JP6012496B2 - Smart meter and smart meter system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a smart meter that collects information such as the amount of power used and the amount of generated power at a consumer and transmits the information to a management server or the like.

  In recent power systems, the power distribution system for customers has become more sophisticated and sophisticated, and the amount of power used and generated by consumers is aimed at achieving more efficient power supply and demand management. A smart meter is being developed that adds a communication function to a watt-hour meter that measures electricity and enables a remote management server to grasp the amount of power almost in real time via a network.

  In addition, it has been proposed to use HEMS (Home Energy Management System) devices to manage the power usage status of various devices in the home, solar power generation devices, power storage devices, etc. Experiments on supply and demand control (demand response control) instructing various devices in the house to reduce the amount of power used are also being conducted.

  Furthermore, in demand response control, it is considered to execute control from a remote management server to a home device using a network from a power system to a smart meter.

  In such demand response control, a standard such as Echonet is proposed on the home network as the application protocol, and IPv6 is applied as the communication protocol. In addition, a method for realizing demand response control for consumers via a global network from a management server installed in an electric power company or the like is also being studied. The application protocol has been studied by an international standardization organization such as IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), and the application of IPv6 is assumed as a communication protocol.

  In IPv6 applied here, a 128-bit space is defined as an IPv6 address, the upper 64 bits are used as network identification (network prefix), and the lower 64 bits are used as identification of devices in the network (interface identifier). ), It is possible to give a unique IPv6 address (global IP address) to various devices in the house having a communication function.

  An example of this assigning method is automatic address setting described in Non-Patent Document 1. In this method, a network prefix used in the network is advertised by a router advertisement packet from a network device such as a router, and the device receiving the router advertisement concatenates its own interface identifier to the advertised network prefix. A valid IPv6 address is generated.

IETF RFC4862

  As described above, in order to construct a system in which home devices can be controlled by a remote management server, it is necessary to assign IPv6 addresses to all home devices to be controlled. Here, in the global IP network, since the IPv6 packet transfer route is determined by the network identifier, in order for the management server to uniquely specify a specific home device by the IPv6 address, the home network to which each home device is connected It is necessary to assign the value of the network prefix that means as the only value in the world. However, it is not realistic to individually assign a global network prefix to each customer's home network, and it is also wasteful to assign a vast address space with an interface identifier of 64 bits to a local network that is a home network. There is a problem that the IPv6 address is wasted.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and a smart meter and a smart meter capable of realizing a power system for controlling a home device from a device such as a remote management server while suppressing waste of an IPv6 address. The purpose is to obtain a system.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention collects power-related information, which is information on the amount of power used and the amount of generated power in a consumer, and transmits it to a management server via a global network. A power usage device connected to a local network in the consumer determines a global IP address to be used in the global network when communicating with the management server, and is assigned in advance to the power usage device A first address management means that manages the local IP address in association with the local IP address, and a local network used in the local network when the management server communicates with a power consuming device connected to the local network in the consumer. The IP address is determined, and the global address previously assigned to the management server is determined. When the management server receives the source packet from the global network, the global IP address set as the destination of the received packet is transferred to the local network. It is confirmed whether it is associated with the local IP address of the connected power-using device, and if it is associated, the global IP address set for the destination and source of the received packet is the corresponding local IP address. When a first packet converting means for converting each into an IP address and the power consuming device receives the source packet from the local network, the local IP address set as the destination of the received packet is the global IP address of the management server. Associated with the address Second packet conversion means for converting the local IP address set in the destination and source of the received packet to the corresponding global IP address, respectively. It is characterized by providing.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to realize a power system capable of controlling a home device from a device such as a management server in a remote place while suppressing waste of an IPv6 address.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a power system including a smart meter. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the smart meter. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the management server address table. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the control device address table. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of the operation of the smart meter. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation sequence when the control target device is activated. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation sequence when the control target device is activated. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation sequence when the smart meter receives a control packet from the global network. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation sequence when the smart meter receives a control packet from the local network. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation sequence when the smart meter determines the local address of the management server. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation sequence when the control target device is activated. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation sequence when the control target device is activated. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a power system configured to include a smart meter. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a power system configured to include a smart meter. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an existing system that performs demand response control. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an existing system that performs demand response control.

  Embodiments of a smart meter and a smart meter system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

  First, an existing system that performs demand response control will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system that uses a global address for all devices in a home.

  In the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 15, the smart meter is operated as a router, and the network prefix delegation according to RFC3633 specified by IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) is performed, so that the global network The IP network can be assigned by constructing everything from the power system to the local network in the home as a global network and assigning a global IP address (IPv6 address) to the home device connected to the local network. It is possible to realize demand response control to in-home devices using the. In addition, in an IP network using IPv6, it is a basic idea that a global address (global IP address) is assigned to every thing connected to the network, and IP communication is possible between those things. The global address is consistent with this idea.

  However, as described above, when a global IP address (IPv6 address) is assigned to a home device and demand response control to the home device is realized, the IPv6 address is wasted. In addition, if a global network prefix is assigned to a home network, a global IP address that can be connected from an external network is assigned to a home device sufficient for control close to the local network. There is also a risk that unintended network access will be made from the outside. Further, in this configuration, since the smart meter operates as an IP router, the application protocol in the global network and the application protocol in the local network need to be the same.

  On the other hand, as an IPv6 address that can be used only in a local network closed in a home or the like, a link local address defined by RFC 4291 defined by IETF or a unique local address defined by RFC 4193 can be generally used.

  When a link local address is used, a value indicating that the network prefix is a local network is specified in advance, and an interface identifier generated from the 64 bits of the network prefix and an identifier unique to the connection interface of the local network is used. A 128-bit link local address is determined by concatenating with the lower 64 bits.

  When a unique local address is used, the network prefix is generated using an algorithm using a pseudo-random value, and the interface identifier generated from the network prefix 64 bits and an identifier unique to the connection interface of the local network is subordinated. It is concatenated with 64 bits to determine a 128-bit link local address.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system that realizes demand response control for a home device to which a link local address or a unique local address is assigned.

  When a link local address or a unique local address is used in the local network, the smart meter is operated as an IP router, and when the IP packet is transferred between the global network and the local network, the network prefix of the IPv6 packet is converted. The concept that enables IPv6 communication between a global network and a local network is disclosed as RFC 6296 (IPv6-to-IPv6 Network Prefix Translation). However, even with the method described in RFC6296, a global IP address that can be connected from an external network is given to a home device sufficient for control close to the local network. There is a risk that network access will not be made from outside. Furthermore, even in this configuration, since the smart meter operates as an IP router that performs address conversion, the application protocol in the global network and the application protocol in the local network need to be the same.

  The problems in the existing system shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 are summarized as follows.

  When performing demand response control for customers via a global IP network from a management server installed at an electric power company, etc. It is necessary to assign a network prefix of the network global IP network and assign a global IP address to the home device, which is a waste of the global IP address space.

  In addition, the control protocol for demand response control performed by the management server installed at the power company for customers and the demand response control protocol in the home network are different, and the control protocol for each home device is different (in the same home network). The control protocol of each connected device may not be unified), but such a case cannot be dealt with, and demand response control from the management server to the consumer becomes impossible.

  Therefore, in the power system described in each embodiment, demand response control for a home device to which only a local address (local IP address) is given can be performed from a management server installed in a power company or the like, and a global IP address can be set. Avoid wasting. Further, by converting the demand response control protocol in the management server and the demand response control protocol in the home network in the smart meter, it is possible to simultaneously support a plurality of types of demand response control protocols.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a power system configured to include a smart meter according to the present invention. This electric power system is installed in an electric power company or the like with a smart meter 1 having a function of measuring the amount of electric power used or generated by a consumer and a function of communicating with a global network and a local network. A management server 2 that collects the amount of power used by the customer and manages the power supply and demand state, a control target device 3 that is installed in the customer's home or has power generation / storage functions, and a non-control target device 4 And is configured. The control target device 3 is a home device that is a target of operation control by the management server 2. On the other hand, the non-control target device 4 is a home device that is not a target of operation control by the management server 2. The smart meter 1 and the management server communicate via a global network, and the smart meter 1 communicates with the control target device 3 and the non-control target device 4 via a local network.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the smart meter 1. The smart meter 1 includes a global network interface processing unit 11 and a global device control address / protocol processing unit 12 as functions related to communication with the global network, and local network interface processing unit 13 and local functions as functions related to communication with the local network. A device control address / protocol processing unit 14 is provided, and an address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 and an address table update processing unit 16 are provided as functions relating to conversion processing of both addresses and both protocols. In addition, a management server address table 17 and a control device address table 18 are provided.

  The global network interface processing unit 11 has a function of transmitting IP packets to the global network. In addition, a global address (global IP address) to be received and a multicast address are set in this processing unit, and has a function of receiving IP packets destined for these addresses from the global network.

  The global device control address / protocol processing unit 12 has a function of assigning a global address to be received by the global network interface processing unit 11, and executes an address assignment processing protocol with the global network. Also, global device control protocol processing related to device detection such as activation notification transmission and polling response of the control target device 3 is executed on behalf of the control target device 3 to the management server 2 connected via the global network. .

  The local network interface processing unit 13 has a function of transmitting IP packets to the local network. In addition, a local unicast address and a multicast address to be received are set in this processing unit, and has a function of receiving IP packets destined for these addresses from the local network.

  The local device control address / protocol processing unit 14 has a function of assigning a local unicast address to be received by the local network interface processing unit 13, and executes an address assignment processing protocol with the local network. For the control target device 3 connected via the local network, the local address for receiving the packet addressed to the management server 2 is determined from the control target device 3 as a proxy for the management server 2, and the control target device 3 The local device control protocol processing related to device detection such as reception of start notification and polling is executed.

  The address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 communicates communication between the management server registered in the management server address table 17 and the control target device 3 registered in the control device address table 18 between the global network and the local network. As the control packet transfer function, the destination / source address conversion and the control protocol conversion processing between the two networks are executed.

  The address table update processing unit 16 initializes information on devices to be controlled in the control device address table 18, and updates the control device address table 18 according to the address assignment and control protocol processing results in both networks (control). Function for updating the information set in the device address table 18) and the information of the management server 2 are initially set in the management server address table 17, and the management server address table 17 is updated according to the address allocation processing in both networks. With the function to do.

  The management server address table 17 has a configuration shown in FIG. 3, for example. As shown in the figure, in the management server address table 17, a global address of the management server 2 connected via the global network and a local address allocation method serving as a proxy address of the management server in the local network are allocated. A local address is managed for each management server 2.

  The control device address table 18 has the configuration shown in FIG. 4, for example. As shown in the figure, in the control device address table 18, the device status of the control target device 3 connected to the local network and the unicast address assignment method (local address assignment method, global address) in each of the local network and the global network. An allocation method), an allocated address (local address, global address), and a device control protocol (local device control protocol, global device control protocol) are managed for each control target device 3. The device state is information indicating whether or not the control target device 3 is being activated. The local device control protocol is a device control protocol used by the control target device 3 (device control protocol used in the local network), and the global device control protocol is a device control protocol used by the management server 2 for the control target device 3. (Device control protocol used in the global network).

  The global device control address / protocol processing unit 12, the address table update processing unit 16, and the control device address table 18 constitute a first address management unit, and the local device control address / protocol processing unit 14, the address table update processing unit. 16 and the management server address table 17 constitute second address management means, and the address / protocol translation processing unit 15 constitutes first packet translation means and second packet translation means. The address table update processing unit 16 and the control device address table 18 constitute a protocol management unit.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of the operation of the smart meter 1 of the present embodiment. In the power system of the present embodiment, the smart meter 1 is operated as a proxy for each control target device 3 connected to the local network.

  Specifically, in order to operate the smart meter 1 as a proxy for the control target device 3, a global address accessible from the management server 2 via the global network is assigned to the smart meter 1 for access to the control target device 3. In the smart meter 1, when receiving an IP packet addressed to the global address of the control target device 3 from the global network, the address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 replaces it with the local address of the control target device 3 corresponding to the destination global address. To the local network. The replacement with the local address is performed with reference to the control device address table 18. In addition, when the address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 receives the IP packet from the control target device 3, the address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 refers to the management server address table 17, and if the destination address is a local address serving as the proxy address of the management server 2. Then, the destination address is replaced with the global address of the management server 2, and the control device address table 18 is referred to, and the transmission source address is replaced with the global address from the local address of the control target device 3 and transferred to the global network. The address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 refers to the control device address table 18 when transferring an IP packet between the global network and the local network, and the device control protocol to the control target device 3 is the global network and the local network. If the network is different, in addition to the above address replacement, mutual conversion of the protocol is performed.

  By executing these processes in the address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 of the smart meter 1, it becomes possible to perform device control from the management server 2 to the control target device 3 via the global network.

  As a further effect, the smart meter 1 does not perform address / protocol conversion processing and does not relay IP packets for devices that are not controlled by the management server 2 connected via the global network. Such device control can be performed only within the local network.

  Next, the operation of the smart meter 1 when the control target device 3 connected to the local network is activated will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation sequence when the control target device 3 connected to the local network is activated.

  The address table update processing unit 16 initializes information on the control target device 3 in advance in the control device address table 18 (step S10). The information to be initialized is the identification information (device identifier) of the control target device 3, the local address assignment method, the local device control protocol, the global address assignment method, and the global device control protocol. These pieces of information are acquired and set by a predetermined method when the control target device 3 is installed, for example. For example, the administrator of the smart meter 1 or the user of the control target device 3 may be manually set, or may be acquired by communicating with the control target device 3.

  In the device control protocol applied in the local network, when the control target device 3 is an operation for notifying the network of the activation notification, the activation notification packet received when the local network interface processing unit 13 of the smart meter 1 receives the activation notification packet. The notification packet is transferred to the local device control address / protocol processing unit 14 (step S11).

  Upon receiving the activation notification packet, the local device control address / protocol processing unit 14 refers to the control device address table 18 to check whether the control target device 3 is registered in advance, and the control target device 3 is activated. Is determined, the local address of the control target device 3 is determined from the transmission source address of the activation notification packet, and the local address and device state information of the control target device 3 are notified to the address table update processing unit 16 (step S12). The device state information is information indicating the activation state of the control target device 3, and here, device state information indicating that the device is activated is notified.

  The address table update processing unit 16 updates the control device address table 18 with the notified information (local address and device state information of the activated control target device 3) (registers the notified device state and local address). Then, the global address assignment method and device control protocol of the control target device 3 are determined (steps S13 and S14), and the global device control address / protocol processing unit 12 is instructed to start global address assignment. In the determination of the global address assignment method and the device control protocol, the control device address table 18 is referred to, and the global address assignment method and device control protocol corresponding to the activated control target device 3 are confirmed.

  The global device control address / protocol processing unit 12 determines a global address to be used when acting as a proxy for the activated control target device 3 in accordance with the instructed global address assignment method, and starts global device control protocol processing ( Steps S15 and S16). In addition, the global address determined in step S15 is notified to the address table update processing unit 16, and the activation of the control target device 3 is notified to the global network via the global network interface processing unit 11 according to the global device control protocol. The global network interface processing unit 11 transfers the packet for notifying activation of the control target device 3 to the global network, and then determines the global address determined in step S15 (global address used in the proxy operation of the activated control target device 3). Reception of the addressed packet is started (step S19).

  Upon receiving the notification of the global address determined by the global device control address / protocol processing unit 12 in step S15, the address table update processing unit 16 registers this in the control device address table 18 and updates the table (step S17). ). Further, the address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 is instructed to start an address conversion process and a protocol conversion process serving as a proxy function in communication between the activated control target device 3 and the management server 2 (step S18).

  When the above processing is completed, the address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 starts address conversion processing and protocol conversion processing for the activated control target device 3.

  Depending on the global device control protocol to be used, there is a case where the activation of the control target device 3 is not notified to the global network and the reception is waited. The sequence in that case is as shown in FIG. That is, step S19a is executed instead of step S19 in FIG.

  In the sequence of FIG. 7, the global device control address / protocol processing unit 12 determines the global address in step S15, starts the global device control protocol processing in step S16, and then updates the global address determined in step S15 to the address table. The processing unit 16 and the global network interface processing unit 11 are notified, and the global network interface processing unit 11 starts receiving a packet addressed to the notified global address (a global address used in the proxy operation of the activated control target device 3). (Step S19a).

  Next, the operation of the smart meter 1 when a control packet transmitted from the management server 2 to the control target device 3 is received via the global network will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation sequence when the smart meter 1 receives a control packet from the global network. In FIG. 8, the management server 2 in which various types of information (all information necessary for performing control operations) are registered in the management server address table 17 and various types of information (necessary for performing control operations) are stored in the control device address table 18. All the information) shows an operation sequence in a case where a control packet is transmitted to the global address of the registered control target device 3.

  When the global network interface processing unit 11 of the smart meter 1 receives a control packet addressed to the global address of the control target device 3, the global network interface processing unit 11 transfers the control packet to the address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 (step S31).

  When the address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 receives the control packet, the address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 refers to the management server address table 17 (FIG. 3) and can confirm that the control packet is a control packet received from the registered management server. The packet source global address is converted into a corresponding local address (step S32), and then, referring to the control device address table 18 (FIG. 4), the control packet is registered for the control target device 3 Can be confirmed, the destination global address of the control packet is converted into a corresponding local address (step S33). Further, the control packet protocol is converted from the global device control protocol of the control target device to the local device control protocol (step S34). This step S34 is executed when the device control protocol used by the control packet transmission source management server 2 is different from the device control protocol used by the control target device 3 that is the destination of the control packet. When the conversion processing of steps S32 to S34 is completed, the address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 transfers the control packet obtained by executing the conversion processing to the local network interface processing unit 13 (step S35), and the local network interface processing The unit 13 transmits the transferred control packet to the local network (step S36).

  Next, the operation of the smart meter 1 when a control packet transmitted from the control target device 3 to the management server 2 is received via the local network will be described. This operation is the reverse of the operation of transferring the control packet received from the global network to the local network (the operation shown in FIG. 8).

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation sequence when the smart meter 1 receives a control packet from the local network.

  When receiving the control packet addressed to the local address of the management server 2, the local network interface processing unit 13 of the smart meter 1 transfers the control packet to the address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 (step S41).

  When the address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 receives the control packet, the address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 refers to the management server address table 17 (FIG. 3) and can confirm that the control packet is addressed to the registered management server. The destination local address is converted into a corresponding global address (step S42), and then it is confirmed by referring to the control device address table 18 (FIG. 4) that the control packet is received from the registered control target device. If possible, the source local address of the control packet is converted into a corresponding global address (step S43). Further, the protocol of the control packet is converted from the local device control protocol of the control target device to the global device control protocol (step S44). This step S44 is executed when the device control protocol used by the control target device 3 of the control packet is different from the device control protocol used by the management server 2 that is the destination of the control packet. When the conversion processing in steps S42 to S44 is completed, the address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 transfers the control packet obtained by executing the conversion processing to the global network interface processing unit 11 (step S45), and the global network interface processing The unit 11 transmits the transferred control packet to the global network (step S46).

  Next, the operation of the smart meter 1 when a local address is assigned to the management server 2 will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation sequence when the smart meter 1 determines the local address of the management server.

  The address table update processing unit 16 initializes information of the management server 2 in advance in the management server address table 17 (step S50). The information to be initialized is the management server 2 identification information (device identifier), global address and local address allocation method. These pieces of information are acquired and set by a predetermined method when the smart meter 1 is installed or when the management server 2 is newly installed, for example. For example, the administrator of the smart meter 1 may be manually set, or may be acquired by communicating with the management server 2.

  When the global network interface processing unit 11 of the smart meter 1 receives the control packet addressed to the global address of the control target device 3, the global network interface processing unit 11 transfers the control packet to the address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 (step S51).

  When the address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 receives the control packet, the address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 refers to the management server address table 17 (FIG. 3) in order to convert the transmission source address into a local address, and the management server 2 of the control packet transmission source. The local address corresponding to is searched (check whether it is registered in the table). At this time, if a corresponding local address is found, the source address is converted into a local address in accordance with the sequence shown in FIG. On the other hand, if the local address corresponding to the management server 2 of the control packet transmission source does not exist, the transfer of the control packet is temporarily suspended and the address table update processing unit 16 is requested to allocate the local address (step S52). At this time, the identification information of the transmission source management server 2 of the control packet is notified to the address table update processing unit 16.

  The address table update processing unit 16 requested to allocate a local address refers to the management server address table 17, determines the local address allocation method of the control management server 2 of the control packet, and determines the local device control address / protocol processing unit 14. The management server 2 is requested to allocate a local address (step S53). When requesting local address assignment, the local address assignment method is also notified.

  The local device control address / protocol processing unit 14 that has received the local address assignment request of the management server 2 determines the local address of the management server 2 by using the notified address assignment method, for example, IPv6 automatic address generation or DHCPv6 assignment. Determine (step S54). Then, the local network interface processing unit 13 is instructed to start receiving a packet addressed to the local address, and the local network interface processing unit 13 that has received this instruction starts receiving the packet addressed to the local address of the management server 2 (step S57). ). The local address is notified to the address table update processing unit.

  The local device control address / protocol processing unit 14 notifies the local address determined in step S54 to the address table update processing unit 16, and the address table update processing unit 16 sends the notified local address to the management server address table 17. Register (step S55). When the registration is completed, the address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 is notified of this, and the received address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 receives the destination address and source address (global Address) is converted into a local address to be used in the local network, and is transferred to the local network interface processing unit 13 after performing protocol conversion as necessary (step S56). The local network interface processing unit 13 transmits the control packet received from the address / protocol conversion processing unit 15 to the local network (step S58).

  When the management server 2 has only the function of receiving the notification packet from the control target device 3, the global address of the management server 2 is registered in the management server address table 17 in advance. Further, the local address of the management server 2 may be determined according to a predetermined allocation method triggered by the setting of the corresponding global address and registered in the management server address table 17, or simply Similarly to the global address, the local address may be registered in advance.

  Even when a control packet is received from the management server 2 and the control response packet is returned, the global address and local address are registered in the management server address table 17 in advance as the default management server 2. May be.

  As described above, the smart meter according to the present embodiment is configured so that the management server 2 and the control are controlled by communication within the local network to which the management server 2 and the management target device 3 of the management server 2 and the management server 2 are connected. The local address used by the target device 3 and the device control protocol information used by the management server 2 and the control target device 3 are stored, and received when a control packet transmitted / received between the global network and the local network is received. Convert the destination address and source address of the control packet to one that is compatible with the destination network, and if necessary, convert it to a format that matches the device control protocol used on the destination network and forward it. It was. As a result, it is possible to realize a power system that can control in-home devices from devices such as a management server in a remote place while suppressing waste of IPv6 addresses.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
A power system and a smart meter according to the second embodiment will be described. The configurations of the power system and the smart meter are the same as those in the first embodiment (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The configurations of the management server address table 17 and the control device address table 18 are the same as those in the first embodiment (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

  In the first embodiment, the power system has been described that transmits a startup notification packet to the smart meter 1 when the control target device 3 connected to the local network starts up. However, the control target device 3 does not transmit a startup notification packet after startup depending on the applied device control protocol. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a control operation for the control target device 3 that does not transmit the activation notification packet will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation sequence when the control target device 3 connected to the local network is activated, and illustrates an operation sequence for the control target device 3 that does not transmit the activation notification packet. In addition, the same step number is attached | subjected to the part which is common in the sequence of FIG. 6 demonstrated in Embodiment 1. FIG. That is, the sequence of FIG. 11 is obtained by replacing steps S11 and S12 of FIG. 6 with steps S21 and S22.

  In the device control protocol applied in the local network, when the control target device 3 is in an operation of waiting for reception without notifying the network of the start notification, as shown in FIG. The protocol processing unit 14 refers to the control device address table 18 at a predetermined timing, and checks the state of the control target device registered in advance by polling via the local network interface processing unit 13 (step S21). When it is determined that the control target device 3 has been activated based on the polling result, the local address of the control target device 3 is determined from the source address of the polling response packet, and the control table of the control target device 3 is sent to the address table update processing unit 16. The local address and device status information are notified (step 22). Thereafter, steps S13 to S19 described in the first embodiment are executed to update the control device address table, assign a global address to the control target device 3, and the like.

  Depending on the global device control protocol to be used, there is a case where the activation of the control target device 3 is not notified to the global network and the reception is awaited. The sequence in that case is as shown in FIG. That is, step S19a is executed instead of step S19 in FIG. Step S19a is the same as step S19a in FIG.

  As described above, the smart meter 1 polls the control target device 3 that does not transmit the start notification packet, and detects the start of the control target device 3. As a result, a global address can be assigned to the control target device 3, and address conversion can be performed.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
The smart meter described in the first and second embodiments can be applied to the power system having the configuration shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the power system. The power system shown in FIG. 13 has a configuration in which a plurality of smart meters 1 are connected to one local network, and a plurality of smart meters 1 are connected to respective management servers 2 via a global network. The control target devices 3 to be managed by the server 2 are mixed in the same local network.

  As described above, even when the smart meter 1 that is a connection device to the global network to which the management server 2 that is the communication partner of the control target device 3 is connected is different, the proxy processing of the control target device 3 is performed by a plurality of smart meters. Therefore, it is possible to mix the control target devices 3 controlled from the management servers 2 of a plurality of global networks with respect to one local network. And the device control protocol between the control target devices 3 can be different protocols.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the power system. The power system shown in FIG. 14 has a configuration in which a plurality of smart meters 1 are connected to one local network, and a plurality of smart meters 1 are connected to respective management servers 2 via a global network. The control target devices 3 to be managed by the server 2 are the same.

  As described above, even when there are a plurality of smart meters 1 serving as connection devices to the global network to which the management server 2 serving as a communication partner of one control target device 3 is connected, the proxy processing of the control target device 3 is performed. Distributing and arranging the plurality of smart meters 1 enables the device control protocols between the management servers 2 and the control target devices 3 to be different protocols.

  As described above, the present invention is useful as a smart meter that collects information from a device connected to a local network and transmits the information to a management device connected to an external global network. This is suitable for constructing a system capable of controlling devices in the network.

1 Smart Meter, 2 Management Server, 3 Controlled Device, 4 Non-Controlled Device, 11 Global Network Interface Processing Unit, 12 Global Device Control Address / Protocol Processing Unit, 13 Local Network Interface Processing Unit, 14 Local Device Control Address / Protocol Processing unit, 15 address / protocol conversion processing unit, 16 address table update processing unit, 17 management server address table, 18 control device address table.

Claims (7)

A smart meter that collects power-related information, which is information on the amount of power used and the amount of power generated by consumers, and sends it to a management server via a global network,
A local IP address pre-assigned to the power usage device is determined by determining a global IP address to be used in the global network when the power usage device connected to the local network in the consumer communicates with the management server. First address management means for managing in association with
Determining a local IP address to be used in the local network when the management server communicates with a power consuming device connected to the local network in the consumer; and a global IP address pre-assigned to the management server; Second address management means for managing in association with each other;
When the management server receives the source packet from the global network, is the global IP address set as the destination of the received packet associated with the local IP address of the power usage device connected to the local network? First packet conversion means for converting the global IP address set in the destination and the source of the received packet to the corresponding local IP address, respectively,
When the power-using device receives the source packet from the local network, it checks whether or not the local IP address set as the destination of the received packet is associated with the global IP address of the management server. Second packet conversion means for converting the local IP address set in the destination and source of the received packet to the corresponding global IP address, respectively,
Equipped with a,
The global IP address and the smart meters, characterized in IPv6 address and to Rukoto the local IP address. Protocol management means for managing information on a device control protocol used when the management server controls a power usage device based on the power related information, and information on a device control protocol supported by the power usage device,
With
The first packet converting means converts the destination and source of the received packet when the device control protocol supported by the transmission source management server of the received packet is different from the device control protocol supported by the destination power using device. At the same time, the received packet format is converted to the device control protocol format supported by the destination power consumption device,
The second packet converting means converts the destination and source of the received packet when the device control protocol supported by the device using the power source of the received packet is different from the device control protocol supported by the destination management server. In addition, the received packet format is converted to the device control protocol format supported by the destination management server.
The smart meter according to claim 1.   3. The smart meter according to claim 2, wherein the device control protocol is a device control protocol used in demand response control in which the management server instructs a power use device of a consumer to reduce the amount of power used. . The first address management means includes:
When a power usage device connected to a local network in the consumer is activated, a global IP address to be used in the global network is determined when the activated power usage device communicates with the management server. The smart meter according to claim 1, 2, or 3. The second address management means includes:
If there is no local IP address associated with the source address of the received packet destined for the global IP address associated with the local IP address previously allocated to the power-using device in the consumer, the transmission The smart meter according to claim 1, wherein a local IP address corresponding to the original address is determined. A management server that controls the power usage equipment in the consumer based on power-related information that is information on the amount of power used and the amount of generated power in the consumer;
A smart meter that collects the power-related information in a consumer and transmits it to the management server via a global network;
With
The smart meter is
A local IP address pre-assigned to the power usage device is determined by determining a global IP address to be used in the global network when the power usage device connected to the local network in the consumer communicates with the management server. First address management means for managing in association with
Determining a local IP address to be used in the local network when the management server communicates with a power consuming device connected to the local network in the consumer; and a global IP address pre-assigned to the management server; Second address management means for managing in association with each other;
When the management server receives the source packet from the global network, is the global IP address set as the destination of the received packet associated with the local IP address of the power usage device connected to the local network? First packet conversion means for converting the global IP address set in the destination and the source of the received packet to the corresponding local IP address, respectively,
When the power-using device receives the source packet from the local network, it checks whether or not the local IP address set as the destination of the received packet is associated with the global IP address of the management server. Second packet conversion means for converting the local IP address set in the destination and source of the received packet to the corresponding global IP address, respectively,
Equipped with a,
The global IP address and the smart meter system according to claim IPv6 address and to Rukoto the local IP address. The smart meter is
Protocol management means for managing information on a device control protocol used when the management server controls a power usage device based on the power related information, and information on a device control protocol supported by the power usage device,
With
The first packet converting means converts the destination and source of the received packet when the device control protocol supported by the transmission source management server of the received packet is different from the device control protocol supported by the destination power using device. At the same time, the received packet format is converted to the device control protocol format supported by the destination power consumption device,
The second packet converting means converts the destination and source of the received packet when the device control protocol supported by the device using the power source of the received packet is different from the device control protocol supported by the destination management server. In addition, the received packet format is converted to the device control protocol format supported by the destination management server.
The smart meter system according to claim 6.

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