JP2012165116A - Communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently transmit data over a wide range without holding routing information.SOLUTION: A communication system 101 comprises: a mobile terminal device 10 which transmits a predetermined signal to a predetermined range by wireless; and a plurality of relay devices 20 which relay the predetermined signal transmitted from the mobile terminal device 10. The relay device 20 comprises: receiving means 22 which receives signals in a first period in which the predetermined signal transmitted from the mobile terminal device 10 is periodically received and a second period in which predetermined signals transmitted from other relay devices are periodically received; and transmitting means 23 which transmits the predetermined signal received from the receiving means 22 to the other relay devices 20 when the receiving means 22 receives the predetermined signal transmitted from the mobile terminal device in the first period or when the receiving means 22 receives the predetermined signal transmitted from the other relay devices in the second period.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system that performs communication using a plurality of relay apparatuses.

  Conventionally, a communication system configured by a mesh network is known. In such a communication system, when a relay device or the like serving as each node transmits information in a disorderly manner, radio wave interference occurs, and thus information cannot be accurately transmitted between the nodes.

  Here, an example of the above-described conventional communication system will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a conventional communication system. As shown in FIG. 1, when a signal is transmitted from the mobile terminal device 100 located in the center, the relay devices 200A to 200C existing in the periphery receive the signal transmitted from the mobile terminal device 100, and further exist in the periphery. A signal is transmitted to the relay devices 200D to 200I. At this time, since each relay device 200 transmits signals to the surrounding relay devices 200 in a disorderly manner, for example, in the relay device 200E and the relay device 200I, radio wave interference occurs.

  Therefore, conventionally, when each node arranged on the mesh network holds the route information such as the address of the node on the route, and when each node receives the data, the information is obtained according to the held route information. There is known a communication system for transmitting (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-135817 A

  However, in the communication system as described above, since each node transmits and receives information according to the route information, it is necessary to have a memory for holding the route information, and when the route information is added or changed, etc. Requires processing for updating the information held by each node. In addition, it is necessary to periodically check whether or not there is a failure in each of a large number of nodes arranged on the network and whether or not data can be transmitted and received accurately. Therefore, in such a communication system, there has been a problem that power consumption for updating and periodic inspection is required and the burden is large.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication system that can efficiently transmit data over a wide range without holding route information.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a mobile terminal device (10) that wirelessly transmits a predetermined signal within a predetermined range, and a plurality of relays of the predetermined signal transmitted from the mobile terminal device (10). The relay apparatus (20) is a communication system (101) having a first period in which the relay apparatus (20) periodically receives a predetermined signal transmitted from the mobile terminal apparatus (10). And a receiving means (22) for receiving a signal in a second period for periodically receiving a predetermined signal transmitted from another relay device, and the receiving means (22) for the first period When receiving a predetermined signal transmitted from the mobile terminal device or when receiving a predetermined signal transmitted from the other relay device during the second period, the predetermined signal received by the receiving means (22) The other relay device And a sending means (23) to send to 20).

  In the communication system (101) of the present invention, when the signal strength of a predetermined signal transmitted from the mobile terminal device (10) or the other relay device (20) is equal to or higher than a predetermined strength, the predetermined It has a control means (24) which controls the said receiving means (22) so that a signal may be received.

  Further, in the communication system (101) of the present invention, the control means (24) is a predetermined signal transmitted from the portable terminal device (10) or the other relay device (20) by the receiving means (22). The transmission means (23) is controlled so as not to transmit the predetermined signal already received by the reception means (22) to the other relay device (20).

  In the communication system (101) of the present invention, the control means (24) receives the same signal as the predetermined signal already received from the portable terminal device (10) or the other relay device (20). When received by the means (22), the same signal is controlled to be invalidated.

  In the communication system (101) of the present invention, when the control means (24) receives a predetermined signal transmitted from the portable terminal device (10) by the reception means (22), the predetermined signal When the predetermined signal transmitted from the other relay device (20) is received by the receiving means (22), the self-identification code including the identification code is transmitted to the other relay device (20). It is determined whether the identification code of the other relay device (20) is included in the signal, and when the predetermined signal does not include the identification code of the other relay device (20), When the signal includes its own identification code and the predetermined signal includes the identification code of the other relay device (20), the predetermined signal does not include its own identification code. The other relay equipment And controlling said transmission means to transmit to the (20) (23).

  In the communication system (101) of the present invention, the control means (24) is included in the predetermined signal when the receiving means (22) receives a predetermined signal from the other relay device (20). The transmission means (23) is controlled to transmit to the other relay device (20) including its own identification code in addition to the identification code of the other relay device (20).

  In addition, the said reference code is a reference to the last, and this invention is not limited to the aspect of illustration by this.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently transmit data over a wide range without holding route information.

It is a figure for demonstrating the conventional communication system. It is a block diagram which shows each apparatus used for the communication system of this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the communication system of this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the timing control of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the communication processing of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the data which the apparatus which comprises the communication system of this embodiment hold | maintains or transmits. It is a figure for demonstrating the maintenance process of a communication system. It is a figure for demonstrating the timing control in a maintenance process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a maintenance process. It is a figure which shows the example of the data which an apparatus hold | maintains or transmits in a maintenance process.

  Next, the form for implementing this invention is demonstrated.

<Block diagram showing each device used in the communication system of the present embodiment>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing each device used in the communication system of the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the communication system 101 according to the present embodiment is configured to include a mobile terminal device 10, a plurality of relay devices 20, and a management device 30.

  The mobile terminal device 10 is configured to include a power supply unit 11, an operation unit 12, an alarm notification unit 13, a storage unit 14, a control unit 15, and a position detection unit 16, and is urgently operated by an emergency operation. A predetermined signal such as communication (emergency notification) is wirelessly transmitted to the relay device 20 in a predetermined range.

  The power supply means 11 is comprised from secondary batteries, such as a lithium ion battery, for example, and supplies a drive power supply to each part.

  The operation means 12 includes a switch or the like that is manually operated by, for example, a child such as a child who is carrying the mobile terminal device 10. Note that the operation means 12 may include a switch for a test switch.

  The alarm notification unit 13 wirelessly transmits a predetermined signal such as emergency communication to the relay device 20 or the like within a predetermined range in response to an instruction from the control unit 15 when the carrier performs any operation using the operation unit 12. Here, the alarm notification unit 13 acquires an identification code unique to the mobile terminal device 10 stored in the storage unit 14, and transmits it in an emergency communication.

  Further, the alarm notification unit 13 may acquire the position information detected by the position detection unit 16 from the storage unit 14 and transmit it by including it in the emergency communication in the same manner as the identification code. The alarm notification unit 13 may have a function such as a security buzzer.

  Further, the alarm notification unit 13 may include an LED or the like that is turned on when a switch for a test switch is operated by the operation unit 12. For example, the LED or the like is used to check the remaining battery level.

  The storage unit 14 stores in advance an identification code (such as an ID code) unique to the mobile terminal device 10. The storage unit 14 may store position information such as the current position detected by the position detection unit 16 with time.

  The control unit 15 controls the entire configuration of the mobile terminal device 10. For example, when the operation unit 12 is operated, the control unit 15 controls the alarm notification unit 13 to wirelessly transmit a predetermined signal to the relay device 20 or the like within a predetermined range.

  The position detection means 16 has a GPS (Global Positioning System) reception function, receives a radio wave of a GPS signal transmitted from artificial hygiene, and detects a current position such as latitude and longitude.

  The relay device 20 is configured to include a power supply means 21, a reception means 22, a transmission means 23, a control means 24, an alarm display means 25, and a storage means 26, and the mobile terminal device 10 or other relays. Data communication is relayed by transmitting a predetermined signal such as emergency communication received from the device 20 to another relay device 20. Note that the relay device 20 is installed in a predetermined place selected in advance such as outdoors.

  The power supply means 21 includes, for example, a solar cell, charges power from the solar cell to a capacitor such as an electric double layer capacitor, and supplies drive power to each part of the relay device 20.

  The receiving unit 22 receives a radio wave transmitted from the mobile terminal device 10 and the other relay device 20 via the receiving antenna, and demodulates the received radio wave to obtain a predetermined signal. Here, the receiving unit 22 receives a signal for receiving a signal from another relay device periodically and a first period in which the signal from the mobile terminal device 10 is in a reception waiting state for periodically receiving the signal. The respective signals are received in the second period in which the standby state is entered.

  The transmission unit 23 generates a radio wave by modulating a transmission signal for transmitting a predetermined signal such as emergency communication transmitted from the mobile terminal device 10 or another relay device 20, and the generated radio wave is transmitted to another relay device. It transmits to 20 etc. by radio.

  The control unit 24 controls the entire configuration of the relay device 20. Specifically, the control unit 24 observes the signal strength (RSSI: Received Signal Strength Indicator) of a predetermined signal transmitted from the mobile terminal device 10 or another relay device 20, and the signal strength is a predetermined value. In the above case, the receiving means 22 is controlled to receive the signal (for example, a predetermined signal such as emergency communication).

  Further, when the control unit 24 detects a predetermined signal transmitted from the mobile terminal device 10 or another relay device 20, the control unit 24 transmits the predetermined signal such as emergency communication already received by the reception unit 22 to the other relay device 20. The transmission means 23 is controlled not to transmit.

  That is, the control unit 24 detects the presence of other radio waves by the reception unit 22 when transmitting the transmission signal for transmitting a predetermined signal such as emergency communication to the other relay device 20 or the like by the transmission unit 23. In this case, control is performed to wait until the presence of another radio wave is not detected. The control unit 24 controls the transmission unit 23 to transmit a transmission signal to the other relay device 20 or the like when the reception unit 22 no longer detects the presence of another radio wave.

  Further, when the receiving unit 22 receives the same signal as the predetermined signal already received from the mobile terminal device 10 or another relay device 20, the control unit 24 performs control so that the same signal is invalidated.

  For example, when the receiving unit 22 receives a predetermined signal, the control unit 24 determines whether the signal has already been received, that is, whether the same information has been received in the past. When it is determined that the control unit 24 has received a signal different from the signal that has already been received, the control unit 24 controls the transmission unit 23 to transmit a transmission signal for transmitting a predetermined signal to the other relay device 20, and has already received the signal. If it is determined that the same signal as the received signal is received, the signal is invalidated.

  Here, the control unit 24 determines whether the signal received by the receiving unit 22 is the same signal as the signal already received or a different signal, for example, the unique identification of the mobile terminal device 10 included in the received signal. Judge by code.

  In addition, when the receiving unit 22 receives a predetermined signal from the mobile terminal device 10, the control unit 24 controls the transmitting unit 23 to transmit the predetermined signal including its own identification code to another relay device 20. .

  In addition, when the receiving unit 22 receives a predetermined signal from the other relay device 20, the control unit 24 determines whether the predetermined signal includes the identification code of the other relay device 20, When the identification code of the other relay device 20 is not included, the transmission unit 23 is controlled to transmit the predetermined signal including its own identification code. In addition, when the predetermined signal includes the identification code of the other relay device 20, the control unit 24 does not include its own identification code in the predetermined signal and transmits to the other relay device 20. 23 is controlled.

  The alarm display means 25 is composed of a buzzer or the like, for example, and operates when a predetermined signal is received by the receiving means 22. Moreover, the warning display means 25 may be provided with a warning lamp unit composed of, for example, a high-intensity LED.

  The management device 30 is composed of, for example, a personal computer, and is configured to include a receiving unit 31, a screen display unit 32, a storage unit 33, a transmission unit 34, and a control unit 35. It is installed in schools where students attend.

  The receiving unit 31 receives a predetermined signal such as emergency communication from the mobile terminal device 10 or the relay device 20 via the receiving antenna.

  The screen display means 32 generates a screen for the administrator to input a screen for registering the identification code of the mobile terminal device 10 and the identification code of the relay device 20, an email address such as an emergency contact address, etc., and make various settings. And display. Further, the screen display means 32 generates and displays a display screen showing the operation status of the relay device 20, an emergency call history screen, and the like.

  The storage unit 33 stores various information input by the screen display unit 32.

  When receiving a predetermined signal from the receiving unit 31, the transmitting unit 34 transmits an emergency mail or the like to a contact address corresponding to the predetermined signal.

  The control unit 35 controls the entire configuration of the management device 30. For example, when the receiving unit 31 receives a predetermined signal, the control unit 35 acquires a mail address or the like of a contact address set in advance according to the predetermined signal received from the storage unit 33, and an emergency mail or the like by the transmitting unit 34. Control to send.

<Communication System of this Embodiment>
Next, the communication system of this embodiment is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the communication system of the present embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the communication system 101 according to the present embodiment is configured to include a mobile terminal device 10, relay devices 20 </ b> A to 20 </ b> N, and a management device (server) 30. Further, in the communication system 101 illustrated in FIG. 3, for example, the relay apparatuses 20A to 20N are arranged in the A area, the B area, and the C area, respectively, to form a mesh network.

  For example, when the mobile terminal device 10 exists in the center of the A region and transmits a predetermined signal such as emergency communication, the relay devices 20A to 20C arranged in the A region within the communication distance of the mobile terminal device 10 are portable. There is a possibility that a predetermined signal from the terminal device 10 can be received. That is, the receiving units 22A to 22C of the relay devices 20A to 20C can receive a signal from the mobile terminal device 10 existing within a predetermined distance range based on the signal strength (RSSI) of the radio wave.

  In addition, the receiving unit 22 of each relay device 20 receives the signal transmitted from the mobile terminal device 10 in the first period in which the signal transmitted from the mobile terminal device 10 is in a reception waiting state for periodically receiving the signal. Receive. Therefore, among the relay devices 20A to 20C shown in FIG. 3, the relay device 20 that is first in the first period and is in a reception waiting state is the earliest as the timing for the emergency communication of the mobile terminal device 10. The emergency communication of the mobile terminal device 10 is received.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, when the relay device 20A detects and receives the emergency communication from the mobile terminal device 10 earliest on the assumption described above, the relay device 20A receives the emergency communication received from the mobile terminal device 10. A transmission signal for transmission is transmitted (for example, TxOn transmission described later).

  At this time, with respect to the signal transmitted from the relay device 20A, the relay devices 20B to 22D existing within a predetermined distance range from the relay device 20A are present at positions where they can be received. That is, the receiving means 22B to 22D of the relay devices 20B to 20D can receive the signal transmitted from the relay device 20A based on the signal strength (RSSI) of the radio wave.

  In addition, the receiving means 22 of each relay device 20 is transmitted from the other relay device 20 in the second period in which the signal transmitted from the other relay device 20 is in a reception waiting state for periodically receiving a signal. Receive the received signal. Therefore, the receiving units 22B to 22D of the relay devices 20B to 20D shown in FIG. 3 receive the transmission signals transmitted from the relay device 20A in the second period, respectively, and the relay devices 20B to 20D receive the signals from the received relay device 20A. Each transmission signal is transmitted to another relay device 20.

  Similarly, transmission signals transmitted from the relay devices 20B to 20D are received by the relay devices 20E to 20H and the relay device 20N illustrated in FIG. 3, and a transmission signal transmitted from the relay device 20N is received by the management device 30. The

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the signal strength (RSSI) of the radio wave of the relay device 20 is observed, and the timing control is performed by the first period and the second period in which each signal is waiting to be received. For example, a mesh network is formed that enables data relay to draw a predetermined signal from the mobile terminal device 10 so as to draw a circle from the center. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the mesh network mentioned above can also be formed using the movable main | base station mobile which has the function similar to the relay apparatus 20. FIG.

<Timing control of this embodiment>
Next, timing control using the first period and the second period enabling the mesh network by the data relay described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the timing control of the present embodiment. In FIG. 4, the emergency communication transmitted in the portable terminal device 10 demonstrated in above-mentioned FIG. 3 and relay apparatus 20A-20F is demonstrated to an example.

  As shown in FIG. 4, each of the relay devices 20 </ b> A to 20 </ b> F receives a first period P in a reception waiting state for periodically receiving a signal from the mobile terminal device 10 and a signal from another relay device. Each signal is received in a cycle in which the second period Q in a reception waiting state for periodic reception is alternately repeated.

  Here, each period constituted by the first period P and the second period Q of the relay apparatuses 20A to 20F is different from each other, for example, due to a timing difference such as power ON of each of the relay apparatuses 20A to 20F. It has become.

  When the mobile terminal device 10 shown in FIG. 4 transmits emergency communication from the normal mode, as shown in FIG. 3 described above, the relay devices 20A to 20C are connected to the mobile terminal device 10 based on the signal strength (RSSI) of radio waves. The transmitted emergency communication can be received.

  Here, when the emergency communication of the mobile terminal device 10 is being transmitted, the relay device 20A that is in the reception waiting state for the signal transmitted from the mobile terminal device 10 earliest among the relay devices 20A to 20C is in the first period. After the emergency communication is received by P and a predetermined determination process described later is executed, a transmission signal for transmitting the emergency communication is generated, and TxOn transmission is performed.

  Next, the signal transmitted TxOn from the relay device 20A can be received by the relay devices 20B to 20C based on the signal strength (RSSI) of the radio wave. At this time, when the TxOn transmission is performed by the relay device 20A, the relay devices 20B to 20D are respectively connected from the relay device 20A by the second period Q in which they are waiting to receive signals transmitted from the other relay devices 20. A signal transmitted by TxOn is received.

  In FIG. 4, the relay device 20B first receives a transmission signal by TxOn transmission of the relay device 20A, then receives the relay device 20C, and then receives the relay device 20D.

  Note that when the relay device 20 detects a transmission signal transmitted from the mobile terminal device 10 or another relay device 20, the relay device 20 does not transmit a signal to the other relay device 20. Therefore, while the relay devices 20B to 20D detect the transmission signal transmitted from the relay device 20A, which is another relay device 20, as shown by the arrow (TxOn standby) in FIG. Wait for TxOn transmission of the received signal.

  Next, the relay apparatuses 20B to 20D each perform TxOn transmission when the transmission signal transmitted from the relay apparatus 20A is not detected. In the same manner as described above, the relay apparatuses 20B to 20D try to perform TxOn transmission in the order in which the predetermined determination processing is executed. In FIG. 3, when the relay apparatus 20B transmits TxOn, the relay apparatuses 20C and 20D are connected to the relay apparatus 20B. The transmission signal transmitted from is detected, and each waits for TxOn transmission.

  By controlling the data relay in the mesh network in this way, it is possible to avoid radio wave interference caused by the transmission of each relay device 20.

  In addition, when the relay device 20 receives the same signal as the predetermined signal already received from the other relay device 20, the relay device 20 controls to disable the reception of the same signal. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, the relay devices 20 </ b> A to 20 </ b> D each receive the same signal from another relay device 20 after the end of TxOn transmission for transmitting emergency communication from the mobile terminal device 10. Even if it exists, control is performed so as to invalidate reception of the signal.

  Specifically, the relay device 20A can receive the transmission signal by the TxOn transmission from the relay devices 20B to 20D after transmitting the TxOn, but the relay device 20A can transmit the transmission signal already transmitted. The reception of the same signal is invalidated.

  Thereby, depending on the positional relationship where the relay device 20 is arranged, it is possible to prevent radio wave interference caused by receiving the same signal many times.

  If the relay device 20 cannot detect the radio waves of the other relay devices 20 based on the signal strength (RSSI) of the radio waves, for example, the relay device 20D and the relay device 20F shown in FIG. TxOn transmission can also be performed. This is because there is no interference between radio waves in such a case.

<Flowchart showing communication processing of this embodiment>
Next, the communication process of this embodiment is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the communication processing of this embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the mobile terminal device 10 transmits emergency communication (S10), for example, the relay device 20n (n: for example, the relays 20A to 20N in FIG. 3) receives the emergency communication (S11). Next, the control unit 24n of the relay device 20n determines whether or not the same information has been received in the past (S12).

  If it is determined that the same information has not been received in the past (NO in S12), the control unit 24n of the relay device 20n uses another relay in addition to the identification code (ID code) of the mobile terminal device 10 for the received emergency communication. It is determined whether or not the identification code of the device 20 is included (S13).

  When it is determined that the identification code of the other relay device 20 is not included (NO in S13), the relay device 20n includes its own identification code in the transmitted data (S14). If it is determined that the identification code of another relay device 20 is included (YES in S13), the process proceeds to S15.

  Next, the control unit 24n of the relay device 20n detects whether or not another radio wave is present by the receiving unit 22n (S15), and if it detects the presence of another radio wave (YES in S15), Wait until no radio waves exist, and if no other radio waves are detected (NO in S15), TxOn is transmitted by the transmission means 23n (S16), and the process returns to S11. If the control unit 24n of the relay device 20n determines that the same information has been received in the past (YES in S12), the process is terminated without doing anything.

<Data held by the apparatus of this embodiment>
Next, the data held or transmitted by the devices constituting the communication system 101 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of data that is held or transmitted by the devices constituting the communication system of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 6, among the devices constituting the communication system 101 of the present embodiment, the mobile terminal device 10 and the relay device 20 indicate “data held” and “data to be transmitted”. The relay device 20 is divided into, for example, “relay device 20A” and “relay device 20n”, which is another relay device 20, as the first relay device that first receives the emergency communication from the mobile terminal device 10. Yes.

  "Portable terminal device 10", "relay device 20A", and "relay device 20n" are "identification codes of portable terminal devices", "ID code of relay device 20A", 20n ID code ".

  Here, when transmitting emergency communication, the “portable terminal device 10” transmits the “ID code of the portable terminal device” that is held. When TxOn transmission is performed, the “relay device 20A” is “the ID code of the mobile terminal device and the relay device 20A”, that is, the “ID code of the mobile terminal device” included in the emergency communication received from the mobile terminal device 10. And "the ID code of the relay device 20A" that is held is transmitted.

  On the other hand, “relay apparatus 20n” transmits “ID code of portable terminal and relay apparatus 20A”, that is, “ID code of portable terminal” and “ID code of relay apparatus 20A” included in the received signal by TxOn transmission. However, it does not transmit its own ID code.

<Maintenance processing>
Here, for example, maintenance processing or the like in the communication system 101 can be realized by applying the communication method between the relay apparatuses in the above-described embodiment. The above embodiment will be specifically described below.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a maintenance process of the communication system. For example, in the maintenance process, in order to find out whether there is a faulty relay device 20 in the plurality of relay devices 20 constituting the communication system 101, for example, a unique identification code held by the relay device 20 is used as a data relay. It is realized by doing.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, the communication system 101 includes, for example, relay devices 20L to 20M, relay devices 20R to 20V, and a management device 30. Further, in the communication system 101, for example, the relay device 20M, the relay device 20S, and the relay device 20U are arranged at a distance where a signal transmitted from the relay device 20T can be received.

  In the communication system 101, the transmission signal from the relay device 20M is transmitted to the relay device 20L, the transmission signal from the relay device 20L is transmitted to the relay device 20V, the transmission signal from the relay device 20S is transmitted to the relay device 20R, and the relay device 20R. The relay devices 20 are arranged at distances at which transmission signals from can be received by the relay device 20V.

  In addition, the management apparatus 30 is arrange | positioned in the distance which can receive the transmission signal from the relay apparatus 20V.

  In the communication system 101 that configures the mesh network with the above-described arrangement, the radio wave signal strength (RSSI) according to the present embodiment is observed, and the reception standby state for periodically receiving the signal from the relay device 20 is set. For example, a maintenance process or the like is executed by the timing control using this period.

  Among the relay devices 20 described above, for example, the relay device 20T is controlled to transmit a maintenance command or the like, for example, at a preset time (for example, 3 am every day). As described above, each relay device 20 is arranged so that the maintenance command transmitted from the relay device 20T can be relayed to the relay device 20V. Accordingly, when each relay device 20 transmits the maintenance command including its own identification code, the identification codes of all the relay devices 20 that have been data relayed from the relay device 20V to the management device 30 are transmitted.

  If the management device 30 confirms the identification codes of all of the registered relay devices 20 by confirming the obtained identification codes of the relay devices 20 within a certain time (for example, 3 hours), a failure occurs. It is possible to determine that there is no relay device 20 that is operating. If there is an identification code that cannot be confirmed, the management device 30 can determine that the relay device 20 with the identification code that cannot be confirmed could not be received or transmitted for some reason.

  In the above-described maintenance process, the control unit 24 of each relay device 20 controls to retransmit the maintenance command after, for example, 5 to 10 minutes after transmitting the maintenance command. Further, after transmitting the maintenance command, the control unit 24 of each relay device 20 disables reception of the same maintenance command for a predetermined period, and then performs control so that the same maintenance code can be received again without invalidation.

  As a result, the relay device 20 that happens to be unable to transmit / receive the maintenance command due to some trouble is given an opportunity to transmit / receive the maintenance command again, and the maintenance process can be executed reliably.

<Timing control in maintenance processing>
Next, timing control in maintenance processing will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the timing control in the maintenance process. FIG. 8 illustrates an example in which all the identification codes of the relay device 20 are data relayed to the management device 30 described in FIG.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the relay device 20 receives each signal in a cycle in which the first period P and the second period Q are alternately repeated, as in FIG. 4 described above. The difference from FIG. 4 is that in the maintenance process, the relay device 20 retransmits after transmitting TxOn, and the same maintenance command is transmitted for a predetermined period (for example, 5 minutes after transmission) after transmitting TxOn. After the reception is invalidated, the control is performed so that the reception of the same maintenance command is not invalidated again.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when a maintenance command is transmitted from the relay device 20T at a preset time (TxOn transmission), for example, the relay device 20S, the relay device 20M, and the relay device 20U have the signal strength of the radio wave. And the transmission signal transmitted by the TxOn transmission from the relay device 20T is received in the second period Q in which reception is possible based on

  The relay device 20S, the relay device 20M, and the relay device 20U perform TxOn transmission after a predetermined determination process described later. The relay device 20T, the relay device 20S, and the relay device 20M disable the reception of the same maintenance command in a predetermined period after the transmission of TxOn.

  Here, for example, a transmission signal transmitted from the relay device 20M by TxOn transmission is received by the relay device 20L, and a transmission signal transmitted from the relay device 20S is received by the relay device 20R, and the relay device 20L and the relay device 20R are received. The transmission signals transmitted to are respectively received by the relay device 20V.

  On the other hand, the transmission signal transmitted from the relay device 20U overlaps the invalid period of the relay device 20S described above, and is not received from any relay device 20. However, as indicated by an arrow D in FIG. 8, the relay device 20M cancels the invalid period after a lapse of a predetermined period after the TxOn transmission, so that the relay device 20U again transmits the TxOn transmission after, for example, 5 minutes to 10 minutes. By doing so, the transmission signal transmitted from the relay device 20U is received by the relay device 20M. The transmission signal transmitted from the relay device 20M is received by the relay device 20L, and the transmission signal transmitted from the relay device 20L is received by the relay device 20V.

  Through the processing described above, all identification codes of the relay device 20 are data relayed to the relay device 20V. Also, by enabling each relay device 20 to retransmit and re-receive maintenance commands, for example, even if there is a relay device 20 left behind, data relaying to another relay device 20 is ensured. Is possible.

<Flowchart showing the flow of maintenance processing>
Next, the flow of maintenance processing will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of maintenance processing.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when a preset relay device 20T among the plurality of relay devices 20 transmits a maintenance command (S20), the relay device 20n (n: for example, the relays 20L, 20M, 20R, and 20S in FIG. 7). , 20U, 20V, etc.) receive the maintenance command (S21). The control unit 24n of the relay device 20n determines whether or not the same maintenance command has been received during a preset predetermined period (S22).

  If it is determined that the same maintenance command has not been received (NO in S22), it is determined whether or not the received maintenance command includes its own identification code (ID code) (S23).

  When it is determined that the self identification code is not included (NO in S23), the relay device 20n includes the self identification code in the transmitted data (S24). When it is determined that the self identification code is included (YES in S23), the process proceeds to S25.

  Next, the control means n of the relay device 20n detects whether or not other radio waves are present by the receiving means 22n (S25). When the presence of other radio waves is detected (YES in S25), Wait until no radio waves exist, and if no other radio waves are detected (NO in S25), TxOn is transmitted by the transmission means 23n (S26).

  Further, the control means n of the relay device 20n measures the elapsed time after transmitting TxOn in S26, for example, after 5 to 10 minutes, retransmits the TxOn transmission by the transmitting means 23n (S27), and returns to the processing of S21. . Note that if the control unit 24n of the relay device 20n determines that the same maintenance command has been received during a preset predetermined period (YES in S22), the process ends without doing anything.

<Data held or transmitted by the device during maintenance processing>
Next, data held or transmitted by the apparatus in the maintenance process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of data held or transmitted by the apparatus in the maintenance process.

  As shown in FIG. 10, “holding data” and “data to be transmitted” are shown in each apparatus in the maintenance process. Here, each device indicates, for example, the relay device 20T that is set to periodically transmit a maintenance command among the relay devices 20, and “relay device 20n” that is another relay device.

  For example, the “relay apparatus 20T” holds an identification code unique to itself and “ID code of the relay apparatus 20T, maintenance period” as period information for transmitting a maintenance command. Further, the “relay device 20n” holds the “ID code of the relay device 20n” which is an identification code unique to itself.

  When transmitting the maintenance code, the “relay apparatus 20T” transmits the “ID code of the relay apparatus 20T” that is held. On the other hand, the “relay device 20n” transmits the ID code of the relay device 20T included in the received maintenance code and the “ID code of the relay device 20T and the relay device 20n” indicating its own ID code. To do.

  Note that the “relay device 20n” includes the ID codes of all the relay devices 20 included in the maintenance code, even when there are a plurality of ID codes of the relay device 20 included in the maintenance code other than the relay device 20T. Send your ID code. Thus, the data relay in which the identification codes of the relay devices 20 are sequentially stored allows the management device 30 to easily find a faulty relay device among the relay devices 20 forming the mesh network.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to efficiently transmit data over a wide range without holding route information. In addition, according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to have a memory for holding route information, so that cost can be reduced, and processing such as transmission / reception between nodes for updating route information is unnecessary. Therefore, battery consumption can be suppressed.

  When data relay is performed according to the above-described embodiment, the number of hops (for example, three or more hops are not performed) is set in advance, and each node counts the number of hops to control the range of data relay. You can also Further, even when a large number of nodes are arranged depending on the use of a security system or the like, the cost of power supply wiring can be suppressed by using a battery or a solar battery.

  As mentioned above, although this invention has been demonstrated based on each embodiment, this invention is not limited to the requirements shown in the said embodiment. With respect to these points, the gist of the present invention can be changed without departing from the scope of the present invention, and can be appropriately determined according to the application form.

10, 100 Portable terminal device 11, 21 Power supply means 12 Operation means 13 Alarm notification means 14, 26, 33 Storage means 15, 24, 35 Control means 16 Position detection means 20, 200 Relay device 22, 31 Receiving means 23, 34 Transmission Means 25 Alarm display means 30 Management device 32 Screen display means 101 Communication system

Claims (6)

A communication system comprising: a mobile terminal device that wirelessly transmits a predetermined signal within a predetermined range; and a plurality of relay devices that relay the predetermined signal transmitted from the mobile terminal device,
The relay device is
A signal is received in a first period in which a predetermined signal transmitted from the mobile terminal apparatus is periodically received and a second period in which a predetermined signal transmitted from another relay apparatus is periodically received Receiving means;
When receiving the predetermined signal transmitted from the portable terminal device in the first period by the receiving means or when receiving the predetermined signal transmitted from the other relay device in the second period, A communication system comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit a predetermined signal received by the reception unit to the other relay device.   Control means for controlling the receiving means to receive the predetermined signal when the signal strength of the predetermined signal transmitted from the portable terminal device or the other relay device is equal to or higher than a predetermined strength. The communication system according to claim 1. The control means includes
When the predetermined signal transmitted from the portable terminal device or the other relay device is detected by the reception unit, the transmission unit is configured not to transmit the predetermined signal already received by the reception unit to the other relay device. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the communication system is controlled. The control means includes
3. The control according to claim 2, wherein when the same signal as a predetermined signal already received from the mobile terminal device or the other relay device is received by the receiving unit, the same signal is controlled to be invalidated. 4. The communication system according to 3. The control means includes
When receiving a predetermined signal transmitted from the portable terminal device by the receiving means, including the identification signal in the predetermined signal and transmitting to the other relay device,
When the predetermined signal transmitted from the other relay device is received by the receiving means, it is determined whether the predetermined signal includes an identification code of the other relay device, and the predetermined signal is included in the predetermined signal. When the other relay device identification code is not included, the predetermined signal includes its own identification code, and when the predetermined signal includes the other relay device identification code, 5. The communication according to claim 2, wherein the transmission unit is controlled to transmit the predetermined signal to the other relay device without including a self-identification code in the signal. 6. system. The control means includes
When a predetermined signal is received from the other relay device by the receiving means, the identification code of the other relay device included in the predetermined signal is included and transmitted to the other relay device. The communication system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the transmission unit is controlled.

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