Remote operation control for computer system

• US 5,347,646 A
• Filed: 09/26/1989
• Issued: 09/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kimura, Ikuo, Hirosawa, Toshio, Kurihara, Jun'ichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUA, LY
• Application Number:
  US07/412,928
• Time in Patent Office: 1,813 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200, 364/900, 371/15.1, 371/16.1, 371/16.4, 371/16.5, 371/17, 371/18, 371/29.1, 379/102, 379/106, 379/95, 395/575
• US Class Current: 714/49
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/549 Remote execution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4843 by program, e.g. task dispatcher, supervisor, operating system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting

Abstract

A control apparatus for realizing remote operation control for a computer system is interposed between the Computer system and a master console for supervising data stream on a data transmission/reception signal line existing between the computer system and the master console. Occurrence of error in the computer system is messaged to a remote terminal through a public telecommunication line. Commands for the computer system can be inputted from the remote terminals.

Claims

1. A remote operation control system for a computer system, comprising:

means for receiving message data issued from the computer system for an operator of the computer system;

first storage means for storing error messages, each to be transmitted to the operator of the computer system at an occurrence of one error of a plurality of errors;

second storage means for storing telephone numbers of remote apparatuses connected to a public telephone communication network, each remote apparatus including a terminal and a telephone communicator;

error detecting means responsive to the message data received by said means for receiving for checking whether or not the received message data indicates occurrence of the one error of the plurality of errors in the computer system;

means responsive to detection of occurrence of the one error in the computer system by said error detecting means for selecting a corresponding one of a plurality of error messages for the one error;

means connected to said error detecting means and responsive to detection of the one error thereby for calling-up a telephone communicator of one of the remote apparatuses by way of the public telephone communication network, based upon one of the stored telephone numbers;

means connected to the means for calling-up for sending the selected error message to the called-up telephone communicator by way of the public telephone communication network; and

transfer control means for subsequently allowing command data and message data to be transferred between a terminal of the one of the remote apparatuses and the computer system through the public telephone communication network.

2. A remote operation control system for a computer system according to claim 1, further comprising:

third storage means for storing message data;

wherein said means for receiving includes means for causing the message data received from the computer system to be stored in said third storage means and for informing the computer system of completion of reception of the message data when said message data has been stored in said third storage means.

3. A remote operation control system for a computer system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an operator console connected to said means for receiving through a line different from the public telephone communication network for displaying the message data received by the means for receiving and for inputting command data to be supplied to said computer system; and

means connected to said operator console for transferring the command data inputted from the operator console to said computer system.

4. A remote operation control system for a computer system according to claim 1,

wherein said second storage means further holds identifiers, each for one of the remote apparatuses and each indicative of at least one operator authorized to operate one terminal;

and

wherein said remote operation control system further includes;

means connected to said second storage means and said public telephone communication network and responsive to calling from one of the remote apparatuses through the public telephone communication network by an operator who is requesting control of an operation of the computer system for identifying whether the identifiers held in said second storage means include one identifier which corresponds to an identifier inputted by the operator through the calling remote apparatus and supplied via the public telephone communication network;

means connected to said means for identifying for recalling the calling remote apparatus through the public telephone communication network when the means for identifying shows that one of the stored identifiers corresponds to the inputted identifier, wherein the recall is done based upon a telephone number stored in said second storage means, for the one of the identifiers; and

means for enabling said transfer control means to transfer, after recalling by said means for recalling, message data and command data between the computer system and the terminal of the calling remote apparatus through the public telephone communication network.

5. A remote operation control system for a computer system according to claim 1,

wherein said error detecting means includes:

means for detecting occurrence of a software error in the computer system, based upon whether or not the message data received from said computer system has a particular message identifier and a particular message number indicative of occurrence of a corresponding software error within an operating system which controls the computer system.

6. A remote operation control system for a computer system according to claim 1,

wherein said error detecting means includes:

means for detecting occurrence of a hardware error within the computer system, based upon the received message data including a program status word sent out from the computer system.

7. A remote operation control system for a computer system according to claim 6, wherein the means for detecting occurrence of a hardware error is based upon the received message data having a flag in the program status word, and further including means for detecting occurrence of a loop status of a program being executed by the computer system, based upon the received message data having a next instruction address in the program status word.

8. A remote operation control system for a computer system according to claim 1,

wherein said means for sending

sends the selected error message in the form of voice information.

9. A remote operation control system for a computer system according to claim 1, further comprising:

third storage means connected to said error detecting means and accessible from the remote apparatuses for storing error information on the one error detected by said error detecting means together with timing data indicating when the one error took place.

10. A remote operation control system for a computer system according to claim 1, including:

a service processor;

wherein said transfer control means includes means connected to the service processor within the computer system for transferring to the service processor a command required to control the service processor and supplied from the terminal of the one of the remote apparatuses via the public telephone communication network.

11. A remote operation control system for a computer system,

means connected to the computer system for detecting an environmental abnormal state of at least one of air conditioning equipment and room temperature;

storage means for storing telephone numbers of remote apparatuses connected to a telephone communication network, each remote apparatus including a telephone communicator and a terminal;

means connected to said means for detecting and said storage means and response to detection of the environmental abnormal state for calling up a telephone communicator of one of the remote apparatuses, based upon one of the telephone numbers held in said storage means;

means connected to the means for calling up for sending an error message indicative of occurrence of the environmental abnormal state to the one of the remote apparatuses by way of the network; and

transfer control means connected to said means for sending for enabling subsequent transmission of command data and message data between the one of the remote apparatuses and the computer system.

12. A remote operation control system for a computer system according to claim 11, wherein said means for sending sends the error message in the form of voice information.

13. A remote operation control system for a computer system according to claim 11, including:

a service processor;

wherein said transfer control means includes means connected to the service processor within the computer system for transferring to the service processor a command required to control the service processor and supplied from the terminal of the one of the remote apparatuses via the telephone communication network.

14. In a remote operation control system for a plurality of computer systems, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of remote apparatuses connected to the computer system via a common public telephone communication network, each remote apparatus including a telephone and a terminal, and

a plurality of control means each connected to the network and a corresponding one of the computer systems,

each control means comprising;

means for receiving message data issued from a corresponding computer system for an operator of the corresponding computer system;

first storage means for storing error messages each to be transmitted to the operator of the corresponding computer system at an occurrence of one of a plurality of errors;

second storage means for storing telephone numbers of the remote apparatuses;

error detecting means responsive to the message data received by said means for receiving for checking whether or not the received message data indicates occurrence of the one of the errors in the computer system;

means responsive to detection of occurrence of the one of the errors in the computer system by said error detecting means for selecting a corresponding one of the error messages for the one of the errors;

means connected to said error detecting means and responsive to detection of the one of the errors thereby for calling up a telephone communicator provided for one of the remote apparatuses by way of the network based upon one of the stored telephone numbers;

means connected to the means for calling-up for sending the selected one of the error messages to the one of the remote apparatuses by way of the network; and

transfer control means for subsequently allowing command data and message data to be transferred between a terminal of the one of the remote apparatuses and the computer system through the network.

15. A remote operation control system for a computer system and a telephone communication network, comprising:

means connected to the computer system and responsive to message data on an operation thereof provided by said computer system, for detecting whether or not an operation error has occurred within the computer system;

means, connected to said means for detecting and to the network and responsive to detection of an operation error by said means for detecting, for calling a telephone communicator connected to the network, said calling means being provided for a remote terminal connected to said network to inform a remote terminal operator of occurrences of the operation error; and

transfer means, connected to the computer system and the network, for transferring to the computer system operation control command data inputted subsequently by the remote terminal operator via said remote terminal and transmitted via the network, and for subsequently transferring message data on operation of the computer system to the remote terminal via the network.

16. A remote operation control system according to claim 15, wherein the network is a public telephone network.

17. A remote operation control system according to claim 15, further comprising:

means for holding a plurality of identifying information items each corresponding to one of a plurality of operation errors of said computer system and indicative of identifying information items to be included in message data supplied by said computer system when a corresponding operation error has occurred;

said means for detecting including means connected to said holding means for judging occurrence of an operation error within the computer system, depending upon whether the message data provided by the computer system includes one of the plurality of identifying information items.

18. A remote operation control system according to claim 15, wherein said means for detecting detects occurrence of a software error within the computer system, based upon message data generated by an operating system which controls the computer system, among a plurality of message data provided from the computer system, and detects occurrence of a hardware error within the computer system, based upon message data generated by a service processor within the computer system, among the plurality of message data provided from the computer system.

19. A remote operation control system according to claim 18, wherein said message data generated by the service processor includes information on a program status word within the computer system.

20. A remote operation control system according to claim 15, further comprising:

means connected to the means for calling up for judging whether an error detected by said means for detecting needs to be informed to an operator and for preventing said means for calling from calling the telephone communicator when the detected error does not need to be informed to an operator.

21. A remote operation control system according to claim 20, further comprising:

means for holding a plurality of error identifying information items and disposal information, and for including the error identifying information items and disposal information for each of the plurality of error identifying information items in message data supplied by said computer system when one of the operation errors has occurred, the disposal information indicating at least whether or not a corresponding error needs to be informed to an operator;

said means for detecting being connected to said means for holding for judging occurrence of an error within the computer system, depending upon whether the message data provided by the computer system includes one of the plurality of error identifying information items; and

means connected to said means for holding and said means for detecting for executing the judging, based upon disposal information held for one of the plurality of error identifying information items which has been detected by said means for detecting as being included in message data provided by said computer system.

22. A remote operation control system according to claim 20, further comprising:

storage means, connected to said means for detecting and being accessible from said remote terminal via the network and being responsive to detection of occurrence of an error by said means for detecting, for storing error information related to an error detected by said error detecting means.

23. A remote operation control system according to claim 15, further comprising:

an operation console connected to said computer system via a path different from the network, said operation console including an input apparatus for input of command data and a display apparatus for display of message data supplied to the operation console and command data inputted by said input apparatus; and

connect means connected to said operation console, said computer system and said transfer means for transferring message data provided by said computer system to said operation console to be displayed by said display apparatus, and for transferring command data inputted by said input apparatus, to said computer system.

24. A remote operation control system according to claim 23, further comprising:

interface means connected to said computer system for receiving message data provided by the computer system and for transferring command data received by the interface means to the computer system; and

a data storage connected to said interface means for holding the message data received by said interface means;

said transfer means transferring the message data from said data storage to said remote terminal and transferring command data inputted from the remote terminal to said data storage;

said operation console including means connected to said data storage for transferring the received message data and the inputted command data from the data storage to said operation console and for transferring command data inputted by said input apparatus to said data storage; and

said interface means transmitting to said computer system command data held in said data storage and inputted by one of said remote terminal and said input apparatus.

25. A remote operation control system according to claim 24, wherein said interface means is connected to said data storage for sending to the computer system a signal indicative of receipt of the message data after completion of the holding.

26. A remote operation control system for a computer system, comprising:

means for holding a plurality of telephone numbers for telephone communicators connected to a telephone communication network and respectively provided for a plurality of predetermined remote terminals connected to the network;

means connected to the computer system and responsive to computer system message data for detecting whether or not an operation error has occurred within the computer system;

means connected to said means for holding and said means for detecting and being responsive to detection of occurrence of an error thereby for selecting one of the telephone numbers;

means connected to said means for selecting and to the network for calling one of said telephone communicators with the selected telephone number to inform an operator of occurrence of an operation error; and

transfer means, connected to the computer system and the network, for transferring to the computer system operation control command data inputted subsequently by an operator from a remote terminal selected with the selected telephone number, and for transferring message data on an operation of the computer system provided subsequently to the selected remote terminal via the network.

27. A remote operation control system according to claim 26, wherein said means for selecting selects one of the telephone numbers based upon predetermined priorities for the remote terminals.

28. A remote operation control system according to claim 26,

wherein said means for selecting selects another of the telephone numbers when there is no response from the remote terminal corresponding to said one of the telephone numbers, selected by the means for selecting, to the calling by said means for calling;

said calling means calling the another of the telephone number sequentially.

29. A remote operation control system according to claim 28, further comprising:

means connected to said means for selecting for supplying said computer system with command data to stop the computer system when all of the plurality of telephone numbers have been sequentially selected by said means for selecting and sequentially called by said means for calling without receiving any response from any of the remote terminals corresponding to the telephone numbers.

30. A remote operation control system according to claim 26, wherein the network is a public telephone network.

31. A remote operation control system for a computer system, comprising:

means connected to the computer system and responsive to message data on an operation thereof provided thereby for detecting whether or not an error has occurred within the computer system;

means, connected to said means for detecting and to a telephone communication network and responsive to detection by said means for detecting of occurrence of an error, for calling a telephone communicator connected to the network and provided for a predetermined remote terminal connected tot he network, to inform an operator of occurrence of an error;

means for sending a voice error message to the telephone number via the network after the calling; and

transfer means connected to the computer system and the network for transferring operation control command data to the computer system, said operation control command data having been inputted by the operator through the remote terminal and transmitted via the network, and for transferring message data, on an operation of the computer system provided subsequently thereby, to the remote terminal via the network.

32. A remote operation control system according to claim 31, wherein said means for sending includes:

means for holding error messages to be supplied to an operator for different errors;

means, connected to said means for holding and to said means for detecting, for selecting one of the error messages corresponding to the error detected by said detecting means; and

means for sending the selected error message to the remote terminal corresponding to the telephone number through the network in voice form.

33. A remote operation control system according to claim 31, further comprising:

a transmitter/receiver connected to the network for operating in a selected one of a voice mode of operation for transmitting or receiving a voice, and a digital signal mode of operation for transmitting or receiving a digital signal;

wherein said means for sending includes means for generating the voice error message, and means for sending the error message to the telephone number through the network, with the transmitter/receiver in the voice mode of operation; and

wherein said transfer means includes means for receiving, via the network, the operation control command data inputted subsequently by the operator from the remote terminal using the transmitter/receiver in the digital signal mode of operation, and for transmitting the message data subsequently provided by the computer system to the network using the transmitter/receiver in the digital signal mode operation.

34. A remote operation control system according to claim 31, wherein the network is a public telephone network.

35. A remote operation control system for a computer system, comprising:

detecting means connected to the computer system and responsive to the message data on an operation thereof provided thereby for detecting whether or not an error has occurred within the computer system;

calling means connected to said detecting means and a telephone communication network and responsive to detection by said detecting means of occurrence of an error for calling a predetermined remote apparatus connected to the network;

sending means connected to said calling means for sending a message to the remote apparatus to inform an operator of occurrence of an error; and

transfer means connected to the computer system and the network for receiving, through the network, operation control command data inputted by an operator from the remote apparatus after the sending of the message, transferring the received operation control command data to the computer system, and transferring, via the network, to the remote apparatus message data on an operation of the computer system provided thereby after the sending of the message.

36. A remote operation control system according to claim 35, wherein the network is a public telephone network.

37. A remote operation control system according to claim 35, wherein said calling means includes means for calling a telephone communicator of the remote apparatus.

38. A remote operation control system according to claim 37, wherein said sending means includes means for sending a voice error message to the telephone communicator after the calling, and wherein the message sent by the sending means is the voice error message.

39. A remote operation control system according to claim 38, wherein said voice error message is indicative of an error detected by said detecting means.

40. A remote operation control system according to claim 35, wherein said transfer means includes:

means for keeping a telephone line established by the calling, and for thereafter receiving, through the line, operation control command data inputted by an operator through the remote apparatus after the sending of the error message, transferring the received operation control command data to the computer system, and transferring, through the line, to the remote apparatus message data on operation of the computer system provided thereby after the sending of the error message.

41. A remote operation control system for combination of a computer system and an operation console for the system, comprising:

detecting means connected to the computer system to receive message data on an operation of the computer system provided therefrom to said operation console for detecting whether or not an error has occurred within the computer system; and

calling means, connected to said detecting means and a telephone communication network and responsive to detection by said detecting means of occurrence of an error, for calling a remote apparatus connected to the network;

means for sending a message indicative of occurrence of an error to the remote apparatus after the calling; and

transfer means connected to the computer system, said operation console and the network for transferring via the network, to the computer system, operation control command data inputted from said operation console an operation control command data inputted from the remote apparatus after the calling, and for transferring message data on an operation of the computer system provided by the computer system after the calling both to the remote apparatus via the network and to the operation console.

42. A remote operation control system according to claim 41, wherein the network is a public telephone network.

43. A remote operation control system according to claim 41, wherein said calling means calls a telephone communicator of the remote apparatus.

44. A remote operation control system according to claim 41, wherein said means for sending sends a voice error message to a telephone communicator of the remote apparatus, after the calling, and wherein the message sent by the sending means is the voice error message.

45. A remote operation control system for a plurality of combinations, each comprised of a computer system and an operation console for the system, comprising:

a plurality of remote operation control means each provided for a corresponding one of the combinations, each remote operation control means being connected to a computer system and an operation console both belonging to a corresponding combination and each remote operation control means being connected to a telephone communication network, to which a predetermined remote apparatus is connected, wherein each operation control means includes detecting means, connected to a computer system belonging to a corresponding combination and responsive to message data on an operation thereof provided thereby for an operation console belonging to the corresponding combination, for detecting whether or not an error has occurred within the computer system,

calling means, connected to said detecting means and the network and responsive to detection by said detecting means of occurrence of an error, for calling the remote apparatus,

means for sending a message indicative of occurrence of an error to said remote apparatus, and

transfer means connected to the computer system and the network for subsequently transferring via the network to the computer system operation control command data inputted from the remote apparatus after the calling and for transferring via the network to the remote apparatus message data on an operation of the computer system provided thereby after the calling.

46. A remote operation control system according to claim 45, wherein the network is a public telephone network.

47. A remote operation control system according to claim 45, wherein said calling means calls a telephone communicator of the remote apparatus.

48. A remote operation control system according to claim 45, wherein said means for sending sends a voice error message to a telephone communicator of the remote terminal after the calling, and wherein the message sent by said sending means is the voice error message.

49. A remote operation control system for a combination of a computer system and an operational control therefor, comprising:

detecting means, connected to the computer system to receive message data on an operation of the computer system provided thereby to the operation control, for detecting whether or not an error has occurred within the computer system;

calling means, connected to said detecting means and to a telephone communication network and responsive to detection by said detecting means of occurrence of an error, for calling a predetermined telephone communicator connected to the network to inform an operator of occurrence of an error; and

transfer means connected to the computer system and the network for transferring through the network, to the computer system, operation control command data inputted after the calling from a remote terminal connected to the network and for transferring via the network message data on an operation of the computer system provided by the computer system after the calling to the remote terminal via the network.

50. A remote operation control system connected to a telephone network for control of a computer system, comprising:

holding means for holding a telephone number of a remote apparatus connected to the telephone network and authorized to input an operation control command to the computer system, and for holding an identifying information item assigned to an operator authorized to control the computer system;

operator identifying means connected to said holding means and the network, and responsive to an access request given by an operator through the network from a remote apparatus connected to the network for detecting whether an identifying information item inputted by the operator for the access request corresponds to the identifying information item in said holding means;

apparatus identifying means connected to said holding means and the network, responsive to detection of correspondence of the identifying information item inputted by said operator identifying means, for disconnecting said remote operation control system from the network, and for thereafter calling back the remote apparatus, based upon the telephone number held in said holding means and assigned to the identified operator; and

transfer means connected to said apparatus identifying means and said network for transferring to the computer system an operation control command inputted from that remote apparatus after the calling back is successful.

51. A remote operation control system according to claim 50, wherein said holding means holds a plurality of identifying information items each for one of a group of authorized operators and a plurality of telephone numbers, each of the telephone numbers corresponding to one of the plurality of identifying information items and each of the telephone numbers representing a telephone number of an authorized remote apparatus assigned to an operator assigned with a corresponding identifying information item;

wherein said operator identifying means identifies whether the inputted identifying information item corresponds to one of the plurality of identifying information items held in said holding means; and

wherein said apparatus identifying means calls back the remote apparatus, based upon one of the telephone numbers held in said holding means, corresponding to the identifying information item identified as corresponding to the inputted identifying information item.

52. A system according to claim 50, further comprising:

an operator-operable input apparatus for inputting an operation control command to said computer system;

wherein said transfer means includes means connected to said operator-operable input apparatus and said computer, for transferring the operation control command inputted through said input apparatus and said signal indicative of said operation control command inputted from said remote apparatus, to said computer system through a command input line connected to said computer system.

53. A system according to claim 50, further comprising:

means for holding messages to be sent to the remote apparatus; and

means for sending one of said held messages to said remote apparatus before said remote operation control system is disconnected, wherein said one message has contents related to execution of the calling back.

54. A system according to claim 50, further including:

a transmitter/receiver connected to said network;

wherein said apparatus identifying means includes;

means for execution the detecting, based upon a signal given by said transmitter/receiver and indicative of the identifying information;

means for requesting said transmitter/receiver to disconnect from said network; and

means for requesting said transmitter/receiver to execute the calling back;

wherein said transfer means includes means interposed between said transmitter/receiver and said computer for transferring to said computer system a signal given by said transmitter/receiver and indicative of the operation control command.

55. A system according to claim 54, further comprising:

an operator-operable input apparatus for said computer system;

wherein said transfer means further includes means for transferring information inputted through said input apparatus and said information inputted from said remote apparatus to said computer system through a common input line connected to said computer system.

56. A remote access control system for a computer, comprising:

transmitter/receiver means, connected to a telephone network, for transmitting and receiving data via the telephone network;

memory means for storing a telephone number of a remote apparatus authorized to access the computer via telephone network and for storing an identifying information item assigned to an operator authorized to access the computer;

operator identifying means connected to said memory means and said transmitter/receiver means, responsive to an access request which includes operator identifying information given by an operator through the telephone network from a remote apparatus connected to the telephone network and delivered to the operator identifying means via the transmitter/receiver means, for determining whether the access request corresponds to the stored identifying information item;

apparatus identifying means, connected to said memory means and said transmitter/receiver means and responsive to a determination of correspondence between the operator identifying information and the stored identifying information, for supplying a signal to disconnect said transmitter/receiver means from the telephone network, and for thereafter requesting said transmitter/receiver means to call back the remote apparatus, based upon the stored telephone number; and

transfer control means interposed between said transmitter/receiver means and said computer for controllably enabling a connection between the remote apparatus and the computer, and for transferring to the computer a signal given by said transmitter/receiver means indicative of information inputted from that remote apparatus after the callback is successful via the connection.

57. A remote operation control system according to claim 56, wherein said memory means stores a plurality of identifying information items each for one of a group of authorized operators and a plurality of telephone numbers, each of the telephone numbers corresponding to one of the plurality of identifying information items, and each of the telephone numbers representing a telephone number of an authorized remote apparatus assigned to an operator assigned with a corresponding identifying information item;

wherein said operator identifying means identifies whether the inputted identifying information item corresponds to one of the plurality of identifying information items stored in said memory means; and

wherein said apparatus identifying means calls back the remote apparatus, based upon one of the telephone numbers stored in said memory means, corresponding to that one identifying information item which has been identified as corresponding to the inputted identifying information item.

58. A system according to claim 56, further comprising:

an operator-operable input apparatus for said computer system;

wherein said transfer means includes means for transferring information inputted through said input apparatus and said information inputted from that remote apparatus to said computer system through a common input line connected to said computer system.

59. A system according to claim 56, further comprising:

means for holding messages to be sent to the remote apparatus; and

means for requesting said transmitter/receiver means to send a verbal one of said held messages to said remote apparatus, before the disconnect signal is supplied by said apparatus identifying means, wherein said one verbal message has contents related to execution of the callback.

60. A remote access control system as claimed in claim 56, wherein said transfer means includes means for controllably enabling the connection directly responsive only to the success of the callback.

61. A computing system with a remote operation control, comprising:

a computer site connected to a public telephone communication network; and

a plurality of remote apparatuses connected to said public telephone communication network each including a terminal and telephone communicator;

wherein said computer site includes;

a computer system, and

control means connected to said computer system and said public telephone communication network for remote operation control;

wherein said control means includes;

means for receiving message data issued from the computer system for an operator of the computer system;

first storage means for storing error messages, each to be transmitted to the operator of the computer system at an occurrence of one error of a plurality of errors;

second storage means for storing telephone numbers of said remote apparatuses;

error detecting means responsive to the message data received by said means for receiving for checking whether or not the received message data indicates occurrence of the one error of the plurality of errors in the computer system;

means responsive to detection of occurrence of the one error in the computer system by said error detecting means for selecting a corresponding one of a plurality of error messages for the one error;

means connected to said error detecting means and responsive to detection of the one error thereby for calling-up a telephone communicator of one of the remote apparatuses by way of the public telephone communication network, based upon one of the stored telephone numbers;

means connected to the means for calling-up for sending the selected error message to the called-up telephone communicator by way of the public telephone communication network; and

transfer control means for subsequently allowing command data and message data to be transferred between the one of the remote apparatuses and the computer system through the public telephone communication network.

62. A computing system with remote operation control, comprising:

a computer site connected to a telephone network; and

a plurality of remote apparatuses connected to said network each including a terminal and telephone communicator;

wherein said computer site includes;

a computer system, and

control means connected to said computer system and said network for remote operation control;

wherein said control means includes;

means connected to the computer system for detecting an environmental abnormal state of at least one of air conditioning equipment and room temperature;

storage means for storing telephone numbers of said remote apparatuses;

means connected to said means for detecting and said storage means and responsive to detection of the environmental abnormal state for calling up a telephone communicator of one of the remote apparatuses, based upon one of the telephone numbers held in said storage means;

means connected to the means for calling-up for sending an error message indicative of occurrence of the environmental abnormal state to the one of the remote apparatuses by way of the network; and

transfer control means connected to said means for sending for enabling subsequent transmission of command data and message data between the one of the remote apparatuses and the computer system.

63. A computing system with remote operation control, comprising:

a plurality of computer sites connected to a telephone network; and

a plurality of remote apparatuses connected to said network each including a terminal and telephone communicator;

wherein each computer site includes;

a computer system, and

control means connected to said computer system and said network for remote operation control;

wherein said control means included in each computer system includes;

means for receiving message data issued from a corresponding computer system for an operator of the corresponding computer system;

first storage means for storing error messages each to be transmitted to the operator of the corresponding computer system at an occurrence of one of a plurality of errors;

second storage means for storing telephone numbers of said remote apparatuses;

error detecting means responsive to the message data received by said means for receiving for checking whether or not the received message data indicates occurrence of the one of the errors in the computer system;

means responsive to detecting an occurrence of the one of the errors in the computer system by said error detecting means for selecting a corresponding one of the error messages for the one of the errors;

means connected to said error detecting means and responsive to detection of the one of the errors thereby for calling up a telephone communicator provided for one of the remote apparatuses by way of the network, based upon one of the stored telephone numbers;

means connected to the means for calling-up for sending the selected one of the error messages to the one of the remote apparatuses by way of the network; and

transfer control means for subsequently allowing command data and message data to be transferred between the one of the remote apparatuses and the computer system through the network.

64. A computing system with remote operation control, comprising:

a computer site connected to a telephone network; and

a remote operator terminal connected to the network;

wherein each computer site includes;

a computer system, and

control means connected to said computer system and said network for remote operation control;

wherein said control means includes;

means, connected to the computer system and responsive to message data on an operation thereof provided by said computer system, for detecting whether or not an operation error has occurred within the computer system;

transfer means, connected to the computer system and the network, for transferring to the computer system operation control command data inputted subsequently by the remote terminal operator via said remote terminal and transmitted via the network, and for subsequently transferring message data on operation of the computer system to the remote terminal via the network.

65. A computing system with remote operation control, comprising:

a computer site connected to a telephone network; and

a plurality of remote terminals connected to the network;

wherein said computer site includes;

a computer system, and

control means connected to said computer system and said network for remote operation control;

wherein said control means includes;

means for holding a plurality of telephone numbers for telephone communicators connected to a telephone communication network and respectively provided for said plurality of predetermined remote terminals;

means connected to the computer system and responsive to computer system message data for detecting whether or not an operation error has occurred within the computer system;

means connected to said means for holding and said means for detecting and being responsive to detection of occurrence of an error thereby for selecting one of the telephone numbers;

means connected to said means for selecting and to the network for calling one of said telephone communicators with a selected one of the telephone numbers to inform an operator of occurrence of an operation error; and

transfer means connected to the computer system and the network for transferring to the computer system operation control command data inputted subsequently by an operator from a remote terminal selected with the selected telephone number, and for transferring message data on an operation of the computer system provided subsequently, to the selected remote terminal via the network.

66. A computing system with remote operation control, comprising:

a computer site connected to a telephone network; and

a remote terminal connected to said network;

wherein said computer site includes;

a computer system, and

control means connected to said computer system and said network for remote operation control;

wherein said control means includes;

means, connected to the computer system and responsive to message data on an operation thereof provided thereby, for detecting whether or not an error has occurred within the computer system;

means, connected to said means for detecting and to a telephone communication network and responsive to detection by said means for detecting of occurrence of an error, for calling a telephone communicator connected to the network and provided for said remote terminal, to inform an operator of occurrence of an error;

means for sending a voice error message to the telephone number via the network after the calling; and

transfer means connected to the computer system and the network for transferring to the computer system operation control command data inputted subsequently by an operator through the remote terminal and transmitted via the network, and for transferring message data on an operation of the computer system provided subsequently thereby, to the remote terminal via the network.

67. A computing system with remote operation control, comprising:

a computer site connected to a telephone network; and

a remote terminal connected to said network;

wherein said compute site includes;

a computer system, and

control means connected to said computer system and said network for remote operation control;

wherein said control means includes;

detecting means connected to said computer system and responsive to the message data on an operation thereof provided thereby for detecting whether or not an error has occurred within the computer system;

calling means connected to said detecting means and a telephone communication network and responsive to detection by said detecting means of occurrence of an error for calling said predetermined remote apparatus;

sending means connected to said calling means for sending a message to the remote apparatus to inform an operator of occurrence of an error; and

transfer means connected to the computer system and the network for receiving, through the network, operation control command data inputted by an operator from the remote apparatus after the sending of the message, transferring the received operation control command data to the computer system, and transferring, via the network, to the remote apparatus message data on an operation of the computer system provided thereby after the sending of the message.

68. A computing system with remote operation control, comprising:

a computer site connected to a telephone network; and

a remote apparatus connected to said network;

wherein said compute site includes;

a computer system, and

an operation console for said computer system;

control means connected to said computer system,

said operation console and said network;

wherein said control means includes;

detecting means connected to the computer system to receive message data on an operation of the computer system provided therefrom to said operation console for detecting whether or not an error has occurred within the computer system; and

calling means connected to said detecting means and to a telephone communication network and responsive to detection by said detecting means of occurrence of an error, for calling said remote apparatus connected to the network;

means for sending a message indicative of occurrence of an error to the remote apparatus, after the calling; and

transfer means connected to the computer system, said operation console and the network for transferring, via the network to the computer system, operation control command data inputted from said operation console and operation control command data inputted from the terminal of the remote apparatus after the calling, and for transferring message data on an operation of the computer system provided by the computer system after the calling both to the terminal via the network and to said operation console.

69. A computing system with remote operation control, comprising:

a plurality of computer sites connected to a telephone network;

a remote apparatus connected to said network;

wherein each computer site includes;

a computer system;

an operation console for said computer system; and

control means connected to said computer system, said operation console and said network;

wherein said control means in each computer site includes;

detecting means connected to a computer system belonging to a corresponding combination and responsive to message data on an operation thereof provided thereby for an operation console belonging to the corresponding combination for detecting whether or not an error has occurred within the computer system,

calling means connected to said detecting means and the network and responsive to detection by said detecting means of occurrence of an error for calling the remote apparatus,

means for sending a message indicative of occurrence of an error to said remote apparatus, and

transfer means connected to the computer system and the network for subsequently transferring via the network to the computer system operation control command data inputted from the terminal after the calling and for transferring via the network to the terminal called message data on an operation of the computer system provided thereby after the calling.

70. A computing system with remote operation control, comprising:

a computer site connected to a telephone network; and

a remote terminal connected to said network;

wherein said computer site includes;

a computer system, and

an operational control for said computer system;

control means connected to said computer system, said operational control and said network;

wherein said control means includes;

detecting means connected to the computer system to receive message data on an operation of the computer system provided thereby to the operational control for detecting whether or not an error has occurred within the computer system;

calling means, connected to said detecting means and to the network and responsive to detection by said detecting means of occurrence of an error, for calling a predetermined telephone communicator connected to the network, to inform an operator of occurrence of an error; and

transfer means connected to the computer system and the network for transferring through the network, to the computer system, operation control command data inputted after the calling from said remote terminal and for transferring via the network message data on an operation of the computer system provided by the computer system after the calling to the remote terminal via the network.

71. A computing system with remote operation control, comprising:

a computer site connected to a telephone network; and

a remote apparatus connected to said network;

wherein said computer site includes;

a computer system, and

control means connected to said computer system and said network for remote operation control;

wherein said control means includes;

holding means for holding a telephone number of said remote apparatus and an identifying information item assigned to an operator authorized to control the computer system;

operator identifying means connected to said holding means and the network, and responsive to an access request given by an operator through the network from a remote apparatus connected to the network for detecting whether an identifying information item inputted by the operator for the access request corresponds to the identifying information item in said holding means;

apparatus identifying means connected to said holding means and the network, responsive to detection of correspondence of the identifying information item inputted by said operator identifying means, for disconnecting said control means from the network, and for thereafter calling back that remote apparatus, based upon the telephone number in said holding means and assigned to the identified operator; and

transfer means connected to said apparatus identifying means and said network for transferring to the computer system an operation control command inputted from that remote apparatus after the calling back is successful.

72. A remote operational control system for a computer system, comprising:

means connected to the computer system to receive message data concerning an operation of the computer system, for detecting whether or not an error has occurred within the computer system, said message data being provided by said computer system to an operational console of said computer system; and

means, connected to said detecting means and a telephone communication network and responsive to detection by said detecting means, of occurrence of an error for calling a predetermined telephone communicator connected to said network, to inform an operator of occurrence of an error;

wherein said detecting means includes means for detecting occurrence of a software error based upon message data given by an operating system which control said computer system to said operational console.

73. A remote operational control system according to claim 72, wherein said means for detecting occurrence of a software error includes:

means for holding a plurality of information items each corresponding to a plurality of software errors and each indicating information included in message data which will be provided by said operating system at occurrence of a corresponding software error within said computer system; and

means for detecting whether message data actually provided by said operating system includes one of said plurality of held information items,

74. A remote operational control system according to claim 73, wherein each of said plurality of information items includes a combination of a particular message identifier and a message number.

75. A remote operational control system for a computer system, comprising:

means connected to the computer system to receive message data concerning an operation of the computer system, for detecting whether or not an error has occurred within the computer system, said message data being provided by said computer system to an operational console of said computer system; and

means, connected to said detecting means and a telephone communication network and responsive to detection by said detecting means, of occurrence of an error for calling a predetermined telephone communicator connected to said network, to inform an operator of occurrence of an error;

wherein said detecting means includes means for detecting occurrence of a hardware error based upon message data given from a service processor included in said computer system to said operational console.

76. A remote operational control system according to claim 75, wherein said means for detecting occurrence of a hardware error includes means for executing the detecting based upon a program status word given as said message data from said service processor to said operational console.

77. A remote operational control system according to claim 76, wherein said means for detecting occurrence of a hardware error includes means for executing the detecting based upon a flag and a next address included in the program status word.