JP2001133102A - Recording medium, capable of being read by computer and recording shop control system, instrument condition indicating method and program for carrying out the method by computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shop control system, a data control method and a recording medium, which are capable of effecting efficient control of data collected from respective shops when data with respect to a plurality of instruments, which are collected in a plurality of shops, are controlled efficiently. SOLUTION: When the center 12 of a shop and the like have received data with respect to respective instrument systems, such as showcases 204, air conditioners 208 and illumination in respective shops A-C, the data are reserved while connecting the data as the data having the data structure of a linked list.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a store management system for managing various devices such as a showcase, an air conditioner, and lighting provided in a store, a data management method, and a computer-readable recording recording a program for causing a computer to execute the method. In particular, the present invention relates to a store management system, a data management method, and a recording medium that can quickly and efficiently access data for each store and each device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a store such as a supermarket or a convenience store is provided with a plurality of showcases and refrigerators, and each showcase is separately controlled by providing a temperature controller and the like. Therefore, extremely complicated setting change work is required.

For this reason, a technique for centrally managing a showcase or the like provided in a store is known. For example,
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-193981 discloses that data relating to operating conditions such as temperature setting of a showcase and defrosting time are transmitted to a terminal-side control device, and data relating to an operating state transmitted from the terminal control device is received. There is disclosed a centralized management device such as a showcase configured to provide a higher-level control device for displaying each group.

[0004] By using such a conventional technique, it is possible to centrally manage a showcase or the like, grasp data of an operating state for each group distinguished by operating conditions, and perform management and maintenance quickly and easily.

[0005]

However, the devices to which the prior art is directed are, for example, showcases and refrigerators that can be grouped according to operating conditions, and do not cover all devices in a store. The host controller does not collectively manage data of various devices such as a showcase, an air conditioner, and lighting.

When the target devices are limited as in the prior art, even if the data collected by each device is managed collectively, the data amount and the access time do not cause much problems. When collectively managing data acquired from various devices provided in a store, such as an air conditioner and lighting, there is a major problem in the amount of data and access time.

[0007] In particular, in the case of a group company in which a plurality of stores are chained, the data collected at each store is further centrally managed by the store headquarters and the like, and the amount of data becomes enormous. How to efficiently manage the data collected from each store has become a very important issue.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and when data relating to a plurality of devices collected at a plurality of stores is centrally managed, data collected from each store is efficiently managed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a store management system, a data management method, and a recording medium that can perform the operation.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above-mentioned problems,
In order to achieve the object of the present invention, the store management system according to the first aspect of the present invention is a store management system that collectively manages various devices such as a showcase, an air conditioner, and a light provided in a plurality of stores. Connecting a plurality of controllers for controlling each device for each device to a predetermined network, and storing data collected by each controller connected to the network in a management device as file data accessible for each device and each store. It is characterized by.

According to the present invention, a plurality of controllers for controlling various devices for each device are connected to a predetermined network, and data collected by each controller connected to the network can be accessed for each device and each store. Since the file data is stored in the management device, the data collected from each store can be managed efficiently.

The store management system according to a second aspect of the present invention is the store management system according to the first aspect,
The data collected by the plurality of controllers is stored as data having a list structure linked for each device and each store.

According to the present invention, data collected by a plurality of controllers is stored as data having a list structure linked to each device and each store, so that data can be quickly stored for each store and each device. And it can be accessed efficiently.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data management method for a store management system which collectively manages various devices such as a showcase, an air conditioner, and a light provided in a plurality of stores. Connecting a plurality of controllers for controlling each device for each device to a predetermined network, and storing data collected by each controller connected to the network in a management device as file data accessible for each device and each store. It is characterized by.

According to the present invention, a plurality of controllers for controlling various devices for each device are connected to a predetermined network, and data collected by each controller connected to the network can be accessed for each device and each store. Since the file data is stored in the management device, the data collected from each store can be managed efficiently.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the data management method according to the third aspect of the present invention, the management device includes a list structure in which data collected by the plurality of controllers is linked for each device and each store. Is stored as data having

According to the present invention, data collected by a plurality of controllers is stored as data having a list structure linked for each device and each store, so that data can be quickly stored for each store and each device. And it can be accessed efficiently.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to the third or fourth aspect is recorded, so that the program can be read by a machine. The operation of item 3 or 4 can be realized by a computer.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a store management system, a data management method, and a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the method will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Will be described in detail. The present invention is not limited by the embodiment.

First, a system configuration of a store management system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a store management system according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a store A shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration inside. Here, for convenience of explanation, a detailed configuration of only the store A is shown,
Stores B and C have the same configuration as store A. The solid line in the figure indicates the connection relationship of signal lines or data lines between devices, and the dotted line indicates the connection relationship of piping.

The store management system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a showcase 204 and an air conditioner 2 in each of the stores A to C.
08 and devices such as lighting are provided with separate controllers, respectively, and the store headquarters 1 is provided via the NA (network adapter) 201, the router 11a, and the public network 10.
2 and the service headquarters 13 to control and manage various devices based on data exchange between them.

That is, the NA2 provided in each of the stores A to C
01 is a homepage function that allows the setting of the connected device using a browser, and automatically sends an e-mail to the administrator and the designated person when a trouble occurs in the connected device. Since it has an automatic mail transmission function for notifying, by using the NA 201, information of various devices in the stores A to C can be transmitted as a homepage to the store headquarters 12 or the like, and trouble information of various devices can be transmitted to the device maintenance company 17 or the like. Email can be sent.

For this reason, by using such a store management system, data relating to various devices such as a showcase, an air conditioner, and lighting provided in each store can be provided outside each store without manual intervention. Store headquarters 12
It can be managed efficiently with such as.

Specifically, in this store management system,
When the store headquarters 12 or the like receives data relating to various devices at each store, the data is stored as data having a list structure linked for each device and each store, so that the data is stored for each store and each device. It allows quick and efficient access.

Next, the configuration of the store management system shown in FIG. 1 and the store A shown in FIG. 2 will be described. In FIG. 1, a store A, a store B, and a store C are stores in which a showcase, an air conditioner, a vending machine, a security system, and the like are provided. Note that, here, these stores A to C are stores that are locally distributed and arranged, such as a supermarket that is turned into a chain store.

The store headquarters 12 is a terminal device of a headquarters mechanism that supervises each of the stores A to C. The store headquarters 12 instructs each store on the type and price of a product to be provided, and also stores each store A
~ C sales status and the like. Specifically, the store headquarters 12 stores data relating to various devices provided in the store, such as a showcase, an air conditioner, and lighting, in the store A.
To C, and links the received data to a list consisting of store names and device names. For example, when the data relating to the showcase is received from the store A, a pointer to the latest data of the existing store A is provided and linked to this data, and the latest data relating to the existing showcase is also provided. A pointer is provided to link this data.

The service headquarters 13 is a terminal device of a headquarters mechanism for centrally managing the service contents to be provided to the customers by the stores A to C. The security headquarters 14 is a terminal device of the stores A to C.
It is a terminal device of the headquarters mechanism that supervises the security mechanism related to entry and exit management and fire and crime prevention in.

In the service headquarters 13 and the security headquarters 14, similarly to the store headquarters 12, the data received from the stores A to C are linked to a list composed of store names and device names. In addition, store headquarters 12,
Since the service headquarters 13 and the security headquarters 14 receive data according to their respective roles, the data structures are basically the same, but the contents of the data are different.

As described above, in this store management system,
When the store headquarters 12, the service headquarters 13, and the security headquarters 14 receive data on various devices received from the stores A to C, the data is linked and stored so that the data can be accessed for each store and each device. And

Further, the store owners 15 can store each of the stores A to C
Terminal device owned by the owner of
Reference numeral 6 denotes a terminal device owned by the owner of the equipment rented from each of the stores A to C from a maker or the like. The equipment maintenance company 17 includes a maintenance company that maintains and manages the devices arranged in each of the stores A to C. It is a terminal device owned.

The store owner 15, the device owner 16 and the device maintenance company 17 also receive the data from the stores A to C when they receive the data for the various devices, similarly to the store headquarters 12. Are linked and stored so that they can be accessed for each store and each device.

Each of the stores A to C, the store headquarters 12, the service headquarters 13, the security headquarters 14, the store owner 15, the equipment owner 16, and the equipment maintenance company 17 communicate with the public network 10 via the routers 11a to 11i, respectively.
It is connected to the.

The public line network 10 is a network such as an ISDN or an ATM.
By using the protocol, file transfer (F) between the stores A to C and the store headquarters 12 or the like is performed on the Internet.
TP) and e-mail (E-mail).

Specifically, the users of the terminals of the store headquarters 12, the service headquarters 13, the security headquarters 14, the store owner 15, the equipment owner 16 and the equipment maintenance company 17 use the browser to open the respective stores A to C. NA20
1 accesses the homepage established, downloads data of various devices such as showcases on this homepage, and when a failure occurs, the NA 201 of each of the stores A to C notifies the security headquarters 14 to that effect. Deliver e-mail.

Next, the configuration in each of the stores A to C shown in FIG. 1 will be described. In FIG. 2, NA 201 is a network adapter having a homepage function and an automatic mail transmission function as described above.

That is, by using the NA 201, information on various devices in the store A can be transmitted as a home page to the store headquarters 12 or the like, and trouble information of various devices can be transmitted to the device maintenance company 17 by e-mail. . The NA 201 can be formed as an option board having an interface for accommodating a serial communication line, and can be mounted on an in-store PC 218 described later. Instead of the NA 201, a personal computer having a homepage function and a mail transmission function can be provided, or the NA 201 can be directly attached to various devices in the store A.

The store control controller 202 is a controller for performing energy saving control of the whole store, and is specifically formed by a personal computer or the like. The showcase system controller 203 is a control unit that controls each showcase controller in the refrigerator 205 and the showcase 204 that controls the temperature of products in the refrigerator using the refrigerator 206. The showcase system controller 203 controls the temperature in the refrigerator while taking into consideration the temperature and humidity in the store detected by the temperature and humidity sensor 203a in the store.

The air conditioner system controller 207
The heat storage system controller 211 is a control unit that controls an air conditioner controller of each air conditioner 208 that maintains the inside of the store A at a predetermined temperature using the refrigerator 209.
The controller is a controller that controls the heat storage tank 210 that stores ice based on the load states of 06 and 209.

The lighting system controller 212 is a controller for controlling various lighting devices and the like disposed on the ceiling in the store, and also performs dimming of the fluorescent light of the showcase 204. Specifically, the showcase 20
When dimming the fluorescent lamp of No. 4, JP-A-6-32
The dimming control corresponding to the illumination control system disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5874 is performed.

The vending machine 213 is a vending machine which is disposed in the store A and whose owner manages selling beverages and foods. Note that the vending machine 213 has a controller that controls the operation as a vending machine, and this controller enables connection to a network, and stores information such as sales status and device status on the network. And a function that enables adjustment of lighting, adjustment of cooling output, and the like based on a command from the network.

The security system 214 includes the door 21
5 is a system that maintains the security of the entire store A based on the data from the sensors, the fire alarm 216, and the security device 217 provided in the store 5. The security system 214 has a controller that controls the operation of the system, and has a function of transmitting the state of the security device and the like on a network.

The power monitor 220 is a mechanism for monitoring the total amount of power consumed by the showcase 204, the air conditioner 208, the lighting, the vending machine 213, and the like provided in the store A. This power monitor 220 performs cooperative control with the showcase system controller 203, the air conditioner system controller 207, the lighting system controller 212, and the like.

The dew-proof heater controller 221 is a controller that controls a dew-proof heater that prevents dew from occurring on the air curtain blow-out portion and the handrail portion of the showcase 204. In other words, since there is a contact surface between the cold air and the in-store temperature at the outlet of the air curtain or the like, a temperature difference occurs, so that dew sticking always occurs,
Under the control of the dew-proof heater controller 221, such dew is prevented. Note that the dew-proof heater controller 221 is connected to the showcase system controller 20.
3 and the like.

The in-store PC 218 is a personal computer arranged in the store A, and manages the types and prices of the products sold in the store A, counts sales, and the like. Further, it is possible to communicate with a store owner, a device owner, or the like using a voice message or mail via a PHS adapter 219 attached to the PC 218 in the store.

In this store management system, the store control controller 202, the showcase system controller 203, the air conditioner system controller 207, the heat storage system controller 211, the lighting system controller 212, the vending machine 213, the security system 214, the power monitor 220, The anti-dew heater controller 221 is connected to the NA 201 in a multi-drop manner,
It notifies and instructs information on the status of each device.

At this time, the store control controller 202 to the security system 2 connected in a multi-drop manner
For example, a dedicated protocol such as no procedure is used as a protocol between
At a higher level, the TCP / IP protocol is used.

In this store management system, various devices are controlled based on data exchange between controllers connected in a multi-drop manner. Specifically, the heat storage system controller 211 receives the load status of the refrigerator 206 and the refrigerator 209 from the showcase system controller 203 and the air conditioner system controller 207, and controls the heat storage tank 210 based on the received load status of the refrigerator. I do.

The power monitor 220 performs cooperative control with the showcase system controller 203, the air conditioner system controller 207, the lighting system controller 212, and the like. Specifically, the power monitor 22
If the total power consumption in the store A monitored by 0 is equal to or more than the predetermined value, the controller instructs the showcase system controller 203 to increase the set temperature in the showcase 204. Further, it instructs the air conditioner system controller 207 to increase the set temperature in the store A, and further instructs the lighting system controller 212 to dimming the lighting to some extent.

Further, the dew-proof heater controller 221 includes:
The cooperative control is performed with the showcase system controller 203. Specifically, it receives the temperature in the showcase 204 and the in-store temperature detected by the in-store temperature and humidity sensor 203a from the showcase system controller 203, and controls the operation of the dew-proof heater based on the temperature difference.

Next, a data structure used when the store headquarter 12 shown in FIG. 1 stores data received from each of the stores A to C will be specifically described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data structure used when the store headquarter 12 shown in FIG. 1 stores data received from each of the stores A to C.

As shown in FIG. 3, the data received from stores A to C has a linked list data structure. Specifically, for each store, showcase data, air conditioner data, and lighting data are indicated by pointers. Concatenated,
Further, the device data of the store A, the store B, and the store C are linked by a pointer for each same device.

Therefore, when it is desired to access each device data of the store A, the linked list is traced to efficiently obtain the showcase data 31a, the air conditioner data 32a, and the lighting data 33a of the store A. Can be. Similarly, store B showcase data 31b, air conditioner data 32b, and lighting data 3
3b, the showcase data 31c, the air conditioner data 32c, and the lighting data 33c of the store C can also be efficiently acquired.

When it is desired to access the showcase data of each store, the linked list is similarly traced to display the showcase data 31a of the store A, the showcase data 31b of the store B, and the showcase data of the store C. The data 31c can be obtained efficiently.

As described above, in the store management system according to the present embodiment, each store A
~ C, if the data relating to the equipment such as the showcase 204, the air conditioner 208 and the lighting is received, this data is linked and stored as data having a linked list data structure. In addition, data can be accessed quickly and efficiently for each device.

In the present embodiment, the equipment in the store is limited for convenience of explanation, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
In the case of using the dew-proof heater device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 141845, a dew-proof heater controller for controlling the dew-proof heater device is newly connected by multi-drop.

Further, in the present embodiment, various devices such as the showcase system controller 203 and the air conditioner system controller 207 are connected in a multi-drop manner. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Various network topologies such as types can also be used.

In this embodiment, the public network 10
The stores A to C are connected to the store headquarters 12 and the like via the Internet, but the present invention is not limited to this, and they may be connected via a satellite communication or a wireless communication system.

[0057]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of controllers for controlling various devices for each device are connected to a predetermined network and collected by each controller connected to the network. The stored data is stored in the management device as file data that can be accessed for each device and each store, so that a store management system that can efficiently manage data collected from each store can be obtained. Play.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, data collected by a plurality of controllers is stored as data having a list structure linked to each device and each store. There is an effect that a store management system that can quickly and efficiently access data for each device can be obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of controllers for controlling various devices for each device are connected to a predetermined network, and data collected by each controller connected to the network is stored for each device. In addition, since the configuration is such that the data is stored in the management device as file data that can be accessed for each store, it is possible to obtain a data management method capable of efficiently managing data collected from each store.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the data collected by the plurality of controllers is stored as data having a list structure linked to each device and each store. There is an effect that a data management method that can access data quickly and efficiently for each device can be obtained.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a storage medium stores a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to the third or fourth aspect, thereby making the program readable by a machine. There is an effect that a recording medium capable of realizing the operation of item 3 or 4 by a computer is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a store management system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration inside a store A shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data structure used when the store headquarters shown in FIG. 1 stores data received from each store.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A, B, C Stores 11a to 11i Router 12 Store Headquarters 13 Service Headquarters 14 Security Headquarters 15 Store Owner 16 Equipment Owner 17 Equipment Maintenance Company 201 NA (Network Adapter) 202 Store Control Controller 203 Showcase System Controller 204 Showcase 205 Refrigerator 206 Refrigerator (for showcase) 207 Air conditioner system controller 208 Air conditioner 209 Refrigerator (for air conditioner) 210 Thermal storage tank 211 Thermal storage system controller 212 Lighting system controller 213 Vending machine 214 Security system 215 Door 216 Fire alarm 217 Security device 218 Store PC 219 PHS adapter

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kishiro Kusano 1-1-1, Tanabe-Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture F-term in Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. 3L045 AA02 BA01 CA02 LA16 NA19 PA06 5B049 AA05 AA06 BB11 CC00 CC13 CC34 EE59 FF06 FF07 GG02 GG04 GG09

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A showcase arranged in a plurality of stores,
In a store management system that collectively manages various devices such as an air conditioner and lighting, a plurality of controllers that control the various devices for each device are connected to a predetermined network, and data collected by each controller connected to the network is A store management system characterized by storing in a management device as file data accessible for each device and each store. 2. The store management according to claim 1, wherein the management device stores the data collected by the plurality of controllers as data having a list structure linked for each device and each store. system. 3. A showcase arranged in a plurality of stores,
In a data management method of a store management system for collectively managing various devices such as an air conditioner and lighting, a plurality of controllers for controlling the various devices for each device are connected to a predetermined network, and collected by each controller connected to the network. A data management method characterized by storing the obtained data in a management device as file data accessible for each device and each store. 4. The data management according to claim 3, wherein the management device stores the data collected by the plurality of controllers as data having a list structure linked for each device and each store. Method. 5. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 3 or 4 is recorded.