JP2007189411A - Communication support device, communication support system, program, communication support method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication support device by which a user can correct a configuration of an automatically configured multi-hop network into an efficient configuration. <P>SOLUTION: An initial configuration section 112 generates initial configuration information showing the configuration of the multi-hop network. A display editing section 212 displays the initial configuration information at a display section 204 and then correct the initial configuration information according to a correction designation once an operation section 205 receives the correction designation. A reconfiguration section 118 reconfigures the configuration of the multi-hop network shown by the corrected initial configuration information into a configuration of the multi-hop network to be used. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication support apparatus, a communication support system, a communication support method, and a program, and more particularly to a communication support apparatus, a communication support system, a communication support method, and a program in a multi-hop network.

  In recent years, when a communication network is provisionally configured at a construction site or an event venue, or when a communication network is urgently configured in a disaster area or the like, a multi-hop network has attracted attention as the communication network.

  A multi-hop network is a form of communication network that is mainly wireless communication, and each wireless station has a relay function, and wireless stations that cannot directly communicate with each other can communicate with each other by relaying other wireless stations. . In a multi-hop network, communication can be performed even at a distance longer than the communicable distance of each wireless station. A multi-hop network is realized by arranging wireless stations with a certain density. A terminal may be used as a radio station. In the following description, it is assumed that the wireless station is a terminal.

  Each terminal automatically configures a multi-hop network based on the situation of a terminal capable of direct wireless communication with itself (hereinafter referred to as an adjacent terminal). The algorithm for configuring a multi-hop network is, for example, “each terminal has a route with a communication device to communicate with (hereinafter referred to as a center terminal) and is closest to itself. “Next hop node”. Hereinafter, this algorithm is referred to as a configuration algorithm.

  When each terminal configures a multi-hop network with a configuration algorithm, each terminal transmits a route search request for searching for a terminal having a route with the center terminal to an adjacent terminal. . Thereafter, when the terminal receives a search response indicating that it has a route with the center terminal from the adjacent terminal, the terminal sets the adjacent terminal as the next hop node. When receiving a search response from a plurality of adjacent terminals, the terminal sets the adjacent terminal that has transmitted the first received search response as the next hop node. Accordingly, each terminal can automatically configure a multi-hop network.

  However, since each terminal configures a multi-hop network based only on the status of adjacent terminals, the configured multi-hop network may have poor communication efficiency such as a low overall communication speed. high.

  Causes of poor communication efficiency include, for example, a load concentrated on a specific route, a terminal communicating with a center terminal by relaying a terminal far away from the center terminal, and a center from the terminal The number of hops to the terminal increases more than necessary. The number of hops is the number of terminals that relay communication between the terminal and the center terminal when the terminal communicates with the center terminal.

  5 to 8 are conceptual diagrams for explaining a multi-hop network with poor communication efficiency. 5 to 8, the same constituent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an arrangement of terminals. FIG. 5 shows terminals 1 to 10 and a center 20 that can form a multi-hop network.

  The terminals 1 to 10 have a relay function. Also, the terminals 1 to 10 can directly communicate only with the terminals or the center 20 included in the reachable range. The center 20 is a communication device with which the terminals 1 to 10 should communicate.

  FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing an optimal multi-hop network (hereinafter referred to as an optimal network). In FIG. 6, terminals or centers 20 that are directly communicated with each other are connected by a line.

  7a to 7d are conceptual diagrams illustrating a multi-hop network automatically configured by a terminal.

  In FIG. 7a, first, the terminals 1 and 3 establish a route with the center 20 directly. Next, the terminals 2 and 4 have a route with the center 20 and establish a route with the terminal 3 closest to itself.

  Subsequently, in FIG. 7b, the terminals 5 and 6 have a route with the center 20 and establish a route with the terminal 4 closest to itself.

  In FIG. 7c, the terminals 7 and 8 have a route with the center 20 and open routes with the terminals 5 and 6 that are closest to the terminal 20 respectively.

  Further, in FIG. 7d, the terminals 9 and 10 have a route with the center 20 and open routes with the terminals 7 and 8 that are closest to themselves, respectively.

  FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing an automatically configured network (hereinafter referred to as an actual network).

  In FIG. 8, the load is concentrated on the route connecting the terminal 3 and the center 20. The terminal 10 communicates with the center 20 via the terminal 8 that is far away from the center 20. Furthermore, there are terminals that have more hops to the center terminal than necessary. For example, the terminal 8 has only 1 hop in the optimum network, but 3 in the actual network.

  For this reason, communication efficiency is poor in an actual network. Therefore, there is a need for a technique for configuring a multi-hop network with good communication efficiency.

  For example, a communication control method in which an adjacent terminal with the smallest number of hops from the terminal to the center terminal is the next hop node is considered. In this communication control method, when the adjacent terminal receives the route search request, the adjacent terminal acquires the number of hops to the center terminal, and transmits a search response including the number of hops. In this case, the terminal that has output the route search request receives search responses from a plurality of adjacent terminals. After that, the terminal sets the adjacent terminal having the smallest number of hops as the next hop note based on the search response. This makes it possible to configure a multi-hop network with good communication efficiency.

  However, even if an adjacent terminal with a small number of hops to the center terminal is a next hop node, the terminal is not always able to stably communicate with the adjacent terminal.

The wireless device described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-249936) records the intensity of radio waves received from a wireless device adjacent to itself. The wireless device uses the wireless device that has transmitted the strongest radio wave as the next hop node. This makes it possible to configure a multi-hop network that can stably communicate with adjacent terminals.
JP 2003-249936 A

  However, in the communication path control method performed by the wireless device described in Patent Document 1 or the communication control method in which an adjacent terminal having a small number of hops is used as a next hop node, an efficient multi-hop network is not necessarily configured automatically. It is not done. In addition, the user cannot correct the configuration of the multi-hop network to an efficient configuration.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a communication support device, a communication support system, a communication support method, and a program capable of correcting a configuration of a multi-hop network automatically created by a user into an efficient configuration. is there.

  In order to achieve the above object, a communication support apparatus of the present invention is a communication support apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of radio stations constituting a multihop network, and shows the configuration of the multihop network from each radio station. Receiving means for receiving configuration information; display means for displaying configuration information received by the receiving means; operating means for accepting a correction instruction for correcting the configuration information displayed by the display means; Display editing means for correcting the configuration information in accordance with the correction instruction received by the operating means, and a reconfiguration instruction for changing the configuration of the multi-hop network to the configuration indicated by the configuration information corrected by the display editing means And a configuration confirmation instructing means for transmitting the information to each wireless station.

  The communication support method of the present invention is a communication support method performed by a communication support apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of radio stations constituting a multi-hop network, and shows a configuration of the multi-hop network from each radio station. A reception step for receiving information, a display step for displaying the configuration information received in the reception step, a reception step for receiving a correction instruction for correcting the configuration information displayed in the display step, and the reception A correction step for correcting the configuration information in accordance with the correction instruction received in the step, and a reconfiguration instruction for changing to the multi-hop network configuration indicated by the configuration information corrected in the correction step And a transmission step of transmitting.

  Further, the communication support system of the present invention is a communication support system including a plurality of radio stations constituting a multi-hop network, and a communication support apparatus capable of communicating with each radio station, and the communication support apparatus includes: Receiving means for receiving configuration information indicating the configuration of the multi-hop network from the radio station, display means for displaying the configuration information received by the receiving means, and correcting the configuration information displayed by the display means An operation means for receiving a correction instruction to the effect, a display editing means for correcting the configuration information in accordance with the correction instruction received by the operation means, and a configuration indicated by the configuration information corrected by the display editing means. And a configuration confirmation instruction means for transmitting a reconfiguration instruction to change the configuration of the network to each radio station, and each radio station creates an initial configuration information And transmission / reception means for transmitting the configuration information created by the initial configuration means to the communication support apparatus, and then receiving the reconfiguration instruction, and according to the reconfiguration received by the transmission / reception means, Reconfiguration means for changing the configuration of the multi-hop network.

  The communication support method performed by the communication support system is a communication support method performed by a communication support system including a plurality of radio stations constituting a multi-hop network and a communication support apparatus capable of communicating with each radio station. A creation step in which each radio station creates configuration information indicating the configuration of the multi-hop network; a configuration transmission step in which each radio station transmits the configuration information to the communication support device; and the communication support device, A configuration receiving step for receiving the configuration information from each radio station, a configuration display step for the communication support device to display configuration information received in the configuration reception step, and a configuration display step for the communication support device. A configuration accepting step for accepting a modification instruction for modifying the configuration information displayed in step (b), and the communication support device includes the configuration accepting step. A configuration modification step for modifying the configuration information in accordance with the modification instruction received in step (b), and that the communication support device changes the configuration of the multi-hop network to the configuration indicated by the configuration information modified in the configuration modification step. An output step of transmitting the reconfiguration instruction to each radio station, a corrected reception step in which each radio station receives the reconfiguration instruction, and each radio station in accordance with the received reconfiguration instruction, Reconfiguring to change the configuration of the hop network.

  According to the above invention, the configuration information indicating the configuration of the multi-hop network received from each wireless station is displayed, and thereafter the configuration information is corrected. In addition, a reconfiguration instruction to change the configuration of the multi-hop network to the configuration indicated by the corrected configuration information is transmitted to each wireless station.

  For this reason, the configuration of the multi-hop network automatically created by the user can be corrected to an efficient configuration.

  The display editing means determines whether or not the modified configuration information indicates an inappropriate multi-hop network configuration, and the display means determines whether or not the corrected configuration information is an inappropriate multi-hop network configuration. When showing the configuration, it is desirable to display an alarm.

  According to the above invention, an alarm is displayed when the modified configuration information indicates an inappropriate multi-hop network configuration. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the possibility that an inappropriate multi-hop network is configured, for example, when there is a wireless station that cannot communicate with the support device by correcting the configuration information.

  In addition, when the display editing unit corrects the configuration information, the communication support apparatus transmits a test instruction to the effect that the communication status of the multi-hop network indicated by the corrected configuration information is to be tested. Configuration instruction means for transmitting to a station, wherein the transmitting / receiving means receives the test instruction, and each radio station performs a test instructed by the test instruction received by the transmitting / receiving means; and And a notifying means for transmitting a test result of a test performed by the test means to the network support device, wherein the receiving means receives the test result, and the display means is received by the receiving means. It is desirable to display the test results.

  According to the above invention, the test of the communication status of the multi-hop network indicated by the modified configuration information is performed, and the test result is displayed. For this reason, it is possible to confirm whether or not the multi-hop network whose configuration is indicated by the corrected configuration information can be stably communicated.

  In addition, the initial configuration unit creates configuration information including a communication status with another wireless station, and the display editing unit performs the correction based on the communication status included in the configuration information received by the reception unit. It is preferable that the communication status of the multi-hop network whose configuration is indicated by the configuration information is investigated, and the display means displays the investigation result investigated by the display editing means.

  According to the above invention, based on the communication status with other radio stations, the communication status of the multi-hop network whose configuration is indicated by the corrected configuration information is checked, and the check result is displayed.

  For this reason, it is possible to confirm whether or not the multi-hop network whose configuration is indicated by the corrected configuration information can be stably communicated.

  The program of the present invention is a program for causing a computer connected to a plurality of radio stations constituting a multi-hop network to execute a communication support process, and receives configuration information indicating the configuration of the multi-hop network from each radio station. A reception process for receiving, a display process for displaying the configuration information received in the reception process, a reception process for receiving a correction instruction for correcting the displayed configuration information, and a reception process received by the reception process A correction process for correcting the configuration information according to a correction instruction, a transmission process for transmitting to each wireless station a reconfiguration instruction to change to the configuration of the multi-hop network indicated by the configuration information corrected in the correction process, The computer is caused to execute communication support processing including:

  According to the above invention, it is possible to cause a computer to execute the communication support method.

  According to the present invention, the configuration of a multi-hop network automatically created by a user can be corrected to an efficient configuration.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a communication support system for a multi-hop network according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the communication support system for a multi-hop network includes a configuration terminal 100 and a support device 200. The constituent terminal 100 and the support apparatus 200 are connected to each other via a multi-hop network.

  The configuration terminal 100 is a radio station capable of configuring a multi-hop network, and communicates with a center terminal (not shown) to be communicated via another configuration terminal. The constituent terminal 100 has a relay function for relaying wireless communication between other constituent terminals. In FIG. 1, the number of constituent terminals is only one, but there are actually a plurality of terminals.

  When the multi-hop network is configured for the purpose of monitoring an observed amount such as temperature, humidity, or vibration at an outdoor construction site, for example, a sensor for measuring the observed amount is attached to the constituent terminal 100. In this case, the constituent terminal 100 transmits the observation amount measured by the sensor to a center terminal (not shown) via the multi-hop network. The center terminal collects and manages observations.

  The configuration terminal 100 includes a wireless communication unit 111, an initial configuration unit 112, a storage unit 113, a location information acquisition unit 114, a transmission / reception unit 115, a communication status test unit 116, a communication status report unit 117, And a configuration unit 118.

  The wireless communication unit 111 communicates with a configuration terminal capable of direct wireless communication.

  The initial configuration unit 112 configures a multi-hop network and creates initial configuration information indicating the configuration.

  Specifically, first, the initial configuration unit 112 searches for a configuration terminal that meets a predetermined condition from configuration terminals capable of direct wireless communication, and sets the retrieved configuration terminal as a next hop node. Subsequently, the initial configuration unit 112 creates initial configuration information indicating an ID for identifying the configuration terminal determined as the next hop node.

  For example, if the predetermined condition is “the configuration terminal having the route to the center terminal and closest to itself”, the initial configuration unit 112 searches for the terminal having the route to the center terminal. The search instruction is output to the constituent terminal capable of direct wireless communication with the constituent terminal 100 via the wireless communication unit 111. Thereafter, the initial configuration unit 112 sets the configuration terminal that has transmitted the response signal received first by the wireless communication unit 111 as the next hop node, and creates initial configuration information indicating the ID of the configuration terminal. The response signal indicates the ID of the constituent terminal that outputs the response signal.

  The initial configuration unit 112 stores the initial configuration information in the storage unit 113 as usage configuration information indicating the configuration of the multi-hop network that the configuration terminal 100 should use. The initial configuration unit 112 outputs the initial configuration information to the position information acquisition unit 114.

  When receiving the initial configuration information from the initial configuration unit 112, the location information acquisition unit 114 acquires the installation position of the configuration terminal 100.

  It is desirable that the position information acquisition unit 114 automatically acquires the installation position. For example, the position information acquisition unit 114 has a GPS function, and receives a position acquisition request from a GPS satellite (not shown) upon receiving a position acquisition request. The position information acquisition unit 114 measures its own installation position based on the received positioning signal. In this case, the installation position indicates the latitude, longitude, and altitude at which the component terminal 100 is installed.

  The position information acquisition unit 114 outputs the installation position and initial configuration information to the transmission / reception unit 115.

  The transmission / reception unit 115 communicates with the support apparatus 200 using a multi-hop network.

  The transmission / reception unit 115 transmits the installation position, the initial configuration information, and the test result of the communication status of the multihop network to the support apparatus 200 via the wireless communication unit 111 and the multihop network. Specifically, the transmission / reception unit 115 transmits the installation position, initial configuration information, and test results to the support apparatus 200 via the wireless communication unit 111 and the multi-network indicated by the usage configuration information stored in the storage unit 113. Send.

  In addition, the transmission / reception unit 115 receives from the support apparatus 200 a test instruction to test the communication status of the multihop network and a reconfiguration instruction to change the configuration of the multihop network.

  The test instruction includes test configuration information indicating a configuration of a multi-hop network (hereinafter referred to as a test network) whose communication status is to be tested. The test configuration information indicates at least an ID of a configuration terminal serving as a next hop node. Furthermore, the test configuration information indicates at least the ID of the configuration terminal that will be the next hop node when the configuration terminal 100 communicates with the center terminal in the test network.

  When the transmission / reception unit 115 receives the test instruction, the communication state test unit 116 tests the communication state of the test network indicated by the test configuration information included in the test instruction.

  Specifically, the communication status test unit 116 transmits a response request for responding to the constituent terminal serving as the next hop node in the test network via the wireless communication unit 111. After that, when the wireless communication unit 111 receives a response signal indicating that the wireless communication unit 111 has received a response request from the constituent terminal, the communication state test unit 116 determines whether the communication with the constituent terminal is in communication based on the response signal. Testing.

  For example, the communication status test unit 116 measures the strength of the response signal received by the wireless communication unit 111 and determines whether or not the strength is equal to or higher than a predetermined strength. If the strength is greater than or equal to a predetermined strength, the communication status test unit 116 determines that communication with the constituent terminal is stably performed, while if the strength is less than the predetermined strength, the constituent terminal It is determined that the communication with is not performed stably.

  When testing the communication status of the test network, the communication status testing unit 116 outputs the test result to the communication status reporting unit 117 and stores the test configuration information in the storage unit 113. The test result indicates, for example, whether or not communication with the constituent terminal having the ID indicated by the test configuration information is stably performed.

  Upon receiving the test result from the communication status test unit 116, the communication status report unit 117 outputs the test result to the transmission / reception unit 115.

  When the transmission / reception unit 115 receives the reconfiguration instruction, the reconfiguration unit 118 changes the configuration of the multi-hop network according to the reconfiguration instruction.

  The support device 200 is directly connected to the center terminal.

  The support device 200 includes a memory 201, a control unit 202, a routing storage unit 203, a display unit 204, and an operation unit 205.

  The memory 201 is a recording medium readable by the CPU, and records a program that defines the operation of the control unit 202.

  The control unit 202 is, for example, a CPU, reads a program recorded in the memory 201, executes the read program, a data transmission / reception unit 211, a display editing unit 212, a configuration instruction unit 213, and a communication status reception The unit 214 and the configuration confirmation instruction unit 215 are realized.

  The routing storage unit 203 stores a routing table for transmitting a test instruction and a reconfiguration instruction from the support apparatus 200 to the constituent terminal apparatus 100.

  The operation unit 205 is, for example, a pointing device, and receives a correction instruction for correcting the initial configuration information and a confirmation instruction for confirming the configuration of the multihop network from the user.

  The data transmitter / receiver 211 receives initial configuration information, an installation position, and a test result from each component terminal.

  In addition, the data transmission / reception unit 211 transmits a test instruction and a reconfiguration instruction to the configuration terminal 100 via the multihop network. Specifically, the data transmission / reception unit 211 transmits a test instruction and a reconfiguration instruction to the constituent terminal 100 according to the routing table stored in the routing storage unit 203. Note that the user may transmit a test instruction and a reconfiguration instruction to the data transmission / reception unit 211 using source routing. In this case, the routing storage unit 203 may not store the routing table.

  When the data transmission / reception unit 211 receives the initial configuration information and the installation position, the display editing unit 212 displays the initial configuration information and the installation position on the display unit 204.

  The display editing unit 212 displays the initial configuration information and the installation position in a format that allows the user to easily understand the configuration of the multi-hop network, such as a plan view or a three-dimensional view. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the display editing unit 212 displays each component terminal with a circle, and displays initial configuration information and an installation position as a plan view in which component terminals communicating with each other are connected with lines.

  When the operation unit 205 receives a correction instruction, the display editing unit 212 corrects the initial configuration information in accordance with the correction instruction. Note that the user inputs a correction instruction by adding, changing, or deleting a line connecting the constituent terminals communicating with each other displayed on the display unit 204 using the operation unit 205.

  When the initial configuration information is corrected, the display editing unit 212 determines whether the corrected initial configuration information (hereinafter referred to as corrected configuration information) indicates an inappropriate multi-hop network configuration. The inappropriate multi-hop network configuration is a configuration in which a configuration terminal that cannot communicate with the center terminal or the support apparatus 200 exists. For example, an inappropriate multi-hop network configuration includes a configuration terminal that does not communicate with other configuration terminals, or a configuration that includes configuration terminals that are communicated only between the configuration terminals. is there.

  If the configuration of the multihop network indicated by the modified configuration information is inappropriate, the display editing unit 212 displays an alarm on the display unit 204 indicating that the configuration of the multihop network is inappropriate. On the other hand, if the configuration of the multi-hop network is not an inappropriate configuration, the corrected configuration information is output to the configuration instruction unit 213.

  Further, when the data transmitting / receiving unit 211 receives the test result, the display editing unit 212 displays the test result on the display unit 204.

  When the operation unit 205 receives a confirmation instruction, the display editing unit 212 outputs the accepted confirmation instruction to the configuration confirmation instruction unit 215.

  Upon receiving the corrected configuration information from the display editing unit 212, the configuration instruction unit 213 creates a test instruction according to the corrected configuration information. Normally, each constituent terminal stores only network configuration information related to itself (the ID of the constituent terminal serving as the next hop node). In this case, the configuration instructing unit 213 extracts the ID of the configuration terminal serving as the next hop node of the configuration terminal as test configuration information for each configuration terminal from the corrected configuration information. Thereafter, the configuration instruction unit 213 creates a test instruction including the test configuration information.

  The configuration instruction unit 213 outputs the test instruction to the data transmission / reception unit 211.

  When the data transmission / reception unit 211 receives a test result, the communication status reception unit 214 outputs the test result to the display editing unit 212.

  When receiving the confirmation instruction from the display editing unit 212, the configuration confirmation instructing unit 215 creates a reconfiguration instruction to change the configuration of the multihop network. Specifically, the configuration confirmation instructing unit 215 creates a reconfiguration instruction to change from the configuration indicated by the initial configuration information to the configuration of the multi-hop network whose communication status was last tested.

  The configuration confirmation instructing unit 215 outputs the reconfiguration instruction to the data transmitting / receiving unit 211.

  Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the multi-hop network configuration support system.

  In step S301, the initial configuration unit 112 of the configuration terminal 100 creates initial configuration information. The initial configuration unit 112 stores the initial configuration information as use configuration information in the storage unit 113 and outputs it to the position information acquisition unit 114. When the position information acquisition unit 114 receives the initial configuration information, the position information acquisition unit 114 executes step S302.

  In step S302, the position information acquisition unit 114 acquires the installation position. When the position information acquisition unit 114 acquires the installation position, the position information acquisition unit 114 outputs the installation position and initial configuration information to the transmission / reception unit 115. When receiving the installation position and the initial configuration information, the transmission / reception unit 115 executes step S303.

  In step S <b> 303, the transmission / reception unit 115 transmits the installation position and initial configuration information to the data transmission / reception unit 211 of the support device 200. Specifically, the transmission / reception unit 115 confirms the usage configuration information stored in the storage unit 113, and sends the installation position and initial configuration information to the data transmission / reception unit 211 via the configuration terminal having the ID indicated by the usage configuration information. Send to.

  When the data transmission / reception unit 211 receives the installation position and the initial configuration information, the data transmission / reception unit 211 executes step S304.

  In step S <b> 304, the data transmission / reception unit 211 outputs the installation position and initial configuration information to the display editing unit 212. When receiving the installation position and the initial configuration information, the display editing unit 212 displays the initial configuration information and the installation position on the display unit 204. When the display editing unit 212 ends step S304, the operation unit 205 executes step S305.

  In step S305, the operation unit 205 confirms whether a correction instruction has been accepted. The operation unit 205 executes step S306 when receiving the correction instruction, and executes step S305 when not receiving the correction instruction.

  In step S <b> 306, the operation unit 205 outputs the correction instruction to the display editing unit 212. When receiving the correction instruction, the display editing unit 212 corrects the initial configuration information according to the correction instruction. When the initial configuration information is corrected, the display editing unit 212 determines whether the multi-network configuration indicated by the corrected initial configuration information (corrected configuration information) is an inappropriate configuration. If the multi-network configuration is inappropriate, the display editing unit 212 executes step S307. If the multi-network configuration is not inappropriate, the display editing unit 212 executes step S308.

  In step S307, the display editing unit 212 displays an alarm on the display unit 204. When the display editing unit 212 ends step S307, the operation unit 205 executes step S305.

  In step S308, the display editing unit 212 outputs the corrected configuration information to the configuration instruction unit 213. Upon receiving the corrected configuration information, the configuration instruction unit 213 creates a test instruction according to the corrected configuration information.

  When creating the test instruction, the configuration instruction unit 213 outputs the test instruction to the data transmission / reception unit 211. When receiving the test instruction, the data transmission / reception unit 211 executes step S309.

  In step S <b> 309, the data transmission / reception unit 211 transmits a test instruction to the transmission / reception unit 115 of the configuration terminal 100 via the wireless communication unit 111 of the configuration terminal 100. When receiving the test instruction, the transmission / reception unit 115 outputs the test instruction to the communication status test unit 116. When the communication status test unit 116 accepts the test instruction, it executes Step S310.

  In step S310, the communication status test unit 116 tests the communication status of the multi-hop network instructed by the test instruction. When the communication status test unit 116 tests the communication status of the multi-hop network, step S311 is executed.

  In step S <b> 311, the communication status test unit 116 stores the test configuration information in the storage unit 113 and outputs the test result to the communication status report unit 117. Upon receiving the test result, communication status reporting unit 117 outputs the test result to transmission / reception unit 115.

  When receiving the test result, the transmission / reception unit 115 transmits the test result to the data transmission / reception unit 211 of the support apparatus 200. When receiving the test result, the transmission / reception unit 211 executes step S311.

  In step S312, the data transmitting / receiving unit 211 outputs the test result to the communication status receiving unit 214. When receiving the test result, the communication status receiving unit 214 outputs the test result to the display editing unit 212. When the display editing unit 212 receives the test result, the display editing unit 212 displays the test result on the display unit 204. When the display editing unit 212 ends step S312, the operation unit 205 executes step S313.

  In step S313, the operation unit 205 confirms whether a correction instruction has been accepted. The operation unit 205 executes step S306 when receiving the correction instruction, and executes step S314 when not receiving the correction instruction.

  In step S314, the operation unit 205 confirms whether a confirmation instruction has been received. The operation unit 205 executes step S315 when accepting the confirmation instruction, and executes step S313 when not accepting the confirmation instruction.

  In step S315, the operation unit 205 outputs a confirmation instruction to the display editing unit 212. When receiving the confirmation instruction, the display editing unit 212 outputs the confirmation instruction to the configuration confirmation instruction unit 215. Upon receiving the confirmation instruction, the configuration confirmation instruction unit 215 creates a reconfiguration instruction.

  When the configuration confirmation instruction unit 215 creates the reconfiguration instruction, the configuration confirmation instruction unit 215 outputs the reconfiguration instruction to the data transmission / reception unit 211. When the data transmission / reception unit 211 receives the reconfiguration instruction, the data transmission / reception unit 211 transmits the reconfiguration instruction to the transmission / reception unit 115 of the configuration terminal 100 via the multihop network and the wireless communication unit 111. When receiving the reconfiguration instruction, the transmission / reception unit 115 executes step S316.

  In step S316, the transmission / reception unit 115 outputs a reconfiguration instruction to the reconfiguration unit 118. When receiving the reconfiguration instruction, the reconfiguration unit 118 changes the configuration of the multi-hop network according to the reconfiguration instruction. Specifically, the reconfiguration unit 118 changes the configuration of the multihop network from the configuration indicated by the initial configuration information to the configuration of the multihop network whose communication status was last tested. Furthermore, the reconfiguration unit 118 changes the test configuration information stored last in the storage unit 113 to use configuration information.

  In step S315, when receiving the confirmation instruction, the display editing unit 212 may output the confirmation instruction, the corrected configuration information modified immediately before the confirmation instruction is received, and the configuration confirmation instruction unit 215. In this case, upon receiving the confirmation instruction and the corrected configuration information, the configuration determination instruction unit 215 creates a reconfiguration instruction including the corrected configuration information. In step S316, when the reconfiguration unit 118 accepts the reconfiguration instruction, the reconfiguration unit 118 stores the configuration of the multi-hop network in the storage unit 113 as the configuration information to be used, including the corrected configuration information included in the reconfiguration instruction.

  In this case, the communication status test unit 116 may not store the test configuration information in the storage unit 113 in step S311.

  According to the present embodiment, when the operation unit 205 receives a correction instruction, the display editing unit 212 corrects the initial configuration information according to the correction instruction. The configuration confirmation instructing unit 215 transmits a reconfiguration instruction to change the configuration of the multi-hop network to the configuration indicated by the modified initial configuration information to the configuration terminal 100. When the transmission / reception unit 115 receives the reconfiguration instruction, the reconfiguration unit 118 changes the configuration of the multi-hop network according to the reconfiguration instruction.

  In this case, initial configuration information indicating the configuration of the multi-hop network received from each constituent terminal is displayed. In addition, when the displayed initial configuration information is corrected, a reconfiguration instruction to change the configuration of the multi-hop network to the configuration indicated by the corrected initial configuration information is transmitted to each configuration terminal.

  For this reason, the configuration of the multi-hop network automatically created by the user can be corrected to an efficient configuration.

  In this embodiment, when the initial configuration information is corrected, the display editing unit 212 determines whether the corrected initial configuration information indicates an inappropriate multi-hop network configuration. The display unit 204 displays an alarm when the initial configuration information indicates an inappropriate multi-hop network configuration.

  In this case, an alarm is displayed if the modified initial configuration information indicates an inappropriate multi-hop network configuration. For this reason, the correction of the initial configuration information can reduce the possibility of configuring an inappropriate multi-hop network, for example, there are configuration terminals that cannot communicate with other configuration terminals or support devices. It becomes possible.

  In this embodiment, the configuration instruction unit 213 transmits a test instruction to the configuration terminal 100 to test the communication status of the multi-hop network indicated by the corrected initial configuration information. When the transmission / reception unit 115 receives the test instruction, the communication status test unit 116 tests the communication status of the multi-hop network instructed by the test instruction. The communication status report unit 117 transmits the test result tested by the communication status test unit 116 to the support apparatus 200. When the data transmission / reception unit 211 receives the test result, the display unit 204 displays the test result.

  In this case, the communication status of the multi-hop network indicated by the corrected initial configuration information is tested, and the test result is displayed. For this reason, it is possible to confirm whether or not the multi-hop network whose configuration is indicated by the corrected initial configuration information can be stably communicated.

  Next, a communication support apparatus system for a multihop network in which the support apparatus investigates the communication status of the modified multihop network will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the communication support apparatus system of the multi-hop network in which the support apparatus investigates the communication status of the modified multi-hop network. In FIG. 3, the same processes as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In step S401, the initial configuration unit 112 acquires a communication status (for example, received radio wave intensity) of a configuration terminal capable of direct communication, and creates initial configuration information including the communication status. When creating the initial configuration information, the initial configuration unit 112 stores the initial configuration information as use configuration information in the storage unit 113 and outputs it to the position information acquisition unit 114. When the position information acquisition unit 114 receives the initial configuration information, the position information acquisition unit 114 executes step S302.

  Thereafter, steps S302 to S306 are executed. In step S306, if the multi-network configuration indicated by the modified initial configuration information is not an inappropriate configuration, the display editing unit 212 executes step S402.

  In step S402, the display editing unit 212 investigates the communication status of the multi-hop network whose configuration is indicated by the modified initial configuration information based on the communication status included in the initial configuration information, and displays the survey result on the display unit 204. To display. When the display editing unit 212 ends step S402, the operation unit 205 executes step S313.

  Thereafter, step S313 and step S314 are executed. In step S314, when the operation unit 205 receives a confirmation instruction, step S403 is executed.

  In step S <b> 403, the operation unit 205 outputs a confirmation instruction to the display editing unit 212. Upon receiving the confirmation instruction, display editing unit 212 outputs the confirmation instruction and the corrected configuration information to configuration confirmation instruction unit 215. When receiving the confirmation instruction and the corrected configuration information, the configuration confirmation instructing unit 215 creates a reconfiguration instruction to change the configuration of the multi-hop network to the configuration indicated by the modified configuration information. The reconfiguration instruction includes corrected configuration information.

  When the configuration terminal stores only network configuration information related to itself, the configuration instruction unit 215 corrects the configuration related to the configuration terminal for each configuration terminal from the received corrected configuration information. Extract configuration information. When the configuration instruction unit 215 extracts the corrected configuration information, the configuration instruction unit 215 creates a reconfiguration instruction including the extracted corrected configuration information.

  The configuration confirmation instructing unit 215 executes step S404 when the reconfiguration instruction is generated.

  In step S <b> 404, the configuration confirmation instructing unit 215 outputs the reconfiguration instruction to the data transmitting / receiving unit 211. When the data transmission / reception unit 211 receives the reconfiguration instruction, the data transmission / reception unit 211 transmits the reconfiguration instruction to the transmission / reception unit 115 via the multi-hop network and the radio unit 111 of the configuration terminal 100. When receiving the reconfiguration instruction, the transmission / reception unit 115 executes step S405.

  In step S <b> 405, the transmission / reception unit 115 outputs a reconfiguration instruction to the reconfiguration unit 118. When receiving the reconfiguration instruction, the reconfiguration unit 118 changes the configuration of the multihop network according to the reconfiguration instruction.

  Specifically, when receiving the reconfiguration instruction, the reconfiguration unit 118 stores the corrected configuration information included in the reconfiguration instruction in the storage unit 113 as use configuration information.

  According to the present embodiment, when the initial configuration information is corrected, the display editing unit 212 indicates the configuration in the corrected initial configuration information based on the communication status included in the initial configuration information created by the initial configuration unit 112. The communication status of the multi-hop network. The display unit 204 displays the investigation result.

  In this case, based on the communication status with other configuration terminals, the communication status of the multi-hop network whose configuration is indicated by the modified initial configuration information is investigated, and the survey result is displayed.

  For this reason, it is possible to confirm whether or not the multi-hop network whose configuration is indicated by the corrected initial configuration information can be stably communicated.

  Next, a support system in which the display editing unit 212 partially or entirely corrects the initial configuration information will be described.

  When the display editing unit 212 partially corrects the initial configuration information, the display editing unit 212 determines whether the corrected initial configuration information indicates an inappropriate multi-hop network configuration, for example, It is further determined whether there is a route having a concentrated load in the configuration of the multi-hop network.

  If there is a route where the load is concentrated, the display editing unit 212 displays a load concentration alarm indicating that there is a route where the load is concentrated on the display unit 204. In addition, if there is a route where the load is concentrated, the display editing unit 212 corrects the configuration to a multi-network configuration that does not include the route where the load is concentrated, and sends corrected configuration information indicating the corrected configuration to the configuration instruction unit 213. It may be output.

  Further, when the display editing unit 212 performs all corrections on the initial configuration information, when the data transmission / reception unit 211 receives the initial configuration information and the installation position, the display editing unit 212, for example, multi-hop indicated by the initial configuration information It is determined whether there is a route with a concentrated load on the network. If there is a route with concentrated load, the display editing unit 212 corrects the initial configuration information to indicate the configuration of the multi-hop network without the concentrated route, and configures the corrected initial configuration information. The data is output to the instruction unit 213.

  In the embodiment described above, the illustrated configuration is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration.

  For example, each component terminal may be installed indoors such as inside a building. In this case, a temperature sensor for air conditioning management is attached to each constituent terminal. Each component terminal transmits the temperature measured by the temperature sensor to the center terminal that collects and manages the temperature via the multi-hop network.

  If the constituent terminal is installed indoors such as inside a building, there is a possibility that the position information acquisition unit 114 cannot receive a positioning signal from a GPS satellite. For this reason, it is desirable that the installation position is input by the user. Note that the input installation position indicates, for example, the D3 area on the third floor.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the position information acquisition unit 114 in which the installation position is input by the user. In FIG. 4, the position information acquisition unit 114 includes an input unit 120, a management unit 121, and a position storage unit 122.

  The input unit 120 receives an installation position from the user.

  The management unit 121 records the installation position received by the input unit 120 in the position storage unit 122.

  In addition, when the initial configuration information is received from the initial configuration unit 112, the management unit 121 acquires the installation position from the recording unit 112. When acquiring the installation position, the management unit 121 outputs the initial configuration information and the installation position to the transmission / reception unit 115.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration support system for a multi-hop network according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation example of the structure support system of a multihop network. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the other operation example of the structure assistance system of a multihop network. It is the block diagram which showed an example of the positional information acquisition part. It is the conceptual diagram which showed arrangement | positioning of a terminal. Conceptual diagram showing optimal network 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a multi-hop network automatically configured by a terminal. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a multi-hop network automatically configured by a terminal. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a multi-hop network automatically configured by a terminal. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a multi-hop network automatically configured by a terminal. It is the conceptual diagram which showed the actual network.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Configuration terminal 111 Wireless communication part 112 Initial structure part 113 Storage part 114 Location information acquisition part 115 Transmission / reception part 116 Communication condition test part 117 Communication condition report part 118 Reconfiguration part 120 Input part 121 Management part 122 Location memory part 200 Support apparatus DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 201 Memory 202 Control part 203 Routing memory | storage part 204 Display part 205 Operation part 211 Data transmission / reception part 212 Display edit part 213 Configuration instruction | indication part 214 Communication condition reception part 215 Configuration confirmation instruction | indication part

Claims (11)

A communication support apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of wireless stations constituting a multi-hop network,
Receiving means for receiving configuration information indicating the configuration of the multi-hop network from each radio station;
Display means for displaying configuration information received by the receiving means;
Operation means for accepting a correction instruction for correcting the configuration information displayed on the display means;
Display editing means for correcting the configuration information in accordance with a correction instruction received by the operation means;
A communication support apparatus comprising: a configuration confirmation instructing unit that transmits a reconfiguration instruction to change the configuration of the multi-hop network to the configuration indicated by the configuration information corrected by the display editing unit. The communication support apparatus according to claim 1,
The display editing means determines whether or not the modified configuration information indicates an inappropriate multi-hop network configuration,
The communication support apparatus, wherein the display means displays an alarm when the corrected configuration information indicates an inappropriate multi-hop network configuration. A communication support system including a plurality of radio stations constituting a multi-hop network, and a communication support apparatus capable of communicating with each radio station,
The communication support device includes:
Receiving means for receiving configuration information indicating the configuration of the multi-hop network from each wireless station;
Display means for displaying configuration information received by the receiving means;
Operation means for accepting a correction instruction for correcting the configuration information displayed on the display means;
Display editing means for correcting the configuration information in accordance with a correction instruction received by the operation means;
Configuration confirmation instruction means for transmitting to each wireless station a reconfiguration instruction to change the configuration of the multi-hop network to the configuration indicated by the configuration information modified by the display editing means,
Each radio station
Initial configuration means for creating the configuration information;
Transmitting / receiving means for transmitting the configuration information created by the initial configuration means to the communication support apparatus, and then receiving the reconfiguration instruction;
Reconfiguration means for changing the configuration of the multi-hop network in accordance with a reconfiguration instruction received by the transmission / reception means. The communication support system according to claim 3,
When the display editing unit corrects the configuration information, the communication support apparatus sends a test instruction to each radio station to test the communication status of the multi-hop network indicated by the corrected configuration information. Including configuration instruction means for transmitting,
The transmission / reception means receives the test instruction,
Each radio station includes a test unit that performs a test instructed by a test instruction received by the transmission / reception unit, and a notification unit that transmits a test result of the test performed by the test unit to the network support device. Including,
The receiving means receives the test result;
The communication support system, wherein the display means displays a test result received by the receiving means. The communication support system according to claim 3,
The initial configuration means creates configuration information including communication status with other radio stations,
The display editing unit investigates the communication status of the multi-hop network whose configuration is indicated by the modified configuration information based on the communication status included in the configuration information received by the receiving unit,
The communication support system, wherein the display unit displays a survey result surveyed by the display editing unit. A communication support method performed by a communication support apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of wireless stations constituting a multi-hop network,
A receiving step of receiving configuration information indicating the configuration of the multi-hop network from each wireless station;
A display step for displaying the configuration information received in the receiving step;
An accepting step of accepting a correction instruction to correct the configuration information displayed in the display step;
A correction step of correcting the configuration information in accordance with the correction instruction received in the reception step;
A communication support method comprising: a transmission step of transmitting to each wireless station a reconfiguration instruction to change the configuration of the multi-hop network to the configuration indicated by the configuration information modified in the modification step. The communication support method according to claim 6,
A determination step of determining whether or not the configuration information corrected in the correction step indicates an inappropriate multi-hop network configuration;
And a warning display step of displaying an alarm when the corrected configuration information indicates an inappropriate multi-hop network configuration. A communication support method performed by a communication support system including a plurality of wireless stations constituting a multi-hop network, and a communication support apparatus capable of communicating with each wireless station,
A creation step in which each wireless station creates configuration information indicating the configuration of the multihop network; and
A configuration transmission step in which each wireless station transmits the configuration information to the communication support device; and
A configuration receiving step in which the communication support apparatus receives the configuration information from each wireless station;
A configuration display step in which the communication support device displays the configuration information received in the configuration reception step;
A configuration accepting step in which the communication support device accepts a modification instruction to modify the configuration information displayed in the configuration display step;
A configuration correction step in which the communication support device corrects the configuration information according to a correction instruction received in the configuration reception step;
An output step in which the communication support device transmits a reconfiguration instruction to change the configuration of the multi-hop network to the configuration indicated by the configuration information modified in the configuration modification step;
Each wireless station receives a modified instruction for receiving the reconfiguration instruction; and
A reconfiguration step in which each wireless station changes the configuration of the multi-hop network according to the received reconfiguration instruction. The communication support method according to claim 8,
A test transmission step in which the communication support device transmits a test instruction to the wireless station to test the communication status of the multi-hop network whose configuration is indicated by the modified configuration information;
A test reception step in which each wireless station receives the test instruction;
A test step in which each wireless station performs a test indicated by the received test instruction;
A result transmission step in which each wireless station transmits a test result of the test performed in the test step to the network support device;
A result receiving step in which the communication support apparatus receives the test result; and
A communication support method, further comprising: a result display step in which the communication support device displays the received test result. The communication support method according to claim 8,
A generation step in which each wireless station creates configuration information including communication status with other wireless stations, and
The communication support device investigates the communication status of a multi-hop network whose configuration is indicated by the modified configuration information based on the communication status included in the received configuration information;
A communication support method, further comprising: a survey result display step in which the communication support device displays a survey result surveyed in the survey step. A program for causing a computer connected to a plurality of wireless stations constituting a multi-hop network to execute communication support processing,
A receiving process for receiving configuration information indicating the configuration of the multi-hop network from each wireless station;
A display process for displaying the configuration information received in the reception process;
A reception process for receiving a correction instruction for correcting the displayed configuration information;
A correction process for correcting the configuration information in accordance with the correction instruction received in the reception process;
A communication support process including a transmission process for transmitting a reconfiguration instruction to change the configuration of the multi-hop network to the configuration indicated by the configuration information corrected by the correction process to each wireless station is executed on the computer Program to make.

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