Tag data communication device

Abstract

To provide a technology which controls a communication amount of tag data, according to a communication state of a network.SOLUTION: A tag data communication device causes tag data stored in an overseas factory server to be transmitted to a domestic server via a network. The tag data communication device comprises: a priority reception unit which receives designation of priority from a user terminal, for each type of the tag data; a communication state grasp unit which grasps a communication state of the network, from a communication speed of the tag data; and a tag data acquisition unit which requires transmission of the tag data for the overseas factory server, according to the priority and the communication state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tag data communication device. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a known technology for transmitting factory operation data (hereinafter, also referred to as tag data) from a server in a factory to a server in a remote location in order to monitor and control the factory from a remote location. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for reducing the communication volume of plant information (tag data) depending on the line conditions of a network. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-162139 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For example, when tag data stored in an overseas factory server is sent to a domestic server, if the communication conditions of the network used become unstable, this could affect the monitoring and control of the factory.

[0005] In addition, since tag data is updated every second, the amount of data is often huge. Furthermore, in factory monitoring and control, the tag data that users require changes depending on the factory's operating status. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the amount of tag data communication.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for controlling the amount of tag data communication in accordance with the communication conditions of a network. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A tag data communication device that transmits tag data stored in an overseas factory server to a domestic server via a network, a priority receiving unit that receives a priority designation from a user terminal for each type of tag data; a communication status ascertaining unit that ascertains a communication status of the network from a communication speed of the tag data; There is provided a tag data communication device including: a tag data acquisition unit that requests the overseas factory server to transmit the tag data according to the priority and the communication status. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, the amount of tag data communication can be controlled according to the communication conditions of the network. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a factory monitoring and control system 100 including a tag data communication device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a factory monitoring and control system 100 including a tag data communication device 10 according to a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0011] First embodiment of the present invention (1) Configuration of Factory Monitoring and Control System 100 First, the configuration of a factory monitoring and control system 100 including a tag data communication device 10 of this embodiment will be described.

[0012] Fig. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a factory monitoring and control system 100. The factory monitoring and control system 100 is used, for example, to monitor and control an overseas factory from a remote location (domestic). As shown in Fig. 1, the factory monitoring and control system 100 includes, for example, a tag data communication device 10, a domestic server 20, an overseas factory server 30, factory equipment 40, and a user terminal 50. Of these, the tag data communication device 10 will be described in detail later.

[0013] The factory equipment 40 is equipment installed in an overseas factory. When the factory equipment 40 is operated, various tag data such as temperature, pressure, flow rate, etc. are unconditionally sent to the overseas factory server 30. In this case, a LAN (local area network) or the like in the overseas factory can be used for communication of the tag data.

[0014] The overseas factory server 30 is a server installed on the overseas factory side, and is configured to receive and store tag data from the factory equipment 40 in units of one second, for example. The overseas factory server 30 transmits tag data requested to be transmitted from the domestic server 20 to the domestic server 20. In order to maintain confidentiality of the tag data, it is preferable to connect the overseas factory server 30 and the domestic server 20 with a VPN (Virtual Private Network) or the like and communicate the tag data. Since the network infrastructure is often insufficient at overseas bases, the network communication situation may become unstable, which may affect the monitoring and control of the factory. Therefore, it is necessary to control the communication volume of tag data according to the network communication situation. Note that the present invention can be particularly effectively applied in a low-speed network environment in which the average communication speed between the overseas factory server 30 and the domestic server 20 is about 2 Mbps, for example.

[0015] The domestic server 20 is a server installed in Japan to monitor and control the overseas factories, and can also be called a monitoring and control server. The domestic server 20 is configured to store, for example, tag data transmitted from the overseas factory server 30, and to display it on a display device or the like of the user terminal 50 as necessary. When displaying the tag data on a display device or the like, a domestic in-house LAN or the like can be used, so the communication volume of the tag data is unlikely to be a problem.

[0016] The user terminal 50 is, for example, a computer that executes a predetermined program as necessary. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of user terminals 50 may be connected to the domestic server 20. A user who monitors and controls a factory uses the user terminal 50 to view various tag data. This allows the user to grasp the operating status of the factory equipment 40 in an overseas factory while being in a remote location (domestic). In the monitoring and control of a factory, which tag data the user seeks changes depending on the operating status of the factory equipment 40. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the communication volume of tag data.

[0017] (2) Configuration of tag data communication device 10 Next, the configuration of the tag data communication device 10 of this embodiment will be described.

[0018] The tag data communication device 10 is provided, for example, in a domestic server 20, and is configured to transmit tag data stored in an overseas factory server 30 to the domestic server 20 via a network such as a VPN. As shown in Fig. 1, the tag data communication device 10 has, for example, a priority reception unit 11, a communication status grasping unit 12, and a tag data acquisition unit 13. That is, the priority reception unit 11, the communication status grasping unit 12, and the tag data acquisition unit 13 are provided in the domestic server 20.

[0019] The priority acceptance unit 11 is configured to accept a priority designation from the user terminal 50 for each type of tag data (temperature, pressure, flow rate, etc.). The priority designation may be, for example, two levels of "high" and "low", or may be three or more levels. The priority designation accepted by the priority acceptance unit 11 is transmitted to, for example, the tag data acquisition unit 13, which attempts to acquire tag data designated with a high priority in preference to tag data designated with a low priority. Since the tag data communication device 10 of this embodiment includes the priority acceptance unit 11, the priority can be designated on the tag data receiving side. This makes it possible to quickly respond even if the type of tag data desired by the user changes depending on the operating status of the factory equipment 40.

[0020] The priority reception unit 11 is preferably configured to classify tag data into priority tag data and non-priority tag data based on the priority designation from the user terminal 50. Specifically, for example, tag data designated with a high priority may be set as priority tag data, and tag data designated with a low priority may be set as non-priority tag data. The priority tag data is, for example, tag data that a user needs to view at all times in monitoring and controlling a factory, and is preferably constantly transmitted from the overseas factory server 30 to the domestic server 20. The non-priority tag data is tag data other than the priority tag data, and is, for example, tag data that a user views depending on the situation in monitoring and controlling a factory. By classifying the tag data into two types in the priority reception unit 11, the burden on the user who designates the priority can be reduced.

[0021] The communication status ascertaining unit 12 is configured to ascertain the communication status of the network from the communication speed of the tag data (the communication speed when transmitting tag data from the overseas factory server 30 to the domestic server 20). The communication status of the network ascertained by the communication status ascertaining unit 12 is transmitted to the tag data acquiring unit 13, for example, at predetermined time intervals. This enables the tag data communication device 10 to control the amount of tag data communication in accordance with the communication status of the network.

[0022] As described above, when the tag data is divided into priority tag data and non-priority tag data, the communication status ascertaining unit 12 is preferably configured to calculate a network occupancy rate, which is the ratio of the communication volume of priority tag data to the communication volume of the entire network, from the communication speed of the priority tag data. Since the communication volume of priority tag data is normally fixed, the communication status ascertaining unit 12 can easily calculate the network occupancy rate from the communication speed of the priority tag data. The network occupancy rate calculated by the communication status ascertaining unit 12 is transmitted to the tag data acquiring unit 13 at predetermined time intervals, for example. This enables the tag data communication device 10 to more efficiently control the communication volume of tag data.

[0023] The tag data acquiring unit 13 is configured to request the overseas factory server 30 to transmit tag data, for example, according to the priority of the tag data accepted by the priority accepting unit 11 and the communication status of the network grasped by the communication status grasping unit 12. Specifically, the tag data acquiring unit 13 is configured to request transmission of only high priority tag data when the communication status is poor, and to request transmission of both high priority tag data and low priority tag data when the communication status is good. This allows the tag data communication device 10 to control the amount of tag data communication according to the priority of the tag data and the communication status of the network, thereby enabling smooth monitoring and control of the factory.

[0024] As described above, when the tag data is divided into priority tag data and non-priority tag data, it is preferable that the tag data acquisition unit 13 is configured to request the overseas factory server 30 to transmit the non-priority tag data only when the network occupancy rate calculated by the communication status grasping unit 12 is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold. The network occupancy rate being equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold means that the network communication status is good and the network communication capacity is sufficient. In other words, it is preferable that the tag data acquisition unit 13 is configured to always request transmission of the priority tag data and to request transmission of the non-priority tag data only when the communication status is good. This allows the priority tag data to be viewed at any time while controlling the communication volume of tag data, thereby enabling stable monitoring and control of the factory.

[0025] For example, when the network is restored from a downtime, if the tag data acquisition unit 13 requests that tag data that could not be communicated during the downtime be transmitted collectively, there is a problem that the amount of communication of tag data (especially priority tag data) increases. In this case, it is preferable to set the time range (retroactive range) for requesting transmission of past priority tag data to within N hours (for example, within 24 hours). This makes it possible to estimate the maximum amount of communication generated by multiplying the "type of priority tag data" by the "retroactive range". Since the priority tag data can be positioned as tag data necessary for the user to grasp the "current state" of the factory equipment 40, it can be said that the retroactive range for which transmission is requested when the network is restored is sufficient as long as it satisfies the range of the "current state". In addition, the priority tag data outside the retroactive range may be treated as non-priority tag data. This makes it possible to view the priority tag data outside the retroactive range depending on the situation.

[0026] (3) Effects of this embodiment According to this embodiment, one or more of the following advantages are achieved.

[0027] (a) The tag data communication device 10 of this embodiment includes a priority receiving unit 11, a communication status grasping unit 12, and a tag data acquisition unit 13. With this configuration, the tag data communication device 10 can control the amount of tag data communication in accordance with the priority of the tag data and the communication status of the network, thereby enabling smooth monitoring and control of the factory.

[0028] (b) For example, in the plant monitoring and control system disclosed in Patent Document 1, a plant value information database that stores the importance of tag data and a plant value selection and transmission unit that adjusts the transmission period based on the communication speed and importance of tag data are provided on the server side of the factory. In contrast, in the tag data communication device 10 of this embodiment, the priority reception unit 11, the communication status grasping unit 12, and the tag data acquisition unit 13 are provided in the domestic server 20. Therefore, in the factory monitoring and control system 100 of this embodiment, the designation of the priority of tag data, the grasping of the communication status, and the control of the communication amount of tag data are all performed in the domestic server 20. In other words, by making it possible for the receiver of tag data to specify the priority, it is possible to quickly respond even if the type of tag data required by the user changes depending on the operating status of the factory equipment 40. In addition, since there is no need to add a new function to the overseas factory server 30, the cost of introducing the system can be reduced. Furthermore, even if the overseas factory does not have personnel who can maintain the server, it is possible to smoothly perform monitoring and control of the factory.

[0029] (c) In the tag data communication device 10 of this embodiment, the priority reception unit 11 classifies tag data into priority tag data and non-priority tag data based on the priority designation from the user terminal 50, the communication status grasping unit 12 calculates a network occupancy rate, which is the ratio of the communication volume of the priority tag data to the communication volume of the entire network, from the communication speed of the priority tag data, and the tag data acquisition unit 13 is preferably configured to request the overseas factory server 30 to transmit the non-priority tag data only when the network occupancy rate calculated by the communication status grasping unit 12 is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold. With this configuration, the burden on the user who specifies the priority can be reduced by classifying the tag data into two types. In addition, since the communication volume of the priority tag data is fixed under normal circumstances, the communication status grasping unit 12 can easily calculate the network occupancy rate from the communication speed of the priority tag data. Furthermore, since the priority tag data can be viewed at any time, it is possible to stably monitor and control the factory.

[0030] (4) Modification of the First Embodiment The above-described embodiment can be modified as necessary as in the following modified examples. Hereinafter, only elements different from the above-described embodiment will be described, and elements substantially the same as those described in the above-described embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted.

[0031] Fig. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a factory monitoring and control system 100 including the tag data communication device 10 of this modified example. As shown in Fig. 2, the tag data communication device 10 of this modified example further includes a non-priority request acceptance unit 14. Also, the user terminal 50 of this modified example is divided into an administrator terminal 51, which is a user terminal having administrator authority, and a general terminal 52 other than that.

[0032] The non-priority request receiving unit 14 is provided in the domestic server 20, similar to the priority receiving unit 11, and is configured to receive a request for non-priority tag data from the user terminal 50. The tag data acquiring unit 13 of this modification is configured to request the overseas factory server 30 to transmit non-priority tag data for which a request has been received, in preference to non-priority tag data for which a request has not been received. Specifically, the tag data acquiring unit 13 of this modification may be configured to request the transmission of non-priority tag data in the order in which the requests are received, rather than automatically requesting transmission of non-priority tag data for which a request has not been received. With this configuration, when a user wants to view specific non-priority tag data, the user can issue a request, so that even non-priority tag data can be quickly viewed.

[0033] The priority reception unit 11 of this modified example is configured to receive priority designation only from the administrator terminal 51. When classifying tag data into priority tag data and non-priority tag data, if the number of types of priority tag data increases too much, there is a possibility that the network occupancy rate will always be excessive (above the threshold). In this case, not only will the transmission of non-priority tag data be delayed, but there is also a risk that delays will occur in the transmission of priority tag data. In contrast, with the above configuration of this modified example, only the administrator terminal 51 can designate priority tag data, so that the risk of the network occupancy always being excessive can be avoided.

[0034] <Other embodiments of the present invention> Although the embodiment of the present invention has been specifically described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0035] For example, in the above embodiment, the tag data is divided into priority tag data and non-priority tag data based on the priority designation from the user terminal 50. However, an upper limit may be set for the designation of priority tag data. This makes it possible to avoid the risk of the number of types of priority tag data increasing too much and the network occupancy rate always becoming excessive.

[0036] Furthermore, for example, the present invention can also be applied to cases where multiple overseas factories are monitored and controlled. In this case, tag data from multiple overseas factories can be handled individually using one tag data communication device 10, thereby reducing the cost of introducing the system. In this case, the communication status ascertaining unit 12 may be configured to individually ascertain the communication status of the network of each overseas factory using, for example, an IP address. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 10 Tag data communication device 11 Priority Reception Department 12 Communication Status Monitoring Department 13 Tag data acquisition unit 14 Non-priority request reception section 20 Domestic Servers 30 Overseas Factory Server 40 Factory Equipment 50 User terminals 51 Administrator terminal 52 General terminals 100 Factory monitoring and control system

Claims

1. A tag data communication device that transmits tag data stored in an overseas factory server to a domestic server via a network, a priority receiving unit that receives a priority designation from a user terminal for each type of tag data; a communication status ascertaining unit that ascertains a communication status of the network from a communication speed of the tag data; a tag data acquisition unit that requests the overseas factory server to transmit the tag data according to the priority and the communication status, the priority reception unit classifies the tag data into priority tag data to be constantly transmitted to the domestic server and non-priority tag data other than the priority tag data based on the designated priority; the communication status ascertainment unit calculates a network occupancy rate, which is a ratio of the communication volume of the priority tag data to the communication volume of the entire network, based on the communication speed of the priority tag data; The tag data acquisition unit is a tag data communication device that requests the overseas factory server to transmit the non-priority tag data only when the network occupancy rate is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold.

2. The tag data communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the priority reception unit, the communication status grasping unit, and the tag data acquisition unit are provided in the domestic server.

3. a non-priority request receiving unit that receives a request for the non-priority tag data from the user terminal; 3. The tag data communication device according to claim 1, wherein the tag data acquisition unit requests the overseas factory server to transmit non-priority tag data for which the request has been accepted in priority over non-priority tag data for which the request has not been accepted.

4. The tag data communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the priority acceptance unit accepts the designation of the priority only from a user terminal having administrator authority.

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