JP2015109535A - Communication apparatus and error response level switching method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it easy to switch a determination criterion for error response in a communication apparatus.SOLUTION: A communication apparatus comprises: a command frame reception unit 1 for receiving a command frame from an upper rank apparatus; a command frame analysis unit 2 for analyzing the command frame; an execution unit 3 for executing processing depending on a result of the analysis of the command frame; a storage unit 4 for storing an error response level setting value which is a value for showing a level of error response and is a value for designating a determination criterion for the error response; a response unit 5 which determines whether or not to perform error response on the basis of a result of the execution by the execution unit 3 and the error response level setting value, and generates a response frame to the command frame depending on a result of the determination; a response frame transmission unit 6 for transmitting the response frame to the upper rank apparatus; and a setting unit 7 for setting the error response level setting value and a mode of the communication apparatus.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device such as a controller connected to a network, and more particularly to a communication device and an error response level switching method capable of switching error response determination criteria.

A communication device such as a controller connected to a network has a minor abnormality that occurs when usage is given priority on efficiency and usability.
For example, when reading / writing data from / to a communication device from a higher-level device, if there is a data address that cannot be accessed in a single address among continuous data addresses of the communication device, a pair using the continuous data address is used. It is more efficient to read / write with the command frame and response frame than to read / write with a plurality of command frames and response frames divided so as not to include inaccessible data addresses. In this case, access to an inaccessible data address becomes a minor abnormality.

  In addition, when there is a data address whose access is enabled / disabled depending on the setting and status of the communication device, the communication control program of the host device becomes simpler when reading / writing is performed regardless of whether access is enabled / disabled. In this case, the access performed when access is not possible is a slight abnormality.

  Conventionally, in order to prevent the operation of a communication device from stopping due to a minor abnormality, (1) the severity of the abnormality is determined from the error type of the error response, and the communication device is stopped only in the case of a serious abnormality. 2) A method of creating a communication control program for a host device so that only a serious abnormality becomes an error response, and stopping the communication device in the case of an error response has been adopted.

  However, in these methods, an error response due to a minor abnormality does not occur, and a minor abnormality cannot be detected, so that a sufficient test of the communication device cannot be realized. Therefore, by mounting the abnormality processing board on the communication device during the abnormality test and removing the abnormality processing substrate during the operation of the communication device, a minor abnormality can be detected during the abnormality test (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).

Japanese Patent No. 2830601

  According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the error response determination criterion can be switched by switching between the operation mode and the test mode of the communication device. However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that it is not easy to use because it is necessary to insert and remove the abnormality processing substrate for switching.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication device and an error response level switching method capable of easily switching error response determination criteria.

  The communication device of the present invention includes a command frame receiving unit that receives a command frame from a host device, a command frame analyzing unit that analyzes the command frame, and an execution unit that executes processing according to the analysis result of the command frame; Based on the storage means for storing the error response level setting value representing the level of error response, whether to execute an error response based on the execution result of the execution means and the error response level setting value, and according to the determination result Response means for creating a response frame for the command frame, and response frame transmission means for transmitting the response frame to the higher-level device.

Further, according to one configuration example of the communication device of the present invention, an error response level for setting the error response level setting value according to any of the command frame, an operation switch of the communication device, or a digital input to the communication device. A setting means is provided.
Further, one configuration example of the communication device of the present invention further includes error response level setting means for setting the error response level setting value to a value corresponding to the mode of the communication device, and the storage means includes each of the communication devices. The mode and the error response level set value are stored in advance in association with each other.
Further, one configuration example of the communication device of the present invention further includes mode setting means for setting the mode of the communication device according to any of the command frame, the operation switch of the communication device, or the digital input to the communication device. The error response level setting means changes the error response level setting value to a value corresponding to the mode of the communication device changed by the mode setting means.
Further, in one configuration example of the communication device of the present invention, the storage unit stores in advance a determination criterion representing a determination result to be made by the response unit for each error type and each error response level setting value, and the response The means specifies an error type based on the execution result of the execution means, and determines whether or not to make an error response based on the specified error type, the current error response level setting value of the communication device, and the determination criterion. It is characterized by determining.

  Further, the error response level switching method for a communication device according to the present invention includes a command frame receiving step for receiving a command frame from a host device, a command frame analyzing step for analyzing the command frame, and an analysis result of the command frame. An execution step for executing processing and a storage means for storing an error response level setting value representing an error response level are referred to, and based on the execution result of the execution step and the current error response level setting value of the communication device. A response step of generating a response frame for the command frame according to the determination result, and a response frame transmission step of transmitting the response frame to the higher-level device. It is what.

  According to the present invention, the error response determination criteria of the communication device can be easily switched by the error response level setting value stored in the storage means. For example, when operating a communication device, the error response level (sensitivity) can be lowered to prevent an error response from occurring with a minor error. On the other hand, when a communication device test is desired, the cause of the error is known. Therefore, by increasing the error response level (sensitivity), an error response can be generated regardless of the severity of the error. In this way, it is possible to prevent the device from being stopped due to a minor error when the communication device is operated, and it is possible to easily investigate the cause of a minor error when testing the communication device.

  Further, according to the present invention, the error response level setting value is linked with the mode of the communication device, so that the error response determination criteria of the communication device can be easily switched.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the communication apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the communication apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The communication device executes a command frame receiving unit 1 that receives a command frame that is a transmission signal from a host device (not shown), a command frame analyzing unit 2 that analyzes the command frame, and a process according to the result of analyzing the command frame. The execution unit 3, a storage unit 4 for storing an error response level setting value that is a value indicating an error response level (sensitivity) and that specifies an error response determination criterion, and an execution result of the execution unit 3 It is determined whether or not an error response is made based on the error response level setting value, and a response unit 5 that generates a response frame that is a response signal to the command frame according to the determination result, and transmits the response frame to the host device Response frame transmission unit 6, setting unit 7 for setting an error response level setting value and communication device mode, display unit 8, operation switch 9, and digital input unit 1 It is equipped with a door. The setting unit 7 constitutes error response level setting means and mode setting means.

Hereinafter, the operation of the communication device of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the communication device.
When receiving a command frame from a higher-level device connected via the network (YES in step S1 in FIG. 2), the command frame receiving unit 1 passes this command frame to the command frame analyzing unit 2.
The instruction frame analysis unit 2 analyzes the instruction frame received from the instruction frame reception unit 1 (step S2 in FIG. 2).

  The execution unit 3 receives the analysis result of the instruction frame from the instruction frame analysis unit 2, and executes a process according to the instruction described in the instruction frame (step S3 in FIG. 2). For example, when the communication device is a controller for temperature control, processing to be performed according to the command frame includes writing and reading of setting values, reading of temperature measurement values, and the like. In addition, the controller performs temperature control so that the temperature set value set by the host device or the user matches the temperature measurement value to be controlled. Since the control by the controller is a well-known technique, a detailed description is omitted.

  Then, the execution unit 3 passes the execution result corresponding to the instruction frame to the response unit 5. This execution result includes information indicating the contents of the process executed according to the instruction frame, values obtained as a result of the process (read setting values, measurement values, etc.), and error presence / absence information.

  Next, the response unit 5 determines whether or not an error has occurred based on the execution result in the execution unit 3. If an error has occurred, the response unit 5 determines the type of error based on the execution result in the execution unit 3 ( Error code) is determined, and it is determined whether or not an error response is made based on the specified error type and the current error response level of the communication device, and a response frame for the command frame is created (step S4 in FIG. 2). .

[Error cause]
Here, the relationship between the error factor and the error response level will be described. An error that has occurred in the course of execution by the execution unit 3 is represented by an error code corresponding to the content of the error. Whether or not to create an error response frame is determined for each error cause according to the error response level. Table 1 shows the relationship between error factors and error response determination results.

  In Table 1, determination criteria representing determination results to be made by the response unit 5 are described for each error type (error code) and for each error response level setting value. In the example of Table 1, it is assumed that there are three stages of error response level setting values of 0, 1, and 2. It should be noted that “abnormal” and “normal” in Table 1 indicate whether or not an error is returned, not the presence or absence of an error. That is, “abnormal” means an error response, and “normal” means no error response.

  When there is no error, that is, when the error code is 0, the response unit 5 determines that it is normal (no error response) in any of the error response levels 0, 1, and 2. In this case, the response unit 5 creates a normal response frame indicating that the process commanded in the command frame has been successfully executed. An error code is described in the response frame created by the response unit 5. In the case of a normal response frame, the error code portion is “0”, that is, the content of no error is described.

  When an instruction frame including an undefined instruction is received, the error code is 10. If the number of parameters to be described later in the instruction frame does not match the instruction, the error code is 11. When any one of the error codes 10 and 11 occurs, the response unit 5 determines that an abnormality (error response) occurs in any of the error response levels 0, 1, and 2. In this case, the response unit 5 creates an error response frame indicating that an error has occurred. When creating an error response frame, an error code corresponding to the error factor is described in the frame. Therefore, one of the error codes 10 and 11 is described in the error response frame.

  When a read command frame that attempts to read data that cannot always be read is received, the error code is 20. When a read command frame that attempts to read data that cannot be read temporarily is received, the error code is 21. When any one of the error codes 20 and 21 occurs, the response unit 5 determines that the error response levels 0 and 1 are normal, and determines that the error response level 2 is abnormal. Therefore, at error response levels 0 and 1, error code 0 is described in the normal response frame, and at error response level 2, one of error codes 20 and 21 is described in the error response frame.

  When a write command frame that attempts to write data that cannot always be written is received, the error code is 30. The error code is 31 when a write command frame for temporarily writing data that cannot be written is received. When a write command frame for receiving data having a value outside the writable data range is received, the error code is 32. When any one of the error codes 30, 31, and 32 occurs, the response unit 5 determines that the error response level is normal and determines that the error response levels 1 and 2 are abnormal. Therefore, at error response level 0, error code 0 is described in the normal response frame, and at error response levels 1 and 2, one of error codes 30, 31, 32 is described in the error response frame.

[Communication frame]
Next, communication frames (command frame and response frame) exchanged between the communication device and the host device will be described. The communication frame of the present embodiment is defined by a component and a comma (,) separating the components. For example, the command frame is created with a structure of [device identification number], [command] (, [parameter 1], [parameter 2],..., [Parameter n]). The device identification number is a number unique to each communication device. The parameter is a value set as necessary, and may or may not be described.

  The response frame is created with a structure of, for example, [device identification number], [error code] (, [parameter 1], [parameter 2],..., [Parameter n]). As in the case of instruction frames, parameters are values that are described as needed. Since there is only one error code that can be described in the response frame, if an error due to multiple error factors occurs in the processing corresponding to one instruction frame, an error code corresponding to only one of the error factors is returned as a response. It will be described in the frame.

[Read command frame]
A read command frame for reading data from a communication device is created with a structure of, for example, [device identification number], [read command], [address of head data], and [number of data]. The read command is represented by the letter “R”. Two kinds of numerical values such as the address of the top data and the number of data are parameters. Specifically, the read command frame has a structure of “101, R, 1, 4”. This read command frame means that “four data are read from address 1 of the communication device having the device identification number 101”.

[Read response frame]
The read response frame for the read command frame is created with a structure of, for example, [device identification number], [error code] (, [data 1], [data 2],..., [Data n]). Data 1 to data n are parameters indicating the read numerical values. The read normal response frame indicating that the data read has been normally executed specifically has a structure of “101, 0, 100, 200, 300, 400”. This read normal response frame means that “data can be normally read from the communication device having the device identification number 101, and the read data is 100, 200, 300, 400 in order”.

  Specifically, the read error response frame indicating that an error has occurred in data read has a structure of “101, 10”. This read error response frame means that “an error that an undefined command is transmitted to the communication device having the device identification number 101 occurs and there is no data for the command”.

  Another example of the read error response frame is “101, 20, 0, 0, 0, 0”. This read error response frame indicates that “an error occurred when trying to read data that cannot always be read from the communication device having the device identification number 101, and the read data is 0, 0, 0, 0 in order”. Means. In this read error response frame, four data are attached in order to protect the format of the read response frame, but have no substantial meaning.

[Write command frame]
Write command frames for writing data to the communication device include, for example, [device identification number], [write command], [head data address], [data count], [data 1] (, [data 2], , ..., [data n]). The write command is represented by the letter “W”. Two kinds of numerical values such as the address of the top data and the number of data are parameters. Data 1 to data n are parameters indicating numerical values to be written. Specifically, the write command frame has a structure of “101, W, 1, 4, 100, 200, 300, 400”. This write command frame means that “four data are written in order from the address 1 of the communication device having the device identification number 101, and the values of the data to be written are 100, 200, 300, 400 in order”.

[Write response frame]
The write response frame for the write command frame is created with a structure of, for example, [device identification number] and [error code]. The write normal response frame indicating that the data write has been executed normally has a structure of “101,0”. This writing normal response frame means that “data writing has been normally performed in the communication device having the device identification number 101”.

  Further, the write error response frame indicating that an error has occurred during data writing has a structure of “101, 10”. This write error response frame means that “an error has occurred that an undefined command has been transmitted to the communication device having the device identification number 101”. Further, as another example of the write error response frame, an example of “101, 30” can be considered. This write error response frame means that “an error has occurred in the communication device having the device identification number 101 to write data that cannot be written at all times”.

[Data structure]
Next, Table 2 shows an example of data to be read or written by the communication device.

  Here, it is assumed that the communication device is a controller for temperature control. The temperature measurement value is data stored in the address 1 of the storage unit 4 and can be always read and cannot always be written. The temperature set value is data stored at address 2 of the storage unit 4 and can be read and written at all times. The temperature alarm generation state is data stored at address 3 of the storage unit 4, and when the temperature measurement value becomes equal to or higher than the temperature alarm set value described later, the value becomes “1” (alarm exists), and the temperature measurement value Is a data whose value is “0” (no alarm) when is less than the temperature alarm set value. In the temperature alarm generation state, reading is always possible, and writing is always impossible. The temperature alarm set value is data stored at the address 4 of the storage unit 4, and both reading and writing are always possible.

  As described above, the storage unit 4 stores the relationship between error contents and error codes (Table 1), and the determination criterion (Table 1) indicating the determination result to be made by the response unit 5 is the type of error. Stored for each (error code) and for each error response level setting value. Further, the storage unit 4 stores the current error response level setting value (either 0, 1 or 2), the data definition as shown in Table 2, and the data.

  The response unit 5 determines whether or not an error has occurred based on the execution result in the execution unit 3. If an error has occurred, the response unit 5 determines the error based on the execution result in the execution unit 3 and the information in Table 1. Identifies the type (error code), determines whether to respond with an error based on the specified error type, the current error response level setting value of the communication device, and the information in Table 1, and is normal according to the determination result Create either a response frame or an error response frame.

The response frame transmission unit 6 returns the response frame created by the response unit 5 to the higher-level device that is the transmission source of the command frame (step S5 in FIG. 2).
Thus, a series of processing of the communication device for the command frame is completed.

  In the present embodiment, the error response determination criteria can be easily switched by the error response level setting value stored in the storage unit 4. For example, when operating a communication device, the error response level (sensitivity) can be lowered to level 0 in Table 1 to prevent an error response from being generated by a minor error. On the other hand, when a communication device test is desired. By increasing the error response level (sensitivity) to level 2 in Table 1 so that the cause of the error can be understood, an error response can be generated regardless of the severity of the error. In this way, it is possible to prevent the device from being stopped due to a minor error when the communication device is operated, and it is possible to easily investigate the cause of a minor error when testing the communication device.

[Operation with error response level setting 2]
Next, the operation of the communication device according to the present embodiment will be described with a more specific example. Here, it is assumed that the error response level setting value is “2” (level 2 in Table 1) in order to test the communication device. For example, it is assumed that a write command frame “101, W, 1, 4, 500, 600, 0, 800” is received from a higher-level device. This write command frame writes “500 is written as the temperature measurement value of address 1 of the communication device having the device identification number 101, 600 is written as the temperature setting value of address 2, and 0 is written as the value of the temperature alarm generation state of address 3. , “800 is written as the temperature alarm setting value of address 4”.

  The response unit 5 determines that writing to the temperature measurement value at the address 1 is always impossible based on the definition of data stored in the storage unit 4 (Table 2). The response unit 5 determines that writing to the temperature setting value at the address 2 is always possible, and that the designated data value 600 is within the writable data range. The response unit 5 determines that writing to the temperature alarm generation state at the address 3 is always impossible. Furthermore, the response unit 5 determines that writing to the temperature alarm setting value at the address 4 is always possible, and that the designated data value 800 is within the writable data range.

  Accordingly, the response unit 5 creates a write error response frame “101, 30” for the write command frame “101, W, 1, 4, 500, 600, 0, 800”. This write error response frame means that “an error has occurred in the communication device having the device identification number 101 to write data that cannot be written at all times”.

  The cause of this write error is obvious in light of the data structure shown in Table 2. If the user of the communication device transmits a write command frame of “101, W, 1, 4, 500, 600, 0, 800” to the communication device, a write error occurs, and the temperature measurement value and temperature Since it knows that writing to the alarm occurrence state is impossible, it can be determined that there is no problem even if a write error response frame occurs.

  Writing to the temperature measurement value at address 1 and the temperature alarm generation state at address 3 is not necessary originally, but it is possible to simplify the communication system by reading and writing four data in one command frame. can do.

  As yet another example, it is assumed that a write command frame “101, W, 1, 4” is received due to a bug in the communication software of the host device. This write command frame means that “four data are written in order from address 1 of the communication device having the device identification number 101”, but four data are not described in the write command frame. For this reason, the response unit 5 determines that the number of parameters does not match the command.

  Then, the response unit 5 creates a write error response frame “101, 11”. This write error response frame means that “the number of parameters does not match the command in the command frame transmitted to the communication device having the device identification number 101”. This error is due to a bug in the communication software of the device that sent the command frame. The user of the communication device can determine that “measures are required” based on the occurrence of the write error response frame.

[Operation at error response level setting 0]
Next, the operation when the error response level setting value is “0” (level 0 in Table 1) will be described. For example, it is assumed that a write command frame “101, W, 1, 4, 500, 600, 0, 800” is received from a higher-level device. This write command frame writes “500 is written as the temperature measurement value of address 1 of the communication device having the device identification number 101, 600 is written as the temperature setting value of address 2, and 0 is written as the value of the temperature alarm generation state of address 3. , “800 is written as the temperature alarm setting value of address 4”.

  The response unit 5 determines that writing to the temperature measurement value at the address 1 is always impossible based on the definition of data stored in the storage unit 4 (Table 2). The response unit 5 determines that writing to the temperature setting value at the address 2 is always possible, and that the designated data value 600 is within the writable data range. The response unit 5 determines that writing to the temperature alarm generation state at the address 3 is always impossible. Furthermore, the response unit 5 determines that writing to the temperature alarm setting value at the address 4 is always possible, and that the designated data value 800 is within the writable data range.

  Therefore, if the error response level setting value is “2”, the write error response frame “101, 30” is created as described above. On the other hand, when the error response level setting value is “0”, the response unit 5 creates a write normal response frame “101,0”.

  The reason why such a writing normal response frame is created is that, when the error response level setting value is “0”, it is determined to be normal even if an error occurs in which data that cannot be written is written. is there. If the user of the communication device transmits a write command frame of “101, W, 1, 4, 500, 600, 0, 800” to the communication device, the temperature measurement value or temperature alarm that is prohibited from being written. It will attempt to write to the value of the occurrence state, resulting in a minor write error, but since it knows that it will be a normal write response frame as a response of the communication device, it can be determined that there is no problem .

  As yet another example, it is assumed that a write command frame “101, W, 1, 4” is received due to a bug in the communication software of the host device. This write command frame means that “four data are written in order from address 1 of the communication device having the device identification number 101”, but four data are not described in the write command frame. For this reason, the response unit 5 determines that the number of parameters does not match the command.

  Therefore, the response unit 5 creates a write error response frame “101, 11”. The reason why such a write error response frame is created is that, even if the error response level setting value is “0” or “2”, it is determined as abnormal if the number of parameters does not match the command. It is. This error is due to a bug in the communication software of the device that sent the command frame. The user of the communication device can determine that “measures are required” based on the occurrence of the write error response frame.

[Operation with error response level setting 1]
Next, the operation when the error response level setting value is “1” (level 1 in Table 1) will be described. For example, it is assumed that a read command frame “101, R, 1, 4” is received from the host device. This read command frame means that “four data are read from address 1 of the communication device having the device identification number 101”.

  Based on the definition of the data stored in the storage unit 4 (Table 2), the response unit 5 measures the temperature measured value at the address 1, the temperature set value at the address 2, the temperature alarm generation state at the address 3, and the temperature at the address 4 It is determined that all alarm setting values can be read at all times. Accordingly, the response unit 5 creates a read normal response frame such as “101, 0, 100, 200, 300, 400”, for example. This read normal response frame means that “data can be normally read from the communication device having the device identification number 101, and the read data is 100, 200, 300, 400 in order”.

  As yet another example, it is assumed that a read command frame “101, R, 10, 1” has been received from a host device. This read command frame means “read one piece of data from the address 10 of the communication device having the device identification number 101”. Here, it is assumed that the data stored at the address 10 of the storage unit 4 is data that cannot be read at all times. Therefore, if the error response level setting value is “2”, the response unit 5 creates a read error response frame “101, 20, 0”. On the other hand, when the error response level setting value is “1”, the response unit 5 creates a read normal response frame “101,0”. The reason why such a read normal response frame is created is that when the error response level setting value is “1”, it is determined that the read normal response frame is normal even when an error occurs when reading data that cannot always be read. Because.

[How to change the error response level]
As described above, the error response level setting value (any of 0, 1, and 2) is stored in the storage unit 4, and the error response level of the communication device is determined based on the error response level setting value. By changing the error response level setting value, the error response level of the communication device can be changed.

  As a method of changing the error response level setting value, there is a method of changing from an upper device via a network. Here, assuming that the error response level setting value is stored in the address 9999 of the storage unit 4, a write command frame such as “101, W, 9999, 1, 2” is transmitted from the host device. This write command frame means “write 2 as the value of the address 9999 of the communication device having the device identification number 101”.

  When the setting unit 7 recognizes that it is a write command frame that instructs writing to the error response level setting value as a result of the analysis of the command frame by the command frame analysis unit 2, the value 2 specified in this write command frame is set. Then, it is written as the error response level setting value at the address 9999 in the storage unit 4. Thus, the error response level setting value can be changed according to the command frame.

  The method for changing the error response level setting value is a method for changing the error response level setting value for each communication device. However, for all communication devices connected to the network, the error response level setting value By defining a communication system command that changes the error response level, it is possible to change the error response level setting values of all communication devices. For example, the device identification number for all communication devices is defined as 0. In this case, for example, a write command frame “0, W, 9999, 1, 2” may be transmitted. Thereby, the error response level setting value stored in the address 9999 of all communication devices connected to the network can be changed to 2.

  In addition, the error response level setting value changing method described above is a method of using an instruction frame for changing the error response level setting value. However, an error response is sent to the instruction frame itself for communication access from the host device to the communication device. Specification information for switching the level setting value may be described.

  When the error response level setting value is changed by the instruction frame, the effective time of the change may be defined or set. In this case, when the effective time for the change has passed, the setting unit 7 returns the error response level setting value stored in the storage unit 4 to the value before the change. This allows the error response level of the communication device to be automatically restored even if the user forgets to restore the error response level after temporarily changing the error response level of the communication device. it can.

  In addition, when the error response level setting value is changed by the instruction frame, when the communication device is interrupted or reset after the change, the setting unit 7 may maintain the changed error response level setting value. Alternatively, the error response level setting value may be returned to a predetermined initial value.

[How to check the error response level]
If there is a method for changing the error response level setting value, it is convenient if there is a method for checking the error response level as a result. With such a method, it can be confirmed that the error response level setting value has been changed correctly or has not been changed. Further, it is possible to confirm at what error response level the error code of the current response frame is determined.

  Similarly to the above, if the error response level setting value is stored in the address 9999 of the storage unit 4, a read command frame such as “101, R, 9999, 1” is transmitted from the host device. This read command frame means “read one piece of data from the address 9999 of the communication device having the device identification number 101”.

  In response to this read command frame, the response unit 5 creates a read response frame of “101, 0, 2”, for example. This read response frame means that “data can be normally read from the communication device having the device identification number 101, and the read data is 2.” Thus, since the error response level setting value of the communication device can be read out by the command frame, the user of the communication device can check the current error response level.

  Although the above confirmation method is a method of reading the error response level setting value by communication, the response unit 5 may cause the display unit 8 to display the current error response level setting value. As a display method, there are a method of numerically displaying the error response level setting value as it is, or a method of distinguishing and displaying the error response level setting value according to lighting / extinguishing of a lamp such as an LED, a color, and a blinking interval. Thus, the current error response level of the communication device can be notified to the user.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the error response level setting value is changed by the command frame, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the error response level setting value can be changed by the operation switch 9 provided in the communication device. In other words, when the user operates the operation switch 9 for setting the error response level, the setting unit 7 operates the operation switch 9 with the current error response level setting value of the communication device described in the storage unit 4. Change according to.

  It is also possible to change the error response level setting value by a specific digital input. The digital input unit 10 receives a digital input from an external device. The storage unit 4 stores in advance an error response level setting value when the specific digital input is in the LOW state and an error response level setting value when the specific digital input is in the HIGH state. The setting unit 7 selects either the error response level setting value in the LOW state or the error response level setting value in the HIGH state according to the state of the specific digital input, and selects the selected value of the communication device. The current error response level setting value. In this way, the error response level setting value can be changed by switching between LOW and HIGH of a specific digital input.

  In the above-described method for changing the error response level setting value, the error response level setting value when the specific digital input is in the LOW state and the error response level setting value when the specific digital input is in the HIGH state are set in the storage unit 4 in advance. Needless to say, these error response level setting values can be rewritten, for example, by using a write command frame.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the configuration of the communication device in this embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment, the description will be given using the reference numerals in FIG. In the first and second embodiments, the error response level setting value is set regardless of the mode of the communication device. However, the error response level setting value is linked with the mode of the communication device. Also good. Table 3 shows an example of the relationship between the communication device mode and the error response level setting value in the present embodiment.

In the example of Table 3, the error response level setting value is 0 when the communication device mode is the operation mode, and the error response level setting value is 2 when the communication device mode is the debug mode for testing the communication device. .
The storage unit 4 of the present embodiment stores the relationship between the communication device mode and the error response level setting value as shown in Table 3.

  The setting unit 7 sets the error response level setting value corresponding to the mode of the communication device among the error response level setting values stored in the storage unit 4 as the current error response level setting value of the communication device. Therefore, if the relationship between the error cause and the error response level is as shown in Table 1, in the operation mode, it is determined that the error of error codes 10 and 11 is abnormal (error response), and error codes 20, 21, 30, It is determined that the errors 31 and 32 are normal (no error response). In the debug mode, all error code errors are determined to be abnormal.

The specific operation of the communication device when the error response level setting value is 0 to 1 is as described in the first embodiment.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the error response determination criteria can be easily switched by linking the error response level setting value with the mode of the communication device. For example, in the communication device operation mode, the error response level (sensitivity) can be lowered to level 0 in Table 1 to prevent an error response from occurring with a minor error, while debugging to test the communication device. In the mode, by raising the error response level (sensitivity) to level 2 in Table 1 so that the cause of the error can be understood, an error response can be generated regardless of the severity of the error. In this way, it is possible to prevent the device from being stopped due to a minor error when the communication device is operated, and it is possible to easily investigate the cause of a minor error when testing the communication device.

In addition, by changing the mode of the communication device, the user can make an efficient determination from necessary information.
Since the error response level is 2 in the debug mode of the communication device, it is confirmed whether writing to each address described in the write command frame has been performed completely or partly or not. It is also possible to confirm whether the write command frame itself is normal or abnormal. In this way, the user can check the operation of the communication device with respect to the write command frame, so that the communication system can be debugged efficiently.

  On the other hand, in the operation mode of the communication device, since the error response level is 0, writing to individual addresses described in the write command frame cannot be confirmed, but is the write command frame itself normal or abnormal? Can be confirmed. In this way, only an abnormal command frame can be easily detected when the communication system is operated. In addition, even if a write normal response frame is returned from the communication device in the operation mode, if writing to a specific address is not performed, switch to debug mode and check the error code in the write error response frame, The reason why data is not written can be investigated.

[How to change the error response level]
As a method of changing the error response level, there are a method using an instruction frame, a method using an operation switch 9, and a method using a digital input, as in the first and second embodiments.

  When the error response level is changed using the command frame, a command frame for changing the mode of the communication device may be transmitted from the host device. When the setting unit 7 recognizes that the command frame is a command frame instructing the mode change of the communication device as a result of the command frame analysis by the command frame analysis unit 2, the setting unit 7 changes the mode of the communication device to the mode specified by the command frame. . Further, the setting unit 7 sets the error response level setting value corresponding to the changed mode of the communication device among the error response level setting values stored in the storage unit 4 to the current error response level setting value of the communication device. Set as. Thus, the error response level setting value can be changed in conjunction with the mode of the communication device by the command frame.

  When the user operates the mode setting operation switch 9, the setting unit 7 changes the mode of the communication device according to the operation of the operation switch 9. Furthermore, the setting unit 7 sets the error response level setting value corresponding to the changed mode of the communication device as the current error response level setting value of the communication device. In this way, the error response level setting value can be changed by the operation switch 9 in conjunction with the mode of the communication device.

  In addition, when the error response level is changed using digital input, a specific digital input may be given to the communication device. The setting unit 7 changes the mode of the communication device according to a specific digital input. Furthermore, the setting unit 7 sets the error response level setting value corresponding to the changed mode of the communication device as the current error response level setting value of the communication device. Thus, the error response level setting value can be changed in conjunction with the mode of the communication device by digital input.

  In the above error response level setting value changing method, the relationship between the mode of the communication device and the error response level setting value is fixed, but for example, each mode of the communication device can be determined by using a write command frame. It goes without saying that the error response level setting value corresponding to can be rewritten. Thereby, the relationship shown in Table 3 can be changed.

  The method for confirming the error response level is as described in the first embodiment. In the case of the present embodiment, since the mode of the communication device and the error response level setting value are linked, it is possible to estimate the error response level if the current mode of the communication device can be confirmed. .

  The communication apparatus described in the first to third embodiments can be realized by a computer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage device, and an interface, and a program for controlling these hardware resources. The CPU executes the processes described in the first to third embodiments in accordance with a program stored in the storage device.

  The present invention can be applied to a technique for switching error response determination criteria in a communication device such as a controller connected to a network.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Command frame receiving part, 2 ... Command frame analysis part, 3 ... Execution part, 4 ... Memory | storage part, 5 ... Response part, 6 ... Response frame transmission part, 7 ... Setting part, 8 ... Display part, 9 ... Operation switch 10: Digital input section.

Claims (10)

Command frame receiving means for receiving a command frame from a host device;
An instruction frame analyzing means for analyzing the instruction frame;
Execution means for executing processing according to the analysis result of the instruction frame;
Storage means for storing an error response level setting value representing an error response level;
A response unit for determining whether to perform an error response based on the execution result of the execution unit and the error response level setting value, and for generating a response frame for the command frame according to the determination result;
A communication device comprising response frame transmission means for transmitting the response frame to the higher-level device. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein
The communication device further comprises error response level setting means for setting the error response level setting value according to any of the command frame, an operation switch of the communication device, or a digital input to the communication device. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein
Further, an error response level setting means for setting the error response level setting value to a value corresponding to the mode of the communication device,
The storage unit stores in advance each mode of the communication device and an error response level setting value in association with each other. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein
Furthermore, it comprises mode setting means for setting the mode of the communication device in accordance with either the command frame, the operation switch of the communication device or the digital input to the communication device,
The communication device characterized in that the error response level setting means changes the error response level setting value to a value corresponding to the mode of the communication device changed by the mode setting means. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The storage means stores in advance a determination criterion representing a determination result to be made by the response means for each error type and each error response level setting value,
Whether the response means identifies an error type based on the execution result of the execution means, and responds with an error based on the identified error type, the current error response level setting value of the communication device, and the determination criterion. A communication device characterized by determining whether or not. A command frame receiving step for receiving a command frame from the host device;
An instruction frame analyzing step of analyzing the instruction frame;
An execution step of executing processing according to the analysis result of the instruction frame;
Whether or not to make an error response based on the execution result of the execution step and the current error response level setting value of the communication device with reference to storage means storing an error response level setting value representing the level of error response A response step of determining and generating a response frame for the command frame according to the determination result;
And a response frame transmission step of transmitting the response frame to the higher-level device. In the communication apparatus error response level switching method according to claim 6,
The communication device error further includes an error response level setting step for setting the error response level setting value according to any of the command frame, the operation switch of the communication device, or a digital input to the communication device. Response level switching method. In the communication apparatus error response level switching method according to claim 6,
Furthermore, an error response level setting step for setting the error response level setting value to a value corresponding to the mode of the communication device,
An error response level switching method for a communication device, wherein the storage means stores each mode of the communication device and an error response level setting value in advance in association with each other. The communication apparatus error response level switching method according to claim 8,
And a mode setting step of setting a mode of the communication device in accordance with any of the command frame, an operation switch of the communication device, or a digital input to the communication device,
The error response level setting step includes a step of changing the error response level setting value to a value corresponding to the mode of the communication device changed in the mode setting step. Method. In the communication apparatus error response level switching method according to any one of claims 6 to 9,
The storage means stores in advance a determination criterion representing a determination result to be made in the response step for each error type and each error response level setting value,
Whether the response step identifies an error type based on the execution result of the execution step, and whether to make an error response based on the identified error type, the current error response level setting value of the communication device, and the determination criterion. An error response level switching method for a communication device, characterized by determining whether or not.

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