JP2002091514A - Control system and recording medium recorded with program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a communication system for control capable of displaying/ operating the state of a device similarly to a display for control of a local control system by a terminal distant from the local control system without obstructing monitor/control by the local control system and providing a new display screen. SOLUTION: A public server 21 of the local control system 3 acquires states of the respective devices by communicating with the respective host computers 16 for control by protocols different from the one with a client device 7. On the other hand, the client device 7 receives HTML and XML files created based on screen data showing operations when a programmable display 14 acquires and displays the state of the device and applet to be operated by referring to the XML file from the public server 21 and displays the state of the device on a screen based on a result obtained by inquiring the public server 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention makes it possible to publish data of a local control system to a terminal device connected via a wide area communication network such as the Internet without obstructing monitoring / control by the local control system. It relates to a control system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, programmable logic
The controller (hereinafter abbreviated as PLC) is, for example,
It is widely used as a control device for controlling various target systems such as a belt conveyor type automatic assembling machine. Further, in recent years, with the complexity of the target system, a plurality of PLCs have been used in cooperation with each other. The display of data from each PLC or the control instruction to the PLC is performed not only by a display device arranged in the vicinity of the PLC or the like, but also, for example, by installing the display device at a location away from these display devices. In some cases, a control system is constructed so that the control host computer can display or operate the computer.

More specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, in a conventional control system 501, a PLC 503 is positioned as a control center, and each PLC 503 includes a device 521 of a target system 502, a display and A programmable display 505 for giving a control instruction is connected. Further, another PLC 503 and a control host computer 507 are connected to the PLC 503 via a serial cable 504.
Between the host 503 and the control host computer 507 and each P
The transfer of control data between the LCs 503 is performed by the PLC
503 is performed using the communication function.

In this configuration, the display processing unit 571 of the control host computer 507 communicates with the PLC 503 to receive data indicating the status of the target system 502, displays the data on the screen according to the status, and allows the user to input data. In response, control data is sent to the PLC 503, and the target system 502 is controlled according to the control data. Similarly, the programmable display 505 is connected to the PLC 5
03, while displaying / controlling the state of the target system 502.

However, the control system 501
Is basically a closed system, in which the state of the control system such as the screen of a programmable display cannot be viewed from a remote place.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the applicant of the present application has disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-077002 filed earlier that the data showing the screen of a programmable display is converted into a format that can be displayed on a terminal device, A configuration for distributing to a terminal device via a.

[0007] As shown in FIG.
01 in the local control system 103, the programmable display 114 and the control host computer 116
Are connected via a network 115 that communicates according to a predetermined common protocol.
When the PLC 112 communicates with the control host computer 116 or another programmable display 114, the relay 14 relays communication using a dedicated protocol specific to the model of the PLC 112 and communication using a common protocol. This allows each programmable display 114 and control host computer 116 to communicate with another programmable display 114 using a common protocol regardless of the type of the PLC 112 connected to the other programmable display 114.

Further, the control host computer 1
16 is provided with a public server unit 161 that can be connected to the Internet 105.
When accessed from, an applet instructing an operation according to the screen data is transmitted to the client device 107 by the public server unit 161. Further, the client device 107 that executes the applet communicates with the control host computer 116 to communicate with the local control system 1.
03 device status is received and displayed.

Here, the screen data defines an operation when the programmable display 114 displays a screen, and the client device 107 accesses a device in the local control system 103 instead of accessing a public server. The data indicating the status of the device is received from the unit 161. This allows the client device 107 to display a screen having the same content as the display screen of the programmable display 114, despite being connected via the Internet 105.

[0010]

However, in the control system 101 having the above configuration, the local control system 1
When the control host computer 116 cannot operate normally due to unauthorized access, the control host computer 116 that controls the entire control system 03 discloses data indicating the status of the applet and the device. There is a possibility that trouble may occur.

The control host computer 116
Performs processing for disclosing the status of the device to the client device 107 in addition to the processing for monitoring / control in the local control system 103.
When the number of devices to be disclosed increases and access from the client device 107 is concentrated, the load is concentrated and malfunctions are likely to occur. Also in this case, there is a possibility that the operation of the local control system 103 as a whole is hindered.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a programmable display without creating a new display screen without obstructing monitoring / control by a local control system. An object of the present invention is to realize a control system capable of confirming or controlling the state of a device displayed / operated on the control display device by a terminal device arranged at a place distant from the control display device such as a container.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control system including a data collecting device for collecting data necessary for a control display device to display a screen. The control system is characterized by taking the following measures. That is, by communicating with the data collection device via a local network to acquire the data, and to create a screen of the control display device on a display screen of the terminal device, the screen is created according to the data. A public device for transmitting data to a terminal device connected via a wide area communication network, wherein the data collection device and the public device are different from a first protocol used when the public device and the terminal device communicate with each other. Communicate using the second protocol. Note that, if the screen of the control display device can be displayed on the terminal device by the data transmitted to the terminal device, the data may be an image file, or the data indicating the state of the device and the data based on the data. The program may be a screen display program.

Further, the recording medium according to the invention of claim 6 is:
A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for causing a first computer to operate as the data collection device according to claim 1 and a program for causing the second computer to operate as the disclosure device according to claim 1 are recorded. The control system is realized when each of the programs is executed by the first and second computers. Note that the first and second programs are executed according to the above programs.
If the computer can execute the operation of the disclosure device and the operation of the data collection device, respectively, the first or second computer may be able to execute other processing such as, for example, editing processing of screen data. Further, the program may be a code for instructing an arithmetic unit such as a CPU or a virtual machine for the entire procedure of the above-described operation, or a part or all of the above-described operation may be executed by calling the predetermined procedure. If a basic program (for example, an operating system or a library) already exists, even if all or part of the above procedure is replaced with a code or pointer that instructs the arithmetic unit to call the basic program, Good.

In the above configuration, the disclosure device communicates with the data collection device using the second protocol, acquires data necessary for display by a control display device such as a programmable display device, and responds to the data. The created data is transmitted to the terminal device via a wide area communication network such as the Internet using a first protocol different from the second protocol. Here, the created data is data for displaying the screen of the control display device on the display screen of the terminal device. Therefore, even when the terminal device does not have the same hardware and software configuration as the control display device, and accesses from a remote place via a wide area communication network, the terminal device displays the control on the screen of the terminal device without any problem. Display screen of the display device. As a result, in particular, it is possible to notify the user of the terminal device of the device status without creating and installing a monitoring control screen for the terminal device or a monitoring control program for the terminal device.

[0016] Further, since the disclosure device and the data collection device are separately provided and communicate with each other using a second protocol different from the first protocol between the disclosure device and the terminal device, Even if the unauthorized access via the wide area communication network succeeds, only the public device will not operate normally, and the operation of the data collection device will not be hindered. Therefore, the data collection device in the local control system can continue collecting data normally only by hindering data disclosure to the terminal device.

[0017] As a result, the terminal device remote from the local control system can be used in the same manner as the control display device of the local control system without creating a new display screen without obstructing monitoring / control by the local control system. Thus, a control system capable of displaying the status of the device can be realized.

The control system according to a second aspect of the present invention acquires a device status based on screen data indicating a device required for display and a position at which the status of the device is displayed, and obtains a status of the device. In a control system having a control display device for displaying a screen and a data collection device for collecting the state of a device displayed by any one of the plurality of control display devices, the following means are taken. . That is, a public device connected to the data collection device via a local network and capable of communicating with a terminal device via a wide area communication network, and an operation of inquiring the public device about the status of the device indicated by the screen data And, of the display screen of the terminal device, to a position corresponding to the display position indicated by the screen data,
Storage means for storing terminal data including a program for causing the terminal device to perform an operation of displaying a screen in response to an inquiry result, and generating means for generating the terminal data based on the screen data, The above publication device,
While transmitting the terminal data read from the storage means to the terminal device to perform the above operations, the terminal device communicates with the data collection device using a second protocol different from the first protocol used when communicating with the terminal device. To obtain the status of the device and respond to the inquiry from the terminal device.

The above-mentioned device includes a control object itself,
The control device may be a control device connected to the control target, or may be a memory on a control display device such as a memory in which data manually input from an input device such as a barcode reader is stored. . In addition, as a format of the terminal data, the program describes all procedures of the above operations as C.
It may be a code for instructing an arithmetic means such as a PU or a virtual machine, or a basic program (for example, an operating system or a library) capable of executing a part or all of the above operations by calling it in a predetermined procedure. May already be present, a part or all of the entire procedure may be replaced with a code or a pointer for instructing the arithmetic means to call the basic program.
Further, a portion of the program that changes according to screen data may be separated as data such as an XML file, and the terminal device may perform the above operations by referring to the data. In this case, the data is generated by the generation unit, and terminal data including the data and the program is transmitted to the terminal device.

Further, the recording medium according to the invention of claim 7 is:
A program that causes a first computer to operate as the data collection device according to claim 2, a program that causes the second computer to operate as a public device according to claim 2, and one or more computers. 3. A computer-readable recording medium in which is stored a storage unit and a program to be operated as a generation unit, wherein when each of the programs is executed by each of the computers, the control system according to claim 2 is realized. . If the first computer and the second computer are different, the one or more computers may be the same as any one of the first and second computers. Further, similarly to claim 6, the first or second computer may be able to execute other processing.

In the above configuration, the storage means stores the terminal data generated by the generation means in accordance with the screen data, and the terminal data is transmitted by the public device to a wide area communication network such as the Internet. Transmitted to the terminal device via the terminal.

On the other hand, the terminal device inquires of the publication device about a device state required for screen display based on the received terminal data program, and displays the device state based on the response. Here, the publishing device transmits the device data from the data collection device using a second protocol different from the first protocol used when the publishing device and the terminal device communicate with each other via the local network, as in claim 1. get.

As a result, in the same manner as in the first aspect, the terminal device does not impede monitoring / control in the local control system, such as collecting the status of the device of the data collection device, and the hardware configuration and the software configuration, or
Regardless of the access location, and especially without creating and installing a monitoring control screen for the terminal device or a monitoring control program for the terminal device, the control display device displays each screen data on the screen of the terminal device. A screen having the same content as the screen displayed based on the control system can be displayed, and the state of the control system can be notified to the user.

Further, since the terminal data includes a program for displaying a screen according to the state of the device,
After transmitting the terminal data, the terminal device and the disclosure device may communicate the status of the device. Therefore, for example, compared to a case where an image in a bitmap format is transmitted and the screen of the control display device is transmitted to the terminal device, it is possible to reduce the amount of data communication when the status of the device is continuously displayed. As a result, even when the terminal device and the public device are connected via a communication path having a low transmission speed, a screen can be displayed at a sufficient update speed.

The above program may be a program including a machine language executable by the terminal device. However, the program is an applet having a predetermined procedure so that the program does not depend on the model. For example, it is preferable to provide a translator for translating an applet into a machine language for its own device, such as a virtual machine.

In this case, the publishing device transmits an applet independent of the type of the terminal device as the program, and the translating means of the terminal device translates and executes the applet. Inquires or displays the status to the public device. As a result, even if only one type of applet is stored in the storage unit, a plurality of types of terminal devices simultaneously display a plurality of screens having the same content as the screen when the control display device displays based on each screen data. it can.

On the other hand, a control system according to a third aspect of the present invention provides a control display for giving a control instruction to a device in accordance with an input operation based on screen data indicating an input operation and a device controlled in accordance with the input operation. In a control system having a device and a data collection device for collecting and controlling the state of a device displayed by one of the plurality of control display devices, the following means have been taken in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. It is characterized by. That is, a public device connected to the data collection device via the local network and capable of communicating with the terminal device via the wide area communication network, and an input operation indicated by the screen data is received by the terminal device. In response to the input operation, and
Storage means for storing terminal data including a program for causing the terminal device to perform an operation of transmitting a control instruction to the device indicated by the screen data to the disclosure device; and Generating means for generating data, wherein the publishing device transmits the terminal data read from the storage means to the terminal device to perform each of the operations, and a control instruction from the terminal device performing the operation. Based on the first, when communicating with the terminal device
The device communicates with the data collection device using a second protocol different from the protocol, and transmits a control instruction to the specified device. The device may be the control target itself, a control device connected to the control target, or a memory on the control display device. Also, as in claim 2,
Various formats can be selected for the terminal data format, and the program is preferably an applet.

Further, a recording medium according to the invention of claim 8 is:
A program for operating a first computer as a data collection device according to claim 3, a program for operating a second computer as a disclosure device according to claim 3, and one or more computers. 4. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for operating as a storage unit and a generation unit are recorded, and when each of the programs is executed by each of the computers, the control system according to claim 3 is realized. . Note that, similarly to claim 7, the one or more computers may be the same as the first or second computer, and the first or second computer may be capable of executing other processing.

In the above configuration, the storage means stores the terminal data generated in accordance with the screen data by the generation means, and the terminal data is stored in the public device by, for example, a wide area communication network such as the Internet. Is transmitted to the terminal device via.

On the other hand, the terminal device operates based on the program of the received terminal data. When an input operation is received, the terminal device responds to the input operation and issues a control instruction to the device indicated by the screen data. It is transmitted to the public device. The input operation corresponds to the input operation indicated by the screen data.

Further, upon receiving the control instruction from the terminal device, the publishing device receives a second instruction different from the one used when communicating with the terminal device.
Communicates with the data collection device using a protocol to transmit control instructions to the device. Thereby, the device of the control system can operate according to the control instruction corresponding to the input operation to the terminal device.

As a result, substantially as in claims 1 and 2,
The terminal device can be used regardless of the hardware configuration, software configuration, or access location without interfering with monitoring / control in the local control system such as device status collection and control of the data collection device. The same content as when the control display device accepts input operations based on screen data by input operation to the terminal device without creating and installing a monitor control screen for the terminal or a monitor control program for the terminal device An instruction can be transmitted, and the state of the device can be controlled from the terminal device.

Further, the control system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the control system according to the first, second or third aspect of the present invention, wherein communication between the data collection device and the disclosure device is performed via the first device. It is characterized in that a communication control device for controlling whether or not to relay communication is provided according to whether or not the two protocols are used.

According to this configuration, for example, the communication control device such as a firewall controls whether or not to relay the communication according to whether or not the communication passing through the communication control device is the second protocol. . As a result, unauthorized access to the data collection device from the terminal device via the wide area communication network and the disclosure device can be more reliably prevented.

In each of the above configurations, the data collection device collects and controls device status only in the local control system, and also communicates with the public device via the local network. Need to do. Therefore, especially when there are a large number of devices, a single data collection device may have insufficient computational capability, communication capability, and the like, and may cause unstable operation of the data collection device.

On the other hand, a control system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the control system according to the first, second, third, or fourth aspect, wherein a plurality of the data collection devices are provided, and Is characterized by comprising a routing means for selecting a data collection device of a communication partner in accordance with a device for acquiring or controlling a state.

In the above configuration, since a plurality of data collection devices are provided and the publishing device is provided with the routing means, it is possible to suppress the calculation capability and communication capability required for each data collection device. As a result, by exposing the screen of the control display device to the terminal device, the device status acquisition /
Even if the amount of data communication / processing for control increases, data collection in the local control system can be performed stably.

[0038]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described below with reference to FIG.
That is, the control communication system 1 according to the present embodiment includes:
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a programmable logic controller (PLC) 12 as a control device for controlling a device 11a of a target system 11, or a HM
Programmable display (control display) 14 operated by an operator as I (Human Machine Interface)
Local control system (control system) 3 including
And a client device (terminal device) 7 that can be connected to the local control system 3 via the Internet (wide area communication network) 5 without interfering with monitoring / control by the local control system 3. This is a system in which the client device 7 refers to and controls a screen similar to the programmable display 14 of the local control system 3 without preparing a dedicated monitoring control program or monitoring control screen in the client device 7 in advance. .

The client device 7 is, for example, a general-purpose personal computer, and includes a virtual machine 71 capable of executing a Java (registered trademark) language program and a browser 72 realized by, for example, general-purpose browser software. It has. Browser 72 above
Can communicate with a device connected to the Internet 5 and cause the virtual machine 71 to execute the received applet. The browser 72 is, for example, H
HTML (HyperText Margin) from any server device using a protocol such as TTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol).
You can also receive and view documents such as kup Language documents.

Here, before describing the configuration for safely displaying the screen of the programmable display 14 from the local control system 3 to the client device 7, the operation when the programmable display 14 displays the screen will be described. That is, the programmable display 14 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a display device such as a liquid crystal display device and an input device such as a touch panel (both not shown), and combines processing instruction words (tags). The status of the device can be acquired and displayed based on the determined screen data, and the status of the device can be controlled based on the operation by the operator.

The device to be controlled only has to be capable of acquiring or controlling (changing) the status. For example, the device to be controlled may be the device 11a itself.
Programmable display 14 and PLC 12
Alternatively, it may indicate an area of a storage device provided in the local control system 3, such as a storage device of the control host computer 16 described later. Further, the device may be a memory in which data manually input from an input device such as a touch panel or a barcode reader (not shown) is stored.

More specifically, the programmable display 14 according to the present embodiment can switch and display a plurality of unit screens based on screen data, and each unit screen is, for example, as shown in FIG. A static figure B, such as a nameplate, that does not change the display content, and a part figure J (J1), such as a switch, a lamp, or a meter, whose display state is changed such as a shape, color, or blinking state, are arranged on the base screen. Formed. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the screen data indicating the screen is referred to for each execution event, a file number F of the base screen, an event name N for specifying the operation content to be executed on the base screen. It is configured by combining a tag W including one or a plurality of pieces of reference information R. When the tag W is a display tag WL that displays a part graphic J according to a predetermined device state in a predetermined screen area (display coordinate range), FIG.
As shown in the figure, the reference information R includes a display coordinate range (X ·
Y), a device address A for specifying a device, and a file number FL to be referred to at the time of display, such as a graphic file indicating ON and a graphic file indicating OFF when the component graphic J is a switch. When the tag is an input tag, as shown in FIG. 5, the reference information R includes a valid input coordinate range (XY) and a device address A in which an input result is written.

On the other hand, the programmable display device 14 extracts the display tag WL, which is the base screen currently being displayed, with the file number F of the base screen from its own screen data memory 14a at a predetermined time interval. The content of the device address A of the tag WL is read from the memory 12a of the PLC 12, and the component graphic J corresponding to the content is displayed on the screen. For example, in FIG. 2, the display tag WL1 stored in the screen data memory 14a indicates the display of the switch, and corresponds to the device at the device address A1. When executing the display tag WL1, the programmable display 14 communicates with, for example, the PLC 12 connected to its own device, or communicates with another programmable display 14 via the local network 15 to change the device address. Acquire the contents of A1. In the example of FIG. 2, since the content of the device address A1 is "0", the programmable display 14 determines that the switch is OFF, and corresponds to OFF of the files stored in the memory 14b of the programmable display 14. The figure of the attached file FL1 is displayed in the display coordinate range (XY). This allows
In the coordinate range (X · Y), a part graphic J1 indicating a switch in an OFF state is displayed. As described above, when the programmable display 14 executes the display tag in the screen data at a predetermined time interval, the state of the device is reflected on the screen of the programmable display 14.

When an input operation such as a push operation on a touch panel (not shown) is received by the operator, the programmable display 14 corresponds to the currently displayed base screen from the screen data in the screen data memory 14a. Is searched for, and the content of the device address A indicated by the input tag WT is changed according to the input result. For example, if the effective input coordinate range (X · Y) is set to the same coordinate range as the above-described part graphic J1 and the input data WT1 for changing the content of the same device address A1 is included in the screen data, the operator is prompted by the user. When the part graphic J1 on the display screen shown in FIG. 2 is pressed, the input tag WT1 is found as a result of the search by the programmable display. In this case, the programmable display 14 is, for example,
It communicates with the PLC 12 connected to its own device, or communicates with another programmable display 1 via the local network 15.
4 to rewrite the contents of the device address A1 corresponding to the input tag WT1. When the display tag WL1 is processed after the input operation, the content of the device address A1 has been changed to "1", so that the programmable display 14 displays the file FL2 as shown in FIG.
Is displayed on the screen. As a result, the programmable display 14 rewrites the contents of the device address according to the input operation,
The screen display can be updated according to the contents of the device address.

Note that the acquisition / control of the status of each device may be performed by communicating with the entity of the device address every time the tag is executed, or a cache may be prepared in the programmable display 14 and the device may be controlled. When the status is acquired / changed, the cache may be accessed, and communication may be performed at predetermined time intervals or at predetermined events to synchronize with the entity of the device address.

In the local control system 3 according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
12 and is often operated by an operator of the target system 11 near the target system 11. Further, the respective programmable displays 14 are connected to each other by a local network 15 such as Ethernet (trademark: Xerox Corporation). Further, the local network 15 includes:
A control host computer (data collection device) 16 is connected.

Here, in the local control system 3, unlike the conventional control system 501 (see FIG. 12) in which each PLC intervenes in communication processing in the local control system 3, the configuration essential to the local control system 3 is provided. In addition, since the programmable display 14 operates as an HMI, the programmable display 14 having sufficient computing power is configured to process most of the communication, and each programmable display 14 has a PLC 12 connected to itself. The communication between the PLC 12 and other programmable displays 14 and the control host computer 16 is converted by converting between a dedicated protocol unique to the model and a common protocol in the local network 15. In the protocol conversion between the common protocol and the dedicated protocol, a predetermined common command and a command unique to the PLC 12 corresponding to the common command are assigned so that the same code is assigned to the same instruction. This includes conversion between data, conversion of data and address expression methods, and the like.

Thus, the programmable display 14 and the control host computer 16 can communicate with each other by the common protocol via the local network 15 irrespective of the type of the PLC 12 connected to another programmable display 14. As a result, the control system 501
As a result, the local control system 3 in which the PLCs 12 of different models coexist is easily realized.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the control host computer 16 comprises a display processing unit 31 for monitoring and controlling the local control system 3 and a local network 1
5 and communicates with each programmable display 14 via the common protocol IF unit 32 and the local network 15 in response to the common protocol described above, and responds to requests from the display processing unit 31 and the like. A server unit 33 is provided, and in many cases, the status of the target system 11, the PLC 12, or the programmable display 14 can be displayed and controlled from a location farther than the programmable display 14.

The control host computer 16
Is provided with an image processing unit 34 for creating screen data of the programmable display 14 and a screen data memory 35 for storing the created screen data, and regulates the display / control operation of each programmable display 14. After the screen data is created (corrected) by the drawing processing unit 34, it is distributed to each programmable display 14 via the server unit 33, the common protocol IF unit 32, and the local network 15.

Here, as described above, the screen data is configured by combining a tag indicating a correspondence between an area on the screen and an address of a device corresponding to display or input in the area, The drawing processing unit 34 displays, for example, a palette of tags, and prompts the user to select a tag in the palette and arrange a desired tag on the screen. Further, the drawing processing unit 34 displays the placed tags at the designated coordinates, and adjusts the coordinates of the tags according to the user's operation such as drag and drop. The image processing unit 34
Prompts the user to enter a device address associated with the input tag or display tag. As a result, the user can operate the drawing processing unit 34 to arrange the tags at desired positions on the screen and create screen data simply by associating each tag with a device address.

Therefore, the display and operation of each programmable display 14 can be determined (changed) more easily than when the display program of the programmable display 14 is modified, and the user of the local control system 3 (the control host computer) can be determined. 16 users), the target system 11
, The operator's proficiency of the programmable display 14, or the user's preference.

Further, the local control system 3 according to the present embodiment is connected to the Internet 5 in order to open the screen of the programmable display 14 to the client device 7 without obstructing monitoring / control by the local control system 3. The connected public server device (public device) 21, the public server device 21 and the control host computer 16
(Communication control means) provided between
22. A local network 2 similar to the local network 15 is provided between the firewall 22 and the control host computer 16 and between the firewall 22 and the public server device 21.
3 is connected. In the present embodiment, the control host computer 16 corresponds to the first computer described in the claims, and the public server device 21 corresponds to the second computer and one or more computers.

As will be described in detail later, the public server 21 responds to the device status inquiry from the client device 7 by using the control host computer 16 to control each device in the local control system 3. Getting status. Further, in order to reflect the device state change instruction from the client device 7, the state of each of the above devices is controlled via the control host computer 16.

As described above, the control host computer 1
6 is larger than the case where the data processing amount is not disclosed to the client device 7, the local control system 3 according to the present embodiment has the members 11a to 11 shown in FIG.
5 is divided into a plurality of groups, and a control host computer 16 is provided for each group, thereby distributing a process of acquiring a device status and a process of instructing a status change.

Here, the public server device 21 and the control host computer 16 use a unique protocol different from that used when the public server device 21 communicates with the client device 7 via the Internet 5 and use the firewall 2
2 are communicating with each other. The unique protocol is, for example, TCP / IP such as an application layer.
(Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protoco
l) A protocol provided in a layer above the protocol, and the port number for the protocol in the TCP protocol is FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or HTT
The port number is set to a different port number, such as P (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), for the protocol used when communicating with the client device 7 on the Internet 5. Further, in the above-mentioned unique protocol, each control host computer 16 can be distinguished by the name given to each, and can communicate by designating the communication destination by the name. Further, commands used in the protocol are different from those used when communicating with the client device 7.

The firewall 22 has (1)
Whether the transmitted data string is the above-mentioned proprietary protocol, (2)
Whether the port number in the TCP protocol is the unique protocol, or (3) the transmission / reception destination IP address added to the packet is the control host computer 1
6 / Whether the server is the public server 21 or (1)
Firewall 2 by the combination of ~ (3)
It is determined whether the communication via the communication server 2 is a communication between the public server device 21 and the control host computer 16, and only the communication between the two is passed. Thus, even if the client device 7 attempts to communicate with the control host computer 16 via the public server device 21, the firewall 2
2 prevents communication between the two.

On the other hand, based on the screen data for the programmable display device 14, the public server device 21 operates substantially the same as the following two operations, that is, the programmable display device 1
The client device 7 can instruct the client device 7 to perform an operation for displaying the device state based on the screen data according to the screen data and an operation substantially instructing the device state change in accordance with the operation. However, unlike the case where the programmable display 14 operates based on the screen data, the display destination is a display device (not shown) of the client device 7,
The operation is received from an input device (not shown) of the client device 7.

Further, the party to which the client device 7 inquires about the status of the device and the transmission destination of the status change instruction are also changed to the public server device 21.
Communicates with the client device 7 that operates in accordance with the above-mentioned instructions, informs the client device 7 of the device status, and issues a device status change instruction to the client device 7.
Can be received from

Thus, even when the client device 7 is connected from a remote place via the Internet 5, the client device 7 displays a screen having the same contents as the screen of the programmable display 14, and performs the same operation as the local screen. The state of the device in the control system 3 can be controlled.

Further, since the public server device 21 and the control host computer 16 communicate with each other using a unique protocol different from the communication protocol between the client device 7 and the public server device 21, the client device 7 Even if the unauthorized access to the host computer succeeds, the unauthorized access from the client device 7 to the control host computer 16 can be prevented. Even if the operation of the public server device 21 is hindered by the unauthorized access, the hindrance to the distribution to the client device 7 only occurs, and the control host computer 16 of the local control system 3 and the programmable display device are not affected. 14 can display and control the state of the control object without any trouble. In this embodiment, since the firewall 22 is provided, the control host computer 16 can be more reliably protected from unauthorized access by the client device 7.

In addition, in this embodiment, a plurality of control host computers 16 are provided according to the size of the target system 11 and the like. Even if the amount of data communication / processing increases for this purpose, the screen of the programmable display 14 can be disclosed without obstructing the monitoring and control in the local control system 3.

Further, since the public server device 21 transmits and receives device data indicating the device status to and from the client device 7 in addition to the operation instruction based on the screen data, the provisional server device It is difficult to restore the screen of the programmable display 14 even if a part of the operation instruction is observed.

As a result, the client device 7 connected to the Internet 5 does not interfere with the display / control on the programmable display 14 in the local control system 3 or the host computer 16 for control. The same screen can be displayed / operated, and a more secure control communication system 1 can be realized.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the control host computer 16 is provided with a public server-side communication processing unit 36 that communicates with the public server device 21 via the firewall 22 using the unique protocol. ing. The public server-side communication processing unit 36, for example, when there is an instruction from the user, when changing the screen data, etc.
The screen data in the screen data memory 35 can be transmitted to the public server device 21 at a desired timing.

The public server side communication processing unit 36
Accesses the public server device 21 at a predetermined timing, such as when the content of the device address (device data) is changed or at a predetermined time interval, and discloses the content of the device address necessary for data disclosure in the public server device 21 It can be transmitted to the server device 21. Note that the content of the device address is obtained via the server unit 33 in the same manner as when the display processing unit 31 obtains the device address. Further, the public server side communication processing unit 36 communicates with the public server device 21, and as a result, when the client device 7 instructs to change the content of the device address, when the display processing unit 31 changes the content of the device address A, Similarly to the above, the instruction can be relayed, and an instruction to change the contents can be transmitted to the entity of the device address, such as the programmable display 14 itself or the PLC 12 connected to the programmable display 14.

On the other hand, the public server device 21 is connected to the control host computer 1 via the firewall 22.
Computer-side communication processing unit (routing means) 41 that communicates with the communication device 6, a data storage unit 42 that stores device data received by the host computer-side communication processing unit 41 from the control host computer 16, and a client device as storage means. An HTML file storage unit 43, an XML file storage unit 44, an applet storage unit 45 for respectively storing an HTML file, an XML (extensible Mark-up Language) file, and an applet transmitted to the client device 7, and the client device 7 via the Internet 5. In response to the request, the storage units 42 to 45 are accessed to transmit the HTML file, the XML file, and the applet to the client device 7, and communicate with the client device 7 that executes the applet. On screen display Based on the public server unit 46 for transmitting necessary device data and receiving a device data change instruction from the client device 7 and the screen data of the programmable display 14 or the same format screen data, the HTML file and the XM
File generation unit (generation means) 47 for generating an L file
Are provided.

The host computer side communication processing section 41
Can communicate with each control host computer 16 via the firewall 22 using the above-described unique protocol.
Further, the host computer side communication processing unit 41 can perform route control (routing), and inquires of the state of each device from among the plurality of control host computers 16 and transmits a state change instruction to the control host computer 1.
6 can be communicated with the control host computer 16.

The XML file is created for each unit screen included in the screen data for the programmable display 14, and each XML file indicates each tag (processing instruction word) related to the unit screen. XML elements (elements) are included.

For example, when the screen data for the programmable display 14 includes the display tag WL of the base screen (unit screen) = 1 (main screen) in the format shown in FIG. In the corresponding XML file,
For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a Tag element E1 corresponding to the display tag WL is included. The Tag element E1
Include TagName element E11, X element E12 and Y element E13, Libr corresponding to the event name, display coordinate range, reference file number, device address, etc.
aryNo element E14 and BitSymbolN
ame element E15, etc.
The content (content) of E15 is, for example, “L_000” in the example of FIG. 8 according to the content of the display tag WL.
0 ", 232 and 120, 101, and 010
It is set to 100.

The Tag element E2 corresponding to the input tag WT shown in FIG. 5 includes a TagName element E corresponding to an event name, a device address, a valid input range, and the like.
21, the SymbolName element E22, and the contents of the X element E23, the Y element E24, the X2 element E25, and the Y2 element E26 are set according to the contents of the input tag WT.

Here, the contents of the elements E11 to E26 and the like may be set so as to match the contents of the display tag WL and the input tag WT. For example, the resolution of the programmable display 14 and the client device 7 Display tags WL, such as scaling up / down at a ratio according to the difference from the resolution of the
Or the contents of the input tag WT may be converted and set according to a predetermined procedure.

Here, for example, the file generation unit 47 determines, from the screen data for the programmable display 14, a processing instruction word (tag WL / WT...) Of a certain unit screen, that is, a file number of the base screen by a predetermined number. By sequentially extracting value tags, generating XML elements corresponding to the tags, and setting the contents of the XML elements according to the tags,
An XML file of the unit screen can be created.

On the other hand, the applet stored in the applet storage section 45 is referred to by the HTML file, and the operation when the programmable display 14 displays or operates a unit screen while referring to the XML file. Is a program that causes the client device 7 to execute the same operation as that of the client device 7.
The virtual machine 71 is described as an executable bytecode described in Java language.

The applet includes a class in which a method corresponding to a tag type that can appear in screen data is defined, and a class in which a method for calling a method corresponding to a tag type with reference to an XML file is defined. And a virtual machine 71 for executing the applet.
Can refer to the XML file and call a method corresponding to the tag type based on the XML element indicating the tag.

Specifically, of the methods executed by the virtual machine 71, the method corresponding to the tag type is called at a predetermined time interval in the case of a display tag, for example.
This is a drawing method for requesting data of a specific device address to the public server unit 46 and performing display according to the response. In the case of an input tag, the input method is called when an input event occurs, and is an input method for requesting the public server unit 46 to write data corresponding to an input result to a specific device address.

Here, in the screen data according to the present embodiment, the switching operation of each unit screen is also realized as an input tag, and the input tag has a device address as a device address in the storage area in the programmable display 14. Among them, a system area in which data indicating the currently displayed unit screen is stored is associated. Therefore, among the input methods, an input method that requests an instruction to change to the specific system area transmits an instruction to change the unit screen to the public server unit 46, similarly to a normal input method. Also, the client device 7 that executes the applet
Before updating the screen, the public server unit 46 is inquired about the contents of the device address of the system area, the unit screen currently displayed is determined, and the XML file corresponding to the unit screen is stored in the storage unit of the client device 7. If not stored, the XML file is read. Thus, the client device 7 and the programmable display 14 can always display the same unit screen.

The input method may change the contents of an alternative storage area provided in the client device 7 instead of transmitting the change instruction to the specific system area. In this case, when referring to the system area by another method or the like, the alternative storage area is referred to instead of making an inquiry to the public server unit 46. In this case, the client device 7 can display a unit screen different from the unit screen currently displayed on the programmable display 14 even if the unit screen is for the programmable display 14.

Further, for example, the same unit screen as that of the programmable display unit 14 can be designated by setting the parameters at the time of execution of an applet described later, or by displaying a menu in conjunction with the selection operation of the unit screen and allowing the user to select it. Or each of the above methods may be created so that the user can select whether to display a different unit screen. In this case, for example, when the user wants to monitor the operation of the operator of the programmable display device 14 in spite of using the same applet or XML file, the former is selected.
When the local control system 3 is to be monitored separately from the operation of the operator, the latter can be selected.

A method for referring to an XML file is, for example, an XML file indicating a tag from the XML file.
L element is extracted, and the type of the tag (for example, the XML
An instance of the class corresponding to the TagName element in the element) is generated, and the parameters of the tag (for example, the contents of each element in the XML element) are set in the field of the instance. Can be executed by the virtual machine 71.

On the other hand, in the HTML file, as shown in FIG. 9, a character string P11 for causing the virtual machine 71 of the client device 7 to execute the above-mentioned applet and, for example, "<HTML>" or "<TITLE>" For example, a character string P1 required as an HTML document is included. In the HTML file, for example, a character string for displaying characters or images describing the programmable display 14 displayed by the applet, or a character string showing a link to a hypertext document describing the local control system 3 H
A character string P2 conforming to the TML format may be included. Further, the HTML file may include a character string P12 for executing an applet for switching unit screens.

The HTML file according to the present embodiment is generated by the file generation unit 47 by the programmable display device 14.
The XML file is created for each unit screen. Further, for example, information relating to the entire screen data (programmable display 14) such as designation of a unit screen to be displayed first when the browser 72 of the client device 7 displays the HTML file and designation of the programmable display 14 is , Are included in the character string P11. In the case of this embodiment, the information is specified as a parameter when executing the applet. For example, the first unit screen is an attribute value of the attribute name “BASESCR” of the PARAM element (in this example, “1”). ).

The public server unit 46 receives, for example, a request from the client device 7, for example, a URI (Universal R).
An HTML file, an XML file, or an applet requested by the client device 7 can be determined based on an esource identifier, and the like, and can be distributed to the client device 7.

Further, when the public server unit 46 receives an inquiry about the contents of the device address A from the client device 7 executing the distributed applet, the public server unit 46 in the storage area of the data storage unit 42 corresponds to the device address A. Is read out, and a reply is sent to the client device 7. Further, when receiving the instruction to change the content of the device address A from the client device 7, the content of the area corresponding to the device address A is rewritten to a value corresponding to the instruction. Here, the public server device 21 and each control host computer 16 communicate at a predetermined timing as described above, and the contents of the data storage unit 42 are
The information is updated in accordance with the instruction of each control host computer 16, and the change of the data storage unit 42 is notified to each control host computer 16. Therefore, the client device 7 can display and control the current state of the local control system 3.

When synchronizing the contents of the data storage section 42 and the entity of the device address, the transmission direction is determined in accordance with, for example, the change time and the priority of the operation. For example, when updating the data storage unit 42 of the public server device 21 in accordance with the content of each device address in the local control system 3, the public server communication processing unit 36, like the display processing unit 31, updates the device address. And sends it as device data. Conversely, when transmitting the change in the data storage unit 42 to the entity of the device address, the communication processing unit 41 on the host computer side of the public server 21
The device data is read out from the device 2 and transmitted to the control host computer 16. Further, when the public server-side communication processing unit 36 of the control host computer 16 receives the device data, the display processing unit 31 transmits a content change instruction via the server unit 33 as in the case where the content is changed.

The members 31 to 31 shown in FIGS.
36, 41 to 47, and 71 to 72, an arithmetic unit such as a CPU executes a program stored in a storage unit such as a ROM or a RAM, and an input / output unit such as a touch panel or a liquid crystal display device, or an interface circuit. Is a functional block realized by controlling the communication circuit of FIG. Therefore, a computer having these means can store the program on a recording medium (for example,
Only by reading a CD-ROM and executing the program, the control host computer 16, the public server device 21, and the client device 7 according to the present embodiment can be realized. In particular, the virtual machine 71 and the browser 72 of the client device 7 can be realized by general-purpose browser software preinstalled in many computers. Therefore, these computers
It can operate as the client device 7 without installing a special program. For example, if a program for downloading a program via the serial cable 13, the local network 15, the Internet 5, or another communication path is installed in the computer in advance, the communication path is established via these communication paths. The program can be distributed to the computer.

In the above configuration, step 1 shown in FIG.
In the following (abbreviated as S1 in the following), the user of the local control system 3 operates the drawing processing unit 34 of the control host computer 16 to check the actual situation of the target system 11 and the proficiency of the operator of the programmable display 14. Alternatively, screen data is created / modified according to the user's preference. Further, the created screen data is delivered to the programmable display 14 after it is confirmed that the screen operates normally, for example, by simulation or a connection test. In S2, the programmable display 14 displays the data according to the screen data. And start accepting operations.

Here, since the optimum screen is also affected by the preference and the proficiency, it cannot be uniquely determined and is often changed relatively frequently. However, as described above, in the present embodiment, the user of the local control system 3 (the control host computer 16) can generate the screen data by combining the tags, so that these requests can be flexibly responded to, and the optimum state can be obtained. Can be kept.

When the screen data is updated, the control host computer 16 (public server side communication processing unit 3)
6) In S11, the public server device 21 is accessed and screen data is transmitted. On the other hand, the public server device 2
When 1 receives the screen data, in S12, the file generation unit 47 generates a public file such as an HTML file and an XML file from the screen data, and stores it in the HTML file storage unit 43 and the XML file storage unit 44. .

On the other hand, in S21, the Internet 5
Via the public server device 21
When the user accesses the (public server unit 46) and instructs the display of a certain programmable display 14 to be displayed, the public server unit 46 sets the identification number and the password received from the client device 7 to a predetermined combination, for example. By checking whether the display / control on the screen is permitted by the client device 7 or the user or not, the access from the client device 7 not permitted is confirmed. Reject.

Upon confirming that the authorized client device 7 is authorized, the public server unit 46 displays the screen requested by the client device 7 in the public file generated in S12 in S22. An HTML file for reading is read from the HTML file storage unit 43 and transmitted to the client device 7 via the Internet 5. Further, the browser 72 of the client device 7 transmits each APPLET element (“<APPLET
>"To"</APPLET>") from the public server 21 to obtain the applet designated by the virtual machine 71.
To run. Further, the virtual machine 71 executing the applet acquires an XML file required for screen display from the public server device 21.

Further, in S23, the virtual machine 71 of the client device 7 communicates with the public server unit 46 while referring to the XML file, and specifies the virtual machine 71 in the HTML file as shown in the screens of FIGS. A screen having the same contents as the screen of the programmable display 14 is displayed, and control according to an operation on the screen is instructed.

More specifically, the virtual machine 71 executing the applet refers to the XML file and generates an instance corresponding to each tag (processing instruction word). Of these instances, the drawing method of the instance corresponding to the display tag is executed at a predetermined time interval. As a result, the virtual machine 71 stores the device address A
Is made to the public server 21.

On the other hand, upon receiving the inquiry, the public server unit 46 of the public server device 21 reads data from the area corresponding to the device address A in the storage area of the data storage unit 42 and transmits the data to the client device 7. I do. When the data is transmitted to the client device 7 via the Internet 5, the drawing method determines a predetermined display area (in the display screen of the client device 7) according to the data (contents of the device address A). XY) is updated.

Here, the XML file and the HTML file for calling the applet are generated based on the screen data, and each instance refers to the same device address as the corresponding tag in the screen data. Is set to Also, the drawing method of each instance, if the content of the device address is the same,
It is created to display the same image as the tag. Therefore, when the applet is executed, a component graphic J1 (J2) indicating the state of the device is displayed on the display screen of the client device 7, as in FIGS.

On the other hand, when an input operation such as a mouse operation is performed during the execution of the applet, the virtual machine 71 executes an input method of an instance corresponding to the input operation among instances corresponding to the input tag.
Thereby, the virtual machine 71 requests the public server unit 46 to write data corresponding to the input result to the specific device address. Further, when receiving the write request, the public server unit 46 sets the data storage unit 42
Out of the storage area of the requested device address A is rewritten. As a result, the client device 7
After the writing, the operation result is reflected on the display screen at the time when the above-described drawing method is executed, similarly to the programmable display 14.

Further, in the local control system 3,
Public server device 21 and control host computer 16
Communicates through the firewall 22 to synchronize the contents of the data storage unit 42 of the public server device 21 with the entity of the device address in the local control system 3. Thereby, the operation of the client device 7 is reflected on the device control.

In this embodiment, the file generation unit 4
7 is an XML file or H generated based on the screen data.
HTML file storage unit 43 XML
The case where the file is stored in advance in the file storage unit 44 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Screen data is stored, and the file generation unit 47 To create each storage unit 4
It may be stored in 3.44. In this embodiment, the case where the file generation unit 47 is provided in the public server device 21 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the file generation unit 47 is provided in each control host computer 16 and the public server device 21 is provided. May receive an HTML file or an XML file generated by the file generation unit 47. In any case, the same effect can be obtained if the HTML file or the XML file created according to the screen data is made public.

In the above description, an example has been described in which the applet distributed by the public server unit 46 is displayed / controlled based on an XML file indicating a tag (processing instruction word) related to each unit screen. However, it is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, as a PARAM element described in an HTML file, the following character strings (codes), that is, instances corresponding to all tags included in screen data are generated, and A character string for setting each field according to the content of the tag may be described. in this case,
The file generation unit 47 refers to the contents of the tags for all the tags in the screen data, and generates the character string based on the reference result as indicated by P11a in FIG.
In this case, the XML file storage unit 44 is unnecessary.

Regardless of the operation or calling method of the applet, the public server unit 46 allows the programmable display device 14 to perform an operation of displaying on the basis of screen data in accordance with the state of the device and a change of the state of the device in accordance with the operation. If an operation almost the same as the operation at the time of instructing can be instructed to the client device 7, the same effect as that of the control communication system 1 can be obtained.

However, if the applets and HTML files corresponding to all the tags in the screen data are transmitted collectively,
The time from when the client device 7 accesses the public server unit 46 to when the client device 7 starts display / operation becomes long. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, it is preferable to divide and transmit the data instructing the operation regarding each unit screen.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an applet that allows the client device 7 to perform an operation of transmitting an inquiry / change instruction similar to that of the programmable display device 14 to the public server unit 46 and an operation of displaying the same in response to a response.
Although the case where the ML file and the XML file are distributed has been described as an example, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, based on the screen data and the device data, the public server device 21 or the local control system 3 can display an image file (bit) of the same format as the screen display of the programmable display 14 and of a format that can be displayed by the client device 7. Alternatively, a file in a map format or a JPEG format may be generated, and the file may be transmitted to the client device 7. In this case, although the state of the device cannot be controlled from the client device 7, the screen of the programmable display 14 can be displayed from a remote place. Also,
Also in this case, it is not necessary to install a program for displaying the screen of each programmable display in the client device 7 in advance, so that installation time, time, and cost can be reduced.

However, when the communication speed between the public server 46 and the client device 7 is low, such as when the client device 7 is communicating via the Internet 5, when data indicating the screen is transmitted, the screen of the client device 7 is displayed. The update speed decreases.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the inquiry, the change instruction, and the display operation are performed by the client device 7.
, The amount of data transmission can be greatly reduced, and the response speed in the client device can be greatly improved. Further, for example, a user interface such as cursor movement can be processed on the client device side, so that the response speed can be further improved.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the applet is made public has been described as an example. However, instead of the applet, the applet is created by compiling a programming language such as basic, and operates in the same manner as the applet. The same effect can be obtained by distributing an execution program that causes the client device 7 to execute.

However, as in the present embodiment, when the virtual machine 71 of the client device 7 interprets and displays and controls the applet, if the client device 7 has a virtual machine, the operating system of the client device ( An applet can be executed even if the machine language executable by the OS or the CPU is different. Therefore, the number of client devices 7 can be increased without increasing the types of applets distributed by the public server unit 46.
Can be displayed / controlled in the same manner as the programmable display 14.

Note that the HTML file storage unit 43 and the XML file storage unit 44 according to the present embodiment have
Although the HTML file and the XML file generated based on the screen data are stored, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a file for displaying based on device data, such as an HTML file for displaying data obtained by statistically processing device data, may be made public. The file is created by the user of the local control system 3.

Even in this case, the public server 21
And the control host computers 16 communicate with each other via the firewall 22 to synchronize device data. Therefore, the client device 7 and the control host computer 16 do not directly communicate with each other, and the local control system 3 The status of each device can be displayed. Therefore, information based on the device data from the local control system 3 can be displayed on the client device 7 at a remote location without obstructing monitoring / control by the local control system 3.

In the above embodiment, the drawing processing unit 3
4. The case where a plurality of control host computers 16 including the screen data memory 35 and the display processing unit 31 are provided has been described as an example, but the members 31 and 34 are replaced with the control host computer 16. -Without 35,
The common protocol IF unit 32, the server unit 33, and the public server side communication processing unit 36 may be provided with a data collection computer for collecting data of each device.

[0111]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control system comprising:
As described above, the control display device collects data necessary for displaying a screen, and acquires data by communicating with the data collection device via a local network. A publishing device for transmitting data for displaying the screen of the control display device on the display screen of the terminal device to a terminal device connected via a wide area communication network, The device is configured to communicate using a second protocol different from the first protocol used when the above-described disclosure device and the terminal device communicate.

In the above configuration, the public device transmits data for displaying the screen of the control display device to the terminal device via the wide area communication network. Further, the disclosure device and the data collection device are separately provided, and the two devices communicate with each other using a second protocol different from the first protocol between the disclosure device and the terminal device. As a result, the terminal device can be used for the terminal device regardless of the hardware configuration, the software configuration, or the access location without interfering with monitoring / control in the local control system including the data collection device and the disclosure device. Without creating and installing a monitoring control screen for the terminal and a monitoring control program for the terminal device, a screen with the same contents as the screen when the control display device displays based on each screen data is displayed on the screen of the terminal device. This can be displayed, and the user can be notified of the state of the control system.

As described above, the control system according to the second aspect of the present invention is connected to a data collection device for collecting device status via a local network and communicates with a terminal device via a wide area communication network. A program that causes the terminal device to perform an operation of inquiring the public device of a possible public device and a state of a device indicated by screen data for the control display device, and an operation of displaying on a screen of the terminal device according to a result of the inquiry And a generating means for generating the terminal data based on the screen data, wherein the publishing device stores the terminal data read from the storage means in the terminal. A second protocol that is different from the first protocol when communicating with the terminal device while transmitting to the device to perform each of the above operations.
The communication device communicates with the data collection device using a protocol to acquire the status of the device, and responds to an inquiry from the terminal device.

Therefore, in the same manner as in the first aspect, the terminal device can be used regardless of the hardware configuration, the software configuration, or the access location without interfering with monitoring / control in the local control system. Without creating and installing a monitoring control screen for the device or a monitoring control program for the terminal device, on the screen of the terminal device,
It is possible to display a screen having the same contents as the screen when the control display device displays based on each screen data, and it is possible to notify the user of the state of the control system.

Further, since the terminal data includes a program for displaying a screen according to the state of the device,
Even when the terminal device and the disclosure device are connected via a communication path having a low transmission speed, the screen display can be performed at a sufficient update speed.

As described above, the control system according to the third aspect of the present invention is connected to a data collection device for collecting / controlling the status of a device via a local network, and to a terminal device via a wide area communication network. When an input operation indicated by screen data for a control display device is received by the terminal device, a control instruction to the device indicated by the screen data is issued in response to the input operation. Storage means for storing terminal data including a program for causing the terminal device to perform an operation of transmitting to the publishing apparatus, and generating means for generating the terminal data based on the screen data, The publishing device transmits the terminal data read from the storage means to the terminal device to perform each of the above operations, and receives the data from the terminal device performing the operation. Based on your instruction to communicate with the data collection device by different second protocol and the first protocol when communicating with the terminal device, it is configured to transmit the control instruction to the designated devices.

Therefore, substantially as in claims 1 and 2,
The terminal device can be monitored and controlled in the local control system regardless of the hardware configuration, the software configuration, or the place where the terminal device is accessed, and particularly, the monitoring control screen for the terminal device and the monitoring control for the terminal device. Without creating and installing a program, the input operation to the terminal device can send the same control instruction as when the control display device accepts the input operation based on the screen data, and the terminal device can change the state of the device. This has the effect of being controllable.

According to the control system of the fourth aspect of the present invention, as described above, in the configuration of the first, second or third aspect of the present invention, the communication between the data collection device and the publication device is performed via itself. Is the second protocol or not,
This is a configuration in which a communication control device that controls whether to relay communication is provided.

According to this configuration, for example, the communication control device such as a firewall controls whether or not to relay the communication according to whether or not the communication passing through the communication control device is the second protocol. . As a result, there is an effect that unauthorized access from the terminal device to the data collection device via the wide area communication network and the disclosure device can be more reliably prevented.

As described above, in the control system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first, second, third or fourth aspect, a plurality of the data collection devices are provided, and Has a configuration that includes a routing unit that selects a data collection device of a communication partner according to a device that acquires or controls a state.

In the above configuration, since a plurality of data collection devices are provided, and the disclosure device is provided with the routing means, it is possible to suppress the computing capacity and communication capacity required for each data collection device. As a result, by exposing the screen of the control display device to the terminal device, the device status acquisition /
Even if the amount of data communication / processing for control increases, there is an effect that data collection in the local control system can be performed stably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1, showing an embodiment of the present invention, is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a control communication system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relationship between screen data and a display screen in the control communication system, wherein a switch is turned on;
It is explanatory drawing which shows the time of F state.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a data structure of a tag included in the screen data.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data structure of a display tag among the tags.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data structure of an input tag among the tags.

FIG. 6 shows a relationship between screen data and a display screen in the control communication system, wherein a switch is turned on.
It is explanatory drawing which shows the case where it was set to.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a public server device and a control host computer provided in a local control system in the control communication system.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an XML file distributed from a public server device to a client device in the control communication system.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an HTML file distributed from a public server device to a client device in the control communication system.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation of the control communication system.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another modified example of the control communication system and showing an example of an HTML file distributed to a client device.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a conventional technique and showing a main configuration of a control system.

FIG. 13 shows a prior application filed by the present applicant,
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a control communication system.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 Local Control System (Control System) 5 Internet (Wide Area Communication Network) 7 Client Device (Terminal Device) 11a Device 14 Programmable Display (Control Display Device) 16 Control Host Computer (First Computer, Data Collection Device) 21 Published Server device (public device, second computer, computer) 22 Firewall (communication control means) 23 Local network 41 Host computer side communication processing unit (routing means) 43 HTML file storage unit (storage means) 44 XML file storage unit (storage means) 45) Applet storage unit (storage unit) 47 File generation unit (generation unit)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B069 AA18 BA01 LA03 5B089 GA12 GA21 GB02 HA10 JA35 JB16 KA09 LB14 5H220 AA04 CC09 CX05 CX09 DD01 EE03 EE09 GG03 GG13 GG22 HH01 HH03 JJ12 JJ27 JJ57

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A control system including a data collection device for collecting data necessary for a control display device to display a screen, wherein the control system communicates with the data collection device via a local network to acquire the data. A publishing device for transmitting data for displaying the screen of the control display device on the display screen of the terminal device to the terminal device connected via the wide area communication network, the public device being created in accordance with the data. The data collection device and the disclosure device are different from a first protocol used when the disclosure device and the terminal device communicate with each other.
A control system characterized by communication using a protocol. 2. A control display device for acquiring a device state based on screen data indicating a device required for display and a position at which the state of the device is displayed, and displaying a state of the device on a screen. A data collection device that collects the state of the device displayed by any of the control display devices described above, wherein the data collection device is connected to the data collection device via a local network and via a wide area communication network. A public device capable of communicating with the terminal device through the terminal device; an operation of inquiring the public device about the state of the device indicated by the screen data; and Storage for storing terminal data including a program for causing the terminal device to perform an operation of displaying a screen in response to an inquiry result And a generating means for generating the terminal data based on the screen data, wherein the publishing device transmits the terminal data read from the storage means to the terminal device and performs each of the operations. And communicating with the data collection device using a second protocol different from the first protocol when communicating with the terminal device, acquiring the status of the device, and responding to an inquiry from the terminal device. Control system. 3. A control display device for instructing a device in response to an input operation based on screen data indicating an input operation and a device controlled in accordance with the input operation; In a control system having a data collection device that collects and controls the state of a device displayed by any of the devices, the device is connected to the data collection device via a local network, and communicates with a terminal device via a wide area communication network. A communicable publishing device, and when an input operation indicated by the screen data is received by the terminal device, transmits a control instruction to a device indicated by the screen data to the publishing device in response to the input operation. A storage unit for storing terminal data including a program for causing the terminal device to perform an operation, based on the screen data, Generating means for generating data, the publishing device transmits the terminal data read from the storage means to the terminal device to perform each of the operations, and controls the terminal device performing the operation. A control system which communicates with the data collection device using a second protocol different from the first protocol when communicating with the terminal device based on an instruction, and transmits a control instruction to the specified device. 4. A communication control device is provided between the data collection device and the disclosure device for controlling whether or not to relay the communication according to whether or not the communication via itself is the second protocol. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The control system as described. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said data collection devices are provided, and said disclosure device includes a routing means for selecting a communication partner data collection device according to a device for acquiring or controlling a state. Claims 1 and 2,
The control system according to 3 or 4. 6. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a first computer to operate as the data collection device according to claim 1, and a program for causing the second computer to operate as a disclosure device according to claim 1. Possible recording medium. 7. A program for operating a first computer as a data collection device according to claim 2, a program for operating a second computer as a public device according to claim 2, and one or more computers. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for operating as a storage unit and a generation unit according to claim 2 is recorded. 8. A program for operating a first computer as a data collection device according to claim 3, a program for operating a second computer as a disclosure device according to claim 3, and one or more computers. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for operating as the storage means and the generation means according to claim 3 is recorded.