KR101303319B1 - Network Management System integrated a Power Line Communication and Control Method of the Same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses power line communication technology and network management technology. That is, a network management system and a control method incorporating power line communication according to an embodiment of the present invention utilizes an SNMP frame which is a standard protocol of an application layer defined on the TCP / IP protocol, and uses an Ethernet frame type transmitted through a PLC communication network. By receiving the information data, traffic status information, flow status information or congestion status information in real time and monitoring the entire network at a glance, it manages and integrates multiple networks connected by different equipments.
In addition, the present invention is uncomfortable to use a separate power line communication network such as a wired LAN (wireless LAN) or a wireless LAN (LAN) for the use of the Internet and telephone calls by actively utilizing a power line communication network that can multi-media multimedia communication using power lines Without wires already wired, you can check the amount of electricity consumed by year / month / day in real time through internet access and telephone calls, as well as remote access to multiple electricity meters installed in each home.
In addition, the present invention is to establish a power line communication network using a power line that must be wired for the use of electricity, and by using the NMSP (Network Management System Protocol) method can be provided quickly and accurately the status check information about the PLC communication network Integrated management of the entire network with PLC communication network minimizes installation costs and time wasted when establishing a wired LAN or a wireless LAN, resulting in financial soundness and greatly improving industrial development. Contribute.

Description

Network Management System integrated a Power Line Communication and Control Method of the Same}

The present invention relates to a power line communication technology and a network management technology. In particular, information data having a form of an Ethernet frame transmitted through a PLC communication network and a traffic state using an SNMP protocol, which is a standard protocol of an application layer defined on a TCP / IP protocol. Power Line Communication (PLC) enables integrated operation management of multiple networks connected to different equipments by monitoring information of entire network at a glance by receiving information in real time, flow status information or congestion status information. The present invention relates to an integrated network management system and a control method thereof.

In general, a power line communication related application system can access various information appliances in a home at high speed to receive various multimedia services, and can easily control information appliances in a home remotely through the Internet.

Recently, with the development of power line communication modem technology, high-speed transmission of several Mbps is possible, and it can compete with cable modem using Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) or coaxial cable using telephone line. It is emerging as a new access network.

When the development of power line communication technology becomes commercially available, power providers can directly use the network for the advancement of power information such as automatic meter reading (AMR) and distribution automation. You can expect

However, since the standardization of network management system incorporating power line communication has not been decided yet, network management in which power line communication is applied is implemented with different technology for each manufacturer and can only be managed outside of the method provided by the manufacturer. There was a lot of inconvenience in terms of software and hardware in managing the network integratedly.

In addition, the amount of gas used, the amount of electricity, and the amount of tap water used in each household are measured by a gas meter, an electricity meter, a water meter, etc., and the meter reader reads the instructions of the meter and calculates monthly usage, and then charges for a usage fee. As the meter reads and reads the instructions of the meter one by one, there is a problem in that a lot of manpower and time are required and the cost increases.

In particular, when the meter is located where it is difficult to check the instructions with the eyes or when the customer is absent during the visit, there is a problem that the meter is difficult to visit again.

In order to solve the difficulties of meter reading, wired remote metering technology has been developed and is being used, but it has not been put into practical use due to the invasion of customer privacy by using telephone or other network, difficulty of installation and increase of installation cost, and reliability problem. .

The network management system and its control method incorporating the power line communication of the present invention is devised to solve the problems of the prior art, the first object of the present invention is a standard protocol of the application layer defined on the TCP / IP protocol Using different SNMP protocols, it receives real-time information data, traffic status information, flow status information or congestion status information in the form of Ethernet frame transmitted through PLC communication network, and monitors the entire network at a glance. This is to integrate operation management of multiple networks connected to each other.

In addition, the second object of the present invention is to separately utilize the equipment work such as wired LAN (wireless LAN) or wireless LAN (wireless LAN) for the use of the Internet and telephone calls by actively utilizing the power line communication network capable of multi-media multimedia communication using the power line You can check the amount of electricity consumed by year / month / day in real time through internet access, telephone call, and remote access to multiple electricity meters installed in each household, even if you have already wired power line without any inconvenience. To be there.

In addition, the third object of the present invention is to establish a power line communication network using a power line that must be wired for electricity use, and to adopt NMSP (Network Management System Protocol) method to receive fast and accurate status check information on a PLC communication network. As a result, it is possible to integrate and manage the entire network with PLC communication network, thereby minimizing the installation cost and time wasted when establishing a wired LAN or a wireless LAN, resulting in financial soundness and This is to contribute greatly to industrial development.

The present invention for achieving the above object includes the following configuration.

That is, the network management system incorporating power line communication according to an embodiment of the present invention receives a request signal for requesting PLC communication status check information from a wired / wireless communication network and sends it to the PLC communication network, and through the PLC communication network, a NMSP (Network Management System). After receiving and temporarily storing the PLC communication status check information delivered in a Protocol) method, the PLC communication status check SNMP information obtained by converting the temporarily stored PLC communication status check information into a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) method is transmitted to the wired / wireless communication network. Outgoing data concentrator; An electric meter configured to generate the PLC communication state check information in response to the request signal in response to receiving the request signal from the PLC communication network, and to transmit the PLC communication state check information to the data concentrator using the PLC communication network; And a communication management server generating the request signal and transmitting the request signal to the data concentrator and receiving the PLC communication status check SNMP information through the wired / wireless communication network.

In addition, in a control method of a network management system incorporating power line communication according to an embodiment of the present invention, as the communication management server generates a request signal for requesting PLC communication status check information, the data concentrator transmits the request signal in a wired or wireless manner. After receiving the input via the communication network, transmitting to the PLC communication network; Generating, by the electric meter, the PLC communication state check information in response to the request signal as the request signal is received from the PLC communication network, and transmitting the PLC communication state check information to the data concentrator using the PLC communication network; And receiving, by the data concentrator, the PLC communication state check information transmitted through a network management system protocol (NMSP) method through the PLC communication network and temporarily storing the information. Converting, by the data concentrator, the temporarily stored PLC communication state check information into a simple network management protocol (SNMP) method to generate a PLC communication state check SNMP information and then transmitting it to the wired / wireless communication network; And receiving, by the communication management server, the PLC communication status check SNMP information through the wired or wireless communication network.

The network management system and its control method incorporating the power line communication of the present invention utilizes the SNMP protocol, which is a standard protocol of the application layer defined on the TCP / IP protocol, and provides information data and traffic having an Ethernet frame form transmitted through a PLC communication network. By receiving status information, flow status information or congestion status information in real time and monitoring the entire network at a glance, it has a first effect of integrating and managing multiple networks connected by different equipments.

In addition, the present invention is uncomfortable to use a separate power line communication network, such as a wired LAN (wireless LAN) or a wireless LAN (LAN) for the use of the Internet and telephone calls by actively utilizing the power line communication network that can multi-media multimedia communication using the power line Secondary effect that allows you to check the amount of electricity used by year / month / day in real time through internet connection and telephone call, as well as remote access to multiple electricity meters installed in each household, even if you have already wired power line Gives.

In addition, the present invention is to establish a power line communication network using a power line that must be wired for the use of electricity, and by using the NMSP (Network Management System Protocol) method can be provided quickly and accurately the status check information about the PLC communication network Integrated management of the entire network with PLC communication network minimizes installation costs and time wasted when establishing a wired LAN or a wireless LAN, resulting in financial soundness and greatly improving industrial development. Contribute to the third effect.

1 is a diagram illustrating a network management system incorporating power line communication according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is another diagram illustrating a network management system incorporating power line communication according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is another diagram illustrating in more detail a network management system incorporating power line communication according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a network management system incorporating power line communication according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Example]

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

1 is a diagram illustrating a network management system incorporating power line communication according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a network management system incorporating Power Line Communication (PLC) is an Ethernet frame type transmitted through a PLC communication network using an SNMP protocol, which is a standard protocol of an application layer defined on a TCP / IP protocol. Receives the packet data or the traffic state information, flow state information, congestion state information on the PLC communication network in real time to monitor the entire network, the electric meter 100, data concentrator 200 and communication management server 300 ).

In general, traffic control is one of network management activities. It refers to a series of real-time control functions to improve network processing efficiency and is transmitted for network protection, performance maintenance, and efficient use of network resources. It controls the flow or amount of packets.

Flow Control manages data flow between computers and peripherals or network nodes, allowing data to be processed at an efficient rate. If too much data arrives before the device can process it, an overflow occurs, which means that the data is lost and must be retransmitted. For local serial data transmission or networks, the Xon / Xoff protocol can be used. In modem connection, Xon / Xoff or CTS / RTS commands can be used to control the data flow. In a network, flow control may be applied in a manner that denies further access of other devices until the communication volume of data reaches a normal level.

Congestion Control refers to controlling the network to avoid congestion by controlling the traffic of information entering the network. For example, detecting excessive information traffic and sending fewer packets can prevent congestion collapse.

That is, the electricity meter 100 generates PLC communication status check information in response to the request signal in response to receiving the request signal from the PLC communication network, and transmits the PLC communication status check information to the data concentrator 200 using the PLC communication network. .

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the electricity meter 100 is dedicated to a second PLC that performs PLC communication with a first PLC dedicated modem mounted in the second PLC master unit 220 of the data concentrator 200 using a PLC communication network. By controlling the modem, a PLC slave unit 110 for generating PLC communication status check information is included.

The second PLC-only modem may be mounted in the electricity meter 100 or installed externally.

The PLC slave unit 110 included in the electricity meter 100 receives the at least one measured electricity value differently measured from at least one electricity meter installed inside or externally installed, and then measures the measured electricity value in the second PLC. The dedicated modem transmits to the first PLC dedicated modem of the second PLC master unit 220 already connected to the PLC communication network.

Here, the PLC communication status check information includes a topology, a signal strength, an effective bandwidth, an available bandwidth, a line state, and a traffic state in a tree form of a pre-formed PLC node relationship between the data concentrator 200 and at least one electricity meter. Or, it includes a variety of information about the PLC node (path) status.

As shown in FIG. 2, the data concentrator (DCU: 200) receives a request signal for requesting PLC communication status check information from the wired / wireless communication network and sends it to the PLC communication network, and through the PLC communication network, a NMSP (Network Management System). After receiving the PLC communication status check information delivered by Protocol) and storing it temporarily, the PLC communication status check information converted from the temporarily stored PLC communication status check information to the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) method is transmitted to the wired / wireless communication network. .

Here, the data concentrator receives the PLC communication status check information through the NMSP method and sends the PLC communication status check SNMP information converted to the SNMP method. The SNMP method is an Internet standard protocol widely used but the PLC communication network is IP ( Since it is not an Internet Protocol based network, it is one of the communication protocols of the PLC communication network and uses the NMSP method, which is a non-public protocol that uses only remote meter reading, to receive PLC communication status check information. In order to transmit the information to the wired / wireless communication network, which is called IP-based network, it should be noted that the PLC communication status check information must be converted to conform to the SNMP protocol, which is an open protocol.

In addition, the data concentrator 200 remotely collects all measured values in the home while performing PLC communication with a second PLC-only modem mounted in the at least one electric meter 100 installed in each home or connected to the outside, and managing communication. Send to server 300.

The data concentrator 200 periodically checks the communication (traffic, flow, and congestion) status of the PLC communication network connected to the electric meter (at least one electric meter is installed in each home: 100) and at the same time performs a remote meter reading if there is no error. do.

The operation state check of the PLC communication network connecting the data concentrator 200 and the electric meter 100 and the second PLC-only modem existing on the electric meter 100 is performed according to NMSP (Network Management System Protocol). Using the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), it transmits the PLC communication status check SNMP information to the communication management server 300 that is already connected to the wired / wireless communication network.

More specifically, the data concentrator 200 includes a first PLC master unit 210 and a second PLC master unit 220, as can be seen in FIG. 3.

The first PLC master unit 210 receives the request signal from the wired and wireless communication network, temporarily stores the PLC communication status check information in a memory already provided, and then converts the PLC communication status check information into a simple network management protocol (SNMP) method. PLC Communication Status Check Create SNMP information.

The second PLC master unit 220 transmits a request signal to the PLC communication network and transmits PLC communication status check information to the PLC communication network by controlling the first PLC dedicated modem provided in the machine that performs PLC communication with the electricity meter 100. Receive input via

Subsequently, the communication management server 300 generates a request signal and transmits it to the data concentrator 200, and receives the PLC communication status check SNMP information through a wired or wireless communication network.

The communication management server 300 includes a management operation unit 310 that plays a pivotal role in integrally managing the entire network.

The management operating unit 310 not only generates the request signal and receives the PLC communication status check SNMP information, but also the CPU / Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, data communication amount, and data processing, including the TCP / IP information of the data concentrator 200. It collects the speed, the data usage rate, recognizes the unique information for each PLC dedicated modem provided in the data concentrator 200 and the electricity meter 100, and secures the entire schematic diagram of the wired / wireless communication network and the PLC communication network.

When defined for NMSP and SNMP according to an embodiment of the present invention.

NMSP (Network Management System Protocol) is a communication protocol that forms bidirectional data communication between data concentrator and electricity meter through PLC communication network by forming request signal and PLC communication status check information in the form of Ethernet frame.

In addition, the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) method is one of application layer protocols defined on TCP / IP, and the communication management server 300 may control the traffic state (or flow state, congestion) of the data concentrator 200 or wired or wireless communication network. Communication protocol used to monitor and manage status.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a network management system incorporating power line communication according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, a control method of a network management system incorporating power line communication includes packet data having an Ethernet frame form transmitted through a PLC communication network using an SNMP protocol, which is a standard protocol of an application layer defined on a TCP / IP protocol. Or it is a control method for monitoring the entire network by receiving traffic status information, flow status information, congestion status information on the PLC communication network in real time.

First, as the communication management server generates a request signal for requesting the PLC communication status check information, the data concentrator receives the request signal through the wired / wireless communication network and transmits the request signal to the PLC communication network (S10, S20, S30).

The electric meter generates PLC communication status check information in response to the request signal in response to receiving the request signal from the PLC communication network, and transmits the PLC communication status check information to the data concentrator using the PLC communication network (S40, S50, S60).

The data concentrator receives and temporarily stores PLC communication status check information transmitted through a NMSP (Network Management System Protocol) method through a PLC communication network (S70).

The data concentrator converts the temporarily stored PLC communication status check information into a simple network management protocol (SNMP) method to generate the PLC communication status check SNMP information and then transmits it to the wired / wireless communication network (S80 and S90).

The communication management server receives the PLC communication status check SNMP information through the wired or wireless communication network (S100).

Further operations of the control method of the network management system incorporating the power line communication according to an embodiment of the present invention is performed as follows.

The management operation unit already installed in the communication management server not only generates the request signal and receives the PLC communication status check SNMP information, but also the TCP / IP information of the data concentrator, as well as the central processing unit (CPU), memory, data communication amount, and data. Collect throughput and data utilization.

In addition, the management and operation unit recognizes the unique information on the PLC dedicated modem provided in each of the data concentrator and the electricity meter, and secures the entire schematic diagram of the wired / wireless communication network and the PLC communication network.

The first PLC master unit already provided in the data concentrator receives the request signal from the wired / wireless communication network, temporarily stores the PLC communication status check information in a memory already provided, and then stores the PLC communication status check information in the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). Method to generate PLC communication status check SNMP information.

The second PLC master unit, which is already provided in the data concentrator, controls a PLC dedicated modem for performing PLC communication with the electric meter, thereby sending a request signal to the PLC communication network and receiving PLC communication status check information through the PLC communication network.

The PLC slave unit already provided in the electricity meter generates PLC communication status check information by controlling another PLC dedicated modem that performs PLC communication with the data concentrator using the PLC communication network.

The PLC slave unit receives at least one measured value measured differently from at least one meter installed internally or externally, and then transmits the measured value to a PLC communication network using another PLC dedicated modem.

Although the above has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art will be able to variously modify and change the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Will understand.

1000: network management system 100: electricity meter
110: PLC slave unit 200: data concentrator (DCU)
210: first PLC master unit 220: second PLC master unit
300: communication management server 310: management operation unit

Claims (13)

Receives a request signal for requesting PLC communication status check information from a wired / wireless communication network and sends it to the PLC communication network, and transmits the PLC communication status check information received by the NMSP (Network Management System Protocol) method through the PLC communication network to the Simple Network Management Protocol. A data concentrator for transmitting the converted PLC communication status check SNMP information to the wired / wireless communication network after the conversion to
An electric meter configured to generate the PLC communication state check information in response to the request signal in response to receiving the request signal from the PLC communication network, and to transmit the PLC communication state check information to the data concentrator using the PLC communication network; And
Generating a request signal and transmitting the request signal to the data concentrator and receiving the PLC communication state check SNMP information through the wired / wireless communication network;
The PLC communication state check information includes a topology, signal strength, effective bandwidth, available bandwidth, line state, traffic state, and PLC node representing a pre-formed PLC node relationship between the data concentrator and the at least one electricity meter in a tree form. A network management system incorporating power line communication comprising at least one of information about a (path) state.
The method of claim 1, wherein the communication management server,
Collect at least one of TCP / IP information, central processing unit (CPU) information, memory information, data communication amount, data processing rate, and data utilization rate of the data concentrator, and each dedicated PLC in the data concentrator and the electric meter. Recognizing the unique information about the modem, Network management system incorporating power line communication, characterized in that it comprises a management operating unit for securing the entire schematic diagram of the wired and wireless communication network and PLC communication network.
The data concentrator of claim 1, wherein
Receives the request signal from the wired / wireless communication network, temporarily stores the PLC communication state check information in a memory already provided, and then converts the PLC communication state check information into a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) method to check the PLC communication state. A first PLC master unit for generating SNMP information; And
And a second PLC master unit which transmits the request signal to the PLC communication network and receives the PLC communication status check information through the PLC communication network by controlling a PLC dedicated modem that performs PLC communication with the electric meter. Network management system incorporating power line communication.
According to claim 1, The electric meter is,
And a PLC slave unit for generating the PLC communication status check information by controlling the PLC concentrator and another PLC dedicated modem that performs PLC communication using the PLC communication network.
The method of claim 4, wherein the PLC slave unit,
After receiving at least one measured value differently measured from at least one of the internally mounted or already installed externally, and transmits the measured value to the PLC communication network using the other PLC dedicated modem. Network management system that combines power line communication.
The method of claim 4, wherein the other PLC modem,
Network management system incorporating power line communication, characterized in that mounted on the electricity meter or can be installed outside.
delete The method of claim 1,
The NMSP (Network Management System Protocol) is a communication protocol that establishes the request signal and the PLC communication status check information in the form of an Ethernet frame and performs bidirectional data communication between the data concentrator and the electricity meter through the PLC communication network. ,
The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) method is one of application layer protocols defined on TCP / IP, and the communication management server is a communication protocol used to monitor and manage the traffic state of the data concentrator or the wired / wireless communication network. A network management system that incorporates power line communication.
As the communication management server generates a request signal for requesting PLC communication status check information, the data concentrator receives the request signal through a wired / wireless communication network and then sends the request signal to the PLC communication network;
Generating, by the electric meter, the PLC communication state check information in response to the request signal as the request signal is received from the PLC communication network, and transmitting the PLC communication state check information to the data concentrator using the PLC communication network; And
Receiving, by the data concentrator, the PLC communication state check information transmitted through a network management system protocol (NMSP) method through the PLC communication network;
Converting, by the data concentrator, the PLC communication status check information received by the NMSP method into a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) method to generate the PLC communication status check SNMP information and then transmitting the same to the wired / wireless communication network; And
Receiving, by the communication management server, the PLC communication status check SNMP information through the wired or wireless communication network,
The PLC communication state check information includes a topology, signal strength, effective bandwidth, available bandwidth, line state, traffic state, and PLC node representing a pre-formed PLC node relationship between the data concentrator and the at least one electricity meter in a tree form. A control method of a network management system incorporating power line communication including at least one of information about a (path) state.
10. The method of claim 9, Management management unit is already provided in the communication management server,
Collecting at least one of TCP / IP information, central processing unit (CPU) information, memory information, data communication amount, data processing rate, and data utilization rate of the data concentrator;
Recognizing unique information about each PLC dedicated modem provided in the data concentrator and the electricity meter; And
The control method of a network management system incorporating power line communication, characterized in that it further comprises the step of securing the entire schematic diagram constructed by the wired and wireless communication network and PLC communication network.
10. The device of claim 9, already provided in a data concentrator,
The first PLC master unit receives the request signal from the wired / wireless communication network, temporarily stores the PLC communication status check information in a memory already provided, and then converts the PLC communication status check information into a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) method. Generating the PLC communication status check SNMP information; And
Sending a request signal to the PLC communication network and receiving the PLC communication status check information through the PLC communication network by controlling a PLC dedicated modem for performing PLC communication with the electric meter by the second PLC master unit; A control method of a network management system incorporating power line communication, characterized in that the.
The PLC slave unit of claim 9, further comprising:
And generating the PLC communication status check information by controlling another PLC dedicated modem that performs PLC communication with the data concentrator using the PLC communication network. Way.
The method of claim 12, wherein the PLC slave unit,
And receiving at least one measured value differently from the at least one meter installed internally or externally, and transmitting the measured value to the PLC communication network using the other PLC dedicated modem. A control method of a network management system incorporating power line communication, characterized in that the.

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