JP3299597B2 - Device control system and system fault management method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an in-home communication system for transmitting data via a transmission line to equipment located in a house, and an apparatus capable of performing system failure management or performance management from outside the house. The present invention relates to a control system and a system fault management method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a communication system for mutually transmitting data via a transmission line, for example, as shown in FIG.
An IFU (interface unit) 44, 45, 46 to which the devices 47, 48, 49 are connected, an NT (network termination) 41, an HBC that performs station line management and management of an HBS (home bus system) information channel 39.
(Home bus controller) 42, device controller 4
3 are connected to each other via an HBS control channel 40.

[0005] The device controller 43 controls the operation of devices such as TVs and VTRs in a concentrated manner in accordance with a preset device control rule.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional in-home communication system, it is not expected that the user will find the cause of the failure and take countermeasures when the malfunction of the device or the communication failure occurs. Notify the service provider that a failure has occurred by telephone or the like. Then, the service provider goes to the user's home, inspects the state of the system,
After confirming the failure situation, some countermeasures must be taken. For this reason, it is necessary to bring equipment capable of coping with various causes of trouble, and it is difficult to promptly take measures when a system trouble occurs, for example, it takes time to inspect the trouble cause.

Further, in order to perform maintenance such as predicting the occurrence of a failure in the equipment control system, a service provider or the like must also go to the user's house and perform various inspections. Therefore, the present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and it is possible to predict the occurrence of a system failure in an in-home communication system, or to inspect and diagnose a failure location and cause when a failure occurs from outside the home. An object of the present invention is to provide a device control system and a system fault management method that can be performed.

[0006]

An apparatus control system according to the present invention is provided.
The system uses a transmission line to connect multiple devices
Connected to the equipment control unit to perform centralized operation control
Machine that collects fault information from outside the home via a communication network
Device control system, a plurality of devices located in the house
Requesting the device control device to collect fault information.
And the status of the equipment collected by the equipment control unit.
Status information from the device control device and provide fault information.
Central control device for controlling the operation of the plurality of devices.
Control data, and the centralized management device
Status information of the equipment in response to a request to collect
And sends the status information to the central management device.
Device control device.

[0007]

[0008]

[0009] Here, the centralized management device transmits an emulation test request command for collecting fault information to a specific device as a fault inspection target and other devices as an emulation target to the device control device. A failure information management unit that receives test result information of the emulation test from the device, a failure information storage unit that stores system failure information corresponding to various device states, and a system failure information stored in the failure information storage unit. Failure prediction means for predicting the content of a failure based on the result of an emulation test of a specific device.

[0010] Further, an interface is provided between the device and the transmission path.
Data transmission between the device and the device control device.
Communication control processing means having a device interface for controlling reception, wherein the device control device communicates with the central management device and the device according to a predetermined communication protocol, and device control information processing for controlling the device based on the device control rules Means for transmitting an emulation test environment setting request for setting an emulation environment to a device interface connected to the device to be emulated in accordance with the emulation test request, and performing a predetermined control between the device and the fault inspection target. Send and receive data,
A failure information processing unit that collects the failure information of the device and transmits the collected failure information to the centralized management device.

[0011] Further, the device interface is a device control processing means for controlling the operation of the device according to operation control data given from the device control device, a communication control processing means for performing communication with the device according to a predetermined communication protocol, Fault information processing means for setting an environment in accordance with an emulation test environment setting request.

[0012]

[0013]

[0014] Further , the equipment control system according to the present invention comprises:
Device control equipment for multiple devices located in the home via transmission paths
To control operation centrally by connecting to
System failure from a centralized management device
An equipment control system for managing a situation,
Between the device and the transmission line, and
Device interface that controls the transmission and reception of data to and from control devices
And the central control device includes the device control device.
Emulation test environment setting request to
Means and receiving the emulation test response and the test result
Means for analyzing the data, wherein the device control device comprises:
Receives a simulation test environment setting request and tests
Data transmission / reception to / from external device interface
Send an instruction to pause the emulation test
After setting the emulation environment,
Emulation for the device under emulation test
A means for conducting an application test and collecting test result information.
After the emulation test is completed,
Command to restore communication with the terminal
Means for transmitting and releasing the emulation test environment;
After the end of the emulation test,
Emulation test response including test result information
Means for transmitting to the centralized management device.

Further, in the system fault management method according to the present invention, a step of transmitting an emulation test environment setting request from the centralized management device to the device control device, wherein the device control device receives the emulation test environment setting request and performs a test Sending an instruction to temporarily suspend data transmission / reception to / from the device to the device interface that is not the target, and setting an emulation test environment; and, after setting the emulation environment, the device control unit performs an emulation test on the device to be emulated. Collecting the test result information, and after the emulation test is completed, transmitting a command for restoring communication with the terminal device from the device control device to the device interface not to be tested, and releasing the emulation test environment. When,
The device control device includes a step of transmitting an emulation test response including test result information of the emulation test to the central management device, and a step of the central management device receiving the emulation test response and analyzing the test result. .

[0016]

[0017]

[0018]

[Action] Also, in the present invention, a system failure occurs in the home communication system, to the device control apparatus of the in-home communication system from a centralized management apparatus installed outside the house, the emulation test request is originated.

Upon receiving the emulation test request,
The fault information processing means of the device control device holds the communication state with the inspection target device and temporarily stops the communication state with the non-target device in accordance with the instruction of the request to set the emulation environment. Then, a predetermined inspection is performed on the inspection target device, and failure information is collected. The collected fault information is returned to the central management device.

When the fault information obtained by the emulation test is received, the fault information management means of the centralized management device analyzes the fault information .

[0021]

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As an embodiment of the present invention, an example of a device control system applied to a home bus system (hereinafter, referred to as HBS) will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the device control system. In the figure, in the device control system, a network management apparatus 1 installed outside a home, for example, in a facility such as a management center, is connected to an HBS located in a home via an NTT public network 11.

The HBS includes NT (network termination) 37, HBC (home bus controller) 3
8, the device controller 12, the IFU (interface unit) 24 to which the devices 34, 35, 36 are connected,
25 and 26 are configured to perform data transmission with each other via the HBS control channel 23. Then, the network management device 1 and the device controller 12 communicate with the NTT public network 11 and the HBS information channel 22 as transmission paths.
Are configured to perform data transmission with each other via the.

The appliances 34, 35, and 36 correspond to home appliances such as TVs, VTRs, and air conditioners installed in homes. H
The BC 38 manages system information of the home bus. As shown in FIG. 1, the network management apparatus 1 communicates with a device controller 12 via a NTT public network 11 in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol.
A failure information management unit 8 that generates, analyzes, processes, etc., a system failure information message transmitted and received between the CU) 7 and the device controller 12, and a failure location based on the failure information obtained from the home communication system. An inference unit 9 for inferring the cause of a failure, etc .; and a knowledge base 10 for accumulating knowledge necessary for inferring a failure location and a cause of the failure in the home communication system.
A performance information management unit 5 for generating, analyzing, and processing a system performance information message transmitted / received to / from the device controller 12; a memory 4 for storing system failure information and system performance information; And an operation unit 2 for inputting and outputting system performance information, a display unit 3, and a main control unit 6 for controlling the above-mentioned units. The detailed functions of those units will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the equipment controller 12 communicates with the terminal equipment in the house according to a predetermined communication protocol, the network controller 1 and the NTT (registered trademark) according to the predetermined communication protocol. A communication control unit (modem) 18 for performing communication via the public network 11 and the HBS information channel 22;
Generation, analysis, and generation of an emulation environment setting command transmitted and received between the network management apparatus 1 and the emulation environment setting command transmitted and received between the network management apparatus 1 and the emulation environment setting command.
A failure information processing unit 2 that performs processing and the like, and also performs line monitoring and emulation tests of a communication system.
0, and generates, analyzes, and processes a system performance information message transmitted and received between the network management device 1 and
A performance information processing unit 21 for measuring performance such as line quality, equipment usage rate, traffic, and terminal response time of a communication system; an equipment control information processing unit 16 for controlling equipment based on equipment control rules; Fault information,
A memory 15 for storing system performance information and system control information, an operation unit 13 and a display unit 14 for inputting and outputting system failure information, system performance information, and system control information, and a main control unit for controlling the above units 17 mainly. The detailed functions of those units will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 3, the IFUs 24, 25, and 26 include an equipment control processing unit 31 for performing communication with the equipment and the like.
A communication control processing unit 32 that communicates with a terminal device in the house according to a predetermined communication protocol; a failure information processing unit 33 that generates, analyzes, processes, and the like an emulation environment setting command transmitted and received between the device controller 12;
Memory 29 for storing emulation environment setting information
And an operation unit 27 for inputting and outputting emulation environment setting information, a display unit 28, and a main control unit 30 for controlling the above-described units. The detailed functions of those units will be described later.

Equipment controller 12, IFU 24, 2
Between 5 and 26, for example, transmission data of a format as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is transmitted and received. In FIG.
R is a priority code, SA is a self address, DA is a partner address, CC is a control code, BC is a message length code, and MEI.
Is a maker code, which is an identification code for using a maker's own application command, HD is a header code, SA 'is a self-subaddress, DA' is a partner subaddress, SSDA is a self-subdevice address, and D is
SDA is a destination sub-device address, TS is a table selector, OPC 'and OPR1 to OPR2 are manufacturer-specific operation codes and operands, OPC and OPR1 to OPR2 are standard operation codes and operands, FCC is a check code, DMY is dummy, and ACK. / NAK is an ACK / NAK code.

For example, when an HK general command is used, the CC is set to b0 = 1, which is a standard protocol & command designation,
b1 = 0, the HD command identification bit is b4 = 1,
It is assumed that b5 = 0. For example, when OPC = 80 (hexadecimal), when OPR1 = 60 to 6E and 70 to 7E,
Each code is POWER (power control) and POW
This indicates that the command is an ER (current power monitor) command.

For example, when a manufacturer-specific HK system general command is used, the CC is set to b0 = b1 = 0 for non-standard protocol and command designation, the HD command identification bits are set to b4 = 1, b5 = 0, and TS is set to 00 (hexadecimal). For example, when OPC '= F8 (hexadecimal), OPR
1 = 60 (hexadecimal), 61 (hexadecimal), 70 (16
Hex) and 71 (hexadecimal), the respective codes are a device transmission suspension request, a device transmission suspension response,
This is a device transmission suspension release request or device transmission suspension release response command.

In the present embodiment, the above-described standard and HK general commands unique to the manufacturer are used. Also,
For example, transmission data in a format as shown in FIG. 10 is transmitted and received between the network management device 1 and the device controller 12. In the figure, the network identifier is 48 4253 (hexadecimal) in 3 bytes, the service type designation is 32 (hexadecimal), 33 (16
), The system fault management service,
This indicates that the service is a system performance management service. When the service type is 32 (hexadecimal), the message type is 1 byte, 31 (hexadecimal), 32 (hexadecimal), 33 (16
Hex) and 34 (hexadecimal) respectively indicate a line monitoring request message, a line monitoring response message, an emulation test request message, and an emulation test response message, and the message when the service type designation is 33 (hexadecimal). Type specification is 1 byte 31 (hexadecimal),
When it is 32 (hexadecimal number), it indicates that the message is a system performance measurement request message and a system performance measurement response message, respectively. In this embodiment, a message between the network management device and the device controller as described above is used.

The device control system having such a configuration is different from the conventional system in that a line monitoring function for monitoring a line state when a system failure occurs, an emulation test function for each device, and a system failure. It has a system performance measurement function for collecting performance information of the system used for prediction. The line monitoring function is a function of collecting control data flowing on the control channel of the HBS and elucidating a fault location and a fault cause of the system.

The emulation test function performs a sequence test or the like on a specific device when a failure location can be roughly predicted by, for example, line monitoring processing.
This is a function for elucidating the cause of failure. Further, the system measurement function is a function of collecting and analyzing information such as line quality, equipment usage rate, traffic, and terminal response periodically, for example, about once every six months.

If there is any abnormality while the user is using the system, a telephone call or the like notifying the abnormality to a service center or the like where the network management apparatus 1 is installed is sent from the user. Upon receiving the notification, the administrator predicts the location and cause of the failure using the line monitoring function or the emulation test function. Further, the administrator periodically monitors the line quality and the like using the system performance measurement function, and predicts the occurrence of a system failure of the HBS installed in each house.

Hereinafter, the operation of the above functions of the device control system of the present embodiment will be described. (Line Monitoring) FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data sequence between the respective devices during line monitoring. When performing the line monitoring of the communication system, first, the network management device 1 starts the communication control unit 7 according to the instruction of the administrator.
To make a line connection with the device controller 12 via the NTT public network 11 and the HBS information channel 22. Then, the fault information management unit 8 generates a line monitoring request message “1” and transmits it from the communication control unit 7 to the device controller 12.

The device controller 12 sends a line monitoring request message “1” via the communication control unit (modem) 18.
Is received and the failure information processing unit 20 analyzes the line monitoring request message "1", and then performs line monitoring of the communication system. In the example shown in FIG.
(Power control) transmitted to the IFU 25 of No. 5
Command “3” and P transmitted to the IFU 26 of the device 36
The power (power control) command “5” and the device 34
(Current power monitor) command received from the IFU 24 of the device 35 and the IFU 24 of the device 35.
4 ". In this case, it is assumed that no response is obtained from the IFU 26 of the device 36.

When the line monitoring is completed for all devices, the fault information processing unit 20 processes the collected line monitoring information, generates a line monitoring response message "6" shown in FIG. 18 to the network management device 1. Network management device 1
Receives the line monitoring response message "6" via the communication control unit 7, the communication control unit 7 disconnects the line with the device controller 12.

Thereafter, the fault information management unit 8 analyzes the line monitoring response message "6" and extracts monitoring information. In addition, an administrator operating the network management apparatus can obtain information on an abnormal state of the device notified by a telephone call or the like from the user, such as a power ON / OFF state or an operation state of the device, which cannot be obtained by line monitoring. If there is information, the information is input from the operation unit 2.

When various information is given from the fault information management unit 8 and the operation unit 2, the inference unit 9 determines various system statuses stored in the knowledge base 10 in advance, fault locations corresponding to the statuses, and fault causes. The system infers a fault location, a fault cause, and the like of the communication system based on the information related to the fault, stores the system fault information in the memory 4, and outputs the system fault information to the display unit 3. The displayed system failure information includes, for example, identification information of a device in which a failure has occurred and a predicted failure cause.

The inference unit 9 can be configured using an existing expert system construction tool. (Emulation Test) FIG. 6 shows a data transmission / reception sequence between the devices during the emulation test.

If the device that caused the system failure can be predicted, the operator of the network management device checks the cause of the failure on the target device using the emulation test function. First, the network management device 1
Is transmitted by the communication control unit 7 to the NTT public network 11 and the HBS.
A line connection with the device controller 12 is made via the information channel 22. Then, the failure information management unit 8 sends the emulation test request message “7” as shown in FIG.
Is generated and transmitted from the communication control unit 7 to the device controller 12.

The device controller 12 has a communication controller 18
The emulation test request message “7” is received via the PC and the failure information processing unit 20 analyzes the emulation test request message “7”. Then, a device transmission suspension request command “8” as shown in FIG. 10 is generated according to the analysis contents, and is transmitted from the communication control processing unit 19 to terminal devices at home all at once.

Each of the IFUs 24, 25, and 26 receives the device transmission suspension request command “8” via the communication control processing unit 32, and the failure information processing unit 33 transmits the device transmission suspension request command “8”. Perform analysis. Then, after setting to the transmission suspension state, the device transmission suspension response commands “9”, “10”, and “11” are generated, and transmitted from the communication control processing unit 32 to the device controller 12.

The device controller 12 sends all device transmission suspension response commands “9”, “10”, “1” from the IFUs 24, 25, 26 via the communication control processing unit 19.
Upon receiving “1”, the failure information processing unit 20 analyzes the device transmission suspension response commands “9”, “10”, and “11”, and then generates a device transmission suspension cancellation request command “12”. It is transmitted from the communication control processing unit 19 to the IFU 26 to be emulated.

When the IFU 26 receives the device transmission suspension release request command “12” via the communication control processor 32, the failure information processor 33 analyzes the device transmission suspension release request command “12”. After the transmission suspension state is released, a device transmission suspension release response command “13” is generated and transmitted from the communication control processing unit 32 to the device controller 12.

The device controller 12 sends the device transmission temporary stop release response command “1” via the communication control processing unit 19.
3 ", the failure information processing unit 20 analyzes the device transmission temporary suspension release response command" 13 ", and
Confirm that device transmission suspension has been released. By the above operation, the emulation environment is set for the devices 34 and 35 and the IFUs 24 and 25, and the devices 36 and IFU2
6 is set as an emulation test target.

Thereafter, an emulation test is started. For example, the device controller 12 uses the fault information processing unit 20 to turn on the power of the device 36.
Generates a WER (power control) ON command “14”,
The data is transmitted from the communication control processing unit 19 to the IFU 26 to be tested. The IFU 26 communicates with the P via the communication control processing unit 32.
Upon receiving the POWER (power control) ON command “14”, the device control processing unit 31 turns on the power of the device 36.
Then, the IFU 26 transmits a POWER (current power monitor) ON command “15” including information on whether or not the power of the device 36 has been turned on from the communication control processing unit 32 to the device controller 12.

The device controller 12 turns on POWER (current power monitor) via the communication control processing unit 19.
When the command “15” is received, the failure information processing unit 20 analyzes the POWER (current power monitor) ON command “15” and ends the emulation test. When the emulation test is completed, the stopped state is released for the non-tested devices set to the transmission stopped state. That is, when the emulation test ends, the device controller 12 generates the device transmission temporary stop release request command “16” by the failure information processing unit 20 and transmits the command to the terminal device at home from the communication control processing unit 19 all at once. Each of the IFUs 24, 25, and 26 receives the device transmission suspension release request command “16” via the communication control processing unit 32, and the failure information processing unit 33 analyzes the device transmission suspension release request command “16”. To set the transmission pause release state. Then, the device transmission suspension cancellation response command “17”, “18”, “1”
9 "is generated and transmitted from the communication control processing unit 32 to the device controller 12.

The device controller 12 sends all the device transmission suspension release response commands “17” and “1” from the IFUs 24, 25 and 26 via the communication control processing unit 19.
8 ”and“ 19 ”, and the failure information processing unit 20 sends the device transmission suspension release response command“ 17 ”,“ 1 ”.
8 ”and“ 19 ”are analyzed to confirm the release of transmission stop.After that, an emulation test response message“ 20 ”is generated based on the collected emulation test information, and transmitted from the communication control unit 18 to the network management device 1. I do.

The network management device 1 includes a communication control unit 7
, The emulation test response message “20” is received, and the communication controller 7 disconnects the line with the device controller 12. Then, the failure information management unit 8 analyzes the emulation test response message “20”,
Extract fault information. The inference unit 9 refers to information in the knowledge base 10 based on the extracted failure information, infers a failure location, a failure cause, and the like of the communication system, and predicts the failure location. The inference prediction result is stored in the memory 4 and output to the display unit 3. The administrator acquires the failure information by referring to the display output and uses the acquired failure information for countermeasure construction. (System Performance Measurement) FIG. 7 shows a data transmission / reception sequence between devices in a system performance measurement operation for system maintenance.

This operation is started when the administrator gives an instruction for the system performance measurement operation. First, when the performance measurement of the communication system is instructed, the network management device 1 causes the communication controller 7 to control the device controller 1 via the NTT public network 11 and the HBS information channel 22.
2 is connected. Then, the performance information management unit 5 generates a system performance measurement request message “21” and transmits it from the communication control unit 7 to the device controller 12.

The device controller 12 includes a communication controller 18
Receives the system performance measurement request message “21” via
The performance information processing unit 21 analyzes the system performance measurement request message “21”. Then, the performance information processing unit 21
Performs performance measurement of items for which a measurement request has been made, for example, the line quality of the communication system, equipment usage rate, traffic, terminal response time, and the like. When the performance measurement of the communication system is completed, the performance information processing unit 21 processes the collected system performance information to generate a system performance measurement response message “27”, and transmits the message to the network management device 1 from the communication control unit 18.

The network management device 1 includes a communication control unit 7
After receiving the system performance measurement response message "27" via the communication controller 7, the communication controller 7 disconnects the line with the device controller 12. After that, the performance information management unit 5 analyzes the system performance measurement response message “27”, accumulates the system performance information in the memory 4, and outputs the system performance information to the display unit 3. This allows the administrator
By referring to the system performance information, it is possible to predict the occurrence of a system failure of the HBS.

In the above embodiment, an example in which one network management device is installed for one HBS has been described.
A configuration for managing the BS may be employed.

[0054]

[0055]

According to the present invention, an emulation test request is transmitted from a centralized control device installed outside a home to a device control device of a home communication system, and fault information processing of the device control device receiving the request is performed. Means sets the emulation environment in accordance with the instruction of the request, performs a predetermined test on the inspection target device, collects and returns fault information, and further, the fault information management means of the centralized management device analyzes the fault information. Therefore , it is possible to quickly and efficiently take countermeasures for a system failure by being able to grasp the failure location and the cause of the failure before going to the installation location of the in-home communication system in which the failure has occurred.

[0056]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a device controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an IFU according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a device control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a communication sequence at the time of a line monitoring operation performed in the device control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a communication sequence during an emulation test operation performed in the device control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a communication sequence during a system performance measurement operation performed in the device control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a device control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a format of data transmitted between the device controller 12 and each device.

FIG. 9 shows a device control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a format of data transmitted between devices during an emulation test.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a format of data transmitted between the network management device 1 and the device controller 12 at the time of measuring system performance in the device control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional in-home communication system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network management apparatus 2, 13, 27 Operation part 3, 14, 28 Display part 4, 15, 29 Memory 5 Performance information management part 6, 17, 30 Main control part 7 Communication control part (modem, NCU) 8 Fault information management Unit 9 inference unit 10 knowledge base 11 NTT public network 12 equipment controller 16 equipment control information processing unit 18 communication control unit (modem) 19, 32 communication control processing unit 20, 33 fault information processing unit 21 performance information processing unit 22 HBS information channel 23 HBS control channel 24, 25, 26 IFU 31 Device control processing unit 37 NT 38 HBC 34, 35, 36 Device

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of devices arranged in a home are connected by a transmission line.
Connected to the equipment control device to perform centralized operation control
In both cases, trouble information is collected from outside the home via a communication network
In the device control system, when a plurality of devices arranged in the house and requesting the device control device to collect failure information
In both cases, the status information of the device collected by the device control device is displayed.
Information from the device controller and presents fault information.
Transmitting control data for controlling operations of the plurality of devices with the centralized management device
Together with the need to collect fault information from the central management unit.
In response to the request, the status information of the device is collected and the status information is collected.
And a device control device for transmitting information to the central management device.
The centralized management device transmits an emulation test request command for collecting fault information to a specific device as a fault inspection target and collecting fault information for another device as an emulation target to the device control device. Fault information management means for receiving test result information of the emulation test from the server; fault information storage means for storing system fault information corresponding to various device states; and system fault information stored in the fault information storage means. and, characterized in that a fault predicting means for predicting a failure content based on the emulation test results of the specific device, device control system. 2. Interposed between said device and said transmission path,
Transmitting and receiving data between the device and the device control device;
A device interface for controlling , the device control device comprising: a communication control processing means for communicating with the central management device and the device according to a predetermined communication protocol; and a device control for controlling the device based on device control rules. Information processing means for transmitting, according to the emulation test request, an emulation test environment setting request for setting an emulation environment to the device interface connected to the device to be emulated, and send and receive predetermined control data among collects fault information of the device, characterized by comprising a failure information processing means for transmitting the collected fault information to the central control device, according to claim 1 The described device control system. 3. The device interface, comprising: a device control processing means for controlling the operation of the device according to operation control data provided from the device control device; and a communication control process for performing communication with the device according to a predetermined communication protocol. 3. The device control system according to claim 2 , further comprising: a failure information processing unit configured to set an environment in accordance with an emulation test environment setting request. 4. A plurality of devices arranged in a house are connected by a transmission line.
Connected to the equipment control device to perform centralized operation control
In both cases, a centralized management device located outside the home
Device control system that manages system
Thus , interposed between the device and the transmission line, the device and the
A device that controls the transmission and reception of data to and from the device controller
Comprising a interface, the central management device, the emulation test environment setting to the device control apparatus
Means to send a test request and receive an emulation test response and analyze the test results.
The device control device receives an emulation test environment setting request,
Send and receive data to and from the device interface
Send an instruction to pause the
Means to set the test environment, and after setting the emulation environment,
Perform emulation tests on elephant devices
A means for collecting result information, and a device for excluding the test object after the emulation test is completed.
Instruction to restore communication with terminal equipment to interface
To send emulation and release the emulation test environment
If, after the emulation end of the test, emulation trial
Emulation test response including test result information
Means for transmitting to the central management device . 5. An in-home communication system that connects a plurality of home-placed devices to a device control device via a transmission path and performs centralized operation control from a centralized management device located outside the home via a communication network. A system fault management method for managing a system fault status, comprising: transmitting an emulation test environment setting request from the centralized management device to the device control device; wherein the device control device transmits an emulation test environment setting request. Receiving and transmitting an instruction to temporarily suspend data transmission / reception with the device to a device interface not to be tested, and setting an emulation test environment; and, after setting the emulation environment, the device control device sends the device control device to the device to be emulated test. Performing an emulation test and collecting test result information After the emulation test is completed, transmitting a command for restoring communication with the terminal device from the device control device to a device interface not to be tested, and canceling the emulation test environment; and the device control device performs an emulation test. Transmitting an emulation test response including the test result information to the centralized management device; and receiving the emulation test response by the centralized management device and analyzing the test result. .