Communication terminal device and method for controlling communication terminal device

Abstract

To provide a communication terminal device and a control method for a communication terminal device that can support a plurality of control interfaces.SOLUTION: A communication terminal device 20 has a modular configuration in which a signal line is connected to a connected connection device and communication operations are performed by control based on signals that conform to a control interface, and the communication terminal device 20 includes a switching selection unit 211 that selects one control interface from multiple control interfaces on the basis of a switching signal from the connection device, and a communication control unit 212 that controls operation on the basis of the control interface selected by the switching selection unit 211.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This technique relates to a communication terminal device and a method for controlling the communication terminal device, and in particular to control of communication operations for a modular communication terminal device. [Background technology]

[0002] Among communication terminal devices that perform communication operations, there are communication terminal devices with modular configurations that can be directly connected to information processing devices with various functions. For example, a communication terminal device with modular configuration is an SFP (Small Form Factor Pluggable). A communication terminal device with modular configuration is designed to comply with a control interface standard for communication that complies with the MSA (Multi-Source Agreement), a specification established by multiple manufacturers. An example of a control interface that complies with the MSA (Inter-Integrated Circuit), which is used in SFPs, is I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit).

[0003] Such a communication terminal device can be connected to and used with an information processing device that has a slot equipped with a plug terminal or the like based on a standard that complies with the MSA control interface (see, for example, Patent Document 1). By inserting a modular communication terminal device into a slot (insertion port) that corresponds to the MSA control interface provided in the information processing device and connecting them so that they can communicate via the plug terminal, the devices can be integrated, thereby realizing a smaller, more space-saving device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5463679 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When testing a modular communication terminal device, the test device that performs the test controls the communication terminal device to perform communication operations appropriate for the type of test. For example, if a test system can be configured using a personal computer as the test device and a control interface such as RS-232C (ANSI / EIA-232E), the hardware configuration is simple and versatile, and there is a wide range of compatible software available. This allows for inexpensive and easy testing of communication terminal devices.

[0006] However, when controlling a modular communications terminal device manufactured to a standard that complies with the MSA control interface, only a control interface that complies with the MSA can be used. Therefore, even when testing a modular communications terminal device, control based on the MSA control interface is required, and it has been necessary to configure the necessary hardware and software.

[0007] To solve this problem, for example, a modular communication terminal device could be modified to have a control interface compatible with the test equipment, which is different from the MSA-compliant control interface. However, in this case, when the communication terminal device is connected to an information processing device, the control interface will not match. As a result, the MSA-compliant information processing device cannot control the communication terminal device, and a dedicated information processing device must be used to connect it, which makes it less versatile in actual use.

[0008] Therefore, it has been desired to realize a communication terminal device and a control method for a communication terminal device that can support a plurality of control interfaces. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The communication terminal device disclosed herein is a modular communication terminal device that is connected to a connecting device via a signal line and performs communication operations through control based on signals that conform to a control interface, and is equipped with a switching selection unit that selects one control interface from multiple control interfaces based on a switching signal from the connecting device, and a communication control unit that controls operation based on the control interface selected by the switching selection unit.

[0010] In addition, the control method for a communication terminal device disclosed herein is a control method for a communication terminal device having a modular configuration in which a signal line is connected to a connected connection device and communication operations are performed by control based on signals that conform to the control interface, and includes a switching selection process for selecting one control interface from multiple control interfaces based on a switching signal from the connection device, and a communication control process for performing operation control based on the selected control interface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to this disclosure, when a switching signal is sent from a connection device, the communication terminal device can select and switch a control interface based on the switching signal, thereby enabling the communication control unit to control communication in accordance with control interfaces that comply with multiple standards. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication system including a communication terminal device 20 according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an inspection system when inspecting a communication terminal device 20 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] 4 is a diagram showing signals related to control between a communication terminal control unit 210 and a test control unit 310 according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram showing a process flow in a communication terminal control unit 210 and a test control unit 310 according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 5]10 is a diagram showing signals related to control between a communication terminal control unit 210 and an information processing control unit 110. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, a communication terminal device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same reference numerals denote the same or equivalent components, and this applies throughout the entire description of the embodiments described below. Furthermore, the size relationships between components in the drawings may differ from those in reality. Furthermore, the configurations of components shown throughout the entire specification are merely examples and are not limited to the configurations described in the specification. In particular, the combinations of components are not limited to the combinations in each embodiment, and components described in other embodiments may be applied to other embodiments.

[0014] Embodiment 1 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a communication system including a communication terminal device 20 according to the first embodiment. The communication system according to the first embodiment is composed of a WAN-side communication line 40, a communication terminal device 20, an information processing device 10, and a user terminal device 50. The user terminal device 50 is a terminal device used by a user, such as a computer or a smartphone. In the communication system according to the first embodiment, the user terminal device 50 transmits and receives signals including various data via the information processing device 10 when communicating with another terminal device (not shown).

[0015] The information processing device 10 is, for example, a device such as a router. The information processing device 10 in the first embodiment establishes a wireless or wired LAN (Local Area Network) with the user terminal device 50. The information processing device 10 cooperates with the communication terminal device 20, and serves as, for example, a relay device when transmitting and receiving signals (communicating) between the user terminal device 50 and a WAN-side communication line 40, which is a communication line on the WAN (Wide Area Network) side.

[0016] The information processing device 10 has a port (not shown) that serves as an insertion port for the communication terminal device 20. The information processing device 10 also has a plug connection unit 130 within the port. The plug connection unit 130 is a group of connection terminals. The plug connection unit 130 is connected to an information processing communication unit 120 and an information processing control unit 110 (described later) via multiple signal lines (not shown). The plug connection unit 130 is electrically connected to multiple communication connection terminals 230 of the communication terminal device 20 (described later) inserted into the port, thereby enabling signal communication between the information processing device 10 and the communication terminal device 20. Therefore, from the perspective of the communication terminal device 20, the information processing device 10 is a connection device connected to the communication terminal device 20. Here, the information processing device 10 controls communication with the communication terminal device 20 using a control interface standard for communication that complies with the MSA interface. Here, the information processing device 10 controls communication with the communication terminal device 20 using an I2C interface, which is a serial communication interface that complies with the MSA interface standard. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and communication control of the communication terminal device 20 may be performed using other control interfaces such as SPI (Serial Perpheral Interface).

[0017] The information processing device 10 has an information processing communication unit 120 and an information processing control unit 110. Based on instructions from the information processing control unit 110, the information processing communication unit 120 converts signals sent from the user terminal device 50 and sends them to the communication terminal device 20. The information processing communication unit 120 also converts signals sent from the communication terminal device 20 and sends them to the user terminal device 50. The information processing control unit 110 controls the information processing communication unit 120. Here, the information processing device 10 also controls the communication terminal device 20 based on a standard that complies with the MSA interface.

[0018] The communication terminal device 20 is a device that communicatively connects the WAN-side communication line 40 and the information processing device 10, and performs communication operations. Here, the communication terminal device 20 in the first embodiment is, for example, a modular device such as an optical transceiver using SFP (Small Form Factor Pluggable). In the case of an optical transceiver, it is a device that performs conversion (O / E conversion or E / O conversion) between optical signals and electrical signals when performing communication using light as a medium (optical communication). In this case, the WAN-side communication line 40 is, for example, a line including a communication network using optical fiber.

[0019] The communication terminal device 20 in the first embodiment has a communication terminal communication unit 220 and a communication terminal control unit 210. The communication terminal communication unit 220 converts a signal sent from the WAN-side communication line 40 based on an instruction from the communication terminal control unit 210 and sends the converted signal to the information processing device 10. The communication terminal communication unit 220 also converts a signal sent from the information processing device 10 and sends the converted signal to the WAN-side communication line 40. The communication terminal control unit 210 controls the communication terminal communication unit 220. In particular, the communication terminal control unit 210 in the first embodiment has a switching selection unit 211 and a communication control unit 212. The switching selection unit 211 performs a switching selection step related to switching of a control interface, as described later. The communication control unit 212 performs operation control related to communication based on the selected control interface as a communication control step.

[0020] As described above, the communication terminal device 20 in the first embodiment is inserted into a port of the information processing device 10 and is incorporated into the information processing device 10 to become one unit. The communication terminal device 20 also has a plurality of communication connection terminals 230 for inputting and outputting various signals. Each communication connection terminal 230 is connected to the communication terminal communication unit 220 and the communication terminal control unit 210 by a corresponding signal line. For example, each communication connection terminal 230 is connected to the plug connection unit 130 of the information processing device 10, so that the respective signal lines are connected, enabling signal communication between the information processing device 10 and the communication terminal device 20. Here, the communication terminal device 20 particularly has a mounting detection signal line 400, a control clock signal line 500, and a control data signal line 600.

[0021] For example, when an SFP-based device is connected to information processing device 10, it sets the signal level on mounting detection signal line 400 to low. In SFP, this becomes a mounting detection signal that becomes a MOD-DEF signal. When information processing control unit 110 determines that the signal level is low, it determines that communication terminal device 20 is mounted on information processing device 10. Here, in communication terminal device 20 according to the first embodiment, switching selection unit 211 of communication terminal control unit 210 waits a certain period of time after connection and then pulls down mounting detection signal line 400. Here, the certain period of time is, for example, one second.

[0022] Between the information processing control unit 110 and the communication terminal control unit 210, there are a control clock signal line 500 and a control data signal line 600 as control signal lines for an I2C-compliant control interface. A control clock signal is sent from the information processing control unit 110 to the communication terminal control unit 210 via the control clock signal line 500. A control data signal containing various necessary settings and other data is communicated between the information processing control unit 110 and the communication terminal control unit 210 via the control data signal line 600. The information processing control unit 110 and the communication terminal control unit 210 can perform cooperative communication control by processing the data contained in the control data signal sent to them. The information processing unit 10 and the communication terminal unit 20 relay communication between the user terminal unit 50 and the WAN-side communication line 40. The mounting detection signal line 400, the control clock signal line 500, and the control data signal line 600 will be described in detail later.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an inspection system when inspecting a communication terminal device 20 according to the first embodiment. Here, the case of inspecting the above-mentioned communication terminal device 20 will be described. The test device 30 illustrated in FIG. 2 is a device that performs tests related to the inspection when inspecting the communication terminal device 20. The test device 30 is, for example, a general-purpose device such as a personal computer. The test device 30 also has a plug connection unit 330 similar to that of the information processing device 10, and can perform signal communication with the communication terminal device 20 by connecting to the communication connection terminal 230 of the communication terminal device 20 in the same environment as the information processing device 10. Therefore, from the perspective of the communication terminal device 20, the test device 30 is also a connection device connected to the communication terminal device 20, similar to the information processing device 10.

[0024] Furthermore, the test device 30 in the first embodiment has a terminal-side test communication section 320 and a WAN-side test communication section 340. Based on instructions from the test control section 310, the terminal-side test communication section 320 transmits and receives terminal-side test signals to be communicated with the information processing device 10 when the communication terminal device 20 is actually connected to the information processing device 10 and used. Based on instructions from the test control section 310, the WAN-side test communication section 340 transmits and receives WAN-side test signals to be communicated with the WAN-side communication line 40 when the communication terminal device 20 is actually connected to the information processing device 10 and used.

[0025] The test apparatus 30 in the first embodiment includes a test control unit 310. The test control unit 310 controls the test apparatus 30. In the first embodiment, the test control unit 310 stores program data, such as the type of data or communication speed, of test contents and settings related to the test, as software. The test control unit 310 executes processing based on the program to control the communication terminal device 20 to be tested. The test apparatus 30 communicates with the communication terminal device 20 according to a control interface standard related to communication that complies with RS-232C, a commonly used serial communication interface. Therefore, the control interface used by the test apparatus 30 to control the communication terminal device 20 is different from the control interface used when the communication terminal device 20 is actually connected to the information processing device 10.

[0026] 3 is a diagram showing signals related to control between the communication terminal control unit 210 and the test control unit 310 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a time chart of the mounting detection signal line 400, the control clock signal line 500, and the control data signal line 600 when the communication terminal device 20 according to the first embodiment is connected to the test device 30. As described above, these signal lines connect the communication connection terminals 230 of the communication terminal device 20 to the plug connection unit 330 of the information processing device 10. Here, a case will be described in which the signal lines used for control when the communication terminal device 20 and the information processing device 10 are connected are also used when they are connected to the test device 30.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing flow in the communication terminal control unit 210 and the test control unit 310 according to the first embodiment. The test device 30 and the communication terminal device 20 are connected, and the plug connection unit 330 and the communication connection terminal 230 are electrically connected (step S11). At this time, the test control unit 310 of the test device 30 sends a switching signal to the communication terminal control unit 210 via the mounting detection signal line 400, as shown in FIG. 3 (step S12). Here, the switching signal is a signal different from the mounting detection signal, and may be determined in advance by freely combining patterns and voltage levels. At this time, the test control unit 310 also sends a control clock signal from the control clock signal line 500. When the information processing device 10 and the communication terminal device 20 are connected, the switching signal is not sent. The test control unit 310 may also send the switching signal multiple times within a certain period to prevent the communication terminal control unit 210 from missing any switching signal. Then, the test control section 310 uses RS-232C as a control interface and controls communication settings and the like in tests related to the inspection (step S13).

[0028] Meanwhile, the switching selection unit 211 of the communication terminal device 20 determines whether a switching signal has been sent within a certain period of time (step S21). If the switching selection unit 211 determines that a switching signal has been sent within a certain period of time, it selects RS-232C and switches the control interface (step S22). By switching the control interface, a reception data signal, which is a signal sent from the test control unit 310 to the communication terminal control unit 210, is sent to the control clock signal line 500. Furthermore, a transmission data signal, which is a signal sent from the communication terminal control unit 210 to the test control unit 310, is sent to the control data signal line 600. Then, the communication control unit 212 performs control based on the selected control interface (step S25). As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, communication related to test settings and the like can be performed between the communication terminal device 20 and the test device 30 in accordance with the RS-232C control interface.

[0029] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing signals related to control between communication terminal control unit 210 and information processing control unit 110. Fig. 5 shows a time chart of mounting detection signal line 400, control clock signal line 500, and control data signal line 600 when communication terminal device 20 according to the first embodiment is connected to information processing device 10.

[0030] In step S21 of Fig. 4, if the switching selection unit 211 of the communications terminal device 20 determines that a switching signal has not been sent for a certain period of time, it assumes that the communications terminal device 20 is connected to the information processing device 10, and pulls down the mounting detection signal line 400 to set the signal level to Low, as shown in Fig. 5 (step S23), although this is not shown in Fig. 4. This causes a mounting detection signal to be sent from the communications terminal control unit 210 to the information processing control unit 110. The switching selection unit 211 also selects I2C as the control interface (step S24). At this time, the information processing control unit 110 determines that the communications terminal device 20 has been mounted in the information processing device 10.

[0031] Then, the communication control unit 212 performs control based on the selected and switched control interface (step S25). As a result, as shown in Fig. 5, communication between the communication terminal device 20 and the information processing device 10 regarding settings and the like performed during use can be performed in accordance with the normally used I2C control interface.

[0032] As described above, in the modular communication terminal device 20 according to the first embodiment, when a switching signal is sent within a certain period of time after the device is connected, the switching selection unit 211 can select and switch the control interface based on the switching signal. This allows control compatible with control interfaces that comply with multiple standards. Therefore, when performing an inspection, the control interface used with the test device 30 can be a different control interface from the control interface used with the information processing device 10 during use. For example, the control interface can be I2C with the information processing device 10 and the versatile RS-232C with the test device 30. This ensures connection compatibility with the information processing device 10, increases the versatility of testing during the inspection, and reduces the development costs for the hardware and software of the test device 30.

[0033] Here, for a certain period of time, it becomes impossible to detect that the communication terminal device 20 and the information processing device 10 have been connected, but by setting this time to an extremely short time, such as one second, this does not pose a practical problem.

[0034] Embodiment 2 In the first embodiment described above, the signal line for the I2C control interface with the information processing device 10 and the signal line for the RS-232C control interface with the test device 30 are a common signal line, but this is not limiting. The communication terminal device 20 may have signal lines and communication connection terminals 230 provided for the respective control interfaces.

[0035] In the first embodiment described above, the signal line indicating that the communication terminal device 20 is connected to the information processing device 10 and the signal line through which the test device 30 sends the switching signal are shared, but this is not limiting. The communication terminal device 20 may have a switching signal line dedicated to the switching signal and a switching connection terminal that serves as the communication connection terminal 230.

[0036] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, RS-232C is used as a control interface for testing, but it may be used as a control interface for other purposes. In this case, the connection device does not have to be the test device 30 that performs the test.

[0037] In the first embodiment described above, the communication terminal device 20 selects and switches between two types of control interfaces, but this is not limiting. The communication terminal device 20 may select and switch between three types of control interfaces. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 10. Information processing equipment 20. Communication terminal equipment 30 Test Equipment 40 WAN side communication line 50 User terminal device 110 Information Processing and Control Unit 120 Department of Information Processing and Communications 130 Plug connection 210 Communication terminal control unit 211 Switching selection section 212 Communication control section 220 Communication terminal communication unit 230 Communication connection terminal 310 Test Control Unit 320 Terminal side test communication section 330 Plug connection 340 WAN side test communication department 400 Mounting detection signal line 500 Control clock signal line 600 control data signal line

Claims

1. A communication terminal device having a modular configuration, which is connected to a connecting device via a signal line and performs communication operations under control based on signals conforming to a control interface, a switching selection unit that selects one of the control interfaces based on a switching signal from the connection device; a communication control unit that performs operation control based on the control interface selected by the switching selection unit; A communication terminal device comprising:

2. the signal lines corresponding to the plurality of control interfaces, The communication terminal device according to claim 1 , wherein the communication control unit receives input and output from the signal line corresponding to the control interface selected by the switching selection unit.

3. a switching connection terminal connected to a switching signal line; 3. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the switching selection unit selects the control interface based on the switching signal from the switching signal line.

4. 3. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the switching selection unit selects the control interface based on whether or not the switching signal is transmitted within a certain period of time after the communication terminal device is connected to the connection device.

5. 3. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of control interfaces are serial communication interfaces.

6. 6. The communication terminal device according to claim 5, wherein the serial communication interface is I2C and RS-232C.

7. A control method for a communication terminal device having a modular configuration in which a signal line is connected to a connected device and communication operations are performed by control based on signals conforming to a control interface, comprising: a switching selection step of selecting one of the control interfaces based on a switching signal from the connection device; a communication control step of controlling operation based on the selected control interface; A control method for a communication terminal device having the above-mentioned configuration.

Images