JP2014107637A - Communication apparatus, communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication apparatus and a communication system capable of preventing incorrect registration of a slave unit included in an adjacent communication system.SOLUTION: A controller 1 as a master unit includes: a registration section 151 that registers a terminal 2 as a slave unit; a switching section 152 that switches operation mode; and a determination section 153 that determines whether a registration request is received from a single terminal 2 or from plural terminals 2 in a period of a registration mode. When the determination section 153 determines that a registration request is received from one terminal 2 only in a period operating in the registration mode, the controller 1 registers the terminal 2 which is the transmission source of the registration request in a registration section 151. On the other hand, when determination section 153 determines that plural registration requests are received from plural terminals 2 in a period operating in the registration mode, the controller 1 terminates the operation in the registration mode without performing registration of the terminals 2 which are transmission sources of the registration requests in the registration section 151.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device that performs communication with a child device and a communication system that uses the communication device as a parent device.

  Conventionally, as this type of communication system, a system (wireless network system) configured such that a plurality of wireless devices communicate with each other using a wireless signal has been provided (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Here, in Patent Document 1, a wireless device that is a master unit (master) transmits a wireless system identification code and its own device identification code using a predetermined system setting wireless channel. Have been described. The wireless device that is a slave (slave) writes the wireless system identification code and device identification code received from the parent device to the information storage means, transmits its own device identification code to the parent device, and ends the registration mode. The parent device writes the device identification code received from the child device in the information storage means and ends the registration mode.

  Thereafter, normal communication is performed, and the wireless device can identify the communication partner using the identification code.

JP 2002-186034 A

  However, in the system described in Patent Document 1, for example, in an environment where there are a plurality of communication systems nearby, such as in an apartment house, if a slave unit is registered simultaneously in a nearby communication system, There is a possibility that the slave unit of the communication system is registered by mistake. In particular, in a newly built apartment house or the like, when a contractor performs registration work of slave units all at once before a resident moves in, there is a possibility that an operation error will occur such that a slave unit of a neighboring house is mistakenly registered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above reasons, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication device and a communication system that have a low possibility that a slave unit of a nearby communication system is erroneously registered.

  The communication device of the present invention is a communication device that communicates with a slave unit, and switches between a normal mode for communicating with the registered slave unit and a registration mode for registering the slave unit When a registration request is received from the slave unit in the registration mode, a registration unit that registers the slave unit that is the transmission source of the registration request, and one registration request during a period in which the registration mode is selected A determination unit that determines whether the slave unit has been received from a plurality of the slave units, and when the registration request is received from one slave unit, the registration unit for the slave unit And when the registration request is received from a plurality of the slave units, the registration mode is terminated without registering the plurality of slave units. To do.

  In this communication apparatus, the registration unit is configured to transmit registration information to the slave unit when the slave unit is registered, and to register the registration information in the slave unit. If it is determined that the registration request has been received from a plurality of slave units, if there is a slave unit that has transmitted the registration information in the plurality of slave units, the slave unit is registered in the slave unit It is desirable to further include a cancel unit for deleting the registration information.

  In this communication apparatus, it is more preferable that the communication device further includes a notification unit that performs notification when the determination unit determines that the registration request has been received from a plurality of slave units.

  The communication system of the present invention is a communication system that performs communication between a parent device and a child device, wherein the child device includes a transmission unit that transmits a registration request to the parent device, A switching unit for switching between a normal mode for communicating with the registered slave unit and a registration mode for registering the slave unit, and when a registration request is received from the slave unit in the registration mode, A registration unit that registers the slave unit as a transmission source, and determines whether the registration request is received from one slave unit or a plurality of slave units during a period when the registration mode is selected A determination unit, and when the registration request is received from one slave unit, the registration unit is registered for the slave unit, and the registration request is received from a plurality of slave units. Without registering the plurality of slave units, Characterized in that it is configured to terminate the recording mode.

  Since the present invention is configured to end the registration mode without performing registration for the plurality of slave units when the determination unit determines that the registration request has been received from the plurality of slave units, There is an advantage that there is a low possibility that a slave unit of a nearby communication system is erroneously registered.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the controller and terminal of the communication system which concern on embodiment. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of registration of the communication system which concerns on embodiment. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of registration failure of the communication system which concerns on embodiment. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the registration negotiation process of the communication system which concerns on embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the communication system 10 according to the present embodiment includes a controller 1 installed in the customer 100 and a plurality of terminals 201, 202, which are used in the customer 100 and have a communication function with the controller 1. ... and. The controller 1 functions as a “master unit” and a “communication device”, and the terminals 201, 202,... (Hereinafter referred to as “terminal 2” when not distinguished from each other) function as a “slave unit”.

  Furthermore, the communication system 10 according to the present embodiment further includes a communication device 32 having a communication function with the controller 1. The communication device 32 is attached to the measuring device 31 of the power meter 3 that measures the power used by the customer 100. The communication device 32 preferably shares a housing (not shown) with the measuring device 31, but may have a housing separately from the measuring device 31. Below, although illustrated about the case where the consumer 100 is each dwelling unit of a housing complex, not only this example but the consumer 100 may be a detached house, an office, a factory, etc., for example.

  The controller 1 is a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) device, and performs bidirectional communication with a terminal 2 attached to or integrated with various electric devices (not shown). Examples of electrical equipment to which the terminal 2 is attached or integrated include power supply equipment such as solar cells, storage batteries, and power conditioners, equipment equipment such as IH cooking heaters, water heaters, and housing information panels, home appliances such as televisions, and personal computers. And information devices such as tablet terminals.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the controller 1 includes a first communication unit 11 that performs communication with the terminal 2, a second communication unit 12 that performs communication with the communication device 32 (see FIG. 2), and an operation that receives an operation input. It has the part 13, the indicator lamp 14, the control part 15 which controls operation | movement of each part, and the memory 16. The controller 1 may be housed in a distribution board (not shown) of the customer 100, or may have a casing separately from the distribution board. The indicator lamp 14 consists of LED (light emitting diode), and displays the operation state of the controller 1 by the lighting state. The control unit 15 has a microcomputer as a main component, and implements various functions by executing predetermined programs.

  The first communication unit 11 is configured to perform two-way wireless communication with the terminal 2 through a communication path using radio waves as a transmission medium. The second communication unit 12 is configured to perform two-way wireless communication with the communication device 32 through a communication path using radio waves as a transmission medium. The controller 1 has a function of acquiring information such as power consumption of the electric device from the terminal 2 and transmitting the information to the power company via the communication device 32 or controlling the operation of the electric device via the terminal 2. Furthermore, the controller 1 has a function of displaying meter reading data received from the communication device 32 on an electrical device such as a home information panel of the consumer 100, a television, a personal computer, or a tablet terminal.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the terminal 2 includes a third communication unit 21 that performs communication with the controller 1, an operation unit 22 that receives an operation input, an indicator lamp 23, and a control unit 24 that controls the operation of each unit. And a memory 25. Indicator lamp 23 consists of LED, and displays the operating state of terminal 2 by the lighting state. The control unit 24 has a microcomputer as a main configuration, and implements various functions by executing predetermined programs.

  The measuring device 31 of the power meter 3 is connected to a distribution line (not shown) to which commercial power is supplied from an electric power company (electricity company), and measures the amount of power used by the customer 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the measuring device 31 constitutes a power meter 3 as a so-called smart meter together with the communication device 32, and the host device (not shown) connected to the distribution line communicates with the communication device 32. As a result, the meter reading data is transmitted to the electric power company to enable remote meter reading. Here, the meter reading data includes at least the amount of electric power (the amount of electric power used by the customer 100) measured within a predetermined period by the electric power meter 3.

  Communication between the communication device 32 and the host device is realized by power line communication (PLC) that performs communication using a distribution line as a transmission medium. That is, a communication path using the distribution line upstream of the power meter 3 as a transmission medium is formed between the communication apparatus 32 and the upper apparatus, and the communication apparatus 32 communicates with the upper apparatus through this communication path. By performing power line carrier communication, meter reading data is transmitted to the host device.

  On the other hand, the communication device 32 is configured to perform two-way wireless communication with the controller 1 through a communication path using radio waves as a transmission medium. Thereby, the controller 1 displays the measurement result of the electric power meter 3, for example, visualizes the electric power consumption of the customer 100, or uses the signal from the electric power company side to suppress the peak of energy demand (peak cut). Based on this, the operation of the terminal (electrical device) 2 can be controlled.

  The commercial power is distributed from a substation to a step-down transformer (not shown) installed in an electrical room of an apartment house, and after being stepped down by the step-down transformer, is supplied to the customer 100 through the distribution line. . The host device is installed in the vicinity of the step-down transformer, and is a server (not shown) that is operated by an electric power company or an operator that provides a total amount of power via a dedicated line (not shown) using an optical fiber or the like. ) To send meter reading data.

  Further, a measurement unit (not shown) for measuring the amount of power used for each branch circuit may be provided in the distribution board installed in the customer 100. In this case, the controller 1 is a measurement unit. It is also connected to the measurement unit so that the measurement result can be acquired. In this configuration, when the controller 1 receives a signal for peak cut from the communication device 32, the controller 1 outputs a signal for controlling the electrical device based on the current power consumption of each branch circuit measured by the measurement unit. Transmit to terminal 2. Thereby, the controller 1 can control the operation | movement of the electric equipment currently used by the consumer 100 based on the signal from the electric power company side, in order to suppress the peak of energy demand (peak cut).

  Further, the controller 1 identifies the communication device 32 using identification information (for example, a meter number) assigned in advance for each power meter 3. That is, when the controller 1 is installed in the consumer 100, the contractor registers the identification number of the power meter 3 of the consumer 100 in the controller 1 so that the controller 1 can identify the power meter 3 thereafter. Become. Therefore, when the controller 1 communicates with the communication device 32 of the customer 100, for example, the controller 1 does not erroneously communicate with the communication device 32 of the neighbor.

  By the way, in order to enable communication between the controller 1 and the terminal 2, the connection between the controller 1 and the terminal 2 is established by associating the controller 1 and the terminal 2 provided in the same customer 100 with each other. There is a need to. That is, when the terminal 2 is added or changed, in order to start communication between the newly established terminal 2 and the controller 1, the newly established terminal 2 is registered in the controller 1 and the controller 1 and the terminal 2 in the same customer 100 are registered. Registration work to associate with is required. Note that the connection here means not a physical connection but a logical connection that is linked to each other as a communication partner to enable bidirectional communication.

  Below, the structure for registering the terminal 2 in the communication system 10 of this embodiment is demonstrated.

  After the operation of the communication system 10 is started, the controller 1 can be used for registration of the newly established terminal 2 by using an already-connected house information panel, an electric device such as a television, a personal computer, or a tablet terminal as a user interface. Specifically, the user accesses the controller 1 using a Web browser or the like installed in these electric devices, and inputs necessary information using a GUI (Graphical User Interface) or the like, thereby newly installing a terminal in the controller 1. 2 can be registered.

  However, before the operation of the communication system 10 is started (at the time of initial introduction), the controller 1 is normally not connected to any electrical equipment that can be used as a user interface. Therefore, when a contractor registers, for example, an IH cooking heater or a hot water heater terminal 2 for a plurality of customers 100 in a newly built apartment house before the resident enters, the neighboring terminal 2 is mistakenly registered in the controller 1. It is thought that it will be done.

  Therefore, the communication system 10 according to the present embodiment prevents the erroneous registration from occurring by adopting the following configuration in the controller 1 and the terminal 2 as shown in FIG.

  That is, the controller 1 serving as the parent device has functions as a registration unit 151 that registers the terminal 2, a switching unit 152 that switches operation modes, a determination unit 153, and a cancellation unit 154, which will be described later, in the control unit 15. Each of the terminals 2 serving as slave units has functions as a transmission unit 241 that transmits a registration request to the controller 1, a switching unit 242 that switches operation modes, and an erasing unit 243, which will be described later, in the control unit 24. .

  The switching unit 152 switches between a normal mode in which communication is performed with the registered terminal 2 and a registration mode in which the terminal 2 is registered. Here, the switching unit 152 alternately switches between the normal mode and the registration mode in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 13.

  When the registration unit 151 receives a registration request from the terminal 2 in the registration mode, the registration unit 151 registers the terminal 2 that has transmitted the registration request. Here, the registration unit 151 registers the terminal 2 by writing registration data necessary for communication with the terminal 2 in the memory 16 of the controller 1. The registration data here is a unique number (MAC address) assigned in advance for each terminal 2 and is stored in the memory 25 of the terminal 2 in advance.

  That is, the controller 1 writes registration data to the memory 16 in the registration mode, and performs communication using the terminal 2 in which the registration data is stored in the memory 16 as a communication partner in the normal mode.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, when registering the terminal 2, the registration unit 151 is configured to transmit registration information to the terminal 2 so that the terminal 2 registers the registration information. The registration information here includes at least a session key necessary for communication between the controller 1 and the terminal 2. The terminal 2 that has received the registration information registers the registration information by writing the registration information necessary for communication with the controller 1 in the memory 25.

  The determination unit 153 determines whether a registration request is received from one terminal 2 or a plurality (two or more) of terminals 2 during a period when the registration mode is selected. In other words, the determination unit 153 determines whether the registration request transmission source terminal 2 is one or a plurality of terminals when the registration request is received while the controller 1 is operating in the registration mode.

  Specifically, the determination unit 153 monitors the reception status of the registration request over a period from when the operation mode of the controller 1 is switched to the registration mode by the switching unit 152 until it is switched to the normal mode again. At this time, the determination unit 153 receives a registration request from one terminal 2 and determines that it has received a registration request from only one terminal 2 unless it receives a registration request from another terminal 2 thereafter. Then, it is determined to be normal. On the other hand, if a registration request is received from another terminal 2 at the same time or after the registration request is received from one terminal 2, the determination unit 153 receives the registration request from a plurality of terminals 2. Judgment is made and abnormal.

  If the determination unit 153 determines that the controller 1 is normal (receives a registration request from only one terminal 2) during the period of operation in the registration mode, the registration unit 151 Register the terminal 2 that sent the registration request. On the other hand, when the controller 1 determines that the determination unit 153 is abnormal (received registration requests from a plurality of terminals 2) during the period of operation in the registration mode, the transmission source of these registration requests The terminal 2 is not registered in the registration unit 151. That is, the controller 1 is configured to end the registration mode without registering the plurality of terminals 2 when the determination unit 153 determines that the registration request is received from the plurality of terminals 2. Yes.

  In short, the registration unit 151 receives the registration request from the terminal 2 in the registration mode, and does not receive the registration request from another terminal 2 during the period in which the registration mode is continued. Terminal 2 is registered. In other words, even if the registration unit 151 receives a registration request in the registration mode, if the registration unit 151 receives a registration request from another terminal 2 during the period in which the registration mode continues, the registration mode 151 No registration of any terminal 2 is performed.

  When the determination unit 153 determines that the registration request has been received from the plurality of terminals 2 during the period in which the controller 1 is operating in the registration mode, the cancel unit 154 includes the plurality of terminals 2. If there is a terminal 2 to which registration information has been transmitted, this registration information is deleted. That is, since the registration unit 151 transmits registration information to the terminal 2 at the time of registration of the terminal 2 as described above, when the determination unit 153 determines that the registration request has been received from the plurality of terminals 2, the plurality of the registration information is transmitted. In some cases, registration information has already been transmitted to some of the terminals 2. In such a case, the cancel unit 154 transmits an erasure request for erasing the registration information to the terminal 2 that has already transmitted the registration information, and erases the registration information.

  In addition, the transmission unit 241 of the terminal 2 transmits a registration request to the controller 1. The switching unit 242 switches between a normal mode for performing communication with the controller 1 and a registration mode for transmitting a registration request. Here, the switching unit 242 switches between the normal mode and the registration mode alternately according to the operation of the operation unit 22. That is, the terminal 2 transmits a registration request in the registration mode, and communicates with the controller 1 as a communication partner in the normal mode.

  When receiving the erasure request from the controller 1, the erasure unit 243 erases the registration information registered in the memory 25. Further, when the registration information is normally erased from the memory 25, the erasure unit 243 notifies the controller 1 that the registration information has been securely erased by transmitting an erasure response to the controller 1.

  In the present embodiment, the operation unit 13 of the controller 1 includes two push buttons, a registration confirmation button and a cancel button, and the operation unit 22 of the terminal 2 includes a single push button.

  Hereinafter, a specific operation example at the time of registration in the communication system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 shows an operation when the controller 1 determines that the determination unit 153 is normal (receives a registration request from only one terminal 2) and registers the terminal 2. FIG. 4 shows an operation when the controller 1 determines that the determination unit 153 is abnormal (receives registration requests from a plurality of terminals 2) and does not register the terminals 2.

  First, in the example of FIG. 3, when the controller 1 is operated in the normal mode and the registration confirmation button is pressed once in the operation unit 13 (S1), the switching unit 152 changes the operation mode from the normal mode to the registration mode. (S2).

  On the other hand, when the push button is pressed once in the operation unit 22 (S3), the terminal 2 causes the switching unit 242 to shift the operation mode from the normal mode to the registration mode (S4). When the terminal 2 shifts to the registration mode, the terminal 2 transmits a registration request from the transmission unit 241 (S5). The controller 1 uses the reception of the registration request as a trigger to start a registration negotiation process with the terminal 2, and registers the terminal 2 by this registration negotiation process (S6).

  However, the controller 1 starts the registration negotiation process only when the registration request is not received from the other terminal 2 before starting the registration negotiation process after receiving the registration request first. In other words, after receiving the registration request for the first time and before starting the registration negotiation process, the controller 1 stops without starting the registration negotiation process when receiving a registration request from another terminal 2. If the registration negotiation process is not started within a predetermined time after shifting to the registration mode, the controller 1 determines that the registration has failed, times out, and shifts to the normal mode. If there is no response from the controller 1 within a certain time after transmitting the registration request, the terminal 2 determines that the registration has failed, times out, and shifts to the normal mode.

  After the transition to the registration mode, the controller 1 displays that the display lamp 14 is being registered by blinking the indicator lamp 14, for example, until the registration negotiation process is completed. Similarly, after the terminal 2 shifts to the registration mode, the display lamp 23 blinks, for example, until the registration negotiation process is completed, thereby displaying that the registration is being performed in the lighting state of the display lamp 23.

  When the registration is successful and the registration negotiation process is normally completed, the controller 1 displays the registration completion in the lighting state of the indicator lamp 14 by, for example, continuously lighting the indicator lamp 14. When the registration confirmation button is pressed once in this state (S7), the controller 1 causes the switching unit 152 to shift the operation mode from the registration mode to the normal mode, and turns off the indicator lamp 14 (S8). Further, the controller 1 automatically switches the operation mode from the registration mode in the switching unit 152 even when the registration confirmation button is not pressed when a certain time (for example, 5 minutes) has elapsed after the registration negotiation process is completed. The mode is shifted to the normal mode, and the indicator lamp 14 is turned off.

  Similarly, when the registration is successful and the registration negotiation process is normally completed, the terminal 2 displays the registration completion in the lighting state of the indicator lamp 23 by, for example, continuously lighting the indicator lamp 23. When the push button is pressed once in this state (S9), the terminal 2 causes the switching unit 242 to shift the operation mode from the registration mode to the normal mode, and turns off the indicator lamp 23 (S10). Further, the terminal 2 automatically switches the operation mode from the registration mode to the normal mode in the switching unit 242 even if the push button is not pressed when a certain time (for example, 5 minutes) elapses after the registration negotiation process is completed. The mode is changed and the indicator lamp 23 is turned off.

  Alternatively, when the registration negotiation process is completed and the registration completion is displayed with the indicator lamp 14 turned on, the controller 1 presses the cancel button instead of the registration confirmation button once. Cancel registration. Specifically, when the cancel button is pressed, the controller 1 individually deletes the registration data of the terminal 2 written in the memory 16 in the previous registration negotiation process.

  On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 4, during the period when the controller 1 is in the registration mode, not only the terminal 201 that should be registered but also the neighbor's terminal 210 is accidentally pressed and the registration request is transmitted. Is shown.

  That is, in the example of FIG. 4, when the controller 1 is operated in the normal mode and the registration confirmation button is pressed once in the operation unit 13 (S11), the switching unit 152 registers the operation mode from the normal mode. The mode is changed (S12).

  Thereafter, when the push button on the operation unit 22 is pressed once in the terminal 210 of the neighbor (S13), the operation mode of the terminal 210 shifts from the normal mode to the registration mode (S14). When the terminal 210 shifts to the registration mode, the terminal 210 transmits a registration request from the transmission unit 241 (S15). The controller 1 uses the reception of the registration request as a trigger to start a registration negotiation process with the terminal 210, and registers the terminal 210 through this registration negotiation process (S16).

  In the example of FIG. 4, immediately after the push button of the terminal 210 is pushed (S13), the push button in the operation unit 22 is pushed once in the terminal 201 of the same customer 100 as the controller 1 (S17). The operation mode 201 shifts from the normal mode to the registration mode (S18). When the terminal 201 shifts to the registration mode, the terminal 201 transmits a registration request from the transmission unit 241 (S19).

  Here, the controller 1 determines whether a registration request is received from one terminal 2 or a plurality (two or more) of terminals 2 during a period when the registration mode is selected. In the example of FIG. 4, the controller 1 receives registration requests from the two terminals 210 and 201 at the time of receiving the registration request from the terminal 201. 2) has received a registration request. If the determination unit 153 determines that the controller 1 is abnormal, the controller 1 does not perform registration in the registration unit 151 with respect to the terminals 210 and 201 that have transmitted these registration requests.

  Therefore, the controller 1 cancels the registration negotiation process with the terminal 201 without starting the registration negotiation despite the reception of the registration request from the terminal 201. Moreover, if the registration negotiation process is already being executed with the neighboring terminal 210, the controller 1 also cancels the registration negotiation process. When canceling the registration negotiation process on the way, the controller 1 erases the registration data of the neighboring terminal 210 written in the memory 16 by the registration negotiation process.

  Further, the controller 1 transmits a deletion request from the cancel unit 154 to the terminal 210 in order to delete the registration information transmitted to the terminal 210 (S20). The terminal 210 that has received the erasure request erases the registration information registered in the memory 25 and transmits an erasure response to the controller 1 (S21). By such an erasing process (S22), the registration information of the controller 1 that is erroneously registered in the neighboring terminal 210 is automatically erased.

  Thereafter, the controller 1 determines that the registration has failed due to the cancellation of the registration negotiation process (S23), times out, and shifts to the normal mode (S24). The adjacent terminal 210 determines that the registration negotiation process has not been completed within a predetermined time after transmitting the registration request, and determines that the registration has failed (S25), and times out to shift to the normal mode (S26). The terminal 201 determines that the registration has failed when there is no response from the controller 1 within a predetermined time after transmitting the registration request (S27), and times out to shift to the normal mode (S28).

  Here, the controller 1 may further include a notification unit (not shown) that performs notification when the determination unit 153 determines that registration requests have been received from the plurality of terminals 2. Specifically, when the notification unit determines that the registration has failed, the notification unit notifies (displays) the registration failure in the lighting state of the display lamp 14, for example, by changing the blinking pattern of the display lamp 14. Similarly, even if the terminal 2 determines that the registration has failed, for example, a notification unit that notifies (displays) the registration failure in the lighting state of the indicator lamp 23 by changing the blinking pattern of the indicator lamp 23 may be provided. Good.

  As described above, when the controller 1 receives a registration request from a plurality of terminals 210 and 201 during the registration mode period, the controller 1 may not register any of the terminals 210 and 201, thereby causing a possibility of erroneous registration. Eliminate.

  When the controller 1 receives a registration request from a plurality of terminals 2 within the period when the operation mode is the registration mode, not only in the middle of the registration negotiation process, the controller 1 determines that there is an abnormality and the registration of the terminal 2 It suffices if it is configured not to perform. That is, the controller 1 receives a registration request from the terminal 201 before starting the registration negotiation process with the neighboring terminal 210 or even after the registration negotiation process is completed, within the period of the registration mode. Then, these terminals 2 are not registered.

  Next, a registration negotiation process in the communication system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the controller 1 and the terminal 2 perform processing for setting the MAC layer (S31 to 33 in FIG. 5). That is, the terminal 2 transmits an association request as a registration request to the controller 1 (S31), and subsequently transmits a data request to the controller 1 (S32). In response to this, the controller 1 transmits an association response having a content permitting connection to the terminal 2 that has transmitted the registration request (S33). By these processes, the controller 1 acquires the short address and MAC address (64 bits) of the terminal 2, and a PAN identifier and a short address necessary for communication between the controller 1 and the terminal 2 are set.

  Next, the controller 1 and the terminal 2 perform processing for security setting (S34, 35). That is, the terminal 2 transmits an authentication request to the controller 1 (S34). In response to this, the controller 1 distributes the session key (house key) to the terminal 2 that sent the authentication request (S35). Through these processes, a session key necessary for communication between the controller 1 and the terminal 2 is set.

  Finally, the controller 1 and the terminal 2 perform processing for setting an application layer (S36 to 38). That is, the terminal 2 transmits an instance list notification by broadcasting (S36). Then, the controller 1 transmits a hardware information acquisition request to the terminal 2 (S37). In response to this, the terminal 2 transmits a hardware information acquisition response to the controller 1 (S38). Through these processes, the controller 1 acquires the hardware information and EOJ (ECHONET object) of the terminal 2.

  In the registration negotiation process, for all data other than the instance list notification, the receiving node returns an ACK (indicated by a broken line in FIG. 5) indicating that the data has been normally received to the transmitting node. .

  According to the communication system 10 of the present embodiment described above, when the controller (master unit) 1 determines in the registration mode period that the determination unit 153 has received registration requests from a plurality of terminals 2. Does not register these terminals 2 in the registration unit 151. In other words, even if the controller 1 receives a registration request in the registration mode, if the controller 1 receives a registration request from another terminal 2 during the period in which the registration mode continues, the controller 1 No terminal 2 is registered.

  That is, for example, when the terminal 2 is registered simultaneously in the nearby communication system 10 in an environment such as an apartment house, the controller 1 assumes the terminal 2 that should be registered during the registration mode period, as well as the neighboring house. A registration request from an external terminal 2 is received. In such a case, according to the communication system 10 of the present embodiment, the controller 1 receives registration requests from a plurality of terminals 2 during the registration mode period, so registration of these terminals 2 by the registration unit 151 is performed. Not performed. In short, since the controller 1 does not perform registration when there is a possibility of erroneous registration of an unexpected terminal 2 such as a neighbor, the possibility of erroneous registration can be eliminated.

  If the controller 1 does not register, that is, if registration fails, the terminal 2 may be registered again. As a result, only the correct terminal 2 is registered while eliminating the possibility of erroneous registration. It is possible. In particular, when a registration work is performed simultaneously in a plurality of dwelling units in a newly built apartment house, etc., when the registration timing overlaps between the nearby communication systems 10, the construction contractor performs the registration work again at different timings. For example, it can be surely avoided that the terminal 2 of the neighboring house is erroneously registered.

  Further, when the controller 1 determines that the registration request has been received from the plurality of terminals 2 by the determination unit 153, if there is a terminal 2 that has already transmitted the registration information among the plurality of terminals 2, A cancel unit 154 for deleting the registered information is provided. Therefore, even if there is a terminal 2 that has already transmitted registration information, the controller 1 can delete the registration information from the terminal 2 when the terminal 2 is not registered.

  Furthermore, when the controller 1 further includes a notification unit that notifies when the determination unit 153 determines that the registration request has been received from the plurality of terminals 2, the controller 1 actively notifies the user that registration has failed. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to prompt the user to re-register the terminal 2 when registration fails.

  By the way, in the said embodiment, although the controller 1 which is HEMS apparatus comprises a main | base station (communication apparatus), although the terminal 2 attached to or integrated with various electric equipment illustrated the communication system 10 which comprises a subunit | mobile_unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. That is, the communication system only needs to be configured to perform communication between the parent device and a plurality of child devices registered in the parent device, and may be, for example, a telephone system.

1 Controller (base unit, communication device)
2, 201, 202, ... Terminal (slave unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Communication system 15 Control part 151 Registration part 152 Switching part 153 Judgment part 154 Cancellation part 24 Control part 241 Transmission part

Claims (4)

A communication device for communicating with a slave unit,
A switching unit that switches between a normal mode for communicating with the registered slave unit and a registration mode for registering the slave unit;
When receiving a registration request from the slave unit in the registration mode, a registration unit that registers the slave unit that is the transmission source of the registration request;
A determination unit that determines whether the registration request is received from one slave unit or a plurality of slave units during a period in which the registration mode is selected;
When the registration request is received from one slave unit, the registration unit registers the slave unit, and when the registration request is received from a plurality of slave units, the plurality of slave units The communication apparatus is configured to end the registration mode without performing registration for. The registration unit is configured to transmit registration information to the child device when registering the child device to register the registration information in the child device,
When the determination unit determines that the registration request has been received from a plurality of the slave units, if there is a slave unit that has transmitted the registration information in the plurality of slave units, the slave unit The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cancel unit that deletes the registration information registered in a machine. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a notification unit that performs notification when the determination unit determines that the registration request has been received from a plurality of the slave units. A communication system for performing communication between a master unit and a slave unit,
The slave is
A transmission unit that transmits a registration request to the master unit;
The base unit is
A switching unit that switches between a normal mode for communicating with the registered slave unit and a registration mode for registering the slave unit;
When receiving a registration request from the slave unit in the registration mode, a registration unit that registers the slave unit that is the transmission source of the registration request;
A determination unit that determines whether the registration request is received from one slave unit or a plurality of slave units during a period in which the registration mode is selected;
When the registration request is received from one slave unit, the registration unit registers the slave unit, and when the registration request is received from a plurality of slave units, the plurality of slave units The communication system is configured to end the registration mode without performing registration.

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