JP2010147994A - Serial communication conversion apparatus, monitor and control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remotely monitor and control a device having only a serial interface.
When conversion information tables 14A and 14B for converting mail message information into a serial command and converting from a serial command into mail message information are stored, and the mail communication unit 13 acquires the message information, When the message information is converted into a serial command by the command message conversion processing unit 12, the serial command is sent to the target device 2 by the serial communication unit 11, and the serial communication unit 11 acquires the serial command, the serial command Is converted into message information by the command message conversion processing unit 12, and the message information is sent to the mail server by the mail communication unit 13.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a serial communication conversion device and a monitoring control system for monitoring and controlling a target device.

  Conventionally, as a technique for monitoring and controlling a target device, a technology for controlling a target device having a serial interface is known (see Patent Document 1 below).

  In this technique, many target devices that are not connected to a LAN do not have a LAN interface, and the target devices are set and controlled using a serial interface. Communication using such a serial interface is often performed in a request / response format.

Further, when setting or controlling a device having only a serial interface, an operator often goes to the site where the device is installed and connects a personal computer dedicated to device setting to the device.
JP-A-5-316576

  However, in the above-described technique, there is a demand for receiving information such as an alarm output by serial communication with a remote portable terminal or the like, in which it is impossible to set and control the device without going to the site.

  Therefore, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described circumstances, and provides a serial communication conversion device and a monitoring control system capable of remotely monitoring and controlling a device having only a serial interface. Objective.

  The present invention relates to a serial communication for serial communication of a monitoring control command for monitoring or controlling the target device between the target device and a mail communication means for communicating message information with a mail server. Conversion processing means for performing communication processing, conversion processing for generating a monitoring control command when message information is acquired by mail communication means, and conversion processing for generating message information when monitoring control command is acquired by serial communication means In order to solve the above-described problem, when the mail communication means acquires message information, the message information is converted into a monitoring control command by the conversion processing means, and the monitoring control command is converted by the serial communication means. When it is sent to the target device and the serial communication means acquires the monitoring control command, Converts the monitoring control command to the message information by the conversion processing means, characterized in that it sends to the mail server by the mail communication means the message information.

  In addition, the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a conversion information table in which message information and a monitoring control command are registered in association with each other, and the conversion processing unit refers to the conversion information table stored in the storage unit to Information and monitoring control commands are converted to each other.

  Further, according to the present invention, the conversion processing means receives message information indicating a request to the target device, transmits a monitoring control command to the target device, and receives the monitoring control command as a response to the request from the target device. When converting to message information, it is desirable to include information indicating that the message information is a response to the message information indicating the request.

  Furthermore, the present invention may comprise registration processing means for registering information associating message information with the monitoring control command in the conversion information table based on the message information received by the mail communication means.

  A monitoring control system according to the present invention includes a target device that communicates by a predetermined serial communication method, a mail server that exchanges message information, and a serial communication conversion device that can communicate with a plurality of target devices and the mail server. And a remote operation terminal that exchanges message information with the serial communication conversion device via the mail server. In this monitoring control system, the serial communication conversion device is connected to a mail communication means for communicating message information with a mail server and a target device, and performs monitoring or control of the target device with the target device. Serial communication means for performing serial communication of control commands, conversion processing for generating a monitoring control command when message information is acquired by mail communication means, and message information when the monitoring control command is acquired by serial communication means Conversion processing means for performing conversion processing, and in order to solve the above-described problem, when the mail communication means acquires message information, the message processing information is converted into a monitoring control command by the conversion processing means, Send monitoring control commands to the target device via serial communication means If the signal means obtains the monitoring control command, converts the message information by the conversion processing means the monitoring control command and sends the message information to the mail server by the mail communication means.

  According to the serial communication conversion device and the monitoring control system of the present invention, when message information is acquired, the message information is converted into a monitoring control command, the monitoring control command is sent to the target device, and serial communication conversion is performed. When the monitoring control command is acquired by the device, the monitoring control command is converted into message information and the message information is sent to the mail server. Therefore, only the target device having a serial interface is connected to the serial communication conversion device. Thus, it is possible to control and monitor the target device using the monitoring control command via the mail server.

  In addition, according to the serial communication conversion device of the present invention, since the conversion information table is stored and the message information and the monitoring control command can be mutually converted with reference to the conversion information table, the user can easily understand the conversion information table. The user interface for monitoring and controlling the target device can be made user-friendly simply by registering possible message information in association with the monitoring control command.

  Furthermore, according to the serial communication conversion device of the present invention, when message information indicating a request is received and message information as a response to the message information is generated, message information indicating the request is included in the response. Information indicating that this is a response can be included. Thereby, the response can be notified so that the relation between the message information indicating the request and the message information indicating the response can be understood.

  Furthermore, according to the serial communication conversion device of the present invention, the conversion information table can be read, information added, changed, and deleted based on the message information received by the serial communication conversion device. Information in the information table can be added remotely.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
"Monitoring and Control System Configuration"
As shown in FIG. 1, the monitoring control system as an embodiment of the present invention includes a serial communication conversion device 1, a target device 2 to be monitored and controlled, a router 3, a mail server 4, and a mobile phone 5a. And a remote operation terminal 5 such as a personal computer 5b.

  The target device 2 includes a serial interface 2a that operates according to a predetermined serial communication method, and communicates with the serial communication conversion device 1 via the serial interface 2a. As a result, the target device 2 can communicate with the remote operation terminal 5 via the serial communication conversion device 1 or the like. Examples of the target device 2 include various devices such as an air conditioner, a lighting device, and a security device.

  The target device 2 performs serial command (monitoring control command) communication with the serial communication conversion device 1 to monitor and control the current state. The serial command includes a request command, a response command that is a response to the request command, and a notification command that spontaneously notifies an abnormality or the like. In the following description, the term “serial command” is used when there is no particular distinction between a request command, response command, and notification command, and each name is used when they are distinguished. To do. Such serial commands are converted into mail message information by the serial communication conversion device 1 and supplied to the remote operation terminal 5. On the contrary, the mail message information from the remote operation terminal 5 is converted into a serial command by the serial communication conversion device 1 and supplied to the target device 2. Accordingly, the target device 2 can communicate with the remote operation terminal 5.

  The mail server 4 transmits / receives mail message information to / from the remote operation terminal 5 according to a predetermined mail communication protocol, and also transmits / receives mail message information to / from the serial communication conversion device 1 according to the predetermined mail communication protocol. I do. An example of the predetermined mail communication protocol is POP (Post Office Protocol) 3. The mail message information includes request mail message information including request information for monitoring or controlling the target device 2, response mail message information for a request to the target device 2, and notification sent from the target device 2 to the remote operation terminal 5. Contains email message information.

  In the mail server 4, mail account information of the serial communication conversion device 1 and the remote operation terminal 5 is registered. The mail account information includes a mail address, an IP (Internet Protocol) address, and the like. Thereby, the mail server 4 can transfer the mail message information between the remote operation terminal 5 and the serial communication conversion device 1.

  The remote operation terminal 5 transmits / receives mail message information to / from the mail server 4 according to a predetermined mail communication protocol. The remote operation terminal 5 is operated by a user who wants to monitor or control the target device 2 and displays the current operation state of the target device 2. The remote operation terminal 5 generates request mail message information including request information for the target device 2 according to a user operation, and transmits the request mail message information to the mail server 4. Thereby, the remote operation terminal 5 can send a request command to the target device 2 via the mail server 4, the serial communication conversion device 1, or the like. Further, when the target device 2 sends a response command or a notification command, the remote operation terminal 5 receives the response mail message information and the notification mail message information via the serial communication converter 1, the mail server 4, etc. Received information can be displayed.

  The mail server 4 automatically transfers the mail message information to the serial communication conversion device 1 upon receiving the mail message information generated by the monitoring / control application for the target device 2 in the remote operation terminal 5. You may do it. That is, the mail server 4 stores a correspondence table for associating the remote operation terminal 5 with the serial communication conversion device 1, and the mail server 4 has received the request mail message information from the predetermined remote operation terminal 5. In this case, the mail message information may be automatically transferred.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the serial communication conversion device 1 converts a serial communication unit 11 connected to the target device 2, a mail communication unit 13 that communicates with the mail server 4, and conversion between mail message information and a serial command. A command message conversion processing unit 12 to perform, conversion information tables 14A and 14B, a command message registration processing unit 15, and a mail account information registration processing unit 16 are provided.

  The serial communication conversion device 1 includes a serial interface 1 a for serial communication with the target device 2 and a LAN interface 1 b for communication with the router 3. The serial communication conversion device 1 performs serial communication with the serial interface 2a of the target device 2 via the serial interface 1a.

  The serial communication unit 11 constitutes a serial interface 1 a that operates according to a predetermined serial communication method, and is connected to the target device 2. The serial communication unit 11 performs serial communication with the target device 2 to communicate serial commands (request command, response command, notification command) for monitoring or controlling the target device 2.

  The mail communication unit 13 communicates with the mail server 4 for mail message information. The mail communication unit 13 transmits and receives mail message information via the router 3 and the Internet network NT according to a predetermined mail communication protocol. An example of the predetermined mail communication protocol is SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol). The mail message information includes request mail message information including request information for monitoring or controlling the target device 2, response mail message information for a request to the target device 2, and notification sent from the target device 2 to the remote operation terminal 5. Contains email message information.

  The command message conversion processing unit 12 has a function of performing a conversion process for generating a serial command when mail message information is acquired, and a conversion process for generating mail message information when a serial command is acquired. When performing this conversion processing, the command message conversion processing unit 12 refers to the conversion information tables 14A and 14B. When the command message conversion processing unit 12 receives the mail message information from the mail communication unit 13, the command message conversion processing unit 12 generates a serial command by referring to the first conversion information table 14 </ b> A of “mail → serial direction” and sends it to the serial communication unit 11. Supply. When receiving the serial command from the serial communication unit 11, the command message conversion processing unit 12 refers to the second conversion information table 14 B of “serial → mail direction”, generates mail message information, and sends it to the mail communication unit 13. Supply.

  The first conversion information table 14A is referred to when a serial command is generated from mail message information, and is configured as shown in FIG. In the first conversion information table 14A, the correspondence between the mail message information and the serial command is registered for each registration number. The mail message information includes subject information (subject) and text information. The serial command includes a command string. When the command message conversion processing unit 12 receives the mail message information, the command message conversion processing unit 12 compares the subject information and the text information included in the received mail message information with the subject information and the text information in the first conversion information table 14A to determine the serial number. Determine the command. Of course, when there are a plurality of types of serial commands for the mail message information, the type information for the serial commands may be set.

  For example, when mail message information having subject information “confirm temperature abnormality” and text information “What is the current temperature status?” Is received, a serial command having a command string “& R000” is generated. In addition, when mail message information with subject information “setting threshold” and body information “setting upper limit of temperature sensor (% 1) at (% 2) degrees” is received, the command string is “& R001 (% 1) (% 2) "serial command is generated. Here, (% 1) and (% 2) are variables, which are determined by the user's operation on the remote operation terminal 5, and are included in the mail message information. The command message conversion processing unit 12 recognizes the variable and incorporates it into the serial command.

  Specifically, when the text information of the received mail message information is “Set the upper limit value of the temperature sensor (02) to (080) degrees”, the command string of the serial command is converted to “& R00102080”.

  The second conversion information table 14B is referred to when mail message information is generated from a serial command, and is configured as shown in FIG. In the second conversion information table 14B, the correspondence between the mail message information and the serial command is registered for each registration number. The mail message information includes subject information (subject), text information, and character string conversion information. The serial command includes type information and a command string. When the command message conversion processing unit 12 receives a serial command, the command message conversion processing unit 12 compares the type information and command string included in the received serial command with the type information and command string of the second conversion information table 14B, and sends mail message information. To decide.

  Here, if there are numbers and characters that change depending on the state of the target device 2 in the command sequence of the serial command, they are included as (% number: number of characters). (% Number) is assigned to the same position as (% number) in the text information of the mail message information. As the type information, either a response command or a notification command transmitted from the target device 2 is set. In addition, the character string conversion information in the mail message information corresponds to (% number), the character in the serial command, the conversion character when converting (% number) in the serial command to a character string and incorporating it into the text information. Are registered in the order.

  Specifically, when the received serial command is “# R00001N02L”, the text information of the mail message information is converted to “temperature sensor (01) is normal, temperature sensor (02) is lower limit abnormal”.

  In this embodiment, the conversion information tables 14A and 14B are stored in the serial communication conversion device 1. However, even if the conversion information tables 14A and 14B are not stored, they are provided separately. A method of reading the conversion information tables 14A and 14B from the stored storage device or a method of converting by a predetermined calculation may be adopted.

  The command message registration processing unit 15 performs processing for registering serial commands and mail message information registered in the conversion information tables 14A and 14B. Further, the mail account information registration processing unit 16 performs a process of adding or deleting the mail account information of the remote operation terminal 5. Setting registration in the conversion information tables 14A and 14B and mail account information setting registration are performed in the data registration mode of the serial communication conversion apparatus 1. In this data registration mode, a serial command is received by the serial communication unit 11, and various types of information are registered by the serial command.

  When the conversion information tables 14A and 14B are set and changed, and when the mail account information is added and deleted, the setting terminal 6 is connected to the serial communication conversion device 1. The setting terminal 6 is operated by an administrator of the serial communication conversion device 1. From this setting terminal 6, information for setting conversion information tables 14A and 14B and setting mail account information is supplied as serial commands.

  When a command message registration request including the change contents of the serial command and the mail message information is supplied from the setting terminal 6, the information is received by the serial communication unit 11. The command message registration request and the command message are used by the command message registration processing unit 15 for setting registration of the conversion information tables 14A and 14B. When the setting registration of the conversion information tables 14 </ b> A and 14 </ b> B is completed, the command message registration processing unit 15 transmits a command message registration confirmation and message to the setting terminal 6 via the serial communication unit 11.

  Further, when a mail account registration request including the change contents of the mail account information is supplied from the setting terminal 6, it is received by the mail account information registration processing unit 16 through the serial communication unit 11. The mail account information registration processing unit 16 acquires mail account information included in the mail account information registration request. The mail account information registration processing unit 16 supplies the stored mail account information to the setting terminal 6 via the serial communication unit 11 when a confirmation request for the mail account information is supplied from the setting terminal 6. To do. When new mail account information is registered, the mail account information registration processing unit 16 transmits the mail account information to the mail server 4 to enable communication using the mail account information.

"Operation of the supervisory control system"
"Operation when receiving mail message information"
Next, in the monitoring control system configured as described above, when the target device 2 is controlled by the remote operation terminal 5, the operation when the serial communication conversion device 1 receives the mail message information is shown in FIG. This will be described with reference to a flowchart. In the following explanation of the operation, the target device 2 is an air conditioner, and a temperature abnormality confirmation operation for confirming whether or not the temperature measured by the target device 2 is abnormal is confirmed by the remote operation terminal 5. An example will be described.

  First, the remote operation terminal 5 transmits to the mail server 4 mail message information that the subject information is “temperature abnormality confirmation” and the text information is “current temperature status?”. This mail message information is transmitted to the serial communication conversion device 1 by the mail server 4 and received by the serial communication conversion device 1 via the Internet network NT and the router 3. The remote operation terminal 5 may create mail message information by setting the serial communication conversion device 1 as a destination. The mail message information transmitted from the remote operation terminal 5 is automatically transmitted by the mail server 4. The data may be transmitted to the serial communication conversion device 1.

  When the mail message information is received by the serial communication conversion device 1, the mail communication unit 13 performs processing such as confirmation of the destination information in step S1, and supplies the mail message information to the command message conversion processing unit 12.

  In the next step S2, the command message conversion processing unit 12 sets the subject information of the mail message information received in step S1 as the same subject information (subject) in the first conversion information table 14A of “mail → serial direction”. It is determined whether it is registered. If the same subject information is not registered, the mail message information is discarded in step S3 and the process is terminated. On the other hand, if the same subject information is registered, the process proceeds to step S4. Here, since the subject information of the received mail message information is “temperature abnormality confirmation”, the registration number in FIG. Corresponds to 1 mail message information.

  In step S4, the command message conversion processing unit 12 determines that the text information “What is the current temperature?” Of the mail message information received in step S1 is registered as the text information in the first conversion information table 14A. Determine whether they are the same. At this time, the command message conversion processing unit 12 omits the variable character portion in the text information and compares the text information. If the text information of the received mail message information and the text information registered in the first conversion information table 14A have the same content, the process proceeds to step S6, and if not, the mail message information is sent in step S5. Is discarded. Here, since the text information of the received mail message information is “What is the current temperature status?”, The registration number in FIG. Corresponds to 1 mail message information.

  In step S6, the command message conversion processing unit 12 registers the same subject information as the mail message information determined in step S2, and the text information having the same contents as the mail message information determined in step S4. The serial command of the registered number is quoted from the first conversion information table 14A. Here, since the subject information of the received mail message information is “temperature abnormality confirmation” and the text information is “current temperature status?”, The registration number in FIG. The command string “& R000” of the serial command corresponding to the mail message information of 1 can be cited.

  In the next step S7, the command message conversion processing unit 12 determines whether or not a variable character exists in the serial command quoted in step S6. If there are no variable characters in the serial command, the process proceeds to step S9. If there are variable characters in the serial command, the process proceeds to step S8. If the command string “& R000” of the serial command is quoted in step S6, the determination in step S7 is negative and the process proceeds to step S9.

  In step S8, the command message conversion processing unit 12 incorporates the variable characters included in the text information of the mail message information into the serial command quoted in step S6.

  In step S <b> 9, the serial communication unit 11 transmits the serial command converted by the command message conversion processing unit 12 to the target device 2. Here, when the command sequence of the serial command is “& R000”, the command sequence is transmitted to the target device 2 to check whether the temperature currently measured by the target device 2 is abnormal. Can be made.

"Operation when receiving serial command"
Next, the operation when the serial communication conversion apparatus 1 receives the serial command in the monitoring control system configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the following description of the operation, the target device 2 is an air conditioner, and the response command is returned to the serial communication conversion device 1 in response to the target device 2 receiving a request command for temperature abnormality confirmation. Will be described.

  First, when the target device 2 receives the command string “& R000” for confirming the temperature abnormality, the serial command (request command) is interpreted, and the target device 2 generates a response command indicating the state of the built-in temperature sensor. At this time, it is assumed that the target device 2 returns a response command of the command string “# R00001N02L” to the serial communication conversion device 1. The serial command is sent to the serial communication conversion device 1.

  When the serial command is received by the serial communication conversion device 1, the serial communication unit 11 performs processing related to a predetermined serial communication standard in step S11 and supplies the serial command to the command message conversion processing unit 12.

  In the next step S12, the command message conversion processing unit 12 determines whether or not the serial command received in step S11 is registered as the same command string in the second conversion information table 14B of “serial to mail direction”. judge. At this time, the command message conversion processing unit 12 omits the variable character portion in the command sequence and compares the command sequences with each other. If the same command sequence is not registered, the serial command is discarded in step S13 and the process is terminated. On the other hand, if the same command sequence is registered, the process proceeds to step S14. Here, the command string “# R000 (% 1: 2) (% 2: 1) (% 3: 2) (% 4: 1)” is registered in the second conversion information table 14B, and is received in step S11. Since the command string of the serial command is “# R00001N02L”, the registration number in FIG. Corresponds to 1 command sequence.

  In step S14, the command message conversion processing unit 12 converts the mail message information registered in the second conversion information table 14B in association with the same registration number as the command sequence determined in step S12 into the second conversion information. Quote from Table 14B. Here, the registration number in FIG. The subject information, text information, and character string conversion information of the mail message information corresponding to one serial command can be cited.

  In the next step S15, the command message conversion processing unit 12 determines whether or not a variable character exists in the mail message information quoted in step S14. If there is no variable character in the mail message information, the process proceeds to step S17, and if there is a variable character in the mail message information, the process proceeds to step S18. Here, in step S14, the registration number shown in FIG. Since the mail message information corresponding to 1 is quoted, the determination in step S15 is affirmative, and the process proceeds to step S16.

  In step S16, the command message conversion processing unit 12 incorporates the variable characters in the serial command into the text information in the mail message information cited in step S14. Here, in step S14, “temperature sensor (% 1) is (% 2) degrees, temperature sensor (% 3) is (% 4) degrees” is quoted, and variable in the command string “# R00001N02L” of the serial command. Since the characters are (% 1) and (% 3), “temperature sensor (01) is (% 2) degrees and temperature sensor (02) is (% 4) degrees”.

  In the next step S17, the command message conversion processing unit 12 determines whether or not character string conversion exists in the mail message information quoted in step S14. If character string conversion exists, the process proceeds to step S18. If character string conversion does not exist, the mail message information is discarded in step S19. Here, since% 2 and% 4 in the serial command need to be converted into character strings, it is determined that the process proceeds to step S18.

  In step S18, the command message conversion processing unit 12 performs character string conversion, and in step S17, it is determined whether or not the character string can be normally converted. Here, in step S14, “temperature sensor (% 1) is (% 2) degrees, temperature sensor (% 3) is (% 4) degrees” is quoted, and in the command string “# R00001N02L” of the serial command, Since (% 2) is N, the converted character is “normal”, and (% 4) is L, so the converted character is “lower limit abnormal”, and the character string can be converted normally. Will proceed.

  In the next step S20, the command message conversion processing unit 12 incorporates the characters converted in step S18 into the text information of the mail message information in which variable characters are incorporated in step S16. Here, since the text information of the mail message information is “(% 2) degrees for temperature sensor (01) and (% 4) degrees for temperature sensor (02)” in step S16, command message conversion is performed in step S20. The processing unit 12 incorporates “normal” in (% 2) and “lower limit error” in (% 4), and sets “temperature sensor (01) as (normal) and temperature sensor (02) as (lower limit error)”. .

  In the next step S21, the mail communication unit 13 transmits mail message information including the text information and subject information of the mail message information converted in step S20. Thereby, the mail message information is transmitted to the remote operation terminal 5 via the router 3, the Internet network NT and the mail server 4. In the remote operation terminal 5, “temperature sensor (01) is (normal), temperature sensor (02) is (lower limit abnormality)” as a response to the temperature abnormality confirmation of the target device 2 requested by the mail message information. This can be presented to the user.

  In addition, with reference to FIG. 4 mentioned above, the processing of the serial communication conversion apparatus 1 for transmitting a request command to the target device 2 when mail message information is received will be described. With reference to FIG. The processing of the serial communication conversion apparatus 1 that transmits mail message information when receiving a response command from the device 2 has been described. When a notification command is received from the target device 2, the same processing as in FIG. 5 is performed. The mail message information representing the state of the target device 2 can be generated and transmitted to the mail server 4.

[Effect of the embodiment]
As described above, according to the monitoring control system to which the present invention is applied, when mail message information is acquired by the serial communication conversion device 1, the mail message information is converted into a serial command, and the serial command is targeted. When the serial command is sent to the device 2 and acquired by the serial communication converter 1, the serial command is converted into mail message information and the mail message information is sent to the mail server 4, so only the serial interface 2a is provided. It is possible to control and monitor the target device 2 using the serial command via the mail server 4 only by connecting the target device 2 that is not present to the serial communication conversion device 1.

  In other words, even if the target device 2 includes only the serial interface 2a and is in a stand-alone state when viewed from the Internet network NT that is a general-purpose network, the serial communication conversion device 1 causes the Internet network NT and the mail. It can be operated from the remote operation terminal 5 via the server 4.

  Further, according to this monitoring control system, the conversion information tables 14A and 14B are stored in the serial communication conversion apparatus 1, and the mail message information and the message information are converted by the command message conversion processing unit 12 with reference to the conversion information tables 14A and 14B. Since serial commands can be converted into each other, the interface for monitoring and controlling the target device 2 should be user-friendly simply by registering mail message information that can be easily understood by the user in association with the serial command. Can do.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, in the monitoring control system shown as this 2nd Embodiment, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol about the same part as 1st Embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the monitoring control system shown as the second embodiment is the monitoring control shown as the first embodiment in that the command message conversion processing unit 12 of the serial communication conversion device 1 includes a received message storage unit 12a. Different from the system.

  When the serial communication conversion device 1 in this monitoring control system receives mail message information by the mail communication unit 13, the command message conversion processing unit 12 records the mail message information in the received message storage unit 12a. In addition, the request command converted from the mail message information is transmitted to the target device 2. The serial communication conversion device 1 transmits the next request command to the target device 2 until the response command is received from the target device 2 during the period when the mail message information is recorded in the received message storage unit 12a. do not do.

  Further, the serial communication conversion device 1 measures the time from when the mail message information is received by the mail communication unit 13 and stored in the received message storage unit 12a, and when the response command is not returned from the target device 2. The mail message information including the error information is transmitted to the remote operation terminal 5 via the mail server 4.

"Operation when receiving mail message information"
In the monitoring and control system configured as described above, the operation when the mail message information is transmitted from the remote operation terminal 5 and the mail message information is received by the serial communication conversion device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. I will explain.

  When the serial communication conversion device 1 receives the mail message information, the serial communication conversion device 1 performs the processing from step S1 to step S5 as in the first embodiment, and when an affirmative determination is made in step S4, the processing proceeds to step S31.

  In step S31, the command message conversion processing unit 12 stores subject information (subject) and text information in the mail message information received in step S1 in the received message storage unit 12a. Then, when the command message conversion processing unit 12 performs the processes of Steps S6 to S8 to generate a serial command, the process proceeds to Step S32.

  In step S32, the serial communication unit 11 determines whether a request command is currently being transmitted to the target device 2. If the request command is being transmitted, the process proceeds to step S33. If the request command is not being transmitted, the process proceeds to step S9.

  If it is determined in step S32 that the request command is not being transmitted, the process proceeds to step S9 and the request command is transmitted to the target device 2. That is, since the target device 2 is not currently executing processing for the request command, the target device 2 transmits a request command for new monitoring and control to the target device 2. Substantially simultaneously, in step S34, the command message conversion processing unit 12 sets a response reception timer for measuring the recording time of the received message storage unit 12a to a predetermined threshold value. As a result, the serial communication conversion device 1 can start a countdown from when the request command is transmitted until the error information is transmitted to the remote operation terminal 5.

  On the other hand, in step S33, the serial communication unit 11 stores the request command in the serial transmission buffer and ends the process. This serial transmission buffer is a function built in the serial communication unit 11 as standard.

  Further, after setting the response reception timer in step S34, the serial communication conversion device 1 performs the process shown in FIG. 8 every predetermined period. The following processing is performed by the command message conversion processing unit 12, but it is needless to say that it may be realized by a separate module.

  In step S41, the command message conversion processing unit 12 determines whether or not the response reception timer set in step S34 has timed out. If the response reception timer has not timed out, re-determination is performed after a predetermined time. If the response reception timer has timed out, the process proceeds to step S42.

  In step S42, the command message conversion processing unit 12 reads out the mail message information with the oldest recording time stored in the received message storage unit 12a.

  In the next step S43, the command message conversion processing unit 12 creates mail message information including error information. At this time, the command message conversion processing unit 12, for example, “Re: (subject information stored in the received message storage unit 12a)” as the subject information and “target device request failed as the body information. Mail message information including “text information stored in the message storage unit 12a)” as error information is created.

  In the next step S <b> 45, the mail communication unit 13 transmits the mail message information created in step S <b> 44 to the mail server 4. Thus, the mail message information including the error information is transferred by the mail server 4 and received by the remote operation terminal 5, and the error information for the request command can be presented by the remote operation terminal 5.

  In the next step S46, the command message conversion processing unit 12 determines whether or not there is a request command in the serial transmission buffer of the serial communication unit 11. If there is a request command in the serial transmission buffer, the process proceeds to step S47, and if not, the process ends.

  In step S47, the command message conversion processing unit 12 transmits the request command stored in the serial transmission buffer to the target device 2.

  In the next step S48, the command message conversion processing unit 12 sets a response reception timer.

  As described above, the serial communication conversion device 1 transmits the mail message information including the error information when the response reception timer times out, and transmits the request command when the request command is already stored in the serial transmission buffer. The response reception timer can be set.

"Operation when receiving serial command"
Next, processing when a serial command is received by the serial communication conversion device 1 in the monitoring control system shown as the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the serial command is received, the mail message information is created by performing the processes of steps S11 to S20 as in the first embodiment, and the process proceeds to step S51.

  In step S51, the command message conversion processing unit 12 refers to the serial command type information received in step S11, and determines whether or not the received serial command type is a response. If the type of serial command is response, the process proceeds to step S52. If not, the process proceeds to step S21 to send mail message information.

  In step S52, the command message conversion processing unit 12 resets the response reception timer. This prohibits sending error information when a response command to the request command can be sent.

  In step S53, the command message conversion processing unit 12 reads the mail message information with the oldest recording time stored in the received message storage unit 12a.

  In the next step S54, the command message conversion processing unit 12 creates the mail message information including the content of the response command in the body information of the mail message information created in step S20. The body information of the request mail message information from 5 is added.

  For example, when the example shown in the first embodiment is used, when the request mail message information includes the text information “What is the current temperature?”, The response mail message information includes the text information “temperature sensor ( 01) is (normal), the temperature sensor (02) is (lower limit abnormal) ”, the text information“ temperature sensor (01) is (normal), temperature sensor (02) is (lower limit abnormal) ” "What is the current temperature status?"

  In the next step S55, the command message conversion processing unit 12 determines whether or not there is a request command in the serial transmission buffer of the serial communication unit 11. If there is a request command in the serial transmission buffer, the process proceeds to step S56, and if not, the process proceeds to step S21 to transmit the mail message information.

  In step S56, the command message conversion processing unit 12 transmits the request command stored in the serial transmission buffer to the target device 2.

  In the next step S57, the command message conversion processing unit 12 sets a response reception timer, and transmits mail message information in step S21.

Thereby, if the serial communication converter 1 uses the example of 1st Embodiment,
Subject information (subject): Response to temperature abnormality confirmation Body information: Temperature sensor 01 is normal, temperature sensor 02 is lower limit abnormality.
> What is the current temperature status?
Can be sent.

[Effect of the embodiment]
As described above, according to the monitoring control system according to the second embodiment, when receiving the request mail message information from the remote operation terminal 5 and creating the response mail message information for the request mail message information, Information indicating a response to the request mail message information can be included in the response mail message information. For example, the text information of the request mail message information can be added to the text information of the response mail message information.

  Thus, for example, even in a scene where a notification command as an alarm issued from the target device 2 frequently occurs at the time of a disaster or the like, the remote operation terminal so that the relation between the request mail message information and the response mail message information can be understood 5 can be notified of the response. Thereby, it is possible for the user of the remote operation terminal 5 to clearly know to which request mail message information the response mail message information has been transmitted, and to easily know the control result of the target device 2. .

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, in the monitoring control system shown as this 3rd Embodiment, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol about the same part as 1st Embodiment mentioned above.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the monitoring control system shown as the third embodiment converts the conversion information tables 14A and 14B by operating the remote operation terminal 5 such as the mobile phone 5a or the personal computer 5b that is remote from the target device 2. Register information and change information. Specifically, the serial communication conversion device 1 registers a command message as a registration processing means for registering and changing information in the conversion information tables 14A and 14B based on the mail message information received by the serial communication conversion device 1. The processing unit 15 is operated.

  The command message registration processing unit 15 is supplied with the setting mail message of the conversion information tables 14 </ b> A and 14 </ b> B transmitted from the remote operation terminal 5 via the mail communication unit 13. In response to this, the command message registration processing unit 15 sets the contents of the conversion information tables 14A and 14B based on the received setting mail message of the conversion information tables 14A and 14B. When the settings of the conversion information tables 14A and 14B are completed, the conversion information table setting response mail message is transmitted to the remote operation terminal 5 that has transmitted the conversion information table setting mail message.

  When registering or changing the conversion information tables 14A and 14B by the command message registration processing unit 15, specific mail message information as shown in FIG. 11 is used. According to the mail message information of FIG. 11, specific subject information (subject) and text information are defined for each operation type for the conversion information tables 14A and 14B, and stored so that the command message conversion processing unit 12 can refer to them. ing. Examples of the operation type include reading, addition, change, and deletion of the conversion information tables 14A and 14B.

  Examples of subject information in the mail message information for operating the conversion information tables 14A and 14B include “reading of the conversion information tables 14A and 14B”, “addition”, “change”, and “deletion”. , Information for distinguishing the conversion information tables 14A and 14B (MailToSerial, SerialToMail), registration number, subject information, text information, and serial command are included.

  Then, when the command message registration processing unit 15 receives the mail message information for operating the conversion information tables 14A and 14B, whether the subject information and the text information correspond to the subject information and the text information defined by FIG. to decide. When the subject information and the text information defined by FIG. 11 are applicable, the process described in the “description column” corresponding to the subject information and the text information is performed, and “the text content of the response mail” is performed. Is created and transmitted to the remote operation terminal 5. Here, the subject information of the mail message information is obtained by adding “Re:” to the subject information of the mail message information transmitted from the remote operation terminal 5.

  In the first conversion information table 14A, for example, the correspondence between the mail message information and the serial command is described in a simple language as shown in FIG. 12, and as a result, as shown in FIG. A command string is associated. Further, in the second conversion information table 14B, the correspondence between the mail message information and the serial command is described in a simple language as shown in FIG. 13, and as a result, subject information and text information as shown in FIG. And character string conversion information are associated with each other. This simple language may be written in the text information when the conversion information tables 14A and 14B are changed. The simple language can be interpreted by the remote operation terminal 5 and presented to the user in a predetermined layout.

  As described above, according to the monitoring control system, the conversion information tables 14A and 14B can be read, and information can be added, changed, and deleted based on the mail message information received by the serial communication conversion device 1. Information in the information tables 14A and 14B can be added remotely.

  The above-described embodiment is an example of the present invention. For this reason, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made depending on the design and the like as long as the technical idea according to the present invention is not deviated from this embodiment. Of course, it is possible to change.

It is a block diagram of a supervisory control system shown as a 1st embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a serial communication conversion device in a monitoring control system shown as a first embodiment of the present invention. (A) shows the 1st conversion information table which produces | generates a serial command from mail message information, (b) shows the 2nd conversion information table which produces | generates mail message information from a serial command. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a serial communication conversion apparatus that transmits a serial command in response to reception of mail message information in the monitoring control system shown as the first embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a serial communication conversion apparatus that transmits mail message information in response to reception of a serial command in the monitoring control system shown as the first embodiment of the present invention. In the supervisory control system shown as 2nd Embodiment of this invention, it is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a serial communication converter. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the serial communication conversion apparatus which transmits a serial command with respect to having received mail message information in the monitoring control system shown as 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the serial communication converter which monitors a response reception timer in the monitoring control system shown as 2nd Embodiment of this invention. In the supervisory control system shown as 2nd Embodiment of this invention, it is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the serial communication converter which transmits mail message information with respect to having received the serial command. It is a block diagram of the supervisory control system shown as 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the mail message information for operating the conversion information table in the serial communication converter shown as 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which represented the 1st conversion information table in the simple language. It is the figure which represented the 2nd conversion information table in the simple language.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Serial communication converter 1a Serial interface 1b LAN interface 2 Target apparatus 2a Serial interface 3 Router 4 Mail server 5 Remote operation terminal 5a Mobile phone 5b Personal computer 6 Setting terminal 11 Serial communication part 12 Command message conversion process part 12a Reception message Storage unit 13 Mail communication unit 14A First conversion information table 14B Second conversion information table 15 Command message registration processing unit 16 Mail account information registration processing unit

Claims (5)

A mail communication means for communicating message information with the mail server;
Serial communication means connected to the target device and performing serial communication of a monitoring control command for monitoring or controlling the target device with the target device;
A conversion process for generating the monitoring control command when the message information is acquired by the mail communication unit and a conversion process for generating the message information when the monitoring control command is acquired by the serial communication unit Processing means,
When the mail communication means acquires the message information, the message information is converted into the monitoring control command by the conversion processing means, and the monitoring control command is sent to the target device by the serial communication means,
When the serial communication unit acquires the monitoring control command, the conversion processing unit converts the monitoring control command into the message information, and sends the message information to the mail server by the mail communication unit. A serial communication conversion device. Storage means for storing a conversion information table in which the message information and the monitoring control command are registered in association with each other;
The serial communication conversion according to claim 1, wherein the conversion processing unit converts the message information and the monitoring control command to each other with reference to the conversion information table stored in the storage unit. apparatus.   The conversion processing means receives the message information indicating a request to the target device, transmits the monitoring control command to the target device, and receives a monitoring control command as a response to the request from the target device. 3. The serial communication conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the message information includes information indicating that it is a response to the message information indicating the request.   The registration processing means for registering, in the conversion information table, information associating the message information with the monitoring control command based on the message information received by the mail communication means. Serial communication converter. A target device that communicates with a predetermined serial communication method;
A mail server for sending and receiving message information;
A serial communication conversion device capable of communicating with the plurality of target devices and the mail server;
A remote operation terminal for sending and receiving message information to and from the serial communication conversion device via the mail server;
The serial communication converter is
Mail communication means for communicating message information with the mail server;
Serial communication means connected to the target device and performing serial communication of a monitoring control command for monitoring or controlling the target device with the target device;
A conversion process for generating the monitoring control command when the message information is acquired by the mail communication unit and a conversion process for generating the message information when the monitoring control command is acquired by the serial communication unit Processing means,
When the mail communication means acquires the message information, the message information is converted into the monitoring control command by the conversion processing means, and the monitoring control command is sent to the target device by the serial communication means,
When the serial communication unit acquires the monitoring control command, the conversion processing unit converts the monitoring control command into the message information, and sends the message information to the mail server by the mail communication unit. Characteristic supervisory control system.

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