Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Network computer configuring
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-01
2003-12-23
Thomson, W. (Department: 2123)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Network computer configuring
C709S221000, C709S223000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06668280
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system configuration setting method for automatically setting system configuration, and also relates to a transmission apparatus.
Various kinds of transmission apparatuses are usually constructed using multiple units of multiple kinds, and for system expansion, functionality upgrading, etc., units are added or replaced, and the system is reconfigured accordingly. It is therefore desired to simplify operations for such system reconfigurations.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 10
is a diagram for explaining the essential elements of a transmission apparatus, wherein reference numeral
51
is a human-machine interface (HMI) control block,
52
is a main control block,
53
is a line connection block,
54
and
55
are high-speed units,
56
to
58
are low-speed units,
59
is a power supply unit, and
60
is a terminal.
In the illustrated configuration, the high-speed units
54
and
55
and low-speed units
56
to
58
constitute main signal units which are controlled by the main control block
52
. The high-speed units are capable of a transmission speed, for example, of 600 Mbps, and the low-speed units are capable of a transmission speed, for example, of 50 Mbps. Each main signal unit includes an interface section, having, for example, an electrical-to-optical conversion function, for communication with other transmission apparatuses and switching equipment.
When a command is entered from the terminal
60
, the HMI control block
51
analyzes the command and sends a control request to the main control block
52
. The main control block
52
contains a management table (not shown) for managing the type, version, installation state, etc. of the main signal units, etc. described above, and is responsible for the management of the system configuration. The line connection block
53
has the function of controlling connections between the main signal units or with external lines. The power supply unit
59
includes a regulated power supply for supplying a stable operating voltage to each element.
Generally, a dual configuration consisting of a working unit and a protection unit for enhanced reliability is employed for each functional unit. In that case, the main control block
52
, which manages the state of each functional unit, switches the operation to the protection unit in the event of a failure of the working unit. When installing an additional unit for system expansion or replacing a unit for functionality upgrading, requiring reconfiguration of the system, the operator enters commands in sequence from the terminal
60
for the reconfiguration of the system.
Upon receiving each command from the terminal
60
, the HMI control block
51
analyses the command and sends a control request based on the result of the analysis to the main control block
52
. In response to the control request, the main control block
52
refers to the management table and carries out the reconfiguration of the system.
As the system configuration changes, for example, as the result of installing an additional unit for system expansion, etc. or replacing an old functional unit with a new functional unit for functionality upgrading, it becomes necessary to update the management table in the main control block
52
and to make settings, etc. for the newly installed unit. In that case, the operator must enter commands from the terminal
60
, as described above, to perform a sequence of procedures to switch the lines and units currently in service to an out-of-service state and, after the new unit has been installed, a sequence of procedures to switch them back to the in-service state.
Thus the operator has to enter commands in sequence in accordance with the procedures by using his knowledge, if he is familiar with the functions of each unit, or by referring to the operation manual; this presents a problem in that the operations required to carry out the procedures are complex. Furthermore, with increasing functionality of transmission apparatus, the units mounted therein increase both in kind and in number, further increasing the complexity of operations for system reconfiguration and lengthening the time required from the initiation of the reconfiguration process to the restarting of the system. The complexity in operation has had the further problem in that the possibility of operational errors increases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to simplify system reconfiguration operations.
The invention provides (1) a system configuration setting method for a transmission apparatus that includes, as will be shown in
FIG. 1
later, a main control block
2
which sets system configuration by managing multiple units of multiple kinds and an HMI control block
1
which receives a command from an external terminal
10
and makes a control request to the main control block
2
, the method comprising a step where, in response to a system reconfiguration command from the terminal
10
, the HMI control block
1
determines, based on management information managed therein, whether system reconfiguration is needed or not, and if it is determined that the reconfiguration is needed, the HMI control block
1
sends a control request to the main control block
2
to change the system configuration so as to match an installed unit, whereupon the system reconfiguration is effected by the main control block
2
. Accordingly, by just entering information concerning the addition or removal of a unit and its associated system reconfiguration command only once at the beginning, the main control block
2
can be activated to effect the system reconfiguration.
According to the invention (2), the system configuration setting method includes a step where, when the system reconfiguration command is entered from the terminal
10
, the HMI control block
1
judges the installation state of the unit based on the management information, to determine whether the unit is not installed, properly installed, or improperly installed and, based on the result of the judgement of the installation state, determines whether the system reconfiguration is needed or not, and if it is determined that the reconfiguration is needed, the HMI control block
1
sends the control request to the main control block
2
, whereupon the system reconfiguration is effected by the main control block
2
.
According to the invention (3), the system configuration setting method includes a step where when the system reconfiguration command is entered from the terminal
10
, the HMI control block
1
judges the unit type of the installed unit based on the management information, to determine whether the unit type is the same between a working unit and a protection unit and, only when the unit type is the same, the HMI control block
1
determines that the system reconfiguration is needed, and sends the control request to the main control block
2
to change the system configuration so as to match the installed unit, whereupon the system reconfiguration is effected by the main control block. That is, if the unit type differs between the working unit and protection unit, the dual function will not work; therefore, in that case, the previous state is retained.
According to the invention (4), the system configuration setting method includes a step where when the system reconfiguration command is entered from the terminal
10
, the HMI control block
1
judges the versions of a working unit and a protection unit based on the management information, and performs control so that when one version is new and the other is old, the system reconfiguration is effected according to the old version, and when both of the versions are either new or old and identical in version number, the system reconfiguration is effected according to either the new version or the old version. That is, if the version is different between the working and protection units, the state according to the old version is retained, and the version is not switched to th
Kanzawa Hiroshi
Okamoto Tamaki
Fujitsu Limited
Katten Muchin Zavis & Rosenman
Thomson W.
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