WO2011118100A1

WO2011118100A1 - Base station apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2011118100A1
Application number: PCT/JP2010/072657
Authority: WO
Inventors: 浩明沈; 亜輝臣国狭
Original assignee: 三洋電機株式会社
Priority date: 2010-03-25
Filing date: 2010-12-16
Publication date: 2011-09-29
Also published as: JP2011223550A

Abstract

This invention provides a technique for notifying, to terminal apparatuses, information related to a base station apparatus, while reducing changes of a signal format specified in a communication system. A base station apparatus (14) is driven by use of a storage battery. A communication unit (60) can communicate with another base station apparatus via an inter-base-station communication and also can communicate with terminal apparatuses. An establishing unit (110) establishes, based on the remaining amount of the storage battery, a second SSID different from a first SSID used for identifying the base station apparatus (14). A generating unit (112) generates a beacon signal that includes the established second SSID, a MAC address allocated to the base station apparatus (14) and information to be notified to the terminal apparatuses. The communication unit (60) broadcasts the beacon signal. A processing unit (62) executes a connection processing using the first SSID together with a terminal apparatus having received the generated beacon signal.

Description

Base station equipment

The present invention relates to communication technology, and more particularly to base station devices connected by a wireless network.

In recent years, photovoltaic power generation devices have attracted attention as a new power generation device. Such a solar power generation apparatus is applied to various systems. For example, in a security monitoring system with a camera, electric power generated by a solar power generator is charged in a storage battery, and the electric power is used as a power source for a network camera and a projector. The network camera is connected to the Internet via a portable telephone line. In such a configuration, when an intrusion occurs, an intruder is illuminated by a projector, and an image taken by a network camera is notified to the setting destination by e-mail (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-167047 A

When a solar power generation device and a storage battery are installed in a street light, power is supplied by the street light alone, and a power cable or the like to the street light becomes unnecessary. As a result, street lamps can be easily installed. In order to control lighting and extinguishing of a plurality of street lamps, it is necessary to transmit a control signal to each street lamp. A wireless communication system such as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) is suitable for omitting a cable for transmitting a control signal. That is, a base station device and a terminal device are installed in the street light. In order to efficiently execute communication in the wireless communication system, for example, base station devices and terminal devices are arranged in a hierarchy.

Therefore, communication between base stations is executed by a plurality of base station devices, and at least one terminal device is connected to each base station device. In such a configuration, when the terminal device can be connected to a plurality of base station devices, it is preferable to select a base station device suitable for the terminal device. The base station device suitable for the terminal device is, for example, a base station device with a large remaining amount of storage battery or a base station device included in a route with a small number of hops of base station communication. In order to select such a base station apparatus, some information should be transmitted from the base station apparatus to the terminal apparatus. On the other hand, fewer changes to the signal format defined in the wireless LAN are preferable.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for notifying a terminal device of information related to a base station device while reducing changes in the signal format defined in the communication system. is there.

In order to solve the above problems, a base station apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is a base station apparatus driven by a storage battery, and communicates with other base station apparatuses through inter-base station communication and also communicates with terminal apparatuses. A communication unit, a setting unit that sets a second SSID different from the first SSID for identifying the base station device based on the remaining amount of the storage battery, a second SSID set in the setting unit, and the base A beacon signal including the MAC address assigned to the station device and information to be notified to the terminal device is generated, and a beacon signal generated by the generating unit is received, and a beacon signal generated by the generating unit is received. And a processing unit that executes a connection process using the first SSID with the terminal device. The generation unit does not include the first SSID in the beacon signal, and the terminal device that is the target of the connection process in the processing unit recognizes the correspondence between the MAC address and the first SSID in advance, and from the MAC address included in the beacon signal The first SSID of the base station apparatus is specified.

Another aspect of the present invention is also a base station apparatus. This device is a base station device driven by a storage battery, communicates with other base station devices by inter-base station communication, and communicates with a terminal device by inter-base station communication at the communication unit. Based on the number of hops in the formed route, a setting unit that sets a second SSID different from the first SSID for identifying the base station device, a second SSID set by the setting unit, and the base station device A generating unit that generates a beacon signal including the assigned MAC address and information to be notified to the terminal device, and notifies the communication unit of the beacon signal; and a terminal device that receives the beacon signal generated by the generating unit; And a processing unit that executes a connection process using the first SSID. The generation unit does not include the first SSID in the beacon signal, and the terminal device that is the target of the connection process in the processing unit recognizes the correspondence between the MAC address and the first SSID in advance, and from the MAC address included in the beacon signal The first SSID of the base station apparatus is specified.

Still another aspect of the present invention is also a base station apparatus. This device is a base station device driven by a storage battery, communicates with other base station devices by inter-base station communication, and communicates with a terminal device by inter-base station communication at the communication unit. An acquisition unit that acquires information on the remaining amount of the storage battery that drives each other base station device included in the formed route, and a remaining amount in the route is derived based on the information acquired in the acquisition unit. A derivation unit and a determination unit that determines a notification period of the beacon signal based on the remaining amount derived by the derivation unit. A communication part alert | reports the beacon signal containing the information which should be alert | reported to a terminal device with the alerting | reporting period determined in the determination part.

Still another aspect of the present invention is also a base station apparatus. This device is a base station device driven by a storage battery, and communicates with other base station devices through inter-base station communication, and also acquires a communication unit capable of communicating with a terminal device and information on the remaining amount of the storage battery. An acquisition unit and a determination unit that determines a notification period of the beacon signal based on information on the remaining amount acquired by the acquisition unit. A communication part alert | reports the beacon signal containing the information which should be alert | reported to a terminal device with the alerting | reporting period determined in the determination part.

It should be noted that an arbitrary combination of the above-described components and a conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

According to the present invention, it is possible to notify the terminal device of information related to the base station device while reducing changes in the signal format defined in the communication system.

It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the illumination system which concerns on the Example of this invention. FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing the configuration of the illumination device of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the table memorize | stored in the memory | storage part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the base station apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the table memorize | stored in the acquisition part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the table memorize | stored in the determination part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the format of the beacon signal transmitted from the communication part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the terminal device of FIG. It is a sequence diagram which shows the communication procedure by the communication system of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the base station apparatus which concerns on the modification of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the base station apparatus which concerns on another modification of this invention. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the table memorize | stored in the setting part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the table memorize | stored in the process part of the terminal device which concerns on another modification of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the communication procedure by the terminal device which concerns on another modification of this invention. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the table memorize | stored in the setting part of the base station apparatus which concerns on another modification of this invention.

An outline will be given before concretely explaining the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention relate to an illumination system including a plurality of base station devices and a plurality of terminal devices. The plurality of base station apparatuses perform inter-base station communication with each other, and each base station apparatus connects terminal apparatuses. Here, the base station apparatus and the terminal apparatus are connected by, for example, a wireless LAN. In addition, each of the base station device and the terminal device is installed in a lighting device connected to the solar power generation device. The lighting device may have an imaging function. Furthermore, a control device for controlling the lighting system is connected to one of the base station devices. For example, the terminal device is connected to the control device via a plurality of base station devices. A control apparatus receives the information regarding the residual amount of the storage battery of an illuminating device from a terminal device etc. In addition, the control device transmits a signal for instructing lighting (hereinafter, referred to as “lighting instruction”) to the terminal device or the like.

As described above, the base station device executes communication between base stations and also communicates with the terminal device. Therefore, the traffic in the base station device tends to increase, and the power consumption of the storage battery tends to increase. Here, when one of the base station devices stops operating due to a decrease in the remaining capacity of the storage battery, the terminal device or base station device connected to the control device via the base station device communicates with the control device. become unable. As a result, control of each lighting device by the control device is not performed. In order to suppress the occurrence of such a situation, the terminal device is preferably connected to a base station device with a large remaining battery capacity. Furthermore, since the terminal device and the control device are connected by communication between base stations, there is a possibility that a plurality of base station devices are included in the path of communication between base stations. Therefore, not only the remaining amount in the base station device to which the terminal device is directly connected, but also the remaining amount in a plurality of base station devices included in the route (hereinafter referred to as “remaining route amount”) should be considered. On the other hand, it is preferable for the terminal device to be able to receive information on the remaining amount from the base station device in order to select the base station device to be connected. Moreover, in order to suppress the increase in traffic, it is required that a new signal is not defined in order to notify information regarding the remaining amount.

To cope with this, the communication system according to the present embodiment executes the following processing. The base station device specifies a route to the control device and obtains information regarding the remaining amounts of the plurality of base station devices included in the route. The base station apparatus selects the minimum remaining amount and sets it as the remaining amount of the route. Moreover, the base station apparatus determines the notification period of the beacon signal according to the remaining amount of the route. For example, if the remaining amount of the route becomes small, the notification cycle is lengthened. A base station apparatus alert | reports a beacon signal according to an alerting | reporting period. The terminal device recognizes the presence of the base station device by receiving the beacon signal, and requests connection to the base station device. Since the notification frequency of a beacon signal from a base station apparatus with a large remaining amount of a path increases, the terminal apparatus can recognize such a base station apparatus at an early stage. As a result, the terminal device easily requests connection to such a base station device.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a lighting system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The illumination system 100 includes a first terminal device 12a, a second terminal device 12b, a third terminal device 12c, a fourth terminal device 12d, an Nth terminal device 12n, and a base station device 14 collectively referred to as a control device 10 and a terminal device 12. And the first base station apparatus 14a, the second base station apparatus 14b, the third base station apparatus 14c, the Mth base station apparatus 14m, the M + 1th base station apparatus 14m + 1, and the first illumination apparatus 16 16a, second illumination device 16b, third illumination device 16c, Mth illumination device 16m, M + 1th illumination device 16m + 1, M + 2 illumination device 16m + 2, M + 3 illumination device 16m + 3, M + 4 illumination device 16m + 4, and M + N + 1 illumination device 16m + n + 1. Including.

The control device 10 includes an interface capable of receiving instructions from the user, generates information corresponding to the received instructions (hereinafter referred to as “instruction information”), and outputs the generated information to the entire lighting system 100. . Therefore, the output of the instruction information corresponds to notification. An example of the instruction is an instruction for lighting a lighting device 16 described later, and an example of the generated instruction information is information indicating an instruction to turn on the lighting device 16. This corresponds to the lighting instruction described above. The control device 10 is configured by a PC, for example. In addition, the control device 10 collects information regarding each lighting device 16 via the terminal device 12 and the base station device 14. The information regarding each lighting device 16 is, for example, information about the remaining capacity of the storage battery of the lighting device 16.

The terminal device 12 corresponds to a wireless LAN terminal device, and the base station device 14 corresponds to a wireless LAN base station device. A plurality of base station apparatuses 14 perform inter-base station communication, and each of the plurality of terminal apparatuses 12 is connected to one of the base station apparatuses 14. Among the plurality of base station apparatuses 14, the (M + 1) th base station apparatus 14m + 1 is connected to the control apparatus 10 and receives instruction information from the control apparatus 10. The (M + 1) th base station apparatus 14m + 1 transmits a packet signal including the instruction information to another one of the plurality of base station apparatuses 14, for example, the third base station apparatus 14c. Note that the terminal device 12 may be connected to the control device 10 instead of the base station device 14.

3rd base station apparatus 14c transfers a packet signal to the other base station apparatus 14 using communication between base stations. The third base station device 14c also transmits a packet signal to the directly connected terminal device 12, for example, the fourth terminal device 12d. Further, the third base station apparatus 14c controls the lighting apparatus 16 described later according to the content of the instruction information included in the packet signal. Other base station apparatuses 14 operate in the same manner. The first terminal apparatus 12a to the Nth terminal apparatus 12n receive the packet signal from the base station apparatus 14. These terminal devices 12 also control a lighting device 16 to be described later according to the content of the instruction information included in the packet signal.

The lighting device 16 includes a solar power generation device, and stores the generated power in a storage battery. Moreover, the illuminating device 16 turns on illumination with the charged electric power. Here, the illumination device 16 is connected to the terminal device 12 or the base station device 14, and turns on or off the illumination based on an instruction from the terminal device 12 or the base station device 14. The illumination device 16 includes an imaging device, and may capture moving images and still images (hereinafter collectively referred to as “images”). Note that the terminal device 12 and the base station device 14 are also driven by the power charged in the storage battery of the lighting device 16. A combination of one of the terminal device 12 and the base station device 14 and the lighting device 16 corresponds to the street lamp described above.

The terminal device 12 and the base station device 14 transmit information and images related to the remaining amount of storage battery in the lighting device 16 in a packet signal. These packet signals are transferred so as to follow the reverse path to the packet signal including the instruction information, and are received by the control device 10. As a result, the control device 10 can manage information regarding the remaining amount of the storage battery in each lighting device 16. In addition, the control device 10 can acquire an image captured by each lighting device 16.

2 (a)-(b) show the configuration of the illumination device 16. FIG. In FIG. 2A, the lighting device 16 includes a solar panel 20, a storage battery 22, a lighting unit 24, an imaging device 26, and a control unit 28. The solar panel 20 corresponds to the above-described solar power generation device, and generates power upon receiving sunlight. The storage battery 22 stores the electric power generated in the solar panel 20. The storage battery 22 supplies power to the entire lighting device 16 and also supplies power to the connected terminal device 12 or base station device 14. Since a well-known technique should just be used for the solar panel 20 and the storage battery 22, description is abbreviate | omitted here.

The illumination unit 24 is turned on or off based on an instruction from the control unit 28. It may blink. The control unit 28 receives instructions to turn on and off the illumination unit 24 from the terminal device 12 and the base station device 14 (not shown). The control unit 28 controls the operation of the illumination unit 24 according to the received instruction. Further, the control unit 28 acquires the amount of power generated by the solar panel 20 and the remaining amount of the storage battery 22, and reports information related to the remaining amount to the terminal device 12 and the base station device 14 (not shown). Here, the control unit 28 may periodically acquire the power generation amount or the remaining amount, or may acquire the power generation amount or the remaining amount according to an instruction from the terminal device 12 or the base station device 14 (not shown). Good.

The imaging device 26 captures an image. The image is acquired as digital data. The imaging device 26 may periodically perform imaging, or may perform imaging in response to an instruction from the terminal device 12 or the base station device 14 (not shown). The imaging device 26 may output an image to the terminal device 12 and the base station device 14 (not shown) via the control unit 28, or may store the image in a built-in storage medium. As shown in the illumination device 16 in FIG. 2B, the imaging device 26 may be omitted from the configuration in FIG. Thereby, the structure of the illuminating device 16 becomes simple.

This configuration can be realized in terms of hardware by a CPU, memory, or other LSI of any computer, and in terms of software, it is realized by a program having a communication function loaded in the memory. Describes functional blocks realized by collaboration. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will understand that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by hardware only, software only, or a combination thereof.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the control device 10. The control device 10 includes a communication unit 30, a management unit 32, an instruction unit 36, a storage unit 38, a collection unit 40, and a control unit 42. The communication unit 30 receives a packet signal generated by an instruction unit 36 described later. The communication unit 30 is connected to the (M + 1) th base station apparatus 14m + 1 in FIG. 1 via a cable or a wireless LAN, and transmits a packet signal to the (M + 1) th base station apparatus 14m + 1. As described above, since the (M + 1) th base station apparatus 14m + 1 transmits a packet signal to another base station apparatus 14 by inter-base station communication, the packet signal passes through at least one base station apparatus 14 and is transmitted to a plurality of terminal apparatuses. 12 is transmitted. Therefore, the transmission of the packet signal in the communication unit 30 can be said to be a notification of the packet signal.

The communication unit 30 receives a packet signal from the (M + 1) th base station apparatus 14m + 1. The packet signal includes information on the remaining amount of the storage battery 22 acquired by the lighting device 16 (not shown) and an image captured by the lighting device 16 (not shown). As described above, the packet signal reaches the communication unit 30 by being transferred by the terminal device 12 or the base station device 14. The communication unit 30 outputs information about the remaining amount of the storage battery 22 and an image to the collection unit 40.

The collection unit 40 receives information about the remaining amount of the storage battery 22 and images from the communication unit 30. That is, the collection unit 40 collects information on the remaining amount of the storage battery 22 that drives the base station device 14 from each base station device 14. The same applies to information relating to the remaining amount of the storage battery 22 that is driving the terminal device 12. The collection unit 40 stores these pieces of information in the storage unit 38 in order to manage information about the remaining amount of the storage battery 22 in units of the lighting device 16. In addition, the collection unit 40 stores the image in the storage unit 38 in units of the lighting device 16.

The storage unit 38 is a storage medium for storing various information and images according to instructions from the collection unit 40. Since information and images are digital data, the storage unit 38 is configured by, for example, a hard disk. FIG. 4 shows the data structure of the table stored in the storage unit 38. As shown, a device column 200, a remaining amount column 202, and a route column 204 are included. In the device column 200, a base station device 14 to be managed and a base station device 14 connected to the lighting device 16 is shown. The device column 200 also shows the terminal device 12 that is a management target and is connected to the lighting device 16. In the remaining capacity column 202, the remaining capacity of the storage battery 22 connected to the base station apparatus 14 and the terminal apparatus 12 shown in the apparatus column 200 is shown. In the path column 204, information about a path from the base station apparatus 14 or the terminal apparatus 12 shown in the apparatus column 200 to the control apparatus 10 is shown. Management of the route is performed by the management unit 32. Returning to FIG.

The management unit 32 manages the communication path between base stations via the communication unit 30. The inter-base station communication path is a path connecting the predetermined base station device 14 and the (M + 1) th base station device 14m + 1 in FIG. The communication path between base stations is set between a plurality of base station apparatuses 14 by a known technique. The management unit 32 receives setting contents from the (M + 1) th base station apparatus 14m + 1 in FIG. The management unit 32 stores information related to the route in the storage unit 38. Further, the management unit 32 specifies the base station device 14 whose remaining amount is smaller than the threshold value based on the table stored in the storage unit 38. The management unit 32 connects the terminal device 12 connected to the identified base station device 14 to another base station device 14 or sets a route that avoids the identified base station device 14. The management unit 32 outputs the processing result to the instruction unit 36.

The instruction unit 36 receives the processing result from the management unit 32. The instruction unit 36 generates a packet signal for instructing execution of the processing result, and outputs the packet signal to the communication unit 30. Here, since the packet signal is multicast-transmitted, the destination of the packet signal is the base station device 14 and the terminal device 12 included in the lighting system 100. The management unit 32 outputs information on the identified base station device 14 to the instruction unit 36, and the instruction unit 36 includes in the packet signal that the remaining amount of the identified base station device 14 is low. Also good. At that time, the base station device 14 and the terminal device 12 included in the illumination system 100 may connect the terminal device 12 connected to the identified base station device 14 to another base station based on the information included in the packet signal. A process of connecting to the device 14 or setting a route that avoids the identified base station device 14 is autonomously executed.

The control unit 42 controls the operation of the entire control device 10. Moreover, the control part 42 is provided with the interface with a user, and receives the instruction | indication from a user via an interface. As described above, an example of an instruction from the user is information regarding the time when the lighting unit 24 of the lighting device 16 (not shown) should be turned on, and information regarding the time when the lighting unit 24 of the lighting device 16 (not shown) should be turned off. Also good. Here, for ease of explanation, it is assumed that the instruction is an instruction related to the operation of the illumination unit 24. When the light is turned off, only the operation in the illumination unit 24 in FIGS. 2A and 2B is different. Otherwise, the same operation as that when the light is turned on is executed.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the base station apparatus 14. The base station device 14 includes a communication unit 60, a processing unit 62, a management unit 66, a control unit 72, an acquisition unit 74, a derivation unit 76, and a determination unit 78. The base station device 14 is connected to and driven by the storage battery 22 charged with power generated by solar power generation. The communication unit 60 communicates with other base station apparatuses 14 by inter-base station communication and can also communicate with at least one terminal apparatus 12. The communication unit 60 performs a frequency conversion process, a modulation / demodulation process, an amplification process, an AD conversion process, a DA conversion process, and the like, and a known technique may be used for these, and a description thereof is omitted here. Through such processing, the communication unit 60 receives the packet signal and transmits the packet signal. Such a packet signal includes, for example, a lighting instruction.

The processing unit 62 is connected to the lighting device 16 (not shown) and executes processing for the lighting device 16. The processing unit 62 receives the lighting instruction received by the communication unit 60. The processing unit 62 instructs the lighting device 16 to turn on based on the lighting instruction. The processing unit 62 instructs the lighting device 16 to output information on the remaining amount of the storage battery 22 or output an image. When the processing unit 62 receives information about the remaining amount of the storage battery 22 or an image from the lighting device 16, the processing unit 62 instructs the communication unit 60 to generate a packet signal including the information about the remaining amount of the storage battery 22 and the image. When the base station device 14 corresponds to the (M + 1) th base station device 14m + 1 in FIG. 1, the processing unit 62 performs an interface function with the control device 10 (not shown).

The management unit 66 manages information on the terminal device 12 communicating with the communication unit 60 and information on the path of communication between base stations. The management unit 66 updates the information when the communication path between base stations is changed. The acquisition unit 74 acquires information on the other base station apparatus 14 included in the path for communication between base stations from the management unit 66. Here, the path may include a plurality of base station apparatuses 14. The acquisition unit 74 transmits a packet signal including an instruction for notifying each of the plurality of base station apparatuses 14 of information regarding the remaining amount via the processing unit 62 and the communication unit 60. Thereafter, the acquisition unit 74 acquires information regarding the remaining amount of the storage battery 22 that is driving the base station device 14 from each of the plurality of base station devices 14.

At that time, a packet signal from the base station apparatus 14 that cannot directly communicate with the base station apparatus 14 is transferred by the base station apparatus 14 between them. A known technique may be used for such transfer. FIG. 6 shows the data structure of the table stored in the acquisition unit 74. As shown, a base station device column 210 and a remaining amount column 212 are included. Base station apparatus column 210 shows base station apparatuses 14 included in the route. The remaining amount column 212 indicates the remaining amount corresponding to the base station device 14 indicated in the base station device column 210. The remaining amount of the storage battery 22 driving the base station device 14 may be indicated on the table. At that time, the acquisition unit 74 also acquires information regarding the remaining amount from the lighting device 16 (not shown) via the processing unit 62. Returning to FIG. When the acquisition unit 74 updates the table, the acquisition unit 74 notifies the deriving unit 76 to that effect.

When the derivation unit 76 receives the notification from the acquisition unit 74, the derivation unit 76 extracts information on the remaining amount from the table stored in the acquisition unit 74. Here, the remaining amount for each of the plurality of base station apparatuses 14 is extracted. The deriving unit 76 derives the remaining amount of the route based on the extracted information. More specifically, the derivation unit 76 selects one of information regarding a plurality of remaining amounts. For example, the deriving unit 76 selects the minimum remaining amount from the information regarding the plurality of remaining amounts. The deriving unit 76 sets the selected remaining amount as the remaining amount of the route. Note that the maximum remaining amount may be selected instead of the minimum remaining amount. Alternatively, the deriving unit 76 derives statistical processing values for a plurality of remaining amount values. For example, the deriving unit 76 derives an average value for a plurality of remaining amount values. At that time, the derivation unit 76 sets the statistical processing value as the remaining amount of the route. Note that a median value or the like may be used instead of the average value. The deriving unit 76 outputs the remaining amount of the derived route to the determining unit 78.

The determination unit 78 receives the remaining amount of the route from the derivation unit 76. The determination unit 78 determines the notification period of the beacon signal based on the remaining amount of the route. Here, the determination unit 78 stores a table for determining the notification cycle in advance. FIG. 7 shows the data structure of the table stored in the determination unit 78. As illustrated, a threshold value column 220 and a notification cycle column 222 for the remaining amount are included. In the threshold value column 220 for the remaining amount, threshold values E1, E2, and E3 are shown. Here, it is assumed that E1> E2> E3. In the notification cycle column 222, the value of the notification cycle of the beacon signal is shown. Here, it is assumed that F1 <F2 <F3. With such a table, the notification cycle becomes shorter as the remaining amount becomes larger. Moreover, the notification cycle becomes longer as the remaining amount becomes smaller. Further, when the remaining amount becomes smaller than the threshold value E3, the notification of the beacon signal is stopped. Returning to FIG. The determination unit 78 determines the notification cycle by comparing the threshold values shown in the table with the remaining amount of the route. The determination unit 78 outputs the notification cycle to the communication unit 60.

The processing unit 62 generates a beacon signal and outputs the beacon signal to the communication unit 60. The communication unit 60 notifies the beacon signal at the notification cycle determined by the determination unit 78. FIG. 8 shows a format of a beacon signal transmitted from the communication unit 60. Frame control, duration / ID, destination address, source address, BBSID, sequence control, frame body, and FCS are arranged. Here, the destination address and the source address are indicated as MAC addresses. The frame body corresponds to information to be notified to the terminal device 12. Returning to FIG. The control unit 72 controls the operation timing of the entire base station apparatus 14.

FIG. 9 shows the configuration of the terminal device 12. The terminal device 12 includes a communication unit 80, a processing unit 82, a management unit 84, and a control unit 86. The terminal device 12 is connected to and driven by the storage battery 22 charged with power generated by solar power generation. The communication unit 80 executes the same processing as that of the communication unit 60 in FIG. Unlike the communication unit 60, the communication unit 80 does not perform inter-base station communication. Here, the communication target of the communication unit 80 is the base station device 14.

That is, the communication unit 80 communicates with the base station device 14 capable of performing inter-base station communication, and communicates with the control device 10 via a path formed by the inter-base station communication from the base station device 14. In this way, the communication unit 80 receives the packet signal from the base station device 14. The packet signal includes, for example, a lighting instruction. In addition, the communication unit 80 transmits a packet signal to the base station device 14.

The processing unit 82 performs the same processing as the processing unit 62 in FIG. The communication unit 80 receives a beacon signal from the base station device 14. Based on the BBSID included in the beacon signal, the processing unit 82 determines whether connection to the base station device 14 that is the notification source is possible. When the connection is possible, the processing unit 82 causes the communication unit 80 to execute a connection process with the base station device 14. A known technique is used as the connection process. The management unit 84 controls a communication target in the communication unit 80. The control unit 86 controls the operation timing of the entire terminal device 12.

An outline of the operation of the illumination system 100 configured as above will be described. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating a communication procedure performed by the illumination system 100. Here, the terminal device 12 is about to newly join the lighting system 100, and the first base station device 14a and the fifth base station device 14e are installed around it. Further, it is assumed that the path from the first base station apparatus 14a to the (M + 1) th base station apparatus 14m + 1 is different from the path from the fifth base station apparatus 14e to the (M + 1) th base station apparatus 14m + 1. The first base station device 14a determines the notification cycle (S10), and the fifth base station device 14e also determines the notification cycle (S12). Here, it is assumed that the remaining amount of the route derived by the first base station device 14a is larger than the remaining amount of the route derived by the fifth base station device 14e. The 1st base station apparatus 14a alert | reports a beacon signal (S14). The terminal device 12 determines the connection destination as the first base station device 14a based on the beacon signal (S16). The first base station device 14a and the terminal device 12 execute a connection process (S18). The first base station apparatus 14a and the terminal apparatus 12 perform communication (S20). Thereafter, the fifth base station apparatus 14e notifies a beacon signal (S22).

Next, a modified example will be described. The modification relates to an illumination system including a base station device and a terminal device, as in the embodiment. In the embodiment, the remaining amount of the route is derived based on the remaining amount in the storage battery of the plurality of base station apparatuses, and the notification cycle is determined based on the remaining amount of the route. On the other hand, a modification aims at simplifying the processing of the base station apparatus as compared with the embodiment. The base station apparatus which concerns on a modification acquires the residual amount of a storage battery. Further, the base station apparatus determines the notification cycle based on the remaining amount. That is, the base station apparatus which concerns on a modification determines a alerting | reporting period, without using the residual amount of the storage battery in another base station apparatus. The illumination system 100 according to the modification is the same type as that in FIG. 1, the control device 10 is the same type as that in FIG. 3, and the terminal device 12 is the same type as that in FIG. Below, it demonstrates centering on the difference with an Example.

FIG. 11 shows the configuration of the base station apparatus 14 according to a modification of the present invention. The base station device 14 does not include the derivation unit 76 as compared with the base station device 14 of FIG. The acquisition unit 74 acquires information about the remaining amount in the storage battery 22 of the lighting device 16 (not shown) via the processing unit 62. The acquisition unit 74 outputs information regarding the remaining amount to the determination unit 78. The determination unit 78 receives information regarding the remaining amount from the acquisition unit 74. The determination unit 78 determines the notification period of the beacon signal based on the remaining amount. Since the process of the determination part 78 for determining the alerting | reporting period of a beacon signal is the same as that of an Example, description is abbreviate | omitted here. The communication unit 60 notifies the beacon signal at the notification cycle determined by the determination unit 78.

Next, another modification will be described. Another modification relates to a lighting system including a base station device and a terminal device, as before. Until now, the notification cycle has been changed according to the remaining amount, but in another modification, the notification cycle is not changed. As described above, it is desirable that notification of the remaining amount is made by a signal that has already been defined. In order to cope with this, a base station apparatus according to another modification example has a BSSID (hereinafter referred to as “second BSSID”) different from a BSSID (hereinafter referred to as “first BSSID”) to be inserted into a beacon signal for connection processing. "). The second BBSID is determined so as to change according to the remaining amount, and the remaining amount value and the second BBSID value are determined in a one-to-one relationship. That is, if the second BBSID is acquired, the remaining capacity of the storage battery is understood. The base station device inserts the second BBSID in the beacon signal without inserting the first BBSID.

When receiving the beacon signal, the terminal device estimates the remaining amount based on the second BBSID. Further, the terminal device extracts the transmission source address included in the beacon signal. The terminal device stores in advance the correspondence between the MAC address that is the transmission source address and the first BSSID, and identifies the first BSSID from the extracted lower transmission source address. The terminal apparatus selects a base station apparatus with a large remaining amount, and executes connection processing for the base station apparatus using the first BSSID. The illumination system 100 according to another modification is the same type as that shown in FIG. 1, the control device 10 is the same type as that shown in FIG. 3, and the terminal device 12 is the same type as that shown in FIG. Below, it demonstrates centering on the difference from before.

FIG. 12 shows a configuration of a base station apparatus 14 according to another modification of the present invention. The base station apparatus 14 includes a communication unit 60, a processing unit 62, a management unit 66, and a control unit 72. The processing unit 62 includes a setting unit 110 and a generation unit 112. The processing unit 62 acquires information related to the remaining amount in the storage battery 22 of the lighting device 16 (not shown), similarly to the acquisition unit 74 in FIG. Or the process part 62 may derive | lead-out the residual amount of a path | route similarly to the acquisition part 74 and the derivation | leading-out part 76 of FIG. Here, the remaining amount in the storage battery 22 and the remaining amount of the route are not distinguished from each other and are simply referred to as the remaining amount. The processing unit 62 outputs the remaining amount to the setting unit 110.

The setting unit 110 sets a second BSSID different from the first BSSID based on the remaining amount received from the processing unit 62. As described above, the first BSSID is an identifier used for connection processing, and can be said to be an identifier for identifying the base station apparatus 14. FIG. 13 shows the data structure of the table stored in the setting unit 110. As shown, a remaining amount column 230 and a second BBSID column 232 are included. The remaining amount column 230 shows the remaining amount that can be received from the processing unit 62. In the second BBSID column 232, the second BSSID corresponding to the remaining amount is shown. Returning to FIG. The setting unit 110 identifies the second BSSID from the remaining amount based on the table. The setting unit 110 outputs the second BSSID to the generation unit 112.

The generation unit 112 receives the second BSSID from the setting unit 110. The generation unit 112 generates a beacon signal illustrated in FIG. Here, the generation unit 112 inserts the second BBSID in the BBSID area of FIG. On the other hand, the generation unit 112 does not include the first BSSID in the beacon signal. Further, the generation unit 112 inserts the MAC address assigned to the base station apparatus 14 in the source address area of FIG. Further, the generation unit 112 inserts information to be notified to the terminal device 12 in the frame body area of FIG. The generation unit 112 causes the communication unit 60 to notify a beacon signal.

The communication unit 80 of the terminal device 12 shown in FIG. 9 sequentially receives beacon signals. The processing unit 82 extracts the second BSSID and the transmission address from each beacon signal. The processing unit 82 stores in advance the correspondence between the MAC address that is the transmission address and the first BSSID. FIG. 14 shows a data structure of a table stored in the processing unit 82 of the terminal device 12 according to another modification of the present invention. As shown, a source address field 240 and a first BBSID field 242 are included. The source address column 240 shows the MAC address that is the source address, and the first BBSID column 242 shows the first BSSID corresponding to the MAC address in the source address column 240. Here, it is assumed that only the first BSSID to which the terminal device 12 can be connected is included in the table. Returning to FIG.

The processing unit 82 converts the MAC address to the first BSSID based on the table. When the MAC address is not shown in the table, the processing unit 82 discards the beacon signal including the MAC address. Moreover, the process part 82 specifies the residual amount of the storage battery 22 in the base station apparatus 14, or the residual amount of a path | route based on 2nd BSSID. Further, the processing unit 82 selects the converted first BSSID with the largest remaining amount. That is, the processing unit 82 specifies the first BSSID of the base station device 14 from the MAC address included in the beacon signal. The processing unit 82 of the terminal device 12 and the processing unit 62 of the base station device 14 execute a connection process using the first BSSID. A known technique may be used as the connection process.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a communication procedure by the terminal device 12 according to another modification of the present invention. The communication unit 80 receives a plurality of beacon signals (S50). If there is an unstored MAC address in the beacon signal (Y in S52), the processing unit 82 discards the beacon signal including the unstored MAC address (S54). On the other hand, if there is no unstored MAC address in the beacon signal (N in S52), step 54 is skipped. The processing unit 82 selects a beacon signal including the second BSSID corresponding to the maximum remaining amount (S56). The processing unit 82 specifies the first BSSID (S58). The processing unit 82 and the communication unit 80 perform connection processing using the first BSSID (S60).

Next, yet another modification will be described. Still another modified example relates to an illumination system including a base station device and a terminal device as before. Furthermore, the base station apparatus which concerns on another modification inserts 2nd BSSID in a beacon signal instead of 1st BSSID similarly to another modification. On the other hand, a base station apparatus according to yet another modification reflects the number of hops to the control apparatus in the second BBSID, unlike another modification. The terminal device selects a base station device that reduces the number of hops based on the second BBSID. The lighting system 100 according to another modification is the same type as that in FIG. 1, the control device 10 is the same type as in FIG. 3, the base station device 14 is the same type as in FIG. 12, and the terminal device 12 is It is the same type as FIG. Below, it demonstrates centering on the difference from before.

The processing unit 62 in FIG. 12 acquires information regarding the number of hops in the route to the (M + 1) th base station apparatus 14m + 1 via the communication unit 60. This can be said to be the number of hops in the route from the base station apparatus 14 to the control apparatus 10. In addition, since the well-known technique in the communication between base stations should just be used for acquisition of the number of hops, description is abbreviate | omitted here. The processing unit 62 outputs information regarding the number of hops to the setting unit 110.

The setting unit 110 sets a second BSSID different from the first BSSID based on the information regarding the number of hops received from the processing unit 62. FIG. 16 shows a data structure of a table stored in the setting unit 110 of the base station apparatus 14 according to still another modification of the present invention. As illustrated, a hop number column 234 and a second BBSID column 232 are included. The hop number column 234 indicates the number of hops that can be received from the processing unit 62. In the second BBSID column 232, the second BSSID corresponding to the remaining amount is shown. Returning to FIG. The setting unit 110 identifies the second BSSID from the number of hops based on the table. The setting unit 110 outputs the second BSSID to the generation unit 112. The processing of the generation unit 112 is the same as before. The communication unit 80 and the processing unit 82 of the terminal device 12 illustrated in FIG. 9 execute the same processing as before. Here, the processing unit 82 selects the first BSSID having the smallest number of hops. Subsequent processing of the processing unit 82 and the processing unit 62 is the same as before.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the notification period of the beacon signal is changed according to the remaining amount of the route, so that information on the remaining amount of the route can be notified without changing the content of the beacon signal. Further, since the notification cycle is shortened as the remaining amount of the route increases, it is possible to easily receive the beacon signal. In addition, since a beacon signal is easily received, it is possible to easily select a route with a large remaining amount. Since a route with a large remaining amount is easily selected, communication between base stations can be stably maintained. Moreover, since the average value with respect to the remaining amount of the plurality of storage batteries is used as the remaining amount in the route, the remaining amount in the route can be easily derived. Further, since the minimum value among the remaining amounts of the plurality of storage batteries is selected as the remaining amount in the route, the remaining amount in the route can be easily derived.

In addition, since the notification cycle of the beacon signal is changed according to the remaining amount of the storage battery, information on the remaining amount of the storage battery can be notified without changing the content of the beacon signal. Moreover, since a notification period is shortened, so that the remaining amount of a storage battery becomes large, it can be made to receive a beacon signal easily. Further, since the remaining amount of the storage battery is used, the processing can be simplified. Further, when the remaining amount becomes smaller than the threshold value, the notification of the beacon signal is stopped, so that the drive period of the base station apparatus can be extended. In addition, since only the beacon signal notification period is changed, information on the base station apparatus can be notified to the terminal apparatus while reducing changes in the signal format defined in the wireless LAN.

Further, since the second BSSID different from the first BSSID for identifying the base station apparatus is used, information can be transmitted by the BSSID. Further, since the second BSSID is changed based on the remaining amount, information regarding the remaining amount can be transmitted by the beacon signal without changing the format of the beacon signal. Further, since the remaining amount is reflected in the second BSSID, the remaining amount can be accurately notified. Moreover, since the MAC address of the base station apparatus is included in the beacon signal, the transmission source of the beacon signal can be clarified. Moreover, since the transmission source of the beacon signal is clarified, the terminal device can specify the first BSSID. Further, since the first BSSID is specified, connection processing using the first BSSID can be executed. Further, since the second BSSID is changed based on the number of hops, information regarding the number of hops can be transmitted by the beacon signal without changing the format of the beacon signal. Moreover, since the number of hops is reflected in the second BSSID, the number of hops can be accurately notified.

The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each processing process, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. .

In yet another modification of the present invention, information on the number of hops is notified by a beacon signal broadcast from the base station device 14. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in addition to information related to the number of hops, information related to the remaining amount may be notified by a beacon signal notified from the base station device 14. In that case, the base station apparatus 14 of FIG. 12 and the base station apparatus 14 of FIG. 15 are combined. The acquisition unit 74 in FIG. 5 acquires information on the remaining amount of the storage battery that drives each base station device 14 included in the path formed by the inter-base station communication. The deriving unit 76 derives the remaining amount of the route based on the information acquired by the acquiring unit 74. As described above, at this time, calculation such as averaging is performed. The determining unit 78 determines the notification period of the beacon signal based on the remaining amount derived by the deriving unit 76. Here, the determination unit 78 may determine to stop the notification of the beacon signal when the remaining amount becomes smaller than the threshold value. The communication unit 60 notifies the beacon signal at the notification cycle determined by the determination unit 78.

On the other hand, the base station device 14 of FIG. 12 and the base station device 14 of FIG. 11 may be combined. The acquisition unit 74 in FIG. 5 acquires information regarding the remaining amount of the storage battery 22. The determination unit 78 determines the notification period of the beacon signal based on the information regarding the remaining amount acquired by the acquisition unit 74. The communication unit 60 notifies the beacon signal at the notification cycle determined by the determination unit 78. According to this modification, the remaining amount and the number of hops can be notified at the same time.

10 control device, 12 terminal device, 14 base station device, 16 lighting device, 20 solar panel, 22 storage battery, 24 lighting unit, 26 imaging device, 28 control unit, 30 communication unit, 32 management unit, 36 instruction unit, 38 storage Section, 40 collection section, 42 control section, 60 communication section, 62 processing section, 66 management section, 72 control section, 74 acquisition section, 76 derivation section, 78 determination section, 100 lighting system, 110 setting section, 112 generation section.

Claims

A base station device driven by a storage battery,
While communicating with other base station devices by inter-base station communication, a communication unit capable of communicating with terminal devices,
A setting unit for setting a second SSID different from the first SSID for identifying the base station device based on the remaining amount of the storage battery;
Generation of generating a beacon signal including the second SSID set in the setting unit, the MAC address assigned to the base station device, and information to be notified to the terminal device, and informing the communication unit of the beacon signal And
A processing unit that executes a connection process using the first SSID with the terminal device that has received the beacon signal generated in the generation unit;
The generator does not include the first SSID in the beacon signal,
In the terminal device to be connected in the processing unit, the correspondence between the MAC address and the first SSID is recognized in advance, and the first SSID of the base station device is specified from the MAC address included in the beacon signal. A base station apparatus.
A base station device driven by a storage battery,
While communicating with other base station devices by inter-base station communication, a communication unit capable of communicating with terminal devices,
A setting unit configured to set a second SSID different from the first SSID for identifying the base station device based on the number of hops in the path formed by the communication between the base stations in the communication unit;
Generation of generating a beacon signal including the second SSID set in the setting unit, the MAC address assigned to the base station device, and information to be notified to the terminal device, and informing the communication unit of the beacon signal And
A processing unit that executes a connection process using the first SSID with the terminal device that has received the beacon signal generated in the generation unit;
The generator does not include the first SSID in the beacon signal,
In the terminal device to be connected in the processing unit, the correspondence between the MAC address and the first SSID is recognized in advance, and the first SSID of the base station device is specified from the MAC address included in the beacon signal. A base station apparatus.
An acquisition unit that acquires information on the remaining amount of a storage battery that drives each other base station device included in a path formed by communication between base stations in the communication unit;
Based on the information acquired in the acquisition unit, a derivation unit that derives the remaining amount in the route;
Based on the remaining amount derived in the derivation unit, further comprising a determination unit that determines the notification period of the beacon signal,
The base station apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the communication unit broadcasts a beacon signal at a broadcast cycle determined by the determination unit.
An acquisition unit for acquiring information on the remaining amount of the storage battery;
Based on information on the remaining amount acquired in the acquisition unit, further comprising a determination unit that determines a notification period of the beacon signal,
The base station apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the communication unit broadcasts a beacon signal at a broadcast cycle determined by the determination unit.
The base station apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein when the remaining amount becomes smaller than a threshold value, the determination unit determines to stop reporting a beacon signal.
A base station device driven by a storage battery,
While communicating with other base station devices by inter-base station communication, a communication unit capable of communicating with terminal devices,
An acquisition unit that acquires information on the remaining amount of a storage battery that drives each other base station device included in a path formed by communication between base stations in the communication unit;
Based on the information acquired in the acquisition unit, a derivation unit that derives the remaining amount in the route;
Based on the remaining amount derived in the derivation unit, comprising a determination unit that determines the notification period of the beacon signal,
The said communication part alert | reports the beacon signal containing the information which should be alert | reported to a terminal device by the alerting | reporting period determined in the said determination part.
The base station apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the deriving unit derives a statistical processing value for the remaining amount of the plurality of storage batteries as the remaining amount in the route.
The base station apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the derivation unit selects one of the remaining amounts of the plurality of storage batteries as the remaining amount in the route.
A base station device driven by a storage battery,
While communicating with other base station devices by inter-base station communication, a communication unit capable of communicating with terminal devices,
An acquisition unit for acquiring information on the remaining amount of the storage battery;
Based on information on the remaining amount acquired in the acquisition unit, comprising a determination unit that determines a notification period of the beacon signal,
The said communication part alert | reports the beacon signal containing the information which should be alert | reported to a terminal device by the alerting | reporting period determined in the said determination part.
The base station apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the determination unit determines that the beacon signal is stopped when the remaining amount is smaller than a threshold value.