Expansion board, data collection system, data collection method, and program

Abstract

The expansion board (100) includes a first communication interface, a second communication interface, a third communication interface, and a control unit (114). The first communication interface is configured to be connectable to a first terminal device and enables communication with the first terminal device. The second communication interface is configured to be connectable to a second terminal device and enables communication with the second terminal device. The third communication interface is configured to be connectable to a network and enables communication with devices on the network. The control unit (114) controls the first communication interface, the second communication interface, and the third communication interface to perform communication. The control unit (114) communicates with devices on the network to collect data from the devices and transmits the collected data to the first terminal device, and transmits the collected data to the second terminal device when communication with the first terminal device is disconnected.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an expansion board, a data collection system, a data collection method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Industrial networks are used to link devices, including input devices, output devices, and controllers, using unique communication standards. In order to analyze data collected from devices on an industrial network using terminal devices with high processing power, such as personal computers, an expansion board is required to connect the terminal devices to the industrial network.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes an interface device including a PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) interface, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, and a system controller that controls the PCIe interface and the USB interface. The interface device can selectively switch the connection between the PCIe interface or the USB interface and the system controller. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-226457 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] According to the device described in Patent Document 1, two types of communication interfaces are implemented in a personal computer with one communication path, and the two types of communication interfaces can be switched. However, there is a problem that if the communication connected to the personal computer is cut off, the communication cannot be continued using either communication interface.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of such problems, and aims to provide an expansion board, a data collection system, a data collection method, and a program that can ensure connection redundancy and maintain a connection between a terminal device and an industrial network. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, an expansion board according to the present disclosure includes a first communication interface, a second communication interface, a third communication interface, and a control unit. The first communication interface is configured to be connectable to a first terminal device and enables communication with the connected first terminal device. The second communication interface is configured to be connectable to a second terminal device and enables communication with the connected second terminal device. The third communication interface is configured to be connectable to a network and enables communication with devices on the network. The control unit controls the first communication interface, the second communication interface, and the third communication interface to perform communication. The control unit communicates with devices on the network, collects data from the devices, and transmits the collected data to the first terminal device, and when communication with the first terminal device is disconnected, notifying the second terminal device that communication with the first terminal device has been disconnected; Transmit collected data to a second terminal device and when communication with the second terminal device is cut off, notify the first terminal device that communication with the second terminal device has been cut off, and transmit the collected data to the first terminal device and have the collected data stored therein. do. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an expansion board, a data collection system, a data collection method, and a program that can ensure connection redundancy and continue the connection between a terminal device and an industrial network. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data collection system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an extension board according to an embodiment; [Diagram 3]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an extension board according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of a data collection process executed by an expansion board according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5] 11 is a flowchart showing another example of the data collection process executed by the expansion board according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data collection system according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] A data collection system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6. In the drawings, identical or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. The data collection system 1 according to the embodiment is a system that collects data from devices on an industrial network and stores the data in a redundant manner in multiple terminal devices.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data collection system 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the data collection system 1 includes an expansion board 100 that is connected to an industrial network 400 and collects data, a terminal device 200 that is connected to the expansion board 100 via PCIe, and a terminal device 300 that is connected to the expansion board 100 via USB.

[0012] The expansion board 100 is a device that is connected to an industrial network 400 and collects data on the industrial network 400. The expansion board 100 is connected to the terminal device 200 via a PCIe interface 201 provided in the terminal device 200. The expansion board 100 communicates with the terminal device 200 via a driver software 202 installed in the terminal device 200. The expansion board 100 communicates with devices connected to the industrial network 400 and collects data based on communication setting information set via the driver software 202 installed in the terminal device 200.

[0013] The expansion board 100 is connected to the terminal device 300 via a USB interface 301 provided in the terminal device 300. The expansion board 100 communicates with the terminal device 300 via driver software 302 installed in the terminal device 300.

[0014] The terminal device 200 is a first terminal device that receives and stores data collected by the expansion board 100. The terminal device 200 includes a PCIe interface 201 that is connected to the expansion board 100, and driver software 202 that enables communication with the expansion board 100 and setting of communication setting information to the expansion board 100 is installed in the terminal device 200. The terminal device 200 may include a processing device, a storage device, and an interface, but these are not shown in the figure. The terminal device 200 may be, but is not limited to, a personal computer.

[0015] The terminal device 300 is a second terminal device that receives and stores data collected by the expansion board 100, similar to the terminal device 200. The terminal device 300 includes a USB interface 301 that is connected to the expansion board 100, and driver software 302 that enables communication with the expansion board 100 and setting communication setting information to the expansion board 100 is installed in the terminal device 300. The terminal device 300 may include a processing device, a storage device, and an interface, but these are not shown in the figure. The terminal device 300 may be, but is not limited to, a personal computer.

[0016] Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of the expansion board 100. As shown in Fig. 2, the expansion board 100 includes an electronic substrate 101 on which electronic components are arranged, a bus interface 102 which is a terminal connected to a terminal device 200, a USB port 103 which is a port conforming to the USB standard, an industrial network port 104 which is a port conforming to the standard of an industrial network 400, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 105 which visually notifies a user by lighting up or blinking, and an attachment part 106 which is a metal fitting formed so as to be fixed to a housing of the terminal device 200.

[0017] The electronic board 101 is an electronic board on which a circuit, a processing device, and a storage device are arranged. The electronic board 101 is placed on the mounting portion 106 and is connected to the bus interface 102, the industrial network port 104, the USB port 103, the mounting portion 106, and the LED 105.

[0018] The bus interface 102 is a connection terminal of the PCIe standard and is configured to be connectable to a slot of the PCIe standard. The bus interface 102 is connected to a PCIe interface 201 of the terminal device 200.

[0019] The USB port 103 is a port conforming to the USB standard and is configured to be connectable to a terminal conforming to the USB standard The USB port 103 is connected to the terminal device 300 via a USB cable.

[0020] The industrial network port 104 is a port that conforms to the industrial network 400 standards, and is configured to be connectable to a cable or an antenna that constitutes the industrial network 400 .

[0021] The LED 105 is a light-emitting member that can light up or blink. The LED 105 lights up or blinks to notify the user that an abnormality has occurred in the connection between the expansion board 100 and the terminal device 200 and the terminal device 300.

[0022] The mounting portion 106 is a member on which the electronic board 101, the bus interface 102, the USB port 103, the industrial network port 104, and the LED 105 are arranged, and is formed so as to be fixable to the housing of the terminal device 200 in a state in which the bus interface 102 is connected to the PCIe interface 201 of the terminal device 200. In other words, the mounting portion 106 is formed so as to be able to be arranged at a position corresponding to the PCIe expansion slot of the housing of the terminal device 200. The mounting portion 106 may be formed of metal or resin, but is not limited thereto.

[0023] Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the expansion board 100. As shown in Fig. 3, the expansion board 100 includes a PCIe communication unit 111 that controls PCIe communication with the terminal device 200, a USB communication unit 112 that controls USB communication with the terminal device 300, an industrial network communication unit 113 that controls communication with an industrial network, and a control unit 114 that collects data and determines an abnormality in the communication or the terminal.

[0024] The PCIe communication unit 111 is connected to a signal line of the bus interface 102 constituting the PCIe bus, and controls communication via the PCIe bus. The PCIe communication unit 111 recognizes the terminal device 200 connected via the PCIe bus, and controls communication with the terminal device 200. At least one of the PCIe communication unit 111 and the bus interface 102 constitutes a first communication interface.

[0025] The USB communication unit 112 is connected to a signal line of the USB port 103 constituting the USB, and controls communication via the USB. The USB communication unit 112 recognizes the terminal device 300 connected via the USB, and controls communication with the terminal device 300. At least one of the USB communication unit 112 and the USB port 103 constitutes a second communication interface.

[0026] The industrial network communication unit 113 is connected to a signal line of the industrial network port 104, and controls communication via the industrial network 400. The industrial network communication unit 113 recognizes devices on the industrial network 400, and controls communication with the devices on the industrial network 400. At least one of the industrial network communication unit 113 and the industrial network port 104 configures a third communication interface.

[0027] The control unit 114 controls the PCIe communication unit 111, the USB communication unit 112, and the industrial network 400 to communicate with the terminal device 200, the terminal device 300, and devices on the industrial network 400. The control unit 114 collects data from devices connected to the industrial network 400 via the PCIe communication unit 111, the USB communication unit 112, and the industrial network 400. The control unit 114 monitors the communication state between the extension board 100 and the terminal device 200 and the terminal device 300, as well as the operation state of the terminal device 200 and the terminal device 300, and notifies the user when it is determined that an abnormality has occurred. The control unit 114 may be, but is not limited to, a circuit.

[0028] The control unit 114 controls the industrial network communication unit 113 to collect industrial network data via the industrial network, and transmits the collected data to the terminal device 200 and the terminal device 300 to store them.

[0029] The following describes the process of the control unit 114 collecting data while monitoring access via the PCIe bus. The control unit 114 monitors the state of communication with the terminal device 200 via the PCIe bus, and when there is access from the terminal device 200 via the PCIe bus to the expansion board 100, transmits the collected industrial network data to the terminal device 200 via the PCIe bus and causes it to be stored.

[0030] The control unit 114 monitors the communication state with the terminal device 300 connected to the expansion board 100 via USB, and the operation state of the terminal device 300. If the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the USB communication as a result of monitoring the USB communication state, it notifies the terminal device 200 of the USB communication abnormality. If the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the operation of the terminal device 300 as a result of monitoring the operation state of the terminal device 300, it notifies the terminal device 200 of the USB side terminal operation abnormality.

[0031] When the driver software 202 installed in the terminal device 200 receives a USB communication abnormality or a USB-side terminal operation abnormality from the expansion board 100, it notifies the user that there is an abnormality in the USB communication or the operation of the terminal device 300, respectively.

[0032] When there is no access from the terminal device 200 to the expansion board 100 via the PCIe bus, the control unit 114 inquires of the terminal device 200 as to whether access is possible. When access to the terminal device 200 is impossible, the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the PCIe communication, and transmits the PCIe communication abnormality to the terminal device 300. When access to the terminal device 200 is possible, the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the operation of the terminal device 200, and transmits the PCIe side terminal operation abnormality to the terminal device 300. The abnormality in the operation of the terminal device 200 may include, but is not limited to, a software abnormality of the terminal device 200.

[0033] When a PCIe communication abnormality or a PCIe side terminal operation abnormality is transmitted from the expansion board 100, the driver software 302 installed in the terminal device 300 notifies the user that there is an abnormality in the PCIe communication or the operation of the terminal device 200, respectively.

[0034] The following describes the process in which the control unit 114 collects data while monitoring access via USB. The control unit 114 monitors the state of communication with the terminal device 300 via USB, and when there is access from the terminal device 300 via USB to the expansion board 100, transmits the collected industrial network data to the terminal device 300 via USB and causes it to be stored.

[0035] The control unit 114 monitors the communication state with the terminal device 200 connected to the expansion board 100 via the PCIe bus, and the operation state of the terminal device 200. If the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the PCIe communication as a result of monitoring the communication state of the PCIe bus, the control unit 114 transmits a PCIe communication abnormality to the terminal device 300. If the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the operation of the terminal device 200 as a result of monitoring the operation state of the terminal device 200, the control unit 114 transmits a PCIe side terminal operation abnormality to the terminal device 300.

[0036] A method for monitoring PCIe communication and notifying the terminal device 300 of an abnormality may include, but is not limited to, transmitting PCIe AER (Advanced Error Reporting) information to the terminal device 300.

[0037] When a PCIe communication abnormality or a PCIe side terminal operation abnormality is transmitted from the expansion board 100, the driver software 302 installed in the terminal device 300 notifies the user that there is an abnormality in the PCIe communication or the operation of the terminal device 200, respectively.

[0038] When there is no access from the terminal device 300 to the expansion board 100 via USB, the control unit 114 inquires of the terminal device 300 as to whether access is possible. When access to the terminal device 300 is impossible, the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the USB communication, and notifies the terminal device 200 of the USB communication abnormality. When access to the terminal device 300 is possible, the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the operation of the terminal device 300, and notifies the terminal device 200 of the USB side terminal operation abnormality.

[0039] When the driver software 202 installed in the terminal device 200 receives a USB communication abnormality or a USB-side terminal operation abnormality from the expansion board 100, it notifies the user that there is an abnormality in the USB communication or the operation of the terminal device 300, respectively.

[0040] The control unit 114 performs a process of monitoring PCIe communication and a process of monitoring USB communication in parallel. That is, if there is an abnormality in the PCIe communication or the PCIe-connected terminal device 200, the control unit 114 notifies the USB-connected terminal device 300, and if there is an abnormality in the USB communication or the USB-connected terminal device 300, the control unit 114 notifies the PCIe-connected terminal device 200.

[0041] When both PCIe communication and USB communication are inaccessible, i.e., when it is determined that at least one of a PCIe communication abnormality and a PCIe side terminal operation abnormality has occurred and at least one of a USB communication abnormality and a USB side terminal operation abnormality has occurred, the control unit 114 controls the LED 105 to light up or blink, to notify the user that both PCIe communication and USB communication are inaccessible.

[0042] When the driver software 202 of the terminal device 200 and the driver software 302 of the terminal device 300 determine that communication with the expansion board 100 has been cut off, they notify the user that communication with the expansion board 100 has been cut off.

[0043] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of data collection processing executed by the expansion board 100. The data collection processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0044] When the data collection process is started, the control unit 114 of the extension board 100 controls the industrial network communication unit 113 to collect data from the industrial network (step S101).

[0045] When the data of the industrial network is collected, the control unit 114 monitors the state of communication with the terminal device 200 via the PCIe bus and determines whether there is access from the terminal device 200 to the expansion board 100 via the PCIe bus (step S102).

[0046] If it is determined that there is access from the terminal device 200 to the expansion board 100 via the PCIe bus (step S102: YES), the control unit 114 transmits the collected industrial network data to the terminal device 200 via the PCIe bus (step S103).

[0047] When the data of the industrial network is transmitted, the control unit 114 monitors the communication state with the terminal device 300 connected to the expansion board 100 via USB and the operation state of the terminal device 300, and judges whether there is a USB communication abnormality or a USB-side terminal operation abnormality, that is, whether there is an abnormality on the USB side (step S104). If it is judged that there is no USB communication abnormality or a USB-side terminal operation abnormality (step S104: NO), the process proceeds to step S109.

[0048] If it is determined that there is a USB communication abnormality or a USB-side terminal operation abnormality (step S104: YES), the control unit 114 notifies the terminal device 200 of the USB communication abnormality or the USB-side terminal operation abnormality via the PCIe bus (step S105), and proceeds to step S109.

[0049] If it is determined that there is no access from the terminal device 200 to the expansion board 100 via the PCIe bus (step S102: NO), the control unit 114 determines whether access to the terminal device 200 via the PCIe bus is possible (step S106).

[0050] When it is determined that the terminal device 200 is accessible (step S106: YES), the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the operation of the terminal device 200, and judges the PCIe side terminal operation abnormality (step S107).

[0051] When it is determined that the terminal device 200 is not accessible (step S106: NO), the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the PCIe communication, and judges the PCIe communication abnormality (step S108).

[0052] When the PCIe side terminal operation abnormality or the PCIe communication abnormality is determined, the control unit 114 determines whether or not an instruction to end data collection has been given via the terminal device 200 (step S109). When it is determined that an instruction to end data collection has not been given (step S109: NO), the process returns to step S101.

[0053] If it is determined that an instruction to end data collection has been given (step S109: YES), the data collection process ends.

[0054] 5 is a flowchart showing another example of the data collection process executed by the expansion board 100. The data collection process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0055] When the data collection process is started, the control unit 114 of the extension board 100 controls the industrial network communication unit 113 to collect data from the industrial network (step S201).

[0056] When the data of the industrial network is collected, the control unit 114 monitors the state of communication with the terminal device 300 via the USB, and determines whether there is access from the terminal device 300 to the expansion board 100 via the USB (step S202).

[0057] If it is determined that there is access to the expansion board 100 from the terminal device 300 via the USB (step S202: YES), the control unit 114 transmits the collected industrial network data to the terminal device 300 via the USB (step S203).

[0058] When the data of the industrial network is transmitted, the control unit 114 monitors the communication state with the terminal device 200 connected to the expansion board 100 via PCIe and the operation state of the terminal device 200, and judges whether there is a PCIe communication abnormality or a PCIe side terminal operation abnormality, that is, whether there is an abnormality on the PCIe side (step S204). If it is judged that there is no PCIe communication abnormality or a PCIe side terminal operation abnormality (step S204: NO), the process proceeds to step S209.

[0059] If it is determined that there is a PCIe communication abnormality or a PCIe side terminal operation abnormality (step S204: YES), the control unit 114 notifies the terminal device 300 of the PCIe communication abnormality or the PCIe side terminal operation abnormality via the USB (step S205), and proceeds to step S209.

[0060] When it is determined that there is no access from the terminal device 300 via the USB to the expansion board 100 (step S202: NO), the control unit 114 determines whether or not the terminal device 300 is accessible via the USB (step S206).

[0061] If it is determined that the terminal device 300 is accessible (step S206: YES), the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the operation of the terminal device 300, and judges whether there is an abnormality in the USB-side terminal operation (step S207).

[0062] If it is determined that the terminal device 300 is not accessible (step S206: NO), the control unit 114 determines that there is an abnormality in the USB communication, and judges the USB communication abnormality (step S208).

[0063] When it is determined that there is a USB-side terminal operation abnormality or a USB communication abnormality, the control unit 114 determines whether or not an instruction to end data collection has been given via the terminal device 300 (step S209). When it is determined that an instruction to end data collection has not been given (step S209: NO), the process returns to step S201.

[0064] If it is determined that an instruction to end data collection has been given (step S209: YES), the data collection process ends.

[0065] With the above configuration and by executing data collection processing, the data collection system according to the embodiment can maintain the connection between the terminal device and the industrial network by connecting the expansion board, which connects to the industrial network, to the terminal device via PCIe and USB, ensuring connection redundancy.

[0066] In the data collection system according to the embodiment, when one of the PCIe communication and the USB communication is disconnected, the data collection system notifies the terminal device connected via the other communication that the connection has been disconnected, thereby enabling data to be saved at the time the connection was disconnected and enabling useful data to be used for maintaining the system to be secured.

[0067] (Modification) Although the extension board 100 has been described as being connected to the terminal device 200 via the PCIe interface 201 provided in the terminal device 200, this is not limited thereto. The extension board 100 may be connected to the terminal device 200 and communicate with it according to other standards including PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect).

[0068] Similarly, the extension board 100 is connected to the terminal device 300 via the USB interface 301 provided in the terminal device 300, but this is not limited thereto. The extension board 100 may be connected to the terminal device 200 and communicated according to other standards including PCI, or may communicate according to the same PCIe standard as the terminal device 200.

[0069] Although the expansion board 100 has been described as being connected to the terminal device 200 and the terminal device 300, this is not limiting. The expansion board 100 may be connected to one terminal device 200. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data collection system 1 according to a modified example. As shown in FIG. 6, the data collection system 1 includes the expansion board 100 and a terminal device 250 that is connected to the expansion board 100 via PCIe and USB. By connecting the expansion board 100 to one terminal device, it is possible to reduce the scale of the system.

[0070] The expansion board 100 has been described as communicating with the terminal device 200 connected via PCIe and the terminal device 300 connected via USB at the same time, but this is not limited thereto. The expansion board 100 may communicate only with the terminal device 200 connected via PCIe, and communicate with the terminal device 200 only when a PCIe communication abnormality or a PCIe side terminal operation abnormality is detected. The expansion board 100 may communicate only with the terminal device 300 connected via USB, and communicate with the terminal device 300 only when a USB communication abnormality or a USB side terminal operation abnormality is detected. By communicating only with either the terminal device 200 or the terminal device 300, it is possible to prevent the consumption of the processing capacity of the other device.

[0071] 4 and 5, the data collection process is ended when it is determined that an instruction to end data collection has been issued, but this is not limited thereto. When it is determined that at least one of a PCIe communication abnormality and a PCIe side terminal operation abnormality has occurred and at least one of a USB communication abnormality and a USB side terminal operation abnormality has occurred, the LED 105 may be controlled to notify the user that both PCIe communication and USB communication are inaccessible, and the data collection process may be ended.

[0072] The means and methods for performing various processes in the data collection system according to the embodiment can be realized by either a dedicated hardware circuit or a programmed computer. The program for the computer may be provided by a computer-readable recording medium including a flexible disk or a CD-ROM, or may be provided online via a network including the Internet. In this case, the program recorded on the computer-readable recording medium is usually transmitted to and stored in a storage unit including a hard disk. The program may be provided as a standalone application software, or may be incorporated into the software of the device as one of its functions.

[0073] Various embodiments and modifications of the present disclosure are possible without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The above-described embodiments are for explaining the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. That is, the scope of the present disclosure is indicated by the claims, not the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the scope of the disclosure equivalent thereto are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure. [Industrial Applicability]

[0074] The present disclosure can be used in an expansion board, a data collection system, a data collection method, and a program. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1 Data collection system, 100 Expansion board, 101 Electronic board, 102 Bus interface, 103 USB port, 104 Industrial network port, 105 LED, 106 Mounting section, 111 PCIe communication section, 112 USB communication section, 113 Industrial network communication section, 114 Control section, 200, 250, 300 Terminal device, 201 PCIe interface, 202, 302 Driver software, 301 USB interface, 400 Industrial network.

Claims

1. A first communication interface configured to be connectable to a first terminal device and enabling communication with the connected first terminal device; a second communication interface configured to be connectable to a second terminal device and enabling communication with the connected second terminal device; a third communication interface configured to be connectable to a network and enabling communication with devices on the network; a control unit that controls the first communication interface, the second communication interface, and the third communication interface to perform communication; the control unit communicates with the device on the network, collects data from the device, and transmits the collected data to the first terminal device; when communication with the first terminal device is disconnected, notifies the second terminal device that communication with the first terminal device has been disconnected, and transmits the collected data to the second terminal device to store it; when communication with the second terminal device is disconnected, notifies the first terminal device that communication with the second terminal device has been disconnected, and transmits the collected data to the first terminal device to store it; Expansion board.

2. the control unit transmits the collected data to the second terminal device even when communication with the first terminal device is not disconnected. The expansion board according to claim 1 .

3. The notification by the control unit to the second terminal device that communication with the first terminal device has been disconnected includes the control unit inquiring whether access to the first terminal device is possible when communication with the first terminal device has been disconnected, determining that there is an abnormality in communication via the first communication interface if access is not possible and notifying the second terminal device that there is an abnormality in communication via the first communication interface if access is possible, and determining that there is an abnormality in operation of the first terminal device if access is possible and notifying the second terminal device that there is an abnormality in operation of the first terminal device. The expansion board according to claim 1 .

4. The notification by the control unit to the first terminal device that communication with the second terminal device has been disconnected includes the control unit inquiring whether access to the second terminal device is possible when communication with the second terminal device is disconnected, determining that there is an abnormality in communication via the second communication interface if access is not possible and notifying the first terminal device that there is an abnormality in communication via the second communication interface if access is possible, and determining that there is an abnormality in operation of the second terminal device if access is possible and notifying the first terminal device that there is an abnormality in operation of the second terminal device. The expansion board according to claim 1 .

5. The first terminal device and the second terminal device are the same terminal device. The expansion board according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. the standard of the second communication interface is different from the standard of the first communication interface; The expansion board according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. An expansion board according to any one of claims 1 to 4; the first terminal device capable of communicating with the expansion board via the first communication interface; the second terminal device capable of communicating with the expansion board via the second communication interface; Data collection system.

8. a third communication interface configured to be connectable to a network and enabling communication with a device on the network, and collecting data from the device; transmitting the collected data to a first terminal device via a first communication interface configured to be connectable to a first terminal device and enabling communication with the first terminal device connected thereto; when communication with the first terminal device is disconnected, notifying the second terminal device via a second communication interface configured to be connectable to a second terminal device and enabling communication with the second terminal device connected thereto; transmitting the collected data to the second terminal device via the second communication interface to store the data; when communication with the second terminal device is disconnected, notifying the first terminal device that communication with the second terminal device has been disconnected, and transmitting the collected data to the first terminal device to store the data; Data collection methods.

9. On the computer, a third communication interface configured to be connectable to a network and enabling communication with a device on the network, and causing the device to collect data from the device; a first communication interface configured to be connectable to a first terminal device and enabling communication with the first terminal device connected thereto, and causing the collected data to be transmitted to a first terminal device via a first communication interface configured to be connectable to a first terminal device and enabling communication with the first terminal device; when communication with the first terminal device is disconnected, causing the second terminal device to be notified via a second communication interface configured to be connectable to a second terminal device and enabling communication with the second terminal device connected thereto, causing the collected data to be transmitted to the second terminal device via the second communication interface and stored in the second terminal device; when communication with the second terminal device is disconnected, causing the first terminal device to be notified that communication with the second terminal device has been disconnected, and causing the collected data to be transmitted to the first terminal device and stored in the first terminal device; program.

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