JP2015026925A - Sensor network system and cradle device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it unnecessary to position a portable terminal in the vicinity of a wireless sensor terminal, and reduce a cost and power consumption of the sensor terminal.SOLUTION: A sensor network system includes: a wireless sensor terminal 1 comprising a transmission unit 12 for transmitting sensor data to a cradle device 2; the cradle device 2 comprising a reception unit 21 for receiving the sensor data transmitted by the wireless sensor terminal 1, a control unit 23 for storing the received sensor data in a storage unit 24, and a transmission unit 22 for transmitting the sensor data stored in the storage unit 24 to a portable terminal 3 when the portable terminal 3 is positioned; and the portable terminal 3 for transmitting the sensor data transmitted from the cradle device 2 to a network 4.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sensor network system and a cradle device that collect sensor data sensed by a sensor.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, sensor networks that provide services by arranging many sensors around and collecting and analyzing the sensor data are being commercialized. As one form of the sensor network, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a system that transmits thermometer information to a terminal according to the short-range wireless communication standard.

JP 2010-019696

  As a sensor network, it is conceivable that a wireless communication circuit is mounted on a sensor, data is transmitted to a communication device connectable to the network, data is transmitted from the communication device to the network, and data analysis is performed by a server or the like. It is also conceivable to use a personal use portable terminal for this communication device. The mobile terminal is a gateway for public ITC network services that are widely spread, and its use for collecting sensor data information is promising for spreading the sensor network while suppressing investment.

  However, in order to collect data of the wireless sensor terminal using the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal exists in the communication area of the wireless sensor terminal at the time of sensing, or the wireless sensor terminal has a memory function and accumulates data, It is necessary to check the presence of a mobile terminal and transmit data when entering a communicable area.

  In the former case, there is no problem as long as the sensor data acquisition timing is short and can be controlled by the user, such as a thermometer or a weight scale. However, environmental changes such as room temperature and humidity, and energy consumption of home appliances are regularly monitored. In such a case, it is necessary to place the mobile terminal close to the wireless sensor terminal, which impairs the convenience of the mobile terminal itself. In the latter case, since the functions of the wireless sensor terminal increase, cost increases and power consumption increase. In particular, in sensor networks, the number of wireless sensor terminals is several to several thousand times larger than that of portable terminals, so these problems have a problem that the cost of the sensor network increases enormously.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to install a mobile terminal in the vicinity of a wireless sensor terminal when sensor data is transmitted to a network using the mobile terminal. And to reduce the cost and power consumption of the wireless sensor terminal.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a sensor network system including at least one wireless sensor terminal, a cradle device, and a portable terminal, wherein the wireless sensor terminal transmits sensor data to the cradle device. The cradle device includes: a receiving unit that receives sensor data transmitted by the wireless sensor terminal; a control unit that stores the received sensor data in a storage unit; and the mobile terminal connected to the cradle device. A transmission unit configured to transmit the sensor data stored in the storage unit to the portable terminal when installed, wherein the portable terminal transmits the sensor data transmitted from the cradle device to a network.

  In the sensor network system, the cradle device includes a charging unit that charges the portable terminal, and the transmission unit stores the sensor stored in the storage unit while the charging unit charges the portable terminal. Data may be transmitted to the mobile terminal.

  Further, the present invention is a cradle device that transmits sensor data transmitted by at least one wireless sensor terminal to a network via a mobile terminal, and a receiving unit that receives the sensor data transmitted by the wireless sensor terminal; A control unit that stores the received sensor data in a storage unit; and a transmission unit that transmits the sensor data stored in the storage unit to the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is installed in the cradle device. .

  The cradle device further includes a charging unit that charges the portable terminal, and the transmitter transmits sensor data stored in the storage unit while the charging unit charges the portable terminal. It is good also as transmitting to.

  According to the present invention, when sensor data is transmitted to a network using a mobile terminal, it is not necessary to install the mobile terminal near the wireless sensor terminal, and the cost and power consumption of the wireless sensor terminal are reduced. be able to.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a sensor network system according to a first embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a wireless sensor terminal. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the cradle apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of 1st Embodiment. It is a whole block diagram of the sensor network system in 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the cradle apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining the sensor network system of a comparative example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a sensor network system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The sensor network system is a system that collects sensor data from wireless sensor terminals and aggregates the data into a network.

  The sensor network system of this embodiment includes at least one wireless sensor terminal 1, a cradle device 2, a mobile terminal 3, a network 4 to which the mobile terminal 3 is connected, and a server 5 (information) connected to the network 4. Processing device).

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of each wireless sensor terminal 1 of the present embodiment. The wireless sensor terminal 1 transmits the sensed sensor data to the cradle device 2. The illustrated wireless sensor terminal 1 includes a sensor 11, a wireless communication circuit 12, and a power supply 13. The sensor 11 senses (acquires and detects) information such as temperature, humidity, and vibration.

  The wireless communication circuit 12 (transmission unit) transmits the sensor data sensed by the sensor 11 to the cradle device 2 by, for example, short-range wireless communication. The wireless communication circuit 12 periodically transmits sensor data to be periodically measured to the cradle device 2, and the sensor data for abnormality detection includes a cradle as necessary, such as when the sensor value exceeds a threshold value. It is conceivable to transmit to the device 2.

  The power source 13 supplies power to the sensor 11 and the wireless communication circuit 12. As the wireless sensor terminal 1, a battery-driven wireless sensor terminal 1 using a battery as a power source 13, or an environmental energy-driven wireless sensor terminal using environmental energy such as sunlight, temperature, and vibration as a power source 13. 1 or the like can be used.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the cradle device 2 of the present embodiment. The cradle device 2 is an expansion device attached to the mobile terminal 3, and provides the mobile terminal 3 with functions such as transferring data between the personal computer and the mobile terminal 3 and charging the mobile terminal 3. The cradle device 2 is, for example, a stand (stand) on which the mobile terminal 3 is placed, and is placed in contact with or in a non-contact manner with the mobile terminal 3 by installing (installing or placing) the mobile terminal 3 on the cradle device 2. .

  The cradle device 2 of the present embodiment collects and accumulates sensor data transmitted from each wireless sensor terminal 1 and stores the sensor data accumulated when the mobile terminal 3 is installed in the cradle device 2. Is transmitted to the portable terminal 3. The illustrated cradle device 2 includes a wireless communication circuit 21, a communication circuit 22, a control unit 23, and a memory 24.

  The wireless communication circuit 21 (receiving unit) communicates with each wireless sensor terminal 1. Here, the wireless communication circuit 21 receives the sensor data transmitted by each wireless sensor terminal 1 by wireless communication. In the present embodiment, the cradle device 2 can communicate with each wireless sensor terminal 1 in the vicinity of each wireless sensor terminal 1, specifically, wireless communication (for example, short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, and wireless LAN). It shall be installed in the communication area.

  The communication circuit 22 (transmission unit) communicates with the mobile terminal 3 when the mobile terminal 3 is installed in the cradle device 2. The communication between the portable terminal 3 and the cradle device 2 may be contact communication via a contact terminal (communication interface) or non-contact short-range wireless communication. Here, the communication circuit 22 transmits the sensor data stored in the memory 24 to the mobile terminal 3.

  The control unit 23 controls the wireless communication circuit 21, the communication circuit 22, and the memory 24, and stores the sensor data received by the wireless communication circuit 21 in the memory 24. In the memory 24, sensor data received from each wireless sensor terminal 1 by the wireless communication circuit 21 is accumulated.

  The cradle device 2 may be a general-purpose computer system including a CPU, a memory, an external storage device such as an HDD, and the like. In this computer system, each function of the cradle device 2 is realized by the CPU executing the program of the cradle device 2 loaded on the memory. The program for the cradle device 2 can be stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, flexible disk, CD-ROM, MO, DVD-ROM, or can be distributed via a network.

  The mobile terminal 3 is a mobile wireless terminal such as a mobile phone or a smartphone, and has a communication line connected to the network 4 via a base station. The mobile terminal 3 connects to the network 4 using its own communication line, and transmits the sensor data transmitted from the cradle device 2 to the server 5 connected to the network 4.

  The server 5 receives and collects sensor data transmitted via the mobile terminal 3, accumulates it in a database, and analyzes the sensor data.

  Next, the processing of this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation example of the sensor network system according to the present embodiment.

  Each wireless sensor terminal 1 performs sensing with the sensor 11 mounted on each wireless sensor terminal 1 and acquires sensor data such as temperature, humidity, and vibration (S11). And the wireless sensor terminal 1 transmits sensor data to the cradle apparatus 2 regularly or as needed by the wireless communication circuit 12 (S12). When the wireless sensor terminal 1 moves around, the wireless sensor terminal 1 may transmit the sensor data to the cradle device 2 only when the wireless sensor terminal 1 moves within the communication range with the cradle device 2.

  The wireless communication circuit 21 of the cradle device 2 receives the sensor data transmitted from each wireless sensor terminal 1. The control unit 23 accumulates and stores the sensor data received by the wireless communication circuit 21 in the memory 24 (S13). The control unit 23 may perform predetermined data processing such as analysis of received sensor data and data compression. As sensor data analysis, for example, only necessary data out of regularly transmitted sensor data may be extracted, or the sensor data may be subjected to Fourier transform to extract waveform characteristics.

  When the control unit 23 detects that the mobile terminal 3 is installed in the cradle device 2 (S14), the control unit 23 controls the communication circuit 22 to store the sensor data stored in the memory 24. (S15). That is, the cradle device 2 transmits the sensor data stored in the memory 24 to the server 5 connected to the network 4 via the portable terminal 3 when the portable terminal 3 is installed.

  The portable terminal 3 transmits the sensor data transmitted from the cradle device 2 to the server 5 connected to the network 4 using its own communication line (S16). The server 5 receives the sensor data transmitted via the portable terminal 3, accumulates it in the database, and analyzes it (S17). That is, the server 5 extracts meaningful (characteristic) data from a large amount of sensor data collected from each wireless sensor terminal 1. For example, it is conceivable to compare the collected body information (pulse, body temperature, etc.) with a healthy pattern, judge the user's health condition, and notify the user. In this case, the server 5 may transmit the processed data to the mobile terminal 3 again and present it to the user.

  The server 5 receives sensor data transmitted from a plurality of portable terminals 3 (a plurality of cradle devices 2), accumulates and analyzes them.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a sensor network system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Unlike the first embodiment, the sensor network system of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the cradle device 2A charges the mobile terminal 3 with respect to the wireless sensor terminal 1, the mobile terminal 3, the network 4, and the server 5. This is the same as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the cradle device 2A of the present embodiment. The cradle device 2A of the present embodiment includes a wireless communication circuit 21, a communication circuit 22, a control unit 23, and a memory 24, which are the same as the cradle device 2 of the first embodiment. The cradle device 2 </ b> A of the present embodiment further includes a charging unit 25 that charges the mobile terminal 3.

  When the mobile terminal 3 is installed in the cradle device 2A, the charging unit 25 charges the mobile terminal 3 in a contact or non-contact manner. When the control unit 23 detects that the mobile terminal 3 is installed in the cradle device 2A and the charging unit 25 is charging, the control unit 23 stores the sensor data stored in the memory 24 while charging is being performed. The communication circuit 22 is controlled and transmitted to the portable terminal 3. Note that the communication between the portable terminal 3 and the cradle device 2A may be contact communication via a contact terminal or non-contact short-range wireless communication, as in the first embodiment. .

  The portable terminal 3 is charged in a contact or non-contact manner by being installed in the cradle device 2A. Usually, while charging, the user often leaves the portable terminal 3 without using it. In this embodiment, the sensor data can be transmitted to the server 5 on the network without feeling stressed by transferring data of the sensor data stored in the cradle device 2A using this charging time. it can.

  In addition, since the operation of charging the mobile terminal 3 is incorporated in the daily operation of the user, it is not an extraordinary operation of transmitting sensor data consciously, but an operation of charging naturally, Data collection to the server 5 can be enabled.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the sensor data sensed by each wireless sensor terminal is temporarily accumulated in the cradle device and aggregated, and then the user installs the portable terminal in the cradle device. At this time, the cradle device transmits the accumulated sensor data to the mobile terminal, and transmits the sensor data from the mobile terminal to the server via the network.

  Thereby, in this embodiment, even if it is a case where sensor data is transmitted to a network using a portable terminal, it becomes unnecessary to always install a portable terminal near each wireless sensor terminal. Further, it is possible to reduce costs and power consumption by reducing the functions of the wireless sensor terminal, and to transmit and aggregate sensor data to a network server.

  In addition, in the sensor network system of the comparative example shown in FIG. 7 that does not have the cradle device of the present embodiment, the wireless sensor terminal stores data sensed by the wireless sensor terminal itself in case the mobile terminal is not present nearby. It is necessary to check whether the mobile terminal is always present at a communicable position while performing the process. That is, the wireless sensor terminal of the comparative example performs sensing (S21), checks whether or not the mobile terminal exists in the vicinity (S22), and stores the data in its own memory if there is no mobile terminal. Every time (S23), when there is a mobile terminal, data is transmitted to the server via the mobile terminal (S24). The server processes and accumulates the transmitted data (S25). In the comparative example, since it is necessary for the wireless sensor terminal to perform such processing, power consumption for driving the wireless sensor terminal 1 increases, and processing for monitoring a memory for storing data and a portable terminal is performed. Module is required, and the cost of the wireless sensor terminal is increased.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, the cradle device is installed near the wireless sensor terminal, so that the cradle device accumulates sensor data instead of the wireless sensor terminal and transmits the sensor data to the mobile terminal. . As a result, the wireless sensor terminal itself does not need a process for monitoring the presence of a memory for storing sensor data or a portable terminal, which can reduce the size and cost of the wireless sensor terminal and reduce power consumption. it can.

  Further, in the sensor network system, the number of wireless sensor terminals can be, for example, 100 times or more the number of devices for network connection, that is, the number of cradle devices and mobile terminals. Further, by integrating the functions of the wireless sensor terminal in the cradle device, the cost of the entire sensor network system can be reduced.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, since the power consumption of a wireless sensor terminal can be reduced, it is possible to use a wireless sensor terminal that is driven by environmental energy whose power source is unstable. Environmental energy includes sunlight, temperature, vibration, etc., but because the energy balance is unstable, communication is not always possible, and even if communication is possible, Must exist nearby. In this embodiment, since the cradle device is always present near the wireless sensor terminal and communication is possible at any time, the wireless sensor terminal does not need to confirm the presence or absence of the mobile terminal, thereby reducing the amount of power. be able to. Therefore, in this embodiment, a sensor network system can be constructed using a wireless sensor terminal driven by environmental energy.

  When collecting sensor data in a comparative example as shown in FIG. 7, each wireless sensor terminal needs to transmit sensor data to the mobile terminal every time it senses. When transmitting sensor data from a wireless sensor terminal to a mobile terminal by non-contact communication, after performing communication settings for the wireless sensor terminal, it is necessary to hold the wireless sensor terminal over the mobile terminal. Data transmission is required after pairing is set between the terminal and the mobile terminal. On the other hand, in this embodiment, in order to transmit sensor data using a cradle device, a user's operation load when transmitting sensor data from a wireless sensor terminal to a mobile terminal is eliminated, and user convenience is improved. can do.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change and application are possible within a claim.

  For example, the sensor data collected in the cradle device may be subjected to data processing / calculation processing by the mobile terminal after being transmitted to the mobile terminal. Mobile devices such as smartphones can download various applications, and if the sensor data analysis processing application is installed and data processing is performed on the mobile device, the user immediately obtains the sensor data analysis results In addition, the amount of traffic on the network can be suppressed.

  The wireless communication circuit of the wireless sensor terminal may perform one-way communication that performs only transmission to the cradle device. Normally, when data is transmitted by wireless communication, in order to transmit data reliably, two-way communication is performed between the wireless sensor terminal and the cradle device, and communication is determined by mutually determining the time slot and frequency. Send data later. However, in the sensor network as in this embodiment, the number of wireless sensor terminals may be several thousand or more for one cradle device. In such a case, all data on the cradle device side is avoided by avoiding the complexity of the procedure for establishing communication with the wireless sensor terminals one by one or by the complementary relationship when a large number of the same wireless sensor terminals are arranged. It is also assumed that there is no need to reliably collect data. In such a case, the wireless sensor terminal side transmits data to the cradle device at an arbitrary timing, and the cradle device stores only the received data in the memory and transmits it to the mobile terminal.

  If the wireless sensor terminal has clock information such as a real-time clock, data can be transmitted to the cradle device without colliding with the data of other wireless sensor terminals by setting the transmission timing in advance. Can do. In addition, when a threshold sensor (for example, a human sensor that detects when a person has entered) is used as a sensor of a wireless sensor terminal, there is no need to always perform communication, and an abnormality is detected. Denser data is sent only to In such a case, since the probability that a plurality of wireless sensor terminals simultaneously transmit sensor data is low, the signal collision probability is low, and the probability that the sensor data is transmitted to the cradle device is high. Moreover, when sensor data collide, it can become data itself. Moreover, even if the sensor data has a high transmission frequency, if the sensor value can be inferred from the preceding and following sensor data, data loss is allowed, so one-way communication may be used. Instead, a wireless sensor terminal The cost and power consumption can be reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Wireless sensor terminal 11: Sensor 12: Wireless communication circuit 13: Power supply 2: Cradle device 21: Wireless communication circuit 22: Communication circuit 23: Control part 24: Memory 25: Charging part 3: Mobile terminal 4: Network 5: Server

Claims (4)

A sensor network system having at least one wireless sensor terminal, a cradle device, and a mobile terminal,
The wireless sensor terminal is
A transmission unit for transmitting sensor data to the cradle device;
The cradle device is
A receiving unit for receiving sensor data transmitted by the wireless sensor terminal;
A control unit for storing the received sensor data in a storage unit;
A transmission unit that transmits sensor data stored in the storage unit to the portable terminal when the portable terminal is installed in the cradle device;
The portable terminal is
A sensor network system, wherein sensor data transmitted from the cradle device is transmitted to a network. The sensor network system according to claim 1,
The cradle device is
A charging unit for charging the mobile terminal;
The said transmission part transmits the sensor data memorize | stored in the said memory | storage part to the said portable terminal, while the said charging part charges the said portable terminal. The sensor network system characterized by the above-mentioned. A cradle device that transmits sensor data transmitted by at least one wireless sensor terminal to a network via a mobile terminal,
A receiving unit for receiving sensor data transmitted by the wireless sensor terminal;
A control unit for storing the received sensor data in a storage unit;
A cradle device comprising: a transmission unit that transmits sensor data stored in the storage unit to the portable terminal when the portable terminal is installed in the cradle device. The cradle device according to claim 3,
A charging unit for charging the mobile terminal;
The transmission unit transmits sensor data stored in the storage unit to the portable terminal while the charging unit charges the portable terminal.

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