JP6390201B2 - Communication adapter device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication adapter device, and more particularly to a communication adapter device for communication-connecting a household energy management system and a heat source device such as a hot water supply device.

  In recent years, the amount of power used and the operating state of electrical equipment (for example, lighting equipment and air conditioners) in the homes of power consumers can be visualized (so-called visualization) using a control device such as a personal computer, smartphone or tablet terminal, or A home energy management system (HEMS) that is remotely operated has been proposed.

  In this home energy management system, electrical equipment in a customer's home is connected to a HEMS controller (control device) via a computer network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), and communication is performed between the controller and the electrical equipment. By using the HEMS controller, the HEMS controller can display the power usage amount and the operating state of the electric device, and the HEMS controller can be used to control the electric device (for example, switching on / off of the lighting device or turning on / off the air conditioner). Switching, and further changing the air-conditioning set temperature of the air conditioner) (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Here, communication is performed between a controller and an electrical device in such a HEMS in accordance with a standardized predetermined communication standard (for example, “ECHONET Lite” formulated by the Echonet Consortium). It is designed to communicate with electrical equipment that supports standardized communication standards.

  On the other hand, a heat source device such as a hot water supply device communicates with a remote control device that is a remote control device or a hot water terminal device (for example, a floor heating panel or a bathroom heating device) that receives hot water supply from the heat source device. However, at present, the communication between the heat source device and these terminal devices all follow a dedicated communication standard and does not correspond to the HEMS communication standard.

  Specifically, specific optional devices (terminal devices that do not require compatibility with other companies' products) connected to the remote control of the heat source unit or the heat source unit communicate with each other according to the communication standard (first communication standard) unique to the product. A terminal device that is required to be compatible with products from other companies, such as a hot water terminal device, is configured to perform communication in accordance with a standardized specific communication standard (second communication standard). . That is, the heat source device is provided with communication means based on the first communication standard and communication means based on the second communication standard.

JP 2013-20488 A

  By the way, with the spread of HEMS, there is an increasing demand for visualization and control of power usage of heat source devices and hot water terminal devices using the HEMS controller, and communication between heat source devices and HEMS. Development of a communication adapter device for connection is underway, but communication connection between the HEMS and the heat source device has the following problems.

(1) When the heat source device and the hot water terminal device are incorporated into the HEMS, the HEMS controller functions as a remote control device for the heat source device and the hot water terminal device, so the communication adapter device performs the first communication similar to the remote control of the heat source device. Communication connection with the heat source machine is made according to the standard. However, when the communication adapter device is connected to the heat source device according to the first communication standard, the amount of communication according to the first communication standard increases, thereby causing a terminal device other than the communication adapter device that is connected to the heat source device according to the first communication standard ( For example, the communication of the remote control of the heat source device may be delayed.

  FIG. 6 shows the operation state data of the hot water terminal device through the heat source device in accordance with the first communication standard (warm water such as whether the hot water terminal device is in an on / off state or the heating set temperature). 2 shows an example of a procedure for acquiring information regarding operation of a terminal device. As shown in FIG. 6, when the communication adapter device acquires the operation state data from the heat source device according to the first communication standard, the communication adapter device first stores the data stored in the control unit of the heat source device with respect to the heat source device. Command the initialization of the operation state data of the hot water terminal device (initialization command), and wait for a response from the heat source machine to this initialization command. If there is a response indicating that the initialization command has been received from the heat source machine, next, the heat source machine is requested to confirm whether or not the initialization of the operation state data has been completed (initialization completion confirmation). Wait for a response from the heat source machine to this request. The communication adapter device 1 proceeds with the process while confirming the command and the response to the heat source device in this way, and then performs operation state designation and operation state switching confirmation, and then the designated hot water is designated for the heat source device. A request is made to confirm whether or not the terminal device is ready for transmission of operating state data (confirmation of corresponding data preparation status), and a response is awaited. When there is a response from the heat source device that the communication adapter device is preparing (request preparation is in progress) in response to the confirmation of the corresponding data preparation status, the corresponding data preparation is performed again after a predetermined time interval (100 msec in the illustrated example). Check the status. This correspondence data preparation status confirmation is repeated until there is a response (request completion) from the heat source device that the preparation is completed. Then, when there is a request completion response from the heat source machine, the communication adapter device finally requests the heat source machine to transmit operating state data (operating state 1st and 2nd digit confirmation and operating state 3 and 4). Check digit). As described above, since a plurality of procedures (communication data exchange) are required until the operation state data is acquired according to the first communication standard, a large number of communication adapter devices and heat source devices are connected by connecting the communication adapter devices. Thus, the communication data of the first communication standard is greatly increased.

  And when acquisition of the operation state data of such a hot water terminal device is performed for a plurality of terminals (for example, for 8 terminals) collectively, as shown in FIG. 7, communication occupation occurs, and terminal devices other than the communication adapter device Communication will be delayed.

(2) In addition, when acquiring the operation status data of the hot water terminal device, until there is a request completion response from the heat source device to the corresponding data preparation status confirmation from the communication adapter device, the heat source device and the hot water terminal device Since a time of about several seconds (for example, about 1 to 2 seconds) is required by polling according to the second communication standard in the meantime (see FIG. 6), the corresponding data preparation status check and the response during request preparation are repeated during this time That is, there is a problem that there is no gap in which terminal devices other than the communication adapter device communicate with each other according to the first communication standard.

(3) Also, assuming that the number of hot water terminal devices connected is 8 terminals (maximum number of connections), and the processing time required for data acquisition of 1 terminal is 30 seconds, the communication cycle required for data update per terminal is 4 However, since the number of connections of the hot water terminal device differs depending on the construction site (generally, about 2 to 3 terminals), the number of connections of the hot water terminal device is the maximum number of connections. If not, if the communication cycle per terminal is not changed, useless blank time occurs as shown in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, and the response to update the operating state data of the hot water terminal device There is a problem that decreases. That is, as shown in FIG. 8A, even when only one hot water terminal device is connected to the heat source machine, the operation state data of the hot water terminal device is updated every 4 minutes, and the operation of the hot water terminal device is performed. There is a risk of wrinkles between the status and the display of the HEMS controller.

  This invention is made in view of such a conventional problem, Comprising: In communication connection of a HEMS controller and a heat source machine, the communication adapter apparatus with a high update response of the operation state data of a hot water terminal device is provided. The main object is to provide a communication adapter device that has less adverse effects on communication such as a remote control of a heat source device.

In order to achieve the above object, a communication adapter device according to claim 1 of the present invention is a control device that performs information collection and / or remote operation of an electric device in a customer's home via a computer network. Communication for communication connection to a heat source device including one or more first terminal devices that are connected for communication according to the first communication standard and one or more second terminal devices that are connected for communication according to the second communication standard An adapter device, wherein the communication adapter device stores operation state data of communication means with the computer network, communication means according to the first communication standard, and a second terminal device connected to the heat source device. Control means having a control unit, and the control means operates the second terminal device connected to the heat source device via the communication means according to the first communication standard. Sequentially retrieved one terminal device status data at regular time intervals, with a sequential update controls constituting the acquired operation status data stored in the storage unit in the operating state data, and the operating state of the second terminal device In acquiring the data, after performing the acquisition request communication of the operating state data of the second terminal device to the heat source unit, the configuration includes performing confirmation communication inquiring whether or not preparation for transmission of the data is completed, After the acquisition request communication, the heat source device includes a control configuration that does not perform the confirmation communication until a time required for transmission / reception of operation state data with the second terminal device has elapsed. .

In the communication adapter device according to the first aspect, the operation state data of the second terminal device connected to the heat source device is sequentially acquired by the communication adapter device one by one at regular intervals, and the data is updated. When the number of connected 2-terminal devices is less than the maximum number of connected devices, the operation state data is obtained from all the second terminal devices in a shorter cycle than when the number of connected second-terminal devices is the maximum number of connected devices. And can be updated.
In the communication adapter device according to claim 1, the communication adapter device performs an acquisition request communication of the operation state data of the second terminal device to the heat source device, and then the heat source device communicates with the second terminal device. No inquiry is made as to whether or not the preparation for transmission of the data has been completed until the time required for transmission and reception of the operation state data has passed, so confirmation of whether or not preparation for transmission of the operation state data has been completed can be performed almost once. The amount of communication of the first communication standard is reduced.

  The communication adapter device according to claim 2 of the present invention is the communication adapter device according to claim 1, wherein the control means stores operating state data for each of the second terminal devices, one terminal device at a certain time interval. It is characterized by repeating the acquisition process. That is, in the communication adapter device according to the second aspect, once the data acquisition of all the second terminal devices is completed by performing the process of acquiring the operation state data of the second terminal device one by one at regular intervals. Since the same processing is performed (this processing is repeated), the operation state data of the second terminal device stored in the communication adapter device is always updated to the latest data.

  In the communication adapter device according to claim 1, the second terminal device is connected to the heat source device within a range of a predetermined maximum number of connections.

A communication adapter device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the communication adapter device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the first communication standard is a power supply from the heat source unit to the first terminal device. It is characterized by the power superimposition communication involving.

In the communication adapter device according to the fourth aspect , since the first communication standard is power superimposed communication with power supply from the heat source device to the first terminal device, the communication adapter device receives power supply from the heat source device. Can do.

  According to the present invention, the control means of the communication adapter device sequentially obtains the operating state data of the second terminal device connected to the heat source device one by one at regular intervals via the communication means according to the first communication standard. Then, since the operation state data stored in the storage unit is sequentially updated with the acquired operation state data, even when the number of connected second terminal devices is less than the maximum number of connections, there is no useless blank time for communication, The operation state data of all the second terminal devices can be updated to the latest data in a short cycle. Therefore, it is possible to provide a communication adapter device that can update the operation state data of the hot water terminal device at an appropriate timing for each construction site.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of schematic structure of a household energy management system (HEMS) using the communication adapter apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of schematic structure of the communication adapter apparatus. It is a time chart which shows the method of the acquisition communication of the driving | running state data by the communication adapter apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example (a part was shown typically) of the message | telegram structure of the acquisition communication of the driving | running state data by the 1st communication standard in the communication adapter apparatus. It is a time chart which shows an example of the acquisition communication of the driving | running state data in the communication adapter apparatus, FIG.5 (a) shows the case where there is only one hot water terminal device, FIG.5 (b) shows three hot water terminal devices. FIG. 5C shows the case where there are eight hot water terminal devices (maximum number of connections). It is explanatory drawing which shows an example (a part was shown typically) of the conventional message | telegram structure of the acquisition communication of the driving | running state data by a 1st communication standard. It is a time chart which shows the conventional method of acquisition communication of driving | running state data. FIG. 8A is a time chart showing a conventional example of operation state data acquisition communication. FIG. 8A shows a case where there is only one hot water terminal device, and FIG. 8B shows a case where there are three hot water terminal devices. 8 (c) shows a case where there are eight hot water terminal devices (maximum number of connections).

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a home energy management system (HEMS) using a communication adapter device 1 according to the present invention. The household energy management system shown in FIG. 1 uses the HEMS controller (control device) 2 to acquire information and / or hot water in a hot water terminal device (second terminal device) 4 connected to a hot water supply device (heat source device) 3. The terminal device 4 is configured to be remotely operated.

  First, the hot water supply device 3 will be described. The hot water supply device 3 has a well-known hot water supply function for supplying hot water to a hot water tap (not shown), a bath function for reheating the bath, and a hot water heating function for supplying hot water serving as a heat medium to the hot water terminal device 4. It is a hot water supply device having a configuration, and includes a plurality of remote controllers 5 as remote control devices and one or a plurality of hot water terminal devices 4 as hot water heating devices.

  Here, in the illustrated example, as the remote controller 5, three remote controllers 5 including a bathroom remote controller 5a installed in the bathroom, a kitchen remote controller 5b installed in the kitchen, and a sub-remote controller 5c installed in a place other than the bathroom and the kitchen are illustrated. As shown, at least one remote controller 5 may be used, and the number of remote controllers 5 can be changed as appropriate.

  In the illustrated example, eight hot water terminal devices 4 of 4a to 4h are illustrated as the hot water terminal devices 4, but this is the maximum number of connections of the hot water terminal devices 4 that can be controlled by the HEMS controller 2 (this embodiment). The number of connected hot water terminal devices 4 is eight or less, and can be changed as appropriate. As the hot water terminal device 4, there are various devices such as a floor heating panel, a panel heater, a fan convector, a bathroom dryer, a bathroom heater / dryer, a mist sauna, etc. The combination depends on the construction site of the hot water supply device 3. The selection can be changed as appropriate.

  Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the power measurement unit 6 is illustrated as an optional device of the hot water supply device 3, but this is the power consumption (electric power consumption) in the electrical equipment in the customer's home including the hot water supply device 3 and the hot water terminal device 4. ) Is a unit equipped with a sensor or the like. In addition, as an optional device of the hot water supply device 3, a device other than the power measurement unit 6 (for example, an automatic drain plug of a bathtub) may be connected.

  And in the hot water supply apparatus 3 comprised in this way, while the remote control 5 and the electric power measurement unit 6 are connected with the hot water supply apparatus 3 by the communication line L1, the hot water terminal device 4 is connected with the hot water supply apparatus 3 by the communication line L2. . Here, different communication standards are adopted for the communication line L1 and the communication line L2.

  Specifically, the communication line L1 is connected according to a unique communication standard (first communication standard) established by the manufacturer of the hot water supply device 3, and the communication line L2 is a communication standard (standardized by a gas company) ( Connected by the second communication standard). More specifically, the communication standard of the communication line L1 is a power superimposition communication method in which power is supplied from the hot water supply device 3 to the terminal devices (the remote controller 5 and the power measurement unit 6) connected to the communication line L1. A communication standard is adopted, and TES (Thin & Economical System) is adopted as the communication standard of the communication line L2. In the present invention, the terminal device connected by the communication line L1 (that is, the first communication standard) is the first terminal device, and the terminal device connected by the communication line L2 (that is, the second communication standard) is the second terminal. Configure the device.

  And the hot water supply apparatus 3 to which the communication line L1 and the communication line L2 are connected in this way communicates with the remote controller 5, the power measuring unit 6, and further the hot water terminal apparatus 4 via these communication lines L1 and L2. A control unit (not shown) is provided, and each part of the hot water supply device 3 is controlled by the control unit of the hot water supply device 3. That is, the control unit of the hot water supply device 3 is configured to cause the hot water supply device 3 to perform operations corresponding to the hot water supply function, the bath reheating function, and the hot water heating function in accordance with the operation of the remote controller 5 or the like. .

  The connection between the hot water supply device 3 and the hot water terminal device 4 is configured to connect the communication line L2 from the hot water terminal device 4 to a predetermined connection terminal (not shown) provided in the hot water supply device 3. The controller of the hot water supply device 3 can grasp how many hot water terminal devices 4 are connected from the connection status to the connection terminals. In the present embodiment, since up to eight hot water terminal devices 4 can be connected to the hot water supply device 3, eight connection terminals are provided.

  On the other hand, the HEMS controller 2 includes a predetermined display unit such as a personal computer, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal, and can execute a control program of the HEMS (in other words, obtains and displays information on an electrical device connected to the HEMS, and (Or remote control of electrical equipment connected to the HEMS). In the present embodiment, a tablet terminal (a plate-like all-in-one computer) compatible with a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) is used as the HEMS controller 2.

  The router 7 is a communication relay device for connecting the HEMS controller 2 and a HEMS compatible electrical device in a customer's home via a computer network such as a LAN. The router 7 is connected to the HEMS controller 2 by a wireless LAN and a communication adapter. The device 1 is connected by wire via a communication line L3. Here, Ethernet (registered trademark) generally used as a computer network is used for the communication line L3. In this communication line L3, a predetermined communication standard (for example, Echonet Consortium) standardized for HEMS is used. The communication adapter device 1 and the HEMS controller 2 are connected for communication by “ECHONET Lite”). Note that the communication standard used in the communication line L3 is different from the first communication standard and the second communication standard described above.

  The communication adapter device 1 can perform information acquisition of the hot water terminal device 4 by the HEMS controller 2 and / or remote operation of the hot water terminal device 4 by the HEMS controller 2 by communicatively connecting the hot water supply device 3 and the HEMS controller 2. As shown in FIG. 2, a network adapter 10 (which constitutes a communication means with a computer network) that communicates via a communication line L3 and a communication line L1 Superimposition communication unit 11 that communicates with hot water supply device 3 (which is a communication unit according to the first communication standard), and control unit (control unit) 12 that relays communication between network communication unit 10 and superimposition communication unit 11 And as a main part.

  Specifically, the control unit 12 includes a microcomputer as a control center, and is configured to be able to exchange commands (commands) and data with the HEMS controller 2 via the network communication unit 10. 11 is configured so that commands and data can be exchanged with the hot water supply device 3 (or the hot water terminal device 4 via the hot water supply device 3) via 11 (details will be described later). The control unit 12 includes a clock generation circuit (not shown), and the control unit 12 is configured to be able to measure time based on a clock signal from the clock generation circuit.

  The power supply unit 13 is a power supply device that receives DC power supplied from the hot water supply device 3 via the communication line L <b> 1 and supplies driving power to each unit of the communication adapter device 1. The storage unit 14 is a volatile memory that appropriately stores data when the control unit 12 processes data. And in this embodiment, this memory | storage part 14 comprises the memory area which memorize | stores the operation state data of the hot water terminal device 4 mentioned later. The storage unit 14 may be replaced by a RAM provided in the microcomputer.

Next, the operation of the communication adapter device 1 configured as described above will be described.
When this communication adapter device 1 receives a command from the HEMS controller 2 that is communicatively connected via the router 7, it transmits a command to the hot water supply device 3 via the superimposition communication unit 11 according to the command, or Data stored in the storage unit 14 is read out and transmitted to the HEMS controller 2. Specifically, when a command (for example, operation on to operation off, operation off to operation on or change of set temperature, etc.) is given from the HEMS controller 2 to any hot water terminal device 4, A command for the hot water terminal device 4 designated according to the command is transmitted to the hot water supply device 3. Further, a command for acquiring information of any one of the hot water terminal devices 4 from the HEMS controller 2 (for example, whether the operation is in an on / off state, how many times the set temperature is, and how much power is consumed) When an information acquisition request is received, information corresponding to the command is read from the storage unit 14 or acquired by communication with the hot water supply device 3 and transmitted to the HEMS controller 2. ing.

  In connection with such processing of the communication adapter device 1, in the communication adapter device 1 shown in the present embodiment, the control unit 12 periodically acquires communication (hereinafter, “ (Referred to as “GET communication”).

  FIG. 3 shows this GET communication method. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 12 of the communication adapter device 1 is sequentially connected to one terminal every T1 for a certain time (30 seconds in the illustrated example) in synchronization with the time. The operation state data of the hot water terminal device 4 is acquired one by one (specifically, the process of acquiring the operation state data one terminal at a time interval T1 is repeated).

  Here, the fixed time T1 is set based on the required time T2 required to acquire the operation state data from one hot water terminal device 4. Specifically, the fixed time T1 is set to a time longer than the required time T2. In this embodiment, since it takes about 15 seconds to acquire the operation state data from one hot water terminal device 4, it is set to 30 seconds with a little margin. In addition, if this fixed time T1 is set too long with respect to the said required time T2, as shown in FIG. 3, when eight hot water terminal devices 4 are connected, which is the maximum number of connections, each hot water terminal device 4 Since the update cycle of the operation state data becomes long, it is preferable to set so that the update cycle is not so long.

  As described above, in the communication adapter device 1 of the present embodiment, during the GET communication, the control unit 12 of the communication adapter device 1 sequentially operates the operation state data of the hot water terminal device 4 one terminal at a certain time T1 in synchronization with the time. Therefore, communication is leveled as compared with the conventional configuration (see FIG. 7) in which all terminals collectively perform GET communication. Therefore, the possibility that communication according to the first communication standard is delayed due to the connection of the communication adapter device 1 is suppressed.

  In addition, in this way, the operation state data of each hot water terminal device 4 acquired by GET communication is sequentially stored in the storage unit 14 each time by the control unit 12, and updated to new data when new data is acquired. In response to a request from the HEMS controller 2, it can be appropriately read.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the telegram configuration of the first communication standard performed by the communication adapter device 1 for the hot water supply device 3 is changed as shown in FIG. That is, in the communication adapter device 1, during GET communication, after the communication adapter device 1 confirms the operation state switching with respect to the hot water supply device 3, the correspondence data is kept until T3 elapses for a certain time (3 seconds in the illustrated example). It is configured not to check the preparation status.

  That is, in the telegram configuration shown in FIG. 4, the operation state switching confirmation is a telegram constituting the previous stage of the corresponding data preparation status confirmation, and is substantially an operation state data acquisition request communication to the hot water supply device 3. For this reason, the corresponding data preparation status is confirmed after a certain time T3 has elapsed since this communication was performed. Here, this fixed time T3 is set based on the time T4 required for the hot water supply device 3 to transmit / receive operating state data to / from the hot water terminal device 4 according to the second communication standard. Specifically, the fixed time T3 is set to a time longer than the time T4 required for the transmission / reception. In this embodiment, since it takes about 1 to 2 seconds for the hot water supply device 3 to exchange the operation state data with the hot water terminal device 4 according to the second communication standard, the certain time T3 is set to 3 seconds longer than that. .

  In this way, in the GET communication, after the communication adapter device 1 performs the operation state switching confirmation, the correspondence data preparation state confirmation is not performed until the predetermined time T3 elapses. As a result, unnecessary communication such as repeated response indicating that the request is being prepared does not occur, and communication with a terminal device (for example, the remote controller 5) other than the communication adapter device 1 can be performed smoothly.

  Further, in the communication adapter device 1 shown in the present embodiment, as described above, during the GET communication, the control unit 12 of the communication adapter device 1 sequentially adds the hot water terminal device 4 one terminal at a certain time T1 in synchronization with the time. Therefore, for example, when the number of hot water terminal devices 4 is eight, which is the maximum number of connections, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), eight hot water terminal devices 4 are provided. It takes 4 minutes to acquire all of the data (that is, each hot water terminal device 4 is updated every 4 minutes), as shown in FIG. When there are three hot water terminal devices 4 (in the example shown, three terminals 1, 3, and 5), the time required for data acquisition of all three hot water terminal devices 4 is reduced to 1 minute 30 seconds. (That is, each hot water terminal device 4 is 1 minute 30 seconds In updating the operation status data is performed). Furthermore, as shown to Fig.5 (a), when there is only one hot water terminal device 4, the time required for data acquisition of the hot water terminal device 4 is shortened to 30 seconds, and the hot water terminal device 4 has a cycle of 30 seconds. The operating state data is updated at.

  That is, in the communication adapter device 1 shown in the present embodiment, regarding the GET communication, the control unit 12 prior to the process of acquiring the operation state data of the hot water terminal device 4 one terminal at a time at a constant time T1 in synchronization with the time. Then, it communicates with the control unit of the hot water supply device 3, detects the number N of hot water terminal devices 4 connected to the hot water supply device 3, and based on the detected connection number N, the period of GET communication per terminal Is set to N × T1 (see FIG. 5).

  Thus, according to the communication adapter device 1 shown in this embodiment, when the number of connected hot water terminal devices 4 is less than the maximum number of connections, all the hot water terminals are shorter in period than the maximum number of connections. Since the operation state data of the device 4 is updated to the latest data, it is possible to provide a communication adapter device having a high update response according to each construction site.

  The above-described embodiment shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this, and various design changes can be made within the scope of the invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the hot water supply device 3 has a hot water supply function, a bath function, and a hot water heating function has been shown. However, the communication adapter device 1 according to the present invention is a heat source machine that has a hot water heating function. Even a hot water supply device that does not have a function is applicable.

  Moreover, in embodiment mentioned above, although the communication adapter apparatus 1 showed the structure which memorize | stores the driving | running state data of the hot water terminal device 4, it is comprised so that the driving | running state data of the hot water supply apparatus 3 may also be memorize | stored with the hot water terminal device 4. Of course, it is also possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the HEMS controller 2 is connected to the router 7 in the customer's home by wireless LAN is shown. However, the HEMS controller 2 is connected to the router 7 via an external network such as the Internet 8. It may be configured. Further, when the HEMS controller 2 is connected to the Internet 8, it may be connected to an external server (HEMS cloud) 9 via the Internet 8.

1 Communication adapter device 2 HEMS controller (control device)
3 Hot water supply equipment (heat source machine)
4 Hot water terminal equipment (second terminal equipment)
5 Remote control (first terminal device)
6 Power measurement unit (second terminal device)
7 router 8 internet 9 HEMS cloud 10 network communication unit (communication means with computer network)
11 Superimposition communication unit (communication means according to the first communication standard)
12 Control unit (control means)
13 power supply unit 14 storage unit L1 communication line L2 according to first communication standard communication line L3 according to second communication standard L3 communication line with HEMS controller

Claims (4)

A control device that performs information collection and / or remote control of electrical equipment in a customer's home via a computer network is connected to one or a plurality of first terminal devices that are communicatively connected according to a first communication standard. A communication adapter device for communication connection to a heat source device including one or a plurality of second terminal devices connected for communication according to a communication standard,
The communication adapter device includes a communication unit that communicates with the computer network, a communication unit that complies with the first communication standard, and a control unit that includes a storage unit that stores operation state data of a second terminal device connected to the heat source unit. With
The control means sequentially obtains the operation state data of the second terminal device connected to the heat source unit one by one at a fixed time through the communication means according to the first communication standard, and the obtained operation state data And a control configuration for sequentially updating the operation state data stored in the storage unit ,
And, in obtaining the operating state data of the second terminal device, whether or not preparation for transmission of the data is completed after performing an acquisition request communication of the operating state data of the second terminal device to the heat source unit With a configuration to perform confirmation communication
After the acquisition request communication, a control configuration is provided in which the confirmation communication is not performed until a time required for the heat source device to transmit / receive operating state data to / from the second terminal device elapses. A communication adapter device.   2. The communication adapter device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit repeats the process of acquiring the operation state data for each of the second terminal devices at a certain time interval for every one terminal device.   The communication adapter device according to claim 1, wherein the second terminal device is connected to the heat source device within a range of a predetermined maximum number of connections. The communication adapter device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the first communication standard is a power superimposed communication accompanied by a power supply from the heat source device to the first terminal device.

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