Connection adapter for communication device

• US 20060200586A1
• Filed: 03/02/2006
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sanden Corporation (Qingdao Huatong State-Owned Capital Operation (Group) Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sanden Corporation (Qingdao Huatong State-Owned Capital Operation (Group) Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Kiyoshi, Kuwako, Yuuji, Iwasaki, Wataru, Nakajima, Kazuya, Tabata, Masaru
• Application Number:
  US11/365,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20060200586A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

A connection adapter includes first interfaces, second interfaces for connection to communication devices connected to a radio packet communication network, and a conversion circuit performing mutual conversion between an input/output signal from or to high-level equipment and an input/output signal from or to the communication device. The conversion circuit receives or supplies from or to the high-level equipment a signal simulating the communication device connectable to the high-level equipment and receives or supplies from or to the communication device a signal simulating the high-level equipment connectable to the communication device.

Claims

1. A connection adapter comprising:

a first interface for connection to high-level equipment with a communication interface;

a second interface for connection to a communication device with an interface for high-level equipment, connected to a radio packet communication network; and

a conversion circuit performing mutual conversion between an input/output signal from or to the high-level equipment connected to the first interface, and an input/output signal from or to the communication device connected to the second interface,

wherein the conversion circuit receives or supplies from or to the high-level equipment a signal simulating the communication device connectable to the high-level equipment, and the conversion circuit receives or supplies from or to the communication device a signal simulating the high-level equipment connectable to the communication device.

2. The connection adapter according to claim 1, wherein the conversion circuit is connectable to a plurality of the second interfaces corresponding to a plurality of types of communication devices, respectively, having a different communication format.

3. The connection adapter according to claim 1, wherein the conversion circuit is connectable to a plurality of the first interfaces corresponding to a plurality of types of high-level equipment, respectively, having a different input/output format.

4. The connection adapter according to claim 1, wherein:

the conversion circuit and the first interface are mounted on a first board; and

the second interface is mounted on a second board attachable/detachable to the first board.

5. The connection adapter according to claim 1, wherein:

the conversion circuit is mounted on a first board;

the second interface is mounted on a second board attachable/detachable to the first board; and

the first interface is mounted on a third board attachable/detachable to the first board.

6. The connection adapter according to claim 4, wherein the conversion circuit includes identification means for identifying the type of communication device connected via the second interface.

7. The connection adapter according to claim 6, wherein:

the second board includes an identification information storage unit for storing the information on type of communication device connected to the second interface; and

the identification means identifies the type of communication device based on the identification information stored in the identification information storage unit.

8. The connection adapter according to claim 6, wherein the identification means identifies the type of communication device based on an output signal sent from the communication device connected via the second interface.

9. The connection adapter according to claim 1, wherein at least the conversion circuit is implemented using PLD (Programmable Logic Device).

10. The connection adapter according to claim 1, wherein at least the conversion circuit and the second interface are implemented using PLD (Programmable Logic Device).

11. The connection adapter according to claim 1, wherein the connection adapter supplies power to the communication device via the second interface, and further comprises:

a backup battery; and

a power supply monitoring circuit for switching to the backup battery as a source of power supply when an interruption of power supply from the outside is detected.

12. The connection adapter according to claim 11, wherein when the power supply monitoring circuit detects an interruption of power supply from the outside, the conversion circuit notifies the interruption of power supply to a predetermined communication destination by using the communication device connected to the second interface.

13. The connection adapter according to claim 11, wherein while the power supply monitoring circuit detects an interruption of power supply from the outside, when a signal sent from a predetermined communication destination to the high-level equipment is detected, the conversion circuit sends an ACK on behalf of the high-level equipment.

14. The connection adapter according to claim 11, wherein when the power supply monitoring circuit detects a recovery of power supply, the conversion circuit notifies an initiation of power supply to a predetermined communication destination by using the communication device connected to the second interface.

15. The connection adapter according to claims 5, wherein the conversion circuit includes identification means for identifying the type of communication device connected via the second interface.

16. The connection adapter according to claim 15, wherein:

the second board includes an identification information storage unit for storing the information on type of communication device connected to the second interface; and

the identification means identifies the type of communication device based on the identification information stored in the identification information storage unit.

17. The connection adapter according to claim 15, wherein the identification means identifies the type of communication device based on an output signal sent from the communication device connected via the second interface.