JP2007074466A - Remote monitoring controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote monitoring controller capable of always monitoring a state of a central controller and continuously controlling a load by a standard function without causing system down when an abnormality of the central controller occurs. <P>SOLUTION: The central controller 11 is connected to a terminal 13 for performing monitoring control of a prescribed load which is an object for control via a signal line, generates control data for the other terminal 13b based on preset system data and controls the load connected to the other terminal 13b when monitoring data are received from a terminal 13a. A backup device 14 monitors the state of the central controller 11, when the central controller 11 show the abnormality, connection of the terminal 13 is switched from the central controller 11 to the backup 14 by an interface device 12 and control is performed by the standard function to the terminal 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote monitoring control device in which a central control device and a plurality of terminals are connected via signal lines, and a load connected to the terminal device is controlled by the central control device.

  The remote monitoring and control device is configured by connecting a central control device that controls the entire system and a plurality of terminals that control loads via signal lines. Then, the address setting of the terminal unit and the setting of the system data stored in the central control unit are performed from the setting unit connected to the signal line through the terminal unit. As such a remote monitoring control device, for example, there is a lighting monitoring control system in which a load is a lighting fixture.

  On the other hand, the functions of the remote monitoring control device are mainly determined by a microcomputer program provided in the central control device. Therefore, if the function of the remote monitoring control device is to be added, an operation for changing the program of the central control device is required, and it is difficult to add the function after the remote monitoring control device is installed. Therefore, there is a remote monitoring and control device that can add functions relatively easily even after the installation of the remote monitoring and control device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In other words, a function expansion unit that expands the functions of the central control unit by loading the additional function program into the microcomputer is provided, and a program for the additional function is prepared in the function expansion unit. The function of the central control unit is expanded by reading a program of additional functions. This makes it easy to set a program for additional functions even after the central controller is installed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-18164

  However, in Patent Document 1, the function can be added after the installation of the remote monitoring control device, but when the central control device itself becomes abnormal, not only the function cannot be added, After the central control unit stops, it becomes impossible to control the load. If the remote monitoring control device is a lighting monitoring control system, the lighting control cannot be performed and the system is down.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a remote monitoring and control device that can constantly monitor the state of a central control device and can control a load with a standard function without causing system down when an abnormality occurs in the central control device.

  A remote monitoring and control apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a terminal for monitoring and controlling a predetermined load to be controlled; and is preset when monitoring data is received from the terminal connected to the terminal via a signal line. A central controller that generates control data for other terminals based on the system data and controls loads connected to the other terminals; and monitors the status of the central controller and determines that the central controller is abnormal A backup device for controlling the standard function when the control device is connected; and an interface device for switching the connection of the terminal from the central control device to the backup device when the central control device becomes abnormal. Features.

  In the present invention and the following inventions, definitions and technical meanings of terms are as follows unless otherwise specified.

  The terminal comprises a monitoring terminal and a control terminal. The monitoring terminal outputs monitoring data, and the control terminal controls the load. The central control unit is connected to the terminal device via a signal line and stores preset system data. System data is set from a setting device connected to the signal line. When receiving the monitoring data from the monitoring terminal, the central control device generates control data for the corresponding control terminal and controls the load connected to the control terminal.

  The backup device monitors the status of the central controller. When the central control device becomes abnormal, the standard function is controlled. Here, the standard function refers to a load control function necessary to control the load at a minimum among all load control functions of the central controller. For example, when the load is a luminaire, the load control function has a function of lighting the luminaire with group control or dimming control, but the standard function controls the luminaire among these functions. This is the minimum function necessary for the operation, that is, an on / off control function.

  When the backup device detects an abnormality in the central control device, the interface device switches the connection of the terminal from the central control device to the backup device in accordance with a command from the backup device. Thereby, the terminal is monitored and controlled by the backup device.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the remote monitoring and control apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, the backup apparatus monitors a transmission signal output from the central control apparatus.

  The backup device according to the present invention monitors a transmission signal output from the central control device to monitor the abnormality of the central control device. The backup device monitors a transmission signal output from the central control device to the terminal device at all times or regularly. In this case, the backup device also inquires about the set system data and takes in the latest system data. As a result, the system data of the central control device is taken into the backup device, so that the backup can be smoothly performed when the central control device becomes abnormal.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote monitoring control device according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the backup device is connected to the central control device via a serial transmission line and detects an abnormality of the central control device using a transmission message. It is characterized by.

  The backup device of the present invention is connected to, for example, a serial transmission line that constitutes a LAN, and the central controller is also connected to the LAN via a serial transmission line. Then, the backup device detects an abnormality of the central control device by a transmission message from the central control device connected by the serial transmission line. Also, the set system data is inquired, and the latest system data is taken in via the serial transmission line.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in the central control device, the backup device that monitors the state of the central control device controls the terminal connected to the signal line instead of the central control device. Therefore, it is possible to continue to perform load control with the standard function without system down.

  According to the invention of claim 2, since the state of the central control unit is monitored based on the state of the transmission signal with the terminal unit, it is possible to shift to backup by the backup unit while preventing abnormal control data from being transmitted to the terminal unit. . In addition, since the system data is also inquired from the backup device, the backup device can take in the changed system data even when the system data of the central control device is changed.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the backup device is connected to the central control device via a serial transmission line, and the status of the central control device is monitored by a serial transmission message. Therefore, a transmission monitoring line for transmission monitoring becomes unnecessary. In addition, since the system data inquiry is also performed through the serial transmission line, even if the system data of the central control device is changed, the changed system data can be fetched.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a remote monitoring and control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A central control device 11 that controls the entire system is connected to a terminal device 13 via an interface device 12, and a backup device 14 that backs up the central control device 11 is connected to the terminal device 13 via an interface device 12. Note that the backup device 14 is configured to have an in-panel agreement dimension that does not require extra mounting space.

  The terminal device 13 includes a monitoring terminal device 13a that outputs monitoring data and a control terminal device 13b that controls the load. In FIG. 1, only one monitoring terminal device 13a and one control terminal device 13b are shown. In practice, a plurality of monitoring terminals 13 a and a plurality of control terminals 13 b are connected to the interface device 12 by signal lines 15. The central control device 11 and the interface device 12 are connected by a first signal line 16a, and the backup device 14 and the interface device 12 are connected by a second signal line 16b. The signal line 15, the first signal line 16a, and the second signal line 16b are signal lines that transmit data and power indicated by, for example, a double pole (± 24V) time division multiplexed signal.

  The central control device 11 and the backup device 14 are connected by a transmission monitoring line 17. The central control device 11 takes in the transmission signal output to the first signal line 16 a into the backup device 14, and the backup device 14 performs central control. An abnormality of the device 11 is monitored.

  The central controller 11 stores preset system data. For example, when the remote monitoring and control device is a lighting monitoring control system, the system data includes group information when group controlling lighting fixtures as loads, dimming control information when controlling lighting fixtures, and the like. . The system data stored in advance by the central controller 11 is set from a setting device connected to the signal line 15. The setting device is connected to the signal line 15 via the terminal device 13, and not only system data but also address data of each terminal device 13 is set.

  In a normal time, the interface device 12 connects the signal line 15 to the first signal line 16 a, and the central control device 11 is connected to the signal line 15. When the central control device 11 receives the monitoring data from the monitoring terminal device 13a via the signal line 15, the interface device 12 and the first signal line 16a, the central control device 11 controls the control data to the control terminal device 13b based on the preset system data. Is generated. Then, control data is transmitted to the control terminal 13b via the first signal line 16a, the interface device 12 and the signal line 15, and the load connected to the control terminal 13b is controlled.

  The backup device 14 inputs a transmission signal transmitted / received between the central control device 11 and the terminal device 13 through the transmission monitoring line 17 and monitors the state of the central control device 11 by monitoring the transmission signal. . In this case, the system data set in the central controller 11 is also inquired. The system data is inquired because the system data may be changed even after the remote monitoring control device is installed by the setting device connected to the signal line 15. When the system data is changed due to the inquiry of the system data, the latest system data is taken in.

  Here, monitoring of the transmission signal by the backup device 14 may be constant monitoring or periodic monitoring with a predetermined period. In the case of constant monitoring, the backup device 14 needs to be always turned on, but in the case of regular monitoring, the backup device 14 may be turned on only when monitoring is performed. In addition, a switch for forcibly starting the backup device 14 is provided so that the backup device 14 can be started at any time separately from the periodic monitoring. Thereby, the backup device 14 can be activated at any time by human judgment.

  Next, when it is detected by the backup device 14 that the central control device 11 has become abnormal, the backup device 14 outputs a switching command to the interface device 12, disconnects the signal line 15 from the first signal line 16a, and Connected to the two-signal line 16b. As a result, the backup device 14 is connected to the signal line 15, and the backup device 14 controls the terminal device 13 instead of the central control device 11.

  The backup device 14 has a load control function (standard function) necessary for minimum control of the load among all the load control functions of the central control device 11, and when the central control device 11 becomes abnormal, Control with standard functions with limited functions. For example, when the load is a lighting fixture, only a minimum on / off control function capable of turning on or off the lighting fixture is provided as a standard function.

  According to the first embodiment of the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in the central control device 11, the backup device 14 replaces the central control device 11 with the terminal 13 connected to the signal line 15 as a standard function. Therefore, the minimum load control can be continued without going down the system. Further, since the monitoring of the state of the central control device is performed according to the state of the transmission signal with the terminal device 13, it is possible to shift to backup by the backup device 14 while preventing abnormal control data from being transmitted to the terminal device 13. In addition, since the system data of the central control device 11 is taken into the backup device 14, backup can be performed smoothly when the central control device 11 becomes abnormal.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a remote monitoring control apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. This second embodiment is different from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the central control device 11 and the backup device 14 are connected to a LAN 19 formed by a serial transmission line 18, and the serial transmission line 18 is connected. An abnormality of the central control device 11 is detected by the transmitted transmission message. The same elements as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  The LAN 19 is configured by connecting a central control device 11 and a backup device 14 to a serial transmission line 18, and connecting a hub (line concentrator) 20 and a personal computer (personal computer) 21. The central controller 11 transmits a transmission signal (monitoring control data) to be transmitted / received to / from the terminal device 13 to the personal computer 21 via the serial transmission line 18. The personal computer 21 determines abnormality of the central control device 11 based on a transmission signal between the central control device 11 and the terminal device 13. When the personal computer 21 determines that it is on the 11th floor of the central control device, it transmits a message to that effect via the serial transmission line 18 to the backup device 14.

  When the backup device 14 receives a message indicating that the central control device 11 is abnormal, the backup device 14 outputs a switching command to the interface device 12, disconnects the signal line 15 from the first signal line 16a, and connects it to the second signal line 16b. To do. As a result, the backup device 14 is connected to the signal line 15, and the backup device 14 controls the terminal device 13 instead of the central control device 11. The backup device 14 has a load control function (standard function) necessary for minimum control of the load among all the load control functions of the central control device 11, and when the central control device 11 becomes abnormal, Control with standard functions with limited functions.

  In the above description, the personal computer 21 has a function of performing abnormality determination. However, the backup device 14 may have a function of performing abnormality determination. Further, system data set in the central controller 11 may be transmitted to the backup device 14 via the serial transmission line 18.

  According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the central control device 11 and the backup device 14 are connected to the LAN serial transmission line 18, and the backup device 14 receives a message from the LAN serial transmission line 18 by the central control device 11. Therefore, the transmission monitoring line 17 becomes unnecessary.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a remote monitoring and control apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the interface device 12 is omitted, and a transmission signal from the central control device 11 is temporarily input to the backup device 14 and the signal line 15 Is output. The same elements as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  A transmission signal (control data) from the central control device 11 is input to the backup device 14 via the signal line 16 and is transmitted from the backup device 14 to the terminal device 13 of the signal line 15. On the other hand, a transmission signal (monitoring data) from the terminal device 13 on the signal line 15 is input to the backup device 14 and input to the central control device 11 through the signal line 16.

  The backup device 14 monitors a transmission signal between the central control device 11 and the terminal device 13 and determines an abnormality of the central control device 11. When the central controller 11 is normal, the transmission signal between the central controller 11 and the terminal 13 is permitted. On the other hand, when it is determined that the central control device 11 is abnormal, the transmission signal between the central control device 11 and the terminal device 13 is not permitted, and the transmission signal is transmitted between the backup device 14 and the terminal device 13. Send and receive. The backup device 14 has a load control function (standard function) necessary for minimum control of the load among all the load control functions of the central control device 11, and when the central control device 11 becomes abnormal, Control with standard functions with limited functions.

  In the third embodiment, since the backup device 14 is connected between the central control device 11 and the terminal device 13, it is necessary to keep the backup device 14 operating at all times. The first embodiment Since the backup device 14 cannot be operated periodically as in the case of, the power supply to the backup device 14 is always required.

  According to the third embodiment, since the backup device 14 is always in an operating state, the central control device 11 can always be monitored. Further, since the interface device 12 can be omitted, the overall configuration can be simplified.

1 is a configuration diagram of a remote monitoring control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram of the remote monitoring control apparatus concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram of the remote monitoring control apparatus concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Central control apparatus, 12 ... Interface apparatus, 13 ... Terminal device, 14 ... Backup device, 15 ... Signal line, 16 ... 1st signal line, 17 ... Transmission monitoring line, 18 ... Serial transmission line, 19 ... LAN, 20 ... Hub, 21 ... PC

Claims (3)

A terminal for monitoring and controlling a predetermined load to be controlled;
A central point that is connected to the terminal by a signal line and receives control data from the terminal, generates control data for other terminals based on preset system data, and controls a load connected to the other terminals A control device;
A backup device that monitors the state of the central control unit and controls standard functions when the central control unit becomes abnormal;
An interface device for switching the connection of the terminal from the central control device to the backup device when the central control device becomes abnormal;
A remote monitoring and control device comprising: The remote monitoring control device according to claim 1, wherein the backup device monitors a transmission signal output from the central control device. The remote monitoring control device according to claim 1, wherein the backup device is connected to the central control device via a serial transmission line, and detects an abnormality of the central control device using a transmission message.

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