MONITORING APPARATUS

• US 20070293951A1
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Ichiro, Kurokawa, Seigo, Mishima, Takeaki
• Application Number:
  US11/621,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20070293951A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning

Abstract

A monitoring apparatus that captures data in a router into a monitoring apparatus to cope with a communication abnormality in a monitoring system that uses the router, a modem, and a network. The monitoring apparatus comprises input modules 343, 345 for being input with a signal from a monitored object 303; a CPU module 341 for processing the signal from the input modules 343, 345; a communication module 342; a data bus 352; and a power module 340. The communication module has two connectors 204, 206 or more each connected to the network; a connection terminal connected to a power supply buss 351; a connection terminal connected to the data bus 352; a memory; and a CPU.

Claims

1. A monitoring apparatus, comprising:

an input module (343) for being input with a signal from a monitored object;

a CPU module (341) for processing the signal from said input module;

a communication module (342) for transmitting and receiving information to and from the network;

a data bus (352) for connecting said input module, CPU module, and communication module; and

a power module (340) for supplying said input module, CPU module, and communication module with power,

wherein said communication module has;

two or more connectors each connected to the network;

a connection terminal for connecting to said power supply bus;

a connection terminal for connecting to said data bus;

a memory; and

a CPU.

2. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said CPU module obtains communication module state information from said communication module via said data bus when there is a communication abnormality in the communication via a modem connected to any one of the two or more connectors of said communication module, and upon determination that said communication module is normal, said CPU module resets said modem.

3. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said CPU module resets said modem by restoring the supply of the power to said modem after suspension of the power supply to it.

4. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said CPU module obtains the communication module state information from said CPU module via said data bus when there is a communication abnormality in the communication via a modem connected to any one of the two or more connectors of said communication module, and upon determination that said communication module is abnormal, said CPU module resets said communication module.

5. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said CPU module resets said communication module by transmitting a restart signal to said communication module.

6. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if said communication module determines that its own communication module is abnormal after referring to its own communication module state information when there is a communication abnormality in the communication via the modem connected to any one of the two or more connectors, said communication module resets itself.

7. The monitoring apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein said communication module state information enables the determination of whether a control program for controlling said communication module is operating in a normal manner.

8. The monitoring apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein said communication module state information enables the determination of whether data in said communication module is updated in a normal manner.

9. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input module is a digital input module for being input with a digital signal and an analog input module for being input with an analog signal.

10. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus comprising a digital output module for outputting a digital signal.

11. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said digital output module is connected to said modem.

12. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connectors of said communication module are connected to an input/output device which is connected to said monitored object.