CN110971328B - Clock and information transmission system - Google Patents
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- CN110971328B CN110971328B CN201910203630.1A CN201910203630A CN110971328B CN 110971328 B CN110971328 B CN 110971328B CN 201910203630 A CN201910203630 A CN 201910203630A CN 110971328 B CN110971328 B CN 110971328B
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- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 28
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 144
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000000737 periodic effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 10
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 9
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000004378 air conditioning Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000001360 synchronised effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000012937 correction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 1
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- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04J—MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION
- H04J3/00—Time-division multiplex systems
- H04J3/02—Details
- H04J3/06—Synchronising arrangements
- H04J3/0635—Clock or time synchronisation in a network
- H04J3/0638—Clock or time synchronisation among nodes; Internode synchronisation
- H04J3/0644—External master-clock
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Abstract
The present invention provides a clock and an information transmission system, the clock allows a user to decide to make it operate as a master clock or as a slave clock at the time of clock setting. The invention discloses a clock with communication function, comprising: a storage unit in which various programs and protocols for realizing communication functions are stored; and a processor that controls an operation of the clock, wherein the storage unit stores a first protocol that enables the clock to operate as a master clock and that enables one-to-one communication with the portable terminal device, and a second protocol that enables the clock to operate as a slave clock and that enables communication with the master clock, the clock being configured to be switchable between the first protocol and the second protocol by a switch so as to be selectable to operate as the master clock or to operate as the slave clock.
Description
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a clock and information transmission system.
Background
In recent years, a system has been proposed in which a master clock and a slave clock having various communication functions are provided, and the master clock and the slave clock communicate with each other to match the time of the slave clock with the time of the master clock.
For example, patent document 1 discloses a wireless time information transmission system in which a first wireless device can output only weak radio waves, and a second wireless device can be freely configured. The system can confirm whether the second wireless devices receive the time information in a simple and energy-saving manner for the plurality of second wireless devices. Specifically, patent document 1 describes the following: a "wireless master-slave clock system includes a master clock as an example of a first wireless device, a plurality of slave clocks as an example of a second wireless device, and repeaters provided between the slave clocks. The ordering control unit transmits data indicating that the transmission time information is the first reference time information to the encoder based on the information from the decoder. The encoder adds the data indicating the transmission time information as the first reference time information from the sorting control unit and the data indicating the specific slave clock from the individual identification number control unit to the first reference time information from the timing unit and then transmits the first reference time information to the transmitter "(see abstract part of patent document 1).
Further, for example, patent document 2 discloses a wireless communication apparatus capable of synchronizing timings of a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses. Specifically, patent document 2 describes the following: "the peripheral device transmits timing information indicating the timing of acquiring the time information to the center device. The center device changes the timing of the received timing information so that the timing indicated by the timing information received from the peripheral device does not overlap the timing indicated by the timing information of the other peripheral device that has already been received. The center device makes the peripheral device change the setting of the timing information based on the changed timing information (see the abstract of patent document 2).
Documents of the prior art
Patent document
Japanese patent publication No. 4664018
Japanese patent publication No. 6131987
Disclosure of Invention
Technical problem to be solved by the invention
In the above-described conventional technique, time information of a master clock is notified to slave clocks through one-to-one communication between the master clock and the plurality of slave clocks. Alternatively, the time information of the master clock is transferred to all the slave clocks by a relay forwarding communication method from the master clock to a plurality of slave clocks.
However, in the conventional art, since the specifications of the master clock and the slave clock are different, a dedicated master clock (master wireless device) and a slave clock (slave wireless device) operating in compliance with the master clock must be provided. Therefore, the master clock and the slave clock must be separately designed and manufactured, resulting in a problem of cumbersome product management and high cost.
In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a clock that allows a user to decide to operate it as a master clock or as a slave clock at the time of clock setting, and an information transmission system using the clock.
Means for solving the problems
To solve the above problems, the present embodiment discloses a clock having a communication function, including: a storage unit in which various programs and protocols for realizing communication functions are stored; and a processor that controls an operation of the clock, wherein the storage unit stores a first protocol that enables the clock to operate as a master clock and enables one-to-one communication with the portable terminal device, and a second protocol that enables the clock to operate as a slave clock and enables communication with the master clock, the first protocol and the second protocol being switched by the switch so that the clock can be selected to operate as the master clock or operate as the slave clock.
(ii) in this embodiment, the first protocol further includes: a protocol that allows periodic reception of standard electric waves; and a protocol that allows the first information to be transmitted or received through one-to-many communication with a plurality of slave clocks. The second protocol includes: a protocol that receives information sent in a one-to-many communication initiated by the master clock and sends second information to the master clock; and protocols that allow for relay communication with other slave clocks.
In this embodiment, the first information transmitted in the one-to-many communication in which the master clock transmits the master clock to the plurality of slave clocks includes time information, and the second information transmitted in the one-to-many communication in which the plurality of slave clocks transmits the master clock includes remaining battery charge information of the plurality of slave clocks and temperature/humidity information obtained by the plurality of slave clocks.
The fourth embodiment discloses an information transmission system. The information transmission system includes a portable terminal device, a master clock, and a plurality of slave clocks. The master clock is a clock set to operate as a master clock by switching to the first protocol, and each of the plurality of slave clocks is a clock set to operate as a slave clock by switching to the second protocol. Furthermore, when the master clock is powered on, the master clock and the portable terminal device can perform one-to-one communication, and when at least one slave clock in the plurality of slave clocks is powered on, the portable terminal device and the at least one slave clock enter a pairing setting mode. In the pairing setting mode, the portable terminal device obtains unique identification information of the at least one slave clock, and transmits the unique identification information of the at least one slave clock to the master clock and instructs it to register the information as an information transmission destination. Only in this pairing setting mode, one-to-one communication can be performed between the at least one slave clock and the portable terminal device.
In this embodiment, after the pairing setting is completed, the master clock performs Mesh (Mesh) communication at a predetermined time node to transmit time information to a slave clock within a Mesh communication range. In this way, time synchronization is achieved between the master clock and the slave clock.
In the present embodiment, the slave clock within the mesh communication range performs relay communication with respect to the slave clock outside the mesh communication range to transmit time information, and thus time synchronization is achieved between the master clock and all of the plurality of slave clocks that are set.
(seventhly) the master clock and the plurality of slave clocks each respectively include: a remaining battery power detection unit for detecting respective remaining battery powers; and a temperature and humidity sensor unit for measuring temperature and humidity. When the master clock carries out grid communication, the slave clock sends the residual battery power information and the temperature and humidity information to the master clock at a preset time node. Further, the master clock transmits the remaining battery power information and the temperature and humidity information of the master clock and the slave clock to the portable terminal device. In this way, the portable terminal device can display the remaining battery power information and the temperature and humidity information of the master and slave clocks on the display unit.
Other relevant features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the description of the specification and the drawings. Furthermore, various aspects of the invention are achieved and attained by means of the elements and combinations of elements, the detailed description, and the claims.
It should be understood that the description in this specification is only exemplary and should not be construed to limit the claims of the present invention or the applicable embodiments in any way.
Effects of the invention
By the invention, when setting the clock, a user can arbitrarily decide to enable the clock to work as a master clock or a slave clock.
Drawings
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of an information transmission system 1 according to the present embodiment.
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary internal configuration of the master unit 20 and the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 (hereinafter, referred to as the slave 30 for convenience) according to the present embodiment.
Fig. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation contents of the pairing setting mode in the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the status of time synchronization between the master 20 and the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 … ….
Fig. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the above-described time synchronization process (time information transmission process).
Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of exemplary communication information when the clocks (master/slave) are registered in the mobile terminal apparatus 10.
Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of exemplary communication information when registration of the master 20 and the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 … … is completed in the portable terminal apparatus 10.
List of reference numerals
1 information transmission system
10 Portable terminal device
20 host (Master clock)
30 slave (slave clock)
30_ 1-30 _9 slave
101 processor
102 timing unit
103 temperature sensor
104 humidity sensor
105 communication unit
106 memory cell
107 input unit
108 output unit
Detailed Description
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, functionally identical elements may be denoted by the same reference numerals. The drawings illustrate specific embodiments and implementations consistent with the principles of the invention and are intended solely for the purposes of promoting an understanding of the invention and are not intended to be limiting in any way.
In the present embodiment, although the present invention has been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, it is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied or carried out in other ways, and that changes in composition or structure, or substitutions of various elements may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the technical idea of the present invention. Therefore, the following description should not be construed as limited thereto.
First embodiment
< exemplary Structure of information Transmission System >
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of an information transmission system 1 according to the present embodiment. The information transmission system 1 includes a portable terminal device (portable terminal device) 10 held by a user, a master (master clock having a communication function) 20, and a plurality of slaves (slave clocks having a communication function) 30_1 to 30_ 9.
The portable terminal device 10 is a terminal device having at least a short-range communication function such as bluetooth (registered trademark), and is a portable terminal device such as a smartphone.
The host (master clock) 20 is a clock having a radio wave communication function and a short-range communication function. The host 20 is configured to perform one-to-one communication with the portable terminal apparatus 10 through the near field communication function. In addition, the master 20 may transmit predetermined information (e.g., time information acquired by the master 20) to at least a part (slave within the mesh communication range) of the plurality of slaves 30_1 to 30_9 through mesh communication.
After the slave 30_ m (for example, any one of the slaves 30_1 to 30_3) in the grid communication range of the master 20 obtains the predetermined information sent by the master 20, the slave 30_ m responds to the instruction of the master 20, and sends the information to the slave 30_ n (for example, any one of the slaves 30_4 to 30_ 6) outside the grid communication range of the master 20 through the relay communication using the short-range communication. The slave 30_ n that receives the above information through relay communication further transmits the predetermined information to the slave 30_ k (e.g., any one of the slaves 30_7 to 30_ 9) at a position farther away from the master 20 through relay communication.
As described below, the master 20 and the slave 30 have the same configuration, and a User can select to operate the master 20 or the slave 30 by using a switch (a mechanical switch or a switching control by a Graphical User Interface (GUI) menu selection).
< exemplary internal Structure of Master (Master clock) and Slave (Slave clock) >
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary internal configuration of the master unit 20 and the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 (hereinafter, referred to as the slave 30 for convenience) according to the present embodiment.
The master 20 and the slave 30 include a Processor 101 (e.g., a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Micro Processing Unit (MPU), or the like), a timing Unit 102, a temperature sensor 103, a humidity sensor 104, a communication Unit 105, a storage Unit 106, an input Unit 107, and an output Unit 108.
The processor 101 controls the overall operation within the device. The processor (control unit) 101 reads various programs (including a program corresponding to the flowchart of fig. 4) from the storage unit 106 or another memory (not shown), and then expands and executes the various programs in an internal memory (not shown). For example, when the communication unit 105 receives the time information, the processor 101 instructs the timing unit 102 to perform time adjustment.
The timing unit 102 has a function of counting the number of pulses of the clock signal, and performs timing based on the counted number of pulses. The processor 101 performs various controls on the time node based on the number of pulses counted by the timing unit 102. Further, the time determined by the timing unit 102 is periodically corrected by: in the case of the host 20, time synchronization depending on the received standard electric wave or time synchronization obtained from the portable terminal device 10.
The temperature sensor 103 measures the ambient temperature (ambient temperature), and the measured temperature information is acquired by the processor 101 periodically or at any time. The humidity sensor 104 measures the ambient humidity (ambient humidity), and the measured humidity information is periodically or at any time obtained by the processor 101. Although the present embodiment illustrates only the types of sensors disposed in the master unit 20 and the slave unit 30 by the temperature sensor 103 and the humidity sensor 104, the present invention is not limited thereto, and other sensors (such as a light and shade sensor, a sound sensor, and the like) or a remaining battery level detection unit for monitoring the remaining battery level may be disposed.
The communication unit 105 communicates with other devices through bluetooth (registered trademark) communication, a local network (LAN: local area network) or the internet (WAN: wide area network) to receive or transmit predetermined information. In the case of the host 20, it can communicate with the portable terminal apparatus 10 by a short-range communication technique such as bluetooth (registered trademark), and can also receive an electric wave time by radio wave communication. In the case of the slave 30, it may receive predetermined information such as time information from the master 20, and may also transmit predetermined information obtained from other slaves 30 (information obtained from the master 20 or other slaves 30) through relay communication. Further, when the air conditioner is present near the installation place of the master 20 or the slave 30 (within the range in which the short-range communication is possible), the master 20 or the slave 30 that receives the predetermined information (in this case, air conditioning control information for controlling the air conditioning operation such as changing the set temperature) controls the operation of the air conditioner. In addition to the time information and the air conditioning control information, for example, a weather forecast of the surrounding area, a warning alarm such as photochemical smog, traffic information such as late trains, an evacuation alarm for earthquakes, tsunamis, missiles, a repair program for the specific slave 30, and the like may be transmitted, and displayed on a display unit of each slave 30 in a text form, or a voice broadcast may be performed through a speaker, or a program of the specific slave 30 that needs to be repaired in a program may be updated.
The storage unit 106 stores various programs and various parameters. Further, the storage unit 106 stores, for example, a first protocol that allows operation as the master 20 and a second protocol that allows operation as the slave 30. The first protocol includes a protocol corresponding to short-range communication such as one-to-one bluetooth (registered trademark) communication for performing one-to-one communication with the portable terminal apparatus 10, a protocol corresponding to short-range communication such as one-to-many bluetooth (registered trademark) communication for transmitting information to a plurality of slaves 30_ m (such as the slaves 30_1 to 30_3 described above) that can be covered by communication through mesh communication, and a protocol for allowing operation as a radio wave clock. The second protocol includes a protocol for receiving predetermined information from the master 20, a protocol for transmitting predetermined information received from other slaves by relay communication, and a protocol for allowing communication with the portable terminal device 10 only in the pairing setting mode. When the user sets the clock to operate as the host 20 (by switching through the switch), the clock uses only the first protocol. In contrast, when the user sets the clock to operate as the slave 30 (by switching through the switch), the clock uses only the second protocol.
The input unit 106 is constituted by any one or a combination of various switches or buttons, a keyboard (a keypad), a touch panel, a microphone, and other input devices. The output unit 108 is constituted by a speaker, a display unit, and the like that output sound.
< pairing setup mode >
In order for the portable terminal device 10 and a plurality of clocks (devices corresponding to the master 20 and the slaves 30) to be able to operate as the information transmission system 1 of the present embodiment, the master 20 and the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 must be registered in the portable terminal device 10. The mode in which the master 20 and the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 are registered in the portable terminal device 10 is referred to as a pairing setting mode.
Fig. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation contents of the pairing setting mode in the present embodiment. As a precondition for the pair setting mode to be started, the user must set each clock to operate as the master 20 or as the slave 30. This setting is done by switches provided for each clock, as described above. For example, the setting can be performed by switching to the master or the slave through a mechanical switch provided for each clock, or selecting the master or the slave through a GUI menu displayed on a display unit (input unit 107) of the clock. As described above, when the clock is set to the host 20, the clock uses the first protocol. As described above, when the clock is set as the slave 30, the clock uses the second protocol.
(1) Step 301
When the master 20 or the slave 30 is powered on, the master 20 or the slave 30 is switched to the pairing setting mode. The valid period of the pairing setting mode may be set to a certain period of time after power-on.
(2) Step 302
After the host 20 enters the pairing setup mode, the portable terminal apparatus 10 can communicate with the host 20. Further, each slave 30 is also capable of one-to-one communication with the portable terminal apparatus 10 only in the pairing setup mode.
(3) Step 303
The portable terminal apparatus 10 obtains unique identification information (ID number) of the slave 30 in the pairing-set mode, and registers it as the slave 30 in a memory (not shown). As for the manner of acquiring the unique identification information by the portable terminal device 10, for example, the user can input the unique identification information of each slave 30_1 to 30_9 … … by operating the portable terminal device 10, or can make the portable terminal device 10 perform one-to-one communication with each slave 30_1 to 30_9 … … only in the pairing setup mode, and acquire the unique identification information by mutual communication. In the latter case, moreover, each slave 30 is set so that one-to-one communication with the portable terminal apparatus 10 is impossible after the pairing setting is completed (the setting may be realized by a corresponding slave protocol).
(4) Step 304
The portable terminal device 10 performs one-to-one near field communication (bluetooth (registered trademark)) with the master 20 to transmit unique identification information of the registered slaves 30_1 to 30_9 … … to the master 20. Further, the portable terminal apparatus 10 can still achieve time synchronization between the portable terminal apparatus 10 and the host 20 by transmitting time information to the host 20 at this time (in the pairing setup mode).
(5) Step 305
The master 20 receives the unique identification information of the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 … … and registers the information as an information transmission destination in the storage unit 106 by mesh communication.
At the same time, the master 20 transmits time information to the slave 30 through mesh communication. The slave 30 within the mesh communication range transmits the time information obtained from the master 20 to the slave 30 outside the mesh communication range through relay communication. Thus, the mobile terminal 10, the master unit 20 and the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 … … can be synchronized in time.
(6) Step 306
After a certain time from the start of power-on, the pairing setting mode of the master 20 and the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 … … ends.
< time information Transmission processing (time synchronization processing) >
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the status of time synchronization between the master 20 and the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 … …. Fig. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the time synchronization process (time information transmission process).
As shown in fig. 4, when the time synchronization process is performed, the master 20 starts the mesh communication to transmit the time information (time information obtained by a standard electric wave or time information received from the portable terminal device 10) held by itself to the slaves 30_1 to 30_3 within the mesh communication range. Since the other slaves 30_4 to 30_9 … … are out of the mesh communication range, the master 20 cannot directly transmit the time information thereto. Therefore, for example, the slave 30_1 that has received the time information transmits the time information to the slave 30_4 by relay communication, and the slave 30_4 further transmits the time information to the slave 30_7 by relay communication. Further, for example, the slave 30_2 that has received the time information transmits the time information to the slave 30_5 by relay communication, and the slave 30_5 further transmits the time information to the slave 30_8 by relay communication. Again, for example, the slave 30_3 that has received the time information transmits the time information to the slave 30_6 by relay communication, and the slave 30_6 further transmits the time information to the slave 30_9 by relay communication. Thus, all clocks can be synchronized with the time of the master 20 by the mesh communication between the master 20 and some of the slaves 30_1 to 30_3 and the relay communication between the slaves 30_1 to 30_3 and other slaves 30_4 to 30_9 … …. Hereinafter, the time synchronization process will be described based on the flowchart shown in fig. 5.
(1) Step 501
Before the time node when the master 20 sends the information, the master 20 and the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 … … are both in the power saving mode (after the master is powered on and a preset time period passes, the slave automatically enters the power saving mode).
When the time reaches a time synchronization node (such as a time node that obtains time information by radio wave communication) set (registered) in advance in the host 20, or when the host 20 receives a request for starting time communication sent by the user by operating the portable terminal device 10, the host 20 enters the normal mode from the power saving mode. Further, the time information determined by the host 20 is also rewritten with the time information obtained via radio wave communication or with the time information obtained by the portable terminal apparatus 10. In addition, when the time reaches a preset time synchronization node, the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 also enter the normal mode from the power saving mode. However, when the master 20 receives a request for starting time communication from the portable terminal apparatus 10, the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 are still in the power saving mode. Therefore, in this case, the master 20 instructs the slaves 30_1 to 30_3 in the mesh communication range to switch from the power saving mode to the normal mode by mesh communication (for example, the master 20 instructs the slaves 30_1 to 30_3 to start time communication by transmitting a request to start time communication). In addition, even if the master 20 does not know in advance that the slaves 30_1 to 30_3 are within the mesh communication range, it may finally send the above-mentioned indication to the slaves 30_1 to 30_ 3. The slaves 30_1 to 30_3 in the mesh communication range also instruct the slaves 30_4 to 30_9 … … outside the mesh communication range to switch from the power saving mode to the normal mode through relay communication.
Through the above operation, the master 20 and the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 can enter the normal mode from the power saving mode.
(2) Step 502
The master 20 performs mesh communication to transmit time information to the slaves 30_1 to 30_3 within a mesh communication range. The slave devices 30_1 to 30_3 that have received the time information match the time information (time correction/adjustment processing) held (determined) by the slave devices themselves. Then, the slaves 30_ 1-30 _3 that completed the time information update notify (e.g., return Ack) the master 20 that it has received the time information.
(3) Step 503
The master 20 determines whether or not time information has been transmitted to all registered slaves based on the slave registration information stored in the storage unit 106 and the unique identification information of the slaves 30_1 to 30_3 that returned an Ack. If time information has been sent to all slaves ("yes" in step 503), step 505 is entered. If the time information is not transmitted to all the slaves ("no" in step 503), step 504 is entered.
(4) Step 504
The master 20 instructs the slaves 30_1 to 30_3 that can perform mesh communication and have returned an Ack (or some slaves may not return an Ack) to transmit time information to the other slaves 30_4 to 30_9 registered as slaves by relay communication. For example, when the slave 30_3 does not return an Ack (including a case where the master 20 does not know whether the slave 30_3 is within the mesh communication range), the master 20 instructs the slaves 30_1 and 30_2 that have returned an Ack to transmit time information to the other slaves 30_3 to 30_9 … … through relay communication. Each slave 30_3 to 30_9 … … may further return an Ack indicating that time information has been obtained through relay communication (for the slave 30_3, through direct communication with the master 20). In this way, the master 20 can confirm that all the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 have obtained the time information.
(5) Step 505
After the time synchronization is completed, the master 20 and the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 … … enter the power saving mode again.
Further, the host 20 can also perform time synchronization with the portable terminal apparatus 10 in the power saving mode. Although the master 20 is described above as being capable of performing the time synchronization process with each of the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 … … at an arbitrary time node (when the portable terminal apparatus 10 makes a request for starting time communication), the master 20 may perform the time synchronization process with each of the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 … … not at the time node at which the request for starting time communication is received from the portable terminal apparatus 10 but at a predetermined mesh communication time node.
(second) second embodiment
A second embodiment discloses a communication method of connecting password information using a portable terminal device. In the first embodiment, the communication information in the pairing-set mode and the communication information after the pairing-set are not explicitly specified. However, in the second embodiment, the communication information in the pairing setting mode is different from the communication information after the pairing setting. Hereinafter, the difference between the two will be described.
(1) In pairing setup mode
Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of exemplary communication information when the clocks (master/slave) are registered in the mobile terminal apparatus 10. As described above, each clock transmits the setting identifier of the master/slave, the unique identification information (ID number) of each clock, and information such as time (in addition, measurement information such as temperature and humidity) to the portable terminal device (e.g., smartphone) 10 according to the setting result of the master/slave switcher. At this time, any portable terminal device 10 can discover the host 20 without using the portable terminal device connection password.
In order to register each clock in the portable terminal device 10, the portable terminal device 10 stores the master/slave information of the set identifier and the unique identification information (ID number) as one set of information, and registers it as a subsequent communication destination. Meanwhile, the master unit 20 obtains unique identification information of each of the slave units 30_1 to 30_9 from the portable terminal apparatus 10, and registers the unique identification information in the storage unit 106. This processing operation is the same as that of the first embodiment.
Subsequently, the portable terminal apparatus 10 transmits the connection password data to the clock to be registered (the clock to be the host 20), so that the portable terminal apparatus connection password can be used as a criterion for determining whether it is within the communication group of the destination portable terminal apparatus 10 at the time of subsequent communication.
(2) After being paired and arranged
Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of exemplary communication information when registration of the master 20 and the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 … … is completed in the portable terminal apparatus 10.
The clocks (master 20 and slaves 30_1 to 30_9 … …) that have completed registration in the portable terminal device 10 transmit information as described below when communicating. That is, the master 20 can communicate with the portable terminal apparatus 10 and the slave 30 holding the same password information. Meanwhile, the slave 30 may communicate with the master 20 and other slaves 30 holding the same password information. Further, the portable terminal device 10 can communicate only with the host 20 holding the same password information.
According to the second embodiment, by using the portable terminal apparatus connection password, the portable terminal apparatus (e.g., smartphone) 10 that initially makes pairing settings can be made not to connect with other portable terminal apparatuses (other smartphones) 10. Further, by processing the received information in accordance with the data content identifier, display of any display content can be realized. For example, the temperature and humidity information obtained by each clock (the master device 20 and each slave device 30_1 to 30_9 … …), the remaining battery power thereof, and the final synchronization time may be displayed on the display of the portable terminal device 10. Thus, as described above, the clocks (the master 20 and the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 … …) can operate according to the synchronized time information.
(III) summary of
(1) In the information transmission system 1 of the present invention, one-to-one near field communication (e.g., bluetooth (registered trademark)) is used between the master unit 20 and the portable terminal apparatus 10, and mesh communication using near field communication (e.g., bluetooth (registered trademark)) is performed between the master unit 20 and at least some of the slaves 30 (e.g., the slaves 30_1 to 30_ 3). In this manner, by using one-to-one communication in combination with mesh communication, the consumption current can be reduced. In addition, during the mesh communication, the master unit 20 transmits the time information to the slaves 30_1 to 30_3 within the mesh communication range, thereby acquiring information such as the remaining battery capacities and the measured temperature and humidity information of the slaves 30_1 to 30_9 … …. As described above, the slave devices 30_4 to 30_9 … … outside the mesh communication range transmit the information such as the remaining battery power and the measured temperature and humidity information to the slave devices 30_1 to 30_3 within the mesh communication range through relay communication (one-to-one communication). That is, the slaves 30_1 to 30_3 in the mesh communication range function as relay devices with the master 20. In addition, the master unit 20 can confirm such information on the display screen of the portable terminal device 10 by transmitting information such as the remaining battery level and the measured temperature and humidity information of each of the slave units 30_1 to 30_9 … … to the portable terminal device 10 through one-to-one communication. In this way, the portable terminal device 10 can transmit (through mesh communication and relay communication) the instruction content for adjusting the air conditioner in the room where the specific slave 30 is installed (the specific room in the place such as the hotel and the activity hall, the specific meeting room of the company, etc.) through the master unit 20.
(2) Although the feedback information of the slave 30 is described in the present embodiment by taking information (temperature, humidity, brightness, etc.) obtained by various sensors and the remaining battery power as an example, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the product lot information and the time correction amount of each slave 30 may be fed back to the master 20. By feeding back such information to the master unit 20, the slave unit 30, which is prone to cause a time deviation (although having the correct time immediately after the time synchronization, a phenomenon of time delay or advance immediately thereafter) due to some cause, can be visualized, and it can be understood whether the cause is a batch (manufacturing defect) cause or a use environment cause (use outside the recommended use temperature range, or a location where it is difficult to receive the standard electric wave). Further, the master 20 may transmit and apply the repair program (program overwriting) only to the specific slave 30.
Claims (5)
1. A clock having a communication function, comprising:
a storage unit storing various programs and protocols for realizing communication functions; and
a processor controlling operation of the clock,
wherein the storage unit stores a first protocol enabling the clock to operate as a master clock and to communicate with a portable terminal device on a one-to-one basis, and a second protocol enabling the clock to operate as a slave clock and to communicate with the master clock,
the first protocol and the second protocol are switched by a switch, so that the clock can be selected to work as the master clock or the slave clock,
the first protocol includes: a protocol that allows periodic reception of a standard electric wave, and a protocol that allows transmission of first information or reception of second information by one-to-many communication with a plurality of slave clocks;
the second protocol includes: a protocol for receiving first information sent in one-to-many communication initiated by the master clock and sending second information to the master clock, and a protocol for allowing relay communication with other slave clocks;
wherein the first information sent in a one-to-many communication initiated by the master clock for the plurality of slave clocks contains time information,
the second information sent in one-to-many communication initiated by the plurality of slave clocks for the master clock contains the remaining battery power information of each of the plurality of slave clocks and the temperature and humidity information obtained by the plurality of slave clocks.
2. An information transmission system comprising a portable terminal device, a master clock and a plurality of slave clocks,
the master clock being the clock of claim 1, the clock being arranged to operate as the master clock as a result of switching to the first protocol,
each of the plurality of slave clocks being respectively a clock as claimed in claim 1, the clock being arranged to operate as a slave clock as a result of switching to the second protocol,
the master clock being capable of one-to-one communication with the portable terminal device when the master clock is powered on,
when at least one of the plurality of slave clocks is powered on, the portable terminal device enters a pairing setting mode with the at least one slave clock, in the pairing setting mode, the portable terminal device obtains unique identification information of the at least one slave clock and transmits the unique identification information of the at least one slave clock to the master clock and instructs the master clock to register the unique identification information as an information transmission destination,
only in the pairing setting mode, the at least one slave clock enables one-to-one communication with the portable terminal apparatus.
3. The information transmission system of claim 2,
after the pairing setting is completed, the master clock performs mesh communication at a predetermined time node to transmit time information to the slave clock within the mesh communication range, so that time synchronization is achieved between the master clock and the slave clock.
4. The information transmission system of claim 3,
the slave clock within the mesh communication range performs relay communication with respect to the slave clock outside the mesh communication range to transmit the time information, thereby achieving time synchronization between the master clock and all of the plurality of slave clocks set.
5. The information transmission system according to claim 3 or 4,
the master clock and the plurality of slave clocks respectively include: a remaining battery power detection unit for detecting respective remaining battery powers; and a temperature and humidity sensor unit for measuring temperature and humidity,
the slave clock sends the residual battery capacity information and the temperature and humidity information to the master clock at the preset time node,
the master clock transmits the remaining battery power information and the temperature and humidity information to the portable terminal device,
the portable terminal device displays the remaining battery power information and the temperature and humidity information of the master clock and the slave clock on a display unit.
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| JP2018184113A JP7117210B2 (en) | 2018-09-28 | 2018-09-28 | clocks and information transmission systems |
| JP2018-184113 | 2018-09-28 |
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| CN110971328A CN110971328A (en) | 2020-04-07 |
| CN110971328B true CN110971328B (en) | 2021-07-16 |
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| CN117349201B (en) * | 2023-10-13 | 2024-03-05 | 芜湖藦卡机器人科技有限公司 | Multi-slave control method, system and storage medium based on serial port communication |
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| CN101009546A (en) * | 2006-12-31 | 2007-08-01 | 中控科技集团有限公司 | Time synchronization method for network segment utilizing different time synchronization protocol |
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| JPH0665998B2 (en) * | 1985-07-12 | 1994-08-24 | 松下電工株式会社 | Electronic timer |
| JP2834895B2 (en) * | 1991-03-25 | 1998-12-14 | 株式会社エフ・エフ・シー | Network system time adjustment device |
| US7251199B2 (en) * | 2001-12-24 | 2007-07-31 | Agilent Technologies, Inc. | Distributed system time synchronization including a timing signal path |
| JP4302583B2 (en) * | 2004-07-16 | 2009-07-29 | セイコープレシジョン株式会社 | Wireless communication system and wireless communication apparatus having timekeeping function |
| JP2006197452A (en) * | 2005-01-17 | 2006-07-27 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Radio communication termina and its control method |
| JP2008180535A (en) * | 2007-01-23 | 2008-08-07 | Sharp Corp | Radio communication timepiece system |
| FR2968154B1 (en) * | 2010-11-29 | 2012-11-16 | Alcatel Lucent | METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING IEEE 1588V2 TYPE SYNCHRONIZATION PACKETS ON ETHERNET IN LINK LINK MODE, THROUGH NETWORK EQUIPMENT HAVING A TRANSPARENT CLOCK, AND ASSOCIATED DEVICE |
| US8188782B1 (en) * | 2010-12-12 | 2012-05-29 | Mediatek Inc. | Clock system and method for compensating timing information of clock system |
| JP5138110B1 (en) * | 2012-05-24 | 2013-02-06 | キャリアシステム株式会社 | Solar power system |
| JP6628527B2 (en) * | 2015-09-10 | 2020-01-08 | 日立ジョンソンコントロールズ空調株式会社 | Air conditioner |
| JP6582920B2 (en) * | 2015-11-24 | 2019-10-02 | 富士通株式会社 | Service system, portable terminal, and service providing method |
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| CN101009546A (en) * | 2006-12-31 | 2007-08-01 | 中控科技集团有限公司 | Time synchronization method for network segment utilizing different time synchronization protocol |
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| JP7117210B2 (en) | 2022-08-12 |
| CN110971328A (en) | 2020-04-07 |
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