JPH09298773A - Remote management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the remote management system by adjusting a time of a data controller while preventing acquisition of duplicate data or data missing. SOLUTION: A controller 3a discriminates input of a data transmission request from an entry device 3c, then allows the data controller (DTC) 7 to connect a public line 5 between the management system and a laundry shop 2 and receives time information from a clock circuit 3f. A time range with 5 minutes around a reference time is set to the controller 3a, the controller 3a discriminates whether or not the time received from the clock circuit 3f is within this range and when not, the time received from the clock circuit 3f and the received data transmission request are sent to the DTC 7. On the other hand, when the controller 3a discriminates it that the time received from the clock circuit 3f is within the time range, the data transmission request is sent without sending the received time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention connects a device whose operation is controlled by a control device such as a microcomputer and a central device such as a personal computer by communication means,
The present invention relates to a system that remotely manages the device with a central device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a landry shop where a plurality of washing machines and dryers are arranged and coins or prepaid cards can be used for a fee, the number of staff is reduced,
Alternatively, in order to abolish the patrol to each landry store and improve the management efficiency, there is a demand for a management system that centrally manages the management of failures and abnormalities of landry equipment and the management of charges at a remote location.

As such a management system, there is a system proposed by the applicant of the present application in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-288871. A plurality of laundry machines such as a washing machine and a dryer are arranged in each laundry shop. Motors installed in each landry device,
Sensors such as a rotation sensor, a thermistor, and a magnetic sensor are provided in each part of the drum and the charge box, and output signals of these are input to a microcomputer. The microcomputer controls the operation of the landry device based on the signals from the respective sensors, and stores each data such as the operating state, the remaining operation time, and the sales amount at predetermined time intervals. A data controller (hereinafter referred to as DTC) is arranged in each landry store, and the DTC is provided in each landry device at preset time intervals based on the timekeeping of the clock circuit provided in advance. Each data stored in the microcomputer is transmitted from the microcomputer, and the plurality of received data are stored together with the device number registered in advance in the microcomputer of each device.
Each DTC is connected to a central device using a personal computer of a manager or a management company entrusted by the manager with a public line.

In response to an operator's instruction, the central unit monitors the operating condition, remaining operating time, sales amount, operating amount setting, operating time setting, etc. of the device from the central unit to the DTC of each Landry store via a public line. Send each monitor request. When the DTC receives the monitor request, it transmits the store information such as the preset store name and store number to the central device together with the device numbers and the data stored corresponding to the device numbers. The central device stores the data transmitted from the DTC for each store information, and displays the store name, the device number and model name of the device, and the content of the data in characters and numbers on the screen of the monitor, and the manager Or notify the operator of the management company. The central device is provided with a clock circuit, and the central device determines D based on the timing of the clock circuit.
It manages the storage of the data sent from the TC.

On the other hand, when a trouble such as equipment failure, abnormality or theft of charges occurs, the microcomputer of the landry equipment stops its operation, and when the DTC requests data transmission, the equipment name and equipment number. Trouble data including information such as the type of trouble and the time of occurrence is transmitted to the above information. When the DTC receives the trouble data, it calls the central device, and when there is a response from the central device, it makes the trouble data by adding the information on the landli store name where the DTC is located to the trouble data described above, and sends it to the central device. Send. When receiving the trouble data, the central device displays the store name, the device number and the model name, the content of the data, etc. on the screen of the monitor in characters and numbers,
Notify the management or operator of the management company.

[0006]

In the conventional remote management system, in order to prevent the time output by the clock circuit provided in the central device and the time output by the clock circuit provided in the DTC from deviating from each other, As the central unit sends a monitor request to the DTC, the central unit needs to send the time of the clock circuit provided to the central unit to the DTC and have the DTC adjust the time of the clock circuit. However, in this case, depending on the timing at which the central unit sends the time to the DTC, D
When the TC repeatedly sends a data transmission command to the same device to acquire duplicate data, and when the data transmission command is transmitted at the same timing, the data transmission There was a problem that chipping might occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to determine whether or not a predetermined time range before and after a time at which a data controller acquires data is within a predetermined time range. If it is determined that the time is not within the range, by adjusting the time output by the first clock means, it is possible to adjust the time on the data controller side while preventing the acquisition of duplicate data or the lack of data. To provide a management system.

[0008]

A remote management system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a data controller that acquires data from a device when the first clock means outputs a predetermined time and transmits the data, and the data controller. A central device that is arranged apart from each other and manages the device using the data transmitted from the data controller and the time output by the second clock means, and the central device indicates the time output by the second clock means. To the data controller, and the data controller adjusts the time output by the first clock means when the time is received from the central device, wherein the central device operates the second device. The means for capturing the time output by the clock means and the captured time are within a predetermined time range before and after the time at which the data controller acquires data. Means for determining Luke, if it is determined that it is not within the time range, characterized in that it comprises means for transmitting a time taken from the second clock means to the data controller.

The remote management system according to the second invention is the first remote management system.
A data controller that acquires data from a device when the clock means outputs a predetermined time and transmits the data, and a data controller that is arranged apart from the data controller, causes the data controller to transmit the data, and the received data and A central device that manages the device using the time output by the second clock means, the central device transmitting the time output by the second clock means to the data controller, and the data controller transmitting the time from the central device. In the remote management system adapted to adjust the time output by the first clock means, the central unit determines whether or not a request for transmitting data is given from the data controller. When it is determined that the request has been given, a means for fetching the time output by the second clock means and a fetched time A means for determining whether or not the time is within a predetermined time range before and after the time when the data controller acquires data, and a time taken from the request and the second clock means when it is determined that the time is not within the time range Is transmitted to the data controller.

A remote management system according to a third invention is the first remote management system.
The data controller which acquires data from the device when the clock means outputs a predetermined time and transmits the data, and the data controller and the second clock means which are arranged apart from the data controller and which are transmitted from the data controller. A central device that manages the device using the output time, the central device transmitting the time output by the second clock means to the data controller, and the data controller based on the time received from the central device. In the remote management system adapted to adjust the time output by the first clock means, the data controller takes in the time output by the first clock means, and the time taken in acquires the data. Before and after the predetermined time range, and a central device when it is judged that it is not within that time range. Based on al the received time, characterized in that it comprises a means for adjusting the time at which the first clock means outputs.

A remote management system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first, second, or third aspects, the device is a landry device.

Now, the data controller is 1:00,
It is assumed that data is acquired from the device at every hour such as 2:00, ... At this time, if the time output by the first clock means is 1:58 and the time output by the second clock means is 2:01, the time of the first clock means is set to the second time.
When adjusted to the time of the clock means, the data controller loses the opportunity to acquire data from the device at 2:00 and the 2:00 data is missing. On the contrary, when the time of the first clock means is 2:01 and the time of the second clock means is 1:58, the time of the first clock means is set to the second time.
When the time of the clock means is adjusted, the data controller has already obtained the data from the device at 2:00, but the time is adjusted again at 2:00.
Data is acquired from the device for the minute, and the data at 2:00 is duplicated.

In the remote management system according to the first or fourth aspect of the invention, the central device has a predetermined time before and after the time when the data controller acquires the data from the device (landry device) by the second clock means. If it is judged whether it is within the time range and it is not within that time range,
When the time taken from the second clock means is transmitted to the data controller and the time taken from the second clock means is within the time range, the time taken from the second clock means is not transmitted to the data controller. This makes it possible to avoid missing and duplication of data and adjust the time of the first clock means.

In the remote management system according to the second or fourth aspect of the invention, the second control is performed at the timing when the central device transmits to the data controller a request for the data controller to transmit the data acquired from the device (landry device). By transmitting the time taken from the clock means to the data controller, the time of the first clock means is adjusted at an appropriate timing.

In the remote management system according to the third or fourth aspect of the invention, the time taken by the first clock means of the data controller is within a predetermined time range before and after the time when the data is obtained from the device (landry device). If it is not within the time range, the time output by the first clock means is adjusted based on the time received from the central unit, and the time taken by the first clock means is adjusted. Is within the time range, the time output by the first clock means is not adjusted. This makes it possible to avoid missing and duplication of data and adjust the time of the first clock means.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment thereof. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a remote management system according to the present invention.
Is a landry store, 1 is a plurality of landry stores 2, 2, ...
Is a management company that manages. The landry store 2 is provided with a plurality of dryers or washing machines or other landry equipment 8, 8, ..., And each of the landry equipment 8, 8, ... Is controlled by a microcomputer 8a, 8a ,. , And an HBS interface (hereinafter referred to as I / F) 9, 9, ... Based on a home bus system (hereinafter referred to as HBS). The microcomputers 8a, 8a, ...
The drying operation is started, and the drying operation is controlled based on the signals from the sensors 8b, 8b, etc. such as the rotation speed sensor and the temperature sensor, and the charge input, start instruction, rotation speed, temperature, charge input abnormality, rotation Data such as number anomaly, temperature anomaly, etc. can be obtained with HBS
It can be transmitted from the dedicated I / Fs 9, 9, ....
Each HBS I / F 9, 9, ... Is one twisted pair wire 10
The data is supplied to the DTC 7 via.
The twisted pair wire 10 is the HBS controller provided in the DTC 7.
7b, and the HBS control unit 7b controls the data transmission request from the DTC 7 to the respective landry devices 8, 8, ... And the data transmission from the respective landry devices 8, 8 ,. There is.

The HBS controller 7b sends and receives data transmission requests and received data to and from the landry devices 8, 8, ... With the DTC controller 7a which controls the operation of the DTC 7. DT
The time is given to the C control unit 7a from a clock circuit 7f for transmitting a data transmission request at predetermined time intervals to the microcomputers 8a, 8a, ... Of the landry devices 8, 8 ,. When the time from the clock circuit 7f is the hour, the DTC control unit 7a transmits a data transmission request to the landry equipment 8, 8, .... In addition, the DTC control unit 7a has a DT
An input unit 7c in which information such as the name of the randry store where C7 is placed and a telephone number is set, a memory 7d for storing the data received from the randry equipment 8, 8, ... And an interface 7g such as RC-232C are connected. There is. The priority order of communication with the landry devices 8, 8, ... Is set in the HBS control unit 7b, and the DTC 7 sends each landry device 8, 8 ,. A data transmission request is transmitted, and the received data is stored in a predetermined address of the memory 7d.

The I / F 7g of the DTC 7 is connected to one end of the public line 5 via a line control / data transmission / reception device 6 such as a modem, and the other end of the public line 5 is line control / data transmission / reception on the management company 1 side. It is connected via a device 4 to an I / F 3d provided in a central device 3 using a personal computer. Telephones 12 and 11 are connected to the line control / data transmission / reception device 6 on the landry store 2 side and the line control / data transmission / reception device 4 on the management company 1 side, respectively, and are used for call communication. .

The central device 3 includes a display device 3b such as a CRT,
An input device 3c such as a keyboard, a control device 3a such as a CPU, a memory 3e, and the like are provided. When a data transmission request such as a sales amount request or a driving state request is input from the input device 3c, the control device 3a causes the I / O Send it to the DTC 7 of the Landry store 2 via F3d and the line control / data transceiver 4.
I / O data received at the line control / data transmission / reception device 4
It is read via F3d, stored in the memory 3e, and displayed on the display device 3b. Further, the control circuit 3a includes a clock circuit 3f.
Are connected, and the data in the memory 3e are managed according to the time given from the clock circuit 3f.

When the control device 3a transmits a data transmission request such as a sales amount request and an operation state request to the DTC 7 of the landry store 2, it fetches the time from the clock circuit 3f and the fetched time is within a preset time range. If not, the time is transmitted together with the data transmission request. When the time is given from the central unit 3, the DTC 7 matches the time of the clock circuit 7f provided in the DTC 7 with the time given from the central unit 3.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a control procedure in the central unit 3 of the remote management system according to the present invention. The control device 3a provided in the central device 3 is the input device 3c.
Waits until a data transmission request is input from (step S1), and if it is determined that the request has been input, the I / F 3d issues a command to the line control / data transmission / reception device 4 to issue a DTC 7
Public line 5 between the line control / data transceiver 6
The circuit of the clock circuit
The time is fetched from 3f (step S3). The control device 3a is preset with a time range of 5 minutes before and after the reference time every hour, and the control device 3a determines whether the time taken from the clock circuit 3f is within the time range. Judge (step S4), and if not, go to DTC 7 clock circuit 3f
The time taken in from is transmitted, and the input data transmission request is transmitted (steps S5 and S6). On the other hand, when the control device 3a determines in step S4 that the time taken in from the clock circuit 3f is within the above-mentioned time range, the control device 3a does not transmit the time in step S5, and executes step S5.
Then, the process moves to 6 to send a data transmission request. Then, the control device 3a disconnects the public line 5 from the DTC 7 (step S7).

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a control procedure in the DTC 7 of the remote management system according to the present invention. The DTC control unit 7a provided in the DTC 7 determines whether or not the public line 5 is connected to the central device 3 (step S10), and if it is determined that the public line 5 is not connected,
The time is fetched from the clock circuit 7f (step S11). Then, the DTC control unit 7a determines whether or not the fetched time is on the hour (step S12), and if it is on the hour, transmits a data transmission command to the landry equipment 8, 8 ,.
13) When data is received from the landry equipment 8, 8, ... (Step S14), the data is given to the memory 7d and stored therein (step S15).

On the other hand, when the DTC control unit 7a determines that the line is connected in step S10, it waits until the incoming call information is obtained from the central unit 3 (step S20). It is determined whether it is information (step S21). When the DTC control unit 7a determines that it is not the line disconnection information, it further determines whether or not the incoming call information is the time (step S22), and when it determines that it is the time, the time of the clock circuit 7f is matched. (Step S23). When the time adjustment of the clock circuit 7f is completed, the process returns to step S20, waits until the next incoming call information is obtained, and when it is obtained, D
As before, the TC control unit 7a determines whether or not it is the line disconnection information and whether or not it is time, and if neither is determined, it is determined as a data transmission request, and the data stored in the memory 7d is determined. It transmits to the central unit 3 (step S24). When the data transmission is completed, the process returns to step S20 again, waits until the next incoming call information is obtained, and when it is obtained, the DTC control unit
The 7a proceeds to step S21 to determine whether or not the line is disconnection information, and if so, ends the time adjustment and / or data transmission operation.

In the present embodiment, the DTC7
The time range for determining whether or not to transmit the time is set to ± 5 minutes on the hour, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the clock circuit 3f on the central device 3 side and the clock circuit on the DTC 7 side are not limited to this. An appropriate time may be set according to the characteristics of 7f. Further, in FIG. 2, the central device 3 is adapted to transmit the time to the DTC 7 when the data transmission request is given.
It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this, and only the time may be transmitted to the DTC 7.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another control procedure in the central unit 3 of the remote management system according to the present invention. The control device 3a provided in the central device 3 waits until a data transmission request is input from the input device 3c (step S31), and if it is determined that the request has been input, the I / F 3d
From the line control / data transmission / reception device 4 to DT
The public line 5 is connected to the line control / data transmission / reception device 6 on the C7 side (step S32), and the time is fetched from the clock circuit 3f (step S33). And
The control device 3a transmits the time taken from the clock circuit 3f to the DTC 7 and transmits the input data transmission request (steps S34 and S35), and then disconnects the public line 5 from the DTC 7 (step S36). .

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing another control procedure in the DTC 7 of the remote management system according to the present invention. The DTC control unit 7a provided in the DTC 7 determines whether or not the public line 5 is connected to the central device 3 (step S40), and if it is determined that the public line 5 is not connected, the clock circuit 7f outputs the time. Is taken in (step S41).
Then, the DTC control unit 7a determines whether or not the fetched time is on the hour (step S42), and if it is on the hour, transmits a data transmission command to the landry equipment 8, 8, ... (Step S43). , The data is received from the landry equipment 8, 8, ... (Step S44), the data is given to the memory 7d and stored therein (step S45).

On the other hand, when the DTC control section 7a determines that the line is connected in step S40, it waits until the incoming call information is obtained from the central unit 3 (step S50), and when it is obtained, the incoming call information is disconnected. It is determined whether it is information (step S51). When the DTC control unit 7a determines that it is not the line disconnection information, it further determines whether or not the incoming call information is the time (step S52). When it determines that it is the time, the time is fetched from the clock circuit 7f included in the DTC 7. (Step S53).

In the DTC control section 7a, a time range of 5 minutes before and after the hour is set in advance on the basis of every hour as a reference time.
The C control unit 7a determines whether or not the time received from the central unit 3 is within the time range (step S54), and if not, matches the time of the clock circuit 7f with that time (step S55). After that, the process returns to step S50. On the other hand, DTC
When the control unit 7a determines in step S54 that the time received from the central unit 3 is within the time range, the control unit 7a returns to step S50 without adjusting the time of the clock circuit 7f and returns to the next incoming call information. Wait until it gets, and if it gets it, it judges whether it is the line disconnection information or the time as before, and if it is neither, it judges that it is a data transmission request, and the memory 7d The data stored in is transmitted to the central unit 3 (step S56). When the data transmission is completed, the process returns to step S50 again and waits until the next incoming call information is obtained. When the information is obtained, the DTC control unit 7a moves to step S51 to determine whether or not the line is disconnected information. If so, the time adjustment and / or data transmission operation is terminated.

[0029]

As described above in detail, in the remote management system according to the first, third and fourth aspects of the present invention, data loss and duplication are avoided and the time of the first clock means provided in the data controller is set. Can be adjusted.

In the remote management system according to the second and fourth aspects of the present invention, lack and duplication of data are avoided, and the time of the first clock means provided in the data controller is adjusted at an appropriate timing. Etc., the present invention has excellent effects.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a control procedure in a central device of the remote management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control procedure in the DTC of the remote management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another control procedure in the central device of the remote management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing another control procedure in the DTC of the remote management system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Central Unit 3a Control Unit 3f Clock Circuit 7 Data Controller (DTC) 7a DTC Control Unit 7f Clock Circuit

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display area // D06F 31/00 D06F 31/00

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A data controller which acquires data from a device when the first clock means outputs a predetermined time and transmits the data, and a data controller which is arranged apart from the data controller.
A central unit that manages the device using the data transmitted from the data controller and the time output by the second clock unit, the central unit transmitting the time output by the second clock unit to the data controller; In the remote management system, wherein the data controller adjusts the time output by the first clock means when the time is received from the central apparatus, the central apparatus fetches the time output by the second clock means. Means, a means for determining whether the fetched time is within a predetermined time range before and after the time when the data controller acquires data, and a second clock means when it is determined that the time is not within the time range Means for transmitting the time taken in from the data controller to the remote controller. 2. A data controller which acquires data from the device when the first clock means outputs a predetermined time and transmits the data, and a data controller which is arranged apart from the data controller.
And a central device that manages the device using the received data and the time output by the second clock means, and the central device controls the time output by the second clock means. Send to
In the remote management system, wherein the data controller adjusts the time output by the first clock means when the time is received from the central device, the central device receives a request for transmitting data from the data controller. Means to determine whether or not given,
When it is determined that the request has been given, whether the means for fetching the time output by the second clock means and the fetched time are within a predetermined time range before and after the time at which the data controller acquires data. Means for determining
A remote management system comprising: a means for transmitting the request and the time taken from the second clock means to the data controller when it is determined that the time is not within the time range. 3. A data controller which acquires data from a device when the first clock means outputs a predetermined time and transmits the data, and a data controller which is arranged apart from the data controller.
A central unit that manages the device using the data transmitted from the data controller and the time output by the second clock unit, the central unit transmitting the time output by the second clock unit to the data controller; In the remote management system, wherein the data controller adjusts the time output by the first clock means based on the time received from the central device, the data controller controls the time output by the first clock means. The means for capturing, the determining means for determining whether or not the captured time is within a predetermined time range before and after the time when the data is acquired, and the time received from the central device when it is determined that the time is not within the time range. And a means for adjusting the time output by the first clock means based on the remote management system. 4. The remote management system according to claim 1, wherein the device is a landry device.