JP2001128254A - Path information distribution method, path information distribution system and its terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a path information distribution method, path information distribution system and a path information distribution terminal where data are not distributed to all terminals but distributed only to a terminal of a distribution object so as to avoid crosstalk in the case that a host device transmits the data to a subordinate terminal. SOLUTION: The path information distribution method allows data distribution from a host device to a subordinate device by employing a data transmission system that transmits data from the subordinate terminal to the host device according to path information stored in each terminal and is characterized in that the host device distributes new path information and use start information of the new path information to a subordinate distribution object terminal according to old path information by unifying the path information so as to avoid crosstalk.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a data transmission system for transmitting data from a terminal such as an instrument such as electricity, gas or water, or a vending machine or a POS (point of sale information) to a host device. The present invention relates to a route information distribution method for distributing data from an apparatus to each terminal, and more particularly to a route information distribution method, a route information distribution system, and a route information distribution terminal for performing efficient data distribution while avoiding interference during data distribution.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, the following procedure is performed as a distribution process of a basic route map in a wireless meter reading data collection system of an electronic meter and an updating process of a basic route map in each wireless meter reading unit. .

(1) The data collection unit creates a new basic route map at a certain period, and distributes the created new basic route map to each wireless meter reading unit.

[0004] (2) The wireless meter reading unit to which the new basic route map has been distributed immediately switches its own basic route map to the new basic route map and updates it. The data is sequentially transmitted to the meter reading unit.

[0005]

However, in such a process of updating the basic route map, communication is performed because the old and new basic route maps exist in the data transmission system, and these new and old basic route maps are mixed. There is a high possibility that an error, a retry process or the like will occur, leading to a decrease in meter reading efficiency.

Further, when a new basic route map is distributed to a wireless meter reading unit, the new basic route map is always transmitted to a lower wireless meter reading unit connected to its own station. There has been a problem that the communication volume increases and the meter reading process is hindered.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when data is distributed from a higher-level device to a lower-level terminal, it is possible to avoid interference by efficiently distributing only to the terminal to be distributed instead of all terminals. It is an object of the present invention to provide a route information distribution method, a route information distribution system, and a route information distribution terminal that can be provided.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A route information distribution method for permitting data to be distributed from a higher-level device to a lower-level terminal using a data transmission system that transmits data from a lower-level terminal to a higher-level device according to the route information stored in each terminal, comprising: The information and the use start information of the route information are distributed from the higher-level device to the lower-level distribution target terminals according to the old route information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a data transmission system for transmitting data from a lower-order terminal to a higher-order device in accordance with the path information stored in each terminal allows distribution of data from the higher-order device to the lower-order terminal. A route information distribution method, wherein when a new terminal is added, the route information is redistributed only to a route for transmitting data of the new terminal.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a route information distribution system for transmitting data from a lower-order terminal to a higher-order device in accordance with the route information stored in each terminal, and distributing the route information from the higher-order device to the lower-order terminal. And control means for distributing the route information and the use start information thereof from the higher-level device to the lower-level distribution target terminal according to the old route information based on the new route information being added. It is characterized by.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a route information distribution terminal for transmitting data to a higher-level device in accordance with stored route information and receiving path information distributed from the higher-level device, comprising: Control means for distributing and receiving the use start information of the information from the higher-level device according to the old route information is provided.

[0012]

According to the present invention, when data is distributed from a higher-level device to a lower-level terminal, new route information and use start information of the route information are transmitted from the higher-level device to the lower-level device according to the old route information. Since the route information is distributed to the distribution target terminal, the route information distributed from the host device is distributed according to the old route information, and the distribution process is performed in the data transmission system with the new and old route information being matched. Therefore, the old and new route information do not interfere with each other.

The lower terminal checks the new and old route information for each communication process, and the terminal having the old route information issues a request to the terminal having the new route information and receives the new route information. And update.

[0014] Further, if the timing for using the path information by the time stamp (time designation) is set, the use time in the entire data transmission system can be unified. For example, the use start information such as the use start time or what time after what time can be set.

Further, when a new terminal is added, if a route information distribution method of redistributing route information is used only for a route for transmitting data of the new terminal, a terminal which needs distribution is designated. , It is not necessary to perform simultaneous distribution to other terminals, and efficient distribution processing in which unnecessary distribution is omitted can be performed. For this reason, the distribution amount of route information can be reduced, and communication errors due to interference, retry processing, and the like can be reliably reduced.

[0016] Further, there is provided a control means for distributing the route information and its use start information from the higher-level device to the lower-level distribution target terminals in accordance with the old route information based on the addition of the new route information. If a route information distribution system is used, the route information in the system is distributed together with the start-of-use information, and the route information in the system is unified as much as possible to avoid interference and improve the reliability of the system. improves.

Further, in the case where a route information distribution terminal having control means for distributing and receiving new route information and use start information of the route information from a higher-level device according to the old route information is used, the lower-level terminal On the side, the control means receives the distribution information and automatically updates the route information. For this reason, when the updated use start time comes, the measurement data such as the meter reading value or the sales data is transmitted by the new route information.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The drawing shows a data transmission system for automatically reading the power consumption of a house. In FIG. 1, this data transmission system 11 is one data collection unit U as a master station.
, Ub... Uc as terminal stations (terminal stations) installed in each of the houses 12. Phone system) in transceiver mode.

The houses 12 to be communicated with each other are communicatively connected with a communication electric field strength of 20 db or more, for example, about 25 db to 55 db, which can be communicated, determined by the location conditions.

The data collection unit U of the master station is installed on, for example, a telephone pole as a main controller, and collects meter reading data such as a meter reading value, a unit call number, and a call time based on a command signal from a center (base station) 13. The collected meter reading data is returned to the return center 13. The data collection unit U is connected to the lower terminal wireless unit Uc... To the upper terminal wireless unit Ua. I have.

Terminal radio units Ua to
Uc is installed in each power meter 14 for metering the power consumption of each house 12... And is wirelessly connected to the data collection unit U.

In this case, on the communication route L between one data collection unit U and the distributed terminal radio units Ua to Uc, terminal radio units Ua... Each terminal wireless unit Ub ..., U wirelessly connected to the tree structure
c ...

Then, the lowest terminal wireless unit Uc
.. Has a data collection function of collecting data to the data collection unit U via the next higher terminal wireless unit Ua after passing through the next higher terminal wireless unit Ub. By this tree structure data collection function, distributed lower-level terminal wireless units Ub
, Uc... Are led to the higher-level terminal wireless units Ua..., And a communication route L for integrating and collecting data to the data collection unit U is established.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the data transmission system 11. In the example of communication between the data collection unit U and the terminal wireless unit Ua, the CPU 21 of the data collection unit U includes a first flash memory 22. When,
The communication operation between the upper wireless unit 24 and the lower wireless unit 25 is controlled in accordance with the program stored in the second flash memory 23, and the control data is stored in the RAM 26 so as to be readable.

The upper radio unit 24 is connected to the upper center 13 for communication and is connected to a hard disk 27 installed as a server on the center 13 side.
In step 7, the update logic of the basic communication route map is activated based on the data stored and managed, and the basic route map is updated. On the other hand, the lower wireless section 25 is communicatively connected to the lower terminal wireless unit Ua capable of communication.

On the other hand, the CPU 31 of the terminal wireless unit Ua
Controls the wireless unit 34 and the meter I / F (interface) 35 in accordance with the programs stored in the first flash memory 32 and the second flash memory 33, and stores the control data in the RAM 36 in a readable manner. Further, the CPU 31 periodically reads the numerical value of the power meter 14 provided for each calling number of the terminal wireless unit via the meter I / F 35.

The CPUs 21 and 31 of each unit are:
A timer for measuring the time is built in and the time data between the two units U and Ua is collated and checked to ensure the communication performance and data reliability.

By the way, when distributing data from the upper data collection unit U to the lower terminal wireless unit Ua,
It has a route map distribution system that distributes the new route map and the use start information of the route map from the data collection unit U to the terminal wireless unit to be distributed according to the old route map.

According to this route map distribution system,
The new route map distributed from the upper level is distributed according to the old route map, and the new and old route maps are unified in the same system, and the distribution process is performed to avoid interference between the two new and old route maps. Can be done.

Each of the terminal radio units Ua to Uc checks the new and old route maps for each communication process, and the terminal radio unit having the old route map requests the terminal radio unit having the new route map. , And has an automatic update function that receives a new route map and automatically updates it.

Further, if the timing for using the route map is determined by the time stamp (time designation), the use time in the entire data transmission system can be unified. For example, use start information such as a use start time or a use start time at what time and how many minutes from now can be set.

Next, one new terminal wireless unit Un is added to the route map of the data transmission system in which nine terminal wireless units Ua to Uc are connected to one data collection unit U (see FIG. 1). This case will be described with reference to the route map of the data transmission system of FIG. 3 as an example.

The route map of this data transmission system is such that when a new terminal wireless unit Un is added, the new route map is redistributed only on the route for transmitting data of the new terminal wireless unit Un. It has a function, this route map distribution function,
When a new terminal wireless unit Un is added, the data collection unit U re-determines a route map for the CPU 21 to newly collect data, and all the terminal wireless units U
The contents are distributed again to a to Uc and Un, but are distributed only to the communication route including the new terminal wireless unit Un added to the distribution.

As a result, the distribution can be limited to only the new terminal radio unit Un which needs to be distributed.
It is not necessary to simultaneously distribute to other terminal wireless units, and efficient distribution processing with a reduced amount of distribution can be performed.

The CPU of each terminal wireless unit has:
There is provided a receiving function of sequentially distributing and receiving the new route map and the use start information of the route map from the data collection unit U according to the old route map.

Such a distribution process between units is performed between a communication connection between an upper unit and a lower unit that are directly connected to each other on the tree structure, and includes “data collection unit U” and “terminal”. Between the communication connection parts with the wireless unit Ua, between the communication connection parts between the "terminal wireless unit Ua" and the "one lower terminal wireless unit Ub", or between the "one lower terminal wireless unit Ub" and the "this" The distribution process is performed from the upper side to the lower side between the communication connection units with the terminal wireless units Uc and Un that are one lower order.

FIG. 4 is a distribution configuration diagram showing a state in which new and old route maps of the data transmission system are mixed, and the data collection unit U creates a route map once a day. Also, when a new terminal wireless unit is added, a new route map is created, and the new route map is distributed to all terminal wireless units in a distributable time zone after the route map is created.

Next, the distribution operation of this route map will be described. (1) The data collection unit U is connected to the first
First, distribution is made to the terminal wireless units Ua... Of the group.

(2) Thereafter, the first group of terminal wireless units Ua... Having received the route map distribution instruction sequentially distributes them to the second group of terminal wireless units Ub.

(3) If the time lag of this distribution processing is 1
If the time is 5 minutes, the time lag of the route map update time between the terminal wireless units Ua of the first group and the terminal wireless units Uc of the third group becomes a total of 30 minutes. This 30
The old and new route maps are mixed in the system due to differences in minutes.

Therefore, when a new registration is made, the basic route map is distributed only to the terminal radio units related to the added communication route. The logic at this time is the flash memory 22 of the data collection unit U,
23 and is executed by the CPU 21 of the unit U.

Each terminal wireless unit checks the version of the basic route map for each data communication, and updates the version if it is old. This updating procedure and the logic are performed in the flash memory 32 of each terminal wireless unit Ua.
33 and is executed by the CPU 31 of the unit Ua.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a distribution configuration at the time of new registration of the data transmission system. The data collection unit U creates a route map once a day, and also creates a route map when a new terminal wireless unit is added. . The created route map is distributed once a day to the terminal wireless unit immediately below, and when a new terminal wireless unit Un is added, the related unit U is added.
Distribution is performed only for a <0010>, Ub <0040>, and Uc <0100>.

As described above, the new terminal wireless unit Un
At the time of addition, the terminal wireless unit which is not affected by the new route map does not need the new route map and thus does not need to be distributed. New terminal wireless unit U
and efficiently deliver to only n.

Next, a communication procedure at the time of communication in the transceiver mode of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Prior to the communication connection between the units before data communication, (a) simple authentication first, check whether the calling number with the call destination CS-ID (identification code) is appropriate, and (b) set the time. If there is a time error between them, it is corrected (to match the timer time of the upper unit).

(C) Setting of basic route map The version of the basic route map is checked, and the one holding the new basic route map is transmitted to the one holding the old basic route map to send the basic route map. Set.

The distribution processing operation of the data transmission system 11 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. For example, when the terminal radio unit Ua of the call number <0010> and the terminal radio unit Ub of the next lower call number <0040> have different versions of the basic route map, the version is used to unify the route maps. Perform alignment.

At the time of this version matching, as shown in FIG. 8, the lower-side terminal radio unit Ub has a version of the old route map with an old creation time, and transmits arbitrary transmission data to the upper-side terminal radio unit. It is transmitted to Ua (step n1).

Upon receiving this arbitrary transmission data, the terminal wireless unit Ua on the immediately higher side has a new route map version with the latest creation time, as shown in FIG. Collate. At this time, if the versions of both route maps match, both route maps are unified and data update is not necessary, so data communication processing using the current route map is performed (step n2).

On the other hand, if the versions of the route maps do not match, a response to that effect is sent back to the lower terminal wireless unit (steps n3 to n4), and the lower unit Ub transmits the new route map. Request (step n5
In response, the higher-level terminal wireless unit Ua returns a new route map (step n6), and in response, the lower-level terminal wireless unit Ub updates the data with the new route map, and uses this new route map. Starts data communication (step n7).

As described above, when distributing data from the data collection unit to the terminal wireless unit, the new route map and the use start information of the route map are transmitted from the data collection unit according to the old route map. This is a route map distribution method for distributing to units.

Therefore, the route map distributed from the data collection unit is distributed according to the old route map, and the distribution processing is performed in the data transmission system in a state where the new and old route maps are matched. As a result, the new and old route maps can be distributed without interference. The terminal wireless unit checks the new and old route maps for each communication process, and the terminal wireless unit having the older route map issues a request to the terminal wireless unit having the new route map and updates the new route map. Receive and update. In addition, since the timing of using the route map is determined by the time stamp, the use time of the entire data transmission system can be unified.

When a new terminal wireless unit is added, a route map distribution method for redistributing a route map is used only for a communication route for transmitting data of the new terminal wireless unit. The distribution can be performed by designating the terminal wireless unit, and there is no need to distribute to all other terminal wireless units at the same time, and efficient distribution processing can be performed without wasting unnecessary distribution. For this reason, the distribution amount of the route map can be reduced, and communication errors due to interference, retry processing, and the like can be reliably reduced.

In addition, since the new route map is added, the route map and its use start information are distributed from the data collection unit to the terminal wireless unit to be distributed according to the old route map. By distributing the route map in the system together with the use start information and unifying the route map in the system as much as possible, interference is avoided and the reliability of the system is improved.

Further, in order to use the terminal radio unit which distributes and receives the new route map and the use start information of the route map from the data collection unit according to the old route map, the distribution information is transmitted on the lower terminal radio unit side. Accept and automatically update to a new route map. Therefore, when the updated usage start time comes,
Measurement data such as meter readings can be transmitted with the updated new route map.

In the correspondence between the present invention and the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the route information distribution system of the present invention corresponds to the data transmission system 11 of the embodiment. Terminal wireless units Ua, Ub, U
c, the route information corresponds to the route map, the higher-level device corresponds to the data collection unit U, the new terminal corresponds to the new terminal wireless unit Un, and the control means controls the CPU 21 and the CPU 31. Although correspondingly, the present invention can be applied based on the technical idea described in the claims, and is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the meter reading value of the electric consumption is collected is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
The present invention can be applied to data collection of usage amounts of various devices such as gas and water, and collection of sales data of vending machines and POS.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a data transmission system before registering a new terminal wireless unit.

FIG. 2 is a control circuit block diagram of the data transmission system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram when a new terminal wireless unit is registered in the data transmission system.

FIG. 4 is a distribution configuration diagram showing a state in which new and old route maps of the data transmission system are mixed.

FIG. 5 is a distribution configuration diagram showing a distribution state of a new route map at the time of terminal wireless unit registration.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a communication procedure at the time of communication in a transceiver mode.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing version matching of a basic route map between terminal wireless units.

FIG. 8 is a data explanatory view of a terminal wireless unit having a version of an old route map.

FIG. 9 is a data explanatory diagram of a terminal wireless unit having a new route map version.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Data transmission system 12 ... House 13 ... Center 14 ... Power meter U ... Data collection unit Ua, Ub, Uc ... Terminal wireless unit Un ... New terminal wireless unit L ... Communication route 21, 31 ... CPU

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Yoshimasa Sugitate, inventor, 10-10 Hanazono-Todocho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto O Inside the Murron Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) in Mullon Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A route information distribution method for permitting data to be distributed from a higher-level device to a lower-level terminal using a data transmission system that transmits data from a lower-level terminal to a higher-level device in accordance with the route information stored in each terminal. A route information distribution method for distributing new route information and use start information of the route information from a higher-level device to lower-level distribution target terminals according to old route information. 2. A route information distribution method for permitting data distribution from a higher-level device to a lower-level terminal using a data transmission system for transmitting data from a lower-level terminal to a higher-level device according to the route information stored in each terminal. A route information distribution method characterized in that when a new terminal is added, the route information is redistributed only to the route for transmitting the data of the new terminal. 3. A route information distribution system for transmitting data from a lower order terminal to a higher order device in accordance with route information stored in each terminal and distributing route information from the upper order device to the lower order terminal, wherein A route information distribution system comprising control means for controlling distribution of the same route information and its use start information from a higher-level device to a lower-level distribution target terminal according to old route information based on the addition of information. 4. A route information distribution terminal for transmitting data to a higher-level device according to stored route information and receiving route information distributed from the higher-level device, comprising: a new route information; Route information distribution terminal provided with control means for distributing and receiving from a higher-level device according to old route information.