JP4994889B2 - Air conditioning communication system, communication system and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioning communication system in which a plurality of air conditioning devices are connected to a common communication network.

  Conventionally, an air conditioning centralized management system that centrally manages the operation of a multi-type air conditioner installed in a building or factory is known. A multi-type air conditioner consists of one outdoor unit and multiple indoor units connected to a common refrigerant pipe. A plurality of multi-type air conditioners are installed in a building or factory as needed. It is done. Each outdoor unit and each indoor unit that constitutes each multi-type air conditioner (hereinafter simply referred to as “air conditioners”) and a host computer that centrally manages these air conditioners are connected to a common communication network. Thus, an air conditioning communication system capable of mutual communication has been constructed.

Communication between air conditioners and communication between air conditioners and a host computer are generally performed based on a common communication protocol. Therefore, for example, when a failure occurs in some of the air conditioners, the same type of air conditioner is attached so that communication using the same communication program as before can be maintained. In addition, even when expansion is required, the same model of air conditioning equipment is attached so that stable communication can be maintained.
Japanese Patent No. 2576670

By the way, when a successor model with improved functions is developed, there is a demand for switching to a succeeding air conditioner having a more excellent function when an air conditioner is replaced or newly installed due to failure or expansion.
However, when the succeeding air conditioner communicates under communication conditions different from those of the existing air conditioner, it cannot be switched as it is.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an air-conditioning communication system and communication system capable of stable communication even when different types of air-conditioning equipment are mixed, such as existing models and new models. an object of the present invention is to provide and program.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following means.
The invention, and at least one first air conditioning device and the second air conditioning device, the communication based on a plurality of communication conditions of the plurality of possible including the predetermined communication condition for performing communication based on a predetermined communication condition A communication system for air conditioning connected to a common communication network, each of the second air conditioners is set with a different waiting time, and each of the second air conditioners is set after activation after a lapse of has been being latency, executes communication condition detecting process for detecting the communication conditions currently established, and sets the own communication condition according to the detection result, the other said communication condition set When the communication condition is notified from the other second air conditioner during the waiting time, the notified communication is performed without performing the communication condition detection process. Condition of self It is set as a condition, wherein the communication condition detecting process for each of the plurality of communication conditions by itself comprises a first step of temporarily setting one of communication conditions, given a communication network according to the communication conditions temporarily set a second step of transmitting the data, based on whether there is a reply relating to the data, for air conditioning to execute a third step of determining whether communication is possible with the communication conditions tentative set A communication system is provided.

According to such a configuration, the second air conditioner can perform communication based on a plurality of communication conditions including a predetermined communication condition, and sets its own communication condition according to the currently established communication condition. Therefore, when the first air conditioner that is allowed to communicate only under a predetermined communication condition is activated, the consistency of the communication condition is ensured by setting the predetermined communication condition to the own communication condition. Can do. As a result, even when different types of air conditioners coexist, stable communication can be realized.
Specifically, in the communication condition detection process, the second air conditioner temporarily sets a first communication condition for each of a plurality of communication conditions provided by the second air conditioner. A second step of transmitting predetermined data to the communication network according to the communication condition, and a third step of determining whether communication is possible under the temporarily set communication condition based on whether there is a reply related to the data And execute the steps.
By executing such communication condition detection processing, it is possible to reliably detect appropriate communication conditions.
In addition, when the first air conditioner is not activated and the communication condition can be arbitrarily determined, it is possible to set the communication condition with the best communication performance allowed at that time. Communication in a suitable communication environment can be realized.
The communication conditions include, for example, a communication speed, an error detection method, a data format, and the like.
Furthermore, when a plurality of second air conditioners are activated substantially simultaneously, the communication condition is detected by any one of the second air conditioners, and the detection result is another second that has been activated substantially simultaneously. Therefore, the processing load on the second air conditioner can be minimized.

  In the air conditioning communication system, the second air conditioner temporarily sets the predetermined communication condition in the communication condition detection process, and transmits predetermined data to a communication network according to the predetermined communication condition. When the reply regarding is received, the predetermined communication condition may be set as the own communication condition.

For example, the predetermined waiting time, may the first air conditioning device is set longer than the time required until communication establishment from startup.

  By doing in this way, for example, when the first air conditioner and the second air conditioner are activated substantially simultaneously, after the communication according to the predetermined communication condition is established by the first air conditioner, Since the second air conditioner detects and sets the communication condition, it is possible to efficiently detect the communication condition.

  In the air conditioning communication system, the common communication network is further connected to another air conditioner capable of communicating based on at least one communication condition, and the plurality of communication conditions capable of communicating with the second air conditioner. Is set a priority in accordance with the tolerance of communication conditions by the first air conditioner and the other air conditioner connected to the common communication network. In the communication condition detection process, priority is set. Temporary setting may be performed in order from the communication condition with the highest.

  In the air conditioning communication system, the priority of the communication condition is set such that, for example, the lower the tolerance is between air conditioners connected to the common communication network.

  In the air conditioning communication system, the second air conditioner may execute the communication condition detection process when receiving predetermined data based on a communication condition different from the currently established communication condition. .

In the air conditioning system, one power source is assigned to each group composed of a plurality of air conditioners, or a power source is assigned to each air conditioner. Therefore, there is a possibility that all the air conditioners connected to the communication network may start at the same time, a possibility that each air conditioner will start for each group, and a possibility that each air conditioner will start at different timings. There is.
Even in such a case, when data different from the currently established communication condition is received, the communication condition detection process is performed and the communication condition is switched. Can be ensured, and stable communication can be realized.

The present invention, at least one first communicating based on a predetermined communication condition node and the predetermined communication based on a plurality of communication conditions including the communication condition is a plurality of second possible nodes and the common In the communication system connected to the communication network, each of the second nodes is set with a different waiting time, and each of the second nodes has a waiting time set after starting. after a lapse executes communication condition detecting process for detecting the communication conditions currently established, and sets the own communication condition according to the detection result, the set communication conditions other of said second node If the communication condition is notified from another second node during the waiting time, the notified communication condition is set as its own communication condition without performing the communication condition detection process. , before In the communication condition detection process, a first step of temporarily setting one communication condition for each of a plurality of communication conditions provided by itself, and a second step of transmitting predetermined data to a communication network according to the temporarily set communication condition a step of, based on whether there is a reply relating to the data, provides a communication system for performing a third step of determining whether communication is possible with the communication conditions tentative set.

The invention, and at least one first air conditioning device and the second air conditioning device, the communication based on a plurality of communication conditions of the plurality of possible including the predetermined communication condition for performing communication based on a predetermined communication condition In a communication system for air conditioning connected to a common communication network, each program is executed by a computer included in each second air conditioner, and a waiting time different from that of the other second air conditioners is set. And a communication condition detection program that is executed after the waiting time that has been set since the second air conditioner is activated, and the communication condition detection program is included in the second air conditioner. among a plurality of communication conditions, step of transmitting comprising the steps of temporarily setting one of communication conditions, the predetermined data to a communication network in accordance with the communication condition temporarily set If, based on whether there is a reply relating to the data, the temporary set and determining whether communication is possible with the communication conditions, the determination by said communication condition with the communication is possible in other A step of notifying the second air conditioner and a step of setting the communication condition determined to be communicable as its own communication condition, and communicating from another second air conditioner during the waiting time. When a condition is notified, a program is described in which the communication condition notified from the other second air conditioner is set as its own communication condition without executing the communication condition detection program To do.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that stable communication can be realized even when air conditioners of different models are mixed, such as an existing model or a new model.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a beauty program Oyo air-conditioning communication system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an air conditioning communication system according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the air-conditioning communication system 1 includes a plurality of first air conditioners 2 that perform communication based on a first communication condition, and communication based on a plurality of communication conditions including the first communication condition. A plurality of second air conditioners 3, and a plurality of first air conditioners 2 and a communication network 4 to which the plurality of second air conditioners 3 are connected.
FIG. 1 shows an example in which two first air conditioners 2 and two second air conditioners 3 are connected for the sake of brevity, but various types connected to the communication network 4 are shown. The number of air conditioners is not limited. The air conditioners 2 and 3 are, for example, various air conditioners required for air conditioning in a building, and examples include an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, a centralized controller, a gateway, and a conversion adapter. .

The first air conditioner 2 is, for example, an existing air conditioner connected to the communication network 4 and performs communication using a predetermined communication protocol (hereinafter referred to as “old communication protocol”).
The second air conditioner 3 is a new type of air conditioner that is newly employed, for example, when the first air conditioner 2 needs to be replaced due to a failure or the like. As a specific example, for example, a successor model in which the first air conditioner 2 is improved can be cited. The second air conditioner 3 has a plurality of protocols including the old protocol, and is configured to be able to realize communication based on each communication protocol by switching these.

In the present embodiment, the second air conditioner 3 has an old communication protocol and a new communication protocol, and switching between them realizes communication using an appropriately selected communication protocol.
FIG. 2 shows a comparison between the old communication protocol and the new communication protocol.
As can be seen from this figure, the new communication protocol can communicate at a transmission rate two to four times that of the old communication protocol.

  In such a network configuration, the second air conditioner 3 executes the communication condition detection process shown in FIG. This communication condition detection process is realized when a computer such as a microcomputer provided in the second air conditioner 3 executes a communication condition detection program.

  In this communication condition detection process, first, an old communication protocol is temporarily set (step SA1), and after a preset standby time has elapsed (step SA2), predetermined data conforming to the old communication protocol is broadcast. (Step SA3). When a reply to this data is received (“YES” in step SA4), a flag Flg_Old corresponding to the old communication protocol is set (step SA5), and the process proceeds to step SA6. On the other hand, if no reply is received in step SA4 (“NO” in step SA4), the process proceeds to step SA6 without setting a flag.

  In step SA6, a new communication protocol is provisionally set, and then predetermined data conforming to the new communication protocol is broadcast. When a reply to this data is received (“YES” in step SA8), a flag Flg_New corresponding to the new communication protocol is set (step SA9), and the process proceeds to step SA10. On the other hand, if no reply is received in step SA8 ("NO" in step SA8), the process proceeds to step SA10 without setting a flag.

In step SA10, it is determined whether or not the flag Flg_Old corresponding to the old communication program is set, and if it is set, a notification of determination of the old communication protocol is transmitted to another second communication device that is started substantially simultaneously (step SA11), the old communication protocol is set as its own communication protocol, and the communication condition detection process is terminated. On the other hand, if the flag Flg_Old corresponding to the old communication program is not set in step SA10, a notification of the determination of the new communication protocol is transmitted to the other second communication device activated substantially simultaneously (step SA13). A new communication protocol is set as its own communication protocol (step SA14), and the communication condition detection process ends.

  In the communication condition detection process, the standby time in step SA2 is set longer than the time required for the first air conditioner 2 to start up and establish communication. Thereby, for example, when the first air conditioner 2 and the second air conditioner 3 are activated substantially simultaneously, the second air conditioner 2 establishes communication according to the old communication protocol, and then the second air conditioner 2 is activated. Since the air conditioner 3 transmits data for detecting the communication protocol, it is possible to efficiently detect the communication protocol.

  Further, the standby time is preferably set to a different time for each second air conditioner 3. Thereby, when the several 2nd air conditioning equipment 3 is started substantially simultaneously, it can avoid that the several 2nd air conditioning equipment 3 performs a communication condition detection process substantially simultaneously. In other words, the communication protocol is detected by the second air conditioner that has the shortest standby time, and the other second air conditioners are notified by the second air conditioner that has detected the communication protocol first. Therefore, it is sufficient to set its own communication protocol according to the above. In this way, by setting different times as the first delay time for each second air conditioner 3, the processing load on the second air conditioner when activated almost simultaneously can be minimized. Is possible.

  By executing such communication condition detection processing by the second air conditioner 3, for example, when the first air conditioner 2 and the second air conditioner 3 are started substantially simultaneously, or the first air conditioner When the second air conditioner 3 is started after the communication conforming to the old communication protocol is established by the device 2, the old communication protocol is detected by the second air conditioner 3, and communication using the old communication protocol is performed. Will be established.

When the second air conditioner 3 is activated while the first air conditioner 2 is not activated, a new communication protocol is detected by the second air conditioner 3 and communication using the new communication protocol is performed. Establishment will be made.
Here, when communication using the new communication protocol is established and the first air conditioner 2 is activated, the first air conditioner 2 cannot perform communication using the new communication protocol. It is necessary to switch the communication protocol in the second air conditioner 2.
Therefore, in such a case, the following processing is executed by the second air conditioner 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, first, only the second air conditioner 3 is activated (step SB1), and when communication using the new communication protocol is established (step SB2), the first air conditioner 2 is activated. If it is performed (step SB3), the first air conditioner 2 automatically sets the old communication protocol at the time of activation (step SB4), and broadcasts predetermined data according to the old communication protocol (step SB3). Step SB5).
When the second air conditioner 3 receives data conforming to the old communication protocol different from the currently established new communication protocol (step SB6), the second air conditioner 3 recognizes that the air conditioner that performs communication according to the different communication protocol is activated. (Step SB7) The above-described communication condition detection process is executed (Step SB8).
Thus, the old communication protocol is detected, and the communication protocol is switched by the second air conditioner 3 (step SB9). As a result, the communication protocol is switched from the new communication protocol to the old communication protocol, and thereafter communication using the old communication protocol is established.

  As described above, according to the air-conditioning communication system 1 according to the present embodiment, the second air-conditioning device 3 is configured to be able to perform communication based on both the old and new communication protocols, and is now established. Since the own communication condition is set according to the communication condition that has been set, the first communication protocol is selected as the communication protocol when the first air conditioner 2 that is allowed to communicate only with the old communication protocol is activated. Thus, the consistency of the communication protocol can be ensured. Thereby, even when different types of air conditioners 2 and 3 coexist, stable communication can be realized.

  Further, when the first air conditioner 2 is not activated and is in a situation where communication conditions can be arbitrarily determined, the second air conditioner 3 determines that the most acceptable communication specifications ( For example, it is possible to realize communication in a more suitable communication environment by setting communication conditions having excellent communication rates and the like.

In the air conditioning communication system 1 according to the above-described embodiment, when the first air conditioner 2 that can communicate only with the old communication protocol is activated, it is necessary to unify the communication protocol with the old communication protocol. Therefore, it is not possible to take advantage of the second air conditioner 3 that can communicate with the new communication protocol having a higher transmission speed than the old communication protocol.
Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, by connecting a gateway 5 having a conversion function between the old communication protocol and the new communication protocol to the communication network 4, the first air conditioner 2 and the second air conditioner 3 It is also possible to eliminate the inconsistency of the communication protocol.
As described above, by providing the gateway 5 in the communication network 4, the first air conditioner 2 can maintain high-speed communication using the new communication protocol while the first air conditioner 2 maintains communication using the old communication protocol. Is possible.

Moreover, in this embodiment mentioned above, although the case where the 1st air conditioning equipment 2 and the 2nd air conditioning equipment 3 were connected to the common communication network 4 was described, as shown in FIG. Three or more air conditioners 10, 11, and 12 having different conditions may be connected to the common communication network 4.
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the air conditioner 11 can only communicate with the first communication protocol A, and the air conditioner 12 can communicate with the first communication protocol A and the second communication protocol B. When the air conditioner 13 can communicate with the first communication protocol A, the second communication protocol B, and the third protocol C, each communication protocol A, B, and C has a lower tolerance. A high priority is set, and the communication protocol is switched according to this priority. Specifically, in this case, the priority is set higher in the order of the first communication protocol A, the second communication protocol B, and the third protocol C.

The air conditioner 11 and the air conditioner 12 execute the above-described communication condition detection process at the time of activation and when data conforming to a communication protocol different from the currently established communication protocol is received.
At this time, the air conditioner 11 may adopt the first communication protocol A instead of the old communication protocol and the second communication protocol B instead of the new communication protocol in the communication condition detection process shown in FIG. .
Further, the air conditioner 12 expands the communication condition detection process shown in FIG. 3 to temporarily set the communication protocols A, B, and C, and to send broadcast data and receive reply data based on the temporarily set communication protocol. Processing such as presence / absence determination and flag control is performed. At this time, the air conditioner 12 selects a communication protocol based on the priorities set for the communication protocols A, B, and C.

  Specifically, the air conditioner 12 selects the communication protocol A when the flag corresponding to the communication protocol A is set. If the flag corresponding to the communication protocol A is not set and the flag corresponding to the communication protocol B is set, the communication protocol B is selected. If the flag corresponding to the communication protocols A and B is not set and the flag corresponding to the communication protocol C is set, the communication protocol C is selected.

  In this way, even in an air conditioning communication system in which three or more types of air conditioning devices 10, 11, 12 are connected to the common communication network 4, the communication devices 11, 12 may be established in the communication network 4. By making temporary settings for a certain communication protocol, detecting a currently established communication protocol, and setting or switching the communication protocol, the consistency of the communication protocol in the communication network 4 can be ensured.

  In the above-described embodiment, the air-conditioning communication system related to the communication of the air-conditioning equipment arranged in a building, a factory, or the like has been described. However, the communication condition detection process as described above is also applicable to a general communication system. It can be widely applied. For example, it can be used for general purposes by handling each air conditioner as a node.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail with reference to drawings, the specific structure is not restricted to this embodiment, The design change etc. of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention are included.

It is the figure which showed schematic structure of the communication system for an air conditioning which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the old communication protocol and the new communication protocol in comparison. It is the flowchart which showed the process sequence of the communication condition detection process which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the processing content performed by the 1st air conditioning equipment and the 2nd air conditioning equipment when the first air conditioning equipment starts when the new communication protocol is established. It is the figure which showed the other structural example of the communication system for an air conditioning shown in FIG. It is the figure which showed the other structural example of the communication system for an air conditioning shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1 'air conditioning communication system 2 first air conditioning equipment 3 second air conditioning equipment 4 communication network

Claims (8)

At least one first air conditioning device and a second air-conditioning equipment and the common communication network communication based on a plurality of communication conditions of the plurality of possible including the predetermined communication condition for performing communication based on a predetermined communication condition An air conditioning communication system connected to
Each of the second air conditioners has a different waiting time,
Each of the second air conditioners executes a communication condition detection process for detecting a currently established communication condition after a set waiting time has elapsed since the start -up. when it sets up the communication conditions of the communication conditions set notifies the other of said second air-conditioning equipment, communication conditions from another said second air conditioner is notified in the waiting time, the Without performing the communication condition detection process, set the notified communication condition as its own communication condition,
In the communication condition detection process, for each of a plurality of communication conditions provided by itself,
A first step of temporarily setting one communication condition;
A second step of transmitting predetermined data to the communication network according to the temporarily set communication conditions;
A communication system for air conditioning that executes a third step of determining whether or not communication under the temporarily set communication condition is possible based on whether or not there is a reply regarding the data.   In the communication condition detection process, the second air conditioner temporarily sets the predetermined communication condition, transmits predetermined data to a communication network according to the predetermined communication condition, and receives a reply related to the data. The air-conditioning communication system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined communication condition is set as a communication condition of itself. Before Kimachi Chi time, the first air conditioning device for air conditioning a communication system according to claim 1 or claim 2 is set longer than the time required to establish communication from the boot. The second air-conditioning equipment, when receiving the predetermined data based on different communication condition with the communication conditions currently established, to any one of claims 1 to 3 for executing the communication condition detecting process The communication system for air conditioning as described.   The common communication network is further connected with another air conditioner capable of communicating based on at least one communication condition,
  The plurality of communication conditions with which the second air conditioner can communicate are prioritized according to the tolerance of communication conditions by the first air conditioner and the other air conditioners connected to the common communication network. Degree is set,
  5. The air conditioning communication system according to claim 1, wherein, in the communication condition detection process, provisional setting is performed in order from a communication condition having a high priority.   6. The air conditioning communication system according to claim 5, wherein the priority of the communication condition is set such that the lower the tolerance is between air conditioners connected to the common communication network, the higher the priority is set. At least one first node performs communication based on a predetermined communication condition, connected to said a predetermined second node communication is plural possible based on the plurality of communication conditions including the communication condition is common communication network A communication system,
Each of the second nodes has a different waiting time,
Each of the second nodes executes a communication condition detection process for detecting a currently established communication condition after a set waiting time has elapsed since startup , and performs communication according to the detection result. In addition to setting a condition, the communication condition that has been set is notified to the other second node, and the communication condition is detected when the communication condition is notified from the other second node during the waiting time. Without performing the above, the notified communication condition is set as its own communication condition,
In the communication condition detection process, for each of a plurality of communication conditions provided by itself,
A first step of temporarily setting one communication condition;
A second step of transmitting predetermined data to the communication network according to the temporarily set communication conditions;
A communication system that executes a third step of determining whether or not communication under the temporarily set communication conditions is possible based on whether or not there is a reply regarding the data. At least one first air conditioning device and a second air-conditioning equipment and the common communication network communication based on a plurality of communication conditions of the plurality of possible including the predetermined communication condition for performing communication based on a predetermined communication condition In the air conditioning communication system connected to the computer , each of the second air conditioning equipment is a program executed by a computer ,
A waiting time different from that of the other second air conditioner is set, and there is a communication condition detection program that is executed after the set waiting time has elapsed since the second air conditioner is activated. And
The communication condition detection program is
Temporarily setting one communication condition among a plurality of communication conditions provided in the second air conditioner;
And transmitting predetermined data to a communication network in accordance with the communication condition temporarily set,
Determining whether communication is possible under the temporarily set communication conditions based on whether there is a reply regarding the data; and
Notifying the second air conditioner of the communication condition determined that communication is possible;
Setting the communication condition determined to be communicable as its own communication condition;
Including
When the communication condition is notified from the other second air conditioner during the waiting time, the communication condition notified from the other second air conditioner is not executed without executing the communication condition detection program. A program written to be set as its own communication condition.

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