Monitoring system, method thereof, program thereof, and data structure

Abstract

To improve a monitoring processing function by reducing the weight of data to be relayed and improving an abnormal state monitoring function by sharing instruction information to a device and repeating abnormality monitoring to the entire data area.SOLUTION: In a monitoring system (2) in which a plurality of measuring devices (6) for collecting measurement data from an apparatus and a control device (8) for monitoring a state of the apparatus based on the collected measurement data are daisy-chained to transmit and receive monitoring process data, the monitoring process data includes an instruction area for storing instruction information common to all the measuring devices, a data area for storing control information and measurement data, and an abnormality determination information area for storing information used for determining at least a transmission abnormality in the data area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The technology disclosed herein relates to a technology for monitoring an apparatus using a daisy-chained control device and a plurality of measuring devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are systems in which multiple devices and a control device are connected in a daisy chain, and control instructions and other information from the control device are relayed through the multiple devices in order to reduce the number of wires, save space, etc. Some of these systems also have a function to monitor whether an abnormality has occurred in the information relayed by the devices.

[0003] Regarding such connections of multiple devices, there is a communication system in which multiple communication devices and communication control devices are daisy-chained together, and a communication device that receives data including control instructions sent from the communication control device relays and forwards the data to a downstream communication device (for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, in a system in which a master device and multiple slave devices are daisy-chained, the data being transferred contains an error detection code addressed to the device itself, and each device uses the error detection code in the data to determine whether there is an abnormality in the transferred data (for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-21700 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2016 / 151811 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] There are systems in which multiple devices and a control device that controls these devices are daisy-chained. In such systems, a control device, acting as a master, issues instruction information to each device, thereby operating the devices. Conventionally, the control device transmits data containing destinations and instruction contents to each of the multiple daisy-chained devices, and returns data containing measurement data. Such systems have faced challenges in terms of the amount of communication traffic, processing load, and power consumption required to exchange data with all devices. The impact of such exchanges becomes greater the more devices there are. In such daisy-chained systems, some attempts are made to reduce the number of communications by including sub-data containing control information for multiple devices in the data transmitted from the control device and relaying it between the devices. However, there is a challenge in that the inclusion of a large number of sub-data increases communication time and power consumption as the data volume increases.

[0006] Furthermore, transmission anomalies may occur in data relayed from a control device to a device or between devices. These transmission anomalies include, for example, anomalies in the control information stored in the data itself, anomalies that occur when storing that information in the data, and anomalies that occur during communication processing. In a system, it is important that data is properly relayed so that each device can execute the intended operation. Some prior art technologies monitor data for abnormal conditions by adding error detection codes to data for the device itself. However, anomalies during communication processing are not limited to occurring only in the device itself or the destination device. Anomalies may also occur in control information for other devices stored in the data. Conventional processing methods may not be able to monitor for anomalies in such cases. Furthermore, it is not possible to determine which device the anomaly occurred in. Furthermore, if the timing and location of the abnormality cannot be identified, the control device will have to perform the process again to identify the abnormality in the data, which will not only prevent the device from operating while the process is being performed, but may also result in an increase in communication volume and power consumption due to the abnormality detection.

[0007] Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not disclose or suggest anything about such a problem, and the configurations disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 cannot solve such a problem.

[0008] In view of such issues, the technology disclosed herein aims to reduce the load of data transmission, such as by allowing multiple devices to share some of the information and repeatedly monitoring the entire data area where information important to the system's purpose is stored, thereby reducing the weight of relayed data and identifying the occurrence and location of abnormal conditions, as well as enabling appropriate execution of monitoring processes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the monitoring system of the present disclosure is a monitoring system in which a plurality of measuring devices that collect measurement data from managed devices and a control device that controls the measuring devices and monitors the status of the devices using the measurement data acquired from the measuring devices are daisy-chained via communication lines, and monitoring processing data is sent and received between the measuring devices or between the measuring devices and the control device, the monitoring processing data including an instruction area that stores instruction information common to all the measuring devices, a data area that stores control information or the measurement data for the measuring devices, and an abnormality determination information area that stores error detection information used to determine transmission abnormalities in at least the data area, and the measuring devices have the following functions: a function to determine transmission abnormalities using the error detection information of the received monitoring processing data; a function to read the instruction information from the instruction area of ​​the monitoring processing data if there is no transmission abnormality, and to read the control information from the data area or to perform update processing of the data area; a function to generate new error detection information for the updated data area and rewrite the abnormality determination information area; and a function to transmit the monitoring processing data to another measuring device or the control device.

[0010] In the above monitoring system, the control device has a function of generating the monitoring processing data, a function of transmitting the monitoring processing data to the connected measuring device, a function of receiving the monitoring processing data that has been passed between multiple measuring devices, and a function of acquiring the measurement data that the measuring device has stored in the data area. In the above monitoring system, the instruction information includes read instruction information indicating whether the control information in the data area is common information or specific information, and when the received monitoring processing data is sent from the control device, the measuring device reads out the control information in the data area if the read instruction information is common information, or reads out the control information that specifies its own measuring device from the data area and deletes or invalidates it if the read instruction information is specific information, and stores the collected measurement data in the data area in a set order if the received monitoring processing data is sent to the control device.

[0011] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the monitoring method disclosed herein is a monitoring method for a monitoring system in which a plurality of measuring devices that collect measurement data from devices to be managed and a control device that controls the measuring devices and monitors the status of the devices using the measurement data acquired from the measuring devices are daisy-chained via communication lines, and includes the steps of: a communication unit of the measuring device sending and receiving monitoring processing data to the control device or another measuring device, the monitoring processing data including an instruction area that stores instruction information common to all the measuring devices, a data area that stores control information for the measuring devices or the measurement data, and an abnormality determination information area that stores error detection information used to determine transmission abnormalities in at least the data area; a processing unit of the measuring device using the error detection information of the received monitoring processing data to determine a transmission abnormality; a step of the processing unit reading the instruction information from the instruction area of ​​the monitoring processing data and reading the control information from the data area or performing update processing on the data area if there is no transmission abnormality; a step of the processing unit generating new error detection information for the updated data area and rewriting the abnormality determination information area; and a step of transmitting the monitoring processing data to another measuring device or the control device.

[0012] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the monitoring program disclosed herein is a monitoring program executed by a computer of a monitoring system in which a plurality of measuring devices that collect measurement data from devices to be managed and a control device that monitors the status of the devices using the measurement data acquired from the measuring devices are daisy-chained via communication lines, and the monitoring program causes the computer to execute the following functions: sending and receiving monitoring processing data, including an instruction area that stores instruction information common to all of the measuring devices, a data area that stores control information for the measuring devices or the measurement data, and an abnormality determination information area that stores error detection information used to determine transmission abnormalities in at least the data area, between the control device and another measuring device; determining a transmission abnormality using the error detection information in the received monitoring processing data; reading the instruction information from the instruction area of ​​the monitoring processing data if there is no transmission abnormality, and reading the control information from the data area or performing an update process on the data area; generating new error detection information for the updated data area and rewriting the abnormality determination information area; and transmitting the monitoring processing data to another measuring device or the control device.

[0013] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the data structure of the present disclosure is a data structure of monitoring processing data that is sent and received in a monitoring system including a plurality of measuring devices daisy-chained to a control device, and that collects measurement data measured by each of the measuring devices from the monitored device, and that includes an instruction area in which instruction information common to all of the measuring devices is stored, a data area in which control information for the measuring devices or the measurement data is stored, and an abnormality determination information area in which error detection information used to determine transmission abnormalities in at least the data area is stored, and when the contents of the data area are updated, the abnormality determination information area is rewritten by the measuring device with new error detection information generated based on the control information or the measurement data in the updated data area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the configuration of the present disclosure, the following effects can be obtained.

[0015] (1) In a monitoring processing system including a control device and multiple measuring devices that constitute the system, by sharing instruction information common to some or all of the measuring devices among the monitoring processing data to be relayed and storing control information in the data area for each measuring device, it is possible to reduce the amount of data communication and the number of communications. This also reduces the power consumption when the measuring devices relay monitoring processing data. (2) When transmitting or updating monitoring processing data, by monitoring the entire data area for abnormal conditions and updating abnormality determination information, accurate measurement data can be sent to the control device, thereby improving the reliability of the monitoring processing. (3) By updating the abnormality determination information for at least the entire data area when sending, receiving, or updating monitoring processing data, it is possible to respond quickly to the occurrence of transmission abnormalities, optimize monitoring processing, and reduce the burden of detecting and resolving abnormalities. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a monitoring system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of monitoring processing data. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing performed by each measuring device. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a monitoring process when common information is set. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a monitoring process when specific information is set. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a monitoring system according to a second embodiment, showing an example of a monitoring process when specific information is set. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] [First embodiment] Fig. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a monitoring system according to the first embodiment. The configuration shown in Fig. 1 is an example, and the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. As shown in FIG. 1, the monitoring system 2 monitors the operational status of the power storage devices 4 under management and manages their status, such as the occurrence of abnormalities, and includes a measurement device 6 and a control device 8. The power storage devices 4 are an example of the device disclosed herein, and may be, for example, a power supply means for supplying power to electronic devices or plant equipment (not shown). The power storage devices 4 are configured according to set conditions, such as the number of devices installed and the voltage or current value of the power to be supplied. Each power storage device 4 includes, for example, multiple battery cells, which are connected in series to achieve a desired voltage value. Each battery cell is configured, for example, by multiple electric double layer capacitors.

[0018] The measuring device 6 is an example of a means for measuring the voltage value of the power storage device 4 as information used for managing the state of the power storage device 4, generating measurement data from the measurement results, and transmitting the measurement data to the control device 8. The measuring device 6 is configured, for example, by a plurality of measuring devices 6-1, 6-2, ..., 6-(n-1), 6-n for measuring the voltage value of each battery cell of the power storage device 4 or each group combining a predetermined number of battery cells. Each of the measuring devices 6-1, 6-2, ..., 6-(n-1), 6-n is configured, for example, by a computer connected to a voltage measurement means or an IC (BMIC: Battery Management IC) configured by a circuit having a voltage measurement function, and generates measurement data of the voltage value in accordance with instructions notified from the control device 8 and transmits the data to the control device 8.

[0019] In the monitoring system 2, multiple measurement devices 6-1, 6-2, ..., 6-(n-1), 6-n are arranged in a predetermined order, and the measurement devices are connected to each other by communication lines in this arrangement order, and the control device 8 is connected to a specific measurement device 6-n by a communication line (IFn), forming a so-called daisy chain connection. In the monitoring system 2, the control device 8 relays the monitoring processing data 20 generated by the control device 8 between the multiple measurement devices 6, thereby notifying instructions to the measurement devices 6 and collecting measurement data from each measurement device 6. The monitoring processing data 20 includes, for example, transmission data 20S containing instruction information such as operation instructions from the control device 8 to the terminal measurement device 6-1 or a specified measurement device 6-x, and reply data 20R that notifies the control device 8 or a specific measurement device 6-y of measurement data, abnormality information, etc. from the terminal measurement device 6-1 or the measurement device 6-x specified in the transmission data. For convenience of explanation, the direction of the daisy-chained measuring devices 6 closer to the control device 8 is referred to as "upstream" and the direction connected to the end is referred to as "downstream."

[0020] The measurement device 6 includes, for example, an abnormality monitoring function unit 10 that monitors for transmission abnormalities in the monitoring processing data, and a processing function unit 12 that includes a function unit that measures the voltage value of the power storage device 4, transmits and receives the monitoring processing data 20, and generates an error detection code used to determine data transmission abnormalities. This error detection code is an example of the error detection information disclosed herein, and includes a checksum and a CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check). The processing function unit 12 may be composed of independent function units that perform, for example, the measurement process, the transmission and reception process, and the error detection code generation process, or may be a function unit that has two or more of these functions.

[0021] The control device 8 is an example of a means for controlling the status monitoring process of the power storage device 4, and is composed of, for example, a microcontroller (MCU) equipped with a processor and a memory unit that performs program calculations. It issues voltage measurement instructions to the measurement devices 6-1, 6-2, ..., 6-(n-1), and 6-n and collects the measurement data. The control device 8 includes, for example, a management processing function unit 14 and a data generation function unit 16. The management processing function unit 14 is an example of a function unit that not only collects and analyzes measurement data but also responds to abnormal conditions notified from the measurement devices 6. The data generation function unit 16 is an example of a function unit that generates monitoring processing data 20 that includes operational instructions for measurement processing, etc., for the measurement devices 6. Furthermore, the management processing function unit 14 may identify the location of the abnormality based on, for example, abnormality information including the occurrence of the abnormality and the details of the abnormality, and may also perform collection and analysis of measurement data corresponding to the abnormality, and response processing for the measurement devices 6 from which measurement data cannot be collected due to the occurrence of the abnormality.

[0022] Additionally, the control device 8 may have a database in which address information (ID) identifying each of the measuring devices 6-1, 6-2, ..., 6-(n-1), 6-n is set to, for example, "1," "2," ..., (n-1), "n," etc., based on, for example, the order of daisy-chain connection or other arrangements. The measuring devices 6-1, 6-2, ..., 6-(n-1), 6-n store address information for all or at least the measuring devices 6 connected by communication lines in the monitoring system 2, and can identify whether address information specified by a control instruction or the like is an instruction for the measuring device itself or an adjacent measuring device.

[0023] <Regarding monitoring processing data 20> Fig. 2 shows an example of the data structure of the monitoring processing data. The data contents and arrangement shown in Fig. 2 are just an example. 2A, the monitoring process data 20 has at least an instruction area 22, a data area 25, an abnormality determination information area 26, and an end code area 27. In the monitoring system 2, for example, the monitoring process data 20 transmitted from the control device 8 is relayed in the order of the measuring devices 6-n, 6-(n-1), and so on, and the end measuring device 6-1 that receives the transmission data 20S transmits reply data 20R as reply monitoring process data 20 to the control device 8. The end measuring device 6-1 may be identifiable as an end device of the monitoring system 2 by control data stored in the data area 25 of the transmission data 20S (not shown), for example, or control information that identifies the measuring device 6-1 as an end device may be set in advance in the measuring device 6-1.

[0024] The instruction area 22 of the monitoring process data 20 stores information such as operational instructions for the measuring device 6 to be controlled, and this information is common to all measuring devices 6. The instruction area 22 includes, for example, a control code section 23 containing type information for the control information stored in the data area 25, and a command section 24 containing instruction information indicating the control content to be executed by transmitting and receiving the monitoring process data 20. The type information indicated by the control code section 23 includes, for example, "broadcast," which indicates that the data stored in the data area 25 is shared by all measuring devices 6, "non-broadcast," which indicates that the data is information set for each measuring device 6, and other information. The "broadcast," "non-broadcast," or other information set in the control code section 23 is an example of "shared information" or "specific information" in the present disclosure, and includes instruction information for writing measurement data to the data area 25 along with the processing content for reading the control information stored in the data area 25. The measuring device 6 switches the reading process of the control information stored in the data area 25 depending on whether the instruction information is "broadcast" or "non-broadcast."

[0025] The data area 25 is an example of an area where control information for the measuring device 6 is stored in the case of the transmission data 20S, and where each measuring device 6 stores measurement data in the case of the reply data 20R. In the storage process of the measurement data for this reply data 20R, the measurement data is stored in the data area 25 according to set conditions, for example. The set conditions may include storing the measurement data in a partitioned area (not shown) set for each measuring device 6, or storing the measurement data in a packed manner in the entire or part of the data area 25, either toward the front (for example, in the direction of the instruction area 22) or in another direction.

[0026] An error detection code used to determine data transmission abnormalities is stored in the abnormality determination information area 26. This error detection code is updated, for example, when the processing function unit 12 transmits or receives the monitoring processing data 20, or when an update process such as deletion or modification of data in the data area 25 is performed. The end code area 27 stores information that notifies the measuring device 6 of the end of the monitoring process data 20 .

[0027] The data structure of this monitoring processing data 20 may be used, for example, for transmission data 20S, reply data 20R, reply data generated when a data transmission abnormality is detected to indicate an abnormal state, or retransmission data generated during abnormality resolution processing.

[0028] In the transmission data 20S relayed in the monitoring process, as shown in B of Figure 2, a register address or the like is set in the data area 25 as an example of information specifying the destination measuring device 6, and a checksum, CRC, or the like is stored as an error detection code in the abnormality determination information area 26. In addition, in the reply data 20R, the measurement data generated by each measurement device 6 is stored in the data area 25 in a set order, for example as shown in C of Figure 2, after the measurement data that was stored earlier in the order in which the reply data 20R was relayed.

[0029] <Management of collected measurement data> The control device 8 is provided with a management processing database (hereinafter referred to as "management processing DB"), for example, in a storage unit, for storing measurement data acquired from each measuring device 6. The control device 8 uses the stored measurement data for monitoring the state of the power storage device 4, for example, and manages the occurrence and state of an abnormal state of the monitoring system 2 based on the collection state of the measurement data and information contained in the measurement data. The management processing DB may be formed in the storage unit of the control device 8, for example, or may be formed in storage means separate from the control device 8 (not shown).

[0030] The management processing DB has, for example, an area for storing measurement data for each of the measurement devices 6-1, 6-2, ... 6-(n-1), 6-n that make up the monitoring system 2, and an area for storing separately the generation time and transmission time of the transmission data 20S, the reception time of the reply data 20R, information set in the command section 24, etc. The management process DB may also be provided with an area for temporarily storing measurement data received multiple times, for example, in a process for resolving a data transmission abnormality.

[0031] <Regarding the processing of the control device 8> In the monitoring process, the control device 8 performs processes such as generating the transmission data 20S, receiving the reply data 20R, storing the measurement data in the management process DB, monitoring an abnormal state, and monitoring the power storage device 4.

[0032] In the process of generating the transmission data 20S, the control device 8 generates the transmission data 20S including instruction information for executing measurement processes such as voltage values ​​and current values ​​for all the measurement devices 6 of the monitoring system 2 or for a selected specific measurement device 6, in order to perform monitoring processes such as monitoring the operating state of the power storage device 4 at a preset timing, and transmits the generated transmission data to the measurement device 6. In the monitoring system 2, a control program that is incorporated into the transmission data 20S or pre-stored in each measurement device 6 and that operates upon receiving the transmission data 20S causes each measurement device 6 to perform processes such as measuring the voltage value from the power storage device 4, generating measurement data, monitoring for communication abnormalities using error detection codes, and resolving communication abnormalities. Alternatively, the control device 8 may be provided with, for example, a timer, and start measuring time when the transmission data 20S is generated or when the transmission data 20S is transmitted to the first measuring device 6.

[0033] In the process of receiving the reply data 20R, the control device 8 receives the reply data 20R relayed, for example, through a specified measuring device 6, and checks whether measurement data corresponding to the instruction information is included in the data area 25. If the measurement data corresponding to the instruction information is not stored in the data area 25, the control device 8 may determine that an abnormality has occurred in the monitoring process, and may generate the transmission data 20S again to execute the measurement process. In addition, the control device 8 may measure the elapsed time until the reply data 20R is received by timing a timer, or may determine that there is an abnormality in the monitoring system 2 if the reply data 20R is not received even after a threshold time has passed.

[0034] In the process of storing measurement data in the management processing DB, the control device 8 reads normal measurement data from the received reply data 20R, and if data indicating the occurrence of an abnormal state is included, stores the abnormality information in the management processing DB, etc. Each measurement data is stored in a memory area for each measurement device 6 based on the data arrangement conditions.

[0035] In the abnormal state monitoring process, the control device 8 identifies the measuring device 6 experiencing a transmission abnormality from the data indicating the abnormal state, and may also determine whether the data has been restored by the abnormality resolution process.

[0036] In the monitoring process of the power storage device 4, the control device 8 determines the operating state of the power storage device 4 based on the measurement data stored in the reply data 20R and the reply data 20R subsequently received by the abnormality resolution process, and monitors the operating state.

[0037] <Processing of each measuring device 6> Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by each measurement device. The processing content and processing procedure shown in Fig. 3 are an example, and the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. This process is an example of a monitoring method or monitoring program disclosed herein, and includes, for example, process A that is executed when transmission data 20S is received from the control device 8 or another measurement device 6, and process B that is executed when reply data 20R is generated or received from another measurement device 6.

[0038] For example, in process A, the measuring device 6 determines whether there is an abnormality in the transmission data 20S received from the control device 8 or another measuring device 6 (S101), and if there is no transmission abnormality, reads out read instruction information stored in the instruction area 22 (S102), and determines whether this read instruction information indicates "broadcast" communication (S103). If the read instruction information indicates "broadcast" (YES in S103), the measuring device 6 reads out shared control information stored in the data area 25 (S104), and if it indicates "non-broadcast" (NO in S103), reads out control information designated for its own device (S105), and also executes an update process for the data area 25, including deleting the control information (S106).

[0039] After the control information read process, the measuring device 6 generates a new error detection code for at least the data area 25 and stores it in the abnormality determination information area 26, thereby updating the error detection code (S107), and transmits the transmission data 20S to the adjacent measuring device 6 (S108).

[0040] If the measuring device 6 determines that there is a transmission abnormality in the transmitted data, it may perform an abnormality resolution process such as causing the control device 8 or measuring device 6 that is the sender to retransmit the transmitted data 20S.

[0041] Next, when the measuring device 6 receives reply data 20R from another measuring device 6 (S109), for example, as reply process B, the measuring device 6 performs an abnormality determination on the reply data 20R (S110). In the case of a measuring device 6 at the end of a monitoring system, for example, this abnormality determination process may be a process of generating reply data 20R instead of an abnormality determination. If the measuring device 6 determines that the reply data 20R is normal (YES in S111), it stores its own measurement data in the data area 25 under the set conditions (S112) and transmits the reply data 20R to the next measuring device 6 (S113). The set conditions for the data area 25 include, for example, storing new measurement data close to the front of the data area 25 (for example, in the direction of the instruction area 22). In addition to the storage process of the measurement data, the measuring device 6 generates a new error detection code for at least the updated data area 25 and stores it in the abnormality determination information area 26, thereby updating the error detection code.

[0042] If the measuring device 6 determines that there is an abnormality in the reply data 20R (NO in S111), it performs abnormality processing such as invalidating the measurement data of other measuring devices 6 and sending it first (S114), and also performs abnormality resolution processing by resending the reply data 20R (S115). Furthermore, in addition to the abnormality resolution process, if the measuring device 6 determines that the received reply data 20R is a transmission abnormality, the measuring device 6 may perform a preemptive transmission process to notify at least the measurement data of the measuring device 6 to the control device 8. In this preemptive transmission process, for example, part or all of the measurement data stored in the data area 25 of the received reply data 20R is invalidated (NULL), and then the measurement data of the measuring device 6 is stored and transmitted to the upstream measuring device 6. For example, if the abnormality in the reply data 20R is resolved, the measuring device 6 may generate and send corrected reply data 20R, or if the abnormality is not resolved, may generate new reply data 20R including abnormality information and send it to the control device 8.

[0043] For example, when the control device 8 receives the reply data 20R that was sent earlier, it stores the corresponding measurement data and invalidated data in the memory area for each measurement device in the memory unit, and determines the transmission abnormality and the location of the abnormality based on the invalidated data, and waits for the reply data 20R to be sent after the measurement device 6 has processed to resolve the abnormality.

[0044] <Monitoring process of measurement device 6> Next, an example of monitoring processing using a measuring device will be shown. Fig. 4 shows the process when common information is set as the read instruction. Fig. 5 shows the process when specific information is set as the read instruction. The process procedures shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and the contents of the information stored in the monitoring process data 20, are examples. 4, in the monitoring system 2, the control device 8 generates transmission data 20S for each measuring device 6, which includes a command section 24 set to "acquire" and a data area 25 set to "voltage" as the data to be collected, in order to collect measurement data of voltage information, and relays this data through each measuring device 6 to the terminal measuring device 6-1 (S1 to S4). In addition, in this transmission data 20S and reply data 20R, "broadcast" communication and "simultaneous reading" representing a read process are set in the control code section 23 as read instruction information that shares the control information in the data area 25 with all measuring devices 6.

[0045] Upon receiving the transmission data 20S, each measuring device 6 judges whether there is a transmission abnormality in the data area 25. In this judgment process, for example, a new error detection code is generated for the data area 25 in the received transmission data 20S, and a data transmission abnormality is judged by comparing it with the error detection code stored in the abnormality judgment information area 26. In this comparison, if the error detection codes match, the data is judged to be correct, and if they do not match, an abnormality is judged. For example, if the measuring device 6 determines that there is no transmission abnormality, it reads out the information in the control code section 23, the command section 24, and the data area 25. After reading the control information and the like, the measuring device 6 adds the error detection code that it generated earlier to the abnormality determination information area 26 of the transmission data 20S, and relays the transmission data 20S to other measuring devices 6 connected downstream. At this time, if there is no change in the information in the transmission data 20S, it is possible to use the error detection code in the abnormality determination information area 26 as is without adding a new error detection code.

[0046] Furthermore, if the error detection codes of the received transmission data 20S do not match, the measuring device 6 determines that a transmission abnormality has occurred. As an example of a process for resolving the abnormal state, the processing function unit 12 of the measuring device 6 may generate retransmission data requesting retransmission of the transmission data 20S and notify the upstream measuring device 6 that is the sender. If there is no abnormality in the retransmitted transmission data 20S, the measuring device 6 may transmit the transmission data 20S to the next downstream measuring device 6, and if there is an abnormality, it may again generate retransmission data and notify the upstream measuring device 6. Furthermore, if the abnormality is not resolved, the measuring device 6 may notify the control device 8 of the abnormality information.

[0047] Note that this abnormality monitoring process for the transmission data 20S is not limited to being performed only between the measuring devices 6, and the most upstream measuring device 6 may determine whether or not the error detection code matches the error detection code for the transmission data 20S received from the control device 8. If the error detection codes do not match, the measuring device 6 may request the control device 8 to retransmit the transmission data 20S.

[0048] The terminal measuring device 6-1 generates reply data 20R, for example, by using the received transmission data 20S or by using the format of the monitoring processing data 20 stored in a storage unit (not shown). For example, upon receiving the transmission data 20S, the measuring device 6-1 determines whether there is a transmission abnormality in the transmission data 20S, and if it determines that there is no abnormality, it stores the measured voltage value or the measurement data of the most recent voltage value stored in the storage unit in the data area 25 of the reply data 20R. The measuring device 6-1 also generates an error detection code, for example, from at least the data area 25, stores it in the abnormality determination information area 26, and then transmits the reply data 20R to the measuring device 6-2 (S5).

[0049] The measuring device 6-2 generates an error detection code for the received reply data 20R, and compares the error detection code with the error detection code in the abnormality determination information area 26 to determine whether there is a transmission abnormality. If the measuring device 6-2 determines that there is no transmission abnormality, it stores the measurement data it collected in a predetermined position in the data area 25, for example, after the measurement data stored by the measuring device 6-1. In this way, the data area 25 makes it possible to identify which measuring device 6 stored the data, for example, based on the order of the stored data. For example, the data area 25 may be arranged in a so-called first-in, first-out manner, in which the measuring device 6 that received the data first arranges its measurement data at the front, and the control device 8 reads the measurement data from the top, or it may be arranged in a first-in, last-out manner or other manner. Furthermore, the data area 25 may form a partitioned area that allows the measuring device 6 that writes the measurement data or the control device 8 that reads the stored measurement data to identify the measuring device 6 that wrote the measurement data. The measuring device 6-2 updates the abnormality determination information area 26 with the newly generated error detection code, and notifies the upstream measuring device 6-3 of the reply data 20R (S6).

[0050] In the monitoring system 2, each measuring device 6 performs the same processing on the reply data 20R, stores the measurement data in the data area 25, and transmits it to the control device 8 (S5 to S8).

[0051] In the monitoring process, for example, as another method for setting control information for the measuring devices 6, control information may be transmitted for each measuring device 6. That is, in the monitoring system 2, as shown in Fig. 5, for example, the control device 8 generates transmission data 20S in which individual control information for each measuring device 6 is set in the data area 25, and relays this data between the measuring devices 6 (S11 to S14). In this transmission data 20S, for example, "non-read" indicating "non-broadcast" communication and reading processing is set in the control code section 23 as read instruction information indicating that control information is set for each measuring device 6. Then, data "send 1", "send 2", "send 3", "send 4", etc. are stored in the data area 25 of the transmission data 20S according to the number of measuring devices 6 to be relayed.

[0052] Then, when each measuring device 6 receives the transmission data 20S, it performs the process of determining whether there is a transmission abnormality as described above, and if there is no abnormality, it reads out the data that is the control information specifying its own device from the data area 25 and deletes this data. As a result, in the monitoring system 2, the data capacity of the transmission data 20S is reduced as it approaches the terminal measuring device 6, making it possible to reduce the communication volume and the power consumption required for communication.

[0053] In the monitoring process shown in Figure 5, the process of determining transmission abnormalities in the sent data 20S and reply data 20R, the process of sending and receiving data, the process of generating reply data 20R by the terminal measurement device 6, and the process of storing measurement data for reply data 20R can be performed in the same manner as the process shown in Figure 4, and detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0054] [Effects of the first embodiment] According to this configuration, the following effects can be obtained. (1) In a monitoring system 2 in which multiple measuring devices 6 are daisy-chained, by determining transmission abnormalities in the data received by each measuring device 6, it is possible to optimize control instruction information and measurement data. (2) By providing the transmission data 20S and reply data 20R with an instruction area 22 that aggregates information that can be shared among all the measurement devices 6 to be controlled, it is possible to reduce the amount of data communication and the number of communications, and also to reduce the power consumption when the measurement device relays the monitoring processing data. (3) When transmitting or updating the monitoring processing data 20, by performing abnormality state determination processing and updating the abnormality determination information for the entire data area 25, the control device 8 can obtain accurate measurement information, thereby improving the reliability of the monitoring processing. (4) By updating the abnormality determination information for at least the entire data area when sending, receiving, or updating the monitoring processing data 20, it is possible to respond quickly to the occurrence of a transmission abnormality, optimize the monitoring processing, and reduce the burden of detecting and resolving the abnormality.

[0055] Second Embodiment Fig. 6 shows a monitoring system according to the second embodiment, illustrating an example of monitoring processing using non-broadcast communication. The configuration shown in Fig. 6 is an example, and the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. In Fig. 6, the same parts as those in Figs. 4 and 5 are denoted by the same symbols, and their description will be omitted.

[0056] In the monitoring system 2 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, the control information is notified to the measuring devices 6 by non-broadcast communication, and the measuring devices 6 that have received the control information invalidate the control information (S21 to S24). That is, each measuring device 6 checks and reads the control information addressed to itself from the data area 25 in the received transmission data 20S, and then disables the control information. This invalidation process may involve, for example, rewriting part or all of the control information data, or may include a function to make the control information unreadable. In addition, the invalidation process may include, for example, a function to limit the number of reads so that other measuring devices 6 cannot read the data, or additional information indicating that a specific measuring device 6 has read the data.

[0057] In this monitoring system 2, the process of determining transmission abnormalities in the sent data 20S and reply data 20R, the process of sending and receiving the reply data 20R by the terminal measurement device 6, and the process of storing the measurement data for the reply data 20R can be performed in the same manner as the process shown in Figure 4, and detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0058] The terminal measuring device 6-1 may, for example, monitor whether all the data areas 25 in the transmission data 20S have been invalidated, and add the monitoring results to the generated reply data 20R. Also, the reply data 20R may leave the invalidated data in the data area 25, and when relayed upstream, the measuring device 6 itself may replace the invalidation control information with the measurement data.

[0059] [Effects of the second embodiment] According to this configuration, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the following effects can also be expected. (1) It is possible to monitor whether each measuring device 6 has correctly read the control information, thereby improving the reliability of the monitoring process. (2) As an invalidation process, the amount of communication and power consumption can be reduced by deleting part of the control information stored in the data area 25 or by replacing it with other lightweight data. [Modification]

[0060] The following are some characteristics and modifications of the above-described embodiment.

[0061] In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which multiple measurement devices 6 are daisy-chained to a specific control device 8 via communication lines in the monitoring system 2, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, other control devices (not shown) may be connected between the measurement devices in the monitoring system 2. These other control devices may, for example, read the contents of the transmission data 20S and reply data 20R transmitted and received between the control device 8 and the multiple measurement devices 6 to monitor communication abnormalities on the communication path, or may control measurement processing or other processing regardless of the abnormality monitoring processing. In addition, the other control device may be a means for controlling a monitoring system including, for example, other measuring devices not shown, and may cooperate with the monitoring system 2 of the present disclosure to monitor the power storage device 4 and monitor transmission abnormalities.

[0062] As explained above, the most preferred embodiment of the technology of the present disclosure has been described. The technology of the present disclosure is not limited to the above description, and various modifications and changes can be made by those skilled in the art based on the gist of the technical content described in the claims or disclosed in the specification, and it goes without saying that such modifications and changes are included in the technical scope of the present disclosure. [Industrial Applicability]

[0063] According to the monitoring process of the present disclosure, in a monitoring system including daisy-chained measurement devices and control devices, by providing an instruction area that aggregates information that can be shared for the monitoring process data 20 relayed between multiple measurement devices 6, it is possible to reduce communication volume and power consumption, and by making it possible to determine abnormalities for the entire data area, it is useful in that it is easier to understand the occurrence of transmission abnormalities and the location where they occur. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 2. Surveillance System 4. Energy storage devices 6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-(n-1), 6-n measuring devices 8 Control Device 10 Abnormality monitoring function section 12 Processing Function Unit 14 Management Processing Functions 16 Data generation function unit 20 Monitoring and Processing Data 20S Transmission data 20R Reply Data 22 Instruction area 23 Control Code Section 24 Command section 25 Data Area 26 Abnormality judgment information area 27 Exit Code Area

Claims

1. A monitoring system in which a plurality of measuring devices that collect measurement data from devices to be managed and a control device that controls the measuring devices and monitors the status of the devices using the measurement data acquired from the measuring devices are daisy-chained by communication lines, and monitoring processing data is transmitted and received between the measuring devices or between the measuring devices and the control device, the monitoring processing data includes an instruction area for storing instruction information common to all the measuring devices, a data area for storing control information for the measuring devices or the measurement data, and an abnormality determination information area for storing error detection information used to determine at least a transmission abnormality in the data area, The measuring device is a function of determining a transmission abnormality by utilizing the error detection information of the received monitoring processing data; a function of reading the instruction information from the instruction area of ​​the monitoring processing data if there is no transmission abnormality, and reading the control information from the data area or executing update processing of the data area; a function of generating new error detection information for the updated data area and rewriting the abnormality determination information area; a function of transmitting the monitoring processing data to another measuring device or the control device; A monitoring system comprising:

2. The control device generating the monitoring processing data; a function of transmitting the monitoring process data to the connected measuring device, receiving the monitoring process data transmitted between the plurality of measuring devices, and acquiring the measurement data stored in the data area by the measuring device; 2. The monitoring system of claim 1, comprising:

3. the instruction information includes read instruction information indicating whether the control information in the data area is common information or specific information; The measuring device is When the received monitoring processing data has been transmitted from the control device side, if the read instruction information is common information, read out the control information in the data area, or if the read instruction information is specific information, read out the control information specifying the own measuring device from the data area and delete or invalidate it; When the received monitoring processing data is to be transmitted to the control device, the collected measurement data is stored in the data area in a set order.

3. A monitoring system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A monitoring method for a monitoring system in which a plurality of measuring devices that collect measurement data from devices to be managed and a control device that controls the measuring devices and monitors the status of the devices using the measurement data acquired from the measuring devices are daisy-chained via communication lines, comprising: a step in which a communication unit of the measuring device transmits and receives monitoring processing data, including an instruction area for storing instruction information common to all the measuring devices, a data area for storing control information for the measuring devices or the measurement data, and an abnormality determination information area for storing error detection information used to determine transmission abnormalities in at least the data area, between the control device and another measuring device; a step in which a processing unit of the measuring device determines a transmission abnormality by using the error detection information of the received monitoring processing data; a step in which the processing unit reads the instruction information from the instruction area of ​​the monitoring processing data when there is no transmission abnormality, and reads the control information from the data area or executes an update process of the data area; the processing unit generating new error detection information for the updated data area and rewriting the abnormality determination information area; transmitting the monitoring processing data to another measuring device or the control device; Monitoring methods including:

5. A monitoring program executed by a computer in a monitoring system in which a plurality of measuring devices that collect measurement data from devices to be managed and a control device that monitors the status of the devices using the measurement data acquired from the measuring devices are daisy-chained via communication lines, the monitoring program comprising: a function of transmitting and receiving monitoring processing data, including an instruction area for storing instruction information common to all of the measuring devices, a data area for storing control information for the measuring devices or the measured data, and an abnormality determination information area for storing error detection information used to determine transmission abnormalities in at least the data area, between the control device and another measuring device; a function of determining a transmission abnormality using the error detection information of the received monitoring processing data; a function of reading the instruction information from the instruction area of ​​the monitoring processing data when there is no transmission abnormality, and reading the control information from the data area or executing update processing of the data area; a function of generating new error detection information for the updated data area and rewriting the abnormality determination information area; a function of causing another measuring device or the control device to transmit the monitoring processing data; A monitoring program that causes the computer to execute the above.

6. a data structure of monitoring processing data for transmitting and receiving in a monitoring system including a plurality of measuring devices daisy-chained to a control device, and for collecting measurement data measured by each of the measuring devices from a monitored device, an instruction area in which instruction information common to all the measuring devices is stored, a data area in which control information for the measuring devices or the measurement data is stored, and an abnormality determination information area in which error detection information used to determine at least a transmission abnormality in the data area is stored; A data structure in which, when the contents of the data area are updated, the abnormality determination information area is rewritten by the measuring device with new error detection information generated based on the control information or measurement data in the updated data area.

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