JPH01149549A - System for diagnosing communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the trouble of communication on a transmitting path generated since connecting means exists doubly by inactivating the connecting means, in which an interface part is troubled, through the other connecting means. CONSTITUTION:When a diagnosing means 113 detects an abnormality by a test from an adapter 13, the test is executed by echo test or data transmitting and receiving means 111 and 112. When a test result is abnormal, the means 112 is activated, and a data transmitting and receiving test is executed from a normal adapter 15 side. When a normal completion report is informed, the trouble is generated in a channel 12, the adapter 13 is decided to be in a active condition, and the means 13 inactivates the adapter 13 by an adapter inactivating means 114. Before the normal completion report of the data transmitting and receiving test from the normal adapter 15 side, the means 113 causes the adapter 15 side to execute the echo test. When the normal completion report is informed, the adapter 13 is in trouble, that it is not in the active condition is decided, the means 113 replaces the constitution information of the adapter.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a diagnostic method for a communication system, and particularly to a method for connecting to a transmission line within a main station in a communication system in which a large number of stations are connected to one set of transmission lines. This invention relates to a communication system diagnostic method for diagnosing communication systems.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in this type of communication system, the host computer system serving as the main station has two means for connecting to the transmission line in order to improve the reliability of the connection with the transmission line, and the main connection means is In the event of a failure, the secondary connection means is used instead to continue communication with the secondary terminal device.

In particular, the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics
Engineers) 802.3 proposes CSMA/CD (Carrier 5
ense Multiple Access with
In a communication system that connects a large number of stations to a 1&ll transmission line, such as the Co11ision Detection system, two connection means of the main station are directly connected to the transmission line, and two connection means are exclusively activated. The logical connection with the transmission path can be switched by activating and deactivating the signal.

On the other hand, the recent LSI (Large 5caled
With the development of integrated circuit (integrated circuit) technology, the connection means has become a device consisting of active elements with a microcomputer etc. as a control unit, and the lower steps of communication with the terminal device can be performed independently of the host computer system. It is supposed to be processed.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the above-mentioned conventional host computer system that serves as the main station, the connecting means processes the lower steps of communication, so the central processing unit and the connecting means are more connected than when the central processing unit of the host computer system performed all processing. The disadvantage is that opportunities to communicate commands and data have decreased, making it difficult to promptly detect failures in connection means.

In addition, in order to improve the above-mentioned drawbacks, a method has been implemented in which dummy information is sent and received periodically between the central processing unit and the connecting means to detect failures in the connecting means. Since dummy information is only periodically sent and received from the device to one of the connection means, it is possible to determine whether the fault is in the connection itself or in the interface between the central processing unit and the connection means, such as a channel section. The drawback is that it cannot be determined.

Therefore, when an attempt is made to communicate with the terminal device by activating a normal connection means and replacing it with a connection means that has been diagnosed as faulty, if the failure location is the interface, the connection means that has been diagnosed as faulty will be in the active state. As a result, there are two connection means for the host computer system on the transmission path, which has the disadvantage of seriously impeding communication on the transmission path.

In view of the above-mentioned points, it is an object of the present invention to determine whether the failure location is in the connection means itself or in the interface section between the connection means and the central processing AM, and to connect the connection means in which the interface section has failed to another connection. It is an object of the present invention to provide a failure diagnosis method for a communication system that can be deactivated through a connecting means and can prevent communication failures on a transmission path caused by the existence of duplicate connecting means.

[Means for solving problems]

The communication system diagnosis method of the present invention is a communication system in which one or more main stations having a plurality of connection means with transmission paths and a plurality of slave stations for each main station are connected to a set of said transmission paths and communicate with each other. In the system, the main station includes echo test means for performing an echo test by causing the connecting means to transmit echo test data to the other connecting means via the transmission path; data transmission/reception test means for performing a data transmission/reception test by transmitting data for a data transmission/reception test via the transmission path; and causing the echo test means and the data transmission/reception test means to perform the echo test and the data transmission/reception test. When the connecting means is diagnosed as a failure, the echo test means and the data transmission/reception test means are activated, and the echo test and the diagnosing means for checking whether or not the connecting means diagnosed as malfunctioning by performing the data transmission/reception test is in an active state; and disabling the connecting means diagnosed as malfunctioning and active by the diagnosing means. a connection means deactivation means for activating; and a logical connection switching means for switching the logical connection with the transmission line by replacing the configuration information of the connection means diagnosed as a failure by the diagnosis means with another connection means. and has.

[Effect]

In the communication system diagnosis method of the present invention, the echo test means of the main station performs an echo test by transmitting echo test data from the connecting means to the other connecting means via the transmission path, and the data transmitting/receiving test means connects Performing a data transmission/reception test by causing the means to transmit data for a data transmission/reception test to another connecting means via a transmission path,
The diagnostic means diagnoses the connection means by causing the echo test means and the data transmission/reception test means to perform an echo test and a data transmission/reception test, and when a failure is diagnosed, activates the echo test means and the data transmission/reception test means to diagnose the failure. The connecting means deactivates the connecting means by performing an echo test and a data transmission/reception test on the connected connecting means from other connecting means to check whether the connecting means that has been diagnosed as having failed is in an active state. The logical connection switching means deactivates the connecting means diagnosed as faulty and active by the diagnosing means, and replaces the configuration information of the connecting means diagnosed as faulty by the diagnosing means with another connecting means. connection.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communication system to which a diagnosis method for a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. This communication system consists of a host computer system 1 which is the main station of this communication system, and a transmission line 2 of 1&l.
and a plurality of slave terminals 3A, 3B, . . . connected to the host computer system 1 via the transmission line 2.

The host computer system 1 includes a central processing unit 11, adapters 13 and 15 which are two connection means between the central processing unit 11 and the transmission path 2, and a channel 12 which is an interface unit between the central processing unit 11 and the adapter 13. ,
It is configured to include a channel 14 which is an interface section between the central processing unit 11 and an adapter 15.

In this communication system, a host computer system 1, which is a station connected to a transmission path 2, and terminals 3A, 3B,
... are given independent station numbers. In particular, in the host computer system 1, different station numbers are given to the adapters 13 and 15, respectively. The station numbers of the adapters 13 and 15 are given by the central processing unit 11 as part of the configuration information indicating the configuration of the communication system when the communication system starts operating, and are stored in the storage units 132 and 152 of the adapters 13 and 15, respectively. ing. In addition, this configuration information includes the station number of the adapter 15 for the adapter 13, and the station number of the adapter 13 for the adapter 15, so that when transmitting and receiving data with the other station, each station knows that the data is being sent and received from the other adapter. It is possible to identify it.

In the host computer system 1, the adapter 13 is used as the main connection means, and the adapter 15 is used as an alternative connection means in case the adapter 13 fails. Therefore, when the communication system is normal, the station number set in the adapter 13 as the station number of the host computer system 1 is preset in each terminal 3A, 3B, . ... communicates with the central processing unit 11 via an adapter 13 and a channel 12, which are the main communication paths of the host computer system 1.

The central processing unit 11 includes an echo test means 111 , a data transmission/reception test means 112 , a diagnosis means 113 , an adapter deactivation means 114 , and a logical connection switching means 11
5. In addition, the central processing unit 11
is programmed so that the diagnostic method of the communication system of this embodiment is activated periodically at the same time as communicating with the terminals 3A, 3B, . . . .

The adapter 13 includes a control section 131 using a microcomputer, a storage section 132 composed of ROM (read only memory) and RAM (random access memory), and a channel interface section 133 that is a connection section with the channel 12. A line control unit 134 that transmits and receives information to and from the transmission line 2 at a connection portion with the transmission line 2, a channel interface 135 that connects the channel 12 and the channel interface unit 133, a channel interface unit 133, a control unit 131, and a memory. An internal bus 136 connecting the section 132 and the line control section 134 and the line control section 1
Transmission line interface 13 connecting 34 and transmission line 2
It consists of 7.

The adapter 15 performs transmission through a control section 151 using a micro combinator, a storage section 152 composed of ROM and RAM, a channel interface section 153 which is a connection section with the channel 14, and a connection section with the transmission line 2. Road 2
A channel interface 155 connects the channel 14 and the channel interface section 153, and connects the channel interface section 153, the control section 151, the storage section 152, and the line control section 154. Internal bus 156 and line control unit 15
Transmission line interface 157 connecting 4 and transmission line 2
It is composed of.

Control units 131 and 151 of adapters 13 and 15 transmit and receive data to and from central processing unit 11 via channels 12 and 14, respectively, via channel interfaces 135 and 155, channel interface units 133 and 153, and internal buses 136 and 156, respectively. Transmission and reception to and from the other adapter and the terminals 3A, 3B, . , 157 , line control section 134゜1
54 and internal buses 136 and 156, the description of the paths within the adapters 13 and 15 will be omitted hereafter.

Referring to FIG. 2, in the communication system diagnosis method of this embodiment, the processing when an abnormality is detected in the echo test and the data transmission/reception test includes an abnormality detection step 21, a test execution step 22, and a test result determination step. 23, data transmission/reception test execution step 24, data transmission/reception test normal end determination step 25, echo test implementation step 26, echo test normal end determination step 27, adapter deactivation processing step 28,
It consists of a configuration information replacement step 29.

Referring to FIG. 3, the processing in the respective control units 131 and 151 of the adapters 13 and 15 when data is received via the transmission path 2 is performed in the receiving step 31.
, echo test data reception determination step 32 , echo test data response transmission source return step 33 , transmission source determination step 34 , data transmission/reception test data reception determination step 35 , and closure instruction reception determination step 3
6, response reception determination step 37, normal completion reporting step 38, central processing unit data transmission/reception test data transmission step 39, data transmission/reception test data response adapter return step 40, transmission line interface closing step 41, a central processing unit reporting step 42;

Referring to FIG. 4, the processing in the respective controllers 131 and 151 of the adapters 13 and 15 when receiving and receiving commands from the central processing unit 11 via the channels 12 and 14, respectively, includes a command reception step 51; It consists of a configuration information replacement command determination step 52, an instruction adapter transmission step 53, and a configuration information replacement step 54.

Next, the operation of the diagnostic method for the communication system of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained.

In the host computer system 1, the diagnostic means 113 of the central processing unit tflll is periodically activated by receiving a notification of the elapse of a certain period of time from a timer function or the like.

The diagnostic means 113, which is activated at regular intervals, instructs a timer function (not shown) to notify when a certain period of time has elapsed, and then activates the echo test means 111 and the data transmission/reception test means 112 to perform the echo test means 11.
1 Echo test and data transmission/reception test means 1
12, perform a data transmission/reception test.

First, the operation when the echo test means 111 performs an echo test from the adapter 15 side will be described.

The echo test means 111 transmits test data (hereinafter referred to as echo test data) containing an echo test execution command and displaying an echo test to the adapter 15 via the channel 14 .

The controller 151 of the adapter 15 receives commands (
In this case, when an echo test execution command is received (step by step), it is determined whether the received command is a configuration information replacement command to be described later (step 52). Since the received command is an echo test execution command and not a configuration information replacement command, the control unit 151 transmits the command to the adapter 1 via the transmission line 2.
Send echo test data to 3 (step 53)
.

When the control unit 131 of the adapter 13 receives data (in this case, echo test data) whose source is the adapter 15 from the transmission path 2 (step 31), the controller 131 determines whether the received data is echo test data or not. is determined (step 32). Since the received data is echo test data, the control unit 131 transmits a response to the echo test data to the transmission source adapter 15 via the transmission path 2 (step 33).

When the control unit 151 of the adapter 15 receives data (here, a response to the echo test data) from the transmission path 2 whose source is the adapter 13 (step 31), the control unit 151 receives the data for the echo test data as described above. It is determined whether or not (step 32).

Here, since the received data is a response to echo test data, it is determined that it is not echo test data, and the control unit 151 then determines whether or not the transmission source is an adapter (step 34). , the sender is not an adapter (the sender is the terminal 3A.

3B, etc.), the control unit 15
1 is connected to O5 (
operating system). Here, since the transmission source is the adapter 13, the control unit 151 determines whether or not the next received data is data transmission/reception test data (step 35).Since the received data is a response to the echo test data, Control unit 15
1, it is determined that the data is not data for a data transmission/reception test, and then it is determined whether or not it is a closing instruction (step 36). Since this is not a closing instruction, the control unit 151 next determines whether or not it is a response (step 37). Here, the received data is a response to the echo test data, so it is determined that it is a response, and the control unit 151 transmits a normal end report of the echo test to the echo test means 111 of the central processing unit 11 via the channel 14. (step 38)
.

Note that if it is determined in step 37 that there is no response, the received data is erroneous data and is not data that can control the processing, so the control unit 151 transmits the received data to the central processing unit 11 via the channel 14. Step 42
), the processing of the received data is entrusted to the central processing unit 11.

When the echo test means 111 of the central processing unit 11 receives a report of the successful completion of the echo test from the adapter 15 via the channel 14, it sends the diagnosis means 113 to the adapter 1.
Notify the report of the successful completion of the echo test from the 5th side.

Next, the operation when the data transmission/reception test means 112 performs a data transmission/reception test from the adapter 15 side will be described.

The data transmission/reception test means 112 transmits data for a data transmission/reception test including a data transmission/reception test execution command to the adapter 15 via the channel 14 .

When the control unit 151 of the adapter 15 receives a command (in this case, a data transmission/reception test execution command) from the data transmission/reception test means 112 via the channel 14 (step 5
1) After performing the determination in step 52 in the same manner as in the echo test described above, data for data transmission/reception test is transmitted to the adapter 13 via the transmission path 2 (step 53).

When the control unit 131 of the adapter 13 receives data (data for data transmission/reception test) from the transmission path 2 whose source is the adapter 15 (step 31), the control unit 131 performs the determination in steps 32 and 34, and then transmits the data in step 35. It is determined that the data is for transmission/reception test, and adapter 1
The data transmission/reception test data transmitted from the CPU 5 is transmitted to the data transmission/reception test means 112 of the central processing unit 11 via the channel 12 (step 39). Next, the control unit 131 returns a response to the data transmission/reception test data to the adapter 15 via the transmission path 2 (step 4
0).

When the control unit 151 of the adapter 15 receives data (response to the data transmission/reception test data) whose source is the adapter 13 from the transmission path 2 (step 31), the control unit 151 performs step 32 in the same manner as the process in the adapter 13 described above. After making the determinations in steps 34 to 36, it is determined whether or not it is a response (step 37). Here, since it is a response to the data transmission/reception test data, the control unit 151 determines that it is a response. The data transmission/reception test means 112 of the central processing unit 11 via the channel 14
A report of the successful completion of the data transmission/reception test to the adapter 13 is sent to the adapter 13 (step 38).

The data transmission/reception test means 112 of the central processing unit 11
The data transmission/reception test result is determined by comparing the data transmission/reception test data transmitted from the adapter 13 via the channel 12 with the data transmission/reception test data transmitted to the adapter 15 via the channel 14. adapter 15 via channel 14
The diagnostic means 113 is notified of the normal completion report of the data transmission/reception test sent from the diagnosing means 113.

Although the echo test by the echo test means 111 and the data transmission/reception test by the data transmission/reception test means 112 have been described only from the adapter 15 side, they are also periodically and alternately performed from the adapter 13 side.

If the diagnosis means 113 of the central processing unit 11 is not notified of the successful completion of the test from the echo test means 111 and the data transmission/reception test means 112 by the time it receives the elapsed time notification from the timer function,
．． Adapter 13. An abnormality in the channel 14 or the adapter 15 is recognized, that is, an abnormality in the connection means with the transmission line 2 is detected (step 21).

Here, the operation of the communication system diagnostic method of this embodiment when an abnormality is detected by the above two tests from the adapter 13 side will be explained.

When the diagnostic means 113 detects an abnormality through a test from the adapter 13 side (step 21), the diagnostic means 113 activates the echo test means 111 or the data transmission/reception test means 112 to confirm the abnormality on the adapter 13 side, and tests the adapter in which the abnormality has been detected. An echo test or a data transmission/reception test is performed from the 13 side (or a simple dummy information transmission test may be performed) (step 22), and the test result is determined (step 23). If the test result is normal, the diagnostic means 113 ends the process because the adapter 13 side is normal. If the test result is not normal, the diagnostic means 113 determines whether the data transmission/reception test means 11
2 to perform a data transmission/reception test from the normal adapter 15 side (step 24), and determine whether a normal completion report of the data transmission/reception test has been notified from the adapter 15 (step 25). If a certain period of time elapsed notification is received from the timer function before being notified of the normal completion report, the diagnostic means 113 next performs the echo test means 111.
is started to perform an echo test from the adapter 15 side (step 26), and it is determined whether or not a report of successful completion of the echo test has been notified (step 27), and it is determined that a report of successful completion of the echo test has been notified. If so, it can be determined that the failure has occurred in the adapter 13 itself and that the adapter 13 is not in an active state, so the diagnostic means 113 moves the process to step 29.

If it is determined in step 25 and step 27 that a normal completion report has been notified, it can be determined that a failure has occurred in the channel 12 and the adapter 13 is in the active state. 13 (step 28).

Here, the adapter 1 is activated by the adapter deactivation means 114.
The deactivation process No. 3 will be explained.

Adapter deactivation means 114 activated by diagnostic means 113 sends an instruction to close transmission line interface 137 of adapter 13 to adapter 15 via channel 14 .

The control unit 151 of the adapter 15 receives a command (adapter 13
When the transmission line interface 137 is closed (step 51), the transmission line interface 137 is sent to the adapter 13 via the transmission line 2 after the determination in step 52.
A closing instruction is sent (step 53).

The control unit 131 of the adapter 13 transmits data from the transmission path 2 whose source is the adapter 15 (transmission path interface 13
7) is received (step 31), step 32. After the determinations in steps 34 and 35, it is determined whether or not there is a closing instruction (step 36). Since this is an instruction to close the transmission line interface 137, the control unit 131 instructs the line control unit 134 to close the transmission line interface 137, thereby deactivating the adapter 13 (step 41).

When the deactivation process of the adapter 13 is completed, the diagnostic means 113 performs the processes of steps 24 to 27 to confirm that the adapter 13 is in an inactive state, and then, in step 27, the diagnostic means 113 performs the process of deactivating the adapter 15. If the result of the echo test is determined to be abnormal, since the adapter 13 is in an inactive state, the logical connection switching means 115 replaces the configuration information of the adapter 13, and the process ends (
Step 29).

Here, the logical connection switching process by the logical connection switching means 115 will be explained.

Logical connection switching means 1 activated from diagnostic means 113
15 sends a configuration information replacement instruction to the adapter 15 via the channel 14, and the storage unit 13 of the adapter 13 during normal operation.
Send the same configuration information as the one loaded in 2.

When the control unit 151 of the adapter 15 receives a command (configuration information replacement command) from the logical connection switching means 115 via the channel 14, it determines that it is a configuration information replacement command in step 51) and step 52, and stores the command. The configuration information stored in the section 152 is discarded and replaced with the configuration information transmitted from the logical connection switching means 115 (step 54).

This process moves the station number of adapter 13 to adapter 15. On the other hand, since the adapter 13 is inactivated, it is logically disconnected from the transmission path 2.

In this embodiment, the adapter 13 and the adapter 15 are used as connection means to the transmission line 2, but it is clear that any number of connection means may be used.

Further, in this embodiment, an abnormality in the connecting means is detected by an echo test and a data transmission/reception test, but at the stage of mere abnormality detection, a conventional method of periodically transmitting and receiving dummy information may be used.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention enables communication for diagnosis between connecting means via a transmission path at the main station of a communication system, so that when an abnormality is detected in the connecting means, a failure occurs in the connecting means. It is possible to determine whether the fault has occurred in the fault itself or in the interface between the connection means and the central processing unit, and to deactivate the active connection means when a failure occurs in the interface between the connection means and the central processing unit. This has the effect that communication with the slave station via the transmission path can be performed continuously and reliably.

Therefore, there is no need for duplicate connection means of the main station on the transmission path, and there is no possibility that the double connection of the connection means will cause any serious trouble to communication on the transmission path.

In addition, by making it possible to diagnose connection means while the communication system is operating, and diagnosing both the main connection means and alternative connection means, reliable alternative connection means can be provided in the event of a failure of the main connection means. There is an effect that can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communication system to which a communication system diagnosis method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a process performed when the communication system diagnosis method according to this embodiment detects an abnormality. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing when the control section in FIG. 1 receives data via the transmission path in FIG. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing processing when a command is received via the channel in FIG. 1; FIG. In the figure, l... host computer system, 2...
...Transmission path, 3A, 3B...Terminal, 11...Central processing unit, 12, 14...Channel, 13, 15...Adapter, 111 ...Echo test means, 112 ・
...Data transmission/reception test means, 113...
...Diagnosis means, 114 ...Adapter deactivation means, 115
...Logical connection switching means, 131, 15
1...Control unit, 132, 152...Storage unit, 133, 153...Channel interface unit, 134, 154...Line control unit, 135, 1
55...Channel interface, 136, 1
56: Internal bus; 137, 157: Transmission line interface.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A communication system in which one or more main stations having a plurality of connection means with transmission paths and a plurality of slave stations for each main station are connected to a set of the transmission paths and communicate with each other, comprising: The main station includes an echo test means for performing an echo test by causing the connecting means to transmit echo test data to the other connecting means via the transmission line, and transmitting the transmission line from the connecting means to the other connecting means. data transmission/reception test means for performing a data transmission/reception test by transmitting data for a data transmission/reception test through the connection means; and when it is diagnosed as a failure, the echo test means and the data transmission/reception test means are started, and the echo test and the data transmission/reception test are performed from the other connection means on the connection means diagnosed as failure. diagnosing means for checking whether or not the connecting means that has been diagnosed as malfunctioning is in an active state; and connecting means for deactivating the connecting means that has been diagnosed as malfunctioning and active by the diagnosing means. and a logical connection switching means for switching the logical connection with the transmission line by replacing the configuration information of the connection means diagnosed as faulty by the diagnosis means with another connection means. A communication system diagnostic method characterized by: