JP2016127495A - Communication device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication program that can set a response waiting time matched with response performance of equipment of a communication partner.SOLUTION: A communication device 1 has a transmitter 15, a receiver 16, a timer 17, a storage unit 18 and a time setting unit 19. The transmitter 15 transmits a request signal requiring a response to equipment 2. The receiver 16 performs reception processing of a response signal as a response to the request signal when a lapse time from transmission of the request signal is within a response waiting time. The timer 17 measures the response time from the transmission of the request signal to the caption of the response signal. The storage unit 18 stores the history of the response time of the equipment 2 in association with attribution information of the equipment 2. The time setting unit 19 sets a response waiting time corresponding to the attribution information of the equipment 2 based on the history of the response time corresponding to the attribute information of the equipment 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention generally relates to a communication device, a program, and more particularly to a communication device that communicates with other devices, and a program that causes a computer to function as the communication device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) that monitors and controls residential equipment (such as solar cells and storage batteries) and home appliances (such as air conditioners, lighting fixtures, and refrigerators) (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Also, for the purpose of accelerating the spread of HEMS, industry standardization of communication methods between devices constituting HEMS is being promoted, and an interconnection environment for devices of different manufacturers is being prepared.

  Generally, when a device transmits a request signal to a communication partner device (a partner device), the device waits for a response during the response waiting time from the transmission of the request signal. When the device receives a response signal from the counterpart device within the response waiting time, the device performs reception processing of the response signal. If the device does not receive a response signal from the communication partner device within the response waiting time, the request signal transmitted to the communication partner device is determined to be timed out, and a time-out process such as retransmission of the request signal is performed. Is done.

  Here, when communication is performed between devices of the same manufacturer, information on the response performance of the counterpart device is stored in advance, so that it is common to set a response waiting time according to the performance of the counterpart device. For example, when communication is performed between a HEMS controller and a device device that are the same manufacturer, the controller can set a response waiting time according to the response performance of the device device. Thereby, in the device device, the overflow of the communication buffer due to the continuous request from the controller is prevented. That is, the generation of a request that cannot be received by the device device is prevented, and the device device is prevented from missing a request from the controller. Therefore, no communication loss occurs between the controller and the device device of the same manufacturer.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-124066

  However, when communication is performed between devices from different manufacturers, it is not possible to set an appropriate response waiting time because the response performance of the counterpart device is unknown. If the response waiting time is too short, timeouts occur frequently, and there is a possibility that requests may be missed due to the occurrence of multiple requests. Moreover, when the response waiting time is too long, the responsiveness of the system decreases, leading to a decrease in usability.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned reasons, and the object thereof is a communication device capable of setting a response waiting time according to the response performance of a communication partner device, and a program for causing a computer to function as a communication device Is to provide.

  The communication apparatus according to the present invention includes: a transmission unit that transmits a request signal that requires a response to a device; and a response signal that is a response to the request signal when an elapsed time from the transmission of the request signal is within a response waiting time A receiving unit that performs processing, a timer that measures a response time from transmission of the request signal to reception of the response signal, and a history of the response time of the device are stored in association with attribute information of the device. And a time setting unit for setting the response waiting time corresponding to the attribute information of the device based on a history of the response time corresponding to the attribute information of the device.

  The program of the present invention causes a computer to function as the communication device.

  In the present invention, there is an effect that a response waiting time can be set according to the response performance of the communication partner device.

It is a block block diagram of the communication apparatus of embodiment. It is a flowchart of a request determination process. 3A and 3B are sequence diagrams of transmission of a request signal and reception of a response signal.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the communication device 1 and the plurality of devices 2 constitute a HEMS (Home Energy Management System). The communication device 1 is a HEMS controller, and each of the plurality of devices 2 is a HEMS device (for example, an air conditioner, a lighting device, or the like). In the present embodiment, the communication device 1 and the device 2 are different manufacturers. Further, when the plurality of devices 2 are distinguished, they are referred to as a device 21, a device 22, and a device 23. The communication device 1 is configured to be able to communicate with each device 2 via a network. Here, there is an industry standardized communication standard (communication system) for connecting and controlling the devices 2 constituting the HEMS by the devices 2 between different manufacturers. In this embodiment, the case where ECHONET Lite (registered trademark) (hereinafter referred to as a common communication standard), which is a communication protocol established by the Echonet Consortium, is used as an example of this industry standardized communication standard will be described. To do. Below, the structure of the communication apparatus 1 in this embodiment is demonstrated using FIG.

  The communication apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a communication unit 11, a request generation unit 12, an operation unit 13, a communication control unit 14, a transmission unit 15, a reception unit 16, a timer 17, a storage unit 18, and a time setting unit 19. Controller.

  The communication unit 11 is a so-called communication interface, and transmits and receives signals using a wired or wireless medium via a network established with the device 2. Note that a router may be provided between the communication device 1 and the device 2 as necessary.

  The request generation unit 12 includes a first request unit 121 and a second request unit 122 and generates a control request for the device 2.

  The first request unit 121 receives a GUI (Graphical User Interface) terminal connected to the communication device 1 via a network and an operation content of the operation unit 13 included in the communication device 1, and sends a control request based on the operation content. Generate. The GUI terminal 3 includes a display unit 31 and an operation unit 32, and has both a function as an input device using a GUI and a function as a monitor that displays the state of the HEMS. The display unit 31 includes an EL (Electro Luminescence) display, a liquid crystal display, and the like, and displays icons indicating control information (for example, operation, stop, information acquisition, etc.) for the device 2, for example. The operation unit 32 includes a touch panel provided on a display that constitutes the display unit 31. Then, the GUI terminal 3 transmits the operation content (for example, control information indicated by the selected icon) to the operation unit 32 by the user to the communication device 1, and the first request unit 121 acquires the operation content. Further, the operation unit 13 included in the communication device 1 includes, for example, a tactile switch (push button switch), and the operation content assigned to the operation unit 13 is changed by the first request unit 121 when operated by the user. To be told.

  Then, when the operation content received from the GUI terminal 3 or the operation unit 13 needs to control the device 2, the first request unit 121 controls the device 2 based on the control information indicated by the operation content. A request is generated and output to the communication control unit 14. For example, when the control information indicated by the operation content is “operation of the device 2”, the first request unit 121 generates a control request “activate the device 2” and outputs the control request to the communication control unit 14.

  The first request unit 121 is configured to generate a control request with a user operation as a trigger, whereas the second request unit 122 is configured to automatically generate a control request to the device 2. The second request unit 122 generates a control request to the device 2 at a timing based on a schedule determined by the user, for example, and outputs the control request to the communication control unit 14.

  When a control request to the device 2 is input from the request generation unit 12 (the first request unit 121 and the second request unit 122), the communication control unit 14 determines whether or not to immediately transmit the control request to the device 2. Perform request determination processing. This request determination process will be described later. Here, a case where a control request to the device 2 is immediately transmitted will be described.

  When communicating a control request to the device 2, the communication control unit 14 assigns a transaction ID that is an identifier for identifying the control request to the control request. Then, the communication control unit 14 outputs a control request with the transaction ID added to the transmission unit 15. Further, the communication control unit 14 notifies the reception unit 16 of the transaction ID added to the control request. With this transaction ID, a request and a response are associated with each other, and when a response from the device 2 is received, it is possible to determine which request is the response.

  The transmission unit 15 converts the control request received from the communication control unit 14 into a request signal configured with a signal format conforming to the common communication standard. At this time, the transmission unit 15 also adds the transaction ID added to the control request to the request signal. In the common communication standard, information indicating whether a response to a request is necessary or not is also added to the request signal. In the present embodiment, a case where information indicating that a response to a request is required is added to the request signal will be described as an example. In other words, in the present embodiment, the request signal includes a control request to the device 2 as a control content for the device 2 and information that a response is required and a transaction ID. Then, the transmission unit 15 transmits the generated request signal to the device 2 via the network.

  The device 2 that has received the request signal from the transmission unit 15 generates a response signal that is a response to the request signal, and returns the response signal to the communication device 1. For example, when the control request included in the request signal is “operation of the device 2”, the device 2 returns a response signal including a response indicating that the activation is completed and the operation is in progress to the communication device 1. To do. When the control request included in the request signal is “information acquisition” requesting attribute information of the device 2, the device 2 sends a response signal including a response indicating the requested attribute information to the communication device 1. Reply to When the device 2 generates a response signal for the received request signal, the device 2 adds the transaction ID added to the request signal to the response signal.

  The receiving unit 16 confirms the transaction ID added to the response signal. If the transaction ID matches the transaction ID notified to the communication control unit 14, the receiving unit 16 performs reception processing of the response signal. Further, the receiving unit 16 outputs response information from the device 2 included in the received response signal to the request generating unit 12 that is a request source. The request generation unit 12 transmits response information to the GUI terminal 3 as necessary, and displays the response information using the display unit 31 of the GUI terminal 3.

  The timer 17 monitors the request signal transmitted from the transmission unit 15 and the response signal received by the reception unit 16, and measures the response time from transmission of the request signal to reception of the response signal. When the request signal is transmitted from the transmission unit 15, the timer 17 starts measuring time. When the receiving unit 16 receives a response signal corresponding to the request signal, the timer 17 stops measuring time, and the measured result becomes the response time. The timer 17 stores the measured response time in the storage unit 18. The timer 17 notifies the communication control unit 14 of the elapsed time from the transmission of the request signal in association with the transaction ID added to the request signal. The communication control unit 14 performs a timeout determination process, which will be described later, using this elapsed time.

  The storage unit 18 stores a history of response times measured by the timer 17.

  The time setting unit 19 sets a response waiting time for the request signal based on the response time history stored in the storage unit 18. When receiving the response signal within the response waiting time, the receiving unit 16 performs a response signal reception process. The setting of the response waiting time will be described later.

  Next, the timeout determination process will be described.

  The communication control unit 14 performs a time-out determination process that compares the elapsed time from the transmission of the request signal with the response waiting time. If the elapsed time exceeds the response waiting time, the communication control unit 14 times out waiting for a response to the request signal. Specifically, when the elapsed time exceeds the response waiting time, the communication control unit 14 instructs the receiving unit 16 to discard the transaction ID added to the request signal. The receiving unit 16 does not perform response signal reception processing for the request signal by discarding the transaction ID. In other words, when the elapsed time from the transmission of the request signal exceeds the response waiting time, a timeout is executed to end waiting for a response signal response to the request signal. When the receiving unit 16 receives a response signal within the response waiting time, a reception process for the response signal is performed.

  Next, when the communication control unit 14 receives a control request from the request generation unit 12, a request determination process for determining whether or not to immediately transmit this control request to the device 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. I will explain.

  First, the communication control unit 14 confirms whether there is a request waiting for a response to the requesting device 2 of the control request input from the request generation unit 12 (S1). When there is a response waiting request to the requesting device 2 of the control request (Yes in S1), the communication control unit 14 checks whether or not the request is timed out by a time-out determination process (S2). If the request is not timed out, that is, waiting for a response (No in S2), reception of a response signal is confirmed (S3). If the response signal reception process is not yet processed (No in S3), the process returns to the timeout determination process in step S2.

  On the other hand, when there is no request waiting for a response to the requesting device 2 of the control request (No in S1), the communication control unit 14 outputs the control request input from the request generation unit 12 to the transmission unit 15. A request signal is transmitted from the transmitter 15 (S4). Similarly, if the request is timed out (Yes in S2), or if a response signal is received (Yes in S3), the communication control unit 14 transmits the control request input from the request generation unit 12 The data is output to the unit 15 and a request signal is transmitted from the transmission unit 15 (S4).

  Sequence diagrams showing transmission of a request signal and reception of a response signal by the above-described timeout determination process and request determination process are shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, when a request signal is transmitted from the communication device 1 to the device 2, the timer 17 starts measuring time (P1). When the response signal reception process is performed within the response waiting time, the timer 17 stops measuring time, and the measured result becomes the response time (P2). At this time, a new request signal is not transmitted from the communication device 1 to the device 2 until the communication device 1 receives the response signal from the device 2, that is, when the timer 17 is measuring the response time. As described above, the response waiting time is a period during which a new request signal is prohibited from being transmitted to the responding device 2.

  When there is a new request for the device 2, the request signal is transmitted to the device 2 after receiving the response signal (P3). Therefore, even when the first request unit 121 generates a large number of control requests by a user operation, the control requests are buffered by the communication control unit, and continuous requests to the device 2 are prevented. Thereby, the reception loss of the request | requirement by the apparatus 2 by the overflow of a reception buffer is prevented, Furthermore, the delay of the process by consumption of an unnecessary resource can be prevented.

  If the response signal reception process is not performed within the response waiting time, the request signal is transmitted after the response waiting time as shown in FIG. 3B (P4). At this time, if there is no new request to the device 2, the time-out request signal is retransmitted.

  Next, the setting of the response waiting time used for the timeout determination process described above will be described.

  The timer 17 of the present embodiment uses the measured response time, the control content included in the request signal that is the target when measuring the response time, the attribute information of the device 2 that is the transmission source of the response signal, the response signal The data is stored in the storage unit 18 in association with a time stamp indicating the reception date and time.

  The control content (control parameter) included in the request signal indicates the number of requests to the device 2 (request number), a request command, a request data length, and the like. In the present embodiment, as the control content included in the request signal, the number of requests is associated with the response time and stored in the storage unit 18.

  The attribute information of the device 2 indicates a manufacturer code indicating the manufacturer name of the device 2, a product code assigned to the product, a class code indicating the type (device object) of the device 2, and the like. In the present embodiment, the manufacturer code, the product code, and the class code are associated with the response time and stored in the storage unit 18 as the attribute information of the device 2. As the manufacturer code, a code assigned to each manufacturer by the Echonet Consortium is used. The product code of the device 2 is used as the product code. As the class code, a code indicating the type (device object) of the device 2 classified by the Echonet Consortium is used. Note that the manufacturer code, the product code, and the class code are not limited to the above. For example, the product code may be a JAN (Japanese Article Number) code. The attribute information of the device 2 associated with the response time can be acquired by transmitting a request signal requesting the attribute information to the device 2.

  Table 1 shows an example of a history of response times stored in the storage unit 18. In the column direction of Table 1, combinations of the devices 2 and the number of requests are collectively described as one group, and the order of arrangement in the column direction in each group is ascending order of time stamps. Therefore, the time stamp context is not defined between different groups. Table 1 is a part of the response time history stored in the storage unit, and the number of response time history stored in the storage unit is not limited to the number in Table 1.

  As shown in Table 1, the devices 21 to 23 have the same class code, and the devices 21 and 22 have the same manufacturer code. Further, in the device 21, there is data of response times with different request numbers.

  The time setting unit 19 sets a response waiting time corresponding to the attribute information and control content of the device 2 based on the response time history stored in the storage unit 18. In the present embodiment, the time setting unit 19 sets a response waiting time corresponding to each combination of each piece of attribute information of the device 2 and the number of requests. Hereinafter, the setting of the response waiting time corresponding to the combination of the manufacturer code M1, the product code I1, the class code C1, and the number of requests [3] will be described.

  The time setting unit 19 extracts a response time corresponding to the combination of the manufacturer code M1, the product code I1, the class code C1, and the request number [3] from the response time history stored in the storage unit 18 (time Response time of stamps T11 to T13). Then, the time setting unit 19 selects the longest time from the extracted response times. That is, the time setting unit 19 selects a response time (5.5 seconds) whose time stamp is T11.

  Then, the time setting unit 19 sets the response waiting time corresponding to the combination of the manufacturer code M1, the product code I1, the class code C1, and the number of requests [3] based on the selected longest response time (5.5 seconds). Set. In the present embodiment, taking into account communication fluctuations, errors in reception processing time, and the like, the time setting unit 19 sets 5.77 seconds (= 5.5 seconds × 5%) using 5% of the selected longest response time as a margin. 1.05) is set as the response waiting time. In addition, the time setting unit 19 sets a response waiting time for other combinations of the attribute information of the device 2 and the number of requests. Table 2 shows the response waiting time set by the time setting unit 19. In the present embodiment, the time setting unit 19 sets a response waiting time by adding 5% to the selected longest response time, but is not limited to 5%, and communication fluctuations It is set appropriately in consideration of errors in reception processing time. The time setting unit 19 may set a response waiting time by adding a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds) to the selected longest response time.

  The communication control unit 14 performs the above-described timeout determination process using the response waiting time set by the time setting unit 19. For example, when a request signal having a request count of [3] is transmitted to the device 21 whose attribute information is the manufacturer code M1, the product code I1, and the class code C1, 5.77 seconds are set as the response waiting time. . Further, when a request signal with the number of requests [2] is transmitted to the device 21, 5.25 seconds is set as the response waiting time. Further, when the same request signal is transmitted to a plurality of devices 2 by multicast, the longest response waiting time of the transmission destination devices 2 is applied as the response waiting time.

  The timing at which the time setting unit 19 obtains the response waiting time may be at the time of transmission of the request signal, or may be obtained in advance before transmission of the request signal. When the response waiting time is obtained before the request signal is transmitted, the time setting unit 19 obtains a response waiting time corresponding to the attribute information and control content of the device 2 in advance and stores it in the data table. At the time of transmission of the request signal, the time setting unit 19 extracts the response waiting time corresponding to the attribute information and control content of the device 2 from the data table, and the communication control unit 14 is extracted by the time setting unit 19 Timeout determination processing is performed using the response waiting time.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the response waiting time corresponding to the attribute information and control content of the device 2 is set based on the response time history. Therefore, even if the response performance of the device 2 that is the transmission destination of the request signal is unknown, it is possible to set a response waiting time suitable for the device 2 based on the response time history, and the response waiting time is unnecessary. It is possible to prevent the setting from being shortened or being set unnecessarily long. This can prevent frequent timeouts and overflow of the reception buffer of the device 2. Further, since the interval until the next request signal is transmitted when the request signal times out is prevented from being unnecessarily long, the system responsiveness is prevented from being lowered and usability can be improved. In the present embodiment, the response waiting time is set based on the attribute information of the device 2 and the control content, but may be set based only on the attribute information of the device 2.

  The time setting unit 19 determines whether or not the response time tends to be shortened based on the attribute information of the device 2 and the response time history corresponding to the control content. For example, when the difference obtained by subtracting the longest response time from the response time history from the present to a predetermined period (for example, one month, three months, etc.) from the response waiting time is longer than the predetermined time, the time setting unit 19 It is determined that the response time tends to be shortened. Alternatively, when the response time is shorter than a predetermined ratio (for example, 70%) of the response waiting time for a predetermined number of times (for example, five times), the time setting unit 19 determines that the response time tends to be shortened. When the time setting unit 19 determines that the response time tends to be shortened, the time setting unit 19 sets the response waiting time to a second time shorter than the currently set first time. For example, it is assumed that the time setting unit 19 determines that the response time corresponding to the manufacturer code M1, the product code I1, the class code C1, and the number of requests [3] tends to be shortened. In this case, the time setting unit 19 changes the response waiting time to 5.67 seconds (second time), which is shorter than the currently set 5.77 seconds (first time). Thereby, when the response performance is improved by updating the firmware of the device 2 and the response time is shortened, the response waiting time can be shortened and the responsiveness of the system can be improved. Note that the second time is set to a value that is shorter by a predetermined time than the first time, or a smaller value at a predetermined rate. Alternatively, the second time is set to a time based on the magnitude of the difference between the currently set response waiting time and the longest response time before a predetermined period.

  In addition, when the response waiting time changed to the second time is shorter than the response time measured by the timer 17, the time setting unit 19 changes the response waiting time to a third time longer than the second time. . For example, it is assumed that the response time corresponding to the manufacturer code M1, the product code I1, the class code C1, and the number of requests [3] exceeds 5.67 seconds (second time) a predetermined number of times. In this case, the time setting unit 19 sets the response waiting time to 5.72 seconds (third time), which is longer than 5.67 seconds (second time). Thereby, it is possible to prevent the response waiting time from being unnecessarily shortened. Note that the third time is set to a value that is longer by a predetermined time than the second time, or a larger value at a predetermined rate. Alternatively, the third time is set to a time based on the magnitude of the difference between the second time and the response time exceeding the second time.

  Here, the response time greatly affects the response performance of the product. Therefore, in this embodiment, a product is specified using a combination of attribute information (manufacturer code, product code, class code) of the device 2, and a response waiting time is associated with this product. Therefore, when the combination of the attribute information of the device 2 newly connected to the communication device 1 matches the combination of the attribute information of the device 2 corresponding to the already set response waiting time, this response waiting time is used. be able to. For example, it is assumed that the attribute information of the device 2 newly connected to the communication device 1 is the manufacturer code M1, the product code I2, and the class code C1. When the communication device 1 transmits a request signal of the request number [2] to the device 2, the response waiting time is set to 3.15 seconds (see Table 2). Thus, in this embodiment, the response waiting time is associated with the attribute information of the device 2. Thereby, even when there is no response time history of the newly connected device 2, the attribute information of the device 2 matches the attribute information of the device 2 associated with the already set response waiting time. This response latency can be used. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the product is specified using a combination of the attribute information (manufacturer code, product code, class code) of the device 2, the accuracy of product specification is high.

  The response time is also affected by the control content. For example, there is a difference in response time between when the number of requests is large and when the number of requests is small. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control content is made to correspond to the response waiting time. Thereby, a response waiting time can be set more finely according to the contents of control. Therefore, for example, when the number of requests is small, it is possible to prevent an unnecessarily long response waiting time from being set. The control content associated with the response waiting time is not limited to the number of requests, and a request command, a data length, and the like may be associated.

  In addition, the communication device 1 of the present embodiment is configured by a HEMS controller, but is not limited to this mode, and is realized by using a program for causing other devices or computers to function as the communication device 1 described above. It may be a form. With this program, the computer can function as the communication device 1 and a response waiting time suitable for the device 2 can be set based on the response time history. The program is provided in a state stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory), a state stored in a computer-readable recording medium, or the like, or provided via an electric communication line such as the Internet.

  As described above, the communication device 1 according to the present embodiment includes the transmission unit 15, the reception unit 16, the timer 17, the storage unit 18, and the time setting unit 19. The transmission unit 15 transmits a request signal that requires a response to the device 2. When the elapsed time from the transmission of the request signal is within the response waiting time, the reception unit 16 performs a reception process of a response signal that is a response to the request signal. The timer 17 measures a response time from transmission of a request signal to reception of a response signal. The storage unit 18 stores the response time history of the device 2 in association with the attribute information of the device 2. The time setting unit 19 sets a response waiting time corresponding to the attribute information of the device 2 based on the response time history corresponding to the attribute information of the device 2.

  Further, the program of the present embodiment causes a computer to function as the communication device 1.

  With the above configuration, the communication device 1 and the program according to the present embodiment allow the response waiting time suitable for the device 2 based on the response time history even if the response performance of the device 2 that is the transmission destination of the request signal is unknown. Can be set.

  Further, the time setting unit 19 sets a response waiting time corresponding to the attribute information of the device 2 based on the longest time from the response time history corresponding to the attribute information of the device 2. With the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the response waiting time from being set unnecessarily short.

  The transmission unit 15 transmits a request signal to the device 2 and does not transmit a new request signal to the device 2 when the timer 17 is measuring the response time. With the above configuration, continuous requests to the responding device 2 are prevented, the device 2 is prevented from receiving a request loss due to overflow of the reception buffer, and processing delay due to unnecessary resource consumption can be prevented. .

  Further, the attribute information of the device 2 includes a product code assigned to the product. By including the product code in the attribute information of the device 2, the product of the device 2 can be easily specified.

  Further, the attribute information of the device 2 includes a class code (type information) indicating the type of the device 2. The attribute information of the device 2 includes a manufacturer code (maker information) indicating the manufacturer of the device 2. By including the class code and manufacturer code in addition to the product code in the attribute information of the device 2, the accuracy of specifying the product of the device 2 is improved.

  In the communication device 1 of the present embodiment, the request signal includes the number of requests (control content) for the device 2. The storage unit 18 stores the number of requests (control contents) in association with the response time. The time setting unit 19 sets a response waiting time based on the attribute information of the device 2 and the number of requests (control contents).

  The response time greatly affects the control content included in the request signal. Therefore, the response waiting time can be set more finely by setting the response waiting time in association with the control content. Therefore, for example, when the number of requests is small, it is possible to prevent an unnecessarily long response waiting time from being set.

  The time setting unit 19 determines whether or not the response time tends to be shortened based on the response time history corresponding to the attribute information of the device 2. When it is determined that the response time tends to be shortened, the response waiting time is set to a second time shorter than the currently set first time.

  With the above configuration, when the response time is shortened after setting the response wait time, the response wait time can be shortened.

  When the response waiting time changed to the second time is shorter than the response time measured by the timer 17, the time setting unit 19 changes the response waiting time to a third time longer than the second time.

  With the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the response waiting time from being unnecessarily shortened.

  Further, as described above, the time setting unit 19 of the communication device 1 is configured to set the response waiting time based on only the attribute information of the device 2 or based on the attribute information of the device 2 and the control content. However, it is not limited to the said structure. The time setting unit 19 may be configured to set the response waiting time based only on the control content. When configured in this way, the storage unit 18 stores the response time history of the device 2 in association with the control content for the device 2. In other words, the storage unit 18 stores a history of response times corresponding to the control contents (for example, request commands) included in the request signal transmitted to the device 2. And the time setting part 19 sets the response waiting time corresponding to this control content based on the history of the response time corresponding to the control content contained in this request signal at the time of transmission of a request signal.

  As described above, the communication device 1 according to the present embodiment includes the transmission unit 15, the reception unit 16, the timer 17, the storage unit 18, and the time setting unit 19. The transmission unit 15 includes a control content for the device 2 and transmits a request signal requiring a response to the device 2. When the elapsed time from the transmission of the request signal is within the response waiting time, the reception unit 16 performs a reception process of a response signal that is a response to the request signal. The timer 17 measures a response time from transmission of a request signal to reception of a response signal. The storage unit 18 stores the response time history of the device 2 in association with the control content. The time setting unit 19 sets a response waiting time corresponding to the control content based on the response time history corresponding to the control content.

  With the above configuration, the response waiting time is set corresponding to the control content. Therefore, even when the response performance of the device 2 that is the transmission destination of the request signal is unknown, the response waiting time corresponding to the control content included in the request signal is set, so the response waiting time is set to be unnecessarily short. Or an unnecessarily long time is prevented. This can prevent frequent timeouts and overflow of the reception buffer of the device 2. Further, since the interval until the next request signal is transmitted when the request signal times out is prevented from being unnecessarily long, the system responsiveness is prevented from being lowered and usability can be improved.

  The above-described embodiment is an example of the present invention. For this reason, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made according to design and the like as long as the technical idea according to the present invention is not deviated from this embodiment. Of course, it can be changed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication apparatus 15 Transmission part 16 Reception part 17 Timer 18 Storage part 19 Time setting part 2 Apparatus

Claims (11)

A transmission unit that transmits a request signal that requires a response to the device;
When the elapsed time from transmission of the request signal is within a response waiting time, a receiving unit that performs reception processing of a response signal that is a response to the request signal;
A timer for measuring a response time from transmission of the request signal to reception of the response signal;
A storage unit that stores the response time history of the device in association with the attribute information of the device;
And a time setting unit that sets the response waiting time corresponding to the attribute information of the device based on the response time history corresponding to the attribute information of the device. The time setting unit sets the response waiting time corresponding to the attribute information of the device based on the longest time from the response time history corresponding to the attribute information of the device. Item 2. The communication device according to Item 1. The said transmission part does not transmit a new request signal with respect to the said apparatus, when the said signal is transmitted to the said apparatus and the said timer is measuring the said response time. Communication equipment. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information of the device includes a product code assigned to a product. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information of the device includes type information indicating a type of the device. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information of the device includes maker information indicating a maker of the device. The request signal includes control content for the device,
The storage unit stores the control content in association with the response time,
The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the time setting unit sets the response waiting time based on attribute information of the device and the control content. The time setting unit determines whether the response time tends to be shortened based on the response time history corresponding to the attribute information of the device, and determines that the response time tends to be shortened 8. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the response waiting time is changed to a second time shorter than the currently set first time. When the response waiting time changed to the second time is shorter than the response time measured by the timer, the time setting unit sets the response waiting time to a third time longer than the second time. The communication device according to claim 8, wherein the communication device is changed to: Including a control content for the device, and a transmission unit that transmits a request signal that requires a response to the device;
When the elapsed time from transmission of the request signal is within a response waiting time, a receiving unit that performs reception processing of a response signal that is a response to the request signal;
A timer for measuring a response time from transmission of the request signal to reception of the response signal;
A storage unit in which a history of the response time of the device is stored in association with the control content;
And a time setting unit that sets the response waiting time corresponding to the control content based on the response time history corresponding to the control content.   The program for functioning a computer as a communication apparatus of any one of Claims 1-10.

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