Telecontrol management system

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a remote management system, wherein control units such as microcomputers control functions of machines connected to a central control device, namely an arithmetic device such as a personal computer, via communication means, and the machines are handled by the central control device from a remote location.

Description of related technology

In a washing machine, for example, in which a plurality of washing machines and dryers are installed and used with payment, namely with coins or advance cards, a control system is required to control such washing machine machines with respect to problems and payment in a uniform manner at a remote location to increase governance efficiency by reducing staff or by stopping washing rounds.

This type of control system has been proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Hei 6-205900 by applicants of the present invention. A number of washing machine machines, such as washing machines and dryers, are installed in each washing machine. Sensors, such as a rotation sensor, a thermistor and a coin sensor, are arranged in different parts such as a motor, a drum and a payment box of each washing machine, and the output signals from these sensors are sent to a microcomputer. In accordance with the signals from the sensors, the microcomputer controls the operation of the washing machine, stores data regarding operating condition, remaining operating time, sales figures, etc. and sends the stored data to a data control unit (hereinafter referred to as DTC) arranged in each washing machine. Each DTC is connected via the public telephone line to a central control device which includes a personal computer provided to the holder by a washing company or a handling company in charge of the operation of the holder's washing machine.

The central controller sends a monitoring request via the public telephone line to each DTC to monitor machine operation status, remaining operation time, sales figures, function load setting, and operation time setting, etc. To cause the microcomputers to transmit different types of monitoring request data, the DTC transmits. requesting the transmission of data to the microcomputers or machines in sequence. The DTC sends data request commands in sequence to the microcomputers of the machines installed in the washing machine. After receiving the data from the microcomputers, the DTC sends the data to the central control device.

In case of problems, such as a machine fault, deviations or payment theft, the microcomputer for the corresponding washing machine stops the machine and provides a transmission request command to the DTC. After receiving a response from the DTC, the microcomputer sends problem data relating to the problem encountered. The DTC calls the central control device to transmit the received problem data. After receiving a response from the central control device, the DTC transmits the above-mentioned problem data. In accordance with the received problem data, the central control device displays the data on a monitoring display and gives an alarm to alert the holder of the washing company or the operator of the handling company of the occurrence of the problem.

On the other hand, microcomputers that are not applicable to communication are installed in old-fashioned machines at the washing machine to control the operation of the machines. In this case, interfaces applicable to communication for such machines are provided, and the interfaces are connected to the DTC to send the requested specific information to the central control device.

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Among the sensors installed in the above-mentioned machine, the coin sensor delivers, for sensing, for example, the passage of coins which have been entered into the payment box, a signal to the above-mentioned interface as well as to the microcomputer for controlling the operation of the machine. The interface is equipped with a payment control counter to count the number of times the signals have been entered. When a command is sent from the DTC, the interface sends the number of payment bills to the DTC and the DTC sends the number of bills to the central controller.

However, when such an old-fashioned machine equipped with a microcomputer not applicable for communication is used in the above-mentioned conventional remote management system, the interface connected to the machine transmits only the information regarding the sensors connected to the interface. However, in order to perform sufficient remote control, as many sensors as possible must be connected to the interface, and the detection data from the sensors must be sent to the central control device. However, when attempting to send data, such as the large amount of detection data sent from a plurality of sensors provided in the old-fashioned machine to the microcomputer for controlling the operation of the machine to the interface, wiring must be performed from the sensors to both the microcomputer and the interface. This causes severe wiring problems. For example, a wide wire distance is required, and the wire drawing must necessarily be branched into two branches: the wire drawing to the microcomputer and the wire drawing to the interface.

To solve the problems, a configuration is conceivable in which data from each sensor is provided to the microcomputer via the interface, and the data is sent from the interface to the DTC. However, the detection rate of the microcomputer for controlling the operation of the machine differs depending on the type and generation of the microcomputer. Therefore, »· •» »»

S17 877^Γ the interface provide the data from the sensor to the microcomputer in a sequence suitable for the microcomputer. In order to effect the above-mentioned data transmission, different types of interfaces must be prepared depending on both the type and generation of the microcomputer. However, this is impractical.

Summary of the invention

The present invention has been invented under such circumstances and an object of the present invention is to provide a remote management system which can transmit detection data from sensors for detecting the conditions of a machine to a central control device via an interface applicable for communication even when the control unit of the machine is not applicable. for communication, and which can obtain detection data from the sensors via the interface.

The remote management system of the present invention is provided with an interface applicable to communication, in which detection data from sensors for detecting machine conditions is input from a plurality of input ports corresponding to the sensors so that the states of the multiple input ports are detected, the states of the output ports are set to the states of the corresponding the entrance gates, the detection data from the sensors is sent out at all times to the control unit for controlling the machine functions without processing the sensor detection data, and the sensor detection data is sent to the central control device via a data control unit.

Therefore, the controller can read the sensor detection data at appropriate times which are adapted to the sequence of the controller itself. In addition, even in a system having different sequences for each type of machine such as a system for handling many types of washing machine machines from a remote location, such as dryers and washing machines, the interface can provide sensor detection • · »» »

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517 data to the control unit independent of the sequence of the machine control unit.

In addition, the remote management system according to the present invention is provided with an interface suitable for communication which stores the states of the several input ports which receive the detection data from the sensors for detecting machine conditions, and transmits, depending on a transmission request command from the data control unit for controlling data transmission to and reception from the central control device for handling machines from a remote location, the detection data selected from the stored detection result data and relating to the transmission request command to the central control device via the data control unit.

Consequently, the data controller can obtain the sensor detection data from the interface. In addition, the sensor detection data can be sent to the central control device from the interface via the data control unit, also in the case of a washing machine, such as a dryer and a washing machine, which is equipped with a control unit which is not applicable for communication.

The above object and further objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a remote management system in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an HBS-I / F and the configuration of a second machine block equipped with the HBS-I / F in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing a control procedure for the HBS-I / F of the remote management system in accordance with the present invention.

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Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a remote management system in accordance with the present invention. In Fig. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a washing machine, and reference numeral 1 denotes a handling company for handling a plurality of washing machines 2, 2, ... The washing machine 2 is provided with first machine blocks 8, 8, ... and second machine blocks 9, 9 ,. .. The first machine block 8 comprises a machine 8a such as a dryer and a washing machine equipped with a microcomputer 8b applicable for serial data communication, and an interface 8d (hereinafter referred to as an I / F) based on a home bus system (hereinafter referred to as for an HBS). The second machine block 9 comprises a machine 9a such as a dryer and a washing machine equipped with a microcomputer 9b which is not applicable for serial data communication and an interface 9d for HBS.

Each microcomputer 8b provided for the machine 8a in the first machine block 8 initiates drying or washing functions according to a payment command such as a coin entry and a start command, controlling the machine function according to signals from the sensors 8c, 8c, ... such as a rotational speed sensor and a temperature sensor. In addition, each microcomputer 8b transmits data relating to the payment input, start command, rotational speed, temperature, etc. and problem data relating to deviating payment input, deviating rotational speed, deviating temperature, etc. via each HBS-I / F 8d.

On the other hand, the signals detected by the sensors 9c, 9c, ... such as a rotational speed sensor and a temperature sensor provided for each machine 9a in the second machine block 9 are provided to the microcomputer 9b via the HBS-I / F 9d applicable to serial data communication. The microcomputer 9b controls the drying or washing functions in accordance with the detection signals. At predetermined intervals, the HBS-I / F 9b detects whether the levels of the input ports receiving • · »» t • · • »» »« «·

9 • ·

9 » 9

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• · • · the signals from the sensors 9c, 9c, ... are H or L, and deliver the detection results from the output ports to the microcomputer 9b. Accordingly, the HBS-I / F 9d can provide information from the sensors 9c, 9c, ... to the microcomputer 9b independently of the sequence in the microcomputer 9b. Furthermore, the HBS-I / F 9d transmits the states of the input gates to the DTC 7 via a twisted pair wire 10.

Each HBS-I / F 8d, 8d, ... also sends data to the DTC 7 via the twisted pair wire 10. The twisted pair wire 10 is connected to an HBS control unit 7b provided for the DTC 7. The HBS control unit 7b controls the transmission of commands requesting the transmission of data from the first machine blocks 8, 8, ... and the second machine blocks 9, 9, ... to the DTC 7, and also controls the transmission of responses corresponding to the commands from the first machine blocks 8,

8 .. .. and the other machine blocks 9, 9, ...

The HBS controller 7b transmits and receives data transmission request commands and reception data for the first machine blocks 8, 8 ,. . . and the other machine blocks 9,

9 .. .. to and from a DTC control unit 7a for controlling the operation of the DTC 7. The DTC control unit 7a is connected to an input device 7c for setting information about the name, telephone number, etc. to the washing machine provided with The DTC 7, a memory 7e for storing data received from the first machine blocks 8, 8, ... and the second machine blocks 9, 9, ..., and an interface 7d such as an RS-232C interface. In addition, the DTC controller 7a is equipped with a machine counter 7f to prevent repeated transmissions.

The I / F 7d of the DTC 7 is connected to an I / F 3d provided in a central control device 3 which comprises a personal computer via a line control / data transmission unit 6 such as a modem, the public telephone line 5 and a line control / data transmission unit 4 on the management company's 1 page. Communication between the line control / data transmission unit 6 and the line control / data transmission unit 4 is performed in accordance with the error correction t&gt; · • '· * ·· »*» »&gt;

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517 877 ··’ ’”··· ^: and data compression methods specified in MNP 5. A telephone 12 is connected to the line control / data transmission unit 6 on the washing machine 2 side, and a telephone 11 is connected to the line control / data transmission unit 4 on the handling company 1 side to be used for telephone communication.

The central control device 3 is provided with a display device 3b such as a CRT display; an input device 3c such as a keyboard; and a controller 3a such as a CPU. When a data transmission request command such as a sales digits request command or a function state request command is sent from the input device 3c, the controller 3a sends the request command to the DTC 7 of the washing machine 2 via the I / F 3d and line control / data transmission unit 4, and reads the data line control / data transmission unit 4 via the I / F 3d, and then displays data on the display device 3b.

When a monitoring request in this type of remote management system is provided from the central control device 3 of the management company 1 to the DTC 7 of the washing machine 2 via the public telephone line 5, the DTC 7 calls the microcomputers 8b, 8b, ... of the first machine blocks 8, 8, ... and the HBS-I / F 9d, 9d, ... of the other machine blocks 9, 9,. . . in sequence as described below, the microcomputers 8b, 8b, ... and the HBS-I / F 9d, 9d, ... are caused to return data. Consequently, the necessary data can also be sent to the central control device 3 via the HBS-I / F 9d, 9d, ... from the other machine blocks 9,

9, ... which are equipped with the microcomputers 9b, 9b, ... which are not applicable for communication, whereby high quality control can also be achieved in the other machine blocks 9, 9, ...

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the HBS-I / F 9d and the configuration of the second machine block 9 equipped with the HBS-I / F 9d in accordance with the present invention. The machine 9a with it

517 877 the second machine block 9 has a plurality of sensors such as a coin sensor 91c for detecting coins fed into a payment box, a door switch 92c for detecting open / closed conditions of doors and a temperature sensor 93c provided for a motor or a drying chamber for temperature detection. The detection signals from the sensors are supplied from the corresponding plurality of input ports in IP, IP, ... which are provided for the HBSI / F 9d to a control unit 29d. The HBS-I / F 9d is provided with several output ports OP, OP, ... which correspond to the input ports IP, IP, ... The output signals from the control unit 29d are supplied from the output ports OP, OP, ... which correspond to the input ports IP , IP, ... to the microcomputer 9b via the output I / F 40d, 41d, 42d, ... which are used as drive units.

At predetermined intervals, the controller 29d performs detection and determines in sequence whether the levels of the input ports IP, IP, ... are H (= high) or L (= low). When the level of an input port IP is H as a result of detection, the controller 29d sets the level 20 of the corresponding output port OP at H to supply the level to the microcomputer 9b of the machine 9a, and feeds the detection results of the input ports IP, IP, ... to a memory device 30d for storing the results. Monitoring request commands are fed from the DTC 7 to the control unit 29d. When a monitoring request command is provided to the controller 29d, the controller 29d reads the data corresponding to the request from the memory device 30 in accordance with the command provided from the DTC 7, and sends the data to the DTC 7.

The microcomputer 9b, on the other hand, reads data provided from the output ports OP, OP, ... of the HBS-I / F 9d, and feeds control commands to a drum motor 101 for rotating a drum, a fan motor 102 and a heater 103 for feeding of hot air to a drying chamber, etc. in accordance with the data for controlling the functions of such machines.

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Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing a control procedure for the HBS-I / F 9d of the remote management system in accordance with the present invention. The HBS-I / F 9d resets the counter value n (step S1), and then determines whether the counter value n is the total number, eg 10, input ports IP, IP, ... or not (step S2). When the HBS-I / F 9d determines that n is not 10, the HBS-I / F 9d calculates the counter value n by one (step S3). The HBS-I / F 9d then determines whether the level of the input port IP corresponding to the count value is H or not (step S4).

When the HBS-I / F 9d determines that the level of the input port IP is H, the HBS-I / F supplies an H-level signal to the microcomputer 9b from the output port OP corresponding to the counter value n (step S5). When the HBS-I / F 9d determines that the level of the input port IP is not H but L, the HBS-I / F 9d further supplies an L-level signal to the microcomputer 9b from the output port OP corresponding to the counter value n (step S6). The HBS-I / F 9d then stores the detection result from the input port IP at the corresponding address in the memory device 30d (step S7).

Furthermore, the HBS-I / F 9d determines whether or not a monitoring request command has been received from the DTC 7 (step S8). When the HBS-I / F 9d determines that a monitoring request command has been received, the HBS-I / F 9d reads the detection result corresponding to the command from the memory unit 30d and sends the result to the DTC 7 (step S9). After returning to step S2, the HBS-I / F 9d performs detection of the states of the input ports IP, IP, ..., storage of the detection results and delivery of the detection results from the output ports OP, OP, ..., until n reaches 10 When the HBS-I / F 9d determines that n = 10, the HBS-I / F 9d returns to step S1, resets the counter number n, and repeats the above-mentioned operation.

Since the present invention can be embodied in several different ways without departing from the scope of its essential characteristics, the present embodiment is therefore to be disposed of. Form is illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description which precedes them, and any changes which fall within the scope of the claims, or equivalents to such limits thereof are therefore intended to be encompassed by the claims.