Power limit system, first communication device, and second communication device

Abstract

To provide a power limit system capable of limiting power consumption even if electric load whose power consumption is measured by a measurement device is separated far away from the measurement device.SOLUTION: IoTGW30(1) determines presence / absence of limit of power consumption of electric loads 10(1), 10(2), ... based on a measurement result of a measurement device 24. The IoTGW30(1) transmits a determination result to IoTGW30(2), 30(3), ... When the limit of the power consumption is instructed, the IoTGW30(2), 30(3), ... perform an opening operation to switches 12(2), 12(3), ... in order to cut off power supply of the target electric loads 10(2), 10(3), ...SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a power limiting system, a first communication device, and a second communication device. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 listed below describes a power management device that executes control in accordance with demand response. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-9824 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When controlling power according to demand response, the measurement results of a measuring device that measures consumed power are used. However, when controlling power according to demand response in a large area where electrical loads are scattered, such as a production base in a manufacturing industry, it becomes necessary to control electrical loads far from the measuring device. However, it is difficult for a device near the measuring device to directly control the power of electrical loads far from the measuring device. In addition, it is possible to transmit the measurement results of the measuring device to a server so that the server can set the power control of the electrical load, but in that case, the calculation load on the server becomes excessive. This leads to a decrease in the responsiveness of the power control. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] Means for solving the above problems and their effects will be described below. 1. A power limiting system comprising a first communication device and a second communication device, the first communication device configured to execute a measurement result acquisition process, a decision process, and a result transmission process, and the second communication device configured to execute a result reception process and a limiting process, the measurement result acquisition process being a process of acquiring the measurement results of a measuring device, the measuring device being a device that measures the power consumption of an electrical load present within a specified area, the decision process being a process of deciding whether or not to limit the power consumption of the electrical load to a lower side using the measurement results as input, the result transmission process being a process of transmitting a signal to that effect when a decision is made to limit the power consumption to the lower side, the result reception process being a process of receiving a signal transmitted by the result transmission process, and the limiting process being a process of limiting the power consumption of the electrical load using the received signal as input.

[0006] According to the above configuration, the first communication device and the second communication device can be spaced apart. Therefore, the first communication device can be placed near the measurement device, and the second communication device can be placed near the electric load. Therefore, the first communication device can execute a decision process for deciding whether or not to limit the power consumption of the electric load to a smaller value according to the measurement result of the measurement device. Then, the first communication device transmits the result of the decision process to the second communication device, whereby the second communication device can limit the power consumption of the electric load. Therefore, even if the electric load whose power consumption is measured by the measurement device is far away from the measurement device, power limitation can be executed.

[0007] 2. The power limiting system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical loads present within the specified area are multiple, and the measuring device is a device that measures the total amount of power consumption of each of the multiple electrical loads.

[0008] In the above configuration, since the measurement device measures the total amount of power consumption of the multiple electric loads, the decision process can appropriately decide whether or not to limit the power of at least one of the multiple electric loads.

[0009] 3. A power limiting system as described in 2 above, comprising a plurality of the second communication devices, wherein the limiting process executed by each of the plurality of second communication devices is a process for limiting the power consumption of different electrical loads among the plurality of electrical loads.

[0010] In the above configuration, the different second communication devices execute processes for limiting the power consumption of the different electric loads, so that even if the electric loads are located at positions distant from each other, the power consumption of the electric loads can be limited.

[0011] 4. A power limiting system described in any one of 1 to 3 above, wherein the first communication device is configured to execute a request receiving process, the second communication device is configured to execute a transmission request process, the transmission request process is a process of requesting to send instructions regarding limiting the power consumption of the electrical load, the request receiving process is a process of receiving a request made by the transmission request process, and the result transmission process is a process of transmitting a signal according to the content determined by the determination process when the request made by the transmission request process is accepted by the request receiving process.

[0012] In the above configuration, the relationship between the first communication device and the second communication device is that of a server and a client, so that the second communication device can receive an instruction regarding a limit on power consumption from the first communication device.

[0013] 5. The power limiting system described in 4 above, wherein the first communication device is configured to execute the transmission request processing and the limiting processing, the limiting processing executed by the first communication device is a processing for limiting the power consumption of an electrical load assigned to the first communication device, the transmission request processing executed by the first communication device is a processing for requesting the transmission of a decision result of the decision processing regarding the power consumption of the electrical load assigned to the first communication device, and the result transmission processing executed by the first communication device includes a processing for responding to the transmission request processing executed by the first communication device.

[0014] In the above configuration, in addition to the second communication device, the first communication device also executes a process of receiving instructions regarding the limit of power consumption of the target electric load. Therefore, there is no need to install a second communication device at the location where the first communication device is installed. Therefore, installation costs can be reduced.

[0015] 6. A power limiting system as described in claim 5, wherein the communication between the first communication device and the second communication device is wireless communication, and the transmission request process performed by the first communication device and the result transmission process responding to the transmission request process are processes performed using wired communication.

[0016] With the above configuration, it becomes easy to increase the distance between the first communication device and the second communication device. 7. A power limiting system according to any one of 1 to 6 above, wherein the result transmission process from the first communication device to the second communication device is realized by wireless communication, the limiting process is a process of limiting the power consumption of the electrical load by operating an operation unit, the operation unit is an object that is operated to limit the power consumption of the electrical load, and the operation unit and the second communication device are connected by a wired connection.

[0017] In the above configuration, by connecting the operation unit and the second communication device via a wired connection, it is possible to prevent communication failures from occurring when the process of limiting power consumption is executed, compared to the case of a wireless connection.

[0018] 8. A power limiting system described in any one of 1 to 7 above, wherein the first communication device and the second communication device are configured with the same hardware and are configured to execute an instruction input reception process and a setting process, the instruction input reception process is a process of receiving at least one of two instruction inputs, a master and a slave, and the setting process includes a process of causing the device to function as the first communication device when the master is specified, and a process of causing the device to function as the second communication device when the slave is specified and the master is not specified.

[0019] In the above configuration, a device configured with the same hardware can be set as either the first communication device or the second communication device through software processing, which makes it easy to reduce costs through mass production of devices.

[0020] 9. The first communication device in the power limiting system according to any one of 1 to 8 above. 10. The second communication device in the power limiting system according to any one of 1 to 8 above. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power limiting system according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] 1 is a flowchart showing the procedure of processing executed by the IoTGW according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a flowchart showing the procedure of processing executed by an IoTGW having a master function according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 13(a) and 13(b) are flowcharts showing the processing procedures of an IoTGW having a slave function and an IoTGW having a master function. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. System Configuration FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a power limiting system.

[0023] The electric loads 10(1), 10(2), ... in the predetermined area A are operated by receiving power supply from the grid 22 via the power supply line 20. The total amount of power consumption of the electric loads 10(1), 10(2), ... in the predetermined area A is measured by the measuring device 24. The predetermined area A may be, for example, a manufacturing base of a manufacturer. However, for example, if the manufacturing base is divided into two by a large road, each of the two divided areas may be a different predetermined area A. Here, whether or not the area is a different predetermined area A can be determined depending on whether or not the total amount of power consumption of the electric loads in each area is measured by one measuring device 24. That is, in one manufacturing base of one manufacturer, if the total amount of power consumption in each of the two areas is measured by different measuring devices 24, each of the two areas may be the predetermined area A. In contrast, in the case where the total amount of power consumption in one manufacturing base of one manufacturer is measured by one measuring device 24, the one manufacturing base may be the predetermined area A. Note that the predetermined area A is not limited to a manufacturing base, and may be, for example, a development base of an IT company. For example, the predetermined area A may be a large commercial facility.

[0024] The brackets and the numbers in the brackets of the symbols of the electric loads 10(1), 10(2), ... mean that the electric loads belong to different groups. The electric loads 10 are grouped according to a classification in which loads that are separated from each other by a certain distance or more are classified into different groups. The number of electric loads that belong to the same group is not necessarily one. For example, a plurality of electric loads 10, such as air conditioners and manufacturing equipment, that are present in two buildings that are separated from each other in a factory may form one group for each building.

[0025] Hereinafter, when the electrical loads 10(1), 10(2), ... are collectively referred to, they will be referred to as electrical load 10. Furthermore, hereafter, the components corresponding to the electrical loads 10(1), 10(2), ... will be written in parentheses and the numbers within the parentheses, just like the electrical loads 10(1), 10(2), .... Furthermore, when these components are collectively referred to, the parentheses and the numbers within the parentheses will be omitted.

[0026] The IoTGWs 30(1), 30(2), ... each execute a process to limit the power consumption of the corresponding electric loads 10(1), 10(2), .... For example, the IoTGW 30(1) executes a process to limit the power consumption by opening and closing the switch 12(1) between the electric load 10(1) and the power grid 22. Also, for example, the IoTGW 30(2) executes a process to limit the power consumption by opening and closing the switch 12(2) between the electric load 10(2) and the power grid 22.

[0027] The IoTGWs 30(1), 30(2), ... are wiredly connected to the switches 12(1), 12(2), ..., respectively. It is not essential that each of the switches 12(1), 12(2), ... is a single switch. For example, the switch 12(1) may include multiple switches capable of cutting off the power supply to one or more of the electric loads 10(1) in the same group. For convenience, FIG. 1 illustrates only one switch 12 belonging to one group.

[0028] The IoTGWs 30(1), 30(2), ... are disposed near the corresponding electric loads 10(1), 10(2), .... That is, for example, if the electric load 10(1) is an electric load in one building of a production site, the IoTGW 30(1) may be disposed in the same building.

[0029] The IoTGW 30 includes a PU 32, a storage device 34, and a communication device 36. Here, the PU 32 is a software processing device including at least one of a CPU, a GPU, a TPU, and the like. That is, for example, the IoTGW 30(1) includes a PU 32(1), a storage device 34(1), and a communication device 36(1). The IoTGWs 30(1), 30(2), ... have the same hardware configuration.

[0030] The IoTGW 30(1) is connected to a server 50 via a first network 40. The first network 40 may be, for example, the Internet. The server 50 is a device owned by an entity that manages and operates the grid 22.

[0031] On the other hand, the IoTGW 30(1) and the IoTGWs 30(2), 30(3), ... are capable of communicating with each other via a second network 60. The second network 60 may be a communication line network in which the number of users is limited compared to the first network 40.

[0032] "Granting master and slave functions" Of the above IoTGWs 30(1) and 30(2), IoTGW 30(1) is located closest to the measurement device 24. The measurement result of the total amount of power consumption within a predetermined area A by the measurement device 24 is input to IoTGW 30(1). In response to this, IoTGW 30(1) decides whether or not to limit the power consumption within the predetermined area A. If it should be limited, the IoTGW 30(1) limits the power consumption of the corresponding electrical loads 10 via IoTGWs 30(2), 30(3), ....

[0033] As described above, IoTGW 30(1) and IoTGW 30(2), 30(3), ... are configured with the same hardware. However, IoTGW 30(1) and IoTGW 30(2), 30(3), ... execute different processes from each other. This is achieved by software processing that causes IoTGW 30(1) to function as a master and IoTGW 30(2), 30(3), ... to function as slaves.

[0034] The following describes the settings of the master and slave. Fig. 2 shows the procedure of the process of providing the master and slave functions. The process shown in Fig. 2 is realized by the PU 32 executing a program stored in the storage device 34 when, for example, a predetermined condition is satisfied. In the following, each process step number is given by a number preceded by "S". The process shown in Fig. 2 is executed in a state where a display device and a user interface as an input means are connected to the IoTGW 30 via a predetermined computer.

[0035] 2, the PU 32 displays a message indicating that it will accept instructions and waits (S10). The user selects the IoTGW 30 placed near the measuring device 24 as the master and the IoTGWs 30 placed elsewhere as slaves. The user then operates the user interface to give instructions according to the selection.

[0036] Then, when the user operates the user interface to input an instruction, the PU32 judges whether or not the master has been selected (S12). When the PU32 judges that the slave has been selected (S12: NO), the PU32 sets the IoTGW30 in which the PU32 is mounted as the slave (S14). This process is a process for selectively using a program for the slave among the programs stored in the storage device 34. The process of S14 includes a process for assigning an identification symbol for identifying the slaves from each other. This may be, for example, a process for inputting the identification symbol from the IoTGW30.

[0037] Next, the PU32 registers the channel of the electric load 10 for which the IoTGW30 in which the PU32 is mounted performs power restriction (S16). The channel is a label variable that identifies the switch 12. As described above, the switch 12 may be composed of multiple switches. Therefore, for example, the switch 12(2) connected to the electric load 10(2) may be composed of eight switches. In that case, the process of S16 registers the corresponding eight channels. The channel is also a label variable that identifies the electric load 10 for which power restriction is performed. As described above, the electric load 10 for which one switch controls the supply and cutoff of power is not always one. Therefore, the electric load for which power restriction is performed specified by the channel is not always one.

[0038] On the other hand, when it is determined that the master has been selected (12: YES), the PU 32 sets the IoTGW 30 in which the PU 32 is mounted as the master (S18). This is a setting to selectively use a master program among the programs stored in the storage device 34.

[0039] Next, the PU 32 determines whether or not a switch 12 to be operated exists (S20). In the example shown in FIG. 1, the IoTGW 30(1) operates the switch 12(1), and therefore determines that a switch 12 to be operated exists. However, this is not essential. There may be cases where the switch 12(1) to be operated by the IoTGW 30(1), to which the measurement results of the measuring device 24 are input, does not exist in order to limit the power consumption of the electric load 10.

[0040] When the PU32 determines that there is an object to be operated (S20: YES), it registers the channel of the switch 12(1) to be operated (S22). The process of S22 includes a process of registering an identification symbol of a slave. That is, even if the IoTGW30 has a function as a master, when the switch 12 is opened or closed, the IoTGW30 equipped with the PU32 also functions as a slave. Therefore, the process of S22 includes a process of registering an identification symbol of a slave.

[0041] When the process of S22 is completed or when the process of S20 is determined to be negative, the PU 32 registers the identification symbols of the slaves communicating by wireless communication (S24).Then, the PU 32 registers the channels for identifying the switches to be operated by each slave (S26).

[0042] When the PU 32 completes the processes of S16 and S26, the PU 32 temporarily ends the series of processes shown in FIG. "Process for determining whether or not to limit power consumption" A procedure for a process for determining whether or not to limit power consumption is shown in Fig. 3. The process shown in Fig. 3 is realized by PU 32(1) repeatedly executing a program stored in storage device 34(1) at a predetermined interval, for example.

[0043] In the series of processes shown in FIG. 3, the PU 32 first determines whether or not there is a DR instruction value (S30). The DR instruction value is an instruction value for the upper limit of power consumption from the server 50. For example, the DR instruction value is set on the condition that the server 50 has no margin for power supply based on the total amount of power consumption in an area wider than the predetermined area A. The DR instruction value may be a value that is automatically set when the server 50 determines that there is no margin for power supply, but is not limited to this. For example, the DR instruction value may be set when approval is obtained by inquiring in advance of the entity that owns the electric load 10 in the predetermined area A as to whether or not it is OK to issue a DR instruction value.

[0044] When the PU 32 determines that there is a DR instruction value (S30: YES), it assigns the DR instruction value to the target power Wt (S32). On the other hand, when the PU 32 determines that there is no DR instruction value (S30: NO), it assigns a set value to the target power Wt (S34). The set value may be, for example, an upper limit value for power consumption that is set according to a contract with a power company. For example, the set value may be a value that differs depending on the time of day. Also, for example, the set value may be a value that differs depending on the day of the week.

[0045] When the processes of S32 and S34 are completed, the PU 32 acquires the total power consumption Wct measured by the measuring device 24 (S36). The PU 32 then calculates the predicted power Wf based on the total power consumption Wct (S38). The predicted power Wf is a predicted value of power after a predetermined time has elapsed. The predicted power Wf is calculated based on the amount of change per unit time in the total power consumption Wct and the latest total power consumption Wct acquired by the process of S36.

[0046] Next, the PU 32 substitutes the value obtained by subtracting the target power Wt from the predicted power Wf into the excess power We (S40). Then, the PU 32 determines whether the excess power We is equal to or greater than an upper limit value WthH (S42). The upper limit value WthH may be a value equal to or greater than zero. However, a margin may be set by setting the upper limit value WthH to a small negative value.

[0047] When the PU 32 determines that the excess power We is equal to or greater than the upper limit WthH (S42: YES), it selects a channel to which the power supply is to be cut off (S44). The channels registered in the storage device 34(1) by the process of FIG. 2 are in accordance with the priority order for cutting off power. That is, CH1 is the channel to which the power supply is to be cut off with the highest priority. CH2 is the channel to which the power supply is to be cut off with the second highest priority. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the status of CH1 is "cut off" and the status of CH2 is "supply". Therefore, the PU 32 sets the status of CH2 to be switched to "cut off".

[0048] On the other hand, when the PU 32 determines that the excess power We is smaller than the upper limit value WthH (S42: NO), it determines whether the excess power We is equal to or smaller than the lower limit value WthL (S46). The lower limit value WthL is a value smaller than the upper limit value WthH. The lower limit value WthL may be set to a negative value, for example. The actual process of S46 that realizes this setting may be, for example, a process of determining whether the logical product of the excess power We being negative and the absolute value of the excess power We being equal to or larger than the lower limit value is true. In this case, the lower limit value is set to a positive value, which is equivalent to making the above-mentioned lower limit value WthL negative.

[0049] When the PU32 determines that the excess power We is equal to or less than the lower limit WthL (S46: YES), the PU32 determines whether or not there is a channel in a cutoff state (S48). That is, the PU32 determines whether or not a limit is imposed on power consumption. When the PU32 determines that there is a channel in a cutoff state (S48: YES), the PU32 selects a channel to be released from the cutoff state among the channels in the cutoff state (S50). The PU32 selects a channel to be released from the cutoff state according to the priority order of the channels. That is, for example, when CH1 and CH2 are in a cutoff state and CH3 and onward are in a supply state, the PU32 selects CH2. Note that when only CH1 is in a cutoff state, the PU32 selects CH1.

[0050] When the PU 32 completes the processes of S44 and S50, or when a negative determination is made in the processes of S46 and S48, the PU 32 temporarily ends the series of processes shown in FIG. Actions for Enforcing Power Capping The system shown in Fig. 1 limits the power consumption of the electric load 10 in accordance with the result determined by the process shown in Fig. 3. Here, MQTT (Message Queueing Telemetry Transport) is adopted as the communication protocol for transmitting and receiving the determined result. Here, the entity that notifies the determined result has the function of an MQTT broker. Meanwhile, the entity that executes the process of limiting power consumption has the function of an MQTT client.

[0051] FIG. 4 shows a procedure of a process related to communication between an MQTT client and an MQTT broker. The process shown in FIG. 4 is realized by PU32 repeatedly executing a program stored in storage device 34, for example, at a predetermined period. In detail, FIG. 4(a) shows the process of the MQTT client. In contrast, FIG. 4(b) shows the process of the MQTT broker. In the following, an example will be described in which PU32(2) realizes the MQTT client. However, the MQTT client can also be realized by PU32(3) of another slave IoTGW30(3). The MQTT client can also be realized by PU32(1) of the master IoTGW30(1).

[0052] In the series of processes shown in Fig. 4(a), PU 32(2) first operates communication device 36(2) to request transmission of an instruction regarding a limit on power consumption (S60). The process of S60 includes a process of transmitting an identification symbol as a slave.

[0053] In response to this, as shown in FIG. 4(b), PU 32(1) receives a transmission request (S70). PU 32(1) identifies the source of the transmission request using the identification code, and acquires the state of the channel assigned to the corresponding slave (S72). The state of the channel is the demand control instruction content. Then, PU 32(1) operates communication device 36(1) to transmit the demand control instruction content to the source of the transmission request received by the processing of S70 (S74). When PU 32(1) completes the processing of S74, it temporarily ends the series of processing shown in FIG. 4(b).

[0054] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4(a), PU 32(2) receives the demand control instruction (S62). Then, PU 32(2) operates the state of switch 12(2) in accordance with the instruction (S64). That is, when switch 12(2) is opened, the power consumption is limited to zero. When PU 32(2) completes the process of S64, it temporarily ends the series of processes shown in FIG. 4(a).

[0055] Incidentally, when the MQTT client is realized by the IoTGWs 30(2), 30(3), ... functioning as slaves, the communication between the MQTT client and the MQTT broker is wireless communication. In other words, it is communication using the second network 60 in Fig. 1. In contrast, when the MQTT client is realized by the IoTGW 30(1) functioning as a master, the communication between the MQTT client and the MQTT broker is wired communication via an electrical path within the IoTGW 30(1).

[0056] "Actions and Effects of the Present Embodiment" A plurality of electric loads 10 are present in a predetermined area A in which the electric loads 10 whose total power consumption Wct is measured by the measuring device 24 are present. The electric loads 10 that are close to each other are grouped together, so that the plurality of electric loads 10 are classified into a plurality of groups. An IoTGW 30 is assigned to each group. That is, a dedicated IoTGW 30 is placed near the electric loads 10 that belong to each group.

[0057] The IoTGW 30(1) is disposed near the measurement device 24. The IoTGW 30(1) and the IoTGWs 30(2), 30(3), ... are capable of communicating with each other via a second network 60. The PU 32(1) of the IoTGW 30(1) determines whether or not to cut off the power supply to the electric load 10, based on the measurement result of the measurement device 24. The demand control instruction content, which is the determined content, is then transmitted to the IoTGWs 30(2), 30(3), .... The IoTGWs 30(2), 30(3), ... limit the power supply to the target electric load 10 in accordance with the demand control instruction content.

[0058] In this way, IoTGW30(1) transmits the contents of the demand control to IoTGW30(2), 30(3), ... via the second network 60. Therefore, the operation of the switch 12 can be executed reliably with good responsiveness, compared to a case where IoTGW30(1) operates the corresponding switch 12 according to the contents of the demand control.

[0059] In contrast, for example, when the IoTGW 30(1) operates the switches 12(2), 12(3), ..., the following inconveniences may occur. First, if the IoTGW 30(1) and the switches 12(2), 12(3), ... are connected by wire, it becomes necessary to use an extremely long cable. Second, if the IoTGW 30(1) issues a command to the switches 12(2), 12(3), ... by wireless communication, for example, at 920 MHz, communication delays and the like are likely to occur. This is because the radio wave strength of the wireless communication used to wirelessly operate the switches 12(2), 12(3), ... is low. Therefore, for example, when the shutters of a factory are closed, problems such as communication interruption occur.

[0060] <Correspondence> The correspondence between the matters in the above embodiment and the matters described in the above "Means for solving the problem" column is as follows. Below, the correspondence is shown for each number of the means for solving the problem described in the "Means for solving the problem" column. [1-3,6,7,9,10] The first communication device corresponds to the IoTGW (1). The second communication device corresponds to the IoTGW (2), IoTGW (3), .... The measurement device corresponds to the measurement device 24. The measurement result acquisition process corresponds to the process of S36. The decision process corresponds to the process of S44, S50. The result transmission process corresponds to the process of S74. The result reception process corresponds to the process of S62. The restriction process corresponds to the process of S64. [4] The request reception process corresponds to the process of S70. The transmission request process corresponds to the process of S60. [5] Both the process of FIG. 4(a) and the process of FIG. 4(b) correspond to the case where PU32(1) executes them. [8] The instruction input reception process corresponds to the process of S10, S12. The setting process corresponds to the processes in S14 to S26.

[0061] <Other embodiments> This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that no technical contradiction occurs.

[0062] "About the operation unit" 1 shows that each IoTGW30 functioning as a slave operates a plurality of switches 12, but this is not limited thereto. For example, the number of switches 12 that are the operation targets of one IoTGW30 functioning as a slave may be one. In this case, the number of electrical loads that are the targets of power supply interruption by the operation of the switch 12 may be one. Also, even if the operation target of the IoTGW30 functioning as a slave is one switch 12, the number of electrical loads that are the targets of power supply interruption by the operation of the single switch 12 may be multiple.

[0063] The operating unit that is the object to be operated to limit power consumption is not limited to the switch 12. For example, it may be a device that adjusts the upper limit of the amount of current flowing through the electrical load 10 to one of a plurality of values.

[0064] It is not essential that the IoTGW30 functioning as a slave operates the operation unit, which is the target of operation to limit power consumption, via a wired connection. For example, it may be operated wirelessly. Even in this case, the IoTGW30 functioning as a slave is easy to place near the operation unit. Therefore, even when using wireless communication with weak radio wave strength, the risk of communication failure can be reduced.

[0065] "About decision processing" The process of setting the target power Wt to ​​either a set value or a DR command value is not essential. For example, the DR command value may be set to be transmitted sequentially from the server 50, and the DR command value may be set to the constant target power Wt. Also, for example, the set value may be set to the constant target power Wt.

[0066] In the processes of S44 and S50, the priority of the electric loads to be cut off is fixed, but this is not limiting. For example, if channel CH1 is cut off and then the cutoff of channel CH1 is released, and if the process of S42 again gives a positive result, channel CH2 may be cut off with priority over channel CH1. In other words, the priority of the restriction target may be changed according to the history of power consumption restriction.

[0067] It is not essential for the IoTGW(1) functioning as a master to determine the channel to be blocked. In other words, it is not essential for the IoTGW(1) functioning as a master to determine which electric load to limit the power consumption of. For example, the PU32(1) of the IoTGW(1) may simply instruct the IoTGW(1), IoTGW(2), ... functioning as slaves to strengthen, weaken, or maintain the power consumption limit. In this case, the storage device 34 of the IoTGW30 functioning as a slave stores in advance information such as the priority order of which electric load to strengthen the limit when the limit is to be strengthened. This allows the PU32 of the IoTGW30 functioning as a slave to select a new electric load to be limited without receiving an instruction from the master.

[0068] In the processes of S44 and S50, the supply and cut-off of power to a specific electric load 10 is determined, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as described in the section "Regarding the Operation Unit", when a device capable of adjusting the upper limit of the current amount is to be operated by the PU 32, the determination process may be a process in which the PU 32 determines the upper limit.

[0069] "Master and slave configuration" In the process illustrated in Fig. 2, when a master is set, the identification symbols and channels of all slaves are registered, but this is not limited to the above. Although data defining all slaves and channels is stored in the storage devices 34 of all IoTGWs 30, only the master may use the data.

[0070] "Master and slave communication" The communication protocol between the IoTGW30 having a master function and the IoTGWs having a slave function is not limited to MQTT. In this case, it is not limited to a protocol in which the IoTGW30 having a master function is a server and the IoTGWs having a slave function are clients. In other words, for example, IoTGW(1) may execute the process of S74 at a predetermined cycle without waiting for requests from IoTGW(2), IoTGW(3), etc.

[0071] "Communication between a first communication device and a second communication device" It is not essential that all communications between the first communication device and the second communication device are wireless. For example, if the internal lines that enable calls between buildings in a specific area A are wired, those lines may be used.

[0072] The network used for communication between the first communication device and the server does not necessarily have to be different from the network used for communication between the first communication device and the second communication device. "About Electrical Load" It is not necessary to have multiple electric loads. For example, even if there is only one electric load, if it is far away from the measuring device 24, it is effective to have an IoTGW (1) that functions as a master and an IoTGW (2) that functions as a slave.

[0073] "Configuration of the first communication device and the second communication device" It is not essential that the IoTGW 30, which is made up of the same hardware, be configured as either a device having a master function or a device having a slave function by software processing. For example, a first communication device having a master function and a second communication device having a slave function may have different hardware configurations.

[0074] The first communication device is not limited to a device that includes the PU 32 and the storage device 34 and executes software processing. For example, the first communication device may include a dedicated hardware circuit (such as an ASIC) that performs hardware processing of at least a part of the software processing in the above embodiment. That is, the first communication device may have any of the following configurations (a) to (c). (a) A processing device that executes all of the above processing according to a program, and a program storage device such as a ROM that stores the program. (b) A processing device and a program storage device that execute a part of the above processing according to a program, and a dedicated hardware circuit that executes the remaining processing. (c) A dedicated hardware circuit that executes all of the above processing. Here, the software processing circuit and the dedicated hardware circuit that include the processing device and the program storage device may be multiple. That is, the above processing may be executed by a processing circuit that includes at least one of one or more software processing circuits and one or more dedicated hardware circuits.

[0075] The second communication device is not limited to a device that includes the PU 32 and the storage device 34 and executes software processing. For example, the second communication device may include a dedicated hardware circuit (such as an ASIC) that performs hardware processing of at least a part of the software processing in the above embodiment. That is, the second communication device may have any of the following configurations (a) to (c). (a) A processing device that executes all of the above processing according to a program, and a program storage device such as a ROM that stores the program. (b) A processing device and a program storage device that execute a part of the above processing according to a program, and a dedicated hardware circuit that executes the remaining processing. (c) A dedicated hardware circuit that executes all of the above processing. Here, the software processing circuit and the dedicated hardware circuit that include the processing device and the program storage device may be multiple. That is, the above processing may be executed by a processing circuit that includes at least one of one or more software processing circuits and one or more dedicated hardware circuits. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 10. Electrical load 12...Switch 22...Strain 24…Measuring equipment 30…IoTGW 40…1st Network 50…Server 60…Second Network

Claims

1. A first communication device and a second communication device, the first communication device is configured to execute a measurement result acquisition process, a determination process, and a result transmission process; The second communication device is configured to perform a result receiving process and a limiting process; the measurement result acquisition process is a process of acquiring a measurement result of a measurement device, The measuring device is a device that measures the amount of power consumption of an electrical load present within a predetermined area, the determination process is a process of determining whether or not to limit the power consumption of the electrical load to a smaller value using the measurement result as an input, the result transmission process is a process of transmitting a signal indicating that a decision is made to limit the value to the smaller value, the result receiving process is a process of receiving a signal transmitted by the result transmitting process, A power limiting system, wherein the limiting process is a process of limiting the power consumption of the electrical load using the received signal as an input.

2. The electrical loads present within the predetermined area are multiple, 2. The power limiting system according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device is a device that measures a total amount of power consumption of each of the plurality of electric loads.

3. A plurality of the second communication devices are provided, 3. The power limiting system according to claim 2, wherein the limiting process executed by each of the second communication devices is a process for limiting power consumption of different electric loads among the electric loads.

4. The first communication device is configured to perform a request receiving process; the second communication device is configured to perform a transmission request process; the transmission request process is a process of requesting transmission of an instruction regarding a limit on power consumption of the electric load; the request reception process is a process of receiving a request made by the transmission request process, 2. The power limiting system according to claim 1, wherein the result transmission process is a process of transmitting a signal according to the content determined by the determination process when the request made by the transmission request process is accepted by the request reception process.

5. the first communication device is configured to execute the transmission request process and the restriction process; the limiting process executed by the first communication device is a process of limiting power consumption of an electrical load assigned to the first communication device, the transmission request process executed by the first communication device is a process of requesting the first communication device to transmit a determination result of the determination process regarding power consumption of the electric load allocated to the first communication device; 5. The power limiting system according to claim 4, wherein the result transmission process executed by the first communication device includes a process for responding to the transmission request process executed by the first communication device.

6. the communication between the first communication device and the second communication device is wireless communication, The power limiting system according to claim 5 , wherein the transmission request process and the result transmission process in response to the transmission request process executed by the first communication device are processes executed by using wired communication.

7. the result transmission process from the first communication device to the second communication device is realized by wireless communication; the limiting process is a process of limiting power consumption of the electrical load by an operation of an operation unit, the operation unit is an object to be operated in order to limit power consumption of the electrical load, The power limiting system according to claim 1 , wherein the operation unit and the second communication device are connected by wire.

8. the first communication device and the second communication device are configured with the same hardware and configured to execute an instruction input reception process and a setting process; the instruction input reception process is a process of receiving at least one of a master instruction input and a slave instruction input, 2. The power limiting system of claim 1, wherein the setting process includes a process of causing the device to function as the first communication device when the master is specified, and a process of causing the device to function as the second communication device when the slave is specified and the master is not specified.

9. The first communication device in a power limited system according to claim 8 .

10. 9. The second communication device in a power limited system according to claim 8.

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