JP4881183B2 - Self-timer calibration method when system time error is detected in telemeter slave station - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a program and a telemeter system that perform time calibration of a telemeter slave station.

[What is a telemeter system?]
A telemetering system is an information communication system for monitoring and collecting observation data of various environments in a remote place. A general telemeter system is a telemeter slave station device for sampling observation data (hereinafter also referred to as “telemeter slave station” or simply “slave station”) and a telemeter for communication with slave stations and management of observation data. And a parent station (hereinafter also simply referred to as “parent station”). Furthermore, it can also be configured including a monitoring terminal device and a portion linked with another system.

  As an example of the use of the telemeter system, there is a continuous monitoring system for environmental information represented by an air pollution monitoring system (or radiation monitoring system). In such a monitoring system, the contents of the observation data collected periodically are monitored in real time by the center unit, and when the observation data exceeding the environmental standards is detected, an alarm is sounded and the operation of the surrounding company is restrained. Do business such as requesting. Observation data is not only provided to the Ministry of the Environment, local governments, and various related organizations (such as nuclear power plants and nuclear safety centers), but is also widely disclosed to the general public through various publications and the Internet.

  Telemeter systems that play such an important role are required to collect and disclose information more accurately and accurately. If erroneous observation of data occurs, it will cause damage to general enterprises, and also pose a great risk to system users such as general citizens.

  However, in general, the center device including the telemeter master station, the telemeter slave station, and the peripheral device such as the sensor each hold the internal time with a clock incorporated therein. Then, in order to operate the telemeter system normally and accurately, it is strongly required that each device in the telemeter system operates with a system time (internal time) that is accurately synchronized.

If a system time shift occurs between devices in the telemeter system, an error occurs in measurement data, and the reliability of the telemeter system is lost.
As means for synchronizing the time of all devices in the telemeter system, a configuration is often used in which time information is transmitted in the order of “center device (parent station) → telemeter slave station → peripheral device” at the timing of data communication. . Telemeter slave stations and peripheral devices typically calibrate their internal time based on the time information they receive. Peripheral devices may perform time calibration independently using GPS or the like.

In such a configuration, since the internal time of the center device is set as the master time, it is assumed that unilateral time information of “center device → telemeter slave station” and “telemeter slave station → peripheral device” is provided.
[General configuration of telemeter system]
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a general telemeter system according to the prior art. In general, the telemeter system includes a slave station part, a center device 760, a communication line, and an information providing part to other systems. In the example of this figure, assuming that the center device 760 is a part of a company that performs observation, observation data is provided to a partner company or the like.

The slave station part includes a plurality of observation slave stations A to D 700, 710, 720, 730 and the observation devices included in the cooperating companies a to b 740, 750. And some peripheral devices that are not important in terms of configuration are omitted). Each observation slave station and observation device include a telemeter slave station and a sensor. These telemeter slave stations periodically sample data using measuring devices such as sensors. The telemeter slave station observes and records, for example, weather data such as rainfall and temperature, substance data information such as NO ₂ concentration and SO ₂ concentration in the atmosphere, or radiation data such as air dose rate.

The center device 760 periodically communicates with all telemeter slave stations, collects and manages data observed and recorded by the telemeter slave stations. The center device cc unit 760 includes a telemeter master station 762, which is connected to a plurality of observation slave stations A to D 700, via a communication line 770.
710, 720, 730 and each of the observation devices included in the partner companies a to 740, 750 (more precisely, the telemeter slave station included therein) are connected. Each telemeter slave station transmits the observation data to the telemeter master station 762 via the communication line 770, and the telemeter master station 762 transmits control information to each telemeter slave station. In addition to the telemeter master station 762, the center device 760 includes a data collection server 764, a time server 766, a monitoring terminal 767, a monitoring display 768, and a telephone / fax device 769, which are connected via a LAN 765. The telemeter master station 762 stores the received observation data in the data collection server 764. For example, a time server 766 that is an ntp server is used to calibrate the internal time (system time) of the telemeter master station 762. The monitoring terminal 767, the monitoring display 768, and the telephone / fax machine 769 are used for various monitoring applications.

  The center device 760 can also be connected to the outside (for example, the Ministry of the Environment 782, the local government 784, the Internet 786, etc.) via the communication line 780, and data can be disclosed.

  For the communication line 770 connecting the master station 762 and the slave station, wireless communication, wired communication using electric wires or optical cables, and the like are used. However, the telemeter system has a situation where it is difficult from the viewpoint of cost and safety to have an observer stationed at the observation point (for example, when setting a large number of observation points, the observation point is located in a remote unmanned area. , Monitoring in the nuclear facility, tracking wildlife movement, etc.), the slave station installed at the observation point is not necessarily the same as the telemeter master station. It should be noted that the communication is not always possible. Rather, it is often necessary to place slave stations in remote areas where power and communication line quality are limited. In such remote areas, it is necessary to take into account that even if a slave station device fails, repair may not be possible immediately.

[Time calibration method and problems in telemeter system according to prior art]
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an operation flow of the telemeter system according to the prior art of FIG. Here, for the sake of simplicity, only a small number of components in FIG. 7 are extracted and shown.

  The telemeter master station 762 performs time calibration independently (for example, using a time server), and transmits the internal time to the telemeter slave station A 702 and the like via the communication line 770.

The telemeter slave station A 702 that performs calibration based on the internal time of the telemeter master station further transmits the internal time of the telemeter slave station A 702 to the sensors 704, 708, etc., and performs time calibration. Sensor
704, 708, etc. send the observation data to which the observation time is given based on the time thus calibrated to the telemeter slave station A 702.

The telemeter slave station A 702 periodically transmits the observation data thus obtained to the telemeter master station 762 via the communication line 770.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a time calibration process in the telemeter system according to the prior art of FIG.

First, in step S902, the telemeter slave station receives a message (control information) from the telemeter master station. This control information includes the internal time (system time) of the master station.
In step S904, the difference ta between the internal time of the master station and the internal time of the slave station is extracted.

  In step S906, it is checked whether the value of ta is within a predetermined range (a range from the time calibration minimum deviation time t1 to the time calibration maximum deviation time t2). Here, the upper limit value t2 is set in this range so that if ta is too large, it is assumed that there is an abnormality in the communication line or the center unit, and calibration is not performed. It is. This is because, as mentioned above, the telemeter system is supposed to be used in remote areas where the speed and quality of the line are not sufficient, so the system time may not be reported normally due to delays and retries. This is because it is necessary to take sex into consideration.

  Such a time calibration method according to the prior art is premised on providing unilateral time information such as “center device (parent station) → telemeter slave station” and “telemeter slave station → peripheral device” as described above. Therefore, in the time calibration of the telemeter slave station, in order to avoid frequent time calibration and to avoid erroneous time calibration, a threshold value is usually provided for the deviation time for performing time calibration. In other words, the time calibration is performed only when the amount of time difference is within the range from the time calibration minimum time difference t1 to the time calibration maximum time difference t2.

  This time calibration maximum deviation time amount t2 is set because a malfunction occurs in the center device (or the communication line connecting the center device and the slave station) for some reason, and the internal time of the slave station and the internal time of the center device are set. It assumes that the case has shifted greatly. In other words, when a time difference greater than the time calibration maximum time difference is detected, it is assumed that “an abnormality has occurred in the counterpart device” and time calibration is not performed.

Also, as a matter of course, the time calibration minimum deviation time amount t1 is set in order to avoid time calibration that is too frequent.
Especially in systems that monitor the environment, telemeter slave stations are installed throughout the jurisdiction area of local governments, and are therefore often installed at locations where only poor communication facilities such as mountains and remote islands can be installed. Therefore, since the telemeter slave station may exist on a low-speed line or on a low-quality line, the time calibration maximum deviation may occur due to a delay in data (time information) delivery or a retry on the communication protocol. There may be a time notification when the amount of time t2 is exceeded. For this reason, the judgment logic as described above becomes necessary.

  In the logic for determining the time calibration maximum deviation time amount described above as the prior art, the following time calibration is performed in the case where “the abnormality of the own device has occurred and the time of the own device has greatly shifted”. The problem of disappearing can occur.

When such a problem occurs in time calibration, accurate measurement of observation data cannot be continued, and the reliability of data to be distributed is lowered. For this reason, there may be a situation in which the general public's credibility of public information is reduced, or a situation in which the stable operation of a general company is threatened.

  In order to solve the problem that time calibration is not performed uniformly when the time distributed from the center device exceeds the time calibration maximum deviation time amount, notified from the center device to perform accurate time calibration. There is a need for means that can determine whether the time information is valid or abnormal when the time information exceeds the time calibration maximum deviation time amount.

In the present invention, control information sent from the telemeter master station is received by a computer that is communicable with the telemeter master station via a communication line and connected to a peripheral device, and is included in the control information. The storage step of storing the time information α in the storage means of the computer, and the time information α of the telemeter master station included in the control information received in the storage step and the time information β of the time measuring means in the computer are compared. and calculates the difference a by, if said difference component a is within a predetermined time, calibrated time information α included in the time information the control information of the β sent from the telemeter master station of the clock means, or, if said difference component a exceeds the predetermined time, acquires time information γ contained in the observation information sent from the peripheral device with the time information β of the clock means Calculating the amount B, on the basis of the difference C of the difference B and the difference A is in whether or not within a predetermined range, included in the control information the time information β sent from the telemeter master station of the clock means And a calibration step for determining whether to calibrate to the time information α to be calibrated.

The present invention also provides a method that can be realized by the above-described program.
Further, in the present invention, a time calibration device and a peripheral device connected to a can communicate with telemetry master station via a communication line, receiving means for receiving control information which the sent from the telemeter master station , calculates the difference a by comparing the time information of the timekeeping means and the time information of the telemeter master station included in the control information received α in the time calibration device β at said receiving means, said difference component a if There within the predetermined time, the calibrated time information measuring unit β in the time information α included in the above control information sent from the telemeter master station, or the difference component a is the predetermined time If it exceeds, the time information γ included in the observation information sent from the peripheral device is acquired, the difference B from the time information β of the time measuring means is calculated, and the difference C between the difference A and the difference B is Whether it is within the specified range Hazuki also provides time calibration device and a determining calibration means whether calibrated time information α included in the above control information sent from the telemeter master station time information β of the clock means.

  By using the program and the telemeter system according to the present invention, it becomes possible to automatically acquire / calibrate more accurate time when an abnormality occurs when the internal time of the center apparatus is received. Therefore, it is possible to improve the reliability of collected data as a telemeter system, and it is also possible to continuously deliver measurement data that is stable and highly reliable. This not only improves the reliability of the information provided to the general public, but also enables the distribution information to general companies to maintain higher accuracy / reliability, thereby realizing stable operation of general companies. It becomes possible.

〔Definition of terms〕
In this specification, the term “telemeter master station” or “master station” refers to a central device connected to each telemeter slave station via a communication line, and is generally included in the center device. And

  The term “center device” generally refers to the central part of a telemeter system where observers reside. In addition to the telemeter master station, the data collection server, monitoring terminal, monitoring display, telephone device, fax device, time server, Mainly includes devices such as LAN.

The term "telemeter slave station (device)" or "slave station" refers to a device that is installed at an observation point desired by the observer and samples observation data, and is connected to the telemeter master station via a communication line. To communicate observation data. The telemeter slave station is generally included in the observation slave station.

The term “observation slave station” or “observation device” refers to a telemeter slave station and peripheral devices.
The term “peripheral device” refers to various sensors and peripheral devices connected to the telemeter slave station, and includes, for example, rain gauges, thermometers, atmospheric component quantification devices, and radiation dose meters. There is no limitation. The term “peripheral device” can optionally include devices that those skilled in the art would need in the observation slave station.

  The term “time calibration maximum deviation time (amount)” refers to an upper limit of a range serving as a reference for carrying out the present invention with respect to a deviation in internal time of each apparatus. The term “time calibration minimum deviation time (quantity)” should be understood in the same context.

  The term “internal time” of a device refers to the time managed by a clock built in the device. However, when each internal time is exchanged between a plurality of devices via a communication line, there is a possibility that the internal time of the counterpart device may be obtained with a substantial delay due to, for example, a malfunction of the communication line. Keep in mind that you'll always stay. In other words, when the entire system is viewed macroscopically, "the internal time of another device B received by a certain device A" and "the internal time of device B that is (directly) viewed on that device B" There is a possibility that the time will be so different that it becomes an operational problem. In particular, the telemeter system is assumed to be used in a situation where the quality and speed of the communication line cannot be sufficiently adjusted as described above, so this point should be noted.

The inequality sign in this specification can also include the meaning of the equal sign when those skilled in the art deem appropriate.
Hereinafter, although an embodiment of the present invention is described in detail based on a drawing, this does not limit the present invention at all.

[General Configuration of Telemeter System According to the Present Invention]
The present invention can be implemented by a general one-way master clock notification system of “center device → telemeter slave station → peripheral device”. In the present invention, when a system-like abnormality occurs, time calibration is performed with more accurate judgment by switching to “peripheral device → telemeter slave station” and collecting master time information in the opposite direction. Is possible.

  In general, various sensors and peripheral devices such as a data logger are often connected to the telemeter slave station. These peripheral devices also usually have internal time information in their own devices, and are receiving time distribution from the telemeter slave station and performing time calibration, or the peripheral devices are independent (for example, GPS Time calibration).

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a telemeter system 100 according to the present invention.
The telemeter system 100 includes a telemeter master station 130, telemeter slave stations 110, 120, peripheral devices such as sensors and data loggers, and the master station and the slave stations are connected by a communication line 140.

  In order to describe the time calibration method according to the present invention, the internal time of the telemeter master station 130 is called the internal time α, the telemeter slave station A 110 has the internal time β, and the sensor A-1 112 has the internal time γ. Suppose you have it. It should be noted that other devices such as telemeter slave station B 120 can have internal time as well, but are omitted here for the sake of brevity.

  Moreover, the telemeter system which can implement this invention can have arbitrary number of generations. In FIG. 1, for the sake of simplicity, it has a configuration of only two generations of “parent station-slave station”. Those skilled in the art can correctly understand this. The communication line 140 can be any commonly used communication means such as a wireless communication or an optical fiber communication line. A person skilled in the art can use any suitable communication technology (eg TCP / IP) in the present invention.

  First, the telemeter slave station A 110 periodically receives control information from the telemeter master station 130. This control information includes the internal time α of the telemeter master station 130. Then, in order to calibrate the internal time β of the telemeter slave station A 110, a difference A between the internal time α of the telemeter master station 130 and the internal time β of the telemeter slave station A 110 is calculated.

Also, peripheral devices (groups) such as the sensor A-1 112 connected to the telemeter slave station A 110 sample various observation data over time based on their internal time or the internal time β of the telemeter slave station A 110, Transmit periodically to telemeter slave station A110. Assuming that the sensor A-1 112 has an internal time γ, the internal time γ is calibrated in accordance with the internal time β of the telemeter slave station A 110 in normal times. However, in the present invention, unlike the prior art, the internal time γ of the peripheral device is used for calibration of the internal time β. The internal time γ may be independently calibrated using GPS or the like, or may be calibrated depending on the internal time β. These processes are described in further detail in the following sections.
The observation data including the time obtained in this way is finally transmitted to the telemeter master station 130.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a hardware configuration capable of executing the program according to the present invention. The CPU 200, the memory 202, the input device 204, the output device 206, the external storage device 208, the medium driving device 210, possible A portable recording medium 212 and a network connection device 214 are connected by a bus 216. The program according to the present invention can be stored in the portable storage medium 212 driven by the external storage device 208 or the medium driving device 210. The hardware can be connected to a network via the network connection device 214, and the program according to the present invention can be input / output via the input device 204 and the output device 206.

[Overview of time calibration processing according to the present invention]
The time calibration process according to the present invention is roughly divided into the following two parts.
{1} The part that uses the difference A between the internal time of the master station and the internal time of the slave station:
{1-1} If the difference A is within an appropriate range, the internal time β is calibrated according to the internal time α, assuming that “the time of the master station has been correctly notified”.
{1-2} If the difference A is too small (relative to the predetermined threshold), it is determined that “the internal time β need not be calibrated” and the process is terminated.
{1-3} If the difference A is too large, it is determined that “the master station clock or communication from the master station is likely to be abnormal”, and the calibration process using the internal time γ of the peripheral device described below is performed. enter.

{2} The part that uses the difference B between the internal time of the slave station and the internal time of the peripheral device:
{2-1} When the difference B and the difference A are substantially equal (the difference between the difference B and the difference A is within an appropriate range), “the time of the master station is correctly reported and the internal time of the slave station The internal time β is calibrated according to the internal time α.
{2-2} When the difference between the difference B and the difference A is too large, it is determined that “the master station clock or communication from the master station is abnormal” and the internal time β is not calibrated. If necessary, report the abnormality to the master station.

  This calibration process can be repeated periodically at an arbitrary interval using the above-described one as one cycle. Preferably, this calibration process is executed each time a telegram is received from the telemeter master station. Or it can also set so that a calibration process may be performed, every time a message | telegram is received from a telemeter master station several times based on problems, such as power consumption.

  Through the processing described above, the peripheral device that normally receives the time unilaterally from the telemeter slave station transmits the internal time of the peripheral device to the telemeter slave station, and the center device (parent station) / telemeter slave station / peripheral device By comprehensively determining each internal time, it is possible to identify the device that caused the deviation of the internal time of the telemeter slave station.

  Unlike the stratum configuration of the ntp server, which is a conventional time calibration technique, in the embodiment of the present invention, time information is transmitted from the client (lower level) to the server (upper level) as necessary. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is not possible to connect to the ntp server by adding time information to the inside of normal data communication and not being able to connect to the ntp server (the protocol is not supported or the communication volume is limited in terms of cost). It can be used even in an environment.

Details of the processing described above will be further described below.
[A-1. First telemeter system embodiment: system in which peripheral device receives system time from telemeter slave station]
The telemeter system according to this embodiment is based on the premise that the internal time of the peripheral device is calibrated by receiving the time from the telemeter slave station. In other words, in this embodiment, the peripheral device does not have its own means for calibrating the internal time.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating time calibration processing in an embodiment of such a system.
First, the center device time deviation calculation step S300 starts when the telemeter slave station receives a message (control information) from the telemeter master station. This electronic message includes the internal time of the center device (more precisely, the internal time provided by the clock (time server or the like) in the center device to the telemeter master station) α. The telemeter slave station stores this internal time α in a memory area (or an internal memory table, for example, the memory 202 in FIG. 2) connected to the telemeter slave station (variable name: “jikoku-a”). Subsequently, the difference A between the internal time β of the telemeter slave station and the internal time α is calculated and stored in the memory area as the variable name “ta”. As described above, the “internal time α of the telemeter master station” mentioned here is a value received by the telemeter slave station to the last and may have a time lag during communication. Please note that.

  Next, in time calibration determination step S302, it is determined whether or not the value ta of the difference A is within a range determined by the preset time calibration maximum time difference t2 and time calibration maximum time difference t1. If t1 <ta <t2, it is determined that “the time of the master station has been correctly notified”, and the process proceeds to calibration execution step S308. If ta <t1, it is judged that “the calibration of the internal time β is not necessary”, the time information stored in the memory area is erased, and the process proceeds to calibration execution step S308, but the internal time β is calibrated. Skip. If t2 <ta, it is determined that “the master station clock or communication from the master station is likely to be abnormal”, and the process proceeds to the peripheral device time deviation calculation step S304.

  In the peripheral device time difference calculation step S304, the telemeter slave station receives data including the internal time γ of the peripheral device from the peripheral device. This operation can also be performed in a normal operation in which the peripheral device transmits observation data to the slave station. It can also be executed individually only when a specific result is obtained in step S302. In any case, in order to meet the purpose of appropriate calibration, the sampling time interval of the observation data being performed in parallel and the time difference between the execution of step S302 and step S304 must not be significantly different. preferable. Furthermore, it is preferable that the interval for performing the time calibration process for one cycle does not become longer than the sampling time interval. However, those skilled in the art can appropriately set these time intervals according to the application of the telemeter system. Returning to the description of step S304, the telemeter slave station stores the internal time γ of the peripheral device in the memory area (variable name: “jikoku-b”). Then, the difference B between the internal time β of the telemeter slave station and the internal time γ is calculated and stored in the memory area as the variable name “tb”. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S306.

  Subsequently, in time calibration determination step 2306, it is determined using a predetermined threshold value tx whether the difference ta value ta and the difference B value tb are close (ta≈tb). In other words, when | ta-tb | <tx, “the internal time α of the master station and the internal time γ of the peripheral device are substantially approximate, and a time shift occurs only at the internal time β of the telemeter slave station. In step S308, the internal time β is calibrated in accordance with the internal time α (“jikoku-a”) stored in the memory area. After the time calibration is performed, the time information in the memory area is deleted. On the other hand, when | ta-tb |> tx, it is assumed that “the information itself of the internal time α distributed from the master station or the information transmission has failed”, and the calibration execution step S308 is also performed. The time information in the memory area is deleted without performing the time calibration of the telemeter slave station. The value of tx is preferably set to a value that is considered appropriate by those skilled in the art based on the situation in which the telemeter system is operated.

In the calibration execution step S308, it is determined whether to execute the calibration of the internal time β of the telemeter slave station based on the results in the above-described steps S302 and S306. However, in the end, in order to calibrate the internal time γ of the peripheral device, the telemeter slave station distributes the internal time β to the peripheral device. Preferably, the internal time β is calibrated prior to the calibration of the internal time γ.
A processing method when there are a plurality of peripheral devices will be described later.

[B-1. Second telemeter system embodiment: system in which peripheral device independently performs time calibration]
The telemeter system according to this embodiment is based on the premise that the internal time of the peripheral device is uniquely calibrated (for example, using GPS).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a time calibration process in an embodiment of such a system.
First, in the center device time deviation calculation step S400, the telemeter slave station receives a message (control information) from the telemeter master station. The telemeter slave station stores the internal time α of the center device included in this message in the memory area (variable name: “jikoku-a”). Subsequently, the difference A between the internal time β of the telemeter slave station and the internal time α is calculated and stored in the memory area as the variable name “ta”. Further, unlike the embodiment of FIG. 3, the variation of the difference A from the previous process to the current process (difference between the previous values ta0 and ta) is calculated and stored in the memory area as the variable name “Δta”. To do. In this embodiment, since there are a plurality of master times (master station and peripheral devices), the difference between each master time can be determined by using the change amount (variation) of the difference. It is a mechanism for leveling out differences in trends. Due to this mechanism, for example, when the internal time α of the master station tends to be slightly delayed and the internal time γ of the peripheral device tends to advance, the difference between the difference A and the difference B is always easily detected to be large. Can be avoided.

  Subsequently, in time calibration determination step S402, it is determined whether or not the value ta of the difference A is within a range determined by the preset time calibration maximum time difference t2 and time calibration maximum time difference t1. If t1 <ta <t2, it is determined that “the master station time has been correctly notified”, and the process proceeds to calibration execution step S408. If ta <t1, it is judged that “the calibration of the internal time β is not necessary”, the time information stored in the memory area is erased, and the process proceeds to calibration execution step S408, but the internal time β is calibrated. Skip. If t2 <ta, it is determined that “the master station clock or communication from the master station is likely to be abnormal”, and the process proceeds to the peripheral device time deviation calculation step S404.

  In the peripheral device time deviation calculation step S404, the telemeter slave station receives data including the internal time γ of the peripheral device from the peripheral device. The telemeter slave station stores the internal time γ of the peripheral device in the memory area (variable name: “jikoku-b”). Then, the difference B between the internal time β of the telemeter slave station and the internal time γ is calculated and stored in the memory area as the variable name “tb”. Further, for the reason described above, the variation of the difference B from the previous process to the current process (difference between the previous values tb0 and tb) is calculated and stored in the memory area as the variable name “Δtb”. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S406.

  In time calibration determination 2 step S406, it is determined using a predetermined threshold value ty whether the variation Δta of the difference A is close to the variation Δtb of the difference B (Δta≈Δtb). In other words, when | Δta-Δtb | <ty, “the internal time α of the master station and the internal time γ of the peripheral device are substantially approximate, and a time lag occurs only at the internal time β of the telemeter slave station. In step S408, the internal time β is calibrated in accordance with the internal time α (“jikoku-a”) stored in the memory area. After performing time calibration, erase the time information in the memory area that is no longer needed after updating ta0 and tb0 for the next processing. On the other hand, if | Δta-Δtb |> ty, it is assumed that “the information itself at the internal time α distributed from the master station or an error has occurred in information transmission”, and the calibration execution step S408 is also performed. Proceed, but do not perform time calibration of the telemeter slave station, and erase the time information in the memory area that is no longer needed after updating ta0 and tb0 for the next processing. The value of ty is preferably set to a value that is considered appropriate by those skilled in the art based on the situation in which the telemeter system is operated.

  In the calibration execution step S408, it is determined whether to execute the calibration of the internal time β of the telemeter slave station based on the results in the above-described steps S402 and S406. Basically, in this embodiment, the peripheral device independently performs time calibration. However, if necessary, the telemeter slave station can also deliver the internal time β to the peripheral device.

As a result of the above determination process, when the telemeter slave station determines that the cause of the time shift exceeding the “time calibration maximum shift time amount” is itself, the internal time of the telemeter slave station is large even if the shift width is large. β is automatically time calibrated, and time calibration can be performed at an appropriate time for the telemeter system.
A processing method when there are a plurality of peripheral devices will be described later.

[A-2. Modified example of first telemeter system embodiment: a system in which a plurality of peripheral devices are provided with system time from a telemeter slave station]
The time calibration method according to the present invention can also be implemented in a system in which a plurality of peripheral devices are connected to a telemeter slave station. In an environment where the telemeter system is actually operated, there are often a plurality of peripheral devices. In this section, it is assumed that all the peripheral devices are provided with the system time from the telemeter slave station. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the peripheral devices are unique as described in the next section. The time calibration may be performed at the same time, or a peripheral device that performs time calibration independently and a peripheral device that receives the system time from the telemeter slave station may be mixed. Alternatively, not all peripheral devices may be used, but only some peripheral devices may be used in the present invention. A person skilled in the art can appropriately implement the present invention in the configuration described above with reference to this section and the next section.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing time calibration processing in an embodiment of such a system. Here, n peripheral devices exist, and all of them are used for the time calibration process.
The center device time deviation calculation step S500 is the same as step S300 in FIG. 3, and the time calibration determination 1 step S502 is the same as step S302.

  In the peripheral device time deviation calculation step S504, the telemeter slave station receives the internal time γ (m) of the mth peripheral device and stores it in the memory area as the variable name “jikoku-b (m)”. The difference B (m) between each “jikoku-b (m)” and the internal time β of the slave station is calculated and stored in the memory area as the variable name “tb (m)”. This process is executed in a loop until m reaches 1 to n.

  Subsequently, in time calibration determination step 2506, it is determined using a predetermined threshold value tx whether the value ta of the difference A and the value tb (m) of the difference B (m) are close (ta≈tb (m)). To do. That is, when | ta-tb (m) | <tx, “the internal time α of the master station and the internal time γ (m) of the m-th peripheral device are substantially approximated, and the telemeter slave station Assuming that there is one reason that the time difference occurred only at the internal time β, the variable k (preferably the initial value 0) is incremented by one. On the other hand, when | ta-tb (m) |> tx, it is assumed that “there is one reason that an abnormality has occurred in the information itself or information transmission of the internal time α delivered from the master station”. However, the variable k is not incremented. This is executed in a loop from m to 1 to n, and finally the value of the variable k (that is, the number of peripheral devices that became the basis for assuming that the deviation occurred only at the internal time β of the slave station) And a predetermined judgment threshold value K0. When k> K0, “the internal time α of the master station and the internal time γ of the peripheral device are often substantially approximate, so it is considered that a time lag has occurred only at the internal time β of the telemeter slave station. In step S508, the internal time β is calibrated in accordance with the internal time α (“jikoku-a”) stored in the memory area. After the time calibration is performed, the time information in the memory area is deleted. In addition, when k <K0, it means that “the information itself at the internal time α distributed from the master station or an error in information transmission has occurred”, and the process proceeds to calibration execution step S508, but the telemeter The time information in the memory area is deleted without performing the time calibration of the station. As a matter of course, the variable k may be incremented when | ta-tb (m) |> tx, and the initial value or increment value of k can be arbitrarily set. A person skilled in the art can implement the present invention by appropriately setting k and K0 in ways other than those described above.

  In the calibration execution step S508, it is determined whether or not to execute the calibration of the internal time β of the telemeter slave station based on the results in the above-described steps S502 and S506. However, in order to calibrate the internal time γ (m) of each peripheral device at the end, the telemeter slave station distributes the internal time β to each peripheral device. Preferably, the internal time β is calibrated prior to the internal time γ (m).

  In the above description, tx is described as having only one type, but depending on the characteristics of each peripheral device, tx (m) is used for the mth peripheral device, so that multiple tx are prepared. You can also. With this setting, the determination in step S506 can be made after weighting each peripheral device.

[B-2. Modification of second telemeter system embodiment: system in which multiple peripheral devices independently perform time calibration]
FIG. 6 is an extension of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 to the case where there are n peripheral devices and all of them are used for carrying out the present invention.

The center device time deviation calculation step S600 is the same as step S400 in FIG. 4, and the time calibration determination 1 step S602 is the same as step S402.
In the peripheral device time deviation calculation step S604, the telemeter slave station receives the internal time γ (m) of the mth peripheral device and stores it as a variable name “jikoku-b (m)” in the memory area. The difference B (m) between each “jikoku-b (m)” and the internal time β of the slave station is calculated and stored in the memory area as the variable name “tb (m)”. Further, the variation of the difference B (m) from the previous process to the current process (difference between the previous value tb0 (m) and tb (m)) is calculated and stored as the variable name “Δtb (m)”. Store in the area. This process is executed in a loop until m reaches 1 to n. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S606.

  Time calibration determination 2 In step S606, it is determined using a predetermined threshold ty whether the variation Δta of the difference A is close to the variation Δtb (m) of the difference B (m) (Δta≈Δtb (m)). To do. That is, when | Δta-Δtb (m) | <ty, “the internal time α of the master station and the internal time γ (m) of the m-th peripheral device are substantially approximated and the telemeter slave station Assuming that there is one reason that the time difference occurred only at the internal time β, the variable k (preferably the initial value 0) is incremented by one. On the other hand, when | Δta-Δtb (m) |> ty, it is assumed that “one basis has been obtained that the information itself at the internal time α distributed from the master station or an abnormality has occurred in information transmission”. However, the variable k is not incremented. This is executed in a loop from m to 1 to n, and finally the value of the variable k (that is, the number of peripheral devices that became the basis for assuming that the deviation occurred only at the internal time β of the slave station) And a predetermined judgment threshold value K0. When k> K0, “the internal time α of the master station and the internal time γ of the peripheral device are often substantially approximate, so it is considered that a time lag has occurred only at the internal time β of the telemeter slave station. In step S608, the internal time β is calibrated in accordance with the internal time α (“jikoku-a”) stored in the memory area. After performing time calibration, erase the time information in the memory area that is no longer needed after updating ta0 and tb0 (m) for the next processing. In addition, when k <K0, it means that “the information itself at the internal time α delivered from the master station or an abnormality in information transmission has occurred” and the process proceeds to calibration step S608, but the telemeter The station time is not calibrated, and the time information in the memory area that is no longer needed after updating ta0 and tb0l (m) for the next processing is deleted. As a matter of course, the variable k may be incremented when | Δta−Δtb (m) |> ty, or an initial value or an increment value can be arbitrarily set. A person skilled in the art can implement the present invention by appropriately setting k and K0 in ways other than those described above.

  In the calibration execution step S608, it is determined whether to execute the calibration of the internal time β of the telemeter slave station based on the results in the above-described steps S602 and S606. Basically, in this embodiment, the peripheral device independently performs time calibration. However, if necessary, the telemeter slave station can also deliver the internal time β to the peripheral device.

  In the above description, it is described that there is only one type of ty. However, depending on the characteristics of each peripheral device, etc., multiple tys are prepared such that ty (m) is used for the mth peripheral device. Thus, it is possible to incorporate the weight for each peripheral device in the determination in step S606.

[Conclusion]
By using the program and the telemeter system according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically and accurately acquire and calibrate the time of the telemeter system even in an environment where there is a problem with the speed and quality of the communication line.

(Appendix 1)
To a computer that can communicate with the telemeter master station via a communication line and to which a peripheral device is connected,
Receiving the time information sent from the telemeter master station, and storing in the storage means of the computer;
The time information of the telemeter master station received in the storing step is compared with the time information of the time measuring means in the computer, and if the difference is within a predetermined time, the time information of the time measuring means is obtained from the telemeter master station. The time information is calibrated to the sent time information, and if the difference exceeds a predetermined time, the time information is obtained from the peripheral device and compared with the time measuring means, and the time information of the time measuring means is obtained from the peripheral device. And a calibration step for determining whether to calibrate to the time information.
(Appendix 2)
Receiving means for receiving time information sent from the telemeter master station;
The time information of the telemetry master station received by the reception means is compared with the time information of the time measurement means in the computer, and if the difference is within a predetermined time, the time information of the time measurement means is converted to the telemeter master station. If the difference exceeds a predetermined time, the time information is obtained from the peripheral device and compared with the time measuring means, and the time information of the time measuring means is obtained from the peripheral device. A time calibration apparatus comprising calibration means for determining whether to calibrate the acquired time information.
(Appendix 3)
A computer capable of communicating with a telemeter master station via a communication line and having a peripheral device connected thereto,
A storage step of receiving time information sent from the telemeter master station and storing it in the storage means of the computer;
The time information of the telemeter master station received in the storing step is compared with the time information of the time measuring means in the computer, and if the difference is within a predetermined time, the time information of the time measuring means is obtained from the telemeter master station. The time information is calibrated to the sent time information, and if the difference exceeds a predetermined time, the time information is obtained from the peripheral device and compared with the time measuring means, and the time information of the time measuring means is obtained from the peripheral device. And a calibration step for determining whether to calibrate to the time information.
(Appendix 4)
In a telemeter slave station connected to a telemeter master station via a communication line, it is a method for performing time calibration or detection of abnormality of internal time, and a peripheral device is connected to the telemeter slave station,
(I) The telemeter slave station receives control information from the telemeter master station via the communication line, where the control information includes an internal time α of the telemeter master station Steps like
(Ii) the telemeter slave station storing the internal time α in a memory area;
(Iii) The telemeter slave station calculates a difference A between the internal time α of the telemeter slave station and the internal time α, and stores the difference A in the memory area;
(Iv) the peripheral device sending observation information to the telemeter slave station, wherein the observation information includes an internal time γ of the peripheral device;
(V) the telemeter slave station storing the internal time γ in the memory area;
(Vi) the telemeter slave station calculates a difference B between the internal time β and the internal time γ, and stores the difference B in the memory area;
(Vii) The telemeter slave station determines whether the value of the difference A is within a predetermined range and whether the difference B is within a predetermined range. And determining whether or not the internal time β is abnormal, and further, if it is determined that there is no abnormality in the internal time β of the telemeter slave station, includes a step of calibrating the internal time β. A method characterized by that.
(Appendix 5)
In a computer included in a telemeter slave station connected to a telemeter master station via a communication line, a program for executing a method for performing time calibration or detecting an abnormality of internal time, the telemeter slave station includes Peripheral devices are connected,
(I) The telemeter slave station receives control information from the telemeter master station via the communication line, where the control information includes an internal time α of the telemeter master station Steps like
(Ii) the telemeter slave station storing the internal time α in a memory area of the computer;
(Iii) The telemeter slave station calculates a difference A between the internal time α of the telemeter slave station and the internal time α, and stores the difference A in the memory area;
(Iv) the peripheral device receiving observation information at the telemeter slave station, wherein the observation information includes an internal time γ of the peripheral device;
(V) the telemeter slave station storing the internal time γ in the memory area;
(Vi) the telemeter slave station calculates a difference B between the internal time β and the internal time γ, and stores the difference B in the memory area;
(Vii) The telemeter slave station determines whether the value of the difference A is within a predetermined range and whether the difference B is within a predetermined range. And determining whether or not the internal time β is abnormal, and further, if it is determined that there is no abnormality in the internal time β of the telemeter slave station, includes a step of calibrating the internal time β. A program characterized by that.
(Appendix 6)
The program according to claim 4, wherein the internal time γ of the peripheral device is calibrated by the internal time β of the telemeter slave station.
(Appendix 7)
Said step (vii)
The difference A between the internal time α of the telemeter master station and the internal time β of the telemeter slave station,
The difference B between the internal time β of the telemeter slave station and the internal time γ of the peripheral device is compared to determine whether the difference between the difference A and the difference B is smaller than a predetermined threshold. The program according to claim 6, further comprising a step of determining whether or not the difference A and the difference B are substantially close values.
(Appendix 8)
The program according to appendix 4, wherein the internal time γ of the peripheral device is independently time calibrated.
(Appendix 9)
Said step (vii)
A time variation ΔA of the difference A between the internal time α of the telemeter master station and the internal time β of the telemeter slave station;
Comparing the time variation ΔB of the difference B between the internal time β of the telemeter slave station and the internal time γ of the peripheral device, the difference between the time variation ΔA and the time variation ΔB is a predetermined value. The method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of determining whether the time variation ΔA and the time variation ΔB are substantially close by determining whether the time variation is smaller than a threshold value. Program.
(Appendix 10)
Said step (vii)
Detect and report which of the internal time α of the telemeter master station, the internal time β of the telemeter slave station, and the internal time γ of the peripheral device received by the telemeter slave station is abnormal. The program according to any one of appendices 5 to 9, further comprising a step of:
(Appendix 11)
A plurality of the peripheral devices, and
The steps (iv), (v), and (vi) are executed after the internal time γ is selected from any of the internal times of the peripheral devices. The program according to any one of 10 above.
(Appendix 12)
The internal time γ is selected from any of the internal times of the peripheral devices, and the steps (iv), (v), and (vi) are performed by at least a part of the peripheral devices. The program according to appendix 10, wherein the program is executed in a loop.
(Appendix 13)
A clock built in a telemeter slave station connected to a telemeter master station via a communication line, the clock managing the internal time of the telemeter slave station, and
Storage means;
The internal time of the telemeter master station received from the telemeter master station via the communication line is matched with the internal time managed by the clock. At that time, the internal time of the telemeter master station and the clock are managed. Calculating a first difference that is a difference from the internal time and storing the first difference in the storage unit;
The internal time of the peripheral device received from the peripheral device connected to the telemeter slave station is matched with the internal time managed by the clock at a second time interval, and the time managed by the clock is A second time calibration unit that calculates a second difference that is a difference between an internal time and the internal time of the peripheral device, and stores the second difference in the storage unit;
Self time deviation determination means for determining that there is an abnormality in the time of the clock and notifying when the absolute value of the difference between the first difference and the second difference does not exceed a predetermined threshold. A watch characterized by that.
(Appendix 14)
14. The timepiece according to appendix 13, further comprising time calibration correction means for appropriately correcting a result of the first time calibration means calibrating the timepiece based on an output of the time deviation determination means.
(Appendix 15)
A telemeter slave station comprising the timepiece according to appendix 13 or 14.
(Appendix 16)
Telemeter master station,
A telemeter slave station connected to the telemeter master station via a communication line;
A telemeter system including a peripheral device connected to the telemeter slave station, wherein the telemeter slave station includes storage means;
(I) The telemeter slave station receives an internal time α of the telemeter master station from the telemeter master station via the communication line,
(Ii) The telemeter slave station stores the internal time α in the storage means,
(Iii) The telemeter slave station calculates the difference A between the internal time β of the telemeter slave station and the internal time α, and stores the difference A in the storage means;
(Iv) The peripheral device transmits an internal time γ of the peripheral device to the telemeter slave station,
(V) The telemeter slave station stores the internal time γ in the storage means,
(Vi) The telemeter slave station calculates a difference B between the internal time β and the internal time γ, and stores the difference B in the storage means.
(Vii) The telemeter slave station determines whether the value of the difference A is within a predetermined range and whether the difference B is within a predetermined range. Whether the internal time β is abnormal is determined and detected, and when it is determined that there is no abnormality in the internal time β of the telemeter slave station, the internal time β is calibrated. A telemeter system.
(Appendix 17)
The telemeter system according to appendix 16, wherein the internal time γ of the peripheral device is calibrated by the internal time β of the telemeter slave station.
The telemeter slave station is
The difference A between the internal time α of the telemeter master station and the internal time β of the telemeter slave station,
The difference B between the internal time β of the telemeter slave station and the internal time γ of the peripheral device is compared to determine whether the difference between the difference A and the difference B is smaller than a predetermined threshold. Accordingly, it is determined whether or not the difference A and the difference B are substantially close to each other.
(Appendix 19)
The telemeter system according to appendix 16, wherein the internal time γ of the peripheral device is independently time calibrated.
(Appendix 20)
The telemeter slave station is
A time variation ΔA of the difference A between the internal time α of the telemeter master station and the internal time β of the telemeter slave station;
Comparing the time variation ΔB of the difference B between the internal time β of the telemeter slave station and the internal time γ of the peripheral device, the difference between the time variation ΔA and the time variation ΔB is a predetermined value. The telemeter system according to appendix 19, wherein it is determined whether or not the time variation ΔA and the time variation ΔB are substantially close by determining whether or not the threshold value is smaller than a threshold value.
(Appendix 21)
A plurality of the peripheral devices,
The telemetry system according to any one of appendices 16 to 20, wherein the internal time γ is selected from any of the internal times of the peripheral devices.
(Appendix 22)
The telemeter system according to appendix 21, wherein for at least a part of the peripheral device, the internal time γ is repeatedly selected from any internal time of the peripheral device.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the flow of operation | movement of the telemeter system which implements this invention. It is the schematic which shows the calibration of the hardware which can execute the program based on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the time calibration process which concerns on this invention, Comprising: The peripheral device is a single and the peripheral device receives the provision of internal time from a slave station. It is a flowchart which shows the time calibration process which concerns on this invention, Comprising: The peripheral device is a single, and the case where the peripheral device implements time calibration uniquely is shown. It is a flowchart which shows the time calibration process which concerns on this invention, Comprising: A peripheral device is plurality, and the case where a peripheral device is receiving provision of internal time from a slave station is shown. It is a flowchart which shows the time calibration process which concerns on this invention, Comprising: The peripheral device is plural, and the case where the peripheral device implements time calibration uniquely is shown. It is a schematic diagram of the telemeter system which concerns on a prior art. It is a schematic diagram which shows the flow of operation | movement of the telemeter system based on the prior art of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the time calibration process which concerns on a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

100 Telemeter system
110 Telemeter slave station A
112 Sensor A-1
116 Sensor A-3
120 Telemeter slave station B
122 Sensor B-1
126 Sensor B-3
130 Telemeter master station
140 Communication line
200 CPU
202 memory
204 Input device
206 Output device
208 External storage
210 Medium drive
212 Portable recording media
214 Network connection device
216 bus
700 Observatory A
702 Telemeter slave station A
704 Sensor A-1
706 Sensor A-2
708 Sensor A-3
710 Observatory B
712 Telemeter slave station B
714 Sensor B-1
716 Sensor B-2
718 Sensor B-3
720 Observation slave station C
730 Observer D
740 Partner companies a
741 Observation device a
742 Telemeter slave station a
744 Sensor a-1
745 sensor a-2
746 Sensor a-3
748 Observation device a '
750 Partner companies b
760 Center unit
762 Telemeter master station
764 Data collection server
765 LAN
766 time server
767 monitoring terminal
768 surveillance display
769 Telephone / fax machine
770 communication line
780 communication line
782 Ministry of the Environment
784 Local government
786 Internet

Claims (5)

To a computer that can communicate with the telemeter master station via a communication line and to which a peripheral device is connected,
A storage step of receiving control information sent from the telemeter master station and storing time information α included in the control information in a storage means of the computer;
Calculates the difference A by comparing the time information measuring unit in the time information of the telemeter master station included in the control information received α with the computer β in the storing step, said difference component A is within a predetermined time if the calibrated time information measuring unit β in the time information α included in the above control information sent from the telemeter master station, or, if the difference amount a exceeds the predetermined time The time information γ included in the observation information sent from the peripheral device is acquired, the difference B between the time information β of the time measuring means is calculated, and the difference C between the difference A and the difference B is within a predetermined range. or based on whether, and wherein the time information β of the clock means it to execute a calibration determining whether to calibrate the time information α included in the control information sent from the telemeter master station is Yes, time comparison Positive program. 2. The program according to claim 1, wherein the time information [ gamma] of the peripheral device is calibrated with the time information [ beta] of time measuring means in the computer. 2. The program according to claim 1, wherein the time information [ gamma] of the peripheral device is calibrated with the time information [ beta] of the clock means in the computer independently for each peripheral device. A time calibration device capable of communicating with a telemeter master station via a communication line and connected to a peripheral device ,
Receiving means for receiving control information transmitted from the telemeter master station,
Calculates the difference A by comparing the time information of the timekeeping means and the time information of the telemeter master station included in the control information received α in the time calibration device β at said receiving means, said difference component A is if within the predetermined time, the calibrated time information measuring unit β in the time information α included in the above control information sent from the telemeter master station, or the difference component a exceeds the predetermined time If so, the time information γ included in the observation information sent from the peripheral device is acquired, the difference B from the time information β of the time measuring means is calculated, and the difference C between the difference A and the difference B is predetermined. based on whether or not the range, that has a calibration means for determining calibration time information β of the clock means to time information α included in the above control information sent from the telemeter master station A time calibration apparatus characterized by the above. A computer capable of communicating with a telemeter master station via a communication line and having a peripheral device connected thereto,
A storage step of receiving the control information sent from the telemeter master station and storing the time information α included in the control information in the storage means of the computer;
Calculates the difference A by comparing the time information measuring unit in the time information of the telemeter master station included in the control information received α with the computer β in the storing step, said difference component A is within a predetermined time if the calibrated time information measuring unit β in the time information α included in the above control information sent from the telemeter master station, or, if the difference amount a exceeds the predetermined time The time information γ included in the observation information sent from the peripheral device is acquired, the difference B between the time information β of the time measuring means is calculated, and the difference C between the difference A and the difference B is within a predetermined range. or based on whether, and characterized in that to perform the calibration step determines whether to calibrate the time information α included in the above control information sent from the telemeter master station time information β of the clock means is Yes, time calibration Method.