JP2015036936A - Controller for collecting information about multiple machines or controller and transmitting by electronic mail - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a controller for collecting information about a plurality of machines or another controller and transmitting the collected information by electronic mail, in which processing does in no case concentrate on the controller transmitting and receiving electronic mail to and from a terminal device.SOLUTION: A controller (not shown) for machine tools 72, 76 or robots 71, 75 within manufacturing facilities 70, 74 includes communication settings information storage means 110 (see Fig. 3, Fig. 7) for storing the IP addresses, user names, or passwords of other controllers except the controller itself. When a controller for the machine tool 72 or the robot 71 receives a request for the acquisition of electronic mail from an electronic mail receiving portable terminal 79, electronic mail is received from other controllers than the controller itself stored by the communication settings information storage means 110 to obtain event information about the controllers.

Description

  The present invention relates to a numerical controller, a robot controller, and a programmable logic controller that control a machine tool and an industrial machine.

  Events that personnel in charge of manufacturing equipment (machine tools, robots, and industrial machines) controlled by control devices (numerical controllers, robot controllers, and programmable logic controllers that control machine tools and industrial machines) should be aware of (for example, Remote monitoring systems are used for the purpose of monitoring manufacturing facility alarm information and manufacturing facility operation information.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining an example of a remote monitoring system using a conventional electronic mail system. The manufacturing facility 50 includes a robot 51, a machine tool 52, and a mail transmission device 53. The manufacturing facility 54 includes a robot 55, a machine tool 56, and a mail transmission device 57.

  The mail transmission device 53 in the manufacturing facility 50 obtains event information from the machine tool 52 and the control device (not shown) of the robot 51 in the same manufacturing facility by means other than electronic mail, and creates an electronic mail. Then, the mail transmission device 53 delivers the created electronic mail to the mail server 60 via the router 61 (see the electronic mail delivery 62). Similarly, the mail transmission device 57 in the manufacturing facility 54 obtains event information by means other than electronic mail from a machine tool 56 or a control device (not shown) of the robot 55 in the same manufacturing facility, and creates an electronic mail. To do. Then, the mail transmission device 57 delivers the created electronic mail to the mail server 60 via the router 61 (see the electronic mail delivery 63).

  The e-mail receiving portable terminal 64 transmits an e-mail acquisition request to the mail server 60 via the wireless LAN device 68, and receives the e-mail stored in the mail server 60 (see e-mail reception 65). Similarly, the e-mail receiving portable terminal 66 transmits an e-mail acquisition request to the mail server 60 via the wireless LAN device 68, and receives the e-mail stored in the mail server 60 (see e-mail reception 67). .

  The remote monitoring system can be used for portable terminal devices (for example, mobile phones and portable personal computers) held by persons in charge of manufacturing facilities located away from the site where the manufacturing equipment is installed, or on desktop computers. Deliver e-mails that contain events that should be known by the person in charge of the manufacturing facility. The person in charge of the manufacturing facility can know that the event that the person in charge of the manufacturing facility should know is occurring in the manufacturing facility by receiving the e-mail. In the manufacturing facility, the mail client operates on an electronic mail transmission personal computer that is a device different from the control device, and the mail server operates on a device (for example, a mail server personal computer) separate from the manufacturing facility and the terminal device.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a mail for sending an e-mail to a terminal device that indicates the end of machining or abnormal stop of a machine tool by receiving and decoding a machining progress signal or an abnormality occurrence signal from a numerical control device provided in the machine tool. A technique is disclosed in which a transmission device is connected to a plurality of machine tools to monitor the end of machining or abnormal stop of the plurality of machine tools.

  In Patent Document 2, a computer that controls a machine tool sends an e-mail containing machining result information and alarm information of the machine tool via a mail server to a personal computer away from the terminal device or machine tool. Techniques to do this are disclosed.

JP 2003-15712 A Japanese Patent No. 4881516

  As described with reference to FIG. 14, when a remote monitoring system that collects event information of each manufacturing facility by e-mail is realized by a general e-mail mechanism, event information of each manufacturing facility is a means other than e-mail. Such as a device that collects e-mails that contain collected event information (e-mail sending device) and a device that centrally receives e-mails from each manufacturing facility and sends e-mails to terminal devices (mail server) Thus, the division of roles is fixed, and e-mails from the respective mail transmitting devices are concentrated on the mail server. Furthermore, e-mail acquisition requests from a plurality of terminal devices are concentrated on the mail server. If the mail server fails, there is an inherent risk that the entire remote monitoring system will stop.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide each control device with both functions of a reception side mail server and a reception side mail client, so that even when there are a plurality of terminal devices, each terminal device can be transferred to a separate control device. By providing a control device that can send mail acquisition requests and collect information on multiple machines or control devices that do not concentrate processing on the control device that sends and receives e-mail to and from the terminal device and sends it by e-mail is there.

  The invention according to claim 1 of the present application is a means for transmitting the information of the machine or the control device from a control device that controls the machine to a terminal device at a location remote from the control device, and another control device. In a control apparatus having communication setting information storage means for storing setting information for communication, an e-mail creating means for creating an e-mail including event information including at least one event that has occurred in the control apparatus or the machine; An e-mail acquisition request receiving means for receiving an e-mail acquisition request from the terminal device, and an e-mail creating means of the other control device included in the setting information stored in the communication setting information storage means An e-mail collecting means for instructing to collect the e-mail accumulated by the e-mail accumulating means, and the e-mail collecting means In response to the instruction, an e-mail acquisition request transmission unit that transmits an e-mail acquisition request to the other control device included in the setting information stored in the communication setting information storage unit, and an electronic by the e-mail acquisition request transmission unit An e-mail receiving unit that receives an e-mail from the other control device transmitted based on a mail acquisition request, an e-mail created by the e-mail creating unit, and an e-mail received from the other control unit E-mail storage means, e-mail created by the control device accumulated by the e-mail storage means, and e-mail transmission means for sending e-mail received from the other control device to the terminal device, It is a control device characterized by comprising.

  The invention according to claim 2 communicates with the control device that controls the machine and means for transmitting the information of the machine or the control device by e-mail to the terminal device at a location remote from the control device and other control devices. In a control apparatus having communication setting information storage means for storing setting information for the above, an e-mail creating means for creating an e-mail including event information including at least one event that has occurred in the control apparatus or the machine, and An e-mail created by an e-mail acquisition request receiving means for receiving an e-mail acquisition request from a terminal device, and an e-mail creating means of the other control device included in the setting information stored in the communication setting information storage means An e-mail collecting means for instructing to collect e-mails accumulated by the accumulating means, and instructions from the e-mail collecting means The e-mail acquisition request transmitting means for transmitting an e-mail acquisition request to the other control device included in the setting information stored in the communication setting information storage means, and the e-mail acquisition by the e-mail acquisition request transmitting means An e-mail receiving means for receiving an e-mail from the other control device transmitted based on the request, and an electronic for storing the e-mail created by the e-mail creating means and the e-mail received from the other control device In order to combine the event information included in the email storing means and the email created by the control device accumulated by the email storing means and the email received from the other control device, An e-mail re-creating means to be created, and an e-mail created by the e-mail re-creating means to be sent to the terminal device And e-mail transmission unit for a control device, characterized in that it comprises a.

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the e-mail acquisition request receiving means and the e-mail sending means send a POP server processing means for sending an e-mail to a POP client based on a POP (Post Office Protocol) communication protocol, 2. The electronic mail acquisition request transmitting means and the electronic mail receiving means comprise POP client processing means for receiving an electronic mail from a POP server based on a POP communication protocol. The control device according to any one of 2.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the IMAP server processing means for the e-mail acquisition request receiving means and the e-mail sending means to send an e-mail to an IMAP client based on a communication protocol of IMAP (Internet Mail Access Protocol). The IMAP client processing means for receiving the e-mail from the IMAP server based on the IMAP communication protocol, wherein the e-mail acquisition request transmitting means and the e-mail receiving means comprise IMAP client processing means. The control device according to any one of Items 2 above.

  According to the present invention, each control device is provided with both functions of a receiving side mail server and a receiving side mail client, so that even when there are a plurality of terminal devices, each terminal device sends an e-mail acquisition request to a separate control device. It is possible to provide a control device that can collect information of a plurality of machines or control devices that can be transmitted and that does not concentrate on the control device that transmits and receives electronic mail to and from the terminal device, and transmits the information by electronic mail.

It is a figure explaining the example of the remote monitoring system using this invention. It is a figure explaining the internal structure of a terminal device. It is a figure explaining the internal structure of the control apparatus in 1st embodiment. It is an example of the setting information memorize | stored in the communication setting information storage means required in order to transmit an email acquisition request to each control apparatus. It is an example of the electronic mail containing an event and event information. It is a figure explaining an e-mail preparation means. It is a figure explaining the internal structure of the control apparatus in 2nd embodiment. It is an example of the electronic mail containing the event of multiple control apparatuses, and event information. It is a flowchart of the process which the control apparatus in 1st embodiment performs. It is a flowchart of the process which the control apparatus in 2nd embodiment performs. It is a figure explaining the basic flow of the email by an email system. It is an example of the communication sequence which transmits an email from a POP server to a POP client. It is an example of the communication sequence which transmits an email to an IMAP client from an IMAP server. It is a figure explaining the example of the remote monitoring system using the conventional electronic mail system.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In this specification, a control device that controls a machine tool or a robot, or a control device that controls a machine by collectively referring to a programmable controller. This control device usually includes a processor (CPU), a memory, and a communication interface.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a remote monitoring system using the present invention. The manufacturing facility 70 includes a robot 71 and a machine tool 72. The manufacturing equipment 74 includes a robot 75 and a machine tool 76. The control devices (see FIGS. 3 and 7) of the machine tools 72 and 76 or the robots 71 and 75 in the manufacturing facilities 70 and 74 are communication setting information for storing IP addresses, user names, and passwords of control devices other than themselves. The storage means 110 (refer FIG. 3, FIG. 7) is provided. The router 83 has a function of determining which route the electronic mail should be transferred through, and the electronic mail is distributed via the wireless LAN device 78.

  When the control device of the machine tool 72 or the robot 71 receives an e-mail acquisition request from the e-mail receiving portable terminal 79, an e-mail is sent from another control device other than itself stored in the communication setting information storage means 110. To obtain event information of the control device. That is, the robot 71 and the machine tool 72 in the manufacturing facility 70 can exchange e-mails with each other. In FIG. 1, the e-mail receiving portable terminal 79 transmits an e-mail acquisition request to the control device of the machine tool 72 and receives the e-mail stored in the control device of the machine tool 72.

When the control device of the machine tool 76 or the robot 75 receives an e-mail acquisition request from the e-mail receiving portable terminal, the e-mail is received from another control device other than itself stored in the communication setting information storage means. Thus, event information of the control device is obtained. That is, the robot 71 and the machine tool 72 in the manufacturing facility 70 can exchange e-mails with each other. The mobile terminal for receiving e-mail transmits an e-mail acquisition request to the control device, and receives e-mail stored in the control device. In FIG. 1, the e-mail receiving portable terminal 81 transmits an e-mail acquisition request to the control device of the machine tool 76 and receives an e-mail stored in the control device of the machine tool 76.
In FIG. 1, the electronic mail receiving portable terminal 79 and the machine tool 72 are connected wirelessly via the wireless LAN device 78, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the electronic mail receiving portable terminal is wired. You may make it connect. Further, the portable electronic mail receiving terminal may be a desktop electronic mail receiving personal computer that is difficult to carry.

  FIG. 4 is an example of setting information stored in the communication setting information storage means 110 necessary for transmitting an e-mail acquisition request to each control device. In FIG. 4, <Machine 1> machine name, IP address, user name, password, and <Machine 2> machine name, IP address, user name, password are settings for sending an e-mail acquisition request. Information is preset in the communication setting information storage unit 110.

  Next, the internal configuration of the e-mail receiving portable terminal will be described with reference to FIG. A terminal device 90 such as an e-mail receiving portable terminal 79 or 81 shown in FIG. 1 includes an e-mail receiving means 92 and an e-mail acquisition request transmitting means 93 in a MUA (Mail User Agent) 91. The MUA 91 is a means conventionally used in an electronic mail system.

Next, the internal configuration of a control device that controls a machine tool or a robot installed as a manufacturing facility will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the control device 100 according to the first embodiment. The control device 100 used in the first embodiment (corresponding to claim 1) of the present invention is an MUA 101, an MRA (Mail Retrieval Agent) 104, an e-mail collection means 107, an event generated by the control device or the machine. An e-mail creating unit 108 for creating an e-mail including at least one event information, an e-mail accumulating unit 109 for accumulating an e-mail created by the e-mail creating unit 108 (see FIG. 5) and an e-mail received by the MUA 101 Have The control device 100 includes a communication setting information storage unit 110 that stores setting information for communicating with another control device referred to by the e-mail collection unit 107 in advance.

  The MRA 104 includes an e-mail transmission unit 105 and an e-mail acquisition request reception unit 106. Further, the MUA 101 includes an e-mail receiving unit 102 and an e-mail acquisition request transmitting unit 103.

  The MRA 104 sends electronic information from the control device that controls the machine to a terminal device (for example, the portable terminal for receiving e-mails 79 and 81 (see FIG. 1)) that is separated from the control device. It is a means to send by e-mail.

  When the e-mail acquisition request receiving means 106 of the MRA 104 receives an e-mail acquisition request from the terminal device 90 (see FIG. 2) such as the e-mail receiving portable terminals 79 and 81 (see FIG. 1), other control is performed. In order to collect event information (such as alarm information and operation information) from the apparatus, an e-mail acquisition request is transmitted from the e-mail acquisition request transmission means 103 of the MUA 101.

  In response to an instruction from the e-mail collection unit 107, the e-mail acquisition request transmission unit 103 of the MUA 101 transmits an e-mail acquisition request to the other control device included in the setting information stored in the communication setting information storage unit 110. . The e-mail receiving means 102 of the MUA 101 receives an e-mail transmitted from another control device in response to the e-mail acquisition request.

  The e-mail storage unit 109 stores e-mails from other control devices received by the e-mail receiving unit 102 of the MUA 101. The e-mail creating means 108 creates an e-mail based on the event information of the control device 100 itself. The e-mail storage unit 109 also stores the created e-mail.

  The e-mail transmission means 105 of the MRA 104 sends the e-mail created by the e-mail creation means 108 together with e-mails from other control devices to the terminal device (e-mail receiving portable terminals 79 and 81 (see FIG. 1)). Send.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of an electronic mail including an event and event information. The e-mail 95 includes event information 97 such as a sender 96, a mail subject, a header 96 for specifying a receiving side, and alarm information. The event information 97 includes events 98a, 98b, and 98c that have occurred. In FIG. 5, <Alarm Information> is event information, and each of ALM_1122, ALM_3344, and ALM_5566 occurs.

Here, the e-mail creating means 108 will be supplementarily described with reference to FIG. In the control device 100, the event detection unit 120 detects an event that has occurred in the control device 100 or a machine controlled by the control device 100. The event information creating unit 121 creates event information including at least one event that has occurred in the control device 100 or the machine. The event information storage unit 122 stores the event information created by the event information creation unit 121. The event information change detection unit 123 detects a change in the event information accumulated by the event information accumulation unit 122.
When the event information change detecting unit 123 detects the change of the event information, the e-mail creating unit 108 acquires the event information accumulated by the event information accumulating unit 122 and sends an e-mail including the event information. create. The e-mail created by the e-mail creating unit 108 is accumulated in the e-mail accumulating unit 109.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the control device 200 according to the second embodiment. The control device 200 used in the second embodiment is further provided with an e-mail recreating unit 111 in the control device 100 of the first embodiment. The control device 200 used in the second embodiment of the present invention (corresponding to claim 2) is provided in advance with communication setting information storage means 110 that stores setting information for communicating with other control devices.

  When receiving the email acquisition request from the terminal device, the control device 200 transmits the email acquisition request to the other control device in order to collect event information (alarm information, operation information, etc.) from the other control device. Then, the electronic mail is received from the other control device, and the received electronic mail from the other control device is stored in the mailbox (electronic mail storage means 109). The e-mail recreating unit 111 combines the event information of the control device 200 and the event information of the other control device included in the e-mail from the other control device acquired via the e-mail receiving unit 102. And re-create the e-mail (see FIG. 8). The e-mail re-created by the e-mail re-creation unit 111 is transmitted via the e-mail transmission unit 105 of the MRA 104 to the terminal device that requests acquisition of the e-mail received by the e-mail acquisition request reception unit 106.

  FIG. 8 is an example of an electronic mail including events and event information of a plurality of control devices. In the example of the e-mail shown in FIG. 5, it is an example of an e-mail that further includes alarm information (see event information 99) of another control device.

Here, processing in the control device of each embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of processing performed by the control device according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, it demonstrates according to each step.
[Step SA01] Check whether there is an e-mail acquisition request from the terminal device. When there is an e-mail acquisition request (YES), the process proceeds to step SA02, and when there is no e-mail acquisition request (NO), the process ends.
[Step SA02] It is determined whether it is necessary to collect e-mails from other control devices. If it is necessary to collect e-mails from other control devices (YES), the process proceeds to step SA03. If e-mails need not be collected from other control apparatuses (NO), the process proceeds to step SA06.
[Step SA03] An e-mail acquisition request is transmitted to another control device.
[Step SA04] It is confirmed whether there is an e-mail received from another control apparatus that has transmitted the e-mail acquisition request. If there is an e-mail received from another control device (YES), the process proceeds to step SA05. When there is no e-mail received from another control device (NO), it waits to receive an e-mail from another control device.
[Step SA05] The received e-mail is stored in the e-mail storage means.
[Step SA06] The e-mail created by the e-mail creating means is stored in the e-mail storing means.
[Step SA07] It is determined whether or not an electronic mail exists in the electronic mail storage means. If an electronic mail exists in the electronic mail storage means (YES), the process proceeds to step SA08. If no electronic mail exists in the electronic mail storage means (NO), the process ends.
[Step SA08] E-mail is taken out from the e-mail storage means.
[Step SA09] An e-mail is transmitted to the terminal device, and the process ends.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of processing performed by the control device according to the second embodiment. Hereinafter, it demonstrates according to each step.
[Step SB01] Check whether there is an e-mail acquisition request from the terminal device. When there is an e-mail acquisition request (YES), the process proceeds to step SB02, and when there is no e-mail acquisition request (NO), the process ends.
[Step SB02] It is determined whether it is necessary to collect e-mails from other control devices. If it is necessary to collect e-mails from other control devices (YES), the process proceeds to step SB03. If e-mails need not be collected from other control apparatuses (NO), the process proceeds to step SB06.
[Step SB03] An e-mail acquisition request is transmitted to another control device.
[Step SB04] It is confirmed whether there is an e-mail received from another control apparatus that has transmitted the e-mail acquisition request. If there is an e-mail received from another control device (YES), the process proceeds to step SB05. When there is no e-mail received from another control device (NO), it waits to receive an e-mail from another control device.
[Step SB05] The received e-mail is stored in the e-mail storage means.
[Step SB06] The e-mail created by the e-mail creating means is stored in the e-mail storing means.
[Step SB07] It is determined whether or not an electronic mail exists in the electronic mail storage means. If an electronic mail exists in the electronic mail storage means (YES), the process proceeds to step SB08. If no electronic mail exists in the electronic mail storage means (NO), the process ends.
[Step SB08] E-mail is taken out from the e-mail storage means.
[Step SB09] Check whether it is necessary to re-create the e-mail. If it is necessary to recreate the e-mail (YES), the process proceeds to step SB10. If it is not necessary to recreate the e-mail (NO), the process proceeds to step SB11. More specifically, in the control apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 7, the e-mail storage means 109 includes an e-mail created by the e-mail creation means 108 of the control apparatus 200 and an e-mail receiving means from another control apparatus. When the e-mail received via 102 is accumulated, it is confirmed whether or not these e-mails need to be combined and created as one e-mail.
[Step SB10] The e-mail is recreated, and the process proceeds to Step SB11.
[Step SB11] An e-mail is transmitted to the terminal device, and the process ends.

Next, the electronic mail system will be described with reference to FIGS. This electronic mail system is known.
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a basic flow of electronic mail by the electronic mail system. In general, an e-mail system includes an MUA (Mail User Agent) that provides a user interface, an MTA (Mail Transfer Agent) that determines an e-mail delivery route, an MDA (Mail Delivery Agent) that delivers e-mail, and e-mail. And a mail retrieval agent (MRA) that retrieves electronic mail stored in the mailbox.

  The sending mail client 10 includes an MDA 11, an MTA 12, and an MUA 13. The receiving side mail client 40 includes a MUA 41. The transmission side mail server 20 includes an MTA 21 and an MDA 22. The receiving side mail server 30 includes an MTA 31, an MDA 32, a mail box 33, and an MRA 34.

  The sending mail client 10 sends an email created by the sender of the email to the sending mail server 20 using the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). The transmission side mail server 20 delivers the electronic mail received from the transmission side mail client 10 to the reception side mail server 30 by SMTP. The reception side mail server 30 stores the electronic mail delivered from the transmission side mail server 20 in the mail box 33. The receiving side mail client 40 takes out an e-mail from the mail box 33 of the receiving side mail server 30 by POP (Post Office Protocol) or IMAP (Internet Mail Access Protocol).

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication sequence for transmitting an e-mail from the control device 100 that is a POP server to a terminal device that is a POP client. For example, an electronic mail shown in FIG. 5 is transmitted from the control device 100 which is a POP server to the terminal device.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication sequence in which an e-mail is transmitted from the control device 100 that is an IMAP server to a terminal device that is an IMAP client. For example, an electronic mail shown in FIG. 5 is transmitted from the control device 100 which is an IMAP server to the terminal device.

  As described above, in the present invention, since each control device has both functions of the receiving side mail server and the receiving side mail client, each terminal device can be transferred to a separate control device even when there are a plurality of terminal devices. Since the e-mail acquisition request can be transmitted, the processing does not concentrate on the control device that transmits / receives e-mail to / from the terminal device.

  In addition, in a plurality of manufacturing facilities, each control device creates an e-mail including event information from the control device or the manufacturing facility, or each control device includes an e-mail including event information of another control device. Therefore, it is not necessary to fix the role sharing between the control device that collects e-mails and the control device that collects e-mails, and the remote monitoring system can be easily operated.

  In addition, since each control device can collect e-mails that include event information of other control devices, it is possible to avoid the concentration of e-mail acquisition requests from terminal devices to a specific control device. It is possible to reduce the risk that the entire remote monitoring system will stop due to the failure of the control device.

10 Sender mail client 11 MDA
12 MTA
13 MUA

20 Sender mail server 21 MTA
22 MDA

30 Receiving mail server 31 MTA
32 MDA
33 Mailbox 34 MRA

40 Recipient mail client 41 MUA

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 50 Manufacturing equipment 51 Robot 52 Machine tool 53 Mail transmission apparatus 54 Manufacturing equipment 55 Robot 56 Machine tool 57 Mail transmission apparatus 60 Mail server 61 Router 62 E-mail delivery 63 E-mail delivery 64 Portable terminal for receiving e-mail 65 E-mail reception 66 E-mail Mobile terminal for receiving mail 67 Electronic mail reception 68 Wireless LAN device

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 70 Manufacturing equipment 71 Robot 72 Machine tool 73 E-mail reception 74 Manufacturing equipment 75 Robot 76 Machine tool 77 E-mail reception 78 Wireless LAN equipment 79 E-mail receiving portable terminal 80 E-mail receiving 81 E-mail receiving portable terminal 82 E-mail receiving 83 routers

90 Terminal equipment 91 MUA
92 E-mail receiving means 93 E-mail acquisition request sending means

95 E-mail 96 Header 97 Event information 98a Event a
98b Event b
98c Event c

99 Event information

100 Control device 101 MUA
102 E-mail receiving means 103 E-mail acquisition request sending means 104 MRA
105 Email sending means 106 Email acquisition request receiving means 107 Email collection means 108 Email creation means 109 Email storage means 110 Communication setting information storage means 111 Email recreation means

120 Event detection means 121 Event information creation means 122 Event information storage means 123 Event information change detection means

200 Controller

Claims (4)

Communication for storing setting information for communicating with other control devices and means for transmitting information of the machine or the control device from a control device for controlling the machine to a terminal device at a location remote from the control device In a control device having setting information storage means,
An e-mail creating means for creating an e-mail including event information including at least one event generated in the control device or the machine;
E-mail acquisition request receiving means for receiving an e-mail acquisition request from the terminal device;
E-mail collection means for instructing to collect e-mails created by e-mail creation means of the other control device included in the setting information stored in the communication setting information storage means and accumulated by the e-mail accumulation means When,
In response to an instruction from the e-mail collection unit, an e-mail acquisition request transmission unit that transmits an e-mail acquisition request to the other control device included in the setting information stored in the communication setting information storage unit;
E-mail receiving means for receiving an e-mail from the other control device transmitted based on the e-mail acquisition request by the e-mail acquisition request transmitting means;
E-mail storing means for storing the e-mail created by the e-mail creating means and the e-mail received from the other control device;
E-mail transmission means for transmitting the e-mail created by the control device accumulated by the e-mail accumulation means and the e-mail received from the other control device to the terminal device;
A control device comprising: Communication for storing setting information for communicating with other control devices and means for transmitting information of the machine or the control device from a control device for controlling the machine to a terminal device at a location remote from the control device In a control device having setting information storage means,
An e-mail creating means for creating an e-mail including event information including at least one event generated in the control device or the machine;
E-mail acquisition request receiving means for receiving an e-mail acquisition request from the terminal device;
E-mail collection means for instructing to collect e-mails created by e-mail creation means of the other control device included in the setting information stored in the communication setting information storage means and accumulated by the e-mail accumulation means When,
In response to an instruction from the e-mail collection unit, an e-mail acquisition request transmission unit that transmits an e-mail acquisition request to the other control device included in the setting information stored in the communication setting information storage unit;
E-mail receiving means for receiving an e-mail from the other control device transmitted based on the e-mail acquisition request by the e-mail acquisition request transmitting means;
An email storing means for storing an email created by the email creating means and an email received from the other control device;
Email re-creation for re-creating an email so that event information included in the email created by the control device stored by the email storage means and the email received from the other control device is combined into one. Creating means;
E-mail transmission means for transmitting the e-mail created by the e-mail re-creation means to the terminal device;
A control device comprising: A POP server processing means for the e-mail acquisition request receiving means and the e-mail sending means to send an e-mail to a POP client based on a POP (Post Office Protocol) communication protocol;
POP client processing means for the e-mail acquisition request transmitting means and the e-mail receiving means to receive an e-mail from a POP server based on a POP communication protocol;
The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: An IMAP server processing means for the electronic mail acquisition request receiving means and the electronic mail sending means to send an electronic mail to an IMAP client based on an IMAP (Internet Mail Access Protocol) communication protocol;
The IMAP client processing means for the e-mail acquisition request transmitting means and the e-mail receiving means to receive an e-mail from an IMAP server based on an IMAP communication protocol;
The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: