Communication state automatic determination system and method for automatically determining communication state

Abstract

To provide a system for automatically determining a communication state by accurately detecting opening and closing of a shutter, thereby reducing a workload in on-site operations.SOLUTION: A communication state automatic determination system 10 includes a line check unit 11 for checking a line with a local device 20. The system includes: a line check timing determination unit 14 for determining whether a current time is at least a predetermined time before the next line check time in a case where the line check was a failure; and a shutter opening / closing determination unit 16 for determining opening or closing of a shutter set near the local device. The line check unit 11 re-executes the line check when the line check timing determination unit 14 determines that the current time is at least the predetermined time before the next line check time and the shutter opening / closing determination unit 16 determines that the shutter is open.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic communication situation determination system and an automatic communication situation determination method. [Background technology]

[0002] In the current communication status determination system, if a line check between the control center and the local terminal fails, a worker goes to the site to restore communication. However, there are cases where the line check is performed at night and shutters installed around the local terminal are closed, causing the communication conditions to deteriorate and the line check to fail. When this situation occurs, by the time the worker arrives at the site, the shutters may already be open and communication restored. To address this issue, a technology has been proposed that determines whether a fire shutter is open or closed based on elevator startup information and performs a line check with the fire shutter open, such as the technology described in Patent Document 1.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes that the monitoring device performs line check communication after a predetermined time has elapsed after detecting the start of the escalator. Patent Document 1 also describes that the monitoring device detects the start of the escalator by a start signal from the escalator start switch after the fire shutter installed adjacent to the escalator opens. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-214019 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] As mentioned above, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for checking lines while the fire shutter is open. However, if the fire shutter closes for some reason after the elevator has started, the technology described in Patent Document 1 cannot deal with the situation, which places an unnecessary burden on the workers working on-site.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to accurately detect the opening and closing of a shutter to automatically determine the communication status, thereby reducing the burden of on-site work. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, the automatic communication status determination system of the present invention comprises a line check unit that performs a line check with a local device, a line check time determination unit that determines whether the current time is a predetermined time or more until the next line check time if the line check results in failure, and a shutter open / close determination unit that determines whether a shutter installed near the local device is open or closed, and the line check unit re-performs the line check if the line check time determination unit determines that the current time is a predetermined time or more until the next line check time and the shutter open / close determination unit determines that the shutter is open. The above-described automatic communication situation determination system is one aspect of the present invention, and an automatic communication situation determination method that reflects one aspect of the present invention is configured in the same manner as the above-described automatic communication situation determination system. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention having the above configuration, the opening and closing of the shutter is accurately detected to automatically determine the communication status, thereby reducing the burden of on-site work. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1]1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an automatic communication situation determination system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of an automatic communication situation determination process in the automatic communication situation determination system according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functions or configurations are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0011] <One embodiment> First, the functional configuration of an automatic communication situation determination system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of an automatic communication situation determination system 10 according to this embodiment.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic communication situation determination system 10 is placed on-site and connected to a local device 20 and a building management system 30 that manages the local device 20 so as to be able to communicate with them. The automatic communication situation determination system 10 is also connected to a remote control center 40 so as to be able to communicate with them via a network (not shown). The automatic communication situation determination system 10 may be provided, for example, inside the building management system 30. Although only one local device 20 is shown in FIG. 1, there may be multiple local devices 20. The local device 20 is, for example, an elevator, an escalator, etc.

[0013] The building management system 30 is a system that manages the operation status and surrounding environmental conditions of the on-site device 20. The building management system 30 monitors the operation status of the on-site device 20, the lighting status of the on-site device 20, usage status such as the presence or absence of a user, and shutter images. When the building management system 30 receives a request for acquiring predetermined information from an information acquisition unit 15 (described below) of the automatic communication status determination system 10, the building management system 30 transmits the predetermined information to the information acquisition unit 15 (described below). The lighting status of the on-site device 20 is acquired, for example, by a security camera or a lighting sensor (both not shown) installed inside the device. The usage status (presence or absence of a user) is determined, for example, based on whether or not there is an increase in the power consumption of the on-site device 20. The shutter images are acquired by an existing security camera or the like near the shutter. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a management system that manages the on-site device 20, in which the building management system 30 is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The management system that manages the on-site device 20 may be any system that manages the operation status and surrounding environmental conditions of the on-site device 20.

[0014] The control center 40 is composed of a server etc. and remotely monitors the operation status of various on-site facilities. When an abnormality occurs in the operation status of various on-site facilities and requires workers to take action, the control center 40 notifies the sales office 50 of the abnormality information and instructions for the workers to take action.

[0015] [Example of functional configuration of automatic communication status determination system] 1, the automatic communication status determination system 10 includes a line check unit 11, a line check result receiving unit 12, and a line check recording unit 13. The automatic communication status determination system 10 also includes a line check time determination unit 14, an information acquisition unit 15, a shutter open / close determination unit 16, and a line check record transmission unit 17.

[0016] The line check unit 11, line check result receiving unit 12, line check recording unit 13, line check time determination unit 14, information acquisition unit 15, and shutter open / close determination unit 16 are connected in this order. The line check recording unit 13 is connected to the line check record transmitting unit 17. The shutter open / close determination unit 16 is also connected to the line check unit 11 and the line check time determination unit 14. The line check unit 11 is connected to the on-site device 20 so as to be able to send and receive information to and from the on-site device 20. The information acquisition unit 15 is connected to the building management system 30 so as to be able to send and receive information to and from the building management system 30. The line check record transmitting unit 17 is connected to an external control center 40 via a network.

[0017] The line check unit 11 performs a line check with the local device 20 at a predetermined interval or according to a pre-registered check schedule. Furthermore, the line check unit 11 performs the line check again when the line check time determination unit 14 determines that the current time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time until the next line check time and the shutter open / close determination unit 16 determines that the shutter is open. Furthermore, the line check unit 11 outputs the result and time of the line check performed to the line check result receiving unit 12. The result of the line check is, in other words, result information indicating that communication with the local device 20 was successful (OK) or that communication with the local device 20 was unsuccessful (NG).

[0018] The line check result receiving unit 12 receives the line check result and time from the line check unit 11 and outputs them to the line check recording unit 13 .

[0019] The line check recording unit 13 receives the line check result and time from the line check result receiving unit 12 and records the line check result and time in a storage device (not shown). The line check recording unit 13 also outputs the line check result and time to the line check time determining unit 14 and the line check record transmitting unit 17, respectively.

[0020] The line check time determination unit 14 receives the line check result and time from the line check recording unit 13. Furthermore, when the line check unit 11 inputs an instruction to determine the next line check time, the line check time determination unit 14 determines whether the current time is a predetermined time or more until the next line check time. The instruction to determine the next line check time is input from the line check unit 11 to the line check time determination unit 14 when the line check result is a failure (NG). When the line check time determination unit 14 determines that the current time is less than the predetermined time until the next line check time, the line check unit 11 terminates the current line check. On the other hand, when the line check time determination unit 14 determines that the current time is a predetermined time or more until the next line check time, the line check unit 14 outputs an instruction to the information acquisition unit 15 to acquire information for determining whether the shutter should be opened or closed. Here, the predetermined time until the next line check time is set to determine when the next line check time will arrive, and is a predetermined time such as 10 minutes. That is, if the current time is less than a predetermined time until the time of the next line check, it is determined that the time for the next line check has arrived. Also, when an instruction to determine the time for the next line check is input from the shutter open / close determination unit 16, the line check time determination unit 14 performs the above-mentioned determination.

[0021] When an instruction to acquire information for determining whether the shutter is open or closed is input, the information acquisition unit 15 acquires the information for determining whether the shutter is open or closed from the building management system 30. The information for determining whether the shutter is open or closed includes at least one of information on the operating status of the on-site device 20, information on the illuminance status of the on-site device 20, information on the presence or absence of a user, and an image of the shutter. The information acquisition unit 15 outputs the acquired information for determining whether the shutter is open or closed to the shutter open or closed determination unit 16.

[0022] The shutter open / close determination unit 16 receives information for determining whether the shutter is open or closed from the information acquisition unit 15. Furthermore, the shutter open / close determination unit 16 determines whether a shutter installed near the local device 20 is open or closed based on the information for determining whether the shutter is open or closed. Specifically, for example, the shutter open / close determination unit 16 determines that the shutter is open when the operating status of the local device 20 is operating and the illuminance status indicates that the light is on. Furthermore, the shutter open / close determination unit 16 determines that the shutter is open when the operating status of the local device 20 is operating and a user is present. Furthermore, the shutter open / close determination unit 16 determines that the shutter is open when the shutter in the acquired shutter video is open.

[0023] If the shutter is determined to be open, the shutter open / close determination unit 16 outputs an instruction to re-execute the line check to the line check unit 11. Then, the line check unit 11 performs the line check again. If the shutter is determined to be closed, the shutter open / close determination unit 16 outputs an instruction to determine the next line check time to the line check time determination unit 14. Then, the line check time determination unit 14 determines whether the current time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time until the time of the next line check. If the shutter is to be kept closed, the shutter open / close determination unit 16 continues to perform the shutter open / close determination process until the current time is less than the predetermined time until the time of the next line check, that is, until the time of the next line check arrives.

[0024] If the result of the line check is successful, the line check record transmitting unit 17 transmits the result and time of the line check to the external control center 40. Furthermore, if the line check is re-performed, the line check record transmitting unit 17 transmits the result and time of the re-performed line check to the control center 40. The line check record transmitting unit 17 receives the result and time of the line check from the line check recording unit 13 and transmits them to the external control center 40.

[0025] Next, we will explain an example of the hardware configuration of the automatic communication status determination system 10. One example of the hardware configuration of the automatic communication status determination system 10 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), a communication interface, etc., all of which are not shown.

[0026] The CPU performs the automatic communication status determination process (described later) in accordance with the program read from the ROM. Note that a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) may be used instead of the CPU, or a CPU and a GPU may be used together. The RAM is composed of a storage medium such as a volatile memory, and temporarily stores information (data) necessary for each process performed by the CPU. The ROM is a storage medium such as a non-volatile memory, and stores programs and data executed and referenced by the CPU. The ROM is used as an example of a non-transitory storage medium that stores programs and can be read by a computer. The communication interface controls communication between the device and external devices. Examples of the communication interface include a LAN board, LAN card, and other devices that support various communication protocols.

[0027] [Procedure for automatic communication status determination process] Next, a description will be given of the procedure for automatic communication status determination processing in the automatic communication status determination system 10. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure for automatic communication status determination processing in the automatic communication status determination system 10 according to this embodiment. The processing described below is performed at a predetermined interval or according to a pre-registered check schedule, i.e., every time a line check is performed at a planned time.

[0028] First, the line check unit 11 checks the line with the on-site device 20 at a predetermined interval or according to a pre-registered check schedule (step S1).

[0029] Next, the line check unit 11 determines whether the line check is successful or not (step S2).

[0030] In the process of step S2, if the line check unit 11 determines that the line check is successful (YES in step S2), the process of step S8, which will be described later, is performed.

[0031] On the other hand, in the processing of step S2, if the line check unit 11 determines that the line check has failed (if the result of step S2 is NO), it outputs an instruction to the line check time determination unit 14 to determine the next line check time (step S3).

[0032] Next, the line check time determination unit 14 acquires the time of the line check recorded by the line check recording unit 13, that is, the time when the current line check failed (step S4).

[0033] Next, the line check time determination unit 14 determines whether the recorded time of the line check failure is equal to or longer than a predetermined time until the time of the next line check (step S5). Note that the line check time determination unit 14 may determine whether the current time is less than a predetermined time until the time of the next line check, instead of the recorded time of the line check failure.

[0034] In the processing of step S5, if the line check time determination unit 14 determines that the recorded line check time is less than a predetermined time until the time of the next line check (if the determination is YES in step S5), the line check unit 11 forcibly ends the current line check.

[0035] On the other hand, in the process of step S5, if the line check time determination unit 14 determines that the recorded line check time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time until the next line check time (if the determination is NO in step S5), the shutter open / close determination unit 16 determines whether the shutter is open or closed, i.e., whether the shutter is open or closed (step S6). In this process, the shutter open / close determination unit 16 determines whether the shutter is open or closed based on the information for shutter open / close determination acquired by the information acquisition unit 15.

[0036] In the process of step S6, if the shutter open / close determination unit 16 determines that the shutter is closed (NO determination in step S6), the process returns to the process of step S5, and the processes of steps S5 to S6 are repeatedly executed.

[0037] On the other hand, in the process of step S6, if the shutter open / close determination unit 16 determines that the shutter is open (YES determination in step S6), it outputs an instruction to re-execute the line check to the line check unit 11 (step S7). Then, the line check unit 11 re-executes the line check.

[0038] If the determination in step S2 is YES, or after the processing of step S7, the result and time of the line check are recorded and transmitted (step S8). In this processing, the line check recording unit 13 records the result and time of the line check that was performed and outputs them to the line check record transmitting unit 17.

[0039] If the determination in step S5 is YES, or after the processing in step S8, the current line check (automatic communication status determination processing) ends.

[0040] [effect] As described above, if the line check performed at the scheduled time results in failure, the automatic communication status determination system 10 acquires information for determining whether the shutter is open or closed from the connected building management system 30. The automatic communication status determination system 10 continues to determine whether the shutter is open or closed based on the information for determining whether the shutter is open or closed. If it determines that the shutter is closed, the automatic communication status determination system 10 continues to determine whether the shutter is open or closed until the next line check time arrives. If the automatic communication status determination system 10 determines that the shutter is open, it re-performs the line check. Therefore, the automatic communication status determination system 10 of the present invention can accurately detect whether the shutter is open or closed and automatically determine the communication status, reducing the burden of on-site work.

[0041] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various other applications and modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention as set forth in the claims. For example, the above-described embodiment provides a detailed and specific description of the configuration of the automatic communication situation determination system in order to clearly explain the present invention, and is not necessarily limited to a system including all of the described configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to replace part of the configuration of the embodiment described here with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. Furthermore, it is also possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of an embodiment with other configurations. In addition, the control lines and information lines shown are those that are considered necessary for the explanation, and do not necessarily show all the control lines and information lines in the product. In reality, it can be assumed that almost all components are interconnected. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 10...Automatic communication status determination system, 11...Line check unit, 12...Line check result receiving unit, 13...Line check recording unit, 14...Line check time determination unit, 15...Information acquisition unit, 16...Shutter open / close determination unit, 17...Line check record transmitting unit, 20...On-site device, 30...Building management system

Claims

1. An automatic communication status determination system including a line check unit that checks a line with a local device, a line check time determination unit that determines whether the current time is a predetermined time or more until the next line check time if the line check result is a failure; a shutter open / close determination unit that determines whether a shutter installed near the on-site device is open or closed, The line check unit re-performs the line check when the line check time determination unit determines that the current time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time until the next line check time and the shutter open / close determination unit determines that the shutter is open. Automatic communication status determination system.

2. a line check recording unit that records the result and time of the line check; an information acquisition unit that acquires information for determining whether the shutter is open or closed, The automatic communication status determination system according to claim 1 .

3. The information for determining whether the shutter is open or closed includes at least one of information on the operating status of the on-site device, information on the illuminance status of the on-site device, information on the presence or absence of a user, and an image of the shutter. The automatic communication status determination system according to claim 2.

4. If the line check time determination unit determines that the current time is less than the predetermined time until the next line check time, the line check unit ends the current line check. The automatic communication status determination system according to claim 1 .

5. a line check record transmitting unit that transmits the line check result and the line check time to an external control center if the line check result is successful. The automatic communication status determination system according to claim 1 .

6. When the line check is re-executed, the line check record transmission unit transmits the result and time of the re-executed line check to the control center. The automatic communication status determination system according to claim 5.

7. An automatic communication status determination method in an automatic communication status determination system including a line check unit that performs a line check with a local device, If the line check is unsuccessful, determining whether the current time is a predetermined time or more until the next line check time; determining whether a shutter installed near the on-site device is open or closed; and if it is determined that the current time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time until the next line check time and that the shutter is open, performing the line check again. A method for automatically determining communication status.

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