JP5687859B2 - Network system and node device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a network system including a plurality of node devices, and a node device used in the network system.

  Conventionally, an ad hoc network system including a plurality of node devices is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a sensor network system that constructs a network by connecting sensors wirelessly and a plurality of sensors autonomously performing relay processing. Each node of this network system is provided with a wireless communication unit that enables communication with other nodes. The wireless communication unit is communicably connected to the sensor unit in the node, and wirelessly communicates a reception signal from the sensor unit with another node.

JP 2009-253359 A

  By the way, there is a demand for connecting various user devices to such a network system. In order to realize this requirement, in the network system according to Patent Document 1, it is necessary to configure the wireless communication unit and the sensor unit to be separable. That is, it is necessary to provide a plurality of node devices that construct a network with each other and to be able to connect user equipment to each of the node devices. In such a configuration, various user devices can be connected to the network system by changing the user device connected to the node device.

  However, since the communication format (communication specifications, protocol specifications, etc.) of the user device varies depending on the user setting for each user device or the same user device, when connecting the node device and various user devices, the corresponding user device It is necessary to set various settings of the node device according to the situation. In order to enable data transmission / reception between user devices constituting one network system, it is necessary to share settings of a plurality of node devices constituting the network system.

  However, since there are a large number of node devices that construct such an ad hoc network system, it is very troublesome for the user to set the node devices one by one.

  The present invention has been made in view of this point, and an object of the present invention is to easily set a general-purpose node device for constructing a network system.

  The present invention is directed to a network system that includes a plurality of user devices and a plurality of node devices connected to the user devices by wires, and performs wireless communication between the node devices. The node device is configured to be able to communicate with different types of user equipment by changing a setting parameter, and at least one of the plurality of node devices has the setting parameter A node device that is configured to be settable by a user and in which the setting parameter is not set by the user, among the plurality of node devices, wirelessly transmits the setting parameter of the node device that is configured to be settable by the user. It is assumed that it is read via communication and set as its own setting parameter.

  According to the above configuration, the node device is configured to be able to communicate with various user devices by changing setting parameters, and is a general-purpose node device. A setting parameter is set by the user for at least one of the plurality of node devices constituting the network system. On the other hand, a node device whose setting parameter is not set by the user reads the setting parameter from the node device whose setting parameter is set by the user via wireless communication and sets it as its own setting parameter. That is, the user only needs to set the setting parameter of at least one node device among the plurality of node devices, and the remaining node devices autonomously set the setting parameter as their own setting parameter.

  In addition, the present invention is directed to a node device that can be connected to a user device by wire. This node device is configured to be able to wirelessly communicate with other node devices, and is configured to be able to communicate with different types of user equipment by changing setting parameters. And an input mode for setting the setting parameter and a reading mode for reading the setting parameter of another node device and setting the setting parameter as its own setting parameter.

  In the case of the above configuration, this node device is configured to be able to communicate with various user devices by changing the setting parameter, and is a general-purpose node device. When constructing a network system using a plurality of node devices, it is necessary for the user himself to input setting parameters for all the node devices by properly using the input mode and the read mode for each node device. Disappears.

  According to the present invention, if setting parameters of at least one node device among a plurality of node devices are set, the remaining node devices set the setting parameters autonomously, so that the user can easily set the node devices. It can be carried out.

1 is a schematic diagram of a network system according to an embodiment. It is a block diagram of a node apparatus.

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

(System overview)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network system 100 using an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. System 100 is a wireless ad hoc network. The system 100 is configured such that adjacent small wireless terminals autonomously construct a network. The system 100 includes a plurality of node devices 110, 110,... And user devices 120, 120,. A user device 120 is connected to each node device 110. The user equipment includes a PC (personal computer) 120A, a measuring equipment 120B, and the like (hereinafter simply referred to as “user equipment 120” when each user equipment is not distinguished).

  The plurality of node devices 110 and 110 are wirelessly coupled. The wireless link between the node devices 110 and 110 may be, for example, a short-range wireless network conforming to IEEE 802.15.4 using the 2.4 GHz band. This IEEE 802.15.4 is one of wireless communication standards called PAN (Personal Area Network) or WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network), and has low cost, low power consumption, high reliability and security. Also, the wireless link is not limited to the specific wireless network described above, and can be any suitable network that can exchange information typically in the form of packets.

  Further, the node device 110 has an automatic relay function, and can autonomously configure a network by sensing the communication environment. The exemplary network is a true mesh and the number of hops is virtually unlimited. In other words, embodiments of the present invention can use multi-hop wireless networks. In this way, a wireless ad hoc network is constructed with the pair of node devices 110 and the user equipment 120 as one wireless terminal.

  The node device 110 can typically be realized by a circuit element group including a semiconductor element mounted on a substrate. Typically, the node device 110 can be realized by a combination of an analog circuit that handles an analog signal from a user device and a high-frequency signal for a wireless network, and a digital circuit having an MCU as a main element.

  The control of the node device 110 can typically be realized by software. That is, the control of the node device 110 can be typically realized by software stored in a computer-readable medium. Examples of the computer readable medium include a hard disk drive and a semiconductor memory. Alternatively, the control of the node device 110 may be realized by a combination of software and hardware, or only by hardware.

  In a plurality of user devices, the PC 120A functions as a master device, and the other measurement devices 120B, 120B,... Function as slave devices. That is, the PC 120A controls the measuring devices 120B, 120B,. Hereinafter, the PC 120A is also referred to as a master user device 120A, and the measurement device 120B is also referred to as a slave user device 120B. Further, the node device 110 connected to the master user device 120A is also referred to as a base station node device 110A, and the node device 110 connected to the slave user device 120B is also referred to as a child node device 110B. When not distinguishing each node device, it is simply referred to as “node device 110”.

  The measurement device 120B is coupled to the child node device 110B by wire. The child node device 110B and the measuring device 120B have a common communication standard (RS485 in this embodiment) interface. That is, the measuring device 120B is connected to the child node device 110B via the RS485 cable. The communication standard is not limited to RS485, but may be RS422, RS232C, UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter), or the like.

  The PC 120A is connected to the base station node device 110A via a USB-RS485 converter in a wired manner so as to correspond to the communication standard of the measuring device 120B. When the user equipment 120 connected to the base station node device 110A inherently has a communication standard common to other user equipment 120, a conversion device such as a USB-RS485 converter is provided in the user equipment 120. There is no need.

  The measuring device 120B measures and detects various physical quantities (temperature, humidity, current, voltage, power, etc.), and can be any appropriate measuring device.

  The child node device 110B generates a radio signal by encoding and modulating the data received from each measurement device 120B. The child node device 110B sends this radio signal to the base station node device 110A via the radio link. There are various methods for encoding, modulating, and demodulating a wireless signal. In a specific embodiment, a method compliant with the above-mentioned IEEE 802.15.4 is used.

  The base station node device 110A obtains data by demodulating and decoding the radio signal received from the child node device 110B. The base station node device 110A sends the obtained data to the PC 120A.

  The PC 120A can visually display or statistically process the data received from the measurement device 120B using, for example, software including a GUI (graphical user interface). Such software can perform, for example, communication status confirmation, data numerical display, graph display, value distribution color mapping, data recording, data export, terminal setting change, and the like.

-Hardware configuration of node equipment-
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the node device 110 used for the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

  The node device 110 includes an RF unit 410 and an antenna 430. Data from the user device 120 is input to the RF unit 410. The RF unit 410 converts the sensor data output from the user equipment 120 into a radio signal, and sends it to the upstream node (eg, the base station node device 110A) from the antenna 430.

  The RF unit 410 includes an interface 440, a DC (direct current) power supply 445, an MCU (micro controller unit) 450, a ROM (read only memory) 452, a RAM (random access memory) 454, a timer 456, a wireless transmission / reception unit 458, and an RF interface 460. And a changeover switch 470. The interface 440 converts the signal output by the user equipment 120 into an appropriate signal (for example, a 10-bit digital signal) that can be processed by the MCU 450. The interface 440 is an interface common to the communication standard of the user device 120, and is an RS485 interface in this embodiment. The DC power source 445 supplies a DC power source to each functional block of the RF unit 410. The DC power source 445 can be, for example, a lithium battery that supplies a direct current of 3V.

  The MCU 450 is a microprocessor that is used to realize the functions of the node device 110. The MCU 450 stores programs and data necessary for realizing the functions of the node device 110 in the ROM 452 or the RAM 454. The timer 456 measures the timing of turning off the power, for example, and triggers the MCU 450 to cut off the power supply from the DC power supply 445 when a predetermined time has elapsed. MCU 450 may include peripheral elements such as ROM 452, RAM 454, and timer 456 therein. In this case, the cost for constructing the system can be reduced as compared with the case where a ROM or the like is mounted as an independent component.

  The wireless transmission / reception unit 458 converts data from the MCU 450 into a response packet to be sent to another node device 110, or converts a request packet received from the other node device 110 into data. The RF interface 460 converts the packet output from the wireless transmission / reception unit 458 into an RF signal and outputs the RF signal to the antenna, reproduces the packet from the RF signal received by the antenna, and outputs the packet to the wireless transmission / reception unit 458.

  The changeover switch 470 is a dial switch for setting the node ID of the node device 110. The node ID is a unique number set for each node device 110. The node device 110 whose node ID is set to 0 functions as a base station node device. On the other hand, the node device 110 whose node ID is set to other than 0 functions as a child node device.

  Part or all of the functional block groups may be integrated and realized by being appropriately combined. For example, the RF unit 410 may be realized as a hybrid IC (integrated circuit). Furthermore, the RF unit 410 and the antenna 430 may be integrated on a single substrate.

  The node device 110 is configured to be compatible with various types of user devices 120, 120,... (That is, connectable and communicable) by appropriately setting network settings (for example, communication specifications and protocol specifications). Yes. That is, the user device 120 needs to have a common communication standard with the node device 110, but there are many devices that have different network settings even if the communication standard is common. For example, even the user device 120 compatible with RS485 has various detailed network settings and is not necessarily common. Therefore, when a certain type of user device 120, 120,... Is connected to the network system via the node devices 110, 110,..., The network setting of each node device 110 needs to correspond to the user device 120. In other words, since the node device 110 can change the network settings as appropriate, it can cope with various user devices 120, 120,...

  Specifically, the node device 110 has various setting parameters, and is configured to be able to communicate with various user devices 120 by changing these setting parameters. The setting parameters include a communication parameter related to the communication specification of the user device 120 and a protocol parameter related to the protocol specification of the user device 120. The communication parameters include baud rate (4800 bps / 9600 bps / 19200 bps /...), Data bits (8 bits / 7 bits), parity (none / odd / even), stop bits (1 bit / 2 bits), and the like. Protocol parameters include start code (01 to FF), end code (01 to FF), offset from end code to end of packet (0 to 9), offset from the beginning (1 to 99), destination address length (0-6), destination address expression format (decimal ASCII / hexadecimal ASCII / LE binary / BE binary), and the like.

-Setting parameter setting-
A setting parameter setting method will be described below.

  First, the user inputs a setting parameter to the base station node device 110A via a PC connected to the base station node device 110A. The PC for inputting the setting parameter may be the PC 120A or a PC different from the PC 120A. The input PC uses, for example, software including a GUI to prompt the user to input setting parameters, accepts input from the user, and outputs a signal corresponding to the input to the base station node device 110A. The base station node device 110A sets the setting parameter according to the input from the PC.

  Next, the child node device 110B transmits a request signal for requesting a setting parameter to the base station node device 110A. Specifically, the child node device 110B starts routing when the power is turned on. Then, after confirming that the network has been constructed, the child node device 110B transmits a request signal to the base station node device 110A. When the base station node device 110A receives the request signal, the base station node device 110A transmits the setting parameter to the child node device 110B. When the child node device 110B receives the setting parameter from the base station node device 110A, the child node device 110B sets the setting parameter as its own setting parameter. If there is no response from the base station node device 110A, the child node device 110B transmits the request signal again after a predetermined time has elapsed. In this way, the child node device 110B does not receive the setting parameter directly from the user, but reads the setting parameter already set from the base station node device 110A and sets it as its own setting parameter. Thus, the setting parameters of the base station node device 110A and the child node device 110B are set to be the same.

  Each node device 110 is switched by the selector switch 470 to function as a base station node device or a child node device. That is, the node device 110 has an input mode in which a setting parameter is set in response to an input from a user, and a reading mode in which the setting parameter of the base station node device 110A is read and the setting parameter is set as its own setting parameter. The changeover switch 470 switches between the input mode and the read mode. Specifically, the node device 110 whose node ID is set to 0 by the changeover switch 470 enters the input mode and waits for the input of the setting parameter from the user. The node device 110 whose node ID is set to other than 0 by the changeover switch 470 enters the read mode, and transmits a request signal to the base station node device 110 after confirming the construction of the network. The mode setting of the node device 110 is basically performed before the node devices 110, 110,... Construct a network, such as before the node device 110 is connected to the user device 120.

  The child node device 110B is in a state where it can accept input from the user even in the read mode. That is, the child node device 110B basically autonomously reads the setting parameters of the base station node device 110A, but the user can also input the setting parameters directly. Thereafter, the child node device 110B in which the setting parameter is set by the user does not read the setting parameter of the base station node device 110A. For example, the child node device 110B switches from the read mode to the input mode when the setting parameter is input from the user.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, if the node device 110 is a user device 120 having a communication standard common to the interface 440, detailed network settings such as communication specifications and protocol specifications based on the communication standard are set. By appropriately setting, the communication can be established. That is, the node device 110 can be configured for general use, and various user devices can be connected to the network system.

  When configuring a network system using such node devices 110, 110,..., Setting parameters corresponding to the user equipment 120 are set in the base station node device 110A of the plurality of node devices 110. Then, the child node devices 110B, 110,... Autonomously read the setting parameters from the base station node device 110A and set them as their own setting parameters. That is, it is not necessary to set setting parameters for all of the plurality of node devices 110, and the node devices 110, 110,... Can be easily set. Therefore, even when the node device 110 is configured to be versatile so as to be compatible with various user devices 120, 120,..., And the network system is configured using the node devices 110, 110,. Therefore, the necessary network setting of the node device 110 can be easily performed.

  Further, by including a protocol parameter as a setting parameter of the node device 110 that is set in correspondence with the user device 120, the node device 110 analyzes data input from the user device 120 based on the protocol specification. Can do. Specifically, since the node device 110 can grasp the address from the data of the user device 120, the data from the user device 120 can be transmitted only to the necessary node device 110. That is, when the node device 110 receives data from the user device 120 or another node device 110, the node device 110 can select the node device 110 to which the data is transmitted based on the data. For example, when the PC 120A outputs a signal requesting a measurement result to any one of the measurement devices 120B via the base station node device 110A, the base station node device 110A determines the desired measurement device 120B from the data from the PC 120A. A request signal is transmitted only to the child node device 110B connected to the measurement device 120B. As a result, traffic in the network system can be reduced.

  Note that even if the user devices 120, 120,... Are originally connected to each other by a wire to construct a network, a wireless network can be easily constructed by using the node devices 110, 110,. be able to.

<< Other Embodiments >>
The present invention may be configured as follows with respect to the embodiment.

  The network system 100 includes four node devices 110, 110,... And four user devices 120, 120,..., But is not limited thereto. There can be any number of node devices and user equipments. Further, each child node device 110B is directly coupled to the base station node device 110A, but is not limited thereto. The child node device 110B may be coupled to the base station node device 110A via another child node device 110B. In addition, the user equipment 120 is always connected to each node device 110, but the present invention is not limited to this. A node device 110 for relaying wireless communication between the base station node device 110A and the child node device 110B may be provided. Even if the user equipment 120 is not connected to the node device 110 dedicated to the relay. Good. Furthermore, the network system 100 may include a wired network as part of the wireless network system. For example, the network system 100 may have a configuration in which several wireless network systems are connected to each other by wire.

  The user equipment includes the PC 120A and the measurement equipment 120B, but is not limited thereto. For example, the user device 120 may be a sensor such as a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an acceleration (impact) sensor, or an optical sensor.

  In the above configuration, the PC 120A functions as a master machine, but the present invention is not limited to this. The master machine does not necessarily need to be a PC, and may be any of measurement equipment, or other user equipment.

  Furthermore, in the network system 100, a master-slave relationship is established, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  Also, the setting of setting parameters in the base station node device 110A is not limited to input from a PC. Any configuration can be adopted as long as setting parameters can be input to the base station node device 110A. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the setting parameter of the base station node device 110A is input in software, but a configuration in which hardware is set by a dip switch or the like provided in the node device 110 may be used.

  Furthermore, in the above configuration, the switching between the input mode and the reading mode of the node device 110 is performed based on whether it is the base station node device 110A or the child node device 110B, but is not limited to this. For example, it may be configured to switch the reading mode ON / OFF depending on whether or not the setting parameter is input from the user. Specifically, the node device 110 is basically set to the read mode while accepting the input of the setting parameter from the user, and when the setting parameter is input from the user, the reading mode May be switched to the input mode (that is, the mode in which reading is not performed).

  In the configuration described above, the user setting of the setting parameter is performed for the base station node device 110A, and the child node devices 110B, 110B,... Read the setting parameter of the base station node device 110A. It is not limited. For example, in the network where the base station node device 110A and the child node devices 110B, 110B,... Exist, the user setting of the setting parameter is performed for any one of the child node devices 110B, 110B,. The other child node devices 110B, 110B,... And the base station node device 110A may be configured to read the setting parameters.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof.

  As described above, the above-described embodiment is merely an example in all respects and should not be interpreted in a limited manner. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and is not limited by the specification. Further, all modifications and changes belonging to the equivalent scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention.

  As described above, the present invention is useful for a network system including a plurality of node devices and a node device used in the network system.

100 Network System 110 Node Device 120 User Equipment 120A PC (Master User Equipment)
120B Measuring equipment (slave user equipment)

Claims (8)

A network system comprising a plurality of user devices and a plurality of node devices connected to the user devices by wires, and performing wireless communication between the node devices,
The node device is configured to be able to communicate with different types of user equipment by changing setting parameters relating to communication between the node device and the user equipment ,
At least one of the plurality of node devices is configured to allow a user to set the setting parameter,
Among the plurality of node devices, a node device in which the setting parameter is not set by a user reads the setting parameter of the node device configured to be settable by the user via wireless communication, and Network system to be set as a setting parameter. The network system according to claim 1,
The plurality of user devices include a master user device that functions as a master device, and a slave user device that functions as a slave device,
The node device configured to allow the user to set the setting parameter is a node device connected to the master user device,
A network system in which a node device that reads the setting parameter from a node device configured to allow a user to set the setting parameter is a node device connected to the slave user device. The network system according to claim 1 or 2,
The network system, wherein the setting parameter includes a communication parameter that is a parameter related to a communication specification of the user device. The network system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The network system includes a protocol parameter that is a parameter related to a protocol specification of the user equipment. A node device that can be connected to user equipment by wire,
It is configured to be able to wirelessly communicate with other node devices,
It is configured to be able to communicate with different types of user equipment by changing setting parameters relating to communication between the node device and the user equipment ,
A node device having an input mode for setting the setting parameter in response to an input from a user and a reading mode for reading a setting parameter of another node device and setting the setting parameter as its own setting parameter. The node device according to claim 5, wherein
When connected to a master user device that is a user device that functions as a master machine, while being in the input mode,
When connected to a slave user device that is a user device that functions as a slave device, the node device is set to the read mode. In the node apparatus according to claim 5 or 6,
The node device includes a communication parameter that is a parameter related to a communication specification of the user device. In the node apparatus as described in any one of Claim 5 thru | or 7,
The node device includes a protocol parameter that is a parameter related to a protocol specification of the user equipment.

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