JP2001060986A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain communication equipment which can perform data communications between communication means of different transfer rates and which can be flexibly constituted in accordance with its use by communicating data. SOLUTION: This equipment is provided with a first communication means 6 for performing data communications by using a first transferring date, a second communication means 4 for performing data communications by using a second transfer rate different from the first transfer rate of the means 6, a converting means 21 for mixing second communication packet data to be communicated by the means 4 into first communication packet data to be communicated by the means 6, and a conversion communicating means 20 for communicating data by converting a transfer rate between the first transfer rate of the means 6 and the second transfer rate of the means 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device for performing data communication between a plurality of systems having different transfer rates.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of the information industry, information has been exchanged between various electronic devices.
For example, in a building management information system for managing a building, it is possible to manage information on electrical products such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and so-called white goods. In such a conventional building management information system for managing such electric products, a transfer rate in a communication medium to be used may be a little slow because of a small amount of data to be handled, and a system with little data loss has been adopted.

An example of a communication system having a high data transfer rate is, for example, IEEE (The Institute).
of Electric and Electro
(Nics Engineers) 1394 standard. The communication system based on the IEEE 1394 standard is suitable for a network that handles video data, for example, a so-called video home network. Therefore, IE
In order to realize monitoring of the whole building by the building management information system in the EE1394 standard, it is necessary to change the communication medium from, for example, a twisted pair wire to an optical fiber in order to prevent data loss due to a long cable.

[0004]

However, in such a configuration, the building management information system requires a high cost for constructing the system because the optical fiber is expensive. Therefore, in the building management information system,
Conventionally low data transfer rate, for example, 1.25 Mbp
When the long-distance data communication is performed by using the twisted pair cable of s, there are the following problems. The use of this twisted pair cable is suitable for building management information systems that manage buildings, but the transfer rate is slow for large-capacity data communication such as video and audio data in each room. It is unsuitable.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a communication apparatus which can perform data communication between communication means having different transfer rates and which can have a flexible configuration depending on the application. I have.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication system for performing data communication at a first transfer rate and a first transfer rate of the first communication means. A second communication unit that performs data communication at a different second transfer rate; and a first communication unit that communicates with the first communication unit.
Conversion means for converting the communication packet data so that the second communication packet data communicated by the second communication means is mixed; a first transfer rate of the first communication means; and a second communication means. And a conversion communication means for performing communication by converting the transfer rate to and from the second transfer rate.

According to the configuration of the first aspect, the conversion means mixes the second communication packet of the second communication means with the first communication packet of the first communication means. Also, the conversion communication means may be a first communication means.
The transfer rate is converted between the communication means and the second communication means. Therefore, the communication device can perform data communication between the first communication unit and the second communication unit that perform communication at different transfer rates. For this reason, the communication device can select communication means having a plurality of transfer rates suitable for the application. Therefore, the communication apparatus employs, for example, a communication method in which the transfer rate is low but the data loss is small in the second communication means, and the communication cable is short but the transfer rate is high in the first communication means in order to guarantee that the data loss is prevented. It is possible to adopt a communication method.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, when the conversion communication means communicates from the first communication means to the second communication means, the first communication means performs a first communication.
The first communication packet data generated at the transfer rate is converted to a second transfer rate, and when the second communication means communicates with the first communication means, the second communication means transmits the second communication packet data to the second communication means.
The first communication packet data communicated at the transfer rate is converted to a first transfer rate.

According to the configuration of claim 2, it is possible to perform communication by converting the transfer rate between the first communication means and the second communication means having different transfer rates.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, when the conversion communication means communicates from the first communication means to the second communication means, the second communication packet data is mixed. Only the first communication packet data that does not include the second communication packet data among the first communication packet data is not communicated from the first communication means to the second communication means.

According to the third aspect, the first communication means does not communicate only the first communication packet data from the first communication means to the second communication means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, the first communication means is a communication system for communicating data of electronic devices in each room of the building,
The second communication means is an information management system for the entire building.

According to the configuration of the fourth aspect, when, for example, a network is constructed in a room, data communicated in the room is handled in an information management system for managing the entire building. Therefore, the communication device can adopt a communication method having a low transfer rate but a small data loss, for example, in an information management system of a building, and a short communication cable to ensure that the indoor communication system does not lose data. However, for example, an IEEE 1394 communication system having a high transfer rate can be adopted. For this reason, the communication device can select a communication medium with a suitable transfer rate according to the application, and can have various flexible configurations.

[0014]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are preferred specific examples of the present invention,
Although various technically preferable limits are given, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these modes unless otherwise specified in the following description.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a communication device 1 as a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The communication device 1 is installed, for example, inside a building 8 (building), for example, a central monitoring computer 10 and a second signal line 4.
(Second communication means) and at least one room 12. The central monitoring computer 10 is, for example, a computer on which a predetermined building management information system (information management system) as a second communication unit operates. Second signal line 4
Is CEBus (Consumer Electron)
icsBus). This CEBus is a type of ANSI standard, for example, a type of communication standard for managing building air conditioning. The second signal line 4 is connected to at least one room 1
2 is connected to the central monitoring computer 10. The second signal line 4 performs data communication at a transfer rate different from that of the first signal line 6.
This is a signal line that is slightly slower than that of, but has little data loss.

In the room 12, for example, a conversion unit 21 (conversion means), a packet processing unit 20 (conversion communication means), a first signal line 6 (first communication means), a video cassette recorder 14
(VCR) and a television 16 (TV). In the room 12, for example, a communication system (first communication unit) for communicating predetermined electronic device data is provided. The conversion unit 21 has a function of intermixing, for example, packet data of the second signal line 4 (hereinafter, simply referred to as “packet”) and packets of the first signal line 6, that is, converting packets of different formats into the same frame. It has the function to mix. The conversion unit 21 is connected to a predetermined sensor or the like as described later. Therefore, the conversion unit 21
It also has an interface function with these sensors and the like.

The packet processing unit 20 extracts only the asynchronous packet (second communication packet data), and the transfer rate of the asynchronous packet is, for example, 98.
It detects whether the transfer rate is 304 Mbps, 196.608 bps, or another transfer rate. The packet processing unit 20 converts the detected transfer rate into an asynchronous packet at a low transfer rate of the second signal line 4, for example, 1.25 Mbps,
The data is sent to the central monitoring computer 10. The central monitoring computer 10 can acquire information by, for example, decoding the assigned protocol. Also,
The packet processing unit 20 transmits the isochronous packet (first
1.25M when there is no communication packet data)
Asynchronous packets may be transmitted and received at a transfer rate of bps, for example, 98.304 Mbps.
Or 196.608 Mbps or 393.216 Mbps
It is also possible for either of the cases.

On the other hand, control relating to data communication from the central monitoring computer 10 to the packet processing unit 20 in the room 12 can be realized by following the above route in reverse. The packets communicated on the first communication line 4 are transmitted and received based on random numbers. Specific configurations and details of each of the packet processing unit 20 and the conversion unit 21 will be described later.

The first signal line 6 is, for example, an IEEE (The)
Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineer
s) This is a 1394 standard communication line. Hereinafter, IEEE13
94 signal line is simply called "IEEE1394 cable"
That. The IEEE 1394 cable has a six-wire system and a four-wire system in one cable. IEEE 1394
Regardless of the configuration of the cable, data is communicated over, for example, two twisted pair cables.

The transfer rate of IEEE1394 is, for example, 98.304 Mbps, 196.60 in a cable.
There are standards of 8 Mbps and 393.216 Mbps. The current length of a single cable is, for example, 4.5 m, and the transfer rate is high, but the cable length is limited.
However, the IEEE 1394 cable has a characteristic that it takes advantage of the high transfer rate and is excellent in handling video data and audio data. In this embodiment, the transfer rate of the second signal line 4 between the room 12 and the central monitoring computer 10 on which the building management information system operates is actually slow based on the CEBus, based on the transfer rate of IEEE 1394 in the room 12, for example. Based on rates. Therefore, the communication device 1 adjusts the data transfer rate of the building management information system and the data transfer rate in the room 12.

The video cassette recorder 14 and the television 16 are examples of electronic equipment used at home, for example. Hereinafter, the electronic device used in the home is referred to as “home appliance”. The video cassette recorder 14 and the television 16 output, for example, video data and audio data via the second communication line 6 and input these data, for example. The home appliance is not limited to these, and may be, for example, any electronic device used at home.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration example of the interior of the room 12 in FIG. In the room 12, a packet processing unit 20, an A / D conversion unit and a protocol generation unit 28,
The air conditioning fan 22, the temperature sensor unit 23, the humidity sensor unit 24, the security unit 25, and the like as an example of the above-described sensor and the like,
Video cassette recorder 1 as an example of the above home appliance
4, a television 16, a refrigerator 26, and an air conditioner 27 are provided. The packet processing unit 20
For example, it is connected to the video cassette recorder 14, the television 16, the refrigerator 26, the air conditioner 27, the A / D converter and the protocol generator 28 via the first signal line 6. The packet processing unit 20 performs communication by converting a transfer rate between a first transfer rate of the first communication unit and a second transfer rate of the second communication unit, for example.

Also, preferably, when communicating from the second signal line 4 to the first signal line 6, the packet processing unit 20 transmits data generated at the second transfer rate on the second signal line 4 to the first transfer line. Convert to rate. When communicating from the first signal line 6 to the second signal line 4, the packet processing unit 20
The data transmitted at the first transfer rate on the signal line 6 is transmitted to the second
Convert to transfer rate. Thereby, the communication device 1 can perform communication by converting the transfer rate between the first signal line 6 and the second signal line 4 having different transfer rates.

More preferably, the packet processing unit 20 transmits the data from the first signal line 6 to the second signal line 4 when the second communication packet data is mixed in the first communication packet data. 2 Only the portion of the first communication packet data not including the communication packet data is not communicated from the first signal line 6 to the second signal line 4. Thereby, the communication device 1
This prevents only the second communication packet data from being transmitted from the first signal line 6 to the second signal line 4.

The conversion unit 21 includes, for example, the packet processing unit 2,
First transfer rate converter 31, first transfer rate converter 3
2. First transfer rate converter 33, A / D converter and protocol generators 28, 29, 30 and switching means 35, 36
Having. The packet processing unit 20 includes, for example, the second signal line 4
1 and connected to the video cassette recorder 14, the television 16, and the conversion unit 21 via the first signal line 6, for example.

The conversion unit 21 includes, for example, an air conditioning fan 22, a temperature sensor unit 23, a humidity sensor unit 24, a security unit 25, a refrigerator 26, a video cassette recorder 14, and a television 1.
6 and the packet processing unit 20. Conversion unit 2
1 is, for example, a packet processing unit 2, first transfer rate conversion units 31, 32, 33, A / D conversion units and protocol generation units 28, A / D conversion units and protocol generation units 29, 30, and switching units 35, 36. Having. The converter 21 converts the first communication packet data communicated on the first signal line 6 into the second communication packet data.
Conversion is performed so that the second communication packet data communicated on the signal line 4 is mixed.

The packet processing unit 20 is connected to the central monitoring computer 10 of FIG. 1 via the second signal line 4, and as shown in FIG. 2, the first transfer rate conversion unit 31 and the first transfer rate conversion unit 32 and a first transfer rate conversion unit 33. The packet processing unit 20 combines, for example, an isochronous packet and an asynchronous packet, processes the isochronous packet, for example, and then controls the order of the isochronous packets.

When no isochronous packet exists, for example, the packet processing unit 2
s, an isochronous packet may be transmitted and received. For example, 98.364 Mbps or 196.608
Mbps or 93.216 Mbps. In the IEEE 1394 cable, for example, data and a strobe are transmitted. A clock is formed by these data and the strobe, which is related to the data transfer rate. As described above, the transfer rate of the IEEE 1394 communication standard includes, for example, 98.304 Mbps,
There are 196.608 Mbps and 393.216 Mbps.

The packet processing unit 2 includes, for example, the second communication line 6
Via a video cassette recorder 14, a video camera (not shown) and a DVD (Digital Vers).
Atile Disc (trade name) processes data of a disk device. The DVD disk device performs data communication using, for example, isochronous packets. The packet processing unit 2 mixes these data with predetermined building management information, this control information, and home appliance information and this control information, for example, every 125 μsec of the basic data unit time of the isochronous packet.

The first transfer rate converter 31 includes, for example, a packet processor 2, an A / D converter, and a protocol generator 2.
8 is connected. The first transfer rate converter 31 converts the transfer rate of the asynchronous packet from the A / D converter and the protocol generator 28 at, for example, 1.25 Mbps to the transfer rate of the isochronous packet. Performs data communication. Specifically, the first transfer rate conversion unit 31 detects, for example, the transfer rate of the isochronous packet, and based on the detection result, changes the asynchronous transfer rate from a low transfer rate, for example, 1.25 Mbps to the normal transfer rate of the isochronous packet. Translating packets.

The first transfer rate converter 32 is connected to, for example, the packet processor 2 and the refrigerator 26. The first transfer rate conversion unit 32 converts the transfer rate of the asynchronous packet from the refrigerator 26 of, for example, 1.25 Mbps to the transfer rate of the isochronous packet, and performs data communication with the packet processing unit 2. Specifically, the first
The transfer rate conversion unit 32 detects, for example, the transfer rate of the isochronous packet, and converts the asynchronous packet from a low transfer rate, for example, 1.25 Mbps, to a normal transfer rate of the isochronous packet based on the detection result. The first transfer rate conversion unit 33 includes:
If the data from the air conditioner 27 is, for example, analog data, the A / D converter and the protocol generator 2
The data is converted into digital data by 9 and, for example, if it is digital data, it is inputted as it is.

The first transfer rate converter 33 is connected to, for example, the packet processor 2 and the air conditioner 27. The first transfer rate conversion unit 33 is, for example, 1.25
The transfer rate of the asynchronous packet from the air conditioner 27 of Mbps is converted into the transfer rate of the isochronous packet, and data communication with the packet processing unit 2 is performed. Specifically, the first transfer rate converter 31
Detects a transfer rate of, for example, an isochronous packet, and based on the detection result, determines a low transfer rate, for example, 1..
Asynchronous packets are converted from 25 Mbps to a normal transfer rate of isochronous packets. still,
If the data from the refrigerator 26 is, for example, analog data, the first transfer rate conversion unit 32 converts the data into digital data by the A / D conversion unit and the protocol generation unit 30, and converts the data into digital data of the protocol from the refrigerator 26, for example. If there is, it is entered as it is.

A / D converter and protocol generator 28
Is connected to, for example, the air conditioning fan 22, the temperature sensor unit 23, the humidity sensor unit 24, the security unit 25, and the first transfer rate conversion unit 31. The A / D conversion unit and the protocol generation unit 28 convert the analog data input from these sensors and the like into an analog-to-digital (Analog To De), for example.
digital) to make a packet of, for example, 1.25 Mbps. For example, the rotation speed of the air conditioning fan 22, the temperature of the temperature sensor unit 23, the humidity of the humidity sensor unit, and the security unit 2
A predetermined protocol is assigned to each item of the pressure detection when the window glass is broken in connection with 5.

The air-conditioning fan 22, the temperature sensor unit 23, the humidity sensor unit 24, and the security unit 25 are sensors for providing building management information of the building 8 managed by the above-described building management information system. The building management information includes, for example, the rotation speed of the fan from the air conditioning fan 22 and a detection signal from the security unit 25 when, for example, a window is broken. In the building management information, each data acquired for each sensor is configured by a predetermined protocol.

The air conditioning fan 22 is a sensor for detecting, for example, the rotation speed of the fan as described above. The temperature sensor unit 23 is, for example, a sensor for detecting the temperature of the room 12. The humidity sensor unit 24 is, for example, a sensor for detecting the humidity of the room 12. The security unit 25 is provided, for example, in a window of the room 12, and operates when an impact of a certain level or more is applied to the window.

Refrigerator 26 and air conditioner 27
Is an example of a home appliance, and is an example of an electronic device that processes video data and audio data. Therefore, the home appliances may include various electronic devices in addition to the electronic devices described above.
For the refrigerator 26 and the air conditioner 27, a predetermined protocol is determined for each information control item, for example. The refrigerator 26 and the air conditioner 27 transmit and receive data according to this protocol.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a format of data transmitted and received on the second signal line 4 in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 3, the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents ON / OFF of a signal. Also, "CS"
Indicates a cycle start packet, and "I"
Indicates an isochronous packet, and “A” indicates
Asynchronous packet (Asynchronous)
Ack indicates an Acknowl packet.
7 shows an eg signal. Isochronous packet
For example, the packet is always transmitted every 125 μsec and transmitted and received synchronously, and the asynchronous packet is a packet transmitted and received asynchronously.

The video cassette recorder 14 shown in FIG. 1, and a DVD disk device and a video camera (not shown) transmit and receive data in, for example, isochronous packets. The central monitoring computer 10 is connected to the second signal line 4
For example, data transmission / reception is performed using an asynchronous packet.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first signal line 6 starts with a cycle start packet CS, ends with an isochronous packet I1, an isochronous packet I2, an asynchronous data packet A1, ACK data, and an ACK data after the asynchronous data packet A2. Data communication is performed according to the data format. Therefore, in the communication device 1,
In addition to the asynchronous packet A1 and the asynchronous packet A2 used in the building management information system, the isochronous packet I1 and the isochronous packet I2 used in the video cassette recorder 14 and the like as home appliances are mixed in one data format. ing.

The operation of the communication apparatus 1 is as described above. Next, the operation of the communication apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the central monitoring computer 10, a building management information system for monitoring a building 8 as an example of a building operates as shown in FIG.
Data communication. As data communicated on the second signal line 4, for example, an asynchronous packet is used. On the other hand, in the room 12, for example, the first signal line 6
Data communication is performed by an IEEE 1394 cable as an example, and, for example, an isochronous packet is used. Therefore, in order to perform data communication between the second signal line 4 and the first signal line 6, it is necessary to convert the data format between the two in order to convert the transfer rate as described above.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor data acquired by the air conditioning fan 22 and the like are A / D converted by an A / D converter and a protocol generator 28, and the transfer rate is converted by a first transfer rate converter 31. Is done. The transfer rate of the data in the refrigerator 26 or the like is converted in the first transfer rate converter 32 or the like as described above.
These data are, for example, isochronous packets. The packet processing unit 2 mixes the data of these isochronous packets into the asynchronous packet used in the building management information system, and sets the data format to, for example, every time T = 125 μsec as shown in FIG. Data communication is performed between and.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide the communication device 1 which can perform data communication between communication means having different transfer rates and which can have a flexible configuration according to the application. For example, monitoring of the temperature, humidity, fans, crime prevention, energy saving, and the like of the entire building managed by the building management information system can be realized at a low transfer rate and at a low cost by using a twisted pair wire. Also,
In the room 12, by mixing with the first signal line 6 of the IEEE1394 system, it can be realized without adding a dedicated twisted pair line having a low transfer rate, and there is an advantage that the cost can be reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the packet processing unit 20 and the conversion unit 21 each include an IC (Integrated)
(Circuit).

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a communication device capable of performing data communication between communication means having different transfer rates and having a flexible configuration depending on the application.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a communication device as a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration example of the inside of the room in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a format of data transmitted and received on a first signal line in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication apparatus, 2 ... Packet processing part, 4 ...
Second signal line (second communication means), 6 ... first signal line (first communication means), 10 ... central monitoring computer, 12
... indoor, 20 ... packet processing unit (conversion communication means), 21 ... conversion unit (conversion means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04Q 9/14 H04L 11/00 310D F-term (Reference) 5K033 AA01 AA04 AA09 BA01 CB02 CC01 DA13 5K034 AA01 AA10 AA20 CC03 CC06 DD02 FF12 HH61 MM08 5K048 AA11 BA02 BA08 BA51 DA02 DC04 EA14 EB02 EB10 HA01 HA02

Claims (4)

[Claims] A first communication unit that performs data communication at a first transfer rate; a second communication unit that performs data communication at a second transfer rate different from the first transfer rate of the first communication unit; Conversion means for converting the first communication packet data communicated by the first communication means so as to mix the second communication packet data communicated by the second communication means; A communication device, comprising: a conversion communication unit for performing communication by converting a transfer rate between one transfer rate and a second transfer rate of the second communication unit. 2. The communication means for converting, when communicating from the first communication means to the second communication means, converts the second communication packet data generated at the first transfer rate by the first communication means. Converting the first communication packet data, which is communicated at the second transfer rate by the first communication means, into a first transfer when the second communication means communicates with the first communication means; The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device converts the rate. 3. The communication means for converting, when communicating from the first communication means to the second communication means, the first communication packet data in which the second communication packet data is mixed, 2. Only the first communication packet data not including the communication packet data is not communicated from the first communication means to the second communication means.
The communication device according to claim 1. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first communication unit is a communication system for communicating data of electronic devices in each room of the building, and the second communication unit is an information management system for the whole building. The communication device according to claim 1.