JP2013030163A - Cloud type information management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To unify information and management control of an equipment device controlled by each PLC by an integrated interface while reducing cost.SOLUTION: A cloud type information management system for integrating and managing a plurality of PLCs includes a management server 1 connected to a plurality of PLCs 8a to 8c through an Internet VPN 71, and a customer terminal 2 connected to the management server 1 and the plurality of PLCs 8a to 8c through an Internet communication network 7, the management server 1 includes a web server 1a for providing a control interface for the plurality of PLCs 8a to 8c as an integrated portal site 11, the portal site 11 provides the control interface as content optionally selectable through a browser function, and the setting and control of each control interface is possible for content selected in the portal site by an unified operation.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cloud type information management system that integrates and manages a plurality of PLCs that manage and control target devices.

  Conventionally, in factories and the like, a plurality of device devices are arranged along a production process, and these device devices are individually controlled in accordance with a plurality of types of production lots (hereinafter abbreviated as PLC). Is used). The PLC is a control device that controls the movement of the equipment and equipment according to the order and conditions defined by the program.

  The PLC is connected to a display device that displays information and accepts input, for example, a programmable display device. The display device displays the operating status of the control target device connected to the PLC, or displays the control target device. A function of accepting an operation input for giving a control instruction is provided.

  Here, in recent years, as the target system becomes complicated, a plurality of PLCs are used in cooperation with each other. There is also provided a system for remotely managing each PLC through a communication network.

JP-A-6-176067

  However, when a PLC with a different operation system is used for each target device or facility, the operating status of the device to be controlled is displayed and controlled by a display device or a remote management system corresponding to each PLC. It will be. In this case, a separate interface must be introduced for each different operation system, which increases the installation cost and makes it impossible to centralize information and operations, and for users to manage information such as operating conditions. As a result, the operation and management cost becomes complicated and the maintenance management cost increases.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible to centralize information and management control of equipment devices controlled by each PLC with an integrated interface while reducing costs. The problem is to provide a system.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a cloud type information management system that integrates and manages a plurality of PLCs that manage and control a target device,
A management server connected to the plurality of PLCs through an Internet VPN constructed by mutual authentication between specific router devices;
A customer terminal connected to the management server and the plurality of PLCs through a communication network;
The management server includes a web server that provides a portal site that integrates control interfaces for the plurality of PLCs,
The customer terminal includes a browser function capable of accessing the portal site,
The portal site provides the control interface as arbitrarily selectable content through the browser function,
For the content selected on the portal site, each control interface can be set and controlled by a unified operation.

The invention according to claim 2 is the cloud type information management system, wherein the management server is
A data acquisition unit for receiving distribution data from the plurality of PLCs via the Internet VPN;
A data storage unit for storing the distribution data acquired by the data acquisition unit;
A data conversion unit for converting the distribution data stored in the data storage unit into a predetermined format;
A content distribution unit that provides the data converted by the data conversion unit as part of the content to the customer terminal through the portal site;
With
The customer terminal acquires operation information related to setting and control for the control interface on the portal site, and executes a control command specific to the control interface to be operated based on the acquired operation information. And a control command execution unit that directly controls the PLC corresponding to each control interface.

The invention according to claim 3 is the cloud type information management system, wherein the management server includes:
A data acquisition unit for receiving distribution data from the plurality of PLCs via the Internet VPN;
A data storage unit for storing the distribution data acquired by the data acquisition unit;
A data conversion unit for converting the distribution data stored in the data storage unit into a predetermined format;
The portal site management unit that displays the data converted by the data conversion unit on the portal site, and acquires operation information related to setting and control on the portal site;
And a control command execution unit that executes, through the Internet VPN, a control command specific to the control interface to be operated based on the operation information acquired by the portal site management unit.

The invention according to claim 4 is the cloud type information management system,
A display device installed in the local area where the PLC is installed, and receiving and displaying bit information or a collection file from the PLC in the local area or the target device;
The display device
A monitoring unit for detecting the occurrence of an event according to the bit information or the collection file;
And a mail function for transmitting information relating to the detection result to a predetermined destination via the Internet VPN or another communication network based on the detection result by the monitoring unit.

The invention according to claim 5 is the cloud type information management system,
The display device monitoring unit has a function of monitoring information related to a control command defined as inexecutable in a control interface on the portal site based on the bit information or the collection file,
The mail function transmits information on the control command to the data acquisition unit and the predetermined transmission destination based on a detection result by the monitoring unit.

  In the above invention, it is preferable that the Web server is accessible through a communication network other than the Internet VPN, and the portal site includes an authentication unit that determines whether access is possible through the communication network. In the above invention, the content preferably includes a control interface corresponding to an IT device other than the PLC.

  As described above, the present invention is an Internet VPN communication operation technique and a program mounting technique on a dedicated machine. According to the present invention, information and operations can be unified through a portal site using a so-called cloud system. In addition, it is possible to omit communication devices and control interfaces that have been introduced redundantly in the past, and to reduce installation costs and maintenance management costs.

  Specifically, in the cloud type information management system of the present invention, it is possible to construct a secure system bundled with the Internet VPN, so that the user can use his / her own contents from the contents in which network security is secured in advance. It is possible to receive a so-called dedicated cloud service that allows users to freely select only what they want and to simultaneously operate different content systems within the same network.

  As the field equipment on the user side installed in the VPN, it can be constructed by adding only a router without modifying the existing equipment, and since the mechanism such as information display is performed by the Web server, the field equipment distributes data. The system can be realized only by

  Furthermore, functions such as mail can be easily realized by adding functions to a display (touch panel). The display device is a device that is originally connected to a field control device and displayed graphically, and is a device in which alarm information and accumulated data are prepared in the display device. By introducing a program that uses this display function, The above mail function can be easily added.

  In addition, the implementation of the mail function in the display device detects a 1-bit ON / OFF signal (bit information) indicating whether each device is operating normally or a failure has occurred in the display device by a polling method. By doing so, it can be realized by determining the occurrence of an event such as a failure and introducing a program that distributes it to a mail server in the VPN.

  According to the present invention, for the web monitoring of the PLC installed in the VPN, a dedicated web unit is not required for the PLC. By introducing the communication program and the web content into the management server, the user can Information can be collected and controlled indirectly through a browser.

  In addition, according to the present invention, a secure system can be easily constructed. Therefore, PLC web monitoring by the web server can be realized not only by the Internet VPN but also by a general web server and a network environment. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the present invention can be applied not only to the PLC but also to IT equipment, and it is also possible to deal with equipment having no Web function with a communication program corresponding to Web contents and IT equipment.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the whole structure of the cloud type information management system 10 which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of each apparatus which comprises the cloud type information management system 10 which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the portal site which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the whole operation | movement of the cloud type information management system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the operation | movement which mails the emergency stop information of the cloud type information management system which concerns on 1st Embodiment to a customer terminal. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the warning information displayed on the portal site which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of each apparatus which comprises the cloud type information management system 10 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the control action with respect to PLC via the management server which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

[First embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an overall configuration of a cloud type information management system 10 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of each device constituting the cloud type information management system 10.

(Configuration of cloud-type information management system)
In this embodiment, the cloud-type information management system 10 is a system that integrates and manages a plurality of PLCs 8a to 8c that manage and control target devices such as factory machines, other external devices 8d, and the like. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the cloud-type information management system 10 includes a management server 1, a customer terminal 2, a plurality of PLCs 8a to 8c installed in a local area 9 such as a factory, and a PLC 8a. To the display device 5 connected to c through an Internet VPN 71 constructed on the Internet communication network 7.

  The management server 1 is a server device connected to a plurality of PLCs and a plurality of customer terminals 2 through the Internet VPN 71, and can be realized by a server group in which a plurality of functions are distributed. The server group of the management server 1 includes a Web server 1a. The Web server 1a provides a portal site 11a that integrates control interfaces for a plurality of PLCs 8 as shown in FIG. The Web server 1a is realized by a server computer that transmits information such as an HTML (HyperText Markup Language) file, an image file, or a music file in a document system such as WWW (World Wide Web) or software having the function. Then, information such as an HTML document or an image is stored, and content is distributed in response to a request from an application such as a Web browser executed on the server device.

  In this portal site 11a, a control interface for each PLC 8a-c is provided as a content that can be arbitrarily selected through a browser function, and setting of each control interface is performed on the content selected on the portal site by a unified operation. Control is possible. These contents also include a control interface corresponding to an IT device (for example, an external device 8d) other than the PLCs 8a to 8c.

  The customer terminal 2 is an information processing terminal used by an administrator of the local area 9 and is connected to the management server 1 and the plurality of PLCs 8a to c through the Internet communication network 7 or the Internet VPN 71. The customer terminal 2 is provided with an arithmetic processing function by a CPU and a communication processing function by a communication interface, and can be realized by a general-purpose computer such as a personal computer or a dedicated device specialized in function. PDAs (Personal Digital Assistance), mobile phones, smartphones, tablet PCs and the like are included.

  The PLC 8 is a control device that controls the movement of the device and equipment in the local area 9 in accordance with the order and conditions defined by the program, and a plurality of PLCs 8 are installed in the local area. A display device 5 is installed in the local area 9 where the PLC 8 is installed. The display device 5 is a display device that receives and displays distribution data, collected files, or bit information from the PLC 8 in the local area or a target device that is an external device. This bit information is a set of ON / OFF binary signals that indicate whether each device is operating normally or has a failure. Based on this bit information, the operation status of each device is instantly displayed. It can be displayed.

  The Internet VPN 71 is a communication network in which a virtual dedicated line is constructed using the Internet communication network 7. In this embodiment, the Internet VPN 71 is constructed by a tunneling method by mutual authentication between specific dedicated router devices 3 a to 3 d. It is a secure communication network. The Internet communication network 7 connects various communication lines (public lines such as telephone lines, ISDN lines, ADSL lines, and optical lines, dedicated lines, and wireless communication networks) using the communication protocol TCP / IP. The Internet VPN 71 includes a LAN such as an intranet (company network) or a home network using 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX.

  The dedicated router devices 3a to 3d are relay devices having an address conversion function for connecting to the Internet VPN 71. The dedicated router devices 3a to 3d perform a relay process with the Internet VPN 71 by selecting a communication path and mutual conversion of data (signal). In the ISO OSI layer 3rd layer, packet communication is performed.

(Function modules of each device)
Next, the internal configuration of each device will be described in detail. The “module” used in the description refers to a functional unit that is configured by hardware such as an apparatus or a device, software having the function, or a combination thereof, and achieves a predetermined operation. .

(1) Management server 1
In the present embodiment, the management server 1 includes a data acquisition unit 14, a data storage unit 15, a data conversion unit 16, a portal site management unit 17, and a control command execution unit 18.

  The data acquisition unit 14 is a module that receives distribution data from the plurality of PLCs 8 a to 8 c and each data from the display device 5 through the Internet VPN 71. The data acquired by this data acquisition unit is stored in the data storage unit 15. The data accumulation unit 15 is a storage device that accumulates the distribution data acquired by the data acquisition unit 14.

  The data conversion unit 16 is a module that converts distribution data stored in the data storage unit 15 into a predetermined format. Specifically, since the data is distributed from the PLCs 8a to 8c in a data format unique to each PLC, the data is displayed on the portal site 11a so that it can be displayed on the portal site 11a and operated. Convert to a possible data format. The converted data is sent to the portal site management unit 17.

  The portal site management unit 17 is a module that displays the data converted by the data conversion unit 16 as content on the portal site and acquires operation information related to setting and control of the control interface on the portal site. For example, the portal site management unit 17 constructs the portal site 11a in a data format such as HTML and uploads it to the Web server 1a.

  The control command execution unit 18 is a module that executes a control command specific to the control interface to be operated through the Internet VPN 71 based on the operation information acquired by the portal site management unit 17.

  In addition, the Web server 1 a included in the management server 1 includes a dedicated router device 3 c and an authentication unit 19. The dedicated router device 3 c is a module that transmits and receives various data as packets from the PLC 8, the display device 5, and the customer terminal 2 through the Internet VPN 7. Further, it can be accessed through a communication network other than the Internet VPN 71.

  Various communication lines (optical lines such as FTTH, public lines such as ADSL lines, dedicated lines, and wireless communication networks) are connected to communication networks other than the Internet VPN 7 using the communication protocol TCP / IP. The IP network includes a LAN such as an intranet (company network) or a home network based on 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, or the like.

  The authentication unit 19 is a module that determines whether or not access through a communication network is possible, and is realized by a dedicated authentication server in the present embodiment. This authentication server is a computer that verifies the legitimacy of the accessor or software having the function. For example, the authentication server acquires a combination of a user name and a password, and whether the accessor has the right, Confirm whether the person is the person himself / herself. By confirming the accessor by such authentication processing, it is possible to identify the user and provide different services for each user. In order to secure the confidentiality of the authentication data, encryption of the authentication data or a digital certificate may be used.

(2) Customer terminal 2
The customer terminal 2 includes a communication interface 21, an application execution unit 24, an input interface 23, and an output interface 22.

  The communication interface 21 is a module that transmits and receives various data as packets from the PLC 8, the display device 5, and the customer terminal 2 through the Internet VPN 71.

  The application execution unit 24 is a module that executes an application such as a general OS, browser software, or a media viewing application, and is usually realized by a CPU or the like. The application execution unit 24 includes a browser unit 24a.

  The browser unit 24a is a module for browsing web pages that is constructed by executing browser software. The browser unit 24a accesses a portal site, downloads HTML (HyperText Markup Language) files, image files, and the like from the Internet. Analyze the layout and display / play it back.

(3) Display device 5
The display device 5 includes a monitoring unit 51, a mail function 52, a display unit 53, a control unit 54, and an operation interface 55. In the present embodiment, the display unit 53 is a touch panel in which a display and a part of the operation interface 55 are integrated, and the control unit 54 displays information on the display unit 53 and operations on the touch panel of the operation interface 55. Control to be linked.

  The monitoring unit 51 is a module that detects the occurrence of an event according to distribution data, bit information, or a collected file. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the monitoring unit 51 is input by monitoring an interface (I / F) through which an ON / OFF signal (I / O bit information) input from the PLCs 8a to 8c is input / output. Whether the bit information is ON or OFF is detected, and occurrence of an event such as failure of each device or excessive temperature rise is determined. In response to the occurrence of this event, the control unit 54 executes alert display and audio output through the display unit 53 and other output devices. In addition, although the monitoring part 51 in this embodiment attaches importance to immediacy and makes bit information monitoring object, you may make it receive and search distribution data and a collection file together with this.

  As described above, by monitoring bit information and the like together with the distribution data, the monitoring unit 51 has a function of monitoring and displaying a control command defined as inexecutable by the control interface on the portal site. It has been. More specifically, the monitoring unit 51 includes a control command execution unit 51a, and can execute control commands for the PLCs 8a to 8c in response to the occurrence of the event. The control command in the control command execution unit 51 a is executed by the monitoring unit 51 automatically or after waiting for a user operation through the operation interface 55 when the occurrence of a specific event is detected. In addition, the control unit 54 can customize the association and setting of an event generation condition and an alert output or control command to be executed when the event occurs through the touch panel (the display unit 53 and the operation I / F 55). It has become.

  Information regarding this customization can also be transmitted to the control command execution unit 18 on the management server 1 side and held as a setting on the control command execution unit 18 side. As a result, the control command execution units 51a and 18 on both the display device 5 side and the management server 1 side can be linked to each other, and the control command when a specific event occurs cannot be executed on the management server 1 side. In addition, the execution regulation can be further strengthened, and the control command that cannot be executed can be executed only on the display device 5 side.

  The mail function 52 is a module that transmits information related to the detection result to a predetermined destination via the Internet VPN 7 or other communication network based on the detection result by the monitoring unit 51. Based on this, information related to the control command is also transmitted to the data acquisition unit 14 and a predetermined transmission destination. Specifically, this mail function 52 is controlled by a control command executed by the control command execution unit 51, and as part of the association and setting of event occurrence conditions, control commands, and alert outputs in the control unit 54, Conditions and descriptions can be set. As a result, the information to be notified by the mail function and the notification conditions (the type of event and the generation condition) are displayed on the display unit 53 and the contents of the control command that can be executed only on the display device 5 and the event generation condition. The control command execution unit 18 on the management server 1 side displays the control and settings for control commands that cannot be executed or restricted on execution on the management server 1 side. It can be performed in cooperation with the device 5 and can be prepared in advance for handling of control commands that are not executable or subject to execution restrictions (display on the portal site when a specific event occurs, error control, etc.) When an event occurs, a quick and reliable response can be made.

(Operation of cloud-type information management system)
The operation of the cloud type information management system having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the cloud information management system according to the present embodiment.

  First, the PLCs 8a to c monitor the operation of each device (S201), generate bit information according to the operation of each device (S202), and transmit this bit information to the display device 5 (S203). . The display device 5 receives the bit information (S101), and determines whether or not the bit information is emergency information by determining whether the bit information indicates an ON signal or an OFF signal (S102). If it is not emergency information (“N” in S102), normal display for displaying the operation status of each device on the screen is performed (S103). Thereafter, whether the information is emergency information every time bit information is received. The operation of judging whether or not is repeated.

  On the other hand, when it is emergency information (“Y” in S102), the emergency stop information is displayed on the screen (S104), and after the emergency stop process is performed, every time bit information is received, the emergency information is displayed. The operation of judging whether or not there is repeated. In the PLCs 8a to 8c, for example, the operation status such as the production number and temperature of each device is generated as distribution data every predetermined time (S204), and the distribution data is transmitted to the management server 1 (S205).

  The Web server 1a in the management server 1 receives the distribution data transmitted from each of the PLCs 8a to 8c (S301), generates a portal site 11a in which the control interfaces for the plurality of PLCs 8a to 8c are integrated (S302), and the user Web data of the portal site 11a (including tables, graphs, and other GUIs (Graphical User Interface)) is transmitted as content in response to the access from (S303).

  The customer terminal 2 receives the Web data of the portal site 11a in response to a user operation (S401), analyzes the layout, and displays / reproduces it as shown in FIG. 3 (S402). Thereafter, when the user performs a user operation such as production speed of a specific device or temperature adjustment, for example, the customer terminal 2 acquires an operation signal (S403) and sends the operation signal to the management server 1. Send. When acquiring the operation information (S304), the portal site management unit 17 of the management server 1 transmits the operation information to the control command execution unit 18, and the control command execution unit 18 is specific to the control interface that is the operation target. The control command is executed. Then, the control command is input to the PLCs 8a to 8c through the Internet VPN 71 (S206). PLC8a-c controls each corresponding apparatus apparatus based on the operation signal (S207).

  Next, the mail function according to this system will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of mailing emergency stop information of the cloud-type information management system according to the present embodiment to the customer terminal, and FIG. 6 shows warning information displayed on the portal site according to the present embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example.

  First, the PLCs 8a to 8c monitor the operation of each device (S501), and generate bit information according to the operation of each device (S502). And PLC8a-c transmits this bit information to the display apparatus 5 (S503). The display device 5 receives the bit information (S601), and determines whether the bit information is emergency information (S602).

  If it is not emergency information (“N” in S602), normal display for displaying the operating status of each device on the screen is performed (S603), and thereafter whether or not the emergency information is received every time bit information is received. The operation of judging whether or not is repeated.

  On the other hand, if it is emergency information (“Y” in S602), the emergency stop information is displayed on the screen (S604), the emergency stop signal is transmitted to the PLCs 8a to c, and (S605) an emergency stop mail is sent. It transmits to the management server 1 (S606). Thereafter, every time bit information is received, the operation of determining whether or not the information is emergency information is repeated.

  The PLCs 8a to 8c receive the emergency stop signal (S504) and stop the driving of the device according to the stop signal (S505). On the other hand, when receiving the mail, the management server 1 generates emergency stop information converted from the emergency stop mail into a data format such as HTML, and transmits the emergency stop information to the customer terminal 2 of the administrator of the emergency stop information (S701). When the customer terminal 2 receives the emergency stop information (S801), as shown in FIG. 6, a window 11b showing the emergency stop information pops up on the screen (S802), and alert information is notified in real time. ing.

(Operation / Effect in Embodiment)
As described above, according to the present embodiment, information and operations can be unified through a portal site using a so-called cloud system, and communication devices and control interfaces that have been introduced in the past can be omitted. It is possible to reduce the introduction cost and maintenance management cost.

  More specifically, in the cloud-type information management system 10 of the present embodiment, a secure system bound by the Internet VPN 71 can be constructed, so that the user has secured network security in advance on the portal site 11a. From the contents, it is possible to freely select only the ones that the user wants to use, and at the same time, a so-called dedicated cloud service that can simultaneously operate different content systems in the same network can be obtained.

  As the field equipment on the user side installed in the local area 9, it can be constructed by adding only a router without modifying the existing equipment, and the mechanism such as information display is performed by the Web server 1a. A system can be realized only by data distribution.

  Furthermore, functions such as mail can be easily realized by adding functions to the display device 5. This display device 5 is originally connected to a field control device and displayed graphically. Alarm information and stored data are prepared in the display device. By introducing a program that uses this display function, the display device 5 is provided. The mail function can be easily added.

  In addition, the mail function is implemented in the display device 5 by detecting specific bit information in the display device 5 by a polling method to determine the occurrence of an event such as a failure and distributing it to the management server 1 side in the VPN 71. This can be realized by introducing a program to do this.

  According to the present embodiment, for the web monitoring of the PLCs 8a to 8c installed in the VPN 71, the PLCs 8a to 8c do not require a dedicated web unit, and a communication program and web content are introduced into the management server 1. Thus, the user can arbitrarily select an indirect method through the browser and a direct method from the PLC to collect and control information.

  According to the present embodiment, since a secure system can be easily constructed, the web monitoring for the PLCs 8a to 8c by the web server can be realized not only by the Internet VPN 71 but by a general web server and network environment. In addition, according to the present embodiment, the present invention can be applied not only to the PLC but also to an IT device, and can also be applied to a device having no Web function with a communication program corresponding to Web content and the IT device.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment described above, the PLCs 8a to 8c are controlled via the management server 1 by the operation of the customer terminal 2, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the management is performed as in the present embodiment. It is also possible to control the PLCs 8a to 8c directly from the customer terminal 2 without going through the server 1.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of each device constituting the cloud-type information management system 10 according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control operation for the PLCs 8a to 8c according to the second embodiment. FIG. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the functions and the like are the same unless otherwise specified, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the management server 1 includes content that the portal site management unit 17 includes in the content the data converted by the data conversion unit 16 and is distributed to the customer terminal 2 through the portal site 11a. It has a distribution unit 17a. The content distributed by the content distribution unit 17a includes Web data (including tables, graphs, and other GUIs (Graphical User Interface)) as well as a Java (registered trademark) applet, for example. A communication program (communication protocol and control command) for the PLCs 8a to 8c is also included.

  The customer terminal 2 includes an application execution unit 24 and a control command execution unit 24b. The control command execution unit 24b directly communicates with the PLCs 8a to 8c by executing a program (communication protocol, control command, etc.) included in the content downloaded from the portal site management unit 17, and the operation status of the PLCs 8a to 8c. The distribution data is a module that displays the distribution data on the screen or directly controls the PLCs 8a to 8c. In this embodiment, the control command execution unit 24b is activated and executed as a plug-in of the browser unit 24a.

  Specifically, when the browser unit 24a accesses the portal site of the management server 1, the control command execution unit 24b calls the control command execution unit 24b to start and execute, downloads content from the content distribution unit 17a, Or the data is displayed on the screen through the browser function of the customer terminal 2 to display the distribution data such as the operating status of the PLCs 8a to 8c, or the operation target based on the operation information acquired in the browser unit 24a Using the communication protocol of the PLCs 8a to 8c, the communication data is directly communicated with the PLCs 8a to 8c via the Internet communication network 7, and the distribution data such as the operating status of the PLCs 8a to 8c is acquired and displayed on the control interface. Furthermore, when the control command execution unit 24b acquires operation information related to control of the control interface on the portal site 11a through the browser function, the control command specific to the control interface that is the operation target is acquired based on the acquired operation information. To directly control the PLCs 8a to 8c corresponding to the respective control interfaces.

  As described above, the customer terminal 2 and the PLCs 8a to 8c communicate directly with each other by transmitting and receiving distribution data, control commands, and the like regarding the control target device. At this time, the PLCs 8a to 8c are also synchronized with the management server 1 and transmit, for example, distribution data related to the control target device to the management server 1 at predetermined time intervals.

(Control operation for PLCs 8a to 8c)
Next, the control operation for the PLCs 8a to 8c will be described. First, the content distribution unit 17a generates content including Web data that is a portal site 11a in which control interfaces for a plurality of PLCs 8a to c are integrated, and communication programs (communication protocols and control commands) of the PLCs 8a to c of each company, These contents are transmitted according to the access from (S901).

  The customer terminal 2 downloads content according to the user operation (S902), analyzes the layout of the Web data, and displays / reproduces the portal site 11a (S903). At this time, based on the communication protocol of the PLCs 8a to 8c to be operated, communication is performed directly via the Internet communication network 7, data on the operating status of the PLCs 8a to 8c is acquired, and the PLCs 8a to 8 of each company are connected to the control interface. The operational status of c is displayed.

  After that, when the user performs a user operation such as production speed of a specific device or temperature adjustment through the portal site 11a, the control command execution unit 24b acquires operation information related to setting and control for the control interface on the portal site. (S904).

  The control command execution unit 24b executes a control command specific to the control interface that is the operation target, based on the acquired operation information. By executing this control command, the control command is directly transmitted to the PLCs 8a to 8c via the Internet communication network 7 based on the communication protocol unique to the device to be operated (S905). The PLCs 8a to 8c receive the control command (S906) and control each corresponding device based on the control command (S907).

(Action / Effect)
According to this embodiment, by introducing a communication program corresponding to each of the PLCs 8a to 8c into the customer terminal 2, the user can perform unified control even for a plurality of PLCs having different communication standards. Information can be collected and controlled immediately and easily on the interface.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Management server 1a ... Web server 2 ... Terminal for customer 3a-d ... Dedicated router apparatus 3c ... Dedicated router apparatus 5 ... Display apparatus 7 ... Internet communication network 8 ... PLC
8a-c ... PLC
8d ... External device 9 ... Local area 10 ... Cloud type information management system 11a ... Portal site 11b ... Window 14 ... Data acquisition unit 15 ... Data storage unit 16 ... Data conversion unit 17 ... Portal site management unit 17a ... Content distribution unit 18 ... Control command execution unit 19 ... Authentication unit 21 ... Communication interface 22 ... Output interface 23 ... Input interface 24 ... Application execution unit 24a ... Browser unit 24b ... Control command execution unit 51 ... Monitoring unit 51a ... Control command execution unit 52 ... Mail function 53 ... Display unit 54 ... Display control unit 55 ... Operation interface (I / F)
71 ... Internet VPN

Claims (7)

A cloud-type information management system that manages and integrates a plurality of PLCs that manage and control target devices,
A management server connected to the plurality of PLCs through an Internet VPN constructed by mutual authentication between specific router devices;
A customer terminal connected to the management server and the plurality of PLCs through a communication network;
The management server includes a web server that provides a portal site that integrates control interfaces for the plurality of PLCs,
The customer terminal includes a browser function capable of accessing the portal site,
The portal site provides the control interface as arbitrarily selectable content through the browser function,
A cloud-type information management system, wherein the control interface can be set and controlled by a unified operation for content selected on the portal site. The management server
A data acquisition unit for receiving distribution data from the plurality of PLCs via the Internet VPN;
A data storage unit for storing the distribution data acquired by the data acquisition unit;
A data conversion unit for converting the distribution data stored in the data storage unit into a predetermined format;
A content distribution unit that includes the data converted by the data conversion unit in the content and provides the customer terminal through the portal site;
With
The customer terminal acquires operation information related to setting and control for the control interface on the portal site, and executes a control command specific to the control interface to be operated based on the acquired operation information. The cloud type information management system according to claim 1, further comprising a control command execution unit that directly controls the PLC corresponding to each control interface. The management server
A data acquisition unit for receiving distribution data from the plurality of PLCs via the Internet VPN;
A data storage unit for storing the distribution data acquired by the data acquisition unit;
A data conversion unit for converting the distribution data stored in the data storage unit into a predetermined format;
The portal site management unit that includes the data converted by the data conversion unit to be displayed in the portal site and displayed on the portal site, and acquires operation information related to setting and control for the control interface on the portal site;
A control command execution unit that executes a control command specific to a control interface to be operated through the Internet VPN based on operation information acquired by the portal site management unit. 1. A cloud-type information management system according to 1. A display device installed in the local area where the PLC is installed, and receiving and displaying bit information or a collection file from the PLC in the local area or the target device;
The display device
A monitoring unit for detecting the occurrence of an event according to the bit information or the collection file;
4. A mail function for transmitting information related to a detection result to a predetermined destination via the Internet VPN or another communication network based on a detection result by the monitoring unit. The cloud-type information management system described in any of the above. The monitoring unit of the display device has a function of monitoring information related to a control command defined as inexecutable by a control interface on the portal site based on bit information or a collection file,
5. The cloud type information management according to claim 4, wherein the mail function transmits information on the control command to the data acquisition unit and the predetermined transmission destination based on a detection result by the monitoring unit. system. The Web server is accessible through a communication network other than the Internet VPN,
The cloud-type information management system according to claim 1, wherein the portal site includes an authentication unit that determines whether or not access through the communication network is possible.   7. The cloud type information management system according to claim 1, wherein the content includes a control interface corresponding to an IT device other than the PLC.