JP3394955B1 - Router and its startup method - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a unique identification code (I) for each device in each subnetwork in a home network (HBS).
D). SOLUTION: One router is set as a parent router, and only that router manages an identification code. The ID is the ID of the sub-network and the ID of the device in the sub-network.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a so-called home network, and more particularly to giving identification codes of individual devices,
Regarding communication rules and processing for acquisition.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various and numerous devices are used in homes, buildings, floors and sections of buildings. Therefore, attempts are being made to obtain a better living environment, working environment, energy saving, and work efficiency by integrating and managing these devices through a home network (or home bus system).

Specifically, for example, in each home, air conditioners, refrigerators, fans, heaters for bath water utilizing solar heat, microwave ovens, water heaters, electric guts, warm air blowers, electric clocks, television receivers, Lighting equipment is used, and the time and time when these equipment are used are closely related to each other. It aims to improve and save energy.

More specifically, since hot water from a bath water heater utilizing solar heat can often be used in summer, it is not necessary to raise the automatic temperature setting of the water heater during the bathing time. Set it lower than in winter, if it is an extremely short time to use the microwave oven, even in the summer, you can reduce the power consumption of the entire home by temporarily turning off the air conditioning equipment. It controls the operation output and transmission of the air conditioner in the room.

As another example, in the office, the output of an air conditioner is controlled by sensing the operating state of a device as a heat source that is being operated (used). Time and operation (used)
The unnecessary lighting in the room is stopped based on the position of the installed equipment, and the lighting and air-conditioning equipment in the classroom which is not taught at the university are stopped.

[0006] Further, it is considered and attempted not only to control the start and stop depending on the season and time but also to detect the use situation and to even care for and monitor the infant especially when the home is only for the elderly and parents are absent. Is being done. Specifically, if the toilet door does not open or close for more than a certain time interval, the volume of the TV is too loud, or the operation of various equipment such as air conditioners and heaters is unnatural, it detects an abnormality,
If you use a telephone line to contact a helper, or a cell phone that your child has left outside the range of the station that manages your home, you will be notified to that effect through the screen or voice of your television receiver. It gives a warning.

FIG. 1 shows a connection state of various devices for them.
The concept is shown in.

In the figure, the electric refrigerator 1, the air conditioner 2, the home slag 3, the fluorescent lamp 4, the microwave oven 5, and the electric washing machine 6 are connected to the CPU 10 by a power line 11, thereby forming one sub-network. There is. The television receiver 7 and the clock 8 are connected to the CPU 10 by infrared rays 12 and thus form one sub-network. The telephone 9 is wirelessly connected to the CPU 10 to form one sub-network.

In addition to the above, other means such as ultrasonic waves may be used to connect each device, or a plurality of means may be used for connection.

Also, in the network, as shown in this figure, a large number of devices and sub-networks are not radially connected around a single CPU 10, but a controller (not shown) as shown in FIG. ) Or a router (located between a plurality of sub-networks and realizing communication between the sub-networks. In Fig. 1, the CPU plays this role. Depending on the system or equipment, an IC circuit attached to the equipment may be provided. Multiple sub-networks having this role) are connected by a router at the end of each of those components or a device that plays the role, or as shown in FIG. 2 (b). For example, each device or subnetwork is connected in a hierarchical manner like a tree.

In the figure, reference numeral 20 indicates a sub-network or a device that is substantially a sub-network, and 30 indicates a router or a device that plays a role thereof.

[0012] Even if it is not so exaggerated, when the television receiver and the VTR are connected, the VTR reads out the time signal in the broadcast wave received by the television receiver for the correct display of the time and is required. It is also used for simple combinations such as various modifications.

Further, in order to effectively exert these networks, various standards and proposals thereof have been established or announced by the Japan Electronic Machinery Manufacturers Association, the Japan Electrical Manufacturers' Association, etc. (eg, , ET-2101, JEM-143
9).

Also, a protocol (communication standard) for that purpose
Etc. are being defined or are being developed.

For this reason, each device (including sensors) may be provided with necessary equipment and functions, for example, a communication processing function, in order to perform appropriate functions in the home network from the time of manufacturing. Of course, it has been done or is being considered.

[0016]

However, in the home network, when a component such as a device or a sub-network is newly added, the identification code (identification number, ID, address) is assigned or acquired. It becomes a problem.

That is, in order for the home network to properly function, the system side (side) accurately knows what kind of device is connected, and then assigns an identification code to each device. Is essential.

It is also essential for each device to recognize its own identification code on the system. However, this is actually not so easy.

That is, for example, in the case of a new subscription of a telephone, the content of communication, whether an analog signal or a digital signal, is merely a voice or an image. All you have to do is to assign a free number based on the location and the station that manages it.

However, what kind of equipment is currently installed in the home network and what kind of equipment is newly installed in the future is different for each home,
It is unknown to the system side. When establishing a new home network, it may be possible for a specialist worker to teach the system about the equipment currently equipped, but a system engineer purposely travels every time a new equipment is installed, or in other words, purchased. It is not realistic to teach them to the system.

In addition, it is not preferable that a salesclerk at the time of newly installing a refrigerator or an air conditioner instruct the system at the time of carrying in or installing the device.

In the first place, in each home, there are many cases where the person in the home itself does not accurately know what kind of electric appliances are in the home. Furthermore, it is usual that the identification number of each device is not known exactly.

In the nursing home, each room (old family) has the same home electric appliance, but the contents are not completely the same, and there is room change in addition to purchase and disposal of the equipment. Therefore, it is even more difficult.

As a countermeasure, it is not unthinkable for the manufacturer of each device to store an identification code such as a manufacturing number for each device at the time of manufacturing. But,
In this case, it is necessary to electronically assign the identification numbers to the ICs of a large number of devices that are mass-produced and store them, which is quite difficult. Moreover, under the world's number one market, it is virtually impossible to internationally unify and adjust each device to give an individual identification code.

Consequently, duplicate identification codes may exist. In particular, in a home equipped with a home network, it is usual to equip one home with many devices of the same type, but in this case, a duplicated identification code may occur.

Further, in this case, since it seems that there are many homes that will adopt the home network in the future, for example, if each electric equipment manufacturer announces a new product, duplicate identification codes will occur everywhere in the whole country. It may occur and the inconvenience may increase.

In the office, if many new employees enter the office or replace old equipment with new equipment, many new equipment will be installed. In these cases, duplicated identification codes are likely to occur.

As a countermeasure against these problems, increasing the information amount of the identification code, that is, the number of bits has many problems in terms of cost, memory capacity, information amount required for transmission and reception, and the like.

Therefore, in the home network,
When a net component such as a device or sub-network is newly installed, the system surely recognizes the added device and assigns an identification code, while the device to which this identification code is assigned is also surely added. The development of technology to recognize this has been desired.

[0030]

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in a home network, a newly added device or the like is related to the system side of the home network by the system side. A request is made to uniquely determine the identification code of the device or the like, and the system side and the device side are provided with such identification code assignment request and acquisition functions. Specifically, it has the following configuration.

In the present invention, devices (including sub-networks and sensors) after starting up the home network
When the device is started for the first time, the device side (including the router to which the device belongs) requests the home network to assign its own identification code or address of the device in the home network. The home network side assigns a number to each device and its type in the order of billing, or assigns the identification code of the subnetwork to the router to which it belongs. Send.

After that, the identification code is used to perform the proper function of each device in cooperation with the home network and the optimum function of the entire home network.

In the present invention, the identification code of each device in the home network has a two-stage structure including the identification code of the sub-network to which the device belongs and the identification code of the device in the sub-network. The former can be obtained first by the router or the like. Then the latter is obtained.

In the present invention, the router of the sub-network acquires the identification code as one device of the router in the sub-network, and then the device connected to the sub-network in the sub-network. Alternatively, the identification code may be added. Furthermore,
When requesting the identification code from the device to be newly installed in the system, the identification code in the sub-network may be eventually added to the identification code in the home network.

In the present invention, the request for the identification code may include a notification of the type of each device (including the sensors). With this configuration, the home network recognizes the type of newly added device and performs appropriate and optimal functions according to the program in advance.

In the present invention, an unused value may be sequentially assigned from a predetermined order based on the information about the type of device included in the request for the identification code. As a result, the identification code is set to a simple and short value for devices that are unlikely to be included in a large number of home networks, such as horigatsu and electric washing machines.

In the present invention, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which, among a plurality of routers in the home network, a particular parent router assigns an identification code to each device.
This prevents the occurrence of duplicate identification codes, and at the same time, the need for routers with equipment and routers for each sub-network to obtain identification codes considering the entire network, and eventually the cost of each equipment, etc. You can hold up.

In the present invention, when installed in a home or the like where a home network is not provided, the device exerts its original functions such as refrigeration and air conditioning by itself.
If a home network is installed later, or if the home network is installed in a home where the home network has already been installed, the identification code will be automatically added from the home network, and then this identification code will be used. As a result, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the appropriate function as a member of the home network is exhibited.

In the present invention, since the device side can request the home network side to assign the identification code desired by the device side at an appropriate time, the device can properly display its function in the home network. The time can be advanced.

In the present invention, the device side uses the information about the month, day, hour, minute and second at the time of the request as the identification code to be given to the home network side, and the duplicate identification code is not generated. You can also

In the present invention, an identification code may be provided by assigning an order to each type of equipment so that the processing is simple and duplicate identification codes are not generated.

In the present invention, one router among a plurality of routers in the home network may be used as a parent router, and the assignment of the identification code to each device may be summarized. It is possible to reduce the burden and eliminate the occurrence of duplicate identification codes.

[0043]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below based on its embodiments.

(First Embodiment) In this embodiment, each device requests the control section of the home network to assign its own identification code, and the home network generates and assigns the identification code. It is a thing.

The present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the device side. In the figure, reference numeral 21 is an identification code provision requesting means having a transmitting section 211 therein. 22 is a clock. Reference numeral 23 is a receiving means for receiving a home network start-up signal. Two
Reference numeral 4 is a device body activation detection means. Reference numeral 25 is a reception control means for the identification code of the device transmitted from the home network 10 side, and has a reception unit 251. Reference numeral 26 is a device body. Reference numeral 27 denotes a home network compatible device main body control unit that incorporates an identification code storage unit 271.

Reference numeral 10 is a home network having the control unit 101 built therein, more precisely, a parent router and the CPU in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the home network side. In the figure, reference numeral 300 is a receiving unit for transmitting an identification code request sent from the device side. Reference numeral 31 is an identification code collation generation unit. Reference numeral 32 is an identification code storage unit. Three
3 is a new identification code processing control unit. Reference numeral 34 is an identification code transmission unit. Reference numeral 35 is a control adjustment unit for each device.

Reference numeral 20 is a device that makes a request for transmitting an identification code. First, the operation on the device side will be described.

The means for requesting the identification code is based on a timer periodically, or a home network start-up signal, specifically, detection of a power source of a predetermined wavelength or activation signal of the apparatus main body, specifically power-on. It is requested that the main network unit of the home network or the control unit be given its own identification code.

In response to the request, if the identification code is transmitted within a predetermined time, for example, 500 milliseconds, the identification code reception control means 25 identifies the home network compatible device body control unit 27 of the device. Code storage unit 2
The identification code is written in 71, and at the same time, the identification code assignment requesting means 21 is deactivated. Therefore, if the identification code is not transmitted, the identification code assignment requesting means 2 will be used thereafter.
1 continues to request the home network 10 for identification according to a predetermined program.

Home network compatible device body control unit 2
7 refers to the identification code of the internal identification code storage unit 271 to detect the control information destined for itself transmitted from the home network 10, and obtains the information from the device body unit 26.
Shed on. For this reason, the device body 26 will exert an appropriate action based on the control information from the home network.

Specifically, for example, at the time of starting or stopping the time display or recording on the VTR, the time information transmitted from the home network, that is, the time information transmitted from the home network, that is, the television connected to the home network, is not used. By using accurate time information from the broadcasting station received by the receiver or radio receiver, or by using the built-in clock, always adjusting it correctly The time information of will be used. In addition, to be on the safe side, the control unit of each device may prioritize the control information addressed to itself sent from the home network over the control information stored in itself from the time of manufacture of the device. It goes without saying that a program or circuit to that effect is incorporated in advance.

Next, the operation on the home network side will be described.

Upon receipt of the identification code addition request from each device, the identification code addition request reception unit 300 notifies the identification code collation generation unit 31 to that effect. Identification code collation generation unit 3
1 refers to the identification code storage unit 32, generates a new identification code without duplication, and notifies the new identification code processing control unit 33. The new identification code processing control unit 33 newly writes the notified identification code in a predetermined position of the identification code storage unit 32, and also causes the identification code transmission unit 34 to transmit the identification code to the invoking device.

When transmitting control information to each device, each device control adjustment section 35 refers to the identification code in the identification code storage section 32 and sequentially transmits predetermined control information. For this reason, control information and the like about the device to which the newly written identification code is attached is also transmitted and received, and thus the device newly joined to the home network is also controlled by the entire home network.

Specifically, the lighting and air conditioning of the classroom during the hours when the class is not used are cut off after setting the home network unless a special person inserts a special card into the switch section.

For the sake of caution, the class control table for each device is pre-populated with the class timetable for each classroom, and the identification codes for the lighting and air conditioning equipment in each classroom are requested. Contains information about the classroom in which the device exists, and thus the identification code given includes information about the classroom to which the device belongs, and the home network recognizes this. Of course I am doing it.

Alternatively, when the fire detection from the newly installed fire alarm is received, the fact is notified to the user via the mobile phone.

(Second Embodiment) This embodiment relates to assigning identification codes by classifying them according to the type of equipment.

In the home network for each home, unlike the business office, the number of many devices has an upper limit. For example, it is unlikely that each family member owns a dedicated washing machine, and much less one person owns several washing machines.

Therefore, depending on the device, a classification (identification) symbol of the type of the device and 1 to 8 and 16 in some cases
It is only necessary to prepare the numbers up to and select from these numbers. It should be noted that it is not particularly difficult to classify each equipment type not only domestically but also internationally and to assign the classification (identification) symbols uniformly, and it is a matter that has already been implemented or proposed. is there. For example, in one object class code, coffee maker B
0, B1 for coffee mill, BB for rice cooker, C for washing machine
5. CE and the like have been proposed for gas meters.

The present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the device generates an identification code in which a number indicating the installation order or the like is added to the classification symbol for the type in advance, and the home network side requests the identification number. In FIG. 5, (a1) First, the device takes 1 (01) as i.

(A2) An identification code is generated by adding i to the device type classification symbol that has been input in advance. For example, in the case of a washing machine, an identification code C501 is generated.

(A3) This identification code is transmitted to the home network side.

(A4) If a home network is provided in the home where the device is installed, a response will be made within a predetermined time.

(A5) If the home network is not provided, no response will be received. Therefore, the device waits for a predetermined time and transmits again.

(A6) If there is an acknowledgment response, the device recognizes the transmitted identification code as its own identification code and stores it. After that, it starts or stops according to the control information transmitted from the home network with the relevant identification code, or conversely, the start or stop information is attached to the identification code and transmitted to the home network. .

(A7) If there is a refusal response, i = i + 1 is set to generate a new identification code.

(A8) However, if i is 17 or more and 9 or more depending on the device, a warning to that effect is given to the user.

(A9) If i is less than or equal to the upper limit value, the above (a)
A new identification code is generated by the same procedure as 2). Therefore, specifically, the C501 may be C502.

(A10) Under this condition, the new identification code is transmitted to the network side. By repeating the above procedure, the identification code is added.

(Third Embodiment) This embodiment is also basically the same as the second embodiment. However, it is different on the network side. The state of this procedure will be described below with reference to FIG.

If the parent router holds in advance a list of the order of identification codes for each device category, and each device requests the identification code together with the information about the device category (b1), An identification code is generated by combining a device classification symbol and a numerical value in an empty order (b2), and a flag to that effect is added to the assigned order of the identification code (b3). The new function of home network is added.

(Fourth Embodiment) In the present embodiment, when requesting a desired identification code from each device side to the home network side as shown in FIG. When generating the identification code in which the classification code of the type and the numeral are combined, the numeral portion is not the order in advance but the calendar information and the clock information are combined (C2).

This prevents the occurrence of duplicate identification codes when there are many devices of the same type in the same home network such as word processors and personal computers in offices and home appliances in nursing homes.

The procedure of this embodiment is basically the same as that shown in FIG. It should be noted that a calendar or a clock is not necessarily built in depending on the type of each device such as various centers and lighting equipment. For this reason, as in the third embodiment, the home network side reads a calendar or the like built-in upon arrival of the request for the identification code from each device to generate a numerical value including information about the date and time. You may

(Fifth Embodiment) The present embodiment relates to startup of a child router of each sub-network.

The present embodiment will be described below with reference to the procedure diagram of FIG.

(D1) The child router sets a temporary subnetwork identification code (hereinafter referred to as a subnetwork ID), for example, 0X00. If it is set by hardware, the value is set as its own temporary sub-network ID.
Under this condition, a telegram requesting the identification code for all the sub-networks to which the user is connected is simultaneously sent to all the systems (the entire subnet) to which the user is connected. Note that the simultaneous simultaneous notification is made here because the identification code of the existing router is not known and the request for specifying the other party cannot be made.

(D2) Wait for a response.

(D3) If there is no response, it is determined that there is no other router (no parent router exists), and the function as a router is stopped.

(D4) There is a response from at least one (at least one router exists), and at least one more
If there is no response from at least one (at least one does not have a router), the process proceeds to start-up as a router.

(D5) If there is a response from all the sub-networks to which it is connected, it is considered to cause an infinite loop configuration and the function as a router is stopped.

(D6) Parent router information is requested from any one of the routers that has sent the subnet identification code.

(D7) Based on the parent router information, the sub-network identification code to which the sub-network identification code is not yet assigned and the all-router information are acquired from the parent router. Under the above conditions, it plays a role as a child router. Under this condition, an appropriate function will be exerted at the time of exchanging a telegram (including an ultrasonic wave or infrared ray signal text) having a configuration as shown in FIG. 9 in the home network.

Although the present invention has been described based on some embodiments thereof, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these. That is, for example, the following may be performed.

1) The parent router only gives the identification code.

2) The parent router is specified by the user when the system is started up.

3) The assignment, billing, and acquisition of the identification code are hierarchical just like the telephone number. Therefore, each sub-network also has a large number of devices and the like, and a specific router in the sub-network serves as a parent router in the sub-network.

4) There is no central CPU in the network, but each device has a controller.

5) For a device or the like that has stopped responding in units of weeks and months, its ID is deleted in consideration of its type, time and season.

6) In the hierarchical network system, one parent router in the belonging hierarchy is provided for each hierarchy.

[0094]

As can be seen from the above description, according to the present invention, each device in the home network is naturally and naturally given a unique identification code, so that the action and effect of the home network can be improved. To be demonstrated. Specifically, the ventilation fan is turned on after the sensor detects that the indoor temperature has risen and the carbon gas concentration in the room has risen to some extent after the ignition of the heating equipment that also uses kerosene.
And so on.

Further, since each device does not need to have a part (circuit, memory, etc.) that independently exhibits the function of the parent router,
Cost increase can be avoided.

Further, since the sensors do not require an ID dip switch or the like, the cost is reduced accordingly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a home network.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of another form of a home network.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram centering on a portion for requesting an identification code assignment centered on each device (including a subnetwork, etc.) according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram centering on a portion for providing an identification code on the home network side (parent router side) in the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for acquiring an identification code of each device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for giving a unique identification code to each device in the home network according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for acquiring an identification code of each device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart at startup of a child router according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a telegram in the home network system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 refrigerator 2 air conditioners 3 Horigotatsu 4 lighting equipment 5 microwave oven 6 electric washing machines 7 Television receiver and VTR 8 clocks 9 telephones 10 CPU, parent router, home network 101 control unit 11 electric wires 12 infrared 13 radio 20 sub-networks (each device) 21 means for requesting identification code addition 211 Transmitter of identification code requesting means 22 timer 23 Start-up signal receiving means 24 Activation detection means 25 Identification Code Reception Control Means 251 Reception unit of identification code reception control means 26 Equipment main body 27 Home network device control unit 271 identification code storage unit 30 routers 300 Identification Code Assignment Request Reception Unit 31 identification code reference generator 32 identification code storage section 33 New identification code processing control unit 34 Identification code transmitter 35 Control unit for each device

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-9-18519 (JP, A) JP-A-10-308763 (JP, A) JP-A-2001-28601 (JP, A) JP-A-2001-28592 ( JP, A) JP 8-112336 (JP, A) JP 2003-18175 (JP, A) JP 2003-18160 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) ) H04L 12/28-12/46 H04L 12/56 H04L 12/66

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A router connected to a plurality of sub-networks in a home bus system having a router, a sub-network, and another router including a parent router for giving a sub-network identification code for identifying the sub-network. Wherein the router makes a request for a subnetwork identification code that identifies the subnetwork connected to the router, and the router connects to the router by a response based on the request. A method for starting up a router, which stops the function as a router when it is determined that no other router exists in all the sub-networks. 2. The router startup method according to claim 1, wherein the request is made using a temporary subnetwork identification code. 3. The value of the temporary network identification code is
The router startup method according to claim 2, wherein 0x00 is set. 4. A router connected to a plurality of sub-networks in a home bus system having a router, a sub-network, and another router including a parent router for giving a sub-network identification code for identifying the sub-network. And including a transmitting unit that requests a subnetwork identification code that identifies the subnetwork that is connected to the router, and a receiving unit that receives a response based on the request, and by the response, the router The router characterized in that when it is determined that no other router exists in all of the connected sub-networks, the router stops functioning as a router. 5. The router according to claim 4, further comprising holding means for holding a temporary sub-network identification code, wherein the request is made by using the temporary sub-network identification code. Router.