JP2017151689A - Measuring system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the power consumption of a battery-driven measuring element.SOLUTION: A measuring system comprises: a measuring element including a sensor unit, a communication unit, a clock unit, and a power supply unit; and a measuring server via a communication network. The measuring server gives the measuring element instructions on communication date and time from the measuring element to the measuring server, power is supplied to the sensor unit and the communication unit at prescribed time corresponding to the communication date and time, measurement data at the sensor unit is transmitted to the measuring server, thereby the number of access times from the measuring element to the measuring server is reduced to the minimum, and power consumption of the measuring unit and the communication unit of the measuring element is kept down to the necessity minimum.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a measurement server system that centrally manages information of various sensors using a communication network, and relates to power saving means suitable for a measurement element, particularly a measurement element driven by a battery.

  In recent years, various sensor technologies have been developed. Sensors for weather observation such as temperature sensors, anemometers, anemometers, rain gauges, seismometers, biological information sensors such as sphygmomanometers, heart rate meters, radiation doses, PM2 .5 Information from various sensors (measuring elements) such as environmental sensors such as measuring instruments, dust meters, odor meters, and human sensors, surveillance cameras, etc. are connected to the Internet for intensive observation. These sensors are installed not only indoors but also outdoors, and in addition to those using commercial power sources as their power sources, sensors driven by batteries have been used widely. In addition, the communication means has also changed from wired to wireless due to the development of wireless technology, and the measurement element can be said to be a wireless communication terminal that transmits sensor information (measurement data) to the server when viewed alone. Yes.

  When it comes to wireless communication terminals, mobile phones and tablets are typical, and power-saving measures are taken because they are battery-powered. When people do not operate, the power supply is stopped (almost stopped), In a stationary state, a method of supplying power only to a circuit that senses whether or not a person starts an operation is common. As a technique for automatically saving power regardless of a human operation, the prior art document discloses a technique for recognizing a face with a camera module of a mobile phone and switching to a power saving mode depending on the presence or absence of a person. In addition, terminals such as personal computers, mobile phones, and tablets that communicate with the Internet attempt to save power by inquiring mails to the incoming mail server at regular intervals. However, if there is no received mail even if the received mail is periodically inquired, the result is that a useless inquiry, that is, useless power consumption is performed.

  Recently, it is called IoT (Internet of Things), and it is said that the era will come when everything is connected to the Internet. In the IoT era, the measurement elements and various sensors are seen in the city as seen in the example of surveillance cameras. It can be said that it can be said that it is possible to provide useful information finely to people by centrally managing measurement data, and the number of measurement elements installed has increased explosively, and therefore consumption of measurement elements. Further reduction of electric power not only contributes to extending the life of the battery used for the measuring element, but also becomes a social issue in terms of consuming less energy.

JP2014-27386

  It is desirable to reduce the power consumption of the measuring element and extend the battery life.

  The measurement server instructs the timing at which the measurement element performs measurement, and transmits the measurement result to the measurement server. Therefore, at the time of communication between the measurement element and the measurement server, the measurement server instructs the next measurement and the communication date and time. With this method, the power supply of the measuring element is always only the clock unit, and the power supply to the sensor unit (measuring unit) and the communication unit is only during measurement and communication, so that significant power saving can be achieved. Also, if the clock accuracy of the measuring element is low, the date and time will be shifted when the next measurement date and time is one month later, such as a power meter. Therefore, the date and time information from the measurement server is obtained based on the accuracy information of the clock owned by the measuring element. Use this to calibrate the clock time. Further, in order to determine an abnormality (circuit failure or the like) of the measurement element, a self-diagnosis circuit is provided in the measurement element, and the diagnosis result is transmitted and reported to the measurement server.

  The power supply to the measurement element is always only the clock unit, and the sensor unit and the communication unit are supplied with power only during measurement / communication, so that the power consumption of the measurement element can be greatly reduced.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a measurement system according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the measurement element of the measurement system by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the measurement server of the measurement system by this invention. It is a figure which shows the content of the communication signal between the measurement element of the measurement system by this invention, and a measurement server.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the overall configuration of the present invention. A large number of measurement elements (hereinafter referred to as reference numeral “1”) as indicated by 1a, 1b, and 1c are connected to a wireless communication network 2. Yes. A measurement server 3 that centrally manages management data for each measurement element 1 together with data measured by each measurement element 1 is connected to the wireless communication network 2. Although not shown, there may be measuring elements connected to the wired communication network together with the wireless communication network, but information on all the measuring elements is centrally managed by the measurement server 3. The wireless communication network may be a public wireless communication network such as 3G, 4G, or PHS, or a private wireless communication network that is self-employed. As an example of a self-supporting wireless communication network, there may be a self-supporting mode of PHS or a wireless system using a 920 MHZ band called a sub-giga wave.

  There are a wide variety of measuring elements, including elements such as thermometers, air flow meters, rain gauges, and seismometers for weather observation, blood pressure meters, heart rate meters, thermometers, etc. Radiation meter, PM2.5 meter, dust meter, odor meter, etc., mechanical strain meter for building deterioration management, water meter, gas meter, electric meter, etc. Furthermore, there are human sensors and security cameras for crime prevention.

  The measurement server 3 may be a measurement provider's own or a measurement server center that is entrusted by a plurality of measurement operators. The water meter may be managed by the water company itself, and the biometric information management is managed by the medical company itself, or multiple medical companies outsource measurement to the measurement server center and receive the measurement result information. There may be a service form in which each medical provider analyzes the result information and provides information to the customer. Various forms are possible, but the form is not limited in the present invention.

  The measurement element 1 has a different measurement frequency (measurement time interval) depending on the purpose of measurement. The measurement element 1 may have a frequency of once a month or three times a day, every hour, or every minute. Also, compare the measured values with normal data, and if you feel that something has changed a little, increase the frequency of measurement, or use other information such as weather forecasts to make the typhoon approach closer When observing, the measurement frequency is changed at any time according to the situation, such as increasing the measurement frequency. The power source of the measuring element includes a commercial power source and a battery. However, the present invention relates to power saving of the measuring element, and is more suitable for a battery-driven measuring element.

  As shown in Table 1, the measurement server 3 collects and manages management data for each measurement element. The meaning of the management data shown in Table 1 will be described later.

  FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the battery-driven measuring element 1.

  The measuring element 1 includes a clock unit 13 that is constantly supplied with power, a sensor unit 11 that is energized only when operation is required by the power control unit 18 (the sensor unit can also be referred to as a measuring unit), an element communication unit 12, a battery remaining The quantity detection unit 20 includes a self-diagnosis control circuit 21 for performing self-diagnosis, a bias circuit 22, and a comparison determination circuit 23. In addition to the clock 17, the clock unit 13 includes a server date / time management M (memory) 15, a next communication date / time management M (memory) 16, and a self-diagnosis date / time management M (memory) 14 whose operations will be described later.

  These date and time information starts from the Christian era and includes up to the second as March 11, 2011 14:46:45. The next communication date and time shown in Table 1 is simplified to V, B, C (V hour B minute C second) due to space limitations, but in actuality, it was 14:46:45 on March 11, 2011. It is like that.

  The element communication unit 12 communicates with the measurement server 3 via the wireless communication network 2, but in the present invention, the call for communication is only from the measurement element 1, and the measurement server 3 communicates with the measurement element 1. No call is made and the measuring element 1 does not have to prepare for an incoming call from the measuring server 3.

  As for the operation of the measuring element 1, when the next communication date and time management M16 comes to the date and time for measurement and communication, the power supply control unit 18 is instructed to perform measurement on the sensor unit 11, and the measurement result data is sent to the element communication unit 12 The element communication unit 12 transmits data to the measurement server 3. The time for supplying power to the sensor unit depends on the measurement time required by the sensor.

  Measurements such as body temperature take about 1 minute of measurement time, but the temperature may be about seconds. The power supply time to the element communication unit 12 is a time required for communication, which is on the order of several seconds or less depending on the transmission speed, and can be supplied simultaneously with the sensor unit while taking into account the measurement time of the sensor unit. In addition, when the power supply time of the sensor unit is as long as 1 minute, the power supply may be divided in time.

  The format of the transmission data of the measurement result is shown in FIG.

  In addition to information necessary for communication such as “element ID” and “phone number” or IP address according to individual elements, the transmission data includes “remaining battery”, “current date and time”, “ Send the “Installation Area” signal. The battery remaining amount is data necessary for the measurement server 3 to check the status of each measurement element, and the current date and time is clock information of the measurement element 1.

  There are three types of “measurement information”: “measurement data”, “no data” to be described later, and “self-diagnosis result”. As shown in FIG. It has two components, a part representing “information type” and a part representing “data”. If the information type is “no data”, the subsequent “data” is omitted.

  In addition, when these measurement information (measurement data, self-diagnosis result, time calibration signal described later) cannot be received by the measurement server 3 at the date and time designated by the measurement server 3, the measurement element 1 is suspected of malfunctioning or theft, and measurement is performed. Contact the operator separately by e-mail or telephone.

  The “installation area” is used as it is information on the base station obtained when the place where the measurement element is installed is communicated using wireless communication. Note that if the measuring element 1 has a separate GPS sensor, GPS information is used as the “installation area” information.

  When the measurement service area is narrow and all measurement elements are installed in one antenna area (base station area), the installation area information is equivalent to distance information from the antenna, although not shown. As an alternative to the electric field strength information, “reception level” information of the received radio wave is used.

  That is, there are three types of installation area information: base station information, GPS information, and reception level information.

  The measurement server 3 checks the installation area information every time communication is performed. If the measurement server 3 is different from the original installation area information managed in Table 1, it is determined that the measurement element 1 is stolen.

  In the management data shown in Table 1, “clock accuracy”, “remaining battery power”, “abnormal state”, and “next communication date / time” are updated every time communication is performed, and “measurement cycle”, “self-diagnosis cycle” "Is changed by communication if necessary based on the result information. The other data is updated from the data input unit 40 (see FIG. 3) when the installation location is changed or when a change is necessary.

  The clock accuracy in Table 1 is based on the current date and time of the measurement element sent from the measurement element 1 and the current date and time of the measurement server 3, and the measurement server 3 occurred on the first day based on the previous communication date and time. The error is calculated and updated. By managing the timepiece accuracy, it is not necessary to require high accuracy for the crystal resonator that is the timepiece component of the measuring device 1, and the cost of the measuring device can be reduced. The measurement element is ideal if a radio clock is used, but it is necessary to decide on the use of radio clocks, taking into account that they always consume power and that it is difficult to receive radio waves indoors depending on the installation location. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (b), the next communication date and time and the server-date and time arrive at the measuring element 1 every time communication is performed. In the measuring element 1, based on the information of the server date and time management M15, The clock 17 is calibrated to the server date. The next communication date / time is written in the next communication date / time management M16, and the above-described operation is performed when the communication date / time is reached in preparation for the next communication.

  The measuring element 1 has a self-diagnosis function for failure diagnosis. The self-diagnosis cycle is determined by the measurement element itself while taking into account the measurement cycle as well as the failure rate of the measurement element. The cycle information is separately managed by the measurement server 3 as shown in Table 1, and the measurement server 3 Then, it waits for a diagnostic result to be transmitted at the time when self-diagnosis should be performed.

  In order for the measuring element 1 to perform self-diagnosis, the self-diagnosis date management M14 instructs the power supply control unit 18 to drive the self-diagnosis control circuit 21 when the diagnosis date / time is reached, according to the measurement cycle. The self-diagnosis control circuit 21 outputs a bias value to the sensor unit 11 from the bias circuit 22 so that the minimum value, maximum value, and intermediate value output by the sensor unit 11 are output at the time of diagnosis, and a sensor for the set bias value. The comparison judgment circuit 23 judges whether or not the output is present. In the bias circuit 22, the operation parameter of the sensor unit 11 is changed. Alternatively, the input signal level to the sensor unit 11 may be changed in a pseudo manner. In any method, if the output of the sensor unit 11 changes according to the change, it is determined that the operation is normal. This determination is made by the comparison determination circuit 23. As an output of the comparison / determination circuit 23, in addition to OK and NG, information such as “can be used for the time being, but need repair in the near future” is also output. These pieces of information are diagnostic result information. In the measurement information of FIG. 4A, “information type” is a self-diagnosis result, “data” is OK, NG, and other information (the above can be used for the time being. Will be sent as separately associated data.

  The self-diagnosis cycle can be changed while observing the diagnosis result. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, there is a field called “next request data” as a signal sent from the measurement server 3 to the measurement element 1. As the “next request data”, for the main purpose of the present invention, it is measurement data on a regular basis, but as described above, a request to “change the self-diagnosis cycle” is described later. There is a request. Communication codes corresponding to these three types of requests are separately assigned to the “next request data” field. When a request to change the self-diagnosis cycle is made, it is necessary to send “cycle information” to be changed, and the data is transmitted using the data field of “self-diagnosis cycle” as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 shows the internal configuration of the measurement server 3.

  The measurement server 3 includes a server communication unit 30, a next communication date management unit 31, a measurement frequency management unit 32, a clock accuracy management unit 33, an abnormal state detection management unit 34, a measurement database 35, a next reception management unit 36, and a measurement data management unit. 37, a frequency information addition unit 38, an external information exchange unit 39, a data input unit 40, and a self-diagnosis result information management unit 41. Although not shown, a high-precision timepiece is provided, and timepiece information is supplied to each necessary unit.

  The measurement database 35 stores and manages management information (information shown in Table 1) of all measurement elements under the management target of the measurement server 3.

  The measurement history of measurement result data for each measurement element is separately managed by the measurement data management unit 37.

  The server communication unit 30 communicates with the measurement element 1 via the no-communication network 2.

  The next reception management unit 36 may receive the next time based on the next communication date and time data in the measurement database 35 (there is a possibility of reception within an error range of, for example, 3 seconds set as the reception date and time error). The date and time of reception from the measuring element and the ID signal are loaded. When the ID signal is restored from the data received at the date and time, management data relating to the ID is loaded from the measurement database 35 to the measurement frequency management unit 32 and the clock accuracy management unit 33.

  The clock accuracy management unit 33 is loaded with the clock accuracy data of the measurement element from the measurement database 35.

  The measurement frequency management unit 32 determines whether it is necessary to change the measurement cycle. From the measurement result of the measurement data management unit 37, it is determined whether or not the measurement result is steady. When abnormality is felt, the measurement cycle is shortened, and the frequency information adding unit 38 is approaching the typhoon. Confirm that the measuring element in a certain area has issued a request to shorten the measurement cycle, etc., and for a while, change the measurement cycle managed in the measurement database 35, how many hours, how many minutes The measurement cycle is determined every time, and is communicated to the next communication date management unit 31.

  If the cause of the change in the measurement cycle is canceled, the management data related to the measurement cycle in the measurement database 35 is restored. In any case, the measurement cycle is not fixed and is changed as needed according to the situation.

  The next communication date and time management unit 31 calculates the next communication date and time based on these pieces of information. At that time, based on the information of the clock accuracy management unit 33, the clock error of the measuring element that will occur until the next communication date and time is calculated. If it is less than a certain threshold such as 3 seconds, the calculated date is transmitted as the next communication date. If it is equal to or greater than the threshold value, it is necessary to set the clock by the next measurement date and time, so the date and time within which the clock error is within the threshold value is sent as the next communication date and time data.

  That is, when the time accuracy of the measuring element 1 is calculated using the time accuracy information that “the time of the measuring element at the next communication date and time exceeds the time error that can be received and managed by the measuring server”, the next communication is performed by the clock 17 of the measuring element 1. It will be necessary to calibrate the date and time. For example, it is assumed that the clock accuracy of a certain measuring element is shifted by 1 second per day. Assuming that the next measurement is 7 days later, 7 seconds later, there will be a shift of 7 seconds, so 4 days (7-3) before 3 days that fall within 3 seconds of the time error that can be received and managed are set as the next communication date and time. At this time, in order to notify that the measurement data of the measurement element is unnecessary at the next transmission, a signal meaning “date and time calibration” is sent to the “next request data” field in FIG. 4B.

  The measuring element 1 that has received the “date and time calibration” signal as the next request data sends “no data” as the information type to the measurement information section of FIG. In this case, the transmission signal from the measuring element 1 can also be said to be a time calibration signal.

  The self-diagnosis result information management unit 41 stores and manages self-diagnosis result information. When the self-diagnosis result cannot be said to be normal, the self-diagnosis result information management unit 41 determines that the result is “normal” by comparing with the past diagnosis result information. Or, it is used to judge "Let's change the self-diagnosis cycle to see a little more." In particular, when the self-diagnosis result is “can be used for the time being, but needs repair soon”, the past self-diagnosis result information is referred to, and a countermeasure such as shortening the self-diagnosis cycle may be taken.

  The abnormal state detection management unit 34 confirms that the remaining battery level is 20% from the received signal (FIG. 4A) from the measuring element 1 and that the self-diagnosis result information is not OK. The installation area information is compared with the installation area information managed in the measurement database. When the area information is different, it is determined that the measurement element is stolen.

  The output of the abnormal state detection management unit 34 reaches the external information exchange unit 39, and measures such as reporting the state to the measurement operator are taken. The contents to be communicated include "please replace or charge because the remaining battery level is low", "check it because it seems to be stolen", and "replace it because it is out of order".

  The external information exchanging unit 39 exchanges information with the outside by telephone or electronic mail (not shown). As described above, the contents of information exchange include weather information and crime information (such as improvement in the measurement frequency of a monitoring camera for searching for escape criminals), and abnormal state detection management unit 34 as information to be transmitted to frequency information adding unit 38 as described above. There is a notification when an element abnormality (operation failure, battery consumption, theft, etc.) is detected, a notification to a measurement element operator, and obtaining information to be set in the data input unit 40 of each measurement element.

  In the data input unit 40, the element ID, telephone number, power source, installation area, measurement cycle, self-diagnosis interval, and clock accuracy of the management data shown in Table 1 are input as initial data before the start of operation. As for the clock accuracy, information of the measuring element manufacturer is used at the time of initial input, but when the operation is started, it is updated from time / date information exchanged at every communication to practical data as needed. When there is a change in other management data, the change data is received from the external information exchanging unit 39 to the data input unit 40 and updated.

  The measurement system according to the present invention is a measurement system in which one sensor such as an anemometer is installed in many places, and the wind speed in each place is managed and information is provided. In addition, it can be a large measurement system for providing a large number of information services, and can meet various requests and business model requests of many measurement operators.

  The power consumption of the measuring element is reduced, the battery life is prolonged, and the demand for the clock accuracy of the measuring element is eased, so that an inexpensive measuring element is realized and the economic efficiency of the measuring element is improved. This will push the spread of IoT devices, and together with this, it will be possible to create various business models in the business of measurement service business.

1 (1a, 1b, 1c) Measurement element 2 Wireless communication network 3 Measurement server 11 Sensor unit 12 Element communication unit 13 Clock unit 14 Self-diagnosis date management M (memory)
15 Server date and time management M (memory)
16 Next communication date and time management M (memory)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 17 Clock 18 Power supply control part 19 Battery 20 Battery remaining charge detection part 21 Self-diagnosis control circuit 22 Bias circuit 23 Comparison determination circuit 30 Server communication part 31 Next communication date management part 32 Measurement frequency management part 33 Clock precision management part 34 Abnormal state detection 34 Management unit 35 Measurement database 36 Next reception management unit 37 Measurement data management unit 38 Frequency information addition unit 39 External information exchange unit 40 Data input unit
41 Self-diagnosis result information management department

Claims (4)

  In a measurement system including a measurement element having a sensor unit, a communication unit, a clock unit, and a power supply unit and a measurement server via a communication network, a communication date and time when the measurement element transmits measurement data to the measurement server is determined from the measurement server. A measurement system characterized in that power is supplied to the sensor unit and the communication unit and measurement data of the sensor unit is transmitted to a measurement server at a predetermined time corresponding to the communication date and time.   The clock accuracy information of the measurement element clock is managed by the measurement server, the clock information of the measurement element and the clock information of the measurement server are communicated each time communication is performed between the measurement element and the measurement server, and the measurement element clock is measured. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement system is calibrated to a clock of a server.   When it is estimated that the time error of the measurement element exceeds the time error that can be received and managed by the measurement server by the next communication date and time of the measurement element, the next time calibration signal is sent from the measurement server to the measurement element. The measurement system according to claim 2, wherein transmission is requested.   Periodic self-diagnosis is performed by checking whether the sensor output corresponding to the change in the operation parameter of the sensor unit is obtained, and the diagnosis result information is transmitted to the measurement server, and the measurement element is in an abnormal state. The measurement system according to claim 1, wherein: is detected.

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