JP2012112714A - Communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication system capable of easily constructing a system.SOLUTION: A communication system comprises measurement units 400, 500a-500i measuring electric current of home electric appliance loads 510a-510i, and an aggregation management device 303 calculating an electric power. At a start-up of each home electric appliance, the measurement units 400, 500a-500i transmit an identification number and a start-up notification data, and also measure the electric current flowing through the home electric appliance loads 510a-510i, the aggregation management device 303 receives the transmitted identification number and start-up notification data, registers the identification number on a registration part, and transmits a data transmission command signal to the measurement units 400, 500a-500i based on the identification number registered on the registration part, and each of the measurement units 400, 500a-500i transmits a measured measurement data and the identification number to the aggregation management device 303.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system for obtaining a physical quantity related to a building.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a power monitoring system including an appliance operation detector that detects an operating state of a video, a television, a fluorescent lamp, a dishwasher, and the like, a receiver, and a power monitoring device is known (Patent Document 1). reference).

  When the electric appliance operation detector detects an operation state, the power monitoring system adds an identification signal given to each electric appliance operation detector and transmits an operation signal indicating the operation state. When the operation signal is received by the receiving unit, the power monitoring device obtains the power consumption of each home appliance corresponding to each identification signal from the database, integrates the obtained power consumption, and totals the integration results. Output as power consumption.

JP 2006-109634 A

  However, in such a power monitoring system, it is necessary to register the electrical appliance and the power consumption of the electrical appliance in advance in the database, and the electrical appliance varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. In addition, there are a wide variety of types and the number of electrical appliances is quite large. For this reason, it is very troublesome to register the power consumption for each electric appliance. That is, there is a problem that the construction of the power monitoring system is very troublesome.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a communication system capable of easily constructing a system.

The invention of claim 1 is a communication system comprising a plurality of measurement units that measure a physical quantity to be measured, and an aggregation management device that collects measurement data of each measurement unit by wireless communication,
Each of the measurement units transmits an identification number and activation notification data set in advance when the measurement unit is started up to the aggregation management device and measures the physical quantity,
When the aggregation management device receives the identification number and the activation notification data transmitted from the measurement unit, it registers the identification number in the registration unit, and based on the identification number registered in the registration unit, Send a data transmission command signal to the measurement unit,
Each measurement unit transmits the measured measurement data and the identification number to the totalization management device when receiving the data transmission command signal.

  According to this invention, when the identification number transmitted from the measuring unit and the activation notification data are received, the aggregation management device registers the identification number in the registration unit, and based on the identification number registered in the registration unit. Since the data transmission command signal is transmitted to each measuring unit, the system can be easily constructed.

It is the block diagram which showed the structure etc. of the electric power monitoring system using the communication system which concerns on this invention, and a solar power generation system. It is the perspective view which showed the external appearance of the measurement unit of the electric power monitoring system shown in FIG. It is the block diagram which showed the circuit structure in a measurement unit. It is the perspective view which showed the measurement tap. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the electrical system of a measurement tap. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the total management apparatus. 3 is a time chart showing the operation of the phase difference detection circuit. It is explanatory drawing which showed the communication network formed with the total management apparatus, the measurement unit, and the measurement tap. It is the time chart which showed the operation | movement of the electric power monitoring system which is one of the communication systems. It is the time chart which showed the operation | movement by general ZigBee communication.

  Hereinafter, an example which is an embodiment of a power monitoring system using a communication system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a solar power generation system S to which a power monitoring system 300 is applied. This solar power generation system S is arranged for each building H such as a detached house, and an electric power load device which will describe the generated power later. And surplus power is sold to the commercial power supply side, or when the power supplied to the load is insufficient with only solar power generation, the system purchases power from the commercial power supply side.

  First, this building H will be described. This building H is for receiving power supply from system power such as a power plant of a power company and cogeneration (hereinafter referred to as “cogeneration”) facilities installed in each region. It is connected to a grid power network E as a power network.

  The power grid E and the main trunk 20a wired to the building H are connected via electric energy meters E1 and E2, and the main trunk 20a is connected to the branch trunks 20b and 21a to 21i of the distribution board 20. The amount of power flowing from the grid power network E to the building H is measured by the power meter E1, and the amount of power flowing from the building H to the grid power network E is measured by the power meter E2. That is, the electric energy meter E1 integrates the purchased electric energy, and the electric energy meter E2 integrates the sold electric energy.

  The solar power generation system S includes a solar power generation device (distributed power source) 5 as a distributed power generation device, a power conditioner 51, a storage battery 60 as a power storage device that temporarily stores electric power, and a power conditioner. 61.

  The solar power generation device 5 is a device that generates power by directly converting sunlight as solar energy into electric power by using a solar cell. The solar power generation device 5 is a device that can supply power only during a time period in which sunlight can be received.

  Further, the DC power generated by the solar power generation device 5 is converted into AC power by the power conditioner 51 and input to the distribution board 20. Furthermore, when the storage battery 60 is charged or discharged from the storage battery 60, the power conditioner 61 converts direct current into alternating current.

  The storage amount control device 6 connected to the power conditioner 61 of the storage battery 60 is a device that performs charge control and discharge control of the storage battery 60.

  For example, the storage amount control device 6 performs control such that the storage battery 60 is charged with power having a low unit price such as nighttime power, and the charged power is used preferentially during the daytime. Further, when power generation is performed by the solar power generation device 5, the generated power is consumed first, and the power stored in the storage battery 60 compensates for the shortage of the power of the solar power generation device 5. Control.

  In addition, the storage amount control device 6 measures the storage amount of the storage battery 60 and wirelessly transmits the measured value from the communication unit (not shown) to the aggregation management device (information processing unit) 303.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the tabulation management device 303 is connected to an external communication network N such as the Internet via a router 41a and a gateway 41b. In addition, data such as measurement values and control signals can be transmitted to and received from an external server 4 that is also connected to the communication network N.

  For example, the measurement value data stored in the data storage unit 33 of the tabulation management device 303 shown in FIG. 6 is transmitted to the server 4 at intervals set such as hourly, daily or monthly, and received by the server 4. Various analyzes are performed based on the data. Further, when a predetermined interval or update information is generated, various signals such as a set value, a management value, and an update program can be transmitted from the server 4 to the aggregation management device 303.

  The computer 41 connected to the router 41a in the building H is configured to be able to transmit and receive data wirelessly to and from the totalization management device 303.

  Then, on the monitor (not shown) of this computer 41, the measured values recorded in the data storage unit 33 of the totalization management device 303, the measured values stored in the server 4, the statistical processing results of those measured values, the power consumption Evaluation of quantity etc. can be displayed. Further, detailed data of the measured values can be displayed on the monitor in real time.

  Further, the computer 41 can change the set value of the aggregation management device 303 or instruct the update of the control program of the aggregation management device 303 or the like.

  In addition, a main trunk 20a and auxiliary lines 20c and 20d are connected to the distribution board 20 as an input side.

  Then, power from the grid power network E is input to the distribution board 20 through the main trunk 20a. In addition, when selling the electric power produced | generated by the solar power generation device 5, the electric power produced | generated by the main power 20a is sent to the system | strain power network E as a reverse power flow.

  Further, the power generated by the solar power generation device 5 is input to the distribution board 20 from the auxiliary line 20c. Moreover, the storage battery 60 and the distribution board 20 are connected by the auxiliary line 20d, and charging from the distribution board 20 to the storage battery 60 and discharging from the storage battery 60 to the distribution board 20 are performed.

  Various energy load devices are installed in the building H. For example, there are power load devices (home appliance loads) 10A and 10B that are operated by electric power such as an air conditioner such as an air conditioner, an illumination device such as a lighting stand or a ceiling light, and a home appliance such as a refrigerator or a television. The power load devices 10A and 10B are connected to a power outlet (not shown) and connected to the branch trunk 20b of the distribution board 20.

  The power monitoring system 300 includes an aggregation management device 303, a measurement unit 400, a current detector 40 that detects an alternating current (physical quantity) of the trunk 20a that is a measurement target, and the branch trunks 20b and 21a to 21i that are measurement targets. Current detectors (branch trunk current detectors) 320b, 321a to 321i for detecting the alternating current (physical quantity) of the current, and the alternating current output from the power conditioner 51, that is, the alternating current (physical quantity) of the auxiliary line 20c to be measured. Current detector 320c for detecting the current and a plurality of measurement taps (measurement units) 500a to 500i. Home appliance loads 510a to 510i similar to the power load devices 10A and 10B are connected to the branch trunks 21a to 21i via measurement taps 500a to 500i.

  The current detector 40 is a clamp-type current detector, and is attached to the main trunk 20 a without being removed from the distribution board 20.

  Since the current detectors 320b and 321a to 321i are clamp-type current detectors similar to the current detector 40, description thereof is omitted.

  2 and 3, the measurement unit 400 includes a phase difference detection circuit (phase difference detector: analog circuit) 110, a voltage detection circuit 120, a data control unit 420, and a transmission / reception unit provided in the housing 401. 430. The measurement unit 400 includes a power plug (plug) 404 that is plugged into a power outlet. The power plug 404 is connected to the phase difference detection circuit 110 and the voltage detection circuit 120 via a power cord 405. Note that L1 to Ln shown in FIG. 2 are signal lines connected to the current detectors 40, 320b and 321a to 321i, and the signal lines L1 to Ln are wired inside the wall.

  The phase difference detection circuit 110 detects a phase difference (physical quantity) between the AC current detected by the current detector 40 and the AC voltage of the branch trunk 20b, that is, the main trunk 20a. When the phase difference is detected, an H level signal is detected. A phase difference detection signal is output.

  Here, the phase difference between the AC voltage and the AC current will be described.

  When the power generation amount of the solar power generation device 5 cannot cover the power of the home appliance loads 10A, 10B, 510a to 510i, that is, in the power purchase state, as shown in Aa and Ba of FIG. Are in phase. That is, the phase difference is zero.

  In the power sale state, as shown in Ab and Bb of FIG. 7, the current of the main trunk 20a is 180 degrees out of phase with the voltage of the main trunk 20a. That is, a phase difference occurs.

  The phase difference detection circuit 110 outputs a comparator 113 (not shown) that outputs a signal of H level (see FIG. 7) when the voltage of the main trunk 20a is positive, and a signal of H level when the current of the main trunk 20a is positive. The comparison 114 (not shown) to be output and the logic circuit 115 (not shown) for taking the exclusive OR of the signals output from the comparators 113 and 114 detect the presence or absence of a phase difference. is there. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the phase difference detection circuit 110 outputs an H level signal when there is a phase difference, and outputs an L level signal when there is no phase difference.

  The voltage detection circuit 120 detects an alternating voltage (physical quantity) of the branch trunk 20b to be measured via the plug 404. The AC voltage of the branch trunk 20b can be regarded as the same as the voltage of the main trunk 20a.

  The data control unit 420 detects the detection voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit 120, the detection current detected by the current detector 40, the detection current detected by the current detectors 320b and 321a to 321i, and the phase difference detection circuit 110. Each data with the phase difference signal is stored in the memory 420M every 1 second (fixed cycle), for example, and each data for 30 seconds (predetermined time) stored in the memory 420M is sent with an ID code. To do.

  Here, the data control unit 420 stores each detected data in the memory 420M every 1 second (fixed cycle), and thereby measures voltage, current, etc. every fixed cycle. It is not necessary to store each data in the memory 420M at regular intervals. For example, each detected data may be stored in the memory 420M only once or several times within a predetermined time.

  The transmission / reception unit 430 wirelessly transmits the data transmitted from the data control unit 420 to the aggregation management device 303.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the measuring tap 500 a includes a plug 11 as an insertion portion to be plugged into a power outlet provided on a wall of the building H, an outlet 12 as a receiving port, a plug 11 and an outlet 12. Are connected to one of the electric wires 1a and 1b, a current detector 501a for detecting a current flowing in one of the electric wires 1a, a data control unit 502a, and a transmission / reception unit 503a.

  The current detector 501 a detects an alternating current (physical quantity) flowing through the home appliance load 510 a (see FIG. 1) that is a measurement target connected to the outlet 12.

  The data control unit 502a stores the detected current detected by the current detector 501a in the memory 502aM every 1 second (constant period), or identifies the data for 30 seconds (predetermined time) stored in the memory 502aM, for example. Send it with a number.

  Here, the data control unit 502a stores the detected current detected in the memory 502aM every 1 second (fixed period), thereby measuring the current every fixed period. It is not necessary to store the detected current in the memory 502aM at regular intervals. For example, the detected current detected may be stored in the memory 502aM once or several times within a predetermined time.

  The transmission / reception unit 503a wirelessly transmits the data transmitted by the data control unit 502a to the aggregation management device 303.

  The other measurement taps 500b to 500i are, like the measurement tap 500a, current detectors 501b (not shown) to 501i, data control units 502b (not shown) to 502i, and memories 502bM (not shown) to 502iM. Since these configurations are the same as those of the measurement tap 500a, the description thereof is omitted.

  The tabulation management device 303 tabulates each measurement data based on the measurement data (physical quantity) and the identification number (described later) transmitted from the measurement unit 400 or the measurement taps 500a to 500i, as shown in FIG. As described above, the communication unit 32 that wirelessly transmits and receives data, the control unit 331, the data storage unit 33 that records data such as received measurement values and input signals, and temporarily stores measurement value data and the like It includes a temporary storage unit 37 such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a display unit 38 for displaying power consumption and the like.

  For the data storage unit 33, a storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk, or an optical disk can be used. In the present embodiment, the data storage unit 33 is built in the main body of the tabulation management device 303, but can also be provided outside using an interface connecting a USB or a local network.

  In addition, the measurement value data to be recorded in the data storage unit 33 is stored at a predetermined interval or the time measured by the measurement unit 400 or the measurement taps 500a to 500i so that the measurement date and time can be specified later. The time when the measurement unit 400 and the measurement taps 500a to 500i transmit or the time received by the tabulation management device 303 is added as a time history and stored together.

  The communication unit 32 receives data transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 430 of the measurement unit 400, data transmitted from the transmission / reception units 503a to 503i of the measurement taps 500a to 500i, or the transmission / reception unit 430 of the measurement unit 400 or measurement. A command signal is transmitted to the transmission / reception units 503a to 503i of the taps 500a to 500i.

  Based on the data received by the communication unit 32, the control unit 331 uses the power of the main trunk 20a and the branch trunks 20b and 21a to 21i, the power of the home appliance loads 510a to 510i connected to the measurement taps 500a to 500i, and solar power generation. It has the calculating part 331A which calculates | requires the electric power which the apparatus 5 is generating, and the registration part 331B which registers the identification number (it mentions later) of the measurement unit 400 and the measurement taps 500a-500i.

  Further, the control unit 331 determines whether the power sale state or the power purchase state based on the data of the phase difference signal received by the communication unit 32, and displays each power obtained by the calculation unit 331A on the display unit 38, The determined power sale state or power purchase state is displayed on the display unit 38.

  As shown in FIG. 8, a ZigBee network (communication system), which is a communication network in which the aggregation management device 303 is a parent device and the measurement unit 400 and the measurement taps 500a to 500i are child devices, is configured.

  The ZigBee used here is set to be different from general ZigBee communication because the measurement unit 400 and the measurement taps 500a to 500i do not move. In other words, network monitoring and address lending are not performed.

  The measurement unit (relay measurement unit) 400 has a function as a repeater. Further, the measurement taps (relay measurement units) 500a and 500b have a function as a repeater, and the priority for use as a repeater is set in this order of the measurement unit 400 and the measurement taps 500a and 500b.

Further, NO1 is set as the identification number of the measurement unit 400, and similarly, NO2 to NO10 are set as the identification numbers of the measurement taps 500a to 500i.
[Operation]
Next, the operation of the power monitoring system 300 configured as described above will be described with reference to the time chart shown in FIG.

  First, the measurement taps 500a to 500h are connected to the outlets, and the home appliance loads 510a to 510h are connected to the outlets 12 of the measurement taps 500a to 500h, respectively.

  Here, the measurement taps 500a to 500f are connected to an outlet of a building that is within the radio wave range of the tabulation management device 303 (parent device), and the measurement taps 500g and 500h are outside the radio wave range of the tabulation management device 303 (parent device). It is assumed that the unit 400 (repeater) is connected to an outlet within the radio wave range. In addition, it is assumed that the measurement tap 500i is not used.

  Next, for example, the measurement unit 400 is started up. That is, the power is turned on (time t1). When the measurement unit 400 is started up, the data control unit 420 of the measurement unit 400 generates an activation notification signal with the identification number NO1, and the transmission / reception unit 430 activates the activation notification signal (activation notification data) A1 as shown in FIG. Is transmitted to the aggregation management device 303. In addition, the measurement unit 400 starts measurement when the power is turned on.

  In addition, when transmitting an activation notification signal, a participation permission signal, measurement data, etc., which will be described later, it is transmitted with an ID code and a recognition number of the destination, and the ID code and the identification number attached are confirmed at the destination. These explanations are omitted for convenience of explanation.

  When the power is turned on, the data control unit 420 of the measurement unit 400 causes the voltage of the branch trunk 20b detected by the voltage detection circuit 120, the current of the main trunk 20a detected by the current detector 40, and the current detectors 320b, 321a to 321i. The memory 420M stores the data of the currents of the branch trunks 20b, 21a to 21i detected by, and the phase difference signal detected by the phase difference detection circuit 110 every second.

  In the aggregation management device 303, when the communication unit 32 receives the activation notification signal A1, the control unit 331 reads the identification number NO1 attached to the activation notification signal A1, and registers the identification number NO1 in the registration unit 331B. Thereafter, the aggregation management device 303 transmits a participation permission signal B1 with the identification number NO1 from the communication unit 32 to the measurement unit 400.

  When the transmission / reception unit 430 of the measurement unit 400 receives the participation permission signal B1, the data control unit 420 confirms the identification number NO1 attached to the participation permission signal, and if the identification number is “NO1”, participation in the measurement system is performed. It is recognized that it is permitted, and thereafter, a signal from the total management device 303 and a signal from the measurement taps 500h and 500g are received and a predetermined operation is performed.

  When the totalization management device 303 outputs the measurement data transmission request signal (data transmission command signal) C1 to the measurement unit 400 (time t2), the transmission / reception unit 430 of the measurement unit 400 receives the measurement data transmission request signal C1, and the measurement unit 400 The data controller 420 of 400 confirms the identification number attached to the measurement data transmission request signal C1. That is, it is confirmed whether or not the identification number is “NO1”. If it is “NO1”, the measurement data D1 for 30 seconds stored in the memory 420M is attached with the identification number NO1 and transmitted to the aggregation management device 303. .

  When the communication unit 32 of the aggregation management device 303 receives the measurement data D1 from the measurement unit 400, the control unit 331 calculates the power of the main trunk 20a and each of the branch trunks 20b and 21a to 21i based on the measurement data. The calculated power is stored in the data storage unit 33 or displayed on the display unit 38 in association with the identification number “NO1”. Further, it is determined whether the power of the main trunk 20a is in a power sale state or a power purchase state, and this power sale / power purchase is stored in the data storage unit 33 or displayed on the display unit 38.

  When the measurement tap 500h is activated (time t3), that is, when the power is turned on, the data control unit 502h of the measurement tap 500h generates an activation notification signal with the identification number NO9, and the transmission / reception unit 503h relays the activation notification signal A2. To the measuring unit 400, which is a measuring instrument. Moreover, the measurement tap 500h measures the current flowing through the home appliance load 510h when it rises. That is, the data control unit 502h of the measurement tap 500h stores the detected current data detected by the current detector 501h in the memory 502hM every second.

  When the transmission / reception unit 430 receives the activation notification signal A2 from the measurement tap 500h, the measurement unit 400 transmits (relays) the activation notification signal A2 to the aggregation management device 303 (time t4). Whether the measurement unit 400 relays the activation notification signal A2 is determined, for example, by storing in advance the identification numbers NO8 and NO9 of the measurement taps 500g and 500h that need to be relayed.

  When the communication unit 32 of the aggregation management device 303 receives the activation notification signal A2 of the measurement tap 500h transmitted from the measurement unit 400, the control unit 331 reads the identification number NO9 attached to the activation notification signal A2, and this The identification number NO9 is registered in the registration unit 331B.

  Thereafter, the aggregation management device 303 transmits a participation permission signal B2 from the communication unit 32 to the measurement unit 400 (time t5).

  When the transmission / reception unit 430 of the measurement unit 400 receives the participation permission signal, the transmission / reception unit 430 transmits (relays) the participation permission signal to the measurement tap 500h. Whether or not to relay is determined by the identification number in the same manner as described above.

  When the transmission / reception unit 503h of the measurement tap 500h receives the participation permission signal B2, the data control unit 502h confirms the identification number attached to the participation permission signal B2, and if the identification number is “NO9”, the measurement tap 500h performs measurement. Each time the measurement data transmission request signal relayed from the unit 400 is received, the measurement data is transmitted.

  Then, the aggregation management device 303 outputs the measurement data transmission request signal C2 with the identification number NO9 to the measurement unit 400 (time t6). When the transmission / reception unit 430 of the measurement unit 400 receives the measurement data transmission request signal with the identification number NO9, the transmission / reception unit 430 transmits (relays) the measurement data transmission request signal C2 to the measurement tap 500h. Whether or not to relay is determined by the identification number in the same manner as described above.

  When the transmission / reception unit 503h of the measurement tap 500h receives the measurement data transmission request signal C2 with the identification number NO9, the data control unit 502h confirms the identification number NO9 included in the measurement data transmission request signal C2. That is, it is confirmed whether or not the identification number is “NO9”. If it is “NO9”, the measurement data D2 for 30 seconds stored in the memory 502hM is attached with the identification number NO9, and the transmission / reception unit 503h Send to.

  When the transmission / reception unit 430 of the measurement unit 400 receives the measurement data D2 from the measurement tap 500h, the transmission / reception unit 430 transmits (relays) the measurement data D2 to the aggregation management device 303 (time t7).

  When the communication unit 32 of the totalization management device 303 receives the measurement data D2 from the measurement unit 400, the control unit 331 obtains the power of the home appliance load 510h based on the measurement data D2, and uses the calculated power as the identification number “NO9”. In the data storage unit 33 or displayed on the display unit 38.

  Even when the measurement tap 500g is started up, the measurement data measured by the measurement tap 500g is transmitted to the aggregation management device 303 via the measurement unit 400 in the same manner as the measurement tap 500h, and the power of the home appliance load 510g is obtained. The data is stored in the data storage unit 33 or displayed on the display unit 38.

  In addition, when the measurement taps 500a to 500f are started up, activation notification signals with identification numbers NO2 to NO7 are transmitted to the aggregation management device 303 in the same manner as the measurement unit 400, and the aggregation management device 303 receives the measurement taps 500a to 500f. The identification number of 500f is registered in the registration unit 331B. Thereafter, the aggregation management device 303 transmits a participation permission signal from the communication unit 32 to each of the measurement taps 500a to 500f based on the identification number registered in the registration unit 331B, and each of the measurement taps 500a to 500f The identification number attached to the signal is confirmed, and if the identification number is its own identification number, the measurement data is transmitted each time a measurement data transmission request signal transmitted from the aggregation management device 303 is received.

  When the measurement data transmission request signal is transmitted from the totalization management device 303 to each of the measurement taps 500a to 500f, each measurement tap 500a to 500f is stored for 30 seconds in the memories 502aM to 502fM in the same manner as the measurement tap 500h. The transmission / reception units 503a to 503f transmit the measured data with identification numbers NO2 to NO7 to the aggregation management device 303.

  The aggregation management device 303 obtains the power of each home appliance load 510a to 510f based on the measurement data transmitted from each measurement tap 500a to 500f, and stores the obtained power in the data storage unit 33 for each identification number. Or display on the display unit 38.

  The totalization management device 303 is based on the identification number registered in the registration unit 331B so that the measurement data is transmitted from the measurement unit 400 and the measurement taps 500a to 500f once every 30 seconds. A measurement data transmission request signal C2 is transmitted to 400 and measurement taps 500a to 500f. Here, the identification number registered in the registration unit 331B is selected one by one, and the measurement data transmission request signal C2 is transmitted to the measurement unit 400 and the measurement taps 500a to 500f of the selected identification number. That is, the period from time t2 to time t8 in FIG. 9 is one period (30 seconds), and the measurement data is transmitted only once from the measurement unit 400 and the measurement taps 500a to 500f during this one period.

  Similarly, one period (30 seconds) is from time t6 to time t9, and measurement data is transmitted only once from the measurement taps 500g and 500h during this one period. These cycles are repeated.

  That is, each of the measurement unit 400 and the measurement taps 500a to 500h transmits measurement data only once every 30 seconds, and thus each of the memories 420M and 502aM to 502hM can store measurement data for 30 seconds. Only capacity is needed.

  When the measurement tap 500i is added and used, similarly to the above, 500i is connected to the outlet, and the home appliance load 510i is connected to the outlet 12 of the measurement tap 500i. Here, description will be made assuming that the measurement tap 500i is connected to an outlet in the radio wave range of the aggregation management device 303.

  Next, when the measurement tap 500i is activated, an activation notification signal with an identification number N010 is transmitted to the aggregation management device 303, and the aggregation management device 303 registers the identification number NO10 of the measurement tap 500i in the registration unit.

  Aggregation management device 303 sends a measurement data transmission request signal to each measurement unit 400 and measurement taps 500a to 500i based on the identification number registered in the registration unit so as to transmit measurement data once every 30 seconds. Will be sent.

  In this way, the measurement tap 500i can be added to the power monitoring system 300 simply by starting up the measurement tap 500i. Therefore, the addition can be easily performed. Further, when the measurement taps 500a to 500f are started up, the aggregation management device 303 registers the identification numbers of the measurement taps 500a to 500f, and based on the registered identification numbers, the participation taps and signals to the measurement taps 500a to 500f are registered. Since the measurement data transmission request signal is transmitted, the construction of the monitoring system can be easily performed. Moreover, even if it is a new home appliance (home appliance load), if it is connected to any one of the measurement taps 500a to 500f, the current of this home appliance is measured and the power is calculated by the tabulation management device 303. There is no need to register the power consumption of the home appliance in the totalization management device 303.

  Next, a case where the measurement unit 400 can no longer perform relay will be described.

  When the measurement tap 500h transmits measurement data to the measurement unit 400, if the measurement unit 400 cannot transmit the measurement data to the tabulation management device 303, that is, if the measurement unit 400 is not relayed, it is set in advance. The measurement tap 500h transmits measurement data to the measurement tap 500a based on the priority order. The measurement tap 500 a transmits the received measurement data to the aggregation management device 303.

  When the relay by the measurement tap 500a is not performed, the measurement tap 500b of the next priority is relayed.

  Whether or not the relay has been performed is determined by, for example, setting so that a response signal is transmitted to the measurement tap 500h when the measurement unit 400 that performs the relay receives data transmitted from the measurement tap 500h. . That is, the measurement tap 500h determines that relaying cannot be performed if there is no response within a predetermined time after transmitting data to the measurement unit 400. The determination of whether or not the measurement tap 500a is relayed is performed in the same manner.

  Even when the measurement data transmission request signal and the participation permission signal from the aggregation management device 303 are not relayed, it is determined that the relay could not be performed if there is no response within a predetermined time as described above. When the relay is not performed, the aggregation management device 303 transmits a measurement data transmission request signal and a participation permission signal to the measurement tap 500a based on a preset priority order.

  The measurement tap 500a transmits the measurement data transmission request signal and the participation permission signal transmitted from the aggregation management device 303 to the measurement tap 500h or the measurement tap 500g.

  As described above, according to the power monitoring system 300, the measurement unit 400 and the measurement taps 500a to 500i are fixed without moving, so that the network monitoring signal shown in FIG. It is not necessary to always confirm the location of the measurement unit 400 or the measurement taps 500a to 500i that are slave units by transmitting a monitoring response signal. For this reason, even if the number of slave units increases, the radio wave collision rate can be reduced. In addition, since it is not necessary to confirm the location of the slave units, the total time for sequentially transmitting measurement data from each slave unit can be shortened even if the number of slave units is increased.

  For this reason, the measurement unit 400 and each measurement tap 500a-500i should memorize | store the measurement data only by memorize | storing the measurement data only for the total time (this example 30 second). Memory capacity can be reduced.

  Moreover, since the measurement unit 400 is used as a relay and its use is fixed, the relay route is fixed. For this reason, when performing relay communication, it is not necessary to perform route calculation of relay communication, and communication responsiveness is improved. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, it takes less than one second until the measurement tap 500h receives the participation permission signal B2 after transmitting the activation notification signal A2, but as shown in FIG. It takes about 1 to 5 seconds from participation application to network participation permission.

  In the above embodiment, since ZigBee communication is customized, the data transfer area of the memory can be used as much as possible. Therefore, a large amount of measurement data to be transmitted at a time can be secured. For this reason, the freedom degree of a data frame spreads.

  In the above embodiment, the aggregation management device 303 transmits the participation permission signal B when receiving the activation notification signal A. However, the participation permission signal B does not necessarily have to be transmitted. Moreover, although ZigBee communication is used, it is not limited to this, and other communication methods may be used.

  Moreover, although the said Example demonstrated the power monitoring system, not only this but another monitoring system may be sufficient. For example, the current is detected by the measurement units 500a to 500i. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in addition to the measurement unit 400 and the measurement units 500a to 500i, temperature, humidity, and body temperature (physical quantities) that are measurement targets are measured. It may be a monitoring system equipped with a measuring unit or a measuring unit that measures the amount of use (physical quantity) of gas or water to be measured, or a monitoring system equipped with at least one of these measuring units. There may be.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and design changes and additions are permitted without departing from the gist of the claimed invention.

20b Branch trunk 21a-21i Branch trunk 300 Power monitoring system 303 Total management device 400 Measurement unit (relay measurement unit)
500a-500i Measuring tap (measuring unit)
510a-510i Home appliance load

Claims (5)

A communication system comprising a plurality of measurement units for measuring a physical quantity to be measured, and an aggregation management device for collecting measurement data of each measurement unit by wireless communication,
Each of the measurement units transmits an identification number and activation notification data set in advance when the measurement unit is started up to the aggregation management device and measures the physical quantity,
When the aggregation management device receives the identification number and the activation notification data transmitted from the measurement unit, it registers the identification number in the registration unit, and based on the identification number registered in the registration unit, Send a data transmission command signal to the measurement unit,
Each of the measurement units, when receiving the data transmission command signal, transmits the measured measurement data and the identification number to the tabulation management device. A relay measurement unit in which one of the plurality of measurement units has a relay function,
The communication system according to claim 1, wherein data transmission / reception between the measurement unit outside the radio range of the aggregation management device and the aggregation management device is performed via the relay measurement unit. A plurality of relay measurement units are provided, and a priority order is set for the plurality of relay measurement units.
The relay measurement unit is relayed using a relay measurement unit having a high priority among the plurality of units, and when the relay measurement unit can no longer be relayed, the relay measurement unit is switched according to the priority. 2. The communication system according to 2.   The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein data transmission / reception between the aggregation management device and the measurement unit is performed by ZigBee wireless communication.   The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the physical quantity is at least one of electric power, gas, and water consumed in a building.