Host computer and terminal device

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to a host computer and a terminal device that efficiently manages terminal information when a plurality of terminal devices are connected to the host computer via a network.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

When a host computer and a plurality of terminals communicate with each other, the host computer identifies the terminals by the terminal address and the terminal name. In addition, the terminal identifies the host computer by the address. The reason why the host computer needs the terminal name to identify the terminal is that there may be multiple logical terminals in the terminal identified by one address, and the address alone uniquely identifies this logical terminal. This is because it cannot be done.

【0003】

Therefore, when a logical terminal is newly installed in the terminal, it is necessary to set the address of the host computer to be connected and the terminal name used by each logical terminal on the terminal side before performing communication. Similarly, it is necessary to specify the terminal address and terminal name on the host computer side, but many inventions have been made since then regarding the method of automatically registering the terminal information on the host computer side. Problems have been resolved.

【0004】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

By the way, a large number of terminals are generally connected to a network, and in many cases each is installed in a remote place. In recent years, the man-hours required for maintenance of these terminals have been increasing, and reduction thereof is required. Manually setting the terminal information on all the installed terminals imposes a burden on the network administrator and at the same time increases the maintenance man-hours, and there is a possibility that a connection failure may occur due to a setting error.

【0005】

In order to solve these problems, a method of setting a terminal identifier for each terminal is shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-139747. However, in this method, it is necessary for each terminal to notify other terminals of the terminal identifier determined by each terminal, and when a plurality of terminals generate terminal identifiers at almost the same time, all of them are registered in the other terminal identifier storage unit. There is a problem that double registration is performed because it is not done.

【0006】

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-62018 shows a method of sending the network address of the server to the network as broadcast type communication data when the server is started and registering the network address with the communication partner. However, in this method, the network address is notified only when the server is started, so the network address notification cannot be requested on the terminal side as needed, and all terminals to be connected are started when the server is started. There is a restriction that it is necessary.

【0007】

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a host computer and a terminal device that efficiently manages terminal information when a plurality of terminal devices are connected to a host computer via a network. With the goal.

【0008】

[Means for solving problems]

The invention according to claim 1 is a host computer in which a plurality of terminal devices are connected via a network, wherein the host computer includes a communication control unit that controls communication with the terminal devices via the network, and the above-mentioned. In response to a request from the terminal information storage unit that stores information about the terminal, a connection destination information notification unit that notifies the host type and address of the host computer in response to a connection destination information request from the terminal, and a communication control unit. It is characterized by having a terminal name payout unit that pays out unused terminal names at the present time.

【0009】

The invention according to claim 2 is a terminal device connected to a host computer via a network, and the terminal device transmits a connection destination information request to the network to which the terminal device is connected. Then, the connection destination information acquisition unit that acquires the connection destination information transmitted by the host computer in response to this request, the connection destination information storage unit that stores the connection destination information acquired in the connection destination information storage unit, and the network At least one logical terminal that transmits / receives data to / from the host computer via the host computer, a logical terminal control unit that controls communication between the connection destination and the logical terminal based on the connection destination information, and a current connection with the host computer. It is characterized by including a logical terminal information storage unit that stores the information of the logical terminal inside.

【0010】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the terminal information management system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment. In this figure, reference numeral 1 is a terminal connected to network 9. Reference numerals 11 to 13 are logical terminals, and instruct the logical terminal control unit 14 to connect / disconnect the host computer and transmit data. In addition, the response and received data received by the logical terminal control unit 14 are received.

【0011】

Reference numeral 15 is a logical terminal information storage unit, which stores logical terminal information connected to the host computer. The logical terminal information is composed of a logical terminal number and a terminal name for identifying each logical terminal. The logical terminal number is a number for uniquely identifying the logical terminals 11 to 13 in the terminal 1, and may be a communication handle when the logical terminal control unit 14 communicates. Alternatively, it may simply be a number assigned sequentially. The terminal name is a name for uniquely identifying a logical terminal in the host computer, and is assigned by the host computer.

【0012】

Reference numeral 16 is a connection destination information storage unit, which stores connection destination information. The connection destination information consists of the host type and address of the connection destination host computer. The host type is an identifier indicating the type of the host computer, and is used to determine whether or not the host computer, which is the source of the connection destination information, is the connection target of the terminal. Addresses are unique destination information within the network and are assigned to each host computer at least one.

【0013】

Reference numeral 17 is a connection destination information acquisition unit, which transmits the connection destination information request as broadcast type transmission data when the terminal 1 is started up or when the transmission request to the host computer 2 fails to be transmitted, and the host computer 2 to be connected is connected. Receives the host type and address of the host computer 2 from, and registers them in the connection destination information storage unit 16. Further, when the terminal 1 is terminated, the connection destination information is deleted from the connection destination information storage unit 16.

【0014】

Reference numeral 2 is an active host computer. Reference numeral 21 is a communication control unit, which communicates with the terminal 1. At that time, the terminal information is registered, searched, and deleted in the terminal information storage unit 22. Further, when the connection request is received from the terminal, the terminal name payout unit 24 is requested to pay out the new terminal name.

【0015】

Reference numeral 22 is a terminal information storage unit, which stores terminal information related to the terminal being communicated with. The terminal information is composed of the terminal address and the terminal name. Addresses are unique destination information within the network and are assigned to each terminal at least one. The terminal name is a name for uniquely identifying the logical terminal and is assigned by the host computer.

【0016】

Reference numeral 23 is a connection destination information notification unit, which notifies the terminal 1 of the host type and address of the host computer 2 when the connection destination information request is received from the terminal 1. Reference numeral 24 is a terminal name payout unit, which pays out an unused terminal name at the request of the communication control unit 21.

【0017】

Reference numeral 3 is a standby host computer that switches when the host computer 2 fails. The host computer 3 may be an active system.

【0018】

Next, the operation at the time of starting the terminal 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the terminal 1 and the host computer 2 shown in FIG.

【0019】

First, when the terminal 1 is started, the connection destination information acquisition unit 17 is automatically started by the start command (step S21). Next, the connection destination information acquisition unit 17 transmits the connection destination information request as broadcast type transmission data (step S22).

【0020】

Next, the connection destination information acquisition unit 17 determines whether or not a certain period of time has elapsed (step S23). As a result, if the response to the connection destination information request is not received within a certain period of time, a timeout occurs and the startup is completed.

【0021】

On the other hand, the connection destination information acquisition unit 17 waits for the response reception to the connection destination information request until a certain time elapses (step S24).

【0022】

The connection destination information notification unit 23 of the host computer 2 that has received the connection destination information request transmits the address and host type of the host computer 2 to the terminal 1 as a response (step S25).

【0023】

When the connection destination information acquisition unit 17 receives the response of the connection destination information request (step S26), the connection destination information storage unit 16 is searched based on the host type notified in the response (step S27), and the connection destination information storage unit 17 is already registered. Determine if it is (step S28).

【0024】

As a result, if the notified host type has already been registered, the notified connection destination information is not registered, the process returns to step S23, and the next connection destination information request is made until a predetermined time elapses. Wait for a response.

【0025】

On the other hand, if the notified host type is not registered, the notified host type and address are registered in the connection destination information storage unit 16 (step S29).

【0026】

After that, when the terminal 1 communicates, it communicates with the host computer 2 using the address registered in the connection destination information storage unit 16.

【0027】

Next, the operation when the terminal 1 connects to the host computer 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation when the terminal 1 shown in FIG. 1 connects to the host computer 2.

【0028】

First, the logical terminal 11 specifies the logical terminal number and the host type of the host computer to be connected, and instructs the logical terminal control unit 14 to send a connection request (step S30).

【0029】

Next, the logical terminal control unit 14 searches the connection destination information storage unit 16 based on the host type specified from the logical terminal 11, acquires the address of the corresponding host computer 2 (step S31), and specifies the address. And send the connection request (step S32).

【0030】

The communication control unit 21 of the host computer 2 that has received the connection request from the terminal 1 requests a new terminal name from the terminal name issuing unit 24. In response to this, the terminal name payout unit 24 pays out a new terminal name (step S33). Then, the address of the terminal 1 and the issued terminal name are registered in the terminal information storage unit 22 (step S34).

【0031】

Subsequently, when the registration of the terminal information is completed, the communication control unit 21 specifies the terminal name and transmits a response to the connection request to the terminal 1 (step S35). The terminal name to be paid out may be stored or generated on the spot.

【0032】

Next, the logical terminal control unit 14 of the terminal 1 receives the response to the connection request (step S36), and stores the terminal name notified from the host computer 2 and the logical terminal number specified by the logical terminal 11 in the logical terminal information. Register in Part 15 (step S37).

【0033】

From this point onward, when the logical terminal 11 communicates with the host computer, the issued terminal name is used.

【0034】

Next, the operation when the terminal 1 disconnects from the host computer 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation when the terminal 1 shown in FIG. 1 disconnects from the host computer 2.

【0035】

First, the logical terminal 11 specifies the logical terminal number and instructs the logical terminal control unit 14 to send a disconnection request (step S40).

【0036】

Next, the logical terminal control unit 14 acquires the connection destination address from the connection destination information storage unit 16 (step S41), and further searches the logical terminal information storage unit 15 based on the specified logical terminal number. Acquire the terminal name to be used (step S42), specify the acquired terminal name, and send a disconnection request to the host computer 2 (step S43).

【0037】

Next, the communication control unit 21 of the host computer 2 that has received the disconnection request searches the terminal information storage unit 22 based on the terminal name notified in the disconnection request, and deletes the terminal information of the terminal 1 (step S44).

【0038】

Next, when the deletion of the terminal information is completed, the communication control unit 21 specifies the terminal name to the terminal 1 and transmits a response to the disconnection request (step S45).

【0039】

Next, the logical terminal control unit 14 of the terminal 1 receives a response to the disconnection request (step S46), searches the logical terminal information storage unit 15 based on the terminal name notified by this response, and finds the corresponding terminal name. Delete the logical terminal information (step S47).

【0040】

This operation disconnects the terminal 1 from the host computer 2.

【0041】

Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the operation when the terminal 1 fails to connect to the host computer 2 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation when the terminal 1 shown in FIG. 1 fails to connect to the host computer 2.

【0042】

First, when the logical terminal control unit 14 cannot receive the response to the connection request for a certain period of time due to the host computer going down or a physical line failure, the logical terminal control unit 14 deletes the connection destination information corresponding to the address used in the connection request (step S50). Then, the connection destination information acquisition unit 17 is instructed to send the address notification request (step S51).

【0043】

Next, in response to the transmission instruction, the connection destination information acquisition unit 17 acquires the connection destination information (step S52). Since the processing in step S52 is the same as the income processing of the connection destination information shown in FIG. 2, the description thereof is omitted here. In this process, the connection destination information of the standby host computer 3 is acquired.

【0044】

Next, when the connection destination information acquisition unit 17 completes the acquisition of the connection destination information, the logical terminal control unit 14 is notified of the completion of the acquisition of the connection destination information (step S53).

【0045】

In response to this, the logical terminal control unit 14 again searches the connection destination information storage unit 16 based on the host type (step S54), and determines whether or not the address acquisition is successful (step S55).

【0046】

As a result, if the corresponding connection destination information does not exist, the logical terminal control unit 14 notifies the logical terminal 11 of the connection failure (step S60).

【0047】

On the other hand, if the corresponding connection destination information exists, the logical terminal control unit 14 specifies the acquired address and sends a connection request to a host computer 3 different from the previous connection destinations (step S56). ), Determine whether the connection request was successfully sent (step S57).

【0048】

As a result, when the connection request is successfully transmitted, the terminal name and the logical terminal number notified in the response are registered in the logical terminal information storage unit 15 (step S58), and the logical terminal 11 is notified of the completion of the connection (step S59). ).

【0049】

On the other hand, when the transmission of the connection request fails, the logical terminal control unit 14 notifies the logical terminal 11 of the connection failure (step S60).

【0050】

By such an operation, even if the connection fails, a connection request can be made to another host computer.

【0051】

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment. This embodiment includes a recording medium 4 on which a terminal information management program is recorded. The recording medium 4 may be a magnetic disk, a semiconductor memory, or other recording medium. The terminal information management program is read from the recording medium 4 into a computer (central processing unit, processor, data processing unit, etc.) 5 and a computer (central processing unit, processor, data processing unit, etc.) 6, and operates the computer 7 and the computer 8. Control. Computers 7 and 8 execute the same processes as those shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 under the control of the terminal information management program read into computers 5 and 6.

【0052】

That is, the connection target computer 8 notifies the address and host type of the computer 8 in response to the connection destination information request transmitted by the connection destination information acquisition unit 77 as broadcast type transmission data, so that the computer 7 can be connected. The connection destination information is automatically registered in the connection destination information storage unit 76.

【0053】

Further, the logical terminal 71 allocates and notifies the terminal name used by the logical terminal 71 in the response of the connection request transmitted by the logical terminal 71 via the logical terminal control unit 74, so that the computer 7 can be notified. The logical terminal information is automatically registered in the logical terminal information storage unit 75.

【0054】

Further, when the connection request transmission from the logical terminal 71 fails, the connection destination information acquisition unit 77 re-acquires the connection destination information to store the connection destination information of the other running computer. By registering in Part 76 and sending a connection request using the connection destination information, the connection destination host computer is automatically switched to the running host computer, and the failure of the connection request from the logical terminal 71 is avoided.

【0055】

In this way, in a network system in which a plurality of terminals connect to a host computer, the host computer uniquely assigns a terminal name used to uniquely identify the terminal when each terminal and the host computer communicate with each other. By automatically setting the terminal name in the local terminal, and by automatically acquiring the address of the connection destination host computer at the request from the terminal when the terminal is started and setting it in the local terminal, the terminal name and the terminal name can be set. It eliminates the need for manual address setting, facilitates the addition of terminals, and at the same time prevents connection failures due to setting mistakes.

【0056】

In addition, when the connection request transmission from the terminal to the host computer fails, the address of the connection destination host computer is reacquired and the connection destination host computer is automatically switched to the connectable host computer to connect from the terminal. It is possible to avoid request failure.

【0057】

A program for realizing each step shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into a computer system and executed. The terminal information management process may be performed according to the above. The term "computer system" as used herein includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. Further, the "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a portable medium such as a floppy disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, or a CD-ROM, or a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system.

【0058】

Further, a "computer-readable recording medium" is a communication line for transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, and dynamically holds the program for a short period of time. In that case, it also includes the one that holds the program for a certain period of time, such as the volatile memory inside the computer system that is the server or client. Further, the above-mentioned program may be a program for realizing a part of the above-mentioned functions, and may be a program for realizing the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

【0059】

[Effect of the invention]

As described above, according to the present invention, the host computer uniquely assigns a terminal name used to uniquely identify a terminal when each terminal and the host computer communicate with each other, and receives a notification of the terminal name. By automatically setting the terminal in its own terminal, it is not necessary to manually set the terminal name, facilitating the installation of a new terminal, and at the same time preventing connection failure due to a setting error of the terminal name including double registration. The effect of being able to do is obtained.

【0060】

Further, according to the present invention, by automatically acquiring the address of the connection destination host computer at the time of starting the terminal and registering it in the own terminal, it is not necessary to manually set the connection destination address, and it is easy to newly install the terminal. At the same time, it is possible to prevent a connection failure due to a setting error of the connection destination address.

【0061】

Further, according to the present invention, when the connection request transmission from the terminal fails, the address of the connection destination host computer is reacquired, and the connection destination host computer is automatically switched to connect the host computer. It is also possible to prevent connection failures caused by computer downtime or communication line failure.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of this invention.

[Figure 2]

It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the terminal 1 and a host computer shown in FIG.

[Fig. 3]

It is a flowchart which shows the operation when the terminal 1 shown in FIG. 1 connects to a host computer 2.

[Fig. 4]

It is a flowchart which shows the operation when the terminal 1 shown in FIG. 1 disconnects the communication with a host computer 2.

[Fig. 5]

It is a flowchart which shows the operation when the terminal 1 shown in FIG. 1 fails to connect with a host computer 2.

[Fig. 6]

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of another embodiment of this invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... terminal, 11 ~ 13 Logical terminal, 14 Logical terminal control unit, 15 Logical terminal information storage unit, 16 Connection destination information storage unit, 17 Connection destination information acquisition department, 2 ... Host computer, 21 ... Communication control unit, 22 Terminal information storage unit, 23 Connection destination information notification section, 24 Terminal name payout department, 3 ... Host computer, 9 ... Network.