JP2009188929A - Communication system and information communication system using the same, and feeding supervisory control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a clock being a reference for the fixed-time meter-reading and fixed-time transmission of a unit wattmeter in each house in a feeding supervisory control system for remote meter-reading cope with a low cost. <P>SOLUTION: An NTP server 1 gives a time update instruction to a gateway GWa connected thereto by a wire, such as an intracompany optical fiber network at a time t0 that becomes prescribed periodic timing such as once a day, and successively puts the time of low-order unit wattmeters T5-1, T5-2;T4-1, T4-2, T4-3, T4-4 right by radio from the gateway GWa that has received the time update instruction, thus using the accurate clock in common even in an inexpensive network configuration without connecting each unit wattmeter T to a high-cost network such as ISDN capable of acquiring accurate time information and mounting high-cost equipment for acquiring the accurate time information of a GPS receiver or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  In the present invention, a plurality of communication devices constructs a network, for example, in a tree form from the highest base station to the lowest terminal station, and data to be transmitted / received by each communication device is higher-order wireless than its own device. The present invention relates to a communication system relayed by a communication device and transmitted / received to / from the base station, an information communication system using the communication system, and a power supply monitoring control system.

A typical prior art in which electricity, gas, water meter reading data, etc. are periodically taken up by a center device is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In this prior art, each terminal station transmits the meter-reading data when the notification time set for the terminal is reached. Then, when the (random) clock set time set for each terminal station is reached, each terminal station communicates with the center apparatus via wireless communication and a telephone line, so that there are many terminal stations in the area. Even so, it is configured such that the clock which is the reference for the regular notification as described above is set so as not to cause interference.
Japanese Patent No. 3288162

  However, in the method of Patent Document 1, each terminal station directly communicates with the center apparatus on a one-to-one basis. Therefore, when many terminals are connected in a tree shape from the base station, or are connected in multiple stages to form a network, there is a problem that the network traffic accompanying time setting increases. Here, each terminal station is connected to an expensive network that can acquire accurate time information such as an ISDN line, or each terminal station can acquire accurate time information such as a GPS receiver. If high-cost equipment is installed, such transmission and reception of time information can be made unnecessary. However, in an inexpensive network that does not use such a configuration and in a receiver that cannot receive GPS signals, Transmission and reception of time information is necessary.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication system capable of suppressing an increase in network traffic accompanying time setting even when using a common network time between communication apparatuses, and information communication using the same. A system and a power supply monitoring and control system are provided.

  The communication system of the present invention includes a plurality of communication devices each having a communication unit that performs data communication and a clock unit having a clock function, and the communication units of the communication devices are sequentially connected so that data can be relayed and transmitted. In the communication system in which the clock units in the communication devices use a common time, the communication devices are changed from the communication device serving as a base station to the communication device serving as a terminal station via the communication unit. It is characterized by comprising a control unit that sequentially transfers time information and corrects the time of its own clock unit with the received time information.

  According to the above configuration, a plurality of communication devices are arranged in a tree shape from the highest base station to the lowest terminal station. In a communication system that is relayed by a communication device on the side and transmitted / received to / from the base station, each communication device is used for periodic notification, for example, when the communication system is used for automatic meter reading, etc. When the clock unit in the network uses a common time, the control unit of each communication device sets the time from the communication device serving as the base station to the communication device serving as the terminal station via the communication unit. This is done by sequentially transferring information and correcting the time of the clock unit of the own device with the received time information. That is, it is performed by transferring time information by a downstream relay in the order of the tree shape or the like from the upper level where the time is secured.

  Therefore, each communication device is connected to a high-cost network such as ISDN that can acquire accurate time information, or each communication device is equipped with a high-cost device such as a GPS receiver that acquires accurate time information. Therefore, even if the network configuration is inexpensive, an accurate clock can be used in common between the communication apparatuses. Further, the time can be set even when many communication apparatuses cannot communicate directly with the base station, and an increase in network traffic accompanying the time setting can also be suppressed.

  In the communication system of the present invention, the control unit of each communication device does not return a response signal indicating that the time information has been received to the base station.

  According to said structure, the increase in the traffic by a response can be suppressed.

  Furthermore, in the communication system of the present invention, the control unit of each of the communication devices, when the received time information deviates more than a predetermined value from the time of the clock unit of the own device, The transfer of the time information to the apparatus is prohibited.

  According to the above configuration, each communication device sequentially sets the time, and when the time of the received time information is shifted to a predetermined value or more at the time currently in use, Therefore, the time information is not retransmitted (transferred).

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent the time lag from spreading to other communication devices as the time information is transferred.

  Further, in the communication system according to the present invention, the control unit of each of the communication devices is configured such that when the clock unit of its own device is reset and when the time is not updated over a predetermined period, It is characterized by requesting the station to transmit individual time information to the own device.

  According to the above configuration, if the response signal indicating that the time information has been received is not returned to the base station, the base station does not know the time even if the time is not set correctly, and the communication device And the subordinate communication device cannot perform the accurate on-time alerting or on-time meter reading. Therefore, the control unit determines that the clock unit has been reset in an initial state or the like, or a predetermined period, for example, several When it is determined that the time has not been updated over the day, transmission of individual time information is requested to the own device.

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent a communication device whose clock is out of order from being left unattended even if the traffic is suppressed by not returning a response signal indicating whether or not the time has been set correctly.

  Furthermore, in the communication system of the present invention, the base station has a plurality of communication paths from the base station to each of the terminal stations, and when receiving a transmission request for the time information from a specific communication device, The time information is transmitted by switching a communication path currently used for a specific communication apparatus to another communication path.

  According to the above configuration, when the transmission request for the time information is transmitted, it is determined that a failure has occurred in the communication device or a higher-level communication device, or there is an abnormality in the communication path. Therefore, when there are a plurality of communication paths, the base station reviews the communication paths and switches the communication paths to transmit the time information so that the clock can be set correctly next time.

  Therefore, it is possible to increase the possibility that the communication device on the end side of the tree receives correct time information and performs normal operation without being affected by the communication device having a failure or having an abnormality in the communication path. Can do.

  In the communication system of the present invention, the data transmitted from the terminal station (lower) side to the base station (upper) side is sensing data collected by each communication device, and is transmitted from the base station (upper) side to the terminal. The data transmitted to the station (lower) side is control data for the terminal station.

  According to said structure, remote sensing and remote control are realizable.

  Furthermore, in the communication system of the present invention, the communication unit performs communication in a PHS (Personal Handyphone System) transceiver mode.

  According to the above configuration, the PHS is a one-to-one communication, and the base station cannot broadcast the time information, so the time information is sequentially transferred from the upper side to the lower side as in the present invention. This is preferable because it can be set in a short time and traffic can be reduced.

  The information communication system of the present invention is characterized in that the communication system includes a server device that handles data transmitted and received at the highest base station.

  According to said structure, the server apparatus can perform remote sensing, remote control, etc.

  Furthermore, the power supply monitoring and control system of the present invention is characterized in that each communication device is provided with a watt-hour meter that acquires the sensing data and a load switch that performs switching control in response to the control data. To do.

  According to the above configuration, the server device holds the route table indicating how the communication devices are arranged, periodically acquires watt-hour meter sensing data from each communication device, and is necessary. Accordingly, the load switch can be controlled via each communication device.

  Therefore, it is possible to collect power consumption by time of day and power outages due to moving in and out remotely at power company sales offices, etc. without the workers having to go directly to contracted homes or offices. . As a result, it is possible to adopt a detailed fee system, or to quickly charge or power outage, and to improve customer service in the power company.

  In the communication system of the present invention, as described above, a plurality of communication devices are arranged in a tree form from the highest base station to the lowest terminal station. In a communication system that is relayed by a communication device higher than the own device and is transmitted to and received from the base station, a clock unit in each communication device uses a common time for a regular alert, a regular meter reading, etc. In doing so, the control unit of each communication device sequentially transfers the time information from the communication device serving as the base station to the communication device serving as the terminal station via the communication unit. This is done by correcting the time of the clock part of the machine with information.

  Therefore, each communication device is connected to a high-cost network such as ISDN that can acquire accurate time information, or a high-cost device that acquires accurate time information such as a GPS receiver is connected to each communication device. Even if it is an inexpensive network configuration, an accurate timepiece can be used in common between the communication devices without being mounted. Further, the time can be set even when many communication apparatuses cannot communicate directly with the base station, and an increase in network traffic accompanying the time setting can also be suppressed.

  In addition, the information communication system of the present invention comprises a server device that handles data transmitted and received at the highest base station in the communication system as described above.

  Therefore, the server device can perform remote sensing and remote control.

  Furthermore, in the power supply monitoring and control system of the present invention, as described above, each communication device is provided with a watt-hour meter that acquires the sensing data and a load switch that performs switching control in response to the control data. Become.

  Therefore, it is possible to collect power consumption by time of day and to perform power outages due to moving in and out remotely at power company sales offices, etc. without going directly to contract homes or offices. it can. As a result, it is possible to adopt a detailed fee system, or to quickly charge or power outage, and to improve customer service in the power company.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a power supply monitoring control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The power supply monitoring and control system includes a server device 1 installed at a power company sales office and the like, and one or a plurality of gateways GWa, GWb, connected to the server device 1 via a network 2 such as an in-house optical fiber network. GWc,... (Generally referred to as reference numeral GW hereinafter), and unit power meters T1-1, T1-2, T1-3,. The unit power meters T1-1, T1-2, T1-3,...; T2-1, T2-2,. T3-2,... (Generally referred to as reference symbol T below).

  Each unit wattmeter T is similar to the structure previously proposed by the applicant of the present invention in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-292442 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-170787, and is configured as shown in FIG. . That is, the load switch 3, the watt-hour meter 4, and the wireless communication device 5 are arranged from the terminal block 6 side to which each distribution line in the house is connected. The watt-hour meter 4 reads the accumulated power amount every predetermined period, for example, every 30 minutes, and the wireless communication device 5 presets the meter-reading data as sensing data in each unit watt meter T as will be described later. Are transmitted toward the gateway GW to which the own device belongs, and are aggregated and input to the server device 1. On the other hand, control data for performing opening / closing of the load switch 3 and backup meter reading for retransmitting non-delivery meter data is transmitted from the server device 1 to each wireless communication device 5 via the gateway GW as necessary. Sent to

  The server device 1 holds a route table as shown in FIG. 1 showing how the unit wattmeters T are arranged. As described above, the server device 1 periodically receives data from the built-in wireless communication devices 5. In addition, the meter reading data of the watt-hour meter 4 can be acquired, and the load switch 3 can be controlled via each wireless communication device 5 as necessary. In addition, a power outage associated with moving in and out can be performed remotely at a power company sales office or the like, without the operator having to go directly to the contracted home or office. As a result, it is possible to adopt a detailed fee structure, to promptly perform billing and power failure, and to improve customer service in the power company.

  The wireless communication device 5 of each unit power meter T performs a communication operation in a PHS (Personal Handyphone System) transceiver mode. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the wireless communication device 5. The wireless communication device 5 controls communication with the PHS wireless device 11 as a communication unit, stores a wireless communication control unit 12 as a control unit, a clock unit 13, and parameters necessary for communication. The memory 14, the input operation unit 15 that can set a part of the contents of the memory 14, the interface 21 that receives meter reading data from the watt-hour meter 4, and the control data is transmitted to the load switch 3. An interface 22 for controlling the communication, an in-machine communication control unit 23 for controlling communication with the watt hour meter 4 and the load switch 3, a memory 24 for storing the meter reading data in backup, and the meter reading data and control data. When transmitting and receiving from the wireless device 11, a data processing unit 25 for performing merge / divide processing as will be described later, and a working memory 26 used for the data processing are provided. Ete constructed.

  First, each wireless communication device 5 is set from the input operation unit 15, and stores its own phone number in the memory 14, the main phone number # 01 used in normal operation, and the sub-phone number used in route failure. In addition to having a plurality of # 02, there are also two types of telephone numbers, # 11 and # 21, of higher-order parties (calling destinations) to which the meter reading data is transferred. The telephone numbers # 11 and # 21 are telephone numbers of unit wattmeters adjacent to the own device according to the hierarchy of the route table. Phone number # 11 is a phone number corresponding to the main phone number # 01, and phone number # 21 is a phone number corresponding to the sub phone number # 02.

  Specifically, in the example of FIG. 1, unit power meters T1-1, T1-2, T1-3, T1-4, T1-5, which are the lowest terminal stations; T1-11, T1-12 (generic name) In this case, the main telephone number # 01 is a-300, a-310, a-320, a-330, a-340; b-300, b-310. Are registered in advance, and f-301, e-311, d-321, c-331, b-341; a-301, g-311 are registered in advance as sub-phone numbers # 02. Each unit power meter T has a telephone number # 01 of the main route in the normal state and a telephone number # 02 of a sub route, which will be described later, used when the main route fails. In the following explanation, In order to simplify the description, the description will first be made using the telephone number of the main route used in the normal state.

  The unit wattmeters T1-1, T1-2, T1-3, T1-4, T1-5; Unit wattmeters T2-2, T2-4, T2-6, T2-8, T2-10; telephone numbers a-120, a-140, a-160, a- 180, a-200; b-120, b-140 are registered in advance.

  In the wireless communication device 5 configured as described above, first, in the normal mode, the wireless communication control unit 12 inputs the meter reading data from the lower side received by the wireless device 11 to the data processing unit 25. On the other hand, the meter processing data received from the in-machine communication control unit 23 via the interface 21 and stored in the memory 24 is transmitted to the data processing unit 25 in advance by the meter reading data. It is read out every period, for example, every 30 minutes. Then, the data processing unit 25 uses the working memory 26 to perform processing for merging the input data, and creates new meter reading data.

  In the new meter-reading data, the radio communication control unit 12 is added with its own telephone number stored in the telephone number # 01 of the memory 14, for example, b-80 in the unit power meter T3-12. Thereafter, at a timing specified by the clock unit 13 as described later, the telephone number of the higher-order wireless communication apparatus adjacent to the own apparatus stored in the telephone number # 11 from the wireless apparatus 11, for example, the unit power In total T3-12, b-30 of unit power meter T4-11 is called and transmitted.

  Thus, when the own device becomes a relay station and transfers data, the wireless communication control unit 12 merges the meter reading data from the lower side with the meter reading data from the lower side and transfers it to the upper side. Thus, although the data length becomes longer as the base station (upper side) becomes, the traffic can be greatly reduced as compared with the case where each wireless communication device 5 individually transmits data to the gateway GW. . If the own device is a terminal station, there is no meter reading data transferred, so that the wireless device 11 does not receive the data, and the data processing unit 25 does not merge the meter reading data. The meter reading data from is sent as it is.

  On the other hand, in the control data from the server 1, all the telephone numbers of the wireless communication devices to be routed are described in the header portion according to the route table, and the wireless communication control unit 12 The control data arrived at its own device is analyzed, and the call is transferred to the telephone number of the wireless communication apparatus to be transmitted next, so that the transfer is performed. For example, the control data from the server 1 relayed by the unit power meter T4-11 can be transmitted at any timing according to the data of the unit power meters T3-11 and T3-12 of the next layer, for example, T3- 12 will be transferred. At this time, the control data received by the wireless device 11 is input from the wireless communication control unit 12 to the data processing unit 25, and the control data addressed to the own device is divided using the working memory 26. In response to the control data, the in-flight communication control unit 23 performs the opening / closing control of the load switch 3 via the interface 22, or reads out the meter reading data that has not been reached from the memory 24, and The transmitter 11 is made to perform backup transmission.

  In this way, by dividing the control data to be received by the own device from the control data from the upper side and transferring it to the lower side, the data length becomes longer toward the base station (upper side), but the gateway becomes longer. Compared with the case where the GW transmits data to each wireless communication device 5 individually, the traffic can be greatly reduced. If the own device is a terminal station, since there is no control data to be transferred, transmission by the wireless device 11 is not performed, and control data is not divided by the data processing unit 25. In FIG. 1, in the tree on the gateway GWa side, an arrow having a thickness corresponding to the amount of data is shown in order to easily show the merging of meter reading data and the division of control data.

  The data stored in the memory 24 is data of accumulated electric power measured by the watt-hour meter 4 at 0 and 30 minutes per hour as indicated by reference numeral 24a in FIG. Information may be stored together, and the storage capacity is selected to be a capacity capable of accumulating meter reading data for, for example, 40 days.

  Thus, by performing relay transmission through a plurality of wireless communication devices 5 in order, in the PHS transceiver mode, communication is possible only within a radius range of 150 to 200 m, even when the line of sight is visible, a range exceeding this range The wireless communication apparatus can also communicate with the gateway GW. Further, by merging and dividing the data, it is possible to regularly collect meter reading data and distribute control data to many wireless communication devices 5 in a regular and short time. Furthermore, the memory 14 of each wireless communication device 5 need only store the telephone numbers # 11 and # 21 of the adjacent higher-level wireless communication devices, and does not have to have a route table for the entire tree. The storage capacity can be reduced, and the route can be easily changed.

  Furthermore, in each wireless communication device 5, the transmission timing of meter-reading data differs between wireless communication devices located on the same level and between wireless communication devices located under the same wireless communication device, due to the clock unit 13. The same timing is used between wireless communication devices that are defined as described above and are located under different wireless communication devices. That is, each wireless communication device 5 transmits data from the unit wattmeter T1 that is the terminal station (lower) to the gateway GWa that is the base station (upper) even if the communication can be performed only one-to-one. In this case, between the wireless communication devices located in the lower layer of the same wireless communication device, the transmission timing is shifted so that the one-to-one communication with the upper wireless communication device can be performed, and the wireless communication located in the lower layer of the different wireless communication device. Enable the same transmission timing as the device.

  Specifically, when the route table related to the gateway GWa of FIG. 1 is enlarged and shown in FIG. 4, the unit power meters T1-1, T1-2, T1-3, T1- 4 and T1-5 are located on the lower side of different unit power meters T2-2, T2-4, T1-6, T2-8, and T2-10, respectively. , Set to 0 minutes per hour and 0 seconds 30 minutes.

  On the other hand, unit power meters T2-1, T2-2, T2-3, T2-4, T2-5, T2-6, T2-7, T2-8, T2-9, T2 in the fifth layer -10, unit power meters T2-1, T2-2; T2-3, T2-4; T2-5, T2-6; T2-7, T2-8; T2-9, T2-10 are the same. The unit wattmeters T3-1, T3-2, T3-3, T3-4, and T3-5 are located on the lower side of the unit wattmeters T2-1, T2-3, T2-5, T2-7, T2-9 is set to 0 minutes per hour and 5 minutes 30 seconds, and unit power meters T2-2, T2-4, T2-6, T2-8, and T2-10 are merged as described above. Are set to 0 minutes and 10 minutes 30 seconds.

  Similarly, in the unit power meters T3-1, T3-2, T3-3, T3-4, and T3-5 in the fourth layer, the unit power meter T3-1 is independently a lower side of the unit power meter T4-1. The unit wattmeters T3-2 and T3-3; T3-4 and T3-5 are located on the lower side of the same unit wattmeters T4-2 and T4-3, respectively. The unit power meters T3-1, T3-2, and T3-4 are set to 0 minutes and 15 minutes 30 seconds, and the unit power meters T3-3 and T3-5 are set to 0 minutes and 30 minutes. Set to 20 seconds.

  Further, in the unit power meters T4-1, T4-2, T4-3, and T4-4 in the third layer, the unit power meters T4-1, T4-2; T4-3, and T4-4 are respectively the same unit. It is located on the lower side of the wattmeters T5-1 and T5-2, and the unit wattmeters T4-1 and T4-3 are set to 0 minutes per hour and 25 seconds of 30 minutes, T4-4 is set to 0 minutes per hour and 30 seconds 30 minutes. The second tier unit power meters T5-1 and T5-2 are located on the lower side of the same first tier gateway GWa, and the unit wattmeter T5-1 is at 0 and 30 minutes per hour. The unit power meter T5-2 is set to 0 minutes per hour and 40 minutes 30 seconds. These timings are stored in the memory 14 as τ1.

  With this configuration, the time required for transmitting uplink data can be drastically reduced in a system that has many layers as described above and accommodates many wireless communication devices 5.

  The data amount of the 30-minute meter reading data is, for example, 34 bytes, and at the transmission rate of 28 kbps in the transceiver mode of the PHS, even if the lower side data is merged as described above, it can be transmitted within 5 seconds of one transmission period. It is. As described above, instead of making the transmission timings between the layers adjacent to each other, a redundancy period may be provided in preparation for review of the route table or addition of the unit power meter T due to new construction or the like. .

  Next, a description will be given of a method of creating a route table for the main route and the sub route using a tree-and-mesh composite routing map in a wireless network using the PHS transceiver mode. As described above, the main route is a route that is used in a normal state and is created for the purpose of reliably transmitting each wireless communication device 5 to the gateway GW in a short time. Each wireless communication device 5 preferentially uses this main route, and has its own main phone number # 01 and a call destination phone number # 11 in order to realize communication on the main route. On the other hand, the sub route is a detour route used when a temporary communication failure occurs in the main route, and is connected to a radio communication device at a higher level, a peer level, or a lower level than the hierarchy of the main route of the own device. The route to be connected to a wireless communication device on another adjacent gateway side, and the like, have a sub telephone number # 02 of the own device and a telephone number # 21 of a call destination.

  An example of a method for creating a route map for the main route will be described with reference to FIG. In preparation, the electric field strength level between the gateway GW and the unit power meters Ta to Ti is measured, and in FIG. 5, this is indicated numerically between routes. First, in the gateway GW of the first hierarchy, the maximum k1 station is determined to be the station of the second hierarchy (first hop) at a station whose electric field strength is a predetermined level α1 or higher. In the example of FIG. 5, α1 = 50 dBμV, k1 = 2, and the upper two unit power meters Tb and Td having the high electric field strength level are the first hop stations.

  Next, when the electric field strength at the first hop station is equal to or higher than a predetermined level α2, the maximum k2 station is determined as a station of the third hierarchy (second hop). In the example of FIG. 5, α2 = 30 dBμV, k2 = 2, and the upper two unit wattmeters Ta, Tc; Tf, Tg each having a higher electric field strength level than the two unit wattmeters Tb, Td are 2 respectively. It is a hop station. Thereafter, the unit power meters Ta, Tc; Tf, and the third hop after Tg are repeatedly selected in the same manner until there are no stations that can be selected. If an isolated station is created, it is connected to a station having a strong electric field strength regardless of the upper limit of the number of branches k2. The route table created in this way is determined as the main route. When the main route is determined, a sub route is created as follows.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the sub route extracted from part of FIG. In this example, when a failure occurs in the unit wattmeter T3-5 in the fourth layer, an example of a sub route in the unit wattmeter T2-10 located under the unit wattmeter T3-5 is shown as a main route. ing. First, as the route to the upper level, as indicated by reference symbol R1, the route to the unit power meter T4-4 jumped from the unit power meter T3-5 and the unit as indicated by reference symbol R2 on one layer. There is a route to the wattmeter T3-4, and as a route to the peer stage, there is a route to the unit wattmeter T2-8 as indicated by reference numeral R3, and the lower stage (of course, the unit located under the own device) As a route to the power meter T1-5, there is a route to the unit power meter T1-4 as indicated by a reference symbol R4, and as a route to another gateway, a unit as indicated by a reference symbol R5. There is a route to the power meter T3-11, and these telephone numbers a-60, a-00, a-180, a-330, and b-70 are registered as the telephone number # 21. The telephone number of the sub route is not limited to such five, and may be appropriately selected according to the tree & mesh structure.

  When the wireless communication device 5 of the unit power meter T2-10 detects the occurrence of a failure in the main route, the wireless communication control unit 12 stores the routes R1 to R1 stored in the telephone number # 21 of the memory 14. Calls are made by selecting the call destination telephone numbers corresponding to R5 in order according to a predetermined priority order. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, when an abnormality occurs in the gateway GWa, the next unit power meters T5-1 and T5-2 can detect the failure due to the transmission failure of the meter reading data. The next unit power meters T4-1, T4-2,... Cannot detect it. However, in the next unit power meters T5-1 and T5-2, the gateway GWa is directly above, and there is no detour route in the same tree, and it is stored as the telephone number # 21. Since the route is to other gateways GWb, GWc, GWd,..., The telephone number of the own machine is switched to the sub telephone number # 02 to make a call. Accordingly, the lower unit power meters T4-1, T4-2,... Sequentially detect the abnormality of the gateway GWa and select the sub-routes to the other gateways GWb, GWc, GWd,.

  The call on this sub route is at an arbitrary timing, and even if an error occurs due to a collision, the collision is avoided by the retry as described above. On the other gateway side (GWb in the example of FIG. 7), the meter reading data on the other gateway GWb side is transmitted on a regular basis. As shown in FIG. 7, the thickness of the arrow indicating the data amount is constant.

  In the power supply monitoring and control system configured as described above, it should be noted that the wireless communication control unit 12 of each wireless communication device 5 transmits meter reading data at regular intervals, and the in-flight communication control unit 23 performs periodic meter readings. When using a time common to the wireless communication devices 5 for the clock unit 13 used for the wireless communication device 5, the wireless communication control unit 12, via the wireless device 11, switches from the gateway GW serving as a base station to a unit serving as a terminal station. Time information is sequentially transferred to the wattmeter T1, and the clock unit 13 of the own machine is corrected with the received time information.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a part of the network of FIG. 1 for explaining such a time setting operation, and FIG. 9 is a timing chart of the setting operation. The server device 1 serving as an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server is connected to a gateway GWa wired to it via a communication line such as an in-house optical fiber network at a time t0 that is a predetermined periodic timing such as once a day. An instruction to update the time is given, and the NTP time of the gateway GWa receiving the instruction is updated.

  Subsequently, the one-to-one correspondence between the first layer gateway GWa whose time is adjusted by the NTP and the second layer unit power meters T5-1 and T5-2 capable of direct wireless communication. In the wireless communication, time adjustment is sequentially performed at times t1 and t2. At the timing of time t2, the unit power meter T5-1 that has already completed time adjustment performs time adjustment with respect to the unit power meter T4-1 in the third layer. Thereafter, the unit power meter T5-2 that has completed time adjustment with the gateway GWa performs time adjustment with respect to the unit power meter T4-3 in the third layer at time t3. At this time, the unit power meter T5-1 also adjusts the time with respect to the other unit power meter T4-2. Thereafter, the unit power meter T5-2 adjusts the time with respect to another unit power meter T4-4 at time t4.

  In this way, each wireless communication device 5 can obtain accurate time information by transferring time information in order from the upper level wireless communication device 5 in which the time is secured and performing time adjustment by a downstream relay. Even if it is an inexpensive network configuration without being connected to a high cost network such as, or mounting a high cost device such as a GPS receiver in each wireless communication device 5, An accurate timepiece can be used in common between the wireless communication devices 5. In addition, many wireless communication devices 5 can perform time setting even if they cannot communicate directly with the gateway GW that performs time adjustment by NTP, and can suppress an increase in network traffic accompanying time setting. it can.

  It should also be noted that the wireless communication control unit 12 of each wireless communication device 5 does not return a response signal indicating that the time information has been received to the gateway GW. As a result, an increase in traffic due to a response can be suppressed.

  Furthermore, it should be noted that the wireless communication control unit 12 of each of the wireless communication devices 5 is subordinate when the received time information is more than a predetermined value from the time of the clock unit 13 of its own device. This is to prohibit the transfer of the time information to the wireless communication device 5 on the side and to notify the server device 1 that a deviation has occurred. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation at such a time lag, and FIG. 11 is a timing chart of the operation, which respectively correspond to the above-described FIG. 8 and FIG.

  Similarly to FIGS. 8 and 9, the server apparatus 1 gives an instruction to update the time to the gateway GWa at time t0, and the NTP time of the gateway GWa that has received the instruction is updated. Subsequently, the gateway GWa sequentially adjusts the time to the unit power meters T5-1 and T5-2 at the times t1 and t2, but the unit power meter T5-2 has successfully adjusted the time. There is a large deviation in the total T5-1, and time adjustment is not performed, and time adjustment of the subordinate unit power meters T4-1 and T4-2 is also not performed. For this reason, the time adjustment of the unit power meters T3-1, T3-2, T3-3, and T3-4 under the unit power meters T4-1 and T4-2 is not performed.

  In response to this, the unit power meter T4-1, which has been updated in the past in the past and timed up for a predetermined period, for example, a counting period of several days, is the upper unit power at time t11. In addition to notifying the total T5-1 that the time has not been updated, a route re-registration request for switching to the sub route is transmitted. These unupdated notification and re-registration requests are transmitted from the unit power meter T5-1 to the gateway GWa at time t12, and then transferred to the server device 1. Similarly, the unit wattmeter T4-2 that has timed up later makes an unupdated notification and re-registration request. When the clock unit 13 is reset in the initial state or the like, the fact is notified immediately and a route re-registration request is transmitted.

  Here, the wireless communication control unit 12 of each wireless communication device 5 performs intermittent reception, while the transmission side performs a call for 2 seconds, whereas the reception side scans 10 channels with different frequencies at intervals of several tens of msec. However, intermittent reception is performed such as resting and scanning. Therefore, since the calling side calls for a sufficiently long time with respect to the interval of intermittent reception, it is possible to receive a call, and this is also possible for a wireless communication apparatus such as the unit power meter T5-1 that is not synchronized in time. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 10, it is possible to transmit an unupdated notification and a re-registration request via the unit power meter T5-1 that is not synchronized in time.

  In response to this, the server apparatus 1 gives a re-registration response and an instruction to update the time, and the gateway GWa that receives the re-registration response transfers them to the unit power meter T5-2 that becomes the sub route at the time t13. At time t14, the unit power meter T5-2 is transferred to the unit power meter T4-3, and further at time t14, the unit power meter T4-3 is transferred to the unit power meter T4-1 to adjust the time.

  From the above, the server device 1 determines that the clock unit 13 of the unit wattmeter T5-1 is significantly out of the accuracy guarantee range and has a failure, and when replaced, returns to the normal route. A re-registration request for returning to is transmitted to the corresponding unit power meters T4-1 and T4-2.

  As described above, when the time is sequentially set in each wireless communication device 5, if the time of the received time information is deviated by a predetermined value or more at the time that the own device is currently in use, Is not likely to be abnormal, and by not retransmitting (transferring) the time information, it is possible to prevent the deviation of the clock unit 13 from spreading to other wireless communication devices. it can.

  If the response signal indicating that the time information has been received is not returned to the gateway GW as described above, the gateway GW does not know the time even if the time is not set correctly, and the wireless communication device and the subordinates thereof Since the wireless communication device cannot perform the above-mentioned timely alerting and timed meter reading, when the wireless communication control unit 12 determines that the clock unit 13 is reset as described above, or as another example Whether or not the time has been set correctly by requesting the gateway GW to transmit individual time information to the own device when it is determined that the time information has not been updated for a predetermined period or longer. Even if the traffic signal is suppressed by not sending back a response signal indicating, the wireless communication device in which the clock unit 13 is out of order can be prevented from being left unattended.

  Furthermore, transmitting the time information transmission request means that the wireless communication device or a higher-level wireless communication device has failed or that there is an abnormality in the communication path. When the gateway GW receives the transmission request for the time information, the gateway GW switches the communication path and transmits the time information, so that the gateway GW is affected by a wireless communication device that has failed or has an abnormality in the communication path. In addition, it is possible to increase the possibility that the wireless communication device at the end of the tree receives correct time information and performs normal operation.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the base station includes the server device 1 and the gateway GW is shown. This is an example of a base station, and may be a base station that includes a plurality of server devices, a base station that does not use the gateway GW, and the like. Moreover, although PHS was illustrated as a radio | wireless communication system between each unit power meter T which is a terminal station, another radio | wireless communication system is also employable. For example, the present invention can be applied to a server and a client constituting a wireless LAN. Furthermore, a wired communication system may be adopted instead of the wireless communication system. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, each unit power meter T, which is a terminal station, is shown as an example of being connected to a network in a tree shape having a plurality of hierarchies. Instead of this, each unit power meter T may be individually connected to the server apparatus 1.

1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a power supply monitoring control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view which shows one structural example of the unit wattmeter used for the said electric power feeding monitoring control system. It is a block diagram which shows one structural example of the radio | wireless communication apparatus in the said unit power meter. It is a figure for demonstrating the transmission timing of each radio | wireless communication apparatus arranged in a tree form. It is a figure which shows an example of the preparation method of a route map. It is a figure which shows an example of the preparation method of the subroute used at the time of failure. It is a figure which shows an example of the subroute used at the time of gateway failure. It is a figure which cuts out and shows a part of network of FIG. 1 for demonstrating the time setting operation | movement of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a timing chart of FIG. It is a figure which cuts out and shows a part of network of FIG. 1 for demonstrating the time setting operation | movement of other Embodiment of this invention. It is a timing chart of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Server apparatus 2 Network 3 Load switch 4 Electricity meter 5 Wireless communication apparatus 6 Terminal block 11 Radio | wireless machine 12 Radio | wireless communication control part 13 Clock part 14, 24 Memory 15 Input operation part 21, 22 Interface 23 In-machine communication control part 25 Data processing unit 26 Working memory T1-1 to T1-5, T1-11, T1-12 Unit power meter T2-1 to T2-10, T2-11 to T2-14 Unit power meter T3-1 to T3-5 T3-11, T3-12 Unit power meters T4-1 to T4-4, T4-11, T4-12 Unit power meters T5-1, T5-2, T5-11, T5-12 Unit power meters GWa, GWb, GWc, ... Gateway

Claims (9)

A plurality of communication devices each having a communication unit for performing data communication and a clock unit having a clock function, wherein the communication units of the communication devices are sequentially connected so as to be able to relay and transmit data; In a communication system in which the clock unit uses a common time,
Each of the communication devices sequentially transfers time information from the communication device serving as the base station to the communication device serving as the terminal station via the communication unit, and corrects the time of the clock unit of the own device with the received time information. A communication system comprising a control unit.   2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit of each communication device does not return a response signal indicating that the time information has been received to the base station.   The control unit of each communication device prohibits the transfer of the time information to the lower-level communication device when the received time information deviates from the time of its own clock unit by a predetermined value or more. The communication system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by:   When the clock unit of the communication device has been reset and the time has not been updated over a predetermined period, the control unit of each communication device sends an individual time to the base station to the base station. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein transmission of information is requested.   The base station has a plurality of communication paths from the base station to each of the terminal stations. When the base station receives a transmission request for the time information from a specific communication device, the base station currently uses the specific communication device. 5. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein the time information is transmitted by switching a communication path to another communication path.   The data transmitted from the terminal station side to the base station side is sensing data collected by each communication device, and the data transmitted from the base station side to the terminal station side is control data for the terminal station. The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that:   The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit performs communication in a PHS transceiver mode.   8. A communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a server device that handles data transmitted and received at the highest base station.   9. The information communication system according to claim 8, wherein each communication device is provided with a watt-hour meter that acquires the sensing data and a load switch that performs switching control in response to the control data. Power supply monitoring and control system.

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