JP2003348090A - Method for controlling loading device, load control signal repeater used for the same, supervisory and controlling device, and communication system using them - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for controlling loading devices in which a lookup table between the physical position and address of each of the loading devices is created without relying on manual aid, load control signal repeaters used for the same, a supervisory and controlling device, and a communication system using them. <P>SOLUTION: The communication system comprises: the load control signal repeaters R1-R4 having ports connected to the loading devices L11-L44 having inherent addresses; and a supervisory and controlling device C1 supervising and controlling through the load control signal repeaters R1-R4 the loading devices L11-L44. The physical positions of the loading devices are corresponded to the specified ports of the load control signal repeaters. The loading devices are connected to the specified ports of the load control signal repeaters. A test communication signal describing the inherent addresses of each of the loading devices is transmitted from the connected loading devices. The test communication signal-received load control signal repeaters create a lookup table of each of the ports received from the test communication signal and the inherent address of each of the loading devices of an originator. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a load device management method for a plurality of load devices having unique addresses, a load control signal relay device and a supervisory control device used therefor, and a communication system using them. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 12, unique addresses Ad1 to Ad1 for identifying, on a network, load devices a1 to a10 installed in a living room, a dining room, a bedroom or the like of a house H.
There is a communication system for setting 0, connecting them to the hub devices h1 to h3 and the router device r, and performing monitoring and control from a remote monitoring and control device c via the network I.

In this communication system, when it is desired to control and monitor the load devices a1 to a10 from a remote monitoring and control device c, the physical positions (installation locations) of the load devices a1 to a10 are associated with the unique addresses. For example, a table such as Table 1 may be used. In addition, A of the entrance, corridor of Table 1
d4 is not particularly shown in FIG.

[0004]

[Table 1]

In the configuration shown in FIG. 12 and Table 1, for example, when it is desired to perform off control of the load devices a1 to a3 in the living room on the first floor collectively, referring to Table 1, addresses Ad1, Ad2, A signal for instructing OFF control is transmitted from the monitoring control device c to each load device having Ad3.

Further, by storing this Table 1 in the monitoring control device c, when the user inputs the physical position information and the control monitoring content, the conversion of the control monitoring content to the address of the corresponding load equipment is automatically performed. There was also a system that performed it.

The creation of this table has been realized by, for example, a construction company recording the correspondence between the address of each load device and the physical position when constructing the load device on site.

[0008]

However, since the above-mentioned table is created by a person, there is a risk that erroneous entries or omissions may occur. In addition, since the operation of storing the table in the monitoring control device c is also performed by a person, there is a risk that erroneous entry or omission of entry may occur at this point. If any of these erroneous entries or omissions are found, it is impossible to find the errors without actually referring to the table and the actual load equipment position again on site, or actually performing monitoring or control. However, there is a problem that it takes effort to find and correct it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a load device management system capable of obtaining a correspondence between a physical position of a load device and a unique address without relying on humans. An object of the present invention is to provide a method, a load control signal relay device and a supervisory control device used for the method, and a communication system using them.

[0010]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a load control signal relay device having a port to which a load device having a unique address is connected;
A monitoring control device that monitors and controls the load device via the load control signal relay device, and associates a physical position of the load device with a predetermined port of the load control signal relay device, Is connected to a predetermined port of the load control signal relay device, the connected load device transmits a test communication signal in which a unique address of the load device is written as a source address, and the load that receives the test communication signal The control signal relay device creates a correspondence table between the port received from the source address of the test communication signal and the unique address of the source load device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a load control signal relay device used in the load device management method according to the first aspect, wherein a port to which a load device having a unique address is connected, control means, and monitoring control An interface for communicating with a device, wherein the control unit monitors a communication packet from the load device via the port, and the port connected to the port receiving the communication packet and the port. A table creation function for creating a correspondence table with a unique address of a load device, and a communication packet of a control request transmitted from the monitoring control device by specifying a port corresponding to a physical position of the load device as a control target. By using the correspondence table to convert the communication packet into a control request addressed to the address of the load device connected to the designated port. Was that a conversion sending function of sending from the specified port.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, a memory for storing the created correspondence table is provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, an external storage device interface for storing the created correspondence table in an external storage device is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a monitoring and control device used in the load device management method according to the first aspect, wherein the interface for communicating with the load control signal relay device includes:
An input unit for receiving an input from a user, an output unit for presenting a state of the load device to the user, and a function of communicating with the load control signal relay device according to an input from the input unit and a signal from the load control signal relay device And a control unit having a function of controlling the output unit, and a memory for storing a correspondence table between a port of the load control signal relay device and a unique address of a load device created by the load control signal relay device. It was taken.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a load control signal relay device according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, wherein the load device is connected to at least one or more load devices, and the load control signal relay device is connected to the load control signal relay device. A communication system comprising a monitoring control device that monitors and controls the load device, wherein the load device is newly connected to the load control signal relay device.
It has a transmitting means for transmitting a new entry signal describing its own unique address.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to Embodiments 1 to 4. (Embodiment 1) In this embodiment, a system for remotely controlling a load device installed in an apartment house S as shown in FIG. 1 is assumed. This apartment house S has rooms 1 to 4, and each house is provided with one load control signal relay device (hereinafter abbreviated as a relay device) R1 to R4, and a relay device R1.
Hubs H1 and H2, and relay device R2 hubs H3 and H2.
4, the hubs H5 and H6 are connected to the relay device R3.
4, hubs H7 and H8 are installed, respectively, and load devices L11 to L44 such as home electric appliances can be connected to each hub.

Each of the relay devices R1 to R4 is connected to a general routing device R for interconnecting different networks, and is connected to a remote monitoring and control device C1 via a network I.

The monitoring and control device C1 remotely monitors and controls the load devices L11 to L44 via the network I, the routing device R, and each of the relay devices R1 to R4.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the load devices L11 to L44 has a load body 11 such as a relay, a memory 12 for storing its own unique address, a CPU 13 to be described later, and a communication interface 14 for a higher-level device. And an input unit 15 for receiving an input from a load equipment constructor. C
The PU 13 has a function of controlling the load main body 11 in accordance with a control signal from a higher-level device, a function of acquiring the state of the load main body in accordance with a monitoring signal from a higher-level device, and an input unit 15.
And a function of performing communication with a higher-level device in accordance with an input from the device. The communication interface 14 includes hubs H1 to H
8 is connected.

The hubs H1 to H8 are general repeater hubs, which connect the load devices to be connected, and
To R4. Note that the hubs H1 to H8 may be switching hubs or intelligent hubs.

As shown in FIG. 3, the relay devices R1 to R4 are provided with three ports P1 to P3 and a memory r2 for storing a correspondence table created by a table creation means described later.
And a CPU r3 to be described later and a communication interface r4 for communication with a higher-level device. The load device or the hub device is connected in a star configuration to relay a network with a remote monitoring and control device. Note that the number of ports is not limited to three. The CPUr3 monitors a communication packet from a load device passing through each port, and creates a correspondence table between a port receiving the communication packet and an address of the load device connected to the port. A communication packet of a control request transmitted from the monitoring control device C1 by designating a port corresponding to the physical position of the load device as a control target is connected to the designated port using the correspondence table. It has a function of converting and transmitting a communication packet of a control request addressed to the address of the loaded device and transmitting it from a designated port, and a function of transmitting communication contents received from each port to a higher-level device.

It is also assumed that each of the relay devices R1 to R4 has a MAC address shown in Table 2 and an IP address is set as shown in Table 2.

[0023]

[Table 2]

Each port P of each of the relay devices R1 to R4
The load devices L11 to L44 are installed at predetermined ports of the relay devices R1 to R4 by associating the physical positions of the load devices L11 to 44 with the predetermined ports of the relay devices R1 to R4. For example, the load device in the dining room on the first floor is connected to the port P1 of the relay device R1, and the load device in the living room on the first floor is connected to the port P2 of the relay device R2. Table 3 shows the relationship between the port and the physical position of each relay device of the present embodiment. Note that the port P3 is not used in the present embodiment.

[0025]

[Table 3]

As shown in FIG. 4, the monitoring control device C1
A communication interface c1 for connecting to the network I, a memory c2 for storing a table 3 showing a relationship between each port of the relay devices R1 to R4 and a physical position, a CPU c3 described later, and an input from a user. Input part c4 to receive
And an output unit c5 for notifying the user of the state of the load device. The CPU c3 has a function of performing communication with the relay devices R1 to R4 in accordance with an input from the input unit c4, and a function of executing the relay device R1 in accordance with signals transmitted from the relay devices R1 to R4.
R4 and a function of controlling the output unit c5.

Next, in the communication system configured as above, a case where a ventilation fan is newly installed as a load device L11 in the cafeteria of the first room will be taken as an example, and a correspondence table of physical positions and addresses of load devices is automatically prepared. The method of creating the above will be described with reference to FIG.

First, as a step S1, as shown in FIG. 6, the installer installs a ventilation fan L11 in the dining room of the first room. Further, the ventilation fan L11 is connected to the port P1 corresponding to the dining room of the relay device R1 via the hub H1 via a network. The ventilation fan L11 is an Ethernet (registered trademark)
Interface and its MAC address is MAL
It is assumed to be 11. In addition, the installer sends an IP to the ventilation fan L11.
Set the address to IAL11.

Next, the builder, with respect to the ventilation fan L11,
In order to confirm that the network connection is correct, the monitoring controller C1 is input from the input unit 15 of the ventilation fan L11.
Is instructed to transmit a test communication signal as an IP packet to the address (step S2). The packet of the test communication signal includes, as a transmission source address, the I of the ventilation fan L11.
A P address and a MAC address are described, and information indicating that this signal is a test communication is included.
In FIG. 5, the IP address of the monitoring control device is IAC.

The transmitted test communication signal is transmitted to the relay device R1.
To reach. The relay device R1 analyzes the received content and knows that it is a test signal from the ventilation fan L11. In addition, the relay device R1 transmits, from the source address, its own port P1,
MAC address MAL11 and IP address IAL11
(Step S)
3) By using the table creation function, create a correspondence table between the port to which the load device is connected and the unique address of the load device on the memory r2 of the relay device R1,
It is stored (step S4). At this time, the relay device R
Table 4 shows the status of the correspondence table on the memory r2 of No. 1.

[0031]

[Table 4]

The relay device R1 transmits the test communication signal from the interface r4 for communication with a higher-level device (step S5).

When the test communication signal reaches the monitoring and control device C1, the monitoring and control device C1 analyzes the content, finds out that the test communication signal is from the ventilation fan L11, and outputs the test communication signal to the output section c5. Outputs that it has been received.

The user of the monitoring and control device C1 outputs a signal to the output unit c5.
Confirms that the test communication has been completed normally by outputting to, and ends the test communication.

With the above steps, a correspondence table (Table 4) between the port of the relay device R1 and the address of the ventilation fan L11 connected to the end of the port is automatically created. Further, since the port of each relay device is associated with the physical position of the load device as shown in Table 3, in other words, the correspondence between the physical position of the load device and the address is obtained.

It should be noted that the end of the test communication is not output to the output unit c5 of the monitoring and control device C1, but the monitoring and control device C1 that has received the test communication signal transmits the normal reception signal to the ventilation fan L11 of the transmission source. A reply may be sent.

That is, the monitoring and control device C1 which has received the test communication signal generates a normal reception signal and outputs the signal to the ventilation fan L1.
1 (that is, MAC address MAL11 and IP address IAL11).

When the normal reception signal arrives at the relay device R1, the relay device R1 analyzes its contents and, based on the created correspondence table, confirms that the address of the transmission destination is connected to its own port P1. Knowing this, the normal reception signal is transmitted from the port P1.

The ventilation fan L11 receives the normal reception signal, determines from the contents thereof that the test communication has ended normally, and outputs from the output unit (not shown) that the normal reception signal has been normally received. Inform the installer of the end of the test communication.

When the same steps are repeated and the load devices L12 to L14 are installed in the first room, finally, the correspondence table held in the memory r2 of the relay device R1 becomes:
The state is as shown in Table 5. Here, the MAC address of the load device L12 is MAL12, the IP address is IAL12, the MAC address of the load device L13 is MAL13, the IP address is IAL13, and the MAC address of the load device L14 is M.
AL14 and the IP address are IAL14.

[0041]

[Table 5]

Next, the operation when the load equipment installed in a certain room is controlled collectively by the monitoring and control device C1 in the system in which the installation of the load equipment has been completed as described above will be described with reference to FIG. I do. For example, assume that all the load devices installed in the dining room of the first room are controlled to be OFF.

First, the user stores Table 3 showing the relationship between the ports of each relay device and the physical position in the memory c2 of the monitoring and control device C1.

Next, the user inputs from the input unit c4 of the monitoring and control device C1 an instruction to "OFF-control all the load devices installed in the dining room of the first room" (step S10). ).

The supervisory control device C1 refers to Table 3 showing the relationship between the port of each relay device and the physical position stored in the memory c2, and corresponds to the "canteen in the first room" input by the user. The relay device R1 and the port P1 are obtained, and the relay device R
A signal to the effect of “target port P1, control content OFF control” is created, packetized, and transmitted (step S11).

When the packet arrives at the relay device R1, the relay device R1 analyzes its contents and knows from the created correspondence table that the control target is its own port P1.

The relay device R1 uses the conversion and transmission function to determine the destination of the packet by using the correspondence table and to determine the load device L1 connected to the designated port P1.
1 and L12 (step S12), and the port P designated as a broadcast packet
1 is sent out (step S13).

Upon receiving the broadcast packet, the load devices L11 and L12 analyze the contents and determine the respective load bodies as O.
FF control is performed (step S14).

In such a system, a correspondence table between the ports of the respective relay devices and the addresses of the load devices connected to the ports can be automatically created, and the ports of the respective relay devices and the physical positions of the load devices are associated with each other. That is, in other words, the correspondence between the physical position of the load device and the address can be automatically obtained without manual operation. This also allows the user to easily perform batch control on the load devices installed at the same physical position only by instructing the physical position and the control content.

(Embodiment 2) In this embodiment, as part of the construction of a remote monitoring type disaster prevention system, equipment information of each dwelling is automatically acquired in the apartment house S shown in FIG. It is assumed that the apparatus performs control according to the equipment information.

The relay devices R1 to R4 of the present embodiment
The CPU r3 has a function of transmitting the correspondence table created by the table creation function to the monitoring control device C1, and the monitoring control device C1 stores the correspondence table transmitted from the relay devices R1 to R4 in the memory c2. Shall be memorized.

The parts common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. Only the characteristic parts of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

Table 6 shows the types, IP addresses, MAC addresses, and installation locations of the load devices L11 to L44 installed in each of the first to fourth rooms.

[0054]

[Table 6]

First, each of the load devices L11 to L44 is given in Table 6 below.
Is set. And each load device L
11 to L44 are network-connected to the relay devices R1 to R4. At this time, as in the first embodiment, the physical position of the load device is associated with the port of each relay device, and each load device L
11 to L44 are connected to the respective relay devices R1 to R4. In the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, connections are made such that the physical positions of the ports and the load devices are in the relationship shown in Table 7.

[0056]

[Table 7]

Each load device L shown in FIG.
When L11 to L44 are connected, the relationship between each port of each of the relay devices R1 to R4 and the load devices connected to the port is as shown in Table 8.

[0058]

[Table 8]

The installer transmits a test communication signal from the load device L11 to the relay device R1 in the form of an IP packet in order to confirm whether the load device L11 can correctly communicate with the host device. The packet of the test communication signal includes the IP address of the load device L11 as the transmission source: IAL11
, MAC address: MAL11, load device type: smoke sensor, and information indicating that this signal is test communication.

The transmitted test communication signal is transmitted to the relay device R1.
, The relay device R1 analyzes the content and knows that the load device L11 of the IP address: IAL11, the MAC address: MAL11, and the load device type: smoke sensor is connected to its own port P1.

The relay apparatus R1 adds its own relay apparatus number: R1 and the received port number: P1 to the content of the test communication signal, and transmits the result to the monitoring control apparatus C1.

When receiving the test communication signal, the supervisory control device C1 analyzes the content of the test communication signal, and analyzes the content of the test communication signal.
1, IP address IAL11, MAC address MAL
The load device smoke sensor L11 including the load device smoke sensor L11 is connected and stored in its own memory c2.

The monitoring and control device C1 is connected to the load device L11.
A normal reception signal indicating that the test communication signal has been normally received is transmitted, the load device L11 receives the normal reception signal via the relay device R1, and ends the test communication of the load device L11.

The contractor similarly carries out post-installation test communication for all load devices. When the test communication of all the load devices is completed, the memory c2 of the monitoring control device C1
Stores a correspondence table as shown in Table 9.

[0065]

[Table 9]

Next, the load devices L11 to L4 of the apartment house S
In response to the fact that all of the installations 4 have been completed normally, the monitoring control device C1 sets the control function according to the equipment information. The control function according to the equipment information is, for example, the operation of the load device that triggers the control, such as “when the smoke detection signal is received from the smoke sensor, the ON control of the ventilation fan”, and the control function should be performed accordingly. This is to specify the operation of the load device as an action.

The setter inputs a table 7 indicating the relationship between the port of each relay device and the physical position to the supervisory control device C1,
It is stored in the memory c2 of the monitoring control device C1. By combining Table 7 and Table 9 described above, the correspondence between the physical position of the load device and the unique address can be obtained.

The setter instructs the monitoring control device C1 to start setting the control function. The monitoring and control device C1 waits for a control function setting input.

The item to be designated is “a notification signal Si from a device of the load device type MType1 in the place Place1.
When g1 is transmitted, the control signal Sig is transmitted to the device of the load device type MType2 at the place Place2.
In the control function "Send 2", the location Plac
e1, load device type MType1, notification signal Sig1,
The items are a place Place2, a load device type MType2, and a control signal Sig2.

The monitoring controller C1 collects contents useful for the input by the setter from the information in Tables 7 and 9 stored in the memory c2, displays the collected information on the output unit c5, and assists the input by the setter. For example, by collecting possible values as locations from Table 7 as choices of places Place1 and Place2, and collecting possible values as load device types from Table 9,
A display as shown in Table 10 is performed on the output unit c5 as a choice of the load device types MType1 and MType2.

[0071]

[Table 10]

The setter selects or inputs each item while referring to Table 10. For example, "When a smoke sensor signal is sent from a smoke sensor in the dining room of Room 1,
When the control of “transmit an ON control signal to the ventilation fan in the dining room of Room 1” is set, “Place Place”
1: 1 room cafeteria "," Load device type MType1: smoke sensor "," notification signal Sig1: smoke detection signal "," place P
less2: Room 1 dining room "," Load device type MType
2: ventilation fan "and" control signal Sig2: ON control signal "are selected or input, respectively.

It should be noted that the above procedure is general in each dwelling. It is determined that "in room n, when a smoke detection signal is received from a load device whose load device type is a smoke sensor installed in the dining room. , The type of load equipment installed in the dining room of the n-th room is ON control of the load equipment that is a ventilation fan ”(in this case, n is any natural number from 1 to 4). May be reduced.

When receiving the input, the monitoring control device C1 interprets the input content based on the information stored in the memory c2. For example, in the above example, “the dining room in Room 1” is “port P1 of the relay device R1” from Table 7, and “smoke sensor in the dining room in Room 1” is “load device L11,
IP address IAL11, MAC address: MAL1
Interpretation as "1".

As described above, the control content interpreted by the monitoring control device C1 is such that the control trigger is “Reception of a smoke detection signal from the load device L11” and the action at that time is “Relay device R1”.
ON control signal to the facility equipment L12 beyond the port 1 of FIG.

When the setter instructs the monitoring controller C1 to complete the setting, the monitoring controller C1 stores the trigger and the action in a table on its own memory c2 as shown in Table 11.

[0077]

[Table 11]

Thereafter, when receiving signals from the load devices L11 to L44, the monitoring control device C1 refers to the trigger column of the table of Table 11 and checks whether there is a trigger that matches the condition. When a trigger exists, an action is performed on the trigger.

(Embodiment 3) In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, as part of building a lighting management system in an office, equipment information of each department is automatically acquired, and control according to the equipment information is performed. It is assumed that

This office X is composed of five rooms, a reception and personnel department, a sales department, a technical department, and a reference room. Each room has one hub H10 to H14, and the load devices L110 to L510 are connected. I can do it.

Each of the hubs H11 to H14 is connected to the relay device R10.
And connected to each port of the relay device R10, and then connected to the monitoring control device C2 via the network I.

The same reference numerals are given to the parts common to the first and second embodiments and the description is omitted, and only the characteristic parts of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

FIG. 9 shows the configuration of the relay apparatus R10 of this embodiment.
Shown in This relay device R10 has five ports P10
P14, a memory r20, a CPU r30, a communication interface r40 for a higher-level device, and an external storage device interface r50 for connecting to a floppy (R) disk drive as an external storage device.

FIG. 10 shows the configuration of the monitoring control device C2 of this embodiment. The monitoring control device C2 includes a communication interface c10 for connecting to the network I,
A memory c20, a CPU c30, an input unit c40, an output unit c50, and a floppy (R) as an external storage device
An external storage device interface c60 for connecting to a disk drive.

In each room, lighting devices having an IP address and a MAC address as shown in Table 12 are installed as the load devices L110 to L510.

[0086]

[Table 12]

First, each of the load devices L110 to L510
The IP address shown in Table 11 is set. Then, the respective load devices L110 to L510 are connected to the relay device R10 via a network. At this time, the connections are made so that the physical positions of the ports of the relay device R10 and the load devices connected to the ports correspond to each other as shown in Table 13.

[0088]

[Table 13]

When the load devices L110 to L510 in FIG. 8 are connected based on the relationship in Table 13, the relationship between each port of the relay device R10 and the load device connected to the port is shown in Table 14.
become that way.

[0090]

[Table 14]

The installer inserts a floppy (R) disk into a floppy (R) disk drive (not shown) connected to the external storage device interface of the relay device R10, and starts test communication. Details of the test communication are the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. The correspondence table between the ports of the relay device R10 and the addresses of the load devices connected to the ports obtained by the test communication is stored in the floppy (R) disk each time.

After the test communication of all the load devices L110 to L510 is completed, the correspondence table between the ports of the relay device R10 stored in the floppy (R) disk and the addresses of the load devices connected to the ports is as follows. , Table 15

[0093]

[Table 15]

When confirming that the creation of the correspondence table has been completed, the constructor instructs the relay device R10 to end the test communication. The relay device R10 receiving the command,
Return to normal state.

The installer takes out the floppy (R) disk from the relay device R10 and inserts it into a floppy (R) disk drive (not shown) attached to the external storage device interface c60 of the monitoring and control device C2.

The installer copies the correspondence table to the monitoring control device C2. The floppy (R) disk after the copy is stored for backup.

The setting of the control function in accordance with the facility information in the monitoring and control device C2 thereafter is the same as that of the second embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The correspondence table created during the test communication, which is being created, is stored in the memory r20 of the relay device R10.
It may be created above and copied or moved to a floppy (R) disk after the end of the test communication.

(Embodiment 4) In the present embodiment, in the state where lighting equipment as load equipment has already been installed in the office X of Embodiment 3 and the information shown in Tables 13 and 15 has been obtained, It is assumed that a lighting device L240 as a load device is additionally installed in the personnel accounting department.

Note that parts common to the first, second, or third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. Only parts that are characteristic of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

The lighting device L240 has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, but when the CPU 13 detects that the lighting device L240 has been newly connected to the relay device, the lighting device L240 has its own unique address and informs that the connection is new. And a transmission function of transmitting a test communication signal indicating the following. Further, the relay device R10 and the monitoring control device C2 analyze the contents of the received packet,
It is assumed that the CPU has a function for understanding that the connection is a new connection.

First, as shown in FIG. 11, the installer attaches a lighting device L240, which is a new load device, to the personnel accounting department. The lighting device L240 has a MAC address MAL2
Suppose you have 40. Further, the builder installs the lighting device L240
To the hub H11, and the lighting device L240
Is set to the IAL 240.

When the lighting device L240 detects by the transmission function that it is newly attached to the relay device R10 at the time of starting, the lighting device L240 checks whether its own IP address is set, and determines that the IP address is set. , And transmits a test communication signal to the relay device R10. The test communication signal indicates that the lighting device L240 has an IP address, a MAC address, and a new connection.

The test communication signal reaches the relay device R10 via the hub H11. The relay device R10 analyzes the contents of the test communication signal, finds out that the connection is a new connection, and loads the device having the IP address IAL240 and the MAC address MAL240 at its own port P11 in the correspondence table of Table 15 owned by itself. The fact that L240 has been connected is added and updated as shown in Table 16.

[0105]

[Table 16]

The relay device R10 transmits the new entry signal to the supervisory control device C2.

When receiving the new entry signal, the monitoring controller C2 transmits a response signal to the lighting equipment L240.

The lighting equipment L24 receiving the response signal
0 confirms that it is correctly connected to the network.

Thereafter, when monitoring and control are performed in units of lighting equipment of the personnel accounting department, the lighting equipment L240 is also included in the monitoring and control target.

Note that the correspondence table contains the relay device R
10, instead of the monitoring control device C2 as in the second embodiment.
May be stored.

[0111] Further, the monitoring control device C is transmitted from the relay device R10.
The signal to be transmitted to 2 may be a test communication signal similar to the first embodiment without writing that it is a new connection. in this case,
The monitoring control device C2 may not have a function of analyzing the content of the received packet and understanding that the connection is a new connection.

[0112]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a load control signal relay device having a port to which a load device having a unique address is connected, and the load device is monitored and controlled via the load control signal relay device. A monitoring and control device, and associates the physical position of the load device with a predetermined port of the load control signal relay device, connects the load device to a predetermined port of the load control signal relay device, and connects the load device to the predetermined port of the load control signal relay device. The load device transmits a test communication signal describing the unique address of the load device as a source address, and the load control signal relay device that receives the test communication signal receives the test communication signal from the source address of the test communication signal. Since the correspondence table between the port and the unique address of the load device of the transmission source is created, the port of the load control signal relay device and the load device connected to the port are connected. Since the correspondence table with the assigned addresses is automatically created, and the port of the load control signal relay device is associated with the physical position of the load device, that is, the correspondence between the physical position of the load device and the address is determined. There is an effect that it is possible to obtain the above-mentioned correspondence without manpower, to reduce the number of steps for obtaining the correspondence, and to avoid erroneous entry or omission of the correspondence.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a load control signal relay device used in the load device management method according to the first aspect, wherein a port to which a load device having a unique address is connected; An interface for communicating with a device, wherein the control unit monitors a communication packet from the load device via the port, and the port connected to the port receiving the communication packet and the port. A table creation function for creating a correspondence table with a unique address of a load device, and a communication packet of a control request transmitted from the monitoring control device by specifying a port corresponding to a physical position of the load device as a control target. By using the correspondence table to convert the communication packet into a control request addressed to the address of the load device connected to the designated port. Since a conversion sending function of sending from the specified port, can achieve load control signal repeater for use in the invention of claim 1, wherein, also,
By simply transmitting a control request designating a port of the load control signal relay device, there is an effect that control of load devices installed at physical positions corresponding to the port can be easily and collectively performed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, since the memory for storing the created correspondence table is provided, the correspondence table can be distributed and stored in the load control signal relay device itself. Even if the memory of one relay device is damaged, another relay device can continue control. Further, there is an effect that the load on the monitoring control device required for processing the correspondence table can be reduced as compared with the case where the correspondence table is stored in the monitoring control device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, an external storage device interface for storing the created correspondence table in an external storage device is provided. The correspondence table can be backed up to an external storage device, and data can be transferred from the load control signal relay device to another external storage device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a monitoring and control device used in the load device management method according to the first aspect, wherein the interface for communicating with the load control signal relay device includes:
An input unit for receiving an input from a user, an output unit for presenting a state of the load device to the user, and a function of communicating with the load control signal relay device according to an input from the input unit and a signal from the load control signal relay device And a control unit having a function of controlling the output unit, and a memory for storing a correspondence table between a port of the load control signal relay device and a unique address of a load device created by the load control signal relay device. Therefore, the correspondence table of all the load control signal relay devices can be managed collectively, and collective control over a plurality of the load control signal relay devices can be easily performed. It is not necessary to provide the control signal relay device with a memory for storing the correspondence table, and the configuration of the load control signal relay device can be simplified. There is an effect that.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a load control signal relay device according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, wherein at least one or more load devices are connected to the load control signal relay device. A communication system comprising a monitoring control device that monitors and controls the load device, wherein the load device is newly connected to the load control signal relay device.
Since the transmission means for transmitting the test communication signal describing its own unique address is provided, there is an effect that the additional connection of a new load device can be easily performed even while the system is operating.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a communication system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the above load device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a load control signal relay device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the monitoring control device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating installation of the load device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a simultaneous control method according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a communication system according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a load control signal relay device of the above.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the monitoring control device of the above.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing that a load device is newly connected in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a conventional communication system.

[Explanation of symbols]

C1 monitoring and control device H1-H8 hub I network L11-L44 Load equipment R1 to R4 load control signal relay device S apartment house

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

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A load control signal relay device having a port to which a load device having a unique address is connected, and a monitoring control device for monitoring and controlling the load device via the load control signal relay device, A physical position of the load device is associated with a predetermined port of the load control signal relay device, the load device is connected to a predetermined port of the load control signal relay device, and the load device is connected to the load device. The load control signal relay device, which receives the test communication signal, transmits the port received from the source address of the test communication signal and the load device of the transmission source. A load device management method, comprising: creating a correspondence table with a unique address of a load device. 2. A load control signal relay device used in the load device management method according to claim 1, wherein the load control signal relay device communicates with a port to which a load device having a unique address is connected, control means, and a supervisory control device. The control means monitors a communication packet from the load device via the port, and determines a port receiving the communication packet and a unique address of the load device connected to the port. A table creation function for creating a correspondence table with the communication table of the control request transmitted by designating a port corresponding to the physical position of the load device as a control target from the monitoring control device, Is converted into a control request communication packet addressed to the address of the load device connected to the specified port, and A load control signal relay device comprising a conversion transmission function of transmitting from a port. 3. The load control signal relay device according to claim 2, further comprising a memory for storing the created correspondence table. 4. The load control signal relay device according to claim 2, further comprising an external storage device interface for storing the created correspondence table in an external storage device. 5. A monitoring and control device used in the load device management method according to claim 1, wherein the input device receives an input from a user, an interface for communicating with a load control signal relay device, and a load on the user. Control means having an output unit for presenting the state of the device, a function of communicating with the load control signal relay device in accordance with an input from the input unit and a signal from the load control signal relay device, and a function of controlling the output unit And a memory for storing a correspondence table between a port of the load control signal relay device and a unique address of a load device created by the load control signal relay device. 6. The load control signal relay device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one load device is connected to the load control signal relay device, and the load device is connected to the load control signal relay device. A communication system comprising a monitoring control device for monitoring and controlling, wherein when the load device is newly connected to the load control signal relay device, the load device transmits a test communication signal describing its own address. A communication system comprising means.