JP2010007947A - Equipment control monitoring device and equipment control monitoring program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an equipment control monitoring device suppressing communication waiting time. <P>SOLUTION: An air conditioning control monitoring device 1 is connected to a plurality of air conditioners 5 via an auxiliary master unit 3. An air conditioner control part 10 receives issuance of an operation instruction from an upper input/output device 7 and a building centralized administration device 9, and generates and outputs an instruction for operating the operating condition of the air conditioners 5 such as operation/stop to an air conditioner operation information table 17. A communication control part 11 edits operation information of the air conditioner operation information table 17 and writes out the operation information to a communication content control table of a communication control table 18. The communication control part 11 controls use conditions of communication ports 12, 13 by using a port control table of the communication control table 18, and transmits communication information sequentially from the available communication ports. The communication control part 11 updates the operating condition of the air conditioners 5 within a condition monitoring table 16 based on the communication result, and an output part 14 outputs the information on the operating condition to an output device 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an equipment control monitoring apparatus and equipment control monitoring program for centrally managing a plurality of equipment such as air conditioners.

  Conventionally, for example, a communication processing method disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been proposed as a communication processing method for signals transmitted and received between a plurality of facility devices and a host monitoring device that monitors and controls the operations of the plurality of facility devices. . In this communication processing method, a unique address number is assigned to each air conditioner that is a facility device or each sub-master unit that manages communication by connecting a plurality of air conditioners to the lower level, and the host monitoring device has an address number. While polling in ascending order, communication was made to all connected air conditioners or sub-master units.

Japanese Patent No. 3815103

Since the communication processing method of the conventional air conditioner is configured as described above, when communication to a certain air conditioner fails, communication is repeated in order to attempt communication recovery. For this reason, communication from an air conditioner (or sub-master unit) that has failed communication to an air conditioner having a subsequent address number is delayed by a time for determining a communication failure, a time for retrying communication, and a time for receiving a communication result. Therefore, a waiting time occurs in the subsequent air conditioner. As a result, the time taken to complete communication to all air conditioners is longer by the sum of the time to determine communication failure, the time to retry communication, and the time to receive communication results. There was a problem that simultaneity was impaired.
Also, if communication is not repeated, temporary communication failure cannot be remedied, and the host monitoring device may determine that an air conditioner equipment error has occurred despite the temporary communication failure. There was sex.

  In addition, when the number of air-conditioners to be communicated is greater than the number of communication ports and multiple air-conditioners are set for one communication port, even if there is a communication port that completed communication earlier than the other communication ports, There was a problem that the communication port could not be used effectively for communication with air conditioners other than the setting.

  In addition, while the host monitoring device is communicating low-priority commands such as wind direction adjustment or operation status confirmation to the air conditioners, high-priority operation commands such as fire alarm stop commands for all air-conditioners When this occurs, communication with a high priority operation command could not be performed until the communication with low priority currently being completed. Furthermore, since the priority setting conditions may vary depending on the environment where the air conditioner is installed and the building management method, it is necessary to change the communication program that performs communication processing according to the installation location. Was expensive.

  In addition, when communication with the air conditioner fails and communication is repeated in anticipation of communication recovery, there are those that do not need to be repeated depending on the communication content, and those that need to be repeated several times. is there. Furthermore, since the setting conditions for the number of repetitions differ depending on the environment where the air conditioner is installed and the building management method, it is necessary to change the communication program for communication processing according to the installation location, which is expensive. It was.

  When the host monitoring device monitors the operating status of the air conditioner, depending on the environment in which the air conditioner and secondary master unit are installed and the building management method, the communication interval required for air conditioner monitoring and the communication that can be realized The interval is different. Therefore, conventionally, it has been necessary to change a communication program for performing communication processing in accordance with the installation location of the air conditioning system, which has been expensive.

  In addition, when the host monitoring device operates the operating state of the air conditioner via the secondary master unit, it takes time from when the operation to the air conditioner is input until when the state change of the air conditioner is actually completed, The operation command is not reflected on the air conditioner immediately after the operation command is transmitted. For example, the time required for the communication of the operation command from the secondary master unit to the air conditioner is within 5 seconds when the operation start is commanded, and within 10 seconds when the change of the set temperature is commanded. The time to transmit the command to may differ. Furthermore, when the host monitoring device periodically transmits the air conditioner status monitoring command, even if the air conditioner changes state, the confirmation by the host monitoring device depends on the transmission timing of the periodic status monitoring command. For this reason, the host monitoring device has a problem that recognition of the state change of the air conditioner is delayed. In this way, when the time difference between the communication of the operation command in the host monitoring device and the recognition of the state change is large, the host monitoring device considers that the operation command is not recognized by the air conditioner, and communicates the operation command in duplicate. As a result, useless communication may occur.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and when the host monitoring apparatus performs state monitoring and operation of equipment such as an air conditioner by communication, A first object is to obtain an equipment control monitoring apparatus that performs an operation.

  In addition, the present invention repeats a certain number of times of communication and repeats a certain number of times in the hope of communication recovery before judging that the communication of the equipment is abnormal when communication between the host monitoring device and any equipment is temporarily failed. A second object is to obtain a facility equipment control monitoring apparatus that can suppress the waiting time due to the above and can ensure the simultaneity of a plurality of equipment control and monitoring.

  A third object of the present invention is to obtain a facility device control monitoring apparatus capable of freely setting the communication priority, the communication interval, and the number of communication repetitions at the time of communication failure according to the contents of the command. To do.

  In addition, the present invention absorbs the difference between the timing of communication and the timing of the operation state transition of the equipment recognized by the sub-master, and can prevent erroneous detection of equipment operation in the host monitoring device. A fourth object is to obtain a device.

  The equipment control monitoring apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of logical communication ports for communication, a port management table storing information indicating a communication state for each communication port, and communication information for controlling the equipment. Each time the communication information stored in the communication content management table and the communication information stored in the communication content management table are transmitted, the communication port is selected with reference to the port management table, and the communication information is obtained from the communication port. And a communication control unit for transmission.

  According to the present invention, each time communication information is transmitted, a communication port that is not performing communication is selected and transmitted by referring to a port management table that stores information indicating communication states of a plurality of communication ports. Since communication is performed with respect to a plurality of equipment devices or sub-master units while sequentially assigning vacant communication ports among the plurality of communication ports, the time for waiting for communication can be suppressed.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an air conditioning control monitoring apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a physical configuration of the air conditioning system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
The air conditioning control monitoring device (facility equipment control monitoring device) 1 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. The secondary master unit 3 is connected to a plurality of air conditioners 5 by communication lines 4. The secondary master unit 3 has a secondary master unit address that is a unique identification number, and the air conditioner 5 has an air conditioning unit address that is a unique identification number. Here, an air conditioner 5 will be described as an example of equipment installed in a building or the like.
Further, the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 may be connected to the output device 6 and the input / output device 7, and may further be connected to the building central management device 9 through the communication line 8. The output device 6 has a monitor screen and the like, and displays a screen for the user. The input / output device 7 has a monitor screen or the like having a touch panel function, receives input from the user, and displays the screen to the user.

The secondary master unit 3 connects the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 to the upper level and connects a plurality of air conditioning units 5 to the lower level, and transmits the communication information transmitted from the air conditioning control monitoring unit 1 to the designated air conditioning unit 5. Send. Further, the information output from the lower air conditioner 5 is transmitted to the upper air conditioning control monitoring device 1.
The building central management device 9 is a host monitoring device that centrally manages buildings such as buildings where air conditioning systems are installed. For example, when a fire is detected, an emergency fire report stop operation is performed on equipment in the building. Output instructions.

In FIG. 1, an air conditioning control monitoring device 1 manages an air conditioner control unit 10 that generates an instruction for operating an operating state such as operation / stop of an air conditioner 5 and a change of an operation mode, and a communication port. A communication control unit 11 that controls communication with the air conditioner 5 via the master unit 3, a plurality of logical communication ports 12 and 13, and an output unit that outputs the status of the sub master unit 3 and the air conditioner 5 to the output device 6. 14. In addition, the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 includes a table storage unit 15 in which the air conditioner control unit 10, the communication control unit 11, the output unit 14, and the communication condition setting unit 21 write and read and store necessary information. .
Details of the communication condition setting unit 21, the communication condition table 22, and the setting input device 23 in FIG. 1 will be described in the embodiment described later.

The table storage unit 15 is a storage area for storing the state monitoring table 16, the air conditioner operation information table 17, and the communication management table 18. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a table storage unit of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
The state monitoring table 16 in the table storage unit 15 is a table that stores the states of the sub-master unit 3 and the air conditioner 5. For example, the operation / stop state of each air conditioner 5 as shown in FIG. The operation state and communication state such as set temperature, operation mode and air volume, and the communication state of each sub-master unit 3 are stored.

  The air conditioner operation information table 17 is a table for storing operation information for the air conditioner 5 as shown in FIG. 3B, for example. The operation information includes a sub master unit address and an air conditioner address for identifying a transmission destination, a communication type code in which operation instructions are classified according to contents, communication contents indicating the contents of operation instructions, and the like.

The communication management table 18 is a table that stores information related to management of communication ports 12 and 13 and management of communication information transmitted to the air conditioner 5. In the communication management table 18, for example, a port management table 18a as shown in FIG. 3C and a communication content management table 18b as shown in FIG. 3D are stored.
The port management table 18 a is a table for managing the usage status of the communication ports 12 and 13. The communication ports 12 and 13 include a port number for identifying the communication port. Are assigned to the air conditioning control monitoring device 1. Manages the communication ports 12 and 13. Here, the port No. 1 to the communication port 13, the port No. 2 is assigned.

The communication content management table 18b is a table for managing the operation information stored in the air conditioner operation information table 17. In the communication content management table 18b, the communication content that is the communication content of the air conditioner operation information table 17, the transmission address that specifies the transmission destination, and the maximum retransmission that is the maximum number of communication repetitions that are expected to be restored when communication fails. Management information such as the number of times and the actual number of retransmissions is stored.
The order of the communication information stored in the communication content management table 18b is the time order written from the air conditioner operation information table 17 to the communication content management table 18b, and the communication control unit 11 transmits the communication information in that order. . However, when a communication priority or the like is set in advance in the operation information output by the air conditioner control unit 10, the communication control unit 11 transmits the communication information in an order according to the priority or the like.

The air conditioner control unit 10 receives an operation instruction for the air conditioner 5 output from the building centralized management device 9 or an operation instruction for the air conditioner 5 input by the user operating the input / output device 7, and the designated air conditioner 5 generates operation information such as operation / stop, operation mode change, set temperature change, wind direction change, and the like. The generated operation information is written into the air conditioner operation information table 17 by the air conditioner control unit 10.
In the present embodiment, the maximum number of retransmissions, which is the maximum number of communication repetitions expected to be restored when communication fails, and the transmission order of the operation information are preset by the air conditioner control unit 10 and the air conditioner operation It is assumed that it is included in the operation information of the information table 17 (not shown). Further, the air conditioner control unit 10 refers to the state monitoring table 16 and outputs the states of the air conditioner 5 and the sub master unit 3 to the input / output device 7. The input / output device 7 displays the states of the air conditioner 5 and the sub master unit 3 on the screen.

The communication control unit 11 controls the communication ports 12 and 13 to communicate with the air conditioner 5 via the secondary master unit 3. Note that the communication control unit 11 performs reception and transmission as independent processes, and when a reception interrupt occurs from the secondary master unit 3 during transmission, the received information is analyzed to notify, for example, the operating state of the air conditioner 5 If so, the state monitoring table 16 is updated.
The communication control unit 11 monitors the usage status of the communication ports 12 and 13 and updates the port management table 18 a in the communication management table 18. When the operation information is written in the air conditioner operation information table 17, the operation information is read out in the order in which the communication control unit 11 is written, and is edited and written in a format that matches the data format of the communication content management table 18b. Then, the communication control unit 11 transmits the communication information of the communication content management table 18b by selecting a free communication port from the port management table 18a.
Note that the communication control unit 11 stores the reference position in a predetermined storage area in order to distinguish between information that has been communicated and information to be communicated from among the operation information in the air conditioner operation information table 17. I do.

  The output unit 14 refers to the state monitoring table 16 and outputs the states of the air conditioner 5 and the sub master unit 3 to the output device 6. The output device 6 displays the states of the air conditioner 5 and the sub master unit 3 on the screen.

  Next, operation | movement of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus 1 at the time of transmission is demonstrated. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a transmission operation of the air conditioning control monitoring apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. A case where a plurality of pieces of communication information exist in the communication content management table 18b in the communication management table 18 will be described as an example. First, in step ST1, the communication control unit 11 other than the communication information for the air conditioner 5 in which the communication abnormality or the like has occurred in the state monitoring table 16 among the communication information waiting for communication in the communication content management table 18b. Valid communication information is extracted, and communication information with the highest priority is selected in the subsequent step ST2.

Subsequently, in step ST3, the communication control unit 11 assembles communication information having the highest priority into a data format corresponding to the air conditioner 5, and in step ST4, No. Check if 1 communication port is available.
No. If one communication port is not available, the communication control unit 11 increments the port number (step ST5), confirms that the port number does not exceed the total number of communication ports (step ST6 “Yes”), and again. In step ST4, no. 2 Check the usage status of the communication port.
On the other hand, when the port number has gone round and the port number has exceeded the total number of communication ports (step ST6 “No”), the communication control unit 11 sets the port number to No. Returning to 1 (step ST7), an empty communication port is searched again (step ST4).

When the communication control unit 11 secures an empty communication port, the communication control unit 11 sets the empty communication port as a communication port for transmitting communication information with the highest priority (step ST8), and sets the state of the corresponding communication port in the port management table 18a. The communication state is updated (step ST9).
Next, the communication control unit 11 transmits communication information from the communication port set in step ST8 (step ST10). After transmission, the communication control unit 11 confirms that the communication is normally completed, and sets the corresponding communication port in the port management table 18a. The vacant state is updated (step ST11). When it is confirmed that the communication has been completed normally (step ST11 “Yes”), the communication information transmitted by the communication control unit 11 is deleted from the communication content management table 18b (step ST12).

On the other hand, when an abnormality occurs in communication with the sub-master unit 3 or the air conditioner 5 and communication fails (step ST11 “No”), the communication control unit 11 determines the number of retransmissions and the maximum number of retransmissions in the communication content management table 18b. To confirm that the number of retransmissions does not exceed the maximum number of retransmissions (step ST13).
If the communication information of the communication failure satisfies the retransmission continuation condition (step ST13 “Yes”), the communication control unit 11 increments the number of retransmissions of this communication information (step ST14).

  If the communication information of the communication failure does not satisfy the retransmission continuation condition (step ST13 “No”), the communication control unit 11 sets the communication status of the air conditioner 5 designated as the transmission destination of the status monitoring table 16 to “communication error”. Is updated to information indicating "(step ST15). Next, the communication control unit 11 stores the operation information stored in the air conditioner operation information table 17 as a communication process (step ST16).

  Next, the operation of the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 at the time of reception will be described. Although the communication ports 12 and 13 shown in FIG. 1 are transmission communication ports, the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus 1 includes a reception communication port (not shown) separately from the transmission communication port. The same port number is set for the transmission and reception communication ports and they are handled as a pair. The response to the communication information transmitted through the transmission communication port 1 is No. 1. 1 is received at the receiving communication port.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the reception operation of the air conditioning control monitoring apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The communication control unit 11 analyzes the information received in step ST21, and determines in step ST22 whether the received information is a target for updating the state monitoring table 16.
If the received information is to be updated (step ST22 “Yes”), the communication control unit 11 updates the state monitoring table 16 in the subsequent step ST23.
In the first embodiment, when the subordinate master unit 3 and the air conditioner 5 return response information to the communication information transmitted by the air conditioning control monitoring device 1, the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 communicates at the time of transmission. The response information is received by the reception communication port paired with the port to be received information. On the other hand, when communication information is generated in the secondary master unit 3 or the air conditioner 5, when the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 returns response information to the secondary master unit 3 or the air conditioner 5, it is paired with the communication port at the time of reception. Response information may be transmitted through the communication port for transmission. The usage status of the communication port for reception may be managed using a port management table as in the case of transmission.

  As described above, in the communication method of the air conditioning control monitoring device 1, from which communication port to which air conditioner address or sub master unit address is communicated, the address of the air conditioner 5 or sub master unit 3 is the communication port 12, 13 Is not pre-assigned to Since the air-conditioning control and monitoring device 1 refers to the port management table every time communication is performed and transmits from the available communication port, the communication information addressed to the air conditioner 5 and the sub-master unit 3 is FIFO (First In, First Out). Can be communicated without losing the regularity of the system and can be performed efficiently.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a communication example of the air conditioning control monitoring apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 6A is a specific example when communication between the air conditioning control monitoring device and the plurality of air conditioners is normally performed, and FIG. 6B is a specific example when communication failure occurs. The secondary master units 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, and 3e shown in FIG. 6 correspond to the secondary master unit 3 shown in FIGS. In order to simplify the explanation, T1 to T5 and T11 to T18 having the same time width are used on the assumption that the response time for communication performed between each sub-master and a plurality of lower air conditioners is constant. This is not shown for the individual communication between the sub-master and the air conditioner.

  6 (a) and 6 (b), the air conditioning control monitoring device communicates with a plurality of secondary master units 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e to control or monitor the air conditioners. It is assumed that the highest priority is set for the communication information addressed to the secondary master unit 3a, and the lowest priority is set in the order of the secondary master units 3b, 3c, 3d, and 3e. Further, it is assumed that communication information waiting for retransmission due to communication failure has lower priority than communication information waiting for the first communication.

6A, first, the communication control unit 11 transmits communication information to the secondary master unit 3a via the communication port 12 having a smaller port number among the available communication ports 12 and 13. During this communication, the communication control unit 11 keeps the communication port 12 in the port management table of the table storage unit 15 in use. Next, the communication control unit 11 reads out information indicating that the communication port 12 is in use and the communication port 13 is vacant from the port management table, and communicates with the secondary master unit 3 b via the vacant communication port 13.
The communication control unit 11 updates the communication port 12 in the port management table to an empty state when the communication response to the previous secondary master unit 3a is completed and the communication port 12 is free after T1 elapses. Then, the communication control unit 11 communicates with the secondary master unit 3c via the communication port 12 based on the updated information in the port management table. Further, the communication control unit 11 deletes the communication information addressed to the secondary master unit 3a from the communication content management table.
Communication to the next secondary master unit 3d is performed via the communication port 13 that becomes empty after the elapse of T4, and communication to the secondary master unit 3e is performed via the communication port 12 that becomes empty after the elapse of T2. Is called.

  As described above, the air conditioning control monitoring apparatus sequentially selects the available communication ports and performs communication with all the sub-master units. In FIG. 6, the response times T1 to T5 and T11 to T18 for communication are set to the same time width. However, even if the response times are different for each sub-master unit, the available communication ports are sequentially selected, Communication is possible with all sub-master units. Since the air conditioning control monitoring device manages the use status of the communication ports 12 and 13 by the communication management table 18 and has a plurality of communication ports, even if the occupation time of a certain communication port becomes long, the next communication information is transmitted. It can be freely assigned to another communication port that can be used in time. For this reason, the influence of increasing the time required for completing the initial communication with respect to all the secondary master units can be reduced.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, even when communication with a certain air conditioner fails and the communication control unit 11 repeats the communication that is expected to be restored a predetermined number of times, the secondary master unit 3e having the lowest priority is used. On the other hand, the timing at which the first communication is completed (when T3 has elapsed) is the same as the timing at which communication with the secondary master unit 3e shown in FIG. 6A is completed (when T13 has elapsed).

6B, first, the communication control unit 11 communicates with the secondary master unit 3a via the communication port 12, as in the case of FIG. 6A. Subsequently, the communication control unit 11 communicates with the secondary master unit 3 b via the other communication port 13. When the response time T11 of communication between the secondary master unit 3a and the air conditioner has elapsed and the response is returned from the secondary master unit 3a to the air conditioning control monitoring device, the communication control unit 11 determines that the communication to the secondary master unit 3a has failed. .
Based on the response result, the communication control unit 11 decides to repeat the communication in anticipation of recovery, and updates the number of retransmissions to identify the repeated communication in the communication content management table. To do.
On the other hand, when the communication control unit 11 completes communication with the secondary master unit 3b, the communication control unit 11 deletes the communication information addressed to the secondary master unit 3b from the port management table.

Communication with the sub-master unit 3c is performed via the communication port 12 that has ended communication with the sub-master unit 3a and becomes an empty communication port, and then communication with the sub-master unit 3b is completed, Communication with the secondary master unit 3d is performed via the communication port 13 which has become an empty communication port with a delay of a difference time between T15 and T11. After the elapse of T12, the communication control unit 11 determines that the communication with the secondary master unit 3c has failed, and updates the number of retransmissions of the communication information addressed to the secondary master unit 3c.
Further, the communication control unit 11 determines that the communication with the secondary master unit 3d has failed after the elapse of T16, and updates the number of retransmissions for the communication information addressed to the secondary master unit 3d.

After T <b> 16 elapses, the communication control unit 11 communicates with the secondary master unit 3 e through the empty communication port 12. Here, all of the scheduled communication to the secondary master units 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, and 3e is completed, and communication information waiting for retransmission to the secondary master units 3a, 3c, and 3d remains in the communication management table. Yes. The communication control unit 11 performs communication in the order of the set priorities, expecting recovery to the secondary master units 3a, 3c, and 3d that have failed in communication.
First, the communication control unit 11 transmits the communication information addressed to the secondary master device 3a having the highest priority via the communication port 13 that becomes empty after the elapse of T16. Subsequently, the communication control unit 11 performs communication with the secondary master unit 3c via the communication port 12 that becomes empty after the elapse of T13. Finally, the communication control unit 11 performs communication with the secondary master unit 3d via the communication port 12 that becomes empty after the elapse of T17.

That is, the communication control unit 11 communicates with all the air conditioners regardless of the success of the communication for each sub-master unit via the sub-master unit, and then communicates with the sub-master units 3a, 3c, 3d that have failed to communicate. On the other hand, retransmissions are sequentially performed with the expectation of communication recovery. At this time, the communication information includes information on the number of retransmissions, but the communication timing and communication method do not change.
On the other hand, conventionally, communication is performed while polling is performed in the order of transmission destination addresses on the assumption that communication is expected to be restored when communication fails. In the case of this configuration, for example, when communication information addressed to the secondary master unit 3a fails, retransmission that is expected to be restored is performed to the secondary master unit 3a. Even if the communication to the secondary master unit 3a is successful by the retransmission, the first communication timing to the last secondary master unit 3e is delayed by the time required for the retransmission. For this reason, there is a difference in the time it takes for the communication to all secondary master units to complete the initial communication after the communication to all secondary master units succeeds at once and when retransmission due to communication failure occurs. Will occur and the simultaneity of control will be impaired.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, a plurality of logical communications for communicating with the air conditioner 5 via the plurality of secondary master units 3 that collectively manage the plurality of air conditioners 5 as one group. Ports 12, 13; port management table 18a for managing the usage status of each communication port 12, 13; communication content management table 18b for storing communication information indicating an operation or monitoring command for the air conditioner 5; and communication content management Each time the communication information in the table 18b is transmitted, the communication control unit 11 is configured to select and transmit a communication port that is not performing communication with reference to the port management table 18a.
Therefore, when the air-conditioning control monitoring device monitors and operates the status of the air-conditioner for multiple sub-master units by communication, an idle communication port is selected and communicated each time communication is performed, so the waiting time for communication is suppressed. This makes it possible to monitor and operate the air conditioner efficiently.
In addition, when communication between the air conditioning control monitoring device and the air conditioner fails temporarily, the communication is repeated a certain number of times with the expectation of communication recovery before judging that the air conditioner communication is abnormal, and the waiting time due to retransmission is reduced. It is possible to suppress and ensure the simultaneity of the control of a plurality of air conditioners.

  Further, even when the time required for communication differs for each sub-master device, there is no significant difference from the case where the time required for communication is constant regardless of the sub-master device, and efficient communication can be expected. Even when operating instructions that require simultaneity and certainty to the air conditioner, such as an emergency fire report stoppage, minimize waste of time related to communication, and when temporary communication fails By repeating communication, it is possible to realize communication failure relief.

  In addition, when there is untransmitted communication information for a sub-master that is different from the sub-master that has failed in communication, the air conditioning control monitoring device does not continuously retransmit to that sub-master when communication fails, After the untransmitted communication information is transmitted to another sub-master device, it is retransmitted to the sub-master device that failed to communicate. Therefore, the time from the communication failure time to the next retransmission can be used as a recovery time for recovery, and the air conditioning control monitoring device can be prevented from erroneously detecting a temporary communication failure as a communication abnormality.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the said Embodiment 1, it was set as the structure which communicates sequentially according to the order which the air conditioner control part 10 set, without providing the difference of the emergency according to the content of communication information. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 includes a priority table in which importance levels are set according to the contents of communication information, and the communication control unit 11 is set in the priority table. Communication information is communicated in a weighted order according to the degree.

  In the present embodiment, the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 is connected to the setting input device 23 as shown in FIG. In addition to the configuration of the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 of the first embodiment, the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 receives a communication condition such as a priority according to the content of the operation instruction from the setting input device 23, and a communication condition table 22 includes a communication condition setting unit 21 for writing to the network 22. In addition, the table storage unit 15 stores a communication condition table 22 that stores priority information according to the contents of the operation instruction. The setting input device 23 has a monitor screen having a touch panel function, etc., and accepts an input by a user operation and displays a screen to the user.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing an example of a communication condition table of the air conditioning control monitoring apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The communication condition table 22 is a table that stores a communication type management table 22a as shown in FIG. 7, for example. The communication type code in the communication type management table 22a is a number for identifying the communication type as an operation instruction, and a priority is assigned to each communication type code. This communication type code is common to the operation information output by the air conditioner control unit 10 shown in FIG. 3B and the management information of the communication content management table 18b shown in FIG.

The communication condition setting unit 21 receives communication priority information corresponding to the communication type code set by the user by operating the setting input device 23, and writes it in the communication type management table 22 a in the communication condition table 22.
The communication control unit 11 transmits the communication information stored in the communication content management table 18b in the order corresponding to the communication conditions regarding the priority stored in the communication type management table 22a. In the first embodiment, the transmission order of the communication information is set in advance by the air conditioner control unit 10 or the like, but in the present embodiment, the communication control is performed according to the priority stored in the communication type management table 22a. The unit 11 determines the transmission order.

Next, operation | movement of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus 1 at the time of transmission is demonstrated using FIG. In step ST1 shown in FIG. 4, the communication control unit 11 is communication information for the air conditioner 5 in which a communication abnormality or the like occurs in the state monitoring table 16 among communication information waiting in communication in the communication content management table 18b. Extract valid communication information other than.
In subsequent step ST2, the communication control unit 11 refers to the communication type code included in the management information of the communication content management table 18b and the priority according to the communication type code of the communication type management table 22a, and manages the communication content. The highest priority communication information in the table 18b is selected. The processing after step ST3 is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  For example, when it is planned to communicate communication information with low priority first in time series, such as the order in which the communication information is written in the port management table 18a, the importance of simultaneous emergency stop is high, that is, When communication information having a high communication priority is stored in the port management table 18a, the communication control unit 11 changes the communication order according to the priority setting of the communication type management table 22a, and the communication priority becomes the highest priority. Emergency stop communication information can be transmitted.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the communication type management table 22a of the communication condition table 22 stores information indicating the importance for each content of the communication information, and the communication control unit 11 transmits the communication content management table 18b. Are transmitted in the descending order of importance stored in the communication type management table 22a. Therefore, it becomes possible to freely set the communication priority according to the contents of the operation command.
In addition, since the communication control unit 11 performs communication while determining the priority order according to the contents of the operation command, it can immediately respond to the operation command with a high priority.

  Further, the high priority operation command differs depending on the building and environment where the air conditioning system is installed, but the user uses the setting input device 23 which is an external device, and the priority is given at the site where the air conditioning system is installed. Can be set. Therefore, it is possible to realize a reduction in cost for changing the communication condition for each air conditioning system.

  In the second embodiment, the setting input device 23 is used to set the communication condition in the communication condition setting unit 21. However, the input / output device 7 is air-conditioned without using the setting input device 23. It may be configured to be connected to the machine control unit 10 and the communication condition setting unit 21.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the said Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, it was set as the structure which the communication control part 11 performs communication by a predetermined space | interval, without providing the difference of the communication space | interval according to the content of communication information. On the other hand, in this embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the air conditioning control monitoring apparatus 1 of the second embodiment, a management table for each priority type in which a communication interval is set for each content of communication information is further provided. The control unit 11 is configured to transmit communication information at a set communication interval.

The air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has the same configuration as the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus 1 of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and FIG. Moreover, FIG. 8 is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the communication condition table of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus based on Embodiment 3 of this invention.
The communication condition table 22 of the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 stores a priority type management table 22b as shown in FIG. 8, for example, in addition to the communication type management table 22a shown in FIG. In the priority type management table 22b, a communication interval and a communication interval at the time of retransmission are assigned for each priority. Here, the communication interval is the minimum time until the next communication information is transmitted after the communication information is transmitted. Also, the communication interval at the time of retransmission is the minimum time from the previous transmission to the next retransmission of communication information for which communication has failed.

The communication condition setting unit 21 receives information on a communication interval corresponding to the priority set by the user by operating the setting input device 23 and writes the information in the priority type management table 22 b in the communication condition table 22. Since the priority of the priority type management table 22b is the same as the priority of the communication type management table 22a, the communication interval and the communication interval at the time of retransmission are substantially set for each content of communication information. Will be.
The communication control unit 11 selects and transmits the communication information satisfying the communication interval condition set in the priority type management table 22b from the communication information stored in the communication content management table 18b of FIG. . For example, when transmitting communication information in which a communication interval of 20 seconds is set, the communication control unit 11 is waiting in the communication content management table 18b until at least 20 seconds have elapsed after transmitting this communication information. Even if communication information exists, communication is not performed. The communication control unit 11 may perform time measurement and management such as a communication interval for each communication information.

  In addition, for communication repetitions that are expected to be restored when communication fails, for example, by setting the communication interval at the time of retransmission to 30 seconds, the communication information is retransmitted to the transmission address for 30 seconds after the communication failure. Absent. The communication control unit 11 preferentially transmits other communication information that satisfies the communication conditions of the communication content management table 18b for 30 seconds.

Next, operation | movement of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus 1 at the time of transmission is demonstrated using FIG. In step ST1 shown in FIG. 4, the communication control unit 11 is communication information for the air conditioner 5 in which a communication abnormality or the like occurs in the state monitoring table 16 among communication information waiting in communication in the communication content management table 18b. Extract valid communication information other than.
In subsequent step ST2, the communication control unit 11 refers to the communication type code included in the management information of the communication content management table 18b and the priority of the communication type management table 22a, and selects the communication information with the highest priority. . At that time, the communication control unit 11 further determines whether the communication condition regarding the communication interval in the priority type management table 22b is satisfied, and selects communication information satisfying the communication condition. The processing after step ST3 is the same as that in the first embodiment.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the priority type management table 22b of the communication condition table 22 stores information indicating the communication interval according to the importance, and the communication control unit 11 transmits the communication content management table 18b. The communication information is transmitted at a communication interval corresponding to the importance for each content of the communication information. Therefore, it is possible to freely set the communication interval and the number of communication intervals at the time of retransmission according to the contents of the operation command.
Further, since the communication interval is determined according to the contents of the operation command, it is possible to realize finer air conditioning system control by combining with the priority set for each content of the operation command.

  Further, although the communication interval varies depending on the building and environment where the air conditioning system is installed, the user sets information on the communication interval at the site where the air conditioning system is installed using the setting input device 23 which is an external device. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to realize a reduction in cost for changing the communication condition for each air conditioning system.

In the third embodiment, the case where the third embodiment is applied to the configuration shown in the second embodiment is shown. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the configuration shown in the first embodiment is used. On the other hand, a configuration to which the third embodiment is applied may be used.
In that case, a communication interval is not set for each priority, but for example, a communication interval is set for each communication type code and each communication content. When the communication control unit 11 selects communication information from the communication content management table 18b, the communication control unit 11 may determine whether the communication information satisfies a communication condition regarding a communication interval.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
In the first to third embodiments, the same maximum number of retransmissions is set in advance for all operation instructions for communication repetitions expected to be restored when communication fails, and the communication control unit 11 performs retransmission within the maximum number of transmissions. Configured to do. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the communication condition table 22 of the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 includes a priority type management table in which different maximum retransmission counts are set according to the contents of the communication information, and the communication control unit 11 Is configured to retransmit communication information within the maximum number of retransmissions set in the priority type management table.

The air conditioning control monitoring apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has the same configuration as the air conditioning control monitoring apparatus 1 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. This will be described with reference to FIG. Moreover, FIG. 9 is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the communication condition table of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus based on Embodiment 4 of this invention.
The communication condition table 22 of the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 stores, for example, a priority type management table 22c as shown in FIG. 9 in addition to the communication type management table 22a shown in FIG. In the priority type management table 22c, in addition to the communication interval for each priority and the communication interval for retransmission, the maximum number of retransmissions for each priority is given.

The communication condition setting unit 21 receives information on the maximum number of retransmissions corresponding to the priority set by the user by operating the setting input device 23 and writes it in the priority type management table 22 c in the communication condition table 22.
When the communication control unit 11 selects communication information satisfying the communication condition from the communication information stored in the communication content management table 18b, the maximum number of retransmissions set in the priority type management table 22c and the number of retransmissions shown in FIG. The number of retransmissions in the communication content management table 18b is checked to confirm that the number of retransmissions is within the maximum number of retransmissions. The management information in the communication content management table 18b includes a certain maximum number of retransmissions preset by the air conditioner control unit 10, but in this embodiment, the communication control unit 11 replaces the maximum number of retransmissions. The maximum number of retransmissions in the priority type management table 22c is used.

  The communication control unit 11 retransmits communication information whose number of retransmissions in the communication content management table 18b is within the maximum number of retransmissions in the priority type management table 22c, but for communication information whose number of retransmissions exceeds the maximum number of retransmissions, It is determined that a communication abnormality has occurred in the addressed air conditioner or secondary master unit, and the communication state in the state monitoring table 16 is updated to “communication abnormality”. In addition, the communication control unit 11 cancels the communication standby state by, for example, saving the communication information determined to be abnormal in communication from the communication content management table 18b.

  Next, operation | movement of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus 1 at the time of transmission is demonstrated using FIG. If communication of communication information fails in step 10 shown in FIG. 4 (step ST10 “No”), in step ST12, the communication control unit 11 determines the number of retransmissions in the communication content management table 18b and the maximum in the priority type management table 22c. Check the number of retransmissions and confirm that the number of retransmissions does not exceed the maximum number of retransmissions. Treatments other than step ST12 are the same as those in the third embodiment.

  For example, for communication information with low importance of the operation instruction contents for monitoring the air conditioner operation state, the user sets the communication interval to “15 seconds” and sets the maximum number of retransmissions to “0”, so that the communication control unit 11 determines a communication error in the next communication. Further, for example, for communication information with high importance of simultaneous emergency stop, when the user sets the maximum number of retransmissions to “5”, the communication control unit 11 can remedy a temporary communication failure. In this way, by setting the maximum number of retransmissions for each operation instruction, communication traffic is reduced by eliminating the repetition of communication with low importance, while many retransmission processes are performed for communication with high importance. You can go and increase your chances of relief.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the priority type management table 22c of the communication condition table 22 stores information indicating the maximum number of retransmissions for each content of communication information, and the communication control unit 11 determines the communication condition. The communication information when data transmission fails is retransmitted with the number of retransmissions stored in the table as the upper limit. Therefore, it is possible to freely set the maximum number of retransmissions, which is the number of communication repetitions when communication fails, according to the contents of the operation command.

  In addition, the optimum maximum number of retransmissions differs depending on the building and environment where the air conditioning system is installed, but the user uses the setting input device 23 which is an external device to relate to repeated communication at the site where the air conditioning system is installed. Information can be set. Therefore, it is possible to realize a reduction in cost for changing the communication condition for each air conditioning system.

In the fourth embodiment, the case where the fourth embodiment is applied to the configuration shown in the third embodiment has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the first and second embodiments are not limited thereto. A configuration in which the fourth embodiment is applied to the configuration shown in FIG.
In the case of this configuration, it is possible to realize finer air conditioning system control by setting the maximum number of retransmissions according to the content of the operation command and combining with the priority and communication interval set for each content of the operation command. it can.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the sub-master unit 3 is connected between the air-conditioning control monitoring device 1 and the plurality of air-conditioners 5. However, the air-conditioning control monitoring is performed without using the sub-master unit 3. The structure which directly connects the apparatus 1 and the some air conditioner 5 may be sufficient.

Embodiment 5 FIG.
The air-conditioning control and monitoring apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has the same configuration as the air-conditioning control and monitoring apparatus 1 of the third embodiment shown in FIGS. This will be described with reference to FIG. Moreover, FIG. 10 is explanatory drawing which shows the state monitoring table of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus based on Embodiment 5 of this invention.
The state monitoring table 16 of the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 includes the operation / stop state of each air conditioner 5 shown in FIG. 3A, the operation state and communication state such as the set temperature, the operation mode, and the air volume, and each sub master unit. In addition to the communication state 3, for example, a load state monitoring table 16 a as shown in FIG. 10 is stored. The load status monitoring table 16a stores information on the current communication load status and the next communicable time of each secondary master device 3 written by the communication control unit 11.

Moreover, FIG. 11 is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the communication condition table of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus based on Embodiment 5 of this invention. The communication condition table 22 stores a communication load correspondence table 22d as shown in FIG. Conditions for determining the communication load state are set in the communication load correspondence table 22d.
The conditions for determining the communication load state are the number of retransmissions for each communication load level, the communication response time from the secondary master unit 3, a communication failure indicating the success or failure of communication, and the like. Further, the communication load correspondence table 22d stores a waiting time until the next communication becomes possible for each load level.

The communication condition setting unit 21 accepts the load level determination condition set by the user by operating the setting input device 23 and the information on the standby time according to the load level, and stores the information in the communication load correspondence table 22d in the communication condition table 22. Write.
The communication control unit 11 estimates the communication load state of the secondary master unit based on the communication result when the communication information is transmitted to the secondary master unit specified as the destination address. To determine whether or not the communication load of the secondary master unit 3 is high, the communication control unit 11 may collate the communication result with the communication load correspondence table 22d and determine the corresponding load level. Further, the communication control unit 11 reads the standby time given to the determined load level, writes the load level to the communication load state of the load state monitoring table 16a, and writes the standby time to the next communicable time.

  The communication control unit 11 is a case where the communication information addressed to the sub-master device is waiting in the communication management table 18d for the sub-master device in which the next communication time information exists in the communication load correspondence table 22d. However, in order not to increase the communication load, communication is not performed until the time has elapsed. In this way, the communication control unit 11 estimates the communication load state of the secondary master unit 3 and waits for communication with the secondary master unit 3 having a high load state.

Next, operation | movement of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus 1 at the time of transmission is demonstrated. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the transmission operation of the air conditioning control monitoring apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. In step ST31 shown in FIG. 12, the communication control unit 11 has no communication abnormality in the load state monitoring table 16a among communication information waiting in communication in the communication content management table 18b, and the next communication is possible. The communication information addressed to the secondary master unit is extracted as valid communication information.
In subsequent step ST32, the communication control unit 11 selects communication information having the highest priority according to the communication conditions set in the communication condition table 22 from the extracted effective communication information. Steps ST33 to ST40 are the same processes as steps ST3 to ST10 in FIG.

In step ST41, when the communication control unit 11 transmits the communication information to the secondary master unit specified by the transmission address, the communication control unit 11 compares the communication result with the communication load correspondence table 22d to determine the load level. Then, the communication control unit 11 writes the determined load level and the standby time assigned to the load level in the communication load correspondence table 22d (step ST42). However, if the load level is equal to or lower than the predetermined level, the communication control unit 11 may determine that the communication load of the sub-master unit is not high and delete information on the next communicable time (step ST41 “No” ").
Steps ST42 to ST48 are the same processes as steps ST11 to ST18 of FIG.

As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, the load state monitoring table 16a manages the communication load state for each secondary master unit 3, and the communication load correspondence table 22d of the communication condition table 22 corresponds to the communication load state. The communication control unit 11 estimates the load state of communication based on the result of communication with the secondary master unit 3 and updates the load state monitoring table 16a, and also loads the communication load. According to the state, the next communication information to the secondary master unit 3 is transmitted after the standby time stored in the communication load correspondence table 22d has elapsed. For this reason, adjustments are made so as not to increase the communication load on the sub-master unit 3 to obstruct other communication performed by the sub-master unit 3, and the processing of the sub-master unit 3 itself, from devices other than the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 It is possible to reduce the influence on the communication and the like.
As a result, communication from the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 to the sub-master and the air conditioner can be performed efficiently.

  In the fifth embodiment, the case where the fifth embodiment is applied to the configuration shown in the third embodiment has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the first, second, and fourth embodiments. A configuration in which the fifth embodiment is applied to the illustrated configuration may be used.

Embodiment 6 FIG.
In the fifth embodiment, the communication control unit 11 is configured to perform communication while waiting for communication to the secondary master unit according to the communication load state. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the communication control unit 11 waits for communication to the secondary master unit according to the communication load state of the secondary master unit, and communicates at a communication interval according to the communication load state. To do.

The air conditioning control monitoring apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has the same configuration as the air conditioning control monitoring apparatus 1 of the fifth embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 7, and 10, and therefore is shown below. 1, FIG. 3, FIG. 7 and FIG. Moreover, FIG. 13 is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the communication condition table of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus based on Embodiment 6 of this invention.
The communication condition table 22 of the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 stores a communication load correspondence table 22e as shown in FIG. 13, for example, instead of the communication load correspondence table 22d shown in FIG. In the communication load correspondence table 22e, a communication interval corresponding to the communication load state is given for each load level.

When the communication control unit 11 transmits the communication information with the highest priority in the waiting state in the communication content management table 18b of FIG. 3 to the sub-master unit designated as the transmission destination address, the communication result and the communication load correspondence table 22e. And the corresponding load level is determined. The communication control unit 11 reads the standby time given to the determined load level, writes the load level to the communication load state of the load state monitoring table 16a, and writes the standby time to the next communicable time.
Further, the communication control unit 11 selects and transmits communication information satisfying the condition of the communication interval set in the communication load correspondence table 22e from the communication information stored in the communication content management table 18b. At this time, for example, even if a communication interval corresponding to the priority is set in the priority type management table 22b shown in FIG. 8 and the priority type management table 22c shown in FIG. Priority is given to the communication interval according to the communication load state of the parent device.

  Next, with respect to the operation of the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 at the time of transmission, step ST32 that is different from the operation of the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 of the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In step ST <b> 32 shown in FIG. 12, the communication control unit 11 selects communication information having the highest priority from the extracted effective communication information according to the communication conditions set in the communication condition table 22. At that time, it is determined whether or not the communication condition regarding the communication interval in the communication load correspondence table 22e is satisfied.

As described above, according to the sixth embodiment, the communication load correspondence table 22e of the communication condition table 22 stores information indicating the communication interval according to the communication load state of the secondary master unit 3, and the communication control unit 11 The communication information of the communication content management table 18b is configured to be transmitted at the communication interval stored in the communication load correspondence table 22e in accordance with the load state of the sub-master device 3 as the transmission destination. Therefore, in the same manner as in the fifth embodiment, adjustment is made so as not to increase the communication load on the sub-master unit 3, the obstruction of other communications performed by the sub-master unit 3 is eliminated, and the processing of the sub-master unit 3 itself is performed. The influence on communication from devices other than the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 can be reduced.
As a result, communication from the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 to the sub-master and the air conditioner can be performed efficiently.

Embodiment 7 FIG.
In above-mentioned Embodiments 1-6, it was set as the structure which the communication control part 11 updates the operation state of the air conditioner 5 of the state monitoring table 16 at any time. However, in this configuration, the communication control unit 11 operates the air conditioner 5 from the time when the input / output device 7 or the building centralized management device 9 outputs the operation command or the time when the air conditioner control unit 10 outputs the operation information. A certain time is required until the state is detected and the state monitoring table 16 is updated, and a time difference occurs.
So, in this Embodiment, when the communication control part 11 of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus 1 which concerns on the said Embodiment 1-6 transmits communication information, the operation state of the air conditioner 5 of the state monitoring table 16 is the communication. The information is temporarily updated to the contents of the information. Thereafter, after communication for operation state monitoring is performed, the state monitoring table 16 is updated to the content of the actual operation state of the air conditioner 5.

  Next, the operation of the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 at the time of transmission will be described using FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the transmission operation of the air conditioning control monitoring apparatus according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention. Steps ST51 to ST58 shown in FIG. 14 are the same processes as steps ST1 to ST8 in FIG. 4 or steps ST31 to ST38 in FIG.

In step ST59 shown in FIG. 14, the communication control part 11 confirms presence of the air conditioner of a transmission destination address. As a method of existence confirmation, for example, there is a method of checking connection establishment using a full connect scan using SYN / ACK communication information between the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 and the air conditioner 5. If the presence of the air conditioner of the transmission destination address is confirmed (step ST59 “Yes”), the communication control unit 11 updates the communication port of the port management table 18a to the use state in the subsequent step ST60, and the communication is performed in step ST61. Send information.
Next, in step ST62, the communication control unit 11 temporarily updates the operation state of the state monitoring table 16 to the communication content of the communication information. For example, if the communication information is the communication content of the temperature setting change, the communication control unit 11 temporarily updates the set temperature of the operation state in the state monitoring table 16 to the temperature instructed by the temperature setting change. It should be noted that the actual operating state of the air conditioner is not considered in the temporary update.

On the other hand, if the presence of the secondary master unit or air conditioner at the transmission destination address cannot be confirmed (step ST59 “No”), the communication control unit 11 returns the process to step ST51. However, since air conditioners that are operating normally in step ST51 are extracted, the possibility that the presence of the air conditioner cannot be confirmed in step ST59 is very low.
For example, even if the processing of step ST51 to step ST59 is repeated without confirming the presence of the air conditioner at the transmission destination address, the processing of step ST51 to step ST58 is performed by the communication control unit 11 referring to the table storage unit 15. In addition, since the communication in step ST59 is also a process for confirming existence, the time required for each process is short. The most time-consuming process during the operation of the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 at the time of transmission is transmission of communication information based on operation information (step ST61). Compared to the time required for transmission of communication information, steps ST51 to ST59 are performed. The processing time is negligible. Therefore, even if the processing of step ST51 to step ST59 is repeatedly performed, the simultaneity of the control of the plurality of air conditioners is not impaired.
Steps ST63 to ST68 are the same processes as steps ST10 to ST16 in FIG. 4 and steps ST43 to ST48 in FIG.

  The communication control unit 11 performs the above-described temporary update, and the air conditioner control unit 10 periodically outputs operation information for monitoring each air conditioner 5, so that the air conditioner control unit 10 is temporarily updated. Outputs the operation information for monitoring each air conditioner 5, and the communication control unit 11 can communicate with each air conditioner 5 to acquire the latest operation state. Then, the communication control unit 11 updates the state monitoring table 16 from the temporarily updated operation state to the actual operation state.

In addition, when the output unit 14 reads out the operation state of the air conditioner 5 from the state monitoring table 16, the output unit 14 does not read out the operation state of the air conditioner 5 that has been temporarily updated, but the operation state after being updated to the actual operation state. Read. Then, the output device 6 accepts only the actual operation state from the output unit 14 and performs output such as screen display.
On the other hand, the air conditioner control unit 10 refers to the operation state including the temporary update, generates new operation information, and writes the new operation information in the air conditioner operation information table 17. The air conditioner control unit 10 also reads the operation state of the temporary update when reading the operation state of the air conditioner 5 from the state monitoring table 16 and outputs it to the building central management device 9 and the input / output device 7. The building central management device 9 and the input / output device 7 issue a new operation instruction to the air conditioner control unit 10 with reference to the operation state including the temporary update.

  As described above, with respect to the operation command to the air conditioner 5, after confirming the existence of the transmission destination air conditioner at the time of communication, the state monitoring table 16 is updated using the content of the operation command, so that the communication information is transmitted. Even during the time until confirmation of the change in the operation state of the air conditioner, the contents of the operation state indicated by the state monitoring table 16 and the operation information written in the air conditioner operation information table 17 are consistent. Therefore, the time difference between the time when the operating state of the air conditioner 5 actually changes and the time when the state monitoring table 16 is updated is shorter than when the state monitoring table 16 is rewritten only after the change in the operating state is detected. . As a result, while the time difference is occurring, for example, the air conditioner control unit 10 or the upper building central management device 9 and the input / output device 7 refer to the operation state before the transition and the operation command fails. It is possible to prevent erroneous recognition and output of duplicate operation commands again based on the erroneous recognition.

In addition, since the timing for temporarily updating the operation state of the air conditioner 5 is after the existence confirmation of the air conditioner 5 specified in the transmission destination address, the state monitoring table 16 is provisionally updated without confirming the existence of the transmission destination. Compared to, communication failure after provisional update is low.
If communication fails after the communication control unit 11 temporarily updates the state monitoring table 16, the communication control unit 11 updates the state monitoring table 16 after transmitting communication information for monitoring the air conditioner 5. The operating state of the air conditioner 5 returns to the state before the temporary update, and as a result, a contradiction occurs between the transition of the actual operating state of the air conditioner 5 and the transition of the operating state on the state monitoring table 16. Although there is a possibility, since the communication control part 11 confirms existence before temporary update, the danger is low. Then, it is possible to output a quick and reliable transition of the operating state to the upper building central management device 9 or the like.

  As described above, according to the seventh embodiment, when the communication information for controlling the operation is stored in the communication content management table 18b, the communication control unit 11 is designated as the communication information transmission destination. 5 is confirmed, and when the presence of the transmission destination air conditioner 5 is confirmed, the operation state of the transmission destination air conditioner 5 in the operation state monitoring table 16 is provisionally updated to the contents of the communication information. Therefore, it is possible to absorb a difference between the communication timing and the timing of the operation state transition of the air conditioner 5 recognized by the sub-master unit 3 and prevent erroneous detection of the air conditioner operation in the host monitoring device such as the building central control device 9. it can.

  The air-conditioning control and monitoring apparatus 1 of the first to seventh embodiments may have a configuration including three or more communication ports, and the same effects as those of the first to seventh embodiments can be obtained even in the configuration. Have.

  In addition, when the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus 1 of the said Embodiment 1-7 is comprised with a computer, the air-conditioner control part 10, the communication control part 11, the output part 14, and the communication condition setting part 21 have described the processing content. The air conditioner control program, the communication control program, the output program, and the communication condition setting program are stored in the memory of the computer, and the data stored in the table storage unit 15 is stored in a fixed area of the memory or a separate dedicated memory. The CPU may execute each program stored in the memory.

In this configuration, since the air conditioner control program for controlling the air conditioner and the communication control program for controlling communication deliver information via the table storage unit, both programs logically pass through the table storage unit. Disconnected. The control method of the air conditioner needs to be adapted according to the building and environment where the air conditioner is installed. In that case, the air conditioning system can be adapted to the building and environment simply by changing the air conditioner control program. it can. Further, the modification required for connection with external devices such as the input / output device 7 and the building centralized management device 9 need only be made to the air conditioner control program. Therefore, the maintainability of the air conditioning system and the cost reduction required for the change of each air conditioning system can be realized.
In addition, when the output device 6 unique to the building or the like where the air conditioning system is installed is connected to the air conditioning control monitoring device 1 and the status of the sub master unit 3 and the air conditioner 5 is monitored, only the function of the output program is changed. This makes it possible to adapt to individual air conditioning systems. Therefore, maintainability and operability of the air conditioning system can be improved.

It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the physical structure of the air conditioning system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the table storage part of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the transmission operation | movement of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the reception operation | movement of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of communication of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the communication condition table of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the communication condition table of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the communication condition table of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state monitoring table of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the communication condition table of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the transmission operation | movement of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the communication condition table of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 6 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the transmission operation | movement of the air-conditioning control monitoring apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 7 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air-conditioning control monitoring device, 2, 4, 8 Communication line, 3 Secondary master machine, 5 Air-conditioner, 6 Output device, 7 Input / output device, 9 Building central management device, 10 Air-conditioner control part, 11 Communication control part, 12 , 13 Communication port, 14 Output unit, 15 Table storage unit, 16 State monitoring table, 16a Load state monitoring table, 17 Air conditioner operation information table, 18 Communication management table, 18a Port management table, 18b Communication content management table, 21 Communication Condition setting unit, 22 communication condition table, 22a communication type management table, 22b, 22c priority type management table, 22d, 22e communication load correspondence table, 23 setting input device.

Claims (10)

Directly connect to multiple equipment or connect to multiple equipment via multiple secondary master units that manage multiple equipment as a group and control the equipment A facility equipment control and monitoring device
Multiple logical communication ports for communication;
A port management table storing information indicating a communication state for each communication port;
A communication content management table storing communication information for controlling the equipment, and
Each time the communication information stored in the communication content management table is transmitted, a communication control unit that selects a communication port that is not communicating with reference to the port management table and transmits the communication information from the communication port. And a facility equipment control monitoring device.   The communication control unit retransmits, after transmitting the plurality of pieces of communication information, a plurality of pieces of communication information stored in the communication content management table, after retransmitting the pieces of communication information. Equipment equipment control monitoring device. A communication condition table storing information indicating communication conditions when transmitting communication information;
A communication condition setting unit configured to change the information in the communication condition table to the predetermined communication condition when a predetermined communication condition is input;
The equipment control monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the communication control unit transmits the communication information stored in the communication content management table according to the communication condition of the communication condition table. The communication condition in the communication condition table is information indicating importance for each content of communication information.
4. The equipment control monitoring apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the communication control unit transmits the communication information stored in the communication content management table in an order based on the importance stored in the communication condition table. The communication condition in the communication condition table is information specifying the maximum number of retransmissions for each content of communication information.
The equipment control and monitoring apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the communication control unit retransmits communication information whose transmission has failed with the number of retransmissions in the communication condition table as an upper limit. The communication condition in the communication condition table is information specifying a communication interval for each content of communication information.
The communication control unit transmits the communication information stored in the communication content management table at the communication interval stored in the communication condition table. The facility equipment control monitoring device described. Provided with a load status monitoring table storing information indicating the load status of communication for each secondary master unit,
The communication condition of the communication condition table is information specifying a waiting time according to the load state of the communication,
When transmitting communication information via the secondary master unit, the communication control unit refers to the load status monitoring table and the communication condition table, and determines the communication load state of the secondary master unit from the previous transmission of the communication information. 6. The transmission is performed after a waiting time corresponding to the time elapses, the load state of the communication is estimated based on a result of the transmission, and the load state monitoring table is updated. The equipment control monitoring apparatus of any one of these. The communication condition of the communication condition table is information specifying a communication interval according to the communication load state of the secondary master unit,
8. The facility according to claim 7, wherein the communication control unit refers to the load state monitoring table and the communication condition table, and transmits communication information at a communication interval corresponding to a communication load state of the sub-master unit. Equipment control monitoring device. Provided with an operation state monitoring table storing information indicating the operation state of each equipment device,
The communication control unit confirms the existence of the destination equipment before transmitting the communication information, and if the existence is confirmed, the operation status of the destination equipment stored in the operation state monitoring table is displayed. The equipment control monitoring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the equipment information is provisionally updated with the content of the communication information. The computer is directly connected to a plurality of facility devices, or the plurality of facilities are connected to the plurality of facility devices via a plurality of sub-master devices that collectively manage the plurality of facility devices as one group. In the equipment control monitoring program for functioning as equipment control monitoring equipment for controlling equipment,
Each time the communication information is transmitted from the port management table storing communication information for controlling the equipment, refer to the port management table storing information indicating communication states of a plurality of logical communication ports for communication. And the equipment control monitoring program for selecting the communication port which is not performing communication, and functioning as a communication control part which transmits the said communication information from the said communication port.

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