Communication system and line control device

Abstract

To provide a communication system and a line control device capable of easily integrating a plurality of individual systems managed by separate line control devices without transferring devices, improving the degree of freedom in system construction, and substantially shortening a system operation suspension period.SOLUTION: There are provided a communication system and a plurality of line control devices 20. Among the plurality of line control devices 20, one line control device connected to a management terminal 10 becomes a main line control device, and the other line control devices become sub-line control devices and are directly or indirectly connected to the main line control device. The main line control device stores the sub-line control devices directly or indirectly connected as management targets. When the main line control device receives a system entry request from a new line control device 20 that is not a management target, the main line control device transmits the system entry request to the management terminal 10. When receiving a system entry permission of the new line control device 20 from the management terminal 10, the main line control device adds the new line control device 20 to the sub-line control devices of the management targets and stores it.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a line control device and a communication system, and more particularly to a communication system and a line control device that can easily integrate a plurality of systems managed by separate line control devices and improve the flexibility of constructing a communication system. [Background technology]

[0002] [Prior art description: Figure 9] A communication system using a conventional line control device (conventional communication system) will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an example of a conventional communication system. As shown in FIG. 9, the communication system comprises a management terminal 1 (1a, 1b, ... 1e), line control devices 2 (2a, 2b, ... 2e), and component devices 3 (3a1, 3a2, 3b1, 3b2, ... 3e2), and each independent communication system is constructed around each line control device 2. Here, the communication system controlled by each line controller 2 is referred to as an individual system. In the example of Fig. 9, five individual systems are provided.

[0003] The management terminal 1 is a device equipped with a user interface for managing the operational status of the entire individual system and for carrying out maintenance. The management terminal 1 is operated by an operator and manages each device including the line control device 2. The line control device 2 controls lines and data communications associated with calls in a plurality of component devices 3 connected thereto. The component devices 3 are devices such as communication consoles and base stations, and for simplification in the figure, only a small number of them are shown.

[0004] Each individual system will be described taking the individual system of the line control device A (2a) as an example. The line control device A (2a) is connected to a higher-level management terminal A (1a) by a wired line, and is also connected to subordinate component devices A1 (3a1) and A2 (3a2) by wired lines. The line control device A (2a) controls communications within the individual system. The line controller B (2b) to line controller E (2e) are similar, so the explanation will be omitted. In addition, in a communication system using the conventional line control device 2, communication between individual systems is not possible.

[0005] [Integrated system using conventional line control device: Figure 10] The configuration of an integrated system (conventional integrated system) that integrates a plurality of individual systems using a conventional line control device and enables communication between component devices 3 belonging to different individual systems will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the conventional integrated system. FIG. 10 shows an integrated system that realizes communication between the component devices 3 (component device A1 (3a1) to component device E2 (3e2)) belonging to the five individual systems shown in FIG.

[0006] Since the conventional line control device 2 can only control communications between constituent devices 3 in the individual system that it manages, the integrated system of FIG. 10 is provided with a new line control device N (2n). Also, only one management terminal, ie, management terminal 1n, is provided. The management terminal 1n may be any one of the management terminals 1a to 1e shown in FIG.

[0007] The line control device N(2n) is an integrated device that integrates the line control device A(2a) to the line control device E(2e) shown in FIG. 9. Specifically, the connection units and line control processing units for individual systems provided in the line control device A(2a) to the line control device E(2e) are integrated into one location and incorporated into the line control device N(2n). As a result, all of the component devices 3 are connected under the line controller N(2n), and an integrated system is realized.

[0008] Thus, in order to realize an integrated system using the conventional line control device 2, it is necessary to move the line control device 2, which increases costs due to transportation expenses and creates a risk of breakdown during the move. In addition, the time required for movement increases the period during which the system is out of operation. Furthermore, depending on the scale of the systems to be integrated, integration itself may be impossible due to limitations on the capacity of the racks that house the devices, and it may be necessary to reconstruct new line control devices and communication systems.

[0009] [Related Technology] Incidentally, an example of conventional technology relating to communication systems is JP 2019-176200 A, “Line control device, communication channel allocation method, and wireless communication system” (Patent Document 1). Patent document 1 describes that in a communication system equipped with one line control device, the line control device determines the area in which a mobile station is located based on the location information of the mobile station, and when allocating a communication channel to the mobile station, it allocates a communication channel that is allocable in that area. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-176200 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] As described above, in conventional wireless communication systems, each line control device independently controls an individual wireless system, so that communication between component devices connected to different line control devices is not possible. In addition, when integrating the devices, there is a risk of increased costs and breakdowns due to the transportation of the devices. Furthermore, the transportation and connection of the devices results in prolonged system downtime, which is inconvenient.

[0012] Furthermore, Patent Document 1 does not mention that an integrated system can be realized by having multiple line control devices within a communication system, one of which operates as a main line control device and manages information about the other line control devices (sub-line control devices).

[0013] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a communication system and a line control device that can easily integrate multiple individual systems managed by separate line control devices without transferring the equipment, thereby improving the freedom of system construction and significantly shortening the period of system downtime. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] In order to solve the above problems of the conventional example, the present invention provides a system in which a plurality of component devices are connected, Multiple Manages communication with component devices Multiple A communication system including a line control device and a management terminal operated by a manager. , multiple One of several line control devices is connected to a management terminal as a main line control device, and the line control devices other than the main line control device are directly or indirectly connected to the lower level of the main line control device as sub-line control devices, and the main line control device stores the sub-line control devices connected as subjects to be managed, and when it receives a system entry request from a new line control device that is not subject to management, it transmits the system entry request to the management terminal, and when it receives permission for the new line control device to enter the system from the management terminal, it adds the new line control device to the sub-line control devices to be managed and stores it.

[0015] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned communication system, the sub-line control device stores information about the component devices to be connected and transmits the information about the component devices to the main line control device as configuration information, and upon receiving the configuration information, the main line control device manages the component devices based on the configuration information.

[0016] Furthermore, in the above-described communication system, the present invention is characterized in that, when a sub-line control device has another sub-line control device connected at a lower level, the sub-line control device includes information about the other sub-line control device in configuration information and transmits the information to the main line control device, and, upon receiving the configuration information, the main line control device manages the other sub-line control device based on the configuration information.

[0017] In addition, in the above-mentioned communication system, the present invention is characterized in that, when a sub-line control device receives a connection request from a component device to be connected, addressed to another component device not included in the stored configuration information, it inquires of the main line control device about the other line control device to which the other component device is connected, and, upon obtaining the information of the other line control device from the main line control device, it transmits a connection request to the other line control device and performs processing to establish the connection.

[0018] The present invention also provides a line control device used in a communication system in which a plurality of line control devices are provided, in which a management terminal is connected at a higher level and another line control device to be managed is connected at a lower level, and when information on a component device connected to the other line control device is received as configuration information from the other line control device, the component device included in the configuration information is added to the managed objects and stored. Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to the present invention, a plurality of component devices are connected, Multiple Manages communication with component devices Multiple A communication system including a line control device and a management terminal operated by a manager. , multipleIn this communication system, one of the several line control devices is connected to a management terminal as a main line control device, and the line control devices other than the main line control device are directly or indirectly connected to the lower level of the main line control device as sub-line control devices, and the main line control device stores the sub-line control devices connected as managed devices, and when it receives a system entry request from a new line control device that is not under management, it transmits the system entry request to the management terminal, and when it receives system entry permission for the new line control device from the management terminal, it adds the new line control device to the sub-line control devices under management and stores it.Therefore, the main line control device manages information about the sub-line control devices in the system, and an integrated system can be easily realized without physically aggregating the sub-line control devices.

[0020] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the sub-line control device stores information about the component devices to be connected and transmits the information about the component devices to the main line control device as configuration information. When the main line control device receives the configuration information, the main line control device manages the component devices based on the configuration information as the above-mentioned communication system, thereby achieving the effect of easily realizing an integrated system by having the main line control device manage information about the component devices connected to the sub-line control devices in the system as the managed devices.

[0021] Furthermore, according to the present invention, in the above communication system, when the sub-line control device receives a connection request from a component device to be connected, addressed to another component device not included in the stored configuration information, it inquires of the main line control device about the other line control devices to which the other component devices are connected, and when it obtains the information about the other line control devices from the main line control device, it transmits a connection request to the other line control device and performs the process of establishing the connection. Therefore, even if the connection destination is not managed by the sub-line control device, the main line control device can act as an intermediary to provide information, so that line connection can be made through processing between the sub-line control devices, thereby improving convenience.

[0022] In addition, according to the present invention, a line control device is used in a communication system in which a plurality of line control devices are provided, a management terminal is connected at a higher level, and another line control device to be managed is connected at a lower level. When information on the component devices connected to the other line control device is received as configuration information from the other line control device, the line control device adds the component devices included in the configuration information to the managed devices and stores them. Therefore, as the main line control device, the component devices connected to the other line control device are also managed, and the device of the entire system can be managed, which has the effect of easily realizing an integrated system without physically consolidating the line control devices. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the present communication system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a sub-channel control device management table; [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration information management table. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing component devices that are managed by each line control device 20. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a sequence at the time of new entry. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a secondary channel control device F has joined; [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a telephone directory list. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a sequence in the case where another line control device mediates; [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an example of a conventional communication system. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an integrated system using a conventional line control device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [Outline of the embodiment] A communication system (this communication system) according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a management terminal, a plurality of line control devices, and a plurality of component devices connected to the line control devices. Of the plurality of line control devices, one connected to the management terminal becomes a main line control device, and the other line control devices become sub-line control devices and are directly or indirectly connected to the main line control device. The main line control device stores the sub-line control devices connected directly or indirectly as devices to be managed. When the main line control device receives a system entry request from a new line control device that is not under its management, it transmits the system entry request to the management terminal. When it receives permission for the new line control device to enter the system from the management terminal, it adds the new line control device to the sub-line control devices to be managed and stores the new line control device. By placing a plurality of line control devices under the management of the main line control device without changing the connection relationship between each line control device and the component devices, an integrated system can be easily realized, which improves the freedom of system construction and eliminates the need to move devices, thereby significantly shortening the period during which the system is down.

[0025] In addition, the line control device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention operates as a main line control device when a management terminal is connected to a higher level, and operates as a sub-line control device when another line control device is connected to a higher level. The sub-line control device transmits information about the connected component devices to the main line control device, and the main line control device receives the information about the component devices transmitted from the sub-line control device, associates it with the sub-line control device that sent the information, and stores it as a managed object. The main line control device can easily realize an integrated system by managing information about the sub-line control devices in the system and the component devices connected to them.

[0026] [Configuration of this communication system: Figure 1] The configuration of this communication system will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of this communication system. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system includes one management terminal 10, a plurality of line control devices 20 (20a, 20b, . . . , 20e), and a plurality of component devices 3 (3a1, 3a2, . . . , 3e1, 3e2). The component devices 3 are communication consoles and base station devices similar to those in the past, and the description thereof will be omitted. The management terminal 10 is operated by an operator in the same manner as in the past, and manages the operational status of each device and the entire system.

[0027] The line controller 20 is a characteristic part of this communication system, and in this communication system, one operates as a main line controller, and the other line controllers 20 operate as sub line controllers. The main line control device manages the information in all sub-line control devices within the system and mediates line control, making it possible to integrate multiple individual systems without physically consolidating and aggregating the line control devices 20. In particular, in this communication system, the individual systems managed by each secondary channel control device are integrated while being maintained, so that the period during which the system is down can be significantly shortened.

[0028] In the example of Figure 1, line control device A (20a) connected to the management terminal 10 at a higher level operates as the main line control device, and the other line control devices B (20b), C (20c), D (20d), and E (20e) operate as secondary line control devices.

[0029] The memory unit of each line control device 20 stores a processing program for when it operates as a main line control device and a processing program for when it operates as a sub-line control device, and these are selected (or set) according to the type of device connected upstream of the line control device 20, and the control unit operates according to one of the processing programs. Specifically, when the management terminal 10 is connected to the upper level, it operates as a main line controller, and when another line controller 20 is connected, it operates as a sub line controller.

[0030] In the communication system of FIG. 1, below the main line control device, line control device A (20a) (hereinafter referred to as main line control device A), in addition to component device A1 (3a1) and component device A2 (3a2), line control device B (20b), line control device C (20c), and line control device D (20d) are connected which are sub-line control devices. Moreover, the line controller D (20d) is connected to a line controller E (20e) below.

[0031] The main line control device A not only manages the component devices 3 connected to its own device as in the conventional case, but also manages sub-line control devices (sub-line control devices B to E) that are directly or indirectly connected to its own device, and the component devices 3 connected to these sub-line control devices, and stores information about these devices. The information relating to the managed objects in the main line control device A will be described later.

[0032] Each of the sub-channel control devices B to E stores information on one channel control device 20 connected to its upper level and information on the component device 3 connected to its lower level. In other words, the sub-line control devices B to E perform line control for communications of the constituent devices 3 that they manage, as in the conventional manner, but a feature of this communication system is that they store information about higher-level devices that specify the connection relationships within this communication system. Furthermore, when another line controller 20 is connected below the own device, each of the sub-line controllers B to E also stores information about that.

[0033] As will be described later, the secondary line control devices B to E transmit to the main line control device A information (configuration information) about the component devices 3 and secondary line control devices connected downstream of the respective devices. The configuration information may be transmitted to the main line controller A when the system starts operating or when the sub line controller newly joins the system. Furthermore, the sub-channel control devices B to E may transmit information about higher-level devices to the main channel control device A in addition to configuration information indicating the configuration of the lower-level devices.

[0034] [Information held by main line control device A] The information related to the management targets stored in the main line controller A includes a sub line controller management table for managing the connection relationships of the line controllers 20 and a configuration information management table for storing configuration information of each line controller 20.

[0035] [Sub-channel control device management table: Figure 2] First, the secondary channel control device management table will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the secondary channel control device management table. As shown in FIG. 2, the sub-channel control device management table stores the names of the sub-channel control devices in the system and information on the upper level devices to which each sub-channel control device is connected.

[0036] The example of Figure 2 corresponds to the system of Figure 1, and the system includes four sub-line control devices, sub-line control devices B to E, and it is stored that the upper device of the sub-line control devices B to D is the main line control device A, and the upper device of the sub-line control device E is the sub-line control device D. This indicates that the sub-line control devices B to D are directly connected to the main line control device A, and the sub-line control device E is indirectly connected to the main line control device A via the sub-line control device D. That is, the sub-channel control device management table is information for managing the connection relationships of the sub-channel control devices in the system.

[0037] The sub-line control device management table is set in the main line control device A by the management terminal 10, for example, before the system is put into operation. If there is a change in the system configuration during operation (addition or withdrawal of a sub-line control device), the main line control device A updates and stores the sub-line control device management table as necessary. Furthermore, when the sub-channel control unit management table is updated, the management terminal 10 is also notified of the updated sub-channel control unit management table.

[0038] [Configuration information management table: Figure 3] Next, the configuration information management table of the main line control device A will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration information management table. As shown in FIG. 3, the configuration information management table stores, for each line control device 20, information on devices (line control device 20 and component devices 3) connected below the line control device.

[0039] The main line control device A stores configuration information corresponding to its own device (line control device A) in the configuration information management table based on the information in the sub-line control device management table described above and the information of the connected component device 3, and stores configuration information of the sub-line control devices B to E (line control devices B to E) in the configuration information management table based on configuration information received from each sub-line control device.

[0040] For example, there is no line control device connected below line control device B, but component devices B1 and B2 are connected. Also, it can be seen that below line control device D, line control device E and component devices D1 and D2 are directly connected. As a result, the main line control device A grasps all the constituent devices in the communication system as those to be managed.

[0041] [Component devices managed by each line control device 20: FIG. 4] Next, the component devices that each line controller 20 manages and performs line control on will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the component devices that each line controller 20 manages. FIG. 4 corresponds to the system shown in FIG. 1, and the main line control device A manages all of the component devices A1 to E2 in the system.

[0042] In addition, as shown in the configuration information table shown in Figure 3, the sub-line control devices B to E each manage the component device 3 connected downstream of the device itself, and the component devices managed by the line control device 20 connected downstream of the device itself. For example, the sub-channel control device D manages component devices E1 and E2 connected to a lower sub-channel control device E in addition to component devices D1 and D2 directly connected to the sub-channel control device D.

[0043] [New Entry of Sub-Line Control Devices: Figure 5] Next, a sequence when a new secondary channel control device joins the present communication system will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the sequence when a new secondary channel control device joins the system. FIG. 5 shows the sequence when a new line control device F (20f) (sub-line control device F) joins the communication system, and is the sequence performed when the sub-line control device F is connected to the line control device A (20a) (main line control device A).

[0044] As shown in FIG. 5, first, a newly entering secondary line controller F transmits a system entry request to the main line controller A to inquire whether or not it is permitted to enter the system (S1). When the main line control device A receives the system entry request, it transmits a system entry request reception notification to the management terminal 10 (S2). When an administrator at the management terminal 10 permits the secondary line device F to enter the system (S3), the management terminal 10 sends a system entry request permission notification to the main line control device A (S4), and the main line control device A sends a system entry request permission to the secondary line control device F, which is the request source (S6).

[0045] The sub line controller F transmits configuration information, which is information on devices (line controllers and component devices) connected downstream of its own device, to the main line controller A (S6). The main line controller A receives the configuration information of the sub line controller F, and adds the configuration information to the configuration information management table to update it (S7).

[0046] Then, the main line control device A sends a configuration information update notification to the management terminal 10 to notify it of the updated configuration information table (S8), and sends a configuration information update notification to the sub-line control device F indicating that the received configuration information has been added (S9). In this manner, the sequence is carried out when a new line controller 20 is added.

[0047] Here, the case where the sub-line control device F is directly connected to the main line control device A has been described as an example, but when it is connected to a subordinate of another sub-line control device (for example, the sub-line control device B), the same can be realized by the sub-line control device B relaying the communication between the main line control device A and the sub-line control device F.

[0048] [System with Sub-Line Control Device F: Figure 6] A state in which the secondary channel control device F has joined the system of Fig. 1 according to the sequence shown in Fig. 5 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the secondary channel control device F has joined. As shown in FIG. 6, a new line control device F (20f) is connected to the line control device A (20a), which is the main line control device, and component devices F1 (3f1) and F2 (3f2), which are connected below the line control device F (20f), also join the system.

[0049] [Phone Book List: Figure 7] Next, the telephone directory list stored in the component device (communication console) that performs communication will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the telephone directory list. As shown in FIG. 7, the telephone directory list stores the names of component devices 3 (communication consoles) in the system, telephone numbers, and department names in association with each other.

[0050] In addition to the communication consoles connected to the line control device 20 by wire, mobile stations that connect to the base station device, which is the component device 3, and perform mobile communications within the system are also registered in the phone book list, and each mobile station stores the phone book list. The communication console and the mobile station can recognize the communication terminals in the system by using the telephone directory list, and can carry out a call.

[0051] [Line control in this system] The line control in this system will now be described. First, each line controller 20 (main line controller A, sub line controllers B to F) performs line control in the same manner as in the past to realize communication between component devices 3 that are managed by the own device. However, when a call is made to a component device 3 managed by another line controller 20, the other line controller 20 must act as an intermediary.

[0052] [Sequence when another line control device mediates: Figure 8] Here, the line control in the case where mediation is performed by another line control device 20 will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a sequence in the case where mediation is performed by another line control device. FIG. 8 shows a sequence when a call is made from a component device C1 (3c1) managed by a line control device C (20c) (sub-line control device C) to a component device B1 (3b1) managed by a line control device B (20b) (sub-line control device B).

[0053] As shown in FIG. 8, when a connection request is sent from component device C1 (3c1) to component device B1 (3b1) (S11), the sub-line control device C receives it. However, since component device B1 (3b1), which is the destination device, is not under the control of the sub-line control device C, the sub-line control device C cannot communicate directly with the sub-line control device B and determines that an inquiry must be made to the higher-level device, line control device A (S12).

[0054] Then, the sub-line control device C inquires of the upper main line control device A about the management device of the component device B1 (3b1) (S13). If there is another sub-channel control device above the sub-channel control device C, the sub-channel control device is inquired of, and then the higher-level devices are inquired of, until the main channel control device A is finally inquired of.

[0055] The main line control device A refers to the configuration information table shown in FIG. 3 and identifies that the management device of the component device B1 (3b1) of the connected device is the sub-line control device B (S14), and transmits information about the management device (sub-line control device B) of the component device B1 (3b1) to the sub-line control device C that originated the inquiry (S15).

[0056] Then, the sub-channel control device C transmits a connection request to the component device B1 (3b1) to the sub-channel control device B (S16). The sub-channel control device B receives a connection request addressed to the component device B1 (3b1) which is a device under its control, and then performs processing for establishing a communication connection between the sub-channel control device B and the sub-channel control device C (S17). This allows a call to be established between component device C1 (3c1) and component device B1 (3b1).

[0057] In other words, in this communication system, when communication occurs between component devices 3 under the control of different sub-line control devices, the main line control device A, which manages the information of all component devices 3, acts as an intermediary and provides the information necessary for line control to the sub-line control device that manages the source, thereby making it possible to realize communication between different individual systems.

[0058] Furthermore, for example, when the line control device C is connected to a subordinate of another sub-line control device (e.g., sub-line control device D), the communication between the sub-line control device C and the main line control device A, and the communication between the sub-line control device C and the sub-line control device B are similarly realized by the sub-line control device D relaying the communication.

[0059] [Effects of the embodiment] According to this communication system, the system includes a management terminal 10, a plurality of line control devices 20, and a plurality of component devices 3 connected to the line control devices 20. Of the plurality of line control devices 20, one connected to the management terminal 10 serves as a main line control device, and the other line control devices serve as secondary line control devices and are directly or indirectly connected to the main line control device. The main line control device stores the directly or indirectly connected secondary line control devices as devices to be managed. When the main line control device receives a system entry request from a new line control device 20 that is not under its management, it transmits the system entry request to the management terminal 10. When the main line control device receives permission for the new line control device 20 to enter the system from the management terminal 10, it adds the new line control device 20 to the secondary line control devices to be managed and stores the request. By placing a plurality of secondary line control devices under the management of the main line control device without changing the connection relationship between each line control device 20 and the component devices 3, an integrated system can be easily realized without physically consolidating the secondary line control devices. This has the effect of improving the degree of freedom in system construction and eliminating the need to move devices, thereby significantly shortening the period during which the system is down.

[0060] Furthermore, in this communication system, by updating the management information of the main line control device, an integrated system with a new configuration can be easily realized even if the system configuration is changed. Therefore, this is particularly useful in cases where an integrated system is once again divided, where temporary integration is required, or where equipment expansion is carried out in stages, as this can be realized in a short period of time.

[0061] Furthermore, according to the present line control device 20, when a management terminal is connected to the upper level, it operates as a main line control device, and when another line control device is connected to the upper level, it operates as a sub-line control device. When operating as a sub-line control device, it transmits information about the connected component devices to the main line control device, and when operating as a main line control device, it receives information about the component devices transmitted from the sub-line control device, associates it with the sub-line control device that sent it, and stores it as a management target. This has the effect of allowing the main line control device to manage information about the sub-line control devices in the system and the component devices connected to them, and easily realizing an integrated system without physically aggregating the sub-line control devices. [Industrial Applicability]

[0062] The present invention is suitable for a communication system and a line control device that can easily integrate multiple individual systems managed by separate line control devices without transferring the equipment, thereby improving the freedom of system construction and significantly shortening the period of system downtime. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1, 10... Management terminal, 2, 20... Line control device, 3... Component device

Claims

1. A communication system including a plurality of line control devices connected to the plurality of component devices and managing communications between the plurality of component devices, and a management terminal operated by an administrator, One of the plurality of line control devices is connected to the management terminal as a main line control device; A line control device other than the main line control device is directly or indirectly connected to a lower level of the main line control device as a sub line control device, A communication system characterized in that the main line control device stores the sub-line control devices connected as managed devices, and when it receives a system entry request from a new line control device that is not managed by the main line control device, it transmits the system entry request to the management terminal, and when it receives permission for the new line control device to enter the system from the management terminal, it adds and stores the new line control device to the sub-line control devices that are managed by the main line control device.

2. the secondary line control device stores information on the component devices to be connected, and transmits the information on the component devices as configuration information to the main line control device; 2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said main line control device, upon receiving said configuration information, sets said component devices as objects of management based on said configuration information.

3. When another sub-channel control device is connected to a lower level, the sub-channel control device transmits information of the other sub-channel control device to the main channel control device while including the information of the other sub-channel control device in the configuration information; 3. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein said main line controller, upon receiving said configuration information, manages said other sub line controller based on said configuration information.

4. The communication system described in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that when the sub-line control device receives a connection request from the component device to be connected to another component device not included in the stored configuration information, it inquires of the main line control device about the other line control device to which the other component device is connected, and when it obtains the information about the other line control device from the main line control device, it transmits the connection request to the other line control device and performs processing to establish the connection.

5. A line control device used in a communication system provided with a plurality of line control devices, A line control device having a management terminal connected at a higher level and another line control device to be managed connected at a lower level, and when information about a component device connected to the other line control device is received from the other line control device as configuration information, the component device included in the configuration information is added to the managed items and stored.

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