Communication control method, communication control system, and computer program

Abstract

This invention provides a communication control method, a communication control system, and a computer program. [Solution] The communication control method involves a network unit that acquires data from a power supply-related device or energy storage element in a system including a power supply-related device or energy storage element, and a communication control device that communicates with the network unit via an internal system network. The communication control device establishes a communication connection with an external server via an external system network, detects a communication connection request from the network unit destined for the external server, establishes a communication connection with the network unit via the internal system network in response to the communication connection request, and when it receives a data transmission request from the network unit destined for the external server, it sequentially stores the received data in a storage unit and transmits the data stored in the storage unit to the external server via an external system network.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication control method, a communication control system, and a computer program for a system including an electricity storage element and / or a power supply-related device. [Background Art]

[0002] Along with the penetration of IoT (Internet of Things) into society, expectations are growing for the realization of remote monitoring of electricity storage elements and power supply-related devices, and for the realization of high-convenience value-added services based on remote monitoring.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an information processing apparatus that creates and provides a status screen allowing easy visual grasping of a status in a remote monitoring system for electricity storage elements and power supply-related devices. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 6822624 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0005] It is expected that power storage systems including electricity storage elements, and energy storage systems (ESS) including power conditioners and the like in addition to electricity storage elements, will be installed at many locations. System providers or service providers demand remote monitoring technology that enables them to quickly and visually grasp whether these power storage systems are operating without problems, or the cause of any problem if one occurs.

[0006] The present invention provides a communication control method, a communication control system, and a computer program for a system including an electricity storage element and / or a power supply-related device. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0007] In one embodiment of the communication control method of the present disclosure, a communication control device that communicates with a network unit that acquires data from a power supply-related device or energy storage element in a system including the power supply-related device or energy storage element via an internal system network establishes a communication connection with an external server via an external system network, detects a communication connection request from the network unit destined for the external server, establishes a communication connection with the network unit via the internal system network in response to the communication connection request, and when it receives a data transmission request from the network unit destined for the external server, it sequentially stores the received data in a storage unit and transmits the data stored in the storage unit to the external server via the external system network. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This outlines the remote monitoring system. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communication control device. [Figure 3] This block shows the configuration of the network unit. [Figure 4] This block shows the configuration of the remote monitoring server. [Figure 5] The client's composition is defined in block. [Figure 6] An example of the communication control processing procedure for a communication control device is shown below. [Figure 7] This is an overview diagram of the method for accepting settings in a communication control device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] First, an overview of the communication control method, communication control system, and computer program disclosed herein will be provided.

[0010] (1) The communication control method includes a network unit that acquires data from a power supply related device or energy storage element in a system including a power supply related device or energy storage element, and a communication control device that communicates with the network unit via an internal system network, establishes a communication connection with an external server via an external system network, detects a communication connection request from the network unit destined for the external server, establishes a communication connection with the network unit via the internal system network in response to the communication connection request, and when it receives a data transmission request from the network unit destined for the external server, it sequentially stores the received data in a storage unit and transmits the data stored in the storage unit to the external server via the external system network.

[0011] The energy storage element of this disclosure may be a lithium-ion battery or a lead-acid battery, but is not limited to these, and may also be other secondary batteries, primary batteries, or capacitors.

[0012] The energy storage element may be an energy storage cell, or an energy storage module in which multiple energy storage cells are connected in series and / or parallel. The energy storage element may also be an energy storage unit (hereinafter also referred to as a "bank") in which multiple energy storage modules are connected in series. The energy storage element may also be an energy storage unit (hereinafter also referred to as a "domain") in which multiple energy storage modules or banks are connected in parallel.

[0013] The power supply-related equipment may be a power conditioner, an uninterruptible power supply, a rectifier, a DC power supply, a charger, or a charger / discharger.

[0014] In the communication control method of this disclosure, the data output to the external server may be data of energy storage elements and data of power supply-related devices in a system that includes multiple energy storage elements or power supply-related devices, or it may be data of energy storage elements only in an energy storage system that includes only energy storage elements.

[0015] In the communication control method of this disclosure, a communication control device functions as a proxy server between an internal network to which a network unit connected to a power supply device or energy storage element communicates, and an external network connected to an external server, within a system including a power supply device or energy storage element. The communication control device receives data from the power supply device or energy storage element via the network unit, and instead of sending it to an external server equivalent to a remote monitoring server each time, it sequentially performs a process of caching the data in its built-in memory. The communication control device sends the cached data to the external server independently of the process of caching the received data. As a result, a buffer area is established between the internal network and the external network without the network unit directly establishing a communication connection with the remote monitoring server.

[0016] (2) In the communication control method described in (1) above, if the communication control device detects a communication connection request and the external server is the destination, it may interrupt the communication connection request and establish a communication connection with the network unit using the address and port number in the system network assigned to the device.

[0017] In the above configuration, if a network unit connected to the system's internal network sends a communication connection request with the address of an external server equivalent to a remote monitoring server set as the communication destination, the communication control device intercepts this request. The communication control device receives the data destined for the external server and caches it. The communication control device then reads the cached data via another communication connection established between the communication control device and the external server and sends it to the external server. With this configuration, the communication control device functions as a transparent proxy server.

[0018] (3) In the communication control method of (1) above, when the detected communication connection request specifies the address and port number in the intra-system network assigned to the communication control device itself, the communication control device may, in response to the communication connection request, establish a communication connection for receiving the transmission request of the data destined for the external server from the network unit.

[0019] In the above configuration, a network unit communicatively connected to the intra-system network explicitly specifies the target of the communication connection for transmitting data destined for the remote monitoring server to the communication control device, and transmits a communication connection request. The communication control device establishes a communication connection with the network unit, caches data, and transmits the data to the external server via another communication connection that is separated from the said communication connection. With the above configuration, the communication control device functions as an explicit proxy server.

[0020] (4) In the communication control method of (1) above, the network unit may statically switch whether the communication connection request for the communication connection for transmitting data destined for the external server uses the external server as the connection destination or uses the communication control device as the relay destination as the connection destination.

[0021] The network unit can switch whether a communication connection request for a communication connection for data transmission is made to interrupt the communication control device with the external server as the destination, or explicitly takes the relay communication control device as the destination in the communication connection request.

[0022] With the above configuration, the transparent and explicit proxy server functions can be switched statically, i.e., by stored settings, even while operating with the same communication control program. This eliminates the need to fix separate communication control programs for the network unit; either type can be handled simply by switching between them, eliminating the need to create a separate program for each system. The network unit and communication control device can be applied to systems with diverse specifications.

[0023] (5) In the communication control method described in (1) above, the network unit may switch whether to connect a communication connection request for sending data to the external server to the external server, or to connect to the communication control device as a relay destination, depending on the settings received by the communication control device via the external server.

[0024] With the above configuration, the system can dynamically switch between transparent and explicit proxy server modes during operation, using the same communication control program. This eliminates the need to fix separate communication control programs for transparent and explicit modes to the network unit; the system can simply switch between modes, eliminating the need to create separate programs for each system. The network unit and communication control device can be applied to systems with diverse specifications.

[0025] (6) In the communication control method described in (1) above, the communication control device may poll for the communication settings of a server accessible via the external network, and if the security settings included in the communication settings have been changed, it may establish a communication connection to the external network or the internal network according to the changed settings.

[0026] With the above configuration, the behavior of the communication control device can be changed via an external network, and the risks associated with communication around the communication control device, which exists as a buffer area both inside and outside the system, can be minimized.

[0027] (7) The communication control system includes one or more network units that acquire data from power-related devices or energy storage elements in a system that includes a plurality of power-related devices or energy storage elements, a communication control device that establishes a communication connection with the one or more network units via an internal system network within the system, and a remote monitoring server that monitors the system via an external system network, wherein the communication control device establishes a communication connection with the remote monitoring server via the external system network, detects a communication connection request from the network unit destined for the remote monitoring server, establishes a communication connection with the network unit via the internal system network in response to the communication connection request, and when it receives a data transmission request from the network unit destined for the remote monitoring server, it sequentially stores the received data in a storage unit and transmits the data stored in the storage unit to the remote monitoring server via the external system network.

[0028] (8) The computer program causes the computer to establish a communication connection via an internal system network with a network unit that acquires data from a power supply-related device or energy storage element in a system including the power supply-related device or energy storage element, establish a communication connection with an external server via an external system network, detect a communication connection request from the network unit destined for the external server, establish a communication connection with the network unit via the internal system network in response to the communication connection request, and when the computer receives a data transmission request from the network unit destined for the external server, it sequentially stores the received data in the storage unit and transmits the data stored in the storage unit to the external server via the external system network.

[0029] The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating its embodiments. In the following embodiments, the configuration and processing will be described using an example in which the communication control method, communication control device, and computer program of this disclosure are applied to a remote monitoring system that remotely monitors an energy storage element or a power supply-related device related to an energy storage element.

[0030] Figure 1 shows an overview of the remote monitoring system 100. The remote monitoring system 100 is a system that allows remote monitoring of the power generation status, power output status, and status of the energy storage elements within the system of a solar power generation system S, including the power supply-related equipment P that is the target of monitoring.

[0031] The remote monitoring system 100 includes network units 2 connected to the energy storage system ES and power supply-related devices P, which are included in the solar power generation system S that are to be monitored. The network units 2 connected to the energy storage system ES and power supply-related devices P are communicated to each other via the network IN within the system. The remote monitoring system 100 includes a communication control device 1, a remote monitoring server (external server) 3 connected to the communication control device 1 via the network EN outside the system, and a client 4 that communicates to the remote monitoring server 3.

[0032] In the following description, the power supply device P is a power conditioner (PCS) with output control function used in the solar power generation system S. The power supply device P may be a single power conditioner or a combination of multiple power conditioners. The power supply device P may be a power conditioner with a built-in energy storage element. The power supply device P is not limited to a power conditioner and may be an uninterruptible power supply, rectifier, DC power supply, charger, or charger / discharger.

[0033] The energy storage system ES included in the solar power generation system S includes a battery panel B that houses multiple banks in parallel, each bank being formed by connecting multiple energy storage modules, which are composed of multiple cells connected together. The energy storage system ES may also be a container (domain) in which battery panels B are housed in parallel. The energy storage system ES may also be an ESS composed of multiple containers, each housing multiple battery panels. Of course, the monitoring target is not limited to the solar power generation system S. The monitoring target may be a single power supply-related device P, or it may be the energy storage system ES alone.

[0034] The communication control device 1 is a gateway device that relays communication between the network IN within the solar power generation system S and the network EN outside the system. The communication control device 1 is, for example, a communication box type device, and as shown in Figure 1, is housed in a control panel (enclosure) attached to the power supply related device P or the energy storage system ES. The communication control device 1 functions as a security device that separates the network inside and outside the system and allows access from the network EN outside the system only to legitimate parties.

[0035] Network unit 2 is, for example, a network card type communication device and is built into the control equipment of the power supply related device P or the energy storage system ES. Network unit 2 may be connected to the control equipment of the power supply related device P or the energy storage system ES, respectively. Network unit 2 is, for example, internally connected to the control unit of the power supply related device P via serial communication. When network unit 2 is built into the power supply related device (PCS) P, it acquires output voltage, output current, abnormal / normal status, etc. When network unit 2 is built into the energy storage system ES, it acquires data related to energy storage elements such as voltage, current, temperature, internal resistance, or charge level from the control units of the battery panel, bank, and energy storage module included in the energy storage system ES. Network unit 2 transmits the acquired data to the communication control device 1 via the network IN and communication hub in the system.

[0036] The remote monitoring server 3 sequentially receives data related to the power supply device P or the energy storage system ES transmitted from the communication control device 1 via the network EN. In the remote monitoring system 100, the remote monitoring server 3 uses the received data to perform information processing such as abnormal / normal judgment processing and life prediction so that the status of the energy storage elements in the power supply device P or energy storage system ES can be confirmed by the administrator or maintenance company of the solar power generation system S.

[0037] Client 4 can communicate with remote monitoring server 3 via network EN. When used with the administrator account of the solar power generation system S, client 4 displays the status of power-related devices P or energy storage system ES in the solar power generation system S on the screen. When used with the account of a maintenance worker belonging to a maintenance company, client 4 functions as a maintenance terminal device.

[0038] Network EN includes a communication network N1, which is the so-called Internet, and a carrier network N2, which enables wireless communication according to a predetermined mobile communication standard. Communication network N1 includes optical lines. Communication network N1 may also include access points AP that enable wireless communication. Carrier network N2 includes base stations BS. Network EN may also be a dedicated line. Network EN may include, in part or in whole, an ECHONET / ECHONETLite (registered trademark) compatible network.

[0039] Network IN is a network laid within the solar power generation system S, and is, for example, an Ethernet®-based wired communication network. Network IN may include a CAN (Controller Area Network) or an ECHONET / ECHONETLite®-compatible network. Network IN may also be a wireless communication medium.

[0040] In the remote monitoring system 100 shown in Figure 1, the communication control device 1 functions as a proxy server while acting as a gateway between network EN and network IN, in order to realize remote monitoring and maintain its security. The functions and specific processing of the communication control device 1 will be described in detail below.

[0041] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the communication control device 1. The communication control device 1 comprises a processing unit 10, a storage unit 11, a first communication unit 12, and a second communication unit 13.

[0042] The processing unit 10 includes processors such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), MPU (Micro Processing Unit), and GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The processing unit 10 also includes memory such as ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory). The processing unit 10 uses the processors and memory to control each component and execute processing. The ROM in the memory stores program products. The ROM also stores configuration data that the processor refers to, such as network configuration data for communication processing, which will be described later.

[0043] The program product includes a communication control program P1 that, when read and executed by a general-purpose processor, causes the computer including the processor to function as a gateway and proxy server for HTTP / HTTPS communication. The communication control program P1 may be pre-stored in ROM as described above, or it may be stored in a memory area used as ROM read by the processing unit 10, where the communication control program P9 stored in the storage medium 9 is located. The communication control program P1 may also be downloaded by the processing unit 10 from another download server (not shown) and stored in the storage unit 11.

[0044] The storage unit 11 is a non-volatile memory such as flash memory. The storage unit 11 stores data received from the power supply related device P or the control device of the energy storage system ES. The storage unit 11 stores the IP address of the remote monitoring server 3 as configuration data. The storage unit 11 also stores the IP address, MAC address, individual identification data identifying maintenance workers, or data such as decryption keys for electronic signatures or electronic keys as configuration data for the network unit 2 or maintenance terminal device (client 4) that is permitted to connect.

[0045] The first communication unit 12 is a communication device that enables communication with the network unit 2 via the network IN within the solar power generation system S. The first communication unit 12 is a communication device that supports a wired LAN (Local Area Network), such as Ethernet®. The first communication unit 12 may also be a communication device that supports a wireless LAN. The first communication unit 12 may also be a communication interface for CAN, a communication interface that supports the ECHONET / ECHONETLite® standard, or a serial communication device. The processing unit 10 can communicate with the network unit 2 via the first communication unit 12.

[0046] The second communication unit 13 is a communication device that enables communication with the remote monitoring server 3 via the network EN outside the solar power generation system S. The second communication unit 13 is, for example, a wireless communication device that enables communication via the base station BS in the carrier network N2 included in network EN, but it may also be a wired communication device. The second communication unit 13 supports communication protocols that enable communication with enhanced security based on HTTP communication, such as SSH (Secure Shell) and SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol).

[0047] The first communication unit 12 and the second communication unit 13 may be the same communication device that supports wired or wireless communication.

[0048] The communication control device 1 configured in this way implements routing processing, etc., according to the IP address, based on the communication control program P1. Through routing processing, the communication control device 1 switches the destination, network, etc., for receiving and transmitting measurement data such as voltage and current in the power supply related device P or the energy storage system ES, and abnormal / normal status data diagnosed by each device within the power supply related device P or the energy storage system ES.

[0049] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the network unit 2. The network unit 2 comprises a processing unit 20, a storage unit 21, a first communication unit 22, a second communication unit 23, and a third communication unit 24.

[0050] The processing unit 20 includes a processor such as a CPU or MPU. The processing unit 20 also includes memory such as ROM and RAM. The processing unit 20 uses the processor and memory to control each component and execute processing. The ROM of the memory stores a program product for the network unit 2 in advance. The program product includes a control program P2 for controlling the network unit 2 itself.

[0051] The memory unit 21 is a non-volatile memory such as flash memory. The memory unit 21 stores measurement data, status data, etc., received from the connected power supply related device P or control equipment in the energy storage system ES.

[0052] The first communication unit 22 is a communication device that enables communication with the control equipment of the power supply related device P or the energy storage system ES. The first communication unit 22 is a serial communication device such as RS-232C or RS-485. The first communication unit 22 may be USB (Universal Serial Bus), a communication interface compliant with CAN, or a communication interface compliant with the ECHONET / ECHONETLite (registered trademark) standard.

[0053] The second communication unit 23 is a communication device for communicating with the communication control device 1 via network IN. The second communication unit 23 may be any communication device that conforms to the protocol corresponding to the first communication unit 12 of the communication control device 1. Specifically, the second communication unit 23 may be a communication device that supports a wired LAN (Local Area Network) such as Ethernet®. The second communication unit 23 may also be a communication device that supports a wireless LAN. In addition, the second communication unit 23 may be a communication interface for CAN, a communication interface that conforms to the ECHONET / ECHONETLite® standard, or a serial communication device.

[0054] The third communication unit 24 is a wireless communication device that enables short-range wireless communication. The third communication unit 24 can function as a wireless LAN access point. The third communication unit 24 may also be a wireless communication device compatible with Bluetooth®. The network unit 2 functions as a maintenance terminal device via the third communication unit 24 and can establish a short-range communication connection with clients 4 whose access has been pre-authorized. The third communication unit 24 is basically disabled and is activated only when a specific operation is performed by a maintenance worker who has brought the maintenance terminal device.

[0055] The network unit 2 may also be able to send and receive data indirectly with a higher-level device such as an EMS (Energy Management System) that outputs instructions such as output voltage from the power supply related device P via security equipment.

[0056] The network unit 2, configured in this way, receives measurement data such as voltage, current, and temperature transmitted from the power supply-related device P or the energy storage system ES via the control equipment of the power supply-related device P or the energy storage system ES, based on the control program P2, and temporarily stores it in the storage unit 21. The network unit 2 also temporarily stores status data, including normal / abnormal diagnostic results, transmitted from the power supply-related device P or the energy storage system ES, in the storage unit 21. The network unit 2 transmits the measurement data stored in the storage unit 21 to the communication control device 1 via the second communication unit 23.

[0057] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the remote monitoring server 3. The remote monitoring server 3 uses a server computer. Although the remote monitoring server 3 is described as a single server computer, processing may be distributed across multiple server computers.

[0058] The remote monitoring server 3 comprises a processing unit 30, a storage unit 31, and a communication unit 32. The processing unit 30 includes a processor such as a CPU, MPU, GPU, and / or NPU. The processing unit 30 uses memory such as SRAM or DRAM to control each component and execute remote monitoring processing. The processing unit 30 performs communication and information processing based on the server program P3 stored in the storage unit 31. The server program P3 includes a web server program, and the processing unit 30 also functions as a web server that provides web pages to the client 4.

[0059] The storage unit 31 stores the server program P3 (program product). The storage unit 31 sequentially stores data, including measurement data, status data, etc., from the power supply-related device P or the energy storage system ES, which is received via the communication control device 1.

[0060] The communication unit 32 is a device that enables data transmission and reception with the communication control device 1 and the client 4 via the network EN. Specifically, the communication unit 32 is a network card compatible with the network EN.

[0061] The processing unit 30 of the remote monitoring server 3 configured in this way stores sequential data in the storage unit 31. The processing unit 30 of the remote monitoring server 3 outputs the power generation status and output voltage of the monitored solar power generation system S so that it can be viewed by the client 4. The processing unit 30 of the remote monitoring server 3 performs analysis processing on the measurement data and normal / abnormal data stored in the storage unit 31, including determining whether the entire system is normal or abnormal, and predicting the lifespan of the energy storage elements included in the monitored power supply-related device P or energy storage system ES. Based on the determination of whether the entire system is normal or abnormal or the lifespan prediction, the remote monitoring server 3 automatically performs some or all of the following actions: determining whether replacement is necessary, arranging maintenance work, outputting periodic reports remotely, etc., and can notify the client 4 used by the administrator of the solar power generation system S.

[0062] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of client 4. Client 4 is a computer used by the administrator of the solar power generation system S being monitored, or by the operator or maintenance worker of the remote monitoring system 100. Client 4 may be a desktop or laptop personal computer, or a so-called smartphone or tablet type communication terminal. Client 4 comprises a processing unit 40, a storage unit 41, a communication unit 42, a display unit 43, and an operation unit 44.

[0063] The processing unit 40 includes a processor using a CPU, MPU, and / or GPU. The processing unit 40 includes ROM and RAM memory. The processing unit 40 controls each component, communicates with other devices, displays a screen on the display unit 43 based on received data, accepts operations at the operation unit 44, and executes processing according to the operations. The processing unit 40 may be configured as a single hardware system (SoC) integrating the processor, memory, and the communication unit 42 described later. Based on the program stored in the storage unit 41, the processing unit 40 establishes a communication connection with the remote monitoring server 3, sends and receives data, and displays a screen on the display unit 43.

[0064] The storage unit 41 includes non-volatile memory such as a hard disk, flash memory, or SSD. The storage unit 41 stores programs and data referenced by the processing unit 40. The storage unit 41 stores the client program P4. The client program P4 is a web browser program and may correspond to a web application program provided by the remote monitoring server 3. The client program P4 stored in the storage unit 41 may be one that the processing unit 40 reads, stores, and installs from the client program P8 stored in the storage medium 8. The client program P8 may be one that the client 4 downloads from another download server (not shown), stores in the storage unit 41, and installs.

[0065] The communication unit 42 is a communication device that enables communication with the communication control device 1 inside the solar power generation system S being monitored via the network EN. The communication unit 42 is a network card compatible with LAN. The communication unit 42 may also be a communication device compatible with wireless communication or a carrier network. The processing unit 40 can send and receive data to and from the remote monitoring server 3 via the network EN using the communication unit 42. The communication unit 42 includes a wireless communication device, and when the client 4 functions as a maintenance terminal device, it can activate the wireless communication device and temporarily establish a communication connection with the network unit 2.

[0066] The display unit 43 is a display such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display. The display unit 43 may also be a touch panel-integrated display. As a method of outputting information, an audio output unit including a speaker may be used in conjunction with the display unit 43.

[0067] The operation unit 44 is a user interface that enables input and output to and from the processing unit 40. The operation unit 44 may be a touch panel built into the display unit 43, or it may include physical buttons, switches, etc. The operation unit 44 may also be an audio input / output unit including a microphone and a speaker.

[0068] When the remote monitoring system 100 configured in this way is applied to the solar power generation system S to be monitored and operation begins, multiple network units 2 each transmit measurement data acquired from the control equipment of the connected power supply-related device P or energy storage system ES to the remote monitoring server 3. In this configuration, if the network units 2 and the remote monitoring server 3 establish a direct communication connection via network EN, unless special security measures are applied, there remains a risk of intrusion from unauthorized communication devices into the established communication connection. In the remote monitoring system 100 to which the communication control method of this disclosure is applied, a communication control device 1 is installed between network IN within the solar power generation system S to be monitored and the external network EN, and the communication control device 1 is made to perform functions as a firewall, gateway, and proxy server. The functions of the communication control device 1 separate network IN and network EN, and sequentially transmit data from within the system to the remote monitoring server 3, enabling remote monitoring.

[0069] The functions of the communication control device 1 will be described in detail below. Figure 6 shows an example of the communication control processing procedure of the communication control device 1. When the operation of the solar power generation system S begins, the communication control device 1 starts the following processing.

[0070] Network unit 2 sends a connection request to communication control device 1, specifying the destination IP address and port number for the measurement data, according to its settings. The settings may be statically configured in the setting data of the network unit 2's storage unit 21, or they may be dynamically switched by a switching instruction via client 4, which will be described later.

[0071] The processing unit 10 of the communication control device 1 receives a communication connection request from the network unit 2 via network IN using the first communication unit 12 (step S101). The processing unit 10 determines the settings for the communication connection according to the destination address and port number specified in the communication connection request (step S102). The processing unit 10 determines whether to allow the communication connection based on the IP address or MAC address of the requesting party of the communication connection request (step S103). In step S103, the processing unit 10 may also determine whether to allow the connection based on whether the IP address or MAC address of the requesting party matches an allowed IP address or MAC address included in the setting data of the storage unit 11. Alternatively, it may decide to allow the connection only if it does not match an prohibited IP address or MAC address included in the setting data.

[0072] If the processing unit 10 determines that it does not permit the communication connection (S103: NO), it terminates the process. Through the process in step S103, the communication control device 1 can function as a firewall.

[0073] If the processing unit 10 determines that it is permissible to allow the communication connection (S103: YES), the first communication unit 12 establishes a communication connection according to the settings determined in step S103 (step S104). In step S104, if the destination address and port number specified in the communication connection request are the IP address and port number assigned to the first communication unit 12 of the communication control device 1 in the network IN within the system, the processing unit 10 establishes an HTTP / HTTPS communication at that port number. If the destination address and port number specified in the communication connection request are the global address of the remote monitoring server 3, the processing unit 10 establishes a communication connection to the IP address and port number of the first communication unit 12 of the communication control device 1. The processing unit 10 realizes that transmission to the destination global address of the remote monitoring server 3 is achieved by the establishment of a communication connection in the second communication unit 13, which will be described later.

[0074] The global address and / or port number of the remote monitoring server 3 specified in the communication connection request from the network unit 2 in step S104 may be the one that the processing unit 10 notifies the network unit 2 of via the DNS (Domain Name System) server function. The global address of the remote monitoring server 3 may be the private address in the VPN (Virtual Private Network) configured in network EN.

[0075] Subsequently, the network unit 2 sends a request to the communication control device 1 to transmit data acquired from the connected power supply-related device P or the control equipment of the energy storage system ES to the remote monitoring server 3. The transmission request from the network unit 2 includes the data to be transmitted, time data indicating the time the data was received by the network unit 2, and the IP address of the network unit 2.

[0076] When the processing unit 10 receives data for the remote monitoring server 3 via the first communication unit 12 (step S105), it stores the received data (measurement data) in the storage area of ​​the storage unit 11 for data for the remote monitoring server 3 (step S106). When the processing unit 10 receives data for the network unit 2 via the second communication unit 13, which has established a communication connection with the remote monitoring server 3 (step S107), it stores the data in the storage area of ​​the storage unit 11 for data for the network unit 2 (step S108). The processes in steps S105-S106 and steps S107-S108 may be executed in parallel. In step S107, the processing unit 10 confirms and establishes a legitimate communication connection with the remote monitoring server 3.

[0077] After or concurrently with the processing in steps S105-S108, the processing unit 10 sends the data stored in the storage unit 11 for the remote monitoring server 3 or the network unit 2, setting the respective destinations (step S109), and then terminates the processing.

[0078] In step S109, the processing unit 10 sequentially transmits the data cached in the storage unit 11 for the remote monitoring server 3 or the network unit 2. The processing unit 10 may also set the respective destinations and transmit the data each time the amount of data stored in the storage unit 11 reaches a predetermined amount, or periodically.

[0079] As shown in Figure 6, the communication control device 1 stores (caches) the data received from the network unit 2 in its own memory unit 11 without directly relaying it to the remote monitoring server 3 via the network EN. The communication control device 1 also stores requests from the remote monitoring server 3 in its memory unit 11 before transmitting them via the network IN and network unit 2 to the control equipment in the power supply related device P or the energy storage system ES. In this way, the communication control device 1 functions as a proxy server. Through the functions of steps S101-S103, even if the destination of the communication connection request from the network unit 2 is the address and port number of the remote monitoring server 3, the communication control device 1 intercepts and establishes a communication connection with itself. Thus, it is possible to operate in both an explicit proxy mode, where the network unit 2 requests a communication connection to the remote monitoring server 3 via the communication control device 1, and a transparent proxy mode. The communication control device 1 switches between explicit and transparent proxy modes depending on the content of the communication connection request from the network unit 2.

[0080] The communication control device 1, as explained using Figure 6, receives data from the remote monitoring server 3 via the second communication unit 13, stores it in the storage unit 11, and then transmits it to the network unit 2. In this way, the communication control device 1 can avoid access from the network EN outside the system as much as possible.

[0081] The communication control device 1 accepts settings from an administrator or maintenance worker via client 4 without directly establishing a communication connection between client 4 and network EN. Figure 7 is an overview diagram of how the communication control device 1 accepts settings. Within network EN, a server 5 managed by the network provider exists on the network to which the communication control device 1 is directly connected via the second communication unit 13. Client 4 can configure various items on a web page provided by server 5 via network EN. These various items include communication settings between the communication control device 1 and the remote monitoring server 3. These various items may also include whether or not the communication control program P1, which is the basis for the processing of the communication control device 1, has been updated. Communication settings include, for example, enabling / disabling SSH, communication speed, etc. While the communication control device 1 is running, the communication control program P1 periodically polls server 5 via the second communication unit 13 to check whether or not the settings for various items, including communication settings, have been changed. If the communication control device 1 confirms that the settings have been changed, it changes the settings of its own device. As described above, if the SSH enable / disable setting for the communication control device 1 is switched on the server 5, the processing unit 10 enables or disables SSH in the communication connection between the second communication unit 13 and the remote monitoring server 3 according to the setting. In this way, the behavior of the communication control device 1 itself is mitigated by avoiding direct communication connections from the network EN outside the system to the communication control device 1, thereby reducing security risks.

[0082] The acceptance of SSH enable / disable switching requests from client 4 via server 5, as shown in Figure 7, may also be applied to the mode selection between explicit and transparent modes of the proxy server described above. For example, server 5 may be configured to accept either an explicit or transparent setting, and the communication control device 1 may read the selected setting and propagate the setting to network unit 2, thereby allowing the mode to be set from outside the system.

[0083] By using the communication control device 1 that mediates between network IN and network EN, the status of the solar power generation system S can be remotely monitored, and security risks to communications within the system can be reduced.

[0084] The embodiments disclosed above are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are included. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0085] 1. Communication control device 10 Processing Unit 11 Storage section 12. First Communications Department 13. Second Communications Department P1 Communication Control Program 3 Remote monitoring server 4 Clients

Claims

1. A network unit that acquires data from a power supply-related device or energy storage element in a system including such a device or energy storage element, and a communication control device that communicates with the device via an internal system network, Establish a communication connection with an external server via an external network, The network unit detects a communication connection request destined for the external server, In response to the aforementioned communication connection request, a communication connection is established with the network unit via the system's internal network. When the network unit receives a data transmission request addressed to the external server, the received data is sequentially stored in the storage unit. The data stored in the memory unit is transmitted to the external server via the external network. Communication control method.

2. The communication control device is If the detected communication connection request is directed to the external server, interrupt the communication connection request. The communication connection with the aforementioned network unit is established using the address and port number assigned to the device within the system network. The communication control method according to claim 1.

3. The communication control device is If the detected communication connection request specifies an address and port number on the system network assigned to the device, the device establishes a communication connection to receive the transmission request for data from the network unit destined for the external server in response to the communication connection request. The communication control method according to claim 1.

4. The network unit statically switches whether a communication connection request for sending data destined for the external server is directed to the external server or to the communication control device as a relay destination. The communication control method according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The network unit switches whether to connect to the external server or to the communication control device as a relay destination for a communication connection request for sending data destined for the external server, according to the settings received by the communication control device via the external server. The communication control method according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The communication control device is The system polls the communication settings of a server accessible via the external network mentioned above. If the security settings included in the aforementioned communication settings have been changed, a communication connection to the external network or the internal network will be established according to the changed settings. The communication control method according to claim 1 or 2.

7. A system including multiple power supply-related devices or energy storage elements, comprising one or more network units that acquire data from said power supply-related devices or energy storage elements, A communication control device that establishes a communication connection to the one or more network units via an intrasystem network within the system, The aforementioned system is monitored by a remote monitoring server via an external network. Includes, The communication control device is A communication connection is established with the remote monitoring server via an external network, The system detects a communication connection request from the network unit destined for the remote monitoring server, In response to the aforementioned communication connection request, a communication connection is established with the network unit via the system's internal network. When the network unit receives a data transmission request addressed to the remote monitoring server, the received data is sequentially stored in the storage unit. The data stored in the memory unit is transmitted to the remote monitoring server via the external network. Communication control system.

8. On the computer, A network unit that acquires data from a power supply-related device or energy storage element in a system including such a device or energy storage element communicates via an internal system network. Establish a communication connection with an external server via an external network, The network unit detects a communication connection request destined for the external server, In response to the aforementioned communication connection request, a communication connection is established with the network unit via the system's internal network. When the network unit receives a data transmission request addressed to the external server, the received data is sequentially stored in the storage unit. The data stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the external server via the network outside the system. A computer program that executes a process.

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