CN112205066A

CN112205066A - Communication method and communication system

Info

Publication number: CN112205066A
Application number: CN201980035908.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 宫本浩胜; 冈田智之
Original assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co Ltd
Current assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-05-28
Filing date: 2019-05-27
Publication date: 2021-01-08
Also published as: WO2019230622A1; JP7089172B2; JP2019208095A

Abstract

The communication method (S100) comprises: a step (S120) of disconnecting the communication device from the information processing apparatus after writing the BD address of the communication device and the apparatus ID of the information processing apparatus into the memory of the information processing apparatus; a step (S130) of transmitting a broadcast instruction including a BD address and a device ID to each of a plurality of information processing devices (20); in the case where the BD address and the device ID written into the memory of the information processing device coincide with the BD address and the device ID contained in the broadcast instruction, the step of processing in accordance with the broadcast instruction is executed (S140).

Description

Communication method and communication system

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to a communication method and a communication system, and more particularly to a communication method and a communication system capable of improving reliability and security of communication between a communication device and an information processing apparatus to thereby individually control each of a plurality of information processing apparatuses.

Background

In recent years, attention has been paid to a field called IoT (Internet of Things). IoT, as its name implies, all devices located nearby are connected to a communication network such as the internet, a LAN (local area network), etc. By using IoT flexibly, it is possible to obtain various information and operate a device at lower cost than before.

As a main cause of the interest in the IoT field, miniaturization and reduction in power consumption of devices capable of wireless communication, and progress in wireless communication technology can be cited. Particularly in the field of wireless communication technology, a wireless communication specification called BLE (low energy bluetooth (registered trademark)) which consumes very little power is widely used in the IoT field. In wireless communication according to the BLE standard, the communication distance is short, the communication speed is low, but the power consumption is extremely low, and wireless communication can be performed for one year or more with one coin battery (button battery) depending on the communication execution frequency. Therefore, wireless communication in compliance with the BLE specification is being widely utilized in the IoT field where communication with a huge number of devices is required.

One-to-many (1: n) communication between a communication apparatus (master) and a plurality of information processing apparatuses (slaves) in compliance with the BLE standard is performed by performing pairing between the communication apparatus and each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses and then transmitting (broadcasting) the same signal (broadcast instruction) to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses in a state (scanning state) capable of receiving a signal from the communication apparatus.

Such one-to-many communication in compliance with the BLE standard is called broadcast communication, and is widely used for simultaneously controlling a plurality of information processing devices (for example, a sensor, lighting, a camera, a speaker, a switch, a signal, and the like) by one communication apparatus (for example, see patent document 1).

In broadcast communication in compliance with the BLE specification, the same broadcast instruction is transmitted from the communication device to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses. In other words, in broadcast communication based on the BLE standard, the communication apparatus transmits the same signal to all the information processing apparatuses without distinguishing each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, causing them to simultaneously execute the same processing. On the other hand, there is a demand that each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses is desired to be individually controlled according to the use of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, but in broadcast communication in accordance with the BLE standard, each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses cannot be individually controlled. Therefore, broadcast communication in compliance with the BLE specification cannot be utilized for such a demand.

In addition, each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses does not have information for specifying a communication device that is a sender of the broadcast instruction, and therefore even in the case where there are a plurality of communication devices, each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses cannot distinguish the communication device. Therefore, even if there is a demand for a desire to improve the security of broadcast communication from the communication device to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses by activating only the control of the plurality of information processing apparatuses by a specific communication device, broadcast communication in accordance with the BLE standard cannot be used.

In addition, in broadcast communication based on the BLE standard, communication between the communication device and each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses is only a transmission of a broadcast instruction from the communication device to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, and no signal is transmitted from each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses to the communication device. In this way, the broadcast communication in accordance with the BLE specification is one-way communication from the communication device to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses. Therefore, in the broadcast communication in compliance with the BLE standard, the communication device cannot receive a signal from each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, cannot confirm whether or not each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses has received a broadcast command and executed the processing in compliance with the broadcast command, and cannot improve the reliability of the broadcast communication from the communication device to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2018-5977

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

In view of the above-described problems of the related art, an object of the present invention is to: provided are a communication method and a communication system capable of improving the reliability and security of communication from a communication device to each of a plurality of information processing apparatuses, and further individually controlling each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses.

The following inventions (1) to (9) achieve such an object.

(1) A communication method for performing communication between a communication apparatus and a plurality of information processing devices, the communication method characterized by comprising:

transmitting an advertisement signal from the information processing apparatus, the pairing key of which is pressed, to the communication device when the pairing key of each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses is pressed, and establishing a connection between the communication device and the information processing apparatus, the pairing key of which is pressed;

a step of disconnecting the connection between the communication device and the information processing apparatus after writing a BD address for identifying the communication device and an apparatus ID of the information processing apparatus assigned by the communication device into a memory of the information processing apparatus to which the connection with the communication device is established;

transmitting a broadcast command including the BD address and the device ID to each of the plurality of information processing devices that have completed writing the BD address and the device ID into the memory;

and a step of executing, by using the information processing apparatus, a process in accordance with the broadcast command when the BD address and the apparatus ID written in the memory of the information processing apparatus that received the broadcast command match the BD address and the apparatus ID included in the broadcast command.

(2) In the communication method according to the above (1), the communication between the communication device and the plurality of information processing apparatuses is broadcast communication in accordance with BLE (bluetooth low energy) standard.

(3) The communication method according to the above (1) or (2), further comprising: a step of transmitting a response signal from the information processing apparatus, on which the processing in accordance with the broadcast command is performed, to the communication device after the processing in accordance with the broadcast command is performed by the information processing apparatus.

(4) In the communication method according to the above (3), the plurality of information processing devices are configured to execute the step of transmitting the response signal to the communication apparatus after different waiting times have elapsed after the reception of the broadcast command.

(5) In the communication method according to the above (3) or (4), the communication device is configured to repeat the step of transmitting the broadcast command including the BD address and the device ID until the response signals are received from all of the plurality of information processing devices specified by the device ID included in the broadcast command.

(6) In the communication method according to any one of the above (1) to (5), the step of establishing the connection between the communication device and the information processing apparatus in which the pairing key is pressed includes:

transmitting authentication information from the information processing apparatus to which the pairing key is pressed to the communication device, and performing authentication of the information processing apparatus by the communication device;

establishing the connection between the communication device and the information processing apparatus to which the pairing key has been pressed only when the authentication of the information processing apparatus by the communication device has succeeded.

(7) In the communication method according to any one of the above (1) to (6), the step of transmitting the broadcast command including the device ID and the BD address to each of the plurality of information processing devices includes: the step of repeatedly transmitting the broadcast command including the device ID and the BD address to each of the plurality of information processing devices at predetermined intervals during a predetermined period.

(8) A communication system for performing communication between a communication apparatus and a plurality of information processing devices,

the communication device includes a processor and a memory connected to the processor,

the memory of the communication device stores:

a connection establishing module for receiving an advertisement signal from each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses and establishing a connection with the information processing apparatus which has transmitted the advertisement signal;

an information writing module that transmits, to the information processing apparatus to which the connection with the communication device is established, a BD address for specifying the communication device and an apparatus ID of the information processing apparatus assigned by the communication device, thereby writing the BD address and the apparatus ID into a memory of the information processing apparatus;

a broadcast module that transmits a broadcast instruction including the BD address and the device ID to each of the plurality of information processing devices,

each of the plurality of information processing devices is configured to execute processing in accordance with the broadcast command when the BD address and the device ID written in its memory match the BD address and the device ID included in the broadcast command when the broadcast command is received from the communication apparatus.

(9) In the communication system according to the above (8), the communication between the communication device and the plurality of information processing apparatuses is broadcast communication in accordance with BLE (bluetooth low energy) standard.

Effects of the invention

In the communication method and the communication system according to the present invention, the BD address for specifying the communication device and the device ID of the information processing device assigned by the communication device are written in the respective memories of the plurality of information processing devices, and the broadcast command transmitted from the communication device to each of the plurality of information processing devices includes the BD address for specifying the communication device that is the sender of the broadcast command and the device ID of the information processing device to be controlled. Each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses which has received the broadcast command from the communication device compares the BD address and the apparatus ID included in the received broadcast command with the BD address and the apparatus ID written in its own memory, and executes processing in accordance with the broadcast command when the BD address and the apparatus ID included in the received broadcast command match the BD address and the apparatus ID written in its own memory.

Therefore, by adjusting the device ID included in the broadcast instruction, it is possible to select which of the plurality of information processing devices is controlled. Therefore, according to the communication method and the communication system of the present invention, even in the case of using broadcast communication in compliance with the BLE standard, each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses can be individually controlled.

In addition, the information processing apparatus does not execute the processing in accordance with the broadcast instruction in the case where the BD address included in the received broadcast instruction does not coincide with the BD address written in its own memory. Therefore, according to the communication method and the communication system of the present invention, it is possible to activate control of only a specific communication device over a plurality of information processing apparatuses, and improve security of broadcast communication from the communication device to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses.

Further, in the communication method and the communication system of the present invention, the information processing apparatus which performs the processing in accordance with the broadcast instruction transmits the response signal to the communication device. Therefore, the communication apparatus that has transmitted the broadcast instruction can confirm whether each of the plurality of information processing devices has received the broadcast instruction and performed the processing in accordance with the broadcast instruction. Thereby, the reliability of broadcast communication from the communication device to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses can be improved.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a communication system of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the communication apparatus shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the communication method of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the processing in the connection establishment step shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing in the information writing step shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing in the broadcasting step shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart for explaining processing in the information processing execution and response signal/error signal transmission step shown in fig. 3.

Detailed Description

< communication System 1>

First, the communication system of the present invention is explained in detail with reference to fig. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a communication system of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the communication apparatus shown in fig. 1.

The communication system 1 shown in fig. 1 includes a communication device 10, a plurality of information processing apparatuses 20_1 and 20_2 … … 20_ n (hereinafter collectively referred to as information processing apparatuses 20), and executes one-to-many (1: n) communication between the communication device 10 and the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20. In the communication system 1, the communication performed between the communication device 10 and the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 is broadcast communication in accordance with BLE (bluetooth low energy) specification. A broadcast instruction is transmitted from the communication device 10 to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 (transmission of the instruction is also referred to as broadcasting). The broadcast instruction transmitted from the communication device 10 contains an instruction regarding a process (service) that the information processing apparatus 20 should execute, and each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 that have received the broadcast instruction executes a process in accordance with the broadcast instruction.

< communication device 10>, a communication device

The communication device 10 functions as a master (central or broadcast) for broadcast communication in accordance with the BLE standard. The communication device 10 can control the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 by transmitting a broadcast instruction to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20.

The communication device 10 may be implemented as a single device, or may be implemented in any computing device such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a workstation, a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a PDA, and a wearable terminal.

As shown in fig. 2, the communication device 10 includes one or more processors 11 for executing control of the communication device 10, an I/O (input/output) interface 12 for executing input to and output from the communication device 10, a BLE communication unit 13 for executing wireless communication in accordance with the BLE standard, and one or more memories 14 storing a module 15 for executing processing of the communication device 10 and data 16.

The one or more processors 11 are arithmetic units that execute arithmetic processing such as signal manipulation based on computer-readable instructions, such as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), Central Processing Units (CPUs), Memory Controller Units (MCUs), image processing arithmetic processing units (GPUs), state machines, logic circuits, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), or combinations thereof. In particular, the processor 11 is configured to retrieve computer readable instructions (e.g., data, programs, modules, etc.) stored in the memory 14, perform calculations, signal operations, and controls.

The I/O interface 12 includes various software interfaces and hardware interfaces such as a Web interface, a Graphical User Interface (GUI), and the like. The I/O interface 12 is an interface for peripheral devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch-screen display, an external memory, a printer, and a display, for example. The I/O interface 12 can input to the communication device 10 and output from the communication device 10 to a display, a printer, and an external memory using an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel display. The communication device 10 may be configured to be able to communicate with any external device such as a Web server or a data server provided outside via a network such as the internet with respect to the I/O interface 12.

The BLE communication unit 13 is a unit used to perform wireless communication in accordance with the BLE standard. The BLE communication unit 13 includes components necessary for performing wireless communication in accordance with the BLE standard, such as an antenna, a transceiver circuit, and a modem circuit, and performs wireless communication in accordance with the BLE standard with each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 in accordance with an instruction input from the processor 11.

Memory 14 is a computer-readable medium that includes volatile storage media (e.g., RAM, SRAM, DRAM), nonvolatile storage media (e.g., ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, hard disk, optical disk, CD-ROM, Digital Versatile Disks (DVD), Blu-ray disks, magnetic cassettes (magnet カセット), magnetic tape, magnetic disks), or a combination thereof.

The memory 14 is connected to the processor 11 so as to be able to communicate with each other, and stores a plurality of modules 15 that can be executed by the processor 11 and data 16 required for processing by the plurality of modules 15. The memory 14 temporarily stores data received, processed, and generated by one or more of the plurality of modules 15, and data necessary for executing the processing of the plurality of modules 15.

The modules 15 are computer readable instructions that can be executed by the processor 11, such as routines (routines), applications, programs, algorithms, libraries, objects, components, data constructs, or combinations thereof.

The module 15 includes a connection establishing module 151 for establishing a connection (pairing) with the information processing device 20, an information writing module 152 capable of writing information into the memory 23 of the information processing device 20, a broadcasting module 153 that transmits a broadcast instruction to each of the plurality of information processing devices 20, and any number of other modules 154 for supplementing the functions provided by the communication apparatus 10.

The processor 11 is able to provide the desired functionality through the use of various modules stored within the memory 14. For example, the processor 11 can execute processing of transmitting a broadcast instruction to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 by using the broadcast module 153. Various ones of the modules 15 used by the processor 11 to provide the functionality of the communication device 10 will be described in detail later.

The data 16 includes authentication information 161 used for authenticating each of the plurality of information processing devices 20, a BD (bluetooth device) address 162 for specifying the communication apparatus 10, a device ID163 uniquely (unique) assigned to each of the plurality of information processing devices 20, and any number of other data 164 necessary for performing processing of the communication apparatus 10.

The authentication information 161 is information for authenticating the information processing apparatus 20, such as issuance information of an authentication key issued to the information processing apparatus 20. In the present invention, the communication device 10 is configured to execute only communication with a predetermined information processing apparatus 20, and the authentication information 161 is used to authenticate the information processing apparatus 20 which has been permitted to communicate with the communication device 10 in advance. The authentication information 161 is written into the memory 14 at the time of shipment or manufacture of the communication device 10.

The BD address 162 is information for specifying the communication apparatus 10. The BD address 162 is uniquely assigned to the communication apparatus 10. The communication device 10 causes the BD address 162 to be included in a broadcast command transmitted from the communication device 10 to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20. Thus, each of the information processing apparatuses 20 that received the broadcast instruction can specify the communication device 10 that transmitted the broadcast instruction by referring to the BD address 162 included in the received broadcast instruction.

The device ID163 is identification information uniquely assigned to each of the plurality of information processing devices 20 by the communication apparatus 10. When the communication device 10 desires to control only one or more of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20, the device ID163 corresponding to the one or more information processing apparatuses 20 which the communication device 10 desires to control is included in the broadcast command transmitted from the communication device 10 to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20. Thus, each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 that has received the broadcast instruction can determine which information processing apparatus 20 has transmitted the received broadcast instruction in order to control by referring to the apparatus ID163 included in the received broadcast instruction.

The BD address 162 and the device ID163 constitute a broadcast instruction transmitted from the communication device 10 to each of the plurality of information processing devices 20 together with an instruction on processing (service) to be executed by the information processing device 20. The broadcast command used in the existing broadcast communication in compliance with the BLE standard does not include the BD address 162 and the device ID 163. The communication system 1 of the present invention is characterized in that: the broadcast instruction transmitted from the communication device 10 includes, in addition to an instruction relating to processing (service) to be executed by the information processing apparatus 20, a BD address 162 for specifying the communication device 10 that is the sender of the broadcast instruction, and a device ID163 for specifying the information processing apparatus 20 that should be controlled by the broadcast instruction.

< information processing apparatus 20>

Returning to fig. 1, each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 functions as a slave (peripheral or observer) in broadcast communication in accordance with the BLE standard. Each of the information processing devices 20 receives the broadcast instruction transmitted from the communication apparatus 10, and executes processing in accordance with the broadcast instruction.

There is no particular limitation as long as the information processing apparatus 20 can receive the broadcast instruction transmitted from the communication device 10 and execute the processing in accordance with the broadcast instruction. For example, any device such as a sensor, an illumination, a camera, a speaker, a switch, and a traffic signal can be used as the information processing device 20.

As shown in fig. 1, each of the information processing apparatuses 20 includes a processor 21 for executing control of the information processing apparatus 20, a BLE communication unit 22 for executing wireless communication in compliance with the BLE standard with the communication device 10, a memory 23 communicably connected to the processor 21, an application unit 24 for executing predetermined processing (service), a pairing key 25 pressed when pairing with the communication device 10 is executed, and an internal power supply 26. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the information processing apparatuses 20 is driven by electric power supplied from an internal power supply 26 such as a button cell, a dry cell, or a lithium ion battery, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Embodiments in which each of the information processing apparatuses 20 is not provided with the internal power supply 26 but is driven by power supplied from an external power supply (not shown) are also within the scope of the present invention.

The processor 21 is an arithmetic unit similar to the processor 11 of the communication device 10 and executes control of the information processing apparatus 20. The BLE communication unit 22 is a communication unit similar to the BLE communication unit 13 of the communication device 10 described above, and performs wireless communication with the communication device 10 in accordance with the BLE standard.

The memory 23 is a volatile or non-volatile computer readable medium similar to the memory 14 of the communication device 10 described above. The memory 23 of the information processing apparatus 20 holds authentication information 231 such as an authentication key used for authentication of the information processing apparatus 20 performed by the communication device 10. Further, the BD address 162 transmitted from the communication device 10 to specify the communication device 10 and the device ID163 assigned to the information processing device 20 by the communication device 10 are written in the memory 23.

The authentication information 231 is information used for authentication of the information processing apparatus 20 performed by the communication device 10, such as an authentication key issued by the communication device 10. The authentication information 231 is written into the memory 23 of the information processing apparatus 20 at the time of manufacture or shipment of the information processing apparatus 20. The information processing apparatus 20 transmits the authentication information 231 in its own memory 23 to the communication device 10, and the communication device 10 performs authentication of the information processing apparatus 20 by referring to the authentication information 161 in its own memory 14 and the received authentication information 231.

The BD address 162 in the memory 23 corresponds to the BD address 162 stored in the memory 14 of the communication device 10, and is written in the memory 23 of the information processing apparatus 20 when connection (pairing) with the communication device 10 is established. The device ID163 in the memory 23 corresponds to the device ID163 stored in the memory 14 of the communication device 10, and is written in the memory 23 of the information processing device 20 when connection (pairing) with the communication device 10 is established.

In this way, the information processing apparatus 20 used in the communication system 1 of the present invention stores, in the memory 23, the BD address 162 for specifying the communication device 10 that is the sender of the broadcast command and the device ID163 uniquely assigned by the communication device 10. On the other hand, as described above, the broadcast command transmitted from the communication device 10 includes the BD address 162 and the device ID163 in addition to the instruction regarding the process (service) to be executed by the information processing device 20.

Therefore, the information processing apparatus 20 that has received the broadcast command from the communication device 10 can determine whether or not the received broadcast command has been transmitted from the communication device 10 that has established connection (pairing), by comparing the BD address 162 included in the broadcast command transmitted from the communication device 10 with the BD address 162 stored in its memory 23.

Furthermore, the information processing device 20 that has received the broadcast command from the communication apparatus 10 can determine whether or not the broadcast command transmitted is transmitted for controlling itself by comparing the device ID included in the broadcast command transmitted from the communication apparatus 10 with the device ID163 stored in its memory 23.

In the communication system 1 of the present invention, the information processing device 20 is configured to execute processing in accordance with the broadcast command when the BD address 162 and the device ID163 included in the broadcast command match the BD address 162 and the device ID163 written in the memory 23 of the information processing device. On the other hand, the information processing device 20 is configured to discard the received broadcast command if the BD address 162 and the device ID163 included in the broadcast command do not match the BD address 162 and the device ID163 written in the memory 23 of the information processing device.

In other words, the information processing device 20 is configured to execute the processing in accordance with the broadcast command only when the received broadcast command is transmitted from the specific communication apparatus 10 corresponding to the BD address 162 written in the memory 23 of the device and the broadcast command includes the device ID163 corresponding to the device.

Therefore, according to the communication system 1 of the present invention, by adjusting the device ID163 in the broadcast command transmitted from the communication device 10, it is possible to individually control the plurality of information processing devices 20 controlled by the communication device 10. In addition, in the communication system 1 of the present invention, even if the information processing device 20 receives the broadcast instruction, the information processing device does not execute the processing (service) when the BD address 162 in the broadcast instruction does not coincide with the BD address 162 in the memory 23 of the information processing device. Therefore, in the communication system 1 of the present invention, it is possible to activate the control of only the specific communication device 10 to the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20, and improve the security of broadcast communication from the communication device 10 to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20.

The application unit 24 is a unit for executing processing in accordance with the received broadcast instruction in the case where the BD address 162 and the device ID163 contained in the broadcast instruction received by the information processing device 20 coincide with the BD address 162 and the device ID163 written into the memory 23 of the information processing device 20. For example, in the case where the information processing apparatus 20 is a sensor, the application unit 24 is a sensor unit, and in the case where the information processing apparatus 20 is an illumination, the application unit 24 is an illumination unit. The information processing apparatus 20 can execute processing (service) in accordance with the broadcast instruction by using the application unit 24.

The information processing apparatus 20, if the processing (service) in accordance with the broadcast instruction is executed with the application unit 24, transmits a response signal indicating that the processing (service) in accordance with the broadcast instruction is executed to the communication device 10 with the BLE communication unit 22. The response signal transmitted from the information processing apparatus 20 to the communication device 10 contains the apparatus ID163 uniquely assigned to the information processing apparatus 20 by the communication device 10. Therefore, the communication device 10, upon receiving the response signal, can specify the information processing apparatus 20 that transmitted the response signal by referring to the apparatus ID163 included in the response signal.

In this way, the information processing device 20 is configured to transmit a response signal to the communication apparatus 10 after executing processing (service) in accordance with the broadcast instruction. The communication device 10 can confirm that the information processing apparatus 20 has performed the processing in accordance with the broadcast instruction by receiving the response signal. Therefore, according to the communication system 1 of the present invention, the reliability of broadcast communication from the communication device 10 to the information processing apparatus 20 can be improved.

Further, after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed after receiving the broadcast instruction, transmission of a response signal from the information processing apparatus 20 to the communication device 10 is performed. The waiting times of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 are set to be different respectively. This makes it possible to transmit the response signal from each of the plurality of information processing devices 20 to the communication apparatus 10 without any delay and with a predetermined delay. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 simultaneously transmit response signals to the communication device 10 and the response signals interfere.

The method of setting the predetermined waiting time is not particularly limited as long as the waiting times of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 are set to be different from each other, and the predetermined waiting time may be set using, for example, the apparatus ID163 uniquely assigned to the information processing apparatus 20. For example, when the device ID assigned to an arbitrary information processing device 20 is "001", the predetermined waiting time is set to 1 × 10ms to 10ms, and when the device ID assigned to another information processing device 20 is "002", the predetermined waiting time is set to 2 × 10ms to 20 ms.

In addition, the information processing apparatus 20 transmits an error signal to the communication device 10 by using the BLE communication unit 22 in a case where processing (service) according to the broadcast instruction cannot be performed by using the application unit 24. The error signal transmitted from the information processing apparatus 20 to the communication device 10 contains the apparatus ID163 uniquely assigned to the information processing apparatus 20 by the communication device 10. Therefore, the communication device 10 can specify the information processing apparatus 20 that transmitted the error signal by referring to the apparatus ID163 included in the error signal at the time of the received error signal.

Further, after a predetermined waiting time similar to the waiting time used in transmitting the response signal has elapsed after receiving the broadcast instruction, transmission of the error signal from the information processing apparatus 20 to the communication device 10 is performed. Thus, the transmission of the error signal from each of the plurality of information processing devices 20 to the communication apparatus 10 is not simultaneously performed, but is performed with a predetermined delay. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 simultaneously transmit an error signal to the communication device 10 and the error signal interferes.

Transmitting the error signal means that an inappropriate broadcast instruction including the device ID163 corresponding to the information processing device 20 that transmitted the error signal and an instruction to cause the information processing device 20 that transmitted the error signal to perform processing that cannot be executed is transmitted through the communication apparatus 10. Therefore, the communication apparatus 10 that has received the error signal can recognize the device ID163 and/or the instruction that the broadcast instruction needs to be corrected, and prompt the user or the administrator of the communication apparatus 10 to take appropriate measures.

< Module 15 of communication apparatus 10 >)

Next, various modules of the module 15 used by the processor 11 to provide the functions of the communication device 10 will be described with reference to fig. 2.

In order to receive an advertisement signal from each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20, a connection (pairing) with the information processing apparatus 20 that has transmitted the advertisement signal is established, and the connection establishment module 151 is used. If the pairing key 25 of any one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 is pressed (or long-pressed), an advertisement signal (advertisement packet) of the information processing apparatus 20 whose pairing key 25 is pressed is transmitted from the information processing apparatus 20 whose pairing key 25 is pressed to the communication device 10. Further, the advertisement signal transmitted from the information processing apparatus 20 to the communication device 10 is specified by the BLE specification and is a signal (packet) transmitted to the communication device 10 in order to notify the communication device 10 of the presence of the information processing apparatus 20 and information processing (service) provided by the information processing apparatus 20.

The communication apparatus 10, if receiving an advertisement signal from any of the plurality of information processing devices 20, requests the information processing device 20 that has transmitted the advertisement signal to transmit the authentication information 231 stored in the memory 23 of the information processing device 20 to the communication apparatus 10 by the connection establishment module 151.

Then, if the communication device 10 receives the authentication information 231 from the information processing apparatus 20, the connection establishment module 151 performs authentication of the information processing apparatus 20 with reference to the authentication information 161 stored in the memory 14 of the communication device 10 and the received authentication information 231. Specifically, in the case where the authentication information 161 stored in the memory 14 of the communication device 10 corresponds to the received authentication information 231, the connection establishing module 151 authenticates the information processing apparatus 20. The connection establishing module 151 establishes a connection (pairing) with the authenticated information processing apparatus 20 if the information processing apparatus 20 is authenticated.

The information writing module 152 is used so that the BD address 162 for specifying the communication device 10 and the device ID163 uniquely assigned to the information processing device 20 for which connection is established can be transmitted to the information processing device 20 for which connection is established by the connection establishing module 151, and the information processing device 20 can write the BD address 162 and the device ID163 into its own memory 23.

If the connection with the information processing apparatus 20 is established by the connection establishing module 151, the information writing module 152 uniquely assigns the apparatus ID163 to the information processing apparatus 20 whose connection is established. The device ID163 assigned to the information processing device 20 is stored in the memory 14 of the communication apparatus 10.

Then, the information writing module 152 transmits the BD address for specifying the communication device 10 and the device ID163 assigned to the information processing device 20 to which the connection is established, and instructs the information processing device 20 to write the BD address 162 and the device ID163 into its own memory 23. Then, the information writing module 152 cuts off the connection with the information processing apparatus 20. Further, if the connection with the communication device 10 is cut off, the information processing apparatus 20 shifts to a scan state capable of receiving a broadcast instruction from the communication device 10.

With respect to all the information processing apparatuses 20 constituting the communication system 1, the connection establishment between the communication device 10 and the information processing apparatus 20 and the writing of the BD address 162 and the apparatus ID163 into the memory 23 of the information processing apparatus 20 are performed by the above-described connection establishment module 151 and information writing module 152. In addition, when one or more information processing apparatuses 20 are added to the communication system 1 thereafter, every time one or more information processing apparatuses 20 are added to the communication system 1, the connection between the communication device 10 and the added information processing apparatus 20 is established, and writing of the BD address 162 and the apparatus ID163 into the memory 23 of the added information processing apparatus 20 is performed.

By the above-described processing using the connection establishing module 151 and the information writing module 152, the communication system 1 is formed by the communication device 10 that stores the BD address 162 and the plurality of device IDs 163 corresponding to the plurality of information processing devices 20 in the memory 14, and the plurality of information processing devices 20 that store the BD address 162 and the device ID163 uniquely assigned by the communication device 10 in the memory 23.

As described above, in the communication system 1 of the present invention, each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 individually communicates with the communication device 10, and the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 do not communicate with each other, so the topology of the communication system 1 is star-shaped. In the communication system 1 adopting the star topology, the same broadcast command is transmitted simultaneously from the communication device 10 to all the information processing apparatuses 20. Therefore, in the communication system 1 adopting the star topology, the waiting time until the commands (signals) reach all the information processing apparatuses 20 is small, compared with the communication system adopting the ring or bus topology which relays the commands (signals) between the apparatuses, and therefore, the communication system 1 adopting the star topology can control the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 at the same time as soon as possible.

The broadcast module 153 is used in order to transmit a broadcast instruction to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 constituting the communication system 1. The processor 11 of the communication device 10 transmits a broadcast instruction to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 constituting the communication system 1 by the broadcast module 153 at an arbitrary timing (for example, once an hour, once a day, once a month, or a timing designated in advance), or at a timing when an operation for executing transmission of a broadcast instruction is input via the IO interface 12.

The broadcast command includes the BD address 162 stored in the memory 14 of the communication device 10, the device ID163 corresponding to the information processing device 20 that should be controlled in accordance with the broadcast command transmitted from the communication device 10, and an instruction regarding a process (service) to be executed by the information processing device 20.

The broadcast module 153 generates a broadcast instruction in accordance with a condition set in advance, and transmits the broadcast instruction to the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 via the BLE communication unit 13. The information processing apparatus 20 that has received the broadcast command can determine whether or not the received broadcast command has been transmitted from the communication device 10 that has established connection (pairing) by comparing the BD address 162 included in the broadcast command with the BD address 162 stored in its own memory 23. Further, the information processing apparatus 20 that has received the broadcast command can determine whether or not the broadcast command transmitted is to control itself by comparing the apparatus ID163 included in the broadcast command with the apparatus ID163 stored in its own memory 23.

The broadcast module 153 may be configured to transmit a broadcast command to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 constituting the communication system 1 at predetermined intervals (for example, 30ms) for predetermined periods (for example, 250ms, 1000ms, and 2500 ms). Thereby, the broadcast instruction can be reliably transmitted to all of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20.

In addition, the broadcast module 153 determines whether the communication device 10 has received a response signal from all of the one or more information processing apparatuses 20 specified by the apparatus ID163 included in the broadcast instruction. In a case where the communication device 10 does not receive a response signal from all of the one or more information processing apparatuses 20 determined from the apparatus ID163 included in the broadcast instruction, the broadcast instruction is retransmitted to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 constituting the communication system 1.

Further, as described above, the response signal transmitted from the information processing apparatus 20 to the communication device 10 includes the apparatus ID163 uniquely assigned to the information processing apparatus 20, and therefore the broadcast module 153 can determine from which information processing apparatus 20 of the one or more information processing apparatuses 20 determined from the apparatus ID163 included in the broadcast instruction the response signal has not been received by referring to the apparatus ID163 included in the received response signal. Therefore, when the broadcast instruction is retransmitted, the broadcast module 153 may also alter the broadcast instruction so that only the determined information processing apparatus 20 that has not transmitted the response signal is controlled.

The broadcast module 153 determines whether or not the communication device 10 has received an error signal from any of the one or more information processing apparatuses 20 specified by the apparatus ID163 included in the broadcast command. When the communication device 10 receives an error signal from any of the one or more information processing apparatuses 20 specified by the apparatus ID163 included in the broadcast instruction, an inappropriate broadcast instruction is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 20 that has transmitted the error signal. In this case, the broadcast module 153 displays or transmits a message to the user or manager of the communication system 1 or the communication device 10, the message requiring an appropriate measure such as correction of the broadcast command. This enables the user or the administrator of the communication system 1 or the communication device 10 to take appropriate measures such as correction of the broadcast command.

In addition, as described above, the error signal transmitted from the information processing apparatus 20 to the communication device 10 contains the device ID163 uniquely assigned to the information processing apparatus 20, and therefore the broadcast module 153 can specify the information processing apparatus 20 that has transmitted the error signal by referring to the device ID163 contained in the received error signal. Therefore, the broadcast module 153 may include information indicating from which information processing apparatus 20 the error signal was transmitted, in a message displayed or transmitted to the user or the administrator of the communication system 1 or the communication device 10 after receiving the error signal.

The communication method S100 of the present invention is executed by the communication system 1 constituted by the communication apparatus 10 and the plurality of information processing devices 20 described above using such various modules by the processor 11. Hereinafter, the communication method S100 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to fig. 3 to 7.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the communication method of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the processing in the connection establishment step shown in fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing in the information writing step shown in fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing in the broadcasting step shown in fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a flowchart for explaining processing in the information processing execution and response signal/error signal transmission step shown in fig. 3.

The communication method S100 of the present invention shown in fig. 3 is executed by the communication system 1 of the present invention described above. First, in step S110, when the respective pairing key 25 of the information processing apparatuses 20 is pressed, an advertisement signal of the information processing apparatus 20 whose pairing key 25 is pressed is transmitted to the communication device 10, and a connection between the communication device 10 and the information processing apparatus 20 whose pairing key 25 is pressed is established.

Fig. 4 shows details of step S110. In step S111, the pairing key 25 of any one of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 is pressed. If the pairing key 25 of the information processing apparatus 20 is pressed, an advertisement signal is transmitted from the information processing apparatus 20, the pairing key 25 of which is pressed, to the communication device 10. If the communication device 10 receives the advertisement signal from the information processing apparatus 20, the processor 11 of the communication device 10 requests the information processing apparatus 20 that has transmitted the advertisement signal to transmit the authentication information 231 stored in its memory 23 by using the connection establishment module 151 in step S112.

In step S113, the information processing apparatus 20 that has received the request transmits the authentication information 231 stored in its memory 23 to the communication device 10. If the communication device 10 receives the authentication information 231 from the information processing apparatus 20, the processor 11 of the communication device 10 performs authentication of the information processing apparatus 20 with reference to the authentication information 161 stored in the memory 14 of itself and the received authentication information 231 by using the connection establishment module 151 in step S114. In the case where the failure of the information processing apparatus 20 in step S114 has occurred, the process between the information processing apparatus 20 and the communication device 10 in which the pairing key 25 has been pressed ends. On the other hand, in the case where the authentication of the information processing apparatus 20 is successful in step S114, in step S115, the connection (pairing) between the communication device 10 and the information processing apparatus 20 is established, and the communication method S100 shifts to step S120.

Returning to fig. 3, in step S120, after the BD address 162 for specifying the communication device 10 and the device ID163 of the information processing device 20 assigned by the communication device 10 are written into the memory 23 of the information processing device 20 to which the connection with the communication device 10 is established in step S110, the connection between the communication device 10 and the information processing device 20 is disconnected.

Fig. 5 shows details of step S120. In step S121, the processor 11 of the communication apparatus 10 uniquely assigns the device ID163 to the information processing device 20 to which the connection is established in step S110, by using the information writing module 152. The device ID163 assigned to the information processing device 20 is stored in the memory 14 of the communication apparatus 10. Then, the processor 11 of the communication apparatus 10 transmits the BD address 162 for specifying the communication apparatus 10 and the device ID163 assigned to the information processing device 20 to which the connection is established, while instructing the information processing device 20 to write the BD address 162 and the device ID163 into its own memory 23, by using the information writing module 152.

In step S122, the information processing apparatus 20 that has received the BD address 162 and the device ID163 from the communication device 10 writes the received BD address 162 and device ID163 into its own memory 23. Then, in step S123, the connection between the information processing apparatus 20 and the communication device 10 is cut off. Then, in step S124, the information processing apparatus 20 shifts to a scan state capable of receiving a broadcast instruction from the communication device 10. If the information processing apparatus 20 shifts to the scanning state in step S124, the communication method S100 shifts to step S130.

In general, when wireless communication in accordance with the BLE standard is performed, if a connection (pairing) is once established between a master unit (corresponding to the communication device 10 of the present invention) and a slave unit (corresponding to the information processing device 20 of the present invention), the connection is transferred to a scanning state in which the slave unit can receive a broadcast command from the master unit while maintaining the connection. However, when the connection between the master unit and the slave unit is maintained, the consumption of the battery of the slave unit increases. Therefore, in the present invention, after the connection (pairing) between the communication device 10 and the information processing apparatus 20 is established and the BD address 162 and the apparatus ID163 are written into the memory 23 of the information processing apparatus 20, the connection between the communication device 10 and the information processing apparatus 20 is disconnected, and the information processing apparatus 20 shifts to the scanning state. With such a configuration, consumption of the internal power supply 26 of the information processing apparatus 20 in the scanning state can be suppressed.

Further, the establishment of the connection between the communication device 10 and the information processing apparatus 20 in steps S110 and S120, and the writing to the BD address 162 and the device ID163 in the memory 23 of the information processing apparatus 20 are performed for all the information processing apparatuses 20 constituting the communication system 1. Thus, the communication system 1 is configured by the communication device 10 storing the BD address 162 and the plurality of device IDs 163 corresponding to the plurality of information processing devices 20 in the memory 14, and the plurality of information processing devices 20 storing the BD address 162 and the device IDs 163 uniquely assigned by the communication device 10 in the memory 23.

Returning to fig. 3, in step S130, a broadcast instruction is transmitted to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 that have completed writing the BD address 162 and the apparatus ID163 into the memory 23.

Fig. 6 shows details of step S130. In step S130, the processor 11 of the communication apparatus 10 transmits a broadcast instruction to each of the plurality of information processing devices 20 by using the broadcast module 153. The transmission of the broadcast instruction in step S131 is executed at an arbitrary timing (for example, once an hour, once a day, once a month, or a timing designated in advance, etc.) or at a timing when an operation for executing the transmission of the broadcast instruction is input via the I/O interface 12.

As shown in fig. 6, a broadcast command is transmitted from the communication device 10 to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 at predetermined intervals (e.g., 30ms intervals) for a predetermined period (e.g., 250ms, 1000ms, 2500 ms). Thereby, it is possible to cause all of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 to reliably receive the broadcast instruction. If the transmission of the broadcast instruction in step S131 ends, the communication method S100 shifts to step S140.

Returning to fig. 3, in step S140, in the case where the BD address 162 and the device ID163 written into the memory 23 of the information processing device 20 that received the broadcast instruction coincide with the BD address 162 and the device ID163 contained in the broadcast instruction, processing in accordance with the broadcast instruction is executed by the information processing device 20. Further, in step S140, a response signal or an error signal is transmitted from the information processing apparatus 20 that has received the broadcast instruction to the communication device 10.

Fig. 7 shows details of step S140. In step S141, each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 receives the broadcast instruction transmitted from the communication device 10 in step S130. In step S142, each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 that received the broadcast instruction collates the BD address 162 and the apparatus ID163 written into the own memory 23 with the BD address 162 and the apparatus ID163 included in the broadcast instruction.

If the result is that the BD address 162 and the device ID163 written in the memory 23 of the information processing device do not match the BD address 162 and the device ID163 included in the broadcast command, the process of the information processing device 20 proceeds to step S143. In step S143, the information processing apparatus 20 discards the received broadcast instruction, a series of processes of the information processing apparatus 20 ends, and the information processing apparatus 20 shifts to the scan state again.

On the other hand, if the BD address 162 and the device ID163 written in the own memory 23 match the BD address 162 and the device ID163 included in the broadcast command, the process of the information processing device 20 proceeds to step S144. In step S144, the information processing apparatus 20 discriminates whether or not the processing (service) in accordance with the broadcast instruction can be executed by the own application unit 24.

If the processing (service) in accordance with the broadcast instruction cannot be executed by the own application unit 24, the process of the information processing apparatus 20 proceeds to step S143, and the broadcast instruction received as described above is discarded. Then, in step S145, the information processing apparatus 20 transmits an error signal indicating that the processing (service) in accordance with the broadcast instruction cannot be executed by the own application unit 24 to the communication device 10. In addition, the error signal transmitted from the information processing apparatus 20 to the communication device 10 contains the apparatus ID163 uniquely assigned to the information processing apparatus 20 by the communication device 10. The communication device 10 can specify the information processing apparatus 20 that transmitted the error signal by referring to the apparatus ID163 included in the error signal. Further, after the above-described waiting time has elapsed after the reception of the broadcast instruction, the transmission of the error signal to the communication device 10 by the information processing apparatus 20 is performed. If the transmission of the error signal in step S145 ends, a series of processing of the information processing apparatus 20 ends, and the information processing apparatus 20 shifts to the scanning state again.

On the other hand, in a case where the process (service) in accordance with the broadcast instruction can be executed with the own application unit 124, the process of the information processing apparatus 20 shifts to step S146. In step S146, the information processing apparatus 20 executes processing (service) in accordance with the broadcast instruction using the application unit 24. Then, in step S147, the information processing apparatus 20 transmits a response signal indicating that the processing (service) in accordance with the broadcast instruction is executed to the communication device 10. In addition, the response signal transmitted from the information processing device 20 to the communication apparatus 10 contains the device ID163 uniquely assigned to the information processing device 20 by the communication apparatus 10. The communication device 10 can specify the information processing apparatus 20 that transmitted the response signal by referring to the apparatus ID163 included in the response signal. Further, after the above-described waiting time has elapsed after the reception of the broadcast instruction, the transmission of the response signal to the communication device 10 by the information processing apparatus 20 is performed. If the transmission of the response signal in step S147 ends, a series of processing of the information processing apparatus 20 ends, and the information processing apparatus 20 shifts to the scanning state again. Then, the communication method S100 proceeds to step S150.

Returning to fig. 3, in step S150, processor 11 of communication apparatus 10 determines, by broadcast module 153, whether or not response signals have been received from all information processing devices 20 identified by one or more device IDs 163 included in the broadcast instruction. When response signals are received from all the information processing apparatuses 20 specified by the one or more apparatus IDs 163 included in the broadcast instruction, the processor 11 of the communication device 10 determines that the control of the desired information processing apparatus 20 is completed according to the broadcast instruction, and the communication method S100 ends.

On the other hand, in a case where response signals are not received from all the information processing apparatuses 20 determined from the one or more apparatus IDs 163 included in the broadcast instruction, the communication method S100 proceeds to step S160. In step S160, the processor 11 of the communication apparatus 10 determines, by using the broadcast module 153, the information processing device 20 that has not transmitted the response signal among the information processing devices 20 determined from the one or more device IDs 163 included in the broadcast instruction. In addition, when the communication device 10 receives an error signal, the processor 11 of the communication device 10 determines, by using the broadcast module 153, the information processing apparatus 20 that has transmitted the error signal among the information processing apparatuses 20 determined from the one or more apparatus IDs 163 included in the broadcast instruction. These determinations are performed by reference to the device ID163 contained in the received response signal and/or error signal.

If the information processing apparatus 20 that has not transmitted the response signal is determined, the processor 11 of the communication device 10 changes the broadcast instruction to include the device ID163 corresponding to the information processing apparatus 20 that has not transmitted the response signal, and not include the device ID163 corresponding to the information processing apparatus 20 that has transmitted the response signal, using the broadcast module 153. Then, the communication method S100 returns to step S130, and the transmission of the changed broadcast command is executed. In addition, the change of the broadcast command in step S160 may be omitted. In this case, the communication method S100 returns to step S130 to retransmit the same broadcast instruction as the previous time to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20.

In addition, when the information processing apparatus 20 that has transmitted the error signal is determined, the processor 11 of the communication device 10 displays or transmits a message that an appropriate measure such as correction of a broadcast instruction needs to be taken to the user or the manager of the communication system 1 or the communication device 10 by using the I/O interface 12. This enables the user or the administrator of the communication system 1 or the communication device 10 to take appropriate measures such as correction of the broadcast command.

In this way, in the communication system 1 and the communication method S100 of the present invention, the BD address 162 for specifying the communication device 10 that is the sender of the broadcast command and the device ID163 uniquely assigned by the communication device 10 are stored in the memory 23 of the information processing apparatus 20. Further, the broadcast command transmitted from the communication device 10 includes the BD address 162 and the device ID163 in addition to an instruction regarding a process (service) to be executed by the information processing device 20.

Furthermore, each of the plurality of information processing devices 20 that has received the broadcast command from the communication apparatus 10 compares the BD address 162 and the device ID163 included in the received broadcast command with the BD address 162 and the device ID163 written in the own memory 23, and executes the processing in accordance with the broadcast command when the BD address 162 and the device ID163 included in the received broadcast command match the BD address 162 and the device ID163 written in the own memory 23.

Therefore, according to the communication system 1 and the communication method S100 of the present invention, by adjusting the device ID163 included in the broadcast command, even in the case of using broadcast communication in compliance with the BLE standard, each of the plurality of information processing devices can be individually controlled.

Furthermore, each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 that has received the broadcast command from the communication device 10 does not execute the processing in accordance with the broadcast command when the BD address 162 included in the received broadcast command does not match the BD address 162 written in the memory 23 of the apparatus itself. Therefore, according to the communication system 1 and the communication method S100 of the present invention, it is possible to activate the control of only the specific communication device 10 to the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20, and improve the security of the broadcast communication from the communication device 10 to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20.

In addition, in the communication system 1 and the communication method S100 of the present invention, the information processing apparatus 20 that has performed the processing in accordance with the broadcast instruction transmits the response signal to the communication device 10. Therefore, the communication device 10 that has transmitted the broadcast instruction can confirm whether each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 has received the broadcast instruction and performed the processing in accordance with the broadcast instruction. Thereby, the reliability of broadcast communication from the communication device 10 to each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 can be improved.

As described above, the communication system 1 and the communication method S100 of the present invention can provide the following significant advantages that cannot be provided in the existing wireless communication conforming to the BLE standard: individual control of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 is enabled; only the control of the plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 by the specific communication device 10 is activated, so that the security of broadcast communication can be improved; further, the response signal is transmitted from the information processing device 20 that has performed the processing to the communication apparatus 10, and therefore the reliability of the broadcast communication is improved.

In particular, by using the communication system 1 and the communication method S100 of the present invention, it is possible to individually control a plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 by one transmission of a broadcast command by one communication device 10, and by receiving response signals or error signals from all the information processing apparatuses 20 that should be controlled, it is possible to recognize the execution status of processing by each information processing apparatus 20. Therefore, the communication system 1 and the communication method S100 of the present invention are particularly useful in a system that individually controls many information processing apparatuses 20 and requires high reliability and high security of broadcast communication.

Therefore, the communication system 1 and the communication method S100 of the present invention can be used efficiently and flexibly in, for example, a patient bed sensor monitoring system in the medical field constituted by a plurality of sensors and a management device mounted on a patient bed, a sensor system such as a plant process monitoring system constituted by a plurality of sensors and a management device for monitoring each process of a plant, an LED illumination system for controlling a plurality of LED illuminations, a game machine, a toy, a wireless switch system for simultaneously and individually turning on/off a plurality of devices, a wearable device system for controlling a plurality of wearable devices mounted on a body, a biosensor, and the like, which require simultaneous and individual control of various devices.

The communication method and the communication system according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the illustrated embodiments, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The configuration of each component of the present invention can be replaced with any component that can exhibit the same function, or a component having any configuration can be added to the configuration of the present invention.

It is to be understood that those skilled in the art and technology to which the present invention pertains may be able to carry out the described changes in the configuration of the communication method and communication system of the present invention without departing from the principle, thought method, and scope of the present invention, and that the communication method and communication system having the changed configuration are also within the scope of the present invention.

For example, the number and types of components of the communication system shown in fig. 1 to 2 are merely examples for explanation, and the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. Embodiments in which any components are added or combined or any combination is deleted within a range not departing from the principle and intent of the present invention are also within the scope of the present invention. Further, each component of the communication system may be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination thereof.

The number and types of steps of the communication method shown in fig. 3 to 7 are merely examples for explanation, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Embodiments in which any step is added or combined or any step is deleted for any purpose within a range not departing from the principle and intent of the present invention are also within the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the above description, the connection establishment module 151 may also group a plurality of information processing apparatuses 20 in correspondence with the characteristics of the information processing apparatuses 20 (for example, the contents of processing (services) provided by the information processing apparatuses 20) when uniquely assigning the apparatus ID163 to the information processing apparatuses 20. In this case, the device ID163 assigned to each information processing device 20 may also include a group ID for identifying a group to which the information processing device 20 belongs.

Availability in industry

In the communication method and the communication system of the present invention, the BD address for specifying the communication device and the device ID of the information processing device assigned by the communication device are written in the respective memories of the plurality of information processing devices, and the broadcast command transmitted from the communication device to each of the plurality of information processing devices includes the BD address for specifying the communication device that is the sender of the broadcast command and the device BD of the information processing device to be controlled. Each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses which has received the broadcast command from the communication device compares the BD address and the apparatus ID included in the received broadcast command with the BD address and the apparatus ID written in its own memory, and executes processing in accordance with the broadcast command when the BD address and the apparatus ID included in the received broadcast command match the BD address and the apparatus ID written in its own memory.

Therefore, by adjusting the device ID included in the broadcast instruction, it is possible to select which of the plurality of information processing devices is controlled. Therefore, according to the communication method and the communication system of the present invention, even in the case of using broadcast communication in compliance with the BLE standard, each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses can be individually controlled. Therefore, the present invention has industrial applicability.

Claims

1. A communication method for performing communication between a communication apparatus and a plurality of information processing devices, the communication method characterized by comprising:

2. The communication method according to claim 1,

the communication between the communication device and the plurality of information processing apparatuses is broadcast communication in accordance with a BLE (bluetooth low energy) specification.

3. The communication method according to claim 1 or 2,

the communication method further includes: a step of transmitting a response signal from the information processing apparatus, on which the processing in accordance with the broadcast command is performed, to the communication device after the processing in accordance with the broadcast command is performed by the information processing apparatus.

4. The communication method according to claim 3,

the plurality of information processing apparatuses are configured to: and transmitting the response signal to the communication device after different waiting times have elapsed after the broadcast command is received.

5. The communication method according to claim 3 or 4,

the communication device is configured to: the step of transmitting the broadcast command including the BD address and the device ID is repeatedly executed until the response signals are received from all of the plurality of information processing devices identified by the device ID included in the broadcast command.

6. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

the step of establishing the connection between the communication device and the information processing apparatus to which the pairing key is pressed includes:

transmitting authentication information from the information processing apparatus to which the pairing key is pressed to the communication device, and performing authentication of the information processing apparatus by the communication device; and

7. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

the step of transmitting the broadcast command including the device ID and the BD address to each of the plurality of information processing devices includes: the step of repeatedly transmitting the broadcast command including the device ID and the BD address to each of the plurality of information processing devices at predetermined intervals during a predetermined period.

8. A communication system for performing communication between a communication apparatus and a plurality of information processing devices,

the memory of the communication device stores:

an information writing module that transmits a BD address for specifying the communication device and a device ID of the information processing device assigned by the communication device to the information processing device to which the connection with the communication device is established, thereby writing the BD address and the device ID into a memory of the information processing device; and

each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses is configured to: when the BD address and the device ID written in the memory of the communication apparatus match the BD address and the device ID included in the broadcast command, the communication apparatus executes processing in accordance with the broadcast command.

9. The communication system of claim 8,