JPH05114891A - System for starting up package for new synchronizing network device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Object] The present invention relates to a package start-up processing method in a device for a new synchronous network such as a high-speed optical transmission device or a cross-connect device, and a line setting installed in the device for the new synchronous network. When a package or interface package has a failure such as loss of control data inside it due to power interruption or package insertion / extraction, the lost control data is automatically restored as soon as the power is restored. The purpose is to provide a startup processing method. In a new synchronous network device having a plurality of interfaces and / or line setting packages 14 # 1 to 14 # n, a collection command CMD is sequentially sent by polling to a plurality of packages, and response information ST is sent.
Are collected, and when this collection command is sent, other control commands (CMD ...) Are sent at the same time to set the control information in each package.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a new synchronization network device such as a high-speed optical transmission device or a cross-connect device, in which a line setting package, an interface package, or the like installed in the new synchronization network device is cut off by power-off or package insertion / extraction. The present invention relates to a package start-up processing method for automatically recovering lost control data when a package is inserted or power is restored when a failure such as loss of control data occurs.

In recent years, a large number of new synchronous network devices such as high-speed optical transmission devices accommodate a high-speed digital trunk line that accommodates all telephones, data, image data, and the like. Therefore, even if one device is abnormal, it has a great social impact. Moreover, the types and quantities of such devices have considerably increased, and their maintenance work has become complicated.

Under such circumstances, there is an increasing number of work mistakes, such as a maintenance person accidentally pulling out a package such as interface / line setting which is in operation from the apparatus, or mistakenly turning off the apparatus power supply in use. ing. When such an operation mistake is made, various control data set by software in the memory of the package will be lost, so that normal operation of the apparatus cannot be resumed even if the package is simply put back in. Therefore, in maintenance of such an important transmission device, it is necessary to quickly and automatically relieve a failure caused by an erroneous operation by a maintenance person, and for that purpose, it is necessary to immediately and automatically recover the control data of the package lost by the erroneous operation. ..

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art New synchronous network devices such as cross-connect devices and high-speed optical transmission devices have an interface package and a line setting package as an interface with a transmission line. These packages are device unit backboards. Has been inserted into. In order to improve reliability, these packages adopt a one-to-one switching control system in which a working one and a spare one are arranged and an APS byte in an overhead on a main signal is used. Then, various control information including the selector management information for the active / preliminary selection is set in the memory incorporated in the package, and the package fulfills its function based on these control information.

The firmware unit carries out the process of setting the control data in the package. The management information (control data, etc.) of the firmware section is stored in advance in a non-volatile memory whose contents are not lost even when the power is cut off, and this non-volatile memory is usually placed in the file section. When it becomes necessary to reset the control data to the package due to power failure or package insertion / extraction, the firmware section downloads the control data from this non-volatile memory and writes it to the package hardware. Is going.

As described above, in order to automatically restore the data in the package memory after the power of the device is cut off and the power is restored, the firmware section downloads the data from the non-volatile memory to the package memory and writes it. The control data inside the package is restored, and the package start-up processing after power restoration is realized.

[0007]

However, the non-volatile memory is under the control of the CPU of the file section, which is different from the CPU of the firmware section, and therefore the firmware section downloads data from the non-volatile memory to the package memory. In order to download data by performing inter-CPU communication and bus control between the CPU of the file section and the CPU of the firmware section, this download processing takes time.

Therefore, when the package is removed from the device unit backboard, the data in the package will be lost. To recover that data,
When the package is re-inserted, the software section downloads the data to set it from the non-volatile memory to the package memory, so it takes time to start up the package and the system can be quickly restored. could not.

As described above, the conventional apparatus has a problem that it takes a long time to start up a package, and particularly when a plurality of packages start up at the same time, it takes a longer time to recover. As a result, a maintenance person has an influence on the system for a long time after the system goes down due to an erroneous operation until the service is restored.

Further, in the conventional apparatus, since the data on the package and the data managed by the firmware section are separately managed, there is a CAT in which the two data do not match, which may cause confusion in the maintenance of the apparatus. there were.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for promptly recovering the control data of a package lost due to power interruption or package removal.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the principle of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 14 # 1 to 14 # n are a plurality of packages such as interface packages or line setting packages, and 11 are a plurality of packages 14 #.
A memory that stores control information CMD such as a collection command for instructing collection of response information to 1 to 14 # n and collected response information ST corresponding to each package, and 12 reads the control information CMD from the memory and sends it to the package In response to this, the communication control unit 10 that sequentially controls each package to write the response information collected from the package to the corresponding area of the memory, issues a collection command to the communication control unit 12, and collects the response. A firmware unit that reads the information ST from the memory and analyzes it.
3 is a backboard of the device unit.

According to the package start-up processing method of the present invention, a new synchronous network device having a plurality of interfaces and / or line setting packages 14 # 1 to 14 # n collects a plurality of packages by polling commands. CMDs are sequentially sent to collect response information ST, and when this collection command is sent, other control commands CMD ... Are sent at the same time to set the control information in each package.

In this system, the control information for the plurality of packages downloaded from the non-volatile memory and the response information collected from the plurality of packages are stored in the common memory 11 of the firmware unit 10 and the collecting command is sent. The control information can be read from this common memory and distributed to each package.

Further, in this system, when the power supply of the firmware section is cut off, the control information can be downloaded from the non-volatile memory to the common memory and then distributed to each package.

[0016]

Operation: The firmware section 10 controls the communication control section 12 to read the collection command CMD from the common memory 11.
The control information CMD including the above is sequentially sent to the package by polling, and the response information ST from that is collected. At the same time as sending this collection command, another control command CM
D ... is also sent to set various control information in each package. Therefore, when collecting the response information, various control information will be set in the package accordingly. Therefore, when the extracted package is re-inserted, the internal control of the response information is performed with the collection of the response information. The data will be recovered automatically. When the power of the firmware unit is cut off, the control information may be downloaded from the non-volatile memory to the common memory and then distributed to each package.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 illustrates a package start-up processing system as an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a CPU architecture of a cross-connect device for a new synchronous network. In the figure, 6 is a file unit, which is configured to include a nonvolatile memory such as an E ² PROM and a CPU, and the nonvolatile memory has information for starting the CPU when the CPU is down (CPU of the firmware unit 1 described later). (Which is the same as the control information CMD managed by the above) is stored.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a firmware section, which comprises a CPU, a work RAM, an OS, application firmware and the like. The firmware unit 1 stores the control information downloaded from the non-volatile memory of the file unit in the dual port RAM 3, analyzes the response information read from the dual port RAM 3, or controls the communication control LSI 2 to be described later to make the package 5. On the other hand, information setting control and mounting / alarm information collection are performed. This firmware part 1 is a dual port RAM 3
The communication control LSI 2 is controlled to send the control information stored in the package to each package by accessing the communication control LSI 2. This control is package implementation /
This is performed regardless of the unmounted state, and as a result, as described later, when the package 5 is inserted, the information setting control for the package is immediately applied.

Reference numeral 4 is a backboard of a transmission device control unit into which a package 5 for interface / line setting etc. is inserted. Package 5 consists of 96 interface packages and 24 line setting packages for a total of 120 (#
1 to # 120 package), each of which has a memory unit for storing control information set by the firmware unit 1. Individual package 5 backboard 4
Removing it will disconnect it from the control bus, thus causing the package to stop responding. Further, as viewed from the package side, the power is not supplied, so that the contents of the memory (control information etc.) in the package are lost.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a dual port RAM 3 as a common memory in which a memory for storing control data managed by the firmware unit 1 and a memory for storing control data set in a package are made common. The dual port RAM 3 is a RAM that can be read / written from two directions of the firmware unit 1 and the communication control LSI 2, and stores the control information CMD downloaded from the nonvolatile memory and the response information ST collected from the package 5.

The control information CMD includes a collection command CMD for instructing collection of device alarm (alarm) information generated in each package from each package, and each package is either active / spare (# 0 / # 1). A selector control command CMD for instructing whether to select the system of No. 3, an information setting command CMD for setting various information, and the like are included. The control information CMD corresponds to the package (that is, C
MD # 1 to CMD # 120), which has interface control information set in the interface package and line setting control information set in the line setting package. Since the address for each package is written in this control information CMD and the information setting control is applied to the package of that address,
The order of information setting control for packages can be freely set by the firmware unit 1. Further, the response information (status information) ST includes mounting information ST indicating mounting / non-mounting of each package, device alarm information ST generated in each package, and the like, and this response information ST also corresponds to the package (that is, ST # 1). ~ ST # 120).

When the communication control LSI 2 for software / hardware interface receives an access from the CPU, the control information CMD # 1 to C # stored in the dual port RAM 3 is stored.
MD # 120 is read in the order of the package number and sent to the corresponding package 5, and the response information (status information) ST returned from the package in response thereto is stored in the corresponding response information area. This process is sequentially performed for each package in the order of the package numbers, and when the response information ST # 1 to ST # 120 from all the packages is collected and stored in the dual port RAM 3, the firmware unit 1 is interrupted and the response is sent. The information is read by the firmware unit 1.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the communication control LSI 2. Further, FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of the interface package, and FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the line setting package.
In FIG. 3, 201 is a DPC (to DP-RAM interface address part) block, 202 is an I / O control block, 203 is an SLC (response information ST register) block, 204 is an SLE (command CMD register) block, and 205 is R17 block, 206 is S / P (serial / parallel conversion processing unit) block, and 207 is RG
(CMD write control register) block, 208 is P
/ S (parallel / serial conversion processing unit) block, 20
9 is an SLA (response information ST reception unit) block, 210 is an SCR (CRC generation unit) block, 217 is an SLB (control information CMD transmission unit) block, and 211 is an MPC (to C).
PU interface data part) block, 212 is I /
O control block, 213 is QSLH (read / write control unit of setting register in LSI) block, 214 is QS
LD (setting register in LSI) block 215 is RG
(Control register for writing response information ST) block, 21
Reference numeral 6 is a MAC (timer control unit) block.

In FIG. 4, 50 is a selector and 51
Is a main signal processing unit, 52 is a control unit interface, 53 is an electrical / optical conversion unit, 54 is an optical / electrical conversion unit, 55 is a main signal processing unit, 56 is a buffer, CLK is a clock, and ALM is an alarm. Further, in FIG. 5, 57 is a selector,
Reference numeral 58 is a control unit interface, 59 is a line setting unit, and 51.
Reference numeral 0 is a line setting memory and 511 is a buffer.

The operation will be described below. When the CPU of the firmware unit 1 goes down due to power interruption or reset, the control information CMD and the response information ST of the dual port RAM 3 managed by the CPU disappear, so in this case, the nonvolatile memory of the file unit 6 Download the necessary data and set it in the dual port RAM3,
Further, the communication control LSI 2 sets control data in each package 5 to start up the package.

On the other hand, when the CPU is not down, the contents of the dual port RAM 3 will not be lost, and therefore the information stored in the dual port RAM 3 and the information stored in the non-volatile memory of the file unit 6 will not be lost. Since it is the same, it is useless to download data by CPU communication or to set data to the dual port RAM 3 when setting the data when reinserting the removed package. It makes sense to make use of the information stored. Therefore, when setting the data when re-inserting the package, the firmware unit 1 determines whether or not the CPU is down, and when it is not down, the dual port R
The information setting control for the package is performed using the information of AM3 as it is.

Whether or not the CPU is down is determined by whether or not the firmware section 1 passes the initial setting process. That is,
When the CPU is reset or the power is cut off, the firmware unit 1 is restarted and the initial setting process is performed, so that it can be determined that the CPU is down. When the CPU goes down, the data from the non-volatile memory is downloaded as described above.
When the PU is not down, information collection / setting control by polling described below is performed.

The information setting control for each package is performed by using the constant collection process performed by the firmware unit 1 by polling. That is, since the firmware unit 1 collects mounting information and device alarm information from each package 5, it sequentially polls each package at the fastest speed, transmits a control command for monitoring (that is, a collection command CMD), and responds. We urge the return of information ST. This command CMD for collecting information and various control commands CMD for packages and CMD can be controlled by the same command, thereby preparing one control command CMD for each package and polling each package for each package. By distributing, the monitoring information from the package and the setting of various control information to the package are simultaneously performed.

As a result, even if the internal data of the package 5 is lost due to the package 5 being removed from the backboard 4, if the package is inserted again into the backboard, polling for collecting information on the package is performed. At the same time, the necessary control data is read from the dual port RAM 3 by the communication control LSI 2 and set, so that it takes time to perform the data setting process for downloading from the non-volatile memory as in the conventional case. Will disappear. Therefore, even if the maintenance person accidentally pulls out the package in operation, if the alarm is given to restore the package, the package can be immediately restored to the original state.

Since the polling for collecting information on the package is performed regardless of the actual mounting / non-mounting state of the package, the firmware section 1 transmits the control command CMD in accordance with the mounting / non-mounting of the package. It is not necessary to judge whether or not it is, and the data setting control is always executed. The firmware unit 1 can also grasp the mounting / non-mounting information of the package depending on whether or not there is a response from the package, and the information is written in the dual port RAM 3 as the response information ST.

Further, in this embodiment, a memory for storing control data managed by the firmware unit 1 (conventionally known as CP
U work RAM is used) and the memory for hardware control of the package 5 is shared, and dual port RA
By setting M3, the data recognized by the firmware unit 1 is written in the dual port RAM 3,
If the firmware unit 1 is operating normally, it is not necessary to perform extra data transfer, and there is no possibility that the memory contents of the firmware unit and the hardware unit (that is, the package 5) are inconsistent as in the conventional case.

The communication control LSI 2 for the software / hardware interface is not limited to the one in the above-mentioned embodiment, but any other device can be used as long as it can transmit and receive a plurality of control information to and from one package at the same time. It may be based on a circuit.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the package is inserted or removed when the CPU is not down, the internal data lost in the package is restored to the original state in a short time and the package is started up. The firmware section can be automatically restored without being aware of this restoration processing. Further, even when a device having no nonvolatile memory or a package having a nonvolatile memory is down, the package in the device can be automatically restored, and maintainability can be enhanced. Furthermore, by using the table managed by the firmware and the software as the control command of the package as it is, it is possible to eliminate the data mismatch between the software and the firmware. Further, according to the present invention, even when a plurality of packages are removed and inserted at the same time, the information of the dual port RAM is collectively transmitted by polling, so that it is possible to recover in a shorter time than the method of processing one by one. It is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a package startup processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a communication control LSI 2.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an interface package.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a line setting package.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Firmware part 2 Communication control LSI 3 Dual port RAM 4 Device unit backboard 5 Interface / line setting package 6 File part

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location H04Q 3/545 8843-5K 11/04

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A device for a new synchronous network having a plurality of packages (14 # 1 to 14 # n) for setting an interface and / or a line, and sequentially collecting commands (CMD) by polling the plurality of packages. A package start-up processing method in which response information (ST) is sent, and when this collection command is sent, other control commands (CMD ...) Are sent at the same time to set the control information in each package. 2. The control information for the plurality of packages downloaded from the non-volatile memory and the response information collected from the plurality of packages are stored in the common memory (11) of the firmware unit (10), and a collection command is sent. 2. The package start-up processing method according to claim 1, wherein the control information is read out from the common memory and distributed to each package. 3. The package start-up processing method according to claim 2, wherein the control information is downloaded from the non-volatile memory to the common memory and then distributed to each package when the power of the firmware section is cut off.