JP2003303112A - Equipment management device and equipment management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a station 2 capable of working under a condition before version up and the like even if data necessary for the version up and the like are not completely received during operation of the version up and the like of the station 2. <P>SOLUTION: The station 2 is provided with a receiving part 23, a DRAM 21, a received data processing part 24, and an FROM 22. The receiving part 23 receives data from a management terminal 5 via a network 7. The DRAM 21 stores the received data. The received data processing part 24 determines whether all the data are received or not. The FROM 22 stores the data stored in the DRAM 21 when all the data are received. The received data processing part 24 deletes the data stored in the DRAM 21 if the data are not received completely. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is connected to various equipment such as air-conditioning equipment, electric equipment, and crime prevention equipment, and a management device for managing the equipment, particularly a version via a network such as LAN or public telephone line. The present invention relates to a management device that can be upgraded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, management systems have been developed for monitoring malfunctions and abnormalities of various equipment such as air-conditioning equipment and crime prevention equipment installed in buildings such as buildings and controlling the operation of the equipment. ing. This management system is configured by connecting various kinds of equipment, an equipment management device, and a management terminal through a network such as a LAN laid in a building. The equipment management device receives, for example, information indicating whether or not the air conditioning equipment is being operated, and transmits the information to the management terminal. The management terminal calculates the integrated time of continuous operation time based on the transmitted information, accepts the input of the operation schedule of the air conditioning equipment, and outputs the information for instructing the start and stop of the air conditioning equipment according to the input schedule. It is sent to the air conditioning equipment via the equipment management device. This equipment management device installs a predetermined OS (operating system), and management information necessary for the operation of the equipment management device, such as an identifier of each air conditioning equipment, an installation location,
Memorize information such as the model and use it for operation. Furthermore, it is possible to incorporate a center, which is connected to the facility management device via a public telephone line, into the management system. In this case, it is possible to perform advanced services such as transmitting the information received from the air conditioning equipment to the center by the equipment management device, analyzing the information in the center, and notifying the abnormality of the air conditioning equipment.

By the way, when the version of the facility management apparatus is changed or the management information is changed, an operator who performs maintenance of the management system normally records a data such as an OS and management information on a flexible disk. Bring the media to the location where the equipment management device is installed and perform the installation work. On the other hand, it is conceivable that data is transmitted from the center or the management terminal to the equipment management device and this data is automatically installed in the equipment management device. By doing so, it is possible for the worker to upgrade the equipment management device without having to go directly to the installation location of the equipment management device, and to reduce human costs. Here, after the OS or the like has been installed, it may be necessary to restart the equipment management device in order to update various setting information accumulated in the equipment management device, but this also requires a restart command separately from the above data. Or, by sending it by including it in the above data,
It is possible to perform version upgrade work without directly operating the facility management device. The received data is
It is stored in the non-volatile memory of the equipment management device, and thereafter the equipment management device operates based on the OS and other data stored in this non-volatile memory.

[0004]

However, in the automatic installation work (upgrade work, etc.) of the equipment management device utilizing the above-mentioned data transmission, the data transmitted from the data transmission side to the equipment management device is completely deleted. If this data is stored in the non-volatile memory even though it has not been received by the device management device, the facility management device may not start normally. As a method of avoiding such an inconvenience, it is conceivable to back up the OS or the like before the upgrade to a FROM (nonvolatile memory), but since the FROM is relatively expensive, the FROM having a large capacity for backup is secured. It is not preferable to provide the equipment management device in terms of manufacturing cost.

An object of the present invention is to operate in the state before the version upgrade even when the data necessary for the version upgrade is not completely received in the version upgrade work of the facility management apparatus. It is to provide a facility management device capable of

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facility management device for performing facility management on the basis of data, including a receiving means, a first storing means, a determining means, and a second means.
The storage means and the erasing means are provided. The receiving means receives data from the data providing device via the transmission path.
The first storage means stores the received data. The judging means judges whether or not all the data has been received. Second
The storage means stores the data stored in the first storage means when all the data is received. The erasing means erases the data stored in the first storage means when not receiving all the data.

Here, the data from the data providing device is fetched into the facility management device via the transmission path. Then, this data is first stored in the first storage means, and after all the data is stored in the first storage means, it is stored in the second storage means. If not all the data is received, the second
The data stored in the first storage means is erased without being stored in the storage means.

Therefore, when the important data is stored with the second storage means having the minimum capacity and the important data is rewritten with the data sent from the data providing device, all the data are transmitted through the transmission path. It is only stored in the first storage means until it is received from the data providing device via the second storage means, and the second storage means is not rewritten until all the data is received. It becomes possible to avoid a defect that the equipment management device does not operate by replacing defective data. Further, the defective data remaining in the first storage means due to transmission failure or the like is erased by the erasing means and does not affect the subsequent data transfer.

The facility management device according to claim 2 is the device according to claim 1.
In the equipment management device described in (1), the data is either data for updating the version of the management program of the equipment management device or data for managing the equipment.
The data for updating the version of the facility management device and the data for managing the facility are information including, for example, an identifier of the OS or the air conditioning facility, an installation location, a model, and the like.

Here, the data is stored in the first storage means until all the data is transmitted from the data providing apparatus to the receiving means of the facility management apparatus via the transmission path. Therefore, when updating the version of the management program of the equipment management device or storing data for managing the equipment in the second storage means, the first storage means may be replaced by defective data due to transmission failure. However, the defective data does not replace the second storage means due to the defective transmission. The second storage means stores the data after all the data is received by the receiving means. That is, even if the data necessary for version upgrade etc. is not completely received,
This equipment management device can operate in a state before version upgrade.

The facility management apparatus according to claim 3 is the same as that of claim 1.
Alternatively, in the facility management apparatus described in 2, the first storage means is a volatile memory. Further, the second storage means is a non-volatile memory. If the data is finally stored in the second storage means, there is no problem even if the data stored in the first storage means is erased. In view of this, here, a non-volatile memory that retains data even when power is cut off is adopted as the second storage means, and a volatile memory that is relatively inexpensive is adopted as the first storage means. There is.

A facility management device according to a fourth aspect is the third aspect.
The facility management device according to item 1, wherein the second storage unit stores a management program for facility management. Moreover, the facility management apparatus according to claim 4 further includes setting data processing means. When setting the management program, the setting data processing unit temporarily writes the setting data in the first storage unit before writing the setting data in the second storage unit. The timing at which the setting data processing unit writes the setting data written in the first storage unit to the second storage unit is the timing when a predetermined time has elapsed after the writing of the setting data to the first storage unit is completed. The timing when a predetermined time has passed means, for example, that the writing of the setting data to the volatile memory (first storage means) is completed,
It is the timing when a time such as seconds, 1 minute, and 3 minutes has elapsed.

In the conventional facility management apparatus, when the user sets the management program, the setting data is directly written in the non-volatile memory. But in general,
The nonvolatile memory has a limited number of times of writing. Therefore, if the setting data is frequently written to the non-volatile memory, the life of the non-volatile memory is shortened. Therefore, in the equipment management device according to claim 4, as described above,
The setting data is written to the second storage unit which is a non-volatile memory at a timing when a predetermined time has elapsed after the writing of the setting data to the first storage unit which is a volatile memory is completed. That is, even if the setting data is frequently written, the writing is once performed to the first storage unit which is a volatile memory. Then, writing to the second storage unit, which is a non-volatile memory, is performed only after a predetermined time has elapsed after the writing to the volatile memory is completed. As a result, the number of times setting data is written to the second storage unit, which is a non-volatile memory, can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to extend the life of the non-volatile memory (second storage means) having a limited number of times of writing.

An equipment management system according to a fifth aspect comprises the equipment management device according to the fourth aspect and an information terminal. The information terminal is connected to the facility management device and sets the management program. Here, the information terminal is, for example, a computer, a portable computer, a panel computer, or the like. Since this equipment management system includes the equipment management device according to the fourth aspect, it is possible to reduce the number of times of writing the setting data to the nonvolatile memory. As a result, it is possible to extend the life of the non-volatile memory having a limited number of writing operations.

Further, the information terminal writes to the volatile memory when setting the management program. Generally, the writing speed to the volatile memory is faster than the writing speed to the non-volatile memory. Therefore, the waiting time of the user when setting the management program from the information terminal is shorter than the waiting time of the user when setting the management program of the conventional equipment management apparatus. As a result, the setting work can be carried out efficiently.

An equipment management system according to a sixth aspect is the equipment management system according to the fifth aspect, further comprising a backup power source for the equipment management device. Then, when the setting data processing means receives the power failure signal before a predetermined time has elapsed after the writing of the setting data to the first storing means, the setting data processing means immediately writes the second setting data to the second storing means. Writing to the storage means is started.

In this equipment management system, since the equipment management device has a backup power supply, it is possible to prevent the setting data written in the volatile memory from being lost due to a power failure. Further, in consideration of stopping the supply of the backup power supply at the time of power failure, when the power failure signal is received, the setting data written in the volatile memory is immediately started to be written in the nonvolatile memory. This makes it possible to prevent the loss of the setting data written in the volatile memory more reliably.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION <System Configuration> FIG. 1 shows an equipment management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This facility management system is a system for monitoring and controlling the air conditioning outdoor unit 3 and the air conditioning indoor unit 4, and requests from the user for status monitoring, start / stop control, operation settings, etc. of the air conditioning outdoor unit 3 and the air conditioning indoor unit 4. It is a system that is executed according to an operation schedule or the like. The system includes a management terminal 5, a station 2 connected to the management terminal 5, an air conditioning outdoor unit 3 and an air conditioning indoor unit 4 connected to the station 2, and a UPS 9 connected to the station 2. . The station 2 is also connected to an external center 1 via a first network 6 such as a dedicated line or the Internet. The center 1 analyzes the status information transmitted from the station 2 and performs various services, for example, failure prediction of the air conditioning outdoor unit 3.

The management terminal 5 requests the station 2 to control the air conditioning outdoor unit 3 and the air conditioning indoor unit 4, and sets the management program 26 of the station 2. The management terminal 5 also displays the results of monitoring / controlling the air conditioning outdoor unit 3 and the air conditioning indoor unit 4 obtained from the station 2. Here, the management terminal 5 is, for example, a computer, a portable computer, a panel computer, or the like. The management terminal 5 is connected to the station 2 by a second network 7 such as a LAN.

Further, the management terminal 5 can be used to perform the version upgrade processing of the OS and the like of the station 2 and the rewriting processing of the management information at a location remote from the station 2. This will be described later in detail. The station 2 includes a DRAM 21 that is a volatile memory, a FROM (flash memory) 22 that is a rewritable nonvolatile memory, a receiving unit 23, and a received data processing unit 24.
And a setting data processing unit 25 and a power failure detection unit 27. In addition, a UPS 9 which is a backup power source at the time of power failure is connected to the station 2. DRAM
21 is a management program 2 when the facility management system is operating.
6 is read from the FROM 22 and executed. The FROM 22 stores an OS (operating system) including a management program 26 that manages the air conditioning outdoor unit 3 and the air conditioning indoor unit 4, and management information that is data necessary for managing the air conditioning outdoor unit 3 and the air conditioning indoor unit 4. is doing. The management information includes information such as an identifier of the air conditioning outdoor unit 3 and the like, an installation location, and a model. The information management program 26 uses the setting data 26 regarding the settings as described later.
Referring to a, the air conditioning outdoor unit 3 and the air conditioning indoor unit 4 are monitored and controlled. The power failure detection unit 27 generates a power failure because the power supply normally used by the station 2 is stopped, the power supply is started from the UPS 9, or a power failure signal is input from the outside. To detect.

<Station 2 Version Upgrade Processing> FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of the station 2 version upgrade processing. In this process, the OS file containing the new version OS of the station 2 and the management file containing the management information necessary for the new version OS are transmitted from the management terminal 5 to the station 2, and these files are sent to the FRO of the station 2.
It is stored in M22 and the station 2 is upgraded. This process will be described below with reference to FIG.

In step S10, the receiving unit 23 receives the OS file or management file. The reception data processing unit 24 stores the received data in the DRAM 21. In step S11, the reception data processing unit 24 determines whether or not the file reception in step S10 is completed. If all the files have been received, the process proceeds to step S12. On the other hand, if the file reception has failed due to a transmission failure or the like by the second network 7, the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S12, the received data processing unit 2
4 stores the files stored in the DRAM 21 in the FROM
22 to be written. This allows DRAM2
The existing OS and management information in 1 are overwritten, and the OS and management information are replaced with the upgraded version. On the other hand, in step S13, the station 2
By restarting, the file stored in the DRAM 21 (file for which reception has failed) is cleared. This allows
Unnecessary files remaining in the DRAM 21 due to transmission failure or the like are erased, and the version upgrade process can be performed again. However, if the cause of the file reception failure is not clear, the version upgrade process is not performed remotely using the management terminal 5, but the version upgrade process is manually performed using a recording medium such as a CD at the installation location of the station 2. It is desirable to start over.

In step S14, it is determined whether the file to be received still exists. If the target file still exists, the process returns to step S10 to receive a file that has not been received yet. If all files have been received and the target file does not exist, this processing ends. <Operation of Station 2 When Setting Management Program> Next, the user operates the management terminal 5 to operate the management program 2.
The operation of the station 2 when setting 6 will be described. The setting of the management program 26 performed by the user is, for example, schedule registration of the air conditioner outdoor unit 3 or the air conditioner indoor unit 4 to be managed, setting regarding the operation of the air conditioner outdoor unit 3 or the air conditioner indoor unit 4, and the like.

During operation of the facility management system, management of the air conditioner outdoor unit 3 and the air conditioner indoor unit 4 is controlled from the FROM 22 by the DRA.
It is executed by the management program 26 read to M21. For example, when the user operates the management terminal 5 to register the schedule of the air conditioner outdoor unit 3 and the air conditioner indoor unit 4, the registered contents are stored in the DRAM 21 and the FROM 22.
It is reflected in the setting data 26a read from the.
Further, when the user continues to register the air conditioning outdoor unit 3 and the air conditioning indoor unit 4, the setting data processing unit 25 continues to change the setting data 26a read in the DRAM 21. For example, while the schedule setting of each air conditioner indoor unit 4 is being registered, the setting data 26 temporarily stored in the DRAM 21
a will be rewritten many times. And
The user finishes the registration of the air conditioning outdoor unit 3 and the air conditioning indoor unit 4,
If the setting data 26a read in the DRAM 21 is not changed for a predetermined time, the setting data processing unit 25 overwrites the setting data 26a in the FROM 22 with the setting data read in the DRAM 21. , And save it in the FROM 22 as new setting data. Here, the predetermined time is, for example, 30 seconds, 1
Minutes, 3 minutes, etc. The time can also be changed by the user.

<Operation of Station 2 at Power Failure> When the power supply normally used by station 2 is stopped,
The power supply to the station 2 is backed up by the UPS 9. Furthermore, the power failure detection unit 27 indicates that the power supply normally used by the station 2 has stopped, U
The occurrence of a power failure is detected by the start of power supply from PS9 or the input of a power failure signal from the outside.

In response to the detection of the occurrence of the power failure, the setting data processing unit 25 sets a predetermined value when the user operates the management terminal 5 to set the management program 26 or when the user finishes the setting. If time has not passed,
Setting data 2 read out and set in the DRAM 21
6a is immediately overwritten on the setting data 26a of the FROM 22 and FR is used as new setting data.
Save in OM22.

<Characteristics of Facility Management System / Station According to the Present Embodiment> (1) In the version upgrade processing of the station 2 of the present embodiment, when the file reception fails, the station 2 is restarted and stored in the DRAM 21. File is cleared. Therefore, even if the reception of the file fails, the file is not stored in the FROM 22 and the station 2 can be started with the previous version. In addition, a FROM with a large capacity for backup
Since it is not necessary to provide the station 2 in the station 2, the manufacturing cost of the station 2 is also advantageous.

(2) In the station 2 of this embodiment,
For setting from the management terminal 5, first, the DRAM 21 is set to FRO.
It is reflected in the setting data 26a read from M22. Then, writing to the FROM 22 is performed only after a predetermined time elapses after the writing to the DRAM 21 is completed. Therefore, the number of times setting data is written to the FROM 22 can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to extend the life of the FROM 22 having a limited number of times of writing.

The management terminal 5 has a management program 2
When setting 6, the DRAM 21 is written.
Generally, the writing speed to the DRAM 21 is
2 is faster than writing speed. Therefore, the waiting time of the user when setting the management program 26 from the management terminal 5 can be shortened. As a result, the setting work can be carried out efficiently.

(3) In the facility management system of this embodiment, since the station 2 has the UPS 9, the DRAM
It is possible to prevent the setting data that has been read and set in 21 from being lost due to a power failure. In addition, UPS
When the power outage detection unit 27 detects the occurrence of the power outage in consideration of the stop of the power supply by 9, the setting data processing unit 25 immediately reads out the setting data 26a read and set in the DRAM 21. The setting data 26a of the FROM 22 is overwritten and saved. By this, D
The setting data 26 read and set in the RAM 21
It is almost prevented that a is lost due to a power failure.

<Modification> (A) In the above embodiment, the version upgrade process is performed based on the file transmitted from the management terminal 5, but the same process is performed based on the file transmitted from the center 1. You may go. By doing so, the external center 1 can perform the version upgrade processing from a remote location, and it becomes possible to further reduce the human cost and the like in the version upgrade.

(B) In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the station 2 and the facility management system that manage the air-conditioning outdoor unit 3 and the air-conditioning indoor unit 4; The present invention can also be applied to equipment management devices and systems that monitor and control water heaters, meter reading equipment such as electricity and gas meters, electrical equipment, disaster prevention and crime prevention equipment, and the like.

(C) In the above embodiment, the version upgrade of the OS including the management program 26 is described. However, when the OS and the management program are different, for example, only the management program is upgraded. It is also possible to do it. Further, even in the case of only adding the management information associated with the addition of the air conditioning outdoor unit 3 and the air conditioning indoor unit 4, it is effective to use the present invention in which the data in the FROM 22 is rewritten via the DRAM 21.

[0035]

According to the facility management apparatus of the first aspect, the second
Even if the important data is stored with the storage means having the minimum capacity and the important data is rewritten to the data sent from the data providing device, all the data is received from the data providing device via the transmission path. Until the first
Since the second storage means is not rewritten until all the data is received but only stored in the storage means, the second storage means is replaced by the defective data due to a transmission failure or the like, and the equipment management device does not operate. You will be able to avoid problems. Further, the defective data remaining in the first storage means due to transmission failure or the like is erased by the erasing means and does not affect the subsequent data transfer.

In the facility management apparatus according to the second aspect, the data is stored in the first storage unit until all the data is transmitted from the data providing apparatus to the reception unit of the facility management apparatus via the transmission path. Done Therefore, when updating the version of the management program of the equipment management device or storing data for managing the equipment in the second storage means, the first storage means may be replaced by defective data due to transmission failure. However, the defective data does not replace the second storage means due to the defective transmission. And
The second storage means stores the data after all the data is received by the receiving means. That is,
Even when the data necessary for the version upgrade or the like is not completely received, this equipment management device can operate in the state before the version upgrade or the like.

In the facility management apparatus according to the third aspect, if the data is finally stored in the second storage means, there is no problem even if the data stored in the first storage means is erased. In view of this, a non-volatile memory that retains data even when the power is cut off is used as the second storage unit, and a volatile memory that is relatively inexpensive is used as the first storage unit.

In the facility management apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the setting data is the non-volatile memory in the second storage at the timing when a predetermined time has elapsed after the writing of the setting data in the first storage means which is the volatile memory is completed. Since it is written in the means, it is possible to reduce the number of times the setting data is written in the second storage means which is a non-volatile memory. As a result, the non-volatile memory (second memory
It is possible to extend the life of the storage means).

In the facility management system according to the fifth aspect, the information terminal writes to the volatile memory when setting the management program. Generally, the writing speed to the volatile memory is higher than the writing speed to the nonvolatile memory. Therefore, the waiting time of the user when setting the management program from the information terminal is shorter than the waiting time of the user when setting the management program of the conventional equipment management apparatus.

In the equipment management system according to the sixth aspect, upon receiving the power failure signal, the setting data written in the volatile memory is immediately started to be written in the nonvolatile memory. Therefore, it becomes possible to more reliably prevent the loss of the setting data written in the volatile memory.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a facility management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of version upgrade processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 center 2 stations 3 Air conditioner outdoor unit 4 Air conditioning indoor unit 5 management terminal 9 UPS 21 DRAM 22 FROM 23 Receiver 24 Received data processing unit 25 Setting data processing unit 26 Management program 26a Setting data

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A facility management device (2) for performing facility management based on data, comprising: receiving means (23) for receiving the data from a data providing device (1, 5) via a transmission path; Storage means (21) for storing the above-mentioned data
A judging means (24) for judging whether or not all the data has been received; and a second storing means for storing the data stored in the first storing means (21) when all the data has been received. (22), and an erasing means (24) for erasing the data stored in the first storage means (21) when not receiving all the data, an equipment management apparatus comprising: 2. The data according to claim 1, wherein the data is either data for updating a version of a management program (26) of the equipment management device (2) or data for managing the equipment. Equipment management equipment. 3. The first storage means (21) is a volatile memory (21), and the second storage means (22) is a non-volatile memory (22).
The equipment management device according to claim 1 or 2. 4. A management program (26) for facility management is stored in the second storage means (22), and when the management program (26) is set, its setting data (26a). Before writing the setting data (26a) to the first storage means (21) before writing the setting data to the second storage means (22), the setting data processing means (25) is further provided. ) Writes the setting data (26a) written in the first storage means (21) to the second storage means (22) at the timing of writing the setting data (25a) in the first storage means (21). It is the timing when a predetermined time has passed after the writing is finished,
The facility management apparatus according to claim 3. 5. The facility management device (2) according to claim 4.
And an information terminal (5) connected to the equipment management device (2) for setting the management program (26). 6. A backup power source (9) for the facility management device (2) is further provided, and the setting data processing means (25) stores the setting data (25a) in the first storage means (21). If a power failure signal is received before the prescribed time has passed after writing,
The facility management system according to claim 5, wherein writing of the setting data (25a) written in the first storage means (21) to the second storage means (22) is immediately started.