Network station and network management system

• US 5,594,426 A
• Filed: 09/20/1994
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ushijima, Kazuhiro, Matsuura, Fumiaki, Matsumura, Hisashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON JR, WILLIAM HALL
• Application Number:
  US08/309,414
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.08, 340/825.16, 340/825.17, 340/827, 340/825.02, 340/825.03, 340/825.05, 395/159, 395/161, 395/750, 364/138, 364/188, 370/85.3, 370/85.8
• US Class Current: 340/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications

Abstract

A network management system includes network stations each having a power source and a power switch to turn the power source on and off, a network management station to monitor the network stations, and a communication network enabling connections between the network stations and the network management station. When turned off by the power switch, the network station enables communication with the network management station and then sends an event to notify the power-off state thereto. This enables the network management system to display whether the communication failure is caused by a network failure or the power-off of the network station.

Claims

1. A network station connected to a communication network, the communication network being connected to a network management station, the network station comprising:

a power source;

a power switch for controlling power-on and power-off of the power source;

power control means for sensing a power-off state of the power switch, generating an event representing the power-off state, and outputting the even and a generation end signal indicating a complete creation of the event;

storage means for storing therein an address of the network management station;

connection control means electrically connected to the power control means and the storage means for receiving the generation end signal outputted from the power control means, acquiring the address of the network management station from the storage means, and issuing a connection request to establish connection between the network station and the network management station; and

network control means electrically connected to the power control means and the connection control means for enabling, in response the connection request issued from the connection control means, communication between the network station and the network management station, and transmitting to the network management station the event outputted from the power control means.

2. A network station according to claim 1, wherein the power control means includes:

power-off detector means for sensing the power-off state and outputting a power-off sense signal;

power management means electrically connected to the connection control means and the power-off detector means for generating the event according to the power-off sense signal, outputting the generation end signal to the connection control means, and outputting the event to the destination after communication between the network station and the network management station is enabled; and

event generator means electrically connected between the network control means and the power management means for transmitting to the network control means the event outputted from the power management means.

3. A network station according to claim 2, further comprising network management means electrically connected to the network control means for receiving via the network control means inquiry information sent from the network management station to the network station, and transmitting information of a state of the network station as a reply to the inquiry information via the network control means to the network management station.

4. A network station according to claim 2, wherein the storage means stores therein a retry count of retries to the network management station;

wherein the network control means notifies, when an attempt to establish connection between the network station and the network management station fails, the failure of connection to the connection control means; and

wherein the connection control means obtains the retry count from the storage means in response to the connection failure and issues the connection request to the network control means according to the retry count.

5. A network station according to claim 2, wherein the power source supplies power to the network station;

wherein the event generator means outputs to the power management means a termination of transmission of the event to the network control means; and

wherein the power management means indicates in response to the termination of transmission the power source to interrupt power.

6. A network station according to claim 2, wherein the power source supplies power to the network station;

wherein the network control means receives a response signal sent from the network management station, the response signal indicating arrival of the event at the network management station and outputs the response signal to the event generator means;

wherein the event generator means outputs the response signal to the power management means; and

wherein the power management means indicates in response to the response signal the power source to interrupt power.

7. A network station according to claim 1, further comprising network management means electrically connected to the network control means for receiving via the network control means inquiry information sent from the network management station to the network station, and transmitting information of a state of the network station as a reply to the inquiry information via the network control means to the network management station.

8. A network station according to claim 1, wherein the storage means stores therein a retry count of retries to the network management station;

wherein the network control means notifies, when an attempt to establish connection between the network station and the network management station fails, the failure of connection to the connection control means; and

wherein the connection control means obtains the retry count from the storage means in response to the connection failure and issues the connection request to the network control means according to the retry count.

9. A network station according to claim 1, wherein the power source supplies power to the network station;

and

wherein the power control means indicates the power source to interrupt power after transmitting the event to the network control means.

10. A network station according to claim 1, wherein the power source supplies power to the network station;

wherein the network control means receives a response signal sent from the network management station, the response signal indicating arrival of the event at the network management station and outputs the response signal to the power control means; and

wherein the power control means indicates in response to the response signal the power source to interrupt power.

11. A network station according to claim 1, wherein the communication network includes a plurality of mutually connected data lines.

12. A network station according to claim 1, wherein the communication network is a public network.

13. A network station according to claim 1, wherein the communication network is connected to a second network management station;

wherein the storage means stores therein an address of the second network management station; and

wherein when the network management station fails, the network control means enables, in response to the connection request issued from the connection control means, communication between the network station and the second network management station, and transmits the event to the second network management station.

14. A network station connected to a communication network, the communication network being connected to a network management station, the network station comprising:

a bus;

a CPU connected to the bus;

storage means connected to the bus;

a communication processor connected to the bus and the communication network;

a power source electrically connected to the bus for supplying power via power lines to the CPU, the storage means, and the communication processor; and

a power switch connected to a signal line to the CPU for notifying a power-off interruption signal to the CPU;

wherein the CPU includes means responsive to the interruption signal for creating an event representing the power-off state;

wherein the storage means includes a network management station address storage area for storing therein an address of the network management station;

wherein the CPU includes means for acquiring the address of the network management station from the network management station address storage area and outputting to the communication processor the address of the network management station and a connection indication to establish connection between the network station and the network management station;

wherein the communication processor includes means responsive to the connection indication and the address of the network management station for enabling communication between the network station and the network management station, and notifying the CPU of a termination report indicating a communication ready state;

wherein the CPU includes means responsive to the termination report for outputting to the communication processor the event and a transmission indication to transmit the event to the network management station; and

wherein the communication processor includes means responsive to the transmission indication for transmitting the event to the network management station.

15. A network station according to claim 14, wherein the CPU includes means for indicating the power source to interrupt power after outputting the event and the transmission indication to the communication processor;

and

wherein the power source includes means responsive to the interruption indication from the CPU for interrupting supply of power to the CPU, the storage means, and the communication processors.

16. A network station according to claim 14, wherein the communication processor includes means for receiving from the network management station a response signal for the event transmitted from the network station to the network management station and outputting the response signal to the CPU;

wherein the CPU includes means responsive to the response signal for indicating the power source to interrupt power; and

wherein the power source includes means responsive to the interruption indication from the CPU for interrupting supply of power to the CPU, the storage means, and the communication processors.

17. A network management system for managing a network, the network management system comprising:

a communication network;

a network station connected to the communication network; and

a network management station for monitoring he network station, the network management station being connected to the communication network;

wherein the network station includes

a power source,

a power switch for controlling power-on and power-off of the power source,

power control means for sensing a power-off state of the power switch, generating an event representing the power-off state, and outputting the event and a generation end signal indicating a complete creation of the event,

storage means for storing therein an address of the network management station,

connection control means electrically connected to the power control means and the storage means for receiving the generation end signal outputted from the power control means, acquiring the address of the network management station from the storage means, and issuing a connection request to establish connection between the network station and the network management stations, and

first network control means electrically connected to the power control means and the connection control means for enabling, in response to the connection request issued from the connection control means, communication between the network station and the network management station, and transmitting to the network management station the event outputted from the power control means; and

wherein the network management station includes

second network control means for enabling, in response to the request from the network station, communication between the network station and the network management station,

event receiver means electrically connected to the second network control means for receiving the event outputted from the network station, analyzing the received event, and outputting an indication signal corresponding to the event, and

output means electrically connected to the event receiver means for outputting the power-off indication in response to the indication signal outputted from the event receiver means.

18. A network management system according to claim 17, wherein the power control means includes:

power-off detector means for sensing the power-off state and outputting a power-off sense signal;

power management means electrically connected to the connection control means and the power-off detector means for generating the event in response to the power-off sense signal, outputting the generation end signal to the connection control means, and outputting the event after communication is enabled between the network station and the network management station; and

event generator means electrically connected between the network control means and the power management means for transmitting to the first network control means the event outputted from the power management means.

19. A network management system according to claim 18, wherein the power source supplies power to the network station;

wherein the event generator means outputs to the power management means a termination of transmission of the event to the first network control means; and

wherein the power management means indicates in response to the termination of transmission the power source to interrupt power.

20. A network management system according to claim 17, further comprising network management means electrically connected to the first network control means for receiving via the first network control means inquiry information sent from the network management station to the network station and replying information of a state of the network station as a response to the inquiry information via the first network control means to the network management station.

21. A network management system according to claim 17, wherein the storage means stores therein a retry count of retries to the network management station;

wherein the first network control means notifies, when an attempt to establish connection between the network station and the network management station fails, the failure to the connection control means; and

wherein the connection control means obtains the retry count from the storage means in response to the connection failure and issues the connection request to the first network control means according to the retry count.

22. A network management system according to claim 17, wherein the power source supplies power to the network station;

and

wherein the power control means indicates the power source to interrupt power after transmitting the event to the first network control means.

23. A network management system according to claim 17, wherein the power source supplies power to the network station;

wherein the event receiver means is responsive to the event for outputting a response signal to the second network control means;

wherein the second network control means transmits the response signal via the communication network to the network station;

wherein the first network control means receives the response signal and outputs the response signal to the power control means; and

wherein the power control means is responsive to the response signal for indicating the power source to interrupt power.