JPH0685821A - Communication method and device thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] A data communication device capable of changing the connection configuration during the operation of the data communication device without having to assign a unique device number in the manufacturing process of the data communication device. It is an object to provide a device number setting method. [Structure] In S00, the optical LAN controller of each block generates a random number and uses it as a temporary device number.
In S01, the optical LAN controller queries another adjacent block for the device number, and obtains the device number of the block. In S03, the optical LAN controller transmits the latest information to the adjacent block. In S05, the optical LAN controller 20 of each block determines whether its own temporary device number and the device numbers of other blocks overlap. In S06, the optical LAN controller changes its own device number and notifies the adjacent block of the information. In S07, the optical LAN controller registers the temporary device number at that time as its own device number.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication method and an apparatus therefor, and more particularly to a communication method and an apparatus therefor for a data communication apparatus such as a data exchange and a LAN.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional communication method, in particular, a device number setting method for a data communication device, the following methods are known and generally used. For example, in a LAN
When a data communication device connected to a LAN, such as a file server or a data terminal, transmits or receives data, it performs communication control based on a device number unique to each device, or specifies a transmission destination or transmission source device. . Such communication control based on the device number, specification of the transmission destination, or the transmission source device is widely performed in other communication networks such as a communication network by packet switching.

In order to perform communication control based on the device number of the data communication device as described above, it is necessary that all devices connected to the same communication network have a unique device number that does not overlap. is there. As a method of setting a device number unique to each device, there is a method of storing the device number in an internal storage device at the time of manufacturing the device or setting it by a dip switch.

In some daisy chain connection or ring connection data communication devices, no device number is set at the time of manufacture, and all devices connected to the communication network are started up. In some cases, the device number is set in the order of connection of the data communication device to the communication network. However,
This device number is only set at the time of start-up, is not changed thereafter, and is not a dynamic setting method.

[0005]

Since the device number of the conventional data communication device is set by the method described above, (1) the device number which does not overlap in the manufacturing process of the data communication device. Therefore, the manufacturing process becomes complicated. (2) It is necessary to secure device numbers for all product shipments, which increases the number of digits of device numbers. (3) The method of setting the device number to each data communication device at the time of start-up can be applied to the case where the connection order to the communication network can be defined. However, when this method is adopted, the device number cannot be changed during operation, and therefore the connection configuration cannot be changed. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and in the manufacturing process of the data communication device, it is not necessary to give a unique device number, and therefore, all products can be manufactured. It is not necessary to secure device numbers for the number of shipments, the number of digits of the device number can be shortened, and the device number can be changed during operation of the data communication device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication method and a device therefor capable of changing a connection configuration during operation.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the communication method and device of the present invention have a unique device number, and a communication device for communicating with each other by using these device numbers is provided. A communication method in a communication system that the communication device has, wherein each of the communication devices has a unique device number when an initial state is changed or a configuration of the communication system is changed, and the communication devices perform communication based on the unique device number. In addition, the communication device that has received the device number from the other communication device adjusts its own device number so that the device number of the other communication device does not overlap with its own device number, and then the adjusted device is adjusted. Each communication device registers the number as its own device number and communicates based on this device number.

Further, the unique device number is determined by random number generation in each of the communication devices.

Further, the adjustment is performed until registration of device numbers of all the communication devices is completed.

Further, the adjustment is performed even when a new communication device is connected to the communication device.

Further, until the adjustment is completed, each of the communication devices uses the device number registered for the communication control before the adjustment is started, and the device registered after the adjustment is used for a certain time after the adjustment is completed. It is characterized in that the device number registered before the adjustment starts together with the number is used for communication control.

Further, there are provided communication devices each having a unique device number, and communication devices that communicate with each other by using these device numbers, wherein the communication devices are unique when the initial state or the configuration of the communication system is changed. The communication device having the device number of the other communication device performs communication between the communication devices based on the unique device number, and the communication device that receives the device number from the other communication device is Means for receiving the device number and adjusting its own device number so that the device number of another communication device does not overlap with its own device number, and then each communication device uses the adjusted device number as its own device. And a means for performing communication based on the device number.

[0013]

Each data communication device generates its own device number by a random number and transmits it to another data communication device. As a result, each data communication device in the communication network can know the device number and connection state of the other data communication device. Also, for all the device numbers that are known, it is judged whether or not there is a duplication with its own device number, and if there is a duplication, all of the data communication devices are duplicated in the same communication network by correcting its own device number. You can get the device number without. By performing the above-described operation even while the communication network and the data communication device connected thereto are in operation, it is possible to dynamically set the device number and change the configuration of the communication network.

[0014]

EXAMPLES Examples will be described below. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a wireless data communication network 1 to which the communication method of the present invention is applied and an example of an office to which the wireless data communication network 1 is applied. This wireless data communication network 1 is used, for example, in an office as shown in FIG. In FIG.
The groups 11 to 14 are four islands (collection of office seats) of offices where the wireless data communication network 1 is used.

Each of the groups 11 to 14 has four OA desks 16 partitioned by partitions 15, and each of the OA desks 16 has one workstation (WS) 17a to 17p. . The optical transmission device 18 is a device that modulates light according to the data to be transmitted and received, transmits the light to transmit the data, detects the modulated light, and receives the data.

As shown in FIG. 1, the above-mentioned parts are arranged in the office. Here, optical transmission devices 18a to 18p are placed at the ends of the partition 15, respectively. The optical transmission devices 18 facing each other one by one, for example, the optical transmission devices 18a and 18e perform optical transmission of data by transmitting and receiving light (for example, laser beams) modulated with each other through space.

2 and 3 show each group 1 shown in FIG.
It is an example of two types of connection of the wireless data communication network 1 of 1-14. 2 shows one optical LAN controller (Op.LA).
N Controller) 20 to 4 ports via Ethernet connector and each workstation 1
7 is a connection example in which four optical transmission devices (Op. Units) 18 are connected with one controller by connecting to seven.

FIG. 3 shows one optical LAN controller 20.
Then, this is an example of connection for controlling one workstation 17 and one optical transmission device 18. Here, the four LAN controllers 20 are connected by a cable 21 instead of the light transmitting / receiving unit. Communication between the four LAN controllers 20 is performed via this cable 21. Each of the above devices is an Ethernet (EtherNet)
Connected by.

FIG. 4 shows the wireless data communication network 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection relationship when is applied to the office shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 4, blocks 11a to 14d are
Each shows the wireless data communication network 1 shown in FIG. Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 4, each device (workstation 17,
A method of setting device numbers to the optical LAN controller 20 and the block having the optical transmission device 18 as a constituent unit will be described by taking the block 11a as an example.

Immediately after the wireless data communication network 1 is installed in this office, the light L of each of the blocks 11a to 14d described above is used.
The AN controller 20 is in a state where it does not have the device number set in this block unit.

From this state, the optical LAN controller 20 of the block 11a generates a random number of 8 bits, for example.
This random number serves as a temporary device number. The number of bits of this random number depends on the maximum number of devices that can be installed in the wireless data communication network 1, and should be changed depending on the scale of the wireless data communication device 1.

Next, the optical LAN controller 20 of the block 11a makes an inquiry about the device number to the other blocks 11b, 11c, and 14a which have a direct connection via the optical transmission device 18, and the device number. Get information on. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the blocks 11a-
Transmission and reception of information between 14d is performed with respect to a block to which the optical LAN controller 20 is directly connected via the optical transmission device 18. At this stage, the block 11a becomes the block 1
The device numbers of 1b, block 11c, and block 14a are known.

Next, the optical LAN controller 20 of the block 11a transmits the latest information obtained by itself to the other blocks 11b, 11d and 14a having a direct connection. If the information obtained from others is not up-to-date, the information is not transmitted to the other blocks 11b, 11d, and 14a. This exchange is performed by all blocks 11 in the wireless data communication network 1.
If steps a to 14d are performed, the block 11a can know the device numbers of all the other blocks 11b to 14d and the connection states.

If the optical LAN controllers 20 of all the blocks 11a to 14d know the device numbers and the connection states of all the other blocks 11a to 14d, the exchange itself automatically converges, There is no exchange of device numbers anywhere in the same space.
The block 11a checks the duplication of the device number based on the information indicating the connection status received so far after a sufficient time has elapsed since the latest information was last received. Here, the above-mentioned sufficient time is a time in which other devices are surely in a converged state, and is set according to the configuration and scale of the wireless data communication network 1.

Here, if a duplicate is found, the device number of the block 11a itself is changed to a non-duplicate number,
The changed contents are transmitted to others. Since all the other blocks 11b to 14d fetch the transmitted contents as the latest information, the block 11a checks again for duplication of the device number based on the connection state after a sufficient time elapses. The operation of the block 11a described above is performed by the other blocks 11b to 11b.
It is common to 14d.

Since this repetition also finally converges,
If the latest information does not arrive after a sufficient time (twice the convergence time or more) until the final convergence, block 11a.
Registers the current device number as the determined value. In operation, the device numbers that have already been determined are registered in the optical LAN controller 20 of each of the blocks 11a to 14d. Therefore, when adding a new block, it is sufficient for all blocks to receive the additional information. For a certain period of time, a control code for identifying new registration information and old registration information is provided so that these two can be used together.

However, the new registration information is not used yet, and a sufficient time is waited. After that, only the new registration information is used, but the information exchange based on the old registration information from other parties can be accepted for the same sufficient time as before. After that, the old registration information is discarded.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for registering a device number in the wireless data communication network 1 when the communication network starts up. In FIG. 5, step 00
In (S00), the optical LAN controller 20 of each block generates the random number and sets it as a temporary own device number. In step 01 (S01), the optical LAN controller 20 of each block inquires of another adjacent (directly connected) block its device number, and obtains the device number of the block.

In step 02 (S02), the optical LAN controller 20 of each block determines whether or not there is information to be transmitted to the adjacent block. Here, if the information is obtained from the adjacent block, the process proceeds to S03, and if not, the process proceeds to S04. Step 0
3 (S03), the optical LAN controller 20 of each block transmits the latest information to the adjacent block, and S0
Proceed to the process of 2.

In step 04 (S04), the optical LAN controller 20 of each block determines whether or not a sufficient time has elapsed since the last information was obtained. here,
The sufficient time may be different, as described above. If the sufficient time has passed, the process proceeds to S05, and if not, the process proceeds to S02. In step 05 (S05), the optical LAN controller 20 of each block determines whether or not its own temporary device number and the device numbers of other blocks overlap. If there is overlap, the process proceeds to S06, and if there is no overlap, S
The process proceeds to 07.

In step 06 (S06), the optical LAN controller 20 of each block changes its own device number, notifies the adjacent other blocks of the information, and S0
Proceed to the process of 2. In step 07 (S07), the optical LAN controller 20 of each block registers the temporary device number at that time as its own device number. This completes the registration of the device number when starting up the communication network.

The above procedure is performed for each block 11a to 14d.
In the above, the LAN controller 20 is used to perform the procedure, but the workstation 17 may be configured to perform the procedure. Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the communication method of the present invention is applied to the data communication device has been described, but the applicable range of the communication method of the present invention is not limited to the data communication device,
For example, the present invention can be applied to the case of performing communication for control between home electric appliances, specifically, a plurality of video devices, or controlling these with a single remote control device.

The communication method of the present invention is not limited to a wireless communication network, but can be applied to, for example, a wired LAN. Also,
The method of generating a temporary device number when the above device starts up is
For example, in the extreme case, in all data communication devices, the same numerical value may be used as a temporary device number when the device starts up. Even in this case, an individual device number is finally assigned to each data communication device by the device setting method of the data communication device of the present invention. In addition to the above, the communication method and device of the present invention can have various configurations. The embodiments described above are merely examples.

[0034]

As described above, according to the communication method and the apparatus thereof of the present invention, it is not necessary to assign a unique device number in the manufacturing process of the data communication device, and therefore, all product shipments can be performed. It is not necessary to secure a device number for only a few minutes, the number of digits of the device number can be shortened, and the device number can be changed during the operation of the data communication device. It is possible to provide a communication method and an apparatus thereof capable of changing the connection configuration during the communication. Further, since the number of digits of the device number is small, there is an effect that efficient communication can be performed in the communication network.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a wireless data communication network to which a communication method of the present invention is applied and an example of an office to which the wireless data communication network is applied.

2 is a connection example of the wireless data communication network of each group shown in FIG. 1, showing one optical LAN controller (Op.L.
Connected to each workstation from a 4-port Ethernet connector from the AN Controller) with one controller and four optical transmission devices (O
p. It is a figure which shows the example of a connection which controls (Unit).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a connection example of the wireless data communication network of each group shown in FIG. 1, showing a connection example in which one optical LAN controller controls one workstation and one optical transmission device. Is.

4 is a diagram showing a connection relationship when the wireless data communication network shown in FIG. 3 is applied to the office shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a procedure for registering a device number performed at the start-up of a communication network in a wireless data communication network.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Wireless data communication network 11-14 ... Group 15 ... Partition 16 ... OA desk 17 ... Workstation 18 ... Optical transmission device 20 ... Optical LAN controller

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A communication method in a communication system having communication devices each having a unique device number and communicating with each other by using these device numbers, wherein the communication device is in an initial state or a configuration of the communication system. Each has a unique device number at the time of change, and the communication device that receives the device number from another communication device by causing the communication devices to communicate with each other based on this unique device number is the other communication device. Device number and its own device number are adjusted so that their own device numbers do not overlap, then the above-mentioned adjusted device numbers are registered as their own device numbers by the respective communication devices, and based on this device number Communication method to communicate. 2. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the unique device number is determined by random number generation in each of the communication devices. 3. The communication method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adjustment is performed until registration of device numbers of all the communication devices is completed. 4. The communication method according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3, wherein the adjustment is performed even when a new communication device is connected to the communication device. . 5. The communication method according to claim 4, wherein, until the adjustment ends, each communication device uses the device number registered before the adjustment starts for communication control, and after the adjustment ends, the device number is constant. The communication method is characterized in that both the device number registered after the adjustment and the device number registered before the adjustment starts are used for communication control. 6. A communication device having a unique device number, and a communication device for communicating with each other using these device numbers, wherein the communication device is unique when the initial state or the configuration of the communication system is changed. Each communication device communicates with the other communication device based on this unique device number, receives the device number from another communication device, and receives the device number of the other communication device. And a means for adjusting its own device number so that its own device number does not overlap, and then each of the above communication devices registers the adjusted device number as its own device number, and communicates based on this device number. A communication device having means for performing.