JP5985066B2 - Air conditioning system and update method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioning system.

  Conventionally, a management device such as an air conditioner management device waits for the grace period until execution is possible after updating its own software when a communication request is received from another device, and then communicates from the other device. It responds to the request (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-2004-139572 (Claim 1)

  However, when updating the software of a management device such as an air conditioner management device, in order not to affect the operation of the device such as an air conditioner under the management of the management device, the device is selected from the options presented by the operator. It was carried out by selecting the date and time when the operation was stopped.

  However, in the case of a large-scale system in which a plurality of devices are managed by a plurality of management devices, one management device among the plurality of management devices is out of the plurality of management devices during software update. In some cases, another management device may communicate with the management device being updated. In this case, since the management apparatus being updated cannot respond to other management apparatuses, a communication abnormality has occurred.

  Therefore, there is a problem in that the software is automatically updated without using an operator and the occurrence of a communication abnormality cannot be avoided.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides an air conditioning system capable of automatically updating software without using an operator and avoiding occurrence of communication abnormality. It is intended to do.

An air conditioning system according to the present invention includes a plurality of air conditioners, a parent air conditioner management device that manages the plurality of air conditioners, and a child air conditioner management device that transmits and receives various signals to and from the parent air conditioner management device. In the air conditioning system provided, the parent air conditioner management device updates software for operating the parent air conditioner management device in a state where all of the plurality of air conditioners are stopped, and before updating the software , a fact that the software update execution is started, and takes expected time to the software update, and notifies the slave air conditioner managing apparatus, said child air conditioner managing apparatus, from the master air conditioner managing apparatus When the notification is received, communication with the parent air conditioner management device is suspended until the expected time elapses .

  The present invention schedules an update based on the operation schedule of the air conditioner, and pauses the communication being updated by another device during the update. Therefore, it is possible to automatically update software without using an operator and to avoid occurrence of communication abnormality.

It is a figure which shows an example of schematic structure of the air conditioning system 1 in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of the software update management part 31 in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the internal structure of the update data temporary storage device 41 and the software storage device 43 in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of the air conditioning machine schedule management part 33 in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of the sub air conditioning machine management apparatus management part 35 in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of the child air conditioner management apparatus 13 in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart of the example of control of the air conditioner management apparatus 11 in Embodiment 1 of this invention, and the flowchart of the example of control of the sub air conditioner management apparatus 13. FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the step of describing the program for performing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention is a process performed in time series in the order described, but it is not always necessary to process in time series. The processing executed may be included.

  It does not matter whether each function described in the present embodiment is realized by hardware or software. That is, each block diagram described in this embodiment may be considered as a hardware block diagram or a software functional block diagram. For example, each block diagram may be realized by hardware such as a circuit device, or may be realized by software executed on an arithmetic device such as a processor (not shown).

  In addition, each block in the block diagram described in this embodiment only needs to perform its function, and the configuration may not be separated by each block. Further, various specific setting examples and flag examples described in the present embodiment are merely examples, and are not particularly limited thereto.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of an air-conditioning system 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Although details will be described later, generally, the air conditioning system 1 automatically updates software without using an operator, and avoids occurrence of communication abnormality. Hereinafter, the detail of the air conditioning system 1 is demonstrated in order. Note that the following description will be given on the assumption that the functions of the air conditioner management device 11 are always synchronized.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioning system 1 includes an air conditioner management device 11, sub air conditioner management devices 13_1 to 13_N, air conditioners 15_1 to 15_N, air conditioners 15_1 to 15_1N, an external device 19, and the like.

  The air conditioner management device 11 includes a software update management unit 31, an air conditioner schedule management unit 33, a child air conditioner management device management unit 35, an update data temporary storage device 41, a software storage device 43, an air conditioner operation schedule storage device 45, and the like. Is provided. The air conditioner management device 11 corresponds to the parent air conditioner management device in the present invention.

  As will be described in detail later, the software update management unit 31 receives software update data from the external device 19 or the like, stores the received update data in the update data temporary storage device 41, and updates the update data stored at the time of the update to the software The storage device 43 is saved, that is, updated in an executable state. The software update management unit 31 supplies update data or update data completion notification data to the child air conditioner management device management unit 35. The software update management unit 31 receives the scheduling result from the child air conditioner management device management unit 35.

  The air conditioner schedule management unit 33 receives the operation schedule from the air conditioner 15_1 and stores the received operation schedule in the air conditioner operation schedule storage device 45. The sub air conditioner management device management unit 35 receives update data or update completion notification data from the software update management unit 31. The child air conditioner management device management unit 35 acquires the operation schedule stored in the air conditioner operation schedule storage device 45, and schedules the software update date and time 103 of the air conditioner management device 11 based on the acquired operation schedule. Then, the scheduling result is supplied to the software update management unit 31. The sub air conditioner management device management unit 35 supplies start notification data to the sub air conditioner management devices 13_1 to 13_N before starting the software update of the air conditioner management device 11. The timing at which start notification data is supplied from the sub air conditioner management device management unit 35 to the sub air conditioner management devices 13_1 to 13_N is not particularly limited as long as the software update of the air conditioner management device 11 is not started. .

  Although the details will be described later, the air conditioner management device 11 starts to update the software of the air conditioner management device 11 to the child air conditioner management devices 13_1 to 13_N, that is, the software update operation of the air conditioner management device 11 starts. Start notification data, which is notification data, is supplied. Although details will be described later, the air conditioner management device 11 completes the software update of the air conditioner management device 11 to the child air conditioner management devices 13_1 to 13_N, that is, completes the software update operation of the air conditioner management device 11. Completion notification data, which is notification data, is supplied.

  Although the details will be described later, the sub air conditioner management device 13_1 manages the air conditioner 15_2, transmits / receives various signals to / from the air conditioner management device 11, and transmits various signals to other sub air conditioner management devices 13_2 to 13_N. Send and receive. The child air conditioner management devices 13_2 to 13_N have the same configuration and functions as those of the child air conditioner management device 13_1, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

  The air conditioner 15_1 includes air conditioners 15_1 to 15_1N. The air conditioner 15_11 includes an outdoor unit 51_1 and indoor units 53_1 to 53_N. Note that the air conditioners 15_12 to 15_1N have the same configuration and functions as the air conditioner 15_11, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

  The external device 19 forms a connection relationship with the air conditioner management device 11 and transmits and receives various signals via a communication medium. The communication medium may be wired or wireless. The external device 19 supplies, for example, software update data installed in the air conditioner management device 11 to the air conditioner management device 11.

  Note that the air conditioner 15_2 includes the same configuration as the air conditioner 15_1, for example, the outdoor unit 51_2 (not shown) and the like, and thus description thereof is omitted here. Further, since the air conditioner 15_N includes the same configuration as the air conditioner 15_1, for example, the outdoor unit 51_N (not shown), the description thereof is omitted here.

  The sub air conditioner management devices 13_1 to 13_N will be referred to as sub air conditioner management devices 13 unless otherwise distinguished. The air conditioners 15_1 to 15_N and the air conditioners 15_11 to 15_1N are referred to as air conditioners 15 unless particularly distinguished from each other. In addition, the outdoor units 51_1 to 51_N are referred to as the outdoor unit 51 when not particularly distinguished. In addition, the indoor units 53_1 to 53_N are referred to as indoor units 53 when not particularly distinguished.

  In addition, the number of the air conditioners 15 described above, the number of the outdoor units 51, the number of the indoor units 53, and the like are examples, and are not particularly limited thereto.

  In addition, from the above description, the air conditioner management device 11 receives various data of the plurality of air conditioners 15 under management, and before the start of software update of the air conditioner management device 11 or of the air conditioner management device 11. After the software update is completed, update data is received.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the software update management unit 31 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The software update management unit 31 includes, for example, a communication unit 71, a data management unit 73, a scheduling management unit 92, an update execution unit 75, and the like. The communication unit 71 performs various types of communication via a communication medium. The communication medium may be wired or wireless. The data management unit 73 includes, for example, an update data management unit 91 and a scheduling management unit 92. The data management unit 73 manages the state of software that runs on the air conditioner management device 11.

  For example, the update data management unit 91 manages the status of update data. Specifically, the update data management unit 91 manages update data storage location information 101 that is update data storage location information. The update data management unit 91 manages an update data reception flag 102 that determines whether or not update data has been received.

  For example, the scheduling manager 92 manages the date and time when software is updated. The scheduling management unit 92 manages data related to the update date and time 103, the operation schedule target device 104, the scheduling result reception flag 105, the operation schedule execution flag 106, the update start flag 107, the update execution flag 108, and the update completion flag 109. .

  The update date and time 103 corresponds to the date and time when the software of the air conditioner management device 11 is updated. The operation schedule target device 104 is data that identifies the air conditioner 15 that is the target of the operation schedule. The scheduling result reception flag 105 is a flag for determining whether or not a scheduling result has been received. The operation schedule execution flag 106 is a flag for determining whether or not the air conditioner 15 is executing a schedule operation. The update start flag 107 is a flag that is set when the update is started. The update execution flag 108 is a flag set when the update is being executed. The update completion flag 109 is a flag that is set when the update is completed.

  When the update date and time 103 arrives, the update execution unit 75 updates the software of the air conditioner management device 11 using the update data. Note that the various flag examples described above are merely examples, and the present invention is not particularly limited thereto.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the update data temporary storage device 41 and the software storage device 43 in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the update data temporary storage device 41 temporarily stores update data. The update data includes, for example, physical structure data 111 and logical structure data 113. In the physical structure data 111, a physical area and the like required by update data are set. By referring to the physical structure data 111 to the air conditioner management device 11, the size of the update data file can be measured, so that the expected time required for the update can be calculated. In the logical structure data 113, an algorithm of software executed by the air conditioner management device 11 is defined.

  The air conditioner management device 11 updates the logical structure data 113 in an executable state in the software storage device 43 based on the physical conditions restricted by the physical structure data 111.

  The software storage device 43 includes, for example, an all rewrite flag 121, a difference rewrite flag 123, an all data area 131, a difference data area 133, and the like. In the all rewrite flag 121, a flag for determining whether or not to rewrite all the software expanded in the all data area 131 is set. The difference rewrite flag 123 is set with a flag for determining whether or not to rewrite the difference data developed in the difference data area 133, for example, the difference program or the difference software.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the air conditioner schedule management unit 33 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the air conditioner schedule management unit 33 associates a plurality of pieces of management target information with operation schedule storage location information. Management object information is information which specifies the air conditioner 15 under the management object of an operation schedule, for example. The operation schedule storage destination information is information such as an address for referring to the storage destination of the operation schedule of the air conditioner 15 under the management target of the operation schedule.

  The air conditioner operation schedule storage device 45 stores the operation schedule. The operation schedule is, for example, data in which an operation date is associated with each target device. Therefore, the air conditioner schedule management unit 33 can specify the operation date and time scheduled for the air conditioner 15 under management by referring to the operation schedule stored in the air conditioner operation schedule storage device 45. .

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the child air conditioner management device management unit 35 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the child air conditioner management device management unit 35 receives the operation schedule, update data, and update completion notification data. The child air conditioner management device management unit 35 outputs a scheduling result and start notification data.

  Specifically, the child air conditioner management device management unit 35 includes a communication unit 140, a schedule determination unit 141, and a date / time management unit 143. The communication unit 140 transmits and receives various signals via a communication medium. The communication medium may be wired or wireless. The schedule determination unit 141 includes a shortest date and time selection unit 151 and an expected time calculation unit 153. The shortest date and time selection unit 151 selects the shortest operation date and time when all the air conditioners 15 under management stop from the received operation schedule, and supplies the selected operation date and time to the communication unit 140 as the update date and time 103. 140 outputs it as a scheduling result.

  The expected time calculation unit 153 calculates the update data capacity from the physical structure data 111 included in the received update data, predicts the time required for the update based on the calculated update data capacity, and updates the predicted time. The estimated time is supplied to the communication unit 140, and the communication unit 140 outputs it as a scheduling result. That is, as a result, the scheduling result includes the update date and time 103 and the expected update time.

  The shortest date and time selection unit 151 also outputs the update date and time 103 to the date and time management unit 143. The date management unit 143 counts from the current time to the update date and time 103 based on the received update date and time 103. When the update date and time 103 is reached, the date and time management unit 143 sets an update start flag 107 in which a value indicating the start of update is set. Based on the update start flag 107, the communication unit 140 outputs start notification data. The update start flag 107 output from the date management unit 143 described in FIG. 5 and the update start flag 107 managed by the scheduling management unit 92 described in FIG. 2 have the same configuration, but the date management unit 143 includes: It is used as a trigger for outputting start notification data, and the scheduling manager 92 is used for managing the update operation. That is, the usage is different.

  Here, the start notification data will be described. The start notification data includes an expected update time in addition to starting the update as described above. That is, the start notification data has a data configuration including that the execution of the software update of the air conditioner management device 11 is started and the estimated time required for the software update of the air conditioner management device 11.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the child air conditioner management device 13 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the child air conditioner management device 13 includes an air conditioner management device management unit 161. The air conditioner management device management unit 161 includes a communication unit 171, a communication suspension unit 172, and a date / time management unit 173. The communication unit 171 transmits and receives various signals via a communication medium. The communication medium may be wired or wireless.

  When the communication suspension unit 172 receives the start notification data via the communication unit 171, the communication suspension unit 172 outputs a communication suspension flag in which a value corresponding to the meaning of suspension of communication is set to the communication unit 171. When receiving the communication suspension flag, the communication unit 171 suspends transmission / reception of various signals with the outside. In addition, the communication suspension unit 172 extracts the expected update time included in the start notification data and supplies it to the date management unit 173. The date management unit 173 counts the time from the current time until the estimated update time elapses, and when the estimated update time elapses, the date management unit 173 sets a communication resumption flag in which a value corresponding to the meaning of resuming communication is set to the communication unit 171. Supply. When receiving the communication restart flag, the communication unit 171 restarts transmission / reception of various signals with the outside.

  The configuration and functions of the software update management unit 181, the air conditioner schedule management unit 183, the child air conditioner management device management unit 185, the update data temporary storage device 191, the software storage device 193, and the air conditioner operation schedule storage device 195 are as follows. Since it is the same as that of the air conditioner management device 11, its description is omitted. Further, the various flag examples described above are merely examples, and the present invention is not particularly limited thereto.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a control example of the air conditioner management device 11 and a control example of the child air conditioner management device 13 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In addition, the process of step S11-step S20 respond | corresponds to the process of the air conditioning machine management apparatus 11, and the process of step S31-step S34 respond | corresponds to the process of the sub air conditioning machine management apparatus 13.

(Step S11)
The air conditioner management device 11 determines whether update data has arrived. When the update data arrives, the air conditioner management device 11 proceeds to step S12. On the other hand, if no update data arrives, the air conditioner management device 11 returns to step S11.

(Step S12)
The air conditioner management device 11 receives the update data.

(Step S13)
The air conditioner management device 11 temporarily stores the received update data.

(Step S14)
The air conditioner management device 11 acquires the operation schedule of the air conditioner 15.

(Step S15)
The air conditioner management device 11 selects the shortest date and time when all the air conditioners 15 are stopped from the operation schedule of the air conditioner 15.

(Step S16)
The air conditioner management device 11 schedules the update date and time 103 based on the selected shortest date and time.

(Step S17)
The air conditioner management device 11 determines whether or not the update date and time 103 has arrived. When the update date and time 103 arrives, the air conditioner management apparatus 11 proceeds to step S18. On the other hand, if the update date and time 103 has not arrived, the air conditioner management device 11 returns to step S17.

(Step S18)
The air conditioner management device 11 notifies the child air conditioner management device 13 of the update start information and the expected update time.

(Step S19)
The air conditioner management device 11 executes the update.

(Step S20)
The air conditioner management device 11 determines whether the update is completed. When the update is completed, the air conditioner management device 11 ends the process. On the other hand, if the update is not completed, the air conditioner management device 11 returns to step S20.

(Step S31)
The child air conditioner management device 13 determines whether or not the update start information and the estimated update time have been received. If the child air conditioner management device 13 receives the update start information and the estimated update time, the process proceeds to step S32. On the other hand, the child air conditioner management device 13 returns to step S31 when the update start information and the update expected time are not received.

(Step S32)
The child air conditioner management device 13 stops communication.

(Step S33)
The child air conditioner management device 13 determines whether or not the estimated update time has elapsed. If the estimated update time has elapsed, the child air conditioner management device 13 proceeds to step S34. On the other hand, if the estimated update time has not elapsed, the child air conditioner management device 13 returns to step S33.

(Step S34)
The child air conditioner management device 13 resumes communication and ends the process.

  From the above description, the air conditioning system 1 can automatically update software without using an operator, and can avoid occurrence of communication abnormality.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the plurality of air conditioners 15, the air conditioner management apparatus 11 that manages the plurality of air conditioners 15, the sub air conditioner management apparatus 13 that transmits and receives various signals to and from the air conditioner management apparatus 11, The air conditioner management apparatus 11 includes a plurality of air conditioners 15 in a state where all the air conditioners 15 are stopped, and updates the software that operates the air conditioner management apparatus 11 before updating the software. The air-conditioner management apparatus 13 is notified of information related to software update, and the air-conditioner management apparatus 13 suspends communication with the air-conditioner management apparatus 11 when notified of information related to software update. System 1 is configured.

  Therefore, the air conditioning system 1 can automatically update software without using an operator, and can avoid the occurrence of communication abnormality.

  In the first embodiment, the air conditioner management device 11 controls the plurality of air conditioners 15 based on the operation schedule, and among the dates when the plurality of air conditioners 15 are all stopped, the shortest date and time from the current date and time. Is determined as the software update date and time.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the air conditioner management device 11 indicates that the execution of the software update is started and the expected time required for the software update as information related to the software update. 13 and the child air conditioner management device 13 stops communication with the air conditioner management device 11 until the expected time is over.

  In the first embodiment, the air conditioner management device 11 receives various data of a plurality of air conditioners 15 under management, and updates the software before the start of the software update or after the end of the software update. Receive update data to use.

  In the first embodiment, the air conditioner management device 11 includes a software storage device 43 that stores update data in a state that can be executed as software. When there is an instruction to completely rewrite software, the software storage device is updated with update data. If all of the update data is overwritten and the software rewrite instruction is issued, only the amount corresponding to the difference in the update data is updated in the software storage device 43.

  Therefore, the air conditioning system 1 can update software automatically without using an operator, and can remarkably avoid the occurrence of communication abnormality.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air conditioning system, 11 Air conditioner management apparatus, 13, 13_1-13_N Child air conditioner management apparatus, 15, 15_1, 15_1-11-15_1N, 15_2-15_N Air conditioner, 19 External apparatus, 31, 181 Software update management part, 33, 183 Air conditioner schedule management unit, 35, 185 Child air conditioner management device management unit, 41, 191 Update data temporary storage device, 43, 193 Software storage device, 45, 195 Air conditioner operation schedule storage device, 51, 51_1 to 51_N Outdoor Machine, 53, 53_1 to 53_N indoor unit, 71, 111, 140, 171 communication unit, 73 data management unit, 75 update execution unit, 91 update data management unit, 92 scheduling management unit, 101 update data storage destination information, 1 2 Update data reception flag, 103 Update date / time, 104 Update target device, 105 Scheduling result reception flag, 106 Operation schedule execution flag, 107 Update start flag, 108 Update execution flag, 109 Update completion flag, 111 Physical structure data, 113 Logical structure data, 121 Total rewrite flag, 123 Differential rewrite flag, 131 Total data area, 133 Differential data area, 141 Schedule determination unit, 143, 173 Date / time management unit, 151 Shortest date / time selection unit, 153 Expected time calculation unit, 161 Air conditioning Machine management device management unit, 172 communication suspension unit.

Claims (5)

Multiple air conditioners,
A parent air conditioner management device for managing the plurality of air conditioners;
A child air conditioner management device that transmits and receives various signals to and from the parent air conditioner management device;
An air conditioning system comprising:
The parent air conditioner management device is:
With all of the air conditioners stopped, update the software that operates the parent air conditioner management device,
Prior to updating the software , the child air conditioner management device is notified that the execution of the software update is started and the expected time required for the software update ,
The child air conditioner management device is
When receiving the notification from the parent air conditioner management device, communication with the parent air conditioner management device is suspended until the expected time elapses . The parent air conditioner management device is:
Based on the operation schedule, control the plurality of air conditioners,
2. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein among the date and time when all of the plurality of air conditioners stop, the shortest date and time from the current date and time is determined as the update date and time of the software. The parent air conditioner management device is:
While receiving various data of the plurality of air conditioners under management,
The air conditioning system according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein update data used for updating the software is received before the start of the software update or after the end of the software update. The parent air conditioner management device is:
A software storage device for storing the update data in a state that can be executed as the software;
If there is an instruction to rewrite all of the software, the software storage device is completely overwritten and updated with the update data,
4. The air conditioning system according to claim 3, wherein when there is an instruction to rewrite the software, only the amount corresponding to the difference in the update data is updated in the software storage device. 5. Multiple air conditioners,
A parent air conditioner management device for managing the plurality of air conditioners;
A child air conditioner management device that transmits and receives various signals to and from the parent air conditioner management device;
An update method comprising:
With all of the air conditioners stopped, update the software that operates the parent air conditioner management device,
Prior to updating the software , the child air conditioner management device is notified that the execution of the software update is started and the expected time required for the software update ,
When receiving the notification from the parent air conditioner management device, the update method is characterized in that communication to the parent air conditioner management device is suspended until the expected time elapses .

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