JP2003110749A - Sensor information transmitter, sensor network system, sensor information transmitting program, computer readable recording medium for recording sensor information transmitting program and method for controlling sensor information transmitter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sensor managing device 4 for selecting a desired communication network according to situations, and for transmitting it to the outside. SOLUTION: This sensor managing device 4 for transmitting sensor information from a plurality of sensors 5 through a plurality of communication networks 6a, and 6b to a central managing device 2 is provided with a plurality of communication interface parts 43a and 43b for converting the sensor information in order to make it compatible with the transmission systems of the communication networks 6a and 6b, and for outputting it on the communication networks 6a and 6b, a storage part 42 in which a communication network selection table indicating the corresponding relations of the kinds or information quantity of the sensors and the kinds of desired communication networks is stored, and a communication selecting part 48 for selecting the communication network from the kind of the sensor by referring to the communication network selection table, and for outputting the sensor information to the communication interface part corresponding to the selected communication network.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sensor information transmission device for transmitting sensor information from a plurality of sensors to an information processing device via a communication network, a plurality of sensors, a plurality of the sensor information transmission devices and an information processing device. The present invention relates to a sensor network system provided with, an information processing program relating to the sensor information transmission device, and a computer-readable recording medium recording the information processing program. More specifically, the present invention relates to a sensor information transmission device, in which a communication network for transmitting sensor information is switched and used according to the situation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various types of living spaces, etc. have been installed in accordance with purposes such as vehicle theft monitoring, indoor intrusion monitoring, and fire monitoring.
Many diverse sensors are installed. These sensors usually form a sensor network for each installation purpose. We can achieve the intended purpose based on the sensor information in the sensor network.

Recently, a technique for utilizing sensor information in a sensor network by an application on an external computer has been developed.

[0004]

Generally, network information is transmitted to a computer outside the network via a communication network. There are various types of communication networks, but there are advantages and disadvantages in terms of transmission characteristics such as transmission rate (amount transmitted in one second), transmission delay variation, and transmission cost, depending on the characteristics of information to be transmitted. One communication network is selected and used.

However, since various types of sensors are used in the sensor network, the sensor information of the sensor network is also various. For example, some have a large amount of information, some have a small amount of information, and some require real-time transmission and some do not. Furthermore, depending on the situation, the amount of information may change significantly or real-time performance may be required.

There is no communication network that is suitable for all of such sensor information, and conventionally, a communication network that is suitable for transmission of most sensor information is selected, and transmission of other sensor information is unsatisfactory. It was a thing.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sensor information transmission device which selects a desired communication network according to sensor information, information amount, or situation and transmits the information to an information processing device outside the sensor network.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a sensor information transmission device of the present invention receives sensor information from a plurality of sensors and processes the sensor information via a plurality of communication networks. A sensor information transmission device for transmitting to a device, the sensor information being converted so as to be adapted to a transmission system of each communication network, and transmitted to each communication network (I). / F)
Section, a storage section that stores a communication network selection table indicating a desired communication network type for at least one of a sensor ID for identifying an individual sensor, a sensor type, and an information amount; Referring to the mesh selection table,
A communication network is selected based on at least one of the sensor ID corresponding to the sensor information to be transmitted, the type of sensor, and the amount of information, and the communication I / I corresponding to the selected communication network is selected.
The F section is provided with a communication selection section that outputs sensor information.

In the sensor information transmission device having the above configuration, when the sensor information is input from the sensor, the communication selection unit refers to the communication network selection table stored in the storage unit and refers to the sensor ID and the sensor. A desired communication network is selected based on at least one of the type and the amount of information, and the sensor information is output to the communication I / F unit corresponding to the selected communication network. The communication I / F unit to which the sensor information is input converts the sensor information so as to match the transmission method of the communication network and transmits the sensor information on the communication network.

Therefore, the sensor information transmission device of the present invention is
Since it is connected to a plurality of communication networks and a desirable communication network is selected based on at least one of the sensor ID, the type of sensor, and the information amount, and the sensor information is transmitted on the selected communication network, Also, much sensor information can be transmitted by a desired communication network.

In the sensor information transmission device of the present invention, in the above configuration, the plurality of communication networks are a circuit switching communication network and a storage switching communication network, and a plurality of communication I / Fs are used.
The unit is characterized by being two communication I / F units which respectively output sensor information on the communication network of the circuit switching system and the storage switching system.

Here, the circuit switching system is a communication system in which both parties transmitting and receiving information are directly connected by a switch, and since there is no fluctuation in transmission delay, it is suitable for real-time transmission. The store-and-forward system is a communication system in which an exchange temporarily stores received information and sends the stored information to an adjacent exchange. Due to fluctuations in transmission delay, real-time processing is required. Although it is not suitable for transmission, it can improve the utilization efficiency of the communication network.

According to the above configuration, according to at least one of the sensor ID, the sensor type, and the information amount,
The sensor information is transmitted on a communication network of either the circuit switching system or the storage switching system. Since the circuit-switching method and the store-and-forward method differ from each other in information suitable for transmission, the sensor information transmission device of the present invention surely can transmit more sensor information in a desirable communication network than before. Become.

Further, the sensor information transmission device of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned configuration, a plurality of communication networks are communication networks realized on the same transmission medium.

Since the sensor information transmission device having the above-mentioned configuration uses one transmission medium instead of a plurality of transmission media, the number of parts of hardware for connecting the transmission medium and the sensor information transmission device can be suppressed. You can

Further, the sensor information transmission device of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned configuration, the transmission medium is a mobile phone system.

Since various communication services such as a circuit switching service and a packet switching service are provided on the mobile phone system, the sensor information transmitting apparatus of the present invention can handle more sensor information than before. It ensures that the desired communication network can be used for transmission.

Further, by using the mobile phone system, it is not necessary to lay a cable for communication, so that the degree of freedom of installation location of the sensor information transmission device is increased, and the cost for construction work for laying the cable is increased. Is unnecessary.

Further, in the sensor information transmission device of the present invention, in the above configuration, at least one communication I / F unit is
The information processing apparatus has a bidirectional conversion function of converting a signal transmitted via the communication network into a format suitable for processing in the apparatus, and the information processing apparatus also communicates with the communication network and the communication I / F unit. When a new communication network selection table is sent via the, a signal processing unit for updating the communication network selection table stored in the storage unit is further provided.

In the sensor information transmission device having the above structure,
When a new communication network selection table is sent from the information processing device, the signal processing unit updates the communication network selection table stored in the storage unit to a new one.

Therefore, the sensor information transmission device of the present invention is
When there is a change in the communication network selection table due to addition / deletion / change of the communication network, the information processing device may transmit a new communication network selection table to each sensor information transmission device. The change of the table can be dealt with immediately and the maintenance of the sensor information transmission device becomes easy.

Further, the sensor network system of the present invention is characterized by including a plurality of sensors, a plurality of sensor information transmission devices having the above-mentioned configuration, and an information processing device.

According to the above configuration, the sensor information is transmitted from the sensor information transmitting device to the information processing device by using a desired communication network, so that waste of communication can be reduced.

In the above sensor information transmission device, the operation of each part can be realized on a computer by an information processing program. Further, by storing the information program in a computer-readable recording medium, the operation of each unit in the sensor information transmission device can be realized on any computer.

Further, the control method of the sensor information transmission device of the present invention is a sensor information transmission device which receives the sensor information and transmits it to the information processing device through a plurality of communication networks, wherein the communication network selection A method for controlling a sensor information transmission device including a storage unit in which a table is stored, wherein when sensor information is input, the sensor ID corresponding to the sensor information to be transmitted is referred to by referring to the communication network selection table. , Selecting a communication network based on at least one of the type of sensor and the amount of information, and converting the sensor information so as to match the transmission method of the selected communication network,
Transmitting on the communication network.

In the above control method of the sensor information transmission device, when the sensor information is input from the sensor, the communication network selection table stored in the storage unit is referred to, the sensor ID, the sensor type and the information amount. A desired communication network based on at least one of Next, the sensor information is converted so as to be compatible with the transmission system of the selected communication network and transmitted on the communication network.

Therefore, by using the control method of the sensor information transmission device of the present invention, a desired communication network is selected based on at least one of the sensor ID, the type of sensor and the amount of information, and on the selected communication network. Since the sensor information is transmitted to the device, it is possible to transmit more sensor information in a desired communication network than before.

[0028]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION [First Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the sensor network system according to this embodiment. The sensor network system 1 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of sensor networks 3a to 3a each including a plurality of sensors 5.
3d and a central management device 2 that manages the sensor networks 3a to 3d. The sensor networks 3a to 3d and the central management device 2 are capable of data communication via a communication network 6. In the following, the sensor networks 3a to 3d will be referred to as "sensor network 3" unless otherwise distinguished.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the sensor network system 1 transmits a server 7 having various programs and data to be transmitted to the system 1 and a request from a user to the system 1. At the same time, the user terminal device 8 for providing the user with the information from the system 1 may be connected via the communication network 6.

The sensor network 3 includes a plurality of sensors 5.
And a sensor management device 4 that manages the sensor 5. Although one sensor management device 4 can manage several hundreds of sensors 5, the sensor network 3 for security management normally manages about 10 units. The sensor networks 3 may overlap each other as shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example in which a plurality of sensor networks 3 overlap each other. In the example of FIG.
For example, one sensor 5 belongs to a plurality of sensor networks 3 or two sensor management devices (sensor network controllers) 4 exist in one sensor network 3. In this way, when the sensor 5 is managed by the plurality of sensor management devices 4, the sensor 5
Even if one sensor management device 4 fails, another sensor management device 4 can operate normally. Therefore,
The sensor 5 that requires high reliability is desirably managed by the plurality of sensor management devices 4 as described above.

A plurality of sensor management devices 4 have individual sensors 5
In order to identify each sensor 5, a unique sensor ID is assigned to each sensor 5. In the system of FIG. 2, a large number of sensors 5
It is possible to more accurately respond to the user's request by using the sensor ID.
4 bits or more). The sensor ID is, for example, TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / In).
ternet Protocol) IP address (32 bits) can be used, and in order to increase the sensor ID bit, IPv6 in which the IP address is extended to 128 bits is used.
Can be used.

The sensor management device 4 converts the sensor information from the sensor 5 so as to match the transmission system of the communication network 6, and transmits it to the central management device 2 via the communication network 6. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a packet-switching communication network 6a using the Internet 61 is used as the communication network.
And telephone line (ISDN (Integrated Services Digita
l Network), PHS (Personal Handyphone System)
(A registered trademark) line, a mobile phone line, etc.) and a line-switched communication network 6b using a public line. Note that the public line or LAN may be interposed between the sensor management device 4 and the Internet 61 or between the Internet 61 and the central management device 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor network 3
The sensor management device 4 and the sensor 5 in 1 are each provided with a communication device, and the communication device of the sensor management device 4 is the master device and the communication device of the sensor 5 is the slave device. Then, communication is performed between the master unit and the slave unit.

The communication between the master unit and the slave unit may be wireless communication or wired communication. As wireless communication, for example,
Weak radio waves of the wireless LAN standard and the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard, those using short-range wireless such as specific low power wireless, those using optical wireless, and short-range infrared communication can be considered. As the wired communication, one using a LAN or one using a dedicated wiring can be considered.

The communication system between the master unit and the slave unit includes bidirectional communication or unidirectional communication, which differs depending on the type of the sensor 5. The sensor management device 4 in this embodiment is
The sensor information from the sensor 5 is converted into a communication method suitable for the communication network 6 and is transmitted to the central management device 2 via the communication network 6 as a sensor information transmission device (gateway) and the sensor 5 is controlled. It has a function as a controller.

Therefore, when the sensor 5 is controlled by receiving a control signal or the like from the sensor management device 4, the communication system is bidirectional communication. On the other hand, when the sensor 5 unilaterally sends a signal to the sensor management device 4, the communication method may be one-way communication from the slave unit to the master unit.

The sensor 5 is provided with a detecting section for detecting, and as an interface between the detecting section and the communication device (slave unit), for example, RS-232C, RS-48.
5, DeviceNET or the like can be used. Through this interface and the communication device (child device), the sensor 5 sends an analog current, an analog voltage, a pulse signal or the like as a detection result by the detection unit to the sensor management device 4.

Various sensors are used as the sensor 5 of the sensor network 3, and an example thereof will be given below.

There are photoelectric sensors, beam sensors, ultrasonic sensors, infrared sensors and the like for detecting the human body and the like. A vibration sensor, an acceleration sensor (3D sensor, ball semiconductor type sensor), or the like is used as a sensor for detecting movement or destruction of an object. For detecting sound,
There are microphones, sound sensors, acoustic sensors, and the like. A video camera or the like is one that detects an image. There are a temperature sensor, a smoke sensor, a humidity sensor, and the like for detecting a fire or the like. As to be mounted on a vehicle,
There are GPS (Global Positioning System), acceleration sensor, wiper ON / OFF sensor, vibration sensor, tilt sensor and the like. Lighting to be installed in the room
/ OFF sensor, water leak sensor, etc. There are rain gauges, anemometers, thermometers, etc. installed outdoors.
In addition to these, there are various types such as a capacitance level sensor, a capacitance penetration sensor, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, a reed switch that detects opening and closing of a door, and a timepiece that detects time.

As described above, the sensor 5 of the sensor network 3 is not limited to what is generally called a "sensor", but it is sent to the sensor management device 4 by detecting a phenomenon and converting the detection result into an electric signal. Includes all the equipment you can.

The sensors 5 of the sensor network 3 may include active sensors. The active sensor is, for example, a video camera, and is provided with a zoom function, an autofocus function, a direction switching function for switching the shooting direction, etc., in addition to the CCD (Charge Coupled Device) as the detection unit. It can operate automatically or by a control signal from the sensor management device 4. With such an active sensor, more accurate detection can be performed according to the phenomenon. For example, in the example of the above video camera, a moving object (smoke or the like) is detected within the shooting range and the shooting direction is switched to that direction, so that the moving object can be shot more accurately.

Further, the sensor 5 of the sensor network 3
May include an autonomous sensor. The autonomous sensor is a sensor that informs the sensor management device 4 or the central management device 2 of information about the sensor itself, for example, periodically. The information on the sensor itself is, for example, information on the type of the sensor (including the content that can be detected) and the arrangement (position, installation location). In the present application, the information detected by the sensor and the information related to the sensor itself are collectively referred to as “sensor information”.

The sensor may be attached to a moving body such as a vehicle. When the sensor moves, the information obtained by the detection result of the sensor may change. For example, considering a thermometer attached to a vehicle as a sensor, when the temperature is detected by the sensor, it depends on the position of the vehicle, that is, the position of the sensor, at which point the detection result represents the temperature. . In such a case, by using the autonomous sensor, it is possible to always recognize at which point the temperature is detected.

Further, by using the sensor management device 4 compatible with the autonomous type sensor, when adding a new autonomous type sensor, it is possible to easily add the new type of sensor by so-called plug-and-play.

These sensors 5 usually have a specific purpose,
For example, it is selected according to the purpose of vehicle theft monitoring, indoor intrusion monitoring, fire monitoring, etc., and is installed in an appropriate place according to the purpose. Further, usually, the sensor network 3 is configured for each purpose, and processing such as monitoring and reporting for achieving the purpose is performed by the central management device 2, for example. The system 1 of FIG. 2 enables the sensor thus installed according to a specific purpose to be used for other purposes.

The sensor 5 is a method of informing the detection result,
That is, depending on the timing of sending the detection result to the sensor management device 4, it can be roughly classified into three types, that is, periodic type, event type, and polling type. Here, the periodic sensor notifies the detection result in a predetermined time period.
The event-type sensor notifies the detection result when the sensor 5 detects a predetermined phenomenon, for example, a physical quantity equal to or more than a threshold value. The polling type sensor notifies the detection result when receiving an instruction to notify the detection result from the sensor management device 4 side.

Next, the internal configuration of the sensor management device 4 in the sensor network 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the sensor management device 4. The sensor management device 4 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 41 that performs various processes, a storage unit 42 that stores various data, and communication I / F units 43a and 43b that interface with the communication networks 6a and 6b.
And a sensor I / F that interfaces with the sensor 5
And a section 44.

The sensor I / F section 44 converts the sensor information such as the analog current, the analog voltage, and the pulse signal sent from the sensor 5 into a predetermined digital format that can be processed in the apparatus and sends it to the CPU 41. At this time, the sensor I / F
The unit 44 needs to specify the type of the sensor 5 that has sent the sensor information or the sensor ID.

The sensor I / F unit 44 does not need to specify the sensor type or sensor ID when the sensor information includes the sensor type. However, when the sensor information does not include the sensor type, the sensor information is input, for example. The sensor type or sensor ID is specified by the type or number of the input port, the specified sensor type or sensor ID is added to the sensor information, and the sensor information is transmitted to the CPU 41.

Further, the sensor I / F unit 44 includes the CPU 41
The sensor control signal from the sensor control unit 47 is converted into an appropriate communication format and transmitted to the specific sensor 5.

The communication I / F units 43a and 43b are the CPU 4
The sensor information data from No. 1 is converted so as to be compatible with the transmission system of the communication networks 6a and 6b, and transmitted on the communication networks 6a and 6b.

The CPU 41 performs various data processing and gives instructions to various control circuits, and thereby controls the entire sensor management device 4. In addition, the CPU 41
Functions as each functional block of the signal processing unit 45, the sensor information processing unit 46, the sensor control unit 47, and the communication network selection unit 48.

The signal processing unit 45 sends sensor information to the sensor information processing unit 46 based on the instruction signal transmitted from the central management unit 2 via the communication networks 6a and 6b and the communication I / F units 43a and 43b. Instructing a process or a process for controlling the sensor 5 performed by the sensor control unit 47. Further, when a new communication network selection table is sent from the central management device 2, the signal processing unit 45 updates the communication network selection table stored in the storage unit 42 with the new communication network selection table.

The sensor information processing unit 46 receives sensor information (1) sent from the sensor 5 via the sensor I / F unit 44.
Next data) is subjected to predetermined processing, and the processed sensor information data (secondary data) is transferred to the communication I / F unit 43.
a. 43b and the communication networks 6a and 6b to the central control unit 2. The sensor information processing unit 46 may store the secondary data in the storage unit 42 and send the secondary data to the central management device 2 in response to a request from the central management device 2.
In addition to sensor information, additional information such as data length is added to the sensor information data.

The sensor information processing section 46 includes a signal processing section 45.
The sensor information data may be processed based on an instruction from the. In this case, of the sensor information data from the sensor 5, only useful sensor information data is sent to the central management device 2, so that the amount of data sent to the central management device 2 can be reduced.

For example, as the primary data from the video camera as the sensor 5, that is, as image data, data of about 20 to 30 kilobits per screen may be constantly sent for three screens per second. In the sensor information processing unit 46, the primary data is subjected to processing such as thinning out images with small changes to generate useful secondary data with a small amount of data.

The sensor control section 47 includes a sensor I / F section 44.
The sensor 5 is controlled by sending a control signal to the sensor 5 via. Control of the sensor 5 includes control of a transmission cycle of detection information in a periodic sensor, control of a threshold of an event sensor, polling control for a polling sensor, operation control of an active sensor, and the like. How the sensor control unit 47 controls the sensor 5 is based on an instruction from the signal processing unit 45.

The communication network selection unit 48 is used by the sensor information processing unit 4
Communication I / F unit 4 to output sensor information data from 6
Select 3a and 43b. This selection process is performed as follows.

Before the selection processing, the storage unit 42 stores in advance a communication network selection table 421 as shown in FIG. 5, in which a desired communication network type is set for the sensor ID or the sensor type. Has been done. Note that which communication network is desirable for which sensor will be described later.

First, the sensor ID or the sensor type is specified from the sensor information data received from the sensor information processing section 46. Instead of the sensor information data (secondary data), the sensor information (primary data) may be received from the sensor I / F unit 44, and the sensor ID or the sensor type may be specified from the sensor information.

Next, the communication network 6 corresponding to the specified sensor ID or sensor type is specified by reading the communication network selection table 421 from the storage unit 42 and referring to it. Then, the communication I / F connected to the specified communication network 6
The sensor information data is output to the F section 43.

Further, the storage unit 42 stores various programs and data for performing various processes in the CPU 41, in addition to the communication network selection table 421.

Next, the correspondence relationship between the sensor type set in the communication network selection table 421 and the desired communication network will be described. Communication network 6a used in this embodiment
6b is a packet switching system and a circuit switching system, as described above.

First, the characteristics of the sensor information with respect to the type of sensor will be described. For example, as described above, image data from a video camera used as a sensor is
In some cases, data of about 20 to 30 kilobits per screen is constantly sent for three screens per second. on the other hand,
In the case of a door opening / closing sensor, the data length may be 1 bit indicating two values of open / close.

Further, for example, sensor information that requires urgency, such as notification information from a fire alarm sensor, is required to have real time characteristics, but outside temperature information from the outside air temperature sensor is not necessarily required to have real time characteristics. .

Further, even if the same temperature sensor is used, a small amount of data may be transmitted at intervals such as a case of transmitting 2 bytes of temperature information data once every 10 minutes. As in the case of transmitting the temperature change once a day,
A large amount of data may be transmitted at one time. Further, the temperature information data may be continuously transmitted every 0.1 seconds. Further, when data is transmitted when a rapid temperature change occurs, the amount to be transmitted per second varies depending on the frequency of occurrence.

Furthermore, the confidentiality of transmission may be required for sensor information relating to an individual such as the human body temperature and heart rate.

Next, the characteristics of the communication system of this embodiment will be described. The packet exchange method is a type of storage exchange method, and is a method in which data is divided into units called packets, and information such as a destination is added to the packet and transmitted. In the packet switching system, since packets are accumulated in a switch and transmitted through an open line, a plurality of packets with different destinations can share the line and can use the line efficiently. However, the packet switching method may not be suitable for transmission requiring real-time property because the switching device temporarily stores packets, which may increase the time required for transmission.

On the other hand, the circuit switching system is a communication system in which both the data transmitting / receiving device (the sensor management device 4 and the central management device 2) are directly connected by an exchange. The circuit switching method does not change the time required for transmission, so
It is suitable for real-time transmission. However, in the circuit switching system, the line is occupied by both connected parties, and therefore the line utilization efficiency is lower than that in the packet switching system.

Further, in the case of the packet switching system, since the line is shared, the charge is often made according to the number of packets to be transmitted. Therefore, it is suitable for transmitting a small amount of data every predetermined time. ing. On the other hand, in the case of the line switching system, since the line is exclusively used, the charge is often charged depending on the time of connection, and therefore, it is suitable for transmitting a large amount of data at one time.

Further, in this embodiment, since the packet switching communication network 6a is connected to the Internet 61, the transmission confidentiality is lowered unless the data is encrypted.

Based on the characteristics of the sensor and the communication network as described above, a desired communication network type is set for the sensor type, and the information is stored in the communication network selection table 421.
Is written in. For example, in the case of FIG. 5, since the fire alarm temperature sensor needs to immediately transmit the sensor information from the sensor, the circuit switching system is set. On the other hand, for the outside air temperature sensor, the packet switching method is set because the data from the outside air temperature sensor may be transmitted at predetermined time intervals.

In the sensor network system 1 having the above configuration, when the sensor management device 4 receives the sensor information from the sensor 5 by the instruction from the central management device 2 or the detection of the sensor 5, the sensor management device 4 will I /
The F unit 44 converts the sensor information into a predetermined digital format, the sensor information processing unit 46 converts it into predetermined sensor information data, and sends it to the communication network selection unit 48.

The communication network selection unit 48 is used by the sensor information processing unit 4
6 sensor information data or sensor I / F unit 44
The sensor ID or the type of the sensor included in the sensor information is extracted, and the communication network selection table 421 is referred from the storage unit 42 to select a desired communication network for the sensor ID or the type of the sensor, and the selected communication is performed. The sensor information data is transmitted to the communication I / F unit connected to the network. The communication I / F unit converts the received sensor information data into a predetermined transmission format compatible with the communication network and transmits the sensor information data to the central management device 2 via the communication network.

At this time, when the sensor management device 4 receives a small amount of sensor information at predetermined time intervals, such as sensor information from the outside air temperature sensor, the sensor management device 4 causes the communication network selection section 48 to select the sensor information. Then, the communication network 6a of the packet connection method is selected, and the communication I / F unit 43a selects the communication network 6a.
Sensor information data is transmitted on.

When the sensor management device 4 receives urgent sensor information such as sensor information from the fire alarm sensor, the sensor management device 4 causes the communication network selection unit 48 to select the line. By selecting the connection type communication network 6b, the sensor information data is transmitted from the communication I / F unit 43b onto the communication network 6b.

When the communication network selection table is updated to a new one by adding / changing / deleting the communication network or changing the billing system of the communication network, the storage unit ( A new communication network selection table is stored in (not shown), and the new communication network selection table is transmitted from the central management device 2 to each sensor management device 4 via the communication network 6.

When the sensor management device 4 receives the new communication network selection table, the signal processing unit 45 of the sensor management device 4 updates the communication network selection table stored in the storage unit 42 to the new communication network selection table.

Therefore, in the sensor network system 1 of the present embodiment, the sensor management device 4 can select a desired communication network according to the type of sensor and transmit the sensor information data on the selected communication network. . As a result, more sensor information than before can be transmitted through a desirable communication network.

Further, in the sensor network system 1 of this embodiment, the sensor information data is transmitted from the sensor management device 4 to the central management device 2 by using a desirable communication network, so that waste of communication is reduced. be able to.

Further, in the sensor network system 1 of this embodiment, when the communication network selection table is changed due to the addition / deletion / change of the communication network, the central management device 2 causes each sensor management device 4 to operate. Since it suffices to transmit a new communication network selection table, a change in the communication network selection table can be dealt with immediately and the sensor management device 4 can be easily maintained.

[Second Embodiment] Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The sensor network system of this embodiment is different from the sensor network system 1 of the first embodiment in the communication network to be used, and other configurations are the same. Note that configurations having the same functions as the configurations described in the above-described embodiments are given the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a communication network used in this embodiment. In this embodiment, a mobile communication system such as a mobile phone system is used as a communication medium. In the case of a mobile communication system, wireless communication is performed between a mobile station and a base station. In the case of this embodiment, wireless communication is performed between the sensor management device 4 serving as a mobile station and the base station, and various public lines are communicated between the base station and the central management device 2. By using the sensor management device 4 as a mobile station, it is not necessary to lay a telephone line connected to the sensor management device 4, so that the degree of freedom of the installation location of the sensor management device 4 is increased and the telephone line is laid. There is no need for construction costs.

A mobile communication system represented by a mobile phone system often provides a packet connection communication service in addition to the line connection system. In addition, recent mobile communication systems usually provide Internet connection services, and as described above, packet-switched communication is performed on the Internet. Therefore, one mobile communication system functions as the communication networks 6c and 6d of both the line connection system and the packet connection system.

As shown in FIG. 6, the sensor management device 4 of the present embodiment is similar to the first embodiment in that the communication networks 6c and 6d.
Communication I / F sections 43a and 43 for interfacing with
b. An antenna 49 for performing wireless communication with the base station 62 is connected to the communication I / F units 43a and 43b.

The sensor network system of this embodiment can operate and obtain the same effects as those of the first embodiment. Furthermore, the sensor network system of the present embodiment uses one communication system as a transmission medium instead of a plurality of communication systems.
It is possible to reduce the number of hardware components that connect the communication system and the sensor management device 4.

Note that each of the parts from the signal processing part 45 to the communication network selecting part 48 described above is the C of the sensor management device 4.
It may be realized by a program (information processing program) executed by the PU 41.

The information processing program is stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as the storage unit 42 of the sensor management device 4. The information processing program may be supplied by a program medium read by a drive device provided in the sensor management device 4 as an external storage device in addition to the storage unit 42.

The program medium is a recording medium which can be separated from the main body, and is a tape system such as a magnetic tape or a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk or a hard disk, or a CD-ROM /
Disc system of optical disc such as MO / MD / DVD, IC
Card (including memory card) / card system such as optical card, mask ROM, EPROM, EEPRO
It may be a medium that fixedly holds the program, including a semiconductor memory such as M and a flash ROM.

Further, the information processing program may be downloaded to the sensor management device 4 through a communication network including the Internet. When the information processing program is downloaded from the communication network, the download program may be stored in the sensor management device 4 in advance, or may be installed from another recording medium. Note that the content stored in the recording medium is not limited to the program,
It may be data.

In the above embodiment, the communication network selection unit 4
8 selects the communication network according to the type of sensor,
Furthermore, the communication network can be selected according to the amount of information, that is, the data length of the sensor information data. In this case, an item regarding the data length of the sensor information data may be added to the communication network selection table 421.

In the packet connection method, as the data length increases, the number of packets increases, so that there is a high possibility that packets will be lost during transmission. Also, in general,
The packet connection method is often charged on a packet-by-packet basis, and the larger the data length, the higher the cost than the line connection method. Therefore, by selecting a desirable communication network for the data length, more sensor information can be transmitted through the desirable communication network. Similarly, the communication network may be selected according to the number of transmissions per unit time.

Further, in the sensor management device 4 of the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the communication I / F units 43a and 43b are provided.
Has a configuration different from that of the CPU 41, but the CPU 41 can also perform the process of converting the sensor information data into a transmission format suitable for the communication networks 6a and 6b, which is performed in the communication I / F units 43a and 43b. Is.

In the above embodiment, the sensor ID, the sensor type and the communication network are collectively described in the communication network selection table 421.
When only the correspondence relationship with the desired communication network is required, the communication network selection table 421 shows the table showing the correspondence relationship between the sensor ID and the sensor type, and the correspondence relationship between the sensor type and the desired communication network. It may be separated from the table.

In the above embodiment, the new communication network selection table is stored in the central management device 2, but it is stored in another information processing device such as the server 7 and the user terminal device 8 shown in FIG. A new communication network selection table can be transmitted from the information processing device to each sensor management device 4 according to an instruction from the central management device 2.

Further, in the above embodiment, the packet connection type communication network and the line connection type communication network are selected. However, the public line and the LAN are selected and a highly reliable communication network (for example, It goes without saying that other communication networks can be selected, such as the selection of a communication network with a low ISDN or a leased line (for example, the Internet).

Here, the reliability includes high communication confidentiality, little change in transmission rate, and difficulty in disconnecting the line connection.

[0101]

As described above, the sensor information transmitting apparatus of the present invention receives sensor information from a plurality of sensors and transmits the sensor information to the information processing apparatus via a plurality of communication networks. A plurality of communications I for transmitting the sensor information by converting the sensor information so as to be adapted to a transmission system of each communication network and transmitting each on the communication network.
For at least one of the / F part, the sensor ID for identifying each sensor, the sensor type, and the information amount,
A storage unit that stores a communication network selection table indicating a desired communication network type, and the sensor ID corresponding to the sensor information to be transmitted by referring to the communication network selection table,
A communication selection unit that selects a communication network based on at least one of the type of sensor and the amount of information and outputs the sensor information to a communication I / F unit corresponding to the selected communication network.

In the above configuration, while connecting to a plurality of communication networks, a desirable communication network is selected based on at least one of the sensor ID, the type of sensor and the amount of information, and the sensor is selected on the selected communication network. By transmitting the information, it is possible to transmit a larger amount of sensor information than in the past by using a desirable communication network.

Further, as described above, in the sensor information transmission apparatus of the present invention, in the above configuration, the plurality of communication networks are the circuit switching communication network and the storage switching communication network, and the plurality of communication I The / F unit is a configuration that is two communication I / F units that respectively output sensor information on the communication network of the circuit switching system and the storage switching system.

This surely brings about an effect that more sensor information than before can be transmitted through a desirable communication network.

As described above, the sensor information transmission device of the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration in which a plurality of communication networks are realized on the same transmission medium.

As a result, it is possible to use 1 instead of multiple transmission media.
Since one transmission medium is used, the effect of reducing the number of parts of the hardware that connects the transmission medium and the sensor information transmission device can be achieved.

As described above, the sensor information transmission device of the present invention has a configuration in which the transmission medium is a mobile phone system in the above configuration.

As a result, the effect that more sensor information than before can be transmitted through the desired communication network is surely obtained.

Furthermore, by using the mobile phone system, it is not necessary to lay a cable for communication, so that the degree of freedom of the installation location of the sensor information transmission device is increased, and the cost for construction of the cable and the like are increased. Has an effect that is unnecessary.

As described above, in the sensor information transmission apparatus of the present invention, in the above-mentioned configuration, at least one communication I / F unit transmits a signal transmitted from the information processing apparatus via the communication network to the apparatus. When a new communication network selection table is sent from the information processing apparatus via the communication network and the communication I / F unit, the information processing apparatus has a bidirectional conversion function for converting the format into a format suitable for processing The configuration further includes a signal processing unit that updates the communication network selection table stored in the storage unit.

As a result, in the sensor information transmission device of the present invention, when the communication network selection table is changed due to addition / deletion / change of the communication network, the information processing device is newly added to each sensor information transmission device. Since it is only necessary to transmit the communication network selection table, it is possible to promptly deal with the change of the communication network selection table and to facilitate the maintenance of the sensor information transmission device.

Further, as described above, the sensor network system of the present invention has a configuration including a plurality of sensors, a plurality of sensor information transmission devices having the above configuration, and an information processing device.

As a result, the sensor information is transmitted from the sensor information transmitting device to the information processing device by using a desirable communication network, so that it is possible to reduce communication waste.

In the above-mentioned sensor information transmission device, even if the operation of each part is realized on the computer by the information processing program, the same effect as described above can be obtained. Further, by storing the information program in a computer-readable recording medium, it is possible to realize the operation of each unit in the sensor information transmission device on an arbitrary computer, and thus the same effect as the above on the arbitrary computer. Play.

Further, as described above, the control method of the sensor information transmission device of the present invention is the sensor information transmission device which receives the sensor information and transmits it to the information processing device through a plurality of communication networks. A method of controlling a sensor information transmission device, comprising: a storage unit storing the communication network selection table, wherein when the sensor information is input, the communication network selection table is referred to determine the sensor information to be transmitted. Selecting a communication network based on at least one of the corresponding sensor ID, sensor type, and amount of information;
Converting the sensor information so as to match the transmission system of the selected communication network and transmitting the sensor information on the communication network.

As a result, a desired communication network is selected based on at least one of the sensor ID, the type of sensor and the amount of information, and the sensor information is transmitted on the selected communication network. For sensor information,
The effect that it can be transmitted through a desired communication network is achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sensor management device in a sensor network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sensor network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example in which a plurality of sensor networks overlap each other.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a communication form between a central management device and a sensor management device in the sensor network system of FIG.

5 is a conceptual diagram showing a data configuration of a communication network selection table stored in the sensor management device of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a communication form between a central management device and a sensor management device in a sensor network system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Central management device (information processing device) 4 Sensor management device (sensor information transmission device) 5 sensors 6 communication network 42 storage 43 Communication interface (I / F) section 48 Communication network selection section 421 Communication network selection table

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04L 12/28 200 H04B 7/26 M (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Otsuki Shiojikodori Horikawa, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Prefecture 801 East Higashi-Minami Fudodocho Omron Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masayuki Oyagi Masayuki Oyagi Horikawa, Shiojiji-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City Higashiirinami Fudodo-cho 801 Omron Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5C087 AA02 AA03 BB03 BB11 BB18 BB74 DD03 EE16 EE20 FF01 FF04 FF17 FF19 FF20 GG11 GG20 GG21 GG23 GG32 GG66 GG67 GG70 GG71 GG83 5K033 BA08 BA11 DA19 5K067 AA21 BB27 DD02 KK27 Q19 U02 NN21 KK27 KU02 KK17 KU02 Information transmission device, sensor network system, sensor information transmission program, sensor information transmission program A computer-readable recording medium a ram, and a control method of the sensor information transmitting device

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A sensor information transmission device for receiving sensor information from a plurality of sensors and transmitting the sensor information to an information processing device via a plurality of communication networks, wherein the sensor information is transmitted to each communication network. At least one of a plurality of communication interface parts which are converted so as to conform to the transmission method of each of the above and are respectively transmitted on each communication network, a sensor ID for identifying each sensor, a sensor type and an information amount. For one, a storage unit that stores a communication network selection table that indicates the type of the desired communication network, and the sensor ID corresponding to the sensor information to be transmitted and the sensor A communication selection unit that selects a communication network based on at least one of the type and the amount of information, and outputs sensor information to a communication interface unit corresponding to the selected communication network. Sensor information transmitting apparatus comprising: a. 2. A plurality of communication networks are a circuit-switched communication network and a store-and-forward communication network, and a plurality of communication interface units are provided on the circuit-switched and store-and-forward communication networks. The sensor information transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the communication information transmission device includes two communication interface units that respectively output sensor information. 3. The plurality of communication networks are communication networks realized on the same transmission medium.
The sensor information transmission device described in 1. 4. The sensor information transmission device according to claim 3, wherein the transmission medium is a mobile phone system. 5. At least one communication interface section has a bidirectional conversion function for converting a signal transmitted from an information processing apparatus via a communication network into a format suitable for processing in the apparatus, When a new communication network selection table is sent from the information processing device via the communication network and the communication interface unit, a signal processing unit is further provided for updating the communication network selection table stored in the storage unit. The sensor information transmission device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. A sensor network system comprising a plurality of sensors, a plurality of sensor information transmission devices according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and an information processing device. 7. A sensor information transmission program for causing a computer to realize the operation of each part of the sensor information transmission device according to claim 1. Description: 8. A computer-readable recording medium in which the sensor information transmission program according to claim 7 is recorded. 9. A sensor information transmission device for receiving sensor information from a plurality of sensors and transmitting the sensor information to an information processing device via a plurality of communication networks, wherein the sensor ID identifies each sensor. A method for controlling a sensor information transmission device, comprising: a storage unit that stores a communication network selection table indicating a desired communication network type for at least one of a sensor type and an information amount, wherein sensor information is input. Then, referring to the communication network selection table, selecting a communication network based on at least one of the sensor ID, the type of sensor, and the amount of information corresponding to the sensor information to be transmitted, and the selected communication. A method of controlling a sensor information transmission device, comprising the step of converting sensor information so as to conform to a transmission method of a network and transmitting the sensor information on the communication network. .