JP6567938B2 - Centralized variable sign system, controller - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a central variable signage system and the like.

  On highways, for example, a variable sign device (for example, refer to Patent Document 1) that switches and displays the contents of traffic regulations such as speed regulations such as speed limits and traffic information is installed from a controller (management center). The remote control is generally performed according to the control signal (speed display signal). A system in which a plurality of variable signage devices installed along a road are centrally controlled by a controller can be called a centralized variable signage system.

JP 2014-99008 A

  In order for the management center to centrally control a plurality of variable marker devices, a communication cable connecting the controller and each of the variable marker devices is required. Many of the places where variable signage devices are installed are considerably far away from the place where the controller is installed. For this reason, the length of the communication cable to be laid is very large, and the cost associated with laying and maintenance has been a problem.

  In view of this, it is conceivable to use a pay public wireless communication service provided by a communication carrier for communication between the controller and the variable sign device. From the viewpoint of implementing quick traffic regulation according to the situation, the controller and each variable beacon device are always in a state of communication connection (communication established state) to enable immediate information communication. There must be. However, in some public wireless communication services, the duration of the communication connection but no communication state exceeds the predetermined time, or the duration of the communication connection regardless of whether there is no communication. There is a specification in which the line is forcibly disconnected when the time exceeds a predetermined time. It takes about several minutes to reconnect the line after disconnection, and communication between the controller and each variable beacon is impossible during that period. For this reason, frequent forcible line disconnection may have an effect of delaying response to urgent traffic regulations.

  There is also a problem of usage charges. Since the public wireless communication service usually requires a line contract for each wireless device, cost increases when a line contract is made for each controller and variable marking device. Further, when the public wireless communication service is a pay-per-use system according to the amount of communication data, a reduction in the amount of communication data is also required.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is when a centralized variable sign system is configured in which a controller and a variable sign apparatus are communicably connected by a public wireless communication service of a pay-per-use system. Is to provide a new technology capable of reducing the forced communication disconnection caused by the communication connection state and reducing the usage fee.

The first invention for solving the above-described problems is
A centralized variable marker system comprising a controller and a plurality of variable marker devices that perform display in accordance with a control command from the controller,
The plurality of variable sign devices are connected for communication through a free dedicated line,
The predetermined main device of the plurality of variable beacon devices and the controller are pay-per-use public wireless lines based on the amount of data and have no-communication allowance with a predetermined no-communication time. It is connected via a public wireless line that is forcibly disconnected when the time is exceeded.
The controller is
Overall control information that collects the control commands for each of the variable marking devices, and transmits the overall control information to the main device via the public radio line,
Periodic transmission control means for causing the overall control information transmission control means to transmit the overall control information each time an elapsed time from the previous transmission of the overall control information reaches a first predetermined time shorter than the no-communication allowable time. When,
When a given emergency instruction is input, emergency transmission control means for transmitting the overall control information for emergency based on the emergency instruction to the overall control information transmission control means;
The periodical transmission control means immediately after the transmission by the emergency transmission control means, when the elapsed time from the transmission has reached the first predetermined time, to transmit the overall control information,
Each time the main device receives the overall control information from the controller via the public radio line, the main device sends to the variable beacon device based on the received overall control information for each of the variable beacon devices other than the main device. Generating individual control information including the control command, and transmitting the individual control information to the variable marker device via the dedicated line.
Centralized variable sign system.

As another invention,
A controller for controlling display of a plurality of variable marker devices that perform display according to a control command,
The plurality of variable sign devices are connected for communication through a free dedicated line,
The predetermined main device of the plurality of variable beacon devices and the controller are pay-per-use public wireless lines based on the amount of data and have no-communication allowance with a predetermined no-communication time. It is connected via a public wireless line that is forcibly disconnected when the time is exceeded.
Overall control information that collects the control commands for each of the variable marking devices, and transmits the overall control information to the main device via the public radio line,
Periodic transmission control means for causing the overall control information transmission control means to transmit the overall control information each time an elapsed time from the previous transmission of the overall control information reaches a first predetermined time shorter than the no-communication allowable time. When,
When a given emergency instruction is input, emergency transmission control means for transmitting the overall control information for emergency based on the emergency instruction to the overall control information transmission control means;
The periodic transmission control means causes the overall control information to be transmitted immediately after the transmission by the emergency transmission control means when the elapsed time from the transmission reaches the first predetermined time.
A controller may be configured.

  According to the first invention and the like, the public wireless line is forcibly disconnected when the no-communication time exceeds a predetermined no-communication allowable time, but every first predetermined time shorter than the no-communication allowable time. In addition, the entire control information is periodically transmitted from the controller to the main apparatus. As a result, the no-communication time between the controller and the variable sign device as the main device does not exceed the predetermined no-communication allowable time, and the forced disconnection of the public wireless line due to the continuous no-communication time can be avoided. . In addition, when an emergency instruction is input to the controller and the entire control information for emergency is transmitted from the controller to the main apparatus, when the elapsed time from the transmission reaches the first predetermined time, the next entire Control information is transmitted. As a result, even when an irregular emergency transmission of emergency control information such as an emergency instruction occurs, the information transmission interval from the controller immediately after that to the main device can be maintained at the first predetermined time, It is possible to suppress an increase in the usage fee of a public wireless line with a pay-per-use system based on the data amount.

  In addition, since one main device among a plurality of variable beacon devices is connected to the controller via a public radio line, only one line should be contracted on the variable beacon device side. Compared with the case where the controller and the controller are connected via a public wireless line, it is possible to realize a technique for reducing the usage fee for the public wireless line. In other words, the controller transmits overall control information in which control commands for each of the plurality of variable marker devices are aggregated to the main device, and the main device issues control commands for each of the other variable marker devices based on the received overall control information. Generate individual control information including it and send it via a free dedicated line.

As a second invention, the central variable sign system of the first invention,
The main unit is
Emergency information transmission control means for transmitting emergency information to the controller via the public radio line when emergency information is received from any of the variable sign devices via the dedicated line;
With
The controller is
Emergency information reception response means for transmitting response information to reception of the emergency information to the main device via the public wireless line when the emergency information is received from the main device via the public wireless line;
The periodical transmission control means transmits the overall control information immediately after transmission by the emergency information reception response means when the elapsed time from the transmission has reached the first predetermined time. Let
A central variable signage system may be configured.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, when emergency information from any of the variable marking devices is transmitted from the main device to the controller, response information for reception of emergency information is transmitted from the controller to the main device. When the elapsed time from this transmission reaches the first predetermined time, the next overall control information is transmitted. As a result, even when an irregular communication such as the transmission of emergency information from the variable marking device to the controller occurs, the information transmission interval from the controller to the main device immediately after that is maintained at the first predetermined time. It is possible to suppress an increase in the usage fee for the public wireless line with a pay-per-use system based on the data amount.

As a third invention, the centralized variable labeling system of the first or second invention,
The public wireless line is a line that is forcibly disconnected when the duration of communication connection exceeds a predetermined forced disconnection time,
The controller is
Disconnect / reconnect means for disconnecting and reconnecting the communication connection with the main apparatus via the public wireless line;
Periodic disconnection control for causing the disconnection and reconnection means to disconnect and reconnect when the communication connection duration with the main device via the public wireless line reaches a second predetermined time shorter than the forced disconnection time Means,
With
A central variable signage system may be configured.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, the public wireless line is forcibly disconnected when the duration of the communication connection exceeds a predetermined forced disconnection time, but the second communication communication period is shorter than the forced disconnection time. When the predetermined time is exceeded, the main controller disconnects and reconnects the communication connection with the main apparatus via public wireless communication. That is, it is possible for the controller to perform the disconnection and reconnection of the communication connection, which is unavoidable when performing the regular communication connection, by determining the execution time mainly by the controller. As a result, it is possible to minimize the influence of the disconnection of the communication connection, such as a delay in changing the display of the variable marker device.

As a fourth invention, a centralized variable marker system according to the third invention,
The disconnection and reconnection by the disconnection and reconnection means requires a predetermined reconnection time,
The controller is
Determination means for determining whether next transmission control by the periodic transmission control means comes in a control period of next disconnection and reconnection by the periodic disconnection control means,
Further comprising
The periodic disconnection control means performs the next disconnection and reconnection control after the transmission by the overall control information transmission control means when it is determined that the determination means arrives.
A central variable signage system may be configured.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is determined whether the next transmission of periodic overall control information for each first predetermined time arrives during the period required for disconnection and reconnection of the next communication by the controller. In the case of arrival, after the transmission of the entire control information, the next communication connection is disconnected and reconnected. Thereby, the disconnection of the communication connection in the public wireless line does not prevent the transmission of the overall control information.

The whole block diagram of a centralized variable sign system. Explanatory drawing of centralized control. Explanatory drawing of the response of a variable marker apparatus. The function block diagram of a control machine. Functional block diagram of the main device. The functional block diagram of a subordinate apparatus. The flowchart of the process of the controller in a centralized control process. The flowchart of the process of the variable marker apparatus in centralized control processing.

[System configuration]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a centralized variable sign system 1 in the present embodiment. According to FIG. 1, the centralized variable sign system 1 includes a plurality of variable sign devices 30 and a controller 10. This centralized variable sign system 1 is used, for example, for speed regulation on a highway. From the viewpoint of carrying out quick traffic regulation according to the situation, it is necessary that information can be immediately communicated between the controller 10 and each variable marking device 30. For this reason, it is necessary to be in a communication-connected state (communication established state), but on the other hand, it is necessary to cope with a forced communication disconnection that occurs when the communication connection is continued. The centralized variable sign system 1 of the present embodiment has a characteristic configuration for solving this problem.

  The variable sign device 30 is a road sign that displays traffic regulation such as a regulation speed for a vehicle or the like that is installed on the roadside and traveling on the road. It is configured to be able to switch and display a plurality of restriction content signs made up of characters and symbols. The plurality of variable sign devices 30 are connected for communication by a dedicated line 40 which is a free wired communication line, and the communication path is configured by a loop network. Note that a bus type network may be adopted instead of the loop type.

  In addition, one of the plurality of variable marker devices 30 is defined as a “master device”, and the other is defined as a “slave device”. A variable marker device 30 (hereinafter referred to as “main device 30-A”), which is the main device, is communicatively connected to the controller 10 via the public wireless line 20. The public wireless line 20 is a wireless communication line provided by a telecommunications carrier and has a pay-per-use system based on the amount of data.

  The controller 10 is installed in a management station for each route, for example, and transmits the overall control information in which the control commands for the variable marking devices 30 are collected to the main device 30-A, thereby displaying the plurality of variable marking devices 30. Control intensively.

[Overview]
(A) Centralized Control FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining centralized control with respect to the variable marker device 30 by the controller 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the overall control information 50 is transmitted from the controller 10 to the main apparatus 30 -A via the public wireless line 20.

  The overall control information 50 includes an IP address 51 of the main device as a transmission destination and a control command 52 for each of the variable marker devices 30, and is transmission unit data in a fixed format in which the data length and storage position of each data are determined. is there. The control command 52 is data that designates a sign to be displayed on the variable sign device 30. Information indicating the target variable marker device 30 is not added to each control command 52 included in the overall control information 50, but the target variable marker is determined from the storage position in the overall control information 50 in a fixed format. The device 30 can be identified.

  The master device 30-A takes out the control command 52 for each of the other variable marker devices 30 (hereinafter referred to as “slave devices 30-B”) as slave devices from the received overall control information 50, and the device as the destination A conversion process for generating individual control information 60 for each of the slave devices 30-B is performed. The individual control information 60 is also a fixed format. Next, the master device 30-A transmits the generated individual control information 60 for each slave device 30-B to the slave device 30-B via the dedicated line 40. The slave device 30-B selects and receives the individual control information 60 addressed to itself from the transmitted individual control information 60, and performs display control according to the control command 52 included in the individual control information 60. I do. The main device 30 -A performs display control according to the control command 52 for the own device in the overall control information 50.

(B) Response FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the response of the variable marker device 30 to the control command 52. As shown in FIG. 3, when the slave device 30 -B receives the individual control information 60 from the master device 30 -A, the slave device 30 -B generates individual response information 70 for this reception, and the master device 30 -A via the dedicated line 40. Send to.

  The individual response information 70 is information in a fixed format including the identification number 71 of the own device and the response content 72. Although the response content 72 can be arbitrarily determined, in this embodiment, the response content 72 is a copy of the control command 52 included in the received individual control information 60.

  Then, the master device 30-A aggregates the response content 72 included in the individual response information 70 of each received slave device 30-B and the response content 72 of its own device to generate the overall response information 80. Process. The overall response information 80 is information in a fixed format including the IP address 81 of the controller 10 that is the transmission destination and the response content 72 for each variable marker 30. The main device 30 -A identifies the variable marker device 30 as the transmission source from the identification number 71 included in the individual response information 70, and sets the response content 72 included in the information at a position corresponding to the identified variable marker device 30. By storing, overall response information 80 is generated. Then, the main device 30 -A transmits the generated overall response information 80 to the controller 10 via the public wireless line 20.

(C) Public wireless line 20
The communication connection between the controller 10 and the main apparatus 30-A via the public wireless line 20 is always connected. However, the public wireless line 20 has a specification that the connection is forcibly disconnected if a communication carrier providing the public wireless line 20 satisfies a predetermined condition regarding the communication connection state. Specifically, the following two conditions are satisfied.
(B) If the duration of the no-communication state in the connected state exceeds a predetermined no-communication allowable time, the connection is forcibly disconnected. The no-communication allowable time is fixedly set, and is, for example, about several minutes to several tens of minutes.
(B) When the duration of the connected state exceeds a predetermined forced disconnection time, the connection is forcibly disconnected. The forced cutting time is fixedly set, and is, for example, about several hours to several tens of hours.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the following measures are taken. That is, the whole to deal with (i), when the elapsed time from the transmission of the entire control information of the previous reach shorter than the no-communication-allowed time a first predetermined time T _A, the control unit 10 to the main unit 30-A Control information 50 is transmitted. In other words, periodic transmission is performed to periodically transmit the overall control information 50 from the controller 10 to the main apparatus 30- _A at intervals of the predetermined time TA. For example, when the no-communication-allowed time is 10 minutes, the predetermined time T _A is set to a time approximately 8-9 minutes shorter than the no-communication-allowed time.

By the way, there may be a case where an “emergency intervention” occurs in which an emergency instruction for instructing to change the display of a sign is input from the host device to the controller 10 when a change in traffic regulation due to weather or an accident occurs. is there. In this case, the controller 10 immediately transmits the emergency overall control information 50 to the main apparatus. When the elapsed time from the transmission time of the overall control information 50 of the emergency reaches the predetermined time T _A, the control unit 10 performs transmission of the next general control information 50.

In addition, when a “manual intervention” occurs in which a worker manually changes the display of the sign of the variable marker device 30 at the site where the variable marker device 30 is installed, the variable marker device 30 on the site changes to the main device. Emergency information may be transmitted, and further emergency information may be transmitted from the main device 30 -A to the controller 10. The emergency information is a sign after a change due to manual intervention, information indicating that manual intervention has been performed, or the like. In this case, the controller 10 transmits emergency response information to the main apparatus as a response to the received emergency information. When the elapsed time from the transmission time of the emergency response information reaches a predetermined time T _A, the control unit performs transmission of the next general control information 50.

Also, to deal with (b), the duration of the connection between the control device 10 via the public wireless circuit 20 and the main unit 30-A is shorter than the forced disconnection time reaches the second predetermined time T _B Disconnect and reconnect the communication. In other words, at intervals of predetermined time T _B, periodically, on a regular cutting of performing communication disconnection and reconnection of the control unit 10 via the public wireless circuit 20 and the main unit 30-A. It takes a time of about several minutes to disconnection of the communication and reconnection, for example, when the forced cutting time is several hours to several tens of hours, the predetermined time T _B is several tens of minutes from the forced cutting time Set a short time.

[Function configuration]
(A) Controller 10
FIG. 4 is a functional configuration diagram of the controller 10. According to FIG. 4, the controller 10 includes a public line communication unit 102, a processing unit 200, and a storage unit 300. Although not shown, an operation unit and a display unit are provided.

  The public line communication unit 102 is connected to the public wireless line 20 to communicate with the main apparatus 30-A.

  The processing unit 200 is realized by an arithmetic device such as a CPU, for example, and performs overall control of the controller 10 based on programs and data stored in the storage unit 300, data received via the public line communication unit 102, and the like. . The processing unit 200 includes an overall control information transmission unit 202, a no-communication time counting unit 204, a periodic transmission control unit 206, an emergency transmission control unit 208, an emergency response unit 210, a disconnection and reconnection unit 212, It has a determination unit 214, a periodic cutting control unit 216, and a clock unit 218.

  The overall control information transmission unit 202 transmits the overall control information 50 to the main apparatus 30-A. Further, the entire response information 80 is received from the main apparatus 30-A.

  The no-communication time counting unit 204 is an internal timer, and measures the no-communication time that is the duration of the no-communication state with the main device 30-A.

Regular transmission control unit 206, at intervals of predetermined time T _A, performs periodical transmission for transmitting general control information 50 to the main unit 30-A. That is, when the no-communication time measured by the no-communication time measuring unit 204 reaches the predetermined time T _A, and generates the entire control information 50, the general control information transmitting unit 202, the main apparatus the whole control information 50 30- Send to A. At the same time, the time measured by the no-communication time measuring unit 204 is reset to zero. When the overall response information 80 for the overall control information 50 is received, the response contents 72 for each variable marker device included in the overall response information 80 are displayed as the latest status of the variable marker device 30 and a display unit such as a display (not shown). To display.

The overall control information 50 is generated using the latest control command 52 for each of the variable marker devices 30. The latest control command 52 is stored as control command data 314. The IP address 51 of the main apparatus 30 -A as the destination is stored as main apparatus address data 306. The format of the overall control information 50 is stored as overall control format data 308. The predetermined time T _A is stored as the regular transmission interval data 310.

  The emergency transmission control unit 208 transmits emergency overall control information 50 to the main device 30-A when an emergency instruction is input from an external device. That is, the emergency overall control information 50 is generated based on the input emergency instruction, and the overall control information transmitting unit 202 transmits the emergency overall control information 50. At the same time, the time measured by the no-communication time measuring unit 204 is reset to zero. Further, the control command data 314 is updated according to the received emergency instruction.

  When the emergency response unit 210 receives the overall emergency information from the main apparatus 30-A, the emergency response unit 210 generates the overall response information for the emergency information, and transmits the entire response information to the main apparatus 30-A. Along with this transmission, the time measured by the no-communication time measuring unit 204 is reset to zero. In addition, the contents of the emergency information included in the received entire emergency information (the sign after the change of the variable marker device, the presence or absence of manual intervention, etc.) are displayed and updated as the latest status of the variable marker device 30.

  The disconnection / reconnection unit 212 disconnects and reconnects communication with the main device 30 -A via the public wireless line 20.

The determination unit 214 determines whether or not the transmission timing of the regular transmission of the overall control information 50 arrives during the next disconnection and reconnection work period determined by the disconnection and reconnection schedule. That is, it is determined whether the transmission time of the periodic transmission of subsequent estimated based on the time measured by the no-communication time counting unit 204 with a predetermined time T _A is included in the working time of the next cutting and reconnecting. Cutting reconnection schedule, as the execution timing of the cutting and reconnection is data defining the respective start and end times work period set at a predetermined time T _B interval, it is stored as a scheduled cutting schedule data 312.

  The regular disconnection control unit 216 causes the disconnection / reconnection unit 212 to disconnect and reconnect communication with the main apparatus 30-A via the public wireless line 20 according to a predetermined disconnection / reconnection schedule. That is, when it is a work period determined by the disconnection / reconnection schedule and the determination unit 214 determines that the timing of regular transmission does not arrive during this work period, the main unit 30-A communicates with the main device 30-A, The communication with the device 30-A is disconnected and reconnected. When the disconnection and reconnection processing is completed, the entire state information transmitted from the main device 30-A is received, and the latest state for each variable marker device 30 is displayed and updated based on the entire state information.

  The clock unit 218 is configured by an oscillation circuit having a crystal oscillator or the like, and measures the current time or the elapsed time from the specified timing.

  The storage unit 300 is realized by a storage device such as a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk, for example. The storage unit 300 stores programs and data for the processing unit 200 to control the controller 10 in an integrated manner. It is used as an area and temporarily stores the calculation result executed by the processing unit 200. The storage unit 300 includes a controller program 302, own device address data 304, main device address data 306, overall control format data 308, regular transmission interval data 310, regular disconnection schedule data 312, and control commands. Data 314 is stored.

(B) Main device 30-A
FIG. 5 is a functional configuration diagram of the main apparatus 30-A. According to FIG. 5, main device 30-A includes public line communication unit 402, dedicated line communication unit 404, display unit 408, operation unit 406, processing unit 500, and storage unit 600. It is prepared for.

  The public line communication unit 402 is connected to the public wireless line 20 and performs communication with the controller 10 such as reception of the overall control information 50 and transmission of the overall response information 80.

  The dedicated line communication unit 404 is connected to the dedicated line 40 and performs communication such as transmission of the individual control information 60 and reception of the individual response information 70 with the slave device 30-B.

  The display unit 408 switches and displays a plurality of predetermined restriction contents in accordance with the control of the processing unit 500. For example, an LED lamp is arranged so that each of a plurality of restriction contents is formed on the display board, and a single indicator is displayed by turning on the corresponding LED lamp.

  The operation unit 406 includes buttons, switches, and the like, and is provided to give various instructions and settings to the processing unit 500. For example, it is possible to switch from an automatic mode that performs display control of a sign according to a control command from the controller 10 to a manual mode, and to instruct an emergency sign change on site.

  The processing unit 500 is realized by an arithmetic device such as a CPU, for example, and is based on programs and data stored in the storage unit 600, data received via the public line communication unit 402 and the dedicated line communication unit 404, and the like. The overall control of the device 30-A is performed. In addition, the processing unit 500 includes an individual generation unit 502, an individual transmission control unit 504, a response aggregation unit 506, a response transmission control unit 508, an emergency information transmission control unit 510, a disconnection / reconnection unit 512, and a display control. Part 514.

  The individual generation unit 502 generates the individual control information 60 for each of the slave devices 30 -B based on the overall control information 50 received from the controller 10. That is, the control command 52 for each slave device 30-B is extracted from the overall control information 50 according to the format of the overall control information 50, and the slave device 30-B corresponding to the extracted control command 52 is extracted according to the format of the individual control information 60. The identification number 61 is added to generate the individual control information 60 for each slave device 30-B.

  The format of the overall control information 50 is stored as overall control format data 612, and the format of the individual control information 60 is stored as individual control format data 614. The identification number 61 of the slave device 30-B is stored as slave device identification number data 610.

  The individual transmission control unit 504 performs control to transmit the individual control information 60 generated by the individual generation unit 502 to the slave device 30-B via the dedicated line 40.

  The response aggregating unit 506 aggregates the individual response information 70 received from each of the slave devices 30-B and generates the overall response information 80. That is, according to the format of the individual response information 70, the response content 72 is extracted from the individual response information 70, and the transmission source slave device 30-B is specified from the identification number 71. Then, according to the format of the overall response information 80, the response contents 72 of the extracted slave devices 30-B and the response contents 72 of the own apparatus are aggregated to generate the overall response information 80.

  The format of the individual response information 70 is stored as individual response format data 616, and the format of the overall response information 80 is stored as overall response format data 618. The IP address 81 of the controller 10 is stored as the controller address data 606.

  The response transmission control unit 508 performs control to transmit the entire response information 80 generated by the response aggregation unit 506 to the controller 10 via the public wireless line 20.

  The emergency information transmission control unit 510 receives the emergency information instructing an emergency sign change from the operation unit 406 or receives the emergency information from any of the slave devices 30-B. The entire emergency information based on the emergency information is generated and transmitted to the controller 10. The entire emergency information has the same fixed format as that of the entire response information 80. When emergency information instructing an emergency sign change is input from the operation unit 406, the entire emergency information (main device 30) When emergency information is received from the slave device 30-B at the position corresponding to -A), the emergency information is stored at the position corresponding to the slave device 30-B (variable marker device 30) in the entire emergency information. To generate.

  When the disconnection / reconnection unit 512 receives a request for disconnection and reconnection from the controller 10, the disconnection / reconnection unit 512 performs processing for disconnection and reconnection with the controller 10 via the public wireless line 20. Then, when the disconnection and reconnection processing ends, the entire state information in which the information of the signs displayed on the own device and the slave device 30 -B is collected is generated and transmitted to the controller 10.

  The display control unit 514 controls the display of the display unit 408 by designating a label in accordance with the control command 52 for the device itself included in the received overall control information 50.

  The storage unit 600 is realized by a storage device such as a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk, for example, and stores a program, data, and the like for the processing unit 500 to control the main device 30-A in an integrated manner. Is used as a work area, and temporarily stores the calculation results executed by the processing unit 500. The storage unit 600 includes a main control program 602, own device address data 604, controller address data 606, own device identification number data 608, slave device identification number data 610, overall control format data 612, Individual control format data 614, individual response format data 616, and overall response format data 618 are stored.

(C) Slave device 30-B
FIG. 6 is a functional configuration diagram of the slave device 30-B. According to FIG. 6, the slave device 30 -B includes a dedicated line communication unit 702, an operation unit 704, a display unit 706, a processing unit 800, and a storage unit 900.

  The dedicated line communication unit 702 connects to the dedicated line 40 and performs communication such as reception of the individual control information 60 and transmission of the individual response information 70 with the main apparatus 30 -A. The operation unit 704 and the display unit 706 have the same functions as the operation unit 406 and the display unit 408 of the main apparatus 30-A.

  The processing unit 800 is realized by an arithmetic device such as a CPU, for example, and controls the slave device 30-B based on programs and data stored in the storage unit 900, received data via the dedicated line communication unit 702, and the like. I do. The processing unit 800 includes a selection receiving unit 802, a response generation unit 804, a response transmission control unit 806, an emergency transmission control unit 808, and a display control unit 810.

  The selective receiving unit 802 selects the individual control information 60 for each slave device transmitted from the master device 30-A, which has the identification number 61 that matches the identification number of the device itself, and the individual control information 60 addressed to the device itself. Select to receive. The own device identification number 61 is stored as own device identification number data 904.

  The response generation unit 804 generates individual response information 70 for the individual control information 60 received by the selection reception unit 802. That is, the control command 52 is extracted from the individual control information 60 according to the format of the individual control information 60, the copy of the extracted control command 52 is set as the response content 72 according to the format of the individual response information 70, and the identification number 71 of the own device is added. Thus, the individual response information 70 is generated. The format of the individual response information 70 is stored as individual response format data 616.

  The response transmission control unit 806 transmits the individual response information 70 generated by the response generation unit 804 to the main apparatus 30-A via the dedicated line 40.

  The emergency transmission control unit 808 adds the identification number of its own device to this emergency information when the emergency information instructing the emergency sign switching is input from the operation unit 704 to the main device 30-A. Send.

  The display control unit 810 controls the display of the display unit 706 by designating a label according to the control command 52 included in the individual control information 60 received by the selection receiving unit 802.

  The storage unit 900 is realized by a storage device such as a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk, for example. The storage unit 900 stores a program, data, and the like for the processing unit 800 to integrally control the slave device 30-B. Is used as a work area, and temporarily stores a calculation result executed by the processing unit 800. The storage unit 900 stores a slave control program 902, own device identification number data 904, main device identification number data 906, individual control format data 614, and individual response format data 616.

[Process flow]
7 and 8 are flowcharts for explaining the flow of central control in the central variable sign system 1.

(A) Controller 10
FIG. 7 shows processing executed by the controller 10. According to FIG. 7, first, the periodic transmission control unit 206 generates the overall control information 50 and performs periodic transmission for transmission to the main apparatus 30-A (step A1). At the same time, the no-communication time counted by the no-communication time counting unit 204 is reset to zero (step A3). Then, it waits for reception of the overall response information 80 transmitted from the main apparatus 30-A in response to the overall control information 50. Upon receiving the entire response information 80 (step A5: YES), subsequently, the no-communication time in which no-communication time counting unit 204 counts, it is determined whether reaches the predetermined time T _A, if has reached ( Step A7: YES), the process returns to Step A1.

On the other hand, if the no-communication time has not reached the predetermined time T _A (step A7: NO), periodic disconnection control section 216 determines whether the work period of disconnection reconnection defined by the cut re-connection schedule. If it is the work period (step A9: YES), the determination unit 214 determines whether the transmission timing of the regular transmission comes within this work period. If the timing of regular transmission has not arrived (step A11: NO), the regular disconnection control unit 216 determines to execute communication disconnection and reconnection, and transmits a disconnection request to the main apparatus 30-A (step A13). Then, the communication disconnection and reconnection processing with the main apparatus 30-A via the public wireless line 20 is performed (step A15). And it waits for reception of the whole state information which aggregated the newest display state of each variable marker apparatus 30 transmitted from main apparatus 30-A after reconnection. If the whole state information is received (step A17: YES), the process returns to step A1.

  If it is not the disconnection and reconnection work period (step A9: NO), or if the transmission timing of regular transmission arrives during the work period (step A11: YES), the emergency transmission control unit 208 receives an emergency instruction. Judging. If an emergency instruction is input (step A19: YES), the emergency transmission control unit 208 generates the emergency overall control information 50 according to the input emergency instruction and transmits it to the main device 30-A (step A21). ). At the same time, the no-communication time counted by the no-communication time counting unit 204 is reset to zero (step A23). Then, it waits for reception of the overall response information 80 transmitted from the main apparatus 30-A in response to the overall control information 50. If the entire response information 80 is received (step A25: YES), the process returns to step A1.

  If no emergency instruction is input (step A19: NO), the emergency response unit 210 determines whether the entire emergency information has been received from the main device 30-A. If the entire emergency information has been received (step A27: YES), the emergency response unit 210 generates emergency response information in response to the entire emergency information and transmits it to the main device 30-A (step A29). At the same time, the no-communication time counted by the no-communication time counting unit 204 is reset to zero (step A31). Then, it returns to step A1. The controller 10 repeats the above processing.

(B) Variable marking device 30
FIG. 8 shows processing executed by the variable marker device 30. In FIG. 8, the process of the main apparatus 30-A is shown on the left side, and the process of the slave apparatus 30-B is shown on the right side. According to FIG. 8, first, the main apparatus 30 -A determines whether or not the overall control information 50 has been received from the controller 10. If the overall control information 50 is received (step B1: YES), the individual generation unit 502 generates the individual control information 60 for each slave device based on the received overall control information 50 (step B3). Next, the individual transmission control unit 504 transmits the generated individual control information 60 to the slave device 30-B (step B5). Further, the display control unit 514 performs display control in accordance with a control command for the own device included in the received overall control information 50 (step B7).

  Then, in the slave device 30-B, the selection receiving unit 802 receives the individual control information 60 addressed to the own device from the individual control information 60 for each slave device transmitted from the master device 30-A (step C1). : YES), the response generation unit 804 generates individual response information 70 for the received individual control information 60, and the response transmission control unit 806 transmits the generated individual response information 70 to the main apparatus 30-A (step C3). ). Thereafter, the display control unit 810 performs display control according to the control command 52 included in the received individual control information 60 (step C5).

  In the main apparatus 30-A, if a predetermined time has elapsed since the transmission of the individual control information 60, or if the individual response information 70 has been received from all the slave apparatuses 30-B (step B9: YES), the response aggregation The unit 506 aggregates the response content 72 included in the received individual response information 70 and the response content of the own device, and generates the overall response information 80 (step B11). Then, the response transmission control unit 508 transmits the generated overall response information 80 to the main device 30-A (step B13).

  In the slave device 30-B, it is determined whether emergency information is input. If the emergency information is input (step C7: YES), the emergency transmission control unit 808 sends the emergency information to the master device 30-. A is transmitted to A (step C9).

  On the other hand, the master device 30-A determines whether emergency information has been input to the device itself or whether emergency information has been received from the slave device 30-B. If the emergency information is input or received (step B15: YES), the emergency information transmission control unit 510 generates the entire emergency information including the emergency information (step B17) and transmits it to the controller 10 (step B19). . And it waits for reception of the emergency response information transmitted from the controller 10 in response to this whole emergency information. If the emergency response information is received (step B21: YES), the process proceeds to step B23.

  Further, the main apparatus 30-A determines whether a disconnection request has been received from the main controller 10. If a disconnection request is received (step B23: YES), the disconnection / reconnection unit 212 performs a process of disconnecting and reconnecting communication with the controller 10 via the public wireless line 20 (step B25). ). When the reconnection is completed, the entire state information in which the latest display states of the own device and the slave device 30-B are collected is transmitted to the controller 10 (step B27). The master device 30-A and the slave device 30-B repeat the above processing.

[Function and effect]
As described above, according to the centralized variable sign system 1 of the present embodiment, in the public wireless line 20 that connects the controller 10 and the variable sign device 30, the influence of forced disconnection caused by constant communication connection is minimized. Can be suppressed. That is, the public wireless circuit 20 is the no-communication time is forcibly communication disconnection exceeds a predetermined no-communication-allowed time, at intervals of no-communication allowable time shorter than the predetermined time T _A, the control unit 10 is mainly The overall control information 50 is periodically transmitted to the device 30-A. Thereby, the no-communication time between the controller 10 and the main device 30-A does not exceed a predetermined no-communication allowable time, and the forced disconnection of the public wireless line 20 due to the continuous no-communication time can be avoided. .

Also, when the emergency indication to the controller 10 is the overall control information for the emergency from the controller 10 are input to the main unit 30-A is transmitted, when the elapsed time from the transmission reaches the predetermined time T _A The next overall control information 50 is transmitted. Thus, the emergency indication even when the transmission of the overall control information for infrequent emergency occurs such as, to keep the transmission interval of the information from the controller 10 immediately after the main unit 30-A in the predetermined time T _A It is possible to suppress an increase in the usage fee for the public wireless line with a pay-per-use system based on the data amount.

Furthermore, the public wireless line 20 is the duration of the communication connection is forcibly communication disconnection exceeds a predetermined forced disconnection time, at intervals of a predetermined shorter than forced disconnection time period T _B, periodically, controller 10 and the main apparatus 30-A are disconnected and reconnected via the public wireless line 20. That is, the controller 10 can perform the disconnection and reconnection of the communication connection, which is unavoidable when performing the constant communication connection, by determining the execution time on its own. As a result, it is possible to minimize the influence of the disconnection of the communication connection, such as a delay in changing the display of the variable marker device 30.

  Furthermore, since one of the plurality of variable marking devices 30 is connected to the controller 10 as the main device 30-A via the public radio line 20, the number of lines to be contracted on the variable marking device 30 side is one line. As compared with the case where each of the variable sign apparatus 30 and the controller 10 are connected by the public wireless line 20, a technique for reducing the usage fee related to the public wireless line 20 can be realized. That is, the controller 10 transmits the overall control information 50 in which the control commands for each of the plurality of variable marker devices 30 are aggregated to the main device 30-A. The main device 30-A, based on the received overall control information 50, Individual control information 60 including a control command for each of the other variable marker devices 30 is generated and transmitted via a free dedicated line 40.

  It should be noted that embodiments to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the response content 72 for each variable marker 30 that is aggregated as the overall response information 80 is the control command 52 for each variable marker 30 included in the overall control information 50 as it is (copy). This may be the display content (display pattern) of the sign as a result of each variable sign device 30 performing display control of the sign in accordance with the control command 52 for its own device. That is, the slave device 30 -B individually performs the display control of the sign in accordance with the control command 52 included in the received individual control information 60, and then individually displays the content (display pattern) of the displayed sign as the response content 72. Response information 70 is generated and transmitted to main apparatus 30-A. That is, in the flowchart of FIG. 8, the order of the processes in steps C3 and C5 is reversed. Then, the main device 30-A sets the content (display pattern) of the sign displayed in accordance with the control command 52 in its own device as the response content 72 and aggregates it together with the response content 72 included in the received individual response information 70, Overall response information 80 is generated.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Centralized variable marker system 10 Controller 102 Public line communication part 200 Processing part 202 Overall control information transmission part, 204 No communication time measuring part 206 Periodic transmission control part, 208 Emergency transmission control part, 210 Emergency response part 212 Disconnection and reconnection Unit, 214 determination unit, 216 periodic disconnection control unit 218 clock unit 300 storage unit 302 program for controller 304 own device address data, 306 main unit address data 308 overall control format data, 310 periodic transmission interval data 312 periodic disconnection schedule data, 314 Control command data 30 Variable marking device 30-A Main device 402 Public line communication unit, 404 Dedicated line communication unit 406 Operation unit, 408 Display unit 500 Processing unit 502 Individual generation unit, 504 Individual transmission control unit 506 Response aggregation unit 508 Response transmission control unit 510 Emergency information transmission control unit 512 Disconnect / reconnect unit 514 Display control unit 600 Storage unit 602 Master device program 604 Host device address data, 606 Controller address data 608 Host device identification number, 610 Slave device identification number 614 Individual control Format data 616 Individual response format data, 518 Overall response format data 30-B Slave device 702 Dedicated line communication unit 704 Operation unit, 706 Display unit 800 Processing unit 802 Selection reception unit, 804 Response generation unit 806 Response transmission control unit, 808 Emergency transmission control unit, 810 Display control unit 900 Storage unit 902 Subordinate control program 904 Self-device identification number data, 906 Master device identification number data 20 Public wireless line, 40 Dedicated line 50 Overall control information, 60 Individual control information, 70 Individual response information, 80 Overall response information

Claims (5)

A centralized variable marker system comprising a controller and a plurality of variable marker devices that perform display in accordance with a control command from the controller,
The plurality of variable sign devices are connected for communication through a free dedicated line,
The predetermined main device of the plurality of variable beacon devices and the controller are pay-per-use public wireless lines based on the amount of data and have no-communication allowance with a predetermined no-communication time. It is connected via a public wireless line that is forcibly disconnected when the time is exceeded.
The controller is
Overall control information that collects the control commands for each of the variable marking devices, and transmits the overall control information to the main device via the public radio line,
Periodic transmission control means for causing the overall control information transmission control means to transmit the overall control information each time an elapsed time from the previous transmission of the overall control information reaches a first predetermined time shorter than the no-communication allowable time. When,
When a given emergency instruction is input, emergency transmission control means for transmitting the overall control information for emergency based on the emergency instruction to the overall control information transmission control means;
The periodical transmission control means immediately after the transmission by the emergency transmission control means, when the elapsed time from the transmission has reached the first predetermined time, to transmit the overall control information,
Each time the main device receives the overall control information from the controller via the public radio line, the main device sends to the variable beacon device based on the received overall control information for each of the variable beacon devices other than the main device. Generating individual control information including the control command, and transmitting the individual control information to the variable marker device via the dedicated line.
Centralized variable sign system. The main unit is
Emergency information transmission control means for transmitting emergency information to the controller via the public radio line when emergency information is received from any of the variable sign devices via the dedicated line;
With
The controller is
Emergency information reception response means for transmitting response information to reception of the emergency information to the main device via the public wireless line when the emergency information is received from the main device via the public wireless line;
The periodical transmission control means transmits the overall control information immediately after transmission by the emergency information reception response means when the elapsed time from the transmission has reached the first predetermined time. Let
The central variable sign system of claim 1. The public wireless line is a line that is forcibly disconnected when the duration of communication connection exceeds a predetermined forced disconnection time,
The controller is
Disconnect / reconnect means for disconnecting and reconnecting the communication connection with the main apparatus via the public wireless line;
Periodic disconnection control for causing the disconnection and reconnection means to disconnect and reconnect when the communication connection duration with the main device via the public wireless line reaches a second predetermined time shorter than the forced disconnection time Means,
With
The centralized variable marker system according to claim 1 or 2. The disconnection and reconnection by the disconnection and reconnection means requires a predetermined reconnection time,
The controller is
Determination means for determining whether next transmission control by the periodic transmission control means comes in a control period of next disconnection and reconnection by the periodic disconnect control means,
Further comprising
The periodic disconnection control means performs the next disconnection and reconnection control after the transmission by the overall control information transmission control means when it is determined that the determination means arrives.
The centralized variable marker system according to claim 3. A controller for controlling display of a plurality of variable marker devices that perform display according to a control command,
The plurality of variable sign devices are connected for communication through a free dedicated line,
The predetermined main device of the plurality of variable beacon devices and the controller are pay-per-use public wireless lines based on the amount of data and have no-communication allowance with a predetermined no-communication time. It is connected via a public wireless line that is forcibly disconnected when the time is exceeded.
Overall control information that collects the control commands for each of the variable marking devices, and transmits the overall control information to the main device via the public radio line,
Periodic transmission control means for causing the overall control information transmission control means to transmit the overall control information each time an elapsed time from the previous transmission of the overall control information reaches a first predetermined time shorter than the no-communication allowable time. When,
When a given emergency instruction is input, emergency transmission control means for transmitting the overall control information for emergency based on the emergency instruction to the overall control information transmission control means;
The periodic transmission control means causes the overall control information to be transmitted immediately after the transmission by the emergency transmission control means when the elapsed time from the transmission reaches the first predetermined time.
Control machine.

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