ENGINEERING APPARATUS AND ENGINEERING METHOD

Abstract

To enable the omission of configured data after alteration into engineering data to be prevented when the configured data having been set to a target device is altered.SOLUTION: An engineering device 10 comprises: a communication unit 102 for performing communication with a target device which is a discretionary device selected from a plurality of devices; a data acquisition unit 1032 for acquiring, from a target device, at least a portion of configured data having been set to the target device; an acceptance unit 106 for accepting an alteration instruction for the acquired data; a transmission unit 107 for transmitting, to the target device, data altered according the alteration instruction; and a data reflection unit 1042 which, upon receiving, from the target device, a notification signal notifying that reflection of the altered data is normally complete, causes the altered data after alteration to be reflected in engineering data registered in a first holding unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an engineering apparatus and an engineering method for performing various settings on devices that constitute a facility monitoring system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known an engineering device that creates setting data for operating a plurality of devices (e.g., a primary device and a secondary device) that monitor or control equipment installed in a facility (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The engineering device creates setting data for each device, and constructs a facility monitoring system by having each device download (receive) the created setting data. Each device operates based on the setting data downloaded from the engineering device, and monitors or controls other devices other than itself, or one or more pieces of equipment installed in the facility.

[0003] For example, a facility monitoring system includes a primary device, a secondary device connected to the primary device, and equipment connected to the secondary device. The primary device operates based on configuration data downloaded from an engineering device to monitor or control the secondary device. The secondary device operates based on configuration data downloaded from the engineering device to monitor or control the equipment.

[0004] When constructing a facility monitoring system, the engineering device operates in an engineering mode and, for example, displays a setting screen on the display device. The setting screen is a screen for creating and checking setting data, and has items (cells) that indicate the setting data. Then, an administrator or the like performs engineering work by creating setting data using the setting screen. Then, the engineering device stores data that compiles the setting data obtained by the engineering work of the administrator or the like in a single storage unit (database) as engineering data.

[0005] The engineering device may also operate in a connect mode. When operating in the connect mode, the engineering device directly connects to a device and writes, for example, setting data to the connected device (see, for example, Patent Document 2). When operating in the connect mode, the engineering device may also obtain, from the connected device, setting data (hereinafter also referred to as "pre-configured data") that has already been configured in the device.

[0006] For example, in response to an instruction from an administrator, etc., the engineering device obtains data (hereinafter also referred to as "screen configuration data") necessary for configuring a specific display screen from the set data already set in the connected device, configures the display screen, and displays it on the display device. The engineering device may also receive an instruction from the administrator, etc. to change the screen configuration data via the display screen.

[0007] In addition, such display screens have a large amount of information per screen, and it is often difficult to display a large amount of information on one screen. Therefore, multiple display screens are prepared in advance in the engineering device, and information according to the purpose is displayed on each screen according to the instruction of the administrator, etc. In addition, in the engineering device, from the viewpoint of reducing the amount of communication and suppressing a decrease in the screen display speed, screen configuration data required to configure the display screen is obtained from the connected device every time the display screen is switched according to the instruction of the administrator, etc., or periodically for the same display screen, and the display screen is configured. In addition, the engineering device is equipped with a device search function, and the administrator, etc., can narrow down the devices that he or she wishes to connect to in connect mode from among many devices.

[0008] Incidentally, a conventional engineering device includes a storage unit (database) 200 used when operating in the connect mode, separate from a storage unit 100 used when operating in the engineering mode, as shown in Fig. 13. The former storage unit 200 is mainly used to temporarily store set data (e.g., screen configuration data) acquired from a connected device (hereinafter also referred to as a "target device") 300 when the engineering device operates in the connect mode, or set data changed as a result of the operation of the target device 300. The latter storage unit 100 is mainly used to store engineering data acquired by an engineering operation by an administrator or the like in the engineering mode, i.e., setting data set for a plurality of devices including the target device 300.

[0009] As shown in FIG. 14, the two storage units basically have the same data structure, but there is also a data area that is used only in connect mode (the portion of the data structure in storage unit 200 shown in FIG. 14 indicated by diagonal lines).

[0010] The reason why the engineering device is provided with a storage unit for each mode is as follows. For example, before the manager or the like creates engineering data, the manager or the like may want to check the configured data set in a device installed at the site, such as a facility. In such a case, the engineering device connects to the device installed at the site in connect mode, acquires the configured data from the device, and displays it on the display screen. At this time, it is convenient to be able to temporarily store the configured data acquired from the device in an area separate from the area for storing the engineering data, so the engineering device is provided with a storage unit for each mode.

[0011] Also, for example, when an administrator or the like uses the engineering mode to create engineering data for a first site and registers it in the storage unit, and then wants to check the configured data of a device installed in a second site different from the first site, if the storage unit is not separate for each mode, it may be difficult for the administrator or the like to distinguish and manage the data for different sites. For this reason, the engineering device is provided with a storage unit for each mode. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0012] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-160909 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2019-139699 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] Meanwhile, as described above, in the conventional engineering device, in the connect mode, it is possible to change the screen configuration data acquired from the target device. At that time, the engineering device acquires screen configuration data required to configure a specific display screen from the target device 300 in response to an instruction from an administrator or the like. Then, the engineering device registers the acquired screen configuration data in the storage unit 200, generates a display screen using the acquired screen configuration data, and displays it on the display device.

[0014] Thereafter, the engineering device receives an instruction to change the screen configuration data from an administrator or the like via the display screen. Upon receiving this instruction, the engineering device transmits the changed screen configuration data received together with the instruction to the target device 300. The target device 300 changes the screen configuration data held therein to the changed screen configuration data received from the engineering device, and when the change is normally completed, transmits a signal to that effect (hereinafter also referred to as a "normal end signal") to the engineering device. Upon receiving the normal end signal from the target device 300, the engineering device changes the screen configuration data held in the holding unit 200 to the changed screen configuration data. The engineering device executes the above process every time the display screen is changed by an instruction from an administrator or the like, and discards the screen configuration data registered in the holding unit 200 when the administrator or the like instructs the end of the connect mode.

[0015] Here, the engineering device needs to reflect the changed screen configuration data in the engineering data stored in the storage unit 100. If this reflection is not performed, when the engineering data is written to the target device 300, the changed screen configuration data written in the target device 300 will revert to the state before the change. However, in the engineering device, as shown in Fig. 15, in the connect mode, the changed screen configuration data cannot be reflected in the engineering data.

[0016] Therefore, the engineering device operates in a difference check mode. In the difference check mode, the engineering device acquires (backs up) configured data 310 including the changed screen configuration data from a target device 300 designated by an administrator or the like, compares the acquired configured data 310 with the engineering data registered in the storage unit 100 to extract differences, and imports the extracted differences into the engineering data registered in the storage unit 100, as shown in FIG. 16 .

[0017] However, since the import of differences in the difference check mode as described above is performed by specifying each target device 300, if the administrator or the like has given change instructions to the screen configuration data for a large number of target devices 300, the administrator or the like may forget to import the differences for some of the target devices 300.

[0018] For example, as shown in Fig. 17, when an administrator or the like changes the screen configuration data for four target devices 301 to 304, the administrator or the like should normally reflect the above changes for the four target devices. However, if the administrator or the like forgets that he or she has changed the screen configuration data for the target device 304, the changed screen configuration data for this target device 304 is not imported into the engineering data, resulting in an omission of import.

[0019] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide an engineering apparatus that can prevent the failure of incorporating changed set data into engineering data when the changed set data is changed in a target device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0020] The engineering device of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a communication unit that communicates with a target device, which is an arbitrary device selected from a plurality of devices for monitoring or controlling equipment installed within a facility; a data acquisition unit that acquires at least a portion of the configured data, which is setting data set in the target device, from the target device via the communication unit; a reception unit that accepts change instructions for the data acquired from the target device by the data acquisition unit; a transmission unit that transmits data changed according to the change instructions accepted by the reception unit to the target device; and a data reflection unit that, after transmitting the changed data by the transmission unit, reflects the changed data in engineering data that summarizes the setting data for a plurality of devices registered in a first holding unit when a signal is received from the target device notifying that the reflection of the changed data in the setting data set in the target device has been successfully completed. Effect of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention, since it is configured as described above, when the set data set in the target device is changed, it is possible to prevent the changed set data from being omitted from being incorporated into the engineering data. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a facility monitoring system including an engineering device according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the configuration of an engineering device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation of pre-reflection by the engineering device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation after advance reflection by the engineering device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overview of advance reflection by a first reflection unit in the first embodiment. [Figure 6]4A to 4C are diagrams for explaining effects achieved by the engineering device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating another effect of the engineering device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an engineering device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the engineering device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an outline of an operation example of the engineering device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an engineering device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an engineering device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a holding unit in a conventional engineering device. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of a storage unit in a conventional engineering device. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of a conventional engineering device. [Figure 16] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of a conventional engineering device. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of a conventional engineering device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Embodiment 1 Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a facility monitoring system 1000 including an engineering device 10 according to embodiment 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the facility monitoring system 1000 includes the engineering device 10, a primary device 20, and a secondary device 30. The engineering device 10, the primary device 20, and the secondary device 30 are connected via a network.

[0024] 1, the facility monitoring system 1000 is provided with one primary device 20 and three secondary devices 30, but the numbers of primary devices 20 and secondary devices 30 are not limited to this. Also, the secondary device 30 is connected to a device to be controlled or monitored, but the illustration of this device is omitted in FIG.

[0025] The engineering device 10 performs engineering processing including the creation of the setting data described above, and constructs the facility monitoring system 1000. The setting data is, for example, setting data for the primary device 20 for the primary device 20 to monitor or control the secondary device 30 under its control, and setting data for the secondary device 30 for the secondary device 30 to monitor or control the equipment under its control. The engineering device 10 also stores data that combines the setting data for the primary device 20 and the setting data for the secondary device 30 as engineering data in a first storage unit 1101 (see FIG. 2).

[0026] The primary device 20 downloads from the engineering device 10 the configuration data corresponding to itself from the engineering data held by the engineering device 10, and monitors or controls the secondary devices 30 under its control by operating based on the downloaded configuration data.

[0027] The secondary device 30 downloads setting data corresponding to itself from the engineering data held by the engineering device 10, and operates based on the downloaded setting data to monitor or control the equipment under its control. The equipment is installed in a facility and is composed of, for example, a sensor, a thermometer, a motor, a damper, or a power meter.

[0028] Next, a configuration example of the engineering device 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0029] 2, the engineering device 10 includes a registration unit 101 (engineering data registration unit 1011 and acquired data registration unit 1012), a communication unit 102, an acquisition unit 103 (pre-acquisition unit 1031 and data acquisition unit 1032), a reflection unit 104 (pre-reflection unit 1041 and data reflection unit 1042), a display control unit 105, a reception unit 106, a transmission unit 107, a reception unit 108, and a storage unit 110 (first storage unit 1101 and second storage unit 1102). The engineering device 10 is also connected to a display device 50 such as a display.

[0030] The engineering data registration unit 1011 registers in the first holding unit 1101 engineering data that summarizes the setting data to be set for multiple devices (primary device 20 and secondary device 30) for monitoring or controlling equipment installed within the facility.

[0031] The communication unit 102 communicates with a target device, which is an arbitrary device selected by an administrator or the like from among a plurality of devices. The target device is a device to which the engineering device 10 is connected when the engineering device 10 operates in a connect mode.

[0032] The advance acquisition unit 1031 acquires, from the target device via the communication unit 102, configured data, which is configuration data configured in the target device.

[0033] The advance reflection unit 1041 reflects the set data acquired by the advance acquisition unit 1031 in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101. Hereinafter, the reflection by the advance reflection unit 1041 is also referred to as "advance reflection".

[0034] The display control unit 105 causes the display device 50 to display a predetermined display screen in response to an instruction from an administrator or the like.

[0035] After the pre-reflection by the pre-reflection unit 1041, the data acquisition unit 1032 acquires at least a part of the set data from the target device via the communication unit 102. For example, after the pre-reflection by the pre-reflection unit 1041, the data acquisition unit 1032 acquires screen configuration data, which is necessary for configuring a display screen to be displayed on the display device 50 by the display control unit 105, from the target device via the communication unit 102.

[0036] The acquired data registration unit 1012 registers the data (eg, screen configuration data) acquired by the data acquisition unit 1032 in the second storage unit 1102.

[0037] The accepting unit 106 accepts an instruction to change the data (eg, screen configuration data) acquired by the data acquiring unit 1032.

[0038] The transmitting unit 107 transmits the data changed according to the change instruction received by the receiving unit 106 to the target device.

[0039] The receiving unit 108 receives, from the target device, a signal (normal end signal) notifying that the reflection of the changed data on the set data set in the target device has normally ended.

[0040] When a normal end signal is received by the receiving unit 108, the data reflecting unit 1042 reflects the changed data in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101. Note that when a normal end signal is received by the receiving unit 108, the data reflecting unit 1042 may reflect the changed data in the data registered in the second holding unit 1102.

[0041] The first holding unit 1101 holds various types of information used in the engineering mode by the engineering device 10. For example, the first holding unit 1101 holds the engineering data registered by the engineering data registration unit 1011.

[0042] The second holding unit 1102 holds various types of information used in the connect mode by the engineering device 10. For example, the second holding unit 1102 holds data acquired by the data acquisition unit 1032 (at least a part of the set data).

[0043] The first holding unit 1101 and the second holding unit 1102 are configured, for example, with a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a memory, etc. Also, the first holding unit 1101 and the second holding unit 1102 basically have the same data structure as described in FIG.

[0044] In addition, while FIG. 2 shows a case where the first holding unit 1101 and the second holding unit 1102 are provided inside the engineering device 10, the first holding unit 1101 and the second holding unit 1102 may also be provided outside the engineering device 10.

[0045] In addition, the functions of the registration unit 101, the communication unit 102, the acquisition unit 103, the reflection unit 104, the display control unit 105, the reception unit 106, the transmission unit 107, and the reception unit 108 are realized, for example, by a CPU (Central Processing Unit, not shown) provided in the engineering device 10 executing a predetermined program expanded in a memory, not shown.

[0046] In addition, FIG. 2 shows a case where the registration unit 101, the pre-acquisition unit 1031, the pre-reflection unit 1041, and the display control unit 105 are provided in the engineering device 10, but these units are not essential components and may be omitted.

[0047] Next, an operation example of the engineering device 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Note that, hereinafter, the above-mentioned operation example of pre-reflection will be described first with reference to Fig. 3, and then an operation example after pre-reflection will be described with reference to Fig. 4. In addition, in the following description, it is assumed that the engineering device 10 operates in connect mode, and that engineering data has been registered in advance in the first holding unit 1101 by the engineering data registration unit 1011.

[0048] First, the communication unit 102 communicates with a target device (for example, the secondary device 30) which is an arbitrary device selected by an administrator or the like from among a plurality of devices (step ST301).

[0049] Next, the advance acquisition unit 1031 acquires, from the target device via the communication unit 102, set data, which is setting data set in the target device (step ST302).

[0050] Next, the advance reflection unit 1041 reflects the set data acquired by the advance acquisition unit 1031 in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101 (step ST303).

[0051] In this way, in the advance reflection, the engineering device 10 reflects the set data acquired from the target device in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101. At that time, the engineering device 10 performs the reflection without going through the operation in the difference check mode described above by linking the engineering mode with the connect mode.

[0052] As a result, in the engineering device 10, as shown in FIG. 5, the configured data 310 acquired from the target device (e.g., the secondary device 30) matches the configuration data for the target device among the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101.

[0053] Note that the pre-reflection described in the above steps ST301 to ST303 does not necessarily have to be performed. For example, if it is clear that the configured data 310 acquired from the target device matches the configuration data for the target device among the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101, the above pre-reflection does not have to be performed.

[0054] Next, an example of operation of the engineering device 10 according to the first embodiment after pre-reflection will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 4. In the following description, it is assumed that the data acquisition unit 1032 acquires screen configuration data, which is among the set data, from the target device and is required for configuring a display screen to be displayed on the display device 50 by the display control unit 105.

[0055] First, the data acquisition unit 1032 acquires, from the target device via the communication unit 102, screen configuration data from the set data necessary for configuring the display screen to be displayed on the display device 50 by the display control unit 105 (step ST401).

[0056] Next, the acquired data registration section 1012 registers the screen configuration data acquired by the data acquisition section 1032 in the second holding section 1102 (step ST402).

[0057] Next, the reception unit 106 receives, for example, from the administrator via the display screen, an instruction to change the screen configuration data acquired by the data acquisition unit 1032 (step ST403). When the reception unit 106 receives an instruction to change from the administrator, the display control unit 105 may display, for example, yellow on the display screen, the display color of the item portion for which the instruction to change has been accepted.

[0058] Next, the transmitting section 107 transmits the screen configuration data after the change based on the change instruction accepted by the accepting section 106 to the target device (step ST404).

[0059] Thereafter, the target device receives the changed screen configuration data and reflects the changed screen configuration data to the set data set in the target device. If the change in the screen configuration data is reflected successfully, the target device transmits a signal (normal end signal) notifying the engineering device 10 of the fact that the change in the screen configuration data has been reflected successfully. On the other hand, if the change in the screen configuration data is not reflected successfully, the target device does not transmit the normal end signal or transmits a signal (abnormal signal) notifying the engineering device 10 of the fact that the change in the screen configuration data has not been reflected successfully.

[0060] Next, the receiving unit 108 receives a signal (normal end signal) from the target device notifying that the reflection of the changed screen configuration data has been normally completed (step ST405). At this time, the display control unit 105 may change the display color of the item part for which the change instruction has been accepted, for example, from yellow to blue on the display screen.

[0061] Next, when a normal end signal is received by the receiving unit 108, the data reflecting unit 1042 reflects the changed screen configuration data in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101 (step ST406).

[0062] Next, when a normal end signal is received by the receiving unit 108, the data reflecting unit 1042 reflects the changed screen configuration data in the screen configuration data registered in the second holding unit 1102 (step ST407).

[0063] In addition, in step ST405, if the receiving unit 108 does not receive a normal end signal (i.e., if an abnormality signal is received from the target device, or if a normal end signal is not received even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the changed screen configuration data was transmitted to the target device), the processes of steps ST406 and ST407 are not performed. In this case, the display control unit 105 may change the display color of the item portion on the display screen for which a change instruction has been accepted from yellow to red, for example. In addition, the processes of steps ST402 and ST407 are not essential and may be omitted.

[0064] In the above description, an example has been described in which the data acquisition unit 1032 acquires, from the set data, screen configuration data necessary for configuring the display screen displayed on the display device 50, from the target device in accordance with a designation by an administrator, etc. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the data acquisition unit 1032 may acquire data other than the screen configuration data from the set data, from the target device in accordance with a designation by an administrator, etc.

[0065] In this way, the engineering device 10 first performs pre-reflection to match the engineering data held in the first holding unit 1101 with the configured data acquired from the target device. Then, under this premise, when an administrator or the like issues an instruction to change at least a portion of the configured data acquired from the target device (e.g., screen configuration data), the engineering device 10 links the engineering mode and the connector mode to reflect the change in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101 without going through the difference check mode, as shown in FIG.

[0066] As a result, in the engineering device 10 according to the first embodiment, when an instruction to change at least a part of the set data is given in the connect mode, the change is quickly reflected in the engineering data, preventing the changed data from being omitted from being imported into the engineering data as described in Fig. 17. In addition, since it is not necessary to go through the difference check mode when importing data as in the conventional case, the work of the administrator and the like is also reduced.

[0067] In addition, conventionally, administrators, fearing the occurrence of such an omission of import, may perform wasteful processing such as acquiring configured data from devices that do not actually need to import configured data and reflecting the data in the engineering data. In this regard, in the engineering device 10 according to the first embodiment, when an instruction is given to change at least a part of the configured data in the connect mode, the change is quickly reflected in the engineering data, eliminating the need for such wasteful processing.

[0068] Furthermore, the following effect can be expected as another effect of the engineering device 10. For example, if multiple administrators connect to the same device using the connect mode of the engineering device 10 and each administrator issues a change instruction to a different part of the configured data of the device, one administrator can extract the part changed by the other administrator as a difference.

[0069] 7, for example, administrator A copies the engineering data registered in the first storage unit 1101a of his / her own engineering device 10 to the first storage unit 1101b of administrator B's engineering device 10, and administrators A and B connect to the same secondary device 30 using the connect mode of their respective engineering devices 10. In this case, as a division of labor, administrator A is in charge of editing screen configuration data x of display screen X, and administrator B is in charge of editing screen configuration data y of display screen Y different from display screen X.

[0070] Manager A uses his own engineering device 10 to acquire screen configuration data x for configuring display screen X from the secondary device 30, and causes the display device to display the display screen X based on the acquired screen configuration data x. Manager A issues an instruction to change this screen configuration data x, and transmits the changed screen configuration data x' to the secondary device 30. Upon receiving a normal completion signal from the secondary device 30 indicating that the change to the screen configuration data x' has been successfully completed, manager A's engineering device 10 reflects the changed screen configuration data x' in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101a.

[0071] Similarly, the administrator B uses his own engineering device 10 to obtain screen configuration data y for configuring a display screen Y from the secondary device 30, and displays the display screen Y on a display device based on the obtained screen configuration data y. The administrator B issues an instruction to change the screen configuration data y, and transmits the changed screen configuration data y' to the secondary device 30. Upon receiving a normal completion signal from the secondary device 30 indicating that the change to the screen configuration data y' has been successfully completed, the engineering device 10 of the administrator B reflects the changed screen configuration data y' in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101b.

[0072] Through the above process, both the changed screen configuration data x' and the changed screen configuration data y' are written in the secondary device 30. After the above process is completed, the administrator A acquires (backs up) the set data 310 from the secondary device 30 using the difference check mode of the engineering device 10, and extracts the difference between the acquired set data 310 and the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101a. Then, since the changed screen configuration data x' has already been reflected in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101a, only the changed screen configuration data y', i.e., the content changed by the administrator B, is extracted as the difference. This allows the administrator A to easily understand the content changed by the administrator B.

[0073] Similarly, administrator B uses the difference check mode of the engineering device 10 to acquire (back up) the configured data 310 from the secondary device 30, and extracts the difference between the acquired configured data 310 and the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101b. Then, since the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101b already reflects the changed screen configuration data y', only the changed screen configuration data x', i.e., the contents changed by administrator A, is extracted as the difference. This allows administrator B to easily understand the contents changed by administrator A.

[0074] In this regard, in a conventional engineering device, when differences are extracted in the above-mentioned manner, both the changed screen configuration data x' and the changed screen configuration data y' are extracted as differences in the engineering devices of the managers A and B. Therefore, it is difficult for each manager to easily grasp only the changes made by managers other than himself. This problem is solved by the engineering device 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0075] As described above, according to the first embodiment, the engineering device 10 includes the communication unit 102 that communicates with a target device, which is an arbitrary device selected from a plurality of devices for monitoring or controlling equipment installed in a facility, the data acquisition unit 1032 that acquires at least a part of the set data, which is the setting data set in the target device, from the target device via the communication unit 102, the reception unit 106 that receives a change instruction for the data acquired from the target device by the data acquisition unit 1032, the transmission unit 107 that transmits the data changed according to the change instruction received by the reception unit 106 to the target device, and the data reflection unit 1042 that reflects the changed data in engineering data that is a compilation of the setting data for a plurality of devices registered in the first holding unit 1101, when a signal notifying that the reflection of the changed data in the setting data set in the target device has been normally completed is received from the target device after the transmission of the changed data by the transmission unit 107. This makes it possible for the engineering device 10 to prevent the changed set data from being omitted from being incorporated into the engineering data when the changed set data set in the target device is changed.

[0076] The engineering device 10 also includes a pre-acquisition unit 1031 that acquires set data from the target device via the communication unit 102, and a pre-reflection unit 1041 that reflects the set data acquired by the pre-acquisition unit 1031 in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101, and the data acquisition unit 1032 acquires at least a part of the set data after the reflection by the pre-reflection unit 1041. This allows the engineering device 10 to reflect the set data acquired from the target device in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101 before the data acquisition unit 1032 acquires data from the target device.

[0077] Furthermore, the data acquisition unit 1032 acquires screen configuration data necessary for configuring a predetermined display screen from the set data from the target device via the communication unit 102. This makes it possible for the engineering device 10 to prevent the failure of incorporating the changed screen configuration data into the engineering data when screen configuration data necessary for configuring a predetermined display screen is changed from among the set data set in the target device.

[0078] The engineering device 10 also includes an acquired data registration unit 1012 that registers the data acquired by the data acquisition unit 1032 in the second holding unit 1102, and when the data reflection unit 1042 receives a signal from the target device notifying that the updated data has been successfully reflected in the setting data set in the target device after the transmission unit 107 has transmitted the updated data, the data reflection unit 1042 reflects the updated data in the data registered in the second holding unit 1102. This allows the engineering device 10 to hold the set data acquired from the target device and the changed set data in an area separate from the engineering data.

[0079] Embodiment 2 In the first embodiment, an example is described in which when at least a part of the set data set in a target device is changed, it is possible to prevent the changed data from being omitted from being incorporated into the engineering data. In the second embodiment, an example is described in which when an engineering device connects to a target device in a connect mode, it is possible to determine whether the target device is a device permitted to connect (communicate) with.

[0080] In engineering work, multiple administrators each use their own engineering device 10. In this case, there may be cases where the administrators are assigned to different devices, for example, administrator A connects to the primary device 20 in connect mode, and administrator B connects to the secondary device 30 in connect mode. In such cases, it may be sufficient for each administrator to hold engineering data including at least the setting data for the device for which he or she is responsible, even if the engineering data does not include engineering data that summarizes the setting data for all devices.

[0081] Therefore, in the second embodiment, the linkage between the connect mode and the engineering mode (engineering data) described in the first embodiment is utilized, and when the engineering equipment connects to the target device in the connect mode, the engineering equipment refers to the engineering data to determine whether the target device is a device that is permitted to connect (communicate).

[0082] 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an engineering device 10b according to the second embodiment. In the engineering device 10b according to the second embodiment, the first holding unit 1101 is changed to a first holding unit 1101b, and a determination unit 121, a communication setting unit 122, and an output unit 123 are added to the engineering device 10 according to the first embodiment. Since the other configurations of the engineering device 10b are similar to those of the engineering device 10 according to the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are used and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0083] The first holding unit 1101b holds engineering data in which identification information (e.g., device ID) of a device that is permitted to communicate with the communication unit 102 among multiple devices is associated with setting data for that device. Note that the device that is permitted to communicate with the communication unit 102 is, for example, a device that the administrator is responsible for.

[0084] The determination unit 121 determines whether or not the same identification information as the identification information of the target device is included in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101b.

[0085] When the judgment unit 121 judges that the identification information identical to the identification information of the target device is included in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101b, the communication setting unit 122 maintains communication with the target device via the communication unit 102.

[0086] On the other hand, if the judgment unit 121 determines that the engineering data stored in the first storage unit 1101b does not contain identification information identical to the identification information of the target device, the communication setting unit 122 blocks communication with the target device by the communication unit 102.

[0087] When communication with the target device by the communication unit 102 is interrupted by the communication setting unit 122, the output unit 123 outputs a warning that the communication has been interrupted. For example, the output unit 123 displays a message on the display device 50 that the communication has been interrupted.

[0088] Next, an example of the operation of the engineering device 10b according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to a flowchart in FIG.

[0089] In the following operation example, for ease of understanding, it is assumed that the engineering device 10b connects to the secondary device 30 (secondary devices 31 to 34) in connect mode as shown in Fig. 10. It is also assumed that the first holding unit 1101b has registered in advance engineering data in which identification information of two secondary devices 31 and 32, with which communication by the communication unit 102 is permitted, among the secondary devices 30, is associated with setting data for the secondary devices 31 and 32.

[0090] First, the communication unit 102 communicates with the secondary device 30 selected by an administrator or the like from among a plurality of devices (step ST901).

[0091] Next, the judgment unit 121 judges whether or not the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101b contains identification information identical to the identification information of the secondary device 30 (target device) with which communication is being performed by the communication unit 102 (step ST902).

[0092] As a result, if the judgment unit 121 judges that the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101b contains identification information identical to the identification information of the secondary device 30 with which communication is being established by the communication unit 102 (step ST902; YES), the communication setting unit 122 maintains communication with the secondary device 30 via the communication unit 102 (step ST903).

[0093] On the other hand, if the judgment unit 121 judges that the identification information identical to the identification information of the secondary device 30 with which the communication unit 102 is communicating is not included in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101b (step ST902; NO), the communication setting unit 122 cuts off communication with the secondary device 30 by the communication unit 102 (step ST904).

[0094] Next, the output unit 123 outputs a warning to the effect that the communication with the secondary device 30 by the communication unit 102 has been cut off by the communication setting unit 122 (step ST905). Note that this step ST905 may be omitted.

[0095] As a result of the above processing, the engineering device 10b maintains communication with the secondary devices 31 and 32, while blocking communication with the secondary devices 33 and 34, as indicated by "◯" or "X" in FIG. 10.

[0096] As described above, according to the second embodiment, the engineering device 10b includes: a first holding unit 1101b that registers engineering data in which identification information of a device that is permitted to communicate through the communication unit 102 among a plurality of devices is associated with setting data for the permitted device; a determination unit 121 that determines whether or not identification information identical to the identification information of a target device is included in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101b; and a communication setting unit 122 that maintains communication with the target device through the communication unit 102 when the determination unit 121 determines that the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101b includes identification information identical to the identification information of the target device; and that cuts off communication with the target device through the communication unit 102 when the determination unit 121 determines that the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101b does not include identification information identical to the identification information of the target device. This allows the engineering device 10b to communicate only with target devices that have been permitted to communicate in advance, and can reliably cut off communication with other target devices.

[0097] Furthermore, the engineering device 10b includes an output unit 123 that outputs a warning to the effect that communication with the target device via the communication unit 102 has been cut off when the communication setting unit 122 has cut off the communication. This allows the administrator or the like to easily understand that communication with the target device has been cut off.

[0098] Embodiment 3 In the third embodiment, an example will be described in which the difference check mode is used to compare the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101 with the data acquired from the target device in the connect mode (a part of the set data).

[0099] For example, as described above, the screen configuration data is a part of the set data set in the target device. Therefore, by comparing such a part of the set data with the engineering data, the set data as a whole is compared with the engineering data in small data units (screen configuration data units), and the work time can be reduced compared to the case of comparing with the entire set data.

[0100] 11 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an engineering device 10c according to embodiment 3. The engineering device 10c according to embodiment 3 is obtained by adding a second data acquisition unit 1033 and a data integration unit 132 to the engineering device 10 according to embodiment 1. Since the other configurations of the engineering device 10c are similar to those of the engineering device 10 according to embodiment 1, the same reference numerals are used and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0101] The second data acquisition unit 1033 acquires a part of the set data from the target device via the communication unit 102. For example, the second data acquisition unit 1033 acquires screen configuration data, which is necessary for configuring a display screen to be displayed on the display device 50 by the display control unit 105, from the target device via the communication unit 102.

[0102] At this time, the acquired data registration unit 1012 may register the data acquired by the second data acquisition unit 1033 in the second holding unit 1102 .

[0103] The data integration unit 132 extracts a difference between the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101 and the data acquired by the second data acquisition unit 1033 (a part of the set data), and reflects the extracted difference in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101. The reflection by the data integration unit 132 is performed in a difference check mode.

[0104] In addition, when the data acquired by the second data acquisition unit 1033 is registered in the second holding unit 1102, the data integration unit 132 may extract the difference between the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101 and the data registered in the second holding unit 1102, and reflect the extracted difference in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101.

[0105] As described above, in the difference check mode, the engineering device 10c according to the third embodiment compares the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101 with data acquired from the target device in the connect mode (a part of the set data), and reflects the difference in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101. In this case, the engineering device 10c compares the engineering data in small data units (for example, screen configuration data units) with the entire set data, and the operation time can be reduced compared to the case where the entire set data is acquired from the target device and compared with the engineering data.

[0106] In addition, as shown in FIG. 12, when the data acquired by the second data acquisition unit 1033 is registered in the second holding unit 1102, the data integration unit 132 can easily compare the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101 with the data registered in the second holding unit 1102 by directly comparing the two data without having to re-store the two data in, for example, a holding unit dedicated to the difference check mode.

[0107] As described above, according to the third embodiment, the engineering device 10c includes the second data acquisition unit 1033 that acquires, from the target device via the communication unit 102, a portion of the set data, which is the setting data set in the target device, and the data integration unit 132 that extracts a difference between the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101 and the data acquired by the second data acquisition unit 1033 and reflects the extracted difference in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit 1101. This allows the administrator or the like to make a comparison with the engineering data in display screen units (screen configuration data units) that they wish to compare, thereby reducing the work time compared to the case of comparing the entire set data with the engineering data.

[0108] In addition, within the scope of the present invention, the embodiments may be freely combined, or any of the components of the embodiments may be modified, or any of the components of the embodiments may be omitted. For example, in the above description, an example in which the first and third embodiments are combined is described, but the third embodiment may be combined with the second embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0109] 10, 10b, 10c Engineering Equipment 20 Primary Device 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 Secondary Devices 50 Display device 100 Holding part 101 Registration Department 102 Communications Department 103 Acquisition Department 104 Reflection section 105 Display control unit 106 Reception 107 Transmitter 108 Receiving section 110 Holding part 121 Judgment Department 122 Communication setting section 123 Output section 131 Acquisition Department 132 Data Integration Department 200 Holding part 300, 301, 302, 303, 304 Target Devices 310 Set Data 1000 Facility Monitoring System 1011 Engineering Data Registration Department 1012 Acquired data registration section 1031 Advance Acquisition Division 1032 Data Acquisition Department 1041 Pre-reflection section 1042 Data Reflection Department 1101 1st holding part 1101a 1st holding part 1101b 1st holding part 1102 Second holding part A, B Administrator X, Y display screen x, x´, y, y´ Screen configuration data

Claims

1. a communication unit that communicates with a target device, which is an arbitrary device selected from a plurality of devices for monitoring or controlling equipment installed in the facility; a data acquisition unit that acquires, from the target device via the communication unit, at least a part of configured data, which is configuration data that is configured in the target device; a reception unit that receives a change instruction for the data acquired from the target device by the data acquisition unit; a transmission unit that transmits data changed according to the change instruction received by the reception unit to the target device; a data reflecting unit that reflects the changed data in engineering data that is registered in a first holding unit and that is a compilation of the setting data for the plurality of devices when a signal is received from the target device notifying that the reflected changed data has been successfully reflected in the setting data set in the target device after the transmission unit has transmitted the changed data; Engineering equipment with.

2. a pre-acquisition unit that acquires configuration data from the target device via the communication unit; a pre-reflection unit that reflects the set data acquired by the pre-acquisition unit in the engineering data registered in the first storage unit, The data acquisition unit acquires at least a part of the set data after the pre-reflection unit reflects the set data.

2. The engineering device according to claim 1.

3. The data acquisition unit acquires screen configuration data, which is necessary for configuring a predetermined display screen, from the target device via the communication unit.

3. The engineering device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. an acquired data registration unit that registers the data acquired by the data acquisition unit in a second storage unit; The data reflection unit is After the transmission unit transmits the changed data, when a signal is received from the target device notifying that the reflected data of the changed data to the setting data set in the target device has been normally completed, the changed data is reflected in the data registered in the second holding unit.

4. An engineering device according to claim 1, wherein the engineering device is a computer.

5. the first holding unit registers engineering data in which identification information of a device, among the plurality of devices, for which communication by the communication unit is permitted is associated with setting data for the device for which communication is permitted; a determination unit that determines whether or not the engineering data registered in the first storage unit contains identification information identical to the identification information of the target device; When the determination unit determines that the same identification information as the identification information of the target device is included in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit, the communication unit maintains communication with the target device; a communication setting unit that, when the determination unit determines that identification information identical to the identification information of the target device is not included in the engineering data registered in the first holding unit, blocks communication with the target device by the communication unit; 5. The engineering device according to claim 1, further comprising:

6. 6. The engineering apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising an output section which, when communication setting section cuts off communication between said communication section and said target device, outputs a warning that said communication has been cut off.

7. a second data acquisition unit that acquires, from the target device via the communication unit, a portion of configured data that is configuration data set in the target device; a data integration unit that extracts a difference between the engineering data registered in the first storage unit and the data acquired by the second data acquisition unit, and reflects the extracted difference in the engineering data registered in the first storage unit; 7. The engineering device according to claim 1, further comprising:

8. An engineering method using an engineering device, comprising: A step in which a communication unit communicates with a target device which is an arbitrary device selected from a plurality of devices for monitoring or controlling equipment installed in a facility; A data acquisition unit acquires, from the target device via the communication unit, at least a part of configured data, which is configuration data set in the target device; a receiving unit receiving a change instruction for the data acquired from the target device by the data acquisition unit; a transmitting unit transmitting data changed according to the change instruction accepted by the accepting unit to the target device; a data reflecting unit, when receiving a signal from the target device notifying that reflecting of the changed data to the setting data set in the target device has been normally completed after the changed data has been transmitted by the transmitting unit, reflecting the changed data in engineering data that is a compilation of the setting data for the plurality of devices and that is registered in a first holding unit; The engineering method has the following features:

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