Electric power-saving terminal connection management system

Abstract

A terminal connection management system 300 according to the present disclosure comprises: a terminal connection device 100 to which a terminal 10 can be connected, the terminal connection device detecting a connection state of the terminal 10 when electric power is supplied from the outside; and a portable device 200 that has a battery 24 capable of supplying electric power to the terminal connection device 100, and acquires a result of the detection by the terminal connection device 100.

Description

Power-saving terminal connection management system

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a power-saving terminal connection management system.

[0002] Conventionally, the work of inserting and removing terminals into devices that connect terminals and the work of registering and correcting information in a terminal management table have been carried out by manually checking whether the actual connection status of the terminals matches the contents of the terminal management table. As a result, mismatches between the actual connection status of the terminals and the management table are likely to occur due to human error.

[0003] To address these issues, Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that reduces the risk of human error by automatically tracking changes in usage status of physical layer connections such as panels, cabling, and switch ports.

[0004] imVision® Automated Infrastructure Management, CommScope, Internet, <https: / / www.commsscope.com / globalasset / digitizuite / 2721-imvision-automated-infrastructure-management-br-108978-ja.pdf>

[0005] In order to automatically detect terminal status and update the management table using the method described in Non-Patent Document 1, it is necessary to constantly supply power to the device connected to the terminal and maintain its connection to the network in order to track changes in usage. However, constant power supply increases power consumption and may adversely affect the performance of the device due to increased heat generation. Furthermore, there are cases where the device is located in a location where power supply is difficult or impossible.

[0006] Therefore, the present disclosure aims to provide a terminal connection management system that can manage terminals by automatically processing information about the terminals without constantly supplying power to the device that houses the terminals and without relying on manual confirmation work.

[0007] To achieve the above object, the terminal connection management system of the present disclosure employs a technique in which a portable device equipped with a battery is used to supply power to the terminal housing.

[0008] Specifically, the terminal connection management system of the present disclosure comprises a terminal connection device to which a terminal can be connected and which detects the connection state of the terminal when power is supplied from an external source, and a portable device which has a battery capable of supplying power to the terminal connection device and which acquires the results of the detection in the terminal connection device.

[0009] According to the above configuration, it is possible to use a portable device equipped with a battery to supply power to the terminal accommodating section without constantly supplying power from an external source, while automatically managing the terminals based on the detection results by the terminal detection section.

[0010] The portable device may also include a management function unit that stores the detection results and predetermined management information regarding the terminal, and a data processing unit that compares the detection results with the management information and records the comparison results in the management function unit.

[0011] According to the above configuration, the detection result can be collated with the management information, and the terminals can be automatically managed.

[0012] The terminal connection device may also include a display unit that displays a display corresponding to the result of the comparison based on an instruction from the data processing unit.

[0013] According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide the user with appropriate work instructions.

[0014] Additionally, the battery power may be used while either or both of the terminal connection device and the portable device are functioning.

[0015] According to the above configuration, the battery power is used while either or both of the terminal accommodating portion and the portable device are functioning, so that a power-saving system can be provided.

[0016] The above disclosures can be combined as much as possible.

[0017] According to the terminal connection management system disclosed herein, terminals can be managed by automatically processing information about the terminals without constantly supplying power to the device that houses the terminals and without requiring manual confirmation work.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating the configuration of a terminal connection management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating that the terminal connection status of a termination rack is reflected in a management function unit of a portable device; FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating that a collation result in a management function unit of a portable device is reflected in a display unit of the termination rack; FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating related technology; FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing when a portable device is attached to a termination rack; FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a case where terminal information is reflected in a management function unit; and FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a case where a collation result is reflected in a display unit.

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown below. These implementation examples are merely illustrative, and the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms with various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Note that components with the same reference numerals in this specification and drawings indicate the same components.

[0020] [Functional Blocks] A terminal connection management system 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. First, the functional blocks of the terminal connection management system 300 will be described based on Figure 1. The terminal connection management system 300 includes a terminal connection device 100 and a portable device 200. The terminal connection management system 300 is a system that uses the portable device 200 to grasp the terminal status and input, output, and verify the terminal connection status in a terminal connection device 100 that is located in a location where power supply is difficult or impossible, such as an underground manhole or outdoors.

[0021] The terminal connection device 100 includes a plurality of terminals 10, a terminal detection unit 11, a display unit 12, and an input / output IF (Interface) 13. Specifically, the terminal connection device 100 may be a termination rack for accommodating optical connectors that interconnect optical fiber cables. The input / output IF 13 includes a power supply unit 14 and a data input / output unit 15. The portable device 200 includes a storage unit 21 and a battery 24. The storage unit 21 includes a management function unit 22 and a data processing unit 23.

[0022] Specifically, the terminal connection management system 300 of the present disclosure comprises a terminal connection device 100 to which a terminal 10 can be connected and which detects the connection state of the terminal 10 when power is supplied from an external source, and a portable device 200 which has a battery 24 capable of supplying power to the terminal connection device 100 and which acquires the results of the detection in the terminal connection device 100.

[0023] Each of the multiple terminals 10 is used to connect a communication cable that involves input and output. For example, the multiple terminals 10 are used to connect optical fiber cables. The number of terminals 10 may be any number equal to or greater than one. The terminal detection unit 11 has a function of detecting the connection status of each terminal 10, and the detection method is not important. The display unit 12 has a function of displaying information held by the portable device 200 so that the user can visually recognize it, and the display method is not important, and may be an LED. Although the terminal detection unit 11 and the display unit 12 are shown as separate components in FIG. 1 , they may also be integrated. Furthermore, the terminal detection unit 11 may be provided in one-to-one correspondence with each terminal 10. Furthermore, each of the multiple terminals 10 may have a display unit 12.

[0024] The power supply unit 14 is configured to be capable of receiving power from the battery 24 of the portable device 200. The data input / output unit 15 functions as an interface for exchanging information with the portable device 200. In this way, the input / output IF 13 is an interface for exchanging information, and also functions as an interface that can receive power from the battery 24.

[0025] The portable device 200 is portable and portable. The portable device 200 has both information storage and battery functions. For example, the portable device 200 may be a USB memory with a battery function added. The portable device 200 may also include a battery that supplies power by converting optical energy into electrical energy. The management function unit 22 of the storage unit 21 stores the detection results of the terminal detection unit 11 and predetermined management information related to the terminals 10. Specifically, the management function unit 22 has a storage area, and stores management information (e.g., active / unused / reserved) and terminal information (e.g., active / unused) for each terminal 10 as data in the storage area. The data processing unit 23 of the storage unit 21 compares the detection results of the terminal detection unit 11 with the management information and records the comparison result in the management function unit 22. Specifically, the data processing unit 23 performs predetermined processing, such as reading and writing data from and to the storage area of ​​the management function unit 22.

[0026] Here, the terminal information is information indicating the current status of each terminal 10 detected by the terminal detection unit 11. The terminal information includes information indicating that the terminal 10 is attached to the terminal connection device 100 and in use, and information indicating that the terminal 10 has been removed from the terminal connection device 100. In the following description, with regard to the terminal information, a terminal 10 that is in use will be referred to as "in use," and a terminal 10 that has been removed from the terminal connection device 100 will be referred to as "empty." The data processing unit 23 acquires the terminal information via the data input / output unit 15 of the input / output IF 13, and updates the storage area of ​​the management function unit 22.

[0027] The management information is information for managing each terminal 10 and includes, for example, information regarding the usage status, reservation, and decommissioning of each terminal 10. The information regarding the usage status of each terminal 10 in the management information corresponds to the usage status of each terminal 10 at the time of the last terminal status check, for example. In the following description, in the management information, a terminal 10 in use is referred to as "in use," and a terminal 10 removed from the terminal connection device 100 is referred to as "empty." Furthermore, a terminal 10 that is reserved is referred to as "reserved," and a terminal 10 that is decommissioned is referred to as "decommissioned." The data processing unit 23 compares the terminal information with the management information and executes a predetermined process based on the comparison result. The battery 24 supplies power only while the terminal detection unit 11 is detecting the status of the terminal 10 or while the data processing unit 23 is performing a predetermined process. In other words, the power of the battery 24 is used only for the terminal detection unit 11 to detect the status of the terminal 10 and for the data processing unit 23 to perform a predetermined process.

[0028] According to the terminal connection management system 300 of this embodiment, even in a terminal connection device 100 located in a place where power supply is difficult or impossible, such as an underground manhole or outdoors, the portable device 200 equipped with a battery 24 can be used to grasp the terminal status and input, output, and verify the terminal connection status in a power-saving manner.

[0029] [Reflection to Management Function Unit] Next, with reference to FIG. 2, it will be described how the connection status of each terminal 10 to the terminal connection device 100 is reflected in the management function unit 22 of the portable device 200.

[0030] The user attaches the portable device 200 to the input / output IF 13. This electrically connects the power supply unit 14 and the battery 24, and connects the data input / output unit 15 and the storage unit 21. When power is supplied from the battery 24 via the power supply unit 14, the terminal detection unit 11 detects the state of each terminal 10 and transmits terminal information corresponding to the detection result to the portable device 200 via the data input / output unit 15. The data processing unit 23 compares and verifies the terminal information stored in the storage area of ​​the management function unit 22 with the terminal information from the terminal detection unit 11, and updates the terminal information of the terminal 10 that has changed. For example, if the terminal 10 stored in the storage area is "in use" but the current state of the terminal 10 is "empty," the data processing unit 23 updates the terminal information in the storage area from "in use" to "empty."

[0031] The data processing unit 23 then compares the management information and terminal information in the storage area of ​​the management function unit 22 for each terminal 10. If the management information and terminal information match (see terminals No. 1 and No. 2 in the figure), the data processing unit 23 does not perform any further processing on that terminal 10. In this case, for example, the data processing unit 23 may output null data. On the other hand, if the management information is "in use" and the terminal information is "empty" (see terminal No. 3 in the figure), the data processing unit 23 determines that the current usage status of the terminal 10 does not match the usage status at the time of the previous terminal status check, and records an unmatch in the storage area. Even if the management information is "empty" and the terminal information is "in use," the data processing unit 23 also records an unmatch in the storage area.

[0032] When the connection status of each terminal 10 is reflected in the management function unit 22, the power of the battery 24 is used only while the terminal detection unit 11 is detecting the status of the terminal 10 and the data processing unit 23 is reading, writing, and collating data from and to the storage area of ​​the management function unit 22. In other words, the power of the battery 24 is used only for the terminal detection unit 11 to detect the status of the terminal 10 and the data processing unit 23 to perform predetermined processing.

[0033] 3, it will be described how the collation result in the management function unit 22 of the portable device 200 is reflected on the display unit 12 of the terminal connection device 100. The display unit 12 displays a display corresponding to the collation result based on an instruction from the data processing unit 23.

[0034] Similarly to the above, when the portable device 200 is attached to the input / output IF 13, the power supply unit 14 and the battery 24 are electrically connected, and the data input / output unit 15 and the storage unit 21 are connected. The data processing unit 23 reflects the information held by the management function unit 22 on the display unit 12.

[0035] Specifically, the data processing unit 23 compares the terminal information from the terminal detection unit 11 with the management information of the management function unit 22. The data processing unit 23 records the comparison result and displays work instructions (insertion / removal) for the user on the display unit 12 via the data input / output unit 15. Furthermore, if there is a mismatch between the terminal information and the management information, the data processing unit 23 displays a mismatch confirmation instruction on the display unit 12.

[0036] For example, since the management information indicates that the No. 1 terminal in the figure is "discontinued," the data processing unit 23 displays a "terminal removal" instruction on the display unit 12 of the No. 1 terminal. Specifically, the data processing unit 23 displays a "terminal removal" instruction on the No. 1 port provided on the display unit 12. Furthermore, since the management information indicates that the No. 3 terminal in the figure is "in use," but the terminal information indicates that it is "vacant," the data processing unit 23 displays a "mismatch check" instruction on the display unit 12 of the No. 3 terminal. Specifically, the data processing unit 23 displays a "mismatch check" instruction on the No. 3 port provided on the display unit 12. Although not shown in the figure, if the management information indicates that it is "open," the display unit 12 of the corresponding terminal 10 displays a "terminal insertion" instruction.

[0037] When the matching results in the management function unit 22 are reflected on the display unit 12, the power of the battery 24 is used only while these processes are being performed: terminal detection by the terminal detection unit 11, data reading / writing and matching to the memory area of ​​the management function unit 22 by the data processing unit 23, instructions to the display unit 12, and display processing on the display unit 12.

[0038] According to the terminal connection management system 300 of this embodiment, even in a terminal connection device 100 located in a place where power supply is difficult or impossible, such as an underground manhole or outdoors, a portable device 200 equipped with a battery 24 can be used to indicate, in a power-saving manner, the terminal 10 that needs to be worked on or the terminal 10 that has a data mismatch using an LED or the like.

[0039] [Comparison with Related Art] Next, the effects of the terminal connection management system 300 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the related art. The system of the related art includes a terminal connection device 100A having a plurality of terminals and a terminal management table 200A.

[0040] Conventionally, the work of inserting and removing terminals and the work of registering and correcting the terminal management table 200A have been performed by manually checking the actual terminal connection status against the terminal management table 200A. As a result, mismatches between the actual terminal connection status and the terminal management table 200A are likely to occur due to human error, etc., and problems such as incorrect terminal connection and removal may occur. Therefore, it is required to automatically reflect the terminal management status.

[0041] In contrast, in a related technology, power is constantly supplied from the outside to the terminal connection device 100A while the terminal status is detected and reflected in the terminal management table 200A. However, there are cases where it is difficult to constantly supply power from the outside to the terminal connection device 100A, such as when the terminal connection device 100 is located in an underground manhole or outdoors.

[0042] In this embodiment, as described above, by using the portable device 200 equipped with the battery 24, it is possible to grasp the terminal status and input, output, and verify the terminal connection status even for a terminal connection device 100 located in a place where power supply is difficult or impossible, such as an underground manhole or outdoors. Furthermore, it is possible to indicate the terminal 10 that needs work or the terminal 10 with mismatched data using an LED or the like. Furthermore, since the battery 24 is used only during these processes, it is possible to provide a power-saving system. In other words, the power of the battery 24 is used while either or both of the terminal connection device 100 and the portable device 200 are functioning.

[0043] [Flowchart] Next, the process when the portable device 200 is attached to the terminal connection device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 5 to Fig. 7. Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the process when the portable device 200 is attached to the terminal connection device 100. Fig. 6 is a flowchart when the terminal information is reflected in the management function unit 22. Fig. 7 is a flowchart when the collation result is reflected in the display unit 12.

[0044] First, the user installs the terminal detection unit 11 and the display unit 12 in the terminal connection device 100 (step S1). At this time, the terminal detection unit 11 and the display unit 12 are connected to the input / output IF 13.

[0045] Next, the user attaches the portable device 200 to the input / output IF 13 (step S2), which electrically connects the power supply unit 14 and the battery 24, and connects the data input / output unit 15 and the storage unit 21.

[0046] The terminal detection unit 11 detects the current state of each terminal 10 (step S3). At this time, in the terminal connection management system 300, the battery 24 is used only while the terminal detection unit 11 is detecting the state of each terminal 10. In other words, in step S3, the power of the battery 24 is used only for the terminal detection unit 11 to detect the state of each terminal 10.

[0047] The processing of the terminal connection management system 300 will now be described, divided into (A) a case where the terminal information is reflected in the management function unit 22 and (B) a case where the collation result is reflected in the display unit 12. First, with reference to FIG. 6, a flowchart for (A) a case where the terminal information is reflected in the management function unit 22 will be described.

[0048] The data processing unit 23 compares and verifies the terminal information from the terminal detection unit 11 with the terminal information stored in the management function unit 22, and updates the terminal information of the changed terminal 10 (step S4). At this time, in the terminal connection management system 300, the battery 24 is used only while the data processing unit 23 is reading from and writing to the management function unit 22. In other words, in step S4, the power of the battery 24 is used only for the data processing unit 23 to read from and write to the management function unit 22.

[0049] The data processing unit 23 compares the terminal information in the storage area of ​​the management function unit 22 with the management information and records the comparison result in the storage area of ​​the management function unit 22 (step S5). Specifically, if the management information is "active" and the terminal information is also "active", or if the management information is "empty" and the terminal information is also "empty", the data processing unit 23 outputs null data and does not perform any further processing. In other words, if the management information and the terminal information match, the data processing unit 23 outputs null data and does not perform any further processing.

[0050] On the other hand, if the management information is "in use" and the terminal information is "empty," or if the management information is "empty" and the terminal information is "in use," the data processing unit 23 determines that the current usage status of the terminal 10 does not match the usage status at the time of the previous terminal status check, and records a mismatch in the storage area. In other words, if the management information and the terminal information do not match regarding the usage status of the terminal 10, the data processing unit 23 records a mismatch in the storage area.

[0051] At this time, in the terminal connection management system 300, the battery 24 is used only while the data processing unit 23 is performing the data matching and recording the matching results in the storage area. In other words, in step S5, the power of the battery 24 is used only for the data processing unit 23 to perform the data matching and recording the matching results in the storage area.

[0052] Next, with reference to FIG. 7, a flowchart for (B) reflecting the collation result on the display unit 12 will be described.

[0053] The data processing unit 23 reads the instruction content (open, discontinue, etc.) from the management function unit 22 of the portable device 200 (step S6). At this time, in the terminal connection management system 300, the battery 24 is used only during the read process by the data processing unit 23. In other words, in step S6, the power of the battery 24 is used only for the read process by the data processing unit 23.

[0054] Next, the data processing unit 23 outputs the collation result according to the combination of the terminal information and the management information in the storage area of ​​the management function unit 22 (step S7). Specifically, if the management information is "discontinued" and the terminal information is "in use", the data processing unit 23 outputs a "terminal removal" instruction. On the other hand, if the management information is "open" and the terminal information is "empty", the data processing unit 23 outputs a "terminal insertion" instruction.

[0055] Furthermore, when the management information is "in use" and the terminal information is "empty," or when the management information is "empty" and the terminal information is "in use," the data processing unit 23 outputs an "unmatch check" instruction. In these cases, the terminal connection management system 300 uses the battery 24 only while the data processing unit 23 is performing data matching and outputting the matching results. In other words, in step S7, the power of the battery 24 is used only for the data processing unit 23 performing data matching and outputting the matching results.

[0056] Next, the data processing unit 23 causes the display unit 12 to display a display corresponding to the output in step S7 (step S8). At this time, in the terminal connection management system 300, the battery 24 is used only while the data processing unit 23 is issuing instructions to the display unit 12 and while the display unit 12 is processing the display. In other words, in step S8, the power of the battery 24 is used only for the data processing unit 23 issuing instructions to the display unit 12 and for the display unit 12 to process the display.

[0057] The device of the present disclosure can also be realized by a computer and a program, and is widely applicable regardless of terminal, medium, or network. The program can also be recorded on a recording medium or provided via a network. The program of the present disclosure is a program for causing a computer to realize each function of the device according to the present disclosure, and is a program for causing a computer to execute each procedure of the method executed by the device according to the present disclosure.

[0058] In particular, the data processing unit 23 included in the portable device 200 of the present disclosure can be realized by a computer and a program, and the program can be recorded on a recording medium or provided via a network.

[0059] 11: Terminal detection unit 12: Display unit 13: Input / output IF 14: Power supply unit 15: Data input / output unit 21: Storage unit 22: Management function unit 23: Data processing unit 24: Battery 100: Terminal connection device 200: Portable device

Claims

1. A terminal connection management system comprising: a terminal connection device to which a terminal can be connected and which detects the connection state of the terminal when power is supplied from an external source; and a portable device having a battery capable of supplying power to the terminal connection device and which obtains the results of the detection in the terminal connection device.

2. The terminal connection management system according to claim 1, wherein the portable device comprises a management function unit that stores the detection results and predetermined management information relating to the terminal, and a data processing unit that compares the detection results with the management information and records the comparison results in the management function unit.

3. The terminal connection management system according to claim 2, wherein said terminal connection device includes a display unit that displays a display corresponding to the result of said comparison based on an instruction from said data processing unit.

4. A terminal connection management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the battery power is used while either or both of the terminal connection device and the portable device are functioning.