JP4346260B2 - Gateway - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gateway corresponding to LonWorks.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, LonWorks (registered trademark of Echelon Corporation, USA), which applies LON (Local Operation Network) technology, can control equipment such as air conditioning units, variable airflow dampers, and air conditioners installed in buildings. It is being considered.
[0003]
FIG. 2 shows an example of a conventionally proposed building air-conditioning system using LonWorks. In this building air-conditioning system, each device 1 to be controlled and monitored is provided with a LonNode 3 that can be connected to a LonWorks line 2. .
[0004]
The LonNode 3 incorporates an LSI called a neuron chip, and the neuron chip can perform mutual communication and control of the device 1.
[0005]
Furthermore, the communication protocol of the command from the central monitoring device 4 is converted into a LonWorks protocol between the upper network line 5 such as a LAN or WAN to which the central monitoring device 4 of the air conditioning system is connected and each LonWorks line 2. The gateway having the protocol conversion means 6 for transmitting to the device 1 and converting the communication protocol of the information obtained from the sensor attached to the device 1 into the communication protocol of the upper network and transmitting it to the central monitoring device 4 7 is interposed.
[0006]
As a result, for example, a command signal such as starting and stopping is transmitted from the central monitoring device 4 to each device 1 through the upper network line 5, the gateway 7, and the LonWorks line 2, and from the sensor attached to the device 1 An information signal is transmitted to the central monitoring device 4 via the LonWorks line 2, the gateway 7, and the upper network line 5.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the building air conditioning system shown in FIG. 2, when a command is simultaneously transmitted from the central monitoring device 4 to a large number of devices 1 according to the start time or the end time, the upper network line 5 is congested, and the device There is a concern that the command is difficult to be transmitted to 1.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a gateway capable of avoiding congestion of a higher-level network line.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the gateway according to the present invention converts the communication protocol of the command from the central monitoring device into the communication protocol of LonWorks, and converts the communication protocol of information obtained from the device into the communication protocol of the upper network. Means and a control means for storing a command from the central monitoring apparatus in advance and transmitting a command signal to each device via the protocol conversion means , and for each of a plurality of LonWorks lines for one control means. Each protocol conversion unit is provided so that the device can be controlled in accordance with information obtained from each device and a command stored in the control unit .
[0011]
In the gateway of the present invention, commands stored in advance in the control means are transmitted to various devices connected to the LonWorks line via the protocol conversion means, and the device is controlled without using the upper network line. Also, information obtained from various devices is introduced into the control means via the LonWorks line and the protocol conversion means, and the devices are controlled in accordance with information from the devices and previously stored instructions.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
FIG. 1 shows a building air-conditioning system using an example of an embodiment of the gateway of the present invention. In the building air-conditioning system, an upper network line 5 to which a central monitoring device 4 is connected and an air conditioning unit each having Lon Nord 3; A gateway 8 is interposed between the variable airflow damper and the LonWorks line 2 to which a plurality of devices 1 such as an air conditioner are connected.
[0014]
This gateway 8 converts a communication protocol of a command from the central monitoring apparatus 4 into a communication protocol of LonWorks, and converts a communication protocol of information obtained from a sensor attached to the device 1 into a communication protocol of an upper network. And a control means 10 that accumulates commands from the central monitoring device 4 and transmits them to each device 1 via the protocol conversion means 9.
[0015]
The protocol conversion means 9 is provided for each LonWorks line 2.
[0016]
In the building air conditioning system shown in FIG. 1, commands related to the operation schedule such as the start time and stop time of each device 1 are transmitted from the central monitoring device 4 to the control means 10 via the upper network line 5 and stored in advance. deep.
[0017]
Thereby, for example, when the activation time comes, a command signal from the control means 10 is transmitted to each device 1 via the protocol conversion means 9 and the LonWorks line 2 and the device 1 is activated.
[0018]
An information signal from a sensor attached to each device 1 is transmitted to the central monitoring device 4 via the LonWorks line 2, the protocol conversion means 9, and the upper network line 5, and further information and control obtained from each device 1 are controlled. The device 1 is controlled according to the command stored in the means 10.
[0019]
In this way, in the gateway shown in FIG. 1, the command stored in the control means 10 is transmitted to the device 1 connected to the LonWorks line 2 via the protocol conversion means 9 without using the upper network line 5. Since the device 1 is controlled, congestion of the upper network line 5 can be avoided.
[0020]
Note that the gateway of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the present invention is applied to the control of the lighting system instead of the air conditioning system, and other modifications are made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course, can be added.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the gateway of the present invention, the following various excellent effects can be obtained.
[0022]
(1) In the gateway of the present invention, a command stored in advance in the control means is transmitted to each device connected to the LonWorks line via the protocol conversion means, and information obtained from each device is transmitted to the LonWorks line, and Introduced into the control means via the protocol conversion means and controls each device according to the information from the device and the pre-stored commands, so that the device can be controlled without using the upper network line. The congestion of the line can be avoided.
[0023]
(2) Further, since a plurality of protocol conversion means to share the control unit, thereby simplifying the device configuration.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a building air conditioning system using an example of an embodiment of a gateway of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a conventionally proposed building air conditioning system.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus 2 LonWorks line 4 Central monitoring apparatus 5 Host network line 8 Gateway 9 Protocol conversion means 10 Control means

Claims (1)

In the gateway interposed between the upper network line to which the central monitoring apparatus is connected and the LonWorks line to which a plurality of devices to be controlled are connected, the communication protocol of the command from the central monitoring apparatus is converted into the LonWorks communication protocol and the equipment Protocol conversion means for converting the communication protocol of information obtained from the communication protocol of the upper network, and commands related to the operation schedule such as the start time and stop time of each device among the commands from the central monitoring device, and Control means for transmitting a command signal to each device via the protocol conversion means, each protocol conversion means is provided for each of a plurality of LonWorks lines for one control means, and each device has an accompanying sensor. Stored in information and control means Gateway, characterized by being configured so as to control the apparatuses through a plurality of LonWorks line in response to a command being.

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