JP2002279094A - Radio remote maintenance system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote maintenance system which does not need construction, etc. SOLUTION: A job site radio module 103 to be connected to a radio public communication line and a job site machine control system 102 are connected to a remote maintenance object machine 101 and the job site machine is managed through the use of the radio public communication line in the maintenance system for a job site machine. The maintenance system is provided with a management server 105 to be connected to the radio public communication line and manages the remote maintenance object machine by the management server through the job site machine control system. Required management data of the management remote maintenance object machine by the management server is registered and preserved and a user reads it from a radio portable browser terminal 106 as necessary. Besides, the user performs access to the management server from the radio portable browser terminal and, then, directly controls the remote maintenance object machine.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote maintenance system for controlling on-site equipment from a remote place using a wireless public line or the like. Furthermore, the present invention relates to control of on-site devices by a wireless portable browser terminal such as i-mode, which is currently exploding.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional remote maintenance system uses a dedicated line or a system using a wired Internet or the like to connect devices to be connected and controlled with devices at a site. However, with a dedicated line or cable, remote maintenance can be performed only at a predetermined place, and there are some that use wired Internet, but they are not practically usable for on-site service personnel who often go outside. Furthermore, there is a problem if anyone can monitor and control the on-site equipment, so that only a person, such as a specific authorized service person, needs to monitor and control.

[0003]

As described above, it is extremely troublesome to work on the site or perform wiring work such as a telephone line for remote maintenance of the on-site equipment as described above. There was a case. Also, there are many problems in terms of cost, etc., due to construction for only one device. In order to perform remote maintenance, it is necessary to store and manage the management data and the like, but the operation cost was not stupid.

[0004] Similarly, by using a wireless portable browser terminal such as i-mode which has exploded recently as described above, even a service person who frequently travels outside can easily perform remote maintenance from outside. . However, various problems occur when anyone can connect to and control the relevant on-site system as is a problem in the Internet world. Therefore, it is necessary to control only a service person necessary to control the corresponding on-site equipment.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have conducted intensive studies and have taken the following means.
In other words, connect the on-site wireless module and on-site equipment control system that can be connected to the remote maintenance target equipment to the wireless public communication line, and connect to the wireless public communication line in the system that manages the on-site equipment using this wireless public communication line A management server may be provided, and the management server may manage the devices to be remotely maintained through the above-mentioned field device control system.

In the management by the management server, necessary management data of the equipment to be remotely maintained is registered and stored.
Users should be able to browse from a wireless mobile browser terminal when necessary. Further, the user may directly control the device to be remotely maintained by accessing the management server with the wireless portable browser terminal.

When the user browses the data stored and stored or controls a remote maintenance target device, when the user accesses the management server, authentication is performed using the terminal ID of the wireless portable browser terminal, and management is performed. What is necessary is just to permit access to the server so that only the corresponding user can view or control the server. In that case, the management system of the management server is hierarchized, and the user's access permission is hierarchized in order to access the corresponding part of the management server hierarchized management system, and all the objects are allowed access Instead, permission may be given according to the skill of the user (serviceman) or the like.

Further, a threshold value for an abnormal value is set for each measurement data of the equipment to be remotely maintained,
A notification means is provided for notifying the wireless portable browser terminal of an abnormality when the threshold value is exceeded, and the notifying means may be an e-mail to the wireless portable browser terminal or a sound notification to the portable telephone, or both. The problem can be directly notified to a service person or the like traveling outside.

In the case where the remote maintenance target device and the on-site wireless control device are plural and the above-mentioned on-site wireless module is one, the plurality of remote maintenance target devices and the on-site wireless control device are connected by optical communication, radio wave wireless communication, wired communication, What is necessary is just to connect by any of ultrasonic communication.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on actual examples. FIG. 1 shows a general overview of the invention. Here, reference numeral 101 denotes a remote maintenance target device, which is connected to the field device control module 102. Then, necessary data is obtained from on-site equipment to be remotely maintained, and necessary control is performed. The on-site device control module 102 is connected to the on-site wireless module 103, and is connected from the on-site wireless module 103 to the management server 105 via the base station 104 of the wireless public line. Further, the user similarly connects to the management server through the base station 104 using the wireless portable browser terminal 106 such as i-mode.

[0011] The management server 105 registers and accumulates necessary data of the remote maintenance target device at the site, and browses the data from the wireless portable browser terminal of the user 106 when necessary. In this case, the authentication of the user is performed on the management server 1
At the time of accessing 05, the user is authenticated based on the terminal ID of the wireless portable browser terminal 106 to determine whether or not the user is permitted, and the user can access only when the user is permitted. The flow in that case is shown in FIG. Further, FIG. 3 shows a flow in that case, in which authentication is performed in the same manner and the remote maintenance target device at the site can be controlled via the management device via the site device control module.

A threshold is set for the data received from the field device in the field device control module in order to be aware of an abnormality of the device to be remotely maintained. An abnormal signal is transmitted from the control module to the management server 105 through the field wireless module 103 and the base station 104,
The management server of No. 5 edits necessary items and sends an e-mail indicating an abnormality through the base station 104 to the wireless portable browser terminal 106 of the user. This is shown in FIG.

Next, an example of remote maintenance of a copying machine will be described. FIG. 5 shows an example in which a plurality of copiers are managed by a plurality of field device management modules and connected to a management server by one field wireless module. First, 201,
Numerals 02, 203, 204, and 205 are provided with a field machine control module capable of exchanging data control signals with the copier. 201, 202, 20
Reference numerals 3, 204, and 205 are connected by wires to the field device wireless module 205. Of course, the object is not limited to the wired connection, and wireless communication such as optical communication and Bluetooth may be used.

The field wireless module 205 is connected to a management server via a base station 206 via a wireless public line. The data stored in the management server is shown in FIG. This data may be obtained from the management server as needed, or may be transmitted from the field device control module. The service person of the copy machine operates the management server 20 using the wireless portable browser terminal 208 such as i-mode.
7 can be connected. In this case, FIG. 6 shows a correspondence table of service persons who permit access to the corresponding device. Based on this table, access is permitted by the terminal ID of the wireless portable browser terminal distributed to each service person. With this access permission, the management server 2
It is only necessary to browse the stored data 07 or connect to a copier at the site via a management server to perform control.

Next, the abnormal mail will be described. In a copy machine, depending on the number of copies, each part is worn and an abnormality is likely to occur. Therefore, if the value of the counter is followed, preventive maintenance can be performed in advance. Of course, it is only necessary to transmit an error at the time of failure, and if a service person can grasp a problem such as an error especially when there are no people, a high quality service can be provided to the user of the copying machine. FIG. 7 shows a table of threshold values of mail transmission for abnormal or preventive maintenance. That is, the values in the table are set in the field device control module, and when this value is reached, the contents are transmitted to the management server, and if necessary, the mail is transmitted to the wireless portable browser terminal of the corresponding serviceman.

FIG. 9 shows a copy management notification mail screen. In this case, the copy machine A-0125 of A Corporation causes an error, the error code is 134, and the error content is burn-in of the drum. Here, when the details are clicked, the screen changes to a screen as shown in FIG.

When the site status monitoring is selected here, the screen changes to the screen shown in FIG. 11, and each item can be selected. When each item is selected, the status of the copier at the site can be directly obtained. When a counter is selected here, the current counter value of the copy machine can be directly read, and a serviceman can take necessary measures.

Next, an example of a building management system will be described. FIG.
Is the outline. Here, 1301 is a fire protection device such as a fire alarm, 1302 is a security device as security equipment, 1303 is a boiler, 1304 is a sensor unit for detecting temperature, humidity, and the like. A building management control board 1305 is connected to various sensors, devices, and the like. 1
A field device control module 305 is connected to a management server 1309 via a base station 1308 from a field wireless module 1307 through a base station 1308 as necessary.
The registration items of the management server are shown in FIG.

A serviceman of the building management system has a portable browser terminal 1310 and accesses the management server 1309 via the base station 1308. Also in this case, the corresponding serviceman is authenticated by the terminal ID as in the case of the copy machine. Then, the user browses necessary data and controls on-site devices as in the case of the previous copy.

FIG. 14 shows a threshold value for issuing an emergency mail. The threshold value is set in the field control module, and the field device control module 1306 in FIG. From 130
The content status is transmitted to the management server 1309 via the field wireless module 7 and the base station 1308. The management server 1309 transmits an emergency mail to the mobile browser terminal 1310 of the service person in charge as needed.

FIG. 16 shows a case where the fire alarm detects a suspected fire. Here, it is notified that an abnormality has occurred at 20:45:30 on March 10, 2001. That is, the mail indicates that there is a suspected fire in the F building of the location: ○, Meguro-ku, Tokyo. Then, when the detail part is clicked, the screen of the mail transits to FIG.
In order to access 09, the terminal is authenticated by the terminal ID of the mobile browser terminal 1301 and only the browser terminal of the corresponding service person can access.

Necessary information can be selected by the selection section of the screen as shown in FIG. Here, when the site situation monitoring is selected, the screen is changed to a screen shown in FIG. Here, by selecting the monitoring item, the status of each item at the site can be viewed in real time from the mobile browser terminal. When the temperature is selected, the screen transits to the screen shown in FIG. 19 and the temperature at each location can be checked. In building management, fire alarms often start due to malfunctions, so they may actually be turned off.However, according to the method of the present invention, the user is separated by using a wireless portable browser terminal. Since it is possible to check the contents even from a place, it is troublesome to go to the site every time, so that it is possible to prevent a switch from being turned off.

Hereinafter, still another embodiment of the compost ripening system will be described. 2001, 2002, 200 of FIG.
Reference numerals 3 and 2004 denote a sensor unit, a field device control module, a field wireless module, and a wireless base station, respectively. 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010 of FIG.
Are servers, display terminals, wireless mobile browser terminals,
Represents a pile of compost.

The sensor unit is installed so as to come into contact with a compost pile, which is a measurement object. FIG. 21 shows details of the sensor unit. 211, 2102, and 21 in FIG.
03, 2104, and 2105 represent a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a ph sensor, an EC sensor, and an AD converter, respectively. The field device control module automatically samples the data of the sensor unit at a predetermined time. The sampling timing is set in advance from the display terminal.

Next, the on-site device control module sends the fetched data to the on-site wireless module, and its timing is also set in advance from the display terminal. The timing of sampling and the timing of sending data need not necessarily be the same. this is,
This is because if you want to capture data from multiple sites if you fix the data capture timing, it is necessary to prevent the processing load on the server from increasing and to use nighttime when communication charges are low. .

The data transmitted from the on-site wireless module is taken into the server through the wireless base station. The server incorporates a web server, a mail server, an FTP server, and a DNS server so that the server can be connected to the Internet or the like. Data captured by the server is recorded in a database. Further, by displaying the data on a web page using CGI or the like, data can be viewed from a portable display terminal such as the Internet or i-mode. It is also possible to deliver mails according to conditions set in advance. In FIG.
An example of an e-mail sent to a compost manager is shown.

The manager can view the compost situation at the site while in the office or while out. Depending on the contents of the received e-mail, it is possible to instruct the switching work at the site. As a result, it has become possible to collect compost, which has been collected manually every day, in real time, without any human intervention. In addition, in this manner, since a server is not installed at the site, trouble when installing equipment requiring maintenance at the site can be prevented beforehand.

Next, an example of a factory management system will be described. However, the present invention is effective as a means for improving the productivity of a factory or managing a production process. When a production instruction is issued from the headquarters to the factory, the production instruction is displayed on a production instruction screen of a computer of the factory and a product number to be produced on a barcode printer is printed out. The operator registers the product number instructed by the production using a barcode reader attached to the field device control module attached to the machine tool. At this time, the name of the worker and the number of the machine tool to be used are also registered. By doing so, the operator, the product number, and the machine tool can be specified, the progress can be easily managed, and errors are less likely to occur. Using such information, the status of the factory can be ascertained from the outside using a wireless portable browser terminal. This is shown in FIG.

By detecting the status of the motor, the start and end of the work from the information of the sensor unit attached to the machine tool, the work status can be grasped. In particular, by grasping the actual operation time quantitatively, the work efficiency can be understood at a glance. Sales are also effective as a tool for grasping the operation status of factories. In FIG. 25, by grasping the current operation status of the factory, a timely delivery date can be presented to the customer, and an improvement in sales can be expected.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform remote maintenance using a wireless public line without having to draw a special dedicated line or the like at the installation location of the equipment to be remotely maintained, and to provide a service person who frequently goes out. It is possible to notify the status of on-site equipment such as failure directly to
Further, the service person can check the status of the corresponding device from outside.

[Brief description of the drawings]

Fig. 1 System overview

[Fig. 2] Data browsing by authentication access using terminal ID

FIG. 3 is field device control by authentication access using a terminal ID.

[Figure 4] Error notification mail

FIG. 5 is a remote maintenance system for a copying machine.

FIG. 6: Permission to access the management server

FIG. 7: Threshold contents

FIG. 8: Management server registration items

FIG. 9 is a screen of an error notification mail

FIG. 10: Display screen

FIG. 11 is a display screen

FIG. 12 is a display screen

FIG. 13: Remote maintenance of a building management system

FIG. 14 shows the contents of a threshold value

FIG. 15: Management server registration items

FIG. 16 is a screen of an abnormality notification mail

FIG. 17 is a display screen.

FIG. 18 is a display screen.

FIG. 19 is a display screen

FIG. 20: Remote maintenance of the compost maturation management system

FIG. 21: Sensor block

FIG. 22: Notification mail

FIG. 23: Outline of factory management system (1)

FIG. 24: Factory management system outline (part 2)

FIG. 25: Display screen

[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) H04Q 9/00 321 H04Q 9/00 321E

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A system for connecting a field wireless module connectable to a wireless public communication line to a device to be remotely maintained and a field device control system, and managing the field device using the wireless public communication line. A wireless remote maintenance system comprising: a management server connectable to a public communication line; and the management server manages the remote maintenance target device through the on-site device control system. 2. The management by the management server, wherein management data of the device to be remotely maintained is registered and stored, and a user can browse the data from a wireless portable browser terminal when necessary. Range 1
The wireless remote maintenance system according to the item. 3. The wireless remote control according to claim 1, wherein the user can control the remote maintenance target device by accessing the management server with a wireless portable browser terminal. Maintenance system. 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the user accesses the management server, authentication is performed using a terminal ID of the wireless portable browser terminal, and access to the management server is permitted. 4. A wireless remote maintenance system according to claim 3. 5. A notifying means for setting a threshold value for an abnormal value for each measurement data of said remote maintenance target device and notifying said wireless portable browser terminal of an abnormality when said threshold value is exceeded. The wireless remote maintenance system according to claim 1, wherein: 6. The wireless remote maintenance system according to claim 5, wherein said notifying means is an electronic mail to a wireless portable browser terminal and / or a sound to a portable telephone. 7. The wireless remote maintenance system, wherein the management system of the management server is hierarchized, and a user's access permission is hierarchized to access a corresponding part of the hierarchized management system of the server. . 8. A remote maintenance target device and a plurality of on-site wireless control devices, and the on-site wireless module is one.
2. The wireless remote maintenance system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of devices to be remotely maintained, the on-site wireless control device, and the on-site wireless module are connected by communication means. 9. The communication means includes optical communication, radio wave radio communication,
9. The wireless remote maintenance system according to claim 8, wherein the system is a wired communication or an ultrasonic communication.