WO2009107220A1

WO2009107220A1 - Network system and method for data communication

Info

Publication number: WO2009107220A1
Application number: PCT/JP2008/053549
Authority: WO
Inventors: 吉彦徳永; 智行畑中; 智宏織田; 美行薦田
Original assignee: パナソニック電工株式会社
Priority date: 2008-02-28
Filing date: 2008-02-28
Publication date: 2009-09-03
Also published as: JPWO2009107220A1

Abstract

A network system which facilitates addition or modification of a terminal device on a network and ensures a smooth data communication between terminal devices without regard to address information of a peer-side terminal device in data communication. The network system includes a storage section to register the information on logical communication paths which each terminal device uses for data communication, a first network interface section to perform data transmission to the network using the information on the logical communication paths, a checking section to identify a terminal device which has registered for data reception the same logical communication path as that used for data transmission by referring to the information registered on the storage section, and a second network interface section which receives data from the logical communication path used for data transmission to provide the data to the identified terminal device.

Description

Network system and data communication method

The present invention relates to a technology for performing data communication between terminal devices connected to a network.

With the recent development of data communication technology, a remote monitoring system that receives notifications of information measured by remote electrical devices via the network, or monitors the video of the security camera in real time through the network at a remote location, Remote control systems that control electrical equipment (lighting fixtures, air conditioning equipment, electronic locks) installed in residences from outside via a network have been put into practical use.

For example, in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-60664, as shown in FIG. 23, a terminal device such as a personal computer 140 or a mobile phone 150 connected to the Internet 4 or a home IP device 100 is connected to a refrigerator, A network system is described that enables access to non-IP devices 110 such as air conditioners and microwave ovens. In this network system, the gateway 120 is connected to the IPv6 router 130 via the IPv6 network, and the IPv6 router 130 is connected to the Internet 4. The gateway 120 is connected to the non-IP device 110 via a non-IP network such as ECHONET, and is connected to the home IP device 100 such as a personal computer via the IPv6 network.

The gateway 120 includes a CPU that executes various programs related to peripheral control, data processing, and communication, a network identifier (local address) of a non-IP device in a non-IP network, and an IPv6 address assigned to the non-IP device. Is mainly composed of a storage unit that holds a conversion table for taking the above-mentioned correspondence, a non-IP communication control unit that performs communication control via ECHONET, and an IP communication control unit that performs communication control using IPv6. According to this network system, a packet addressed to the non-IP device 110 from the personal computer 140 or the mobile phone 150 connected to the Internet 4 is converted by the gateway 120 into a network protocol to which the non-IP device 110 is connected. Access to the non-IP device 110 becomes possible.

In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-41753, as shown in FIG. 24, an in-home device 210 that transmits in-house images via the Internet 4 and a telephone line 200 capable of dial-up connection is provided as a user such as a mobile phone. A system for remotely monitoring by a terminal 220 is described.

In this system, when the user operates the user terminal 220 to access the dedicated home page on the server 240, the home page is displayed on the user terminal 220. Next, when the user logs in by entering the ID / password, user authentication is performed based on data stored in the database DB of the server 240, and a list of commands is displayed. When the user selects a necessary command, the selected command is transmitted to the server 240 and stored in the command queue 242 of the server 240. When the command is sent, the auto dial menu with the phone number embedded is displayed. In the auto dial menu, the telephone number of the telephone line 200 capable of dial-up connection of the in-house device 210 dedicated to the user is embedded. When the user selects the auto dial menu, auto dial is executed and the in-home device 210 is called. Is called. At this time, the user disconnects communication after making a predetermined number of calls (for example, one call).

When the in-home device 210 recognizes the call made by the user terminal 220, the call is triggered by this call to dial-up the telephone line to the ISP (Internet service provider) 230 and further to the server 240. The server 240 authenticates the home device 210 that has been dial-up connected, and the home device 210 acquires all commands stored in the command queue 242 and disconnects the communication line. The in-home device 210 executes each acquired command, then dials up again to the ISP, connects the telephone line to the server 240, and transmits the command execution result to the server 240. When the command execution result is image file data or the like, for example, the file transfer protocol (FTP) passive (PASV) mode (method in which the FTP server side notifies the connection port for connection) connects the in-home apparatus 210 to the server 240. Sent to.

When the server 240 receives the command execution result from the in-home device 210, the server 240 processes the execution result, for example, in-house image data into WEB content, and transmits a command completion notification to the user terminal 220. The user can confirm the command completion notification using the user terminal 220, and browse and view the execution result stored in the server 240, for example, a home image. As described above, according to the network described above, it is possible to remotely monitor the crime prevention information and the like from the home device 210 by the user terminal 220 such as a mobile phone.

By the way, in the above-described network system, it is necessary to perform various setting operations on the network every time an electric device to be controlled / monitored is added / changed, but does not have appropriate expertise regarding network communication. It is not easy for the user to perform this operation. In addition, when transmitting information collectively to a large number of terminal devices to be monitored / controlled, or when receiving information only from a desired group of terminal devices among a large number of terminal devices, a transmitting terminal A complicated operation of setting information on the device and the terminal device on the receiving side on the network is required. Furthermore, when managing these pieces of information with a server provided on the network, there is a possibility that the burden on the server increases and hinders smooth information communication.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and the object of the present invention is to easily add or change a terminal device to a network (addition of functions) and to change the other party in data transmission. It is an object of the present invention to provide a network system capable of smooth information communication between terminal devices without being aware of the address information (IP address) of the terminal devices.

That is, the network system of the present invention is a network system for performing data communication between a first terminal device and at least one of a plurality of second terminal devices via a network,
A storage unit in which information for identifying a logical communication path used for data transmission by the first terminal device and information for identifying a logical communication path used for data reception by each of the second terminal devices is registered When,
A first network interface unit for performing data transmission to the network using information for identifying a logical communication path used for data transmission based on a request from the first terminal device;
Referring to the information registered in the storage unit, a verification unit that identifies the second terminal device that is registered for data reception on the same logical communication path that the first terminal device uses for data transmission;
A second network that is provided for each of the second terminal apparatuses and that receives data from the logical communication path for the second terminal apparatus that has registered the same logical communication path used for data transmission. And an interface unit.

The technical idea of the present invention is characterized not by the relationship between the terminal device and the terminal device, but by the relationship between each terminal device and the network, and the mechanism for realizing the relationship is the network interface unit. . For example, comparing the above-described prior art using the FTP passive mode with the present invention, it is assumed that the FTP server side determines the port used for data transfer in the FTP passive mode, and the user (client) follows it. Become. On the other hand, in the present invention, each of the terminal device on the transmission side and the terminal device on the reception side can independently determine a logical communication path used for data communication, and is used by the terminal device on the transmission side. Data can be transmitted and received only when the logical communication path matches the logical communication path used by the terminal device on the receiving side.

In this way, the network system of the present invention is a system (for example, active mode or passive mode of FTP) that determines a communication channel mainly used by one terminal device (transmission side terminal device) in terms of protocol. Is different and does not require the address information of the terminal device that is the communication partner for data communication, so a new terminal device can be added to the network or a new data communication path can be established between existing terminal devices. It has the advantage of being easy to build. In the present invention, when it is easy to add or change a logical communication path, for example, a new communication is newly established between terminal apparatuses that have already established data communication using a certain logical communication path. This means that data communication using the logical communication path can be easily established between the terminal devices. The information for identifying the logical communication path includes logical communication path information such as a name (channel name) assigned to the logical communication path, or an identifier associated with the logical communication path in advance. This information is included.

More specifically, according to the network system of the present invention, the transmission side terminal device (first terminal device) is used for data transmission even when a logical communication path for new data communication needs to be added. It is only necessary to additionally register the logical communication path to be stored in the storage unit. Conversely, when deleting an existing logical communication path, it is only necessary to delete the registration of the logical communication path from the storage unit. In other words, if only the information of the logical communication path used in the terminal device on the data transmission side is set without considering the relationship between the terminal device on the data transmission side and the terminal device on the data reception side, The number of logical communication paths necessary for the above can be easily obtained. Similarly, in the terminal device on the receiving side (second terminal device), even if it is necessary to add a logical communication channel for receiving new data, the logical communication channel used for data reception is additionally registered in the storage unit. On the contrary, when deleting an existing logical communication path, it is only necessary to delete the registration of the logical communication path from the storage unit. Therefore, if only the information on the logical communication path used in the data receiving terminal device is set without considering the relationship with the terminal device on the data transmitting side, the required number of logical communication channels on the network are set. Can be easily obtained.

Furthermore, when transmitting data, it is not necessary to know the address information of the terminal device on the receiving side, and it is sufficient if there is information for identifying a logical communication path used for data transmission. There is no need to know the address information of the device, and it is sufficient if there is information for identifying a logical communication path used for data reception. In short, information communication is established only between the first terminal device and the second terminal device in which the logical communication path used for data transmission matches the logical communication path used for data reception. Of course, data communication cannot be established if a logical communication path that matches the terminal device on the data receiving side is not registered.

In the above network system, the second network interface unit allows the second terminal device in which the same logical communication path as the logical communication path used for data transmission is registered to temporarily refuse data reception. It is preferable to include a subscribe selection unit. For example, in a crime prevention system, it is necessary to receive data from a sensor device such as a human sensor at night or when going out, but there are cases where it is desired to refuse to receive data during the day or at home. In this way, it is possible to select whether to temporarily refuse data reception in accordance with the convenience of the user. Although it is conceivable to change the setting of the logical communication path, the setting of the logical communication path becomes heavy compared to the case where the ON / OFF of the subscription is set. In particular, when it is necessary to periodically turn ON / OFF the reception of data periodically, it is not difficult to imagine that it is troublesome to change the setting of the logical communication path each time. In this way, it is possible to realize a network system that can respond flexibly to the needs of individual users.

In the above network system, the first terminal device functions as a transmission source terminal device and the second terminal device functions as a reception-side terminal device. However, bidirectional communication between the first terminal device and the second terminal device is possible. It is also preferable to use a network system that can perform data communication. In this case, a plurality of first terminal devices are connected to the network, and in the storage unit, information for identifying a logical communication path used for data transmission by each of the second terminal devices, and the first terminal device Information for identifying a logical communication channel used for data reception by each of the second network interface unit is registered, and based on a request from one of the second terminal devices, the second network interface unit uses a logical channel for data transmission. Data is transmitted to the network using information for identifying the communication path, and the collation unit refers to the information registered in the storage unit and is used by the second network interface unit for data transmission. The first terminal device that registers the same logical communication channel as the logical communication channel for data reception is specified, and the first network interface unit Provided, it is preferable that the second terminal device performs on the first terminal device to receive data from a logical channel used for data transmission. Each terminal device can also use the same logical communication path used for data transmission as a logical communication path for data reception. In short, the same logical communication path may be used when data is transmitted from the first terminal device to the second terminal device and when data is transmitted from the second terminal device to the first terminal device.

In the network system, when the first network interface unit is provided in the first terminal device, for example, the first terminal device constructs a first application unit and a first middleware unit that functions as the first network interface unit. A program storage unit for storing software for executing the processing, and a CPU for executing the software to realize a first application unit and a first middleware unit, wherein the first middleware unit is a logical communication path used for data transmission Based on the function of registering information for identifying the data in the storage unit and the data transmission request from the first application unit, the information for identifying the logical communication path used for data transmission is stored in the network. It is preferable to have a function of executing data transmission.

Similarly, when the second network interface unit is provided in the second terminal device, for example, each of the second terminal devices constructs a second application unit and a second middleware unit that functions as the second network interface unit. A program storage unit for storing software and a CPU for executing the software to realize a second application unit and a second middleware unit, and the second middleware unit is used by the second terminal device for data reception It is preferable to have a function of registering information for identifying a logical communication path to be registered in the storage unit and a function of executing data reception from the logical communication path used for data transmission by the first terminal device.

In addition, when the first network interface unit is provided separately from the first terminal device, for example, the first network interface unit is provided in a housing externally attached to the first terminal device, and the CPU and program storage This is realized by any of hardware provided with a unit, software module, and a combination of hardware and software module. Similarly, when the second network interface unit is provided separately from the second terminal device, for example, each of the second network interface units is provided in a casing externally attached to the second terminal device, and the CPU And hardware provided with a program storage unit, a software module, and a combination of hardware and software module.

In an example of a preferred form of the network system of the present invention, information for identifying a logical communication path used by each terminal device for data communication is centrally stored and managed in a storage unit provided in a server on the network. The For example, each of the first terminal device and the second terminal device has an information setting function for identifying a logical communication path, a data transmission function, and a data reception function, and the network system is at least connected to the network. The server includes one server, and the server is provided with the storage unit and the verification unit. The first network interface unit registers information for identifying the logical communication path in the storage unit of the server using the setting function based on a request from the first terminal device, and the second network interface unit Each registers information for identifying the logical communication path in the storage unit of the server using the setting function based on a request from the second terminal device. The storage unit of the server has a channel management table in which information for identifying the logical communication path registered by each of the first terminal device and the second terminal device is stored. When the first network interface unit sends information for identifying the logical communication path used for data transmission to the network using the data transmission function based on the transmission request from the first terminal device, the server The collating unit refers to the channel management table, identifies the second terminal device that has registered in the channel management table information for identifying the same logical communication path used for the data transmission, The data transmission is performed to the specified second terminal device. The second network interface unit corresponding to the specified second terminal apparatus receives data from the logical communication path used for data transmission by the first terminal apparatus using the data reception function.

According to the network system of the present invention including the server, the collation unit provided in the server should transmit data with reference to the information for identifying the logical communication path managed by the storage unit of the server. Since the terminal device is specified, the load on the server can be reduced and a smooth information communication network can be realized compared to the case where address information unique to each terminal device is managed by the server. When the server collects information for identifying the logical communication path used by each terminal device, the server provided on the network may collect the information by inquiring each terminal device, or A configuration in which each terminal device voluntarily provides the information to a server on the network may be adopted.

When the object-oriented concept is introduced into the network system of the present invention, the function is expressed by an object, and routing using an object identifier (for example, “OID” or “IID”) is performed through a server. Can be made into a distributed object. Here, “OID” is an identifier unique to each object, and “IID” is defined as an identifier for identifying a function of the object.

As a preferred network system of the present invention that introduces an object-oriented idea, there is an object on each terminal device, and a server provided on the network collects information on logical communication paths by inquiring each terminal device, There is a form in which information collected by a storage unit provided in the server is stored and managed.

As a preferred form of the network system of the present invention in which the object-oriented concept is introduced, each of the first terminal device and the second terminal device has a logical communication path setting function, a data transmission function, and a data reception function, and an identifier. The network system includes at least one server connected to the network, and the server includes the storage unit and the verification unit. The first network interface unit registers information for identifying the logical communication path in the storage unit using the logical communication path setting function of the object based on a request from the first terminal device, Each of the network interface units registers information for identifying the logical communication path in the storage unit using the logical communication path setting function of the object based on a request from the second terminal device. The storage unit includes a channel management table in which a correspondence relationship between information for identifying a logical communication path registered by each of the first terminal device and the second terminal device and an identifier of the object is stored; It has an object management table in which identifiers and routing information are associated with each other. When the first network interface unit sends information for identifying a logical communication path used for data transmission to the network using the data transmission function of the object based on another request from the first terminal device. The collation unit of the server refers to the channel management table, collates the identifier of the object corresponding to the information for identifying the logical communication path used for the data transmission, and refers to the object management table. The data transmission is performed to the second terminal apparatus determined by collating the routing information corresponding to the collated object identifier. The second network interface unit corresponding to the second terminal device receives data from the logical communication path used by the first terminal device for data transmission using the data reception function of the object.

In this case, information for identifying the logical communication path, for example, the channel ID assigned to the logical communication path is stored as a variable of the object on the terminal device, and the server collects the channel ID on each terminal device. Since the channel management table manages the channel ID, it is easy to add or change the channel ID later. The server collects logical communication path information from the source terminal device and the receiving terminal device and manages the correspondence with the object identifiers, so the server routes the object to the key. However, as described above, each terminal device only needs to determine the information of the logical communication path used for data transmission / reception, and does not need to consider the address information of the counterpart terminal device. Therefore, also in the network system of the present embodiment, it is easy to add / change the terminal device to the network, and the effect that a smooth information communication network can be realized is ensured.

As another preferred form of the network system of the present invention that introduces the object-oriented concept, each of the first terminal device and the second terminal device has a logical communication path setting function, a data transmission function, and a data reception function. The network system includes at least one server connected to the network, and the server is provided with the storage unit and the verification unit. Based on a request from the first terminal device, the first network interface unit registers an identifier of an object previously associated with the information on the logical communication path in the storage unit using the logical communication path setting function of the object. Then, each of the second network interface units is an object previously associated with the information of the logical communication path in the storage unit using the logical communication path setting function of the object based on a request from the second terminal device. Register the identifier. The storage unit includes an object management table in which the identifier of the object is associated with routing information. Based on another request from the first terminal device, the first network interface unit uses the data transmission function of the object, and the object previously associated with the logical communication path information used for data transmission to the network When the identifier is sent, the collation unit of the server refers to the object management table and collates the routing information corresponding to the identifier of the object previously associated with the information on the logical communication path used for the data transmission. The data transmission is performed to the determined second terminal device. The second network interface unit corresponding to the second terminal device receives data from a logical communication path used for data transmission by the first terminal device using the data reception function of the object.

In the first preferred network system described above, the server channel management table manages the correspondence between the logical communication path information registered by each of the first terminal device and the second terminal device and the identifier of the object. The object management table of FIG. 2 manages the correspondence between the identifier of the object and the routing information (address information for transmitting data to the second terminal device, eg, IP address), whereas the second preferred network system In each terminal device, since the logical communication path information is associated with the object identifier in advance, it is not necessary to provide a channel management table in the server, and the correspondence between the object identifier and the routing information is managed. Only the object management table that needs to be There is an advantage that the load can be further reduced.

In the network system of the present invention, the storage unit includes a first storage unit provided corresponding to the first terminal device for registering information for identifying a logical communication path used for data transmission, and data reception And a second storage unit provided corresponding to each of the second terminal devices for registering information for identifying the logical communication path used for the second terminal device, It is preferable to be provided corresponding to. In this case, each collating unit determines whether or not the corresponding second terminal apparatus receives data from the logical communication path.

In the network system according to the preferred embodiment when the object-oriented concept is introduced, each of the first terminal device and the second terminal device has a logical communication path setting function, a data transmission function, and a data reception function. And an object with a common identifier. The first network interface unit registers information for identifying the logical communication path in the first storage unit using the logical communication path setting function of the object based on a request from the first terminal device, Each of the two network interface units registers information for identifying the logical channel in the second channel storage unit using the logical channel setting function of the object based on a request from the second terminal device. . When the first network interface unit sends information for identifying a logical communication path used for data transmission to the network using the common identifier based on a data transmission request from the first terminal device, Each of the verification units verifies whether information for identifying a logical communication path used for data transmission matches information for identifying a logical communication path registered in the second storage unit. . The second network interface unit is provided for each of the second terminal devices, and a logical communication channel in which information for identifying a logical communication channel used for the data transmission is registered in the second storage unit Only when the information matches the information for identifying the data, the first terminal device receives data from the logical communication path used for data transmission by using the data reception function of the object.

In this case, there is an object with a common identifier for all the terminal devices, and information (for example, channel ID) for identifying a logical communication path used for data communication is stored in the storage unit of each terminal device. Managed by. Then, data transmission using the common identifier is executed once for all the terminal devices, and the collation unit of each second terminal device collates the information on the logical communication path, so that the logical communication is finally performed. Determine whether to receive data from the communication path. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a server on the network for the purpose of collating logical communication paths. Further, even when a server is provided on the network for the purpose of routing when data transmission using a common identifier is performed by multicast, the configuration of the server can be simplified and the load is reduced. Furthermore, since there is no need to associate the logical communication path information with the identifier in advance, it is easy to add or change the terminal device later.

In the network system according to a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the second terminal device includes a plurality of terminal devices constituting a first group and a plurality of terminal devices constituting a second group, wherein the first terminal device Has a command terminal. Information for identifying the first logical communication channel used for data reception by the first group of terminal devices and for identifying the second logical communication channel used for data reception by the second group of terminal devices Are previously registered in the storage unit. The command terminal device has a channel selection unit for selecting either the first logical communication path or the second logical communication path as the logical communication path used for data transmission.

In this network system, information for identifying a common logical communication path used for data reception by all of the first group of terminal devices and the second group of terminal devices is registered in the storage unit, and a channel selection unit It is more preferable that any one of the first logical communication path, the second logical communication path, and the common logical communication path can be selected as the logical communication path used for data transmission. Further, in the storage unit, information for identifying a third logical communication path used for data reception by a part of the first group of terminal devices and a part of the second group of terminal devices is registered, The channel selection unit may be able to select one of the first logical communication path, the second logical communication path, and the third logical communication path as the logical communication path used for data transmission. preferable. Furthermore, a logical communication path used for data transmission from the first logical communication path, the second logical communication path, the third logical communication path, or the common logical communication path as necessary. The channel selector may be formed so that is selected.

Also, desired electrical devices are connected to the terminal devices of the first group and the second group, respectively, and the data includes a transmission request for content provided by the electrical devices connected to each terminal device, and is used for data transmission. When the logical communication path is the first logical communication path, it is preferable that the content of the electrical equipment connected to each of the first group of terminal devices is transmitted to the command terminal device.

According to this network system, for example, when it is necessary to manage the power consumption in each floor of an office building, or when it is necessary to manage only the power consumption in a specific room from each floor, the power consumption is suitable. A management system can be provided.

The network system of the present invention can also be defined as follows. That is, a network system for performing data communication between terminal devices connected via a network,
A terminal device including a first application unit that requests data transmission;
Connected between the first application unit and the network, and based on a data transmission request from the first application unit, information for identifying a logical communication path used for data transmission is used for the network. A first middleware unit for executing data transmission;
A storage unit in which information for identifying a logical communication path used for data reception by another terminal device is registered;
A collation unit that collates information for identifying a logical communication path used for data transmission and information for identifying a logical communication path used for data reception registered in the storage unit; and the others A second middleware unit connected between the second application unit provided in the terminal device and the network,
The second network interface unit is concerned only when the information for identifying the logical communication path used for the data transmission matches the information for identifying the logical communication path used for the data reception. Data transmitted from a logical communication path is received and provided to the second application unit.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a data communication method based on the same basic idea as the network system described above. That is, this data communication method is a method for performing data communication between terminal devices connected via a network,
Registering information for identifying a logical communication path used for data reception by the terminal device on the data receiving side in the storage unit;
A step in which a first application unit provided in a terminal device on the data transmission side requests data transmission;
Information for identifying a logical communication path used for data transmission by a first middleware unit connected between the first application unit and the network based on a data transmission request from the first application unit is provided. Using to perform data transmission to the network;
Collating the information for identifying the logical communication path used for the data transmission and the information for identifying the logical communication path used for data reception registered in the storage unit by the collating unit; Including
Only when the information for identifying the logical communication path used for the data transmission matches the information for identifying the logical communication path used for the data reception by the collating step, the data receiving side A second middleware unit connected between the second application unit provided in the terminal device and the network receives data from the logical communication path and provides the data to the second application unit.

The further features of the present invention and the effects it provides will be more clearly understood based on the best mode for carrying out the invention described below.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the basic idea of the network system of this invention. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic of the terminal device used for 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic of the server used for 1st Embodiment. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the network system of 1st Embodiment. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of starting of the crime prevention system concerning the preferable application example of the network system of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the channel registration operation | movement of a security system. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of the data transmission / reception of a security system. It is the schematic of the terminal device used for 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of the server used for 2nd Embodiment. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the network system of 2nd Embodiment. It is the schematic of the network system concerning 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of the terminal device used for 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of the server used for 3rd Embodiment. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the network system of 3rd Embodiment. It is the schematic of the terminal device used for the example of a change of 3rd Embodiment. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the network system concerning the example of a change of 3rd Embodiment. It is the schematic of the server used for the network system concerning 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the network system of 4th Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the channel setting operation | movement of the crime prevention system concerning the preferable application example of the network system of 4th Embodiment. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of the data transmission / reception of a security system. It is the schematic of the network system concerning 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the conventional network system. It is the schematic which shows another conventional network system.

Hereinafter, the network system of the present invention will be described in detail based on a preferred embodiment.
(Basic idea of the network system of the present invention)
First, the basic idea of the network system of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the minimum essential configuration of the network system of the present invention is that the first terminal device 1 on the data transmission side and the second terminal device 2 on the data reception side are respectively connected via the network interface unit (12, 22). Connected to the physical network 4. As described above, in the present invention, not the relationship between the terminal device 1 on the transmission side and the terminal device 2 on the reception side, but the relationship between each terminal device (1, 2) and the network 4 is important. There is a network interface unit (12, 22) for realizing this relationship.

The first network interface unit 12 provided for the first terminal device 1 is physically based on information for identifying a logical communication path used for data transmission based on a request from the first terminal device 1. This is for executing data transmission to the secure network 4. The information for identifying the logical communication path used for data transmission is information on the logical communication path itself such as the channel ID assigned to the logical communication path, or the channel ID of the logical communication path. And information such as identifiers of objects mounted in advance on each terminal device are also included. In the figure, the first network interface unit 12 is positioned between the first terminal device 1 and the network 4, but this means that the first terminal device 1 and the first network interface unit 12 are provided separately. It does not mean that the function of the first network interface unit 12 exists conceptually between the terminal device 1 and the physical network 4. In FIG. 1, the area surrounded by the dotted line indicates the logical network area 4A.

Similarly, the second network interface unit 22 provided for each of the second terminal devices 2 participates in the same logical communication path used for data transmission as a logical communication path for data reception. It is for executing data reception with respect to the second terminal device 2 only when (registered). In the figure, the second network interface unit 22 is positioned between each second terminal device 2 and the physical network 4. However, as in the case of the first terminal device 1, the second terminal device 2 and the second network are arranged. It does not mean that the interface unit 22 is provided separately, but conceptually shows that the function of the second network interface unit 22 exists between the terminal device 2 and the physical network 4.

Further, the network system of the present invention is used for data transmission with reference to information stored in the storage unit for storing information for identifying a logical communication path used for data transmission and data reception, and information registered in the storage unit. And a collation unit that identifies the second terminal device that has registered the same logical communication channel as the logical communication channel to be received for data reception. These can be provided in a network interface unit for each terminal device or in a server 3 provided on the network 4 as described in detail in the following embodiments.
(First embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 2, the network system according to the present embodiment includes a storage unit 31 and a verification unit 32 in the server 3 on the network, and the verification unit 32 transmits data by referring to information registered in the storage unit 31. It is characterized in that the second terminal device 2 that registers the same logical communication path as that used for data reception is specified.

In the present embodiment, the terminal device A is the terminal device 1 on the data transmission side, and the terminal devices B, C, and D are used as the terminal device 2 on the data reception side. 1 and 2) have substantially the same data transmission / reception functions except that they have unique function units, so that the terminal devices (B, C, D) function as terminal devices on the data transmission side. The terminal device A can also function as a terminal device on the data receiving side. In short, in the present embodiment, each terminal device (1, 2) has a function of performing bidirectional data communication.

As shown in FIG. 3, each terminal device (1, 2) includes an information processing unit (10, 20) and a communication unit (14, 24) for network communication (for example, Ethernet (registered trademark) standard communication). And functional units (15, 25) unique to each terminal device. As a function of the functional unit 15 of the terminal device 1 on the data transmission side, a sensor function for acquiring environmental data to be transmitted to the network 4 can be exemplified, and as a function of the functional unit 25 of the terminal device 2 on the data reception side Can illustrate a control function for controlling air conditioning and lighting based on the received environmental data.

The information processing unit (10, 20) includes an application unit (11, 21) and a middleware unit that functions as a network interface unit (12, 22). 12 and 22) and an object part (13, 23) provided as a lower layer of the middleware part. In the present embodiment, since each configuration of the information processing unit (10, 20) is realized by executing a predetermined software program, a program storage unit (not shown) for storing the software program and the software program A CPU (not shown) that executes the above is provided as a hardware configuration.

In addition, the middleware part (12, 22) provided with the object part (13, 23) of this embodiment is externally attached separately from the terminal device (1, 2) having the application part (11, 21). You may implement | achieve either in the hardware provided with the housing | casing and provided with CPU and a program memory | storage part, a software module, and the combination of a hardware and a software module.

The application unit (11, 21) sends a request for registering a logical communication path used for data transmission / reception to the logical network 4A (or the server 3 on the physical network 4) to the middleware unit (12, 22), and registration. A function of sending a request for data transmission using the logical communication path to the middleware unit.

The middleware section (12, 22) has a function for setting a logical communication path used for data transmission / reception, a data transmission function for transmitting data to the physical network 4, a function for receiving data from the logical communication path, and data reception. It has a subscribe selection function for setting to temporarily reject. Hereinafter, each function will be described in detail.

In the setting function of the logical communication path of the middleware unit (12, 22), information on the logical communication path used for data transmission / reception (for example, the channel ID attached to the logical communication path) is additionally registered, A function for changing or deleting information of a logical communication path already used for data transmission / reception is included. Specifically, the middleware unit (12, 22) of each terminal device (1, 2) stores and holds information on the added logical communication path, and also stores all other networks on the network 4 (in a semantic sense, the network 4). Terminal device) is notified of the combination of the identifier of the terminal device itself and the channel ID held (for example, by multicast). Note that even if it is notified to the network, it is not practical to actually notify all the other terminal devices, so normally, the server 3 provided on the physical network 4 is notified and tabulated, It is preferable to share information on the network by exchanging table information between the servers.

The data transmission function of the middleware unit 12 is based on a request from the application unit 11 of the terminal device 1 on the data transmission side, and transmits data to the network 4 via a predetermined logical communication path (already registered). A function (means) for executing is included. Specifically, in the data transmission of the middleware unit, the middleware unit 12 on the terminal device 1 on the transmission side receives data from the application unit 11, notifies the server 3 on the physical network 4 of the data transmission request, and 3. By collating (searching) the combination of the terminal device identifier and channel ID managed in 3 above, it notifies all the terminal devices that have registered the corresponding logical communication channel (information channel) by multicast. Thus, the notification is performed such that the notified receiving terminal device individually obtains data from the transmitting terminal device.

In addition, the data reception function of the middleware unit 22 includes other functions on the network 4 when the application unit 21 of the terminal device 2 on the receiving side has registered to receive data from a predetermined logical communication path. The terminal device includes a function (means) for receiving data transmitted to the corresponding logical communication path. Specifically, when one terminal device 1 makes a data transmission request, the functions of the network 4 and the middleware unit notify all the terminal devices in which the corresponding logical communication path is registered, and the middleware unit 22 The data reception is executed when the application unit 21 receives the notification.

The subscribe selection function of the middleware unit 22 of the terminal device 2 on the data receiving side has a function of temporarily refusing data reception without changing the contents registered by the logical communication path setting function described above. Including. For example, the crime prevention system has an advantage that it is possible to refuse data reception in a predetermined time zone such as daytime or at home, and it is not necessary to change the setting of the logical communication path every time. In this case, the subscribe function may be selected by a button operation or the like in the display control device.

The object section (13, 23) is provided for introducing an object-oriented concept into the network system of the present invention, and has an object with an identifier (OID or IID). Here, the object refers to an object implemented on a terminal device in software as a group of functional units configured from at least one of a function, a variable, and an event. Normally, one terminal device has at least one object, but may have a plurality of objects combined. Examples of identifiers attached to objects include OID (object ID) for uniquely distinguishing individual objects and IID (interface ID) for distinguishing the functions of objects. is not.

In summary, in the embodiment described in this specification, the functions of the network interface unit (12, 22) are the logical communication path setting, the data transmission / reception via the logical communication path, and the subscribing function. The object part (13, 23) realizes them by functions of functions, variables, and events. The application unit (11, 21) requests logical channel setting and data transmission / reception through the logical channel. The concept of data transmission using a logical communication path (the concept of channel) is not provided in the object part or application part, but is provided only by the network interface part. For example, when data transmission / reception is requested from the application unit to the network interface unit, the network interface unit writes information for identifying a channel to be used for data transmission into the function / variable / event of the object unit. Send to.

When setting the logical communication path of each terminal device, information on the logical communication path used at the time of data transmission / reception, OID or IID, or combination information of OID and IID is sent to the server 3 and registered. For example, when the correspondence between the channel ID and the OID is stored, when the server 3 receives the channel ID “AAA”, the server 3 searches for “AAA” from the correspondence and associates it with “AAA”. One or more OIDs are identified. Therefore, it is possible to identify one or a plurality of terminal devices, form a group, and transmit / receive information. If the correspondence between the channel ID and the combination of OID and IID is stored, when the server receives the channel ID “AAA”, the server searches for “AAA” from the correspondence, It is also possible to identify a combination of one or more OIDs and IIDs that are associated with each other, and to transmit / receive information by grouping terminal devices having the OIDs and IIDs. Further, when the correspondence between the channel ID and the IID is stored, when the server receives the channel ID “AAA”, the server searches for “AAA” from the correspondence and associates it with “AAA”. It is also possible to identify an IID and associate a plurality of terminal devices having the same function (IID) with one channel ID.

As described above, as an effect of using the channel ID separately from the OID or IID, a more flexible group can be provided separately from the OID or IID group, and within the group formed by the logical communication path. The terminal device can communicate without being aware of the address information of the other party. Further, in the present embodiment, the receiving terminal device that has received the notification individually retrieves data from the transmitting terminal device, but the transmitting side operates an object that defines a send function or the like. Thus, data may be sent directly to the receiving side along with establishment of a logical communication path.

Next, the configuration of the server 3 of this embodiment arranged on the network 4 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the server 3 includes a communication unit 30, a storage unit 31 in which information for specifying a logical communication path registered to participate in the network is stored, a service processing unit 32A, and a routing processing unit 32B. It is mainly comprised by the collation part 32 containing.

The storage unit 31 includes information (for example, channel ID) for identifying a logical communication path registered by each of the terminal devices (1, 2) and an identifier (for example, OID) of an object included in each terminal device. Object management in which the channel management table 31A in which the correspondence relationship is stored, the identifier of the object included in each terminal device (1, 2), and routing information (for example, address information (such as IP address of each terminal device)) are associated with each other Table 31B is stored.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, in the channel management table 31A, the OID, channel ID, and subscribe information are tabulated. In the illustrated example, in a terminal device having an object whose OID is <yyy>, a logical communication path having a channel ID of <AAA> and a logical communication path having a channel ID of <BBB> are registered, and the channel ID Subscribing is set for the logical communication path <AAA>. In addition, a terminal device having an object with an OID of <xxx> and a terminal device having an object with an OID of <yyy> are participating in the same channel ID <AAA> logical communication path. In this example, the first terminal device 1 and the second terminal device 2 are not divided but share one channel management table, but may be provided individually.

On the other hand, in the object management table 31B, OID and IID information, routing information, and object interface information are tabulated. As the object interface information, information (function, variable, event, etc.) related to the function of each terminal device is registered. Specifically, a combination of functions, variables, and events necessary for realizing a logical communication channel (channel) setting function, a data transmission function, a data reception function, a subscribe selection function, and the like is defined.

Note that the above four functions may be realized by separate IIDs. However, since this increases the number of IIDs, the four functions are realized as objects having one IID, and the object It is preferable to define a plurality of functions and variables that realize four functions. This makes it possible to specify one IID and further specify one of a plurality of pieces of information in the object.

The service processing unit 32A is used when setting a logical communication path, and is a first processing unit for registering / deleting a channel ID and an object identifier, and a search / collation process for a registered channel ID and an object identifier. A second processing unit, an object access processing unit, and the like. On the other hand, the routing processing unit 32B includes a first processing unit for registering / deleting identifier information (OID, IID) and routing information, and a second process for searching / verifying registered identifier information and routing information. And an execution unit for routing processing to objects.

In the network system of the present embodiment described above, a series of operations from setting the logical communication path of the network 4 to data transmission and data reception will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

As an initial setting operation of a logical communication path used by each terminal device for data communication, information on the logical communication path used for data transmission / reception from the application unit (11, 21) of the terminal device (A, B) is a middleware unit ( 12, 22). Next, in the middleware section (12, 22), the channel ID is written in the variable of the object using the function of setting the logical communication path. When the channel ID is set in the object variable, as the processing of the server 3, the identifier of the object possessed by each terminal device and the information on the logical communication path used by each terminal device are collected and their correspondence is managed. A channel management table 31A is created for this purpose.

When the terminal device subscribes, for example, in the object interface defined by the IID, a subscribe flag may be prepared as a variable and set. The service processing unit 32A of the server 3 checks the value of the subscribe flag and additionally stores it in the channel management table 31A (you may receive notification by subscribing to the subscribe flag variable). When registration of a logical communication path that can be used for data transmission / reception in the network 4 is completed, a registration notification is sent from the server to each terminal device.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 4, an object held by a terminal device, a channel in which the object (synonymously the terminal device) participates, and the presence / absence of a subscription can be managed as one record. In this example, the objects “xxx” and “yyy” participate in the common channel “AAA”. Although the transmission and reception channels are not distinguished, they can be distinguished. In that case, a separate table may be used in the same manner, or transmission / reception distinction may be registered as a record in one table. In addition, when one terminal device has one object, the routing of the object is the same as the routing of the terminal device, but one terminal device has a plurality of objects or one object to a plurality of terminal devices. It is also possible to disperse.

In the server 3, the object management table 31 </ b> B that tabulates the correspondence between the object identifier information and the routing information of the terminal device to which data is transmitted (for example, the address information of the terminal device 2 on the receiving side) is the routing of the server 3. It is created by the processing unit 32B. In other words, when the terminal is activated (or when connected to the network), the object held by the terminal device connects to the server and registers its own OID, IID, and routing information (IP address, etc.) in the object management table. The The address information of the terminal device 2 on the receiving side is an IP address or the like when the terminal device is directly connected to the server, but the terminal device is connected to the server via one or more other servers. In this case, not the direct address of the terminal device but the connection information of the directly connected server is also included. In any case, routing is performed based on the identifier of the object corresponding to the logical communication path information provided to the server 3.

As described above, after the initial setting of the logical communication path to the network is completed, for example, when the application unit 11 of the terminal device A issues a data transmission request to the middleware unit 12, the middleware unit 12 performs data transmission. The transmission data is written into the transmission buffer variable of the object unit 13 using the function. When the transmission data is written to the transmission data buffer variable, the server 3 is notified, and as a function of the service processing unit 32A on the server 3, an object of another terminal device belonging to the same channel as the transmitted object is searched from the channel management table. / Matched. When the object identifiers of other terminals participating in the same logical communication path as the transmitting side are specified in this way, the routing processing unit 32B next refers to the object management table 31B and the same logical communication path The routing information of other terminals participating in the network is searched and verified. Data transmission is notified of an event by multicast, for example, according to the specified routing information.

In other words, when the middleware unit 12 writes data to the object transmission buffer and a data write notification is sent to the server 3, the service processing unit 32A refers to the channel management table 31A in the server 3, and further the routing processing unit 32B. Refers to the object management table 31B, for example, multicasts a data transmission request notification to other terminal devices participating in the same logical communication channel (channel ID).

In the receiving-side terminal device B in which the same logical communication path is set, a data transmission request notification transmitted by multicast is sent from the object unit 23 to the middleware unit 22, and further sent from the middleware unit 22 to the application unit 21. . In short, a data transmission request notification is delivered to the application unit 21 via the object unit 23 and the middleware unit 22.

Upon receiving the data transmission request notification, the receiving terminal device B requests the middleware unit 22 to receive data from the registered channel, and the middleware unit receives data from the transmission source terminal device A to the network 4. The data is read from the transmission buffer of the terminal device A. In short, after the application unit 21 of the terminal device B on the receiving side receives the data transmission request, data is transmitted from the terminal device A to the terminal device B by going to the transmission buffer of the terminal device A that is the data transmission source. Is completed.

As described above, in the network system according to the present embodiment, it is necessary that each of the terminal device A on the transmission side and the terminal devices (B, C, D) on the reception side know the information of the partner terminal device with which data communication is performed. Absent. In other words, information on the logical communication path used for data transmission by the terminal device on the transmitting side (first terminal device 1), or logical information used by the receiving terminal device (second terminal device 2) for data reception. If only the communication path information is determined, data communication can be executed between the terminal devices (1, 2) that have registered the same logical communication path.

In this embodiment, since the routing is performed using the identifier (OID or IID) of the object associated with the logical communication path information in the server, the same logical communication path can be used by the verification in the server 3. Data is transferred only to registered terminal devices. Therefore, it is possible to provide smoother and more efficient data communication than when broadcasting data transmission to all terminal devices on the network.

Next, the case where the network system of the present invention is applied to a crime prevention system will be specifically described. As shown in FIG. 6, the security system includes a data receiving terminal device 2 (second terminal device) configured by a security alarm receiving device, data configured by a security sensor such as a moving body sensor and a thermal sensor. A transmitting terminal device 1 (first terminal device) and a server 3 are connected to a network 4. In the figure, only one security sensor is drawn for ease of explanation, but a form in which a plurality of security sensors are connected to a network and these sensors are centrally managed by a security alarm receiver is more effective. Realistic. In addition to security sensors, fire detectors such as smoke sensors and earthquake detectors such as vibration sensors are connected to the network, and the terminal device 2 on the data reception side functions as a disaster prevention / security alarm receiver. It is also preferable that

In this security system, when the security sensor is activated, the security sensor object unit 13 accesses the server 3, and registers the OID, IID and routing information (IP address, etc.) in the object management table 31B on the server 3. In addition, the service program on the server 3 subscribes to the variables (channel ID, transmission data, reception data) of each object, and prepares to be notified when an event in which the value of the variable is changed occurs. The object for data transmission / reception is an object that simply performs data transmission / reception for general purposes. The security sensor function unique to the terminal device 1 on the data transmission side, that is, the moving object detection function and the heat detection function are the applications of the security sensor. Unit 11 is responsible for processing. Similarly, also in the security alarm receiving device, the application unit 23 of the security alarm receiving device is responsible for the function unique to the terminal device 2 (security alarm receiving device) on the data receiving side, that is, the function of displaying the status of the security sensor. . Even when an additional security sensor is newly added to the network 4, the OID and IID of the added security sensor and its routing information (IP address, etc.) are added to the object management table 31B on the server 3 by the same operation as described above. Registered in

Next, in order to be able to communicate with each other between the security sensor and the security alarm receiving device, an operation is performed so that the security sensor and the security alarm receiving device participate in the same channel. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, each application unit (11, 21) of the security sensor and the security alarm device sets a channel ID (eg, “security system”) for the network interface unit (12, 22). To do. Next, the network interface unit (12, 22) sets the channel ID “security system” in the channel ID variable of the object unit (13, 23), and notifies the service program on the server 3 by the object subscription function. The service program on the server registers the correspondence between the notified channel ID, OID, and IID in the channel management table 31A. In this way, when the channel ID, OID, and IID information of each terminal device (in this example, the security sensor and the security alarm receiving device) connected to the network are registered in the channel management table 31A, the same channel ID Since the objects of the terminal devices belonging to can be collated, they can communicate with each other.

As described above, after the registration of the OID, IID and routing information (IP address, etc.) in the object management table 31B and the registration of the correspondence relationship between the channel ID, OID, and IID in the channel management table 31A are completed The security system can be operated under the use conditions. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, when the security sensor function of the application unit 11 of the security sensor 1 detects the presence of an intruder, the network interface unit 12 transmits a sensor state value to the network 4. Actually, the sensor state value is written in the transmission data variable of the network interface unit 12, and is notified from the object unit 13 to the service program on the server 3 via the network. The service program on the server 3 refers to the channel management table 31A and collates with other terminal devices belonging to the same channel as the transmission side object. In this case, since the object of the security alarm receiving terminal 2 registers the same channel as the security sensor, the sensor state value is written in the reception data variable of the object part 23 of the security alarm receiving terminal 2. At this time, data transmission / reception is performed using the routing information registered in the object management table 31B. When the sensor state value is written in the reception data variable of the object unit 23 on the reception side, the network interface unit 22 reads the reception data and notifies the application unit 21 when subscribed, and the application unit 21 provides a security alarm. As a function unique to the receiving device 2, the state of the sensor is displayed. In this way, the user can know the occurrence of an abnormality such as the presence of an intruder from the contents displayed on the crime prevention alarm receiving apparatus.
(Second Embodiment)
In the network system of the present embodiment, in the middleware unit (12, 22), an identifier is associated with the information on the logical communication path in advance, and the network is associated with the information instead of the information on the logical communication path. It is characterized in that the identifier information is provided as information for identifying a logical communication path. In short, there is an object on each terminal device (1, 2), and the logical communication path information (for example, channel ID) used by each terminal device is associated with identifier information (for example, IID) in advance. Server identifier (IID) management and routing function realizes data communication with terminal devices sharing the communication path without using information (channel ID) of the logical communication path itself on the network It is. Other configurations are substantially the same as those of the network system according to the first embodiment, and thus redundant description is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 9, the terminal device (1, 2) used in the present embodiment has a correspondence table (16, 26) of the channel ID and identifier (IID) of the logical communication path in the middleware part (12, 22). ) Is stored. For example, the channel ID “AAA” can be associated with the IID “xxx”, and the channel ID “BBB” can be associated with the IID “yyy”. In short, the object on each terminal device (1, 2) knows in advance the logical communication path in which it participates, and has a unique IID corresponding to the logical communication path. The terminal device (1, 2) may be provided with a storage unit that can set the correspondence between the logical communication path information and the identifier information in advance, or the logical communication path in the terminal device (1, 2). An identifier associated with information in advance may be fixedly stored. The association in this case is usually set at the time of manufacturing or construction of the terminal device.

Thereby, the middleware part (12, 22) provides the identifier information associated with the object part (13, 23) instead of the logical communication path information to the object part (13, 23). Data transmission using information is executed. Therefore, in the server 3 of the present embodiment, it is not necessary to register logical channel information (channel ID) in the server in advance or to create the channel management table 31A. 3, a communication unit 30, a correspondence between identifier information (OID, IID) and routing information, a storage unit 31 having an object management table 31B in which object interface definition information is stored, and a collation having a routing processing unit 32B The unit 32 is mainly configured.

In this embodiment, the collation unit 32 of the server 3 also performs collation. Collation based on the identifier information and object routing are performed at the same time. Further, since the OID and IID for determining the terminal devices constituting the same group are the same as the service functions (OID and IID) of the objects of the receiving terminal device, they cannot be managed separately. That is, it is necessary to match the determination of the terminal devices that constitute the same group with the function that the terminal device actually wants to execute.

First, information (for example, channel ID) of a logical communication path used for data transmission / reception is sent from the application unit (11, 21) of the terminal device (A, B) to the middleware unit (12, 22). The middleware part (12, 22) sends the identifier information previously associated with the logical communication path information to the object part (13, 23). The object part (13, 23) writes the information of the identifier as a variable and transmits it to the storage part 31 of the server 3 on the network 4. In this way, if information on the logical communication path used for communication is determined, it is immediately converted into an identifier such as a corresponding IID, so that the actual terminal device (1, 2) to the server 3 (or network 4). Information to be sent to is not logical communication path information but identifier information such as IID.

On the other hand, since the server 3 manages the identifier information (IID), the service processing unit 32A of the server 3 checks the channel ID as in the first embodiment, and checks the channel management table 31A (the channel ID of the logical communication path). -Correspondence between identifier information of objects) does not need to be created, and the identifier information associated with the logical communication path information can be easily known without looking at the contents of the transmission contents. That is, since the information sent to the network is not the logical communication path information (channel ID) but the identifier information associated with it, the server 3 refers to the object management table 31B based on this identifier information. By doing so, it is possible to identify and route the address information of the terminal device 2 on the receiving side that is in direct correspondence.

When the terminal device subscribes, for example, a data transmission variable may be defined as an IID interface unique to the logical communication path, and the variable may be subscribed to. When the terminal device realizes a function of subscribing to the logical communication path, for example, a subscribe flag variable is defined in the middleware part of the terminal device on the receiving side, and the middleware part of the receiving terminal is an object. When a data reception notification is received via the unit, it may be controlled whether to notify the application by referring to the subscribe flag. However, in this case, since the subscription is not managed on the server, the data transmission notification itself from the transmission-side terminal device to the reception-side terminal device is always executed.

As described above, after the initial setting of the identifier information to the network is completed, for example, the application unit 11 of the terminal device A sends a data transmission request to the middleware unit 12 using the channel ID of the logical communication path. The middleware unit 12 checks identifier information (IID) corresponding to the channel ID of the logical communication path, and requests the object unit 13 to write data to the transmission buffer. When a data write notification to an object having the same identifier information is transmitted from the object unit 13 to the network 4 (server 3), the routing processing unit 32B refers to the object management table 31B in the server 3, and the same identifier A data write notification is notified by multicast to an object having information (= a terminal device that has registered the same logical communication path for data reception).

In the terminal device B on the receiving side in which the same logical communication path is set, the data write notification transmitted by multicast is received by the middleware unit 22 via the object unit 23, and the middleware unit 22 sends the reception notification to the application unit. Deliver to 21. Upon receiving the data write notification, the terminal device B requests the middleware unit 22 to read data from the registered logical communication channel (channel ID), and the middleware unit 22 transmits the terminal device A that is the transmission source via the object unit 23. Is requested to read data from the object, and data is read from the transmission buffer of the terminal device A. In short, after the application unit 21 of the terminal device B on the receiving side receives the data write notification, data is transmitted from the terminal device A to the terminal device B by going to the transmission buffer of the terminal device A that is the transmission source. Is completed.

As described above, in the network system according to the present embodiment, the terminal device A on the transmission side and the terminal device B on the reception side do not need to know information on the terminal device of the other party with which data communication is performed. In other words, identifier information previously associated with the logical communication path used by the transmitting terminal device 1 (first terminal device) for data transmission, or the receiving terminal device 2 (second terminal device) receives data. Data communication can be executed between the terminal devices (1, 2) that have registered the same logical communication path as long as the identifier information previously associated with the logical communication path used for reception is determined. .

In addition, a terminal device in which the logical communication path information (channel name) and identifier information (IID) are associated with each other in advance and the same logical communication path is registered by the server identifier information management and routing function. Since communication between each other is realized, there is an effect that a service program for the channel management table is not required, the server configuration is simplified, and the load can be reduced.
(Third embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 12, the network system of the present embodiment is provided with a storage unit (17, 27) and a collation unit (18, 28) in each terminal device (1, 2). The data is transmitted to all the terminal devices (B, C, D) on 4 and the collation unit (18, 28) of each terminal device verifies whether the same logical communication path is set for data reception. There is a feature in the point to do. Other configurations are substantially the same as those of the network system according to the first embodiment, and thus redundant description is omitted.

That is, as shown in FIG. 13, information (channel ID) of the logical communication path used for data communication is stored in the middleware section (12, 22) of the terminal device (1, 2) used in this embodiment. Whether to receive the data transmitted by collating the channel ID storage unit (17, 27) to be stored and the channel ID used for data transmission with the information of the logical communication path stored in the channel ID storage unit A channel ID verification unit (18, 28) for determination is provided. Further, information (channel ID) of the logical communication path provided from the middleware part (12, 22) is written as a variable in the transmission data or the reception data in the object part (13, 23). As the identifier of the object, an OID unique to each terminal device and an IID (for example, “XYZ”) common to all terminal devices are set.

As shown in FIG. 14, the server 3 used in the present embodiment includes a communication unit 30, an object management table 31 </ b> B that stores correspondence information between identifier information (OID, IID) and routing information, and object interface definition information. The storage unit 31 and the routing processing unit 32B are mainly configured. Here, since the identifier IID common to all the terminal devices is used, data transmission is performed to each terminal device by multicast or broadcast by the original routing function of the server 3.

First, identifier information such as an IID (for example, “XYZ”) common to all terminal devices and an OID unique to each terminal device is sent from the object part (13, 23) to the network 4 (server 3). It is done. In the server 3, the identifier information is registered in the object management table 31B. As a result, the server 3 that manages the IID can easily find all the terminal devices that have objects to which the common IID is assigned by the original routing function.

Note that when the terminal device subscribes, as in the case of the second embodiment, it is only necessary to subscribe to a variable that stores a channel name and transmission data. When the terminal device realizes the function of subscribing to the logical communication path, for example, a subscribe flag variable is defined in the middleware part of the terminal device on the receiving side, as in the second embodiment. In addition, when the middleware unit of the terminal device on the receiving side receives the data reception notification via the object unit, it may be controlled whether to notify the application by referring to the subscribe flag variable. .

In addition, in each terminal device (A, B), information (for example, channel ID) of a logical communication path used for data transmission / reception is requested by the application unit (11, 21) in the middleware unit (12, 22). Are stored in the channel ID storage unit (17, 27).

Thus, after completing the initial setting of the identifier information (OID, IID) to the network 4, for example, when the application unit 11 of the terminal device A issues a data transmission request to the middleware unit 12, the middleware unit 12 The data is written into the transmission buffer together with the channel ID. Next, a data write notification is sent from the object unit 13 to the objects having the common identifier “XYZ”. At this time, as described above, the server 3 can easily find all the terminal devices having an object with a common IID by its original function based on the identifier information registered in advance. A data write notification is transmitted by multicast to the object having “XYZ”. In this embodiment, since the subscription information is not managed on the server, it is impossible to distinguish the presence / absence of the subscription in the routing at the time of data transmission, and it is always multicast to all the terminal devices. .

When the middleware unit 22 of the terminal device B on the receiving side receives the data write notification via the object unit 23, the middleware unit 22 reads the channel ID from the transmission buffer of the terminal device A that is the transmission source to the network 4 The request is made via the unit 23. Next, in the middleware unit 22 of the terminal device B, the channel ID collating unit 28 collates the channel ID received (read) from the transmission buffer with a pre-registered channel ID, and if both match, A data reception notification is sent to the application unit 21.

Upon receiving the reception notification, the application unit 21 requests the middleware unit 22 to read data from the logical communication path registered for data reception, and the middleware unit 22 receives data from the object of the terminal device A on the transmission side. Reading is requested through the object unit 23. As a result, data is read from the transmission buffer of the transmission source terminal device A to the reception side terminal device B via the registered logical communication path. In short, after the middleware unit 22 of the terminal device B on the receiving side receives the data write notification, the application unit 21 of the terminal device B receives the data and obtains the channel ID in the transmission buffer of the terminal device A that is the transmission source. After receiving the notification, the data transmission from the terminal device A to the terminal device B is completed by going to the transmission buffer of the terminal device A that is the transmission source.

As described above, in the network system according to the present embodiment, each of the terminal device 1 on the transmission side and the terminal device 2 on the reception side does not need to know information on the terminal device of the other party with which data communication is performed. In other words, as long as the information on the logical communication path used for data transmission by the transmission-side terminal device (first terminal device) is determined, the same logical communication is performed in each of the reception-side terminal devices (second terminal device). Whether each channel is set is verified in each terminal device on the receiving side, and data reception is executed only when the same logical communication channel is set.

In the above embodiment, when the application unit 11 of the terminal device 1 on the transmission side sends a data transmission request to the middleware unit 12, the channel ID is written in the transmission data, and the transmission data having the channel ID is transmitted to the object. The case where data is written in the buffer has been described. As an example of modification, as shown in FIG. 16, each terminal device manages the channel ID separately from transmission data and reception data in the object section (13, 23). Also good.

That is, in the present modification, as shown in FIG. 17, when the application unit 11 of the terminal device A sends a data transmission request to the middleware unit 12, the middleware unit 12 writes the data in the object transmission buffer, Write the channel ID to the channel ID variable of the object. Next, a data write notification to objects having a common identifier (IID = “XYZ”) is transmitted from the object unit 13 to the network (server 3). As described above, the server 3 can easily find all the terminal devices having an object with a common IID by its original function based on information registered in advance, and the common identifier “XYZ”. A data write notification is transmitted by multicast to the object having

In the terminal device B on the receiving side, when the middleware unit 22 receives the data write notification via the object unit 23, the middleware unit 22 transmits the channel ID variable of the terminal device A on the transmitting side to the network 4 via the object unit 23. Request reading of the channel ID. Next, in the middleware unit 22 of the terminal device B, the channel ID collating unit 28 collates the channel ID received (read) from the transmission buffer with a pre-registered channel ID, and if both match, A data reception notification is sent to the application unit 21.

Upon receiving the reception notification, the application unit 21 requests the middleware unit 22 to read data from the logical communication path registered for data reception. The middleware unit 22 requests the network to read data from the transmission buffer of the terminal device A on the transmission side via the object unit 23. As a result, data is read from the transmission buffer of the transmission source terminal device A to the reception side terminal device B via the registered logical communication path. In short, in the network system according to this modification, after the middleware unit 22 of the receiving terminal device B receives the data write notification, the channel ID is taken into the channel ID variable of the object of the transmitting terminal device A. At the same time, after the application unit 21 of the terminal device B receives the data reception notification, the data transmission from the terminal device A to the terminal device B is completed by going to the transmission buffer of the terminal device A that is the transmission source. .
(Fourth embodiment)
Although this embodiment has a correspondence between channel IDs and identifier information on the server 3 as in the first embodiment, the correspondence between channel IDs and identifier information (IID or OID) is fixed in the table. It is managed and is not updated when the terminal device (1, 2) joins the channel. By adopting such a configuration, the online table management on the server is simplified, and channel IDs can be intensively managed on the server after the terminal device is installed.

The terminal device used in the present embodiment can adopt substantially the same configuration as the terminal device (1, 2) shown in FIG. On the other hand, the server 3 used in this embodiment is shown in FIG. As described above, in this embodiment, the contents of the channel management table 31A are fixedly registered, and information on the logical communication path (channel ID) used for data communication is transmitted from each terminal device (1, 2) to the channel. Since the operation of registering in the management table is not required, the configuration of the first processing unit of the service processing unit 32A is different from that of the server of FIG. The subscription information can be set from the service processing unit 32A. Further, an offline ID editing processing unit 35 may be provided for rewriting the contents of the channel management table when offline.

In the network system of this embodiment, a series of operations from registration of identifier information to data transmission and data reception will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

First, at the time of activation, the object part (13, 23) of each terminal device connects to the server 3 and transmits identifier information (OID, IID) and routing information (IP address, etc.). In the server 3, the object management table 31B is created based on the information provided from the object part of each terminal device. In the present embodiment, the correspondence between information for identifying a logical communication path (for example, channel ID) and object identifier information is registered in advance in the server channel management table 31A and managed in a fixed manner. Therefore, the channel management table 31A is not updated when the terminal device (1, 2) joins the channel.

In addition, in each terminal device (A, B), information (for example, channel ID) of a logical communication path used for data transmission / reception is requested by the application unit (11, 21) in the middleware unit (12, 22). Is remembered.

After the creation of the object management table 31B is completed as described above, for example, when the application unit 11 of the terminal device A sends a data transmission request to the middleware unit 12, the middleware unit 12 stores it in the transmission buffer of the object unit 13. Request to write data and channel ID used for data communication. After the data and channel ID are written in the transmission buffer, when a data write notification is transmitted from the object unit 13 to the network 4 (server 3), the server 3 refers to the channel management table 31A and sets the channel ID. Collating the associated identifier information, referring to the object management table by the server's original function based on the identifier information, routing the object (terminal device) registered for data reception through the same logical communication path, A data transmission request notification is notified by multicast.

Note that the channel ID in which the user participates, the own OID, and the IID are associated in advance. However, the application unit may select which terminal device is to transmit data (multicast). In this case, it is necessary to specify a channel ID for data transmission.

In addition, when a plurality of channel IDs are stored in the middleware unit, a table for selecting which channel to use from the stored channels according to the request content from the application unit is provided in the middleware unit. May be.

In the terminal device B on the receiving side in which the same logical communication path is set, the data transmission request notification transmitted by multicast is delivered to the application unit 21 via the object unit 23 and the middleware unit 22.

Upon receiving the data transmission request notification, the receiving-side terminal device B requests the middleware unit 22 to receive data from the registered channel, and the middleware unit sends the data reception from the transmitting terminal device A to the network 4 and the object unit 23. Request through. In short, after the application unit 21 of the terminal device B on the receiving side receives the data transmission request notification, the data from the terminal device A to the terminal device B is obtained by going to the transmission buffer of the terminal device A that is the data transmission source. Transmission is complete.

As described above, also in the network system of the present embodiment, it is not necessary for the terminal device A on the transmission side and the terminal device B on the reception side to know the information of the partner terminal device with which data communication is performed. If the information (channel ID) for identifying the logical communication path used by the (first terminal device) for data transmission is determined, the information (channel ID) for identifying the same logical communication path is set. Data communication can be executed with the terminal device 2 (second terminal device) on the receiving side.

Since the channel management table is fixedly managed except when the setting content is changed by the offline ID editing processing unit 35, the operation of setting the channel ID to the server when the terminal device joins the channel is performed. There is also an effect that the load for managing the online table on the server can be reduced.

Hereinafter, a crime prevention system to which the network system of this embodiment is applied will be described in detail.

When starting or connecting a security sensor or a security alarm receiving device that is a terminal device of this security system, the object portions (13, 23) of each terminal device are connected to the server 3 in the same manner as in FIG. , OID, IID and routing information (IP address, etc.) are registered in the object management table 31B. In addition, the service program on the server 3 subscribes to the variables (transmission data and reception data) of each object, so that notification is performed when an event in which the value of the variable is changed occurs. The object for data transmission / reception is an object for simply transmitting / receiving data for general purposes, and does not include a function unique to each terminal device. The security sensor function and the security sensor state display function, which are functions unique to each terminal device, are processed by the application unit (11, 21) of each terminal device.

When the security sensor and the security alarm receiving device are to participate in the same channel so that they can communicate with each other between the security sensor and the security alarm receiving device, as shown in FIG. ) Application unit (11, 21) sets a channel ID (for example, “security system”) for the network interface unit (12, 22). In this security system, since the correspondence between the channel ID and the object is fixedly determined in advance in the channel management table on the server 3, processing for registering the channel ID in the server 3 as in FIG. Is not done.

After the above settings have been completed, the security system can be operated under actual usage conditions. That is, as shown in FIG. 21, when the security sensor function of the security sensor application unit 11 detects the presence of an intruder, the network interface unit 12 transmits the sensor state value to the network. Actually, the network interface unit 12 that has received the transmission request from the application unit 11 writes the sensor state value in the transmission data variable of the object unit 13 together with the channel ID stored in the network interface unit 12, and as a result, the sensor state A transmission data variable including a value is notified from the object unit 13 to the service program on the server 3 via the network 4.

The service program on the server 3 refers to the channel management table 31A that is fixedly managed, and collates other terminal devices (reception side objects) belonging to the same channel as the transmission side object. In this case, since the object of the security alarm receiving terminal registers the same channel as the security sensor (channel ID “security system”), the sensor state value is written in the reception data variable of the object part 23 of the security alarm receiving terminal. It is. The object data transmission / reception is performed using the routing information registered in the object management table 31B.

When the sensor state value is written in the reception data variable of the object unit 23 on the reception side, the network interface unit 22 reads the reception data, and notifies the application unit 21 when subscribed, and the application unit 21 receives the security alarm. The security sensor status is displayed as a function unique to the device. In this way, the user can know the occurrence of an abnormality such as the presence of an intruder from the contents displayed on the crime prevention alarm receiving apparatus. Other configurations are substantially the same as those of the crime prevention system described in the first embodiment, and thus redundant description is omitted.
(Fifth embodiment)
In the present embodiment, the network system of the present invention is applied to a power consumption management system for an office building.

As shown in FIG. 22, in the network system of the present embodiment, terminal devices 2 each having a power measurement function are installed in each room on each floor (first floor, second floor, and third floor) of an office building. Of the three terminal devices 2 installed on each floor, one is installed in the office and the remaining two are installed in the work room. These terminal devices 2 are connected to a terminal device 1 A having an arithmetic processing function through a LAN 6 and connected to a network (Internet) 4 through a gateway 5. That is, each terminal device 2 on the LAN 6 is given a local IP address as a unique ID and managed by the router function of the gateway 5. The gateway 5 is assigned a global IP address to the network 4. A server 3 to be described later is connected to the network 4.

The gateway 5 includes a hub unit for collecting the cables of the LAN 6 connected to the terminal devices 2, a modem unit for connecting to the network 4, and a service function unit including various software. For example, the service function unit stores the combination information of the local IP address assigned to each terminal device 2 and the OID of the object and the IID of the interface in a correspondence table (not shown). In addition, the service function unit includes software that realizes a function as an object router for hiding the network connection of the terminal device 2, and converts different protocols into the network system of the present embodiment seamlessly. Protocol bridge service for connecting to the server 3 on the network 4 and a protocol used for communication with the server 3 on the network 4 are converted into SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) and passed through the firewall. Implement additional service functions.

The server 3 on the network 4 is equipped with a service function unit similar to the gateway 5 and performs communication with other service function units by the above-described SOAP.

In addition, a client terminal device 1 that manages power consumption of an office building is connected to the network 4. The client terminal device 1 includes information on the integrated value of power consumption for each floor or room type (for example, office), or power consumption per fixed time with respect to the terminal device 1A on the LAN 6. An application for requesting information on the difference value is installed.

The terminal device 2 arranged in each room of the office building has an integration function for integrating the measured power in addition to the power measurement function for measuring the power consumption. Also, a measurement object that defines the measured power consumption information as a variable and an object that determines data capture by collating information on a logical communication path used for data communication are incorporated.

In this embodiment, a different logical communication path is set for each floor as a logical communication path used for data communication. For example, a common logical communication path (for example, xxx) is set for all terminal devices 2 arranged on the first floor, and is different from that set for the first floor for all terminal devices 2 arranged on the second floor. A common logical communication path (for example, yyy) is set. Similarly, a common logical communication path (for example, zzz) is set for all the terminal devices 2 arranged on the third floor. Also, a logical communication path (for example, sss) common to all offices is set regardless of the floor. Furthermore, a common logical communication path (for example, AAA) may be set for the entire office building. Which of the plurality of logical communication paths set in this way is used for data transmission can be selected by the channel selection unit 19 provided in the client terminal device 1.

As shown in FIG. 22, the terminal device 1A is connected to the LAN 6 at an arbitrary location, and calculates a desired power value using an arithmetic processing function. An object included in the terminal device 1A is operated in response to a request from the client terminal device 1. Information on the OID and IID of the object mounted on the terminal device 1A is registered in the connection management table of the server 3 in association with the IP address of the gateway 5 corresponding to the LAN 6 to which the terminal device 1A is connected.

When the client terminal device 1 requests a function of a predetermined object using the OID and IID, the request is transmitted to the terminal device 1A by the routing function of the server 3 and the routing function of the gateway 5.

The terminal device 1A is a sum of integrated power values measured by the terminal device 2 for each floor, a sum of integrated power values measured by the terminal device 2 for each room type, and an integration measured by all the terminal devices 2 in the building. In order to provide the total power value to the client terminal device 1, an object having an interface identifier defined for each service is implemented. For example, as an interface identifier (IID), an identifier corresponding to the total of integrated power values measured by the terminal device 2 is assigned to each floor, and as each object identifier (OID), a unique identifier is assigned to each terminal device 2. Is done.

For example, when the client terminal device 1 transmits an information request about the total of the integrated power values from the terminal device 2 arranged on the second floor, the terminal device 1A that has received this request is arranged on the second floor Data transmission with a common identifier (for example, “XYZ”) together with a function that uses as arguments the information on the logical communication path common to all the terminal devices 2 and the predetermined information consisting of the IID of the measurement object The request is transmitted to all the terminal devices 2 in the office building by multicast or broadcast by the routing operation of the gateway 5. That is, in this case, the terminal device 1A is the terminal device that is the data transmission source for the terminal device 2 on the receiving side.

Whether each terminal device 2 executes the data reception object, collates the information on the logical communication path specified in the argument, and matches the information on the logical communication path registered in advance in each terminal device 2 Is checked. Therefore, in this case, as in the third embodiment described above, the storage unit that stores information on the logical communication path registered in advance and the collation unit that collates information on the logical communication path are provided to each terminal device 2. Is provided. If the logical communication path information matches, it means that the terminal device 2 is a terminal device on the second floor, receives predetermined information (IID of the measurement object) written in the argument, and receives a callback function. Is called. As a result, the measurement object is executed, the electric energy value is acquired, and returned as a variable to the terminal device 1A. If the information on the logical communication path does not match, it means that the terminal device 2 is the terminal device 2 arranged on the second floor, and the predetermined information (IID of the measurement object) written in the argument is used. I cannot receive it.

The terminal device 1A performs a calculation corresponding to the requested object based on the received power amount information, and provides the calculation result to the client terminal device 1.

Similarly, when the client terminal device 1 requests information on the sum of the integrated power values from the terminal device 2 disposed in the office on each floor, all the terminal devices 2 disposed in the office are requested. A desired calculation result is provided to the client terminal device in the same manner as described above except that the information on the common logical communication path is used.

Thus, according to the power consumption management system of the present embodiment, based on data communication between the terminal device 2 and the terminal device 1A having an arithmetic processing function, which is performed without notifying each other of connection information on the network. Thus, information required by the client terminal device 1 for power consumption management can be obtained. Further, in the present embodiment, even when information is acquired from a new combination of terminal devices in an office building, it is only necessary to set a common logical communication path for the combination and configure the combination. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform complicated setting work in each of the terminal devices, and it is possible to easily cope with a new information request from the client terminal device. In addition, when sending information on the amount of power to the terminal device 1A, a flag indicating a floor or a room can be added to the information, and the floor or room can be determined from the flag during calculation.

In addition to the power consumption management system described above, the network system of the present embodiment has, for example, sensor functions such as temperature, humidity, and luminance, and information acquired by a plurality of terminal devices sharing a logical communication path. It can also be applied to a system that provides air conditioning and lighting based on the terminal device that serves as a master.

Note that the network system of the present embodiment can be defined in a higher-level concept as follows. That is, in this network system, at least two terminal devices that share a preset first logical communication path and a second logical communication path different from the first logical communication path are preset, A network system in which a plurality of terminal devices including at least two terminal devices sharing this are connected to a network and information can be exchanged between terminal devices sharing a communication path,
One of the plurality of terminal devices includes an information transmitting unit that transmits predetermined information and information for identifying a logical communication path used for transmitting the predetermined information to the network.
The network system includes a collation unit that collates whether the information on the logical communication path transmitted from the information transmission unit matches the information on the logical communication path set in advance in another terminal device,
The other terminal device includes an information acquisition unit that captures the predetermined information only when the information on the logical communication path transmitted from the information transmission unit matches the information on the logical communication path set in advance. It is characterized by.

As described above, according to the network system of the present invention, the address information of the communication partner terminal device is taken into account by setting the logical communication path information used by each terminal device for data communication to the network. Therefore, even a user who does not have expertise in network communication can easily perform operations such as addition / change of terminal devices to the network system and construction of new data communication. Also, by registering the same logical communication path, network communication is possible not only with the same type of terminal device but also with different types of terminal devices. For example, when a provider provides a network service such as crime prevention monitoring or energy management, the user can receive the service simply by connecting an adapter (registered logical communication path). Furthermore, when adding various electrical products (lights, air conditioners, electric locks, human sensors, etc.) to the network and connecting them, the user's demand (automatic lighting, energy saving) is registered by registering a common logical communication path. , Crime prevention etc.), it becomes possible to realize a service with higher satisfaction.

As described above, the present invention can flexibly cope with the diversification of service contents required in the future, and can change the system relatively easily. Therefore, the present invention is expected to be widely used as a next-generation network system. Is done.

Claims

A network system for performing data communication between a first terminal device and at least one of a plurality of second terminal devices via a network,
Information for identifying a logical communication path used for data transmission by the first terminal device and information for identifying a logical communication path used for data reception by each of the second terminal devices are registered. A storage unit;
A first network interface unit for performing data transmission to the network using information for identifying the logical communication path used for data transmission based on a request from the first terminal device;
A collating unit that refers to the information registered in the storage unit and identifies a second terminal device that is registered for data reception on the same logical communication path that the first terminal device uses for the data transmission; ,
A second terminal device that is provided for each of the second terminal devices and that registers the same logical communication channel used for data transmission and that receives data from the logical communication channel. A network system comprising two network interface units.
The second network interface unit selects a subscription that allows a second terminal device registered with the same logical communication path as that used for the data transmission to temporarily refuse data reception. The network system according to claim 1, further comprising a unit.
A plurality of first terminal devices are connected to the network,
The storage unit identifies information for identifying a logical communication path used for data transmission by each of the second terminal devices, and identifies a logical communication path used for data reception by each of the first terminal devices. Information is registered,
Based on a request from one of the second terminal devices, the second network interface unit executes data transmission to the network using information for identifying the logical communication path used for data transmission. ,
The collation unit refers to the information registered in the storage unit, and registers the same logical communication path used for data transmission by the second network interface unit for data reception. Identify one terminal device,
The first network interface unit is provided for each of the first terminal devices, and executes data reception from the logical communication path used for the data transmission by the second terminal device to the first terminal device. The network system according to claim 1.
The first terminal device includes a program storage unit that stores software for constructing a first application unit and a first middleware unit that functions as the first network interface unit, and a first application that executes the software. And a CPU that realizes the first middleware unit,
The first middleware unit performs the data transmission based on a function of registering information for identifying the logical communication path used for data transmission in the storage unit and a data transmission request from the first application unit. The network system according to claim 1, further comprising a function of performing data transmission to the network using information for identifying a logical communication path to be used.
Each of the second terminal devices includes a program storage unit that stores software for constructing a second application unit and a second middleware unit that functions as the second network interface unit, and executes the software and executes the software. A CPU that implements two application units and a second middleware unit,
The second middleware unit has a function of registering information for identifying the logical communication path used for data reception by the second terminal device in the storage unit, and a function used by the first terminal device for data transmission. 5. The network system according to claim 4, wherein the network system has a function of executing data reception from a logical communication path.
The first network interface unit is provided in a housing that is externally attached separately from the first terminal device, and includes a hardware and software module including a CPU and a program storage unit, and the hardware and the software module. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the network system is realized by any one of the combinations.
Each of the second network interface units is provided in a case that is externally attached separately from the second terminal device, and includes a hardware and software module including a CPU and a program storage unit, and the hardware and the software The network system according to claim 6, wherein the network system is realized by any one of a combination of modules.
Each of the first terminal device and the second terminal device has an information setting function, a data transmission function, and a data reception function for identifying the logical communication path,
The network system includes at least one server connected to a network, and the server includes the storage unit and the verification unit.
The first network interface unit registers information for identifying the logical communication path in the storage unit of the server using the setting function based on a request from the first terminal device,
Each of the second network interface units registers information for identifying the logical communication path in the storage unit of the server using the setting function based on a request from the second terminal device,
The storage unit of the server has a channel management table in which information for identifying the logical communication path registered by each of the first terminal device and the second terminal device is stored,
The first network interface unit sends information for identifying the logical communication path used for data transmission to the network using the data transmission function based on the data transmission request from the first terminal device,
The verification unit of the server refers to the channel management table and identifies the second terminal device that has registered in the channel management table information for identifying the same logical communication path used for the data transmission And transmitting the data to the specified second terminal device,
The second network interface unit corresponding to the specified second terminal device receives data from a logical communication path used for data transmission by the first terminal device using the data reception function. The network system according to claim 1.
Each of the first terminal device and the second terminal device has a logical communication path setting function, a data transmission function, and a data reception function, and an object with an identifier,
The network system includes at least one server connected to a network, and the server includes the storage unit and the verification unit.
The first network interface unit registers information for identifying the logical communication path in the storage unit of the server using the logical communication path setting function of the object based on a request from the first terminal device,
Each of the second network interface units registers information for identifying the logical communication path in the storage unit of the server using the logical communication path setting function of the object based on a request from the second terminal device. And
The storage unit of the server includes a channel management table in which a correspondence relationship between information for identifying a logical communication path registered by each of the first terminal device and the second terminal device and an identifier of the object is stored; An object management table that associates object identifiers with routing information,
The first network interface unit sends information for identifying a logical communication path used for data transmission to the network using the data transmission function of the object, based on the data transmission request from the first terminal device,
The collation unit of the server refers to the channel management table, collates an identifier of an object corresponding to information for identifying a logical communication path used for the data transmission, and refers to the object management table. The data transmission to the second terminal device determined by collating the routing information corresponding to the collated object identifier,
The second network interface unit corresponding to the second terminal device receives data from a logical communication path used for data transmission by the first terminal device using a data reception function of the object. Item 4. The network system according to Item 1.
Each of the first terminal device and the second terminal device has a logical communication path setting function, a data transmission function, and a data reception function, and an object with an identifier,
The network system includes at least one server connected to a network, and the server includes the storage unit and the verification unit.
The first network interface unit, based on a request from the first terminal device, uses an object logical communication path setting function to associate an identifier of the object in advance with the logical communication path information in the storage unit of the server. And register
Based on a request from the second terminal device, each of the second network interface units uses an object logical communication path setting function to associate the logical communication path information with the storage unit of the server in advance. Register an identifier for
The storage unit of the server has an object management table in which the identifier of the object and routing information are associated with each other,
The first network interface unit, based on a data transmission request from the first terminal device, uses a data transmission function of the object to store an object previously associated with information on a logical communication path used for data transmission to the network. Send an identifier,
The server collation unit is determined by referring to the object management table and collating routing information corresponding to an identifier of an object associated in advance with information on a logical communication path used for the data transmission. Send the data to the two terminal devices,
The second network interface unit corresponding to the second terminal device receives data from a logical communication path used for data transmission by the first terminal device using a data reception function of the object. Item 4. The network system according to Item 1.
The storage unit includes a first storage unit provided corresponding to the first terminal device for registering information for identifying a logical communication channel used for data transmission, and a logical communication channel used for data reception. And a second storage unit provided corresponding to each of the second terminal devices for registering information for identifying, the verification unit being provided corresponding to each of the second terminal devices The network system according to claim 1.
Each of the first terminal device and the second terminal device has a logical communication path setting function, a data transmission function, and a data reception function, and an object with a common identifier attached thereto,
The first network interface unit registers information for identifying a logical communication path in the first storage unit using the logical communication path setting function of the object based on a request from the first terminal device,
Each of the second network interface units registers information for identifying the logical communication path in the second storage unit based on a request from the second terminal device using the logical communication path setting function of the object. And
The first network interface unit sends information for identifying a logical communication path used for data transmission to the network using the common identifier based on a data transmission request from the first terminal device,
Each of the verification units determines whether information for identifying a logical communication path used for the data transmission matches information for identifying a logical communication path registered in the second storage unit. Match
The second network interface unit is provided for each of the second terminal devices, and logical communication in which information for identifying a logical communication path used for the data transmission is registered in the second storage unit The data receiving function of the object is used to receive data from the logical communication path used by the first terminal device for data transmission only when the information matches the information for identifying the path. 11. The network system according to 11.
The second terminal device includes a plurality of terminal devices constituting a first group and a plurality of terminal devices constituting a second group, and the first terminal device includes a command terminal device,
Information for identifying the first logical communication channel used for data reception by the first group of terminal devices and for identifying the second logical communication channel used for data reception by the second group of terminal devices Information is previously registered in the storage unit,
The command terminal device includes a channel selection unit for selecting one of a first logical communication path and a second logical communication path as a logical communication path used for data transmission. The network system according to claim 1.
Information for identifying a common logical communication path used for data reception by all of the first group of terminal devices and the second group of terminal devices is registered in the storage unit,
The channel selection unit can select one of a first logical communication path, a second logical communication path, and the common logical communication path as a logical communication path used for data transmission. The network system according to claim 13.
Information for identifying a third logical communication path used for data reception by a part of the first group of terminal devices and a part of the second group of terminal devices is registered in the storage unit, and the channel The selection unit can select any one of the first logical communication path, the second logical communication path, and the third logical communication path as the logical communication path used for data transmission. The network system according to claim 13.
Desired electrical devices are connected to the terminal devices of the first group and the second group, respectively, and the data includes a transmission request for content provided by the electrical devices connected to the terminal devices, and the data transmission When the logical communication path to be used is the first logical communication path, the contents of the electrical equipment connected to each of the terminal devices of the first group are transmitted to the command terminal device. The network system according to claim 13.
A network system for performing data communication between terminal devices connected via a network,
A terminal device including a first application unit that requests data transmission;
Data connected to the network using information for identifying a logical communication path used for data transmission based on a data transmission request from the first application unit, connected between the first application unit and the network A first middleware unit that executes transmission;
A storage unit in which information for identifying a logical communication path used for data reception by another terminal device is registered;
A collation unit that collates information for identifying a logical communication path used for data transmission and information for identifying a logical communication path used for data reception registered in the storage unit; and the others A second middleware unit connected between the second application unit provided in the terminal device and the network,
The second middleware unit performs the logical operation only when the information for identifying the logical communication path used for the data transmission matches the information for identifying the logical communication path used for the data reception. A network system characterized by receiving data transmitted from a general communication path and providing the data to the second application unit.
A method for performing data communication between terminal devices connected via a network,
Registering information for identifying a logical communication path used for data reception by the terminal device on the data receiving side in the storage unit;
A step in which a first application unit provided in a terminal device on the data transmission side requests data transmission;
Information for identifying a logical communication path used for data transmission by a first middleware unit connected between the first application unit and the network based on a data transmission request from the first application unit is provided. Using to perform data transmission to the network;
Collating the information for identifying the logical communication path used for the data transmission and the information for identifying the logical communication path used for data reception registered in the storage unit by the collating unit; Including
Only when the information for identifying the logical communication path used for the data transmission matches the information for identifying the logical communication path used for the data reception by the collating step, the data receiving side A data communication method, wherein a second middleware unit connected between a second application unit provided in a terminal device and a network receives data from the logical communication path and provides the data to the second application unit .