Update device, indoor / outdoor unit, update system, update method, and program

Abstract

To provide an update device and the like that do not erroneously notify an error during program update.SOLUTION: An update device is a device connected to a communication line that connects a plurality of indoor / outdoor units, and includes: an error notification disabling instruction section that instructs the indoor / outdoor units not to notify an error even if a reply is not received from an indoor / outdoor unit to be updated; an update processing section that performs a program update process for the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated; and an error notification enabling instruction section that instructs the indoor / outdoor units to notify an error if a reply is not received from the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an update device, an indoor / outdoor unit, an update system, an update method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] In air conditioners, programs are sometimes updated to add or change functions. There is known technology that makes it easy to update programs by using a communication line that connects the outdoor unit and indoor unit (hereinafter, the outdoor unit and indoor unit are also collectively referred to as "indoor / outdoor unit") that make up the air conditioner (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses technology for an air conditioning apparatus that can cut off the power supply to the outdoor unit while the apparatus is not in operation, to avoid erroneously detecting a communication anomaly when the indoor unit and outdoor unit are unable to communicate when the power supply to the outdoor unit is cut off. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 3819583 [Patent Document 2] JP 2013-139893 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Normally, indoor and outdoor units belonging to the same refrigerant system exchange control signals with each other, even if they are not operating. Some of these control signals require a reply from the other party. For example, when an indoor unit in operation receives a specific request signal (control signal) from an outdoor unit or a central controller, it replies with a response signal (control signal) indicating the operating state of the indoor unit. Even if an indoor unit is not operating, when it receives a specific request signal from the outdoor unit or a central controller, it replies with a response signal indicating that the indoor unit is "stopped." If an outdoor unit or the like that has sent a request signal as described above does not receive a reply from the other party within a specified period of time, it will determine that there may be some kind of abnormality with the other party or the communication system, and will notify an operator or the like of an error (issue an error report).

[0006] Indoor and outdoor units are normally in a stopped state while their programs are being updated, but because they are updating their programs, they cannot return a response signal indicating that they are "stopped" in response to a request signal from the outdoor unit, etc. As a result, an error notification may be sent even though there is no abnormality in the communication system.

[0007] The present disclosure has an object to provide an update device, an indoor / outdoor unit, an update system, an update method, and a program that do not erroneously notify an error during a program update. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The update device disclosed herein is a device connected to a communication line connecting multiple indoor and outdoor units, and includes an error notification disable instruction unit that instructs the multiple indoor and outdoor units not to issue an error notification even if no reply is received from the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated, an update processing unit that performs program update processing on the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated, and an error notification enable instruction unit that instructs the multiple indoor and outdoor units to issue an error notification if no reply is received from the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated.

[0009] In addition, the indoor / outdoor unit of the present disclosure comprises a control signal transmitting / receiving unit which transmits and receives control signals between external indoor / outdoor units or a centralized controller via a communication line; an error notification unit which issues an error notification if no reply is received from a specified indoor / outdoor unit within a specified time after transmitting the control signal addressed to the specified indoor / outdoor unit; and an error notification setting unit which, when receiving a specified error notification disabling instruction bearing the address of the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated from the update device, sets the error notification to disabled for the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated, and when receiving a specified error notification enabling instruction from the update device, sets the error notification to enabled for the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated, and the error notification unit does not issue an error notification if no reply is received from the indoor / outdoor unit for which error notification has been disabled within a specified time after transmitting the control signal.

[0010] In addition, the indoor / outdoor unit of the present disclosure comprises a control signal transmitting / receiving unit which transmits and receives control signals between external indoor / outdoor units or a centralized controller via a communication line; an error notification unit which issues an error notification when no reply is received from a specified indoor / outdoor unit within a specified time after transmitting the control signal addressed to the specified indoor / outdoor unit; and an error notification setting unit which, when receiving a specified error notification disabling instruction bearing the address of the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated from the update device, sets the error notification to disabled for the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated, and when receiving a specified error notification enabling instruction from the update device, sets the error notification to enabled for the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated, and the control signal transmitting / receiving unit does not transmit and receive the control signal between the indoor / outdoor unit for which the error notification disabled setting has been received.

[0011] An update system according to the present disclosure includes the above-described update device and the above-described indoor / outdoor unit.

[0012] In addition, the updating method disclosed herein is a method using an updating device connected to a communication line connecting multiple indoor and outdoor units, and includes the steps of: instructing the multiple indoor and outdoor units not to issue an error notification even if no reply is received from the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated; performing a program update process on the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated; and instructing the multiple indoor and outdoor units to issue an error notification if no reply is received from the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated.

[0013] In addition, the program disclosed herein causes an update device connected to a communication line connecting multiple indoor and outdoor units to execute the steps of instructing the multiple indoor and outdoor units not to issue an error notification even if no reply is received from the indoor and outdoor unit to be updated, performing a program update process on the indoor and outdoor unit to be updated, and instructing the multiple indoor and outdoor units to issue an error notification if no reply is received from the indoor and outdoor unit to be updated. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the above-described update device, indoor / outdoor unit, update system, update method, and program, it is possible to prevent an error notification from being erroneously issued during a program update. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an update system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a first diagram showing a functional configuration of an update device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a second diagram showing the functional configuration of the update device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the indoor / outdoor unit according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the updating device and the indoor / outdoor units according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the indoor / outdoor units and the centralized controller according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a process flow of the indoor / outdoor units and the central controller according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] <First embodiment> The update system according to the first embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

[0017] (Overall composition) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an update system according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the update system 9 is a system for updating the control programs of the outdoor units 11a, 11b and the indoor units 11c, 11d, and 11e that constitute the air conditioning system 1. The update system 9 includes an air conditioning system 1 including a centralized controller 10 and a plurality of indoor and outdoor units 11 (outdoor units 11a, 11b and indoor units 11c, 11d, 11e), and an update device 2.

[0018] The air conditioning system 1 will now be described. The air conditioning system 1 is, for example, a commercial package air conditioner installed in a building. The air conditioning system 1 has a central controller 10, and a plurality of outdoor units 11a, 11b and indoor units 11c, 11d, and 11e. Hereinafter, the plurality of outdoor units 11a, 11b and the indoor units 11c, 11d, and 11e are also collectively referred to as the indoor / outdoor units 11.

[0019] The central controller 10 is a control panel that centrally controls the operation of a plurality of indoor and outdoor units 11. The indoor and outdoor units 11 are connected to each other through a common refrigerant pipe (not shown) for each refrigerant system, and realize indoor air conditioning by heat exchange via the refrigerant circulating through the refrigerant pipe. The indoor and outdoor units 11 operate according to operation commands (heating / cooling operation, set temperature, etc.) given by the central controller 10.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the components of the air conditioning system 1 (a central controller 10 and indoor / outdoor units 11) are connected via a single communication line L so as to be able to communicate with each other. Typically, the centralized controller 10 and the indoor / outdoor units 11 exchange control signals with each other at regular intervals (for example, one-second intervals) via the communication line L. Specifically, the control signals are operation commands (heating / cooling operation, set temperature, etc.) for each indoor / outdoor unit 11 and signals (anomaly detection signal, etc.) indicating the individual states of the indoor / outdoor units 11. By constantly sending and receiving such control signals between the constituent devices, the air conditioning system 1 can immediately reflect changes in operation, for example, when there is a change in the set temperature, and can immediately execute protective action (emergency stop, etc.) when an abnormality occurs.

[0021] The above-mentioned control signals include those that request a reply from the transmission destination. For example, if the indoor unit 11c is in operation, when the indoor unit 11c in operation receives a predetermined request signal (control signal) from the outdoor units 11a, 11b or the centralized controller 10, it replies with a response signal (control signal) indicating the operating state of the indoor unit. Also, for example, if the indoor unit 11e is not in operation, when the indoor unit 11e receives a predetermined request signal from the outdoor units 11a, 11b or the centralized controller 10, it replies with a response signal indicating that the indoor unit is "stopped."

[0022] Next, the update device 2 will be described. The update device 2 is a terminal device used when updating the control programs of the indoor and outdoor units 11 that constitute the air conditioning system 1. The update device 2 may be, for example, a portable notebook PC or a tablet terminal. A worker (serviceman) in charge of the air conditioning system 1 connects the update device 2 to a communication line L when updating the control programs of the indoor and outdoor units 11. The worker then designates one indoor and outdoor unit 11 to be the target of the control program update through the update device 2, and executes the update process to a new control program.

[0023] It should be noted that the control program of the indoor / outdoor unit 11 cannot be updated while the unit is in operation. Therefore, the worker designates an indoor / outdoor unit 11 that is not in operation (stopped) as the target for updating the control program. In the example of FIG. 1, for example, if the indoor unit 11c is stopped and the other indoor / outdoor units 11 are in operation, the worker designates the indoor unit 11c as the target for updating the control program. In this case, even if the control program for the indoor unit 11c is being updated, control signals are exchanged between the indoor / outdoor units 11 other than the indoor unit 11c, or between the indoor / outdoor units 11 other than the indoor unit 11c and the centralized controller 10 via the communication line L.

[0024] (Functional configuration of the update device) 2 and 3 are diagrams showing the functional configuration of the update device according to the first embodiment. 2, the update device 2 has a configuration as a general terminal device. That is, the update device 2 includes a CPU 20, a memory 21, an output means 22 such as a display, an input means 23 such as a mouse, a keyboard, or a touch pad, a communication interface 24, and a recording medium 25. In this embodiment, the communication interface 24 of the update device 2 can be connected to an external connection terminal of the communication line L (FIG. 1). Also, the recording medium 25 stores a control program for updating and the like.

[0025] Next, the function of the CPU 20 will be described with reference to FIG. The CPU 20 operates according to a predetermined program prepared in advance to fulfill the functions of an error notification invalidation instruction unit 200, an update processing unit 201, and an error notification validity instruction unit 202.

[0026] The error notification disable instruction unit 200 transmits a signal (hereinafter also referred to as an "error notification disable instruction") to the multiple indoor / outdoor units 11 instructing them not to issue an error notification even if no reply is received from the indoor / outdoor unit 11 that is the target of updating the control program. Specifically, the error notification disable instruction unit 200 specifies the address of the indoor / outdoor unit 11 that is the target of updating the control program, and transmits the error notification disable instruction to all the indoor / outdoor units 11 and the centralized controller 10 connected to the communication line L.

[0027] The update processing unit 201 performs update processing of the control program for the indoor / outdoor unit 11 that is the target.

[0028] The error notification enable instruction unit 202 transmits a signal (hereinafter also referred to as an "error notification enable instruction") to the multiple indoor / outdoor units 11 instructing them to issue an error notification when no reply is received from the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be updated. Specifically, the error notification enable instruction unit 202 specifies the address of the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be updated for the control program, and transmits an error notification enable instruction to all the indoor / outdoor units 11 and the centralized controller 10 connected to the communication line L. As a result, all the indoor / outdoor units 11 and the centralized controller 10 return to the state before receiving the error notification disable signal (i.e., the state in which an error notification is issued when no reply is received from the target to which a request signal was sent).

[0029] (Functional configuration of indoor and outdoor units) FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the indoor and outdoor units according to the first embodiment. Next, the function of the indoor / outdoor unit 11 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 110 of the indoor / outdoor unit 11 fulfills the functions of a control signal transmitting / receiving section 1100, an error notifying section 1101, an instruction receiving section 1102, and an error notification setting section 1103. The control signal transmitting / receiving unit 1100 periodically transmits and receives control signals to and from the external indoor / outdoor units 11 or the central controller 10 via the communication line L during operation. When a response is not received from a specific indoor / outdoor unit 11 within a specific time after a control signal addressed to the specific indoor / outdoor unit 11 is transmitted, the error notification unit 1101 issues an error notification (error alert) to an operator. The instruction receiving unit 1102 receives an error notification invalidation instruction and an error notification validation instruction from the update device 2 . When the error notification setting unit 1103 receives an error notification disable instruction with the address of the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated from the update device 2, it sets the error notification to be disabled for the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be updated. Also, when the error notification setting unit 1103 receives an error notification enable instruction from the update device 2, it sets the error notification to be enabled for the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be updated.

[0030] The centralized controller 10 has the same functional configuration (a control signal transmitting / receiving unit 1100, an error notifying unit 1101, an instruction receiving unit 1102, and an error notification setting unit 1103) as the indoor / outdoor unit 11 shown in Fig. 4. The functional configuration of the centralized controller 10 is not shown in the figure.

[0031] (Processing flow of update device and indoor / outdoor units) FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the updating device and the indoor / outdoor units according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the processing flow of the updating device 2 and the indoor / outdoor unit 11 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0032] The processing flow shown in FIG. 5 is executed when the update device 2 starts the update processing of the control program for the target indoor / outdoor unit 11 (the indoor unit 11c whose operation is stopped).

[0033] First, the error notification invalidation instruction unit 200 of the update device 2 transmits an error notification invalidation instruction to the centralized control unit 10 and all the indoor / outdoor units 11 via the communication line L (step S01). At this time, the error notification invalidation instruction unit 200 transmits the error notification invalidation instruction together with the address of the indoor / outdoor unit 11 (e.g., the indoor unit 11e) that is the target of updating the control program.

[0034] The centralized controller 10 and each indoor / outdoor unit 11 (instruction receiving unit 1102) receive an error notification disable instruction from the update device 2 (step S11). The centralized controller 10 and each indoor / outdoor unit 11 (error notification setting unit 1103) set the error notification to be disabled upon receiving the error notification disable instruction (step S12). Setting the error notification to be disabled is specifically a process of setting flag information (1=enabled / 0=disabled) in the internal memory, which indicates whether the error notification is enabled or disabled, to 0 (disabled). As a result, the centralized control unit 10 and each indoor / outdoor unit 11 are set so as not to issue an error notification even if a response signal is not received from the indoor / outdoor unit 11 (indoor unit 11e) specified by the address.

[0035] Next, the update processing unit 201 of the update device 2 executes a program update process for the indoor unit 11c via the communication line L (step S02). As a result, the control program of the indoor unit 11c is updated.

[0036] When the program update process for the indoor unit 11c is completed, the error notification activation instruction unit 202 of the update device 2 then transmits an error notification activation instruction to the centralized control device 10 and all of the indoor and outdoor units 11 via the communication line L (step S03). At this time, the centralized controller 10 and each indoor / outdoor unit 11 (instruction receiving unit 1102) receive an instruction to enable error notification (step S13). Having received the instruction to enable error notification, the centralized controller 10 and each indoor / outdoor unit 11 set error notification to enabled (step S14). Setting error notification to enabled is, specifically, a process of setting flag information in an internal memory, which indicates whether error notification is enabled or disabled, to 1 (enabled). As a result, the centralized controller 10 and each indoor / outdoor unit 11 return their settings related to error notification to their original state (the state before error notification was disabled).

[0037] (Processing of indoor and outdoor units and centralized controller) FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the indoor / outdoor units and the central controller according to the first embodiment. The processing flow shown in FIG. 6 is executed periodically during operation of the indoor / outdoor units 11 and the centralized controller 10 that are not the targets of updating the control programs, when exchanging control signals with other indoor / outdoor units 11.

[0038] First, the control signal transmitting / receiving unit 1100 of the centralized controller 10 or each indoor / outdoor unit 11 specifies the address of the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be the communication target (the destination of the request signal) (step S21). Next, the control signal transmitting / receiving unit 1100 transmits the request signal to the communication line L with the address specified in step S21 (the address of the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be the communication target) attached (step S22).

[0039] Next, the control signal transmitting / receiving unit 1100 waits for a response signal from the destination indoor / outdoor unit 11. Here, the control signal transmitting / receiving unit 1100 determines whether or not a response signal has been received within a predetermined time after transmission (step S23).

[0040] If a reply signal is received from the destination indoor / outdoor unit 11 before the specified time has elapsed (step S23; YES), the centralized control unit 10 or the indoor / outdoor unit 11 ends the process without issuing an error notification since communication with the communication target has been properly established.

[0041] If no reply signal is received even after a predetermined time has elapsed (step S23; NO), the centralized controller 10 or the error notification unit 1101 of each indoor / outdoor unit 11 judges whether the address designated in step S21 is an address for which the error notification has been disabled (step S24). The judgment of whether the error notification has been disabled is made by referring to the above-mentioned flag information (1=enabled / 0=disabled).

[0042] If the address specified in step S21 is an address for which the error notification is disabled (step S24; YES), it can be determined that the indoor / outdoor unit 11 is in a state where it cannot return a response signal because the control program is being updated. Therefore, the centralized controller 10 or the indoor / outdoor unit 11 ends the process without issuing an error notification.

[0043] If the address specified in step S21 is not an address for which the error notification is disabled (step S24; NO), it can be determined that the indoor / outdoor unit 11 is in a state in which it cannot return a response signal even though the control program is not being updated. Therefore, the error notification unit 1101 notifies the operator of the error (step S25).

[0044] (Action and effect) According to the update system 9 described above, the update device 2 can change the setting of the error notification to be enabled / disabled for the centralized controller 10 and each indoor / outdoor unit 11 when there is no response signal from a specific indoor / outdoor unit 11 (the indoor / outdoor unit 11 for which the control program is to be updated). Furthermore, when the error notification is set to be disabled, the centralized controller 10 and each indoor / outdoor unit 11 do not issue an error notification even when they do not receive a response signal from the communication partner. This makes it possible to prevent the centralized controller 10 and each indoor / outdoor unit 11 from erroneously issuing an error notification when they do not receive a response signal from the indoor / outdoor unit 11 whose control program is being updated.

[0045] As described above, according to the update system 9 according to the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent an error from being erroneously notified even during a program update.

[0046] <Second embodiment> Next, an update system according to the second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The overall configuration and functional configuration of the update system according to the second embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0047] (Processing of indoor and outdoor units and centralized controller) FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a process flow of the indoor / outdoor units and the central controller. The update system 9 according to the second embodiment executes a process flow shown in Fig. 7 instead of the process flow shown in Fig. 6 described in the first embodiment. Specifically, the process is as follows.

[0048] First, the control signal transmitting / receiving unit 1100 of the centralized controller 10 or each indoor / outdoor unit 11 specifies the address of the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be the communication target (destination of the request signal) (step S31). Next, the control signal transmitting / receiving unit 1100 judges whether the address specified in step S31 is an address for which the error notification has been disabled (step S32). The judgment of whether the error notification has been disabled is made by referring to the above-mentioned flag information (1=enabled / 0=disabled).

[0049] If the address specified in step S31 is an address for which the error notification is disabled (step S32; YES), the control signal transmitting / receiving unit 1100 ends the process without transmitting a control signal. In other words, the centralized controller 10 and the indoor / outdoor unit 11 do not transmit a request signal to an address for which the error notification is disabled.

[0050] If the address specified in step S31 is not an address for which error notification has been disabled (step S32; NO), the control signal transmitting / receiving unit 1100 transmits a request signal to the communication line L with the address specified in step S31 (the address of the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be communicated with) attached (step S33).

[0051] Next, the control signal transmitting / receiving unit 1100 waits for a response signal from the destination indoor / outdoor unit 11. Here, the control signal transmitting / receiving unit 1100 determines whether or not the response signal has been received within a predetermined time (step S34).

[0052] If a reply signal is received from the destination indoor / outdoor unit 11 before the specified time has elapsed (step S34; YES), the centralized control unit 10 or the indoor / outdoor unit 11 ends the process without issuing an error notification since communication with the communication target has been properly established.

[0053] If no reply signal is received even after a predetermined time has elapsed (step S34; NO), it can be determined that the indoor / outdoor unit 11 is in a state in which it cannot return a reply signal even though the control program of the indoor / outdoor unit 11 is not being updated (a control signal is not sent to an indoor / outdoor unit 11 in the first place when the control program of the indoor / outdoor unit 11 is being updated). Therefore, the error notification unit 1101 notifies the operator of the error (step S35).

[0054] (Action and effect) According to the update system 9 described above, since no control signal is sent to the indoor / outdoor unit 11 during a control program update, erroneous error notifications can be suppressed by simpler processing, and the communication line usage rate can be reduced by not sending unnecessary control signals that do not elicit a response.

[0055] In the above-described embodiment, the various processes of the updating device 2 and the indoor / outdoor unit 11 are stored in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of a program, and the above-described various processes are performed by the computer reading and executing the program. The computer-readable recording medium refers to a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a semiconductor memory, etc. The computer program may be distributed to a computer via a communication line, and the computer that receives the program may execute the program.

[0056] The program may be for implementing some of the above-mentioned functions, or may be a so-called differential file (differential program) that can implement the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

[0057] As described above, several embodiments according to the present disclosure have been described, but all of these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as described in the claims, as well as in the scope and gist of the invention.

[0058] <Additional Notes> The updating device 2, the indoor / outdoor unit 11, the updating system 9, the updating method and the program described in each embodiment can be understood, for example, as follows.

[0059] (1) The update device 2 in the first aspect is a device connected to a communication line L connecting multiple indoor / outdoor units 11, and includes an error notification disable instruction unit 200 that instructs the multiple indoor / outdoor units 11 not to issue an error notification even if no reply is received from the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be updated, an update processing unit 201 that performs program update processing on the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be updated, and an error notification enable instruction unit 202 that instructs the multiple indoor / outdoor units 11 to issue an error notification if no reply is received from the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated.

[0060] (2) According to the update device 2 of the second aspect, the error notification disable instruction unit 200 further instructs the centralized control unit 10 connected to the communication line L not to issue an error notification even if no reply is received from the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be updated.

[0061] (3) According to the update device 2 of the third aspect, the error notification activation instruction unit 202 further instructs the centralized control unit 10 connected to the communication line L to send an error notification when no reply is received from the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be updated.

[0062] (4) The indoor / outdoor unit 11 according to the fourth aspect includes a control signal transmitting / receiving unit 1100 which transmits and receives control signals between an external indoor / outdoor unit 11 or a centralized controller 10 via a communication line L, an error notification unit 1101 which issues an error notification when no reply is received from a specific indoor / outdoor unit 11 within a specific time after transmitting the control signal addressed to the specific indoor / outdoor unit 11, and an error notification setting unit 1103 which, when receiving a specific error notification disabling instruction bearing the address of the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be updated from the update device 2, sets the error notification to disabled for the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be updated, and when receiving a specific error notification enabling instruction from the update device, sets the error notification to enabled for the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated. The error notification unit 1101 is configured not to issue an error notification if it does not receive a reply from the indoor / outdoor unit 11 for which the error notification is set to be disabled within a predetermined time after transmitting the control signal.

[0063] (5) The indoor / outdoor unit 11 according to the fifth aspect includes a control signal transmitting / receiving unit 1100 which transmits and receives control signals between an external indoor / outdoor unit 11 or a centralized controller 10 via a communication line L, an error notification unit 1101 which issues an error notification when no reply is received from a specific indoor / outdoor unit 11 within a specific time after transmitting the control signal addressed to the specific indoor / outdoor unit 11, and an error notification setting unit 1103 which, when receiving a specific error notification disabling instruction bearing the address of the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be updated from the update device 2, sets the error notification to disabled for the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be updated, and when receiving a specific error notification enabling instruction from the update device, sets the error notification to enabled for the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated. The control signal transmitting / receiving unit 1100 does not transmit or receive the control signal to or from the indoor / outdoor unit 11 for which the error notification is set to be disabled.

[0064] (6) An update system 9 according to a sixth aspect includes the update device 2 according to any one of (1) to (3) and the indoor / outdoor unit 11 according to (4) or (5).

[0065] (7) An updating method according to a seventh aspect is a method using an updating device 2 connected to a communication line L connecting multiple indoor / outdoor units 11, and includes the steps of: instructing the multiple indoor / outdoor units 11 not to issue an error notification even if no reply is received from the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be updated; performing a program update process on the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be updated; and instructing the multiple indoor / outdoor units 11 to issue an error notification if no reply is received from the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be updated.

[0066] (8) The program according to the eighth aspect causes an update device 2 connected to a communication line L connecting multiple indoor / outdoor units 11 to execute the steps of instructing the multiple indoor / outdoor units 11 not to issue an error notification even if no reply is received from the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be updated, performing a program update process on the indoor / outdoor unit 11 to be updated, and instructing the multiple indoor / outdoor units 11 to issue an error notification if no reply is received from the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1. Air conditioning system 10 Centralized Controller 11 Indoor / outdoor unit 11a, 11b outdoor unit 11c, 11d, 11e indoor unit 110 CPU 1100 Control signal transmission / reception unit 1101 Error notification section 1102 Instruction receiving unit 1103 Error notification setting section 2 Update device 20 CPU 200 Error notification disable instruction 201 Update processing section 202 Error notification enable instruction section 21 Memory 22 Output Method 23 Input Method 24 Communication Interface 25 Recording media 9 Update System

Claims

1. A device connected to a communication line connecting multiple indoor and outdoor units, an error notification disable instruction unit that transmits an error notification disable instruction to the indoor / outdoor units by specifying an address of the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated and instructing not to notify an error even if a reply is not received from the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated; an update processing unit that performs program update processing on the indoor / outdoor units to be updated; an error notification enable instruction unit that transmits, to a plurality of indoor and outdoor units, an error notification enable instruction for instructing to issue an error notification when no reply is received from the indoor and outdoor unit to be updated by specifying the address of the indoor and outdoor unit to be updated; An update device comprising:

2. The error notification disable instruction unit further transmits, to a centralized control device connected to the communication line, an error notification disable instruction for instructing not to notify an error even if a reply is not received from the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated by specifying the address of the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated. The update device according to claim 1 .

3. The error notification enable instruction unit further transmits an error notification enable instruction to a centralized control device connected to the communication line, the error notification enable instruction instructing the centralized control device to issue an error notification when no reply is received from the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated by specifying the address of the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated. The update device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. a control signal transmitting / receiving unit for transmitting and receiving a control signal between the indoor / outdoor unit or the central controller via a communication line; an error notification unit that issues an error notification when a reply is not received from a specific indoor / outdoor unit within a specific time after the control signal addressed to the specific indoor / outdoor unit is transmitted; When a predetermined error notification disabling instruction with the address of the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated is received from the update device, the error notification is disabled for the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated; an error notification setting unit that, when receiving a predetermined error notification enabling instruction with an address of the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated from the update device, sets the error notification to be enabled for the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated; Equipped with The error notification unit does not issue an error notification if it does not receive a reply from the indoor / outdoor unit for which the error notification is disabled within a predetermined time after transmitting the control signal. Indoor / outdoor unit.

5. The control signal transmitting / receiving unit does not transmit or receive the control signal to or from the indoor / outdoor unit for which the error notification is disabled. The indoor / outdoor unit according to claim 4.

6. An update device according to any one of claims 1 to 3; The indoor / outdoor unit according to claim 4 or 5, An update system comprising:

7. A method using an update device connected to a communication line connecting multiple indoor and outdoor units, a step of specifying an address of an indoor / outdoor unit to be updated to a plurality of indoor / outdoor units, and transmitting an error notification disable instruction to instruct not to notify an error even if a reply is not received from the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated; performing a program update process on the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated; a step of transmitting an error notification enable instruction to a plurality of indoor and outdoor units, the error notification enable instruction instructing that an error notification be issued when no reply is received from the indoor and outdoor unit to be updated, by specifying an address of the indoor and outdoor unit to be updated; The update method has the following structure:

8. An update device connected to a communication line connecting multiple indoor and outdoor units, a step of specifying an address of an indoor / outdoor unit to be updated to a plurality of indoor / outdoor units, and transmitting an error notification disable instruction to instruct not to notify an error even if a reply is not received from the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated; performing a program update process on the indoor / outdoor unit to be updated; a step of transmitting an error notification enable instruction to a plurality of indoor and outdoor units, the error notification enable instruction instructing that an error notification be issued when no reply is received from the indoor and outdoor unit to be updated, by specifying an address of the indoor and outdoor unit to be updated; A program that executes the following.

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