JP5385889B2 - Communication apparatus and operation method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device and an operation method thereof.

  In recent years, the number of entrance / exit systems and ticket gate systems using contactless IC cards has increased.

  These systems include a host device (for example, an entry / exit management server) that creates a polling command, a relay device (for example, an IC card RW) that converts the polling command into a polling message using a predetermined communication method, and arbitrary communication means. And a mobile terminal (for example, an IC card) having an identification information management unit for managing identification information necessary for entry / exit, and a host device sends a polling command to the relay device and relays The device uses it as a trigger to repeatedly send polling messages at arbitrary intervals to detect the mobile terminal.

Application of Wireless Card System Technical Document ARIB TR-T10 1.0 Edition 13, [online], The Japan Radio Industry Association, [June 14, 2010 search], Internet <URL: http: // www. arib. or. jp / english / html / overview / doc / 3-TR-T10v1_0. pdf>

  FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the conventional communication system, and shows a situation where the distance between the communication devices 1A and 2A is long and out of the communication range.

  In the communication device 1A, the communication unit 12 is an existing communication unit, and the communication unit 13A is a new communication unit. In the communication device 2A, the communication unit 22 is an existing communication unit, and the communication unit 23A is a new communication unit.

  When the communication device 1A is activated, the information processing unit 11 transmits a polling command to the communication unit 12 (T101). Upon receiving the polling command, the communication unit 12 creates a polling message by the communication method M and performs communication. The data is transmitted to the unit 13A (T102).

  If the communication unit 13A receives the polling message by the communication method M, the communication unit 13A creates a polling message by the communication method N and sends it to the outside by the communication method N (T103).

  When the distance between the communication devices 1A and 2A is long and out of the communication range, the polling message by the communication method N from the communication unit 13A does not reach the communication device 2A, and the communication unit 13A eventually times out.

  Since there is no response from the communication unit 13A, the communication unit 12 repeats timeout and transmission of a polling message.

  FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the conventional communication system, and shows the situation when the distance between the communication devices 1A and 2A is short and within the communication range.

  When the communication device 1A is activated, the information processing unit 11 transmits a polling command to the communication unit 12 (T101). Upon receiving the polling command, the communication unit 12 creates a polling message by the communication method M and performs communication. The data is transmitted to the unit 13A (T102).

  If the communication unit 13A receives the polling message by the communication method M, the communication unit 13A creates a polling message by the communication method N and sends it to the outside by the communication method N (T103).

  When receiving the polling message by the communication method N, the communication unit 23A creates a response message for the polling message, and sends the response message to the outside by the communication method N (T111).

  If the communication unit 13A receives a response message using the communication method N, the communication unit N can communicate with the response source, that is, the communication unit 23A, on the condition that the response message is an affirmative response message. Make preparations.

  When communication by communication method N with communication unit 23A becomes possible, communication unit 13A creates a message by communication method N that includes a polling message as data by previously received communication method M, and communication unit 23A. (T113).

  The communication unit 23A receives a message by the communication method N, extracts data from the message, that is, a polling message by the communication method M, and transmits it to the communication unit 22 by the communication method M (T115).

  The communication unit 22 receives the polling message by the communication method M, converts the polling message into a polling command, and transmits the polling command to the information processing unit 21 (T117).

  The information processing unit 21 receives the polling command, creates a response command (for example, a positive response command) to the polling command, and transmits the response command to the communication unit 22 (T119).

  The communication unit 22 converts the response command into a response message to the polling message by the communication method M, and transmits the response command to the communication unit 23A by the communication method M (T121).

  The communication unit 23A receives a message by the communication method M, generates a message by the communication method N including the message by the communication method M as data, and transmits the message to the communication unit 13A by the communication method N (T123).

  The communication unit 13A receives a message by the communication method N, extracts data, that is, a response message to the polling message by the communication method M, from the message by the communication method N, and transmits it to the communication unit 12 by the communication method M (T125).

  When the communication unit 12 receives a response message by the communication method M, the communication unit 12 converts the message into a response command created by the information processing unit 21, and transmits the response command to the information processing unit 11 by wire (T127).

  For example, in a system using a non-contact IC card such as an existing entrance / exit system or a ticket gate system, not only the existing communication method used for the non-contact IC card but also a new PAN (Personal Area Network), electric field communication, etc. If you want to be able to use the same communication method and not change the polling message by the existing communication method, or minimize the change so that it can be used at the same time as the new communication method, realize the following: It is necessary to meet the requirements.

  1) In any communication method, the polling message used in the communication method is transmitted to the communication unit that receives the polling message, and then the processing result is returned from the communication device.

  2) When communication is performed between an existing communication unit and a new communication unit, the polling message transmitted from each communication unit is merely data in the receiving communication unit and cannot be recognized as a polling message. . Therefore, after the polling process of the new communication method, the new communication unit includes the polling message according to the existing communication method as data in the message according to the new communication method, and the polling message of the new communication method is included. In the communication unit using the existing communication method for receiving the message, the polling message by the existing communication method included in the message is taken out and processed.

  Similar processing is required when a polling message is transmitted from a device using an existing communication method to a device using a new communication method.

  In order to satisfy the requirements 1) and 2), “polling processing by a new communication method” and “data by a new communication method (existing polling message and its response message) are compared with the existing communication method. "Transmission process" and "Polling process by existing communication method in communication apparatus" are newly added.

  However, new processing time is added due to the addition of new processing corresponding to the realization requirements of 1) and 2), and when communication is performed using the existing communication method, the processing time is over. When the polling process performs communication between a new communication method and an existing communication method, a time-out occurs and polling cannot be completed within the time limit. For this reason, among the requirements necessary for communication between the new communication method and the existing communication method, “data (existing polling message and its response message) transmission processing by the new communication method” and “in the communication device It is necessary to provide a means to shorten the processing time related to "polling processing by existing communication method", to suppress timeout in communication when using a different communication method, and to complete polling processing within the time limit .

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of ending polling in a communication apparatus using two communication methods at an early stage.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a first aspect of the present invention is a communication device including a first communication unit that communicates using a first communication method and a second communication unit that communicates using a second communication method. The second communication unit is a response message storage unit in which a response message that is a response message to the polling message according to the first communication method is stored in advance, and the polling message according to the second communication method is transmitted to the outside. If a response message for the polling message is received from the outside, and if a polling message by the first communication method is already received from the first communication unit, the response message is read from the response message storage unit. The communication device includes a first relay unit having a processing unit and a second relay unit that transmits the response message to the first communication unit.

  2nd this invention is a communication apparatus used with the communication apparatus which concerns on 1st this invention, Comprising: The 2nd communication method communicates with the 1st communication part which communicates with the 1st communication method The second communication unit, a polling message storage unit in which a polling message according to the first communication method is stored in advance, and a polling message according to the second communication method are received from the outside, A first relay unit having a relay processing unit that sends a response message to the polling message to the outside and reads the polling message from the polling message storage unit; and a second relay unit that transmits the polling message to the first communication unit A communication device including a relay unit is used as a solving means.

  3rd this invention is a communication apparatus provided with the 1st communication part which communicates by the 1st communication method, and the 2nd communication part which communicates by the 2nd communication method, Comprising: The said 2nd communication part is A response message storage unit in which a response message, which is a response message to the polling message according to the first communication method, is stored in advance, and a device identifier of the communication device used in the second communication method is stored in advance Device identifier information storage in which device identifier information including an identifier storage unit, a device identifier of a communication partner used in the first communication method, and a device identifier of the communication partner used in the second communication method is stored in advance A device identifier is read from the device identifier storage unit, a polling message is generated by the second communication method, the device identifier is included in the polling message, and the polling message including the device identifier is included. Relay processing unit for sending a message to the outside, if a response message to the polling message is received from the outside, the device identifier included in the response message is read, and the device identifier information including the same device identifier as the device identifier is Search from the device identifier information storage unit, read out the device identifier used in the first communication method from the device identifier information, read out the response message from the response message storage unit, and read the response message from the device identifier information In the case where a first relay unit having a response message creating unit including the read device identifier and a polling message by the first communication method from the first communication unit have already been received, the response message is And a second relay unit that transmits to the first communication unit.

  4th this invention is a communication apparatus used with the communication apparatus which concerns on 3rd this invention, Comprising: The 2nd communication method communicates with the 1st communication part which communicates with the 1st communication method The second communication unit includes a polling message storage unit in which a polling message according to the first communication method is stored in advance, and a device identifier of the communication device used in the second communication method. Is stored in advance, and device identifier information including a device identifier of a communication partner used in the first communication method and a device identifier of the communication partner used in the second communication method is stored in advance. If the device identifier information storage unit that receives the polling message by the second communication method is received from the outside, the device identifier is read from the device identifier storage unit, and the polling message by the second communication method is received. Create a response message, include the device identifier in the response message, send the response message including the device identifier to the outside, read out the device identifier included in the polling message, The device identifier information including the same device identifier as the device identifier is searched from the device identifier information storage unit, the device identifier used in the first communication method is read from the device identifier information, and the polling message is stored from the polling message storage unit. And a second relay that transmits the polling message to the first communication unit. The first relay unit includes a polling message generation unit that includes the device identifier read from the device identifier information in the polling message. And a communication device characterized by comprising a unit.

  A fifth aspect of the present invention is an operation method of a communication device including a first communication unit that communicates by a first communication method and a second communication unit that communicates by a second communication method, wherein the second communication unit The communication unit includes a response message storage unit in which a response message that is a response message to the polling message according to the first communication method is stored in advance, and the operation method includes the second communication unit, the second communication unit, If the polling message by the communication method is transmitted to the outside and the response message for the polling message is received from the outside, the response if the polling message by the first communication method has already been received from the first communication unit. The response means reads out the response message from the message storage unit and transmits it to the first communication unit.

  The sixth aspect of the present invention is an operation method of a communication apparatus used together with the communication apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the communication apparatus includes a first communication unit that communicates with the first communication method and a second communication unit. A second communication unit that communicates with the communication method, wherein the second communication unit includes a polling message storage unit in which a polling message according to the first communication method is stored in advance, and the operation method includes: If the second communication unit receives the polling message from the second communication method from the outside, the second communication unit sends a response message to the polling message to the outside, reads the polling message from the polling message storage unit, and The communication unit operating method is characterized by transmitting to the communication unit.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is an operation method of a communication device including a first communication unit that communicates by a first communication method and a second communication unit that communicates by a second communication method, wherein the second communication unit The communication unit stores in advance a response message storage unit that stores a response message that is a response message to the polling message by the first communication method, and stores in advance a device identifier of the communication device used in the second communication method. Device identifier storage unit, device identifier of communication partner used in the first communication method, and device identifier information including the device identifier of the communication partner used in the second communication method are stored in advance An identifier information storage unit, wherein the second communication unit reads a device identifier from the device identifier storage unit, creates a polling message according to the second communication method, and adds the polling message to the polling message. If the second communication unit receives a response message to the polling message from the outside, the message is included in the response message. A device identifier is read, device identifier information including the same device identifier as the device identifier is retrieved from the device identifier information storage unit, a device identifier used in the first communication method is read from the device identifier information, and the response A response message is read from the message storage unit, the device identifier read from the device identifier information is included in the response message, and the second communication unit polls the first communication method from the first communication unit. Is already received, the response message is transmitted to the first communication unit. To.

  The eighth aspect of the present invention is an operation method of a communication apparatus used together with the communication apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention. The communication apparatus includes a first communication unit that communicates with the first communication method and a second communication unit. A second communication unit that communicates using the communication method, and the second communication unit is a polling message storage unit that stores in advance a polling message according to the first communication method, and is used in the second communication method. A device identifier storage unit in which a device identifier of the communication device to be stored is stored in advance, a device identifier of a communication partner used in the first communication method, and a device identifier of the communication partner used in the second communication method A device identifier information storage unit in which device identifier information including the device identifier information is stored in advance, and when the second communication unit receives a polling message from the second communication method from the outside, the operation method Identifier storage Read the device identifier, create a response message for the polling message by the second communication method, include the device identifier in the response message, send the response message including the device identifier to the outside, The second communication unit reads a device identifier included in the polling message, retrieves device identifier information including the same device identifier as the device identifier from the device identifier information storage unit, and uses the device identifier information to retrieve the first identifier. The device identifier used in the communication method is read, the polling message is read from the polling message storage unit, the device identifier read from the device identifier information is included in the polling message, and the second communication unit The communication device operating method is characterized in that a polling message is transmitted to the first communication unit.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the technique which can complete | finish polling in the communication apparatus which uses two communication methods at an early stage can be provided.

It is a block diagram of the communication system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the relay parts 132 and 232 in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process in the communication part 13 in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the communication part 23 in 1st Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of operation | movement of the communication system in 1st Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows another example of operation | movement of the communication system in 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the relay parts 132 and 232 in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the communication part 13 in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in the communication part 23 in 2nd Embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the conventional communication system, and shows the mode in case the distance between communication apparatus 1A, 2 is long and is outside a communication range. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the conventional communication system, and shows the mode in case the distance between communication apparatus 1A and 2 is short, and is in a communication range.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a communication system according to the first embodiment.

  The communication device 1 includes an information processing unit 11 that performs information processing using information in the communication device 2, a communication unit 12 that is connected to the information processing unit 11 through a wire, and a communication method M (for example, a contactless card). The communication unit 12 includes a communication unit 13 that communicates with the communication unit 12 using the communication method N (for example, electric field communication).

  The communication unit 13 is newly provided in the communication device 1. The communication device 1 before the communication unit 13 is provided is the communication device 2, that is, the communication unit 12 is connected to the communication device 2 by the communication method M. Was communicating with.

  However, after the communication unit 13 is provided, the communication device 1 is connected to the communication device 2, that is, the communication unit 13 is connected to the communication device 2 using a new communication method, that is, a communication method N different from the communication method M. connect.

  The communication unit 13 includes a relay unit 131 that communicates with the communication unit 12 using the communication method M, and a relay unit 132 that is connected to the relay unit 131 via a wire and communicates with the communication device 2 using the communication method N.

  The communication device 2 communicates with the communication unit 22 by the information processing unit 21 having information necessary for the communication device 1, the communication unit 22 connected to the information processing unit 21 by wire, and the communication method M. Includes a communication unit 23 that communicates by the communication method N.

  The communication unit 23 is newly provided in the communication device 2. The communication device 2 before the communication unit 23 is provided is the communication device 1, that is, the communication unit 22 is connected to the communication device 1 by the communication method M. Was communicating with.

  However, after the communication unit 23 is provided, the communication device 2 communicates with the communication device 1, that is, the communication unit 23 communicates with the communication device 2 by the communication method N.

  The communication unit 23 is connected to the relay unit 231 that communicates with the communication unit 22 by the communication method M and the relay unit 231 via a wire, and communicates with the communication device 1 (that is, the relay unit 132 of the communication device 1) by the communication method N. Part 232.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the relay units 132 and 232 according to the first embodiment.

  The relay unit 132 transmits a message (a response message MR described later) stored in the relay unit 132 in advance to the communication unit 12 and a communication transmitted from the communication unit 12 to the relay unit 131 of the communication unit 13. A response message storage unit 1322 in which a response to a polling message by the method M, that is, a response message MR by the communication method M is stored;

  Although not shown, the relay unit 132 has setting information (hereinafter referred to as setting information AUTO) indicating that a polling message should be sent regardless of whether or not the polling message has already been transmitted from the communication unit 12. Remembered.

  The relay unit 232 transmits a polling message (a polling message described later) stored in the relay unit 232 in advance to the communication unit 22, and a communication transmitted from the communication unit 12 to the relay unit 131 of the communication unit 13. And a polling message storage unit 2322 in which the same polling message MP as the polling message by the method M is stored.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow in the communication unit 13 according to the first embodiment.

  The communication unit 13 determines whether there is setting information AUTO (S1). If there is no setting information AUTO (S1: NO), the communication unit 13 determines whether or not a polling message has already been transmitted from the communication unit 12 (S3). If there is no transmission, the process returns to step S3.

  The relay processing unit 1321 of the relay unit 132 of the communication unit 13 determines that the communication method N if the polling message has already been transmitted from the communication unit 12 (S3: YES) or there is setting information AUTO (S1: YES). Is created and sent to the outside by the communication method N (S5).

  Next, the relay unit 132 determines whether or not a response message to the polling message has been received (S7). If the relay unit 132 determines that a response message has not been received (S7: NO), the relay unit 132 determines whether a timeout has occurred (a predetermined time has elapsed from the time in step S5) (S9). The process returns to step S7, and if time is out, the process proceeds to step S11.

  In step S11, the relay unit 132 determines whether or not the number of polling message transmissions is greater than a predetermined number of times set in advance. If the number is greater than the predetermined number of times, the relay unit 132 returns to step S1.

  If the communication unit 13 receives a response message (S7: YES), the communication unit 13 determines whether there is setting information AUTO on the condition that it is a positive response message (S21).

  If there is setting information AUTO (S21: YES), the communication unit 13 determines whether or not a polling message has already been transmitted from the communication unit 12 (S23). If there is no transmission yet, the communication unit 13 returns to step S23.

  The relay processing unit 1321 of the relay unit 132 of the communication unit 13 sends a response message if the polling message has already been transmitted from the communication unit 12 (S23: YES) or if there is no setting information AUTO (S21: NO). The response message MR is read from the storage unit 1322 and transmitted to the relay unit 131 by wire (S25).

  The relay unit 131 transmits the response message MR to the communication unit 12 by the communication method M (S27), and returns to step S1.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow in the communication unit 23 according to the first embodiment.

  If the relay processing unit 2321 of the relay unit 232 of the communication unit 23 receives a polling message by the communication method N from the outside (S101), it creates a response message to the polling message and sends the response message to the outside by the communication method N. Send out (S103).

  Further, the relay processing unit 2321 of the relay unit 232 reads the polling message MP from the polling message storage unit 2322 and transmits it to the relay unit 231 by wire, and the relay unit 231 uses the communication method M to transmit the polling message MP to the communication unit 22. (S111).

  Next, the communication unit 23 determines whether or not a message having the same response as the response message MR is received from the communication unit 22 (S113). If it is determined that the response message has not been received (S113: NO), the communication unit 23 determines whether or not a timeout has occurred (a predetermined time has elapsed from the time of step S111) (S115). Returning to step S113, if timed out, the process proceeds to step S117.

  In step S117, the communication unit 23 determines whether or not the number of transmissions of the polling message MP is greater than a predetermined number of times set in advance, and if not, returns to step S111.

  If the relay unit 232 of the communication unit 23 exceeds the specified number of times, the relay unit 232 creates a negative response message for the polling message MP, sends the message to the outside by the communication method N (S119), and the process ends.

  When the relay unit 232 receives the response message (S113: YES), the relay unit 232 discards the response message (S121), and the process ends.

  Although not shown, when the communication device 1 receives the message sent in step S119, for example, the polling or the communication being executed is stopped halfway.

  FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the communication system according to the first embodiment.

  FIG. 5 shows a state in which the communication devices 1 and 2 approach each other and communication is started.

  When the communication device 1 is activated, the communication unit 13 sends out a polling message by the communication method N to the outside if there is setting information AUTO (T1).

  When the distance between the communication devices 1 and 2 is long, the polling message by the communication method N from the communication unit 13 does not reach the communication device 2, and the communication unit 13 repeats the timeout and the transmission of the polling message.

  When the communication apparatus 1 is activated, the information processing unit 11 transmits a polling command to the communication unit 12 by wire (T2). When the communication unit 12 receives the polling command, the communication unit 12 creates a polling message using the communication method M. Then, the data is transmitted to the communication unit 13 (T3).

  Since the communication unit 12 does not receive a response message from the communication unit 13, the communication unit 12 repeats the transmission of the polling message by the timeout and the communication method M.

  Here, it is assumed that the information processing unit 11 is not set to time out. Therefore, the information processing unit 11 waits for a response to the polling command.

  When the communication devices 1 and 2 approach each other and the relay unit 232 of the communication unit 23 receives a polling message by the communication method N from the communication unit 13, the relay unit 232 creates a response message to the polling message and transmits the response message to the communication method. N is sent to the outside (T11).

  The relay unit 132 of the communication unit 13 receives the response message by the communication method N and has already received the polling message from the communication unit 12, so reads the response message MR and transmits it to the relay unit 131 by wire. The relay unit 131 transmits the response message MR to the communication unit 12 by the communication method M (T13).

  The communication unit 12 receives the response message MR by the communication method M, converts the response message MR into a response command, and transmits it to the information processing unit 11 by wire (T15).

  On the other hand, when the polling message by the communication method N from the communication unit 13 is received, the relay unit 232 of the communication unit 23 reads the polling message MP and transmits it to the relay unit 231 by wire, and the relay unit 231 receives the polling message. The MP is transmitted to the communication unit 22 by the communication method M (T21).

  The communication unit 22 receives the polling message MP by the communication method M, converts the polling message MP into a polling command, and transmits the polling command to the information processing unit 21 (T23).

  The information processing unit 21 receives the polling command, creates a response command (for example, a positive response command) to the polling command, and transmits the response command to the communication unit 22 by wire (T25).

  The communication unit 22 converts the response command into a response message to the polling message MP, that is, a response message same as the response message MR, and transmits the response command to the relay unit 231 of the communication unit 23 by the communication method M (T27). It is discarded at 23.

  FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating another example of the operation of the communication system according to the first embodiment.

  FIG. 6 shows a state in which the communication devices 1 and 2 approach each other and communication is started.

  When the communication device 1 is activated, the communication unit 13 waits for a polling message to be transmitted (T3) if there is no setting information AUTO. That is, the communication unit 13 waits for a polling command to be transmitted from the information processing unit 11 to the communication unit 12 (T2) and a polling message to be transmitted from the communication unit 12 to the communication unit 13 (T3).

  When receiving the polling message (T3), the communication unit 13 sends out a polling message by the communication method N (T1).

  When the distance between the communication devices 1 and 2 is long, the polling message by the communication method N from the communication unit 13 does not reach the communication device 2, and the communication unit 13 repeats the timeout and the transmission of the polling message.

  Since no response message is transmitted from the communication unit 13 to the communication unit 12, the communication unit 12 also repeats transmission of a polling message using the timeout and the communication method M.

  Here, it is assumed that the information processing unit 11 is not set to time out. Therefore, the information processing unit 11 waits for a response command to the polling command.

  When the communication devices 1 and 2 approach each other and the relay unit 232 of the communication unit 23 receives a polling message by the communication method N from the communication unit 13, the relay unit 232 creates a response message to the polling message and transmits the response message to the communication method. N is sent to the outside (T11).

  When the relay unit 132 of the communication unit 13 receives a response message by the communication method N, the relay unit 132 reads the response message MR and transmits the response message MR to the relay unit 131 by wire, and the relay unit 131 transmits the response message MR by the communication method M. It transmits to the communication part 12 (T13).

  Hereinafter, since it is the same as that of the example of FIG. 5, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Thus, in the first embodiment, polling between the information processing units 11 and 21 is completed, and during that period, polling between the communication units 12 and 22 and polling between the communication units 13 and 23 are also completed. .

  If the response command indicates an affirmative response, the information processing unit 11 communicates with the information processing unit 21 through the communication unit 12, the communication unit 13, the communication unit 23, and the communication unit 22 in the same sequence. If the communication is completed, a polling command is transmitted to the communication unit 12, and this is repeated until the response command indicates an affirmative response.

  Even when the response command indicates a negative response, the information processing unit 11 transmits a polling command to the communication unit 12 and repeats this until the response command indicates an affirmative response.

  Therefore, according to the first embodiment, when a response message according to the communication method N is received (T11), a response message MR according to the communication method M is transmitted in advance (T13), whereby the information processing unit 11 Since the response command is transmitted in advance (T15), polling can be terminated early.

  That is, if the communication unit 13 sends a polling message by the communication method N to the outside (S5, T1) and receives a message from the outside in response to the polling message (S7: YES), the communication method M from the communication unit 12 If the polling message has been received (S3: S23: YES), the response message is read from the response message storage unit 1322 and transmitted to the communication unit 12.

  If the communication unit 23 receives a polling message by the communication method N from the outside, it sends out a response message to the polling message (S103, T11), reads the polling message from the polling message storage unit 2322, and communicates. To the unit 22.

  Thereby, in 1st Embodiment, polling can be terminated early.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the same or similar apparatus and apparatus configuration as those in the first embodiment are used, and the description thereof is omitted by using the reference numerals used in the first embodiment. The description will focus on matters different from those of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of the relay units 132 and 232 according to the second embodiment.

  The relay unit 132 includes a relay processing unit 1321, a response message storage unit 1322, a response message generation unit 1323, a device identifier storage unit 1324, and a device identifier information storage unit 1325.

  The device identifier storage unit 1324 stores the device identifier N1 of the communication device 1 used in the communication method N.

  The device identifier information storage unit 1325 stores device identifier information including the device identifier N2 and the device identifier M2 of the communication device 2 used in the communication method M. Further, the device identifier information storage unit 1325 stores device identifier information related to communication devices that may communicate in addition to the communication device 2.

  The relay unit 232 includes a relay processing unit 2321, a polling message storage unit 2322, a polling message creation unit 2323, a device identifier storage unit 2324, and a device identifier information storage unit 2325.

  The device identifier storage unit 2324 stores the device identifier N2 of the communication device 2 used in the communication method N.

  The device identifier information storage unit 2325 stores device identifier information including the device identifier N1 and the device identifier M1 of the communication device 1 used in the communication method M. Further, the device identifier information storage unit 2325 stores device identifier information related to communication devices that may communicate in addition to the communication device 1.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow in the communication unit 13 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 8, the same reference numerals are used for the same steps as those in FIG.

  Steps S1 to S3 are the same as the steps in FIG.

  The relay processing unit 1321 of the relay unit 132 of the communication unit 13 stores a device identifier if a polling message has already been transmitted from the communication unit 12 (S3: YES), or if there is setting information AUTO (S1: YES). The device identifier N1 is read from the unit 1324, a polling message is generated by the communication method N, the device identifier N1 is included in the polling message, and the polling message including the device identifier N1 is transmitted to the outside by the communication method N (S5a). .

  Steps S7 to S11 are the same as the steps in FIG.

  If the relay processing unit 1321 receives the response message (S7: YES), the relay processing unit 1321 transfers the response message to the response message creation unit 1323 on the condition that the response message is an affirmative response message (S13).

  The response message creating unit 1323 reads the device identifier (for example, device identifier N2) included in the response message, searches the device identifier information storage unit 1325 for device identifier information including the same device identifier, and this device identifier information. Then, a device identifier (for example, device identifier M2) used in the communication method M is read (S15).

  Next, the response message creating unit 1323 reads the response message MR from the response message storage unit 1322, and includes the device identifier (for example, device identifier M2) read in step S15 in the response message MR (S17).

  Next, the communication unit 13 determines whether there is setting information AUTO (S21).

  If there is no setting information AUTO (S21: NO), the communication unit 13 determines whether or not a polling message has already been transmitted from the communication unit 12 (S23). If there is no transmission yet, the communication unit 13 returns to step S23.

  The relay processing unit 1321 of the relay unit 132 of the communication unit 13 determines that the device identifier has been transmitted if the polling message has already been transmitted from the communication unit 12 (S23: YES) or there is setting information AUTO (S21: YES). A response message MR including (for example, the device identifier M2) is transmitted to the relay unit 131 by wire (S25).

  The relay unit 131 transmits the response message MR to the communication unit 12 by the communication method M (S27), and returns to step S1.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing in the communication unit 23 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 9, the same reference numerals are used for the same steps as those in FIG.

  If the relay processing unit 2321 of the relay unit 232 of the communication unit 23 has received a polling message by the communication method N from the outside (S101), the relay processing unit 2321 reads the device identifier N2 from the device identifier storage unit 2324 and sends a response message by the communication method N. The device identifier N2 is created and included in the response message, and the response message including the device identifier N2 is transmitted to the outside by the communication method N (S103a).

  Further, if the polling message by the communication method N is received from the outside (S101), the relay processing unit 2321 transfers the polling message to the polling message creating unit 2323 (S105).

  The polling message creation unit 2323 reads a device identifier (for example, device identifier N1) included in the polling message, searches the device identifier information storage unit 2325 for device identifier information including the same device identifier, and uses this device identifier information. Then, a device identifier (for example, device identifier M1) used in the communication method M is read (S107).

  Next, the polling message creation unit 2323 reads the polling message MP from the polling message storage unit 2322, and includes the device identifier (for example, device identifier M1) read in step S107 in the polling message MP (S109).

  The relay processing unit 2321 of the relay unit 232 transmits a polling message MP including a device identifier (for example, device identifier M1) to the relay unit 231 by wire, and the relay unit 231 uses the communication method M to transmit the polling message MP to the communication unit. 22 (S111).

  Steps S113 to S121 are the same as the steps in FIG.

  Next, an example of the operation of the communication system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the communication device 1 is activated, the communication unit 13 sends a polling message including the device identifier N1 to the outside if there is setting information AUTO (T1).

  If the polling message does not reach the communication device 2, the communication unit 13 repeats timeout and transmission of the polling message.

  When the communication device 1 is activated, the information processing unit 11 transmits a polling command to the communication unit 12 (T2), and the communication unit 12 creates a polling message by the communication method M and transmits it to the communication unit 13 ( T3).

  Since the response message is not transmitted from the communication unit 13, the communication unit 12 also repeats transmission of timeout and polling message.

  Since the information processing unit 11 is not set to time out, the information processing unit 11 waits for a response command to the polling command.

  When the polling message from the communication unit 13 is received, the relay unit 232 of the communication unit 23 creates a response message including the device identifier N2, and sends the response message to the outside by the communication method N (T11).

  The relay unit 132 of the communication unit 13 receives the message by the communication method N and has already received the polling message from the communication unit 12, and therefore reads the device identifier N2 from the response message, and includes the same device identifier The identifier information is searched, the device identifier M2 used in the communication method M is read from the device identifier information, the response message MR is read, the response message MR includes the device identifier M2, and is transmitted to the relay unit 131. The unit 131 transmits the response message MR to the communication unit 12 (T13).

  The communication unit 12 receives the response message MR, converts the response message MR into a response command including the device identifier M2, and transmits the response command to the information processing unit 11 (T15).

  Here, the information processing unit 11 reads the device identifier M2 from the response command, and can perform processing according to the device identifier M2, such as so-called authentication using the device identifier M2.

  On the other hand, when the polling message including the device identifier N1 is received from the communication unit 13, the relay unit 232 of the communication unit 23 reads the device identifier N1, searches for device identifier information including the same device identifier, The device identifier M1 is read from the device identifier information, the polling message MP is read, the device identifier M1 is included in the polling message MP, and transmitted to the relay unit 231. The relay unit 231 transmits the polling message MP including the device identifier M1 to the communication unit. 22 (T21).

  The communication unit 22 receives the polling message MP, converts the polling message MP into a polling command while including the device identifier M1, and transmits it to the information processing unit 21 (T23).

  The information processing unit 21 receives the polling command, creates a response command (for example, a positive response command) to the polling command, and transmits the response command to the communication unit 22 by wire (T25).

  Here, the information processing unit 21 reads out the device identifier M1 from the polling command, performs so-called authentication with the device identifier M1, for example, and sets a response command as a positive response command or a negative response command based on the authentication result. A process according to the device identifier M1, such as a process for determining whether to perform the process, can be performed.

  The communication unit 22 converts the response command from the information processing unit 21 into a response message to the polling message MP, that is, a response message having the same response as the response message MR, and transmits it to the relay unit 231 of the communication unit 23 (T27). Discarded at the communication unit 23.

  Next, another example of the operation of the communication system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the communication device 1 is activated, the communication unit 13 waits for a polling message to be transmitted from the communication unit 12 (T3) if there is no setting information AUTO.

  When receiving the polling message (T3), the communication unit 13 sends a polling message including the device identifier N1 to the outside (T1).

  If the polling message does not reach the communication device 2, the communication unit 13 repeats timeout and transmission of the polling message.

  Since the response message is not transmitted from the communication unit 13, the communication unit 12 also repeats transmission of timeout and polling message.

  Since the information processing unit 11 is not set to time out, the information processing unit 11 waits for a response command to the polling command.

  When the polling message from the communication unit 13 is received, the relay unit 232 of the communication unit 23 creates a response message including the device identifier N2, and sends the response message to the outside by the communication method N (T11).

  Steps S13 to S27 are the same as those described with reference to FIG.

  Therefore, according to the second embodiment, each of the communication devices 1 and 2 can recognize that the other party is the communication device 2 or 1 by the device identifier, and can perform processing according to the other party.

  That is, the communication unit 13 reads the device identifier from the device identifier storage unit 1322, creates a polling message using the communication method N, includes the device identifier in the polling message, and sends the polling message to the outside (S5a, T1). If the communication unit 13 receives a response message for the polling message from the outside (S7: YES), the device identifier included in the response message is read, and the device identifier information including the same device identifier is read from the device identifier information storage unit 1325. The device identifier used in communication method M is retrieved from the device identifier information (S15), the response message is read from the response message storage unit 1322, the device identifier is included in the response message (S17), and communication is performed from the communication unit 12. When a polling message by method N has already been transmitted (S3: S23: YES), a response message And it transmits to the communication unit 12 (S27).

  If the communication unit 23 receives a polling message by the communication method N from the outside, the communication unit 23 reads the device identifier from the device identifier storage unit 2324, creates a response message for the polling message by the communication method N, and sets the device as a response message. The identifier is included and sent to the outside (S111, T11), the communication unit 23 reads the device identifier included in the polling message, searches for device identifier information including the same device identifier from the device identifier information storage unit 2325, and performs communication. The device identifier used in the method M is read (S107), the polling message is read from the polling message storage unit 2322, the device identifier is included in the polling message (S109), and the communication unit 23 transmits the polling message to the communication unit 22. (S111a).

  Thereby, in 2nd Embodiment, polling can be terminated at an early stage and a communication partner can be recognized.

  In the present embodiment, the communication method has been described as an example. However, each communication method may be performed using wired communication.

  A computer program for causing a computer to cause the apparatus to execute the operation method of the communication apparatus 1 or the communication apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment is a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a magnetic tape, or the like Can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and can be widely distributed by being transmitted through a communication network such as the Internet.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 ... Communication apparatus 11, 21 ... Information processing part 12, 13, 22, 23 ... Communication part 131, 132, 231, 232 ... Relay part 1321, 321 ... Relay processing part 1322 ... Response message memory | storage part 1323 ... Response message Creation unit 1324, 2324 ... Device identifier storage unit 1325, 2325 ... Device identifier information storage unit 2322 ... Polling message storage unit 2323 ... Polling message creation unit

Claims (8)

A communication device comprising a first communication unit that communicates with a first communication method and a second communication unit that communicates with a second communication method,
The second communication unit is
A response message storage unit that stores in advance a response message that is a response message to the polling message according to the first communication method;
If a polling message by the second communication method is sent to the outside and a response message to the polling message is received from the outside, the polling message by the first communication method has already been received from the first communication unit. Then, a first relay unit having a relay processing unit that reads a response message from the response message storage unit,
A communication apparatus comprising: a second relay unit that transmits the response message to the first communication unit. A communication device used with the communication device according to claim 1,
A first communication unit that communicates using a first communication method and a second communication unit that communicates using a second communication method;
The second communication unit is
A polling message storage unit in which a polling message according to the first communication method is stored in advance;
A first relay unit having a relay processing unit that transmits a response message to the polling message to the outside and reads the polling message from the polling message storage unit when the polling message by the second communication method is received from the outside; ,
A communication apparatus comprising: a second relay unit that transmits the polling message to the first communication unit. A communication device comprising a first communication unit that communicates with a first communication method and a second communication unit that communicates with a second communication method,
The second communication unit is
A response message storage unit that stores in advance a response message that is a response message to the polling message according to the first communication method;
A device identifier storage unit in which a device identifier of the communication device used in the second communication method is stored in advance;
A device identifier information storage unit in which device identifier information including a device identifier of a communication partner used in the first communication method and a device identifier of the communication partner used in the second communication method is stored in advance;
A relay that reads a device identifier from the device identifier storage unit, creates a polling message by the second communication method, includes the device identifier in the polling message, and sends the polling message including the device identifier to the outside Processing section,
If a response message to the polling message is received from the outside, the device identifier included in the response message is read, and device identifier information including the same device identifier as the device identifier is retrieved from the device identifier information storage unit, Read a device identifier used in the first communication method from the device identifier information, read a response message from the response message storage unit, and include a device identifier read from the device identifier information in the response message A first relay section having a section;
A second relay unit that transmits the response message to the first communication unit when a polling message by the first communication method has already been received from the first communication unit. Communication device. A communication device used with the communication device according to claim 3,
A first communication unit that communicates using a first communication method and a second communication unit that communicates using a second communication method;
The second communication unit is
A polling message storage unit in which a polling message according to the first communication method is stored in advance;
A device identifier storage unit in which a device identifier of the communication device used in the second communication method is stored in advance;
A device identifier information storage unit in which device identifier information including a device identifier of a communication partner used in the first communication method and a device identifier of the communication partner used in the second communication method is stored in advance;
If a polling message according to the second communication method is received from the outside, a device identifier is read from the device identifier storage unit, a response message to the polling message according to the second communication method is created, and the response message includes A relay processing unit that includes a device identifier and sends a response message including the device identifier to the outside;
A device identifier included in the polling message is read out, device identifier information including the same device identifier as the device identifier is retrieved from the device identifier information storage unit, and the device used in the first communication method from the device identifier information A first relay unit having a polling message creation unit that reads an identifier, reads a polling message from the polling message storage unit, and includes the device identifier read from the device identifier information in the polling message;
A communication apparatus comprising: a second relay unit that transmits the polling message to the first communication unit. An operation method of a communication apparatus including a first communication unit that communicates with a first communication method and a second communication unit that communicates with a second communication method,
The second communication unit includes a response message storage unit in which a response message that is a response message to the polling message according to the first communication method is stored in advance.
The operation method is as follows:
If the second communication unit sends a polling message according to the second communication method to the outside and receives a response message to the polling message from the outside, the first communication unit uses the first communication method. If the polling message has already been received, the response message is read from the response message storage unit and transmitted to the first communication unit. A method of operating a communication device used with the communication device according to claim 1,
The communication apparatus includes a first communication unit that communicates using a first communication method and a second communication unit that communicates using a second communication method.
The second communication unit includes a polling message storage unit in which a polling message according to the first communication method is stored in advance.
The operation method is as follows:
If the second communication unit receives a polling message from the second communication method from the outside, it sends a response message to the polling message to the outside, reads the polling message from the polling message storage unit, and A communication apparatus operating method, comprising: transmitting to one communication unit. An operation method of a communication apparatus including a first communication unit that communicates with a first communication method and a second communication unit that communicates with a second communication method,
The second communication unit is
A response message storage unit that stores in advance a response message that is a response message to the polling message according to the first communication method;
A device identifier storage unit in which a device identifier of the communication device used in the second communication method is stored in advance;
A device identifier information storage unit which stores in advance device identifier information including a device identifier of a communication partner used in the first communication method and a device identifier of the communication partner used in the second communication method; ,
The operation method is as follows:
The second communication unit reads a device identifier from the device identifier storage unit, creates a polling message according to the second communication method, includes the device identifier in the polling message, and includes the device identifier Send a polling message to the outside,
If the second communication unit receives a response message for the polling message from the outside, the second communication unit reads a device identifier included in the response message, and stores device identifier information including the same device identifier as the device identifier. A search is made from the information storage unit, the device identifier used in the first communication method is read from the device identifier information, the response message is read from the response message storage unit, and the response message is read from the device identifier information. Include the device identifier,
In the case where the second communication unit has already received a polling message by the first communication method from the first communication unit, the second communication unit transmits the response message to the first communication unit. Operation method of communication device. A method of operating a communication device used with the communication device according to claim 3,
The communication apparatus includes a first communication unit that communicates using a first communication method and a second communication unit that communicates using a second communication method.
The second communication unit is
A polling message storage unit in which a polling message according to the first communication method is stored in advance;
A device identifier storage unit in which a device identifier of the communication device used in the second communication method is stored in advance;
A device identifier information storage unit which stores in advance device identifier information including a device identifier of a communication partner used in the first communication method and a device identifier of the communication partner used in the second communication method; ,
The operation method is as follows:
If the second communication unit receives a polling message from the outside by the second communication method, the device identifier is read from the device identifier storage unit, and a response message to the polling message by the second communication method is created. And including the device identifier in the response message, sending the response message including the device identifier to the outside,
The second communication unit reads a device identifier included in the polling message, retrieves device identifier information including the same device identifier as the device identifier from the device identifier information storage unit, and uses the device identifier information to retrieve the first identifier. The device identifier used in the communication method is read, the polling message is read from the polling message storage unit, and the polling message includes the device identifier read from the device identifier information,
The second communication unit transmits the polling message to the first communication unit.

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