JP2020092542A - B route communication adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a B-route communication adapter for relaying communication between a smart meter and a HEMS device.SOLUTION: The B-route communication adapter includes: a first communication IF 11 for communicating with a smart meter 2; a second communication IF 12 for communicating with a HEMS-GW3; and a control unit 14 for managing the first communication IF 11 and the second communication IF 12 to control communication between the smart meter 2 and the HEMS-GW 3. The first communication IF 11 has two communication functions of Wi-SUN and PLC. The second communication IF 12 has four communication functions of Wi-SUN, Ethernet (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), and PLC. Any one is selected to communicate with the smart meter 2 and the HEMS-GW 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a B route communication adapter that relays communication between a smart meter and a HEMS device.

As a technology that uses a smart meter to measure the amount of power used, HEMS (Home Energy Management System) equipment that manages power by collecting data such as the amount of power used inside the house measured by the smart meter is installed in the house. Then, there is known a technique for managing the power consumption of an electric device used in a house (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).
In this case, communication between the smart meter and the HEMS device is called B route communication, and the Wi-SUN system (920 MHz) is widely adopted.

JP, 2018-66603, A

However, in the Wi-SUN method used for B route communication of the smart meter, the communication may not be stable depending on the installation location of the smart meter or the installation location of the HEMS device, and the HEMS device may not be able to acquire the B route data. ..

Therefore, in view of such problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a B route communication adapter that relays communication between a smart meter and a HEMS device.

In order to solve the above problems, a B route communication adapter according to the invention of claim 1 includes a first communication unit that communicates with a smart meter, a second communication unit that communicates with a HEMS device, a first communication unit and a second communication unit. It has a communication control part which manages a communication part and controls communication between a smart meter and HEMS equipment.
According to this configuration, the communication between the smart meter and the HEMS device can be relayed, so that the communication can be performed even in an environment where the both cannot communicate directly, and the HEMS device can be installed at an arbitrary place.

According to the invention of claim 2, in the configuration according to claim 1, the first communication unit has two communication functions of Wi-SUN and PLC, and one of them is selected to communicate with the smart meter. To do.
According to this configuration, a preferable communication mode can be selected according to the installation environment, and even if the communication mode between the smart meter and the B route communication adapter is changed, the communication mode with the HEMS device does not have to be changed, which is convenient. Good nature.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to the first or second aspect, the second communication unit is at least Wi-SUN among Wi-SUN, Ethernet (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), and PLC. And PLC communication functions, one of which is selected to communicate with the HEMS device.
According to this configuration, since the signal to be communicated with the HEMS device can be selected, the communication can be performed regardless of the signal form of the communication partner, and it is not necessary to replace the device depending on the signal form.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to any one of the first to third aspects, a data storage unit that temporarily stores data received from the smart meter is provided, and the communication control unit periodically supplies power from the smart meter. It is characterized in that the information is acquired and stored in the data storage unit, and the data stored in the data storage unit is transmitted to the HEMS device in response to a request from the HEMS device.
With this configuration, when the HEMS device makes a request, the data stored in the data storage unit can be transmitted, and the power information can be quickly returned to the HEMS device without waiting for a response from the smart meter. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an error from occurring due to a data transmission delay from the smart meter.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the first communication unit and the second communication unit are incorporated in different housings, and communication between the housings is performed by PLC. Is characterized by.
According to this configuration, even if it is configured with two housings, communication between the two is performed by the PLC, so that both can be connected via the power line disposed inside the dwelling unit, and a separate communication line needs to be disposed. There is no. In addition, if the housing is connected to a power outlet, the branch electric path can be easily used as a PLC communication path, and the communication path can be easily formed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to the fifth aspect, communication between the first communication unit and the smart meter is performed by Wi-SUN.
According to this configuration, even if the communication between the housing including the first communication unit and the housing including the second communication unit is performed by the PLC, the communication between the smart meter and the first communication unit is performed. By performing Wi-SUN, good communication can be performed with different signal forms.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to the first aspect, the first communication unit and the second communication unit are accommodated, and the first communication unit transmits a PLC signal to a master unit that communicates with the smart meter by PLC. It has a slave unit installed at an arbitrary position of a power line to be transmitted and having a function of relaying a PLC signal.
With this configuration, even in an environment in which direct PLC communication cannot be performed between the smart meter and the master device, communication is performed by installing the slave device having the relay function at an arbitrary part of the power line that is the PLC communication path. Is possible. Therefore, it is possible to perform communication between the smart meter and the HEMS-GW regardless of the installation environment of the parent device, which is convenient.

According to the present invention, since the communication between the smart meter and the HEMS device can be relayed, the communication can be performed even in an environment in which the two cannot communicate directly, and the HEMS device can be installed at any place.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the B route communication adapter which concerns on this invention. It is an installation explanatory view of a B route communication adapter. It is a block diagram showing other forms of a B route communication adapter. It is an installation explanatory view of the B route communication adapter of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other form of B route communication adapter.

Hereinafter, embodiments embodying the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a B route communication adapter (hereinafter, simply referred to as “communication adapter”) according to the present invention. The communication adapter 1 includes a first communication IF 11 that communicates with the smart meter 2, a second communication IF 12 that communicates with a HEMS-GW (Home Energy Management System gatewey) 3, and a data storage unit 13 that stores data transmitted from the smart meter 2. , A control unit 14 that manages communication between the smart meter 2 and the HEMS-GW 3 and controls the communication adapter 1 as a whole, a power supply unit 15 that includes a power plug 16 and receives power from a commercial power supply, and the like. There is.
The HEMS-GW3 is a gateway that forms a part of a HEMS device (not shown) and a part of the HEMS device.

The first communication IF 11 has two communication units, a Wi-SUN communication unit 11a and a PLC communication unit 11b, and one of them is selected and used. When the Wi-SUN communication unit 11a is selected, wireless communication based on Wi-SUN is performed with the smart meter 2. When the PLC communication unit 11b is selected, communication is performed via the service line from the smart meter 2 and the power line (branch electric circuit from the distribution board) arranged in the house. In particular, in the communication adapter 1 shown in FIG. 1, by connecting the power plug 16 to a power outlet, it can be connected to a branch electric line, that is, a power line of the distribution board 5 (shown in FIG. 2), and communication with the smart meter 2 is possible. ..

The second communication IF 12 includes four communication units, a Wi-SUN communication unit 12a, an Ethernet (registered trademark) communication unit 12b, a Wi-Fi (registered trademark) communication unit 12c, and a PLC communication unit 12d, and any one of them is selected. Then, the communication with the HEMS-GW 3 is performed. Wi-SUN communication and Wi-Fi (registered trademark) communication are wireless communication and thus do not use signal lines, but Ethernet (registered trademark) communication is LAN communication, so that the HEMS-GW3 is connected via a LAN (not shown). It
Further, when communicating with the HEMS-GW 3 by PLC communication, the communication can be performed via the branch electric path from the distribution board 5 as in the case of communication with the smart meter 2, and therefore the power supply unit 15 of the communication adapter 1 And HEMS-GW3 via a power supply unit (not shown) of the HEMS-GW3, it is possible to carry out communication, does not require a dedicated signal line.

The data storage unit 13 stores the electric power information acquired from the smart meter 2. Specifically, under the control of the control unit 14, data such as the instantaneous power measurement value, the instantaneous current measurement value, and the integrated power amount measurement value are periodically acquired from the smart meter 2 and stored. The data stored in this way is transmitted to the HEMS-GW3 when a request comes from the HEMS-GW3, and is then deleted.

Here, the features of the communication function of the smart meter 2 and the function of the data storage unit 13 will be described. The smart meter 2 itself is equipped with two communication units, an A route, which is a communication route connecting the electric power companies, and a B route, which connects the devices installed in the dwelling unit, and the A route processing is prioritized internally. Therefore, if a time-consuming process is performed on the A route side when the B route request is made, the B route process may be postponed and the response of the communication adapter 1 may be delayed. At this time, since the response of the HEMS-GW 3 is delayed, it may be determined that the communication is abnormal.

Therefore, the communication adapter 1 periodically acquires data from the smart meter 2 and stores it in the data storage unit 13 under the control of the control unit 14. By doing this, when a data request comes from the HEMS-GW3, by sending the latest data stored in the data storage unit 13 to the HEMS-GW3 without waiting for a reply from the smart meter 2, It is possible to respond immediately, and HEMS-GW3 does not wait for a response.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an installation example of the communication adapter 1, and shows a case where PLC communication is performed with the smart meter 2 and Wi-SUN communication is performed with the HEMS-GW 3. In FIG. 2, 5 is a distribution board, 6 is a main breaker, 7 is a branch breaker, S1 is a signal path for PLC communication between the communication adapter 1 and the smart meter 2, and L2 is provided from the distribution board 5. A branch electric line (power line) is shown which leads to the power outlet 8 to which the power plug 16 of the communication adapter 1 is connected.

In this way, the power plug 16 of the communication adapter 1 is connected to the power outlet 8 to receive the necessary power supply, and at the same time, communicate with the smart meter 2 via the power plug 16. Specifically, the signal transmitted from the communication adapter 1 to the smart meter 2 is transmitted to the distribution board 5 via the power outlet 8 and the branch circuit L2, and the branch breaker 7 in the distribution board 5, the master breaker 6, Further, the data is transmitted to the smart meter 2 via the service line L1 that constitutes the primary side electric circuit of the main breaker 6. On the other hand, the reply signal from the smart meter 2 follows the reverse route and is transmitted to the communication adapter 1.
Then, signals are transmitted and received between the communication adapter 1 and the HEMS-GW 3 by wireless communication by Wi-SUN.

In this way, since the communication between the smart meter 2 and the HEMS-GW 3 can be relayed, the communication can be performed even in an environment in which they cannot communicate directly with each other, and the HEMS device can be installed at any place.
Moreover, since the first communication IF 11 has two communication functions of Wi-SUN and PLC, a preferable communication mode can be selected according to the installation environment, and even if the communication mode between the smart meter 2 and the communication adapter 1 is changed. , The communication form with the HEMS-GW3 does not have to be changed, which is convenient.
Furthermore, since the second communication IF 12 can select a signal for communicating with the HEMS-GW 3 from Wi-SUN, Ethernet (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), or PLC, communication can be performed regardless of the signal form of the communication partner. It can be carried out and there is no need to replace the equipment depending on the form of the signal.
Further, since the data storage unit 13 that regularly acquires and stores the data from the smart meter 2 is provided, the data stored in the data storage unit 13 can be transmitted when the HEMS-GW 3 requests. The power information can be promptly returned to the HEMS device without waiting for the response from the smart meter 2. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an error from occurring due to a data transmission delay from the smart meter 2.

The second communication IF 12 includes four communication units, a Wi-SUN communication unit 12a, an Ethernet (registered trademark) communication unit 12b, a Wi-Fi (registered trademark) communication unit 12c, and a PLC communication unit 12d. Only the two communication units, the Wi-SUN communication unit 12a and the PLC communication unit 12d, may be provided, and the configuration is inexpensive.
Further, although the data storage unit 13 is provided, the data storage unit 13 is not provided, and when a data request is received from the HEMS-GW 3, the smart meter 2 is requested to send data at that time and the acquired data is transmitted. You may.

FIG. 3 shows another example of the communication adapter 1, and shows a configuration in which a first adapter 1a that communicates with the smart meter 2 and a second adapter 1b that communicates with the HEMS-GW 3 are separated. Hereinafter, the same components as those of the communication adapter 1 shown in FIG. The first adapter 1a includes a first communication IF 11, a first PLC communication unit 17 that communicates with the second adapter 1b, a data storage unit 13, a first control unit 14a that controls the first adapter 1a, a power supply unit 15a, and the like.
The second adapter 1b includes a second communication IF 12 that communicates with the HEMS-GW 3, a second PLC communication unit 18 that communicates with the first adapter 1a, a second control unit 14b, a power supply unit 15b, and the like.

The communication between the first PLC communication unit 17 and the second PLC communication unit 18 is performed by the PLC, and the communication between the both is performed via a branch electric path to which both power plugs 16a and 16b are connected.

FIG. 4 shows an example of use of the communication adapter 1 thus configured to be separated into two housings. The smart meter 2 and the first adapter 1a perform Wi-SUN communication, and the second adapter 1b and the HEMS-GW3 communicate with each other by Wi-SUN or Wi-Fi (registered trademark). Incidentally, W indicates a radio wave obstacle such as a wall provided in the house H.

In this way, the communication adapter 1 may be separated into the first adapter 1a and the second adapter 1b, and the first adapter 1a that communicates with the smart meter 2 can be installed near the smart meter 2 and that communicates with the HEMS-GW3. The second adapter 1b can be installed near the HEMS-GW3 and can be effectively implemented with the communication partner.
Even if the housings are separated into two housings, communication between them is performed by the PLC, so that they can be connected via a branch electric line (power line) from the distribution board 5 arranged in the dwelling unit, and a separate communication line. Need not be provided. In addition, if the housing is connected to a power outlet, the branch electric path can be easily used as a PLC communication path, and the communication path can be easily formed.
In addition, even if the communication between the first adapter 1a including the first communication unit 11 and the second adapter 1b including the second communication unit 12 is performed by PLC, the smart meter 2 and the first communication unit 11 are not connected to each other. If the communication between the two is Wi-SUN, the signal form is different and good communication can be performed.

FIG. 5 shows still another form. The communication adapter 1 is composed of a master device 1c having a function of converting a signal and a PLC repeater 1d as a slave device that amplifies a PLC signal.
As shown in FIG. 5, the master device 1c includes a first communication unit 11 that communicates with the smart meter 2, a second communication unit 12 that communicates with the HEMS-GW 3, and a communication between the first communication unit 11 and the second communication unit 12. It has a parent device control unit 14c and a power supply unit 15c for managing the entire device and controlling the entire parent device 1c.
However, since the first communication unit 11 communicates with the smart meter 2 via the PLC repeater 1d, it is sufficient to have only the PLC communication unit 11b. On the other hand, the second communication unit 12 shows a configuration in which the Wi-SUN communication unit 12a is selected, and is configured to perform Wi-SUN communication with the HEMS-GW3.

The parent device 1c and the PLC relay device 1d have power plugs 16c and 16d for connecting to commercial power and receiving power supply, respectively, and communicate with the smart meter 2 via the power line in the same manner as in the above embodiment. The master device 1c and the PLC relay device 1d communicate with each other via a power line. Therefore, the master device 1c may be installed at a position where it can communicate with the HEMS-GW 3, and the PLC relay device 1d may be installed at any place.

Thus, even in an environment in which direct PLC communication cannot be performed between the smart meter 2 and the master device 1c, by installing the PLC repeater 1d at an arbitrary position of the power line that is the PLC communication path, the PLC repeater Communication between the smart meter 2 and the master device 1c is possible via 1d. Therefore, it is possible to perform communication between the smart meter 2 and the HEMS-GW 3 regardless of the installation environment of the parent device 1c, which is convenient.

In the form including the PLC repeater 1d, the second communication IF 12 is configured to perform Wi-SUN communication, but a PLC or another communication function may be selected.

1...Communication adapter (B route communication adapter), 2...Smart meter, 3...HEMS-GW (HEMS equipment), 5...Distribution panel, 8...Power outlet, 11...First communication IF ( 1st communication part), 11a..Wi-SUN communication part, 11b..PLC communication part, 12..2nd communication IF (2nd communication part), 12a..Wi-SUN communication part, 12b.. (Registered trademark) communication unit, 12c... Wi-Fi (registered trademark) communication unit, 12d... PLC communication unit, 13... data storage unit, 14... control unit (communication control unit) 14a... first control unit (Communication control unit), 14b... second control unit (communication control unit), 14c... parent device control unit (communication control unit), 16... power plug, L1... lead-in line (power line), L2... Branch line (power line).

Claims (7)

A first communication unit that communicates with the smart meter,
A second communication unit that communicates with the HEMS device;
A B-route communication adapter comprising: a communication control unit that manages the first communication unit and the second communication unit and controls communication between the smart meter and the HEMS device. The B-route communication adapter according to claim 1, wherein the first communication unit has two communication functions of Wi-SUN and PLC, and one of them is selected to communicate with the smart meter. The second communication unit has a communication function of at least Wi-SUN and PLC among Wi-SUN, Ethernet (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), and PLC, and one of them is selected. 3. The B route communication adapter according to claim 1, wherein the B route communication adapter communicates with the HEMS device. A data storage unit for temporarily storing data received from the smart meter,
The communication control unit periodically obtains power information from the smart meter and stores the power information in the data storage unit,
The B route communication adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein upon receiving a request from the HEMS device, the data stored in the data storage unit is transmitted to the HEMS device. The B route communication according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first communication unit and the second communication unit are incorporated in different housings, and communication between the housings is performed by PLC. adapter. The B route communication adapter according to claim 5, wherein communication between the first communication unit and the smart meter is performed by Wi-SUN. A master unit that accommodates the first communication unit and the second communication unit, the first communication unit performing communication with the smart meter by PLC,
The B route communication adapter according to claim 1, further comprising a slave unit installed at an arbitrary position of a power line that transmits a PLC signal and having a function of relaying the PLC signal.

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