JP2000259208A - Device, communication module, generation method for mapping information and tool device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device which can directly communicate with another device via a network and with no intervention of a controller, etc. SOLUTION: A device 20 transmits and receives the data to and from a network 10 via a communication interface 21 and includes a device profile 24, a connection data base 25 which stores a mapping table where the information on another relative device that is decided according to the profile 24 is associated with the information on its own device and an MPU 22 which processes the data on the basis of the mapping table. Thereby the mapping table is referred to for transmitting the data to a desired device. When the data are received, the data can be given to the corresponding profile 24 by referring to the mapping table. Thus, the direct communication is possible between the devices 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a device, a communication module, a method for generating mapping information, and a tool device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when a control device is operated based on a state detected by a sensor in an FA system or the like, the sensor is connected to a controller such as a PLC via a network such as a device net, and the controller is connected to the sensor. Is analyzed, and a control signal for operating the desired control device in accordance with the detected state is issued.

[0003] That is, all data transmitted on the network once passes through the controller. As a result, for example, the sensor only needs to send the sensing information to the controller, and it is not known where the sensing information is finally given.

[0004]

By the way, as described above, all data is given to the controller (PLC),
Therefore, after performing the analysis process, the process of sending a desired control command is performed, so that the load of the process performed by the controller becomes very large. As a result, the necessity of increasing the size of the PLC and mounting a high-speed and high-performance CPU is required. And cost increases. Further, when data is sent from the above-described sensor to the control device because the signal always passes through the controller, two communication processes between the sensor and the controller and between the controller and the control device are required, which hinders quick control. There is also a risk.

[0005] Therefore, for example, the sensor output remains unchanged via a network (without passing through a controller).
When a system that is sent to the control device and executes a predetermined process according to the sensor output by the control device can be constructed,
It is desirable that the above-mentioned problems can be solved, but none of the conventional technical problems has been solved.

[0006] In addition to the technique of transmitting data from a sensor to a control device, various devices connected to a network directly transmit data to other devices without going through a controller. The same can be said.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem and to perform data communication between a plurality of devices connected to a network. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and a communication module capable of directly communicating via a network without any intervention, a method for generating mapping information, and a tool device.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus having a communication interface, wherein a device profile of the device and a related device determined based on the device profile are provided. Storage means (corresponding to the “connection database 25” in the embodiment) for storing mapping information in which self information is associated with other device information to be processed, and performs data processing based on the mapping information stored in the storage means. Control means (corresponding to "MPU 22" in the embodiment) is provided (claim 1).

Further, in the communication module according to the present invention,
A communication module attached to a communication interface of a device, and a storage unit (in the embodiment, “connection” in which the mapping information in which self-information is associated with other related device information determined based on a device profile of the device is stored. The control unit (in the embodiment, “MP 25”) processes the received data based on the “database 25” and the mapping information (corresponding to “mapping table” in the embodiment) stored in the storage unit.
U22 ") (claim 2).

The data processing of the control means and the control unit includes a transmission function (for example, a function for implementing the flowchart shown in FIG. 6) and a reception function (for example, a function for implementing the flowchart shown in FIG. 7). And both may be provided, or only one of them may be provided. That is, as shown in the embodiment, when the device is a sensor, only the function of transmitting the normal data need be implemented, and when the device operates by receiving a control command like a motor, the normal data is transmitted. Only the function that receives Of course, it may have both transmission / reception functions.

The device according to the first aspect of the present invention and the device on which the communication module according to the second aspect is mounted are connected to a network and perform data communication between a plurality of devices. At this time, each device (communication module)
It has mapping information related to itself. Therefore, for example, when transmitting certain data, by referring to the mapping information, it is possible to know what other devices need the data. Therefore, the control unit:
The data is transmitted to the other necessary device.

On the other hand, data transmitted on a network can be received by a device via a communication interface. According to the present invention, the received data is analyzed (whether it is necessary for its own device profile, etc.) since it has mapping information and control means (control unit).
can do. In the case of necessary data related to the device profile, the setting area (device profile) of the device is set according to the received content.
(Directly or by performing predetermined data processing). This allows direct communication between the devices.

The other device information is information for specifying at least a device to be transmitted and / or received, such as an address and an ID of the device. More specifically, the “data transmission source” described in the embodiment corresponds to the data receiving side. On the side of transmitting data, “data receiving destination” corresponds thereto.

Conversely, the self information is information about its own device (device profile), and when associated with the embodiment, the "data receiving destination" corresponds to the data receiving side. On the side of transmitting data, the "source of data" corresponds thereto.

[0015] The "received data" to be processed by the control means (control unit) includes data received via a network and data received by the own device (referred to in the embodiment). And data received from the device body (sensor body) (data to be transmitted).

Further, in the mapping table creating method according to the present invention, the device profile information of the devices connected to the network is associated with each device connected to the network, and the source of the information required by the device profile is transmitted. (Corresponding to the table shown in FIG. 9A in the embodiment). Next, from the table, the device having the device profile is set as a receiving destination, and connection information (FIG. 9 in the embodiment shown in FIG.
(Corresponding to the table shown in (b)). Next, for each device connected to the network, the device collects information corresponding to one of the transmission source and the reception destination of the table to generate connection information for the device,
The generated connection information is transmitted to each device via the network (corresponding to the processes b and c in FIG. 8 in the embodiment), and each of the received devices stores and retains the mapping information as mapping information. In the embodiment, the processing d in FIG.
(Claim 3).

Further, the tool device according to the present invention has a function of associating the device profile information with each device of the data transmission source based on the device profile information of the device connected to the network (in the embodiment,
9A), a function of generating connection information associated with a device having the device profile as a receiving destination and a source of the information (in the embodiment, a function of performing the processing a of FIG. 8). And a function (in the embodiment, a function of performing the processing b of FIG. 8) of transmitting at least the connection information related to a device related to either the reception destination or the transmission source in the connection information. (Claim 4).

By using the method of the third aspect and the tool device of the fourth aspect, mapping information, which is a main part when implementing the inventions of the first and second aspects, can be efficiently generated and registered in each device. .

[0019]

FIG. 1 shows an example of a network system to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, various devices such as a sensor 20a and a motor 20a and a controller 30 serving as a higher-level host that manages the devices are connected via a network 10 such as a device network to form one network system. ing.
In this example, a bus network is constructed. In the following description, when the type of device is not distinguished, it is denoted by reference numeral 20.

In the case where processing for controlling the driving of the motor 20b in accordance with the sensor outputs of the two sensors 20a is performed, conventionally, data has been transmitted and received via the controller 30 and predetermined processing has been performed. On the other hand, according to the present invention, devices (in this case, the sensor 20a and the motor 20b) 20 connected to the network 10 can directly transmit and receive data.

Of course, it is preferable that all the devices 20 connected to the network 10 can directly transmit and receive data. However, the present invention is also applicable to transmitting all the data directly. Of course, the transmission may be limited to some of the devices constituting the network system.

In order to execute such processing, a virtual I / O is mounted on the device 20, and a destination of data is extracted by the virtual I / O to transmit data to the network 10, or transmitted over the network 10. Receiving the data destined for itself, and in accordance with it, performs data processing so that the device can perform desired processing.

The specific structure of the device 20 is as follows:
As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, a general-purpose communication interface 21 connected to the network 10 for transmitting and receiving data is provided.

Further, the MPU 22 has a connection database 25 for storing a mapping table in which data transmission sources and transmission destinations are associated with each other. The MPU 22 refers to the mapping table stored in the connection database 25 via the communication interface 21. It transmits data and receives data addressed to itself flowing on the network 10 and performs necessary processing to perform device processing.
A predetermined command is sent to the server. further,
When the MPU 22 performs various types of processing, the processing is performed using the work storage area (memory) 23 as appropriate.

Then, the device main body operates in accordance with the data set in the device profile 24. If the device main body 26 is a motor main body or a sensor main body, and is a motor main body, a motor control section that actually issues a drive control signal in accordance with an instruction from the device profile 24 and a motor control section that rotates according to the control signal of the motor control section.・ There is a motor drive unit that performs a predetermined operation such as stop, acceleration / deceleration.

The device profile 24 is defined in order to standardize the network interface on the device side recently. For example, in the case of a motor, for example, a 4-bit data format is defined as shown in FIG. Each bit has a common meaning in devices having the same profile. In the illustrated example, “bit 0”
When "1" is given as data to the area of "1", the motor is started. When "1" is given as data to the area of "bit 1", the motor is stopped and "1" is given as data to the area of "bit 2." When "1" is given, the motor is accelerated, and when "1" is given as data in the "bit 3" area, the motor is decelerated.

Therefore, the motor control unit in the device main body 26 determines which bit of the data format of the device profile has become 1 and outputs a control signal so as to indicate the bit. Therefore, if the sensor 20a connected to the network 10 knows which bit of the device profile to which the sensor 20a pertains, the sensor 20a can control the motor by sending data to the area of the bit.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the sensor A detects an object to be monitored as shown in FIG.
A model is considered in which the motor stops when the sensor B detects a monitoring target. Then, when the sensor A detects the monitoring target, the sensor A writes “1” in the bit 0 area of the device profile of the motor 20b,
By transmitting the data via the network 10, the rotation of the motor can be started. Similarly, when the sensor B detects an object to be monitored,
By transmitting data via the network 10 so as to write “1” in the bit 1 area of the device profile, the motor can be stopped. By such processing, data can be transmitted directly without the intervention of the controller 30 to control the motor.

Then, the following mapping table is stored in the connection database 25 as information for sending data to the predetermined bits. That is,
As shown in FIG. 5, the data structure of the connection database 25 is a table in which "connection No.-transmission source information-reception destination information" is associated. And
Specifically, in the mapping table stored in the connection database 25 of the sensor A, the connection number is C1 (this is allocated for convenience and is like a record number), the transmission source is its own sensor A, and the reception destination is the motor. Bit 0 (see FIG. 3A). Further, the mapping table of the sensor B is as shown in FIG.
Further, the mapping table stored in the motor-side connection database 25 is as shown in FIG.

Here, in addition to the sensors A and B, a sensor C (accelerates the motor based on the detection signal) and a sensor D (decelerates the motor based on the detection signal) are further connected to the network. If so, the mapping table of the motor 20b is as shown in FIG.

The function of the MPU 22 on the sensor 20a side, that is, on the side for transmitting data, is as shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, first, when the device main body (sensor main body) detects the detection target, a detection signal is sent from the sensor main body (sensor ON), and therefore, it waits for it (ST1). Then, when the sensor is turned on, it refers to the connection database 25 and acquires the destination information (ST2). Next, data (transmission source, destination, content (1), etc.) is transmitted to the acquired destination information (ST3).

On the other hand, the function of the MPU 22 on the motor 20b side, that is, on the side for receiving data, is as shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, first, data transmitted on the network is monitored, and when valid data is received via the communication interface 21, the connection database 25 is referred to based on the received data (ST11, ST12).

Then, it is determined whether the information is necessary for the user (ST13). Specifically, it is determined whether or not it is registered in the connection database 25. If it is unnecessary, the process returns to step 11 to prepare for the next data reception. If necessary, that is, if it is registered in the connection database 25, "1" is set in the corresponding device profile area (ST14). For example, in the case of data sent from the sensor B, the connection No.
Since it is known that the receiving destination is the bit 1 of the motor in 2, “1” is set in the “bit 1” area. The above is the function of the MPU 22. Then, the operation of the motor is controlled in accordance with the set contents in accordance with the setting (ST15). In the above specific example ("1" is set in the bit 1 area), the motor is stopped.

In the above embodiment, the sensor O
N, the data is transmitted (actually, it is not always possible to transmit immediately, but is transmitted when its own transmission right is given). However, the present invention is not limited to this. Regardless of / OFF, the state of the sensor at that time may be output at a predetermined timing.

Next, a process for creating the above-described mapping table and setting it in the connection database 25 will be described. First, an administrator or the like obtains a device profile of each device to be connected to the network. That is, files as shown in FIG. 3 are collected for each device. Then, device profile information (each bit of the device profile) is determined from the obtained device profile, and the connection relationship between devices connected to the network is determined. Thereby, for example, a relationship as shown in FIG. 9A is obtained. The example in the figure is a relationship based on the device profile of the motor 20b. Then, such a relation table is created for each device.

When the above-mentioned preparation is completed, information on each connection relation is given to the tool, and mapping is performed there (process a). That is, each relation table knows which device is related, and it is possible to know which of the connection destination and the own device is the transmission source and which is the reception destination from the direction of the data. Therefore, a mapping table can be created by associating a transmission source with a reception destination while giving a connection number.

An example will be described. For example, FIG.
Paying attention to bit 0 in (a), since the data direction is IN, it can be seen that data is sent from the connection destination. Therefore, the transmission source is the sensor A. Then, the receiving destination is the device of the device profile, in this case, the motor. More specifically, it is bit 0 of the motor. Further, by performing such association and analysis on all the devices, for example, the mapping as shown in FIG. 9B is completed.

Then, the mapping table (connection information) is transmitted to the communication module of each device via the network (process b). This completes the processing on the tool side. The tool has a function of creating the mapping table and a communication function of communicating with each device, and is connected to the network 10. For example, it may be the controller 30 or a higher-level host computer.

On the other hand, the communication module, that is, the virtual I / O
O receives the connection information about itself transmitted via the network (process c), and stores the received data as a mapping table in the connection database 24 (process d). Thus, the registration processing ends.

Thereafter, normal data exchange is performed (process e). FIG. 10 shows an example of the process D. As shown in the figure, the situation at that time is sequentially transmitted to the network from sensor A to sensor D. That is, if there is a detection signal, "1"
Is output, if it is not detected, "0" is output.

Then, on the line (network 10),
As shown in the figure, since data (1/0) is transmitted from each transmission source, the virtual I / O of the motor 20b receives the data and executes the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG.
When the content of the received data is “1”, “1” is set in the corresponding bit area, and when the content is “0”,
"0" is set in the corresponding bit area. Then
When "1" is set, processing having the meaning set in that area is executed, and the drive of the motor is controlled.

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, arithmetic processing is performed by the MPU 22, and when a certain condition is met, "1" is set in the bit area of the corresponding device profile.

In the example shown in the figure, since both the sensor A and the sensor B receive the bit 0 of the motor as the destination, both data are received. The MPU 22 sets “1” to bit 1 for the first time when both sensors A and B are ON.
Is set.

As described above, by burdening simple arithmetic processing on the sensor side, the processing burden on the controller 30 is reduced, and more room is provided. That is, the size of the controller can be further reduced. Also, instructions can be given promptly.

In each of the above-described embodiments, “reception destination device and device profile bit number” are stored in all devices (regardless of the transmission side or the reception side) as information to be stored in the reception destination. This is for the purpose of sharing the data structure between the transmitting side and the receiving side. For example, as in this embodiment, one type of data (including ON / OFF) is transmitted from the device. In this case, it is sufficient if the unity is on either one of the transmitting side and the receiving side if unification is achieved. That is, if it is made to exist only on the receiving side,
The transmitting device sends data to the receiving device, and the receiving device can specify the bit number of the device profile from the transmitting source by referring to its own mapping table. Conversely, even if the data exists only on the transmission side, if the bit number is stored together with the destination device in the destination of the data to be transmitted, the device that has received the data sets the bit number from the destination. This is because it can be extracted.

When there are a plurality of types of data to be transmitted from a device (for example, data A and data B exist and are transmitted to different devices, or the same device is given different bit numbers), Can be dealt with by creating a mapping table capable of specifying not only the device name but also the specific data type.

[0047]

As described above, in the device and communication module, the method of generating mapping information, and the tool device according to the present invention, other devices related to itself, such as which device has the data required by the device profile, are included. Since there is mapping information indicating the association between devices and a control unit (control unit) that performs data processing based on the mapping information, when transmitting data, the device has a device profile that requires the data from the mapping information. Since the device can be specified, data can be transmitted to the device. Also, when receiving data, it is possible to control the operation of the device by knowing whether or not the received data is necessary for itself and giving the data of the corresponding device profile. Thus, when data communication is performed between a plurality of devices connected to the network, direct communication can be performed via the network without using a controller or the like on the way.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal structure of a device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data structure of a device profile.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data structure of a database.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing functions of a sensor (data transmission side).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing functions of a motor (data receiving side).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a processing procedure until mapping information is stored.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an operation.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an actual operation.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 network 20 device 20a sensor 22b motor 21 communication interface 22 MPU (control means / control unit) 23 memory 24 device profile 25 connection database (storage means / storage unit) 26 device main unit 30 controller

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A device having a communication interface, storing means for storing a device profile of the device, and mapping information in which self-information is associated with other device information related to the device determined based on the device profile; A device comprising control means for performing data processing based on the mapping information stored in the storage means. 2. A communication module attached to a communication interface of a device, comprising: a storage unit for storing mapping information in which self-information is associated with other related device information determined based on a device profile of the device; A communication unit that processes the received data based on the mapping information stored in the storage unit. 3. Associating device profile information of a device connected to the network with each device connected to the network, creating a table associated with a source of information required by the device profile, The device having the device profile as the receiving destination from the table, and generates connection information associated with the receiving destination and the source of the information, and then, for each device connected to the network,
The device collects information corresponding to either the transmission source or the reception destination of the table to generate connection information for the device, transmits the generated connection information to each device via a network, and Mapping information creating method in which each of the devices performs storage as mapping information. 4. A function of associating device profile information with each device of a data transmission source based on device profile information of a device connected to a network, and a device having the device profile as a destination,
A function of generating connection information associated with a source of the information, and a function of transmitting at least the relevant connection information to a device related to one of a destination and a source of the connection information. A tool device, characterized in that: