JP2016010196A - Power management device and communication control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce traffic of communication between a power management device and an apparatus connected with the power management device.SOLUTION: A power management device 10 according to the present invention manages operation of an electric apparatus provided in a user, and comprises: a communication unit 110 that transmits a setting change instruction to the electric apparatus and obtains setting information from the electric apparatus; and a control unit 120 that has the communication unit 110 obtain setting information after the elapse of a prescribed time from the transmission of the setting change instruction by the communication unit 110. The prescribed time is a value based on actual records in the past of a time span between the transmission of a setting change instruction and the acquisition of setting information in which the setting change is reflected.

Description

  The present invention relates to a power management apparatus and a communication control method.

  In recent years, a technology for installing a power management device (for example, HEMS: Home Energy Management System) for each power consumer and controlling a load device, a distributed power source, and the like has become widespread (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-309928 A

  In recent years, the number of devices connected to the power management apparatus tends to increase. In addition, the control contents of various devices by the power management device tend to be finer. As a result, the number of polls from the power management apparatus to various devices has increased, and traffic between the power management device and various devices has increased and tends to be congested.

  An object of the present invention made in view of such points is to provide a power management apparatus and a communication control method capable of reducing communication traffic between the power management apparatus and a device connected to the power management apparatus. It is in.

  In order to solve the above problem, a power management apparatus according to the present invention is a power management apparatus that manages the operation of an electrical device provided in a consumer, and transmits a setting change command for the electrical device, and the electrical device A communication unit that acquires the setting information of the electrical device from the control unit, and a control unit that causes the communication unit to acquire setting information after a predetermined time has elapsed after transmission of the setting change command by the communication unit. The predetermined time is a value based on a result of a time interval from when a setting change command is transmitted in the past to when setting information reflecting the setting change is acquired.

  In the power management apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the control unit measures the time interval and updates the predetermined time in the operation setting mode or periodically.

  In the power management apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the power management apparatus manages operations of a plurality of the electrical devices, and the predetermined time is a value different for each electrical device.

  Moreover, in the power management apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the predetermined time is a value different for each state of the electrical device.

  In the power management apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the predetermined time is an average value of the plurality of time intervals.

  In the power management apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the communication unit communicates with the electrical device in accordance with a communication standard of ECHONET Lite.

  In the power management apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the setting change command is a “SET” command in ECHONET Lite, and the command for acquiring the setting information is a “GET” command in ECHONET Lite.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a communication control method according to the present invention is a communication control method in a power management apparatus that manages the operation of an electric device provided in a consumer, and a setting change command for the electric device is issued. A transmission step of transmitting, and an acquisition step of acquiring setting information of the electric device from the electric device after a predetermined time has elapsed after the transmitting step, wherein the predetermined time includes a setting change command in the past It is a value based on the result of the time interval from the transmission until the setting information reflecting the setting change is acquired.

  According to the power management apparatus and the communication control method according to the present invention, communication traffic between the power management apparatus and a device connected to the power management apparatus can be reduced.

It is a figure which shows an example of a mode that the power management apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is connected to various electric equipment. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting change command response time which the power management apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention has memorize | stored, and information acquisition possible time. It is a figure which shows a mode that a power management apparatus measures the information acquisition response time at the time of power activation. It is a figure which shows the 1st example in which a power management apparatus measures a setting change command response time and information acquisition possible time. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example in which a power management apparatus measures a setting change command response time and information acquisition possible time. It is a figure which shows the 3rd example in which a power management apparatus measures a setting change command response time and information acquisition possible time. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the power management apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a power management apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and shows a mode that it is further connected to the information terminal.

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

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which a power management apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to various electrical devices.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the power management device 10 includes a distribution board 20, a distributed power source (solar power generation device 31, fuel cell device 32), and load equipment (air conditioner 41, floor heating device 42, lighting device 43). Connected to electrical equipment such as. The power management apparatus 10 is provided in a consumer such as in a home, for example, and manages connected electrical devices. Note that the electrical device illustrated in FIG. 1 is merely an example, and other electrical devices may be connected to the power management apparatus 10, or the electrical apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 is not connected to the power management apparatus 10. May be. The electrical equipment connected to the power management apparatus 10 is not limited to electrical equipment related to power, and for example, a gas meter, a water sensor, or the like may be connected to the power management apparatus 10.

  The power management apparatus 10 and various electrical devices are connected by, for example, a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network). The power management apparatus 10 can communicate with electrical equipment according to a predetermined communication standard. The power management apparatus 10 can communicate with an electrical device in accordance with, for example, the communication standard of ECHONET Lite (registered trademark) as a predetermined communication standard.

  The power management apparatus 10 includes a communication unit 110, a control unit 120, and a storage unit 130.

  The communication unit 110 communicates with an electrical device according to a predetermined communication standard. The communication unit 110 transmits a setting change command to the electric device when changing the setting of the electric device. When the electric device receives the setting change command from the communication unit 110, the electric device changes the setting of the electric device based on the setting change command. Moreover, the communication part 110 acquires the present setting information of the said electric equipment from an electric equipment. For example, when the power management apparatus 10 and the electrical device communicate with each other in accordance with the communication standard of ECHONET Lite, the setting change command is a “SET” command in ECHONET Lite, and the command to acquire setting information is ECHONET Lite. The “GET” command in FIG.

  The control unit 120 controls and manages the entire power management apparatus 10 and can be configured by a processor, for example.

  When the control unit 120 transmits a setting change command to the electric device via the communication unit 110, the control unit 120 sends the setting information from the electric device to the communication unit 110 after a predetermined time has elapsed in order to confirm that the setting change has been executed. To get. For the predetermined time, after the electric device receives the setting change instruction from the power management apparatus 10, the setting change based on the setting change instruction is completed, and the setting change is performed in response to the setting information acquisition instruction from the power management apparatus 10. Is a value determined based on a time interval (hereinafter also referred to as “information acquirable time”) until information reflecting the above can be transmitted. The predetermined time is a different value for each electric device and for each state of the electric device. The predetermined time is the same time as the information obtainable time or a time longer than the information obtainable time. The information obtainable time is a value based on a result of measuring a time interval from when the control unit 120 transmits a setting change command to the electrical device in the past until the setting information reflecting the setting change is obtained. .

  The control unit 120 measures the information obtainable time in the operation setting mode or periodically, and stores the updated value in the storage unit 130. The control unit 120 automatically sets a predetermined time from when the setting change command is transmitted to the electric device until the setting information acquisition command is transmitted to the electric device based on the information acquirable time. An example of measuring the information obtainable time will be described later.

  The storage unit 130 includes the above-described information acquisition time and the time from when the electric device receives the setting change command until it returns a response to the power management apparatus 10 (hereinafter also referred to as “setting change command response time”). This is stored for each electric device and each state of the electric device. Here, the state of the electrical device is, for example, idle, operating, or in error. The storage unit 130 also stores a time (hereinafter also referred to as “information acquisition response time”) from when the electrical device receives the setting information acquisition command until it returns a response when the power is turned on.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the information acquisition response time when the power is turned on, the setting change command response time and the information acquisition possible time during idle / operation / error, which are stored in the storage unit 130. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the storage unit 130 stores information regarding three types of electric devices (electric device A to electric device C). As illustrated in FIG. 2, the value of the information obtainable time is different for each electric device and each state of the electric device.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing how the information acquisition response time is measured when the power is turned on. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the information acquisition response time of the air conditioner 41 connected to the power management apparatus 10 is measured. The power management apparatus 10 transmits, for example, a setting information acquisition command for acquiring setting temperature information to the air conditioner 41 immediately after the air conditioner 41 is turned on. As a response to the setting information acquisition command, for example, when the power management apparatus 10 receives information that the set temperature is 25 ° C. from the air conditioner 41, the power management apparatus 10 calculates the time required from transmission of the setting information acquisition command to reception of the response. It memorize | stores in the memory | storage part 130 as information acquisition response time. Referring to the example of FIG. 2, the information acquisition response times of the electric device A, the electric device B, and the electric device C are 10 seconds, 5 seconds, and 20 seconds, respectively.

  Hereinafter, a state in which the power management apparatus 10 measures the setting change command response time and the information obtainable time in the operation setting mode or periodically will be described with reference to FIGS. The timing at which the response to the setting change command from the power management apparatus 10 varies depending on the type of electric equipment, the manufacturer, and the like. For example, FIG. 2 shows three examples of electrical equipment A to electrical equipment C.

  The electric device A is a first example. When the electric device A receives the setting change request from the power management device 10, the electric device A returns a response to the power management device 10 before starting the setting change operation (actual operation). Thereafter, the setting change operation is started.

  The electric device B is a second example. When the electric device B receives the setting change request from the power management apparatus 10, the electric device B starts the setting change operation before returning a response. When the setting change operation is completed, the electric device B returns a response to the power management apparatus 10.

  The electric device C is a third example. When the electric device C receives a setting change request from the power management apparatus 10, the electric device C starts a setting change operation before returning a response. The electric device C returns a response to the power management apparatus 10 during the setting change operation before the setting change operation is completed.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the setting change command response time and the information obtainable time are measured in the first example (electric device A). In FIG. 4, the case where the electric equipment A is the air conditioner 41 will be described as an example.

  First, the power management apparatus 10 transmits a setting information acquisition command to the air conditioner 41 in order to acquire the current setting state. For example, the power management apparatus 10 requests information on the set temperature from the air conditioner 41 (S101). The air conditioner 41 returns a response to the setting information acquisition command from the power management apparatus 10. For example, the air conditioner 41 transmits information that the set temperature is “25 ° C.” to the power management apparatus 10 (S102).

  Subsequently, the power management apparatus 10 transmits a setting change command to the air conditioner 41. For example, the power management apparatus 10 transmits a setting change command for changing the set temperature to “22 ° C.” to the air conditioner 41 (S103). When receiving the setting change command from the power management apparatus 10, the air conditioner 41 returns a response before starting the setting change operation (S104). After returning a response to the setting change command, the air conditioner 41 starts an operation of changing the set temperature from “25 ° C.” to “22 ° C.”.

  When receiving a response to the setting change command from the air conditioner 41, the power management apparatus 10 transmits a setting information acquisition command to the air conditioner 41 (S105), and receives a response to the setting information acquisition command from the air conditioner 41 (S106). . The power management apparatus 10 repeats acquisition of setting information from the air conditioner 41 until receiving a response from the air conditioner 41 that the set temperature is “22 ° C.”, that is, until the setting change operation of the air conditioner 41 is completed ( S105 to S112).

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, in the responses up to the third time (S106, S108, S110), the power management apparatus 10 receives the response that the set temperature of the air conditioner 41 is “25 ° C.”, and the fourth time In response (S112), the power management apparatus 10 receives a response that the set temperature of the air conditioner 41 is “22 ° C.”.

  The control unit 120 of the power management apparatus 10 stores the time from the setting change command (S103) to the response (S104) in the storage unit 130 as the setting change command response time. In addition, the control unit 120 stores the time from the response to the setting change command (S104) to the setting information acquisition command (S111) in the storage unit 130 as the information acquisition possible time. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the setting change command response time when the electric device A is idle is 1 second, and the information acquisition possible time is 15 seconds.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the setting change command response time and the information obtainable time are measured in the second example (electric device B). In FIG. 5, the case where the electric device B is the air conditioner 41 will be described as an example.

  First, the power management apparatus 10 transmits a setting information acquisition command to the air conditioner 41 in order to acquire the current setting state. For example, the power management apparatus 10 requests the temperature information from the air conditioner 41 (S201). The air conditioner 41 returns a response to the setting information acquisition command from the power management apparatus 10. For example, the air conditioner 41 transmits information that the set temperature is “25 ° C.” to the power management apparatus 10 (S202).

  Subsequently, the power management apparatus 10 transmits a setting change command to the air conditioner 41. For example, the power management apparatus 10 transmits a setting change command for changing the set temperature to “22 ° C.” to the air conditioner 41 (S203). When receiving the setting change command from the power management apparatus 10, the air conditioner 41 performs an operation of changing the set temperature from “25 ° C.” to “22 ° C.”, and returns a response to the power management apparatus 10 when the setting change is completed. (S204).

  When receiving a response to the setting change command from the air conditioner 41, the power management apparatus 10 transmits a setting information acquisition command to the air conditioner 41 (S205), and receives a response to the setting information acquisition command from the air conditioner 41 (S206). .

  In the example shown in FIG. 5, in the first response (S206), the power management apparatus 10 receives a response that the set temperature of the air conditioner 41 is “22 ° C.”.

  The control unit 120 of the power management apparatus 10 stores the time from the setting change command (S203) to the response (S204) in the storage unit 130 as the setting change command response time. In addition, the control unit 120 stores the time from the response to the setting change command (S204) to the setting information acquisition command (S205) in the storage unit 130 as the information acquisition available time. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the setting change command response time when the electrical device B is idle is 8 seconds, and the information acquisition possible time is 0.1 seconds.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the setting change command response time and the information obtainable time are measured in the third example (electric device C). In FIG. 6, a case where the electric device C is an air conditioner 41 will be described as an example.

  First, the power management apparatus 10 transmits a setting information acquisition command to the air conditioner 41 in order to acquire the current setting state. For example, the power management apparatus 10 requests the temperature information from the air conditioner 41 (S301). The air conditioner 41 returns a response to the setting information acquisition command from the power management apparatus 10. For example, the air conditioner 41 transmits information that the set temperature is “25 ° C.” to the power management apparatus 10 (S302).

  Subsequently, the power management apparatus 10 transmits a setting change command to the air conditioner 41. For example, the power management apparatus 10 transmits a setting change command for changing the set temperature to “22 ° C.” to the air conditioner 41 (S303). When receiving the setting change command from the power management apparatus 10, the air conditioner 41 starts an operation of changing the set temperature from “25 ° C.” to “22 ° C.”, and returns a response before the setting change operation is completed (S304). .

  When receiving a response to the setting change command from the air conditioner 41, the power management apparatus 10 transmits a setting information acquisition command to the air conditioner 41 (S305), and receives a response to the setting information acquisition command from the air conditioner 41 (S306). . The power management apparatus 10 repeats acquisition of setting information from the air conditioner 41 until receiving a response from the air conditioner 41 that the set temperature is “22 ° C.”, that is, until the setting change operation of the air conditioner 41 is completed ( S305 to S310).

  In the example shown in FIG. 6, in the responses up to the second time (S306, S308), the power management apparatus 10 receives a response that the set temperature of the air conditioner 41 is “25 ° C.”, and the third response In (S310), the power management apparatus 10 receives a response that the set temperature of the air conditioner 41 is “22 ° C.”.

  The control unit 120 of the power management apparatus 10 stores the time from the setting change command (S303) to the response (S304) in the storage unit 130 as the setting change command response time. In addition, the control unit 120 stores the time from the response to the setting change command (S304) to the setting information acquisition command (S309) in the storage unit 130 as the information acquisition possible time. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the setting change command response time when the electric device C is idle is 5 seconds, and the information obtainable time is 9 seconds.

  When the average value is stored in the storage unit 130 as the setting change command response time and the information obtainable time, the power management apparatus 10 repeats the processes shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 a plurality of times, and the average value is stored in the storage unit. 130.

  Moreover, the power management apparatus 10 performs processing as illustrated in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 for each electrical device connected to the power management apparatus 10 and for each state of the electrical device, and for each electrical device and for each state of the electrical device. The setting change command response time and the information obtainable time are stored in the storage unit 130.

  Next, an example of the operation of the power management apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In addition, the power management apparatus 10 shall acquire the information (IP address etc.) of the connected electric equipment previously.

  The control unit 120 of the power management apparatus 10 specifies information on the electrical device from which information is acquired. Information to be specified includes an IP address, a MAC address, a device type, a device ID, and the like (step S401).

  The control part 120 requests | requires the state acquisition of the designated electric equipment via the communication part 110 (step S402).

  The control unit 120 stores the state of the electric device (idling / operating / in error) and the setting information of the electric device (step S403).

  The control unit 120 transmits a setting change command to the designated electrical device via the communication unit 110 (step S404).

  The control unit 120 stores the response time from the electrical device for the setting change command in the storage unit 130 as the setting change command response time (step S405).

  The control unit 120 transmits a setting information acquisition command to the electrical device via the communication unit 110 (step S406).

  Based on the information acquired from the electric device, the control unit 120 determines whether or not the setting change of the electric device is completed (step S407).

  When it determines with No in step S407, the control part 120 memorize | stores acquisition request frequency and response time in the memory | storage part 130, and returns to step S406 again (step S408).

  When it determines with Yes in step S407, the control part 120 memorize | stores acquisition request frequency, response time, and setting change information in the memory | storage part 130 (step S409).

[Control by information terminal]
So far, the case where the power management apparatus 10 itself acquires information on the electrical equipment connected to the power management apparatus 10 has been described. However, the information terminal is connected to the power management apparatus 10, and the information terminal You may make the management apparatus 10 acquire the information (setting change command response time, information acquisition available time) of the electrical equipment. The configuration in this case is shown in FIG. The configuration shown in FIG. 8 is different from the configuration shown in FIG. 1 in that the information terminal 50 is connected to the power management apparatus 10. The information terminal 50 is, for example, a smartphone or a tablet.

  In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 8, the information terminal 50 may control the power management apparatus 10, and the power management apparatus 10 may acquire information on the electrical equipment connected to the power management apparatus 10.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the power management apparatus 10 acquires the setting information of the electric device from the electric device after a predetermined time has elapsed after the transmission of the setting change command to the electric device. The time is a value based on the actual time interval from when the setting change command was transmitted in the past until the setting information reflecting the setting change is acquired. Thereby, since the power management apparatus 10 transmits a setting information acquisition command to the electrical apparatus after the setting change operation of the electrical apparatus is completed, the power management apparatus 10 is connected between the power management apparatus 10 and the apparatus connected to the power management apparatus 10. Unnecessary polling can be omitted, and communication traffic can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the time from when the power management apparatus 10 transmits a setting change command in the past in the operation setting mode or periodically until the setting information reflecting the setting change is acquired. By measuring the interval and updating the predetermined time, the latest information of the setting change command response time and the information obtainable time can be held.

  Moreover, according to this embodiment, the power management apparatus 10 can memorize | control finely the time until setting information is acquired by memorize | storing the predetermined time different for every electric equipment.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the power management device 10 stores the predetermined time that differs for each state of the electrical equipment, so that the time until the setting information is acquired can be finely controlled.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily make various modifications and corrections based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these variations and modifications are included in the scope of the present invention. For example, the functions included in each component, each step, etc. can be rearranged so that there is no logical contradiction, and multiple components, steps, etc. can be combined or divided into one It is. Further, although the present invention has been described mainly with respect to the apparatus, the present invention can also be realized as a method, a program executed by a processor included in the apparatus, or a storage medium storing the program, and is within the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that these are also included.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Power management apparatus 20 Distribution board 31 Solar power generation device 32 Fuel cell apparatus 41 Air conditioner 42 Floor heating apparatus 43 Illumination apparatus 50 Information terminal 110 Communication part 120 Control part 130 Storage part

Claims (8)

A power management device that manages the operation of electrical equipment provided in a consumer,
A communication unit that transmits a setting change instruction for the electric device and acquires setting information of the electric device from the electric device;
A control unit that causes the communication unit to acquire setting information after a predetermined time has elapsed after transmission of the setting change command by the communication unit;
The power management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is a value based on a record of a time interval from when a setting change command is transmitted in the past to when setting information reflecting the setting change is acquired.   The power management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit measures the time interval and updates the predetermined time in the operation setting mode or periodically. The power management device according to claim 1 or 2,
The power management device manages the operation of the plurality of electrical devices;
The power management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is a value different for each electric device.   4. The power management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is a different value for each state of the electrical device. 5.   5. The power management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is an average value of the time intervals of a plurality of times.   6. The power management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit communicates with the electric device based on a communication standard of ECHONET Lite.   7. The power management apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the setting change command is a “SET” command in ECHONET Lite, and the command for obtaining the setting information is a “GET” command in ECHONET Lite. Power management device. A communication control method in a power management apparatus that manages the operation of electrical equipment provided in a consumer,
A transmission step of transmitting a setting change command for the electrical device;
Obtaining a setting information of the electric device from the electric device after a predetermined time has elapsed after the transmitting step,
The communication control method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is a value based on a record of a time interval from when a setting change command is transmitted in the past to when setting information reflecting the setting change is acquired.

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