JP2016186408A - Protocol converter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a protocol converter that after an instruction data signal of operation prohibition instruction for prohibiting air-conditioning operation performed by user's operation is transmitted into a first network, accordingly prohibits operation of air-conditioning equipment performed by operation of an instruction device for operating the air-conditioning equipment in a second network.SOLUTION: Instruction prohibition means 30 includes: prohibition instruction detection means 31 of detecting instruction data of an operation prohibition instruction not corresponding to air-conditioning equipment in a second network, among instruction data output from first communication means 21; and prohibition operation management means 32 of prohibiting output to the air-conditioning equipment in the second network, of operation instruction data prohibited by the instruction data of the detected operation prohibition instruction, among operation instruction data input from a remote controller for controlling the air-conditioning equipment in the second network.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a protocol conversion device, and more particularly, to a configuration for restricting operation by an instruction device that operates an air conditioner connected to another network in accordance with an instruction from a network.

  Conventionally, the structure shown in patent document 1 is disclosed as an air-conditioner system provided with the protocol converter. In this air conditioner system, a relay device having a protocol conversion unit is described so that a network that communicates using a certain protocol and a network that communicates using a protocol other than a certain protocol can be controlled by a common remote monitoring device. Yes. In such a system, communication data that performs the same operation in two networks can be converted to each other, and communication data that performs different operations cannot be converted. Ignore without. If the communication data performs almost the same operation with the two protocols, it is converted as an alternative function.

  On the other hand, in recent years, in the event of a building fire, all the air conditioners are stopped from the management device at the same time in order to delay the spread of fire as much as possible by stopping the air blown by the air conditioners in the air conditioner system installed in the building. Systems with an emergency stop function have been proposed. Note that some conventional air conditioners have an emergency stop button, but are different from an emergency stop function that stops operation all at once using a communication function because the operation is performed by a person.

  In addition, in order to ensure the peak cut of power at the time when the power consumption is maximum, setting that prohibits the operation of changing the set temperature by each remote controller from the management device to the air conditioner in the air conditioner system in a predetermined time zone An air conditioner system having a temperature change prohibition function has also been proposed. In the two functions of the emergency stop function and the set temperature change prohibition function, each air conditioner that has received a general instruction from the management device executes the instructed contents and operates so that the instructed contents are not changed by the user. The remote controller does not accept operations for starting or changing the set temperature.

  For example, in the air conditioner system shown in FIG. 6, the second network 2 that has been installed and operated in the past and the first network 1 that has been newly installed are connected by communication via the protocol converter 80. The first network 1 is communicatively connected to an indoor unit 5 and an indoor unit 6 each having a management device 3, an outdoor unit 4, and a remote controller 5a. On the other hand, in the second network 2, an indoor unit 8 to which a remote controller 7 is connected and an outdoor unit 9 are connected for communication.

  And the air conditioner in the 1st network 1 is provided with the emergency stop function and preset temperature change prohibition function which were mentioned above, and the air conditioner in the 2nd network 2 is not provided with these functions. In order to respond to the occurrence of a fire or the peak cut of electric power, the management device 3 sends an emergency stop instruction or a setting temperature change prohibition instruction to the air conditioner in the second network 2 through the protocol converter 80 and the air conditioner in the first network. Send to device. At this time, the air conditioner in the first network 1 executes the instructed contents, and prohibits acceptance of an operation start operation or a set temperature change operation from the remote controller 5a.

  On the other hand, in the protocol conversion device 80, since the air conditioner in the second network 2 does not have an emergency stop function, an operation stop instruction is transmitted to the air conditioner in the second network as an alternative to the emergency stop instruction. The air conditioner in the second network that has received this stops operation. The protocol conversion device 80 does not describe the protocol data of the air conditioners in the second network 2 corresponding to the set temperature change prohibition function in the protocol conversion table stored therein, so that the set temperature change prohibition instruction Do nothing because the protocol cannot be converted.

  However, since the second network 2 does not have a function for prohibiting the operation of the remote controller 7, even after the management device 3 transmits an instruction data signal for an operation prohibition instruction such as an emergency stop instruction or a set temperature forced change instruction. 2 The remote controller 7 of the network 2 can be operated. For this reason, there has been a problem that the operation of the air conditioner by the operation of the remote controller 7 prohibited by the management device 3 cannot be prohibited.

Further, in order to prohibit the operation of the air conditioner by operating the remote controller 7, a remote controller that receives the instruction data signal of the operation prohibition instruction transmitted from the management device 3 and prohibits the reception of the instructed operation is newly developed. There is a need to.
However, remote controllers for air conditioners connected to the second network 2 have been developed and sold in the past, so there are many types, even though it is unclear whether they will be used for old networks when installing new networks. First, it is necessary to prepare all the types of remote controllers sold in the past so that they can be sold by adding the above-described function prohibiting the acceptance of operations.

JP 2007-327655 A (page 8, FIG. 2)

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and after an instruction data signal of an operation prohibition instruction for prohibiting an air conditioning operation by a user operation is transmitted in the first network, the air conditioning in the second network is correspondingly performed. An object of the present invention is to provide a protocol conversion device that prohibits the operation of an air conditioner by operating an instruction device that operates the device.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is configured such that a first instruction device that transmits a first instruction and a first air conditioner are connected to communicate with each other using a first protocol. A first network to be connected and a second air conditioner are connected to communicate with each other and a second network to communicate with the second protocol;
First communication means for performing communication with the first protocol, second communication means for performing communication with the second protocol, protocol conversion means for mutually converting the first protocol and the second protocol,
Instruction means for receiving a second instruction transmitted from a second instruction device for operating the second air conditioner and outputting the second instruction to the second air conditioner;
When the first instruction is an operation prohibition instruction for prohibiting the operation of the second air conditioner, an instruction prohibiting unit for prohibiting the output of the second instruction from the instruction unit to the second air conditioner; Prepared.

By using the above means, according to the protocol conversion apparatus of the present invention, the invention according to claim 1 is the second network in which there is no prohibition function related to the air-conditioning equipment defined in the protocol used in the first network. In order to correspond to the air conditioner, an instruction prohibiting means for prohibiting the output of the second instruction to the second network transmitted from the second instruction device in accordance with the operation prohibition instruction of the first instruction input from the first network is provided. Yes.
For this reason, even if the conventional second instruction device (the remote controller 7 described in the background art) is used as it is, the second instruction device operates the second air conditioner in the second network according to the operation prohibition instruction of the first instruction device. Can be prohibited.
In addition, the instruction prohibiting means is required only when a communication connection is established between a new network (first network) and an old network (second network). For this reason, by incorporating the instruction prohibiting means in the protocol conversion device, the cost can be reduced as compared with the case of newly developing and producing all types of remote controllers having the prohibiting function. Further, it is possible to reduce costs and installation man-hours by integrating the device including the instruction prohibiting unit and the protocol conversion device as separate products.

It is a block diagram which shows the Example of the air conditioning system using the protocol converter by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the protocol converter by this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the function of the protocol converter by this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the content of the protocol conversion table. It is explanatory drawing explaining the content of the remote control operation management table. It is a block diagram which shows the air conditioning system provided with the conventional protocol converter.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail as examples based on the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an air conditioner system using a protocol converter according to the present invention.
In this air conditioner system, the second network 2 that has been installed and operated in the past and the first network 1 that has been newly installed are connected to each other via the protocol conversion device 20 having the instruction prohibiting means 30 according to the present invention. It has been done. The instruction prohibiting means 30 will be described later in detail.

The first network 1 is communicatively connected to an air conditioner such as an indoor unit 5 and an indoor unit 6 provided with a management device 3 (first instruction device), an outdoor unit 4 and a remote controller 5a.
On the other hand, in the second network 2, an air conditioner such as an outdoor unit 9 connected to the indoor unit 8 is provided, and the indoor unit 8 is connected to the protocol conversion device 20 for communication. The protocol converter 20 is connected to a remote controller 7 (second instruction device). The remote controller 7 operates an air conditioner (indoor unit 8) in the second network 2 via an instruction prohibiting means 30 in the protocol conversion device 20. Here, the outdoor unit 4, the indoor unit 5, and the indoor unit 6 are first air conditioners, and the indoor unit 8 and the outdoor unit 9 are second air conditioners.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the protocol conversion apparatus 20.
The protocol conversion device 20 includes a first communication unit 20a that communicates with air conditioners in the first network 1, a second communication unit 20b that communicates with air conditioners in the second network 2, a protocol conversion table described later, and A storage unit 20d that stores a remote control operation management table, a remote control communication unit 20c that communicates with the remote control 7, and a control unit 20e that controls these units are provided.

  The control unit 20e performs protocol conversion on the data input from the first communication unit 20a using the protocol conversion table stored in the storage unit 20d, outputs the data to the second communication unit 20b, and conversely receives the data from the second communication unit 20b. The converted data is converted into a protocol and output to the first communication unit 20a. On the other hand, the control unit 20e performs protocol conversion on the operation instruction signal data received from the remote control communication unit 20c from the remote control 7 using the protocol conversion table stored in the storage unit 20d, and outputs the result to the second communication unit 20b. Therefore, the air conditioning equipment in the second network can be controlled from both the management device 3 and the remote controller 7.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the protocol conversion table described above. In this protocol conversion table, the first protocol used in the first network, the second protocol used in the second network, and the third protocol used in the remote controller 7 can be converted to each other. Data corresponding to each item defined in (a data group composed of communication formats adapted to each protocol) is stored.

  Items include “operation start”, “operation stop”, “cooling operation mode”, “heating operation mode”,... Instruction data such as “set temperature”, status data notifying “room temperature”, For example, “Operation prohibition” that is an emergency stop instruction transmitted in the event of a fire, and “Operation permission”, “Set temperature change prohibition”, and “Set temperature change permission” instructions that prohibit operation stop Data is specified. However, as described above, since the air conditioners in the second network have functional limitations, not all protocols correspond to all items.

  For example, the first protocol supports all items, but the second protocol does not have functions corresponding to “operation prohibition”, “operation permission”, “setting temperature change prohibition”, and “setting temperature change permission”. However, “Prohibit operation” stops the operation of all air-conditioning equipment and prohibits the operation start operation from the remote controller 7. However, only the operation stop can be replaced by the “operation stop” instruction data. Therefore, the “operation prohibited” column of the second protocol stores “operation stopped” data B ′. Further, all the instruction data for the operation prohibition instruction are not compatible with the third protocol. Further, since the remote controller 7 does not have a function of displaying the room temperature, the room temperature item does not have a corresponding function. As described above, the protocol conversion is not executed for the item “no corresponding function” even if there is an instruction from the first network 1 side.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the protocol conversion apparatus 20 according to the present invention.
The protocol conversion device 20 includes a first communication unit 21 that is a first communication unit 20a that communicates with an air conditioner in the first network, and a second communication that is a second communication unit 20b that communicates with an air conditioner in the second network. Means 24, protocol conversion means 23 for mutually performing protocol conversion of the first protocol, the second protocol, and the third protocol using the protocol conversion table stored in the storage unit 20d, and the air conditioner connected to the second network 2 An instruction unit 33 that receives an operation instruction signal from the remote controller 7 that operates the indoor unit 8 that is a device and outputs it as operation instruction data, and an instruction prohibiting unit 30 are provided.
The instruction prohibiting means 30 prohibits the output of the operation instruction data (second instruction) output from the instruction means 33 to the air conditioners in the second network according to the instruction data (first instruction) transmitted from the management device 3. To do. Detailed operation will be described later.

The instruction prohibiting means 30 includes a prohibition instruction detecting means 31 using a protocol conversion table stored in the storage unit 20d and a remote control management table described later, and a prohibited operation managing means 32 using a remote control management table.
The protocol conversion means 23 and the instruction prohibiting means 30 are configured by a storage unit 20d and a control unit 20e, and the instruction unit 33 is configured by a remote control communication unit 20c and a control unit 20e.

First, the general function of each means will be described, and then detailed operation will be described using specific data.
The first communication unit 21 receives an instruction signal from the management device 3 connected to the first network 1 and outputs the instruction signal to the protocol conversion unit 23 as instruction data. The protocol conversion unit 23 converts the instruction data into instruction data corresponding to the protocol used in the second network 2 and outputs the instruction data to the second communication unit 24. The second communication unit 24 transmits the instruction data output from the protocol conversion unit 23 to the second network 2. The protocol conversion unit 23 also has a function of converting the data of the second network received by the second communication unit 24 and transmitting the data from the first communication unit 21 to the first network 1.

The instruction prohibiting unit 30 receives the operation instruction data output from the instruction unit 33 and the instruction data for controlling the air conditioner in the second network 2 transmitted by the management device 3 via the first communication unit 21.
The prohibition instruction detection means 31 in the instruction prohibition means 30 monitors instruction data output from the first communication means 21 to the protocol conversion means 23, and corresponds to the protocol of the second network 2 among the instruction data. The operation data indicating no operation prohibition instruction is detected with reference to a protocol conversion table described later.
The prohibited operation management unit 32 outputs the operation instruction data input from the instruction unit 33 to the second communication unit 24 via the protocol conversion unit 23, and the second communication unit 24 outputs the input operation instruction data to the indoor unit 8. It has a function to send to.

  The prohibited operation management means 32 is an indoor unit of the operation instruction data output from the instruction means 33 according to the instruction prohibition instruction data detected by the prohibition instruction detection means 31 among the operation instruction data input from the instruction means 33. The output to 8 is prohibited.

Next, the detailed operation of each unit described above will be described using specific data.
As described above, the instruction data output from the first communication unit 21 to the protocol conversion unit 23 corresponds to the items of the protocol conversion table described with reference to FIG. However, the room temperature data is state data that is input from the second communication unit 24 and is subjected to protocol conversion from the protocol conversion unit 23 and is output to the first communication unit 21.

  The prohibition instruction detection unit 31 monitors instruction data output from the first communication unit 21 to the protocol conversion unit 23, and detects operation prohibition instruction data from the instruction data. Then, the prohibition instruction detection unit 31 stores in the storage unit 20d if there is instruction data for an operation prohibition instruction of any one of “operation prohibition”, “operation permission”, “setting temperature change prohibition”, and “setting temperature change permission”. The stored remote control operation management table is updated. The remote control operation management table and the updated contents will be described in detail later.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the remote control operation management table. The remote control operation management table includes instruction status columns corresponding to instruction prohibition instruction data, that is, “operation prohibition”, “operation permission”, “setting temperature change prohibition”, and “setting temperature change permission”. The prohibition instruction detection unit 31 updates the instruction state column of the remote control operation management table in accordance with the detected item. Note that in the initial state of the instruction state column of the remote control operation management table, both “operation permission” and “setting temperature change permission” items are “instructed”, and other items are “instructions”.

  For example, when an instruction signal (data Q) “prohibit operation” is transmitted from the management apparatus 3 in the initial state in the instruction state column of the remote control operation management table for the first time, the first communication means 21 of the protocol conversion apparatus 20 Is received and data “Q” is output to the protocol conversion means 23. The protocol conversion unit 23 to which the “operation prohibited” data Q is input outputs the second protocol data B ′ (operation stop) corresponding to the data Q in the first protocol of the protocol conversion table to the second communication unit 24. The second communication means 24 transmits an “operation stop” signal to the air conditioner in the second network 2. The indoor unit 8 that has received this signal stops operation together with the outdoor unit 9.

  On the other hand, when the prohibition instruction detection unit 31 detects the “operation prohibition” data Q output from the first communication unit 21, the “instruction state” column of “operation prohibition” in the remote control operation management table is changed from “no instruction”. In addition to changing to “with instructions”, the “instruction status” column of “operation permission” in the remote control operation management table is changed from “with instructions” to “without instructions”.

  In this state, the instruction means 33 that has received the set temperature operation instruction signal (data O ″) from the remote controller 7 outputs the operation instruction data O ″ (set temperature) to the prohibited operation management means 32. The prohibited operation management means 32 to which the operation instruction data O ″ (set temperature) has been input refers to the remote control operation management table stored in the storage unit 20d, and the “Status change prohibition” instruction status column is “Instruction”. “No” and the “Status change permission” instruction status field is “Instruction”. Therefore, it is determined that the prohibition related to the set temperature is not instructed by the management apparatus 3, and the input operation instruction data O ” (Set temperature) is output to the protocol conversion means 23.

  The protocol conversion means 23 to which the operation instruction data O ″ (set temperature) has been input sends the second protocol data O ′ corresponding to the third protocol data O ″ in the protocol conversion table via the second communication means 24 to the room. To the machine 8. The indoor unit 8 that has received the transmission signal of the data O ′ (set temperature) sets the set temperature in accordance with the received instruction.

  Next, the instruction unit 33 that has received the operation start signal (data A ″) from the remote controller 7 outputs the operation instruction data A ″ (start operation) to the prohibited operation management unit 32. The prohibited operation management means 32 to which the operation instruction data A ″ (operation start) has been input refers to the remote control operation management table stored in the storage unit 20d, and the “Operation Allowed” instruction status column is “No instruction”. Since the “Operation prohibited” instruction status column is “Instructed”, it is judged that the prohibition related to the start of operation is instructed by the management apparatus 3, and the operation instruction data A ″ (operation start) inputted. Is not output to the protocol conversion means 23.

  As a result, the air conditioner in the second network 2 cannot start operation by operating the remote controller 7 until the next instruction data signal “operation permission” is transmitted from the management device 3. The instructed “prohibition of driving” is realized not only in the first network 1 but also in the second network 2. When the management device 3 outputs an instruction “permit operation”, the prohibition instruction detection unit 31 sets the “instruction state” column of “prohibit operation” in the remote control operation management table to “no instruction” and “operation” Change the “Instruction Status” field of “Allowed” to “Instructed”. In addition, it is possible to permit / inhibit a change in the set temperature of the remote controller 7 by a similar operation.

As described above, the protocol conversion device 20 is input from the first network 1 in order to cope with the air conditioner in the second network 2 that has no prohibition function related to the air conditioner specified in the protocol used in the first network 1. The instruction prohibiting means 30 is provided for prohibiting the output of the operation instruction data of the remote controller 7 that outputs an instruction to the second network 2 to the indoor unit 8 in the second network 2 in accordance with the instruction data of the operation prohibition instruction. .
For this reason, even if the conventional second instruction device (the remote controller 7 described in the background art) is used as it is, the operation of the indoor unit 8 in the second network by the remote controller 7 is prohibited according to the operation prohibition instruction of the management device 3. Can do.
In addition, the instruction prohibiting means 30 is necessary only when a communication connection is established between a new network (first network) and an old network (second network). For this reason, by incorporating the instruction prohibiting means 30 in the protocol conversion device, the cost can be reduced as compared with the case of newly developing and producing all types of remote controllers having the prohibiting function. Further, it is possible to reduce costs and installation man-hours by integrating the instruction prohibiting unit and the protocol conversion device as compared with individual products.

  In this embodiment, the operation instruction data output from the prohibited operation management means 32 is protocol-converted by the protocol conversion means 23 and then transmitted to the second network 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If the communication protocol of the second network is the same, the operation instruction data is output directly to the second communication unit 24 instead of the protocol conversion unit 23 and transmitted from the second communication unit 24 to the second network 2. Also good. This reduces the protocol conversion process.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st network 2 2nd network 3 Management apparatus (1st instruction | indication apparatus)
4 outdoor unit 5 indoor unit 5a remote control (second indicating device)
6 indoor unit 7 remote control 8 indoor unit 9 indoor unit 10 outdoor unit 20 protocol conversion device 20a first communication unit 20b second communication unit 20c remote control communication unit 20d storage unit 20e control unit 21 first communication unit 23 protocol conversion unit 24 second Communication means 30 Instruction prohibition means 31 Prohibition instruction detection means 32 Prohibited operation management means 33 Instruction means

Claims (1)

A first network that communicates with the first protocol by communication between the first instruction device for transmitting the first instruction and the first air conditioner and a second air conditioner that communicates with the first protocol and communicates with the second protocol through the second protocol Connected to the network,
First communication means for performing communication with the first protocol, second communication means for performing communication with the second protocol, protocol conversion means for mutually converting the first protocol and the second protocol,
Instruction means for receiving a second instruction transmitted from a second instruction device for operating the second air conditioner and outputting the second instruction to the second air conditioner;
When the first instruction is an operation prohibition instruction for prohibiting the operation of the second air conditioner, an instruction prohibiting unit for prohibiting the output of the second instruction from the instruction unit to the second air conditioner; A protocol converter characterized by comprising the above.

Images