KR20170097785A - Wireless master station, wireless slave station, wireless communication system and wireless communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

As the wireless master device N201 that performs wireless communication with the wireless slave device N301 connected to the industrial master device N101 and the industrial master device N1 that transmits and receives data by the token passing method with the industrial slave device N101, A circuit information holding unit 14 for holding information on a token circuit path in which the order of the industrial slave equipment N101 and the industrial master equipment N1 is indicated and an industrial slave device N101 for receiving the token frame based on the information of the token circuit The wireless slave device N301 is connected to the corresponding industrial slave device N101 according to the order of the wireless slave device N101 and the wireless slave device N301.

Description

Wireless master station, wireless slave station, wireless communication system and wireless communication method

The present invention relates to a wireless master station, a wireless slave station, a wireless communication system, and a wireless communication method for use in an industrial network.

Conventionally, in an industrial network, in a field network, a controller becomes a master device, various IO (Input Output) devices, and a measuring device become slave devices, and are connected in one-to-many relationship. Between the master device and the plurality of slave devices, cyclic communication is performed at preset time intervals. Such a technique is disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 below. It is also disclosed that a transmission opportunity is sequentially circulated in a plurality of slave devices by exchanging a frame called a token with respect to a CC-Link (Control & Communication Link) IE field network. The token passing method is a method in which a device whose transmission of a data frame has been completed transmits a token frame to the next device at the end to determine a device that transmits the data frame.

Background of the Invention [0002] In order to reduce the cost of laying out industrial networks, wireless networking is required. In wireless communication, it is inconvenient in terms of convenience to use special devices and to use licensed frequencies. Therefore, it is possible to reduce hardware procurement cost and development cost by realizing wireless communication in a form similar to the existing wireless LAN (Local Area Network) standard.

In the industrial network, in order to realize a fixed periodicity of communication between the master device and a plurality of slave devices, schedule management in which collision in the radio section is prevented is required. The wireless LAN standard specification includes a Hybrid Coordination Function Controlled Channel Access (HCCA) for centrally managing communications in an access point according to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11e standard that defines communication in consideration of QoS (Quality of Service) (Non-Patent Document 2).

In a wireless industrial network, it is conceivable to employ a HCCA scheme to perform radio polling sequentially on devices existing in a network. Polling refers to inquiring as to whether one device holds data transmittable periodically to another device in the network, and when the other device holds data, it transmits data, and when data is not held Is a control method of notifying that there is no data.

Specifically, when wireless communication is performed in the CC-Link IE field network, the master device is connected to the wireless master device, and each slave device is connected to the wireless slave device. The master device communicates with the slave device via the wireless master device and the wireless slave device. A section of the wired communication between the master device and the wireless master device, a section of wireless communication between the wireless master device and the wireless slave device, and a section of wired communication between the wireless slave device and the slave device. Since the sections of each wire communication are independent, it is possible to perform a plurality of communications at the same time, but only one communication at the same time in the wireless communication section. The token passing method is adopted in the wired communication section and the polling control method is adopted in the wireless communication section.

The master device transmits data frames and token frames to all wireless slave devices by wireless communication from the wireless master device. The wireless slave device transmits each received frame to the slave device. The slave device receiving the token frame returns a data frame and a token frame to the wireless slave device. The wireless master device performs polling to the wireless slave device when the retained data is lost. The wireless slave device transmits the data frame including the above-described data to the wireless master device when it has transmittable data, and notifies the wireless master device that there is no data when the wireless master device has no transmittable data . When the wireless master device receives a data frame from the wireless slave device, it transmits the received data frame to the master device, and re-transmits the data frame to each wireless slave device in the wireless communication interval.

(Prior art document)

(Non-patent document)

(Non-Patent Document 1) Tatsuhiko Naito, Osamu Watanabe "Introduction to Industrial Ethernet (registered trademark)" CQ Publishing Co., Ltd. May, 2009

IEEE Std 802.11e-2005 "Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) specifications Amendment 8: Medium Access Control (MAC) Quality of Service Enhancements"

However, according to the above conventional technology, the radio master apparatus connects to a slave device that has not received the token frame, and also polls the radio slave device that does not have transmittable data. Therefore, there has been a problem that the invalidation process occurs and the communication efficiency is lowered. In addition, there has been a problem that the interval of the communication cycle for performing communication between the master device and the slave device periodically becomes long.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a token passing method and a method for improving the communication efficiency while realizing fixed period communication in an upper network when polling is performed in a wireless communication interval of a lower network The present invention is directed to a wireless master station.

In order to solve the above-described problems and to achieve the object, the present invention provides a wireless communication device that connects with a slave device and a master device that performs data transmission / reception by a token passing method and wirelessly communicates with a slave device A master station includes a token circuit circuit information holding unit for holding information of a slave device receiving a token frame and a token circuit showing the order of the master device. And a wireless transmission unit for performing a wireless communication polling to a wireless slave station connected to the corresponding slave device according to the order of the slave devices receiving the token frame based on the information of the token circuit.

The wireless master station according to the present invention can improve the communication efficiency while realizing communication in a fixed period in the upper network when the token passing method is an upper network and polling is performed in a wireless communication section of the lower network .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an industrial network including a wireless communication system according to a first embodiment; Fig.
Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an industrial network by wired communication excluding the wireless communication system from the configuration example of the industrial network in Fig. 1 in the first embodiment; Fig.
Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a protocol stack of an industrial network according to Embodiment 1. Fig.
4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a wireless master device and a wireless slave device constituting the wireless communication system according to the first embodiment;
5 is a flowchart showing an operation in which a radio transmission unit according to the first embodiment performs polling.
6 is a flowchart showing an operation until the circuit information holding section according to the first embodiment holds information on the token circuit.
7 is a flowchart showing a polling determination operation of the radio receiving unit according to the first embodiment;
8 is a flowchart showing an operation for polling of a radio transmission unit according to the first embodiment;
9 is a flowchart showing a process in which a wireless master device according to Embodiment 1 performs polling and a wireless slave device responds.
10 is a flowchart showing a frame transmitted and received between each device or each device when polling is performed without considering the order of the token circuit in the industrial network as a comparative example;
11 is a flowchart showing a frame transmitted and received between each device or each device when polling is performed based on the order of the token circuit in the industrial network according to the first embodiment;
12 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a wireless master device and a wireless slave device constituting a wireless communication system according to a second embodiment;
13 is a flowchart showing processing for generating token skip section master skip information according to the second embodiment;
14 is a flowchart showing a process when a wireless transmission unit according to the second embodiment receives a token frame.
15 is a flowchart showing a process of generating a token frame by the token generating unit according to the second embodiment;
16 is a flowchart showing processing for receiving a data frame in which master omission information has been stored in a wireless receiving unit according to Embodiment 2 and transmitting a token frame.
17 is a flowchart showing a process in which a wireless master device according to Embodiment 2 omits transmission of a token frame and a wireless slave device generates a token frame.
18 is a flowchart showing a frame transmitted and received between each device or each device when the wireless master device omits the token frame in the industrial network according to the second embodiment;
19 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a wireless master device and a wireless slave device constituting a wireless communication system according to a third embodiment;
20 is a flowchart showing a process of generating a token frame by the token generating unit according to the third embodiment;
21 is a flowchart showing processing for receiving a data frame in which slave omission information is stored in a radio receiving unit according to Embodiment 3 and transmitting a token frame.
22 is a flowchart showing processing for generating token skip section slave skip information according to the third embodiment;
23 is a flowchart showing a process when a wireless transmission unit according to Embodiment 3 receives a token frame.
24 is a flowchart showing a frame transmitted and received between each device or each device when the wireless master device and the wireless slave device omit the token frame in the industrial network according to the third embodiment;
25 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a wireless communication unit of a wireless master device or a wireless slave device according to Embodiments 1 to 3;

Hereinafter, a wireless master station, a wireless slave station, a wireless communication system, and a wireless communication method according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

Embodiment Mode 1.

In the present embodiment, a method of performing polling according to the order of reception of a token frame in the wireless master apparatus will be described.

1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an industrial network including a wireless communication system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The industrial network includes an industrial master device N1, which is a controller of an industrial network, and industrial slave devices N101, N102, N103, ..., and so on, which are various IO devices and measuring devices in an industrial network. , N100 + m, and industrial master device N1, and industrial slave devices N101, N102, N103, ... A wireless master device N201 serving as a wireless communication device that performs wireless communication with the N100 + m side, and an industrial slave device N101, N102, N103, ... , And wireless slave devices N301, N302, N303, ..., N302, which are wireless communication devices that are connected in a one-to-one correspondence with N100 + m and become wireless slave stations that perform wireless communication with the industrial master device N1 side , And N300 + m.

The wireless communication system includes a wireless master device N201 and wireless slave devices N301, N302, N303, ... , And N300 + m. In the wireless communication system, a wireless master device N201 connected to one industrial master device N1, industrial slave devices N101, N102, N103, ... , Wireless slave devices N301, N302, N303, ... connected to N100 + m , And N300 + m, by the wireless communication.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an industrial network by wired communication excluding the wireless communication system from the configuration example of the industrial network of Fig. 1 in the first embodiment. Fig. Industrial master device N1, industrial slave device N101, N102, N103, ... , And N100 + m cooperate with each other at a control communication interval performed in a fixed cycle. Here, although the connection topology is a daisy chain, it is an example, and may be a star, a bus, and a ring. As shown in Fig. 1, the topology in the wireless communication system after the wireless communication applied in the embodiment of the present invention is a tree, but is not limited thereto.

3 is a diagram showing a protocol stack of an industrial network according to Embodiment 1. Fig. In the wired side, Ethernet is employed in the physical layer and the data link layer, and a token passing method is employed in the network layer. In addition, the radio side adopts a standard standard such as IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac in the physical layer and adopts the procedure of the present invention described below in addition to the standard standard indicated by IEEE 802.11 in the data link layer . On the wireless side, in the network layer, a token passing method is adopted as in the wired side. 1 and 2, the slave devices N101, N102, N103, ..., , N100 + m, and the master master device N1 that is the master device perform data transmission / reception by the token passing method.

Subsequently, the wireless master device N201 and wireless slave devices N301, N302, N303, ... , N300 + m will be described. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a wireless master apparatus N201 and a wireless slave apparatus N301 constituting the wireless communication system 30 according to the first embodiment. Wireless slave devices N301, N302, N303, ... , And N300 + m have the same configuration, the following description will be made using the wireless slave device N301.

In the industrial network, the section in which the industrial master device N1 and the wireless master device N201 are wire-connected is referred to as a wire section S1. Further, the wireless master device N201 and the wireless slave devices N301, N302, N303, ... , And N300 + m are set as the radio section S2. Further, the wireless slave devices N301, N302, N303, ... , N300 + m and industrial slave devices N101, N102, N103, ... , And N100 + m is referred to as a wire section S3. In addition, it is assumed that the wire sections S1 and S3 are sufficiently high in comparison with the wireless section S2. For example, the data transmission rate of the wire sections S1 and S3 is 1 Gbps, and the data transmission rate of the wireless section S2 is 1 Mbps to 100 Mbps.

The wireless master device N201 includes a wired communication unit 11 for transmitting and receiving signals of fixed period communication in the conventional industrial network to and from the industrial master device N1 by the wired section S1 and wireless slave devices N301 to N300 + m And a radio communication unit 12 for transmitting and receiving radio signals by radio section S2. Specifically, the wired communication unit 11 transmits and receives a data frame, a token frame, and the like to and from the industrial master device N1. The wireless communication unit 12 includes a wireless transmission unit 13, a circuit information storage unit 14, and a wireless reception unit 15. [ The radio transmission unit 13 transmits a signal from the industrial master device N1 inputted from the wired communication unit 11 as a radio signal to the radio slave devices N301 to N300 + m via the radio zone S2. Specifically, the radio transmission unit 13 transmits data frames, token frames and the like to the radio slave devices N301 to N300 + m via the radio section S2. The circuit information holding unit 14 includes an industrial slave device N101, N102, N103, ..., , N100 + m, and the industrial master device N1. The radio receiving section 15 receives radio signals from the radio slave devices N301 to N300 + m via the radio section S2 and outputs the received radio signals to the wired communication section 11. [ The circuit information storage unit 14 may be included in the wireless transmission unit 13.

The wireless transmission unit 13 is configured to transmit the token frame information to the wireless slave device connected to the corresponding industrial slave device in accordance with the order of the industrial slave devices receiving the token frame, And performs polling of the wireless communication to the device. Specifically, the radio transmission unit 13 transmits a polling frame to the wireless slave device at the destination. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation in which the radio transmission unit 13 according to the first embodiment performs polling. The wireless transmission unit 13 reads the information of the token circuit maintained in the circuit information holding unit 14 (step ST1), and based on the information of the token circuit that has been read, the industrial slave And performs polling of the wireless communication with the wireless slave device connected to the corresponding industrial slave device according to the order of the devices (step ST2). When the polling is performed based on the information of the token circuit, the radio transmitter 13 triggers the token frame received from the industrial master device N1 connected to the radio master device N201, It can be taken as the synchronization of the timing of performing polling. For example, it is assumed that the order of the token circuit is the order of the industrial master device N1, the industrial slave device N102, the industrial slave device N101, and the industrial slave device N103, and then returns to the industrial master device N1. Upon receiving the token frame from the industrial master device N1 to the industrial slave device N102, the radio transmission unit 13 transmits the token frame to the industrial slave device N102. After transmitting the token frame to the industrial slave device N102, the radio transmitter 13 performs polling to the radio slave device N302 connected to the industrial slave device N102 based on the information of the token circuit. That is, the radio transmission unit 13 starts polling from the radio slave device N302 connected to the industrial slave device N102. As a result, the wireless transmission unit 13 can synchronize the timing of transmitting the token frame and the timing of performing the polling. The radio transmitter 13 performs the above-described processing each time it receives a token frame from the industrial master device N1 connected to the radio master device N201, thereby synchronizing the timing of transmitting the token frame with the timing of performing the polling It is possible to avoid the situation where the shifts accumulate and become large when there is a gap between the timing of transmitting the token frame and the timing of performing the polling. The same applies to the following description.

The method of acquiring the information of the token circuit in the circuit information holding unit 14 is a method in which the manager or the like manually sets the information of the token circuit in the circuit information holding unit 14 Or the circuit information holding unit 14 may automatically learn the sequence number of the destination of the token frame flowing through the industrial network to obtain the information of the token circuit. In general, when a token frame is transmitted and received between a plurality of devices, each device receives the token frame in turn. Therefore, in the circuit information holding unit 14, by confirming the device designated as the destination of the token frame, the order of the device receiving the token frame, that is, the information of the token circuit, is automatically It is possible to learn and acquire. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation until the circuit information holding unit 14 according to the first embodiment holds the information of the token circuit. The circuit information holding unit 14 acquires the information of the token circuit by automatically setting the order of the destination of the token frame flowing through the industrial network or by setting by the above-mentioned manager (step ST11) The acquired information of the token circuit is stored and held in the built-in memory (step ST12).

The wireless slave device N301 communicates with the industrial slave device N101 between a wire communication unit 21 for transmitting and receiving a fixed period communication signal in the conventional industrial network to and from the wireless master unit N201, And a wireless communication unit 22 for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal in the wireless section S2. Specifically, the wired communication unit 21 transmits and receives a data frame, a token frame, and the like with the industrial slave device N101. The wireless communication unit 22 includes a wireless transmission unit 23 and a wireless reception unit 24. [ The radio transmission unit 23 transmits a signal from the industrial slave device N101 inputted from the wired communication unit 21 as a radio signal to the radio master device N201 via the radio zone S2. Specifically, the radio transmission unit 23 transmits a data frame and a token frame to the radio master apparatus N201 via the radio section S2. The wireless receiving section 24 receives a wireless signal from the wireless master device N201 via the wireless section S2 and outputs the received wireless signal to the wired communication section 21. [

The radio receiving unit 24 determines whether or not the polling from the radio master apparatus N201 is a polling toward itself. In the case of forward polling, the radio transmitting unit 23 transmits a data frame including data that can be transmitted to the radio master apparatus N201 when it has transmittable data, and when it has no transmittable data And informs the wireless master apparatus N201 that there is no data. In the wireless slave device N301, when receiving a polling frame from the wireless master device N201 to another wireless slave device, the wireless slave device N301 ends the process without doing anything. 7 is a flowchart showing a polling determination operation of the radio receiving unit 24 according to the first embodiment. When the polling from the radio master apparatus N201 is polling forward (step ST21: YES), the radio receiving unit 24 notifies the radio transmitting unit 23 that it is polling forward (step ST22) (NO in step ST21), the process is terminated without doing anything. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of polling by the radio transmitter 23 according to the first embodiment. Upon receiving a notification of polling to itself from the radio receiver 24 (step ST31), the radio transmitter 23 confirms whether or not it has transmittable data (step ST32). When the wireless transmitting unit 23 has transmittable data (step ST32: YES), the wireless transmitting unit 23 transmits a data frame including data that can be transmitted to the wireless master device N201 (step ST33) (Step ST32: NO), the wireless master device N201 is notified that there is no data (step ST34).

Next, in the industrial network including the wireless communication system, a wireless communication method in which the wireless master apparatus N201 performs polling and the wireless slave apparatus N301 responds will be described. 9 is a flowchart showing a process in which the radio master device N201 according to the first embodiment performs polling and the radio slave device N301 responds. The processes of steps S11 to S12 are performed by the wireless master device N201, and the processes of steps S13 to S16 are performed by the wireless slave device N301.

First, in the radio master apparatus N201, the circuit information holding unit 14 acquires the information of the token circuit (step S11). The method of acquiring the information of the token circuit in the circuit information holding unit 14 is as described above. In the wireless master device N201, based on the token circuit information held in the circuit information holding unit 14, the wireless transmitting unit 13 transmits the token frame to the corresponding industrial slave device (Step S12). The wireless slave device is connected to the wireless slave device.

In the wireless slave device N301, the radio receiver 24 determines whether polling from the radio master device N201 is forward polling (step S13). If it is not polling forward (step S13: NO), the wireless slave device N301 ends the process. In the case of polling forward (step S13: YES), that is, when receiving a polling frame forward, the radio transmitting unit 23 confirms whether or not it holds data transmittable to the radio master apparatus N201 S14). In the case where it has transmittable data (step S14: YES), the radio transmission unit 23 transmits the data frame including the above-described transmittable data to the radio master apparatus N201 (step S15). If there is no transmittable data (step S14: NO), the wireless transmission unit 23 notifies the wireless master apparatus N201 that there is no data (step S16).

Here, as in the present embodiment, when the radio master apparatus N201 performs polling on the wireless slave device connected to the industrial slave device that receives the token frame according to the order of receiving the token frame based on the token circuit And the case of polling without considering the token circuit, the difference in the length of the communication cycle in which data is transmitted from all the devices in the industrial network will be described.

10 is a flowchart showing frames transmitted and received between respective devices or devices when polling is performed without considering the order of token circuits in an industrial network as a comparative example. As an example, the number of wireless slave devices and industrial slave devices is three. For convenience of explanation, the description will be made using the industrial master device N1, the wireless master device N201, the wireless slave devices N301, N302, N303, and the industrial slave devices N101, N102, and N103 assigned the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment. However, it is assumed that the function of the circuit information holding unit 14 in the wireless master apparatus N201 is not used.

First, the industrial master device N1 transmits a data frame to the wireless master device N201 (step S101), and transmits a token frame with the industrial slave device N102 as a destination to the wireless master device N201 (step S102).

The wireless master device N201 transmits the data frame received from the industrial master device N1 to the wireless slave devices N301 to N303 (step S103). The wireless slave devices N301 to N303 transmit the data frame received from the wireless master device N201 to the connected industrial slave devices N101 to N103 (step S104). The wireless master device N201 transmits to the wireless slave devices N301 to N303 a token frame destined for the industrial slave device N102 received from the industrial master device N1 (step S105). The wireless slave devices N301 to N303 transmit the token frames destined for the industrial slave devices N101 to N103, which are connected, to the industrial slave devices N102 received from the wireless master device N201 (step S106).

Upon receiving the token frame forward to itself, the industrial slave device N102 transmits a data frame to the wireless slave device N302 (step S107) and transmits to the wireless slave device N302 a token frame destined for the industrial slave device N101 S108).

The radio master apparatus N201 performs polling to the radio slave apparatus N301 (step S109). Since the wireless slave device N301 does not have transmittable data, it notifies the wireless master device N201 that there is no data (step S110). It is also conceivable that the wireless slave devices N302 and N303 actually receive the polling frame from the wireless master device N201. However, the wireless slave devices N302 and N303 do not perform any processing when it is not polling forward as described above. For this reason, in the flowchart, in order to simplify the description, in the case where the radio master apparatus N201 performs polling, an arrow indicating the execution of polling is described only in the wireless slave apparatus at the destination. The same goes for the following.

Next, the radio master apparatus N201 performs polling to the radio slave apparatus N302 (step S111). Since the wireless slave device N302 is receiving the data frame from the industrial slave device N102 (step S107) and has the transmittable data, the wireless slave device N302 transmits the data frame to the wireless master device N201 (step S112).

The wireless master device N201 transmits the data frame received from the wireless slave device N302 to the industrial master device N1 and wireless slave devices N301 to N303 (steps S113 and S114). When the destination of the received data frame is not limited to the industrial master device N1, for example, in the case of unicast communication other than broadcast, multicast, or industrial master device N1, the wireless master device N201 transmits the received data frame to the wireless To the slave devices N301 to N303. The same is true for the following. The wireless slave devices N301 to N303 transmit the data frame received from the wireless master device N201 to the connected industrial slave devices N101 to N103 (step S115). If the data size of the data frame received from the industrial slave device N102 is large, the wireless slave device N302 transmits a data frame to the wireless master device N201 only once And transmits the data frame over time. The same goes for the following.

The radio master apparatus N201 performs polling to the radio slave apparatus N302 (step S116). Since the wireless slave device N302 has received the token frame from the industrial slave device N102 after transmitting the data frame (step S108), the wireless slave device N302 transmits to the wireless master device N201 a token frame with the industrial slave device N101 as the destination S117).

The wireless master device N201 transmits to the industrial master device N1 and the wireless slave devices N301 to N303 a token frame destined for the industrial slave device N101 received from the wireless slave device N302 (steps S118 and S119). The wireless slave devices N301 to N303 transmit the token frame to the industrial slave devices N101 to N103 to which the industrial slave device N101 received from the wireless master device N201 is the destination (step S120).

Upon receiving the token frame forward to itself, the industrial slave device N101 transmits a data frame to the wireless slave device N301 (step S121) and transmits to the wireless slave device N301 a token frame destined for the industrial slave device N103 S122).

Next, the radio master apparatus N201 performs polling to the radio slave apparatus N303 (step S123). Since the wireless slave device N303 does not have transmittable data, it notifies the wireless master device N201 that there is no data (step S124).

Next, the radio master apparatus N201 performs polling to the radio slave apparatus N301 (step S125). The wireless slave device N301 receives the data frame from the industrial slave device N101 (step S121), and transmits the data frame to the wireless master device N201 (step S126).

The wireless master device N201 transmits the data frame received from the wireless slave device N301 to the industrial master device N1 and wireless slave devices N301 to N303 (steps S127 and S128). The wireless slave devices N301 to N303 transmit the data frame received from the wireless master device N201 to the connected industrial slave devices N101 to N103 (step S129).

The radio master device N201 performs polling to the radio slave device N301 (step S130). Since the wireless slave device N301 receives the token frame from the industrial slave device N101 (step S122), the wireless slave device N301 transmits the token frame destined for the industrial slave device N103 to the wireless master device N201 (step S131).

The wireless master device N201 transmits to the industrial master device N1 and the wireless slave devices N301 to N303 a token frame destined for the industrial slave device N103 received from the wireless slave device N301 (steps S132 and S133). The wireless slave devices N301 to N303 transmit the token frame to the industrial slave devices N101 to N103 to which the industrial slave device N103 received from the wireless master device N201 is the destination (step S134).

Upon receiving the token frame forward to itself, the industrial slave device N103 transmits a data frame to the wireless slave device N303 (step S135) and transmits to the wireless slave device N303 a token frame with the industrial master device N1 as a destination S136).

Next, the radio master apparatus N201 performs polling to the radio slave apparatus N302 (step S137). Since the wireless slave device N302 does not have transmittable data, it notifies the wireless master device N201 that there is no data (step S138).

Next, the radio master apparatus N201 performs polling to the radio slave apparatus N303 (step S139). The wireless slave device N303 receives the data frame from the industrial slave device N103 (step S135) and transmits the data frame to the wireless master device N201 (step S140).

The wireless master device N201 transmits the data frame received from the wireless slave device N303 to the industrial master device N1 and wireless slave devices N301 to N303 (steps S141 and S142). The wireless slave devices N301 to N303 transmit the data frame received from the wireless master device N201 to the connected industrial slave devices N101 to N103 (step S143).

The radio master apparatus N201 performs polling to the radio slave apparatus N303 (step S144). Since the wireless slave device N303 has received the token frame from the industrial slave device N103 (step S136), the wireless slave device N303 transmits the token frame with the industrial master device N1 as the destination to the wireless master device N201 (step S145).

The wireless master device N201 transmits to the industrial master device N1 and wireless slave devices N301 to N303 a token frame destined for the industrial master device N1 received from the wireless slave device N303 (steps S146 and S147). The wireless slave devices N301 to N303 transmit the token frame with the industrial master device N1 as a destination to the connected industrial slave devices N101 to N103 (step S148).

Then, the industrial master device N1 transmits the data frame to the wireless master device N201 (step S101), and transmits the token frame destined to the industrial slave device N102 (step S102). The subsequent processing is as described above.

Thus, the order of receiving the token frame, i.e., the token circuit, is the master master device N1, the industrial slave device N102, the industrial slave device N101, and the industrial slave device N103. On the other hand, the order in which the radio master apparatus N201 performs polling is the radio slave apparatus N301, the radio slave apparatus N302, and the radio slave apparatus N303. In the wireless master device N201, even if polling is performed to the wireless slave device connected to the industrial slave device that has not received the token frame, it is notified that there is no data, and therefore, the process is useless. Therefore, the radio master device N201 performs polling, and the communication cycle until all the radio slave devices, here, the radio slave devices N301 to N303, ends transmission of data becomes long.

11 is a flowchart showing frames transmitted and received between respective devices or devices when polling is performed based on the order of the token circuit in the industrial network according to the first embodiment. 10, the description will be made using the industrial master device N1, the wireless master device N201, the wireless slave devices N301, N302 and N303, and the industrial slave devices N101, N102 and N103. Here, the radio master apparatus N201 uses the function of the circulating route information holding section 14. It is also assumed that the circuit information holding unit 14 has already stored the information of the token circuit. The information of the token circuit in the order of receiving the token frame in the present embodiment specifically indicates the order of the industrial master device N1, the industrial slave device N102, the industrial slave device N101, and the industrial slave device N103, , And returns to the industrial master device N1. The order of receiving the token frame indicated by the information of the token circuit is the same as the case of the flowchart shown in Fig.

First, the industrial master device N1 transmits a data frame to the wireless master device N201 (step S201), and transmits a token frame destined to the industrial slave device N102 (step S202).

The wireless master device N201 transmits the data frame received from the industrial master device N1 to the wireless slave devices N301 to N303 (step S203). The wireless slave devices N301 to N303 transmit the data frame received from the wireless master device N201 to the connected industrial slave devices N101 to N103 (step S204). The wireless master device N201 transmits to the wireless slave devices N301 to N303 a token frame destined for the industrial slave device N102 received from the industrial master device N1 (step S205). The wireless slave devices N301 to N303 transmit the token frame to the industrial slave devices N101 to N103 to which the industrial slave device N102 received from the wireless master device N201 is the destination (step S206).

Upon receiving the token frame forward to itself, the industrial slave device N102 transmits a data frame to the wireless slave device N302 (step S207) and transmits to the wireless slave device N302 a token frame destined for the industrial slave device N101 S208).

In the radio master unit N201, the radio transmitting unit 13 connects with the industrial slave device N102 receiving the next token frame based on the token circuit information held by the circuit information holding unit 14 And polls the wireless slave device N302 (step S209). Since the wireless slave device N302 receives the data frame from the industrial slave device N102 (step S207) and has the data that can be transmitted, the wireless slave device N302 transmits the data frame to the wireless master device N201 (step S210).

The wireless master device N201 transmits the data frame received from the wireless slave device N302 to the industrial master device N1 and the wireless slave devices N301 to N303 (steps S211 and S212). The wireless slave devices N301 to N303 transmit the data frame received from the wireless master device N201 to the connected industrial slave devices N101 to N103 (step S213).

The radio master device N201 performs polling to the radio slave device N302 (step S214). Since the wireless slave device N302 has received the token frame from the industrial slave device N102 (step S208), the wireless slave device N302 transmits the token frame with the industrial slave device N101 as the destination to the wireless master device N201 (step S215).

The wireless master device N201 transmits to the industrial master device N1 and wireless slave devices N301 to N303 a token frame destined for the industrial slave device N101 received from the wireless slave device N302 (steps S216 and S217). The wireless slave devices N301 to N303 transmit the token frame to the industrial slave devices N101 to N103 to which the industrial slave device N101 received from the wireless master device N201 is the destination (step S218).

The industrial slave device N101 transmits a data frame to the wireless slave device N301 (step S219), and transmits to the wireless slave device N301 a token frame whose destination is the industrial slave device N103 S220).

Next, in the radio master apparatus N201, based on the token circuit information held by the circuit information holding unit 14, the radio transmitting unit 13 transmits the token frame to the industrial slave apparatus N101 To the wireless slave device N301 (step S221). The wireless slave device N301 receives the data frame from the industrial slave device N101 (step S219), and transmits the data frame to the wireless master device N201 (step S222) because it holds the transmittable data.

The wireless master device N201 transmits the data frame received from the wireless slave device N301 to the industrial master device N1 and the wireless slave devices N301 to N303 (steps S223 and S224). The wireless slave devices N301 to N303 transmit the data frame received from the wireless master device N201 to the connected industrial slave devices N101 to N103 (step S225).

The radio master apparatus N201 performs polling to the radio slave apparatus N301 (step S226). Since the wireless slave device N301 receives the token frame from the industrial slave device N101 (step S220), the wireless slave device N301 transmits the token frame with the industrial slave device N103 as the destination to the wireless master device N201 (step S227).

The wireless master device N201 transmits to the industrial master device N1 and the wireless slave devices N301 to N303 a token frame destined for the industrial slave device N103 received from the wireless slave device N301 (steps S228 and S229). The wireless slave devices N301 to N303 transmit the token frames destined for the industrial slave devices N101 to N103, which are connected, to the industrial slave devices N103 received from the wireless master device N201 (step S230).

Upon receiving the token frame forward to itself, the industrial slave device N103 transmits the data frame to the wireless slave device N303 (step S231), and transmits to the wireless slave device N303 a token frame destined to the industrial master device N1 S232).

Next, in the radio master apparatus N201, the radio transmission section 13 transmits, to the industrial slave device N103, which is next receiving the token frame, To the wireless slave device N303 (step S233). Since the wireless slave device N303 is receiving the data frame from the industrial slave device N103 (step S231), the wireless slave device N303 transmits the data frame to the wireless master device N201 (step S234).

The wireless master device N201 transmits the data frame received from the wireless slave device N303 to the industrial master device N1 and the wireless slave devices N301 to N303 (steps S235 and S236). The wireless slave devices N301 to N303 transmit the data frame received from the wireless master device N201 to the connected industrial slave devices N101 to N103 (step S237).

The radio master apparatus N201 performs polling to the radio slave apparatus N303 (step S238). Since the wireless slave device N303 receives the token frame from the industrial slave device N103 (step S232), the wireless slave device N303 transmits the token frame with the industrial master device N1 as the destination to the wireless master device N201 (step S239).

The wireless master device N201 transmits to the industrial master device N1 and the wireless slave devices N301 to N303 a token frame destined for the industrial master device N1 received from the wireless slave device N303 (steps S240 and S241). The wireless slave devices N301 to N303 transmit the token frames destined for the industrial master device N1 received from the wireless master device N201 to the connected industrial slave devices N101 to N103 (step S242).

Then, the industrial master device N1 transmits the data frame to the wireless master device N201 (step S201), and transmits the token frame with the industrial slave device N102 as the destination (step S202). The subsequent processing is as described above.

In the radio master unit N201, the radio transmitting unit 13, based on the information of the token circuit held by the circuit information holding unit 14, transmits the token frame to the corresponding industrial slave device And performs polling of wireless communication with the wireless slave device connected to the wireless slave device. The wireless master device N201 does not perform the polling for the wireless slave device connected to the industrial slave device that has not received the token frame so as to avoid useless processing to improve the communication efficiency and to compare with the processing shown in Fig. Thus, the communication cycle can be shortened and the communication cycle shown in Fig. 11 can be set at a fixed cycle.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the communication network that performs communication between one industrial master device and one or more industrial slave devices every communication cycle, the wireless master device connected to the industrial master device , A radio communication system in which radio communication is performed between industrial slave devices and industrial slave devices in the same number as the industrial slave devices and in the same number of radio slave devices, the radio master device determines the polling order in the sub- , It is determined that the wireless slave device performs polling in consideration of the token sequence of the token passing method which is an upper network. This makes it possible to prevent polling from occurring in a wireless slave device that does not have transmittable data to prevent an invalid sequence from occurring and to realize high reliability and high communication efficiency at the same time, The frequency is shortened and the frequency resource can be effectively used.

In addition, when the polling order in the wireless communication interval and the token order in the token passing scheme are irrelevant, the communication cycle of the industrial network is not fixed. However, by matching the polling order to the token order, So that it has an effect of being facilitated.

In this embodiment, the wireless master device N201 is connected to one industrial master device N1, and the wireless slave devices N301, N302, N303, ... , N300 + m, industrial slave devices N101, N102, N103, ... , And N100 + m are connected in a one-to-one relationship. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Depending on the configuration of the industrial network, the wireless master apparatus N201 may be connected to a plurality of industrial master apparatuses N1 belonging to different industrial networks. Further, the wireless slave devices N301, N302, N303, ... , And N300 + m, a single wireless slave device may be connected to a plurality of industrial slave devices. The same applies to the following embodiments.

Embodiment 2:

In this embodiment, a method of omitting the transmission of the token frame in the radio master apparatus will be described.

12 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a wireless master apparatus N201a and a wireless slave apparatus N301a constituting the wireless communication system 30a according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the configuration of the industrial network is the same as that shown in Fig. 1 except that the wireless master device N201 is replaced with the wireless master device N201a, and the wireless slave devices N301, N302, N303, ... , N300 + m to the wireless slave devices N301a, N302a, N303a, ... , And N (300 + m) a, respectively. In the second embodiment, the wireless communication system includes a wireless master device N201a and wireless slave devices N301a, N302a, N303a, ... , And N (300 + m) a. Wireless slave devices N301a, N302a, N303a, ... , And N (300 + m) a have the same configuration, the following description will be made using the wireless slave device N301a.

The wireless master apparatus N201a includes a wireless communication unit 12a for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal between the wired communication unit 11 and the wireless slave devices N301a to N (300 + m) a in the wireless section S2. The wireless communication unit 12a includes a wireless transmission unit 13a, a circuit information holding unit 14, a token skip unit 16, and a wireless reception unit 15.

The token omission unit 16 receives the token frame from the industrial master device N1 via the wired communication unit 11 in the wireless transmission unit 13a and transmits the token frame to the wireless slave devices N301a, N302a, N303a, ..., , And N (300 + m) a is present, master omission information indicating that transmission of the token frame from the wireless master device N201a is omitted is generated. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing processing in which the token omission unit 16 according to the second embodiment generates master omission information. When the token skipping unit 16 receives a notification that there is a data frame of a skipped frame from the wireless transmission unit 13a that has received the token frame (step ST41), the skipping skip unit 16 generates master skip information (step ST42) And outputs the information to the wireless transmission unit 13a (step ST43).

In addition to the function of the radio transmitting section 13, when transmitting a data frame to the radio section S2 a plurality of times, the radio transmitting section 13a transmits the master omission information generated by the token omission section 16 to the last transmitted data frame And transmits it. The wireless transmission unit 13a stores the master skip information in the header or payload portion of the last data frame and transmits it. The master skip information is defined in advance in the wireless master apparatus N201a and the wireless slave apparatus N301a to N (300 + m) a constituting the wireless communication system 30a, for example, in the form of "0" or "1" As shown in FIG. Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing a process when the wireless transmission unit 13a according to the second embodiment receives a token frame. When the wireless transmission unit 13a receives the token frame from the industrial master device N1 via the wired communication unit 11 (step ST51), and if there is a data frame of no transmission (step ST52: YES) (Step ST53), acquires master skip information from the token skip section 16 (step ST54), stores the master skip information in the data frame to be finally transmitted, and transmits the master skip information ST55). When there is no data frame of no transmission (step ST52: NO), the radio transmission unit 13a transmits the token frame separately from the data frame (step ST56).

The circuit information holding unit 14 and the token omission unit 16 may be located inside the radio transmitting unit 13a.

The radio slave device N301a includes a radio communication section 22a for transmitting and receiving radio signals between the wire communication section 21 and the radio master device N201a in the radio section S2. The wireless communication unit 22a includes a wireless transmission unit 23, a wireless reception unit 24a, and a token generation unit 25.

When the master omission information is stored in the data frame from the wireless master device N201a received by the wireless receiving unit 24a, the token generating unit 25 holds the information of the token circuit, and based on the information of the token circuit, , And generates a token frame whose transmission is omitted from the wireless master device N201a. The information of the token circuit is similar to the information held by the circuit information holding unit 14 in the first embodiment.

As for the method of acquiring the information of the token circuit in the token generating unit 25, the manager or the like manually obtains the information of the token circuit in the token generating unit 25 The token circulation path information may be set or the token generation unit 25 may automatically learn the sequence number of the destination of the token frame flowing through the industrial network to obtain the information of the token circulation path. In the case where the token generating unit 25 automatically learns the order of the destination of the token frame flowing through the industrial network, the token generating unit 25 can not generate the token frame until the learning ends. Therefore, for example, it is assumed that the prescribed period of time after the start of operation of the industrial network is the learning period of the token generating unit 25, and that the radio master apparatus N201a does not omit transmission of the token frame. Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing a process of generating a token frame by the token generating unit 25 according to the second embodiment. The token generating unit 25 acquires the information of the token circuit by automatically setting the order of the destination of the token frame flowing through the industrial network or by the setting by the above-described manager (step ST61) The information of the circuit is stored and held in the storage unit (step ST62). When receiving the notification that the master skip information is stored (step ST63), the token generating unit 25 generates a token frame based on the information of the token circuit ST64), and outputs the generated token frame to the wireless receiving unit 24a (step ST65). In addition, the token generating unit 25 performs the processing of steps ST61 to ST62 only for the first time, and omits the processing of steps ST61 to ST62 when the information of the information of the token circuit is already held.

Upon receiving the data frame in which the master omission information was stored from the wireless master device N201a, the wireless receiving unit 24a extracts the master omission information from the data frame, and transmits the extracted data frame to the wired communication unit 21 To the industrial slave device N101. Thereafter, the wireless receiving unit 24a transmits the token frame generated by the token generating unit 25 to the industrial slave device N101 via the wire communication unit 21. The wireless receiving unit 24a may transmit the data frame to the industrial slave device N101 without extracting the master skip information. 16 is a flowchart showing a process of receiving a data frame in which the master omitting information is stored in the wireless receiving unit 24a according to the second embodiment and transmitting the token frame. When receiving the data frame in which the master skip information has been stored from the wireless master apparatus N201a (step ST71), the wireless receiving unit 24a notifies the token generating unit 25 that the master skip information is stored (step ST72) , Acquires the token frame from the token generating unit 25 (step ST73), and transmits the acquired token frame (step ST74).

The token generating unit 25 may be located inside the wireless receiving unit 24a.

Next, in the industrial network including the wireless communication system, a wireless communication method in which the wireless master apparatus N201a omits the transmission of the token frame and the wireless slave apparatus N301a generates the token frame will be described. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a process in which the wireless master device N201a according to the second embodiment skips the transmission of the token frame and the wireless slave device N301a generates the token frame. Steps S21 to S24 and S29 are performed by the wireless master device N201a, and steps S25 to S28 and S30 are performed by the wireless slave device N301a. Here, it is assumed that, in the token generating unit 25, the information of the token circuit is already set by the manager or the like.

First, in the wireless master device N201a, the wireless communication unit 12a receives the token frame from the industrial master device N1 via the wired communication unit 11 (step S21). In the wireless communication unit 12a, the token omission unit 16 checks whether there is a data frame of the non-transmission to the wireless slave device N301a in the wireless transmission unit 13a (step S22).

If there is a data frame of an unsent stream (step S22: YES), the token omission unit 16 generates master skip information (step S23). The wireless transmission unit 13a stores the master skip information in the last data frame among the data frames transmitted to the wireless slave device N301a, and transmits the master skip information to the wireless slave device N301a (step S24).

In the wireless slave device N301a, the wireless receiver 24a receives a data frame in which master skip information is stored from the wireless master device N201a (step S25). The token generating unit 25 generates the token frame to the industrial slave device N101 based on the information of the token circuit since the master skip information is stored in the data frame received by the radio receiving unit 24a S26).

The wireless receiving unit 24a transmits the data frame extracted from the master skip information to the industrial slave device N101 via the wired communication unit 21 (step S27), and transmits the token frame generated by the token generating unit 25 to the wired communication unit 21 to the industrial slave device N101 (step S28).

If there is no data frame to be transmitted to the wireless slave device N301a in the wireless transmitting unit 13a (step S22: NO), the wireless transmitting unit 13a transmits the token frame from the industrial master device N1 To the wireless slave device N301a (step S29). When the wireless receiving unit 24a receives the token frame (step S30), the wireless slave device N301a transmits the token frame to the industrial slave device N101 via the wired communication unit 21 (step S28).

Here, as in the present embodiment, when the wireless master device N201a omits the token frame and when the token frame is not omitted as in the first embodiment, data is transmitted from all devices in the industrial network The difference in the communication cycle will be described.

18 is a flowchart showing a frame transmitted and received between each device or each device when the wireless master device N201a omits the token frame in the industrial network according to the second embodiment. The industrial master device N1, the wireless master device N201a, the wireless slave devices N301a, N302a, and N303a, and the industrial slave devices N101, N102, and N103. It is assumed that the token generating unit 25 of the wireless slave devices N301a to N303a already holds the information of the token circuit. As in the first embodiment, the information of the token circuit, which is a sequential order of receiving the token frame in the present embodiment, includes the order numbers of the industrial master device N1, the industrial slave device N102, the industrial slave device N101, and the industrial slave device N103 And then returns to the industrial master device N1.

First, the industrial master device N1 transmits a data frame to the wireless master device N201a (step S301), and transmits a token frame destined to the industrial slave device N102 (step S302).

In the wireless master device N201a, the wireless transmitting unit 13a transmits data frames to the wireless slave devices N301a to N303a (step S303). At this time, in the wireless master device N201a, the token skip section 16 generates master skip information, and the master skip information is added to the last data frame among the data frames transmitted from the radio transmitting section 13a to the wireless slave devices N301a to N303a And transmits them to the wireless slave devices N301a to N303a.

The wireless slave devices N301a to N303a transmit the data frame received from the wireless master device N201a to the connected industrial slave devices N101 to N103 (step S304). The wireless receiving unit 24a of the wireless slave devices N301a to N303a may extract the master omission information from the data frame and transmit the data frame when transmitting the data frame to the industrial slave devices N101 to N103. The same goes for the following.

At this time, in the wireless slave devices N301a to N303a, since the data frame storing the master omission information is received in the wireless receiving unit 24a, the token generating unit 25 generates a token frame based on the information of the token circuit . In the wireless slave devices N301a to N303a, since the master skip information is stored in the data frame received from the wireless master device N201a, the token generating device 25 determines that the master master device N1, which is connected to the wireless master device N201a, It can be determined that the frame has been received. As described above, the order of the token circuit is the industrial slave device N102 next to the industrial master device N1. For this reason, the token generating unit 25 generates a token frame with the industrial slave device N102 as a destination, based on the information of the token circuit.

In the wireless slave devices N301a to N303a, the wireless receiving unit 24a transmits the token frame to the industrial slave devices N101 to N103 to which the token frame having the destination is connected, which is the industrial slave device N102 generated by the token generating unit 25 (step S305) .

The subsequent processes in steps S306 to S341 are the same as the processes in steps S207 to S242 shown in the flowchart of Fig. 11 in the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

In the radio master unit N201a, when the radio transmission unit 13a transmits a data frame a plurality of times, the master skip information generated in the token skip unit 16 is stored in the data frame to be transmitted last and transmitted. In the wireless slave devices N301a to N303a, the token generating unit 25 generates a token frame in which the transmission is omitted in the wireless master device N201a, and transmits it to the industrial slave devices N101 to N103. As a result, comparing the flowchart of Fig. 18 of the second embodiment with the flowchart of Fig. 11 of the first embodiment, the communication cycle can be made shorter than that of the first embodiment in the second embodiment.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the communication network that performs communication between one industrial master device and one or more industrial slave devices every communication cycle, the wireless master device connected to the industrial master device , A radio communication system in which radio slave devices of the same number as an industrial slave device connected to an industrial slave device on a one-to-one basis perform radio communication, the radio master device, when transmitting a token frame in radio, When there is a new data frame, master omission information indicating that transmission of the token frame is omitted when transmitting the last data frame is stored and transmitted. The wireless slave device generates a token frame in which the transmission is omitted and transmits it to the industrial slave device. As a result, it is possible to shorten the time for exchanging the token frame in the radio section in which the communication band is narrower than the wired section, to achieve high reliability and high communication efficiency, shorten the communication cycle of the control communication performed in the fixed cycle, It has an effect that resources can be effectively used.

Embodiment 3

In the second embodiment, a method of omitting transmission of a token frame in the wireless master device has been described. In this embodiment, a method of omitting the transmission of the token frame in the wireless slave device together with the wireless master device will be described.

19 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a wireless master apparatus N201b and a wireless slave apparatus N301b constituting the wireless communication system 30b according to the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, the configuration of the industrial network is the same as that shown in Fig. 1 except that the wireless master device N201 is replaced with the wireless master device N201b, and the wireless slave devices N301, N302, N303, ... , N300 + m to the wireless slave devices N301b, N302b, N303b, ... , And N (300 + m) b, respectively. In the third embodiment, the wireless communication system includes a wireless master device N201b and wireless slave devices N301b, N302b, N303b, ... , And N (300 + m) b. Wireless slave devices N301b, N302b, N303b, ... , And N (300 + m) b have the same configuration, the following description will be made using the wireless slave device N301b.

The wireless master apparatus N201b includes a wireless communication unit 12b for transmitting and receiving wireless signals between the wired communication unit 11 and the wireless slave devices N301b to N (300 + m) b in the wireless section S2. The wireless communication unit 12b includes a wireless transmission unit 13a, a circuit information storage unit 14, a token skip unit 16, a wireless reception unit 15a, and a token generation unit 17. [

The token generating unit 17 stores slave skip information indicating that the transmission of the token frame from the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b is omitted in the data frame from the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b received by the wireless receiving unit 15a The wireless slave devices N301b to N303b generate a token frame whose transmission is omitted, based on the information of the token circuit. The information of the token circuit is similar to the information held by the circuit information holding unit 14 in the first embodiment. In the wireless master apparatus N201b, the token generating unit 17 may maintain the information of the token circuit, and may store the information of the token circuit maintained by the circuit information retaining unit 14 without maintaining the information of the token circuit May be used.

As for the method of acquiring the information of the token circuit in the token generating unit 17, the manager or the like manually acquires the information of the token circuit in the token generating unit 17 The token circulation path information may be set or the token generating unit 17 may automatically learn the sequence number of the destination of the token frame flowing through the industrial network to acquire the information of the token circulation path. When the token generating unit 17 automatically learns the order of the destination of the token frame flowing through the industrial network, the token generating unit 17 can not generate the token frame until the learning ends. Therefore, for example, it is assumed that the predetermined period after the commencement of operation of the industrial network is the learning period of the token generating section 17, and the transmission of the token frame is not omitted in the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b. 20 is a flowchart showing a process of generating a token frame by the token generating unit 17 according to the third embodiment. The token generating unit 17 acquires the information of the token circuit by automatically setting the order of the destination of the token frame flowing through the industrial network or by the setting by the above-mentioned manager (step ST81) The information of the circuit is stored and held in the storage unit (step ST82). When receiving the notification that the slave skip information is stored (step ST83), the token generating unit 17 generates a token frame based on the information of the token circuit ST84), and outputs the generated token frame to the wireless receiving unit 15a (step ST85). The token generating unit 17 performs the processing of steps ST81 to ST82 only the first time, and the processing of steps ST81 to ST82 is omitted if the information of the token circuit information is already held. When the information of the token circuit held by the circuit information holding unit 14 is used, the token generating unit 17 may omit the processing of the steps ST81 to ST82 from the first circuit.

Upon receiving the data frame in which the slave skip information is stored from the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b, the wireless receiving unit 15a extracts the slave skip information from the data frame, and transmits the extracted data frame to the wired communication unit 11 To the industrial master device N1. The wireless receiving unit 15a then transmits the token frame generated by the token generating unit 17 to the industrial master device N1 via the wired communication unit 11. [ The wireless receiving unit 15a may transmit the data frame to the industrial master device N1 without extracting the slave skip information. 21 is a flowchart showing a process of receiving a data frame in which the slave skip information is stored in the radio receiving unit 15a according to the third embodiment and transmitting the token frame. When the wireless receiving unit 15a receives the data frame in which the slave skip information is stored from the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b (step ST91), the wireless receiving unit 15a notifies the token generating unit 17 that the slave skip information is stored ST92), acquires the token frame from the token generating unit 17 (step ST93), and transmits the acquired token frame (step ST94).

The token generating unit 17 may be located inside the radio receiving unit 15a.

The wireless slave device N301b has a wireless communication unit 22b for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal between the wired communication unit 21 and the wireless master device N201b in the wireless section S2. The wireless communication unit 22b includes a wireless transmission unit 23a, a token omission unit 26, a wireless reception unit 24a, and a token generation unit 25.

The token omission unit 26 receives the token frame from the industrial slave device N101 via the wired communication unit 21 and when the wireless transmission unit 23a has the data frame of the non-transmitted to the wireless zone S2, Slave skip information indicating that the transmission of the token frame from the N301b is omitted. 22 is a flowchart showing a process for generating the slave omission information by the token omission unit 26 according to the third embodiment. When the token omission unit 26 receives a notification that there is a data frame of a non-transmitted frame from the wireless transmission unit 23a that received the token frame (step ST101), the token omission unit 26 generates slave omission information (step ST102) And outputs the information to the wireless transmission unit 23a (step ST103).

In addition to the function of the radio transmitter 13, when transmitting a data frame to the radio section S2 a plurality of times, the radio transmitter 23a transmits the slave omission information And transmits it. The radio transmission unit 23a stores the slave omission information in the header or payload portion of the last data frame and transmits it. The slave omission information is defined in advance in the wireless master device N201b and the wireless slave devices N301b to N (300 + m) b constituting the wireless communication system 30b, for example, in the form of "0" or "1" As shown in FIG. Fig. 23 is a flowchart showing a process when the wireless transmission unit 23a receives the token frame according to the third embodiment. When the wireless transmission unit 23a receives the token frame from the industrial slave device N101 via the wired communication unit 21 (step ST111), and if there is a data frame of no transmission (step ST112: YES) (Step ST113), acquires the slave skip information from the token skip section 26 (step ST114), stores the slave skip information in the data frame to be finally transmitted, and transmits the information ST115). If there is no data frame to be transmitted yet (step ST112: NO), the wireless transmission unit 23a transmits the token frame separately from the data frame (step ST116).

When the master skip information indicating that the transmission of the token frame is omitted from the radio master apparatus N201b is stored in the data frame from the radio master apparatus N201b received by the radio receiving section 24a, Based on the information of the token circuit, the wireless master device N201b generates a token frame whose transmission is omitted. The token generating unit 25 also generates slave omission information indicating that the transmission of the token frame from the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b is omitted in the data frame from the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b transmitted from the radio master device N201b If it has been stored, the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b generate a token frame whose transmission is omitted based on the information of the token circuit. The information of the token circuit is similar to the information held by the circuit information holding unit 14 in the first embodiment.

The token omission unit 26 may be located inside the radio transmission unit 23a.

In the industrial network including the wireless communication system according to the present embodiment, the wireless communication method in which the wireless slave device N301b omits the transmission of the token frame and the wireless master device N201b generates the token frame, However, this is the same as the respective processes of the flowchart shown in Fig. 17 of the second embodiment. Therefore, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Here, the communication cycle in the case where the wireless master device N201b and wireless slave devices N301b to N303b omit the token frame, as in the present embodiment, will be described. 24 is a flowchart showing frames transmitted and received between respective devices or devices when the wireless master device N201b and wireless slave devices N301b to N303b omit the token frame in the industrial network according to the third embodiment. The industrial master device N1, the wireless master device N201b, the wireless slave devices N301b, N302b and N303b, and the industrial slave devices N101, N102 and N103. It is assumed that the token generating section 17 of the radio master device N201b has already retained or can use the information of the token circuit. As in the first embodiment, the information of the token circuit, which is a sequential order of receiving the token frame in the present embodiment, includes the order numbers of the industrial master device N1, the industrial slave device N102, the industrial slave device N101, and the industrial slave device N103 And then returns to the industrial master device N1.

First, the industrial master device N1 transmits a data frame to the wireless master device N201b (step S401), and transmits a token frame destined to the industrial slave device N102 (step S402).

In the wireless master device N201b, the wireless transmitting unit 13a transmits the data frame to the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b (step S403). At this time, in the wireless master device N201b, the token skip section 16 generates master skip information, and the master skip information (skip skip information) is added to the last data frame among the data frames transmitted from the radio transmitting section 13a to the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b And transmits them to the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b.

The wireless slave devices N301b to N303b transmit the data frame received from the wireless master device N201b to the connected industrial slave devices N101 to N103 (step S404). The wireless receiving unit 24a of the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b may extract the master omission information from the data frame and transmit the data frame when transmitting the data frame to the industrial slave devices N101 to N103. The same goes for the following.

At this time, in the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b, since the data frame storing the master omission information is received in the wireless receiving unit 24a, the token generating unit 25 generates a token frame based on the information of the token circuit . In the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b, since the master skip information is stored in the data frame received from the wireless master device N201b, the token generating device 25 determines that the master master device N1, which is connected to the wireless master device N201b, It can be determined that the frame has been received. As described above, the order of the token circuit is the industrial slave device N102 next to the industrial master device N1. For this reason, the token generating unit 25 generates a token frame with the industrial slave device N102 as a destination, based on the information of the token circuit.

In the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b, the wireless receiving unit 24a transmits the token frame to the industrial slave devices N101 to N103 to which the token frame with the destination as the destination is sent (step S405) .

Upon receiving the token frame forward to itself, the industrial slave device N102 transmits the data frame to the wireless slave device N302b (step S406), and transmits to the wireless slave device N302b a token frame destined for the industrial slave device N101 S407).

In the radio master unit N201b, the radio transmitting unit 13a connects to the industrial slave device N102 receiving the next token frame based on the token circuit information held by the circuit information holding unit 14 And polls the wireless slave device N302b (step S408). The wireless slave device N302b receives the data frame from the industrial slave device N102 (step S406), and transmits the data frame to the wireless master device N201b because it holds the transmittable data (step S409).

At this time, in the wireless slave device N302b, the token omission unit 26 generates the slave omission information, and the radio transmitting unit 23a stores the slave omission information in the last data frame among the data frames transmitted to the radio master device N201b And transmits it to the wireless master device N201b.

The wireless master device N201b transmits the data frame received from the wireless slave device N302b to the industrial master device N1 and wireless slave devices N301b to N303b (steps S410 and S412). The wireless receiving unit 15a of the wireless master apparatus N201b may extract the slave skip information from the data frame and transmit the data frame when transmitting the data frame to the industrial master apparatus N1. The same goes for the following. When transmitting the data frame to the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b, the wireless receiving unit 15a of the wireless master device N201b transmits the slave omission information to the data frame while storing it. The same goes for the following.

At this time, since the wireless master device N201b has received the data frame in which the slave omission information is stored in the wireless receiving unit 15a, the token generating unit 17 generates a token frame based on the information of the token circuit . Since the slave skip information is stored in the data frame received from the wireless slave device N302b in the wireless master device N201b, the industrial slave device N102 connected to the wireless slave device N302b transmits the token frame It can be judged that it has been received. As described above, the order of the token circuit is the industrial slave device N101 next to the industrial slave device N102. Therefore, the token generating unit 17 generates a token frame whose destination is the industrial slave device N101 based on the information of the token circuit.

In the wireless master apparatus N201b, the wireless receiving unit 15a transmits to the industrial master apparatus N1 to which the token frame having the destination as the destination is connected to the industrial slave apparatus N101 generated in the token generating unit 17 (step S411).

The wireless slave devices N301b to N303b transmit the data frame received from the wireless master device N201b to the connected industrial slave devices N101 to N103 (step S413). At this time, since the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b have received the data frame in which the slave skip information is stored in the wireless receiver 24a, the token generator 25 generates a token frame based on the information of the token circuit . The token generating unit 25 generates a token frame with the destination of the industrial slave device N101 as a token generating unit 17 described above.

In the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b, the wireless receiving unit 24a transmits the token frame to the industrial slave devices N101 to N103 to which the token frame with the destination as the destination is sent (step S414) .

Upon receiving the token frame forward to itself, the industrial slave device N101 transmits a data frame to the wireless slave device N301b (step S415), and transmits to the wireless slave device N301b a token frame destined for the industrial slave device N103 S416).

In the wireless master apparatus N201b, since the wireless receiving unit 15a has received the data frame storing the slave skip information from the wireless slave apparatus N302b, it is determined that there is no frame held in the wireless slave apparatus N302b, and the wireless slave apparatus N302b transmits the frame And notifies the wireless transmission unit 13a that the wireless transmission unit 13a does not hold it. In the wireless master device N201b, the wireless transmitting unit 13a transmits, based on the information of the token circuit held by the circuit information holding unit 14, the wireless slave device N101 that is connected to the industrial slave device N101, And polling to the device N301b is performed (step S417). Since the wireless slave device N301b receives the data frame from the industrial slave device N101 (step S415) and holds the transmittable data, the wireless slave device N301b transmits the data frame to the wireless master device N201b (step S418).

At this time, in the wireless slave device N301b, the token omission unit 26 generates the slave omission information, and the radio transmitting unit 23a stores the slave omission information in the last data frame among the data frames transmitted to the radio master device N201b And transmits it to the wireless master device N201b.

The wireless master device N201b transmits the data frame received from the wireless slave device N301b to the industrial master device N1 and wireless slave devices N301b to N303b (steps S419 and S421). At this time, since the wireless master device N201b has received the data frame in which the slave omission information is stored in the wireless receiving unit 15a, the token generating unit 17 generates a token frame based on the information of the token circuit .

Since the slave skip information is stored in the data frame received from the wireless slave device N301b in the wireless master device N201b, the industrial slave device N101 connected to the wireless slave device N301b transmits the token frame It can be judged that it has been received. As described above, the order of the token circuit is the industrial slave device N103 next to the industrial slave device N101. For this reason, the token generating unit 17 generates a token frame whose destination is the industrial slave device N103 based on the information of the token circuit.

In the wireless master apparatus N201b, the wireless receiving unit 15a transmits the token frame having the destination to the industrial master apparatus N1 connected to the industrial slave apparatus N103 generated in the token generating unit 17 (step S420).

The wireless slave devices N301b to N303b transmit the data frame received from the wireless master device N201b to the connected industrial slave devices N101 to N103 (step S422). At this time, since the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b have received the data frame in which the slave skip information is stored in the wireless receiver 24a, the token generator 25 generates a token frame based on the information of the token circuit . The token generation unit 25 generates a token frame with the destination of the industrial slave device N103 as the token generation unit 17 described above.

In the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b, the wireless receiving unit 24a transmits the token frame to the industrial slave devices N101 to N103 to which the token frame having the destination is connected (step S423), which is the industrial slave device N103 generated by the token generating unit 25 .

Upon receiving the token frame forward to itself, the industrial slave device N103 transmits a data frame to the wireless slave device N303b (step S424), and transmits to the wireless slave device N303b a token frame destined for the industrial master device N1 S425).

In the wireless master device N201b, since the wireless receiving unit 15a has received the data frame storing the slave skip information from the wireless slave device N301b, it is determined that there is no frame held in the wireless slave device N301b, and the wireless slave device N301b transmits the frame And notifies the wireless transmission unit 13a that the wireless transmission unit 13a does not hold it. In the radio master unit N201b, the radio transmitting unit 13a transmits, based on the information of the token circuit held by the circuit information holding unit 14, the radio slave device N103, which is connected to the industrial slave device N103, And polls the device N303b (step S426). The wireless slave device N303b receives the data frame from the industrial slave device N103 (step S424). Since the wireless slave device N303b holds the transmittable data, the wireless slave device N303b transmits the data frame to the wireless master device N201b (step S427).

At this time, in the wireless slave device N303b, the token omission unit 26 generates the slave omission information, and the radio transmitting unit 23a stores the slave omission information in the last data frame among the data frames transmitted to the radio master device N201b And transmits it to the wireless master device N201b.

The wireless master device N201b transmits the data frame received from the wireless slave device N303b to the industrial master device N1 and wireless slave devices N301b to N303b (steps S428 and S430). At this time, since the wireless master device N201b has received the data frame in which the slave omission information is stored in the wireless receiving unit 15a, the token generating unit 17 generates a token frame based on the information of the token circuit .

Since the slave skip information is stored in the data frame received from the wireless slave device N303b in the wireless master device N201b, the industrial slave device N103 connected to the wireless slave device N303b transmits the token frame It can be judged that it has been received. As described above, the order of the token circuit is the industrial master device N1 next to the industrial slave device N103. For this reason, the token generating unit 17 generates a token frame whose destination is the industrial master apparatus N1, based on the information of the token circuit.

In the wireless master apparatus N201b, the wireless receiving unit 15a transmits the token frame having the destination to the industrial master apparatus N1 connected to the industrial master apparatus N1 generated in the token generating unit 17 (step S429).

The wireless slave devices N301b to N303b transmit the data frame received from the wireless master device N201b to the connected industrial slave devices N101 to N103 (step S431). At this time, since the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b have received the data frame in which the slave skip information is stored in the wireless receiver 24a, the token generator 25 generates a token frame based on the information of the token circuit . The token generating unit 25 generates the token frame having the destination of the industrial master device N1 as the token generating unit 17 described above.

In the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b, the wireless receiving unit 24a transmits the token frame to the industrial slave devices N101 to N103 to which the token frame with the destination as the destination is transmitted (step S432) .

Then, the industrial master device N1 transmits the data frame to the wireless master device N201b (step S401), and transmits the token frame destined to the industrial slave device N102 (step S402). The subsequent processing is as described above.

As described above, in this embodiment, the wireless slave devices N301b to N303b, in addition to the wireless master device N201b, omit the transmission of the token frame, thereby making it possible to shorten the communication cycle as compared with the second embodiment.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the communication network that performs communication between one industrial master device and one or more industrial slave devices every communication cycle, the wireless master device connected to the industrial master device In a radio communication system in which radio slave devices in the same number as industrial slave devices connected to industrial slave devices perform radio communications, exchange of token frames is omitted between the radio master device and the radio slave device, The invalid polling is omitted. As a result, it is possible to shorten the time for exchanging the token frame in the radio section in which the communication band is narrower than that in the wire section, to achieve high reliability and high communication efficiency, to shorten the communication cycle of the control communication performed in the fixed period, Can be effectively used.

Here, a hardware configuration for realizing each configuration of the wireless master device and the wireless slave device shown in Figs. 4, 12 and 19 will be described. The wired communication unit 11 of the wireless master device and the wired communication unit 21 of the wireless slave device are realized by an interface card of wired communication. Similarly, the wireless communication unit of the wireless master device and the wireless communication unit of the wireless slave device are realized by an interface card for wireless communication. In the wireless master device and the wireless slave device shown in Figs. 4, 12 and 19, some of the configurations of the wireless communication section may be configured by software. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a wireless communication unit of the wireless master device or the wireless slave device according to the first to third embodiments.

In the wireless communication units 12, 12a, and 12b, the wireless transmission units 13 and 13a execute the programs for each configuration stored in the memory 92 together with the transmitter 93 by the processor 91 . The circuit information holding unit 14 of the wireless communication units 12,12a and 12b is configured to store the circuit information for the circuit information holding unit 14 stored in the memory 92 together with the memory 92 By executing the program of Fig. In the wireless communication units 12, 12a and 12b, the wireless receiving units 15 and 15a execute the programs for each configuration stored in the memory 92 together with the receiver 94 by the processor 91 . The token omission unit 16 of the wireless communication units 12a and 12b is realized by the processor 91 executing the program for the token omission unit 16 stored in the memory 92. [ The token generating unit 17 in the wireless communication unit 12b is realized by the processor 91 executing the program for the token generating unit 17 stored in the memory 92. [ Alternatively, the token generating unit 17 is implemented by executing the program for the token generating unit 17 stored in the memory 92 by the processor 91 together with the memory 92. [

In the wireless communication units 22, 22a and 22b, the wireless transmission units 23 and 23a execute the programs for each configuration stored in the memory 92 together with the transmitter 93 by the processor 91 . In the wireless communication units 22, 22a and 22b, the wireless receiving units 24 and 24a execute the programs for each configuration stored in the memory 92 together with the receiver 94 by the processor 91 . In the wireless communication units 22a and 22b, the token generating unit 25 is configured to execute, together with the memory 92, a program for the token generating unit 25 stored in the memory 92 by the processor 91 . The token omission unit 26 of the wireless communication unit 22b is realized by the processor 91 executing the program for the token omission unit 26 stored in the memory 92. [

The processor 91, the memory 92, the transmitter 93, and the receiver 94 are connected by the system bus 95. A plurality of processors 91 and a plurality of memories 92 may cooperate with each other to execute the functions of each configuration.

The configuration shown in the above embodiments represents one example of the contents of the present invention and can be combined with other known technologies and a part of the configuration can be omitted or changed without departing from the gist of the present invention It is possible.

11, 21: wired communication section
12, 12a, 12b, 22, 22a, 22b:
13, 13a, 23, 23a:
14: Circuit information holding section
15, 15a, 24, 24a: wireless receiver
16, 26: token omission unit
17, 25: Token generating unit
30, 30a, 30b: wireless communication system
N1: Industrial master device
N101, N102, N103, ... , N100 + m: Industrial slave device
N201, N201a, N201b: Wireless master device
N301, N302, N303, ... , N300 + m, N301a, N302a, N303a, N301b, N302b, N303b: Wireless slave device

Claims (7)

A wireless master station (master station) connected to a slave device and a master device that performs data transmission / reception by a token passing method and performs wireless communication with a slave station connected to the slave device,
A circuit information holding unit for holding information of a token circuit indicating the order of the slave device and the master device receiving the token frame,
And a wireless transmission unit for performing polling of the wireless communication to a wireless slave station which is connected to the corresponding slave device according to the order of the slave devices receiving the token frame based on the information of the token circuit
And a wireless master station.
The method according to claim 1,
The wireless transmission unit generates master skip information indicating that transmission of a token frame received from the master device is skipped when a token frame is received from the master device and there is a data frame to be transmitted to the wireless slave station And a token decimator,
The wireless transmission unit stores the master omission information in the last data frame to the wireless slave station for transmission
Lt; / RTI >
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
When slave skip information indicating that the transmission of the token frame received from the slave device is stored is stored in the data frame received from the wireless slave station, a token frame generating unit for generating a token frame based on the information of the token circuit A generating unit,
A token frame generated by the token generating unit,
And a wireless master station.
1. A wireless slave station connected to a master device and a slave device for transmitting and receiving data by a token passing method and performing wireless communication with a wireless master station connected to the master device,
The information of the token circuit indicating the order of the slave device and the master device receiving the token frame is maintained and transmission of the token frame received from the master device is omitted in the wireless data frame received from the wireless master station A token generation unit for generating a token frame based on the information of the token circuit when the master skip information indicating that the master skip information is stored,
The token frame generated by the token generating unit, to the slave device,
And a wireless slave station.
5. The method of claim 4,
A token skip unit for receiving the token frame from the slave device and generating slave skip information indicating that transmission of the token frame received from the slave device is skipped when there is a data frame of the skip frame to the wireless master station;
A slave omission information storing unit for storing the slave omission information in the last data frame to the wireless master station,
And a wireless slave station.
A wireless communication system comprising a wireless master station connected to a slave device and a master device for transmitting and receiving data by a token passing method, and a wireless slave station connected to the slave device,
The wireless master station,
A circuit information holding unit for holding information of a token circuit indicating the order of the slave device and the master device receiving the token frame,
And a wireless transmission unit for performing polling of the wireless communication to a wireless slave station which is connected to the corresponding slave device according to the order of the slave devices receiving the token frame based on the information of the token circuit
And,
The wireless slave station,
A wireless receiving unit for determining whether or not the user is polling forward,
The mobile station transmits a data frame including the transmittable data to the wireless master station when data to be transmitted is polled forward to the wireless master station, A wireless transmission unit
Having a
And the wireless communication system.
A wireless communication method in a wireless communication system including a wireless master station connected to a slave device and a master device transmitting and receiving data by a token passing method and a wireless slave station connected to the slave device,
The wireless master station acquires and maintains information on the token circuit indicated by the order of the slave device and the master device receiving the token frame,
Wherein the wireless master station comprises a polling step for performing polling of the wireless communication to a wireless slave station connected to the corresponding slave device according to the order of the slave devices receiving the token frame based on the information of the token circuit, ,
A determination step of determining whether or not the radio slave station is polling to the radio slave station itself,
When the radio slave station is polling forward to itself, transmitting a data frame including the transmittable data to the radio master station when it has transmittable data, and when the transmittable data is not held A response step for notifying that the wireless master station has no data
And a wireless communication method.

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