JP2015186090A - Communication system and route constructing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication system that can efficiently perform a maintenance work of a terminal station even under a state that a master station is not installed or does not operate normally.SOLUTION: In a communication system, plural terminal stations whose predetermined information is collected by a master station are connected to one another through a network. A terminal station has a communication part for performing communications with other stations, and controllers (S12, S13) for communicating with other terminal stations through the communication part to determine the number of other terminal stations with which the terminal station concerned can communicate with no relay. The terminal station concerned transmits number information representing the number of the communicatable other communication to the other terminal stations, receives the number information related to the other terminal stations from the other terminal stations, and determines on the basis of the received number information whether the terminal station concerned is a terminal station which has the maximum number of other terminal stations with which the terminal station concerned can communicate with no relay. When it is determined that the terminal station concerned has the maximum number of terminal stations with which the terminal station concerned can communicate with no relay, the terminal station concerned informs this fact (S14).

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system that performs communication between a master station and a terminal station from which predetermined information is collected by the master station.

  There is a meter-reading system that measures the amount of electric power used by consumers such as each tenant in an apartment building or each tenant in an office building, collects the measured data, and transmits it to a server (see Patent Documents 1 and 2, etc.). In such a meter reading system, a terminal station is installed for each customer in an apartment house or office building, and a master station is installed in an electrical room in the apartment house or office building. Then, the master station collects and aggregates information on the power usage from each terminal station via power line communication (PLC).

JP 2010-157983 A JP 2006-180021 A

  By the way, when the master station has not yet been installed in the meter-reading system, or when the master station has been installed but failed, it becomes impossible for the master station to collect information on the power consumption of the terminal station. In such a case, there is a method of collecting power usage information from a terminal station using a maintenance terminal.

  When collecting information on a terminal station using a maintenance terminal without using a master station, the maintenance terminal connects to one terminal station and acquires information on other terminal stations via the one terminal station. In this case, a request from the maintenance terminal is transmitted to the terminal station via a plurality of terminal stations, and a response from the terminal station is also transmitted to the maintenance terminal via the plurality of terminal stations. When the number of terminal stations to be relayed is large, there is a problem that information collection processing at the maintenance terminal takes time, and the efficiency of maintenance work is reduced.

  The present invention provides a communication system capable of efficiently performing maintenance work on a terminal station even when the master station is not installed or is not operating normally.

  The communication system according to the present invention is a communication system in which a plurality of terminal stations from which predetermined information is collected by a master station are connected via a network. The terminal station communicates with other terminal stations via the communication unit that communicates with other terminal stations, determines the number of other terminal stations that the local station can communicate without relaying, The terminal number that indicates the number of terminals that can be transmitted to other terminal stations, receives the number information about other terminal stations from other terminal stations, and based on the received number information, the local station can communicate without relay And a control unit that determines whether or not the terminal station has the largest number. A terminal station is the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can be communicated without relay when it is determined that the terminal station has the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay. Inform you.

  The terminal station may further include a display unit that displays information indicating that the terminal station has the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay. At that time, the display color and / or luminance of the display unit may be changed according to the number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay.

  Also, the terminal station may transmit information indicating the terminal station having the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay to an external device via the communication unit.

  The communication system may further include a maintenance terminal that collects predetermined information from each terminal station. The maintenance terminal is connected to a terminal station having the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relaying. In this case, the control unit of the terminal station other than the terminal station to which the maintenance terminal is connected may construct a communication route for maintenance work for the terminal station to which the maintenance terminal is connected.

  In the above communication system, even when the master station is connected to the network, the control unit may construct a communication route for maintenance work in the network including the master station and each terminal station.

  Each terminal station may communicate with other terminal stations by power line communication or wireless communication.

  The predetermined information may be information regarding the power usage.

  The terminal station according to the present invention is a terminal station that is connected to a network and collects predetermined information by a master station. The terminal station communicates with the other terminal station via the communication unit that communicates with the other terminal station, determines the number of other terminal stations that the local station can communicate without relaying, The number of terminal stations that can be communicated without relaying based on the received number information, by transmitting the number information indicating the number to other terminal stations, receiving the number information related to other terminal stations from other terminal stations And a control unit that determines whether or not the terminal station is the most terminal station. A terminal station is the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can be communicated without relay when it is determined that the terminal station has the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay. Inform you.

  The program according to the present invention is a program for controlling a terminal station that is connected to a network and from which predetermined information is collected by a master station. The program communicates with other terminal stations to determine the number of other terminal stations that the local station can communicate without relaying, transmits the number information indicating the determined number to the other terminal stations, Receives information on the number of other terminal stations from the terminal station, and determines whether the local station is the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay based on the received number information. If it is determined that the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay is notified that the local station is the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay, Operate the terminal station.

  The route construction method according to the present invention is a communication route construction method in a communication system in which a plurality of terminal stations from which predetermined information is collected by a master station are connected by a network. The route construction method performs communication between terminal stations, determines the number of terminal stations that each terminal station can communicate without relaying, notifies other terminal stations of unit information indicating the determined number, A maintenance terminal that identifies the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay based on the number of terminals related to the terminal station, and collects information from each terminal station via the specified terminal station. And a maintenance communication route is constructed between the terminal station to which the maintenance terminal is connected and the terminal station to which the maintenance terminal is not connected.

  According to the communication system or the terminal station according to the present invention, it is notified that the local station is the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay. Thereby, the operator of the maintenance terminal can connect the maintenance terminal to the terminal station having the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay. By performing maintenance work in that state, the number of relays (number of hops) between terminal stations can be further reduced in communication for information collection during maintenance work, and faster information collection is possible. Work efficiency can be improved.

  According to the program according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a terminal station that can notify that its own station is the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay.

  According to the route construction method according to the present invention, the maintenance terminal is connected to the terminal station having the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay, and the maintenance terminal is not connected to the terminal station to which the maintenance terminal is connected. Establish a communication route for maintenance with the terminal station. As a result, the number of relays (number of hops) between terminal stations can be further reduced in communication for collecting information in maintenance work, and information can be collected at higher speed, so that maintenance work can be made more efficient.

The figure which shows the structure of the meter-reading system (an example of a communication system) of this embodiment ((a) The state in which the master station is not connected, (b) The state in which the master station is connected) Diagram showing the configuration of the terminal station Diagram showing the configuration of the maintenance terminal Diagram showing the configuration of the master station The figure which shows the 1st sequence (search of the communication possible terminal station for maintenance work) of the communication route construction process for maintenance The figure which shows the 2nd sequence (Notification of a communicable terminal station, determination of the terminal station which has the maximum number of communicable terminal stations) of the maintenance communication route construction process The figure which shows the 3rd sequence (construction of a communication route) of the construction process of a communication route for maintenance The figure which shows the sequence in the construction processing of the usual communication route The figure which shows the sequence of the meter-reading process in the normal operation state The figure which shows the sequence of meter-reading processing in maintenance work when abnormality of a master station occurs, and meter-reading processing after restoration of a master station

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1. Configuration FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network configuration of a meter reading system which is an embodiment of a communication system of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating a network configuration of the meter reading system when the master station 30 is not installed. FIG. 1B shows a network configuration of the meter reading system when the master station 30 is installed. As shown in FIG. 1, the meter reading system is configured by connecting a plurality of terminal stations 10 to a power line network 100. Each terminal station 10 can communicate with other terminal stations 10 and the master station 30 via a power line network (that is, a power line) 100. In the present embodiment, for convenience of explanation, six terminal stations A to F are used as an example, but the number of terminal stations is not limited to this.

  The master station 30 communicates with each terminal station 10 by PLC communication, and collects information on the amount of power used for each consumer in which each terminal station 10 is installed from each terminal station 10. In the example of FIG. 1B, the master station 30 can directly communicate with all the terminal stations 10.

  In such a meter reading system, for example, when the master station 30 is not installed or when the master station 30 does not operate normally, information on the terminal station 10 is collected using the maintenance terminal 20 instead of the master station 30. The The maintenance terminal 20 is a device that is carried and carried by a meter reader who reads the amount of power used by each consumer. As shown in FIG. 1, the maintenance terminal 20 performs wireless communication with one terminal station (terminal station A in FIG. 1), and collects information on the power usage of each terminal station 10 via the one terminal station. To do.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the terminal station 10. The terminal station 10 is installed for each consumer, acquires the amount of power consumed by the consumer from the power measuring device 19, and transmits it to the master station 30 or the maintenance terminal 20. Here, the power measuring device 19 is a device that measures the power consumption of the consumer. The terminal station 10 includes a power amount acquisition unit 11 that acquires information on the power usage amount from the power measurement device 19, a display unit 12 that displays information, and a control unit 14 that controls the operation of the terminal station 10. The display unit 12 includes an LED, a liquid crystal panel, and the like. The control unit 14 includes a CPU that executes a program for realizing a predetermined function, or a dedicated electronic circuit designed to realize the predetermined function. The terminal station 10 further includes a PLC communication unit 13a that performs power line communication (hereinafter referred to as “PLC communication”) with an external device, and a wireless communication unit 13b that performs wireless communication. The terminal station 10 also includes a storage unit 15 that stores programs and information necessary for the control operation of the control unit 14 and information about the acquired power usage. The storage unit 15 includes a hard disk or a semiconductor storage device. The storage unit 15 stores two types of routing tables: a normal routing table used during normal operation and a maintenance routing table used during maintenance work such as when the master station 30 is out of order.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the maintenance terminal 20. The maintenance terminal 20 includes a display unit 22 that displays information and a control unit 24 that controls the operation of the maintenance terminal 20. The display unit 22 includes an LED, a liquid crystal panel, and the like. The control unit 24 is configured by a CPU that executes a program for realizing a predetermined function, a dedicated electronic circuit designed to realize the predetermined function, or the like. The maintenance terminal 20 further includes a wireless communication unit 23 for performing wireless communication with an external device. The maintenance terminal 20 also includes a storage unit 25 that stores programs and information necessary for the control operation of the control unit 24 and acquired information. The storage unit 25 is composed of a hard disk or a semiconductor storage device.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the master station 30. The master station 30 includes a display unit 32 that displays information and a control unit 34 that controls the operation of the master station 30. The display unit 32 is configured by an LED, a liquid crystal panel, or the like. The CPU is configured to execute a program for realizing a predetermined function or a dedicated electronic circuit designed to realize the predetermined function. The master station 30 further includes a PLC communication unit 33a that performs PLC communication with an external device, and a wireless communication unit 33b that performs wireless communication. The master station 30 also includes a storage unit 35 that stores programs and information necessary for the control operation of the control unit 34 and the acquired information. The storage unit 35 is composed of a hard disk or a semiconductor storage device. The storage unit 35 stores a normal routing table used during normal operation.

  In the meter reading system configured as described above, the master station 30 acquires information on the power consumption from each terminal station 10 through PLC communication, aggregates it, and transmits it to a server (not shown) via the network. .

  On the other hand, in a state where the master station 30 is not installed or does not operate normally, the maintenance terminal 20 collects information on the power usage of each terminal station 10 via one terminal station.

2. Operation The initial setting of the terminal station 10 is performed in a state where the parent station is not installed and the terminal station 10 has been installed in each important house. In this initial setting, a terminal station having the largest number of terminal stations capable of direct communication (communication without relay) is determined, and notification (display / information transmission) is performed to identify the determined terminal station. . The process in the terminal station initial setting (S10) at this time will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the PLC communication unit 13a of each terminal station 10 broadcasts a route search packet by PLC communication (S11). The route search packet is a packet for notifying other stations of the existence of the own station. The control unit 14 of each terminal station 10 can directly communicate (communication without relay, communication with one hop) by receiving a route search packet from another terminal station via the PLC communication unit 13a. Other terminal stations can be recognized. When receiving a route search packet from another terminal station, the control unit 14 of each terminal station 10 stores information indicating the terminal station that is the transmission source of the route search packet in the storage unit 15.

  In the case of the example shown in FIG. 5, a route search packet is broadcast from each of the terminal stations A to F. The route search packet transmitted from the terminal station A reaches the terminal stations B, C, and D that are relatively close to the terminal station A, but does not reach the terminal stations E and F that are relatively far away. Not reached. The route search packet transmitted from the terminal station B reaches the terminal stations A and C that are relatively close to the terminal station B, but does not reach the terminal stations D, E, and F that are relatively far away. Not reached. Further, the route search packet transmitted from the terminal station E reaches the terminal stations D and F that are relatively close to the terminal station E, but the terminal stations A, B, and C that are relatively far away. Has not reached. Therefore, the terminal station A stores information indicating the terminal stations B, C, and D that are the transmission source of the received route search packet in the storage unit 15. The terminal station B stores information indicating the terminal stations A and C that are transmission sources of the received route search packet. The terminal station C stores information indicating the terminal stations A and B that are transmission sources of the received route search packet. The terminal station D stores information indicating the terminal stations A, E, and F that are transmission sources of the received route search packet. The terminal station E stores information indicating the terminal stations D and F that are transmission sources of the received route search packet. The terminal station F stores information indicating the terminal stations D and E that are transmission sources of the received route search packet.

  After a predetermined time has elapsed since the route search packet transmission, the PLC communication unit 13a of each terminal station 10 broadcasts a communication enable notification packet by PLC communication (S12). The communication possible notification packet is a packet for notifying a terminal station with which the local station can communicate. The control unit 14 of the terminal station 10 stores in the communicable notification packet information indicating the terminal station that is the transmission source of the received route search packet, that is, the terminal station capable of direct communication. One terminal station that has received a communication enable notification packet from another terminal station based on information indicating a terminal station that can directly communicate, analyzes the received packet, and the route transmitted by the other terminal station from its own station It can be recognized that the search packet has been received. That is, one terminal station can recognize that the other terminal station is a terminal station that can directly communicate with the one terminal station.

  The reason why both the route search packet and the communicable notification packet are communicated as described above is to confirm that direct communication is possible through a round-trip route between the own station and another terminal station. That is, it is possible to determine whether direct communication is possible in the communication path (outward path) from the local station to the other terminal station by the route search packet, and communication path (return path) from the other terminal station to the local station by the communication enable notification packet. Whether direct communication is possible or not can be determined.

  When the control unit 14 of each terminal station 10 receives a communication enable notification packet from another terminal station, it analyzes the packet and confirms whether or not the packet includes information indicating its own station. When the information indicating the own station is included, the control unit 14 registers the terminal station that is the transmission source of the received communication enable notification packet in the storage unit 15 as a communication enable terminal, The counter n indicating the number is incremented by one.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6, each of the terminal stations A to F broadcasts a communication enable notification packet. The terminal station A receives the communication enable notification packet from the terminal stations B, C, and D. Since the terminal stations B, C, and D receive the route search packet from the terminal station A, information indicating the terminal station A is stored in each communication enable notification packet. Therefore, every time the terminal station A receives the communication enable notification packet from each of the terminal stations B, C, and D, the terminal station A registers the terminal station B, the terminal station C, and the terminal station D as communicable terminal stations, and Count up n. As a result, the counter value of the terminal station A is 3. Similarly, the terminal station B receives communication enable notification packets from the terminal stations A and C. And every time the terminal station B receives the communication possible notification packet from the terminal stations A and C, the terminal station B registers the terminal stations A and C as communicable terminal stations and counts up the counter n. As a result, the counter value of the terminal station B is 2. The same processing is performed for the other terminal stations C to F. Each terminal station can recognize the number of terminal stations that can communicate directly without relaying from the value of the counter n of each terminal station.

  Thereafter, each terminal station 10 notifies the number of terminals that can be communicated to other terminal stations, and determines the terminal station with the maximum number of terminal stations that can be directly communicated (S13). Therefore, first, the control unit 14 of each terminal station 10 broadcasts a terminal station number notification packet including information indicating the number of terminal stations with which the terminal station 10 can communicate via the PLC communication unit 13a.

  The control unit 14 of each terminal station 10 analyzes the terminal station number notification packet received from another terminal station, and grasps the number of terminal stations with which the other terminal station can communicate. Then, the control unit 14 of each terminal station 10 compares the number of terminal stations (counter value) with which the local station can communicate with the number of terminal stations with which other terminal stations can communicate, When it is determined that the terminal station that can communicate with the station is the local station, the display unit 12 notifies that fact (S14). For example, the display unit 12 displays text information, an image, or the like indicating that the local station can communicate with the largest number of terminal stations, or lights an LED. At that time, the display color, brightness, blinking interval, and the like of the display unit 12 may be changed according to the number of terminal stations capable of direct communication.

  Further, since each terminal station 10 recognizes which terminal station (maintenance terminal station) has the most communicable terminal stations, it can be used for maintenance according to a request from the maintenance terminal 20. You may alert | report by transmitting the information which shows a terminal station to the maintenance terminal 20 via the wireless communication part 13b. Examples of information indicating the maintenance terminal station include GPS information and information indicating a position on the network.

  The operator of the maintenance terminal 20 can identify the terminal stations that can communicate with the largest number of terminal stations (hereinafter referred to as “maintenance terminal stations”) by checking the display. The operator of the maintenance terminal 20 can connect the maintenance terminal 20 to the maintenance terminal station by wireless communication, and collect information on each terminal station via the maintenance terminal station. In this case, the number of relays (number of hops) between the terminal stations can be further reduced by connecting a maintenance terminal to the maintenance terminal station that can communicate with the largest number of terminal stations in communication for information collection during maintenance work. It is possible to collect information at higher speed.

  For example, in the example of FIG. 6, the terminal A and the terminal D are terminals with the maximum number (= 3) of terminal stations that can communicate directly. In this case, notification (for example, lighting of LED) is performed by the display unit 12 of the terminal A and the terminal D.

(Construction of communication route for maintenance work)
The operator of the maintenance terminal 20 can recognize the maintenance terminal station (the terminal station having the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay) by confirming the display on the display unit 12 of the terminal station 10. The maintenance terminal 20 can be wirelessly connected to the maintenance terminal station to perform maintenance work. In maintenance work, a communication route for maintenance work is first constructed. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 7, the construction process of the maintenance work communication route will be described. In the following description, it is assumed that the maintenance terminal station is the terminal station A, and the maintenance terminal 20 is wirelessly connected to the terminal station A.

  When the maintenance work is started (S15), the control unit 24 of the maintenance terminal 20 transmits a maintenance route construction start request to the terminal station A via the wireless communication unit 23 (S16). When the terminal station A receives the maintenance route construction start request via the wireless communication unit 13b, the terminal station A broadcasts a route construction request packet to the other terminal stations BF through the PLC communication unit 13a. The route construction request packet includes information indicating a terminal station with which the terminal station A can directly communicate. For example, the route construction request packet transmitted from the terminal station A includes information indicating the terminal stations B, C, and D that are terminal stations with which the terminal station A can directly communicate.

  The control units 14 of the terminal stations B, C, and D that have received the route construction request packet transmit a route construction response packet to the terminal station A via the PLC communication unit 13a. The route construction response packet includes information indicating a terminal station with which each terminal station can directly communicate. For example, the route construction response packet transmitted from the terminal station B includes information indicating the terminal stations A and C that are terminal stations with which the terminal station B can directly communicate. The route construction response packet transmitted from the terminal station C includes information indicating the terminal stations A and B, which are terminal stations with which the terminal station C can directly communicate. The route construction response packet transmitted from the terminal station D includes information indicating the terminal station A and the terminal stations E and F that are the terminal stations with which the terminal station D can directly communicate.

  When receiving the route construction response packet from the terminal stations B, C, and D, the terminal station A creates a routing table for maintenance work based on the route construction response packet for the terminal stations B, C, and D, and stores it. Store in unit 15.

  Here, the route construction request packet from the terminal station A does not reach the terminal stations E and F. In this case, the terminal station D determines from the information contained in the route construction request packet received from the terminal station A that the terminal station A cannot communicate directly with the terminal stations E and F. In response, a route construction request packet is transmitted. In response to the route construction request packet from the terminal station D, the terminal stations E and F transmit a route construction response packet to the terminal station D. The terminal station D relays the route response packet from the terminal stations E and F and transmits it to the terminal station A. The terminal station A creates a routing table for maintenance work for the terminal stations E and F based on the route construction response packet received from the terminal stations E and F through the terminal station D and stores it in the storage unit 15.

  The terminal stations B to F other than the terminal station A store information indicating the route from the local station to the terminal station A in the storage unit 15 as a maintenance routing table. Further, each terminal station A to F also stores in the storage unit 15 information indicating a terminal station with which each terminal station can directly communicate.

  Through the above procedure, a communication route for maintenance work is established at each terminal station 10. That is, a routing table for maintenance work is created in each terminal station 10.

(Construction of normal communication route)
Next, a procedure for establishing a normal communication route when the master station 30 is connected to the meter reading system will be described. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing a route construction procedure when the master station 30 is connected in the meter-reading system.

  When the master station is connected to the meter reading system (S18), an initialization process is performed (S19), and a route is established between the master station 30 and each terminal station 10. Specifically, the control unit 34 of the master station 30 broadcasts a route construction request packet to each terminal station 10 via the PLC communication unit 33a (S20). When receiving the route construction request packet, the control unit 14 of each terminal station 10 transmits a route construction response packet via the PLC communication unit 13a in response thereto. When receiving the route construction response packet from the terminal station 10, the control unit 34 of the master station 30 creates a routing table (normal routing table) indicating the communication route with the terminal station and stores it in the storage unit 35. To do. Each terminal station 10 also creates a normal routing table indicating a communication route with the master station and stores it in the storage unit 15.

  When the terminal station 10 receives a route construction request from the master station 30, the terminal station 10 notifies the terminal station that the station itself can communicate directly. With this notification, the terminal station that has received the notification can recognize that there has been a route construction request from the parent station 30 even if it is a terminal station that cannot directly communicate with the parent station 30, and the terminal station that transmitted the notification As a relay station, a communication route with the master station 30 can be established. For example, when the terminal station E cannot directly communicate with the master station 30 and the terminal station D can communicate directly with the terminal station E, when the terminal station D receives a route construction request from the master station 30, The terminal station D notifies the terminal stations (including the terminal station E) that can communicate directly. By this notification, the terminal station E recognizes that there has been a route construction request from the master station 30, and requests the terminal station D to relay for communication with the master station 30. Thereby, the terminal station E can communicate with the master station 30 using the terminal station D as a relay station.

(Meter reading process)
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a sequence of meter reading processing in a normal operation state. In a normal operation state (A30), the master station 30 periodically transmits meter reading requests A to F to each terminal station 10 (terminal stations A to F) by PLC communication. Each terminal station 10 (terminal stations A to F) transmits meter reading responses A to F in response to the meter reading requests A to F. The meter-reading response includes information related to the power usage acquired by each terminal station 10. Thereby, the master station 30 can collect information on the power usage from each terminal station 10.

  Thereafter, when an abnormality (A31) occurs in the master station 30, maintenance work is performed using the maintenance terminal 20. With reference to FIG. 10, the meter-reading process in the maintenance work resulting from the occurrence of an abnormality in the master station and the meter-reading process when the master station is restored thereafter will be described. In maintenance work, the maintenance terminal 20 is connected to a maintenance terminal station (terminal station A in this example), and communicates with the terminal station A by wireless communication.

  First, the maintenance terminal 20 transmits a maintenance work start request to the terminal station A which is a maintenance terminal station. The terminal station A transmits a maintenance work start response to the maintenance terminal 20 in response to the maintenance work start request. Thereafter, the maintenance terminal 20 sequentially transmits individual meter reading requests A to F to the terminal stations to the terminal station A.

  The terminal station A transmits a meter reading response A to the maintenance terminal 20 in response to the meter reading request A to the own station. Further, the terminal station A transmits the individual meter reading requests B to F received from the maintenance terminal 20 to the terminal stations B to F in accordance with the maintenance routing table stored in the storage unit 15. In response to the meter reading requests B to F, each terminal station B to F transmits a meter reading response including information on the power usage amount to the terminal station A. When receiving the meter reading response from the other terminal stations B to F, the terminal station A transmits the received meter reading responses B to F to the maintenance terminal 20.

  Since the terminal stations E and F cannot directly communicate with the terminal station A, the terminal station D is relayed via the terminal station D, and a meter reading request is transmitted from the terminal station A to the terminal stations E and F. The meter reading responses from the terminal stations E and F are transmitted to the terminal station A via the terminal station D.

  When reception of the meter reading response for each terminal station A to F is completed, the maintenance terminal 20 transmits a maintenance work end request to the terminal station A. In response to the maintenance work end request, the terminal station A transmits a maintenance work end response to the maintenance terminal 20. This completes the maintenance work.

  Thereafter, when the master station 30 is restored (A33), the master station 30 uses the power from each terminal station 10 by transmitting a meter reading request to each terminal station 10 in the same sequence as the normal operation state shown in FIG. Collect quantity information.

3. Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiment, information regarding the power usage amount of the consumer is communicated between the terminal station 10, the maintenance terminal 20, or the master station 30, but the information to be communicated is not limited to the power usage amount. For example, information regarding the usage amount of gas, water, etc. of the customer may be communicated.

  In the above-described embodiment, the maintenance terminal 20 is connected by selecting the terminal station 10 with the maximum number of terminal stations capable of direct communication in the maintenance work as the maintenance terminal station. The maintenance terminal 20 may be connected to a terminal station other than the terminal station selected as the maintenance terminal station. Thereby, it is possible to use a terminal station that is easy to use according to the situation at the site, and convenience is improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, communication is performed between the terminal station (or parent station) and the terminal station using PLC communication, and communication between the maintenance terminal and the terminal station (or parent station) is performed by wireless communication. However, the communication medium is not limited to these. That is, communication may be performed between the terminal station (or parent station) and the terminal station using wireless communication, or communication may be performed between the maintenance terminal and the terminal station (or parent station) by PLC communication. Good.

  In the above-described embodiment, the maintenance work route construction (S16 to S17) is performed in a state where the master station 30 is not connected. However, these processes may be performed in a state where the master station 30 is connected. That is, the above-described processing may be performed by treating the master station as one of the terminal stations. Specifically, when the master station 30 is connected to the power line network 100, when the maintenance terminal station receives the route construction start request (S16) from the maintenance terminal 20, each terminal station 10 is similar to the above. The route construction request packet may be transmitted to the master station 30. Then, the maintenance terminal station may construct a route based on the route construction response packet received from each terminal station 10 and the master station 30 (S17). By constructing a maintenance communication route in a state where the parent station 30 is connected to the power line network, it becomes possible to acquire information on the parent station from the maintenance terminal 20 via the maintenance terminal station.

  The maintenance and normal communication route construction method shown in the above-described embodiment is an example, and the route construction method is not limited to the above-described method. The communication route between the master station (or maintenance terminal station) and the terminal station may be established using another route construction method.

4). Summary (1) The communication system disclosed in the above embodiment is a communication system in which a plurality of terminal stations (10) from which predetermined information is collected by a master station (30) are connected by a network (100). The terminal station (10) communicates with the other terminal station via the communication unit (13a) that communicates with the other terminal station, and the other terminal station with which the local station can communicate without relay. Obtain the number, send the number information indicating the obtained number to the other terminal station, receive the number information about the other terminal station from the other terminal station, and based on the received number information, the own station does not relay And a control unit (14) for determining whether or not the terminal station has the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate with each other. When it is determined that the terminal station (10) has the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relaying, the terminal station (10) has the largest number of terminal stations with which the local station can communicate without relaying. Notify that it is a station.

  According to the communication system having such a configuration, it is notified that the local station is the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay. Thereby, the operator of the maintenance terminal can connect the maintenance terminal to the terminal station having the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay. By performing maintenance work in that state, the number of relays (number of hops) between terminal stations can be further reduced in communication for information collection during maintenance work, and faster information collection is possible. Work efficiency can be improved.

(2) The terminal station (10) may further include a display unit (12) for displaying information indicating that the terminal station is the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay. Thereby, the operator of the maintenance terminal 20 can visually identify the terminal station having the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay.

(3) In the configuration of (2), the display color and / or luminance of the display unit (12) may be changed according to the number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay. Thereby, the operator of the maintenance terminal 20 can recognize the number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay by visual observation.

(4) The terminal station (10) may transmit information indicating the terminal station having the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay to the external device via the communication unit (13a, 13b). Accordingly, for example, information indicating a terminal station having the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay can be acquired from an arbitrary terminal station by communication.

(5) The communication system may further include a maintenance terminal (20) that collects predetermined information from each terminal station. The maintenance terminal is connected to a terminal station having the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relaying. As a result, the number of relays (number of hops) between terminal stations can be further reduced in communication for information collection in maintenance work, and higher-speed information collection is possible.

(6) In the configuration of (5), the control unit (14) of the terminal station (10) other than the terminal station to which the maintenance terminal (20) is connected is used for maintenance work with respect to the terminal station to which the maintenance terminal is connected. The communication route may be constructed.

(7) In the above communication system, even when the master station (30) is connected to the network, the control unit (14) performs maintenance work communication in the network including the master station and each terminal station. A route may be constructed.

(8) Each terminal station (10) may communicate with other terminal stations by power line communication or wireless communication.

(9) The predetermined information may be information regarding the power usage.

(10) The terminal station (10) disclosed in the above embodiment is a terminal station that is connected to a network and collects predetermined information by the master station. The terminal station (10) is a communication unit (13a) that communicates with another terminal station, and the number of other terminal stations that can communicate with the other terminal station via the communication unit without being relayed. The number information indicating the obtained number is transmitted to the other terminal station, the number information regarding the other terminal station is received from the other terminal station, and the own station is not relayed based on the received number information. And a control unit (14) for determining whether the terminal station has the largest number of communicable terminal stations. When it is determined that the terminal station (10) has the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relaying, the terminal station (10) has the largest number of terminal stations with which the local station can communicate without relaying. Notify that it is a station.

(11) The program disclosed in the above embodiment is a program for controlling the terminal station (10) connected to the network (100) and collecting predetermined information by the master station (30). The program communicates with other terminal stations to determine the number of other terminal stations that the local station can communicate without relaying, transmits the number information indicating the determined number to the other terminal stations, Receives information on the number of other terminal stations from the terminal station, and determines whether the local station is the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay based on the received number information. When it is determined that the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay is to notify that the own station is the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay. , Operate the terminal station.

  According to the above program, it is possible to realize a terminal station that can notify that the own station is the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay.

(12) The route construction method disclosed in the above embodiment is a communication route construction method in a communication system in which a plurality of terminal stations (10) from which predetermined information is collected by a master station are connected by a network (100). is there. The route construction method performs communication between terminal stations, determines the number of terminal stations that each terminal station can communicate without relaying, notifies other terminal stations of unit information indicating the determined number, A maintenance terminal that identifies the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay based on the number of terminals related to the terminal station, and collects information from each terminal station via the specified terminal station. (20) is connected, and a maintenance communication route is constructed between the terminal station to which the maintenance terminal is connected and the terminal station to which the maintenance terminal is not connected.

  According to the above route construction method, the maintenance terminal is connected to the terminal station having the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay, the terminal station to which the maintenance terminal is connected, and the terminal station to which the maintenance terminal is not connected To establish a communication route for maintenance. In communication for information collection in maintenance work, the number of relays (number of hops) between terminal stations can be further reduced, and higher-speed information collection is possible, so that the efficiency of maintenance work can be improved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Terminal station 12 Display part 13a PLC (power line communication) communication part 13b Wireless communication part 14 Control part 15 Memory | storage part 20 Maintenance terminal 30 Master station 100 Power line network

Claims (12)

A communication system in which a plurality of terminal stations from which predetermined information is collected by a master station are connected via a network,
The terminal station is
A communication unit that communicates with other terminal stations;
Communicating with other terminal stations via the communication unit, obtaining the number of other terminal stations that can be communicated without relay by the own station, sending the number information indicating the obtained number to the other terminal stations, Whether or not the own station is the terminal station having the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay based on the received number information relating to the other terminal stations from other terminal stations A control unit for determining
When it is determined that the terminal station is the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay, the terminal station is the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations with which the station can communicate without relay. A communication system for notifying that there is.   The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays information indicating that the local station is a terminal station having the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay.   The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the display color and / or luminance of the display unit is changed according to the number of terminal stations that can communicate without the relay.   The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal station transmits information indicating a terminal station having the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay to the external device via the communication unit. It further comprises a maintenance terminal that collects predetermined information from each terminal station,
The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance terminal is connected to a terminal station having the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without the relay.   6. The communication system according to claim 5, wherein a control unit of a terminal station other than the terminal station to which the maintenance terminal is connected constructs a communication route for maintenance work with respect to the terminal station to which the maintenance terminal is connected.   The control unit constructs a communication route for the maintenance work in a network including the master station and each terminal station even when the master station is connected to the network. Communication system.   The communication system according to claim 1, wherein each terminal station communicates with another terminal station by power line communication or wireless communication.   The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the predetermined information is information related to power usage. A terminal station connected to a network and collecting predetermined information by a master station,
A communication unit that communicates with other terminal stations;
Communicating with other terminal stations via the communication unit, obtaining the number of other terminal stations that can be communicated without relay by the own station, sending the number information indicating the obtained number to the other terminal stations, Receive the number information about other terminal stations from other terminal stations, and determine whether the own station is the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay based on the received number information. A control unit,
When it is judged that the local station is the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relaying, it reports that the local station is the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relaying. Terminal station. A program for controlling a terminal station connected to a network and collecting predetermined information by a master station,
Communicating with other terminal stations via the communication unit to determine the number of other terminal stations that the local station can communicate without relay, and the unit information indicating the determined number to the other terminal via the communication unit The number of terminal stations that can be transmitted to other stations via the communication unit from the other terminal stations and that can communicate without relaying based on the received number information. Is the most terminal station,
When it is judged that the local station is the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relaying, it reports that the local station is the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relaying. ,
A program for operating the terminal station. A method for constructing a communication route in a communication system in which a plurality of terminal stations from which predetermined information is collected by a master station are connected via a network,
Communicate between terminal stations, find the number of terminal stations that each terminal station can communicate without relaying,
Notify other terminal stations of the unit information indicating the number obtained,
Based on the number information about each terminal station, identify the terminal station with the largest number of terminal stations that can communicate without relay,
A maintenance terminal that collects information from each terminal station via the specified terminal station is connected to the specified terminal station,
A communication route construction method for constructing a maintenance communication route between a terminal station to which the maintenance terminal is connected and a terminal station to which the maintenance terminal is not connected.

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