JP2007124738A - Communicatio system and its access system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To put the target of control quickly and certainly in a state that a master station designates. <P>SOLUTION: This communication system is equipped with the master station and a slave station. The master station transmits the second signal for checking whether the target of control is in the above state or not, according to the first signal, together with the third signal for putting the target of control in the above state when the target of control is not in the above state, according to the first signal, after transmitting the first signal for putting the target of control in the designated state. The slave station receives the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal, and determines whether the target of control is in the above state, according to the first signal, and determines whether it is in the above state, according to the third signal, when it is not in the above state, according to the first signal, and returns the fourth signal which shows that the target of control is in the above state, according to the first signal, or that the target of control is in the above state, according to the third signal, or that the target of control is in the aboves state, according to the third signal, to the master station. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system including a master station and a slave station that instructs the master station to enter a state designated by the master station and a communication method therefor.

  In a communication system having a master station and a slave station having a communication function with each other, the master station designates a state to be controlled through the slave station. Then, as a method of monitoring the state of the controlled object in the communication system described above, the master station transmits a polling signal requesting the slave station to confirm the status of the controlled object, and the slave station receives the polling signal and performs control. There is known a polling method in which a polling response signal indicating a target state is returned to a master station (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  A communication method of a conventional communication system will be described with reference to FIG. The figure is an example of a time chart for explaining a communication method of a conventional communication system. In the figure, the master station sends a control signal for setting the control target and a polling signal for checking whether the control target is in a state corresponding to the control signal. Shall be sent to Also, the slave station is provided near the control target, for example, when receiving the control signal, instructs the master station to specify the control target based on the control signal, and receives the polling signal, The state is determined and the result is returned to the master station.

  In FIG. 7, the master station transmits a control signal designating the state of the control target to the slave station (time t0).

  After the predetermined time (t1-t0) has elapsed, the master station transmits the above-described polling signal to the slave station (time t1). Note that it may take some time after the slave station receives the control signal until the control target is in the state specified by the control signal. In such a case, when the transmission time interval between the control signal and the polling signal is short, the slave station may erroneously determine the state of the control target. The predetermined time (t1-t0) is a time set in advance from the transmission of the control signal to the transmission of the polling signal so that the slave station system does not erroneously determine the state of the control target as described above.

  The polling signal transmitted from the master station is received by the slave station after a transmission delay time (t2-t1) caused by the communication system (time t2).

  When the slave station receives the polling signal, the slave station confirms the state of the control target for the slave station. Then, the slave station, for example, receives a signal indicating the state of the controlled object from the controlled object, determines the state of the controlled object, and returns a polling response signal indicating the state to the parent station (time t3). Note that t3-t2 is the time required for the slave station to determine the state of the control target, for example, the time until the slave station receives a signal indicating the state of the control target from the control target. The polling response signal is received by the master station after the transmission delay time described above (time t4).

  When receiving the polling response signal, the master station determines the state of the control target based on the polling response signal. When the master station determines from the polling response signal that the control target is in the state specified by the control signal, the master station ends the confirmation of the state of the control target.

  As an application example of such a communication system having a master station and a slave station, there is a distribution automation system in a distribution system which is a commercial line supplied by an electric power company. The distribution automation system includes a master station and a slave station that can communicate with each other, and controls, for example, a switching state of a switch installed in a predetermined section of a distribution line from a sales office of an electric power company, for example. The state in which the switch is closed (hereinafter referred to as ON) is a state in which the switch is connected to the distribution line, that is, a state in which the distribution line adjacent to the switch is connected to the distribution line. . In addition, the state in which the switch is open (hereinafter referred to as “cut”) is a state in which the switch is disconnected from the distribution line, that is, a state in which the distribution line and the distribution line adjacent to the switch are disconnected. . The slave station is installed in the vicinity of the switch and instructs to enter or switch off the switch. The master station is installed, for example, at a business office of an electric power company, and controls and monitors the on / off state of the switch through the slave station.

  In addition, a switch having the same function as the above-described switch is installed between the distribution line and the distributed power source, for example, in a customer's house. The distributed power source means a power source for connecting a power generation system such as a solar power generation system, a wind power generation system, or a cogeneration facility to a commercial power distribution system in a customer's house such as a factory, a building, or a general house. To do. Interconnection means that the distributed power source and the power distribution system are electrically connected, and the distributed power source and the power distribution system operate in an interconnected manner. Also in this case, the master station is installed, for example, at a sales office of an electric power company, and the slave station is installed, for example, for a switch in a customer's house. The master station is in a state where the distributed power source and the distribution line are connected to the switch of the customer's house where the distributed power source is installed through the slave station (hereinafter referred to as ON), or the distributed power source and the distribution line are connected. Designates that it will be in a blocked state (hereinafter referred to as “off”).

  When a worker performs recovery work in the event of an accident in a distribution system connected to a distributed power source, if the distributed power source is operating, the switch installed on the distribution line is turned off. However, since a reverse power flow may occur from the distributed power source to the power distribution system, there is a possibility that the operator may receive an electric shock, so it is necessary to cut off the distributed power source from the power distribution system. Therefore, for example, when there is an accident in the distribution system, the master station disconnects the distributed power source from the distribution system by designating the switch for the distributed power source connected to the distribution system. The disconnection means that the distributed power source is disconnected from the power distribution system.

Thus, in a communication system having a master station and a slave station, the master station can control and monitor the state of the controlled object through the slave station. And in the power distribution automation system to which this communication system is applied, the master station can designate a state such as switching on / off of the switch through the slave station. Thus, for example, field work is saved when an accident occurs in the power distribution system.
JP 7-39089 A

  By the way, when performing the above-described communication in the above-described communication system, for example, a communication error at the time of transmission of a control signal, an abnormality of a control target, or the like may occur. In that case, even if the master station transmits a control signal to the slave station, there is a possibility that the state of the controlled object cannot actually be controlled.

  For example, if a communication error occurs when the master station transmits a control signal to the slave station at time t0 in FIG. 7, the control target is not in a state designated by the master station. Then, the master station determines from the polling response signal that it is not in this state, and as shown in the figure, the master station transmits the control signal to the slave station again (time t5). This control signal is received by the slave station after the transmission delay time described above (time t6). When communication of the control signal is normally performed, the slave station instructs the control target to be in a state designated by the master station based on the retransmitted control signal, and the control target is in this state. (Time t7). In addition, t7-t6 is a processing time required from the slave station instructing the state of control to the state where the control target is designated.

  As described above, in the conventional communication system, even though the master station transmits a control signal to the slave station, when the control target is not actually in a state designated by the master station, the master station After receiving the polling response signal from the slave station, the control signal is transmitted again to the slave station.

  For example, in the power distribution automation system described above, if the control signal transmitted from the master station at time t0 shown in FIG. 7 turns off the switch, the master station is turned off at time t4. When a polling response signal indicating the presence is received, the state confirmation for the switch is finished there. However, when the master station receives a polling response signal indicating that the switch is in the on state at time t4, the master station retransmits a control signal for designating the switch to be turned off at time t5. This control signal is received by the slave station at time t6. Then, the switch is turned off based on the control signal retransmitted at time t7. Therefore, in this case, at least an extra time (t7-t4) from when the master station receives the polling response signal indicating that the switch is turned on to when the switch is turned off is required. . This does not lead to rapid restoration of the distribution system and improvement of the reliability of power supply to customers.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication system and a communication method thereof capable of quickly and surely specifying a control target such as a switch. Is to provide.

  In the invention for solving the above-mentioned problem, after transmitting the first signal for setting the control target, it is checked whether the control target is in the state according to the first signal. A master station that transmits a second signal for transmitting together with a third signal for causing the control target to be in the state when the control target is not in the state according to the first signal; and , Receiving the second signal and the third signal, and determining whether the control target is in the state according to the first signal based on the second signal; When it is not in the state according to the first signal, it is determined whether or not the state is in accordance with the third signal, and the control target is determined according to the first signal with respect to the master station. Or the control pair A slave station that returns a fourth signal indicating that the state is in accordance with the third signal or that the control target is not in the state in accordance with the third signal. It becomes.

  The slave station specifies the control target using the first signal when the control target is not in the state specified by the first signal and the second signal for confirming the status of the control target transmitted from the master station. A state in which the status of the control target is confirmed by receiving together with the third signal for instructing the status, and the master station specifies the control target if the control target is not in the specified status Can be instructed again. Therefore, compared with the case where the master station transmits the first signal again to the slave station, the master station can quickly and surely specify the control target.

  In the communication system, the control target is a switch that controls connection or disconnection of the distributed power source to the distribution line, and the state is that the switch connects the distributed power source and the distribution line. It is preferable that the state or the switch is in a state where the distributed power source and the distribution line are cut off.

  In the communication system, the control target is a voltage adjustment unit that boosts or decreases the voltage of the distributed power source, and the state is a state where the voltage adjustment unit boosts the voltage of the distributed power source, or It is preferable that the voltage adjusting unit is in a state where the voltage of the distributed power source is stepped down.

  In the communication system, the control target is a switch installed in the distribution line, and the state is a state where the switch is connected to the distribution line, or the switch is connected to the distribution line. It is preferable that it is the state interrupted | blocked.

  In the communication system, a plurality of the slave stations are provided for the plurality of control objects, and at least one of the second signal and the third signal selects any one of the plurality of slave stations. It is preferable that identification information is included.

  The invention for solving the problem is a communication method between a master station and a slave station that instructs a control target to be in a state designated by the master station, wherein the master station After transmitting a first signal for setting the control target to the state to the slave station, a second for checking whether the control target is in the state according to the first signal When the control target is not in the state according to the first signal, a signal is transmitted together with a third signal for setting the control target in the state, and the slave station Based on the second signal, the controlled object is in the state according to the first signal, or the controlled object is in the state according to the third signal, or The controlled object is not in the state according to the third signal It returns a fourth signal indicating, characterized in that.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to quickly and surely specify the control target by the master station.

  At least the following matters will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

=== Communication Method of Communication System ===
A communication method executed by the communication system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is an example of a time chart for explaining a communication method of a communication system according to the present invention. 2A is an example of a polling signal transmission format of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is an example of a polling response signal transmission format of the present invention. FIG. 2C is an example of the control code.

  The communication system of the present invention has a master station and a slave station having a communication function with each other. The slave station is provided, for example, in the vicinity of the control target, and instructs that the master station is designated as the control target. The master station controls and monitors the state of the controlled object by transmitting a control signal and a polling signal to the slave station.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the master station transmits to the slave station a control signal (first signal) that designates a state to be controlled (time t0).

  After a predetermined time (t1-t0) has elapsed, the master station becomes a control target when the control target state (second signal) and the control target state are not in a specified state. A signal (third signal) instructing to enter the state is transmitted as a polling signal to the slave station (time t1). Note that it may take some time after the slave station receives the control signal until the control target is designated. In such a case, if the transmission time interval between the control signal and the polling signal is short, the slave station may erroneously determine the state of the control target. The predetermined time (t1-t0) is a time set in advance from the transmission of the control signal to the transmission of the polling signal so that the slave station system does not erroneously determine the state of the control target as described above. Also, the polling signal in the present embodiment is configured in a transmission format as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 2A, the packet length 30a is data indicating the packet length of the polling signal to be transmitted. The address 30b is an address (identification information) assigned to the control target. The packet type 30c is data indicating the type of packet transmitted from the master station to the slave station. When the control target is, for example, a switch, data indicating the type of simultaneous sequence or selection / control is input. The The transmission time 30d is data indicating the time of transmission. The control code 30e is for instructing the control target to be in the state specified by the control signal when the control target state is not in the specified state. For example, when the control target is a switch and the control signal specifies that the switch is turned off, (101) is input to the control code 30e from FIG.

  In the transmission format shown in FIG. 2A, the packet length 30a, the address 30b, the packet type 30c, and the transmission time 30d are signals for confirming the state of the controlled object, and the control code 30e is the state of the controlled object. Is a signal that instructs the control target to enter the state when the state is not in the designated state.

  This polling signal is received by the slave station after a transmission delay (t2-t1) due to the delay of the communication system (time t2).

  When the slave station receives the polling signal, the slave station first checks whether the state of the control target is the state specified by the control signal.

  And a slave station receives the signal which shows the state of the said control object from a control object, for example. If the slave station determines from the signal received from the control target that the control target state is the state specified by the control signal, the slave station returns a polling response signal indicating that the control target state is normal to the master station. To do. On the other hand, if it is determined that the state of the control target is not the state specified by the control signal, the slave station instructs the control target to enter the state of the control code 30e in the polling signal. Then, the slave station confirms the state of the control target again, and returns a polling response signal (fourth signal) indicating the state of the control target to the master station (time t3). In other words, the polling response signal is to be controlled by the master station according to the control signal or the master station according to the polling signal control code 30e. Or a signal indicating that the master station is not in a state designated by the control code 30e.

  Here, the polling response signal has a transmission format as shown in FIG. 2B, for example. The packet length 32a is data indicating the packet length of the polling response signal. The address 32b is an address assigned to the control target, and the same data as the address 30b is input. The packet type 32c is data indicating the type of packet transmitted from the slave station to the master station. For example, when the control target is a switch, data indicating the type of selection, on / off control, and the like is input. . Data indicating the transmission time is input to the transmission time 32d, and the same data as the control code 30e is input to the control code 32e. The selection / control result 32f is data indicating a determination result of whether or not the control target is in a state designated by the master station in accordance with the control code 30e. The device state 32g is data indicating the state of the controlled object. For example, when the controlled object is a switch, data indicating the on / off state of the switch is input.

  In FIG. 1, t3-t2 is the time required to control and determine the state of the controlled object in the slave station. This polling response signal is received by the master station with a delay of the above-described transmission delay time (time t4).

  When receiving the polling response signal indicating that the state of the control target is the state specified by the control signal, the master station ends the confirmation of the state of the control target. Thus, for example, when a communication error occurs, the time (t7−t4) can be shortened as compared with the case where the control signal is retransmitted as shown in FIG.

  In addition, when receiving a polling response signal indicating that the state of the control target is not in the designated state, the master station transmits the polling signal to the slave station again. For example, when the master station receives a polling response signal indicating that the state of the control target is not in a specified state, the control target is specified by a control target abnormality or a communication error. It is determined that the state cannot be set.

  If there are multiple control targets and multiple slave stations exist for multiple control targets, confirm that the status of the control target is normal for a certain slave station before Send a polling signal to the station.

  If the control target is an important device, check whether it is the device to be controlled first so that the control target itself is not mistakenly controlled, and then send a polling signal to the slave station for the control target. It is also possible to transmit. When confirming the control target, selection (000) shown in FIG. 2C is input to the control code 30e of the polling signal, and data indicating selection is input to the packet type 30c. Data indicating selection is input to the packet type 32c of the polling response signal transmitted from the slave station to the master station. The selection / control result 32f is input with data indicating whether the selection has been performed normally. At this time, it is not necessary to input the data of the device state 32. After confirming that the polling response signal received from the slave station indicates that it has been selected normally, the master station transmits a polling signal with the control code 30e turned off (101) to the slave station, for example. To do.

  In the present embodiment, when the slave station determines that the state of the control target is not the state specified by the control signal, the slave station instructs the control target once to be in the state specified by the control code 30e. However, the control target may be instructed a plurality of times to be in the state of the control code 30e of the polling signal before the polling response signal is returned to the master station. By instructing a plurality of times, the state of the controlled object can be more reliably set to the state designated by the master station.

=== Configuration of distribution automation system ===
A configuration example of a power distribution automation system to which the communication system of the present embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A is a block diagram of a distribution automation system to which the communication system of the present embodiment is applied. FIG. 3B is a chart showing a correspondence example between a plurality of distributed power sources in a customer's house and the corresponding PLC modem. Here, “PLC” is an abbreviation for Power Line Communication.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the information processing apparatus 10 is installed at, for example, a business office of an electric power company. The pole transformer 40 is installed in the distribution system 1 which is a commercial line to which power from the substation 20 is supplied, and reduces the voltage of the high voltage (for example, 6.6 kV) distribution line 210 from the substation 20 to reduce the voltage ( For example, 210V) for distributing power to the customer's house through the distribution line 220.

  The pole switch 41 is installed in the vicinity of the pole transformer 40 and connects or blocks the upstream and downstream of the pole switch 41 in the high-voltage distribution line 210. A slave station (hereinafter abbreviated as a remote slave station) 42 of the power distribution remote monitoring and control apparatus is connected to the information processing apparatus 10 via the optical communication line 310 and the communication network 300 managed by the power company. . Further, the remote control station 42 is provided in the vicinity of the pole switch 41 and instructs to turn on or off the pole switch 41 according to a control signal from the information processing apparatus 10.

  The information processing apparatus 10 and the customer's house are connected via an optical communication line 320, a communication network 300, a media converter (hereinafter referred to as M / C) 34, and a PLC modem 331.

  In this embodiment, the optical communication line 310 and the optical communication line 320 are used as optical lines, but the optical communication lines 310 and 320 may be metal line communication lines.

≪Composition of customer's house≫
The low voltage distribution line 220 is drawn into the customer's house as the low voltage distribution line 230 via the PLC modem 331. The distributed power supply 301 is connected to the low-voltage distribution line 230 via a slave station (hereinafter referred to as “far control station”) 311 of the distributed power supply remote monitoring control device and a PLC modem 321. The distributed power supply 302 is connected to the low-voltage distribution line 230 via the remote control station 312 and the PLC modem 322. The distributed power source 303 is connected to the low-voltage distribution line 230 via a remote control station 313 and a PLC modem 323. The distributed power sources 301, 302, and 303 shown in FIG. 3 can be connected to the power distribution system 1 via the low voltage distribution line 230 and the low voltage distribution line 220.

  For example, the remote control station 311 connects the distributed power supply 301 and the low voltage distribution line 230 in a state where the remote control station 311 blocks the distributed power supply 301 and the low voltage distribution line 230 (hereinafter referred to as “off”). And a known switch (not shown) for detecting the output voltage of the distributed power supply 301, etc. This is a device having a function of controlling, etc. The remote control station 312 includes, for example, a known switch (not shown) that turns on and off the distributed power supply 302 and the low-voltage distribution line 230, and a known detection unit (not known) that detects the output voltage of the distributed power supply 302. And the like, and has a function of controlling the state of the switch, the detection unit, and the like. The remote control station 313 includes, for example, a known switch (not shown) that turns on and off the distributed power supply 303 and the low-voltage distribution line 230, and a known detection unit (not known) that detects the output voltage of the distributed power supply 303. And the like, and has a function of controlling the state of the switch, the detection unit, and the like. Further, when receiving the polling signal from the information processing apparatus 10, the remote control stations 311, 312, and 313 determine whether the corresponding switch is on or off. When the state of the switch is not the specified state, the switch is instructed to be in the state specified by the polling signal. Then, the remote control stations 311, 312, and 313 return a polling response signal indicating the result of the state of the corresponding switch to the information processing apparatus 10.

  The PLC modem 321 receives a polling response signal indicating that the switch of the remote control station 311 is turned on or off, data indicating the output voltage detected by the detection unit of the remote control station 311, and the like. It is a transmission modem having a function of superimposing it on the power signal of the low-voltage distribution line 230 as an information signal indicating the operation state of The PLC modem 322 receives a polling response signal indicating that the switch of the remote control station 312 is turned on or off, data indicating the output voltage detected by the detection unit of the remote control station 312, and the like. It is a transmission modem having a function of superimposing it on the power signal of the low-voltage distribution line 230 as an information signal indicating the operation state of The PLC modem 323 receives a polling response signal indicating that the switch of the remote control station 313 is turned on or off, data indicating the output voltage detected by the detection unit of the remote control station 313, and the like. It is a transmission modem having a function of superimposing it on the power signal of the low-voltage distribution line 230 as an information signal indicating the operation state of The PLC modems 321, 322, and 323 are also transmission modems that have a function of separating the two from a power signal on which an information signal is superimposed by a PLC modem 331 provided outside a customer's house, which will be described later. Note that the PLC modems 321, 322, and 323 are provided as supply outlets in the customer's house, and are also general PLC modems that can be used for communication in the customer's house, for example.

<< Configuration of Information Processing Apparatus 10 >>
The information processing apparatus 10 mainly includes a power distribution server 110, a monitoring control terminal 120, a master station of a distributed power remote monitoring and control apparatus (hereinafter abbreviated as a distributed power remote control master station) 130, a power distribution remote A master station (hereinafter abbreviated as a “distribution distance control master station”) 150 of the monitoring control device and a database management server 170 are connected to each other via a communication line 160 such as a LAN so as to communicate with each other.

  The distribution server 110 mainly has a function of managing and controlling the distributed power supply remote control master station 130, the distribution remote control master station 150, and the like. The monitoring control terminal 120 is, for example, a terminal for an operator of a power company sales office to input data to the power distribution server 110 or display data output from the power distribution server 110.

  The power distribution distance control master station 150 is a device having a function of transmitting, for example, a control signal designating the on / off state of the pole switch 41 to the distance control station 42. Further, when there are a plurality of PLC modems 331 shown in FIG. 3, the database management server 170 manages a database for each of them (for example, the parent modem databases 171 and 172), and the database management server 170 manages the data in the parent modem databases 171 and 172. It has a function to control input and output. When the distributed power sources monitored by the information processing apparatus 10 are distributed over a plurality of customer homes, the parent modem databases 171 and 172 are databases that store the location information of these distributed power sources for each customer home.

  The distributed power source remote control master station (master station) 130 is connected to the remote control slave stations (slave stations) 311, 312, and 313 through a media converter (M / C) 140 further connected thereto. It is a device having a function of transmitting a control signal (first signal) for turning on or off the target). The distributed power remote control master station 130 has a polling communication function, and transmits a polling signal to the remote control stations 311, 312, and 313. It should be noted that the distributed power remote control master station 130 according to the present embodiment, for example, a signal for confirming whether the switch is on or off (second signal) and the state of the switch are not in a specified state. Then, a signal (third signal) for instructing the switch to be designated by the control signal is transmitted to the remote control stations 311, 312, 313 together as a polling signal. In addition, the distributed power remote control master station 130 receives the polling response signal (fourth signal) returned from the remote control stations 311, 312, and 313, thereby corresponding to the remote control stations 311, 312, and 313. Check the switch status. Note that the distributed power remote control master station 130, for example, the first timer 131 that measures the time from when the control signal is transmitted until the polling signal is transmitted. A second timer 132 for discriminating a no-response abnormality with no reply, and a counter 133 that counts the number of times a polling response signal is received.

  As described above, the information processing apparatus 10 at the sales office and the PLC modems 321, 322, and 323 at the customer's house can communicate with each other via the PLC modem 331, the M / C 34, the optical communication line 320, and the communication network 300. It is connected to the. The PLC modem 331 has a function of superimposing an information signal such as a control signal for turning on or off the switch provided in the remote control stations 311, 312, and 313 described above on the power signal of the low voltage distribution line 220. A transmission modem. The PLC modem 331 is also a transmission modem having a function of separating the power signal and the information signal transmitted from the PLC modems 321, 322, and 323 described above. The PLC modem 331 is a general master station modem that is provided outside the customer's home and controls the PLC modems 321, 322, and 323 as slave station modems.

  When distributed power sources monitored by the information processing apparatus 10 are distributed over a plurality of customer homes, the locations of these distributed power sources are identified for each customer home by the databases stored in the parent modem databases 171 and 172. be able to. Specifically, each customer's house is identified by the PLC modem 331 of the master station provided there. In addition, the distributed power source at the customer's home is identified by a PLC modem (for example, PLC modems 321, 322, 323) of a slave station with respect to a PLC modem (for example, PLC modem 331) of a certain parent station.

  The parent modem database 171 of the information processing apparatus 10 stores, for example, child modem data 171a corresponding to the PLC modem 331. The child modem data 171a is obtained by associating information indicating the plurality of PLC modems 321, 322, and 323 with information indicating the plurality of distributed power sources 301, 302, and 303, respectively. (See FIG. 3B). FIG. 3B is a chart showing a correspondence example between a plurality of distributed power sources in the customer's house and the corresponding PLC modem.

  From the above, for example, the power distribution server 110 refers to the child modem data 171a stored in the parent modem database 171 through the database management server 170, for example, via the PLC modem 331 and the PLC modems 321, 322, and 323. Each of the distributed power sources 301, 302, and 303 can be recognized, and a plurality of distributed power sources distributed over a plurality of customer homes can be individually monitored.

=== Operation of Distribution Automation System ===
Next, the operation of the distribution automation system to which the communication system of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 shows an example of the operation of the distributed power remote control master station 130 when the distributed power remote control master station 130 sets the switch of the remote control station 311 to the off state in the communication system of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the remote control station 311 at that time.

  For example, when a distribution line accident occurs, data is input to the monitoring control terminal 120, so that the distributed power source remote control master station 130 can be distributed from the power distribution server 110 via the communication line 160 to the distributed power sources 301, 302, A signal for turning off the switch 303 is received (S301). Then, the distributed power remote control master station 130 transmits a control signal for turning off each switch to the remote control stations 311, 312, and 313. At the same time, the first timer 131 is started (S302).

  When the remote control station 311 receives a control signal for turning off a switch (not shown) provided in the remote control station 311 from the distributed power supply remote control master station 130 (S401), It is instructed to turn off (S402).

  When the elapsed time of the first timer 131 is less than T1 (S303: No), the distributed power remote control master station 130 checks the elapsed time of the first timer 131 again. When it is determined that the elapsed time of the first timer 131 is equal to or greater than T1 (S303: Yes), a polling signal with the control code 30e in FIG. At the same time, the second timer 132 is started (S304). In FIG. 1, t1−t0 = T1.

  When receiving the polling signal with the control code 30e turned off (101) (S403), the remote control station 311 determines whether or not the switch is turned off (S404). If the remote control station 311 determines that the switch is off (S404: Yes), it sends a polling response signal indicating that the control of the switch status is normal to the distributed power supply remote control master. It returns to the station 130 (S405). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S404 that the switch is not turned off, that is, the switch is turned on (S404: No), the remote control station 311 sends the switch to the switch according to the control code 30e of the polling signal. It is instructed to turn off (S406). Thereafter, it is determined again whether or not the switch is turned off (S407).

  If the remote control station 311 determines that the switch is turned off in step S407 (S407: Yes), the remote control station 311 sends a polling response signal indicating that the control of the switch is normal. It returns to the distributed power remote control master station 130 (S405). On the other hand, when it is determined that the switch is not turned off (S407: No), the remote control station 311 sends a polling response signal indicating that the control of the switch is abnormal to a distributed power supply remote control master station. It returns to 130 (S408).

  For example, as described above, when the remote control station 311 receives the polling signal (101) indicating that the control code 30e in FIG. 2 (a) is off, for example, the switch state determination result is off. In FIG. 2B, the polling response signal selection / control result 32f is input with, for example, (00) indicating that the control of the switch is normally performed, and the device status 32g includes the switch. Data indicating that it is cut is input. In addition, when the determination result of the state of the switch is on, the selection / control result 32f of the polling response signal includes, for example, data (11) indicating that the control of the state of the switch is abnormal. The device status 32g is input with data indicating that the switch is on.

  When it is determined that the elapsed time of the second timer 132 is T2 or more (S305: Yes), the distributed power remote control master station 130 does not receive a polling response signal from the remote control station 311 (S306). : No), it reports to the power distribution server 110 that there is no response from the remote control station 311 and that there is no response (S311). When the distributed power source remote control master station 130 receives the polling response signal from the remote control station 311 (S306: Yes), it is determined whether or not the switch is a polling response signal indicating that the switch is off. Is discriminated (S307).

In the case of a polling response signal indicating that the switch is off (S307: Yes), the distributed power remote control master station 130 indicates that the switch is on or off in the distribution server 110. Is reported (S308). On the other hand, in the case of a polling response signal indicating that the switch is not turned off (S307: No), if the polling response signal is received for the Nth time (N <N1) (S309: No), the distributed power source remote control master station 130 sets the counter 133 to N + 1 (S310), and again executes step S304 of transmitting a polling signal.
When the distributed power remote control master station 130 receives a polling response signal indicating that the switch is not turned off N1 times (S309: Yes), the distribution server 110 has an error in the switch or a communication error. The fact that the switch cannot be turned off is reported (S311).

  In the present embodiment, when the switch is not turned off in step S404 of FIG. 5 (S404: No), the operation for instructing to turn off the switch is executed once (S406). Until the polling response signal is returned, the operation for instructing the switch to be turned off based on the control code 30e (S406) and the state confirmation of the switch (S407) may be executed a plurality of times. If it is executed a plurality of times, the switch can be turned on or off more reliably.

  Further, even when there are a plurality of remote control stations 311, 312, and 313 for one distributed power supply remote control master station 130 as in the present embodiment, the polling signal is displayed as shown in FIG. Since the addresses of the respective switches are assigned to a plurality of slave stations, it is possible to specify the on / off state of the corresponding switch.

  Moreover, although the case where the switch of the remote control station 311 is turned off has been described in the present embodiment, the switch can be similarly controlled and monitored when the switch is turned on. In this case, the control code 30e in FIG. 2A may be (011) shown in FIG. A communication method between the distributed power source remote control master station 130 and the remote control slave station 311 is the same as that in the case where the switch is turned off.

  Thus, for example, when a distribution line accident or the like occurs, the switches corresponding to the remote control stations 311, 312, and 313 provided in the sales office are quickly and surely provided. Can be set to turn on or off. Therefore, for example, the distributed power sources 301, 302, 303 and the low-voltage distribution line 230 at the customer's house can be connected or disconnected quickly and reliably from the sales office.

  In addition, the communication system of the present invention controls the voltage of the distributed power sources 301, 302, and 303 to be increased or decreased from the information processing apparatus 10 based on, for example, a predetermined agreement between an electric power company and a customer. It can also be applied to. For example, in order to control the output voltage while monitoring the output voltage of the distributed power source 301, a control unit (not shown) for controlling a known voltage adjusting unit (not shown) provided in the distributed power source 301, etc. May be newly provided for the remote control station 311. This control unit (not shown) is, for example, a well-known one like the above-described switch (not shown). Also in this case, the voltage of the distributed power source 301 is set by setting a code for boosting or stepping down the output voltage in the control code 30e in FIG. Can be stepped up or down. Accordingly, for example, the output voltage of the distributed power source 301 can be quickly and reliably increased or decreased from a remote location such as a power company sales office.

=== Other Embodiments ===
The communication system of the present invention can also be applied when, for example, specifying the on / off state of a switch installed in a distribution line.

  Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining another embodiment of the present invention.

  The high-voltage distribution line 210 from the substation 20 is connected to a customer's house (not shown) via a pole transformer (not shown) provided in the vicinity of the pole switches 11a, 11b, and 11c. (Drawn).

  The pole switch 11a is installed in the high voltage distribution line 210, and the column switch 11a is connected to the high voltage distribution line 210 (hereinafter referred to as “on”), or the column switch 11a is connected to the high voltage distribution line 210. 210 has a function of shutting off from 210 (hereinafter referred to as “off”). The pole switch 11b is installed in the high voltage distribution line 210 and has a function of turning on or off. The pole switch 11c is installed in the high voltage distribution line 210 and has a function of turning on or off.

  The remote control station 12a is provided in the vicinity of the pole switch 11a, and instructs to turn on or off the pole switch 11a. The remote control station 12b is provided in the vicinity of the pole switch 11b and instructs to turn on or off the pole switch 11b. The remote control station 12c is provided in the vicinity of the pole switch 11c and instructs to turn on or off the pole switch 11c.

  The information processing apparatus 50 is installed, for example, at a sales office of an electric power company. Mainly, the power distribution server 18, the monitoring control terminal 16, and the power distribution distance control master station 14 can communicate with each other via a communication line 19 such as a LAN. It is configured to be connected to.

  The distribution remote control master station 14 controls the turning on and off of the pole switches 11a, 11b, and 11c through the optical communication line 310 and the communication network 300, and further through the remote control stations 12a, 12b, and 12c, respectively. Monitoring. The optical communication line 310 may be a metal communication line. The power distribution remote control master station 14 has a function of transmitting a control signal designating the state of the pole switch 11a to the remote control station 12a and a function of performing polling communication with the remote control station 12a. In addition, the power distribution remote control master station 14 has a function of transmitting a control signal designating the state of the pole switch 11b to the remote control station 12b and a function of performing polling communication with the remote control station 12b. . Further, the power distribution remote control master station 14 has a function of transmitting a control signal designating the state of the pole switch 11c to the remote control station 12c and a function of performing polling communication with the remote control station 12c. . The power distribution distance control master station 14 uses, for example, a signal for confirming whether the pole switch 11a is on or off, and the column switch 11a as a control signal when the pole switch 11a is not in a specified state. A signal for instructing the designated state is transmitted together as a polling signal.

  The power distribution server 18 mainly has a function of managing and controlling the power distribution distance control master station 14 and the like. The monitoring control terminal 16 is, for example, a terminal for an operator of a sales office to input data to the power distribution server 18 or display data output from the power distribution server 18.

  Also in the power distribution remote control station 14 and the remote control stations 12a, 12b, and 12c configured as described above, the on-post switches 11a, 11b, and 11c are turned on or off by the same operation as that of the above-described distributed power supply switch. The cutting status can be controlled and monitored.

  For example, when the pole switch 11a is turned off due to an accident in the distribution line, etc., after transmitting a control signal for turning off the pole switch 11a from the distribution distance control master station 14 to the remote control station 12a. In FIG. 2A, the polling signal with the control code 30e turned off (101) may be transmitted to the remote control station 12a. Even when a communication error or abnormalities of the pole switch 11a occurs when the control signal is transmitted, by sending a polling signal in which (101) is input to the control code 30e in FIG. It becomes possible to instruct the pole switch 11a to be turned off. Therefore, the time of (t7-t4) shown in FIG. 7 can be shortened quickly compared with the case where the power distribution remote control station 14 receives the polling response signal and then transmits the control signal to the remote control station 12a again. In addition, the pole switch 11a can be cut reliably.

  As described above, in the communication system of the present invention, a signal for confirming the state of the controlled object is sent from the master station to the slave station, and when the controlled object is not designated, the controlled object is designated. Since the instructing signal is transmitted together as a polling signal, the master station can quickly and surely specify the control target. Therefore, for example, in a distribution automation system, for example, control of turning on / off of a switch can be performed quickly and reliably, and the reliability of power supply to a customer can be improved.

  The above-described embodiment is intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention is changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

It is an example of the time chart for demonstrating the communication method of the communication system of this invention. (A) is an example of the transmission format of the polling signal of the present invention. (B) is an example of the transmission format of the polling response signal of the present invention. (C) is an example of a control code. (A) is a block diagram which shows an example of the power distribution automation system to which the communication system of this invention is applied. (B) is a chart showing an example of correspondence between a plurality of distributed power sources in a customer's house and a corresponding PLC modem. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the master station in the communication system of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the sub_station | mobile_unit in the communication system of this invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating other embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the time chart for demonstrating the conventional communication system.

Explanation of symbols

10, 50 Information processing apparatus 11a, 11b, 11c, 41 Pole switch 12a, 12b, 12c, 42, 311, 312, 313 Remote control station 14, 150 Distribution remote control master station 16, 120 Monitoring and control terminal 18 , 110 Power distribution server 20 Substation 34, 140 M / C
40 pole transformer 130 distributed power remote control master station 131 first timer 132 second timer 133 counter 19, 160 communication line 170 database management server 171, 172 parent modem database 171a, 172a child modem database 210 high voltage distribution line 220, 230 Low Voltage Distribution Line 300 Communication Network 301, 302, 303 Distributed Power Supply 310, 320 Optical Communication Line 321, 322, 313, 331 PLC Modem

Claims (6)

After transmitting the first signal for setting the control target, the second signal for checking whether or not the control target is in the state according to the first signal, A master station that transmits the control object together with a third signal for setting the state to be controlled when the state is not in the state according to the first signal;
Receiving the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal, and determining whether the control target is in the state according to the first signal based on the second signal; When the control target is not in the state according to the first signal, it is determined whether or not the control target is in the state according to the third signal, and the control target is The state is in response to one signal, the control target is in the state in response to the third signal, or the control target is in the state in response to the third signal. A slave station that returns a fourth signal indicating that
A communication system comprising: The controlled object is
A switch that controls the connection or disconnection of the distributed power supply to the distribution line,
The state is
The switch is in a state where the distributed power source and the distribution line are connected, or the switch is in a state where the distributed power source and the distribution line are disconnected.
The communication system according to claim 1. The controlled object is
It is a voltage regulator that boosts or lowers the voltage of the distributed power supply,
The state is
The voltage regulator is in a state where the voltage of the distributed power source is boosted, or the voltage regulator is in a state where the voltage of the distributed power source is stepped down.
The communication system according to claim 1. The controlled object is
It is a switch installed on the distribution line,
The state is
The switch is connected to the distribution line, or the switch is disconnected from the distribution line,
The communication system according to claim 1. A plurality of the slave stations are provided for the plurality of control objects,
At least one of the second signal and the third signal includes identification information for selecting one of the plurality of slave stations.
The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: A communication method of a communication system including a master station and a slave station that instructs a control target to be in a state designated by the master station,
The master station is
After transmitting a first signal for setting the control target to the state to the slave station, a second for checking whether the control target is in the state according to the first signal Transmitting a signal together with a third signal for setting the controlled object in the state when the controlled object is not in the state in response to the first signal;
The slave station is
For the master station, based on the second signal, the controlled object is in the state according to the first signal, or the controlled object is in the state according to the third signal. Or a fourth signal indicating that the control target is not in the state in response to the subject 3 signal,
A communication method characterized by the above.

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