JP2019097125A - Radio communication device, radio communication system, battery life estimation method, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a radio communication device, radio communication system, battery life estimation method, program, and storage medium, capable of accurately estimating a life of a battery in a shorter period of time than heretofore.SOLUTION: A radio communication device comprises: a radio communication unit that operates using power of a battery, performs radio communication with a communication partner at a previously stipulated first time interval, and transmits an information transmission request to the communication partner at a second time interval shorter than the first time interval to receive from the communication partner first information on reception signal intensity or second information showing a communication condition to be set; a setting unit that on the basis of the first information or the second information acquired from the radio communication unit, sets a communication condition in the case of the radio communication unit performing radio communication at the first time interval; and a battery life estimation unit that on the basis of the communication condition and nominal capacity of the battery, estimates a life of the battery.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication device, a wireless communication system, a battery life estimation method, a program, and a recording medium.

  There is a wireless communication device such as a wireless sensor that transmits data collected by a sensor to a server or the like via a gateway. Such a wireless communication device is driven by, for example, a battery. In a battery-powered wireless communication device, detection of battery life is important to keep the system operating. The battery life refers to the remaining time or the number of days until the voltage of the battery drops below a predetermined voltage value and the wireless communication device can not operate when the load is connected (for example, Patent Literature 1).

  In general, the battery internal resistance increases as the battery life approaches. Therefore, it has been proposed to estimate the remaining capacity of the battery by measuring the voltage value of the battery from the difference between the voltage value during normal operation and the voltage value when the dummy resistance is turned on (for example, for example) , Patent Documents 2 and 3).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-280935 JP, 2012-026778, A JP, 2013-228246, A

  By the way, in the prior art, since the battery life can not be detected unless the battery life approaches and the internal resistance of the battery increases, the battery life of the wireless communication device can not be estimated from an early stage. Also, in the wireless communication device, the battery life changes depending on the communication conditions (for example, data rate, wireless output intensity, etc.). Specifically, the slower the data rate or the stronger the wireless output intensity, the shorter the battery life, and vice versa. For this reason, it is necessary to actually communicate with the gateway after the installation of the wireless communication apparatus, and to estimate the battery life based on the result of the communication.

  However, depending on the wireless communication device, it may take a long time to estimate the battery life. For example, a wireless communication device that monitors the state of equipment (such as vibration and temperature) over a long period of time, and transmits the state quantity of the equipment to the gateway only once for several hours or once a day may be mentioned. . In addition, even if a worker at the installation place of the wireless communication device tries to check the battery life with the display built in the wireless communication device, the worker may not be able to stay at the installation place for a long time. In addition, it may take a long time to check whether the wireless communication apparatus can communicate with the gateway (hereinafter referred to as communication check), and a worker may not be able to stay at the installation place for a long time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a wireless communication apparatus, a wireless communication system, a battery life estimation method, a program, and a program capable of accurately estimating the battery life in a short time compared to the prior art. It aims at providing a recording medium.

  In order to achieve the above object, a wireless communication device (2, 2A) according to one aspect of the present invention is a wireless communication device operated by the power of a battery (21), which is connected with a communication partner at predetermined first time intervals. A wireless communication is performed, and an information transmission request is transmitted to the communication party at a second time interval shorter than the first time interval to indicate first information on received signal strength from the communication party or a communication condition to be set. (2) When the wireless communication unit performs wireless communication at the first time interval based on the wireless communication unit (24) that receives the information and the first information or the second information acquired from the wireless communication unit A battery life estimation unit (23) for estimating the life of the battery based on a setting unit (peripheral environment measurement unit 231, peripheral environment measurement unit 231A) for setting communication conditions, and the communication conditions and the nominal capacity of the battery Includes a 233A), the.

  Further, in the wireless communication device according to one aspect of the present invention, the wireless communication unit changes a communication condition of wireless communication performed at the second time interval, transmits the information transmission request, and transmits the information transmission request The first information or the second information is received, and the setting unit transmits the wireless information at the first time interval based on the first information or the second information acquired from the wireless communication unit. Communication conditions for performing communication may be set, and the battery life estimation unit may estimate the life of the battery using the communication conditions set by the setting unit.

  Further, the wireless communication device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a consumed charge measuring unit (234) for measuring a consumed charge amount which is a charge amount consumed at the time of operation of the wireless communication device, and estimating the battery life The unit may estimate the life of the battery starting from a current time or a time point when the consumed charge amount is acquired, using the consumed charge amount acquired from the consumed charge amount measurement unit.

  Further, in the wireless communication apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the setting unit detects at least one of occurrence of an event in the wireless communication apparatus and reception of an event transmitted from the other party of communication. The battery life estimation unit may estimate the life of the battery when the setting unit detects the event.

  In order to achieve the above object, a wireless communication system (1, 1A) according to one aspect of the present invention is any one of the above wireless communication devices (2, 2A) operated by the power of a battery (21); A wireless communication unit (a wireless communication unit 31, a control unit that receives the information transmission request transmitted by the communication device and transmits the first information or the second information to the wireless communication device based on the received information transmission request And 32) the first other wireless communication device (wireless gateway 3).

  In the wireless communication system according to one aspect of the present invention, a wireless communication unit (near-field wireless communication unit 41, control unit 42) that acquires the battery life estimated by the battery life estimation unit of the wireless communication device. And a display unit (43) for displaying the life of the battery acquired by the wireless communication unit, and a second other wireless communication device (external display device 4).

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery life estimation method for a battery of a wireless communication device that operates with battery power and performs wireless communication with a communication partner at a predetermined first time interval. A battery life estimation method for estimating a life, comprising: transmitting an information transmission request to the communication partner at a second time interval shorter than the first time interval, and setting or setting first information on received signal strength from the communication partner Receiving second information indicating a desired communication condition; setting communication conditions when performing wireless communication at the first time interval based on the received first information or the second information; Estimating the life of the battery based on communication conditions and the nominal capacity of the battery.

  In order to achieve the above object, a program according to an aspect of the present invention is a computer of a wireless communication apparatus having a wireless communication unit that operates with battery power and performs wireless communication with a communication partner at predetermined first time intervals. And transmitting an information transmission request to the communication party at a second time interval shorter than the first time interval, and receiving from the communication party a first information on received signal strength or a second information indicating a communication condition to be set. Setting the communication conditions when the wireless communication unit performs wireless communication at the first time interval based on the received first information or the second information, the communication conditions, and the battery Estimating the lifetime of said battery based on the nominal capacity of

  In order to achieve the above object, a recording medium according to an aspect of the present invention is a computer readable program recording medium recording the above program.

  According to the present invention, the life of the battery can be accurately estimated in a shorter time than in the prior art.

It is a figure which shows the example of dependence of the surrounding environment on the battery life by the battery in a radio | wireless communication apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the radio | wireless communications system containing the radio | wireless communication apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the communication interval which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence example which estimates the battery life which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the information used for the setting of the communication conditions which concern on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of alerting | reporting of the battery life which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a search of the communication conditions which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence example which estimates the battery life which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the radio | wireless communications system containing the radio | wireless communication apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence example which estimates the battery life which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example which estimates the battery life which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence example which estimates the battery life which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the event which estimates the battery life concerning 5th Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, the battery life of the wireless communication device will be described. Generally, in wireless communication, the communication distance can be extended by strengthening the wireless output strength, and the margin strength of the received signal strength at the communication counterpart such as a gateway can be increased. Also, in the case of the LoRa communication method that is the communication standard of the LoRa (registered trademark) alliance, the communication distance can be extended by lowering the data rate (Data Rate), and the received signal strength at the communication counterpart such as a gateway The margin strength of the In addition, when the wireless output intensity is increased, the amount of charge consumed per unit time increases. When the data rate is lowered, the transmission time per data amount increases, and the charge consumption at the time of transmission increases. Therefore, the consumed power increases both when the wireless output power is increased and when the data rate is decreased. Here, the data rate refers to, for example, the number of bits per second (bps) of data to be transmitted per unit time.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the dependence of the surrounding environment on the battery life by the battery in the wireless communication device A. As shown in FIG. FIG. 1A is a diagram for explaining a state in which the received signal strength indication (RSSI) received by the wireless gateway B from the wireless communication device A is good. FIG. 1B is a diagram for explaining a state in which the strength of the received signal received by the wireless gateway B from the wireless communication device A is bad.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, the wireless communication device A and the wireless gateway B communicate. Then, the wireless communication device A has a function of measuring the surrounding wireless environment from the received signal strength and the like, and setting an optimal wireless communication parameter (wireless output strength and data rate). Such a function can extend battery life while, for example, securing a necessary communication distance. The battery life is the remaining time or number of days until the voltage value of the battery drops below a predetermined voltage value (for example, the voltage at which the wireless communication device A can not operate) when the load is connected. For example, the battery life is the remaining number of days from the start of operation of the wireless communication device A until the voltage value of the battery falls below the predetermined voltage value, or the remainder from the present time until the voltage value of the battery falls below the predetermined voltage value Is the number of days. At the start of operation of the wireless communication device A, battery power is not consumed or hardly consumed.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1A, there is no obstacle or the like between the wireless communication device A and the wireless gateway B, and the received signal strength of the wireless gateway B is good. In such a state, for example, even if the wireless output strength of the wireless communication device A is lowered, the wireless gateway B can receive the wireless signal transmitted from the wireless communication device A, so the wireless output of the wireless communication device A Decrease the strength. As a result, while enabling wireless communication between the wireless communication device A and the wireless gateway B, the battery life of the wireless communication device A is extended.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1B, there is an obstacle (for example, a pipe jungle) between the wireless communication device A and the wireless gateway B, and the received signal strength of the wireless gateway B is bad. In such a state, for example, the wireless gateway B can not receive the wireless signal transmitted from the wireless communication device A, and there is a possibility that the retry communication may occur many times. Increase the wireless output power of As a result, the wireless gateway B can receive the wireless signal transmitted from the wireless communication device A without occurrence of retry communication, and the battery life of the wireless communication device A is shortened. As described above, according to the surrounding wireless environment, the wireless communication device A performs wireless communication parameters (wireless output intensity and data rate) in order to make a trade-off between securing of communication with the wireless gateway B and battery life. Set

  Thus, to estimate battery life, it is important to measure the surrounding wireless environment. Received signal strengths often do not know the surrounding wireless environment before installation and are difficult to estimate. Therefore, it is necessary to measure the received signal strength after installation. However, when installed in a place where people can not enter easily or where access time is limited, check of wireless communication after installation, measurement of surrounding environment and estimation of battery life in a short time Efficient implementation is required.

In particular, when the wireless communication device is used in the Internet of Things (IoT), the wireless communication device may perform several months to several years of continuous operation with the set battery.
As described above, it is important for the wireless communication apparatus to efficiently carry out wireless communication check, measure the surrounding environment, and estimate the battery life in a short time, and estimate the battery life with high accuracy.

First Embodiment
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a wireless communication system 1 including the wireless communication device 2 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the wireless communication system 1 includes a wireless communication device 2, a wireless gateway 3 (first other wireless communication device), and an external display device 4 (second other wireless communication device). It is done.
The wireless communication device 2 and the wireless gateway 3 are connected via a first wireless network. Further, the wireless communication device 2 and the external display device 4 are connected via a second wireless network.

The wireless communication device 2 includes a battery 21, a storage unit 22, a control unit 23, a wireless communication unit 24, a sensor 25, a display unit 26, and a short distance wireless communication unit 27. Further, the control unit 23 includes a peripheral environment measurement unit 231 (setting unit), a timing generation unit 232, and a battery life estimation unit 233.
The wireless gateway 3 includes a wireless communication unit 31, a control unit 32, and a display unit 33.
The external display device 4 includes a short distance wireless communication unit 41, a control unit 42, and a display unit 43.

  The wireless communication device 2 transmits the measurement information measured by the sensor 25 to the wireless gateway 3 using the wireless communication unit 24 at a predetermined cycle (first time interval), for example. For example, at the start of operation, the wireless communication device 2 switches the communication cycle to the communication cycle (second time interval) for estimating the battery life. The wireless communication device 2 communicates with the wireless gateway 3 and estimates the battery life of the battery 21 based on the result of the communication. The wireless communication device 2 transmits battery life information indicating the estimated battery life to the wireless gateway 3 and the external display device 4. The wireless communication device 2 may display the estimated battery life on the display unit 26 of the own device. The wireless communication device 2 performs wireless communication based on the wireless gateway 3 and the LoRa wireless communication standard which is one of LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Netwark). The wireless communication device 2 may perform wireless communication with the wireless gateway 3 in accordance with a wireless communication standard such as ISA 100 or WirelessHART (registered trademark). In addition, the wireless communication device 2 performs near field communication with the external display device 4, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy communication or Near Field Communication (NFC).

  The wireless gateway 3 exchanges information with the wireless communication device 2. In response to the request transmitted by the wireless communication device 2, the wireless gateway 3 transmits, to the wireless communication device 2, information related to the received signal strength when the information transmitted by the wireless communication device 2 is received. The information on the received signal strength is the received signal strength or the margin strength of the received signal strength. The margin strength of the reception signal strength is a margin of the strength with respect to the reception signal strength (hereinafter, referred to as the minimum reception sensitivity) which can be received or can be well and stably received. For example, if the radio power strength is strong or the data rate is low, the margin strength is increased.

  The external display device 4 exchanges information with the wireless communication device 2. The external display device 4 receives the battery life information transmitted by the wireless communication device 2 and displays the battery life included in the received battery life information. The external display device 4 may be a smartphone, a tablet terminal or the like.

Next, the operation of the components of the wireless communication device 2 will be described.
The battery 21 is a primary battery or a secondary battery. Here, the capacity of the battery 21 at the start of operation of the wireless communication device 2 is a nominal capacity. The nominal capacity is an unused initial capacity when the battery 21 is a primary battery. Alternatively, when the battery 21 is a secondary battery, the nominal capacity is a capacity at full charge, for example, 1900 mAh. The battery 21 supplies power to the components of the wireless communication device 2 (storage unit 22, control unit 23, wireless communication unit 24, sensor 25, display unit 26, and near-field wireless communication unit 27). When NFC (Near Field Communication) is used for the near field communication unit 27, the near field communication unit 27 may be supplied with power from the near field communication unit 41 of the external display device 4.

  The storage unit 22 stores the nominal capacity of the battery 21. The storage unit 22 stores information in which communication conditions are associated with the information on the received signal strength. The communication conditions are the conditions for communicating with the wireless gateway 3, and the wireless output strength, data rate, communication cycle for transmitting measurement information (communication cycle for normal communication), and the amount of information of measurement information (for example, number of bytes) Etc. The storage unit 22 stores information in which the received signal strength and the extra strength of the received signal strength are associated with each other. Alternatively, the storage unit 22 stores information in which communication conditions are associated with the margin strength of the received signal strength. The storage unit 22 stores a communication cycle (first time interval) during normal communication and a communication cycle (second time interval) when battery life is estimated. The normal communication is performed when the wireless communication device 2 transmits the measurement information of the sensor 25 to the wireless gateway 3 at fixed time intervals (first time intervals). The storage unit 22 stores the number of times of communication when estimating the battery life. The storage unit 22 stores the initial value of the communication condition.

  The control unit 23 estimates the battery life, for example, at the start of operation. When the control unit 23 estimates the battery life, the timing generation unit 232 switches the communication cycle (first time interval) in the normal communication to the communication cycle (second time interval) in the battery life estimation. When the control unit 23 estimates the battery life, the peripheral environment measurement unit 231 sends a transmission request (information transmission request) of information (first information) related to the received signal strength to the wireless gateway 3 via the wireless communication unit 24. Send to The control unit 23 causes the peripheral environment measurement unit 231 to receive, via the wireless communication unit 24, information on the received signal strength transmitted by the wireless gateway 3. The control unit 23 causes the surrounding environment measurement unit 231 to determine the communication conditions based on the received information on the received signal strength and the information stored in the storage unit 22. The control unit 23 estimates the battery life using the communication conditions determined by the battery life estimation unit 233 and the nominal capacity stored in the storage unit 22. The control unit 23 transmits the estimated battery life information to the wireless gateway 3 or the external display device 4. The control unit 23 may cause the display unit 26 to display the estimated battery life. The control unit 23 transmits measurement information measured by the sensor 25 to the wireless gateway 3 via the wireless communication unit 24 during normal communication after the end of the estimation of the battery life.

  The peripheral environment measurement unit 231 performs, for example, data acquisition for estimation of the battery life at the start of operation. For example, when the power switch (not shown) is turned on, the peripheral environment measuring unit 231 determines that the operation is started. When estimating the battery life, the peripheral environment measurement unit 231 outputs, to the timing generation unit 232, an instruction to switch the communication cycle in the normal communication to the communication cycle in the battery life estimation. When estimating the battery life, the peripheral environment measurement unit 231 outputs, to the wireless communication unit 24, a request for transmitting information related to the received signal strength. The surrounding environment measurement unit 231 acquires information on the received signal strength output from the wireless communication unit 24. The peripheral environment measurement unit 231 outputs, to the timing generation unit 232, an instruction to switch the communication cycle at the time of estimation of the battery life to the communication cycle at the time of normal communication when data acquisition for estimation of the battery life is completed. The surrounding environment measurement unit 231 determines communication conditions based on the acquired information on the received signal strength and the information stored in the storage unit 22. The peripheral environment measurement unit 231 outputs the determined communication condition to the battery life estimation unit 233. During normal communication, the surrounding environment measurement unit 231 acquires measurement information measured by the sensor 25. The peripheral environment measurement unit 231 outputs the acquired measurement information to the wireless communication unit 24 during normal communication.

  The timing generation unit 232 switches the communication cycle of the wireless communication unit 24 according to the instruction output from the peripheral environment measurement unit 231.

  The battery life estimation unit 233 estimates the battery life using the communication conditions output by the peripheral environment measurement unit 231, the nominal capacity stored in the storage unit 22, and the following expression (1).

  Battery life = (nominal capacity of the battery-capacity of the battery that the wireless communication device does not operate) / (amount of charge consumed per day) ... (1)

The nominal capacity of the battery and the capacity of the battery specified at the design and at which the wireless communication device does not operate can be stored in the storage unit 22 in advance.
The battery life estimation unit 233 determines the amount of charge consumed on the 1st of Formula (1) using the following Formula (2).

  Charge consumed on 1 day Charge on 1 consumed on 1 day Charge on received consumed on 1 day Charge on measured consumed on 1 day Base charge on 1 day (2)

  In Equation (2), the charge amount related to transmission consumed on one day can be obtained by multiplying the number of transmissions per day by the power consumption per transmission. Here, the power consumption per transmission is a function of the wireless output intensity and the data rate (communication condition) determined and set by the surrounding environment measurement unit 231. For example, if the wireless output strength is high or the data rate is low and the transmission time is long, the power consumption per transmission increases. The number of transmissions per day can be stored in advance in the storage unit 22 as a transmission schedule (for example, once a day, 24 times a day), and the battery life estimation unit 233 outputs a wireless output. The intensity, data rate, and number of transmissions per day can be used to determine the amount of charge associated with transmissions consumed per day.

Further, the amount of charge related to the reception consumed on one day can be obtained by multiplying the number of receptions per day and the power consumption per reception. Here, the number of receptions per day can be stored in advance in the storage unit 22 as a schedule for reception, and the power consumption per reception can also be stored in the storage unit 22 in advance.
Further, the amount of charge related to the measurement consumed per day can be obtained by multiplying the number of measurements per day by the power consumption per measurement. Here, the number of measurements per day can be stored in advance in the storage unit 22 as a measurement schedule, and the power consumption per measurement can also be stored in the storage unit 22 in advance.
In addition, since the base charge amount for one day is obtained in advance from the power consumption defined in the parts and the like used in each part of the wireless communication device 2, it can be stored in the storage unit 22 in advance.

  The battery life estimation unit 233 then outputs battery life information indicating the estimated battery life to the short distance wireless communication unit 27. The battery life estimation unit 233 may output the estimated battery life to the display unit 26. The battery life estimation unit 233 may transmit the estimated battery life information to the wireless gateway 3 via the wireless communication unit 24.

  The wireless communication unit 24 switches the communication cycle to the second time interval according to the control of the timing generation unit 232. The wireless communication unit 24 transmits, to the wireless gateway 3, a request for transmitting information related to the received signal strength output from the peripheral environment measurement unit 231. The wireless communication unit 24 receives the information on the received signal strength transmitted by the wireless gateway 3, and outputs the received information on the received signal strength to the surrounding environment measurement unit 231. Also, the wireless communication unit 24 transmits measurement information output by the surrounding environment measurement unit 231 to the wireless gateway 3 at the first time interval.

  The sensor 25 is, for example, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an air pressure sensor, a vibration sensor or the like. The sensor 25 outputs the measured measurement information to the surrounding environment measuring unit 231. The sensor 25 may be installed outside the wireless communication device 2 and connected to the wireless communication device 2 in a wired or wireless manner.

  The display unit 26 is, for example, a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display device, or a 7-segment display device using LEDs (light emitting diodes). The display unit 26 displays the battery life output by the battery life estimation unit 233. The wireless communication device 2 may not have the display unit 26.

  The short distance wireless communication unit 27 transmits the battery life information output from the battery life estimation unit 233 to the external display device 4.

Next, the operation of the components of the wireless gateway 3 will be described.
The wireless communication unit 31 receives the transmission request for the information on the received signal strength transmitted by the wireless communication device 2, and outputs the transmission request for the information on the received reception signal strength to the control unit 32. The wireless communication unit 31 measures the received signal strength when the transmission request for the information related to the received signal strength is received. In addition, since the measuring method of received signal strength is known, description here is abbreviate | omitted. The wireless communication unit 31 outputs the measured received signal strength to the control unit 32. The wireless communication unit 31 transmits, to the wireless communication apparatus 2, information on the received signal strength output from the control unit 32. The wireless communication unit 31 transmits, for example, the measurement information transmitted by the wireless communication device 2 to a server (not shown).

  The control unit 32 acquires, from the wireless communication unit 31, a request for transmitting information on the received signal strength output from the wireless communication unit 31 and the received signal strength. The control unit 32 controls the wireless communication unit 31 by calculating the margin strength of the reception signal strength as the first information on the reception signal strength from the difference between the acquired reception signal strength and the lowest reception sensitivity set internally. And transmit to the wireless communication device 2. The control unit 32 causes the display unit 33 to display, for example, the operation state of the wireless gateway 3 and the like.

  The display unit 33 is, for example, a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL display device, a seven-segment display device using LEDs, or the like. The display unit 33 displays the operation state and the like of the wireless gateway 3 according to the control of the control unit 32. The wireless gateway 3 may not have the display unit 33.

Next, the operation of the components of the external display device 4 will be described.
The short distance wireless communication unit 41 receives the battery life information transmitted by the wireless communication device 2, and outputs the received battery life information to the control unit 42. The short distance wireless communication unit 41 may transmit, to the wireless communication device 2, response information indicating that the battery life information has been received.

  The control unit 42 acquires battery life information output by the short distance wireless communication unit 41. The control unit 42 outputs the battery life included in the acquired battery life information to the display unit 43.

  The display unit 43 is, for example, a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL display device, or a 7-segment display device using LEDs. The display unit 43 displays the battery life output by the control unit 42.

Next, communication intervals will be described.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of communication intervals according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 3, the wireless communication device 2 transmits transmission information to the wireless gateway 3 at a communication cycle T1 (first time interval) in a period (normal communication period) in which normal communication is performed. The communication cycle T1 is, for example, one hour or one day.
In a period (estimated period) of estimating the battery life, the wireless communication device 2 transmits a request for transmitting the received signal strength at the communication cycle T2 (second time interval) to the wireless gateway 3, and 1 Information is received from the wireless gateway 3. The communication cycle T2 is shorter than the communication cycle T1, for example, one minute.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the wireless communication device 2 switches the communication cycle to the communication cycle T2 in the estimation period, and switches the communication cycle to the communication cycle T1 after the estimation period ends.

Next, an example of a processing procedure for estimating the battery life will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of a processing procedure for estimating the battery life according to the present embodiment.

  (Step S1) The control unit 23 detects that the wireless communication device 2 is operated (for example, detects that a power switch (not shown) is turned on). Subsequently, the peripheral environment measurement unit 231 outputs, to the timing generation unit 232, an instruction to switch the communication cycle to the communication cycle at the time of estimation of the battery life. Subsequently, the timing generation unit 232 switches the communication cycle at the time of normal communication to the communication cycle at the time of estimation of the battery life according to the instruction output by the peripheral environment measurement unit 231 (also referred to as change of transmission timing).

  (Step S2) The peripheral environment measurement unit 231 transmits a transmission request for information related to the received signal strength to the wireless gateway 3 via the wireless communication unit 24 for each communication cycle at the time of battery life estimation.

  (Step S3) The wireless gateway 3 receives the transmission request for the information on the received signal strength, and measures the received signal strength when the transmission request for the information on the received signal strength is received. Subsequently, the wireless gateway 3 transmits, to the wireless communication apparatus 2, information on the measured received signal strength (for example, a margin strength of the received signal strength). Subsequently, the wireless communication unit 24 receives the information on the received signal strength transmitted by the wireless gateway 3.

  (Step S4) The peripheral environment measuring unit 231 determines whether or not the processing in steps S2 and S3 has been repeated N times (N is an integer of 1 or more). When the surrounding environment measurement unit 231 determines that N times of repetitions are completed (step S4; YES), the process proceeds to step S5. When the surrounding environment measurement unit 231 determines that the N repetitions have not been completed (step S4; NO), the process returns to the process of step S2.

  (Step S5) The control unit 23 determines that the communication confirmation with the wireless gateway 3 has been confirmed by receiving the information on the received signal strength N times. Subsequently, the peripheral environment measurement unit 231 outputs, to the timing generation unit 232, an instruction to return the communication cycle to the communication cycle in the normal communication. Subsequently, the timing generation unit 232 switches the communication cycle at the time of estimation of the battery life to the communication cycle at the time of normal communication according to the instruction output from the peripheral environment measurement unit 231.

  (Step S6) The surrounding environment measuring unit 231 obtains an average value of the margin strengths of the N reception signal strengths. The peripheral environment measurement unit 231 determines and sets communication conditions based on the calculated average value and the information stored in the storage unit 22 (see FIG. 5).

  (Step S7) The battery life estimation unit 233 acquires the set communication conditions from the peripheral environment measurement unit 231 in order to obtain the charge amount consumed per day using the equation (2), and the storage unit 22 stores The number of transmissions per day, the number of receptions per day, the power consumption per reception, the number of measurements per day, the power consumption per measurement and the amount of base charge per day are acquired. Furthermore, the battery life estimation unit 233 obtains the nominal capacity of the battery stored in the storage unit 22 and the capacity of the battery in which the wireless communication device is inoperable, in order to obtain the battery life using the equation (1).

  (Step S8) The battery life estimation unit 233 calculates the amount of charge consumed per day using equation (2) from the data acquired in step S7, and further uses the equation (1) to start battery operation Determine the life span.

(Step S9) The battery life estimation unit 233 transmits battery life information indicating the obtained battery life to the external display device 4 via the short distance wireless communication unit 27. Subsequently, the external display device 4 displays the battery life on the display unit 43. The battery life estimation unit 233 may cause the display unit 26 to display the obtained battery life.
Above, the wireless communication device 2 ends the process of estimating the battery life.

Note that the control unit 23 performs the wireless communication check and the acquisition of the margin strength of the received signal strength by repeating the processes of steps S2 to S4 N times.
The estimation of the battery life is not limited to the start of operation, and may be performed at any timing after the start of operation. However, the estimated battery life is the battery life from the start of operation.

Here, a setting example of communication conditions will be described.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of information used for setting communication conditions according to the present embodiment. This information is information indicating the correspondence between the margin strength of the received signal strength acquired by the wireless communication device 2 from the wireless gateway 3 and the data rate set by the peripheral environment measurement unit 231, and is stored in the storage unit 22 ing.

  For example, when the margin strength is 2 to 4 dB, the peripheral environment measurement unit 231 of the wireless communication device 2 determines that the margin strength is small based on the information stored in the storage unit 22 and selects one data rate from the current value. make low. For example, when the margin strength is 8 to 10 dB, the surrounding environment measurement unit 231 determines that the margin strength is too large based on the information stored in the storage unit 22, and raises the data rate by two from the current value. Although "one lower" and "two higher" are qualitative, the data rate is actually changed, for example, between 250 and 50000 bps.

  In the example shown in FIG. 5, although the example of changing the data rate as the communication condition has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. The communication condition may be at least one of data rate, wireless output power, communication frequency, spreading factor, and the like. For example, even if information (not shown) indicating the correspondence between the margin strength and the wireless output strength is stored in the storage unit 22, the peripheral environment measurement unit 231 determines and sets the communication conditions using this information. Good. Specifically, for example, when the margin strength acquired from the wireless gateway 3 is small in the range of 2 to 4 dB, the peripheral environment measurement unit 231 makes the wireless output strength strong to perform stable communication. On the other hand, for example, when the margin strength is large in the range of 8 to 10 dB, stable communication can be performed, but the charge amount consumed by the battery increases and the battery life decreases, so the wireless output intensity is lowered. As a result, it is possible to secure a state in which communication can be performed and to prolong the life of the battery. In addition to the relationship between the margin strength and the data rate shown in FIG. 5, the storage unit 22 has a relationship in which the data rate and the radio output strength are combined with the margin strength, the relationship between the received signal strength and the data rate, the margin Information indicating the relationship between the strength and the wireless output strength, the relationship between the received signal strength and the wireless output strength, and the like may be stored.

Next, an example of notification of the battery life obtained by the wireless communication device 2 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a view showing a notification example of the battery life according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 6, the wireless communication device 2 may transmit the obtained battery life information to the external display device 4. In this case, the external display device 4 may display the battery life on the display unit 43.
Alternatively, the wireless communication device 2 may display the obtained battery life on the display unit 26 of its own device.
Alternatively, the wireless communication device 2 may transmit the obtained battery life information to the wireless gateway 3. In this case, the wireless gateway 3 may display the battery life on the display unit 33, and may transmit the received battery life information to a server (not shown).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the battery life is estimated, the communication cycle is changed to be short. As a result, according to the present embodiment, the battery life can be estimated in a shorter time than in the conventional case. Thereby, according to this embodiment, installation time can be shortened rather than before.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the wireless communication device 2 transmits a transmission request for information related to the received signal strength to the wireless gateway 3, and the wireless gateway 3 receives the transmission request for information related to the received signal strength, the received signal Added information on strength. Then, in the present embodiment, the wireless communication device 2 performs the communication check by receiving the information on the received signal strength transmitted by the wireless gateway 3. As a result, according to the present embodiment, communication is performed by changing the communication cycle to be short, so that the communication check can be performed in a shorter time than in the related art. Thus, according to the present embodiment, the time for performing the communication check at the time of installation can be made shorter than in the past.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the wireless communication device 2 determines the communication condition based on the information on the received signal strength transmitted from the wireless gateway 3. As a result, according to the present embodiment, since the battery life is determined using the determined communication condition, the battery life can be accurately determined.

Second Embodiment
In the first embodiment, the example in which the wireless communication device 2 sets the communication condition based on the information on the received signal strength received from the wireless gateway 3 has been described. In the present embodiment, the wireless communication device 2 performs communication with the wireless gateway 3 by changing parameters related to wireless communication, and communication conditions such that the received signal strength (margin strength) becomes optimal based on the result of communication. Set
The configuration of the wireless communication system 1 of the present embodiment is the same as that of the wireless communication system 1 (FIG. 2) of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of searching for communication conditions according to the present embodiment.
First, in step ST11, the wireless communication device 2 sets the data rate (DR) to 2, and transmits to the wireless gateway 3 a request for transmitting information related to the received signal strength. The wireless gateway 3 transmits to the wireless communication apparatus 2 the margin strength of the received signal strength of 10 dB as information indicating the received signal strength when the transmission request is received.

  Next, in step ST12, the wireless communication device 2 determines that the margin of the received signal strength is sufficient (GOOD) based on the fact that the received signal strength margin has received 10 dB and the information shown in FIG. , Increase the data rate by two and set it to four. Then, the wireless communication device 2 transmits a transmission request for information related to the received signal strength to the wireless gateway 3 with the data rate set to 4. The wireless gateway 3 transmits, to the wireless communication apparatus 2, the extra signal strength of 9 dB as information indicating the received signal strength when the transmission request is received.

  Here, the reason why the margin strength decreases when the wireless communication device 2 increases the data rate is as follows. When the wireless communication device 2 increases the data rate, the data transmission time is shortened, and the time for the wireless gateway 3 to receive data is also shortened, so that the reception sensitivity when the wireless gateway 3 receives data is deteriorated. . Then, since the wireless gateway 3 sets the lowest reception sensitivity higher than the current value to calculate the margin strength, the margin strength decreases. That is, since the wireless gateway 3 increases the minimum reception sensitivity in order to make the check on the received signal strength and the margin strength stricter as the reception sensitivity deteriorates, the margin strength decreases.

  When the margin strength is as large as 10 dB (see FIG. 5), it is possible to ensure a state in which communication can be performed even if the wireless communication device 2 increases the data rate and the margin strength decreases. When the data rate of the wireless communication device 2 is increased, the transmission time is shortened, and the charge amount of the battery consumed at the time of transmission is reduced, so that the battery life can be extended. On the other hand, when the margin strength is small in the range of 2 to 4 dB, the wireless gateway 3 gives priority to increasing the margin strength in order to perform stable communication. Therefore, if the wireless communication device 2 lowers the data rate, the data transmission time will be longer and the time for the wireless gateway 3 to receive data will be longer, so the reception sensitivity when the wireless gateway 3 receives data Will be better. Then, since the wireless gateway 3 sets the lowest reception sensitivity lower than the current value to calculate the margin strength, the margin strength increases and stable communication becomes possible. That is, the wireless gateway 3 lowers the minimum reception sensitivity because the reception sensitivity may improve and the check on the reception signal strength and the margin strength may be loose.

  Next, in step ST13, the wireless communication device 2 determines that the margin of the received signal strength is sufficient (GOOD) based on the fact that the received signal strength margin strength of 9 dB is received, and the information shown in FIG. , Set the data rate to 6 by increasing the data rate by two. Then, the wireless communication device 2 transmits a transmission request for information related to the received signal strength to the wireless gateway 3 with the data rate set to six. Since the wireless gateway 3 receives the data whose data rate has been increased to 6, the minimum reception sensitivity is set higher than the current value, but the margin strength calculated at this time becomes smaller than the predetermined value. It does not transmit, to the wireless communication apparatus 2, information indicating the margin strength of the received signal strength, which is a response.

  Next, in step ST14, the wireless communication device 2 can not receive the margin strength of the received signal strength within a predetermined time, that is, determines that there is no response from the wireless gateway 3 (BAD), and receives the data rate Set to 4 where the signal strength margin was sufficient. Then, with the data rate set to 4 (the state of step ST12), the wireless communication device 2 transmits, to the wireless gateway 3, a transmission request for information related to the received signal strength. The wireless gateway 3 transmits, to the wireless communication apparatus 2, the extra signal strength of 9 dB as information indicating the received signal strength when the transmission request is received. Then, the wireless communication device 2 determines and sets the data rate to 4, and performs normal communication with this set value in the normal communication period.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the communication conditions are changed based on the information on the received signal strength received from the wireless gateway 3 each time the wireless communication device 2 transmits a transmission request for information on the received signal strength to the wireless gateway 3. Do. The wireless communication device 2 starts with the data rate of the initial value and gradually increases the data rate. Then, when the wireless communication device 2 can not receive the information indicating the received signal strength, which is a response, from the wireless gateway 3, the wireless communication device 2 determines and sets the data rate at the time of transmission in the communication immediately before that as the communication condition. . In addition, even if the wireless communication device 2 can receive the margin strength from the wireless gateway 3, if the received margin strength is smaller than the predetermined value, it is determined that it is difficult to secure communication as it is, and the communication immediately before that is determined. The data rate at the time of transmission may be determined and set as the communication condition.

  Although the wireless communication apparatus 2 sets the communication conditions, the battery life estimation unit 233 calculates the amount of charge consumed per day using the equation (2), but the data rate of 4 is the first value. The data rate of the state of is larger than the value of 2 (step ST11). For this reason, as compared with the first state, since the transmission time is short, the amount of charge consumed per day is small and the battery life is long. That is, by changing the communication conditions as shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to ensure a state in which communication can be performed and to prolong the life of the battery as compared with the initial state.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, although the example in which the data rate is changed as the communication condition has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto. The wireless communication device 2 may change the frequency used for communication, the wireless output intensity, the spreading factor, and the like.
When changing the communication frequency, for example, in order to search for the optimum condition, the wireless communication device 2 searches the settable channel in a round-robin manner, and selects the frequency with the highest received radio wave sensitivity. It is also good.

  For example, an example of changing the wireless output strength will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In step ST11 of FIG. 7, the wireless communication device 2 receives that the spare strength is 10 dB, and the received signal strength margin is sufficient. Judge as (GOOD) and weaken the wireless output power. In step ST12 of FIG. 7, the wireless communication device 2 transmits with the weakened wireless output strength, receives that the spare strength is 9 dB, and determines that the received signal strength margin is sufficient (GOOD). Further weakening the wireless output power. In step ST13 of FIG. 7, although the wireless communication apparatus 2 transmits with the further weakened wireless output strength, since the received signal strength has become smaller than the minimum received strength, the wireless gateway 3 receives the received signal strength as a response. The information shown is not transmitted to the wireless communication device 2. In step ST14 of FIG. 7, the wireless communication apparatus 2 may return to the wireless output intensity immediately before the response could not be received, and may set this as the communication condition and set it. In this case, since the wireless communication device 2 weakens the wireless output intensity as compared to the initial state (step ST11 in FIG. 7), the amount of charge consumed per day becomes smaller and the battery life becomes longer. . That is, by changing the communication conditions as shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to ensure a state in which communication can be performed and to prolong the life of the battery as compared with the initial state.

Next, an example of a processing procedure for estimating the battery life will be described.
FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an example of a processing procedure for estimating the battery life according to the present embodiment. The same processing as the processing of the first embodiment is denoted by the same reference numeral and the description is omitted.

  (Step S1) The control unit 23 detects that the wireless communication device 2 has been operated. Subsequently, the peripheral environment measurement unit 231 outputs, to the timing generation unit 232, an instruction to switch the communication cycle to the communication cycle at the time of estimation of the battery life. Subsequently, the timing generation unit 232 switches the communication cycle at the time of normal communication to the communication cycle at the time of estimation of the battery life according to the instruction output from the peripheral environment measurement unit 231. After the processing, the surrounding environment measurement unit 231 proceeds to the processing of step S101.

  (Step S101) The surrounding environment measurement unit 231 changes the wireless parameter (at least one of data rate, wireless output intensity, communication frequency, spreading factor, and the like) from the initial value. After the process, the surrounding environment measuring unit 231 proceeds to the process of step S2. At the first time, the process skips step S101 and proceeds to step S2 (the communication condition remains at the initial value).

  (Steps S2 to S4) The surrounding environment measurement unit 231 performs the processes of steps S2 to S4. The surrounding environment measurement unit 231 determines whether the processing in steps S2 and S3 has been repeated N times (N is an integer of 1 or more). If it can not be received within the predetermined time in step S3, the process proceeds to step S4. When the surrounding environment measurement unit 231 determines that N times of repetitions are completed (Step S4; YES), the process proceeds to Step S102. When the surrounding environment measurement unit 231 determines that the N repetitions have not been completed (step S4; NO), the process returns to the process of step S2. In addition, in step S4, when repetition of N times is not complete | finished within predetermined time, it progresses to the process of step S102.

(Step S102) The peripheral environment measurement unit 231 determines whether all necessary conditions have been changed with respect to the wireless parameter changed in step S101. Here, the necessary condition is, for example, when the data rate is a wireless parameter, to change the data rate until there is no response. When the surrounding environment measuring unit 231 determines that all necessary conditions have been changed (step S102; YES), the process proceeds to step S5. When the surrounding environment measuring unit 231 determines that all necessary conditions have not been changed (step S102; NO), the process returns to the process of step S101.
Although it has been described above that the data rate is changed until there is no response, if all the predetermined data rates have been changed and all responses have been received, it is determined that all necessary conditions have been changed ( Step S102; YES), the process proceeds to step S5.

  (Step S5) The surrounding environment measurement unit 231 performs the process of step S5. After the processing, the surrounding environment measuring unit 231 proceeds to the processing of step S103.

  (Step S103) The peripheral environment measurement unit 231 sets communication conditions based on the information on the received signal strength received from the wireless gateway 3. For example, the surrounding environment measurement unit 231 sets the communication condition immediately before (one before) when there is no response from the wireless gateway 3. In step S102, when all the predetermined data rates are changed and all the responses are received, the communication condition when the margin strength is the largest is set. After the process, the surrounding environment measurement unit 231 proceeds to the process of step S7.

(Steps S7 to S9) The peripheral environment measurement unit 231 and the battery life estimation unit 233 perform the processes of steps S7 to S9.
Thus, the wireless communication device 2 ends the process of estimating the battery life from the start of operation.

  Note that the control unit 23 performs wireless communication confirmation and measurement of received signal strength while changing communication conditions by repeating the processes of steps S101 and S2 to S4 N times.

  In the examples shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the wireless gateway 3 does not respond, the example of setting the communication condition immediately before (the previous one) has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, when the received signal strength received from the wireless gateway 3 is equal to or less than the threshold, the control unit 23 may set the communication condition immediately before that (one before). Alternatively, for example, when the margin strength of the received signal strength received from the wireless gateway 3 is equal to or less than the threshold, the control unit 23 may set the communication condition immediately before that (one before). In this case, the storage unit 22 may store a threshold for determination.

Also in the present embodiment, the wireless communication device 2 may transmit the estimated battery life information to the external display device 4, or may display the battery life on the display unit 26 of the own device, or the battery life Information may be sent to the wireless gateway 3.
Further, the estimation of the battery life is not limited to the start of operation, and may be performed, for example, on a date of a predetermined cycle or on a predetermined date.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the battery life is estimated, the communication condition is changed each time a transmission request for information related to the received signal strength is transmitted to the wireless gateway 3. Then, in the present embodiment, for example, when there is no response from the wireless gateway 3, the communication condition immediately before (the previous one) is set.
Thus, according to the present embodiment, the communication conditions can be set based on the information on the plurality of received signal strengths received from the wireless gateway 3. As a result, according to the present embodiment, the battery life can be accurately estimated using the communication conditions set in this way.

Third Embodiment
In the first and second embodiments, the example of estimating the battery life from the start of operation has been described. In this embodiment, an example of estimating the battery life from the present time (when estimating the battery life) will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a view showing a configuration example of a wireless communication system 1A including the wireless communication device 2A according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the wireless communication system 1A includes a wireless communication device 2A, a wireless gateway 3 (first other wireless communication device), and an external display device 4 (second other wireless communication device). It is done. In addition, the apparatus which has the same function as the radio | wireless communications system 1, and a component are used for the same code | symbol, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

The wireless communication device 2A includes a battery 21, a storage unit 22, a control unit 23A, a wireless communication unit 24, a sensor 25, a display unit 26, and a short distance wireless communication unit 27. Further, the control unit 23A includes a peripheral environment measurement unit 231A (setting unit), a timing generation unit 232, a battery life estimation unit 233A, and a consumed charge measurement unit 234.
The wireless gateway 3 includes a wireless communication unit 31, a control unit 32, and a display unit 33.
The external display device 4 includes a short distance wireless communication unit 41, a control unit 42, and a display unit 43.

  The wireless communication device 2A transmits the measurement information measured by the sensor 25 to the wireless gateway 3 using the wireless communication unit 24 at a predetermined cycle, for example. When estimating the battery life, the wireless communication device 2A switches the communication cycle to the communication cycle at the time of estimation of the battery life. The wireless communication device 2A communicates with the wireless gateway 3 and estimates the battery life from the present time based on the result of the communication. The wireless communication device 2A transmits the estimated battery life information to the wireless gateway 3 and the external display device 4. Alternatively, the wireless communication device 2A may display the estimated battery life on the display unit 26 of its own device. The wireless communication device 2 performs wireless communication based on the wireless gateway 3 and the LoRa wireless communication standard which is one of LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Netwark). The wireless communication device 2 may perform wireless communication with the wireless gateway 3 in accordance with a wireless communication standard such as ISA 100 or WirelessHART (registered trademark). In addition, the wireless communication device 2A performs near field communication with the external display device 4, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy communication or Near Field Communication (NFC).

  For example, when an instruction to estimate the battery life is issued by the user, the control unit 23A estimates the battery life. When the control unit 23A estimates the battery life, the timing generation unit 232 switches the communication cycle in the normal communication to the communication cycle in the battery life estimation. When estimating the battery life, the control unit 23A causes the surrounding environment measurement unit 231A to transmit a transmission request for information related to the received signal strength to the wireless gateway 3 via the wireless communication unit 24. The control unit 23A receives the information on the received signal strength transmitted by the wireless gateway 3 via the wireless communication unit 24 by the peripheral environment measurement unit 231A. The control unit 23A determines the communication conditions based on the received information on the received signal strength and the information stored in the storage unit 22 by the peripheral environment measurement unit 231A. The control unit 23A uses the communication conditions determined by the battery life estimation unit 233A, the nominal capacity stored in the storage unit 22, and the charge amount measured by the consumed charge measurement unit 234 to determine the battery life from the current time. Estimate The control unit 23A transmits, to the wireless gateway 3 and the external display device 4, battery life information indicating the estimated battery life from the present time. Alternatively, the control unit 23A may cause the display unit 26 to display the estimated battery life. After the end of the battery life estimation, the control unit 23A transmits the measurement information measured by the sensor 25 to the wireless gateway 3 via the wireless communication unit 24 during normal communication.

  In the first and second embodiments, the amount of charge consumed per day is calculated using the number of daily transmissions, the number of daily receptions, and the number of daily measurements previously stored in the storage unit 22. In the present embodiment, the consumption charge measuring unit 234 measures the actual number of transmissions per day, the number of receptions per day, and the number of measurements per day, and uses this to calculate the amount of charge consumed per day By doing this, more accurate battery life can be calculated.

  Therefore, the consumed charge measurement unit 234 acquires, for example, the actual number of measurements per day from the sensor 25, and the actual number of transmissions and receptions per day from the wireless communication unit 24. In addition, the consumed charge amount measurement unit 234 acquires information indicating that the measurement was actually performed once from the sensor 25 and information indicating that the transmission and reception have actually been performed once from the wireless communication unit 24, and The number of times of acquisition of each information may be counted by (not shown) to measure the actual number of transmissions per day, the number of receptions per day, and the number of measurements per day. Then, the consumed charge measuring unit 234 calculates the amount of charge consumed on the first day using the equation (2) from the measured number of times and the communication condition set by the peripheral environment measuring unit 231A.

  For example, when an instruction to estimate the battery life is given by the user, the peripheral environment measurement unit 231A estimates the battery life. For example, when the power switch (not shown) is turned on, the peripheral environment measuring unit 231A determines that it is time to estimate the battery life. When estimating the battery life, the peripheral environment measurement unit 231A outputs, to the timing generation unit 232, an instruction to switch the communication cycle in the normal communication to the communication cycle in the battery life estimation. The peripheral environment measuring unit 231A outputs a request for transmitting information related to the received signal strength to the wireless communication unit 24 when estimating the battery life. The surrounding environment measurement unit 231A acquires information on the received signal strength output from the wireless communication unit 24. When the estimation of the battery life ends, the peripheral environment measurement unit 231A outputs, to the timing generation unit 232, an instruction to switch the communication cycle at the time of estimation of the battery life to the communication cycle at the time of normal communication. The surrounding environment measurement unit 231A determines communication conditions based on the acquired information on the received signal strength and the information stored in the storage unit 22. The surrounding environment measurement unit 231A outputs the determined communication condition to the battery life estimation unit 233. During normal communication, the surrounding environment measurement unit 231A acquires measurement information measured by the sensor 25. During normal communication, the peripheral environment measurement unit 231A outputs the acquired measurement information to the wireless communication unit 24.

  The battery life estimation unit 233A estimates the battery life from the current time using the consumed charge amount output by the consumed charge measurement unit 234, the nominal capacity stored in the storage unit 22, and the following expression (3). The present time is when the battery life is estimated.

  Battery life = (nominal capacity of the battery-consumed charge-capacity of the battery that the wireless communication device does not operate) / (charge consumed per day) (3)

  Battery life estimation unit 233A outputs battery life information indicating the estimated battery life to near field communication unit 27. Alternatively, the battery life estimation unit 233 outputs the estimated battery life to the display unit 26. The battery life estimation unit 233 may transmit the estimated battery life information to the wireless gateway 3 via the wireless communication unit 24.

Next, an example of a processing procedure for estimating the battery life will be described.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure for estimating the battery life according to the present embodiment. The same processing as the processing of the first embodiment is denoted by the same reference numeral and the description is omitted.

  (Step S201) The control unit 23A detects that the battery life is estimated, for example, based on the operation of a switch (not shown). Subsequently, the peripheral environment measurement unit 231A outputs, to the timing generation unit 232, an instruction to switch the communication cycle to the communication cycle at the time of estimation of the battery life. Subsequently, the timing generation unit 232 switches the communication cycle at the time of normal communication to the communication cycle at the time of estimation of the battery life according to the instruction output from the peripheral environment measurement unit 231A. After the process, the surrounding environment measurement unit 231A proceeds to the process of step S2.

  (Steps S2 to S7) The control unit 23A performs the processes of steps S2 to S7. After the process, the control unit 23A proceeds to the process of step S202.

  (Step S202) The consumed charge measuring unit 234 is set, for example, by the sensor 25 the actual number of measurements per day, the actual number of transmissions and receptions per day from the wireless communication unit 24, and the peripheral environment measuring portion 231A. From the communication conditions etc., the amount of charge consumed per day is calculated using equation (2). Subsequently, the consumed charge measuring unit 234 outputs the counted consumed charge to the battery life estimating unit 233A. Subsequently, the battery life estimation unit 233A acquires the consumed charge amount output from the consumed charge amount measurement unit 234. After the processing, the battery life estimating unit 233A proceeds to the processing of step S203.

  (Step S203) The battery life estimation unit 233A calculates the number of times of transmission and reception per day, the number of data to be transmitted, the number of times of measurement per day, the nominal capacity, the amount of consumed charge, and the battery Determine the life span. After the processing, the battery life estimating unit 233A proceeds to step S9.

(Step S9) The battery life estimation unit 233A performs the process of step S9.
Thus, the wireless communication device 2A ends the process of estimating the battery life from the present time.

  Also in the present embodiment, the wireless communication device 2A may transmit the estimated battery life information to the external display device 4, or may display the battery life on the display unit 26 of the own device, and the battery life Information may be sent to the wireless gateway 3.

  The consumption charge measuring unit 234 includes the operating states of the storage unit 22, the wireless communication unit 24, the display unit 26, the short distance wireless communication unit 27, the peripheral environment measuring unit 231 A, the timing generating unit 232, and the battery life estimating unit 233 A. It is also possible to monitor and count the consumed charge amount.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the wireless communication device 2A counts the accumulated consumed charge amount from the start of operation to the present time (when estimating the battery life). Then, in the present embodiment, this consumed charge amount is also used to obtain the battery life from the present time.
Thus, according to the present embodiment, the battery life can be accurately obtained from the present time.

  In addition, although the example which applies the process which acquires a consumption charge amount to the process sequence of 1st Embodiment was demonstrated in the process example shown in FIG. 10, it does not restrict to this. A process of acquiring the consumed charge amount may be applied to the second embodiment. In this case, for example, the process of step S202 (FIG. 10) may be added between the processes of steps S8 and S9 of FIG. In the above embodiment, an example of estimating the battery life from the present time (when estimating the battery life) has been described, but when the consumed charge amount consumed at the time of operation of the wireless communication device is acquired (step S202) The battery life may be estimated from the time when the

Fourth Embodiment
In the first embodiment, an example in which the wireless communication device 2 sets communication conditions has been described. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which the battery life is estimated based on the communication conditions set by the other wireless communication devices (the wireless gateway 3 and the external display device 4). FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of estimating the battery life according to the present embodiment.
In the first to third embodiments, the wireless communication device 2 determines the communication condition based on the margin strength from the wireless gateway 3. However, in the present embodiment, the wireless gateway 3 determines the communication condition. Then, the communication condition is transmitted to the wireless communication device 2 as the communication condition (second information) to be set in the wireless communication device 2.

  First, in step ST21 of FIG. 11, the wireless communication apparatus 2 sets the data rate (DR) to 2 and transmits a request for transmission of communication conditions (information transmission request) to the wireless gateway 3. The request for transmission of communication conditions includes information indicating the data rate. The wireless gateway 3 calculates that the margin strength of the received signal strength is 10 dB. Then, since the wireless gateway 3 stores in advance the same information as the information shown in FIG. 5 in the built-in storage unit (not shown), the data rate is increased by 2 to 4 based on this. A change request to change the rate to 4 is sent to the wireless communication device 2.

  Next, the wireless communication device 2 sets the data rate (DR) to 4 in response to the communication condition change request received from the wireless gateway 3 in step ST22 of FIG. Send to When the data rate is 4, the wireless gateway 3 measures the received signal strength of the request for transmission of the received communication condition. Since the data rate has become higher by two than the previous time, the wireless gateway 3 calculates the margin strength to be 9 dB which is smaller than the previous time in order to increase the minimum reception sensitivity as described above. Then, the wireless gateway 3 increases the data rate by 2 to 6 based on the same information as the information shown in FIG. 5, and transmits a change request for changing the data rate to 6 to the wireless communication device 2.

  Next, in step ST23 of FIG. 11, the wireless communication apparatus 2 sets the data rate (DR) to 6 in response to the communication condition change request received from the wireless gateway 3, and transmits a communication condition transmission request to the wireless gateway Send to 3 When the data rate is 6, the wireless gateway 3 measures the received signal strength of the request for transmission of the received communication condition. The wireless gateway 3 sets the lowest reception sensitivity higher because the data rate is two higher than the previous time, but since the margin strength at this time has become smaller than a predetermined value, communication is secured as it is It is judged that it is difficult. Then, the wireless gateway 3 determines that the data rate 4 in the state in which the previous communication was performed (step ST22 in FIG. 11) is the communication condition (second information) to be finally set in the wireless communication device 2. Then, both the setting of the data rate to 4 and the flag indicating that this value is the communication condition to be finally set to the wireless communication apparatus 2 are transmitted to the wireless communication apparatus 2. Then, the wireless communication device 2 sets the data rate (DR) to 4 in response to the communication condition change request transmitted from the wireless gateway 3 and performs the subsequent normal communication.

Next, an example of a processing procedure for estimating the battery life will be described.
FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing an example of a processing procedure for estimating the battery life according to the present embodiment. The same processing as the processing of the first embodiment is denoted by the same reference numeral and the description is omitted.

  (Step S301) The control unit 23 detects that the battery life is estimated, for example, based on the operation of a switch (not shown). Subsequently, the peripheral environment measurement unit 231 outputs, to the timing generation unit 232, an instruction to switch the communication cycle to the communication cycle at the time of estimation of the battery life. Subsequently, the timing generation unit 232 switches the communication cycle at the time of normal communication to the communication cycle at the time of estimation of the battery life according to the instruction output from the peripheral environment measurement unit 231. The peripheral environment measurement unit 231 sets the communication condition to an initial value.

  (Step S302) The peripheral environment measurement unit 231 transmits, to the wireless gateway 3, a request for transmission of communication conditions (information transmission request).

  (Step S303) The wireless gateway 3 receives the request for transmission of the communication condition transmitted by the wireless communication device 2, and measures the received signal strength when the request for transmission of the communication condition is received. Subsequently, when the control unit 32 determines that the communication condition is not appropriate (for example, the margin strength is large or small), the communication condition is changed based on the received signal strength, and the changed communication condition is set as the communication condition. It transmits to the wireless communication device 2 as a change request. Subsequently, the wireless communication device 2 receives the communication condition change request transmitted by the wireless gateway 3.

  (Step S304) The peripheral environment measurement unit 231 changes the communication condition based on the communication condition change request received from the wireless gateway 3.

  (Step S305) The peripheral environment measurement unit 231 determines whether or not a flag indicating that this value is the communication condition to be finally set in the wireless communication device 2 is received together with the value of the data rate requested to be changed. If it is determined that this flag is received (step S305; YES), the process proceeds to step S5. When the surrounding environment measuring unit 231 determines that the flag is not received (step S305; NO), the process returns to the process of step S2.

(Steps S5 to S9) The control unit 23 performs steps S5 to S9.
Thus, the wireless communication device 2 ends the process of estimating the battery life from the start of operation.

  Also in the present embodiment, the wireless communication device 2 may transmit the estimated battery life information to the external display device 4, or may display the battery life on the display unit 26 of the own device, or the battery life Information may be sent to the wireless gateway 3.

  In addition, although the example in which the wireless gateway 3 applies the communication condition change to the processing procedure of the first embodiment has been described in the processing example illustrated in FIG. 12, the present invention is not limited thereto. The communication condition change may be applied to the process of the second embodiment or the process of the third embodiment.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the communication condition is determined on the wireless gateway 3 side, and the communication condition is transmitted to the wireless communication device 2.
Thus, according to the present embodiment, the wireless communication device 2 can accurately estimate the battery life based on the communication condition determined by the wireless gateway 3.

Fifth Embodiment
FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an event for estimating the battery life according to the present embodiment. In the first to fourth embodiments, for example, when the power switch (not shown) is turned on, the battery life is estimated. In the present embodiment, the wireless communication device 2 estimates the battery life according to the following events. The event is, for example, an operation of setting and notifying a communication condition.
(I) An event occurred in the wireless communication device 2
(II) An event received from the wireless gateway 3.
(III) An event received from the external display 4

  For example, in the above (I), by regularly generating an event with a timer (not shown) or the like in the wireless communication device 2, it is possible to periodically perform communication confirmation and battery life estimation. Also, if the battery life is estimated according to the events (II) and (III) above, the user of the wireless gateway 3 or the external display device 4 (for example, a communication manager or inspector) However, the battery life of the wireless communication device 2 can be known at a desired timing. The present embodiment can be applied to any of the first to fourth embodiments.

  Note that a program for realizing all or part of the functions of the control unit (23, 23A) and the wireless communication unit (wireless communication unit 24, near field communication unit 27) in the present invention is a computer readable recording medium Processing performed by the control unit (23, 23A) and the wireless communication unit (the wireless communication unit 24 and the near field communication unit 27) by recording the program recorded on the recording medium and causing the computer system to read and execute the program You may do all or part of. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The "computer system" also includes a WWW system provided with a homepage providing environment (or display environment). The term "computer-readable recording medium" means a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, or a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. Furthermore, "computer readable recording medium" refers to volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system serving as a server or client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those that hold the program for a certain period of time are also included.

  The program may be transmitted from a computer system in which the program is stored in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by transmission waves in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program is a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. Further, the program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, it may be a so-called difference file (difference program) that can realize the above-described functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

  As mentioned above, although the form for carrying out the present invention was explained using an embodiment, the present invention is not limited at all by such an embodiment, and various modification and substitution in the range which does not deviate from the gist of the present invention Can be added.

1, 1A: wireless communication system, 2, 2A: wireless communication device, 3: wireless gateway, 4: external display device, 21: battery, 22: storage unit, 23, 23A: control unit, 24: wireless communication unit, 25 ... sensor, 26 ... display unit, 27 ... near field communication unit, 231, 231A ... peripheral environment measurement unit, 232 ... timing generation unit, 233, 233A ... battery life estimation unit, 234 ... consumption charge measurement unit, 31 ... Wireless communication unit, 32 ... control unit, 33 ... display unit, 41 ... near field communication unit, 42 ... control unit, 43 ... display unit

Claims (9)

In a wireless communication device operated by battery power,
The wireless communication is performed with the communicating party at a first time interval defined in advance, and the information transmission request is transmitted to the communicating party at a second time interval shorter than the first time interval, and the received signal strength from the communicating party is related. A wireless communication unit that receives first information or second information indicating communication conditions to be set;
A setting unit configured to set communication conditions when the wireless communication unit performs wireless communication at the first time interval based on the first information or the second information acquired from the wireless communication unit;
A battery life estimation unit for estimating the life of the battery based on the communication condition and the nominal capacity of the battery;
Wireless communication device comprising: The wireless communication unit changes communication conditions of wireless communication performed at the second time interval, transmits the information transmission request, and receives the first information or the second information from the communication partner.
The setting unit sets communication conditions when the wireless communication unit performs wireless communication at the first time interval, based on the first information or the second information acquired from the wireless communication unit.
The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the battery life estimation unit estimates the life of the battery using the communication condition set by the setting unit. A consumed charge measuring unit that measures a consumed charge amount which is a charge amount consumed at the time of operation of the wireless communication device;
The battery life estimation unit estimates the life of the battery starting from the current time or the time point when the consumed charge amount is acquired, using the consumed charge amount acquired from the consumed charge amount measurement unit. The wireless communication device according to claim 2. The setting unit detects at least one of occurrence of an event in the wireless communication apparatus and reception of an event transmitted from the communication partner.
The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the battery life estimation unit estimates the life of the battery when the setting unit detects the event. The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which operates by the power of a battery.
The first other having a wireless communication unit that receives the information transmission request transmitted by the wireless communication device and transmits the first information or the second information to the wireless communication device based on the received information transmission request Wireless communication devices,
A wireless communication system comprising: A wireless communication unit that acquires the battery life estimated by the battery life estimation unit of the wireless communication device;
A display unit for displaying the life of the battery acquired by the wireless communication unit;
The wireless communication system according to claim 5, further comprising a second other wireless communication device having A battery life estimation method for estimating the life of the battery of a wireless communication apparatus that operates with the power of the battery and performs wireless communication with a communication partner at a predetermined first time interval,
Transmitting an information transmission request to the communication party at a second time interval shorter than the first time interval, and receiving from the communication party a first information on received signal strength or a second information indicating a communication condition to be set; When,
Setting communication conditions for performing wireless communication at the first time interval based on the received first information or the second information;
Estimating the life of the battery based on the communication conditions and the nominal capacity of the battery;
Battery life estimation method including: In a computer of a wireless communication apparatus having a wireless communication unit that operates with the power of a battery and performs wireless communication with a communication partner at a predetermined first time interval,
Transmitting an information transmission request to the communication party at a second time interval shorter than the first time interval, and receiving from the communication party a first information on received signal strength or a second information indicating a communication condition to be set; When,
Setting a communication condition when the wireless communication unit performs wireless communication at the first time interval based on the received first information or the second information;
Estimating the life of the battery based on the communication conditions and the nominal capacity of the battery;
A program that runs   A computer readable recording medium recorded with the program according to claim 8.

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