The terminal 91-2 is used when the storage area of the memory or other resources is insufficient in the process of performing some processing according to the instruction given by the operator, or when the priority of the processing is high and the processing amount is excessive. In this case, a congestion state occurs in which the capture of the message and other information given via the communication line 93-2 is suspended. In the following, a terminal in such a congested state is simply referred to as a “congested terminal”.

On the other hand, in the monitoring control support apparatus 100, FIG.
As shown by shading 2, many messages accumulate in the queue 103 </ b> A arranged in the main memory of the processor 103, so that the processor 103 also enters a congestion state. However, the processor 103 does not
During the period in which any message is stored in the queue 103A, the time during which the value of the pointer indicating the area to be read out of the area of the queue 103A is not continuously updated is monitored.

When the time exceeds a predetermined upper limit value, the processor 103 cooperates with the network processor 101 via the bus 102 to connect the communication lines 93-1 to 93-N. , Queue 103
A communication line 93-2 (hereinafter simply referred to as a "congested line") in which transmission of a message to be read first from A is suspended or a response to the message is not obtained is specified.

Further, the processor 103 releases the communication link (path) formed between the terminal 91-2 and the opposite terminal 91-2 via the congested line specified as described above. In other words, if any terminal that is the destination of the message stored first in the queue 103A corresponds to a congested terminal, or if a communication line installed between the terminals corresponds to a congested line, Since the communication link (path) formed on this communication line is automatically released, the queue 10
The messages stored in 3A are sequentially transmitted to terminals other than the congested terminal.

The keyboard 106, the mouse 107, and the display device 108 are provided to a man-machine interface for operation and maintenance of the monitoring control support device 100 under the control of the processor 103.

[0016]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the congested terminal is disconnected by automatically releasing the communication link formed between the congested terminal and the supervisory control support device 100. .

That is, in the congested terminal, the processing related to the monitoring control that has been performed earlier is forcibly interrupted, and the monitoring control is performed by the monitoring control support apparatus 100 in accordance with the operation performed by the operator. If the call was not made again, it would not resume. In order to avoid congestion of the monitoring and control support apparatus 100 without releasing the communication link as described above, for example, a message to be delivered to each of the terminals 91-1 to 91-N is N queues which are individually stored are provided, and the messages stored in these queues are individually read out and the corresponding communication links (communication lines 93-1 to 93-1) are connected.
93-N), a technology (hereinafter, simply referred to as “alternative technology”) achieved by mounting software comprising N processes sequentially read out on the processor 103 is applicable.

However, when such an alternative technique is applied, for example, the number N of the terminals 91-1 to 91-N can be as large as several hundreds, so that the above-mentioned N queues are required. Many resources are allocated to processes and the processor 103 must be allocated to these processes in real time. In addition, the management of these resources and processes may be hampered by restrictions such as specifications of an operating system that can be mounted on the processor 103.

Furthermore, in order for the processing related to a number of processes to be performed in parallel by the processor 103,
In general, the greater the number of these processes, the more resource loss must be tolerated. Thus, alternative techniques, while technically feasible, have in practice been difficult to apply due to performance, cost and other constraints.

According to the present invention, there is provided a monitoring and control system which operates stably even when a device to be monitored and controlled, a terminal or a communication line provided for the monitoring and control enters a congested state, or a failure occurs in any of them. An object is to provide a support device.

[0021]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of m (<M) queues 11-1 to 11-11 individually corresponding to attributes of a plurality of M devices 10-1 to 10-M to be monitored and controlled. -m and multiple M
Messages provided individually by the devices 10-1 to 10-M and related to monitoring and control are stored in a plurality of m queues 11-1.
Message collecting means 1 for storing in a queue corresponding to the attribute of the device that is the source of the message, of
2 and the messages individually stored in the plurality of m queues 11-1 to 11-m are sequentially read out, and these messages are delivered to a plurality of N terminals 13-1 to 13-N which are provided for monitoring and control. And a distribution unit 14 for performing the operation.

The invention according to claim 2 provides a plurality of m waiting units individually corresponding to the form of identification information that can be included in a message given by a plurality of M devices 20-1 to 20-M to be monitored and controlled. Matrices 21-1 to 21-m and multiple M devices 2
0-1 to 20-M, and a plurality of m queues 21-1 to 21-m.
Among them, the message collecting means 22 for storing the message in the queue corresponding to the form of the identification information included in the message, and the messages individually stored in the plurality of m queues 21-1 to 21-m are sequentially read out. And a distribution means 24 for distributing the message to a plurality of N terminals 23-1 to 23-N provided for monitoring and control.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the attributes of a plurality of M devices 30-1 to 30-M to be monitored and controlled and the form of identification information included in a message given by these devices are described. Multiple m queues 3 corresponding to combinations
1-1 to 31-m, and messages provided individually by the plurality of M devices 30-1 to 30-M and related to monitoring and control, the messages being sent to the plurality of m queues 31-1 to 31-m. Message collection means 32 for storing in a queue corresponding to a combination of the attribute of the device that is the transmission source of the message and the form of the identification information included in this message;
1-1 to 31-m, the messages individually stored are sequentially read, and these messages are sent to a plurality N
And a distribution means 34 for distributing to the terminals 33-1 to 33-N.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the supervisory control support apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the plurality of m queues 11-1 to 11-m, 21-1 to 21-
m, 31-1 to 31-m are a plurality of N terminals 13-1 to 13-N,
23-1 to 23-N and 33-1 to 33-N, respectively, and the message collecting means 12, 22, 32 includes a plurality of M devices 10-1 to 10-M, 20-1 to 20-M. -M, 30-1 to 30-M
N for each message given by
Terminals 13-1 to 13-N, 23-1 to 23-N, 33-1 to 33
-N, specify the attributes of all terminals to which the message is to be delivered, and specify multiple queues to be stored.
Queues 11-1 to 11-m, 21-1 to 21-m, 31-1 to
31-m, the queues are individually set in queues corresponding to the specified attributes.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the supervisory control support apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, a plurality of m queues 11-1 to 11-m, 21-1 to 21-
m, 31-1 to 31-m, a monitoring means 41 for identifying a queue in which some messages are accumulated and reading is stalled, and when any queue is identified by the monitoring means 41, A queue dividing means for dividing the queue into small queues individually corresponding to the attributes of the messages stored in the queue. Instead of the queue, instead of the messages stored in some queue, it is assumed that the messages stored in the small queue generated by dividing the queue by the queue dividing means are to be distributed. Features.

In the monitoring and control supporting apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the queues 11-1 to 11-m individually correspond to the attributes of the apparatuses 10-1 to 10-M to be monitored and controlled. Be prepared. Further, these queues 11-1 to 11-m
Is smaller than the number M of the devices 10-1 to 10-M described above. In addition, the message collection means 12 includes the devices 10-1 to 10-1.
The messages individually given by 10-M and related to the supervisory control are stored in the queues 11-1 to 11-m corresponding to the attributes of the device from which the messages are transmitted. The distributing means 14 is configured to execute these queues 11-1 to
11-m sequentially read messages stored individually,
In addition, the data is distributed to the terminals 13-1 to 13-N which are provided for the monitoring control.

That is, the messages given by the devices 10-1 to 10-M are distributed to queues 11-1 to 11-m of several m smaller than the number of these devices 10-1 to 10-M. After being stored, they are sequentially distributed to the terminals 13-1 to 13-N. Therefore, even when the terminal 13-1 to 13-N or the communication link formed between these terminals 13-1 to 13-N has a failure or congestion, the queue 1
Among the messages 1-1 to 11-m, which are delivered via the corresponding communication link or stored in a queue in which no message to be delivered to the corresponding terminal is stored, such a message is included. The distribution is performed via fewer resources as the number of attributes of the devices 10-1 to 10-M is smaller without being hindered by a failure or congestion.

In the monitoring and control supporting apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the queues 21-1 to 21-m are included in messages given by the apparatuses 20-1 to 20-M to be monitored and controlled. It is provided corresponding to the mode of the obtained identification information individually. Further, the message collecting means 22 includes the device 20
The messages individually given by -1 to 20-M are stored in the queues 21-1 to 21-m corresponding to the identification information included in the messages. Further, the distribution means 24 is provided with these queues 21-1 to 21-m
Are sequentially read out and distributed to the terminals 23-1 to 23-N which are provided for monitoring and control.

That is, the messages given by the devices 20-1 to 20-M are queues 21-1 to 21-2 individually corresponding to the forms of identification information that can be included in these messages.
After being distributed and accumulated in 1-m, the terminals 23-1 to 23-1 are sequentially stored.
It is delivered to -N. Therefore, even during a period in which a failure or congestion occurs in the terminals 23-1 to 23-N or the communication link formed between the terminals 23-1 to 23-N, the queue 21-1 ２１21-m, messages stored in a queue in which no message to be delivered via the corresponding communication link or to be delivered to the corresponding terminal is stored are due to such a failure or congestion. Without any hindrance, the smaller the number of aspects of the identification information that can be included in these messages, the less the resources are delivered.

In the monitoring and control assisting apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the queues 31-1 to 31-m include the attributes of the devices 30-1 to 30-M to be monitored and controlled, and the attributes of these devices. It is provided corresponding to a combination with the form of identification information that can be included in the message given by 30-1 to 30-M.

Further, the message collecting means 32
The messages individually given by 0-1 to 30-M are stored in the queues 31-1 to 31-m, and the attribute of the device that is the source of the message and the form of the identification information included in the message are Is stored in the queue corresponding to the combination of. Further, the distribution means 34 is provided for these queues 31
The messages individually stored in -1 to 31-m are sequentially read out and distributed to the terminals 33-1 to 33-N used for monitoring and control.

That is, the messages given by the devices 30-1 to 30-M include not only the attributes of the devices that are the transmission sources, but also the types of identification information that can be included in these messages. After being distributed and accumulated in 31-m, they are sequentially distributed to the terminals 33-1 to 33-N. Therefore, the terminals 33-1 to 33-N or these terminals 33-1 to 33-N
33-N, the number of messages whose delivery is delayed due to a failure or congestion occurring in a communication link formed in the communication link,
It is a small value with higher accuracy than the monitoring control support device described in 2.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the monitoring and control support apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the plurality of m queues 1
1-1 to 11-m, 21-1 to 21-m, and 31-1 to 31-m are for terminals 13-1 to 13-N, 23-1 to 23-N, and 33-1 to 33-N. Provided individually corresponding to attributes. In addition, the message collecting means 12, 22, 32 includes the devices 10-1 to 10-M, 20
For each message given by -1 to 20-M, 30-1 to 30-M, terminals 13-1 to 13-N, 23-1 to 2
Among the 3-N, 33-1 to 33-N, the attributes of all terminals to which the message is to be delivered are specified.

Further, the message collecting means 12, 22,
32 is a queue 11-1 to 11-m, 21-1 to 21-m, 3
Among the 1-1 to 31-m, a queue in which these messages are to be stored individually is set in a queue individually corresponding to the attribute specified as described above. That is, the device 1
Each message given by 0-1 to 10-M, 20-1 to 20-M, and 30-1 to 30-M is a plurality of m queues individually corresponding to the attributes of the terminal to which the message is to be delivered. 11-1 to 11
-m, 21-1 to 21-m, 31-1 to 31-m, and after being accumulated, sequentially, the terminals 13-1 to 13-N, 23-1 to 23-N,
It is distributed to 33-1 to 33-N.

Therefore, as compared with the monitoring and control support apparatus according to the first to third aspects, distribution is performed in a state where a failure or congestion occurs in a distribution destination terminal or a communication link formed with the terminal. The expected value of the number of stuck messages is reduced. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a monitoring and control support apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the monitoring means 41 comprises:
Of 1-1 to 11-m, 21-1 to 21-m, and 31-1 to 31-m,
Identify the queue in which any messages are stored and reads are stuck. When a queue is identified by the monitoring unit 41, the queue dividing unit 42 divides the queue into small queues individually corresponding to the attributes of the messages stored in the queue.

The distribution means 13, 23, 33 replaces the message stored in any of the queues described above with a small queue generated by dividing the queue by the queue division means 44. The stored messages are targeted for distribution. That is, among messages stored in a queue in which some messages to be delivered to a terminal in which a failure or congestion has occurred or to be delivered via a communication link in which a failure or congestion has occurred, such a terminal is included. Messages other than those to be delivered to or over a communication link,
It is distributed via the small queue described above.

Therefore, as compared with the monitoring and control assisting device according to the first to fourth aspects, it is possible to perform the monitoring control with higher accuracy and more stably.

[0039]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment corresponding to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention. In the figure, components having the same functions and configurations as those shown in FIG. 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted here. The difference between this embodiment and the conventional example shown in FIG. 11 is that a monitoring control support device 60 is provided instead of the monitoring control support device 100.

The difference between the configuration of the supervisory control support device 60 and that of the supervisory control support device 100 is that a processor (CPU) 61 is provided instead of the processor 103 and a network processor 62 is provided instead of the network processor 101. It is in the point. The correspondence between the present embodiment and the block diagram shown in FIG.
-1 to 90-M are devices 10-1 to 10-M, 20-1 to 20-M, 3
Queues 61A-1 to 61-6 corresponding to 0-1 to 30-M, which will be described later.
1A-m, 71-1 to 71-p are queues 11-1 to 11-m, 2
Corresponding to 1-1 to 21-m and 31-1 to 31-m, the network processor 62 and the processor 61 are composed of message collecting means 12, 22, 32 and distribution means 14, 24, 34.
, The terminals 91-1 to 91-N are the terminals 13-1 to 13-N,
The processor 61 corresponds to the monitoring means 41 and the queue dividing means 42, corresponding to 23-1 to 23-N and 33-1 to 33-N.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the present embodiment corresponding to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention. FIG.
It is a figure which shows the flow of the message in this embodiment corresponding to the invention of Claims 1-3.

Hereinafter, claims 1 to 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The operation of the present embodiment corresponding to the invention described in (1) will be described.
In the main memory of the processor 61, as shown in FIG.
2 are provided in place of the queue 138A shown in FIG. 2, and the communication lines 92-1 to 92-M are classified according to predetermined attributes, and individually correspond to the "input route identifiers" 1 to m. Matrices 61A-1 to 61A-m are arranged.

For the sake of simplicity, here, for example, the communication device 90 connected via the communication lines 92-1 to 92-M and to be monitored and controlled is described.
It is assumed that -1 to 90-M is an established "area". Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, the main memory of the processor 61 includes:-"inbound path identifiers" 1 to m described above;-of the queues 61A-1 to 61A-m, "Queue identifiers" indicating queues individually corresponding to "inbound route identifiers" 1 to m; and individual queues indicated by these "queue identifiers" in communication lines 93-1 to 93-N. A distribution control table 61B in which “delivery destination identifiers” each indicating a communication line individually laid between one or a plurality of distribution destinations of the messages stored in the queue are arranged in advance.

Here, the value of the “queue identifier” is herein described for the sake of simplicity.
Assume equal to 1-m. Further, among the above-mentioned “ingress path identifiers”, “inbound path identifiers” respectively assigned to the communication lines 92-1 to 92-M are given in advance as known information.

Further, the network processor 62
From the communication devices 90-1 to 90-M, communication lines 92-1 to 90-M, respectively.
4 (1) received via the CPU 102-M and received by the processor 61 via the bus 102.
Along with this message, an “inbound path identifier” assigned in advance to the communication line used for receiving the message is given (FIG. 4 (2)).

The processor 61 uses the network processor 62 to send some message and the "inbound route identifier".
Are given, the queues 61A-1 to 61A-6
Within 1A-m, a queue indicated by a “queue identifier” registered in the distribution control table 61B corresponding to the “inbound path identifier” (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “specific queue”) is specified. Then, the message corresponding to the "specific queue" is stored (FIG. 3 (2)).

Further, the processor 61 reads out messages stored individually in the queues indicated by "queue identifiers" 1 to m at a predetermined frequency based on the first-in first-out method (FIG. 3). (3))
The process and the process of acquiring one or more “delivery destination identifiers” registered in the distribution control table 61B corresponding to the “queue identifier” indicating the corresponding queue (FIG. 3 (4)) are performed. .

Further, the processor 61 cooperates with the network processor 62 via the bus 102, thereby indicating each of the communication lines 93-1 to 93-N with the individual "distribution destination identifier" thus obtained. The read message is distributed to the communication line to be read (FIG. 3 (5), FIG. 4 (3)).
The processor 61 waits for each of the distributed messages until a response is obtained from all of the terminals (communication lines) to which the messages have been distributed.
Of the subsequent messages stored in the queue in which the corresponding message is stored (FIG. 3).
(6)).

As described above, in this embodiment, the queue 61
A-1 to 61A-m are provided corresponding to the respective attributes described above, and the number m is plural, but the terminal 91-1 to be provided for monitoring and controlling the communication devices 90-1 to 90-M. The number is set smaller than the total number N of ９１91-N. That is, the terminals 91-1 to 9-1
1-N falls into a congested state due to a shortage of resources or the like, or when any of the communication lines 92-1 to 92-N fails, the number of messages whose delivery is suspended is as follows: In order for messages to be delivered to the terminals 91-1 to 91-N to be distributed and accumulated in the queues 61A-1 to 61A-m,
The value is smaller than the conventional example.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the communication line 9
The communication link once formed in 3-1 to 93-N is not released as in the conventional example, and the delivery of the message to the normally operating terminal among the terminals 91-1 to 91-N is accurate. Continued higher. In the present embodiment, the communication devices 90-1 to 90-M that can be message transmission sources, or the communication lines 92-1 to 92-M laid between the communication devices 90-1 to 90-M. Queue 6 individually corresponding to the attributes of M
1A-1 to 61-m are provided.

However, the queues 61A-1 to 61A-m are:
As indicated by broken lines in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), they may be provided as queues individually corresponding to the “identification information” added to the message by the communication device that is the transmission source. When such a configuration is applied, the network processor 62 is connected to the communication lines 92-1 to 92-1.
The message is given to the processor 61 without adding any information to the individual message given via 2-M. The processor 61 converts the “identification information” added to this message into the “input route identifier” described above. The communication devices 90-1 to 90-9 to be monitored and controlled by being applied instead.
Flexible adaptation is possible not only for physical attributes of 0-M but also for attributes that are logical and can be updated as needed in the course of maintenance and operation.

Further, the “entry route identifier” may be replaced with a combination of the above-described attribute and the above-mentioned “identification information”. Also, when such a configuration is applied, both the physical attribute and the logical attribute and the “entry path identifier”
The correspondence relationship between the hardware and the actual hardware configuration and arrangement (sites where the communication devices 90-1 to 90-M and the terminals 91-1 to 91-N are installed, etc.) is ensured, and unnecessary Since a logical operation is unambiguously determined without any intervention, simplification of the procedure of processing to be performed by the network processor 62 and the processor 61 and improvement of responsiveness can be achieved.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the identification information of the area where the communication devices 90-1 to 90-M are installed is applied as the attribute. However, this attribute includes, for example: the hardware configuration of the communication devices 90-1 to 90-M (including the signal system of the line to be connected, the position of the node and communication terminal connected via each line) ), Scale, • form of communication service to be provided by the communication devices 90-1 to 90-M, • form of maintenance and operation to be provided to the communication devices 90-1 to 90-M, and any other. It may be given in advance as a value corresponding to the item.

Further, this attribute is, for example, a priority assigned in advance to a communication device that is a transmission source of a message to be delivered (it may be a communication line formed with this communication device). The information may be identification information included in such a message, a value obtained based on a predetermined communication control procedure, or any other value. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a message flow in the present embodiment corresponding to the invention described in FIG.

Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6. FIG. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the main memory of the processor 61 has the following attributes (here, for simplicity, the communication device 90
It is assumed that any one of -1 to 90-M indicates an area L1 to Lm where the site is located. ) "1" to "m", and "priority" P previously assigned to the terminals 91-1 to 91-N.
Queues 71-1 to 71-p (p = mn) individually corresponding to all combinations with 1 to Pn are queues 61A-1 to 61-61.
It is arranged in place of Am.

Further, the main memory of the processor 61 has the configuration shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), it does not correspond to the above-mentioned "ingress path identifier" at all, and individually corresponds to these "priorities" P1 to Pn in addition to the "priorities" P1 to Pn described above. A distribution control table 71 in which “queue identifiers” and “destination identifiers” indicating the queues and communication lines that have been registered are arranged in advance.

Further, the processor 61 includes a terminal 91-1.
The above-mentioned “priority” is given as known information in advance for all of the items ９１91-N. On the other hand, the network processor 62 receives the individual messages given from the communication devices 90-1 to 90-M via the communication lines 92-1 to 92-M, respectively (FIG. 6 (1)), and This message is given to the processor 61 via the processor 61 (FIG. 6 (2)).

When a certain message is given by the network processor 62, the processor 61 controls the distribution according to the "priority" of the terminal to which the message is to be distributed among the queues 71-1 to 71-p. A queue indicated by a “queue identifier” registered in the table 72 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “specific queue”) is specified (FIG. 3A), and the queue corresponds to the “specific queue”. The message is stored (FIG. 3 (2)).

The processor 61 has a queue 71-1.
With respect to .about.71-p, at a predetermined frequency, individually stored messages are read out based on a first-in first-out method (FIG. 3 (3)), and a "queue identifier" indicating a corresponding queue. Or a plurality of “destination identifiers” registered in the distribution control table 72 corresponding to
(FIG. 3 (4)).

Further, the processor 61 cooperates with the network processor 62 via the bus 102 to indicate each of the “delivery destination identifiers” thus obtained among the communication lines 93-1 to 93-N. The read message is distributed to the communication line to be used (FIG. 3 (5), FIG. 6 (3)).
It should be noted that the processor 61 waits until the response is obtained from all of the terminals (communication lines) to which the message has been delivered, and the corresponding message in the queues 71-1 to 71-p is output. The delivery of the subsequent messages stored in the stored queue is suspended (FIG. 3 (6)).

As described above, in this embodiment, the queue 71
-1 to 71-p are provided corresponding to each "priority" given to the terminals 91-1 to 91-N in advance, so that the number p is plural, As in the embodiment corresponding to the present invention, the number is set to be smaller than the total number N of these terminals 91-1 to 91-N. That is, the terminals 91-1 to 9-1
1-N is in a congested state due to lack of resources, etc., and eventually the number of messages whose delivery is suspended when a failure occurs in any of the communication lines 92-1 to 92-N. Is smaller than that of the conventional example because the messages to be delivered to the terminals 91-1 to 91-N are distributed and accumulated in the queues 71-1 to 71-p.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the communication line 9
The communication link once formed in 3-1 to 93-N is not released as in the conventional example, and the delivery of the message to the normally operating terminal among the terminals 91-1 to 91-N is accurate. Continued higher. In the present embodiment, the queue 71
-1 to 71-p are provided corresponding to the "priorities" P1 to Pn previously assigned to the terminals 91-1 to 91-N.

However, such queues 71-1 to 71
-p is not limited to the “priority” P1 to Pn described above, but
-1 to 91-N may be provided corresponding to some attributes. FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart of the present embodiment corresponding to the fifth aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a message flow in this embodiment according to the fifth aspect of the present invention.
Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 5, FIG. 8 and FIG.
The operation of the present embodiment corresponding to the invention described in (1) will be described.
The difference between the present embodiment and the embodiment corresponding to the invention described in claims 1 to 4 is that a congestion state or a failure that has occurred in the terminals 91-1 to 91-N or the communication lines 93-1 to 93-N. Due to
When the queues 61A-1 to 61-m and 71-1 to 71-p are congested or may be congested, the processor 6
1 is that the following processing is performed.

For the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that this embodiment is configured by applying the invention described in claim 5 to the embodiment corresponding to the invention described in claim 4.
In the main memory of the processor 61, as shown in FIG. 10, for a unique “queue identifier” that individually indicates the queues 71-1 to 71-p, a queue indicated by the corresponding “queue identifier” All of the "priorities" of the messages that can be stored in the queue; and of these messages, messages having the above-mentioned "priorities" are to be stored based on a procedure described later (hereinafter, "sub-queue"). A queue subdivision table 81 in which “subqueue queue identifiers” indicating “queues” are registered in advance is arranged.

Note that, for simplicity, the "priority" of the above-mentioned message is assumed to be equal to the priority of a communication line laid between each terminal to be a distribution destination. The processor 61 outputs the messages stored in the queues 71-1 to 71-p to the desired terminals 91-1 to 91-N, respectively.
It is determined whether or not the message has been normally delivered to the address (for example, whether or not responses have been received within a predetermined period from all the terminals of the delivery destination for the message delivered in advance) (FIG. 8 ( 1)).

Further, as a result of the above-mentioned determination, the processor 61, for example, responds to a message read out from the queue 71-1 and distributed to the terminals 91-1 to 91-3 in advance. No response is received from any of the terminals 91-1 to 91-3 of the
The processing shown in (1) to (3) is performed. (1) Among the records of the queue subdivision table 81, a record corresponding to the “queue identifier” indicating the queue 71-1 (hereinafter, referred to as “specific record”) is specified (FIG. 8 (2)). .

(2) At this point, the “priority” of all the messages stored in the queue 71-1 is referred to, and the remaining ones are excluded by excluding the duplicates among the “priorities”. All "priorities" (here for simplicity,
Assume that there are only “1” and “2”. ), I) Generate an individually corresponding "subdivision queue" (FIG. 8)
Along with (3)), ii) In the corresponding field of the particular record, enter the “sub-queue identifier” (here, “Q _S1 ”, “Q _S2 ” (FIG. 8 (4)).

(3) For all the messages stored in the queue 71-1 at this point, i) identification of individual "priority" and ii) specific record corresponding to the "priority" 8 is stored in the sub-queue indicated by the "sub-queue identifier", and iii) the corresponding word in the queue 71-1 is deleted (FIG. 8).
(5), FIG. 9 (1)).

These "sub-queues" are generated when the processor 61 issues a system call to capture a memory block managed as a resource by the operating system. Further, the “subdivided queue identifier” indicating the “subdivided queue” is given as a pointer indicating the position on the main memory of the memory block captured as described above.

By the way, the processor 61 determines at a predetermined frequency whether or not the "subdivided queue identifier" is stored in any of the records of the subdivided queue table 81 (FIG. 8 (6)). Further, during a period in which the result of the determination is true, the processor 61 uses a “queue identifier” corresponding to a record in which some “subdivided queue identifier” is stored among the records of the queue subdivision table 81. For the indicated queue, the delivery of any stored message is suspended (FIG. 8 (7)).

However, during such a period, the processor 61 regards the stored messages for the sub-queue indicated by the above-described “sub-queue identifier” as a distribution target (FIG. 8 (8)). FIG. 9 (2)). That is, according to the present embodiment, when congestion or a failure occurs in a destination terminal or a communication line formed with the terminal, a message to be transmitted to this terminal is a message of these messages. Delivery is continued after being moved to an automatically generated subdivision queue corresponding to each priority.

Therefore, as compared with the embodiment corresponding to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the number of messages whose delivery is delayed due to the occurrence of the above-described congestion or failure has a significantly small value, and The monitoring control of the devices 90-1 to 90-M is performed stably with high accuracy. In this embodiment, the "priority" of the message is set equal to the priority of the line or terminal to which the message is distributed.

However, regarding the “priority” of such a message, if it is referred to as a criterion for being accumulated in a subdivided queue, the priority added individually by the transmission source: A priority obtained by performing a predetermined weighting or other operation on the priority added in this way and the priority of the line or terminal of the distribution destination;-given in advance for each message, or given to the message May be any other information obtained by performing the above operation.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the number N of the terminals 91-1 to 91-N to which the message is to be delivered is not specifically shown. However, for such a number N,
Number m of queues 61A-1 to 61A-m, 71-1 to 71-p
The difference and the magnitude relationship with (p) may be any value. Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, a target of an operation and a procedure (algorithm) to be performed to determine a terminal to which a message is to be delivered are not disclosed.

However, the procedure of such an operation is not limited as long as it is determined individually or in common for the queues 61A-1 to 61A-m and 71-1 to 71-p. You may. Further, the terminal to be the delivery destination may be uniquely obtained according to the address or other information individually included in the message to be delivered.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the processor 61 and the network processor 62
Are linked through. However, these processors 6
1 and the network processor 62 may be in any form of function distribution, and both may be combined as a single processor.

In each of the above embodiments, the message given by the communication devices 90-1 to 90-M is
Although the coordination operation of each part in the process to be delivered to 1-1 to 91-N is shown, the present invention is not limited to such a message, but is given by the terminals 91-1 to 91-N. The same applies to the process in which the transmitted information is transmitted to the communication devices 90-1 to 90-M.

Further, in each of the embodiments described above, the configuration of the tasks of the application system to be incorporated in the processor 61 to realize the above-described processing is not shown at all. It can be realized regardless of the configuration. Further, in each of the embodiments described above, the main part of the above-described processing is achieved by the application system incorporated in the processor 61. However, the present invention is not limited to the configuration in which such an application system is incorporated. The load distribution and the function distribution may be achieved in any form between the system and the BIOS (driver), and the cooperation may be performed.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the signaling system, communication procedure, and call setting procedure applied to the communication lines 92-1 to 92-M and 93-1 to 93-N are not shown at all. ,
If the desired transmission quality and transmission rate are achieved, these communication lines 92-1 to 92-M, 93-1 to 93-N are LA
N, DDX or any other type.

[0082]

As described above, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, a period during which a failure or congestion occurs in a terminal provided for supervisory control or a communication link formed between these terminals. Nevertheless, messages that are delivered via the relevant communication link or stored in a queue in which no messages to be delivered to the relevant terminal are stored are delivered without any interruption.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the number of messages whose delivery is prevented due to a failure or congestion occurring in any terminal or a communication link formed with the terminal is determined by the first aspect. 2 is a small value with high accuracy compared to the invention described in (2). Further, in the invention according to claim 4,
Compared with the invention described in claims 1 to 3, the expected value of the number of messages whose distribution is stalled when a failure or congestion occurs in the terminal of the distribution destination or the communication link formed with the terminal is Less.

The fifth aspect of the present invention has a higher accuracy than the first to fourth aspects of the present invention.
And stable monitoring control becomes possible. Therefore, in the monitoring and control system to which these inventions are applied, the cost for maintenance and operation can be reduced and the efficiency can be improved, and the overall reliability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle block diagram of the invention according to claims 1 to 5;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment corresponding to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the present embodiment corresponding to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a message flow in the present embodiment corresponding to the first to third aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a distribution control table.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a message flow in the present embodiment corresponding to the invention described in claim 4;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a combination of an attribute for which a queue should be formed individually and a priority of a terminal.

FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart of the present embodiment corresponding to the invention described in claim 5;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a message flow in the present embodiment corresponding to the invention described in claim 5;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a queue subdivision table.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional monitoring and control support apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a message flow in a conventional monitoring and control support device.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a conventional monitoring and control support device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 20, 30 device 11, 21, 31, 61A, 71, 103A queue 12, 22, 32 message collecting means 13, 23, 33, 91 terminal 14, 24, 34 distribution means 41 monitoring means 42 queue dividing means 60, 100 Monitoring and control support device 61, 103 Processor (CPU) 62, 101 Network processor 81 Queue subdivision table 90 Communication device 92, 93 Communication line 102 Bus 104 Floppy disk drive (FDD) 105 Hard disk drive (HDD) 106 Keyboard ( KB) 107 Mouse 108 Display device (CRT)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of m (<M) queues individually corresponding to attributes of a plurality of M devices to be monitored and controlled, individually provided by the plurality of M devices, and related to the monitoring control. Message collecting means for storing a message in a queue corresponding to an attribute of a device which is a transmission source of the message among the plurality of m queues; and a method for collecting messages individually stored in the plurality of m queues. A monitoring means for sequentially reading and delivering these messages to a plurality of N terminals provided for the monitoring control. 2. A plurality m of queues each individually corresponding to a form of identification information that can be included in a message provided by a plurality M of devices to be monitored and controlled; and a plurality of queues individually provided by the plurality M of devices. Message collecting means for storing the messages related to the monitoring control in a queue corresponding to the form of the identification information included in the plurality of m queues; and individually storing the messages in the plurality of m queues. And a delivery means for sequentially reading out the received messages and delivering the messages to a plurality of N terminals provided for the monitoring control. 3. A plurality m of queues corresponding to a combination of an attribute of a plurality M of devices to be monitored and controlled and a form of identification information that can be included in a message provided by these devices; A message related to the monitoring control provided separately by the device, and corresponding to a combination of an attribute of a device that is a transmission source of the message and an aspect of identification information included in the message in the plurality of m queues. Message collecting means for accumulating the messages in the queue, and distributing means for sequentially reading the messages individually accumulated in the plurality of m queues, and distributing these messages to a plurality of N terminals provided for the monitoring control. A supervisory control support device comprising: 4. The monitoring and control support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of m queues individually correspond to the attributes of the plurality of N terminals, and the message collecting means includes: For each message provided by a plurality of M devices, the attributes of all the terminals to which the message is to be delivered among the plurality of N terminals are specified, and a queue to be stored is specified by the plurality of m terminals. A monitoring and control support device, wherein a queue is set in a queue that individually corresponds to these specified attributes. 5. The supervisory control support device according to claim 1, wherein a queue in which some messages are accumulated and reading is stalled among a plurality of m queues is identified. And a queue dividing means for dividing, when a certain queue is identified by the monitoring means, the queue into small queues individually corresponding to the attributes of the messages stored in the queue. And a delivery unit, instead of the message stored in the queue, distributes the message stored in the small queue generated by dividing the queue by the queue division unit to be distributed. A supervisory control support device, characterized in that: