JP6704166B2 - Communication device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates generally to communications equipment, and more particularly, relates to a communication equipment for communicating with other devices.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, there is a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) that monitors and controls housing equipment (solar cells, storage batteries, etc.) and home appliances (air conditioners, lighting fixtures, refrigerators, etc.) (see Patent Document 1, for example). Further, for the purpose of accelerating the spread of HEMS, industry standardization of the communication method between the devices constituting the HEMS is in progress, and the interconnection environment of the devices of different manufacturers is being prepared.

Generally, when a device transmits a request signal to a communication partner device (counterpart device), the device waits for a response during the response waiting time from the transmission of the request signal. Then, when the device receives the response signal from the partner device within the response waiting time, the device performs the reception process of the response signal. If the device does not receive a response signal from the device of the communication partner within the response waiting time, the request signal transmitted to the device of the communication partner is determined to have timed out, and a timeout process such as retransmission of the request signal is performed. Is done.

Here, when communication is performed between devices of the same maker, information regarding the response performance of the partner device is held in advance, so it is common to set the response waiting time according to the performance of the partner device. For example, when communication is performed between the HEMS controller and the device equipment which are the same manufacturer, the controller can set a response waiting time according to the response performance of the device equipment. This prevents the communication buffer overflow in the device equipment due to continuous requests from the controller. That is, it is possible to prevent the device device from generating a request that cannot be received, and prevent the device device from dropping the request from the controller. Therefore, communication loss does not occur between the controller and the device equipment that are manufactured by the same manufacturer.

JP, 2014-124066, A

However, when communication is performed between devices of different manufacturers, it is not possible to set an appropriate response waiting time because the response performance of the partner device is unknown. If this response waiting time is too short, a timeout frequently occurs and multiple requests may be missed due to the occurrence of multiple requests. Also, if the response waiting time is too long, the responsiveness of the system deteriorates, leading to deterioration of usability.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, an object thereof is to provide a communication equipment capable of setting the response waiting time according to the response performance of the communication partner device.

The communication device of the present invention receives a response signal, which is a response to the request signal, when a transmission unit that transmits a request signal that requires a response to a device and an elapsed time from the transmission of the request signal is within a response waiting time. A receiving unit that performs processing, a timer that measures a response time from the transmission of the request signal to the reception of the response signal, and a storage unit that stores a history of the response time in association with attribute information of the device. And setting the response waiting time corresponding to the device to which the request signal is transmitted, based on the history of the response time corresponding to the same attribute information as the attribute information of the device to which the request signal is transmitted. And a time setting unit that operates .

The present invention has an effect that the response waiting time can be set according to the response performance of the device of the communication partner.

It is a block configuration diagram of a communication device of the embodiment. It is a flowchart of a request determination process. 3A and 3B are sequence diagrams of request signal transmission and response signal reception.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of this embodiment. In the present embodiment, the communication device 1 and the plurality of devices 2 form a HEMS (Home Energy Management System). The communication device 1 is a HEMS controller, and each of the plurality of devices 2 is a HEMS device (for example, an air conditioner, a lighting fixture, etc.). In this embodiment, the communication device 1 and the device 2 are different manufacturers. Further, when distinguishing a plurality of devices 2, they are referred to as a device 21, a device 22, and a device 23. The communication device 1 is configured to be capable of communicating with each device 2 via a network. Here, in the devices 2 constituting the HEMS, there is an industry standardized communication standard (communication method) for mutually connecting and controlling the devices 2 of different manufacturers. In the present embodiment, the case where ECHONET Lite (registered trademark) (hereinafter referred to as common communication standard), which is a communication protocol established by the general incorporated association Echonet Consortium, is used as a communication standard for this industry standardization will be described as an example. To do. The configuration of the communication device 1 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

The communication device 1 of this embodiment includes a communication unit 11, a request generation unit 12, an operation unit 13, a communication control unit 14, a transmission unit 15, a reception unit 16, a timer 17, a storage unit 18, and a time setting unit 19. Is the controller of.

The communication unit 11 is a so-called communication interface, and sends and receives signals using a wired or wireless medium as a medium via a network constructed with the device 2. A router may be provided between the communication device 1 and the device 2 as needed.

The request generation unit 12 includes a first request unit 121 and a second request unit 122, and generates a control request for the device 2.

The first request unit 121 receives the operation content of a GUI (Graphical User Interface) terminal connected to the communication apparatus 1 via the network and the operation unit 13 included in the communication apparatus 1, and issues a control request based on the operation content. To generate. The GUI terminal 3 includes a display unit 31 and an operation unit 32, and has both a function as an input device using the GUI and a function as a monitor for displaying the state of HEMS. The display unit 31 is configured by an EL (Electro Luminescence) display, a liquid crystal display, or the like, and displays an icon indicating, for example, control information (for example, operation, stop, information acquisition, etc.) for the device 2. The operation unit 32 is configured by a touch panel provided on the display that constitutes the display unit 31. Then, the GUI terminal 3 transmits the operation content (for example, control information indicated by the selected icon) by the user to the operation unit 32 to the communication device 1, and the first requesting unit 121 acquires this operation content. Further, the operation unit 13 included in the communication device 1 is configured by, for example, a tactile switch (push button switch), and the operation content assigned to the operation unit 13 is changed by the first operation unit 121 by being operated by the user. Be transmitted to.

Then, when the operation content received from the GUI terminal 3 or the operation unit 13 requires the device 2 to be controlled, the first requesting unit 121 controls the device 2 based on the control information indicated by the operation content. The request is generated and output to the communication control unit 14. For example, when the control information indicated by the operation content is “operation of device 2 ”, the first request unit 121 generates a control request “to operate the device 2” and outputs the control request to the communication control unit 14.

The first request unit 121 is configured to generate a control request triggered by a user operation, whereas the second request unit 122 is configured to automatically generate a control request to the device 2. The second request unit 122 generates a control request for the device 2 and outputs the control request to the communication control unit 14 at a timing based on a schedule determined by the user, for example.

When the control request for the device 2 is input from the request generation unit 12 (the first request unit 121 and the second request unit 122), the communication control unit 14 immediately determines whether or not to transmit the control request to the device 2. Performs request determination processing. It should be noted that this request determination processing will be described later, and here, a case where a control request to the device 2 is immediately transmitted will be described.

When transmitting the control request to the device 2, the communication control unit 14 assigns a transaction ID, which is an identifier for identifying the control request, to the control request. Then, the communication control unit 14 outputs the control request to which the transaction ID is added to the transmission unit 15. Further, the communication control unit 14 notifies the reception unit 16 of the transaction ID added to the control request. The request and the response are associated with each other by the transaction ID, and when the response from the device 2 is received, it is possible to determine which request the response is.

The transmission unit 15 converts the control request received from the communication control unit 14 into a request signal having a signal format conforming to the common communication standard. At this time, the transmission unit 15 also adds the transaction ID added to the control request to the request signal. Further, in the common communication standard, information as to whether a response to a request is necessary or not is also added to the request signal. In the present embodiment, a case where information that a response to a request is necessary is added to the request signal will be described as an example. That is, in the present embodiment, the request signal includes the control request for the device 2 as the control content for the device 2, and further includes the information that the response is necessary and the transaction ID. Then, the transmission unit 15 transmits the generated request signal to the device 2 via the network.

The device 2, which has received the request signal from the transmission unit 15, generates a response signal which is a response to the request signal and sends it back to the communication device 1. For example, when the control request included in the request signal is “operation of the device 2 ”, the device 2 returns a response signal including a response indicating that the activation is completed and is in the operating state, to the communication device 1. To do. Further, when the control request included in the request signal is “information acquisition” requesting attribute information of the device 2, the device 2 sends a response signal including a response indicating the requested attribute information to the communication device 1 Reply to. Then, the device 2 adds the transaction ID added to the request signal to the response signal when generating the response signal to the received request signal.

The receiving unit 16 confirms the transaction ID added to the response signal, and if the transaction ID matches the transaction ID notified to the communication control unit 14, performs the receiving process of the response signal. Further, the reception unit 16 outputs the response information from the device 2 included in the received response signal to the request generation unit 12 that is the request source. The request generation unit 12 transmits the response information to the GUI terminal 3 as necessary, and causes the display unit 31 of the GUI terminal 3 to display the response information.

The timer 17 monitors the request signal transmitted from the transmitter 15 and the response signal received by the receiver 16, and measures the response time from the transmission of the request signal to the reception of the response signal. The timer 17 starts clocking when the request signal is transmitted from the transmitter 15, and stops clocking when the receiver 16 receives a response signal corresponding to the request signal, and the clocking result becomes the response time. Then, the timer 17 stores the measured response time in the storage unit 18. Further, the timer 17 notifies the communication control unit 14 of the elapsed time from the transmission of the request signal in association with the transaction ID added to the request signal. The communication control unit 14 uses this elapsed time to perform a timeout determination process described later.

The storage unit 18 stores a history of response times measured by the timer 17.

The time setting unit 19 sets the response waiting time for the request signal based on the history of the response time stored in the storage unit 18. When receiving the response signal within the response waiting time, the receiving unit 16 performs the response signal receiving process. The setting of the response waiting time will be described later.

Next, the timeout determination process will be described.

The communication control unit 14 performs a timeout determination process of comparing the elapsed time from the transmission of the request signal with the response waiting time. Then, when the elapsed time exceeds the response waiting time, the communication control unit 14 causes the response waiting for the request signal to time out. Specifically, when the elapsed time exceeds the response waiting time, the communication control unit 14 instructs the reception unit 16 to discard the transaction ID added to the request signal. By discarding the transaction ID, the receiving unit 16 does not perform the process of receiving the response signal to the request signal. That is, if the elapsed time from the transmission of the request signal exceeds the response waiting time, a time-out for ending the response waiting of the response signal to the request signal is executed. When the receiving unit 16 receives the response signal within the response waiting time, the receiving process of the response signal is performed.

Next, when the communication control unit 14 receives a control request from the request generation unit 12, the request determination process of immediately determining whether or not to transmit the control request to the device 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Explain.

First, the communication control unit 14 confirms whether or not there is a request waiting for a response to the device 2 that is the request destination of the control request input from the request generation unit 12 (S1). When there is a request for waiting for a response to the device 2 that is the request destination of the control request (Yes in S1), the communication control unit 14 confirms whether or not the request is a time-out by a time-out determination process (S2). When the request is not timed out, that is, when the response is awaited (No in S2), reception confirmation of the response signal is performed (S3). Then, if the response signal reception process has not been performed (No in S3), the process returns to the timeout determination process in step S2.

On the other hand, when there is no request waiting for a response to the device 2 that is the request destination of the control request (No in S1), the communication control unit 14 outputs the control request input from the request generation unit 12 to the transmission unit 15. A request signal is transmitted from the transmitter 15 (S4). Similarly, when the request times out (Yes in S2) or when the response signal reception processing is performed (Yes in S3), the communication control unit 14 transmits the control request input from the request generation unit 12. The request signal is output to the unit 15 and the request signal is transmitted from the transmitter 15 (S4).

Sequence diagrams showing the transmission of a request signal and the reception of a response signal by the above-described timeout determination processing and request determination processing are shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

As shown in FIG. 3A, when a request signal is transmitted from the communication device 1 to the device 2, the timer 17 starts measuring time (P1). Then, when the reception processing of the response signal is performed within the response waiting time, the timer 17 stops the time measurement and the time measurement result becomes the response time (P2). At this time, a new request signal is not transmitted from the communication device 1 to the device 2 until the communication device 1 receives the response signal from the device 2, that is, when the timer 17 is measuring the response time. As described above, the response waiting time is a prohibition period for transmitting a new request signal to the device 2 that is responding.

Then, when there is a new request to the device 2, the request signal is transmitted to the device 2 after receiving the response signal (P3). Therefore, even if the first request unit 121 generates a large number of control requests by the user's operation, the control requests are buffered by the communication control unit, and continuous requests to the device 2 are prevented. As a result, the device 2 can prevent the reception loss of the request due to the overflow of the reception buffer, and can further prevent the processing delay due to the consumption of unnecessary resources.

When the response signal reception process is not performed within the response waiting time, the request signal is transmitted after the response waiting time as shown in FIG. 3B (P4). At this time, when there is no new request to the device 2, the time-out request signal is retransmitted.

Next, the setting of the response waiting time used in the above-described timeout determination process will be described.

The timer 17 of the present embodiment uses the measured response time as the control content included in the request signal targeted when measuring the response time, the attribute information of the device 2 that is the transmission source of the response signal, and the response signal. The data is stored in the storage unit 18 in association with the time stamp indicating the reception date and time.

The control content (control parameter) included in the request signal indicates the number of requests (the number of requests) to the device 2, the command of the request, the data length of the request, and the like. In the present embodiment, as the control content included in the request signal, the number of requests is stored in the storage unit 18 in association with the response time.

The attribute information of the device 2 indicates a manufacturer code indicating the manufacturer name of the device 2, a product code assigned to the product, a class code indicating the type of the device 2 (device object), and the like. In the present embodiment, as the attribute information of the device 2, the manufacturer code, the product code, and the class code are stored in the storage unit 18 in association with the response time. As the manufacturer code, a code assigned to each manufacturer by Echonet Consortium is used. The product model number of the device 2 is used as the product code. As the class code, a code indicating the type (device object) of the device 2 classified by the Echonet Consortium is used. The manufacturer code, the product code, and the class code are not limited to the above. For example, the product code may be a JAN (Japanese Article Number) code. The attribute information of the device 2 associated with the response time can be acquired by transmitting a request signal requesting the attribute information to the device 2.

Table 1 shows an example of a history of response times stored in the storage unit 18. In the column direction of Table 1, the combinations of the devices 2 and the requested numbers are collectively described as one group, and the arrangement order in the column direction in each group is the ascending order of the time stamps. Therefore, the context of the time stamp is not defined between different groups. Table 1 is a part of the response time history stored in the storage unit, and the number of response time histories stored in the storage unit is not limited to the number in Table 1.

As shown in Table 1, the devices 21 to 23 have the same class code, and the devices 21 and 22 have the same manufacturer code. Further, in the device 21, there is data of response times in which the requested numbers are different from each other.

The time setting unit 19 sets a response waiting time corresponding to the attribute information and the control content of the device 2 based on the response time history stored in the storage unit 18. In the present embodiment, the time setting unit 19 sets a response waiting time corresponding to each combination of the attribute information of the device 2 and the number of requests. In the following, the setting of the response waiting time corresponding to the combination of the manufacturer code M1, the product code I1, the class code C1, and the request number [3] will be described.

The time setting unit 19 extracts the response time corresponding to the combination of the maker code M1, the product code I1, the class code C1, and the requested number [3] from the response time history stored in the storage unit 18 (time. Response times of stamps T11 to T13). Then, the time setting unit 19 selects the longest time from the extracted response times. That is, the time setting unit 19 selects the response time (5.5 seconds) whose time stamp is T11.

Then, the time setting unit 19 sets the response waiting time corresponding to the combination of the manufacturer code M1, the product code I1, the class code C1, and the request number [3] based on the selected longest response time (5.5 seconds). Set. In the present embodiment, in consideration of fluctuations in communication, errors in reception processing time, and the like, the time setting unit 19 sets 5.77 seconds (=5.5 seconds×5.5 seconds) with a margin of 5% of the selected longest response time. Set 1.05) as the response waiting time. The time setting unit 19 also sets the response waiting time for other combinations of each attribute information of the device 2 and the number of requests. Table 2 shows the response waiting time set by the time setting unit 19. In addition, in the present embodiment, the time setting unit 19 sets the response waiting time to a time obtained by adding 5% to the selected longest response time, but it is not limited to 5%, and fluctuations in communication are not set. , And is appropriately set in consideration of an error in reception processing time. Further, the time setting unit 19 may set the response waiting time to a time obtained by adding a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds) to the selected longest response time.

The communication control unit 14 performs the above-described timeout determination process using the response waiting time set by the time setting unit 19. For example, when a request signal with the request number [3] is transmitted to the device 21 whose attribute information is the manufacturer code M1, the product code I1, and the class code C1, 5.77 seconds is set as the response waiting time. .. Further, when transmitting a request signal of which the number of requests is [2] to the device 21, the response waiting time is set to 5.25 seconds. Further, when the same request signal is transmitted to a plurality of devices 2 by multicast, the longest response waiting time of the destination devices 2 is applied as the response waiting time.

The time when the time setting unit 19 obtains the response waiting time may be at the time of transmitting the request signal or may be obtained in advance before transmitting the request signal. When obtaining the response waiting time before transmitting the request signal, the time setting unit 19 obtains the response waiting time corresponding to the attribute information and the control content of the device 2 in advance and stores it in the data table. Then, at the time of transmitting the request signal, the time setting unit 19 extracts the response waiting time corresponding to the attribute information and the control content of the device 2 from the data table, and the communication control unit 14 extracts the time setting unit 19. Timeout determination processing is performed using the response waiting time.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the response waiting time corresponding to the attribute information and the control content of the device 2 is set based on the response time history. Therefore, even if the response performance of the device 2 to which the request signal is transmitted is unknown, the response waiting time suitable for this device 2 can be set based on the history of the response time, and the response waiting time becomes unnecessary. It is prevented from being set short or unnecessarily long. As a result, it is possible to prevent overflow of the reception buffer of the device 2 due to frequent timeouts. Further, when the request signal times out, the interval until the next request signal is transmitted is prevented from being unnecessarily lengthened, so that the responsiveness of the system is prevented from being lowered and the usability can be improved. In the present embodiment, the response waiting time is set based on the attribute information of the device 2 and the control content, but may be set based on only the attribute information of the device 2.

Further, the time setting unit 19 determines whether or not the response time tends to be shortened based on the attribute information of the device 2 and the history of the response time corresponding to the control content. For example, when the difference obtained by subtracting the longest response time from the response time history from the present to the predetermined period (for example, one month, three months) before is longer than the predetermined time, the time setting unit 19 It is determined that the response time tends to be shortened. Alternatively, when the response time is shorter than a predetermined ratio (for example, 70%) of the response waiting time for a predetermined number of times (for example, 5 times), the time setting unit 19 determines that the response time tends to be shortened. Then, when it is determined that the response time tends to be shortened, the time setting unit 19 sets the response waiting time to the second time shorter than the currently set first time. For example, it is assumed that the time setting unit 19 determines that the response time corresponding to the manufacturer code M1, the product code I1, the class code C1, and the request number [3] tends to be shortened. In this case, the time setting unit 19 changes the response waiting time to 5.67 seconds (second time) shorter than the currently set 5.77 seconds (first time). As a result, when the response performance is improved by updating the firmware of the device 2 and the response time is shortened, the response waiting time can be shortened and the responsiveness of the system can be improved. The second time is set to a value shorter than the first time by a predetermined time, or set to a small value at a predetermined rate. Alternatively, the second time is set to a time based on the magnitude of the difference between the currently set response waiting time and the longest response time before the predetermined period.

In addition, when the response waiting time changed to the second time is shorter than the response time measured by the timer 17, the time setting unit 19 changes the response waiting time to the third time which is longer than the second time. .. For example, it is assumed that the response time corresponding to the manufacturer code M1, the product code I1, the class code C1, and the number of requests [3] exceeds 5.67 seconds (second time) by a predetermined number of times. In this case, the time setting unit 19 sets the response waiting time to 5.72 seconds (third time), which is longer than 5.67 seconds (second time). This can prevent the response waiting time from being unnecessarily shortened. The third time period is set to a value that is longer than the second time period by a predetermined time period or a large value at a predetermined rate. Alternatively, the third time period is set to a time period based on the magnitude of the difference between the second time period and the response time period exceeding the second time period.

Here, the response time is greatly affected by the response performance of the product. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a product is specified using a combination of attribute information (manufacturer code, product code, class code) of the device 2, and a response waiting time is associated with this product. Therefore, when the combination of the attribute information of the device 2 newly connected to the communication device 1 matches the combination of the attribute information of the device 2 corresponding to the already set response waiting time, this response waiting time is used. be able to. For example, assume that the attribute information of the device 2 newly connected to the communication device 1 is the manufacturer code M1, the product code I2, and the class code C1. Then, when the communication device 1 transmits the request signal of the request number [2] to the device 2, the response waiting time is set to 3.15 seconds (see Table 2). As described above, in this embodiment, the response waiting time is associated with the attribute information of the device 2. As a result, even if the response time history of the newly connected device 2 does not exist, the attribute information of the device 2 matches the attribute information of the device 2 associated with the already set response waiting time. , This response waiting time can be used. Further, in the present embodiment, since the product is specified by using the combination of the attribute information (manufacturer code, product code, class code) of the device 2, the product specifying accuracy is high.

The response time is also affected by the control content. For example, there is a difference in response time between when the number of requests is large and when the number of requests is small. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control content corresponds to the response waiting time. As a result, the response waiting time can be set more finely according to the control content. Therefore, for example, when the number of requests is small, it is possible to prevent an unnecessarily long response waiting time from being set. The control content associated with the response waiting time is not limited to the number of requests, and the command of the request, the data length, and the like may be associated.

Further, the communication device 1 of the present embodiment is configured by a HEMS controller, but the present invention is not limited to this form, and is realized using a program for causing another device or a computer to function as the communication device 1 described above. It may be in the form of. With this program, the computer can be caused to function as the communication device 1, and the response waiting time suitable for the device 2 can be set based on the history of the response time. The program is provided in a state of being stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory), a state of being stored in a computer-readable recording medium, or the like, or provided via an electric communication line such as the Internet.

As described above, the communication device 1 of the present embodiment includes the transmission unit 15, the reception unit 16, the timer 17, the storage unit 18, and the time setting unit 19. The transmitter 15 transmits a request signal that requires a response to the device 2. When the elapsed time from the transmission of the request signal is within the response waiting time, the receiving unit 16 performs the receiving process of the response signal which is the response of the request signal. The timer 17 measures the response time from the transmission of the request signal to the reception of the response signal. The storage unit 18 stores the response time history of the device 2 in association with the attribute information of the device 2. The time setting unit 19 sets the response waiting time corresponding to the attribute information of the device 2 based on the history of the response time corresponding to the attribute information of the device 2.

Further, the program of the present embodiment causes a computer to function as the communication device 1.

With the above configuration, the communication device 1 and the program according to the present embodiment have a response waiting time suitable for the device 2 based on the response time history even if the response performance of the device 2 that is the destination of the request signal is unknown. Can be set.

Further, the time setting unit 19 sets the response waiting time corresponding to the attribute information of the device 2 based on the longest time from the history of the response time corresponding to the attribute information of the device 2. With the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the response waiting time from being set unnecessarily short.

In addition, the transmission unit 15 does not transmit a new request signal to the device 2 when the request signal is transmitted to the device 2 and the timer 17 is measuring the response time. With the above configuration, continuous requests to the device 2 that is responding can be prevented, the device 2 can prevent the request reception loss due to the overflow of the reception buffer, and can further prevent the processing delay due to unnecessary resource consumption. ..

Further, the attribute information of the device 2 includes the product code assigned to the product. By including the product code in the attribute information of the device 2, the product of the device 2 can be easily specified.

In addition, the attribute information of the device 2 includes a class code (type information) indicating the type of the device 2. Further, the attribute information of the device 2 includes a maker code (maker information) indicating the maker of the device 2. Since the attribute information of the device 2 includes the class code and the manufacturer code in addition to the product code, the accuracy of identifying the product of the device 2 is improved.

Further, in the communication device 1 of the present embodiment, the request signal includes the number of requests (control contents) to the device 2. The storage unit 18 stores the response time in association with the number of requests (control content). The time setting unit 19 sets the response waiting time based on the attribute information of the device 2 and the number of requests (control contents).

The response time greatly affects the control content included in the request signal. Therefore, the response waiting time can be set more finely by setting the response waiting time in association with the control content. Therefore, for example, when the number of requests is small, it is possible to prevent an unnecessarily long response waiting time from being set.

Further, the time setting unit 19 determines whether the response time tends to be shortened based on the response time history corresponding to the attribute information of the device 2. When it is determined that the response time tends to be shortened, the response waiting time is set to the second time shorter than the currently set first time.

With the above configuration, when the response time becomes short after setting the response wait time, the response wait time can be shortened.

When the response waiting time changed to the second time is shorter than the response time measured by the timer 17, the time setting unit 19 changes the response waiting time to the third time which is longer than the second time.

With the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the response waiting time from being unnecessarily shortened.

Further, as described above, the time setting unit 19 of the communication device 1 is configured to set the response waiting time based only on the attribute information of the device 2 or based on the attribute information of the device 2 and the control content. However, the configuration is not limited to the above. The time setting unit 19 may be configured to set the response waiting time based only on the control content. With this configuration, the storage unit 18 stores the response time history of the device 2 in association with the control content for the device 2. That is, the storage unit 18 stores a history of response times corresponding to the control content (for example, request command) included in the request signal transmitted to the device 2. Then, at the time of transmitting the request signal, the time setting unit 19 sets the response waiting time corresponding to the control content based on the history of the response time corresponding to the control content included in the request signal.

As described above, the communication device 1 of the present embodiment includes the transmission unit 15, the reception unit 16, the timer 17, the storage unit 18, and the time setting unit 19. The transmitting unit 15 transmits a request signal including a control content for the device 2 and requiring a response, to the device 2. When the elapsed time from the transmission of the request signal is within the response waiting time, the receiving unit 16 performs the receiving process of the response signal which is the response of the request signal. The timer 17 measures the response time from the transmission of the request signal to the reception of the response signal. The storage unit 18 stores the response time history of the device 2 in association with the control content. The time setting unit 19 sets the response waiting time corresponding to the control content based on the history of the response time corresponding to the control content.

With the above configuration, the response waiting time is set according to the control content. Therefore, even if the response performance of the device 2 that is the transmission destination of the request signal is unknown, the response wait time corresponding to the control content included in the request signal is set, so that the response wait time is set unnecessarily short. Or, it is prevented from being set unnecessarily long. As a result, it is possible to prevent overflow of the reception buffer of the device 2 due to frequent timeouts. Further, when the request signal times out, the interval until the next request signal is transmitted is prevented from being unnecessarily lengthened, so that the responsiveness of the system is prevented from being lowered and the usability can be improved.

The above-described embodiment is an example of the present invention. For this reason, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and other than this embodiment, as long as it does not deviate from the technical idea of the present invention, various types according to the design etc. Of course, it can be changed.

1 Communication Device 15 Transmission Unit 16 Reception Unit 17 Timer 18 Storage Unit 19 Time Setting Unit 2 Equipment

Claims (9)

A transmission unit that transmits a request signal that requires a response to the device,
If the elapsed time from the transmission of the request signal is within the response waiting time, a receiving unit that performs a reception process of a response signal that is a response to the request signal,
A timer that measures the response time from the transmission of the request signal to the reception of the response signal,
A storage unit in which the response time history is stored in association with the attribute information of the device,
Time to set the response waiting time corresponding to the device to which the request signal is transmitted, based on the history of the response time corresponding to the same attribute information as the attribute information to the device to which the request signal is transmitted. A communication device, comprising: a setting unit. The time setting unit, based on the longest time from the history of the response time corresponding to the same attribute information as the attribute information of the device of the transmission destination of the request signal, based on the longest time, the transmission destination of the request signal The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the response waiting time corresponding to a device is set. The transmission unit does not transmit a new request signal to the device when the request signal is transmitted to the device and the timer is measuring the response time. Communication device. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information of the device includes a product code assigned to a product. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information of the device includes type information indicating a type of the device. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information of the device includes maker information indicating a maker of the device. The request signal includes control content for the device,
In the storage unit, the control content is stored in association with the response time,
The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the time setting unit sets the response waiting time based on the attribute information of the device and the control content. The time setting unit determines whether the response time tends to shorten based on the history of the response time corresponding to the device to which the request signal is transmitted, and the response time tends to shorten. When it is determined that the response waiting time is changed to a second time shorter than the currently set first time, the communication according to any one of claims 1 to 7. apparatus. When the response waiting time changed to the second time is shorter than the response time measured by the timer, the time setting unit sets the response waiting time to a third time longer than the second time. The communication device according to claim 8, wherein the communication device is changed to .

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