JP6961091B2 - Program transfer system and program transfer method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a technique for transferring an update program to a plurality of devices connected to the same network.

In an equipment system in which multiple devices such as air conditioners and lighting devices are connected, when a problem occurs in the program of the device, the engineer manually updates the software for each device. The workload was an issue.

On the other hand, in the automatic program update system disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, when an engineer loads a new version of a program (hereinafter referred to as an update program) into a first information device and restarts the program, the first information device is used. The information device sends the version information of the update program to the network. When the received version information is newer than the version information of the program of the own device, the second information device acquires the update program from the first information device by transmitting a signal requesting the update program to the network.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-79764

However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the version information of the programs of a plurality of devices is older than the version information of the update program, the update program is transmitted from the first information device to each device. , The amount of communication will increase significantly temporarily. Then, in an equipment system with a low communication throughput, there is a possibility that problems in device control such as communication delay and data loss may occur in normal control communication.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a program transfer system or the like capable of reducing the amount of communication data as compared with the case where an update program is individually transferred to all target devices. The purpose is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, the program transfer system according to the present invention
Equipped with a program transfer device and multiple devices connected to the equipment network,
The program transfer device is
An update program acquisition method for acquiring an update program from an external device,
When a plurality of target devices to which the update program is to be transferred exist in the plurality of devices, a selection means for selecting a device having the most unstable communication with the own device as a specific device from the plurality of target devices. ,
A transfer means for sequentially transmitting each of a plurality of frames including each of the plurality of data obtained by dividing the update program to the specific device as a destination is provided.
The specific device receives the frame addressed to its own device transmitted from the transfer means, and receives the frame.
The target device other than the specific device intercepts the frame addressed to the specific device transmitted from the transfer means.
When the transfer means receives an ACK response for the most recently transmitted frame from the specific device after transmitting the first frame, the transfer means transmits the next frame to the specific device.

According to the present invention, the amount of communication data can be reduced as compared with the case where the update program is individually transferred to all the target devices.

The figure which shows the structure of the program transfer system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. A block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the program transfer device according to the first embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the secondary storage device included in the program transfer device which concerns on Embodiment 1. Block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the equipment according to the first embodiment The figure for demonstrating the secondary storage device provided in the equipment which concerns on Embodiment 1. The figure which shows the structure of the update management information of Embodiment 1. The figure which shows the structure of the update schedule information of Embodiment 1. The figure which shows the structure of the update program information of Embodiment 1. The figure which shows the functional structure of the program transfer apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. A flowchart showing the procedure of the program transfer process of the first embodiment. A flowchart showing the procedure of the update instruction processing of the first embodiment. The figure which shows briefly about the overall operation of the program transfer system which concerns on Embodiment 1. The figure which shows the structure of the program transfer system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a program transfer system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The program transfer system 1 includes a program transfer device 2 and a plurality of equipment 3 (3a, 3b, 3c, ...).

The program transfer device 2 is a centralized management device for centrally managing equipment 3a, 3b, 3c, ... Installed in a building such as an office building or a commercial building, and further, equipment 3a, 3b, 3c. It is also a device that transfers updates to ，….

As shown in FIG. 2, the program transfer device 2 includes a display 20, an operation reception unit 21, a communication interface 22, an external memory interface 23, a secondary storage device 24, and a control unit 25.

The display 20 includes display devices such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, a plasma display, and a CRT display. Under the control of the control unit 25, the display 20 displays a monitoring screen for monitoring the operating state of the equipment devices 3a, 3b, 3c, ..., An operation screen for controlling the equipment devices 3a, 3b, 3c, ... indicate.

The operation reception unit 21 includes input devices such as a keyboard, mouse, keypad, push buttons, touch panel, and touch pad, and accepts input operations from users such as administrators of equipment devices 3a, 3b, 3c, .... , The signal related to the received input operation is sent to the control unit 25.

The communication interface 22 is an interface for communicating with the equipment 3a, 3b, 3c, ... Via the network N1. The network N1 is an equipment network constructed based on a serial communication standard such as RS-485.

The external memory interface 23 is provided with a port, a slot, and the like for connecting a recording medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory and an SD memory card, and is for reading an update program and other data from the connected recording medium. It is an interface. Hereinafter, the recording medium connected to the external memory interface 23 is referred to as an external device.

The secondary storage device 24 includes an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), a readable / writable non-volatile semiconductor memory such as a flash memory, or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The secondary storage device 24 is used when executing a program for monitoring the operating state of the equipment devices 3a, 3b, 3c, ..., A program for controlling the equipment devices 3a, 3b, 3c, ..., And these programs. Data etc. are stored.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the secondary storage device 24 stores the transfer control program 240, the program update management table 241 and the update schedule table 242, and the update program information 243. The transfer control program 240 is a program executed by the control unit 25. The transfer control program 240 describes a process for transferring the update program read from the external device via the external memory interface 23 to the equipment devices 3a, 3b, 3c, ..., And instructing the update of the normal program. ..

The program update management table 241 and the update schedule table 242 and the update program information 243 will be described later.

Although not shown, the control unit 25 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and controls the program transfer device 2 in an integrated manner.

Equipment 3a, 3b, 3c, ... Are examples of a plurality of devices according to the present invention. Each of the equipment 3a, 3b, 3c, ... Is, for example, an air conditioner, a lighting device, a dedicated remote controller for these, and the like. The equipment devices 3a, 3b, 3c, ... Are connected to the above-mentioned network N1 and are capable of mutual data communication and data communication with the program transfer device 2. The program transfer device 2 and the equipment devices 3a, 3b, 3c, ... Configure the equipment system. Hereinafter, the description common to the equipment 3a, 3b, 3c, ... Will be referred to as the equipment 3 without specifying each individual.

As shown in FIG. 4, each equipment device 3 includes a communication interface 30, a main unit 31, a secondary storage device 32, and a control unit 33. The communication interface 30 is an interface for communicating with other equipment 3 and the program transfer device 2 via the network N1 according to the above-mentioned communication standard.

The main unit 31 is a component for realizing the original function of the equipment 3. For example, when the equipment 3 is an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, the main unit 31 includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and the like. Alternatively, when the equipment 3 is an indoor unit of an air conditioner, the main unit 31 includes a fan, a heat exchanger, a temperature sensor, and the like, and when the equipment 3 is a lighting device, the main unit 31 includes an LED.

The secondary storage device 32 is composed of, for example, a readable and writable non-volatile semiconductor memory such as an EEPROM and a flash memory. As shown in FIG. 5, the secondary storage device 32 stores the normal program 320, the new normal program 321, the model code 322, and the version information 323. In addition to these, the secondary storage device 32 stores various data such as data normally used when the program 320 is executed.

The normal program 320 is a program in which processing for performing control during normal operation of the equipment 3 is described, and is a program currently being executed by the control unit 33. The new normal program 321 is an update program transferred from the program transfer device 2, and is a program for rewriting the normal program 320. When the control unit 33 acquires the update program from the program transfer device 2 by communication, the control unit 33 stores it in the secondary storage device 32 as a new normal program 321.

The model code 322 indicates the model code of the equipment 3. The model code is information that identifies the model of the equipment 3 and is, for example, a model number, a model name, or the like. The version information 323 is information indicating the version of the normal program 320.

Returning to FIG. 4, the control unit 33 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (none of which are shown), and controls the equipment 3 in an integrated manner. During normal operation, the equipment 3 transmits and receives control commands to and from the other equipment 3 and the program transfer device 2 via the network N1. When the control unit 33 receives the control command addressed to the equipment 3 via the communication interface 30, that is, when the control command to which the device address of the equipment 3 is designated is normally received, the control unit 33 is a response of normal reception. The ACK command is returned to the source of the control command via the communication interface 30. Further, when the control unit 33 cannot receive the ACK command from the equipment device 3 of the transmission destination via the communication interface 30 after transmitting the control command to the other equipment device 3 via the communication interface 30. The control command is retransmitted repeatedly until the ACK command is received, up to a predetermined maximum number of retransmissions.

If the ACK command cannot be received even if the maximum number of retransmissions and the control command are retransmitted, the control unit 33 of the source equipment 3 states that a communication error has occurred with the destination equipment 3. judge.

Further, when the control unit 33 receives a notification (hereinafter, referred to as an information request notification) instructing the transmission of the model code and the version information from the program transfer device 2 via the communication interface 30, it is stored in the secondary storage device 32. The model code 322 and the version information 323 are read out, and the response data stored in these is transmitted to the program transfer device 2 via the communication interface 30.

Further, when the control unit 33 receives the transfer start notification from the program transfer device 2 via the communication interface 30, the control unit 33 subsequently receives the frames sequentially sent from the program transfer device 2 via the communication interface 30. Get updates. However, regarding the reception of the update program, there is a slight difference between the case where the equipment 3 is a specific device and the case where it is not.

The specific device is one facility device 3 selected from a plurality of facility devices 3 to which the update program is applied by the program transfer device 2, which will be described in detail later. Hereinafter, the equipment 3 to which the update program is applied is referred to as a target device. When the device address of the specific device included in the received transfer start notification matches the device address of the own device, the control unit 33 determines that the own device is the specific device.

After receiving the transfer start notification, the specific device acquires the update program by receiving the frames sequentially transmitted from the program transfer device 2 to the own device. Each frame transmitted by the program transfer device 2 to the specific device stores the device address of the specific device, the sequence number, and the data obtained by dividing the update program. The specific device checks the sequence number of the received frame and determines whether or not the correct frame has been received. Specifically, when the sequence number of the received frame is the sequence number + 1 of the previously normally received frame, the specific device returns the ACK command to the program transfer device 2 assuming that the correct frame has been received, that is, normally received. do.

On the other hand, when the sequence number of the received frame exceeds the sequence number + 1 of the previously normally received frame, the specific device notifies the program transfer device 2 to retransmit the frame that could not be received (hereinafter,). Resend request notification) is sent. In the retransmission request notification, the sequence number + 1 of the previously normally received frame is stored as the sequence number of the requested frame. When the frame in which the same sequence number as the already received frame is stored is received again, the specific device discards the received frame again.

After receiving the transfer start notification, the target device other than the specific device acquires the update program by receiving the frames sequentially transmitted from the program transfer device 2 to the specific device. In other words, the target devices other than the specific device acquire the update program by intercepting the frames sequentially transmitted from the program transfer device 2 to the specific device. The target device other than the specific device checks the sequence number of the received frame and determines whether or not the correct frame has been received. Specifically, when the sequence number of the received frame is the sequence number + 1 of the previously normally received frame, the target device other than the specific device determines that the correct frame has been received, that is, it has been normally received. However, the target device other than the specific device does not transmit the ACK command to the program transfer device 2 even if the intercepted frame is the correct frame.

On the other hand, when the sequence number of the received frame exceeds the sequence number + 1 of the previously normally received frame, the target device other than the specific device transmits a retransmission request notification to the program transfer device 2 as in the specific device. In this retransmission request notification, the sequence number + 1 of the previously normally received frame is stored as the sequence number of the requested frame. When a frame in which the same sequence number as the already received frame is stored is received again, the target device other than the specific device discards the received frame again.

When the target device (hereinafter, the description common to all the target devices including the specific device is simply referred to as "target device") receives the transfer end notification individually transmitted from the program transfer device 2, all the necessary devices are required. It is determined whether or not the frame of is received. The target device makes the above determination based on whether or not all the frames of sequence numbers 1 to Nmax (maximum sequence number) have been received. Nmax is stored in the transfer start notification. If all the frames of sequence numbers 1 to Nmax have not been received, the target device transmits a retransmission request notification in which the sequence number +1 of the last normally received frame is stored to the program transfer device 2.

On the other hand, when all the necessary frames are received, the target device reads the data of the divided update program stored in the data area of each frame and restores and restores the update program by combining according to the sequence number. The updated program is stored in the secondary storage device 32 as a new normal program 321.

After acquiring the update program as described above, when the equipment device 3 receives the update request notification individually transmitted from the program transfer device 2, the equipment device 3 normally uses the new normal program 321 stored in the secondary storage device 32. Save as program 320. That is, the equipment 3 rewrites the contents of the normal program 320 with the contents of the new normal program 321. Further, the equipment 3 rewrites the version information 323 with the version information of the new normal program 320, that is, the version information of the acquired update program. The version information of the update program is stored in the transfer start notification. The equipment 3 is restarted when the update is completed. The restarted equipment 3 transmits a start notification to the program transfer device 2.

Returning to FIG. 3, details of the program update management table 241, the update schedule table 242, and the update program information 243 stored in the secondary storage device 24 of the program transfer device 2 will be described.

The program update management table 241 is a data table in which records (hereinafter, referred to as update management information) for managing updates of the normal program 320 are registered for each equipment 3. As shown in FIG. 6, the update management information includes a plurality of items including the device address 2410, the model code 2411, the version information 2412, the command transmission count 2413, the communication error count 2414, and the communication error rate 2415. It is composed.

The device address 2410 stores the device address of the equipment device 3. The device address is information for identifying the equipment device 3, and is a communication address assigned to each facility device 3 connected to the network N1. The model code 2411 stores the model code of the equipment 3. The version information 2412 stores information indicating the version of the current normal program 320 of the equipment 3.

The number of command transmissions 2413 stores the number of control commands transmitted from the program transfer device 2 to the equipment 3 (however, the number of retransmissions is excluded). The communication error number 2414 stores the total number of communication errors that occurred when the program transfer device 2 transmitted the control command to the equipment 3. The communication error rate 2415 stores the communication error rate of the equipment 3. The communication error rate is the ratio of communication errors to the number of control commands transmitted from the program transfer device 2 to the equipment 3, and the stored value of the communication error count 2414 is divided by the stored value of the command transmission count 2413. Obtained by doing.

Returning to FIG. 3, the update schedule table 242 is a data table in which records (hereinafter, referred to as update schedule information) for managing the update schedule of the normal program 320 are registered for each equipment 3. As shown in FIG. 7, the update schedule information is composed of a plurality of items including the device address 2420 and the update time zone 2421.

The device address 2420 stores the device address of the equipment device 3. In the update time zone 2421, a time zone in which the normal program 320 can be updated in the equipment 3 (hereinafter, referred to as an updateable time zone) is stored. The updatable time zone is a time zone in which no problem occurs even if the equipment 3 stops operating, for example, a midnight time zone in which no occupant is present.

Returning to FIG. 3, the update program information 243 is information read from an external device such as a USB memory via the external memory interface 23. Specifically, the update program information 243 includes the update program 2431, the model code 2432, and the version information 2433, as shown in FIG.

The update program 2431 indicates the update program itself, the model code 2432 indicates the model code corresponding to the update program 2431, and the version information 2433 is information indicating the version of the update program 2431.

Subsequently, the function of the program transfer device 2 will be described in detail. Functionally, as shown in FIG. 9, the program transfer device 2 has a communication error rate calculation unit 200, an update program acquisition unit 201, a device information acquisition unit 202, a target device selection unit 203, and a specific device selection unit. A unit 204, a program transfer unit 205, an update instruction unit 206, and an updateable time zone setting unit 207 are provided. These functional units are realized by the CPU of the control unit 25 executing the transfer control program 240 stored in the secondary storage device 24.

The communication error rate calculation unit 200 calculates the communication error rate of the equipment 3 each time a control command is transmitted from the program transfer device 2 to any of the equipment 3 (excluding retransmission). do. Specifically, each time a control command is transmitted, the communication error rate calculation unit 200 increments the stored value of the command transmission number 2413 of the update management information (see FIG. 6) corresponding to the equipment 3. When a communication error occurs in the transmission of the control command, the communication error rate calculation unit 200 increments the stored value of the communication error number 2414 of the update management information. Then, the communication error rate calculation unit 200 calculates the communication error rate by dividing the stored value of the communication error number 2414 by the stored value of the command transmission number 2413. The communication error rate calculation unit 200 stores the calculated communication error rate in the communication error rate 2415.

The update program acquisition unit 201 is an example of the update program acquisition means according to the present invention. When the external device in which the update program information 243 is stored is connected to the external memory interface 23 by a user such as an operator, the update program acquisition unit 201 reads the update program information 243 from the external device and acquires the update program information 243. It is stored in the next storage device 24.

When the update program information 243 is acquired by the update program acquisition unit 201, the device information acquisition unit 202 individually transmits the above-mentioned information request notification to each equipment device 3. Then, in response to the information request notification, the response data transmitted from each equipment 3 is received, and the model code 322 and the version information 323 are extracted and acquired from the received response data. The device information acquisition unit 202 stores the acquired model code 322 in the model code 2411 of the update management information (see FIG. 6) corresponding to the equipment device 3. Further, the device information acquisition unit 202 stores the acquired version information 323 in the version information 2412 of the update management information. The timing at which the device information acquisition unit 202 acquires the model code 322 and the version information 323 from each equipment device 3 is an arbitrary design item. For example, after receiving the above-mentioned activation notification from the equipment 3, the information request notification may be transmitted to the equipment 3.

The target device selection unit 203 selects the target device to which the update program 2431 of the update program information 243 acquired by the update program acquisition unit 201 is applied from all the equipment devices 3. Specifically, the target device selection unit 203 uses the model code 2432 and the version information 2433 of the update program information 243 to refer to each update management information (see FIG. 6) registered in the program update management table 241. Select the target device by doing so. Specifically, when the model code matches and the version indicated by the version information 2412 of the update management information is different from the version indicated by the version information 2433, the target device selection unit 203 uses the update management information. The corresponding equipment 3 is selected as the target equipment.

The specific device selection unit 204 is an example of the selection means according to the present invention. When there are a plurality of selected target devices, the specific device selection unit 204 selects the device with the most unstable communication with the program transfer device 2 as the specific device. Specifically, the specific device selection unit 204 refers to the program update management table 241 and selects the target device having the highest communication error rate among the plurality of selected target devices as the specific device. When the selected target device is one, the specific device selection unit 204 selects the target device as the specific device.

The program transfer unit 205 is an example of the transfer means according to the present invention. The program transfer unit 205 transfers the update program 2431 acquired from the external device to the target device. Specifically, first, the program transfer unit 205 individually transmits the above-mentioned transfer start notification to each target device. In common, each transfer start notification includes a notification type indicating that transfer of an update program is started, version information 2433, a maximum sequence number (Nmax), and information for identifying a specific device (the present embodiment). Then, the device address) and are stored.

After transmitting the transfer start notification to each target device, the program transfer unit 205 transfers the update program 2431 to all the target devices. Specifically, the program transfer unit 205 sequentially transmits a frame in which the sequence number and each divided data are stored to a specific device as a destination. As described above, the target device other than the specific device intercepts the above frame.

After transmitting the first frame to the specific device, the program transfer unit 205 receives a normal reception response to the most recently transmitted frame from the specific device, that is, when it receives an ACK command, the next frame. Is sent to a specific device.

When the retransmission request notification is received from the target device before the transmission of the transfer end notification described above, the program transfer unit 205 extracts the sequence number of the frame for which the retransmission is requested from the retransmission request notification. Then, the program transfer unit 205 transmits the frame corresponding to the sequence number to the target device.

When the last frame addressed to the specific device is transmitted, the program transfer unit 205 individually transmits a transfer end notification to each target device. Here, the last frame is a frame in which the maximum sequence number Nmax is stored.

The update instruction unit 206 is an example of the update instruction means according to the present invention. The update instruction unit 206 instructs the equipment 3 to which the update program 2431 has been transferred to update the normal program 320. Specifically, the update instruction unit 206 determines whether or not there is an equipment device 3 that has not yet updated the normal program 320 among the equipment devices 3 that have transferred the update program 2431. If there is an equipment 3 that has not yet updated the normal program 320, the update instruction unit 206 checks the corresponding update schedule information (see FIG. 7) in the update schedule table 242 for each corresponding equipment 3. At present, it is determined whether or not the update of the normal program 320 is possible. When it is determined that the normal program 320 can be updated, the update instruction unit 206 transmits the above-mentioned update request notification to the equipment 3.

The updateable time zone setting unit 207 sets the update time zone of each equipment device 3 input by the equipment system administrator or the like via the operation reception unit 21 as the corresponding update schedule information in the update schedule table 242 (see FIG. 7). Set to. The administrator or the like can appropriately change the update time zone of each equipment 3.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of the program transfer process executed by the program transfer device 2. This program transfer process is started when the user connects an external device such as a USB memory in which the update program information 243 is recorded to the external memory interface 23.

The update program acquisition unit 201 reads the update program information 243 (see FIG. 8) from the external device connected to the external memory interface 23, acquires it, and stores it in the secondary storage device 24 (step S101). The device information acquisition unit 202 acquires the model code 322 and the version information 323 from each facility device 3 by individually transmitting the above-mentioned information request notification to each facility device 3 (step S102).

The target device selection unit 203 selects the target device to which the update program 2431 is applied from all the equipment devices 3 (step S103). The specific device selection unit 204 selects the device whose communication with the program transfer device 2 is most unstable from the selected target devices as the specific device (step S104). As described above, when the selected target device is one, the specific device selection unit 204 selects the target device as the specific device.

The program transfer unit 205 individually transmits the above-mentioned transfer start notification to each target device (step S105). The program transfer unit 205 sequentially transmits each frame in which each data obtained by dividing the update program 2431 is stored to a specific device as a destination (step S106). That is, the program transfer unit 205 divides the update program 2431 into Nmax data, and sequentially transmits each frame in which the sequence number and the divided data are stored to the specific device as the destination.

When the program transfer unit 205 transmits a frame in which the maximum sequence number Nmax is stored to a specific device, the program transfer unit 205 individually transmits a transfer end notification to each target device (step S107). .. After this, the program transfer device 2 ends the program transfer process.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure of update instruction processing executed by the update instruction unit 206 of the program transfer device 2. This update instruction process is repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle (for example, every minute).

The update instruction unit 206 determines whether or not there is an equipment device 3 for which the normal program 320 has not been updated among the equipment devices 3 for which the update program 2431 has been transferred (step S201). When the normal program 320 determines that there is no unupdated equipment 3 (step S201; NO), the update instruction unit 206 ends the update instruction process in this cycle.

On the other hand, when it is determined that there is an unupdated equipment 3 in the normal program 320 (step S201; YES), whether or not there is an equipment 3 in which the normal program 320 can be updated at the present time among the equipment 3. Is determined (step S202). If it is determined that there is no equipment 3 capable of updating the normal program 320 at the present time (step S202; NO), the update instruction unit 206 ends the update instruction process in this cycle.

If it is determined that there is an equipment 3 capable of updating the normal program 320 at the present time (step S202; YES), the update instruction unit 206 transmits an update request notification to the equipment 3 (step S203). After that, the update instruction unit 206 ends the update instruction process in this cycle.

The overall operation of the program transfer system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. When the external device is connected to the program transfer device 2, the program transfer device 2 reads and acquires the update program information 243 (see FIG. 8) from the external device (step S301).

The program transfer device 2 individually transmits an information request notification to each equipment device 3 and acquires the model code 322 and the version information 323 from each facility device 3 (step S302). The program transfer device 2 selects a target device to which the update program 2431 is applied from all the equipment 3 and selects a specific device from the selected target device (step S303). In this example, it is assumed that the equipment devices 3a to 3c are selected as the target devices and the equipment devices 3a are selected as the specific devices.

The program transfer device 2 individually transmits a transfer start notification to each target device (step S304). Then, the program transfer device 2 divides the update program 2431 into Nmax data, and sequentially transmits the Nmax frames in which each data is stored to the specific device, that is, the equipment device 3a (step S305). At that time, when the program transfer device 2 receives the ACK command for the most recently transmitted frame from the specific device, the program transfer device 2 transmits the next frame to the specific device.

The equipment device 3a, which is a specific device, sequentially receives frames addressed to its own device, and sequentially acquires data obtained by dividing the update program 2431 (step S306). When the equipment 3a receives the correct frame, it transmits an ACK command (that is, an ACK response) to the program transfer device 2. Further, the equipment devices 3b and 3c, which are the target devices other than the specific devices, sequentially receive (that is, sequentially intercept) the frames addressed to the equipment devices 3a, respectively, and sequentially acquire the divided data of the update program 2431 (step). S307).

When the Nmaxth frame is transmitted to the specific device, the program transfer device 2 individually transmits the transfer end notification to the equipment devices 3a to 3c (step S308).

Eventually, when the current time enters the updatable time zone of the normal program 320 by the equipment 3a, the program transfer device 2 transmits an update request notification to the equipment 3a (step S309). Upon receiving such an update request notification, the equipment device 3a updates the normal program 320 and restarts it (step S310). Specifically, the equipment 3a stores the new normal program 321 (that is, the update program 2431 transferred from the program transfer device 2) stored in the secondary storage device 32 as the normal program 320, thereby storing the normal program. The 320 is updated, and when the update is completed, it is restarted. Then, the restarted equipment device 3a transmits a start notification to the program transfer device 2 (step S311).

Further, when the current time enters the updatable time zone of the normal program 320 by the equipment device 3b, the program transfer device 2 transmits an update request notification to the equipment device 3b (step S312). Upon receiving such an update request notification, the equipment 3b updates the normal program 320 and restarts it (step S313). Then, the restarted equipment device 3b transmits a start notification to the program transfer device 2 (step S314).

Further, when the current time enters the updatable time zone of the normal program 320 by the equipment 3c, the program transfer device 2 transmits an update request notification to the equipment 3c (step S315). Upon receiving such an update request notification, the equipment 3c updates the normal program 320 and restarts it (step S316). Then, the restarted equipment device 3c transmits a start notification to the program transfer device 2 (step S317).

As described above, in the program transfer system 1 according to the first embodiment, when the program transfer device 2 acquires the update program 2431 from the external device, the communication error rate is increased from all the target devices to which the update program 2431 is applied. Select the highest specific device. Then, the program transfer device 2 divides the update program 2431 into a plurality of data, and sequentially transmits a plurality of frames in which each data is stored to a specific device. The specific device acquires the update program 2431 by sequentially receiving frames addressed to its own device. Further, the target device other than the specific device acquires the update program 2431 by sequentially receiving (that is, sequentially intercepting) the frames addressed to the specific device.

As a result, the amount of communication data can be reduced as compared with the case where the update program 2431 is individually transmitted to all the target equipments and devices 3. Further, even for the equipment 3 whose communication with the program transfer device 2 is unstable, the stability in the transfer of the update program 2431 can be ensured, and the frequency of occurrence of the retransmission request to the program transfer device 2 due to the loss of a frame or the like can be suppressed. can.

Further, after the transfer of the update program 2431, the program transfer device 2 instructs each equipment device 3 to update the normal program 320 according to the updateable time zone preset for each equipment device 3 by the user. The equipment 3 can normally update the program 320 at a timing that does not impair the comfort and convenience of the user.

(Embodiment 2)
Subsequently, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, components and the like common to the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of the program transfer system 1A according to the second embodiment. The program transfer system 1A includes a program transfer device 2A, a plurality of equipments 3 (3a, 3b, 3c, ...), And a management server 4.

The management server 4 is an example of an external device according to the present invention. The management server 4 is a server computer for monitoring and controlling the equipment 3a, 3b, 3c, ... In the equipment system from a remote location, and is communicably connected to the program transfer device 2A via the network N2. Network N2 is a wide area network such as WAN (Wide Area Network) and the Internet.

The program transfer device 2A is a centralized management device for centrally managing the equipment devices 3a, 3b, 3c, ..., Similar to the program transfer device 2 of the first embodiment. The hardware configuration of the program transfer device 2A is the same as that of the program transfer device 2 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 2), but the communication interface 22 of the program transfer device 2A communicates with an external device via the network N2. Further provided with an interface for

Further, the update program acquisition unit 201 of the program transfer device 2A not only acquires the update program information 243 from a recording medium such as USB via the external memory interface 23, but also acquires the update program information 243 sent from the management server 4. Information 243 can also be received and acquired via the network N2. The other functions of the program transfer device 2A are the same as those of the program transfer device 2 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 9).

As described above, in the program transfer system 1A according to the second embodiment, the program transfer device 2A acquires the update program 2431 from the management server 4 which is an external device by communication, and transfers the update program 2431 to each target equipment device 3. Therefore, in addition to achieving the same effect as that of the first embodiment, the workload of users such as workers is reduced.

When the program transfer device 2A receives the start notification from all the equipment 3 to which the update program 2431 has been transferred, the program transfer device 2A may send the update completion notification to the management server 4. Further, the updateable time zone setting unit 207 of the program transfer device 2A acquires the updateable time zone of each equipment device 3 by communication from the management server 4, and updates the acquired update time zone of each equipment device 3 in the update schedule table. It may be set in the corresponding update schedule information of 242 (see FIG. 7).

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in each of the above embodiments, the program transfer device 2 is a centralized management device that centrally manages the equipment system, but may be any of the equipment equipment 3a, 3b, 3c, ... Alternatively, it may be a dedicated terminal temporarily connected to the network N1 when updating the normal program 320.

Further, the model code 2432 may be further stored in the transfer start notification. In this case, the target device compares the model code 2432 and the version information 2433 included in the transfer start notification with the model code 322 and the version information 323 stored in the secondary storage device 32 of the own device. You can check the correctness of the transfer start notification.

Further, the transfer start notification may store the data size of the update program 2431 in place of or in combination with the maximum sequence number (Nmax).

In each of the above embodiments, the transfer control program 240 stored in the secondary storage device 24 is executed by the CPU included in the control unit 25 of the program transfer devices 2 and 2A, so that the program transfer devices 2 and 2A Each functional unit (see FIG. 9) has been realized. However, all or part of the functional parts of the program transfer devices 2 and 2A may be realized by dedicated hardware. Dedicated hardware is, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof.

In each of the above embodiments, the transfer control program 240 includes a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a magneto-optical disc (Magneto-Optical Disc), a USB memory, a memory card, an HDD, and the like. It is also possible to store and distribute it on a computer-readable recording medium. Then, by installing the transfer control program 240 distributed in this way on a specific or general-purpose computer, it is possible to make the computer function as the program transfer devices 2 and 2A in each of the above-described embodiments.

Further, the transfer control program 240 may be stored in a storage device included in a server (not shown) on the Internet so that the transfer control program 240 can be downloaded from the server to the program transfer devices 2 and 2A.

The present invention is capable of various embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the broad sense. Moreover, the above-described embodiment is for explaining the present invention, and does not limit the scope of the present invention. That is, the scope of the present invention is indicated not by the embodiment but by the claims. Then, various modifications made within the scope of the claims and within the equivalent meaning of the invention are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

The present invention can be suitably adopted in an equipment system including a plurality of equipments.

1,1A program transfer system, 2,2A program transfer device, 3a to 3c equipment, 4 management server, 20 display, 21 operation reception unit, 22,30 communication interface, 23 external memory interface, 24,32 secondary storage device , 25, 33 Control unit, 31 Main unit, 200 Communication error rate calculation unit, 201 Update program acquisition unit, 202 Device information acquisition unit, 203 Target device selection unit, 204 Specific device selection unit, 205 Program transfer unit, 206 Update instruction Unit, 207 Updatetable time zone setting unit, 240 transfer control program, 241 program update management table, 242 update schedule table, 243 update program information, 320 normal program, 321 new normal program, 322, 2432 model code, 323, 2433 version Info, 2431 Update, N1, N2 Network

Claims (8)

Equipped with a program transfer device and multiple devices connected to the equipment network,
The program transfer device is
An update program acquisition method for acquiring an update program from an external device,
When a plurality of target devices to which the update program is to be transferred exist in the plurality of devices, a selection means for selecting a device having the most unstable communication with the own device as a specific device from the plurality of target devices. ,
A transfer means for sequentially transmitting each of a plurality of frames including each of the plurality of data obtained by dividing the update program to the specific device as a destination is provided.
The specific device receives the frame addressed to its own device transmitted from the transfer means, and receives the frame.
The target device other than the specific device intercepts the frame addressed to the specific device transmitted from the transfer means.
The transfer means is a program transfer system that transmits the next frame to the specific device when it receives an ACK response to the most recently transmitted frame from the specific device after transmitting the first frame. The program transfer system according to claim 1, wherein when the specific device normally receives a frame transmitted from the program transfer device, the specific device transmits an ACK response to the program transfer device. The program according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the program transfer device transmits a transfer start notification in which information for identifying the specific device is stored in each of the plurality of target devices before the transmission of the plurality of frames. Transfer system. Said selecting means, said plurality of target devices, selects the highest communication error rate device in the communication between the own device as a specific device, program transfer system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. For each of the plurality of devices, an update instruction means for instructing the device to which the update program has been transferred to update the normal program is further provided by referring to a table in which the time zone in which the update program can be updated is set. , The program transfer system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The external device is a recording medium and
The program transfer system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the update program acquisition means acquires the update program from the external device connected via an external memory interface. The external device is connected to a network different from the equipment network,
The program transfer system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the update program acquisition means acquires the update program by communication between the external device and the network. The program transfer device
Get updates from external devices
When a plurality of target devices to be transferred to the update program exist in a plurality of devices connected to the equipment network, the device with the most unstable communication with the own device is selected as a specific device from the plurality of target devices. death,
Each of the plurality of frames including each of the plurality of data obtained by dividing the update program is sequentially transmitted to the specific device as a destination.
The specific device receives the frame addressed to its own device transmitted from the program transfer device, and receives the frame.
A target device other than the specific device intercepts the frame addressed to the specific device transmitted from the program transfer device.
A program transfer method in which the program transfer device transmits the next frame to the specific device when it receives an ACK response to the most recently transmitted frame from the specific device after transmitting the first frame.

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