Abstract:
The present invention relates to a client suitability test apparatus for a substation automating system with regard to IEC 61850 service between virtual intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) and clients for a plurality of IEDs, wherein the apparatus comprises: a suitability test process generating unit using at least one test model selected from among a plurality of predefined test models, and modeling a suitability test process to test the suitability of a client; a suitability test executing unit for calling a test process model, and executing a suitability test on a client according to the content of the test process model; a communication packet analyzing unit capturing and analyzing a communication packet on a communication response of a virtual IED and the communication request of a client according to the suitability test executing unit; and a test grading unit for grading the suitability test of the client based on test grading conditions of the test process model called by the suitability test executing unit.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a client suitability test apparatus and method for a substation automation system and, more particularly, to a client suitability test apparatus and method for a substation automation system that test the suitability of a client that supports an IEC 61850 communication service that constitutes part of a smart grid substation automation system. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    After IEC 61850, that is, the international communication standard for substation automation systems, was established, products of high-level management systems, such as Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) and Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs), to which the single standard is applied and which are intended for the protection, control and monitoring of substations, have been mass-produced, and also the application area of IEC 61850-based substation automation systems has been enlarged, in domestic and foreign countries. 
         [0003]    In an IEC 61850-based substation automation system, information is exchanged using a digital method based on a server and a client in an Ethernet environment, rather than a conventional hard-wire based one-to-one correspondence method. 
         [0004]    In the IEC 61850-based substation automation system, all pieces of equipment that constitute a substation are implemented as virtual data models, and all products are implemented using the same data information objects. 
         [0005]    Currently, a test for the suitability of an IED that operates as a server in a substation automation system is considered to be an essential prerequisite for establishing a substation automation system, and this has been the case since the IEC 61850 standard was established in 2005. Additionally, interest in test procedures and test tools has continued to increase. 
         [0006]    However, for a client, that is, a counterparty, only a draft version of a test procedure has been released. 
       DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
       [0007]    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a client suitability test apparatus and method that enable a user to easily model a procedure for a client suitability test in order to completely verify the interoperability of a substation automation system. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a client suitability test apparatus and method for a substation automation system that enable the suitability of a client to be tested in the substation automation system, thereby establishing a foundation for the verification of the performance of a smart grid and verifying the possibility of practical use. 
       Technical Solution 
       [0009]    In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a client suitability test apparatus for a substation automation system, with respect to IEC 61850 communication service between virtual Intelligent Electronic Device (IEDs) corresponding to a plurality of IEDs and a client, the apparatus including a suitability test procedure generation unit configured to model a suitability test procedure for testing suitability of the client using one or more test models that are selected from among a plurality of test models; a suitability test execution unit configured to invoke a suitability test procedure model and then conduct a test for the suitability of the client in accordance with content of the suitability test procedure model; a communication packet analysis unit configured to capture and analyze a communication request from the client and a communication packet of a communication response from a selected virtual IED in conformity with instructions from the suitability test execution unit; and a test judgment unit configured to judge the test for the suitability of the client based on test judgment conditions of the test procedure model that is invoked by the suitability test execution unit. 
         [0010]    The test procedure creation unit may include a test model selection unit configured to select the test models necessary for the modeling of the suitability test procedure for testing the suitability of the client; a test model editing unit configured to input and edit content of the test models that is selected by a tester; and a test model location adjustment unit configured to automatically arrange the selected test models, and modify relative locations of the test models or delete test models that are unnecessary for the corresponding suitability test procedure. 
         [0011]    The test model editing unit may provide an IEC 61850 communication service list requested by the client to the tester, and input the type of communication response from the virtual IED that is suitable for an IEC 61850 communication service that is selected from the communication service list by the tester. 
         [0012]    The test model editing unit may select either a positive response or a negative response as the type of communication response from the virtual IED, and, in a case of the negative response, input a negative response message selected by the tester, into the test models. 
         [0013]    The test model editing unit may provide a selectable data type list of the virtual IED, corresponding to the IEC 61850 communication service selected by the tester, to the tester, and input data that the client will request from the virtual IED into a corresponding test model based on information that is selected by the tester. 
         [0014]    The data type list may include at least one of a Report Control Block (RCB), a GOOSE Control Block (GoCB), a Sampled Value Control Block (SVCB), a Log Control Block (LCB), a Setting Group Control Block (SGCB), a Logical Device (LD), a Logical Node (LN), a Data Object (DO), a Data Attribute (DA), and control data (a DO, a SBO, a DOw, and a SBOw). 
         [0015]    The test model location adjustment unit may model the suitability test procedure for testing the suitability of the client by connecting the arranged test models with lines. 
         [0016]    The test model location adjustment unit may set the number of repetitions of the test procedure model, and set a repetitive section between the test models. 
         [0017]    The communication packet analysis unit may receive the communication IP addresses of all virtual IEDs used to test the suitability of the client, and, during the conducting of the test for the suitability, select and analyze only communication packets related to the input communication IP addresses. 
         [0018]    The test procedure model may include an introduction test model in which an operation and sequence of the corresponding suitability test procedure have been defined. 
         [0019]    Meanwhile, the present invention provides a client suitability test method for a substation automation system, with respect to IEC 61850 communication service between virtual IEDs corresponding to a plurality of IEDs and a client, the method including generating a suitability test procedure model for testing suitability of the client using one or more test models that are selected from among a plurality of test models; invoking the suitability test procedure model, and then conducting a test for the suitability of the client in accordance with content of the suitability test procedure model; capturing and analyzing a communication request from the client and a communication packet of a communication response from a selected virtual IED during the conducting of the test for the suitability of the client; and judging the test for the suitability of the client based on test judgment conditions of the test procedure model. 
         [0020]    Generating the suitability test procedure model may include inputting and editing content of the selected test models; automatically arranging the selected test models, and modifying relative locations of the test models or deleting test models that are unnecessary for the corresponding suitability test procedure; and connecting the arranged test models with lines. 
         [0021]    Inputting and editing the content of the selected test models may include providing an IEC 61850 communication service list requested by the client to a tester; and inputting a type of communication response from the virtual IED that is suitable for an IEC 61850 communication service that is selected from the communication service list by the tester. 
         [0022]    Inputting the type of communication response from the virtual IED may include selecting either a positive response or a negative response as the type of communication response from the virtual IED; and, if the negative response has been selected, inputting a negative response message selected by the tester, into the test models. 
         [0023]    Inputting and editing the content of the selected test models may include providing a selectable data type list of the virtual IED, corresponding to the IEC 61850 communication service selected by the tester, to the tester; and inputting data that the client will request from the virtual IED into a corresponding test model based on information that is selected by the tester. 
         [0024]    Connecting the arranged test models with the lines may include setting the number of repetitions of the test procedure model and setting a repetitive section between the test models. 
         [0025]    The client suitability test method may further include offering guidance on an operation and sequence of the corresponding suitability test procedure during the conducting of the test for the suitability. 
       Advantageous Effects 
       [0026]    In accordance with the present invention, there is the advantage of being able to efficiently and conveniently conduct a test for the suitability of the IEC 61850 communication service of a high-level management system that is used for data exchange in a substation automation system in view of the fact that the suitability of the communication service of both an IED functioning as a server and a high-level management system functioning as a client should be verified in order to fully realize an IEC 61850-based digital substation that is one of the major systems of a smart grid intelligent power network. 
         [0027]    Furthermore, the present invention has the advantages of, when developing high-level management systems in domestic and foreign countries and establishing an IEC 61850 substation automation system, being able to verify the performance of products and also extending the possibility of commercializing a client IEC 61850 test apparatus using the technology that is presented by the present invention. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a system to which a client suitability test apparatus in accordance with the present invention has been applied; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram which is referred to in order to illustrate the configuration of the client suitability test apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram which is referred to in order to illustrate the detailed configuration of a suitability test procedure generation unit in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are flowcharts illustrating the operation flow of a process of modeling a test procedure for a client suitability test in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating the operation flow of a client suitability test method in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings below. 
         [0034]    The present invention is intended to provide a client test procedure that enables a client test apparatus to perform a substation automation client suitability test procedure in such a way as to, in a substation automation system suitability test procedure, select test models, like shapes, select data inside the models, and enable a tester to simply input test-related content, rather than using a complicated and difficult programming language. 
         [0035]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a system to which a client suitability test apparatus in accordance with the present invention has been applied. 
         [0036]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a substation automation system to which the present invention is applied is configured to exchange information in such a way that the client  20  of a high-level management system and Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs), that is, a plurality of pieces of server equipment, are connected over a network. Here, the substation automation system is a system that is conformable to the international communication standard IEC 61850. 
         [0037]    Furthermore, the substation automation system includes a plurality of virtual IEDs  10 , that is, a virtual IED_ 1 , a virtual IED_ 2 , . . . , a virtual IED_N, that provide communication services in response to IEC 61850 communication requests from the client  20 , in accordance with the actual IEDs of a substation. 
         [0038]    Meanwhile, the suitability test apparatus  100  in accordance with the present invention is connected between the client  20  and a plurality of virtual IEDs  10 . In this case, the suitability test apparatus  100  tests the suitability of the client  20  between one of the virtual IEDs  10  and the client  20  depending on the operating status of a switch (for example, a network switch)  30  in response to a communication request from the client  20 . 
         [0039]    For a description of the detailed configuration of the suitability test apparatus in accordance with the present invention, refer to  FIG. 2 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram which is referred to in order to illustrate the configuration of the client suitability test apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0041]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the suitability test apparatus  100  in accordance with the present invention includes a suitability test procedure generation unit  110 , a suitability test execution unit  120 , a communication packet analysis unit  130 , a test judgment unit  140 , a control unit  150 , and a storage unit  160 . 
         [0042]    The storage unit  160  stores test models that are necessary for a test for the suitability of the client  20 . 
         [0043]    The suitability test procedure generation unit  110  models a test procedure that is used to test the suitability of the client  20 . Here, the suitability test procedure generation unit  110  selects at least one from among a plurality of test models stored in the storage unit  160 , and creates a test procedure model using the selected test model. For a description of the detailed configuration of the suitability test procedure generation unit  110 , refer to  FIG. 3 . 
         [0044]    The suitability test procedure generation unit  110  stores the created test procedure model in the storage unit  160 . 
         [0045]    Furthermore, the storage unit  160  records the test procedure of each test procedure model in the form of text, and provides text-type information corresponding to a request when a tester requests information about the test procedure model. Accordingly, the tester can quickly check the test procedure of the test procedure model that has been requested. 
         [0046]    The suitability test execution unit  120  invokes a test procedure model stored in the storage unit  160 , and conducts a test for the suitability of the client  20  in accordance with the content that is defined in the corresponding test procedure model. 
         [0047]    The communication packet analysis unit  130  captures and analyzes an IEC 61850 communication request from the client  20 , a communication response from the virtual IED  10 , and communication packets related to data transmission in conformity with instructions from the suitability test execution unit  120 . 
         [0048]    It will be apparent that the communication packet analysis unit  130  acquires in advance the communication Internet protocol (IP) addresses of the client  20  that is a test target and the communication IP addresses of all virtual IEDs  10  that are used for a test. 
         [0049]    The communication packet analysis unit  130  captures communication packets between the virtual IED  10  and the client  20 . Here, the communication packet analysis unit  130  selects and analyzes only communication packets related to the communication IP address of an input virtual IED  10 . 
         [0050]    Here, the communication packet analysis unit  130  may use one of various methods of capturing communication packets between the client  20  and the virtual IED  10 . 
         [0051]    As an example, the communication packet analysis unit  130  may be enabled to capture communication packets between the client  20  and the virtual IED  10  by additionally installing a suitability test system in a computer device on which the client  20  is executed. 
         [0052]    Furthermore, the communication packet analysis unit  130  may capture communication packets between the client  20  and the virtual IED  10  using the mirroring function of the network switch  30 . 
         [0053]    Furthermore, the communication packet analysis unit  130  may be enabled to capture communication packets between the client  20  and the virtual IED  10  by inserting an electronic device capable of mirroring communication packets between the client  20  and the network switch  30 . 
         [0054]    It will be apparent that the above-described three methods are merely embodiments and a method by which the communication packet analysis unit  130  captures communication packets between the client  20  and the virtual IED  10  is not limited to any one thereof. 
         [0055]    Meanwhile, the storage unit  160  stores test judgment conditions corresponding to the content defined in the stored test procedure model. 
         [0056]    Here, the test judgment unit  140  judges the test for the suitability of the client  20  based on the test judgment conditions stored in the storage unit  160  while the test for the suitability of the client  20  is being conducted by the suitability test execution unit  120 . 
         [0057]    Furthermore, the test judgment unit  140  may receive the results of the judgment of the client suitability test from the tester, and then use the results to judge the client suitability test. 
         [0058]    The test judgment unit  140  stores the results of the judgment of the test for the suitability of the client  20  in the storage unit  160 . It will be apparent that the test judgment unit  140  may generate the results of the judgment of the client suitability test in the form of a separate file. 
         [0059]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram which is referred to in order to illustrate the detailed configuration of the suitability test procedure generation unit  110  in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0060]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the suitability test procedure generation unit  110  in accordance with the present invention includes a test model selection unit  111 , a test model editing unit  113 , and a test model location adjustment unit  115 . 
         [0061]    The test model selection unit  111  selects a test model necessary for the modeling of a client suitability test procedure. 
         [0062]    Here, in order to select a test model, the test model selection unit  111  may not only be used, but the tester may also select the test model using a computer input device such as a mouse. 
         [0063]    The test model selected by the test model selection unit  111  may be an introduction test model. Here, the introduction test model includes content necessary to guide the operations of the client  20  and the virtual IED  10  through the suitability test, or descriptions necessary during the test that are input, in the form of text. 
         [0064]    Accordingly, the suitability test execution unit  120  may display the content input into the introduction test model on a computer screen during the conducting of the client suitability test. 
         [0065]    The test model editing unit  113  inputs and edits the content of the test model that is selected by the test model selection unit  111 . 
         [0066]    Here, the test model editing unit  113  provides an IEC 61850 communication service list requested by the client  20  to the tester. Once a single IEC 61850 communication service has been selected from the communication service list, the test model editing unit  113  selects the type of communication response that is suitable for the IEC 61850 communication service selected by the tester and that the virtual IED  10  should make. 
         [0067]    Here, the test model editing unit  113  may select either a positive response or a negative response as the type of communication response that should be made by the corresponding virtual IED  10 . 
         [0068]    If the negative response is selected as the communication response of the virtual IED  10 , the test model editing unit  113  automatically sorts a message list that corresponds to the negative response and that is suitable for the corresponding IEC 61850 communication service, and provides the message list to the tester. Here, the test model editing unit  113  inputs a negative response message selected by the tester, into the test model. 
         [0069]    If the communication response type is not selected, the test model editing unit  113  checks only an IEC 61850 communication request from the client  20  and ignores a response from the virtual IED  10  during the conducting of the suitability test. 
         [0070]    Meanwhile, the test model editing unit  113  inputs data that will be requested by the client  20  from the virtual IED  10  in the IEC 61850 communication service selected by the tester, into the test model. 
         [0071]    Here, the test model editing unit  113  invokes an IEC Configuration Description (ICD) file including the data information of the virtual IED  10 , and provides a selectable data type list to the tester. 
         [0072]    In other words, the test model editing unit  113  selects a Report Control Block (RCB), a GOOSE Control Block (GoCB), a Sampled Value Control Block (SVCB), a Log Control Block (LCB), a Setting Group Control Block (SGCB), a Logical Device (LD), a Logical Node (LN), a Data Object (DO), a Data Attribute (DA), and control data (a DO, a SBO, a DOw, and a SBOw) from the invoked ICD file, and provides them to the tester. 
         [0073]    Here, the test model editing unit  113  causes the types of data selected by the tester to be input into the test models. 
         [0074]    The test model editing unit  113  provides the tester with a data set held by the virtual IED  10  so that the tester can perform selection. 
         [0075]    Furthermore, if the client  20  generates a data set in the virtual IED  10  using the IEC 61850 communication service, the test model editing unit  113  provides the tester with a data list held by the virtual IED  10 . Thereafter, the test model editing unit  113  may have a plurality of pieces of data selected by the tester, thereby generating one that is the same as a data set list that the client  20  requests via communication. 
         [0076]    Meanwhile, during the judgment of the suitability test, the test model editing unit  113  may skip test models that belong to a plurality of test models generated for the modeling of client suitability test procedures and that do not correspond to the test purposes of the client  20 . 
         [0077]    The test model location adjustment unit  115  automatically arranges the test models selected by the selection unit  111 , and modifies the relative locations of the test models or deletes one or more unnecessary test models. 
         [0078]    Here, the test model location adjustment unit  115  adjusts the incorrect sequence of a plurality of test models, generated up to the present time, during the editing of the test models, while automatically arranging the test models. 
         [0079]    Furthermore, the test model location adjustment unit  115  models the test procedure by connecting the arranged test models with lines. Accordingly, the suitability test execution unit  120  may conduct the test for the suitability of the client  20  in the sequence of the connection of the arranged test models during the conducting of the client suitability test. 
         [0080]    Furthermore, the test model location adjustment unit  115  may define the number of repetitions of each test procedure model, and set a repetitive section by connecting test models with a line. 
         [0081]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are flowcharts illustrating the operation flow of a process of modeling a test procedure for a client suitability test in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0082]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , at step S 410 , the suitability test apparatus  100  selects test models necessary for the modeling of a client suitability test procedure at step S 400 , and inputs and edits the content of the test models selected at step S 400 . 
         [0083]    Thereafter, the suitability test apparatus  100  arranges the selected test models at step S 420 , and modifies the relative locations of the test models or deletes one or more unnecessary test models at step S 430 . 
         [0084]    Thereafter, the suitability test apparatus  100  models the suitability test procedure by connecting the arranged test models with lines at step S 440 . 
         [0085]    Finally, the suitability test apparatus  100  stores the test procedure model generated at step S 440  in the storage unit  160 , thereby terminating the process of modeling a suitability test procedure. 
         [0086]      FIG. 5  illustrates the detailed operation flow of step S 410  of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0087]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the suitability test apparatus  100  provides an IEC 61850 communication service list requested by the client  20  to the tester, prior to inputting the content of the test models at step S 500 . 
         [0088]    Thereafter, at step S 510 , once a single IEC 61850 communication service has been selected from the communication service list by the tester, the suitability test apparatus  100  selects the type of communication response that the virtual IED  10  corresponding to the IEC 61850 communication service selected by the tester should make. Here, the suitability test apparatus  100  may select either a positive response or a negative response as the type of communication response that the corresponding virtual IED  10  should make. 
         [0089]    Furthermore, the suitability test apparatus  100  invokes an ICD file including the data information of the virtual IED  10  at step S 520 , and provides a data type list suitable for the selected communication service to the tester at step S 530 . 
         [0090]    Thereafter, the suitability test apparatus  100  causes the type of data selected by the tester at step S 530  to be input into the test models at step S 540 . 
         [0091]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating the operation flow of a client suitability test method in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0092]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the suitability test apparatus  100  invokes test procedure models stored in the storage unit  160  and selects one from among the test procedure models at step S 600 . Thereafter, at step S 610 , the suitability test apparatus  100  conducts a test for the suitability of the client  20  in accordance with the content defined in the test procedure model selected at step S 600 . 
         [0093]    Once the suitability test has started, the suitability test apparatus  100  analyzes the selected test procedure model at step S 620 . Here, if an introduction test model is included in the selected test procedure model, the suitability test apparatus  100  offers guidance on the operation and sequence of the suitability test to the tester based on the content defined in the introduction test model at step S 630 . 
         [0094]    While the suitability test is being conducted, the suitability test apparatus  100  captures the IEC 61850 communication service requested by the client  20  corresponding to a test target, and the communication response packets of the virtual IED  10 , at steps S 640  and S 650 . 
         [0095]    Here, the suitability test apparatus  100  analyzes the communication response packets captured at step S 650 , at step S 660 , and then checks whether a service in question is the communication service requested by the client  20  at step S 670 . 
         [0096]    Furthermore, the suitability test apparatus  100  compares the communication response of the virtual IED  10  with the settings of the test models at step S 680 , and judges the suitability test based on the results of the comparison at step S 690 . 
         [0097]    Finally, the suitability test apparatus  100  outputs the results of the judgment at step S 690 , thereby terminating the process of the test for the suitability of the client  20 . 
         [0098]    Although the client suitability test apparatus and method for a substation automation system in accordance with the present invention have been described with reference to the illustrative drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and the drawings disclosed in this application, but may be varied within the range of protection of the technical spirit.