JP2013175857A - Method for determining representative terminal of communication device and control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication device that can set an optimal communication device to a representative terminal device in a system in which communication is performed by multi-drop connection electrically connecting a plurality of communication devices.SOLUTION: A communication device comprises: a random number generating unit 252 which refers to response time setting information including a response time range in a prescribed range set according to the number of functions of the communication device, generates a random number so that the response time range will correspond to functions of the own communication device, and stores the generated random number as representation right determination information; communication means which transmits a response command after passage of a time corresponding to the representation right determination information from the time of receiving a response request when it receives the response request from an operation unit; and a representation right determination unit 254 which determines whether it will make the own communication device into a representative terminal or a slave unit depending on whether or not it has received the response command from another communication device during a time from receiving the response request to the passage of time corresponding to the representation right determination information.

Description

  The present invention relates to a representative terminal determination method for a communication device and a control system.

  There is a system in which a plurality of communication terminals are connected in a multi-drop manner to communicate with each other. In such a system, it is necessary to provide an identification number, which is a destination address, in the contents of communication data. This identification number is generally called an address. This address is artificially set to each terminal by an address setting switch or the like in the initial setting state of the system. For the communication apparatus as described above, since the address is set artificially, there is a possibility that an erroneous setting of a construction contractor may occur. Therefore, a technique for preventing this is proposed (for example, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 1). 2). Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a device that connects a number of secondary stations to a primary station in a daisy chain system, and automatically sets addresses sequentially according to the wiring order. Also, in Patent Document 2, when a terminal is added to a system that is already in operation, the extension terminal automatically creates its own address, and this address does not overlap with the address of the existing terminal. An apparatus for confirming the above is disclosed.

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, since the address is automatically set according to the wiring order, an element for opening and connecting the communication line in the wiring order is necessary, and the system configuration price increases and automatic address setting is performed. It can be set only when there is one terminal in the system. If there are two or more terminals with the same function as the main terminal for automatic address setting, a new setting is made to select one of these terminals to lead automatic address setting. A switch is required. Moreover, in these systems, it is necessary to construct them in the order in which they are finally managed at the time of system construction, and there is a problem that it is difficult to change addresses after construction.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 2, since it is confirmed whether there is an overlap with the address of an existing terminal, it is assumed that there is a system in which address setting has already been completed. When setting a system, there is a problem that an address must be set.

  Thus, a technique has been proposed in which the initial setting of the system can be automatically and competitively made the shortest time without depending on the installer (see, for example, Patent Document 3). In Patent Document 3, for a plurality of remote controllers and a plurality of terminal groups constituting a communication device, the time until the remote controller starts polling when the power is turned on and until the terminal responds to a signal from the remote controller By setting the main remote controller and the representative terminal by providing means for delaying the time, the address setting is not required.

JP 62-100045 A JP-A-61-59938 JP-A-5-304694

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 3, no consideration is given to intentionally determining the representative terminal. For example, in a case where a plurality of terminals having different functions are linked and operated, it is preferable to give a representative right to a terminal having the most functions or a terminal having a function configuration with the highest priority. In the technology, there is a possibility that the representative right is given to all terminals constituting the terminal group. Therefore, there is a possibility that the function possessed by the terminal cannot be properly displayed as a function that can be operated by the remote controller. This is due to the feature of this communication system that only the functions of the terminal set as the representative terminal can be controlled by the remote controller.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and is a system for performing communication by multi-drop connection in which a plurality of communication devices are electrically connected, and a communication device capable of setting an optimum communication device as a representative terminal. An object is to obtain a representative terminal determination method of a control system.

  In order to achieve the above object, a communication apparatus according to the present invention is a control in which a plurality of communication apparatuses having one or more functions are connected via a communication line in a multidrop manner to an operating device that remotely operates the communication apparatus. In the communication device used in the system, the response time setting information including a response time range of a predetermined range set according to the number of functions of the communication device is referred to correspond to the function of the own communication device. A random number generating means for generating a response time range, storing the generated random number as representative right determination information, and receiving a response request from the controller, the representative right from the time of receiving the response request. A communication means for transmitting a response command for the response request after the time corresponding to the determination information has elapsed; and a time corresponding to the representation right determination information from the time of reception of the response request. In the meantime, depending on whether or not a response command has been received from another communication device in the control system, the communication device is a representative terminal that transmits and receives data to and from the controller, Representative right determining means for determining whether or not to select a slave unit that does not transmit / receive data to / from the controller.

  According to this invention, with reference to response time setting information including a response time range of a predetermined range set according to the number of functions possessed by the communication device, a response time range corresponding to the function possessed by the communication device, Random number generating means for generating random numbers so as to store the generated random numbers as representative right determination information, and other communication devices between the time when the response request is received and the time corresponding to the representative right determination information elapses And a representative right determining means for determining whether the local communication device is a representative terminal or a slave unit depending on whether or not a response command is received from the mobile station. It is possible to automatically set the representative terminal in the system to be intended as intended.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a system configuration to which a communication device according to Embodiment 1 is applied. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of each terminal in the system of FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the terminal according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the representative terminal determination unit. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of response time setting information. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of a representative terminal determination method according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the terminal according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of each terminal and the state of the representative right switch in the system of FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of response time setting information. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of a representative terminal determination method according to the second embodiment.

  A representative terminal determination method for a communication device and a control system according to embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a system configuration to which a communication device according to Embodiment 1 is applied. In this system, terminals 2 a, 2 b, and 2 c that are three communication devices are connected in a multi-drop manner by a communication line 3 to a remote controller 1 that is an operating device. The terminals 2a, 2b, and 2c have, for example, a ventilation operation function for ventilating indoor air, and heat exchange ventilation that ventilates indoor air by exchanging heat between exhaust air from the room and supply air to the room. It has an air quality improvement function such as an operation function, a humidifying operation function for humidifying and supplying the supplied air, or an air conditioning operation function for supplying and cooling the supplied air.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of each terminal in the system of FIG. As shown in this figure, the terminal 2a is a device capable of performing ventilation and heat exchange, the terminal 2b is a device capable of performing ventilation, heat exchange and humidification, and the terminal 2c is provided only for ventilation. It is a device that can perform. Thus, the functions are enhanced in the order of terminal 2c → terminal 2a → terminal 2b.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the terminal according to the first embodiment. The terminal 2 (2a, 2b, 2c) includes a load 21 provided in accordance with the function of each terminal 2, and a control circuit 22 that controls the load 21. As the load 21, for example, a fan, a motor, a heater, a humidifying mechanism, or the like is provided according to the function shown in FIG. 2 and connected to the control circuit 22. The terminal 2 is connected to a power source 5.

  The control circuit 22 is a communication means having a load driving unit 221 for turning on / off (driving) the load 21, a function for receiving a communication state on the communication line 3, and a function for transmitting a signal on the communication line 3. A transmission / reception unit 222, a nonvolatile memory 223 such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) that stores processing programs and data executed by the control unit 224, and processing programs and data stored in the nonvolatile memory 223 And a control unit 224 that controls the load driving unit 221 based on the control unit 224.

  In the first embodiment, the control circuit 22 includes a representative terminal determination unit that determines a representative terminal that performs transmission / reception with the remote controller 1 among the terminals 2a, 2b, and 2c connected in a multi-drop format. FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the representative terminal determination unit. The representative terminal determination unit 250 includes a response time setting information storage unit 251, a random number generation unit 252, a representative right determination information storage unit 253, and a representative right determination unit 254. Here, the response time setting information storage unit 251 and the representation right determination information storage unit 253 are provided in the nonvolatile memory 223, for example, and the random number generation unit 252 and the representation right determination unit 254 are provided in the control unit 224.

  The response time setting information storage unit 251 stores response time setting information in which a function of the terminal is associated with a grade indicating a response time range. Specifically, the response time setting information is graded such that the response time for transmitting a response command in response to a response request from the remote controller 1 is shorter for a terminal having more functions or a higher priority function. Is. Here, the grade is determined by the priority of functions in the system, and indicates the likelihood of becoming a representative terminal. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of response time setting information. The response time setting information includes a grade, a random number (response time) region that is a range of response time associated with the grade, and a function of the terminal 2 associated with the grade. Here, it is assumed that functions that can be provided in the terminal 2 include ventilation, heat exchange, humidification, and air conditioning. The rating of the terminal 2 having the function of only ventilation is 0, the rating of the terminal 2 having the function of ventilation and heat exchange is 1, the rating of the terminal 2 having the function of ventilation, heat exchange and humidification is 2, and the ventilation, The grade of the terminal 2 having functions of heat exchange, humidification, and air conditioning is set to 3. The higher the number of classes, that is, the larger the number of functions, the smaller the random number (response time) area is set. This is a condition that the representative right determining unit 254 described later tends to become a representative terminal. Here, in class 0, the random number (response time) area is 769 to 1024 ms, in class 1, the random number (response time) area is 513 to 768 ms, and in class 2, the random number (response time) area is 257 to In the case of grade 3, the random number (response time) region is 1 to 256 ms.

  The random number generation unit 252 refers to the response time setting information, and generates a random number within the range of a random number (response time) area defined by a grade corresponding to the function of the load 21 of the terminal 2 itself. For example, since the grade of the terminal 2a is 1, if the generated random number is in the range of 513 to 768, the value is generated. If the generated random number is out of the range, the random number is generated until a random number that falls within the range is generated. To do. The generated random number is stored in the representation right determination information storage unit 253 as representation right determination information. The representation right determination information storage unit 253 stores representation right determination information.

  When receiving the response request by polling from the remote controller 1, the representation right determination unit 254 counts time using the representation right determination information stored in the representation right determination information storage unit 253 as a response wait time, and the response wait time has elapsed. In the meantime, it is monitored whether a response command for a response request from the remote controller 1 has been received from another terminal 2. If a response command from another terminal 2 is not received before the response waiting time elapses, a representative terminal (master unit) having a representative right to perform communication between the terminal 2 and the remote controller 1 When a response command from another terminal 2 is received within the response waiting time, the terminal is set as a terminal having no representation right (hereinafter referred to as a slave unit).

  Further, when the own terminal 2 is set as the representative terminal, the representation right determination unit 254 stores a value obtained by subtracting a predetermined number from the representation right determination information in the representation right determination information storage unit 253 as new representation right determination information. When it is determined that the terminal is a slave unit, a value obtained by adding a predetermined number from the representation right determination information is stored in the representation right determination information storage unit 253 as new representation right determination information. That is, the response time of the terminal 2 that is the representative terminal is further shortened, and the response time of the terminal 2 that is the slave is further increased. As a result, even when the next representative right is determined, the terminal that has become the representative terminal this time is likely to become the representative terminal.

  Next, a processing procedure of a representative terminal determination method in such a terminal will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of a representative terminal determination method according to the first embodiment. First, when the terminal 2 is powered on (step S100), the random number generation unit 252 of the terminal 2 refers to the response time setting information, and a random number (response time) area corresponding to a class according to the function provided by the terminal 2 (Step S101), and the generated random number is stored as representative right determination information in the representative right determination information storage unit 253 of the nonvolatile memory 223 (step S102).

  Next, when a response request by polling is received from the remote controller 1 in the system (step S103), the representative right determination unit 254 of each terminal 2 starts counting the response waiting time (step S104). At this time, each terminal 2 also monitors a response command that is a reply to the response request transmitted from the other terminal 2.

  Thereafter, the representation right determination unit 254 determines whether or not the response waiting time exceeds the representation right determination information stored in the representation right determination information storage unit 253 (step S105). If the response waiting time has not passed the representation right determination information (No in step S105), it is determined whether a response command from another terminal 2 has been received (step S106). And when the response command from the other terminal 2 is not received (in the case of No at step S106), it returns to step S105 and continues counting the response waiting time.

  If it can be confirmed that the response waiting time exceeds the representative right determination information earlier than the other terminals 2 (Yes in step S105), it is determined that the own terminal 2 is the representative terminal (master unit). Then, the transmission / reception unit 222 transmits a response command to the remote controller 1 (step S108). Thereafter, the representation right determination unit 254 of the representative terminal stores, in the representation right determination information storage unit 253, new representation right determination information obtained by subtracting a predetermined number from the representation right determination information in the representation right determination information storage unit 253. (Step S109). For example, the representation right determination information can be reduced by 10. In this way, by performing a process of subtracting a predetermined number from the representative right determination information, it becomes easy to become a representative terminal after the next time. This completes the representative terminal determination method.

  On the other hand, if a response command to the remote controller 1 is received from the other terminal 2 in step S106 during the response waiting time in step S105 (Yes in step S106), the own terminal may be a slave unit. Confirm (step S110). The representation right determination unit 254 of the terminal 2 that has become the slave unit adds the predetermined number to the representation right determination information in the representation right determination information storage unit 253 as new representation right determination information as the representation right determination information storage unit 253. (Step S111). For example, it is possible to increase 10 from the representation right determination information. In this way, by performing a process of adding a predetermined number from the representative right determination information, it becomes easy to become a child machine from the next time onward. This completes the representative terminal determination method.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the range of random numbers generated according to the number of functions of the terminal 2 is set, and after the response request is received from the remote controller 1, the response waiting time is counted and generated. If a response command is not received from the other terminal 2 while counting up to the random number value, the terminal 2 becomes the representative terminal that performs transmission / reception with the remote controller 1. When a response command is received from the terminal 2, the own terminal 2 is set as a slave unit. As a result, in a system in which only the functions possessed by the terminal set as the representative terminal can be controlled by the remote controller 1, it is possible to reduce the probability that a terminal having few functions becomes the representative terminal. There is an effect that the occurrence of a situation in which the terminal 2 cannot be controlled by the remote controller 1 can be reduced. In addition, there is an effect that it is possible to easily cope with the addition of the terminals 2 constituting the system.

  Further, by using the communication apparatus of the first embodiment, even when it becomes necessary to add a terminal having a new function to the existing system, the response time setting information is reviewed (for example, the grade is increased). It is possible to easily cope with the problem by performing the above.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the terminal according to the second embodiment. This terminal 2 is provided with a representative right switch 225 in addition to the configuration of the control circuit 22 in FIG. 3 of the first embodiment. The representative right switch 225 is for shortening the response waiting time from the terminal 2 to the remote controller 1 (raising the grade), and by using this, the representative terminal can be set manually. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component same as Embodiment 1, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of each terminal and the state of the representative right switch in the system of FIG. FIG. 8 is obtained by adding the state of the representative right switch 225 to FIG. 2 of the first embodiment. In this example, the representation right switch 225 is turned on in the terminal 2a, and the representation right switch 225 is turned off in the other terminals 2b and 2c.

  By providing such a representative right switch 225, the response time setting information included in the response time setting information storage unit 251 also has a configuration different from that of the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of response time setting information. FIG. 9 is the same as FIG. 5 of the first embodiment, except that the state of the representative right switch 225 is added. Specifically, regardless of the priority of the function of the terminal, the number of classes with the representative right switch 225 in the on state is the highest, and the representative right switch 225 is turned off under the same as in FIG. In this state, the number of classes is set lower as the number of functions of the terminal decreases. Here, in grade 0, the random number (response time) region is 1025 to 1280 ms, in grade 1, the random number (response time) region is 769 to 1024 ms, and in grade 2, the random number (response time) region is 513 to 313. In class 3, the random number (response time) region is 257 to 512 ms, and in class 4, the random number (response time) region is 1 to 256 ms.

  Next, a processing procedure of a representative terminal determination method in such a terminal will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of a representative terminal determination method according to the second embodiment. First, when the terminal 2 is powered on (step S200), the random number generation unit 252 of the terminal 2 checks the state of the representation right switch 225, that is, whether it is on or off (step S201). Thereafter, the same procedure as that shown in steps S101 to S109 of FIG. 6 in the first embodiment is executed, and a representative terminal is determined (steps S202 to S210). However, when transmitting a response command in step S209, it differs from the first embodiment in that it includes the on / off information of its own representation right switch 225.

  If the response command from the other terminal 2 to the remote controller 1 is received in step S207 during the waiting time of step S206 (Yes in step S207), the representation right determining unit 254 displays the representation right switch. It is determined whether or not 225 is duplicated (step S211). This is because in step S209 described above, the representative terminal transmits a response command including the ON / OFF information of its representative right switch 225, so the content of the response command and the self-terminal 2 confirmed in step S201 are transmitted. By comparing the on / off information of the representative right switch 225, it can be confirmed whether or not the duplication is set.

  If the representative right switch 225 is not duplicated (Yes in step S211), it is determined that the own terminal 2 is a slave unit (step S212), and the representative right of the terminal 2 that has become the slave unit is determined. The unit 254 stores a value obtained by adding a predetermined number from the representation right determination information in the representation right determination information storage unit 253 as new representation right determination information in the representation right determination information storage unit 253 (step S213). In this way, by performing a process of adding a predetermined number from the representative right determination information, it becomes easy to become a child machine from the next time onward. This completes the representative terminal determination method.

  If the representative right switch 225 is set to be duplicated (No in step S211), an abnormality is reported to the remote controller 1 when the state is recognized (step S214). Thereby, processing such as displaying an error on the remote controller 1 can be performed. Then, the representative terminal determination method ends.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, since the representative right switch 225 is provided, the effect that the representative terminal in the system can be set according to the request of the user is the same as the effect of the first embodiment. Can be obtained in addition to.

  As described above, the communication device according to the present invention is suitable for the operation of a plurality of ventilation devices installed in ordinary houses, buildings, factories, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Remote control 2, 2a, 2b, 2c Terminal 3 Communication line 5 Power supply 21 Load 22 Control circuit 221 Load drive part 222 Transmission / reception part 223 Non-volatile memory 224 Control part 225 Representative right switch 250 Representative terminal determination part 251 Response time setting information storage part 252 Random number generation unit 253 Representative right determination information storage unit 254 Representative right determination unit

Claims (9)

In the communication device used in a control system in which a plurality of communication devices having one or more functions are connected to an operating device that remotely operates the communication device via a communication line in a multi-drop format.
By referring to response time setting information including a response time range of a predetermined range set according to the number of functions of the communication device, a random number is set so that the response time range corresponds to the function of the communication device. Random number generating means for generating and storing the generated random number as representative right determination information;
When a response request is received from the operation device, a communication unit that transmits a response command to the response request after a time corresponding to the representation right determination information has elapsed since the reception of the response request;
Depending on whether or not a response command has been received from another communication device in the control system between the time when the response request is received and the time corresponding to the representation right determination information has elapsed, Representative right determining means for determining whether to be a representative terminal that transmits / receives data to / from the operating device or a slave device that does not transmit / receive data to / from the operating device;
A communication apparatus comprising:   The response time setting information is set such that the response time range is set such that the response time becomes smaller as the number of functions of the communication device is larger or the priority is higher. The communication device described. A representative right selecting means for externally setting whether to be the representative terminal or the slave unit for the own communication device,
The response time range is set so that the response time becomes the smallest when the response time setting information is set as the representative terminal by the representative right selection unit. Communication equipment. The communication means transmits the state of the representative right selection means included in the response command,
The representative right determining means confirms the content of the response command transmitted by the other communication device, and the representative right selecting means of the own communication device is set to be the representative terminal. 4. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein, when information indicating that the communication device is set as the representative terminal is set in the response command, an abnormality is notified to the operation device. 5. .   The representative right determining means, when the response command is not received from the other communication device in the control system between the time when the response request is received and the time corresponding to the representative right determination information elapses. The mobile communication device is determined as the representative terminal, and when the response command is received from the other communication device, the mobile communication device is determined as the slave unit. The communication apparatus according to one.   The representative right determining means subtracts a predetermined number from the representative right determination information when it is determined that the own communication device is a representative terminal, and when it is determined that the own communication device is a slave unit, The communication apparatus according to any one of 1 to 5, wherein a predetermined number is added to the decision information. The function of the communication device is an indoor air quality improvement function,
The said response time setting information has the said response time range set according to the kind of indoor air quality improvement function which the said communication terminal has, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. Communication device.   The indoor air quality improvement function includes a ventilation operation function for ventilating the indoor air, a heat exchange ventilation operation function for ventilating the indoor air by exchanging heat between the exhaust air from the room and the supply air to the room The communication device according to claim 7, comprising at least one of a humidifying operation function for humidifying and supplying the supplied air and an air conditioning operation function for supplying and cooling the supplied air. In a representative terminal determination method for a control system, wherein a plurality of communication devices having one or more functions are connected to an operating device that remotely operates the communication device via a communication line in a multi-drop format.
Each communication device refers to response time setting information including a response time range of a predetermined range set according to the number of functions that the communication device has, and a response time range corresponding to the function of the communication device And generating a random number so as to store the generated random number as representative right determination information;
Receiving a response request from the controller, counting a response elapsed time from the time of reception of the response request;
A determination is made as to whether or not a response command for the response request has been received from another communication device in the control system between the start of counting the response elapsed time and the time corresponding to the representative right determination information has elapsed. Process,
If the response command is not received from the other communication device between the start of counting the response elapsed time and the time corresponding to the representation right determination information has elapsed, Set as a representative terminal that transmits and receives data between, when the response command is transmitted, and when the response command is received from the other communication device, the step of setting the own communication device as a slave,
A representative terminal determination method for a control system, comprising:

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