Abstract:
A system for collecting information from information sources and distributing the collected information to destinations, where such information is required, writes the information collected from the sources into respective addresses of a storage by use of respective write-in devices each of which is connected directly to the respective source through a transmission route. The system reads any required information out of the storage through retrieval by use of respective read-out devices each of which is connected directly to the respective destination through a transmission route in order to distribute the read-out information to the destination. The write-in and read-out devices are connected to the storage one after another repeatedly, at a time decided by a timing device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a system for collecting and distributing informations to be applied to any data processing systems equipped with plural computers, and in particular such systems for collecting and distributing informations in which some informations required by at least one information processing device (e.g. a computer) are selected out of the informations which have been collected from at least one information source by use of at least one information collecting device (e.g. a computer), and such selected informations are distributed in a proper format to the processing device(s) speedily. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     In a system of the kind herein referred, &#34;m&#34; information processing devices (i.e. computers) are directly linked through &#34;m×n&#34; transmission routes with &#34;n&#34; information collecting devices (i.e. computers) so that data-informations e.g. the voltage collected by use of an information detecting device such as a volt-meter attached to the collecting devices can be distributed simultaneously and in parallel to the processing devices. 
     As a consequence, in such a conventional system, the informations can be collected and distributed at the same time and in parallel without a traffic jam on the routes and no address message is required so that the design and maintenance of the system is facilitated. However there is a demerit of inviting a multiplication of the routes (i.e. &#34;m×n&#34; routes) (given m=20 and n=100, then m×n=2,000) which results in a heavy installation cost in case that the collecting devices and processing devices should be remotely located with respect to one another. 
     Another system which could be constructed on the analogy of the telephone system well-known to any person skilled in the art in order to reduce the installation cost relative to the first system has a set of &#34;s&#34; exchangers each of which covers one unit block so that &#34;n&#34; information collecting devices (i.e. computers) are arranged in a proper way to the exchangers, as well as another set of &#34;t&#34; exchangers all of which on the one hand are linked through common traffic routes to the former exchangers and on the other hand are linked to &#34;m&#34; information processing devices (i.e. computers) as arranged to the latter ones in a proper way. In such a system the detected data at the information detecting devices such as a volt-meter, are collected and sorted into packets of a proper size by the collecting devices, such packets of informations being provided with the informations regarding both the address of the collecting devices which shows the origin of such informations and that of the processing devices which represents the destination of the informations, thus becoming `information-packet signals` which are conveyed to the former ones so as to be transmitted via common traffic routes therefrom. And the latter ones distribute the information-packet signals received via common traffic routes to the processing devices via other traffic routes according to the address information contained in such signals. 
     In this system the total number of traffic routes is reduced relative to the first described system by using the traffic routes in common, thus serving for an economy of the installation costs which are the fault of the first conventional system above-mentioned, but the requirement of the address information for each information-packet signal means a demerit that the design and maintenance of the system turn out to be a difficult and intricated job. Furthermore, another fault of this second conventional system which allows one to keep a constant balance in the flux of the information-packet signals when it is applied for a general small or medium scale system, lies in an eventual risk that when it is adopted in a large scale system such as a monitored control system for an electric power supply system, should there occur an interruption of the electricity service, a traffic jam may render it impossible to take the necessary steps as the situation demands, since a great number of detecting devices start to function all at once which will cause a rush of too many information-packet signals to the exchangers beyond their capacity. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an information collecting and distributing system which dispenses with packet signals at the time of collecting and distributing informations. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide an information collecting and distributing system which reduces to a great extent an address control job in information processing and facilitates its design and maintenances. 
     A further object of this invention is to provide an information collecting and distributing system by which excessive concentration of the informations can be avoided through their parallel collection and distribution of the informations, thus the collection and distribution of the informations can be prevented from being jammed and delayed, and the informations can be collected and distributed essentially on real time. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide an information collecting and distributing system wherein the total number of the traffic routes are not greater than &#34;m+n&#34;, which is a sum total of &#34;m&#34; and &#34;n&#34;, wherein &#34;m&#34; represents the number of information write-in devices and &#34;n&#34; representing that of the information read-out devices. 
     A still further object of this invention is to provide an information collecting and distributing system which can take the necessary steps promptly for emergencies in case that the system is applied into a distributed control system such as a monitored control system for electric power supply systems in a determined area or the similar system for buildings within a local area. 
    
    
     Other and further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent fully during the following discussion of the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system embodying the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a part of the system shown in FIG. 1; and, 
     FIG. 3 is a time chart for showing the operation of the part shown in FIG. 2. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     10 shows an information collecting and distributing system of the present invention. The system 10 comprises a storage 12 containing storage areas 12 11 ,12 12 ,12 13 , . . . , 12 1m  and 12 21 ,12 22 ,12 23 , . . . , 12 2n  ; at least one information write-in and read-out device 14 1 ,14 2 ,14 3 , . . . , 14 m  linked to the storage 12 through transmission lines 13 1 ,13 2 ,13 3 , . . . ,13 m , respectively; and at least one other information write-in and read-out device 24 1 ,24 2 ,24 3 , . . . ,24 n  linked to the storage 12 through other transmission lines 23 1 ,23 2 ,23 3 , . . . ,23 n , respectively (both m and n denote any given natural numbers). The storage 12 may be composed of those devices (for example IC memories) having an appropriate size and rates of write-in and read-out. The devices 14 1 ,14 2 ,14 3 , . . . ,14 m  and 24 1 ,24 2 , 24 3 , . . . ,24 n  may be formed with any computer of an appropriate size and working area such as a micro-computer. 
     Information collecting and executing devices 16 1 , 16 2 ,16 3 , . . . ,16 m  serve as information sources corresponding to the storage areas 12 11 ,12 12 ,12 13 , . . . , 12 1m  of the storage 12 and as information destinations described below. The devices 16 1 ,16 2 ,16 3 , . . . , 16 m , which may be formed with any computer of an appropriate size and working area such as a micro-computer, are connected to the devices 14 1 ,14 2 , 14 3 , . . . ,14 m  through transmission routes 15 1 ,15 2 ,15 3 , . . . , 15 m , respectively. 
     Information detecting devices 18 1 ,18 2 ,18 3 , . . . , 18 m , each of which serves for a real information source, and may be formed with, for example, means for detecting ON/OFF of a switch in a power plant are connected to the devices 16 1 ,16 2 ,16 3 , . . . ,16 m  through transmission lines 17 1 ,17 2 ,17 3 , . . . ,17 m , respectively. One of the devices 18 1 ,18 2 ,18 3 , . . . ,18 m  is arranged to one of the devices 16 1 ,16 2 ,16 3 , . . . ,16 m , respectively, for keeping simplicity in the description and drawings, though the number of the devices 18 1 ,18 2 ,18 3 , . . . ,18 m  arranged to each of the devices 16 1 ,16 2 ,16 3 , . . . ,16 m  is not limited to one. In case that plural detecting device are arranged to each device 16 1 ,16 2 ,16 3 , . . . , 16 m , respectively, or the task of detecting different sorts of informations is carried out by each of the devices 18 1 ,18 2 ,18 3 , . . . ,18 m , each of the storage areas 12 11 ,12 12 ,12 13 , . . . ,12 1m  may be segmented into plural areas. 
     Information executing devices 20 1 ,20 2 ,20 3 , . . . , 20 n , each of which serves for a real information destination and may be formed with, for example, means for switching an electrical contact in a power plant, are connected to the devices 16 1 ,16 2 ,16 3 , . . . , 16 m  through transmission lines 19 1 ,19 2 ,19 3 , . . . ,19 m , respectively. One of the devices 20 1 ,20 2 ,20 3 , . . . ,20 m  is arranged to one of the devices 16 1 ,16 2 ,16 3 , . . . ,16 m , respectively, for keeping simplicity in the description and drawings, though the number of the devices 20 1 ,20 2 , 20 3 , . . . ,20 m  arranged to each of the devices 16 1 ,16 2 , 16 3 , . . . ,16 m  is not limited to one. 
     Information processing devices 26 1 ,26 2 ,26 3 , . . . , 26 n  serve for an information destination and also an information source corresponding to the storage areas 12 21 ,12 22 ,12 23 , . . . ,12 2n  in the storage 12, respectively. The devices 26 1 ,26 2 ,26 3 , . . . ,26 n , which may be formed with any computer of an appropriate size and working area such as a medium computer are connected to the devices 24 1 ,24 2 ,24 3 , . . . ,24 n  through transmission routes 25 1 ,25 2 ,25 3 , . . . ,25 n , respectively. 
     Now the operational function of the system 10 will be described in detail hereinafter. 
     Firstly, let it be explained in what a manner the informations shall be written into the storage areas 12 11 ,12 12 ,12 13 , . . . ,12 1m  of the storage 12, starting from the information sources, that is, the information collecting and executing devices 16 1 , . . . ,16 m  : 
     Each of the devices 16 1 , . . . ,16 m  collects the data as informations cyclically, for example at regular intervals if needed, from the detecting devices 18 1 , . . . , 18 m  through the transmission lines 17 1 , . . . ,17 m , respectively, and forwarding also cyclically, for example at regular intervals if needed, those collected data-informations to the corresponding information write-in and read-out devices 14 1 , . . . ,14 m  through the transmission routes 15 1 , . . . ,15 m , respectively. Then, the devices 14 1 , . . . ,14 m  write and store those data-informations forwarded from the corresponding information sources i.e. devices 16 1 , . . . ,16 m  through the transmission lines 13 1 , . . . ,13 m , into the respective storage areas 12 11 ,12 12 ,12 13 , . . . ,12 1m  of the storage 12 which have been allocated against the information sources. The data-informations stored at the storage areas 12 11 , . . . ,12 1m  are renewed cyclically, for example at regular intervals if needed. 
     Secondly, let it be explained in what a manner the informations shall be read out of the storage 12 and delivered to the information processing devices 26 1 , . . . ,26 n  that stand for their destinations: 
     The information write-in and read-out devices 24 1 , . . . ,24 n  retrieve, read out and edit the required data-informations from the storage areas 12 11 ,12 12 ,12 13 , . . . ,12 1m  of the storage 12 and transfer the edited data-informations through trasmission routes 25 1 , . . . , 25 n  to the corresponding devices 26 1 , . . . ,26 n , respectively. Each of the devices 26 1 , . . . ,26 n  processes, following the built-in program it has, those data-informations which have been collected by the devices 16 1 , . . . ,16 m  and then delivered through the intermediary of the storage 12, so that the instruction messages are produced for not only all devices 26 1 , . . . ,26 n  except itself but also the devices 16 1 , . . . ,16 m . 
     Thirdly, the explanation continues hereunder regarding the manner by which the informations shall be written into the storage areas 12 21 ,12 22 ,12 23 , . . . ,12 2n  of the storage 12, starting from those information sources, that is, the information processing devices 26 1 , . . . ,26 n  : 
     The devices 26 1 , . . . ,26 n  transmit through the transmission routes 25 1 , . . . , 25 n  those instruction-messages as message-informations cyclically for example at regular intervals if needed, towards the devices 24 1 , . . . ,24 n . These devices 24 1 , . . . ,24 n  write such informations from the devices 26 1 , . . . ,26 n  into the respective storage areas 12 21 ,12 22 ,12 23 , . . . ,12 2n  of the storage 12 which have been allocated against the information source of such message-informations. And the message-informations stored at the storage areas 12 21 , . . . ,12 2n  are renewed cyclically, for example at regular intervals if needed. 
     Fourthly, the following explanation relates to how the message-informations stored in the storage 12 being read out for the other information processing devices, which are the information destinations, out of the information processing devices 26 1 , . . . ,26 n , which serve as the information sources, and the information collecting and executing devices 16 1 , . . . ,16 m , which are also the information destinations: 
     The devices 14 1 , . . . ,14 m  retrieve cyclically, for example at regular intervals if needed, the storage areas 12 21 ,12 22 ,12 23 , . . . ,12 2n  of the storage 12 by way of the transmission lines 13 1 , . . . ,13 m , read out the desired message-informations i.e. those message-informations which are addressed towards the devices 16 1 , . . . ,16 m , and then edit those messages. The edited message-informations are transmitted via the transmission routes 15 1 , . . . ,15 m  to the devices 16 1 , . . . ,16 m . 
     The devices 16 1 , . . . ,16 m  put the information executing devices 20 1 , . . . ,20 m  into action in a proper manner according to the message-informations transmitted from the devices 26 1 , . . . ,26 n  through the intermediary of the storage 12. 
     Thus, the data-informations detected by the devices 18 1 , . . . ,18 m  will vary with time so that the data-informations and message-informations stored in the storage 12 will be renewed in the above-mentioned manner during the following operational cycle. 
     The devices 24 1 , . . . ,24 n  retrieve cyclically, for example at regular intervals if needed, the storage areas 12 21 ,12 22 ,12 23 , . . . ,12 2n  of the storage 12 by way of the transmission lines 23 1 , . . . ,23 n , read out the desired message-informations i.e. those message-informations which are addressed towards the other information processing devices, which are the information destinations, out of the information processing devices 26 1 , . . . ,26 n , which serve as the information souces, and then edit those message-informations. The edited message-informations are transmitted via the transmission routes 25 1 , . . . ,25 n  to the above-mentioned other information processing devices. 
     The other information processing devices, to which the message-informations are distributed through the storage 12 from the information processing devices 26 1 , . . . ,26 n , modify the processing along the built-in program in accordance with the distributed message-informations. Then the cycle of the collecting and distributing informations described in the above may be repeated also at the other information processing devices. 
     Further the operational function and further detail structure of the information write-in and read-out of the storage 12 will be described more in detail on the system 10 (especially see FIGS. 2 and 3). 
     When an address signal S produced by a timer 18 to the bus 20 becomes the address &#34;A 11  &#34;, (for example &#34;001&#34; in the binary notation), of the devices 14 1 , a strobe signal ST produced by the timer 18 to the bus 20 changes from high level i.e. &#34;1&#34; to low level i.e. &#34;0&#34;. 
     Thus the device 14 1  works as follows: 
     The address signal S is in accord with the address &#34;A 11  &#34; of the device 14 1  so that the output of the address decoder 14 14  changes from high level i.e. &#34;1&#34; to low level i.e. &#34;0&#34;. The output of the inverted NAND 14 13  changes from high level i.e. &#34;1&#34; to low level i.e. &#34;0&#34;. 
     Accordingly, an interruption signal is given from the interruption controller unit 14 12  to CPU 14 11  so that CPU 14 11  is connected to the storage 12 via a bus 16 which corresponds to the transmission line 13 1 , . . . , 13 m  ; 23 1 , . . . , 23 n . CPU 14 11  writes the new data-information into the storage area 12 11  of the storage 12 in order to renew the data-information stored in the storage area 12 11 , and retrieves and reads out the message-informations, which are needed by itself, from the storage areas 12 21 ,12 22 , . . . ,12 2n  of the storage 12. 
     And the devices 14 2 , . . . ,14 m  and 24 1 , . . . ,24 n  work as follows: 
     The address signal S is not in accord with the addresses &#34;A 12  &#34;, . . . ,&#34;A 1m  &#34;, and &#34;A 21  &#34;, . . . ,&#34;A 2n  &#34; of the devices 14 2 , . . . ,14 m  and 24 1 , . . . ,24 n , respectively, so that the outputs of the address decoders 14 24 , . . . ,14 m4  and 24 14 , . . . ,24 n4  are kept to high level i.e. &#34;1&#34;. The outputs of the inverted NAND 14 23 , . . . ,14 m3  and 24 13 , . . . ,24 n3  are also kept to high level i.e. &#34;1&#34;, though the strobe signal ST changes from high level i.e. &#34;1&#34; to low level i.e. &#34;0&#34;. The interruption signal is not given from the interruption controller units 14 22 , . . . ,14 m2  and 24 12 , . . . ,24 n2  to CPU 14 21 , . . . ,14.sub. m1 and 24 11 , . . . ,24 n1 , respectively, so that CPU 14 21 , . . . , 14 m1  and 24 11 , . . . ,24 n1 , are not connected to the bus 16. Thus the devices 14 2 , . . . ,14 m  and 24 1 , . . . ,24 n  carry out their own processing operations, respectively. 
     When the term allotted to the device 14 1  expires, the address signal S produced from the timer 18 is removed i.e. changed from the address &#34;A 11  &#34; of the device 14 1  to &#34;0&#34; (e.g. &#34;000&#34; in the binary notation), and the strobe signal ST is changed from low level i.e. &#34;0&#34; to high level i.e. &#34;1&#34;. 
     Thus the device 14 1  works as follows: 
     The address signal S is not in accord with the address &#34;A 11  &#34; of the device 14 1  so that the output of the address decoder 14 14  changes from low level i.e. &#34;0&#34; to high level i.e. &#34;1&#34;. The output of the inverted NAND 14 13  changes from low level i.e. &#34;0&#34; to high level i.e. &#34;1&#34;. 
     Accordingly the interruption signal given from the interruption controller unit 14 12  to CPU 14 11  is removed so that the connection of CPU 14 11  to the bus 16 is interrupted. The device 14 1  is disconnected from the storage 12 and returns to carry out its own operations for processing informations, for example receiving the data-informations from the device 16 1  or forwarding the message-informations to the device 16 1 . 
     And the devices 14 2 , . . . ,14 m  and 24 1 , . . . ,24 n  work as follows: 
     The address signal S becomes &#34;0&#34; (e.g. &#34;000&#34; in the binary notation) and is not in accord with the addresses &#34;A 12  &#34;, . . . ,&#34;A 1m  &#34;, and &#34;A 21  &#34;, . . . ,&#34;A 2n  &#34; of the devices 14 2 , . . . ,14 m  and 24 1 , . . . ,24 n , respectively, yet, so that the outputs of the address decoder 14 24 , . . . , 14 m4  and 24 14 , . . . ,24 n4  are kept to high level i.e. &#34;1&#34;. The outputs of the inverted NAND 14 23 , . . . ,14 m3  and 24 13 , . . . ,24 n3  are kept to high level i.e. &#34;1&#34;, though the strobe signal ST changes from low level i.e. &#34;0&#34; to high level i.e. &#34;1&#34;. The interruption signal is not given from the interruption controller units 14 22 , . . . , 14 m2   and 24 12 , . . . ,24 n2  to CPU 14 21 , . . . ,14 m1  and 24 11 , . . . ,24 n1 , respectively, so that CPU 14 21 , . . . ,14 m1  and 24 11 , . . . , 24 n1 , are not connected to the bus 16. Thus the devices 14 2 , . . . ,14 m  and 24 1 , . . . ,24 n  continue to carry out their own operations for processing informations as described in the above. 
     When the terms, which are allotted to the devices 14 2 , . . . ,14 m  and 24 1 , . . . ,24 n , respectively, come, the address signal S produced by the timer 18 to the bus 20 changes to the addresses &#34;A 12  &#34;, . . . ,&#34;A 1m  &#34; and &#34;A 21  &#34;, . . . , &#34;A 2n  &#34;, successively, so that the devices 14 2 , . . . ,14 m  and 24 1 , . . . ,24 n  work in the same manner as the device 14 1  mentioned in the above. 
     When the connection between the device 24 n  and the storage 12 is finished, one of the connection cycles between the devices 14 1 , . . . ,14 m  and 24 1 , . . . ,24 n  and the storage 12 is accomplished and the new connection cycle starts. 
     In the above, the respective terms allotted to the devices 14 1 , . . . ,14 m  and 24 1 , . . . ,24 n  may be constant between the connection cycles, and also changeable between the connection cycles. In other words, the connection of the devices 14 1 , . . . ,14 m  and 24 1 , . . . ,24 n  to the storage 12 by the timer 18 may be cyclic and further may be desirable, especially at regular intervals. 
     For the sake of simplicity, the above explanation does not refer to a distribution of the message-informations from any certain device out of the information collecting and executing devices 16 1 , . . . , 16 m  either towards the other devices belonging to the same devices 16 1 , . . . ,16 m  or towards the information processing devices 26 1 , . . . ,26 n , nor refer to a distribution of the data-informations from any certain device out of the information collecting and executing devices 16 1 , . . . ,16 m  towards the other information collecting and executing devices belonging to the same devices 16 1 , . . . ,16 m . However, distribution of such informations between the above-mentioned devices in the above manner may be available and realized if needed. 
     Similarly, the present system may be arranged in a way that the information write-in and read-out devices 14 1 , . . . ,14 m  may have only to write the informations in, that is, the devices in question may do the functions merely as an information write-in device. Accordingly, the information collecting and executing devices 16 1 , . . . ,16 m  may dispense with the information executing devices 20 1 , . . . ,20 m , so that these devices may have only to control over the collection of the informations. Thus, they may have only the functions of an information collecting device or simply of an information source. In consequence, the functions of the information write-in and read-out devices 14 1 , . . . ,14 m  may be confined to such ones that an information write-in device should fulfil; that is to say, the functions of collecting the informations from the information sources and writing those informations into the storage 12. 
     Moreover, the system may be modified in a way that the information write-in and read-out devices 24 1 , . . . ,24 n  may be engaged in merely reading out the informations without writing in; that is, the devices may do only the functions of information read-out devices. Accordingly, the system may be composed so that the information processing devices 26 1 , . . . ,26 n  used in it may fulfil merely the functions of processing the informations passively. In consequence, the system may be arranged so that the information write-in devices 24 1 , . . . ,24 n  may play a role simply as an information read-out device which is to read out the informations from the storage 12 and to deliver those informations to the site where they are required. 
     The present description and the accompanying drawings refer only to the system wherein a single storage 12 is made use of. However, the present invention is not limited to such system, but includes, as defined by the scope of the accompanying claims, the system in which a plural number of the storages 12 are employed along with information transmission devices that are arranged between the plural storages and connected with each other so that the informations may be transferred from a storage 12 to other storage(s) and vice versa. 
     All the above is an explanation regarding a system embodying the invention. However it is to be noted that the invention should not be confined to such a system but that it should comprise any and every modification of the system architecture, all modified examples for practice of the system and any substitution by the equivalents in and of the system.