JP2004021526A - Communication system, apparatus information updating method, apparatus information updating program, and communication apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication system, an apparatus information updating method, and an apparatus information updating program for quickly updating information on each apparatus connected to a network. <P>SOLUTION: Electronic apparatus 1 of various types and an apparatus controller 2 controlling the electronic apparatuses 1 are connected via a network 3. When an object of one of the electronic apparatus 1 is changed, an instance list and a class list are quickly updated so that a current object of each electronic apparatus 1 is accurately known. Because an object of one of the electronic apparatus 1 is transmitted to another electronic apparatus 1, or an object of the another electronic apparatus 1 is received by the one electronic apparatus 1, a function of each electronic apparatus 1 can be efficiently used for data communication with the other electronic apparatus 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication system, a device information update method, a device information update program, and a communication device that connect various devices in a home to a network and provide various services useful for human life.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, there has been proposed a communication system in which various electric devices such as a microwave oven and a refrigerator are connected to a network so that information can be transmitted and received as needed. For example, microwave ovens that can download cooking recipes via the Internet have been put to practical use.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, this type of communication system has a problem that, when a device connected to the network is changed, the change cannot be quickly transmitted to all devices connected to the network.
[0004]
In addition, depending on the device, it may be possible to select a function to operate and stop another function.However, as the number of functions increases, it becomes impossible to grasp which function was operated, and a large number of functions cannot be grasped. Functions may not be used effectively.
[0005]
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-95071 discloses a network system in which devices connected to a network are organically connected and a desired process is executed by combining the functions of the devices.
[0006]
In this publication, when a new device is connected to the network, the attributes and the like of the device are registered. However, this publication does not disclose a method for efficiently managing each function when a certain device has a plurality of functions or each function is hierarchized. For this reason, the function of each device connected to the network may not be used effectively.
[0007]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-28592 discloses an identification number assigning system for assigning an identification number to a new device connected to a network. This publication does not disclose any technique for managing the functions of each device. Therefore, when a certain device has a plurality of functions or when a function of a certain device changes, each function may not be properly managed and used.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to connect to a network by quickly updating information stored in an object information storage unit and a property information storage unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication system, a device information updating method, and a device information updating program that enable information on each device to be updated quickly.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides a communication system including a plurality of devices that communicate via a network, wherein each of the plurality of devices has a characteristic of the function for each function of the device. An object information storage unit that stores identification information of an object that abstracts the object, a property information storage unit that stores, for each object of the device, characteristic information that embodies the function of the object, and an object of the device. An information updating unit that updates information stored in the object information storage unit and the property information storage unit when there is a change.
[0010]
According to the present invention, when the object of the device is changed, the information stored in the object information storage unit and the property information storage unit is updated, so that all the currently available functions can be always grasped by each device.
[0011]
Also, the present invention provides a communication system including a plurality of devices that communicate via a network, including a device control controller that controls the plurality of devices, wherein the device control controller includes all devices connected to the network. An object information storage unit that stores identification information of an object that abstracts the characteristics of the function of the device, a property information storage unit that stores characteristic information that specifies the functions of the objects of all the devices connected to the network, An information updating unit that updates information stored in the object information storage unit and the property information storage unit when a device connected to the network is changed.
[0012]
According to the present invention, it is always possible to grasp what kind of device is currently connected to the network.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a communication system, a device information update method, a device information update program, and a communication device according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication system according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, various electric devices 1 such as an air conditioner, a refrigerator and a microwave oven are connected to a device controller 2 for controlling the electric devices 1 via a network 3. The network 3 is constructed in a wired or wireless manner, and the type of the electric device 1 connected to the network 3 is not particularly limited.
[0015]
The device controller 2 and each electric device 1 transmit and receive a control signal called a packet via the network 3 to and from each other. Thereby, the device controller 2 controls the operation of each electric device 1 and transmits the function and state of each electric device 1 to the device controller 2.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of each electric device 1 in FIG. 2 has a network interface unit 11, an initialization unit 12, a normal processing unit 13, an object storage unit 14, an object change processing unit 15, and an application execution unit 16.
[0017]
The network interface unit 11 transmits and receives data to and from another electric device 1 via the network 3. The initialization unit 12 performs a predetermined process at the time of initialization such as when power is turned on. The normal processing unit 13 performs a predetermined process during a normal operation other than the initialization. As will be described later, the object storage unit 14 stores information on an object that abstracts the characteristics of each function of the device. The object change processing unit 15 performs a process described below when there is a change in an object of the device, such as when the number of objects increases or decreases or when the type of the object is changed. The application execution unit 16 executes a predetermined process.
[0018]
The object storage unit 14 has an object table and a property table. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the object table. As shown in the figure, the correspondence between the object ID, the class ID, and the property table is recorded in the object table. Here, the object ID is identification information of each object. The class ID is identification information of a device or the like corresponding to each object, and is composed of a partial byte string (for example, upper 2 bytes) of the object ID.
[0019]
A property table is provided for each object ID, and in each property table, as shown in FIG. 4, a correspondence between a property code and a value corresponding to each property code is recorded. Here, the property is characteristic information for embodying the function of each object. FIG. 4 shows a property table of the address 1 in FIG.
[0020]
For example, in the property table of the air conditioner, as shown in FIG. 5, a correspondence between property codes corresponding to each property such as a maker name, an operation mode, a manufacturing date, a set temperature, and the value of each property code. Be recorded.
[0021]
Also, as shown in FIG. 6, the property table of the microwave oven includes property codes corresponding to each property such as a maker name, a power supply state, whether cooking is in progress, and a temperature in the refrigerator, and a value of each property code. Is recorded.
[0022]
As described above, the number of data and data contents of the object table and the property table are different for each electric device 1.
[0023]
The object table includes an object called a node profile object. In the property table corresponding to this node profile object, as shown in FIG. 7, the correspondence between the property code and the value of each property code is recorded. The value of the property code is a value corresponding to a property such as a maker name, an operation state, a network address, a MAC address, an instance list, and a class list.
[0024]
Here, the instance list is a list of object IDs corresponding to all objects of the electric device 1, and is, for example, as shown in FIG. The class list is a list of the upper two bytes of the object ID corresponding to all the objects of the electric device 1, and is, for example, as shown in FIG. 8B.
[0025]
FIG. 9 is a state transition diagram of each electric device 1 in FIG. First, when the power of the electric device 1 is turned on or when initialization is requested for some reason, the initialization unit 12 operates, initializes the network interface unit 11, clears the object storage unit 14, and resets the node. A property table of the profile object is generated (step S1).
[0026]
When the initialization processing ends, the processing operation by the normal processing unit 13 is performed (step S2). The normal processing unit 13 performs processing such as sending a packet to another electric device 1 or the device controller 2 or receiving a packet from another electric device 1 or the device controller 2 according to an instruction from the application execution unit 16. .
[0027]
If an object in the electric device 1 is added or deleted by an instruction from the application executing unit 16, another electric device 1, or the device controller 2 while the normal processing unit 13 is performing the process, the object The change processing unit 15 performs a processing operation (step S3). If an error occurs during the processing of the object change processing unit 15, error processing is performed (step S4). When the processing of the object change processing unit 15 ends, the process returns to the processing of the normal processing unit 13 in step S3.
[0028]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation of the object change processing unit 15 when an object is added. The object change processing unit 15 performs the processing in FIG. 10 when the application execution unit 16 in the electric device 1 or another electric device 1 or the device controller 2 instructs to add an object.
[0029]
The object ID of the node profile object is searched from the object table (step S11), and it is determined whether or not the object ID has been searched (step S12). If the object ID is not searched, error processing is performed (step S13). If the object ID is searched, a property table corresponding to the object ID is obtained (step S14).
[0030]
Next, an instance list is searched from the acquired property table (step S15), and it is determined whether the instance list is searched (step S16).
[0031]
If the instance list is not searched, error processing is performed (step S17). If the instance list is searched, an object ID corresponding to the object to be added is added to the instance list (step S18). As described above, the instance list is a list of object IDs corresponding to all objects of the electric device 1.
[0032]
Next, some byte strings (for example, upper 2 bytes) are sequentially extracted and listed from each object ID in the instance list (step S19). If the class ID is composed of a byte string other than a partial byte string of the object ID, the object ID may be converted to the class ID with reference to the object table.
[0033]
Next, a class list is searched from the property table acquired in step S14 (step S20), and it is determined whether the class list is searched (step S21). If the class list is not searched, error processing is performed (step S22). If the class list is searched, the byte string created in step S20 is stored as a class list (step S23).
[0034]
Next, the object ID of the object to be added and the address information of the corresponding property table are added to the object table, and a corresponding property table is created (step S24). If the above processing has been performed correctly, the control is transferred to the normal processing unit 13.
[0035]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation of the object change processing unit 15 when deleting an object. The object change processing unit 15 performs the processing in FIG. 11 when the application execution unit 16 in the electric device 1 or another electric device 1 or the device controller 2 instructs to delete the object.
[0036]
First, the object change processing unit 15 refers to the object table and searches for the object ID of the object to be deleted (Step S31). Next, it is determined whether or not the object ID has been searched (step S32). If the object ID has not been searched, the process is terminated. If the object ID has been searched, the property table corresponding to the searched object ID is deleted. The field of the object table corresponding to the object ID searched in S32 is deleted (step S33).
[0037]
Next, a field having the object ID of the node profile object is searched from the object table (step S34), and it is determined whether or not this field is searched (step S35). If this field is not searched, error processing is performed (step S36). If the field is searched, a corresponding property table is obtained (step S37), and an instance list in the obtained property table is searched (step S38).
[0038]
It is determined whether or not the instance list has been searched (step S39). If the instance list has not been searched, error processing is performed (step S40). When the instance list has been searched, the object ID of the object to be deleted is deleted from the instance list. (Step S41).
[0039]
Next, a partial byte string (for example, upper 2 bytes) is extracted and listed from each object ID in the instance list after the object ID is deleted (step S42). If the class ID is composed of a byte string other than a partial byte string of the object ID, the conversion from the object ID to the class ID may be performed with reference to an object table as shown in FIG.
[0040]
Next, a class list is searched from the property table acquired in step S37 (step S43), and it is determined whether the class list is searched (step S44). If the class list is not searched, error processing is performed (step S45). If the class list is searched, the byte string created in step S41 is stored in the search position (step S46).
[0041]
As described above, in the present embodiment, when the object of each electric device 1 is changed, the instance list and the class list are updated quickly, so that the current object of each electric device 1 can be accurately grasped. Therefore, by transmitting its own object to another electric device 1 via the network 3 or receiving the object of the other electric device 1 on the contrary, each electric device 1 Data communication that makes full use of the functions of the device 1 becomes possible.
[0042]
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which each electric device 1 manages its own object has been described. However, the objects of all the electric devices 1 connected to the network 3 are managed by the device controller 2 and the like in FIG. Is also good.
[0043]
In this case, an instance list or a class list that lists information on all the electric devices 1 connected to the network 3 may be provided inside the device controller 2 or the like having a CPU with a high arithmetic processing capability. If the number or type of the electric devices 1 connected to the network 3 is changed, the instance list and the class list provided inside the device controller 2 and the like may be updated accordingly. As a result, it is possible to quickly and accurately grasp what kind of electric device 1 is currently connected to the network 3.
[0044]
The configuration in FIG. 2 may be configured by hardware or software. In the case of using software, a program for realizing the functions shown in FIG. 2 may be stored in a recording medium such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM, and read and executed by a computer. The recording medium is not limited to a portable medium such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk, but may be a fixed recording medium such as a hard disk device or a memory.
[0045]
Further, the program for realizing the function of FIG. 2 may be distributed via a communication line (including wireless communication) such as the Internet. Further, the program may be encrypted, modulated, or compressed, and distributed via a wired or wireless line such as the Internet, or stored in a recording medium.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, according to the present invention, when there is a change in an object of a device, the information stored in the object information storage unit and the property information storage unit is quickly updated. In addition, you can always keep track of all currently available functions. Therefore, when communicating with another device via a network, the function of the own device is transmitted to the other device, and conversely, the function of the other device is received by the own device. , Effective data communication becomes possible.
[0047]
According to the present invention, if the number of devices connected to the network or the type of device is changed, the information stored in the object information storage unit and the property information storage unit is updated. It is always possible to know whether such devices are connected, and each device connected to the network can be used effectively.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of each electric device 1 of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of an object table.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a property table of address 1 in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a property table of the air conditioner.
FIG. 6 is a view showing a property table of a microwave oven.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a property table of a node profile object.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an instance list and a class list.
FIG. 9 is a state transition diagram of each electric device 1 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation of the object change processing unit 15 when an object is added.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation of the object change processing unit 15 when deleting an object.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric device 2 Device controller 3 Network 11 Network interface unit 12 Initialization unit 13 Normal processing unit 14 Object storage unit 15 Object change processing unit 16 Application execution unit

Claims (9)

In a communication system including a plurality of devices that communicate via a network,
Each of the plurality of devices,
An object information storage unit that stores, for each function of the device, identification information of an object in which the characteristics of the function are abstracted;
A property information storage unit for storing, for each object of the device, characteristic information that embodies the function of the object;
A communication system comprising: an information updating unit that updates information stored in the object information storage unit and the property information storage unit when an object of the device is changed. 2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the object information storage unit stores a correspondence between identification information of each object of the device and an address of characteristic information corresponding to each object. The property information storage unit includes:
An instance list listing all identification information of all objects of the device;
A class list in which a part of a byte string of each identification information of all objects of the device is stored,
The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the information updating unit updates the instance list and the class list when an object of the device is changed. The information updating unit includes:
A first adding unit that adds identification information of a newly added object to the instance list;
A class list generation unit that generates the class list based on the instance list after the object is added by the first addition unit;
4. The communication system according to claim 3, further comprising: a second adding unit configured to store information on the newly added object in the object information storage unit and the property information storage unit. 5. The information updating unit includes:
A first erasing unit for erasing identification information of the object to be erased from the object information storage unit and erasing characteristic information of the object from the property information storage unit;
A second deleting unit for deleting the identification information of the object to be deleted from the instance list;
The communication system according to claim 3, further comprising: a class list generation unit that generates the class list based on the instance list after the object is deleted by the object deletion unit. In a communication system including a plurality of devices that communicate via a network,
Comprising a device control controller for controlling the plurality of devices,
The device control controller,
An object information storage unit that stores identification information of an object that abstracts the characteristics of the functions of all devices connected to the network,
A property information storage unit that stores characteristic information that embodies the functions of the objects of all devices connected to the network,
A communication system comprising: an information updating unit that updates information stored in the object information storage unit and the property information storage unit when a device connected to the network is changed. In a method of updating device information for each of a plurality of devices connected via a network,
Storing, for each function of the device, identification information of an object in which characteristics of the function are abstracted;
Storing, for each object of the device, characteristic information that embodies the function of the object;
Updating the stored object identification information and the stored characteristic information when the object of the device is changed. In a method of updating device information for each of a plurality of devices connected via a network,
Storing identification information of an object that abstracts the characteristics of the functions of all devices connected to the network;
Storing characteristic information that embodies the functions of the objects of all devices connected to the network;
Updating the information stored in the object information storage unit and the property information storage unit when a device connected to the network is changed. In a communication device that communicates with other devices via a network,
An object information storage unit that stores, for each function of the device, identification information of an object in which the characteristics of the function are abstracted;
A property information storage unit for storing, for each object of the device, characteristic information that embodies the function of the object;
A communication apparatus comprising: an information updating unit that updates information stored in the object information storage unit and the property information storage unit when an object of the device is changed.

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