JP4950127B2 - Information collecting apparatus, information collecting program, and information collecting method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for collecting device information related to a device from the device and providing the device information to a plurality of terminals.

  In recent years, attempts have been made to provide new services by installing network communication functions in various devices such as home appliances such as AV equipment, refrigerators, air conditioners, and equipment in factories. As one of such services, there is a service for collecting device information from various devices via a network and maintaining and managing each device based on the collected device information.

  In a system for realizing this service, generally, a plurality of devices and an information collection device are connected via a network, and the information collection device collects device information from the plurality of devices.

  Patent Document 1 below discloses a collection timing scheduling method for collecting information from a plurality of devices in order to efficiently perform communication between the information collection device and the plurality of devices.

JP 2005-259520 A

  Generally, various device information collected by the information collecting device is provided to a plurality of terminals. In such a case, it is assumed that a plurality of terminals request to collect device information of a certain device at different periods. However, in Patent Document 1, it is not assumed that device information is collected at a plurality of different periods from one device.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an information collection device that can efficiently communicate with a device when the device information is collected at a plurality of different periods. Objective.

The invention for solving the above problems is as follows:
The computer collects device information related to the device from the device and provides the device information to a plurality of terminals.

At this time, the first communication means of the computer communicates with each of the plurality of terminals, and accepts the collection period of the device information of the apparatus as a request collection period. And, determining the collection period for the terminal that has sent the request collection period based on the request collection period, and associating the terminal identifier of the terminal that has sent the request collection period with the determined collection period, It memorize | stores in the memory | storage means of a computer. Next, the second communication unit of the computer communicates with the device and collects the device information according to the collection period for each terminal identifier stored in the storage unit. Then, the first communication means sends the device information collected in the device information collection step for each terminal identifier and for each collection cycle to the terminal indicated by the terminal identifier.

Here, when storing the collection cycle in the storage unit, when the first communication unit receives the request collection cycle of the device information from any one of the plurality of terminals, the pre-store If one or more collection periods of the device information have already been stored in the means, a difference between the received request collection period and a multiple of a common divisor of the one or more collection periods is the request collection. A multiple within the threshold stored in the storage means in association with the terminal identifier of the terminal that sent the cycle is set as a new collection cycle, and the storage is associated with the terminal identifier of the terminal that sent the request collection cycle. Store in the means.

  The “multiple of the common divisor” here includes the common divisor itself.

  In the present invention, the number of times that the device information collection timing for the terminal that has sent the request collection period and the device information collection timing for other terminals become the same timing increases. For this reason, according to the present invention, the number of times communication for obtaining device information from a device can be performed collectively for communication for a terminal that has sent a request collection cycle and communication for other terminals. As a result, communication efficiency with the apparatus can be increased.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an information collecting system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

"First embodiment"
First, a first embodiment of an information collection system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information collection system of the present embodiment acquires an information collection device 100 that collects device information from a plurality of devices 200, 200,..., And device information collected by the information collection device 100. A plurality of management terminals 300, 300,...

  The information collection device 100 and the devices 200, 200,... Are connected to each other via a network N1, such as a LAN, so that they can communicate with each other. Further, the information collecting apparatus 100 and each management terminal 300, 300,... Are connected to each other via a network N2 such as a LAN or WAN, for example.

  This information collection system is a system for providing device information from a plurality of devices 200, 200,... Provided in a factory to the management terminals 300, 300,.

  Each of the devices 200, 200,... Includes a device main body 201, a sensor 202 for obtaining target information from the device main body 201, and a communication device for transmitting information obtained by the sensor 202 to the information collecting device 100. 203. The device main body 201 is, for example, various devices such as an inverter that is a device that converts DC power into AC power, and a servo motor. The sensor 202 is, for example, a sensor such as an ammeter that detects current in any part of the apparatus main body 201 and a voltmeter that detects voltage.

  The information collection device 100 is a computer and communicates with a first communication device 101 that communicates with a plurality of devices 200, 200,... Via a network N1, and a plurality of management terminals 300, 300,. A second communication device 102, a CPU 110 that performs various arithmetic processes, a memory 120 that is a work area of the CPU 110, and a storage device 130 such as an HDD or a memory.

  The storage device 130 includes a device management database 131 that stores device IDs and device types for each device 200, a device information database 132 that stores device information from each device 200, and each device. A collection condition database 133 that stores conditions for collecting device information from the management terminal 200, a change condition database 134 that stores conditions for changing request collection conditions from each management terminal 200, each device 200, and each A communication information database 135 in which the communication address of the management terminal 300 is stored is provided. Further, the storage device 130 stores an information collection program 136 executed by the CPU 110.

  The CPU 110 functionally includes a device information management unit 112 that collects device information from each device 200, a collection condition management unit 111 that manages collection conditions when the device information management unit 112 collects device information, And a communication control unit 113 that controls communication with the device 200 and each management terminal 300. Each of these functional units 111, 112, and 113 functions when the CPU 110 executes the information collection program 136 stored in the storage device 130.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the device management database 131 of the storage device 130 includes a device ID column 131a for storing a device ID, a device type column 131b for storing the type of the device, and information collected from the device. There is a collected information type column 131c in which the type of information is stored and a communication method column 131d in which the method of communication with the device is stored.

  For example, in the uppermost record in the figure, “I01” is stored in the device ID 131a, “inverter” is stored in the device type column 131b, “current” and “voltage” are stored in the information type column 131c, “Method A” is stored in the communication method column 131d. That is, in this record, the type of the device 200 “I01” is “inverter”, the information types collected from this device 200 are “current” and “voltage”. Has been shown to be adopted. The communication method here indicates a communication protocol used for communication with the apparatus 200, and the communication method column 131d stores communication protocols such as UDP (User Datagram Protocol) and RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol). The Data in each column of the device information database 131 is input from any management terminal 200 or a maintenance management device (not shown) of the information collection device 100 before collecting information from each device. . The communication method column 131d of the device management database 131 may be provided in the communication information database 135 that manages the communication address of each device that is a communication partner.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the device information database 132 of the storage device 130 has a device information table for each device 200. Each device information table includes a device ID column 132a in which a device ID is stored, and a time. There are a column 132b and a data column 132c in which collected device information data is stored. In the time column 132b, the reception time of the device information sent from each device 200 is stored here. The data column 132c includes a column for each piece of device information if there are two types of device information sent from the device 200 (for example, current and voltage). Here, the reception time of the device information sent from each device 200 is stored in the time column 132b, but the transmission time of this device information is sent together with the device information from each device 200. Alternatively, this transmission time may be stored in the time column 132b.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the collection condition database 133 of the storage device 130 stores a condition ID column 133a in which the ID of the collection condition is stored, a device ID column 133b in which the device ID is stored, and an ID of the management terminal 300. Terminal ID column 133c, information type column 133d in which the information type that the management terminal wants to obtain from the device, a collection cycle column 133e in which the collection cycle of the information is stored, and the information should be collected There is a collection period column 133f in which the period is stored.

  For example, in the uppermost record in the figure, “101” is stored in the condition ID column 133a, “I01” is stored in the device ID column 133b, “11” is stored in the terminal ID column 133c, and the information type “Current” and “Voltage” are stored in the column 133d, “1000 ms” is stored in the collection period column 133e, and “2008/03/24 18:00:00 to 2008/03 /” is stored in the collection period column 133f. 24 18: 30: 00: 00 "is stored. That is, the collection condition of the ID “101” is that the current and voltage of the device “I01” 200 provided to the management terminal “11” 300 are changed from 2008/03/24 18:00:00 to 2008/03/24 18 : Collecting at intervals of 1000 ms in the period of 3:30: 00.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the change condition database 134 of the storage device 130 includes a terminal ID column 134a in which the ID of the management terminal 300 is stored, and a device ID column in which a device ID associated with each terminal ID is stored. 134b, a number threshold column 134c for storing a threshold value of the number of new collection periods to be presented to the corresponding management terminal 300, and a threshold value of an allowable period difference of the new collection period with respect to the request collection period from the corresponding management terminal 300 And a query for whether or not the new collection period may be collected when a new collection period is obtained for the request collection period from the corresponding management terminal 300. There is a change query presence / absence column 134e in which presence / absence is stored.

  For example, in the uppermost record in the figure, “11” is stored in the terminal ID field 134a, “I01” is stored in the device ID field 134d, “−” is stored in the threshold value field 134c of the number of presentations, “200 ms” is stored in the period difference threshold value column 134d, and “0 (inquiry not required)” is stored in the change inquiry presence / absence column 134e. That is, in this record, when the device information collection period of the device “I01” 200 to be provided to the management terminal “11” 300 is changed to a new collection cycle, a new collection period for the request collection cycle from the management terminal “11” 300 is obtained. The tolerance of the correct collection cycle is within 200 ms, which indicates that a new collection cycle change query is unnecessary. In this record, since a new collection cycle change query is unnecessary, a threshold for the number of new collection cycles to be presented to the management terminal “11” 300 is not set. "-" Is stored in the column 134c. Among the records in which “13” is stored in the terminal ID column 134, the highest order record has the device information collection period of the device “I01” 200 provided to the management terminal “13” 300 as a new collection cycle. In this case, the tolerance of the new collection cycle with respect to the request collection cycle from the management terminal “13” 300 is within 150 ms, and a new collection cycle change inquiry is necessary. It has been shown to present up to three new collection periods.

  Next, the operation of the information collection system of this embodiment will be described according to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. Here, the information collection apparatus 100 has already received the change condition and the collection condition from each of the management terminal “11” 300 and the management terminal “12” 300, and these contents are the change condition database 134, the collection condition database. 133 is stored.

  First, when the management terminal “13” 300 receives a change condition of the information collection condition regarding the device “I01” 200 (S311), the management terminal “13” 300 transmits the change condition to the information collection apparatus 100 (S312). When the second communication device 102 of the information collection device 100 receives the change condition (S111), the collection condition management unit 111 receives the change condition via the communication control unit 113 and stores it in the change condition database 134.

  Next, when the management terminal “13” 300 receives a collection condition regarding the device “I01” 200 (S313), the management terminal “13” 300 transmits the collection condition as a request collection condition to the information collection apparatus 100 (S314). The second communication device 102 of the information collection device 100 accepts this request collection condition (S112). In the above, the management terminal 300 and the information collection apparatus 100 both accept the change condition first and then accept the collection condition. However, the management terminal 300 and the information collection apparatus 100 accept the collection condition first and then accept the change condition. Good.

  When the collection condition management unit 111 receives the request collection condition from the management terminal “13” 300 via the communication control unit 113, the collection condition management unit 111 receives the collection condition stored in the collection condition database 133 in step 112. A collection condition related to the requested collection condition is searched (S113). Then, a new collection cycle is calculated for the collection cycle included in the requested collection condition using the other collection conditions obtained by this search (S115). The details of the search process (S113) and the new collection cycle calculation process (S115) will be described later.

  When the collection condition management unit 111 calculates a new collection cycle, the communication control unit 113 collects device information at the new collection cycle for the management terminal “13” 300 that has sent the request collection condition. An inquiry is made as to whether it is acceptable (S119).

  When the management terminal “13” 300 receives the inquiry (S315), the management terminal “13” 300 displays a new collection period included in the inquiry on the display (S316). When the management terminal “13” 300 receives the right or wrong of the new collection cycle from the user who has seen this display (S317), the management terminal “13” 300 transmits this to the information collection device 100 (S318).

  When the second communication device 102 of the information collection device 100 receives the right or wrong of the new collection cycle (S120), the collection condition management unit 111 receives this via the communication control unit 113 and determines whether or not the new collection cycle is right. The corresponding collection condition is registered in the collection condition database 133 (S122, 123). For example, when it is received that a new collection cycle is acceptable, only the collection cycle of the requested collection conditions accepted in step 112 is changed to a new collection cycle, and the collection conditions are stored in the collection condition database 133. If it is received that a new collection cycle is not desired, the request collection condition received in step 112 is stored in the collection condition database 133 as it is, that is, without changing the collection cycle.

  Thereafter, the device information management unit 112 of the information collection device 100 refers to the collection conditions stored in the collection condition database 133 and collects information of the device “I01” 200 to be provided to the management terminal “13” 300 When the communication control unit 113 determines that the device information has been established, the communication control unit 113 transmits a device information transmission request to the device “I01” 200 (S132).

  Upon receiving this device information transmission request (S231), the device “I01” 200 transmits the device information at this point, that is, the data detected by the sensor 202, to the information collection device 100 (S232).

  When the communication control unit 113 of the information collection device 100 receives the device information from the device “I01” 200 (S133), the device information management unit 112 receives it and stores it in the device information database 132. Is transmitted to the management terminal “13” 300 (S134).

  When receiving the device information from the information collection device 100 (S331), the management terminal “13” 300 stores this in the storage device.

  Next, the collection until the information collection apparatus 100 receives the change condition and the request collection condition (S111, S112) and registers the collection condition in the collection condition database 133 (S122, S123) shown in the sequence diagram of FIG. The information registration process (S110) will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

  First, when the second communication device 102 of the information collection device 100 receives a change condition from the management terminal 300 (S111), the collection condition management unit 111 receives the change condition via the communication control unit 113 and stores it in the change condition database 134. Store. Here, the change condition from the management terminal “13” 300 requires an inquiry for changing the request collection condition for the device 200 with ID “I01”, and the number of new collection cycles presented at the time of this inquiry is It is assumed that the maximum is “3”, and the difference between the new collection cycle and the collection cycle included in the requested collection condition is “150 ms” at the maximum. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the collection condition management unit 102 stores “13” in the terminal ID field 134a of the change condition database, stores “I01” in the device ID field 134d, “3” is stored in 134 c, “150 ms” is stored in the period difference threshold column 134 d, and “1 (query required)” is stored in the change inquiry presence / absence column 134 e.

  Next, when the second communication device 102 of the information collection device 100 receives the request collection condition from the management terminal “13” 300, the collection condition management unit 111 accepts the request collection condition via the communication control unit 113. (S112), this is temporarily stored in the memory 120 which is a work area. Then, the collection condition management unit 111 searches the collection conditions stored in the collection condition database 133 for the collection conditions related to the request collection condition received in step 112 (S113).

  For example, in step 112, the request collection condition received by the collection condition management unit 111 from the management terminal “13” 300 with ID “13” is the device ID “I01”, the device information type “current” and “voltage”, and the collection cycle. It is assumed that “600 ms” and the collection period “2008/03/24 18:00:00 to 2008/03/24 18: 20: 00: 00: 00”. In this case, among the collection conditions stored in the collection condition database 133, the collection condition management unit 111 has the device ID “I01”, the device information type “current” and “voltage”, and the collection period is accepted. A collection condition that partially or entirely overlaps with "2008/03/24 18:00:00 to 2008/03/24 18:20:00" is searched.

  Next, the collection condition management unit 111 determines whether there is a collection condition that satisfies the above search conditions, that is, another collection condition related to the requested collection condition (S114). If the collection condition management unit 111 determines that there is no other related collection condition, the request collection condition received in step 112 is registered in the collection condition database 133 as it is, that is, without changing the collection cycle ( S123).

  If the collection condition management unit 111 determines in step 114 that there is another related collection condition, the collection condition management unit 111 calculates the collection period of the device indicated by the request collection condition from the other related collection condition (S115). Here, since the collection conditions satisfying the above search conditions are the condition IDs “101” and “102” of the collection condition management database 133 (FIG. 4), the collection conditions of these condition IDs “101” and “102” are set. And the collection period of the device indicated by the requested collection condition is calculated.

  Details of the collection cycle calculation process (S115) will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The collection condition management unit 111 first calculates a common divisor for each collection period of other related collection conditions (S151). As described above, when other related collection conditions are the collection conditions with the condition IDs “101” and “102”, the collection period of these collection conditions is “1000 ms” as shown in FIG. Since “1500 ms”, these common divisors are “500” “250” “100” “50”. In the present embodiment, since the minimum unit of the collection period is “50 ms”, a value smaller than “50 ms” is not obtained as the common divisor.

  Next, the collection condition management unit 111 determines whether there is an unselected common divisor (S152). If there is no unselected common divisor, the collection cycle calculation process (S115) ends. If there is an unselected common divisor, the largest common divisor is selected from the unselected common divisors (S153). In this case, “500” is selected from “500”, “250”, “100”, and “50”.

  Next, the collection condition management unit 111 determines whether there is a same multiple of the selected common divisors as the requested collection cycle (S154). If there is the same request collection cycle, the collection cycle calculation process (S115) is terminated. On the other hand, if there is no request collection cycle, the process proceeds to step 155. In this case, since the multiple of the selected common divisor “500” is “500”, “1000”, “1500”, and the request collection cycle is “600”, it is determined that there is no same as the request collection cycle, Proceed to step 155.

  In step 155, the collection condition management unit 111 determines whether there is a multiple of the selected common divisor that is different from the request collection cycle within a threshold. If there is no multiple within the threshold, the process returns to step 152, and if there is a multiple within the threshold, the process proceeds to step 156. In this case, the multiple of the selected common divisor “500” is “500” “1000” “1500”..., The request collection period is “600”, and as shown in FIG. Since the threshold of the period of ID “I01” is “150 ms”, it is determined that “500” is present as a multiple of the difference from the request collection period “600” within the threshold “150”.

  In step 156, the collection condition management unit 111 refers to the change condition database 134 to check whether there is a change inquiry for the corresponding terminal and the corresponding device. Then, one multiple having the smallest difference from the requested collection cycle is selected (S157), this multiple is temporarily stored in the memory 120 as a new collection cycle (S158), and this collection cycle calculation process (S115) Exit.

  If it is determined in step 156 that an inquiry is necessary, each of the multiples within the threshold is temporarily stored in the memory 120 as a new collection cycle (S159). Then, the collection condition management unit 111 determines whether or not the number of new collection periods temporarily stored exceeds a threshold value (S160). If the threshold value is not exceeded, the process returns to step 152, and if the threshold value is exceeded. The collection cycle calculation process (S115) is terminated. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, since the presence / absence of the inquiry about the change of the terminal ID “13” and the device ID “I01” is “1 (necessary)”, “500” which is a multiple within the threshold is newly set. Temporarily stored in the memory 120 as a collection period. Since the number of new collection periods temporarily stored is “1” and the threshold value of the number of presentations of terminal ID “13” and device ID “I01” is “3” as shown in FIG. And the process returns to step 152. In the change condition database 134, when the presence / absence of the inquiry about the change of the terminal ID “13” and the device ID “I01” is “0 (unnecessary)”, the process proceeds from step 156 to step 157 and step 158. Thus, “500” is temporarily stored as a new collection cycle, and the process is terminated.

  When returning to step 152 from step 155 or step 160, the collection condition management unit 111 determines whether there is an unselected common divisor, as described above. In this case, since there are “250”, “100”, and “50” as unselected common divisors, the process proceeds to step 153, and the maximum “250” is selected.

  The collection condition management unit 111 performs the above-described processing of step 154 and step 155 with respect to this “250”. In this step 155, multiples “250”, “500”, “750”,. It is determined that there is a request collection cycle “600” and a threshold value “150” (750). Then, the processing of Steps 156 and 159 described above is performed. In Step 159, “750” is temporarily stored in the memory 120 as a new collection cycle. Subsequently, in step 160, it is determined whether or not the number “2” of the newly stored new collection periods “500” and “750” exceeds the threshold value “3”. In this case, since the threshold value “3” has not been exceeded, the process returns to step 152 to perform the processing of step 152 and step 153, and the common divisor “100” is selected in this step 153.

  In step 154, it is determined that there is the same multiple as the request collection period “600” among the multiples “100”... “500” “600” of the selected common divisor “100”, and the process is terminated.

  As described above, in the collection cycle calculation process (S115), the requested collection condition is the device ID “I01”, the device information type “current” and “voltage”, the collection cycle “600 ms”, and the collection period “2008/03/24 18”. : 00:00:00 to 2008/03/24 18:20:00: 00, “500 ms” and “750 ms” are temporarily stored in the memory 120 as new collection cycles.

  When the collection cycle calculation process (S115) ends, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the collection cycle management unit 111 determines whether a new collection cycle has been calculated (S115). This determination is made based on whether or not a new collection cycle is stored in the memory 120. If it is determined that a new collection cycle has not been calculated, the process proceeds to step 123, and as described above, the request collection condition received in step 112 is used as it is, that is, the request collection condition is collected without changing the collection cycle. Register with.

  If it is determined in step 115 that a new collection cycle has been calculated, the collection cycle management unit 111 refers to the change condition database 134 (FIG. 5) and confirms whether or not there is an inquiry about the change of the corresponding terminal and the corresponding device ( S117). When the inquiry is unnecessary, the collection cycle management unit 111 notifies the terminal of the new collection cycle by the communication control unit 113 (S118), and then, among the request collection conditions received in step 112, the collection cycle Is changed to a new collection period, and this collection condition is registered in the collection condition database 133 (S122), and the collection condition registration process (S110) is terminated.

  If it is determined in step 117 that an inquiry is necessary, the collection cycle management unit 111 causes the communication control unit 113 to inquire the appropriate terminal of the new collection cycle (S119). In response to this inquiry, when the second communication apparatus 102 receives a response from the corresponding terminal and the collection condition management unit 111 receives this response (S120), whether or not this response recognizes a new collection cycle. Is determined (S121). If the response indicates that the new collection cycle is not allowed, the process proceeds to step 123, and as described above, the request collection condition is collected without changing the collection cycle as received in step 112 as described above. Register in the condition database 133. If it is a reply that any one of the presented one or more new collection periods is accepted, the process proceeds to step 122, and as described above, the request collection condition accepted in step 112 is set. Among them, only the collection cycle is changed to a new collection cycle, and this collection condition is registered in the collection condition database 133 (S122), and the collection condition registration process (S110) is terminated.

  For example, when “500 ms” and “750 ms” are presented as new collection cycles in step 119 and a response is received from the corresponding management terminal 300 that neither new collection cycle is permitted, In 123, the request collection conditions received in step 112 are registered in the collection condition database 133 as they are, that is, without changing the collection cycle “600 ms”. Further, when there is a response from the corresponding management terminal 300 that “500 ms” or “750 ms” is accepted as a new collection cycle, only the collection cycle is updated among the requested collection conditions accepted in step 112 in step 122. The collection condition is changed to “500 ms” or “750 ms”, and this collection condition is registered in the collection condition database 133.

  This completes the collection condition registration process (S110).

  Next, details of the device information collection process (S130) in the sequence diagram of FIG. 6 will be described according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The device information management unit 112 always refers to the collection condition database 133 to monitor whether or not the device information collection period for any device 200 has come, and collects device information for any device 200. When it is determined that the period has been reached (S131), the communication control unit 113 requests the apparatus 200 to transmit apparatus information for each collection period (S132).

  When device information is received from the corresponding device 200 in response to this transmission request (S133), this device information is stored in the device information database 132 (FIG. 3), and then sent to the management terminal 300 in which the collection period is set. The device information is transmitted (S134). Then, it is determined whether or not the collection period has ended. If the collection period has not ended, the process returns to step 132. If the collection period has ended, the collection process in the collection period (S130). Exit.

  Next, the effect of this embodiment is demonstrated using FIG.

  As illustrated above, regarding “I01” 200, the device information collection period for the management terminal “11” 300 is registered as “1000 ms” in the collection condition database 133, and the device for the management terminal “12” 300 is registered. It is assumed that “600 ms” is transmitted as a request collection cycle from the management terminal “13” 300 when the information collection cycle is registered in the collection condition database 133 as “1500 ms”.

  In the above case, when the request collection period “600 ms” from the management terminal “13” 300 is the collection period for actually collecting device information, as shown in the upper part of FIG. The information collection device 100 needs to access the device 200 “I01” 25 times in order to collect device information for the management terminal “11” 300, the management terminal “12” 300, and the management terminal 300 “13”. is there. That is, in order to collect device information for the management terminal “11” 300 and the management terminal “12” 300, it is necessary to access the device “I01” 200 13 times. In order to collect the device information for "300", it is necessary to access 12 times more.

  On the other hand, when the collection period of the device information for the management terminal “13” 300 is a new collection period “500 ms”, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 100 only needs to access the device “I01” 200 19 times in order to collect device information for the management terminal “11” 300, the management terminal “12” 300, and the management terminal “13” 300. That is, it is sufficient to access only six times more than the access count 13 for collecting device information for the management terminal “11” 300 and the management terminal “12” 300. Even when the device information collection period for the management terminal “13” 300 is set to “750 ms” instead of “500 ms” as a new collection cycle, the device “I01” 200 is accessed 19 times. It ’s enough.

  Basically, the new collection cycle “500 ms” for the management terminal “13” 300 is shorter than the request collection cycle “600 ms”, and only the management terminal “13” 300 has the device “I01” 200. In the case of access, the new collection cycle “500 ms” increases the number of accesses. However, considering the case of accessing the other management terminals “11” and “12” 300 together, the collection period of the device information for the management terminal “13” 300 is set to a new collection period “500 ms”. In this case, the access timing often overlaps with the access timing for the management terminal “11” 300 and / or the access timing for the management terminal “12” 300. That is, the number of times that the information collection for the management terminal “13” 300 and the information collection for the other management terminals “11” and “12” 300 can be performed together increases.

  As a result, in the present embodiment, the number of communications between the information collection device 100 and the device “I01” 200 is reduced, and the communication efficiency during this time can be increased. As described above, by improving the communication efficiency, it is possible to avoid the discard of the device information due to exceeding the communication allowable amount of the communication devices 101 and 203 of the information collecting device 100 and the plurality of devices 200.

  In the above embodiment, the device information database 132 is provided in the information collection device 100. However, when the device information is immediately transmitted to the management terminal 300 after collecting the device information as in the present embodiment. The device information database 132 is not always necessary. However, in order to reduce the amount of communication between the information collection device 100 and the management terminal 300, when a predetermined number of device information is collectively transmitted to the management terminal 300, at least the predetermined number of devices. A storage area for storing information is required.

  In the present embodiment, among the collection conditions registered in the collection condition database 133, the collection period is defined by the start time of the period and the end time of the period. It may be determined by an element excluding time such as “minute”.

  Further, in this embodiment, by registering in advance whether or not there is an inquiry about whether or not to change the collection cycle, there are cases where the inquiry about whether to change the collection cycle is performed or not, but either one is not performed. You may make it perform only. Specifically, in the case where an inquiry about whether or not to change the collection cycle is always performed, the processing of steps 117 and 118 in the flow shown in FIG. 7 is omitted, and the processing of steps 156 to 158 in the flow shown in FIG. Will be omitted. Further, when the inquiry about whether to change the collection cycle is not performed at any time, the processing of step 117 and the processing of steps 119 to 121 in the flow shown in FIG. 7 are omitted, and the processing in the flow shown in FIG. The processing in step 156 and the processing in steps 159 and 160 are omitted.

  In the present embodiment, when a new collection cycle is extracted from multiples of the common divisor of the collection cycle of other related collection conditions, a sample whose time difference from the requested collection cycle is within a predetermined threshold is extracted. However, the ratio of the number of communications when collecting device information using a multiple of the common divisor as the collection cycle to the number of communications when collecting device information in the requested collection cycle is within a predetermined threshold. May be extracted. For example, during the collection period, the number of communications when collecting device information in the requested collection cycle is 10,000 times, and the number of communications when collecting device information using each multiple of the common divisor as the collection cycle is 4000 times. , 5500 times, 9200 times. In this case, the ratio of the number of communications (4000, 5500, 9200) in the collection cycle of each multiple of the common divisor to the number of communications (10000) in the request collection cycle is 0.40, 0.55, and 0.92. If the threshold is set to 0.75 and multiples whose ratio is less than or equal to this threshold are extracted, multiples whose ratio is 0.40 and multiples whose ratio is 0.55 are extracted.

"Second Embodiment"
Next, a second embodiment of the information collection system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information collection system of this embodiment includes a plurality of information collection devices 100a, 100b, and 100c that collect device information from a plurality of devices 200, 200,... And these information collection devices 100a and 100b. , 100c, a plurality of management terminals 300, 300,...

  A device “I01” 200 is connected to the information collection device 100a via the network N1, and a device “I02” 200 is connected to the information collection device 100b via the network N2. The information processing apparatus 100a and the information processing apparatus 100b are also connected to the network N3. A management terminal “11” 300 and an information collection device 100c are connected to the network N3. The information collecting apparatus 100c is also connected to the network N4, and the management terminal “13” 300 is connected to the network N4.

  The management terminal “11” 300 acquires the device information of the device “I01” 200 from the information collection device 100a, and acquires the device information of the device “I02” 200 from the information collection device 100b. Also, the management terminal “13” 300 acquires the device information of the device “I01” 200 from the information collection device 100c via the information collection device 100a, and further from the information collection device 100c via the information collection device 100b. The device information of the device “I02” 200 is acquired. That is, the management terminal “13” 300 according to the present embodiment acquires device information of each device 200 via a plurality of information collection devices 100c, 100a or 100c, 100b.

  The information collection devices 100a, 100b, and 100c of this embodiment have basically the same configuration as the information collection device 100 of the first embodiment. However, the information collection devices 100a, 100b, and 100c of this embodiment differ from the information collection device 100 of the first embodiment in the following three points.

  The first point is that the collection condition management unit 111 of a certain information collection apparatus transmits / receives collection conditions to / from another information collection apparatus via the communication control unit 113. The second point is that the device information management unit 112 of a certain information collection device transmits / receives device information to / from another information collection device via the communication control unit 113. Third, as shown in FIG. 12, the communication information database 135 stores a device ID column 135a in which IDs of devices as communication partner candidates are stored, and communication addresses of the communication partner candidates. In addition to the communication address column 135b, there is a connection device ID column 135c in which the ID of a device connected to the communication partner candidate device is stored. In this way, the connection device ID column 135c is provided, for example, when the information collection device 100c collects device information of the device “I01” 200, the ID of the device 200 in the connection device ID column 135 “ This is because the communication address of the actual communication partner can be grasped by referring to the record storing “I01”. “12” in the device ID column 135a is the device ID of the management terminal “13” 300, and “G0a” and “G0b” in the device ID column 135a are the device IDs of the information collection devices 100a and 100b. .

  Next, the operation of the information collection system of this embodiment will be described with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. Here, the collection condition database 133 of the information collection device 100a already stores the collection conditions regarding the device information of the device “I01” 200 based on the request from the management terminal “11” 300, and the management terminal “13 It is assumed that the collection condition regarding the device information of the device “I01” 200 based on the request from “300” is not stored. In addition, the collection condition database 133 of the information collection device 100b already stores the collection conditions related to the device information of the device “I02” 200 based on the request from the management terminal “11” 300. From the management terminal “13” 300, It is assumed that the collection condition regarding the device information of the device “I02” 200 based on the request is not stored.

  First, when the management terminal “13” 300 receives the change condition of the collection condition regarding the device “I01” 200 and the device “I02” 200 (S311), as in the first embodiment, the management terminal “13” 300 displays the change condition as an information collection device. It transmits to 100c (S312). When the collection condition management unit 111 of the information collection device 100c receives the change condition via the communication control unit 113 (S111c), the collection condition management unit 111 stores the change condition in the change condition database 134. Next, when the management terminal “13” 300 receives the collection conditions related to the devices 200 “I01” and “I02” 200 (S313), the management terminal “13” 300 transmits the collection conditions to the information collection device 100c as the request collection conditions (S314). . When the collection condition management unit 111 of the information collection device 100c receives the request collection condition via the communication control unit 113, the collection condition management unit 111 temporarily stores it in the memory 120 (S112c).

  Then, the collection condition management unit 111 of the information collection device 100c causes the communication control unit 113 to transmit a request collection condition regarding the device 200 “I01” to the information collection device 100a (S112ca), and collects a request regarding the device “I02” 200. The condition is transmitted to the information collecting apparatus 100b (S112cb). At this time, the collection condition management unit 111 refers to the transmission information database 135 (FIG. 12) in order to cause the communication control unit 113 to transmit the request collection condition related to the device “I01” 200 to the information collection device 100a. The communication address of the information collection device 100a is acquired from the record in which the ID “I01” of the device “I01” 200 is stored in the ID column 135c, and this communication address is passed to the communication control unit 113. Similarly, in order to cause the communication control unit 113 to transmit a request collection condition related to the device “I02” 200 to the information collection device 100b, the communication information of the information collection device 100b is acquired by referring to the transmission information database 135, and this communication The address is passed to the communication control unit 113.

  When the collection condition management unit 111 of the information collection apparatus 100a receives a request collection condition regarding the device “I01” 200 from the information collection apparatus 100c via the communication control unit 111 (S112a), the collection condition management unit 111 stores the request collection condition in the collection condition database 133 Among the collection conditions, the collection condition related to the request collection condition received in step 112a is searched (S113a). Then, other collection conditions regarding the device “I01” 200 obtained by this search are transmitted to the information collection device 100c via the communication control unit 111 (S114a). Similarly, when the collection condition management unit 111 of the information collection device 100b receives a request collection condition regarding the device “I02” 200 from the information collection device 100c via the communication control unit 111 (S112b), the collection condition management unit 111 stores the request collection condition database 133 in the collection condition database 133. Among the stored collection conditions, a collection condition related to the request collection condition received in step 112b is searched (S113b). Then, other collection conditions regarding the device “I02” 200 obtained by this search are transmitted to the information collection device 100c via the communication control unit 111 (S114b). Note that, as described in the first embodiment, the other collection conditions related to the requested collection condition are the device ID and the device in the requested collection condition among the collection conditions stored in the collection condition database 133. This is a collection condition that includes the same device ID and device information type as the information type, and includes a collection period that partially or entirely overlaps with the collection period in the requested collection condition.

  The collection condition management unit 111 of the information collection device 100c is related to the other collection conditions related to the request collection condition related to the device “I01” 200 and the request collection condition related to the device “I02” 200 via the communication control unit 111. When other collection conditions are received (S113ca, S113cb), a new collection period is calculated for each of the devices “I01” and “I02” (S115c). Then, through the communication control unit 111, the management terminal “13” 300 is inquired regarding whether or not a new collection cycle is required for each of the devices “I01” and “I02” (S119c). The new collection cycle calculation method is the same as in the first embodiment.

  When the management terminal “13” 300 receives the inquiry (S315), the management terminal “13” 300 displays a new collection period included in the inquiry on the display (S316). When the management terminal “13” 300 accepts the right or wrong of the new collection cycle from the user who has seen this display (S317), the management terminal “13” 300 transmits this to the information collection device 100c (S318).

  When the collection condition management unit 111 of the information collection device 100c receives the pros and cons of a new collection cycle via the communication control unit 113 (S120c), the probing of the new collection cycle is performed as in the first embodiment. The collected collection conditions are registered in the collection condition database 133 (S122c). Then, the collection condition management unit 111 transmits, via the communication control unit 113, a collection condition including a new collection period related to the device information of the device “I01” 200 to the information collection device 100a (S123ca), and the device “I02”. A collection condition including a new collection period concerning the device information 200 is transmitted to the information collection device 100b (S123cb).

  When the collection condition management unit 111 of the information collection device 100a and the information collection device 100b receives the collection condition via the communication control unit 113 (S121a, S121b), the collection condition is registered in the collection condition database 133 (S122a, S122b).

  When the device information management unit 112 of each of the information collection devices 100a and 100b refers to the collection conditions stored in the collection condition database 133 and determines that the device information collection timing has come, the communication control unit 113 causes the device “ The device information transmission request is transmitted to “I01” and “I02” (S132a, S132b). Upon receiving the device information transmission request (S231a, S231b), the devices “I01” and “I02” transmit the device information at this time to the information collection devices 100a and 100b that are the transmission request sources (S232a and S232b).

  When the device information management unit 112 of each of the information collection devices 100a and 100b receives the device information of each of the devices “I01” and “I02” by the communication control unit 113 (S133a, S133b), this information is collected into the information collection device 100c. (S134a, S134b).

  When the device information management unit 112 of the information collection device 100c receives device information from the information collection devices 100a and 100b by the communication control unit 113 (S133ca, S133cb), the device information is stored in the device information database 132. After the storage, the communication control unit 113 causes each piece of device information to be transmitted to the management terminal “13” 300 (S134ca, S134cb).

  As described above, even if the plurality of devices 200, 200,..., The plurality of networks N1, N2,... And the plurality of information collection devices 100a, 100b, 100c are complicatedly complicated, The management terminal 300 can obtain the device information of the desired device 200 by exchanging the device information.

  Also in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the number of communications between the information collection device 100a and the device “I01” 200, and the number of communications between the information collection device 100b and the device “I02” 200 are the same. Can be reduced.

It is a block diagram of the information collection system in 1st embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure of the apparatus management database in 1st embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure of the apparatus information database in 1st embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure of the collection condition database in 1st embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure of the change condition database in 1st embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the information collection system in 1st embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the collection condition registration process (S110) in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the calculation process (S115) of the new collection period in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the collection process (S130) of the apparatus information in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the difference of the communication frequency in the request | requirement collection period in 1st embodiment which concerns on this invention, and the communication frequency in a new collection period. It is a block diagram of the information collection system in 2nd embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structure of the communication information database in 2nd embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the information collection system in 2nd embodiment which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

100, 100a, 100b, 100c: Information collection device, 101, 102, 203: Communication device, 110: CPU, 111: Collection condition management unit, 112: Device information management unit, 113: Communication control unit, 120: Memory, 130 : Storage device, 131: device management database, 132: device information database, 133: collection condition database, 134: change condition database, 135: communication information database, 136: information collection program, 200: device, 202: sensor, 300: Management terminal

Claims (8)

In an information collection device that collects device information related to the device from the device and provides the device information to a plurality of terminals,
Communicating with each of the plurality of terminals, accepting the collection period of the device information of the device as a request collection cycle, and sending the device information to the terminal-side communication means;
A collection condition storage means for storing a collection period of the device information in association with a terminal identifier for identifying each of the plurality of terminals ;
Change condition storage means for storing a threshold of a period difference allowed between a request collection period of the apparatus information and a newly set collection period for each combination of the apparatus and each of the plurality of terminals; ,
When the terminal-side communication means receives a request collection period of the device information from any one of the plurality of terminals, a collection period for the terminal that has sent the request collection period based on the request collection period determined by a collection condition management means for storing in said collecting condition storage means in association with the terminal identifier and collection period was the determination of the terminal which sent the request collection period,
A device-side communication unit that communicates with the device and collects the device information according to a collection period for each terminal identifier stored in the collection condition storage unit;
The collection condition management means includes
When the terminal-side communication unit receives the request collection cycle of the device information from any one of the plurality of terminals, one or more collection cycles of the device information are already stored in the collection condition storage unit And the change in the period difference from the accepted request collection period among multiples of the common divisor of the one or more collection periods is associated with the terminal identifier of the terminal that has transmitted the request collection period. A multiple within the threshold value stored in the condition storage means as a new collection period, stored in the collection condition storage means in association with the terminal identifier of the terminal that has sent the request collection period,
The terminal side communication means includes
An apparatus for collecting information, characterized in that apparatus information for each terminal identifier collected by the apparatus side communication means is sent to the terminal indicated by the terminal identifier. In the information gathering device according to claim 1,
The collection condition management means includes
When the terminal-side communication means receives the request collection period of the device information from any one of the plurality of terminals and obtains the new collection period, the terminal-side communication unit receives the request collection period , Inquiring whether the device information may be collected at the new collection cycle by the terminal side communication means,
When the fact that the device information may be collected at the new collection cycle is transmitted from the terminal, the new collection cycle is associated with the terminal identifier of the terminal and stored in the collection condition storage unit,
When it is received that it is not desired to collect the device information at the new collection cycle, the request collection cycle transmitted by the terminal is stored in the collection condition storage means in association with the terminal identifier of the terminal. An information collecting apparatus characterized by that. In the information gathering device according to claim 1,
The collection condition management means includes
Receiving the request collection period of the device information from any of the terminals of said terminal-side communication means of the plurality of terminals, when determining the new collection period, the terminal identifier of the terminal to the new collection period Associating and storing in the collection condition storage means, and causing the terminal side communication means to notify the terminal that has sent the request collection cycle that the device information is collected at the new collection cycle. Information collecting device. The information collection device according to claim 2,
The collection condition management means includes
When the terminal-side communication unit receives the request collection cycle of the device information from any one of the plurality of terminals, one or more collection cycles of the device information are already stored in the collection condition storage unit If
Of the multiples of the common divisor of the one or more collection periods, a period difference from the accepted request collection period is stored in the change condition storage unit in association with the terminal identifier of the terminal that has sent the request collection period. When there are a plurality of multiples within the threshold value , the terminal side communication means determines which of the multiples should be a new collection cycle for the terminal that has sent the request collection cycle. Inquiry, when it is transmitted from the terminal that any one of multiples may be used as a new collection period, the new collection period is associated with the terminal identifier of the terminal and stored in the collection condition storage unit,
Of the multiples of the common divisor of the one or more collection periods, a period difference from the accepted request collection period is stored in the change condition storage unit in association with the terminal identifier of the terminal that has sent the request collection period. When there is no multiple within the specified threshold , or as a result of requesting a response to the terminal by the terminal-side communication means, the terminal transmits that one of the multiples is not desired as a new collection period. sometimes have been, the information collection apparatus characterized in that said terminal is stored in the collecting condition storage means in association with the terminal identifier of the terminal of the request collection period that transmitted. In the information gathering device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
Further comprising a device information storage unit that device information of the collected the terminal identifier per a and collected each cycle is stored by the device-side communication means,
The terminal side communication means includes
An apparatus for collecting information, characterized in that apparatus information for each terminal identifier and for each collection period stored in the apparatus information storage means is sent to the terminal indicated by the terminal identifier. The information collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
An information collection system comprising the plurality of terminals. In a computer information collection program for collecting device information related to the device from a device and providing the device information to a plurality of terminals by a computer,
A collection condition receiving step of communicating with each of the plurality of terminals by the first communication means of the computer and receiving a collection period of the apparatus information of the apparatus as a request collection period;
When receiving the request collection cycle of the device information from any one of the plurality of terminals in the collection condition receiving step, the collection cycle for the terminal that has sent the request collection cycle based on the request collection cycle to determine, in association with the terminal identifier and collection period was the determination of the terminal which sent the request collection period, and collection condition managing step of storing in the storage means of the computer,
A device information collection step of communicating with the device by the second communication means of the computer and collecting the device information according to a collection period for each of the terminal identifiers stored in the storage means;
A device information transmitting step for transmitting, by the first communication means, device information for each of the terminal identifiers collected in the device information collecting step and for each collection period to the terminal indicated by the terminal identifier; To run
In the collection condition management step,
Upon receiving the request collection period of the device information from any of the terminals of the plurality of terminals in the collection condition receiving step, already one or more collection cycle of the device information is stored in the Symbol憶means The storage means in correspondence with a terminal identifier of the terminal that has sent the request collection period , among the multiples of the common divisor of the one or more collection periods, An information collection program characterized in that a multiple within the threshold stored in is stored in the storage means in association with the terminal identifier of the terminal that has sent the request collection period as a new collection period. In an information collection method for collecting device information related to the device from a device by a computer and providing the device information to a plurality of terminals.
A collection condition receiving step of communicating with each of the plurality of terminals by the first communication means of the computer and receiving a collection period of the apparatus information of the apparatus as a request collection period;
When receiving the request collection cycle of the device information from any one of the plurality of terminals in the collection condition receiving step, the collection cycle for the terminal that has sent the request collection cycle based on the request collection cycle to determine, in association with the terminal identifier and collection period was the determination of the terminal which sent the request collection period, and collection condition managing step of storing in the storage means of the computer,
A device information collection step of communicating with the device by the second communication means of the computer and collecting the device information according to a collection period for each of the terminal identifiers stored in the storage means;
A device information transmitting step for transmitting, by the first communication means, device information for each of the terminal identifiers collected in the device information collecting step and for each collection period to the terminal indicated by the terminal identifier; Runs and
In the collection condition management step,
Upon receiving the request collection period of the device information from any of the terminals of the plurality of terminals in the collection condition receiving step, already one or more collection cycle of the device information is stored in the Symbol憶means The storage means in correspondence with a terminal identifier of the terminal that has sent the request collection period , among the multiples of the common divisor of the one or more collection periods, An information collection method characterized in that a multiple within the threshold stored in is stored as a new collection period in the storage means in association with the terminal identifier of the terminal that has sent the request collection period.

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