Control system

Abstract

The present application provides a control system capable of suppressing the burden of a control device. The control system has the control device and a server. The control device controls a plurality of devices connected to an energy management system. The server relays communication between the energy management system and the control device. The server converts information of each device received via the energy management system into a predetermined protocol and transmits to the control device. The server converts a control instruction to each device based on the predetermined protocol transmitted from the control device into a protocol of each device and transmits to the energy management system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a control system. Background Technology

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a control device that monitors the operating status of multiple devices and instructs on the operating methods of the multiple devices.

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-54647 Summary of the Invention

[0004] In a control system, when multiple devices with different communication protocols are centrally controlled, the control device needs to communicate with each device using its own protocol. In this situation, the control device bears a heavy burden.

[0005] The control system for solving the above problems includes: a control device that controls multiple devices connected to an energy management system; and a server that relays communication between the energy management system and the control device.

[0006] The server converts the information received from each device via the energy management system into a predetermined protocol and sends it to the control device.

[0007] Furthermore, the server will convert the control commands for each device sent from the control device based on the established protocol into the protocol of each device and send them to the energy management system.

[0008] Invention Effects

[0009] Compared to communicating with each device through its own protocols, this reduces the burden on the control unit. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the control system in one embodiment.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram representing an example of identifier data stored on a server.

[0012] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the control system when the control device receives information.

[0013] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the control system when the control device sends control commands.

[0014] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the control system in the modified example. Detailed Implementation

[0015] <Control System>

[0016] like Figure 1 As shown, the control system 10 includes a control device 20 and multiple servers 30. Multiple servers 30 are connected to the control device 20. An Energy Management System (EMS) 40 is connected to each server 30. Multiple devices 50 are connected to the EMS 40. That is, multiple devices 50 are connected to the control device 20 via the servers 30 and the EMS 40. The control device 20 controls the multiple devices 50 connected to the EMS 40. Each server 30 relays communication between the EMS 40 and the control device 20.

[0017] In the control system 10, within the control device 20, server 30 is connected to xEMS_A server 31, xEMS_B server 32, and xEMS_C server 33. xEMS_A server 31 serves as EMS 40, with one xEMS_A41 connected. xEMS_B server 32 serves as EMS 40, with two xEMS_B42 connected. xEMS_C server 33 serves as EMS 40, with two xEMS_C43 connected.

[0018] EMS40 includes, for example, Home Energy Management System (HEMS), Factory Energy Management System (FEMS), and Building Energy Management System (BEMS).

[0019] The multiple devices 50 that are the objects of control include, for example, load devices, energy storage devices, and power generation devices. Load devices include, for example, air conditioning equipment, lighting equipment, and factory production equipment. Energy storage devices include, for example, batteries and EV vehicles. Power generation devices include, for example, generators and solar panels.

[0020] <Control Device>

[0021] Control device 20 receives information from each device 50 and sends control commands to each device 50. Control device 20 receives information and sends control commands via server 30 and EMS 40 connected to server 30. Control device 20 uses a predetermined communication protocol to send and receive data with server 30. The predetermined communication protocol used by control device 20 is common to multiple servers 30. That is, control device 20 uses a common communication protocol to send and receive data with multiple servers 30. In the following description, the predetermined communication protocol used by control device 20 will sometimes be simply referred to as the predetermined protocol.

[0022] Information about each device 50 includes, for example, its past operating status, current operating status, and planned future operating status. Control commands for each device 50 include, for example, indications of its current operating status and indications of its future operating status.

[0023] The control device 20 includes a processing circuit 201, a storage device 202, and a communication device 203. The processing circuit 201 includes one or more processors that execute computer programs (software). Furthermore, the processor includes a CPU and memories such as RAM and ROM.

[0024] The storage device 202 is constructed using a computer-readable medium accessible by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer. The memory of the processor constituting the processing circuit 201 is also the same. That is, the control device 20 reads the computer program stored in the storage device 202 via the processing circuit 201, which executes various processes specified in the computer program.

[0025] The communication device 203 is capable of sending and receiving data between each of the multiple servers 30. That is, the control device 20 can use the communication device 203 to receive information about the device 50 and send control commands to the device 50 between the control device 203 and each server 30. The control device 20 stores the information about the device 50 received by the communication device 203 from the server 30 in the storage device 202.

[0026] <Server>

[0027] Server 30 converts information received from each device 50 via EMS 40 into a predetermined protocol and sends it to control device 20. Furthermore, server 30 converts control commands to each device 50, based on a predetermined protocol, sent from control device 20 into the protocol of each device 50 and sends it to EMS 40. In other words, each server 30 performs the conversion between its corresponding protocol and the predetermined protocol. Multiple servers 30 correspond to different protocols. In other words, multiple servers 30 are configured according to each protocol corresponding to each device 50.

[0028] Each server 30 includes a processing circuit 301, a storage device 302, and a communication device 303. The processing circuit 301 includes one or more processors that execute computer programs (software). In addition, the processor includes a CPU and memories such as RAM and ROM.

[0029] The storage device 302 is constructed using a computer-readable medium accessible to a general-purpose or special-purpose computer. The memory of the processor constituting the processing circuit 301 is also the same. The information processing device then reads a computer program stored in the storage device 302 by the processing circuit 301, which executes various processes specified in the computer program.

[0030] Figure 2 An example of identifier data stored in storage device 302 is shown. In storage device 302, identifier data is stored as data required for the conversion between the predetermined protocol of control device 20 and the protocols of each device 50. This identifier data establishes a corresponding association between identifiers in the predetermined protocol and identifiers in the protocols of each device 50. Figure 2 The diagram shows an example of identifier data that establishes a corresponding association between an identifier in protocol X, which is a given protocol, and an identifier in protocol A, which is one of the protocols of device 50.

[0031] The communication device 303 is capable of sending and receiving data with the control device 20. That is, the server 30 can use the communication device 303 to receive information from each device 50 connected to the server 30 and send control commands to the control device 20. Furthermore, the communication device 303 is capable of sending and receiving data with the EMS 40. That is, the server 30 can use the communication device 303 to receive information from each device 50 connected to the EMS 40 and send control commands to the EMS 40.

[0032] <The function of this implementation method>

[0033] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The function of the control system 10 will be explained.

[0034] Figure 3 This refers to the operation of the control system 10 when the control device 20 receives information from each of the multiple devices 50. That is, in... Figure 3 In this configuration, each device 50 acts as the data sender, and the control device 20 acts as the data receiver. For example... Figure 3As shown, multiple devices 50 send their information to server 30 using their respective communication protocols. Specifically, the multiple devices 50 send information to server 30 via an EMS 40 connected to them. Each server 30 sends the received information to control device 20 using a predetermined communication protocol. In other words, each server 30 converts the information received from device 50 using its own protocol into a predetermined protocol and sends it to control device 20. The predetermined protocol is a common protocol among the multiple servers 30, namely protocol X.

[0035] Multiple devices 50 connected to xEMS_A41 send their information to xEMS_A server 31 using protocol A. Multiple devices 50 connected to xEMS_B42 send their information to xEMS_B server 32 using protocol B. That is, each server 30 corresponds to a different protocol, and each server 30 performs the conversion between its corresponding protocol and a predetermined protocol. Furthermore, there are two xEMS_B42 servers connected to xEMS_B server 32, but devices 50 connected to both xEMS_B42 servers use protocol B to send data.

[0036] Then, the xEMS_A server 31 converts the information received from each device 50 in Protocol A into Protocol X and sends it to the control device 20. The xEMS_B server 32 converts the information received from each device 50 in Protocol B into Protocol X and sends it to the control device 20.

[0037] Figure 4 This refers to the operation of the control system 10 when the control device 20 sends control commands to multiple devices 50. That is, in... Figure 4 In this system, the control device 20 is the data sender, and the equipment 50 is the data receiver.

[0038] like Figure 4 As shown, the control device 20 uses a predetermined communication protocol, namely protocol X, to send control commands to multiple servers 30 for the device 50. In this embodiment, the control device 20 uses protocol X to send control commands to the xEMS_A server 31 and the xEMS_B server 32.

[0039] Each server 30 sends the received control commands to the corresponding device 50 using the protocol corresponding to that device 50. Specifically, each server 30 converts the control commands sent from the control device 20 to each device 50 based on a predetermined protocol into the protocol of that device 50, and sends them to the EMS 40 connected to that device 50. In this embodiment, the xEMS_A server 31 converts the control commands received in protocol X into protocol A, and sends them to the device 50 connected to xEMS_A41. The xEMS_B server 32 converts the control commands received in protocol X into protocol B, and sends them to the device 50 connected to xEMS_B42.

[0040] <Effects of this implementation method>

[0041] (1) The control device 20 can control multiple devices 50 via a single protocol X through the server 30. Therefore, the burden on the control device 20 can be reduced compared to communicating with each device 50 through its own protocol.

[0042] (2) As the number of protocols used by multiple devices 50 increases, the burden on the server 30, which performs the conversion between each protocol and the established protocol, increases. By connecting multiple servers 30 to the control device 20, the burden on each server 30 can be reduced.

[0043] (3) Each server 30 performs the conversion between the protocol corresponding to that server 30 and the established protocol used by the control device 20. Therefore, compared with the case of performing multiple conversions between the established protocol and the protocol, the burden on the server 30 can be reduced.

[0044] (4) Each server 30 can translate the identifier in the established protocol and the identifier in the protocol of each device 50. The control device 20 can manage multiple devices 50 using the established identifier. Therefore, compared with the case where the control device 20 manages the device 50 using the identifier in the protocol of each device 50, the burden on the control device 20 can be reduced.

[0045] <Example of Change>

[0046] The above-described embodiments can be implemented by modifications as follows. The above-described embodiments and the following modifications can be combined with each other to implement them within the scope of technical inconsistency.

[0047] The number of servers 30 connected to the control device 20 can be changed appropriately. There can be one or two servers 30 connected to the control device 20, or there can be more than three servers.

[0048] • Multiple servers 30 may not correspond to different protocols. That is, multiple servers 30 for the same protocol can be connected to the control device 20.

[0049] The protocols corresponding to each of the 30 servers may not be the same. Figure 5 In the example shown, xEMS_A server 31 is connected to xEMS_A41 and xEMS_D44. Besides protocol A, xEMS_A server 31 also corresponds to protocol D. That is, xEMS_A server 31 is configured to convert data sent using a predetermined protocol X into both protocol A and protocol D. Furthermore, although not illustrated, xEMS_A server 31 is configured to convert data sent using protocols A and D into protocol X. Therefore, even if the number of protocols of the device 50 controlled by control device 20 increases, the increase in the required number of servers can be suppressed.

[0050] Furthermore, although the illustrations are omitted, the communication protocols used by the multiple devices 50 connected to each EMS 40 can be different. For example, xEMS_A41 may have devices 50 using protocol A and devices 50 using protocol D connected to it. In this case, the xEMS_A server 31 is configured to convert data sent using protocol A and protocol D into protocol X.

[0051] The communication device 203 of the control device 20 may have the function of communicating with devices other than the server 30. In one example, the communication device 203 may be configured to receive demand response requests from a power company. In another example, the communication device 203 may be configured to receive information related to the determination of control commands. For example, the communication device 203 may be configured to receive weather information or calendar information.

[0052] • EMS40 is not limited to the examples above. For example, EMS40 may include Community Energy Management System (CEMS), etc.

[0053] In the control system 10, multiple devices 50 can be connected to the server 30 without going through the EMS 40. The control device 20 only needs to be configured to control multiple devices 50 via the server 30.

[0054] Symbol Explanation

[0055] 10-Control system, 20-Control device, 30-Server, 31-xEMS_A server, 32-xEMS_B server, 33-xEMS_C server, 40-Energy management system, 40-EMS, 41-xEMS_A, 42-xEMS_B, 43-xEMS_C, 50-Equipment, 201-Processing circuit, 202-Storage device, 203-Communication device, 301-Processing circuit, 302-Storage device, 303-Communication device.

Claims

1. A control system, characterized in that, have: Control device, which controls multiple devices connected to an energy management system; and The server relays communication between the energy management system and the control device. The server performs the following processing: The information received from each device via the energy management system is converted into a predetermined protocol and sent to the control device; and The control commands for each device, based on the established protocol, sent from the control device are converted into the protocol of each device and sent to the energy management system.

2. The control system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Multiple servers are connected to the control device.

3. The control system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The multiple servers each correspond to a different protocol. Each server performs the conversion between its corresponding protocol and the established protocol.

4. The control system according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the storage device of the server, identifier data is stored as the data required for the conversion between the predetermined protocol of the control device and the protocols of each device. The identifier data establishes a corresponding association between the identifiers in the predetermined protocol and the identifiers in the protocols of each device.

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