Data transmission system

Abstract

To enable a publishing side to easily determine whether to continue processing for publishing operational information regarding the elevator's operational status.SOLUTION: A data transmission system (100) includes a first server device (4) functioning as a broker and a communication device (3). A publishing unit (312) of the communication device, while in transmission mode, continues transmission mode if it receives a transmission continuation request before a predetermined period has elapsed since it last received a transmission continuation request published to the first server device via the second topic from a requesting device (8). Conversely, if the predetermined period elapses without receiving a transmission continuation request after the communication device last received one, the publishing unit switches to non-transmission mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] One aspect of the present invention relates to a data transmission system for transmitting operational information regarding the operational status of an elevator. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a system for monitoring elevators. In this system, in response to a call from an intercom inside the elevator car, a connection is made to the mobile phone of a specific monitor, and video data from a surveillance camera installed at the elevator hall is transmitted to the monitor's mobile phone. In this system, the video data transmitted to the mobile phone is switched in response to a command to switch the video data of the monitored object. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4369253 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, Patent Document 1 does not disclose any technology related to the transmission and reception of information about elevators using a publish / subscribe type communication method.

[0005] One aspect of the present invention aims to enable the publishing side to easily determine whether to continue the process of publishing operation information regarding the operating status of an elevator using a publish / subscribe communication method. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A data transmission system according to one aspect of the present invention is a data transmission system including a server device functioning as a broker and one or more communication devices that can communicate with each other using a publish / subscribe communication method, wherein the communication device includes a receiving unit that receives operation information relating to the operating status of an elevator controlled by an elevator control device that is communicably connected to the communication device, a publishing unit that switches the operation mode between a sending mode in which the receiving unit publishes the received operation information to the server device using a predetermined first topic each time the receiving unit receives the operation information, and a non-sending mode in which the publishing is not performed, and a publishing unit that, when switching to the sending mode, publishes the received operation information to the server device using a predetermined first topic. and a subscribing unit that subscribes the server device to a second topic created based on the identification information of the requesting device, and the server device comprises a first transmitting unit that transmits a request to continue transmitting the operation information, which is published to the server device using the second topic from a requesting device, to the communication device that has subscribed to the second topic for the server device, and the publishing unit continues the transmitting mode if, during the transmitting mode, the communication device receives the request to continue transmitting within a predetermined period of time since the communication device last received the request to continue transmitting, and switches to the non-transmitting mode if the predetermined period of time has elapsed since the communication device last received the request to continue transmitting without receiving the request to continue transmitting. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, the publishing side can easily determine whether to continue the process of publishing operation information regarding the operating status of an elevator using a publish / subscribe communication method. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a data transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 10 is a sequence illustrating an example of a data flow based on the first use of an API. [Figure 3] 10 is a sequence showing an example of the data flow based on the second and subsequent API usages after switching to the transmission mode. [Figure 4] 10 is a sequence illustrating an example of a data flow when an API has not been used for a predetermined period of time. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The data transmission system 100 of this embodiment will be described below.

[0010] [Data transmission system overview] First, an overview of a data transmission system 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the data transmission system 100.

[0011] The data transmission system 100 is a system that allows an elevator control device 2 to transmit operation information relating to the operating status of an elevator 1 controlled by the elevator control device 2 to a terminal device 9. The data transmission system 100 transmits the operation information of the elevator 1 to the terminal device 9, allowing a user of the terminal device 9 to understand the operating status of the elevator 1.

[0012] The operation information includes, for example, information on the occurrence of an abnormality in the elevator 1 and the operation status of the elevator 1. The information indicating the operation status may include, for example, information on the position of the car, the weight inside the car, and the opening and closing status of the doors. The operation information is associated with the identification information of the elevator 1. In addition to the operation information, the identification information of the elevator 1 may be associated with detailed information on the elevator 1, such as the model name of the elevator 1 and installation information of the elevator 1.

[0013] The elevator 1 from which operation information is to be acquired may be one or more elevators 1. However, it is preferable that the operation information of the elevator 1 designated by the user is transmitted to the terminal device 9.

[0014] A user of the data transmission system 100 is, for example, a user who gets on or off the elevator 1. A user of the data transmission system 100 may be, for example, a manager of the elevator 1. A user of the data transmission system 100 may also be, for example, a maintenance worker who performs maintenance on the elevator 1. In this case, a monitoring device that monitors the operating status of the elevator 1 may be used as the terminal device 9.

[0015] 1, the data transmission system 100 includes, for example, an elevator 1, an elevator control device 2, a communication device 3, a first server device 4, a second server device 5, a destination device 6, a storage device 7, a request source device 8, and a terminal device 9. As shown in the figure, the first server device 4, the second server device 5, the storage device 7, and the request source device 8 may be built on, for example, a virtual private cloud (VPC). Furthermore, part or all of the destination device 6 may be built on the virtual private cloud.

[0016] The elevator control device 2 is communicatively connected to the elevator 1, and controls the operation of the elevator 1 while monitoring the operating status of the elevator 1. The elevator control device 2 is communicatively connected to the communication device 3, and transmits operation information of the elevator 1 controlled by the elevator control device 2 to the communication device 3. The elevator control device 2 may transmit detailed information of the elevator 1 to the communication device 3 together with the operation information.

[0017] The elevator control device 2 generates operation information in association with the identification information of the elevator 1 and transmits the operation information to the communication device 3 by method A described below. Furthermore, the elevator control device 2 may be able to transmit the operation information to the communication device 3 by method B described below. Note that method B is a method that has traditionally been frequently adopted as a communication method between the elevator control device 2 and the communication device 3. Therefore, the data transmission system 100 may be constructed by adding method A to an existing system that employs method B.

[0018] (Method A: Push type) The elevator control device 2 transmits operation information to the communication device 3 every time a change occurs in the operating status of the elevator 1. In this case, the elevator control device 2 transmits the operation information to the communication device 3 every time it generates the operation information via the first control line 101 connecting the elevator control device 2 and the communication device 3. In method A, the communication device 3 does not request the elevator control device 2 to transmit the operation information.

[0019] (Method B: pull type) When the elevator control device 2 receives a transmission request for operation information from the communication device 3, it transmits the operation information to the communication device 3 as a response to the transmission request. In this case, the elevator control device 2 transmits the operation information to the communication device 3 via the second control line 102 connecting the elevator control device 2 and the communication device 3. A transmission request to the elevator control device 2 by method B will be referred to as a "transmission request each time" below.

[0020] The operating status of the elevator 1 can change from moment to moment. Therefore, the frequency of transmitting operation information by the above method A is higher than the frequency of transmitting operation information by the above method B. Therefore, it is preferable to adopt a communication standard for the first control line 101 that allows more frequent communication than the second control line 102. For example, the first control line 101 may be RS422, and the second control line 102 may be RS232C. However, the second control line 102 may adopt a communication standard equivalent to that of the first control line 101.

[0021] The communication device 3 is communicatively connected to each of the first server device 4 and the second server device 5, and transmits and receives data between the communication device 3 and the first server device 4 and the second server device 5. For example, Soracom (registered trademark) can be used for communication between the communication device 3 and each of the first server device 4 and the second server device 5. Note that the communication network connecting the communication device 3 and the first server device 4 and the communication network connecting the communication device 3 and the second server device 5 may be physically the same or may be physically separate.

[0022] The communication device 3 transmits the operation information received from the elevator control device 2 by the above-described method A to the first server device 4. Specifically, the communication device 3 starts transmitting the operation information received from the elevator control device 2 by the above-described method A to the first server device 4 at a predetermined timing according to a publish / subscribe communication method, and stops transmitting the information to the first server device 4 at a predetermined timing. In other words, the communication device 3 is a device capable of communicating with the first server device 4 according to the publish / subscribe communication method. The publish / subscribe communication method will be referred to as the "first communication method" below. A protocol used in the first communication method is preferably, for example, MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport). By using the MQTT protocol, the operation information can be transmitted from the communication device 3 to the first server device 4 at a high frequency. Therefore, the operation information transmitted at a high frequency from the elevator control device 2 to the communication device 3 according to the above-described method A is subsequently transmitted at a high frequency from the communication device 3 to the first server device 4. That is, in the data transmission system 100, the operation information can be transmitted from the elevator control device 2 to the first server device 4 at high frequency.

[0023] On the other hand, the communication device 3 may transmit the operation information received from the elevator control device 2 by the above-mentioned method B to the second server device 5 according to a second communication method different from the first communication method. The second communication method does not need to be a publish / subscribe type, and may use, for example, a protocol based on TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol), or may use an independently defined protocol. Note that the second communication method is a method that is often adopted as a communication method between existing elevator monitoring systems and the communication device 3.

[0024] In the above method B, the operation information to be transmitted by the elevator control device 2 to the communication device 3 in response to the request for transmission on demand may be the latest operation information at the time when the request for transmission on demand is received from the communication device 3, or may be untransmitted operation information accumulated up to the time when the request for transmission on demand is received. In the latter case, the elevator control device 2 may generate operation information every time a change occurs in the operating status of the elevator 1 and store the information in a storage unit (not shown) of the elevator control device 2. In this case, when the communication device 3 receives a request for transmission on demand from the second server device 5, the communication device 3 may transmit the operation information stored in the storage unit (not shown) of the communication device 3 at that time to the second server device 5 in response to the request for transmission on demand.

[0025] The communication device 3 also receives a "transmission start request" for operation information from the second server device 5 according to the second communication method. Triggered by receiving the transmission start request, the communication device 3 transmits the operation information to the first server device 4 according to the first communication method every time it receives operation information from the elevator control device 2. In other words, the transmission start request is a request to start real-time transmission of the operation information to the first server device 4. The communication device 3 also receives a "continue transmission request" for operation information from the first server device 4 according to the first communication method. While the communication device 3 continues to receive the continue transmission request, it continues to transmit the operation information received from the elevator control device 2 to the first server device 4. In other words, the continue transmission request is a request to continue real-time transmission of the operation information to the first server device 4.

[0026] One elevator control device 2 and one communication device 3 are provided for each elevator 1. As described above, the data transmission system 100 may include one elevator 1 or multiple elevators 1. When the data transmission system 100 includes multiple elevators 1, one set of elevator control device 2 and communication device 3 is provided for each elevator 1.

[0027] The first server device 4 is a device that functions as a broker and is capable of communicating with the communication device 3 according to the first communication method. The data transmission system 100 may be a system that includes at least the first server device 4 as a broker and the communication device 3, which are capable of communicating with each other according to the first communication method. While receiving operation information from the communication device 3 according to the first communication method, the first server device 4 transmits the received operation information to the destination device 6 every time it receives operation information.

[0028] The first server device 4 is a device that is communicably connected to the second server device 5 and the request source device 8 according to the first communication method. The first server device 4 transmits a transmission continue request received from the request source device 8 to the communication device 3 according to the first communication method, while transmitting a transmission start request received from the request source device 8 to the second server device 5 according to the second communication method.

[0029] The first server device 4 functions as a broker. Therefore, the communication device 3 subscribes to the first server device 4 so that the first server device 4 can transmit the transmission continuation request received from the request source device 8 to the communication device 3. This subscription will be described later in connection with the subscribing unit 313 of the communication device 3.

[0030] The second server device 5 transmits the request to start transmitting the operation information received from the first server device 4 to the communication device 3 according to the second communication method. Furthermore, when the second server device 5 receives a request to transmit operation information on an as-needed basis from the request source device 8, it may transmit the request to transmit the operation information on an as-needed basis to the communication device 3 according to the second communication method and receive the operation information as a response to the request to transmit the operation information on an as-needed basis. In this case, the second server device 5 executes a process for storing the received operation information in the storage device 7. In this embodiment, the second server device 5 directly stores the operation information in the storage device 7, but the operation information may also be stored in the storage device 7 via a relay device.

[0031] The destination device 6 is a device that executes a process for storing the received operation information in the storage device 7 every time it receives operation information from the first server device 4. In this embodiment, the destination device 6 directly stores the operation information in the storage device 7, but the destination device 6 may store the operation information in the storage device 7 via a relay device. The destination device 6 may be, for example, a device provided as a web service platform such as AWS IoT Core. The storage device 7 is a device that stores the operation information and includes, for example, a database. The database included in the storage device 7 is preferably a NoSQL database such as a key-value database with excellent scalability in order to store operation information that is transmitted frequently. The database and the mechanism for storing the operation information in the database may be provided as a database cloud service.

[0032] As described above, the first server device 4 functions as a broker. Therefore, the destination device 6 subscribes to a predetermined first topic for the first server device 4 so that the first server device 4 can transmit the operation information received from the communication device 3 to the destination device 6. The first topic is a topic for receiving the operation information, and may be set to any value.

[0033] After receiving the transmission start request, the communication device 3 starts transmitting operation information to the first server device 4. Therefore, the destination device 6 subscribes to a first topic for the first server device 4 before the first server device 4 starts receiving operation information so that the first server device 4 can transmit the operation information to the destination device 6 every time it receives it. In this embodiment, the destination device 6 subscribes to a first topic for the first server device 4 before the terminal device 9 uses (calls) an API (Application Programming Interface) 813.

[0034] The requesting device 8 has a function for providing operation information of the specified elevator 1 that is available to the terminal device 9. In this embodiment, the requesting device 8 is, for example, a web server, and this function is provided by the API 813. The API 813 is a software interface that can be used by a web browser or application software (hereinafter, simply referred to as "terminal-side software") executed on the terminal device 9, and is used to acquire operation information of the elevator 1 stored in the storage device 7 and transmit it to the terminal device 9. While the terminal device 9 is using the API 813, the requesting device 8 sequentially acquires operation information of the specified elevator 1 from the storage device 7 and transmits the acquired operation information to the terminal device 9. "The terminal device 9 is using the API 813" refers to a state in which terminal device 9 is running terminal-side software that can use the API 813 to acquire operation information of the elevator 1 specified by the user.

[0035] When the API 813 is used by the terminal device 9 after a predetermined period has elapsed since the API 813 was last used by the terminal device 9, the request sending device 8 executes processing for transmitting a transmission start request for operation information to the first server device 4. That is, when the terminal device 9 starts using the API 813, the request sending device 8 transmits the transmission start request to the first server device 4. In this embodiment, the request sending device 8 transmits the transmission start request directly to the first server device 4, but may also transmit the transmission start request to the first server device 4 via a relay device.

[0036] At this time, the request sending device 8 also receives designation information (e.g., identification information of the elevator 1) that designates the elevator 1 from which operation information is to be acquired. Therefore, the request sending device 8 transmits a transmission start request, including the received designation information, to the first server device 4. This enables the first server device 4 to transmit the transmission start request to the communication device 3 provided for the designated elevator 1, and to receive operation information from the communication device 3.

[0037] Furthermore, while the terminal device 9 is using the API 813, the request sending device 8 transmits a transmission continuation request to the first server device 4. The first server device 4 also transmits the transmission continuation request to the communication device 3 provided for the specified elevator 1, and therefore transmits elevator 1 specification information together with the transmission continuation request to the communication device 3.

[0038] The first server device 4 transmits and receives data to and from the communication device 3 according to the first communication method. To this end, the request sending device 8 creates a second topic based on the identification information of the elevator 1, and publishes a continuation transmission request to the first server device 4 using the created second topic. This allows the first server device 4 to transmit the continuation transmission request to the communication device 3 provided for the specified elevator 1 and subscribed to the second topic.

[0039] The terminal device 9 is a device capable of accepting input operations from the user and notifying the user of operation information transmitted by the elevator control device 2. The terminal device 9 may also be a device capable of notifying the user of detailed information transmitted by the elevator control device 2. In this embodiment, the terminal device 9 functions as a display device that displays various information. The terminal device 9 also functions as an input device that can accept input operations from the user. The terminal device 9 can accept, as an input operation from the user, an operation for acquiring operation information of the elevator 1 whose operating status the user wants to know. The terminal device 9 can also accept, as an input operation from the user, an operation for specifying the elevator 1 from which operation information is to be acquired.

[0040] The terminal device 9 may be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a laptop computer, etc., but is not limited to these. The terminal device 9 only needs to have at least a communication function, a function to display various information, and a function to accept input operations. Furthermore, there may be one or more terminal devices 9.

[0041] By using the API 813, the terminal device 9 can cause the request sending device 8 to issue a transmission start request and a transmission continuation request for operation information of the specified elevator 1, and can also receive the operation information from the request sending device 8. When starting to use the API 813, the terminal device 9 accepts an input operation for specifying the elevator 1 from which operation information is to be acquired. This allows the terminal device 9 to transmit the specified information to the request sending device 8 when using the API 813. By using the API 813, the terminal device 9 can cause the request sending device 8 to issue a transmission request for operation information each time, and can also receive operation information of the specified elevator 1 from the request sending device 8.

[0042] When the terminal device 9 uses the API 813 for the first time, the requesting device 8 sends a transmission start request to the first server device 4, and thereafter, each time the terminal device 9 uses the API 813, the requesting device 8 sends a transmission continuation request to the first server device 4. Furthermore, after the first use of the API 813, the terminal device 9 receives and displays the operation information acquired by the requesting device 8 from the storage device 7 each time the API 813 is used. The terminal device 9 uses the API 813 at a predetermined frequency (for example, once every 10 seconds) while the above-mentioned terminal-side software is running, for example.

[0043] The API 813 is not limited to a mode in which it passively provides the operation information to the terminal device 9 in response to a request from the terminal device 9, but may also be a mode in which it actively provides the operation information to the terminal device 9. For example, in a situation in which the terminal device 9 subscribes to a first topic for the requesting device 8 and the requesting device 8 subscribes to the first topic for the storage device 7, if a change occurs in the storage state of the operation information in the storage device 7 (if new operation information is stored in the storage device 7), the requesting device 8 may publish the operation information stored in the storage device 7 to the terminal device 9.

[0044] <How to send a transmission start request> As described above, in this embodiment, the first server device 4 is configured to transmit the transmission start request to the communication device 3 using the second communication method via the second server device 5, but the request may be transmitted directly to the communication device 3 using the first communication method without going through the second server device 5. In this case, however, for example, in order for the communication device 3 to monitor the reception of the transmission start request from the first server device 4, it becomes necessary to keep the communication session between the communication device 3 and the first server device 4 constantly connected and subscribed according to the first communication method.

[0045] Therefore, the first server device 4 is required to have processing performance that can withstand the constant connection of the communication session. Moreover, the communication sessions must be kept active for the number of communication devices 3, and since a large number of communication devices 3 are generally connected to the first server device 4, a high-performance first server device 4 is required to keep the communication sessions constantly connected. Furthermore, while the time during which real-time transmission of operation information is required is often limited, keeping the communication sessions always connected generates an extra communication load.

[0046] Therefore, in this embodiment, the transmission start request is transmitted to the communication device 3 via the second server device 5 in accordance with the second communication method, thereby realizing reduction in the processing load and communication load on the first server device 4.

[0047] <Purpose of the data transmission system> The data transmission system 100 of this embodiment includes a first server device 4 and a communication device 3 that can communicate with each other according to a first communication method, and a first control line 101. After the communication device 3 receives a request to start transmitting operation information, while the communication device 3 continues to receive a request to continue transmission, the communication device 3 transmits the operation information to the first server device 4 every time the operation status of the elevator 1 changes. The first server device 4 then stores the operation information in the storage device 7 every time it receives it. As a result, in the data transmission system 100, while the terminal device 9 is executing terminal-side software that uses the API 813, the terminal device 9 can sequentially acquire the operation information stored in the storage device 7, allowing users to visually check the operation status of the elevator 1, which may change every moment, in real time. An example of specific functions and processes that realize this data transmission system 100 will be described below.

[0048] [Data transmission system details] The following mainly describes an example of a specific configuration of the communication device 3, the first server device 4, and the request sending device 8 with reference to FIG.

[0049] <Communication Device> 1, the communication device 3 includes, for example, a first control unit 31 and a second control unit 32. The first control unit 31 includes, for example, a receiving unit 311, a publishing unit 312, and a subscribing unit 313. The second control unit 32 includes, for example, a transmitting / receiving unit 321.

[0050] The receiving unit 311 receives operation information from the elevator control device 2. The receiving unit 311 receives the operation information from the elevator control device 2 via the first control line 101 every time the operating status of the elevator 1 specified by the user changes.

[0051] The publishing unit 312 controls transmission and reception of data with the first server device 4 in accordance with the first communication method, and switches the operation mode between a transmission mode in which the received operation information is published to the first server device 4 using a predetermined first topic each time the receiving unit 311 receives the operation information, and a non-transmission mode in which the publishing is not performed. In this embodiment, the publishing unit 312 switches the operation mode to the transmission mode when the communication device 3 (the transmitting / receiving unit 321 of the second control unit 32 of the communication device 3) receives a request to start transmitting the operation information. This allows the publishing unit 312 to publish the operation information to the first server device 4 at the timing when the transmission start request is received.

[0052] Furthermore, if the publishing unit 312 receives a request to continue transmitting operation information during the transmission mode before a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the communication device 3 last received a request to continue transmitting operation information, the publishing unit 312 continues the transmission mode. On the other hand, if the communication device 3 does not receive a request to continue transmitting operation information after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the communication device 3 last received a request to continue transmitting operation information, the publishing unit 312 switches to the non-transmission mode. The predetermined period of time may be longer than the interval at which the communication device 3 receives requests to continue transmitting operation information. The reception interval may be equal to the interval at which the terminal device 9 uses the API 813.

[0053] The publishing unit 312 switches the operation mode depending on the reception status of the transmission continuation request, so that the publishing side can easily determine whether to continue the process of publishing the operation information according to the first communication method. Furthermore, because the first server device 4 functions as a broker, it cannot actively obtain the operation information by monitoring the communication device 3. Therefore, the communication device 3 determines whether to transmit the operation information to the first server device 4 by monitoring the reception status of the transmission continuation request (i.e., by monitoring the first server device 4).

[0054] The subscribing unit 313 controls transmission and reception of data with the first server device 4 according to the first communication method, and when the operation mode switches to the transmission mode, subscribes to a second topic created based on the identification information of the elevator 1 for the first server device 4. The second topic may be created by the first control unit 31 so that the elevator 1 can be identified.

[0055] As described above, the request sending device 8 publishes a transmission continuation request to the first server device 4 using the second topic created based on the identification information of the specified elevator 1. Therefore, by having the first server device 4 subscribe to the second topic that can identify the elevator 1 to which the communication device 3 is connected, the first server device 4 can transmit a transmission continuation request to the communication device 3 connected to the specified elevator 1.

[0056] The transmitting / receiving unit 321 receives the transmission start request from the second server device 5 and transmits a signal indicating that the transmission start request has been received to the first control unit 31. As a result, at the timing when the transmitting / receiving unit 321 receives the transmission start request, the publishing unit 312 switches the operation mode to the transmission mode and publishes operation information to the first server device 4, and the subscribing unit 313 subscribes to the second topic for the first server device 4.

[0057] <First server device> 1, the first server device 4 functioning as a broker includes, for example, a server control unit 41. The server control unit 41 controls the operation of the first server device 4, and includes, for example, a first transmission unit 411, a second transmission unit 412, and a server transmission unit 413.

[0058] The first sending unit 411 sends the transmission continuation request published to the first server device 4 by the request source device 8 on the second topic to the communication device 3 that has subscribed to the second topic for the first server device 4. This allows the first server device 4 to send the transmission continuation request to the communication device 3 connected to the specified elevator 1.

[0059] When the second transmitting unit 412 receives the operation information published from the publishing unit 312, it transmits the received operation information to the destination device 6 that has subscribed to the first topic for the first server device 4. This allows the destination device 6 to store the operation information of the specified elevator 1 received by the first server device 4 in the storage device 7. Therefore, the requesting device 8 can obtain the operation information from the storage device 7 and transmit it to the terminal device 9.

[0060] The server transmitting unit 413 transmits the transmission start request received from the request source device 8 to the second server device 5. This allows the first server device 4 to transmit the transmission start request to the communication device 3 via the second server device 5 (in accordance with the second communication method).

[0061] <Requesting device> 1, the request sending device 8 includes, for example, a request sending control unit 81. The request sending control unit 81 controls the operation of the request sending device 8, and includes a request sending unit 811, a request sending publishing unit 812, and an API 813.

[0062] As described above, when the API 813 is used from the terminal device 9 after a predetermined period has elapsed since the API 813 was last used from the terminal device 9, the request source sending unit 811 sends a transmission start request to the first server device 4. In this embodiment, when the API 813 is used in a state where the API 813 has not been used for a predetermined period, the request source sending unit 811 sends a transmission start request to the first server device 4, including designation information that designates the elevator 1 from which operation information is to be acquired.

[0063] The request source publishing unit 812 publishes a transmission continuation request to the first server device 4 using a second topic created based on the identification information of the specified elevator 1. In this embodiment, after the terminal device 9 uses the API 813 for the first time, the request source publishing unit 812 publishes a transmission continuation request to the first server device 4 using the second topic each time the terminal device 9 uses the API 813. That is, the request source publishing unit 812 publishes a transmission continuation request to the first server device 4 using the second topic while operation information is provided from the request source device 8 to the terminal device 9 at a predetermined frequency by the terminal device 9 using the API 813. The second topic may be created by the request source control unit 81 so that the specified elevator 1 can be identified. The predetermined frequency corresponds to the frequency of use of the API 813. When the API 813 actively provides operation information to the terminal device 9, the predetermined frequency may be determined corresponding to the frequency at which changes occur in the storage device 7.

[0064] As described above, the API 813 is an example of a function for providing operation information of a specified elevator 1. When the terminal device 9 uses the API 813, the request source sending unit 811 can specify the elevator 1 from which operation information is to be acquired and send a transmission start request to the first server device 4. The request source publishing unit 812 can also specify the elevator 1 from which operation information is to be acquired and send a transmission continuation request to the first server device 4. Based on this transmission, the operation information of the specified elevator 1 is stored in the storage device 7. Therefore, while the terminal device 9 is using the API 813, the request source device 8 can sequentially acquire operation information of the specified elevator 1 from the storage device 7 and send the acquired operation information to the terminal device 9.

[0065] [Sequence] Next, the flow of data between the devices will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 4. Figure 2 is a sequence showing an example of the flow of data based on the first use of API 813. Figure 3 is a sequence showing an example of the flow of data based on the second or subsequent use of API 813 after switching to transmission mode. Figure 4 is a sequence showing an example of the flow of data when API 813 has not been used for a predetermined period of time.

[0066] Fig. 3 shows an example of a sequence after the sequence of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 shows an example of a sequence after the sequence of Fig. 3. In addition, in Fig. 2 to Fig. 4, it is assumed that operation information is transmitted from the elevator control device 2 to the communication device 3 via the first control line 101 every time a change occurs in the operating status of the elevator 1.

[0067] 2, in this embodiment, the destination device 6 subscribes to the first topic with the first server device 4 (S1) before the terminal device 9 uses the API 813. This allows the first server device 4 to transmit the operation information to the destination device 6 at the timing when the communication device 3 receives a transmission start request from the second server device 5 and publishes the operation information to the first server device 4.

[0068] The terminal device 9 accepts an input operation for acquiring operation information of the elevator 1 whose operation status the user wishes to know. Upon accepting this input operation, the terminal device 9 uses the API 813 of the request sending device 8 (S2). At this time, the terminal device 9 also transmits to the request sending device 8 the specification information of the elevator 1 specified by the user.

[0069] In the request sending device 8, the request sending unit 811 sends a transmission start request including the specification information to the first server device 4 (S3). In the first server device 4, the server sending unit 413 sends the transmission start request received from the request sending device 8 to the second server device 5 (S4). The second server device 5 sends the transmission start request received from the first server device 4 to the communication device 3 (S5).

[0070] In the communication device 3, the transmitter / receiver 321 receives a transmission start request from the second server device 5. Upon receiving this request, the publishing unit 312 switches the operation mode from the non-transmission mode to the transmission mode (S6). Then, the publishing unit 312 publishes the operation information received from the elevator control device 2 to the first server device 4 using the first topic (S8). Every time the publishing unit 312 receives operation information from the elevator control device 2, it publishes the operation information to the first server device 4 using the first topic.

[0071] Furthermore, in the communication device 3, when the transmitter / receiver 321 receives the transmission start request, the subscribing unit 313 subscribes to the second topic created based on the identification information of the elevator 1 to which the communication device 3 is connected, for the first server device 4 (S7). The processing of S7 may be performed before or simultaneously with the processing of S6, or may be performed at the start of or after the start of the processing of S8, as long as it is performed after the communication device 3 has received the transmission start request in S5.

[0072] In S1, the destination device 6 subscribes to the first topic for the first server device 4. Therefore, in the first server device 4, the second transmitter 412 transmits the operation information of the specified elevator 1 published from the communication device 3 to the destination device 6 (S9). Every time the second transmitter 412 receives operation information from the communication device 3, it transmits the operation information to the destination device 6. Then, every time the destination device 6 receives operation information from the first server device 4, it stores the operation information in the storage device 7 (S10).

[0073] 3, the terminal device 9 uses the API 813 following the initial use of the API 813 (S11). In the request source device 8, the request source publishing unit 812 publishes a transmission continuation request to the first server device 4 using a second topic created based on the identification information of the elevator 1 (S12). This allows the first server device 4 to transmit the transmission continuation request published by the request source device 8 to the communication devices 3 that have subscribed to the same second topic as the second topic.

[0074] 2, the second topic created based on the identification information of the elevator 1 is subscribed to from the communication device 3 to the first server device 4. Therefore, in the first server device 4, the first sending unit 411 sends the transmission continuation request published by the request sending device 8 to the communication device 3 that has subscribed to the second topic created based on the identification information of the specified elevator 1 (S13).

[0075] Furthermore, in the request sending device 8, the request sending control unit 81 sequentially acquires operation information of the specified elevator 1 from the storage device 7 in accordance with the use of the API 813 in S11 (S14) and transmits it to the terminal device 9 (S15). The storage device 7 stores operation information that is generated every time a change occurs in the operation status of the elevator 1 after S10 in Fig. 2. Therefore, the terminal device 9 can notify the user of the operation status of the elevator 1 in real time by sequentially receiving the operation information from the request sending device 8.

[0076] In the communication device 3, after the transceiver 321 receives the transmission start request in S5 of FIG. 2, the first control unit 31 starts timing. Then, the publishing unit 312 determines whether a transmission continuation request will be received before a predetermined period of time has elapsed after receiving the transmission start request. If the publishing unit 312 determines that the transmission continuation request transmitted in S13 has been received before the predetermined period of time has elapsed, the publishing unit 312 continues the transmission mode. Therefore, the publishing unit 312 continues publishing to the first server device 4 using the first topic every time it receives operation information from the elevator control device 2 (S16). The timing by the first control unit 31 is reset when the publishing unit 312 receives a transmission continuation request or when the predetermined period of time has elapsed.

[0077] In the first server device 4, the second transmitting unit 412 transmits the operation information of the specified elevator 1 to the transmission destination device 6 every time it receives the operation information from the communication device 3 (S17). Then, the transmission destination device 6 stores the operation information in the storage device 7 every time it receives the operation information from the first server device 4 (S18).

[0078] On the other hand, if the publishing unit 312 determines that a predetermined period of time has elapsed since receiving the transmission start request in S5 of Fig. 2, it switches the operation mode from the transmission mode to the non-transmission mode. During the non-transmission mode, the communication device 3 does not publish the operation information to the first server device 4 even if it receives operation information from the elevator control device 2 every time the operating status of the elevator 1 changes. In other words, by switching to the non-transmission mode, the communication device 3 stops transmitting the operation information to the first server device 4.

[0079] When the terminal device 9 is using the API 813 following the previous use of the API 813 (S21), the request sending device 8 publishes a transmission continuation request to the first server device 4 using a second topic created based on the identification information of the elevator 1 (S22). The first server device 4 transmits the transmission continuation request published by the request sending device 8 to the communication devices 3 that have subscribed to the same second topic as the second topic (S23).

[0080] Furthermore, in the request sending device 8, the request sending control unit 81 sequentially acquires operation information of the specified elevator 1 from the storage device 7 in accordance with the use of the API 813 in S21 (S24) and transmits it to the terminal device 9 (S25). The storage device 7 continues to store operation information that is generated every time a change occurs in the operation status of the elevator 1 from S10 in FIG. 2 onwards. Therefore, the request sending device 8 can continue to transmit operation information indicating the latest operation status of the elevator 1 to the terminal device 9. Therefore, the terminal device 9 can notify the user of the operation status of the elevator 1 in real time.

[0081] In the communication device 3, after receiving the transmission continuation request in S13, the first control unit 31 starts timing again. Then, after receiving this transmission continuation request, the publishing unit 312 determines whether the next transmission continuation request will be received within a predetermined period of time. That is, the publishing unit 312 determines whether the next transmission continuation request will be received before the predetermined period has elapsed since the last transmission continuation request was received. If the publishing unit 312 determines that the transmission continuation request transmitted in S23 has been received before the predetermined period has elapsed, the publishing unit 312 continues the transmission mode. Therefore, the publishing unit 312 continues publishing to the first server device 4 on the first topic every time it receives operation information from the elevator control device 2 (S26).

[0082] In the first server device 4, the second transmitting unit 412 transmits the operation information of the specified elevator 1 to the transmission destination device 6 every time it receives the operation information from the communication device 3 (S27). Then, the transmission destination device 6 stores the operation information in the storage device 7 every time it receives the operation information from the first server device 4 (S28).

[0083] Similarly, when the API 813 is used by the terminal device 9 thereafter (S31), the request source publishing unit 812 of the request source device 8 publishes a transmission continuation request using the second topic (S32). Thereafter, the first transmitting unit 411 of the first server device 4 transmits the transmission continuation request to the communication device 3 that has subscribed to the same second topic as the second topic (S33). In addition, the request source device 8 continues to obtain operation information from the storage device 7 (S34) and transmits it to the terminal device 9 (S35).

[0084] After receiving the transmission continuation request in S23, if it is determined that the transmission continuation request transmitted in S33 has been received before the predetermined period has elapsed, the publishing unit 312 continues the transmission mode. Therefore, every time the publishing unit 312 receives operation information from the elevator control device 2, it continues publishing the operation information to the first server device 4 using the first topic (S36). Then, the second transmitting unit 412 of the first server device 4 transmits the operation information published from the communication device 3 to the transmission destination device 6 (S37), and the transmission destination device 6 continues to store the operation information in the storage device 7 (S38). The same applies to S41 to S48 shown in FIG. 4.

[0085] In this way, the publishing unit 312 continues to publish the operation information to the first server device 4 while the next transmission continuation request is received within a predetermined period of time since the reception of the transmission continuation request (i.e., while the transmission continuation request is continuously received). Therefore, the request sending device 8 can transmit the operation information indicating the latest operation status of the elevator 1 to the terminal device 9 while the terminal device 9 is continuously using the API 813.

[0086] On the other hand, if the publishing unit 312 determines that a predetermined period of time has passed since the last time it received a continuation transmission request without receiving another continuation transmission request, it switches the operating mode from the transmission mode to the non-transmission mode. As shown in Fig. 4, if the publishing unit 312 determines that it has not received a next continuation transmission request within the predetermined period of time after receiving a continuation transmission request in S43, it switches the operating mode from the transmission mode to the non-transmission mode (S51).

[0087] As described above, the elevator control device 2 transmits operation information to the communication device 3 every time a change occurs in the operating status of the elevator 1 controlled by the elevator control device 2. However, after the publishing unit 312 of the communication device 3 switches to the non-transmission mode, the publishing unit 312 does not publish the operation information to the first server device 4 even if the operation information is received. In other words, the communication device 3 stops transmitting the operation information to the first server device 4 by switching to the non-transmission mode.

[0088] Therefore, after receiving a transmission start request, the communication device 3 can transmit operation information to the first server device 4 only while it is continuously receiving a transmission continuation request. In other words, operation information can be transmitted to the first server device 4 only while the API 813 is continuously used. Therefore, while the API 813 is being used, the terminal device 9 can notify the user of the operation status of the elevator 1 in real time. On the other hand, when the API 813 is not being used, a communication session according to the first communication method is not established between the communication device 3 and the first server device 4, thereby reducing unnecessary communication load.

[0089] When a common elevator 1 is specified in multiple terminal devices 9, when any of the terminal devices 9 uses the API 813, the request sending device 8 transmits a transmission start request for the operation information of the elevator 1 to the first server device 4. Based on this transmission, the communication device 3 can switch the operation mode to the transmission mode.

[0090] As described above, if the communication device 3 receives a next transmission continuation request before a predetermined period of time has elapsed since receiving the previous transmission continuation request, the communication device 3 continues the transmission mode. If any of the terminal devices 9 is using the API 813, the request source device 8 sends a transmission continuation request to the first server device 4. Therefore, while any of the terminal devices 9 is using the API 813, the communication device 3 continues the transmission mode and continues publishing operation information to the first server device 4.

[0091] On the other hand, if none of the terminal devices 9 use the API 813, the request source device 8 will no longer send a continuation transmission request to the first server device 4. In other words, if it is determined that none of the users have viewed the operation information of the specified elevator 1, the request source device 8 will no longer send a continuation transmission request to the first server device 4. Therefore, if the communication device 3 does not receive a continuation transmission request from the first server device 4 within a predetermined period of time since it last received a continuation transmission request from the first server device 4 because none of the terminal devices 9 use the API 813, the communication device 3 switches to the non-transmission mode. By switching to the non-transmission mode, the communication device 3 stops transmitting the specified operation information to the first server device 4.

[0092] In this way, when multiple users are attempting to view the operation status of the specified elevator 1, the communication device 3 continues the switched transmission mode. This allows at least one of the multiple terminal devices 9 to notify the users in real time of the operation status of the elevator 1. Only when none of the users are viewing the operation status of the specified elevator 1 does the communication device 3 switch to the non-transmission mode and stop transmitting the operation information to the first server device 4.

[0093] 〔summary〕 A data transmission system according to a first aspect of the present invention is a data transmission system including a server device functioning as a broker and one or more communication devices that can communicate with each other using a publish / subscribe communication method, wherein the communication device includes a receiving unit that receives, from an elevator control device that is communicably connected to the communication device itself, operation information relating to the operating status of an elevator controlled by the elevator control device, a publishing unit that switches the operation mode between a sending mode in which the receiving unit publishes the received operation information to the server device using a predetermined first topic each time the receiving unit receives the operation information, and a non-sending mode in which the publishing is not performed, and a publishing unit that, when switching to the sending mode, publishes the received operation information to the server device using a predetermined first topic. and a subscribing unit that subscribes the server device to a second topic created based on the identification information of the requesting device, and the server device comprises a first transmitting unit that transmits a request to continue transmitting the operation information, which is published to the server device using the second topic from a requesting device, to the communication device that has subscribed to the second topic for the server device, and the publishing unit continues the transmitting mode if, during the transmitting mode, the communication device receives the request to continue transmitting within a predetermined period of time since the communication device last received the request to continue transmitting, and switches to the non-transmitting mode if the predetermined period of time has elapsed since the communication device last received the request to continue transmitting without receiving the request to continue transmitting.

[0094] A data transmission system according to a second aspect of the present invention is the data transmission system of the first aspect, wherein the elevator control device transmits the operation information to the communication device every time a change occurs in the operating status of the elevator controlled by the elevator control device.

[0095] A data transmission system according to aspect 3 of the present invention is, in aspect 1 or 2, such that the requesting device has a function for providing the operation information of a specified elevator that is available to a terminal device of a user of the data transmission system, and while the terminal device is using the function to provide the operation information from the requesting device to the terminal device at a predetermined frequency, the data transmission system publishes the transmission continuation request to the server device on the second topic created based on the identification information of the specified elevator.

[0096] A data transmission system according to aspect 4 of the present invention is any of aspects 1 to 3, in which the server device, when receiving the operation information published from the publishing unit, is provided with a second transmitting unit that transmits the received operation information to a destination device that has subscribed to the first topic for the server device, and the destination device executes a process to store the received operation information in a storage device each time it receives the operation information from the server device, and the requesting device has a function for providing the operation information of a specified elevator that is available to a terminal device of a user of the data transmission system, and while the terminal device is using the function, it sequentially obtains the operation information of the specified elevator from the storage device and transmits the obtained operation information to the terminal device.

[0097] A data transmission system according to aspect 5 of the present invention is one in which, in any one of aspects 1 to 4, the requesting device has a function for providing the operation information of a specified elevator that is available to a terminal device of a user of the data transmission system, and when the function is used from the terminal device after the specified period has elapsed since the function was last used from the terminal device, the requesting device executes processing for sending a request to start sending the operation information to the communication device, and when the communication device receives the request to start sending, the publishing unit switches the operation mode to the transmission mode.

[0098] A data transmission system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is in any one of the third to fifth aspects, wherein the function is provided by an API (Application Programming Interface).

[0099] [Software implementation example] The functions of each device (excluding the storage device 7) (hereinafter referred to as "device") of the data transmission system 100 can be realized by a program for causing a computer to function as the device, and a program for causing a computer to function as each control block of the device (in particular, each part included in the first control unit 31, the second control unit 32, the server control unit 41 and the request source control unit 81).

[0100] In this case, the device includes a computer having at least one control device (e.g., a processor) and at least one storage device (e.g., a memory) as hardware for executing the program. The control device and storage device execute the program, thereby realizing the functions described in each of the above embodiments.

[0101] The program may be non-transitory and may be recorded on one or more computer-readable recording media. The recording media may or may not be included in the device. In the latter case, the program may be supplied to the device via any wired or wireless transmission medium.

[0102] Furthermore, some or all of the functions of the control blocks can be realized by logic circuits. For example, an integrated circuit in which a logic circuit that functions as each of the control blocks is formed is also included in the scope of the present invention. In addition, the functions of the control blocks can also be realized by, for example, a quantum computer.

[0103] Furthermore, each process described in each of the above embodiments may be executed by AI (Artificial Intelligence). In this case, the AI ​​may run on the control device or on another device (for example, an edge computer or a cloud server).

[0104] [Additional Notes] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0105] 1. Elevator 2. Elevator control device 3. Communications equipment 4. First server device (server device) 6 Destination device 7 Storage device 8 Requesting device 9 Terminal Equipment 100 Data Transmission System 311 Receiving unit 312 Publishing Department 313 Subscription Department 411 First Transmission Unit 412 Second Transmission Unit 813 API (function)

Claims

1. A data transmission system including a server device functioning as a broker and one or more communication devices that can communicate with each other using a publish / subscribe communication method, The communication device a receiving unit that receives, from an elevator control device communicably connected to the device itself, operation information relating to an operation status of an elevator controlled by the elevator control device; a publishing unit that switches an operation mode between a sending mode in which the receiving unit publishes the received operation information to the server device using a predetermined first topic each time the receiving unit receives the operation information, and a non-sending mode in which the publishing is not performed; a subscribing unit that, when switching to the transmission mode, subscribes to a second topic created based on the identification information of the elevator to the server device; The server device a first transmission unit that transmits a request for continuation of transmission of the operation information, which is published to the server device by the request source device using the second topic, to the communication device that has subscribed to the second topic with respect to the server device; The publishing unit, during the transmission mode, If the communication device receives the transmission continuation request within a predetermined period of time since the last time the communication device received the transmission continuation request, the communication device continues the transmission mode; If the predetermined period has elapsed since the communication device last received the request to continue transmission without receiving the request to continue transmission, the communication device switches to the non-transmission mode. Data transmission system.

2. The elevator control device transmits the operation information to the communication device every time a change occurs in the operation status of the elevator controlled by the elevator control device.

2. The data transmission system according to claim 1.

3. The requesting device a function for providing the operation information of a designated elevator available to a terminal device of a user of the data transmission system; While the operation information is provided from the request source device to the terminal device at a predetermined frequency by the terminal device utilizing the function, the transmission continuation request is published to the server device using the second topic created based on identification information of a designated elevator.

2. The data transmission system according to claim 1.

4. The server device a second transmitting unit configured to, upon receiving the operation information published by the publishing unit, transmit the received operation information to a destination device that has subscribed to the first topic with respect to the server device; The destination device Each time the operation information is received from the server device, a process is executed to store the received operation information in a storage device; The requesting device a function for providing the operation information of a designated elevator available to a terminal device of a user of the data transmission system; While the terminal device is using the function, the operation information of the designated elevator is sequentially acquired from the storage device, and the acquired operation information is transmitted to the terminal device.

2. The data transmission system according to claim 1.

5. The requesting device a function for providing the operation information of a designated elevator available to a terminal device of a user of the data transmission system; When the function is used from the terminal device after the predetermined period has elapsed since the function was last used from the terminal device, a process is executed to transmit a request to start transmitting the operation information to the communication device; the publishing unit switches the operation mode to the transmission mode when the communication device receives the transmission start request; 2. The data transmission system according to claim 1.

6. The function is provided by an API (Application Programming Interface), 6. A data transmission system according to claim 3.

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