Pump device

Abstract

To provide a pump device for suppressing costs required for communication even when a plurality of pump devices are installed.SOLUTION: The pumping device 100-1 includes a short-range communication unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The short-range communication unit performs short-range wireless communication with a plurality of other pump devices. The storage unit stores individual identifiers unique to a plurality of other pump devices, an identifier indicating availability of long-distance communication and short-distance communication using a public communication network, and pump information which is operation information of the pump device. The control unit generates communication enable node information that is a list including an individual identifier unique to each of the other pump devices received by the wireless communication unit and a type identifier in which a priority indicating a priority order of the pump device as a type transmission destination is set in a network related to communication between the plurality of pump devices, and performs control to transmit the log data to the other pump device selected in descending order of priority based on the communication enable node information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a pump device that supplies liquid and a network system thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, in the maintenance of pump equipment, maintenance personnel are aging and there is a shortage of successors, so there is a demand for equipment monitoring from remote locations, and there is a demand for the installation of communication devices.

[0003] However, communication devices are expensive and require communication costs, which can be a problem in facilities where multiple pump devices are installed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6510890 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a pump device and a pump network system that can reduce communication costs even when multiple pump devices are installed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The pump device according to the embodiment includes a wireless communication unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The wireless communication unit performs short-range wireless communication with multiple other installed pump devices. The storage unit stores a unique individual identifier assigned to identify the multiple other pump devices, a type identifier indicating whether long-range communication using a public communication network and short-range wireless communication are available, and pump information, which is operation information of the pump device. The control unit generates communication-enabled node information, which is a list including the unique individual identifier for each other pump device that the wireless communication unit has been able to receive, and the type identifier, which corresponds to the individual identifier and has a priority indicating the priority of the pump device as a destination in a network for communication between the multiple pump devices established by the wireless communication unit. The storage unit further stores the communication-enabled node information. The control unit generates log data from the pump information and the individual identifier, and controls the log data to be transmitted to other pump devices selected in descending order of priority based on the communication-enabled node information.

[0007] The pump network system includes a first pump device and a second pump device, the first pump device including a short-range communication unit and a control unit, and the second pump device including a short-range communication unit, a long-range communication unit, and a transfer control unit. The short-range communication unit of the first pump device communicates wirelessly with the second pump device, the control unit controls the short-range communication unit to transmit data, the short-range communication unit of the second pump device communicates wirelessly with the first pump device, the long-range communication unit communicates via a public communication network, and the transfer control unit controls the long-range communication unit to transmit the data received by the short-range communication unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pump device and a pump network system that can reduce communication costs even when multiple pump devices are installed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a pump network system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the pump device shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another example of the configuration of the pump device shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of communication available node information shown in FIGS. 2 and 3; [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the pump management device shown in FIG. [Figure 6] 6 is a diagram showing an example of a management table stored in a storage unit of the pump management device shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart for explaining a data transmission process of the pump device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. [Figure 8] 6 is a flowchart for explaining the management process of the pump management device shown in FIG. 5; [Figure 9] 4 is a flowchart for explaining a non-delivery notification process of the pump device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A pump network system according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a pump network system including pump devices 100-1 to 100-4 according to an embodiment.

[0011] In this pump network system, a pump management device 200 manages pump devices 100-1 to 100-4 via a mobile communication network NW, and enables short-distance wireless communication between the pump devices 100-1 to 100-4.

[0012] The mobile communication network NW is a public communication network such as a mobile phone system network. The pump devices 100-1 to 100-4 also form a private network (hereinafter referred to as a network between pump devices) that allows not only direct communication between the pump devices but also relaying communication between other pump devices.

[0013] The network between pump devices can be constructed using, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) Mesh network technology. The construction of the network is not limited to the above technology, and a star-type network topology in which pump device 100-1 (described later) acts as a central hub and directly communicates with each of the other pump devices 100-2 to 100-4 by short-range wireless communication, or a ring-type network topology in which pump devices 100-1 to 100-4 form a ring may also be employed.

[0014] The pump devices 100-1 to 100-4 are installed in an equipment room, for example, in the basement of the same building or facility, and pump water stored in a water tank or purified water supplied from a main water pipe using a pump driven by the power of a motor. Note that the pump devices may also be intended for liquids other than purified water.

[0015] Furthermore, there are various types of pumps suitable for the pump devices 100-1 to 100-4 depending on the building or facility in which they are installed, but in the description of this embodiment, points common to all types of pump devices will be described as "pump device 100." In other words, when describing pump device 100, the description will be of the configuration and operation common to all pump devices 100-1 to 100-4.

[0016] As will be described in detail later, the pump device 100-1 has a long-distance communication function for wireless communication with a base station BS of a mobile communication network NW, and a short-distance wireless communication function for wireless communication with smartphones, tablet devices, and laptop personal computers (notebook computers) carried by workers.

[0017] On the other hand, pump devices 100-2 to 100-4 are assumed to be not equipped with the long-distance communication function and to be equipped with only a short-distance wireless communication function as a wireless communication function, as will be described in detail later. Pump devices 100-2 and 100-4 are assumed to be installed in locations where they can perform direct short-distance wireless communication with pump device 100-1, and pump device 100-3 is assumed to be installed in a location where it can perform direct short-distance wireless communication with pump devices 100-2 and 100-4 but cannot perform direct short-distance wireless communication with pump device 100-1.

[0018] The arrangement of pump devices 100-1 to 100-4 is not limited to the above. For example, using the star or ring network topology described above, pump device 100-2 (or 100-4) may be configured to be able to perform short-range wireless communication directly with pump device 100-1 and pump device 100-3, and pump device 100-1 and pump device 100-3 may be configured to communicate via pump device 100-2 (or 100-4).

[0019] The base station BS is a base station device of a mobile communication system operated by a telecommunications carrier, and is primarily used for wireless communication with smartphones and mobile phones, but is also capable of communicating with communication units installed in various IoT (Internet of Things) devices, including the pump device 100-1, and connects these communication devices to the mobile communication network NW.

[0020] The gateway device GW is connected to the mobile communication network NW and serves as a network node that performs, for example, protocol conversion between the mobile communication network NW and the pump management device 200, and interconnects the mobile communication network NW and the pump management device 200.

[0021] The pump management device 200 monitors and manages the operational status of the pump devices 100-1 to 100-4, and is installed, for example, at the facility of a monitoring and management business operator, and collects and records information on the operational status of the pump devices 100-1 to 100-4, as well as performs remote control, via a gateway device GW and a mobile communication network NW.

[0022] Next, the configuration of the pump devices 100-1 to 100-4 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 shows the configuration of the pump device 100-1, and Figure 3 shows the configuration of the pump devices 100-2 to 100-4.

[0023] The only difference in configuration between pump device 100-1 and pump devices 100-2 to 100-4 is whether or not interface 131, which will be described later, is equipped with long-distance communication unit 130. Other than that, the configuration of pump unit 100P may differ, but since they have substantially the same configuration, in the following explanation, parts common to pump devices 100-1 to 100-4 will be explained as pump device 100.

[0024] The pump device 100 includes a pump section 100P and a control panel 100C as main components.

[0025] The pump section 100P is equipped with one or more pump units, an accumulator, a water supply line connecting these, a check valve, and various sensors, and by controlling the power supplied from the control panel 100C, for example, the liquid sucked in from the pump suction port on the primary side is pressurized and pumped out, and the liquid is then discharged from the pump discharge port on the secondary side.

[0026] The pump unit 100P may have various configurations for each of the pump devices 100-1 to 100-4, but since it may be a pump of either a general type or a special type, details of the mechanism and operation thereof will be omitted. Furthermore, the pump unit 100P is not limited to the configuration described above.

[0027] The control panel 100C receives instructions and settings from an operator, and controls the operation of the pump unit 100P in accordance with the instructions and settings, and has control functions according to the configuration of the pump unit 100P.

[0028] In addition, as shown in Figure 2, the control panel 100C of the pump device 100-1 includes a power supply circuit 110, a storage battery 111, a display unit 120, a long-distance communication unit 130, an interface 131, a short-distance communication unit 140, an interface 141, an operation unit 150, a communication connector 160, a sensor interface (I / F) 170, a memory unit 180, and a control unit 190.

[0029] On the other hand, the control panel 100C of the pump devices 100-2 to 100-4 is almost the same as the control panel 100C of the pump device 100-1, but does not include the long-distance communication unit 130 as described above (see comparison of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3).

[0030] The power supply circuit 110 is equipped with an inverter and converts the power supplied from the distribution board into AC power for driving the motor in the pump unit, thereby having the function of controlling, for example, the pressure of the discharged liquid to a target pressure.

[0031] The storage battery 111 stores backup power to operate some functions of the control panel 100C when power is not supplied from the distribution panel due to a power outage or the like, and the power is supplied to the required parts via the power supply circuit 110.

[0032] The display unit 120 is an example of an alarm unit, and is a display device that uses devices such as a liquid crystal panel, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) panel, a 7-segment LED, or an LED lamp, and visually displays and notifies information provided by the control unit 190 to workers, facility managers, etc.

[0033] The information displayed on the display unit 120 under the control of the control unit 190 includes information indicating the operational status and settings of the pump device 100, responses to input operations by the operator, processing results, etc. In addition to visual methods, information may be notified to the operator by sound (audio) or the like.

[0034] The long-distance communication unit 130 is a communication unit that complies with communication standards such as LTE (registered trademark) (Long-Term Evolution), 4G (4th Generation), or 5G (5th Generation), and communicates wirelessly with the base station BS and with the pump management device 200 via the mobile communication network NW and gateway device GW.

[0035] The long-distance communication unit 130 also has a detachable mechanism and interface for the interface 131 connected to the control unit 190, and can be removed or replaced as needed in the event of a malfunction, upgrade, or maintenance such as updating firmware or programs.

[0036] Furthermore, depending on the installation environment, the long-distance communication unit 130 is not essential to the pump device 100, and may be provided as an optional component at the user's request. In this embodiment, the pump device 100-1 is equipped with the long-distance communication unit 130, but the pump devices 100-2 to 100-4 are not equipped with the long-distance communication unit 130. This reduces the total equipment cost of the pump network system.

[0037] The long-distance communication unit 130 is equipped with a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) as subscriber identification information for using communication services provided by a telecommunications carrier, and performs communication using the subscriber identification information. That is, when communication is performed using the long-distance communication unit 130, a communication fee is charged by the telecommunications carrier.

[0038] The SIM may be a SIM card or an eSIM (Embedded SIM). In the case of a SIM card, the communication unit has a card slot that serves as an interface and has a mechanism that allows the SIM to be attached and detached (replaced).

[0039] Furthermore, if the carrier identifies (specifies) the service subscriber by a method other than the SIM, the device is provided with a storage device for storing identification information (ID information) according to that method.

[0040] The short-range communication unit 140 is a communication unit that complies with communication standards such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) and wireless LAN, and performs direct wireless communication with various devices that support these communication standards (personal computers, smartphones, tablet devices, and other communication devices). In other words, no communication costs are incurred when using the short-range communication unit 140.

[0041] In addition, the short-range communication unit 140 has a mechanism and interface that can be attached and detached to the interface 141 connected to the control unit 190, and can be removed or replaced as needed in the event of a malfunction, an upgrade, or maintenance such as updating firmware or programs.

[0042] Furthermore, the short-range communication unit 140 is not essential for the pump device 100, and may be provided as an optional component at the request of the user. However, in this embodiment, all of the pump devices 100-1 to 100-4 are equipped with the short-range communication unit 140 in order to construct a pump network system.

[0043] In the following description, it is assumed that the short-range communication unit 140 communicates with the short-range communication unit 140 of another pump device 100 under the control of the control unit 190, which will be described later, to establish a Bluetooth Mesh network. In other words, the control unit 190 controls communication with the short-range communication unit 140, and the pump device 100 functions as one of the nodes in the Bluetooth Mesh network. Details of Bluetooth Mesh networks (including mutual authentication between devices, network construction, data transfer, etc.) are well known from various literature, so we will not explain them here.

[0044] The operation unit 150 is a touch panel or a plurality of key switches provided on the software keys displayed on the display unit 120 , and receives requests and instructions from the operator and transmits them to the control unit 190 .

[0045] In addition to the input means for physical contact as described above, the operation unit 150 may also be equipped with a microphone so that the control unit 190 recognizes commands indicated by input voice and accepts requests and instructions from the worker.

[0046] The communication connector 160 is a connector for connecting a communication cable (serial cable) that complies with serial communication standards such as RS-232C, and is used to connect a control device such as a personal computer for control and information input. Note that the function as a communication interface for transmitting and receiving signals is provided by the control unit 190.

[0047] The sensor interface 170 is an interface for connecting various sensors arranged inside (or outside) the pump device 100, and supplies operating power to each sensor, as well as giving instructions from the control unit 190 to the various sensors, or transmitting information (detection results) detected by the various sensors to the control unit 190.

[0048] In Figure 2, examples of sensors include a water leak sensor 171, a pressure sensor 172, a flood sensor 173, and a flow rate sensor 174, but sensors other than these may be provided and information detected by each sensor may be input to the control unit 190 via the sensor interface 170.

[0049] The water leakage sensor 171 detects water leakage from around the pump unit 100P. The pressure sensor 172 detects the pressure of the liquid delivered by the pump section 100P. The flood sensor 173 detects that flooding has occurred around the pump device 100 due to a flood or the like. The flow rate sensor 174 detects the amount of liquid being pumped by the pump portion 100P.

[0050] The storage unit 180 uses a semiconductor memory such as an SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic RAM), a NAND flash memory, or an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM).

[0051] The storage unit 180 stores a control program and control data for the control unit 190. As one piece of control data, the storage unit 180 also stores an individual identifier 180a and a type identifier 180b, as well as pump information 180c and communication-available node information 180d.

[0052] The individual identifier 180a is identification information uniquely assigned to the pump device 100 in order to distinguish it from others, and is added, for example, when the pump device 100 transmits information that it has generated itself to another pump device 100. This identification information may be, for example, a serial number. The pump management device 200 manages each of the pump devices 100-1 to 100-4 based on this individual identifier 180a.

[0053] The type identifier 180b is information indicating the type of the pump device in the network between pump devices, for example, whether the pump device is equipped with a long-distance communication unit 130 or the proximity of the pump device 100 equipped with the long-distance communication unit 130 on the network.

[0054] The pump devices 100 constituting the inter-pump device network may be of various types depending on the network configuration. That is, there may be pump devices 100 of type A that are equipped with a long-distance communication unit 130 and are capable of direct long-distance communication with the pump management device 200, type B that are capable of direct short-distance communication with this type A pump device 100, type C that are capable of direct short-distance communication with this type B pump device 100, and type D that are not capable of direct short-distance communication with any of types A, B, or C.

[0055] In addition, the type identifier 180b is exchanged between pump devices 100 when direct communication is performed between them via the short-range communication unit 140, thereby allowing each pump device 100 to recognize the location on the network of other pump devices 100 with which it can communicate directly.

[0056] This means that, for example, when transferring information between pump devices 100 through a pump device-to-pump device network, the information can be transferred to a type A pump device 100 as the highest priority destination, allowing the information sent from each pump device 100 to reach the pump management device 200.

[0057] The pump management device 200 manages the pump device 100 using the type identifier 180b, and the type identifier 180b may include information such as a product model number. The pump management device 200 may perform management by including the type identifier 180b in the individual identifier 180a.

[0058] The pump information 180c may be, for example, information such as the operation log of the pump device 100, and may include the detection results of various sensors, various settings and setting values ​​of the pump device 100, schedule information for various operations, a failure history indicating the occurrence of a failure (such as the location and time of the failure), a history of operations by workers (the content of the operation and the time of the operation), the state of the pump and information used when determining that state (such as, for example, the detection results of sensors), etc.

[0059] The communication-enabled node information 180d is information generated / updated by the control unit 190 described later, and is information that lists the individual identifiers 180a of other pump devices with which the pump device 100 can directly communicate wirelessly via the short-range communication unit 140.For example, as shown in Figure 4, at least type identifier information is stored in association with the individual identifier of the pump device 100.

[0060] The control unit 190 controls all the units of the control panel 100C and includes a processor and memory. The memory stores control programs and control data read from the storage unit 180, and the processor executes the control programs and performs various controls and processes in accordance with the control data. In other words, the control unit 190 is also an example of a transfer control unit and a retransmission control unit.

[0061] In the above control and processing, the control unit 190 receives instructions from the operator and controls each part of the pump device 100 in accordance with those instructions, performing, for example, automatic operation control, communication control of the Bluetooth Mesh network, data transmission processing via the Bluetooth Mesh network, and non-delivery notification processing.

[0062] Automatic operation control includes, for example, switching the operating frequency, starting and stopping the pump according to the time of day, pressure control to keep the water supply pressure constant at a target value, or control to keep the amount of water supply per unit time constant.

[0063] Communication control of the Bluetooth Mesh network involves establishing a communication link with other pump devices 100 and controlling communication through that communication link. As a pre-processing step for establishing a communication link, the aforementioned communicable node information 180d is generated.

[0064] Specifically, the control unit 190 controls the short-range communication unit 140 to periodically broadcast the individual identifier 180a of the pump device 100, and similarly receives individual identifiers 180a broadcast from other pump devices 100, detects individual identifiers 180a that can be received at a predetermined reception level or above as nodes with which communication is possible, and records them in the memory unit 180 as communication-possible node information 180d.

[0065] The individual identifiers 180a of the pump devices 100 recorded as the communication available node information 180d are arranged and recorded in order according to the priority set for each type identifier 180b. For example, for types A to D exemplified as the individual identifiers 180a, the priority is set in descending order starting from type A.

[0066] In addition to being generated and updated by the control unit 190, the communication-enabled node information 180d may also be registered in advance by an operator when constructing a network between pump devices, depending on the network configuration, the placement of the pump devices 100, etc.

[0067] The data transmission process involves data transfer between the pump devices 100-1 to 100-4, data transmission to the pump management device 200, and transmission control related to notifications regarding these transfers and transmissions via the Bluetooth Mesh network.

[0068] The non-delivery notification process performs control to notify the pump management device 200 of non-delivery of data transmitted from the pump device 100 via the Bluetooth Mesh network.

[0069] Additionally, the control unit 190 has a clock function for measuring the current time. The control unit 190 may also be configured to have an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or the like for performing specific processes (for example, clock function, communication control, display control, input reception process, etc.), which operate in cooperation with the processor.

[0070] The control unit 190 may also be configured to be composed of one or more circuit boards, and may have a mechanism that allows it to be attached and detached to a slot connected to the control bus of the control panel 100C, so that it can be removed or replaced as needed in the event of a malfunction, upgrade, or maintenance such as updating firmware or programs. The pump management device 200 will be described with reference to FIG. The pump management device 200 includes an operation unit 210 , a display unit 220 , a storage unit 230 , a database 240 , a pump communication unit 250 , and a control unit 260 .

[0071] The operation unit 210 is a keyboard, mouse, or the like, and receives requests and instructions from the administrator and transmits them to the control unit 260 . The display unit 220 is a display device that uses a device such as a liquid crystal panel, an organic EL panel, a 7-segment LED, or an LED lamp, and visually displays information provided by the control unit 260 to the administrator.

[0072] The storage unit 230 uses semiconductor memory such as SDRAM, NAND flash memory, or EPROM, and stores the control program and control data of the control unit 260.

[0073] The database 240 is a storage device with a relatively larger storage capacity than the storage unit 230, and includes a storage medium such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and is used to store the management table 240a in advance and to store the log data 240b.

[0074] The management table 240a is a data table for managing the date and time when log data was sent from each pump device 100 for the pump devices 100-1 to 100-4 managed by the pump management device 200, and for each pump device 100-1 to 100-4, as shown in Figure 6, for example, it stores information on the type identifier and the date and time when the log data received from the pump device 100 was last recorded, in association with the individual identifier of the pump device 100.

[0075] The log data 240b is pump information data received from the pump devices 100, and is stored so that it can be compiled for each of the pump devices 100-1 to 100-4.

[0076] The pump communication unit 250 communicates with the pump device 100 via the gateway device GW and the mobile communication network NW.

[0077] The control unit 260 includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores control programs and control data read from the storage unit 230, and the processor executes the control programs and performs various controls and processes in accordance with the control data. The control unit 260 is an example of a transmission control unit, and also includes a clock function for keeping track of the current time.

[0078] In the above control and processing, the control unit 260 receives instructions from the administrator and controls each part of the pump management device 200 in accordance with those instructions, and performs management processing at preset times or periodically.

[0079] The management process performs processes such as saving the log data sent from the pump device 100 as the log data 240b based on the management table 240a, and if the log data is not sent at the specified time, sending a message to the corresponding pump device 100 to prompt it to send the log data.

[0080] In addition, in the management process, the pump device 100 may be requested to transmit log data at an arbitrary timing, or a time for transmitting log data may be set for the pump device 100.

[0081] Next, the operation of the pump network system configured as described above will be described. The following explanation will focus on the transmission of log data from the pump device 100 to the pump management device 200, and will omit explanations of the pumping mechanism and operation for water supply in the pump device 100, and the construction of a Bluetooth Mesh network.

[0082] First, the data transmission process by the pump device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the data transmission process.

[0083] In the following explanation, the data transmission process is described as being started when the pump device 100 is powered on and operation begins, but it may also be started as appropriate in response to instructions from an operator.

[0084] In step S701, the control unit 190 confirms that the Bluetooth Mesh network is available, and proceeds to step S702. Specifically, for example, the control unit 190 confirms that the short-range communication unit 140 is functioning normally and that there are other pump devices 100 with which communication is possible by referring to the communication-available node information 180d.

[0085] If the Bluetooth Mesh network is not available, the long-range communication unit 130 or the short-range communication unit 140 is controlled according to a predetermined procedure to prepare for the Bluetooth Mesh network.

[0086] In step S702, the control unit 190 determines whether or not a data transmission request has occurred. If no request has occurred, the process returns to step S702 to wait for the request to occur.

[0087] On the other hand, if a self-request to send log data of the pump device 100 has occurred, the process proceeds to step S703, and if a transfer request to transfer log data has been received from another pump device 100, the process proceeds to step S709.

[0088] In addition, a self-request may occur when a predetermined time has passed, when a predetermined time has arrived, or when the pump management device 200 requests the transmission of log data, and these requests are made at the discretion of the control unit 190.

[0089] In step S703, the control unit 190 generates log data based on the information stored in the storage unit 180, and proceeds to step S704. A specific method for generating log data is, for example, to extract pump information 180c from the current time to a predetermined time or pump information 180c that has not yet been transmitted to the pump management device 200 from the storage unit 180, and then add the individual identifier 180a and type identifier 180b stored in the storage unit 180 to this extracted pump information 180c to generate log data.

[0090] In step S704, data is transmitted, but the transmission method differs between pump device 100-1 equipped with long-distance communication unit 130 and pump devices 100-2 to 100-4 not equipped with long-distance communication unit 130.

[0091] If the pump device 100 is a pump device 100-1 equipped with a long-distance communication unit 130, the control unit 190 controls the long-distance communication unit 130 to send the log data generated in step S703 to the pump management device 200, and then proceeds to step S705.

[0092] On the other hand, if the pump device 100 is pump device 100-2 (or 100-3 or 100-4) that does not have a long-distance communication unit 130, the control unit 190 controls the short-distance communication unit 140 to transmit the log data generated in step S703 to another pump device 100 selected in accordance with the communication-available node information 180d, and the process proceeds to step S705. The other pump device 100 selected as the transmission destination here can be selected in descending order of priority in the communication-available node information 180d.

[0093] In step S705, the control unit 190 determines whether or not a completion notification indicating that reception of the log data transmitted in step S704 has been completed has been received from the pump management device 200. If a completion notification has been received, the control unit 190 proceeds to step S708; on the other hand, if a completion notification has not been received, the control unit 190 proceeds to step S705.

[0094] If the pump device 100 is pump device 100-1, the completion notification is received from the pump management device 200 via the long-distance communication unit 130, while if the pump device 100 is pump device 100-2 (or 100-3 or 100-4), the completion notification is received from another pump device 100 via the short-distance communication unit 140.

[0095] Furthermore, if the pump device 100 is pump device 100-2 (or 100-3 or 100-4), depending on the configuration and communication conditions of the Bluetooth Mesh network, the completion notification for the pump device 100 may not be received directly from the pump device 100 that directly received the log data from the pump device 100, and the completion notification may be received directly via another pump device 100.

[0096] In step S706, the control unit 190 determines whether a preset time has elapsed since the log data was sent in step S704. If the preset time has elapsed, it determines that the expected time for receiving the completion notification has elapsed (timeout), and proceeds to step S707. On the other hand, if the preset time has not elapsed, the control unit 190 proceeds to step S705, where it continues to check for receipt of the completion notification.

[0097] In step S707, the control unit 190 determines that the completion notification cannot be received, i.e., that the log data cannot be sent successfully to the pump management device 200, and displays a non-delivery notification indicating this on the display unit 120, and also assigns a flag indicating that the transmission has not been completed to the pump information 180c in the memory unit 180 for which transmission has not been completed.

[0098] In step S708, the control unit 190 notifies the operator by displaying a completion notification on the display unit 120 indicating that the completion notification has been received, i.e., that the log data has been successfully transmitted to the pump management device 200, and also assigns a flag indicating that transmission has been completed to the pump information 180c in the storage unit 180 that has been transmitted. Note that the notification to the operator may be performed at any timing.

[0099] In step S709, the control unit 190 controls the short-range communication unit 140 to receive log data from another pump device 100 as transfer data, and then proceeds to step S710. That is, the pump device 100 starts transfer control as a node that relays log data on the Bluetooth Mesh network.

[0100] In step S710, the control unit 190 transfers the log data received in step S709, but the transmission (transfer) method differs between the pump device 100-1 equipped with the long-distance communication unit 130 and the pump devices 100-2 to 100-4 not equipped with the long-distance communication unit 130.

[0101] If the pump device 100 is a pump device 100-1 equipped with a long-distance communication unit 130, the control unit 190 controls the long-distance communication unit 130 to transmit the log data received in step S709 to the pump management device 200, and then proceeds to step S711.

[0102] On the other hand, if the pump device 100 is pump device 100-2 (or 100-3 or 100-4) that does not have a long-distance communication unit 130, the control unit 190 controls the short-distance communication unit 140 to transmit (transfer) the log data received in step S709 to another pump device 100 selected in accordance with the communication-available node information 180d, and the process proceeds to step S711. The other pump device 100 selected as the transfer destination here can be selected in descending order of priority in the communication-available node information 180d.

[0103] In step S711, the control unit 190 determines whether or not a completion notification indicating that reception of the log data transmitted in step S710 has been completed has been received from the pump management device 200. If a completion notification has been received, the control unit 190 proceeds to step S713; if a completion notification has not been received, the control unit 190 proceeds to step S712.

[0104] If the pump device 100 is pump device 100-1, the completion notification is received from the pump management device 200 via the long-distance communication unit 130, while if the pump device 100 is pump device 100-2 (or 100-3 or 100-4), the completion notification is received from another pump device 100 via the short-distance communication unit 140.

[0105] Furthermore, if the pump device 100 is pump device 100-2 (or 100-3 or 100-4), depending on the configuration of the Bluetooth Mesh network and the communication conditions, the pump device 100 may not necessarily receive the completion notification directly from the pump device 100 that directly received the log data from the pump device 100, and may receive the completion notification via another pump device 100.

[0106] In step S712, the control unit 190 determines whether a preset time has elapsed since the log data was sent (transferred) in step S710. If the preset time has elapsed, it determines that the expected time to receive the completion notification has elapsed (timeout), and proceeds to step S702. On the other hand, if the preset time has not elapsed, the control unit 190 proceeds to step S711, where it continues to check for receipt of the completion notification.

[0107] In step S713, the control unit 190 controls the short-range communication unit 140 to transmit (transfer) the received completion notification through the Bluetooth Mesh network, and then the process proceeds to step S702.

[0108] Next, the management process by the pump management device 200 will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the management process.

[0109] In the following explanation, the above management process is described as being started when the pump management device 200 is powered on and operation begins, but it may also be started as appropriate in response to instructions from the administrator.

[0110] In step S801, the control unit 260 determines whether the pump communication unit 250 has received log data from the pump device 100 via the mobile communication network NW. If log data has been received, the process proceeds to step S802, and if log data has not been received, the process proceeds to step S804.

[0111] In step S802, the control unit 260 records (saves) the received log data as log data 240b in the database 240, and also associates the individual identifier and type identifier included in the log data 240b with the time at which the log data was received, and records these in the management table 240a, and then proceeds to step S803. The time is treated as the last recorded time, and the previous last recorded time is updated.

[0112] In step S803, the control unit 260 controls the pump communication unit 250 to send a completion notification indicating that the log data has been successfully received to the pump device 100 with the individual identifier, and then proceeds to step S801. Specifically, the completion notification may include the individual identifier as a destination.

[0113] In step S804, the control unit 260 refers to the history (last recorded time) included in the management table 240a, and proceeds to step S805.

[0114] In step S805, the control unit 260 compares the last recorded time referenced in step S804 with the current time, and determines whether there is a last recorded time for which a certain amount of time has passed, i.e., whether there is a pump device 100 for which log data has not been received even after a certain amount of time has passed.

[0115] If the pump device 100 for which log data has not been received for a certain period of time is on the management table 240a, the process proceeds to step S806. On the other hand, if the pump device 100 for which log data has not been received is not on the management table 240a, the process proceeds to step S801.

[0116] In step S806, the control unit 260 controls the pump communication unit 250 to send a non-delivery notice indicating that the log data has not been delivered to the pump device 100 for which delivery has not been made, and then proceeds to step S807. Specifically, the non-delivery notice is made to include the individual identifier of the pump device 100 for which delivery has not been made as the destination.

[0117] In step S807, the control unit 260 notifies the administrator by displaying on the display unit 120 that the log data has not been sent, i.e., that there is a pump device 100 for which the log data has not been delivered, and also assigns a flag (not shown) indicating non-delivery to the corresponding individual identifier on the management table 240a, and proceeds to step S801. Note that the notification to the administrator may be made at any timing.

[0118] Next, the non-delivery notification process performed by the pump device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the non-delivery notification process.

[0119] In the following explanation, the non-delivery notification process is described as being initiated when the pump device 100 is powered on and operation begins, but it may also be initiated as appropriate in response to instructions from an operator.

[0120] In step S901, control unit 190 receives the non-delivery notice, but the transmission method differs between pump device 100-1 equipped with long-distance communication unit 130 and pump devices 100-2 to 100-4 not equipped with long-distance communication unit 130.

[0121] If the pump device 100 is a pump device 100-1 equipped with a long-distance communication unit 130, the control unit 190 determines whether the long-distance communication unit 130 has received a non-delivery notice from the pump management device 200 via the mobile communication network NW.

[0122] On the other hand, if the pump device 100 is pump device 100-2 (or 100-3 or 100-4) that does not have a long-distance communication unit 130, the control unit 190 determines whether the short-distance communication unit 140 has received a non-delivery notice from another pump device 100.

[0123] If a non-delivery notice has been received, the control unit 190 proceeds to step S902; if a non-delivery notice has not been received, the control unit 190 executes step S901 again to confirm receipt of the non-delivery notice.

[0124] In step S902, the control unit 190 determines whether the non-delivery notice received in step S901 is a non-delivery notice addressed to itself. If it is a non-delivery notice addressed to itself, the process proceeds to step S903. If it is a non-delivery notice addressed to another pump device 100, the process proceeds to step S904.

[0125] As explained in step S806, the non-delivery notice contains identification information (for example, an individual identifier) ​​of the pump device that is the destination, and the control unit 190 determines whether the notice is addressed to itself based on this information.

[0126] In step S903, the control unit 190 displays a non-delivery notice on the display unit 120 indicating that the pump management device 200 has not received the log data from the pump device 100, and records a record in the pump information 180c of the memory unit 180 indicating that the non-delivery notice has been received from the pump management device 200, and then proceeds to step S901.

[0127] In step S903, in addition to or instead of the process of step S903, the process of step S703 and subsequent steps of the data transmission process shown in FIG. 7 may be started.

[0128] In step S904, the control unit 190 controls the short-range communication unit 140 to transmit (transfer) the non-delivery notice through the Bluetooth Mesh network, and proceeds to step S901. Note that here, if the individual identifier included in the non-delivery notice is present in the communication available node information 180d, the non-delivery notice is transmitted to the pump device 100 with that individual identifier.

[0129] As described above, this embodiment is a pump network system comprising pump devices 100-1 to 100-4 and a pump management device 200, in which at least one of the pump devices 100-1 to 100-4 is equipped with a long-distance communication unit 130 for communicating with the pump management device 200 via a mobile communication network NW, and the pump devices 100-1 to 100-4 are each equipped with a short-distance communication unit 140, and a network between the pump devices is constructed using technology such as a Bluetooth Mesh network.

[0130] When information is sent from the pump device 100 to the pump management device 200, the information is transferred to a pump device 100 equipped with a long-distance communication unit 130 via another pump device 100 through the inter-pump device network as necessary, and then the information is sent to the pump management device 200.

[0131] Therefore, according to this embodiment, at least one of the pump devices 100-1 to 100-4 simply needs to be equipped with a long-distance communication unit 130, so that information can be transmitted from the pump device 100 to the pump management device 200, thereby reducing communication costs.

[0132] It should be noted that this invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and that the components can be modified and embodied in practice without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, a configuration in which some components are omitted from all of the components shown in the embodiments can also be considered. Furthermore, components described in different embodiments can be appropriately combined.

[0133] For example, in the above embodiment, it was described that in a network between pump devices, the pump device 100 uses the type identifier 180b to perform network construction and routing, but this is not limited to this, and various methods for network construction and routing are possible.

[0134] In the above embodiment, an individual identifier is added to the log data before transmission, so that, for example, possible transmission routes can be managed based on the individual identifier, thereby preventing loops from occurring.

[0135] More specifically, when the control unit 190 receives log data from another pump device 100, it checks the individual identifier 180a added to the log data. If the other pump device 100 is the only pump device 100 that can be transferred, that is, if the checked individual identifier 180a matches the individual identifier 180a of the pump device 100 that can be transferred (if there is only one pump device 100 that can communicate), it sends an error notification to the other pump device 100.

[0136] On the other hand, the other pump device 100 that has received the error notification has the control unit 190 try another route by transmitting the log data to another pump device 100 with the next highest priority in accordance with the communicable node information 180d.

[0137] In the above embodiment, if a completion notification is not received for the transmitted log data after a certain period of time has elapsed, a retry is made to retransmit the log data (steps S704 to S707). In this retry transmission, the log data may be sent to a pump device 100 different from the previous transmission, thereby changing the transmission route. For example, in the example of Fig. 1, the route is changed so that the pump device 100-3 transmits to the pump device 100-4 instead of the pump device 100-2.

[0138] In the above embodiment, the pump management device 200 stores the management table 240a. This management table 240a may be created and registered directly by the administrator, or may be created and registered by the pump management device 200 when a network is test run. The management table 240a created by the administrator may also be checked based on the one created by the pump management device 200.

[0139] Alternatively, a temporary management table 240a may be registered in the database 240, and the pump management device 200 may check whether the temporarily registered management table 240a is correct. Specifically, the pump management device 200 sends a check to the pump device 100 based on the management table 240a, and the pump device 100 that receives the check sends a response back to the pump management device 200. If the response is received, the pump management device 200 officially registers the pump device 100.

[0140] Furthermore, when the pump management device 200 receives a maintenance request from a new pump device 100, the pump management device 200 may register the individual identifier included in the maintenance request in the management table 240a. The control unit 260 controls the updating of the management table 240a.

[0141] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the long-distance communication unit 130 has been used as an example of a means for the pump device 100 to communicate with the pump management device 200, but instead, for example, communication with the pump management device 200 may be performed via a wired public communication network, such as via a communication connector 160. Even in this case, it is sufficient that at least one pump device 100 is subscribed to the wired public communication network, and multiple pump devices 100 do not need to each have a communication contract, as a network between pump devices may be established using technology such as a Bluetooth Mesh network.

[0142] In addition, in the above embodiment, a case where information is transmitted from the pump device 100 to the pump management device 200 is described, but the present invention can also be applied to a case where information (such as instructions to change settings) is transmitted from the pump management device 200 to the pump device 100.

[0143] Specifically, the control unit 260 of the pump management device 200 controls the pump communication unit 250 to send setting change data to the pump device 100-1 equipped with the long-distance communication unit 130, the setting change data including information instructing the setting change and the individual identifier 180a of the destination pump device, for example, the pump device 100-3.

[0144] In contrast, in pump device 100-1, control unit 190 controls long-distance communication unit 130 to receive the setting change data, detects individual identifier 180a contained in the setting change data, and when it recognizes that the destination is not itself, controls short-distance communication unit 140 to transmit (transfer) the setting change data to another pump device 100.

[0145] Here, it is assumed that pump device 100-2 receives the setting change data through short-range communication unit 140. Control unit 190 of pump device 100-2 detects individual identifier 180a included in the setting change data and recognizes that the data is not addressed to itself, and then controls short-range communication unit 140 to transmit (transfer) the setting change data to another pump device 100.

[0146] Suppose that pump device 100-3 eventually receives the setting change data via short-range communication unit 140. Control unit 190 of pump device 100-3 detects individual identifier 180a included in the setting change data, recognizes that the data is addressed to itself, and then performs various controls based on the information included in the setting change data (such as a setting change instruction). For example, based on the information, settings related to the operation of pump unit 100P may be changed, or log data may be generated and transmitted to pump management device 200 (for example, steps S703 to S708 in FIG. 7 are executed).

[0147] Furthermore, when pump device 100-1 or pump device 100-2 receives setting change data addressed to itself, it performs various controls based on the information contained in the setting change data (such as setting change instructions) in the same manner as pump device 100-3 described above.

[0148] Furthermore, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that even when sending information (such as instructions to change settings) from the pump management device 200 to the pump device 100, it is possible to appropriately combine the various techniques described in the above embodiments for sending information from the pump device 100 to the pump management device 200. It goes without saying that various other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0149] 100, 100-1 to 100-4... pump device, 100C... control panel, 100P... pump unit, 110... power supply circuit, 111... storage battery, 120... display unit, 130... long-distance communication unit, 131... interface, 140... short-distance communication unit, 141... interface, 150... operation unit, 160... communication connector, 170... sensor interface, 171... water leakage sensor, 172... pressure sensor, 173... Flooding sensor, 174...flow rate sensor, 180...memory unit, 180a...individual identifier, 180b...type identifier, 180c...pump information, 180d...communication node information, 190...control unit, 200...pump management device, 210...operation unit, 220...display unit, 230...memory unit, 240...database, 240a...management table, 240b...log data, 250...pump communication unit, 260...control unit.

Claims

1. a wireless communication unit that performs short-distance wireless communication with a plurality of other installed pump devices; a storage unit that stores a unique individual identifier that is provided for distinguishing the pump device from the plurality of other pump devices, a type identifier that indicates whether long-distance communication that uses a public communication network and short-distance wireless communication are available, and pump information that is operation information of the pump device; a control unit that generates communicable node information, which is a list including an individual identifier unique to each other pump device that the wireless communication unit has been able to receive, and the type identifier, which corresponds to the individual identifier and has a priority set to indicate a priority order of the pump device as a transmission destination in a network for communication between a plurality of pump devices established by the wireless communication unit; the storage unit further stores the communication available node information; the control unit generates log data from the pump information and the individual identifier, and controls the log data to be transmitted to other pump devices selected in descending order of priority based on the communication available node information. Pumping equipment.

2. The pump device according to claim 1 , wherein the storage unit organizes and records the individual identifiers in an order according to a priority set for each of the type identifiers.

3. 3. The pump device according to claim 1, wherein the priority includes information indicating proximity on the network to a pump device having a long-distance communication unit that performs the long-distance communication.

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