JP2020024742A - Relay device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a gateway that relays communication of a plurality of communication devices like an IoT gateway and can perform processing suitable for a situation.SOLUTION: A relay device includes: a connection establishment unit that establishes communication connection with a communication device; a line selection unit that selects a first communication line or a second communication line having larger communication capacity than the first communication line as a communication line used when relaying communication between a communication device and a communication opposite party of the communication device on the basis of a communication method of communication connection which the connection establishment unit has established with the communication device or a device type of the communication device; and a communication relay unit that relays communication between the communication device and the communication opposite party via the communication line selected by the line selection unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a relay device and a program.

There has been known an IoT gateway that establishes a communication connection with an IoT (Internet of Thing) device and relays communication of the IoT device (for example, see Patent Literature 1).
[Prior art documents]
[Patent Document]
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-2018-060380

  It is desirable to provide a gateway, such as an IoT gateway, that relays communication of a plurality of communication devices and that can execute appropriate processing depending on the situation.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, a relay device is provided. The relay device may include a connection establishing unit that establishes a communication connection with the communication device. The relay device, as a communication line used when relaying communication between the communication device and a communication partner of the communication device, based on a communication method or a communication device type of the communication connection established by the connection establishment unit with the communication device, A line selection unit for selecting one communication line or a second communication line having a larger communication capacity than the first communication line may be provided. The relay device may include a communication relay unit that relays communication between the communication device and the communication partner via the communication line selected by the line selection unit.

  The connection establishment unit may establish a wireless communication connection with the communication device, the line selection unit, the connection establishment unit in the communication system of the wireless communication connection established with the communication device or the device type of the communication device. A first wireless communication line or a second wireless communication line having a larger communication capacity than the first wireless communication line as a wireless communication line used when relaying communication between the communication device and a communication partner of the communication device. A wireless communication line may be selected. The first communication line may be at least one of NB-IoT, LoRa, and Sigfox, and the second communication line may be LTE. The line selecting unit selects the first communication line when the communication method is the first communication method, and selects the second communication line when the communication method is the second communication method. May do it. The first communication scheme may be WiFi or Bluetooth (registered trademark), and the second communication scheme may be Z-Wave (registered trademark) or Zigbee (registered trademark).

  The line selection unit selects the first communication line when the device type of the communication device is the first device type, and selects the first communication line when the device type of the communication device is the second device type. The second communication line may be selected. The device of the first device type may be a device that transmits numerical data or text data, and the device of the second device type may be a device that transmits image data or audio data. The communication relay unit may cause the second communication line to sleep when the first communication line is selected for all communication devices for which a communication connection has been established by the connection establishment unit. . A data monitoring unit that monitors data transmitted and received by the communication device while the communication relay unit relays communication of the communication device using the first communication line; A switching control unit that switches a communication line used by the communication relay unit from the first communication line to the second communication line when the predetermined condition is satisfied. When the type of data received by the communication device is a predetermined type, the switching control unit switches the communication line used by the communication relay unit from the first communication line to the second communication line. You can switch.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, a relay device is provided. The relay device may include a first relay unit that converts data received from the first wireless communication device connected to the first wireless communication system by the protocol to a communication system of the IP communication and transmits the data. The relay device may include a second relay unit that converts data received from a second wireless communication device that is connected for communication by the second wireless communication method into a communication method of IP communication and transmits the data. A relay device that performs protocol conversion between the first wireless communication system and the second wireless communication system, and relays communication between the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device; A relay unit may be provided.

  The first wireless communication scheme may be Bluetooth, and the second wireless communication scheme may be Z-Wave or Zigbee. The relay device may include an execution unit that executes control on the relay device based on data received from the first wireless communication device that is connected to the first wireless communication system by the first wireless communication method. The third relay unit may transmit data received from the first wireless communication device to a second wireless communication device network including a plurality of the second wireless communication devices. The third relay unit may transmit a Bluetooth beacon having the second wireless communication device in the second wireless communication device network as a transmission source to the first wireless communication device. The third relay unit may convert a Bluetooth beacon received from the first wireless communication device into a protocol, and transmit the Bluetooth beacon to at least one of the second wireless communication devices in the second wireless communication device network.

  The third relay unit may transmit data received from the second wireless communication device to a first wireless communication device network including a plurality of first wireless communication devices. The third relay unit is between a first wireless communication device network configured by a plurality of the first wireless communication devices and a second wireless communication device network configured by a plurality of the second wireless communication devices. May be relayed. The third relay unit establishes a communication connection with another relay device by the first wireless communication method, and establishes a second wireless communication device configured by the plurality of second wireless communication devices via the communication connection. The communication between the communication device network and a second wireless communication device network configured by a plurality of the second wireless communication devices connected to the another relay device may be relayed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to function as the relay device.

  The above summary of the present invention does not list all of the necessary features of the present invention. Further, a sub-combination of these feature groups can also be an invention.

1 schematically illustrates an example of a communication environment of a relay device 100. An example of the flow of processing by the relay device 100 is schematically shown. An example of the flow of processing by the relay device 100 is schematically shown. An example of the flow of processing by the relay device 100 is schematically shown. An example of a functional configuration of the relay device 100 is schematically illustrated. Another example of the communication environment of the relay device 100 is schematically illustrated. An example of the configuration of the relay device 100 is schematically shown. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a communication environment of a relay device 100. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a communication environment of a relay device 100. An example of the configuration of the relay device 100 is schematically shown. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a communication environment of a relay device 100. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a communication environment of a relay device 100. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a communication environment of a relay device 100. An example of a hardware configuration of a computer 1000 functioning as the relay device 100 is schematically shown.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. In addition, not all combinations of the features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

  FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a communication environment of the relay device 100. The relay device 100 according to the present embodiment establishes a communication connection with a communication device, and establishes a communication connection between the communication device and the cloud 20 using one of the communication line 30 and the communication line 40 having a larger communication capacity than the communication line 30. Relay the communication.

  FIG. 1 illustrates a case where the relay device 100 is a so-called IoT gateway and relays communication of the IoT device 200 as an example. The relay apparatus 100 is not limited thereto, and may be a gateway that establishes a wireless communication connection with an arbitrary communication device and relays communication of the communication device. The relay device 100 may be a gateway that establishes a wired communication connection with an arbitrary communication device and relays communication of the communication device. The communication line 30 and the communication line 40 may be wireless communication lines. Further, the communication line 30 and the communication line 40 may be wired communication lines. Here, the case where the communication lines 30 and 40 are wireless communication lines will be mainly described as an example.

  Examples of the IoT device 200 include a temperature sensor, a door sensor, an illumination LED, a body composition meter, a wristband, a speaker, a security camera, a smart meter, a weather observation device, and an agricultural device. The communication line 30 may be, for example, a communication line conforming to the IoT communication system. Examples of the communication line 30 include NB-IoT (Narrow Band-IoT), LoRa (Long Range), and Sigfox. The communication line 40 may be, for example, a so-called mobile communication line. An example of the communication line 40 is an LTE (Long Term Evolution) line.

  In the communication system for IoT, the communication speed is low, and the data capacity of transmission / reception data is limited. On the other hand, for example, the communication speed of the LTE line is high, and large-capacity communication is possible. However, for very small data such as sensing data by a temperature sensor, a door sensor, or the like, the capability of the LTE line is not utilized, and the communication equipment is not used. Resources may be wasted and line resources may not be used effectively. For the IoT, an IP communication environment (an environment that connects to the Internet via WiFi (Wireless Fidelity)) cannot always be used, and cloud connection using a mobile communication line is an effective means. one of.

  The relay device 100 according to the present embodiment supports a communication line 30 for a small capacity and a communication line 40 for a large capacity, and has a function of appropriately switching the line according to the situation. The relay device 100 selects the communication line 30 or the communication line 40 based on, for example, a communication method of communication with the IoT device 200, and relays the communication of the IoT device 200 via the selected communication line. For example, when the communication method is Z-Wave or Zigbee, the relay device 100 selects the communication line 30. Further, for example, when the communication method is WiFi or Bluetooth, the relay device 100 selects the communication line 40. Accordingly, when the communication capacity of the communication between the IoT device 200 and the relay device 100 is small, the communication line 30 for the small capacity is selected, and the communication capacity of the communication between the IoT device 200 and the relay device 100 is selected. Is large, the communication line 30 for large capacity can be selected.

  The relay device 100 selects the communication line 30 or the communication line 40 based on the device type of the IoT device 200, for example, and relays the communication of the IoT device 200 via the selected communication line. For example, the relay device 100 selects the communication line 30 when the IoT device 200 is a device having a relatively small amount of data to be transmitted normally, such as a sensor such as a temperature sensor and a door sensor. Further, for example, the relay device 100 selects the communication line 40 when the IoT device 200 is a device having a relatively large capacity of data to be transmitted normally, such as a security camera. Thereby, the communication of the IoT device 200 can be relayed using the communication line suitable for the data transmitted by the IoT device 200.

  Further, the relay device 100 according to the present embodiment monitors data transmitted and received by the IoT device 200 while relaying communication of the IoT device 200 using the communication line 30, and the data is determined in advance. When the condition is satisfied, the communication line to be used may be switched from the communication line 30 to the communication line 40. For example, when the type of data transmitted and received by the IoT device 200 is a predetermined type such as FOTA (Firmware On-The-Air) data, the relay device 100 communicates the communication line to be used from the communication line 30. Switch to line 40.

  For example, when the IoT device 200 is a temperature sensor, the data normally transmitted by the temperature sensor is sensing data indicating the detected temperature and has a small data capacity, so that there is no problem even if the communication line 30 is used. However, when the temperature sensor receives the FOTA data, since the FOTA data has a relatively large capacity, it may take a long time when the communication line 30 is used. On the other hand, according to the relay device 100 according to the present embodiment, when transmitting and receiving relatively large-capacity data such as FOTA data, the communication line to be used is switched from the communication line 30 to the communication line 40. This can prevent such a situation from occurring.

  For example, the relay apparatus 100 may sleep on a communication line that is not used at all times during a time when it is not used. As a specific example, the relay device 100 keeps the communication line 30 active in principle, activates the communication line 40 as necessary, and puts the communication line 40 to sleep when it becomes unnecessary to use the communication line 40. . This can avoid waste of radio waves.

  FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an example of the flow of a process performed by the relay device 100. Here, a flow of processing for selecting a communication line based on a communication method of a communication connection established with the IoT device 200 will be described. Each process illustrated in FIG. 2 is executed mainly by the control unit included in the relay device 100.

  In step (step may be abbreviated as S) 102, pairing with IoT device 200 is established. In S104, the communication method of the communication connection established in S102 is acquired.

  In S106, it is determined whether the communication method acquired in S104 is the first communication method. Examples of the first communication method include Z-Wave and Zigbee. If it is determined that the communication method is the first communication method, the process proceeds to S108. If the communication method is not the first communication method but is, for example, WiFi or Bluetooth, the process proceeds to S110. WiFi and Bluetooth may be examples of the second communication scheme. In S108, the communication line 30 is selected. In S110, the communication line 40 is selected. Then, the process ends.

  FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an example of the flow of a process performed by the relay device 100. Here, a flow of a process of selecting a communication line based on the device type of the IoT device 200 that has established a communication connection by a communication method capable of acquiring a device type will be described. Examples of communication methods that can acquire the device type include Z-Wave, Zigbee, Bluetooth, and the like. Each of the processes illustrated in FIG. 3 is mainly performed by the control unit included in the relay device 100.

  In S202, a communication connection with the IoT device 200 is established. In S204, the device type of the IoT device 200 that has established the communication connection in S202 is acquired. The IoT device 200 acquires the device type of the IoT device 200 by referring to the data received from the IoT device 200 at the time of pairing, for example. As a specific example, the relay device 100 stores in advance association data in which the pairing ID and the device type are associated, and acquires the device type of the IoT device 200 by referring to the association data. Good.

  In S206, it is determined whether the device type acquired in S204 is the first device type. Examples of the first device type include sensors such as a temperature sensor and a door sensor that transmit sensing data. If it is determined that the device type is the first device type, the process proceeds to S208. If the device is not the first device type but a device that transmits image data and audio data, such as a security camera, the process proceeds to S210. A device that transmits image data and audio data, such as a security camera, may be an example of the second device type. In S208, the communication line 30 is selected. In S210, the communication line 40 is selected. Then, the process ends.

  FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an example of the flow of a process performed by the relay device 100. Here, a process executed by the relay device 100 when the communication of the IoT device 200 is relayed using the communication line 30 will be described. Each process illustrated in FIG. 4 is executed mainly by the control unit included in the relay device 100.

  In S302, the relay data is referred to. The relay device 100 receives, for example, data from the IoT device 200, converts the protocol, and plays data to be played on the cloud 20 via the communication line 30, and receives data from the cloud 20 via the communication line 30, The data to be transmitted to the IoT device after the protocol conversion is referred to. Note that the relay device 100 may refer to relay data acquired by mirroring data received from the IoT device 200 and data transmitted to the IoT device 200.

  In S304, it is determined from the relay data acquired in S302 whether the data transmitted and received by the IoT device 200 is large-capacity data. The relay apparatus 100 analyzes, for example, the relay data to determine whether the data transmitted and received by the IoT device 200 is large-capacity data such as FOTA data, image data, and audio data, numerical data, and text data. It may be determined whether the data is small-capacity data such as sensing data. Further, for example, when the communication method with the IoT device 200 is Z-Wave and Zigbee, the ID is referred to as FOTA, for example, by referring to an ID included in the data and indicating what data is being transmitted. When large data such as data is indicated, it is determined that the data is large data.

  If it is determined that the data is large-capacity data, the process proceeds to S306. In S306, the communication line is switched from the communication line 30 to the communication line 40. If the switching has not been performed (NO in S308), the process returns to S302, and if the switching has been performed (YES in S308), the process ends.

  FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an example of a functional configuration of the relay device 100. The relay device 100 includes a storage unit 102, a connection establishment unit 104, a line selection unit 106, a communication relay unit 108, a data monitoring unit 110, and a switching control unit 112. Note that it is not always essential that the relay device 100 include all of these configurations.

  The storage unit 102 stores various data. The storage unit 102 may store information on the first communication method and the second communication method. The storage unit 102 stores, for example, data indicating whether each of the plurality of communication systems is the first communication system or the second communication system. The data is generated by, for example, an operator of the relay device 100.

  The storage unit 102 may store information on the first device type and the second device type. The storage unit 102 stores, for example, data indicating whether each of the plurality of device types is the first device type or the second device type. The data is generated by, for example, an operator of the relay device 100. The storage unit 102 may store association data in which a pairing ID is associated with a device type.

  The connection establishing unit 104 establishes a communication connection with a communication device. The connection establishing unit 104 establishes a communication connection with the IoT device 200, for example.

  The line selecting unit 106 selects the communication line 30 or the communication line 40 as a communication line used when relaying communication between the communication device with which the connection establishing unit 104 has established the communication connection and the communication partner of the communication device. I do. The line selecting unit 106 selects the communication line 30 or the communication line 40 based on, for example, the communication method of the communication connection established by the connection establishing unit 104 with the communication device. As a specific example, the line selecting unit 106 selects the communication line 30 when the communication system is the first communication system, and selects the communication line 30 when the communication system is the second communication system instead of the first communication system. Select 40.

  Further, the line selecting unit 106 selects the communication line 30 or the communication line 40 based on, for example, the device type of the relay device 100 with which the connection establishing unit 104 has established the communication connection. As a specific example, the line selection unit 106 selects the communication line 30 when the device type is the first device type, and selects the communication line when the device type is not the first device type but the second device type. Select 40.

  The communication relay unit 108 relays the communication between the communication device and the communication partner via the communication line selected by the line selection unit 106. The communication relay unit 108 puts the communication line 40 to sleep when the communication line 30 is selected and the communication line 40 is not selected for all the communication devices for which the connection establishment unit 104 has established the communication connection. Good.

  The line selection unit 106 may control the timing at which the communication line 40 sleeps according to a predetermined condition. For example, in a predetermined time zone of night, the line selecting unit 106 selects the communication line 30 for all the communication devices with which the connection establishing unit 104 has established the communication connection, and then sets the predetermined first time. After the time elapses, the communication line 40 is put to sleep. In other time zones, the communication line 40 is put to sleep after a second time longer than the first time elapses. Thus, in the daytime when the communication frequency is higher than at night, the communication line 40 can be put to sleep after waiting for an appropriate time without immediately putting the communication line 40 to sleep.

  The data monitoring unit 110 monitors data transmitted and received by the communication device while the communication line 30 is selected by the line selection unit 106 and the communication relay unit 108 relays communication of the communication device using the communication line 30. . The data monitoring unit 110 may constantly monitor the data, or may monitor the data according to a predetermined timing.

  The switching control unit 112 switches the communication line used by the communication relay unit 108 from the communication line 30 to the communication line 40 when data transmitted and received by the communication device satisfies a predetermined condition. The switching control unit 112 causes the communication line used by the communication relay unit 108 to be switched from the communication line 30 to the communication line 40, for example, when the type of data transmitted and received by the communication device is a predetermined type.

  FIG. 6 schematically illustrates another example of the communication environment of the relay device 100. The relay device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a relay unit 122 that converts a protocol of data received from a first communication device connected to the first wireless communication system by the first wireless communication system to a communication system of the IP communication and transmits the data to the cloud 20. And a relay unit 124 that converts the data received from the second communication device that is connected for communication by the second wireless communication method into a communication method of the IP communication and transmits the data to the cloud 20. The relay unit 122 is an example of a first relay unit, and the relay unit 124 is an example of a second relay unit. As an example of the first wireless communication method, Bluetooth is given. Examples of the second wireless communication scheme include Z-Wave and Zigbee.

  The relay device 100 in the present example further executes protocol conversion between the first wireless communication method and the second wireless communication method, and performs communication between the first communication device and the second communication device. A relay unit 126 for relaying is provided. The relay unit 126 is an example of a third relay unit. FIG. 6 illustrates an example in which the first wireless communication method is Bluetooth and the second wireless communication method is Z-Wave. The BT (BlueTooth) device 300 is an example of a first communication device, and the Z-Wave device 400 is an example of a second communication device.

  The existing IoT gateway supports protocol conversion from Bluetooth to IP communication, protocol conversion from Z-Wave to IP communication, and protocol conversion from Zigbee to IP communication, but the protocol conversion from Z-Wave to Bluetooth. Conversion and protocol conversion from Zigbee to Bluetooth were not supported. The relay apparatus 100 in this example can support them by providing the relay unit 126, and can enable a new use method of the communication device.

  For example, at present, IoT wireless communication standards such as Zigbee and Z-Wave are not supported by smartphones, tablets, and PCs (Personal Computers), and therefore cannot directly communicate with such devices. At present, data conversion is performed after conversion to IP communication. Bluetooth is a standard that mainly uses frequencies in the 2.4 GHz band, but radio waves in the 2.4 GHz band have characteristics such that radio wave interference is strong and weakly wraparound (weak against obstacles). On the other hand, a wireless communication standard for IoT such as Z-Wave and the like often uses a 900 MHz frequency band, and has radio wave characteristics such that there is little radio wave interference and strong wraparound. Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Bluetooth have devices in the market that match the characteristics of their respective communication standards.

  According to the relay device 100 of the present example, by providing the relay unit 126, it is possible to create a new effective use of the IoT by allowing a plurality of wireless communication standards to coexist. For example, the relay device 100 virtualizes a device such as Z-Wave in the relay device 100, and manages a virtual Bluetooth device in the relay device 100. Then, by pairing such a virtualized device with a Bluetooth-compatible device such as a smartphone, the Z-Wave device in the Z-Wave network can be directly controlled from the smartphone.

  The relay device 100 in the present example further includes an execution unit 128 that executes control on the relay device 100 based on data received from a first communication device that is communicatively connected by the first wireless communication method. May be. Existing IoT gateways have only a limited number of buttons, LEDs, and the like, and operations such as configuration for the IoT gateway do not always provide intuitive and easy-to-understand operability. In addition, when it is desired to operate the IoT gateway or register data from an external device, there are devices that can perform the communication using the IP communication via the Web (cloud), but the local area. An IP communication environment such as LAN (Local Area Network) and WiFi will be required. In an environment using an IoT gateway, an environment in which IP communication is possible is not always limited. On the other hand, since the relay device 100 in this example includes the execution unit 128, for example, using a Bluetooth, a configuration for the relay device 100 directly from a smartphone, a tablet, or the like, a FOTA control, and a pairing operation of the IoT device are performed. Thus, various operations can be performed using an intuitive GUI.

  FIG. 7 schematically illustrates an example of the configuration of the relay device 100. Here, an example in which the relay device 100 relays communication between Z-Wave and Bluetooth will be mainly described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the relay device 100 relays communication of another combination such as Zigbee and Bluetooth. You may.

  The relay device 100 in the example illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a Z-Wave gateway 132 and a protocol conversion unit 134. The Z-Wave gateway 132 relays communication of a plurality of Z-Wave devices in the Z-Wave network 70. FIG. 7 illustrates a Z-Wave device 400, a Z-Wave device 401, a Z-Wave device 402, and a Z-Wave device 403 as examples of a plurality of Z-Wave devices. When describing the Z-Wave device 400, the Z-Wave device 401, the Z-Wave device 402, and the Z-Wave device 403 without distinction, the Z-Wave device may be simply described as a Z-Wave device.

  The protocol conversion unit 134 may convert the data transmitted from the Z-Wave device into a protocol of the IP communication, and transmit the data to the cloud 20. Further, the protocol conversion unit 134 converts the data transmitted from the cloud 20 into a Z-Wave protocol and transmits the data to the Z-Wave device. The Z-Wave gateway 132 and the protocol conversion unit 134 may function as the relay unit 122.

  Further, the relay device 100 generates a virtual BT device in the relay device 100. FIG. 7 illustrates virtual devices 140, virtual devices 141, virtual devices 142, virtual devices 143, and virtual devices 144 as examples of virtual BT devices. When the virtual device 140, the virtual device 141, the virtual device 142, and the virtual device 144 are described without distinction, they may be simply described as a virtual device.

  The relay device 100 establishes a communication connection with the BT device 300 using the generated virtual device. In FIG. 7, a smartphone 310 is given as an example of the BT device 300, and the applications 320, 321, 322, 323, and 324, which are Bluetooth applications of the smartphone 310, the virtual device 140, the virtual device 141, and the virtual device 14 illustrates a case where the virtual device 142, the virtual device 143, and the virtual device 144 are connected for communication.

  The protocol conversion unit 134 may convert the data transmitted from the smartphone 310 into a protocol of the IP communication and transmit the data to the cloud 20. Further, the protocol conversion unit 134 converts the data transmitted from the cloud 20 into Bluetooth, and transmits the data to the smartphone 310. The virtual device and protocol conversion unit 134 may function as the relay unit 124.

  The protocol conversion unit 134 in this example performs protocol conversion between Z-Wave and Bluetooth. The relay device 100 relays communication between the Z-Wave device and the smartphone 310 by using the Z-Wave gateway 132, the protocol conversion unit 134, and the virtual device.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the communication between the Z-Wave device 400 and the application 321 is relayed by the Z-Wave gateway 132, the protocol conversion unit 134, and the virtual device 141. Further, the communication between the Z-Wave device 401 and the application 322 is relayed by the Z-Wave gateway 132, the protocol conversion unit 134, and the virtual device 142. Further, the communication between the Z-Wave device 402 and the application 323 is relayed by the Z-Wave gateway 132, the protocol conversion unit 134, and the virtual device 143. In addition, the communication between the Z-Wave device 403 and the application 324 is relayed by the Z-Wave gateway 132, the protocol conversion unit 134, and the virtual device 144.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the virtual device 140 may execute control on the relay device 100 based on data received from the application 320. Examples of control for the relay device 100 include configuration control, FOTA control, and pairing operation with the communication device of the relay device 100. As described above, the virtual device 140 may function as the execution unit 128.

  FIG. 8 schematically illustrates an example of the communication environment of the relay device 100. Here, the virtual device 140 of the relay device 100 and the smartphone 310 have established a communication connection, and the Z-Wave gateway 132 has established a communication connection with the Z-Wave device 400 in the Z-Wave mesh network 72. This is illustrated by an example.

  The relay device 100 can directly receive data such as DSK (device identification number) from the smartphone 310 via a BT connection, and thus can execute a so-called Z-Wave smart start even without a communication environment such as WiFi. Can be implemented. In addition, the relay device 100 relays communication between the Z-Wave mesh network 72 and the smartphone 310 to easily realize visualization of a device connection status in the Z-Wave mesh network 72 by the smartphone 310. Can be.

  The relay device 100 may transmit a Bluetooth beacon to the smartphone 310 with the Z-Wave device 400 in the Z-Wave mesh network 72 as a transmission source. Thereby, the relay device 100 can convert the Z-Wave mesh network 72 into a Bluetooth beacon device.

  In the Z-Wave wireless communication standard, the Z-Wave device 400 is not used as a beacon device, and there is no usage method for cooperating the Z-Wave device 400 as a beacon with the smartphone 310 or the like. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the relay apparatus 100 transmits the entire Z-Wave network 70 in the direction from Z-Wave to Bluetooth based on information sensed from various Z-Wave devices 400 in the Z-Wave network 70. It can be used as one Bluetooth beacon device, and can be a unique beacon device combining the functions of a plurality of Z-Wave devices 400. Further, in the direction from Bluetooth to Z-Wave, the relay device 100 in the present example virtualizes an existing BT device into a Z-Wave device in the relay device 100, so that one of the devices in the Z-Wave mesh network 72 is virtualized. It can be used as two Z-Wave devices 400.

  FIG. 9 schematically illustrates an example of the communication environment of the relay device 100. In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the relay device 100 is arranged between the Z-Wave mesh network 72 and the BT network 80 and between the Z-Wave mesh network 72 and the cloud 20.

  The BT device 300 in the BT network 80 shown in FIG. 9 may be a beacon device. The beacon device transmitted by the BT device 300 may be transmitted to the Z-Wave device 400 in the Z-Wave mesh network 72 via the relay device 100 between the BT network 80 and the Z-Wave mesh network 72, , May be transmitted to the cloud 20 via the relay device 100 between the Z-Wave mesh network 72 and the cloud 20.

  FIG. 10 schematically illustrates an example of the configuration of the relay device 100. Here, differences from FIG. 7 will be mainly described. The example illustrated in FIG. 10 illustrates a case where the virtual device 140, the virtual device 141, the virtual device 142, the virtual device 143, and the virtual device 144 have established a communication connection with the BT device 300 in the BT mesh network 82. I have.

  Z-Wave and Bluetooth can each build a mesh network, but network formation in a way that integrates different standards is basically not implemented. Z-Wave and Bluetooth use different frequency bands, etc., and have different characteristics. Therefore, it is possible to find new value as an IoT network by sharing instead of treating them exclusively. There is.

  According to the relay device 100 in this example, a Z-Wave device is virtualized as a Bluetooth mesh device in the relay device 100, so that a mesh network is formed by incorporating the Z-Wave device into the BT mesh network 82. be able to. By relaying the communication between the Z-Wave device and the BT mesh network 82 by the relay device 100, the Z-Wave device incorporated in the BT mesh network 82 can be transmitted from a Bluetooth mesh-compatible smartphone application or the like. Direct operation becomes possible. By incorporating the Z-Wave device into the BT mesh network 82, solution development in cooperation with each device in the BT mesh network 82 becomes possible.

  FIG. 11 schematically illustrates an example of a communication environment of the relay device 100. FIG. 11 illustrates a case where the relay device 100 is arranged between the Z-Wave mesh network 72, the BT mesh network 82, and the cloud 20. According to the relay device 100 in the present example, the Z-Wave device 400 is virtualized as a Bluetooth mesh device in the relay device 100, so that the Z-Wave device 400 is incorporated in the BT mesh network 82 and the BT device The BT device 300 can be incorporated into the Z-Wave mesh network 72 by virtualizing the 300 into a Z-Wave mesh device in the relay device 100, and the Z-Wave mesh network 72 and the BT mesh network 82 are integrated. A mesh network can be constructed.

  FIG. 12 schematically illustrates an example of the communication environment of the relay device 100. FIG. 12 illustrates a case where two relay apparatuses 100 are respectively connected for communication with a Z-Wave device 400 in the Z-Wave mesh network 72, and the two relay apparatuses 100 are BT-connected to each other. These two relay devices 100 make a BT connection with another relay device 100, and can also communicate with the cloud 20 via the BT connection.

  In the Z-Wave communication standard, the number of Z-Wave devices that can be connected in the same mesh network is limited to 232, and the number of hops of multi-hop is limited to four. There are restrictions. According to the relay device 100 in this example, by connecting the plurality of Z-Wave mesh networks 72 via the BT connection, a network that can flexibly cope with an increase in the service providing area, an increase in the number of connected devices, and the like is provided. Can be formed. In addition, by adopting a configuration of connecting to the cloud 20 via a BT connection with another relay apparatus 100, disconnection from the cloud 20 can be easily performed, and use as a security measure can be realized. Further, it is expected that a network that is normally configured by IP communication can be used for a purpose of flexibly changing a network configuration in an environment where IP communication such as LAN and WiFi cannot be used.

  FIG. 13 schematically illustrates an example of the configuration of the relay device 100. FIG. 13 relays the function 410 of the Z-Wave device 400 and the application 321 of the smartphone 310 by the virtual device 141, relays the function 411 of the Z-Wave device 400 and the cloud 20 by the virtual device 142, The case where the virtual device 143 relays the functions 412 and 413 of the Z-Wave device 400 and the cloud 20 is illustrated. As described above, the relay device 100 may divide a plurality of functions of one Z-Wave device 400 into a plurality of virtual devices and communicate with different connection destinations. The function of the Z-Wave device 400 may be any function, and examples thereof include a temperature sensor, an illuminance sensor, an LED, and a button.

  Generally, even if an IoT device has a plurality of sensing functions, the gateway manages the cloud connection for each device in the gateway, so data collected from a plurality of functions in the same IoT device is transmitted to the same connection destination. Will be sent. On the other hand, according to the relay device 100 in the present example, when a plurality of functions are provided in the same device, it is possible to subdivide each function into a virtual device in the relay device 100. Thus, data can be transmitted and received to and from a different connection destination for each subdivided function.

  In the above embodiment, the relay device 100 including the storage unit 102, the connection establishment unit 104, the line selection unit 106, the communication relay unit 108, the data monitoring unit 110, and the switching control unit 112, the relay unit 122, the relay unit 124, and the relay Although the relay device 100 including the unit 126 and the execution unit 128 has been described separately, the relay device 100 may include all of these configurations.

  FIG. 14 schematically illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a computer 1000 functioning as the relay device 100. The computer 1000 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU peripheral portion including a CPU 1010 and a RAM 1030 interconnected by a host controller 1092, a ROM 1020 connected to the host controller 1092 by an input / output controller 1094, a communication I / F 1040, and a hard disk drive 1050. , And an input / output unit having an input / output chip 1080.

  The CPU 1010 operates based on programs stored in the ROM 1020 and the RAM 1030, and controls each unit. The communication I / F 1040 communicates with another device via a network by wire or wirelessly. The communication I / F 1040 functions as hardware for performing communication. The hard disk drive 1050 stores programs and data used by the CPU 1010.

  The ROM 1020 stores a boot program executed by the computer 1000 at the time of startup, a program depending on hardware of the computer 1000, and the like. The input / output chip 1080 connects various input / output devices to the input / output controller 1094 via, for example, a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, and the like.

  The program provided to the hard disk drive 1050 via the RAM 1030 is stored in a recording medium such as an IC card and provided by the user. The program is read from the recording medium, installed on the hard disk drive 1050 via the RAM 1030, and executed by the CPU 1010.

  A program installed in the computer 1000 and causing the computer 1000 to function as the relay device 100 may act on the CPU 1010 or the like to cause the computer 1000 to function as each unit of the relay device 100. The information processing described in these programs is read into the computer 1000, and the storage unit 102, the connection establishing unit 104, the line establishing unit 104, and the specific means in which the software and the various hardware resources described above cooperate with each other. It functions as the selection unit 106, the communication relay unit 108, the data monitoring unit 110, and the switching control unit 112. When the information processing described in these programs is read into the computer 1000, the relay unit 122, the relay unit 124, and the relay unit are specific means in which the software and the various hardware resources described above cooperate. It functions as the relay unit 126 and the execution unit 128. When the information processing described in these programs is read into the computer 1000, the storage unit 102 and the connection establishing unit 104 are specific means in which the software and the various hardware resources described above cooperate with each other. Function as a line selection unit 106, a communication relay unit 108, a data monitoring unit 110, a switching control unit 112, a relay unit 122, a relay unit 124, a relay unit 126, and an execution unit 128. The specific relay device 100 according to the purpose of use is constructed by realizing calculation or processing of information according to the purpose of use of the computer 1000 in the present embodiment by these specific means.

  As described above, the present invention has been described using the embodiments, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It is apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or improvements can be made to the above embodiment. It is apparent from the description of the appended claims that embodiments with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The order of execution of processes such as operations, procedures, steps, and steps in the apparatuses, systems, programs, and methods illustrated in the claims, the description, and the drawings is particularly “before” or “before”. It should be noted that they can be realized in any order as long as the output of the previous process is not used in the subsequent process. Regarding the operation flow in the claims, the specification, and the drawings, even if the description is made using “first”, “next”, or the like for convenience, it means that it is essential to implement in this order. Not something.

Reference Signs List 20 cloud, 30 communication line, 40 communication line, 70 Z-Wave network, 72 Z-Wave mesh network, 80 BT network, 82 BT mesh network, 100 relay device, 102 storage unit, 104 connection establishment unit, 106 line selection unit , 108 communication relay unit, 110 data monitoring unit, 112 switching control unit, 122 relay unit, 124 relay unit, 126 relay unit, 128 execution unit, 132 Z-Wave gateway, 134 protocol conversion unit, 140, 141, 142, 143 , 144, virtual device, 200 IoT device, 300 BT device, 310 smartphone, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324 application, 400, 401, 402, 403 Z-Wave device, 410, 411, 41 2,413 functions, 1000 computer, 1010 CPU, 1020 ROM, 1030 RAM, 1040 communication I / F, 1050 hard disk drive, 1080 input / output chip, 1092 host controller, 1094 input / output controller

Claims (18)

A connection establishing unit that establishes a wireless communication connection with the wireless communication device;
Based on the device type of the wireless communication device, a wireless communication line used for relaying communication between the wireless communication device and the cloud has a communication capacity greater than that of the first wireless communication line or the first wireless communication line. A line selection unit for selecting a large number of second wireless communication lines;
Via a wireless communication line selected by the line selection unit, a communication relay unit that relays communication between the wireless communication device and the cloud,
A first relay that converts data received from a first wireless communication device connected to the first wireless communication system by a first wireless communication method into a communication method of an IP communication, and transmits the data to the cloud via the communication relay unit. Department and
A second relay that converts a protocol of data received from a second wireless communication device having a wireless communication connection with the second wireless communication method into a communication method of IP communication and transmits the data to the cloud via the communication relay unit; Department and
A third protocol that performs protocol conversion between the first wireless communication system and the second wireless communication system and relays communication between the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device; A relay device comprising: a relay unit.   The line selection unit, when the device type of the first wireless communication device is a first device type that is a device that transmits numerical data or text data, selects the first wireless communication line, If the device type of the first wireless communication device is the second device type that is a device that transmits image data or audio data, the second wireless communication line is selected, and the device of the second wireless communication device is selected. When the type is the first device type, the first wireless communication line is selected, and when the device type of the second wireless communication device is the second device type, the second wireless communication line is selected. The relay device according to claim 1, wherein the relay device selects a line.   The relay device according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication system is Bluetooth.   The third relay unit performs protocol conversion of data received from the first wireless communication device by the virtual device that has established a wireless communication connection with the first wireless communication device, into the second wireless communication system, 4. The communication device according to claim 3, further comprising a protocol conversion unit configured to convert data received from the second wireless communication device by the gateway that has established a wireless communication connection with the second wireless communication device into a protocol of the first wireless communication system. Relay device.   The relay device according to claim 3, wherein the second wireless communication method is Z-Wave or Zigbee. The first wireless communication line is at least one of NB-IoT, LoRa, and Sigfox,
The relay device according to claim 1, wherein the second wireless communication line is an LTE.   The communication relay unit, when the first wireless communication line is selected for all wireless communication devices for which a wireless communication connection has been established by the connection establishing unit, disconnects the second wireless communication line. The relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which causes the computer to sleep.   The communication relay unit, in a predetermined time zone as nighttime, the connection establishment unit is set to a predetermined time after the first wireless communication line is selected for all wireless communication devices that have established wireless communication connections. After the elapse of the first time, the second wireless communication line is put to sleep, and in a time zone other than the predetermined time zone at night, a second time longer than the first time is set. The relay device according to claim 7, wherein the second wireless communication line is put to sleep after elapse of. While the communication relay unit, while relaying the communication of the wireless communication device using the first wireless communication line, a data monitoring unit that monitors data transmitted and received by the wireless communication device,
Switching control for switching a wireless communication line used by the communication relay unit from the first wireless communication line to the second wireless communication line when data transmitted and received by the wireless communication device satisfies a predetermined condition. The relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: a unit.   The switch control unit, when the type of data received by the wireless communication device is a predetermined type, the wireless communication line used by the communication relay unit, from the first wireless communication line to the second The relay device according to claim 9, wherein the relay device is switched to a wireless communication line. 11. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising: an execution unit configured to execute control on the relay device based on data received from the first wireless communication device that has wirelessly connected in the first wireless communication method. 12. The relay device according to claim 1.   The third relay unit according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the third relay unit transmits data received from the first wireless communication device to a second wireless communication device network configured by a plurality of the second wireless communication devices. The relay device according to claim 1.   The relay according to claim 12, wherein the third relay unit transmits, to the first wireless communication device, a Bluetooth beacon whose source is the second wireless communication device in the second wireless communication device network. apparatus.   The third relay unit converts a Bluetooth beacon received from the first wireless communication device into a protocol and transmits the Bluetooth beacon to at least one of the second wireless communication devices in the second wireless communication device network. 14. The relay device according to 12 or 13.   15. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the third relay unit transmits data received from the second wireless communication device to a first wireless communication device network including a plurality of first wireless communication devices. 16. The relay device according to claim 1.   The third relay unit is between a first wireless communication device network configured by a plurality of the first wireless communication devices and a second wireless communication device network configured by a plurality of the second wireless communication devices. The relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, which relays the communication of (1).   The third relay unit establishes a wireless communication connection with another relay device by the first wireless communication method, and is configured by a plurality of the second wireless communication devices via the wireless communication connection. 12. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication between the second wireless communication device network and a second wireless communication device network configured by a plurality of the second wireless communication devices connected to the another relay device is relayed. The relay device according to claim 1.   A program for causing a computer to function as the relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

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