JP2010004132A - Information collection system and information collecting method of information collection system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote supervision system constituted in such a manner that a plurality of communication devices sharing one telephone line, communicate with a centralized monitoring apparatus by using a general modem. <P>SOLUTION: In an elevator system 104, only a master report device 120a is connected with a telephone line 101 and other report devices 120 are separated from the telephone line 101. A centralized monitoring apparatus 112 makes a call on the telephone line 101 of the elevator system 104, and the call is received by the master report device 120a connected with the telephone line 101. The centralized monitoring apparatus 112 reports a communication object to the master report device 120a and the telephone with the elevator system 104 is hung up. The master report device 120a outputs a line connection request 192 to the report device 120 of communication object and disconnects the telephone line 101, and the report device 120 of communication object is connected to the telephone line 101. The centralized monitoring apparatus 112 makes a call again and receives collection information 193 from a communication object connected with the telephone line 101. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information collection system used for remote monitoring of, for example, an elevator or a building facility, and an information collection method of the information collection system.

A remote monitoring system that remotely monitors elevators and building equipment (air conditioning equipment, lighting equipment, security systems, etc.) is equipped with a reporting device for each elevator unit and building equipment, and information on elevators and building equipment. And a centralized monitoring device that collects from each reporting device.
For example, when an abnormality occurs in an elevator or building facility, each notification device notifies the abnormality to the centralized monitoring device via a telephone line network.
Further, for example, the centralized monitoring device accesses the reporting device via the telephone line network and collects various information on the elevator and building equipment (elevator operation time, setting contents, abnormality log, etc.).
At this time, each reporting device shares one telephone line and communicates with the centralized monitoring apparatus using one telephone line.
JP 2003-073047 A JP-A-9-163005 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-189585

In the above remote monitoring system, since each reporting device shares a single telephone line, the destination to connect to when making a call from the centralized monitoring device may not be the intended reporting device that wants to collect information.
In this case, the centralized monitoring device collects information from the target notification device via the telephone line in a state where the telephone is connected to another notification device.
For this reason, each reporting device requires a modem having a special communication function of transmitting information to the centralized monitoring device via a telephone line connected to another reporting device.
However, since a general modem (inexpensive modem) does not have such a special communication function, it is necessary to use an expensive modem having a special communication function. Also, there are few such modems.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a remote monitoring system in which, for example, a plurality of reporting devices sharing one telephone line communicate with a centralized monitoring device using a general modem.

  The information collection system of the present invention is configured to share specific information from at least one of a plurality of communication devices that share one telephone line and are connected to each other via a signal line, and the plurality of communication devices via the telephone line. An information collecting device for collecting, the communication device of any of the plurality of communication devices is connected to the telephone line as a parent communication device, and establishes a call with the information collecting device via the connected telephone line, A notification indicating that the communication device from which the specific information is collected as a target device is received from the information collection device by using the call, and the target device notified from the information collection device is connected to the telephone line through the signal The communication device requested via the line, disconnected from the telephone line, and requested to connect from the parent communication device to the telephone line is connected to the telephone line as a target device and connected to the telephone line. Via a telephone line to establish the information collection device and the call, transmitting the specific information possessed by itself to the information collection device using said call.

  According to the present invention, for example, a remote monitoring system in which a plurality of reporting devices (an example of a communication device) sharing one telephone line communicates with a centralized monitoring device (an example of an information collection device) using a general modem ( An example of an information collection system can be provided.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a remote monitoring system 100 according to the first embodiment.
The configuration of remote monitoring system 100 according to Embodiment 1 will be described below with reference to FIG.

A remote monitoring system 100 (an example of an information collection system) is a system that monitors an elevator system 104 of a building 102 at a monitoring center 110 at a remote location.
The elevator system 104 includes a plurality of notification devices 120 (120a, ..., 120n) (an example of a plurality of communication devices) and a plurality of elevator devices 105 (105b, ..., 105b).
One telephone line 101 is established in the elevator system 104, and each notification device 120 communicates with the monitoring center 110 by sharing the one telephone line 101. The telephone line 101 established in the elevator system 104 is identified by one telephone number. Only one reporting device 120 is connected to the telephone line 101, and one device connected to the telephone line 101 is switched as necessary, and the reporting device 120 connected to the telephone line 101 communicates with the monitoring center 110. .
One of the plurality of reporting devices 120 (120a) is set as the “parent machine (parent communication device)”, and the reporting devices 120 (120b,..., 120n) other than the parent device are “child devices (slave communication devices)”. And
Before the start of communication with the monitoring center 110, the master unit is connected to the telephone line 101 by a switch circuit 121 described later, and each slave unit is disconnected from the telephone line 101 by a switch circuit 121 described later.
Each slave unit is connected to the elevator apparatus 105 and transmits information collected from the elevator apparatus 105 to the monitoring center 110 via the telephone line 101. Hereinafter, the notification device 120 connected to the elevator device 105x of the x-th vehicle is referred to as “child x-th device”.

Each notification device 120 includes a switch circuit 121, a modem 122, an inter-device transmission circuit 123, and a control unit 124.
The switch circuit 121 is a circuit that physically or electrically switches between connection to the telephone line 101 and disconnection from the telephone line 101.
The inter-device transmission circuit 123 is a circuit that transmits / receives a data signal to / from the inter-device transmission circuit 123 of another reporting device 120 via the signal line 103 that is a communication path with each reporting device 120. The inter-device transmission circuit 123 of each notification device 120 is connected by a signal line 103.

The modem 122 is a general modem, has a built-in NCU (Network Control Unit), and has an NCU function and a data communication function.
The data communication function is a function of modulating a digital signal into an analog signal (for example, an audio signal) or demodulating an analog signal into a digital signal.

The NCU function is a function for making a telephone connection with a communication partner via a telephone line network and disconnecting the telephone connected to the communication partner at the end of the communication.
The telephone connection means that a communication path connecting two terminals is provided in the telephone line network so that a call (communication) is possible between the two terminals.
At the time of telephone connection, a connection request is transmitted from one terminal device (NCU function) (calling), a connection request is received at the other terminal device (NCU function) (incoming call), and a call is established between the terminals. A dial signal indicating the telephone number of the communication partner is a connection request. When the telephone is disconnected, the call established between the terminals is released. “Calling” is equivalent to lifting the handset (also called off-hook) and dialing the other party's phone number to “make a call”. “Incoming call” corresponds to “pick up (receive) a call” from the other party by lifting the handset. “Call release” corresponds to “hang up” by lowering the handset (also called on-hook).
Hereinafter, “calling” is referred to as “calling”, “incoming call” is referred to as “taking a call”, and “release” is referred to as “hanging up”.

The control unit 124 controls the switch circuit 121, the modem 122, and the inter-device transmission circuit 123 using a CPU.
For example, the control unit 124 (the line connection control unit [not shown]) causes the switch circuit 121 to connect to the telephone line 101 or causes the switch circuit 121 to disconnect the telephone line 101.
Further, for example, the control unit 124 (the line connection request unit [not shown]) inputs the target machine ID 191 (identification information for designating the machine number) transmitted from the monitoring center 110 and received by the modem 122, and the target machine ID 191. The inter-device transmission circuit 123 is caused to output a line connection request 192 for the notification device 120 of the unit identified by.
Also, for example, the control unit 124 (information transmission unit [not shown]) collects various information collected by the monitoring center 110 (for example, cumulative operation time of elevators, setting contents, abnormality log, etc.) (hereinafter referred to as collection information 193) ) From the elevator device 105, the acquired collection information 193 is stored in a storage device (eg, hard disk device, semiconductor memory) (not shown), and the stored collection information 193 is transmitted to the monitoring center 110 using the modem 122. To do.

In the monitoring center 110, a communication device 111 and a centralized monitoring device 112 are installed.
The monitoring staff at the monitoring center 110 uses the centralized monitoring device 112 to collect information from the elevator system 104 and confirm the collected information 193 to grasp the status of the elevator system 104.

The centralized monitoring device 112 communicates with the elevator system 104 via the communication device 111.
For example, the centralized monitoring device 112 (target notification unit [not shown]) uses the elevator ID as a target car ID 191 to identify the reporting device 120 (target device) that transmits the collected information 193 via the communication device 111. 104.
Also, for example, the centralized monitoring device 112 (its information receiving unit [not shown]) receives the collected information 193 collected by the reporting device 120 identified by the target machine ID 191 via the communication device 111. The centralized monitoring device 112 stores the collected information 193 received from the elevator system 104 in a storage device, displays it on a display device, and prints it using a printer device. A storage device, a display device, and a printer device provided in the central monitoring device 112 or externally connected to the central monitoring device 112 are not shown.

The communication device 111 includes a modem (not shown), is connected to the telephone line 101 of the elevator system 104 by telephone, and communicates with each notification device 120 of the elevator system 104 via the telephone line 101.
For example, when the target unit ID 191 is output from the centralized monitoring device 112, the communication device 111 makes a call to the elevator system 104, connects to the parent unit of the elevator system 104, and transmits the target unit ID 191 to the parent unit. Hang up the phone with the parent machine.
Further, for example, the communication device 111 makes a call to the elevator system 104, makes a telephone connection with the child machine identified by the target machine ID 191, receives the collection information 193 from the child machine connected by telephone, and hangs up the telephone with the child machine. . The communication device 111 outputs the received collection information 193 to the centralized monitoring device 112.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a remote monitoring method of remote monitoring system 100 in the first embodiment.
A remote monitoring method of the remote monitoring system 100 according to the first embodiment using a general modem 122 will be described below with reference to FIG.

<S110: Parent machine connection processing>
By S111 to S114 described below, the monitoring center 110 and the parent machine are connected by telephone, and the monitoring center 110 notifies the parent machine of the target machine ID 191.

<S111>
First, the monitoring center 110 calls the telephone line 101 of the elevator system 104.
Details of S111 will be described below.

The monitor inputs a collection command for instructing information collection of the specific elevator device 105 to the centralized monitoring device 112 using a keyboard, a mouse, or the like.
When the collection command is input, the centralized monitoring device 112 outputs a telephone connection command to the communication device 111 and causes the communication device 111 to make a call to the telephone line 101 of the elevator system 104.
Receiving the telephone connection command, the communication device 111 transmits the telephone number of the elevator system 104 by a dial signal and makes a call (calls) the telephone line 101 of the elevator system 104.

<S112>
Next, the parent machine (120a) takes a call from the monitoring center 110 and enables data communication.
Details of S112 will be described below.

In the elevator system 104, the parent machine (120a) is connected to the telephone line 101 by the switch circuit 121a until the monitoring center 110 starts collecting information on the elevator apparatus 105, and the child machines (120b,..., 120n) are switched circuits. The telephone line 101 is disconnected by 121.
For this reason, a telephone call made from the communication device 111 of the monitoring center 110 in S111 is received (received) by the modem 122a of the parent machine.
The modem 122a of the parent machine receives a call from the communication device 111 of the monitoring center 110 and establishes a telephone connection (establishes a call) with the communication device 111. With the telephone connection, a communication path that connects the modem 122a of the parent machine and the communication device 111 of the monitoring center 110 is provided in the telephone network, and data communication between the parent machine and the centralized monitoring device 112 becomes possible.

<S113>
Next, the monitoring center 110 notifies the parent machine (120a) of the target machine ID 191 indicating the collection target.
Details of S113 will be described below.

The centralized monitoring device 112 that is telephone-connected to the parent machine in S112 receives the ID for identifying the notification device 120 connected to the elevator device 105 that collects information based on the collection command input by the supervisor in S111. The ID 191 is output to the communication device 111. It is assumed that the ID of the reporting device 120 connected to each elevator device 105 is stored in advance in a storage device (not shown) of the centralized monitoring device 112.
The communication device 111 transmits the target machine ID 191 input from the centralized monitoring device 112 to the parent machine via the telephone line 101 (using the established call).
The modem 122a of the parent machine receives the target machine ID 191 transmitted from the communication device 111 via the telephone line 101, and outputs the received target machine ID 191 to the control unit 124a.

<S114>
Next, the monitoring center 110 hangs up the telephone with the elevator system 104.
Details of S114 will be described below.

The centralized monitoring device 112 that has notified the parent machine of the target machine ID 191 in S113 outputs a telephone disconnection command to the communication device 111, and causes the communication device 111 to hang up the telephone with the elevator system 104.
The communication device 111 that has received the telephone disconnection instruction disconnects the telephone with the elevator system 104 (releases the call).

<S120: Unit switching process>
By S121 to S123 described below, the parent machine disconnects the telephone line 101, and the child machine identified by the target machine ID 191 (hereinafter referred to as the collection target child machine) is connected to the telephone line 101.

<S121>
The parent machine (120a) outputs a line connection request 192 to the collection device 120 via the signal line 103.
Details of S121 will be described below.

  After disconnecting the telephone (S114), the control unit 124a of the master unit refers to the target unit ID 191 output from the modem 122a in S113 and generates a line connection request 192 for the slave unit to be collected. Then, the control unit 124a outputs the generated line connection request 192 to the inter-device transmission circuit 123a, and causes the inter-device transmission circuit 123a to output the line connection request 192 to the slave unit to be collected. The inter-device transmission circuit 123 a outputs the line connection request 192 output from the control unit 124 a to the child device to be collected through the signal line 103.

<S122>
Next, the reporting device 120 to be collected is connected to the telephone line 101.
Details of S122 will be described below.

In the slave unit to be collected, the line connection request 192 output from the inter-device transmission circuit 123a of the master unit in S121 is input by the inter-device transmission circuit 123 via the signal line 103, and the line input by the inter-device transmission circuit 123 is input. A connection request 192 is output to the control unit 124. In the slave units other than the collection target, the line connection request 192 is discarded by the inter-device transmission circuit 123.
When the line connection request 192 is input from the inter-device transmission circuit 123, the control unit 124 controls the switch circuit 121 to connect the switch circuit 121 to the telephone line 101. The switch circuit 121 controlled by the control unit 124 switches the switch to connect to the telephone line 101.

<S123>
The parent reporting device 120a disconnects the telephone line 101.
Details of S123 will be described below.

  After outputting the line connection request 192 (S121), the control unit 124a of the parent machine (120a) controls the switch circuit 121a to cause the switch circuit 121a to disconnect from the telephone line 101. The switch circuit 121a controlled by the control unit 124a switches the switch to disconnect the parent machine (120a) from the telephone line 101.

<S130: Target machine connection processing>
Through S131 to S134 described below, the monitoring center 110 and the child device to be collected are connected by telephone, and the monitoring center 110 acquires the collection information 193 from the child device connected by telephone.

<S131>
After disconnecting the telephone (S114), the monitoring center 110 calls the telephone line 101 in the same manner as in S111.

<S132>
Next, like the parent machine in S112, the child machine to be collected receives a call from the monitoring center 110 and enables data communication.

<S133>
Next, the child machine to be collected transmits the collection information 193, and the monitoring center 110 receives the collection information 193.
Details of S133 will be described below.

In the slave unit to be collected that is telephone-connected to the monitoring center 110 in S132, the control unit 124 outputs the collection information 193 acquired from the elevator apparatus 105 to the modem 122. The collection information 193 may be acquired at this timing or may be acquired in advance at a predetermined timing. The collected information 193 is stored in a storage device (not shown) of the notification device 120.
The modem 122 transmits the collected information 193 input from the control unit 124 to the monitoring center 110 via the telephone line 101 (using the call established in S132).
The communication device 111 of the monitoring center 110 receives the collected information 193 transmitted from the modem 122 of the slave unit to be collected via the telephone line 101, and outputs the received collected information 193 to the centralized monitoring device 112.
The centralized monitoring device 112 stores the collected information 193 input from the communication device 111 in a storage device (not shown), and outputs the collected information 193 to an output device such as a display device or a printer.

<S134>
And the monitoring center 110 hangs up the telephone with the elevator system 104 similarly to S114.

As described above, in the remote monitoring method of the remote monitoring system 100 according to the first embodiment, the monitoring center 110 notifies the elevator system 104 of the child units to be collected (S113), and then hangs up the telephone with the elevator system 104 (S114). ) By connecting the telephone to the elevator system 104 again (S132), data communication can be performed between the apparatuses connected to the telephone (the monitoring center 110 and the child machine to be collected).
As a result, in the remote monitoring system 100 in which a plurality of reporting devices 120 share one telephone line 101, a general modem 122 can be used as the reporting device 120.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the parent machine in the first embodiment.
The processing flow of the parent machine (parent notification device 120a) in the remote monitoring method (FIG. 2) will be described below with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 3, a step number (Sxxxa) with “a” added to the step number (Sxxx) in FIG.

  The modem 122a of the parent machine waits for an incoming call from the monitoring center 110 (S111a), takes the incoming call and enables data communication with the monitoring center 110 (S112a), and receives the target machine ID 191 from the monitoring center 110. (S113a) and hang up the telephone with the monitoring center 110 (S114a).

  Next, the inter-device transmission circuit 123a outputs a line connection request 192 to the signal line 103 (S121a), and the switch circuit 121a disconnects the telephone line 101 (S123a).

Then, the inter-device transmission circuit 123a waits for a notification that the telephone with the monitoring center 110 is disconnected from the slave unit to be collected (S134a1), and after the slave unit to be collected hangs up, the switch The circuit 121a is again connected to the telephone line 101 (S134a2).
Thereafter, the process returns to S111a.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of the child machine in the first embodiment.
The flow of processing of the child machine (child notification device 120) in the remote monitoring method (FIG. 2) will be described below with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 4, the step number (Sxxx) with “z” added to the step number (Sxxx) in FIG. 2 is described as the step number.

  In the slave unit, the inter-device transmission circuit 123 waits for the line connection request 192 to be input from the signal line 103 (S121z), and after the line connection request 192 is input, the switch circuit 121 connects to the telephone line 101 (S122z). .

  Next, the modem 122 of the slave unit (the slave unit to be collected) connected to the telephone line 101 waits for an incoming call from the monitoring center 110 (S131z), picks up the incoming call, and performs telephone communication with the monitoring center 110. (S132z), data communication with the monitoring center 110 (transmission of the collection information 193) is performed (S133z), and after the data communication is completed, the telephone with the monitoring center 110 is disconnected (S134z1).

Then, the switch circuit 121 disconnects the telephone line 101 (S134z2), and the inter-device transmission circuit 123 outputs a notification to the parent machine that the telephone is disconnected from the monitoring center 110 to the signal line 103 (S134z3).
Thereafter, the process returns to 121z.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of communication among the monitoring center 110, the parent machine, and the child machine to be collected in the first embodiment.
The flow of communication between the monitoring center 110, the parent machine, and the child machine (No. 3) to be collected will be described below with reference to FIG. 5, taking the case where the child machine to be collected is “No. 3” as an example.
The step numbers shown in FIG. 5 correspond to the step numbers shown in FIG.

First, the communication device 111 of the monitoring center 110 makes a call to the telephone line 101 of the elevator system 104 (S111), and the parent machine receives a call from the monitoring center 110 using the modem 122a. And the parent machine enable data communication (S112).
Next, the communication device 111 of the monitoring center 110 transmits the target machine ID 191 to request the parent machine to communicate with the third machine (an example of the child machine to be collected) (S113), and hangs up the telephone with the parent machine. (S114).

Next, the parent machine outputs a line connection request 192 using the inter-device transmission circuit 123a and notifies the third machine to connect to the telephone line 101 (S121).
Next, the third machine connects to the telephone line 101 using the switch circuit 121 (S122), and the parent machine disconnects the telephone line 101 using the switch circuit 121a (S123).

Next, the communication device 111 of the monitoring center 110 makes a call to the telephone line 101 of the elevator system 104 (S131), and the third machine receives a call from the monitoring center 110 using the modem 122, and the communication device of the monitoring center 110 111 and No. 3 enable data communication (S132).
The communication device 111 of the monitoring center 110 and the third device perform data communication (for example, transmission of the collection information 193 from the third device to the monitoring center 110) (S133), and after the data communication is completed, the communication device of the monitoring center 110 111 hangs up the telephone with No. 3 machine (S134).

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of the remote monitoring system 900, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a remote monitoring method of the remote monitoring system 900.
Next, a description will be given of the remote monitoring system 900 in which the monitoring center 110 notifies the elevator system 104 of the target car ID 191 and continues as it is without disconnecting the telephone and acquires the collection information 193 from the child car to be collected.

In the remote monitoring system 900, as will be described later, the slave unit to be collected transmits the collection information 193 to the monitoring center 110 using the telephone line 101 while the telephones of the monitoring center 110 and the parent unit are connected.
Therefore, each notification device 120 includes an NCU 125 in addition to a general modem 122 as shown in FIG. 6 in order to enable such special communication.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the remote monitoring method of the remote monitoring system 900 (when NCU is added), first, the monitoring center 110 calls the telephone line 101 of the elevator system 104 in the same manner as S111 to S113 of the remote monitoring system 100. Call (S911), the parent machine makes a telephone call to enable data communication with the monitoring center 110 (S912), and the monitoring center 110 notifies the parent machine of the target machine ID 191 (S913).

Here, the telephone call between the monitoring center 110 and the parent machine is not disconnected as in S114, and S921 to S923 are continued as in S121 to S123 of the remote monitoring system 100.
The parent device outputs a line connection request 192 to the notification device 120 to be processed (S921), the notification device 120 to be processed is connected to the telephone line 101 (S922), and the parent device disconnects the telephone line 101 (S923).

Then, the modem 122 of the notification device 120 to be processed becomes capable of data communication via the NCU 125 (S932), and the notification device 120 transmits the collected information 193 to the monitoring center 110 (S933), similarly to S133, and the same as S134. The monitoring center 110 hangs up the telephone with the elevator system 104 (S934).
In S933, transmission of the collection information 193 from the reporting device 120 to the monitoring center 110 is performed by the modem 122 and the NCU 125.

Normally, a modem incorporates an NCU having a function for connecting to a telephone line, and an NCU function and a data communication function (function of converting digital data into a voice signal for communication) operate in synchronization. For example, when a telephone call comes in, the modem starts data communication after connecting to the telephone line with the NCU function.
However, in the remote monitoring method of the remote monitoring system 900 (when NCU is added), in S933, the telephone line 101 is already connected between the monitoring center 110 and the parent machine in the modem 122 of the notification device 120 to be collected. Only the data communication must be started in the state. In general, modems do not do this.
Such a special modem capable of special communication has few manufacturers and is expensive. When a special modem is not used, as shown in FIG. 6, an NCU 125 is added to a general modem 122 to configure each notification device 120, and connection control of a telephone line is performed to the NCU 125 connected as an external device of the modem 122. The modem 122 performs only data communication via the NCU 125.

  In the first embodiment, the remote monitoring system 100 that enables use of a general modem 122 (inexpensive modem) in a configuration in which a plurality of notification devices 120 are connected to one telephone line 101 has been described.

In FIG. 1, the elevator apparatus 105 is not connected to the parent machine (120a), and the parent machine does not transmit the collection information 193 to the monitoring center 110, but the parent machine is connected to the elevator apparatus 105 in the same manner as the child machine. The parent machine may be connected to transmit the collected information 193 of the elevator apparatus 105 to the monitoring center 110.
When the collection target machine is a parent machine, transmission of the collection information 193 from the parent machine to the monitoring center 110 may be performed at the time of reconnection after the telephone is temporarily disconnected as described in FIG. As described with reference to FIG. 7, the telephone connection may be maintained without being disconnected.
Furthermore, the parent machine need not be fixed to the reporting device 120a.
For example, after the collection information 193 is transmitted, the child machine to be collected may maintain the connection of the switch circuit 121 to the telephone line 101 and operate as the next parent machine.
Alternatively, the monitoring center 110 may not make a call to the elevator system 104, and the elevator system 104 may make a call to the monitoring center 110, or the monitoring center 110 may not make a call to the elevator system 104, and may be monitored from the elevator system 104. You may hang up the phone with the center 110.
Further, the remote monitoring system 100 is an example of an information collection system, and the collection information 193 is not limited to the information about the elevator apparatus 105.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In Embodiment 2, the monitoring center 110 obtains the collection information 193 from a plurality of collection target child units by notifying the next collection target child unit after obtaining the collection information 193 from the collection target child unit. The form to perform is demonstrated.
Hereinafter, items different from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and items omitted will be the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a remote monitoring method of remote monitoring system 100 in the second embodiment.
A remote monitoring method of the remote monitoring system 100 in the second embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

<S110 to S120>
First, as in the first embodiment, the parent machine connection process (S110) and the machine switching process (S120) are executed, and the first child machine to be processed is connected to the telephone line 101.

<S230: Target machine connection process>
<S231 to S233>
Next, as in S131 to S133 of the first embodiment, the monitoring center 110 makes a call to the telephone line 101 of the elevator system 104 (S231), and the notification device 120 to be processed takes a call and data with the monitoring center 110 is obtained. Communication is enabled (S232), and the reporting device 120 to be processed transmits the collected information 193 to the monitoring center 110 (S233).

<S234>
Next, the monitoring center 110 notifies the current collection target child unit of the target number ID 191 indicating the next collection target child unit or the end notification.
At this time, the centralized monitoring apparatus 112 receives the designation of the next slave unit to be collected or the designation of termination by the supervisor. However, the centralized monitoring device 112 may be inputted with designation of a plurality of slave units to be collected in advance.
When there is a next child machine to be collected (unprocessed child machine to be collected), the centralized monitoring device 112 outputs a target machine ID 191 indicating the next child machine to be collected to the communication device 111.
The communication device 111 transmits the target machine ID 191 input from the centralized monitoring device 112 to the current collection target child machine via the telephone line 101.

<S235>
Next, the monitoring center 110 hangs up the telephone with the elevator system 104 as in S134 of the first embodiment.

<S236>
Then, the child machine (first unit) that is the current collection target determines whether the notification from the monitoring center 110 in S234 is the target machine ID 191.
If the notification is an end notification (No), the process ends.

When the notification is the target machine ID 191 (Yes), the process returns to S120.
Then, the child unit (first unit) currently being collected outputs a line connection request 192 to the next child unit (second unit) to be collected, similar to the parent unit (S121), and the telephone line 101 is connected. Disconnect (S123).
Also, the second slave unit to be collected that has received the line connection request 192 is connected to the telephone line 101 (S122), and S231 to S236 are connected between the monitoring center 110 and the second slave unit to be collected. Executed.
Thereafter, when the notification from the monitoring center 110 is the target machine ID 191 in S236, S120 to S236 are similarly executed for the third and subsequent slave machines to be collected.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of the child machine in the second embodiment.
The flow of processing of the slave unit (child reporting device 120) in the remote monitoring method (FIG. 8) will be described below based on FIG.
In FIG. 9, the step number (Sxxx) with “z” added to the step number (Sxxx) in FIG. 8 is described as the step number.

  S121z to S235z2 are the same as S121 to S134z2 of the first embodiment.

  After S235z2, the control unit 124 of the slave unit to be collected determines whether a new target unit ID 191 has been received by the modem 122 (S236z1), and when the new target unit ID 191 is received, the inter-device transmission circuit 123 A line connection request 192 for the new target machine ID 191 is output to the signal line 103 (S236z2). When the end notification is received, the inter-device transmission circuit 123 outputs a notification indicating that the telephone with the monitoring center 110 has been disconnected to the signal line 103 to the parent machine (S236z3). Thereafter, the process returns to S121z.

  The processing flow of the parent machine is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 3).

  According to the second embodiment, the monitoring center 110 can acquire the collection information 193 continuously from a plurality of child machines.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the third embodiment, a mode will be described in which the monitoring center 110 acquires collection information 193 from a plurality of collection target child machines by notifying the parent machine of a plurality of collection target child machines.
Hereinafter, items different from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and items omitted will be the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a remote monitoring method of remote monitoring system 100 in the third embodiment.
A remote monitoring method of the remote monitoring system 100 in the third embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

<S110 to S130>
First, as in the first embodiment, the master unit connection process (S110), the unit switching process (S120) and the target unit connection process (S130) are executed, and the monitoring center 110 collects from the first slave unit to be collected. Information 193 is acquired.
Here, in S113 of the parent machine connection process (S110), the monitoring center 110 shall notify the parent machine of one or more target machine IDs 191.
Further, in S121 of the unit switching process (S120), the master unit selects one target unit ID 191 from those notified from the monitoring center 110, and sets the sub unit indicated by the selected target unit ID 191 as the sub unit to be collected. A line connection request 192 is output.

<S141>
Then, the parent machine determines whether there is a target machine ID 191 that has not been processed among the target machine IDs 191 notified from the monitoring center 110 in S113.
If there is no target machine ID 191 that has not been processed (No), the process ends.
If there is a target machine ID 191 that has not been processed (Yes), the process returns to S120.
In S121, the parent machine selects one target machine ID 191 from those not processed, and outputs a line connection request 192 with the child machine indicated by the selected target machine ID 191 as the child machine to be collected.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the parent machine in the third embodiment.
The processing flow of the parent machine (parent notification device 120a) in the remote monitoring method (FIG. 10) will be described below with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 11, the step number (Sxxxa) in which “a” is added to the step number (Sxxx) in FIG. 10 is described as the step number.

S111a to S134a1 are the same as those in the first embodiment.
However, in S113a, the modem 122a receives a plurality of target machine IDs 191 from the monitoring center 110, and in S121a, the control unit 124a selects one of the plurality of target machine IDs 191 and the inter-device transmission circuit 123a is selected. A line connection request 192 is output to the slave unit indicated by the unit ID 191.

After the child machine hangs up the telephone with the monitoring center 110 in S134a1, the control unit 124a of the parent machine determines whether there is an unprocessed target machine ID 191 among the plurality of target machine IDs 191 received by the modem 122a in S113a. (S141a).
If there is no unprocessed target machine ID 191 (No), the parent machine is connected to the telephone line 101 in S134a2, and the process returns to S111a.
When there is an unprocessed target machine ID 191 (Yes), the process returns to S121a, and S121a to S141a are repeated.
In S121a, the control unit 124a selects one target machine ID 191 from the unprocessed ones, and the inter-device transmission circuit 123a outputs a line connection request 192 to the child machine indicated by the selected target machine ID 191.
In S123a, since the switch circuit 121a is not connected to the telephone line 101, it is not necessary to disconnect the telephone line 101.

  The processing flow of the child machine is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 4).

  According to the third embodiment, the monitoring center 110 can continuously acquire the collection information 193 from a plurality of child machines.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
In the fourth embodiment, a mode will be described in which the monitoring center 110 acquires the collection information 193 from each child unit in a predetermined time zone.
Hereinafter, items different from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and items omitted will be the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a remote monitoring method of remote monitoring system 100 in the fourth embodiment.
A remote monitoring method of the remote monitoring system 100 according to the fourth embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

<S110>
First, similar to the first embodiment, a parent machine connection process (S110) is executed.
Here, in S113 of the parent machine connection process (S110), the monitoring center 110 notifies the parent machine of schedule information indicating at what time the collection information 193 is acquired from which child machine. The modem 122a outputs the schedule information received from the monitoring center 110 to the control unit 124a.
In the schedule information, the target machine ID 191 and the collection time are set in association with each other for each child machine to be collected.

<S142>
Next, the control unit 124a refers to the schedule information input from the monitoring center 110 and waits for the collection time set in the schedule information.

<S120 to S130>
Next, as in the first embodiment, the unit switching process (S120) and the target unit connection process (S130) are executed, and the monitoring center 110 acquires the collection information 193 from the first slave unit to be collected.
Here, in S121 of the unit switching process (S120), the control unit 124a of the parent unit outputs a line connection request 192 with the child unit indicated by the target unit ID 191 that has reached the collection time as the child unit to be collected.
In S131 of the target unit connection process (S130), the monitoring center 110 calls the telephone line 101 of the elevator system 104 during the collection time set in the schedule information.

<S141>
Then, the parent machine determines whether there is a target machine ID 191 that has not been processed among the target machine IDs 191 set in the schedule information.
If there is no target machine ID 191 that has not been processed (No), the process ends.
If there is a target machine ID 191 that has not been processed (Yes), the process returns to S142.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the parent machine in the fourth embodiment.
The flow of processing of the parent machine (parent reporting device 120) in the remote monitoring method (FIG. 12) will be described below with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 13, a step number (Sxxxa) with “a” added to the step number (Sxxx) in FIG. 12 is described.

S111a to S114a are the same as those in the first embodiment.
However, in S113a, the parent machine modem 122a receives the above-described schedule information from the monitoring center 110.

After S114a, the control unit 124a of the parent machine waits for the collection time set in the schedule information (S142a), and the inter-device transmission circuit 123a outputs a line connection request 192 at the collection time (S121a). The switch circuit 121a disconnects the telephone line 101 (S123a).
Then, the control unit 124a of the parent machine waits for the child machine to hang up the telephone with the monitoring center 110 (S134a1).

After the child machine hangs up the telephone with the monitoring center 110, the control unit 124a of the parent machine determines whether or not there is an unprocessed target machine ID 191 (target machine ID 191 that has not reached the collection time) in the schedule information (S141a). .
If there is no unprocessed target machine ID 191 (No), the parent machine is connected to the telephone line 101 in S134a2, and the process returns to S111a.
When there is an unprocessed target machine ID 191 (Yes), the process returns to S142a, and S142a to S141a are repeated.
In S123a, since the switch circuit 121a is not connected to the telephone line 101, it is not necessary to disconnect the telephone line 101.

  The processing flow of the child machine is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 4).

FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of communication among the monitoring center 110, the parent device, and the child device to be collected in the fourth embodiment.
An example in which the collection time of the collection information 193 from the “No. 3” notification device 120 is “3 o'clock” and the collection time of the collection information 193 from the “No. 4” notification device 120 is “4 o'clock”. Next, the flow of communication between the monitoring center 110, the parent machine, and the child machines (3 and 4 machines) will be described below with reference to FIG.
The step numbers shown in FIG. 14 correspond to the step numbers shown in FIGS.

At 3 o'clock, which is the collection time of unit 3 (S142), the master unit outputs a line connection request 192 using the inter-device transmission circuit 123a and notifies unit 3 to connect to the telephone line 101 (S121). .
Next, the third machine connects to the telephone line 101 using the switch circuit 121 (S122), and the parent machine disconnects the telephone line 101 using the switch circuit 121a (S123).
In addition, the communication device 111 of the monitoring center 110 calls the monitoring center 110 of the elevator system 104 at 3 o'clock (S131), and the third machine uses the modem 122a to receive a call from the monitoring center 110 to communicate with the monitoring center 110. The device 111 and the third machine can perform data communication (S132).
Then, the communication device 111 of the monitoring center 110 and the third device perform data communication (S133), and after the data communication is completed, the communication device 111 of the monitoring center 110 disconnects the phone with the third device (S134).

Further, the master unit outputs the line connection request 192 using the inter-device transmission circuit 123a at 4 o'clock, which is the collection time of the unit 4 (S142), and notifies the unit 4 to connect to the telephone line 101 ( S121).
The fourth machine is connected to the telephone line 101 using the switch circuit 121 (S122), and the parent machine is disconnected using the switch circuit 121a (S123). Thereafter, the communication devices 111 and 4 of the monitoring center 110 are connected. Data communication is performed with the number machine (S131 to S134).

  In the above, the master unit outputs the line connection request 192 at the collection time, but the line connection request 192 including the collection time may be output to the slave unit to be collected in advance. The parent machine only needs to disconnect the telephone line 101 at least at the collection time, and the child machine need only be connected to the telephone line 101 at least at the collection time.

  According to the fourth embodiment, the monitoring center 110 can acquire the collection information 193 from each of the plurality of slave units at a predetermined time.

1 is a configuration diagram of a remote monitoring system 100 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a remote monitoring method of the remote monitoring system 100 according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of a parent machine in the first embodiment. The flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the child machine in Embodiment 1. FIG. The sequence diagram which shows the flow of communication with the monitoring center 110 in Embodiment 1, and a main | base station machine and the subordinate machine of collection object. 1 is a configuration diagram of a remote monitoring system 900. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a remote monitoring method of the remote monitoring system 900. 10 is a flowchart showing a remote monitoring method of the remote monitoring system 100 according to the second embodiment. The flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the child machine in Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a remote monitoring method of remote monitoring system 100 according to the third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of a parent machine in the third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing a remote monitoring method of remote monitoring system 100 according to the fourth embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of a parent machine in the fourth embodiment. The sequence diagram which shows the flow of communication with the monitoring center 110 in Embodiment 4, a parent machine, and the child machine of collection object.

Explanation of symbols

  100 remote monitoring system, 101 telephone line, 102 building, 103 signal line, 104 elevator system, 105, 105b, 105n elevator apparatus, 110 monitoring center, 111 communication equipment, 112 centralized monitoring apparatus, 120, 120a, 120b, 120n, 120x 121, 121a, 121b, 121n switch circuit, 122, 122a, 122b, 122n modem, 123, 123a, 123b, 123n inter-device transmission circuit, 124, 124a, 124b, 124n control unit, 125, 125a, 125b, 125n NCU, 191 Target unit ID, 192 Line connection request, 193 Collected information, 900 Remote monitoring system.

Claims (5)

A plurality of communication devices that share one telephone line and are connected to each other via a signal line;
An information collection device that collects specific information from at least one of the plurality of communication devices via the telephone line;
A communication device that is connected to the telephone line as a parent communication device, establishes a call with the information collecting device via the connected telephone line, and collects the specific information. A notification indicating the device as a target device is received from the information collection device using the call, and the target device notified from the information collection device is requested to connect to the telephone line via the signal line, and the telephone Disconnect the line
The communication device requested to connect to the telephone line from the parent communication device connects to the telephone line as a target device, establishes a call with the information collecting device via the connected telephone line, and has a self The information collection system, wherein the specific information is transmitted to the information collection device using the call. The information collecting device notifies the target device of the next target device, releases the call with the target device, establishes a call with the next target device via the telephone line, and establishes the call The specific information is received from the next target device using
The target device disconnects the telephone line after transmitting the specific information, and requests the next target device to connect to the telephone line via the signal line,
The communication device requested to connect to the telephone line from the target device connects to the telephone line as the next target device, establishes a call with the information collecting device via the connected telephone line, and The information collection system according to claim 1, wherein the specific information included in is transmitted to the information collection device using the call. The information collection device notifies the parent communication device of a plurality of target devices;
The parent communication device selects target devices one by one from a plurality of target devices notified from the information collection device, requests the selected target device to connect to the telephone line, and the selected target device receives the information 2. The information collection system according to claim 1, wherein after the specific information is transmitted to the collection device, the next selected target device is requested to connect to the telephone line. The information collection device designates a time zone for requesting the specific information as a collection time, notifies the target communication device to the parent communication device, and calls the target device via the telephone line at the collection time. Establish and receive the specific information from the target device using the established call;
The parent communication device disconnects the telephone line at least at the collection time;
The target apparatus is connected to the telephone line at least at the collection time, establishes a call with the information collecting apparatus via the connected telephone line, and uses the call to acquire the specific information possessed by the target apparatus. The information collection system according to claim 1, wherein the information collection system transmits the information to a collection device. A plurality of communication devices that share one telephone line and are connected to each other via a signal line;
An information collection method for an information collection system comprising: an information collection device for collecting specific information from at least one of the plurality of communication devices via the telephone line;
A communication device of any of the plurality of communication devices is connected to the telephone line as a parent communication device, and a communication device other than the parent communication device disconnects the telephone line as a child communication device,
The information collection device establishes a call with the parent communication device via the telephone line, notifies the parent communication device of the child communication device that transmits the specific information to the parent communication device using the call, and Release the call with
The parent communication device requests the child communication device notified from the information collecting device to connect to the telephone line via the signal line, disconnects the telephone line,
The child communication device requested to connect to the telephone line from the parent communication device is connected to the telephone line as a target device from which the specific information is collected by the information collecting device,
The information collection device establishes a call with the target device via the telephone line, communicates with the target device using the established call, and transmits the specific information from the target device through communication with the target device. The information collection method of the information collection system characterized by acquiring.

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