Operation processing system

Abstract

To provide an operation processing system capable of quickly responding to communication failures.SOLUTION: An operation processing system comprises processing device side first communication circuits 11-1 to 11-3 that are respectively provided in a plurality of processing devices 10-1 to 10-3 and communicate using a first communication method, processing device side second communication circuits 12-1 to 12-3 that communicate using a second communication method different from the first communication method, and a control device side first communication circuit 21 and a control device side second communication circuit 22 provided in a control device 20. The operation processing system communicates in a state where both communication using the first communication method and communication using the second communication method are in operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a motion processing system characterized in that a plurality of processing devices communicate with a control device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, duplication of wireless communication has been practiced, and systems have been constructed using active and standby communication devices, or using the same communication device in a completely duplicated (redundant) manner. However, in conventional systems using active and standby communication duplication, when a failure occurs in the active device, the device is switched to the standby device, and this takes time. Also, in the completely duplicated configuration of the same communication device, depending on the communication situation, both communication devices may be unavailable at the same time.

[0003] Patent document 1 discloses a storage battery status monitoring system that includes multiple storage battery devices each having a storage battery and a slave unit, and a parent unit wirelessly connected to each of the slave units, in which the slave unit repeatedly transmits the same measurement data signal to the parent unit multiple times, using multiple types of frequencies and changing the frequency to obtain measurement data from the storage battery.

[0004] According to the system of Patent Document 1, with regard to the technology of a storage battery status monitoring system, correct measurement data can be reliably acquired during wireless communication for acquiring measurement data of a group of storage batteries, thereby improving monitoring accuracy.

[0005] Patent Document 2 discloses a wireless system that has a dual-layered working and backup system, which allows operation while continuing a call even when a fault occurs. This system has a communication unit that communicates with multiple wireless communication base stations, a current control unit for a first method that controls the communication unit, a backup control unit for the first method that controls the communication unit, a current control unit for a second method that controls the communication unit, a backup control unit for the second method that controls the communication unit, and a console unit that receives fault information from the current control unit for the first method and the current control unit for the second method and switches the current control unit for the first method to the backup control unit for the first method or switches the current control unit for the second method to the backup control unit for the second method based on the fault information.

[0006] The system of Patent Document 3 discloses a system that establishes a wireless communication path based on a first wireless communication standard, which is a communication standard for a high frequency band, by performing wireless communication between wireless communication devices compatible with wireless communication standards for multiple frequency bands. The wireless communication system of Patent Document 3 includes a plurality of wireless communication devices, each of which has a plurality of wireless communication standards including a first wireless communication standard and one or more wireless communication standards using a frequency band lower than the first wireless communication standard. The central control station includes a receiving means for receiving device-specific information of the other wireless communication devices using at least one standard, a determining means for determining a communication path based on the received device-specific information, and a transmitting means for transmitting route information indicating the determined communication path to the other wireless communication devices using at least one standard. Each wireless communication device establishes wireless communication with the other wireless communication devices according to the first wireless communication standard based on the route information acquired by itself. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-61870 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2012-100001 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2016-15572 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] In response to conventional problems with duplication of wireless communication, such as the occurrence of switching times in the system due to duplication of active and backup communications, and the occurrence of the inability to use both communication devices simultaneously when the same communication device is fully duplicated, the present invention provides an operation processing system that can quickly respond to communication failures and does not cause failures in the operation of a plurality of processing devices which perform specified processing, or in the operation of a control device which gives instructions to the plurality of processing devices to execute processing operations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The operation processing system according to the present embodiment is composed of a plurality of processing devices each performing a predetermined process, and a control device that issues instructions to the plurality of processing devices to execute processing operations. The plurality of processing devices each include a first communication circuit that communicates using a first communication method, and a second communication circuit that communicates using a second communication method different from the first communication method. The control device also includes a first communication circuit that communicates using the first communication method, and a second communication circuit that communicates using the second communication method. Both the communication using the first communication method and the communication using the second communication method are in a constant operating state, and when a suitable field signal is obtained from both, the plurality of processing devices and the control device normally communicate using a communication circuit for a communication method previously selected from the first communication method and the second communication method.

[0010] The wireless communication method is selected from Bluetooth, Wifi, Private LoRa, and Local 5G according to the operating system, and different methods are selected as the first communication method and the second communication method.

[0011] By adopting this communication system method, in the event of a communication failure, switching can be quickly performed from the first (2) communication circuit in operation to the second (1) communication circuit. This makes it possible to address issues with the conventional method, such as the time required to switch between active and standby communications, as well as the inability to use the same communication equipment simultaneously when fully duplicated.

[0012] In the operation processing system according to this embodiment, when only the first communication method is in an operating state, the plurality of processing devices and the control device communicate with each other using a communication circuit for the first communication method.

[0013] In the operation processing system according to this embodiment, when only the second communication method is in an operating state, the plurality of processing devices and the control device communicate with each other using a communication circuit for the second communication method.

[0014] In the operation processing system of this embodiment, a third communication circuit is provided in each of the multiple processing devices and the control device, and communicates using a third communication method different from the first communication method and the second communication method.When a failure occurs in either the communication using the first communication method or the communication using the second communication method, the communication using the third communication method is put into an operational state, and the multiple processing devices and the control device communicate using the communication circuits of the two communication methods that are in an operational state.

[0015] In the operation processing system according to this embodiment, the control device issues instructions to the multiple processing devices to cause them to execute processing operations in a predetermined order.

[0016] In the operation processing system of this embodiment, the multiple processing devices are composed of a first processing device, a second processing device, ..., an nth (positive integer) processing device, and the processing results are transferred and processed in the order of the first processing device, the second processing device, ..., and the nth (positive integer) processing device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a motion processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a processing device of the motion processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention configured using a computer. [Diagram 3] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the motion processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the motion processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] An example of an operation processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each drawing, the same components are given the same reference numerals and duplicated explanations will be omitted. FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of an operation processing system according to a first embodiment. This system is equipped with processing devices 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3, each of which performs a predetermined process. This system also includes a control device 20 that issues instructions to the processing devices 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3 to cause them to execute processing operations in a predetermined order.

[0019] The processing devices 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3 are provided with first communication circuits 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 on the processing device side that communicate using a first communication method, and second communication circuits 12-1, 12-2, and 12-3 on the processing device side that communicate using a second communication method different from the first communication method. The first communication method is Wifi, and the second communication method is Private LoRa. The communication method to be adopted is selected according to the characteristics, environment, arrangement, etc. of the operation processing system.

[0020] The control device 20 is provided with a control device side first communication circuit 21 that communicates by the above-mentioned first communication method, and a control device side second communication circuit 22 that communicates by the above-mentioned second communication method. The control device 20 is also provided with a main control unit 25, which sends instructions to the processing devices 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3 via the control device side first communication circuit 21 and the control device side second communication circuit 22, and also sends results from the processing devices 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3 to the control device 20.

[0021] The processing devices 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3 are provided with main control units 30-1, 30-2, and 30-3. The main control units 30-1, 30-2, and 30-3 can be configured by a computer as shown in FIG. 2. In this computer, a CPU 100 performs processing of each unit using programs and data in a main memory 101. An external storage device interface 103, communication interfaces 104 and 105, and an I / O interface 106 are connected to the CPU 100 via a bus 102. An external storage device 130 is connected to the external storage device interface 103, a first communication circuit 11-1 (11-2, 11-3) on the processing device side is connected to the communication interface 104, a second communication circuit 12-1 (12-2, 12-3) on the processing device side is connected to the communication interface 105, and a processing unit 160 is connected to the I / O interface 106.

[0022] The external storage device 130 stores programs and data for implementing processes required for each of the processing devices 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3. That is, the processing device 160 connected to the I / O interface 106 performs processes specific to each of the processing devices 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3, and the programs and data supporting the specific processes are provided in each external storage device 130. For example, the processing device 160 of the processing device 10-1 performs interior packaging processing of an article and sends the resultant product to the processing device 10-2 via the conveying path 18-1, the processing device 160 of the processing device 10-2 attaches an attachment to the received article and sends the resultant product to the processing device 10-3 via the conveying path 18-2, and the processing device 160 of the processing device 10-3 performs exterior packaging processing of the received article and sends it to the stacker 18-4 via the conveying path 18-3. In this case, the external storage device 130 of the processing device 10-1 stores programs etc. corresponding to the processing unit 160 of the processing device 10-1, the external storage device 130 of the processing device 10-2 stores programs etc. corresponding to the processing unit 160 of the processing device 10-2, and the external storage device 130 of the processing device 10-3 stores programs etc. corresponding to the processing unit 160 of the processing device 10-3.

[0023] Thus, generally, the multiple processing devices are composed of a first processing device, a second processing device, ..., an nth processing device (positive integer), and the processing results are transferred and processed in the order of the first processing device, the second processing device, ..., the nth processing device (positive integer).

[0024] The control device 20 having the above configuration performs communication as shown in the flowchart in Fig. 3. That is, when the system is in operation, both the control device side first communication circuit 21 and the control device side second communication circuit 22 are started and put into an operating state, communication is performed to the processing device 10-1 using a communication circuit of a predetermined communication method from the first communication method and the second communication method (S11), a response is received from the processing device 10-1 (S12), communication is performed to the processing device 10-2 using a communication circuit of the predetermined communication method (S13), a response is received from the processing device 10-2 (S14), communication is performed to the processing device 10-3 using a communication circuit of the predetermined communication method (S15), a response is received from the processing device 10-3 (S16), and it is detected whether the system is terminated (S17). If NO, the process returns to step S11 and continues, and if YES, the process ends.

[0025] In the above, when only the first communication method is in an operating state, the plurality of processing devices and the control device communicate with each other using a communication circuit for the first communication method, and when only the second communication method is in an operating state, the plurality of processing devices and the control device communicate with each other using a communication circuit for the second communication method.

[0026] The first communication circuits 11-1, 11-2, 11-3 on the processing device side and the second communication circuits 12-1, 12-2, 12-3 on the processing device side provided in each of the multiple processing devices 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 communicate using a predetermined communication circuit when appropriate signals are obtained from both the first communication circuits 11-1, 11-2, 11-3 on the processing device side and the second communication circuits 12-1, 12-2, 12-3 on the processing device side through a receiving operation.

[0027] The control device 20 instructs the processing devices 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3 to execute processing operations in a predetermined order. This processing is shown in the flow chart of FIG.

[0028] An instruction is sent to the processing device 10-1 to perform interior processing of the item via a communication circuit of a predetermined communication method or one of the operating communication circuits (S21). A completion notice is received from the processing device 10-1, and an instruction is given to the processing device 10-2 to attach an accessory to the item (S22). A completion notice is received from the processing device 10-2, and an instruction is given to the processing device 10-3 to perform exterior processing of the item and send it to the stacker 18-3 (S23). It is detected whether the operation as a system is to be ended (S24), and if the answer is NO, the process returns to step S21 and continues. Also, if the answer is YES in step S24, the process ends.

[0029] In the above, two communication methods are used, but three communication methods may be used. In this case, in the configuration of Fig. 1, a third communication circuit on the processing device side that communicates by a third communication method different from the first communication method and the second communication method is provided in each of the plurality of processing devices 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and a third communication circuit on the control device side that communicates by the third communication method is provided in the control device 20.

[0030] When a failure occurs in either the communication using the first communication method or the communication using the second communication method, the communication using the third communication method may be put into operation, and the plurality of processing devices 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 and the control device 20 may communicate using the communication circuits of the two communication methods that are in operation.

[0031] In addition, although the multiple processing devices are described as devices performing different processes, they may be devices performing the same process. Furthermore, the multiple processing devices may be semiconductor manufacturing devices, various robots, medical devices, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 10-1~10-3 Processing equipment 11-1 to 11-3: Processing device side first communication circuit 12-1 to 12-3 Processing device side second communication circuit 18-1~18-3 Transport path 18-4 Stacker 20 Control device 21 Control device side first communication circuit 22 Control device side second communication circuit 25 Main control section 30-1, 30-2, 30-3 Main control unit 100 CPU 101 Main Memory 102 Bus 103 External Memory Interface 104 Communication Interface 105 Communication Interface 106 I / O Interface 130 External storage device 160 Processing section

Claims

1. A plurality of processing devices each performing a predetermined process; a control device that issues instructions to the plurality of processing devices to cause them to execute processing operations; a processor-side first communication circuit provided in each of the plurality of processors and configured to communicate by a first communication method; a processor-side second communication circuit provided in each of the plurality of processors and configured to communicate using a second communication method different from the first communication method; a control device-side first communication circuit provided in the control device and configured to communicate using the first communication method; a control device side second communication circuit provided in the control device and performing communication by the second communication method; Equipped with An operation processing system characterized in that communication using the first communication method and communication using the second communication method are both in operation, and under normal circumstances, the multiple processing devices and the control device communicate using a communication circuit of a predetermined communication method between the first communication method and the second communication method.

2. 2. The motion processing system according to claim 1, wherein when only the first communication method is in an operating state, the plurality of processing devices and the control device communicate with each other using a communication circuit for the first communication method.

3. 2. The motion processing system according to claim 1, wherein when only the second communication method is in an operating state, the plurality of processing devices and the control device communicate with each other using a communication circuit for the second communication method.

4. The operation processing system of claim 1, characterized in that the first communication circuit on the processing device side and the second communication circuit on the processing device side provided in each of the multiple processing devices communicate using a predetermined communication circuit when appropriate signals are obtained from both the first communication circuit on the processing device side and the second communication circuit on the processing device side by a receiving operation.

5. a processing device-side third communication circuit provided in each of the plurality of processing devices and configured to communicate by a third communication method different from the first communication method and the second communication method; a control device-side third communication circuit provided in the control device and configured to communicate by the third communication method; Equipped with The operation processing system of claim 1, characterized in that when a failure occurs in either the communication using the first communication method or the communication using the second communication method, the communication using the third communication method is put into operation, and the multiple processing devices and the control device communicate using the communication circuits of the two communication methods that are in operation.

6. 2. The motion processing system according to claim 1, wherein said control device issues instructions to said plurality of processing devices to cause them to execute processing operations in a predetermined order.

7. The motion processing system according to claim 6, characterized in that the multiple processing devices are composed of a first processing device, a second processing device, ..., an nth (positive integer) processing device, and the processing results are transferred and processed in the order of the first processing device, the second processing device, ..., the nth (positive integer) processing device.

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