JP2008060723A - Coordinated control method for power line carrier system, and its system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coordinated control method for a power line carrier system capable of increasing communication traffic per unit time duration without increase in a communication error ratio, even when a transmission path of a power line carrier signal is formed among master units via a main trunk power line, and to provide the power line carrier system. <P>SOLUTION: A time zone ts, a time zone t1 and a time zone t2 are set in a slot. The time zone ts is used for timing by which a master unit 4 (41-45) assigned to the slot starts transmission of a control packet. The time zone t1 of a predetermined time width is set from the end point of the time zone ts, and used for transmission at the initial time when a master unit 4 corresponding to the slot is not assigned. The time zone t2 of a predetermined time width is set from the end point of the time zone t1, and allows a master unit 4 out of assignment to perform transmission if there is no transmission by an assigned master unit until the time zone t1 expires. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cooperative control method for a power line carrier system that sends a control packet from a master unit to a slave unit by a power line carrier signal and the system.

  There is provided a power line carrier system that performs control by performing polling from a master unit to a slave unit by a power line carrier signal superimposed on a power line (for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, a carrier sense multiple access / collision detection method (hereinafter referred to as CSMA / CD (hereinafter referred to as CSMA / CD)) is used for power line transportation in a home appliance system connected to a power line wired from the same columnar transformer. Communication is carried out using a method called Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection).

  In addition, polling as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is performed, and each parent device that controls a plurality of child devices is connected to an external network via a media converter or the like, and the parent device is controlled by a server on the network. There has also been provided a power line carrier system that collects information on each slave unit.

FIG. 9 shows an outline of an example of this power transfer system. The power lines 31 to 35 connected to the main power path 1 through the transformer 2 are connected to the parent devices 41 to 45, respectively, and a plurality of child devices. ..., 551... Are connected, and each parent device 41... Polls the subordinate slave devices 511..., 551. ,... 551...,... 551..., 551. Is configured.
JP2003-218888 (FIG. 11, paragraph 0050)

  By the way, in the power line carrier system shown in FIG. 9, each power line 31 to 35 is connected to the main power path 1 via the transformer 2, so that the parent device 41 connected to each power line 31 to 35 via the transformer 2. ~ 45 will form a power line carrier signal transmission path, so if a control packet is transmitted at the same timing from a plurality of master units (for example, 41 and 42), a communication error will occur. There is a problem. For this reason, the CSMA / CD system as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is employed for communication.

  However, when this CSMA / CD system is adopted, if the communication traffic increases, the communication error rate increases due to the influence of collisions and hidden terminals on the transmission path. As a countermeasure, it was necessary to determine the upper limit of communication traffic per unit time and to provide a mechanism that cannot transmit any more. Further, when the parent devices perform coordinated control, it is necessary to exchange packets for coordinated control.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the object of the present invention is to provide a communication error rate even when a power line carrier signal transmission path is formed between master units via a main power path. An object of the present invention is to provide a coordinated control method for a power line carrier system and a power line carrier system that can increase communication traffic per unit time without increasing the power consumption.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, in the invention according to the cooperative control method of the power line carrier system of claim 1, each power line connected to the main power path via a transformer is connected to the master unit and one or more A slave unit is connected to control the slave unit by transmitting at least a control packet from the master unit to the slave unit by a power line carrier signal. The transformer and the master unit connected to each power line are connected to each other. A transmission path by a power line carrier signal is formed through the main power path, and in response to the formation of the transmission path, each parent device is used in a power line carrier system having a carrier sense multiple access function. The respective base units are time-synchronized, and slots to which the respective base units transmit control packets are assigned in time series corresponding to the maximum number of base units to form one turn. Slot control is performed, and the slot is set with a first time zone for taking a timing at which a base unit assigned to the slot starts transmission of a control packet, and an end point of the first time zone. , A second time zone having a predetermined time width that is used for transmission at the initial time when the master unit corresponding to the slot is unassigned, and an end point of the second time zone, When there is no transmission of the parent device by the time, a third time zone with a predetermined time width that enables transmission of the unassigned parent device is set, and at the initial start, transmission is performed in the second time zone. If a parent device is preferentially assigned as a parent device that occupies the slot, and there is no transmission of the parent device before the second time period elapses, the slot is set as an empty slot and the unassigned parent device Allow transmission in time zone 3 And wherein the Rukoto.

  In the invention related to the cooperative control method of the power line carrier system according to claim 2, in the invention of claim 1, the parent device to which transmission permission is given in the third time zone is the number of times of use of empty slots of each parent device. It is characterized by being determined in priority order based on the above.

  In the invention related to the cooperative control method of the power line carrier system according to claim 3, in the invention of claim 1, the parent device to which transmission permission is given in the third time zone is the remaining control for the child device of each parent device. It is characterized by being determined in a priority order based on the number.

  In the invention related to the cooperative control method of the power line carrier system according to claim 4, in the invention of claim 1, the parent device to which transmission permission in the third time zone is given is necessary for each parent device to control the child device. It is characterized in that it is determined in priority order based on various times.

  In the invention related to the cooperative control method for a power line carrier system according to claim 5, in any one of claims 1 to 4, the base unit responds to the control packet when transmitting the control packet to the slave unit. The estimated arrival time of the response packet transmitted from the slave unit is calculated, and when the response packet does not arrive by the estimated arrival time, the allocation slot of the master unit is released and the slot reassignment process is performed. It is characterized by performing.

  In the invention related to the cooperative control method for a power line carrier system according to claim 6, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, after the master unit assigned to the slot finishes transmitting the control packet, the remaining time in the slot In the case where it exists, the remaining time is used as a time zone in which the parent device transmits another control packet.

  In the invention according to the power line carrier system cooperative control method of claim 7, in the invention of claim 6, the master unit preferentially transmits from the control packet having the smallest time obtained by subtracting the time required for control from the remaining time. It is characterized by doing.

  In the invention related to the cooperative control method of the power line carrier system according to claim 8, in the invention according to claim 6, the master unit preferentially transmits the control packet having the largest number of Hops that can be transmitted within the remaining time. Features.

  In the invention related to the cooperative control method for a power line carrier system according to claim 9, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, when the master unit assigned to the slot transmits a control packet, The data indicating the required work time is added to the control packet, and the remaining time of the slot after the work time ends is transmitted to the other parent device detecting the power line carrier signal on the transmission path. It is characterized by indicating that it is time to permit transmission.

  In the invention related to the cooperative control method of the power line carrier system according to claim 10, in the invention according to claim 9, the parent device permitted to transmit in the remaining time is based on the number of times of use of empty slots of each parent device. It is characterized by being determined in priority order.

  In the invention related to the cooperative control method of the power line carrier system according to claim 11, in the invention of claim 9, the parent device permitted to use the transmission in the remaining time is the remaining control number for the child device of each parent device. It is characterized by being determined in priority order based on the above.

  In the invention related to the cooperative control method of the power line carrier system according to claim 12, in the invention according to claim 9, the parent device permitted to use the transmission in the remaining time is required for each parent device to control the child device. It is characterized by being determined in a priority order based on time.

  In the invention related to the cooperative control method for a power line carrier system according to claim 13, in the invention according to any one of claims 9 to 12, arrival of a response packet of a slave unit with respect to transmission of a control packet of a master unit during the work time If there is, the transmission of another base unit is permitted as the remaining time of the slot from that point.

In the power line carrier system according to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, a master unit and one or a plurality of slave units are connected to each power line connected to a main power path via a transformer separately from the master unit to the slave unit. At least a control packet is sent to a machine by a power line carrier signal to control the slave unit, and a transmission path by a power line carrier signal between the parent machines connected to each power line via the transformer and the main power path In the power line carrier system in which each parent device has a carrier sense multiple access function corresponding to the formation of the transmission path,
Slot control that synchronizes each of the parent devices with time, and arranges a slot in which each parent device transmits a control packet separately in a time series corresponding to the maximum number of parent devices to make one turn In the slot, a first time zone for taking a timing at which a base unit assigned to the slot starts transmission of a control packet and an end point of the first time zone are set. A second time zone having a predetermined time width that is used for transmission at the initial time when the base unit corresponding to the slot is not assigned, and an end time of the second time zone, and the second time zone When there is no transmission of the parent device before the elapse of time, a third time zone of a predetermined time width that enables transmission of the unassigned parent device is set, and at the initial start, transmission is performed in the second time zone. The selected base unit has priority Assigned as an occupying parent device, and if there is no transmission of the parent device before the second time zone elapses, allow transmission of the unassigned parent device in the third time zone as an empty slot It is characterized by doing.

  The invention relating to the cooperative control method of the power line carrier system and the invention relating to the power line carrier system using the same are related to the communication error rate even when the power line carrier signal transmission path is formed between the master units via the main power path. There is an effect that communication traffic per unit time can be increased without increase.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 2 shows a schematic system diagram of the remote meter reading system of the present embodiment comprising the power line carrier system adopting the cooperative control method of the present invention. The basic configuration of this remote meter reading system is the same as the system configuration shown in FIG. However, each of the parent devices 41 to 45 is connected to a network 7 such as an optical network via a media converter 6.

  Each parent device 41 to 45 polls the subordinate slave devices 511... 521... 551... Connected to the same power lines 31 to 35, and transmits a control packet by a power line carrier signal. In response to the packet, the measurement value information of the power meter 18 (see FIG. 3B) provided from the slave units 511... 521... 551 to the slave units 511. The received measurement value information is sent via the network 7 to the server 8 of the electric power company provided at a remote place. The server 8 is connected to the network 7 via the media converter 6 in the same manner as the parent devices 41 to 45. Note that the number of master units and slave units is not limited to the illustrated example.

  By using such a system, the electric power company collects the measurement value information of the electric energy meter 18 provided in each of the slave units 511... 521. This eliminates the need for manual meter reading.

  Here, the base unit 4 used in this embodiment performs transmission / reception of a power line carrier signal in a predetermined format via the power line 3 with the control unit 10 that controls the operation of the base unit 4 as shown in FIG. A PLC (Power Line Communication) interface unit 11 for communication, a communication interface unit 12 for transmitting / receiving information to / from the media converter 6 according to a LAN standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark), and control of the control unit 10 Below, it is comprised with the communication processing part 13 which performs a communication process.

  Here, under the control of the control unit 10, the communication processing unit 13 polls the slave unit 5 connected to the same power line 3 as the base unit 4 by polling a control packet (measured value information) in a predetermined format. Control message) to be sent from the PLC interface unit 11 by the power line carrier signal, and a response packet (measurement value information) sent from the slave unit 5 by the power line carrier signal in response to the control packet via the PLC interface unit 11 Receiving the measured value information, transmitting the acquired measured value information from the communication interface unit 12 via the LAN cable 14 to the server 8 via the media converter 6, and transmitting via the media converter 6. It has a function of processing information from the server 8 and the power line carrier communication, for example, CSM / Has a function to perform in the CD system. Further, the communication processing unit 13 acquires time information from the server-7 or the NTP server, performs time synchronization between the respective parent devices 4 based on the time information, and transmits a control packet timing in slot control to be described later. It has a function to perform processing for cooperative control.

  The subunit | mobile_unit 5 is installed in a house, a building, a factory, etc. As shown to Fig.3 (a), the electric energy meter 18 which measures the electric energy consumption of an installation place, and the measured value information of this electric energy meter 18 Under the control of the control unit 15 for controlling the operation of the slave unit 5 including the reading process of the mobile phone, the PLC interface unit 16 for transmitting / receiving a power line carrier signal of a predetermined format via the power line 3, and the control unit 15 The communication processing unit 17 performs processing for receiving control packets and transmitting response packets, and receives control packets addressed to itself from the base unit 4 by a unique address.

  Next, a cooperative control method between the parent devices 5 employed in the present embodiment based on the system configuration of FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, although the power line carrier signal is attenuated by the transformer 4 between each power line 3 and the main power path 1, the base units 41 to 45 of the system shown in FIG. In some cases, since the distance through the main power path 1 is short, the power line carrier signal may be communicated using the main power path 1 as a transmission path. Accordingly, in correspondence with this, the communication processing unit 13 of each of the parent devices 41 to 45 has five slots from the first slot to the fifth slot (= maximum number of parent devices) as shown in FIG. ) The minutes are arranged in time series to make one turn, and the process of setting this turn repeatedly is performed by time synchronization, and the control packet is transmitted in a slot that is assigned to only one slot in one turn. Yes.

  In the example of FIG. 1A, the master unit 41 is in the first slot, the master unit 43 is in the second slot, the master unit 45 is in the third slot, and the master unit 44 is in the fourth slot. A state in which the parent device 42 is assigned to each slot is indicated (the assigned parent device is indicated by a circle at the start of the slot). In this embodiment, the time width of one slot is set to 10 sec, for example.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), each slot assumes that there is a slight shift in the time synchronization of the base unit 4, and the base unit 4 assigned to the slot sends a control packet near the start of the slot. A time interval ts for the timing to transmit, and following this time zone ts, a time of a predetermined time width in which the unassigned base unit 4 can send a control packet in the slot when the slot is unassigned. If there is no transmission by the base unit 4 before the time zone t1 elapses and the base unit 4 is assigned to another slot, the base unit 4 assigned to another slot will control packets only in the current slot of the current turn. A time zone t2 having a predetermined time width permitting transmission of the time zone t2 is provided following the time zone t1.

  Then, at the initial stage of a system in which there is no parent device 4 assigned to the slot, the parent device 4 that has succeeded in transmission and reception in the time zone t1 can secure the slot by exchanging slots. . Once assigned, the base unit 4 can transmit control packets in a way that preferentially occupies the slot.

  In this case, each parent device 4 (41 to 45) transmits the transmission timing of the time zone t1 as a random value so as not to be batted, and the parent device 4 that can be transmitted first in the time zone t1 is assigned to the slot. It is.

  In addition, even in the case where a new parent device 4 enters when the number of parent devices 4 less than the maximum number of parent devices has already been allocated, transmission is performed in the unassigned empty slot time zone t1. Thus, it is possible to assign the newly entered base unit 4 to the slot.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, the master unit 41 is already assigned to the first slot, the master unit 43 is already assigned to the second slot, the master unit 42 is already assigned to the third slot, and the master unit 44 is already assigned to the fourth slot. When the parent device 45 newly enters at the start time (00h00m00s) of one turn, the other parent devices 41, 43, 42, and 44 send control packets in the time zone ts from (00h00m00s) to (00h00m30s). However, since there is no parent device 4 that transmits a control packet in the time zone ts of the slot (fifth slot) at (00h00m40s), there is no parent device 4 at (00h00m40s). 45 can secure the slot by transmitting a control packet within the time zone t1 following the time zone ts. It will be able to transmit have.

  By the way, if the number of master units 4 that are communicable through the main power path 1 is less than the maximum number of master units (five) and there is an empty slot, this empty slot is already set. The work rate is improved by allowing the base unit 4 assigned to other slots to be used for transmission of control packets.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the second slot of the first turn, the control packet is not transmitted in the time zone ts and the time zone t1, so the power line carrier signal (control packet) on the main power path 1 is detected. The other assigned master devices 41, 42, 44, and 45 know that the control packet can be transmitted in the time slot t2 of the slot.

  Here, since all the base units 41, 42, 44, and 45 try to transmit using this time zone t2, they are assigned to the base unit 4 having a large number of remaining controls by weighting with the current number of remaining controls. The priority order is set so that

  The remaining control number here refers to an uncontrolled number of control contents for controlling the child device 5 from the parent device 4, for example, remaining control of the parent device 41 among the parent devices already assigned at the present time. If the number is 12, the remaining control number of the parent device 42 is 21, the remaining control number of the parent device 44 is 25, and the remaining control number of the parent device 45 is 18, the remaining control number of the parent device 44 is the largest. The master unit 44 is assigned by the formula.

Random time during transmission in time zone t2 = (t2 ÷ number of controls)
The parents 41, 42, and 45 having the remaining control also try to transmit, but the transmission is stopped because the parent device 44 has transmitted the control packet first. Thus, by weighting with the number of remaining controls, the control time of the entire system can be shortened.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (b), in the second turn, the base unit 43 transmits in the form of a new entry in the time slot t1 of the second slot. Transmission by any of the other parent devices 41, 42, 44, 45 is not performed in the band t2.

  Note that the priority order of assignment of the master unit 4 that can be transmitted in the time zone t2 may be determined, for example, from the side where the number of times the slot is used per unit time is smaller. In this case, it is possible to evenly allocate transmissions in the empty slots to all the base units 4.

  Alternatively, the order of descending Hop numbers may be set as the priority order. In other words, a large number of Hops means that the time required for control (control required time) is long. In this case, processing with a long control time can be preferentially processed.

  Thus, in the cooperative control method employed in the present embodiment, the master units 41 to 45 connected to the power lines 31 to 35 through the main power path 1 each receive a control packet in a slot controlled by time synchronization. Since the slots to be transmitted are allocated, each of the parent devices 41 to 45 can transmit the control packet to the subordinate slave devices 511... To 551. By using it, the work rate can be increased.

  In addition, the cooperative control method employed in the present embodiment is not limited to the case where a transmission path in which each power line carrier signal propagates is formed by the main power path 1 between the five master units 41 to 45 as described above. The present invention can also be applied to a system in which a parent device 4 in which no transmission path is formed exists.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, the base unit 41 is illustrated in a state in which a group A in which the base units 41 to 43 can communicate directly and a group B in which the base units 42 to 45 can directly communicate are configured. When the first slot is secured and transmitted, the problem of batting does not occur even if, for example, the master unit 45 secures the first slot among the master units 44 and 45 that cannot communicate directly with the master unit 41.

  When the master unit 43 secures the second slot for transmission, the master unit 43 can communicate with the master units 41 and 42 and the master units 44 and 45. A slot cannot be secured.

  Further, when the base unit 42 secures and transmits the third slot, even if the base unit 44 that cannot directly communicate with the base unit 42 secures and transmits the third slot as shown in the drawing, the problem of batting does not occur. In the case of FIG. 5A, among the 5 slots, the 4th slot and the 5th slot become empty slots, but the assigned master unit 4 can transmit in the time zone t2 as described above.

  By the way, the state of the transmission path is changed from a state in which the parent devices cannot directly communicate with each other. For example, in FIG. 5A, the duplication in which the parent device 41 and the parent device 45 securing the first slot can communicate with each other. When this happens, batting is avoided by the following process.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the base unit 41 transmits a control packet, an expected arrival time t0 for receiving a response packet from the transmission destination slave unit 5 is calculated in advance, and the time t0 is If the response packet does not arrive (receive) before the elapse of time, the reserved slot is released and the slot acquisition (allocation) process is performed again. That is, the arrival of the response packet is late because the waiting time in the CSMA / CD system is long, which indicates that there is a high possibility that a plurality of master units 4 are allocated to the same slot. Therefore, by releasing the slot and securing a slot that is currently an empty slot, batting can be avoided.
(Embodiment 2)
By the way, in the above-described first embodiment, it is possible to transmit the master unit 4 that has been allocated in the time slot t2 of the empty slot so as to improve the work rate, but in this embodiment, in addition to the method of the first embodiment, As shown in FIG. 6 (a), when the base unit 4 assigned to the slot in one slot completes transmission of the control packet and the slot has a remaining time Tb, the remaining time Tb is set to It differs from the first embodiment in that the work rate is improved by utilizing it for further control packet transmission. Here, the remaining time Tb is a time obtained by subtracting the time T0 per slot—the transmission time Ta.

  For example, it is assumed that the base unit 41 is assigned to the first slot and the controls 1 to 5 shown in Table 1 remain. Here, it is assumed that a control packet that ends within the remaining time and has the longest required control time is preferentially transmitted at the remaining time Tb. It should be noted that transmission taking transmission timing in the above-described time zone ts is performed in order from the top of the control queue.

  Now, when the start time of the first slot assigned to the parent device 41 is reached, the parent device 41 starts transmitting (control 1) at the top of the control queue in the time zone ts, and this control. When the transmission of 1 is completed, the control unit 10 calculates the remaining time Tb. Here, if T0 is 10 sec and the transmission time Ta is 2 sec, the remaining time Tb is 10 sec-2 sec = 8 sec. Here, in the remaining control, since the control required time is long (control 3), it is efficient if this (control 3) is transmitted in the remaining time Tb, but the control required time is 9 sec. It does not fit in the remaining time Tb. Therefore, under the control of the control unit 10, the base unit 41 performs a process of transmitting a control packet of 7 sec (control 4) within the remaining time Tb that requires the longest control time and falls within the remaining time Tb.

  In this way, by giving priority to the control packet having the smallest control time obtained by subtracting the required control time from the remaining time Tb as the control packet to be transmitted at the remaining time Tb, the work rate is improved.

As a priority, even if a control packet corresponding to control that has the largest number of Hops that can be transmitted within the remaining time Tb, that is, control that takes a long time to control, is selected, the work rate can be improved.
(Embodiment 3)
In the second embodiment, after the base unit 4 assigned to the slot transmits a control packet, the base unit 4 can transmit the control packet for the remaining time Tb. In the present embodiment, FIG. As shown in (a), the control unit 10 of the parent device 4 calculates in advance the time required for processing of the parent device 4 assigned to one slot (this time is called work time), and based on the calculation result. Under the control of the control unit 10, work time data is added to the control packet from the parent device 4 and transmitted to the other parent device 4 that detects the power line carrier signal on the main power path 1. The remaining time (t3 + t4) for permitting transmission of the control packet after the work time ends is indicated by the work time (Duraiton) data added to the control packet.

This remaining time t3 is a time zone for transmitting the control packet, and when the control is completed in the time zone t4, it is allowed to transmit the control packet in the time zone t3. ) Is a control packet transmitted from the parent device 4, and a work time data portion DU is added between the header portion HD and the payload portion PA.

  Thus, the master unit 41 is assigned to the first slot shown in FIG. 7C, and when the start time of the first slot is now reached, the master unit 41 is shown in Table 1 in the first slot (control 1). Execute. In this (control 1), since the required control time including the transmission of the control packet is 2 sec, the time for one slot is 10 sec, and the remaining time is 10 sec-2 sec = 8 sec. Here, the transmission of the control packet uses a time zone t3 in order to prevent collision with the other parent devices 42 to 45. If this time zone t3 is 1 sec, t4 becomes 8 sec-t3 = 7 sec.

  Here, if the parent device 4 having the largest remaining control number preferentially transmits a control packet in the remaining time (random waiting time = t3 ÷ remaining control number), the parent devices 42˜ shown in Tables 2 to 5 are shown. From the control contents of the master unit 45 and the time required for the control, the control unit closest to t4 = 7 sec is (control 4) of the master unit 44, whereby the control packet of (control 4) is transmitted by the master unit 44. It will be.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the master unit 4 assigned to the slot indicates its own work time to the other master unit 4, so that the other master unit 4 effectively uses the remaining time t3 + t4 of the slot. Will be able to.

  Note that the number of times the slot is used may be used as the priority weighting of the base unit 4 that transmits in the remaining time. In this case, the remaining time can be used evenly. In addition, since the control time depends on the number of Hops, weighting may be performed in order of increasing Hop numbers. In this case, control can be performed from a control time that is long.

  In the third embodiment, after waiting for the work time assigned to the slot to be calculated in advance by the parent device 4, another parent device 4 can transmit a control packet in the remaining time. However, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, the base unit 41 assigned to the slot transmits a control packet, and then confirms that the response packet from the handset 5 has arrived at the base unit 41 within the working time. If possible, the parent device having the highest priority, for example 42, may transmit the control packet from that point. In this case, the remaining time in the slot can be increased, leading to an improvement in work rate.

  In addition, although the above-mentioned main | base station 4 employ | adopts the CSMA / CD system as a countermeasure against the collision of a power line carrier signal, CSMA / CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance) = Is of course good.

(A) is an explanatory diagram of slot assignment according to the first embodiment, and (b) is an explanatory diagram of a time zone for transmission set in the slot. 1 is a schematic system configuration diagram of Embodiment 1. FIG. (A) is a block diagram of the main | base station used for Embodiment 1, (b) is a block diagram of a subunit | mobile_unit. (A) is explanatory drawing of slot reservation at the time of the new entry of the main | base station in Embodiment 1, (b) is usage explanatory drawing of the remaining time of a slot. (A) is explanatory drawing of the example of application of the cooperative control method in Embodiment 1, (b) is explanatory drawing of the solution method at the time of duplication allocation of the slot. (A) is explanatory drawing of the utilization method of the remaining time of the slot in Embodiment 2, (b) is explanatory drawing of the utilization example of remaining time. (A) is explanatory drawing of the utilization method of the remaining time of the slot in Embodiment 3, (b) is explanatory drawing of the control packet to be used, (c) is explanatory drawing of the utilization example of remaining time. It is explanatory drawing of another example of the utilization method of the slot remaining time of the slot in Embodiment 3. FIG. It is a system figure for description of the conventional power line carrier system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main power path 2 Transformers 31-34 Power line 41-45 Parent | base station 511 ..., ..., 551 ... Slave | mobile_unit 6 Media converter 7 Network 8 Server

Claims (14)

Connect the master unit and one or more slave units to each power line connected to the main power path via a transformer, and send at least a control packet from the master unit to the slave unit by a power line carrier signal. For controlling the slave unit, a transmission path is formed by a power line carrier signal between the parent units connected to the power lines via the transformer and the main power path, and the transmission path is formed. Correspondingly, each parent device is used in a power line carrier system having a carrier sense multiple access function,
Slot control that synchronizes each of the parent devices with time, and arranges a slot in which each parent device transmits a control packet separately in a time series corresponding to the maximum number of parent devices to make one turn And
The slot is set from the first time zone for taking the timing at which the base unit assigned to the slot starts transmission of the control packet and the end time of the first time zone, and corresponds to the slot. A second time zone having a predetermined time width used for initial transmission to which the parent device to be assigned is unassigned and the end time of the second time zone, and before the elapse of the second time zone When there is no transmission, set a third time zone with a predetermined time width that enables transmission of the unassigned base unit,
At the time of initial start, the parent device transmitted in the second time zone is preferentially assigned as the parent device occupying the slot, and if there is no transmission of the parent device by the elapse of the second time zone, the slot A power line carrier system cooperative control method characterized by permitting transmission of the unassigned base unit in the third time zone as a free slot. 2. The cooperation of the power line carrier system according to claim 1, wherein a parent device to which transmission permission is given in the third time zone is determined in priority order based on the number of times of use of an empty slot of each parent device. Control method. 2. The power line carrier system according to claim 1, wherein a parent device to which transmission permission is given in the third time zone is determined in a priority order based on a remaining control number of each parent device with respect to a child device. Cooperative control method. 2. The power line carrier system according to claim 1, wherein the parent device to which transmission permission in the third time zone is given is determined in a priority order based on a time required for each parent device to control the child device. Cooperative control method. When transmitting a control packet to the slave unit, the base unit calculates an expected arrival time of a response packet transmitted from the slave unit in response to the control packet. 5. The cooperative control method for a power line carrier system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, when the terminal does not arrive, the allocation slot of the parent device is released and slot reassignment processing is performed. After the master unit assigned to the slot finishes transmitting the control packet, when the remaining time exists in the slot, the remaining time is used as a time zone in which the master unit transmits another control packet. The power line carrier system cooperative control method according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 7. The cooperative control method for a power line carrier system according to claim 6, wherein the base unit preferentially transmits a control packet having a minimum time obtained by subtracting a time required for control from the remaining time. The cooperative control method for a power line carrier system according to claim 6, wherein the master unit preferentially transmits a control packet having the largest number of Hops that can be transmitted within the remaining time. When the master unit assigned to the slot transmits a control packet, data indicating a work time necessary for control processing calculated in advance is added to the control packet, and a power line carrier signal on the transmission path is detected. The remaining time of the slot after the end of the work time is indicated to be a time during which transmission of the other parent device is permitted to the parent device of any one of claims 1 to 5. Method for cooperative control of power line carrier system. 10. The cooperative control method for a power line carrier system according to claim 9, wherein the parent device permitted to transmit in the remaining time is determined in priority order based on the number of times of use of empty slots of each parent device. 10. The cooperation of the power line carrier system according to claim 9, wherein the parent device permitted to use transmission in the remaining time is determined in priority order based on the number of remaining controls for the child devices of each parent device. Control method. 10. The power line carrier system according to claim 9, wherein the parent device permitted to use the transmission in the remaining time is determined in a priority order based on a time required for each parent device to control the child device. Cooperative control method. 10. The transmission of another base unit is permitted as the remaining time of the slot from that point when the response packet of the base unit to the transmission of the control packet of the base unit arrives during the working time. 13. The cooperative control method for a power line carrier system according to any one of items 1 to 12. Connect the master unit and one or more slave units to each power line connected to the main power path via a transformer, and send at least a control packet from the master unit to the slave unit by a power line carrier signal. For controlling the slave unit, a transmission path is formed by a power line carrier signal between the parent units connected to the power lines via the transformer and the main power path, and the transmission path is formed. Correspondingly, in the power line carrier system provided with a carrier wave sensing multiple access function in each parent device,
Slot control that synchronizes each of the parent devices with time, and arranges a slot in which each parent device transmits a control packet separately in a time series corresponding to the maximum number of parent devices to make one turn Means for performing
The slot is set from the first time zone for taking the timing at which the base unit assigned to the slot starts transmission of the control packet and the end time of the first time zone, and corresponds to the slot. A second time zone having a predetermined time width used for initial transmission to which the parent device to be assigned is unassigned and the end time of the second time zone, and before the elapse of the second time zone When there is no transmission, set a third time zone with a predetermined time width that enables transmission of the unassigned base unit,
At the time of initial start, the parent device transmitted in the second time zone is preferentially assigned as the parent device occupying the slot, and if there is no transmission of the parent device by the elapse of the second time zone, the slot A power line carrier system, wherein a non-assigned base unit is allowed to transmit in the third time zone as a free slot.

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