JP2007265046A - Network system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network system, capable of adding a service providable to a client terminal without change of equipment. <P>SOLUTION: A center server 3 comprises an OAS 7 including a service request function part 7b requesting execution of an object on the equipment 6 side as a service request to the equipment 6 through the Internet 1 and a LAN 4, and performing exchange of information corresponding to the requested service with the equipment 6, and a service providing function part 7b having an object for defining information used for client providing service, executing exchange of information of the requested service with the service request function part 7b based on the definition, and executing conversion between the information of the requested service and the information used for client providing service based on the definition, the function part 7b executing the object upon receipt of a request of execution of the object from a client terminal 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a network system that controls and monitors equipment using distributed objects.

  Conventionally, a system for controlling or monitoring a device connected to a non-IP network from a terminal connected to an IPv6 network has been provided.

This system acquires the interface ID and identification information of a device of a non-IPv6 network, acquires the network ID of the IPv6 network, generates an IPv6a address from these IDs, and manages the correspondence between the generated address and the identification information Thus, a gateway that enables communication between a device of a non-IPv6 network and a terminal of the IPv6 network is provided, and the device is controlled and monitored by the terminal.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-60664 (paragraphs 0014 to 0019, FIG. 1)

Incidentally although using a non-IPv6 equipment of the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, IPv6 for Network terminal sends including packet to the destination IPv6 address, IPv6 address allocation to the gateway a non-IPv6 equipment However, when accessing a plurality of devices from the terminal, it is necessary to generate an IPv6 address corresponding to each device. In other words, it is necessary to be aware of the IPv6 address, and even if a device that performs the same operation is added, naturally it is necessary to separate the corresponding IPv6 address, and a plurality of devices can be controlled or monitored by one identifier. The operation to do was not possible. Also, multiple identifiers could not be assigned to one device. Furthermore, it was not possible to flexibly cope with the increase in the number of devices that provide services.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and the purpose of the present invention is to control the facility equipment without being aware of the unique identification information such as the IP address used for network communication of the equipment. the network system capable of monitoring, a service that can be provided to the client terminal can be increased or decreased without changing the equipment, yet provide a network system capable of flexibly cope with an increase in equipment to provide services that It is in.

In order to achieve the above object, in the first aspect of the present invention, when a request for a client providing service is received from one or a plurality of equipment, one or a plurality of client terminals, and the client terminal, the client is provided. in response to use service request performs an execution request of providing service provided equipment is against set備機device, based on providing services that are executed in the equipment, the client provides a service to the client terminal In a network system in which a server that provides
The facility device defines a function unit for processing the service provided by the facility device, and defines information used for the provided service, and executes exchange of the information with the function unit based on the definition. and a processing unit for the and the equipment-side object identifier has a facility side object for are given to the equipment-side object,
Server, the equipment-side object and the equipment row Usa-bis request function portion through the network to the device as a provision service request for the service request functional unit a request for execution of the equipment-side object using said equipment-side object identifier and a server-side object to instruct to perform the execution request to the given server-side object identifier to the server-side object, upon receiving the execution request of the server-side object from the client terminal by using the server-side object identifier A service providing function unit that executes the server-side object,
It said client terminal comprises a line floats client capabilities through the network to the server request to execute of the server-side object as a service request for providing the client with the server-side object identifier,
Each of the facility-side object and the server-side object is assigned a unique identifier, and includes a variable indicating a current state corresponding to the provided service, an operation instruction function, and event information to be notified when a state change occurs. It has one or more input / output definition functions defined by information including at least one and given arbitrary input / output identifiers, and the facility-side object identifier and the server-side object identifier are respectively a unique identifier and one or more It consists of input / output identifiers,
The service providing function unit has a server-side object that increases or decreases by adding or deleting a client-providing service, and the server-side object is attached with the server-side object identifier, and the added server-side object is executed. When a request is received from the client terminal, an execution request to the equipment object is made to the service request function unit based on at least one of the added input / output identifier or the information defined in the input / output identifier It is characterized by instructing to perform .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the client providing function unit of the server increases or decreases the number of client providing service information, so that the client providing service provided to the client terminal can be increased or decreased without changing the equipment. I can plan. In addition, by increasing the number of input / output definition functions that define the information used for the provided service under the facility-side object and the server-side object and the number of information to be defined, it is possible to easily add the provided service. If only the unique identifier of the server-side object is used as the server-side object identifier for accessing the object, a service based on the information defined by the input / output definition function under the object can be enjoyed, and the unique identifier of the server-side object is used as the server-side object identifier. And the identifier of the input / output definition function can be used to enjoy services based on the information defined by the specific input / output definition function under the specific object. Identities below server-side objects You can enjoy the service defined by the input and output definition function.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the object of the service providing function unit converts the information of the requested service and information used for the client providing service into the client providing service. It is performed based on the definition of the information to be used.

According to the invention of claim 2, since the information used for the service provided by the equipment by the server-side object can be converted into the information used for the service for providing the client, without any change on the equipment side, A service to be provided to the client can be added only by changing the object on the server side and the application realizing the client function of the client terminal .

The present invention can increase or decrease the number of client providing services provided to the client terminal without changing the equipment by increasing or decreasing the number of client providing service information in the service providing function unit of the server. there is an effect that is as possible out to flexibly cope with an increase of the device to be.

The present invention will be described below with reference to an embodiment.
(Embodiment)
FIG. 1A shows a schematic stem configuration of this embodiment, for a client comprising a personal computer connected to the Internet 1 which is an open network or a mobile communication terminal of a mobile communication network connected to the Internet 1 . A center server 3 connected to a terminal 2 and the Internet 1 and having an object access server unit (hereinafter referred to as OAS <Object Access Server>) 7 shown in FIG. A gateway 5 provided between the LAN 4 installed in a user area A such as a building or a house and the Internet 1 and having an OAS 7 similar to the center server 3 and various equipment 6 connected to the LAN 4 (FIG. In the example shown, it is composed of 3 units 6a to 6c).

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the client terminal 2 is provided in the network system, a communication unit 20 for performing network communication, an arithmetic processing unit 21, an input / output unit 22 including a key, a display, and the like. A storage unit 23 for storing client software (hereinafter referred to as OAL <Object Access Library>), client function application (software), and the like for receiving services, and for temporarily storing data, and the like. Executes OAL to detect nodes on the Internet 1 and the LAN 4 and to access objects to be described later, and to provide a client providing service for OAS 7 installed in the center server 3 to be described later by executing a client application. In the form desired by the client terminal 2 Thereby making it possible to enjoy. In FIG. 2A, reference numeral 24 denotes a bus.

  Here, the client platform composed of the client application and the OAL is configured as shown in FIG. 2B, and the OAL is an information transmission function 100 for exchanging information with the client application 104. A node (object-mounted device) detection function 101 on the network, an object request function 102, a provider function 103 for network connection, a transmission condition 104 by the OAL platform, and the like.

  On the other hand, the equipment 6 (6a-6c) incorporated in the network system of the present embodiment and installed in the user area A is, for example, in the case of a building, environmental equipment (lighting, air conditioning), crime prevention / disaster prevention equipment, and these equipment Temperature sensor, brightness sensor, human sensor, fire sensor, etc. There are similar facilities in ordinary houses.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the basic configuration of these equipment 6 is a functional unit for providing services unique to the equipment 6 (for example, in an air-conditioning equipment, an air conditioner and a control device for controlling the air conditioner, and lighting) In facilities, lighting devices that control lighting and brightness of lighting loads, in various sensors, a header for detection and a signal processing unit that outputs detection information detected by the header, etc.) 60, and an interface unit to the function unit 60 A function for instructing an operation (operation control) via 61 and the bus 62 is given, a variable indicating the current state of the function unit 60 is obtained, and further a state conversion of the function unit 60 has occurred. an information processing unit 63 to perform the process of acquiring the event information, and a communication portion 64 for network communication, the storage unit 65 of the information processing unit 63 in the network system of this embodiment Object Aru incorporates software module for realizing the server function (hereinafter referred to as MOS <Micro Object Server>).

The MOS is a applique Activation software portion 200 containing an equipment-side object is a program module for servicing, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), and the software communication module 201 corresponding to the later-described OSI7 hierarchy protocol, And a hardware communication module 202 for communication with the communication unit 64 and the interface unit 61.

  The above-mentioned OAS 7 incorporated in the gateway 5 and the center server 3 is software that realizes a function as an object router for hiding the network connection method, and further an input / output definition function (hereinafter referred to as an interface) under the object of the equipment 6. In this embodiment, various types of application software executed for the user (client terminal 2) to enjoy the service provided by the function unit 60 of the facility device 6 and different protocols are converted. Additional services such as a protocol bridge service for seamless connection to other network systems and a firewall bridge service for converting the protocol between OAS7 to SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) to pass through the firewall Realize the function Consisting of software.

Here, the protocol in the network system of the present embodiment uses the OSI 7 hierarchical model. As the highest application layer, the MOS of the information processing unit 63 of the equipment 6 is a variable, event information, and the client terminal 2. uses a unique object access protocol for Professor / receiving of the information of the function (object access protocol = OAP).

  The MOS software communication module 201 is responsible for the protocols in the network layer to the presentation layer of the OSI 7 layer, and performs the above-described OAP definition and TCPUDP integration.

  Thus, each equipment device 6 that constructs the network system of the present embodiment has one or more objects used when the function unit 60 performs processing for providing services under the MOS in which the information processing unit 63 is incorporated. In addition, each object has one or more interfaces defined by information (a combination of variables, functions, and event information) corresponding to the provided service, and each object has a unique identifier (hereinafter referred to as OID). And an arbitrary input / output identifier (hereinafter referred to as IID) is also assigned to each interface. Interfaces having the same definition content, that is, interfaces having the same IID are allowed to be allocated under a plurality of objects.

  Access to the specific object interface of the equipment 6 is made to the equipment 6 via the center server 30 and the gateway 5 in response to the service request of the client terminal 2. In addition, the local IP address managed by the router function of the gateway 5 is used for identification of the equipment 6 on the Internet communication, and each equipment 6 has a local IP address.

  The OAS 7 of the gateway 5 is provided as a protocol conversion function and software of a CPU unit (not shown) in the gateway 5, and the object OID of the MOS included in the equipment 6 connected to the LAN 4 and its It has a routing function to create a routing table (connected equipment identification table) that shows the relationship between the combination information with the IID of the lower interface and the IP address of each equipment 6 (6a, 6b, 6c). At the time of initial startup, the equipment device 6 (6a, 6b, 6c) connected by multicast using OAP is read, and node detection is performed based on the presence or absence of a response to obtain an IP address. Then, obtain the OID of each MOS object sent from the equipment 6 (6a, 6b, 6c) and the IID of the interface below it, and create the above routing table with the combination information and IP address. Further, the OID of the object and the IID of the interface below it are acquired, and the combination information is sent to the server on the Internet 1, in the case of FIG.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1B, the OAS 7 of the center server 5 includes a computer system including a communication unit 30 for network communication and an arithmetic processing unit 31 that realizes the OAS 7 by software. , A routing function unit 31c that creates a routing table (connection OAS identification table) indicating the relationship between the combination information of the OID and IID sent from the gateway 5 and the IP address of the gateway 5, and information on the equipment 6 Using the OID that is the identifier of the MOS object of the processing unit 63 or the IID of the interface below or a combination of the OID and IID, a request for exchanging information defined by the interface of the object is made a service request via the gateway 5. The equipment And a service request function unit 31a that exchanges information corresponding to the requested service with the equipment 6 via the gateway 5 and an interface that defines information used for the client providing service. And exchanges the requested service information with the service request function unit 31a based on the interface definition, and between the requested service information and the information used for the client providing service. The server side object that executes the conversion of the definition is defined and an OID is attached to the object, an arbitrary IID is attached to the interface below, and the unique identifier of the object or the IID or OID and IID of the interface under the object a combination of (a server-side object identifier) A service providing function unit 31b that executes the object when the request for executing the object is received from the client terminal 2, and uses the node detection function 101 to connect to the client terminal 2 connected to the OAS 7 of the center server 3. The combination information of the OID and IID of the own object is given through the Internet 1.

  Next, the creation of the routing table in the OAS 7 of the gateway 5 and the center server 3 has already been completed by the above-described procedure, and the equipment device 6, the center server 3, and the client terminal 2 used in the network system of this embodiment are prepared and operating. The operation in the case of the above will be described with reference to a specific example based on FIG.

  First, the functional unit 60 of the operating equipment 6 is a temperature sensor, and information handled as a service provided by the functional unit 60 is defined as a variable named “current temperature” by an interface with “temperature sensor” as an IID. It is assumed that the object included in the information processing unit 63 that executes reception of this variable from the function unit 60 has an OID of xxx.

On the other hand, in the service providing function unit 31b of the OAS 7 of the center server 3, information handled as a client providing service by an interface having an IID of “temperature sensor measurement” is defined as a variable named “current temperature measurement value”. When accessed as a service request from the terminal 2, a service request is made using the OID xxx attached to the object of the corresponding equipment 6 on the network and the IID called "temperature sensor" of the interface below it. service request result to function a service request function portion 31a so as to obtain a variable transmitted from the facility device 6 "current temperature", also a variable called the service request function portion 31a acquires "current temperature", International Sending the request to the client terminal 2 It assumed to have a program object as a service for Ant provided to the service providing function portion 31b.

  In response to this client providing service, the OAL of the client terminal 2 makes a service request to the center server 3 using an OID called yyy and an IID called “temperature sensor measurement”, and the center server as a result of this service request. It is assumed that an application programmed to record a variable “current temperature measurement value” sent from 3 is installed.

In such a network system composed of the equipment 6, the center server 3, and the client terminal 2, the client terminal 2 uses the OID “yyy” and the IID “temperature sensor measurement” to service the OAS 7 of the center server 3. When making a request, the object in the service provision function portion 31b of OAS7 is performed regularly to the corresponding equipment 6 by using the IID of OID and "temperature sensor" called xxx the service request function portion 31a service When the service request function unit 31a obtains a variable “current temperature” from the equipment 6 in response to this service request, the variable “current temperature” is changed to a variable “current temperature measurement value” each time it is obtained. Processing to send to client terminal 2 as a client providing service Do.

  When the client terminal 2 receives the variable “current temperature measurement value”, the client terminal 2 performs a process of recording in a storage unit (not shown). Here, by making a service request to the center server 3, the client (user) can know the current temperature detected by the functional unit 60 including the temperature sensor of the equipment 6, and can detect the detected temperature from the recorded data. It becomes possible to enjoy the service of knowing the history.

Incidentally, in addition to the current temperature, for example, when it becomes necessary to add a service for recording an average temperature for 5 minutes as a new client providing service, or when there is a need from the client, the OAL application of the client terminal 2 is used. Whether an extension program corresponding to a new service is added, and information defined in the object interface of the service providing function unit 31b of the OAS 7 provided in the center server 3 is combined with information corresponding to the new client providing service Alternatively, it is possible to cope with the problem by simply adding an interface for defining information corresponding to a new client providing service. That is, no change on the equipment 6 side is required.

  Next, this service addition will be described.

(Example 1)
In this example, information defined corresponding to a new service for providing a client is added to the interface of the current object.

First, in this example, the service providing function portion 31b of OAS7 provided in the center server 3 as the information OID defines the interface of the current object called yyy, in addition to a variable called "current temperature measured value", a new service In addition to adding a variable called “average temperature for 5 minutes” corresponding to, and temporarily recording a variable called “current temperature” that is periodically acquired from the equipment 6 in response to a new service provided by the client. An average value for 5 minutes is calculated, and a program for sending the calculated average value to the client terminal 2 using a variable “average temperature for 5 minutes” is added to the object.

  On the other hand, in the OAL of the client terminal 2, a service request is made to the center server 3 using the current OID of yyy and the IID of “temperature sensor measurement” and sent from the center server 3 as a result of the service request “current Add an extension program that also records a variable of “average temperature over 5 minutes” to an application programmed to record a variable of “temperature measurement”.

And Thus, when a service request to OAS7 of the center server 3 by using the IID as described above and from the client terminal 2 similar to the OID of yyy as shown in FIG. 4 (b) "Temperature sensor measurement", OAS7 is the object in the service provision function portion 31b is executed on a regular basis the service request to the corresponding equipment 6 by using the IID of OID and "temperature sensor" called xxx the service requesting function portion 31a, the service When the service request function unit 31a acquires a variable “current temperature” from the facility device 6 upon request, the variable “current temperature” is changed to a variable “current temperature measurement value” each time it is acquired. Processing to send as a service for provision and variable of "current temperature" is recorded every 5 minutes and every 5 minutes The process calculates the average value of the “current temperature” recorded in the above, and sends the calculation result to the client terminal 2 as a client providing service using a variable “average temperature for 5 minutes”.

  When the client terminal 2 receives variables such as “current temperature measurement value” and “average temperature for 5 minutes”, the client terminal 2 performs processing to record in a storage unit (not shown).

  As a result, the client (user) can know the current temperature detected by the functional unit 60 including the temperature sensor of the equipment 6 and the history thereof, and can also know the average value every 5 minutes. .

(Example 2)
In this example, in addition to the current interface possessed by the object, an interface defining information corresponding to a new client providing service is added.

First, in this example, in the object whose OID of the service providing function unit 31b of the OAS 7 provided in the center server 3 is yyy, in addition to the interface of IID “temperature sensor measurement” corresponding to the variable “current temperature measurement value”, An interface with an IID called “Temperature sensor average value calculation” is added corresponding to a new service for client provision, and a new service for client provision is supported. Then, the variable “current temperature” that is periodically acquired from the equipment 6 is temporarily recorded and the average value for 5 minutes is calculated. The calculated average value is the variable “average temperature for 5 minutes”. The program sent to the client terminal 2 is added corresponding to the new object .

  On the other hand, in the OAL of the client terminal 2, in addition to the function of making a service request to the center server 3 using the current OID called yyy and the IID called “temperature sensor measurement”, the OID called yyy and “temperature sensor average value calculation” In addition to adding a function for making a service request to the center server 3 using the IID, an application programmed to record a variable “current temperature measurement value” sent from the center server 3 as a result of the service request is “ Add an extended program that also records a variable called “5 minutes average temperature”.

Thus, when a service request is sent from the client terminal 2 to the OAS 7 of the center server 3 using the OID of yyy and the IID of “temperature sensor measurement” in the same manner as described above, the service providing function unit 31b of the OAS 7 There is executed periodically performs a service request to the corresponding equipment 6 by using the IID of OID and "temperature sensor" called xxx the service requesting function portion 31a, "current temperature from the equipment 6 by the service request When the service request function unit 31a acquires the variable “”, the variable “current temperature” is changed to the variable “current temperature measurement value” and is sent to the client terminal 2 as a client providing service.

4C, when a service request is made from the client terminal 2 to the OAS 7 of the center server 3 using the OID of yyy and the IID of “temperature sensor average value calculation”, the service providing function unit of the OAS 7 In 31b , the object is executed, the variable of “current temperature” for 5 minutes is recorded from this execution, the average value is calculated, and the calculation result is changed to a variable of “average temperature for 5 minutes”. Then, processing to send to the client terminal 2 as a client providing service is performed.

  When the client terminal 2 receives variables such as “current temperature measurement value” and “average temperature for 5 minutes”, the client terminal 2 performs processing to record in a storage unit (not shown).

  As a result, the client (user) can know the current temperature detected by the functional unit 60 including the temperature sensor of the equipment 6 and the history thereof, and can also know the average temperature every 5 minutes. .

  In the case of Example 1 and Example 2 above, the information defined by the interface is a variable. However, when the provided service controls the function unit 60 of the equipment 6, the function notifies the event occurrence. In the case of a provided service, event information is used, and depending on the provided service, any of functions, variables, and event information may be combined.

  In addition, Example 1 and Example 2 have described the case where a client providing service is added, but conversely, when the number is reduced, the number of definition information and the number of interfaces can be reduced.

  Furthermore, when accessing from the server 2 an interface that defines information with the same content under an object that a plurality of equipment 6 has, the object's OID is omitted and the interface's IID is used. For example, a plurality of equipment 6 can enjoy the same content providing service, and if it is accessed only by the OID of the object, it can also enjoy a service based on information defined by all interfaces of the object. it can.

  Further, when the equipment 6 becomes obsolete and the service to be provided becomes unnecessary, the client terminal 2 accesses the object of the OAS 7 of the center server 3, and the execution result is sent to the center server 3. Even if the OAS 7 receives it, the OAS 7 may have a programmed application that stops the service to the client terminal 2.

(A) is a schematic system block diagram of one Embodiment, (b) is a block diagram of a center server. (A) is a block diagram of a client terminal used in an embodiment, and (b) is a block diagram of a client platform of a client terminal. (A) is a block diagram of the equipment used for one Embodiment, (b) is a block diagram of MOS equipped with equipment. It is explanatory drawing at the time of the addition of the service for client provision of one Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Internet 2 Client terminal 3 Center server 7 OAS
31a Service request function unit 31b Service provision function unit 31c Routing function unit 4 LAN
5 Gateway 6a-6c Equipment A User area

Claims (8)

When one or more equipment devices, one or more client terminals, and the client terminal receives a request for a service provided by the equipment, the service is provided to the equipment in response to the request. In a network system in which a request for execution is made and a server that provides a service corresponding to the request for the client terminal is connected to the network based on the service executed by the equipment.
The facility device defines a function unit for processing the service provided by the facility device, and defines information used for the provided service, and executes exchange of the information with the function unit based on the definition. An information processing unit having an object for attaching an object identifier to the object,
The server uses the object identifier of the object included in the information processing unit of the facility device to make a request for execution of the object as a service request to the facility device through the network, and to send / receive information corresponding to the requested service. A service request function unit that performs communication with the facility device, and an object that executes transmission / reception of the requested service information between the service request function unit and a server object identifier attached to the object. A service providing function unit that executes the object when a request for execution of the object is received from the client terminal using the server object identifier,
The client terminal performs a request for execution of the object as a service request to the server through the network using the server object identifier of the object of the service providing function unit of the server, and from the server by executing the object. With the client function to enjoy the service provided by the client by the information sent / received,
The service providing function unit of the server increases or decreases the number of client providing service information in accordance with the increase or decrease of the client providing service. The object of the service providing function unit performs conversion between information on the requested service and information used for the client providing service based on a definition of information used for the client providing service. The network system according to claim 1. A unique identifier is assigned to each object of the facility device and the server, and each object has one or more input / output definition functions that define one or more pieces of information used for the provided service and are assigned arbitrary input / output identifiers. The network system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of network systems are provided. 4. The service providing function unit of the server increases or decreases the number of client providing service information defined by an object input / output definition function in response to an increase or decrease of a client providing service. Network system. 4. The service providing function unit of the server increases or decreases the number of input / output definition functions of an object that defines information of a client providing service in response to an increase or decrease of a client providing service. Network system.
6. The network system according to claim 1, wherein one of pieces of information defined by the object is a function for instructing the operation of the object. 6. The network system according to claim 1, wherein one of information defined in the object is a variable indicating a current state. 6. The network system according to claim 1, wherein one of the information defined in the object is event information to be sent to the client terminal when a state change occurs in the object.

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