JP2014120792A - Radio telemeter system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable work by performing radio communication with a radio terminal that is adopted with the use of a radio terminal that is not adopted.SOLUTION: A radio terminal B that is not connected yet transmits specific information including a communication destination identification code, its own identification code, and a start signal to a radio terminal A that is an adoption object. Upon reception of the specific information, the radio terminal A that is the adoption object performs temporal adoption with the radio terminal B that is not adopted yet. The radio terminal A that is the adoption object becomes a full-time standby state by shortening an intermittent reception time than the normal time. Performing communication between the radio terminal B that is not adopted yet and the radio terminal A that is the adoption object gets work such as setting to be done. The radio terminal A that is the adoption object dissolves the temporal adoption at the elapse of a certain time after the time of temporal adoption.

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless telemeter system in which an associated wireless terminal performs wireless communication to transmit terminal information of meters and sensors.

  In a wireless telemeter system that transmits terminal information such as meter reading values of gas, water, and the like to a center device by wireless communication, a wireless master unit (hereinafter referred to as a master unit) is connected to the center device via a communication line such as a telephone line. Is connected, and wireless communication is performed between a wireless slave device (hereinafter referred to as a slave device) to which a terminal device such as a meter is connected and the master device. In addition, when the parent device and the child device cannot directly perform wireless communication, a relay device that relays wireless communication between the parent device and the child device is provided. The parent device and the child device perform wireless communication via the relay device.

  In order to enable wireless communication between wireless terminals such as a parent device, a child device, and a relay device, a match is performed. As described in Patent Document 1, wireless terminals performing matching are brought close to each other, and identification information such as an ID and an identification code of a communication partner is exchanged between both wireless terminals, and the identification information is stored. After the match, each wireless terminal is installed at a predetermined location. Then, wireless communication is performed between the wireless terminals, the reception level is measured, and the communication state is confirmed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-282587

  The radio wave measurement performed at the time of installation work can be performed only between the linked wireless terminals. When the parent machine is installed at a high place such as a utility pole, it is difficult for the worker to operate the parent machine, and therefore the worker operates the child machine. Wireless communication is performed between the slave unit and the master unit, and radio wave measurement is performed.

  Here, there is a case where an operation is performed on the master unit that has been set, or for performing a test or the like. In this work, the master unit must be operated directly. However, if the base unit is installed at a high place, the work at the high place is forced, which is a troublesome work. Therefore, the center device communicates with the parent device, transmits setting data to the parent device, and gives an instruction to perform work on the parent device. In this case, the main subject of the work is the center device, and the worker at the work site cannot work without contacting the center device. For this reason, the worker cannot proceed as desired and the efficiency of the work is deteriorated. In addition, since the operator contacts the center device, additional communication costs are incurred, which is uneconomical.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless telemeter system that can perform work on a wireless terminal that is already connected using a wireless terminal that is not connected.

  The present invention is a wireless telemeter system in which information is transmitted by wireless communication between edged wireless terminals, and specific information for starting edge is exchanged between an unrelated wireless terminal and a target wireless terminal. Then, the unrelated wireless terminal and the wireless terminal to be associated are temporarily associated with each other.

  When an unaffiliated wireless terminal is temporarily associated with an established wireless terminal, the unaffiliated wireless terminal is regarded as a pseudo-engaged wireless terminal and can perform wireless communication with a wireless terminal to be associated. Thereby, operations such as setting can be easily performed using an unrelated wireless terminal.

  The target wireless terminal that is wirelessly communicable with an unrelated wireless terminal makes the intermittent reception time shorter than normal. The target wireless terminal can immediately respond to transmission from an unrelated wireless terminal, and can reduce the communication waiting time.

  The temporary relationship state is valid for a certain time after receiving the specific information. After a certain period of time, the edged state is canceled. Further, when the specific wireless terminal receives the specific information from the unrelated wireless terminal before the fixed time elapses, the temporary wireless connection state further continues for a fixed time. Since the temporary matching state can be extended, it is possible to continue the operation using the unmatched wireless terminal.

  The specific information includes identification information of an unaffiliated wireless terminal, and the wireless terminal targeted for association stores the identification information in a volatile memory. Since the identification information stored in the volatile memory can be erased, the identification information is erased when the work or the like is completed and the temporary association state is resolved. Since it is not necessary to store the unidentified identification information in the nonvolatile memory, the nonvolatile memory is not compressed.

  According to the present invention, by temporarily associating an unrelated wireless terminal, wireless communication with the already-associated wireless terminal becomes possible, and operations such as setting can be performed efficiently.

Overall configuration diagram of the wireless telemeter system of the present invention Block diagram showing schematic configurations of pre-assembled wireless terminal and construction wireless terminal The figure which shows the sequence of the radio | wireless communication using an unrelated radio | wireless terminal

  The radio telemeter system of this embodiment is shown in FIG. In this system, a center apparatus 1 having a host computer or the like and a terminal side are communicably connected via a communication line 2. On the terminal side, a wireless master device (hereinafter referred to as a “parent device”) 3 connected to the communication line 2, a wireless slave device (hereinafter referred to as a slave device) 4 that performs wireless communication with the master device 3, a relay device 5, and a sub-device Consists of a base unit 6. The relay device 5 and the sub-master device 6 have a slave device 4 capable of wireless communication under their control. Terminal devices such as meters and sensors are connected to the child device 4, the relay device 5 and the sub-master device 6. Note that a public telephone line network, a mobile phone network, a PHS network, an Internet network, or the like is used as the communication line 2 between the center apparatus 1 and the base unit 3.

  The master unit 3, the slave unit 4, the relay unit 5, and the sub-master unit 6 are capable of wireless communication with each other, and are collectively referred to as a wireless terminal A. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the wireless terminal A includes a transmission unit 11 that transmits a signal to another wireless terminal A through the antenna 10, a reception unit 12 that receives a signal from the other wireless terminal A through the antenna 10, and a transmission unit 11. And a control unit 13 for controlling the receiving unit 12 to communicate with another wireless terminal A, a RAM 14, and a ROM 15. The wireless communication method of the wireless terminal A is a specific low power wireless.

  In order to enable wireless communication between the wireless terminals A, matching is performed between the wireless terminals A. Matching is performed when each wireless terminal A is installed at a predetermined location. By performing wireless communication between the wireless terminals A, identification information such as mutual IDs and identification codes is exchanged. Each wireless terminal A stores the received identification information in a readable / writable nonvolatile memory, and registers the counterpart wireless terminal A. Self-identification information is stored in the non-volatile memory of each wireless terminal A.

  In this system, since the wireless terminal A that has already been connected performs wireless communication with the wireless terminal B that has not been connected, the wireless terminal A can be temporarily connected. When construction such as installation or relocation of the wireless terminal A is performed, the worker uses the construction wireless terminal B to perform operations such as setting and matching. Further, a different wireless terminal B is used for each worker. As shown in FIG. 2, the construction wireless terminal B includes an antenna 10, a transmission unit 11, a reception unit 12, and a control unit 13, as in the case of the wireless terminal A that has been assembled. The wireless terminal B for construction is not related to the wireless terminal A that is already connected, such as the base unit 3, but is an unrelated wireless terminal B.

  The unrelated wireless terminal B transmits specific information for starting the marriage to any wireless terminal A among the parent device 3, the child device 4, the relay device 5, and the sub-master device 6 to be associated, When the wireless terminal A receives the specific information, the unrelated wireless terminal B and the already-connected wireless terminal A are temporarily associated with each other. As a result, wireless communication is possible between the wireless terminal B that is not related and the wireless terminal A that is already connected. As shown in FIG. 1, for example, when an unrelated wireless terminal (construction wireless terminal) B and the parent device 3 are temporarily associated, the unrelated wireless terminal B can directly perform wireless communication with the parent device 3. . Further, the unrelated wireless terminal B can communicate with other wireless terminals A under the control of the parent device 3 such as the secondary parent device 6, the relay device 5, and the child device 4 through the parent device 3.

  This temporary connection state is valid only for a certain period of time from when the wireless terminal A to be connected is set according to the specific information. Note that the unrelated wireless terminal B transmits the specific information again within a predetermined time, so that the temporary connection state is further extended for a certain time.

  In addition, the wireless terminal A normally performs intermittent reception. The wireless terminal A intermittently enters a standby state and can receive signals from other wireless terminals A. Here, when the wireless terminal A is temporarily associated, the intermittent reception time is made shorter than usual. For example, the intermittent reception time is changed from normal 18 seconds to 0 seconds. That is, the wireless terminal A in a temporary connection state is always in a standby state.

  A procedure when the worker uses the wireless terminal B for construction to perform operations such as setting to the wireless terminal A that has been set, reading data, and setting the new wireless terminal A will be described with reference to FIG. When the operator operates the construction wireless terminal B so that the construction wireless terminal B can wirelessly communicate with the target wireless terminal A such as the master unit 3 that has been joined, the construction wireless terminal B The control unit 13 generates a telegram including the other party's identification code and its own identification code, and outputs the specific information with the activation signal added thereto to the transmission unit 11. The transmission unit 11 transmits the specific information to the wireless terminal A to be matched. Note that identification information such as the identification code of the other party is input to the wireless terminal B for construction in advance.

  The target wireless terminal A performs intermittent reception and receives specific information according to the timing. The control unit 13 checks the identification code of the other party included in the specific information input through the receiving unit 12. When the other party's identification code is a self-identification code, the control part 13 recognizes that it is communication addressed to self, and checks the transmission source's identification code. That is, it is checked whether or not the own identification code (transmission source identification code) included in the specific information matches the identification code of the associated wireless terminal A stored in the nonvolatile memory. Since the identification code of the construction wireless terminal B that is the transmission source is not the identification code of the registered wireless terminal A, it is recognized that the communication is from an unrelated wireless terminal B. Here, the specific information includes an activation signal. Even if the identification code of the unrelated wireless terminal B includes an activation signal, the control unit 13 determines that the signal is from a guaranteed communication destination, Recognize that there is. Thereafter, the control unit 13 performs processing for temporarily associating with the construction wireless terminal B.

  The control unit 13 of the target wireless terminal A stores the identification code of the wireless terminal B for construction in the RAM 14 that is a volatile memory, and changes it to, for example, 0 seconds so that the intermittent reception time is shortened. The construction wireless terminal B and the target wireless terminal A are in a temporary connection state and can communicate with each other wirelessly. Moreover, the control part 13 starts time measurement by a timer from the time of performing temporary matching.

  Then, the control unit 13 of the target wireless terminal A transmits an activation OK response signal to the construction wireless terminal B through the transmission unit 11. When the construction wireless terminal B receives the response signal from the target wireless terminal A, for example, when setting, the control unit 13 of the construction wireless terminal B outputs a setting signal such as a setting message, The transmission unit 11 transmits the setting signal to the wireless terminal A to be associated. The control unit 13 of the target wireless terminal A that has received the setting signal performs processing based on the setting signal, and transmits a setting signal such as setting completion to the construction wireless terminal B through the transmission unit 11. When work such as setting is completed, the control unit 13 of the construction wireless terminal B transmits an end signal to the wireless terminal A through the transmission unit 11. Thereby, the communication between the wireless terminal B for construction and the wireless terminal A to be assembled ends. When a certain period of time has not elapsed at this time, the wireless terminal A to be engaged continues in a temporary engagement state.

  Before a certain period of time elapses, the construction wireless terminal B transmits specific information in order to communicate with the wireless terminal A to be associated again. Since the target wireless terminal A is always in a standby state, it can immediately receive the specific information. When the control unit 13 of the target wireless terminal A is activated based on the received specific information and recognizes that the communication is from the construction wireless terminal B, the temporary connection state is further continued for a certain period of time. The construction wireless terminal B and the target wireless terminal A perform wireless communication, and work such as setting is performed.

  When a certain period of time has elapsed since the temporary matching is performed, the control unit 13 of the wireless terminal A to be matched cancels the temporary matching and returns the intermittent reception time to the normal time. The identification code of the construction wireless terminal B stored in the volatile memory is deleted.

  When the construction wireless terminal B transmits specific information to the target wireless terminal A after a certain period of time has elapsed, the previous temporary connection state has been canceled, so the target wireless terminal A is temporarily Make a good match.

  As described above, the base unit 3, the relay unit 5, the sub base unit 6 and the like installed at a high place such as a power pole by temporarily connecting the unconnected wireless terminal B and the already-connected wireless terminal A Wireless communication can be performed between the wireless terminal A and the construction wireless terminal B, so that it is not necessary to directly operate the wireless terminal A at a high place in the field work, and communication to the center apparatus 1 is possible. And contact can be omitted. The time and communication cost required for these operations can be reduced, and the operation time can be shortened. Further, since the communication between the construction wireless terminal B and the wireless terminal A to be associated can be performed immediately during a certain period of time, there is no communication waiting time and work can be performed efficiently. Moreover, it is not necessary for the wireless terminal A that has already been associated to store identification information relating to the wireless terminal B that has not been associated for a temporary association. Therefore, it is not necessary to store the identification information of a plurality of construction wireless terminals B in the nonvolatile memory in advance, and the nonvolatile memory is not compressed.

  As described above, in the wireless telemeter system in which information is transmitted by wireless communication between the wireless terminals A of the present invention, the wireless terminal B and the wireless terminal A that is the target of the wireless communication are used for starting the wireless communication. When the specific information is exchanged, the unrelated wireless terminal B and the wireless terminal A to be associated are temporarily associated with each other. When the unrelated wireless terminal B is temporarily associated with the wireless terminal A that has already been associated, the wireless terminal B that is unaffiliated is considered to be a wireless terminal A that has been artificially associated, Wireless communication is possible. Thereby, it is possible to access the wireless telemeter system using the unrelated wireless terminal B, and it is possible to easily perform operations such as setting for the wireless terminal A in the system.

  When the unrelated wireless terminal B transmits specific information for starting the marriage to the targeted wireless terminal A, the targeted wireless terminal A that has received the specific information is temporarily associated with the unrelated wireless terminal B. It becomes a state. Alternatively, the specific information for starting the marriage may be transmitted to the unrelated wireless terminal B to which the wireless terminal A to be associated is to be associated. When the unrelated wireless terminal B that has received the specific information transmits a response signal to the wireless terminal A that is the target of the association, the wireless terminal A that is the target of the association can acquire the identification information of the unrelated wireless terminal B from the response signal. Wireless terminal A can be associated with an unrelated wireless terminal B.

  The wireless terminal A that is to be associated with the wireless terminal B that is capable of wireless communication with the unrelated wireless terminal B makes the intermittent reception time shorter than usual. The target wireless terminal A can immediately respond to the transmission from the unrelated wireless terminal B, and can reduce the communication waiting time.

  The temporary relationship state is valid for a certain time after receiving the specific information. After a certain period of time, the edged state is canceled. Before a certain time elapses, the unrelated wireless terminal B transmits specific information. When the specific wireless terminal A receives the specific information from the unrelated wireless terminal B before the fixed time has elapsed, the temporary wireless connection state continues for a certain period of time. Since the temporary edge condition can be extended, it is useful when the work is not completed within a certain time.

  The specific information includes the identification information of the unrelated wireless terminal B, and the wireless terminal A targeted for the association stores the identification information in the volatile memory. Since the identification information stored in the volatile memory can be erased, the identification information is erased when the work or the like is completed and the temporary association state is resolved.

  Here, the construction wireless terminal B used at the time of the work needs to wirelessly communicate with the wireless terminal A that has been established. For this reason, an unrelated wireless terminal B such as a construction wireless terminal B must be associated with an already-assembled wireless terminal A. When the identification information of the unrelated wireless terminal B required at this time is stored in the nonvolatile memory, since there are a large number of construction wireless terminals B, the identification information of the numerous wireless terminals B is stored in the nonvolatile memory. Must be stored in advance. In this case, the work of storing in the nonvolatile memory is complicated, and the capacity of the memory is consumed for information that is not normally used, which is inefficient. Therefore, the above problem can be solved by storing the data in a volatile memory.

  The identification information and authentication information of the unrelated wireless terminal B may be included as the specific information for starting the association for performing temporary association. The authentication information is information that cannot be known by a third party, such as a password, and is information that is used only for temporary association. The wireless terminal A to be affiliated only needs to store one piece of authentication information in the nonvolatile memory in advance, and does not put pressure on the memory. A plurality of unaffiliated wireless terminals B that temporarily associate with each other can share this authentication information.

  When an unaffiliated wireless terminal B makes a temporary association with a wireless terminal A that is one of the plurality of wireless terminals A that have already been associated, The identification information of the wireless terminal B that is not related to the terminal A may be transmitted by wireless communication. The other associated wireless terminal A stores the received identification information in a volatile memory. As a result, the unrelated wireless terminal B is temporarily associated with all the wireless terminals A that have been assembled, and can perform wireless communication with each wireless terminal A.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, many corrections and changes can be added to the said embodiment within the scope of the present invention. Other wireless communication methods such as wireless LAN and Bluetooth (registered trademark) may be used as wireless communication of the wireless terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Center apparatus 3 Radio | wireless main | base station 4 Radio | wireless subunit | mobile_unit 5 Relay machine 6 Sub-master | base station 10 Antenna 11 Transmission part 12 Reception part 13 Control part 14 RAM
15 ROM

Claims (5)

In a wireless telemeter system in which information is transmitted by wireless communication between a paired wireless terminals, when specific information for starting a pair is exchanged between a wireless terminal that is not connected and a wireless terminal that is to be connected, A wireless telemeter system, wherein an unaffiliated wireless terminal and a wireless terminal to be associated are temporarily associated with each other. 2. The wireless telemeter system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless terminal to be connected that is wirelessly communicable with an unrelated wireless terminal has a shorter intermittent reception time than normal. 3. The radio telemeter system according to claim 1, wherein the temporary connection state is valid for a predetermined time. 4. The wireless telemeter system according to claim 3, wherein when the specific wireless terminal receives the specific information from the unrelated wireless terminal before a predetermined time elapses, the temporary wireless connection state continues for a predetermined time. 5. The radio telemeter system according to claim 1, wherein the specific information includes identification information of an unrelated wireless terminal, and the wireless terminal targeted for association stores the identification information in a volatile memory. .

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