JP2006295710A - Information communication system and master unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information communication system wherein display data can be efficiently transmitted to a specific slave unit when performing data communication between a master unit and a plurality of slave units and it is not necessary to perform error display or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The present invention relates to an information communication system for cyclically repeatedly performing data communication based on preset order between one master unit and a plurality of slave units, wherein the master comprises a display data storage means for storing display data to be transmitted to a specific first slave among the plurality of slaves, a stop command transmitting means for transmitting a stop command to second slaves other than the first slave, a recovery command transmitting means for transmitting a recovery command to the second slaves, and a transmission control means for transmitting the stop command to all the second slaves when starting transmitting display data to the first slave, and for transmitting the recovery command to all the second slaves when stopping transmitting the display data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information communication system in which data communication is periodically repeated between a single master device and a plurality of slave devices based on a preset order, and a master device constituting this system.

  In such an information communication system, one communication control device (master device) and n information display devices (slave devices) are connected by a serial communication line such as RS485 to perform data communication. Such an information communication system is installed, for example, in a production line in a factory, designates a specific slave device from a master device, and transmits display data (corresponding to individual data). The designated slave device performs display based on the received display data. In addition, even when the display device does not transmit display data, the master device constantly communicates with the slave devices and communicates with each slave device equally, so communication with the n slave devices is repeated in cycles. ing. This communication mode is shown in FIG.

  First, the command c1 is transmitted from the master device to the slave device 1. In response to this, the slave device 1 returns a response command r1. Next, the command c2 is transmitted from the master device to the slave device 2. The slave device 2 returns a response command r2 to the master device. Similarly, the master device transmits commands c3 to cn to the slave devices 3 to n, and each slave device 3 to n returns response commands r3 to rn. When receiving the response command rn from the slave device n, the master device repeats the command transmission to the slave device 1.

  An operation flowchart of the master device in the above communication system will be described with reference to FIG. First, the master device transmits a command c1 to the slave device 1 (# 1-1). When the master device receives the response command r1 from the slave device 1 (# 1-2), the master device transmits a command c2 to the slave device 2 (# 2-1). If the response command r1 from the slave device 1 has not been received, it is determined whether or not a timeout time has elapsed after the command is transmitted to the slave device 1 (# 1-3). If the response command r1 cannot be received within the time-out period, the master device recognizes that the slave device 1 is not in the command reception state (# 1-4).

  Thereafter, after the command c2 is transmitted to the slave device 2, the same processing procedure is performed up to the slave device n, and then the process returns to step (# 1-1) again to repeat the command transmission to the slave device 1.

  On the other hand, an operation flowchart in the slave device is shown in FIG. First, it is determined whether a command addressed to the own device is received from the master device (# 10). If it is received, a response command is returned to the master device (# 14). If the command addressed to the device itself has not been received, it is determined whether the command waiting time from the master device has reached the timeout time (# 11). If the timeout time has elapsed, the master device can send the command. (# 12). After this recognition, it is determined whether or not a command addressed to itself is received from the master device (# 13). If the command is received, a response command is returned to the master device (# 14).

  As described above, the master device performs data communication with a plurality of (n) slave devices 1 to n in a preset order (in this case, slave device 1 → slave device 2 →... → slave device n). Is repeated cyclically.

  Further, as a system for performing data communication between a master device and a slave device, a communication system disclosed in Patent Document 1 below is known. The communication system according to Patent Document 1 transmits and receives periodic transmission data at a predetermined transmission cycle between one master station and a plurality of slave stations connected to the master station through a full-duplex serial transmission line. This is a system in which non-periodic transmission data that does not need to be periodically transmitted is exchanged during idle time in which regular transmission data within the transmission period specified by the transmission period is not exchanged. .

JP 2004-242031 A

  In the system described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, display data may be transmitted from the master device to a specific slave device. For example, there is a need to change the display content of a specific slave device (for example, slave device 1) among n slave devices. Such display data is transmitted on a command transmitted to each slave device. However, when the amount of display data to be transmitted is large, the display data is divided and transmitted several times. .

  Considering sending display data to the slave device 1, if there are n slave devices, the display data for one time divided into the slave devices 1 is sent, and then the remaining n-1 slave devices are sequentially commanded. Transmission is performed and a response command for each command is received. Even when there is no need to transmit display data to the remaining n-1 slave devices, since data communication is performed in a cycle as described above, it takes time to transmit display data to the slave device 1. This causes a problem that the display contents of the slave device 1 cannot be changed smoothly.

  Assuming that K hours are required for command transmission / response command reception to the slave devices 1 to n, command communication to the slave device 1 is performed once every K × n hours. Assuming that the number of divisions of the display data is m, the required time is m times × K time × n units = mnK time until transmission of all display data to the slave device 1 is completed. Transmission efficiency was not good.

  Further, if communication is exclusively performed only for the slave device 1, slave devices other than the slave device 1 do not receive commands from the master device, so that the master device transmits a command as in step # 12 of FIG. It will be recognized that it is not possible, and an error display or a display indicating that it is connected to another device will be displayed.

  Further, in the communication system in Patent Document 1 described above, the non-periodic transmission data (corresponding to the display data) is used by using the idle time during which the periodic transmission data from the master station to each of the n slave stations is not performed. To be sent. However, even when non-periodic transmission data is transmitted, it is necessary to always exchange periodic transmission data with all the slave stations. Therefore, if the amount of non-periodic transmission data increases, a large amount of data is required until data transmission is completed. It will take time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its problem is to efficiently transmit display data to a specific slave device when performing data communication between the master device and a plurality of slave devices. It is possible to provide an information communication system that does not need to display an error and the like, and a master device that constitutes this system.

In order to solve the above problems, an information communication system according to the present invention provides:
An information communication system in which data communication is repeated cyclically based on a preset order between one master device and a plurality of slave devices,
The master device is
Individual data storage means for storing display data to be transmitted to a specific first slave device among a plurality of slave devices;
Stop command transmitting means for transmitting a stop command to a second slave device other than the first slave device;
Return command transmission means for transmitting a return command to the second slave device;
At the start of display data transmission to the first slave device, a stop command is transmitted to all of the second slave devices, and at the end of transmission of the individual data, transmission to transmit a return command to all of the second slave devices. And a control means.

  The operation and effect of the information communication system will be described. In this system, data communication is repeated cyclically based on a preset order between one master device and a plurality of slave devices. The master device has the following functions. ing.

  That is, individual data to be transmitted to a specific first slave device among the plurality of slave devices is stored in the individual data storage means. When trying to transmit individual data, a stop command is transmitted to all second slave devices other than the first slave device. By this stop command, the second slave device can recognize that it is in a normal state without receiving a command from the master device. Thus, the master device can communicate with only the first slave device, and individual data can be transmitted in a short time. When the transmission of the individual data is completed, a return command is transmitted to all the second slave devices. Thereby, the second slave device can recognize that the normal communication mode has been restored. As a result, when performing data communication between a master device and a plurality of slave devices, an information communication system that can efficiently transmit individual data to a specific slave device and does not need to display an error or the like. Can be provided.

  In the present invention, the number of first slave devices that are to transmit individual data is not limited to one, and may be two or more. In that case, the contents of the individual data may be different for each slave device, or a part or all of them may transmit the same individual data.

In the present invention, a host computer connected to the master device is
Destination setting means for setting a slave device to which individual data is to be transmitted;
Individual data setting means for setting individual data to be transmitted;
A division number setting means for setting the division number of the individual data to be transmitted;
It is preferable to include a communication command unit that commands the master device based on the setting data by the transmission destination setting unit, the individual data setting unit, and the division number setting unit.

  When individual data is transmitted, necessary items are set in the host computer connected to the master device. That is, the slave device to which the individual data is to be transmitted, the content of the individual data to be transmitted, and the number of divisions of the individual data are set. These set data are transmitted from the host computer to the master device by the communication command means. This host computer can perform centralized control of the master device and slave devices.

The master device constituting the information communication system according to the present invention,
Individual data storage means for storing individual data to be transmitted to a specific first slave device among a plurality of slave devices;
Stop command transmitting means for transmitting a stop command to a second slave device other than the first slave device;
Return command transmission means for transmitting a return command to the second slave device;
At the start of transmission of individual data to the first slave device, a stop command is transmitted to all of the second slave devices, and at the end of transmission of the individual data, transmission to send a return command to all of the second slave devices And a control means.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the transmission control means divides the individual data according to the set number of divisions when transmitting the individual data.

  The operation and effect of the master device having such a configuration is as described above.

  In this invention, it is preferable that the said stop command transmission means transmits the same stop command with respect to all the 2nd slave apparatuses.

  By transmitting a stop command that can be recognized by all the second slave devices, a configuration in which a response command is not returned can be achieved, and the time until the end of transmission of individual data can be further shortened.

  In the present invention, the slave device is preferably an information display device that receives display data as the individual data and performs external display using LEDs.

  A preferred embodiment of an information communication system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of the system.

<System configuration>
A link terminal 10 is provided as a master device (parent device), and is connected to a plurality of (for example, 32) information display devices 11 through a serial communication line such as RS485. The information display device 11 corresponds to a slave device (child device). The information display device 11 includes a matrix LED panel. When display data is received from the link terminal 10, the information display device 11 performs display on the LED panel based on the display data. Although various embodiments can be considered as the information display device 11, it is not limited to a specific shape / structure. The link terminal 10 is connected to a host computer 20 (hereinafter abbreviated as “host”), and receives a command signal related to transmission of display data from the host 20.

  The link terminal 10 can communicate equally with all the information display devices 11 connected by the serial communication line, and can repeatedly perform data communication in a cycle based on a preset order. The preset order is, for example, 11 (1) → (2) → (3) →... (N) → (1) → (2) in the information display apparatus 11 shown in FIG. When the communication for one cycle from the information display devices 11 (1) to (n) is completed, the processing returns to 11 (1) again to repeat the data communication. Such a communication order can be set in the host 20, and the setting can be changed as appropriate.

  The link terminal 10 and each information display device 11 communicate with each other in this manner, thereby monitoring each other's operation status and transmitting / receiving necessary data. Further, in the information display device 11, information is displayed by LEDs, but when the display content needs to be changed, desired display data (corresponding to individual data) is transmitted from the link terminal 10 to a specific information display device. 11 is transmitted. This transmission of display data is performed to the necessary information display device 11 when necessary, and is not always performed. For example, when trouble occurs in the production line, display data for displaying the fact is transmitted.

<Main functions of the system>
The main functions of the information communication system shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The host 20 can be constituted by a general-purpose personal computer, for example, and a communication program 21 for issuing a communication command to the link terminal 10 is installed. A computer other than a general-purpose personal computer may be used to fulfill the function as a host computer.

  The main functions of the communication program 21 will be described in order. The transmission destination setting means 21a sets the information display device 11 to which display data is to be transmitted. The information display device 11 to be set is one or more of n units, and is designated as necessary. The display data setting unit 21b (corresponding to the individual data setting unit) sets display data to be transmitted to the designated information display device 11. The setting is performed, for example, by inputting using an input operation unit such as a keyboard or a mouse, or by selecting a specific one from a display data group prepared in advance. When a plurality of information display devices 11 are designated, different display data may be set for each, or the same display data may be set. That is, it is preferable that the contents of the display data can be set freely according to the situation.

  The division number setting means 21c has a function of setting the division number of display data when display data is transmitted. Since the amount of display data may increase and the amount of data transmitted in a single data communication is limited, when the amount of display data increases, Send it in pieces.

  The communication command unit 21d issues a command to the link terminal 10 based on the data set by the transmission destination setting unit 21a, the display data setting unit 21b, and the division number setting unit 21c.

  Next, main functions of the link terminal 10 will be described. The storage circuit 12 stores data to be transmitted to each information display device 11 and data received from each information display device 11. The display data storage unit 12a stores display data transmitted in response to a command from the host 20. The communication circuit 13 is a circuit for performing communication between the link terminal 10 and each information display device 11. The stop command transmission unit 13 a has a function of transmitting a stop command to each information display device 11. After transmitting this stop command, communication to the information display device 11 is temporarily stopped. The return command transmission unit 13 b has a function of transmitting a return command to each information display device 11. When this return command is transmitted, the communication stop state to each information display device 11 can be canceled and the normal communication state can be returned.

  The control circuit 14 is an electronic circuit that controls the storage circuit 12 and the communication circuit 13. The transmission control unit 14 a controls the communication circuit 13 so as to transmit the stop command and the return command to the information display device 11. Further, the display data transmission control unit 14b performs control so as to transmit the display data in the set division number based on a command from the host 20.

  Next, main functions of the information display device 11 will be described. The storage circuit 15 stores data received from the link terminal 10 and data to be transmitted to the link terminal 10. The communication circuit 16 is a circuit for performing communication between the link terminal 10 and the information display device 11. The control circuit 17 is an electronic circuit that controls the storage circuit 15 and the communication circuit 16. The configurations of the storage circuit 15, the communication circuit 16, and the control circuit 17 can be basically the same as those of the link terminal 10.

  The display control circuit 18 has a function of causing the LED display panel 19 to perform a desired display based on the display data stored in the storage circuit 15. The LED display panel 19 can display desired information by controlling turning on / off the LED dots arranged in a matrix.

<Operation when sending display data>
Next, the operation in the case of transmitting display data will be described with reference to FIG. When transmitting display data, the host 20 first gives an instruction regarding the information display device 11 to which display data is to be transmitted, the display data to be transmitted, and the number of data divisions to the link terminal 10. In the following description, a case where display data is transmitted only to the information display device 11 (1) will be described. That is, the information display device 11 (1) corresponds to the first slave device, and the remaining information display devices 11 (2) to (n) correspond to the second slave device.

  First, after the command c1 is transmitted from the link terminal 10 to the information display device 11 (1), stop commands c2 to cn are transmitted to the information display devices 11 (2) to (n). The information display devices 11 (2) to 11 (n) that have received the stop command return response commands r2 to rn corresponding thereto. Thereby, the information display apparatuses 11 (2) to (n) shift to the communication stop mode. In the communication stop mode, even if a command from the link terminal 10 is not received, it is not regarded as abnormal.

  When the communication stop mode is entered, communication is performed only between the link terminal 10 and the designated information display device 11 (1), and the display data is transmitted with the display data placed on the command c1. . The display data is transmitted by being divided by a preset division number (m).

  When communication for the set number of divisions (m) is completed, transmission of display data is completed, and a return command is transmitted to the information display devices 11 (2) to (n). As a result, the communication stop mode is canceled and the normal communication mode is restored.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation flowchart in the information display device 11. The information display device 11 waits for a command received from the link terminal 10 addressed to itself (# 20). It is determined whether the command is a stop command (# 21). If it is not a stop command, a response command is transmitted to the link terminal 10 (# 22).

  In the case of a stop command, it waits for a command received from the link terminal 10 addressed to itself (# 23). At this time, it is determined whether or not the command is a return command (# 24). If it is a return command, a response command to the command is returned to the link terminal 10. As described above, when the stop command is received, the information display device 11 enters the communication stop mode until the return command is received. When the return command is received, the information display device 11 returns to the normal communication mode.

  Note that the number of information display devices 11 to which display data is to be transmitted is not limited to one, and an arbitrary number of n or less can be set. In the communication in FIG. 3, when transmitting a stop command, the command includes ID data for specifying the information display device 11. Therefore, each information display device 11 can determine whether or not the data is addressed to itself by using this ID data.

  Instead, a stop command (identical stop command) that can be recognized by all of the information display devices 11 (2) to (n) may be transmitted. The communication operation in this case will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, the information display devices 11 (2) to (n) can receive the stop command at the same time. In this case, since a response command is transmitted simultaneously, in order to avoid this, the information display apparatuses 11 (2) to 11 (n) do not return a response command to the link terminal 10.

<Effect>
As described above, when display data is transmitted, it is not necessary to communicate with the information display device 11 that does not transmit display data. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time until transmission of display data is completed. In addition, by transmitting the stop command in advance, it is not determined that there is an abnormality even if the command is not transmitted to the information display device 11 in the stopped state.

  Next, a description will be given of the time required until data transmission ends when data is divided into m times and transmitted to the information display device 11. The communication time for one information display device 11 is K.

Transition time to stop mode: n units x K time = nK time Display data transfer time: m times x K time = mK time Return time to normal mode: n units x K time = nK time Therefore, 2nK + mK time in total It becomes. The conventional communication method shown in FIG. 6 requires mnK time.

If m = 100 and n = 10,
The conventional method is 1000K hours, and the method according to the present invention is 120K hours, and the time required for data transfer is reduced to 1/8. The effect of shortening the time becomes larger as the amount of display data is larger and as the number of information display devices 11 connected is larger.

<Another embodiment>
In the present embodiment, a combination of a link terminal and an information display device has been described as an example of a master device and a slave device, but the present invention is not limited to this. Although RS485 was illustrated as a specific example of serial communication, it is not limited to this, and other methods may be used. In addition, it does not matter whether the communication is wireless or wired.

Schematic diagram showing an overview of an information communication system Block diagram showing functions of information communication system Diagram showing communication operation when display data is transmitted Operation flowchart in information display device The figure which shows another communication operation when transmitting display data Diagram showing communication operation in the prior art Flow chart showing the operation of the master device in the prior art Flow chart showing operation of slave device in the prior art

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Link terminal 11 Information display apparatus 12 Storage circuit 12a Display data storage means 13 Communication circuit 13a Stop command transmission means 13b Return command transmission means 14 Control circuit 14a Transmission control means 14b Display data transmission control means 15 Storage circuit 16 Communication circuit 17 Control circuit 18 Display control circuit 19 LED display panel 20 Host computer 21 Communication program 21a Transmission destination setting means 21b Display data setting means 21c Division number setting means 21d Communication command means

Claims (6)

An information communication system in which data communication is repeated cyclically based on a preset order between one master device and a plurality of slave devices,
The master device is
Individual data storage means for storing individual data to be transmitted to a specific first slave device among a plurality of slave devices;
Stop command transmitting means for transmitting a stop command to a second slave device other than the first slave device;
Return command transmission means for transmitting a return command to the second slave device;
At the start of display data transmission to the first slave device, a stop command is transmitted to all of the second slave devices, and at the end of transmission of the individual data, transmission to transmit a return command to all of the second slave devices. An information communication system comprising control means. A host computer connected to the master device is
Destination setting means for setting a slave device to which individual data is to be transmitted;
Individual data setting means for setting individual data to be transmitted;
A division number setting means for setting the division number of the individual data to be transmitted;
2. The information according to claim 1, further comprising: a communication command unit that commands the master device based on the setting data by the transmission destination setting unit, the individual data setting unit, and the division number setting unit. Communications system. A master device constituting the information communication system according to claim 1 or 2,
Individual data storage means for storing individual data to be transmitted to a specific first slave device among a plurality of slave devices;
Stop command transmitting means for transmitting a stop command to a second slave device other than the first slave device;
Return command transmission means for transmitting a return command to the second slave device;
At the start of transmission of individual data to the first slave device, a stop command is transmitted to all of the second slave devices, and at the end of transmission of the individual data, transmission to send a return command to all of the second slave devices And a control device.   4. The master apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transmission control unit divides and transmits the individual data according to the set division number when transmitting the individual data.   The master device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the stop command transmitting means transmits the same stop command to all the second slave devices.   The master device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the slave device is an information display device that receives display data as the individual data and performs external display using an LED.

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