JP4993909B2 - Surveyor and remote management device for surveying instrument - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a surveying instrument equipped with an imaging device and capable of mechanically driving a vertical axis and a horizontal axis, and in particular, operated by control software such as a personal computer (pen computer), a PDA, and a data collector. It relates to a suitable surveying instrument.

  Conventionally, a motor-driven total station equipped with an imaging device such as a CCD camera or a video camera is known as a surveying instrument. Since this type of total station collimates the measurement point with a telescope, an image relating to the measurement point is displayed on the monitor screen, so that the survey can be performed while viewing the image on the monitor screen.

  In the prior art, surveying can be performed while looking at the image on the monitor screen, but it has not been considered to grasp or manage the state of the surveying instrument remotely. That is, the surveying instrument can record data relating to surveying such as distance measurement and angle measurement, but no consideration is given to recording the status of the surveying instrument and communicating to a remote place.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a surveying instrument that can grasp the state of surveying at a remote place.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a remote management device for a surveying instrument that can manage the surveying instrument at a remote location.

In order to achieve the above object, in the surveying instrument according to claim 1, the management information for managing the surveying instrument is recorded in the surveying instrument that measures and measures the measuring object collimated by the telescope. Management information recording means, status detection means for detecting the status of the surveying instrument, history information recording means for sequentially capturing and recording the statuses detected by the status detection means as history information, and the history information according to the management information Management means for managing, communication means for exchanging information with the communication network and outputting the management result of the management means and history information recorded in the history information recording means to the communication network, and communication by the communication means comprising a display means for displaying information, said management means compares the usage included in the history information and the maintenance period included in the management information The comparison result is output to the communication unit, the license period included in the management information is compared with the usage status included in the history information, and the comparison result is output to the communication unit. When the information for approving the extension of the license period is obtained from the communication network, the management of the information is continued as it is. When the information for the approval is not obtained, the processing for stopping all functions is executed, and the management information is When the identification information unique to the surveying instrument is output to the communication network via the communication means, when information for approving the identification information is obtained from the communication network, the management of the information is continued as it is, and the approval When this information cannot be obtained, a process for stopping all functions is executed.

  (Operation) Information regarding the state of the surveying instrument is sequentially recorded as history information, and the recorded history information is output to the communication network by the communication means. Therefore, even by receiving the history information from the communication network even in a remote place. The status of the surveying instrument can be grasped.

  (Operation) The state of the surveying instrument is sequentially recorded as history information, the recorded history information is output via the communication network, the history information is managed according to the management information, and the management result is output to the communication network. Therefore, by receiving history information and management result information from a communication network even at a remote location, the state of the surveying instrument can be grasped and the state of the surveying instrument can be managed.

  (Operation) Since the comparison results regarding the maintenance period of the surveying instrument and the usage status of the surveying instrument are output to the communication network, it is possible to obtain the maintenance period of the surveying instrument by receiving the information output from the communication network even at a remote location. The result of comparison with the usage status of the surveying instrument can be grasped.

  (Operation) Since the comparison result between the license period of the surveying instrument and the usage status of the surveying instrument is output to the communication network, the license period of the surveying instrument can be received by receiving information output from the communication network even at a remote location. And comparison results of survey instrument usage.

  (Operation) Information management can be continued only when information for approving the extension of the license period is obtained from the communication network, but all functions are stopped when the information for approval is not obtained. Even on the ground, the right to use surveying instruments can be managed according to the license period.

  (Operation) Information management can be continued only when information for approving the identification information is obtained from the communication network, but when the information for approval is not obtained, all functions are stopped. When a person who is not a legitimate user uses the surveying instrument due to an unexpected situation such as theft, or when there is a risk of the surveying instrument, the function of the surveying instrument can be stopped.

  (Operation) Since information by communication of the communication means is displayed, it is possible to grasp the state of the surveying instrument and the state of management on the spot.

In the remote management apparatus of a surveying instrument according to claim 2, as the communication destination surveying instrument according to claim 1, a management command output means for outputting the management command to the management means to the communication network, said management command The output means outputs information as to whether or not to approve extension of the license period as a management command, and outputs information as to whether or not to approve the identification information as a management command.

  (Operation) By using a surveying instrument as a communication destination and outputting a management command to the management means of the surveying instrument, the surveying instrument can be managed at a remote place.

  (Operation) By outputting information on whether or not to approve the extension of the license period as a management command, the license period of the surveying instrument can be managed in a remote place.

(Operation) By outputting information on whether or not to approve identification information as a management command using a surveying instrument as a communication destination, it is possible to manage whether or not to restrict functions to the surveying instrument from a remote location.
In the remote management device for a surveying instrument according to claim 3, in the remote management device for a surveying instrument according to claim 2, the management command output means may be configured to prepare for regular maintenance of the surveying instrument or an error status. As a result, the necessity of maintenance is transmitted to the surveying instrument via the communication means, and when the program needs to be replaced, the program is transmitted from the remote management device to the surveying instrument via the communication means. It is transmitted, and the program of the surveying instrument is automatically upgraded.

  As is apparent from the above description, according to the invention of claim 1, it is possible to grasp the state of the surveying instrument by receiving history information from the communication network even in a remote place.

Further, by receiving history information and management result information from a communication network even at a remote location, the state of the surveying instrument can be grasped and the state of the surveying instrument can be managed.

Even in a remote place, by receiving information output from the communication network, it is possible to grasp the comparison result between the maintenance period of the surveying instrument and the usage status of the surveying instrument.

Even in a remote place, by receiving information output from the communication network, it is possible to grasp the comparison result between the license period of the surveying instrument and the usage status of the surveying instrument.

Even in remote locations, the usage rights of surveying instruments can be managed according to the license period.

Also, if there is a possibility that a person who is not a legitimate user may use the surveying instrument due to an unexpected situation such as theft of the surveying instrument, unauthorized use of the surveying instrument can be prevented by stopping the function of the surveying instrument.

In addition, the status of the surveying instrument and the management status can be grasped on the spot.

According to the second and third aspects of the invention, the surveying instrument can be managed at a remote place.

In addition, the license period of the surveying instrument can be managed in a remote place.

In addition, it is possible to manage whether or not the functions for the surveying instrument are restricted from a remote location.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a surveying instrument 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a surveying instrument (total station) 100 includes a CCD camera (or video camera) 8 that is an imaging device, angle sensors 10, 12, a distance sensor 14, a thermometer 16, a hygrometer 18, and a CPU (calculation control unit). 20, a RAM (random access memory) 22, a nonvolatile memory 24, a ROM / flash ROM 26, an I / F (interface) circuit 28, and a display 30.

  The CCD camera 8 is for displaying the scenery around the survey target as an image (image) on the monitor screen of the display 30, and the operator performs the survey while viewing the image (image) on the monitor screen of the display 30. Can do.

  The angle measuring sensor 10 is composed of a horizontal encoder that measures the horizontal angle of a telescope (not shown), and the angle measuring sensor 12 is composed of a vertical encoder that measures the vertical angle of the telescope. The distance sensor 14 is composed of a light wave distance meter that measures the distance from the instrument point to the measurement point. That is, the angle measuring sensors 10 and 12 and the distance sensor 14 are configured as surveying means for performing surveying and angle measurement on a survey target to obtain survey information.

  On the other hand, the thermometer 16 detects the temperature on the substrate as the state of the surveying instrument 100, and outputs the detected temperature to the CPU 20. The hygrometer 18 determines the humidity on the substrate as the state of the surveying instrument 100. The detected humidity is output to the CPU 20. That is, the thermometer 16 and the hygrometer 18 are configured as one element of a state detection unit that detects the state of the surveying instrument 100.

  The CPU 20 performs calculation processing for generating survey information based on the measurement values of the angle sensors 10 and 12, the distance sensor 14, and the like, and also monitors the usage status of the surveying instrument 100 and the occurrence of an error to perform surveying. Recording processing relating to the state of the instrument 100, error recording processing, etc. are performed, data in each process is recorded in the RAM 22, and data relating to the state of the surveying instrument 100, data relating to errors, etc. are recorded in the nonvolatile memory 24 as history information It is like that. Furthermore, history information is managed according to management information (management program) for managing the surveying instrument 100. That is, the CPU 20 constitutes one element of state detecting means for detecting the usage status of the surveying instrument 100 as the status of the surveying instrument 100, for example, the number of distance measurement, the number of program activations, etc. It is comprised as a management means to manage.

  The non-volatile memory 24 is configured using, for example, an EPROM as the history information recording means and the management information recording means. The non-volatile memory 24 is not a program for a normal surveying work, but a surveying instrument. A management program for managing 100 is stored. As shown in FIG. 2, the area of the nonvolatile memory 24 is divided into a license management area 24a, a user management area 24b, a log recording area 24c, and an error recording area 24d.

  In the license management area 24a, for example, the serial number of the surveying instrument 100 is stored in the serial number field, the shipping date of the surveying instrument 100 is stored in the shipping date field, and the license period is approved by the surveying instrument 100. Information indicating the expiration date is stored in the license period field. A password for accessing the nonvolatile memory 24 is stored in the password field, and a maintenance history is stored in the maintenance history field. The maintenance history is stored as an initial value when there is no data (null). Further, the maintenance history is stored in the maintenance period field as information relating to a period requiring maintenance of the corresponding surveying instrument 100, and the limit ranging number is used as information relating to the number of distance measurement uses requiring maintenance of the corresponding surveying instrument 100. The information on the version of the management program is stored in the version field, and the information on the survey program version is stored in the survey program version field with the version of the survey program as an initial value.

  Information relating to the license period and password is stored in the user management area 24b, and information relating to the cumulative distance measurement number, distance measurement number, and program activation number is stored as history information in the log recording area 24c. The error recording area 24d includes an error code, an occurrence date, an occurrence time, a horizontal angle measurement value, a vertical angle measurement value, a distance measurement value, a substrate temperature, a substrate humidity, and an output value of each board (of the CPU 20). Output), memory dump, and other information are stored as history information regarding errors.

  In the user management area 24b, the log recording area 24c, and the error recording area 24d, data having no data (null) as initial values is stored. In each area, a field having a different function for each model can be prepared.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the ROM / flash ROM 26 stores a surveying program 26a, a network communication program 26b, and a management program 26c. The surveying program 26a is used as a program for performing distance measurement and angle measurement, and the network communication program 26b uses the Internet protocol (TCP / IP), the I / F circuit 28, a mobile phone, a wireless LAN, and the like. It has a function that can connect to the Internet via In this case, the I / F circuit 28 constitutes communication means for outputting information accompanying the processing of the CPU 20 to the Internet as a communication network together with the mobile phone or the wireless LAN.

  The display 30 is configured as display means for displaying the calculation result of the CPU 20, that is, communication information output from the I / F circuit 28 on the screen as display means. The surveying instrument includes a vertical servo motor that controls the vertical angle of the telescope, a horizontal servo motor that controls the horizontal angle of the telescope, and the like based on the calculation result of the CPU 20.

  When the surveying instrument 100 having the above-described configuration is used, when the surveying program 26a is activated during the surveying, the distance measurement / angle measurement is performed. When the management program 26c is activated, the cumulative number of distance measurement in the log recording area 24c, The value of the distance measurement field is incremented. Also, a checkpoint is set in the surveying program 26a, and when an operation according to the checkpoint is performed, the value of the field of the program activation number field in the log recording area 24c is incremented. Thereby, according to the basic operation of the surveying instrument 100, each time the surveying instrument 100 is used, information regarding the history is sequentially stored. That is, the log recording area 24c stores the cumulative distance measurement number, distance measurement number, and program activation number as history information as history information recording means. For example, when a surveying instrument is used for rental, it is not possible to use more than that number by setting a maximum allowable number of times. In addition, the number of distance measurements can be reduced to zero each time maintenance is performed. The error recording area 24d is configured to store information associated with the occurrence of an error as history information as an element of the history information recording means. For example, when a surveying instrument breaks down, information about the failure remains as a record, so it is possible to determine which part has failed and repair it faster.

  In addition, a message for periodically confirming the license period of the surveying instrument 100 is displayed on the screen of the display 30 so that the surveying operator can be prompted to perform a process for confirming the license period. In other words, the message processing for confirming the license is performed based on the license period stored in the license management area 24a. When a surveying instrument is connected to the Internet using a mobile phone or a wireless LAN and processing for updating the license period is performed, the license period in the license management area 24a is updated (updated). . Similarly, the same processing is performed for the maintenance period, and the maintenance period is also updated in this case.

  Specifically, with respect to the maintenance of the surveying instrument 100, the following operation is performed. First, the management program 26c is started, the maintenance history is subtracted from the current date and time, and the number of use days after maintenance is calculated by the CPU 20. Thereafter, the CPU 20 compares the maintenance period stored in the license management area 24a with the calculated number of days, and determines that maintenance is necessary when the calculated number of days exceeds the maintenance period. Further, when the distance measurement number stored in the log recording area 24c exceeds the limit distance measurement number in the license management area 24a, it is determined that maintenance is necessary. Then, the CPU 20 displays on the screen of the display 30 that the maintenance is necessary based on the information of both, and informs the operator that the maintenance is urged.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, when an operator connects the surveying instrument 100 to the Internet 101 using a mobile phone or a wireless LAN, requests maintenance from the management company 102, and maintenance is performed by the management company 102. When maintenance is performed, the maintenance date and time is written in the maintenance history field of the license management area 24a, and the distance measurement number field of the log recording area 24c is reset to zero. Thus, the maintenance time can be automatically notified to the operator, and maintenance for keeping the state of the surveying instrument 100 always good can be performed.

  If the operator uses a communication function at any time, the contents of each management area are converted into an e-mail format, and the converted data is transmitted to the management company 102 via the Internet. The contents of the area are analyzed. Even if the transmission format at this time is not an e-mail format, other formats such as FTP and HTTP can be used as long as they are services on the Internet, or both can be used together.

  The management company 102 that has analyzed the data always checks the surveying instrument 100 by transmitting the necessity of maintenance to the surveying instrument 100 via the Internet by checking the preparations for regular maintenance and in some cases errors. Work to keep good. In addition, in order to keep the surveying instrument 100 in good condition, when it is necessary to replace the program, the program can be replaced by transmitting the program from the management company 102 to the surveying instrument 100 via the Internet. . In this case, the transmission format is not an electronic mail format, and other methods can be used as long as they are services on the Internet. On the surveying instrument 100 side, the surveying instrument 100 is connected to the Internet using a mobile phone or a wireless LAN, and the program from the management company 102 is received as e-mail data to automatically upgrade the program. Can be done.

  Further, when the function of the surveying instrument 100 is stopped due to an error or the like, the following operation is performed. First, as shown in FIG. 4, when the surveying operator activates the management program 26c instead of the surveying program 26a and connects the surveying instrument 100 to the Internet 101 using a mobile phone or a wireless LAN, each management is performed. The contents of the area are automatically converted into an e-mail format, and the converted data is transmitted to the management company 102. The management company 102 that has received the data by e-mail analyzes the contents of each management area, searches for the cause of the error, and determines the response.

  If an error can be dealt with by upgrading the program, the program is sent to the surveying instrument in the form of an e-mail. At this time, on the surveying instrument 100 side, the data related to the occurrence of an error can be automatically corrected by connecting the surveying instrument 100 to the Internet 101 using a mobile phone or a wireless LAN and receiving data by e-mail. it can.

  On the other hand, when the cause of the error is hardware, by sending necessary parts to the maintenance center closest to the place where the surveying instrument 100 is used, the faulty surveying instrument 100 can detect the error phenomenon. It can be confirmed and repaired, and even if an error occurs in hardware, it can be repaired in a short period of time.

  Next, when the surveying instrument 100 is used for rental or the like, the following operations are performed regarding the management of the usage rights.

  First, as a setting of the usage right for the surveying instrument 100, a period is set at the time of lending. When the period is set, information related to the set period is stored in the license period of the user management area 24b. Thereafter, when the management program 26c is activated, the clock incorporated in the surveying instrument 100 is compared with information relating to the period in the license period field, and the comparison result is displayed on the screen of the display 30 when the surveying instrument 100 is turned on. Is displayed. For example, information on how many days can be used is displayed on the screen of the display 30 as message information of the license period.

  When the period when the surveying instrument 100 is used is approaching the license period and the user wants to extend the license period, if the user performs an operation for extending the period, the management program 26 is activated to bring the surveying instrument 100 to the portable terminal. It is connected to the Internet via a telephone or a wireless LAN, and information related to the extension period of the license period is transmitted to the management company 102. Thereafter, when information indicating that the extension of the license period is approved is transmitted from the management company 102, a new rental period is acquired, and the license period in the license period field is updated. In this case, the management company 102 determines whether or not the rental can be extended based on the information in the management database, and the information indicating whether or not the license period can be extended is based on the result. 100 will be transmitted. When the license period (rental period) cannot be extended, the license period in the license period field is not updated, and a message such as “Cannot be extended” is displayed on the screen of the display 10. That is, when the extension of the license period is approved by the management company 102, the surveying instrument 100 can be used continuously, but when the extension of the license period is not approved by the management company 102, all functions of the surveying instrument 100 are performed. Will be stopped.

  Next, the following operations are performed for illegal use such as theft.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5, in the surveying instrument 100, the management program 26c is activated in order to periodically approve a license in accordance with the period of the license period field of the license management area 24a. Also in this case, when a message for requesting approval is displayed on the screen of the display 30 and information for obtaining approval is transmitted to the management company 102 via the Internet 101 by the operator's operation, the management company 102 In this case, it is determined whether or not to approve the license based on the information in the management database, and information on whether or not the license can be approved is obtained via the Internet 101 based on the result. 100 will be transmitted. When the information indicating that the license is approved cannot be obtained from the management company 102, the management program 26c prevents the surveying program 26a from being activated and stops all the functions of the surveying instrument 100.

  Further, at the time of license approval, information related to the license management area 24a is transmitted to the management company 102, and, for example, the contents of the serial number field of the device are transmitted as identification information unique to the surveying instrument. Yes. Then, the management company 102 compares the serial number of the device with the serial number in the database, and when the serial number of the device matches the number of notification such as theft, the management company 102 sends a license to the surveying instrument 100. A management command for canceling issuance is transmitted, and all the surveying instrument functions are stopped. As a result, even if an unauthorized user tries to use the surveying instrument 100 due to an unexpected situation such as theft, all the functions of the surveying instrument 100 are stopped, so that theft can be dealt with. In this case, the transmission device of the management company 102 constitutes a management command output unit that transmits a management command to the surveying instrument 100 via the Internet 101.

It is a block block diagram of the whole surveying instrument which is one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram of a non-volatile memory. It is a block diagram of ROM / flash ROM. It is a figure for demonstrating the transmission / reception method of log data transmission / reception and correction data. It is a figure for demonstrating the method for transmitting / receiving the information regarding approval of a license period.

Explanation of symbols

10, 12 Angle sensor 14 Distance sensor 16 Thermometer 18 Hygrometer 20 CPU
22 RAM
24 Nonvolatile memory 26 ROM / Flash ROM
28 I / F circuit 30 Display 100 Surveying instrument 101 Internet 102 Management company

Claims (3)

In a surveying instrument that measures and measures a measurement object collimated with a telescope, management information recording means for recording management information for managing the surveying instrument, and status detection means for detecting the status of the surveying instrument, A history information recording unit that sequentially captures and records history information detected by the state detection unit, a management unit that manages the history information according to the management information, and a management unit that exchanges information with a communication network Management information and history information recorded in the history information recording means are output to the communication network, and display means for displaying information by communication of the communication means , the management means includes the management information in the management information The maintenance period included and the usage status included in the history information are compared and the comparison result is output to the communication means, and is included in the management information When the license period is compared with the usage status included in the history information and the comparison result is output to the communication means, and when the information for approving the extension of the license period is obtained from the communication network via the communication means Management of information is continued as it is, and when the approval information is not obtained, processing for stopping all functions is executed, and identification information unique to the surveying instrument included in the management information is transmitted via the communication means. When outputting to a communication network, if the information for approving the identification information is obtained from the communication network, the management of the information is continued as it is, and if the approval information is not obtained, processing for stopping all functions Surveyor characterized by performing . A management command output unit that outputs a management command for the management unit to the communication network with the surveying instrument according to claim 1 as a communication destination, wherein the management command output unit determines whether or not to approve extension of a license period. The information on whether or not to approve the identification information is output as a management command, and a remote management device for a surveying instrument characterized in that The management command output means sees the status of regular maintenance or error of the surveying instrument, transmits the necessity of maintenance to the surveying instrument via the communication means, and the program needs to be replaced. The program of claim 2, wherein the remote management device transmits a program to the surveying instrument via the communication means, and automatically upgrades the program of the surveying instrument. Remote management device for surveying instrument.

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