Apparatus management system

Abstract: A machine management system capable of improving the degree of freedom in control of an apparatus and installation of an additional apparatus is disclosed. A plurality of refrigerators send, to a virtual machine constructor, information on their own operations. The virtual machine constructor, when receiving such information from the refrigerators, constructs virtual machines corresponding to the refrigerators using the received information, and holds the virtual machines therein. Each time the virtual machine constructor receives new information from the refrigerators, it updates the virtual machines held therein. Controllers receive virtual machines from the virtual machine constructor and hold them therein. The controllers cause one of the virtual machines held therein to be selected and displayed in response to a user's request.

Description: The present invention relates to an apparatus management system for providing apparatus management functions such as control and monitoring. There are various kinds of apparatuses which are subjected to management such as control, monitoring and so on. For example, a variety of electric apparatuses are installed in a house and a business office as such apparatuses subjected to management. These apparatuses should be operated at preset operating conditions. For example, an air conditioner installed in each room of a house adjusts the temperature of ambient air at a temperature preset by a user. Such an apparatus to be controlled generally requires settings for operation. It is therefore necessary for a user to manipulate such an apparatus directly or using a remote control device. In a business office or the like, on the other hand, controls of machines such as start, stop and so on are performed at one place on a control board or the like. However, for monitoring operating conditions of respective apparatuses in detail using such a control board, it is necessary to preset control conditions and to use a control board manufactured on the basis of the preset conditions. In addition, whenever an additional apparatus to be controlled is installed, modifications of the control board may be required. Thus, control of apparatus using such a control board has difficulties in changing preset control conditions for the apparatus and in installing an additional apparatus, thereby causing the degree of freedom in control and installation of an additional apparatus to be controlled. US Patent No. 5,490,134, issued on 6 th February 1996, discloses an apparatus for communicating signals having multiple different protocols as a composite signal with at least one common protocol. The apparatus includes a multiple input means for receiving input signals in different protocols, a first controller means which receives the input signals and includes means for multiplexing the input signals to a composite signal having the common protocol, and an output means for receiving the composite signal and transmitting it through a communication medium to a second location. One or more controllers can be configured as a master of remote units. Such units may perform remote signal input emulation and master/remote apparatus emulation. They can also permit user-defined signal port control access and may provide operational diagnostics of the units and their associated communication link. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus management system which is capable of eliminating such disadvantages of the prior art as mentioned above and improving the degree of freedom in control and installation of additional apparatuses. To achieve the object above, the present invention provides an apparatus management system as set forth in Claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are covered by the subclaims. According to the present invention, since a virtual machine held in a controller or a computer has the same information as a real apparatus at any time, it is possible to control a remotely located real apparatus by controlling a virtual machine obtainable by a user. It is advantageous that a virtual machine according to the present invention can be utilized as a software tool, thereby enabling those who lack in knowledge of data communication, measurement and control to develop a high-grade measurement and control system. According to the present invention, a virtual machine can advantageously absorb any complexity and change in a real apparatus, thereby enabling a united management of apparatuses. According to the present invention, it is advantageously easy to design or change a management system, because a constructor according to the present invention can construct and hold new virtual machines each time real apparatuses are added to or reduced from a management system, thereby eliminating the necessity of changing a controller. The various features and advantages of the present invention may be readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements. Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a virtual machine; Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating how a virtual machine is constructed; Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a fourth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a fifth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a sixth embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a seventh embodiment of the present invention. The present invention will be described hereinafter in connection with various embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, in the drawings the same or similar structural elements are designated by the same reference numerals. First Embodiment Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the first embodiment of an apparatus management system according to the present invention. An apparatus management system illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises refrigerators 1, 2, 3 as machines to be controlled or target machines, a virtual machine constructor 4, and controllers 5, 6. The refrigerator 1 may be installed, for example, in a room of a house. The refrigerator 1 has machine information on the initial conditions, status information and control information as its own information. The machine information is information about the refrigerator 1 as an apparatus, and may include an identification number (ID) unique to the refrigerator 1, a manufacturer's name, a model number, rated power consumption and so on. The status information is information indicative of operating conditions of the refrigerator 1, and may include information about current operating mode, current power consumption, temperature and humidity in the refrigerator and so on. The control information is information for controlling the refrigerator 1, and may include information about operation instructions, preset temperature, preset humidity and so on. When energized by a power supply, the refrigerator 1 sends the machine information, the status information and the control information to the virtual machine constructor 4. Subsequently, the refrigerator 1 periodically sends those information to the virtual machine constructor 4. The refrigerator 1 starts operation based on the control information of the initial conditions and continues the operation in the same condition without receiving any new control information. When receiving new control information from the virtual machine constructor 4, the refrigerator 1 operates based on this new control information. The refrigerators 2, 3 are identical to the refrigerator 1 except that they are installed in rooms different from that of the refrigerator 1 and that they have IDs different from that of the refrigerator 1. Therefore, explanation of the refrigerators 2, 3 is omitted here. The virtual machine constructor 4 may be implemented by a computer and comprises a CPU (Central Processing Unit) for controlling the virtual machine constructor 4 itself, a ROM (Read Only Memory) for storing control procedures of the CPU, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) for temporarily holding information. The virtual machine constructor 4, when receiving machine information, status information and control information from, for example, the refrigerator 1, constructs a virtual machine corresponding to the refrigerator 1 using those received information. The virtual machine corresponding to the refrigerator 1 is constructed at the time the refrigerator 1 starts operating. Subsequently, the virtual machine reflects the information concerning the refrigerator 1 in cooperation with the refrigerator 1. In other words, the virtual machine does not have such actual devices as a cooling unit, motor and so on, which the refrigerator 1 would be provided with, and is an informational entity which has the same functions as the refrigerator 1 and which is virtually constructed on a computer (such as the virtual machine constructor 4) in this embodiment. A virtual machine 1A for the refrigerator 1 constructed by the virtual machine constructor 4 has a configuration as illustrated in Fig. 2. Specifically, the virtual machine 1A comprises a connector 1A 1 for receiving information, an information unit 1A 2 comprising control information and machine information, and a connector 1A 3 for outputting information. Among these components, the information unit 1A 2 constitutes the main body of the virtual machine. The virtual machine constructor 4 holds in the RAM the virtual machine 1A created in association with the refrigerator 1. Thus, the virtual machine constructor 4 constructs and holds the virtual machine 1A for the refrigerator 1, as shown in Fig. 3. Similarly, the virtual machine constructor 4 constructs and holds virtual machines 2A, 3A, for the refrigerators 2, 3, respectively. Further, the virtual machine constructor 4 updates the virtual machines 1A, 2A, 3A held therein, each time it receives machine information, status information and control information from the respective refrigerators 1, 2, 3. In other words, the virtual machine constructor 4 always holds the latest virtual machines 1A, 2A, 3A. In updating the virtual machines, the virtual machine constructor 4 identifies a virtual machine corresponding to received machine information, status information and control information, based on the ID included in the machine information. The virtual machine constructor 4 periodically retrieves the virtual machines 1A, 2A, 3A held therein and sends them to the controllers 5, 6, respectively. The controller 5 may be a computer and comprises a control unit 5A including a CPU for controlling the controller 5 itself, a ROM for storing control procedures of the CPU, and a RAM for temporarily storing information; an input unit 5B for receiving and inputting a variety of instructions to the control unit 5A; and a display unit 5C for displaying information. The controller 5, when receiving the virtual machines 1A, 2A, 3A from the virtual machine constructor 4, holds these virtual machines 1A, 2A, 3A in the RAM. Then, the controller 5 selects a virtual machine and displays it on the display unit 5C in response to an instruction from the input unit 5B. The controller 5, when receiving new virtual machines 1A, 2A, 3A from the virtual machine constructor 4, updates the virtual machines 1A, 2A, 3A held in the controller, while the controller 5 identifies the virtual machines using the IDs thereof. When control information is inputted through manipulations of the input unit 5B to control any one of the refrigerators 1-3 , say the refrigerator 1, the controller 5 reflects such control information on the information unit 1A 2 of the virtual machine 1A corresponding to the refrigerator 1 to be controlled, thereby updating the virtual machine A held in the virtual machine constructor 4. In other words, the manipulations of the input unit 5B causes the information unit 1A 2 of the virtual machine 1A to be controlled. The controller 5 periodically retrieves the virtual machines 1A, 2A, 3A held therein and sends them to the virtual machine constructor 4, thereby enabling the virtual machines held in the virtual machine constructor 4 to be updated. Thus, any control of a virtual machine, such as on/off control and temperature setting can be performed through manipulations of the input unit 5B. The controller 6 is identical in configuration and operation to the controller 5, and explanation thereof is omitted here. Next, the operation of the first embodiment of an apparatus management system according to the present invention will be described. When a user starts up the refrigerator 1 by connecting it to a power supply, the refrigerator 1 sends its machine information, status information and control information to the virtual machine constructor 4, and, thereafter, the refrigerator 1 periodically sends its machine information, status information and control information to the virtual machine constructor 4. Similarly, the refrigerators 2, 3 send their machine information, status information and control information to the virtual machine constructor 4 at the startup and, thereafter, periodically. The virtual machine constructor 4, when receiving the machine information, the status information and the control information from the respective refrigerators 1, 2, 3, constructs and holds the virtual machines 1A, 2A, 3A for the refrigerators 1, 2, 3, respectively. The virtual machines 1A, 2A, 3A held in the virtual machine constructor 4 are updated by the virtual machine constructor 4 when new machine information, new status information and new control information are received from the refrigerators 1, 2, 3, respectively. Further, the virtual machines 1A, 2A, 3A, held in the virtual machine constructor 4 are periodically sent to the controllers 5, 6 for storage therein. The controller 5, when receiving any of the virtual machines 1A, 2A, 3A from the virtual machine constructor 4, holds the received virtual machine therein. Further, the controller 5 selects one of the virtual machines held therein and displays the selected virtual machine on the display unit 5C in response to an instruction from the input unit 5B. Also, the controller 5 updates the virtual machine held therein and displays a new virtual machine on the display unit 5C each time it receives any of the virtual machines 1A, 2A, 3A from the virtual machine constructor 4. If a user wants to control the refrigerator 1, he or she inputs control information for controlling the refrigerator 1 while watching the display unit 5C and manipulates the input unit 5B. Then, the constructor 4 reflects the control information inputted to the information unit 1A 2 of the virtual machine 1A. Since, the virtual machine 1A in the controller 5 is periodically sent to the virtual machine constructor 4, the virtual machine 1A for the refrigerator 1, held in the virtual machine constructor 4, is updated. Also, since the information unit 1A 2 of the virtual machine 1A held in the virtual machine constructor 4 is periodically sent to the refrigerator 1, the control information on the refrigerator 1 is updated. The refrigerator 1, with receiving new control information, starts a new operation based on the new control information. In this way, the virtual machine 1A displayed on the display unit 5C of the controller 5 enables the user to learn a current status of the refrigerator 1. In addition, by simply manipulating the virtual machine 1A held in the controller 5, the refrigerator 1 can be controlled in accordance with how the virtual machine is manipulated. If an additional refrigerator is installed, an additional RAM may be provided in the virtual machine constructor 4 for holding a virtual machine corresponding to the additional refrigerator. It is clear that the first embodiment ensures easy installation of additional refrigerators. It should be understood that the virtual machines 2A, 3A for the refrigerators 2, 3 are treated by the virtual machine constructor 4 and the controller 5 in the same manner as the virtual machine 1A. Second Embodiment A second embodiment utilizes the above-described first embodiment on a network, as shown in Fig. 4. Specifically, in the second embodiment, refrigerators 11, 12, 13 are connected to a server 14 through a network 10. The network 10 may be an electronic information communication network such as LAN (local area network) and Internet. The server 14 corresponds to the virtual machine constructor 4 in the first embodiment. Computers 15, 16 are further connected to the network 10. The computers 15, 16 correspond to the controllers 5, 6 in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the refrigerators 11, 12, 13 transmit machine information, status information and control information to the server 14 through the network 10, and receives control information from the server 14 through the network 10. Further, the server 14 transmits and receives virtual machines for the refrigerators 11, 12, 13 to and from the computers 15, 16 through the network 10. Consequently, a user can utilize any one of the computers 15, 16 to manipulate the virtual machines for the refrigerators 11, 12, 13, thereby causing the refrigerators 11, 12, 13 to operate in accordance with how the computer is manipulated. Thus, it is possible to operate the refrigerators 11, 12, 13 from an arbitrary location on the network 10. Third Embodiment In a third embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, the virtual machine constructor described in connection with the first embodiment is provided for each of the refrigerators. Specifically, in the third embodiment, virtual machine constructors 24, 25, 26 are provided respectively for refrigerators 21, 22, 23. Control units 27A, 28A of controllers 27, 28 transmit and receive virtual machines to and from the virtual machine constructors 24, 25, 26. In the third embodiment, since each refrigerator is provided with a virtual machine constructor, the virtual machine constructors 24, 25, 26 need not be modified when an additional refrigerator is installed in the system. Fourth Embodiment In a fourth embodiment, the third embodiment is implemented on a network, as shown in Fig. 6. Specifically, in the fourth embodiment, virtual machine constructors 34, 35, 36 associated with refrigerators 31, 32, 33 are connected to a network 30. The network 30 may be an electronic information communication network such as LAN (local area network) or Internet, as is the case of the network 10 in the second embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, the virtual machine constructors 34, 35, 36 associated with the refrigerators 31, 32, 33 transmit and receive virtual machines to and from computers 37, 38 through the network 30. This configuration enables a user to utilize any of the computers 37, 38 to manipulate the virtual machines for the refrigerators 31, 32, 33, thereby allowing the refrigerators 31, 32, 33 to operate in accordance with how the computers are manipulated. Thus, it is possible to operate the refrigerators from an arbitrary location on the network 30. In the fourth embodiment, in the case where an additional refrigerator is installed, a virtual machine constructor for the additional refrigerator can be connected to the network 30. Consequently, the virtual machine corresponding to the additional refrigerator is transmitted and received to and from the computers 37, 38. This ensures easy installation of additional refrigerators. Fifth Embodiment A fifth embodiment utilizes controllers 7, 8, 9, as illustrated in Fig. 7, in place of the controllers 5, 6 in the first embodiment. The controller 7 may be a computer and comprises a CPU for controlling the controller 7 itself, a ROM for storing control procedures of the CPU, and a RAM for temporarily holding information. The controller 7, when receiving virtual machines 1A, 2A, 3A from a virtual machine constructor 4, holds these virtual machines 1A, 2A, 3A in the RAM. The controller 7, when receiving new virtual machines 1A, 2A, 3A from the virtual machine constructor 4, updates the virtual machines 1A, 2A, 3A held in the controller 7, while identifying the virtual machines using IDs. When the controller 7 receives, for example, control information on the virtual machine 1A from the controller 9, a connector 1A 1 of the virtual machine 1A held in the controller 7 receives the control information. The controller 7 reflects this control information on an information unit 1A 2 of the virtual machine to update the virtual machine. In other words, control information from the controller 9 can manipulate the information unit 1A 2 of the virtual machine 1A held in the controller 7. Subsequently, the controller 7 sends status information on the information unit 1A 2 back to the controller 9. The controller 7 periodically retrieves the virtual machines 1A, 2A, 3A held therein and sends them to the virtual machine constructor 4. Since updated virtual machines are sent to the virtual machine constructor 4, any control of a virtual machine, such as ON/OFF control and temperature setting can be performed on the basis of control information sent from the controller 9. Since the controller 8 is identical in configuration and operation to the controller 7, explanation thereof is omitted here. The controller 9 may be a computer for performing, for example, sequence control, and comprises a CPU for controlling the controller 9 itself, a ROM for storing control procedures of the CPU, and a RAM for temporarily storing information. The controller 9 holds control information for the refrigerators 1, 2, 3. In operation, the controller 9 reads out the stored control information, for example, in the order of the refrigerators 1, 2, 3, and sends the information to the controllers 7, 8. Also, the controller 9 is informed of the status of the refrigerators 1, 2, 3 by status information from the controllers 7, 8. It is understood from the foregoing that automatic control for the refrigerators 1, 2, 3 can be achieved by the controller 9 in the fifth embodiment. Sixth Embodiment A sixth embodiment utilizes the above-described fifth embodiment on a network, as shown in Fig. 8. Specifically, in the sixth embodiment, refrigerators 41, 42, 43 are connected to a server 44 through a network 40. The network 40 may be an electronic information communication network such as LAN and Internet. The server 44 corresponds to the virtual machine constructor 4 in the fifth embodiment. Further, computers 45, 46, connected to the network 10, correspond to the controllers 7, 8 in the fifth embodiment, and a computer 47 connected to the computers 45, 46 corresponds to the controller 9 in the fifth embodiment. In the sixth embodiment, the refrigerators 41, 42, 43 transmit machine information, status information and control information to the server 44 through the network 40. The refrigerators 41, 42, 43 receive control information from the server 44 through the network 40. The server 44 transmits and receives virtual machines for the refrigerators 41, 42, 43 to and from the computers 45, 46 through the network 40. Further, the computers 45, 46 receive control information from the computer 47. Consequently, it is possible to automatically operate the refrigerators 41, 42, 43 in accordance with the control procedures inputted by a user to the computer 47. Seventh Embodiment In a seventh embodiment, computers 51, 52, 53 respectively corresponding to the computers 45, 46, 47 in the sixth embodiment are connected to the network 40, as shown in Fig. 9. The computers 51, 52, 53 transmit and receive information such as control information and status information through the network 40. In this way, it is possible to monitor and control the refrigerators 41, 42, 43 from an arbitrary location on the network 40.

Claims: An apparatus-management system for managing at least one apparatus (1, 2, 3) having information indicative of operation conditions thereof, characterized by : a virtual-machine constructor means (4) connected to the at least one apparatus (1, 2, 3) for constructing and holding at least one virtual machine (1A, 2A, 3A) corresponding to said at least one apparatus in response to the information received from said apparatus, at least one said virtual machine being an informational entity having the same function as a connected apparatus, said virtual-machine constructor means being capable of updating and outputting the virtual machine or machines held therein in response to new information received from the at least one apparatus; and a controller (5, 6) connected to said virtual-machine constructor means and having a storing unit for holding the virtual machine or machines received from the virtual-machine constructor means and an input means (5B, 6B) for receiving information for controlling the at least one apparatus, said controller being capable of updating the virtual machine or machines held in said storing unit when information is inputted to said input means, and of sending an updated virtual machine or machines to said virtual-machine constructor means; wherein said virtual-machine constructor means is enabled to control the apparatus when an updated virtual machine is received from said controller. An apparatus-management system as set forth in Claim 1, wherein said virtual-machine constructor means (14), said controller (15, 16) and the at least one apparatus (11, 12, 13) are connected to a communication network (10). An apparatus-management system as set forth in Claim 1, wherein said controller (5, 6) further comprises a display unit (5C, 6C) for displaying a virtual machine (1A, 2A, 3A) in response to information inputted from said input means (5B, 6B), thereby enabling a user to input information for controlling the at least one apparatus. An apparatus-management system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said virtual-machine constructor means (4) comprises a single virtual-machine constructor connected to all of the at least one apparatus (1, 2, 3). An apparatus-management system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein there are at least two apparatuses (31, 32, 33) and said virtual-machine constructor means (4) comprises at least two virtual-machine constructors (34, 35, 36) connected to respective ones of said at least two apparatus. An apparatus-management system as set forth in Claim 1, wherein said input means is constituted by a second controller (9), which is connected to said first controller (7, 8) for storing and for outputting to said first controller control information for controlling the at least one apparatus, said first controller (7, 8) being further capable of sending an updated virtual machine or machines to said virtual-machine constructor means in response to control information received from said second controller (9), and said virtual-machine constructor means being enabled to control the at least one apparatus in response to the updated virtual machine or machines received from said first controller, thereby enabling automatic control of the at least one apparatus. An apparatus-management system as set forth in Claim 6, wherein said virtual-machine constructor means (44), said first controller (45, 46) and the at least one apparatus (41, 42, 43) are connected to a communication network (40). An apparatus-management system as set forth in Claim 6, wherein said virtual-machine constructor means (44), said first controller (51, 52), said second controller (53) and the at least one apparatus (41, 42, 43) are connected to a communication network (40).

Inventors: NAKANISHI YOSHIKAZU, NAKANISHI, YOSHIKAZU
Applicants: SHIKOKU ELEC POWER, SHIKOKU ELECTRIC POWER CO., INC.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G05B19
IPC codes: G05B15, G05B19, G05B23