JPH11219388A - Remote management system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: The present invention relates to a remote management system in which a server connected to a management system for a facility such as a building is connected to the Internet via a router and accessed from another server. It is an object of the present invention to be able to link a remote monitoring and control system such as a building management system with an Internet server. An internet interface accessed from another
(Interface) The server stores state information of the building management system and page information of the browser in HTML.
The accessing Internet IF server periodically accesses the URL, downloads and stores the updated page information, performs analysis of the stored page information by performing identification of corresponding image information and corresponding processing. When a difference from the previous analysis result is detected, the information is stored in a file of the server and information corresponding to the corresponding building management system is transmitted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a remote management system for remotely managing a building or the like. Conventionally, a building management system that manages air conditioning equipment, electrical equipment, heat source equipment, and sanitary equipment for a building uses a method that collects the status of building equipment as contact information via a private branch exchange and performs various controls and monitoring. Was done.

However, this method increases the cost, and in recent years there are many users who want to keep the equipment cost for building intelligent as much as possible, and it is desired to reduce the equipment cost in a management system such as a building management. .

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 9 shows the configuration of a conventional system for remotely managing building management. In the figure, reference numeral 80 denotes a group management system serving as a center for managing a group of buildings; 81, a modem for modulating and demodulating data; 82, a telephone line or a dedicated line; 83, a building management system for building A; The building management system 85 is a building management system using a different protocol from the protocol of the group management system of the center (the same as the protocol of the building management system of the buildings A and B).

In a conventional remote management system for building management,
State information is transmitted from the building management systems 83 and 84 of the individual buildings A and B to the center group management system 80 according to a dedicated protocol (communication procedure) via a telephone line or a dedicated line 82 and a modem 81. State information from the building management systems 83 and 84 of the buildings A and B is collected from the group management system 80 of the center, and the group management system 80 controls the building management systems 83 and 84 in accordance with the state. Send Note that the building management system 85 cannot be managed by the group management system 80 because it employs a different protocol.

In general buildings and the like, an intranet and the Internet are constructed by constructing a LAN. However, in the conventional system, since a dedicated protocol is used as described above, there is no relation with these networks. .

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a connection configuration of servers via the Internet. In this example, a server 1 whose URL (Uniform Resource Locators) is "A" and a server 2 whose URL is "B" are connected by the Internet, and the server 1 and the server 2 are each connected to a workstation (WWW).
It is connected to the terminals 1 and 2 configured in S). The processing flow in this configuration will be described in order as follows.

(1) The terminal 1 periodically checks the file update date of the page information of the terminal 2 managed by the server 2 via the server 1. (2) The terminal 2 sends an information update request to the server 2.

[0008] (3) The server 2 updates the page information managed by the server 2 with the page information sent from the terminal 2. (4) The terminal 1 confirms that the page information of the terminal 2 managed by the server 2 via the server 1 is new.
In the case of an HTML (Higher Text Mark-up Language) file, the file update date, ASP (Active Server Pa
ge), etc., check the update date of the database file.

(5) The terminal 1 notifies the user of the terminal 1 that the page information has been updated after the completion of the fetching of the page information of the terminal 2.

[0010]

As described above, since data is transmitted and received by digital signals via a telephone line or a dedicated line, only simple information can be exchanged, so that complicated signals cannot be transmitted. was there. In addition, there is a problem that only the closed information exchange as a group management system cannot be accessed by others. Further, there is a problem that the group management system cannot identify where the page information collected from each building management system has changed. In addition, since a dedicated protocol is used, there is a problem that it is impossible to cooperate with another monitoring system or the Internet.

Next, in the case of collection via the Internet in FIG. 10 described above, the user visually judges which of the page information collected is new as in the case of the telephone line or the dedicated line. There is a problem that new information cannot be automatically discriminated and that the collected page information content can be confirmed only by a web (WEB) browser.

An object of the present invention is to provide a remote management system such as a building management which can link a remote monitoring / control system such as a building management and a server of the Internet via the Internet.

[0013]

FIG. 1 shows the principle of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an Internet IF (interface) server (indicated by ISV), 1a is HTML
File, 1b is a terminal device operated by the operator, 2
Is a building management system, 2a is a state monitoring control unit, 3a, 3
b is a router, 4 is the Internet, 5 is another server (other ISV), and 6 is another building management system.

According to the present invention, a building management system is connected to the Internet to enable remote management based on HTML page information. The building management systems 2 and 6 are systems for managing air conditioning equipment, electric equipment, heat source equipment, sanitary equipment, lighting equipment, and the like of buildings provided in different areas, respectively. Alternatively, the status of each monitoring point of No. 6 is collected based on page information of the browser. Each piece of image information (image information) in the page information has a meaning, and the content displayed next to the image information also has a meaning. In this way, if image information is found, it is set so that predetermined processing is performed on the image, and at that time, the text displayed next to the image information is treated as data and monitored by the building management system. By converting to the same message format as the point being used, it can be used in the same way as point data.

In each of the ISV servers 1 and 6, the page information of the browser is unified by the expression method using the HTML language, thereby enabling automatic creation of page information and automatic recognition of display contents. Here, the Internet IF server 1 periodically accesses the other building management system 6 or the building management system 2 in its own facility by using each URL, and
The browser information of the ML text is collected, and only necessary information is extracted and managed as original information. For this information,
By comparing with the previously saved content, only the information that has changed (updated content) can be grasped, and the changed content (updated content) is automatically notified to the relevant location, It can control the management points and change the set values of various application functions. It is also possible to cooperate with other systems other than the building management, for example, a common ditch management system, a management system for roads and dams, and the like.

[0016]

FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of a system according to an embodiment. In the figure, 1, 2, and 3a are provided at one facility, and 1 is an Internet IF server (ISV) that collects information from other URLs, extracts only necessary data, and manages it as original data. ), 1
0 is an HTML file, 11 is each workstation (WS) constituting the LAN, 2 is a building management system, 20
Is a human interface (displayed by HIS) composed of a display, a keyboard, a mouse, etc., 21 is a distributed processing device of the building management system (displayed by DPS), 22 is a plurality of sensors and control terminals (denoted by RS: remote: Stations 23) are sensors for electrical equipment, air conditioning equipment, heat source equipment, sanitary equipment, lighting equipment, and the like. 3a, 3
b is a router (indicated by RT), 4 is the Internet, 5 is a normal WWW server, and 6 is another building management system.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the ISV 1
The monitoring and control of a plurality of systems, such as the building management system 2 connected by N and the building management system 6 connected to another server 5, are performed.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the cooperative processing with the building management system by the ISV. The processing flow of FIG. 3 is started at a time interval specified in advance, and when started, accesses a URL specified in advance (S1 in FIG. 3). This UR
L is a destination for obtaining necessary data, and is a server (for example, 6 in FIG. 2) of a building management system (for example, 6 in FIG. 2) provided in a remote place accessible via the Internet.
2 (5 in FIG. 2) (the building management system 2 in FIG. 2).
Are not accessed by the URL from ISV1). Upon access, it is determined whether the page information in HTML provided by the URL has been updated (S2 in FIG. 3). This determination is made by checking the update date of the page information file and the update date of the database file.
If the date is different from the previous update date, it is determined that the date has been updated. If the page information data held by the server (5 in FIG. 2) has been updated, the page information data stored in the server (ISV in FIG. 2) is stored.
1) (S3 in FIG. 3), and then the ISV
1 (S4).

Subsequently, the page information is analyzed (S5 in FIG. 3). In this method, the page information stored in the ISV 1 is analyzed by a predetermined processing method. The detailed processing contents are shown in FIG. 6 and will be described later.

When this analysis processing is completed, it is determined whether or not the processing flag (flg) = 1 (S6 in FIG. 3). When the processing flag = 1, it indicates that data is present by analysis, and in that case, comparison with the previous processing content is performed (S7 in FIG. 3). The details of the processing in S7 are shown in FIG. 7 described later. Here, the difference from the data at the time of the previous analysis is verified, and if there is a difference, the processing flag (flg) = 1 is set.
It is determined whether or not the post-processing flag (flg) is 1 (S8 in FIG. 3). If it is 1 (if there is a change), the information is stored in the ISV (S9), and the building management system The information (status update information and control information) is transmitted to the HIS 22 (human interface device 20 in FIG. 2) (S10 in FIG. 3), and the process ends.

Before explaining the contents of the page information analysis processing of S5, an example of a source of an HTML document (page information) provided from the building management system and a related case table master will be described with reference to FIGS. Will be described.

FIG. 4 shows H provided by the building management system.
It is a source example of a TML document. This HTML document is
"HEAD", "TITLE", "BODY", "IM
G ”and other tags. “IMG SRC =“ IMG1.
JPG "ALT =""> ADDRESS, P NAM
Four lines including E, STATUS, and OPTION <BR> are composed of a file name of an image (IMG), a point address, a point name, and the like.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a case table master of each file (IMG file name) in FIG. 4 described above. For each of the image files (IMG1 to IMGN) in FIG. 4, N = 4, for each case number (CASE No.) The definition for each item determined for each item is described. In this example, the case number 01 is the IMG file name “IMG
1. JPG "(JPG represents a compression code name), data 1
Indicates that the item is “point address”, the item of data 2 is “point name”, the item of data 3 is “status”, and the item of data 4 is “message text”. Hereinafter, case numbers 02 to 04 are defined as shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a processing flow for analyzing the page information, which is the detailed contents of S5 in FIG. S in FIG.
Subsequent to the processing of No. 4, the processing flag (flg) is set to 0 (S50 in FIG. 6), and the page document is read as a text document (S51). Next, HTML one line at a time from the top
The document is read (S52 in FIG. 6), and it is determined whether the document has been read to the end (S53). If the document has not been read to the end, whether or not the document has an image tag (tag: HTML document is designated for image display in a browser) It is determined (S54). If there is, the type of the IMG tag is recognized from the image (IMG) file (S55 in FIG. 6). Referring to FIG. 4, the image file is identified, and the case table shown in FIG. 5 is referred to from the image file number (S56 in FIG. 6). It is determined whether there is a case number corresponding to the case table (whether it is a number other than 0) (S57 in FIG. 6). If there is a case number, the processing flag (fl)
g) = 1 is set (S58 in FIG. 6), the process branches to the process corresponding to the case number (S59), and the process corresponding to each case number (S60) is executed. In this case, the case number processing includes event control and setting value change of various application functions. The building monitoring system can have the same function as the monitoring point according to each case. For example, the building monitoring system performs setting of a state change and notification of an alarm.

FIG. 7 is a processing flow for comparison with the previous processing content, and is a detailed content of S7 in FIG. FIG. 3 above
Following the processing in S6, the processing flag (flg) is set to 0 first (S1 in FIG. 7), and the information (the information obtained last time) recognized by the ISV (1 in FIG. 2) is collected. (S2 in FIG. 7). This information is referred to as Data1 (n). Then HT
Information recognized from the ML document (information collected this time) is collected, and this information is set as Data2 (n) (S in FIG. 7).
3). Next, it is determined whether Data1 = Data2 (S4 in FIG. 7). In this case, discrimination is made for each of the n data, and when they do not match, that is, when it is found that the data has changed, the processing flag (flg) is set to 1 (S5 in FIG. 7) and the process is terminated. If they match, the process ends.

FIG. 3 shows a processing flow when page information is collected. A server of a building management system (a server receiving an inquiry) that provides such information performs processing for automatically creating page information.

FIG. 8 is a processing flow for automatically creating page information. The process shown in FIG. 8 is started at regular intervals by the building management system. However, for each point in the building management system, a WEB flag is provided as a flag indicating whether or not to display a browser, and W
EB flag = 1 is set in advance. When activated, first, state change data (data representing a state change) generated between the previous activation and the current activation is collected (S1 in FIG. 8).
Thereafter, a loop for the number of state change data is started (S in FIG. 8).
2), it is determined whether or not the WEB flag is 1 for each shape change data (S3 in FIG. 8). If the WEB flag is not 1, the flow is terminated. Is converted to page information (S4).
In this conversion process, an HTML document is created using FIGS. It is determined whether the next state change data exists (S5 in FIG. 8), and if not, it is saved as an HTML file (HT).
The ML file is updated) (S6), and is registered as a browser-like modified data in the server (ISV1 or SV5 in FIG. 2) (S7). In this way, the HTML file is registered in the server so that it can be accessed from the browser, and can be viewed from outside.

In the building monitoring system according to the present invention, WE
The page information (HTML document) in the B browser is expressed in the format shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the image information of the page information (the IMG file name in FIGS. 4 and 5) is given a meaning, so that the recognition process is performed. Branch in the process. Next, specific information is expressed next to the image data (data 1, data 2,..., Etc. in FIGS. 4 and 5), and the information next to the image information of the page information is converted by a predetermined recognition method. I do.
This makes it possible to automatically create page information.

Also, by enabling the above-mentioned automation,
Various controls and monitoring can be performed by automatically triggering page information in cooperation with other systems. The following examples 1 to 3 can be given as application examples of the present invention to cooperate with other systems.

Example 1 Cooperation with the Building Management System of Another Building In building A, the data of the rain gauge on the roof is automatically delivered as page information of the browser, and in building B, the page information of building A is periodically monitored. Confirming the rain gauge data When the rain gauge data changes from 0 to xmm, the building management system of the building A is notified to that effect. In the building management system,
Receiving the rain gauge information, the external air intake control is stopped, and the damper closing operation is automatically performed.

Example 2 Cooperation with a maintenance company When security company A is guarding a plurality of buildings,
Each building has a building management system that converts security information into browser page information and distributes it periodically. The security company A automatically monitors the browser information of each building and, when an abnormality occurs, notifies the security system of the security company A of the information.

Example 3 Cooperation with Electric Power Company The monthly billing amount and usage amount of a building for which electric power company A has a power supply contract are distributed as page information of a browser. ISV of each building (Internet IF
The server 1) accesses the page information every month, collects the billing amount and the usage amount of the own building, and manages it as a management point of the building management system. The building management system compares the billing amount and the usage amount data with the usage amount measured in the own building, and calculates an appropriate billing amount to each tenant in the building.

[0033]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained by configuring a remote monitoring system for building management or the like using the Internet.

(1) T on the Internet for remote monitoring
Since a standard protocol such as the CP / IP protocol can be used, it can be linked with any CPU. (2) Complex contents can be exchanged by reading the page information of the URL as character information.

(3) Various information can be used by making the display format and reading format of the page information common. (4) According to the above (3), it is possible for the CPU to automatically grasp the contents of the change and notify the change.

(5) By linking page information with various systems, various link controls can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a principle configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of a cooperative processing with a building management system by an ISV.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a source of an HTML document provided from a building management system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a case table master of each file.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a processing flow of page information analysis.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a processing flow for comparison with the previous processing content.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a processing flow of automatic creation of page information.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional remote monitoring and control of a building.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a connection configuration of a server via the Internet.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ISV (Internet interface server) 1a HTML file 1b Terminal device 2 Building management system 2a Status monitoring control part 3a Router 3b Router 4 Internet 5 Server 6 Other building management systems

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A remote management system in which a server connected to a management system for a facility such as a building is connected to the Internet via a router and accessed from another server, and an Internet IF (interface) server accessed from another. Stores the state information of the building management system in HTML as page information of the browser, and the Internet IF server that accesses the URL periodically stores the URL.
To access and download the updated page information, save it, analyze the saved page information by identifying the corresponding image information and performing the corresponding processing, and detect the difference from the previous analysis result. A remote management system that stores information in a file of the server and transmits information corresponding to the building management system. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a table for associating character information having a specific meaning with each image information of said page information, wherein said table is referred to by using image information. A remote management system characterized by recognizing a user. 3. The remote management system according to claim 2, wherein said recognized character information is converted into the same message format as the status change of the management point managed by the building management system and is taken into the building management system. system. 4. The server according to claim 1, wherein the server accessed from the other has provided in advance a flag for displaying whether or not to display a browser as information of points managed by the building management system. A remote management system wherein page information is created for information of a point corresponding to a point set in a browser display.