JP6366747B2 - CONTROL SYSTEM, CONTROL DEVICE, INFORMATION DEVICE, AND CONTROL METHOD - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a control system, a control device, and a control method provided in a consumer.

  In recent years, a control system (EMS: Energy Management System) that controls a plurality of information devices has attracted attention (for example, Patent Document 1). In such a control system, a control device that controls a plurality of information devices is provided.

  As control devices, HEMS (Home Energy Management System) installed in a residence, BEMS (Building Energy Management System) installed in a building, FEMS (Factor Energy Management System installed in a factory), a factory management system installed in a factory. System) and CEMS (Cluster / Community Energy Management System) provided in community units. The control device transmits an operation instruction for instructing the operation of the information device to the information device via a network connecting the control device and the information device.

  Examples of the plurality of information devices include a distributed power source, a power storage device, a heat storage device, and a load. A distributed power source is a device that generates electric power using natural energy such as sunlight, wind power, and geothermal heat, such as a solar battery. Or a distributed power supply is an apparatus which produces | generates electric power using fuel gas like fuel cells, such as SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell). The power storage device is a device that stores electric power, such as a secondary battery. A heat storage device is a device that stores electric power by converting electric power into heat, such as a water heater. The load is a refrigerator, lighting, air conditioner, television, and the like.

JP 2010-128810 A

  By the way, with the widespread use of operation devices such as smartphones, there is a need for remote operation of information devices using operation devices from the outside of consumers (houses, buildings, factories, stores, etc.) where information devices are installed. To do.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a control system, a control device, and a control method that enable operation of information equipment taking various needs into consideration.

  The control system which concerns on a 1st characteristic is provided with the information equipment provided in a consumer, and the control apparatus which controls the said information equipment via a network. The information device includes a control unit that determines whether or not to perform communication check of the network depending on whether or not a transmission path of an operation instruction that instructs an operation of the device includes the control device.

  In the first feature, the control unit determines not to execute the communication confirmation when a transmission path of the operation instruction does not include the control device.

  In the first feature, when the transmission path of the operation instruction includes the control device, the information device transmits the device specified by the control unit according to the transmission path of the operation instruction via the network. And a communication unit for transmitting a communication confirmation command.

  1st characteristic WHEREIN: When the transmission path | route of the said operation instruction | indication contains the said control apparatus and the server provided outside the said consumer, the said communication part transmits the said communication confirmation command to the said server. .

  In the first feature, when the transmission path of the operation instruction includes the control device and does not include the server, the communication unit transmits the communication confirmation command to the control device.

  1st characteristic WHEREIN: The said control part determines a transmission period according to the transmission destination of the said communication confirmation command.

  In the first feature, when the communication unit does not receive a response to the communication confirmation command, the control unit causes the own device to execute a predetermined operation.

  In the first feature, the control device includes a transmission unit that transmits a message including the operation instruction and information indicating a transmission path of the operation instruction to the information device.

  1st characteristic WHEREIN: The said information apparatus and the said control apparatus communicate by the system based on ECHONET Lite.

  In the first feature, the message is a setting command defined in ECHONET Lite.

  The information equipment according to the second feature is controlled by a control device via a network and is provided to a consumer. The information device determines whether to execute the network communication check according to whether the transmission path of the operation instruction that instructs the operation of the own device includes the control device.

  A control method according to a third feature is a control method used in a control system including an information device provided in a consumer and a control device that controls the information device via a network. The control method includes a step of determining whether or not to perform communication check of the network depending on whether or not a transmission path of an operation instruction for instructing an operation of the information device includes the control device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a control system, a control device, and a control method that enable operation of information equipment taking various needs into consideration.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating details of a consumer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an application scene of the control system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the HEMS according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the information device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message format according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message format according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message format according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating a control method according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating a control method according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating a control method according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating a control method according to the modified example.

  Hereinafter, a control system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals.

  However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and ratios of dimensions and the like are different from actual ones. Therefore, specific dimensions and the like should be determined in consideration of the following description. Moreover, it is a matter of course that portions having different dimensional relationships and ratios are included between the drawings.

[Outline of Embodiment]
The control system which concerns on embodiment is provided with the information equipment provided in a consumer, and the control apparatus which controls the said information equipment via a network. The information device determines whether or not to execute communication confirmation of the network according to whether or not a transmission path of an operation instruction for instructing the operation of the own device includes the control device.

  In the embodiment, the information device determines whether to perform network communication confirmation according to whether the transmission path of the operation instruction for instructing the operation of the own device includes the control device. Therefore, it is possible to provide a control system, an information device, and a control method that enable operation of the information device in consideration of various needs.

[First Embodiment]
(Customer)
Below, the consumer which concerns on 1st Embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a customer 10 according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the customer 10 includes a distribution board 110, a load 120, a PV unit 130, a storage battery unit 140, a fuel cell unit 150, a hot water storage unit 160, and a HEMS 200.

  Distribution board 110 is connected to distribution line 31 (system). Distribution board 110 is connected to load 120, PV unit 130, storage battery unit 140, and fuel cell unit 150 via a power line.

  The distribution board 110 may have a measurement unit that measures electric power supplied from the distribution line 31 (system). The measurement unit may measure the power consumption of the load 120.

  The load 120 is a device that consumes power supplied via the power line. For example, the load 120 includes devices such as a refrigerator, lighting, an air conditioner, and a television. The load 120 may be a single device or may include a plurality of devices.

  The PV unit 130 includes a PV 131 and a PCS 132. The PV 131 is an example of a distributed power source, and is a device that generates power in response to reception of sunlight. The PV 131 outputs the generated DC power. The amount of power generated by the PV 131 changes according to the amount of solar radiation applied to the PV 131. The PCS 132 is a device (Power Conditioning System) that converts DC power output from the PV 131 into AC power. The PCS 132 outputs AC power to the distribution board 110 via the power line.

  In the first embodiment, the PV unit 130 may have a pyranometer that measures the amount of solar radiation irradiated on the PV 131.

  The PV unit 130 is controlled by an MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) method. Specifically, the PV unit 130 optimizes the operating point (a point determined by the operating point voltage value and the power value, or a point determined by the operating point voltage value and the current value) of the PV 131.

  The storage battery unit 140 includes a storage battery 141 and a PCS 142. The storage battery 141 is a device that stores electric power. The PCS 142 is a device (Power Conditioning System) that converts DC power output from the storage battery 141 into AC power.

  The fuel cell unit 150 includes a fuel cell 151 and a PCS 152. The fuel cell 151 is an example of a distributed power source, and is a device that generates electric power using fuel gas. The fuel cell 151 is, for example, a SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) or a PEFC (Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell). The PCS 152 is a device (Power Conditioning System) that converts DC power output from the fuel cell 151 into AC power.

  The fuel cell unit 150 operates by load following control. Specifically, the fuel cell unit 150 controls the fuel cell 151 so that the power output from the fuel cell 151 follows the power consumption of the load 120.

  The hot water storage unit 160 is an example of a heat storage device that converts electric power into heat and accumulates heat. Specifically, the hot water storage unit 160 has a hot water storage tank, and warms water supplied from the hot water storage tank by exhaust heat generated by the operation (power generation) of the fuel cell 151. Specifically, the hot water storage unit 160 warms the water supplied from the hot water storage tank and returns the warmed hot water to the hot water storage tank.

  The HEMS 200 is a control device that manages information equipment (load, distributed power supply, power storage device or heat storage device) provided in the customer 10.

  In the first embodiment, the HEMS 200 is connected to the PV unit 130, the storage battery unit 140, the fuel cell unit 150, and the hot water storage unit 160 via signal lines, and the PV unit 130, the storage battery unit 140, the fuel cell unit 150, and the hot water storage. The unit 160 is controlled. The HEMS 200 may control the power consumption of the load 120 by controlling the operation mode of the load 120. The signal line connecting the HEMS 200 and these devices may be wireless or wired.

  The HEMS 200 is connected to various servers via the wide area network 60. As shown in FIG. 2 to be described later, the wide area network 60 is, for example, the Internet, a wide area network, a narrow area network, a mobile phone network, or the like. Various servers store, for example, information (hereinafter, energy fee information) such as a unit price of power supplied from the grid, a unit price of power sold from the grid, and a unit price of fuel gas.

  Or various servers store the information (henceforth energy consumption prediction information) for predicting the power consumption of the load 120, for example. The energy consumption prediction information may be generated based on, for example, the past power consumption actual value of the load 120. Alternatively, the energy consumption prediction information may be a model of power consumption of the load 120.

  Or various servers store the information (henceforth PV power generation amount prediction information) for predicting the power generation amount of PV131, for example. The PV power generation prediction information may be a predicted value of the amount of solar radiation irradiated on the PV 131. Alternatively, the PV power generation prediction information may be weather forecast, season, sunshine time, and the like.

(Applicable scene)
Hereinafter, application scenes of the control system according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an application scene of the control system 100 according to the first embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the control system 100 according to the first embodiment includes a HEMS 200, an information device 300, a router 400, an operation device 500, and a server 600.

  The HEMS 200 is an example of a control device that manages the information equipment 300 provided in the customer 10. The HEMS 200 is connected to the router 400 by wire or wireless, and communicates with the information device 300, the operation device 500, and the server 600 via the router 400.

  The information device 300 is controlled by the HEMS 200 such as the load 120, the PV unit 130, the storage battery unit 140, the fuel cell unit 150, the hot water storage unit 160, and the like.

  The router 400 constitutes a narrow area network 70 provided in the customer 10. The router 400 may constitute a wireless LAN or a wired LAN as the narrow area network 70. FIG. 2 illustrates a case where the HEMS 200 and the router 400 are connected by wire, and the information device 300 and the operation device 500 and the router 400 are connected wirelessly. However, the HEMS 200 and the router 400 may be connected wirelessly, and the information device 300 and the operation device 500 and the router 400 may be connected by wire.

  The operation device 500 is an operation device that transmits an operation instruction (hereinafter, “operation instruction”) for instructing an operation of the information device 300. The operation device 500 is an operation device (for example, a remote controller or an operation button provided on the information device 300) that directly inputs an operation to the information device 300 without going through the router 400 or the HEMS 200. Also good. Alternatively, the operating device 500 may be an operating device connected to the narrow area network 70 (for example, a portable terminal connected wirelessly to the router 400 or a personal computer connected to the router 400 by wire). The operating device connected to the narrow area network 70 inputs an operation indirectly to the information device 300 via the router 400 and the HEMS 200. Alternatively, the operation device 500 may be an operation device connected to the wide area network 60 (for example, a portable terminal accessible to the server 600 or a personal computer and a computer accessible to the server 600). The operation device connected to the wide area network 60 is not limited to an apparatus owned by the user, but may be a server (for example, a server managed by an electric power company) provided on the wide area network 60. As an operation instruction transmitted from such a server, a demand response or the like can be considered.

  In FIG. 2, as the operation device 500, there are an operation device 500A that inputs an operation directly to the information device 300, an operation device 500B that is connected to the narrow area network 70, and an operation device 500C that is connected to the wide area network 60. Illustrated. It should be noted that the operation device 500C may be identified with the server 600 when the operation instruction is a demand response or the like.

  The server 600 is provided on the wide area network 60 and is connected to the HEMS 200 via the wide area network 60. The server 600 generates an operation instruction for the information device 300 managed under the HEMS 200 and transmits the operation instruction to the HEMS 200. Alternatively, the server 600 relays the operation instruction transmitted from the operation device 500C connected to the wide area network 60 to the HEMS 200.

  Here, it should be noted that the controller device 500C is not always connected to the server 600. From the viewpoint of security, it is not preferable that the session between the HEMS 200 and the server 600 connected to the narrow area network 70 provided in the customer 10 is always maintained. Generally, a firewall is provided between the wide area network 60 and the narrow area network 70 in order to protect devices connected to the narrow area network 70. Therefore, the server 600 cannot arbitrarily access the HEMS 200. From such a viewpoint, it is preferable that the server 600 transmits the operation instruction received from the operation device 500C to the HEMS 200 in response to an inquiry periodically executed from the HEMS 200 to the server 600.

  However, the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, an operation instruction received from the operation device 500C may be transmitted from the server 600 to the HEMS 200 at an arbitrary timing by performing port release or the like on the firewall.

  In the first embodiment, when relaying the operation instruction transmitted from the operation device 500C to the HEMS 200, the server 600 sends information indicating that the operation instruction is transmitted from the operation device 500C to the HEMS 200 together with the operation instruction. Send.

(Control device)
Hereinafter, the control device according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the HEMS 200 according to the first embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the HEMS 200 includes an in-home communication unit 210, an out-of-home communication unit 220, a control unit 230, and a storage unit 240.

  The in-home communication unit 210 corresponds to short-range wireless communication such as WiFi, for example, and transmits and receives various signals to and from a device connected via the narrow area network 70. For example, the in-home communication unit 210 receives information indicating the power generation amount of the PV 131 from the PV unit 130. The in-home communication unit 210 receives information indicating the storage amount of the storage battery 141 from the storage battery unit 140. The in-home communication unit 210 receives information indicating the power generation amount of the fuel cell 151 from the fuel cell unit 150. Home communication unit 210 receives information indicating the amount of hot water stored in hot water storage unit 160 from hot water storage unit 160. Moreover, the outside communication part 220 transmits the signal for controlling the load 120, PV unit 130, the storage battery unit 140, the fuel cell unit 150, and the hot water storage unit 160 to each apparatus.

  In the first embodiment, the in-home communication unit 210 receives an operation instruction from the operation device 500 </ b> B via the narrow area network 70.

  In the first embodiment, the in-home communication unit 210 transmits and receives commands to and from the information device 300 according to a predetermined protocol such as ECHONET Lite via the narrow area network 70. The in-home communication unit 210 transmits a message (command) including an operation instruction to the information device 300.

  The out-of-home communication unit 220 corresponds to a public communication system such as Ethernet (registered trademark), for example, and receives energy charge information, energy consumption prediction information, and PV power generation amount prediction information from various servers via the wide area network 60.

  The outside communication unit 220 communicates with the server 600 via the wide area network 60, for example. In the first embodiment, the out-of-home communication unit 220 receives an operation instruction from the server 600 via the wide area network 60. The operation instruction received from the server 600 is an operation instruction generated by the server 600 or an operation instruction transmitted from the operation device 500C to the server 600 and relayed by the server 600. Further, the out-of-home communication unit 220 transmits to the server 600 an inquiry about an operation instruction transmitted from the operation device 500C to the server 600 and held by the server 600.

  The control unit 230 controls the operation of the HEMS 200. The control unit 230 controls the load 120, the PV unit 130, the storage battery unit 140, the fuel cell unit 150, and the hot water storage unit 160.

  In the first embodiment, the control unit 230 controls the operation of the information device 300. When communication between the HEMS 200 and the information device 300 is performed by the ECHONET Lite method, the control unit 230 includes the generated operation instruction in the message (SET command) defined in the ECHONET Lite method, The information is transmitted to the information device 300 via the unit 210. A message configuration (message format) defined in the ECHONET Lite system will be described later.

  In the first embodiment, the control unit 230 specifies a transmission path of an operation instruction transmitted from another device as follows. The other device is the operation device 500B, the server 600, or the operation device 500C.

  The operation instruction transmitted from the operation device 500B is transmitted to the HEMS 200 via the router 400. On the other hand, the operation instruction transmitted from the operation device 500C is transmitted to the HEMS 200 via the server 600 and the router 400. Therefore, the control unit 230 confirms the transmission source IP address of the operation instruction, and when the operation instruction does not pass through the server 600, specifies that the transmission source of the operation instruction is the operation device 500B.

  On the other hand, when the operation instruction passes through the server 600, the control unit 230 confirms information indicating the transmission source of the operation instruction received together with the operation instruction, and the transmission source of the operation instruction is the server 600 or the operation The device 500C is identified.

  In the first embodiment, the control unit 230 generates a message including an operation instruction and transmission path specifying information indicating a transmission path of the operation instruction, and transmits the message to the information device 300 via the home communication unit 210.

  The storage unit 240 stores information necessary for the control unit 230 to control the load 120, the PV unit 130, the storage battery unit 140, the fuel cell unit 150, and the hot water storage unit 160. The storage unit 240 stores information necessary for control and management of the information device 300.

(Information equipment)
Hereinafter, the information device according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the information device 300 according to the first embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4, the information device 300 includes a communication unit 310, a control unit 320, and a storage unit 330.

  The communication unit 310 transmits and receives various signals from a device connected via a signal line (wireless or wired). Specifically, the communication unit 310 receives an operation instruction from the operation device 500A via infrared rays, Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like. Alternatively, the communication unit 310 transmits and receives various signals to and from the HEMS 200 via the narrow area network 70.

  When communication between the HEMS 200 and the information device 300 is performed by the ECHONET Lite method, the communication unit 310 receives a message (SET command, GET command) defined in the ECHONET Lite method from the HEMS 200. Further, the communication unit 310 transmits a message (SET response command, GET response command, INFO command) defined in the ECHONET Lite method to the HEMS 200.

  The control unit 320 controls the operation of the information device 300. Specifically, the control unit 320 controls the operation of the information device 300 in accordance with the operation instruction received by the communication unit 310.

  When communication between the HEMS 200 and the information device 300 is performed by the ECHONET Lite method, the control unit 320 generates a message (SET response command, GET response command, INFO command) defined in the ECHONET Lite method, The data is transmitted to the HEMS 200 via the communication unit 310.

  In the first embodiment, the storage unit 330 stores a variable indicating the transmission path of the operation instruction received by the communication unit 310. Details will be described later.

(Message format)
The message format according to the first embodiment will be described below. 5 to 7 are diagrams illustrating examples of message formats according to the first embodiment. 5 to 7 exemplify a message format when communication between the HEMS 200 and the information device 300 is performed by the ECHONET Lite method.

  In the first embodiment, the HEMS 200 (in-home communication unit 210) transmits a message (SET command or GET command) defined in the ECHONET Lite method to the information device 300. As shown in FIG. 5A, the SET command is a setting command including an operation instruction for the information device 300. As shown in FIG. 6A, the GET command is a request command for requesting reference to information indicating the state of the information device 300.

  As described above, the operation instruction included in the SET command is the operation instruction generated by the HEMS 200 (control unit 230), the instruction transmitted from the operation device 500B, the operation instruction generated by the server 600, or the server from the operation device 500C. One of the operation instructions transmitted via 600.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the SET command includes transmission path specifying information for distinguishing operation instruction transmission paths. The transmission path specifying information can be a 1-bit flag, for example. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 6A, the GET command may include transmission path specifying information.

  In the first embodiment, the information device 300 (communication unit 310) transmits a message (SET response command, GET response command, or INFO command) defined in the ECHONET Lite method to the HEMS 200. As shown in FIG. 5B, the SET response command is a response command to a setting command (SET command) including an operation instruction for the information device 300, and includes a setting response indicating a setting result. As shown in FIG. 6B, the GET response command is a response command to a request command (GET command) for requesting reference to information indicating the state of the information device 300, and information requested to be referred (state information). including. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the INFO command is a command autonomously transmitted from the information device 300 without depending on a command transmitted from the HEMS 200 to the information device 300, and indicates the state of the information device 300. Contains state information.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the SET response command includes a transmission path identifier corresponding to the transmission path specifying information included in the message (SET command) received from the HEMS 200. Similarly, as illustrated in FIGS. 6B and 7, the GET response command and the INFO command may include a transmission path identifier indicating a transmission path of an operation instruction that specifies the current operation of the information device 300.

(Check network communication with information devices)
Hereinafter, network communication confirmation by the information device according to the first embodiment will be described. Here, a case where communication between the HEMS 200 and the information device 300 is performed by the ECHONET Lite method is illustrated.

  In the first embodiment, when the communication unit 310 receives an operation instruction from either the HEMS 200 or the operation device 500A, the control unit 320 specifies the transmission path of the operation instruction. When the communication unit 310 receives an operation instruction included in a message (SET command) defined in ECHONET Lite, the control unit 320 determines that the operation instruction is transmitted from the HEMS 200. On the other hand, in cases other than the above, control unit 320 specifies that the operation instruction has been transmitted from operation device 500A.

  When the operation instruction is transmitted from the HEMS 200, the control unit 320 specifies the transmission path of the operation instruction according to the transmission path specifying information included in the message including the operation instruction. Specifically, the control unit 320 specifies whether the transmission source of the operation instruction is any one of the HEMS 200, the server 600, the operation device 500B, or the operation device 500C based on the operation route specifying information.

  In the first embodiment, the storage unit 330 stores a variable indicating a transmission path of an operation instruction. In other words, the variable indicating the operation route is a variable indicating whether the transmission source of the operation instruction is any one of the HEMS 200, the server 600, the operation device 500A, the operation device 500B, or the operation device 500C. Alternatively, when passing through the server 600 as a variable indicating the operation route, the address of the server 600 may be included. When the communication unit 310 receives a new operation instruction, the storage unit 330 updates the stored variable.

  In the first embodiment, the control unit 320 determines whether to perform network communication confirmation according to whether the transmission path of the information device 300 includes the HEMS 200. Specifically, the control unit 320 determines to execute the communication confirmation when the operation instruction transmission path includes the HEMS 200, and determines the communication confirmation when the operation instruction transmission path does not include the HEMS 200. Decide not to run. In other words, the control unit 230 performs network communication confirmation in principle, but when the information device 300 operates according to an operation instruction from the operation device 500A, the communication confirmation can be omitted.

  For example, the communication confirmation is performed by periodically transmitting / receiving a communication confirmation command (for example, a ping command), and the information device 300 confirms the communication in the network between the transmission destination device of the communication confirmation command and the information device 300. .

  In the first embodiment, when the operation instruction transmission path includes the HEMS 200, the communication unit 310 sends a communication confirmation command to the apparatus specified by the control unit 320 according to the operation instruction transmission path via the network. Send.

  Specifically, when the transmission path includes the HEMS 200 and does not include the server 600, the communication unit 310 transmits a communication confirmation command to the HEMS 200. Here, when the transmission source of the operation instruction is the operation device 500B, the network communication between the HEMS 200 and the operation device 500B is confirmed by the HEMS 200 grasping the IP address of the operation device 500B. It should be noted.

  Alternatively, when the operation instruction transmission path includes the HEMS 200 and the server 600, the communication unit 310 transmits a communication confirmation command to the server 600. Here, when the transmission source of the operation instruction is the operation device 500C, for example, the network communication between the server 600 and the operation device 500C is caused by a keep-alive signal or the like periodically transmitted from the operation device 500C. It should be noted that it is confirmed.

  In the first embodiment, when the communication unit 310 does not receive a response to the communication confirmation command, the control unit 320 causes the information device 300 to perform a predetermined operation. The predetermined operation is, for example, an operation such as a standby state in which the safety of the information device 300 can be ensured even when the network is interrupted.

  The control unit 320 may determine the transmission cycle according to the transmission destination of the communication confirmation command. For example, the control unit 320 may set different transmission cycles depending on whether the communication confirmation command is sent to the HEMS 200 or the server 600.

(Control method)
Hereinafter, a control method according to the first embodiment will be described. 8 to 10 are sequence diagrams illustrating the control method according to the first embodiment. 8 to 10 exemplify a case where communication between the HEMS 200 and the information device 300 is performed by the ECHONET Lite method.

  FIG. 8 shows a sequence diagram when the information device 300 operates in accordance with an operation instruction received from the HEMS 200. Here, the operation instruction received from the HEMS 200 includes not only the operation instruction generated by the HEMS 200 but also the operation instruction transmitted from the operation device 500B and relayed by the HEMS 200.

  In step S110, the HEMS 200 transmits a SET command including an operation instruction and transmission path specifying information to the information device 300.

  When receiving the SET command, the information device 300 stores a variable indicating the transmission path of the operation instruction according to the transmission path specifying information included in the SET command (step S120), and performs an operation according to the operation instruction (instruction execution). Is performed (step S130). The information device 300 transmits a SET response command corresponding to the SET command to the HEMS 200 (step S140).

  In step S <b> 130, the information device 300 periodically transmits a communication confirmation command to the HEMS 200. When the response corresponding to the communication confirmation command is not received from the HEMS 200, the information device 300 detects that the network is disconnected from the HEMS 200 (step S160), and executes a predetermined operation such as a standby state (step S160). Step S170).

  In step S <b> 160, the information device 300 detects that the network is disconnected from the router 400. Specifically, when a response from the router 400 is not received in response to the network confirmation command transmitted by the information device 300, the information device 300 detects a network interruption.

  As described above, when the information device 300 is operating according to the operation instruction received from the HEMS 200, the information device 300 executes network communication confirmation, that is, transmission of a communication confirmation command. As a result, when the information device 300 detects a disruption of the network, the information device 300 executes a predetermined operation to ensure safety.

  FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram when the operation instruction is received from the operation device 500A when the information device 300 operates in response to the operation instruction received from the HEMS 200.

  In step S210 to step S250, processing similar to that in step S110 to step S150 in FIG. 8 is performed.

  In step S260, operating device 500A transmits an operating instruction to information device 300.

  When receiving the operation instruction from the operation device 500A, the information device 300 stores a variable indicating the transmission path of the operation instruction (step S270), and performs an operation (instruction execution) according to the operation instruction (step S280).

  When the stored variable is updated to a variable indicating an operation instruction from the controller device 500A, the information device 300 stops transmitting the communication confirmation command in step S250. In other words, even when a network disruption occurs between the HEMS 200 and the information device 300, the information device 300 continues to operate according to the operation instruction received from the operation device 500A.

  As described above, when the information device 300 is operating according to the operation instruction received from the HEMS 200 and receives the operation instruction from the operation device 500A, the network communication confirmation, that is, the communication confirmation command is transmitted. Do not execute. The fact that the information device 300 has received the operation instruction from the operation device 500A means that the operator is in the vicinity of the information device 300 and transmits the operation instruction using the operation device 500A while confirming the operation state of the information device 300. Presumed to be possible. Therefore, the information device 300 can suppress the number of signal transmissions while ensuring safety.

  FIG. 10 shows a sequence diagram when the operation instruction is received from the server 600 when the information device 300 operates in response to the operation instruction received from the HEMS 200. The operation instruction from the server 600 is either an operation instruction generated by the server 600 or an operation instruction transmitted from the operation device 500C to the server 600.

  In step S310 to step S350, processing similar to that in step S110 to step S150 in FIG. 8 is performed.

  In step S <b> 360, the server 600 transmits an operation instruction to the HEMS 200. Receiving the operation instruction, the HEMS 200 generates a SET command including the operation instruction and the transmission path specifying information, and transmits the SET command to the information device 300 (step S361).

  When receiving the operation instruction from the server 600, the information device 300 stores a variable indicating the transmission path of the operation instruction (step S370), and performs an operation (instruction execution) according to the operation instruction (step S380). Here, it should be noted that the information device 300 transmits a SET response command for the SET command to the HEMS 200.

  When the stored variable is updated to a variable indicating an operation instruction from the server 600, the information device 300 changes the transmission destination of the communication confirmation command from the HEMS 200 to the server 600. The information device 300 transmits a communication confirmation command to the HEMS 200 (step S390), and the HEMS 200 that has received the communication confirmation command transmits a communication confirmation command to the server 600 (step S391). The information device 300 may set the transmission period T1 of the communication confirmation command in step S350 and the transmission period T2 of the communication confirmation command in steps S390 and S391 in different periods.

  As described above, when the information device 300 is operating according to the operation instruction received from the HEMS 200, the information device 300 changes the transmission destination of the communication confirmation command according to the transmission source of the operation instruction. As a result, the information device 300 can more reliably execute network communication confirmation.

  Here, when the information device 300 transmits a communication confirmation command with the server 600 as a transmission destination, if an operation instruction is received from the operation device 500A, the communication confirmation command is transmitted as in the sequence diagram shown in FIG. It should be noted that stop.

(Example of change)
Below, the example of a change of 1st Embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 11 shows a sequence diagram of a control method according to the modified example.

  In the modified example, the information device 300 performs network communication confirmation by transmitting a response signal to the check signal from the operation device 500C.

  FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram when the operation instruction is received from the operation device 500A when the information device 300 operates according to the operation instruction received from the operation device 500C. In step S410, the controller device 500C transmits an operation instruction to the server 600. The server 600 that has received the operation instruction relays the operation instruction to the HEMS 200 (step S411), and the HEMS 200 transmits a SET command including the received operation instruction to the information device 300 (step S412). The processing of step S420 and step S430 is the same as the processing of step S120 and step S130 shown in FIG. It should be noted that the information device 300 transmits a SET response command to the SET command to the HEMS 200.

  In step S <b> 440, the controller device 500 </ b> C transmits a check signal (for example, a keep alive signal) for confirming network communication with the information device 300 to the server 600. The server 600 that has received the check signal transmits the check signal to the HEMS 200 (step S441), and the HEMS 200 transmits the check signal to the information device 300 (step S442).

  The information device 300 that has received the check signal transmits a response signal to the check signal to the HEMS 200 (step S450), the HEMS 200 transmits a response signal to the server 600 (step S451), and the server 600 operates the response signal. It transmits to the device 500C (step S452). As described above, when the information device 300 operates in accordance with the operation instruction received from the operation device 500C, the operation device 500C and the information device 300 transmit and receive check signals and response signals (steps S440 to S442 and steps S450 to S452). ) Is repeated periodically.

  In step S460, operating device 500A transmits an operating instruction to information device 300.

  When receiving the operation instruction, the information device 300 stores a variable indicating a transmission path of the operation instruction (step S470), and performs an operation (instruction execution) according to the operation instruction (step S480).

  When the stored variable is updated to a variable indicating an operation instruction from the controller device 500A, the information device 300 stops transmitting the response signal in S450 to S452. In other words, even when the check signal is received from the controller device 500C, the information device 300 omits the transmission of the response signal. Further, even when a network interruption occurs between the operation device 500C and the information device 300, the information device 300 continues the operation according to the operation instruction received from the operation device 500A.

  As described above, when the information device 300 is operating according to the operation instruction received from the operation device 500C, the information device 300 transmits a response signal to the check signal from the operation device 500C, thereby communicating the network. Perform verification. In such a case, when the information device 300 receives an operation instruction from the operation device 500A, the information device 300 does not perform network communication confirmation, that is, does not transmit a response signal to the check signal. The fact that the information device 300 has received the operation instruction from the operation device 500A means that the operator is in the vicinity of the information device 300 and transmits the operation instruction using the operation device 500A while confirming the operation state of the information device 300. Presumed to be possible. Therefore, the information device 300 can suppress the number of signal transmissions while ensuring safety.

[Other Embodiments]
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above-described embodiments, it should not be understood that the descriptions and drawings constituting a part of this disclosure limit the present invention. From this disclosure, various alternative embodiments, examples and operational techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

  In the embodiment, ECHONET Lite is exemplified as the predetermined communication protocol. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and a communication protocol other than ECHONET Lite (for example, ZigBee (registered trademark) or KNX) may be used as the predetermined communication protocol. Alternatively, ECHONET Lite and another communication protocol may be used in combination as a predetermined communication protocol.

  In the embodiment, the information device 300 has been described as not performing network communication confirmation when receiving an operation instruction from the operation device 500A. However, the embodiment is not limited to this. Even when the information device 300 receives the operation device from the operation device 500B, it is assumed that the operator is in the vicinity of the information device 300, and therefore the network communication confirmation may not be executed.

  In the embodiment, a case where the control device is the HEMS 200 is illustrated. However, the embodiment is not limited to this. The control device may be provided in a CEMS (Cluster / Community Energy Management System) or may be provided in the server 600. Alternatively, the control device may be provided in a BEMS (Building Energy Management System), may be provided in a FEMS (Factor Energy Management System), or may be provided in a SEMS (Store Energy Management). .

  In the embodiment, the customer 10 includes a load 120, a PV unit 130, a storage battery unit 140, a fuel cell unit 150, and a hot water storage unit 160. However, the consumer 10 only needs to have any one of the load 120, the PV unit 130, the storage battery unit 140, the fuel cell unit 150, and the hot water storage unit 160.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Consumer, 31 ... Distribution line, 60 ... Wide area network, 70 ... Narrow area network, 100 ... Control system, 110 ... Distribution board, 120 ... Load, 130 ... PV unit, 131 ... PV, 132 ... PCS, 140 ... Storage battery unit 141 ... Storage battery 142 ... PCS 150 ... Fuel cell unit 151 ... Fuel cell 152 ... PCS 160 ... Hot storage unit 200 ... HEMS 210 ... Control unit 240 ... Storage unit 300 ... Information device 310 ... Communication unit 320 ... Control unit 330 ... Storage unit 400 ... Router 500 ... Operation device 600 ... Server

Claims (10)

A control system comprising an information device provided in a consumer and a control device that controls the information device via a network,
The control device transmits a first message including transmission path specifying information indicating a transmission path of an operation instruction for instructing an operation of the information apparatus to the information apparatus,
The control device transmits a second message for confirming communication of the network to the information device ,
The control system transmits the first message when the transmission path includes a server or an operation device provided outside the consumer . The control system of claim 1 wherein the controller, after having transmitted the first message, characterized in that for transmitting the second message. The control system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control device transmits the second message periodically. The first message, the control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises an information indicating the operation instruction. The control system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the information device and the control device communicate with each other in a system compliant with ECHONET Lite. The control system according to claim 5 , wherein the first message is a setting command defined in ECHONET Lite. A control device for controlling information equipment provided to a consumer via a network,
A first message including transmission path specifying information indicating a transmission path of an operation instruction for instructing an operation of the information device is transmitted to the information device, and a second message for confirming communication of the network is transmitted to the information device. a communication unit which,
The said communication part transmits the said 1st message, when the said transmission path | route contains the server or operating device provided outside the said consumer, The control apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned .   An information device controlled by a control device via a network and provided to a consumer,
  A first message including transmission path specifying information indicating a transmission path of an operation instruction for instructing an operation of the information device is received from the control apparatus, and a second message for confirming communication of the network is received from the control apparatus. Communication section
  The information device, wherein the communication unit receives the first message when the transmission path includes a server or an operation device provided outside the consumer.   The information device according to claim 8, wherein the information device is at least one of a load, a distributed power source, a power storage device, and a heat storage device. A control method used in a control system comprising an information device provided in a consumer and a control device that controls the information device via a network,
A step A for transmitting a first message including transmission path specifying information indicating a transmission path of an operation instruction for instructing an operation of the information apparatus from the control device to the information apparatus;
A step B of transmitting a second message for confirming communication of the network from the control device to the information device ;
The step A includes a step of transmitting the first message when the transmission path includes a server or an operation device provided outside the customer .

Images