JP2001346242A - Information processing unit and method, and program storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a management system whose extension is facilitated. SOLUTION: Hosts 1-1-1-n are interconnected by wired channels or wireless channels. Each host 1-i makes wireless communication with communication units 2-1-2-m fitted to objects 11-1-11-m within a prescribed area to monitor the objects. When the object 11-j moves from an area managed by the host 1-i to an area managed by the other host, management data are also handed- over from the host 1-i to the other host.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and a program storage medium, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus and method suitable for simple and easy monitoring in an area of any size. And a program storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, various security systems have been proposed. In many cases, in these security systems, monitoring cameras and sensors are arranged at predetermined points, and monitoring is performed by monitoring the output at a center.

[0003]

However, in a conventional security system, a monitoring camera or a sensor is arranged at a predetermined position, and once a system for monitoring its output at a center is constructed, the area to be monitored is monitored. There was a problem that it would be difficult to expand the The extension also includes
There was a problem that cost much.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and realizes a system which can be expanded more easily and at low cost.

[0005]

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a communication means for communicating with a communication device, a calculation means for calculating a distance to the communication device, and a distance calculated by the calculation means. Comparing means for comparing the reference value with the reference value, output means for outputting a predetermined message based on the comparison result of the comparing means, and handover processing with another information processing apparatus when the communication apparatus moves out of the area. And a handover means for executing

[0006] The communication device may be added to a predetermined management target.

The output means may output a warning as a message.

According to the information processing method of the present invention, a communication step for communicating with a communication device, a calculation step for calculating a distance to the communication device, a distance calculated by the processing of the calculation step, and a reference value set in advance Performing a handover process with another information processing device when the communication device moves out of the area, and outputting a predetermined message based on a comparison result of the process of the comparison step. And performing a handover step.

The program of the storage medium according to the present invention includes a communication step for communicating with a communication device, an operation step for calculating a distance to the communication device, a distance calculated by the processing of the operation step, and a predetermined reference. A comparison step of comparing the value with a value, an output step of outputting a predetermined message based on a comparison result of the processing of the comparison step, and a handover process with another information processing device when the communication device moves out of the area. Performing a handover step.

[0010] In the information processing apparatus and method of the present invention, and the program of the program storage medium, when the communication apparatus moves to another area, a handover process is performed with another information processing apparatus.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of one unit of a monitoring system to which the present invention is applied. This unit includes a host 1 and communication devices 2-1 to 2-7 arranged at arbitrary positions near the host 1. The host 1 is at a predetermined distance (for example, 10 m to 100 m)
, A maximum of seven communication devices 2-1 to 2-
7 (hereinafter, these communication devices are simply referred to as a communication device 2 when there is no need to distinguish them individually. The same applies to other devices), and wireless communication is possible.

[0012] This communication includes Bluetooth (Bluetoot).
h) A communication function known as (trademark) can be used.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the overall configuration of a monitoring system to which the present invention is applied. In this configuration example,
The host 1-1 and the host 1-2 are arranged in the area 3-1 and the hosts 1-3 to 1-n are arranged in the area 3-2. The hosts 1-1 to 1-n are connected serially by wire or wirelessly. And these hosts 1
Objects 11-1 to 11-m to be monitored are arranged at arbitrary positions in the communication areas -1 to 1-n.

As shown in FIG. 3, a communication device 2-1 is added to the object 11-1, and although not shown, other objects 11-2 to 11-m are also provided. Communication device 2
−2 to 2-m are added.

FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of the communication device 2-1 (although not shown, other communication devices 2-2 to 2--2).
m has the same configuration). The antenna 21 exchanges information with the host 1 in the area where the communication device 2 is located by radio waves. The transmission / reception unit 22 transmits the transmission information supplied from the modulation / demodulation unit 23 as a radio wave via the antenna 21, receives the radio wave transmitted from the host 1, and outputs the received signal to the modulation / demodulation unit 23.

The modulation / demodulation unit 23 modulates the data to be transmitted supplied from the control unit 24 by a predetermined method, outputs the modulated data to the transmission / reception unit 22, and demodulates the reception signal input from the transmission / reception unit 22. The obtained data is supplied to the control unit 24. The control unit 24 is constituted by, for example, a microcomputer or the like, and supplies the data supplied from the modem unit 23 to the storage unit 26 to be stored. In addition, the control unit 24 receives and processes input from the input / output unit 25 such as various switches, buttons, a mouse, a keyboard, a microphone, and a video camera, and controls a speaker, a display, an LED, and a lamp of the input / output unit 25. Outputs a predetermined signal.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the host 1-1 (although not shown, the other hosts 1-2 to 1-n have the same configuration). CPU (Central Processing
Unit) 41 is a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 42 or a RAM (Rando
m Access Memory) 43 to execute various processes according to the program loaded. The RAM 43 also has a CPU 41
The data necessary for executing various processes is also stored as appropriate.

The CPU 41, the ROM 42, and the RAM 43 are mutually connected via a bus 44. The bus 44 is also connected to an input / output interface 45.

The input / output interface 45 is connected to an input unit 46 including a keyboard and a mouse, a display including a CRT and an LCD, an output unit 47 including a speaker, and a storage unit 48 including a hard disk. In addition, the antenna 21 in FIG.
An antenna similar to the transmitting / receiving unit 22 and the modem unit 23;
A communication unit 49 including a transmission / reception unit and a modulation / demodulation unit (both not shown) is connected. Communication unit 49
Performs a communication process with the communication device 2.

A drive 50 is connected to the input / output interface 45 as necessary.
An optical disk 62, a magneto-optical disk 63, a semiconductor memory 64, or the like is appropriately mounted, and a computer program read therefrom is installed in the storage unit 48 as needed.

Each of the hosts 1-1 to 1-n has a handover function. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the communication device 2-1 is located in the area C1 of the radius R1 of the host 1-1 (that is, the communication device 2-
When the distance L11 between the host 1 and the host 1-1 is equal to or less than the radius R1 of the communicable area C1 centered on the host 1-1), the host 1-1 communicates with the communication device 2-1.
As shown in FIG. 7, the communication device 2-1 is connected to the host 1-2.
Is moved to the area C2 (communication device 2-1).
The distance L11 between the host and the host 1-1 is equal to the radius R1 of the area C1.
(When the distance L12 between the communication device 2-1 and the host 1-2 is smaller than the radius R2 of the communicable area C2 of the host 1-2), the host 1-2 The communication with the communication device 2-1 performed by the communication device 1-1 is taken over without interruption.

Thus, even if the communication device 2-1 moves to any of the areas 3-1 to 3-2 shown in FIG. 2, it communicates with any of the hosts 1-1 to 1-n. It is made possible.

When the areas 3-1 and 3-2 shown in FIG. 2 are expanded, a required number of servers 1 covering the expanded range are added. Handover processing is similarly performed between the server and the added server.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The monitoring process in the system of FIG. 2 will be described. Note that this process is performed independently by each host 1, but here, the process will be described as the process of the host 1-1.

In step S1, the CP of the host 1-1 is
U41 is the I of the object registered in advance as a monitoring target.
Select D. That is, for example, in the system of FIG. 2, IDs as identification information of the objects 11-1 to 11-3 are stored in the storage unit 48 in advance in the host 1-1 as IDs of the objects to be monitored. Objects 11-1 to 11
-3, communication devices 2-1 to 2-3 are respectively added thereto, and the host 1-1 substantially communicates with the communication devices 2-1 to 2-3 to set the target. Object 11-1
To 11-3. Therefore, in the storage unit 48 of the host 1-1, IDs as identification information of the communication devices 2-1 to 2-3 are stored in advance corresponding to the IDs of the objects 11-1 to 11-3. I have.

FIG. 9 schematically shows an example of storage of a database in the storage section 48. In the example of FIG. 9, the ID of the target 11
IDs 11-1 to 11-3 which are IDs of -1 to 11-3
In addition, IDs 2-1 to 2-3, which are IDs of the communication devices 2-1 to 2-3, are stored in correspondence with these IDs.

Similarly, in the example of FIG.
Reference numeral 2 denotes an ID of the communication device 2-4, 2-5, and a server 1-3.
Is the ID of the communication device 2-6, 2-7, and the server 1-n is
The IDs of the communication devices 2- (m-2) to 2-m are stored together with the IDs of the corresponding objects 11-4 to 11-m.

In step S1, the CPU 41 selects, for example, the ID 2-1 which is the ID of the communication device 2-1 corresponding to the object 11-1.

Next, in step S2, the CPU 41
Determines whether communication with the communication device selected in step S1 has been completed. In this case, it is determined whether communication with the communication device 2-1 has been successfully performed.

At this time, the CPU 41 controls the communication unit 49 to cause each communication device to transmit a command requesting to output a response when its ID is ID2-1.

In each communication device 2, when the transmitting / receiving unit 22 receives a radio wave from the host 1-1 via the antenna 21, it outputs the received signal to the modem 23. The modulation / demodulation unit 23 demodulates the input received signal, and
Output to The control unit 24 reads the input command and executes a process corresponding to the command. In this case, if the ID is ID2-1, transmission of a response has been requested, so the control unit 24 reads its own ID stored in the storage unit 26 in advance. And its ID
Is the ID2-1, the control unit 24 outputs to the modem unit 23 data representing a response indicating that the control unit 24 is a communication device having the ID2-1. Modem 2
Reference numeral 3 modulates the input data and causes the transmission / reception unit 22 to transmit the data by radio waves via the antenna 21.

The control unit 24 does not output a response if its own ID stored in the storage unit 26 is not ID2-1.

The communication unit 49 of the host 1-1 includes the communication device 2
When receiving the radio wave from, it demodulates it and outputs the demodulated data to the CPU 41. As described above, only the communication device having ID 2-1 outputs a response. If the communication device 2-1 is located within the range (jurisdiction area) where the radio wave of the host 1-1 can reach, the communication device 2-
A response from 1 should be received. Therefore, in step S2, the CPU 41 determines whether or not communication with the communication device 2 selected in step S1 has been completed, that is, in this case, whether or not a response has been received from the communication device 2-1.

When the communication with the selected communication device is established, the process proceeds to step S3, where the CPU 41 detects the reception signal level of the signal from the communication device 2, and calculates the distance to the communication device from the detection result.

That is, at this time, the CPU 41
9 to detect the level of the received signal, receive the level of the detected signal, and execute a process of converting the level into a distance. That is, the level of the received signal is stronger as the level is closer to the host 1-1, and the level of the host 1-1 is higher.
It gets smaller as it gets farther away. Accordingly, the CPU 41 can calculate the distance to the communication device 2 that has generated the signal based on the level of the received signal.

This calculation may be performed each time the calculation process is actually performed, or may be performed by converting a reception level into a distance using a conversion table prepared in advance. It is. Further, the reception level itself can be calculated as the distance.

Next, proceeding to step S4, the CPU 41
It is determined whether the distance calculated in step S3 is within a predetermined distance set in advance.

That is, in this example, the object 11
The distance from the host 1-1 to be arranged is set in advance for each (communication device 2). In the example of FIG. 9, the target 11-1 is located within a distance L1 from the host 1-1, and the target 11-2 is located within a distance L2 from the host 1-1. It is recorded in advance that 11-3 is located within the range of the distance L3. When these objects 11 (communication device 2) are not located within these preset distances, the objects 11 exist in the monitoring area, but have moved from their original positions. become. Therefore, in this case, step S5
The CPU 41 controls the output unit 47 to output a predetermined warning message.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the distance L11 of the communication device 2-1 from the host 1-1 is determined by the area C
If the radius is smaller than the radius R1 of 1 but is larger than the radius R11 corresponding to the distance L1 stored in advance, the object 11-1 has been moved from the original position to the wrong position. Therefore, at this time, a message indicating that the target object 11-1 is displaced from the original position is output.

On the other hand, when the distance calculated in step S3 is equal to or smaller than the stored value L1, it is determined that the target object 11-1 is located at an intended position. Can be estimated. Therefore, in this case, the process returns to step S1, and the subsequent processes are executed.

For example, at this time, in the process again in step S1, the ID of the communication device 2-2 registered next is selected, and the same process is executed for the ID.

The same processing is executed for all the communication devices 2-1 to 2-3 managed by the host 1-1 in the area C1. All communication devices 2-1 to 2-3
Are located within a predetermined distance set in advance, the monitored objects 11-1 to 11-3 are connected to the host 1--1.
1 is normally located in the area C1 under its jurisdiction.

Such a monitoring process is continuously and repeatedly executed.

Note that the maximum value of the distance stored in advance as being within the monitoring range of each object 11 is a distance at which the host 1-1 can communicate with the communication device 2 by radio waves.

On the other hand, the object 11-1 registered as an object managed by the host 1-1 becomes the host 1-1.
In the case where the object 11-1 has been moved from the first jurisdiction area C1 to the jurisdiction area of the host 1-3, the object 11-1 has not been stolen, and is still located in the monitoring area of the entire system. I have. Even in such a case, the system can recognize that the target 11-1 is located in the monitoring area.

Therefore, when it is determined in step S2 that communication with the communication device 2 having the ID of the communication device selected in step S1 cannot be performed (the host 1-1 communicates with the communication device 2-1). Is moved to the area under the jurisdiction of the host 1-3, it becomes impossible to communicate with the communication device 2-1).
Determines whether there is another host that hands over the management of the communication device 2-1 (object 11-1). In the example of FIG. 2, the host 1-1 is located at the end, and there is no other adjacent host on the left side in the figure. However, on the right side of the figure, the adjacent host 1-
There are two. Therefore, in this case, the process proceeds to step S7,
The CPU 41 of the host 1-1 executes a process of handing over the management of the target object 11-1 (communication device 2-1), which is the current target, to the host 1-2. At this time, host 1
The -1 CPU 41 reads data necessary for management of the object 11-1 from the storage unit 48, transfers the data to the host 1-2, and stores it therein. Thereby, the storage unit 4 of the host 1-2
8, the management data of the object 11-1 (communication device 2-1) is stored, and thereafter, the host 1-2 makes the object 11-1.
The monitoring process for the (communication device 2-1) is executed in the same manner as in the case described above.

However, in this case, the communication device 1-2 has been moved to the area under the control of the host 1-3, and
The second CPU 41 cannot communicate with the communication device 2-1. Then, the CPU 41 of the host 1-2 proceeds to step S
From 2, the process proceeds to step S <b> 6, and it is determined whether there is another host to be handed over. The monitoring process for the object 11-1 (communication device 2-1) has been handed over from the host 1-1, so the CPU 41 of the host 1-2 has
Selects host 1-3 as another host capable of handover. Then, in step S7, the CPU 41 of the host 1-2 hands over the management data for the object 11-1 (communication device 2-1) handed over from the host 1-1 to another adjacent host 1-3. I do.

As a result, the object 11-1 (communication device 2-
The management data of 1) is stored in the storage unit 48 of the host 1-3, and thereafter, the host 1-3 monitors whether or not the object 11-1 exists in the management area. The CPU 41 of the host 1-3 communicates with the communication device 2-1 of the object 11-1.
Can be communicated with, so that the presence of the object 11-1 can be confirmed in the same manner as in the case described above.

On the other hand, if the object 11-1 is stolen, none of the hosts 1 can communicate with the communication device 2-1.

Then, in the example of the system of FIG.
In the figure, the rightmost host 1-n transfers the management data of the object 11-1 (communication device 2-1) to the host 1- (n-
Since the handover is performed from 1), there is no other host to which the data is further handed over. Therefore, in this case, the CPU 41 of the host 1-n determines in step S6 that there is no other host to be handed over, and proceeds to step S8, in which the management target 11-1 (the communication device 2-1). ) Is output in the output unit 47.
Output from

As described above, the case where the present invention is applied to a security system has been described as an example. However, in the present invention, in a factory, an assembling apparatus incorporating a communication device is arranged on a line, and a product is arranged along the line. In the case of assembling, it is also possible to apply the present invention to manage the pass rate of the product process and the number of products produced. In this case, a product can be assembled and manufactured by assigning an ID to each assembling apparatus and transmitting a control signal to which the ID is added. By changing the control signal, switching to a different product can be performed smoothly.

Further, according to the present invention, a host is arranged on a route through which an object to be guided equipped with a communication device passes, and the object can be accurately located on the route while monitoring the ID and the reception field strength of each communication device. It is also possible to apply to a guiding system. Thereby, for example, a visually impaired guidance system,
Car boarding purchasing system (so-called drive-through),
It is possible to realize a route guidance system at the event venue.

The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware, but can also be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software executes various functions by installing a computer built in dedicated hardware or installing various programs. For example, it is installed in a general-purpose personal computer or the like from a network or a program storage medium.

As shown in FIG. 5, the program storage medium is a magnetic disk 61 (including a floppy disk) on which the program is recorded, which is distributed in order to provide the program to the user separately from the computer, and an optical disk. 62 (CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory), DV
D (including Digital Versatile Disk), a magneto-optical disk 63 (including MD (Mini-Disk)), or a package medium including a semiconductor memory 64, etc. RO where the program is recorded, provided to the user
It is composed of an M42, a hard disk included in the storage unit 48, and the like.

In this specification, the step of describing a program recorded on a program storage medium is not limited to processing performed in chronological order according to the described order, but is not necessarily performed in chronological order. , And also includes processes executed in parallel or individually.

In this specification, the system is
It represents the entire device composed of a plurality of devices.

[0057]

As described above, according to the information processing apparatus and method and the program storage medium of the present invention, when the communication apparatus moves out of the area, the management is handed over to another information processing apparatus. Therefore, a low-cost and highly expandable management system can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a unit constituting a management system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an object and a communication device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the communication device in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a host shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a handover.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a handover.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the host in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of recording in a database of the host in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating management based on a received signal level.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-1 to 1-n host, 2-1 to 2-m communication device, 3-1 and 3-2 area, 11-1 to 11
-M object

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04Q 9/00 321 (72) Inventor Hirofumi Tsunoda 6-35 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Stock F term in the company (reference) 5K033 AA09 CB06 DA01 DA17 EA03 5K048 AA06 BA10 BA21 BA41 DA03 DB01 DC01 EB10 EB15 HA01 HA02 5K067 AA22 BB21 BB36 DD36 EE02 EE10 EE16 EE23 JJ39

Claims (5)

[Claims] An information processing device that is connected to another information processing device by wire or wirelessly and communicates wirelessly with a communication device in a predetermined area, wherein: a communication unit that communicates with the communication device; Calculating means for calculating the distance; comparing means for comparing the distance calculated by the calculating means with a preset reference value; and an output for outputting a predetermined message based on a comparison result of the comparing means. And a handover means for performing a handover process with the other information processing device when the communication device moves out of the area. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is added to a predetermined management target. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output unit outputs a warning as the message. 4. An information processing method for an information processing device, which is connected to another information processing device by wire or wireless, and wirelessly communicates with a communication device in a predetermined area, comprising: a communication step of communicating with the communication device; A calculation step of calculating the distance to the communication device; a comparison step of comparing the distance calculated by the processing of the calculation step with a preset reference value; and a comparison result of the processing of the comparison step. An output step of outputting a predetermined message; and a handover step of executing a handover process with the another information processing apparatus when the communication apparatus moves out of the area. 5. A program for an information processing device that is connected to another information processing device by wire or wirelessly and communicates wirelessly with a communication device in a predetermined area, comprising: a communication step of communicating with the communication device; A calculating step of calculating a distance to the above, a comparing step of comparing the distance calculated by the processing of the calculating step with a preset reference value, and a predetermined value based on a comparison result of the processing of the comparing step. And a handover step of performing a handover process with the other information processing device when the communication device moves out of the area. A program storage medium in which is stored.