JP2011077712A - Device management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device management system that can avoid the trouble of having to set setting information for a local management device. <P>SOLUTION: Setting information is associated with attribute information inherent in each local management device 1 and stored in advance in a center server 4 constituting an upper level management device 3. A management unit 2 comprises a communication means 20 for communicating with the center server 4 and a requesting means 21 that acquires attribute information from a local management device 1 and requests setting information corresponding to the attribute information via the communication means 20 to the center server 4 when the local management device 1 is connected with a second network NT2. Furthermore, the management unit 2 has a setting means 22 that makes the setting of the setting information by transferring the setting information acquired from the center server 4 to the local management device 1 as a reply to the request of the requesting means 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides a network of local management devices arranged for each subarea, which is a small area obtained by dividing a predetermined management area into a plurality, and a network between the local management devices arranged for each subarea. An area management device that performs at least one of monitoring and control of the local management device by communication via the communication, and an upper management device that centrally manages information of all area management devices in the management area by communication with the area management device It relates to a device management system.

  Conventionally, a plurality of terminal devices each connected to a device such as a lighting fixture and a local management device for managing (monitoring / controlling) the terminal devices by communicating with these terminal devices are provided. Various device management systems have been proposed.

  Furthermore, in recent years, information on all local management devices in the management area can be obtained by communication with the local management device so that the terminal device can be managed even when the terminal devices are scattered over a relatively wide management area. A large-scale device management system having a high-order management device that centrally manages the devices has also been proposed. In this type of device management system, a plurality of terminal devices and local management devices are installed for each sub-area (building, park, hospital, etc.), which is a small area obtained by dividing a predetermined management area into a plurality of communication networks. (See, for example, Patent Document 1). In the device management system of Patent Document 1, an area management device (area unit) that integrally manages a plurality of local management devices provided in the same subarea is provided for each subarea.

  By the way, in the above-described device management system, it is necessary to previously set desired setting information (programs, parameters, etc. necessary for monitoring and controlling terminal devices by the local management device) for the local management device. Normally, setting information is manually set, and setting work is required for each local management apparatus.

JP 2009-60570 A

  However, in a large-scale device management system in which a large number of local management devices are distributed in a wide management area, it is necessary to set setting information individually for all local management devices when the system is constructed. In addition, since the setting information setting work is very time-consuming, the burden on the operator who performs the setting work increases. In addition, even after the device management system has been established, when replacing the local management device, it is necessary to set the setting information again for the newly installed local management device, and the number of local management devices to be replaced can be increased. For example, it takes time to set the setting information, which increases the burden on the operator.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above reasons, and an object of the present invention is to provide a device management system that can save the trouble of setting setting information for a local management device.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of local management devices are arranged for each sub-area, which is a small area obtained by dividing a predetermined management area into a plurality of areas, and a local management device is arranged for each sub-area in each sub-area. An area management device that performs at least one of monitoring and control of the local management device by communication via the network, and an upper management device that centrally manages information of all area management devices in the management area by communication with the area management device, The storage management unit stores the setting information set in the local management device in advance in association with the attribute information unique to each local management device, and the area management device Any one of the local management device and the local management device, a communication means for communicating with the higher-level management device, and a new local When a physical device is connected, a request unit that acquires attribute information set in advance from the local management device and requests setting information corresponding to the attribute information from the higher-level management device by a communication unit, and a reply to the request It functions as an intermediary device having setting means for setting the setting information by transferring the setting information received from the host management device to the local management device that is the transmission source of the attribute information.

  According to this configuration, when the local management device is connected to the network, the requesting unit acquires attribute information set in advance from the local management device and requests corresponding setting information from the higher-level management device. Since the setting information is set by transferring the setting information obtained as a response to the request to the local management device, the setting information is automatically obtained only by connecting the local management device to the network to which the mediation device is connected. Is set. In other words, if the setting information is stored together in the host management device, the setting information is automatically set in the local management device through the mediation of the area management device or local management device in each sub-area. In the apparatus, setting information can be easily set only by communicating with an area management apparatus or a local management apparatus via a network. Therefore, it is possible to save the trouble of setting the setting information for the local management device. In a large-scale device management system in which a large number of local management devices are distributed in a wide management area, And the burden on the operator when replacing the local management device can be greatly reduced. In addition, since the setting information of the local management device is centrally managed by the higher-level management device, when registering the setting information in the higher-level management device, the setting information of each local management device can be registered while considering the entire system. Compared to the case of registering each local management device individually, the registration work is simplified.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when the setting information is changed after the setting information is set by the setting unit, the local management device manages the change information including changed data in the upper management. It has a notification means for transmitting to the apparatus, and the upper management apparatus has an update means for updating the setting information of the storage means according to the contents of the change information received from the local management apparatus.

  According to this configuration, when the setting information already set on the local management device side is changed, the changed data is reflected in the storage unit of the higher-level management device. Can always be matched.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, when one or more local management devices are already connected to the network, the local management device newly connected to the network has already One local management device selected from the connected local management devices functions as the mediation device.

  According to this configuration, if one or more local management devices are already connected to the network, one of them is used as a mediation device. The setting information can be automatically set for the newly installed local management device without providing the above function.

  In the present invention, the setting information is automatically set in the local management device by intermediating the area management device or the local management device in each sub-area only by connecting the local management device to the network. In the case of a large-scale device management system in which a large number of local management devices are distributed in a wide range of management areas, it is possible to save time and effort when setting configuration information. There is an advantage that the burden on the operator can be greatly reduced.

1 is a schematic system configuration diagram of a device management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement same as the above.

  In the following embodiments, the entire area in which terminal devices that are targets of management (at least one of monitoring and control) of the device management system are distributed is called a “management area”, and a plurality of management areas are defined as a plurality of management areas. Each small area when divided into small areas is called a “sub-area”. Here, a section of a city including a plurality of office buildings, parks, hospitals, and the like is set as a management area, and each of the office buildings, parks, hospitals, and the like is set as a sub-area. The division of the management area and the sub-area is not limited to this example, and is appropriately determined according to the size of the management area, for example, a part of the floor of the office building or a corner of the park as a sub-area.

(Embodiment 1)
As shown in FIG. 1, the device management system according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of terminal devices (see FIG. 1) for each of sub-areas A1 to An (hereinafter referred to as sub-area A unless otherwise distinguished). And a lighting control unit 1a and a measurement management unit 1b for monitoring and controlling the terminal device by communication with the terminal device in each sub-area A. Hereinafter, when the lighting control unit 1a and the measurement management unit 1b are not particularly distinguished, they are collectively referred to as a local management device 1. In FIG. 1, the local management device 1 and the like are illustrated only for the subarea Am, but the local management device 1 and the like are also provided in the other subareas A1 to A (m−1) and A (m + 1) to An, respectively. It is assumed that

  In this device management system, a relatively large-scale system (area management system) is configured by using a communication network hierarchized into three layers of an upper layer, an intermediate layer, and a lower layer. A center server 4 and a management personal computer (personal computer) 5 are connected to the first network NT1 as an upper layer, and a plurality of area units 6 installed for each subarea A are connected. The area unit 6 is configured to be able to communicate with the center server 4 via the first network NT1. The center server 4 and the management personal computer 5 constitute the upper management apparatus 3 and centrally manage information of all the area units 6 in the management area by communicating with the area unit 6.

  Each area unit 6 is connected with a plurality of lighting control units 1a and measurement management units 1b as local management devices 1 via a second network NT2 as an intermediate layer. These area units 6 monitor and control the illumination control unit 1a and the measurement management unit 1b by using control signals exchanged between the illumination control unit 1a and the measurement management unit 1b as the local management device 1. Since the area unit 6 also communicates with the upper management apparatus 3, information can be exchanged between the local management apparatus 1 and the upper management apparatus 3 via the area unit 6.

  The lighting control unit 1a is connected via a third network (not shown), which is a lower layer of terminal equipment including a control terminal connected to the lighting fixture and an operation terminal equipped with switches and sensors. Thus, for example, a lighting control system applied to each floor of the building is constructed. The lighting control unit 1a is configured to be able to control and monitor the lighting state (on / off, dimming level) of the lighting fixture in the lighting control system. Here, every time the lighting state of the lighting fixture in the lighting control system changes, the lighting control unit 1a transmits the lighting status of the lighting fixture to the area unit 6, whereby the area unit 6 operates the lighting control system (the lighting fixture). Can be monitored constantly.

  In the present embodiment, a transmission unit (not shown) is connected on the third network, and the lighting control system is configured as a well-known centralized control system using the transmission unit as a center device. That is, the transmission unit constructs a time-division multiplex transmission communication network using a fixed-length transmission signal transmitted through a two-wire signal line, and monitors and controls the terminal device using the transmission signal. Here, an address is individually set for each terminal device, and the transmission unit identifies each terminal device separately using the address. The transmission unit includes a memory that stores a control table in which an operation terminal and a control terminal are associated with each other by an address. When a switch is turned on or off by any of the operation terminals, the operation terminal is The lighting device is controlled to be turned on / off by the control terminal associated with the.

  Further, in the control table, it is possible to associate the switches and the loads one-to-one, or one-to-many. For example, if the power to the lighting fixture as a load is turned on and off using a relay, in addition to individual control to turn on and off one circuit lighting fixture with one switch, a plurality of circuits with one switch It is possible to perform group control for collectively turning on and off the lighting fixtures.

  The measurement management unit 1b constructs a measurement device management system that is applied to each floor of a building, for example, by connecting terminal devices including measurement devices to the measurement management unit 1b via a third network. The weighing device is composed of a watt hour meter or the like that measures voltage, current, power, etc., and the weighing management unit 1b is configured to monitor (collect and accumulate) the measurement results of the weighing device within the weighing device management system. The Here, the measurement results collected by the measurement management unit 1b are transmitted from the measurement management unit 1b to the area unit 6 at regular intervals. As a result, the area unit 6 can monitor the operation of the weighing device management system (measurement result of the weighing device).

  In short, the area unit 6 communicates with the local management device 1 via the second network NT2 to centralize the terminal devices constituting the lighting control system and the weighing device management system built under each area unit 6. to manage. Therefore, by providing the area unit 6 for each subarea A, the area unit 6 has a function of centrally managing the lighting control system and the weighing device management system in each subarea A. Further, a plurality of area units 6 are provided in the entire device management system having a plurality of subareas A as management areas, and the plurality of area units 6 are connected to the upper management apparatus 3 via the first network NT1. Is communicated with the host management apparatus 3 in a centralized manner.

  In addition, one management unit 2 is connected to the first network NT1 for each subarea A. The management unit 2 is also connected to the second network NT2 similarly to the area unit 6. The management unit 2 constitutes an area management device together with the area unit 6, and data set in the local management device (lighting control unit, measurement management unit) 1 and the area unit 6 managed by each area unit 6 (described later). Save a backup of the setting information). Furthermore, the management unit 2 manages the alarm history in the sub-area A and has a communication function with the higher-level management device 3 using a unique protocol, and forwards the alarm generated in the sub-area A to the higher-level management device 3. It has the function to do. A router (not shown) is provided between the area unit 6 and the management unit 2 and the first network NT1.

  Here, the management unit 2, the area unit 6, and the local management device (lighting control unit, measurement management unit) 1 installed in the same subarea A are stored in one storage board (not shown) in principle. The The first network NT1 uses an IP protocol corresponding to IPv6 in the network layer, and uses a unique protocol as an upper layer protocol. The second network NT2 uses an IP protocol in the network layer, and a BACnet (Building Automation and Control Network) protocol, which is a standard open protocol for equipment, as an upper layer protocol.

  By the way, in the device management system described above, a unit having a common hardware configuration is used for the lighting control unit 1a as the local management device 1 and the measurement management unit 1b, and the lighting control unit 1a or An operation unique to the measurement management unit 1b is enabled. That is, the local management device 1 can perform operations such as monitoring and control of the terminal device only when setting information according to the type (separation between the lighting control unit 1a and the measurement management unit 1b) is set. Specifically, the setting information includes programs and parameters necessary for monitoring and controlling terminal devices, and data necessary for each local management device 1 (group setting data for group control in the case of the lighting control unit 1a). including. In this embodiment, the management unit 2 and the area unit 6 are also used in common with the local management device 1.

  Here, the setting information is associated with attribute information unique to each local management device 1 and stored in advance in the center server 4 as a storage unit that constitutes the higher-level management device 3. It is assumed that the setting information differs at least depending on the type of the local management device 1. In the present embodiment, the attribute information includes the address of the local management device 1, but the attribute information is not limited to the address as long as it can identify the local management device 1. The address of the local management device 1 here is used for communication between the management unit 2 or the area unit 6 and the local management device 1 and functions as an identifier for identifying each local management device 1. This address is given in advance using a dip switch or a memory provided in each local management apparatus 1. In the center server 4, a combination of setting information and attribute information corresponding to each local management device 1 for constructing a device management system (including those to be connected to the second network NT2 in the future) is registered in advance. .

  In this embodiment, when the local management device 1 is connected to the second network NT2, the configuration information is automatically set in the local management device 1 using the setting information in the center server 4. adopt. However, since the IP address of the center server 4 is not known in the newly connected local management device (newly installed local management device) 1, the local management device 1 does not directly access the center server 4 but uses the area management device. Setting information is acquired from the center server 4 by mediating the management unit 2 to be configured.

  Therefore, the management unit 2 includes a communication means 20 for communicating with the center server (higher level management apparatus) 4 via the first network NT1 as shown in FIG. 1, and a local unit newly connected to the second network NT2. Requesting means 21 for requesting setting information corresponding to the management apparatus 1 to the center server 4. Further, the management unit 2 has setting means 22 for transferring setting information acquired from the center server 4 in response to a request from the request means 21 to the newly installed local management apparatus 1. That is, the management unit 2 includes a communication unit 20, a request unit 21, and a setting unit 22, and functions as an intermediary device that mediates setting information between the local management device 1 and the center server 4.

  Here, the IP address of the center server 4 is registered in the management unit 2 in advance, and the communication means 20 is configured to be able to communicate with the center server 4 using the IP address. Further, no router is interposed between the management unit 2 and the local management device 1 connected to the second network NT2, and the request means 21 and the setting means 22 are connected to the local management device 1 in the same subarea A. It is configured to be able to communicate with each other.

  On the other hand, the local management device 1 is configured to automatically send attribute information including its own address to the management unit 2 on the second network NT2 when connected to the second network NT2. ing. Here, in the newly installed local management device 1, since the address of the higher-level management unit 2 is unknown, the attribute information is transmitted by broadcast on the second network NT2. Thereby, the management unit 2 can recognize that the new local management device 1 is connected to the network NT2 by receiving the attribute information including the address from the newly installed local management device 1.

  Next, the operation at the time of setting the setting information in the local management apparatus 1 in the device management system described above will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.

  When the local management device 1 is newly connected to the second network NT2 (S1), it sends attribute information on the second network NT2 by broadcasting (S2). At this time, the management unit 2 acquires attribute information including an address from the local management device 1 via the second network NT2. The request unit 21 of the management unit 2 determines that the new local management device 1 is connected to the network NT2 by acquiring the attribute information.

  Here, if it is determined that a new local management device 1 is connected, the request unit 21 requests the center server 4 for setting information of the local management device 1. That is, the request unit 21 requests the setting information corresponding to the attribute information from the center server 4 by transmitting the attribute information acquired from the local management device 1 from the communication unit 20 to the center server 4 (S3).

  Upon receiving the setting information request (attribute information), the center server 4 selects the setting information corresponding to the attribute information, and transmits the setting information to the management unit 2 that is the attribute information transmission source as a reply to the attribute information. (S4). The setting unit 22 of the management unit 2 that has received the reply of the setting information transfers the setting information to the local management device 1 that is the transmission source of the attribute information (S5). When receiving the setting information, the local management device 1 automatically performs setting using the setting information (S6). In the local management device 1 that has completed setting of the setting information, the setting completion flag is set, and thereafter the setting information request (attribute information transmission) is not performed.

  According to the device management system of the present embodiment described above, setting information is automatically set for the local management device 1 simply by connecting the local management device 1 to the second network NT2. . That is, by storing the setting information together in the center server 4 constituting the higher-level management device 3, the setting information is mediated by the management unit 2 as an intermediary device provided in each subarea A and newly set up. The local management apparatus 1 is set.

  Therefore, even in a large-scale device management system in which a large number of local management devices 1 are distributed and arranged in a wide management area, it is possible to save time and labor for setting setting information when the system is constructed. The burden on the operator can be greatly reduced. In addition, even if it is necessary to replace the local management device 1 after constructing the device management system, there is no need to reset the setting information for the newly installed local management device 1, and the operator's The burden is reduced. Moreover, since the setting information is centrally managed by the center server 4, when registering the setting information in the center server 4, the setting information can be input while considering the entire system by inputting the setting information all at once. There is also an advantage that registration of information becomes easy.

  Incidentally, as described above, after setting information is automatically set in the local management device 1 through the management unit 2, the setting information may be individually changed in each local management device 1. The change of the setting information is performed manually for each local management device 1. When the setting information is individually changed on the local management device 1 side in this way, the setting information of the local management device 1 stored in the center server 4 and the setting information actually set in the local management device 1 Deviation occurs between

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the setting information is changed in the local management device 1, a function as a notification unit (not shown) that transmits the changed data to the center server 4 as change information is provided. The local management device 1 has this. Further, the center server 4 has a function as an update means (not shown) for updating the setting information held by the center server 4 in accordance with the contents of the change information received from the local management device 1. Therefore, even when the setting information already set on the local management device 1 side is changed, the output data (setting information) can be automatically matched between the local management device 1 and the center server 4.

  In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the management unit 2 is used as an intermediary device that mediates attribute information and setting information between the local management device 1 and the center server 4 when setting information is set. Instead, the area unit 6 constituting the area management device may be provided with a function as an intermediary device.

(Embodiment 2)
In the device management system of the present embodiment, when one or more local management devices 1 are already connected to the network NT2, the existing local management device 1 is connected to the newly installed local management device 1 and the center server 4. It differs from the device management system of the first embodiment in that it functions as an intermediary device that mediates attribute information and setting information.

  That is, when one local management apparatus 1 is newly connected to the second network NT2, another local management apparatus 1 already connected to the network NT2 is broadcast from the one local management apparatus 1. The attribute information transmitted on the network NT2 is received. The other local management device (existing local management device) 1 requests the center server 4 for setting information corresponding to the one local management device (newly installed local management device) 1, and the center server 4 The returned setting information is transferred to the one local management device 1. Here, in the existing local management device 1, the function as an intermediary device having a communication unit, a request unit, and a setting unit is realized by setting setting information in the local management device 1.

  By the way, since the newly installed local management device 1 broadcasts attribute information when connected to the second network NT2, when a plurality of existing local management devices 1 are connected to the network NT2, the plurality of these are managed. Each local management device 1 may request setting information from the center server 4. Therefore, in the present embodiment, only one local management device 1 selected by the newly installed local management device 1 from the existing local management devices 1 is requested to the center server 4 for the setting information. To function as.

  Specifically, when the existing local management device 1 in a state capable of functioning as a mediation device receives the attribute information broadcast from the newly installed local management device 1, it can function as the mediation device itself. A confirmation signal indicating this is returned to the newly installed local management device 1. The newly installed local management device 1 selects any one of the plurality of local management devices 1 to which a confirmation signal has been returned, and broadcasts a second selection signal including the address of the selected local management device 1. On the network NT2. The newly installed local management device 1 acquires the address of the existing local management device 1 using a confirmation signal.

  The existing local management devices 1 each receive a selection signal, and if the selection signal includes its own address, sets a selection flag indicating that selection is in progress. At this time, only the selected existing local management device 1 requests the center server 4 for setting information, and the remaining local management devices 1 do not request setting information. Thereafter, the selected local management device 1 replaces the management unit 2 of the first embodiment, and setting information is set in the newly installed local management device 1 by performing the same processing.

  According to the configuration described above, the setting information stored in the center server 4 is set in the new local management device 1 by being mediated by the existing local management device 1 provided in each subarea A. become. Therefore, the constraint condition of the system configuration of the device management system is relaxed compared to the first embodiment in which each subarea A needs to be provided with a management unit 2 having a communication function with both the center server 4 and the local management device 1. Further, in the sub-area A where a plurality of existing local management devices 1 exist, setting information can be set for the newly installed local management device 1 by the plurality of local management devices 1. There is also an advantage that the reliability of the setting information setting is improved.

  Other configurations and functions are the same as those of the first embodiment.

1a Lighting control unit (local management device)
1b Weighing management unit (local management device)
2 Management unit (area management device)
3 upper management apparatus 4 center server 20 communication means 21 request means 22 setting means A1 to An subarea NT2 second network

Claims (3)

  Through local management devices arranged for each sub-area, which is a small area that divides a predetermined management area into multiple sub-areas, and communication via a network with the local management device arranged for each sub-area in each sub-area An equipment management system comprising an area management device that performs at least one of monitoring and control of a local management device, and a higher-level management device that centrally manages information of all area management devices in the management area through communication with the area management device The host management device has storage means for storing in advance the setting information set in the local management device in association with the attribute information unique to each local management device. Any one of the above is connected to a communication means for communicating with a higher-level management apparatus and a new local management apparatus via a network. And obtaining request attribute information set in advance from the local management apparatus and requesting the setting information corresponding to the attribute information from the upper management apparatus by the communication means, and receiving the request information from the upper management apparatus as a reply to the request. A device management system, which functions as an intermediary device having setting means for setting setting information by transferring the setting information to a local management device that is a transmission source of attribute information.   The local management device includes a notification unit that transmits change information including changed data to the upper management device when the setting information is changed after setting the setting information by the setting unit. 2. The apparatus management system according to claim 1, further comprising an updating unit that updates the setting information of the storage unit according to the content of the change information received from the local management device. When one or more local management devices are already connected to the network, one local management device selected from the local management devices already connected by the local management device newly connected to the network The device management system according to claim 1, wherein a device functions as the mediation device.

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