JP2010166151A - Wireless communication device, information processing apparatus, and operation cycle setting method and operation cycle monitoring method of wireless communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the probability that the battery service life of a wireless communication device becomes short beyond the scope of the assumption. <P>SOLUTION: The wireless communication device 2 includes: a communication part 20 for transmitting data through a wireless line to a high-order information processing device; an operation cycle decision part 23 for performing lower limit processing to an operation cycle indicated by an operation cycle setting instruction value so as to be equal to or more than a predetermined lower limit value when the communication part 20 receives the operation cycle setting instruction value from the information processing device; and an operation cycle setting part 24 for setting the cycle to which the lower limit processing is performed in the operation cycle decision part 23 as the operation cycle of the communication part 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication device that transmits data via a wireless line, such as a wireless sensor, and an information processing device that receives data. In particular, the wireless communication device operates in accordance with a setting instruction value from the information processing device. The present invention relates to a technique for setting a cycle, and a technique for an information processing device to monitor an operation cycle of a wireless communication device.

  Sensor devices such as flow meters and temperature / humidity meters should use radio communication functions that use radio waves instead of conventional wired connections in order to reduce costs and reduce monitoring and control from remote locations. (See, for example, Patent Document 1). FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional wireless measurement system using such a wireless communication function. The wireless measurement system generally includes an information processing device 1 that is a parent node such as a relay node or a gateway node, and a wireless communication device 2 that is a terminal leaf node. Data transmitted wirelessly from the wireless communication device 2 is stored in the database 3 through the information processing device 1.

  The wireless communication device 2 is a node at the end of the network, and the number of times of communication is smaller than that of the information processing device 1. Therefore, the power consumption is smaller than that of the information processing device 1. In addition, it is desired to eliminate the power supply line at the same time as the signal line for the wireless measuring device. Therefore, the wireless communication device 2 is often configured to use a battery as a power source. FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams illustrating specific examples of the wireless communication device 2. In the example of FIG. 8A, the sensor 4 and the battery type wireless communication device 2a are separate. In the example of FIG. 8B, the wireless communication device is a sensor-integrated battery type wireless communication device 2b having a sensor inside.

  Thus, the wireless communication device 2 often uses a battery as a power source. For this reason, there is a restriction on the operable time. Therefore, in the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, the operation cycle of the wireless communication device 2 can be changed from the information processing device 1 to realize flexible operation, thereby suppressing the power consumption of the wireless communication device 2. I was doing.

JP 2007-132577 A

  However, in the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, the battery life of the wireless communication device may be shortened against the will of the system operator or the like, for example, because an excessively short operation cycle is set. It was. When the battery life is shortened unexpectedly, it is often difficult to carry out maintenance work only for wireless use, and the practicality is significantly reduced.

  Further, in the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, the wireless communication device may operate differently from the operator setting due to an operator's erroneous operation or operation restrictions of the wireless communication device. In the battery-type wireless communication device, it is necessary to pay particular attention to the operation cycle in consideration of the battery life. If the operation is different from the setting of the operator, the practicality is remarkably lowered.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and is capable of reducing the probability that the battery life of the wireless communication device will be shortened unexpectedly. Wireless communication device, information processing device, and operation cycle setting of the wireless communication device It is an object to provide a method and an operation cycle monitoring method.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an information processing device capable of reducing the probability that the operation of an unexpected wireless communication device will continue and a method for monitoring the operation cycle of the wireless communication device.

The wireless communication device of the present invention includes a main processing unit including a communication unit that transmits data to a host information processing device via a wireless line, and the communication unit receives an operation cycle setting instruction value from the information processing device. In addition, the operation cycle lower limit processing means for performing lower limit processing so that the operation cycle indicated by the operation cycle setting instruction value is equal to or greater than a predetermined lower limit value, and the cycle subjected to lower limit processing by the operation cycle lower limit processing means are the main processing. And an operation cycle setting means for setting the operation cycle of the means.
Further, one configuration example of the wireless communication device of the present invention further includes an operation cycle upper limit processing means for performing upper limit processing so that the operation cycle indicated by the operation cycle setting instruction value is equal to or less than a predetermined upper limit value, The operation cycle setting means sets a cycle subjected to upper and lower limit processing by the operation cycle lower limit processing means and the operation cycle upper limit processing means as an operation cycle of the main processing means.

The wireless communication device of the present invention measures main processing means including communication means for transmitting data to a higher-level information processing device via a wireless line, and measures the number of operations or operating time of the main processing means within a specified time. Measuring means for each operation period specified by the operation period setting instruction value received from the information processing device by the communication means when the number of operations or the operation time within the specified time is equal to or greater than a predetermined upper limit value. And an upper limit processing means for prohibiting the operation of the main processing means.
In addition, one configuration example of the wireless communication device of the present invention further includes an elapsed time processing unit that measures an elapsed time from the start of the specified time, and the elapsed time exceeds the specified time and is within the specified time. And lower limit processing means for operating the main processing means when the number of operations or the operation time falls below a predetermined lower limit value.
Further, in one configuration example of the wireless communication device of the present invention, the reset unit resets the number of operations or the operation time of the main processing unit measured by the measurement unit when the elapsed time exceeds the specified time. And an elapsed time reset means for resetting the elapsed time measured by the elapsed time processing means, when the elapsed time exceeds the specified time as a new start of the specified time. Is.
In one configuration example of the wireless communication device of the present invention, the communication means transmits measurement data of a sensor provided inside or outside the wireless communication device to the information processing device. .

The information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a communication unit that receives data from a lower-level wireless communication device through a wireless line, and the communication unit receives data from the wireless communication device and then receives data. An operating period measuring unit that measures an operating period of the wireless communication device by measuring an elapsed time until the wireless communication device is configured to measure the wireless period measured by the operating cycle measuring unit when the communication unit receives data from the wireless communication device. An operation for determining whether or not the operation cycle of the wireless communication device is appropriate by comparing the operation cycle of the communication device with the operation cycle indicated by the operation cycle setting instruction value transmitted from the communication means to the wireless communication device When it is determined that the operation period of the period determining means and the wireless communication device is inappropriate, it is determined that the operation period is inappropriate. Is characterized in further comprising an improper operation period notifying means for notifying over data.
Further, in one configuration example of the information processing device according to the present invention, the operation cycle determination unit is configured such that the operation cycle of the wireless communication device measured by the operation cycle measurement unit does not match the operation cycle indicated by the operation cycle setting instruction value. Or when it is outside the allowable range, it is determined that the operation cycle of the wireless communication device is inappropriate.
Further, in one configuration example of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, the inappropriate operation cycle notification unit maintains the notification state until it is artificially canceled after the notification is started. .

Further, according to the operation cycle setting method of the wireless communication device of the present invention, the communication unit of the wireless communication device that transmits data to a higher-level information processing device via a wireless line receives the operation cycle setting instruction value from the information processing device. Sometimes, the operation cycle lower limit processing procedure for performing the lower limit processing so that the operation cycle indicated by the operation cycle setting instruction value is equal to or greater than a predetermined lower limit value, and the cycle subjected to the lower limit processing in this operation cycle lower limit processing procedure, And an operation cycle setting procedure for setting the operation cycle of the main processing unit including the communication unit.
In addition, the operation cycle setting method for a wireless communication device according to the present invention measures the number of operations or operation time within a specified time of a main processing unit including a communication unit that transmits data to a higher-level information processing device via a wireless line. When the measurement procedure and the number of operations within the specified time or the operation time is equal to or greater than a predetermined upper limit value, the communication means is set for each operation cycle specified by the operation cycle setting instruction value received from the information processing device. And an upper limit processing procedure for prohibiting the operation of the main processing means.

  In addition, the operation cycle monitoring method for a wireless communication device according to the present invention is an elapsed time from when an information processing device that receives data from a lower-level wireless communication device via a wireless line receives data until it receives data next time. An operation cycle measurement procedure for measuring an operation cycle of the wireless communication device by measuring the wireless communication device, and when the information processing device receives data from the wireless communication device, the wireless communication device measured by the operation cycle measurement procedure An operation cycle determination that determines whether or not the operation cycle of the wireless communication device is appropriate by comparing the operation cycle with the operation cycle indicated by the operation cycle setting instruction value transmitted from the information processing device to the wireless communication device When it is determined that the procedure and the operation cycle of the wireless communication device are inappropriate, the operator indicates that the operation cycle is inappropriate. It is characterized in further comprising an improper operation period notification procedure of notifying.

  According to the present invention, when the lower limit value of the operation cycle is preset in the wireless communication device and the communication unit of the wireless communication device receives the operation cycle setting command value from the information processing device, the operation cycle setting command value By performing the lower limit process so that the operation cycle indicated by is equal to or greater than the lower limit value, the wireless communication device itself can limit the operation cycle so that a short operation cycle lower than the lower limit value is not set. As a result, in the present invention, it is possible to reduce the probability that the battery life of the wireless communication device is shortened unexpectedly by a system operator or the like, and to suppress the extent to which the battery life is shortened.

  In the present invention, the upper limit value of the operation cycle is set in advance in the wireless communication device, and the upper limit process is performed so that the operation cycle indicated by the operation cycle setting instruction value transmitted from the information processing device is equal to or less than the upper limit value. Thus, the wireless communication device itself can limit the operation cycle so that a long operation cycle exceeding the upper limit value is not set. As a result, in the present invention, it is possible to maintain the minimum necessary monitoring interval of data transmitted from the wireless communication device to the information processing device.

  In the present invention, the upper limit value of the number of operations within the specified time or the upper limit value of the operation time is preset in the wireless communication device, and when the number of operations or the operation time within the specified time is equal to or greater than the upper limit value, A wireless communication device that prevents the operation of the number of times or time exceeding the upper limit by prohibiting the operation of the main processing means for each operation cycle specified by the operation cycle setting instruction value received from the information processing device The user can limit the number of operations or the operation time. As a result, in the present invention, it is possible to reduce the probability that the battery life of the wireless communication device is shortened unexpectedly by a system operator or the like, and to suppress the extent to which the battery life is shortened.

  In the present invention, the lower limit value of the number of operations within the specified time or the lower limit value of the operation time is set in advance in the wireless communication device, and the lower limit value of the number of operations within the specified time or the operation time is set in advance. By forcibly operating the main processing means when the time is lower, the wireless communication device itself can manage the number of operations or the operation time so that the number of operations or the operation time does not fall below the lower limit value. As a result, in the present invention, it is possible to maintain the minimum necessary monitoring interval of data transmitted from the wireless communication device to the information processing device.

  In the present invention, when the operation period of the wireless communication device is measured by measuring the elapsed time from the reception of data from the wireless communication device to the next reception of data, and when the data is received from the wireless communication device Compare the operation cycle of the wireless communication device measured by the operation cycle measurement unit with the operation cycle indicated by the operation cycle setting instruction value transmitted from the communication unit to the wireless communication device. When the operation cycle of the wireless communication device is determined to be inappropriate, the operator is notified that the operation cycle is inappropriate. The probability that the operation will continue can be reduced. Moreover, in this invention, by performing such notification, the probability that the battery life of a wireless communication device will be shortened unexpectedly can be reduced, and the extent to which the battery life is shortened can be suppressed.

  Further, in the present invention, after the notification is started, the notification state is maintained until the notification is artificially canceled, so that oversight of the operator can be prevented.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the wireless communication apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation period setting process of the wireless communication apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the wireless communication apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation frequency management process of the wireless communication apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the information processing apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation period monitoring process of the information processing apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the conventional wireless measurement system. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the wireless communication apparatus of the wireless measurement system of FIG.

[Principle of Invention 1]
In a system in which the operation cycle of the wireless communication device is changed from the information processing device as in the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible that erroneous operation / malfunction occurs. In the case of a battery-powered wireless communication device, the inventor must maintain an appropriate operation interval in consideration of the battery life of the wireless communication device, and an excessively short operation interval due to a setting error may cause an unexpected short battery life. Focused on one factor. Even if an incorrect setting is made as a result, if the minimum requirement (that is, the lower limit value of the operation interval) can be maintained, the degree of failure caused by an erroneous operation can be reduced, and practical problems can be solved. I thought it was effective.

[Principle of Invention 2]
In addition, in the case of a battery-powered wireless communication device, the inventor must maintain an appropriate number of operations or operation time considering the battery life of the wireless communication device, and an excessively large number of operations or operation time due to a setting error. We focused on one of the causes of unexpected short battery life. Even if an incorrect setting is made as a result, if the minimum requirement (that is, the upper limit of the number of operations) can be maintained, the degree of failure caused by an erroneous operation can be reduced, and practical problems can be solved. I thought it was effective.

[Principle 3 of the invention]
In wireless measurement systems, there are cases where operation restrictions are imposed on the wireless communication device due to consideration for the occurrence of erroneous operations and malfunctions, and hardware specifications. Not exclusively. In particular, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, if the operation cycle of the wireless communication device can be changed from the information processing device, flexible operation is possible, but restrictions are likely to occur in the setting portion of the operation cycle. . At this time, regardless of whether there is a mistake in the operator's instruction or a wireless communication device that cannot operate according to the operator's instruction is used, leaving it as it is increases the problem.

  The inventor can reduce the problem only by detecting the operation of a wireless communication device that can be easily confirmed by an information processing device such as a PC (personal computer) and notifying the operator of this situation if the operation does not match. I focused on. As a specific means for detecting the operation of the wireless communication device, the operation interval of the wireless communication device is measured by the information processing device, and if it does not match the operation interval set in the information processing device, the operator I was informed that this situation would be effective in solving practical problems.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wireless communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is based on the first principle of the invention. Also in the present embodiment, the overall configuration of the wireless measurement system is the same as that of the conventional one, and will be described using the reference numerals in FIG.

  The wireless communication device 2 includes a communication unit 20 that communicates with the information processing device 1 via a wireless line, an upper and lower limit storage unit 21 that stores in advance the upper and lower limit values of the operation cycle of the main processing unit of the wireless communication device 2, The operation cycle input unit 22 that receives the operation cycle setting instruction value from the information processing device 1 through the communication unit 20 and the operation cycle setting instruction value when the communication unit 20 receives the operation cycle setting instruction value from the information processing device 1 An operation cycle determination unit 23 that performs upper / lower limit processing so that the operation cycle shown is greater than or equal to the lower limit value and less than or equal to the upper limit value, and an operation cycle that sets the cycle subjected to the upper / lower limit process by the operation cycle determination unit 23 It is comprised from the setting part 24 and the battery 25 which supplies electric power to each structure of the wireless communication apparatus 2. FIG. The operation cycle determination unit 23 constitutes operation cycle lower limit processing means and operation cycle upper limit processing means.

In FIG. 1, a sensor unit that measures state quantities such as temperature, humidity, and flow rate is not clearly shown, but the sensor unit may be inside the wireless communication device 2 or outside.
The communication unit 20 acquires measurement data from the sensor unit for each operation cycle, and transmits the acquired measurement data to the information processing device 1 via a wireless line. The main processing unit of the wireless communication device 2 means means for performing processing that is important for the wireless communication device 2 and consumes large power. In the example of FIG. 1, the communication unit 20 is the main processing unit.

  The operation cycle setting unit 24 sets the operation cycle of the communication unit 20 as will be described later. As a specific method for setting the operation cycle, a drive signal (clock) having the set operation cycle may be generated. The communication unit 20 operates for each operation cycle according to the clock. Instead of supplying the clock, the power supply voltage supplied from the battery 25 to the communication unit 20 may be turned on / off according to the drive signal, and the communication unit 20 may be operated every operation cycle.

  Next, the operation cycle setting process of the wireless communication device 2 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation cycle setting process. Here, the parameter that defines the operation cycle of the wireless communication device 2 is T, the operation cycle lower limit value that the upper and lower limit storage unit 21 stores in advance is TL, and the operation cycle upper limit value that the upper and lower limit storage unit 21 stores in advance is TH. And the setting instruction value given as the value of the parameter T from the information processing device 1 is TX.

The operation cycle input unit 22 receives the setting instruction value TX of the operation cycle T from the information processing device 1 through the communication unit 20.
When the operation cycle input unit 22 receives the set instruction value TX (YES in step S100 in FIG. 2), the operation cycle determination unit 23 acquires the operation cycle lower limit value TL from the upper / lower limit storage unit 21, and the lower limit value TL and information The setting instruction value TX from the processing device 1 is compared (step S101).

The operation cycle determination unit 23 sets the operation cycle T to TX when the setting instruction value TX from the information processing device 1 is equal to or greater than the lower limit value TL (step S102). When the setting instruction value TX is smaller than the lower limit value TL, the operation cycle determination unit 23 Let T be TL (step S103). That is, the operation cycle determination unit 23 performs a lower limit process such as the following equation.
if TX <TL then T ← TL else T ← TX (1)

Further, the operation cycle determination unit 23 acquires the operation cycle upper limit value TH from the upper and lower limit storage unit 21, and compares the upper limit value TH with the setting instruction value TX from the information processing device 1 (step S104). The operation cycle determination unit 23 sets the operation cycle T as TX when the setting instruction value TX from the information processing device 1 is equal to or lower than the upper limit value TH (step S105). When the setting instruction value TX is larger than the upper limit value TH, the operation cycle T is set to TH (step S106). That is, the operation cycle determination unit 23 performs an upper limit process such as the following equation.
if TX> TH then T ← TH else T ← TX (2)

  Note that only the lower limit processing of the operation cycle may be performed if only for solving the problem of the present invention. The reason why the upper limit process of the operation cycle is also performed is that it is preferable to execute the upper limit process of the operation cycle in consideration of the use of state management. Thereby, the minimum necessary monitoring interval of measurement data can be maintained.

  The operation cycle setting unit 24 sets the operation cycle T subjected to the upper and lower limit processing by the operation cycle determination unit 23 to the communication unit 20 (step S107). The operation cycle determination unit 23 and the operation cycle setting unit 24 repeatedly perform the operation cycle setting process as described above for each cycle equal to or less than the operation cycle lower limit value TL.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the lower limit value TL of the operation cycle is set in advance in the wireless communication device 2, and the communication unit 20 of the wireless communication device 2 receives the operation cycle setting instruction value TX from the information processing device 1. Wireless communication device so as not to set a short operation cycle T lower than the lower limit value TL by performing a lower limit process so that the operation cycle indicated by the operation cycle setting instruction value TX is equal to or higher than the lower limit value TL. The device itself can limit the operation period T. As a result, in the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the probability that the battery life of the wireless communication device 2 is shortened unexpectedly by a system operator or the like, and to suppress the extent to which the battery life is shortened.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wireless communication device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is based on Principle 2 of the invention described above. Also in the present embodiment, the overall configuration of the wireless measurement system is the same as that of the conventional one, and will be described using the reference numerals in FIG.

  The wireless communication device 2 includes a communication unit 20a that communicates with the information processing device 1 through a wireless line, a battery 25 that supplies power to each component of the wireless communication device 2, and a main part within a specified time of the wireless communication device 2. When the operation storage unit 26 that stores the number of operations of the processing unit, the elapsed time processing unit 27 that measures the elapsed time from the start of the specified time, and when the number of operations within the specified time is equal to or greater than a predetermined upper limit value, The operation permission determination unit 28 prohibits the operation of the main processing unit for each operation cycle specified by the operation cycle setting instruction value received from the information processing device 1. The operation permission determination unit 28 constitutes an upper limit processing unit, a lower limit processing unit, a reset unit, and an elapsed time reset unit. In addition, the operation storage unit 26 and the operation permission determination unit 28 constitute a measuring unit.

Similar to the first embodiment, the sensor unit may be inside the wireless communication device 2 or outside.
When the communication unit 20a constituting the main processing unit of the wireless communication device 2 receives operation permission from the operation permission determining unit 28, the communication unit 20a acquires measurement data from the sensor unit, and the acquired measurement data is transmitted to the information processing device via a wireless line. 1 to send.

  Next, the operation frequency management process of the wireless communication device 2 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation count management process. As in the first embodiment, T is a parameter that defines the operation cycle of the wireless communication device 2, and TX is a setting instruction value given as a value of the parameter T from the information processing device 1. Further, the elapsed time measured by the elapsed time processing unit 27 is TP, the specified time stored in advance by the operation permission determining unit 28 is TR, and the upper limit value of the number of operations within the specified time TR stored in advance by the operation permission determining unit 28. Is set to NH, and the lower limit value of the number of operations within the specified time TR stored in advance by the operation permission determination unit 28 is set to NL.

  As a case where a setting error of the operation cycle T occurs, for example, a case where a change in flow rate when the valve opening is suddenly changed is monitored and managed using an electromagnetic flow meter is assumed. In other words, it is necessary to temporarily shorten the sampling period (the operation period viewed from the wireless communication device 2) temporarily. If the flow rate is stable, the sampling period may be extremely increased. At this time, if the operator forgets to restore the sampling cycle once shortened, the battery life of the wireless communication device 2 is shortened by the excessively short operation cycle T.

When the communication unit 20a receives the setting instruction value TX from the information processing device 1, the operation cycle T is set to TX.
When it is time to operate the communication unit 20a according to the operation cycle T (YES in step S200 in FIG. 4), the operation permission determination unit 28 obtains the operation count NP of the communication unit 20a within the specified time TR from the operation storage unit 26. Then, the operation number NP is compared with a predetermined operation number upper limit NH (step S201).

The operation permission determination unit 28 permits the operation of the communication unit 20a when the operation number NP of the communication unit 20a within the specified time TR is less than the operation number upper limit NH (step S202), and is stored in the operation storage unit 26. The number of active operations NP is incremented by 1 (step S203). Further, the operation permission determination unit 28 prohibits the operation of the communication unit 20a when the operation frequency NP of the communication unit 20a within the specified time TR is equal to or greater than the operation frequency upper limit NH (step S204). That is, the operation permission determination unit 28 performs processing such as the following equation.
if NP <NH then operation permitted else operation prohibited (3)

For the specified time TR and the operation frequency upper limit NH, an appropriate value may be set in advance by the operator, for example, assuming a flow rate change to be monitored.
Next, the operation permission determination unit 28 acquires the value of the elapsed time TP from the start of the specified time TR from the elapsed time processing unit 27, and compares this elapsed time TP with the specified time TR (step S205).

When the elapsed time TP exceeds the specified time TR, the operation permission determination unit 28 resets the number of operations NP stored in the operation storage unit 26 to 0 (step S206).
Further, when the elapsed time TP exceeds the specified time TR, the operation permission determination unit 28 acquires the operation number NP of the communication unit 20a within the specified time TR from the operation storage unit 26, and is previously defined as the operation number NP. The operation number lower limit value NL is compared (step S207).

The operation permission determination unit 28 permits the operation of the communication unit 20a when the operation frequency NP of the communication unit 20a within the specified time TR is less than the operation frequency lower limit NL (step S208). That is, the operation permission determination unit 28 performs processing such as the following equation.
if NP <NL then forced operation (4)

  Note that only the upper limit management process of the number of operations may be performed if only for solving the problem of the present invention. The reason why the lower limit management process for the number of operations is also performed is that it is preferable that the lower limit management process for the number of operations is also executed in consideration of the use of state management. Thereby, the minimum necessary monitoring interval of measurement data can be maintained.

  Next, when the elapsed time TP exceeds the specified time TR, the operation permission determination unit 28 resets the elapsed time TP measured by the elapsed time processing unit 27 to 0 (step S209). The measurement of the elapsed time TP is started again with the reset time as a new start of the specified time TR. The operation permission determination unit 28 repeatedly performs the operation number management process as described above every operation cycle T.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the upper limit NH of the number of operations within the specified time is set in advance in the wireless communication device 2, and when the number of operations NP within the specified time is equal to or higher than the upper limit NH, By prohibiting the operation of the communication unit 20a for each operation cycle specified by the operation cycle setting instruction value TX received from the information processing device 1, wireless communication is performed so that the number of operations exceeding the upper limit value NH is not performed. The device itself can limit the number of operations. As a result, in the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the probability that the battery life of the wireless communication device 2 is shortened unexpectedly by a system operator or the like, and to suppress the extent to which the battery life is shortened.

  In the present embodiment, the accumulation of the number of operations of the wireless communication device 2 is limited. However, when a plurality of wireless communication devices 2 are used in combination, by transmitting while monitoring radio waves, one operation time Since it may change, the accumulation of operation time may be limited. The embodiment in that case corresponds to a case where the number of operations in this embodiment is replaced with an operation time. When limiting the operation time, the operation permission determination unit 28 permits the operation of the communication unit 20a, and when the operation of the communication unit 20a starts and ends, the operation time of the communication unit 20a at this time is stored as an operation memory. What is necessary is just to add to the value of the operation time memorize | stored in the part 26. Thereby, the operation time within the specified time of the wireless communication device 2 can be measured.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is based on the principle 3 of the invention. Also in the present embodiment, the overall configuration of the wireless measurement system is the same as that of the conventional one, and will be described using the reference numerals in FIG.

  The information processing device 1 includes a communication unit 10 that communicates with the wireless communication device 2 via a wireless line, an operation storage unit 11 that stores an elapsed operation time of each wireless communication device 2 in the wireless measurement system, and a communication unit 10. An elapsed time processing unit 12 that measures the elapsed time from the reception of data from the wireless communication device 2 to the next reception of data for each wireless communication device 2, and the communication unit 10 receives the data from the wireless communication device 2. The elapsed time measured by the elapsed time processing unit 12 is compared with the operation cycle indicated by the operation cycle setting instruction value transmitted from the communication unit 10 to the wireless communication device 2, and the operation cycle of the wireless communication device 2 is compared. The operation cycle is inappropriate when the operation cycle of the wireless communication device 2 is determined to be inappropriate. Inappropriate operation period notification section 14 to notify the operator, and a display unit 15. The elapsed time processing unit 12 constitutes an operation cycle measuring unit that measures the operation cycle of the wireless communication device 2.

When the communication unit 10 receives measurement data from the wireless communication device 2 via a wireless line, the communication unit 10 stores the measurement data in the database 3.
The elapsed time processing unit 12 measures, for each wireless communication device 2, the elapsed time from when the communication unit 10 receives measurement data from the wireless communication device 2 until the next reception of measurement data from the wireless communication device 2. That is, the operation elapsed time measured by the elapsed time processing unit 12 is substantially the same as the operation cycle of the wireless communication device 2.
The operation elapsed time that the operation storage unit 11 stores for each wireless communication device 2 is updated as needed according to the measurement result of the elapsed time processing unit 12.

  Next, the operation cycle monitoring process of the wireless communication device 2 performed by the information processing device 1 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation cycle monitoring process. As in the first embodiment, T is a parameter that defines the operation cycle of the wireless communication device 2, and TX is a setting instruction value given as a value of the parameter T from the communication unit 10 of the information processing device 1. The setting instruction value TX is set according to an instruction from an operator of the information processing device 1, for example. Further, the elapsed time measured by the elapsed time processing unit 12 is TM, and the error time stored in advance by the operation cycle determination unit 13 is dT.

  When the communication unit 10 receives measurement data from the wireless communication device 2 (YES in step S300 in FIG. 6), the operation cycle determination unit 13 acquires the value of the operation elapsed time TM of the wireless communication device 2 from the operation storage unit 11. Then, the difference time between the set instruction value TX and the error time dT and the sum of the set instruction value TX and the error time dT are compared with the elapsed time TM (step S301).

The operation cycle determination unit 13 determines whether the elapsed time TM is shorter than the difference between the set instruction value TX and the error time dT, or the elapsed time TM is longer than the sum of the set instruction value TX and the error time dT. In this case, it is determined that the operation cycle of the wireless communication device 2 is inappropriate. That is, the operation cycle determination unit 13 performs processing such as the following equation.
if TM <TX-dT or TM> TX + dT then Operating cycle inappropriate
... (5)

  In the equation (5), the determination is made in consideration of the allowable error time dT. However, when the elapsed time TM measured by the elapsed time processing unit 12 does not match the set instruction value TX, the wireless communication device 2 It may be determined that the operation cycle is inappropriate.

  When the operation cycle of the wireless communication device 2 is determined to be inappropriate (YES in step S301), the inappropriate operation cycle notification unit 14 notifies the operator that the operation cycle of the wireless communication device 2 is inappropriate ( Step S302). As a notification method at this time, there is a method of turning on an LED provided in the display unit 15 or the like.

  Then, when the communication unit 10 receives measurement data from the wireless communication device 2, the operation cycle determination unit 13 measures the operation of the wireless communication device 2 measured by the elapsed time processing unit 12 and stored in the operation storage unit 11. The elapsed time TM is reset to 0 (step S303). Thereby, the measurement of the operation elapsed time TM of the wireless communication device 2 is started again using the reset time as the measurement start time. The information processing device 1 repeatedly performs the operation cycle monitoring process as described above for each cycle equal to or less than the operation cycle lower limit value of the wireless communication device 2.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the operation cycle of the wireless communication device 2 is measured and data is received from the wireless communication device 2, the measured operation cycle of the wireless communication device 2 and the wireless communication device 10 wirelessly communicate with each other. The operation cycle indicated by the operation cycle setting instruction value TX transmitted to the communication device 2 is compared to determine whether or not the operation cycle of the wireless communication device 2 is appropriate, and the operation cycle of the wireless communication device 2 is determined to be inappropriate. Since the operator is notified when the determination is made, the probability that the operation of the wireless communication device unexpected by the operator will continue can be reduced. In addition, by performing such notification, the operator can take measures such as resetting the operation cycle setting instruction value TX, thereby reducing the probability that the battery life of the wireless communication device 2 will be shortened unexpectedly. And the extent to which the battery life is shortened can be suppressed.

  In the sense of safety management of the operation of the wireless communication device 2, if an alarm is notified even once, the operation cycle of the wireless communication device 2 is within an allowable range, that is, (TX−dT) to (TX + dT). In some cases, it may be preferable to maintain the alarm state until the alarm is artificially canceled even if it naturally returns within the range of The reason is that the wireless communication device 2 may temporarily perform a special operation, and it is necessary for the operator not to overlook the alarm.

  Needless to say, the first to third embodiments may be appropriately combined. For example, if it is determined that the operation cycle of the wireless communication device 2 is inappropriate, the operation cycle determination unit 13 transmits an operation cycle setting instruction value TX instructing TX = 0.0 seconds to the information processing device 1, and the first embodiment The operation cycle subjected to the lower limit processing by the wireless communication device 2 of the embodiment is measured by the information processing device 1 of the present embodiment, and the operation cycle measured by the operation cycle determination unit 13 is notified to the operator through the inappropriate operation cycle notification unit 14. You may do it.

  The configuration excluding the communication units 20 and 20a and the battery 25 of the wireless communication device 2 of the first and second embodiments is based on a computer including a CPU and a storage device, and a program for controlling these hardware resources. Can be realized. The CPU of the wireless communication device 2 executes the processing described in the first and second embodiments according to the program stored in the storage device.

  Similarly, the configuration excluding the communication unit 10 and the display unit 15 of the information processing device 1 according to the third embodiment is realized by a computer having a CPU, a storage device, and an interface, and a program for controlling these hardware resources. can do. The CPU of the information processing device 1 executes the process described in the third embodiment in accordance with a program stored in the storage device.

  The present invention can be applied to a wireless communication device that transmits data via a wireless line, such as a wireless sensor, and an information processing device that receives data.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information processing apparatus, 2 ... Wireless communication apparatus, 3 ... Database, 10 ... Communication part, 11 ... Operation | movement memory | storage part, 12 ... Elapsed time processing part, 13 ... Operation period determination part, 14 ... Inappropriate operation period notification part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 ... Display part, 20 and 20a ... Communication part, 21 ... Upper / lower limit memory | storage part, 22 ... Operation period input part, 23 ... Operation period determination part, 24 ... Operation period setting part, 25 ... Battery, 26 ... Operation memory part, 27: Elapsed time processing unit, 28: Operation permission determination unit.

Claims (12)

Main processing means including communication means for transmitting data to a higher-level information processing device via a wireless line;
When the communication unit receives an operation cycle setting instruction value from the information processing device, the operation cycle lower limit processing unit performs a lower limit process so that the operation cycle indicated by the operation cycle setting instruction value is equal to or greater than a predetermined lower limit value. When,
A wireless communication device comprising: an operation cycle setting unit that sets a cycle subjected to a lower limit process by the operation cycle lower limit processing unit as an operation cycle of the main processing unit. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein
Furthermore, the operation cycle upper limit processing means for performing an upper limit process so that the operation cycle indicated by the operation cycle setting instruction value is less than or equal to a predetermined upper limit value,
The wireless communication apparatus, wherein the operation cycle setting unit sets a cycle subjected to upper and lower limit processing by the operation cycle lower limit processing unit and the operation cycle upper limit processing unit as an operation cycle of the main processing unit. Main processing means including communication means for transmitting data to a higher-level information processing device via a wireless line;
Measuring means for measuring the number of operations or operation time of the main processing means within a specified time;
The main processing means for each operation cycle specified by the operation cycle setting instruction value received by the communication means from the information processing device when the number of operations within the specified time or the operation time is equal to or greater than a predetermined upper limit value An upper limit processing means for prohibiting the operation of the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device according to claim 3,
Further, an elapsed time processing means for measuring an elapsed time from the start of the specified time,
And a lower limit processing means for operating the main processing means when the elapsed time exceeds the specified time and the number of operations or the operating time within the specified time is below a predetermined lower limit value. Wireless communication equipment. The wireless communication device according to claim 4.
Further, when the elapsed time exceeds the specified time, a reset unit that resets the number of operations or the operation time of the main processing unit measured by the measurement unit;
Wireless communication comprising: elapsed time resetting means for resetting the elapsed time measured by the elapsed time processing means, when the elapsed time exceeds the specified time as a new start of the specified time machine. The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The wireless communication device, wherein the communication means transmits measurement data of a sensor provided inside or outside the wireless communication device to the information processing device. A communication means for receiving data from a lower-level wireless communication device via a wireless line;
An operation period measuring unit for measuring an operation period of the wireless communication device by measuring an elapsed time from when the communication unit receives data from the wireless communication device until the next data is received;
When the communication unit receives data from the wireless communication device, the operation cycle of the wireless communication device measured by the operation cycle measurement unit and the operation cycle setting instruction value transmitted from the communication unit to the wireless communication device are An operation cycle determination means for comparing the operation cycle shown to determine whether or not the operation cycle of the wireless communication device is appropriate;
An information processing device comprising: an inappropriate operation cycle notification means for notifying an operator that the operation cycle is inappropriate when it is determined that the operation cycle of the wireless communication device is inappropriate. The information processing device according to claim 7,
The operation cycle determination unit is configured to detect the wireless communication device when the operation cycle of the wireless communication device measured by the operation cycle measurement unit does not match the operation cycle indicated by the operation cycle setting instruction value or is outside an allowable range. An information processing device that determines that the operation cycle of the device is inappropriate. The information processing device according to claim 7 or 8,
The improper operation cycle notification means maintains the notification state until it is artificially canceled after the notification is started. When a communication means of a wireless communication device that transmits data to a higher-level information processing device via a wireless line receives an operation cycle setting instruction value from the information processing device, the operation cycle indicated by the operation cycle setting instruction value is set in advance. An operation cycle lower limit processing procedure for performing a lower limit process to be equal to or greater than a predetermined lower limit value;
An operation cycle setting method for a wireless communication device, comprising: an operation cycle setting procedure for setting a cycle subjected to a lower limit process in the operation cycle lower limit processing procedure as an operation cycle of main processing means including the communication means. A measurement procedure for measuring the number of operations or operation time within a specified time of main processing means including communication means for transmitting data to a higher-level information processing device via a wireless line;
The main processing means for each operation cycle specified by the operation cycle setting instruction value received by the communication means from the information processing device when the number of operations within the specified time or the operation time is equal to or greater than a predetermined upper limit value And an upper limit processing procedure for prohibiting the operation of the wireless communication device. The operating period of the wireless communication device is measured by measuring the elapsed time from when the information processing device receiving data from the lower-level wireless communication device via the wireless line receives the data until the next data is received. Operation cycle measurement procedure,
When the information processing device receives data from the wireless communication device, the operation cycle of the wireless communication device measured in the operation cycle measurement procedure, and the operation cycle setting instruction transmitted from the information processing device to the wireless communication device An operation cycle determination procedure for comparing the operation cycle indicated by the value and determining whether or not the operation cycle of the wireless communication device is appropriate;
An operation cycle of the wireless communication device comprising: an inappropriate operation cycle notification procedure for notifying an operator that the operation cycle is inappropriate when it is determined that the operation cycle of the wireless communication device is inappropriate. Monitoring method.

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