JP4028989B2 - Remote monitoring system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a remote monitoring system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a multi-story parking lot, a water and sewage facility, a power plant, another large plant, or a building facility such as an elevator, a remote monitoring system for the purpose of managing these facilities has been used. Generally, a remote monitoring system is configured by connecting a monitoring target facility and a monitoring center via a communication line. A dedicated line may be provided as a communication line, but a general public telephone line is often used from the viewpoint of convenience and cost reduction.
[0003]
For example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-23230, in a multi-story parking management device, a status display code indicating an abnormal operation, an operation frequency code indicating the number of pallet operations, and the like are transmitted to a management computer through a public line. Is disclosed.
[0004]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-144362 discloses a technique for diagnosing a parking lot failure and transmitting the diagnostic contents to a host computer via a public line in a parking lot failure diagnostic system.
[0005]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-91102 discloses that in a multilevel parking lot management system, a failure history, various sensor states, etc. are transmitted to a central management device via a telephone line and displayed on a display unit of the central management device. It is disclosed.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the conventional remote monitoring system as described above transmits information such as the occurrence of a failure while a telephone line is connected. That is, when a failure occurs, a telephone call is made from the equipment side to the monitoring center side, and the information is transmitted after the monitoring center side receives the telephone and connects the line.
[0007]
However, among the failures, there are not only serious failures that require early restoration of facilities, but also minor failures that do not cause problems even if left for some period. However, if all of the failure information is sent to the monitoring center one by one when a minor failure occurs, a telephone charge is generated each time, and the system operating cost increases. Therefore, in the conventional system, the content of the failure is weighted, and whether or not to automatically report to the monitoring center is set in advance according to the content of the failure, and the automatic notification is performed only when a serious failure occurs. I was going to do that. On the other hand, in order not to ignore minor malfunctions, the monitoring center regularly monitors the equipment, and minor malfunctions are detected during regular monitoring, thereby taking predetermined measures.
[0008]
However, in conventional systems, minor failures could only be known during regular monitoring, and therefore, inspections, repairs, etc. are efficiently handled at an appropriate time for facilities with minor failures. That was difficult.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a remote monitoring system capable of collecting various levels of failure information without causing an increase in operation cost. It is in.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A remote monitoring system according to the present invention is a remote monitoring system in which a monitoring center and a monitoring target facility are communicatively connected via a public telephone line, and the monitoring target facility detects an abnormality of the monitoring target facility. An abnormality diagnosis means for detecting a plurality of abnormality contents, a call number storage means for storing the number of calls corresponding to the abnormality contents in advance, and when the abnormality diagnosis means detects an abnormality, the monitoring center is connected to the monitoring center via the public telephone line. On the other hand, a transmission means for sending a call having the number of calls corresponding to the abnormal content is provided.
[0011]
In the remote monitoring system, when an abnormality occurs in the monitoring target facility, the abnormality diagnosis unit detects the occurrence of the abnormality and the content thereof. Then, the transmission means calls the monitoring center through the public telephone line and sends a call with the number of calls corresponding to the abnormal content. As a result, the monitoring center can grasp the abnormal content by measuring the number of calls. Therefore, the abnormality content can be recognized without connecting a public telephone line. As a result, telephone charges can be saved and system operating costs can be reduced.
[0012]
The contents of the abnormality detected by the abnormality diagnosis means are classified into one or two or more minor faults and one or two or more major faults, and the number of calls stored in the call count storage means is the number of major fault calls. Is set to be more than the number of minor failure calls, and the monitoring center connects the public telephone line and receives data from the monitored equipment when the number of received calls reaches the number of calls corresponding to the major failure. Is preferably received.
[0013]
Thus, when the content of the abnormality that has occurred in the monitored facility is a minor failure, a call is sent to the monitoring center for a predetermined number of times corresponding to the minor failure. Therefore, a telephone call made from the monitoring target facility to the monitoring center is terminated without connecting the line by the monitoring center, and no call charge is generated.
[0014]
On the other hand, when the content of the abnormality that has occurred in the monitored facility is a serious failure, the number of calls reaches a predetermined number, so the monitoring center connects a line to the telephone from the monitored facility. The monitoring center receives data from the monitoring target equipment through the line, and necessary information is collected in the monitoring center. Therefore, it is possible to quickly and smoothly take an appropriate response according to the abnormality content in the monitoring center.
[0015]
When the abnormality diagnosis unit detects an abnormality, the monitoring target facility includes an abnormality history storage unit that stores at least the occurrence date and time of the abnormality and a predetermined error code corresponding to the abnormality content as abnormality history data. When receiving a call from the monitored facility, the reception history storage means for storing the reception date and time of the call and the number of calls, and when the number of calls corresponding to a minor failure is received a predetermined number of times within a predetermined period, It is preferable to include an abnormality history data receiving means for receiving abnormality history data from the abnormality history storage means.
[0016]
As a result, when the monitoring center receives a predetermined number of calls corresponding to a minor failure from a predetermined monitoring target facility within a predetermined period, the monitoring center's abnormality history data receiving means Request to send data. In response to this, the abnormality history data stored in the abnormality history storage means of the monitored facility is transmitted to the abnormality history data receiving means of the monitoring center. As a result, when a light failure frequently occurs in the monitored equipment, the monitoring center can grasp the abnormality history of the monitored equipment. Therefore, when a minor failure occurs, it is necessary for a monitored facility that frequently causes minor failures even if the line is not connected, that is, a monitored facility that has a high probability of causing severe failures. Can respond quickly and appropriately.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in a monitoring target facility, the number of telephone calls corresponding to the content of the abnormality is transmitted from the monitoring target facility to the monitoring center through the public telephone line. Therefore, it is possible to grasp the occurrence of an abnormality and the contents thereof without performing data transmission / reception with the public telephone line connected. Therefore, it is possible to save telephone charges and reduce the system operating cost.
[0018]
Since the monitoring center does not connect the line when the content of the abnormality is a minor failure, the occurrence of the minor failure can be grasped without incurring a telephone charge. On the other hand, when the content of the abnormality is a serious failure, early measures may be required, so the monitoring center connects the line and receives data. Therefore, the details of the abnormality can be known in detail, and a prompt and accurate response can be taken.
[0019]
When a minor failure occurs in a monitoring target facility a predetermined number of times within a predetermined period, abnormality history data is automatically transmitted from the monitoring target facility to the monitoring center. For this reason, it is possible to promptly take measures such as inspection or repair for the monitoring target equipment that is likely to cause a failure, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of the failure.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 1, the remote monitoring system 1 according to the embodiment manages a multistory parking lot 20. The remote monitoring system 1 includes a first monitoring center 11 and a second monitoring center 12, and a monitoring device 25 for the multistory parking lot 20.
[0022]
The 1st monitoring center 11 and the 2nd monitoring center 12 are provided in the place away from the multistory parking lot 20. FIG. The first monitoring center 11 is provided with a plurality of monitoring computers 13, an image monitoring computer 14 that mainly processes image information, and a telephone 15. These computers 13 and 14 and the telephone 15 are connected to a telephone line 2 as a public line. The second monitoring center 12 is provided with a monitoring computer 16, an image monitoring computer 17, and a telephone set 18. These computers 16 and 17 and the telephone 18 are also connected to the telephone line 2.
[0023]
The monitoring device 25 is installed in the multistory parking lot 20. The three-dimensional parking lot 20 is provided with four three-dimensional parking facilities, that is, No. 1, No. 21, No. 22, No. 3, No. 23, and No. 4 No. 24. However, the number of multistory parking facilities is not particularly limited.
[0024]
The first machine 21 includes a first control device 31 that performs control of the first machine 21 (for example, raising and lowering of the pallet) and performs failure diagnosis, a first camera 41 for observing the situation of the first machine 21, and An image transmission device 40 for transmitting image information of the first camera 41 and second to sixth cameras 42 to 46 described later is provided. The failure diagnosis here is not only a diagnosis that the multi-story parking facility loses the specified function (a failure diagnosis in a narrow sense) but also a diagnosis that the performance is degraded while the specified function is being performed ( It also includes fault diagnosis in a broad sense).
[0025]
The second machine 22 is provided with a second control device 32 that controls the second machine 22 and performs failure diagnosis, and a second camera 42 for observing the situation of the second machine 22. Similarly, the No. 3 machine 23 is provided with a third control device 33 that controls the No. 3 machine 23 and performs failure diagnosis, and a third camera 43 for observing the situation of the No. 3 machine 23. The No. 4 machine 24 is provided with a fourth control device 34 that controls the No. 4 machine 24 and performs failure diagnosis, and a fourth camera 44 for observing the situation of the No. 4 machine 24.
[0026]
The multilevel parking lot 20 includes other cameras 45 and 46 for monitoring the entire multilevel parking lot 20 in addition to the cameras 41 to 44 for monitoring the multilevel parking facilities 21 to 24. Is also installed. Of course, other image recognition means can be used instead of the cameras 41 to 46.
[0027]
The first to fourth control devices 31 to 34 are connected to the telephone line 2. Therefore, the first to fourth control devices 31 to 34 and the first and second monitoring centers 11 and 12 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via the telephone line 2. As described above, the cameras 41 to 46 are connected to the image transmission device 40, and the image transmission device 40 is connected to the telephone line 2. Therefore, the image information of the cameras 41 to 46 can be transmitted to the first monitoring center 11 and the second monitoring center 12 via the image transmission device 40 and the telephone line 2.
[0028]
The monitoring device 25 of the multi-story parking lot 20 is further provided with a first telephone 51 and a second telephone 52 connected to the telephone line 2. The first telephone 51 is mainly used for communication with the first monitoring center 11, and the second telephone 52 is mainly used for communication with the second monitoring center 12.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 2, each of the control devices 31 to 34 stores an abnormality detection unit 35 that detects an abnormality, a storage unit 36 that stores an error code, which will be described later, and a failure history of each control device. A failure history storage unit 37, a transmission / reception unit 38 that transmits and receives signals through the telephone line 2, and a main control unit 39 are provided.
[0030]
In the monitoring centers 11 and 12, a main control unit 61, a storage unit 62, a reception history storage unit 63, and a transmission / reception unit 64 that transmits and receives signals through the telephone line 2 are configured by the monitoring computer 13 and the like.
[0031]
Next, failure diagnosis performed by the control devices 31 to 34 will be described.
[0032]
Each of the control devices 31 to 34 is configured to identify a plurality of types of abnormality contents. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of error codes subdivided according to the abnormal content are used for identifying the abnormal content. Furthermore, these error codes are classified into levels according to the content of the abnormality. In the present embodiment, the level is divided into two stages, “light failure” and “serious failure”, according to the content of the failure.
[0033]
Here, the “minor failure” is an abnormal state, but the abnormality is minor, and the occurrence of the abnormality is reported to the monitoring centers 11 and 12, but it is not necessary to report the abnormality content immediately. Show things. On the other hand, “serious failure” indicates not only the occurrence of an abnormality but also the content that should be immediately reported to the monitoring centers 11 and 12. The relationship between the abnormality content and the abnormality level is stored in the storage unit 36.
[0034]
When the abnormality detection unit 35 detects an abnormality, the main control unit 39 specifies an error code corresponding to the abnormality while referring to information stored in the storage unit 36 (see FIG. 3). The main control unit 39 stores at least the date and time of occurrence of the abnormality and the error code in the failure history storage unit 37. Further, the main control unit 39 calls the monitoring centers 11 and 12 through the transmission / reception unit 38.
[0035]
Here, the number of telephone calls to the monitoring centers 11 and 12 is set in advance according to the content of the abnormality as shown in FIG. Specifically, it is set so that the number of calls increases as the level of the abnormality content increases. In this embodiment, when the abnormality level is “light failure”, the number of calls is 4 times or less, and when it is “serious failure”, 5 times. It has become. For example, for a minor failure, the number of calls may be set to 1 in the case of a device operation procedure error, and the number of calls may be set to 2 if the number of sensor operations within a predetermined period exceeds a predetermined number. it can.
[0036]
When the control devices 31 to 34 have finished sending the predetermined number of calls, the control devices 31 to 34 stop the call (that is, hang up the phone).
[0037]
When the monitoring centers 11 and 12 receive a telephone call from any one of the control devices 31 to 34, the monitoring centers 11 and 12 specify the source control device and measure the number of calls.
[0038]
The storage unit 62 of the monitoring centers 11 and 12 stores the relationship between the above-described abnormality content and the number of calls. The main control unit 61 does not connect the telephone line 2 and maintains the connection standby state until the number of calls reaches a predetermined number (here, 5 times) corresponding to “serious failure”. If the call is terminated before the number of calls reaches the predetermined number (in this case, the number of calls is 4 or less), the main control unit 61 obtains information such as the control device of the transmission source, the transmission date and time, and the number of calls. Store in the reception history storage unit 63. Thus, since the number of calls corresponds to the content of the minor failure, information regarding the occurrence and content of the minor failure is collected in the monitoring centers 11 and 12.
[0039]
On the other hand, when the number of calls reaches a predetermined number corresponding to “serious failure”, the main control unit 61 connects the telephone line 2. Then, in a state where the telephone line 2 is connected, detailed information on the failure is transmitted from the control device of the transmission source to the monitoring centers 11 and 12. The transmitted information is stored in the reception history storage unit 63. In addition, a warning is given to the supervisor as necessary, and a recovery operation or the like is performed under the instruction of the supervisor.
[0040]
By the way, multi-story parking facilities with many occurrences of “minor failures” and multi-story parking facilities where “minor failures” are concentrated in a short period of time are likely to cause serious failures later. Conceivable. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the number of “minor failures” of the predetermined multilevel parking facility stored in the reception history storage unit 63 in the monitoring centers 11 and 12 exceeds a predetermined number within a predetermined period, the monitoring center 11 , 12 requests data transmission to the multilevel parking facility and collects information stored in the failure history storage unit 37 of the multilevel parking facility in the monitoring centers 11 and 12.
[0041]
For example, when the number of occurrences of minor faults in the first unit 21 exceeds a predetermined number within a predetermined period, the monitoring centers 11 and 12 communicate with the first control device 31 of the first unit 21 via the telephone line 2. The information on the failure history of the first machine 21 is received from the failure history storage unit 37 of the first control device 31. Then, based on the information collected in the monitoring centers 11 and 12, the monitoring person analyzes the situation and takes necessary countermeasures.
[0042]
Of course, in the monitoring centers 11 and 12, the monitoring staff can periodically manage the failure history information of the multilevel parking facilities 21 to 24 and manually collect information while referring to the number of occurrences of minor failures. It is. According to this embodiment, since the occurrence state of a minor failure can be grasped, it is possible to take a closer monitoring system than before.
[0043]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a major failure occurs, the fact of the failure and its detailed contents can be quickly grasped through the telephone line 2, while a minor failure occurs. Can grasp the fact and content of the occurrence without connecting the telephone line 2. Accordingly, telephone charges can be saved, and system operating costs can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to grasp a minor failure that has conventionally been difficult to grasp without causing an increase in operation cost.
[0044]
In addition, when a minor failure occurs in a multi-story parking facility more than a predetermined number of times within a predetermined period, failure history data of the facility is automatically collected at the monitoring centers 11 and 12, so that a serious failure occurs. It is possible to promptly take measures such as inspections and repairs for facilities with high fears, thereby preventing failure.
[0045]
In the present embodiment, the monitoring centers 11 and 12 are provided in parallel in the system configuration, but it is needless to say that these may be provided in series. That is, in addition to a configuration in which information from the multi-story parking lot 20 is transmitted to the first monitoring center 11 and the second monitoring center 12 at the same time, for example, the second monitoring center after the information passes through the first monitoring center 11. 12 may be transmitted.
[0046]
The facility to be monitored is not limited to the multistory parking lot 20, and may be other facilities such as a water and sewage facility, a power plant, another large plant, or a building facility such as an elevator. The kind of monitoring object equipment is not specifically limited.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a remote monitoring system.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control device and a monitoring center.
FIG. 3 is a correspondence table of error codes.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Remote monitoring system 2 Telephone line (public telephone line)
11, 12 Monitoring Center 20 Multi-story parking lot
25 Monitoring devices 31 to 34 Control device 35 Abnormality detection unit (abnormality diagnosis means)
36 storage unit (call number storage means)
37 Failure history storage unit (abnormal history storage means)
38 Transmission / reception unit (transmission means)
41-46 Camera 63 Reception history storage unit (Reception history storage means)
64 Transmission / reception unit (abnormality history data receiving means)

Claims (2)

A remote monitoring system in which a monitoring center and a facility to be monitored are connected to each other via a public telephone line so that they can communicate with each other.
The equipment to be monitored is
An abnormality diagnosis means for detecting an abnormality of the monitored facility for each of a plurality of abnormality contents;
The number of calls in a single call connection, and a call count storage means for storing in advance the number of calls according to the abnormal content;
When the abnormality diagnosis unit detects an abnormality, the transmission unit transmits a call with the number of calls corresponding to the content of the abnormality by a single call connection to the monitoring center through the public telephone line,
The contents of the abnormality detected by the abnormality diagnosis means are classified into one or two or more minor faults and one or two or more major faults,
The number of calls stored in the above call count storage means is set so that the number of calls for a serious failure is greater than the number of calls for a minor failure,
The monitoring center is configured to connect a public telephone line and receive data from a monitored facility when the number of calls in a received call connection reaches the number of calls corresponding to a serious failure. Monitoring system. The remote monitoring system according to claim 1,
The equipment to be monitored is
When the abnormality diagnosis means detects an abnormality, the abnormality diagnosis storage means stores at least the occurrence date and time of the abnormality and a predetermined error code corresponding to the abnormality content as abnormality history data,
The monitoring center
Upon receiving a call from the monitored facility, a reception history storage means for storing the reception date and time of the call and the number of calls in the single call connection ;
A remote monitoring system comprising an abnormality history data receiving means for receiving abnormality history data from the abnormality history storage means of the monitored equipment when a call connection corresponding to a minor failure is received a predetermined number of times or more within a predetermined period .

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