TWI634763B - Power distribution unit, power distribution system and network-connecting relay method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a power distribution unit, a power distribution system and a relay networking method thereof. The power distribution unit executes a master node arbitration program to generate an arbitration result, and respectively switches to a master node mode to become a master node or switch to a slave node according to an arbitration result. The pattern becomes a servant node. When the power distribution unit becomes the master node, the monitoring command is received from the remote management device via the external network and transmitted to the corresponding servant node, and when the servant node becomes the servant node, the monitoring command received by the autonomous node is executed. The invention can effectively reduce the complexity of construction, reduce the installation cost and provide the relay and the out-of-band service.

Description

Power distribution unit, power distribution system and relay networking method thereof

The present invention relates to apparatus, systems, and methods, and more particularly to power distribution units, power distribution systems, and relay networking methods thereof.

A Power Distribution Unit (PDU) is a device that distributes power of a power source to a plurality of electronic devices according to user requirements.

In view of the need for remote monitoring, a network type power distribution unit has been proposed, and the user can remotely monitor the power input/output status of the network type power distribution unit via the network.

Although the existing network type power distribution unit has the advantage of remote monitoring, however, in the case where a large number of network type power distribution units are installed (such as a data center), since the network type power distribution unit must be connected to an external network, it can be realized. Remote monitoring, which greatly limits the setting position of the network type power distribution unit, and greatly increases the complexity of the construction.

Moreover, in order to connect to an external network, a large number of network type power distribution units also consume a large number of IP addresses, which increases the construction cost.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a power distribution unit, a power distribution system, and a relay networking method thereof, which can perform relay and communication using a master servant architecture.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a relay networking method for a power distribution system including a plurality of power distribution units, comprising the steps of: a) the plurality of power distribution units executing a master node arbitration procedure to generate an arbitration a result; b) each of the power distribution units switches to a master node mode according to the arbitration result to become a master node or switch to a servant node mode to become a servant node; c) when the master node is an external network The router receives a monitoring command from a remote management device and transmits the monitoring command to the corresponding servant node; and d) executes the monitoring command received from the master node when the servant node becomes the servant node.

The present invention further provides a power distribution unit having a relay networking capability, including a control unit, a network unit, and a communication unit. The control unit controls the power distribution unit to switch to a master node mode to make the power distribution unit a master node or switch to a slave node mode to make the power distribution unit a servant node. The network unit is electrically connected to the control unit, and receives a monitoring command from a remote management device when the power distribution unit is the master node. The communication unit is electrically connected to the control unit, and when the power distribution unit is the master node, transmits the monitoring command to other power distribution units of the slave node, and when the power distribution unit is the slave node, the master The power distribution unit of the node receives the monitoring command. The control unit performs a master node arbitration procedure with the other power distribution unit when the power distribution unit is the slave node and determines that the master node is faulty, and determines whether to control the power distribution unit to switch to the power arbitration unit according to the generated arbitration result. The master node mode relays the network by making the power distribution unit a new master node. .

The present invention further provides a power distribution system having a relay networking capability, comprising: a plurality of power distribution units as described above, each of the power distribution units operating in a master node mode according to an arbitration result of a master node arbitration procedure Or a servant node mode.

The invention can effectively reduce the complexity of construction, reduce the installation cost and provide the relay and the out-of-band service.

10‧‧‧ initial mode

12‧‧‧Main node mode

14‧‧‧Server mode

2. 4‧‧‧Power Distribution System

20-24, 40-44‧‧‧Power distribution unit

200‧‧‧Power input unit

202‧‧‧Switch unit

204‧‧‧Power output unit

206, 400, 420, 440‧‧‧ communication units

208, 406, 446‧‧‧ network elements

210‧‧‧Control unit

212‧‧‧ memory unit

214‧‧‧ computer program

216‧‧‧Timer unit

30‧‧‧Power supply

32‧‧‧Electronic equipment

34, 62‧‧‧ External network

36‧‧‧Remote management device

402, 404, 422, 424, 442, 444‧‧‧ ports

50, 52‧‧‧ transmission line

54, 56‧‧‧ network route

60‧‧‧Network Switch

S100-S116‧‧‧Relay connection and network backup steps

S200-S216‧‧‧Monitoring command execution steps

S30-S36‧‧‧ Master node arbitration procedure execution steps

S400-S406‧‧‧First Arbitration Results Determination Steps

S500-S518‧‧‧Second Arbitration Decision Steps

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a mode of a master servant architecture of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram of a power distribution system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of a power distribution system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for relay networking according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial flowchart of a method for relay networking according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial flowchart of a method for relay networking according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial flowchart of a method for relay networking according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial flowchart of a method for relay networking according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, the technical principle of the present invention will be briefly explained. The present invention is a modified Daisy Chain architecture to provide a master-servant architecture with relay networking capabilities, and further provides a power distribution system and a relay networking method using the same.

The foregoing main servant architecture includes a master node and a servant node. The master node has the ability to connect to an external network and can accept user monitoring operations via an external network. Moreover, in the present invention, the master node may also serve as a relay access point, and the user may perform a monitoring operation on the servant node via the master node, or the servant node may return the data to the user via the master node. Preferably, only the single master node is included in the foregoing master servant architecture.

Thereby, in the present invention, the servant node can indirectly connect to the external network via the master node without laying a network line. And, since only the primary node is actually connected to the external network, the user only The network address needs to be allocated to the master node without the need to allocate a network address to the servant node, thereby effectively saving the usage of the network address.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a schematic diagram of a master servant architecture of the present invention. In the present invention, each node (such as the power distribution unit 20-24 shown in FIG. 2 and the power distribution unit 40-44 shown in FIG. 3) can be in the initial mode 10, the master node mode 12, and the servant mode 14 as needed. Switch between.

Specifically, when each node is located in the initial mode 10, the master node arbitration procedure (described in detail later) is executed to obtain the arbitration result (including the two results of the master node and the slave node), and is switched to the master node mode according to the arbitration result. The above-mentioned master node related operation is performed by becoming the master node, or switching to the slave node mode 14 to become a slave node to perform the above-described slave node related operation.

Moreover, when detecting the failure of the primary node, each node can switch to the initial mode 10 to perform the primary node arbitration procedure again, and determine the new primary node to continue to provide the relay access point service.

Thereby, the present invention can automatically replace the faulty master node with other nodes to perform backup of the out-of-band service when the master node fails, and can provide high-availability out-of-band services.

2 is a block diagram of a power distribution system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The power distribution system 1 of the present invention mainly includes a plurality of power distribution units (FIG. 2 is exemplified by three sets of power distribution units 20-24, and the power distribution unit 20 is mainly used as a main description), and the architecture of each power distribution unit 20-24 is The same or similar, and will not be described again here.

The power distribution unit 20 mainly includes a power input unit 200, a switching unit 202, a complex power output unit 204, a communication unit 206, a network unit 208, and a control unit 210.

The power input unit 200 (such as a plug) is connected to a power source 30 (such as a commercial power source) to obtain input power. Each power output unit 204 (eg, a socket) is used to connect the electronic device 32 and provide power to the electronic device 32.

The switching unit 202 is connected to the power input unit 200 and the plurality of power output units 204 for switching the clutch between the power input unit 200 and each of the power output units 204. Specifically, the switching unit 202 includes a plurality of switchers (not shown), one end of each switch is connected to the power input unit 200, and one end is connected to the power output unit 204. The switching unit 202 can control each of the switching switches to form a path or an open circuit between the power input unit 200 and any of the power output units 204. Thereby, the switching unit 202 can distribute the input power to the designated power output unit 204 according to the user's needs.

Preferably, the switching unit 202 can also include a power processing unit (not shown). The power processing unit may process the input power received from the power input unit 200 (eg, rectification processing or step-down processing), and transmit the processed input power to the power output unit 204.

The communication unit 206 connects the communication units of the other power distribution units 22-24 via the transmission line for communication with the other power distribution units 22-24. Preferably, when the power distribution unit 20 is in the servant mode 14 (ie, becomes a servant node), the communication unit 206 can become another power distribution unit (such as one of the power distribution units 22-24) that becomes the master node. Receive monitoring commands. When the power distribution unit 20 is in the master node mode 12 (i.e., becomes the master node), the communication unit 206 can transmit a monitoring command to become the slave node power distribution unit 22-24.

Preferably, the communication unit 206 serially connects the communication units of the other power distribution units 22-24 in a one-to-many manner via a transmission line.

Preferably, the communication unit 206 is a controller area network bus (CAN bus) interface, an RS-232 interface, an RS-485 interface or other serial communication interface.

It is worth mentioning that, because the serial communication interface has the advantages of extremely long transmission distance (such as the maximum transmission distance of the CAN bus interface is 10 km), strong anti-interference ability and easy wiring, compared with the use of Ethernet communication ( A general cluster system with a maximum transmission distance of less than 500 meters, all devices must be disposed in the same area, and the present invention can provide better setting flexibility (e.g., each power distribution unit 20-24 is installed in a different factory area) .

The network unit 208 is used to connect to an external network 34 (such as the Internet). Preferably, when the power distribution unit 20 becomes the master node, the network unit 208 can connect to the remote management device via the external network 34. Set 36 and transfer data. When the power distribution unit 20 becomes a servant node, the network unit 208 can be turned off to save power, or maintain a standby state to quickly connect to the external network 34 when it becomes a master node.

The control unit 210 is electrically connected to the switching unit 202, the communication unit 206, and the network unit 208 for controlling the power distribution unit 20. Preferably, the control unit 210 can control the power distribution unit 20 to switch to the master node mode 12 to become the master node or switch to the slave node mode 14 to become the servant node according to the arbitration result of the master node arbitration procedure in the initial mode 10, and Provide backup for out-of-band services (detailed later).

Preferably, the power distribution unit 20 may further include a timer unit 216 electrically connected to the control unit 210 for providing a current time or timing arbitration time interval.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 3, an architectural diagram of a power distribution system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The power distribution system 4, the power distribution unit 40-44, the network unit 406, 446, and the communication unit 400-440 of the present embodiment are the same as the power distribution system 2, the power distribution unit 20-24, and the network unit shown in FIG. 2. 208 and communication unit 206 are the same or similar, and are not described herein again.

The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is that the present embodiment is connected in series to the power distribution unit 40-44 in a one-to-one manner. Moreover, in the present embodiment, only part of the power distribution units 40, 44 have an external capability (i.e., can be connected to an external network via the network switch 60).

Specifically, the communication unit 400 of the power distribution unit 40 includes two ports 402, 404, and the network unit 406 is connected to the network switch 60 via the network route 54, and can be connected to the external network 62 via the network switch 60. . The communication unit 420 of the power distribution unit 42 also includes two ports 422, 424, and is not provided with a network unit, and is not directly connectable to the external network 62. The communication unit 440 of the power distribution unit 44 includes two ports 442, 444, and its network unit 446 is connected to the network switch 60 via the network route 56, and can be connected to the external network 62 via the network switch 60.

Moreover, the port 404 of the power distribution unit 40 is connected in series with the port 422 of the power distribution unit 42 via the transmission line 50, and the port 424 of the power distribution unit 42 is connected in series with the port 442 of the power distribution unit 44 via the transmission line 52 to form a daisy chain. Architecture.

After the master node arbitration procedure is executed, the power distribution unit 40 becomes the master node, and both the power distribution unit 42 and the power distribution unit 44 become the slave nodes. Next, the power distribution unit 42-44 that becomes the servant node can connect to the external network 62 via the transmission line 50-52, the power distribution unit 40, the network route 54, and the network switch 60 to obtain the external capability.

Also, when the power distribution unit 40 fails (eg, the network route 54 is removed), the power distribution unit 40-44 switches to the initial mode 10 and executes the master node arbitration procedure again for network backup. After the master node arbitration procedure is executed, the power distribution unit 44 becomes the master node, and both the power distribution unit 40 and the power distribution unit 42 become the slave nodes. Then, the power distribution unit 40-42 that becomes the servant node can connect to the external network 62 via the transmission line 50-52, the power distribution unit 44, the network route 56, and the network switch 60, and regain the connection via the network backup mechanism. External ability.

Thereby, the power distribution units 40, 44 connected to the network switch 60 can perform network backup with each other.

Next, a relay networking method of each embodiment of the present invention will be described. It is worth mentioning that the relay networking method of the embodiments of the present invention can be implemented using the power distribution system 2 shown in FIG. 2 or the power distribution system 4 shown in FIG. In order to clarify the description, the power distribution system 2 shown in FIG. 2 will be described later.

Further, the power distribution unit 20 may further include a memory unit 212 electrically connected to the control unit 210, and the memory unit 212 stores the computer program 214. Computer program 214 includes computer executable code. After the control unit 210 executes the computer program 214, the steps of the relay networking method of the embodiments of the present invention may be performed.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 together, FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for relay networking according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The relay networking method of the present implementation includes the following steps.

Step S100: The control unit 210 of the power distribution unit 20 detects whether the relay networking function is turned on. If the control unit 210 detects that the relay networking function is enabled, step S102 is performed. Otherwise, the control unit 210 ends the relay networking method.

Step S102: The control unit 210 performs the master node arbitration procedure in conjunction with the other power distribution units 22-24 to generate arbitration results. Specifically, while the power distribution unit 20 executes the master node arbitration procedure, the power distribution units 22-24 also perform the master node arbitration procedure together via the respective control units. Preferably, the arbitration result is divided into two types: a "master node" or a "servant node".

In another embodiment of the invention, the arbitration result can be represented by a numerical value. For example, when the arbitration result is 0, the arbitration result is "master node", and when the arbitration result is 1, the arbitration result is "servant node", but is not limited thereto.

Step S104: The control unit 210 controls the power distribution unit 20 to switch to the master node mode 12 (if the arbitration result is "master node") to become the master node or the servant node mode 14 (if the arbitration result is "servant node") according to the arbitration result. Become a servant node.

Next, if the control unit 210 controls the power distribution unit 20 to become the master node (that is, the power distribution units 22-24 are all servant nodes), step S106 is performed, and if the control unit 210 controls the power distribution unit 20 to become the servant node (ie, If one of the power distribution units 22-24 is the master node, step S112 is performed.

Step S106: The control unit 210 receives the monitoring command from the remote management device 36 via the network unit 208 and the external network 34 when the power distribution unit 20 becomes the master node.

Specifically, the user can operate the remote management device 36 to connect to the power distribution unit 20 that becomes the master node via the external network 34, and remotely operate the power that becomes the slave node by transmitting the monitoring command via the power distribution unit 20. Distribution unit 22-24.

Step S108: The control unit 210 transmits the received monitoring command to the power distribution unit 22-24 corresponding to the destination field of the monitoring command via the communication unit 206. Preferably, the control unit 210 selects a specific servant node (taking the power distribution unit 22 as an example) according to the destination field of the monitoring command, and transmits the monitoring command to the power distribution unit 22.

Step S110: The control unit 210 determines whether the power distribution unit 20 is faulty (if the device is abnormal or cannot connect to the external network 34).

If the control unit 210 determines that the power distribution unit 20 is faulty and cannot provide the out-of-band service, steps S100-S104 are performed again to cause one of the plurality of servant nodes (i.e., the power distribution units 22-24) to become one by performing the master node arbitration procedure again. The master node to implement backup of the outbound service. Otherwise, the control unit 210 performs step S106 again to continue to provide the out-of-band service.

Preferably, the control unit 210 performs steps S100-S104 in the master node mode 12 when determining that the power distribution unit 20 is faulty, but should not be limited thereto.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 210 may also automatically leave the master node mode 12 and enter the initial mode 10 when the power distribution unit 20 is faulty, and then perform steps S100-S104 in the initial mode 10.

In step S104, the control unit 210 controls the power distribution unit 20 to become a slave node (the power distribution unit 20, 22 is a slave node, and the power distribution unit 24 is a master node as an example), then step S112 is executed: the control unit 210 When the power distribution unit 20 becomes a slave node, the power distribution unit 24 receives the monitoring command from the power distribution unit 24 that becomes the master node via the communication unit 206.

Step S114: The control unit 210 executes the received monitoring command.

Step S116: The control unit 210 determines whether the power distribution unit 24 that becomes the master node is faulty.

If the control unit 210 determines that the power distribution unit 24 is faulty, steps S100-S104 are performed again to execute the master node arbitration procedure to execute the plurality of slave nodes (ie, the power distribution unit). One of the 20-22) becomes the new primary node to implement backup of the outbound service. Otherwise, the control unit 210 performs step S112 again.

Preferably, when the power distribution unit 24 that becomes the master node operates normally, the control unit 210 of the power distribution unit 24 periodically broadcasts a set of heartbeat signals via the communication unit 206. Also, when the power distribution unit 24 that becomes the master node fails, the heartbeat signal is stopped due to a device failure or a network failure. Therefore, the power distribution unit 20-22 that becomes the servant node can determine that the master node is in normal operation when receiving the heartbeat signal, and can determine that the master node is faulty when the heartbeat signal is not received.

Further, the power distribution unit 20-22 that becomes the servant node may perform steps S100-S104 in the servant node mode 14 after determining that the master node is faulty, but should not be limited thereto.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the power distribution unit 20-22 that becomes the servant node may automatically leave the servant mode 14 and enter the initial mode 10 after determining that the primary node is faulty, and then perform the steps in the initial mode 10. S100-S104.

The invention can effectively reduce the complexity of construction, reduce the installation cost and provide backup for the external service.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 5, which is a partial flowchart of a method for relay networking according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is that step S114 of the relay networking method of the present embodiment includes steps S200-S210 for executing different types of monitoring commands. The embodiment of FIG. 4 is exemplified by the power distribution unit 20-22 as a servant node and the power distribution unit 24 as a master node.

Step S200: The control unit 210 identifies the type of the received monitoring command when it becomes a servant node.

If the control unit 210 recognizes that the received monitoring command is a power output control command, step S202 is executed: the control unit 210 controls the clutching between the power input unit 200 and the specific power output unit 204 according to the power output control command when the server unit becomes the slave node. In order to make power transmission/abort transmission of power source 30 It is input to a specific power output unit 204. Thereby, the user can control the opening and closing of each power output unit 204 at the remote end. Then step S116 is performed.

If the control unit 210 recognizes that the received monitoring command is a view power output status command, step S204 is executed: the control unit 210 obtains the state of all or part of the power output unit 204 according to the view power output status command when the server unit becomes the servant node.

Step S206: The control unit 210 transmits the acquired state of the power output unit 204 to the power distribution unit 24 that becomes the master node, so that the master node transfers the state of the servant node (ie, the power distribution unit 20 or the power distribution unit 22) to the far side. End management device 36. Thereby, the user can monitor the status of the servant node at the remote end. Then step S116 is performed.

If the control unit 210 recognizes that the received monitoring command is a firmware upgrade command, step S208 is executed: the control unit 210 automatically executes a firmware upgrade command to install the upgrade command of the monitoring command into the memory 212 when the server node becomes the servant node. Thereby, the user can perform soft firmware upgrade to the servant node at the remote end.

It is worth mentioning that the continuation capability or the external capability that the servant node may have after the upgrade of the soft firmware is repaired, and it has the qualification to become the master node. Therefore, in this embodiment, the control unit 210 may perform steps S100-S104 after performing step S208 to determine whether the upgraded servant node is more suitable as the new master node than the current master node.

If the control unit 210 recognizes that the received monitoring command is a time calibration command, step S210 is performed. Step S210: The control unit 210 executes a time calibration command when it becomes a servant node to calibrate the current time of the timer unit 216 to the calibration time of the monitoring command. Thereby, the user can perform time calibration on the servant node at the far end 2. Then step S116 is performed.

Although the monitoring command is described by the power output control command, the power output status command, the firmware upgrade command, and the time calibration command in this embodiment, the type of the monitoring command should not be limited by this, and the present invention has the technical field. Generally, the knowledge person can arbitrarily modify the type of the monitoring command with reference to the content disclosed in the present invention.

It is worth mentioning that if the destination field of the monitoring command selects the power distribution unit 24 that becomes the master node, after the master node receives the monitoring command through the external network 34, it can also be executed by the flow shown in FIG. Monitor commands without passing monitoring commands to the servant node.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 6 is a partial flowchart of a method for relay networking according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is that step S102 of the relay networking method of this embodiment further includes steps S30-S36. For convenience of explanation, the power distribution unit 20 will be described below as an example.

Step S30: The control unit 210 of the power distribution unit 20 senses the external quality of the connection to the external network 34 via the network unit 208.

Preferably, the control unit 210 determines the quantized out-of-line quality according to whether the external network 34 can be connected to the network speed of the external network 34 or the response speed of the remote management 36 (for example, the quality score is 0 to 10). Minute).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the external quality Bolling value includes only two qualities of 0 (not connectable to external network 34) and 1 (connectable to external network 34).

Step S32: The control unit 210 broadcasts the sensed out-of-band quality to the other power distribution units 22-24 via the communication unit 206.

Step S34: The control unit 210 receives the out-of-line quality sensed by the other power distribution units 22-24 via the communication unit 206.

Step S36: The control unit 210 determines the arbitration result according to the received external quality and the sensed external quality.

The invention determines the arbitration result according to the external quality of each power distribution unit, so that the determined master node has better out-of-band quality, and can provide better out-of-band service.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 7 is a partial flowchart of a method for relay networking according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The difference between this embodiment and FIG. 6 in combination with the third embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is that step S36 of the relay networking method of this embodiment further includes steps S400-S406.

Step S400: The control unit 210 of the power distribution unit 20 compares the received external quality and the sensed external quality.

If the control unit 210 determines that the sensed outbound quality is higher than the received outbound quality, step S402 is executed: the control unit 210 determines that the arbitration result is the "master node".

If the control unit 210 determines that the sensed external quality is lower than the received external quality, step S404 is executed: the control unit 210 determines that the arbitration result is a "servant node".

If the control unit 210 determines that the sensed outbound quality is the highest and equals any of the received external qualities (ie, the highest number of consecutive external qualities are present at the same time), step S406 is performed.

Step S406: The control unit 210 obtains the device code values of the device code value of the power distribution unit 20 and another power distribution unit having the same external quality and is also the highest (taking the power distribution unit 22 as an example), and compares the two sets of code values. .

Preferably, the device code value is a device ID or a MAC address of each power distribution unit.

If the control unit 210 determines that the device code value of the power distribution unit 20 is smaller than the device code value of the power distribution unit 22, step S402 is executed to set the arbitration result to be "master node".

If the control unit 210 determines that the device code value of the power distribution unit 20 is greater than the device code value of the power distribution unit 22, step S404 is performed to set the arbitration result to "servant node".

It is worth mentioning that since the device code values are generated by sequential numbering, there are no two sets of power distribution units with the same device code value in the same power distribution system.

The present invention determines the arbitration result by using the device code value that is not repeated when the quality of the external connection is the same, and can effectively exclude the case where the arbitration result cannot be determined.

Although in the present embodiment, the device code values are compared when the quality of the connection is the same, it should not be limited thereto. In another embodiment of the present invention, it may be changed to compare other values, such as setting time, continuous running time, processing resource usage rate or other predefined value of each power distribution unit 20-24, or may be changed to A plurality of power distribution units of the same quality are randomly assigned one of them as the master node.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the user may preset a set of priority order (eg, the power distribution unit 20 has a higher priority than the power distribution unit 22, and the power distribution unit 22 has a higher priority than the power distribution unit 24). When the external quality is the same, the control unit 210 determines the arbitration result according to the preset priority order. For example, if the power distribution unit 20 and the power distribution unit 22 have the same external quality and are the highest, since the power distribution unit 20 has higher priority than the power distribution unit 22, the arbitration result of the power distribution unit 20 will be the "master node". The arbitration result of the power distribution unit 22 will be "servant node". Thereby, the present invention can perform arbitration in the order desired by the user.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 8 is a partial flowchart of a method for relay networking according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The difference between this embodiment and FIG. 6 in combination with the third embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is that step S36 of the relay networking method of this embodiment further includes steps S500-S518.

Step S500: The control unit 210 of the power distribution unit 20 determines the preliminary result according to the sensed out-of-line quality, and broadcasts the determined preliminary result to the other power distribution units 22-24 via the communication unit 206.

Preferably, the power distribution unit 20 sets the preliminary result to "servant node" when the external network 34 cannot be connected, and sets the preliminary result to "master node" when the external network 34 can be connected.

In another embodiment of the invention, the preliminary results can be represented by numerical values. For example, when the preliminary result is 0, the preliminary result is “master node”, and when the preliminary result is 1, the preliminary result is “servant node”, but it is not limited by this.

Step S502: The control unit 210 receives the preliminary results determined by the other power distribution units 22-24 from the other power distribution units 22-24 via the communication unit 206.

Next, if the control unit 21 determines that the preliminary result is the master node in step S500, steps S504-S514 are performed. If the control unit 21 determines in step S500 that the preliminary result is a servant node, step S516 is performed.

Step S504: The control unit 210 determines whether the determined preliminary result is the same as any of the preliminary results received.

If the control unit 210 determines that the determined preliminary result is the same as any of the preliminary results received (as an example of the preliminary result of the electronic distribution unit 22), then step S506 is performed. Otherwise, the control unit 210 performs step S510.

Step S506: The control unit 210 determines whether the sensed external quality is higher than the external quality of the power distribution unit 22 having the same preliminary result (if the external quality is not the Bolling value), or determines whether the priority of the self is higher than The preliminary result is the same as the priority of the power distribution unit 22.

If the control unit 210 determines that its own priority or the sensed external quality is higher than the priority or the external quality of the power distribution unit 22 having the same preliminary result, step S508 is performed. Otherwise, the control unit 210 performs step S510.

Step S508: The control unit 210 transmits a set of rejection notifications to the power distribution unit 22 having the same preliminary result via the communication unit 206, so that the power distribution unit 22 modifies the preliminary result.

Step S510: The control unit 210 determines whether a rejection notification is received from the other power distribution units 22-24 via the communication unit 206.

If the control unit 210 receives the rejection notification, step S512 is performed. Otherwise, the control unit 210 performs step S514.

Step S512: After receiving the rejection notification, the control unit 210 modifies the preliminary result as a "servant node" and broadcasts a new preliminary result to the other power distribution units 22-24 via the communication unit 206. Then step S516 is performed.

If the control unit 210 does not receive the rejection notification in step S510, step S514 is performed: after the preliminary result (ie, step S500) is broadcasted, the control unit 210 starts counting the preset arbitration time interval (such as 30) via the timer unit 216. Seconds), and judge whether the arbitration time interval has passed.

If the control unit 210 determines that the arbitration time interval has elapsed, step S518 is performed, otherwise step S510 is performed again to continuously monitor whether a rejection notification is received.

If the control unit 21 determines that the preliminary result is "servant node" in step S500, or changes the preliminary result to "servant node" in step S512, then step S516 is performed: the control unit 210 broadcasts the preliminary result (ie, step S500) Thereafter, the preset arbitration time interval is started by the timer unit 216, and it is judged whether or not the arbitration time interval has passed.

If the control unit 210 determines that the arbitration time interval has elapsed, step S518 is performed, otherwise step S516 is performed again to continue waiting.

Step S518: The control unit 210 completes the execution of the master node arbitration procedure by using the preliminary result as the final arbitration result after the arbitration time interval elapses.

The present invention determines the arbitration result of the master node arbitration program by using the complex power distribution unit 20-24 in an objection manner, and the plurality of power distribution units 20-24 can share the computing resources required to execute the master node arbitration procedure. Decentralized operations to increase decision making speed.

Moreover, since the master node arbitration procedure of the present invention is distributedly executed in the plurality of power distribution units 20-24, the present invention can effectively avoid the traditional centralized architecture due to a single point of failure (such as being responsible for executing the master node arbitration procedure). The power distribution unit is faulty) and the problem of the master node arbitration procedure cannot be performed.

The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Therefore, equivalent changes to the scope of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention. Bright.

Claims (22)

A relay networking method for a power distribution system including a plurality of power distribution units includes the steps of: a) the plurality of power distribution units executing a master node arbitration procedure to generate an arbitration result; b) each of the power distribution units Switching to a master node mode according to the arbitration result, respectively, to become a master node for providing a relay access point service or to switch to a servant node mode to become a servant node; c) to become an external node when the master node is The network receives a monitoring command from a remote management device and forwards the monitoring command to the corresponding servant node; and d) executes the monitoring command received from the master node when the servant node becomes the servant node. The relay networking method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring command includes a power output control command; the step d is to control a power input unit of the slave node and a power output unit according to the power output control command Clutch. The relay networking method of claim 1, wherein the step a comprises: a1) each of the power distribution units respectively sensing an external quality connected to the external network; a2) broadcasting the sensed external quality to The other power distribution unit; a3) receiving the other external quality sensed by the power distribution unit; and a4) determining the arbitration result according to the plurality of external quality. The relay networking method of claim 3, wherein the step a4 comprises: a41) determining that the arbitration result is a master node when determining that the detected external quality is higher than all received external quality And a42) determining that the arbitration result is a servant node when it is determined that the detected external quality is lower than any of the received external qualities. The relay networking method of claim 4, wherein the step a4 further comprises: And determining the The arbitration result, wherein the power distribution unit has the same out-of-line quality as another of the power distribution units. The relay networking method of claim 5, wherein the device code value is a device number or a hardware address, and the step a43 is that the device code value of the power distribution unit is smaller than another device of the power distribution unit. The code value determines that the arbitration result is a master node, and determines that the arbitration result is a servant node when the device code value of the power distribution unit is greater than the device code value of the other power distribution unit. The relay networking method of claim 4, wherein the step a4 further comprises: a44) determining that the detected external quality is the highest and equal to any of the received external quality, according to the preset A priority order to determine the outcome of the arbitration. The relay networking method of claim 3, wherein the step a4 comprises: a45) each of the power distribution units respectively determining and broadcasting a preliminary result to the other power distribution unit according to the sensed external quality; a46) Transmitting a rejection notice when the preliminary result determined is the same as any of the preliminary results received, and the priority of the power distribution unit is higher than the priority of the power distribution unit having the same preliminary result. The power distribution unit having the same preliminary result; a47) modifying the preliminary result as a servant node and broadcasting the modified preliminary result upon receiving the rejection notice; and a48) after the arbitral time interval elapses Preliminary results are used as the result of the arbitration. The relay networking method of claim 1, further comprising a step e) re-executing the step a to the step b when determining that the master node is faulty, so that one of the plurality of servant nodes becomes the new master The node is used for network backup. The relay networking method of claim 9, wherein the step e comprises the following steps: E1) determining that the master node is faulty when the slave node becomes the servant node and detecting that the master node fails to respond or cannot connect to the external network, and performs step a to step b; and e2) becomes the master node Perform step a to step b when a fault is detected. A power distribution unit having a relay networking capability, comprising: a control unit that controls the power distribution unit to switch to a master node mode to make the power distribution unit a master node for providing relay access point services or Switching to a servant mode to make the power distribution unit a servant node; a network unit electrically connected to the control unit, and receiving a monitoring command from a remote management device when the power distribution unit is the master node; And a communication unit electrically connected to the control unit, and when the power distribution unit is the master node, transferring the monitoring command to the other power distribution unit of the slave node, when the power distribution unit is the servant node Receiving the monitoring command for the power distribution unit of the master node; wherein the control unit performs a master node arbitration procedure with the other power distribution unit when the power distribution unit is the slave node and determines that the master node is faulty, and The generated arbitration result determines whether to control the power distribution unit to switch to the master node mode to make the power distribution unit new The master node performs relay networking. The power distribution unit of claim 11, wherein the control unit executes the master node arbitration procedure to sense an out-of-line quality via the network unit, and broadcast the sensed out-of-band quality to the other power distribution via the communication unit And receiving the external quality sensed by the other power distribution unit, and determining the arbitration result according to the external quality. The power distribution unit of claim 12, wherein the control unit determines the arbitration result when determining that the detected external quality is higher than all received external quality during execution of the primary node arbitration procedure The master node determines that the arbitration result is a servant node when it is determined that the detected external quality is lower than any of the received external qualities. The power distribution unit of claim 13, wherein during the execution of the master node arbitration procedure, the control unit compares when the sensed sensed quality is the highest and equals any of the received external qualities. The device code value of the power distribution unit and the device code value of the other power distribution unit, and determining the arbitration result as a master node when the device code value of the power distribution unit is smaller than the device code value of the other power distribution unit, Determining the arbitration result as a servant node when the device code value of the power distribution unit is greater than another device code value of the power distribution unit, wherein the external quality sensed by the control unit of the power distribution unit and another The quality of the distribution unit is the same. The power distribution unit of claim 14, wherein the device code value of the power distribution unit is a device number or a hardware address of the power distribution unit. The power distribution unit of claim 13, further comprising a memory unit electrically connected to the control unit, storing a priority order; during the execution of the master node arbitration procedure, the control unit determines the sensed connection When the quality is equal to the received external quality, the arbitration result is determined according to the priority order. The power distribution unit of claim 12, wherein the power distribution unit further comprises a timer unit electrically connected to the control unit; and during execution of the master node arbitration procedure, the control unit is based on the sensed external quality Determining a preliminary result, and broadcasting the preliminary result to the other power distribution unit via the communication unit, the control unit is the same as the preliminary result and any of the preliminary results received, and the power distribution unit When the priority of the power distribution unit is higher than the priority of the preliminary result, a rejection notification is transmitted via the communication unit to the power distribution unit having the same preliminary result, and from the other power distribution unit via the communication unit Upon receiving the rejection notice, the preliminary result is modified to be a servant node and the modified preliminary result is broadcasted, and after the lapse of the arbitration time interval by the timer unit, the preliminary result is used as the arbitration result. The power distribution unit of claim 11, wherein the control unit is determined when the power distribution unit becomes the servant node and detects that the master node has not responded or cannot connect to the external network. When the master node fails, the control unit automatically leaves the master node mode and executes the master node arbitration procedure when the power distribution unit becomes the master node and detects a fault. The power distribution unit of claim 11, wherein the communication unit is connected in series to the communication unit of the other power distribution unit via a transmission line. The power distribution unit of claim 11, wherein the communication unit is connected in series to the other communication unit of the power distribution unit via a transmission line. The power distribution unit of claim 11, wherein the communication unit is a controller area network bus interface, an RS-232 interface, an RS485 interface, or other serial communication interface. A power distribution system, comprising a relay networking capability, comprising: a plurality of power distribution units according to any one of claims 11 to 21, each of the power distribution units operating according to the arbitration result of the master node arbitration program The master node mode becomes the master node or operates in the servant node mode to become the servant node.