JP2007194942A - System and method for supporting sensor unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To support the improvement of response characteristics or processing capability, etc. of a sensor unit having a low function and a low performance. <P>SOLUTION: From a gateway auxiliary unit 20, a gateway unit 10 obtains a proxy program corresponding to a program ID included in a registration request message received from a sensor unit 30, and starts the execution of the above proxy program. The sensor unit 30 starts sensing, and transmits the sensor data obtained through the above sensing to the gateway unit 10. The gateway unit 10 stores the sensor data transmitted from the sensor unit 30. An external unit 40 transmits to the gateway unit 10 a sensor information request message, requesting sensor information related to the sensor data sensed by the sensor unit 30. The gateway unit 10 then transmits to the external unit 40 the sensor information corresponding to the sensor information request message. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sensor device support system and a sensor device support method.

In recent years, various systems have been developed to utilize sensor data acquired by a sensor device. In Non-Patent Document 1 below, a sensor device holds a program for storing and performing secondary processing of sensor data, a response to an external request, and the like, and by transferring this program to the gateway device, the gateway device A technique for disclosing sensor information to the outside instead of a sensor device is disclosed.
P. Schramm, E. Naroska, P. Resch, J. Platte, H. Linde, G. Stromberg, T. Sturm, “Shaman” “A Service Gateway for Networked Sensor Systems”, IEEE Pervasive Computing, Vol. 3, No .1, January-March 2004, pp.66-74.

  However, in the above-described conventional technology, since it is necessary to mount Java, HTTP, or the like on the sensor device, the conventional technology cannot be applied to a low-function / low-performance sensor device. In the future, it is expected that many service environments will be realized in which sensor devices are arranged everywhere and sensor data acquired by these sensor devices is utilized. Therefore, it is necessary to make it possible to apply the conventional technology even to a low-function / low-performance sensor device.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a sensor device support system and a sensor device support method that can support a low-function and low-performance sensor device in order to solve the above-described problems.

  The sensor device support system of the present invention is a sensor device support system comprising one or more gateway devices that can communicate with one or more sensor devices, and a gateway auxiliary device that can communicate with the gateway devices, The gateway auxiliary device includes a program storage means for storing a proxy program for handling the sensor data sensed by the sensor device instead of the sensor device in association with program identification information that uniquely identifies the proxy program, When the gateway device receives a registration request message including program identification information from the sensor device, a program acquisition means for acquiring a proxy program corresponding to the program identification information included in the registration request message from the gateway auxiliary device; Program taking Program execution means for executing the proxy program acquired by the means, and when receiving the sensor data sensed by the sensor device, the program execution means processes the sensor data and relates to the sensor data. When an inquiry message is received from the outside, a response to the inquiry message is transmitted to the outside.

  The sensor device support method of the present invention is a sensor device support method for supporting a sensor device with one or a plurality of gateway devices capable of communicating with one or a plurality of sensor devices and a gateway auxiliary device capable of communicating with the gateway devices. The gateway auxiliary device stores a proxy program for handling the sensor data sensed by the sensor device instead of the sensor device in association with program identification information that uniquely identifies the proxy program. A storage step, and when the gateway device receives a registration request message including program identification information from the sensor device, obtains a proxy program corresponding to the program identification information included in the registration request message from the gateway auxiliary device Program acquisition step And a program execution step for executing the proxy program acquired in the program acquisition step, and the program execution step processes the sensor data when sensor data sensed by the sensor device is received, When an inquiry message related to the sensor data is received from the outside, a response to the inquiry message is transmitted to the outside.

  According to these inventions, when the registration request message is received from the sensor device, the proxy acquisition program corresponding to the program identification information included in the registration request message is acquired from the gateway auxiliary device by the program acquisition means, and the program execution means Then, a proxy program for handling sensor data sensed by the sensor device instead of the sensor device is executed. By executing this proxy program, when sensor data sensed by the sensor device is received, the sensor data can be processed. When an inquiry message regarding sensor data is received from the outside, the sensor data is processed. In response to this inquiry message on behalf of the device, it can be transmitted to the outside. Therefore, if the sensor device can transmit information including the sensed sensor data to the gateway device, the sensor data can be processed and the sensor information can be disclosed to the outside. Therefore, it is possible to provide support for improving the responsiveness and processing capacity of the low-function / low-performance sensor device.

  In the sensor device support system of the present invention, when the gateway device registers the sensor device that has transmitted the registration request message under the control of its own device, and the registration of the sensor device is canceled, the registration is performed. Sensor information temporary storage means for temporarily storing sensor information relating to sensor data of the released sensor device, and gateway information relating to the gateway device in which the sensor device that transmitted the registration request message was previously registered And when the gateway device corresponding to the gateway information acquired by the gateway information acquisition unit is another gateway device other than the own device, the registration request message is sent from the other gateway device. Sensor device of the sensor device that sent Preferably further comprising a sensor information obtaining means for obtaining sensor information related to data, the.

  Further, in the sensor device support method of the present invention, when the gateway device registers the sensor device that has transmitted the registration request message under the control of its own device, and when the registration of the sensor device is canceled, The sensor information temporary storage step for temporarily storing sensor information related to the sensor data of the sensor device that has been deregistered, and the gateway information related to the gateway device in which the sensor device that transmitted the registration request message was previously registered When the gateway information acquisition step acquired from the sensor device and the gateway device corresponding to the gateway information acquired in the gateway information acquisition step is another gateway device other than the own device, registration is performed from the other gateway device. I sent a request message A sensor information obtaining step of obtaining sensor information on the sensor data of capacitors apparatus may further include a.

  In this way, for example, even if the sensor device moves and belongs to another gateway device, the sensor information stored in the previous gateway device is used as the capability of the sensor device. Regardless, since it can be handed over to the gateway device after movement, sensor information can be used effectively.

  In the sensor device support system according to the present invention, the sensor information acquisition unit includes a sensor stored by the sensor information temporary storage unit when the gateway device corresponding to the gateway information acquired by the gateway information acquisition unit is its own device. It is preferable to acquire sensor information related to sensor data of the sensor device that has transmitted the registration request message from the information.

  In this way, for example, even if the sensor device is temporarily released from the management of the gateway device by suspend / resume and then re-registered, the sensor information stored before the release is stored in the sensor device. Since it can be reused regardless of the capability, sensor information can be used effectively.

  In the sensor device support system of the present invention, the gateway device is based on sensor information storage means for storing sensor information relating to sensor data of the sensor device that has transmitted the registration request message, and sensor information stored by the sensor information storage means. In addition, it is preferable to further include a schedule determination unit that determines a schedule of the sensor device corresponding to the sensor information, and a transmission unit that transmits information on the schedule determined by the schedule determination unit to the sensor device.

  In the sensor device support method of the present invention, the gateway device stores sensor information relating to sensor data of the sensor device that has transmitted the registration request message, and sensor information stored in the sensor information storage step. Preferably, the method further includes a schedule determination step for determining a schedule of the sensor device corresponding to the sensor information, and a transmission step for transmitting information related to the schedule determined in the schedule determination step to the sensor device.

  In this way, information relating to a schedule determined based on the accumulated sensor information (for example, sensing interval, activation / pause interval, transmission / reception interval schedule) can be transmitted to the sensor device. Then, for example, sensing of sensor data, activation and suspension of the device itself, transmission of sensor data, and the like can be performed at optimum intervals. Accordingly, it is possible to eliminate unnecessary sensing of the sensor device, and thus power saving of the sensor device can be improved.

  In the sensor device support system of the present invention, the gateway device further includes linkage means for linking a plurality of programs, and the program acquisition means includes a plurality of program identification information when the registration request message includes a plurality of program identification information. It is preferable that a proxy program corresponding to each of the program identification information is acquired, and the linkage means links a plurality of proxy programs acquired by the program acquisition means.

  In this way, even when the sensor device includes a plurality of sensors having different functions, the proxy program can be linked and executed for each sensor device, so the processing efficiency when processing the proxy program Can be improved.

  According to the sensor device support system and the sensor device support method according to the present invention, since the processing performed by the sensor device can be represented by the gateway device, the responsiveness of the low-function / low-performance sensor device and the processing capability are improved. Etc. can be supported.

  Embodiments of a sensor device support system and a sensor device support method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same element and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

[First embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram for illustrating a system configuration of a sensor device support system 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the sensor device support system 1 includes a gateway device 10 and a gateway auxiliary device 20. The gateway device 10 and the gateway auxiliary device 20 are connected via a communication line.

  The gateway auxiliary device 20 assists the gateway device 10 by providing the gateway device 10 with a proxy program for handling the sensor data sensed by the sensor device 30 instead of the sensor device. The gateway auxiliary device 20 physically includes a CPU, a communication device, a memory, and the like.

  The gateway device 10 has a function of a well-known gateway device, performs processing such as storage and processing of the sensor data received from the sensor device 30 instead of the sensor device 30, and receives an inquiry about the sensor data from the external device 40. In response to the sensor device 30 instead. That is, the gateway device 10 has a function of acting as a proxy for part of the processing performed by the sensor device 30. The gateway device 10 physically includes a CPU, a communication device, a wireless communication device, a memory, and the like.

  The sensor device 30 physically includes one or more sensors, a CPU, a wireless communication device, a memory, and the like.

  Next, the functional configuration of the gateway device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the gateway device 10 includes a proxy object management unit 11 (registration unit), a proxy program acquisition unit 12 (program acquisition unit), and a proxy program execution unit 13 (program execution unit). The gateway device 10 also includes a sensor information database 1A (sensor information storage means).

  The sensor information database 1A stores sensor information related to sensor data sensed by the sensor device 30 registered in the gateway device 10. The sensor information database 1A has, for example, a sensor device ID, a sensor component ID, and sensor data as data items. The sensor device ID stores an ID that uniquely identifies the sensor device 30. In the sensor component ID, an ID that uniquely identifies one or a plurality of sensors provided in the sensor device 30 is stored. In addition to individual sensor data, the sensor data includes, for example, information after accumulating sensor data, information after secondary processing of the sensor data, keywords for identifying the sensor data, and the like. The sensor information stored in the sensor information database 1A is deleted when the sensor device 30 is released from the management of the gateway device 10. In the second embodiment to be described later, even if the sensor device 30 is released from the management of the gateway device 10, the sensor information is held for a predetermined period. Details of this will be described later.

  The proxy object management unit 11 performs a process of registering the sensor device 30 that is a target of a part of the process under the management of the own apparatus and a process of releasing the sensor apparatus 30 from the management of the own apparatus.

  When receiving the registration request message transmitted from the sensor device 30, the proxy program acquisition unit 12 acquires a proxy program from the gateway auxiliary device 20 based on the registration request message. This registration request message is a message that the sensor device 30 transmits to the gateway device 10 that is a transmission destination of the sensor data sensed by the sensor device 30 in order to request registration. This registration request message includes a program ID (program identification information) that uniquely identifies the proxy program and information related to the sensor device 30. The information regarding the sensor device 30 includes, for example, a sensor device ID and a sensor component ID. The sensor device ID is an ID for uniquely identifying the sensor device 30, and the sensor component ID is an ID for uniquely identifying one or a plurality of sensors provided in the sensor device 30.

  More specifically, the proxy program acquisition unit 12 transmits a proxy program request message including a program ID to the gateway auxiliary device 20. Further, the proxy program acquisition unit 12 receives a proxy program transmitted from the gateway auxiliary device 20 as a response to the proxy program request message. Thereby, the proxy program acquisition part 12 acquires a proxy program.

  The proxy program execution unit 13 has the following functions by executing the proxy program acquired by the proxy program acquisition unit 12. When the proxy program execution unit 13 receives sensor data sensed by the sensor device 30, the proxy program execution unit 13 accumulates the sensor data in a memory. In addition, when the proxy program execution unit 13 receives an inquiry message about sensor data from the external device 40, the proxy program execution unit 13 transmits a response to the inquiry message to the external device 40. As an inquiry message, for example, a search request message distributed when the external device 40 requests a search for the desired sensor device 30, or a sensor information request distributed when the external device 40 requests transmission of sensor data. Corresponding message. For example, UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) can be used as a method for communicating these inquiry messages. The proxy program execution unit 13 can also secondary-process the sensor data stored in the memory.

  When the proxy program execution unit 13 receives the search request message distributed from the external device 40, the proxy program execution unit 13 searches the sensor information database 1 </ b> A based on the search request message and transmits the search result to the external device 40. More specifically, for example, when the request content of the search request message is “I want information on temperature within a radius of 100 m from this absolute position”, the proxy program execution unit 13 reads “A radius of 100 m from the absolute position”. The sensor information database 1A is searched using the position information “inside” and “temperature sensor” as keywords for searching for sensor information. As a result of this search, when a sensor device corresponding to the keyword is detected, the proxy program execution unit 13 transmits a response message for the search to the external device 40 instead of the detected sensor device. This response message includes an information request method that can be used by the external device 40. On the other hand, when the sensor device corresponding to the keyword is not detected, the proxy program execution unit 13 transmits a message indicating that the sensor device is not detected to the external device 40 or transmits nothing.

  When the proxy program execution unit 13 receives the sensor information request message distributed from the external device 40, the proxy program execution unit 13 extracts the sensor information from the sensor information database 1A based on the sensor information request message, and requests the sensor information request message. Sensor information corresponding to the content is transmitted to the external device 40. More specifically, for example, when the request content of the sensor information request message is “I want average temperature information for the past three days from now”, the proxy program execution unit 13 extracts from the sensor information database 1A. Based on the temperature information included in the sensor information, the average temperature for the past three days is calculated from the present, and information including the calculated average temperature is transmitted to the external device 40.

  Next, the functional configuration of the gateway auxiliary device 20 will be described with reference to FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the gateway auxiliary device 20 includes a proxy program extraction unit 21. The gateway auxiliary device 20 includes a proxy program database 2A (program storage means).

  Here, the data structure of the proxy program database 2A will be described with reference to FIG. The proxy program database 2A has, for example, a program ID and a storage location as data items. In the program ID, an ID for uniquely identifying the proxy program is stored, and in the storage destination, address information in which the proxy program is stored is stored.

  When the proxy program extraction unit 21 shown in FIG. 3 receives the proxy program request message transmitted from the gateway device 10, the proxy program extraction unit 21 refers to the proxy program database 2A based on the program ID included in the proxy program request message. The storage destination stored corresponding to the program ID is extracted. The proxy program extraction unit 21 extracts the program stored in this storage destination as a proxy program.

  Next, the operation of the sensor device support system 1 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the gateway device 10 advertises gateway device information including the device ID of the own device 10 by broadcast distribution so that the sensor device 30 existing in the vicinity of the own device 10 can find the own device 10. (Step S1).

  Next, the sensor device 30 that has received the advertised gateway device information requests the gateway device 10 that has received the received gateway device information to register under the management of the gateway device 10. Is transmitted (step S2). When the registration request message is received by the gateway device 10, the sensor device 30 is registered under the management of the gateway device 10. The registration request message includes a program ID, a sensor device ID, a sensor component ID, and the like as described above.

  Next, the proxy program acquisition unit 12 of the gateway device 10 transmits a proxy program request message including the program ID to the gateway auxiliary device 20 (step S3).

  Next, the proxy program extraction unit 21 of the gateway auxiliary device 20 extracts the storage destination from the proxy program database 2A based on the program ID included in the proxy program request message, and stores the proxy program stored in this storage destination. Extract (step S4).

  Next, the gateway auxiliary device 20 transmits the extracted proxy program to the gateway device 10 (step S5). Thereby, the proxy program acquisition part 12 of the gateway apparatus 10 acquires a proxy program.

  Next, the proxy program execution unit 13 of the gateway device 10 starts executing the proxy program acquired by the proxy program acquisition unit 12 (step S6). The gateway device 10 transmits a registration completion message indicating that the sensor device 30 is registered under the management of the gateway device 10 and the proxy program is executed to the sensor device 30 (step S7).

  Next, when the sensor device 30 receives the registration completion message, the sensor device 30 starts sensing, and transmits the sensor data acquired by the sensing to the gateway device 10 (step S8). As a data format for transmitting the sensor data, a predetermined format defined by the sensor device 30 and the proxy program is used.

  Next, the proxy program execution unit 13 of the gateway device 10 receives the sensor data transmitted from the sensor device 30 and accumulates it in the sensor information database 1A (step S9).

  The external device 40 broadcasts a search request message for requesting a search for the desired sensor device 30 at an arbitrary timing (step S10). Here, the content included in the search request message corresponds to, for example, “I want information on temperature with a radius of 100 m from this absolute position”. A specific format includes, for example, “FINDtype: temperature; restriction: position, 100m”.

  Next, the proxy program execution unit 13 of the gateway device 10 that has received the search request message distributed from the external device 40 searches the sensor information database 1A based on the sensor information search keyword (step S11). The search result is transmitted to the external device 40 (step S12). Here, as the keyword for information search, when the content of the search request message is the above-mentioned content, for example, position information such as “within a radius of 100 m from the absolute position”, “temperature sensor”, or the like is applicable.

  Next, the external device 40 transmits a sensor information request message for requesting sensor information related to sensor data sensed by the sensor device 30 to the gateway device 10 at an arbitrary timing (step S13). Here, the request contents included in the sensor information request message include, for example, “I want average temperature information for the past three days from now”, “I want yesterday's temperature information in absolute temperature”, and the like. A specific format includes, for example, “GET type: temperature; restriction: duration = 3days”.

  Next, the proxy program execution unit 13 of the gateway device 10 extracts sensor information corresponding to the sensor information request message from the sensor information database 1A (step S14), and uses the extracted sensor information as the request content of the sensor information request message. Processing is performed accordingly, and the processed content is transmitted to the external device 40 (step S15).

  As described above, when the registration request message is received from the sensor device 30 by the sensor device support system according to the first embodiment, the proxy program acquisition unit 12 determines the proxy program corresponding to the program ID included in the registration request message. A proxy program for handling the sensor data obtained from the gateway auxiliary device and sensed by the sensor device 30 instead of the sensor device 30 is executed by the proxy program execution unit 13. By executing this proxy program, when sensor data sensed by the sensor device 30 is received, the sensor data can be accumulated, and when an inquiry message about the sensor data is received from the external device 40 Can send a response to the inquiry message to the external device 40 instead of the sensor device 30. Therefore, if the sensor device 30 can transmit information including sensed sensor data to the gateway device 10, the sensor data can be accumulated and subjected to secondary processing, and the sensor information can be disclosed to the external device 40. . Therefore, the low-function / low-performance sensor device 30 can be supported.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The first feature of the sensor device support system 1 in the second embodiment is that, for example, when the registration destination gateway device is changed to another gateway device due to movement of the sensor device 30 or the like, the previous registration destination The sensor information of the sensor device 30 stored in the gateway device 10 is to be taken over by the gateway device 10 as a new registration destination. The second feature is that, for example, when the sensor device 30 is temporarily released from the management of the gateway device by suspend / resume or the like and then re-registered, the sensor information stored before the release is stored. This is in the point of taking over the sensor information after re-registration.

  Since the system configuration of the sensor device support system 1 in the second embodiment is the same as the system configuration (see FIG. 1) of the sensor device support system 1 in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. The sensor device support system 1 in the second embodiment is different from the sensor device support system 1 in the first embodiment in that the functional configuration of the gateway device 10 is different.

  Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the gateway device 10 according to the second embodiment includes a gateway information acquisition unit 15 (gateway information acquisition unit), a gateway information determination unit 16 (sensor information acquisition unit), and sensor information. It differs from the functional configuration of the gateway device 10 in the first embodiment in that it further includes an acquisition unit 17 (sensor information acquisition means). Another difference is that it further includes a sensor information temporary storage file 1B (sensor information temporary storage means). Since other functional configurations are the same as the functional configurations in the sensor device support system 1 of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the respective components and the description thereof will be omitted, and the first implementation will be described below. Differences from the form will be described in detail.

  The data configuration of the sensor information temporary storage file 1B is the same as the data configuration of the sensor information database 1A. The sensor information temporary storage file 1B stores each data stored in the sensor information database 1A only for a predetermined period when the sensor device 30 is released from the management of the gateway device 10. The sensor information temporary storage file 1B is not necessarily provided. For example, the timing for deleting each data stored in the sensor information database 1 </ b> A may be set after a predetermined period has elapsed since the sensor device 30 was released from the management of the gateway device 10.

  The gateway information acquisition unit 15 acquires, from the sensor device 30, gateway information (hereinafter referred to as “previous gateway information”) related to the gateway device 10 in which the sensor device 30 that has transmitted the registration request message has been registered last time. This previous gateway information includes a gateway ID that uniquely identifies the gateway device.

  More specifically, the gateway information acquisition unit 15 requests the sensor device 30 to transmit the gateway information last time after transmitting the registration completion message to the sensor device 30 that has transmitted the registration request message. Send the previous gateway information request message. Further, the gateway information acquisition unit 15 receives the previous gateway information transmitted from the sensor device 30 as a response to the previous gateway information request message. As a result, the gateway information acquisition unit 15 acquires the previous gateway information.

  The gateway information determination unit 16 determines whether or not the gateway device 10 corresponding to the previous gateway information acquired by the gateway information acquisition unit 15 is its own device. Specifically, the gateway information determination unit 16 determines whether or not the gateway ID included in the previous gateway information is the same as the gateway ID of the own device.

  When it is determined that the gateway device 10 corresponding to the previous gateway information acquired by the gateway information acquisition unit 15 is a gateway device other than its own device, the sensor information acquisition unit 17 registers from another gateway device. The sensor information of the sensor device 30 that has transmitted the request message is acquired.

  More specifically, the sensor information acquisition unit 17 transmits a sensor information request message for requesting to transmit the sensor information stored in the other gateway device to the other gateway device. This sensor information request message includes the sensor device ID. The other gateway device extracts the sensor information stored corresponding to the sensor device ID from the sensor information temporary storage file 1B based on the sensor device ID included in the received sensor information request message. The other gateway device transmits the extracted sensor information to the gateway device 10. Thereby, the sensor information acquisition part 17 acquires the sensor information of the sensor apparatus 30 from another gateway apparatus.

  When it is determined that the gateway device 10 corresponding to the previous gateway information acquired by the gateway information acquisition unit 15 is the own device, the sensor information acquisition unit 17 uses the sensor information stored in the sensor information temporary storage file 1B. Then, the sensor information of the sensor device 30 that has transmitted the registration request message is extracted. Thereby, sensor information is acquired.

  The sensor information stored in the sensor information temporary storage file 1B may have an expiration date. In this case, sensor information that has expired can be excluded from extraction targets. Thereby, only the sensor information within the expiration date can be taken over by another gateway device.

  Next, the operation of the sensor device support system 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, in the operation in the second embodiment, the processing from step S1 to step S8 (FIG. 5) in the operation in the first embodiment is performed in the same manner, and thus description of these processing is omitted. Therefore, each process shown in FIG. 7 described below is performed following the process of step S8 shown in FIG.

  First, after the gateway apparatus 10 transmits a registration completion message to the sensor apparatus 30 (step S8 in FIG. 5), the gateway information acquisition unit 15 of the gateway apparatus 10 transmits the registration completion message to the sensor apparatus 30 that transmitted the registration completion message last time. A previous gateway information request message for requesting transmission of gateway information is transmitted (step S21).

  Next, the sensor device 30 transmits the previous gateway information to the gateway device 10 (step S22). Thereby, the gateway information acquisition part 15 of the gateway apparatus 10 acquires gateway information last time.

  Next, the gateway information determination unit 16 of the gateway device 10 determines whether or not the gateway device 10 corresponding to the previous gateway information acquired by the gateway information acquisition unit 15 is its own device (step S23). That is, it is determined whether or not the gateway device requested to be registered this time is the same device as the gateway device registered last time.

  When it is determined in step S23 that the gateway device 10 corresponding to the previous gateway information is a gateway device other than the own device (step S23; NO), the sensor information acquisition unit 17 selects another gateway device. A sensor information request message for requesting to transmit the sensor information stored in the device is transmitted to another gateway device (step S24).

  Next, the other gateway device extracts the sensor information stored in correspondence with the sensor device ID from the sensor information temporary storage file 1B based on the sensor device ID included in the received sensor information request message. (Step S25) The extracted sensor information is transmitted to the gateway device 10 (Step S26), and the extracted sensor information is deleted from the sensor information temporary storage file 1B. The gateway device 10 stores the received sensor information in the sensor information database 1A (step S28).

  On the other hand, in the determination in step S23, when it is determined that the gateway device 10 corresponding to the previous gateway information is the own device (step S23; YES), the sensor information acquisition unit 17 stores the sensor information temporary storage file 1B. The sensor information of the sensor device 30 that has transmitted the registration request message is extracted from the stored sensor information (step S26), the extracted sensor information is stored in the sensor information database 1A (step S28), and the extracted sensor The information is deleted from the sensor information temporary storage file 1B.

  As described above, according to the sensor device support system in the second embodiment, for example, even when the sensor device moves and belongs to another gateway device 10, Since the accumulated sensor information can be transferred to the gateway apparatus 10 after movement regardless of the capability of the sensor apparatus 30, the sensor information can be used effectively. Further, for example, even when the sensor device 30 is temporarily released from the management of the gateway device 10 by suspend / resume and then re-registered, the sensor information stored before the release is used as the capability of the sensor device 30. Therefore, the sensor information can be used effectively because it can be reused.

  In the above-described second embodiment, as a method for the gateway device 10 to acquire the previous gateway information, the gateway device 10 transmits a registration completion message to the sensor device 30, and further transmits a previous gateway information request message to detect the sensor. Although the previous gateway information is acquired from the device 30, the method of acquiring the previous gateway information is not limited to this. For example, when the sensor device 30 transmits a registration request message to the gateway device 10, the gateway device 10 may acquire the previous gateway information by transmitting the previous gateway information together. In this case, the process of transmitting the previous gateway information request message from the gateway device 10 to the sensor device 30 can be omitted.

[Third embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The sensor device support system 1 according to the third embodiment is characterized by the sensing interval of the sensor device 30 corresponding to the sensor information based on the accumulated sensor information, the start / pause interval of the sensor device 30, the sensor device 30 and the gateway device 10. A schedule such as a data transmission / reception interval is determined and transmitted to the sensor device 30.

  Since the system configuration of the sensor device support system 1 in the third embodiment is the same as the system configuration (see FIG. 1) of the sensor device support system 1 in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. The sensor device support system 1 in the third embodiment is different from the sensor device support system 1 in the first embodiment in that the functional configuration of the gateway device 10 is different.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the gateway device 10 in the third embodiment further includes a schedule determination unit 18 (schedule determination means, transmission means) in the first embodiment. Different from the functional configuration of. Since other functional configurations are the same as the functional configurations in the sensor device support system 1 of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the respective components and the description thereof will be omitted, and the first implementation will be described below. Differences from the form will be described in detail.

  The schedule determination unit 18 determines each schedule of the sensor device 30 corresponding to the sensor information based on the sensor information stored in the sensor information database 1A. Specifically, the schedule determination unit 18 analyzes periodic changes in sensor data based on the sensor information stored in the sensor information database 1A. The schedule determination unit 18 determines a sensing interval schedule according to the analyzed degree of periodic change. More specifically, the sensing interval is set longer as the degree of periodic change is smaller, and the sensing interval is set shorter as the degree of periodic change is larger. Further, the schedule determination unit 18 determines a schedule for the activation / pause interval of the sensor device 30 based on the sensing interval or the like in order to perform power supply control according to the sensing interval. Furthermore, the schedule determination unit 18 is based on the storage capability, the amount of data to be sensed, the sensing interval, etc. so that the data can be efficiently transmitted and received according to the storage capability of the sensor device 30 and the real-time property of the sensor data. The schedule of the data transmission / reception interval is also determined. The schedule determination unit 18 transmits each determined schedule to the sensor device 30.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 9, operation | movement of the sensor apparatus assistance system 1 in 3rd Embodiment is demonstrated. Here, the operation in the third embodiment is started at an arbitrary timing after the processing from step S1 to step S8 (FIG. 5) of the operation in the first embodiment is performed.

  First, sensor data accumulation processing is repeatedly performed between the sensor device 30 and the gateway device 10 (step S31). In this sensor data storage process, the sensor device 30 transmits sensor data to the gateway device 10, and the gateway device 10 repeatedly stores the sensor data received from the sensor device 30 in the sensor information database 1A.

  After that, when a predetermined amount of sensor data is accumulated in the sensor information database 1A, the schedule determination unit 18 of the gateway device 10 determines the periodic change of the sensor data based on the sensor information accumulated in the sensor information database 1A. The degree is analyzed (step S32).

  Next, the schedule determination unit 18 determines the sensing interval schedule of the sensor device 30 according to the analyzed degree of change (step S33).

  Furthermore, the schedule determination unit 18 determines the schedule of the activation / pause interval of the sensor device 30 and the schedule of the data transmission / reception interval (step S34).

  Next, the schedule determination unit 18 transmits each schedule of the determined sensing interval, activation / pause interval, and data transmission / reception interval to the sensor device 30 (step S35). The sensor device 30 stores each schedule received from the gateway device 10.

  Next, the sensor device 30 repeatedly executes various schedule operations to be described later based on the stored schedules (step S36).

  Next, various schedule operations that are repeatedly performed in step S36 described above will be described with reference to FIG. Since this schedule operation is mainly an operation on the sensor device 30 side, only the flow of processing performed in the sensor device 30 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the sensor device 30 reads a schedule to be executed next time (step S36a). Next, the sensor device 30 determines whether or not the read schedule is a schedule for a transmission / reception interval (step S36b). If this determination is NO (step S36b; NO), the sensor device 30 sets a next activation timer and partially stops power feeding (step S36c). Next, when power supply is started by timer activation (step S36d), the sensor device 30 performs sensing (step S36e) and accumulates sensor data (step S36f).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S36b described above that the read schedule is a schedule for a transmission / reception interval (step S36b; YES), the sensor device 30 transmits sensor data to the gateway device 10 (step S36b). The accumulated sensor data is deleted together with S36g) (step S36h). The gateway device 10 accumulates the sensor data transmitted from the sensor device 30 in the sensor information database 1A.

  As described above, according to the sensor device support system in the third embodiment, the sensing interval, the activation / pause interval, the transmission / reception interval, etc. determined using the data characteristics predicted based on the accumulated past sensor information Therefore, the sensor device 30 can perform sensing, activation and suspension of the device itself, transmission of sensor data, and the like at an optimal sensing interval. Accordingly, it is possible to omit unnecessary sensing of the sensor device 30 and the power consumption of the sensor device 30 can be reduced.

[Fourth embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. A feature of the sensor device support system 1 in the fourth embodiment is that, when a plurality of sensors provided in the sensor device 30 correspond to different proxy programs, the plurality of proxy programs are linked and executed. There are features.

  Since the system configuration of the sensor device support system 1 in the fourth embodiment is the same as the system configuration (see FIG. 1) of the sensor device support system 1 in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. The sensor device support system 1 in the fourth embodiment is different from the sensor device support system 1 in the first embodiment in that the functional configuration of the gateway device 10 is different.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the gateway device 10 in the fourth embodiment is different from the functional configuration of the gateway device 10 in the first embodiment in that it further includes a linkage unit 18 (linkage means). . Accordingly, the other functional configurations are the same as the respective functional configurations in the sensor device support system 1 of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the respective constituent elements and the description thereof will be omitted. Differences from the first embodiment will be described in detail.

  The linkage unit 18 links a plurality of proxy programs when there are a plurality of proxy programs acquired by the proxy program acquisition unit 12.

  Next, the operation of the sensor device support system 1 in the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the gateway device 10 advertises gateway device information including the device ID of the own device 10 by broadcast distribution so that the sensor device 30 existing in the vicinity of the own device 10 can find the own device 10. (Step S41).

  Next, the sensor device 30 that has received the advertised gateway device information requests the gateway device 10 that has received the received gateway device information to register under the management of the gateway device 10. Is transmitted (step S42). When the registration request message is received by the gateway device 10, the sensor device 30 is registered under the management of the gateway device 10. The registration request message includes a program ID, a sensor device ID, a sensor component ID, and the like as described above. When there are a plurality of sensor component IDs, there are a plurality of program IDs accordingly.

  Next, when the registration request message includes a plurality of program IDs (step S43; YES), the proxy program acquisition unit 12 of the gateway apparatus 10 sends a proxy program request message including the plurality of program IDs to the gateway assistance. It transmits to the apparatus 20 (step S44). When the registration request message does not include a plurality of program IDs (step S43; NO), the process proceeds to the processing after step S3 in FIG. 5 described in the first embodiment.

  Next, the proxy program extraction unit 21 of the gateway auxiliary device 20 extracts a plurality of storage destinations from the proxy program database 2A based on a plurality of program IDs included in the proxy program request message, and stores them in the plurality of storage destinations. Each stored proxy program is extracted (step S45).

  Next, the gateway auxiliary device 20 transmits the plurality of extracted proxy programs to the gateway device 10 (step S46). Thereby, the proxy program acquisition unit 12 of the gateway device 10 acquires a plurality of proxy programs.

  Next, the linkage unit 18 of the gateway device 10 links the plurality of proxy programs acquired by the proxy program acquisition unit 12 (step S47).

  Next, the proxy program execution unit 13 of the gateway apparatus 10 starts executing the proxy program linked by the linkage unit 18 (step S48). The gateway device 10 transmits to the sensor device 30 a registration completion message indicating that the sensor device 30 has been registered under the management of the gateway device 10 and the proxy program has been executed (step S49).

  As described above, according to the sensor device support system in the fourth embodiment, even when the sensor device 30 includes sensors corresponding to a plurality of different proxy programs, the proxy program is linked to each sensor device 30. Since it can be executed, the processing efficiency when processing the proxy program can be improved.

  In addition, the sensor apparatus assistance system in each embodiment mentioned above can be combined suitably. That is, all the functions of the sensor device support systems in the first to fourth embodiments may be combined, or only a part of them may be combined.

It is a figure for illustrating the system configuration of the sensor apparatus support system in each embodiment. It is a figure for illustrating functional composition of a gateway device in a 1st embodiment. It is a figure for illustrating functional composition of a gateway auxiliary device in each embodiment. It is a figure which shows the data structure of a proxy program database. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the sensor apparatus assistance system in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the function structure of the gateway apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the sensor apparatus assistance system in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the function structure of the gateway apparatus in 3rd Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the sensor apparatus assistance system in 3rd Embodiment. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of a schedule operation execution process shown in FIG. 9. It is a figure for demonstrating the function structure of the gateway apparatus in 4th Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the sensor apparatus assistance system in 4th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sensor apparatus assistance system, 10 ... Gateway apparatus, 11 ... Proxy object management part, 12 ... Proxy program acquisition part, 13 ... Proxy program execution part, 15 ... Gateway information acquisition , 16 ... Gateway information determination unit, 17 ... Sensor information acquisition unit, 18 ... Schedule determination unit, 19 ... Linkage unit, 1A ... Sensor information database, 1B ... Temporary sensor information Storage file, 20 ... gateway auxiliary device, 21 ... proxy program extraction unit, 2A ... proxy program database, 30 ... sensor device, 40 ... external device.

Claims (8)

A sensor device support system comprising one or more gateway devices capable of communicating with one or more sensor devices, and a gateway auxiliary device capable of communicating with the gateway devices,
The gateway auxiliary device is
A program storage means for storing a proxy program for handling sensor data sensed by the sensor device instead of the sensor device in association with program identification information that uniquely identifies the proxy program,
The gateway device is
A program acquisition means for acquiring the proxy program corresponding to the program identification information included in the registration request message from the gateway auxiliary device when a registration request message including the program identification information is received from the sensor device;
Program execution means for executing the proxy program acquired by the program acquisition means,
The program execution means processes the sensor data when sensor data sensed by the sensor device is received, and sends an external response to the inquiry message when an inquiry message about the sensor data is received from the outside. To the sensor device support system. The gateway device is
Registration means for registering the sensor device that has transmitted the registration request message under the management of the device;
When the registration of the sensor device is canceled, sensor information temporary storage means for temporarily storing sensor information related to sensor data of the sensor device for which the registration has been canceled,
Gateway information acquisition means for acquiring, from the sensor device, gateway information related to the gateway device in which the sensor device that has transmitted the registration request message was previously registered;
When the gateway device corresponding to the gateway information acquired by the gateway information acquisition unit is another gateway device other than its own device, the registration request message is transmitted from the other gateway device. Sensor information acquisition means for acquiring sensor information relating to sensor data of the sensor device;
The sensor device support system according to claim 1, further comprising:   The sensor information acquisition means, when the gateway device corresponding to the gateway information acquired by the gateway information acquisition means is its own apparatus, from the sensor information stored by the sensor information temporary storage means, 3. The sensor device support system according to claim 2, wherein sensor information relating to sensor data of the sensor device that has transmitted the registration request message is acquired. The gateway device is
Sensor information storage means for storing sensor information relating to sensor data of the sensor device that has transmitted the registration request message;
Schedule determination means for determining a schedule of the sensor device corresponding to the sensor information based on the sensor information stored by the sensor information storage means;
Transmitting means for transmitting information relating to the schedule determined by the schedule determining means to the sensor device;
The sensor device support system according to claim 1, further comprising: The gateway device is
A linkage means for linking a plurality of programs;
The program acquisition means acquires the proxy program corresponding to each of the plurality of program identification information when the registration request message includes a plurality of the program identification information,
2. The sensor device support system according to claim 1, wherein the linkage means links the plurality of proxy programs acquired by the program acquisition means. A sensor device support method for supporting a sensor device with one or more gateway devices that can communicate with one or more sensor devices and a gateway auxiliary device that can communicate with the gateway device,
The gateway auxiliary device is
A program storage step of storing a proxy program for handling sensor data sensed by the sensor device instead of the sensor device in association with program identification information that uniquely identifies the proxy program,
The gateway device is
A program acquisition step of acquiring the proxy program corresponding to the program identification information included in the registration request message from the gateway auxiliary device when a registration request message including the program identification information is received from the sensor device;
A program execution step of executing the proxy program acquired in the program acquisition step,
The program execution step processes the sensor data when sensor data sensed by the sensor device is received, and externally sends a response to the inquiry message when an inquiry message about the sensor data is received from the outside. A sensor device support method comprising: transmitting to a sensor device. The gateway device is
A registration step of registering the sensor device that has transmitted the registration request message under the management of the device;
When the registration of the sensor device is canceled, a sensor information temporary storage step for temporarily storing sensor information related to sensor data of the sensor device for which the registration is canceled;
Gateway information acquisition step of acquiring gateway information related to the gateway device that was previously registered by the sensor device that has transmitted the registration request message from the sensor device;
When the gateway device corresponding to the gateway information acquired in the gateway information acquisition step is another gateway device other than its own device, the registration request message is transmitted from the other gateway device. A sensor information acquisition step of acquiring sensor information relating to sensor data of the sensor device;
The sensor device support method according to claim 6, further comprising: The gateway device is
A sensor information storage step for storing sensor information relating to sensor data of the sensor device that has transmitted the registration request message;
A schedule determination step for determining a schedule of the sensor device corresponding to the sensor information based on the sensor information stored in the sensor information storage step;
A transmission step of transmitting information related to the schedule determined in the schedule determination step to the sensor device;
The sensor device support method according to claim 6, further comprising:

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