JP2004232980A - Information management system and management device for information management system - Google Patents

Abstract

An information management system and a management device for an information management system that can reduce the amount of information to be processed even when a management target is connected to the management device via an adapter.
An information management system for managing a management target including predetermined equipment includes an adapter, a management device, and a remote management center. The adapter has a plurality of detection units that read various types of information to be managed. The management device obtains various information from the adapter. This management device performs information processing for identifying various information obtained from the adapter into information that needs to be managed by the remote management center and information that does not need to be managed by the remote management center. The remote management center obtains various information from the management device via a communication line and remotely manages the management target.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information management system and a management device for the information management system, and in particular, an information management system for managing a management target including predetermined equipment, and a management device for managing a management target including predetermined equipment. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, a system for centralized management by connecting equipment such as air conditioning equipment installed in various buildings, such as commercial buildings, office buildings, hospitals, hotels, warehouses, factories, etc., to a remotely installed remote management center has been developed. Is appearing. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a facility management device 115 is installed in buildings 110, 110 ′, and 110 ″. The facility management device 115 is an air conditioning system including a plurality of indoor units 122 and outdoor units 121. A plurality of air conditioners such as 123 are managed in an integrated manner. For example, the air conditioner is controlled by a command from a manager of the building 110 or the like, or the outdoor unit 121 or the indoor unit 122 The facility management device 115 directly or indirectly via the public line 90 or the like, or the server computer 181 of the external remote management center 180. This allows the remote management center 180 to provide services that cannot be provided by the facility management device 115 inside the building 110 or the like by itself. It can be provided to managers and owners.
[0003]
Specifically, in the remote management center 180, services for failure management of the air conditioning equipment of each building 110, etc., failure prediction, fee management of equipment use, improvement proposal by data analysis, creation of various reports, and the like have been developed. I have.
In such a system, in a local air-conditioning system such as a building, the equipment to be managed needs to be connected to the equipment management apparatus 115 by the same communication protocol. When they are connected by the same communication protocol, the communication between the equipment management device 115 and the equipment is established, and the information of the equipment is directly read by the equipment management device 115. However, when the manufacturer of the equipment management device 115 is different from the manufacturer of the equipment connected thereto, communication between the equipment management device 115 and the equipment cannot be established due to a difference in protocol. As shown in FIG. 6, even when connecting different protocols, it is possible to establish a connection between the two by interposing the general-purpose adapters 135, 136, 137, and 145 for converting the protocol. I have. That is, when devices having a protocol different from the protocol of the facility management device 115 are included in the management target, it is premised that the general-purpose adapter 135 and the like be used. Detection using such a general-purpose adapter 135 or the like is performed by extending the sensor 105 or the contact 106 provided in the general-purpose adapter 135 or the like to the detection target portion of the equipment. Then, the equipment management device 115 transmits all the information obtained from the general-purpose adapter 135 and the like to the remote management center 180, and the remote management center 180 remotely manages the equipment based on all the information. (For example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
By the way, the number of sensors 105 and contacts 106 provided in the above-described general-purpose adapter 135 and the like is usually fixed. This is because preparing dedicated adapters (adapters in which the number of contacts and sensors are specific to the number of management items to be managed) requires the production of other types of adapters, which is disadvantageous in terms of cost. is there.
[0005]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, when the air conditioner 133 including the outdoor unit 131 and the indoor unit 132 has many management items, the sensor 105 and the contact The number of 106 may be insufficient. Even in this case, detection is performed by using a plurality of general-purpose adapters 135, 136, and 137 instead of preparing a dedicated adapter. In this case, the sensor 105 'and the contact 106' may be left.
[0006]
Further, for example, there are cases where the air conditioner 143 including the outdoor unit 141 and the indoor unit 142 has few management items. Even in this case, detection is performed by using only one general-purpose adapter 145 instead of preparing a dedicated adapter. Also in this case, the sensor 105 ″ may be left.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-247663 (Page 3-7, FIG. 1)
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, since the number of sensors and contacts is fixed in the general-purpose adapter, there may be excess sensors and contacts that are not used. The unused sensors 105 'and contacts 106' detect unnecessary information that is not scheduled to be managed. Since the equipment management apparatus 115 transmits all the information obtained from the general-purpose adapter to the remote management center 180, the information detected from the unused sensors and contacts is also transmitted to the remote management center 180. Information detected from such unused sensors and contacts is information that does not need to be managed by the remote management center. If the remote management center processes information that does not need to be managed when processing various types of information, the processing of the information that needs to be managed is likely to be delayed, and the result of the information processing is used for management. It is difficult to determine whether it is necessary. In addition, the remote management center often manages an enormous number of management targets, and the amount of information to be detected tends to be enormous, and it is considered that such a situation is more likely to occur.
[0009]
An object of the present invention is to provide an information management system and a management device for an information management system that can reduce the amount of information processed by a remote management center even when a management target is connected to the management device via an adapter. It is in.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An information management system according to a first aspect is an information management system for managing a management target including predetermined equipment, and includes an adapter, a management device, and a remote management center. The adapter has a plurality of detection units that read various types of information to be managed. The management device obtains various information from the adapter. This management device performs an identification process for identifying various information obtained from the adapter into information that needs to be managed by the remote management center and information that does not need to be managed by the remote management center. The remote management center obtains various information from the management device via a communication line and remotely manages the management target.
[0011]
Note that the management here includes simply monitoring. Here, the management target is a target from which information is read. For example, in an air conditioner, a compressor of an air conditioner, an expansion valve, an indoor fan motor, an outdoor fan motor, a four-way switching valve, indoor heat There are an exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, a refrigerant pipe, an accumulator, a filter, and electric circuit components in the operation of the air conditioner. It should be noted that the management target is not necessarily limited to equipment such as electric appliances, but includes, for example, the temperature and humidity of a computer room, power consumption of lighting and a blower, and the brightness of the room. Here, the detection section reads information to be managed, and includes, for example, an input section for a temperature sensor value, a contact for detecting operation / stop, and the like. The information obtained from the plurality of detection units includes, for example, information obtained from a thermometer, a hygrometer, a pressure gauge, an ammeter, or other means for detecting a management target attached to the equipment.
[0012]
Here, even if the management target does not employ the protocol adopted by the management device, the management target can be managed by the management device by inserting the adapter. Here, all of the various information obtained from the adapter by the management device is not necessarily the information that needs to be managed by the remote management center. However, in the information management system according to the first aspect, even when various information obtained from the adapter includes information that does not need to be managed by the remote management center, the management device can control the remote management center. Can recognize information that does not need to be managed by the remote management center. Therefore, the management apparatus can identify information that does not need to be managed by the remote management center before the management apparatus actually transmits the information to the remote management center. Processing performed on information can be reduced.
[0013]
Thus, here, even when the management target is connected to the management device via the adapter, the amount of information processed by the remote management center can be reduced.
An information management system according to a second aspect is the information management system according to the first aspect, wherein the management device receives predetermined information from a remote management center via a communication line. The management device performs an identification process based on the received predetermined information.
[0014]
At the stage where the adapter is merely installed in the management target, the management device may not have the information of the criterion for performing the identification processing. On the other hand, here, the management device can receive the information of the criterion for performing the identification processing from the remote management center. For this reason, it is possible to eliminate the necessity that the management device is provided with the information of the criterion for performing the identification processing from the time of the installation work of the detection unit.
[0015]
An information management system according to claim 3 is the information management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the management device transmits only information that needs to be managed by the remote management center to the remote management center.
Here, if the management device sends all the information obtained from the adapter to the remote management center, and if the information to be transmitted includes information that does not need to be managed by the remote management center, the amount of information Means that wasteful communication is being performed. However, in the information management system according to the third aspect, the management device transmits only information that needs to be managed by the remote management center to the remote management center. That is, the management apparatus does not need to transmit information that does not need to be managed by the remote management center to the remote management center. Therefore, the amount of information communicated between the management device and the remote management center can be reduced.
[0016]
An information management system according to a fourth aspect is the information management system according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein information that does not need to be managed by the remote management center is not used among the plurality of detection units. This is information from the detection unit.
Here, some of the plurality of detectors included in the adapter may be left behind. Then, the management device also obtains the surplus information from the detection unit via the adapter. However, in the information management system according to the fourth aspect, the management device can identify that the information from the unused detectors among the plurality of detectors is information that does not need to be managed by the remote management center. Since the information from the unused detectors is information that does not need to be managed, the amount of information to be communicated can be reliably reduced by such an unnecessary amount of information.
[0017]
An information management system according to claim 5, which is the information management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a detection unit used for a predetermined equipment among a plurality of detection units used. The detection units other than are used for management targets other than the predetermined equipment.
Here, even if the detection unit is used so as to be able to detect all the management items of the predetermined equipment, the detection unit may be left behind. However, in the management system according to claim 5, these surplus detection units are used for management targets other than predetermined equipment. Thereby, the surplus detection unit can be effectively used.
[0018]
An information management system according to claim 6 is the information management system according to claim 5, wherein the management device converts information obtained from the plurality of detection units being used into information on predetermined equipment, It is identified as information to be managed other than predetermined equipment.
Here, when the surplus detection unit is used for a management target other than the predetermined equipment, the management apparatus determines the information of the predetermined equipment as information from the plurality of detection units and the information other than the predetermined equipment. Both of the information to be managed and the information to be managed are obtained. Even in this case, in the information management system according to claim 6, the management device identifies the information from the plurality of detection units as information on predetermined equipment and information on a management target other than the predetermined equipment. can do. Accordingly, even when the surplus detection unit is used for a management target other than the predetermined equipment, the management device can identify information of each of various targets.
[0019]
An information management system according to claim 7 is the information management system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the remote management center stores information that needs to be managed by the remote management center as information on predetermined equipment, Recognition is distinguished from information to be managed other than predetermined equipment.
Here, the remote management center that has received the various information from the management device can recognize the various information separately from the information on the predetermined equipment and the information to be managed other than the predetermined equipment. Thus, even when the surplus detection unit is used for a management target other than the predetermined equipment, the remote management center can obtain information on the predetermined equipment and information on the management target other than the predetermined equipment. Therefore, it is possible to identify information of each of various objects even from a remote place.
[0020]
An information management system according to claim 8 is the information management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the predetermined equipment is an air conditioner.
Here, an air conditioner is a device that draws in air, changes it into conditioned air, and sends it to the air.It is not limited to equipment installed in individual homes, but also includes equipment installed in large buildings such as buildings. It is. Air conditioning refers to maintaining conditions such as temperature, humidity, airflow, dust, bacteria, odor, and toxic gas of air in a favorable condition for indoor persons or goods.
[0021]
Here, the management device has obtained various information of the air conditioner detected from the plurality of detection units. Accordingly, even when the predetermined equipment is an air conditioner having many management items, such an air conditioner can be remotely managed. Thus, here, even when the air conditioner is connected to the management device via the adapter, the air conditioner having many management items can be remotely managed.
[0022]
A management device according to a ninth aspect is a management device for managing a management target including predetermined equipment, and includes an information acquisition unit and an identification unit. The information obtaining means obtains various types of information from an adapter having a plurality of detection units for reading various types of information to be managed. The identification unit performs an identification process of identifying the information obtained by the information acquisition unit into information from a used detection unit and information from an unused detection unit among the plurality of detection units.
[0023]
Note that the management here includes simply monitoring. Here, the management target is a target from which information is read. For example, in an air conditioner, a compressor of an air conditioner, an expansion valve, an indoor fan motor, an outdoor fan motor, a four-way switching valve, indoor heat There are an exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, a refrigerant pipe, an accumulator, a filter, and electric circuit components in the operation of the air conditioner. It should be noted that the management targets are not necessarily limited to equipment such as electric appliances, but include, for example, the temperature and humidity of a computer room, power consumption of lighting and a blower, and the brightness of the room. Here, the detection section reads information to be managed, and includes, for example, an input section for a temperature sensor value, a contact for detecting operation / stop, and the like. Further, the information obtained by the information obtaining means includes, for example, information obtained from a thermometer, a hygrometer, a pressure gauge, an ammeter, or other means for detecting a management target attached to the equipment.
[0024]
Here, even if the management target does not employ the protocol adopted by the management device, the management target can be managed by the management device by inserting the adapter. Here, various types of information obtained from the adapter by the management device are not necessarily information from the detection unit in which all of the information is used. However, in the management device according to claim 9, the management device performs an identification process for identifying various information obtained from the adapter into information from the used detection unit and information from the unused detection unit. It can be carried out. Therefore, after the identification processing, the work on the information from the unused detector is not required, and the work amount can be reduced accordingly.
[0025]
As described above, here, even when the management target is connected to the management device via the adapter, the management device can reduce the amount of work for information from the unused detection unit.
A management device according to a tenth aspect is the management device according to the ninth aspect, wherein the management device receives predetermined information from a remote management center via a communication line. The management device performs an identification process based on the received predetermined information.
[0026]
At the stage where the adapter is merely installed in the management target, the management device may not have the information of the criterion for performing the identification processing. On the other hand, here, the management device can receive the information of the criterion for performing the identification processing from the remote management center. For this reason, it is possible to eliminate the necessity that the management device is provided with the information of the criterion for performing the identification processing from the time of the installation work of the detection unit.
[0027]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
<Overall configuration of air conditioning equipment management system>
FIG. 1 shows an air conditioner management system including a general-purpose adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention. The air-conditioning equipment management system shown here is such that a company operating a remote management center 80 has a building 10, 10 ′, 10 ″, etc. in which an air-conditioning central management device 15 having a predetermined external communication function is deployed. This is a system for providing various services to owners and users of air conditioning equipment. The air conditioning equipment management system includes a server computer 81 in a remote management center 80 and a local air conditioning system in each building 10 or the like. The centralized air-conditioning management device 15 of the local air-conditioning system periodically transmits predetermined data to the server computer 81 in the remote management center 80.
[0028]
<Configuration of server computer 81 of remote management center 80>
The remote management center 80 is installed to perform failure management, failure prediction, equipment usage charge management, improvement proposals based on data analysis, creation of various reports, and the like of the air conditioning equipment of each building 10 and the like. have. The server computer 81 is composed of one or a plurality of computers, manages and accumulates various data transmitted from the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 of each building 10, etc., and performs many functions such as failure management and creation of various reports. It has a function to provide services.
[0029]
Further, the server computer 81 stores a model-specific adapter standard connection data storage unit 81a for assisting a setting operation in the local air conditioning system. This will be described in detail when describing the setting operation of the local air conditioning system.
<Configuration of local air conditioning system for each building 10>
The local air-conditioning system provided in each building 10 or the like is a system in which a plurality of air-conditioning systems having different refrigerant systems are collectively managed and controlled by the centralized air-conditioning management device 15. The centralized air-conditioning management device 15 performs, for example, air-conditioning management according to a command from an administrator or an owner of each building 10 or the like, or provides management data on each air-conditioning facility to an administrator or the like of each building 10 or the like. .
[0030]
In addition, the air-conditioning central management device 15 periodically (for example, once a day) transmits a specific information group such as air conditioning equipment component information and temperature information to the server computer 81 in the remote management center 80, When an abnormality or the like occurs, a necessary information group is immediately transmitted to the server computer 81.
If the air-conditioning central management device 15 is an air-conditioning facility manufactured by a manufacturer of the air-conditioning central management device 15, a protocol which is a convention established for transmitting and receiving data in communication is often common, In the case of common use, they can be directly connected by a predetermined communication line. However, if there is a mixture of air conditioning equipment supplied by another manufacturer different from the manufacturer of the air conditioning central control device 15 due to reasons such as the owner of the building or the designer, the air conditioning equipment is directly concentrated on the air conditioning equipment. In many cases, it is not possible to connect to the management device 15. In such a case, a general-purpose adapter is provided in this local air-conditioning system so that the air-conditioning equipment of another manufacturer can be managed by the centralized air-conditioning management device 15. 1 and 2 are general-purpose adapters denoted by reference numerals 35, 36, 37, 45, 55, and 56. These general-purpose adapters have the same configuration and the same specifications, and have six sensors 5 and three contacts 6 (see FIG. 3). Details of the general-purpose adapter will be described later.
[0031]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the local air-conditioning system in each building 10 or the like, the outdoor unit 21 of each air-conditioning equipment 23, 33, 43, 53,. , 31, 41, 51,... Are connected. Are connected to the indoor units 22, 32, 42, 52,... By independent refrigerant systems and transmission lines, respectively. With such a configuration, the air-conditioning central management device 15 collects information on the air-conditioning equipment from the outdoor units 21, 31, 41, 51,.
[0032]
The outdoor unit 21 is directly connected to the transmission line 19 because the outdoor unit 21 conforms to a protocol used when the air-conditioning central management device 15 communicates via the transmission line 19.
Since the outdoor unit 31 is manufactured by another manufacturer and does not conform to the protocol of the centralized air-conditioning control device 15, the outdoor unit 31 is connected to the transmission line 19 via general-purpose adapters 35, 36, and 37. Since the outdoor unit 31 has many management items and cannot cover all the management items with only one general-purpose adapter, the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 acquires the management data by using the three general-purpose adapters 35, 36, and 37. I have to. However, the general-purpose adapter has six sensors and three contacts, and the number of these is constant. Therefore, the general-purpose adapters 35 and 36 use all of the six sensors and the three contacts, but the general-purpose adapter 37 has two sensors and one extra contact. Further, since some detection is performed even with the surplus sensor 5a and the surplus contact 6a, the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 also obtains information from the surplus sensor 5a and the surplus contact 6a.
[0033]
The outdoor unit 41 is manufactured by another manufacturer and does not conform to the protocol of the centralized air-conditioning control device 15. Therefore, the outdoor unit 41 is connected to the transmission line 19 via the general-purpose adapter 45. Since this outdoor unit 41 can cover all management items with only one general-purpose adapter, the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 acquires management data using only the general-purpose adapter 45. The management items of the outdoor unit 41 are all detected by the six sensors and the three contacts of the general-purpose adapter 45, and the sensors and the contacts are completely used up.
[0034]
Since the outdoor unit 51 is manufactured by another manufacturer and does not conform to the protocol of the centralized air-conditioning control device 15, it is connected to the transmission line 19 via the universal adapters 55 and 56. Since the outdoor unit 51 has many management items and cannot cover all the management items with only one general-purpose adapter, the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 acquires the management data by using the two general-purpose adapters 55 and 56. However, the general-purpose adapter has six sensors and three contacts, and the number of these is constant. Therefore, the general-purpose adapter 55 uses all six sensors and the three contacts, but the general-purpose adapter 56 has two extra sensors. Further, since some detection is performed even with the surplus sensor 5b, the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 also obtains information detected by the surplus sensor 5b.
[0035]
Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the configuration of the general-purpose adapter will be described using the general-purpose adapters 55 and 56 as an example.
The general-purpose adapter according to the present embodiment has a single board or the like housed inside a casing, and includes six sensors 5 and three contacts 6, a protocol conversion unit 4, and an identification address DIP switch 7. , A grouping DIP switch 8 and an output unit 9. The sensor 5 measures, for example, the temperature of the discharge pipe of the compressor in the outdoor unit 51, the current applied to the compressor, the indoor fan motor and the outdoor fan motor, and the pressure of the refrigerant sucked or discharged by the compressor. And measurement of the temperature or humidity of the environment in which the air conditioning equipment is installed. The contact 6 detects, for example, the start / stop of the compressor of the outdoor unit 51 (a parameter related to the life of the compressor). The sensor 5 and the contact 6 are general-purpose, and can be applied to various management items. The protocol converter 4 converts the data detected from the sensor 5 and the contact 6 into a protocol of the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 and sends out the data from the output unit 9 to the transmission line 19. The identification address DIP switch 7 includes a plurality of DIP switches, and is set differently from other general-purpose adapters. The grouping DIP switch 8 includes a plurality of DIP switches (here, four DIP switches), and can set a group number from 0 to 15.
[0036]
<Local air conditioning system setting work>
[Local configuration work]
In the local air-conditioning system, first, the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 needs to grasp the installation information of each connected air-conditioning facility.
As for the air conditioning equipment including the outdoor unit 21, since the manufacturer has the same protocol as the air conditioning central management device 15 and has the same protocol, by directly connecting to the air conditioning central management device 15 via the transmission line 19, The data of the model name of the air conditioning equipment and the management items are automatically sent to the air conditioning central management device 15. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, if data such as actual installation information is input to the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 by using the test run tool (computer) 71 as shown in FIG. I do. The installation information here is, for example, an address allocated to each piece of installation information for managing such air conditioning equipment, a refrigerant system name, a model name, a model code, and a machine number to which the air conditioning equipment belongs.
[0037]
On the other hand, since the manufacturer is different from the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 and has a different protocol, the air-conditioning equipment including the outdoor units 31, 41, and 51 connected to the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 via the general-purpose adapter are respectively It is necessary to enter the address assigned to each installation information, the name of the refrigerant system to which the air conditioning equipment belongs, the model name, the model code, the machine number, etc., and also to determine which general-purpose adapter corresponds to which air conditioning equipment It is necessary for the centralized management device 15 to know. Hereinafter, a description will be given of how the centralized air-conditioning management apparatus 15 grasps the installation information of each air-conditioning facility with respect to the air-conditioning equipment connected to the centralized air-conditioning management apparatus 15 via the general-purpose adapter.
[0038]
The outdoor unit 31 has three general-purpose adapters 35, 36, and 37, the outdoor unit 41 has one general-purpose adapter 45, and the outdoor unit 51 has two general-purpose adapters 55 and 56. It will be arrange | positioned near each outdoor unit 31,41,51. Before these general-purpose adapters are attached to the outdoor units 31, 41, 51, unique identification addresses are set in advance by the identification address DIP switches 7 and group numbers are assigned by the grouping DIP switches 8. Is done. The identification address DIP switch 7 is set so that each general-purpose adapter has a unique identification address. As for the group number, any number from 0 to 15 is set, but the same group is used for general-purpose adapters (for example, general-purpose adapters 35, 36, and 37) used as a bundle for the same air conditioning equipment. The number is set. That is, a group of general-purpose adapters having the same group number is used as one group for managing the same one air conditioner. The general-purpose adapter used for the same air conditioner may have the same group number, and the group number itself may be any number that can be distinguished from other groups. In particular, it does not match the group number with the model name.
[0039]
On the other hand, when a single general-purpose adapter is used to manage only one air conditioner, such as a general-purpose adapter 45 attached to the outdoor unit 41, the group number of the general-purpose adapter is set to 0. . This is because it can be determined that the air conditioner is used for the target air conditioner only by the identification address. Therefore, it is not necessary to assign a unique group number to a usage form that occupies most of the use of one general-purpose adapter for managing one facility, and the number of DIP switches constituting the grouping DIP switch 8 is eliminated. Need to be increased. As described above, the identification of the general-purpose adapter group having the group number 0 is performed by the identification address by the identification address DIP switch 7.
[0040]
As described above, the universal adapters to which the identification address and the group number are given in advance are respectively installed at the installation locations of the outdoor units 31, 41, 51,. Attached to. At this time, naturally, a general-purpose adapter is installed to the outdoor units 31, 41, 51,... Of the corresponding air-conditioning equipment based on the group number (the identification address is the group number 0). When the general-purpose adapter attached to the air-conditioning equipment is connected to the central air-conditioning management device 15 via the transmission line 19, the central air-conditioning management device 15 uses the general-purpose adapter by information acquisition means for obtaining various information from the general-purpose adapter. The identification address and the group number can be ascertained every time. At this stage, the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 grasps the installation information of the air-conditioning equipment connected via the general-purpose adapter as shown in FIG. Here, it is recognized that an air conditioner exists for each general-purpose adapter for a group number 0, and that an air conditioner exists for each group number for a group number other than 0. Then, in the same manner as the operation performed on the air-conditioning equipment including the outdoor unit 21 for each of the recognized air-conditioning equipments, the data such as the actual installation information is subjected to the air-conditioning centralized management by using the test operation tool (computer) 71. Input to the device 15. When an address or a model name is input from the test operation tool 71, the association of the air conditioning equipment, its address, the model name, and the general-purpose adapter used for connection is completed in the centralized air-conditioning management device 15. Here, the model name of the character string is input from the test operation tool 71 to the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 for each air-conditioning facility that is distinguished.
[0041]
In this way, the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 can automatically distinguish the air-conditioning equipment based on the identification address and the group number obtained from the general-purpose adapter. Eliminates the need for grouping work (manual work) to determine the attribution of adapters to air conditioning equipment.
[Input work to the centralized air-conditioning management device using the test run tool]
When the information of the installation of the air conditioning equipment and the association of the general-purpose adapter used for the connection are completed in the air conditioning central management device 15 as described above, the data on the air conditioning equipment is collected from the sensors 5 and the contacts 6 to the air conditioning central management device 15. Will come.
[0042]
In this case, since the number of the sensors 5 and the contacts 6 in the general-purpose adapter is constant, if the number of management items is less than the total number of the sensors 5 and the contacts 6 in the general-purpose adapter, the sensor 5 and the contacts 6 are left unused. May be. Therefore, the use / non-use status of the sensor 5 and the contact 6 is examined by using the test run tool 71, and the model-specific adapter standard connection data, which is information on the setting determined for each model of the air conditioning equipment, is used. It is grasped by downloading from another adapter standard connection data storage unit 81a.
[0043]
The work of grasping the use / non-use state of the sensors 5 and the contacts 6 using the test run tool 71 is roughly performed using the test run tool 71 for the use / unused / unset state of each sensor 5 and the contact 6. Is input to the centralized air-conditioning management device 15, and the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 transmits information obtained from the sensors 5 and the contacts 6 to the remote management center 80. The remote management center 80 that has received the information obtained from the sensors 5 and the contacts 6 in this way compares with the model-specific adapter standard connection data, and determines whether each of them matches with such standard connection data. The work of grasping the use / non-use state of the sensor 5 and the contact 6 is performed.
[0044]
For example, when information on the use / non-use state of each sensor 5 and contact 6 is input to the air conditioning central management device 15 using the test operation tool 71, and the use / unuse state of each sensor 5 and contact 6 from the remote management center 80 Is downloaded, the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 transmits the value measured from the sensor 5 or the contact 6 to the remote management center 80. Then, the remote management center 80 determines whether or not each sensor 5 or contact 6 is actually used based on the value, and finally determines whether each sensor 5 or contact 6 is used or unused. Is determined and grasped by the air-conditioning central management device 15 and the remote management center 80. If the remote management center 80 determines that the first input information of the used / unused state of each sensor 5 and the contact 6 is the same as the actual state, the remote management center 80 performs the centralized air conditioning management. Assuming that the input information is correct as it is without sending a reply to the device 15, the operation of grasping the used / unused state of each sensor 5 and the contact 6 is ended. The input of the information is specifically performed by a method of inputting the installation information for the used sensors 5 and contacts 6 and not inputting the installation information for the unused sensors 5 and contacts 6.
[0045]
[Setting operation by server computer in remote management center]
The following operation is specifically performed when the data on the used / unused state of each sensor 5 and contact 6 is downloaded from the remote management center 80 described above. First, the air-conditioning central management device 15 and the remote management center 80 communicate with each other. During this communication, the remote management center 80 communicates with the model name of the air-conditioning equipment connected to the air-conditioning central management device 15, the sensors 5 and the contacts. Recognize installation information. Then, the remote management center 80 transmits predetermined information corresponding to the installation information to the air-conditioning central management device 15. Specifically, when the remote management center 80 receives information such as the model name of the air conditioning equipment connected to the air conditioning central management device 15, the remote management center 80 Estimate 6 used / unused information.
[0046]
The estimation work of the remote management center 80 is performed based on the model-specific adapter standard connection data prepared in the model-specific adapter standard connection data storage unit 81a in the server computer 81. The model-specific adapter standard connection data is, for example, a default value of each measurement item determined for each model of an air conditioner that may be connected to the air conditioning central management device 15 via a general-purpose adapter. The model-specific adapter standard connection data prepared here includes the quantity information of the general-purpose adapter used for the model to be managed, and the connection destination information about each sensor 5 and the contact 6 of one or more general-purpose adapters. Contains.
[0047]
Then, the server computer 81 selects the necessary model-specific adapter standard connection data that is in the model-specific adapter standard connection data storage unit 81a and that corresponds to the model name recognized as described above. Then, the remote management center 80 transmits the selected necessary model-specific adapter standard connection data to the air conditioning central management device 15.
[0048]
Here, the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 already has information about the correspondence between the air conditioning equipment, its model name, and the general-purpose adapter used for connection by grasping the identification address and the group number of the general-purpose adapter. , And the information on the use / unused of the detection units 5 and 6 input from the test run tool 71 is integrated. As a result, the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 also recognizes which general-purpose adapter corresponds to which air-conditioning equipment, and whether the detectors 5 and 6 of the general-purpose adapter are used or unused. Will be able to do it. When the installation information is recognized, the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 communicates with the server computer 81 in the remote management center 80 via the public line 90.
[0049]
As a result, data corresponding to the management item of each model is entered in the sensor or contact field used among the blank fields such as “contact 1” and “sensor 1” shown in FIG.
At the time of establishing the communication, the remote management center 80 transmits the selected necessary data and the air-conditioning central management device 15 so as not to transmit the information detected from the unused detectors 5 and 6. Command to This command includes data that can be set so that the information of the unused detectors 5 and 6 is not transmitted from the air-conditioning central management device 15 to the remote management center 80. Thereby, the air-conditioning central management device 15 transmits only the information of the used detection units 5 and 6 to the remote management center 80, and transmits the information of the unused detection units 5 and 6 to the remote management center 80. Disappears.
[0050]
[Information processing work in remote management center 80]
The information processing work in the remote management center 80 is performed by the following method.
For example, the remote management center 80 acquires information detected from the detection units 5 and 6 attached to the equipment while the equipment is operating. If the acquired information deviates from a certain threshold, the equipment is diagnosed as being in a state where an abnormality is predicted or in an abnormal state based on the degree of deviation, and management is performed by the remote management center 80. The buzzer sounds the buzzer. Further, the following method is further employed in order to diagnose the abnormality of the equipment in more detail.
[0051]
For example, a part of information to be diagnosed first among all the information obtained by the remote management center 80 is determined. Further, an item to be diagnosed first based on this part of information and predetermined conditions for diagnosing the item are defined. Then, when the partial information satisfies a predetermined condition of the item to be diagnosed first, the normality / abnormality of the other item to be diagnosed is determined. More specifically, when a part of the information detected from the detection units 5 and 6 simultaneously satisfies the temperature condition of the installation environment of the equipment and the temperature condition of each part of the equipment, the equipment For example, it is possible to determine whether the operation state of the component is normal or abnormal.
[0052]
According to this method, when the information detected from the specific detection units 5 and 6 is determined, the determination can be performed while keeping the influence of the information from the surrounding environment constant. Note that a part of the information to be diagnosed first among all the information detected by the detecting units 5 and 6, the items to be diagnosed first and predetermined conditions can be determined in the remote management center 80 in advance.
[0053]
[When setting fewer management items than the standard adapter connection data for each model]
The model-specific adapter standard connection data read from the model-specific adapter standard connection data storage unit 81a includes the quantity information of the general-purpose adapter in the standard connection state of the target model, the sensor 5 and the contacts 6 of one or more general-purpose adapters. And information about the connection destination. When the sensor 5 and the contact 6 are connected according to the standard specification, remote control is performed according to each management item (hereinafter referred to as a manual management item) for performing information processing based on the model-specific adapter standard connection data. The management center 80 manages information obtained from the sensors 5 and the contacts 6.
[0054]
However, even when managing the models of the same type of air conditioning equipment, there are cases where it is desired to set fewer management items than the manual management items of the model, depending on the use at the installation location. Here, the sensor 5 and the contact 6 corresponding to a place where the number of the management items is smaller than that of the manual management item are the unused sensor 5 and the contact 6. In such a case, the model operation tool 71 is used to input the model name and the information on the used / unused state of the sensor 5 and the contact 6 to the air-conditioning central management device 15 and perform the same operation as described above. become.
[0055]
When the communication between the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 and the server computer 81 is established, the remote management center 80 sends the information to the centralized air-conditioning management device 15 so that the information detected from the unused sensors 5 and the contacts 6 is not transmitted. Command. As a result, the information detected from the unused sensors 5 and the contacts 6 is not transmitted to the remote management center 80, so that unnecessary information detected from the unused sensors 5 and the contacts 6 is remotely managed. The information processing work in the center 80 will not be involved at all. Therefore, in the above-described information processing operation in the remote management center 80, there is an inconvenience that the sensor 5 or the contact 6 in the unused state reacts to the information detected, thereby erroneously diagnosing an abnormal state. Does not occur.
[0056]
On the other hand, a part where the installation state of the sensor 5 or the contact 6 matches the manual management item is a part to be detected in the standard connection state in the manual management item. Therefore, the air-conditioning central management device 15 can transmit information corresponding to the manual management item to the remote management center 80 for a portion where the manual management item matches the installation state of the sensor 5 or the contact 6 or the management item.
[0057]
As for the part where the setting according to the manual is performed in this manner, the model name and the information on the used / unused state of the sensor 5 and the contact 6 are input using the test run tool 71. Then, when communication between the air conditioning central management device 15 and the server computer 81 is established, the model-specific adapter standard connection data is taken into the air conditioning central management device 15. As a result, the data is put into the columns of the sensor 5 and the contact 6 which are used in the same manner as the standard connection state in the manual management item among the blanks such as the “contact 1” and the “sensor 1” shown in FIG. Will be done.
[0058]
As described above, even when the number of management items is smaller than the number of manual management items, by inputting the model name and the information on the used / unused state of the sensor 5 and the contact 6 using the test run tool 71, The remote management center 80 can perform management based on the model-specific adapter standard connection data.
<Features of the present system and the air-conditioning central management device 15>
(1)
In this system, even when managing an air conditioner that does not employ the protocol adopted by the central air conditioner 15, the air conditioner can be managed by the central air conditioner 15 by inserting a general-purpose adapter. Can be managed. If the information detected by the sensors 5 and the contacts 6 includes information that does not need to be managed by the remote management center 80, the information of the sensors 5 and the contacts 6 that are not used by the test run tool 71 is used. , The air-conditioning central management device 15 can automatically transmit only the information that needs to be managed by the remote management center 80 to the remote management center 80 thereafter. For this reason, unnecessary information detected from the unused sensor 5 or the contact 6 is not transmitted to the remote management center 80, whereby the unused sensor 5 or the contact 6 is not transmitted to the remote management center 80. Since it is not necessary to receive the information detected by the remote management center 80, the amount of information processing performed by the remote management center 80 can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to prevent the management work from being confused due to such unnecessary information, and it is possible to improve the management accuracy.
[0059]
(2)
In this system, the model name of the air conditioning equipment to be managed and information on the use / non-use state of the sensor 5 and the contact 6 can be input to the air conditioning central management device 15 using the test run tool 71. Even if management based on manual management items corresponding to model names to be managed and manual management items are reduced, information management of air conditioning equipment according to each installation situation can be easily performed. I have.
[0060]
(3)
As shown in FIG. 6, the conventional equipment management device 115 transmits all information obtained from the general-purpose adapter 135 or the like to the remote management center 180, and the information obtained from the general-purpose adapter 135 or the like includes an unused sensor 5 and information detected from the contact 6. The information detected from the unused sensor 5 and the contact 6 is information unnecessary for management at the remote management center 180, and this unnecessary information is also communicated. Information communication with the management center 180 is wasted. Such useless communication of information may adversely affect communication of information necessary for management. As an adverse effect, for example, when the public line 90 or the like is crowded, the time required for the information sent from the facility management device 115 to reach the remote management center 180 is delayed, and real-time management is performed. This may have adverse effects such as the possibility of difficulty.
[0061]
On the other hand, the air-conditioning central management device 15 in the system of the present embodiment does not transmit information detected from the unused sensor 5 or the contact 6 to the remote management center 80. Therefore, it is possible to reduce waste of information communication. Further, in the case where management items are to be increased in order to obtain more detailed information on air conditioning equipment in the future, the reduction of the useless information communication amount is considered to be a more effective process, and the useless information communication It is possible to reach the remote management center 80 more smoothly than in the case where the amount is not reduced.
[0062]
<Modification>
(A)
In the above embodiment, the use of the general-purpose adapter is intended for the management of the air conditioning equipment, but it may be used for the purpose of monitoring such as analyzing various data of the air conditioning equipment.
[0063]
(B)
In the above embodiment, the description is given assuming a multi-type air conditioner for a building as a target air conditioner. However, as an air conditioner that can be connected to the central air conditioner 15, other air conditioners such as a central air conditioner can be used. Air conditioning equipment. Also, for example, various types of equipment also exist in the central air-conditioning equipment depending on differences in heat source equipment such as chillers, centrifugal chillers, absorption chillers, and the like, and differences in secondary air conditioning equipment. As described above, there are various types of air conditioning equipment to be targeted, and in consideration of differences in manufacturers, the model-specific adapter standard connection data storage unit 81a in the server computer 81 stores the local air conditioning system. The air-conditioning central management device 15 has large data that cannot be stored.
[0064]
(C)
In the above embodiment, the air-conditioning central management device 15 receives a command from the remote management center 80 so as not to transmit information detected from the sensor 5 or the contact 6 in the unused state. This command includes data that can be set so that the information of the unused sensor 5 and the contact 6 is not transmitted from the central air-conditioning management device 15 to the remote management center 80. Then, the air-conditioning central management device 15 determines whether or not to transmit information obtained from the general-purpose adapter to the remote management center 80 based on this command.
[0065]
However, the centralized air-conditioning management apparatus does not receive information about determination as to whether or not to transmit the information to the remote management center 80 from the remote management center 80, but uses a hard disk (HD), flexible disk (FD), or magneto-optical disk (MO). ) Is upgraded by using a drive that reads and writes on a recording medium, such as a centralized air-conditioning management device 15 (or a trial operation tool 71 temporarily connected to the air-conditioning central management device 15). You can also.
[0066]
<Other embodiments>
[When unused parts in the model-specific adapter standard connection data are used for special management, and when parts used in the model-specific adapter standard connection data are used for special management]
In the above embodiment, the amount of communication information is reduced by preventing information about the unused sensor 5 and the contact 6 from being transmitted to the remote management center 80.
[0067]
However, instead of this, as shown in FIG. 5, by using the surplus sensor 5 or contact 6 such as the unused sensor 5 or contact 6 for a new management target, the unused of the general-purpose adapter is used. It is also possible to specially manage (special management) the management objects 34, 34 ', and 44 other than the air conditioning equipment by using the state sensor 5 and the contact 6 as options. This makes it possible to optionally perform special management according to individual circumstances in the local air conditioning system of each building 10 or the like.
[0068]
Here, if the data detected by the special management is picked up while being included in one of the manual management items, since it is different from the target of the management standard of the manual management item, a management defect occurs. . For example, when managing the temperature of a freezer (for example, keeping the temperature at 5 ° C. or more and less than 8 ° C.) as a target of special management, a criterion for determining the indoor temperature of an air conditioner as one of the manual management items (eg, (At 24 ° C. or higher and lower than 26 ° C.).
[0069]
Therefore, when such special management is performed, the installation information and the like of the management target that is specially constructed in the local air-conditioning system of each building 10 and the like are checked, and the sensor 5 and the contact 6 used for the special management are checked. After confirming the installation information, the information is input to the air-conditioning central management device 15 using the test operation tool 71. Then, as the air-conditioning central management device 15 communicates with the remote management center 80, the target of the special management item can be excluded from the target of the manual management item in the same manner as in the above embodiment. In addition, this makes it possible to correct only the part of the item to be managed, which is specially constructed, among the data as shown in FIG. In this way, it can be added to the objects to be managed as the special managements 34, 34 ', 44.
(See FIG. 5)
It should be noted that not only the data of this special management item is taken, but also a reference value for performing management as data such as model-specific adapter standard connection data is provided, so that the remote management center 80 More specific management may be performed. In this case, a reference value or the like for managing the special management is determined based on the property of the item managed for the special management.
[0070]
As described above, by using the unused sensor 5 and the contact 6 for the special management, the surplus sensor 5 and the contact 6 can be used effectively.
The use of the unused sensor 5 for special management includes, for example, adjustment and management of the temperature of the computer room. Although the temperature adjustment of the computer room cannot be performed unless a person is always present in the computer room to change the set temperature, the temperature adjustment of the computer room is performed by using the surplus sensor 5 for such special management. It becomes possible. In addition, when calculating the amount of sunshine such as monitoring the growth of plants under certain conditions, the surplus sensor 5 can be used for detecting the brightness of such a place.
[0071]
In addition, when the unused contact 6 is used for special management, for example, the operation time of the refrigerator is read from the contact 6 to calculate the operating time and the power consumption is roughly estimated. be able to.
[0072]
【The invention's effect】
In the information management system according to the first aspect, even if various information obtained from the adapter includes information that does not need to be managed by the remote management center, the management device manages the information at the remote management center. Information that does not need to be recognized can be recognized and identified as information that needs to be managed by the remote management center. Therefore, the management apparatus can identify information that does not need to be managed by the remote management center before the management apparatus actually transmits the information to the remote management center. Processing performed on information can be reduced. Thus, here, even when the management target is connected to the management device via the adapter, the amount of information processed by the remote management center can be reduced.
[0073]
In the information management system according to the second aspect, the management device can receive the information of the criterion for performing the identification processing from the remote management center. For this reason, it is possible to eliminate the necessity that the management device is provided with the information of the criterion for performing the identification processing from the time of the installation work of the detection unit.
In the information management system according to the third aspect, the management device does not need to transmit information that does not need to be managed by the remote management center to the remote management center. Therefore, the amount of information communicated between the management device and the remote management center can be reduced.
[0074]
In the information management system according to the fourth aspect, the management device can identify that information from the unused detection unit among the plurality of detection units is information that does not need to be managed by the remote management center. Since the information from the unused detectors is information that does not need to be managed, the amount of information to be communicated can be reliably reduced by such an unnecessary amount of information.
[0075]
In the management system according to claim 5, these surplus detection units are used for management targets other than predetermined equipment. Thereby, the surplus detection unit can be effectively used.
In the management system according to the sixth aspect, the management device can identify information from the plurality of detection units as information on predetermined equipment and information to be managed other than the predetermined equipment. Accordingly, even when the surplus detection unit is used for a management target other than the predetermined equipment, the management device can identify information of each of various targets.
[0076]
In the management system according to the seventh aspect, the remote management center that has received the various information from the management device recognizes the various information separately from information on the predetermined equipment and information on the management target other than the predetermined equipment. be able to. Thus, even when the surplus detection unit is used for a management target other than the predetermined equipment, the remote management center can obtain information on the predetermined equipment and information on the management target other than the predetermined equipment. Therefore, it is possible to identify information of each of various objects even from a remote place.
[0077]
In the management system according to claim 8, the management device obtains various information of the air conditioner detected from the plurality of detection units. Accordingly, even when the predetermined equipment is an air conditioner having many management items, such an air conditioner can be remotely managed. Thus, here, even when the air conditioner is connected to the management device via the adapter, the air conditioner having many management items can be remotely managed.
[0078]
In the management device according to the ninth aspect, the management device performs identification processing for identifying various information obtained from the adapter into information from a used detection unit and information from an unused detection unit. Can be. Therefore, after the identification processing, the work on the information from the unused detector is not required, and the work amount can be reduced accordingly. As described above, here, even when the management target is connected to the management device via the adapter, the management device can reduce the amount of work for information from the unused detection unit.
[0079]
In the management device according to the tenth aspect, the management device can receive the information of the criterion for performing the identification process from the remote management center. For this reason, it is possible to eliminate the necessity that the management device is provided with the information of the criterion for performing the identification processing from the time of the installation work of the detection unit.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an air conditioner management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a test operation tool is connected to the local air conditioning system.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of two general-purpose adapters that connect an air-conditioning outdoor unit to an air-conditioning central management device.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of equipment management data in the centralized air-conditioning management device before the model name is input.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an information management system according to another embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional air conditioning equipment management system.
[Explanation of symbols]
5,5a, 5b, 5c, 5d Detection unit (sensor)
6, 6a, 6b Detector (contact point)
5a, 5b, 6a Unused detector
5c, 5d, 6b Detector used
15 management device (air conditioning central management device)
33, 43, 53 Management target, specified equipment (air conditioner)
34, 34 ', 44 Management target (Management target other than specified equipment)
35, 36, 37, 45, 55, 56 Adapters (general-purpose adapters)
63 Identification processing
64 Identification means
80 Remote Management Center
81 server computer
90 Communication line (public line)

Claims (10)

An information management system for managing managed objects (33, 34, 34 ', 43, 44, 53) including predetermined equipment,
An adapter (35, 36, 37, 45, 55, 56) having a plurality of detectors (5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6, 6a, 6b) for reading the various types of information to be managed;
A management device (15) for obtaining various information from the adapters (35, 36, 37, 45, 55, 56);
A remote management center (80) for obtaining various information from the management device (15) via a communication line (90) and remotely managing the management target;
With
The management device (15) manages various types of information obtained from the adapters (35, 36, 37, 45, 55, 56) with information that needs to be managed by the remote management center and with the remote management center. Perform identification processing (63) for identifying information that is not necessary;
Information management system. The management device (15) receives predetermined information from the remote management center (80) via a communication line (90),
Performing the identification process (63) based on the predetermined information;
The information management system according to claim 1. The management device (15) transmits only information that needs to be managed by the remote management center to the remote management center (80).
The information management system according to claim 1. The information that does not need to be managed by the remote management center is an unused detector (5a, 5b, 6a) among the plurality of detectors (5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6, 6a, 6b). Information from
The information management system according to claim 1. Among the plurality of detection units (5, 5c, 5d, 6, 6b) used, detection units (5c, 5d) other than the detection unit used for the predetermined equipment (33, 43, 53). , 6b) are used for management targets (34, 34 ', 44) other than the predetermined equipment.
The information management system according to claim 1. The management device (15) compares information obtained from the plurality of used detection units (5, 5c, 5d, 6, 6b) with information of the predetermined equipment (33, 43, 53). , And information of a management target (34, 34 ', 44) other than the predetermined facility equipment,
The information management system according to claim 5. The remote management center (80) stores information that needs to be managed by the remote management center, information of the predetermined equipment (33, 43, 53), and management objects (34, 34) other than the predetermined equipment. ', 44).
The information management system according to claim 5. The predetermined equipment is an air conditioner (33, 43, 53).
The information management system according to claim 1. A management device for managing a management target (33, 34, 34 ', 43, 44, 53) including predetermined equipment,
Various information is obtained from an adapter (35, 36, 37, 45, 55, 56) having a plurality of detection units (5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6, 6a, 6b) for reading the various information to be managed. Means to obtain information
The information obtained by the information obtaining means is transmitted from the detection units (5c, 5d, 6b) used among the plurality of detection units (5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6, 6a, 6b). Identification means (64) for performing identification processing (63) for identifying information and information from the unused detectors (5a, 5b, 6a);
A management device comprising: Receiving predetermined information via a communication line (90) from a remote management center (80) for remotely managing the management target;
Performing the identification process (63) based on the predetermined information;
The management device according to claim 9.

Images