JP2007079764A - Automatic program update system and information equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize the traffic of a network and the information processing quantity of an air conditioning monitoring control device in automatic upgrade processing in an air conditioning system including a plurality of air conditioning monitoring control devices communicably connected. <P>SOLUTION: The automatic program update system 1 comprises a network 7, first information equipment 3a and second information equipment 3b and 3c. An information transmitting part of the first information equipment transmits kind information and version information of a program to the network at start-up. An information request signal transmitting part of the second information equipment transmits a signal requesting program update information to the network when kind information of a program detected in an information detection part is matched with kind information of the program stored in a second storage part, and version information of the program detected in the information detection part is newer than version information of the program stored in the second storage part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for automatically updating a program. The present invention also relates to information equipment constituting the system.

In the past, in a plurality of printing devices connected to a host device via a network, each printing device searches for a printer of the same model operating with the same program as itself on the network. It acquires the version information of the program, compares the acquired version of the program with the version of its own program, and if it is newer than its own version, downloads the program from its printing device and Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-215037 A

  By the way, in recent years, as shown in FIG. 8, an air conditioning system 101 in which a plurality of air conditioning monitoring and control devices 103 are connected by communication is actually installed and operated. In such an air conditioning system 101, when it is desired to upgrade the air conditioning monitoring control program of all the air conditioning monitoring control devices 103, if the above technique is used, a service engineer or the like can install the air conditioning monitoring control program of one air conditioning monitoring control device 103. When the upgrade process is performed, the air conditioning monitoring control program of the other air conditioning monitoring control device 103 is automatically upgraded, which is very convenient. However, in this technique, each air conditioning monitoring control device 103 must acquire version information of all the other air conditioning monitoring control devices 103 and compare all the version information with the version information of itself. For this reason, when this technique is used, there is a problem that the amount of information processing per network traffic and the air-conditioning monitoring and control device inevitably increases.

  An object of the present invention is to provide network traffic and per information device in an information system in which a plurality of information devices such as an air conditioning monitoring and control device are connected by communication when performing the automatic version upgrade process as described above. Is to reduce the amount of information processing.

  An automatic program update system according to a first aspect includes a network, a first information device, and a second information device. The first information device is connected to the network. Note that the “network” here may be a wired network or a wireless network. And this 1st information appliance has a 1st memory | storage part, a 1st program update part, and an information transmission part. Note that the “information device” referred to here includes an OA device, a monitoring control device for equipment, and the like. Further, the “equipment equipment” here includes an air conditioner and the like. The first storage unit is for storing a program. The first program update unit updates the program based on the program update information. Here, “program update information” is information for updating a program by rewriting part or all of the program. The program update information may be held in a computer such as a server connected to the network, a removable disk that can be connected to the first information device, an external storage device, or the like. The information transmission unit transmits the program type information and version information to the network at startup. The second information device is connected to the network. The second information device includes a second storage unit, an information detection unit, a type information determination unit, a version information new / old determination unit, an information request signal transmission unit, a second program update unit, and a restart execution unit. The second storage unit is for storing a program. The information detecting unit detects type information and version information of a program transmitted to the network. The type information determination unit determines whether or not the type information of the program detected by the information detection unit matches the type information of the program stored in the second storage unit. The version information new / old determination unit determines whether the version information of the program detected by the information detection unit is newer than the version information of the program stored in the second storage unit. The information request signal transmitting unit is configured such that the program type information detected by the information detection unit matches the program type information stored in the second storage unit, and the program version information detected by the information detection unit is second. If the version information of the program stored in the storage unit is newer, a signal requesting program update information is transmitted to the network. The second program update unit updates the program stored in the second storage unit based on the program update information. The restart execution unit executes the restart after the second program update unit updates the program stored in the second storage unit.

  In this program automatic update system, after a service engineer or the like causes the first information device to read the program update information, the program stored in the first storage unit is updated using the first program update unit, and the first information device is updated. When a restart command is issued, the information transmission unit transmits the updated program type information and version information to the network at the time of restart. Then, in the second information device, the information detection unit detects the type information and version information of the program. Then, the type information determination unit determines whether or not the type information of the program detected by the information detection unit matches the type information of the program stored in the second storage unit. Further, the version information new / old determination unit determines whether the version information of the program detected by the information detection unit is newer than the version information of the program stored in the second storage unit. The program type information detected by the information detection unit matches the program type information stored in the second storage unit, and the program version information detected by the information detection unit is stored in the second storage unit. When the program version information is newer than the version information, the information request signal transmission unit transmits a signal requesting program update information to the network. When the second information device acquires the program update information, the second program update unit updates the program stored in the second storage unit based on the program update information. Finally, the restart execution unit executes the restart after the second program update unit updates the program stored in the second storage unit. That is, in this program automatic update system, when the program installed in the first information device is updated, the version information is automatically distributed (distributed) to the second information device, and the version is updated in the second information device. Information comparison processing is executed. Therefore, this automatic program update system can suppress the network traffic and the information processing amount per information device as compared with the conventional automatic program update system.

  An information device according to a second invention includes a network connection unit, a first storage unit, a first program update unit, and an information transmission unit. The network connection unit is for connecting to a network. The first storage unit is for storing a program. The first program update unit updates the program based on the program update information. Here, “program update information” is information for updating a program by rewriting part or all of the program. The information transmission unit transmits the program type information and version information to the network at startup.

  If this information device is used together with the second information device according to the first invention, the automatic program update system according to the first invention can be constructed. Therefore, if the second information device according to the first invention can be used in addition to this information device, the network traffic and the amount of information processing per information device can be compared with the conventional automatic program update system. It is possible to construct an automatic program update system that can reduce the amount of errors.

  An information device according to a third invention includes a network connection unit, a second storage unit, an information detection unit, a type information determination unit, a version information old / new determination unit, an information request signal transmission unit, a second program update unit, and a restart execution unit Is provided. The network connection unit is for connecting to a network. The second storage unit is for storing a program. The information detecting unit detects type information and version information of a program transmitted to the network. The type information determination unit determines whether or not the type information of the program detected by the information detection unit matches the type information of the program stored in the second storage unit. The version information new / old determination unit determines whether the version information of the program detected by the information detection unit is newer than the version information of the program stored in the second storage unit. The information request signal transmitting unit is configured such that the program type information detected by the information detection unit matches the program type information stored in the second storage unit, and the program version information detected by the information detection unit is second. If the version information of the program stored in the storage unit is newer, a signal requesting program update information is transmitted to the network. The second program update unit updates the program stored in the second storage unit based on the program update information. The restart execution unit executes the restart after the second program update unit updates the program stored in the second storage unit.

  If this information device is used together with the first information device according to the first invention, the automatic program update system according to the first invention can be constructed. Therefore, if the first information device according to the first invention can be used in addition to this information device, the network traffic and the amount of information processing per information device can be compared with the conventional automatic program update system. It is possible to construct an automatic program update system that can reduce the amount of errors.

  An information device according to a fourth invention includes a network connection unit, a storage unit, a program update unit, an information transmission unit, an information detection unit, a type information determination unit, a version information old / new determination unit, an information request signal transmission unit, and a restart execution unit Is provided. The network connection unit is for connecting to a network. The storage unit is for storing a program. The program update unit updates the program based on the program update information. Here, “program update information” is information for updating a program by rewriting part or all of the program. The information transmission unit transmits the program type information and version information to the network at startup. The information detecting unit detects type information and version information of a program transmitted to the network. The type information determination unit determines whether or not the type information of the program detected by the information detection unit matches the type information of the program stored in the storage unit. The version information new / old determination unit determines whether the version information of the program detected by the information detection unit is newer than the version information of the program stored in the storage unit. The information request signal transmission unit stores the version information of the program detected by the information detection unit in the storage unit, and the type information of the program detected by the information detection unit matches the type information of the program stored in the storage unit. If the program version information is newer than the version information, a signal requesting program update information is transmitted. The restart execution unit executes the restart after the program update unit updates the program stored in the storage unit.

  This information device has the functions of both the first information device and the second information device constituting the automatic program update system according to the first invention. Therefore, if this information device is connected to a network, an automatic program update system equivalent to the automatic program update system according to the first invention can be constructed. Furthermore, in the program automatic update system constructed from this information device, the service engineer can save time and effort for searching for the first information device. That is, in this program automatic update system, the program update of all information devices can be performed even if the program update operation is performed on any information device.

The automatic program update system according to the first aspect of the present invention can suppress the network traffic and the information processing amount per information device as compared with the conventional automatic program update system.
If the second information device according to the first invention can be used in addition to the information device according to the second invention, the network traffic and the information processing per information device can be compared with the conventional program automatic update system. It is possible to build an automatic program update system that can keep the amount small.

If the first information device according to the first invention can be used in addition to the information device according to the third invention, the network traffic and information processing per information device can be compared with the conventional automatic program update system. It is possible to build an automatic program update system that can keep the amount small.
If the information equipment according to the fourth aspect of the invention is connected to a network, an automatic program updating system equivalent to the automatic program updating system according to the first aspect of the invention can be constructed. Furthermore, in the program automatic update system constructed from this information device, the service engineer can save time and effort for searching for the first information device. That is, in this program automatic update system, the program update of all information devices can be performed even if the program update operation is performed on any information device.

Hereinafter, an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Air conditioning system]
FIG. 1 shows a simplified configuration diagram of an air conditioning system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioning system 1 mainly includes a multi-type air conditioner 2, air conditioning controllers 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, and a monitoring control computer 5. Hereinafter, the multi-type air conditioner 2, the air conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, 3c, and the monitoring control computer 5, which are components of the air conditioning system 1, will be described in detail.

(1) Multi-type air conditioner In the multi-type air conditioner 2, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of indoor units 21 are connected to a refrigerant pipe with respect to one (or a plurality of) outdoor units 20. 22 and a dedicated network line 7.
The indoor unit 21 includes an indoor heat exchanger (not shown), an expansion valve (not shown), and an indoor fan (not shown). In the indoor unit 21, heat exchange is performed between the low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant or the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant flowing from the outdoor unit 20 into the indoor heat exchanger and the indoor air sucked by the indoor fan, and the like. The room air after the replacement is supplied indoors by the indoor fan. Thus, these indoor units 21 cool or heat the living room.

(2) Air-conditioning controller In the embodiment of the present invention, the air-conditioning controller is represented by different symbols 3a, 3b, 3c, but any air-conditioning controller 3a, 3b, 3c has the same configuration and the same function.
The air conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, and 3c are central management devices of the multi-type air conditioner 2, and as shown in FIG. 2, mainly, a first central processing unit 31, a first RAM (Random Access Memory) 32, First EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) 34, first I / O control unit 33, first communication interface 37, removable disk interface 41, first display interface 48, first input interface 49, first connector 38a, The second connector 38b, the removable disk slot 42, the first display 46, and the first input unit 47 are included. Here, the first central processing unit 31, the first RAM 32, the first EEPROM 34, and the first I / O control unit 33 are, for example, microcomputers and are connected to each other by the first bus line 36. One integrated circuit is configured. The first communication interface 37, the removable disk interface 41, the first display interface 48, and the first input interface 49 are, for example, a printed circuit board or the like, and are connected via the second bus lines 39a, 39b, 39c, and 39d. The first I / O control unit 33 is connected. The first connector 38a and the second connector 38b are connected to the first communication interface 37 via the first communication lines 40a and 40b. The removable disk slot 42 is connected to the removable disk interface 41 via the second communication line 44. The first display 46 is connected to the first display interface 48 via the third communication line 40c. The first input unit 47 is connected to the first input interface 49 via the fourth communication line 40d.

  The first central processing unit 31 mainly includes a first control unit 31A and a first calculation unit 31B. As shown in FIG. 3, the first control unit 31A automatically manages the air conditioning management program and the automatic batch update program stored in the first EEPROM 34 (the air conditioning management program installed in all the air conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, 3c). (Refer to Fd6) and the first arithmetic unit 31B, the first RAM 32, the first EEPROM 34, or the first I / O control unit according to the read air conditioning management program, automatic batch update program, etc. 33 is instructed to operate (see Fc1 to Fc4). As shown in FIG. 3, the first calculation unit 31B acquires necessary data from the first control unit 31A, the first RAM 32, the first EEPROM 34, or the removable disk 45 according to the instruction of the first control unit 31A (Fd1, (See Fd4 and Fd7). Perform arithmetic processing (for example, arithmetic operation processing, logical operation processing, etc.). Further, the first calculation unit 31B can supply the processing result data of the calculation process to the first control unit 31A according to the instruction of the first control unit 31A (see Fd2). In addition, the first calculation unit 31B can write the processing result data of the calculation process in the first RAM 32, the first EEPROM 34, and the removable disk 45 according to the instruction of the first control unit 31A (see Fd3).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first RAM 32 can supply various data to the first control unit 31A in accordance with instructions from the first control unit 31A (see Fd5). Further, the first RAM 32 acquires various data from the first I / O control unit 33 (see Fd9) and temporarily stores the data, and temporarily stores data transmitted from the first arithmetic unit 31B (see Fd3). . In addition, the first RAM 32 transmits the temporarily stored data to the first I / O control unit 33 in accordance with the instruction of the first control unit 31A (see Fd8).

  The first EEPROM 34 is an electrically rewritable ROM, and stores programs such as an air conditioning management program and an automatic batch update program, and various data. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the first EEPROM 34 supplies them to the first control unit 31A in accordance with instructions from the first control unit 31A (see Fd6). Further, the first EEPROM 34 can supply various data to the first arithmetic unit 31B in accordance with instructions from the first control unit 31A (see Fd7).

  The first I / O control unit 33 receives data transmitted from the multi-type air conditioner 2, data transmitted from the monitoring control computer 5 described later, data transmitted from the removable disk 45, and input from the first input unit 49. Data to be input to the first RAM 32 (see Fd9), and various data and control signals stored in the first RAM 32 are transmitted to the multi-type air conditioner 2, the monitoring control computer 5, the removable disk 45, and the first display 46. Or send to.

  The first communication interface 37 is connected to the first connector 38a and the second connector 38b via the first communication lines 40a and 40b, and the data transmitted from the multi-type air conditioner 2 and the monitoring control computer 5 At the same time as receiving data to be transmitted, the data is converted into a format that can be processed by the first central processing unit 31, or output from the first I / O control unit 33 to the multi-type air conditioner 2 and the monitoring control computer 5. Data, control signals, and the like are converted into a format that can be processed by the multi-type air conditioner 2 and the monitoring control computer 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the outdoor unit 20 is connected to the first connector 38 a via the dedicated network line 7.
As shown in FIG. 2, the monitoring control computer 5 is connected to the second connector 38 b via the dedicated network line 7.
The removable disk interface 41 is connected to the removable disk slot 42 via the second communication line 44, and converts the data transmitted from the removable disk 45 into a format that can be processed by the first central processing unit 31. Or the data and control signals output from the first I / O control unit 33 to the removable disk 45 are converted into a format that can be processed by the removable disk slot 42.

  The removable disk slot 42 is a space in which the removable disk 45 can be accommodated, and has a contact point that is electrically connected to the removable disk 45 when the removable disk 45 is accommodated. In the present embodiment, a new version of the air conditioning management program is stored in the removable disk 45 shown in FIG. Here, the removable disk 45 is a removable storage medium such as a floppy disk (registered trademark), an SD card (registered trademark), a compact flash (registered trademark), or a smart media (registered trademark). .

The first display interface 48 is connected to the first display 46 through the third communication line 40c, and the first display interface 48 outputs data, control signals, and the like output from the first I / O control unit 33 to the first display 46. 46 is converted into a processable format.
The first display 46 displays the data sent from the first I / O control unit 33 on the screen.

The first input interface 49 is connected to the first input unit 47 via the fourth communication line 40d, and converts the data input from the first input unit 47 into a format that can be processed by the first central processing unit 31. To do.
The first input unit 47 is, for example, a keyboard and is used when data is input by a service engineer or the like.

(3) Monitoring and Control Computer As shown in FIG. 4, the monitoring and control computer 5 mainly includes a main body 50, a second input device 64, and a second display 65.
As shown in FIG. 4, the main body 50 mainly includes a second central processing unit 51, a second main memory 53, a second hard disk 54, a second connection unit 52, a second IDE interface 55, a second input interface 56, A second display interface 57, a second communication interface 58, and a third connector 59 are included. In the main body 50, the second central processing unit 51 passes the fourth bus line 60, the second main memory 53 passes the fifth bus line 61, and various interfaces 55 to 58 pass the sixth bus line 62. To the second connecting portion 52.

Here, the second central processing unit 51 is, for example, a semiconductor chip called a microprocessor, and mainly includes a second control unit 51A and a second calculation unit 51B (in addition to the primary cache memory and the Secondary cache memory or the like may be included).
The second main memory 53 is a semiconductor chip such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), for example. The second connection part 52 is a semiconductor chip such as a chip set.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the second hard disk 54 stores programs such as an operating system 54a, a device driver 54b, and an air conditioning management application 54c. The second hard disk 54 may be an external type. The operating system 54a is, for example, WINDOWS (registered trademark), MAC OS (registered trademark), OS / 2, UNIX (registered trademark) (for example, Linux (registered trademark)), or BeOS (registered trademark). The hardware management of the units 52 to 54, the various interfaces 55 to 58, the devices 64 and 65, the provision of the user interface, the management of various data, the processing of the common parts of the application, and the like are performed. The device driver 54b is a dedicated program prepared for each of the second hard disk 54, the second connection unit 52, and the devices 64 and 65, and the operating system 54a has the second hard disk 54 and the second connection unit 52. And a bridge for controlling the devices 64 and 65. The air conditioning management application 54c acquires various data from the air conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, and 3c and displays the data on the second display 65, or transmits the data input by the second input device 64 to the air conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, and 3c. It is a program for doing.

  A second IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) interface 55 connects the second hard disk 54 to the second connection unit 52. The second input interface 56 is an interface such as PS / 2, USB, IEEE1284, RS232, or IrDA (Infrared Data Association), and is a keyboard, mouse, scanner for inputting data to the second main memory 53, for example. Or a second input device 64 such as an OCR (Optical Character Reader).

  The second display interface 57 is an interface such as AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port), PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect), or RS232, and displays data transmitted from the second main memory 53 as characters and images. A second display 65 such as a CRT display, a liquid crystal display, or a plasma display is connected.

  The second communication interface 58 is connected to the third connector 59 via the fifth communication line 63, and receives the data transmitted from the air conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, 3c and at the same time processes the data in the second central processing. The data is converted into a format that can be processed by the unit 51, and the data and control signals output to the air conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, and 3c are converted into a format that can be processed by the air conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, and 3c.

As shown in FIG. 4, air conditioning controllers 3 a, 3 b, 3 c are connected to the third connector 59 via a dedicated network line 7, a router (not shown), and the like.
Next, the operation of the monitoring control computer 5 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the second control unit 51A reads a program temporarily stored in the second main memory 53 (see Fd6), and operates the units 52 to 54 and the devices 64 and 65 according to the read program. Instruct (see Fc1-Fc6). The second calculation unit 51B acquires necessary data from the second main memory 53 (see Fd2) according to the instruction of the second control unit 51A and performs calculation processing (for example, arithmetic calculation processing, logical calculation processing, etc.). The second main memory 53 acquires programs, data, and the like from the second hard disk 54 (see Fd4) and temporarily stores them, temporarily stores data input in the second input device 64 (see Fd1), 2 temporarily store data transmitted from the computing unit 51B, the second communication interface 58, and the like (see Fd3 and Fd9). In addition, the second main memory 53 transmits the data temporarily stored in accordance with the instruction of the second control unit 51A to the units 52 to 54 and the devices 64 and 65 (Fd2, Fd5, Fd7, and Fd8). reference). The second hard disk 54 supplies programs, data, and the like to the second main memory 53 in accordance with instructions from the second control unit 51A (see Fd4), and stores data transmitted from the second main memory 53. (See Fd5).

[Automatic batch update function of air conditioning controller]
Here, the automatic batch update function of the air conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, and 3c will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.
In the present embodiment, in order to upgrade the air-conditioning management programs of all the air-conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, 3c that are communicatively connected by the dedicated network line 7, a service engineer or the like stores a new version of the air-conditioning management program. It is necessary to carry the removable disk 45 and go to one of the air conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, 3c. In the following description, the service engineer goes to the air conditioner controller 3a.

  When a service engineer or the like arrives at the air conditioning controller 3a, the automatic batch update program is activated by operating the first input unit 47 while viewing the first display 46. When the automatic batch update program is activated in the air conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, and 3c, a message box (not shown) that prompts the user to insert the removable disk 45 into the removable disk slot 42 is displayed on the first display 46. . Here, when a service engineer or the like inserts the portable removable disk 45 into the removable disk slot 42 and presses a predetermined key of the first input unit 47, the first central processing unit 31 performs an automatic batch update program. Accordingly, necessary data is acquired from the removable disk 45, and the old version air conditioning management program stored in the first EEPROM 34 of the air conditioning controller 3a is updated to be a new version air conditioning management program. Here, the removable disk 45 may be inserted when the service engineer arrives at the air conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, 3c. When the program update process is completed, a message box (not shown) that prompts the air conditioning controller 3a to restart is displayed on the first display 46. When the service engineer restarts the air-conditioning controller 3a according to this message, automatic batch update processing is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the above-described version upgrade process by a service engineer or the like is hereinafter referred to as “manual version upgrade”.

  In FIG. 7, in step S1, in the air conditioning controller 3a, the first I / O control unit 33 acquires the type information and version information of the air conditioning management program from the first EEPROM 34 of the air conditioning controller 3a according to the instruction of the first control unit 31A. To the other air conditioning controllers 3b and 3c together with its own network address (broadcast to the dedicated network line).

In step S2, in the other air conditioning controllers 3b and 3c, the first I / O control unit 33 acquires the type information and version information of the air conditioning management program transmitted from the air conditioning controller 3a (broadcast to the dedicated network). To write to the first RAM 32.
In step S3, in the other air conditioning controllers 3b and 3c, the first calculation unit 31B performs type information and version information of the air conditioning management program installed in the air conditioning controller 3a from the first RAM 32 in accordance with an instruction from the first control unit 31A. As well as the type information and version information of the air conditioning management program from its own first EEPROM 34.

  In step S4, in the other air conditioning controllers 3b and 3c, the first calculation unit 31B follows the instruction from the first control unit 31A and the type information of the air conditioning management program transmitted from the air conditioning controller 3a and its own air conditioning management program It is determined whether or not the type information matches. As a result of the determination by the first calculation unit 31B in step S4, if the type information of the air conditioning management program transmitted from the air conditioning controller 3a matches the type information of its own air conditioning management program, the process proceeds to step S5. If the type information of the air conditioning management program transmitted from the air conditioning controller 3a does not match the type information of its own air conditioning management program as a result of the determination by the first calculation unit 31B in step S4, the process ends.

  In step S5, in the other air conditioning controllers 3b and 3c, the first calculation unit 31B receives the air conditioning management program version information transmitted from the air conditioning controller 3a according to the instruction from the first control unit 31A. It is determined whether it is newer than the version information. If the version information of the air conditioning management program transmitted from the air conditioning controller 3a is newer than the version information of its own air conditioning management program as a result of the determination by the first calculation unit 31B in step S5, the process proceeds to step S6. As a result of the determination by the first calculation unit 31B in step S5, the version information of the air conditioning management program transmitted from the air conditioning controller 3a matches the version information of its own air conditioning management program, or the version information of its own air conditioning management program If it is older, the process ends.

  In step S6, in the other air conditioning controllers 3b and 3c, the first I / O control unit 33 is a signal for requesting data necessary for updating its own air conditioning program in accordance with the instruction of the first control unit 31A. A certain update data request signal is transmitted to the air conditioning controller 3a together with its own network address (using the network address transmitted in step S1).

In step S7, in the air-conditioning controller 3a, the first I / O control unit 33 acquires a new version of the air-conditioning management program from the removable disk 45 according to the instruction of the first control unit 31A, and sends it to the source of the update data request signal. Transmit (use the network address transmitted in step S6).
In step S8, in the air conditioning controllers 3b and 3c that have transmitted the update data request signal, the first I / O control unit 33 acquires the new version of the air conditioning management program transmitted from the air conditioning controller 3a and stores it in the first RAM 32. Write.

In step S9, in the air conditioning controllers 3b and 3c that are the source of the update data request signal, the first central processing unit 31 acquires necessary data from the first RAM 32 and stores it in the first EEPROM 34 of the air conditioning controllers 3b and 3c. The old version air conditioning management program is updated to the new version air conditioning management program.
In step S10, the first controller 31A reboots the air conditioning controllers 3b and 3c in the air conditioning controllers 3b and 3c that have transmitted the update data request signal.

In the present embodiment, the version upgrade process performed in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 is hereinafter referred to as “automatic version upgrade”.
[Characteristics of air conditioning system]
(1)
In the air conditioning system 1 according to the present embodiment, a service engineer or the like causes the air conditioning controller 3a to read a new version of the air conditioning management program, and then updates the air conditioning management program stored in the first EEPROM 34 by the first control unit 31A. When a restart command is given to the controller 3a, the first I / O control unit 33 transmits the updated type information and version information of the air conditioning management program to the other air conditioning controllers 3b and 3c at the time of the restart. Then, in the other air conditioning controllers 3b and 3c, the first I / O control unit 33 acquires the type information and version information of the air conditioning management program. Then, the first calculation unit 31B determines whether or not the type information of the air conditioning management program acquired by the first I / O control unit 33 matches the type information of the air conditioning management program stored in the first EEPROM 34. The first calculation unit 31 </ b> B determines whether the version information of the air conditioning management program acquired by the first I / O control unit 33 is newer than the version information of the air conditioning management program stored in the first EEPROM 34. The type information of the air conditioning management program acquired by the first I / O control unit 33 matches the type information of the air conditioning management program stored in the first EEPROM 34 and the air conditioning management acquired by the first I / O control unit 33. When the version information of the program is newer than the version information of the air conditioning management program stored in the first EEPROM 34, the first I / O control unit 33 transmits an update data request signal to the air conditioning controller 3a. When the air conditioning controllers 3b and 3c acquire a new version of the air conditioning management program, the first control unit 31A updates the air conditioning management program stored in the first EEPROM 34 to a new version. Finally, the first control unit 31A executes a restart. In other words, in this air conditioning system 1, when the air conditioning management program installed in the air conditioning controller 3a is updated, the version information is automatically distributed to the other air conditioning controllers 3b and 3c. Version information comparison processing is executed in the controllers 3b and 3c. Therefore, in this air conditioning system 1, when updating the air conditioning management program installed in the air conditioning controllers 3 a, 3 b, 3 c, the traffic of the dedicated network line 7 and the information processing per air conditioning controller are higher than those of the conventional air conditioning system 1. The amount can be kept small.

(2)
The air conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, and 3c constituting the air conditioning system 1 according to the present embodiment all have the same specifications. Therefore, a service engineer or the like can select an arbitrary air conditioning controller 3a, 3b, 3c as a target for the first version upgrade when upgrading the air conditioning management program. Moreover, since it is not necessary to manufacture the manual version upgrade dedicated machine and the automatic version upgrade dedicated machine separately, an increase in the manufacturing cost of the air conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, 3c can be suppressed.

[Modification]
(A)
In the air-conditioning system 1 according to the previous embodiment, the air-conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, and 3c are connected by communication through the dedicated network line 7. However, the air-conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, and 3c may be connected by communication through an open network. Good.

(B)
In the air conditioning system 1 according to the previous embodiment, all the air conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, 3c have the same specifications, and the service engineer, etc., upgrades the air conditioning management program to any air conditioning controller 3a, 3b, 3c. Could be selected for the first manual version upgrade. However, a manual version upgrade (first first version upgrade) dedicated machine and an automatic version upgrade dedicated machine may be provided separately. Specifically, the automatic batch update program includes a manual version upgrade routine and an information transmission routine (steps S1 and S7 in FIG. 7) and an automatic version upgrade routine (steps S2 to S6 among the steps shown in the flowchart in FIG. 7). The manual version upgrade routine and the information transmission routine may be installed in the manual version upgrade machine, and the automatic version upgrade routine may be installed in the automatic version upgrade machine. Here, it is sufficient to prepare one manual version upgrade machine, but a plurality of manual version upgrade machines may be prepared.

(C)
In the air conditioning system 1 according to the previous embodiment, in step S6, the first I / O control unit 33 transmits an update data request signal together with its own network address to the air conditioning controller 3a according to the instruction of the first control unit 31A. . However, a new version of the air conditioning management program is previously placed in a storage medium (for example, the second hard disk 54) of the information processing apparatus such as the supervisory control computer 5, and the first I / O control unit 33 updates the update data. The request signal may be transmitted to an information processing apparatus such as the supervisory control computer 5 together with its own network address. In this case, as a matter of course, in step S7, the information processing apparatus such as the supervisory control computer 5 provides the new air conditioning management program to the other air conditioning controllers 3b and 3c.

(D)
In the air conditioning system 1 according to the previous embodiment, the removal disk 45 storing the new version of the air conditioning management program is required at the time of manual version upgrade. Instead, the new version of the air conditioning management program is monitored and controlled. The information is stored in a storage medium (for example, the second hard disk 54) of the information processing apparatus such as the computer 5 in advance, and a service engineer manually accesses the information processing apparatus from any of the air conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, 3c. The new version of the air conditioning management program may be downloaded to the air conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, 3c.

(E)
In the air conditioning system 1 according to the previous embodiment, the first first air conditioning controller 3a, 3b, 3c has been manually upgraded by a service engineer or the like, but instead, for example, the first one The air conditioning controllers 3a, 3b, 3c of the eyes may be automatically upgraded via a network or the like.

  The automatic program update system according to the present invention has a feature that network traffic and the amount of information processing per information device can be reduced as compared with a conventional automatic program update system. This is useful for an information processing system in which a plurality of information processing devices are installed.

It is a block diagram showing the air conditioning system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the air-conditioning controller which comprises the air-conditioning system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram showing the flow of the data and control signal in the air conditioning controller which comprises the air conditioning system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the supervisory control computer which comprises the air conditioning system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an image figure of the 2nd hard disk of the supervisory control computer which comprises the air conditioning system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram showing the flow of the data and control signal in the supervisory control computer which comprises the air conditioning system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart showing the flow of the automatic batch update process performed in the air conditioning system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram showing the conventional air conditioning system.

Explanation of symbols

1 Air conditioning system (automatic program update system)
3a, 3b, 3c Air-conditioning controller (first information device, second information device, information device)
7 Dedicated network line (network)
31A 1st control part (1st program update part, 2nd program update part, program update part, restart execution part)
31B 1st operation part (type information judgment part, version information old and new judgment part)
33 1st I / O control unit (information transmission unit, information detection unit, information request signal transmission unit)
34 1st EEPROM (first storage unit, second storage unit, storage unit)
38b Second connector (network connection part)

Claims (4)

Network (7),
A first storage unit (34) connected to the network for storing a program, and the program based on program update information which is information for rewriting part or all of the program and updating the program A first information device (3a) having a first program update unit (31A) for updating, and an information transmission unit (33) for transmitting the type information and version information of the program to the network at the time of activation;
A second storage unit (34) connected to the network for storing the program, an information detection unit (33) for detecting the type information and the version information of the program transmitted to the network; A type information determination unit (31B) for determining whether or not the type information of the program detected by the information detection unit matches the type information of the program stored in the second storage unit; A version information new / old determination unit (31B) for determining whether the version information of the program detected by the detection unit is newer than the version information of the program stored in the second storage unit; The program information stored in the second storage unit is the type information of the program detected by the detection unit. The program update information when the version information of the program that matches the type information of the ram and is detected by the information detection unit is newer than the version information of the program stored in the second storage unit An information request signal transmission unit (33) for transmitting a request signal to the network; a second program update unit (31A) for updating the program stored in the second storage unit based on the program update information; A second information device (3b, 3c) having a restart execution unit (31A) that executes restart after the second program update unit updates the program stored in the second storage unit;
An automatic program update system (1) comprising: A network connection (38b) for connecting to the network;
A first storage unit (34) for storing a program;
A first program update unit (31A) that updates the program based on program update information that is information for rewriting part or all of the program and updating the program;
An information transmission unit (33) for transmitting the type information and version information of the program to the network at startup;
An information device (3a, 3b, 3c). A network connection (38b) for connecting to the network;
A second storage unit (34) for storing a program;
An information detecting unit (33) for detecting the type information and the version information of the program transmitted to the network;
A type information determination unit (31B) for determining whether or not the type information of the program detected by the information detection unit matches the type information of the program stored in the second storage unit;
A version information old / new determination unit (31B) for determining whether the version information of the program detected by the information detection unit is newer than the version information of the program stored in the second storage unit;
The version information of the program detected by the information detection unit is the same as the type information of the program stored in the second storage unit and the type information of the program detected by the information detection unit. An information request signal transmission unit (33) for transmitting a signal requesting the program update information to the network when the version information of the program stored in the second storage unit is newer than the version information;
A second program update unit (31A) for updating the program stored in the second storage unit based on the program update information;
A restart execution unit (31A) for executing restart after the second program update unit has updated the program stored in the second storage unit;
An information device (3a, 3b, 3c). A network connection (38b) for connecting to the network;
A storage unit (34) for storing the program;
A program update unit (31A) that updates the program based on program update information that is information for rewriting part or all of the program and updating the program;
An information transmission unit (33) for transmitting the type information and version information of the program to the network at startup;
An information detector (33) for detecting the type information and the version information of the program transmitted to the network;
A type information determination unit (31B) for determining whether or not the type information of the program detected by the information detection unit matches the type information of the program stored in the storage unit;
A version information new / old determination unit (31B) that determines whether the version information of the program detected by the information detection unit is newer than the version information of the program stored in the storage unit;
The type information of the program detected by the information detection unit matches the type information of the program stored in the storage unit, and the version information of the program detected by the information detection unit is stored in the memory An information request signal transmission unit (33) for transmitting a signal requesting the program update information when the version information of the program stored in the unit is newer than the version information;
A restart execution unit (31A) for executing restart after the program update unit has updated the program stored in the storage unit;
An information device (3a, 3b, 3c).

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