JP3448474B2 - Remote monitoring system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote monitoring system for remotely monitoring the operating state of equipment installed in facilities and the situation of crime prevention and disaster prevention.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a remote monitoring system for remotely monitoring the operating state of facilities and the situation of crime prevention and disaster prevention. As shown in FIG. 7, this remote monitoring system is installed in a building of a facility to be monitored, and a terminal device 10 that reports the status of the monitoring target, and a monitoring center in a remote place are installed. Notification of telephone line network 2
The receiving facility 30 receives via 0.

Hereinafter, the terminal device 10 and the receiving device 30 which constitute the conventional remote monitoring system will be described in order. As shown in FIG. 8, the terminal device 10 receives a monitoring signal S from a crime prevention sensor or the like and converts the signal into a signal format that can be processed by an arithmetic processing unit (CPU) 10B, which will be described later. The arithmetic processing unit 10B that takes in a signal from the sensor signal interface 10A at a cycle of, and generates message information in a method unique to this system, the monitoring signal from the sensor signal interface 10A, and the processing program of the arithmetic processing unit 10B are stored. Storage device 10C and arithmetic processing unit 10
The communication interface 10D sends the message information from B to the telephone network 20.

The operation of the terminal device 10 having such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The monitoring signal S reflecting the state of the monitoring target is input to the terminal device 10 arranged in the monitoring target facility from various equipment such as an elevator and various sensors such as a crime prevention sensor.

The monitoring signal S has a plurality of types such as an alarm signal indicating abnormality detection and measurement data indicating the state of equipment. The terminal device 1 is used as a digital signal or an analog signal.
0 to the sensor signal interface 10A.

The sensor signal interface 10A is
The monitoring signal S is converted into a signal format that can be processed by the arithmetic processing unit 10B in the subsequent stage. The arithmetic processing unit 10B takes in the monitoring signal S whose signal format has been converted by the sensor signal interface 10A at a preset cycle and stores the monitoring signal S in a predetermined position of the storage device 10C (step S2 above).
1).

Next, the arithmetic processing unit 10a is connected to the storage device 10
The state of the monitoring target is analyzed from the monitoring signal S stored in b (step S22), and the necessity of the notification is judged according to a preset standard (step S23).

Here, if the monitoring signal S matches the preset standard, the arithmetic processing unit 10B determines that there is a need for notification (step S23; Yes), and the communication with the receiving equipment 30 is performed by the communication interface 10D. (Step S24). When the monitoring signal S does not match the preset standard, the arithmetic processing unit 10B determines that there is no need for notification (step S23; None), fetches the next monitoring signal S from the sensor signal interface 10A, and the like. Is executed (steps S21 to S23).

When the communication interface 10D receives a request from the arithmetic processing unit 10B for communication with the receiving facility 30, it requests the receiving facility 30 for connection. Arithmetic processing unit 1
0B requests the communication interface 10D for communication until the communication interface 10D is connected to the receiving facility 30 (steps S24 to S25;
Unfinished).

When the communication interface 10D is connected to the receiving device 30 via the telephone line network 20 (step S
25; end), the arithmetic processing unit 10B uses the system unique to the notification content such as the management number of the facility to be monitored, the equipment in which the abnormality has occurred, the sensor number, the time of occurrence, and the status (condition) of the monitoring target. It encodes and synthesizes message information (step S26).

This message information is sent to the communication interface 10 according to the communication protocol unique to this system.
It is transmitted to the telephone network 20 via D and transmitted to the receiving equipment 30 (step S27).

Next, the structure and operation of the receiving equipment 30 will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, the receiving device 30 is
It comprises a communication device 30A for inputting message information from the terminal device 10 via the telephone network 20, and a receiving terminal device 30B for decoding and displaying the message information input via the communication device 30A.

In a small-scale system with a small number of objects to be monitored and a small amount of communication, a modem built in a computer can be used as the communication device 30A, but there are many objects to be monitored and a large amount of communication is performed. In large systems, telephone exchanges are used. Also, the receiving terminal device 3
The 0B includes an arithmetic processing unit 30a, a storage device 30b, and a display device 30c, and may be constructed by dedicated hardware, but in general, it is often constructed by using a standard computer.

Further, the terminal device 1 is stored in the storage device 30b.
Display dedicated data and a display dedicated program for displaying the report content from 0 are stored, and the display dedicated data is stored for each combination of the management number and the sensor number of the facility to be monitored.

The operation of the receiving apparatus 30 having such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Communication device 3 which constitutes the receiving equipment 30 shown in FIG.
Upon receiving the connection request from the transmitting terminal 10 side, 0A connects to the terminal device 10 through the telephone line network 20 in response to the request (step S31) and receives the message information from the terminal device 10 (step S32). Then, it is converted into a signal format that can be handled by the receiving terminal device 30B in the subsequent stage, and a code signal including the management number and sensor number of the facility to be monitored is output (step S33).

The arithmetic processing unit 30a constituting the receiving terminal device 30B extracts information on the management number of the facility to be monitored, the sensor number, the state of the monitoring target, etc. from the code signal from the communication device 30A. Then, the display-only program stored in the storage device 30b is activated, display-only data corresponding to the extracted information is read from the storage device 30b (step S34), and the content of this display-only data is used as the notification content. It is displayed on the display device 30c by a preset method (step S35).

Thereafter, every time there is a connection request from the terminal device 10 side, the same processing (steps S31 to S35) is repeated and the content of the notification is displayed. The observer grasps the state of the monitoring target from the contents of the notification displayed on the display device 30c and takes appropriate measures.

[0018]

By the way, according to the above-mentioned conventional remote monitoring system, the message information coded by a unique method is transmitted from the terminal device to the receiving equipment, and the terminal equipment and the receiving equipment are connected to each other. The communication between them is carried out according to a unique method independently set by the developer of this system. Therefore, a computer equipped with dedicated hardware or dedicated software is required as the receiving equipment, and the specifications of the receiving equipment become special for each system.

Therefore, there is a problem that the price of the receiving equipment increases and the delivery time to the user of the system is delayed. Also, if the specifications of the receiving equipment are special, hardware or software that conforms to these specifications,
Alternatively, if the supply of parts is no longer guaranteed, system maintenance or expansion may be hindered.

Further, if the specifications of the receiving equipment become special, a special equipment is required, so that the form of remote monitoring is restricted and it is difficult to establish a flexible monitoring system.
For example, in a small-scale monitoring system, it is often difficult to send an observer to the surveillance center at night because of the cost. Therefore, for example, when switching the report destination at night to the observer's home. , A dedicated facility for remote monitoring is required at the house of the observer, and a large capital investment is required. Therefore, it is difficult to construct a system so that the observer can receive the report at home, and the surveillance system is restricted.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and it is possible to realize the system at low cost, has excellent expandability of the system, and further enables a flexible monitoring system. The task is to provide.

[0022]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has the following configuration in order to solve the problems described above. That is, the present invention is arranged in a facility to be monitored, captures a signal from a sensor for monitoring the operating state of facilities in the facility and the situation of crime prevention, and describes the content of the notification in a predetermined language that matches the destination. A terminal device that converts the message information to a specified message information and sends the message information through the telephone line network; and a receiving facility that is installed in the monitoring center and receives the message information from the terminal device through the telephone line network. Have a configuration.

The terminal device of the present invention is HTML.
(Hyper Text Markup Language) The message information is generated in accordance with the convention of the language, and the terminal device and the receiving equipment are HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol).
The feature is that communication and message exchange are performed according to the rule of l).

Further, the terminal device of the present invention has a fixed part of the message information previously stored as an HTML document, and when generating the message information,
The changing part of the message information is newly generated as an HTML document, and the HTML document of the fixed part and the HTML document of the changing part are combined to obtain the message information.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figure 1,
The remote monitoring system according to the present embodiment is arranged in a facility to be monitored, receives a signal from a sensor (not shown) for monitoring the operating state of facilities in the facility and the situation of crime prevention and disaster prevention, and transmits the content of the report. It is converted into message information described in a predetermined language that matches the above, and this is converted to the telephone line network 2
And a receiving facility 2 installed in a monitoring center for receiving message information from the terminal device 1 via the telephone line network 2.
Communication and message exchange between the terminal device 1 and the receiving equipment 3 are performed in accordance with Internet regulations.

The terminal device 1 and the receiving equipment 3 will be described below in order. First, as shown in FIG. 2, the terminal device 1
Is a sensor signal interface 1A for inputting a monitoring signal S from a crime prevention sensor or the like and converting it into a signal format that can be processed by an arithmetic processing unit (CPU) 1B described later, and a signal from the sensor signal interface 1A at a predetermined cycle. HTML (Hyper Tex
From the arithmetic processing unit 1B for generating message information in the tMarkup Language), the storage device 1C for storing the monitoring signal S input via the sensor signal interface 1A and the processing program of the arithmetic processing unit 1B, and the arithmetic processing unit 1B. Message information is sent to HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Pro
and a communication interface 1D for sending out to the telephone line network 2 in accordance with the protocol. The storage device 1C described above includes HTT, which is a communication control protocol of the Internet.
A P protocol control program and an HTML document used for generating message information are stored.

The operation of the terminal device 1 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Terminal device 1
The sensor signal interface 1A, which composes the above, takes in the monitoring signal S and converts it into a signal format that can be processed by the arithmetic processing unit 1B in the subsequent stage. The arithmetic processing unit 1B takes in the monitoring signal S whose signal format has been converted from the sensor signal interface 1A at a preset cycle and stores it in a predetermined position of the storage device 1C (step S1 above).

Next, the arithmetic processing section 1B analyzes the monitoring signal S stored in the storage device 1C (step S2), and judges the necessity of reporting the monitoring signal S based on a predetermined standard (step S2). Step S3). Here, the arithmetic processing unit 1B
Judges that the notification is necessary when the monitoring signal S stored in the storage device 1C meets a predetermined standard (step S
3; Yes), and requests the communication interface 1D to communicate with the receiving equipment 3 (step S4). The communication interface 1D receives the request from the arithmetic processing unit 1B and requests the telephone line network 2 to connect with the receiving device 3.

If the monitoring signal S does not meet the preset standard, the arithmetic processing unit 1B determines that there is no need for notification (step S3; none), and the sensor signal interface 1A sends the next monitoring signal S. Importing and similar processing are executed (steps S1 to S3).

When the communication interface 1D receives a request for communication with the receiving facility 3 from the arithmetic processing section 1B, it requests the receiving facility 3 for connection. The arithmetic processing unit 1B configuring the terminal device 1 requests communication from the communication interface 1D until it is connected to the receiving equipment 3 (step S4).
-Step S5; unfinished).

The communication interface 1D is the telephone network 2.
When connected to the receiving device 3 via the Internet (step S5; end), the arithmetic processing unit 1B composes message information for notifying the state of the monitoring target in accordance with the Internet protocol (step S6). . That is, the content of the report is H
Message information is generated as will be described later according to the TML language convention and is sent to the telephone line network 2 via the communication interface 1D according to the HTTP convention (step S7). This message information includes information such as the management number of the building of the facility to be monitored, the equipment or sensor number in which the abnormality has occurred, its state, and the time when the abnormality occurred as the notification content.

Next, the configuration and operation of the receiving device 3 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the receiving device 3 decodes the communication device 3A that inputs the message information from the terminal device 1 via the telephone network 2 and the message information input via the communication device 3A. Receiving terminal device 3 to be displayed
It consists of B and.

Here, the communication device 3A is the same as the above-described communication device 30A shown in FIG. 10, and a modem or a telephone exchange built in the computer is used. Also,
The receiving terminal device 3B includes an arithmetic processing unit 3a, a storage device 3b,
And a display device 3c, and is constructed using a general personal computer or the like. Further, as software for displaying message information, for example, Netscape Navigator (Netscape Corporation) or Internet Exp.
Contains a browser such as lorer (Microsoft).

The operation of the receiving apparatus 3 having such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The communication device 3A constituting the receiving equipment 3 shown in FIG.
When a connection request is received from the sending terminal 1 side, the terminal is connected to the terminal device 1 through the telephone line network 2 in response to the request (step S11), and the message information from the terminal device 1 is received (step S12). Feed to device 3B.

Arithmetic processing unit 3 constituting the receiving terminal device 3B
a launches a browser stored in the storage device 3b,
The message information described in the HTML language from the communication device 3A is directly decoded and displayed as the notification content on the display device 3c.
(Step S13). At this time, the terminal device 1
The communication is performed according to the HTTP protocol, and the message information is decrypted by the browser. Further, the communication control according to the HTTP protocol in the receiving equipment 3 is
Integrated into the browser functionality.

Thereafter, every time there is a connection request from the terminal device 1 side, the same processing (steps S11 to S13) is repeated, and the content of the notification from the terminal device 1 is displayed.
The observer grasps the state of the monitoring target from the contents of the notification displayed on the display device 3c and takes appropriate measures.

More specifically, the operation of the remote monitoring system will be described below assuming that the first building with the management number 012345 detects full water in the water supply tank at 12:30 on May 1, 1997. And explain.

In this case, the arithmetic processing unit 1B of the terminal device 1 shown in FIG. 2 analyzes the monitoring signal S from the sensor for detecting the amount of water in the water supply tank and determines that there is a need for notification.
Generate message information. This message information is composed of a fixed part and a changing part which will be described later. Of these, the fixed part is stored in advance in the storage device 1C of the terminal device 1 as an HTML document, and the variable part is
It is newly generated when the message information is generated.

Here, as the fixed part of the message information, there are, for example, a display control sentence in HTML language and a document showing the contents of the notification. As a concrete example of this display control statement,
<FONT SIZE = 2FACE = “Mincho”><BR></FONT> In addition, as a document showing the content of the report, the water tank "full water", the water tank "reducing water", the abnormality of the substation equipment, the abnormality of the air conditioner, the operation of the crime prevention sensor, the operation of the fire prevention sensor, the first
There is a building (management number 012345) and the like. The documents relating to the display control statement and the notification content are divided into the first and second groups, respectively, and are stored in the storage device 1C as HHTML documents.

On the other hand, the variable portion of the message information is, for example, time information. Arithmetic processing unit 1B
Has a clock function and generates the time when the message information was generated as a part of the message information.

When it is determined that the notification is necessary, the arithmetic processing unit 1B selects and reads the HTML document of the first group and the HTML document of the second group from the storage device 1C according to the content of the notification, and reads "fixed". "Time part" is formed, and time information is combined with this as a "changing part" to generate message information in the following HTML language, for example.

<FONT SIZE = 2FACE = “Mincho”> Water tank “Full water” No. 1 Building (control number 012345) 97.5.1: 12.30 <BR><
/ FONT>

This message information is directly decrypted by the browser installed in the receiving device 3,
As shown in, the status of the monitoring target is displayed on the display device 3c.

[0044]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. That is,
According to the present invention, in accordance with the rules of the Internet, the transmitting device is configured to generate the message information according to the state of the monitored object, and the receiving device is configured to receive and display the message information. Communication can be performed between the device and the receiving equipment, and remote monitoring can be performed using a general personal computer. Therefore, the system can be realized at low cost, the system is highly expandable, and a flexible monitoring system is possible.

Further, since the terminal device is constructed so as to generate the message information according to the HTML language protocol and to transmit the message information according to the HTTP protocol, it is possible to configure the transmitting device as compliant with the Internet protocol. The transmitting terminal can be configured using a commonly available personal computer or the like.

Furthermore, since the message information is received according to the HTTP protocol and is decoded according to the HTML language protocol, the receiving device can be configured as compliant with the Internet protocol and is generally available. The receiving device can be configured by using a personal computer or the like.

Furthermore, since the fixed part of the message information is pre-stored as an HTML document and only the changing part is newly generated as the HTML document, the process for generating the message information is improved. It is possible to reduce the load of, and it is possible to perform the process for generating the message information at high speed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a remote monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a terminal device that constitutes the remote monitoring system according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of a terminal device which constitutes the remote monitoring system according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of receiving equipment that constitutes the remote monitoring system according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of receiving equipment which constitutes the remote monitoring system according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of notification contents in the receiving equipment constituting the remote monitoring system according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a conventional remote monitoring system.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a terminal device that constitutes a conventional remote monitoring system.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of a terminal device which constitutes a conventional remote monitoring system.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of receiving equipment that constitutes a conventional remote monitoring system.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations of receiving equipment constituting a conventional remote monitoring system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 terminal device, 1A sensor signal interface,
1B, 3a arithmetic processing unit, 1C, 3b storage device, 1D
Communication interface, 2 telephone network, 3 receiving equipment, 3A communication device, 3B receiving terminal device, 3c display device.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A signal which is placed in a facility to be monitored and which receives a signal from a sensor for monitoring the operating state of facilities in the facility and the situation of crime prevention and disaster prevention, and describes the content of the report in a predetermined language that matches the destination. converted to the message information, comprising: a terminal device that transmits this through the telephone network, is installed in the monitoring center and a receiving equipment for receiving message information from the terminal device via the telephone network, the The terminal device is an HTML (Hyper Text Markup Languag
e) When the above message information is generated according to the language rules
In both cases, the terminal device and the receiving equipment are HTTP (Hyp
er Text Transfer Protocol)
Remote monitoring system characterized by exchanging sage . 2. The terminal device previously stores a fixed part of the message information as an HTML document,
When the message information is generated, a changed portion of the message information is newly generated as an HTML document, and the fixed portion HTML document and the changed portion of the HTML document are combined to obtain the message information. The remote monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein: