JPH04114300A - Status notification device using still images - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [IFE required] Regarding a status notification device using a still image that notifies an administrator, etc. of an abnormal condition that occurs in an unmanned computer system, etc. [7. An abnormality monitoring unit that inputs external abnormality signals, assembles the abnormality signals into image data, and issues an automatic dialing instruction;
an image memory for storing image data output from the abnormality monitoring section; a serial conversion section for reading and serial converting the output of the image memory; It consists of a telephone equipped with an NCU that can automatically dial instructions to notify the destination in response to dialing instructions from the monitoring unit.

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a status notification device using static images for notifying an administrator or the like of an abnormal condition that occurs in a system that is performing an unattended operation f'.

In recent years, old computer systems have tended to operate 24 hours a day, but can they be operated unmanned to save labor? The number of cases where this occurs is increasing. Administrators should monitor the operating status and equipment status of the 51 computer system from a remote location such as their home (for example, an unmanned telemeter system, etc.), and should promptly take appropriate measures if an abnormal situation occurs. A means to enable this is required. With this type of system, even if a minor abnormality occurs during unmanned operation at night, there is no way to take action, so it may develop into a serious failure, causing the system to shut down or causing a disaster. There is also gender. For this reason, it is desirable to provide visually perceivable information as a means of accurately and detailed notification of the status, such as whether an automatic voice response device is provided or not.

[Prior Art] FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of the configuration of a conventional system. When an abnormality occurs in the unmanned computer system 1, the abnormality is notified to the abnormality monitoring unit 2 as an abnormality signal.

In this case, the abnormality in the unmanned computer system may be an abnormality in the operating system (O8) or an abnormality in the hardware.

When the abnormality monitoring unit 2 receives the abnormal signal, it synthesizes audio data indicating the abnormal state and stores it in the audio memory 3. The voice data read from the voice memory 3 is input to a telephone 4 equipped with an NCU (network control unit), where it is played back as voice data, and sent to the administrator (including the security department 1) via a line (switched telephone network) 5. )6 will be notified. When the administrator 6 receives the abnormal message in voice, he performs necessary abnormality processing.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional device, the abnormal state is notified to the administrator by voice, and therefore there are problems as shown below. In other words, in order to synthesize and reproduce audio data on a computer, a large amount of memory and a high-speed microprocessor (M
PU) is required.

Furthermore, when attempting to convey detailed content through voice, it becomes necessary to consider the accent caused by the combination of words. Therefore, abnormality notification by voice increases the cost, and when attempting to notify detailed information, problems such as inaudibility arise.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a status notification device using still images that can notify abnormal conditions in a visually recognizable manner.

[Means for Solving the Problems] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention. Solid arrows indicate the flow of data, and dashed arrows indicate the flow of control signals. In the figure, 10 is an abnormality monitoring unit that inputs a group n signal from the outside (for example, the unmanned computer system 1 in FIG. 4), assembles the signal into image data, and issues an automatic dialing instruction; An image memory for storing image data output from the abnormality monitoring section 10; 12 a serial conversion section for reading out the output of the image memory 11 and converting it into serial data; 13 receiving the output of the serial conversion section 12 and This telephone is equipped with an NCU and is capable of automatic dialing to notify the destination in response to a dialing instruction from the abnormality monitoring unit 10.

[Function] When the abnormality monitoring unit]0 detects an abnormality, it assembles the contents of the abnormality into image information such as a message/figure, converts it into an interface of a still image type video telephone, and transmits it to the NCU equipped telephone]
3 to notify the destination (for example, the administrator 6 in FIG. 4). In this way, the abnormal condition can be notified to the reporting party as visual information of a still image, and the abnormal condition can be notified in detail.
It has the advantage of not requiring additional memory or high-speed MPU.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. Components that are the same as in Figure 1 are indicated with the same number. Solid arrows indicate the flow of data, and dashed arrows indicate the flow of control signals. The abnormality monitoring section 10 includes a contact signal input section 10a, an internal control section 10b, an NCU control section]Oc, and a serial exchange control section 10d. These contact signal input section 10a, internal control section 10b, NCU control section 10c, and serial conversion control section 10d are internal hubs],
Connected to Oe. The internal control unit 10)) controls the entire device consisting of a microprocessor (MPU) and memory. As the image memory 11, for example, a dual port RAM or the like is used.

The serial converter 12 includes an oscillator 12a and a modulation circuit 1.2.
It is composed of b. The oscillator 12a is the modulation circuit 1
2b supplies a timing clock for operation.

The NCUC loader 13 is composed of a telephone 13a and an NCU (network control unit 1-) 13b. A dial signal is sent from the NCU control unit 10c to the NCU 13b, and from the NCU 13b the dial signal is sent to the NCU control unit 1.
A notification destination status signal is sent to 0c. Further, a control signal is sent from the serial conversion control section 10d to the modulation circuit 12b. 20 is a still picture television (TV) telephone that receives an abnormal state information signal via the telephone switching network 5; The still image video telephone 20 is installed, for example, in a management office. The operation of the device configured as described above will be explained as follows.

Assume that some kind of abnormality has occurred outside (for example, the unmanned old computer system 1 in FIG. 4). Abnormal signals from the outside are
Contact signal input unit 10 in the abnormality monitoring unit 10 as a contact signal
It is taken into a (■). The contents of the abnormality signal are processed by the internal control unit 10b, and it is determined whether or not it is necessary to notify the outside. If it is determined that it is necessary to notify the outside, the internal control unit 10b assembles a message or chart to be notified and stores it in the image memory 11 (■).

At the same time, the internal control unit 10b issues an instruction to the NCUI 3b via the NCLI control unit 10C (■), and starts calling processing to the notification destination (■).

Then, the NCU control unit 10c updates the status of the notification destination to the NCU1.
Receive from 3b (■). N CU 17117311 section 10c disconnects the line if the notification destination is busy or does not respond after a certain period of time, and repeats the calling process again after a certain period of time (■). When there is a response from the notification destination, the internal control unit 10b operates the serial conversion unit 12 via the serial conversion control unit 10d (
■).

The serial converter 12 sequentially reads data from the image memory] 1) and the still image television (TV) telephone '2.
0 interface] and is modulated by the variable circuit 12b, and the signal is sent to the telephone 13a (■). At this time,
The oscillator 12a provides a timing signal for modulation operation to the modulation circuit 12b. The telephone 11a outputs a signal (audio signal of audio frequency) via the NCU 13b. This output signal is sent via the telephone exchange network 5 to the system administrator or other person to be notified.
Messages and diagrams are displayed on 0. The administrator can recognize the type of abnormal condition by looking at the displayed still image. In this way, according to the present invention, abnormal conditions are notified as still image information rather than audio, so the cost does not increase and detailed information can be notified relatively easily.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the status (including abnormal status) from an unmanned computer system, etc. is sent according to the status adjustment from the administrator side.
is transmitted as still image information.

For this purpose, the status monitoring unit 10 receives the content of the arrangement by dial tone from a remote location (still image video telephone 20).
A DTMF receiver 14 is provided for notifying. The DT
The MF receiver 14 has a built-in audio/code conversion circuit 14a, and its output is output from the NCU in the monitoring unit 1 [1].
Control unit 1. It is input to Oc.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a status monitoring section for monitoring the status of the unmanned shoulder calculator system, etc., and its configuration is the same as that of the abnormality monitoring section 0 shown in FIG. The other configurations are the same as in FIG. 2. The operation of the circuit configured as described above will be explained as follows.

When an administrator at a remote location calls the status monitoring unit 0 from the still image video phone 2 ( ), the NCU equipped Tu phone 13 automatically receives the call (■). c 1.: Notified (■), which triggers the start of operation. When the line is connected, the administrator inputs the desired arrangement details using a dial tone.

The content of the arrangement from the administrator enters the DTMF receiver unit 14 from the telephone 13a via the telephone line network 5, is converted into a code signal by the voice/code conversion circuit 14a, and is notified to the NCU control unit 10C in the status monitoring unit 30. be done (■). The status monitoring unit 30 recognizes the selected status of the internal control unit 10b, assembles a message or a chart to notify the user, and writes it into the image memory 11 (■).

After the status monitoring unit 30 finishes writing to the image memory 11, the serial conversion control unit]Od starts and operates the serial conversion unit 12 (■). The serial converter 12 sequentially reads out data from the image memory 11.
2b waits a week and sends a signal to telephone 13a (■)
. The output signal (audio frequency audio signal) is sent to the NCU
13b, messages and charts are displayed on the administrator's still image video telephone 20 via the telephone switching network 5. The administrator can recognize the type of state (including abnormal state) of the unmanned computer system by looking at the displayed still image. As described above, according to the present invention, the status is notified as still image information instead of audio, so the cost does not increase and detailed information can be notified relatively easily.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the case is shown in which a foreign baby signal or a status signal is received as a contact signal, or, for example, the output of the fi2 humidity sensor is taken in and A/D converted, and if it exceeds a set range, it is determined that it is an abnormal state. You may also do so. Also, il
The message of the operating system <OS> of the machine F system may be taken in as it is as the notification message. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the image processing unit may be provided as separate hardware, or may be arranged on the memory of the internal control unit 10b. Further, the NCU (1 telephone 13) may have a configuration in which the telephone and the NCU are independent from each other.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above in detail, according to the present invention, an unmanned lj
Assemble abnormal signals from computer systems, etc. as image information and notify the administrator via telephone line, or at the request of the administrator, display the status signals of the unmanned π1 computer system, etc. at that time as image information. By assembling it as a system and notifying the administrator via a telephone line, it is possible to notify the status of an unmanned computer system (including abnormal conditions) in a visually recognizable manner. Therefore, according to the present invention, abnormal conditions are notified as still image information rather than audio, so the cost does not increase and detailed information can be notified relatively easily.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of the configuration of a conventional system. In Figure 1, 10 is an abnormality monitoring department; 11 is an image memory; 12 is a serial converter; 13 is a telephone with NCU. Principle block diagram of the present invention Figure 1

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) An abnormality monitoring unit (10) that receives an external abnormality signal, assembles the abnormality signal into image data, and issues an automatic dialing instruction; An image memory (11) for storing images, a serial converter (12) that reads and serially converts the output of the image memory (11), and an abnormality monitoring unit that receives the output of the serial converter (12). (1
A status notification device using a still image, which is comprised of a telephone with an NCU (13) capable of automatic dialing and which notifies the destination in response to a dialing instruction from 0). (2) When the abnormality monitoring unit (10) detects an abnormality, it assembles the contents of the abnormality into image information such as a message/figure, converts it into a still image videophone interface, and notifies the destination. 2. A status notification device using a still image according to claim 1. (3) A status monitoring unit (30) that inputs a status signal from the outside, assembles the status signal into image data, and issues an automatic dialing instruction; An image memory (11) for storing images, a serial converter (12) that reads and serially converts the output of the image memory (11), and a status monitor that receives the output of the serial converter (12). (3
A telephone equipped with an NCU (13) capable of automatic dialing notifies the destination in response to dialing instructions from the telephone (13), and a status monitoring unit ( 30) DTMF (DualTo
A status notification device using a still image, which includes a receiver (14). (4) When a status inquiry is received from a distance via the NCU telephone (13), image information such as messages/figures representing the current status is read out from the image memory (11) and the still image type TV is 4. The status notification device using a still image according to claim 3, wherein the status notification device uses still images to notify the destination by converting the information into a telephone interface.