Collection device, control method, and program

Abstract

To provide a collection device capable of grasping in which apparatus information an error has occurred about the error occurred at the time of collecting the apparatus information from industrial machinery.SOLUTION: A collection device includes: a determination unit 14 for determining whether or not predetermined timing for collecting apparatus information of a machine has come; a storage unit 12 for storing an apparatus information definition file that defines an apparatus information item and its value for collecting the apparatus information; and a collection unit 11 for collecting apparatus information from the machine based on the apparatus information definition file. Further, the collection unit 11 notifies the storage unit 12 of a value of the collected apparatus information when the apparatus information can be collected based on the notification of the determination unit, and notifies the storage unit 12 of error information when the apparatus information cannot be collected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a collection device, a control method, and a program therefor. [Background technology]

[0002] Data acquired from industrial machines such as machine tools is transmitted using various communication standards. For example, one such communication standard is the MTConnect standard (see Non-Patent Document 1). By using these communication standards, users can obtain values ​​for each item of device information, which is various information related to the industrial machine (for example, information related to the operation, state, or control), and thereby grasp the operation, state, or control of the industrial machine. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] MTConnect Association, "MTConnect Standard", [online], [searched on September 1, 2022], Internet<URL:https: / / www.mtconnect.org / > Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Here, the MTConnect standard specifies that, as in the above-mentioned communication system, when a user (client terminal) collects device information of an industrial machine that the user (client terminal) wants to acquire, if some error (e.g., communication failure, malfunction of the industrial machine, etc.) occurs and the device information cannot be collected, only a specific value (e.g., UNAVAILABLE: unavailable) is returned for all device information. In this way, in communication compliant with the MTConnect standard, when a user collects device information of an industrial machine, even though there is device information that can be collected, a value could not be collected for any of the device information (an error occurred during collection), so only a specific value is returned for all device information, making it difficult for the user to identify which device information the error occurred in, resulting in a problem of reduced convenience.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve some of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a collection device, a control method, and a program thereof that can determine which equipment information an error has occurred in when an error occurs when collecting equipment information in a communication system in which a user collects equipment information from industrial machinery using communication compliant with the MTConnect standard. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a collection device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a collection device that collects equipment information related to at least one machine from the machine and provides it to a communication terminal, and includes a judgment unit that judges whether a predetermined timing for collecting the machine's equipment information has arrived, a memory unit that stores an equipment information definition file that defines equipment information items and their values ​​for collecting the equipment information, and a collection unit that collects the equipment information from the machine based on the equipment information definition file, and the collection unit further notifies the memory unit of the value of the collected equipment information based on a notification from the judgment unit (1) if the equipment information was able to be collected, and (2) if the equipment information could not be collected, notifies the memory unit of error information as the value of the equipment information.

[0007] This allows the user (communication terminal) to know in which device information an error has occurred, when an error occurs when collecting device information from a machine.

[0008] The collection device further includes a communication unit that receives, from the communication terminal, a device information request indicating device information items for collecting device information of the machine, and transmits to the communication terminal a device information response that is a response to the device information request, and a control unit that acquires a value of the device information stored in the memory unit based on the notification from the communication unit and stores the value in the device information response, wherein when the communication unit receives the device information request, the determination unit determines whether the device information item requested by the device information request is defined in the device information definition file, and the control unit stores exemption notification information indicating that the device information item requested by the device information request is not subject to collection in the device information response based on the notification from the determination unit that the device information item requested by the device information request is not defined in the device information definition file.

[0009] According to this, if a device information item requested by a device information request is not defined in the device information definition file, the user (communication terminal) can understand that the device information item requested by the device information request is not subject to collection.

[0010] Furthermore, a control method according to one aspect of the present invention is a control method for a collection device that collects equipment information related to at least one machine from the machine and provides it to a communication terminal, and includes a determination step of determining whether a predetermined timing for collecting the equipment information of the machine has arrived, a storage step of storing an equipment information definition file that defines equipment information items and their values ​​in order to collect the equipment information, and a collection step of collecting the equipment information from the machine based on the equipment information definition file, and the collection step may further include, based on the notification from the determination step, (1) if the equipment information was able to be collected, notifying the storage step of the value of the collected equipment information, and (2) if the equipment information could not be collected, notifying the storage step of error information as the value of the equipment information.

[0011] According to this, the control method has the same effect as the above-mentioned collection device.

[0012] A program according to an aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the above-described control method.

[0013] According to this, the program has the same effect as the above-mentioned collection device. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, the collection device etc. allows the user to easily grasp in which device information an error has occurred when an error occurs when collecting device information from an industrial machine. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overview of a communication system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the collection device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a series of operations performed by the collection device according to the embodiment to collect device information from machines. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a series of operations performed by the collection device according to the embodiment, from receiving a device information request from a communication terminal to transmitting a device information response to the communication terminal. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example in which the collection device according to the embodiment collects device information from a machine and transmits it to a communication terminal. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating another example in which the collection device according to the embodiment collects device information from a machine and transmits the device information to a communication terminal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, the embodiment will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below each show a preferred specific example of the present invention. The numerical values, shapes, components, the arrangement and connection of the components, steps, and the order of steps shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. Furthermore, among the components in the following embodiments, those components that are not described in the independent claims showing the highest concept of the present invention are described as any components that constitute a more preferred embodiment. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and descriptions thereof may be omitted.

[0017] (Embodiment) In this embodiment, a collection device is described that allows a user to easily determine which equipment information an error has occurred in when an error occurs when collecting equipment information in a communication system for acquiring equipment information from industrial equipment.

[0018] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overview of a communication system 100 according to the present embodiment. The communication system 100 is a system that collects data output by a machine 2a or the like, manages the data collected by a collection device, and presents the data to a user.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 100 includes machines 2a and 2b (hereinafter also collectively referred to as machines 2), a collection device 1, a communication terminal 3, a communication link 4, and a communication link 5.

[0020] The machine 2a is an industrial machine such as a machine tool. The machine 2a is a machine from which data is acquired by a communication terminal 3 used by a user. The machine 2a is connected to the collection device 1 by a communication link 4, and outputs data related to the machine 2a to the collection device 1 through the communication link 4.

[0021] The data output by the machine 2a is written in a format determined according to the type of the machine 2a. The data output by the machine 2a is, for example, data (values) related to the operation, state, or control of the machine 2a. Hereinafter, the data output by the machine 2a will also be referred to as the value of device information.

[0022] In the following, an example will be described in which the machine 2a outputs the value of the equipment information in response to a request received from the collection device 1, but the machine 2a may output the equipment information autonomously, in other words, without receiving a request from the collection device 1, or these may be used in combination.

[0023] In addition, the type of machine 2a is a concept that includes, for example, machine tools, laser processing machines, welding machines, etc., among machine tools, lathes, drill presses, milling machines, etc., and even among lathes, different models or versions.

[0024] Hereinafter, a case where the machine 2a is a machine tool will be described as an example. The equipment information output by the machine 2a includes, for example, information indicating the movement amount of a tool (not shown) equipped on the machine 2a, which is a machine tool, the operation mode and operation state of a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) that controls the movement speed numerically. More specifically, the value of the equipment information indicating the operation state of the CNC is indicated as "ACTIVE" if the CNC is in operation (operating state). The equipment information output by the machine 2a is not limited to the above example, and may also include the load in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions of the spindle (not shown) of the machine 2a, which is a machine tool, and the state of consumables such as the degree of wear of a cutting tool.

[0025] The machine 2b is an industrial machine similar to the machine 2a, and operates independently of the machine 2a. Like the machine 2a, the machine 2b is a machine from which data is acquired by the communication terminal 3. The machine 2b is connected to the collection device 1 via a communication link 4, and outputs device information of the machine 2b to the collection device 1 via the communication link 4. A detailed description of the device information of the machine 2b is omitted here, as it is similar to that of the machine 2a.

[0026] In addition, in the communication system 100 of this embodiment, it is assumed that machines 2a and 2b are provided, but the number of machines 2, etc. is not limited to two, and may be one or more, or may be three or more (e.g., ten).

[0027] The collection device 1 is a device that collects equipment information from a machine 2 and provides the collected equipment information to a communication terminal 3. The collection device 1 is connected to the machine 2 via a communication link 4, and is also connected to the communication terminal 3 via a communication link 5.

[0028] The collecting device 1 collects equipment information on the machine 2 at a predetermined timing based on an equipment information definition file through a communication link 4, and provides the equipment information to the communication terminal 3 through a communication link 5. The collecting device 1 and the communication terminal 3 can communicate with each other through a predetermined communication method via the communication link 5. The operation of the collecting device 1 will be described in detail later.

[0029] In the communication system 100 according to the present embodiment, the description will be given assuming one collection device 1, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be implemented in any number of devices, as long as there is one or more, and may be implemented in multiple devices (eg, three or the like).

[0030] The communication terminal 3 is a device that acquires the device information collected by the collection device 1 from the machine 2. The communication terminal 3 receives the device information output by the machine 2 via the collection device 1 and provides it to the user. The communication terminal 3 may perform appropriate processing when providing the equipment information to the user. For example, the communication terminal 3 may perform processing (GUI) on the equipment information of the machine 2 acquired from the collection device 1 on a screen (not shown) provided by the communication terminal 3 itself so that the user can visually and intuitively operate the equipment information. The communication terminal 3 is, for example, a personal computer or a smartphone. The communication terminal 3 can communicate with the collection device 1 by a predetermined communication method via a communication link 5. For example, the communication may be performed by a standard for communication of data of industrial machines, more specifically, by the MTConnect standard. In the description of this embodiment, collection means that the collection device 1 acquires a value from the equipment information related to the machine 2 from the machine 2. Moreover, acquisition means that the collection device 1 acquires a value from the equipment information stored in the storage unit 12 for the equipment information items of each equipment included in the equipment information request received by the collection device 1 from the communication terminal 3. Here, the equipment information request is a request transmitted to the collection device 1 in order to acquire equipment information related to the machine 2 desired by the user using the communication terminal 3. The equipment information request indicates, for example, the equipment information items of the machine 2a (for example, "operation status of CNC").

[0031] The communication link 4 is a communication network capable of communication using a communication protocol such as Ethernet (registered trademark) using a wired LAN, a serial communication protocol such as RS-232C using a serial cable, or a proprietary communication protocol. The communication link 4 may also be a communication network capable of communication using a wireless LAN in accordance with the IEEE802.11 communication protocol.

[0032] The communication link 5 is a communication network capable of communication using a communication protocol such as Ethernet using a wired LAN or a communication protocol conforming to the IEEE802.11 communication protocol using a wireless LAN. The communication link 5 may also be a communication network capable of communication between the communication terminal 3 and the collection device 1 via an external network (e.g., the Internet).

[0033] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the collection device according to the embodiment.

[0034] 2, the collection device 1 includes a collection unit 11, a storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, a determination unit 14, and a control unit 15. Each functional unit will be described in detail below. The collection device 1 is a type of computer, and can realize each functional unit by having the CPU of the collection device itself read a program stored in the storage unit 12 (e.g., ROM) into a calculation memory (e.g., RAM) and execute the program in cooperation with each hardware.

[0035] The collection unit 11 collects device information related to the machine 2 from the machine 2 and stores it in the storage unit 12. The device information collected from the machine 2 includes, for example, the model number of the machine, the machine system number, basic information related to the machine 2, and data that can be acquired by a sensor or the like built into the machine. The collection unit 11 also collects device information from the machine 2 based on a file (hereinafter also referred to as a device information definition file) that defines device information items and their values ​​to be collected from the machine 2 and that is stored in the storage unit 12. The device information definition file defines a minimum number of device information items and their values ​​at the time of shipment from the factory, but the device information items and their values ​​can be updated at any time by a user or an administrator of the communication system through an application of the collection device 1 or the like.

[0036] The collection unit 11 judges whether or not device information has been collected from the machine based on the device information definition file, based on the notification from the judgment unit 14. If the collection unit 11 has collected the device information, it notifies the storage unit 12 of the value of the collected device information. On the other hand, if the collection unit 11 has not collected the device information, it notifies the storage unit 12 of error information linked to the item of the device information.

[0037] The memory unit 12 stores the values ​​of the equipment information relating to the machine 2 collected based on a notification from the collection unit 11 that equipment information has been collected from the machine.

[0038] Furthermore, the storage unit 12 counts notifications from the collection unit 11 that device information could not be collected, and when such notifications have been received a predetermined number of times (for example, 10 times), notifies the control unit 15 of that fact.

[0039] The storage unit 12 stores error information instead of the value of the device information based on the notification from the collection unit 11 (notification that device information could not be collected from the machine). Here, the error information is, for example, UNAVAILABLE defined in the MTCONNECT standard. Note that the error information is not limited to this, and may be determined in advance in the collection device 1 at the time of factory settings (i.e., at the time of designing the collection device 1), or may be arbitrarily determined by the user using an application provided in the collection device 1. In this case, it is preferable that the error information allows the user to intuitively understand that specific device information could not be acquired.

[0040] The storage unit 12 also stores a device information definition file, various control information related to the collection device 1 (for example, information for initial settings, information related to wired and wireless communication), and the like.

[0041] The communication unit 13 judges whether or not a request for device information of the machine 2 has been received from the communication terminal 3. When the communication unit 13 receives a request for device information, it notifies the judgment unit 14 to that effect.

[0042] Furthermore, in response to an instruction from the control unit 15, the communication unit 13 transmits to the communication terminal 3 a device information response that is a response to the device information request.

[0043] The determination unit 14 determines whether a predetermined timing for collecting the equipment information of the machine has arrived. When the predetermined timing has arrived, the determination unit 14 notifies the collection unit 11 of the arrival. Here, the predetermined timing may be set at the time of shipment from the factory, or may be set by the user using an application provided in the collection device 1. In addition, the predetermined timing may be different for each equipment information item. Specifically, the predetermined timing may be set to collect equipment information for "CNC operation mode" every second, and to collect "CNC operation state" every several hundred milliseconds. It is preferable that equipment information that the user wants to know preferentially (desiredly), such as "emergency stop state," is set so that the timing for collecting equipment information arrives in a shorter period of time (every tens of milliseconds, for example).

[0044] The determination unit 14 determines whether or not the device information item requested by the device information request is defined in the device information definition file based on the notification from the communication unit 13. If the determination unit 14 determines that the requested device information item is defined in the device information definition file, it notifies the control unit 15 of that effect. On the other hand, if the determination unit 14 determines that the requested device information item is not defined in the device information definition file, it notifies the control unit 15 of that effect.

[0045] Furthermore, the judgment unit 14 judges whether or not the device information for all machines 2 requested by the device information request (i.e., desired by the user) has been acquired. When the judgment unit 14 has acquired the device information for all requested machines 2, it notifies the control unit 15 to that effect. Here, the device information for all requested machines 2 means that the device information request includes multiple machines 2. For example, this is the case when the device information items for machine 2 included in the device information request include device information items for machine 2a and device information items for machine 2b.

[0046] Based on the notification from the judgment unit 14, the control unit 15 obtains the values ​​of each item of the device information stored in the memory unit 12, stores the values ​​in a device information response, which is a response to the device information request, and instructs the communication unit 13 to transmit the device information response to the communication terminal 3.

[0047] When the control unit 15 receives a notification from the determination unit 14 that the device information item requested by the device information request is not subject to collection, the control unit 15 stores information indicating that (hereinafter, also referred to as non-applicable notification information) in the device information response and instructs the communication unit 13 to transmit the non-applicable notification information to the communication terminal 3. Here, the non-applicable notification information is, for example, a specific error code or a specific character string such as OFF.

[0048] Furthermore, the control unit 15 instructs the communication unit 13 to include error information in all values ​​of the device information stored in the device information response based on the notification from the storage unit 12 and to transmit the response to the communication terminal 3.

[0049] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a series of operations performed by the collection device according to the embodiment to collect device information from machines.

[0050] FIG. 3 provides a detailed explanation of the operation of the collecting device 1, after the collecting device 1 is powered on, sequentially storing values ​​of device information collected from the machine 2 at a predetermined timing based on the device information definition file in the memory unit 12.

[0051] In step S301, the judgment unit 14 judges whether or not a predetermined timing has arrived for collecting device information of the machine 2. If the predetermined timing has arrived, the judgment unit 14 notifies the collection unit 11 of that fact and transitions to step S302 (Yes in step S301). On the other hand, if the timing has not yet arrived, step S301 is repeated (No in step S301).

[0052] In step S302, upon receiving the notification from the determination unit 14 (Yes in step S301), the collection unit 11 collects device information from the machine based on the device information definition file.

[0053] In step S303, the collection unit 11 judges whether or not the device information was collected from the machine in step S302. If the collection unit 11 was able to collect the device information, the collection unit 11 notifies the storage unit 12 of the value of the device information (Yes in step S303). On the other hand, if the collection unit 11 was unable to collect the device information, the collection unit 11 notifies the storage unit 12 of error information (No in step S303).

[0054] In step S304, the storage unit 12 receives the notification in step S303 (Yes in step S301) and stores the values ​​of the collected device information.

[0055] In step S305, the storage unit 12 receives the notification in step S303 (No in step S301), and stores error information (for example, UNAVAILABLE) as the value of the device information that could not be collected.

[0056] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a series of operations performed by the collection device according to the embodiment, from receiving a device information request from a communication terminal to transmitting a device information response to the communication terminal 3.

[0057] FIG. 4 provides a detailed explanation of the operations performed by the collection device 1 from when it receives a device information request from the communication terminal 3 to when it acquires the device information values ​​of each machine included in the device information request from the device information stored in the memory unit 12 and transmits a device information response, which is a response to the device information request, to the communication terminal 3.

[0058] In step S401, the communication unit 13 judges whether or not a device information request for the machine 2 has been received from the communication terminal 3. If the communication unit 13 receives a device information request, it notifies the judgment unit 14 of that fact and transitions to step S402 (Yes in step S401). On the other hand, if the communication unit 13 does not receive a device information request, it repeats step S401 and enters a reception waiting state (No in step S401).

[0059] In step S402, the determination unit 14 determines whether or not the device information item requested by the device information request is defined in the device information definition file based on the notification from the communication unit 13 (Yes in step S401). If the determination unit 14 determines that the requested device information item is defined in the device information definition file, it notifies the control unit 15 accordingly and transitions to step S403 (Yes in step S402). On the other hand, if the determination unit 14 determines that the requested device information item is not defined in the device information definition file, it notifies the control unit 15 accordingly and transitions to step S406 (No in step S402).

[0060] In step S403, the control unit 15 acquires the value of the device information stored in the storage unit 12 based on the notification from the determination unit 14 (Yes in step S402), and stores the value in the device information response.

[0061] In step S404, the judgment unit 14 judges whether or not the device information for all machines 2 requested by the device information request (i.e., desired by the user) has been acquired. If the judgment unit 14 has acquired the device information for all requested machines 2, it notifies the control unit 15 of this fact and transitions to step S405 (Yes in step S404). On the other hand, if the acquisition has not been completed, the process returns to step S402 and the series of processes (steps S402 to S404) are repeated (No in step S404).

[0062] In step S405, the control unit 15 receives the notification from the determination unit 14, notifies the communication unit 13 of a device information response in which the device information desired by the user is stored, and instructs the communication unit 13 to transmit the device information response to the communication terminal 3. Then, the communication unit 13 transmits the device information response to the communication terminal 3.

[0063] In step S406, based on the notification from the determination unit 14 (No in step S402), the control unit 15 stores non-applicability notification information (for example, a specific error code, or a specific character string such as OFF) which is information indicating that the device information item requested by the device information request is not subject to collection, in the device information response, and notifies the communication unit 13 of the device information response and instructs it to transmit it to the communication terminal 3. Then, the communication unit 13 transmits the device information response to the communication terminal 3.

[0064] FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example in which the collection device according to the embodiment collects device information from a machine and transmits it to a communication terminal.

[0065] Figure 5 illustrates an example where a collection device according to an embodiment collects equipment information from machine 2 based on the equipment information definition file of machine 2 stored in memory unit 12, and where some of the equipment information could not be collected from machine 2 (an error occurred during collection).

[0066] In step S501, the collection device 1 requests the machine 2 to collect device information of the machine 2 in an "emergency stop state."

[0067] In step S502, the collection device 1 stores (holds) in the memory unit 12 the value of the device information of the “emergency stop state” (eg, ARMED) collected from the machine 2.

[0068] In step S503, the collection device 1 requests the machine 2 to collect the equipment information of the “CNC operation mode” of the machine 2.

[0069] In step S504, the collection device 1 was unable to collect the equipment information for "CNC operation mode" from the machine 2 (an error occurred during collection), so it stores (retains) error information (e.g., UNAVAILABLE) as the value of the equipment information for "CNC operation mode" in the memory unit 12.

[0070] In step S505, the collection device 1 requests the machine 2 to collect the equipment information of the “CNC operating status” of the machine 2.

[0071] In step S506, the collection device 1 stores (holds) in the storage unit 12 the value (eg, ACTIVE) of the device information of the “emergency stop state” collected from the machine 2.

[0072] In step S507, the user transmits a device information request to the collection device 1 through the communication terminal 3. The device information request includes "emergency stop state," "CNC operation mode," and "CNC operation state."

[0073] In step S508, in response to the device information request in step S507, the collection device 1 transmits a device information response to the communication terminal 3 to respond with the device information of the machine 2 desired by the user. In the device information response, the device information value of "emergency stop state" is stored as ARMED, the device information value of "CNC operation mode" is stored as UNAVAILABLE, and the device information value of "CNC operation state" is stored as ACTIVE.

[0074] In this way, the collection device 1 transmits to the communication terminal 3, based on a device information request from the user (communication terminal 3), a device information response storing a value of device information for the device information (device information request) desired by the user from the device information stored in the storage unit 12. The device information response includes the value of the device information if the value of the device information could be collected, and includes error information if the value of the device information could not be collected, so that the user can easily identify the device information of the desired machine 2 for which the value of the device information could not be collected ("CNC operation mode" in the example of FIG. 5).

[0075] FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating another example in which the collection device according to the embodiment collects device information from a machine and transmits the device information to a communication terminal.

[0076] In Figure 6, assuming that the collection device of the embodiment collects equipment information from the machine 2 based on the equipment information definition file of the machine 2 stored in the memory unit 12, an example is described in which some of the equipment information desired by the user (equipment information request) includes a request for equipment information that indicates that the information is not to be collected.

[0077] In step S601, the collection device 1 requests the machine 2 to collect device information of the machine 2 in an "emergency stop state."

[0078] In step S602, the collection device 1 stores (holds) in the memory unit 12 the value of the device information of the “emergency stop state” (eg, ARMED) collected from the machine 2.

[0079] In step S603, the collection device 1 requests the machine 2 to collect the equipment information of the “CNC operating status” of the machine 2.

[0080] In step S604, the collection device 1 stores (holds) in the storage unit 12 the value (eg, ACTIVE) of the device information of the “emergency stop state” collected from the machine 2.

[0081] In step S605, the user transmits a device information request to the collection device 1 through the communication terminal 3. The device information request is for "CNC operation mode."

[0082] In step S606, the collection device 1 sends to the communication terminal 3 an equipment information response including non-applicable notification information (e.g., an error code) indicating that the equipment information "CNC operation mode" of the machine 2 desired by the user is not subject to collection.

[0083] In this way, the collection device 1 sends the device information response to the communication terminal 3, so that the user (communication terminal 3) can understand that it cannot obtain the device information included in the device information request, and that the device information requested by the user in the device information request is not defined in the device information definition file stored in the memory unit 12 of the collection device 1.

[0084] (Modification of the embodiment) As described above, in the communication system 100 of the embodiment, when the collection device 1 collects the device information of the machine 2, the value of the device information where no error has occurred is not set as error information (e.g., UNAVAILABLE), but the collected value is returned, thereby distinguishing between device information that has been successfully collected and device information that has not been successfully collected, and the user can easily grasp which device information of the desired device has been successfully acquired and which device information has not been successfully acquired.

[0085] Here, for example, if the equipment information of the machine 2 desired by the user (communication terminal) can be obtained normally from the collection device 1, but errors frequently occur during collection of other equipment information, the user may not notice that there is an item of equipment information that the collection device is unable to collect from the machine (collection error).

[0086] Therefore, in the communication system according to the modified embodiment, if an error occurs multiple times (e.g., 10 times) in a device information item when the collection device 1 collects the device information from the machine 2, it is desirable to include error information (e.g., UNAVAILABLE) in the values ​​of all the device information to be stored in the device information response. Specifically, the control unit 15 includes error information in the values ​​of all the device information to be stored in the device information response based on the notification from the storage unit 12 (notification that an error occurred multiple times during collection). Then, the communication unit 13 transmits the device information response to the communication terminal 3. In this way, the user (communication terminal) can easily understand that some abnormality (error) has occurred in any of the device information items when the collection device 1 collects the device information from the machine 2.

[0087] (summary) In a conventional communication system using the MTConnect standard, when a user (communication terminal) wants to acquire device information of a desired machine through a collection device, if collection of even one piece of device information fails, all the device information is transmitted as error information (e.g., UNAVAILABLE) to the communication terminal, making it difficult for the collection device to identify the device information in which an error occurred when collecting the device information of the machine. In this regard, in the collection device of the communication system according to the present embodiment, a device information response storing the value of device information for the device information (device information request) desired by the user (communication terminal) is transmitted to the communication terminal. The device information response includes the value of the device information if the value of the device information can be acquired, and includes error information if the value of the device information cannot be acquired, so that the user can easily identify the device information of the desired machine 2 whose value could not be acquired. As a result, in the communication system according to the embodiment, the user can easily grasp which device information has an error when an error occurs when acquiring device information from the machine. [Industrial Applicability]

[0088] The present invention can be used in a communication system for acquiring device information from industrial devices. Specifically, the present invention can be applied to a collection device (relay device) that can easily grasp in which device information an error occurs when a user acquires device information from an industrial device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0089] 100 Communication Systems 1. Collection device (relay device) 2a, 2b Machinery (industrial machinery) 3. Communication terminals 4, 5 Communication Links 11 Collection Department 12 Storage section 13. Communications Department 14 Judgment Department 15 Control section

Claims

1. A collection device that collects device information, which is various information related to at least one machine, and provides it to a communication terminal, comprising: a determination unit that determines whether a predetermined timing for collecting the device information has arrived; a storage unit that stores a device information definition file that defines device information items and their values for collecting the device information; a collection unit that collects the device information from the machine based on the device information definition file; wherein when the determination unit determines that a predetermined timing has arrived, the collection unit (1) if the device information has been collected, notifies the storage unit of the value of the collected device information; (2) if the device information has not been collected, notifies the storage unit of error information as the value of the device information. The collection device.

2. The collection device further comprises a communication unit that receives a device information request indicating device information items for collecting the device information of the machine from the communication terminal and transmits a device information response, which is a response to the device information request, to the communication terminal; a control unit that acquires the value of the device information stored in the storage unit based on the device information request and stores it in the device information response; wherein the determination unit determines whether the device information items requested by the device information request are defined in the device information definition file; when the determination unit determines that the device information items requested by the device information request are not defined in the device information definition file, the control unit stores in the device information response applicability exclusion notification information indicating that the device information items requested by the device information request are not subject to collection. The collection device according to Claim 1.

3. A control method for a collection device that collects device information, which is various information related to at least one machine, and provides it to a communication terminal, comprising: a determination step of determining whether a predetermined timing for collecting the device information of the machine has arrived; a storage step of storing a device information definition file that defines device information items and their values for collecting the device information; a collection step of collecting the device information from the machine based on the device information definition file; wherein when it is determined in the determination step that a predetermined timing has arrived, the collection step (1) if the device information has been collected, proceeds to the storage step of storing the value of the collected device information; When the device information cannot be collected, the process proceeds to the storage step of storing error information as the value of the device information. A control method including this. **Claim 4** A program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to Claim 3.

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