JP2010213205A - Visible light communication monitoring apparatus and visible light communication monitoring method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a visible light communication monitoring apparatus automatically detecting abnormality of a constituent device of a visible light communication device without stopping the device. <P>SOLUTION: The visible light communication monitoring device 20 applied to the visible light communication device 10 has a monitoring controller 21 which is connected to the visible light communication device 10 and automatically detects abnormality occurrence to the constituent device of the visible light communication device 10, based upon pieces A to D of digital information extracted from the visible light communication device 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a monitoring technique that is applied to a visible light communication device that performs communication using visible light and monitors the occurrence of an abnormality in the visible light communication device.

  In recent years, development of visible light communication technology that uses visible light from an LED as communication is promoted together with illumination technology using an LED (light emitting diode). Specifically, a visible light communication system using a road illumination lamp has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, a position information supply device and a positioning device using visible light have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  By the way, road illumination lamps and the like used for visible light communication devices operate continuously for a long time at night. For this reason, a system for monitoring a lighting failure of a road illumination lamp using a wireless technology has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 3).

JP 2007-18773 A JP 2008-190874 A JP 2001-52882 A

  Although a system for monitoring road lighting has been proposed, the visible light communication device is composed of various devices in addition to the lighting, so it detects abnormalities (including failures and malfunctions) of the device itself. A monitoring device is required. In particular, the visible light communication apparatus is installed in a place where maintenance is difficult together with a road illumination lamp installed on a pillar on a road, for example. Moreover, since there are many unattended and continuous long-duration operations, it has been conventionally expected that periodic inspections, immediate detection of abnormalities, and investigation of failure locations are difficult. In addition, when there is an abnormality in the visible light communication device, there is no other way but to stop the operation of the device and inspect all the component devices individually.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a visible light communication monitoring device capable of automatically detecting an abnormality of a component device of a visible light communication device without stopping the device.

  An aspect of the present invention is a visible light that realizes a monitoring function that automatically detects the occurrence of an abnormality (including failure and malfunction) of components of the visible light communication device based on digital information extracted from the visible light communication device. It is a communication monitoring device.

  A visible light communication monitoring apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a visible light transmission unit that emits visible light, and a transmission control unit that controls the visible light transmission unit based on digital information to be transmitted. Means for demodulating digital information from visible light transmitted by the visible light transmitting means, input means for inputting the digital information to be transmitted from the transmission control means, and demodulating by the demodulating means Monitoring means for monitoring the occurrence of an abnormality in the devices constituting the visible light communication device based on the digital information thus transmitted and the digital information to be transmitted.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, abnormality of the component apparatus of a visible light communication apparatus can be detected automatically without accompanying a stop of an apparatus.

The block diagram which shows the principal part of the visible light communication system regarding the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the visible light communication monitoring apparatus regarding 1st Embodiment. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the visible light communication monitoring apparatus regarding 1st Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the principal part of the visible light communication system regarding 2nd Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the principal part of the visible light communication system regarding 3rd Embodiment.

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

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a visible light communication system according to this embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the system of this embodiment is roughly divided into a visible light communication device 10, a visible light communication monitoring device (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a monitoring device) 20, and a visible light communication receiving device ( Hereinafter, it may be simply referred to as a receiving device) 30. The visible light communication device 10 is installed in, for example, a road illumination lamp on a road, and is an information transmission device that transmits information by visible light to a vehicle traveling on the road, for example. As will be described later, the monitoring device 20 is an independent device connected to the visible light communication device 10 by, for example, a connector (not shown), and an abnormality (including failure and malfunction) of the visible light communication device 10 occurs. Is monitoring. The receiving device 30 is, for example, a dedicated receiving device mounted on a vehicle traveling on a road, or a portable terminal such as a mobile phone or a portable personal computer.

  The visible light communication device 10 includes a transmission information processing control device 11, a visible light transmitter 14, and a monitoring sensor 15. The transmission information processing control device 11 includes an information processing device 12 and a transmission control device 13. The information processing device 12 outputs the digital information to be transmitted to the transmission control device 13. Here, the digital information to be transmitted is, for example, position information stored in advance in the internal memory of the information processing apparatus 12 or distribution information transmitted by wireless communication from a remotely installed server or the like. . The transmission control device 13 modulates digital information to be transmitted with a pulse signal, and drives and controls the visible light transmitter 14 with the pulse signal.

  The visible light transmitter 14 includes an LED element and an LED driver, and the visible light 100 corresponding to the digital information to be transmitted is driven by the LED driver controlled by the pulse signal output from the transmission control device 13. Is transmitted (flashes). The monitoring sensor 15 includes a light receiving element such as a photodiode, and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the received visible light 100.

  The receiving device 30 includes a light receiving element such as a photodiode and a demodulation circuit, and demodulates digital information to be transmitted from the visible light 100 transmitted from the visible light communication device 10. The receiving device 30 displays the demodulated digital information on a display such as a mobile terminal.

  The monitoring device 20 includes a monitoring control device 21, a display 22, and first and second inspection devices 23 and 26. The monitoring control device 21 includes a microprocessor (CPU) and software, and executes the monitoring operation of the visible light communication device 10 as will be described later. The display 22 displays the monitoring result (normal or abnormal determination result) output from the monitoring control device 21 on the screen.

  The first inspection device 23 includes an ammeter 24 and a comparator 25. The ammeter 24 measures a current value (drive current value of the LED element) supplied to the visible light transmitter 14, converts it into digital information C, and outputs it to the comparator 25. The comparator 25 receives a preset reference value (reference current value) R from the monitoring control device 21 and compares the reference value R with the digital information C. The comparator 25 outputs the comparison result F to the monitoring control device 21.

  The second inspection device 26 includes a photoelectric converter 27, a pulse / digital converter 28, and a comparator 29. The photoelectric converter 27 converts the optical signal (electric signal corresponding to the visible light 100) output from the monitoring sensor 15 into a pulse signal PD. The pulse / digital converter 28 converts the pulse signal PD output from the photoelectric converter 27 into digital information D.

  On the other hand, the pulse / digital converter 28 converts a pulse signal (modulation signal of digital information to be transmitted) PB output from the transmission control device 13 into digital information B. The pulse / digital converter 28 outputs one of the digital information B and D to the comparator 29 in response to a control signal (dotted line) from the monitoring control device 21. The comparator 29 receives the digital information A to be transmitted output from the information processing apparatus 12, compares the digital information A with the digital information B, and compares the digital information B with the digital information D. The comparator 29 outputs each comparison result E to the monitoring control device 21.

  The monitoring control device 21 transmits the monitoring result (normal or abnormal determination result) to a server (remote system) installed remotely via the communication device 16 including a wireless communication device or a wired communication device. Also good. The server is, for example, a system provided in a management center that manages the maintenance of the visible light communication device 10.

(Operation of monitoring device)
Hereinafter, the operation of the monitoring apparatus 20 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3 together with FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the monitoring device 20 is connected to the visible light communication device 10 via a connector (not shown), and abnormal occurrences (including failures and malfunctions) of the visible light communication device 10 at regular intervals. Perform the monitoring action.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2, the monitoring control device 21 determines whether or not the device of the outgoing information processing control device 11 is operating normally (occurrence of abnormality). The monitoring control device 21 controls the information processing device 12 and the transmission control device 13 (outputs a dotted control signal), and inputs the transmission digital information A and B to the comparator 29 (step S1). That is, the monitoring control device 21 causes the digital information A output from the information processing device 21 to be input to the comparator 29. In addition, the monitoring control device 21 inputs the pulse signal PB output from the transmission control device 13 to the pulse / digital converter 28 and converts it into digital information B.

  The comparator 29 compares the input digital information A with the digital information B (step S2). Based on the comparison result E output from the comparator 29, the monitoring control device 21 determines that the transmission control device 13 is normal when the comparison result E matches (YES in step S3, S4). On the other hand, if the comparison result E does not match, the monitoring control device 21 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the transmission control device 13 (failure or malfunction) (NO in step S3, S9). Here, the monitoring control device 21 performs determination based on the assumption that the information processing device 21 is operating normally. The monitoring control device 21 outputs a determination result that an abnormality has occurred in the transmission control device 13 (failure or malfunction) to the display 22 as a monitoring result (step S10). On the screen of the display 22, it is displayed that the transmission control device 13 is abnormal. In addition, the monitoring control device 21 transmits the monitoring result to a server (remote system) installed remotely via the communication device 16.

  Next, when the monitoring control device 21 determines that the transmission control device 13 is normal, the monitoring control device 21 controls the pulse / digital converter 28 so that the digital information B from the transmission control device 13 and the digital information from the monitoring sensor 15 are controlled. Information D is input to the comparator 29 (step S5). The digital information D is information converted from the pulse signal PD corresponding to the optical signal output from the monitoring sensor 15.

  The comparator 29 compares the input digital information B with the digital information D (step S6). Based on the comparison result E output from the comparator 29, the monitoring control device 21 determines that all of the visible light communication devices 10 are normal when the comparison result E matches (YES in step S7). S8). That is, the monitoring control device 21 determines that the transmission information processing control device 11 and the visible light transmitter 14 included in the visible light communication device 10 are operating normally.

  On the other hand, if the comparison result E does not match, the monitoring control device 21 proceeds to the transmission system inspection process shown in FIG. 3 (NO in step S7). That is, since the monitoring control device 21 determines that the transmission control device 13 is normal, the monitoring control device 21 determines that the digital information D is abnormal. Hereinafter, the inspection process of the transmission system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the digital information D is abnormal, the monitoring control device 21 determines that one of the visible light transmitter 14 or the monitoring sensor 15 is abnormal (step S11). The monitoring control device 21 controls the first inspection device 23 and inputs the comparison result F from the comparator 25. In other words, in the first inspection device 23, the ammeter 24 measures the current value (LED element drive current value) supplied to the visible light transmitter 14, converts it into digital information C, and outputs it to the comparator 25. (Step S12). The comparator 25 compares the reference value (reference current value) R preset by the monitoring controller 21 with the digital information C (step S13).

  If the digital information C is within the allowable range with respect to the reference value R based on the comparison result F from the comparator 25, the monitoring control device 21 determines that the visible light transmitter 14 is operating normally (step). S14 YES, S15). Based on the determination result, the monitoring control device 21 determines that the monitoring sensor 15 is abnormal (step S16). The monitoring control device 21 outputs a determination result that the monitoring sensor 15 is abnormal (failure or malfunction) to the display 22 as a monitoring result (step S17). In addition, the monitoring control device 21 transmits the monitoring result to a server (remote system) installed remotely via the communication device 16.

  On the other hand, if the digital information C is outside the allowable range with respect to the reference value R, the monitoring control device 21 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the visible light transmitter 14 based on the comparison result F from the comparator 25. (NO in step S14, S18). The monitoring control device 21 outputs a determination result that an abnormality has occurred (failure or malfunction) in the visible light transmitter 14 to the display 22 as a monitoring result (step S19). In addition, the monitoring control device 21 transmits the monitoring result to a server (remote system) installed remotely via the communication device 16.

  As described above, based on the digital information from the visible light communication device 10, the monitoring device 20 of this embodiment operates normally for each of the transmission information processing control device 11, the visible light transmitter 14, and the monitoring sensor 15. Whether or not (abnormal occurrence) is determined, and the determination result is output to the display 22 as a monitoring result. In addition, the monitoring control device 21 transmits the monitoring result to a server (remote system) installed remotely via the communication device 16. As a result, a monitoring function for automatically finding and notifying a malfunctioning device can be realized without stopping the operation of the visible light communication device 10.

  In particular, if the monitoring device 20 of the present embodiment is applied to the monitoring device of the visible light communication device 10 installed on a road illumination lamp on a road, an operator who performs maintenance does not require a complicated inspection, and the display 22 By simply checking the screen, it is possible to identify the failed device and perform repairs and replacements in a short time. Further, if the monitoring control device 21 is configured to transmit the monitoring result to a server installed remotely via the communication device 16, for example, a periodic inspection necessary for maintenance of the visible light communication device 10 is performed at a remote location. It becomes possible. That is, the operator goes to the road illumination lamp on the road where the visible light communication device 10 is installed after the notification of the occurrence of abnormality from the monitoring device 20 without performing the inspection work at the site, Work such as replacement can be performed.

  Note that the monitoring device 20 of the present embodiment is not only a visible light communication device 10 installed in a road illumination lamp on a road, but also as a monitoring device for a visible light communication device installed in a facility such as a building or a factory. Is also applicable.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a main part of the visible light communication system according to the second embodiment. In addition, about the structure similar to the system regarding 1st Embodiment shown in above-mentioned FIG. 1, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

The monitoring device 20 according to the present embodiment uses the reception information (digital information D described later) from the reception device 30 installed at a remote location from the visible light communication device 10 to cause an abnormality (failure) in the visible light communication device 10. Or malfunction). As described above, the receiving device 30 is
It is a dedicated receiver mounted on a vehicle traveling on a road, or a portable terminal such as a mobile phone or a portable personal computer.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the receiving device 30 is roughly composed of a visible light reception processing unit 31 and an information processing unit 40. The visible light reception processing unit 31 includes a light receiving element 32 such as a photodiode and a photoelectric converter 33. The light receiving element 32 receives the visible light 100 transmitted from the visible light communication device 10, converts it into an electrical signal, and outputs it. The photoelectric converter 33 converts the optical signal (electric signal corresponding to the visible light 100) output from the light receiving element 32 into a pulse signal. The information processing unit 40 demodulates the digital information from the pulse signal output from the photoelectric converter 33, and displays it on the display.

  The receiving device 30 of the present embodiment has a function of transmitting the digital information demodulated by the information processing unit 40 to the monitoring device 20 using a wireless communication device. The monitoring device 20 includes a modem 41 that receives a radio wave transmitted from the receiving device 30 and demodulates the radio wave into digital information. In the monitoring device 20, the comparator 29 of the second inspection device 26 inputs the digital information D from the modem 41 in addition to the digital information A and B described above.

  With the configuration as described above, the monitoring device 20 of the present embodiment executes the processing shown in steps S5 to S7 in FIG. 2 based on the digital information D input from the receiving device 30 to the comparator 29 via the modem 41. To do. The digital information D corresponds to the digital information D from the monitoring sensor 15 in the first embodiment described above. That is, the comparator 29 compares the input digital information B with the digital information D. Based on the comparison result E output from the comparator 29, the monitoring control device 21 determines that all of the visible light communication devices 10 are normal when the comparison result E matches. On the other hand, when the comparison result E does not match, the monitoring control device 21 determines that the digital information D is abnormal, and shifts to a transmission system inspection process as shown in the flowchart of FIG. Other operations are the same as those of the monitoring apparatus 20 in the first embodiment described above.

  If it is the monitoring apparatus 20 of this embodiment, the sensor 15 for the monitoring of the visible light communication apparatus 10 can be made unnecessary by using the receiving apparatus 30. In addition, the receiving device 30 can perform a unique inspection process based on a comparison result between the digital information demodulated from the received visible light 100 and the digital information A or B transmitted from the monitoring device 20. That is, by using the receiving device 30, the visible light communication device 10 can be monitored remotely. Specifically, an operator who performs maintenance uses the receiving device 30 to identify a faulty device of the visible light communication device 10 in cooperation with the monitoring device 20, and performs work such as repair and replacement in a short time. It becomes possible.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a main part of a visible light communication system according to the third embodiment. In addition, about the structure similar to each system regarding 1st Embodiment shown in above-mentioned FIG. 1, and 2nd Embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Similarly to the second embodiment, the monitoring device 20 of the present embodiment also uses visible information (digital information D) from the receiving device 30 installed at a remote location from the visible light communication device 10 to perform visible light communication. In this configuration, the occurrence of an abnormality (failure or malfunction) of the apparatus 10 is determined. As described above, the receiving device 30 is a dedicated receiving device mounted on a vehicle traveling on a road, or a portable terminal such as a mobile phone or a portable personal computer.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the receiving device 30 includes a digital camera 42 and an image processing unit 43 in addition to the visible light reception processing unit 31 and the information processing unit 40. The digital camera 42 receives the visible light 100 transmitted from the visible light communication device 10, converts it into an image signal, and outputs the image signal to the image processing unit 43. The image processing unit 43 processes an image signal (electric signal corresponding to the visible light 100) output from the digital camera 42 and outputs the processed image signal to the information processing unit 40. The information processing unit 40 demodulates the digital information D from the digital image signal output from the image processing unit 43 and outputs the demodulated information on the display.

  With the configuration as described above, the monitoring device 20 according to the present embodiment causes the digital information D transmitted from the receiving device 30 to be input to the comparator 29 via the modem 41, so that the determinations shown in steps S5 to S7 in FIG. Execute the process. In the case of the receiving device 30 according to the present embodiment, digital information D necessary for the monitoring process of the visible light communication device 10 can be generated even in the case where the visible light reception processing unit 31 is not present. Also in the case of the monitoring device 20 of the present embodiment, by using the receiving device 30, it becomes possible to monitor the visible light communication device 10 remotely without using the monitoring sensor 15 of the visible light communication device 10. .

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Visible light communication apparatus, 11 ... Transmission information processing control apparatus, 12 ... Information processing apparatus,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 ... Transmission control apparatus, 14 ... Visible light transmitter, 15 ... Monitoring sensor, 16 ... Communication apparatus,
20 ... Visible light communication monitoring device (monitoring device), 21 ... Monitoring and control device, 22 ... Display,
24 ... ammeter, 25 ... comparator, 27 ... photoelectric converter,
28 ... Pulse / digital converter, 29 ... Comparator,
30 ... Visible light communication receiver (receiver), 31 ... Visible light reception processing unit,
32 ... Light receiving element, 33 ... Photoelectric converter, 40 ... Information processing unit, 41 ... Modem,
42: Digital camera, 43: Image processing unit, 100: Visible light.

Claims (13)

Means for connecting to a visible light communication device including visible light transmitting means for emitting visible light, and transmission control means for controlling the visible light transmitting means based on digital information to be transmitted;
Demodulating means for demodulating digital information from visible light transmitted by the visible light transmitting means;
Input means for inputting the digital information to be transmitted from the transmission control means;
Visible light communication monitoring characterized by comprising monitoring means for monitoring the occurrence of an abnormality in a device constituting the visible light communication device based on the digital information demodulated by the demodulation means and the digital information to be transmitted apparatus. A light receiving element for receiving visible light transmitted from the visible light transmitting means;
Means for converting visible light received by the light receiving element into an electrical signal;
The visible light communication monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the demodulation unit is configured to demodulate digital information from the electrical signal. The transmission control means includes information output means for outputting the digital information to be transmitted and light emission control means for controlling the visible light transmission means by a signal obtained by modulating the digital information,
The monitoring means includes
A configuration in which the digital information output from the information output means is compared with the digital information extracted from the light emission control means, and it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the device of the transmission control means when the comparison result does not match The visible light communication monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the visible light communication monitoring device is a visible light communication monitoring device. The monitoring means compares the digital information extracted from the light emission control means with the digital information demodulated by the demodulation means when the comparison result is coincident, and when the comparison result is coincident, the visible light communication Determine that all of the devices are normal,
The visible light communication monitoring apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the comparison result does not match, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the light emission control unit. The transmission control means includes information output means for outputting the digital information to be transmitted and light emission control means for controlling the visible light transmission means by a signal obtained by modulating the digital information,
The monitoring means includes
Compare the digital information output from the information output means and the digital information extracted from the light emission control means, if the comparison result is coincident, determine that the transmission control means is normal,
The digital information extracted from the light emission control means is compared with the digital information demodulated by the demodulation means, and if the comparison result does not match, an abnormality has occurred in either the visible light transmitting means or the light receiving element. The visible light communication monitoring device according to claim 2, wherein the visible light communication monitoring device is determined. The monitoring means includes
The digital information taken out from the visible light transmitting means and reference value information are compared, and based on the comparison result, means for determining occurrence of abnormality of the visible light transmitting means is included. Visible light communication monitoring device. The monitoring means includes
Comparing digital information and reference value information extracted from the visible light transmitting means, and based on the comparison result, including means for determining occurrence of abnormality of the visible light transmitting means,
When it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in one of the visible light transmitting means or the light receiving element, it is determined that the light receiving element is normal if an abnormality has occurred in the visible light transmitting means. The visible light communication monitoring apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the visible light communication monitoring apparatus is configured as described above. A receiving means for receiving visible light emitted from the visible light transmitting means controlled by the transmission control means according to claim 1 and demodulating digital information from the visible light, and a digital demodulated by the receiving means A visible light receiving device including communication means for transmitting information by wireless communication;
Comparing the digital information transmitted from the communication means with the digital information taken out from the transmission control means, based on the comparison result, the occurrence of an abnormality in each device constituting the visible light transmission means and the transmission control means A visible light communication monitoring apparatus comprising: a monitoring means for determining. A camera that receives visible light emitted from the visible light transmission unit controlled by the transmission control unit according to claim 1 and generates image information;
A visible light receiving device including communication means for transmitting image information generated by the camera by wireless communication;
The image information transmitted from the communication means is compared with the digital information taken out from the transmission control means, and an abnormality occurs in each device constituting the visible light transmission means and the transmission control means based on the comparison result. A visible light communication monitoring apparatus comprising: a monitoring means for determining. The monitoring means includes
The visible light communication monitoring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising display means for displaying and outputting the determination result of occurrence or abnormality of the abnormality. The monitoring means includes
The visible light communication monitoring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a communication unit configured to transmit the abnormality occurrence or normal determination result to a remote system. Visible light transmitting means for emitting visible light;
In the visible light communication device including the transmission control means for controlling the visible light transmitting means based on the digital information to be transmitted and transmitting the visible light modulated by the digital information,
Demodulating means for demodulating digital information from visible light transmitted by the visible light transmitting means;
Input means for inputting the digital information to be transmitted from the transmission control means;
A configuration in which a visible light communication monitoring device having monitoring means for monitoring the occurrence of an abnormality in a device constituting the visible light communication device based on the digital information demodulated by the demodulation means and the digital information to be transmitted is incorporated. A visible light communication device characterized by the above. A visible light communication monitoring method applied to a visible light communication device including a visible light transmitting means for emitting visible light and a transmission control means for controlling the visible light transmitting means based on digital information to be transmitted,
A process of demodulating digital information from visible light transmitted by the visible light transmitting means;
A process of inputting the digital information to be transmitted from the transmission control means;
And a process for monitoring the occurrence of an abnormality in a device constituting the visible light communication device based on the digital information demodulated by the demodulation means and the digital information to be transmitted. .

Images