Circuit breaker monitoring system comprising electronic tag for transmitting information about circuit breaker, and collector for collecting information about circuit breaker

Abstract

The present invention relates to a circuit breaker monitoring system which comprises: a plurality of electronic tags for collecting power information about power supplied to a load through respective circuit breakers and state information related to the driving state of the circuit breaker; and a tag information collector for collecting circuit breaker information from the electronic tags, and which: transmits, to each electronic tag, a power information request for requesting transmission of the power information; transmits a state information request for requesting transmission of the state information to respective electronic tags a plurality of times before transmitting the power information request again; and determines the driving state of each circuit breaker connected to the respective electronic tags on the basis of whether the state information is received from each electronic tag in response to each state information request transmitted for each electronic tag.

Description

A circuit breaker monitoring system comprising an electronic tag that transmits information about the circuit breaker and a collector that collects information about the circuit breaker

[0001] The present invention relates to a circuit breaker monitoring system that collects power information and status information of a circuit breaker.

[0002] Typically, circuit breakers can cut off power to a load to protect it in the event of an abnormality in the supplied power. However, if the user fails to detect that the load has stopped operating when the power is cut off in this manner, they may suffer unforeseen damage (e.g., damage to medicines or food due to a refrigerator stopping). Furthermore, as technological advancements have led to an increase in the types and number of loads and consequently the number of circuit breakers that need to be managed, monitoring the operating status of circuit breakers is becoming increasingly difficult.

[0003] To solve these difficulties, a method has emerged in which multiple circuit breakers are connected to a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) using smart technology, and the operating status of the multiple circuit breakers is checked through information collected from the PLC. In addition, since the PLC must be capable of connecting a large number of DIs corresponding to the number of circuit breakers when connecting the DIs (Digital Inputs) of each circuit breaker to the PLC, a method has emerged to determine the operating status of each circuit breaker together using an electronic tag (E-tag) that transmits power information of the circuit breakers wirelessly.

[0004] In cases where the operating status of a circuit breaker is determined using power information collected from the circuit breaker as described above, the operating status of the circuit breaker can be determined based on the collection cycle of the power information. However, due to the nature of wirelessly transmitted data, there is a possibility of loss caused by noise or interference or collisions with other packet data; therefore, it is difficult to determine that the circuit breaker has been operated (power supply cut off) based on a single failure to receive power information. Accordingly, a collector that typically collects power information transmitted from an electronic tag can determine that the circuit breaker has been operated when power information is not collected for more than a preset number of times.

[0005] However, the size of data that an electronic tag can transmit at once is limited, and the power information to be transmitted is relatively larger than the data that the electronic tag can transmit. Therefore, electronic tags typically divide the aforementioned power information into multiple partial power data for transmission. Consequently, there is a problem in that, in typical cases, it takes time corresponding to the request and transmission of dozens to tens of partial power data for the collector to determine the operating status of the circuit breaker using a preset number of power information.

[0006] Furthermore, due to the nature of wirelessly transmitted data, there is a possibility of loss caused by delays and collisions resulting from different packet data for each partial power data. In the event of such loss, the collector may request the partial power data that was not received due to the loss, and the electronic tag that receives the request may retransmit the lost partial power data to the collector. Consequently, when a circuit breaker is activated, additional time may be required for the collector to determine the operating status of the circuit breaker due to the partial power data that is re-requested and re-received because of the loss. Moreover, there is a problem in that the user may suffer unexpected damage because they are unable to recognize the operation of the circuit breaker due to the long time required to determine its operating status.

[0007] The present invention aims to solve the aforementioned problems and other problems by providing a circuit breaker monitoring system capable of detecting the operating status of the switched circuit breaker more quickly when the circuit breaker is switched to an off state.

[0008] In addition, the objective of the present invention is to provide a circuit breaker monitoring system comprising a collector that requests data related to the operating status of a circuit breaker by separating information regarding the operating status of the circuit breaker from power information, and an electronic tag that transmits the operating status information of the circuit breaker to the collector in response to the request for operating status information.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention for achieving the above or other purposes, a tag information collector according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a communication unit that performs communication connection with a plurality of electronic tags, each connected to a circuit breaker, and collects power information regarding power supplied to a load via the circuit breaker from the connected circuit breaker and state information related to the operating state of the circuit breaker; and a control unit that transmits a power information request to each electronic tag to request the transmission of the power information, transmits a state information request to each of the plurality of electronic tags multiple times to request the transmission of the state information before transmitting the power information request again, and determines the operating state of each circuit breaker connected to each of the plurality of electronic tags based on whether state information is received from each electronic tag in response to each state information request transmitted to each electronic tag.

[0010] In one embodiment, the control unit transmits a partial power information request to each electronic tag at a preset first time interval, requesting partial power information corresponding to a part of the power information, and the status information request is transmitted multiple times to each of the plurality of electronic tags at the first time interval in which the partial power information request is transmitted.

[0011] In one embodiment, the control unit is characterized by detecting the operating state of a circuit breaker connected to an electronic tag as off when the number of times status information is not received in response to a plurality of status information requests transmitted to each electronic tag during at least one first time interval reaches a preset number.

[0012] In one embodiment, the control unit is characterized by initializing the number of unreceived status information for an electronic tag in which the number of unreceived status information is less than the preset number, if status information is received or partial power information is received before the number of unreceived status information reaches the preset number.

[0013] In one embodiment, the control unit is characterized by detecting the operating state of a circuit breaker connected to an electronic tag that has not received any status information during the first time interval as off in response to a plurality of status information requests transmitted to each electronic tag.

[0014] In one embodiment, the control unit calculates a response loss rate based on the number of status information requests transmitted to each electronic tag and the number of times status information is received from each electronic tag in response to the transmitted status information requests, for each time interval during which each partial power information request is transmitted to each electronic tag, and changes the number of times status information to be transmitted to each electronic tag for each time interval during which each partial power information request is transmitted to each electronic tag, based on the calculated response loss rate.

[0015] In one embodiment, the control unit is characterized by changing the length of each time interval in which each part power information request is transmitted to each electronic tag according to the response loss rate when the number of transmissions of the state information prior to change is a preset minimum or maximum value.

[0016] In one embodiment, the control unit calculates a response loss rate based on the number of status information requests transmitted to each electronic tag and the number of times status information is received from each electronic tag in response to the transmitted status information requests, for each time interval during which each partial power information request is transmitted to each electronic tag, and changes the length of the time interval during which each partial power information request is transmitted to each electronic tag based on the response loss rate for each time interval during which each partial power information request is transmitted to each electronic tag.

[0017] In one embodiment, the status information is characterized by having a size of 9 bytes, which is the minimum packet size required by IEEE 802.15.4.

[0018] According to one aspect of the present invention for achieving the above or other purposes, an electronic tag according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a collection unit that collects power information regarding power supplied to a load via a circuit breaker from a connected circuit breaker and state information related to the operating state of the circuit breaker; a communication unit that performs a communication connection with a preset tag information collector; and a control unit that controls the communication unit to transmit the collected power information in response to a power information request received from the tag information collector, and controls the communication unit to transmit the collected state information for each of a plurality of state information requests received from the tag information collector after the power information request is received and before another power information request is received, wherein the state information is characterized by having a size that is smaller than or equal to a certain level compared to the power information.

[0019] In one embodiment, the control unit transmits partial power information corresponding to a part of the power information in response to a partial power information request received from the tag information collector at a preset first time interval from when the power information request is received until another power information request is received, and transmits the collected status information multiple times in response to each of the multiple status information requests received from the tag information collector at the first time interval.

[0020] In one embodiment, the status information is characterized by having a size of 9 bytes, which is the minimum packet size required by IEEE 802.15.4.

[0021] In one embodiment, the control unit transmits a specific bit sequence of a preset length according to a preset error verification rule by inserting it into a preset location of the status information, and the tag information collector checks the specific bit sequence of a preset length inserted into the preset location from the received status information to determine whether there is an error in the received status information.

[0022] According to one aspect of the present invention for achieving the above or other purposes, a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a plurality of electronic tags each connected to a circuit breaker, collecting power information regarding power supplied to a load via the circuit breaker from the connected circuit breaker and status information related to the operating status of the connected circuit breaker, and transmitting the power information or status information in response to a request for the power information or status information; and a tag information collector that transmits a power information request to each of the plurality of electronic tags to request the transmission of the power information at a period of time, transmits a status information request to each electronic tag multiple times to request the transmission of the status information at each time interval when the power information requests are transmitted, and determines the operating status of each circuit breaker connected to each of the plurality of electronic tags based on the status information received from the plurality of electronic tags in response to the status information requests transmitted multiple times.

[0023] In one embodiment, the tag information collector calculates a response loss rate for each time interval in which power information requests are transmitted, based on the number of status information requests transmitted to the plurality of electronic tags and the number of status information not received from the plurality of electronic tags, and, based on the response loss rate calculated for each time interval, makes the number of status information requests to be transmitted to each of the plurality of electronic tags different for each time interval.

[0024] In one embodiment, the tag information collector calculates a response loss rate for each time interval in which power information requests are transmitted, based on the number of status information requests transmitted to the plurality of electronic tags and the number of status information not received from the plurality of electronic tags, and makes the time intervals in which power information requests are transmitted different from each other based on the response loss rate calculated for each time interval.

[0025] In one embodiment, the tag information collector transmits a power information request to each of the plurality of electronic tags, transmits a plurality of status information requests to each of the plurality of electronic tags until the next power information request is transmitted, calculates a response loss rate based on the number of transmitted status information requests and the number of status data not received in response to the transmitted status information requests, and determines the time interval between the next power information request and the next power information request, or the number of status information requests to be transmitted between the next power information request and the next power information request, based on the calculated response loss rate.

[0026] According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the present invention separates power information collected from a circuit breaker and state data related to the operating state of the circuit breaker, and transmits the state data at a shorter interval than the period during which the power information is transmitted, thereby having the effect of detecting the operation of the circuit breaker more quickly when the circuit breaker is operated.

[0027] In addition, the present invention ensures that the status data includes only the minimum information related to the operating status of the circuit breaker, thereby allowing the status data to have a size smaller than or equal to a preset size. Accordingly, as the size of the status data is reduced, the possibility of loss due to delay or collision caused by other packet data can be minimized, and as a result, the time required for re-requesting and retransmitting due to said loss can be further shortened.

[0028] FIG. 1a is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 1b is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a tag information collector and an electronic tag in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram illustrating the process of requesting and transmitting power data and circuit breaker status data between a tag information collector and electronic tags in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation process in which a tag information collector requests power information and status data of a circuit breaker from an electronic tag in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIGS. 4a and FIGS. 4b are flowcharts illustrating different operation processes in which a tag information collector according to an embodiment of the present invention detects an off-state blocker based on unreceived state data from each electronic tag.

[0033] FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example in which power data and status data are distinguished by an identifier in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of status data having a preset bit sequence in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process in which the number of status data transmitted between power data requests is determined based on whether the status data is lost in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 8 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example in which the number of status data requests is changed depending on whether status data is lost in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] FIGS. 9a and 9b are flowcharts illustrating an operation process in which the time interval for requesting partial power data is changed according to the number of set status data in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 10 is an example diagram illustrating an example in which the time interval for requesting partial power data is changed according to the loss rate of response data and the number of status data requests set for each section in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] It should be noted that technical terms used in this specification are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. Additionally, singular expressions used in this specification include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as "composed of" or "comprising" should not be interpreted as necessarily including all of the various components or steps described in the specification, and should be interpreted as meaning that some of the components or steps may be omitted, or that additional components or steps may be included.

[0040] In addition, when describing the technology disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a detailed description of related prior art could obscure the essence of the technology disclosed in this specification, such detailed description is omitted.

[0041] Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0042] FIG. 1a is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 1a, a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention may be configured to include a plurality of circuit breakers and a plurality of electronic tag devices (hereinafter referred to as electronic tags) (20), and a tag information collector (10) that receives information collected by each electronic tag from the plurality of electronic tags (20).

[0044] Here, each electronic tag can be connected to a different circuit breaker. In this case, each electronic tag can be connected to each circuit breaker in the form of wireless communication. And each electronic tag can collect various power information detected from the circuit breaker from each connected circuit breaker. For example, one electronic tag can collect information such as current, voltage, or energy detected from a power line supplied to a load via a connected circuit breaker as the power information. Hereinafter, information related to power supplied to a load, such as current, voltage, or energy collected by the electronic tag, will be referred to as power information.

[0045] In addition, each electronic tag can collect information related to the operating status of the circuit breaker, i.e., status information, from the circuit breaker connected to each electronic tag. Here, the status information can be collected from the circuit breaker in a state where the circuit breaker can detect information related to the power supplied to the load via the circuit breaker, such as current or voltage. That is, the status information can be collected from the circuit breaker when the circuit breaker is turned on, and the status information may not be collected by the electronic tag when the power supply to the load is interrupted by the circuit breaker, i.e., when the circuit breaker is turned off.

[0046] Meanwhile, the tag information collector (10) may request each of the plurality of electronic tags (20) to transmit power information collected by each electronic tag and data corresponding to the collected state information, i.e., state data. In response to the request of the tag information collector (10), each electronic tag may transmit the power information or state data it has collected to the tag information collector (10).

[0047] In this case, the tag information collector (10) may request multiple status data from the electronic tag during the time that one power information is collected from the electronic tag. The electronic tag that receives the request for status data may transmit status data corresponding to the status information collected from the circuit breaker to the tag information collector (10) in response to the request. That is, the tag information collector (10) may request status data of the circuit breaker from the electronic tag at a shorter period than the period during which power information is collected, and may receive the status data at a shorter period than the power information in response to the request.

[0048] Meanwhile, the tag information collector (10) can receive the single power information by dividing the power information into multiple parts and requesting it from the electronic tag, and receiving all of the divided power information, i.e., partial power data, in response to the request. In this case, the cycle during which power information is collected by the tag information collector (10) may correspond to the time when all of the multiple partial power data are requested from the electronic tag and all of the multiple partial power data are received from the electronic tag in response.

[0049] In this case, the tag information collector (10) may request at least one state data from the electronic tag within the time interval during which the partial power data request is transmitted, that is, before requesting the next partial power data after one partial power data has been requested. Thus, a plurality of state data may be received by the tag information collector (10) before receiving the next partial power data after receiving one partial power data in response to the request. The tag information collector (10) may then detect the operating state of the circuit breaker connected to the electronic tag based on the collected plurality of state data.

[0050] For example, the tag information collector (10) can detect an electronic tag that has not transmitted status data for more than a preset time or more than a preset number of times in response to a request, and determine that the blocker connected to the detected electronic tag is in an off state. Then, it can transmit notification information to inform at least one of a preset server and a terminal of the information of the blocker determined to be in an off state. In this case, the preset server may be a server of a higher-level system, such as a management server connected to the tag information collector (10), and the terminal may be a terminal of a preset user or an administrator managing the blocker status.

[0051] In this way, when multiple status data received between the reception of a single power information or multiple partial power data is utilized, it is possible to detect a circuit breaker that has been switched to an off state based solely on the number of times or the time during which status data is not received. Therefore, it is possible to detect the operating state of the circuit breaker even when none of the multiple partial power data are received. Accordingly, the time required to detect the off state of the circuit breaker can be significantly reduced.

[0052] FIG. 1b is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a tag information collector (20) and an electronic tag in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] First, FIG. 1b(a) illustrates the configuration of the tag information collector (10). Referring to FIG. 1b(a), the tag information collector (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention may be configured to include a control unit (100), a communication unit (110) connected to the control unit (100), and a memory (120). The components of the tag information collector (10) illustrated in FIG. 1b(a) are not essential for implementing the tag information collector (10), so the tag information collector (10) described in this specification may have more or fewer components than those listed above.

[0054] More specifically, the communication unit (110) can perform a wireless communication connection with each of the plurality of electronic tags (20) and a pre-configured server or a pre-configured terminal. In this case, the communication unit (110) can perform the communication connection through a wireless communication method in which the transmission and reception of wireless signals are performed using packet data having a size smaller than or equal to that of a pre-configured wireless communication standard.

[0055] And the memory (120) may store various applications or programs for the operation of the tag information collector (10). In addition, commands or data for the operation of the tag information collector (10) may be stored, and data received from each of the plurality of electronic tags (20) may be stored.

[0056] Additionally, the control unit (100) can control the overall operation of the tag information collector (10) and can control each component of the tag information collector (10). The control unit (100) can control the communication unit (110) to transmit request data requesting the transmission of a plurality of partial power data to each electronic tag in order to obtain power information from each electronic tag. To this end, the control unit (100) can determine the time interval for transmitting each partial power data request based on a set time interval for obtaining power information, request partial power data from each electronic tag according to the determined time interval, and receive partial power data in response to the request.

[0057] Additionally, the control unit (100) may request status data including status information of a circuit breaker connected to each electronic tag from each of the plurality of electronic tags (20) while each power information is being received. In this case, the control unit (100) may request status data at least once within the time interval during which the partial power data is transmitted, and accordingly, the status of the circuit breakers corresponding to each power tag may be determined multiple times within the time interval during which one partial power data request is transmitted and the next partial power data is requested. Therefore, if there is a circuit breaker switched to an off state, the circuit breaker switched to an off state may be detected within the time interval during which one power information is received from each electronic tag, or even within the time interval during which one partial power data is received.

[0058] Meanwhile, (b) of FIG. 1b is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of one of a plurality of electronic tags (20) that are connected to a tag information collector (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] Referring to FIG. 1b(b), an electronic tag according to an embodiment of the present invention may be configured to include a control unit (150), a collection unit (160) connected to the control unit (150), a communication unit (180), and a memory (170). The components of the electronic tag illustrated in FIG. 1b(b) are not essential for implementing the electronic tag, so the electronic tag described herein may have more or fewer components than those listed above.

[0060] More specifically, the collection unit (160) can be connected to a circuit breaker and can collect various information from the connected circuit breaker. For example, the collection unit (160) can be connected to various sensors, such as a current sensor or a voltage sensor, provided in the circuit breaker, and can collect measurement information measured from each sensor of the circuit breaker. The collected measurement information can form power information regarding the power supplied to the load via the circuit breaker.

[0061] Additionally, the collection unit (160) can collect information regarding the operating status of the circuit breaker. For example, the collection unit (160) can detect a preset signal provided from the circuit breaker as status information when the operation of the circuit breaker is turned on, that is, when power is supplied to the load through the circuit breaker.

[0062] Meanwhile, the communication unit (180) can establish a wireless communication connection with the communication unit (110) of the tag information collector (10). In this case, the communication unit (180) can establish a communication connection with the tag information collector (10) using a pre-configured wireless communication method. Then, in response to a request for partial power data received from the tag information collector (10), at least a portion of the collected power information can be transmitted, and in response to a request for status data of the circuit breaker received from the tag information collector (10), status data indicating that the operation of the circuit breaker is turned on according to a pre-configured signal collected from the circuit breaker can be transmitted to the tag information collector (10).

[0063] And the memory (170) may store various applications or programs for the operation of the electronic tag. In addition, commands or data for the operation of the electronic tag may be stored.

[0064] Additionally, the control unit (150) can control the overall operation of the electronic tag and can control each component of the electronic tag. The control unit (150) can control the collection unit (160) to collect power information from a connected circuit breaker and can control the communication unit (180) to transmit a portion of the collected power information corresponding to a partial power data request received from the tag information collector (10) to the tag information collector (10) in the form of partial power data.

[0065] Additionally, when the control unit (150) receives a request for status data related to the operating status of the circuit breaker from the tag information collector (10), it can generate status data indicating that the operating status of the circuit breaker is ON according to the operating signal of the circuit breaker collected through the collection unit (160). Then, the generated status data can be transmitted to the tag information collector (10).

[0066] Meanwhile, the circuit breaker can be driven by receiving power supplied from the power source to the load as the driving power. Therefore, if the power supplied to the load is cut off, the power supply to the circuit breaker is also cut off, and the circuit breaker may be switched to an off state. In this case, if the circuit breaker is in an off state, the driving signal collected from the circuit breaker may not be measured, and accordingly, the control unit (150) may not generate status data. Therefore, even if a request for status data is received from the tag information collector (10), the response data, i.e., the status data, may not be transmitted.

[0067] FIG. 2 is an example diagram illustrating the process of requesting and transmitting power data and status data of each circuit breaker between a tag information collector (10) and a plurality of electronic tags (20) in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 2, the tag information collector (10) of the circuit breaker monitoring system is illustrated as an example of requesting one power information by dividing it into three partial power data, namely first to third power data (210, 220, 230). Then, n electronic tags (20) that receive this can transmit power data according to the request to the tag information collector (10) whenever there is a request for partial power data.

[0069] In this case, the tag information collector (10) may request the partial power data according to a certain time interval (first time interval). Accordingly, the tag information collector (10) may transmit a request for the first power data (210) to each electronic tag, as shown in FIG. 2, and then transmit a request for the second power data (220) to each electronic tag after the first time interval has elapsed. In this case, the time interval from when the first power data request (210) is transmitted until when the second power data request (220) is transmitted, i.e., the first power data request interval (201), may be the time when the first partial power data, i.e., the first power data, is received from each electronic tag in response to the first power data request (210).

[0070] Meanwhile, during the first power data request period (201), the tag information collector (10) may transmit at least one status data request to a plurality of electronic tags (20). For example, during the first power data request period (201), the tag information collector (10) may transmit one status data request to each electronic tag or transmit a plurality of status data requests to each electronic tag.

[0071] Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2, while one partial power data is requested and received, multiple status data requests may be requested to each electronic tag. And in response to the request, multiple status data may be received by the tag information collector (10). Then, the tag information collector (10) can determine the operating status of the circuit breaker connected to each electronic tag based on the received multiple status data.

[0072] Meanwhile, similar to the first power data request section (201) above, in the second power data request section (202) and the third power data request section (203), the tag information collector (10) may request multiple status data from each electronic tag and receive multiple status data from each electronic tag in response to the request. Accordingly, while one power information consisting of the first to third power data is received, the operating status of the circuit breaker can be determined multiple times, and if any one of the circuit breakers is turned off as a result, the circuit breaker switched to the off state can be detected even with only a portion of the time during which one power information is received.

[0073] Meanwhile, Figure 2 illustrates a case where partial power data corresponding to a request is received from each electronic tag immediately after each power data request (210, 220, 230) is transmitted to each electronic tag, but otherwise, the partial power data transmitted in response to each power data request (210, 220, 230) can be transmitted from each electronic tag over the entire duration of each power data request interval (201, 202, 203).

[0074] In this case, if the tag information collector (10) does not receive partial power data corresponding to the request within a certain period of time, it may request the unreceived partial power data again. For example, if the first power data is not received within a certain period of time after the first power data request has been transmitted, the tag information collector (10) may request the transmission of the first power data again from the electronic tag that did not transmit the first power data. Then, the electronic tag that receives the request for the transmission of the first power data again may transmit the first power data to the tag information collector (10) again in response to the received request.

[0075] In this case, if the time between the time when the first power data request (210) transmitted to each electronic tag is transmitted and the time when the second power data request (220) is transmitted is too short, the first power data and the second power data, which are retransmitted as a response to the re-request for the first power data, may be received simultaneously by the tag information collector (10). In this case, a collision may occur between the received data, and such a collision between the data may cause data loss.

[0076] Accordingly, the tag information collector (10) can request the next partial power data after a certain amount of time has elapsed since requesting one partial power data, in order to prevent loss due to collisions between partial power data received from each electronic tag within a time that satisfies a pre-set international standard, and also to request the lost partial power data again and receive the requested partial power data.

[0077] To this end, the tag information collector (10) can determine the number of multiple partial power data constituting one power information, and determine a time interval for transmitting the partial power data, i.e., a first time interval, based on the determined number and a preset time for transmitting the one power information.

[0078] Here, the preset time for transmitting the above-mentioned power information may be a time that satisfies a preset international standard. And based on the number of preset status data requests to be transmitted within the determined first time interval, that is, each power data request interval (201, 202, 203), the tag information collector (10) may determine the time interval for transmitting status data requests, that is, the second time interval (211, 221, 231). And according to the determined second time interval and the first time interval, the tag information collector (10) may transmit multiple status data requests and partial power data requests to each electronic tag.

[0079] Meanwhile, when a partial power data request is transmitted to each electronic tag, the partial power data transmitted from each electronic tag in response to the request can be received by the tag information collector (10) over the entire first time interval, for example, the first power data request interval (201), which is the time between the points in time when the partial power data request is transmitted. Additionally, a re-request for partial power data can be transmitted for at least one electronic tag, and a re-transmission of partial power data can be made in response to the re-request for partial power data. Accordingly, a collision may occur between the status data transmitted from each electronic tag and the partial power data.

[0080] Meanwhile, collisions between data transmitted wirelessly in the form of packets, i.e., packet data, may occur as packet data transmitted from each electronic tag is concentrated in the tag information collector (10). In this case, a delay in receiving specific packet data may occur in the tag information collector (10) due to collisions between the received packet data, and if the delay in receiving becomes severe, it may result in the loss of packet data.

[0081] To minimize the possibility of such collisions, each electronic tag according to an embodiment of the present invention may generate the status data with a minimum packet size according to a preset standard. In this case, the status data may include minimal information indicating the status information of the circuit breaker.

[0082] For example, the electronic tag can generate the status data with a size of 9 bytes, which is the minimum packet size required by IEEE 802.15.4, an international standard defining the physical layer (PHY) and the media access control layer (MAC). And each electronic tag can transmit status data having the size of the minimum specification in response to a status data request transmitted from the tag information collector (10).

[0083] On the other hand, partial power data is a divided form of power information that cannot be fully transmitted at once according to the pre-set standard as described above, and can have a maximum packet size that can be transmitted at once according to the pre-set standard. For example, the partial power data can have a packet size of about 127 bytes.

[0084] As such, since the size of the state data is very small compared to the size of the partial power data (approximately 1 / 14 (9 / 127)), the transmission speed of the state data can be very fast. Furthermore, due to the faster transmission speed, the probability of collision with the partial power data can be reduced. In addition, even if a collision with the partial power data occurs, the reception processing of the state data occurs very quickly because the size of the state data is relatively very small, so the probability of loss due to the collision can be reduced. Accordingly, the probability of re-requesting and retransmitting the state data due to loss of the state data can be significantly reduced.

[0085] Meanwhile, FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation process in which a tag information collector (10) requests power information and status data of a circuit breaker from an electronic tag in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0086] A tag information collector (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention may request at least one state data from an electronic tag after requesting divided power information, i.e., partial power data, to an electronic tag, before requesting the next partial power data. To this end, the tag information collector (10) may divide the time interval for requesting partial power data into a plurality of time intervals and transmit information regarding the operating status of a circuit breaker, i.e., a request for state data, to each electronic tag according to each divided time interval. FIG. 3 illustrates the operation process of determining the time interval for transmitting partial power data requests and state data requests, and transmitting partial power data requests and state data requests according to the determined time interval.

[0087] Referring to FIG. 3, the tag information collector (10) can first determine the number of times partial power data is requested based on the total size of the power information to be received from the electronic tag. Then, based on the preset power information request time interval and the number of times partial power data is requested, a first time interval, which is the time interval for requesting each partial power data, can be determined (S300).

[0088] For example, if the total size of the power information is 250 bytes and the size of the packet data that the electronic tag can transmit at once according to a pre-set standard is 127 bytes including the header, the tag information collector (10) may determine that the power information can be received by receiving three partial power data from the electronic tag. Accordingly, the tag information collector (10) may determine that the number of partial power data to be requested from the electronic tag is three when the power information is 250 bytes as described above.

[0089] Meanwhile, if the transmission time of the power information satisfying the pre-set standard is 45 seconds, the tag information collector (10) can determine the time interval for each partial power data request to be transmitted, i.e., the first time interval, by dividing the limited transmission time (e.g., 45 seconds) by the number of times the partial power data is to be transmitted (e.g., 3 times). Therefore, in the case of the example described above, the first time interval can be determined to be 15 seconds (45 / 3).

[0090] In this case, the total size of the power information and the size of the packet data that the electronic tag can transmit at once are examples to aid in understanding the present invention, and it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the total size of the power information can be any size larger or smaller than 250 bytes. Furthermore, the size of the packet data that the electronic tag can transmit at once can also be any size larger or smaller than 127 bytes, depending on the guideline standard. In addition, the transmission time of the power information, 45 seconds, can also vary. However, for the convenience of explanation, the following description will assume the example described above.

[0091] Meanwhile, in step S300 above, if a first time interval is determined, the tag information collector (10) may determine a second time interval, which is a time interval for requesting state data within a time interval for requesting partial power data, according to the number of preset state data requests and the determined first time interval (S302). In this case, the second time interval, which is a time interval for requesting state data, may be determined according to the following mathematical formula 1.

[0092]

[0093] In this case, if the number of requests for the pre-set state data is 2 and the first time interval determined in step S300 is 15 seconds, the second time interval may be determined as 5 seconds.

[0094] When both the first time interval and the second time interval are determined, the tag information collector (10) can transmit partial power data to each electronic tag (S304). In this case, if partial power data is transmitted for the first time, the tag information collector (10) can transmit a partial power data request corresponding to the first sequence, for example, a first power data request (Fig. 2, 210), to each electronic tag.

[0095] And when a partial power data request is transmitted, the tag information collector (10) can check whether the time according to the second time interval calculated in step S302, i.e., the second time, has elapsed (S306).

[0096] If, as a result of the check in step S306 above, the second time has not elapsed since the partial power data request was transmitted, the tag information collector (10) can check whether there is a status data request transmitted up to now. And if there is no status data request transmitted, the tag information collector (10) can check whether the second time has elapsed without determining the circuit breaker operating status.

[0097] However, if there is a previously transmitted status data request, the tag information collector (10) can determine the status of the blockers connected to each electronic tag based on the status data received in response to the status data request. For example, in the case of electronic tags that have transmitted status data in response to the status data request, the blockers connected to those electronic tags can be determined to be in the ON state. On the other hand, if there is an electronic tag for which status data has not been transmitted, the blocker connected to that electronic tag can be determined to be in the OFF state depending on whether the status data has not been received more than a preset number of times or for a certain period of time. And when a blocker in the OFF state is detected, the tag information collector (10) can transmit notification information including information of the blocker in the OFF state to a preset server or terminal (S307).

[0098] And when the operating status of the circuit breaker connected to each electronic tag is determined, the tag information collector (10) can proceed again to step S306 to check whether the second time has elapsed. And if the second time has not elapsed, the step S307, which detects the status of each circuit breaker based on the status data received from each electronic tag, can be performed again. Then, the process can proceed again to step S306 to check whether the second time has elapsed.

[0099] Meanwhile, if the second time has elapsed as a result of the check in step S306 above, the tag information collector (10) can transmit a status data request to each electronic tag (S308).

[0100] And when a status data request is transmitted in step S308, the tag information collector (10) can check whether time according to the first time interval, i.e., the first time, has elapsed since the partial power data request of the previous sequence was transmitted (S310). And if the result of the check is that the first time has not elapsed since the partial power data request of the previous sequence was transmitted, the tag information collector (10) can proceed again to step S306 to check whether the second time has elapsed again since the status data was transmitted. And if the second time has not elapsed, it can proceed to step S307 to check the status data received from each electronic tag in response to the status data request, and determine the operating status of each circuit breaker connected to each electronic tag according to the result of receiving the status data checked for each electronic tag.

[0101] And if the above second time has elapsed again, the tag information collector (10) can proceed to step S308 again to transmit a status data request to each electronic tag. Then, it can proceed to step S310 again to check whether the above first time has elapsed after the previous partial power data request has been transmitted.

[0102] Meanwhile, if, as a result of the check in step S310 above, the first time interval has elapsed since the partial power data request of the previous sequence was transmitted, the tag information collector (10) can transmit the partial power data request of the next sequence to each electronic tag (S312). In this case, if the partial power data request transmitted immediately before is the first power data request (Fig. 2, 210), the tag information collector (10) can transmit the partial power data request of the next sequence, i.e., the second power data request (Fig. 2, 220), to each electronic tag. Then, proceed again to step S306 and perform the steps below step S306 again.

[0103] Accordingly, after the second power data request (Fig. 2, 220) is transmitted, the circuit breaker among each circuit breaker that has been switched to the off state can be detected based on the status data received in response to the transmitted status data request, and the status data request can be transmitted again to each electronic tag depending on whether the second time has elapsed.

[0104] Accordingly, as in the example described above, if the first time interval is 15 seconds, the tag information collector (10) can request partial power data from each electronic tag at intervals of 15 seconds. Then, after the partial power data is requested, when 5 seconds determined as the second time have elapsed, the tag information collector (10) can transmit a request for the first state data to each electronic tag. Then, after the response data received from each electronic tag is checked after the first state data request is transmitted, and when another 5 seconds have elapsed, the tag information collector (10) can transmit a second state data request to each electronic tag. Then, after the state data received from each electronic tag is checked after the second state data request is transmitted, and when another 5 seconds have elapsed, the next sequence of partial power data requests can be transmitted to each electronic tag.

[0105] In this case, the tag information collector (10) can check the time or number of times that status data corresponding to the previous status data request was not received from each electronic tag whenever a status data request is transmitted or at regular intervals. And, the operating state of the circuit breaker corresponding to the electronic tag that did not respond to the transmitted status data request (electronic tag that did not transmit status data) can be determined to be off.

[0106] FIG. 4a is a flowchart illustrating the operation process in which a tag information collector (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention detects an off-state blocker based on unreceived state data from each electronic tag.

[0107] Referring to FIG. 4a, the tag information collector (10) can check whether there is a previously transmitted status data request when step S307, which determines the operating status of each circuit breaker based on status data received from each electronic tag in FIG. 3, is performed (S400). In this case, step S400 may be a step of checking whether there is a transmission history of a status data request. And if the result of the check in step S400 is that there is no transmission history of a status data request, the tag information collector (10) can proceed directly to step S306 of FIG. 3 without detecting the circuit breaker operating status. And it can wait until a second time interval has elapsed after partial power data has been transmitted.

[0108] However, if, as a result of the check in step S400 above, there is a request for status data that has already been transmitted, the tag information collector (10) can check whether there is an electronic tag that has not transmitted status data in response to the transmitted status data request (S402). And if, as a result of the check in step S402, regarding the request for transmission of status data transmitted to each electronic tag, status data has been received from all electronic tags, it can be determined that all circuit breakers connected to each electronic tag are in the ON state. Accordingly, the tag information collector (10) can proceed again to step S306 of FIG. 3 and wait until the second time elapses after partial power data has been transmitted.

[0109] However, if, as a result of the check in step S402 above, some electronic tags do not respond to the request for transmission of transmitted status data, that is, if status data is not received from some electronic tags, the tag information collector (10) can accumulate the number of times the status data was not received for each electronic tag for which the status data was not received. Then, it can check whether there is an electronic tag for which the accumulated number of times the status data was not received has reached a preset number according to the circuit breaker off detection condition (S404).

[0110] And if, as a result of the check in step S404, there is no electronic tag that has reached the aforementioned preset number of accumulated state data not received in response to the state data request, the tag information collector (10) may defer determining the operating state of the circuit breaker corresponding to the electronic tag for which state data has not been received. Accordingly, the tag information collector (10) may proceed again to step S306 of FIG. 3 to check again whether the second time has elapsed since partial power data was transmitted.

[0111] However, if, as a result of the check in step 404, there is an electronic tag in which the accumulated number of status data not received in response to the transmitted status data request has reached the preset number, the tag information collector (10) can detect that the circuit breaker corresponding to the electronic tag that has not transmitted status data more than the preset number is in an off state (S406). Then, the tag information collector (10) can transmit notification information including information about the circuit breaker detected as being in an off state to a preset server or terminal. Then, the tag information collector (10) can proceed again to step S306 of FIG. 3 to check again whether the second time has elapsed since the partial power data was transmitted.

[0112] Meanwhile, although not explicitly stated, in step S404 above, the tag information collector (10) may reset the number of times status data has not been received, i.e., the number of unreceived status data, when a preset condition is satisfied. For example, if status data transmitted from an electronic tag is delayed due to a collision or a problem on the path, the status data transmitted by the electronic tag in response to a request may not be transmitted to the tag information collector (10). In this case, since the transmission of status data is merely delayed and the circuit breaker is not in an off state, the tag information collector (10) may reset the accumulated number of unreceived status data of the electronic tag corresponding to the delayed received status data to prevent the operating state of the circuit breaker from being incorrectly determined due to the delay in receiving status data.

[0113] To this end, the tag information collector (10) can check whether at least one of the unreceived status data or partial power data is received for an electronic tag for which the determination of the operating status of the circuit breaker is withheld, before detecting the operating status of the circuit breaker as off. And if status data is received or partial power data is received by the tag information collector (10) before the accumulated number of unreceived status data reaches the preset number, the number of unreceived status data accumulated so far for that electronic tag can be reset. Through this reset process, it is possible to prevent the circuit breaker in the on state from being incorrectly detected as off due to delays caused by packet data, collisions, or path problems.

[0114] For example, if the above-mentioned preset number is 3, the tag information collector (10) can detect that the circuit breaker corresponding to an electronic tag for which status data has not been received 3 or more times is in an off state. In this case, if the number of status data requests transmitted to each electronic tag in one power data request interval is 3 times, the tag information collector (10) can determine that the circuit breaker corresponding to an electronic tag for which status data has not been transmitted even once during one power data request interval is in an off state. That is, a circuit breaker that has been switched to an off state can be detected even for only the time corresponding to one power data request interval.

[0115] However, for electronic tags for which the number of times the circuit breaker status data has not been received is less than three, for example, for electronic tags for which the number of times the circuit breaker status data has not been received is one or two, the determination of the operating status of the circuit breaker connected to the said electronic tag may be withheld. And when the first time interval has elapsed, partial power data corresponding to the next sequence may be requested, and the request for status data may be transmitted again.

[0116] Here, the tag information collector (10) can reset the number of times status data accumulated so far has not been received for the electronic tag when partial power data is received from the electronic tag for which the determination of the operating status of the circuit breaker is withheld, or when status data is received as a response to a request. That is, even if some status data is not lost due to delay or collision, if response data (status data) to the subsequently transmitted status data request is received or partial power data is received, it can be determined that the circuit breaker connected to the electronic tag is in the ON state.

[0117] On the other hand, if the failure to receive status data occurs again from the electronic tag for which the determination of the operating status of the circuit breaker is withheld, and the number of times the accumulated failure to receive status data reaches the preset number, the tag information collector (10) can determine that the circuit breaker connected to the electronic tag has been switched to an off state.

[0118] Meanwhile, FIG. 4a described above explains an operation process for detecting at least one electronic tag corresponding to a circuit breaker detected as being in an off state based on the number of accumulated unreceived state data. However, alternatively, it is possible to check whether status data corresponding to a previous status data request has been received from each electronic tag at regular intervals. Furthermore, the operating state of the circuit breaker corresponding to an electronic tag that has not transmitted status data in response to a request transmitted during the aforementioned regular time period may be detected as being off.

[0119] Referring to FIG. 4b, the tag information collector (10) of the circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention can detect whether there is an electronic tag for which a response to the status data requests transmitted during the elapsed first time has not been received, when a predetermined first time has elapsed and a request for partial power data in the next order is transmitted in step S312 of FIG. 3 (S450).

[0120] For example, as described above, if the number of status data requests to be transmitted during the first time period is set to two, the tag information collector (10) proceeds to step S450 after the first time period has elapsed since the previous partial power data was transmitted, and can detect whether there is an electronic tag for which no status data was received even once for the two status data requests transmitted during the first time period. And if there is an electronic tag for which no response, i.e., no status data, was received even once for the status data requests transmitted during the first time period, the tag information collector (10) can detect that the circuit breaker connected to the electronic tag is in an off state (S454). And notification information including information of the circuit breaker detected as being in an off state can be transmitted to a pre-configured server or terminal.

[0121] Meanwhile, if, as a result of the check in step S450 above, all electronic tags have responded to the status data requests to be transmitted during the first time period at least once—that is, if they have transmitted status data—the tag information collector (10) can initialize the response history of each electronic tag. Then, the next sequence of partial power data can be transmitted to each electronic tag (S452). In this case, the operating status of the circuit breaker corresponding to each electronic tag can be determined again based on whether there is status data received from each electronic tag for the status data requests transmitted from the time the next sequence of partial power data requests is transmitted until the first time period has elapsed again.

[0122] Meanwhile, in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention, a tag information collector (10) can identify whether a received packet is a packet of partial power data constituting power information or a packet of status data through the header of the received packet data. For example, the header of a partial power data packet and the header of a status data packet may have different specific values, i.e., specific bit sequences. In this case, the specific bit sequence included in the header may be an identifier that can distinguish the packet data as partial power data or status data.

[0123] FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example in which partial power data and status data are distinguished by such identifiers in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0124] First, FIG. 5(a) shows the field structure of partial power data including a header field (510) and a data field (520).

[0125] Referring to FIG. 5(a), in the case of partial power data, an identifier (530) may be inserted in an area excluding the data field (520) which contains information related to current or voltage. The identifier (530) may be included in a header field or in a separate field distinct from the header field.

[0126] Meanwhile, Figure 5 (b) shows the field structure of the state data.

[0127] Referring to FIG. 5(b), the field structure of the status data may be configured to include a header field (510) and a data field (521), similar to the field structure of the partial power data. In this case, the data field (521) of the status data may be much smaller in size than the data field (520) of the partial power data, as it contains minimal information indicating the operating status of the circuit breaker.

[0128] Additionally, the above state data may not include an identifier (530) in the field structure. In this case, the tag information collector (10) can distinguish whether the received packet is a packet of partial power data or a packet of state data depending on whether the identifier (530) is included.

[0129] Meanwhile, the tag information collector (10) can set the priority of the status data packet higher than that of the partial power data packet. Accordingly, when the partial power data packet and the status data packet are received simultaneously or within a certain period of time by the tag information collector (10), the status data packet can be received in priority over the partial power data packet. Through this priority, the possibility of a collision between the status data and the partial power data can be lowered, and the operating status of the circuit breakers connected to each electronic tag can be determined at a shorter time interval than the period during which power information is collected.

[0130] Meanwhile, errors may occur in the status data received by the tag information collector (10) due to path loss, noise, or collisions caused by other packet data. In this case, if an error occurs in the data of the header field, the tag information collector (10) cannot identify the received packet data, so it can determine that the data with the error was not received from the electronic tag. Therefore, the tag information collector (10) can request the unreceived data again from the electronic tag.

[0131] However, if an error occurs in the data of the data field rather than the header field, the tag information collector (10) can identify the currently received data based on the header field. However, if an error occurs in the data field due to an error, the tag information collector (10) must perform analysis, such as parsing the data, to recognize the error. Accordingly, it may take time to detect errors occurring in the data field, and this time may be a delay factor in processing the status data.

[0132] Accordingly, the circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention can set a specific error verification rule to detect errors occurring in the data field at a higher speed. And if the received data conforms to the error verification rule, it can be determined that there are no errors.

[0133] Here, the error verification rule may include a specific bit sequence and a preset insertion location where the specific bit sequence is inserted. To this end, when a data transmission request from a tag information collector (10) is received, the electronic tag according to an embodiment of the present invention may insert a specific bit sequence having a preset length at a preset insertion location according to the error verification rule in response thereto. Then, the data with the specific bit sequence inserted may be transmitted to the tag information collector (10). The tag information collector (10) may extract a bit sequence of a preset length at a location according to the error verification rule from the received data and determine whether an error occurred during data transmission by comparing the extracted bit sequence with a preset specific bit sequence.

[0134] FIG. 6 is an example diagram showing an example of state data in which a pre-set bit sequence is inserted according to an error verification rule for determining whether an error has occurred in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0135] Referring to FIG. 6, a specific bit sequence (600) may be inserted at a preset position in the data field (521) of the status data according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, if the preset position is the 5th byte, as shown in FIG. 6, the electronic tag may generate status data by inserting a preset 1-byte bit sequence (01001111) (600) after the 4th byte bit sequence, including the header field. Thus, the status data containing the specific bit sequence (600) as the 5th byte may be transmitted to the tag information collector (10).

[0136] Then, the tag information collector (10) can detect a bit sequence corresponding to a preset position, i.e., the 5th byte, in the received status data. And if the detected bit sequence matches a preset bit sequence (e.g., 01001111), it can be determined that there is no error in the received status data. Then, the tag information collector (10) can remove the bit sequence (600) of the 5th byte from the received status data. And based on the status data from which the specific bit sequence (600) has been removed, the operating status of the blocker corresponding to the electronic tag that transmitted the status data can be determined. In this way, the preset specific bit sequence and the position where the specific bit sequence is inserted can form an error verification rule according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0137] Meanwhile, although the above explanation used an example of state data, it goes without saying that the error verification rule can also be applied to partial power data.

[0138] Meanwhile, as described above, the circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention can collect power information supplied to each load and determine the operating status of the circuit breaker corresponding to each electronic tag by each electronic tag transmitting partial power data or status data in response to a request from the tag information collector (10).

[0139] In this case, the tag information collector (10) can flexibly adjust the time interval for requesting status data based on the communication environment between each blocker and the tag information collector (10). For example, if the communication status is good, the tag information collector (10) can reduce the time interval for requesting status data so that the operating status of each blocker is checked more frequently. On the other hand, if the communication status is not good, the time interval for requesting status data can be increased to reduce the number of times status data is requested. In this case, the communication status can be determined based on the loss caused by delay or collision with the transmitted status data request.

[0140] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process in which the number of status data transmitted between power data requests is flexibly determined depending on whether the status data is lost in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0141] Referring to FIG. 7, in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention, a tag information collector (10) can detect the number of state data that has been lost based on the state data received in response to a state data request transmitted to each electronic tag during a certain period of time. And based on the number of lost state data, the response data loss rate during the certain period of time can be calculated (S700).

[0142] For example, regarding the transmitted status data requests 1 through 3, if the tag information collector (10) receives only the response for status data 3 from the specific electronic tag, it can determine that status data 1 through 2 from the specific electronic tag has been lost. And regarding all status data requests transmitted to each electronic tag, that is, if there are 30 electronic tags and the status data requests are transmitted 3 times during the specified time period, the ratio of status data not received from each electronic tag, i.e., unreceived status data, can be calculated for a total of 90 status data requests.

[0143] In this case, the above-mentioned non-received status data may include status data that was received but has an error. For example, it may include status data that does not conform to a pre-set error verification rule. That is, if a bit sequence of a pre-set length extracted from a pre-set location according to the error verification rule does not match a specific bit sequence according to the error verification rule, the tag information collector (10) determines that an error has occurred in the received status data and may regard the status data as a non-received status. Then, the response data loss rate can be calculated by calculating the ratio of the above-mentioned non-received status data to the total number of status data requests transmitted to each electronic tag.

[0144] Meanwhile, the above fixed time may be a time during which at least one partial power data can be transmitted. For example, the above fixed time may correspond to the time during which partial power data constituting one power information are transmitted.

[0145] In this way, if the time during which the loss rate of the response data is calculated corresponds to the time during which multiple partial power data can be transmitted, the time may be divided into multiple intervals according to the time interval during which the partial power data is transmitted. For example, in the case of FIG. 2, the time may be the time from when the first power data request (210) is transmitted until the first power data is requested again, and in this case, the time may be divided into the first power data request interval (201), the second power data request interval (202), and the third power data request interval (203).

[0146] Meanwhile, when the aforementioned fixed time is divided into multiple sections as described above, the tag information collector (10) can calculate the loss rate of the response data for each section in step S700. Then, it can detect whether there is a section where the calculated loss rate of the response data is above a preset first level (S702). And if, as a result of the detection in step S702, there is a section where the loss rate of the response data is above a preset first level, the tag information collector (10) can reduce the number of requests for the status data set in that section to lower the possibility of collision in that section (S704).

[0147] On the other hand, regarding the remaining sections excluding the section where the loss rate of response data is higher than a preset first level according to the detection result of the above S702 step, the tag information collector (10) can detect whether there is a section where the loss rate is lower than a preset second level (S712). Here, the preset first level may be a response data loss rate higher than the preset second level.

[0148] And if, as a result of detection in step S712 above, there is a section where the loss rate of the response data is less than a preset second level, the tag information collector (10) can increase the number of requests for the state data set in that section so that the state of the state data can be detected more frequently in that section (S714).

[0149] Meanwhile, if there is a section where the number of status data requests is changed through the above S712 or S714 steps, the tag information collector (10) can reset the time interval for transmitting status data requests in that section, i.e., the second time interval, according to the first time interval determined by the number of changed status data requests and the number of partial power data (S720).

[0150] However, for sections that do not meet the conditions according to the above S712 or S714 steps, that is, sections where the loss rate of the calculated response data is less than the first level and greater than the second level, the tag information collector (10) may maintain the currently set second time interval.

[0151] FIG. 8 is an example diagram illustrating an example in which the number of status data requests in each power data request interval is changed in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention, according to the operation process of FIG. 7 described above.

[0152] Referring to FIG. 8, FIG. 8 assumes that three partial power data are requested and transmitted to transmit one power information, as assumed in FIG. 2, and assumes the case where the number of state data requests (m) set to be transmitted in each power data request interval in FIG. 2 is 3.

[0153] Meanwhile, if the number of state data requests set during the time interval in which partial power data is requested to each electronic tag is 3, then three state data requests can be transmitted to each electronic tag at equal time intervals during each time interval in which partial power data is requested, that is, in each of the first power data request interval (201), the second power data request interval (202), and the third power data request interval (203). In this case, the time interval between the state data requests set at equal time intervals in each power data interval may be the same as the first time interval (810) of FIG. 8.

[0154] And the tag information collector (10) can calculate the loss rate of response data for each section (first power data request section (201), second power data request section (202), and third power data request section (203)).

[0155] In this case, if the loss rate of the response data calculated in the first power data request section (201) is less than the preset first level and greater than the second level, the number of state data requests set in the first power data request section (201) according to the operation process of FIG. 7 may not change. Here, the first level may be a higher level than the second level.

[0156] Meanwhile, if the loss rate of the response data calculated in the second power data request section (202) is higher than a preset first level, the tag information collector (10) can reduce the number of status data requests set in the second power data request section (202). Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8, the number of status data requests set in the second power data request section (202) can be reduced from 3 times to 2 times. And depending on the changed number of status data requests, the time interval of each status data request transmitted in the second power data section (202) can be reset to a longer time than the first time interval (810), such as the second time interval (820) in FIG. 8.

[0157] On the other hand, if the loss rate of the response data calculated in the third power data request section (203) is less than a preset second level, the tag information collector (10) may increase the number of status data requests set in the second power data request section (202). Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8, the number of status data requests set in the third power data request section (203) may be increased from 3 to 4. And depending on the changed number of status data requests, the time interval of each status data request transmitted in the third power data section (203) may be reset to a shorter time than the first time interval (810), such as the third time interval (830) in FIG. 8.

[0158] Meanwhile, if data loss occurs at a level higher than the first level even though the number of requests for state data set for one section is at the minimum, the tag information collector (10) can further reduce the response data loss rate by further increasing the time interval of the section. On the other hand, if data loss occurs at a level lower than the second level even though the number of requests for state data set for one section is at the maximum, the tag information collector (10) can further increase the number of state data requests in the section by further reducing the time interval of the section.

[0159] FIGS. 9a and 9b are flowcharts illustrating the operation process in which the time interval for requesting partial power data, i.e., the power data request interval, is changed according to the number of set status data in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0160] First, referring to FIG. 9a, when step S704, which reduces the number of requests for status data set for a section where the calculated response data loss rate is greater than or equal to a first level, is performed during the operation process of FIG. 7 described above, the tag information collector (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention can first check whether the number of requests for status data currently set for that section is a preset minimum number (S900). Then, if the number of requests for status data currently set for that section is not a preset minimum number, the tag information collector (10) can reduce the number of requests for status data for that section (S902).

[0161] On the other hand, if the result of the check in step S900 above indicates that the number of requests for the current status data set in the corresponding section is the preset minimum number, the tag information collector (10) may delay the time at which the next sequence of partial power data is requested in the corresponding section by a preset unit time. Accordingly, the time length of the corresponding section, for example, the power data request section where the loss rate of the response data is above the first level and the preset minimum number of status data requests is set, may be increased by the preset unit time (S904). And the tag information collector (10) may reset the time interval between status data requests to be transmitted in the corresponding section according to the extended time length of the corresponding section.

[0162] Therefore, even if the number of status data requests remains the same, the time length of the corresponding section increases, which can lengthen the time interval between status data requests transmitted within that section. Consequently, the likelihood of collisions in response data following status data requests can be reduced, and the response data loss rate can be decreased.

[0163] Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 9b, when step S714, which increases the number of requests for status data set for a section where the calculated response data loss rate is less than the second level, is performed during the operation process of FIG. 7 described above, the tag information collector (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention can first check whether the number of requests for status data currently set for that section is a preset maximum number (S950). Then, if the number of requests for status data currently set for that section is not a preset minimum number, the tag information collector (10) can increase the number of requests for status data for that section (S952).

[0164] On the other hand, if the result of the check in step S950 above indicates that the number of requests for the current status data set in the corresponding section is the preset maximum number, the tag information collector (10) can shorten the time at which the next sequence of partial power data is requested in the corresponding section by a preset unit time. Accordingly, the time length of the corresponding section, that is, the power data request section where the loss rate of the response data is less than the second level and the preset maximum number of status data requests is set, can be shortened by the preset unit time (S954). And the tag information collector (10) can reset the time interval between the status data requests to be transmitted in the corresponding section according to the shortened time length of the corresponding section.

[0165] Therefore, even if the number of status data requests remains the same, the time length of the corresponding section is shortened, which can reduce the time interval between status data requests transmitted within that section. Consequently, the transmission cycle for status data requests can be shortened, and the operating status of the circuit breakers connected to each electronic tag can be determined within a shorter time based on the received status data. Thus, when a circuit breaker switches to the off state, the off state of the circuit breaker can be detected more quickly.

[0166] FIG. 10 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an example in which the time interval for requesting partial power data is changed according to the operation process of FIG. 9 in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 below assumes a case where the number of status data requests for the second power data request interval (202) is reduced to a minimum of 3 times, as shown in FIG. 8, and a case where the number of status data requests for the third power data request interval (203) is increased to a maximum of 4 times.

[0167] As shown in FIG. 10, when the number of status data requests for each of the first to third power data request sections is set and the number of status data requests in each power data request section is transmitted to each electronic tag according to the set number, the tag information collector (10) can calculate the loss rate of response data for each power data request section.

[0168] In this case, if the loss rate of the response data calculated in the first power data request interval (201) is less than the first level and greater than or equal to the second level, the tag information collector (10) can maintain the number of requests for status data set in the first power data request interval (201). Accordingly, the time interval of the first power data request interval (201) can be maintained. Here, the first level may be a higher level than the second level.

[0169] Meanwhile, if the loss rate of the response data calculated in the second power data request section (202), where the number of status data requests is reduced to a minimum as the loss rate of the response data is greater than the first level, the tag information collector (10) can increase the time length of the second power data request section (202) by a preset unit time (1001) as the number of status data requests set in the second power data request section (202) can no longer be reduced.

[0170] Accordingly, the time at which the third power data request, which marks the end of the second power data request period, is transmitted to each electronic tag may be delayed by a preset first unit time (1001). Therefore, the time length of the second power data request period (202) may be longer than the time length of the first power data request period (201) by the first unit time (1001). And depending on the time length of the changed power data request period, the time interval of each status data request transmitted in the second power data period (202) may be reset to a time interval (1020) longer than the second time interval (820) of FIG. 8.

[0171] On the other hand, if the loss rate of response data calculated in the third power data request section (203), where the number of status data requests is increased to the maximum as the loss rate of response data is less than the second level, the tag information collector (10) can shorten the time length of the third power data request section (203) by a preset second unit time (1002) as the number of status data requests set in the third power data request section (203) can no longer be increased. Here, the time lengths of the first unit time (1001) and the second unit time (1002) may be different from each other.

[0172] Accordingly, the time at which the first power data request of the next power information, which is the end of the third power data request period, is transmitted to each electronic tag can be shortened by a preset second unit time (1002). Therefore, the time length of the third power data request period (203) can be shortened by the unit time (1002) compared to the time length of the first power data request period (201). And depending on the time length of the changed power data request period, the time interval of each status data request transmitted in the third power data period (203) can be reset to a time interval (1030) shorter than the third time interval (830) of FIG. 8.

[0173] Meanwhile, although specific embodiments have been described in the above description of the present invention, various modifications may be implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention. For convenience of explanation, an example was given in which response data loss rates are calculated for multiple intervals and the number of state data requests or the time length of each interval is changed based on the calculated response data loss rates; however, it is of course possible to calculate response data loss rates for each of the multiple intervals and change the number of state data requests or the time length of each interval based on the calculated response data loss rates.

[0174] In addition, the above description describes a configuration for detecting whether a circuit breaker is in an off state based on the number of times status data is not received or the length of time during which status data is not received. However, since receiving power information from the circuit breaker is also impossible when the circuit breaker is in an off state, it may be assumed that the circuit breaker is in an on state when power information is received. Therefore, it goes without saying that the status data may include partial power data received from an electronic tag. Accordingly, when status data is not received from a specific electronic tag at least once (when the number of unreceived status data does not reach a preset number for determining the circuit breaker as being in an off state), if partial power data is received from the specific electronic tag, the tag information collector (10) may consider the received partial power data as status data received from the specific electronic tag and reset the accumulated number of unreceived status data for the specific electronic tag.

[0175] Meanwhile, in the description of FIGS. 9a to 10 above, it was explained that the time length of each power data request section (201, 202, 203) is extended or shortened when the number of status data requests determined in each time section where partial power data is requested, i.e., each power data request section (201, 202, 203), is a preset maximum or minimum value. However, it is obvious that even when the number of status data requests is not a maximum or minimum value, the time length of each power data request section (201, 202, 203) may be changed according to the loss rate of the response data.

[0176] For example, the tag information collector (10) may fix the number of requests for status data according to the loss rate of response data and change only the time length of each power data request interval (201, 202, 203), thereby increasing the time interval for transmitting status data requests for intervals where the response data loss rate is above a certain level and decreasing the time interval for transmitting status data requests for intervals where the response data loss rate is below a certain level.

[0177] In addition, as described above, the tag information collector (10) calculates the response data loss rate for each time interval during which partial power data requests are transmitted, and based on the calculated response data loss rate, changes the number of status data requests to be transmitted during each time interval during which each partial power data request is transmitted or during each time interval during which each partial power data request is transmitted.

[0178] However, unlike this, the tag information collector (10) calculates a response data loss rate based on the number of transmitted status data requests and the number of unreceived status data requests until the next partial power data request is transmitted when a partial power data request is transmitted, and may change the time interval during which each partial power data request is transmitted or the number of status data requests to be transmitted during the time interval during which each partial power data request is transmitted based on the calculated response data loss rate. In this case, the changed time interval or the changed number of status data requests may be applied when the next partial power data request is transmitted.

[0179] The present invention described above can be implemented as computer-readable code on a medium on which a program is recorded. A computer-readable medium includes all types of recording devices in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Examples of computer-readable media include HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Disk), SSD (Silicon Disk Drive), ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage device, etc., and also include implementation in the form of a carrier wave (e.g., transmission over the Internet).

[0180] Additionally, the computer may include a control unit (100) of a tag information collector (10) or a control unit (150) of an electronic tag provided in a circuit breaker monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Accordingly, the above detailed description should not be interpreted restrictively in all respects and should be considered exemplary. The scope of the present invention should be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all modifications within the equivalent scope of the present invention are included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A communication unit that performs communication connections with a plurality of electronic tags, each connected to a circuit breaker and collecting power information regarding power supplied to a load via the circuit breaker from the connected circuit breaker and status information related to the operating status of the circuit breaker; and, A tag information collector characterized by including a control unit that transmits a power information request to each electronic tag to request the transmission of the power information, transmits a status information request to each of the plurality of electronic tags multiple times to request the transmission of the status information before transmitting the power information request again, and determines the operating status of each circuit breaker connected to each of the plurality of electronic tags based on whether the status information is received from each electronic tag in response to each status information request transmitted to each electronic tag.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above control unit is, At each preset first time interval, a partial power information request requesting partial power information corresponding to a part of the power information is transmitted to each electronic tag, and The above status information request is, A tag information collector characterized by transmitting the above partial power information request to each of the plurality of electronic tags multiple times at each of the first time intervals in which the above partial power information request is transmitted.

3. In paragraph 2, the control unit is, A tag information collector characterized by detecting the operating state of a circuit breaker connected to an electronic tag as off when the number of times status information is not received in response to a plurality of status information requests transmitted to each electronic tag during at least one first time interval reaches a preset number.

4. In paragraph 3, the control unit is, A tag information collector characterized by, for an electronic tag in which the number of unreceived status information is less than the preset number, resetting the number of unreceived status information if status information is received or partial power information is received before the number of unreceived status information reaches the preset number.

5. In paragraph 2, the control unit is, A tag information collector characterized by detecting the operating state of a circuit breaker connected to an electronic tag as off in response to a plurality of status information requests transmitted to each electronic tag, wherein no status information was received during the first time interval.

6. In paragraph 2, the control unit is, For each time interval in which each partial power information request is transmitted to each electronic tag, a response loss rate is calculated based on the number of status information requests transmitted to each electronic tag and the number of times status information is received from each electronic tag in response to the transmitted status information requests. A tag information collector characterized by changing the number of state information to be transmitted to each electronic tag for each time interval in which each part power information request is transmitted to each electronic tag, based on the calculated response loss rate.

7. In paragraph 6, the control unit is, A tag information collector characterized by changing the length of each time interval in which each partial power information request is transmitted to each electronic tag according to the response loss rate when the number of transmissions of the state information prior to the change is a preset minimum or maximum value.

8. In paragraph 2, the control unit is, For each time interval in which each partial power information request is transmitted to each electronic tag, a response loss rate is calculated based on the number of status information requests transmitted to each electronic tag and the number of times status information is received from each electronic tag in response to the transmitted status information requests. A tag information collector characterized by changing the length of the time interval during which each part power information request is transmitted to each electronic tag based on the response loss rate for each time interval during which each part power information request is transmitted to each electronic tag.

9. In paragraph 2, the above status information is, A tag information collector characterized by having a size of 9 bytes, which is the minimum packet size required by IEEE 802.15.

4.

10. A collection unit that collects power information regarding power supplied to a load via a circuit breaker from a connected circuit breaker, and status information related to the operating status of the circuit breaker; A communication unit that performs a communication connection with a pre-configured tag information collector; and, The control unit controls the communication unit to transmit the collected power information in response to a power information request received from the tag information collector, and controls the communication unit to transmit the collected status information for each of a plurality of status information requests received from the tag information collector after the power information request is received and before another power information request is received. The above status information is, An electronic tag characterized by having a size that is smaller than a certain level compared to the above power information.

11. In Clause 10, the control unit above, Partial power information corresponding to a part of the power information is transmitted in response to a partial power information request received from the tag information collector at preset first time intervals from when the above power information request is received until another power information request is received, and An electronic tag characterized by transmitting the collected status information multiple times in response to each of the multiple status information requests received from the tag information collector at each of the first time intervals.

12. In Clause 10, the above status information is, An electronic tag characterized by having a size of 9 bytes, which is the minimum packet size required by the international standard IEEE 802.15.

4.

13. In Clause 10, the control unit above is, Transmitting a specific bit sequence of a preset length according to a preset error verification rule by inserting it into a preset position of the state information, and The above tag information collector is, An electronic tag characterized by checking a specific bit sequence of a predetermined length inserted at a predetermined location from the received state information to determine whether there is an error in the received state information.

14. A plurality of electronic tags each connected to a circuit breaker, collecting power information regarding power supplied to a load via the circuit breaker from the connected circuit breaker and status information related to the operating status of the connected circuit breaker, and transmitting the power information or status information in response to a request for the power information or status information; and, A circuit breaker monitoring system characterized by including a tag information collector that transmits a power information request to each of the plurality of electronic tags to request the transmission of the power information at regular intervals, transmits a status information request to each electronic tag multiple times to request the transmission of the status information at each time interval when the power information requests are transmitted, and determines the operating status of each circuit breaker connected to each of the plurality of electronic tags based on the status information received from the plurality of electronic tags in response to the status information requests transmitted multiple times.

15. In Paragraph 14, the tag information collector above, A response loss rate is calculated for each time interval during which power information requests are transmitted, based on the number of status information requests transmitted to the plurality of electronic tags and the number of status information not received from the plurality of electronic tags. A circuit breaker monitoring system characterized by making the number of status information requests to be transmitted to each of the plurality of electronic tags different for each time interval based on the response loss rate calculated for each time interval.

16. In Paragraph 14, the tag information collector above, A response loss rate is calculated for each time interval during which power information requests are transmitted, based on the number of status information requests transmitted to the plurality of electronic tags and the number of status information not received from the plurality of electronic tags. A circuit breaker monitoring system characterized by making the time intervals for transmitting the power information requests different from each other, based on the response loss rate calculated for each of the above time intervals.

17. In Paragraph 14, the tag information collector above, When a power information request is transmitted to each of the plurality of electronic tags, a plurality of status information requests are transmitted to each of the plurality of electronic tags until the next power information request is transmitted, and a response loss rate is calculated based on the number of transmitted status information requests and the number of status data not received as a response to the transmitted status information requests. A circuit breaker monitoring system characterized by determining, based on a calculated response loss rate, the time interval between the next power information request and the next power information request being transmitted, or the number of status information requests to be transmitted between the next power information request and the next power information request.

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