JP2005157903A - Network management system of power unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network management system of a simple arrangement at low cost for remotely supervising a number of kinds of power units that differ in specifications by different kinds delivered. <P>SOLUTION: The power unit that comprises a characteristic data detection means and a power circuit including semiconductors is provided with an SNMP agent function module given OID and having an MIB information storage means, a data transmission/ reception control means, and a communications interface that performs transmission and reception using a communications line. An SNMP manager is provided with a communications interface, a data transmission/reception control means, an MIB database storage means, an MIB database recording means having a redundancy whereby records can be made in preparation for specification differences, a characteristic data determining means, and a display means. The SNMP manager is connected via the communications line for network management. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a network management system for a power supply device used for a light source, a communication device, a battery charging device, a welding machine, a test device, and the like. Enable monitoring.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as various power supply devices for communication devices, a control power supply using a semiconductor element that maintains an output with constant voltage characteristics is used. A system that can monitor whether there is any abnormality in the operating status of the control power supply installed at each delivery site without going to the installation site is required. There is Patent Document 1 that discloses a technique related to conventional “network management of embedded electronic devices”.

"JP 2002-229875" gazette. (Section 0002) of “Title of Invention: Embedded Electronic Device and Embedded Electronic Device Management Method, and Embedded Electronic Device” “SNMP is provided as a protocol for managing devices connected to a network. SNMP defines a protocol between a network monitoring terminal (referred to as an SNMP manager) activated by a system administrator and a device (referred to as an SNMP agent) on a network on which SNMP is implemented. In SNMP, when the SNMP manager accesses information held by an SNMP agent called MIB, the status of the device can be grasped and the definition information set in the device can be changed. Yes.

In the same publication (paragraph 0003), “for example, it is proposed to manage video equipment used in a broadcast station by network connection by TCP / IP. At this time, equipment having no SNMP agent function is managed by SNMP. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to provide a device having the SNMP agent function as a proxy agent, that is, the proxy agent mediates between a device not having the SNMP agent function and SNMP, and depends on the SNMP of the device. For this explanation, it is shown in FIG. 21 (FIG. 3 in this specification) of the publication, and (paragraph 0004) of the publication is “An example of an architecture using a proxy agent. , Device 3 with its own management interface 0 is managed via a proxy agent 310 "

In the same publication (paragraph 0005), “a command issued by the management application 301 on the SNMP manager 300 side is protocol-interpreted by the protocol stack 303 by the client stub 302, converted into SNMP, and transmitted from the SNMP manager 300. The command converted into SNMP is received by the proxy agent 310 and supplied to the proxy agent application 311 via the protocol stack 313 and the server stub 312 ”(paragraph 0006). , Managed by a unique management interface 321 using a protocol different from SNMP.SNMP transmitted from the SNMP manager 300 is transmitted in the proxy agent application 311. The client proxy stub 314 converts the proprietary management interface 321 of the device 320 into a corresponding protocol using the protocol stack 315. The protocol-converted command is transmitted to the device 320 and received by the management interface 321. . " Although it is possible to manage devices that do not support SNMP, there are the following problems.

When network management is performed on various power supply devices that do not support SNMP, there is a problem in that the proxy agent needs to grasp all the management items related to each power supply device (proxy-agent device). In addition, installing the protocol conversion processing device in the proxy agent as described above has a high development cost including the software, and the configuration of the management items of the proxy agent changes each time the specifications of each power supply to be managed change. For this reason, software development is required for each proxy agent application, and there is a drawback that it takes time and cost (for example, 50 people / day).

  There are a wide variety of specifications presented by users for power supply devices (proxy-agent devices) to be network-managed. In extreme cases, it was a challenge to provide a management system that does not require a large investment in the development of data information management software for communication contents for power supply units with various electrical characteristics values that differ from one to another. .

In order to solve the above problems, software for proxy agents and applications must be developed for each model. Therefore, we have created a technology that can avoid this problem and provide similar functions using a simple method. The focus was on adopting a number for each delivery destination or user, and obtained the prospect that the judgment information of the operating status and failure status of the power supply could be transmitted by simplified signal communication. If all equipment to be delivered is organized into major categories by destination, for example, arc welding power supplies, discharge lamp power supplies, electrolysis / plating power supplies, battery charging, etc. Match. As a result, for example, it can be remotely monitored assuming that it is a “constant voltage control inverter charging power source”, so that an experienced person can determine whether it is abnormal or in normal operation. Since remote monitoring is necessary for the purpose of after-sales service of delivered power supply units, means for efficiently monitoring remote power supply units that will increase in number in the future as described above. As a result, classification by customer is effective.

With respect to claim 1, for a power supply device provided with characteristic data detection means for detecting any or all of characteristic values of a power supply device including a semiconductor and characteristic values of members attached to the device; Data transmission control means for converting to a data bit string and transmitting based on the MIB protocol; a communication interface for transmitting data on a predetermined network line; and a reception control means for receiving from the network line: The provided SNMP agent function module is attached: by connecting to the circuit of the power supply apparatus; on the SNMP manager side: the communication interface, the MIB database storing means for receiving and storing the transmitted data, and the difference in specifications MIB database appending means with redundancy so that it can be appended in preparation for the A judgment means for judging an abnormality by comparing with a value; a display control means for controlling the display of received data and a judgment result; and a display means: the data transmitted from the SNMP agent function module and received; and the judgment means The network management system of the power supply device is characterized in that the judgment data obtained in (1) can be displayed and monitored remotely.
According to claim 2, the SNMP agent function module is an SNMP agent function module formed by a memory device to which an object identifier (OID) is assigned to each network managed power supply device and a CPU device. The network management system for the power supply was adopted.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the SNMP agent function module is an SNMP agent function module formed by a memory device to which a number for each delivery destination is assigned to each network managed power supply device and a CPU device. The network management system for the power supply described is used.
With respect to claim 4, in the network management system for a power supply device according to claims 1 to 3, the characteristic value of the member includes any or all of characteristic values capable of determining a temperature of a semiconductor element or a failure. A network management system for the power supply that is supposed to be used.
With respect to claim 5, the characteristic values stored in the MIB information database in the network management system of the power supply device include input voltage, input current, input power, output voltage, output current, output power, and a predetermined part in the power supply device. 5. The network management system for a power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein any one or all of the voltage / current and the characteristic values of the attached members are included.
With regard to claim 6, in the network management system of the power supply device, the characteristic values of the incidental members stored in the MIB information database include reference characteristic values that can be used to determine abnormality / failure in addition to voltage, current, and temperature. 6. A network management system for a power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the network management system is a power supply device.
With regard to claim 7, in the network management system of the power supply device, a power supply function for issuing a command for collecting numerical data capable of determining battery voltage / remaining capacity or end of life or failure in order to determine the characteristic value of an attached member 7. The power supply device network management system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply device includes management means.
According to claim 8, the data of the MIB information database is controlled according to SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), and is transmitted and received. .

In this way, it was decided to achieve the work necessary to quickly respond to after-sales service with a simple configuration. Compared with the case of Patent Document 1, the storage capacity of the agent function part only needs to store the characteristic data of one managed power supply device, so that the space required for the agent function part is remarkably reduced as an agent function module. It became possible to attach it to a small empty space of the power supply device. The SNMP manager, which is a monitoring device, uses conventional software, so the software development time and cost can be reduced.

Depending on the type of power supply to be managed, a rechargeable secondary battery specified by the user is attached, so that various characteristic data information at various monitoring points such as the state of charge of the battery and the state of end of life are detected. A data determination function (abnormality determination means) is provided to reduce the memory capacity and CPU processing of the SNMP agent function module of the conventional power supply apparatus constituted by the data detection means and the data determination function (abnormality determination means). Since it was removed from the SNMP agent function module and moved to the SNMP manager side, it contributed to the simplification of the SNMP agent function module. There are few restrictions on the volume in which this can be incorporated into the chassis, making it easier to add a managed function to an operating power supply that does not support SNMP.

As MIB (Management Information Base) information, the software that stores the collected data in the MIB database as the name of the collected data, numerical data, and descriptive text to be explained can use conventional technology, and the development burden can be reduced. In the future, the power supply side to be connected to this network can support a wide variety of power control power sources with only the input burden given to OID in the MIB data. Is now available.

  By using SNMP as a protocol for managing the network, it is easy to cope with future expansion of the network, with various control functions such as power source for light source, power source for electrolysis, power source for battery charging, power source for welding, etc. Network management systems, such as remote monitoring of power supply units with components, can now be easily expanded, resulting in a system that contributes to reducing maintenance and inspection costs for a wide variety of power supply units.

Since the detection function (abnormality determination means) of the detected data is removed from the conventional SNMP agent function module and moved to the SNMP manager side, it contributes to the simplification of the SNMP agent function module and to the conventional power supply device. Additional construction is easy and effective.
After delivery, the additional connected power supply side can handle a wide variety of power control power supplies with only the input work burden required for OID (object ID) assignment in the MIB data. It has become a system that contributes to reducing repair and inspection costs.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. Reference numeral 1 denotes a power supply circuit of a power supply device to be remotely monitored, which is a circuit including a control element such as a transistor. Reference numeral 2 denotes an auxiliary member (secondary battery or the like), and 3 denotes characteristic data detection means. Reference numeral 4 denotes an MIB information storage device. A constituting the above is a power supply device, which is a network monitoring target. Next, the SNMP agent function module 6 is composed of 4 MIB information storage devices, 7 communication interfaces, 8 transmission control means and reception control means, and is incorporated in or attached to the managed power supply device of A. Connected. Since the amount of data stored in the four MIB information storage devices is only the data for the one power supply device, the memory capacity may be small. Detection characteristic data converted into a data bit string based on the protocol by 8 transmission / reception control means according to the MIB protocol is connected to the communication line 9 via the communication interface 7 and transmitted. The above configuration is a main part of the power supply device A including a communication function.

Next, the configuration of the SNMP manager M will be described. In order to monitor the numerical value displayed on the display means D by the display control means 14, the information data of the transmission / reception control means 11 and the MIB database storage means MIB are communicated with the SNMP agent function module 6 via the communication interface 10 according to the SNMP protocol. Are transmitted and received via the communication line 9. The data of the SNMP agent function module 6 of the power supply device A is transmitted and received, and the MIB database and the display control means 14 convert the numeric signal into a corresponding sentence and display and monitor it. Reference numeral 12 denotes an MIB database additional recording means for newly adding MIB information such as new management items, numerical values, and display texts in accordance with the specifications of the power supply device A newly managed by this system. It is possible to cope with remote monitoring of various types of power supply devices only by giving this additional writing operation and an object identifier (OID) for specifying the power supply device.

The SNMP agent function module is formed of a memory device having an object identifier (OID) assigned for the purpose of specifying each network managed power supply and a CPU device, and the number for each delivery destination is a network managed power supply. This is an SNMP agent function module formed by a memory device and a CPU device provided for each. The communication line 9 is a network line, and includes a communication line using radio waves and light as a medium and the Internet.

Every time a new managed power supply is added, software development (for example, 50 people / day) is required like a conventional proxy agent. The same effect can be obtained with the additional work to rewrite the number for each delivery destination on the manager M side and the work man-hours (for example, 8 people / hour) to add management items and numerical values and display text. The inventive system can be provided at low cost.

Another embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Parts having the same reference numerals as those in FIG. The power function management means 5 issues a data collection command to the characteristic data detection means.

For example, when a secondary battery is built-in as a supplementary member for standby in the event of a power failure, periodically prevent the electrical capacity stored in the secondary battery from being lost due to a power failure. The power supply function management means 5 issues a data collection command so that the function of diagnosing the secondary battery is activated, the discharge capacity is detected and stored as data. The power supply function management means 5 is responsible for such daily maintenance work functions.

As described above, network management systems such as remote monitoring and failure diagnosis of power supplies can be realized at low cost. The response to after-sales service of various power supply units that are operating as equipment becomes faster, and the equipment operation rate is improved. The central management center can remotely monitor the operating status of power supply units operating around the world, know the contents of the failed part, improve the operating rate of the power supply unit, and contribute to the industry.

Block diagram of an embodiment according to the present invention. The block diagram of 2nd embodiment by this invention. Block diagram of a conventional device

Explanation of symbols

1 Power supply circuit
2 Auxiliary members (secondary batteries, etc.)
3 characteristic data detection means 4 MIB information storage device 5 power supply function management means 6 SNMP agent function module 7 communication interface 8 transmission control means and reception control means 9 communication line (network line, Internet)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Communication interface 11 Transmission control means and reception control means 12 MIB database additional recording means 13 Characteristic data judgment means 14 Display control means A Managed power supply D Display means M SNMP manager MIB MIB database storage means

Claims (8)

MIB information storage device for converting the detected characteristic value data into a data bit string based on the MIB rules and storing the data, and data transmission control means for transmitting the MIB data; for transmitting the data through a predetermined communication line A communication interface; and a reception control means for receiving from a communication line; an SNMP agent function module comprising: a characteristic data detecting means for detecting a characteristic value of a managed power supply device and a characteristic value of a member attached to the device Attached to a power supply device having: an SNMP manager side: a communication interface, an MIB database storage means for receiving and storing transmitted data, an MIB database additional means having redundancy so that additional data can be added, and an operating state And judgment means for judging abnormality by comparing with the reference value, display of received data and judgment result Display control means and display means for controlling display: Network management of a power supply device capable of remotely monitoring the received data transmitted from the SNMP agent function module and the judgment data obtained by the judgment means for display system. 2. The network management system for a power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the SNMP agent functional module is an SNMP agent functional module formed by a memory device having an object identifier (OID) assigned to each network-managed power supply apparatus and a CPU device. . 3. The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the SNMP agent function module is an SNMP agent function module formed by a memory device and a CPU device, each of which is assigned a number for each network managed power supply device. Network management system. 4. The network management system for a power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic value of the managed power supply device includes any or all of characteristic values capable of determining a temperature of a semiconductor element or a failure. Network management system. In the network management system of the power supply device, the characteristic values stored in the MIB database storage means are input voltage, input current, input power, output voltage, output current, output power, and voltage / current of a predetermined part inside the managed power supply device. The network management system for a power supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which includes any or all of the characteristic values of the attached members. In the network management system of the power supply apparatus, the characteristic values of the incidental members stored in the MIB database storage means include reference characteristic values that can be used to determine abnormality and failure in addition to voltage, current, and temperature. The network management system of a power supply device of thru | or 5. In a power supply network management system, a power supply function that allows a managed power supply to issue a command to collect numerical data that can be used to determine battery voltage, remaining capacity, end of life, or failure, in order to determine the characteristic values of ancillary components 7. The network management system for a power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply apparatus includes a management means. 8. The power supply network management system according to claim 1, wherein the data stored in the MIB information storage means is controlled according to SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), transmitted and received.

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