IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0336296
(1981-12-31)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Lyon, David L.
- Huettner, Robert E.
- Holsinger, Jerry L.
- Falkenstein, Don I.
- Piracha, Imtiaz
- Ching, Dennis T.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
52 인용 특허 :
5 |
초록
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A network control and test system for application to data communications networks. In a first mode of operation, the system learns the network configuration automatically and builds a table describing the network configuration. In a second mode of operation, the system automatically monitors the sta
A network control and test system for application to data communications networks. In a first mode of operation, the system learns the network configuration automatically and builds a table describing the network configuration. In a second mode of operation, the system automatically monitors the status of the network and each of its component units, periodically polling the network for changes of status and updating the information in the network configuration table to reflect such changes. In a third mode of operation, selective sites in the network may be tested under control of the system at previously selected and entered times of day, at which times previously chosen tests are performed without the need for operator intervention. In a fourth mode, an operator can manually command the system to perform certain tests and control functions. A central site in the network includes the primary components of the system and each remote site includes a remote test module which operates under the control of and in cooperation with the central site equipment. The central site equipment includes a three-tiered, partially distributed data processing system having a semi-autonomous data processing system at each tier. Each of the tiers has predetermined functions and responsibilities.
대표청구항
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1. A communications network testing and control system for use with a digital communications network which provides digital communications between a dynamically changing plurality of sites via analog communications links, one of said sites being designated a central site and each other site being de
1. A communications network testing and control system for use with a digital communications network which provides digital communications between a dynamically changing plurality of sites via analog communications links, one of said sites being designated a central site and each other site being designated a remote site, and each site having a modem connected to at least one such analog link for communicating therethrough with at least one other site, said communications network testing and control system, at said central site, comprising: first, second and third data processing systems; means for entering commands to said first data processing system for real time control of the operation of the network testing and control system; means for displaying information representing real time data from the first data processing system; the third data processing system communicating with a remote site over said communications links in a shared and selectively concurrent arrangement with said communications network; the first and second data processing systems having means for communicating therebetween byte-wise in parallel; the second and third data processing systems having means for communicating therebetween bit-wise serially; the second data processing system thereby communicating with both the first and third data processing systems and including means for converting said byte-wise data from the first processing system to serial bit-wise data for the third data processing system; the third data processing system having means for communicating serially with the remote site in said shared arrangement with said digital communications network; and communications signals between the second data processing system and the remote site over said communications links being translated by the third data processing system into a format compatible with the destination of the signals. 2. In a network testing and control system for use with a digital communications network which provides digital communication between a dynamically changing plurality of sites, one of said sites being designated a central site and the other sites being designated remote sites and said digital communication between said central site and said remote sites being over a plurality of communications lines using modem communications links, means at each site for uniquely identifying that site by a site address selected from a pool of available site addresses, an improvement for reporting on the operational status of remote sites connected to said communications network communications lines, said improvement comprising, at the central site, first and second data processing systems, system bus means for permitting the first and second data processing systems to communicate testing and control data with each other, means for entering commands to said first data processing system for real time control of the operation of the network testing and control system, said first data processing system including means for processing said commands to generate a sequence of instructions for said second processing system, said second data processing system including a plurality of connection port means for communicating with the remote sites over said communications lines in a shared and selectively concurrent arrangement with said digital communications network, each port means being adapted to be operatively connected to at least one said communications line, said second data processing system further having means for uniquely identifying each remote site according to the port means and communications line through which the remote site is connected to the central site, and in combination with the address of each remote site, which distinguishes that remote site from all other remote sites on the same communications line, said second processing system further having means for operating each port means and means for communicating therethrough between the second data processing system and remote sites over said shared communications lines substantially independent of the operation and communications through other port means, and said second processing system including means responsive to said instructions from said first processing system for effecting network testing and control operations of said remote sites for determining, at said central site, operating conditions of said remote sites on said digital communications network. 3. The system of claim 2 wherein there are a plurality of second data processing systems each of which includes said plurality of connection port means; each second data processing system further comprising means for effecting substantially independent operation from the other second data processing systems in response to command instruction signals from the first data processing system, whereby the second data processing systems are able to perform different operations at substantially the same time according to command instruction signals from the first data processing system. 4. The system of claim 3 wherein the second data processing systems further include means for responding substantially simultaneously to a predetermined command signal from the first data processing system to poll sequentially all possible addresses at each of their connection port means, and means for identifying from signal responses thereto the address of the active remote sites connected thereto. 5. The system of claim 2 wherein each second data processing system further comprises means for initiating status inquiry requests to said remote sites, means for storing received status inquiry responses from said remote sites, and means for transmitting groups of said stored status responses to said first data processing system in response to a request therefrom. 6. The system of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of second data processing systems, means for permitting each said second data processing system to communicate with said first data processing system, whereby additional remote sites can be monitored by adding additional second data processing systems to said testing and control system. 7. The network testing and control system for use with a digital communications network which provides digital communications between a dynamically changing plurality of sites, one of said sites being designated a central site and the other sites being designated remote sites and said digital communication between said central site and said remote sites being over a plurality of communications lines using modem communications links, means at each site for uniquely identifying said site by a site address selected from a pool of available site addresses, the system for reporting on the operational status of remote sites connected to said communications network communications lines, comprising, at the central site, a first data processing system, means for entering commands to said first data processing system for real time control of the operation of the network testing and control system, a plurality of second data processing systems, system bus means for permitting the first and second data processing systems to communicate testing and control data with each other byte-wise in parallel, at least one third data processing system for each second data processing system, each second data processing system including a plurality of connection port means, each port means being adapted to be connected to a third data processing system for communicating with the remote sites, each second data processing system further including means for converting said byte input from said first processing system to a bit-wise serial output to a said third data processing system, and each third data processing system being connected to a port means of one of the second data processing systems and also being connected to a communications line of the network for providing serial communications between a remote site on such line and such port means over said communications line in a shared and selectively concurrent arrangement with said digital communications network for determining operating conditions of said remote sites on said digital communications network. 8. The system of claim 7 wherein the first data processing system also includes input/output port means and the network testing and control system further includes: keyboard means for providing input signals to the input/output port means; receiving means for receiving message signals from the input/output means; and display means for displaying an output message responsive to a message signal from the receiving means. 9. The system of claim 8 wherein the first data processing system further comprises means for controlling the routing of signals between the input/output port means of the first data processing system and the second data processing systems. 10. The system of claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the second data processing systems further comprise means for generating signals indicating a detection of an alarm condition at a remote site, and the first data processing system includes memory means for generating and storing information associated with such signals. 11. The system of claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the first data processing system further comprises means for transmitting command signals to a said second data processing system for initiating tests or effecting operations at a remote site or third data processing system and the second data processing system including means for routing an associated signal pattern to the indicated destination to effectuate such a test or operation. 12. The system of claim 7 wherein said third data processing system further comprises means for receiving commands from the second data processor in digital data format, means for translating said commands into a format acceptable for transmission to the remote sites, and means for transmitting the reformatted commands to the remote sites. 13. The system of claim 12 further wherein said transmitting means transmits said commands as analog signals, and said third data processor further comprises means for receiving analog response signals from the remote sites, means for translating said analog signals into a digital format for use by the second data processor, and means for transmitting said translated signals to the second data processor in digital format. 14. In a network testing and control system for use with a digital communications network which provides digital communication between a plurality of sites, one of said sites being designated a central site and the other of said sites being designated remote sites and said digital communication between said central site and said remote sites being over a plurality of communications lines using modem communications links, and means at each site for uniquely identifying each said site by a site address, an improvement for reporting on the operational status of remote sites connected to said communications network communications lines, having at the central site a data processor system, and said improvement comprising, at the central site, a plurality of connection port means for communicating testing and control data with the remote sites over said communications lines in a shared and selectively concurrent arrangement with said digital communications network, each port being adapted to be operatively connected to at least one said communication line, means for transmitting testing and control data and receiving such data through each port means at the central site onto said communications line independently of the transmission and reception of testing and control data through each other port means and independently of transmission and of reception in said digital communications network, means for operating remote sites in a plurality of testing and control operating modes, said modes having a predetermined priority, and means for interrupting an ongoing testing and control operation at a remote site in accordance with a first such operating mode at a selected port for initiating operation at that remote site in accordance with a second higher priority testing and control operating mode at said selected port. 15. The network testing and control system of claim 14 wherein said data processing system further comprises means for automatically resuming operation at said selected port after completion of said higher priority operation, in accordance with the first mode of operation which had been interrupted. 16. The network testing and control system of claim 14 further wherein said data processing system comprises means for operating each said port in accordance with a mode of operation selected from a learn mode, an automatic monitoring mode, an automatic preventive maintenance mode, and a manual mode; and means for assigning priorities to said operating modes for ordering the sequence of operations of said remote site operating means, whereby said system, when operating at a port in a first, lower priority mode can interrupt said port operation to operate in a second mode having a higher priority. 17. In a network testing and control system for use with a digital communications network which provides digital communication between a plurality of sites, one of said sites being designated a central site and the other of said sites being designated remote sites and said digital communication between said central site and said remote sites being over a plurality of communications lines using modem communications links, each site being uniquely identified by a site address, an improved network testing and control method for reporting, at the central site, on the operational status of remote sites connected to said communications network communications lines comprising the steps of connecting each of a plurality of ports at the central site for communicating testing and control data with selected ones of the remote sites over said communications lines in a shared and selectively concurrent arrangement with said digital communications network, transmitting and receiving testing and control data through each one of said ports and over said communications lines independently of the transmission and reception of testing and control data through each other port, operating said remote sites in accordance with the transmitted data in one of a plurality of operating testing and control modes for determining operating conditions at said remote sites in said digital communications network from said central site, said modes having a predetermined priority, and said mode of testing and control operation being selected at said central site, and interrupting an ongoing testing and control operation at a remote site in accordance with a first such operating mode at a selected port for initiating operation at said port in accordance with a second higher priority testing and control operating mode, whereby ongoing testing and control operations at said selected remote site can be altered in accordance with a priority mode operating system. 18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of automatically resuming operation at said interrupted port in accordance with the lower priority mode of operation after operation in accordance with said higher priority mode has terminated.
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