FR2771235A1 - Information transmission routing system - Google Patents

Abstract

Chemical or medical analysis information can be passed to the analysis station without the need for a cabling infrastructure, and the analysis stations are mobile.

Description

'' Information transmission management method and system
between a plurality of machines and a central site
processing, and associated data transmission system "
The present invention relates to a method for managing information transmissions between a plurality of controllers and a central processing site. It also relates to a management method implemented in this management system, as well as a data transmission system implementing this method.

 The transmission of data from chemical or medical analysis machines scattered in a laboratory or in a hospital center to a central treatment site located locally or remotely currently requires a significant infrastructure of cables and connectors which entails heavy investments in particular for the equipment of old establishments which were not designed with an initial integration of internal communication systems. The current digital data transmission systems proposed for the equipment of laboratories and hospital structures implement cable links and connection interfaces between the various controllers and data concentrators.

 However, a major obstacle to the use of such transmission systems currently lies in the fact that there is no standard transmission protocol for all of the analysis machines actually in service in laboratories and hospitals. This heterogeneity of the analysis automaton fleet inevitably leads to significant additional costs in interface equipment and to a complexity of transmission when it is envisaged to connect these automatons to a data processing network.

 The aim of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a method for managing information transmissions making it possible to equip laboratories and hospital structures at a lower cost than existing systems, while offering greater possibilities for the evolution of the system and mobility of PLCs in a context of strong heterogeneity of the communication protocols of these PLCs.

 This objective is achieved with a method for managing information transmissions between a plurality of machines, in particular analysis machines, and a central processing site, these machines being connected to this central processing site by a communication system. comprising at least one radio link.

 According to the invention, for each automaton, the information transmitted is included in a communication frame specific to this automaton, this specific frame being packaged to be transmitted on the communication link over the air.

 Thus, with the management method according to the invention, it becomes possible to produce an information transmission system including, as sources of information, automata provided with heterogeneous communication protocols.

 In a particular implementation of the method of the invention in a communication system comprising a set of local communication modules each communicating over the air with one or more communication terminal modules each connected to a PLC, these local communication modules being linked to the central processing site via a communication network, this method comprises, at the central site, for each transmission of information to a PLC, a step for converting an internal communication frame within said central site containing said information into a communication frame specific to the PLC receiving this information and transmitted to the local communication module on which the receiving PLC depends.

 The management method according to the invention can also advantageously comprise, at each local communication module, a step for packaging each specific communication frame coming from the central site via the communication network, so as to generate a frame of wireless communication.

 It is also possible to provide, at each communication terminal module, a step for extracting from the radio communication frame the communication frame specific to the PLC connected to said communication terminal module, and for transmitting to this automaton the information transmitted. through the central site.

 In a preferred embodiment of the management method according to the invention allowing complete bidirectionality, this method further comprises, at each communication terminal module, a step for including information transmitted by a controller connected to this module communication terminal, within a communication frame specific to this automaton, a step for packaging this specific communication frame so as to generate a communication frame which can be transmitted on the radio communication link, and a step for transmitting this radio communication frame to a local communication module on which said communication terminal module depends.

 The management method according to the invention may further comprise, at each local communication module, a step for extracting from each radio communication frame the specific communication frame containing information transmitted by a communication terminal module, and a step for transmitting said communication frame via the communication network to the central site.

 This method further comprises, at the central site, a step for converting any specific communication frame arriving from a PLC into a communication frame internal to the central site.

 According to another aspect of the invention, a system is proposed for managing information transmissions between a plurality of automata, in particular analysis automata, and a central processing site, these automata being connected to this central site. processing by a communication system comprising a set of local communication modules each communicating over the air with one or more communication terminal modules each connected to a PLC, these local communication modules being connected to the central processing site via a network of communication, this system implementing the management method according to the invention.

 According to the invention, this system comprises, within the central processing site, network management means comprising: (i) means for converting any internal communication frame containing information intended to be transmitted to a PLC into a frame of communication specific to this PLC arranged to be transmitted via the communication network to the local communication module on which the recipient PLC depends, and (ii) means to convert any specific communication frame coming from a local communication module in an internal communication frame arranged to be processed within the central processing site.

 In a preferred embodiment, this system further comprises, within each local communication module, means for packaging each specific communication frame coming from the central processing site via the communication network so as to generate a frame of wireless communication to the communication terminal module on which the recipient PLC depends on the information contained in said specific communication frame, and means for extracting from each radio communication frame from a communication terminal module a specific communication frame to be transmitted via the communication network to the central processing site.

 The management system according to the invention can also advantageously comprise, within each communication terminal module, means for extracting from each radio communication frame coming from a local communication module a communication frame specific to the PLC connected to said terminal communication module, and means for packaging each communication frame specific to said PLC so as to generate a radio communication frame intended for a local communication module.

 The management system according to the invention preferably further comprises means for managing a database arranged to receive data from the plurality of controllers, a user interface and a system interface, as well as a library containing the protocols. of communication from the various PLCs connected to the communication system.

 According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for transmitting data coming from a plurality of automata connected to a central site via a communication system comprising at least one radio communication link. This transmission system is characterized in that it is provided with a transmission management system according to the invention.

 In a practical embodiment of a transmission system according to the invention, the radio communication terminal modules are connected to the controllers by a serial link, for example of the RS232C type. the local communication modules are preferably connected to the central processing site by a high speed network, such as an Ethernet network (registered trademark) at 100 Mbits / s.

 The management method according to the invention can advantageously further comprise, at each data concentration station, a time division multiplex between the data transmitted by the various radio (radio) communication terminal modules associated with the automata connected to this radio station. data concentration.

 It is advantageously possible to provide, at each data concentration station, synchronization between the different radio communication modules (radio) so that each radio communication terminal module has a time window in which it can transmit data. and, the rest of the time, scans messages coming either from the data concentration station with which it communicates, or from the automaton to which it is connected.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear in the description below. In the appended drawings given by way of nonlimiting examples:
- Figure 1 illustrates an example of setting
implementation of a transmission management system according to
the invention;
- Figure 2 is a block diagram of the structure
software implementing the management process
transmission according to the invention; and
- Figure 3 illustrates the different stages
transmission of frames between the PLCs
analyzers and the central site, as part of the
management method according to the invention.

 We will now describe an exemplary embodiment of a data transmission system 1 according to the invention, with reference to FIG. 1, this transmission system implementing the transmission management method according to the invention.

The data transmission system 1 according to the invention is for example installed in a building occupied by a medical analysis laboratory comprising in particular several stages Z1, Z2 dedicated to analysis operations and a computer stage ZI housing a central processing site SC data. The laboratory rooms on each operational stage Z1, Z2 contain a set of All-13 analysis machines; A21-23 each provided with a radio communication terminal module or box HTU11-13; HTU21-23 to which each All-13 controller; A21-23 is connected by a serial link LS. Each laboratory room Z1, Z2 is equipped with a station C1, C2 for data management and concentration, in practice a microcomputer or any other equivalent equipment, which is connected via a serial link LS1, LS2 to a module or local radio communication unit HCU1, HCU2 designed to carry out communications with each of the HTU11-13 communication terminal modules; HTU21-23 connected to the various analysis machines A11-13; A21-23. The different C1 management and concentration stations,
C2 of the transmission system 1 according to the invention, which are connected by a high speed network RE such as an Ethernet network at 100 Mbits / second to the central processing site SC, combine functions for managing the automata associated with it , concentration of data from these automata, validation of transmission and installation operations and configuration of new communication terminal modules. In practice, the data from each All-13 PLC; A21-23 are processed locally at the C1 management and concentration station,
C2 before being transmitted to the central processing site
SC. Specific processing and management software can be installed on these management and concentration stations. They are preferably developed in a standard operating environment and graphical interface, in order to allow the use of standard software.

 In a laboratory room equipped with a set of analysis stations comprising automata, the radio communication terminal modules linked by serial link to each of these automata constitute with the local HCU communication module connected by serial link to a management and concentration, a local radio communication subsystem. The management and concentration station is in practice a microcomputer connected to the RE broadband network.

 Each communication terminal module is, for example, in the form of a small autonomous unit comprising a standard serial connector to allow a serial link with the analysis automaton with which it is associated, a radio transmission-reception antenna. , and light indicators arranged on a front face. It is possible, for example, to provide light indicators to indicate that the communication terminal module is powered up, a state of transmission of data to the local communication module, and a state of reception of commands from this local communication module.

 The local communication module HCU may have an outer shape of substantially equivalent housing, and comprises two antennas arranged according to conventional techniques in radio communication.

 The communication terminal modules and the local communication module for example have a conventional internal structure comprising, on the one hand, a serial reception function, a transmission buffer, and a radioelectric transmission function towards the antenna, and, d on the other hand, a radio reception function, a reception buffer function, and a serial transmission function towards the analysis automaton. A coupler allows the connection between the antenna 11 and the reception and transmission circuits. A controller circuit provides control of radio transmission and reception functions, control of buffer functions, and control of serial reception and transmission functions. A serial interface circuit, for example of the RS232C type, ensures the transmission, by a connection cable, of the data between the communication module and the controller or the management and concentration station. It should be noted that the aforementioned functions can be integrated into a single circuit produced for example in the form of an ASIC circuit or else be carried out in the form of several discrete circuits. The choice of embodiment is directly linked to the quantity of communication terminal modules, the ASIC solutions being economically justified only for mass production of modules.

The method for managing the transmission of information between the central processing site SC and a plurality of automatic analysis machines connected to this central site by a data transmission system comprising at least one communication link over the air is normally implemented in the form of a management system S comprising, with reference to FIG. 2:
- a user interface UI,
- a System and IS configuration interface,
- a GBD manager of a BDR relational database,
- a SCO connection supervisor,
- a universal interpreter of analyzer protocol
IPA associated with a BI library of analyzer protocols, and
- a GR wireless network manager.

 The User interface UI is designed to provide the user of the management method according to the invention with means of monitoring and control of the entire data transmission system 1. One can for example provide an organization of the transmission system in domains each grouping one or more local communication modules HCU each controlling several analysis machines. Each domain can be functionally associated with each biological sector of the laboratory. The User interface is preferably arranged to give simple and visual definitions of the different analysis automata supported by the management system according to the invention, and of their respective states and connection modes.

The central site SC provides, in addition to the management of medical records and billing functions, remote control functions for analyzers connected to the communication system. In particular, it may be necessary to transmit to these automata all or part of the information and parameters necessary for the execution of the analyzes, in particular:
- clinical information on patients (marital status, age, file number, ...),
- technical information on direct debits (identifiers, nature, origin, treatment, dilutions, ...),
- information on requests for analyzes (analysis lists to be carried out, codes),
- technical commands specific to the analyzer automaton (reagents to be used, calculation factors, launch orders, priorities, ...).

After an analysis has been carried out by a PLC, this transmits to the central processing site SC, the analysis results, the links between these results and analysis parameters, possible precalculations carried out by the PLC, and prior art. Other information necessary for connection management can be transmitted, in particular:
- the type of connection,
- the type of PLC,
- analysis codes,
- types of results and codifications,
- normal validation values.

 All of this data and the history of data received and transmitted must be kept and kept accessible in the BDR relational database.

The SCO connection supervisor provides the following functionality:
- a dashboard of active connections,
- management of the states of connected PLCs,
- voluntary stopping and starting of connections,
- traceability of connections,
- manual management of anomalies,
- system relaunch operations,
- management of communications with the central host site.

The universal interpreter of IPA analyzer protocol constitutes an essential sublayer of the software implementing the management method according to the invention. This interpreter allows:
- the specific interpretation of the language of each automaton,
- management of the BI library of "drive" files for each PLC,
- downloading and reprogramming of terminal communication modules,
- translation to the SCO connection supervisor in a single protocol.

 The IPA protocol interpreter thus makes the specific communication frame required by each PLC transparent. I1 can be implemented in the form of a DLL type module under WindowsN behaving for example like the "Print Manager" module of the Windows 95TM or Windows NIT operating system.

In practice, there are five main types of analyzer protocols: - unidirectional analyzer automaton in programming:
we send commands to the PLC allowing
its programming; in a general way,
the controller does not return a result; - monodirectional analyzer analyzer in acquisition:
the controller measures and transmits data without
particular protocol. We are monitoring the line of
communication and we collect data
transmitted. The processing of this data
takes place at the station
data concentration; - passive bidirectional analyzer analyzer by list:
The operator creates, selects or enters a list
samples and examinations to be performed and
transmits this list to the analyzer automaton (mode
batch). The analyzer automaton returns the
results by processed samples or by lists
of results processed, according to a protocol
specific; - automatic passive bidirectional analyzer automaton:
Analysis requests are transmitted as and when
as they are created. The analyzer
pet receive requests and resend
results at any time, according to a
communication protocol; - active bidirectional analyzer controller:
These are real time processes of
communication between the analyzer and the
host central system. The analyzer is
often equipped with a recognition system
samples by barcode and interrogates the
host system by the time it goes to process a
sample. This mode is also called mode
conversational critical.

 The wireless network manager GRH performs the network packaging function. This packaging is carried out around the specific (pre-processed) communication frame of the PLC.

 For reasons of speed and homogenization of communications, certain communication specificities specific to each PLC can be processed locally at the level of the terminal communication units.

 We will now describe, with reference to FIG. 3, the way in which information transmitted between the central processing site SC and the analysis automata A is processed within the framework of the management method according to the invention.

 When information must be transmitted to an analysis automaton A from the central site SC, the communication supervisor SCO generates a frame TI containing this information. This may, for example, be command or configuration information, responses to transmissions or requests from automata and acknowledgments.

 The communication interpreter IPA converts this frame TI into an "analyzer" frame TA specific to the automaton A concerned by this transmission of information. This “analyzer” frame TA is then transmitted by the wireless network manager GRH which performs on the communication network RE a multiplexing of all the frames intended for the various automata. After reception by the local communication module HCU on which the automaton A concerned depends on the "analyzer" frame TA transmitted on high speed line, this frame is then packaged and transmitted by radio link to the communication terminal module HTU connected to the analysis automaton A, within a radio transmission frame TH. The communication terminal module HTU performs partial processing of the information contained in the received frame TH, which can include, for example, a timeout or an acknowledgment.

Conversely, when it comes to transmitting information generated by the analysis automaton A to the central site SC, this information is inserted in an "analyzer" frame TA specific to the sending automaton A at the level from the HTU communication terminal module, then transmitted over the air within a TH radio transmission frame, to the local HCU communication module. The latter extracts from the wireless communication frame TH the "analyzer" frame and transmits it via the high speed line of the communication network RE to the central site SC. The GRH network manager performs a demultiplexing function to provide the IPA communication interpreter with an "analyzer" frame capable of being interpreted and converted into an IT transmission frame arranged to be processed by the computer processing means of the central site.
SC.

As a non-limiting example, local and terminal communication modules can have the following technical characteristics:
- frequency band: 433,100 to 434,700 MHz,
- 16 channels of 100 KHz,
- visibility range: 500 m,
- PAR power: 10 mW (+10 dBm),
- FM modulation (GMSK),
- sensitivity: -110 dBm for a Signal / Noise ratio of 16 dB,
- dynamic: 90 dB,
- user interface: RS232C
- NRZ coding,
- source mode: asynchronous,
- enclosure supply: 220 V AC,
- consumption: 1 VA,
- operating temperature: -10 to +50 "C.

 We will now describe a practical example of implementation of the transmission method according to the invention.

This process performs time multiplexing between eight modules. Each communication terminal module has 15.625 ms to send its message over the radio channel. A timing system synchronized between the communication modules allows each module to know the time window during which it must transmit its stored message to the recipient. During the rest of the time, the module scans the messages coming by the hertzian way or those coming from the user way.

 Radio messages, traveling at a higher speed (64 kB / s), are stored and played back at a programmed speed of the user equipment.

 The operations set during commissioning are saved in an EPROM memory. This operation is carried out by the RS232C interface by means of a microcomputer. A strap allows for example to place the module in configuration mode. This setting is made at 9600 baud, without parity, and a stop bit in ASCII mode.

A communication frame can include, by way of nonlimiting example,
- a synchronization field,
- a field of supervision,
- line status bits,
- a user message, and
- a break in synchronization.

The configuration of the communication modules implemented in a transmission system according to the invention comprises the following elements:
- a network address, which makes it possible to recognize the elements of the same network, contained in the frame of each message,
- a module address, which makes it possible to recognize a module in a network,
- a source address, which identifies the network element as the message source,
- a recipient address, which identifies the destination module of the message,
- flow control, which validates the copying of line states from the source to the recipient,
- a channel number, which defines the working channel of the network,
- a transmission speed with the user equipment,
- a parity bit,
- a character length.

 The data transmission system according to the invention can be implemented in medical or chemical analysis laboratories, in research centers, in hospital centers and, more generally, in any establishment equipped with automatic devices.

 The automata concerned by the data transmission system according to the invention can be of any kind and of any function. They mainly include analysis machines but also measurement machines, in particular physical measurement machines, automated sensors, and more generally any automated equipment designed to deliver data intended to be collected and processed.

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and numerous modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, the aforementioned technical characteristics of the radio communication modules do not constitute a limitation for the invention. Likewise, the number of controllers that can be connected to a data management and concentration station can only be limited by practical considerations and technical and economic constraints.

Claims (15)

A13; A21, A22, A23), the information transmitted is included in a communication frame (TA) specific to this automaton, this specific frame (TA) being packaged to be transmitted on the communication link over the air (RH) in the form a radio communication frame (TH). A22, A23), in particular analysis machines, and a central processing site (SC), these machines being connected to this central processing site by a communication system (ST) comprising at least one communication link (RH) over the air, characterized in that, for each controller (A; All, A12,  CLAIMS 1. Method for managing information transmissions between a plurality of automata (A; All, A12, A13; A21, 2. Method according to claim 1, implemented in a communication system (ST) comprising a set of local communication modules (HCU, HCU1, HCU2) each communicating over the air with one or more communication terminal modules (HTU, HTUll, HTU12, HTU13; HTU21, HTU22, HTU23) each connected to a PLC (A; All, A12, A13; A21, A22, A23), these local communication modules (HCU1, HCU2) being connected to the central processing site (SC) via a communication network (RE), characterized in that it comprises, at the central site (SC), for each transmission of information to a PLC (A; All, A12, A13; A21, A22 , A23), a step for converting an internal communication frame (TI) within said central site (SC) containing said information into a communication frame (TA) specific to the PLC recipient of this information and transmitted to the local module of communication (HCU, HCU1, HCU2) on which the recipient PLC depends (A; All, A12, A13; A21, A22, A23). 3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises, at each local communication module (HCU), a step for packaging each specific communication frame (TA) coming from the central site (SC) via the communication network (RE), so as to generate a radio communication frame (TH). 4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises, at each communication terminal module (HTU), a step for extracting from the radio communication frame (TH) the communication frame (TA) specific to the PLC (A) connected to said communication terminal module (HTU), and to transmit to this PLC (A) the information sent by the central site (SC). 5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, implemented in a communication system (ST) comprising a set of local communication modules (HCU) each communicating over the air with one or more communication terminal modules (HTU) each connected to a PLC (A), these local communication modules (HCU) being connected to the central processing site (SC) via a communication network (RE), characterized in that it further comprises, at the level of each communication terminal module (HTU), a step to include information sent by a PLC (A) connected to this communication terminal module (HTU), within a communication frame (TA) specific to this PLC (A) , a step for packaging this specific frame (TA) so as to generate a communication frame (TH) which can be transmitted on the radio communication link (RH), and a step for transmitting this communication frame wireless (TH) to a local communication module (HCU) on which said communication terminal module (HTU) depends. 6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises, at each local communication module (HCU), a step for extracting from each radio communication frame (TH) the specific communication frame (TA ) containing information transmitted by a communication terminal module (HTU), and a step for transmitting said specific communication frame (TA) via the communication network (RE) to the central site (SC). 7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that it further comprises, at the central site (SC), a step for converting any specific communication frame (TA) arriving from an automaton (A) into a communication frame (TI) internal to the central site (SC). 8. System (S) for managing information transmissions between a plurality of recipient machines (A; All, A12, A13; A21, A22, A23), in particular analysis machines, and a central processing site ( SC), these automata (A; All, A12, A13; A21, A22, A23) being connected to this central processing site (SC) by a communication system (ST) comprising a set of local communication modules (HCU; HCU1, HCU2) each communicating over the air with one or more communication terminal modules (HTU; HTUll, HTU12, HTU13; HTU21, HTU22, HTU23) each connected to a PLC (A; Ail, A12, A13; A21, A22, A23), these local communication modules (HCU; HCU1, HCU2) being connected to the central processing site (SC) via a communication network (RE), this system (S) implementing the management method according to one any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, within the central processing site (SC), interpreting means protocol originators (IPA) including: (i) means for converting any internal communication frame (TI) containing information intended to be transmitted to a PLC (A) into a communication frame (TA) specific to this PLC arranged for be transmitted via the communication network (RE) to the local communication module (HCU) on which the recipient PLC (A) depends, and (ii) means to convert any specific communication frame (TA) from a local communication module (HCU) in an internal communication frame (TI) arranged to be processed within the central processing site (SC). 9. Management system (S) according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises, within each local communication module (HCU), means for packaging each specific communication frame (TA) coming from the central processing site (SC) via the communication network (RE) so as to generate a radio communication frame (TH) intended for the communication terminal module (HTU) on which the PLC (A) recipient of the information contained in said specific communication frame (TA), and means for extracting from each radio communication frame (TH) coming from a communication terminal module (HTU) a specific communication frame (TA) intended to be transmitted via the network communication (RE) to the central processing site (SC). 10. Management system (S) according to claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises, within each communication terminal module (HTU), means for extracting from each radio communication frame (TH) coming from a local communication module (HCU) a communication frame (TA) specific to the controller (A) connected to said communication terminal module (HTU), and means for packaging each communication frame (TA) specific to said controller (A) so as to generate a radio communication frame (TH) intended for a local communication module (HCU). 11. Management system (S) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that it further comprises means (GBD) for managing a database (BDR) arranged to receive data coming from the plurality of automata. 12. Management system (S) according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that it further comprises interface means, in particular user interface means (UI) and interface means system (IS). 13. Management system (S) according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that it further comprises a library (BI) containing the communication protocols of the various controllers connected to the communication system. 14. Management system (S) according to any one of claims 8 to 13, applied to the management of data transmissions coming from analysis automatons. 15. Data transmission system (1) from a plurality of automata (All, A12, A13; A21, A22, A23) connected to a central site (SC) via a communication system (ST) comprising at least one radio communication link (RH), characterized in that it is provided with a transmission management system (S) according to any one of claims 8 to 14.