JP4848858B2 - Controller - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a control controller that is used in a home automation (HA) system or the like and controls two types of operation states of a controlled device such as an air conditioner in accordance with a control request from the outside.

  Conventionally, as this type of controller 1, as shown in FIG. 12, an interface unit (hereinafter referred to as IFU) connected to the controlled device A via the connection line 2 is built-in. An operation control signal that reverses the type of operation state is transmitted to the controlled device A, and an operation monitor signal indicating the operation state of the controlled device A is received from the controlled device A. When the controlled device A receives the operation control signal, the two types of operation states are alternately inverted. The two types of operating states here are the operating state in which the controlled device A is functioning normally, and the controlled device stops its function, and the next operating control signal shifts to the operating state. It means possible stop state.

  When receiving a control request from the outside, the controller 1 controls the operation state of the controlled device A by transmitting an operation control signal based on the operation monitor signal at that time. That is, for example, when receiving a control request for setting the controlled device A in an operating state, the controller 1 detects the operating state of the controlled device A by receiving an operation monitor signal from the controlled device A, If the controlled device A is in the operation state, the operation control signal is not transmitted. On the other hand, if the controlled device A is in the stop state, the operation control signal is transmitted to the controlled device A.

  By the way, it is conceivable that remote control of the controlled device A is possible by using this type of control controller 1 to transmit a control request from the communication terminal 10 such as a mobile phone to the control controller 1 via a network. ing. Therefore, the control monitor 1 indicates the operation monitor signal after a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation control signal was transmitted so that the communication terminal 10 can confirm that the operation state of the controlled device A was normally controlled. A function is required for returning a control result indicating whether the operation state and the content of the control request match to the communication terminal 10.

Among the controlled devices A that transmit and receive operation control signals and operation monitor signals to and from the controller 1, air conditioners that are standardized by the JEM_A standard (JEM 1427 standard) (compliant with JEMA standard HA) There is a room air conditioner). In the JEM_A standard, as a connection condition between the air conditioner and the IFU, as shown in FIG. 13, the reversal of the operation state is started when the air conditioner starts receiving the operation control signal (FIG. 13 (a)). The response time Tr1 until it is reflected in the signal (FIG. 13B) is determined to be 350 ms or less (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). Therefore, the controller that complies with the JEM_A standard confirms the operation monitor signal at the time M when the monitor time Tm has elapsed from the start of transmission of the operation control signal, with the time obtained by adding several ms to 350 ms as the monitor time Tm. Returns the control result.
Japan Electrical Manufacturers 'Association Standard, “JEM 1427 Room Air Conditioner HA Terminal”, Japan Electrical Manufacturers' Association, August 31, 1988, p. 1-3

  However, in the controller 1 that complies with the JEM_A standard, the response time Tr2 from when the operation control signal is received until the inversion of the operation state is reflected in the operation monitor signal is the response time Tr1 (350 ms or less) defined by the JEM_A standard. For the controlled device A exceeding (), even if the operation monitor signal is confirmed at the time M when the monitor time Tm has elapsed from the transmission start time of the operation control signal, as shown in FIG. Since the inversion of the operation state by the operation control signal is not reflected, the operation state corresponding to the control request cannot be obtained. As a result, the control controller 1 erroneously determines a control error in the control result even though the operation state of the controlled device A can be controlled normally (that is, as requested by the control). Become.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described reason, and the controlled device from which the response time until the inversion of the operation state is reflected in the operation monitor signal from the reception start time of the operation control signal has been conventionally used. An object of the present invention is to provide a control controller that can obtain a correct control result even for a controlled device that is longer than the above.

In the first aspect of the invention, every time the operation control signal is transmitted to the controlled device, the two types of operation states of the controlled device are alternately inverted, and an operation monitor signal indicating the operation state of the controlled device is received. The control unit receives from the timer unit, the timer unit for starting the monitoring time period for monitoring the operation monitor signal from the start of transmission of the operation control signal, and the time point when the timer unit has completed the monitoring time limit And a confirmation means for receiving a driving monitor signal and judging whether or not the controlled device is normally controlled based on the driving monitor signal, and the monitoring time within a range not less than a predetermined lower limit value. possess and any settable monitoring time setting unit, said confirmation means receives separately the operation monitor signal from a plurality the controlled device based on the operation monitor signal Each of the controlled devices has a function of determining whether or not the controlled devices are normally controlled, and the control unit transmits the operation control signal to a plurality of controlled devices all at once. When the control means showing that the control has been successfully performed for all of the controlled devices, the operation monitor signals for all of the controlled devices are re-received all at once. A complete completion signal indicating that the control of all the controlled devices is normally completed, and information indicating an operation state of each controlled device at the time when all the controls are completed .

According to this configuration, since the control unit has the monitor time setting means capable of arbitrarily setting the monitor time within the range equal to or higher than the lower limit value, the inversion of the operation state is reflected in the operation monitor signal from the reception start time of the operation control signal. Even for controlled devices that have a long response time compared to the controlled devices that have been widely used in the past, when the response time of the controlled device has passed, the operation state reflected by the operation control signal is reflected. The control result can be determined from the monitor signal, and the correct control result can be obtained. Therefore, for example, a correct control result can be obtained not only for a controlled device conforming to the JEM_A standard whose response time is 350 ms or less but also for a controlled device whose response time exceeds the response time defined by the JEM_A standard. In addition, according to this configuration, even when the response times are different among the plurality of controlled devices, when all the control of the plurality of controlled devices is completed, the control of all the controlled devices is normally performed. Since only the complete signal indicating completion is output, for example, when transmitting the complete signal to the communication terminal, the number of transmissions can be reduced to one. In addition, it is possible to notify the operating state of each controlled device when all the controls are completed.

In the second aspect of the invention, every time an operation control signal is transmitted to the controlled device, the two types of operation states of the controlled device are alternately inverted, and an operation monitor signal indicating the operation state of the controlled device is received. A control unit for receiving the operation control signal, wherein the control unit starts a time period of a predetermined monitoring time for monitoring the operation monitor signal from the start of transmission of the operation control signal; Confirmation means for receiving an operation monitor signal at the time when the operation is completed and determining whether or not the controlled device is normally controlled based on the operation monitor signal, and that the controlled device is normally controlled control when the result is not obtained in the confirmation means, a retry means for causing the reception of extended monitoring time in increments predetermined retry time confirmation unit the driver monitor signal again, the operation shown Measurement means for holding the time required for the control means indicating that the controlled device has been normally controlled from the start of transmission of the control signal to be obtained by the confirmation means, and restriction based on the measurement time It possesses a time limit setting means for setting the time, the retry means stops the process to perform the reception of the operation monitor signal to said confirmation means and the time limit from the transmission start time of the operation control signal has elapsed It is characterized by that.

According to this configuration, when a control result indicating that the controlled device is normally controlled cannot be obtained by the confirmation unit, the monitor time is extended by a predetermined retry time unit and the operation monitor signal is received by the confirmation unit. Since the control unit has retry means for performing the operation again, the response time from the start of receiving the operation control signal until the inversion of the operation state is reflected in the operation monitor signal is larger than that of a controlled device that has been widely used in the past. Even for a long controlled device, the control result can be determined from the operation monitor signal reflecting the inversion of the operation state by the operation control signal when the response time of the controlled device has passed, and the correct control result is obtained. be able to. Therefore, for example, a correct control result can be obtained not only for a controlled device conforming to the JEM_A standard whose response time is 350 ms or less but also for a controlled device whose response time exceeds the response time defined by the JEM_A standard. Further, according to this configuration, when the time limit elapses, the process for causing the confirmation means to receive the operation monitor signal is stopped, so that the controlled device is controlled even if the response time of the controlled device is exceeded, such as when a control error occurs. When a confirmation result indicating that the device is normally controlled cannot be obtained by the confirmation means, it is possible to prevent the operation monitor signal from being repeatedly received by the confirmation means. Furthermore, according to this configuration, since the time limit is set based on the actual measurement time, it indicates that the controlled device is normally controlled even if the response time of the controlled device is exceeded, such as when a control error occurs. When the control result cannot be obtained by the confirmation unit, the reception of the operation monitor signal by the confirmation unit can be stopped early.

The invention of claim 3 is the invention of claim 2 , wherein the actual measurement means holds the actual measurement time required when the operation state of the controlled device is reversed from one to the other as the first actual measurement time, The actual measurement time required when the operation state of the controlled device is reversed from the other to the one is held as a second actual measurement time, and the time limit setting means sets the operation state of the controlled device from the one to the When reversing to the other, the time limit is set based on the first actual measurement time, and when reversing the operation state of the controlled device from the other to the one, the time limit is based on the second actual measurement time. Is set.

  According to this configuration, the time limit setting unit individually sets the time limit when reversing the operation state of the controlled device from one to the other and when reversing the operation state of the controlled device from the other to the other. Therefore, even if the controlled device has a different response time when the operation state is reversed from one to the other and a response time when the operation state is reversed from the other to the other, an optimal time limit must be set. Can do.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect of the present invention, the confirmation unit individually receives the operation monitor signal from a plurality of the controlled devices and controls each controlled device based on the operation monitor signal. The control unit has a function of determining whether or not the devices are normally controlled, and the control unit transmits the operation control signal to a plurality of controlled devices all at once. When a control result indicating that all the control devices are normally controlled is obtained by the confirmation means, all completion signals indicating that all the control of the plurality of controlled devices are normally completed are output. Features.

  According to this configuration, even when the response times are different among a plurality of controlled devices, the control of all the controlled devices is normally completed when all the controls of the plurality of controlled devices are completed. For example, when the complete signal is transmitted to the communication terminal, the number of transmissions can be reduced to one.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect of the present invention, the confirmation unit individually receives the operation monitor signals from a plurality of the controlled devices and controls each controlled device based on the operation monitor signals. Each of the controlled devices has a function of determining whether or not the devices are normally controlled as a control result, and the control unit transmits the operation control signal to a plurality of controlled devices all at once. Each time a control result indicating that the controlled device is normally controlled is obtained by the confirmation means, an individual completion signal indicating that the control of the controlled device is normally completed is output.

  According to this configuration, when the response times are different among a plurality of controlled devices, the individual completion signal is output without waiting for the completion of all the control of the plurality of controlled devices. It is possible to notify at an early stage that the control has been completed.

  Since the present invention has a monitor time setting means in the control unit that can arbitrarily set the monitor time within a range equal to or higher than the lower limit value, from the start of reception of the operation control signal until the inversion of the operation state is reflected in the operation monitor signal Operation control signal that reflects the reversal of the operation state by the operation control signal when the response time of the controlled device has passed, even for controlled devices that have a long response time compared to the controlled devices that have been widely used Thus, the control result can be determined and the correct control result can be obtained. Therefore, for example, a correct control result can be obtained not only for a controlled device conforming to the JEM_A standard whose response time is 350 ms or less, but also for a controlled device whose response time exceeds the response time defined by the JEM_A standard. There are advantages.

(Embodiment 1)
The controller 1 according to the present embodiment is installed in a home, and as shown in FIG. 1, an interface unit (hereinafter referred to as a connected unit 2) connected to a stationary controlled device A installed in the same home. 3) (referred to as IFU). Then, an operation control signal for alternately inverting two types of operation states (operating state / stopped state) of the controlled device A is transmitted to the controlled device A through the IFU 3, and the controlled device A operates from the controlled device A. The control part 4 which receives the driving | operation monitor signal which shows a state through IFU3 is provided.

  In each of the IFU 3 and the controlled device A, HA terminals C1 and C2 for connecting two sets of connection lines 2 used for transmission of operation control signals, and two sets of connections used for transmission of operation monitor signals HA terminals M1 and M2 for connecting the line 2 are provided. The IFU 3 is provided with an insulating separation unit (not shown) including a photocoupler that is connected to the HA terminals C1, C2, M1, and M2 and electrically separates the controlled device A and a control unit 4 described later. .

  The operation control signal is a voltage signal having a pulse width of 200 to 300 ms generated between the HA terminals C1 and C2, and the controlled device A is inverted between two types of operation states each time the operation control signal is received. The operation monitor signal is a voltage signal generated between the HA terminals M1 and M2, and becomes H level in one of the two operation states (operation state in the JEM_A standard), and the other It becomes L level in the operation state (stopped state in JEM_A standard). The operation monitor signal is not limited to a static signal, and may be a dynamic signal that repeats an H level and an L level at a constant cycle.

  In addition to the IFU 3 and the control unit 4, the control controller 1 includes a rewritable memory 5 connected to the control unit 4. Here, it further includes an interface unit 8 connected to a router 6 connected to the Internet via a home bus 7, and an e-mail sending / receiving unit 9 for analyzing the contents of e-mails and creating e-mails. The controller 1 is configured to be able to send and receive electronic mail to and from the communication terminal (mobile phone) 10 through the router 6 and a mail server (not shown) on the Internet to which the router 6 is connected. When an e-mail serving as a control request is transmitted from the communication terminal 10 to the control controller 1 in a predetermined format, the e-mail sending / receiving unit 9 analyzes the content of the e-mail, and the control unit 4 determines that the analysis result is Based on the operation control signal, the operation state of the controlled device A is controlled. The communication terminal 10 is not limited to a mobile phone and may be a PHS terminal or a personal computer.

  The e-mail as a control request from the communication terminal 10 to the e-mail sending / receiving unit 9 is in accordance with a predetermined format such as “start air conditioner operation (start air conditioning)” or “electric lock unlock (door open)”. An e-mail as a control result which is a text e-mail and is generated by the e-mail sending / receiving unit 9 after being controlled accordingly and distributed to the communication terminal 10 is, for example, “air conditioner operation start (air conditioning start) It is an e-mail in a text format according to a predetermined format such as “I have unlocked the electric lock (door opened)”. The router 6 has a built-in e-mail server (not shown), and the e-mail transfer unit 9 periodically receives e-mails from the server. The memory 5 of the control controller 1 includes an e-mail address (e-mail address) given by an Internet service provider (ISP) with which a resident of the house where the control controller 1 is installed contracts, a mail server Address (IP address), ID (user ID) for accessing the mail server, password and the like are stored.

  In the present embodiment, an electric lock is used as the controlled device A, and the controlled device A receives an operation control signal from the controller 1 and reverses two types of operation states of a locked state and an unlocked state. In other words, if an email specifying the operation state of the controlled device A is transmitted from the communication terminal 10 to the controller 1 in a predetermined format, the lock / unlock state of the electric lock can be obtained from a remote location by the operation control signal. Can be reversed alternately. Further, if an e-mail indicating the operation state of the controlled device A is transmitted from the communication terminal 10 to the controller 1 in a predetermined format, the lock / unlock state of the electric lock can be obtained from a remote location by an operation monitor signal. Can be confirmed.

  In this electric lock, the response time Tr required from when reception of the operation control signal is started until the inverted operation state is reflected in the operation monitor signal is at least the time required for switching between the locked state and the unlocked state. Thus, it is longer than the response time (350 ms or less) of an air conditioner (JEMA standard HA compatible room air conditioner) standardized by the JEM_A standard (JEM 1427 standard).

  By the way, the control controller 1 performs an operation indicated by the operation monitor signal after a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation control signal was transmitted so that the communication terminal 10 can confirm that the operation state of the controlled device A has been normally controlled. It has a function of returning a control result indicating whether or not the state and the content of the control request match to the communication terminal 10.

  Therefore, the control unit 4 of the controller 1 of the present embodiment has timer means (not shown) for starting a time limit of a monitor time Tm described later at the timing of starting transmission of the operation control signal. An operation monitor signal is received when Tm is counted up, and a control result is determined based on the received operation monitor signal.

  That is, since the time from when the controller 1 starts transmitting the operation control signal until the operation state of the controlled device A is determined by checking the operation monitor signal is the monitor time Tm, the monitor time Tm is If the response time Tr of the control device A is shorter, the control unit 4 determines the control result from the operation monitor signal before the inversion of the operation state by the operation control signal is reflected, and an incorrect control result is obtained. Will be. Therefore, the monitoring time Tm needs to be equal to or longer than the response time Tr of the controlled device A.

  Therefore, in the control controller 1 conforming to the JEM_A standard described as the background art, the time obtained by adding several ms to 350 ms is set as the monitor time Tm, whereas in the control controller 1 of the present embodiment, the monitor time Tm is controlled. A function (monitor time setting means) that can be arbitrarily set by the unit 4 is provided. The monitor time Tm set by the control unit 4 is stored in the memory 5.

  Here, although the upper limit value is not defined for the monitor time Tm that can be set by the control unit 4, the lower limit value is defined as 350 ms. Therefore, the control controller 1 of the present embodiment is set in a range where the monitor time Tm is 350 ms or more, and corresponds to at least the controlled device A (response time Tr is 350 ms or less) conforming to the JEM_A standard. On the other hand, in order to correspond to the controlled device A having a response time Tr longer than 350 ms, such as an electric lock, the time obtained by adding several ms to the response time Tr of the controlled device A is set as the monitor time Tm. Good.

  According to the configuration described above, the monitoring time Tm of the control controller 1 can be arbitrarily set by the control unit 4, and therefore the monitoring time Tm is set to be equal to or longer than the response time Tr of the controlled device A connected to the control controller. In addition to the controlled device A compliant with the JEM_A standard (response time Tr is 350 ms or less), the controlled time for the controlled device A whose response time exceeds the response time Tr defined by the JEM_A standard At the end of Tm, the control result can be determined from the operation monitor signal reflecting the inversion of the operation state by the operation control signal, and the correct control result can be obtained.

  The controller 1 according to the present embodiment has a function of resetting the monitor time Tm to 350 ms when the monitor time Tm stored in the memory 5 is 350 ms or less. It does not operate with a monitor time Tm that is not specified (less than 350 ms).

  Further, the control unit 4 employs a configuration in which the monitor time Tm is set according to the contents of the e-mail whose contents are analyzed by the e-mail exchange unit 9. That is, if the communication terminal 10 transmits an e-mail with the content for setting the monitor time Tm to the control controller 1 in a predetermined format, the control controller 1 analyzes the content of the e-mail with the e-mail sending / receiving unit 9. Then, the control unit 4 sets the monitor time Tm according to the contents of the e-mail.

  Further, when receiving the control result from the control unit 4, the e-mail sending / receiving unit 9 returns an e-mail based on the control result to the communication terminal 10 in a predetermined format.

  Hereinafter, with respect to the operation of the controller 1 of the present embodiment, refer to the flowchart of FIG. 2 showing the operation of the control unit 4 and FIG. 3 (a) showing the operation control signal and (b) showing the operation monitor signal. explain.

  The control unit 4 receives the control request transmitted from the communication terminal 10 from the e-mail transfer unit 9 (described as “E-mail content analysis unit” in the figure) (S01), and operates from the controlled device A. The monitor signal is received, and the operation state indicated by the operation monitor signal is compared with the operation state indicated by the control request (S02). If the operation state indicated by the operation monitor signal does not match the content of the control request (S02: Yes), the operation control signal is output to the controlled device A (S03). On the contrary, if the operation state indicated by the operation monitor signal matches the content of the control request (S02: No), it is not necessary to control the controlled device A again, so that the operation control signal is sent to the controlled device A. A control result to be sent back to the electronic mail sending / receiving unit 9 is obtained without outputting (S11). The control result obtained at this time is a control result indicating that the operation state of the controlled device A is normally controlled.

  When the output of the operation control signal is started, it is determined whether or not the monitor time Tm preset in the control unit 4 (monitor time setting means) and stored in the memory 5 is 350 ms or less (S04). If it is 350 ms or less, the monitor time Tm is set to 350 ms and the time limit of the monitor time Tm is started by the timer means (S05). If it is not 350 ms or less, the time limit of the monitor time Tm is set by the timer means without changing the monitor time Tm. Is started (S06).

  After that, while the monitoring time Tm is being counted, if there is other processing such as analysis of the contents of the newly arrived e-mail in the e-mail sending / receiving unit 9, it is separately executed (S08).

  When the monitor time Tm is counted up (S07: Yes), the control unit 4 receives the operation monitor signal at that time from the controlled device A as a confirmation means (S09), and the operation state represented by the operation monitor signal. Is matched with the contents of the control request (that is, the expected state) (S10), and if they match (S10: Yes), a control result to be sent back to the e-mail sending / receiving unit 9 is obtained. (S11). The control result obtained at this time is a control result indicating that the operation state of the controlled device A is normally controlled. For the first and second operation control signals in FIG. 3, the controlled device A reflects the inversion of the operation state in the operation monitor signal within the monitor time Tm. : Operation in the case of Yes.

  Conversely, if the operation state of the controlled device A does not match the content of the control request (S10: No), the controlled device A is operated by a device other than the controller 1 during the monitoring time Tm (for example, It is determined that the operation state is reversed again by operating the operation switch provided on the controlled device A), and the information indicating that the operation state is normal and the operation monitor signal are not in the expected state. Is stored in the memory 5 (S12), and a control result is sent back to the electronic mail sending / receiving unit 9 (S11). The control result obtained at this time is a control result indicating that the operation state is reversed again by operating the controlled device A other than the controller 1. With respect to the third operation control signal in FIG. 3, since the operation state of the controlled device A is not reversed, the operation is performed in the case of step S10: No described above.

  If the operation state of the controlled device A does not match the content of the control request, the controlled device A may be out of order, but the control controller 1 determines that the controlled device A has failed. Therefore, in this embodiment, the design is such that the failure of the controlled device A is not taken into consideration.

(Embodiment 2)
The controller 1 of the present embodiment is different from the controller 1 of the first embodiment in the configuration and function of the control unit 4. Other configurations and functions are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  That is, in the present embodiment, when the monitor time Tm is counted up, and the operation state represented by the operation monitor signal received by the control unit 4 does not match the content of the control request, the monitor time Tm is set to a predetermined value. The control unit 4 has a function (retry unit) that extends in trial time increments and causes the control unit 4 (confirmation unit) to confirm the operation monitor signal again. Here, as described in the first embodiment, the function (monitor time setting means) that can arbitrarily set the monitor time Tm is omitted, and a predetermined monitor time Tm that is determined in advance is set to the initial value of the monitor time Tm. The value, that is, the monitoring time Tm before extension is applied. Here, 350 ms is set as the initial value of the monitor time Tm so as to correspond to the controlled device A (response time Tr is 350 ms or less) conforming to the JEM_A standard.

  Therefore, the control unit 4 once confirms the operation state of the controlled device A when the monitor time Tm of 350 ms is counted up. However, if this operation state is not the intended state, that is, the control request is made. If they do not match, the operation monitor signal is repeatedly received at a retry time interval. Here, the retry time is set to 50 ms, and the timer means in the control unit 4 is also used for counting the retry time.

  Further, here, the control unit 4 has a function (time limit setting means) for setting a time limit that is at least the initial value of the monitor time Tm and the response time Tr of the controlled device A, and the control unit 4 When the time limit has elapsed since the start of transmission of the operation control signal, it has a function of canceling the confirmation of the operation monitor signal. As a result, the operation state of the controlled device A is controlled when the controlled device A is operated other than the controller 1 during the monitoring time Tm and the operation state is reversed again or when a control error occurs. Even if it does not coincide with the content of the request, the reception of the operation monitor signal by the control unit 4 is not repeated endlessly.

  Further, when the operation state of the controlled device A does not coincide with the content of the control request, the time limit is set to stop the reception of the operation monitor signal by the control unit 4 at an early stage and to eliminate useless processing in the control unit 4. Is optimally set to a time close to the response time Tr of the controlled device A. Therefore, the following configuration is adopted in the present embodiment.

  That is, the control unit 4 has a function (measurement means) for storing, in the memory 5 as an actual measurement time, a time required from the start of transmission of the operation control signal until an operation state matching the content of the control request is obtained. The actual measurement time stored in the memory 5 is configured to be set as the above-mentioned time limit. As a result, if the control controller 1 performs the control to invert the operation state of the controlled device A even once, the measured time approximate to the response time Tr of the controlled device A is stored in the memory 5.

  Moreover, the control unit 4 sets the actual measurement time required to reverse the operation state of the controlled device A from one (unlocked state) to the other (locked state) as the on-time (first actual measurement time), and the other ( The actual measurement time required when reversing from the locked state to the one (unlocked state) is separately stored in the memory 5 as the off time (second actual measurement time). Further, the control unit 4 sets the on-time to the time limit when reversing the operation state of the controlled device A from one to the other, and sets the off-time to the time limit when reversing from the other to the other. As a result, even if the controlled device A has a different response time (Tr_ON) when the operation state is reversed from one to the other and a response time (Tr_OFF) when the operation state is reversed from the other to the other, it is optimal. Time limit can be set.

  The operation of the controller 1 described above will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 showing the operation of the control unit 4 and FIG. 5 (a) showing the operation control signal and (b) showing the operation monitor signal. . In FIG. 5, the on time is represented by “Tm_ON” and the off time is represented by “Tm_OFF”. In the following, since the steps denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  In this embodiment, after outputting the operation control signal (S03), the monitor time Tm is set to 350 ms, and the time limit of the monitor time Tm is started by the timer means (S05).

  Then, when the monitor time Tm is counted up (S07: Yes), the control unit 4 receives the operation monitor signal at that time from the controlled device A as a confirmation means (S09), and is represented by the operation monitor signal. It is determined whether or not the operation state to be matched with the content of the control request (that is, the expected state) (S10), and if not (S10: No), the retry time is set to 50 ms. The timer means starts a retry time limit (S20).

  Thereafter, while the retry time is being counted, if there is other processing such as analysis of the contents of the newly arrived e-mail in the e-mail sending / receiving unit 9, it is separately executed (S22).

  When the retry time is counted up (S21: Yes), the operation monitor signal at that time is received from the controlled device A (S23), and the operation state represented by the operation monitor signal matches the content of the control request. It is determined whether it is (that is, the expected state) (S24). Here, the process of re-receiving the operation monitor signal corresponds to the function of the retry means. If they do not match (S24: No), it is determined whether or not the time limit has elapsed (time limit setting means).

  The time limit is determined by the upper limit values N1 and N2 of the counter value N (S25, S26), and is represented by the monitor time (350 ms) + the upper limit of the counter value N (N1 or N2) × retry time (50 ms). The In FIG. 5, the upper limit N1 of the counter value N for determining the time limit (Tm_ON_MAX) for reversing the operation state of the controlled device A from one to the other, and the operation state of the controlled device A reversed from the other to one. The upper limit N2 of the counter value N that determines the time limit (Tm_OFF_MAX) for the process is stored individually in the memory 5.

  If the time limit has not elapsed (S26: No), the process returns to step S20, and the operation monitor signal is received again after the retry time (S23). If the process of step S20 to step S26 is repeated several times and the time limit elapses without the operation state matching the content of the control request (S26: Yes), the process proceeds to step S12.

  If the operation state matches the content of the control request in step S10 (S10: Yes), the initial value (350 ms) of the monitoring time Tm becomes the actual measurement time, so the time limit is set to the monitoring time Tm (350 ms). Update (that is, update N1 or N2 to 0). This process corresponds to the function of the actual measurement means. Then, a control result returned to the electronic mail sending / receiving unit 9 is obtained (S11). The control result obtained at this time is a control result indicating that the operation state of the controlled device A is normally controlled.

  On the other hand, if the operation state matches the content of the control request in step S24 (S24: Yes), the timer means is stopped without being reset, and the time limit is updated to the actual measurement time at that time (example in FIG. 5). Then, N1 is updated to 3 and N2 is updated to 4.) This process corresponds to the function of the actual measurement means. Then, a control result returned to the electronic mail sending / receiving unit 9 is obtained (S11). The control result obtained at this time is a control result indicating that the operation state of the controlled device A is normally controlled.

(Embodiment 3)
As shown in FIG. 6, the controller 1 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of IFUs 3 connected to the controlled device A via the connection line 2, thereby controlling a plurality of controlled devices A1 to Ak as control targets. This is different from the controller 1 of the first and second embodiments. Other configurations and functions are the same as those of the controller 1 of the first or second embodiment.

  The control unit 4 individually receives operation monitor signals from the plurality of controlled devices A1 to Ak, and determines whether each controlled device A1 to Ak is normally controlled based on the operation monitor signals. As a separate function.

  Further, the control unit 4 has a multi-bit flag register shown in FIG. 7 as a control status flag, and each bit is associated with the controlled device A. Here, when the logical value of each bit is 1, it represents that a control result indicating that the operation state is normally controlled for the corresponding controlled device A is obtained. When the logical value of each bit is 0, This indicates that a control result indicating that the operation state of the corresponding controlled device A is normally controlled is not obtained. That is, in the example of FIG. 7, a control result indicating that the controlled device A2 is normally controlled is obtained, and a control result indicating that the other controlled devices A1 and A3 are normally controlled is obtained. Represents no state.

  The operation of the above-described controller 1 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, it is assumed that a control request (e-mail) indicating individual operation states is received from the communication terminal 10 for all of the plurality of controlled devices A1 to Ak.

  When the control unit 4 receives the control request transmitted from the communication terminal 10 from the e-mail sending / receiving unit 9 (S01), the control unit 4 performs the process from step S02 to step S11 in any one of the first and second embodiments. Execute once (S30). At this time, when the control result is obtained for one controlled device A1 (S31: Yes), whether or not the control result is the control result as originally desired, that is, the operation state of the controlled device A1 is determined. It is determined whether or not the control result indicates that the control is normally performed (S32). Here, if the control result indicates that the control is normal (S32: Yes), the bit corresponding to the controlled device A1 is set to 1 in the control status flag (S33). On the other hand, if the control result does not indicate that the control is normal (S32: No), the bit corresponding to the controlled device A1 is set to 0 in the control status flag (S34).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not all the bits of the control status flag are 1 (S35), and if even 1 bit is 0 (S35: No), the process returns to step S30. That is, unless all the control indicated by the control request is completed, the processes in steps S30 to S35 are repeated. Whether or not all the bits of the control status flag are 1 can be determined by whether or not a carry (digit overflow) occurs when the control status flag is incremented.

  When all the bits of the control status flag become 1 (S35: Yes), the control unit 4 sends an e-mail in a text format conforming to a predetermined format as an all-completion signal indicating that all the controls have been normally completed. The sending / receiving unit 9 sends a reply to the router 6 (S36). The communication terminal 10 receives from the control controller 1 through the router 6 and a mail server on the Internet, the electronic mail indicating that all controls have been normally completed.

  According to the configuration described above, as shown in FIG. 9, when a control request is collectively transmitted from the communication terminal 10 by e-mail to a plurality of controlled devices A1 to Ak having different response times Tr1 and Tr2, At the time when all the control of the plurality of controlled devices A1 to Ak is completed, the fact that the control of all the controlled devices A1 to Ak is normally completed is collectively sent to the communication terminal 10 by one e-mail. You can reply. In FIG. 9, with respect to the IFU 3 connected to one controlled device A1, (a) shows the operation monitor signal in the operation control signal (b), and IFU 3 connected to the other controlled device A2. (C) shows the operation monitor signal in the operation control signal (d).

  In addition, as indicated by the broken line in FIG. 9B, the control result for the controlled device A1 is obtained once as requested, but in the period until the control of all the controlled devices A1 to Ak is completed. The controlled device A1 may be operated by a device other than the controller 1, and the operating state of the controlled device A1 may be reversed again. In consideration of such a case, information indicating the operation state of each controlled device A1 to Ak at the time when all the controls are completed is transmitted to the communication terminal 10 together with information that all the controls are completed. You may give the function to notify.

  In this configuration, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10, when all the bits of the control status flag become 1 (S35: Yes), the control unit 4 of the controller 1 revisits all of the plurality of controlled devices A1 to Ak. The individual operation monitor signals are simultaneously received for (S37), and the information on the operation states of the controlled devices A1 to Ak is stored based on the received operation monitor signals (S38).

  Then, the control unit 4 is a text-format electronic that contains two pieces of information, that is, all the controls have been normally completed and the operation state of each controlled device A1 to Ak when all the controls have been completed. The mail is returned from the electronic mail sending / receiving unit 9 to the router 6 in a predetermined format (S39). The e-mail sent back here has, for example, the content “All in-home control has been completed as requested. The current control status is ...”.

  Furthermore, each time the control of each of the controlled devices A1 to Ak is normally completed, the control controller 1 individually sends a text-format electronic mail (individual completion signal) indicating that the control has been normally completed. 10 may be configured to reply. This configuration is particularly useful when simultaneously controlling a plurality of controlled devices A1 to Ak having greatly different response times Tr.

  When the control unit 4 of the controller 1 configured as described above receives a control request transmitted from the communication terminal 10 from the electronic mail transfer unit 9 as illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. And the process from step S02 to step S11 of the second embodiment is executed once for each of the plurality of controlled devices A1 to Ak (S30 ′). If the control result obtained for one controlled device A1 is a control result indicating that the control is successful (S32: Yes), the bit corresponding to the controlled device A1 is set to 1 in the control status flag. (S33) An e-mail having a content indicating that the control related to the controlled device A1 is normally completed is returned from the e-mail sending / receiving unit 9 to the router 6 in a predetermined format (S40).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not all the bits of the control status flag are 1 (S35), and if even 1 bit is 0 (S35: No), the controlled devices A1 to Ak that have not been controlled are in the first embodiment. Or an operation | movement monitor signal is received at the timing demonstrated in Embodiment 2 (S41), and the process of step S31-step S35 is repeated.

  When all the bits of the control status flag become 1 (S35: Yes), the control unit 4 sends an e-mail having contents indicating that all the controls are normally completed from the e-mail sending / receiving unit 9 to the router in a predetermined format. 6 is returned (S42). The control controller 1 is an e-mail indicating that the control transmitted in step S40 has been completed normally after the number of controlled devices A1 to Ak that have not been controlled is one. It may also serve as a notification of normal completion. In this case, step S42 can be omitted.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a control part same as the above. It is a time chart which shows operation | movement same as the above. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control part of Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a time chart which shows operation | movement same as the above. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the structure of a control status flag same as the above. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a control part same as the above. It is a time chart which shows operation | movement same as the above. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the other structure same as the above. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of another structure same as the above. It is a block diagram which shows a prior art example. It is a time chart which shows operation | movement same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

1 Control Controller 4 Control Unit A, A1 to Ak Controlled device Tm Monitor time

Claims (5)

Each time an operation control signal is transmitted to the controlled device, a control unit that alternately reverses two types of operation states of the controlled device and receives an operation monitor signal indicating the operation state of the controlled device from the controlled device is provided. The control unit receives the operation monitor signal at the time when the timer unit starts the time limit of the monitoring time for monitoring the operation monitor signal, and when the timer unit finishes the time limit of the monitor time. Confirmation means for judging whether or not the controlled device is normally controlled based on the operation monitor signal, and a monitor time in which the monitor time can be arbitrarily set within a predetermined lower limit value or more have a setting means,
The confirmation means has a function of individually receiving the operation monitor signals from a plurality of the controlled devices and determining, as control results, whether or not each controlled device is normally controlled based on the operation monitor signals. The control unit transmits the operation control signal to a plurality of controlled devices all at once, and a control result indicating that all of the plurality of controlled devices are normally controlled is a confirmation unit. When all of the plurality of controlled devices are simultaneously received, the individual operation monitor signals are re-received all at once, and all the completion signals indicating that all the control of the plurality of controlled devices are normally completed And a controller that outputs information indicating an operation state of each controlled device when all the controls are completed . Each time an operation control signal is transmitted to the controlled device, a control unit that alternately reverses two types of operation states of the controlled device and receives an operation monitor signal indicating the operation state of the controlled device from the controlled device is provided. The control unit includes a timer unit that starts a predetermined time period for monitoring the operation monitor signal from the start of transmission of the operation control signal, and an operation monitor when the timer unit finishes timing the monitor time. A confirmation means for receiving a signal and judging whether or not the controlled device is normally controlled based on the operation monitor signal; and a confirmation result indicating that the controlled device is normally controlled by the confirmation means. if not obtained, the retry means for causing the reception of the operation monitor signal confirmation means extending the monitor time increments predetermined retry time again, the transmission start time of the operation control signal From the actual measurement means for holding the time required until the control means indicating that the controlled device is normally controlled by the confirmation means as the actual measurement time, and the time limit for setting the time limit based on the actual measurement time have a setting means,
The retry means stops processing for causing the confirmation means to receive the operation monitor signal when a time limit elapses from the transmission start time of the operation control signal . The actual measurement means holds the actual measurement time required when the operation state of the controlled device is reversed from one to the other as the first actual measurement time, and the operation state of the controlled device is reversed from the other to the one. The actual measurement time required at the time of the operation is held as a second actual measurement time, and the time limit setting means is based on the first actual measurement time when the operating state of the controlled device is reversed from the one to the other. 3. The control according to claim 2, wherein the time limit is set, and the time limit is set based on a second actually measured time when the operation state of the controlled device is reversed from the other to the one. controller. The confirmation means has a function of individually receiving the operation monitor signals from a plurality of the controlled devices and determining, as control results, whether or not each controlled device is normally controlled based on the operation monitor signals. The control unit transmits the operation control signal to a plurality of controlled devices all at once, and a control result indicating that all of the plurality of controlled devices are normally controlled is a confirmation unit. 4. The control controller according to claim 2 , wherein the control controller outputs a complete signal indicating that all control of the plurality of controlled devices is normally completed . The confirmation means has a function of individually receiving the operation monitor signals from a plurality of the controlled devices and determining, as control results, whether or not each controlled device is normally controlled based on the operation monitor signals. The control unit transmits the operation control signal to a plurality of controlled devices all at once, and each time the control result indicating that the controlled devices are normally controlled is obtained by the confirmation unit , the control controller according to claim 2 or claim 3 and outputs an individual completion signal indicating that the control of the controlled device is completed successfully.

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