Power reception monitoring device, power reception monitoring system, and power reception monitoring method

Abstract

To provide a power reception monitoring device, a power reception monitoring system, and a power reception monitoring method capable of continuously monitoring a monitoring target device even when a state of a predetermined communication path connecting a monitoring target device and the power reception monitoring device deteriorates.SOLUTION: A power reception monitoring device includes: a first communication unit that receives first data related to a monitoring target device from the monitoring target device using a first communication path; a second communication unit that receives second data related to the monitoring target device from the monitoring target device using a second communication path different from the first communication path; a control unit that causes the first communication unit to receive the first data using the first communication path until a first determination unit determines that a communication state of the first communication path satisfies a first condition, and causes the second communication unit to receive the second data using the second communication path when the first determination unit determines that the first condition is satisfied; and a data transmission unit that transmits the first data or the second data to a management device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a power reception monitoring device, a power reception monitoring system, and a power reception monitoring method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a monitoring system has been known in which a high-voltage power receiving monitoring device and the monitored devices that the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device monitors, such as loads, storage batteries, and power generation equipment, are connected so that they can communicate with each other, and data measured by the monitored devices is sent from the monitored devices to a management device used by an administrator via the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device, allowing the administrator to understand the status of the monitored devices (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] In addition, a monitoring system has been known in the past in which monitored devices such as loads, storage batteries, and power generation equipment installed within the facilities of electricity consumers are connected via a local area network, and data measured by the monitored devices is sent to a management device used by an administrator, allowing the administrator to grasp the status of the monitored devices (see Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-009864 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-165580 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the monitoring systems disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, monitored devices and the monitoring device that monitors the monitored devices are connected via a local area network, and the local area network uses wireless communication that does not require the installation of wires such as a wired connection. However, when wireless communication is used to monitor the monitored devices, there are cases where the wireless communication cannot be continued due to a deterioration in the wireless environment or radio wave interference, making it impossible to continue monitoring the status of the monitored devices.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of this situation, and aims to provide a power receiving monitoring device, a power receiving monitoring system, and a power receiving monitoring method that can continue to monitor a monitored device even if the condition of a specified communication path connecting the monitored device and the power receiving monitoring device deteriorates. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) One aspect of the present invention is a power receiving monitoring device that communicates with a monitored device and a management device, the power receiving monitoring device comprising: a first communication unit that receives first data related to the monitored device from the monitored device using a first communication path; a second communication unit that receives second data related to the monitored device from the monitored device using a second communication path different from the first communication path; a first determination unit that determines whether the communication status of the first communication path satisfies a first condition; a control unit that causes the first communication unit to receive the first data using the first communication path until the first determination unit determines that the first condition is satisfied, and that causes the second communication unit to receive the second data using the second communication path when the first determination unit determines that the first condition is satisfied; and a data transmission unit that transmits the first data or the second data to the management device.

[0008] (2) One aspect of the present invention is the power receiving monitoring device described in (1) above, wherein the first determination unit determines that the first condition is satisfied when a first number of connection requests or more occur between the power receiving monitoring device and the monitored device within a first period in communication using the first communication path.

[0009] (3) One aspect of the present invention is a power receiving monitoring device as described in (1) or (2) above, wherein the control unit reduces the amount of data of the second data received by the second communication unit to be less than the amount of data of the first data received by the first communication unit.

[0010] (4) One aspect of the present invention is a power receiving monitoring device as described in (1) above, comprising: a third communication unit that receives third data regarding the monitored device from the monitored device using a third communication path different from the first communication path or the second communication path; a second judgment unit that judges whether the communication status of the second communication path satisfies a second condition; and a detection unit that, when the second judgment unit judges that the second condition is satisfied, detects whether the power receiving monitoring device and the monitored device are connected via the third communication path; wherein, when it is not detected that the power receiving monitoring device and the monitored device are connected via the third communication path, the data transmission unit transmits a request signal to the management device requesting that the power receiving monitoring device and the monitored device be connected via the third communication path; and when it is detected that the power receiving monitoring device and the monitored device are connected via the third communication path, the control unit causes the third communication unit to receive the third data using the third communication path.

[0011] (5) One aspect of the present invention is the power receiving monitoring device described in (4) above, wherein the second determination unit determines that the second condition is satisfied when a second or more number of connection requests occur between the power receiving monitoring device and the monitored device within a second period in communication using the second communication path.

[0012] (6) One aspect of the present invention is a power receiving monitoring device as described in (4) or (5) above, wherein the first communication path is a communication path using wireless communication, the second communication path is a communication path using power line communication, and the third communication path is a communication path using wired communication.

[0013] (7) One aspect of the present invention is a power receiving monitoring system including a monitored device, a management device, and a power receiving monitoring device, wherein the management device includes a determination unit that determines whether first data related to the monitored device has not been received from the power receiving monitoring device for a predetermined period of time, and an output unit that requests that the power receiving monitoring device and the monitored device be connected by wired communication when it is determined that the first data has not been received from the power receiving monitoring device for the predetermined period of time, and the power receiving monitoring device includes a first communication unit that receives the first data from the monitored device using a first communication path, and an output unit that requests that the power receiving monitoring device and the monitored device be connected by wired communication when it is determined that the first data has not been received from the power receiving monitoring device for the predetermined period of time. The power receiving monitoring system includes a second communication unit that receives data from a target device, a detection unit that detects whether the power receiving monitoring device and the monitored device are connected via the wired communication, a control unit that causes the first communication unit to receive the first data using the first communication path until it is determined that the power receiving monitoring device and the monitored device are connected via the wired communication, and a control unit that causes the second communication unit to receive the second data using the wired communication when it is determined that the power receiving monitoring device and the monitored device are connected via the wired communication, and a data transmission unit that transmits the first data or the second data to the management device.

[0014] (8) One aspect of the present invention is a power receiving monitoring method used by a power receiving monitoring device that communicates with a monitored device and a management device, the power receiving monitoring method including: a first communication step of receiving first data related to the monitored device from the monitored device using a first communication path; a second communication step of receiving second data related to the monitored device from the monitored device using a second communication path different from the first communication path; a first determination step of determining whether the communication status of the first communication path satisfies a first condition; a control step of receiving the first data using the first communication path until it is determined that the first condition is satisfied, and receiving the second data using the second communication path when it is determined that the first condition is satisfied; and a data transmission step of transmitting the first data or the second data to the management device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, even if the condition of a predetermined communication path connecting a monitoring target device and a power receiving monitoring device deteriorates, the monitoring target device can be continuously monitored. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a high-voltage power receiving monitoring system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 4 is a flowchart showing a first process performed by the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 4 is a table illustrating an example of data transmitted from a monitoring target device to a wireless communication unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on a display screen of the monitoring device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 5 is a flowchart showing a second process performed by the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of an image displayed on the display screen of the monitoring device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 6 is a flowchart showing a third process performed by the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing yet another example of an image displayed on the display screen of the monitoring device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a high-voltage power receiving monitoring system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing a process of a management device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing the processing of a high-voltage power receiving monitoring device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Preferred embodiments of a high-voltage power receiving monitoring device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments and includes various modifications and improvements. The components described below include those that would be easily conceivable to a person skilled in the art and those that are substantially identical, and the components described below can be combined as appropriate. Various omissions, substitutions, or modifications of the components are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In addition, in the drawings, the scale and number of components may differ from the scale and number of the actual components to make each component easier to understand.

[0018] A high-voltage power receiving monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed, for example, inside a cubicle. A cubicle receives high-voltage power and converts it into low-voltage power. The low-voltage power converted from the high-voltage power is supplied to a load such as an air conditioner. Cubicles are used in a variety of environments. Specific examples of the various environments include the first and second embodiments shown below. Cubicles are also generally called power receiving and transforming equipment.

[0019] [First embodiment] First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0020] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a high-voltage power reception monitoring system 100A according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The high-voltage power reception monitoring system 100A includes a smart meter 10, a high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20A (also referred to as a power reception monitoring device), a management device 30A, and a monitored device 40. The smart meter 10 is connected to the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20A. The smart meter 10 is a device that measures the amount of electricity used every 30 minutes supplied by the power company, and outputs the measurement results to the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20A.

[0021] The high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20A is connected to the smart meter 10, the management device 30A, and the monitored device 40. The high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20A is connected to the management device 30A via a network 50 such as the Internet. The high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20A is also connected to the monitored device 40 via a wireless communication path 60, a power line communication path 70, and a wired communication path 80. The wireless communication path 60 is a communication path using, for example, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or the like. The wired communication path 80 is a communication path using a physical cable such as a LAN cable.

[0022] The high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20A acquires data such as the amount of power usage received from the smart meter 10 and the amount of power used by the monitored device 40, and transmits the data to the management device 30A via the network 50. The monitored device 40 is connected to the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20A via a wireless communication path 60, a power line communication path 70, and a wired communication path 80. The monitored device 40 is an air conditioner installed in a store (e.g., a restaurant) of the manager (e.g., a restaurant owner), a storage battery that charges and discharges power, or power generation equipment such as a solar power generation device.

[0023] The high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20A includes a smart meter communication interface 201, a memory 202, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 203A, an external communication interface 204, a wireless communication unit 205, a power line communication unit 206, and a wired communication unit 207. The smart meter communication interface 201 is connected to the smart meter 10 and the CPU 203A. The smart meter communication interface 201 outputs the amount of power usage measured by the smart meter 10 to the CPU 203A. The memory 202 is a storage device that temporarily stores data, and is composed of a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like.

[0024] The CPU 203A is connected to the smart meter communication interface 201, the memory 202, the external communication interface 204 (also referred to as a data transmission unit), the wireless communication unit 205 (also referred to as a first communication unit), the power line communication unit 206 (also referred to as a second communication unit), and the wired communication unit 207 (also referred to as a third communication unit), and controls each unit of the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20A. The CPU 203A acquires data on the amount of power usage measured by the smart meter 10 via the smart meter communication interface 201 and stores the data in the memory 202. The CPU 203A also acquires data measured by the monitoring target device 40 from the monitoring target device 40 via the wireless communication unit 205, the power line communication unit 206, and the wired communication unit 207 and stores the data in the memory 202. The CPU 203A includes a control unit 2031A, a first determination unit 2032A, a second determination unit 2033, and a detection unit 2034A.

[0025] The control unit 2031A causes the wireless communication unit 205 (also referred to as the first communication unit) to receive data (also referred to as the first data) measured by the monitored device 40 using the wireless communication path 60 (also referred to as the first communication path) until the first determination unit 2032A determines that the first condition is satisfied. Furthermore, when the first determination unit 2032A determines that the first condition is satisfied, the control unit 2031A causes the power line communication unit 206 (also referred to as the second communication unit) to receive data (also referred to as the second data) measured by the monitored device 40 using the second communication path.

[0026] The first determination unit 2032A determines whether or not the communication state of the wireless communication path 60 satisfies a first condition. For example, the first determination unit 2032A determines that the first condition is satisfied when, in communication using the wireless communication path 60, 20 or more connection requests (also referred to as the first number of times) occur between the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20A and the monitored device 40 within 0:00 to 24:00 (also referred to as the first period) of that day.

[0027] The second determination unit 2033 determines whether or not the communication state of the power line communication path 70 satisfies a second condition. For example, the second determination unit 2033 determines that the second condition is satisfied when, in communication using the power line communication path 70, 20 or more connection requests (also referred to as the second number of times) occur between the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20A and the monitored device 40 within 0:00 to 24:00 (also referred to as the second period) of that day.

[0028] When the second determination unit 2033 determines that the second condition is satisfied, the detection unit 2034A detects whether the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20A and the monitored device 40 are connected via a wired communication path 80 (also referred to as a third communication path). The external communication interface 204 is configured with a device such as a modem. Under the control of the CPU 203A, the external communication interface 204 reads from the memory 202 data (also referred to as first data) that the wireless communication unit 205 receives from the monitored device 40, data (also referred to as second data) that the power line communication unit 206 receives from the monitored device 40, and data (also referred to as third data) that the wired communication unit 207 receives from the monitored device 40, and transmits the data to the management device 30A via the network 50.

[0029] The wireless communication unit 205 receives data (also referred to as first data) related to the monitored device 40 from the monitored device 40 using the wireless communication path 60, and stores the data in the memory 202 under the control of the CPU 203A. The power line communication unit 206 receives data (also referred to as second data) related to the monitored device 40 from the monitored device 40 using a power line communication path 70 that is different from the wireless communication path 60 and the wired communication path 80, and stores the data in the memory 202 under the control of the CPU 203A. The wired communication unit 207 receives data (also referred to as third data) related to the monitored device 40 from the monitored device 40 using the wired communication path 80 that is different from the wireless communication path 60 and the power line communication path 70, and stores the data in the memory 202 under the control of the CPU 203A.

[0030] 2 is a flowchart showing a first process performed by the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20A according to the first embodiment of the present invention. First, the wireless communication unit 205 of the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20A transmits a connection request to the monitored device 40, requesting communication using the wireless communication path 60 (step S101). Next, the control unit 2031A determines whether or not an acknowledgment to the connection request transmitted in step S101 has been received from the monitored device 40 (step S102). If an acknowledgment has not been received from the monitored device 40 ("NO" in step S102), the control unit 2031A performs the process of step S101. On the other hand, if an acknowledgment has been received from the monitored device 40 ("YES" in step S102), the wireless communication unit 205 starts communication with the monitored device 40 using the wireless communication path 60 (step S103).

[0031] Next, the control unit 2031A determines whether data (also referred to as first data) has been received from the monitoring target device 40 via the wireless communication path 60 (step S104). If it is determined that data has not been received from the monitoring target device 40 ("NO" in step S104), the control unit 2031A performs the processing of step S101 after a predetermined time (for example, 1 second) has elapsed. On the other hand, if it is determined that data has been received from the monitoring target device 40 ("YES" in step S104), the control unit 2031A determines whether the wireless communication path between the wireless communication unit 205 and the monitoring target device 40 has been disconnected (step S105). If the wireless communication path between the wireless communication unit 205 and the monitoring target device 40 has not been disconnected ("YES" in step S105), the external communication interface 204 reads the data received from the monitoring target device 40 from the memory 202 and transmits the data to the management device 30A via the network 50 (step S106). Thereafter, the processing of step S104 is performed. On the other hand, if the wireless communication path between the wireless communication unit 205 and the monitored device 40 is disconnected ("NO" in step S105), the control unit 2031A performs the process of step S201 in the flowchart of FIG. 5 (step S107).

[0032] FIG. 3 is a table illustrating an example of data transmitted from the monitored device 40 to the wireless communication unit 205 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, a case will be described in which the monitored device 40 acquires "voltage and current," "leakage current," and "camera" related to the monitored device 40 as monitoring data. However, the data is not limited to this, and other data may be included. The data types of "voltage and current" and "leakage current" are numerical values, and therefore the amount of data is small, whereas the data type of "camera" is video, and therefore the amount of data is large. Here, the priority of "voltage and current" and "leakage current" is set high, and the priority of "camera" is set low. Here, the necessity of real-time monitoring of "voltage and current" and "leakage current" is set to "necessary," and the necessity of real-time monitoring of "camera" is set to "not necessary."

[0033] Because the frequencies used in wireless communication are high and the data transmission capacity is large, when the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20A and the monitored device 40 communicate using the wireless communication path 60, not only the "voltage and current" and "leakage current" data shown in Figure 3 but also the "camera" data is transmitted from the monitored device 40 to the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20A.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed on the display screen of the management device 30A according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Data received from the monitored device 40 by the wireless communication unit 205 of the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20A (see FIG. 3) is transmitted from the external communication interface 204 of the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20A to the management device 30A and displayed on the display screen 31 of the management device 30A. The display screen 31 includes a display area 32 for data related to “voltage and current,” a display area 33 for data related to “leakage current,” and a display area 34 for data related to “camera.” In this example, the monitored device 40 is an air conditioner, and the display area 34 for data related to “camera” displays an image of the location where the air conditioner is plugged into an outlet. By viewing the display screen 31 displaying the data related to “voltage and current,” “leakage current,” and “camera,” the administrator of the high-voltage power receiving monitoring system 100A can remotely check whether any abnormalities have occurred in the monitored device 40.

[0035] Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing a second process by the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20A according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The process of the flowchart shown in Fig. 5 is performed when the wireless communication path between the wireless communication unit 205 and the monitored device 40 is disconnected ("NO" in step S105). First, the control unit 2031A of the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20A counts the number of times the wireless communication path 60 with the monitored device 40 has been disconnected within a predetermined period (for example, from midnight to midnight on that day) (step S201).

[0036] Next, the control unit 2031A determines whether the number of times the wireless communication path with the monitored device 40 has been disconnected within a predetermined period (e.g., from midnight to midnight on that day) is equal to or greater than a predetermined number (e.g., 20 times) (step S202). If the number of times the wireless communication path has been disconnected within the predetermined period is not equal to or greater than the predetermined number ("NO" in step S202), the process of step S101 in the flowchart of FIG. 2 is performed (step S203).

[0037] On the other hand, if the number of times that the wireless communication path 60 has been disconnected within the predetermined period is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of times ("YES" in step S202), the wireless communication unit 205 transmits a connection request to the monitored device 40 requesting communication using the power line communication path 70 (step S204). Note that if the wireless communication path 60 has been disconnected when performing the processing of step S204, the wireless communication unit 205 may transmit a connection request to the monitored device 40 requesting communication using the power line communication path 70 the next time the wireless communication path 60 is established.

[0038] Next, the wireless communication unit 205 determines whether or not an acknowledgment to the connection request sent in step S204 has been received from the monitored device 40 (step S205). If an acknowledgment to the connection request has not been received from the monitored device 40 ("NO" in step S205), the process of step S205 is performed. If an acknowledgment to the connection request has been received from the monitored device 40 ("YES" in step S205), the power line communication unit 206 starts communication with the monitored device 40 using the power line communication path 70 (step S206).

[0039] Next, the control unit 2031A determines whether data has been received from the monitored device 40 (step S207). If data has not been received from the monitored device 40 ("NO" in step S207), the process of step S207 is performed. On the other hand, if data has been received from the monitored device 40 ("YES" in step S207), the control unit 2031A determines whether the power line communication path 70 with the monitored device 40 has been disconnected (step S208). If the power line communication path 70 between the power line communication unit 206 and the monitored device 40 has not been disconnected ("YES" in step S208), the power line communication unit 206 transmits the data received from the monitored device 40 to the management device 30A (step S209). On the other hand, if the power line communication path 70 between the power line communication unit 206 and the monitored device 40 has been disconnected ("NO" in step S208), the process of step S301 in FIG. 7 is performed (step S210).

[0040] The control unit 2031A may set the amount of data (referred to as second data) received by the power line communication unit 206 to be less than the amount of data (referred to as first data) received by the wireless communication unit 205. Because the frequencies used in power line communication are lower than the frequencies used in wireless communication, the amount of data that can be transmitted via power line communication is less than the amount of data that can be transmitted via wireless communication. Therefore, for example, when the wireless communication unit 205 receives data from the monitored device 40, it may receive all of the data related to "voltage and current," "leakage current," and "camera" regardless of priority.

[0041] On the other hand, when the power line communication unit 206 receives data from the monitored device 40, it may receive only data related to "voltage and current" and "leakage current," which have high priority, and not receive data related to "camera," which has low priority. By performing such processing, it is possible to transmit an amount of data according to the communication path, and it is possible to avoid transmitting a large amount of data over a communication path that can only transmit a small amount of data. When performing such processing, an image such as that shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display screen of the management device 30A.

[0042] 6 is a diagram showing another example of an image displayed on the display screen of the management device 30A according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Data received by the wireless communication unit 205 of the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20A from the monitored device 40 (see FIG. 3), excluding data related to the "camera," is transmitted from the external communication interface 204 of the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20A to the management device 30A and displayed on the display screen 31 of the management device 30A. The display screen 31 includes a display area 32 for data related to "voltage and current," a display area 33 for data related to "leakage current," and a display area 34 for data related to the "camera." If the power line communication unit 206 receives data related to "voltage and current" and "leakage current" from the monitored device 40 but does not receive data related to the "camera," the data related to the "camera" will not be displayed in the display area 34 for data related to the "camera," as shown in FIG. 6.

[0043] 6 illustrates a case where data relating to the "camera" is not displayed in the display area 34 of the display screen 31 of the management device 30A, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, data with a lower frame rate of the "camera" video may be transmitted from the monitored device 40 to the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20A, or the data relating to the "camera" may be temporarily stored in the memory 202 of the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20A rather than transmitted in real time, and transmitted all at once at night when the communication environment of the power line communication path 70 tends to be good.

[0044] Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing a third process by the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20A according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The process of the flowchart shown in Fig. 7 is performed when the power line communication path between the power line communication unit 206 and the monitored device 40 is disconnected ("NO" in step S208). First, the control unit 2031A of the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20A counts the number of times the power line communication path 70 with the monitored device 40 has been disconnected within a predetermined period (for example, from midnight to midnight on that day) (step S301).

[0045] Next, the control unit 2031A determines whether the number of times the power line communication path 70 with the monitored device 40 has been disconnected within a predetermined period of time is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times (step S302). If the number of times the power line communication path 70 has been disconnected within the predetermined period of time is not equal to or greater than the predetermined number of times ("NO" in step S302), the process of step S201 in the flowchart of Fig. 5 is performed (step S303). On the other hand, if the number of times the power line communication path 70 has been disconnected within the predetermined period of time is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of times ("YES" in step S302), the control unit 2031A determines whether the wired communication unit 207 and the monitored device 40 are physically connected by a wired communication line (step S304).

[0046] If the wired communication unit 207 and the monitored device 40 are not physically connected via a wired communication line ("NO" in step S304), the process of step S304 is performed. On the other hand, if the wired communication unit 207 and the monitored device 40 are physically connected via a wired communication line ("YES" in step S304), the power line communication unit 206 transmits a connection request to the management device 30A requesting communication via the wired communication path 80 (step S305). Note that if the power line communication path 70 is disconnected when the process of step S305 is performed, the power line communication path 70 may transmit a connection request to the monitored device 40 requesting communication via the wired communication path 80 the next time the power line communication path 70 is established. When the management device 30A receives the connection request transmitted from the power line communication unit 206 in step S305, it displays an image such as that shown in FIG. 8 on the display screen of the management device 30A.

[0047] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating yet another example of an image displayed on the display screen 31 of the management device 30A according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The display screen 31 includes a message display area 35. For example, the message displayed in the message display area 35 may read, "Please connect the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20A and the monitored device 40 via a wired communication path." This message allows the administrator using the management device 30A to recognize that the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20A and the monitored device 40 need to be connected via a LAN cable or the like. While the example illustrated in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display screen 31 of the management device 30A, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the administrator may be notified by audio output from a speaker or by sending an SMS (Short Message Service) to the administrator's smartphone.

[0048] Returning to the explanation of Fig. 7, the power line communication unit 206 determines whether an acknowledgment to the connection request sent in step S305 has been received from the monitored device 40 (step S306). If an acknowledgment to the connection request has not been received from the monitored device 40 ("NO" in step S306), the process of step S306 is performed. On the other hand, if an acknowledgment to the connection request has been received from the monitored device 40 ("YES" in step S306), the wired communication unit 207 starts communication with the monitored device 40 using the wired communication path 80 (step S307).

[0049] Next, the wired communication unit 207 determines whether data has been received from the monitored device 40 (step S308). If data has not been received from the monitored device 40 ("NO" in step S308), the process of step S308 is performed after a predetermined period (for example, one second) has elapsed. On the other hand, if data has been received from the monitored device 40 ("YES" in step S308), the data received from the monitored device 40 is transmitted to the management device 30A (step S309).

[0050] According to the first embodiment described above, when the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20A receives data from the monitored device 40, if the wireless communication path 60 does not satisfy the first condition (i.e., the communication environment of the wireless communication path 60 is poor), the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20A can receive data from the monitored device 40 using the power line communication path 70 instead of the wireless communication path 60. Furthermore, when the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20A receives data from the monitored device 40, if the wireless communication path 60 does not satisfy the second condition (i.e., the communication environment of the power line communication path 70 is poor), the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20A can receive data from the monitored device 40 using the wired communication path 80 instead of the power line communication path 70. Therefore, the possibility of continuously receiving data from the monitored device 40 can be increased compared to when data is received from the monitored device 40 using a single communication path.

[0051] In the first embodiment described above, the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20A and the monitored device 40 are connected via the wireless communication path 60, and when the communication environment of the wireless communication path 60 is poor, the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20A and the monitored device 40 are connected via the power line communication path 70, but this is not limited to this. For example, the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20A and the monitored device 40 may be connected via the power line communication path 70, and when the communication environment of the power line communication path 70 is poor, the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20A and the monitored device 40 may be connected via the wireless communication path 60.

[0052] In the first embodiment, the case where the communication path is switched between the wireless communication path 60, the power line communication path 70, and the wired communication path 80 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if it is possible to simultaneously establish the wireless communication path 60, the power line communication path 70, and the wired communication path 80, it is possible to simultaneously establish multiple communication paths instead of just one communication path.

[0053] [Second embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0054] 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a high-voltage power reception monitoring system 100B according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Note that parts of the high-voltage power reception monitoring system 100B according to the second embodiment that have the same configuration as the high-voltage power reception monitoring system 100A according to the first embodiment (see FIG. 1) are given the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted.

[0055] Compared with the high-voltage power reception monitoring system 100A (FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment, the high-voltage power reception monitoring system 100B (FIG. 9) according to the second embodiment includes a high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20B (also referred to as a power reception monitoring device) and a management device 30B instead of the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20A and the management device 30A. Also, compared with the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20A (FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment, the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20B (FIG. 9) according to the second embodiment includes a CPU 203B instead of the CPU 203A. Also, the CPU 203B according to the second embodiment includes a control unit 2031B, a first determination unit 2032B, and a detection unit 2034B.

[0056] The management device 30B according to the second embodiment includes a determination unit 301 and an output unit 302. The determining unit 301 of the management device 30B determines whether data (also referred to as first data) relating to the monitoring target device 40 has not been received from the high voltage power receiving monitoring device 20B for a predetermined period (for example, 10 minutes). When it is determined that no data has been received from the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20B for a predetermined period of time, the output unit 302 requests that the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20B and the monitored device 40 be connected by wired communication.

[0057] The wireless communication unit 205 or the power line communication unit 206 (also referred to as the first communication unit) of the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20B receives data (also referred to as the first data) from the monitored device 40 using the wireless communication path 60 or the power line communication path 70 (also referred to as the first communication path). The wired communication unit 207 (also referred to as a second communication unit) receives data (also referred to as second data) related to the monitored device 40 from the monitored device 40 using the wired communication path 80. The detection unit 2034B detects whether the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20B and the monitored device 40 are connected by wired communication.

[0058] The control unit 2031B causes the wireless communication unit 205 or the power line communication unit 206 to receive data received from the monitored device 40 using the wireless communication path 60 or the power line communication path 70 until it is determined that the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20B and the monitored device 40 are connected via the wired communication path 80. Furthermore, when it is determined that the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20B and the monitored device 40 are connected via the wired communication path 80, the control unit 2031B causes the wired communication unit 207 to receive data received from the monitored device 40 using the wired communication path 80. The external communication interface 204 (also referred to as a data transmission unit) transmits the data received from the monitored device 40 to the management device 30B.

[0059] 10 is a flowchart showing the processing of the management device 30B according to the second embodiment of the present invention. First, the determination unit 301 of the management device 30B determines whether data from the monitoring target device 40 has not been received for a predetermined period (e.g., 10 minutes) (step S401). If data from the monitoring target device 40 has not been received for the predetermined period ("NO" in step S401), the output unit 302 displays a connection request requesting communication using the wired communication path 80 on the display screen of the management device (step S402). For example, the output unit 302 displays a message such as that shown in the message display area 35 of FIG. 8 on the display screen of the management device 30B.

[0060] Next, the determination unit 301 of the management device 30B determines whether data of the monitoring target device 40 has been received from the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20B (step S403). If data of the monitoring target device 40 has not been received from the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20B ("NO" in step S403), the process of step S402 is performed. On the other hand, if data of the monitoring target device 40 has been received from the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20B ("YES" in step S403), the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 ends.

[0061] 11 is a flowchart showing the processing of the high-voltage power receiving monitoring device 20B according to the second embodiment of the present invention. First, the first determination unit 2032B determines whether data of the monitoring target device 40 can be transmitted to the management device 30B using the wireless communication path 60 or the power line communication path 70 (step S501). If data of the monitoring target device 40 can be transmitted to the management device 30B using the wireless communication path 60 or the power line communication path 70 ("YES" in step S501), the external communication interface 204 transmits the data of the monitoring target device 40 to the management device 30B using the wireless communication path 60 or the power line communication path 70 (step S502), and then performs the processing of step S501.

[0062] On the other hand, if the data of the monitored device 40 cannot be transmitted to the management device 30B using the wireless communication path 60 or the power line communication path 70 ("NO" in step S501), the detection unit 2034B determines whether the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20B and the monitored device 40 are physically connected via the wired communication path 80 (step S503). If it is determined that the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20B and the monitored device 40 are not physically connected via the wired communication path 80 ("NO" in step S503), the processing of step S503 is performed after a predetermined time (e.g., one minute) has elapsed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20B and the monitored device 40 are physically connected via the wired communication path 80 ("YES" in step S503), a connection request requesting communication using the wired communication path 80 is transmitted to the monitored device 40 (step S504).

[0063] Next, the wireless communication path 60 or the power line communication path 70 determines whether an acknowledgment corresponding to the connection request transmitted in step S504 has been received from the monitored device 40 (step S505). If an acknowledgment has not been received from the monitored device 40 ("NO" in step S505), the process of step S505 is performed again. On the other hand, if an acknowledgment has been received from the monitored device 40 ("YES" in step S505), communication with the monitored device 40 is started using the wired communication path 80 (step S506).

[0064] Next, the wired communication unit 207 determines whether data has been received from the monitored device 40 (step S507). If data has not been received from the monitored device 40 ("NO" in step S507), the process of step S507 is performed again. On the other hand, if data has been received from the monitored device 40 ("YES" in step S507), the wired communication unit 207 transmits the data received from the monitored device 40 to the management device 30B (step S508), and performs the process of step S507.

[0065] According to the second embodiment, if the management device 30B does not receive data related to the monitored device 40 from the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20B for a predetermined period of time, it outputs a message requesting that the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20B and the monitored device 40 be connected via the wired communication path 80. When an administrator recognizes this message and connects the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20B and the monitored device 40 via the wired communication path 80, the high-voltage power reception monitoring device 20B can receive the data related to the monitored device 40 via the wired communication path 80 and transmit it to the management device 30B, thereby preventing the data related to the monitored device 40 from not reaching the management device 30B for a long period of time.

[0066] Although the first to third embodiments have been described above as modes for carrying out the present invention, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the configurations described in the first to third embodiments may be combined. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 10 Smart meter, 20A, 20B High-voltage power receiving monitoring device, 30A, 30B Management device, 40 Monitored device, 100A, 100B High-voltage power receiving monitoring system, 201 Smart meter communication interface, 202 Memory, 203A, 203B CPU, 204 External communication interface, 205 Wireless communication unit, 206 Power line communication unit, 207 Wired communication unit, 2031A, 2031B Control unit, 2032A, 2032B First determination unit, 2033 Second determination unit, 2034A, 2034B Detection unit

Claims

1. A power receiving monitoring device that communicates with a monitored device and a management device, a first communication unit that receives first data related to the monitoring target device from the monitoring target device using a first communication path; a second communication unit that receives second data related to the monitoring target device from the monitoring target device using a second communication path different from the first communication path; a first determination unit that determines whether a communication state of the first communication path satisfies a first condition; a control unit that causes the first communication unit to receive the first data using the first communication path until the first determination unit determines that the first condition is satisfied, and that causes the second communication unit to receive the second data using the second communication path when the first determination unit determines that the first condition is satisfied; a data transmission unit that transmits the first data or the second data to the management device; A power receiving monitoring device comprising:

2. The first determination unit determines that the first condition is satisfied when a first number of connection requests or more occur between the power receiving monitoring device and the monitoring target device within a first period in communication using the first communication path. The power receiving monitoring device according to claim 1 .

3. The control unit reduces the amount of the second data received by the second communication unit to be less than the amount of the first data received by the first communication unit. The power receiving monitoring device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. a third communication unit that receives third data related to the monitoring target device from the monitoring target device using a third communication path different from the first communication path or the second communication path; a second determination unit that determines whether or not a communication state of the second communication path satisfies a second condition; a detection unit that detects whether the power receiving monitoring device and the monitoring target device are connected via the third communication path when the second determination unit determines that the second condition is satisfied; and when it is not detected that the power receiving monitoring device and the monitoring target device are connected via the third communication path, the data transmission unit transmits to the management device a request signal requesting that the power receiving monitoring device and the monitoring target device be connected via the third communication path; When the control unit detects that the power receiving monitoring device and the monitoring target device are connected via the third communication path, the control unit causes the third communication unit to receive the third data using the third communication path. The power receiving monitoring device according to claim 1 .

5. The second determination unit determines that the second condition is satisfied when a second number of connection requests or more occur between the power receiving monitoring device and the monitoring target device within a second period in communication using the second communication path. The power receiving monitoring device according to claim 4.

6. the first communication path is a communication path using wireless communication, the second communication path is a communication path using power line communication, The third communication path is a communication path using wired communication.

6. The power receiving monitoring device according to claim 4 or 5.

7. A power receiving monitoring system including a monitored device, a management device, and a power receiving monitoring device, The management device a determination unit that determines whether first data related to the monitoring target device has not been received from the power receiving monitoring device for a predetermined period of time; an output unit that requests that the power receiving monitoring device and the monitored device be connected via wired communication when it is determined that the first data has not been received from the power receiving monitoring device for the predetermined period of time; Equipped with The power receiving monitoring device a first communication unit that receives the first data from the monitoring target device using a first communication path; a second communication unit that receives second data related to the monitoring target device from the monitoring target device using the wired communication; a detection unit that detects whether the power receiving monitoring device and the monitoring target device are connected via the wired communication; a control unit that causes the first communication unit to receive the first data using the first communication path until it is determined that the power receiving monitoring device and the monitoring target device are connected via the wired communication, and that causes the second communication unit to receive the second data using the wired communication when it is determined that the power receiving monitoring device and the monitoring target device are connected via the wired communication; a data transmission unit that transmits the first data or the second data to the management device; A power receiving monitoring system comprising:

8. A power receiving monitoring method used by a power receiving monitoring device that communicates with a monitored device and a management device, comprising: a first communication step of receiving first data related to the monitoring target device from the monitoring target device using a first communication path; a second communication step of receiving second data related to the monitoring target device from the monitoring target device using a second communication path different from the first communication path; a first determination step of determining whether or not a communication state of the first communication path satisfies a first condition; a control step of receiving the first data using the first communication path until it is determined that the first condition is satisfied, and receiving the second data using the second communication path when it is determined that the first condition is satisfied; a data transmission step of transmitting the first data or the second data to the management device; A power receiving monitoring method comprising:

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